Transcript Highlights:

• So staff will be spread thin.
• by other staff as there is capacity.
• That staff person and it will be picked up by other staff as there is capacity. And, oh, okay.
• We already, this staff position is filled.
• No additional staff are necessary for grant delivery.

Summary: The Emergency Board met on June 17, 2026, and approved a series of subcommittee recommendations, mostly on consent, related to federal grant applications, agency funding adjustments, and position authority. Early actions included approval of four federal grant applications from natural resources agencies, three public safety grant applications, a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, retroactive approval for an AmeriCorps volunteer-generation grant, and a $7.5 million allocation to Southern Oregon University from a special appropriation for short-term financial stability. Members supporting the SOU item emphasized the university’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and the need for a long-term higher education plan; several members voted no or raised concerns about sustainability, but the motion passed. The board also approved a federal apprenticeship expansion grant for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, a school nutrition equipment grant for the Department of Education, and an Oregon Health Authority request tied to Medicaid community engagement requirements under H.R. 1. Public safety items included funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a report on the stalled juvenile justice information system modernization project with a follow-up viability report due in 2026, and a statewide evacuation planning tool for emergency management. The evacuation tool drew strong support as a wildfire preparedness measure, with members noting it could significantly reduce alert times and save lives. A major point of debate was the Department of Justice request to add 16 permanent positions and increase other funds limitation for antitrust enforcement. Supporters argued the federal government has pulled back and Oregon needs capacity to pursue active cases and protect consumers; opponents objected to the process, the size of the expansion, and the incentive structure tied to settlements and awards. Despite those concerns, the motion passed. The board also approved Water Resources Department requests for the Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement program, an assistant water master position in Washington County, and federal funding for Lower Umatilla Basin groundwater data collection. The water master item prompted questions about county cost shifts, but staff said the position would remain externally funded and would not be filled without those resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• with the adoption of the spreadsheet, the table document, and amendments presented by nonpartisan staff
• <00:40:00.480><c> are</c> move that nonpartisan staff are move that nonpartisan staff are empowered<00
• Well, Madam Chair, I just wanted to thank our nonpartisan staff and our partisan staff as well.
• thank all of our staff who made this thank all of our staff who made this happen<00:40:25.440><c> and
• </c> nonpartisan staff and our partisan staff nonpartisan staff and our partisan staff as<00:40:34.560

Transcript Highlights:

• I wanna thank the staff, uh, for putting together, uh, this shows that our staff, you know, wherever
• Because we don't have any ancillary staff on campus.
• So we took our entire staff on a retreat.
• And, and our staff is really good. They're willing to, to go.
• We don't have the staff to take the time to do that.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there any initial comments that you'd like to make, Chair Heintzeman, or would you like the staff
• And then our DFL staff, although Mr. Strowmire isn't here today, Mr.
• And then our DFL staff, although Mr. Strowmire isn't here today, Mr.
• </c><00:30:06.320><c> to</c> on ways and means and instruct staff to on ways and means and instruct staff
• </c><00:30:24.320><c> make</c> direction that nonpartisan staff make direction that nonpartisan staff

Bills: HF2439

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have something that is pre-built to share with staff.
• We don't have something that is pre-built to share with staff at this time.
• In fact, there was a requirement that school districts ensure that teachers, staff, support staff are
• Usually it's one or two that also then support, and we have district staff.
• So staffing, keeping the schools fully staffed and even the support staff, is a big challenge.

Summary: The Student Academic Success Subcommittee met to review Florida’s cell phone and social media literacy law, with Representative Brad Yeager describing the 2023 policy as aimed at removing classroom distractions and teaching students how to use social media responsibly. He said the law was intended to keep phones out of classrooms unless used for instruction, require social media literacy education, and limit access to certain sites on school Wi-Fi and government devices. Yeager said feedback since passage has been mixed: many teachers support it and some have adopted inexpensive shoe-organizer or pouch systems, but implementation varies by school and administrator enforcement. He said he is not currently pursuing a broader statewide mandate. Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez and Timber Creek High School Principal Mr. Wasco described Orange County’s approach as bell-to-bell phone restrictions, while Pasco County’s Dr. Zetchy described a similar policy with some flexibility during lunch or passing periods at the high school level. Both districts said the policy was implemented with parent communication, town halls, surveys, and transition periods, and that concerns about emergencies were addressed by allowing phones to be returned at the end of the day and by establishing procedures for parent contact. They reported few theft problems and said discipline issues related to phones have generally been manageable, though some teachers still struggle with enforcement or with students trying to evade the rules. A major portion of the discussion focused on social media literacy instruction. Orange County said it uses counselor-led programs, Canvas courses, resiliency days, and curriculum materials to teach students about cyberbullying, human trafficking, privacy, and the permanence of online posts, with progress tracked through the learning platform. Pasco said it has some resiliency modules but lacks a fully built-out, pre-made social media curriculum and would welcome more guidance from DOE, especially for high school classrooms where instructional time is limited. Members also asked about student anxiety, 504/IEP accommodations, caregiver students, and parent education; the districts said exceptions are handled through school committees and that parent academies and district resources are being used to help families set boundaries and understand the risks and benefits of phones and social media. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Brian Moore, committee staff. Thank you, Chair Alias, members of the committee.
• Brian Moore, committee staff.
• Clint McCarthy, staff to the committee.
• Thank you, Chair Elias, members of the committee, Brandon Popovac, staff.
• Thank you, Chair Elias, members of the committee, Brandon Popovac's staff.

Summary: The Transportation Committee met in executive session on Gross Substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation resources measure, after a staff walkthrough of the Senate striking amendment S-5820.4. Staff explained that the striker largely replaced the bill with provisions from Senate Bill 6352 and related transportation revenue and policy changes, including updates to mobile driver’s licenses, account interest provisions, recreational vessel and luxury vehicle tax clarifications, peer-to-peer tax administration changes, fuel tax timing changes, aircraft fuel tax and account changes, bicycle education grants, ferry payment-card fee authority, traffic safety camera revenue and rebuttable presumption rules, online driver education regulation, transit annexation tax/liability clarification, Sound Transit 75-year bond authority limits, stolen copper protections for light rail and DOT communications infrastructure, and a highway contracting threshold change. Staff also reviewed fiscal impacts, including revenue gains from trade-in value clarifications and aircraft fuel changes, and losses from the diesel tax delay, motorhome exemption, and repeal of the luxury aircraft tax. Members asked several clarifying questions, including the luxury RV tax threshold, how trade-in value is treated under the luxury vehicle tax, whether ferry debit-card fees are authorized, and the legality of passing card-processing fees to customers. Staff and counsel said the luxury vehicle tax applies to value over $100,000, trade-in value is added back for the luxury tax calculation, and the ferry provision is intended to clarify that both credit and debit card surcharges may be passed through. On the traffic safety camera section, staff described a revised approach that would require stronger proof from registered owners to rebut presumed responsibility, and on Sound Transit bonds, staff clarified that bonds over 40 years would be limited to federal transportation loan purposes and would affect eligibility for certain state grants. After caucus, the committee returned to executive session, waived the amendment posting deadline under Senate Rule 45, adopted the striking amendment, and then voted to advance ESHB 2711 as amended with a do pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. The motion carried, and the chair thanked staff before adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Doleo, Megan McFadden, staff to this committee.
• Matt Sterling, staff to the committee.
• Seeing none, staff will announce the vote.
• Seeing no changes, staff will announce the vote.
• Otherwise, staff will announce the vote.

Bills: HB2416 , HB2537 , HB2575 , HB2322

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: waste management, energy, climate action, environmental regulations, fair treatment, renewable energy, sustainability, emissions, climate commitment act, environmental regulation, trade regulation, facility compliance, reporting obligations, energy laws, compliance, business impact, alternative fuel, carbon reduction, aviation, energy production

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff will announce the vote. Any more discussion?
• I don't see any more discussion, so staff will call the roll. ...Staff will call the roll.
• Seeing none, staff will announce the vote.
• Seeing none, staff will announce the vote.
• Seeing none, staff will announce the vote.

Bills: HB2188 , HB2218 , HB2524 , HB2563

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: transparency, industrial insurance, insurance rate increases, financial disclosure, regulatory oversight, workers' compensation, medical care, healthcare access, employee rights, insurance coverage, security, regulation, employment standards, security guards, industry board, unemployment, electronic notices, compensation, digital communication, order processing

Transcript Highlights:

• Asloxen, staff to the committee.
• Asloxen staff to the committee.
• Any questions for staff on this?
• Again, for the record, Erin Gutierrez, committee staff.
• When somebody hits send on that, they don't have to send it through the staff and have the staff ask,

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And I don't want to forget about professional staff this year.
• I have a question about those professional staff.
• And we're just completely being devastated by other agencies hiring our staff.
• It's not just the feds; everybody's hiring your staff. Yeah, everybody, including DPS.
• Last year I'm running up and down the halls asking for pay raises for staff at DPS.

Bills: SB1048 , SB1071 , SB1092 , SB1314 , SB1391 , SB1400 , SB1401 , SB1452

Committees: Senate Public Safety , Senate Senate Public Safety Committee of Reference

Keywords: juvenile services, Coconino county, rehabilitation, detox center, financial appropriation, Arizona Rangers, statutory repeal, security, state law, regulatory changes, probation, dangerous crimes, children, Arizona Revised Statutes, criminal justice, juvenile offenses, appropriations, salary increase, corrections, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, this is Corey Patton, staff to the committee.
• Are there any questions of staff?
• I want to commend staff for their excellent briefing on the bill.
• Do members of the committee have any questions of staff?
• Do members have any questions of staff?

Bills: HB2387 , HB2490 , HB2508 , HB2539

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: elected sheriff, sheriff accountability, recall election, peace officer certification, certified peace officer, law enforcement authority, Washington RCW, criminal justice training commission, special election, public official recall, decertification, sheriff removal, voter accountability, county sheriff, police powers, extraordinary medical placement, compassionate release, medical parole, terminal illness, serious medical condition

Transcript Highlights:

• Matt Shever, committee staff.
• For the record, Kelly Gunn, staff.
• Any questions for staff?
• Any questions for staff? In the EBB. Thank you, Kelly. Any questions for staff?
• Let's hear a staff briefing from Ms. Gunn. Asa, good morning or good afternoon. Kelly Gunn, staff.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on dual credit, hearing first from the Council of Presidents and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, then from the Education Research and Data Center. The dual credit overview described Washington’s six dual credit programs, high participation rates, transferability, and recent efforts to improve transparency, pathways, and equity. Testimony emphasized both benefits and challenges, including access, funding, advising, and the need for clearer statewide coordination. ERDC outlined its annual report, dashboard, research briefs, and future work on school-level factors and possible causal effects of dual credit participation. No votes were taken during the work session. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. SB 6227 would direct WSAC to work with public higher education institutions to create formal data collection protocols for parenting students and convene a work group to recommend how to identify and support them. Senator Wilson and multiple student and advocacy witnesses supported the bill, citing the lack of consistent statewide data and the barriers parenting students face; WSAC testified that its research found significant food, housing, and child care insecurity among these students. SB 6235 would prohibit public colleges with athletics programs from entering certain private equity or sovereign wealth fund agreements involving athletics revenues or control. Senator Holy said the bill was intended to prevent loss of institutional control, while UW and WSU testified in opposition, warning it could limit flexibility and create competitive disadvantages. The committee also heard SB 6217, which would expand Washington College Grant eligibility to students in eligible non-degree credential programs beginning in 2027-28. Supporters from the community and technical college system, a community college president, and workforce representatives said the bill would help students access short-term training for family-wage jobs and address workforce shortages, especially in construction trades. Finally, SB 6209 would restore Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship eligibility for certain private four-year and career/vocational schools if they meet a gainful-employment standard. DigiPen, Evergreen Beauty College, Seattle Film Institute, and related students and administrators testified in support, arguing the bill would preserve access for low-income and nontraditional students in career-focused programs; some witnesses on the bill’s earlier panel also urged that certificate and two-year programs be included. The hearings were managed with shortened testimony times because of the large number of sign-ins, and no final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The difference there is we have a request for a number of staff, temporary staff, to do, you know, we
• I'm Jared Sachs, staff to the committee.
• I'm Jared Sachs, staff to the committee.
• I'm Jared Sachs staff to the committee.
• It's a question for staff.

Bills: SB5437 , SB6152 , SB6058 , SB5944 , SB6039 , SB6117

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: noncompete, noncompetition agreement, restrictive covenant, nonsolicitation, employment contract, worker mobility, labor law, wage suppression, trade secrets, confidentiality agreement, franchise, independent contractor, employee mobility, economic growth, entrepreneurship, job mobility, restraint of trade, customer solicitation, post-employment restrictions, FTC noncompete rule

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the staff coordinator for the Law and Justice Committee.
• Tim Ford, staff with the committee.
• For the record, Maya Eita, staff counsel to this committee.
• Any other questions for staff?
• Tim Ford, staff with the committee.

Bills: SB5865 , SB5880 , SB5912 , SB5837 , SB5855

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: garnishment, debt, form standardization, financial protection, legal processes, toxicology testing, laboratories, accreditation, public health, standards, indigent defense, task force, criminal justice, legal aid, public defense, guardianship, conservatorship, protective arrangement, protective arrangements, supported decision-making

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m the staff coordinator for the Law and Justice Committee.
• Tim Ford, staff with the committee.
• For the record, Maya Eita, staff counsel to this committee.
• Any other questions for staff?
• Tim Ford, staff with the committee.

Summary: The committee began with introductions and then heard Senate Bill 5865, which would repeal statutory garnishment answer forms and require use of Washington Pattern Forms Committee forms instead. Staff, the prime sponsor, and judges’ association witnesses said the bill is a technical fix that would make garnishment calculations more accurate and efficient without changing substantive law. A collectors’ association witness said the current statutory form can be used if needed until new forms are available and raised concerns about the timeliness of pattern form updates, but was open to working on language. The public hearing on SB 5865 was then closed. The committee next heard Senate Bill 5880, which would allow blood and breath toxicology results to be admissible if tested by an ISO/IEC 17025-certified or accredited forensic lab. The sponsor and supporters, including the Seattle city attorney and traffic safety experts, described severe backlogs at the state toxicology lab, with some DUI blood results taking many months or longer and cases expiring before charges can be filed. Counties, prosecutors, sheriffs, and defense representatives generally agreed the backlog is a serious problem, but several warned the bill could shift costs to local governments, create uneven access to private testing, and raise due process concerns unless discovery cooperation is required. The committee then closed the hearing on SB 5880. Senate Bill 5912 would reinstate the indigent defense task force to study Washington’s public defense system and report recommendations by 2028. Supporters from counties, cities, public defense offices, and tribal interests said the statewide shortage of defense attorneys and rising costs are straining local budgets and delaying access to counsel, especially in rural and eastern Washington. Some witnesses urged the bill be amended to add more stakeholder representation, including clients and practitioners, and cautioned that the task force should not delay immediate action on funding and caseload standards. The hearing on SB 5912 was then closed. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5837, a broad update to guardianship, conservatorship, and protective arrangement procedures. The bill would lower the minimum age for a proposed guardian from 21 to 18, expand notice options, clarify appointment of counsel, and streamline service and hearing procedures. Testimony was largely supportive, especially from kinship caregivers, legal aid, and estate-law practitioners who said the bill would reduce costly publication requirements and improve access to justice, though some witnesses requested amendments on notice, waiver language, emergency procedures, and counsel provisions. The committee reported 40 pro and 70 con sign-ins on the bill, then moved on. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 5855, which would prohibit law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing facial coverings during public interactions except in limited circumstances such as undercover work, SWAT operations, or health and safety needs. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to increase transparency, accountability, and trust, especially for immigrant and marginalized communities, while opponents argued it could endanger officers, conflict with federal authority, and is tied to ongoing litigation over similar California legislation. Testimony was sharply divided, with some witnesses emphasizing public fear and trauma from masked officers and others arguing the bill would make officers more vulnerable and create constitutional problems. The hearing continued with additional public testimony after the excerpt ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• TODAY OUR STAFF DIRECTOR MARTY WHO IS AWESOME WILL BEGIN BY DISCUSSING OUR CURRENT YEAR BASE BUDGET HE
• WITH YOUR INDULGENCE I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST INTRODUCE OUR COMMITTEE STAFF.
• STAFF ATTORNEYS.
• THE MORE WE PUT PRESSURE ON THE SYSTEM TO STAFF THESE HOUSING UNITS THAT WE DON'T HAVE STAFF FOR IN FTE
• OF THE VACANCY RATES IN THE PANHANDLE AND NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA, WE'VE STRUGGLED MORE TO STAFF.

Transcript Highlights:

• > re-entry staff conducted 5,363 re-entry staff conducted 5,363 employment<00:37:15.920><c> assessments
• I mean, staff come to work every day.
• uh anytime they see a staff addressed uh anytime they see a staff member<00:59:07.200><c> going</c><
• I just want to add that we do have staff therapists for any staff member who ends up, you know, day in
• 01:20.559><c> any</c> staff therapists for any staff therapists for any &gt;&gt; staff<01:01:22.160><

Bills: HB60

Committee: Joint Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the student and other students and staff the student and other students and staff in<00:16:53.760
• </c> By February 9th, we had 157 staff By February 9th, we had 157 staff injuries.<00:16:58.440><c> 110
• Then we had 157 staff, and I think it was 110 at the K-3 level of staff that were hurt by kids.
• <c> academic,</c> staff means students' academic, staff means students' academic, communication,<01:19
• </c> students, staff, and families. students, staff, and families.

Bills: HF3493 , HF4114

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee discussion and staff directives.
• And with the staff retention that we've had over the last few years, I've lost almost no staff over the
• needs of all of those people, the staff involved, the staff involved...
• needs of all of those people, the staff involved, the staff involved, Barr gives us a structure to have
• Community discussion and staff directives.

Committee: Joint Education Committee

Summary: The meeting focused heavily on dual credit programming across North Dakota, with presentations from Valley City State University, Lake Region State College, Fargo Public Schools, and teachers from West Fargo and Drake-Anamoose. Speakers described dual credit as a way to give high school students college-level rigor, reduce future tuition costs, and help students explore academic and career pathways. Several presenters emphasized that strong local relationships between colleges and school districts are central to program quality, especially in rural areas where access to advanced coursework can be limited. Valley City State University outlined its quality-control model, including annual teacher trainings, syllabus and outcomes alignment, faculty evaluations, qualification standards, school visits, and a goal of building 24-credit College Studies Certificates. The university reported about 504 students in the fall and 559 in the spring, with roughly 5,539 projected credit hours and about 130 students expected to earn the 24-credit certificate. Members asked about faculty qualifications, online versus in-person delivery, student retention, revenue, and whether a more centralized statewide model might be more efficient; the presenter said centralization could reduce duplication but might weaken local relationships and choice. Lake Region State College described a broader regional model, with about 913 dual credit students last fall across 44 school districts, roughly half of them taking online college courses and half taking face-to-face courses taught by qualified high school teachers serving as adjuncts. The college said it has paid for graduate credits to help teachers meet credentialing requirements and reimburses districts for teacher support and materials. Fargo Public Schools reported 50 dual credit courses through multiple higher-ed partners, 1,571 enrollments, and a 12.61% increase in participation, while also raising concerns about inconsistent registration systems, credentialing requirements, and transfer clarity across institutions. Teachers from West Fargo and Drake-Anamoose reinforced the value of dual credit, while noting concerns about retention in foundational science courses and the importance of maintaining rigor and support for students.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a staff attorney uh with Judy Nord.
• Um, but I hit these barriers with whether it's agency staff, county staff, maybe it's funding concerns
• </c><00:29:33.440><c> county</c><00:29:33.840><c> staff</c> whether it's agency staff county staff whether
• </c> staff related to intake and screening. staff related to intake and screening.
• staff and other staff that our licensing staff and other staff within<02:12:17.199><c> other</c><02: