Transcript Highlights:

• Patients too often face confusing disputes with insurance carriers over ambulance services, which are
• Because they are very different versus driving everybody to insurance carriers.
• It will save the employer money in providing health insurance. We're trying to drive down the cost.
• Health insurance so that employers will provide that for their employees and not take it out of their
• I'm not sure that the employer-sponsored insurance.

Bills: SB502 , SB513 , SB622 , SB670 , SB731 , SB732 , SB916 , SB961 , SB1122

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• And it means providing unemployment insurance for our hourly school workers as well.
• </c><00:09:59.920><c> for</c> school worker unemployment insurance for school worker unemployment insurance
• </c> ability to have unemployment insurance. ability to have unemployment insurance.
• ,</c> funding for unemployment insurance, funding for unemployment insurance, putting<00:25:35.520><c
• Members, this unemployment insurance<00:27:12.880><c> extension</c> insurance extension insurance extension

Transcript Highlights:

• Does this move reduce the cost of insurance? It does not. It shifts the cost to employees.
• And so in the future, everyone still has health insurance.
• And how many of you in the year 2000 had an auto insurance deductible that was $250 or $500?
• And how many of you in the year 2000 had a auto insurance deductible that was $250 or $500?
• fully insured.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up several procedural motions, including suspending House rules for three legislative days and replacing conference committee members on Senate Bill 2282 and SCR 4007. The chamber also recognized visiting student groups from Grafton/Pleasant Valley and Shiloh School. Later, the House agreed to several conference committee reports and moved a number of measures through final passage or final disposition. House Bill 1428, which would have created a sales tax exemption for clothing sold by thrift stores or nonprofit corporations, drew extensive debate over tax policy, revenue loss, and possible conflicts with streamlined sales tax rules. Supporters argued it would help lower-income shoppers and nonprofit thrift stores, while opponents said it created an unfair advantage and could reduce state and local revenue. The conference report was adopted, but the bill ultimately failed on final vote, 37-54. House Bill 1440, relating to cigar lounges, was amended in conference and then passed 75-17. House Bill 1460, concerning adult foster care for private-pay adults, electronic monitoring, and a legislative study, was also adopted and passed overwhelmingly, 91-1. The House then passed Senate Bill 2224, which revises gaming commission structure and gaming stamp requirements, adds Attorney General enforcement provisions, and includes a $25,000 general fund appropriation, by a vote of 88-0. Senate Bill 2327, which expands uses of the agriculture diversification and development fund and appropriates $15 million to it, passed 74-17 after a member was excused from voting due to a personal interest. Senate Bill 2267, creating a regulatory framework for on-site wastewater treatment systems and shifting licensing authority to the Department of Environmental Quality, passed 82-10, and Senate Bill 2276, addressing joint water resource boards for cross-county projects, passed 90-1. The most contentious debate centered on Senate Bill 2160, which would move the state employee health plan from grandfathered status to a non-grandfathered ACA-compliant plan and appropriate about $6.6 million for the transition. Supporters said it would give the PERS board more flexibility, expand preventive and other benefits, and potentially slow premium growth without charging employees premiums. Opponents warned it could raise out-of-pocket costs, add mandated benefits, and shift costs to employees, while also arguing the bill had not been adequately studied. After extended debate, the House passed SB 2160 by a vote of 55-37. The chamber also concurred in Senate amendments to House Bill 1318, a pesticide labeling bill, and placed it on final passage, but the transcript ends before the final vote on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• The third bid was initially rejected because it provided $3 million in construction insurance, while
• The insurance issue has since been resolved, and the company has confirmed it will provide the required
• $5 million in construction insurance coverage.
• And this will provide us with continuing actuarial services related to the new property insurance captive
• And I know we have Senator Petty, who chairs the insurance subcommittee, and he may want to offer any

Committee: All ALC-EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The Executive Subcommittee met and first considered a waiver request from the Stuttgart School District to use the TIPS interlocal purchasing system for a turf replacement project instead of a traditional competitive bid. Superintendent Jeff McKinney explained that three bids were received but none fully met the RFP specifications, including warranty and insurance requirements. After review by the district’s architect, the committee approved the waiver request by voice vote. The committee then approved a consultant services agreement between the Bureau of Legislative Research and Work Ed Consulting to support the Hospital Medicaid Developmental Disability Subcommittee’s study under Act 145. Legislators said the consultant would help develop workforce-system reform legislation for the 2027 session, and noted the firm’s experience in other states. The contract runs through June 30, 2027, with a maximum amount of $158,000, and was approved without opposition. Next, the committee approved an actuarial and consultant services agreement with Perrin Knight to provide ongoing actuarial support for the state property insurance captive and related legislative oversight work. Bureau staff said the contract would run from April 1 through December 31, 2027, with a maximum amount of $475,000, though only actual hours and travel would be billed. Members asked about budgeting, invoice timing, and overlap with other insurance consultants, and the agreement was approved. Finally, the committee approved using Bureau committee room funds to renovate Committee Room C in the Big Mac Building, citing outdated audiovisual equipment and the need to update the room to match other recent renovations before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Short-term plans are a good alternative for affordable insurance when somebody is running into issues
• I would also declare a Rule 80, as I do hold an insurance license. Representative Beiswenger?
• They do hold an insurance license. Thank you. Representative Weiswinger? For a motion.
• To declare Rule 80, I also hold an insurance license and ask a question.
• Do you have an insurance plan, or are we looking at Medicaid? I believe that's how it would work.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance policies, will be that they can't afford it.
• And we’re completely self-insured in this space, right?
• that level, excess insurance does not kick in.
• But we do have some commercial insurance.
• that level, excess insurance does not kick in, but we do have some commercial insurance.

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met for a work session and first heard an economic and revenue forecast update from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council. The forecast described moderate U.S. growth, elevated near-term inflation, weak Washington employment growth in 2026, continued personal income growth, and slower housing permit activity. Revenues were revised up about $105 million for the current biennium and down about $185 million for the next biennium, with uncertainty tied largely to tariffs, federal policy, and the recent federal shutdown. Members asked about the outlook for February, income inequality, and housing affordability; the presenter said the forecast does not measure income distribution and that housing permit data does not directly address affordability. The committee then received a caseload forecast update. Most forecasts were unchanged or nearly unchanged, but several programs moved: Washington College Grant caseloads rose, TANF and Working Connections changed due to immigration-related assumptions and updated policy timing, and long-term care caseloads increased. The largest change was in Medicaid low-income adults, where federal H.R. 1 was projected to reduce caseloads significantly through narrower non-citizen eligibility, community engagement requirements, and shorter eligibility periods. Members raised concerns about downstream effects such as uncompensated care and higher premiums, and the presenter noted some effects could be delayed depending on federal implementation guidance. A wildfire funding and 2025 fire season update followed. Staff explained the state’s base wildfire suppression funding and estimated a supplemental need of about $139 million in state funds. DNR reported a busy fire year with lower snowpack, drought, more than 1,100 DNR jurisdictional fires, about 76,000 acres burned, 31 aircraft used, 690 DNR firefighters, and 350 out-of-state resources brought in; the agency said its suppression effectiveness improved to 94.1% of fires kept under 10 acres. Questions focused on National Guard use, aircraft counts, and the higher number of residences lost in complex fires. The committee then heard a budget preview showing the near general fund outlook worsening to about a $4.3 billion ending balance by fiscal year 2029 after maintenance-level costs, while noting that policy items such as wildfire costs and liability account decisions were not yet built in. The final major topic was the state’s tort liability and self-insurance account, where the Risk Manager reported a sharp rise in indemnity costs, from $223 million in fiscal year 2023 to nearly $500 million in fiscal year 2025, driven largely by DCYF claims, especially sex abuse cases. Defense costs also rose as the Attorney General’s Office relied more on special assistant attorneys general to handle volume. Members asked about older claims, comparisons with other states, insurance coverage, and whether costs might decline if the AG’s office hires more attorneys. The committee then shifted to water policy, hearing from tribal leaders, Ecology, and the Washington Water Trust about statewide water shortages, declining snowpack, drought, overappropriated basins, and the need for more storage, recharge, conservation, and enforcement. Tribal witnesses emphasized water sovereignty, salmon habitat, and the need for tribes to be involved early in legislation, while Ecology described major projects in the Odessa and Yakima basins and the challenges of climate change and legal constraints. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• , here under the leadership of Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.
• Student health insurance is a very specific form of health insurance offered by universities and colleges
• On behalf of Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
• To date, I have a total of $4,752 in health insurance fees.
• I reached out to Stanford's Student Health Insurance Office, where I spoke with the student health insurance

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 8 and heard a long series of bills, beginning with AB 54 on medication abortion access. The author and supporters, including the Attorney General’s office and reproductive justice advocates, said the bill would protect California’s medication abortion supply chain and shield providers and manufacturers from civil, criminal, and professional liability. Opponents from the California Family Council argued the bill removes safeguards and increases risks. The bill was moved forward on a committee motion. The committee then heard several reproductive and public health measures, including AB 551 to create a pilot program supporting emergency departments in providing reproductive health services, AB 260 to protect medication abortion access and telehealth, AB 309 to remove sunset dates on laws allowing pharmacy syringe sales and lawful possession of sterile syringes, AB 536 to preserve colorectal cancer screening coverage if federal guidelines are challenged, AB 804 to make housing support services a Medi-Cal benefit, AB 594 to address student health insurance billing and transparency, AB 836 to study and expand the midwifery workforce, AB 1418 to collect data on health coverage for eligible employees, and AB 1500 to maintain and expand the abortion.ca.gov information site. Supporters emphasized access, preventive care, workforce shortages, and public health benefits, while opponents raised concerns about abortion, syringe distribution, and the focus of state resources. Most measures were advanced by committee vote, with roll calls showing broad support and a few no votes from members on some bills. The final bill discussed in the transcript was AB 1037, which would update substance use disorder laws to reflect evidence-based, harm-reduction approaches and remove barriers to treatment. The author and supporters described it as a compassionate response to overdose and treatment access problems, while law enforcement opposition argued it would encourage drug use and endanger communities. The transcript cuts off during testimony on AB 1037, so no final committee action on that bill is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not a bill to direct all insurance companies to cover this benefit.
• These costs continue to increase the cost of health insurance.
• But so is this continual increase of health insurance premiums across all of this state.
• So I really... ...health insurance premiums across all of this state.
• So the cost is spread out over all of the members of the insurance. That's what insurance is.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum call showing 46 members present. It then took up multiple House messages and amendments, appointing conference committees on several measures, including SB 2007, SCR 4007, SB 2374, SB 233, and House bills 1029, 1218, and 1022. The chamber also considered a series of House bills on the sixth and 14th orders, often adopting committee amendments before final passage or, in some cases, rejecting the bill outright. Among the major policy items, the Senate passed HB 1524 on regional planning council grants, HB 1143 increasing a food bank appropriation to $10 million, HB 1126 modernizing cosmetology licensing and inspections, HB 1542 making student applications for admission exempt records, HB 1613 regulating law enforcement use of robots, HB 1582 directing a study on false reports and accusations, HB 1214 revising school transportation funding, HB 1448 creating a study on advanced technologies, HB 1280 on drainage project voting rules, HB 1499 protecting records related to federal judges, and several Senate bills returned from the House, including SB 2221, SB 2117, SB 2198, SB 2120, and SB 2214. The Senate also adopted amendments to HB 1541 on septic systems before rejecting it on final passage. Several high-profile bills failed after debate. HB 1566, dealing with kratom regulation, saw an amendment to convert it to a study fail on a 21-25 vote, after which the chamber laid the bill over for one legislative day rather than take final action. HB 1283, which would have eliminated cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams in the state employee plan, was defeated 22-24 after extensive debate over cost, precedent, and insurance impacts. HB 1527, requiring Holocaust education in statute, also failed 22-24, with supporters emphasizing the importance of the subject and opponents arguing curriculum belongs in standards rather than statute. The Senate adjourned after announcements, scheduling its next meeting for Monday, April 14, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• worked on with the insurers on it worked on with the insurers on it because<00:28:39.760><c> they've<
• And this is something with the insurers.
• Um and insurance for their children.
• </c><00:54:08.480><c> Does</c><00:54:08.800><c> does</c> health insurance?
• </c> child the health insurance? child the health insurance? &gt;&gt; I'm<00:55:09.599><c> sorry.

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division A

Transcript Highlights:

• In turn, it drives up the cost of flood and fire insurance.
• In Florida, most national insurers are pulling out.
• Many Floridians can't get or can't afford homeowners insurance. and many more have rickety insurance
• I commend the report on when insurers exit, climate losses, fragile insurers, and mortgage markets.
• This is causing homeowners insurance rates to go up, and homeowners insurance non-renewals to go up.

Committee: Senate Senate Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate File 2457 is an insurance provision supported by the insurance industry, and I can turn it over
• > by</c><00:39:42.880><c> the</c> insurance provision supported by the insurance provision supported
• The data insurance holding company.
• </c> as those who defraud a private insurer. as those who defraud a private insurer.
• </c> insurance program. Thank you. insurance program. Thank you. Thank<02:15:18.960><c> you.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Because it's for insurance companies and medical providers to make sure.
• So we were working with other insurance companies.
• It just helps the insurance company be able to not misinterpret what the benefit is.
• So just for the record, our insurance law is, needless to say, complicated.
• Insurance. It was changed in 68 different places throughout the law.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up the committee substitute for HB 38, a complex insurance bill concerning coverage for prosthetics, orthotics, and complex rehab technology. The sponsor and expert witness explained that the substitute made technical clarifications across multiple sections of law, including explicit coverage language, restoration of services and supplies, and replacement timing rules to avoid overuse while preserving access when a patient’s medical needs change. They said the changes had been reviewed and supported by the Office of Superintendent of Insurance and insurers, and there was no opposition from the public. Members asked about the need to return the bill to committee because of the number of statutory changes, and the sponsor said the Speaker wanted a clean committee substitute before floor action. The committee adopted the substitute and then approved a do pass recommendation on the committee substitute for HB 38, with no opposition. The committee then heard House Memorial 59, which requests a study of fair compensation for foster parents, including consideration of a cost-of-living allowance, with findings due to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee by November 30. CYFD testified that the study would likely use a contractor and that the department already has related recruitment, retention, and placement work underway. Members asked about foster parent numbers, foster care plus stipends, Social Security benefits for children in care, and clothing allowances; CYFD explained current payment structures, including a $50 monthly clothing amount built into the rate and separate vouchers in some cases. The committee heard supportive testimony from the New Mexico Child First Network and then voted do pass on HM 59 without opposition. The chair announced there would be no meeting the next day and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 18, a $1.1 million annual increase for insurance and compensation needs.
• To that, we added on line thirty-three insurance and compensation at $8.4 million per year.
• To that, we added on line 65, $8,000 a year for insurance and compensation.
• To that, we added insurance and compensation increases on line 73 of $2.77 million per year.
• To that, we added on line 81, an insurance and compensation increase of $174,000 per year.

Bills: HF2300

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• the Delaware Code relating to certified registered nurse anesthetists, out of Banking, Business, Insurance
• Titles 4 and 16 of the Delaware Code relating to alcohol and marijuana, out of Banking, Business, Insurance
• the Delaware Code relating to certified registered nurse anesthetists, out of Banking, Business, Insurance
• An Act to amend Titles 18, 29, and 31 of the Delaware Code relating to insurance coverage for treatment
• An Act to amend Title 18, Title 29, and Title 31 of the Delaware Code relating to insurance coverage

Summary: The Senate received a large number of House communications and committee reports, including several nominations and many bills and resolutions returned from House committees or passed by the House. Committee reports covered a wide range of topics, including education, health, judiciary, finance, housing, transportation, emergency management, and business/technology. The Senate also assigned several measures to committees for further consideration and noted upcoming committee meetings. The chamber confirmed three nominations by roll call: Michael T. Scuse to the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, J. Eric Firewold to the University of Delaware Board of Trustees, and Joan F. Coker to the University of Delaware Board of Trustees. The Senate also passed Consent Calendar 66, which included Senate Concurrent Resolution 223 on DIA broadcast access for playoff and championship games and House Concurrent Resolution 149 designating June 12, 2026, as Loving Day in Delaware. Members discussed Loving Day and the importance of recognizing interracial marriage rights, with Senator Huxstable, Senator Buckson, and Senator Townsend offering remarks. On the floor, the Senate passed House Bill 141, requiring a firearm responsibilities notice for gun purchasers, after debate over gun safety and industry burden; House Substitute 1 for House Bill 200, as amended, expanding insurance coverage for HIV prevention medications PrEP and PEP; House Bill 426, modernizing municipal street-aid reporting; and Senate Resolution 21, directing a study of portable solar generation devices and related safety and utility issues. The Senate also passed Consent Agenda O, a large package of bills covering topics such as money transmission and stablecoins, nursing advancement, pilot licenses, commerce and trade, subaqueous lands, driver’s license loss due to medical issues, residential speed limits, electronic bidding, family court jurisdiction, agency regulations, technical corrections to multiple local charters, and other measures. The Senate then recessed until June 25, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Office of the Insurance Commission related to the insurance mandate states there's no fiscal impact
• to the office of the insurance commission, and PEIA indicated no fiscal impact related to the insurance
• The Office of the Insurance Commission related to the insurance mandate states there's no fiscal impact
• to the office of the insurance commission, and PEIA indicated no fiscal impact related to the insurance
• agency for treatment of a medical condition to receive an alternative employee's insurance agency for

Summary: The committee met, approved the March 5, 2026 minutes, and then took up several health- and human-services-related bills. House Bill 5086, concerning peer support programs for covered caregivers, was explained as creating training and testimonial privilege protections; the committee adopted an amendment clarifying that boards may still require participation in a board-designated professional health program, and then reported the bill to the full Senate with the recommendation that it do pass. House Bill 5004, an educational bill on PANS and PANDAS, was supported by the sponsor, who described his family’s experience and the importance of earlier diagnosis; it was reported to the Senate without amendment. House Bill 5327, which would require the Department of Human Services to create an ALS services program, also received supportive testimony from the sponsor and members, but the transcript reflects the bill being reported as House Bill 537; it was moved forward without amendment. The committee then considered House Bill 5096, which would remove personal care and intellectual/developmental disability waiver services from certificate-of-need review. The sponsor argued the change would reduce regulatory burden and expand access, while a county aging-program director testified that certificate-of-need revenues help fund senior meals and services and that eliminating the requirement would reduce important support for aging providers. After a division vote, the motion to report the bill failed 3-9. House Bill 4695, allowing PEIA patients to switch to an alternative medically appropriate covered treatment without new prior authorization if it costs no more than the original treatment, was explained as carrying an estimated $13 million annual cost to PEIA and was reported to the Senate. The committee also advanced House Bill 5582, enacting the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, after discussion of a committee amendment removing a new-background-check-at-initial-licensure provision; the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported. Another House Bill 5582, concerning the TANF drug screening program, was described as removing the sunset date and allowing oral fluid testing in addition to urine samples; it too was reported. Finally, House Bill 5466 renamed the batterer intervention program as an abuse intervention program and allowed live synchronous virtual delivery with an in-person option; the sponsor said the change would expand access statewide, and the bill was reported to the Senate. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Would an insurer be able to look at that? Would insurers also have access to that data as well?
• It's not the hospitals or the insurers.
• It's not the hospitals or the insurers.
• Landry mentioned, you know, we need to look at insurers.
• And finally, I would love to add insurance companies.

Bills: HB946 , HB1093 , SB26 , SB29 , SB30 , SB195 , SB219 , SB222 , SB255 , SB314 , SCR2 , SCR22

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: healthcare transparency, hospital pricing, consumer protection, collection actions, fines, naturopathic medicine, Louisiana Board of Naturopathic Medicine, licensing, healthcare, prescriptive authority, natural therapies, opioid treatment, regulation, addiction recovery, state law, SB 29, Act 732, coroner, autopsy, child death

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:10.800><c> uh</c> homeowners insurance on line 89. uh homeowners insurance on line 89. uh
• This is from insurance affordability.
• And finally, establishing a task force to study insurance impacts in Minnesota.
• And finally, establishing a task force to study insurance impacts in Minnesota.
• And finally, establishing a task force to study insurance impacts in Minnesota.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of your cities are self-insured, right? Is that correct? We do have self-insured cities.
• The Office of the Insurance Commissioner regulates fully insured health plans in Washington, including
• insurer loss exposure, improving the health and insurance market in the state.
• insurer loss exposure, improving the health and insurance market in the state.
• Approximately 16% are fully insured, 32% are self-insured, including PEBB and SEBB, 24% are on Medicaid

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on February 6, 2026, and first voted to suspend the five-day notice rule for all bills on the agenda. Senators Braun and Gildon objected, arguing the bill needed more public review and that the fiscal note had only just been released, but a roll call vote passed 15-9 and the committee proceeded to Senate Bill 6346. Staff briefed SB 6346 as a proposal to create a 9.9% income tax on Washington taxable income above a $1 million per-household standard deduction, with a $50,000 charitable deduction, apportionment rules for nonresidents and certain professions, quarterly estimated payments, and credits for capital gains tax and certain business taxes. Staff said the tax would begin in 2029 and eventually raise about $3.5 billion annually from roughly 30,000 taxpayers. The bill also would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, create a sales tax exemption for grooming and hygiene products, increase the small business B&O tax credit and filing threshold, and end the B&O surcharge on high-grossing businesses one year early. Members questioned the bill’s constitutionality, its exemption from referendum, treatment of student athletes, natural-resource industries, and whether real estate gains would be captured. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including labor groups, educators, health care advocates, counties, child care workers, and some business owners and high-income individuals, said the bill would make the tax code more progressive and provide stable funding for health care, education, child care, public defense, and other services, while expanding the Working Families Tax Credit. Opponents, including many small business, construction, housing, and taxpayer advocates, argued the measure would function as a tax on pass-through businesses and retained earnings, harm housing production and investment, encourage wealthy residents and businesses to leave the state, and violate the state constitution or the will of voters. No final action on SB 6346 was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um, this is an unemployment insurance bill. It's about the SCUF fund.
• It will also, if the regular unemployment insurance fund is not up to where it should be according to
• It's about the scuff insurance bill.
• insurance and we didn't<00:01:48.000><c> have</c><00:01:48.079><c> the</c><00:01:48.240><c> money</c
• ><c> fund</c><00:02:43.440><c> is</c> regular unemployment insurance fund is regular unemployment insurance

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• To start understanding better the impact that the cost of health insurance has on our provider members
• So the survey covered... ...the cost of health insurance.
• And then, as Stephanie mentioned, we added in a health insurance question this year.
• That was our fifth finding: rising health insurance costs are a major financial burden.
• Also, given the health insurance premium increases... ...hundred people waiting.

Summary: The Workforce Support Subcommittee of the Status of Persons with Disabilities met, approved prior minutes, and heard a presentation from the Association of Developmental Disabilities Providers (ADDP) on its 2025 workforce metrics survey. ADDP described its membership and the survey’s scope, which covers community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and brain injuries. The survey had strong participation, with 102 of 132 members responding, and this year included new questions on rising health insurance costs. ADDP reported that workforce conditions have improved for a third consecutive year, with the overall vacancy rate falling from 19% in 2024 to 15% in 2025, and vacancy declines across several program areas. However, vacancies remain high in key roles such as licensed practical nurses and clinicians, nearly 4,000 positions remain unfilled, and about 1,800 people are still waiting for day services. Providers also reported major health insurance premium increases, which they said make it harder to offer competitive wages and benefits and affect recruitment and retention. Committee members discussed the impact of federal immigration policy, workforce shortages, and the need to maintain recent gains in staffing. The subcommittee then elected Rachel Caprillion and Leo Sarkisian as co-chairs by vote. Members discussed possible topics and guests for the next meeting, including training, turnover, waiting lists, direct support professional pipelines, apprenticeships, and possible speakers from state agencies, advocacy organizations, other states, and workforce programs such as JVS. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.