Video & Transcript : 'LEA' :
Page 15 of 48
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- Yeah, I guess impact to LEAs, yeah.
- It goes to 481 LEAs who receive Perkins funding for their career tech education programs.
- So this year we are actually working with six LEAs in Phelps County and one LEA in La Clede County, working
- This is grants to LEAs to improve student achievement.
- I believe the request estimated one door per LEA building.
Committee:
House Budget
Summary:
The committee first heard the Secretary of State’s FY27 budget presentation. Secretary Denny Hoskins described his office’s work on business filings, elections administration, securities enforcement, archives, libraries, and Safe at Home, and said the office had cleaned up voter rolls by removing more than 200,000 ineligible voters. Members questioned him closely about deceased voters, voter registration through DMVs, information sharing with the federal government, and whether any personal identifying information would be released; Hoskins said only publicly available information had been shared and that PII would not be released absent a court order. He also said his office had 10 pending lawsuits handled by the Attorney General’s office, and discussed budget lapses, staffing levels, and the need to spend federal and other funds before general revenue when possible.
A major portion of the discussion focused on election-related funding requests. Hoskins defended funding for ballot publication in newspapers, saying the constitution and state law require publication of statewide ballot measures and that the cost could rise sharply if many petitions or a referendum reach the ballot. Several members questioned whether the newspaper notices are still effective, while others emphasized that many Missourians still rely on print and that the requirement remains constitutional. The committee also discussed the technology services NDI tied to the sunset of the $5 business filing fee that funds IT operations, with Hoskins saying the office would need general revenue if the sunset is not extended. Other topics included absentee ballot postage reimbursement, election cost transfers, and the library networking fund, which Hoskins said has not historically been funded at the full 10 percent level.
Members also raised broader budget and policy concerns, including the office’s FTE count, the restoration of some previously cut archives/local records positions, and the need for a new voter registration system and election-night reporting system. Some members pressed Hoskins on whether his budget requests were consistent with his past calls for smaller government, while he responded that election-year obligations, cybersecurity risks, and outdated systems require investment. The committee did not take a vote on the Secretary of State items during this segment.
The committee then began the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education presentation from Commissioner Carla Eslinger. She outlined the FY27 request for the foundation formula, transportation, child care, literacy, educator workforce, and strategic planning. Eslinger said the formula increase is driven by policy changes such as enrollment-based funding and higher special education and virtual education costs; transportation needs a modest increase; child care needs general revenue to replace expiring federal funds; and literacy efforts continue to expand through science-of-reading training and state-approved assessments. She also highlighted through-year testing, grade-level descriptors, teacher recruitment and retention, and work with a new Transforming Schools group. The presentation was cut short when the committee recessed for floor activity, with no votes taken.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Education Committee Jul 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- AB 917 will force small LEAs to not only pink slip every teacher every year, not so good for morale,
- Given budget restraints and limited resources, a small LEA can't risk hiring a teacher who may not be
- A.B.917 will force small LEAs to not only pink slip every teacher every year, not so good for morale,
- Given budget restraints and limited resources, a small LEA can't risk hiring a teacher who may not be
- There is precedent through Education Code to treat small LEAs differently.
Summary:
The committee heard several education bills, beginning with AB 387 on youth sports safety and AED access. The author and supporters, including youth sports and cardiac safety advocates, said the bill would improve coordination between youth sports organizations and facilities to ensure AEDs are available and emergency response is better prepared. School administrators, county groups, and school business officials opposed unless amended, citing liability, cost, staffing, maintenance, and school security concerns. Members asked about AED portability, CPR training, and liability; the author said committee amendments were accepted, but the bill was held due to lack of quorum while negotiations continued.
AB 467 would codify the California Center for Climate Change Education at West Los Angeles College, allowing it to seek multi-year grants and other outside funding after an initial state appropriation sunsets. Supporters said the center has already trained faculty, supported paid internships and fellowships, and reached thousands of Californians, while opponents were absent. Members questioned whether codification was premature before the required report is due in 2027; the author said the measure was needed now to stabilize fundraising. The bill was also placed on hold for lack of quorum.
A major portion of the hearing focused on AB 664 and AB 2694, both dealing with community college bachelor’s degrees. AB 664 would authorize Southwestern College to seek up to four targeted bachelor’s programs to address local workforce shortages in South San Diego County; students, local officials, and community college advocates supported it, while CSU and UC opposed, arguing for a statewide solution and concern about the master plan. AB 2694 proposed a broader statewide framework for community college bachelor’s degrees with stronger workforce and partnership requirements, reduced program caps, and limits on duplication; it drew support from community college groups and students, but CSU and UC again opposed or opposed unless amended. Members discussed place-bound students, workforce needs, transfer pathways, and the need for a master-plan-level approach, but no votes were taken because the committee lacked a quorum.
The committee then heard AB 917, which would require certificated employees in very small school districts and certain county-run programs to receive permanent status under the same rules as larger districts. CTA and many educators supported the bill as a fairness and retention measure, while small school district and ROP representatives opposed, saying the current flexibility is necessary to manage enrollment swings, staffing, and specialized regional programs. Testimony emphasized the tension between job security for educators and operational flexibility for small LEAs; the hearing continued with more opposition testimony after the excerpt ended.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (02/03/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- One of these recommendations was that the New Hampshire Department of Education require the LEAs and
- require the leas and public charter<00:05:58.960><c> schools</c><00:05:59.759><c> to</c><00:06:00.000
- While most charter schools in LEAs have been able to come to agreements in completing the memorandums
- While most charter schools in LEAs have been able to come to agreements in completing the memorandums
- I thought the first priority was the LEA trying to provide the services, but can the charter school,
Summary:
The House Education Policy and Administration Committee heard testimony on HB 222, which would repeal the requirement that a chartered public school and the resident school district sign a memorandum of understanding on how students with disabilities will receive special education services. The prime sponsor, Rep. Peggy Balboni, said the bill was requested by the New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators and the New Hampshire Alliance for Public Charter Schools. She argued that federal and state law already require districts to provide FAPE and that the MOU requirement has created extra work, legal costs, and delays without improving services. She said many MOUs remain unsigned, but students are still receiving services and complaint numbers have not changed.
Rep. Mooney also supported repeal, calling the MOU duplicative and impractical because IEPs and 504 plans already govern services. Testimony from Jane B. Brulu of the special education administrators’ association and Beth McLure of the charter schools alliance echoed that view, saying the MOU has not helped students, has added hours of work and legal fees, and has mostly been a source of disputes over funding and service costs. McLure said her school has worked with more than 15 districts and has always been able to reach agreements, though the first year of the requirement took substantial time and money. Committee members asked about the original purpose of the law, unsigned MOUs, and whether disputes could be resolved without the requirement.
A representative from the Department of Education said the MOU was originally proposed to address reports that some students were not getting services on time and to provide some oversight, but the department has no authority to order charter schools or districts to agree and no appeal process if they cannot. The department also said it does not currently audit charter school special education services because it lacks authority to monitor charter schools directly, and it urged the committee to consider some alternative oversight if the MOU requirement is repealed. The hearing on HB 222 was then closed, and the committee announced it would begin the hearing on HB 699 after a short break.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Jun 15th, 2026
Budget and Fiscal Review
Transcript Highlights:
- Additionally, public dollars that are going to private entities for the non-LEA state preschool programs
- supports the paid pregnancy disability leave proposal, but as currently proposed, it excludes other LEA
- supports the paid pregnancy disability leave proposal, but as currently proposed, it excludes other LEA
- for a better reimbursement mechanism for the paid pregnancy leave that actually reflects the cost to LEAs
- for a better reimbursement mechanism for the paid pregnancy leave that actually reflects the cost to LEAs
Committee:
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Education Policy Committee Feb 12th, 2025
Education Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- enrollment will not be incorporated into the standard curriculum of the local education agencies (LEAs
- So the LEA would not be financially responsible for this course, and the guidelines for implementation
Committee:
House Education Policy
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- It also allows districts to form regional consortia to share coaching costs and requires each LEA to
- It also allows districts to form regional consortia to share coaching costs and requires each LEA to
- And each LEA would have to describe its career coaching plan in its pupil progression plan.
Committee:
House Education
Keywords:
higher education, accountability, curriculum review, faculty governance, disciplinary procedures, SB 28, Act 233, associate educator program, associate teachers, teacher certification, alternative teacher pathway, education workforce, teacher shortage, minimum age, age requirement, Louisiana schools, Title 17, R.S. 17:7.8, educator pipeline, teacher recruitment
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Government, Elections And Indian Affairs Feb 9th, 2026 at 08:35 am
House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- which we can use on various state programs, and then the remainder of the funds go directly to the LEAs
- Funds go directly to the LEAs, depending upon how many students with disabilities they have in their
- We don't need to separate them out because they're part of the school districts; they're LEAs themselves
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Transportation Sep 30th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you, Chair Leas, and, you know, first and foremost, I'd like to thank the Transportation Committee
- Thank you, Senator Leas and members of the committee, Mark McKechny from the Traffic Safety Commission
- Thank you, Senator Leas and members of the committee, Mark McKechny from the Traffic Safety Commission
Summary:
The Senate Transportation Committee met in Yakima to focus on tribal traffic safety, with members and Yakima Nation leaders emphasizing the importance of safety, the right to travel, and continued partnership on U.S. 97 corridor improvements. Yakima Nation Vice Chair Christopher Wallachie and engineering staff described the Tribal Traffic Safety Committee, the U.S. 97 safety project, heritage connectivity trails, roundabout construction, and the use of federal grants and advanced sensing technology to identify hazards before crashes occur. They highlighted collaboration with WSDOT, the Traffic Safety Commission, the University of Washington, and other regional partners, and explained that the goal is to move from reactive crash response to proactive risk reduction.
The Yakima Nation engineering team and AI Vision presented the MUST sensor project, which uses compact AI-enabled devices to collect traffic counts, speeds, near-miss events, roadway conditions, and pedestrian activity, with data transmitted to a dashboard and used for real-time warnings and longer-term planning. Committee members asked about speed tracking, driver behavior, enforcement, and partnerships with WSDOT and counties. Yakima Nation staff said the relationship with WSDOT has improved over time, especially after community outreach on proposed roundabouts, and that the tribe now supports several roundabout projects and broader safety coordination.
The Washington Traffic Safety Commission then presented statewide fatality trends and tribal traffic safety data. Mark McKekney said 2024 showed a roughly 10% decrease in fatalities statewide, though recent years remain among the highest in decades. He noted that race and ethnicity data are only available for people who die in crashes, and that many American Indian and Alaska Native fatalities involve passengers, pedestrians, or bicyclists rather than drivers. Penny Rerick outlined tribal traffic safety coordinator grants and other state-funded tribal projects, including work with Yakama Nation, Colville, Kalispel, Makah, Port Gamble S'Klallam, Muckleshoot, Lower Elwha, and Puyallup, stressing that flexible state funding helps fill gaps left by federal programs and supports community-led solutions.
The final presentation covered impaired driving enforcement and ignition interlock compliance in Yakima County. Yakima Police Chief Sean Boyle said the city created a DUI enforcement and education officer program that helped reduce serious injury and fatal impaired-driving crashes, supported by state funding and social media outreach. Yakima County District Court’s Nick Bazan described a supervision program for DUI offenders and interlock compliance, reporting more than 1,000 DUI convictions in 2024-25 and about 3,800 noncompliant interlock users countywide. He said the court is using a two-pronged approach—pretrial assistance for indigent clients and post-conviction accountability and case planning—to improve compliance and reduce impaired driving. The committee expressed support for the work, noted the progress made, and adjourned the work session after thanking presenters for their updates.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Feb 16th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Washington Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Gildon, Gainer, Hansen, Harris, Hasegawa, Holy, Hunt, Kaufman, King, Krishna Dosson, Leas, Lovelet, Lovick
- Leas. Lovelett. Lovick. McEwen, Drew. Mecky. Vizal. Nobles. O'Wall. Nobles, aye. Orwall, aye.
Bills:
SB5223 , SB6071 , SB5966 , SB6061 , SB6016 , SB5973 , SB5053 , SB5249 , SB5899 , SB6190 , SB5574 , SB5873 , SB5924 , SB6263 , SB6282 , SB5950 , SB6074 , SB6096 , SB5609 , SB5901 , SB5943 , SB5975 , SJM8016 , SB5907 , SB6031 , SB6155 , SB6158 , SB6227 , SB5947 , SB6085 , SB6234 , SB6274 , SB5909 , SB6044 , SB6239 , SB6045 , SB6089 , SB6170 , SB5954 , SB5762 , SB6032 , SB6066 , SB6082 , SB6164 , SB6176 , SB6319 , SB6308 , SB6200 , SB6080 , SJM8014 , SB6177 , SB6052 , SB6182 , SB5828 , SB6335 , SB6017 , SB5470 , SB5990 , SB5046 , SB5387 , SB5637 , SB5647 , SB5839 , SB5888 , SB5962 , SB6018 , SB6037 , SB6047 , SB6078 , SB6130 , SB6147 , SB6151 , SB6197 , SB6220 , SB6256 , SB6311 , SB6343
Keywords:
criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, overpayment recovery, modernization, health care, legislation, healthcare, nutrition, medically tailored meals, dietary support, food security, chronic illness, tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Education Committee Mar 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It can allow the department to focus on its core role of supporting LEAs and students with the backing
- It left a lot of LEAs in uncertainty and, candidly, still does when we think about ethnic studies.
- It left a lot of LEAs in uncertainty and, candidly, still does when we think about ethnic studies.
- And the way that plays out of getting two different answers, I know my LEA experienced that with a field
- It's not going to specifically make sure that the delivery of supports to our students and in our LEAs
Summary:
The Assembly Education Committee first heard two bills. AB 1665 by Assemblymember Pacheco would require school sports coaches to complete approved mental health training. Supporters said coaches are trusted adults who are often first to notice student-athlete distress, and a witness described personal experience with body image and disordered eating pressures in athletics. There was no opposition, and the bill was moved out of committee on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations, ultimately passing 9-0 after add-on votes. AB 2316 by Assemblymember Hoover would allow charter schools to apply for the same financial hardship relief in the state school facilities program that traditional districts can seek. Supporters argued this would improve parity and help smaller and low-income charter schools access permanent facilities; some initially opposed agencies said their concerns were addressed by amendments. The bill also passed unanimously, 9-0, to Appropriations.
The committee then took up a consent calendar containing 12 additional measures, including bills on education funding, facilities, and other school-related matters, plus a resolution. Those items were approved on a 7-0 vote, with the roll left open for add-on votes. After the bill hearing portion was recessed and later reconvened, additional members added votes to AB 1665, AB 2316, and the consent calendar, bringing each to 9-0.
The committee then held an informational hearing on state-level education governance, centered on Governor Newsom’s proposal to restructure the California Department of Education and the role of the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, with AB 2117 serving as a policy vehicle carrying the same language and no action to be taken. Testimony came from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Education Commission of the States, and former CDE chief deputy Richard Zager. Witnesses reviewed the history of California’s governance structure, compared it with other states, and discussed accountability, legislative oversight, and the role of the superintendent under the proposal. Committee members raised concerns about preserving checks and balances, the fiscal implementation plan, county-office relationships, and whether the superintendent’s role would be reduced too far; no vote was taken at the informational hearing.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- It can allow the department to focus on its core role of supporting LEAs and students with the backing
- It left a lot of LEAs in uncertainty and, candidly, still does when we think about ethnic studies.
- It left a lot of LEAs and uncertainty and candidly still does when we think about ethnic studies.
- And the way that plays out of getting two different answers, I know my LEA experienced that, And the
- way that plays out of getting two different answers, I know my LEA experienced that with a field trip
Committee:
House Education
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Youth Mental Health and Treatment Accessibility Dec 2nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- So that really is just speaking to the level of trust that our LEAs have in wanting to partner on this
- We are currently looking at how we can engage our other LEAs to build their capacity in preparation for
- We are currently looking at how we can engage our other LEAs to build their capacity in preparation for
- Our last cohort, which was five, we had 28 new LEAs coming on board.
- They just The last cohort, which was five, we had 28 new LEAs coming on board.
Summary:
The hearing focused on youth mental health and treatment access in California, with the chair opening by citing elevated distress, self-harm-related emergency visits, access barriers, and a statewide behavioral health workforce shortage. The chair and Assembly Member Lori Davies emphasized that historic state investments, including the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative and school-based mental health funding, still face implementation and sustainability challenges, especially because many programs rely on one-time dollars. The committee framed the hearing as a way to hear from county systems, providers, schools, and students to inform future policy and budget action.
Panel One described San Diego County’s behavioral health system, including Medi-Cal specialty care, payment reform, new crisis and residential facilities, workforce pipeline efforts, and the Behavioral Health Services Act transition. County and school representatives said CYBHI and the school-linked fee schedule could help make school-based services more sustainable, but they stressed that districts need technical assistance, clearer guidance, and time to build billing systems. San Marcos Unified and Poway Unified representatives said schools are now first responders for mental health, described rising acuity and the importance of counselors, peer programs, and on-campus therapy, and warned that insurance-data collection, reimbursement delays, and grant-dependent staffing threaten program stability.
In the provider panel, a child psychiatrist described the emergency-room crisis model as inadequate because youth often leave with either a short inpatient stay or a discharge plan that lacks a warm handoff, outpatient follow-up, or school coordination. He urged more school wellness time, parent education, peer support, mobile crisis response, and intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization options. Rady Children’s Hospital described major growth in behavioral health services, including depression screening, urgent care, psych emergency services, primary care integration, and a new institute combining programs, while also highlighting low reimbursement rates, long payment delays, high denial rates, and administrative burden as major barriers to sustaining care and staffing.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- improvements in the requirements for auditor training, auditor oversight, and audit guide contents for all LEAs
- the superintendent of public instruction to develop and post best practices and resources to guide LEAs
- I would like to support the significant staff time that could be required for LEA employees to be involved
- directs the Department of Housing and Community Development to collect and share information from LEAs
- So technically Lighthouse Campus community public schools we have three LEAs.
Committee:
House Education
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- To talk more, I have Ian Riggs, city manager of Albert Lea, on Zoom, to answer questions, and also Mr
- We have the city manager of Albert Lea here on Zoom.
- Uh, Ian Riggs, city manager of the city of Albert Lea, Minnesota.
- on the Albert Lea property owners, even though the benefits are shared much more broadly.
- This proposal reflects a strong joint effort between the city of Albert Lea and the Shell Rock River
Bills:
HF4343
Committee:
Senate Taxes
Keywords:
sales tax, use tax, advertising tax, taxable services, digital advertising, online marketing, marketing services, search engine marketing, lead generation, internet advertising, ad agency, media buying, campaign planning, Minnesota tax law, service tax, broadening tax base, web advertising, promotional services
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- c><00:23:50.640><c> Rigg</c><00:23:51.360><c> from</c><00:23:51.679><c> Albert</c><00:23:52.080><c> Lea
- the Zoom here, but my profile on the Zoom, my name is Ian Rigg, and I am the city manager of Albert Lea
- And a little bit about Albert Lea: it is a rural center with a little over 18,000 population for the
- </c> of Albert Lea, Minnesota. of Albert Lea, Minnesota.
- Lea, it is<00:24:19.679><c> a</c><00:24:19.920><c> rural</c><00:24:20.160><c> center</c><00:24:20.520
Committee:
Senate Transportation
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Apr 30th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We're actively partnering with LEA leaders, school leaders, instructional coaches, tribal leaders, and
- Embedded Support Project, we are establishing ownership of MLSS implementation at every participating LEA
- In partnership with pilot LEAs and classroom teachers, we are developing practical tools such as walk-through
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Capital Budget Feb 27th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Seeing none, Senator Leas, welcome. Any questions for staff? Seeing none, Senator Elias, welcome.
- Right, thank you, Senator Leas. Appreciate it. Madam Chair, are there any testifiers? No?
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 6313, which would create a Capital Centennial Stewardship Account for remodeling, repairs, interpretive and educational facilities, and other improvements to the state Capitol campus ahead of the building’s 100th anniversary in 2028. Staff explained that statewide elected officials and legislators could solicit gifts, grants, and donations for the account, with spending subject to appropriation. Prime sponsor Senator Marco Elias described the bill as a way to enhance the Capitol experience, potentially restore access to the top of the building, and raise private support for upgrades without relying solely on public funds. Members asked questions about the Capitol’s history, tourism potential, and the fundraising authority, and no public testimony was offered.
The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 6076, which would expand procurement and self-performance authority for public utility districts and other consumer-owned utilities for certain electric generation, storage, transmission, and distribution projects, largely through 2045. Staff said the bill would raise thresholds for self-performed work and allow more flexibility in bidding and contracting, with no fiscal impact to state agencies but an indeterminate local government impact from training and procedure updates. Testifiers from IBEW Local 77 and Grant PUD supported the bill, saying utilities face a backlog of infrastructure work, higher material costs, and long procurement timelines, and that the bill would speed maintenance and construction. Committee members asked about renewable energy uses, examples of qualifying projects, and whether land acquisition was included; testimony clarified that the bill focuses on equipment and project components, not land.
In executive session, the committee took up Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5901, relating to school construction assistance program facilities reports for on-base schools. Members said the bill would help military-connected school districts address gaps between state and federal funding and support quality facilities for military children. The committee approved the bill on a 16-0 vote, with three excused, and reported it out of committee with a do pass recommendation. The chair also noted that additional bills, including the Capital Centennial Account bill and the utility procurement bill heard that day, could be considered in a later executive session.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Transportation Budget Rollout Feb 23rd, 2026 at 11:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- I have to tell you that at the end of 2024, Chair Leas came to me and said, we got a budget that we're
- Senator Leas, the resources bill has a...
Summary:
Senate Transportation Committee leaders presented a bipartisan transportation budget package made up of three bills: a supplemental budget, a bond proposal, and a resources bill with technical updates. Chair Mark Olius and Ranking Member Curtis King said the plan is balanced over six years, uses conservative assumptions, and includes no new taxes, relying instead on bonding and existing revenue changes. They emphasized three priorities: preservation and maintenance of highways, bridges, ferries, and flood-damaged infrastructure; safety, including more funding for State Patrol staffing and tribal traffic safety; and job creation through infrastructure investment.
The supplemental budget would add about $1.7 billion for preservation over six years, including roughly $1.3 billion for highways, plus $100 million for preservation-related safety improvements. It also includes funding for ferry preservation, flood recovery loans for local transportation infrastructure, Columbia River dredging, the Fairfax Bridge, and State Patrol staffing. Questions from members and reporters focused on how much roadwork the preservation money would cover, why the proposal does not include funding for three additional new ferries, and how federal FEMA aid and ongoing mediation over treaty obligations factored into the budget. The senators said the first three ferries are fully funded, that future vessel purchases will be revisited later, and that flood recovery funds were included now so local governments can repair roads without waiting for federal action.
The resources bill would create a mobile driver’s license program for 2028 and dedicate a portion of future sales tax revenue to ferry operations. It also repeals the luxury aircraft tax and replaces it with higher aviation fuel taxes and annual registration fees, which the senators said better avoids unintended consequences for aircraft businesses while still requiring transportation users to contribute. The package also includes studies on hydrogen ferries and updating the in-state shipyard bid credit, and it proposes more efficient ferry maintenance and emergency response capacity at Eagle Harbor. No votes were taken in the transcript, and the senators said they would continue presenting the proposal to caucus members for support.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Oral History Committee Feb 23rd, 2026 at 08:00 am
Legislative Oral History Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- I just wanted, for a moment, to go back to a couple of things that you had mentioned, Senator Leas, about
- Back to a couple of things that you had mentioned, Senator Leas, about our current members.
Committee:
Joint Legislative Oral History Committee
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Oral History Committee Feb 23rd, 2026
Legislative Oral History Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- I just wanted, for a moment, to go back to a couple of things that you had mentioned, Senator Leas, about
- Back to a couple of things that you had mentioned, Senator Leas, about our current members.
Committee:
Joint Legislative Oral History Committee
Summary:
The Legislative Oral History Committee met to elect officers for the coming year, unanimously selecting Senator Schessler as chair and Ramos Santos as vice chair by voice vote. Staff then updated members on completed and in-progress oral history projects, including the printed oral history of former House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, which has had interviews completed and is now being edited with photographs added, and the Mary Margaret Howgan project, for which staff is still seeking a contractor to finish the work.
Members discussed where completed oral histories are stored and learned they are posted on the committee website, with some additional printed copies available and the website itself being redesigned. The committee also reviewed its finances, hearing that the account balance was $79,639.20, though members noted inconsistencies in the report and asked staff to provide a fuller accounting later. Staff said typical oral history projects cost about $10,000 to $15,000 each.
The committee received an update on TVW-produced video projects, which are complete and will be posted once the oral histories web page is ready. Staff identified the topics as the 2001 Nisqually earthquake, early legislative technology, and the PDC/party-switch history involving former legislator P.V. Reichertbauer. Members then brainstormed future projects, including campus history, leadership-focused histories, interviews with departing members, and oral histories of women and former staff who became legislators.
By motion and voice vote, the committee approved conducting oral histories of former Representative Barb Lisk and Senator Hargrove, and also established a program to interview the longest-serving retiring member of each caucus every biennium. Members discussed possible interviewers, including staff, TVW, and university-based or other nonprofit oral history practitioners, and asked staff to explore options and report back.