Transcript Highlights:

• I don't I'm not on the finance on this.
• </c> ADA, which is a one-bedroom, one bath. ADA, which is a one-bedroom, one bath.
• one of the largest expenditures<00:53:38.400><c> in</c><00:53:38.720><c> our</c><00:53:38.920><c> budget
• an on an pay additional money on an on an existing<01:05:23.680><c> claim.
• , and on and on.

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Come on down.
• Come on down.
• One child is one child too many for me. One child is just one child too many.
• talk of work on the social safety net, both as when I was chair of human services and on the budget
• I probably, on the outside, on this issue.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety bills, with extensive testimony and debate. AB 1535 would add political affiliation as a sentencing aggravator when a felony is motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived political affiliation. The author said the bill is intended to deter political violence while preserving judicial discretion; supporters framed it as a response to rising threats and attacks tied to politics. Opponents, including ACLU Cal Action, Initiate Justice, and public defender groups, argued the term is vague, could sweep in protected speech and association, and would expand punishment without addressing crime prevention. The bill was later moved on a due-pass recommendation and passed on roll call. AB 1656 would add human trafficking to the list of offenses that qualify for good-cause continuances so a vertical prosecutor can stay with a case. The author and a San Diego DA representative said the change would support trauma-informed prosecution and improve continuity for survivors. Most support testimony came from prosecutors, victim advocates, and civil liberties groups, while some public defender and justice organizations remained in opposition or pending review of amendments. The committee ultimately approved the bill on a due-pass-as-amended vote. AB 1589 would allow Level 1 reserve peace officers to use firearm suppressors while on duty, matching the exemption already available to full-time officers. The author and reserve officer witnesses said the bill is a narrow safety measure tied to hearing protection and parity in training and equipment. Opponents, including Brady and ACLU Cal Action, said suppressors are unnecessary, could endanger the public and other officers, and further militarize policing. After discussion about safety, fiscal concerns, and community trust, the committee passed the bill on a due-pass vote. The committee also took up AB 1566, which would align the statutory definition of severe neglect with the structured decision-making tool used by county child welfare agencies. Supporters said the bill would reduce overreporting, racial disparities, and unnecessary family trauma while keeping mandated reporting in place. Opponents, including school resource officer groups, warned it would lower reporting thresholds and risk missing serious abuse. Members debated the impact on child safety versus unnecessary investigations, and the bill was held on call after a split vote. In addition, the committee approved several consent items, including bills on human trafficking data, criminal procedure jurisdiction, firearms/unsafe handguns, and the Hugs Act of 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• You should have been briefed on the forecast last week by Minnesota Management and Budget, but just to
• </c> forecast uh you should have been briefed forecast uh you should have been briefed on<00:03:11.360
• You may have heard during the Minnesota Management and Budget briefing that special education drove quite
• You may have heard during the Minnesota Management and Budget briefing that special education drove quite
• There'd be many other potential budget implications depending on how the federal money were actually

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• our experiences with state agencies, based on, based on our experiences on the field in the Ombud program
• You get an annual budget, um, based on age, and then you can decide how you want to spend it.
• Um, Two things on the slides stuck out on the state agencies here.
• On the commission, I'm not quite sure who, how many are on the commission, um, but on the council, uh
• And then the second is, um, why, um, Uh, on the brief, you talked about the commission.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to open the public hearing on Substitute House Bill 2525, and Kelly, if you will please brief
• on that board.
• And, you know, that was a priority when we had those discussions on capital budget.
• We had one in December.
• Or would you like for me to speak on artwork for just one to two minutes?

Summary: The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee first waived the five-day notice rule and held a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 2525, which would establish a Heritage Orchard Program at Washington State University. Staff explained the bill was narrowed from the original version and would require WSU to maintain a registry of heritage orchards and a list of rare and lost apple varieties, with a null and void clause and fiscal note available. Representative Gloria Mendoza testified in support, describing Washington’s apple history and the effort to identify and preserve old apple trees still found on farms and trails around the state. Members asked questions about how the program would locate trees and preserve historic varieties, but no vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard several gubernatorial appointments to higher education boards. Representative Deborah Inteman was nominated to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, Bryce W. McKibben to the Pierce College Board of Trustees, former Senator David Frockt to the Western Washington University Board of Trustees, and former Senator Christine Rolfes to the Olympic College Board of Trustees. Each appointee described their background in higher education, public service, and community college or university advocacy, and members asked about attendance, board service, and how they would help bridge legislative and institutional priorities. The committee also held a work session on Central Washington University’s geothermal and decarbonization efforts, with staff explaining the university’s open-loop geothermal system, planned geo-eco plants, and climate action goals tied to state clean building and decarbonization mandates. CWU officials said the project is intended to reduce emissions, support campus heating and cooling, and serve as a living laboratory for students. In executive session, the committee moved to report a panel of gubernatorial appointments, including the higher education appointments heard that day, with a recommendation that they be confirmed. The motion passed by voice vote, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for helping our loved ones know they can count on this kind of care.
• Marissa, come on up if you're ready. Marissa, come on up, if you're ready.
• Darcy, come on up.
• on those folks.
• on those folks.

Summary: The House Health Care and Wellness Committee held public hearings on four bills and then took executive action on three measures. HB 2555 would require the Health Care Authority to apply for a Medicaid waiver to cover traditional health care practices provided through Indian Health Service, tribal, and urban Indian facilities. Supporters, including the prime sponsor, tribal health leaders, and the Health Care Authority, said the bill would recognize traditional medicine, expand access, and leverage federal funding, though HCA noted the July 1, 2026 waiver deadline and urban Indian reimbursement questions may be difficult to resolve. HB 2685 would codify tribal data sovereignty principles for state agencies, require reporting of notifiable conditions to tribal health jurisdictions, and exempt certain tribal data from public disclosure. Tribal representatives supported the bill as necessary for access, governance, and better public health planning, while the Washington Coalition for Open Government and HCA raised concerns about the breadth of the PRA exemption, undefined ownership interests, and implementation details. HB 2658 would require health carriers to submit standardized public data on behavioral health and other coverage and access metrics, with the Insurance Commissioner posting the information on a public dashboard. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency about mental health parity and help families, employers, and policymakers compare plans; opponents argued it duplicates or complicates recent parity reforms and could be misinterpreted. HB 2683 would shorten carrier credentialing timelines from 90 days to 30 days and require carriers to post billing and coverage information online. Supporters said it would reduce delays for providers and patients, while opponents warned the shorter timeline could be hard to meet and that posting information without login protections could raise privacy concerns. In executive session, the committee adopted two amendments to HB 2168, which concerns overdose mapping data, then reported the substitute bill out with a due pass recommendation by a vote of 16-1. It rejected an amendment to HB 2196 that would have extended PANDAS/PANS coverage to public and school employee plans, then advanced the substitute bill with a due pass recommendation by a vote of 15-2. Finally, the committee passed HB 2545, which would allow ambulatory surgical facilities to perform elective percutaneous coronary interventions, by a vote of 13-4, after members discussed safety, access, and cost savings.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:01:56.560><c> in</c> abuse is going on and has gone on in abuse is going on and has gone on in
• And, you know, testifying on behalf of Department of Commerce on our budget bills and all the money we
• Do you have a brief response, Mr. Glenn? Otherwise, I want to move on here.
• And I'll be brief too. I'm going to comment on a couple things. Rep.
• you I'll be very brief so um one<01:41:41.280><c> of</c><01:41:41.440><c> my</c><01:41:41.679><c> my

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• So, sitting on budget, I've started to learn a lot more about how things work in this building, and so
• So, sitting on budget, I've started to learn a lot more about how things work in this building, and so
• If you believe on the ROI that we're getting a four-times amount, let's park the whole budget there,
• be appropriated, which means bringing them on budget.
• I believe all tax credits should be appropriated, which means bringing them on budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:28.399><c> on</c> question so we looked at it based on on question so we looked at it based
• Just one question, and it's based on the answer that you got.
• All you can think about that one. That's it. I'll leave you with that one.
• for patient capital, one for low-interest loans, and one for grants.
• </c><01:13:45.840><c> for</c><01:13:46.040><c> low</c> one for patient Capital One for low one for patient

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• When they're finished, the subcommittee on HB 313 will have a brief meeting and then the full committee
• The speaker explains that the subcommittee on HB 313 will have a brief meeting and then the full committee
• It'll go on consent. Right. It'll go on consent.
• the budget.
• And then in 2027, this House, regardless of who's in it, will be voting on another budget, and I would

Summary: The committee first recessed for a subcommittee meeting on HB 313, which concerned an open-meetings-related issue. In the subcommittee, members discussed concerns that the bill might be unnecessary because current law already allows a person to request an open meeting in advance; the subcommittee then voted ITL on HB 313 by voice vote and closed its work session. The full Judiciary Committee then reconvened and took up CACR 6, the proposed constitutional amendment on a “right to compute,” with members debating whether the language was too broad and could create unintended consequences. Supporters framed it as a forward-looking protection for computation resources and strong encryption, while opponents said it was too open-ended and better addressed by future legislation. The committee voted ITL on CACR 6 by a 17-0 roll call. The committee next turned to HB 232, as amended, concerning the rights of conscience for medical professionals. The amendment narrowed the bill to abortion-related objections, removed sterilization and artificial contraception, aligned the abortion definition with existing state law, and reduced damages from treble damages to actual damages. Supporters said the bill would protect conscience rights, give physicians and patients more choice, and could help attract providers to New Hampshire. Opponents argued it was overly broad, unclear in key definitions, and could interfere with employers’ ability to assign staff, especially in rural health settings. Members also raised concerns about the bill’s scope and enforcement, including the broad definition of “participate,” the lack of clarity around exceptions for providers whose services include abortion as a “major part,” emergency determinations, and the inclusion of nursing homes in the definition of health care institution. Some members argued the bill singled out abortion while other controversial medical procedures were not treated similarly, and others criticized the minimum-damages provision as potentially punitive and designed to deter participation. The discussion continued without a final vote shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a recent policy brief on quality apprenticeship opportunities for individuals with disabilities
• We have a recent policy brief on quality apprenticeship opportunities for individuals with disabilities
• But, yeah, labor, commerce, HR, management and budget, governor's office, office on disability.
• then a brief on career readiness and policies that states are establishing, as well as the state as
• So I think to get that to you all, and then a brief on career readiness and policies that states are

Summary: The Disability Employment Subcommittee met with roll call, approved prior meeting minutes, and shared an inspirational quote from Jane Goodall about the importance of every individual. Members then introduced themselves and their roles, including state disability advocates, providers, and commission members, before hearing a presentation from Katia Alpanis and Dina Klumkina of the State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED). SEED described its role as a technical assistance and policy resource for states, focused on sharing best practices and examples from other states to expand employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The presentation outlined SEED’s seven policy areas: career readiness and work-based learning, behavioral health and work, stay-at-work/return-to-work supports, employer recruitment and retention tools, entrepreneurship and disability-owned business development, interagency coordination, and state government as a model employer. Examples from other states included scholarship and transition supports in Kentucky and Virginia, stay-at-work programs in Alaska and Washington, accommodation funds in Minnesota, procurement and small business initiatives in New Jersey and Virginia, and model employer efforts in Colorado, New York, and Tennessee. Members also asked about digital accessibility and PEAT; SEED said PEAT has been refunded and that SEED can help with policy-level questions and peer examples, but not implementation of accessibility requirements. Discussion then shifted to possible Massachusetts projects. Members raised concerns about upcoming Medicaid work or civic engagement requirements and how people with disabilities might fall through the cracks, and they asked whether SEED could help Massachusetts use existing documentation, such as IEPs, to reduce barriers. The group identified two main areas for follow-up: a Massachusetts “state as a model employer” roadmap and a youth/young adult employment and volunteer pipeline, potentially linked to transition services and apprenticeship opportunities. SEED agreed to provide Massachusetts-specific analysis and two briefs, one on career readiness policies and one on state-as-model-employer strategies, and the subcommittee planned an offline follow-up meeting to narrow priorities and develop a scope of work.

Transcript Highlights:

• But at one time, we had the flight guarantee. That's not in this budget. No, that was under ARPA.
• I'd noticed on the MODESA that there was a one, you know, we inflated your budget last year up to $3.9
• I noticed on the Modessa that there was a one, you know, we inflated your budget last year up to $3.9
• And this concludes my budget presentation for Missouri One Start. Thank you.
• On page 278 of your budget book, you'll find the Missouri Housing Trust Fund.

Summary: The House Budget Committee heard the Department of Economic Development’s fiscal year 2027 budget presentation, beginning with Director Michelle Hadaway and division leaders. The department emphasized that most of its budget is federally funded and walked through requests for regional engagement, international trade and investment offices, business recruitment and marketing, Delta Regional Authority dues, business and community solutions, tax increment financing, MODESA, DRPP, CDBG, disaster recovery, Missouri Main Street, AmeriCorps, Missouri One Start, the Missouri Technology Corporation, semiconductor and API reshoring efforts, SSBCI, and other economic development items. Members repeatedly asked about lapses, one-time appropriations, whether general revenue could be reduced or replaced with other funds, and how the department prioritizes federal and other non-GR sources. Several members also praised regional engagement, Missouri Partnership, and rural economic development efforts. A major portion of the discussion focused on specific one-time or performance-based projects. Members questioned the large GR transfer for TIFs and MODESA, the use of funds for the Urban League plaza renovation, the Northeast Missouri housing fund, the Highway MM corridor, and the Missouri Technology Corporation. Department witnesses explained that many of these amounts are based on projected performance or are tied to multi-year obligations, and that some unspent balances reflect project timing, federal reimbursement timing, or delayed construction. The committee also discussed the Missouri Main Street program, with staff explaining it supports both new and existing Main Street communities and can be adapted for county-wide models. The committee spent significant time on workforce and innovation programs. Missouri One Start described its customized training and upskilling programs, including a statutory fund switch to align with existing law, while members asked for more data on participation and impact. Missouri Technology Corporation explained that reduced funding last year limited some entrepreneur-support programs, and that its venture fund has leveraged state dollars into private capital and jobs. Members also discussed the API reshoring item and semiconductor funding, asking what the money would do, what companies would benefit, and how much federal leverage the state could expect. Witnesses said the API request supports a nonprofit center working with existing Missouri companies to reshore pharmaceutical production, while the semiconductor item is tied to federal matching opportunities that have moved slowly. The committee did not take final action on the budget during the portion of the hearing provided. The chair recessed the committee to go to session, stating that the hearing would resume afterward and that public testimony on House Bill 2007 would follow completion of the department presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• But at one time, we had the flight guarantee. That's not in this budget. No, that was under ARPA.
• I'd noticed on the Modessa that there was a one, you know, we inflated your budget last year up to $3.9
• And this concludes my budget presentation for Missouri One Start. Thank you. Okay.
• He then turned back to the budget item on page 218 and said that, with the Division of Tourism, there
• On page 278 of your budget book, you'll find the Missouri Housing Trust Fund.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• and on.
• Oh, do you want to make a brief statement before we move on? Just a brief statement.
• We were also asked at two subcommittee hearings as part of the budget to report out on what was happening
• The briefing and the budget hearings provided updates on the FFA closure landscape, including the transfer
• Just one second. Let's turn on the microphone first. I think it's on that end.

Committee: House Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to give you a brief presentation on the budget proposal that rolled out a few minutes ago and
• The supplemental budget focuses fundamentally on three core priorities: preservation and maintenance
• I think it's a budget that, again, we worked on very, very hard and very closely.
• And as we write our full budget next year, I think we'll have a clearer picture on how we move forward
• So it looks like you included a JTC or two JTC studies, one on leasing hydrogen ferries, and one on maybe

Summary: Senate Transportation Committee Chair Marko Liias and Ranking Member Curtis King presented the Senate transportation budget package, describing three bills: a supplemental transportation budget, a bond proposal, and a resources bill with technical updates to last year’s law. They said the package prioritizes preservation and maintenance of highways, bridges, ferries, and flood-damaged infrastructure, along with safety investments such as additional funding for preservation-related safety work, State Patrol staffing, and tribal traffic safety. They also emphasized job creation from infrastructure spending and said the plan uses no new taxes, relying instead on bonding and existing revenue changes. The senators highlighted several major elements, including about $1.7 billion for preservation over six years, $1.1 billion in bonding, a $400 million reserve for cost increases, funding to complete the first three new ferries, disaster relief loans for local transportation agencies, Columbia River dredging, and funding for the Fairfax Bridge and related alternate routes. The resources bill would create a mobile driver’s license program, dedicate a portion of future sales tax revenue to ferry operations, and repeal the luxury aircraft tax while replacing it with higher aviation fuel taxes and annual registration fees. They said the ferry system still needs more vessels beyond the first three, but they want more study before committing to a longer-term procurement plan. In response to questions, the senators said WSDOT will determine specific preservation project priorities, including paving and bridge work, and that the budget does not add new passenger-only ferry operating money now that domestic ferry service has largely been restored. They also said the package includes studies on leasing hydrogen ferries and updating the in-state shipyard bid credit, and that flood recovery funding was structured to help local governments repair roads now while waiting for possible federal FEMA reimbursement. No votes were taken in the transcript; the discussion was a budget rollout and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, in order to make the budget balance, the budget architecture does rely on $20 billion of
• The 2025 Budget Act did appropriate one-time resources.
• prudent state for the future and address the budget for budget year and budget year one, and also...
• ...state for the future and address the budget for budget year and budget year one, and also set us
• And in a time of budget cuts, serving a senior for one meal for one year on Meals on Wheels is significantly

Transcript Highlights:

• And then just a brief kind of expansion: there are times, and now is one, where there are a couple additional
• She said it sounded like they were leaving them with a hole in their budget and asked for comment on
• She said that in the governor's budget there is a proposed additional funding of $30 million one time
• She said that in the governor's budget there is a proposed additional funding of $30 million one time
• At first, much of my time was one-on-one preparation, and as I was gaining strength at 53 years old,

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• on a statewide level. depends on continued maintenance, depends on continued maintenance, upgrades,<
• </c> get him on a board. get him on a board.
• </c> Last file on our on our the last bill on Last file on our on our the last bill on our<00:36:37.600
• top, on line one, we Uh beginning at the top, on line one, we start<00:38:31.320><c> with</c><00:38:31.480
• Anderson on it. Anderson on it.

Bills: HF4810 , HF4597 , HF1082 , HF3230

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: public safety, radio communications, infrastructure funding, county funding, interoperability, ARMER network, local jurisdictions, HF4597, Minnesota public safety, emergency dispatch, emergency communications, public safety appropriation, Metropolitan Emergency Services Board, PSAP, dispatch interoperability, real-time coordination, emergency response coordination, cross-jurisdictional response, 911 center awareness platform, general fund grant

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> heard it on on his first committee heard it on on his first committee hearing.<00:09:49.080><c>
• For students who rely on loans or carefully budget their semester costs, unexpected tuition charges can
• also</c><00:19:56.280><c> on</c> available on on websites, but also on available on on websites, but
• </c> discourse on the funding formula. discourse on the funding formula.
• </c> for this brief testimony. for this brief testimony.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> one okay uh first item uh first item on one okay uh first item uh first item on the<00:00:55.960
• </c> moving from an one system to another one moving from an one system to another one uh<00:21:42.279
• c><00:25:54.279><c> I</c> inclined to vote no on this one and I I inclined to vote no on this one and
• </c> totally out on on their own this totally out on on their own this particular<00:43:29.040><c> one
• a one-time basis.

Summary: Chairman Hart called the meeting to order, confirmed a quorum, welcomed Representative Rachel Roarx, and the committee approved the February 11 minutes. The committee then moved through its agenda of PSC and related contract items, including a motion to consider the reviewed contracts without objection. One Department of Highways item was deferred when the virtual representatives were not yet available. The committee first took up Kentucky Housing Corporation contracts. Members questioned outside legal services for foreclosures and bankruptcies, why the work was not handled entirely in-house, and how much of the workload and cost it represented. Witnesses said the agency’s need was largely geographic rather than a lack of expertise, that less than 1% of the loan portfolio is referred out for foreclosures, and that many fees are reimbursable through FHA. Both Kentucky Housing Corporation items were approved. The committee then considered a Department for Community Based Services contract tied to a protest and a temporary renewal with PCG. Witnesses said the contract increase was needed to bridge the gap while the protest and RFP process were unresolved, and that the initial vendor received no funds. The committee approved the item, with Senator Douglas explaining his vote as a preference for straightforward answers. The committee also heard a Northern Kentucky University contract for a Workday ERP replacement, including implementation consulting and separate license fees. University officials explained the move from SAP to Workday, the complexity of the systems, and the need for a consulting partner; they said the total effort would span 10 years and that the contract was priced below comparable institutions. After extensive questioning about cost, budget, and value, the vote ended 4-4 and the chair noted the contract would move forward through the Finance Committee if no disapproval motion was made. Finally, the Office of Inspector General presented a contract for culture change training in nursing facilities funded by civil monetary penalties; witnesses said the goal was to improve staff satisfaction, communication, and resident outcomes, and that the CMP fund balance was about $38 million. Discussion also covered survey backlogs and CMS restrictions on the funds, with the item still under review as the transcript ended.