Transcript Highlights:

• This is the military and veterans bill.
• Discussion on the gentleman's motion, lady from veteran St. Louis County. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• This bill really represents so much for our veterans and our military, our National Guard.
• It has been a privilege to serve on your Veterans Committee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• It has been a privilege to serve on your Veterans Committee, Veterans and Armed Forces Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Veterans who serve our Representative Rosenwald: country deserve more than our gratitude.
• Department of Housing and Urban Development, of course many of you may know, has the Veterans Affairs
• But the thing is, we need landlords and there's a shortage of landlords for our esteemed veterans.
• A landlord willing to provide a home to a veteran, honorably discharged veteran, qualifies for funding
• Representative Daley: Members, veterans who served our country deserve more than our gratitude.

Transcript Highlights:

• My husband and I, Richard, who is a veteran... I'm very proud.
• My husband and I, Richard, who is a veteran, endowed the Richard and Karen Moore Veterans Success Center
• We also fully endowed a program called the Veterans...
• at no cost to the veteran.
• And again, that's provided to every veteran at no cost.

Bills: S0720 , S1246

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to consider one bill, a postponed bill, and a slate of trustee confirmations. The committee first took up CS/SB 1246, which expands the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) fund to support health science workforce shortages beyond nursing, including allied health programs. The bill also broadens eligible uses of funds, revises matching requirements and grant criteria, and updates reporting requirements. A strike-all amendment was adopted without objection, and the committee then reported the bill favorably after supportive testimony from Florida State College at Jacksonville, the Florida Hospital Association, the College of Central Florida, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Senator Davis also noted a favorable vote on the bill for the record. The committee then temporarily postponed SB 720 at the sponsor’s request. Chair Harrell explained that the bill had been incorporated into a larger committee measure and would likely be heard later in another form. Public witnesses who had come to speak on the bill were not heard because of the postponement. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmations for trustees at several state colleges, including Chipola College, Tallahassee State College, Pensacola State College, Palm Beach State College, Pasco-Hernando State College, and St. Petersburg College. The appointees emphasized themes of affordability, workforce training, nursing and allied health success, dual enrollment, community partnerships, and local economic development. After hearing from the appointees, the committee approved a block motion to recommend confirmation of all appointees on tabs 2 through 25. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• a firearm accessible to a child, refer to the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans
• Safety and Veterans Affairs.
• Refer to the Committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety, and Veterans Affairs.
• a weapon of those certain officers refer to the committee on Homeland Security public safety and Veterans
• increasing criminal penalties referred to the committee on Homeland Security, Public Safety and Veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I rise today to honor the incredible life of Vitold 'Vic' Brick, a local veteran in Loudoun
• Disability benefits are determined for our veterans.
• They help veterans function despite them.
• They help veterans function despite them. They do not cure disabilities.
• They help veterans function despite them.

Bills: SB2503 , HB5235 , HB6329 , HB3679 , HB2600 , HR390

Keywords: aviation safety, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, air traffic management, pilot training, regulatory compliance, contracting, education requirements, federal contracts, workforce development, bidder eligibility, artificial intelligence, small business, technical standards, best practices, cybersecurity, satellite technology, scientific research, space exploration, data access, innovation

Transcript Highlights:

• I yield back. veterans are made aware of the VA loan veterans are made aware of the VA loan products<
• </c><07:33:42.718><c> who</c> welldeserved benefits as veterans who welldeserved benefits as veterans
• </c> black veterans out of its promise. black veterans out of its promise.
• unhoused</c><08:02:45.040><c> veteran</c> our nation's unhoused veteran our nation's unhoused veteran
• As the nation's black veterans.

Bills: HB1531 , HB6644 , HB3190 , HB3390 , HB3682 , HB5616 , SB3705

Keywords: Taiwan, China, banking organizations, financial regulators, national security, housing, affordability, institutional investors, vacant properties, grants, homeownership, urban development, Burma, sanctions, foreign relations, accountability, economic oversight, military accountability, discount window, Federal Reserve

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:06:17.960><c> with</c> remarkable um these are veterans with remarkable um these are veterans
• </c> trials particularly among veterans trials particularly among veterans potentially<01:10:23.560><
• </c> that our community members and Veterans that our community members and Veterans have<01:11:01.760
• <01:12:59.080><c> a</c><01:12:59.280><c> day</c><01:12:59.960><c> it's</c> veterans a day it's veterans
• </c><01:19:47.560><c> and</c> and Amber Capone to help veterans and and Amber Capone to help veterans

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to ask about the automotive adaptive equipment for veterans.
• Department of Veterans Affairs.
• And the Veterans Benefits Administration's disability rating will state whether that veteran is eligible
• So this is data that we will request from the Veterans Affairs Department.
• Need for adaptive equipment for veterans who are not eligible for the federal grant.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee met on September 17, 2025, welcomed new members, and initially lacked a quorum until Representative Berg arrived. The committee adopted the July 15/16 meeting minutes and discussed a proposed 2026 meeting schedule, including possible changes to address the heavy July workload from tax exemption reviews. Staff then presented the annual lodging tax expenditures report, which showed 213 municipalities received distributions in 2024, 91% reporting compliance, about $114 million awarded for more than 1,700 activities, and over 115 million attendees reported. Several members questioned the self-reported nature of the data and whether the report had enough value; the executive committee indicated it may recommend removing the lodging tax reporting requirement from statute because it is not a compliance tool and consumes significant staff time. The committee next heard the preliminary performance audit of the Office of Privacy and Data Protection. Staff said OPDP generally meets its statutory responsibilities and is well regarded by users, but its statute should be updated to match its current capacity and focus. The audit found OPDP’s work is largely centered on state agencies, with limited public outreach and some overlap with other entities on broadband and privacy education. Two recommendations were presented: review and update OPDP’s statutory duties, including broadband reporting and public outreach, and develop performance measures that better assess long-term privacy outcomes rather than just outputs. Committee members asked about FERPA and other federal privacy laws, and OPDP staff said they can provide broader privacy training and would be willing to offer more specific training if requested. The committee adopted the final report on Washington State recreational boating programs without opposition. Staff reported that boating-related revenues in 2021–23 totaled $108 million, with 53% directed to general government and transportation accounts and 47% to boating programs or projects; no recommendations were made. Members asked about boater education outcomes and agency overlap, and staff and agency representatives said education appears to have reduced fatalities and that the six involved agencies have distinct roles coordinated through a quarterly work group. Finally, staff presented planned study questions for upcoming reviews of L&I’s enforcement of farm worker labor laws, DNR’s Eastern Washington sustainable harvest calculation, and seven 2026 tax preference performance reviews. Members raised scope questions about the farm worker study and whether it should be framed around agricultural workers, and staff said they would follow the legislative mandate and could consider any future clarification. For the DNR review, staff said they are tracking DNR’s ongoing harvest calculation and will assess whether its data and methods align with best practices, while noting that future wildfire or other disturbances are outside the study’s scope. The tax preference review discussion covered the seven preferences to be studied in 2026, including data centers, Main Street credits, equitable access to credit, private airplane sales, landfill gas equipment, adaptive equipment for disabled veterans, and a real estate excise tax exemption for supported living transfers; members asked about equity, environmental impacts, and how staff would evaluate eligibility and savings. The meeting adjourned before noon.

Transcript Highlights:

• discharged veteran enterprises.
• This is a great bill for veteran business owners.
• This bill helps all military veterans by giving veteran-owned businesses a small advantage when competing
• It will help our veterans, and it is a win-win for everybody.
• Memorial out on our front campus for veterans of the war in Afghanistan.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also funded a $2 million clinical trial for veterans and first responders with co-occurring disorders
• I will submit to you that there are many veterans whose lives have been saved from suicide from using
• I'm also a Navy veteran for six years.
• I'm a mother of five, a veteran spouse, and a grant recipient through Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions
• I'm a father, a business owner, and a veteran. I am a combat veteran.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee met on January 27 and heard extensive public testimony on several bills before moving into executive session. Senate Bill 5921 would create a Department of Health medical psilocybin program for adults with qualifying conditions, with licensed producers and clinician participation requirements, training, background checks, and program standards. Supporters, including the sponsor and many clinicians, veterans, first responders, and patients, described psilocybin as promising for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, trauma, and end-of-life anxiety, while opponents and some medical groups raised concerns about missing safeguards, contraindications, monitoring, cost, and the bill’s narrow medical model. Testimony was split sharply, with many also urging broader decriminalization or community-use protections. The committee later heard Senate Bill 6115, which would have the Department of Health contract for age-appropriate cancer education for grades 6-12; supporters from Cancer Pathways, educators, and families said it would improve prevention and risk awareness, while the bill drew substantial opposition in sign-in counts, and the hearing was ultimately closed without action that day. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5185, a pilot pathway for international medical graduates to obtain full unrestricted primary care licensure after supervised clinical practice, completion of exam and competency requirements, and annual reporting. The sponsor, Washington Medical Association, the Medical Commission, and IMG advocates said the proposal would expand access to primary care while maintaining patient safety, and the bill received supportive testimony. In executive session, the committee adopted proposed substitutes and advanced Senate Bill 5916 on non-opioid pain drugs, Senate Bill 5985 on endometriosis, Senate Bill 6019 on home care rate statutes, Senate Bill 6161 on dementia information, and Senate Bill 6183 on HIV antiviral drug coverage. For Senate Bill 5981 on the 340B drug pricing program, the committee adopted an amendment adding reporting and transparency requirements before moving the bill forward. The committee then adjourned, and the remaining hearing items were rescheduled for a later date.

Transcript Highlights:

• I get Veterans Affairs back in front.
• </c> admitting veterans. admitting veterans.
• Uh, every year we bring in all of the veteran service organization leaders, major veteran community leaders
• Uh this year we will have veterans face.
• We'll have about 110 veteran leaders there. It's invite only.

Summary: The committee first heard from Personnel Cabinet officials on House Bill 6, which required the Kentucky Employees Health Plan to offer a qualified high-deductible health plan by the 2026 plan year. Officials said the plan was already added for 2025, described it as the lowest-premium option with higher deductibles, and explained that federal rules prevent first-dollar coverage except for limited preventive services. They said 264 members had selected the plan out of about 142,000, and noted it also allows health savings accounts. Members asked about the plan’s benefits, what “catastrophic” meant, the deductible amounts, and whether employees were aware of the option; the cabinet said it would continue to highlight the plan in communications and that the deductible is above $8,000 for individuals and above $16,000 for families. The committee then received an update from the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs on the Bowling Green veterans center. Officials said the current target is to move into the building on October 28, with first admissions about two months later, pending final fixes and certification steps for Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA. They explained that about $7 million in FY25 appropriations lapsed because of construction delays, staffing ramp-up was postponed to avoid unnecessary spending, and the unspent funds should be considered in the next budget request. Members praised the project and asked about annual operating costs; officials said the current operating budget is about $15 million, though they do not expect to spend all of it this year. The commissioner also announced the fifth annual state commanders conference in Lexington, focused on veterans issues and featuring state, federal, and advocacy leaders. State Auditor Allison Ball then outlined her office’s budget priorities. She said the office is primarily a billing agency that charges audited entities for its work, and warned that some agencies are now signaling they may refuse to pay for audits related to kinship care and the medical cannabis application process. She said the office plans to continue requesting outlier credits for unusually burdensome county audit fees, funding for the ombudsman office’s transition and expanded in-office operations, and revenue replacement for local government audits and possibly state audits and special examinations. Ball also said the office conducts about 500 audits, reviews, and examinations a year and wants to restore performance audits with seed funding, as well as add investigators to the ombudsman office to focus more on child abuse and neglect cases. Members discussed the value of performance audits, the possibility of raising certain board thresholds to account for inflation, and the need for additional capacity to handle more audits.

Transcript Highlights:

• bear on some of these problems, we have to be prepared next year when we come back to step up to the plate
• bear on some of these problems, we have to be prepared next year when we come back to step up to the plate
• 47.760><c> the</c> year when we come back to step up to the year when we come back to step up to the plate
• :48.640><c> of</c><00:33:48.720><c> these</c><00:33:48.960><c> things,</c><00:33:49.200><c> if</c> plate
• and fund some of these things, if plate and fund some of these things, if we're<00:33:49.519><c> really

Bills: HF3043 , HF2891

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you very much, and I appreciate you stepping up to the plate.
• two re— sorry, I... and I appreciate you stepping up to the and I appreciate you stepping up to the plate
• 19.320><c> have</c><00:18:19.640><c> nobody</c><00:18:19.880><c> else</c><00:18:20.200><c> willing</c> plate
• problem I have nobody else willing plate problem I have nobody else willing to<00:18:20.640><c> testify
• Appreciate you stepping up to the plate. Thank you. Yes, sir.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• veterans veterans affairs<01:26:51.239><c> uh</c><01:26:51.520><c> agreed</c><01:26:52.159><c> that<
• </c> Affairs and veteran Affairs and veteran services<01:27:02.040><c> uh</c><01:27:02.280><c> and</c
• AG, New Hampshire National Guard, Department of Military Affairs and Veteran Services.
• Today I'm representing the State Veterans Advisory Committee.
• Today I'm representing the State Veterans Advisory Committee.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• I got time to sit down with you, and you truly care about all veterans in Alabama, and we appreciate
• As you recall, we do have money set aside for the veterans pilot.
• We did release that RFP for the veterans pilot programs on February 7th.
• We did offer that opportunity to the veterans mental health steering committee that's been operating
• Fifty percent of that committee will be veterans, and the rest of the committee will be non-veterans.

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, we will move on to Terry Westhoff from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Our budget program 20 from Field Services to Veteran Services and Counseling and Wellness.
• We've always referred to this program as Veteran Services and Counseling and Wellness.
• So that includes the Veterans Services Officer Network that we provide, which connects veterans and helps
• Transitional Housing Program that takes veterans without homes and puts them into...

Committee: Joint Legislative Evaluation & Accountability Program

Transcript Highlights:

• It's an act to amend Title 29 relative to services for veterans for V.A. restrictions on services.
• Names where the veteran has never received a rating.
• And these concerns were brought to me by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
• And I know you're a veteran and you want to do what's best for veterans.
• So the VFW has their standard, and then we've put additional standards that try to protect veterans the

Bills: SCR12 , HB221 , HB509 , HCR58 , SB78 , SB25 , SB80 , SB132 , SB155 , SB157 , SB202 , SB228 , SB250 , SB414 , SB433 , SB479 , SB513 , SCR9 , SCR58 , SB65 , SB215 , SB249 , SB269 , SB282 , SB296 , SB323 , SB363 , SB369 , SB474 , SB490 , SB492 , SB500 , SB514 , HCR32 , HB17 , HB41 , HB73 , HB223 , HB244 , HB759 , HB906 , HB966 , HB1006 , HB1009 , HB1086 , HB1107 , HB1112 , HB1215 , HB1242 , SB217 , SB283 , SB469 , HB36 , HB42 , HB74 , HB119 , HB159 , HB259 , HB302 , HB414 , HB459 , HB776 , HB848 , HB956 , HB1017 , HB1028 , HB1095 , SB208 , SB312 , SB382 , SB389 , HB210 , HB258 , HB359 , HB368 , HB468 , HB552 , HB732 , HB784 , HB870 , HB953 , HB1117 , HB1236

Summary: The Senate met with 29 members present, heard a prayer and national anthem presentation, and approved the journal without objection. The chamber then received multiple messages from the House on conference committee reports and concurrence actions, and took up a long calendar of Senate resolutions and House/Senate bills returned from the House with amendments. Several resolutions were adopted without objection, including commendations and requests for reports or studies, while others were left over or returned to the calendar. The Senate concurred in or adopted amendments on a series of bills covering registrar compensation (SB 25), broadband administration and reimbursement (SB 80), school safety master key boxes (SB 132), dental coverage for cancer treatment (SB 155), paid parental leave for educators (SB 157), election supervisor compensation days (SB 202), water utility service line replacement funding (SB 228), weight management services through the Office of Group Benefits (SB 250), medical debt protection (SB 414), Medicaid coverage of weight-loss medication (SB 443), and design-build authority for vertiport facilities (SB 513). It also adopted a House concurrent resolution urging backup motors for the St. Claude Avenue Bridge (HCR 32). One bill, SB 479 on removal of certain judges, had its amendments rejected and was sent to conference. The chamber then considered conference committee reports on several measures. Reports were adopted on SB 312 (labor organization dues and fees), SB 208 (veterans services and VA-related restrictions), SB 382 (workers’ compensation advisory council and reimbursement schedule timing), SB 389 (agent and athlete registration and fee review), and multiple House bills including HB 359 (party primary qualifying rules), HB 368 (New Orleans historic preservation lien procedures), HB 468 (wholesale residential real estate definitions), HB 552 (DWI-related responsive verdict language), HB 732 (motor vehicle fines/fees and hybrids), HB 870 and HB 1236 (pharmacy benefit manager and insurance provisions), and HB 1117 (prescription period issues). HB 210 on retroactivity was also adopted after debate. Several conference reports were temporarily passed over or returned to the calendar, including HB 953, and the Senate adjourned to reconvene the next morning for final work.

Transcript Highlights:

• The flags will be escorted to the rostrum by the Nisei Veterans Committee Color Guard: Dale Watanabe,
• The flies will be escorted to the rostrum by the Nisei Veterans Committee Color Guard.
• People like the University of Washington student Gordon Hirabayashi, born in Auburn; a military veteran
• the same reason we observe, we observe, We remember Memorial Day, for the same reason we observe Veterans
• House bill, 1065, family burial grounds, House Joint Memorial 1412, Combat Injured Veterans.

Bills: HB1160 , HB1289 , HB1339 , HB1798 , HB1065 , HB2125 , HB2134 , HB2185 , HB2191 , HB2205 , HB2245 , HB2283 , HB2406 , HB2501 , HB1544 , HB1834 , HB2188 , HB2206 , HB2478 , HJM4012 , HB1104 , HB1152 , HB1254 , HB1443 , HB1982 , HB2006 , HB2297 , HB2322 , HB2329 , HB2379 , HB2388 , HB2399 , HB2462 , HB2544 , HB2551 , HB2262 , HB2298 , HB2351 , HB2401 , HB2593 , HB2661 , HB1496 , HB1898 , HB2157 , HB2311 , HB2325 , HB2552 , HB1343 , HB1707 , HB2361 , HB2389 , HB2468 , HB2521 , HB2720 , HB1591 , HB2092 , HB2176 , HB2255 , HB2281 , HB2438 , HB2685 , HB1960 , HB2236 , HB2364

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, the flags were escorted by the Nisei Veterans Committee Color Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Scout Alexander Bertelsen, and Reverend Masao Umoto delivered the invocation. The House then approved the previous day’s minutes and took up House Resolution 4692, recognizing the 84th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 and honoring Japanese Americans who were forcibly relocated and incarcerated during World War II. The resolution recounted the history of the incarceration, the service of Japanese American veterans, the findings of the 1982 commission that the policy was driven by racial prejudice and war hysteria, and the later federal apology and reparations. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, and guests connected to the Japanese American community and remembrance observances were recognized. Several members spoke in support of the resolution, emphasizing the constitutional failures of the wartime incarceration, the importance of remembrance, and the need to guard against fear-driven violations of civil liberties. Remarks also highlighted personal family histories, the experiences of camps such as Manzanar and Camp Harmony, and the service of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and other Japanese American units. After adoption, the House agreed to spread Representative Stonier’s remarks upon the journal. The House then considered a motion to re-refer Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 536 to the Community Safety Committee instead of the Environment and Energy Committee. Representative Abbarno argued the bill dealt primarily with criminal penalties and prosecutorial authority, while Representative Fitzgibbon opposed the change, saying the bill’s predominant subject matter remained environmental. The amendment failed on a voice vote. The House then adopted the motion to read and refer the day’s introductions to the designated committees, with SB 6066 sent to Transportation. Finally, the House returned HB 1065, HJM 1412, and ESHB 1819 to the Rules Committee, announced caucuses, and adjourned until 9:55 a.m. Friday, February 20.

Transcript Highlights:

• I love my veterans. I think we don't do enough as a state to support our veterans.
• I think we don't do enough as a state to support our veterans.
• not only in our caucus but also the half a million veterans that we have in the state of Arizona, we
• There's still a lot of work to do on tax exemption for veterans.
• And with that, I vote aye. ...in a bipartisan manner to bring tax relief to our veterans here.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and a series of guest introductions and personal privilege remarks recognizing visitors, health care advocates, short-term rental representatives, firefighters, and a Guatemalan ambassador, along with a proclamation affirming Arizona’s bilateral relationship with Guatemala. Members also announced committee meetings, and the chamber later recessed and reconvened before adjournment. The main floor action came in Committee of the Whole, where the House considered and gave do pass recommendations to HB 2029 (water grant application details), HB 2045 (addressing drive-by shootings), HB 2062 (Buffalo Soldiers monument), HB 2126 as amended (with a floor amendment after discussion with the ACO Association), and HB 2131 (criminal justice-related, described briefly as targeting “bad guys”). The Committee of the Whole report was adopted and those bills were sent to engrossing. The House then took up HB 2792, an emergency measure on property tax exemptions for veterans, and passed it 57-0, with members from both parties praising the bill as veteran tax relief and a cleanup of prior budget language. The chamber also adopted HCR 2043, which applies to Congress to call an Article V convention for a constitutional amendment imposing term limits on members of Congress; it passed 33-24 after extended debate, with supporters arguing for term limits and opponents warning about the risks of a constitutional convention and urging Arizona to impose term limits on itself first.

Transcript Highlights:

• I wanted to speak to you today in favor of House Bill 2957, an act relative to veterans buyback.
• This legislation addresses the problem veterans encounter with buying back their credible service time
• face upon transitioning to civilian life, many veterans unknowingly miss this narrow window and miss
• I hear about this from veterans frequently, and in particular I spoke at length with a veteran who interned
• This is a bill that would help all of our veterans and is the least we can do to support our veterans

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing on a wide range of credible service and retirement-related bills, with testimony largely focused on allowing public employees to buy back prior service time or receive more appropriate retirement classifications. Bills discussed included retirement buyback for Joint Base Cape Cod firefighters (H. 4317), clarification of call firefighter buyback rights (H. 2883/S. 1915), veterans’ buyback (H. 2957), a Bridgewater State University police death-benefit/heart-law issue (filed by Rep. Gallagher), unpaid parental leave buyback for municipal employees (H. 2946), school nurse creditable service (H. 2887/S. 1787), former private/parochial school teacher buyback (S. 1900/H. 2873), Massport police retirement classification (S. 1888), contract employee buyback (H. 2795), Retirement Plus late entry (H. 2792), CVTE/teacher-related buyback issues (H. 2762), Peace Corps/AmeriCorps creditable service (H. 2927), and institutional school teacher retirement fairness (H. 2757). Several speakers also referenced related bills for teachers and nurses that had been heard previously or were filed in parallel in the other branch. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support of the bills. Speakers argued that the measures would correct inequities, recognize prior public service, and help recruit and retain workers in hard-to-fill public jobs. Firefighters described the unique federal-to-state transition at Joint Base Cape Cod and said some members were left out of earlier buyback opportunities. Veterans, teachers, school nurses, correctional educators, and Massport police all described service requirements, administrative gaps, or outdated statutory language that they said unfairly limited retirement credit or placed them in the wrong retirement group. Several witnesses emphasized that the proposals were fiscally responsible because employees would pay the cost of the buybacks, and some noted that similar bills had been filed repeatedly in prior sessions. Committee members asked a few clarifying questions, mostly about why certain employees had been excluded under current law or how the retirement provisions would work. No opposition testimony was presented. The hearing concluded after all scheduled witnesses testified, with the chairs thanking participants for their service and the committee voting to adjourn.