Transcript Highlights:

• Number H-3366.1, and this amendment would move the proposed codification of the new limitation on claims
• It also adds language that the new limitation on claims and causes of action arising out of an appraisal
• by both email and first-class mail when the occupant has provided the owner with an email address.
• by both email and first-class mail when the occupant has provided the owner with an email address.
• by both email and first-class mail when the occupant has provided the owner with an email address.

Summary: The Consumer Protection and Business Committee met in executive session to review several bills and amendments. Staff briefed House Bill 2483 on creating a data broker registry, House Bill 2477 on limiting claims arising from appraisal reports, House Bill 2274 on the Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act, House Bill 2394 on insurance fraud enforcement, House Bill 2624 on consumer protections for unsolicited real estate transactions, and House Bill 2240 on self-service storage rental agreements. Members discussed proposed amendments on narrowing the data broker definition, delaying registration dates, expanding exemptions, clarifying appraisal-related limitations, and revising email and insurance fraud language, but action on HB 2483 and HB 2477 was deferred. The committee then moved HB 2274 forward. Supporters said it was a needed fix after litigation involving misleading commercial emails, while some members noted remaining concerns but wanted to advance the bill before policy cutoff. The committee adopted the proposed substitute and reported it out with a due pass recommendation by a 12-3 vote. HB 2394 was also deferred without action. HB 2624 was reported out with a due pass recommendation after debate over whether the bill’s carve-out for public entities, tribes, and nonprofit nature conservancies was too broad; the vote was 9-6. The committee then adopted two amendments to HB 2240, requiring both email and first-class mail delivery of rental agreements when an email address is provided and extending notice for termination or nonrenewal to 25 days. As amended, HB 2240 was reported out with a due pass recommendation by voice vote, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Administrative procedures HB 1758 by Little relating to limit limiting the number of sessions in which
• HB 1912 by King relating to the limitation on.
• HB 1985 by Hicklin relating to the age limit for the beginning position.
• HB 2172 by Harris relating to the limitation on the use.
• HB 2194 by Lowe relating to the repeal or limitation of certain.

Transcript Highlights:

• Step by limiting non-competes and it set income thresholds.
• They are reasonable and limited in terms of time and geographic scope.
• We are not concerned about limiting this to exclude tellers.
• We are not concerned about limiting this to exclude tellers.
• There is a rebuttable presumption that PTSD is an occupational disease for those occupations, except

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. Second Substitute House Bill 2479 would create a wage recovery program within L&I to advance part of unpaid wages to low-wage workers facing immediate hardship, funded by civil penalties, while also increasing and restructuring wage theft penalties and complaint prioritization. Supporters, including the prime sponsor, labor advocates, and employer representatives from the work group, said it would help workers get paid faster and was a consensus proposal; questions focused on how the current complaint process works and whether general fund money would be needed. Engrossed House Bill 1941, as amended, would allow licensed cannabis producers to form agricultural cooperatives, with the striking amendment limiting any cooperative to three producer licenses; supporters said cannabis producers should have the same cooperative tools as other agricultural sectors, while some testimony urged future changes for interstate commerce and warned against consolidation. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2476 would expand the spirits, beer, and wine theater license from 120 to 200 seats per screen and add stronger alcohol-control measures when minors are present; theater operators and LCB supported the change, and committee questions focused on youth access and enforcement. House Bill 1526 would allow snack bar licensees to sell wine by the glass in addition to beer; the sponsor said it simply modernizes the license, and LCB noted a likely fee alignment issue and a small revenue impact. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1155 would void non-compete agreements and expand related notice and non-solicitation rules, with testimony split between labor and worker advocates supporting broader worker mobility and business and health care groups seeking narrower exemptions for executives, physicians, and financial institutions. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2303 would prohibit employers from requesting or coercing employees to accept microchip implants, with no testimony offered. Substitute House Bill 2405 would create a three-year pilot for earlier PTSD treatment coverage in workers’ compensation for eligible occupational disease claims, with L&I supporting it as a way to improve outcomes and reduce long-term costs. The committee also took public testimony on these bills, with strong pro and con positions noted on the wage recovery, cannabis cooperative, and non-compete measures. In executive action, the committee adopted a striking amendment and passed House Bill 1069, narrowing it to Department of Corrections employees and making supplemental retirement bargaining mandatory, despite concerns from one member about the change. The committee also adopted a striking amendment on House Bill 1347 concerning cannabis testing labs, then passed it to Rules; passed Second Substitute House Bill 1701 on liquor licensees sharing property; passed House Bill 291 on employee information for public employers to Ways and Means; passed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2229 updating engineer registration provisions; passed House Bill 2264 on unemployment eligibility for workers in employer-initiated layoffs; passed Substitute House Bill 2472 adding enforcement for sprinkler contractors and fitters; and passed Second Substitute House Bill 2345 on paid family and medical leave premium allocation. A striking amendment to Second Substitute House Bill 1128 creating a child care workforce standards board was not adopted, and the bill then passed to Rules. The committee also announced it would hold House Bill 1066 for later action and planned to return the next day for its final executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, damage by limiting the priorities, limiting who is going to develop.
• what we try to limit it to. what we try to limit it to.
• </c> had removed some of the owner occupant had removed some of the owner occupant restrictions.<00:44
• <00:44:56.760><c> owner-occupied</c> owner-occupant owner-occupied owner-occupant owner-occupied residential
• But at occupant residential use buyers.

Bills: SB2069 , SB2177 , SB2342 , SB2060 , SB2544 , SB3011 , SB2061 , SB2552

Committee: House Housing

Summary: The House Housing Committee opened its Friday morning hearing by noting potentially catastrophic flooding on the island and acknowledging that some members were absent helping their communities, so quorum for voting was uncertain. The committee then heard testimony on several housing-related measures, with most bills drawing support from housing agencies and community organizations and little or no opposition in the room. On SB 2069 SD2, SB 2177 SD2, and SB 2342 SD2, witnesses largely supported the measures. HHFDC supported SB 2069 and SB 2177, and HPHA supported SB 2342. For SB 2342, HHFDC raised concerns that the bill would alter the Qualified Allocation Plan outside the normal open, public process required by federal law and could exclude stakeholders; Kathy Charities echoed those concerns and also objected to changing point allocations in ways that could raise rents and weaken long-term affordability. Members questioned HHFDC about how the QAP is normally updated, the meaning of the point system, and whether a legislative working group could mandate changes; HHFDC said recommendations would still need public hearing and board approval. The committee also heard SB 2060 SD2, which would create a mixed-income subaccount in the rental housing revolving fund. HHFDC said the subaccount would likely use tier-two funds, estimated at about $100 million total, to support mixed-income projects above 60% AMI, citing Front Street Apartments as a possible example. Members asked about project selection and funding needs. On SB 2544 SD2, OHA opposed the bill’s Chapter 6E-related exemptions and mandatory review timelines, arguing that burial review protections should not be weakened and that the SPEED Task Force process was a better venue for streamlining. The sponsor later clarified that the bill was not meant to eliminate the 60-day review process but to make the deadline clearer. For SB 3011 SD1, which concerns public housing and pet ownership, HPHA and several humane organizations supported the measure, saying it would help low-income residents and seniors keep pets and benefit from animal companionship. HPHA explained its existing pet policy, including deposits, monthly fees, and restrictions, and said the requested funding would support ADA-accessible pet areas and related administration. Finally, on SB 2061 SD2, HCDA supported the bill while OHA opposed it unless protections for Hawaiian Crown and Government lands were strengthened. Committee members questioned the project’s 60/40 split between income-restricted and market-rate units, the 10-year owner-occupancy restriction, and the procurement exemption; the sponsor said the exemption was tied to a real estate transaction and that the project would still use 103D-like solicitation procedures. No votes were taken during the hearing, and several items were left for later action because quorum was uncertain.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, the current law does have some interpretation, but it limits the local government's ability to
• Well, the current law does have some interpretation, but it limits the local government's ability to
• Well, the current law does have some interpretation, but it limits the local government's ability to
• </c><00:04:15.439><c> licensing</c> business or occupational licensing business or occupational licensing
• /c> requirements and standards, occupational requirements and standards, occupational license<00:04:19.440

Committee: Senate State & Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• It burdens families, and it limits the supply of skilled workers in our state.
• South Dakota has defused occupational licensing requirements in the entire country.
• So it's expanding, so it's not just limited to, like, Missouri.
• So it's expanding, so it's not just limited to, like, Missouri.
• And I would say most occupations, they learn so much in the first couple of years.

Committee: House Professional Registration and Licensing

Transcript Highlights:

• A licensed occupational or physical therapist may be reimbursed for treatment only...
• This will add occupational therapists and PTs to that list that you just heard.
• This will add occupational therapists and physical therapists to that list.
• So however Department of Health limits that, we limit that as well.
• So however Department of Health limits that, we limit that as well.

Summary: The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 6152 would add physical and occupational therapists as attending providers in workers’ compensation claims. Supporters said it would reduce delays, improve access to care, and speed return to work; opponents, including the Washington State Medical Association, retail and business groups, and L&I, raised concerns about diagnosis, scope of practice, network enrollment, implementation time, and the $1.9 million fiscal note from accident and medical aid accounts. The committee also heard SB 5437, which would prohibit non-compete agreements and clarify non-solicitation rules. The sponsor and labor and physician groups supported ending non-competes as anti-competitive and harmful to worker mobility, while business, banking, and clinic representatives argued non-competes protect investments, confidential information, and patient/customer relationships and asked for narrower changes. The committee then heard SB 6058, which would give L&I discretion over whether to investigate wage complaints and would toll civil statutes of limitation when a complaint is filed. The sponsor said it would better match agency resources, and testimony was entirely supportive. SB 5944 would require language access provider compensation bargaining to include missed or canceled appointments and make CBAs prevail over conflicting agency policies; the sponsor and union representatives said it would create consistency across agencies, with no opposition testimony. SB 6039 would modernize L&I communications by allowing electronic notices while preserving a non-electronic option; supporters called it a permissive modernization, while worker advocates warned email could be missed and could burden vulnerable workers, though L&I said the bill preserves choice and has no fiscal impact. Finally, the committee heard SB 6117, which would place workers and employers not covered by the NLRA under PERC jurisdiction if federal law no longer applies, with card-check and secret-ballot procedures and interest arbitration provisions. Supporters said it would create a state backstop if federal labor enforcement fails and protect workers’ organizing rights; opponents from agriculture, business, and small business groups warned it was too broad, could sweep in agriculture and small businesses, and could weaken secret-ballot protections and disrupt harvest operations. The sponsor closed by saying the bill is intended to create a clear framework where federal jurisdiction is absent. No votes or executive actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• meeting, providing a point of contact, and policies and procedures for health, fire safety, and occupancy
• It allows counties and cities to impose reasonable capacity limits based on residential density limits
• Residential density limits and fire codes.
• was issued okay thank you Thank you. and the certificate of occupancy was issued.
• It specifies that the bill does not limit or restrict the enforcement of criminal offenses under the

Bills: HB2266 , HB2489

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: housing, supportive housing, transitional housing, emergency shelters, homelessness prevention, public space, local governance, life-sustaining activities, statewide standards, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll be limited to one minute. And I try to be tight on the time. So watch the timer.
• Chesney Hatch said they are an occupational therapist and that occupational therapists are not currently
• , and said they cannot currently recruit occupational therapists.
• Hallie Taylor, M.S., said she is a doctor of occupational therapy and has worked as an occupational therapist
• Hatch this week and were open to an amendment to include occupational therapists.

Committee: House House Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• These are clock our programs that again trained for specific occupation.
• The state, again, training for specific occupation.
• There are so many occupations within the space industry that it's not just space.
• So we are credited to the council occupational education.
• We need to limit Wilders. We need to limit waters.

Transcript Highlights:

• That means that if you have occupancy and spacing limits, have you demonstrated that you can actually
• , if you look at all the occupancy and spacing limits that you have and sort of weave them all together
• That means that if you have occupancy and spacing limits, have you demonstrated that you can actually
• , if you look at all the occupancy and spacing limits that you have. that you can actually, if you look
• at all the occupancy spacing limits that you have and sort of weave them all together and look at the

Bills: HB2266 , HB2489

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: housing, supportive housing, transitional housing, emergency shelters, homelessness prevention, public space, local governance, life-sustaining activities, statewide standards, regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• The New Mexico Occupational Therapy Association provides support to occupational therapy practitioners
• Dan Medrano, occupational therapist. Jesse Chavez, occupational therapist.
• Brandon Schingle, occupational therapist. Clara Hardgrave, occupational therapist.
• And there are occupational assistants with us: Ellen Medrano, occupational therapy assistant.
• therapy graduate student at UNM. ...in Occupational Therapy, and Jennifer Long, occupational therapy

Transcript Highlights:

• A licensed occupational or physical therapist may be reimbursed for treatment only...
• A licensed occupational or physical therapist may be reimbursed for treatment only when the treatment
• This will add occupational therapists and PTs to that list. That is what this bill will do.
• I have my doctorate in occupational therapy and also own a private practice treating...
• So however the Department of Health limits that, we limit that as well.

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

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

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

Transcript Highlights:

• They set occupancy limits that have no basis in building codes or safety data.
• Representative Crane followed up, noting the bill’s language on occupancy limits and saying it appeared
• Representative Crane said the bill appears to address occupancy limits.
• He said occupancy limits are enforced, for example, and that helps keep the chaos under control.
• Representative Green followed up, saying she wanted to understand how occupancy limits are enforced.

Committee: House Business

Bills: SB2876 , SB3253 , SB2125 , SB2781 , HB549 , HB1768 , SB2053 , SB2494 , SB2851 , SB3073 , HB1678 , HB1721 , HB2475 , HB2246 , HB1667 , HB1516 , SB2532 , SB3131 , SB3154 , HB2297 , HB1737 , SB2143 , SB2398 , SB2623 , HB1740 , HB1920 , HB1682 , SB2153 , SB3140 , HB1515 , SB2835 , HB2282 , SB3083 , SB2031 , SB2519 , SB2667 , SB2140 , SB2544 , SB2069 , SB2697 , SB874 , SB2043 , SB888 , SB2721 , HB2152 , HB1334 , HB2385 , HB1643 , HB2314 , HB1688 , HB1692 , SB2568 , SB2983 , SB2108 , SB3136 , HB1959 , SB3156 , HB1511 , HB1753 , HB1824 , HB2137 , HB1810 , HB2279 , HB2309 , HB1548 , HB2078 , HB2293 , SB3262 , SB2169 , SB2607 , SB2964 , SB3255 , HB2576 , HB1481 , HB1864 , HB1550 , SB2818 , SB3067 , SB2061 , HB1728 , HB1881 , HB2361 , HB2395 , HB1823 , SB2050 , SB2397 , SB2175 , SB2852 , SB847 , SB3001

Keywords: natural hair braiding, hair braiding, braids, braider, braiding license, cosmetology, barbering, barber board, Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, registration, licensure exemption, sanitation training, health and safety, hair extensions, cornrows, twists, locks, protective hairstyles, beauty industry, occupational licensing

Bills: HB1752 , SB2053 , SB2494 , SB2851 , SB3073 , HB1678 , HB1721 , HB2475 , HB2246 , HB1667 , HB1516 , SB2532 , SB3131 , SB3154 , HB2297 , HB1737 , SB2143 , SB2398 , SB2623 , HB1740 , HB1920 , HB1682 , SB2153 , SB3140 , HB1515 , SB2835 , HB2282 , SB3083 , SB2031 , SB2519 , SB2667 , SB2140 , SB2544 , SB2069 , SB2697 , SB874 , SB2043 , SB888 , SB2721 , HB2152 , HB1334 , HB2385 , HB1643 , HB2314 , HB1688 , HB1692 , SB2568 , SB2983 , SB2108 , SB3136 , HB1959 , SB3156 , HB1511 , HB1753 , HB1824 , HB2137 , HB1810 , HB2279 , HB2309 , HB1548 , HB2078 , HB2293 , SB3262 , SB2169 , SB2607 , SB2964 , SB3255 , HB2576 , HB1481 , HB1864 , HB1550 , SB2818 , SB3067 , SB2061 , HB1728 , HB1881 , HB2361 , HB2395 , HB1823 , SB2050 , SB2397 , SB2876 , SB2175 , SB2852 , SB847 , SB3001

Keywords: education, funding, school districts, state budget, performance metrics, salvage vehicles, vehicle title transfer, electronic signatures, insurance, administrative efficiency, bribery, corruption, statute of limitations, public servant, criminal justice, deafness, traffic safety, law enforcement, vehicle registration, communication

Transcript Highlights:

• Speakers will be limited to a maximum of two minutes per organization.
• CMA also notes the proposal's workforce impact is limited.
• Occupational Therapy Practice Act.
• Occupational Therapy Practice Act.
• 4,000 licensed occupational therapy assistants.

Transcript Highlights:

• A few that I'll highlight, though, is that limited access to funding and staffing is limiting program
• A few that I'll highlight, though, is that limited access to funding and staffing is limiting program
• We also factor in emerging occupations.
• Jobs in UAS, for example, don't have occupation codes yet.
• limited by that list.

Summary: The Budget Section’s Commerce and Legal Services Division met to review the Department of Commerce base budget for the 2027-29 biennium and to receive an update on Commerce programs. Legislative Council staff first walked the committee through the “blue sheet” base budget summary, explaining the major line items, the large share of federal grant authority in Commerce’s budget, and the continuing appropriations that support several Commerce funds. Members asked how grant funding is coordinated across agencies, and staff said collaboration varies by program but is strong in areas like UAS and LIHEAP. Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken then presented on current activities, focusing heavily on grant administration, transparency, and economic development programs. Members questioned how grant applicants are selected, whether Commerce tracks applications and return on investment, and how long grant awards take to reach recipients. The commissioner said Commerce uses scoring criteria, outside reviewers, a minimum 30-day application window, and typically completes awards within two to three months. A lengthy exchange followed over whether Commerce should open some grants only to intended recipients versus running competitive application processes; Commerce said it follows best-practice grantmaking and that its attorney in the Attorney General’s office approved that approach. Commerce also highlighted the North Dakota Development Fund, citing long-term investment and job creation results, examples such as Red Trail Energy, Packet Digital, Valiance, Corvent Medical, child care loans, and the Automate ND program. Members asked about acceptable failures, lessons learned, regional economic development coordination, and the expansion of the fund into non-primary sectors. Workforce Director Katie Ralston Howell then outlined a statewide workforce ecosystem review, a new governor’s workforce sub-cabinet, and three task forces focused on simplifying entry, warm handoffs, and data integration. She discussed the in-demand occupations list, Workforce Pell, apprenticeships, and efforts to better connect students with employers and higher education. Commerce also briefly reviewed housing programs and a new housing sub-cabinet. No votes were taken; the committee simply received testimony, asked questions, and adjourned after setting up the next meeting to hear the Attorney General budget in June.

Transcript Highlights:

• within the limits of a municipality or county authorized by the legislature.
• Members, Senate Bill 1087 allows Mason County to impose a hotel occupancy tax.
• Time, expertise, and resources are all limited, and because of these limitations and pressing needs that
• Time, expertise, and resources are all limited, and because of these limitations and pressing needs that
• As a reminder, testimony will be limited to two minutes.

Bills: SB913 , SB1086 , SB1087 , SB1143 , SB1534 , SB1553 , SB1718 , SB1754 , SB2004 , SB2322 , SB2448

Committee: Senate Economic Development

Summary: The Senate Economic Development Committee met to hear a series of bills and informational primers, with several resource witnesses from the Governor’s Office, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. The chair opened by noting the death of Senator King’s son and asking members to keep the family in their prayers. Most bills were laid out and left pending subject to the call of the chair after brief author presentations and public testimony. The committee heard several local hotel occupancy tax bills: SB 1553 for Kerr County, SB 1086 for Childress County, SB 1087 for Mason County, and SB 913 for Alpine. Supporters, including the Texas Hotel and Lodging Association and local officials, said the measures would allow counties or the city to use hotel tax revenue for tourism-related projects and local development. The committee also heard SB 1534, which would direct a study on health physics education and workforce needs in Texas; resource witnesses from TWC and THECB testified on the bill. All of these measures were left pending. A major portion of the hearing focused on SB 1754, which would prohibit local tax abatements for renewable energy facilities selling power at wholesale, with an exception for certain battery storage tied to dispatchable generation. The bill drew strong support from witnesses who argued counties should not subsidize wind and solar projects that can harm neighboring landowners and that renewables already receive substantial federal support. Opponents from the solar and storage industry argued the bill would remove a voluntary local economic development tool, raise power prices, and discourage investment. Senators also debated landowner impacts, grid reliability, and whether the bill was the right policy tool; the bill was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2322, a committee substitute related to the Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act, which would exempt electric generation facilities from the program’s compelling-factor test so they can qualify for school tax limitation agreements. Supporters said the change would correct an unintended barrier for dispatchable generation, while Senator Johnson argued it would weaken the program’s purpose by subsidizing projects that would locate in Texas anyway. SB 1718 would add the NRA annual meeting to the major events reimbursement program; the NRA supported it, while gun violence prevention advocates opposed using state incentives for the organization. SB 2004 would add the Arlington Grand Prix to the major events program, and SB 2448 would create a rural workforce development grant program; both drew supportive testimony and were left pending. The committee also heard SB 1143, a substitute bill aimed at improving transparency and coordination in programs serving opportunity youth ages 14 to 24, with witnesses supporting better reporting and workforce alignment. At the end of the meeting, Senator Johnson moved that the committee stand in recess subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> from the imposition of occupational from the imposition of occupational taxes<01:05:08.160><c> and
• In addition to property, occupational In addition to property, occupational insurance,<01:14:49.440><
• </c> uh in the shift towards occupational uh in the shift towards occupational license<01:21:38.880><
• </c> uh, 87 counties levy an occupational uh, 87 counties levy an occupational license<01:21:55.840><
• </c><01:27:55.840><c> It's</c> or limited number of services. It's or limited number of services.

Summary: The committee first took up an update from the Kentucky County Clerks Association on the transition to electronic recording and land records modernization. Testimony explained that legislation from the 2021 task force created funding and deadlines for counties to provide online search portals and complete a 30-year property record search, with a later move to a 60-year standard. Speakers said the money has been awarded to counties, but much of the work is still in progress because records must be scanned, indexed, and manually verified. They said only a handful of counties are fully compliant with electronic recording so far, while many are still working through staffing and vendor issues. They also noted that the 60-year standard may ultimately be easier and more efficient to complete than the 30-year standard, and that compliance is expected to improve by next summer. The clerks’ representatives also raised related issues, including deed fraud, the county document storage fee, and KDLA digitization grants. They said online recording can make deed fraud easier to attempt, so they expect to seek legislation next session to address it. They described an existing notification service available in many counties that alerts property owners when a document is recorded, which can help detect suspicious activity quickly. They also said the storage fee and separate county account structure has generally worked well, but that two recent KDLA grant cycles have not released money for clerks, limiting support for digitization work. Another topic was whether, once records are fully digitized and verified, some permanent records should remain publicly accessible or be moved to a safer archive under KDLA control. Members asked about the balance in the KDLA fund, what the General Assembly could do to help lagging counties, and how much of the $25 million modernization funding had been spent. Witnesses said they did not have the current fund balance but would try to get it, that the main obstacle now appears to be staffing rather than additional money, and that the funds have been awarded but not fully expended because work is still ongoing. They emphasized that counties are helping one another and asked members to alert association leadership if any county is struggling. The committee then heard a presentation from Dan London, executive director of the Lincoln Trail Area Development District, who described area development districts as regional staff extensions and technical resources for cities and counties, and highlighted their role in coordinating regional services and partnerships across county lines.