Transcript Highlights:

• School districts with service is difficult to provide individually.
• So but are boards drive decision making and program services and choice of program services.
• Another services spotlight around risk management.
• And then finally on the services spotlight around advisory boards.
• Are these these services that you've been able to figure out how to share those back on for services

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• comment for human services after that.
• services.
• It's not a new service.
• assessment of need for service.
• talk. services provided to, excuse me, one-third of services provided to all seniors.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am an Army veteran and a proud military mom of two active-duty service members.
• Fish and Wildlife Service Partners Fish and Wildlife Service and Thurston Conservation District to convene
• It allows us to provide that higher level of need and service for veterans.
• That higher level of need and service for veterans.
• They have a huge need to continue to provide that service.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs heard presentations on several military and veterans-related topics. Dr. Dan Calvert briefed the committee on the JBLM Sentinel Landscape Partnership, explaining its voluntary conservation work to reduce encroachment around the base by protecting prairie habitat, supporting agriculture, and managing sensitive species. He described REPI funding, recent and proposed projects, and possible policy support such as state designation, dedicated funding, management endowments, prescribed fire flexibility, and water-right transfer tools. Members asked about seed sourcing, the distinction between natural-resource encroachment and development-related encroachment, and the impact of federal REPI staffing cuts. David Puente of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs updated the committee on plans for a new state veterans cemetery in the Tri-Cities area and a replacement Spokane Veterans Home. He said the cemetery project has two candidate sites near Richland/West Richland, with pre-design funded by the legislature and a future request expected for land purchase and construction; he also noted the current cemetery funding source is limited and would not support a second cemetery without additional state operating funds. On the Spokane home, he described the current facility’s limitations and said the replacement would be a 120-bed, small-house model on a larger site, with the VA expected to cover 65% of construction costs if the state provides the match. He also reviewed agency budget reductions, including vacant positions, reduced outreach, cuts to counseling and wellness funding, and reduced support for veterans service organizations. Blue Star Families’ Puget Sound chapter also presented on its programs for military-connected families, including Coffee Connects, a children’s book club, outdoor programming, career support, and Blue Star Welcome Week. The group said it is expanding beyond the South Sound and is using local outposts and online networks to reach more families, while also helping with food insecurity through grocery gift cards and partnerships with local nonprofits. Committee members discussed the need to expand the organization statewide and the ongoing food-security challenges facing military families. During the final discussion on potential legislation, members raised ideas including restoring Washington National Guard retention efforts, expanding E-CAP eligibility to military families, revisiting the composition of the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee, and addressing veterans’ preference issues for service members who have not yet received a DD-214. The committee did not take any formal votes or actions, but members and presenters discussed future policy and budget requests, and the chairs thanked the presenters and staff before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the workers' comp advisory council recommendations adoption.
• Chair, as many of you know, the workers' compensation advisory council is a body with 12 voting members
• for Senate File 3407 was completed by the departments of labor and industry, commerce, and human services
• Um, and finally for DHS, the bill makes technical changes to describe direct support services but doesn't
• <00:02:20.800> and commerce, and human services and commerce, and human services and estimates

Bills: SF1832

Keywords: economic development, small business, workforce training, grants, entrepreneurship, equity, community support, 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This growth will lead to an increased demand for health services.
• This growth will lead to an increased demand for health services, and whereas the CDC reported that 44.2%
• I'm appointing Senator Kuby to the Committee on Health and Human Services to temporarily replace Senator
• Second reading of bills: HB 2170, state contracts for an advisory prohibition; HB 2308, dental insurance
• on HHS referred to the committee on rage second reading of bills HB 2170 state contracts for an advisory

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a nomination to the Hawaii Advisory a nomination to the Hawaii Advisory Council<00:03:39.560>
• Let me begin by acknowledging the service to education provided by this nominee.
• , is simply not to recognize service, is simply not to recognize service, rather<00:14:48.280>
• , services, services, creating<00:48:25.280> economies<00:48:25.840> of<00:48:25.960>
• <00:56:24.920> entered from Health and Human Services entered from Health and Human Services

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• expend in providing services and supports for our students with disabilities.
• So there isn't the... ...return on some of the counseling services that they provided.
• An advisory structure, then a lot of kids just get lost in the shuffle.
• You'd get a more precise answer from our colleagues at Health and Human Services.
• Thank you very much for your service to the State Board and for being here today.

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the Governor’s education budget proposals for the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), Learning Recovery Block Grant, and Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), followed by testimony from State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond. On LCFF, Finance outlined the proposed 2.43% COLA, repayment of prior deferrals, and a trailer bill penalty for LEAs that fail to adopt Local Control Accountability Plans on time. The LAO said its COLA estimate was slightly lower and raised concerns that the Governor’s proposed TK staffing ratio increase may be more costly than estimated. Members also discussed whether the current COLA formula should better reflect California-specific or district staffing costs, and whether TK should be more clearly separated from the K-3 grade span adjustment to avoid larger K-3 class sizes. The chair asked staff to work with the LAO on both the TK/K-3 issue and alternative COLA calculations. For the Learning Recovery Block Grant, Finance proposed restoring the first of three delayed payments, $378.6 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund, while the LAO recommended adopting the proposal but extending the expenditure deadline by at least a year. The LAO reported that districts had spent $1.6 billion of the $6.8 billion received through 2023-24 and said most districts were only now shifting from federal COVID relief to block grant spending. Members questioned whether the large state and federal investments were improving outcomes, citing declining reading and math trends, while Finance and the State Board president pointed to some signs of improvement, especially in math, attendance, and gains for some student groups. Darling-Hammond emphasized that student needs have grown, that recovery spending has gone to devices, ventilation, staffing, tutoring, summer school, and community schools, and that targeted interventions appear to be helping some districts recover faster than others. On ELOP, Finance proposed adding $435 million to expand universal access by lowering the Tier 1 threshold from 75% to 55% unduplicated pupils, bringing ongoing funding to $4.4 billion. The LAO said the estimate was reasonable but recommended delaying implementation for a year, aligning ELOP with ASES to reduce overlap, moving toward funding based on participation rather than enrollment, and considering a fixed Tier 2 rate. Members and witnesses discussed staffing challenges, the use of funds for students with disabilities, and uncertainty in Tier 2 funding caused by unspent dollars and opt-outs. Darling-Hammond supported ELOP as part of California’s broader after-school and summer learning strategy, said most districts are now offering full-day TK and expanded learning, and urged the state to reduce fragmentation across categorical programs and build more unified systems for funding, reporting, and support.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Advisory Board acts as a buffer between me and the vicissitudes of the politics of appointed service
• board he has insisted that our Advisory board he has insisted that our Advisory<01:17:14.159> Board
• those things are vetted at our Advisory those things are vetted at our Advisory Board<01:17:32.760
• 33.960> itself<01:17:34.280> is Board and The Advisory Board itself is Board and The Advisory
• <01:25:49.679> I offering taking it to Services I offering taking it to Services I sometimes

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 610, which would fold the Office of the Consumer Advocate into the Department of Energy rather than fully eliminate consumer advocacy functions. The prime sponsor argued the current office is small, funded by a special assessment on ratepayers, and duplicative of DOE work. He said moving the function to DOE would streamline energy policy review, reduce bureaucracy, and better focus the larger agency on lowering residential energy costs. He also disputed claims that the Consumer Advocate is independent, saying the office is appointed through a political process similar to DOE leadership. Committee members and the sponsor discussed whether the bill would actually relocate existing positions or replace them, and whether the Department of Energy would absorb the cost of the transferred staff. The sponsor said the fiscal note shows roughly a million-dollar reduction in both revenue assessment and spending, and that the bill would effectively reduce the office from five positions to three. He also defended his cost estimates for energy-code-related housing impacts and said the Consumer Advocate has sometimes supported policies he считает increase costs, such as energy-efficiency measures and building code changes. He argued the office should focus more on energy supply and generation, including natural gas and nuclear, rather than efficiency alone. Representative Wendy Thomas testified in opposition, saying the Consumer Advocate is an important, fair, and impartial voice for ratepayers and warning that the bill was fiscally irresponsible because the incumbent could still be owed salary and benefits if the office were repealed. She also said the bill’s drafting was confusing and that the Consumer Advocate’s role is to push back on utilities on behalf of consumers. Other members raised questions about whether the DOE would simply inherit the same political appointment structure and whether the bill would meaningfully lower bills. No vote was taken in the excerpt; the chair indicated additional testimony would follow, and the Department of Energy was present to answer questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The support Medicaid, home and community-based services, hcbs waiver programs and related services.
• We have a subscription service with them.
• It's those 16 happened to be the advisory Council, right? So they were on the advisory council.
• It's a infrastructure as a service but the actual hosting as infrastructure as a service.
• Also general services.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Juvenile Justice State Advisory the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council.
• legal health care services in Hawaii. legal health care services in Hawaii.
• Okay, Department of Human Services relating to child welfare services in...
• Department of Human Services Child Welfare Services Branch.
• HB 2115, Department of Human Services relating to human services.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up gubernatorial message nominations. Margaret Jackson was heard for reappointment to the State Council on Mental Health, where she said her lived experience with family members facing schizophrenia, houselessness, and substance use issues motivates her service. Andrew Savaiano was heard for the Juvenile Justice State Advisory Council and said he wanted to continue elevating youth voice and lived experience. Tao Yan was heard for the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants and emphasized the importance of wastewater treatment to public health and the environment. The Department of Health testified in support of the nominations, and the committee later adopted chair recommendations to advise and consent to all three nominations, noting Senator Favela’s excuse and no recorded objections. The committee then heard HB 1853 relating to dementia. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state agencies, advocacy groups, caregivers, and individuals with lived experience, including a person living with Alzheimer’s and his caregiver spouse, who described the value of early diagnosis and coordinated support. Supporters said the bill would expand memory care navigation and access, especially on neighbor islands and in rural areas, and help families connect to resources earlier. One member raised concerns about the cost and scale of the proposed program, asking about the number and cost of dementia specialists and noting broader budget pressures, but the bill remained under discussion with no final action shown in the transcript. The committee also heard HB 1591 relating to health care, which would expand the preceptor tax credit to additional health professions, including physician assistant students and PAs, with testimony in support from nursing, public health, medical, and provider organizations. Supporters argued the measure would help address workforce shortages and improve training opportunities for local and economically disadvantaged students. A committee member asked about the aggregate cost of the credit and whether the existing credit had been fully utilized; the chair noted the bill was being kept narrower than broader proposals because of fiscal concerns. The transcript then moved to HB 1961 relating to health care access near facilities, with supporters arguing it protects access to legal reproductive health care and opponents saying it is unnecessary, vague, and burdensome on free speech and protest activity. No final vote on the bills appears in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, I'm currently the chairman of the land trust advisory board.
• for alignment, I'm looking to NMMI, which of course is a school that's preparing students for the service
• How many students are getting special ed services or things of that nature?
• Um, so we have students who either don't choose us because we lack the support services or come and it's
• allow them to serve, to receive. from the state in their efforts to recognize and honor military service

Transcript Highlights:

• Commission that all critical telecommunication infrastructure and equipment does not use or provide any service
• will address real threats from our foreign adversaries that I've seen firsthand in my government service
• We've seen that time and again when it comes to other products like this and services that pose sort
• We're pouring a concrete pad and running services with your money.
• We also are complemented by an incredible advisory board. We have Dr.

Bills: SB1046

Keywords: telecommunications, broadband, internet infrastructure, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, national security, foreign adversary, China, Chinese equipment, supply chain security, network equipment, microchips, Arizona Corporation Commission, telecommunications provider, communications infrastructure, Huawei, ZTE, state-owned enterprise, sanctions, infrastructure security

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:51.360> under<00:22:51.679> section services under section services under section
• <00:43:57.640> commission inspector general advisory commission inspector general advisory
• , Department of Human Services, Department of Human Services, specifically<01:03:08.720> the
• service.
• or u a services like a Medicaid service or u a stateonly<01:18:28.560> service.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > having<00:55:09.920> the modernization advisory group having the modernization advisory
• would otherwise take default service would otherwise take default service supply.<01:06:54.720><
• How much do you have service price.
• different in every utility service different in every utility service territory,<05:41:34.958>
• Large customer generators receive just the default service rate and the default service rate without

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the other big-picture point I thought I had is I'm on the BCA advisory group, and they presented
• > the Advisory opinions issued by the Advisory opinions issued by the Department<01:44:35.679>
• whether the acts reliance on advisory whether the acts reliance on advisory guidance<01:44:51.360
• I've never been a member in my 12 years of any of the human services committees.
• I've never been a member in my 12 years of any of the human services committees.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee continued its hearing on enforcement and compliance with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, first taking additional public testimony from Melissa Zimmerman and Matt Senot of the East Side Corridor residents in Owatonna. They described submitting roughly two dozen data requests across several government entities related to a proposed highway project, saying some agencies responded but others did not, and that even after they substantially prevailed in a data practices complaint and the court imposed a maximum civil penalty, they still did not receive meaningful access to the records. Zimmerman said the lack of access harmed their ability to comment on the project’s environmental review, and both witnesses argued that the law needs stronger enforcement, realistic timelines, better communication, and more accessible remedies for requesters who cannot afford repeated litigation. They also raised practical barriers such as inaccessible file formats, missing software on a county-provided laptop, and the need for electronic delivery options. The committee then heard from Eric Johnson of Anoka County, who testified about Chapter 13 issues involving third-party polygraph data used in probation monitoring. He argued that when the state relies on third-party-generated summaries, the responsible authority’s obligations for access, retention, and correction are unclear, and there is no effective remedy when the third party does not respond. Johnson said the county directed him to seek raw data from the third party, which had not responded, and he warned that short retention periods can make data subject rights unenforceable if the records are destroyed before a request is resolved. Members asked about statutory citations and retention schedules, and several commented that the issue may warrant review of data-retention rules. During member discussion, legislators broadly agreed that the Data Practices Act’s enforcement mechanisms are not working well enough and that many requesters cannot afford to pursue administrative or court remedies. Co-Chair Scott suggested staff compile the testimony into a report to identify possible legislative fixes, while Senator Lucero said there may be some “low-hanging fruit” that could be addressed quickly in the short session. The chair also floated the idea of involving the Office of Collaboration and Dispute Resolution in a mediation role to improve communication and reduce gridlock, though members noted that any process would still need to produce results consistent with the law. The committee then moved on to its next agenda item, a discussion of the BCA Fusion Center and its annual reporting requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I really look at the people who are engaged in delivering the services across Vermont, and I have
• and and on a reduction as a services and and on a reduction as a result<00:17:12.560> of<00:17
• of uh capacity a genuine great service of uh capacity for<00:20:49.320> child<00:20:49.680>
• They need to show the ID to receive required services and they must be ready to prove their identity
• requirements from failure to advisory requirements from failure to advisory through<00:53:29.880

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section three creates the technical advisory board that would help develop that plan, and that's with
• <00:17:50.960> board creates the technical advisory board creates the technical advisory board
• c><00:19:01.840> board five, the technical advisory board five, the technical advisory board creates
• State to uh participate in the advisory State to uh participate in the advisory board.<00:19:53.280
• Texas developed their strategic plan. the advisory board provides some some the advisory board provides

Keywords: Ports and Marine Resources - Room 216, 30 January, 2026; 11:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2263, which would require Department of Marine Resources law enforcement officers to have probable cause before boarding or stopping a vessel or conducting a search at a marina. The bill sponsor said current law does not require probable cause for DMR stops, and members discussed complaints from constituents about boats being stopped and searched without cause, including checks for life jackets, fish measurements, whistles, and flares. Questions also raised whether the bill should be consistent with wildlife officers and other law enforcement standards; the sponsor noted a separate bill addressing freshwater officers was in another committee. The committee ultimately moved the bill forward with a do pass recommendation. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2264, a coastal restoration and conservation planning bill. The sponsor explained that Mississippi receives multiple streams of restoration-related funding, including RESTORE Act, GOMESA, tidelands, and other federal funds, but lacks a coordinated science-based plan for how those dollars should be deployed. The bill would create a technical advisory board with representatives from state agencies, universities, and an NGO to develop a strategic plan and annual report on priorities such as water quality, habitat loss, and Mississippi Sound restoration. Members confirmed the bill would not change executive branch control over the funds and that GCRF economic damage funds were not included. The committee adopted the bill and reported it out. Next, Senate Bill 2370 was taken up to allow airport authorities to remove abandoned vehicles using the same procedures available to municipalities and private landowners. The sponsor said airports were dealing with vehicles left in parking areas for long periods and needed authority to begin the abandonment process. The bill was reported out. Senate Bill 2618, which would authorize airport authorities to enter public-private partnerships for property on airport-controlled land, was amended with a reverse repealer so it could be studied further; the committee then adopted the amendment, passed the bill as a committee substitute, and reported it out. Finally, Senate Bill 2634, which would let DMR create and pay reserve officers for special events and other staffing needs, was also approved and reported out.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the amendment, uh, dealing with the rare disease advisory council.
• Senator um Rosenwald advisory council.
• Um, so the line since we're on the amendment line 20, the Housing Champion Program Advisory Committee
• Um, so the line since we're on the amendment line 20, the Housing Champion Program Advisory Committee
• So, as I looked at this, we heard testimony about keeping the advisory committee on state procurement

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• level of access to the service, and this is simply unacceptable.
• Number two, the bill creates and strengthens the existing 9-1-1 Advisory Board, renaming the 911 Advisory
• Fire districts will be able to charge for services rendered.
• are dispatched but no aid or services rendered.
• Californians deserve... ...services are dispatched, but no aid or services rendered.

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to public safety, emergency response, wildfire prevention, and environmental protection. AB 2152 by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez would streamline CEQA litigation for new fire station projects and add best-practice requirements; supporters, including firefighters, said it would help communities and firefighter safety, while opponents argued the project labor agreement requirements would raise costs and limit participation for small and nonunion contractors. The bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2041 by Assembly Member Carrillo would expand reporting related to 911 dispatcher pre-arrival medical instructions; after amendments and stakeholder agreement, opposition groups said they would remove their opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 2101 by Assembly Member Gipson would require human trafficking notices and training at disaster sites and for disaster response workers; supporters said it would protect vulnerable workers, while broadband, city, and county representatives raised implementation concerns, especially in rural disaster areas. It passed to Appropriations despite a no vote from Vice Chair Hadwick. The committee also considered AB 1805, which would require an audit and stronger oversight of the state’s Next Generation 911 project after concerns about major spending and delays. CalNENA supported the bill’s transparency and accountability provisions, and the measure passed to Appropriations. AB 1536 by Assembly Member Addis would tighten safety and public review requirements for offshore oil pipeline restarts and require decommissioning of certain spill-prone pipelines; environmental and coastal government groups supported it, while the Western States Petroleum Association warned it would threaten fuel supply and pipeline operations. The bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote. AB 1964 would direct the State Fire Marshal to survey home hardening in fire-prone areas and estimate costs; it passed to Appropriations with broad support. AB 1960, also by Assembly Member Bennett, would use a portion of wildfire prevention grants to encourage community-level home hardening certification. The author said the bill would create incentives and broader public awareness, while the vice chair argued it would favor communities that can already afford hardening and divert resources from higher-need areas; the bill still passed to Appropriations. AB 1863 by Assembly Member DeMaio would clarify that people cannot be charged simply for calling 911 or when no services are rendered, while preserving fees for actual services and allowing billing for legitimate emergency response costs; it passed to the Assembly floor. The committee also took up consent item AB 2517, which passed to Appropriations. After add-on votes for absent members, the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• establishes a one-year advisory establishes a one-year advisory committee<00:22:47.200> under
• the judicial branch with this advisory the judicial branch with this advisory committee.<00:23:01.200
• funds to fund services for individuals funds to fund services for individuals served<00:56:10.400>
• Moving on to the Medicaid services.
• Medicaid services. right. Medicaid services.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all