Transcript Highlights:

• April through September of 2025.
• And July through September was the second warmest on record.
• April through September of 2025.
• And July through September was the second warmest on record.
• We saw portions of the Spokane River run dry in September.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought received a detailed presentation from Deputy State Climatologist Karen Bumbacco on the conditions that led to Washington’s 2025 drought. She described below-normal snowpack, especially in the Cascades, a very dry January, warm and dry spring and summer conditions, and the compounding effect of three consecutive years of poor snowpack and precipitation. She also outlined the outlook for winter, noting a weak La Niña and a likely wetter-than-normal winter, while cautioning that one wet year would not erase large basin deficits such as in the Upper Yakima. Members asked about the basis for long-range climate projections, microclimates, and hydropower impacts, and Bumbacco explained the difference between weather forecasts and climate modeling and emphasized that statewide averages can mask local variation. Department of Ecology staff Rea Burns and Caroline Melor then reviewed the state’s drought declaration process and response. They explained Washington’s statutory drought threshold of less than 75% of normal water supply plus hardship, and said the state extended the Yakima drought declaration in April and expanded it in June to 19 additional watersheds. They described the role of federal data sources such as NRCS snowpack readings, USGS gauges, NOAA, and the Bureau of Reclamation, and raised concerns about staffing and funding instability affecting those systems. They also summarized drought response tools, including expedited water transfers and emergency grants, and noted that 2023 statutory changes created a $3 million drought emergency response account, though the one-transfer-per-fiscal-year rule could complicate future back-to-back droughts. Committee members asked about the amount of drought funding used, whether any balance remained, and whether drought insurance exists for municipalities; Ecology said the account still has funds available and that they were not aware of municipal drought insurance. Ecology also described severe impacts in the Yakima Basin, where low reservoir storage, three years of drought, and the adjudicated water-right system led to unprecedented curtailment orders in October. Staff said nearly all senior surface-water rights in the basin were turned off, a first for the basin, and that the action was necessary to protect the most senior rights. They credited the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan and prior planning investments with reducing impacts, but said more resilience work is needed. In committee discussion afterward, members raised broader questions about whether the drought fund should be increased, whether reservoirs or other storage projects should be expanded, and whether drought insurance or other long-term tools could help local governments and irrigators. The meeting ended with general agreement that drought is becoming a recurring condition in Washington and that more planning and water conservation will be needed going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• :31.279><c> Harrington</c><00:11:32.000><c> Geneian</c><00:11:32.880><c> Levitt</c><00:11:34.240><c>
• :35.519><c> Smith</c><00:11:35.920><c> and</c><00:11:36.160><c> Vney</c><00:11:36.959><c> and</c><00:
• Gilman these<00:11:41.279><c> leaves</c><00:11:41.600><c> of</c><00:11:41.680><c> abence</c><00:11:42.000
• </c><00:11:43.600><c> by</c><00:11:43.760><c> the</c><00:11:43.920><c> house</c><00:11:44.240><c> the
• ><c> will</c><00:11:44.800><c> attend</c><00:11:44.959><c> to</c><00:11:45.120><c> the</c><00:11:45.279

Transcript Highlights:

• access-related services that were eliminated, reduced, or reduced in the state plan on or after September
• access-related services that were eliminated, reduced, or reduced in the state plan on or after September
• access-related services that were eliminated, reduced, or reduced in the state plan on or after September
• Page 11.
• Page 11.

Summary: The meeting covered a long series of bills, mostly in health, education, commerce, federalism, and government. In health, members discussed radiology technology updates (HB 2050), a tribal Medicaid waiver/drawdown measure with no state cost (HB 2177), an emergency medicine study committee (HB 2183), fetal death certificate and remains-transfer requirements (HB 2184), a physician assistant licensure compact (HB 2190), dementia care telemonitoring funding (HB 2202), SNAP error-rate reduction and fraud/eligibility oversight bills (HB 2206, HB 2442, HB 2797), child welfare protections like credit freezes and recorded interviews (HB 2321, HB 2322), and podiatric licensure compacts (HB 2438). Several of these were described as consent-calendar items, while HB 2206 and the SNAP-related measures drew discussion about fraud reduction, administrative burden, and work requirements. In commerce and finance, the committee heard bills on mobile food vendors and local permits (HB 2118), earned wage access services with fee caps and disclosure rules (HB 2309), CPA licensure changes (HB 2476), cash acceptance for retail purchases under $100 (HB 2555), drone delivery and unmanned aircraft guardrails (HB 2875), timeshare salesperson licensing (HB 2877), and a prohibition on state-mandated social credit scoring in lending decisions (HB 2903). The tax and retirement-related items included 529 plan conformity and Roth IRA transfer rules (HB 2477), annual tax conformity to the Internal Revenue Code (HB 2785), ASRS technical and disability-related changes (HB 2089, HB 2090, HB 2092), and a bill on employee health insurance definitions (HB 2089). The Arizona Commerce Authority bill (HB 2754) would add legislative members to the board and shift more control over trade offices and Arizona Competes Fund spending to the legislature. The education section focused heavily on school governance and finance. Bills included patriotic youth group presentations in schools (HB 2312), school board term limits (HB 2318), mandatory training for governing board members (HB 2379), independent municipal advisors for bond elections (HB 2320), restrictions on districts buying operating charter/private school sites to game enrollment formulas (HB 2376), conflict-of-interest limits for school facilities board architects and engineers (HB 2378), public meeting and travel transparency rules for districts (HB 2380), limits on long-term school property leases and reporting requirements (HB 2384), tighter bidding rules for school construction job orders using Building Renewal Grant funds (HB 2482), and a voluntary computer science proficiency seal (HB 2764). Sponsors repeatedly framed these as transparency, accountability, and anti-abuse measures, while some opposition centered on local flexibility, housing use, and existing training providers. In federalism and government, the committee heard bills to give counties more time to mail sample ballots (HB 2006), require courts to identify veterans at first appearance for possible veterans court referral (HB 2226), study veterans’ awareness of benefits (HB 2406), broaden military leave protections (HB 2663), require SAVE verification for voter registration and certain state services (HB 2806), require U.S.-sourced voting machine components by 2029 (HB 2901), affirm the Electoral College (HB 2902), and establish due process protections for justice of the peace courts against outside administrative action (HB 2976). Government committee items included a later deadline for library trustees’ annual reports (HB 2129), a two-year limit on certain adult protective services reports to the Attorney General (HB 2228), and an exemption for public and semi-public cold plunges from ADEQ spa rules (HB 2439). Several bills were reported as consent-calendar items, and a number of sponsors noted committee votes, fiscal neutrality, or favorable testimony in support of the measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• And be it<00:11:00.480><c> further</c><00:11:00.720><c> resolved</c><00:11:01.440><c> that</c><00:11:
• c><00:11:03.680><c> to</c><00:11:03.920><c> send</c><00:11:04.079><c> a</c><00:11:04.240><c> copy</c>
• this<00:11:04.880><c> resolution</c><00:11:05.680><c> to</c><00:11:05.839><c> the</c><00:11:06.000><
• They<00:11:32.720><c> are</c><00:11:32.880><c> the</c><00:11:33.120><c> boots</c><00:11:33.519><c> on
• They have<00:11:45.440><c> a</c><00:11:45.600><c> display</c><00:11:45.920><c> today</c><00:11:46.079

Transcript Highlights:

• So moving on to slide 11.
• They'll submit them in September.
• September is 1st, September 23rd. September 23rd from 9 to noon, November..."
• "September 23rd from 9 to noon, November 23rd from 2 to 5. Okay, anything else?
• We will see you all together next in September." "See you all together next in September."

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability

Summary: The committee held its first meeting, with co-chairs and members introducing themselves and staff outlining the committee’s statutory charge under the 2026 supplemental operating budget. Staff explained that the committee is tasked with studying budget transparency and fiscal sustainability in two phases: first, revenue growth, spending assumptions, statutory cost drivers, and carryforward/maintenance levels; and later, staffing, overhead, performance management, and public reporting tools. The committee also discussed its goals, with members emphasizing a shared factual understanding of Washington’s fiscal situation, the causes of projected structural deficits, and possible paths to a more sustainable operating budget. Staff then gave a detailed operating budget basics presentation. They reviewed the size and composition of the operating budget, explaining that most spending is concentrated in grants and client services, salaries and benefits, and goods and services, with K-12 education, DSHS, the Health Care Authority, DCYF, corrections, and higher education making up most NGFO spending. They also walked through the distinction between constitutional, federal, statutory, and discretionary spending; the role of caseload and per-capita forecasts; how maintenance level and policy level budgets are built; and how the four-year outlook works, including revenue forecasts, reversions, budget stabilization account reserves, and the official outlook adoption process. Members asked several questions about what is or is not included in the outlook, especially future collective bargaining agreements, health care inflation, court-ordered liabilities, and whether the budget could better separate mandatory from discretionary spending over time. Staff said some of those questions would require follow-up and noted the existence of an outlook accuracy report. The committee then heard from Josh Goodman of the Pew Charitable Trusts, who introduced Pew’s state fiscal work and its role as the nonprofit partner supporting the committee. He said Pew would help analyze long-term fiscal sustainability, reserve policies, recession preparedness, and practices from other states, and would draw on its 50-state data and subject-matter experts. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported at this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> I'm sorry, September 30th. I'm sorry, September 30th.
• So, we're required by<01:11:40.720><c> the</c><01:11:40.840><c> federal</c><01:11:41.240><c> government
• <c> application</c><01:11:45.480><c> that</c><01:11:45.720><c> covers</c><01:11:46.280><c> 20</c> huge
• ,</c><01:11:47.200><c> it</c><01:11:47.320><c> covered</c><01:11:47.600><c> 26</c><01:11:48.200><c> and
• And we did<01:11:50.200><c> submit</c><01:11:50.640><c> that</c><01:11:51.320><c> in</c><01:11:51.520

Committee: Joint Health Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, as<00:11:06.480><c> far</c><00:11:06.640><c> as</c><00:11:06.880><c> like</c><00:11:07.440><c> um
• <00:11:10.800><c> to</c><00:11:11.040><c> what's</c><00:11:11.440><c> already</c><00:11:11.839><c> in
• </c><00:11:17.839><c> I</c><00:11:17.920><c> have</c><00:11:18.000><c> a</c><00:11:18.160><c> motion.
• You be<00:11:24.160><c> overseas</c><00:11:24.560><c> a</c><00:11:24.640><c> favor</c><00:11:24.959><
• &gt;&gt; And<00:11:26.800><c> you</c><00:11:26.959><c> have</c><00:11:27.040><c> the</c><00:11:27.200

Bills: HB304 , HB285 , HB312 , HB311 , SB60 , HB304 , HB285 , HB312 , HB311 , SB60

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: impoundment, driver licenses, vehicle redemption, local identification cards, law enforcement, HB285, TJ's Law, traffic infraction, traffic ticket, uniform traffic ticket and complaint, minor driver, juvenile driver, parent notification, guardian notification, emergency contact, citing agency, traffic citation, driver safety, youth safety, Alabama traffic law

Transcript Highlights:

• So,<00:11:09.880><c> again,</c><00:11:10.640><c> prior</c><00:11:11.000><c> to</c><00:11:11.280><c> I
• </c><00:11:11.400><c> just</c><00:11:11.640><c> hit</c><00:11:11.800><c> on</c><00:11:11.920><c> those
• <00:11:14.400><c> it's</c><00:11:14.600><c> very</c><00:11:14.960><c> important,</c><00:11:16.240><c>
• federal and state<00:11:19.480><c> law</c><00:11:19.600><c> that</c><00:11:19.839><c> all</c><00:11:
• .<00:11:33.120><c> Um</c><00:11:33.600><c> you</c><00:11:33.880><c> will</c><00:11:34.000><c> see</c>

Summary: The committee held its first official interim meeting after merging the General Government and Finance, Personnel, and Public Retirement committees, establishing a quorum and opening with the pledge and prayer. Members then received a briefing from KPPA representatives Ryan Barrow and Aaron Sarock on the state retirement systems, including KERS, CERS, and SPRS, and on the importance of fully funding the actuarially determined employer contribution, supplemental appropriations, and investment earnings in reducing unfunded liabilities. They said the systems have made progress toward a statutory closed amortization target of 2049 and emphasized that supplemental funding lowers current employer contribution rates but does not change that end date. A major topic was federal and state reemployment-after-retirement rules for retirees who return to work with participating employers. KPPA explained that retirees must have a bona fide separation from service, no prearranged agreement to return, and generally a one-calendar-month break in service for retirees on or after January 1, 2024. If a member fails to comply, retirement benefits can be voided, payments stopped, health coverage ended, and benefits repaid. The presenters also noted that rehired retirees do not earn a second retirement account, and employers rehiring them must pay employer contributions and, in non-exempt cases, reimburse health insurance costs. Members asked about the scale of rehired retirees and the difference between employer contribution and health insurance reimbursement amounts. KPPA said that in fiscal year 2025 there were over 3,500 rehired retirees in CERS and over 5,000 in SPRS, with substantial employer contributions and health reimbursement payments collected. They also explained that some positions are exempt from these chargebacks, including school resource officers and certain law enforcement positions that meet statutory criteria. The committee discussed House Bill 213, which allows cities, sheriffs’ departments, and post-secondary institutions to offer health insurance to rehired officers if authorized by the governing body, effective August 1, 2026, and clarifies the fiscal-year basis for certain exemption limits. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• To serve a term commencing September 20, 2003, and expiring July 1, 2009. Dear Mr.
• Idaho, was appointed to the Idaho Endowment Fund Investment Board to serve a term commencing April 11
• , 2025, and expiring April 11, 2009.
• President, I move that the Senate adjourn until 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 14th, 2026. Mr.
• See you tomorrow at 11.

Transcript Highlights:

• This allowed the rules to become effective shortly thereafter in September.
• The Board of Pharmacy received the first of three certification course applications in September.
• On slide 11, we talked about applications received and licenses issued, and you had an update on numbers
• The sickle cell registry follow-up notification letters were sent out in September 2024.
• The vendor registration and voucher portal launched in September 2024, and since then we have received

Summary: The Health Professions and Program Subcommittee met for an introductory and oversight briefing from the Florida Department of Health on implementation of several 2024 laws. The committee heard first from Jennifer Winhold on practitioner-regulation measures, including SB 1716 and SB 1600, which expanded workforce pathways through foreign-trained physician licensure, area-of-critical-need temporary certificates for APRNs and physician assistants, graduate assistant physician licenses, interstate compacts, and a new universal licensure-by-endorsement process. She also reviewed HB 197 on massage therapy enforcement, HB 975 on broader background screening, HB 1561 on office-surgery and liposuction safeguards, HB 159 on pharmacist HIV post-exposure prophylaxis certification, and HB 1063 on chiropractic dry needling and foreign degree licensure. Members asked about compact scope, foreign graduate requirements, massage enforcement overlap with DBPR, and registration thresholds for liposuction procedures. Dr. Emma Spencer then outlined implementation of SB 76 and related programs, including changes to the FRAME and dental loan repayment programs, the volunteer health care provider program, the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program, the Health Care Innovation Council and revolving loan program, and the Andrew John Anderson Pediatric Rare Disease Grant Program. She said the department had updated portals, posted forms, launched or was developing public search tools, and submitted required reports and contracts. Members questioned whether loan repayment funds were reaching rural and underserved areas, how nonprofit applicants were being informed about the Alphonse screening grant program, the short application window for that grant, and how the department would evaluate whether the programs were improving recruitment and retention. A third presentation, delivered by Mike Mason standing in for Shea Holloway, covered maternal and child health and other public health initiatives. He reported on the telehealth maternity care program’s expansion from a pilot in Duval and Orange counties to 23 counties, the pregnancy-and-parenting resources website required by HB 415, CMV newborn screening requirements under SB 168, sickle cell registry and research grants under HB 7085, and the swim lessons voucher program under SB 544, which received nearly 10,000 requests for 3,500 vouchers and enrolled 86 facilities. Members asked about utilization, marketing, website launch timing, and how the department was promoting these services. No bills were voted on; the meeting concluded with the chair noting that more committee presentations and bills would follow and that briefing materials would be distributed to members.

Transcript Highlights:

• offer 90<01:11:11.520><c> days</c><01:11:12.320><c> at</c><01:11:12.719><c> less</c><01:11:13.040><c>
• than</c><01:11:13.360><c> $50</c><01:11:13.840><c> a</c><01:11:14.080><c> month</c><01:11:14.880><c>
• <c> less</c><01:11:16.000><c> so</c><01:11:16.640><c> for</c><01:11:16.960><c> 28</c><01:11:17.440><c
• </c><01:11:22.640><c> child</c><01:11:22.960><c> care</c><01:11:23.360><c> that</c><01:11:23.600><c>
• upfront</c><01:11:27.440><c> costs</c><01:11:27.920><c> and</c><01:11:28.159><c> let</c><01:11:28.400

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• 00.160><c> release</c><00:10:00.480><c> supervision</c><00:10:00.959><c> on</c><00:10:01.200><c> September
• </c> earned release supervision on September earned release supervision on September 21st<00:10:02.080
• </c> Thank<00:11:05.760><c> you.
• </c> All right, right, right, we<00:11:26.000><c> see</c><00:11:26.160><c> the</c><00:11:26.320><c> pure
• </c><00:11:26.720><c> reports</c><00:11:27.279><c> here.

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division B

Transcript Highlights:

• Um and<01:11:26.080><c> uh</c><01:11:26.719><c> now</c><01:11:26.880><c> we</c><01:11:27.040><c> have
• :11:32.640><c> in</c><01:11:32.880><c> the</c><01:11:33.040><c> AG's</c><01:11:33.600><c> office.
• ><01:11:43.679><c> this</c><01:11:43.920><c> bill</c><01:11:45.199><c> uh</c><01:11:45.280><c> for</c
• 01:11:48.960><c> purpose</c><01:11:49.280><c> of</c><01:11:49.520><c> conducting</c><01:11:50.000><c>
• </c><01:11:52.080><c> uh</c><01:11:52.239><c> it</c><01:11:52.560><c> is</c><01:11:52.960><c> to</c><

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so again, I I think<00:11:20.800><c> we</c><00:11:21.279><c> we</c><00:11:21.680><c> I</c><00:11:
• :11:26.399><c> to</c><00:11:26.560><c> my</c><00:11:26.640><c> attention</c><00:11:26.880><c> is</c><
• So I I don't<00:11:36.079><c> want</c><00:11:36.160><c> to</c><00:11:36.320><c> have</c><00:11:36.480
• If<00:11:39.920><c> you</c><00:11:40.079><c> think</c><00:11:40.240><c> they're</c><00:11:40.399><c>
• :46.640><c> and</c><00:11:47.120><c> submit</c><00:11:47.360><c> it</c><00:11:47.519><c> to</c><00:11

Summary: The committee of conference spent most of its time on Senate Bill 96, which deals with educator conduct and when information may be withheld from parents. The main dispute was over the House-amended language on violations and the “compelling state interest” standard. The Senate sponsor objected to extending penalties to third-party medical or mental health contractors and to language suggesting psychological or emotional injury to a child would not constitute a compelling state interest. The House side argued its draft was intended to keep the bill focused on credentialed educators and administrators, to include parents or guardians, and to avoid creating competing standards by relying on existing abuse definitions in statute. The House also added a requirement that any withholding of information be documented and reported to the school board in nonpublic session, and both sides discussed whether educators, administrators, nurses, and guidance counselors would be covered under the statutory definition of educator. The discussion also covered enforcement and penalties. The House draft proposed that an educator found to have willfully violated the law could have a credential suspended for a first offense and would face a minimum one-year suspension for multiple offenses, while the Senate raised concerns that this was too rigid and did not allow enough discretion or address revocation. The House later explained that the department would still have discretion on first offenses and that the one-year rule applied only to multiple offenses. Another point of disagreement was a three-year statute of limitations for investigations, which the House said was meant to prevent “witch hunts,” while the Senate noted New Hampshire’s constitutional prohibition on retroactive laws. After caucusing, the Senate rejected the House amendment, and the House then voted non-concur; the committee of conference adjourned without agreement. The transcript then moved to Senate Bill 87, concerning one-day liquor license requirements and allowing salons and barber shops to obtain on-premise licenses. The members discussed a House amendment that would allow two drinks instead of one, with supporters saying the change reflected the longer time customers may spend in salons and that alcohol service would still be covered by existing training requirements, including the EDGE course. Opponents worried that allowing multiple drinks would create over-serving and enforcement problems and could complicate business practices. After discussion, the Senate member agreed to go along with the House position, and the bill was reported ready for final sign-off.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have 18 division titles, including 11 straight, another NFL record.
• I served 11 years on the Executive Committee of New Mexico Cattle Growers, and for all 11 of those years
• We will be in at 11 o'clock tomorrow.
• Seeing no objection, the Senate stands at recess until 11 a.m. tomorrow.
• Seeing no objection, the Senate stands at recess until 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:11:27.200><c> has</c><01:11:27.360><c> written</c><01:11:27.640><c> extensively</c><01:11:28.880>
• And again,<01:11:30.080><c> because</c><01:11:30.560><c> we</c><01:11:30.840><c> all</c><01:11:31.280
• ><c> can</c><01:11:31.440><c> talk</c><01:11:31.760><c> about</c><01:11:32.040><c> the</c> again, because
• 01:11:33.120><c> market,</c> health care market, health care market, but<01:11:35.440><c> we</c><01:11
• > much</c><01:11:39.440><c> depend</c><01:11:40.000><c> on</c><01:11:40.200><c> informed</c><01:11:40.920

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Board met on September 24, 2025, approved the minutes from the September 9 meeting, and then continued its discussion of Medicaid waivers with Leslie Hoffman and Carmen Hancock from the Department for Medicaid Services. Members asked for updates on the 2024 waiver waitlist management assessment recommendations, including aligning waiver policies, standardizing applications and waitlist placement, and modernizing data systems. DMS said that work is being done jointly with Aging and Independent Living and Behavioral Health/Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities through task forces, that ARPA spending delayed action, and that implementation timelines extend through March 2027. The board also reviewed per-member waiver cost averages for fiscal years 2023 through 2025 for ABI, ABI long-term care, HCBS, Model II, Michelle P, and SCL. DMS emphasized these figures were benefit-only averages based on paid claims, not full waiver costs, and explained that true budget neutrality is calculated on an aggregate basis against institutional care comparisons approved by CMS. DMS said all six waivers remain in compliance with budget neutrality and that the most recent 18-month lag review for FY 2022 and FY 2023 found costs at or below institutional care. Members also asked about unused waiver slots; DMS said slots generally cannot be reallocated mid-year if they have been used, except in cases such as death or reserved capacity, because CMS treats participants as unduplicated for the waiver year. A major portion of the meeting focused on the new child waiver created under House Bill 6. Legislators questioned whether the waiver’s design, including the exclusion of participant-directed services and the emphasis on high-acuity children with behavioral health, DCBS, or juvenile justice involvement, matched the bill’s intent to keep children at home. DMS said it used the $14.7 million appropriated for FY 2026 to develop the program, that there is no priority list, and that the waiver is intended to serve the highest-acuity children while also addressing residential needs for those sleeping in offices or placed out of state. Members also raised concerns about the rapid growth of the HCBS waiting list and asked for more detail on age and timing patterns, which DMS said it would provide later. Finally, DMS gave average processing times from application to eligibility determination and from approval to service start, and said the overall average from application to services beginning was about 80 days, while members requested follow-up information on the Carewise assessment contract and related costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• First,<01:11:07.480><c> we're</c><01:11:07.560><c> going</c><01:11:07.680><c> to</c><01:11:07.800><c>
• If<01:11:16.000><c> you</c><01:11:16.320><c> personally</c><01:11:17.040><c> buy</c><01:11:17.280><c>
• If you<01:11:22.160><c> buy</c><01:11:22.280><c> a</c><01:11:22.360><c> conservation</c><01:11:23.040
• <c> your</c><01:11:30.560><c> gas,</c><01:11:31.400><c> you</c><01:11:31.560><c> pay</c><01:11:31.760
• It<01:11:37.920><c> is</c><01:11:38.120><c> really</c><01:11:38.440><c> a</c><01:11:38.560><c> user</

Committee: Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• And in CalWORKs, improved OCAT appraisal timeliness from 11% to 20% with 16 new welfare-to-work staff
• OCAT appraisal timeliness from 11% to 20% with 16 new welfare-to-work staff.
• So July, August, and September... The time limit is three months in a 36-month time period.
• So getting it in early August allows the system to process it in September so that...
• August allows the system to process it in September so that that October benefit month is issued.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing focused on the impacts of federal HR1 on CalFresh and Medi-Cal, along with related state mitigation efforts. CDSS, DHCS, DDS, county representatives, LAO, and Finance discussed automatic exemptions, data-sharing between departments, county workload, and the timing of implementation. CDSS said about two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 64 are already known to be exempt in CalFresh, and that administrative data matches could newly exempt about 200,000 of the roughly 955,000 adults potentially at risk. DHCS said Medi-Cal work requirements would begin in 2027 and the department is working to automate exemptions, including for IHSS recipients and some caregivers, while DDS said its population is expected to be covered by auto-exemptions. County welfare directors emphasized that individualized worker contact is critical, that counties need more staffing and stable funding, and that without it they expect delays, higher error rates, and reduced exemption screening capacity. Members pressed for written timelines, county-by-county impact data, and clearer guidance; the administration said it would provide follow-up materials and technical assistance. No votes were taken. The committee then heard a separate discussion on a proposed CFAP expansion or “CFAP Plus” concept to provide state-funded benefits to additional populations affected by HR1, including lawfully present non-citizens and ABODs. CDSS said implementation could not occur before October 1, 2027 because of policy and system-design constraints, and that adding unique eligibility rules would increase complexity and cost. Finance cautioned that any expansion would have General Fund impacts likely in the hundreds of millions to multiple billions. Members asked for cost estimates and technical feedback on trailer bill language, and CDSS said it would review the proposal and respond. The hearing also covered CDSS’s CalFresh strategic plan and mandated reporter training updates. CDSS said it is hiring a strategic plan lead to develop a long-term, data-informed CalFresh plan, and that the revised mandated reporter training is on track for launch in fall/winter 2026, ahead of the July 1, 2027 statutory deadline. The training will include updated content on structural racism, ICWA protections, implicit bias, and the distinction between reporting and supporting families. Members praised the work and asked for continued updates. Later panels focused on Promise Neighborhoods, Stop the Hate, and housing programs. Promise Neighborhood advocates and CDSS described the state’s prior $12 million investment, a positive evaluation showing roughly a 4-to-1 return, and a new proposal to support place-based partnerships and community schools through AB 1969. Stop the Hate grantees and CDSS reported that the program has provided direct services, prevention, and statewide coordination to millions of Californians, and urged reauthorization before funding expires; members asked for best-practice language and discussed focusing future funding on solidarity work, harm reduction, legal services, and education. Finally, CDSS presented on the CalWORKs Housing Support Program and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, saying proposed General Fund investments of $105 million and $55 million would prevent funding cliffs and allow the programs to continue through 2026-27, while the absence of new funding would force reductions in housing assistance, subsidies, and enrollments.

Transcript Highlights:

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• </c><00:16:18.480><c> after</c><00:16:18.800><c> the</c> by September 3, 2026, 11 years after the by
• September 3, 2026, 11 years after the effective<00:16:19.440><c> date.

Summary: The committee questioned KCNA officials about the Kentucky Wired network refresh, focusing on whether the equipment truly needed replacement now and what the vendor end-of-support dates were for the network’s layer 1, 2, and 3 equipment. Senators and representatives pressed for invoices, purchase orders, and vendor documentation, and KCNA staff explained that end-of-support dates vary by specific model and component, not just by broad product family. KCNA agreed to provide a detailed list of components, part numbers, and support dates, and acknowledged that some requested documentation had not yet been produced. A major point of discussion was the timing of the system refresh. KCNA said the 10-year refresh schedule comes from the project agreement, specifically Schedule 19, Section 2.1B, which requires the first system refresh to be completed by September 3, 2026. Committee members argued the network equipment appears to remain in service life for at least the next two years and questioned why an upgrade would be needed immediately. KCNA responded that failing to complete the refresh could excuse the service provider from contractual obligations and could constitute a material breach or default under the project and bond documents. Members also asked about network capacity and the impact on schools and state users. KCNA said it would need to check with Quark for an exact utilization figure, while the chair cited prior testimony that schools account for about 80% of traffic and KCNA about 20%. The committee raised concerns about schools not connected to the network and the effect of KCNA’s actions on continuity of service, while KCNA disputed that K-12 service had been put at risk. KCNA also explained the contract and payment structure: the Commonwealth’s project agreement runs through Kentucky Wired Infrastructure Corporation/Quark, with KEDA-issued bonds and funds flowing through Quark in a waterfall structure. The meeting ended with KCNA agreeing to request underlying vendor invoices from Quark, provide the requested contract documents, and supply information on the status of the wholesaler replacement procurement and related litigation. No formal vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope to see you all there Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. at the Capitol Education Center. Thank you, Mr.
• Please join me Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. at the Capitol Education Center to hear firsthand from a Holocaust
• I hope to see you all there Tuesday, 11:00 a.m. at the Capitol Education Center. Thank you, Mr.
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