Transcript Highlights:

• This was the last leading practice on the slide, conducting the lessons learned evaluation to identify
• As part of the audit, we also spoke with representatives from community organizations to learn more about
• We conducted a focus group and online survey with tribal representatives to learn about their experiences
• That was the question that we were kind of digging into and trying to learn more about.
• One of the things that I'm thinking about is that the way Washington currently learns about waste sites

Summary: The I-900 Subcommittee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s performance audit, Community Engagement During Contaminated Site Cleanups. Auditors said Ecology directly conducts or supervises cleanup at only about 8% of active contaminated sites, while most sites are handled by third parties or have no cleanup plan yet. The audit found that Ecology generally met legal requirements at the sites it oversees, but community engagement varied, was not consistently tailored to local needs, and lacked a systematic “lessons learned” process. Auditors also found inconsistent coordination between Ecology and the Department of Health, and limited guidance for staff on when to collaborate. Tribal feedback was mixed: some tribes said engagement met their needs, while others wanted earlier and more tailored outreach. Committee members pressed the auditors on why many third-party-managed sites appeared to have little or no public involvement, and whether Ecology has broader authority to require public engagement and oversight. The auditors responded that their review focused on community engagement requirements, not the full cleanup permitting process, and said the gap they identified was the lack of required oversight for third-party engagement. Members also asked about tribal engagement, exposure scenarios, and the meaning of “active” and “planless” sites. Ecology officials said they agreed with many of the findings, were already taking steps to improve community research, lessons-learned reviews, tribal guidance, and coordination with Health, and had recently launched a public email notification system for site status changes. They also said some recommendations would require additional funding or staff resources. Public testimony supported stronger community engagement and more resources for Ecology. Washington Conservation Action said contaminated sites disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income communities, praised the audit for highlighting the need for better site-specific engagement, and urged full funding for MTCA-related work. The hearing ended with the chair inviting written comments and adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Prohibiting tobacco use encourages a healthier, more productive living. and learning environment for
• The thing that really stood out to me when learning about tobacco in medical school is that when you
• And if this age group learns not to pick up, they will. not do the other drugs that is happening.
• The higher learning...
• If I lower the standards and expectations for my students, they won't learn anything.

Bills: HB173, HB184, HB484, HB678, HB 1211, HB1507, HB1705, HB1868, HB2290, HB2851, HB2856, HB3041, HB3204, HB173, HB184

Keywords: foreign donations, higher education, public institutions, national security, funding, prohibition, Texas law, healthcare, insurance, affordability, access, public health, foreign influence, education policy, student loan repayment, prosecuting attorneys, border prosecution unit, financial assistance, tobacco, cigarettes

Transcript Highlights:

• In December 2025, the DOE Division of Early Learning was awarded $14.751 million in the Federal Grants
• The DOE Division of Early Learning was awarded the $14.751 million in the Federal Grants Trust Fund for
• We are strongly positioned to utilize the competitive funds to strengthen the state's early learning
• that the department receive the $14.751 million in additional budget authority within the Early Learning
• I'm with the Division of Early Learning. Yes, that will be included in some of this work.

Summary: The Legislative Budget Commission considered 21 budget amendments, most of them routine authority adjustments tied to federal grants, Medicaid payment programs, and trust fund realignments. The Department of Education received $14.751 million for a Preschool Development Grant to support early learning system improvements, workforce credentialing and training, IT modernization, and related early childhood certification work. The Department of Veterans Affairs shifted $2.2 million within its trust fund to cover higher nursing home occupancy, replace contract nursing with OPS staff, and meet rising operating costs. The Department of Health moved about $9.1 million to support Disability Determinations, where roughly 140,000 cases were pending or in process, and said the change would help reduce backlog and avoid a deficit. The Agency for Health Care Administration presented multiple amendments for Medicaid-related programs, including $766 million for indirect medical education, $1.9 million for managed care network adequacy audits, $209 million for the Rural Health Transformation Program, and several large supplemental payment programs for hospitals and physicians; members asked about CMS approval delays, provider access, and how rural funds would be distributed. The commission also adopted an amendment realigning KidCare funds, placing a $32.1 million surplus into reserve, though several members objected that the state had not yet implemented the 2023 KidCare expansion and that children remained on a wait list. Another Medicaid amendment placed a $376 million surplus into reserve after updated estimating conference projections. Other agencies also received approvals. FDLE received $16.26 million to buy counter-unmanned aircraft systems equipment such as radar and RF sensors to detect and mitigate drone threats. The Department of Juvenile Justice received $1.6 million for the Florida Scholars Academy and a Social Services Block Grant realignment, with staff confirming corrective action had been taken after prior audit findings about allowable SSBG spending. The Division of Emergency Management received federal pass-through authority for FIFA World Cup security and counter-UAS funds, both controlled by the Miami host committee, and members noted the state had little direct oversight over how those local grants would be used. The Department of Commerce received $148.4 million for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery work, with questions focused on the split between housing, infrastructure, and administrative costs. The Department of State received $408,377 for arts and culture federal grant obligations. All amendments were adopted, generally without objection, after brief questioning and no public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yesterday, our team and I were able to visit the CHP Training Academy, learn the history of the CHP,
• And I'm grateful for your support as I learned the ropes, and I will continue to learn the ropes and
• I recently learned a new story about Dr. King, and that is that he was a hooper.
• And I will tell you that I have learned so much for you...
• I will tell you that I have learned so much from people like Dr. King, who was ahead of his time.

Summary: The Assembly convened after an initial quorum call, then proceeded with prayer, the pledge, and routine motions. Members approved several procedural requests, including moving AB 362 to the inactive file and allowing the Natural Resources Committee to hear AB 34 on January 16. The chamber also recognized guests and paid tribute to retiring Republican caucus consultant Daryl Thomas, with remarks from multiple members praising his long service and legal analysis work. The main floor action centered on ACR 116, a resolution honoring Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Members from several caucuses and both parties spoke in support, emphasizing King’s legacy of civil rights, economic justice, nonviolence, and unfinished work. After opening the roll for coauthors, the resolution received 67 coauthors and was adopted by voice vote. The Assembly then took up ACR 118, recognizing Korean American Day; members highlighted Korean American history, community contributions, solidarity with other communities, and the significance of Koreatown and Korean American civic life. That resolution also received 67 coauthors and was adopted by voice vote. The consent calendar was then adopted on a 64-0 vote, including ACR 115 on National Blood Donor Month. The chamber also held an adjournment in memory for former legislator David Kelly, with a tribute to his military service, agricultural background, and legislative work on water conservation and sustainable agriculture. The Assembly announced the upcoming Martin Luther King Day recess and adjourned until Tuesday, January 20 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator from Windsor: >> Today we learned that the House >> Today we learned that the House Republicans
• > is<00:47:03.640> like,<00:47:04.000> "I'm what I learned was is like, "I'm what
• The most important thing I ever learned about you had nothing and everything to do with politics.
• It was in a casual conversation when I learned that you grew up on a farm and a dog kennel.
• with respect and to listen and learn with respect and civility.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When you get people to participate in nonviolent action, people are learning from that action.
• In nonviolent action, people are learning from that action.
• So gracious and merciful God, of our past and of our present, help us to continue to learn from the nonviolent
• There are students carrying on her legacy by learning about wealth inequality, racial discrimination,
• climate change, and hopefully they're learning a little bit about the nonviolence movement, which we

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then proceeded through appointments, resolutions, and consent items. Three gubernatorial appointments were confirmed: Irena Ortega to the Public Employment Relations Board, Monica Erickson as director of the Department of Human Services, Armin Mayor as senior deputy commissioner in the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, and Uca Dunkay to the California State Lottery Commission. All four confirmations passed by wide margins after brief presentations from Senator Grove. The chamber then took up several commemorative resolutions. SCR 152, by Senator Reyes, designated April 10, 2026 as Dolores Huerta Day; multiple senators spoke in support, highlighting Huerta’s farmworker organizing, civil rights work, and continued activism, and the resolution was adopted unanimously. SR 91 recognized Cambodian Genocide Memorial Week, and SCR 149 marked World Autism Awareness Day; both were adopted unanimously. SCR 150, honoring National Librarian Day, also passed unanimously after remarks emphasizing librarians’ role in access to information and public service. SR 98, recognizing Heat Pump Week in California, passed on a 29-5 vote. The Senate also considered SB 1078 by Senator Laird, an urgency measure allowing Santa Cruz County voters to consider a local tax increase above the 2% threshold to help fund services, including medical services. The bill passed 29-9, with the urgency clause and the bill itself both approved. The consent calendar and special consent calendar were then adopted without objection, covering numerous additional bills and resolutions. The session concluded with committee announcements and an adjournment in memory of Deanna Mooney, a nurse and community leader, before the Senate recessed until its next meeting on Monday, April 20, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• LEARNS flies in the face of that. And then Constitution, well, that's just my personal opinion.
• But LEARNS flies in the face of that. And again, we're talking about 40,000.
• But LEARNS flies in the face of that. And again, we're talking about 40,000.
• LEARNS flies in the face of that.
• But LEARNS flies in the face of that. And again, we're talking about 40,000.

Summary: The committee first considered the Lieutenant Governor’s Office budget and personnel request. Office representatives said they wanted to move the office to the state pay plan to better align salaries with other constitutional offices and remain competitive, noting that OPM had approved the positions and grades. Senators questioned the size of the requested increases and the office’s workload, and after discussion the motion to adopt the proposal failed on an 8-8 tie. The committee then voted to expunge that vote and returned to the regular agenda. The committee approved a series of Governor’s letters involving position transfers and appropriation adjustments across several agencies. These included changes for AETN, the Department of Health and Nursing Board/Dietetics Board, multiple DHS divisions, DFA shared services and budget management, and the Department of Public Safety shared services division. Most of these items involved moving positions and associated salary appropriations between divisions, with no major opposition and motions passing. A lengthy discussion followed on the transfer of child nutrition and related nutrition programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Agriculture. Education and DFA officials explained that the programs fit better under Agriculture because the funding and commodities are tied to USDA programs, and they clarified that both state and federal funding and all related positions would move. Senators raised concerns about the math in the letters, the split between state and federal funding, and whether all program resources were being transferred. After the explanation, the committee approved the Education side of the transfer and then approved the Agriculture companion letter. The committee also discussed the Educational Freedom Account program budget. Officials said the $309 million request matched current participation and included a $70 million reserve in case applications increase. Several senators expressed concern about the program’s growth and its effect on public education funding and adequacy, while others noted that the program’s rules and funding levels could be adjusted through the State Board and future legislative action. The committee then approved a Public Safety classification change and a member amendment changing a title at East Arkansas Community College from assistant to the president to assistant to the chancellor, with no change in positions or appropriation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there anything that we can learn from them so far?
• You mentioned five years down the line, but right now what are we learning from them?
• Well, we learned, among other things, a lot of them have had tripling of their calls on their gambling
• We’ve learned that the industry says, well, it’s better that we regulate the market and tax the market
• is that when they say when we've learned is that when they say when the<00:09:08.279> industry

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We estimated that DCS learns about 1 in 10 insurance claims through some other method.
• These numbers include only those insurance claims DCS staff happen to learn about through other means
• We estimated that DCS learns about 1 in 10 insurance claims through some other method.
• These numbers include only those insurance claims DCS staff happen to learn about through other means
• Furthermore, should they learn about insurers' noncompliance, neither has the authority to take action

Summary: At the June 4, 2025 JLARC I-900 Subcommittee hearing, the State Auditor’s Office presented a performance audit on Washington’s child support insurance intercept law. The audit reviewed the mandatory reporting system for insurance claims tied to past-due child support, noting that collections increased after the law took effect in 2022, but that some eligible claims still are not being reported. Auditors said DCS learns about roughly 1 in 10 claims through other channels, and that insurers may miss reporting because they are unaware of the law, make administrative errors, or misunderstand the $500 threshold and timing requirements. The audit recommended that the Office of the Insurance Commissioner help educate insurers by adding information to its website and sharing insurer contact contacts with DCS, and also recommended that the Legislature amend the law to create monitoring and enforcement authority. The auditor said neither DCS nor OIC currently has authority to monitor compliance or take action against noncompliant insurers, though other states use insurance regulators or market conduct exams for this purpose. Committee members asked about possible coordinated enforcement between DSHS and OIC, which the auditor said was beyond the scope of the audit but could be considered by the Legislature. An OIC representative said the commissioner is willing to help educate insurers, post information on the OIC website, and share contact information with DSHS, and that the agency is open to further discussion. No public testimony was offered, and no votes or formal committee actions were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I want everyone to learn more about that and the importance of what we do on this committee.
• And so I want everyone to learn more about that and the importance of what we do, uh, on this committee
• So we will be taking on that responsibility and learning all about determinate sentencing and what that
• We'll learn more about that as we go forward.
• So we, you know, we'll be taking on that responsibility and learning, learning all about, uh, determinate

Summary: The Subcommittee on Juvenile Justice met briefly for an introductory session and did not take any witness testimony. The chair said the committee would incorporate testimony already heard earlier in the day from the Criminal Jurisprudence Committee and would focus in future meetings on bills referred to the subcommittee, possible work sessions, and learning more about TJJD, the DOJ report, and juvenile issues such as determinate sentencing. Members used the meeting to share opening remarks about their goals and backgrounds. Vice Chair Jones said she hoped to bring a different perspective based on her experience practicing law with both adults and children. Representative Lauderback said his decades of criminal justice experience would help improve the juvenile system, and Representative Rideau emphasized the difficult nature of the issues and the need to ensure agencies have the tools they need while juveniles receive proper representation. The chair stressed that juvenile justice is rehabilitative and that the committee’s work could reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for youth who later enter the adult system. Representative Wu urged the committee to look at best practices from other states rather than relying on tradition, noting that new approaches can benefit children and save money over time. The meeting ended with the chair saying the committee would reconvene the following week and adjourning at 1:50 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• around with his twin sister and learning around with his twin sister and learning to<00:47:00.960
• This bill lets us, lets me, be able to learn from my kupuna, learn from my aunties, my uncles.
• This bill lets us, lets me, be able to learn from my kupuna, learn from my aunties, my uncles.
• This bill lets us, lets me, be able to learn from my kupuna, learn from my aunties, my uncles.
• <01:57:36.880> from<01:57:37.079> my to learn from my kapuna learn from my to learn

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Committee on Health and Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce heard two midwifery bills, with testimony focused primarily on HB 1194. Committee chairs opened the hearing with rules for Zoom testimony and noted the bills relate to midwives. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs said it supported the intent of HB 1194 and offered comments. Supporters of the bill, including the Midwives Alliance of Hawaii, argued that midwifery should remain subject to mandatory licensure to protect consumer safety, citing the state’s regulatory licensing standards and a 2025 state auditor sunset analysis. They said the bill would strengthen educational standards and public protection, and some offered clarifying amendments. Opponents argued HB 1194 would restrict access to care and fail to protect traditional, cultural, and community-based birth practices. Testifiers from the Hawaii Home Birth Task Force, the Hawaii Home Birth Collective, the Libertarian Party of Hawaii, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Pacific Birth Collective, and Papa Ola Lōkahi said the bill would limit licensure pathways, reduce access in rural and underserved areas, and burden Native Hawaiian and traditional practitioners. Several speakers said the measure could worsen Hawaii’s maternal health shortages, especially on Maui, and urged lawmakers to defer HB 1194 or instead advance HB 1328, which they said better protects practitioner access and cultural practices. The Hawaii affiliate of the American College of Nurse-Midwives said it opposed HB 1194 because it did not align with national or state standards for certified midwives and could create conflicts with Medicaid reimbursement and prescriptive authority. The ACLU also opposed the measure, emphasizing reproductive rights, privacy, and the need to preserve apprenticeship pathways to licensure. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• swallow uh reducing the math learning swallow uh reducing the math learning communities<00:34:33.879
• prime sponsor this bill math learning prime sponsor this bill math learning communities<00:35:48.920
• In a perfect world, people would study and learn for the intrinsic reward of learning, and many do that
• for the intrinsic reward of and learn for the intrinsic reward of learning<04:18:44.399> and<
• As soon as I learned that, I don't know.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 193, which limits the maximum credits per course eligible for the Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Program. Representative Ladd said the bill clarifies that eligible courses may not exceed four credits and was requested by the community college system. Representative Earth offered an amendment to make the bill effective on passage, which the committee adopted 18-0. The committee then approved HB 193 as amended by an 18-0 OTPA vote and placed it on the consent calendar. The committee next retained HB 295, concerning School Building Aid program funds, after Representative Spillsbury said the building aid bills were complex and needed more work. The motion to retain passed 18-0, with the chair explaining that retained bills can be revisited later and that related language could be moved among building aid bills. HB 354 was not acted on because the chair said the Department of Education and others had suggested possible changes that should be worked out first. HB 366, another school building aid bill, was also retained 18-0 for the same reasons as HB 295. The committee then considered HB 494, which funds the math learning communities program. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program, reducing the proposed increase by a net $50,000 and keeping funding at current levels for the biennium. After discussion about budget pressures and the program’s role in supporting math instruction and professional development, the amendment passed 18-0, and the bill as amended was approved 18-0 and placed on consent. Finally, the committee took up HB 515, which would repeal charter public school eligibility for state school building aid. Representative Popovici-Muller moved inexpedient to legislate, arguing charter schools should not be treated differently from other public schools, while Representatives Luno and Damon opposed the motion, saying charter schools differ in governance and financial risk and should not receive limited state building aid. The motion failed 10-8, so HB 515 was sent to the regular calendar. The committee assigned Representative Damon to the minority report and Representative Popovici-Muller to the majority report, with a noon deadline the next day. The committee then began HB 716, an appropriation for the dual and concurrent enrollment program. Representative Ladd described the program as a successful affordability measure that saves families money and supports college access. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program at current levels, reducing the proposed increase by $500,000 in each year of the biennium. Shannon Reed of the Community College System said the change could limit enrollment or the number of funded courses, though students could still take additional courses at their own expense. Representative Ladd explained the program’s tuition structure and said the funding would help meet demand; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 716.

Transcript Highlights:

• , impact or barrier to student learning, impact or barrier to student learning, and<00:24:43.600>
• improve learning for students. improve learning for students.
• We can support our staff with learning how to de-escalate, learning how to recognize when a student's
• <01:56:37.560> how<01:56:37.720> to our staff with learning how to our staff with learning
• learning needs. learning needs.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I first learned about Cairo in field.
• Before that, I had a chance to try to learn all about myself, self-taught, and I wanted to learn how
• So I did learn all by myself.
• /c><00:10:19.600> how self-taught and I I wanted to learn how self-taught and I I wanted to learn
• So I did uh learn all by $15,000.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They demonstrate lasting impact on learning.
• . learning. learning.
• isn't just learning how to read. isn't just learning how to read.
• be a sign that they have a learning be a sign that they have a learning disability.<01:09:00.000
• Actually ahead of his ready to learn.

Bills: HF1660, HF1824, HF1926, HF1002, HF994, HF1915, HF1336

Keywords: children, youth programming, needs assessment, community engagement, state funding, education, funding, school districts, state budget, rural schools, food support, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, food shelves, grant funding, Minnesota FoodShare, early childhood, Head Start, education funding, developmental programs, literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Library services and expanded learning Library services and expanded learning for<00:01:14.520><
• We coordinate professional development, learning, and networking opportunities for staff.
• This is the fun part: what did we learn? Why do we care? Why does this matter?
• primary sources that support learning primary sources that support learning and and and research
• I'm sure you learned all of that from your library media specialist.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• subsidies for child care Early Learning subsidies for child care Early Learning programs<00:02:16.680
• Those are early learning grants.
• old um the subsidies for early learning old um the subsidies for early learning scholarships<01:
• learn trying to<01:24:58.719> learn<01:24:58.920> about<01:24:59.080> their<01:
• ourselves and make sure we are learning ourselves and make sure we are learning and<01:31:29.119

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an introductory overview of its jurisdiction and budget, with the chair emphasizing the committee’s role over a large portfolio of children, youth, and family programs and the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). House Research and House Fiscal staff explained their roles and described the 2023-24 reorganization that transferred many programs from DHS, DPS, MDH, and MDE to DCYF, along with a statute recodification and a crosswalk resource for members. Doug Berg then walked through the committee’s budget structure, explaining the difference between all-funds and general fund views, the major funding sources, and how forecasted programs and grant bases roll forward. He highlighted that the committee’s general fund base is a little over $2.1 billion for the biennium, with large federal components such as SNAP and TANF, and noted smaller accounts including child protection-related opioid funds and federal reimbursement offsets (FFP) for administrative costs. Members asked several questions about federal financial participation, TANF, and the effect of the repeal of the Diversionary Work Program (DWP). Staff explained that FFP generally applies to administrative costs for federally related programs and usually does not change much unless program activity changes, while TANF is a block grant that has been stable for years. On DWP, staff said the program was sunsetted effective March 1, 2026, and that the associated funding and administrative costs were being reworked rather than simply removed. A member also asked about federal funding fluctuations; staff said no changes were currently factored in, though SNAP or other federal policy changes could alter future numbers. Danielle Penelli then presented on economic assistance and employment supports transferred to DCYF, focusing first on MFIP, Minnesota’s state-supervised, county-administered welfare program jointly funded by state and federal dollars. She explained that MFIP provides cash and food assistance, employment and training services, and related supports, with a 60-month time limit and certain exemptions for illness, incapacity, or other barriers to employment. She also described the program’s income and asset standards, including a $10,000 asset limit with exclusions for homesteads and one vehicle per assistance unit member age 16 or older. Members asked clarifying questions about how the time limit applies and what assets count, and staff responded that the limit applies to the caregiver and does not restart with additional children. Penelli also introduced support services grants, which fund employment services for MFIP, DWP, and SNAP participants through workforce centers, counties, tribes, and community agencies, and help cover some county and tribal administrative costs. She began outlining nutrition programs under DCYF, including SNAP, the Minnesota Food Assistance Program, the Minnesota Food Shelf Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the American Indian Food Sovereignty Program. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during this meeting; it was primarily an informational staff briefing and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Each school district will have the same question: how do we close the learning gap?
• The people with the Black community culture, we have different ways of learning.
• So that means Asians will learn differently.
• This commission will deal with that, the racial basis learning gap.
• The learning gap is there because of the...

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Freedom for students to learn.
• We want to learn what is the best way.
• <00:24:21.120> a we don't necessarily want to learn a we don't necessarily want to learn a
• extraordinary opportunities for learning extraordinary opportunities for learning and<00:29:45.280
• . learning. learning.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Learning and there's a lot of concern that we need to address.
• So I've got to learn How to code on the ArcGIS too.
• And I'm really glad to really learn more today about it.
• And we were expecting this child to learn.
• There's huge gaps in their learning. So, that's another problem.