Transcript Highlights:

• A fiscal note was requested but is not yet available. That concludes my presentation.
• A fiscal note was requested, but is not yet available. That concludes my presentation.
• A fiscal note has been requested, but is not yet available.
• We recognize budget constraints facing the legislature.
• We recognize budget constraints facing the legislature.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 5992, which would create a non-appropriated Youth Development Fund account to support grants for positive youth development programs serving ages 5 to 24. Staff explained that OSPI would administer grants to nonprofits, tribes, and local parks and recreation entities, with school districts and ESDs eligible mainly as partners; annual reporting would be required. The sponsor and many testifiers, including students, youth-serving nonprofits, tribal representatives, and agency partners, described after-school, mentoring, arts, sports, outdoor, and wraparound programs as important for mental health, belonging, safety, civic engagement, and prevention, especially for vulnerable and rural youth. The committee then moved to executive session and adopted a substitute and passed SB 5992 to the Rules Committee. The committee also took executive action on Senate Bill 5952, which would standardize the process for excusing high school students from physical education, and on Senate Bill 5961, which would transfer the Imagination Library of Washington from DCYF to OSPI. In both cases, the committee adopted proposed substitutes that narrowed or adjusted the bills, then voted them out of committee: SB 5952 was sent to Rules, and SB 5961 was sent to Ways and Means. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5969 on allowing an IEP transition plan to satisfy high school and beyond plan requirements; after discussion, a substitute was adopted that instead directs OSPI to reduce duplication in the statewide IEP system, and the bill was passed to Ways and Means. Later, the committee heard Senate Bill 5918, which would increase materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) funding by $100 per student or $100,000 per district, whichever is greater, starting in the 2026-27 school year. Testimony from educators, administrators, school board members, PTA, and OSPI emphasized that districts are using local levy dollars to cover basic operating costs such as utilities, insurance, curriculum, and maintenance, leaving less for enrichment and forcing cuts or deferred purchases. One opponent argued against additional taxes and questioned the return on school spending. The sponsor framed the bill as necessary to meet the state’s paramount duty to fund basic education. The transcript then shifted to Senate Bill 5951 on school access to albuterol, which would allow schools to keep stock albuterol under a statewide standing order and let trained staff administer it under certain conditions; students, nurses, and advocates testified that stock albuterol could reduce absences and improve safety for students with asthma. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 6042 on school mapping, which would require school safety plans to include accurate, interoperable digital maps for first responders; the sponsor and emergency response witnesses said standardized maps are critical for coordinated, timely response in school emergencies.

Transcript Highlights:

• included in the budget proposals this year and hope to see this included in the final budget.
• included in the budget proposals this year and hope to see this included in the final budget.
• BUDGET.
• I am excited about our budgets, the one-house budget, and very excited about the $500 million...
• I WANT TO THANK OUR LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS, I AM EXCITED ABOUT OUR BUDGETS, THE ONE HOUSE BUDGET

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Human Services and Labor budget hearing opened with Senate and Assembly co-chairs introducing members and naming secretaries for the record. The agencies covered included Human Services, Labor, Temporary and Disability Assistance, Children and Family Services, Veterans Services, Human Rights, Workers’ Compensation, the Welfare Inspector General, and the Public Employment Relations Board. Members then gave brief statements on their priorities for the upcoming budget negotiations. A major theme was affordability, with repeated discussion of child care, SNAP, housing, and worker supports. Senators and Assembly members highlighted the Senate and Assembly one-house proposals for a $500 million child care worker retention grant program, additional child care slots and subsidies, cost-of-living adjustments for human services workers, and expanded support for supportive housing, youth employment, HEAP, and energy affordability. Several members also emphasized food insecurity and SNAP-related issues, including funding to address payment errors, prevent penalties, expand SNAP education, and respond to expected federal changes. Labor-related issues included workers’ compensation fraud, wage theft enforcement, workplace violence, temporary disability insurance reform, and the creation of dedicated enforcement funding for the Department of Labor. Some members supported using workers’ compensation assessments or insurance-company-related funding to pay for anti-fraud efforts, while others preferred grants to district attorneys or broader DOL enforcement. There was also discussion of occupational health clinics, labor standards in any SEQRA changes, and expanding access to doctors in the workers’ compensation system. Veterans, child care, and public assistance fraud prevention were also discussed, including funding for veterans legal defense and mental health services, microchip/secure EBT cards to reduce skimming, and restoring or protecting various programs. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with the chairs stating that the Senate, Assembly, and Executive would continue negotiations toward a final budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're requesting some relief to continue what we've been doing, which has been past practice, and hope
• So, back in 2024, you came to the House and you requested this adjustment, right?
• We're reluctant to set an interest income number in our budget that is as high as what we have.
• At 8.5 to 15 percent of our annual budget, which at this point is about $222 million.
• And we do annually use about $2 million in stabilization to balance the budget, and then if anything

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on 17 late-file and miscellaneous bills, with testimony focused on several local tax and fee proposals. The first major item was H. 4687 for Watertown, which would permanently continue a special property tax classification allowing the city to maintain a 50% residential minimum factor and a 175% commercial shift. Watertown officials and local legislators said the measure is needed to prevent an estimated 18% residential tax increase when the current temporary authority expires, arguing that the city’s commercial growth and 1988 tax rules have created an unintended burden on homeowners, especially seniors. Committee members asked about the regional business impact, whether major taxpayers might leave, and why a permanent change was sought instead of another short extension; Watertown officials said the policy had not deterred commercial growth and that the city’s fiscal planning and stabilization funds were being used for schools, infrastructure, and bond rating support. The committee also heard H. 4435 from Charlemont, which would authorize a local tax on commercial recreation services. Town officials described Charlemont as a small rural community with a large visitor burden from skiing, rafting, and other recreation, saying police, fire, and EMS costs rise sharply during peak seasons and that the tax would help shift some of those costs to visitors rather than local residents. A committee member questioned the legal structure of taxing recreation services versus goods, but the town said the proposal was modeled on the meals and rooms tax and had local business support. Finally, testimony was taken on H. 4722, promoting fair tax treatment for zero-emission vehicles, especially electric school buses and Class 3-8 trucks. Supporters, including EV advocates, a school transportation company, and Rep. Gentile, said the bill would cap sales and excise taxes on EV vehicles at the level of comparable diesel vehicles to remove an unintended tax penalty, keep revenue neutral, and support the state’s climate goals while helping school districts and private bus operators manage higher upfront costs. Rep. Gentile also spoke in support of H. 4755, which would amend Sudbury’s means-tested senior property tax exemption so the town would not need new special legislation if the program is renewed again in the future. No votes were taken, and the hearing concluded after public testimony and committee questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to summarize: we are requesting budget support for our IT infrastructure, support in the
• that we're requesting.
• budget that we<00:25:32.320><c> requesting</c><00:25:32.720><c> an</c><00:25:32.919><c> additional</c
• Moving on to Budget and Finance.
• </c> as a CIP budget for the CIP budget as a CIP budget for the CIP budget please<01:39:30.960><c> note

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But today I will focus on our request for the coming biennium and the results of our recent Veterans
• We do a lot of tracking and measurement, and we do extensive budgeting.
• A huge budget, tremendous resources, and a huge budget responsibility.
• That means we are making some very hard choices as we look at our budget.
• We have a lot of requests, but we have to find sustainable funding for this.

Bills: HF1679, HF1019, HF2321, HF1740, HF2278

Keywords: public television, funding, grants, arts and culture, Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio, arts education, cultural heritage, community engagement, public radio, community radio, educational grants, community cable, public access, programming funding, civic engagement, ethnic media, public access television, Minnesota Humanities Center, funding appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• I recognize a budget for transportation.
• </c> request a roll call. request a roll call.
• The next budget is multibillion...
• budget brought to the table.
• budget brought to the table.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> budget process. budget process.
• </c> budget items are. budget items are.
• </c> That creates a budget hole. That creates a budget hole.
• budgets.
• </c> assumptions for those budgets. assumptions for those budgets.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . budget. budget.
• Uh when the budget did not anticipate.
• </c><00:41:35.440><c> of</c> We're talking about a budget of We're talking about a budget of approximately
• President, uh, co-sponsor request. >> Please continue. >> Mr.
• President, I'm catching up on my co-sponsor request here.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• district budget in Kentucky, exceeds the operating budget of Louisville Metro Government, is more than
• :59.440><c> of</c> managing an annual district budget of managing an annual district budget of approximately
• ><c> budget</c><00:04:06.680><c> of</c> exceeds the operating budget of exceeds the operating budget
• ,</c> school district budget, school district budget, and<00:04:12.840><c> is</c><00:04:12.960><c> nearly
• We approve budgets. We Education does. We approve budgets. We approve<00:08:51.320><c> policy.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And respectfully, Request do pass. Do pass from Rader. A second from Nyifried.
• Did you vote for the budgets to pay for those teacher pay raises?
• The total number from 2005 to 2026, for the budget years' 2005 budget Years' of 2026 in 2025 dollars,
• I'm sure request your unanimous consent to strike title Senator Pugh requests unanimous consent to strike
• Enrahyford requested Nma's consent to strike title without a, excuse me, enalatoryfried's requesting

Bills: HB2210, HB2398, HB2959, HB3006, HB3026, HB3151, HB3315, HB3372, HB3467, HB3590, HB4268, HB4359, HB4427

Keywords: youth apprenticeship, career education, workforce development, high school programs, mentorship, vocational training, state oversight, credential of value, education, labor market, government reporting, school abuse reporting, child abuse, neglect, mandatory reporting, student safety, school employee misconduct, administrator reporting, superintendent, law enforcement notification

Transcript Highlights:

• He ignored our requests.
• He blatantly ignored our requests.
• actions that are listed under our budget are not necessarily large things.
• James Raines is present and will provide information if requested.
• Brad Haslett is present and will provide information if requested. And Mr.

Bills: HB1163, HB1168, HR252, HR253, HCR103, HCR108, SB80, SB131, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB384, SB414, SB468, SB469, SB496

Keywords: fireworks, retail sales, fire safety, legislation, holiday celebrations, construction standards, precast concrete, DOTD, building regulations, minimum requirements, public projects, private projects, consumer protection, credit card fees, cash transactions, rounding practices, transparency, low-income, economic impact, residential construction

Transcript Highlights:

• to have no requests.
• So for requests.
• Um, so from a budget perspective it's not a budget breaker because yes we are going to pay 26% more,
• Um, so from a budget perspective it's not a budget breaker because yes we are going to pay 26% more,
• </c><01:04:42.480><c> footnote</c> without uh direct budget footnote without uh direct budget footnote

Bills: HB0004

Keywords: medical assistance, birthing centers, healthcare, Medicaid, Wyoming, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> budget in our budget as we speak today. budget in our budget as we speak today.
• Did they ask about it in their budget? Did they request these positions through the university?
• Did they ask about it in their budget? Did they request these positions through the university?
• Did they ask about it in their budget? Did they request these positions through the university?
• </c> in your uh budget bill. in your uh budget bill.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Was this a request bill?
• Chairman, I call on that request.
• request.
• It was a request bill for me.
• We will queue so you can request...

Bills: HB4420, HB3974, HB3016, HB3062, HB3021, HB3145, HB4128, HB3131, HB3015, HB3472, HB3453, HB1638, HB4126, HB2696, HB2710, HB3552, HB3031, HB3544, HB3521, HB4490, HB4488, HB1746, HJR1069, HB4428, HB4429, HB1170, HB3538, HB4124, HB3904, HB4106, HB2999, HB3982, HJR1077, HB3464, HB2588, HB3462, HB4440, HB3674, HB3345, HJR1067, HB4326, HB4331, HB4337, HB4338, HB4359, HB4392, HB3557, HJR1076, HB4003, HB3495, HB3497, HB3501, HB3505, HB3749, HB3011, HB4336, HB4346, HJR1087, HB3240, HB3647, HB3796, HB3969, HB3972, HB3983, HB3984, HB3989, HB3383, HB3130, HB4358, HB3327, HJR1055, HB3386, HJR1089, HB3087, HB2970, HB3314, HB4129, HB4199

Keywords: reading, intervention, literacy, education, third grade retention, teacher training, funding, Strong Readers Act, tort claims, inmate housing, government immunity, public trust, private prison, emergency legislation, vision screening, binocular vision, kindergarten, elementary education, health, firearm rights

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to present the beginning of our FY27 budget recommendation.
• Disciplined budgeting helps avoid reactionary problems.
• So we have a great budget framework to start.
• I wanted to ask about the governor's budget request. a big focus of hers was the early childhood education
• into the next executive's budget.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• governor's budget um and uh that is governor's budget um and uh that is because<00:46:18.359><c> uh</
• the exceptions because, budget-wise, once they're in, they're in.
• </c><00:47:34.280><c> uh</c> exception um that isn't uh budgeted uh exception um that isn't uh budgeted
• </c><00:47:59.800><c> wise</c> the exceptions because uh budget wise the exceptions because uh budget
• [00:49:33.789] ... that number about what it's in the governor's budget.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We submitted a budget initially, but then because we submitted our application as requested by CMS for
• As requested by CMS for $200 million per year, we were required to update the budget in January.
• Do I have any requests for any specific ones in detail? Thank you.
• Requests for any specific ones in detail.
• So that's one request.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Rural Health Transformation Committee met to receive an overview from Department of Health and Welfare Director Juliet Sharon on Idaho’s Rural Health Transformation Program, created under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Sharon explained the $50 billion federal program, Idaho’s application timeline, the state’s ranking and award amount, and the five broad initiative areas in the approved plan: technology and access, innovative care models, workforce development, chronic disease and behavioral health, and rural infrastructure/partnerships. She emphasized that the funding is tightly overseen by CMS, with required reporting, compliance checks, sustainability plans, and the risk of losing funds if Idaho does not obligate money or meet milestones on time. She also outlined the state’s plan to hire a 12-person temporary team and to use a mix of RFPs and competitive subgrants, with monthly reporting to the committee and a shared information space to track solicitations, rubrics, and awards. Committee members questioned several parts of the plan, especially scope-of-practice issues tied to the application, the use of telehealth funding, workforce retention, and the survey process used to shape the application. Representative Tanner asked whether the state could continue pursuing scope changes for dental hygienists and physician assistants and whether legislative action could affect funding outcomes; Sharon said the state would continue to evaluate those policies, but that compliance, timely spending, and performance would be the main factors affecting funding. Representative Healy raised concerns about the survey’s heavy use of “other” responses and about telehealth spending, arguing some telehealth uses may not be practical for specialty care. Representative Manwaring requested a shared drive for real-time data and asked for raw survey results and dollar-based funding caps. Sharon agreed to provide follow-up information, including survey data and additional details on funding limits. Chris Jones of Catalyst Policy Group then presented broader policy observations and examples from other states. He praised Idaho’s application, urged the committee to keep the focus on patient-centered rural access, and highlighted ideas such as community health workers, remote patient monitoring, rural training pipelines, value-based care networks, and telehealth models that reduce staffing needs and improve sustainability. He also cautioned against relying on social determinants of health funding, noted the importance of rural training and partnerships, and praised Idaho’s 3.5% tribal set-aside. The committee ended by agreeing to set up a shared information hub with LSO, to expect follow-up materials and possible solicitation drafts soon, and to tentatively plan its next meeting around CMS’s Idaho visit on May 28.

Transcript Highlights:

• A little bit about the district: our fiscal year 2016 budget.
• Our operating budget is about 44 million dollars.
• For fiscal year 26, the aviation division's budget is $29 million.
• The total budget is about $8.9 million, and we have 11 FTEs there.
• As long as the grant request is made, we can help them fund those facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will begin with a request for a staff briefing on House Bill 2073 from Megan Morris.
• Does that lead to requests for larger premium increases? Mr.
• I respectfully request a no vote.
• I respectfully request a no vote.
• I would request a no vote because this hinders enforcement.

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2073, which would require nonprofit health carriers with surplus above 600% of risk-based capital to pay 3% of the excess to support the Cascade Care Savings premium assistance program. Committee staff said the bill could generate about $80 million in FY 2027 based on 2024 surplus data, while carriers and business groups argued their reserves are needed to pay claims, manage risk, and avoid premium increases. Supporters said the bill would redirect consumer-funded surplus to help Washingtonians afford coverage, especially as federal subsidies expire. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2132, which limits disclosure and retention of personally identifying and financial information in WASFA applications. Staff explained the bill would exempt WASFA records from public disclosure, restrict sharing to narrow purposes, and shorten retention periods, with significant fiscal impacts tied to purging records and updating data-sharing practices. Student and advocacy testimony strongly supported the bill as a privacy and safety measure for immigrant and mixed-status students. The committee also heard House Bill 2403, which lowers the penalty for failure to register as a sex offender and adds community custody and DOC supervision; public defense supported it as a cost-saving, consensus reform, and staff projected DOC savings. House Bill 2587 was also heard, creating a Commerce pilot to provide limited advance grant funding to eligible nonprofits; supporters said it would help smaller nonprofits manage reimbursement-based contracts, while staff estimated indeterminate but potentially significant administrative costs. The committee heard House Bill 2607, which would require DCYF to periodically rebase child care subsidy rate regions to better reflect local cost differences. Supporters from Benton and Franklin counties said current regional rates are outdated and unfairly low in fast-growing areas; staff said the fiscal impact was indeterminate. The committee then moved into possible executive session on several bills. Second Substitute House Bill 1170, dealing with generative AI disclosures and provenance tools, was amended and ultimately passed out of committee on an 18-9 vote after all proposed amendments were rejected. Substitute House Bill 1570 was amended to narrow its scope to Western Washington University and then passed out of committee on a 17-9 vote. The committee also began action on proposed Third Substitute House Bill 1710, which would create a state pre-clearance requirement under the Washington Voting Rights Act, but the transcript cuts off during consideration of amendments to that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're requesting that.
• Because of the budget cuts that we've been seeing and because of the Department of Health and Welfare's
• facing with budget cuts.
• We're working very hard to find alternate ways to fund this, being very cognizant of our budget, but
• Can I request a roll call vote? Chair: Sure, you can.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee met with a quorum present and welcomed a new page, Allie Silver, who said she is 17, from Twin Falls, attends I-Succeed Virtual Academy, and hopes to pursue nursing. The committee then took up House Bill 591, a county-requested cleanup bill that repeals the last remaining section of the county medical indigent program, which was repealed in 2022. Representative Redmond presented the bill, and the committee voted to send HB 591 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee next introduced RS 33469, which would add physical therapists to Idaho’s direct primary care provisions. Representative Furman said the change would allow physical therapists to participate in direct primary care arrangements without expanding their scope of practice, and members asked about whether other professions should be included and whether the bill affected diagnosis authority. The committee voted to introduce the RS. The committee also introduced RS 33466, a joint memorial supporting the Department of Insurance’s efforts to address Medicare Advantage plan marketing and enrollment practices that Furman said made plans difficult to purchase and reduced broker commissions. He said the memorial would urge CMS to clarify the roles of state insurance departments and CMS and to address bad-faith practices. Finally, the committee introduced RS 33407, which would place the assertive community treatment (ACT) mental health program into statute after budget cuts disrupted the program. Furman argued the program helps people with severe mental illness stay stable in the community, reduces hospital and jail costs, and could save the state money despite a fiscal note; several members questioned funding, enrollment limits, and implementation timing. The chair said he would allow introduction but was not planning to schedule a hearing under the current funding formula, and the committee approved introduction by roll call vote, with 15 ayes and one “maybe.”