Transcript Highlights:

• Once that has happened, then our bargaining negotiators, and we have at this time, I believe, 12 negotiators
• Once that has happened, then our bargaining negotiators, and we have at this time, I believe, 12 negotiators
• So all of our negotiations conclude in September so that we can have those, so that ratification can
• And so, 2026 being a year when the master collective bargaining agreement is being negotiated, the...
• 2026 being a year when the master collective bargaining agreement is being negotiated.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Employment Relations

Summary: The Joint Committee on Employment Relations met for work sessions on Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) bargaining agreements and an overview of the collective bargaining process. OFM staff said supplemental bargaining for the 2025-27 biennium produced ratified tentative agreements for WPEA general government and higher education after earlier agreements were not ratified and the legislature declined funding because the October 1 deadline had been missed. Staff reported the current agreements were submitted for an OFM financial feasibility determination, with estimated 2025-27 general fund costs of about $12 million for general government and $7 million for higher education, and total funds of about $22.25 million and $13.5 million respectively. The agreements also include wage increases, an $18 starting wage, targeted classification adjustments, and some premium pay items related to wildfire work. Staff then gave an educational briefing on collective bargaining, explaining which employee groups OFM bargains for, the statutory framework, the annual bargaining timeline, and the role of interest arbitration. The presentation described how proposals are developed, how June revenue forecasts shape bargaining parameters, and how financial feasibility is assessed after agreements are reached. Staff also outlined bargaining priorities such as general wage increases, targeted recruitment and retention adjustments, maintaining the health care premium split, and keeping the starting wage above the minimum wage. Members asked why OFM bargains for certain non-state employee groups, and staff explained that those groups are required by statute and have separate bargaining and arbitration provisions. In executive session, the committee voted to keep the current co-chairs in place through 2026, to recognize that it met twice in 2025, and to set the 2026 meeting schedule at two meetings. All motions passed by voice vote, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the bill says, okay, we'll negotiate.
• Because this is a matter of negotiations, bargaining.
• If there's an excess, then they can negotiate that for other services.
• I'm just kind of curious why this is not negotiated at the table.
• Well, we've negotiated at that level. I understand.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills. SB 1154 would allow community college districts to use best-value procurement for public works projects over $1 million. The author and community college supporters argued it would give colleges flexibility similar to K-12, UC, and CSU and help avoid delays and costly change orders. Contractors and electrical subcontractors opposed the bill, saying its skilled-and-trained workforce requirement and safety provisions would narrow competition and disadvantage small and nonunion firms. The bill passed the committee on a due-pass vote and was placed on call. SB 1347 would clarify that stock albuterol may be stocked in all public schools, including preschool programs. The author and a physician testified that the bill would remove confusion in existing law and improve access to emergency asthma medication for students. School nurses, respiratory care advocates, and small school districts supported the measure, and there was no opposition. The bill passed unanimously on a due-pass to the floor vote and was placed on call. SB 1222 would create a pilot program to designate a lead county office to help regions struggling with career technical education implementation. Supporters said many students remain disconnected from school and work and that the bill would spread proven regional CTE practices. Some committee members questioned whether another pilot was needed, arguing existing CTE programs need more funding and fewer new structures, while the author and sponsor said the bill would build regional capacity and share successful models. The bill passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. SB 1378 would create a California Excellence in Service Learning Designation Program to recognize schools and districts with strong service-learning programs. Supporters said it would validate existing work and encourage civic engagement, while one member raised concerns about adding more designations and workload for schools. The bill passed as amended to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. SB 1048 would create a Seal of Climate Literacy for high school students demonstrating climate science knowledge through coursework and hands-on learning. Supporters, including the Department of Education and climate education groups, said it would align students with growing clean-energy careers; some members cautioned against adding more curriculum-related seals and noted equity and implementation concerns. The bill passed to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. Later, SB 1101, the Higher Education Data Sharing Transparency Act, was presented. It would require CSU, community colleges, independent colleges, and request UC to notify students, faculty, and staff when their personal information is shared with federal agencies such as the Office for Civil Rights, and to limit disclosure to what is legally required. Supporters said recent federal investigations and subpoenas have created fear and a lack of transparency on campuses. Committee discussion focused on subpoena authority, constitutional limits, and whether notice should be required; one member said she would abstain because of legal concerns, while another said the bill would continue to be examined in the next committee. The transcript ends during discussion of SB 1101 before a final vote is recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the bill says, okay, we'll negotiate.
• Because this is a matter of negotiations, bargaining.
• So what's prohibiting right now negotiating this at the bargaining table?
• If there's an excess, then they can negotiate that for other services.
• Well, we've negotiated at that level. I understand.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the average fee that was negotiated in a negotiated sale.
• This is just negotiated sales.
• That's the average fee that was negotiated in a negotiated cell.
• This is just negotiated sales.
• Now we did Negotiate the fee itself versus just doing all of the paperwork.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee approved the March 16, 2026 minutes and then heard testimony on several bills, with the chair noting that votes would be taken in batches because members were coming and going. HB 2939 would increase the rural qualified facilities tax credit from $20,000 to $25,000 per job for certain projects with initial investment under $2 billion; Lucid Motors supported it as a rural economic development tool, while Senator Epstein questioned the fiscal note and whether the higher credit would actually attract new investment. HB 2950 would authorize tourism improvement areas funded by voluntary lodging assessments to support marketing and tourism promotion; the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association and Visit Phoenix backed it as a competitive tool for rural and urban destinations, and committee members focused on whether participation was truly voluntary and how the assessments would be administered. HB 2780 made technical conforming changes to Arizona’s property tax lien foreclosure and excess proceeds sale process, building on a prior law that created a mechanism for delinquent property owners to recover equity; the sponsor and a longtime constituent said the changes would fix timing and credit-bid language so qualified entity sales could work in practice. HB 2502 would let certain elected officials in ASRS retire at normal retirement age without resigning their office, with the employer paying the alternate contribution rate; ASRS said it was neutral, and the sponsor argued the bill would treat elected officials more like other ASRS members. The committee then adopted do-pass recommendations for HB 2502, HB 2780, HB 2950, and HB 2939, with each passing on split votes. The committee also adopted a striker to HB 2140, allowing the State Treasurer to invest up to 10% of state trust and treasury monies in physical gold or silver bullion held in secure U.S. depositories. The sponsor and the Sound Money Defense League argued it would diversify reserves and hedge against market disruption, while opponents said gold is volatile, costly to store, and not something taxpayers need the state to buy. HB 2140 then passed as amended on a 4-2 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 2398, as amended, which requires commercial liability insurance for watercraft rentals and peer-to-peer boat sharing programs, with supporters saying it addresses uninsured rental boats and law enforcement concerns; the bill passed as amended on a 6-1 vote. The committee also heard HB 2999, a major housing-finance bill creating state affordability infrastructure districts to finance public infrastructure through bonds and assessments; proponents said it would lower housing costs by spreading infrastructure costs over time, while contractors and some senators raised concerns about payment risk, impact-fee treatment, and whether savings would reach homebuyers. After adopting a striker and hearing extensive questions, HB 2999 passed as amended on a 6-1 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill would amend the collective bargaining negotiation procedure on the repricing of classes within
• This bill would amend the collective bargaining negotiation procedure on the repricing of classes within
• Next, January, PhD, chief negotiator for the Office of Collective Bargaining, with comments.
• </c><01:01:05.280><c> for</c> &gt;&gt; Next January, PhD, chief negotiator for &gt;&gt; Next January,
• ,</c> &gt;&gt; Next up, Jen Must PhD, chief negotiator, &gt;&gt; Next up, Jen Must PhD, chief negotiator

Bills: SB2543 , SB2014 , SB2115 , SB3095 , SB3264 , SB2114 , SB2117 , SB2246 , SB2519 , SB3055 , SB3131 , SB3144

Committee: House Labor

Keywords: state construction, construction manager, design review, public works, capital improvement, DAGS, Department of Accounting and General Services, DOE, Department of Education, comptroller, pilot program, design review special fund, county permit review, accessibility compliance, Disability and Communication Access Board, state infrastructure, government construction, project oversight, civil service exemption, county agencies

Transcript Highlights:

• Then the third category is settlements that we have in progress—negotiations in progress.
• From the federal perspective, we engage with them at a negotiating team level.
• Right now, we're working on negotiating their claims from Cochiti to Isleta.
• If we go ahead to slide nine, we are currently in additional negotiations.
• We've been in these negotiations for a number of years with these Pueblos.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• A concessions contract may be entered by negotiation of adequate compensation.
• So the big-ticket purchases we're doing, you know, we do engage in contract negotiations.
• In some cases, in a lot of cases, the vendor will not negotiate those with us.
• So the big ticket purchases we're doing, you know, we do engage in contract negotiations.
• In some cases, in a lot of cases, the vendor will not negotiate those with us.

Committee: Joint Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency

Summary: The task force first approved the March 25, 2026 minutes as amended, including a correction removing language that suggested the auditor’s office would contract with a security vendor. Members then moved to a bill draft on concessions (LC 27.0161.00000), which would raise the competitive solicitation threshold from $25,000 to $50,000, allow requests for proposals in addition to bids, clarify that proceeds go to the entity’s operating fund or general fund, and make other technical updates. OMB explained the draft and answered questions about scope, fragmentation, vendor restrictions, school districts, and whether concession proceeds could be directed to nonprofits; OMB said the draft could be refined further, including clarifying covered entities and contract length. No vote was taken on the draft during the discussion. OMB also reported on other survey items. It said a proposal to broadly allow agencies to create pre-qualified architect/engineering/land surveying vendor pools would not move forward, because the existing authority is working well for the agencies that already have it. On legal notices, OMB said it has been working with the North Dakota Newspaper Association on modernization, including an ADA-compliant online notice system and possible statutory updates to reflect changing technology and notice definitions. On click-through agreements for routine IT purchases, OMB and the Attorney General’s office said policy clarification—not statutory change—was enough, and the $20,000 threshold was intended to distinguish low-dollar adhesive contracts from purchases where terms can be negotiated. The committee also heard that OMB and the Center for Distance Education had resolved questions about alternate procurements and food/beverage expenditures through existing policy, so no statutory changes were needed there. North Dakota University System representatives gave a brief update on ongoing collaboration with OMB on statutory efficiency ideas, including concessions and surplus property. Finally, the task force discussed a draft on requirements for new or expanded spending programs, which would require agencies to identify purpose, expected benefits, alternatives, success measures, and full implementation costs, and would require reporting on outcomes over time. Members debated whether OMB or Legislative Council should collect and report the information, how to use the new program evaluators, whether real-time dashboards should be used, and how to choose which programs to evaluate; staff from Legislative Council said they would work with OMB and the auditor’s office to revise the draft and process.

Transcript Highlights:

• So any rentals above Milner now do not require negotiations with the board.
• The department hosted two public negotiation meetings.
• As part of the rulemaking process, IDWR held two public negotiation meetings last summer.
• During negotiated rulemaking, we looked at that line.
• Some of that can be negotiated.

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:24.680><c> It</c><00:15:24.880><c> is</c> try to start negotiations over.
• It is try to start negotiations over. It is wrong. wrong. wrong.
• and months and negotiations for months and months and nearly<00:18:29.480><c> a</c><00:18:29.600><c>
• Chair Nash, I apologize, but you've never shown any interest in negotiating this bill. Sorry.
• </c> never shown any interest in negotiating never shown any interest in negotiating this<00:19:18.320

Transcript Highlights:

• Establishes an impasse procedure to be applied when an employer fails to initiate the negotiation or
• Establishes an impasse procedure to be applied when an employer fails to initiate the negotiation or
• procedure on the replacing negotiation procedure on the replacing of<00:10:40.800><c> classes</c><00
• </c><00:10:49.440><c> or</c><00:10:49.680><c> the</c> fails to initiate the negotiation or the fails
• SB 2115, which amends section 899 to once again alter the impasse procedure for negotiated repricing

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The Senate Labor and Technology Committee heard testimony on several measures. SB 2245 would tighten revolving-door restrictions for state employees by barring new employees from acting on matters they worked on before state service and imposing a 12-month post-employment restriction for certain former Governor and Lieutenant Governor staff; the Ethics Commission and League of Women Voters supported it, and the committee later passed it as is. SB 99 would allow certain retirees to return to work as school resource officers or investigators without losing retirement benefits; the Attorney General supported the investigator portion, ERS and other agencies offered comments and suggested amendments, and the committee passed the bill with amendments, including changes from the Attorney General, ERS, and the Department of Law Enforcement, plus a far-future effective date. SB 2304, which would expand identity theft law to cover AI/deepfake or materially deceptive media impersonation, drew opposition from the Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor over prosecution burdens and First Amendment concerns, while some prosecutors and others supported it; the committee deferred the bill. SB 2115, dealing with collective bargaining impasse procedures for repricing public employee classes, drew opposition from human resources officials who said arbitrators lack the technical expertise needed, while unions and HGA supported the measure; the committee deferred decision-making to a later hearing. The committee also heard SB 1036, a net neutrality bill that would bar broadband providers from blocking, prioritizing, or zero-rating traffic. Supporters argued Hawaii needs stronger consumer protections, while the Hawaii Broadband Office said it saw no current problem in Hawaii and warned the bill could affect federal BEAD funding unless exempted; the committee deferred the measure. SB 1163 would prohibit the sale of geolocation and browser data and data collected through microphone-based background apps; Consumer Protection supported the intent but urged a broader privacy framework, and the Honolulu Prosecutor sought an exemption for lawful law-enforcement investigations, which the committee later accepted along with Hawaiian Telecom’s proposed amendments before passing the bill with amendments. SB 2076 would update publicity-rights law to address AI/deepfake uses of a person’s likeness; testimony supported the goal and amendments from the Recording Industry Association of America, and the committee passed the bill with amendments, including replacing references to AI/deepfake with “digital replica.” After hearing testimony, the committee recessed briefly to obtain quorum and then reconvened for decision-making. It adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass SB 2245 as is, passed SB 99 with amendments, deferred SB 2304, deferred SB 2115 to a later hearing, deferred SB 1036, passed SB 1163 with amendments, and passed SB 2076 with amendments. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• how it came out, but my intention was to treat them similarly, and all of them really need to be negotiated
• So it is time for us to negotiate.
• I heard that there's a plea to negotiate...
• I heard that there's a plea to negotiate with the governor.
• That doesn't sound like a negotiation, but since we're giving ultimatums, I'll give one too.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee took up SB 1638, a federal tax conformity bill that updates Arizona’s tax code to the Internal Revenue Code as of January 1, 2026 and incorporates several H.R. 1-related changes, including subtractions for tips, overtime, seniors, and auto loan interest, plus changes to the standard deduction and charitable contribution deduction. Committee members and staff discussed two amendments: a chair’s clarifying amendment on retroactivity and foreign dividend language, and a more substantive Epstein amendment that would remove the broader conformity provisions and charitable deduction changes while limiting the standard deduction change to tax year 2025. The committee also discussed whether the bill would align Arizona with Department of Revenue forms and how much of the conformity package affected corporate versus individual taxpayers. Public testimony was split. Supporters, including the Arizona Tax Research Association and the National Federation of Independent Business, argued the bill was needed quickly to reduce filing-season confusion, keep Arizona aligned with DOR’s posted forms, and preserve business expensing provisions that help small businesses invest and hire. Opponents, including the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, argued the bill would significantly reduce state revenue, primarily benefit corporations and higher-income taxpayers, and worsen the state’s budget outlook; they also questioned the value of provisions such as SALT conformity, foreign dividend changes, and the tip/overtime subtractions. Committee members debated the fiscal impact, the policy merits of immediate expensing and conformity, and whether taxpayers would need amended returns if the bill changed after filing season. The committee adopted the chair’s clarifying amendment and rejected the Epstein amendment. It then voted to report SB 1638 as amended with a do-pass recommendation. The bill passed the committee by about 4-3, with members explaining their votes along lines of taxpayer certainty and conformity versus concerns about revenue loss and budget balance.

Transcript Highlights:

• how it came out, but my intention was to treat them similarly, and all of them really need to be negotiated
• So it is time for us to negotiate.
• I heard that there's a plea to negotiate... matter of policy but we certainly could and they did this
• I heard that there's a plea to negotiate with the governor.
• That doesn't sound like a negotiation, but since we're giving ultimatums, I'll give one too.

Bills: SB1638

Committees: Senate Finance , Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Keywords: taxation, income tax, internal revenue code, deductions, tax benefits, retroactive, standard deduction

Transcript Highlights:

• How much is the immigrant Minnesota care issue going to factor into these final negotiations, would you
• It was in the other bills category in the Senate spreadsheet, and we negotiated, you know, from April
• So ultimately uh the Senate dropped it from budget negotiations. um how inhumane they they believe this
• and we negotiated, you know, from<00:05:08.960><c> April</c><00:05:09.440><c> 30th</c><00:05:09.840>
• uh the Senate dropped it from ultimately uh the Senate dropped it from budget<00:05:16.400><c> negotiations

Transcript Highlights:

• And they do this under the guise of a negotiation.
• Typically, the PUD approvals direct staff and attorneys to draft and negotiate the PUD agreement after
• Most often, PUD agreements require several rounds of back-and-forth negotiation between the developer
• There are often times, again, cities impose these exactions under the guise of a negotiation.
• And a little more con- and I have talked and negotiated to this being a vehicle.

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• throughout that process about alternative transit options, yet no other providers are willing to negotiate
• with an unjust exit fee structure traps small cities like ours into a forever contract with No negotiating
• . negotiating powers.
• We have no negotiating power. Housing HB 3643 makes this wrong right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• have not gotten the service that they have been begging for. yet they don't have any way to even negotiate

Bills: HB483 , HB3345 , HB3643 , HB3821 , HB3849 , HB4472 , HB4523 , HB4524 , HB5346 , HB5347 , HB5376

Committee: House S/C on Transportation Funding

Keywords: high-speed rail, Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, public-private partnership, comprehensive development agreement, CDA, Interstate 35, I-35 corridor, Dallas, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, intercity passenger rail, rail infrastructure, private entity, transportation infrastructure, rail corridor, passenger rail, infrastructure finance, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't like your basic rights being used as a bargaining chip in union negotiations.
• because that's pretty, as a bargaining chip in union negotiations because that's pretty all right that's
• There's nothing in here that can't be negotiated in a collective bargaining agreement already.
• As far as the gentleman that testified second, Melville refuses to negotiate with us.
• I represent the Melville Fire District, and that chief has refused to negotiate with us.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The Committee on Local Government first met in executive session and voted House Bill 2096 do pass by a roll call vote of 14 ayes and 0 noes. The committee then opened a public hearing on House Bill 1733, the Missouri Firefighter Bill of Rights, sponsored by Representative Wellencamp. The sponsor said the bill was intended to create statewide due-process protections for firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and dispatchers employed by public agencies, including rules for investigations, interrogations, locker searches, discipline, and political activity. He said the bill was meant to address inconsistent procedures across departments and to protect workers from unfair treatment, while not limiting legitimate management investigations. Committee members questioned several parts of the bill, especially the scope of the immunity language, whether volunteer firefighters and fire districts were covered, and whether the bill would interfere with existing collective bargaining agreements or management’s ability to investigate misconduct. Supporters, including representatives from firefighter organizations, argued that the bill would provide needed statewide standards, clarify Garrity rights, protect political participation, and ensure fair disciplinary procedures. They said many departments lack consistent protections and that some firefighters have faced unfair investigations or terminations. Opponents, including representatives of fire protection districts, ambulance associations, and municipal risk-management groups, argued the bill was too broad, redundant, and likely to create litigation. They said many of the protections already exist through contracts, policies, or other laws, and raised concerns about the criminal immunity language, locker-search restrictions, and possible interference with EMS “hot wash” reviews and patient-care improvements. Several opponents also objected that the bill would impose a one-size-fits-all statewide mandate and could affect local control. The hearing closed without further action on House Bill 1733, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and try and reassure them about the ability to negotiate or mediate some sort of an agreement?
• Security Council leadership, and the role of the snapback in the upcoming negotiations with Iran.
• We won't have negotiations just to talk, but with the president's commitment and everything he's said
• Certainly, when it comes to diplomacy, China has an obligation under the NPT to negotiate arms control
• Her knowledge and her ability in negotiations that have taken place, serious negotiations over the years

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Keywords: Senator Flinstone, HB22, SB4, amendments, public testimony, legislation, environmental impact, economic implications

Summary: The meeting featured a thorough examination of various bills, including substantial discussions on HB22 and SB4. Key points included amendments proposed by committee members, particularly from Senator Flinstone, who emphasized the need for clarifications on certain provisions. The committee actively engaged with several witnesses providing public testimony, some in favor of the proposed legislation while others highlighted concerns and potential implications. The discussions were vibrant, showcasing different perspectives, especially on the environmental and economic impacts of the bills in question. The meeting concluded with a consensus to reconvene after a recess to further address the outstanding issues related to the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I expect to be negotiating.
• ><c> um</c> negotiated.
• You know, um negotiated.
• So why in I expect to be negotiating.
• I call them active negotiations.

Summary: The speaker outlined Kentucky’s economic development strategy and how the cabinet evaluates and awards incentives. He emphasized using national benchmarks such as Site Selection and Area Development magazines, focusing on real data, competitiveness, and performance-based incentives. He said the state is performing well nationally in investment rankings, and credited the legislature with providing tools that help attract and retain jobs, especially through speed to market, site readiness, transportation, and workforce coordination. A major portion of the remarks described the “anatomy” of an incentive package: first improving sites and infrastructure such as water, sewer, roads, and rail spurs; then using sales tax benefits for construction materials and equipment; then training support through the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation; and finally the Kentucky Business Incentive (KBI) program, which reimburses qualifying expenses from incremental tax revenue. He said incentives are negotiated, data-driven, and targeted toward companies with strong wage levels, training plans, growth potential, and, in some cases, agricultural benefits or industry leadership. He also noted special treatment for heritage communities and said the state has expanded KBI beyond heavy manufacturing to include R&D, headquarters, and service businesses. The speaker also described compliance and oversight. Incentive agreements are written with job, wage, investment, and community-benefit terms, and companies must file regular reports and invoices. Cash incentives can be clawed back if commitments are not met, while tax credits are tied to actual investment and job creation. He said the Revenue Cabinet and Environment and Energy Cabinet play important monitoring roles, and that projects go through application review and preliminary approval by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority before final approval and payment. He closed by thanking legislators for their support and for allowing more flexible, capped, and data-driven incentive tools.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, we can see that workload expectations are rarely described in the negotiated agreement for
• The one thing that I'm clicking in my brain now that I try and understand is when you do a negotiated
• Into the negotiated agreement, and oftentimes it gets shot down.
• It is addressed in the negotiated agreement; a large portion say that it is not addressed in the negotiated
• The last question on this slide: paraprofessional management is described in the negotiated agreement

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we'll start to transmit the document and negotiate the pricing.
• </c> the document and negotiate the pricing. the document and negotiate the pricing. uh<00:46:36.319>
• We're negotiating with Wealthpath currently. Okay. Yes, sir.
• We're negotiating with Wealthpath. We're negotiating with Wealthpath<00:50:34.480><c> currently.
• </c> started negotiating with with Well Path? started negotiating with with Well Path?

Summary: The committee met to hear updates from the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections on two related issues: a proposed high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility and medical services contracts, including the impact of Wellpath’s bankruptcy proceedings. At the start, the chair agreed to hear the Department of Corrections first so members could get context on the medical contract before turning to DJJ’s proposal. DOC officials said Wellpath, the department’s comprehensive medical and mental health provider since 2013, was awarded its current contract through a 2021 procurement process. They reported that Wellpath’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan had been confirmed and that the company had transitioned ownership to lenders, but had not yet fully completed the bankruptcy process. DOC said there had been no service lapses, no reduction in care, and no known impact on Kentucky vendors or hospitals, and that DOC staff meet with Wellpath almost weekly. Members asked whether the committee had been kept informed and whether the bankruptcy could affect future services or subcontractors. DJJ then presented its concept for a high-acuity facility, explaining that the project is still in the preliminary programming and conceptual stage and has not yet entered the formal design phase with DECA. Officials said the proposal in the capital plan would create a 24-bed facility, with 16 clinical beds and 8 assessment/stabilization beds, to serve justice-involved youth with serious mental health needs. They said the facility would need to separate males and females and high- and low-risk youth, and that current placements often require sending youth out of state to places such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Arkansas, and Texas. Staff said the goal is to centralize treatment, improve safety, and reduce the need for fragmented or out-of-state placements. Committee members questioned the cost estimates, staffing needs, and whether the facility was justified given the small number of youth currently placed out of state. DJJ said the operational estimate includes an unknown medical-contract component and that the number of youth needing the facility can fluctuate because of surges in the juvenile population. Officials also said they had consulted with South Carolina, which is developing a similar facility, and noted that renovating existing facilities was considered but could be more expensive or impractical than building a separate site. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.