Video & Transcript Research : 'statue replacement'
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FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education Feb 5th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
Transcript Highlights:
- those schools improved their grade to a C or higher, and they actually exited the school improvement status
- , we want to ensure that our schools do not return to that status of low-performing.
- , we want to ensure that our schools do not return to that status of low-performing.
- We don't want to see those schools return to being a low-performing status.
- We don't want to see those schools in return to being a low-performing status.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum and first heard a Department of Education program review on three district support programs: assistance to low-performing schools, the Florida Partnership program, and regional literacy teams (RAISE). Dr. Paul Burns described how the Bureau of School Improvement supports schools with D/F grades through regional teams, classroom observations, professional learning, and targeted funding, noting that 104 of 168 low-performing schools improved after 2022-23 and that the share of failing schools fell from 6% to 4%. He also outlined the Florida Partnership’s $4 million annual appropriation for advanced-course teacher training and student access, and the RAISE literacy program’s $5 million funding, universal/targeted/intensive supports, and progress monitoring results. Senators asked about rural participation, post-COVID reading data, parent support, and how long schools remain under monitoring after improving; Burns said rural districts can participate statewide, parents can access school and department support, and schools continue to receive monitoring after exiting low-performing status to prevent recidivism.
The committee then received a presentation on the school district education foundation matching grants program from Suzanne Pridgen, who explained that the Consortium of the Florida Education Foundations administers the grants, which require private matching funds and support tutoring, literacy, STEM, career education, professional learning, books, and supplies. She said the program leverages about $1.44 in private support for every state dollar. The committee then moved to the regional education consortia, where representatives from PAEC, NEFEC, and Heartland, along with several rural superintendents, described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide economies of scale, professional learning, HR, risk management, purchasing, legal and operational support, crisis assistance, and leadership development for small and fiscally constrained districts.
Superintendents from Lafayette, Holmes, Calhoun, Union, DeSoto, and Hendry counties testified that the consortia are essential because rural districts often have very small staffs, multiple-duty administrators, and limited in-house expertise. They cited support with insurance and hurricane recovery, training for new finance and HR staff, instructional coaching, CTE and leadership programs, and help with turnaround schools. Members emphasized that these districts can be high-performing despite limited resources, and several senators praised the consortia’s value. Senator Gaetz asked about additional back-office collaboration, possible regulatory relief, and FEFP issues tied to scholarship-related enrollment swings; rural superintendents responded that more local control would help. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was adopted without objection.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- She used her status as a state senator to delay her day in court, to delay her court trial and push it
- to delay her expulsion from the Minnesota Senate, and now this year Senator Mitchell is using her status
- as a state court she used her status as a state senator<00:38:57.520>
Ator <00:38:57.920>to - <00:39:19.760>
as Senator Mitchell is using her status as Senator Mitchell is using her status - She's using her status as a senator to delay her criminal proceedings and then turning right around and
Summary:
The Senate convened under call, established a quorum, and adopted the committee reports. It then moved through second reading of Senate File 334 and first readings/referrals of Senate Files 645, 684, and 700, with SF 645 sent to State and Local Government and SFs 684 and 700 sent to Health and Human Services. The chamber also approved a motion to withdraw Senate File 567 from State and Local Government and re-refer it to Elections.
The Senate adopted Senate Resolution 5 and Senate Resolution 6, both recognizing Senate employees for years of dedicated service, including a specific recognition of David Jorgenson. The most significant floor action was a motion by Senator Rasmusson to expel Senator Nicole Mitchell and declare her seat vacant. Senator Rasmusson argued that Mitchell’s pending felony burglary case and delay of her trial justified expulsion; Senator Frentz opposed the motion, arguing the Senate should wait for the criminal process and that due process requirements had not been met. After a point of order and appeal, the President ruled the Frentz point of order well taken, and the Senate upheld that ruling by a 33-33 vote.
The meeting also included several recesses and procedural calls of the Senate while the expulsion issue was debated. During announcements, members noted committee schedule changes, including cancellations or postponements for Energy and Jobs, and meetings for Judiciary, Policy, and Human Services. The Senate then adjourned until Thursday, January 30th at 11:00 a.m.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement Apr 28th, 2026
Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement
Transcript Highlights:
- The focus of the hearing will cover a range of topics, including the funding status of MOSERS.
- The focus of the hearing will cover a range of topics, including the funding status of MOSERS, the recent
- gone through the step up in the rate, but the policy is designed to hopefully increase the funded status
- Oftentimes, if a pension plan is not in the same health status, I would say, or have the same funded
- Oftentimes, if a pension plan is not in the same health status, I would say, or have the same funded
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Public Employee Retirement held a hearing focused on the Missouri State Employees’ Retirement System (MOSERS) and its long-term financial condition. MOSERS Executive Director Abby Spieler and investment consultant Tim McKinery outlined the system’s structure, membership, funding policy, and investment approach. They reported that as of the June 30, 2025 valuation, MOSERS had a 55.4% funded ratio, about $17.4 billion in liabilities, and about $9.6 billion in assets. They explained that the FY27 employer contribution rate was certified at 32% under the board’s minimum contribution policy, up from 30.25%, and said the increase is tied to a $46 million new decision item in House Bill 5.
The presentation emphasized that MOSERS is a mature plan with more retirees and inactive members than active employees, and that slow or declining payroll growth has made it harder to pay down unfunded liabilities. MOSERS described recent policy changes intended to improve long-term stability, including lowering the investment return assumption over time, updating mortality assumptions, and adopting a minimum employer contribution policy. The board’s 2024 asset-liability study also led to a shift toward more public equity exposure and less fixed income, with the consultant saying asset allocation has been the main driver of relative investment underperformance versus peers in recent years, though recent returns have improved and the portfolio has outperformed its policy index over shorter periods.
Committee members questioned why the funded ratio has fallen over time, whether past investment assumptions were too optimistic, and whether the board had been too conservative in its asset allocation. MOSERS representatives responded that the earlier strategy was a board-approved risk-balanced approach and that hindsight makes the results easier to judge, while stressing that current changes are intended to improve long-term outcomes. Members also asked about the impact of inactive members, the automatic refund proposal for small terminated accounts, and the ongoing Catalyst Capital litigation. MOSERS said the proposed legislation would automatically refund small inactive balances and auto-escalate deferred compensation contributions, and reported that litigation-related attorney fees have been about $20 million so far. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after questions and discussion.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- specifically to add into the working group the executive director of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status
- c><00:08:18.000>
the the Hawaii State Commission on the the Hawaii State Commission on the Status - Status of Women. Is that okay? Yes. Status of Women. Is that okay? Yes.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Sunset Advisory Commission Jan 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Sunset staff will give a brief status report.
- And include more detailed information on the amount and status of unpaid penalties.
- TEC should provide 1, the filer's name, 2, the filer's status when the penalty was incurred, 3, the date
- The compliance report contains additional information about the status of each of these provisions.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Select Committee on Tribal Relations, January 28, 2026
Select Committee on Tribal Relations
Transcript Highlights:
- The goal is to roll that fee land over into trust status.
- So, for example, free and reduced lunch status, IDEA, special education status, homeless or McKinney-Vento
- status, or foster care status.
- , or foster care status.
- Um window status, or foster care status.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Judiciary (01/27/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- If she has to miss work because she's sick, who is replacing that income?
- <00:33:38.559>
sick <00:33:39.159>who <00:33:39.440>is <00:33:39.679>replacing - <00:33:40.360>
that because she's sick who is replacing that because she's sick who is replacing - in addition uh with the current statue in addition uh the<03:48:55.640>
department <03:48:56.080 - uh a hip or a knee replacement uh a hip or a knee replacement complication<04:16:05.880>
rate
Summary:
The House Judiciary Committee opened with procedural remarks, including notice of an overflow room and a brief apology from Representative Andress about returning to his seat after introducing HB 114. The committee then took up HB 476, a proposed 15-week abortion ban. Chairman Lynn explained that a request to withdraw the bill had been filed, but because the bill was already scheduled for hearing, the committee would proceed with testimony and the withdrawal would require later House action. The chair also reminded witnesses to keep remarks to three minutes and asked the audience to remain respectful.
Most testimony focused on abortion access, maternal health, and the likely effects of a 15-week limit. Opponents, including Nancy Pariser, Dr. Cynthia Rasmussen, Dr. Young, Bonnie Bruno, and others, argued that abortion restrictions increase maternal mortality, worsen miscarriage care, create “OB deserts,” and can delay emergency treatment in cases such as sepsis or ectopic pregnancy. Several speakers cited experiences from Texas and Georgia and warned that HB 476 contained no exceptions for rape, incest, or maternal health. Supporters of the bill, including Paul Galasso and Lynn Hill, framed abortion as the loss of unborn life and argued that 15 weeks still allows most abortions while saving lives; they also said New Hampshire’s current law is already adequate and that the bill should be strengthened rather than abandoned.
Other witnesses emphasized practical and economic concerns, saying unwanted pregnancies can worsen poverty, childcare burdens, housing insecurity, and women’s lifetime earnings. Some speakers urged lawmakers to focus instead on affordable housing, childcare, and family support. No committee vote or final action on HB 476 occurred during the hearing; the meeting consisted of opening remarks and public testimony only.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee Jun 25th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Under current CalPERS law and guidance, classic members from La Verne and Covina can retain their status
- Under current law, classic members from La Verne and Covina can retain their status if transferred into
- employees from any city joining after that 180-day window could not be eligible to retain their classic status
- classic CalPERS members who move directly between individual CalPERS agencies do retain their classic status
- continuity by allowing CalPERS employees within these newly formed JPAs to maintain their benefit status
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard several retirement and school employment measures. SB 301 by Sen. Grayson would prevent CERL-covered cities and districts from amending retirement contracts to exclude certain employee groups, closing a loophole similar to one previously addressed for CalPERS. The bill was supported by California Professional Firefighters and received no opposition. SB 443 by Sen. Rubio would clarify that employees transferring into a joint powers authority can retain CalPERS classic status even when the JPA expands later; the city of La Verne, a flood management agency, and AFSCME supported the bill, and it also drew no opposition. Both bills were moved out of committee on unanimous votes and sent to Appropriations, with the consent calendar items SB 521, SB 581, and SB 853 also approved.
The committee then heard SB 494 by Sen. Cortese, which would give classified school employees the right to have disciplinary appeals heard by an administrative law judge rather than by the school board. Supporters, including CSEA, AFSCME, and CFT, argued the bill would create parity with teachers and community college faculty and provide a fairer appeal process. Opponents, including the California School Boards Association, county superintendents, school business officials, and community college groups, argued it would remove local control, impose a one-size-fits-all process, and shift costs to districts. The bill was passed out of committee and referred to the Committee on Higher Education.
The committee also considered SJR 2 by Sen. Cortese, a resolution urging Congress and the President to enact federal protections for classified school employees, including better wages, benefits, safety, and workplace rights. Support came from CFT, CSEA, and other labor groups, with no opposition. The resolution was adopted and moved forward. At the end of the hearing, the committee reopened the roll to add votes, and all listed measures ultimately passed unanimously or near-unanimously before the meeting adjourned.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (04/30/2025)
Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- As far as the broad, I think it reflects the current status of medicine.
- It's Dartmouth Health being able to match the capital expenses, whether it's replacing the roof or the
- boiler, both of which desperately need replacing.
- the roof or the boiler, both replacing the roof or the boiler, both of<00:39:24.720>
which <00 - :39:24.960>
desperately <00:39:25.520>need <00:39:25.760>replacing.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Sunset Advisory Commission Jan 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Sunset staff will give a brief status report on the implementation of the Sunset recommendations passed
- delinquent penalties prominently on its website and include more detailed information on the amount and status
- TEC should provide: one, the filer's name; two, the filer's status when the penalty was incurred; three
- The compliance report contains additional information about the status of each of these provisions.
Summary:
The Sunset Advisory Commission met for its final meeting of the biennium, established a quorum, and approved the December 11, 2024 meeting minutes. Members then voted on staff recommendations for several agencies, including the Angelina and Nettie River Authority, Lower Nettie Valley Authority, and Trinity River Authority of Texas, adopting all recommendations without objection. For the Texas Ethics Commission, the Commission adopted staff recommendations, including two modifications to recommendation 1.2: one to exempt lobby compensation thresholds from inflation adjustments and revert them to statutory levels, and another to round inflation-adjusted amounts to practical increments.
The Commission also adopted eight new Texas Ethics Commission recommendations. These addressed late filing penalties, including limiting accrual for eight-day reports through election day, excluding the first post-election semiannual report from daily penalties, waiving penalties when notice cannot be shown, reviewing the definition of substantial compliance for corrected reports, reviewing the definition of principal purpose to reduce unnecessary campaign finance reporting burdens, improving public access to delinquent penalty information on the TEC website, and expanding training and plain-language guidance on lobbying and filing requirements. The Commission also adopted two previously omitted Texas Department of Criminal Justice recommendations, 6.5 and 6.6.
By recorded vote, the Commission unanimously forwarded all recommendations adopted during the biennium to the 89th Legislature, with nine ayes. Sunset staff then reported on implementation of 2023 Sunset recommendations, stating that the State Auditor found 89% of selected management actions fully implemented and that Sunset staff found 68% of 163 statutory and related changes fully implemented, with most remaining items in progress or partially implemented. The Commission also briefly noted receipt of a Texas Lottery Commission evaluation concerning executive leadership and potential regulation of lottery ticket courier companies, but no further action was taken on that item. The meeting concluded with closing remarks and a motion to recess subject to the call of the chair.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, May 14, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- tasked with going to the areas where the Taliban had been pushed out, and his team would work to replace
- c> the<00:20:50.640>
barriers <00:20:50.960>with <00:20:51.120>permanent replace - the barriers with permanent replace the barriers with permanent concrete<00:20:52.000>
barriers individuals with varied alien status, individuals with varied alien status, including<01:20:11.440- ,
- Copyright Office, replacing them with his former lawyers and current DOJ appointees.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 5/12/25 - Part 2
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-03-06 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- As I mentioned before, this amendment replaces the substance of House Bill 7031.
- It replaces the substance of House Bill 7031 with the Senate's piggyback.
- It replaces the substance of House Bill 7031 with the Senate's piggyback bill that I explained.
- The bill further codifies existing federal SNAP rules regarding citizenship status, requires the use
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized several introductions and memorials, including a resolution designating August 9, 2026, as Bob Graham Day and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar, with several bills substituted with House companions and adopted by voice vote or recorded vote. Early measures included a tax conformity bill tied to federal Internal Revenue Code changes, which passed 34-0, and a Medicaid/public assistance bill that drew extensive debate over work requirements, fraud reduction, behavioral health services, and SNAP/EBT reforms. Amendments offered by Senators Berman and Osgood to condition or soften the work and photo-ID provisions were rejected, and the underlying bill was placed on the third-reading calendar after lengthy questioning about implementation, exemptions, and eligibility effects.
The Senate also passed bills on computer science education and AI instruction, a Parkinson’s disease registry public-records exemption and registry update, designation of the SS American Victory as Florida’s official state flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the legal-tender sunset for gold and silver, public-records protections for gold/silver custodians and stablecoin-related entities, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, and local government budget transparency/spending measures. Most of these measures were adopted after minor amendments or technical substitutions, with votes generally ranging from 31-3 to 34-0. The chamber also recognized the Florida Channel’s 30 years of legislative coverage.
Later, the Senate approved a digital voyeurism bill expanding the reasonable-expectation-of-privacy definition to include private fenced yards, and an insurance customer representative licensing bill allowing high school students to complete insurance/personal finance coursework and later qualify for licensure. The final major item was a medical freedom bill that would expand parental vaccine information requirements, add a conscience-based exemption to immunization mandates, allow behind-the-counter ivermectin for adults, and repeal the sunset on the mRNA mandate prohibition; two amendments clarifying anti-kickback rules and requiring vaccine information to include risks, benefits, safety, and efficacy were adopted, while questions from Senators Smith and Massullo focused on public-health impacts and the content of the required materials. The transcript ends during discussion of that bill, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Business on the Speaker's desk: I wish to announce that Representative Cooper temporarily replaced Representative
- House Bill 2410 does not give AI special status. It does not replace professionals.
- is on the calendar and I'll be read the reports will be entered in the journal and the bills are replaced
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation May 20th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- It's not a replacement for this.
- It's not a replacement for this.
- created some issues for our enforcement staff when they were trying to figure out what the compliance status
- Public transit delivers immediate climate benefits by keeping buses running, replacing car trips, and
Summary:
The hearing opened with budget framing from the chair and the LAO, who said the May Revision addresses roughly a $14 billion budget problem and that the environment and transportation subcommittee’s proposals account for about $1.9 billion of the solution. The LAO urged members to focus on solutions that do not worsen out-year deficits, to preserve reserves, and to defer major policy changes that are not necessary to pass the budget, including the newly introduced water-related trailer bills. Members also raised concern about a late-dropped Olympic-related trailer bill, which the LAO likewise suggested should be deferred for fuller review.
The first major item was the Delta Conveyance Project and related water quality control plan trailer bills. The administration argued the proposals would streamline permitting, water rights proceedings, judicial review, and land acquisition, and would clarify DWR’s bond authority for the project. DWR said the project is needed to protect water supply reliability against drought, earthquakes, sea level rise, and other climate-related disruptions, and that the tunnel would help move water when conditions are wet and safer for the environment. Committee members from both parties questioned the timing, the use of budget trailer bills for major policy changes, the scope of the CEQA and water-rights changes, the lack of a bond cap, cost growth, and eminent domain protections. The LAO recommended deferring both water trailer bills without prejudice. Public comment was sharply divided, with labor, water agencies, and some business groups supporting the project as climate adaptation and reliability infrastructure, while environmental, tribal, fishing, county, and community groups opposed it as an attempt to bypass public process and weaken protections.
The committee then briefly heard the DMV’s Digital Experience Platform fee trailer bill, which would reinstate a $1 system improvement fee to help fund the vehicle-registration phase of the project. DMV said the fee would raise about $7 million annually and offset roughly $59 million to $60 million of project costs, while the LAO noted it would help but would not solve the Motor Vehicle Account’s broader structural gap. The hearing then moved to California High-Speed Rail, where the new CEO presented an updated plan and said the project remains a major climate and infrastructure investment. He reported a revised Merced-to-Bakersfield cost range of $34.9 billion to $38.5 billion, said the agency is trying to reduce risk through direct procurement of materials, and argued that stable annual funding is needed to avoid higher costs from delays.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
House Chamber - Thu Feb 12, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 14
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So, are we voting on her status, Kim's status as conflict of interest, or the status of being recused
- Kim's status as conflict of interest or Kim's status as conflict of interest or the<00:47:41.359>
- status<00:47:41.599>
of <00:47:41.760>being <00:47:41.920>recused? - the status of being recused? the status of being recused?
- If we choose not to act, we are not preserving the status quo; we are intentionally choosing to fall
Keywords:
gambling, prediction markets, Hawaii gambling laws, financial contracts, ethical concerns, electric bicycles, micro-mobility devices, safety regulations, traffic laws, insurance exemption, high-speed electric devices, land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, building code, permitting process, training, state council
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, December 2, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- are burning out, therapists are stretched thin, and practitioners are retiring faster than we can replace
- are burning out, therapists are stretched thin, and practitioners are retiring faster than we can replace
- >
is <00:51:07.359>a <00:51:07.599>false <00:51:08.480>and power, and status - It is a false and power, and status. It is a false and dangerous<00:51:09.359>
path. - Small businesses are not asking us to preserve the status quo.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations. (2-24-26)
Licensing & Occupations
Transcript Highlights:
- bill keeps the status quo.
- So no regs were promulgated for 505, and so this bill just keeps the status quo.
- So I don't know keeps the status quo.
- There is not a statute in place changing status of people who can work, people who may hire them.
- of people who can work, people status of people who can work, people who<00:36:19.280>
may <00
Summary:
The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on February 24, 2026, with a quorum present and took up one bill, House Bill 470. The bill sponsor and supporters described it as a cleanup measure to House Bill 505 that would extend the deadline for peer support specialists in the substance use field to become registered, because the earlier regulations were not promulgated in time and employers and workers were left in limbo. Supporters said the bill includes an emergency clause to stabilize the workforce and creates a working group to recommend a more effective oversight structure, possibly a new board, by November 1. They argued the extension would preserve access to services, allow providers to continue billing for peer support, and give the state time to address regulatory backlogs and workforce shortages.
Several supporters emphasized that peer support is a critical part of recovery services and that the current system needs better infrastructure, accountability, and uniform standards. They said the bill would help prevent fraud and abuse by tightening guardrails while allowing qualified peers to keep working. One supporter said the bill would close the door on higher-level billing abuses and that other Medicaid-related efforts were also underway to address improper billing practices. Another witness said the bill would allow people who completed certification to continue serving and would help providers retain staff and get reimbursed.
Senator McDaniel raised concerns that the bill might simply extend the period during which abuse of the peer recovery model could continue, rather than fixing the underlying problems. In response, the sponsors said House Bill 505 already imposed tighter training requirements and that this bill only extends the registration deadline while other efforts, including managed care organization limits and broader Medicaid reforms, are addressing abuse. Senator Howell asked about barriers to registration, and witnesses said the problem was a mix of supply-demand issues, workload, and some applicants’ reluctance to take the test. Senator Berg supported the bill as necessary to ensure proper billing and accountability, while Senator Meredith said the committee was missing key information from the cabinet and suggested it may be premature to act without hearing from the agency. No vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Ways and Means Education Committee Apr 7th, 2026
Ways and Means Education
Transcript Highlights:
- additional language that would clarify that this bill indeed does focus solely on the CHOOSE Act status
- or sort of the longhand version, of saying that we're only going to focus just on that CHOOSE Act status
- c><00:06:46.720>
the <00:06:46.880>choose <00:06:47.120>act <00:06:47.360>status - <00:06:47.600>
of <00:06:47.680>the solely on the choose act status of the solely on - the choose act status of the student<00:06:48.080>
and <00:06:48.240>and <00:06:49.039>
Keywords:
land bank, land bank authority, local land bank authority, Alabama Land Bank Authority, tax delinquent property, tax sale, tax lien, redemption period, quiet title, blight remediation, vacant property, foreclosure, ad valorem tax, property tax exemption, intergovernmental agreement, county government, municipal government, redevelopment, brownfields, floodplain management
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Select Committee on Pension Policy May 20th, 2025
Select Committee on Pension Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm also concerned about not being in that fully funded status.
- just I, you know, the other thing I'm going to just bring up here: it's going to impact the funding status
- And, you know, we've been very successful on Plan 2s and Plan 3s; the funding status is in the 90% level
- and how it's might be impacting. ...and what might be and how it's might be impacting the funding status
- overfunding, we also have a discussion about—I recognize 100% gets the word that we have full funding status
Summary:
The Select Committee on Pension Policy executive committee met to approve the November minutes, which were adopted by voice vote. The committee then received an update from the Attorney General’s Office on two ongoing cases, Fowler and Joel Lynn, with briefing and oral argument timelines still pending. Michael Harbour of the Office of the State Actuary provided an actuarial update focused on ESSB 5357, explaining that the bill raised the assumed investment return from 7% to 7.25%, suspended UAL contribution rates for four years, and changed amortization for past benefit improvements; members asked for clarification on how those changes would affect long-term funding and contribution rates, especially for Plan 1 systems.
A substantial portion of the meeting was devoted to committee discussion of interim priorities and the need for more analysis of recent pension legislation. Members emphasized the importance of understanding the fiscal impacts of ESSB 5357 and related pension changes before the September economic experience study, and several asked staff to provide a more preliminary walkthrough of the bill’s effects. The committee also discussed the LEOFF 1 study and broader questions about overfunding, including when a plan should be considered overfunded and whether overfunding should be addressed through merger or closure proposals. One member suggested reviewing the operating budget’s excess compensation proviso during the interim as well.
Staff reviewed the draft 2025 interim work plan, proposing June topics including election of officers, a presentation on SB 5357 and its actuarial implications, and an initial LEOFF 1 study kickoff based on SB 5085 and HB 2034. The committee also placed excess compensation and demographic experience study items in a parking lot for possible later scheduling. The June agenda was adopted by roll call vote, with three ayes and three members absent or excused, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.