Transcript Highlights:

• Next on the agenda is RS 32915, Yellow Dot Program. Representative Scott.
• Today before you is RS 32915, which would repeal the Yellow Dot Program.
• That's because nobody's using the program.
• So they're printing out all these kits and nobody's really using the program.
• That's because nobody's using the program.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There also has been a push for us to look at Type B programs. Those are the smaller programs.
• Program income is not usually a big one because most programs don't collect a lot of income.
• And many other programs.
• I think they maybe only have one more federal program at their office. one program.
• of the program is there.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation on Idaho’s medical education workforce plan, developed from House Bill 368. The presenter said the working group unanimously supported a long-term plan to address Idaho’s physician shortage, noting Idaho ranks 50th per capita in physicians and would need roughly 1,400 more doctors to reach the national average. Recommendations included maintaining existing WAMI and other state-supported seats, adding 10 non-WAMI seats this year, expanding graduate medical education by 15 seats, creating a dedicated health education coordinator/director to manage undergraduate and graduate placements and clinical sites, and using one-time Rural Health Transformation funds for larger investments. Members discussed the value of WAMI, the need for more clinical training sites, rural recruitment incentives, the role of nurse practitioners and other providers, and how to measure results. No formal vote was taken in the transcript. The committee then received April Renfro’s update on the statewide single audit and related accountability work. She reported $5.4 billion in federal assistance audited for fiscal year 2024, 45 findings, seven repeat findings, $2.4 million in known questioned costs, and $2 million in projected questioned costs. Major issues were concentrated at the Department of Health and Welfare, especially Medicaid managed care eligibility and provider oversight, delayed health and safety surveys, and reporting problems tied in part to the Luma transition. Other notable findings involved the Child Care and Development Fund, Vocational Rehabilitation, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance, and DEQ. Members pressed her on accountability, fraud detection, managed care oversight, Luma-related errors, staffing, and which findings should be prioritized for follow-up. She said her office would provide a top-10 list of priorities to the co-chairs. No vote was taken. After a break, the committee heard a budget presentation from Brooke Dupree on how to read the front-end reports in the legislative budget book. She explained the state’s constitutional structure, the 20 executive departments, and the decision-unit budget model, including the sequence from the current-year appropriation to maintenance, enhancements, and the final fiscal year 2027 original appropriation. She also walked through request-versus-recommendation reports and fund-source comparisons. Members asked a few clarifying questions, including what falls under public school support. The final item began a short presentation from the Impact Review Team on a base budget dashboard tool, described as a different way to view existing budget data.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's a program that's been established for a number of years.
• And then we also support the forensic nurse examiner programs to pay for their administrative costs,
• And then on top of that, there is a program called IPAWS.
• So it's a very, very good program.
• So it's a very, very good program.

Summary: The committee met as the Commerce and Legal Services Division and first approved the minutes, then received a Legislative Council overview of the Attorney General’s current budget status and a blue-sheet summary of the AG’s base budget for the next biennium. Staff highlighted compliance with legislative intent items, including FTE changes, one-time funding updates, litigation pool spending, opioid settlement receipts, and continuing appropriations. Members asked about specific funds such as the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund and the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and staff explained the statutory basis and status of those items. The Attorney General’s office then presented an extensive overview of its divisions and budget pressures. Chief Deputy Attorney General Clare Ness described the office’s 14 divisions, the role of the office in defending the state and recouping funds, and concerns about attorney pay, recruitment, and retention. Members discussed whether attorney salaries should be benchmarked across state government and whether more legal work could be centralized in the AG’s office. The office also described challenges with the new-and-vacant FTE pool, operating expense cuts, leased office space, and the criminal justice information systems used to connect law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts. The Crime Laboratory director gave a detailed update on space and infrastructure problems, saying the current lab is overcrowded and outdated, with safety, workflow, air-handling, glycol leak, alarm, and maintenance issues that can delay casework and risk evidence integrity. She said a 2024 study projected a need for a much larger facility and that the preferred option would be a new building on the current health department site, at an estimated cost of roughly $40 million to $45 million. She also reported that backlogs have improved significantly in DNA, firearms, fingerprint, and drug cases, though toxicology had recently developed a small backlog after an air compressor failure. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, gaming division, and BCI also provided updates. MFCU’s new director said the unit is federally funded 75/25, focuses on fraud, abuse, and neglect, and is seeking two attorney hires while continuing to work with federal partners on cases and recertification. Gaming staff reported continued growth in charitable gaming and electronic pull-tab activity, with concerns about site competition, large trust balances, possible ineligible expenditures, and the need for more scrutiny as revenues have grown. BCI outlined its staffing, drug task forces, ICAC work, and the Missing Indigenous Person Task Force, which is using its $250,000 appropriation to help tribal nations develop emergency response plans and purchase alerting tools such as IPAWS. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And since Mohave County did spearhead the notification program, which we call the address protection
• program in Mohave County, I'm here to answer any questions on how that works.
• program in Mojave County, I'm here to answer any questions on how that works.
• No matter what, it's going to stop on our desk because they're going to be part of this program.
• I tend to carry three during the day, and then I have a nurse and then myself.

Committee: House Government

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• agencies on assisting in the investigation or enforcement of any federal registration or surveillance program
• required by state or federal law or if it is required to administer a state- or federally supported program
• It very simply provides that employees at schools, daycares, hospitals, both public and private, nursing
• But unfortunately, although we had a program to recycle them for many years, they're now being directed
• My name is Melissa Johnson, and I'm speaking on behalf of the Washington State Nurses Association, also

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. On SB 5906, the SAFE Act, staff and Sen. Hansen described protections limiting immigration enforcement access to non-public areas in schools, early learning settings, higher education, health care facilities, adult family homes, and ballot-processing areas, and restricting collection of immigration-status information. Supporters said the bill would clarify and strengthen existing Keep Washington Working policies, while some witnesses requested amendments to better define health care facilities, clarify adult family home and election-related provisions, and keep Section 6 on ballot security. Some members questioned the factual basis for reported ICE activity near schools and daycares and the distinction between judicial and administrative warrants. The committee also heard SB 5886 on personality rights and forged digital likenesses. Staff explained that the bill would add digitally created or modified likenesses to the Personality Rights Act, raise civil penalties, and allow recovery of actual and non-economic damages in forged-digital-likeness cases. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to address AI deepfakes and identity misuse while preserving satire and fair use; student and advocacy witnesses supported the measure as a way to protect students and victims of digital impersonation. The committee then heard SB 5169, which expands child hearsay and closed-circuit testimony rules to older children and additional offenses. Prosecutors and forensic interviewers supported the bill as necessary in trafficking and child abuse cases, while defense advocates opposed it as an overbroad expansion that could raise confrontation-clause issues and create legal challenges. Additional hearings included SB 5865, which would move garnishment form updates from statute to the Washington Pattern Forms Committee; judges supported it as a way to fix a wage-withholding calculation error and allow future updates without legislation. SB 5912 would reinstate the Indigent Defense Task Force to study statewide public defense delivery and recommend sustainable reforms; counties, the Office of Public Defense, and defense groups supported it. SB 6009 would make permanent the current process for direct review of administrative decisions by the Court of Appeals and retain land-use transfer provisions; a Court of Appeals judge supported the bill. SB 6087 would extend limited liability for donations of children’s items to religious organizations and add strollers and car seats, with support from Zero Waste Washington. The committee did not take final votes on these bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a patient that was clearly on the road to being in a nursing facility, an advanced nursing facility
• Uh we Medicaid broker for NMT program.
• </c> the the participant in our program the the participant in our program requests.<01:00:17.880><c>
• </c> option to develop a basic health program option to develop a basic health program as<01:22:40.960
• ,</c> community outreach programs, community outreach programs, our<01:33:46.720><c> eight</c><01:33:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board first approved the September 24 minutes and then heard a presentation from four certified community behavioral health clinic providers: Pathways, NorthKey, Seven Counties Services, and NewVista. The presenters explained the difference between traditional community mental health centers and CCBHCs, describing CCBHCs as an enhanced model that integrates behavioral health, primary care, wraparound services, and crisis response. They reviewed the federal history of the model, Kentucky’s entry into the Medicaid demonstration in 2022, and the scheduled end of the enhanced federal match on December 31, 2027. They also emphasized required services such as 24-hour mobile crisis, care coordination, and services for veterans, and described care coordination as a key feature that helps patients follow up after hospital or emergency discharge, manage medications, and connect to transportation and other supports. The presenters gave examples of improved outcomes, including a patient who was able to remain living independently because of coordinated home-based and telehealth support, and they argued that CCBHCs are helping Kentucky build a more responsive crisis system through 988, mobile crisis teams, and crisis stabilization units. They said the model is data-driven, uses performance metrics, and has led to stronger collaboration among community partners. One speaker said more than 100 agencies participated in a Jefferson County community health needs assessment and continued meeting afterward to reduce redundancies and barriers to care. They also said crisis call hub compliance and mobile crisis outreach compliance improved significantly over the past year. Members asked about how navigators and connectors fit into the model, how CCBHCs work with managed care organizations, and how the program could expand statewide. The presenters said navigators are not built into the CCBHC model but may be used through referrals, while the CCBHCs continue to bill MCOs the same way and receive a Medicaid wrap payment for the enhanced rate. They said the goal would be for all community mental health centers to become CCBHCs, but that a state plan amendment would be needed and could not be limited only to CMHCs if submitted to CMS. They estimated about $28 million would be needed statewide to continue the program in the next biennium, combining the loss of enhanced federal match and the state share of enhanced service costs. The board also discussed transportation, with one presenter explaining that their program arranges Medicaid transportation for eligible appointments, and members raised concerns about mental inquest warrant transport and whether sheriffs should remain involved. No votes were taken on the CCBHC or transportation items during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have so many federal programs. We all know that. We have so many federal programs.
• program?
• They'll have multiple programs.
• solution programs or others?
• programs.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The meeting focused on Arkansas’s workforce development reorganization and a set of federal waiver requests intended to consolidate and streamline the state’s WIOA system. Commerce officials said the department has already centralized shared services, split the old workforce agency into reemployment and Arkansas Workforce Connections, and submitted a combined WIOA/Perkins state plan. They described nine waiver requests, including replacing local workforce boards with a single statewide board, creating one planning and accountability structure, allowing more flexible movement of funds across regions, easing the “last-dollar” requirement for training and supportive services, reducing required youth program elements, and allowing affiliate sites instead of mandatory comprehensive centers. Officials said the goal is to reduce administrative costs and redirect more money to training, supportive services, and employer-driven programs. Legislators raised concerns about rural representation, local employer relationships, and whether local offices would close. Commerce officials said local offices would remain open, some current staff could be rehired, and regional business councils would preserve local employer input. They said the current system is fragmented and expensive, with roughly $14 million in federal workforce funds flowing through local boards but only about $1.9 million spent on training and supportive services last year; they argued the reorganization could raise training spending to about $6 million to $7 million annually. Questions also addressed board composition, performance accountability, and how funds could be shifted between regions when needs change. The State Board of Workforce Development had approved the waiver package 11-3 before it was submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor. Members also discussed workforce access for people with disabilities, child care and transportation supports, and the role of Arkansas Launch, apprenticeships, and career and technical education. Officials said vocational rehabilitation now has better access to the state job board and that referrals and data-sharing with DHS and other partners still need improvement. Several legislators emphasized the need for training to align more closely with employer demand, especially in manufacturing, technology, health care, and rural areas. The committee also heard a brief overview of Workforce Pell, with staff explaining that the new federal short-term Pell option has narrow eligibility rules and may not fit many existing programs, including some CDL and CNA programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to thank the Legislature also for funding the Wright grant program, the Jails to Jobs program
• Farm Worker Housing Grant Program, and the Portfolia Reinvestment Program.
• transit operations program.
• We are very appreciative of the allocations to the state LIHTC program and the MHP program.
• , which includes our AHSC program, another flagship program for how we're able to produce and sustain

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the 2026 Budget Act, which leaders said was the negotiated compromise with the Senate and was expected to move to the floor that evening. Opening remarks emphasized that the plan balances the budget over two years, reduces the structural deficit, and builds reserves, while also protecting core services in the face of federal cuts. Jason Sisney outlined the legislative budget framework and the likely floor bills, including AB 109, SB 110, SB 122, and SB 125. Department of Finance representative Eric Khali said the administration appreciated the two-year balanced approach and supported the modification in SB 122, while noting the package uses additional revenues and new spending to soften or reject some proposed cuts. Most of the discussion focused on major spending areas. Members and subcommittee chairs highlighted protections and additions for health care and human services, including rejecting the proposed Medi-Cal asset limit change, delaying premium increases, restoring clinic and dental funding, supporting distressed hospitals and county indigent care, and expanding county eligibility staffing to handle H.R. 1-related workload. Education members described record or expanded support for TK-12 schools, child care, special education, community colleges, teacher recruitment, and higher education, including a change to extend Cal Grant eligibility to age 30 for some community college students. Housing and homelessness funding was increased for HAP, multifamily housing, and the low-income housing tax credit, while public safety members pointed to investments in victims’ services, restorative justice, and prison closure savings. Several members also raised concerns or priorities tied to the budget deal. Some praised the package as a moral document that protects vulnerable Californians, immigrant communities, LGBTQ residents, seniors, and people with disabilities. Others noted unresolved issues, including the MCO tax’s impact on districts, the need for more support for local journalism, arts, biotech R&D incentives, transit and GGRF-related concerns, and the need for continued work on Prop. 98 and long-term fiscal resilience. The vice chair cautioned that despite the current progress, the state remains vulnerable to revenue volatility and warned that the budget should build more resilience against a possible downturn. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided, but the committee was preparing the budget package for floor action and final negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also serve as the executive officer for the Board of Medicine, the Board of Nursing, and the Board
• I'm here today... ...Board of Medicine, the Board of Nursing, and the Board of Pharmacy.
• It also provides limited access to the prescription drug monitoring program for federal investigators
• The first design pillar that we got presented was called program structure and governance.
• So under each of these headings that we have to—so the program design pillars are on page four.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as a condition of program participation.
• ... ...being able to participate in the batterers intervention program.
• we believe that excluding faith-based programs is not just discriminatory.
• Next, the bill addresses the Step Into Success Program.
• I am delighted to see the program now go statewide.

Committee: Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It affected 400 day shift healthcare employees, 126 senior living residents, 120 nursing home residents
• And they're doing it right there by the nursing home and the hospital.
• The reason I'm here is I've got numerous calls from people who have loved ones in the nursing home.
• Our theater programs in all K-12 schools. And so, I move for adoption. I have a motion...
• I also... ...program in Dothan and Abbyville. I also represent Henry County. They are here.

Bills: SB320 , HB67 , HB247 , HB161 , HB165 , HB91 , HB90 , HB471 , HB363 , HB479

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: liquefied petroleum gas, safety regulations, public gathering places, cylinder storage, proximity regulations, parental rights, drag performances, public schools, public libraries, overnight programs, gender identity, minor safety, Gulf of America, name change, state compliance, educational materials, local resources, historical reference, building codes, standardization

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:00.600><c> for</c> um we also have a grant program for um we also have a grant program for
• </c> licensing board just just like nursing licensing board just just like nursing or<00:41:58.960><c
• Intervention Program grant program that will be going underneath the Youth Justice Office.
• </c><01:27:58.880><c> be</c><01:27:59.080><c> going</c> Program grant program that will be going Program
• or education programs higher ed programs or education programs generally<02:00:08.760><c> uh</c><02:

Bills: HF2432

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF2432, judiciary finance bill, public safety finance bill, corrections policy, crime victims, victim services, Minnesota victims of crime account, court fees, marriage license fee, financial crimes, fraud investigations, insurance fraud, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, Commerce Fraud Bureau, wage theft, automobile theft prevention, nonprofit security grants, 911 funding, POST Board

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have enough beds in our program or even in the other programs.
• Is that across the programs?
• The CARE program in St.
• Is that across the programs?
• sex offender program where you have<00:50:15.319><c> a</c><00:50:15.599><c> program</c><00:50:16.559

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and to expand their curricula programs and to expand their curricula to<00:05:52.440><c> offer</c><00
• These are app-based workers like those who work for DoorDash, Uber, or um those types of programs.
• House Bill 583, an act relating to the school-based Medicaid program. Representative Riley.
• </c> scope of practice the school nurses scope of practice the school nurses could<00:41:09.240><c> use
• Program firsthand.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They provide access to affordable housing, nutrition. and assistance, health care programs that promote
• traditions, the members of this notable House of worship have established a variety of commendable programs
• HR 157 by Schaffner commending the nurse practitioners of East Texas for their dedication to patient
• Members, this resolution is to recognize a highly skilled nurse of East Texas who will be joining us
• Texas is home to more than 47,000 nurse practitioners. who provide high-quality care to people of Texas

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These taxes support the Paid Family and Medical Leave program, the long-term care insurance program,
• unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation programs.
• care, cash assistance programs, energy, and housing programs.
• Second, these programs that are being implemented...
• Our state's child care programs, preschools, and public schools are essential.

Bills: HB2334 , HB2140 , HB2326 , HB2100

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: cash transactions, pennies, currency adjustment, economic impact, consumer protection, tax exemption, governmental transfer, agriculture, land use, property tax, emergency medical services, levies, healthcare funding, local government, taxation, excise tax, large companies, payroll expenses, minimum wage, Well Washington fund

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1013 prohibits public employers from adopting or implementing any policy, program, or practice that
• SB 1013 prohibits public employers from adopting or implementing any policy, program, or practice that
• And so they, instead of creating policies about hiring, they created a training program whereby we do
• In the nursing profession, there is a box, but it does not say crime. It says felony.
• Madam Chairwoman, Senator Epstein, I can speak to nursing specifically.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 1023, which would require optometrists to conduct eye exams according to community standard of care at a recommended one-year interval, while allowing prescriptions to be extended up to two years or shortened based on risk factors. The sponsor described it as a compromise to reduce confusion and align prescription validity with medical judgment. The Arizona Optometric Association supported the bill, saying it codifies best practice and gives clearer standards for patients and practitioners. The committee voted 7-0 to give SB 1023 a do pass recommendation. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1013, a merit-based public hiring bill that would prohibit state and local public employers from using hiring or personnel policies based on race, ethnicity, sex, or national origin, while preserving compliance with anti-discrimination laws. An amendment was offered and adopted to clarify that the bill would not limit voluntary veterans’ preference employment policies. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill ensures public jobs are awarded based on qualifications, experience, and merit, and several witnesses testified in favor, including representatives from Do No Harm. Opponents argued the bill could undermine diversity efforts and existing equity-focused hiring practices, and several members raised concerns about the veterans’ preference language and the definition of merit. After debate, the committee adopted the amendment and then voted 4-3 to give SB 1013, as amended, a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Services Program.
• I don't know why we need to expand other programs.
• The only program from the general fund is their aviation services. Mr.
• The department does have four programs. Our first program is project design and construction.
• That's a grant to deliver our digital program.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• funding by each program.
• Since the risk of litigation program is the only means of finance in that program, the interagency transfers
• I have applied for two grants on the sexual assault nurse examiner program.
• Does your coroner have a SANE nurse?”
• program.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> offer the dental hygiene programs. offer the dental hygiene programs.
• program.
• </c> nursing program. nursing program.
• to</c><02:48:08.560><c> go</c> nursing program versus just to go nursing program versus just to go through
• </c> through that program to be a CNA? through that program to be a CNA?

Committee: Joint Labor, Health & Social Services

Keywords: 916, all