Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the use of fixed price contracts the use of fixed price contracts instead<00:54:58.480><c> of</c
• </c> price contracts price contracts instead<00:55:19.920><c> of</c><00:55:20.320><c> purchases."
• Well, you have fixed-price contracts. Fixed-price contracts.
• Now, over been fixed-price contracts.
• </c> compared to the fixed price contract compared to the fixed price contract that<01:36:09.200><c>

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:13:12.639><c> some</c><00:13:12.800><c> paths</c> contract issues which have some paths contract
• </c> there was nothing in those contracts there was nothing in those contracts that<00:25:55.600><c>
• </c> terms of the contracts terms of the contracts uh<00:29:49.600><c> uh</c><00:29:49.760><c> with</
• contracts, auditing the contracts<00:30:17.200><c> and</c><00:30:17.520><c> working</c><00:30:17.760
• So that's really really contracts.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then approved an agency amendment to a health and family services regulation. The amendment reversed a prior change so that neonatal ICU beds would remain subject to regular review rather than nonsubstantive review. The remaining administrative regulations were then reviewed without objection. The main presentation was from State Auditor Allison Ball on a report finding $836 million in concurrent Medicaid capitation payments from 2019 through 2022, involving individuals enrolled in Kentucky and at least one other state. Ball said Kentucky relied on the PARIS system, which has limitations because it is updated quarterly and depends on voluntary state participation, while a better federal data source, T-MSIS, was not fully available to the state. She said the audit found weak internal controls, siloed processes, outdated guidance, and a low-priority attitude toward residency checks, all of which contributed to missed alerts and improper payments. She also said the report identified additional problems, including payments made after beneficiaries died and cases involving multiple states paying for the same person. Ball recommended better access to federal data, stronger MCO contract provisions, and more active oversight by the Department for Medicaid Services and managed care organizations. She said the contracts reviewed did not provide a clear way to recoup the improper payments, though she and her counsel suggested possible equitable legal theories might be explored. Members expressed concern about the scale of the waste and the lack of contract enforcement, and asked whether any money could be recovered. Ball said the audit did not identify a clear contractual path to recoup the funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• :28:59.440><c> we</c> contracted service provider, we contracted service provider, we definitely<00:29
• If you're using contracted services, a lot of times transportation is already rolled into the contract
• </c> a separate billing item in the contract a separate billing item in the contract that<00:29:58.480
• Um, they can hire contract staff and send them to the charter school, or they can, um, contract with
• Um they can hire contract own staff.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The commission met to continue its study of the cost of special education, with the chair emphasizing that the group needs to narrow its focus over the coming year toward specific cost drivers, including the IEP process, Medicaid, charter schools, and EFAs. Members reviewed a draft first report due November 1 and agreed it would be a brief synopsis of prior meetings, with minutes attached. The September 30, 2025 minutes were amended to correct the number of federally funded department staff from 234 to 23, and to revise language about Senator Sullivan’s comments so they reflected concerns about IEP advocates and fees charged to families rather than support for the concept. The amended minutes were then approved unanimously, with abstentions noted for members who were absent. The main presentation focused on how special education costs are handled for students attending charter schools. The DOE representative said there are 804 students with disabilities in charter schools across 88 of the state’s 176 districts, and that the district of residence remains responsible for all services and costs. She explained that students must meet IDEA criteria through district evaluation and parent consent, and that services are determined through individual IEP meetings rather than by a blanket charter-school decision. Members asked how those costs are tracked, whether any students are merely “monitored,” and whether districts separately identify charter-school special education expenses; the answer was that most districts fold those costs into their overall special education budget, though some may break them out as a line item. The discussion then turned to transportation and mileage costs for staff providing services at charter schools. Testimony indicated that districts may use their own staff, contract staff, or contract with a charter school for certified services, and that travel costs are often either built into contracts or absorbed as part of staff time rather than separately reimbursed. Members questioned whether mileage is reimbursed when staff travel to distant charter schools and whether those costs can be isolated in district budgets; the response was that practices vary by district and are not usually broken out by special education function. Several members argued this makes it difficult to determine the true cost of delivering special education, especially given New Hampshire’s model in which the district of residence pays regardless of where the charter school is located. The chair noted the complexity of the system and compared it to the state’s separate tuition and transportation approach for career and technical education centers.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, you’ve also seen, as you saw in here, that we contract with several other state agencies
• We contract with a program that focuses on employee wellness and health.
• We have psychologists on a contract that we work with every day. will be effective on February 7th as
• </c><00:24:24.679><c> with</c> you saw in here that we contract with you saw in here that we contract
• with them that we had contract with them that we had limitations<00:24:52.000><c> on</c><00:24:52.159

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> not</c><00:10:58.720><c> contain</c> Because grant contract did not contain Because grant contract
• </c> regarding uh what you saw in contracts regarding uh what you saw in contracts and<00:25:21.360><
• </c> BHA also added a dedicated contract BHA also added a dedicated contract compliance<00:41:10.200>
• </c> contracts publicly available online. contracts publicly available online.
• </c> of getting all of the um grant contracts of getting all of the um grant contracts themselves<00:

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• one contract pharmacy.
• Solving contract pharmacy and claims data reporting nationally are part of these reforms.
• The number one contract pharmacy in the state of Washington is not an independent.
• Contract retainage is exempt from those interest calculations.
• The contract retainage exception is new.

Bills: SB6294 , SB6211 , SB5650 , SB6033 , SB6297 , SB6343 , SB6067 , SB6082 , SB6323 , SB6324 , SB5862 , SB5923 , SB6151

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: local government finance, Washington state, RCW, real estate excise tax, REET, sales and use tax, property tax levy, county tax, city tax, affordable housing, housing services, behavioral health, mental health, developmental disabilities, children and families services, youth services, utility tax, low-income utility assistance, veterans assistance, homelessness

Transcript Highlights:

• one contract pharmacy.
• Solving contract pharmacy and claims data reporting nationally are part of these reforms.
• Contract retainage is exempt from those interest calculations.
• Contract retainage is exempt from those interest calculations.
• The contract retainage exception is new.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on multiple bills, beginning with a motion to suspend the five-day notice rule for a long list of Senate bills, which passed on a voice vote. The committee first heard Substitute Senate Bill 6026, a governor-request housing bill that would require cities and counties over 30,000 population to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones, limit mixed-use/ground-floor commercial requirements in some areas, and allow added height where such requirements are imposed. The lieutenant governor testified strongly in support, arguing the bill would add needed housing capacity without requiring ground-floor retail burdens. The hearing on SB 6026 was then suspended so the committee could move through the agenda. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6294, a broad local government finance measure with eight parts, including expanded uses for certain REET revenues, a new county public utility tax, a new local sales tax for children and family services, expanded housing-related tax uses, changes to county levy structure, longer lid lift periods, and expanded use of rental car tax revenue. Local government, housing, and public health witnesses largely supported the bill, emphasizing flexibility for affordable housing, rental assistance, children’s services, and county fiscal stability. Opponents, including wireless industry, water/sewer district, auto dealer, realtors, energy, and cannabis representatives, objected to specific tax provisions as regressive, costly, or likely to raise consumer prices. Several witnesses requested amendments, including adding public health clinic funding and flood recovery language from House bills. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5400 on local news sustainability, which would create a state grant program funded by a surcharge on large search engines and social media platforms to support journalism jobs and the Murrow Fellowship program. News organizations, the League of Women Voters, open government advocates, and local journalism supporters testified in favor, saying local news is essential to civic life and that the bill would help sustain reporting without using general fund dollars. Technology industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing it unfairly singles out tech companies and could face legal challenges. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6211, which would let opt-in GMA jurisdictions impose REET-2 without voter approval; cities and counties supported it as a parity and infrastructure funding measure, while Realtors opposed the loss of voter approval. Senate Bill 5650, authorizing local cannabis excise taxes, drew support from some local officials but strong opposition from cannabis businesses, which argued Washington’s cannabis taxes are already too high and drive sales to the illicit market. Senate Bill 6033, waiving penalties and interest for taxpayers who failed to collect new sales tax on certain services, was supported by NFIB as a compliance and fairness measure. Senate Bill 6297, exempting temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health providers from sales tax, drew strong support from behavioral health organizations citing workforce shortages and unsustainable costs. Finally, Senate Bill 6343, extending and expanding tax relief for disaster-damaged property and repairs, was presented as aid for flood recovery; local officials testified in support. No final committee votes on the bills were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:34.240><c> and</c><00:13:34.480><c> contract</c><00:13:35.040><c> landowner</c> upon and contract
• and contract landowner upon and contract and contract landowner agreements<00:13:36.160><c> that</c>
• He said they would still sign a contract and the AG’s office would review those contracts just like they
• those contracts just like they reviews those contracts just like they do<00:58:27.760><c> with</c><00
• </c><01:00:22.880><c> that</c> still have to review every contract that still have to review every contract

Bills: HB0078 , HB0087 , SF0070 , SF0068 , SF0017 , SF0043

Committee: Senate Agriculture, State and Public Lands & Water Resources

Keywords: forest health, grant program, state forester, wildfire prevention, environmental conservation, habitat improvement, water development, feasibility studies, appropriations, water management, rehabilitation, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, forestry management

Transcript Highlights:

• So in the most recent contract, this is your largest state contract with the MCOs that went into place
• in September, a five-year contract.
• So in the most recent contract, this is your largest state contract with the MCOs that went into place
• in September, a five-year contract.
• </c><02:02:17.920><c> something</c> three the last 5year contract something three the last 5year contract

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Division III held an informational hearing on Medicaid, Medicare, Choices for Independence, and related financing, while postponing nursing facility financing and the county cap discussion to a later date. DHHS officials Ann Landry, Jonathan Ballard, and Medicaid Director Henry Litman provided an overview of Medicaid’s role, noting it is a federal-state partnership with state-specific eligibility and benefits, and emphasizing that Medicaid is a major funding and programmatic support for other DHHS initiatives. They also distinguished Medicaid from Medicare and explained that Medicaid funding is not the same as grant funding, though some providers may also receive federal grants through other channels. The presentation focused on New Hampshire’s relatively small Medicaid program and why it differs from national averages. Officials said about 184,000 residents are covered, roughly one in seven Granite Staters compared with one in five nationally, and attributed the difference largely to the state’s higher per-capita income and older population. They highlighted that about 65% of Medicaid-enrolled adults in New Hampshire are working, that only 22% of births are covered by Medicaid versus 42% nationally, and that the state’s uninsured rate is lower than the national rate. Members asked about covered services, income limits, federal matching rates, and the names of optional eligibility groups; staff explained that New Hampshire offers the optional groups discussed, with matching rates varying by category, including 90% for Granite Advantage and certain other groups, and 65% for children above the required level. A substantial portion of the hearing covered eligibility rules and recent policy changes. Officials reviewed the history of Medicaid, including HCBS waivers, the CFI program, Katie Beckett, the Olmstead decision, the ACA, and the end of continuous enrollment after the public health emergency. They also discussed the 2023 legislative expansion of postpartum coverage from 60 days to 12 months and child eligibility changes. In response to questions, DHHS said it is tracking utilization and costs for the postpartum expansion and reported that many maternal deaths occur after the prior 60-day coverage period, often involving substance use disorder or suicide; they said the longer coverage is intended to improve access to treatment and prevention. The committee also walked through household-income examples, clarified that Medicaid eligibility is based on household income and categorical rules, and confirmed that Granite Advantage ends at 138% of the federal poverty level unless another categorical basis applies. No votes were taken, and the hearing remained informational.

Transcript Highlights:

• To strengthen disclosure requirements relating to foreign gifts and contracts, to prohibit contracts
• It also will hold contracts.
• And contract dates or intended purpose.
• Under foreign donations and contracts.
• </c> current law, if gifts and contracts current law, if gifts and contracts either<05:16:58.080><c>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ...immunity we enjoy to our contractors or those that we contract with?
• I’ve seen contracts with the state.
• But yeah, I don’t understand why the government has a contract.”
• “Only the U of H contract said there is no waiver of sovereign immunity in this contract, which means
• Breach of contract. Okay, and you want us to protect you from that?

Committee: House Governmental Oversight, Select

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• During the 2026 session, the bill eventually became a bill to make that part of the statewide contracts
• And you brought the bill to just make sure that all the Commonwealth contracts comply with that federal
• it's worth noting, too, that we did close this bill up a little bit and only have it within the contract
• thought it to at least remind folks that this is the federal law because the current portion of that contract
• think, will be quite blunt: nobody knows that this is also federal law when you're doing those state contracts

Keywords: Public Body Procurement Workgroup, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state for purposes of tort immunity, I'm paraphrasing, when performing work within the scope of the contract
• and in compliance, at the top, when acting within the scope of a government contract, performing work
• When acting within the scope of the contract, private contractors, When acting within the scope of the
• contract, private contractors, subcontractors, shall have sovereign or governmental tort immunity to
• I think I'm still confused because I would read acting within the scope of the contract to be they are

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As to, uh, you said that there are 14 counties that currently contract with or have a medical examiner's
• But, uh, the, the counties do contract out with surrounding counties to provide their services.
• And just so people realize, we, we tried, Lubbock County tried to contract or were contracting, and now
• the contracts are being denied because Where we were contracted in Tarrant County and maybe part of

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Transcript Highlights:

• The contract. The contract. The contract. Yes. Okay. So, Correct. The contract. The contract.
• The contract. Yes. Okay. So, our, we were at 9.17347. It got dropped at 2.912.

Committee: House Appropriations - Human Resources Division

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to review Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation budget items, with Representative Steeman asking for clarification on FTE counts and dollar amounts in several line items. DOCR officials explained that the Hart River Correctional Center request was reduced from 26 new FTEs to 7, focused on pre-opening staffing such as security leadership, HR, staff development, warehouse support, and a dentist and dental assistant to address a long dental waiting list. The MRCC temporary housing unit line was adjusted from 7 FTEs to 12.5 FTEs to add case management, treatment, nursing, and maintenance staff, while pretrial, corrections temporary positions, education services, and maintenance items remained unchanged. The Grand Forks line was reduced from 31.5 FTEs to 4, with the remaining staffing tied to case management and treatment rather than full facility operations, and officials estimated that personnel cost at about $670,000. Members also discussed how the staffing changes would be viewed against the closure or transition of Dakota Women's Correctional and Rehabilitation Center in New England. DOCR said the comparison would not be apples-to-apples because Hart River will expand from a 126-bed to a 304-bed facility with more services, and because Dakota Women's staff are not state employees and therefore not counted as state FTEs. Officials noted anticipated efficiencies through shared services such as warehousing, commissary, laundry, kitchen, medical, and dental support across facilities, but acknowledged those savings would be difficult to quantify. The chair thanked the witnesses, noted the committee would return later to address amendments and the bill, and then recessed the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• ready to go to the floor, we learned a little detail that they don't have the authority to even contract
• and we just took the money out thinking on a $2 billion budget, they could find money to do those contracts
• Coordination Council really doing the digging in work, however, if they don't have the funds and the contract
• But if they do have the funds and the ability to contract, I think we're actually getting more of a,
• we do have a lot of... and they mention that all members have to be in agreeance before they did contract

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The conference committee met to resolve differences on a bill creating or funding the K-12 Coordination Council. Members discussed the purpose of the council as a research and filtering body for K-12 studies, with several speakers emphasizing that it should draw on field expertise rather than be directed solely by DPI or another agency. They also noted concerns about giving an agency too much control over studies and the desire to have Legislative Management help direct or approve study topics. The House explained that its earlier version had included a $120,000 appropriation, but the amount was removed after concerns arose that the council lacked authority to contract. Committee members discussed whether the council could still be useful with reduced funding and whether it should be able to contract for outside research. One member suggested funding at least enough for a couple of studies, citing an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000 per study and a message from the director requesting at least two studies. A motion was made for the House to recede to the Senate version and further amend Section 2 to reduce the appropriation from $120,000 to $60,000. The motion passed unanimously by roll call, with all members voting yes. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not be put into contract by the end of 2025-26.
• . ...the total number of slots retained to minimize any disruptions of contracts and disenrollment of
• Supported payments to administer outside of the contract structure.
• Maintaining separate contract and added contract funding streams for administrative costs has created
• By providing funding as a percentage of contracts, funding for administrative costs would increase, or

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the MSCF contract, adjunct employees are temporary, and under the IFO contract too, adjunct and
• Under the MSCF contract, adjunct employees are temporary, and under the IFO contract too, adjunct and
• Under the MSCF contract, adjunct employees are temporary, and under the IFO contract too, adjunct and
• Under the MSCF contract, adjunct employees are temporary, and under the IFO contract too, adjunct and
• Under the MSCF contract, adjunct employees are temporary, and under the IFO contract too, adjunct and

Bills: HF4479 , HF4368 , HF4889

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: higher education, public university, college campus, postsecondary institution, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, University of Minnesota, town hall, town hall meeting, elected official, legislator, public forum, constituent meeting, campus access, free meeting space, parking fees, civic engagement, public outreach, chapter 135A, HF4368, Minnesota State

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the customer's right to do so, unless they choose to sign a buyer's agency contract.
• </c> agency contract. agency contract.
• But I have heard that people have been asked to sign contracts just to go look at a house.
• c><00:09:30.000><c> asked</c><00:09:30.320><c> to</c><00:09:30.720><c> sign</c><00:09:31.120><c> contracts
• </c> people have been asked to sign contracts people have been asked to sign contracts just<00:09:32.399

Bills: HB0002 , HB0022

Committee: House Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: building permits, local government, residential construction, permit timelines, code compliance, municipal officers, recall election, petition requirements, local governance, voter participation, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And third, it protects Missourians from abusive funding terms by bringing these contracts into this..
• And third, it protects Missourians from abusive funding terms by bringing these contracts into this.
• If the litigation funding agreement is made in violation of the foreign funding ban, that contract is
• I feel like that should be established in your contract at the very beginning. Okay.
• Thank you. ...should be established in your contract at the very beginning. Okay.

Committee: House Legislative Review

Summary: The Committee on Legislative Review met in executive session and voted House Bill 2408 due pass by an 8-0 roll call. It then considered House Bill 3092, where a House Committee amendment was adopted and rolled into a House Committee substitute despite objections that the amendment had not received a public hearing and would repeal significant insurance-related provisions. The substitute for HB 3092 was then approved 6-3. The committee also adopted an amendment and House Committee substitute for House Bill 3004, which passed unanimously 9-0. In open hearing, Representative Hausman presented House Bill 3090 as a transparency measure requiring the state treasurer to report annually on special treasury funds that have had no spending for five years and whether those funds were moved to general revenue. She said the bill would help lawmakers identify inactive accounts and unused money. Members asked how the reporting would work, what funds might be affected, and whether the bill would move unused balances into GR after five years; the sponsor said it would. No witnesses testified for or against, and the hearing closed. The committee then heard House Bill 3205 from Representative Castile, which would regulate third-party litigation funding, require disclosure of outside and foreign-linked funders, restrict funding from foreign adversaries, and give enforcement authority to the Attorney General. Members questioned the bill’s scope, including whether the foreign-terrorist language could be read too broadly and how liability and funding-risk provisions would work. Testimony in support came from Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Insurance Coalition/Missouri Civil Justice Coalition, and medical associations, all arguing that litigation funding can distort lawsuits, hide outside influence, and expose businesses and plaintiffs to abusive or foreign-backed financing. No opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing concluded.