Transcript Highlights:

• Times are tough and it is very challenging. This is my 43rd legislative session.
• As 75% of our county lands are managed by either state or federal agencies, and environmental issues
• I understand this is one of the most challenging budget years in recent memory.
• I understand this is one of the most challenging budget years in recent memory, which is exactly why
• The Washington State Green Bank can help address these challenges by leveraging private sector capital

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held its first meeting of the 2026 session to hear Governor Ferguson’s proposed supplemental capital budget from OFM. Budget staff said the proposal uses nearly all of the roughly $400 million in available bond capacity, leaving about $5.4 million unused, and includes additional funding from the Common School Construction account, the Climate Commitment Account, and federal funds. OFM described housing as the largest priority, with $237 million total, including $225 million for the Housing Trust Fund for affordable rental housing, homeownership, preservation, and manufactured home community acquisition; it also highlighted urgent state facility needs, climate and clean energy investments, natural resource projects, and education funding for school seismic safety, small district and tribal compact school modernization, lead pipe remediation, and higher education preservation projects. Committee members asked about the timing of housing production, and OFM said the proposed supplemental projects would not be completed within the biennium. Public testimony in the housing section strongly supported the governor’s housing investments, especially the Housing Trust Fund, manufactured housing preservation, and homeownership programs, while several speakers asked for larger appropriations for workforce housing, community land trusts, right-to-counsel, and specific local projects such as Thrive Center Tacoma, Alliance Place, Casa Mia, and Native and immigrant community facilities. One testifier criticized overall state tax policy, but the chair clarified that the capital budget is bonded and does not directly raise taxes. Testimony on K-12 education generally supported the proposed funding for small school modernization, seismic safety, and Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools lead remediation, with rural districts emphasizing the importance of planning and construction grants for aging facilities. Higher education witnesses supported preservation and deferred maintenance funding but asked for additional support for projects at Cascadia College, WSU Spokane, UW’s decarbonization work, and other campus infrastructure needs. Natural resources testimony backed Salmon Recovery Funding Board and community forest investments, while asking for more funding for ranked RCO projects. In the final section, local governments and utilities opposed a proposed $75 million transfer from the Public Works Assistance account to the operating budget, warning it would reduce infrastructure lending capacity; other speakers supported the Washington State Green Bank, public works financing, and several local economic development and utility projects. No votes or formal committee action were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the challenges that we cycle.
• </c><00:32:15.440><c> like</c> line working with federal agencies like line working with federal agencies
• We're a small agency, but with big performance.
• </c> a small agency but with big performance. a small agency but with big performance.
• those challenges.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 20 January, 2026; 2:30 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also does not force state agencies to agree to compensation at the bargaining table.
• House Bill 2345 is, as you already heard, agency request—” “House Bill 2345 is, as you already heard,
• agency request legislation from the Employment Security Department.
• I wanted to challenge something that you said.
• I wanted to challenge something that you said previously.

Summary: The Labor and Workplace Standards Committee heard testimony on several bills. HB 2303 would prohibit employers from requesting, requiring, or coercing employees to receive subcutaneous microchip implants, with enforcement through L&I complaints, civil penalties, and private lawsuits; the sponsor said it was a preventive labor standard and noted there was no opposition. HB 2144 would require employers to give written notice before using electronic monitoring for employee performance evaluations, and testimony split between labor supporters, who said workers should know how they are monitored, and business, local government, trucking, retail, construction, and law enforcement representatives, who raised concerns about broad definitions, safety uses, and litigation exposure. HB 2190 would expand collective bargaining rights for language access providers so missed or canceled appointments could be bargained as compensation; interpreters and union representatives supported it, saying they lose income when clients no-show, while the sponsor said the bill would clarify bargaining rights without changing employment status. The committee also heard HB 2345, a technical change to the state paid family and medical leave premium split in response to IRS guidance. Staff explained the proposed substitute would shift the employer contribution from the medical share to the family share so benefits would not be treated as taxable wages, while keeping the overall premium burden roughly the same; supporters called it a common-sense fix, and some business and school district witnesses said they wanted to avoid additional taxes and preserve program stability. The most extensive debate was over HB 2191, which would make property owners and direct contractors liable for unpaid wages and benefits in construction projects, with exceptions for government and small residential properties. Workers, unions, the Attorney General’s office, and some contractors supported the bill as a way to combat wage theft and level the playing field, while industry groups and subcontractors argued it would impose broad liability on responsible contractors, raise costs, hurt small businesses and minority-owned firms, and should be narrowed with safe harbors or right-to-cure provisions. No votes were taken; the committee held hearings on the bills and adjourned after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um it's different than what challenge.
• </c><01:05:19.359><c> with</c> opportunities as well as challenges with opportunities as well as challenges
• So you're right that this does increase the challenges in keeping those patients safe.
• Um, access challenges for MHPS panels.
• </c><01:43:57.840><c> accessing</c> communities face challenges accessing communities face challenges

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the draft minutes of its May 16, 2025 meeting, with one correction removing Representative Dry from the attendance list because she was present as a guest rather than an appointed member. The committee then received a Department of Health and Human Services update from Commissioner Lori Weaver, who focused on the rural health transformation grant process. She said the department has been gathering stakeholder input since July, issued a request for information on September 22, and is working toward an end-of-October draft and a November 3 deadline, with a grant writer request expected to go before Governor and Council at no cost to the state. The bulk of the meeting centered on federal changes affecting SNAP and Medicaid. Karen Heert explained that the federal law changes commonly referred to as the “Big Beautiful Bill” or HR1 will affect SNAP eligibility and state costs, including a shift in administrative cost sharing from 50/50 to 75/25 beginning in October 2026 and a possible state share of benefits if New Hampshire’s error rate is too high. She said the program affects about 43,000 households, that New Hampshire’s federal fiscal year 2024 error rate was 7.57% versus a national rate of 10.93%, and that the state must get below 6% to avoid liability. She also said DHS is preparing remediation steps, auditing cases, and seeking technology and staffing support, including a grant for automation and training. Henry Litman then described Medicaid changes under HB2 and the new federal law. He said New Hampshire returned to pre-pandemic eligibility verification rules on July 1, including a 10% income compatibility standard and reduced ex parte renewals, which has increased manual work and contributed to a drop in enrollment from about 185,000 in late June to about 178,000 in early September. He also reviewed new child premiums, pharmacy copays, Granite Advantage premiums, and possible Medicaid work requirements, noting that DHS is working with CMS on implementation details and may use a state plan option rather than an 1115 waiver because it would be less expensive and faster. Members asked several questions about the SNAP error-rate rules, the distinction between administrative and client errors, the effect of unpaid copays, and the timing and legal risk of the Medicaid work requirement; no votes were taken on those policy issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, neither agency is responsible for monitoring installation or calculating the installation rate
• And the two agencies should develop a coordinated strategy to increase the installation rate and report
• But I think the agencies, you know, can talk about their plans.
• I think our view here was that the agencies are really the experts in this matter, and that’s why we’
• The other challenge we have with the warrant subjects is they don’t usually live at their address on

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held a work session focused on ignition interlock device compliance and broader traffic safety data. Traffic Safety Commission staff described a Yakima County pilot that provides enhanced probation supervision and support for DUI offenders, reporting that compliance with ignition interlock installation rose from roughly 16%–20% before the pilot to 41% among medium- and high-risk offenders, with barriers including cost, confusion about requirements, transportation access, and communication gaps. JLARC staff presented a statewide preliminary audit finding an overall 41% installation rate, with higher installation rates among higher-income drivers and limited use of financial assistance; JLARC recommended clearer goals for the assistance program and a formal coordination agreement between the Department of Licensing and State Patrol. State Patrol also reported on a Snohomish County outreach pilot that used troopers and door hangers to contact noncompliant drivers, found many were unaware of financial aid, and identified some drivers as physically unable to drive, without vehicles, or on warrant status. The committee then received a broader traffic safety update showing that serious injuries and fatalities rose sharply in recent years before declining somewhat in 2024; impaired-driving fatalities fell 15% from 2023 to 2024, while pedestrian fatalities remained near record highs. The Traffic Safety Commission also highlighted telematics-based research showing that targeted enforcement and visible patrols can reduce speeding, and that anonymized telematics data is being used to analyze speeding and distracted driving patterns statewide and at the corridor level. Members asked about privacy, enforcement methods, and how the data are used, and staff emphasized that the data are aggregate and opt-in through insurance or similar programs. After waiving five-day notice, the committee held a public hearing on Senate Joint Memorial 8016, which asks Congress and federal agencies to treat the Fairfax Bridge closure and replacement as an emergency and to expedite federal review and remove historic-register barriers. Supporters from Wilkeson, Carbonado, recreation groups, and nearby communities testified that the bridge closure has harmed tourism, emergency response, recreation access, and daily travel. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6230, which would require cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest five cents in light of the federal penny phaseout; staff said the Department of Licensing fiscal note showed a $186,000 technology cost, and retail and food industry representatives supported the bill but requested amendments for permissive language, safe harbors, consumer protections, and local preemption. In executive session, staff briefed members on several bills and substitutes, including snowmobile registration fee increases, gender designation record confidentiality, salvaged title transfer streamlining, fish-barrier/utility relocation changes, emergency highway work thresholds, a Traffic Safety Commission public-health-authority proposal, special parking privilege renewal changes, parked vehicle registration enforcement, and oil tanker tug-escort requirements. No final votes or bill actions were recorded in the excerpt beyond the motion to waive notice and the completion of the public hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, when I read through this, I see a lot of report writing with the agency tasked with doing a lot
• through their process sooner than later, the bill allows for those extra dollars to remain in the agency
• Agency Representative Fiser, I see a few other folks on my side that wanted to still ask more questions
• agency<00:14:15.639><c> representative</c> agency representative agency representative fiser<00:14:19.560
• situations trying to get a challenging situations trying to get a permit<00:18:07.760><c> and</c><00

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard extended discussion on House File 8, a bill aimed at changing Minnesota’s permitting and environmental review process. Supporters said the bill is intended to help small and medium-sized businesses and projects that face long delays, and argued that the proposal does not lower environmental standards. They described the bill as modeled in part on provisions used in other states, including a staggered permitting process and an expedited option, and said the goal is to improve transparency, reporting, and real-time public access to permit information. Members raised concerns about whether the bill could also benefit large corporations and major industrial projects, including mining and other large facilities, rather than just smaller businesses. Several lawmakers questioned the use of county-based public input, the lack of tribal consultation, and how the bill would interact with treaty rights and communities outside the affected county. Others argued that the bill could create risks by speeding permits for bad actors or by allowing larger entities to pay for expedited treatment. Testimony also referenced examples from the Minnesota Chamber’s report, with a witness disputing the claim that permitting alone drove companies out of Minnesota and saying those cases involved more complex facts. The committee first considered a motion to lay the bill on the table, but that motion failed on a 5-7 roll call. The committee then voted on a motion to re-refer House File 8, as amended, to the Labor and Workforce Development Committee. That motion passed 7-5, and the bill was sent on to that committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead, we found the agency lacked controls in these areas.
• I'm the chief financial officer with the agency.
• Agency budget requests will be.
• and agencies have been asked to make reductions administratively.
• We may or may not ask for budget increases overall at the agency.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on the accuracy and reliability of OSPI’s school apportionment system. Auditors said the system, which calculates and distributes K-12 funding using multiple feeder systems and a core apportionment engine, is outdated, unstable, inefficient, and at high risk of failure. They reported weak controls over data input, documentation, oversight, and staffing, and said OSPI relies heavily on manual workarounds, a few knowledgeable staff, and vendor support. In limited testing of three districts, the auditors found the system calculated funding correctly for the 2023-24 school year, but they identified nine small input discrepancies tied to differences between budget materials and state law, which they said could compound into larger dollar amounts. The auditors recommended replacing or modernizing the system and noted that delays in doing so prolong risk. OSPI largely agreed that the current platform needs replacement and said it has been working toward a new system for years. Agency officials clarified that the Legislature requested a feasibility study in 2022, that the study found the system at risk of catastrophic failure, and that funding for a replacement is now in the state IT pool subject to OCIO/OFM gate reviews. OSPI disputed the audit’s characterization of the rounding and budget-law discrepancies, saying the issue was an agency rule and implementation choice, not an error that caused under- or over-allocation. Officials also said the current system is too old to easily absorb future formula changes, but that the planned replacement should be flexible enough to handle a new funding model if the Legislature adopts one. Committee members asked about the amount and timing of the $16 million project funding, whether smaller districts face greater risk, how many times data is entered, and whether the funding formula should be simplified. Auditors and OSPI both emphasized that formula simplification is a policy question for the Legislature, not the audit. Public testimony came from one online witness, who urged full implementation of the audit recommendations and modernization of the system. The subcommittee took no formal vote and adjourned after the presentations and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the money's at a different agency.
• </c> so when that transfers to a new agency so when that transfers to a new agency um<00:11:09.120><c
• </c> program would be very very challenging program would be very very challenging especially<00:11:15.360
• </c> challenges and there are frustrations. challenges and there are frustrations.
• Now we understand agency for these two.

Bills: HB1601 , HB1828 , HB1616 , HB1603 , HB1606 , HB1604 , HB1605

Committee: House Agriculture & Food Systems

Keywords: biosecurity, invasive species, Hawaii Invasive Species Council, Department of Land and Natural Resources, appropriation, agriculture, land use, farm dwelling, renewable energy, income qualification, solar energy, geothermal resources, hydropower, agricultural tourism, aquaculture, commercial activity, swine production, Korean natural farming, land leases, Hawaii

Transcript Highlights:

• This program includes visits to the state capital and state agencies to meet with individuals firsthand
• The Coastal Commission's work helps navigate challenges like protecting homes and infrastructure while
• The Coastal Commission's work helps navigate challenges like protecting homes and infrastructure while
• the elected representatives of the people want for that area and goes to an unelected bureaucratic agency
• And it is not a one-size-fits-all challenge.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But it seems like it's always occurring now, and maybe it should belong in an agency budget. Mr.
• We know if the R1s are going to get involved, that's going to raise a whole other layer of challenges
• Chairman, Alice can correct me about the challenge grant. Isn't the challenge grant open now? Mr.
• Challenge grant doesn't allow for any funding. We don't allow the buildings. Okay.
• No, buildings are excluded except for the extension part of challenge grant.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Funding Review Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Review Committee met to receive updates on several higher education issues, beginning with a presentation from the University System on low-completion programs. Deputy Commissioner Lisa Johnson explained the State Board of Higher Education’s proposed policy for reviewing associate through doctoral programs with fewer than 10 undergraduate or fewer than 5 graduate completers over a rolling five-year window. She said roughly 75 to 90 programs could be reviewed, with campuses able to justify continuation, modify, inactivate, or terminate programs, while teaching out current students as needed. Members asked about faculty layoffs, online programs, the basis for the threshold, and whether the process was producing savings; Johnson said faculty were more often reassigned than laid off, and that the effort was aimed at stewardship, workforce alignment, and avoiding future costs as much as immediate cuts. The committee also heard an update from the Department of Commerce on a $750,000 workforce development grant to Turtle Mountain Community College under Senate Bill 2018. Kerry Kraft reported that Turtle Mountain was the only applicant, that the grant is focused on dual credit and workforce pathways in areas such as cybersecurity, medical assisting, welding, public safety, and drone technician training, and that the project was still in early development with about $11,000 spent to date. Members questioned why other tribal colleges did not apply, how many students were participating, and whether the program belonged in the Commerce or higher education budget; Kraft said the college had a goal of 210 students and that prior biennia had met completion targets of 75% or higher. Senator Sickler then presented the Institutions Committee’s work on dual credit, describing it in terms of quality, access, and cost. He said nearly all high school faculty teaching dual credit now meet credentialing requirements, that online delivery has expanded access in rural areas, and that the committee is examining whether current funding creates triple payment through tuition, K-12 funding, and higher education funding. The committee reviewed cost data showing variation among campuses and discussed a possible single subsidized dual credit rate, using $79.57 as a working example, while noting that dual credit hours are currently included in the general funding formula and would need to be treated separately if a distinct rate is adopted. The committee then turned to the draft higher education funding formula bill and related capital fund provisions. Staff walked through technical corrections, a proposed shift to a four-year average for research funding, changes to doctorate incentives, and a discussion of whether UND and NDSU should be aligned with the other institutions’ undergraduate rates. Members also debated the overall fiscal effect of the proposal, with staff estimating that the new formula would increase funding by roughly $45 million compared with current appropriations, or about $24 million above what the current formula would otherwise produce in the next biennium, before any appropriation decisions. The committee did not take final action and recessed to continue its discussion later, including possible revisions related to dual credit and certificate completions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our biggest challenge in Kentucky, whether it's domestic or international, is getting people here the
• Our biggest challenge in Kentucky, has.
• Our biggest challenge in Kentucky, whether<00:04:13.280><c> it's</c><00:04:13.439><c> domestic</c><00
• They are our designated state agency. So they pull down the federal funding that we get.
• funded</c><00:35:58.720><c> statemandated</c> we have an agency funded statemandated we have an agency

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100 on a roll call vote, with Chairman Douglas voting no but the items still passing. It then took up a Kentucky Department of Tourism contract involving the United Kingdom, France, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the effort supports marketing, public relations, and familiarization trips. The committee approved that contract as well, with Chairman Douglas voting yes after expressing support for tourism promotion. Next, the committee reviewed two Finance Cabinet facilities and support services items involving engineering and architectural services for a specialized lab expansion project. Members discussed why the design work was expensive, and the cabinet explained that the project’s pathogen-related complexity required specialized firms. Chairman Douglas said he believed some architectural and engineering reimbursement rates were too high and should be reexamined, but the committee still approved the items by roll call. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office and the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission on an MOA related to substance use disorder funding. Senator Meredith asked how the commission’s work coordinated with behavioral health programs, and staff explained that the commission allocates funds based on applications and includes relevant state officials. The contract was approved. After that, the committee considered behavioral health items: one new 988 chat-and-text contract to expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage, and a Voices of Hope amendment that doubled funding to continue services into the next fiscal year. Officials said the 988 contract would move more chats and texts in-state, and that the Voices of Hope increase reflected continuation of SAMHSA-funded services; both were approved. Finally, the committee reviewed DCBS contracts, including a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit and a Building Bridges Initiative training contract. Members questioned whether the food survey group’s advocacy role created a conflict, but DCBS said the organization was chosen for its statewide network and that the cabinet would receive the raw data. For Building Bridges, DCBS said the program began in the fall and provides training and peer mentorship for residential child care providers, with results still too early to assess. Both items were approved. The last set of contracts, under the State Treasurer for the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities, prompted questions about why the funding flowed through the treasurer’s office and about a sexuality-related capacity-building initiative. Staff explained the treasurer serves as the designated state agency for federal DD Act funds, and that the sexuality initiative is part of a broader five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, system change, and capacity building; the committee then moved to approve those contracts as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:03.200><c> to</c> organizations and local agencies to organizations and local agencies to
• We work directly with a lot of community agencies and nonprofit agencies to look at homelessness and
• </c><00:34:18.639><c> who</c> hear a feedback from the agency who hear a feedback from the agency who
• </c> contract with community- based agencies contract with community- based agencies to<00:35:34.320>
• </c> uh and uh I think our our MedPost agency uh and uh I think our our MedPost agency is<00:46:35.680

Bills: HB1877 , HB2006 , HB2167 , HB2224 , HB1626 , HB1690 , HB2012

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Keywords: LGBTQ+ rights, commission membership, representation, youth involvement, Hawaii legislation, child well-being, financial support, expectant mothers, Hawaii Rx kids program, economic stability, youth homelessness, financial assistance, housing instability, emergency services, transitioning youth, Medicaid, pharmaceutical benefits, human services, healthcare access, public funds

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1877, which would expand the membership of the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission and add a youth seat. The commission’s vice chair supported the bill, saying the commission started with eight members, has growing interest, and would benefit from an odd-numbered board and youth representation. Members asked about quorum, and the commission said it has generally met monthly with only one quorum issue in the past 18–19 months and would work with legislative leaders to have appointments ready if the bill passes. Written testimony included support from Kokopac and one individual in opposition. The committee then took up HB 2006, which would create a cash assistance program for pregnant women and mothers of babies. The Department of Human Services explained current TANF rules, including eligibility requirements, child support cooperation, and work-program participation, and said the state has recently raised benefit levels to the maximum allowed, with a family of three or four receiving a little over $900 per month. Supporters from the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network Speaks, and others argued the bill could reduce child poverty and improve maternal and child health, citing evidence from Michigan’s Rx Kids program and the temporary federal child tax credit expansion. A mother and Oahu Youth Action Board member testified from personal experience about the need for direct support during pregnancy. The committee also noted support from several organizations and about 26 individuals. The committee next heard HB 2167, which would direct the Office of Youth Services to run a pilot program providing financial assistance to homeless youth. The Office of the Public Defender, youth advocates, and several organizations supported the measure, saying even small amounts of help can prevent homelessness and help youth transition safely to adulthood. The Office of Youth Services said it supports the intent of the bill but requested clarification, and committee members discussed whether the program should be run directly or through contracted community agencies, how to set performance metrics, and how to structure the RFP and contract process. The chair indicated the committee wanted to work with the vice chair and OYS offline to refine the bill before moving forward. The committee then began discussion of HB 2224, relating to Medicaid pharmacy benefit management, with testimony generally supporting giving DHS flexibility to negotiate with PBMs.

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll lose the inheritance if you challenge it.
• Hey, if I challenge this or that, So you kind of have some exceptions.
• Hey, if I challenge this or that, and I ask the judge that question, is it going to trigger the no contest
• And I think it also brings clarity to a time that can be very challenging for Missourians when they're
• Indicate that this 420 process is the only way that you can ever challenge whether a no contest clause

Committee: House Financial Institutions

Summary: The Committee on Financial Institutions heard House Bill 2863, which would clarify Missouri’s trust “no contest” clause law under the Missouri Uniform Trust Code. Representative Cameron Parker said the bill was brought forward by the Missouri Bar to clean up and clarify existing law without changing its substance. Testimony from trust and estate attorney John Chalas and the Missouri Bar supported the measure, explaining that it would refine procedures for seeking court guidance, protect nominal defendants, preserve beneficiaries’ ability to challenge bad-faith trustee conduct, and clarify the effect of prior rulings. No opposition was offered, and the hearing on HB 2863 was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2967, which would create the Missouri expungement fund to support technology and system maintenance for expungement-related work, including the statewide court automation system and the Missouri criminal history records system. Representative Parker described the bill as a framework to help handle growing expungement demands, including marijuana-related and clean slate expungements. Committee members asked about funding sources, the one-third allocation among agencies, whether personnel costs could be covered, and whether the fund should include language on interest and biennial sweeps. Eric Cheneings of the Judicial Conference testified in favor, saying the bill is largely a housekeeping measure that recognizes the ongoing, coordinated nature of expungement work and the need for stable funding. He noted that the bill’s proposed dedicated fund would help avoid annual lapses and support continuing maintenance of sealed records, while leaving funding source decisions to the legislature. No one testified in opposition, and the hearing on HB 2967 was also closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• in this bill and I just some challenges in this bill and I just honestly<00:10:47.680><c> don't</c><
• The state of New Hampshire agencies, we specifically hire professionals in that area of expertise, and
• is possibly biased about that agency, not knowing what they're doing.
• So, there's a neutral trier of fact there that doesn't deal with a history of somebody's with an agency
• </c> order, or official agency designation. order, or official agency designation.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not challenging; I'm just asking for clarification. So Madam Chair, Medicaid asked...
• I'm not challenging; I'm just asking for better than care.
• Federal law enforcement agencies? Madam Chair and Senator Block, not to my knowledge.
• And that's the existing law that applies to all agencies, including MVD. Okay. Thank you.
• We would be willing to do that, especially for focusing on the north because of the challenges we face

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 20, a prior-authorization and step-therapy measure, on a committee substitute that had already incorporated many stakeholder changes. The sponsor and agency witnesses described revisions to definitions of chronic health condition and serious mental illness, shorter prior-authorization periods, and limits on reporting requirements. Supporters, including a nurse practitioner and disability advocates, said the bill would reduce barriers to needed medications and urged broader protections for chronic and behavioral health conditions. Health insurance and pharmacy benefit management representatives remained opposed, arguing prior authorization is an important patient-safety tool and objecting to the bill’s limits on its use. Senator Hickey offered two amendments: one to conform electronic prior-authorization response times to existing law by changing seven days to three, and one to restore the prior-authorization period from 12 months to three years. The first amendment was accepted; the second passed on a 5-4 vote. The committee then approved the amended substitute 6-3. The committee next heard Senate Bill 111, which would expand the confidentiality of personal information held by the Motor Vehicle Division to include sex, gender identity, national origin, and immigration status. Tax and Revenue officials explained that the bill would not change what documents MVD collects, but would limit disclosure of sensitive information contained in scanned records unless a statutory exception applies. Members asked about what appears on licenses, what is stored in MVD’s system, and whether law enforcement access would change; officials said criminal law enforcement exceptions would remain in place and that the bill mainly affects public disclosure requests. The committee voted 8-1 to give the bill a do-pass recommendation. Senate Bill 218, funding a Los Alamos Emergency Operations Center, was presented as a regional disaster-response and training facility for northern New Mexico. Los Alamos County witnesses said the project would support emergency management training and coordination across the region and requested $5 million. Several senators questioned whether the county had explored bonding, intergovernmental agreements, or regional cost-sharing, and raised concerns about Los Alamos’s debt capacity and whether the project was truly regional. Supporters said the county has a long capital backlog and that the center would serve communities from Santa Fe north. The committee ultimately voted 9-1 to advance the bill. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 14, a major health professional loan-repayment proposal. Senator Hickey described it as an effort to recruit and retain physicians, nurses, and other allied health professionals by increasing repayment amounts, prioritizing physicians and doctors of osteopathic medicine for 50% of the fund, and allowing service commitments with some flexibility, including part-time work. Supporters from medical, nursing, and behavioral health groups said the bill would help address workforce shortages and make New Mexico more competitive. Committee members asked about the inclusion of physician assistants, the 90-day start requirement, anti-donation concerns, tax treatment, tribal and IHS providers, and whether the 50% physician set-aside would leave enough for other professions. After discussion, the committee voted 10-0 to send the bill forward with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• If a budget deal is not signed into law by July 1st, the start of the new fiscal biennium, state agencies
• by the next round of layoff notices, which will go out early next week. new fiscal bienium, state agencies
• will new fiscal bienium, state agencies will shut<00:01:35.600><c> down.
• </c><00:24:42.480><c> idea,</c><00:24:42.960><c> but</c> this is a a challenging idea, but this is a
• </c><00:26:31.360><c> like</c> competitive grant uh from agency like competitive grant uh from agency

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, uh, my name is Mike Moath, commissioner of the Texas Education Agency.
• So, uh, what I'll start with on slide two is that what we attempt to do at the, at the agency is synthesize
• It, I guess it's, it's a challenge for the district's paying recapture when they are underfunded for
• So, Um, it's a, it's, it is an extremely challenging profession and you need to be prepared for it.
• So, uh, that becomes a challenge for a lot of trustees in the district, so.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• find</c><01:07:32.880><c> finding</c> challenges has been find finding challenges has been find finding
• </c> So I I would recommend that the agency So I I would recommend that the agency or<01:16:59.120><c
• Um, but I think it would be appropriate if someone from the agency wants to come up and comment.
• </c> appropriate if someone from the agency appropriate if someone from the agency wants<01:34:37.120
• Uh data that had been previously agency.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Medical housing and challenges. So, you know, going through the units prior to COVID, we had two.
• So in front of you, The capacity and cost challenges that are associated.
• So the agencies impacted by the current Justice trends are outlined here: the Second Judicial Court,
• But for us, the biggest challenge is the out at the facility.
• We try to get ahead of some of the challenges we're all facing.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• In the thermostat setting, a policy no one would ever think of as discriminatory could be challenged
• Child welfare agencies encourage individuals to seek guardianships of our children through probate law
• Establishing a quorum is a challenge sometimes. ...interrupting.
• Establishing a quorum is a challenge sometimes, and I didn't want to miss the opportunity.
• This bill would be a meaningful step in solving that new challenge that we face regularly.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 987, senate, all