Video & Transcript Research : 'vision screening'
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FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Feb 18th, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
Transcript Highlights:
- like to feel secure that people are still capable of thinking autonomously without the help of a screen
- So I asked him to write a statement since we are really interested in what individuals' vision is for
- And he says, Dear Chair Harrell, my vision for higher education in Florida focuses on ensuring access
- His leadership, his vision throughout our community for Baptist Health has been amazing and significant
- The vision for FIU is to be a top 30 public university.
Bills:
S1694
Keywords:
technology education, digital literacy, artificial intelligence, computer science, high school graduation
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met with a quorum present and first took up CS for SB 1694, which would require technology-integrated postsecondary general education core courses to include digital literacy and competency instruction, including use of artificial intelligence tools, and encourage high school computer science courses with AI content to teach how AI systems use data, their benefits and limitations, and responsible use in academic and personal contexts. The bill drew support from several speakers who emphasized the need for students to understand AI’s capabilities, limitations, ethics, and risks, while one speaker raised concerns about overreliance on AI and the loss of skills. Senator Davis said the bill was a good step toward preparing the future workforce and suggested earlier instruction might be worth considering later. The bill was reported favorably, and Senator Leek asked to be recorded in the affirmative.
The committee then heard a long series of confirmation presentations for trustees at multiple Florida colleges and universities, including Tallahassee State College, USF, UNF, Palm Beach State College, the College of the Florida Keys, Hillsborough College, Miami-Dade College, Florida A&M University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, Florida Polytechnic University, and the University of Florida. The appointees generally emphasized student success, workforce alignment, fiscal responsibility, access and affordability, and institutional growth; several members and senators offered supportive comments, with some asking about specific issues such as Tallahassee State’s NCLEX passage rates and the need for continued improvement. One appointee’s attendance was delayed or skipped for later consideration, but the committee ultimately took a block vote and reported the confirmations favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee.
Finally, Chair Harrell gave a brief overview of the higher education budget, describing a total of $11.9 billion and highlighting increases for workforce education, Florida College System operating funds, workforce development capitalization, the Rural Incentive for Professional Educators program, the USF Center for Nursing, preeminent research universities, UCF’s community school grant program, UF’s Lassinger Center on Learning, the Florida Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment, and campus security through a postsecondary guardian program. Senator Davis asked about a transfer related to the workforce development capitalization and incentive grant fund, and the chair explained it was a transfer of an existing program with new funds being added. There was no public comment on the budget, and the meeting adjourned after Senator Leek requested to be recorded in the affirmative on SB 1694.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- days of delayed care. are essential in preventing vision loss that can occur over the course of just
- Minnesotans deserve the highest level of skill when their vision and facial function are at stake.
- To which training pathway would you trust your own vision or that of your family members?
- Tissue damage, and even permanent vision loss.
- Watch the screen here. If you could unmute yourself, identify yourself for the record, and proceed.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services (7-1-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- So, our vision is a prevention continuum that supports families at every stage, from strengthening families
- So, our vision is a prevention country.
- So, our vision is a prevention continuum<00:05:11.640>
that <00:05:11.840>supports <00:05 - ,<00:14:29.880>
DC, states that follow us on the screen, DC, states that follow us on the - And then you can see those general and federal amounts on the screen. budget reductions.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- It's everything from adult basic ed to preschool to adults with disabilities, early childhood screening
- Programs facilitating early childhood screening, or just those preschool experiences, we really are that
- /c><00:25:45.520>
there <00:25:45.640>on <00:25:45.799>your <00:25:45.919>screen - instructors right there on your screen instructors right there on your screen and<00:25:46.360><
- 01:10:29.480>
dental Health Care needs including dental Health Care needs including dental vision
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Oct 8th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- The statewide totals for our budgeting are on this screen.
- But in essence, the circuits listed on your screen are funded right now at less than 55%, and the $17
- Detention screening operations: so it's under probation and community supervision.
- Detention screening, that's when the youth first come in.
- They have to be screened, and the clinical world is called the biopsychosocial assessment.
Summary:
The committee met for an interim appropriations presentation hearing focused on justice administration agencies. Members heard budget requests from the State Attorney’s Office, Public Defenders, the Justice Administrative Commission, Regional Conflict Counsel, Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, and the Guardian ad Litem Office, followed by a presentation from the Department of Juvenile Justice and a brief public comment from a nonprofit advocate. The chair noted that presentations from the Department of Law Enforcement and the Commission on Offender Review would be moved to a later meeting.
The state attorney requested funding to true up underfunded circuits under the existing formula, staff 14 new criminal judgeships, replace declining VOCA victim-services funding with general revenue, and cover a projected due process shortfall. The public defender asked for a higher starting salary for assistant public defenders, funding to restore balance in circuits where public defenders lag behind state attorneys, and staffing for new criminal judgeships. Regional conflict counsel and capital collateral regional counsel also sought salary adjustments, additional attorneys and case costs, and competitive area differential funding to address recruitment and retention issues. The Justice Administrative Commission requested funding for Florida PALM readiness and implementation and for IT hardware and software replacement; it also relayed a clerks’ request for reimbursement related to injunctions for protection, Baker Act, Marchman Act, and sexually violent predator cases.
The Guardian ad Litem Office said it now has a guardian ad litem for every child in Florida and requested salary increases for senior and managing attorneys to reduce turnover. The Department of Juvenile Justice presented a much larger budget request to expand residential and detention capacity, increase per diem rates, renovate and replace aging facilities, fund the Broward detention center rebuild, improve cybersecurity and the juvenile information system, and cover rising lease costs. Members asked questions about staffing, compensation, detention and residential treatment needs, mental health and substance-use services, and the Broward project timeline. A nonprofit advocate then asked for better data collection on protection orders and related court actions to support funding for domestic violence and recovery services. The committee adjourned without taking any formal votes on the budget requests.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Health Subcommittee - Morning Session Jan 22nd, 2026 at 09:33 am
A&B Health Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- Our vision is to provide a healthier Oklahoma, supporting healthcare training programs, patient care
- These therapeutic screenings are really critical for early identification of disabilities.
- And about 50% of our therapeutic screenings actually result in some kind of service being provided by
- And a great example of that is if we do a screening on a kiddo and maybe they need outpatient physical
- Our therapeutic services screening is up 8% from last year. therapeutic intensives are up 26%.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Education Pre-K - 12 Nov 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- So we track it and monitor, as you can see with the color system that's on the screen currently right
- We track it and monitor, as you can see with the color system that's on the screen currently right there
- So we track it and monitor, as you can see with the color system that's on the screen currently right
- If you have vision of classroom, they’re all sitting in their chairs with their feet on the floor.
- If you have vision of classroom, they're all sitting in their chairs with their feet on the floor.
Summary:
The committee on Pre-K through 12 Education met to discuss chronic absenteeism, district attendance interventions, and related truancy procedures. Chair Simon reviewed Florida’s attendance laws and escalation process, including school-based interventions, child study team meetings, referrals to the Department of Juvenile Justice, truancy petitions, and possible sanctions for parents and driving privileges. The committee heard first from University of Florida professor Dr. Chris Curran, who presented state and national absenteeism data showing chronic absenteeism has risen sharply since the pandemic, with Florida at about 31.4% in 2023-24. He emphasized that absenteeism has multiple causes, including transportation, mental health, housing instability, safety concerns, and family barriers, and said effective responses include early warning systems, multi-tiered supports, mentoring, and community partnerships rather than relying only on punitive measures.
Members questioned Dr. Curran about whether absenteeism is a behavior or barrier issue, whether exclusionary discipline is counted, the need for a uniform definition across districts, and whether more punitive truancy enforcement is effective. He said the issue is usually a mix of barriers and choices, that excused and unexcused absences both matter for chronic absenteeism data, and that root-cause analysis and supportive interventions are generally more productive than punishment alone, though consequences can still play a role.
The committee then heard from Collier County Superintendent Leslie Ricciardelli and district staff, who described a highly structured attendance system built around attendance specialists, social workers, mental health staff, home visits, attendance contracts, multilingual outreach, and frequent parent notifications. They said Collier’s chronic absenteeism rate was about 9% in 2023-24 and credited their success to early contact, community partnerships, and a strong district culture around attendance. Volusia County Schools Executive Director Mike McAuliffe described a newer districtwide attendance initiative that uses automated letters, same-day notifications, data dashboards, MTSS tiers, incentives, and community supports such as bikes, washers and dryers, and faith-based partnerships. He reported Volusia reduced chronic absenteeism from 34% in 2023-24 to a projected 29% and said the district is now seeing about 20% in the first quarter of the current year. No formal votes were taken.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- asserting our position in manufacturing, which supports aviation and aerospace, as you see on the screen
- years, particularly the last five to six years, since the governor has really ushered in a different vision
- As you can see on the screen, for every 100 durable goods manufacturing jobs, 744 other indirect jobs
- When you look at the screen, you'll see that Florida manufacturers export more than the nation's average
- Florida's manufacturing sector, develop Florida's manufacturing brand identity, coalesce and support the vision
Summary:
The Commerce and Tourism Committee met to hear an overview of its jurisdiction and then focused primarily on Florida manufacturing. Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly described manufacturing as central to a more resilient, diversified economy, citing the 2023 Florida Manufacturing Report and noting strong growth in manufacturing businesses, jobs, exports, and workforce programs. He emphasized that most Florida manufacturers are small businesses, that the sector is increasingly STEM- and technology-driven, and that the state’s main challenge is workforce aging and the need to retain trained talent. Members also discussed how to better expose students and parents to manufacturing careers, improve startup access to capital, and strengthen regional manufacturing corridors and transportation links.
Kevin Carr of FloridaMakes said Florida is on track to become a top-five manufacturing state, but warned that productivity, technology adoption, and workforce shortages remain key issues. He said a proposed manufacturing bill would create a chief manufacturing officer and help address workforce, technology, and market-visibility challenges. Bain Beecher of PGT Innovations described the company’s growth and community role, but highlighted obstacles such as affordable housing, insurance costs, permitting delays, supply-chain disruptions, and limited awareness of manufacturing careers among students and parents. Andrew Kosowski of Veterans Metal focused on small- and medium-sized manufacturers, citing labor shortages, the cost of adopting new technology, regulatory burdens, and cybersecurity compliance as major pressures, and urged support for the draft manufacturing bill.
Brian Giuliani of the Port of Tampa Bay outlined the port’s cargo mix, infrastructure investments, and role in moving fuel, construction materials, and manufactured goods, saying the port’s expansion and transloading plans could better connect Florida manufacturers to suppliers and markets. Committee members repeatedly stressed the need to promote manufacturing careers earlier in school, improve public perception of the industry, and reduce barriers to investment. No formal vote was taken during the discussion, but the panelists broadly supported the draft manufacturing legislation and the committee’s focus on manufacturing policy.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
February 24, 2026 - 03:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- It adds infant Krabbe disease to the newborn Representative Gerwig: screening program.
- I lost vision in my left eye and required surgery. My right eye remains blurry today.
- I will say, first of all, you know, you had me at background screening.
- It's so important that we do background screening and make sure that the people that we leave in the
- We don't want to background screen away from the child or the developmentally disabled adult.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, and starting with as soon as we get these pulled up on the screen here. Thank you so much.
- these pulled up with as soon as we get these pulled up on<00:01:10.479>
the <00:01:10.640>screen - <00:20:08.559>
that <00:20:08.799>this your obligation, your vision that this your - vision for US Bank Stadium. vision for US Bank Stadium.
- to continuing to advance this vision to continuing to advance this vision that's<01:31:34.480>
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Commission to Study Stable Tokens (02/10/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- I'll briefly share my screen just so we know what we're looking at. >> All right.
- Um one of the challenges of sharing my screen is that I can't see you.
- of sharing my screen is that I<00:04:51.280>
can't <00:04:51.520>see <00:04:51.600> - Um first of all the vision we're doing.
- How do I do full screen? I'm revealing all my private information right now. >> All right.
Summary:
The meeting began with roll call and approval of the prior meeting minutes, which passed unanimously. Members then introduced the day’s presentations, including one on the Canton network and another on tokenizing real-world assets, with a focus on how blockchain systems can support regulated financial institutions and asset tokenization.
Julie, the director of policy and government affairs at Digital Asset, presented on the Canton network, describing it as a privacy-enabled public blockchain designed for regulated finance. She said tokenization should preserve the same legal and economic rights as the underlying asset, and argued that blockchain-based books and records can shorten settlement times, improve 24/7 trading, and reduce friction in capital markets. She identified three main barriers to institutional adoption of public blockchains: lack of privacy, limited throughput/scalability, and lack of control for compliance purposes such as freezing assets, pausing transactions, and meeting AML/sanctions obligations. She explained Canton’s structure as a public, permissionless network with application-level privacy controls, a global synchronizer, and super validators chosen by vote. She also highlighted current ecosystem participants and use cases, including Broadridge, Circle, and the DTCC’s planned tokenization of U.S. Treasuries on the network.
Members and online participants asked about the relationship between tokenized assets and the Clarity Act, tokenized deposits, safeguards for faster settlement, and whether the platform could be used for municipal or property records. Julie said Digital Asset was not taking a position on rewards, but supported clearer statutory definitions because tokenized securities should carry the same rights as the underlying assets and investors need to know whether a token is a true tokenized security or a synthetic/reference token. She said the company is agnostic on whether the cash leg is stablecoins or tokenized deposits, though it expects both to develop. In response to concerns about rapid settlement, she pointed to institution-level permissions and SEC disclosure expectations as safeguards. She also said the technology could be used for other records, including potentially property-related records, if those assets can be tokenized.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am
Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government
Transcript Highlights:
- So please stick around at the table or on the Teams screen to see if we have any questions.
- moratorium allows the Commonwealth to step back and reassess, recognizing that while it created a vision
- not operationally or financially invested in the towns of people responsible for implementing this vision
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on late-filed bills and formal petitions, with testimony focused mainly on Senate Bill 3026 and House Bill 5294. The committee heard from legislators and local officials about S. 3026, which would give equal voting access in a six-town regional school district process. Testifiers from the Sixth Town Regional Planning Board and local select boards said the current voting setup is unfair because one town can vote during normal polling hours while others have a narrower voting window, and they argued the bill would ensure equal voter opportunity for a major regional school decision amid declining enrollment and financial pressure on the districts.
The committee also heard extensive testimony on H. 5294, a Worthington home rule petition seeking a one-year solar moratorium. Worthington officials, residents, and advocates said the town is facing multiple large-scale solar and battery storage proposals and lacks the staff, legal resources, emergency response capacity, and technical expertise to evaluate them. Witnesses raised concerns about fire risk, groundwater and drinking water impacts, forest and wildlife impacts, decommissioning, and the effect on rural character and farmland, while emphasizing that the moratorium was framed as a planning tool rather than opposition to clean energy.
Several speakers said the state’s solar siting and approval process is too complex and top-down for small rural towns, and that volunteer boards are being asked to manage industrial-scale projects without adequate support. One witness from a statewide group said Worthington’s situation reflects broader problems across western Massachusetts and urged the committee to address solar siting more broadly in a future session. The hearing concluded after testimony and committee questions, with no votes or final actions taken during the meeting.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation Feb 19th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- One, I just want to get on your radar screen, something that I think reflects in the Assembly's point
- And so I just want to get on the radar screen.
- And I just wanted to get that on the radar screen.
- This program that has... has been established with your support, your investment, and your vision are
- I want to get on your radar screen. We are very interested in.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Oct 15th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
Transcript Highlights:
- Our 2030 vision is clear: the State University System of Florida will be the premier public university
- I mean, that was, I think, the vision that our board saw with our graduation rates and elevating our
- we also elevated the goal for the four-year graduation rate for Pell students, and our board had a vision
- And we've seen really good success, and I'm on slide 28—sorry, the screen keeps going in and out—but
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education heard a presentation on the State University System’s new strategic plan, SUS 30, and its legislative budget request. University officials described the plan’s five priorities: One SUS collaboration, elevating student success, operational excellence, world-class talent, and innovative research and economic development. They highlighted Florida’s continued status as the top higher education system in the nation, low tuition, strong graduation outcomes, rising median wages for graduates, and expanded use of the My Florida Future website to help students and families compare degree outcomes and earnings. Members asked for follow-up information on programs of strategic emphasis, mental health and social work workforce needs, wage data over time, and how the system supports innovation moving toward commercialization.
The committee also discussed campus safety, prompted in part by recent events at FSU. System officials said universities and the Florida College System recently held a safety summit to share best practices on building security, threat assessment, and coordination with law enforcement, and they agreed to provide a report back to the committee after the Board of Governors reviews recommendations in November. Senators also raised questions about Pell student support, first-generation student success, and whether liberal arts graduates’ earnings catch up over time. Officials said Pell students are tracked through performance-based funding metrics and that the system’s accountability plans will continue to emphasize access and completion.
A separate update covered line funding for nursing and health care partnerships. Officials said the $6 million appropriation was fully subscribed through 24 proposals from all 10 nursing programs, supporting scholarships, faculty recruitment, internships, simulation, and licensure preparation. They reported over 1,900 new nursing graduates, more than 200 new student slots, over 300 scholarships, and a 92% NCLEX pass rate. Senators asked about expanding eligibility for the program, and staff said that issue would be revisited this year.
The Board of Governors’ legislative budget request totaled $634.5 million and included $295 million for performance-based funding institutional investment, a request to restore and increase the state investment portion to $400 million, $125 million for preeminence funding, $100 million for faculty recruitment and retention, $6.4 million for UF/IFAS extension workload, and $3.1 million for State Fire Marshal inspections. The chair noted that resources are limited and that difficult budget decisions lie ahead. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Select Committee on Pension Policy Jun 17th, 2025
Select Committee on Pension Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Let me pull up the—oh, it's on the screen, never mind.
- Did you have a vision for?
- Did you have a vision for wanting to, when you would think that’s appropriate to do that, potentially
- I didn’t really have a vision on timing, but I’m glad you circled back to this topic because I was about
Summary:
The committee approved the May minutes by roll call vote and then received brief updates from the Attorney General’s office and the Office of the State Actuary. The AG’s office said it would handle legal analysis related to the committee’s work, while the actuary reported that staff were at capacity this summer due to annual valuation work, experience studies, and other retirement system projects, but would have more capacity in the fall. Members also requested access to fiscal note and actuarial materials related to the LEOFF 1 study and related legislation.
The main discussion focused on the LEOFF 1 study, including actuarial funding, a proposed merger/termination/restatement approach, and the possibility of a permanent COLA for Plan 1 members. Several members supported keeping COLA recommendations in the committee’s work, while others raised concerns about whether merging or restating plans could affect benefits, legal status, or IRS tax treatment. The actuary explained that the temporary pause in certain funding rates reflected prior overfunding buffers and assumptions about future investment returns, and said future base-rate funding could still be needed depending on experience.
Members also discussed constituent correspondence, which staff said largely fell into four categories: the LEOFF 1 study, Plan 1 benefits and COLAs, fossil fuel divestment, and ESSB 5357. The committee agreed that divestment concerns are more appropriately directed to the State Investment Board, not this committee. In reviewing the draft interim work plan, members added or adjusted several topics for future meetings, including a July educational briefing on LEOFF 1 history and tax/IRS issues, a September discussion of COLAs, and a December placeholder for excess compensation/pension spiking, pending coordination with the LEOFF 2 Board. The committee then approved the July agenda and adjourned.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 02/19/26
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- This has the largest potential screen.
- But that is of the green screen that we have.
- <00:41:05.440>
And is of the green screen that we have. - And is of the green screen that we have.
- the back and I will turn off my screen the back and I will turn off my screen so<01:49:56.640>
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services Mar 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Before turning to this item, I will just very briefly acknowledge some of the broader context and vision
- This vision is of particular importance for children who have experienced significant trauma and who
- The Governor and the legislature have made very significant investments in this vision, including the
- CWDA supports the vision and goals of the Tiered Rate Structure (TRS).
- And foster care to be screened for eligibility for SSI benefits.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Budget Section Regulatory Division Jun 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- on the productivity, but I would say looking forward, and when I get to our traction EOS and our vision
- It makes you get very crystal clear on your vision.
- It makes you share that vision over and over and over with all the staff.
- The meat of our strategic plan is in the four-year picture on that Vision Traction Organizer.
- And so you have in your packets, and it's easier to see in your packet than it is up here on the screen
Summary:
The committee received a compliance and budget update on Industrial Commission agencies and programs, including the Industrial Commission administrative office, the Oil and Gas Research Program, the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the State Energy Research Center, the Research Technology Park grant program, and related funds. Staff reviewed spending and balances for items such as electric grid resiliency grants, lignite research, enhanced oil recovery, the salt cavern business case study, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members also discussed timing, carryover balances, matching requirements, and how some programs are structured to reimburse projects over several years rather than spend funds immediately.
Karen Tyler of the Industrial Commission described the agency’s administrative budget, the grant management system nearing completion, and the transition to standalone audits and staffing after separating from other agencies. She also outlined the status of active grant rounds across lignite, oil and gas, renewable energy, outdoor heritage, and clean sustainable energy programs. Members asked about the length of active grants, demand for clean energy funding, and the possibility of future grant rounds. Tyler and members also discussed the salt cavern study, the need to better define its commercial value, and the research technology park grant’s cash-match requirement.
Ron Ness then testified on enhanced oil recovery and broader oil and gas market conditions. He said North Dakota production remained steady, but future growth depends on infrastructure, longer laterals, and better use of natural gas and carbon dioxide for EOR. He described the state’s EOR grant round, the use of federal DOE funding to replace part of a state-funded project, and the expectation of additional grant rounds. Members asked about CO2 supply, storage, and the economics of using legacy fields and pipelines to extend oil production and support agriculture and industrial uses.
The committee also heard from Bank of North Dakota President Don Morgan, who reviewed the bank’s mission, governance, lending verticals, disaster programs, and new initiatives. He said the bank is seeing deposit growth flatten and is responding to fintech competition by focusing on liquidity, risk management, and a new payment infrastructure initiative called Rough Rider Coin, which he emphasized is not crypto and not a public coin, but a banking payment rail for North Dakota institutions. Members asked about student loan rates, disaster lending, and how the bank’s lines of credit and balance sheet capacity are affected by deposit trends. Morgan said the bank remains profitable and continues to support agriculture, commerce, and industry through participation loans, student lending, and state-directed programs.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- Now, looking to the future, I don't want to get too tunnel vision that we're going to continue to see
- And I believe Amanda is prepared if we have a motion to put that up on the screen.
- Amanda, do you mind pulling it up on the screen so we have it in front of us? Thank you.
- So, for the members' information, there are the rates on the screen. Thank you.
- So, for the members' information, there are the rates on the screen.
Summary:
The Pension Funding Council met on June 23, 2026, for a work session that began with an overview of the Higher Education Supplemental Retirement Plan (SRP) and a 2025 accounting valuation of that plan. Staff explained that the SRP is a closed defined benefit supplement for higher education employees hired before the 2011 closure, with employer contributions currently pre-funding benefits in institution-specific trusts while institutions still pay benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis. The State Actuary’s office reported that the plan’s accounting position has improved, with combined market assets of about $245 million against $377 million in accrued liability, and that strong market performance since 2022 has increased the asset-to-liability ratio. The office emphasized that this was an educational accounting valuation, not a funding valuation for rate-setting.
The council then received the 2025 actuarial valuation report for the state retirement systems. Actuaries reviewed the recent demographic experience study, noting updated assumptions for mortality, retirement, termination, and salary growth, and said the net impact on most plans was small. They reported that most plans’ funded ratios improved, with all plans at least 94% funded and several at or above 100%, and that contribution rates for the 2027–2029 biennium are generally lower than current rates. They also noted that future rates could be affected by market volatility as deferred gains are recognized over the next few years. During public comment, a representative of the Association of Washington Cities urged the council to consider rate reductions to help local governments facing budget pressures.
In executive session, the council first approved a motion directing the Office of the State Actuary to perform an actuarial evaluation and analysis of each institution’s Higher Education Supplemental Retirement Plan, including institution-specific contribution rates, asset sufficiency, and funding policy options, due by July 1, 2028. The council then adopted the 2027–2029 pension contribution rates based on the 2025 actuarial valuation report. Both motions passed 5-0, with one member excused. The meeting concluded with no further business.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Pension Funding Council Jun 23rd, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Pension Funding Council
Transcript Highlights:
- Now, looking to the future, I don't want to get too tunnel vision that we're going to continue to see
- And I believe Amanda is prepared if we have a motion to put that up on the screen.
- Amanda, do you mind pulling it up on the screen so we have it in front of us? Thank you.
- So, for the members' information, there are the rates on the screen.