Transcript Highlights:

• And I think that commission staff—it's so helpful to get so many eyes...
• Commission staff did confirm that number in the original study.
• I did ...staff or so I just and I see that recurs.
• I know that the staff have been taking down their list.
• The staff support in this has been really outstanding.

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Xylazine held its final public meeting to review and approve the final draft of its report before submission to the House and Senate clerks. Chair Mindy Domb opened the meeting, noted Senator John Velis’s absence due to National Guard deployment, and the commission approved the minutes from the February 9 meeting. Staff then walked commissioners through the report’s redline changes, which were mostly technical or clarifying edits, along with several substantive updates on xylazine’s public health effects, state and federal actions, harm reduction, emergency response, wound care, and education and training. Commissioners discussed several language changes, including clarifying that xylazine is an active adulterant rather than a bulking agent, replacing “non-clinician” with “non-clinical staff,” and revising references to “hotspots” to better reflect the limits of available data. They also refined recommendations to emphasize oxygenation and ventilation in overdose response, continued naloxone use, referrals to harm reduction services, language access in wound care materials, and clearer discussion of medical consequences and financial costs related to delayed wound treatment. Staff also described the appendices, including a letter from Senator Velis supporting the report and noting he could not vote because of active duty service. The commission then voted to approve the final report, with members present voting in favor and Deputy Director Sarah Ruiz abstaining on the earlier minutes vote. After the report vote, commissioners offered brief remarks thanking staff and one another for the collaborative work and the quality of the final product. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn at 11:11 a.m., and staff said the final report would be submitted to the clerks and posted online.

Transcript Highlights:

• Questions for staff? See, none. Yes, I do have... Questions for staff? Seeing none.
• Thank you, staff. And then we'll go to the bill sponsor. Thank you. Questions for staff?
• Thank you, staff. And then we'll go to the bill sponsor. Thank you. Questions for staff?
• Questions for staff? Seeing none, the bill sponsored. Questions for staff?
• Questions for staff?

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting covered a long list of House bills, mostly on third-read consent calendars, spanning appropriations, elections, education, public safety, water, taxation, and criminal law. Early discussion focused on HB 2148, which would give the legislature authority to appropriate non-custodial federal funds, described by the sponsor as a transparency measure. Other measures discussed included HB 2091 on insurance-related assessment limits, HB 2122 on reciprocity for BTR-related professions, HB 2138 clarifying firefighter workers’ compensation coverage, and HB 2008 barring public school libraries from using public money to pay library professional associations. HB 2110, removed from consent, would allow school governing body members to pray at meetings, with members noting Supreme Court precedent supporting such prayer. Several bills addressed school safety and parental rights. HB 2142 would create a School Safety Center at the Arizona Department of Education and allow up to 10% of school safety program funds for administration, with supporters citing an audit and lack of oversight. HB 2249 would expand the Parents’ Bill of Rights to require notice if a school employee facilitates social transitioning of a minor and to provide broader access to educational records, with penalties discussed for violations. HB 2074 would add mandatory reporting for anyone in a medical facility who knows a partial-birth abortion is occurring, and HB 2144 would allow child support calculations to begin during pregnancy based on a confirmed pregnancy test and related DNA testing provisions. The committee also took up election-related measures. HB 2022 would make permanent changes tied to the federal Electoral Count Act, including moving Arizona’s primary earlier to preserve military and overseas voting access, while keeping petition dates valid and preserving existing deadlines for candidates. HCM 2001 urged federal designation of the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, and HCM 2002 supported a separate congressional effort involving CARE and related federal review and designation processes; members debated the distinction between direct designation and a request for federal investigation. HCR 2001 proposed a constitutional amendment to limit voting to U.S. citizens, require government ID to register, prohibit foreign contributions, and end early voting by the Friday before an election. Water, land use, and tax bills were also reviewed. Measures included HB 2024 on snowpack augmentation as a water supply development project, HB 2029 and HB 2030 tightening how Water Conservation Grant Fund money is used, HB 2053 appropriating $100,000 for updated stormwater recharge mapping, HB 2096 expanding revolving fund uses to address cesspools, HB 2097 capping groundwater withdrawal in irrigation non-expansion areas, and HB 2116 funding potential Colorado River litigation. On the tax side, HB 2016 would remove late-filing penalties when no tax is due, HB 2104 and HB 2105 would protect agricultural property owners from repeated reclassification and require notice of inspections, and HB 2289 would update truth-in-taxation examples to reflect higher home values. The committee also heard bills on criminal penalties and other matters, including HB 2043 on felony murder involving an unborn child, HB 2045 on discharging a weapon near a vehicle, HB 2131 and HB 2132 on weapons trafficking and fentanyl penalties, and HB 2062 authorizing a Buffalo Soldiers memorial in Wesley Bolin Plaza.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> increased staff. increased staff.
• to staff those facilities?
• The additional staff, staff, staff, legal<00:18:16.400><c> staff</c><00:18:17.440><c> will</c><00:18:
• Has your staff doubled or increased at all? No. Our total staff is about 15.
• Our total staff is about 15. &gt;&gt; No. Our total staff is about 15.

Keywords: 00:05 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:42 Department of Corrections 04:14 Department of Juvenile Justice 16:22 Kentucky Law Enforcement Council 28:01 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard budget-related testimony from the Department of Corrections on a request for additional funding to take over operations of the Lee Adjustment Center, including $2.2 million in fiscal year 2027 and $5.2 million in fiscal year 2028. The witness said the governor’s budget did not recommend the request. Members asked about the cost savings of private operation versus state operation, the facility’s role in the department’s long-term goals, and whether the state intends to move toward operating all adult correctional facilities directly. The Department of Juvenile Justice then presented on staffing, recruitment, retention, and facility planning. Officials described recent pay increases and other investments, including a 10% security pay raise in 2021, an 8% state employee raise in 2022, higher youth worker starting salaries, and $4.8 million in 2023 funding to sustain salary increases. They said DJJ has also expanded mental health and medical staffing, improved recruitment efforts, and seen an upward trend in hiring. In response to questions, the commissioner said barriers to recruitment and retention include the Tier 3 retirement system, the structured and restrictive nature of detention work, and competition from other employers. He also said the department wants to move toward a regional model for female facilities under SB 162 and believes those facilities can be staffed. DJJ provided staffing figures showing 1,339 funded positions, with 157 filled and 182 vacant at a January benchmark, and 524 detention positions with 450 filled and 74 vacant. Officials said 30 correctional officers were in basic training and expected to join posts soon. Members also asked about the feasibility of staffing additional facilities and the department’s vacancy trends. Finally, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council testified on a funding request for one attorney, one paralegal, one additional monitor, higher costs for existing monitor positions, and Lexington office rent. Officials said the request is needed to handle a growing decertification caseload and expanded oversight responsibilities as the number of academies has increased to about eight, with more than 2,100 instructors requiring biennial review. They said KLEC currently has one attorney and about 15 total staff, with roughly 180 cases pending, more than 50 complaints left to file, and another 30 cases expected soon. Members asked about current staffing, attorney salary, the number of academies, and the move to a separate Lexington office. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned without a quorum for approving minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff?
• Staff?
• Staff?
• Staff?
• Staff?

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a staff amendment. Do we have a motion on the staff amendment?
• There are staff amendments. Do we have a motion for approval of the staff amendments?
• There is a staff amendment. Do we have a motion for approval of the staff amendment?
• There is a staff amendment. Is there a motion for approval of the staff amendment?
• There is a staff amendment. Is there a motion for approval of the staff amendment?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then reviewed a long agenda of administrative regulations, most of which were advanced with staff-suggested amendments and no objection. Early items included the Kentucky Public Pension Authority’s 105 KAR 1:451, which updates reporting language and adds the contractor wizard for certain employers, and a large package of Board of Veterinary Examiners regulations that revise fees, facility and AHP registration requirements, continuing education, liability, and practice rules. The Board of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology’s compact-related regulation and the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors’ complaint and compact rules were also reviewed and approved with amendments, along with fish and wildlife rules affecting elk hunting, youth deer season length, bear-dog approvals, and foxhound enclosure permits. The committee also approved transportation, education, workplace standards, horse racing, and several health and human services regulations, including Medicaid waiver reimbursement updates and a child care regulation that sends certain large claims to the Office of Inspector General for review. Several agencies briefly explained their regulations when members asked questions. Fish and Wildlife said the elk population is strong and the baiting change is intended to support harvest monitoring and fair chase, while the longer youth deer season was meant to give young hunters more opportunity. The Department of Community-Based Services said the $10,000 and $5,000 claim thresholds were meant to clarify rare cases involving possible fraud or unresolved recoupment issues. The Department of Financial Institutions’ 808 KAR 5:305 drew the most discussion: it would allow certain state-chartered credit unions with a low-income designation to participate in federal programs, including limited non-member deposits and supplemental capital, but the regulation was deferred again amid continued discussions. The Kentucky Bankers Association testified against the credit union regulation, arguing that allowing non-member deposits conflicts with existing statute limiting credit union deposits to members and other credit unions, and that an administrative regulation cannot override that statutory restriction. Committee members heard the agency’s explanation that the proposal is intended to help underserved communities and that the non-member deposit authority would be limited, but no final action was taken because the item was deferred. The meeting otherwise concluded with the remaining regulations being called, discussed briefly, and approved or advanced without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, if MDVA did not have the staff time or other priorities required the staff time, then they simply
• staff time or other priorities required<00:02:56.000><c> the</c><00:02:56.239><c> staff</c><00:02:56.560
• So at officers, bringing in VA staff.
• </c> Military Radio and the DAV and our staff Military Radio and the DAV and our staff to<00:16:59.360
• I mean, right staff helping out on it.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Staff, if I get her aye. The chair is preparing to close.
• Staff, Fett, get her aye. Declare the vote. Declare the vote.
• open the queue, staff.
• Staff, please close the vote. Declare the vote. Staff, please close the vote.
• Seeing no debate, staff, please—so, debate? There will be debate.

Summary: The committee met for a very long session and considered a large number of bills, with the chair noting the meeting would run late and providing pizza and a recess. Early measures included HB 1752, authorizing the AG’s office and district attorneys’ counsel to buy vehicles with available funds, and HB 2961, a tuition waiver for Gold Star recipients; both advanced with strong support, though HB 2961 drew a question about its estimated annual cost of roughly $312,000 to $520,000. Members also approved HB 2967, exempting certain family vehicle transfers from motor vehicle excise tax, and HB 2973, requiring school districts to use a specific accounting code to show how state-appropriated dollars are spent. Several education and transparency bills also moved forward, including HB 3031 on common course numbering, HB 3057 centralizing statutorily required reports with LOFT, and HB 3052 codifying child welfare procedures related to fentanyl exposure cases. The committee then took up a series of public safety, health, and infrastructure measures. HB 3242, which would create a framework for student prayer during non-instructional time, generated extensive debate over whether it was a mandate, whether it could create fiscal and supervision burdens, and whether it raised local control and constitutional concerns; it passed 17-10. Other bills approved included HB 3066 creating a revolving fund tied to rural behavioral health workforce dollars, HB 3086 requiring the DOC director to brief the board annually on budget and inmate deaths, HB 3175 creating an Oklahoma Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, HB 3177 letting the Oklahoma Corporation Commission set salaries for its court reporters, HB 3178 establishing standard depreciation tables for farm equipment, HB 3429 creating an alternative funding mechanism for career tech capital projects, HB 3548 encouraging youth-run small businesses, HB 3638 directing Oklahoma to participate in the federal Summer EBT program, and HB 3704 expressing intent to opt into a federal tax credit for scholarship-granting organizations. Later, the committee approved HB 1590 creating an education infrastructure linked deposit program for charter and nonprofit schools, HB 3759 requiring temporary school allocations to be set before June 30, HB 3831 recognizing and funding Oklahoma Task Force One after federal support declines, HB 3904 unbundling Medicaid maternal health payments, and HB 4092 creating a protected 988 mental health trust fund and related oversight. After a brief recess, the committee continued with HB 1979 creating a task force to study a centralized early childhood office, HB 1983 requiring a middle school course on online scams and digital safety, HB 1242 expanding agricultural sales tax exemptions to deer and elk, HB 1250 creating a law enforcement public safety technology revolving fund, HB 2952 changing motor vehicle excise tax treatment for trade-ins, HB 3404 setting up a prescribed burn association fund, HB 3671 allowing experienced teachers to carry career teacher status to a new district with approval, HB 3920 extending a tax exemption to organ transplant nonprofits, HB 4118 creating a nonrefundable caregiver tax credit, HB 3944 cleaning up the State Finance Act, HB 3969 renaming a correctional facility after a former sheriff, HB 3973 creating a revolving fund tied to reopening Swojack, HB 3975 and HB 3976 creating mechanisms for oversight and potential funding of rural health initiatives, HB 3978 updating the Oklahoma World Jobs Act, HB 3983 serving as a placeholder for tobacco tax negotiations, and HB 3984 creating a mechanism to recruit productive new residents. Most bills passed on strong votes, while HB 1983 failed in committee 13-14 and was not reported out.

Transcript Highlights:

• Alongside a dedicated staff of approximately 1,500 professionals.
• We are collaborating with incarcerated people. to reduce staff sexual violence.
• incidents in the community involving correctional or parole staff.
• Talk to the staff, talk to the population. We also provide a lot of training.
• I will not tolerate staff misconduct at CCWF and they know that.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The staff recommendations have been moved by Senator Durazo.
• The staff recommendations have been moved by Senator Durazo.
• The staff recommendations have been moved by Senator Durazo.
• The staff recommendations have been moved by Senator Durazo.
• The staff recommendation has been moved by Senator Dorazo.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation met with a quorum present and took up a vote-only agenda on a large set of budget issues across corrections, public safety, judiciary, labor, and transportation. One public commenter, Edward Hasbrook of the Identity Project, opposed the DMV state-to-state Real ID proposal, arguing that uploading driver data to the AMVA/Spex database would expose Californians’ information to federal and out-of-state access and should be removed from the budget for fuller consideration. The committee then voted on multiple grouped items in Part A, Part B, and Part C, generally adopting staff recommendations. Most votes passed with either unanimous support or two-to-one margins, with Senator Seyarto occasionally voting no or not voting. The actions were described as reflecting the Senate’s budget plan and were intended to be folded into the broader budget agreement. In closing comments, the chair and members highlighted several issues they want to continue pursuing in negotiations, including privacy and security concerns with the Real ID state-to-state system, rehabilitation and reentry programming, workforce training, and expansion of the Wildfire Mitigation Grant Program. Senator DeRazzo also emphasized support for justice-system programs, public defenders, trauma recovery centers, and workforce initiatives, while Senator Seyarto stressed transportation funding, court capacity for Prop. 36 implementation, and broader workforce and business development. The chair thanked public participants, staff, consultants, sergeants, and the Department of Finance and LAO, and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• At my organization, our staff instead.
• </c><00:05:25.120><c> This</c> Frontline mental health staff.
• mental health staff into this service<00:06:31.759><c> type.
• If a youth act team optional staff.
• Uh will that be more sufficient, staff.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• :21.520><c> individuals</c><00:06:22.000><c> to</c> court staff connect the individuals to court staff
• But we have a great staff.
• But we have a great<00:19:29.520><c> staff.</c><00:19:30.160><c> Um,</c> great staff.
• Um, great staff.
• And so um $15.1 drug court staff.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee received an overview of Kentucky’s specialty courts from Audrey Collins of the Department of Specialty Courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts, along with testimony from Christian County District Judge Foster Cutoff. Collins described the mission and structure of drug, mental health, and veterans treatment courts, emphasizing therapeutic jurisprudence, individualized treatment, judicial oversight, and multidisciplinary teams. She said Kentucky currently has about 2,991 active participants across the three court types, with drug courts in all 120 counties, mental health courts in 17 counties, and veterans treatment courts in eight counties. She also highlighted reported outcomes such as 7,658 entrants and 4,384 successful completions from 2020 to 2024, a five-year average completion rate of 57%, and lower recidivism among graduates than the statewide average. Collins also reviewed funding and costs, saying the department’s fiscal year 2025 budget was $18.6 million, with most of it from general funds, plus restricted and federal funds. She noted spending on personnel, treatment services, and drug testing, and said specialty courts allow participants to remain employed and meet obligations such as child support and restitution. She said participants paid more than $5.4 million in child support, restitution, and other court-related obligations over five years, and that a statewide evaluation by Morehead State University is underway. In response to questions, she said a dip in 2024 collections may have been affected by a case management system overhaul, and that court costs can be waived in some indigent cases while restitution is still required. Judge Cutoff described veterans treatment court and mental health court in Christian County, saying the programs are especially important because of the nearby Fort Campbell military community and because they help veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance use, and related issues. He said the courts rely heavily on staff, treatment providers, and the VA, which helps connect participants to benefits and therapy. He also said mental health court participants receive housing, benefits, and medication support, and that the programs can keep people out of jail and help them stabilize. Committee members asked about the legal basis and history of the courts, and Collins explained that Kentucky’s specialty courts began as pilot programs in the mid-1990s, shifted from federal support to state funding around 2008-2009, and are now largely state funded. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, would staff please do the roll?
• Our goal is to have a stable staff.
• Staff from both agencies are present.
• We are staff to the committee today.
• And I want to thank our staff.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee met on January 7, 2026, approved the December minutes, and adopted an amended work plan. Staff proposed moving the drug take-back program sunset review up to 2026 and delaying the thermal energy network pilot review to 2028, which would free capacity for new studies. Members also discussed active bills that would eliminate two recurring JLARC reports, including one on lodging tax revenue data collection, and the committee adopted the work plan without objection. JLARC staff then outlined new performance measures for the committee itself, covering effectiveness, efficiency, and quality. The measures include member and legislative satisfaction surveys, presentations to other committees, recommendation follow-up, staff retention, on-time report delivery, peer review results, and national recognition. Members praised the effort and did not take formal action, treating the measures as an ongoing process. The committee also heard a proposal to improve JLARC’s review of tax preference performance statements by adding a standard rubric in fiscal notes to assess whether a metric matches the policy objective, is measurable, uses reliable data, and allows enough time for evaluation. Members supported the pilot approach. Staff also described planned changes to public records reporting guidance, including opt-outs for low-volume metrics, better validation, targeted outreach to nonreporting agencies, and a survey of records officers. Two preliminary reports were presented. On ignition interlock devices, JLARC found that only 41% of drivers with a requirement had installed a device, with installation rates rising sharply with income; financial assistance reaches only about 11% of users, and JLARC recommended clearer program goals and stronger coordination between the Department of Licensing and State Patrol. On the drug take-back program, JLARC found that the fee structure tied to operator expenditures limits the Department of Health’s ability to recover oversight costs and recommended public reporting of oversight spending and a statutory change to better align fees with actual costs. Agency representatives generally agreed with the findings, described current coordination and administrative changes, and said they would consider the recommendations. No formal votes were taken on the reports, which will return in final form later in the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• The potential for violence is an issue that TJDD staff, as well as OIO staff face on a weekly basis is
• And I did not have enough staff to ensure adequate.
• So, and I get the, it was how hard to staff during COVID, got it.
• to have staff members actually pick up. up and send over the complaints, meaning that staff who were
• And so our staff undergo pretty intense monthly monitoring.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is just based on the professional experience of instructional staff or pupil service staff; it's
• Professional experience of instructional staff or pupil service staff is to determine where a person
• Some teachers, some pupil service staff can get hung up.
• Some teachers, some pupil service staff can get hung up.
• as instructional staff this year is 83%.

Summary: The committee first disposed of Senate Bill 1291 with a due-pass recommendation to the floor. It then took up House Bill 816, which would adjust Idaho’s career ladder rules for career technical education and pupil service staff so prior relevant experience can count toward movement on the ladder, rather than leaving many employees stuck for years at the same level. The bill’s sponsors and LSO staff explained that the career ladder is an apportionment model, not a salary schedule, and that the change is intended to help recruit and retain educators who come from industry or clinical settings. Testimony in support came from a school psychologist, a school nurse, school administrators, and a CTE representative, all emphasizing shortages, recruitment problems, and the cost of contracting for these services. Despite support, a motion was made and approved to hold HB 816 in committee. The committee then considered House Bill 815, a narrow fix for Answer Charter School’s transportation block grant funding. Sponsor Sonia Galavis and Answer representatives explained that the school began full busing only in 2022-23, but its transportation funding was still being calculated from a small 2010 pilot program, leaving it far below comparable schools despite running multiple buses and transporting students daily. Testifiers, including a parent and the school’s executive director, said the current formula creates an unfair funding gap and limits access for families. The committee heard that the bill would correct an unintended anomaly without affecting newer charter schools, and it voted to send HB 815 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee also adopted an RS for House Bill 816, with a technical correction to the language, and sent it to the second reading calendar. Representatives Diger and Galavis were named to carry that measure on the floor. The meeting then adjourned after completing its work for the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• What are staff instructed to do then?
• </c> that room, then that's what the staff that room, then that's what the staff would<00:12:19.200><
• </c> staff and student? staff and student?
• </c><00:19:32.640><c> being</c> students um about 1500 staff being students um about 1500 staff being
• </c> desire by anybody in the staff? desire by anybody in the staff?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know we've had conversations about it, and also your staff, Matt Bach, and our great staff sitting
• , and a board member should be able to reasonably request time with that staff member, whether that staff
• I want staff to be available to school board members.
• You know, board members shouldn't go direct staff.
• When a board member is talking to staff, staff a lot of times is pressured.

Bills: S0824, S1170, S1620, S1738, S7036

Keywords: school district, real property, inventory, land use, education, video monitoring, safety, special education, parental rights, public education, school board rights, transparency, employment conditions, nondisclosure agreements, educational facilities, student safety, teacher accountability, physical plant, school design, construction standards

Summary: The Education Pre-K-12 Committee considered several K-12 bills and resolutions. SJR 1104, by Senator Massullo, would place on the ballot a proposed constitutional amendment protecting voluntary religious expression in public schools; supporters said it simply codifies existing law and protects student and employee rights, while opponents warned it could entrench religious pressure and exclusion. The resolution was reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 1738, by Senator Yarborough, on educational facilities; an amendment removed crime-prevention-through-environmental-design language and adjusted transparency/safe-space provisions, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. SB 824, by Senator Truenow, was amended into a transparency measure requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to DOE, and it was reported favorably. Appointments in tabs 7 and 8 were recommended for confirmation. The committee then took up SPB 7036, a comprehensive education package by Chair Simon. The bill would expand educational emergency triggers, adjust Title I withholding uses, align charter school rules with school improvement processes, update safety and early learning provisions, expand literacy and math interventions, and revise educator pipeline policies. Members raised concerns about a provision that could allow the state to develop instructional materials; Simon said that section was still being considered and would need guardrails. The committee adopted a motion to submit the bill as a committee bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 1620, by Senator Leak, proposed a “school board members’ bill of rights” giving board members direct access to district documents and staff, limiting district attorneys’ dual representation, strengthening nepotism rules, and prohibiting nondisclosure agreements. Volusia County school board members and others testified both for and against the bill, with supporters citing transparency and accountability and opponents warning about confidentiality, staff pressure, and undermining the superintendent’s authority. The bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1170, by Senator Calatayud, as amended, would allow parents of students in self-contained ESE classrooms to request cameras, with district policies governing review, notice, timelines, and appeals. Parents, advocates, and educators testified strongly in support, while one witness opposed it as an unfunded mandate. The committee reported the bill favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know we've had conversations about it, and also your staff, Matt Bach and our great staff sitting behind
• that staff member grants it or not.
• You know, Board members shouldn't go direct staff.
• When a board member is talking to staff, staff a lot of times is pressured.
• When it's clear that the staff is the staff or the superintendent and they report to the superintendent

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Summary: The Education Pre-K-12 Committee met and took up several education bills. It first heard SJR 1104 on religious expression in public schools, which would place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot to protect voluntary religious expression by students and school personnel. The sponsor said it would codify existing protections and not require prayer or religious activity, while opponents argued it was unnecessary, could be used to advance Christian nationalism, and could make minority-faith students uncomfortable. The committee reported the resolution favorably. The committee then approved SB 1738 on educational facilities, as amended, to require the Department of Education to review school facility requirements and recommend design and construction practices intended to improve safety and accountability. It also approved SB 824 on charter schools, as amended, which shifts the bill to a transparency-focused strike-all requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to the Department of Education. The committee also confirmed appointees on Tabs 7 and 8. A major portion of the meeting focused on SB 1620 on public education, described by the sponsor as a “school board members’ bill of rights.” The bill would give board members broader access to district documents and staff, limit nondisclosure agreements, clarify attorney representation, and strengthen budget transparency and nepotism rules. Supporters said it would help board members do their oversight jobs, while opponents warned it could undermine superintendents, expose confidential student or employee information, and create confusion in district governance. The committee reported the bill favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 1170 on education, as amended, which would allow parents of students with disabilities to request cameras in self-contained classrooms and set district procedures for reviewing those requests. Supporters, including parents and disability advocates, testified that cameras would protect non-speaking and vulnerable students and provide accountability, while one opponent argued the measure should be funded if adopted. The committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also adopted a committee-bill motion for SPB 7036, a broad education package covering school turnaround, literacy, safety, early learning, instruction, and educator pipeline issues, though members raised concerns about a possible state role in producing instructional materials; the bill was reported favorably as a committee bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it applies to DLAs leadership staff, legislative council service staff, legislative Finance committee
• staff and legislative education study committee staff.
• And this does apply to all legislative staff, DLAs, leadership staff, chief clerk staff, counsel, service
• It applies to all legislative staff, so it applies to council service staff, LFC, LESC, the chief clerks
• Now, I will turn it over to Shawna for staff reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• So staff report. So staff report, if you can handle. Involving media and staff with the committee.
• Questions for staff? Proceedings, and there are no amendments. Thank you. Questions for staff?
• Staff will call the roll. Vote. Yeah. Yeah. Staff will call the roll. Taylor? Aye.
• Staff will announce the vote. I mean, staff. Staff will announce the vote.
• Staff will announce the vote. I mean, staff. Staff will announce the vote.

Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 2735, the “Troxel 2” bill relating to establishing a constitutional floor in family law cases. Staff explained that the bill would add legislative findings and intent to Chapter 26.09 RCW, emphasizing parental fitness, equal standing for similarly situated parents, and a duty to cooperate. The prime sponsor and public testifiers largely supported the bill, arguing that family courts too often restrict fit parents’ access to children without sufficient due process and that the bill would restore constitutional protections and reduce conflict. Some testimony also framed the proposal as a way to improve child safety, stability, and outcomes. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then moved into executive session on multiple bills. It advanced bills on garnishment forms (ESSB 5865), child hearsay/testimony rules (SSB 5169, amended), immigration-enforcement policies for health care and related facilities (ESSB 5906, amended), compensation claims for wrongly convicted persons (SSB 5520), reinstating the Indigent Defense Task Force (ESSB 5912), preserving streamlined administrative and land-use review procedures (SSB 6009), authorizing court security threat assessments (ESSB 6086), adding superior court judges in Skagit and Yakima counties (SB 5868), requesting reinstatement of the limited license legal technician program (SJM 8006), expanding personality rights to digital likenesses (SSB 5886), and liability protections for certain children’s item donations, including car seats (ESSB 6087). Several bills were amended before passage out of committee. Votes were recorded on each measure, with most passing on strong bipartisan margins. Notable split votes occurred on SSB 5169 and ESSB 5906, reflecting concerns about balancing child protection, due process, and immigration-related enforcement issues. The committee concluded by thanking staff and adjourned after reporting all listed executive-session bills out of committee with do pass recommendations, some as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• So staff report. So, staff report, if you can handle. Involving media and staff with the committee.
• Staff will call the roll. Vote. Yeah. Staff will call the roll. Taylor? Aye.
• Staff will announce the vote. I mean, staff will call the roll. Taylor, aye.
• Staff will announce the vote. I mean, staff. Staff will announce the vote.
• And staff will call the roll. And staff will call the roll.

Bills: HB2735, SB5868, SJM8006

Keywords: family law, constitutional floor, legal standards, child custody, divorce, SB 5868, superior court, judge, judgeship, judicial vacancy, court administration, Skagit County, Yakima County, RCW 2.08.061, Washington courts, county judges, caseload, docket backlog, judicial workload, elected judge