Transcript Highlights:

• In our early learning silo, we restore the funding for the Gold Seal Program, the Local Match Program
• It provides $82.5 million for Medicaid nursing home rate increases tied to the quality incentive program
• Waste cleanup programs, $166 million. Resilient Florida program, $110 million.
• and other financial aid programs.
• That at our discretion, but the program itself, the lunch program is fully funded this year.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill removes the sunset for the workforce diploma program.
• and take advantage of Pell Grant programs.
• This, in total, decreased the net program fiscal note by $88 million.
• So what are we going to take from what program when we fund this?
• What program are we taking away from?

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the prior day by a vote of 118-1. The bulk of the meeting consisted of lengthy points of personal privilege, including farewell remarks from several outgoing members who thanked family, staff, colleagues, and constituents, reflected on their service, and spoke about issues such as law enforcement, veterans, rural schools, unborn life, kindness, and the influence of money and lobbyists in the legislative process. The chamber also recognized several special guests, including schoolchildren, interns, a law school graduate, family members, and a former representative. The House then took up committee reports and several bills. It granted further conference on Senate Bill 1020. Senate Bill 1019, dealing with hospital finance and related health-care provisions, was amended and passed 110-31 after debate over an amendment on prior authorization reform, physician licensure, telehealth, workplace violence language, and Lyme disease fixes. Senate Bill 1572, a pensions measure affecting MOSERS, EMPERS, the St. Louis police retirement system, and Kansas City police retirement timing, was amended on several technical and policy points and passed 129-14 after discussion of overpayment recoupment rules and retirement system compliance concerns. The House also passed House Committee Substitute for Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1196, which removed the sunset from the workforce diploma program, expanded Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grants, added workforce Pell Grant language, and established a future higher-education funding model subject to later legislative approval. It passed 115-20-4, but the emergency clause failed 2-132-2 after the sponsor said it was included only to speed Pell Grant implementation and was being handled “tongue in cheek.” Finally, the House began consideration of House Bill 2508 with Senate amendments, an LLC-related bill addressing certificates of good standing, court dissolution of LLCs in limited cases, and a St. Louis County property-management affidavit requirement for unresolved ordinance violations.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that will be a growing and pretty big program.
• I basically encourage you to restart the program.
• , it was a great program.
• It is modeled after the NMDOT program.
• programs.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Getting a first level of nursing degree as CTE.
• It's a pilot program to train pilots. I mean, it truly is a CTE program as well.
• Programs like that help me.
• The PED already has tremendous oversight over CTE programs, and by directly funding the CTE programs,
• Programs.

Committee: Senate Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• What program or line item is it in? Mr.
• Vice Chair, and then, yeah, for the state-only program—Senator Finch, which are optional programs for
• For the state-only program, Mr.
• rather, and that's under the Medicaid program.
• and nursing care.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Budget Committee

Summary: The committee first went into executive session and then returned to approve settlements in three risk management cases based on the Attorney General’s recommendation. It then took up JLBC staff items on school facilities, including a 4.8% increase to the school facilities construction cost index for fiscal 27, which staff said would have no fiscal impact in fiscal 27 but would increase costs in later years; the committee approved the item. The committee also favorably reviewed ADE’s annual federal monies report, showing fiscal 26 federal funds of $1.38 billion, up from $1.27 billion in fiscal 25, and reviewed the annual Career and Technical Education District report, which showed 14 districts, $244 million in expenditures, and a 37% retention rate from first to second course, with 79% ultimately earning a credential. Members raised concerns about the low retention rate and asked for more comparative and trend data. The committee then considered a DES transfer within the developmental disabilities budget, moving $3.3 million from the Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid line to the state-only case management line. DES said both lines had shortfalls and that the transfer was needed to address more immediate cash-flow pressure in state-only services; members questioned the growth in the state-only population, the lack of federal matching funds, and whether the state should impose a waiting period for new arrivals. The committee attached conditions requiring DES to send formal deficiency letters to legislative leaders, provide monthly breakdowns of DD populations by diagnosis, and report within 30 days on Minnesota audit findings related to fraud vulnerabilities. It then favorably reviewed the transfer and separately favorably reviewed the annual report on the Arizona Training Program at Coolidge, where the population has declined to about 48 residents and DES is making capital repairs and consolidating buildings. Finally, the committee reviewed a proposed transfer of $650,000 from unused special election funds to the Secretary of State’s cybersecurity budget. The Secretary of State’s office said the money would fund contracted monitoring, endpoint protection, and remediation of identified vulnerabilities during the election year, and members discussed the office’s relationship with federal cybersecurity partners and the need to maximize outside support. Some members objected to the office’s communication and asked for more outreach to federal agencies, while others noted the urgency of the security needs. After debate, the committee gave favorable review to the $650,000 transfer, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we looking at an eight-year program, a 10-year program? What is this thought here?
• Are we looking at an eight-year program, a 10-year program? What is this thought here?
• And the second is an every five-year evaluation of the training benefits program, which is a program
• Only accredited programs are eligible to provide FDA-approved medications.
• I'm a retired nurse who chose to live in Anacortes.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on nine bills. Senate Bill 5872 would create the Pre-K Promise Account to receive philanthropic donations for ECAP preschool slots; supporters, including DCYF, the governor’s office, and early learning advocates, said it would help expand access to high-quality pre-K with a 10-year Ballmer Group commitment for up to 10,000 new seats annually. Senators asked how the money would flow, and staff and witnesses explained it would be governed by an MOU and deposited annually; no vote was taken. Senate Bill 5879 would eliminate two JLARC studies, one on lodging tax reporting and one on training benefits; supporters said the reports were duplicative and burdensome, while the hospitality industry warned against losing transparency, and no action was taken. Senate Bill 6047 would permanently codify various capital budget administration rules, including minor works flexibility and early learning grant changes; testimony focused on technical cleanup and on provisions affecting co-located child care and community projects, with no vote taken. Senate Bill 5988 would authorize the Department of Health to charge fees for accrediting opioid treatment programs, with support from DOH and tribal/nontribal providers who want the state to continue providing the service; no vote was taken. Senate Bill 5923 would allow Island Hospital in Skagit County to qualify as a critical access hospital, with local hospital leaders and residents supporting the measure to improve reimbursement and sustain rural care; no vote was taken. Senate Bill 5832 would raise the Lemon Law arbitration fee from $3 to $6 to fund the Attorney General’s consumer protection work, and the AG’s office, dealers, and the sponsor said the program is effective and underfunded; no vote was taken. Senate Bill 5970 would make permanent the property tax exemption for multipurpose senior citizen centers, with AARP supporting the bill as a benefit to seniors and caregivers; no vote was taken. Senate Bill 5994 would preserve timber tax distributions for school districts that recently had qualifying levies, and forest industry witnesses supported the bill while suggesting a possible amendment for state forest transfer lands; no vote was taken. Senate Bill 5949 would narrow the B&O tax exemption for insurance-related businesses so it applies only to the entity paying the insurance premiums tax, retroactive to 2019; the Department of Revenue and bill supporters argued it restores tax equity, while insurers, health plans, and business groups opposed it as retroactive, ambiguous, and likely to raise premiums. The committee heard extensive testimony on that bill, but the transcript ends with adjournment and no recorded vote or executive action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so we just redefine that to age 26, just to kind of match our JR to 25 program.
• But adopting this definition of homeless youth could impact caseloads and programs that the Office of
• getting young folks back with their families instead of keeping them in homelessness with these programs
• I urge no on this bill. ...instead of keeping them in homelessness with these programs, I urge you no
• It matters to me as a ranking member that we do a program the right way.

Summary: The Human Services Committee met on policy cutoff day and first completed executive action on several bills. Members advanced Senate Bill 6224 on the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Leadership Council to Ways and Means, Senate Bill 6255 on the poverty task force/council changes to Rules, Senate Bill 5977 on DCYF near-fatality reports to Rules, Senate Bill 5979 on in-home dependency procedures to Rules, Senate Bill 6249 on DOC supervision of stalking convictions to Rules, and Senate Bill 6007 on WISIP’s evaluation of child welfare screening tools to Ways and Means. The committee also confirmed gubernatorial appointee Angela Ramirez. Several proposed amendments were debated, mostly offered by Senator Christian, but most failed; one technical amendment to SB 6184 was adopted, and an amendment to SB 6007 removing the risk-assessment portion of the study was adopted before the bill advanced. The committee also moved to waive the five-day notice rule for Senate Bill 6339 so it could be heard that day. The public hearing on Senate Bill 6339 focused on a proposed requirement that a less restrictive alternative (LRA) placement for sexually violent predators be owned and operated by the same individuals. Senator Torres and Senator Banke argued the bill would improve accountability, transparency, and community safety, citing a proposed Kennewick placement near schools and children. Supporters from the city of Kennewick and community members said the current process lacked transparency and that owner-operators should have a direct stake in safe operation. Opponents, including DSHS, the Washington Defender Association, the Office of Public Defense, and Disability Rights Washington, said the bill would create conflicts of interest, be difficult or impossible to implement, and could undermine the constitutional LRA process by making community placement unattainable. Committee members asked about liability, supervision, and the difference between LRA placements and unconditional release, and the chair said more work was needed on the issue. No final action was taken on SB 6339 during the hearing. The chair closed the hearing after noting the committee was at cutoff and that further discussion would continue later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, I have with me Johnny Jessup and his incredible care team, Nurse Monica Saatchi, and his
• Nurse Monica Saatchi and his aide Katie Braggs.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Virginia's longstanding ban on public sector collective bargaining, a relic of Jim Crow implemented when nurses
• When nurses at UVA sought to have a seat at the table.

Keywords: March 14, 2026 - Regular Session Part 4, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a nurse, I know that legislation cannot take into account all the situations that might occur.
• When I was in high school, I had what the school nurse described to my parents as an altercation with

Bills: SB58 , SB101 , SB102

Committee: Senate Children and Youth Health

Keywords: parental rights, minor consent, medical consent, mental health services, school counseling, student counseling, parental notification, opt-in, health records, HIPAA, vaccine consent, adolescent health, youth privacy, confidential counseling, school mental health, reproductive health, pregnancy services, sexually transmitted infections, STI treatment, substance abuse treatment

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 689 should pass, an act relating to the establishment of a Medicaid State Directed Payment Program
• House Bill 689 should pass, an act relating to the establishment of a Medicaid State Directed Payment Program
• They are neighbors, teachers, nurses, doctors, mechanics, farmers, police officers, small business owners
• They are neighbors, teachers, nurses,<00:22:01.320><c> doctors,</c><00:22:02.200><c> mechanics,</c><00
• :22:02.840><c> farmers,</c> nurses, doctors, mechanics, farmers, nurses, doctors, mechanics, farmers,

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened, opened with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum with 96 members present, excused absent members, and approved the journal from March 4, 2026. The chamber also received notice that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 50 and 191 and requested concurrence. Several bills were reported for second reading and committee action, including measures on schools, barbering, virtual currency kiosks, eminent domain, DUI, fire protection, school district reporting, teacher certification, legal representation, cost and fee reporting, dentistry, credit insurance, harmful practices, elections, child welfare, health data, Medicaid directed payments, workplace violence in health care, utilities, solid waste, carbon sequestration, and coal/energy affordability. House Bill 534 was sent to the Rules Committee after receiving prior readings, and House Bill 600 was brought up for third reading and passage. House Bill 600, relating to the collection of delinquent tax bills, was explained as allowing counties to use a consolidated procedure to collect multiple delinquent tax cases more efficiently, requiring county attorney contracts with the Department of Revenue to include that option, and extending to counties some property-tax collection tools already used by cities for delinquent and dilapidated properties. A member from Jefferson raised concerns that the bill could allow foreclosure on occupied properties and warned about potential harm to elderly or low-income homeowners; the sponsor responded that the bill was not intended to remove anyone from their property. The House passed HB 600 by a vote of 82-11, and a clincher was applied. House Bill 662, concerning regulation of low-voltage battery-charged security fences by local governments, was described as a business-friendly measure supported by the Chamber of Commerce and affected industries, intended to define the fences and reduce regulatory uncertainty in commercial and industrial zones without removing local regulation. It passed unanimously, 96-0, and a clincher was applied. House Bill 364, relating to benefits for Kentucky National Guard members, was amended by House Floor Amendment 1 to define Commonwealth emergency pay and hazardous duty for Guard members on state active duty during emergencies. Supporters emphasized compensation for Guard members responding to disasters and emergencies, and members cited recent flood and crash responses as examples of their service. The bill passed 96-0, and a clincher was applied. House Bill 534, an elections bill, was taken up with House Committee Substitute 2 adopted. The sponsor said the bill was the product of work by the Secretary of State, the Board of Elections, county clerks, KREF, and others, and was intended to strengthen election laws. Debate focused on a provision that would remove from voter rolls individuals convicted of felonies even while appeals are pending; one member argued this would disenfranchise people before appeals are resolved and sought to offer an amendment, but a motion to suspend the rules for that amendment failed with only 18 votes in favor. Another member said the substitute was the best version of the bill and indicated he would offer amendments, including changes to the felony-appeal language and campaign finance timing, while also seeking to remove a section requiring federal cooperation. The transcript cuts off during that discussion, before final action on HB 534 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll move on to page 16 for fiscal programs.
• So we'll turn to page 33 with the trustee programs.
• Item B is requesting to add $1 million for the biennium to support a. a training program, grant program
• These programs, especially the mental health programs, juvenile programs, all those things have big returns
• Item 10, Expand Community-Based Programming Capacity.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know why I can't remember that. terms of your program and what you do terms of your program and
• </c> The witness said the separate state aid grant program is the after-the-fact grant program where
• I said comfort dog programs.
• That has been a successful program.
• </c><04:22:50.040><c> highly</c> program that program has been highly program that program has been highly

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I am the farm program manager and I'm an investigator for livestock. >> Okay.
• Um, I<00:18:17.760><c> am</c><00:18:17.919><c> the</c><00:18:18.080><c> farm</c><00:18:18.320><c> program
• manager and I'm an I am the farm program manager and I'm an investigator<00:18:20.320><c> and</c><00
• c><00:51:54.800><c> who's</c> when you separate an animal who's when you separate an animal who's nursing
• So, we have to be careful about nursing.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• DSHS is administering this program.
• But not a new program at all. Thank you. Anyone else? Thank you so much.
• What we have seen from these programs...
• And we know that we don't serve a person is not just one program.
• I'm the director of programs at Emergency Food Network.

Bills: SB5966

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: healthcare, nutrition, medically tailored meals, dietary support, food security, chronic illness, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill removes the sunset for the workforce diploma program.
• and take advantage of Pell Grant programs.
• This in total decreased the net program fiscal note by $88 million.
• So what are we going to take from what program when we fund this?
• What program are we taking it away from?

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and different issues that our staff and our different programs and work cover.
• So they are marketed in two different ways just by being in some of our programs.
• So the Maiden in Oklahoma program is a free marketing program for all producers of almost any product
• So Shelter Creek is a part of the program.
• So, just to give you a better idea of all of the different programs that we have.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program. ...take advantage of this program, there's individuals that have already in the program in
• program, seven states with individual tax deduction or tax credit programs.
• Utah’s school choice program is not the biggest program.
• Indiana has an ESA program. Florida, of course, has a program.
• the age of the program, comparable funding, and comprehensive—” “Program size, the age of the program

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Members from both parties emphasized education as a major issue, while several Republicans framed the committee’s work around school choice and parent empowerment. Senator West and other Democrats stressed protecting public schools, listening to Texans, and considering the effects of vouchers or education savings accounts on school districts and communities. Chairman Creighton laid out Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, describing it as a universal education savings account program modeled on similar programs in other states. He said the bill would provide about $200 million for a universal eligibility pool and additional funding for students with disabilities and lower-income families, with priority weighting for former public school students. He also highlighted anti-fraud measures, vendor pre-approval, criminal background checks, cybersecurity protections, annual testing requirements for participating students, and the use of the Comptroller rather than TEA to administer the program. Creighton repeatedly said the bill is not a voucher and argued it would not take money from public schools, which he said would receive separate historic funding increases. Members questioned Creighton about the 500% of federal poverty line definition, the adequacy of the $10,000 ESA amount, whether the program would favor students already in private school, how microschools and homeschool pods would fit, and whether the bill protects religious liberty and private-school autonomy. Democrats raised concerns about disability protections, 504 students, foster children, public-school funding, open records, and the historical context of vouchers. Republicans generally supported the bill as a way to expand options for parents and students, while also asking about administration, fraud prevention, and data security. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, with EdChoice President Robert Inlow presenting in support of SB 2 and citing the growth and reported success of school choice programs nationwide.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did also see caseload increases in a number of programs, so the full amount of the increased revenue
• health perspective, what would have been best is 10 years ago, when there was a proposal to offer nurse

Summary: Senate and House Democratic leaders said they were pleased with progress before cutoff, highlighting work on immigration/federal-overreach protections and affordability measures. They cited bills such as restrictions on ICE activity in private spaces, employer notice requirements for ICE worksite actions, housing expansion in commercial and mixed-use zones, limits on medical debt interest, senior property tax relief, grocery-store covenant restrictions, preventive health care access, energy relief for low-income households, and the proposed millionaire’s tax, which they said would support tax credits and long-term fiscal sustainability. They also noted strong bipartisan movement on many bills and said they were now focused on processing House bills in the Senate and vice versa. Several stalled or controversial measures were discussed. Leaders said the JR bill did not advance in the House because it lacked votes, though support had grown and stakeholder engagement continued. Child welfare and controlled-substance/endangerment bills were described as still under discussion, with lawmakers saying there were differing views on the best way to protect children and that some proposals were paused for further work. The Senate-side transmission and cultural resources package also ran into procedural and timing problems, with one bill ultimately not moving after a request for a full reading delayed the plan. The governor’s comments on the millionaire’s tax and the updated revenue forecast were a major topic. Democrats said they welcomed the governor’s tax ideas, were aiming to balance meaningful tax relief with a sustainable budget, and saw the forecast as providing some breathing room and more reserve capacity, though much of the new revenue would be absorbed by caseload growth and maintenance costs. They also discussed a proposed employer assessment tied to Medicaid-funded health coverage, saying it was intended to address federal cuts and shifting costs, while acknowledging concerns from employers and nonprofits. Other items included the tort-liability/survivor claims bill, which leaders said would preserve jury trials and damages while creating a claims process, the 0.05 BAC impaired-driving bill, and a pension-related proposal to terminate and restate LEOFF Plan 1, with some related transfer ideas still unresolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this would fill a critical gap not addressed by other programs, ensuring that local housing solutions
• And for the first<01:12:27.120><c> time,</c><01:12:27.440><c> nurses</c><01:12:27.840><c> earning</c>
• <01:12:28.159><c> the</c><01:12:28.400><c> median</c> first time, nurses earning the median first time
• , nurses earning the median nurses<01:12:29.120><c> salary</c><01:12:29.920><c> cannot</c><01:12:30.480
• ><c> afford</c><01:12:30.960><c> a</c> nurses salary cannot afford a nurses salary cannot afford a medianpriced

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all