Video & Transcript : 'provider credentialing' :
Page 344 of 500
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- This would just provide dental for that.
- This would just provide dental for that.
- Not to another physician or a provider, no, sir.
- And Secretary Harris is here and will provide information if asked.
- House Bill 203 by Representative Walters basically provides to...
Committee:
Senate Health and Welfare
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 6, 2026, with five members present and adopted the April 28 minutes. The committee first heard a presentation on the new Leadership Louisiana Health Fellows Program, a leadership and networking initiative focused on Louisiana health care challenges such as workforce shortages, rural access, chronic disease, and the economic impact of health care. Speakers described it as a cross-sector program intended to build informed leaders and support collaboration with health systems, insurers, providers, LDH, and the Louisiana Hospital Association.
The committee then moved through a series of bills, generally adopting amendments and reporting measures favorably. SB 57, a nutrition/labeling bill, was amended to delay the effective date for the labeling provision until December 31, 2028, and was reported as amended. HB 62 increased membership of the Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission and was reported as amended, and HB 193 adjusted membership rules for the Sickle Cell Commission foundations and was also reported as amended. HB 815 would allow financial institutions to receive death certificates to help close accounts and avoid problems with automatic payments and federal benefit clawbacks; it was reported favorably. SB 405, which had been heard earlier, was reworked to codify LDH’s new Ascend nursing home quality initiative, including short- and long-term quality oversight goals, stakeholder involvement, internal expertise, and reporting requirements; after reconsidering prior amendments, the committee adopted the new amendment and reported the bill as amended.
The committee also advanced several health and human services bills. HB 222 would allow Medicaid dental coverage when needed to clear a patient for another covered medical procedure, and it was reported as amended after LDH said the cost could be absorbed. HB 420 expanded DCFS background-check requirements to cover staff with access to sensitive records, and HB 475 required verbal consent before AI is used to record or transcribe a medical visit; both were reported favorably. HB 246 updated membership of the Children’s Cabinet Advisory Board and the council for grandparents raising grandchildren, including replacing an inactive coalition seat with the state police, and was reported as amended. HB 486 joined Louisiana to the psychology interjurisdictional compact to expand access to psychologists through telepsychology and temporary practice across state lines, and HB 574 updated outdated board names in the Mental Health Advisory Services Board statute; both were reported favorably.
Later, the committee heard HB 949, which would create a licensure framework for radiologist assistants to help address radiologist shortages and improve imaging access, especially in rural areas. Testimony emphasized that RAs work under radiologist supervision and would extend capacity without replacing physicians; the bill was reported favorably. HB 584 required foster children to be provided luggage or similar items instead of trash bags when moving placements, and also corrected language in the Foster Youth Bill of Rights from “privileges” back to “rights” while extending the bill’s applicability to children from birth to age 18; it was reported as amended. The committee also reported HB 1214, which restructures certain LDH state facilities into a more unified system, and HB 1092, a technical renaming/terminology cleanup bill, both favorably. Finally, HB 203 added members from Christus Health System and Xavier University’s College of Medicine to the uterine fibroids commission and was reported favorably before the committee adjourned.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- This is House Bill 316, which provides relative to student literacy.
- We made that available to teachers and to teacher preparation providers.
- So we've been working with the higher ed prep providers or alternative prep providers for a few years
- And what this will allow us to do is provide two types of training.
- for providing training to all of our departments across the state.
Committee:
House Appropriations
Keywords:
literacy, adolescent, teacher education, high-dosage tutoring, reading intervention, workforce development, training programs, Bayou Growth Opportunity, funding, employment, skills gap, qualified employer, credential recognition, government growth limit, recurring revenue, state finance, Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund, fiscal responsibility, legislative sessions, regular sessions
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Health and Mental Health Mar 26th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Health and Mental Health
Transcript Highlights:
- The STARS program ensures EMS providers are not guessing.
- Instead of chaos and guesswork, providers would have a starting point.
- Families shouldn't have to constantly teach providers about children's conditions.
- It is with EMS providers who opt into the program and with hospitals.
- I believe it's on the provider side, the patient side at all.
Committee:
House Health and Mental Health
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Feb 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It's mostly medical providers and their attorneys.
- The court shall make reasonable efforts to provide it.
- This bill benefits families and caregivers by providing clearer guidance and expectations.
- And so we provide it to you for your vote. Thank you, Senator Ruchti.
- But it does not provide the ultimate authority to the Attorney General.
Summary:
The committee first approved the January 21, 2026 minutes, then took up Senate Bill 1240, a major rewrite of Idaho’s guardianship and conservatorship laws. Sponsor Sen. Ruchti and witnesses from TEPI, Disability Rights Idaho, AARP Idaho, the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities, the courts, and professional fiduciaries said the bill modernizes outdated statutes, strengthens least-restrictive alternatives, clarifies notice and hearing rights, adds a new short-term protective proceeding, and improves oversight and protections against isolation and abuse. One public witness raised concerns about ambiguity, agency authority, and possible overreach, but no formal opposition was presented by stakeholder groups. The committee voted unanimously to send SB 1240 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
The committee then considered three cleanup or clarification bills from Sen. Lakey. Senate Bill 1248 repeals the obsolete capital crimes defense fund now that the state has taken over public defense; it passed without testimony and was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1249 updates a statutory reference to current time-zone terminology; it also passed without opposition and was sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1251, which clarifies that the Idaho Attorney General has statutory authority to civilly enforce state laws through declaratory or injunctive relief when no specific enforcement mechanism is provided. Sen. Lakey said the bill is meant as a catch-all and does not mandate action in every case. One public witness opposed the bill over concerns about broad authority and potential conflicts with local control, while Sen. Wintrow also raised separation-of-powers concerns during debate. Despite those objections, the committee voted to send SB 1251 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and the meeting adjourned.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Dec 8th, 2025 at 01:04 pm
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Besides providing library services, they tend to provide early childhood education, after school programs
- So the money provides direct economic development to these villages.
- They provide food through food assistance.
- And again, for every meal that food banks can provide to people, SNAP provides nine.
- But a lack of providers at every level makes this very difficult.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
December 2, 2025 - 01:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- DOES THIS BILL PUT THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN DIRECT COMPETITION WITH PROVIDERS WHO ARE ALREADY PROVIDING
- ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PROVIDED BY HEALTH OR PROVIDED ANCILLARY TO THE INDUSTRY? >> Rep.
- THEY ARE PRIVATE BUSINESSES THAT ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICE.
- NO MASK PROVIDES 100 PERCENT PROTECTION.
- A PERSON OF FAITH WHO GUIDES US AND PROVIDES CARE.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jun 13th, 2025
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We're taking money away from the providers.
- We have a lack of providers already, and this money takes away.
- We have a lack of providers already, and this money takes away.
- Compassion is providing treatment; responsibility is providing supervision and accountability.
- Compassion is providing treatment; responsibility is providing supervision and accountability.
Summary:
The Assembly convened after a quorum call and proceeded to floor business, with the main item being SB 101, the state budget bill. Before debate on the bill, Assembly Member Sanchez offered amendments to redirect funding toward Proposition 36 implementation, wildfire prevention, Medi-Cal provider reimbursement, developmental services, and other priorities; the majority moved to lay those amendments on the table, and the motion passed 43-18. The chamber then took up SB 101 as the budget bill for immediate effect.
Debate on the budget was extensive and sharply divided. Supporters, including Assembly Member Gabriel and several committee chairs, described the budget as a difficult but responsible compromise that protects Medi-Cal, IHSS, child care, housing, wildfire prevention, and other safety-net programs while responding to a projected deficit and federal uncertainty. Opponents criticized the budget as fiscally unsound and argued it relied on accounting gimmicks, did not adequately fund Proposition 36 or wildfire prevention, and continued spending on high-speed rail and Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented immigrants. Several members also raised concerns about gas taxes, provider reimbursement, probation funding, and the impact on vulnerable Californians.
After debate, the Assembly voted on SB 101 and passed it 57-19. The measure was sent immediately to the Senate. The body then announced upcoming session schedules, with no floor or check-in sessions on June 14 and 15, and a floor session set for June 16 at 1 p.m., before adjourning.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you for the opportunity to provide brief comments this afternoon.
- Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments. Okay, we're going to move to public testimony.
- This bill provides certainty on what data centers would pay and includes an automatic exemption from
- Provide weatherization services, how do you think this could impact our energy assistance needs?
- That work together to provide reliable and flexible power.
Committee:
House Energy Finance and Policy
Keywords:
water appropriation, data centers, environmental review, energy conservation, permit application, carbon-free energy, geothermal energy, renewable energy, Macalester College, appropriation, sustainability, solar energy, pollinator programs, license plates, agrivoltaics, environmental sustainability
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- We have done a ton of work on the notice provider.
- hours than can be provided.
- The information was provided later, but never at it.
- The information was provided later, but never at it.
- The information was provided later, but never at it.
Summary:
The Committee on Government met for a presentation-only hearing focused on the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) and related child welfare system issues; no bills were heard or voted on. Chair Blackman opened by stressing that the hearing was for fact-finding and data, not personal attacks, and Director Catherine Patak then presented DCS data on hotline volume, investigations, reunifications, adoptions, guardianships, extended foster care, and placement patterns. She said DCS investigated more than 43,000 cases in 2025, kept the out-of-home population relatively steady, and emphasized that Arizona places a high share of children with kin. She also highlighted a mismatch between the age of children entering care and the availability of foster homes willing to take older youth, and said behavioral health capacity, not DCS alone, is a major constraint. Patak discussed kinship supports, foster care reimbursement increases, the Family First Prevention Services Act, missing youth, congregate care reduction, and the department’s procurement process for group home beds. Members asked about kinship caregiver support, behavioral health access, reunification services, parental-rights terminations, Auditor General findings on notices and documentation, licensing and reimbursement rates, and why some relatives are not approved as placements. Patak said DCS is working on policy guidance, supervisor training, and improved supports, but that provider capacity and other system partners limit what DCS can do.
Representative Gillette then gave a lengthy presentation focused on system design, procurement, funding flows, and congregate care. He argued that DCS, DES, and Access are structurally intertwined, that DCS’s procurement carve-out and capitated funding model create incentives tied to bed space and volume, and that fragmented oversight diffuses accountability. He cited budget figures, contract amendments, and audit concerns to argue that the system is overreliant on congregate care and that decision-making, medical referrals, and placement processes are too vague or too centralized in ways that can harm children and families. Gillette said his findings were based on contracts, interviews, and public records, and he indicated some material would be referred to special counsel. He also raised concerns about placement decisions, due process, and demographic disparities in congregate care outcomes. The chair cut off further questioning of Gillette for time and announced the committee would move on to the next presenter, Vice Chair Fink, with attorneys and other speakers to follow.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Water providers because those are controlled by the PUC.
- Yeah, and I'm, I'm hoping this bill provides that direction.
- You could provide that to us. Yeah, happy to work with you on that.
- The statute provides that our governing statute provides our regulatory authority, and then our board
- We plan on providing water for everyone.
Bills:
HB 1520 , HB 1525 , HB 1530 , HB 1535 , HB 2068 , HB 2091 , HB 2347 , HB 2372 , HB 2805 , HB 2815 , HB 2867 , HB 3154 , HB 3482 , HB 3483 , HB 3663 , HB 3781 , HB 3901 , HB 3915 , HB 4135 , HB 4153 , HB 4158 , HB 4329 , HB 4331
Committee:
House Natural Resources
Keywords:
Angelina and Neches River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, Special District Local Laws Code, local government, natural resources, board of directors, director training, board governance, public testimony, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, ethics, complaint system, general manager, board president, staggered terms, removal of director
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
WAM-CPN, WAM DEFER, WAM DEFER, WAM, WAM, WAM, WAM-JDC Public Hearings 02-26-2025
Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:11:26.680><c> many</c> important to our state provide many important to our state provide many
- </c> you have our written testimony providing you have our written testimony providing comment comment
- </c> requiring that recipients shall provide requiring that recipients shall provide a<00:15:50.319><
- </c><00:39:28.680><c> for</c> that's here that's going to provide for that's here that's going to provide
- </c> and since then uh we've been providing and since then uh we've been providing supplmental<00:49:
Committee:
Senate Ways and Means
Summary:
The committees considered a large number of Senate bills, with many measures advanced either unamended or with technical or substantive amendments. Early action included SB 88 and SB 11 SD1, both passed unamended, and SB 562 SD1 and SB 642 SD1, which were passed with amendments reflecting agency testimony. SB 1133 SD1 was amended to remove duplicative county requirements and clarify tax credit carry-forward eligibility, while SB 1569 SD1 on sports wagering was deferred. Later, SB 933 on nonprofit/federal funding support drew strong testimony from nonprofit and health advocates emphasizing the risk of federal funding freezes and the importance of protecting services such as early learning, domestic violence support, housing, and workforce supports; the committee recommended amendments to define eligible organizations, require reporting, and include the Judiciary. SB 934 and SB 935 were also amended, with SB 934 tying mass transit funding to Honolulu project milestones and SB 935 revising retirement-system language to change “fewer than five years” to “five or more years.”
The committees then took up additional measures with targeted amendments. SB 1033 was amended to clarify that the bill applies to legal entities, not individuals, though members noted concerns about closely held family corporations and asked that the issue be reflected in the committee report. SB 1166, SB 1249, and SB 1256 were advanced with amendments or committee-report notes reflecting concerns from the Attorney General, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and Hawaii Farmers Union United, respectively. SB 1432 and SB 137, both relating to electric utilities, were amended to require retention of covered employees after mergers or acquisitions and to direct the PUC to consider whether proposed transactions further state policy goals. SB 157 on antitrust was narrowed to focus on coordinator conduct in rental housing markets, SB 252 on invasive species received a defective effective date, and SB 336 on defense of state employers and employees passed unamended. SB 536 on the Hawaii Community Development Authority was deferred to a later hearing, and SB 1064 on medical cannabis was heavily amended to authorize cultivator licenses with limits on canopy size, license counts, physician fees, and a special-fund appropriation for enforcement.
In the Ways and Means portion, the committee passed several bills unamended, including SB 19, SB 124, SB 264, SB 345, SB 422, and SB 741 and SB 747 later in the agenda. SB 361 was amended to remove references to the attorney general and delete an appropriation section, SB 438 was amended to redefine buffer zones and landfill-unit language, and SB 441 and SB 494 were amended to blank appropriations and, in SB 494, assign charter-school audit responsibility to the state auditor. SB 659 was substantially amended to promote local procurement, including county-level geographic preferences and higher thresholds for locally sourced purchases, and SB 732 was amended to adjust film tax credit provisions, including the streaming-platform definition and sunset-related language. SB 819 was amended to replace references to “educators” with “teachers.” Throughout, most measures were adopted without recorded opposition, though several members noted reservations on particular bills.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- No services provided. Well, thank you. I appreciate that.
- To provide context, District 191 serves approximately 7,500 students in grades K through 12.
- To provide context, District 191 serves approximately 7,500 students in grades K through 12.
- To provide context, District 191 serves approximately 7,500 students in grades K through 12.
- Prevention provides a supportive response to absenteeism.
Committee:
Senate Education Policy
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- SB 926 provides a reasonable funding methodology for providing local governments with funding to provide
- that Proposition 36 funding be provided to key services and supports.
- SB 1379 provides a solution.
- Action now and to provide the necessary training these workers will need.
- SB 1221 provides relief. Thank you.
Committee:
Senate Public Safety
Summary:
The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing several bills, with members repeatedly noting that votes would be taken later once a quorum was established. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 1446 on parole en banc review and SB 1278 on elderly parole eligibility for certain sex offenses. SB 1446’s author said the bill would give commissioners more discretion in en banc review, make votes public, and allow referral for sexually violent predator evaluation in certain cases; supporters included the California District Attorneys Association, while opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender groups argued it would add confusion, create constitutional and litigation concerns, and duplicate existing safeguards. SB 1278 would exclude certain rape, child sexual abuse, and habitual/serial sex offense convictions from elderly parole eligibility; district attorneys and police chiefs supported it as a victim-safety measure, while civil rights and defense organizations opposed it as unnecessary, costly, and inconsistent with evidence on aging and recidivism. Both bills were discussed but not voted on due to the lack of quorum.
The committee then heard SB 1354, which would bar out-of-state military or law enforcement personnel from entering California to perform such functions without the Governor’s permission. The author and supporters framed it as protecting state sovereignty and limiting unauthorized armed incursions; the committee accepted an amendment removing a criminal penalty and leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. No opposition testimony was offered, and members expressed support, but no vote was taken because quorum was still lacking. The committee also heard SB 926, a bill to fund implementation of Proposition 36. Supporters, including sheriffs, district attorneys, probation officials, and the League of California Cities, said local agencies need funding for treatment, supervision, and administration; opponents argued the proposal was fiscally reckless, lacked accountability, and overemphasized incarceration. Amendments removed a specific appropriation and shifted funding decisions to the budget process, but the bill was also held pending quorum.
Later, the committee heard SB 874, which would require background checks for unlicensed providers of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, create a stakeholder workgroup, and direct DHCS to issue guidance and report on program integrity. Support came from local health plans and behavior analysis providers, who said the bill would improve safety and consistency; there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard SB 1210, which would extend CalGang oversight and due process protections to local gang databases as well as shared ones. Supporters described privacy abuses, racial disparities, and personal harm from inaccurate gang labels; law enforcement opposition argued the bill would impose CalGang standards on informal investigative files and would significantly change the gang definition. The author said the bill closes a loophole and preserves prior reforms, but no vote was taken. The committee also began hearing SB 1019 on creating a California Cargo Thief Task Force, with strong support from BNSF, trucking, shipping, port, and supply-chain representatives who described organized, multi-jurisdictional cargo theft and rail sabotage; no opposition was heard, and members indicated support, but action was deferred pending quorum. The meeting then moved to SB 1217 on a non-consensual intimate image clearinghouse, with the chair and author describing privacy-related amendments and the bill’s focus on helping survivors remove exploitative images; the transcript cuts off as that presentation began.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/25
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> guidelines the program can provide guidelines the program can provide emergency<00:04:22.160><c>
- </c><00:08:20.120><c> and</c> initiating contact with providers and initiating contact with providers
- </c><00:08:54.399><c> to</c> requirements placed upon providers to requirements placed upon providers
- </c><00:09:05.720><c> are</c> serve this is a reality providers are serve this is a reality providers
- </c> can that money can be used to provide can that money can be used to provide more<01:19:02.480><c
Committee:
House Housing Finance and Policy
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, if a student fails the screening, families are provided one-time half-page notice, uh, but they are
- not provided any resources.
- I have also provided some written testimony that provides a little bit more detail so I can get us out
- We've talked about providing data.
- This bill will provide them not only the assessment, but the help.
Committee:
House Public Education
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 2 - 03/27/25
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:01:43.720><c> retirement</c> efficient way to provide retirement efficient way to provide retirement
- </c><00:02:12.040><c> a</c> employers who already provide a employers who already provide a retirement
- </c> determine uh retaliation and provide determine uh retaliation and provide specific<01:16:01.520>
- </c> support advocacy and medical providers support advocacy and medical providers now<01:44:17.199><
- </c> letters of support that were provided letters of support that were provided along<02:16:57.639><
Committee:
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
VA
Virginia 2026 Regular Session
House Select Committee on Advancing Rural and Small Town Health Care Jun 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Or when you have another concern, your primary care provider is like a friend to you.
- Your primary care provider is like a friend to you.
- One was a provider assessment.
- It is not a replacement for the provider assessment.
- Provider productivity is about helping providers adopt digital productivity tools.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities And Communications Committee Apr 7th, 2026
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Transcript Highlights:
- updates to the Legislature on the commission's activities, plans, To provide updates to the Legislature
- So the program provides for those parameters to begin with.
- So the program provides for those parameters to begin with.
- Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony today.
- For geography and economics make telecommunications service a challenge to provide.
Committee:
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications
Summary:
The committee heard several energy, telecommunications, and regulatory bills. SB 929 by Senator Jones would require the California Energy Commission chair to appear annually and report to the Legislature on the commission’s activities, plans, and outreach; it was presented as a low-cost oversight measure and drew no opposition. SB 1138 by Senator Padilla would let load-serving entities trade hourly resource adequacy obligations under the CPUC’s slice-of-day framework to reduce overprocurement and lower ratepayer costs; supporters said it could save tens of millions of dollars, while questions focused on reliability and whether savings would reach customers. SB 913 by Senator Becker would create a clearer pathway for customer-sited distributed energy resources, such as home batteries and smart thermostats, to participate in resource adequacy markets; supporters said it would unlock existing clean capacity and reduce costs, and members asked about reliability, opt-in participation, and compensation for homeowners.
The committee also heard SB 1197 by Senator Niello, which would move California to permanent standard time if federal law allows, with testimony from a sleep medicine physician supporting the health and safety benefits of ending the time switch and opposition from golf industry representatives who urged a broader analysis of economic, recreational, and public safety impacts. Members debated whether the 2018 voter approval required another vote and whether Congress would need to act. SB 1265 by Senator Richardson would codify and expand the Go Green financing program by creating a new fund and allowing broader partnerships beyond current IOU service areas; supporters said it would expand access to clean energy financing statewide. SB 1337 by Senator Richardson would create a working group to coordinate fuel transition policy and refinery-related issues following SB 237, with supporters emphasizing the need for better interagency coordination and some members asking how it would avoid duplicative work.
The committee also considered SB 1191 by Senator Ochoa Bogh, which would extend the California High-Cost Fund A and B programs for rural telephone service through 2033; supporters said the surcharge-funded program is essential for affordable service and emergency connectivity in remote areas. After discussion, the committee adopted amendments where offered and voted all of the bills out of committee, generally on unanimous or near-unanimous votes, with SB 1265 receiving one no vote. Several bills were held on call briefly and then later passed when the committee reconvened, and the hearing adjourned after all listed measures were reported out.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Feb 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Regional school safety centers must provide behavioral health coordination, including training to staff
- Would they be in a position to provide... I'm just going to continue.
- And when possible, providing state-developed and delivered PD provides consistency of the learning that
- The funding is provided by an existing proviso, so that's how this bill has no fiscal note.
- Coordinated partnerships between schools and behavioral health providers are essential.
Summary:
The committee held public hearings on three K-12 bills focused on behavioral health, literacy, and review of education mandates. On House Bill 1634, staff and Rep. Milin Tai described a framework for OSPI and educational service districts to coordinate with state and local partners on behavioral health technical assistance and training for schools, aligned with the Washington Thriving prenatal-to-25 plan. Testifiers, including students and education/behavioral health representatives, said the bill would improve coordination, early intervention, and access to supports for students and families. The bill was presented as having no fiscal note because it relies on existing funding, and testimony emphasized parent and student engagement in the framework.
On House Bill 2636, staff and Rep. Skyler Rude explained that the bill creates a Public Education Review Steering Committee to identify existing policies and funding provisions for JLARC review, with the goal of determining whether they achieve intended outcomes, improve student performance, are cost-effective, and should be maintained, modified, or repealed. Supporters said the bill is intended to help reduce burdensome or ineffective requirements on school districts and free resources for students, while some members questioned how the committee would define policy and whether it could affect future mandates. A representative of the Washington State School Directors Association supported the concept as a meaningful review of unfunded mandates.
The committee also heard House Bill 1295, which would require evidence-aligned literacy curriculum updates after 2027, require comprehensive K-4 literacy programs using structured literacy practices, direct PESB to revise literacy endorsement standards, require literacy-related continuing education, and direct OSPI to develop educator literacy training. Supporters, including parents, educators, students, dyslexia advocates, and district staff, argued that structured literacy is supported by research and would improve outcomes for struggling readers and students with dyslexia. One witness from the Washington Education Association supported the bill but raised concern about adding another continuing-education requirement. Testimony on the bill was extensive and largely in favor, with some discussion about whether the approach would address older students and how it would interact with existing district and ESD efforts.
After public hearings, the committee moved into executive session and approved three gubernatorial appointments for confirmation recommendation. It adopted an amendment to House Bill 1796 and advanced the bill to Ways and Means, passed Engrossed House Bill 2317 to Rules, and adopted a striking amendment to Substitute House Bill 2594 before advancing it to Ways and Means. All actions were taken by voice vote, with no opposition recorded.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Feb 20th, 2026 at 10:30 am
State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections
Transcript Highlights:
- Please come forward and provide your testimony. Please come forward and provide your testimony.
- We are supportive of providing clear standards.
- And then second, it provides the gatekeeping function in. “Give.
- Individuals don't have to provide those certifications.
- I've never heard of that happening, but this would provide no protection.