Transcript Highlights:

• I know this has been difficult, but I wanted to start by thanking our nonpartisan staff, uh, Johani,
• our nonpartisan staff uh Johani uh<00:03:09.920><c> for</c><00:03:10.239><c> all</c><00:03:10.480><c
• c><00:03:34.879><c> the</c><00:03:35.920><c> uh</c><00:03:36.159><c> partisan</c><00:03:36.720><c> staff
• </c><00:03:37.360><c> uh</c><00:03:37.640><c> from</c> to thank the uh partisan staff uh from to thank
• the uh partisan staff uh from Tom<00:03:39.599><c> Brennan</c><00:03:40.080><c> for</c><00:03:40.319

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There are currently a little over 12,000 staff positions at DCF, so 325 vacant positions in the grand
• The audits were, I encourage all of you, we've provided a copy to the committee staff for those of you
• In about the past five years, maybe six, they've increased their legal staff from one to like five.
• Lauren Cassidy is their chief of staff and two of their other team members.
• They did not specifically address community health staff.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee met to review agency budgets, vacant positions, and possible efficiencies across several health and human services agencies. Members were asked to identify savings and potential areas for increased funding, and the discussion repeatedly focused on whether long-vacant FTEs, reversion of funds, and staffing shortages reflect true operational needs or broader budgeting and recruitment problems. The chair and members emphasized that the exercise was intended to help the committee make more informed budget decisions and to identify structural issues that may require legislative action. For the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, members highlighted a large waiting list, including individuals in crisis and children, and discussed whether vacant positions and unspent funds could be redirected to services. Several members raised concerns about delays in crisis applications, the use of paper applications, and whether the issue is staffing, process, or both. For the Department of Children and Families, the presenters discussed vacant positions, the use of staff augmentation in state hospitals, support for expanding behavioral qualified residential treatment program beds, and concerns raised by audits of the managing entities, which showed procurement and financial management problems. They recommended continued oversight, reporting requirements on Medicaid enrollees receiving mental health services through managing entities, and support for the governor’s proposed funding items. Other agencies reviewed included Elder Affairs, where members questioned the need for multiple divisions, CARES assessments, and supervisory overhead; the Department of Health, where vacancies, turnover, pay gaps, and units of rate were discussed as barriers to recruitment and retention; and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, where the presenters said vacancies were tied to new nursing homes and recommended shifting a major priority into general revenue rather than trust funds. Throughout the meeting, members generally agreed that the vacancy review was eye-opening and suggested deeper, possibly separate, reviews of agency staffing, pay parity, and fund reversion practices. No formal votes were taken during the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have majority research staff Jasmine Dominguez. Mr.
• The staff that help support this board are staff at the governor's budget office, and that's sort of
• There's no administrative staff dedicated to it.
• I'm very grateful to Auditor General Perry and her staff.
• go to pay for staff.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So let's have the staff introduction of Second Senate Substitute Bill 5690. Okay.
• For the record, Jennifer Harris, staff to the committee.
• For the record, David Monarchy, staff to the committee.
• I'm committee staff.
• That might be a staff question.

Bills: SB6148

Keywords: regional transit authority, RTA, transit bonds, general obligation bonds, revenue bonds, bond maturity, debt limit, 25-year cap, regional mobility grant program, public transit financing, transportation funding, Washington RCW, bond issuance, municipal finance, infrastructure finance, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We asked the staff and the divisions and regions to bring us recommendations.
• I gave direction to our staff at the start of that process.
• We have a diverse staff in every sense of the word—ideology and background.
• It's some direction to staff, operational direction.
• Yes, everyone, Jeff Olson, staff to the committee.

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session with an update from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Commissioner Dave Upthe Grove outlined DNR’s size and scope, previewed agency-request legislation, and emphasized budget priorities. He said DNR will seek authority to sell ecosystem service credits, better use underutilized water rights with tribal consultation, add a tribal representative to the State Board of Natural Resources, make minor timber-sales efficiencies, and include wildland firefighters in the LEOFF pension system. He also urged restoration of wildfire prevention and preparedness funding, warning that reduced funding would mean fewer firefighters, less forest health work, and less support for rural fire districts. He noted DNR’s wildfire suppression costs are rising and argued prevention spending can reduce larger, more expensive fires. State Forester George Geisler followed with a detailed wildfire season review. He said Washington now responds to fires year-round and also assists other states, including Texas. He described DNR’s use of 31 aircraft, 691 firefighters, and corrections-based crews, and said the agency’s success rate for keeping fires under 10 acres improved slightly from 93.7% to 94.1%. He highlighted increased arson activity, especially around Spokane, and described the Crescent Road Fire as an example of early detection, rapid response, and the use of bulldozers, aircraft, and hand crews to contain a fire to 182 acres with no structure losses. Senator Saldan praised the emphasis on prevention and the use of bulldozers as cost-effective tools. Assistant deputy supervisor Dwayne Emmons then reviewed the trust land transfer program, which was codified in statute in 2023 after being funded through the capital budget for decades. He said more than 130,000 acres of underperforming trust land have been transferred since the 1990s to other public or tribal entities for more appropriate use, while DNR acquires replacement lands to keep the trust whole. He described the current application and ranking process, including tribal input, and said DNR is requesting funding for remaining parcels from the last round, including portions of Tract C, Babcock Bench, and Middle Fork Snoqualmie. In questions, Senator Wagoner raised concerns about DNR’s decision to remove some acres from timber harvest rotation and its impact on local revenue and mills; the commissioner responded that current five-year harvest plans provide short-term stability and that any changes would be explored through the Board of Natural Resources process, not through immediate reductions in supply. The committee then received a history briefing from staff member Jeff Olson on the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission and agency structure. He traced the evolution from early fish and game commissioners to the current commission-appointed director model adopted by voter-approved Referendum 45 in 1995. Olson explained the commission’s statutory duties, membership requirements, and how Washington compares with other states. Chair Chapman said he had no plans to hear a bill this session changing the commission’s makeup, but he expressed personal interest in exploring reforms, accountability, and possibly a future broader coalition or referendum process. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only, and the chair adjourned the session with holiday and New Year’s wishes.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also want to thank you all and your staff for your hard work.
• Wanted to make sure to thank our respective staffs.
• And we could not have done any of those things without our staff, but also without nonpartisan staff,
• Uh, nonpartisan staff Means. All right.
• </c> staff uh for making this all possible. staff uh for making this all possible.

Bills: HF2783

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, so the next survey domain was student and staff safety.
• We have staff that are being injured during some of these crises.
• to train our local districts and staff in those procedures.
• So he had my entire office staff.
• "Staff directives for the next meeting.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to discuss special education funding and retention, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then hearing a presentation from North Dakota United on a statewide special education survey and retention rubric. Presenters described how the rubric and survey were developed from special educator input around four domains: paperwork and due process support, workload, student and staff safety, and paraprofessional management. They reported high levels of stress and burnout, including increased workload, difficulty taking prep and lunch time, concerns about mental health, and widespread difficulty filling special education positions. Committee members questioned the survey’s lack of a general-education comparison group, the interpretation of terms like “rarely” and “sometimes,” and whether results could be broken down further by district size, unit, or disability area. The survey results showed the weakest area was workload, with respondents reporting caseloads increasing without corresponding adjustments, little additional support or compensation when workloads rise, and few negotiated-agreement protections. Paperwork and due process also scored poorly, with many teachers saying they rarely receive dedicated time during the duty day, often work outside contract hours without compensation, and take work home on evenings and weekends. Student and staff safety scored somewhat better but still showed gaps in crisis follow-up, notification about violent behavior, protective gear, and leave options after incidents. Paraprofessional management also drew concern, especially low pay, insufficient staffing, limited administrative support, and the burden placed on teachers to supervise and train paras. Several teachers then testified directly about the practical impact of these issues. One special education teacher described the job as combining instruction, legal compliance, and paraprofessional supervision, often requiring work beyond contracted hours and contributing to burnout and turnover. Another testified that special education case managers are effectively doing three full-time jobs and that the paperwork and caseload demands are a major reason people avoid or leave the field. Committee members discussed whether the problems are primarily local or state-level, whether more funding would solve them, and whether changes to the funding formula or weighting for high-cost students might be needed. No formal vote or action was taken beyond a recess and return to order for the next presentation, which continued the discussion of possible special education study objectives and potential policy directions.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's, you know, staff that are currently working for us. We're authorized.
• were able to reduce caseloads for our staff.
• Staff.
• What that means is those children are then under the care of DFPS staff.
• to hire staff at the facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• They were simply related to staff shortages and the COVID emergency.
• Hiring and retention... ...with little to no benefit for our staff.
• Staff would be applying for unemployment.
• ResHab and staff is important to me because their support...
• They have trained those staff to help...

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approved the February 18, 2026 minutes and then heard House Bill 863 from Senator Julie Van Orden. The bill would reduce Medicaid residential habilitation rates by pulling back funding tied to a 2022 KW lawsuit-related service array while keeping the separate provider rate increase in place, and it would add audit/cost-survey language. Department of Health and Welfare officials said the 2022 funds were originally federal ARPA dollars, that the state share was later expected to be addressed, and that the bill would require third-party audits and broader cost surveys for home and community-based services. Van Orden and the department argued the bill would not eliminate services but would strengthen oversight and provide better data for future rate decisions. Testimony was sharply divided. Providers and advocates said the proposed reduction would destabilize residential habilitation agencies, force wage cuts, reduce services, and risk closures, while supporting the audit and transparency provisions. Several witnesses emphasized that the services help vulnerable adults remain in the community and warned of downstream costs if supports are reduced. A litigation attorney testified that the bill’s findings were inaccurate, saying the KW case remains active, the department is still under court orders, and reductions could trigger further litigation or enforcement issues. Department officials responded that the bill would repeal certain rate-setting rules tied to current cost-survey methods and that the new audits would be phased in. After testimony, Senator Van Orden closed by reiterating that the bill was intended to reduce, not remove, the service funding and to require a third-party audit. The committee then considered motions to hold the bill in committee. A substitute motion to hold House Bill 863 in committee subject to the call of the chair passed on a 7-4-2 vote, and the bill was held in committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• doesn't mean that the board members just kind of go about their business on their own without any staff
• And so the staff that does support this board are staff at our budget office, staff on our policy team
• What did not change during that time was my grants management staff: four staff members for a $12 million
• program, four staff members as it sits here today at a $128 million program.
• It's a challenge with the four staff that I have, but what my director has done, Dr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• IN THE LAST MONTH WE HAVE HAD 71 ASSAULTS ON OUR STAFF.
• THE SECOND KEY IS THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS.
• TO TAKE CARE OF MY STAFF.
• BUT WHAT WE HAVEN'T DONE IS GIVEN OUR ALL TO OUR STAFF.
• THAT'S REALLY WHY I AM SO FOCUSED ON STAFF AND STAFFING.

Transcript Highlights:

• Importantly for Ways and Means, we are funding additional staff for this unit as well.
• </c><00:03:18.800><c> When</c><00:03:18.920><c> you</c> staff for this unit as well.
• When you staff for this unit as well.
• So, this bill would allow for the staff.
• </c> prosecutors to help bring our unit staff prosecutors to help bring our unit staff size<00:03:40.239

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 2354, a bill by Representative Norris to strengthen Minnesota’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and combat medical assistance fraud. Norris explained that the bill, previously part of a broader Human Services program integrity package, was being converted into a standalone measure through the A9 amendment. The amendment made conforming changes and shifted the appropriation to ongoing funding from a special revenue fund, which Norris said was important to secure a three-to-one federal match for additional staff. As amended, the bill would increase investigative and prosecutorial capacity, create new penalties for Medicaid fraud over $100,000 and over $1 million, align prison time with other theft laws, extend the statute of limitations, and include medical assistance fraud under the state racketeering law. Norris and supportive members emphasized that Minnesota’s fraud unit is smaller than comparable states and that the added funding would help hire more staff. Members Pinto and Cleborne, along with Representative Koznick, offered supportive comments about the importance of the bill and broader legislative efforts to address fraud. The A9 amendment was adopted by voice vote, and after discussion the committee voted to refer House File 2354, as amended, to the General Register. The motion passed by voice vote, with no opposition recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to ask our staff really quickly to call the roll, then we'll go to the leader and the director
• On looking at a spreadsheet, it shows the district staff office expense.
• However, all of the district staff Offices, all of that appropriation was from the general fund.
• And then back to district office staff expenses, what percentage of legislators is using DOAs?
• Case Beers, does this district staff office include Rent for the offices.

Bills: HB1

Transcript Highlights:

• and train that staff to or to hire staff and train that staff to be<00:07:15.240><c> able</c><00:07:
• Uh they their families and staff.
• Um you know, with non-partisan staff.
• </c> and again to the non-partisan staff and again to the non-partisan staff who's<01:10:18.640><c> just
• ,</c><01:10:52.360><c> the</c> chairs, the the legislative staff, the chairs, the the legislative staff

Bills: HF4810, HF4597, HF1082, HF3230

Keywords: public safety, radio communications, infrastructure funding, county funding, interoperability, ARMER network, local jurisdictions, HF4597, Minnesota public safety, 911, emergency dispatch, emergency communications, public safety appropriation, Metropolitan Emergency Services Board, PSAP, dispatch interoperability, real-time coordination, emergency response coordination, cross-jurisdictional response, 911 center awareness platform

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to start with a staff briefing from Ms. Lewis. Ms.
• Lily Smith, staff to this committee.
• Lily Smith, staff to this committee.
• Seeing none, staff please announce the vote.
• Seeing none, staff would please announce the vote.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2598, which would create a Salmon Advisory Commission made up of tribal leaders, state agencies, legislators, and local governments to develop recommendations on salmon and steelhead recovery. Prime sponsor Rep. Lekanoff described the bill as a way to bring executive, legislative, and tribal leaders together on salmon recovery and treaty obligations. Staff noted a fiscal note of roughly $35,000 in out years. Supporters emphasized salmon’s cultural and treaty importance and the need for coordinated leadership, while the lone public testifier, Todd Myers of Washington Policy Center, opposed the bill as another statewide layer of bureaucracy and argued that recovery efforts should focus more on local, watershed-level action. The committee noted 10 signed in pro, 886 con, and one other, but no vote was taken on the bill in the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2620, which would repeal the recently adopted Forest Practices Board rule expanding riparian buffers on non-fish-bearing streams and impose new standards for future riparian buffer rulemaking, including an economic viability standard for the timber industry and additional consensus and alternative-analysis requirements. Rep. Dent said the bill was intended to restore communication and collaboration in the forest practices process. Testimony was sharply divided. Tribal representatives and environmental advocates said the rule was the product of a long, science-based adaptive management process under the Forest and Fish framework and was needed to protect water quality, salmon habitat, and treaty rights; they argued the bill would undermine that process and conflict with Clean Water Act compliance. Forest industry and small forest landowner witnesses supported the bill, saying the process had lost trust, ignored alternatives, and imposed significant economic harm on rural communities and family tree farms. DNR and Ecology testified in opposition, saying the rule was based on science and that the bill would weaken water-quality protections and jeopardize HCP compliance. The committee recorded 592 signed in pro, 489 con, and one other, with no vote taken during the hearing. After the public hearings, the committee moved into executive session on five bills. Staff briefly described House Bill 2104, which would make permanent the Aviation Assurance Funding Program for wildfire response; House Bill 2348, a DNR request bill on land and material sales advertising; House Bill 2544, which would require an adjudication process for the Upper Columbia River with a proposed substitute; House Bill 2554, which would repeal Initiative 456 concerning state declarations on tribal natural resource management; and House Joint Memorial 4009, urging federal action on wildland firefighting consolidation. The committee then recessed briefly for caucus and began executive action, starting with a motion to report House Bill 2104 out of committee with a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do any of the committee members have any questions for staff?
• For the record, Ryan Gianni, staff counsel to this committee.
• For staff or perhaps a bill sponsor.
• So that's the question for staff.
• For the record, Maya Aita, staff counsel to this committee.

Bills: SB6087, SB5934, SB5520, SB6017, SB5890

Keywords: children's items, donations, charitable donations, nonprofit, religious organization, public health agency, liability shield, gross negligence, intentional misconduct, car seats, child safety seats, baby formula, diapers, strollers, cribs, playpens, high chairs, used goods, donation centers, Washington RCW

Transcript Highlights:

• And thank you to the staff, again, for the presentation.
• Good afternoon, Chair Bennett and staff.
• As a staff person for the Trust for Public Land, we are implementers.
• Chair and staff.
• Good morning, Chair and staff.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registering or testifying, please contact the committee staff.
• Before we get started, I want to take a moment to introduce my staff.
• There are 29 ports of entry along the border that we have staff at that collect excise taxes for folks
• So we had worked with sunset staff, and I'm gonna interrupt you.
• And ultimately, they developed the, what they call the sunset Staff evaluation in January 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has the same effect for DCFS staff.
• And so we've been sending support staff.
• And so we've been sending support staff.
• So I know we're struggling across the state with staff and getting staff replaced.
• So we have a new staff training model that starts on July 1.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Aging, Children and Youth approved the February 11 minutes and then reviewed a DCFS policy manual update from Director Tiffany Wright. Wright said the changes move internal procedures out of administrative rule into DCFS’s internal procedure manual under an executive order, while also updating terminology, conforming to enacted laws, revising foster family continuing education hours, and removing obsolete requirements. Members asked whether the changes would alter practice; Wright said they were mainly terminology and process-location changes, intended to make the department more efficient and flexible. The committee then accepted the rule review without objection. Wright next presented DCFS quarterly performance data for the third quarter of FY 2026. She reported 8,610 hotline reports accepted, 6,919 assigned to DCFS, 22% of investigations found true, neglect as the most common substantiated allegation, and continued staffing shortages in some counties affecting timeliness. She also reported 3,420 foster care cases, 1,788 in-home cases involving 4,568 children, 72% monthly home-visit compliance, 36% permanency within 12 months, 4.5% re-entry into foster care, and 156 children available for adoption. Members asked about neglect trends, sexual abuse/exploitation data, behavior-related removals, staffing recruitment and retention, training improvements, and whether ACE-style testing should be considered for children; Wright said DCFS is expanding recruitment, retention, and training efforts and was open to further discussion on education-related assessments. The committee also received DCFS’s biannual overturned investigations report, covering July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, which tracks hotline calls, accepted reports, true findings, appeals, and overturned findings by county. A member asked for comparison to the prior year’s report. Major Jeff Drew then presented the Crimes Against Children Division annual report, saying the hotline received 67,987 calls in 2025, 37,986 were accepted for investigation, and CACD handled 6,539 cases with a 28% substantiation rate. Members asked about hotline operator training, qualifications, salary, and whether Arkansas compares with other states; Drew said operators receive a four-week training that includes law, policy, scenarios, recorded calls, live-call monitoring, and evidence-chain/decision-making instruction. Finally, Elizabeth Pooley of the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas reported that the statewide network of 29 CACs and 64 multidisciplinary teams served 13,568 children and families in 2025, up about 3,000 from the prior year, and hosted 259 trainings for professionals. She said funding comes from a mix of state, federal, and community sources, with state funding set at roughly $70,000 to $75,000 per center and not based on caseload. Members asked about funding stability and standards of care; Pooley said CACs follow national standards and Arkansas is developing state best practices. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you ask staff, you know, it.
• </c><00:37:27.800><c> But</c><00:37:27.920><c> then,</c> SAM staff. But then, SAM staff.
• and our internal audit staff.
• Um, and I'm looking at LSOHC staff.
• Um, and I'm looking at LSOHC staff. staff. staff.

Bills: HF3564

Keywords: Greater Minnesota, regional parks, trails, grants, local government, 1183, house