Transcript Highlights:

• warnings regarding serious adverse health effects, and this observation is difficult to reconcile with claims
• THCIC involves a collection of administrative claims data from over 1,700 Texas hospitals, freestanding
• And many people claim that...
• Many people claim that this is something that has helped them with chronic pain.
• Other LMHAs, again, they're different, and each one has their own uniqueness, and we adjust in order

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So when there is private land that has these gas underneath it, what is their claim to these lands?
• underneath it<01:05:59.520><c> what</c><01:05:59.960><c> is</c><01:06:00.200><c> their</c><01:06:00.480><c> claim
• 01.920><c> to</c><01:06:02.160><c> these</c><01:06:02.599><c> lands</c> Senator Kunesh asked what the claim
• domain—what it is called when land is taken—and how that land would be compensated for, including the claims
• Waters, I think—can you adjust the mic? Sorry. Yeah, sorry about that, Mr. Chair.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] Revisions or adjustments? Seeing none, the minutes are adopted as entered.
• I apologize for my voice; the petri dish of preschool has claimed its most recent victim.
• that were issued did expire, I believe that was about 30 days after they were issued if they weren't claimed
• that were issued did expire, I believe that was about 30 days after they were issued if they weren't claimed
• that were issued did expire, I believe that was about 30 days after they were issued if they weren't claimed

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• zoning districts that do allow for the exact type of starter home that the Builder Association is claiming
• 55.920><c> is</c> that uh that the Builder Association is that uh that the Builder Association is claiming
• 56.840><c> build</c><01:20:57.080><c> or</c><01:20:57.280><c> is</c><01:20:57.719><c> illegal</c> claiming
• they cannot build or is illegal claiming they cannot build or is illegal um<01:20:58.880><c> so</c><
• committed to providing workforce housing options for low- and moderate-income households through zoning adjustments

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning to page two, another significant adjustment is a $3.8 billion reduction in baseline costs for
• There are many ways to adjust the specific proposals and the amounts, but the estimates of the guarantee
• And finally, $1.5 million special funds to support technical adjustments related to the Proposition 63
• The LCFF and SCFF include cost-of-living adjustments well above and beyond what the estimated cost of
• The LCFF and SCFF include cost of living adjustments well above and beyond sort of what the estimated

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning to page two, another significant adjustment is a $3.8 billion reduction in baseline costs for
• There are many ways to adjust the specific proposals and the amounts, but the estimates of the guarantee
• The specific proposals and the amounts are adjustable, but the estimates of the guarantee are reasonable
• The LCFF and SCFF include cost-of-living adjustments well above and beyond sort of what the estimated
• The LCFF and SCFF include cost of living adjustments well above and beyond sort of what the estimated

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the Governor’s May Revision TK-12 education proposals, beginning with Proposition 98. The Department of Finance explained that the minimum guarantee rises by about $6.4 billion relative to the January budget across the three-year window, with a total of $124.9 billion in 2024-25, $125.1 billion in 2025-26, and $127.1 billion in 2026-27. Finance also described revised settle-up and reserve actions, including maintaining a $3.9 billion settle-up balance, increasing discretionary deposits into the Prop. 98 reserve, and ending with a projected reserve balance of about $10.3 billion. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the overall estimates were reasonable but urged the state to fully fund the guarantee and use other budget actions or reserves to manage volatility rather than delay settle-up payments. Members questioned the rationale for leaving the $3.9 billion unsettled, and Finance said the amount reflects revenue uncertainty and the risk of overappropriating Prop. 98 if revenues later fall. The committee then reviewed the Department of Education portion of the May Revision. Finance said the budget adds positions and state operations funding for CDE and includes trailer bill changes affecting community schools, preschool, literacy, special education, charter accountability, and other programs. The LAO highlighted concerns and recommendations on several proposals, including the size and structure of the LCFF increase, the special education base-rate increase, additional one-time community schools funding, literacy coach and math professional development augmentations, the multilingual screener, inclusive college grants, homelessness grants, and the proposed paid pregnancy disability leave mandate. CDE supported the special education increase, paid pregnancy leave, community schools, homelessness funding, literacy and math investments, and preschool parity, while urging more support for county offices of education and clearer definitions and implementation details for some programs. Finance said the paid pregnancy leave proposal would cost an estimated $218 million annually and is intended as a recruitment and retention measure. In the Commission on Teacher Credentialing item, Finance proposed funding for legal staffing tied to SB 848 and educator misconduct cases, plus funding and fee changes to support a statewide transcript review platform for subject matter competency and additional support for the residency technical assistance center. The LAO said it had no concerns with the staffing for misconduct and SB 848, recommended the transcript review platform and related fee increase if the platform moves forward, and recommended rejecting the residency technical assistance center expansion because current funding lasts through 2029. CTC said the misconduct workload has grown over the last five to six years and that AI would be used only as a backstop to human review in the transcript system. Public commenters were split, with unions and education groups supporting special education, paid pregnancy leave, community schools, homelessness funding, and literacy investments, while opposing the $3.9 billion settle-up delay and the reduction to preschool COLA.

Transcript Highlights:

• One, it provides a cost of living adjustment for our teachers.
• Members, this is a cost of Living adjustment for the public employees retirement system.
• First of all, I just want to say I support this bill and I'm glad for a retiree adjustment.
• This bill is also a cost of living adjustment for the police pension fund. It's a.
• Members, this is the same cost of living Adjustment of 0, 3, and 6%.

Bills: HB4030 , HB4031 , HB4032 , HB4033 , HB4034 , HB4035 , HB4036 , HB4037 , HB4038 , HB4039 , HB4040 , HB4041 , HB4042 , HB4043 , HB4044 , HB4045 , HB4046 , HB4047 , HB4048 , HB4049 , HB4050 , HB4051 , HB4052 , HB4053 , HB4054 , HB4056 , HB4057 , HB4065 , HB4067 , HB4071 , HB4072 , SB1144 , SB1145 , SB1146 , SB1147 , SB1148 , SB1149 , SB1156 , SB1157 , SB1158 , SB1159 , SB1161 , SB1162 , SB1163 , SB1164 , SB1165 , SB1166 , SB1167 , SB1174 , SB1175 , SB1176

Committee: Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Keywords: education funding, budget appropriations, public schools, teachers' retirement, early childhood education, aeronautics, infrastructure, funding, sustainability, Oklahoma, mining, operator fees, coal production, noncoal mining, department of mines, revenue, state budget, budgetary reform, financial legislation, fiscal accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• anybody's use of the days, but again trying to incentivize someone who, you know, maybe they could adjust
• anybody's use of the days, but again trying to incentivize someone who, you know, maybe they could adjust
• anybody's use of the days, but again trying to incentivize someone who, you know, maybe they could adjust
• </c><00:24:28.159><c> it</c><00:24:28.480><c> after</c> end, and then be able to adjust it after end,
• and then be able to adjust it after we<00:24:29.039><c> see</c><00:24:29.840><c> uh</c><00:24:30.080

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:11 Legislative Proposal: Representative Blanton: 01:12 • House Bill 220 Approval of Minutes: 10:07 Legislative Proposal: Senator Nunn: 10:24 • Sick Leave Flexibility for School District Employees Adjournment: 34:35, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Representative John Blanton’s bill on pension spiking and Kentucky Public Pension Authority administration. Blanton said the measure would make a prior court-related pension-spiking fix retroactive to July 1, 2022, so employees who retired between that date and the court ruling would be treated the same as those covered by the earlier legislation. KPPPA staff said they did not think the bill would go beyond the Court of Appeals ruling, but noted it could prompt requests from people who retired before July 1, 2022. Members asked about how many retirees might be affected, whether the language was narrow enough, and whether the bill could open the door to additional claims; Blanton estimated roughly 1,000 retirees would need review, with fewer actually impacted. No vote was taken on the bill in the excerpt. The committee then heard Senator Matt Nunn and Scott County Schools Superintendent Billy Parker present a proposal allowing school districts to offer teachers and other employees a voluntary payout for unused sick days. Supporters said the idea could improve attendance, reduce substitute costs and classroom disruptions, help retain younger teachers, and potentially lower long-term retirement-related costs because the payout would not count toward pension compensation. They emphasized the program would be optional for districts and employees, would require teachers to keep at least 15 sick days in reserve, and would be district-funded rather than a state cost. Members raised questions about budget impact, tax treatment, pension effects, and whether the incentive would actually change behavior; the bill sponsor and witnesses said the payout would be taxed like other compensation and would not affect TRS or CERS benefits. One member requested reporting on how the program would be used, and the sponsor said he would be open to adding that. The sponsor also noted a later committee-substitute change would allow use of accumulated sick leave for observance of religious holidays not otherwise on the school calendar, with a personal statement from the employee.

Transcript Highlights:

• course, make sure that learning is happening throughout that entire process, including our own adjustments
• Both of those programs are in the national narrative right now for potential adjustments.
• Both of those programs are in the national narrative right now for potential adjustments.
• And so we're continuing to have to monitor for that and considering that those may be adjusted out of
• in community. making sure that we are being as responsive as we can to those adjustments in communities

Summary: The committee held a work session on the state of Washington’s community and technical college system with State Board executive director Nate Humphrey and Tacoma Community College president Ivan Harrell. They described the system’s open-access mission, 34 colleges serving more than 307,000 students, relatively low tuition, enrollment growth over 12 consecutive quarters, and strong outcomes such as more than 46,000 credentials awarded last year. They also highlighted system initiatives including guided pathways, I-BEST, dual enrollment, tribal partnerships, a new program search tool, and six colleges named Aspen Prize finalists. At the same time, they emphasized major challenges: high rates of student food, housing, and homelessness insecurity; sharply rising emergency aid requests; and federal funding disruptions affecting TANF, BFET, adult basic education, Carl Perkins, NOAA-related tribal work, and several federal grants. Members asked about SNAP impacts, declining high school graduates, and how BFET and TANF interact with other aid programs. The presenters also discussed system priorities such as AI, Workforce Pell, capital planning, nursing accreditation alignment, and the Washington College Grant. The committee then heard testimony from AFT Washington and the Washington Association of Higher Education on faculty and staff conditions in the community and technical college system. Jackie Kane and Suzanne Sutherland argued that classified staff, professional staff, and contingent faculty are essential to student success but face low pay, instability, and weak retention, and they urged lawmakers to protect existing funding and avoid further cuts. They said working conditions for faculty and staff are student learning conditions, and that underfunding leads to reduced services, shortened advising, and program instability. Marina Parr of the Workforce Board presented on federal H.R. 1’s new Workforce Pell provisions and the updated Career Bridge website. She explained that Workforce Pell would allow federal aid for short-term training programs of 8 to 15 weeks, with high completion, employment, and earnings thresholds and a requirement that credentials be stackable and portable. She said Washington is well positioned to implement the program because of its existing eligible training provider evaluation system and Career Bridge, which now has a redesigned public portal, digital portfolios, multilingual access, and performance data on programs. Members asked about rulemaking, possible gaps in state services, and how the wage and completion standards would be applied. The Washington Student Achievement Council then briefed the committee on the new Washington Completes FAFSA campaign created by executive order. Staff described an advisory board with statewide representation, a pilot that used microgrants and other supports at 25 priority schools, and a new goal of 46,000 FAFSA or WASFA completions this year. They reported that completion rates were tracking slightly ahead of last year, with 24% of high school seniors having completed a FAFSA by the end of November, and they showcased a public dashboard with subgroup data and a WIAA-based leaderboard. Members asked about outreach to rural and homeschool students, legislative communications, Pierce County representation, and barriers to FAFSA completion, and staff said they would provide toolkits and continue expanding outreach. The committee then began hearing from student presenters about affordability, access, equity, and student experience.

Transcript Highlights:

• They claimed the apartment was infiltrated by members of a Venezuelan gang.
• She claims she's taken murderers and rapists off our streets.
• They claim to be the party of the worker.
• </c><09:11:10.800><c> students</c> You cannot claim to support students You cannot claim to support students
• claims they are<09:15:37.680><c> protecting.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In doing the basic allotment, we can adjust, and we can fill those holes as needed.
• by all of our existing student-centered weights, and it adds a vehicle for future inflationary adjustments
• For Mildred ISD, that adjustment would allow us to give every one of our employees a raise.
• We don't have an automatic basic allotment adjustment for inflation or enrollment-based funding.
• We don't have an automatic basic allotment adjustment for inflation or enrollment-based funding.

Bills: HB2

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language. Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• court to collect the money small claims court to collect the money they're<00:14:35.680><c> owed?
• And to think that it's reasonable that they have to go to small claims every time somebody doesn't pay
• And to think that it's reasonable that they have to go to small claims every time somebody doesn't pay
• </c><02:25:21.040><c> court</c> small claims court small claims court &gt;&gt; and<02:25:22.240><c> get
• </c><02:25:36.000><c> court</c> them even with a small claims court them even with a small claims court

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• CAM claims that the utility of the IHRA working definition and its examples lies in building mainstream
• goal is to undergard suppressive If your goal is to undergard suppressive legal<01:03:26.000><c> claims
• </c><01:03:26.400><c> about</c><01:03:26.720><c> post-secondary</c> legal claims about post-secondary
• legal claims about post-secondary students<01:03:27.839><c> and</c><01:03:28.079><c> academics</c><01
• Among these are claiming that the existence of Israel is a racist endeavor.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 77, which would allow comprehensive universities to pursue doctoral programs under a new approval process and, in the original bill, would also change who may serve on the EPSB board for small colleges and universities. The sponsor and Council on Postsecondary Education representative explained that the committee substitute removed the current statutory prohibition on comprehensive universities offering certain doctoral degrees, but added eligibility guardrails: a 77% first-to-second-year retention rate, a 56% six-year graduation rate, and three months of unrestricted cash reserves. They said the thresholds were based on national data placing institutions in roughly the top quartile, and that CPE would still review proposals for mission fit, workforce need, fiscal impact, and, where applicable, programmatic accreditation and legislative appropriations. EKU President David McFaden supported creating a pathway for comprehensive universities, said Kentucky is unusual in having an explicit statutory prohibition, and urged the committee to keep the standards attainable and durable. The committee approved the bill and adopted a title amendment, with the motion passing unanimously. The committee then heard Senate Joint Resolution 55, which addresses antisemitism on postsecondary campuses. Senator Tichenor said the resolution responds to a rise in antisemitic incidents after October 7, 2023, and would require campuses to notify students each semester of Title VI rights, complaint procedures, existing harassment policies, and available Jewish student resources. It would also direct campuses to disband student organizations found to provide material support to known terrorist organizations, report such matters to law enforcement, and collect and report antisemitism data to CPE for posting on its website. A guest speaker from the Kentucky Jewish Council described a sharp increase in reported incidents, including harassment, threats, vandalism, and hostile campus activity, and argued that schools have often done too little to respond. He said the resolution was amended to protect free speech while ensuring Jewish students receive the same protections as other protected groups. The transcript ends while testimony on the resolution was still underway, before any committee vote on SJR 55.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> First reading Senate File number 4282, an act relating to forecast adjustments.
• number 4282, an act relating<00:11:04.640><c> to</c><00:11:04.800><c> forecast</c><00:11:05.520><c> adjustments
• </c><00:11:06.720><c> The</c> relating to forecast adjustments.
• The relating to forecast adjustments.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But if you back out or adjust for Title I, Part C, and Title III reimbursement, then, you know, it comes
• But if you back out or adjust for Title I, Part C, and Title III reimbursement, then, you know, it comes
• The high number, 7,500 students, $82.5 million a year, over 10 years, adjusting for Title I, Title III
• The high number, 7,500 students, $82.5 million a year, over 10 years, adjusting for Title I and Title

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The committee began by recognizing and thanking page Caleb Williams for his service, including brief remarks and a song, before moving to approval of the minutes from March 12, 16, 17, and 18, 2026. All four sets of minutes were approved by voice vote. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1420, which would redirect about 1% of the state health insurance premium tax into a fund for medical education, with the goal of stabilizing funding for undergraduate medical education and supporting future expansion of medical school seats. Senator Lent and Representative Manwaring explained that the bill would create a dedicated pathway for these funds and could also accommodate other medical education-related revenues. After questions about the premium tax and existing uses of the fund, the committee voted to send SB 1420 to the floor with a due pass recommendation; Senator Zito requested to be recorded as opposed. Next, the committee considered House Joint Memorial 20, which asks the federal government to address the costs Idaho incurs under Plyler v. Doe for educating students regardless of immigration status. Representative Tanner argued the decision created an unfunded mandate and cited rough estimates of annual and long-term costs. After questions about the source of the student estimates, the committee voted to send HJM 20 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, with Senators Burtenshaw and Semmelroth requesting to be recorded as opposed. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 915, which would establish a baseline recess policy for public and charter schools, including a 20-minute daily outdoor recess for grades K-5 when feasible and a prohibition on withholding recess from an entire class as punishment. Senator Taves said the bill was intended to protect children’s health and learning, while opponents argued it was unnecessary and infringed on local control because schools already provide recess. The committee voted to hold HB 915 at the call of the chair, and the meeting adjourned with notice that the IDLA bill was expected the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• you're also looking at the smallest budget of the three branches that requires it to be nimble and adjust
• /c><00:05:07.520><c> be</c><00:05:07.720><c> nimble</c><00:05:08.640><c> and</c><00:05:08.760><c> adjust
• </c> requires it to be nimble and adjust requires it to be nimble and adjust especially<00:05:10.240>

Committee: House Appropriations & Revenue

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:15 HB 503 Discussion 00:01:30 HB 503 Vote 00:05:30 HB 651 Discussion 00:07:15 HB 651 Vote 00:10:25, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are just adjusting the rate of them in order to support the important work... ...fines.
• We are just adjusting the rate of them in order to support the important work that's being done around
• But the basic architecture of this comes from that citizens' initiative, and we're just trying to adjust
• appreciate the bill sponsor, Senator Leias, for bringing it forward and just hope we can make some adjustments

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held an executive session on a series of bills and a joint memorial. Staff summarized measures on agricultural marketing (SB 5816, adding juice grapes), Board of Natural Resources membership and tribal representation (SB 5838), irrigation district hiring exemptions (SB 5930), ungulate population management and predator mitigation (SB 5960), a green fertilizer incentive program (SB 5971), mitigation grants for landowners (SB 6075), tribal participation in the Conservation Futures Program (SB 6097), agricultural impact statements and related protections for farmland (SB 6104), timber sale process modernization (SB 6216), increased wildlife penalty assessments for covered species trade (SB 6233), shellfish licensing and biotoxin fee caps (SB 6318), and a federal wildfire response memorial (SJM 8015). Several bills had proposed substitutes or amendments, including competing changes to SB 5838 and SB 5960, but some items were ultimately set aside with no action. The committee adopted a substitute for SB 5971 and advanced it to Ways and Means. It also adopted a substitute for SB 6097 and sent it to Rules. SB 5816, SB 6216, SB 6233, SB 6318, and SJM 8015 all received due pass recommendations, with SB 5971 and SB 6318 referred onward to Ways and Means. SB 5838 was debated at length over tribal representation on the Board of Natural Resources; amendments to require forest-management expertise or alternate east/west representation were rejected, and the proposed substitute was approved and passed. SB 6233 drew comments about possible unintended consequences, but the bill passed. The committee took no action on SB 5930, SB 5960, SB 6075, and SB 6104. The chair later confirmed that every bill on the executive session agenda had either been moved forward or dropped from the agenda. The meeting ended with the chair thanking staff and members for getting through the last committee meeting before the policy cutoff, and the committee adjourned subject to signature of the boards.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bottom line says Department of Revenue Administration shall expedite certified adjusted rate applications
• c> certified</c> Administration shall expedite certified Administration shall expedite certified adjusted
• </c><00:05:36.880><c> When</c><00:05:37.120><c> I</c><00:05:37.440><c> spoke</c> adjusted rate applications
• When I spoke adjusted rate applications.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference met on HB 718, focusing on the Senate’s changes to the bill. Members discussed language requiring the Department of Education to report rules that exceed state or federal minimum requirements and, when fiscal impacts on local school districts are indeterminable, to identify the unfunded financial impact. The committee also reviewed added language related to the new Pasquani school district and its need to set a tax rate for the 2025-2026 school year. The chair explained a House amendment, 2725H, that would make two technical corrections: restoring the word “certified” in the provision directing the Department of Revenue Administration to expedite certified adjusted rate applications, and changing the bill’s effective date to “upon passage” so the new tax-rate provisions could take effect in time. A further clarification was proposed to specify July 1, 2025, in the tax-rate language. One member raised concern that the bill’s underlying special education fiscal effects were indeterminate and said they could not support it without a fiscal note, but the committee proceeded with the technical changes. A vote was taken among House conferees on the three changes, and the chair reported two yeses and one no, treating the result as effectively unanimous. The committee agreed to draft the report and indicated the bill would move forward, with the Pasquani school district language and the technical corrections included.

Transcript Highlights:

• The feds, over the years, don't adjust for inflation, and they don't support state-level program increases
• And also working with the feds on trying to make those adjustments because they're continuing being funded
• through continuing resolutions, and no adjustments or tweaks made to that.
• Those were the budget adjustments from the executive budget.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to consider three measures, beginning with Senate Bill 2016 for Job Service. Testimony described Job Service’s workforce, unemployment insurance, and labor market functions, its long-term reduction in FTEs and budget, and its reliance on federal funding that does not keep pace with inflation. The bill included funding for an additional FTE for the H-2A housing inspection program, continued support for the JP3 offender placement pilot, and one-time funding for IT and mainframe costs tied to a system modernization effort. The committee approved the bill 20-0, with Representative Swiontek named as carrier. The committee then discussed Senate Bill 2305, which would allow family members to be paid as caregivers for certain young people with disabilities instead of only licensed outside providers. Members noted the specialized, 24-hour nature of the care, workforce shortages, waiting lists, and the potential to avoid more expensive institutional care. Questions focused on how the program would be structured, including certification requirements and whether it would remain a pilot or become part of the broader human services budget. The committee passed the bill 20-0, with Representative Roar as carrier and Representative Nelson available as backup. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 2024 for the Department of Environmental Quality. The House change was limited to increased special-fund support for water and wastewater operator certification testing to expand availability, while the Senate version already included added FTEs for emerging contaminants and fuel inspection work. Members discussed federal funding uncertainty, including IIJA and ARPA-related concerns, but the department said its major projects, including the new laboratory, were not currently in jeopardy. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended 22-0, with Representative Berg as carrier.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we then, in later years, the boards—every five years—examine our actuarial assumptions to adjust
• What adjustments need to be made to make sure... ...adjustments need to be made to make sure the plan
• We've made some of the hard adjustments and the actuarial assumptions, with lowering the rate, assuming

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: 923, senate, all