Video & Transcript : 'Washington State University' :
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US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, April 2, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands
- 09:29.360><c> Florida</c><00:09:29.839><c> Department</c><00:09:30.240><c> of</c><00:09:30.480><c> State
- I've always believed the people in America spend their money better than Washington, D.C., does.
- My mother, my father, my sister, they moved to Washington.
- My mother, my father, my sister, they moved to Washington.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: DFL Media Availability on Threat to Dismantle the US Department of Education Feb 5th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Others were actively cheering on the dismantling of our nation's administrative state.
- Others were actively cheering on the dismantling of our nation's administrative state.
- What would that mean for MDE and Minnesota here at the state level?
- Does the 10% of the state budget, does that funding come directly from the U.S.
- </c><00:21:52.159><c> budget</c> case does the 10% of the state budget case does the 10% of the state
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> Rex Reynolds to the Athens State Rex Reynolds to the Athens State University<00:22:56.080><c> Board
- </c><00:23:06.640><c> University</c><00:23:07.120><c> Board</c><00:23:07.360><c> of</c> the Athens State
- University Board of the Athens State University Board of Trustees<00:23:08.000><c> using</c><00:23:08.400
- state championship um rings. And also my state championship um rings.
- Therefore, state and local law.
Summary:
The Alabama Senate convened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum present, then approved the prior journal and allowed bills and committee reports to be introduced throughout the day. The chamber received multiple committee reports, including favorable reports on several finance and taxation bills, confirmations, local bills, and a series of resolutions. The Senate also confirmed several appointments to higher education and university boards, including Nicholas J. Balden, Jennifer Wit, Ronnie Stalworth, and Rex Reynolds, using long or previous roll calls as applicable.
The Senate adopted a special order calendar that set up floor consideration of several bills, including measures on physician assistants, seafood/aquaculture, motor vehicles, campaign practices, property insurance and energy reduction, child custody, and school bus drivers. During debate on the special order calendar, Senator Smitherman raised concern that no bills on the calendar were sponsored by minority members, noting a prior understanding that minority-sponsored bills should be represented; Senator Wagner responded that the calendar was prepared based on legislation rather than sponsor party, and the exchange ended with an agreement to continue moving forward. The Senate then adopted the special order calendar and began taking up the listed bills.
On the special order calendar, the Senate advanced House Bill 156 on physician assistant compacts, House Bill 277 on seafood/aquaculture tastings, and House Bill 42 on motor vehicles, with supporters describing each as consumer-friendly or supportive of industry. The chamber also considered local legislation, including bills for Madison, Tallapoosa, and Shelby counties; House Bill 337 for Madison County was amended and carried over, while House Bills 490, 491, and 493 passed after roll-call votes. Throughout the meeting, the Senate also adopted several commendatory and memorial resolutions, including measures honoring individuals, recognizing organizations and events, and naming a highway, with most adopted by voice vote and no recorded opposition.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee May 13th, 2026
Privacy and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- And I know that my takeaways are not universal.
- Alongside this, our programs have supported 172 LGBTQ-plus community centers across the United States
- Your technology policy rarely stays here; where California leads, other states watch.
- But as I stated in the beginning, this is truly a double-edged sword.
- Noting that the reality is the same, you know, in the states. But Australia is massive.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought Jun 11th, 2025
Joint Legislative Committee on Water Supply During Drought
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm the state resident for District 13 and the chair of this particular committee. Senator Wendt.
- I'm the state representative from the 30th legislative district and the new chair of the House Ag and
- So Rosa Irrigation District is located in central Washington, more towards the southern part.
- State, and it seems to be more of a norm.
- The examples that you’re bringing on addressing complicated matters in water in Washington State is known
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Water Supply During Drought opened its 2025 meeting by electing new leadership. After brief discussion of the committee’s membership and the usual practice of alternating leadership between chambers and parties, members unanimously elected Senator Ron Mazzal as chair and Representative Christine Reeves as vice chair. The outgoing chair, Representative Ybarra, continued presiding for the remainder of the meeting at Senator Mazzal’s request.
The committee then heard a presentation from Sage Park of the Rosa Irrigation District on the severe 2025 water year. Park said Rosa is facing very low reservoir levels, declining water supply forecasts, and an earlier-than-planned end to the irrigation season. She described the district’s conservation and drought response measures, including canal shutdowns, pump-backs, leased water, on-farm fallowing and water pooling, emergency well permits, and long-term investments in piping, sealant, drip irrigation, and storage. Park also urged continued emergency drought funding, more efficient state lease funding processes, and support for water releases that benefit fish during drought conditions.
Urban Eberhard then presented on the Kittitas Reclamation District and the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan. He described widespread on-farm conservation, reduced acre allocations, early shutoffs expected in late summer, and ongoing infrastructure work such as piping, lining, telemetry, and the Springwood reservoir project. He emphasized that these projects are intended to improve water delivery, support fish flows, and provide future storage, including possible hydroelectric generation as part of feasibility work. In response to a question, he said the districts are monitoring aquifer impacts from canal lining and are working on managed aquifer recharge to direct conserved water to beneficial groundwater areas. No additional votes or formal actions were taken after the leadership elections.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- By way of background, Washington State Capitol public and historic facilities includes buildings on the
- I'm a state senator from the 21st District.
- I like visiting state capitals. And they have an interesting story in Oklahoma City.
- of Washington.
- of Washington.
Bills:
SB6313
Keywords:
Capitol Centennial Stewardship, funding, gifts, grants, donations, legislative support, 904, all
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Human Services Feb 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- State and bring back a full report to the Legislature.
- If it's on the Washington State to require these, then it's their requirement to pay for it as well.
- several states on the West Coast.
- It's on the Washington state to require these, then their requirement to pay for it as well.
- across, actually, several states on the West Coast.
Summary:
The Senate Human Services Committee met on February 25 and received staff briefings on three bills. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2253, the DCYF licensing bill, was described as affecting foster care licensing, crisis residential center staffing ratios, and child care licensing. Staff reviewed multiple proposed amendments, including changes related to immediate threats to children’s safety, substance use, subsidy fraud, reporting channels, and DUI-related ineligibility, as well as a Wilson striking amendment that would remove many of those floor changes. After caucus, the chair announced she would pull ESHB 2253 from executive action for further work over the interim, and no vote was taken on the bill.
Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2319, which renames certain residential habilitation centers, had one amendment to rename Yakima Valley School as the Yakima Valley Residential Habilitation Center. The committee adopted the amendment despite opposition from Senators Warnick and Christian, who said constituents in Yakima did not support the change. The bill then received a do-pass recommendation and was sent to Rules, with Senators Warnick and Christian voting no.
House Bill 2464, concerning incident reporting by private detention facilities to the Department of Health and local law enforcement, was also considered. Senator Christian offered six amendments, including a JLARC study, public posting and legislative sharing of reports, expanded reporting requirements, food-safety consistency, and reimbursement for compliance costs; all six amendments failed. The committee then approved the bill on a do-pass recommendation and sent it to Rules, with Senator Christian opposing and Senator Orwall supporting the measure as a human-rights and safety bill. The chair closed the meeting after noting the committee had reached the policy cutoff and thanking staff for their work.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- How many delegates per state? The United States Senate model of two per state or the U.S.
- How many delegates per state? The United States Senate model of two per state or the U.S.
- Washington, 2020 Supreme Court unanimous decision, which said that the states control its electors, and
- You need 38 states to pass an amendment, but you only need 13 state houses, not states, 13 state houses
- state, a state that prides itself on taking care of its neighbors.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Friday, March 14, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Captioning made possible by the National Captioning Institute, Inc., in cooperation with the United States
- The Clerk: The Speaker's Rooms, Washington, D.C., March 14, 2025.
- Peter's Catholic Church, Washington, D.C.
- Please join me: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for
- PETER'S CATHOLIC CHURCH, WASHINGTON, D.C.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- And so in these states such as Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah, the state allocates a dollar amount
- The majority of the state funding, 91%, or $2.1 billion, came from the state foundation program.
- Two is that similar-size districts receive the same state funding or similar state funding per student
- In Oregon, Utah, and Washington, for example, all of these states include special education students
- In Oregon, Utah, and Washington, for example, all of these states include special education students
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from February 2 and 3. It then introduced RS 3-1308, sponsored by Representative Raymond, which would change public school digital content and curriculum funding from a first-come, first-served process to an as-needed, scored application process so districts with greater need would receive funds. The motion to introduce passed without opposition.
The committee next heard a presentation from the Office of Performance Evaluations on its K-12 district characteristics and funding study. Casey Petty explained that Idaho’s support unit funding model tends to provide more state funding per student to smaller districts and less per student to larger districts, but that funding does not consistently rise with higher proportions of high-need students such as special education or English learner populations. He said Idaho’s special education formula assumes only about 5.8% of students are in special education, while actual enrollment was about 11.5% in 2023, contributing to an estimated $37.7 million gap in support-unit funding for special education. Members asked about the support unit model, district size effects, charter school data limitations, Medicaid, and whether the formula should be revised.
The committee then considered House Joint Memorial 11, which urges Congress to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act at the promised 40% level. Representative Furman and several educators and administrators testified in support, describing the strain on district budgets and citing large local shortfalls in Boise and Fruitland. Witnesses said districts are covering mandated special education services with local and state funds, and that increased identification, early intervention, and behavioral needs are driving costs. Some members raised questions about over-identification, eligibility criteria, and behavioral issues, but the memorial was ultimately sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation by voice vote. The meeting then adjourned.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Motion to adjourn sine die 3/25/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- from this governor cutting another $50 million dollars in special education, then so be it. other states
- have already opted in other states have already opted in to<00:01:54.040><c> help</c><00:01:54.280><
- </c> and doesn't cost the state a dime. and doesn't cost the state a dime.
- </c><00:06:01.600><c> And</c><00:06:01.720><c> we</c> fraud in the state of Minnesota.
- And we fraud in the state of Minnesota.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- It touches all parts of the Gem State.
- And I hear the hurdles that they have to jump through in their state, the hurdles that their state lawmakers
- guys continuing to make this an ag-friendly state.
- So as 9% of the United States... Global cane that makes its way into the United States.
- The stated target for the federal sugar program is 13.5% to 15.5%.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee Mar 24th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm the associate controller for North Dakota State University.
- I'm the associate controller for North Dakota State University. Thanks, Travis.
- and then Dickinson State University with NDSU.
- university and dakota college at bot no uh just wanted to Steve Shirley, president of Minot State University
- I have met with the other states and with those other state directors that have a universal free meal
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
TRN Public Hearing - Tue Mar 24, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST
Transcript Highlights:
- And we are seeing industry the state.
- </c> States fully uh by the US Coast Guard. States fully uh by the US Coast Guard.
- Repeals the state from 19 to 18.
- And that in Washington state, required price impact analysis has shown that the program has only increased
- I have in previous in our state.
Summary:
The committee heard SB 2694 SD2, which would authorize the Public Utilities Commission to create automatic adjustment mechanisms for water carriers, including a water carrier inflationary cost index, and to waive certain requirements under the Hawaii Water Carrier Act. Testimony was sharply divided. The Department of Transportation, Young Brothers, and several shipping, harbor, labor, and business-related supporters argued the bill would modernize regulation, reduce the need for large catch-up rate cases, and help keep rates aligned with rising costs. Young Brothers said its current rate-setting process is expensive and delayed, and that annual adjustments with guardrails such as a 5% cap and periodic full reviews would support sustainable operations and the state’s supply chain. Some supporters also said the company’s less-than-container-load service and required inter-island routes create costs that are not fully covered by current rates.
Opponents, including the Consumer Advocate, the Maui Chamber of Commerce, Hawaii Food Industry Association, restaurant and chamber groups, and other businesses, argued the bill would lead to higher costs for consumers and businesses and should not move forward. Several testified that shipping costs already significantly affect pricing and that automatic increases would worsen the cost of living. The Consumer Advocate said Young Brothers should focus on cost control and implementing its business plan rather than automatic rate increases. The Maui Chamber and others pointed to a recent PUC decision that imposed a two-year stay on rate increases and said the bill would undermine that protection. Some opponents urged the committee to defer to the PUC’s regulatory authority.
The PUC explained that it regulates water carriers as public utilities under existing statute and said it had recently approved a temporary rate increase while imposing a two-year stayout period on further increases, with emergency relief still possible. PUC members said they were still examining whether they have authority to adopt the proposed WICI mechanism by rule and wanted legislative clarity. In response to questions, the PUC said it prefers the current two-year stayout as reflected in its order. Young Brothers also clarified that it serves less-than-container-load cargo, that some routes and services are cross-subsidized because they are not profitable, and that an independent observer is being put in place to monitor implementation of its updated business plan. The transcript ended with the committee still taking questions; no final vote or disposition on the bill was shown.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/26
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, she joins us from Washington State, and we're thrilled to have her.
- Um, she joins us from Washington<00:02:27.599><c> State,</c><00:02:27.840><c> and</c><00:02:28.000><c
- > we're</c><00:02:28.239><c> thrilled</c><00:02:28.480><c> to</c> Washington State, and we're thrilled
- to Washington State, and we're thrilled to have<00:02:28.720><c> her.
- Best agency in the state. I'll amazing. Best agency in the state.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-01-28 (4:30PM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We are here as a state to not play as the United States Congress.
- We are here as a state to not play as the United States Congress.
- I ran for state rep.
- factor to the state; the state could prove it in a penalty...
- In the United States as an aggravated factor to the state, the state could prove it in a penalty phase
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the journal, and adoption of the special order calendar for the day. The chamber then took up House Bill 1B on immigration, along with discussion of anticipated Senate changes. The sponsor described the bill as creating a chief immigration officer housed in the Department of Agriculture, establishing an Office of State Immigration Enforcement, expanding cooperation with federal immigration authorities, increasing criminal penalties for certain offenses by unauthorized aliens, ending undocumented-student fee waivers, and providing substantial appropriations for enforcement and related programs. Members also questioned the Senate version’s proposed mandatory death penalty provision for certain capital offenses involving unauthorized aliens, as well as pretrial detention, 287(g) participation, DMV reporting requirements, and the bill’s effects on schools, teachers, social workers, and local agencies. The sponsor and supporting members repeatedly said the bill required broad cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and that existing federal law would control where conflicts arose.
A major portion of the debate focused on whether the bill would allow or require immigration enforcement in schools and other sensitive settings, and whether teachers, school resource officers, and social workers could be placed in conflict with federal privacy or professional obligations. Members also raised concerns about detention based on suspected status, the standard of proof for immigration-status determinations, prison and jail impacts, workforce shortages, and the fiscal effects on counties and state agencies. The sponsor said the bill did not provide DMV funding, that the state would need to study some implementation questions, and that the appropriations included $25 million for a local law enforcement participation incentive program and up to $350 million for broader implementation and coordination.
Several amendments were offered and failed. Representative Chambliss proposed protecting schools, churches, and places of worship from enforcement activity; Representative Escamani offered amendments to preserve in-state tuition for Dreamers and to grandfather currently eligible students; Representative Woodson offered a similar Dreamer-related amendment; and Representative Bartleman proposed barring local law enforcement from entering schools during school hours to detain children solely for immigration status. Supporters of these amendments argued they would protect children, preserve educational access, and prevent trauma in schools and houses of worship. The House rejected each amendment by voice vote, and the transcript ends during debate on the Bartleman school-safety amendment before final disposition is shown.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Carbon Sequestration Programs Study Commission (04/17/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- Few in the in the lake<00:15:37.080><c> states.</c> lake states. lake states.
- </c><00:16:19.640><c> state</c><00:16:20.560><c> and</c><00:16:20.760><c> then</c> tribes in Washington
- state and then tribes in Washington state and then several<00:16:21.320><c> in</c><00:16:21.440><c>
- </c> political jurisdiction, usually a state political jurisdiction, usually a state or<00:17:10.520>
- Washington state also has a program that's in the process of linking with the WCI.
Summary:
The meeting began with introductions, approval of the March 6 minutes as amended to add an attendee list, and a brief overview of the day’s agenda. The committee heard two presentations from carbon project developers, with the first from Dylan Jenkins of Finite Carbon. He described Finite Carbon’s work in improved forest management projects, its role in developing carbon methodologies and protocols, and its experience with projects in New England, Appalachia, Alaska, and Canada. He also outlined the difference between compliance and voluntary carbon markets, the role of registries and intermediaries, and the types of buyers in the market, including large corporate buyers and long-term off-take partners.
A major focus of the presentation was how forest carbon projects are structured and how credits are monetized. Jenkins distinguished between removals and reductions, explaining that removals come from new forest growth while reductions are tied more closely to baseline assumptions and standing stock. He said improved forest management projects can generate both types of credits, and that removals generally command higher prices because they are easier for buyers to understand and verify. He also emphasized that carbon project commercialization can occur before, during, or after credit issuance, and that landowners may be paid through a variety of structures, including leases, advance fees, per-unit payments, or off-take agreements.
Jenkins then addressed the committee’s tax-related questions, saying House Bill 123 appeared intended to treat carbon credit sales similarly to timber sales for local tax purposes. He argued that carbon credits are a forest product and that taxing them can be reasonable in principle, but he stressed that lawmakers should distinguish between commoditization and commercialization when deciding what event to tax. He noted that credits may be created but never sold, and that in some programs landowners retain timber and carbon rights while in others the developer has deeper control over those rights. In response to questions, he said the industry uses protocols, verification, and third-party oversight to address baseline and quality concerns, but acknowledged that baseline setting remains a major point of debate in the market.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- So these are our state facilities throughout the state of Louisiana.
- issued a state eye.
- Or state locations or facilities, we make sure that they are issued a state ID.
- State facilities, we have Ashland University, Upper Iowa University, Tulane University, Loyola University
- So we currently as a state have approximately 124,000 job openings across the state.
Summary:
The committee held an oversight discussion on Louisiana’s reentry landscape, with Chair Villio emphasizing that the hearing was informational only and that no bills were being considered. Department of Public Safety and Corrections officials outlined the state’s reentry mission and current programming in state facilities, local jails, regional reentry centers, and STEP facilities. They described services including literacy and GED preparation, career and technical education, industry certifications, postsecondary partnerships, mental health and substance abuse treatment, victim impact and trauma programming, and pre-release assistance such as state IDs, birth certificates, Social Security cards, Medicaid, SNAP, and driver’s licenses. Officials also discussed a new data-sharing MOU with DCFS for child support matters and a planned “return portal” with Louisiana Works to connect incarcerated people to jobs and training aligned with labor market needs.
A major focus was the reentry court program at Angola for men and at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women. Assistant Secretary DeLouche and Assistant Warden Easley explained that the program is limited to nine judicial districts, requires judge and district attorney consent, and includes a two-year institutional phase followed by three years of intensive supervised probation. Participants must earn a HiSET if needed, complete multiple certifications and life-skills programs, and then petition for resentencing; officials said the program’s current recidivism rate is under 14 percent. They also highlighted specialized offerings such as vocational mentoring, a Braille transcription and repair program, and family-focused events like a father-daughter dance.
Testimony from employers and local officials was broadly supportive. Eric Lane described hiring formerly incarcerated workers through the parole project and said the program solved problems he had seen with halfway-house placements by helping people secure housing, IDs, and licenses before release. Sheriff Kevin Cobb said sheriffs are active partners, with 51 of 64 parishes offering some form of programming and more than 75 percent of local facilities providing services; he stressed that local jail programming has grown over time and that data collection is improving. Members repeatedly asked for more data on recidivism, employment outcomes, and what programs are available by parish, and several praised the department and sheriffs for the work already being done. No votes were taken.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee Mar 24th, 2026
Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- And we see this in other states. The State of Washington has a fairly robust cybersecurity team.
- as what NDSU is doing with Dickinson State University.
- They're going to be coming up here shortly with Minot State and then Dickinson State University with
- They're going to be coming up here shortly with Minot State and then Dickinson State University with
- I did meet with the other states, with those other state directors that have a universal free meal program
Summary:
The Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and a review of the state’s annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and the Office of Management and Budget reported a clean opinion on the state’s financial statements and described continued growth in net position, strong general fund balance, and significant Legacy Fund investment income. Committee members asked about how the report reflects long-term finances and how North Dakota compares with other states, and OMB noted that the ACFR is based on audited actual results rather than budget forecasts.
The committee then heard the North Dakota University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund construction money, insufficient monitoring of service organizations, improper bank reconciliations at several campuses, and investment/cash recording issues at Bismarck State College. University System officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations and greater use of shared services. Members also questioned practices such as campus use of certificates of deposit and whether repeated findings were being adequately addressed.
Additional audits were presented for the State Fair Association, State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Securities Department, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Most received clean opinions with no findings; exceptions included a repeat component-unit issue at the State Fair Foundation, a securities personnel-evaluation finding, and a Housing Finance Agency finding involving a late return of escrow surplus. The committee also discussed broader oversight issues, including the need for independent auditing of the Ethics Commission, possible legislative changes to give the State Auditor more subpoena power and independent legal counsel, and future work on data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, and audit capacity. The meeting recessed for lunch after these discussions.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Ethics Board Jun 8th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm an administrative law judge here with the Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings, convening
- The issues are as follows, based on the Washington State Legislative Ethics Complaint 2025, Number 5,
- And the issues are as follows, based on the Washington State Legislative Estaboard, The issues are as
- follows, based on the Washington State Legislative Ethics Complaint 2025, Number 5, dated January 25
- of Washington operate.
Summary:
The hearing opened in a Washington State Office of Administrative Hearings matter involving Legislative Ethics Board complaint 2025-5 against Representative Tara Simmons. The ALJ outlined the process, the issues on appeal, and the burden of proof, which centered on whether Simmons violated the Ethics Act by using her legislative position for others’ benefit and by holding outside employment that conflicted with her duties, and what sanction would be appropriate. Several exhibits were admitted by stipulation or without objection, while Exhibit 2 was initially held for later ruling but was ultimately admitted after testimony from the witness who prepared it. The board also granted a motion to sequester witnesses and took under advisement a motion to exclude three defense witnesses until after the staff case-in-chief.
In opening statements, board staff alleged Simmons violated RCW 42.52.020 and RCW 42.52.070 by sponsoring a proviso that benefited her outside employer, Equity and Education Coalition (EEC), by using campaign surplus funds to help hire a friend, by intervening in a dispute over the proviso-funded work, and by sending text messages to influence others. Staff said it would seek penalties of up to $5,000 per violation plus costs. Defense counsel argued the allegations were technical ethics issues, denied Simmons profited personally, and contended the proviso funding her employer was permitted under prior board guidance; counsel also argued the campaign donation and later contract dispute were lawful and context-dependent.
The first witness, Kimberly Gordon of American Equity and Justice Group (AEJG), testified that AEJG received state proviso funding and donations from Simmons, including $10,000 and later $40,000, which Gordon said were intended to fund the hiring of Antoine Coleman, Simmons’s romantic partner. Gordon said AEJG returned the donations and terminated Coleman after learning of the relationship and potential conflict of interest. She also testified about a later 2024 proviso involving EEC, a subcontract between AEJG and EEC, and a dispute over EEC’s performance under that subcontract. Gordon said AEJG raised concerns with the Administrative Office of the Courts, met with contract manager Chris Stanley, and ultimately rewrote the subcontract after Stanley, allegedly after speaking with Simmons, directed them to do so. The hearing then recessed for lunch, and cross-examination of Gordon was set to continue afterward.