Transcript Highlights:

• around the world and serving as a from around the world and serving as a major<00:07:33.840><c> launching
• ><c> pad</c><00:07:34.560><c> for</c><00:07:34.800><c> future</c><00:07:35.120><c> NHL</c> major launching
• pad for future NHL major launching pad for future NHL stars.<00:07:36.479><c> Motans</c><00:07:37.039
• So it's things like public safety, operations, venue expenses, you know, gymnastics, we found that 60%
• c><00:16:13.600><c> safety,</c> it's things like public safety, it's things like public safety, operations

Transcript Highlights:

• operate at full capacity and maintain waitlists.
• Our facilities are operating above planned capacity on a daily basis.
• And most of our community programs operate at full capacity and maintain waitlists.
• There's initial progress that doesn't require big operational change.
• It does not cover the launch of the actual data collection and analysis.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a Health and Human Services budget hearing in Clinton, with opening remarks from Chairs Meg Kilcoyne and Robin Kennedy, local officials, and many House and Senate members introducing themselves. The hearing focused on Governor Healey’s FY27 EOHHS and MassHealth budgets, with repeated themes of rising health care costs, federal funding uncertainty, workforce shortages, and access to care in underserved regions. Members also raised concerns about primary care shortages, rural and regional disparities, behavioral health access, maternal health, food insecurity, and the impact of federal policy changes on Massachusetts programs. EOHHS Secretary Kiame Mahaniah said the FY27 EOHHS budget totals $33.7 billion, reflecting mostly non-discretionary growth from health care costs, labor costs, caseload increases, and provider rate pressures. He highlighted targeted investments in foster care, family resource centers, maternal health, youth services, nutrition programs, immigrant legal services, and human service workforce rates, while warning that federal actions could strip roughly $3.5 billion annually from the state’s health care funding. In response to questions, he defended the administration’s cooperation with federal audits and program integrity efforts, discussed the primary care crisis, and said the state is trying to preserve core services while preparing for a more difficult FY28 budget cycle. MassHealth Undersecretary Mike Levine then described two major FY27 challenges: double-digit cost growth and the expected effects of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He said MassHealth’s proposed $22.7 billion gross budget includes a 7.5% increase and relies on a moratorium on new expansions plus targeted reductions, including a $1,000 annual adult dental cap, ending GLP-1 coverage for weight loss only, reducing care management to peer-state levels, and work groups to slow growth in PCA, adult foster care, and adult day health spending. Members questioned the impact on Boston Health Care for the Homeless, preventive care, and regional access; Levine said the changes are meant to preserve sustainability, that children and certain disabled populations remain protected, and that the administration will continue working with providers, advocates, and the Legislature on implementation and longer-term reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• These funds are nearly completely. county emergency response, staffing, and operations.
• We're only about a year in, so we've launched in each of the eight counties, but they're all in that
• As I mentioned earlier, TRS is predicated on the successful launch of CARES.
• . ...which means additional revenues which support our operations.
• Although the program is overseen by the state, it is operated locally by county staff.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services heard an informational hearing on child welfare, foster care, community care licensing, child support, and related budget issues. CDSS described the Governor’s proposed child and family services budget, emphasized a family-centered and kin-first approach, and reported that foster care entries and congregate care placements have declined over the past decade. Witnesses also highlighted the importance of extended foster care to age 21, while noting persistent racial disparities for Native American and Black children and the need for stronger prevention, family finding, and community-based supports. A major focus was the proposed tiered rate structure (TRS), which CDSS said would shift funding from placement-based rates to child-centered supports, including care and supervision, strength-building dollars, and immediate needs funding paired with high-fidelity wraparound services. CDSS and county representatives said implementation is on track, with foundational policy guidance expected by the end of the year, CANS/CFT timeliness targeted by year-end, and the CWS CARES system nearing go-live in October 2026. Counties and providers raised concerns about whether the rate model and wraparound capacity will be sufficient, especially for higher-acuity youth, and asked for more data, clearer guidance, and continued collaboration. County Welfare Directors Association representatives also requested continued emergency response funding and an extension of flexible family supports, arguing both are needed to stabilize front-end child welfare work and bridge to TRS. Providers from FFAs and STRTPs warned that insurance costs, provider closures, and the transition to TRS could threaten service capacity unless the state addresses long-term insurance and reimbursement issues. LAO noted the Governor’s budget contains no new child welfare augmentations and said the main General Fund change reflects the expiration of one-time funding. No votes were taken; members instead asked for follow-up data, technical assistance, and possible future legislative or trailer bill solutions, including on insurance and implementation timelines.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first person is in person: Mark Alonzi, who is the operations manager from NORA New England.
• Madam Chairwoman, if it's all right with you, my Vice President of Operations is here virtually.
• Dedicated organ vehicles would be operated only by experienced law enforcement officers, firefighters
• I want to be clear that these vehicles operated by NORA are the liability of NORA.
• The vehicles operated by NORA fall under the liability of NORA and are not the liability of the local

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hearing during a snowstorm, with members participating both in person and via Teams, and the chairs said testimony would be kept open for an additional week. The first bill heard was H.4796, an act relative to organ transplant vehicles. NORA New England testified in support, arguing that dedicated organ transport vehicles need authority to use lights and sirens so time-sensitive organs can be moved more quickly and safely without relying on EMS systems already stretched by 9-1-1 calls. No opposition was heard and the bill was then set aside as the committee moved to the next item. The bulk of the hearing focused on H.4838, an act expanding access to perimenopause and menopause care. Chair Decker, who filed the bill, said it was the product of a year of meetings with dozens of individuals and organizations and was intended as a starting point to identify gaps in care, training, access, and coverage. Testimony overwhelmingly supported the bill and described widespread misdiagnosis, dismissal of symptoms, limited clinician training, insurance barriers, medication access problems, and workplace impacts. Speakers included patients, clinicians, advocates, the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women, and out-of-state and international experts, many of whom urged better education, public awareness, research, and workplace accommodations. Several witnesses emphasized that menopause affects whole-body health, including cardiovascular, bone, mental health, and work outcomes, and that Black women and other marginalized groups face greater barriers and worse outcomes. Some speakers noted the bill is important but largely a framework that will need further work to address coverage and access more directly. Blue Cross Blue Shield said it supports the bill and already covers menopause-related care and training, though the chair used the exchange to criticize broader insurer and state decisions on GLP-1 coverage for obesity. The committee took no vote during the hearing, and the chairs closed by thanking witnesses and stating that additional written testimony would be accepted.

Transcript Highlights:

• My office is operating with 51 full-time employees, and that's a 20% reduction in staffing compared to
• The impact of inflation on operations and rising costs is clear.
• Broken down, our operating costs with staff time... ...of process alone.
• Broken down, our operating costs with staff time and shipping were $37,135.12.
• They're operational, and the old systems, the old contract, is no longer online, so...

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the prior meeting, and heard budget presentations from the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the State Auditor. The Secretary of State’s office described its FY27 budget, emphasizing efficiency gains from technology, election security work, and business services. It said it is operating with fewer staff than a decade ago, but rising costs and outdated statutory fees are creating deficits in service of process and other operations. The office asked the committee to consider either increasing fees or allowing it to retain a larger share of business-service revenue, and it also proposed creating an Office of Entrepreneurship to help small businesses navigate state government, grants, permits, and related services. Committee members questioned the Secretary of State’s office about fee increases, the current 50-50 split of certain revenues with general revenue, and whether the proposed entrepreneurship office would duplicate existing services. The office said it would complement, not replace, Commerce, SBDC, or grant programs, and would report metrics and policy recommendations to the legislature. The Attorney General then requested a one-time $2 million special revenue appropriation to hire additional lawyers and support staff, citing increased litigation, federal and state legal work, and the need to defend new laws. He also discussed embedded DMV lawyers handling DUI revocation hearings and said the arrangement costs the office just over $200,000. The State Auditor reported that his office is largely self-funded through special revenue and said he wants to reduce reliance on general revenue over time. He highlighted savings from renegotiated leases and an open government contract, discussed the need for more auditors in the Chief Inspector’s Division, and described fraud recovery and P-card operations. A major topic was delinquent land sales: the auditor said the office sold about 17,000 parcels last year and believes online bidding and better marketing could generate substantially more revenue, with the surplus potentially shared among counties, the state, and other programs. Members also asked about securities fee changes, fairness hearings, fire department audits, IT/cybersecurity, and how surplus proceeds from delinquent land sales should be handled. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when I had launched onto this project of being a farmer, I don't do farming for taking...
• Since 2015, the Legislature through its operating budgets has directed the state treasurer to do that
• It could still operate here in Washington. It's just that way.
• It could still operate here in Washington.
• Frequently, when a probate is launched, the person launching the probate has to file a petition.

Bills: HB2543

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: county clerk, fees, local government, administrative costs, revenue generation

Transcript Highlights:

• Our launch cadence continues to increase, and we want launch providers and aerospace companies to come
• Our launch cadence continues to increase, and we want launch providers and aerospace companies to come
• Our launch cadence continues to increase, and we want launch providers and aerospace companies to come
• . reasonably and directly attributable to the school of operation.
• Be reasonably and directly attributable to the school's operation.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for two service members killed in the Middle East, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. Members adopted the special order report and then began taking up the special order calendar. The first major measure was HB 7031, the annual tax package, which included a hunting, fishing, and camping sales tax holiday, a back-to-school holiday moved earlier in the summer, property tax changes for mobile home parks and other exemptions, reductions in pari-mutuel taxes and fees, extensions and expansions of several tax credit programs, vacation-rental tax collection changes, and a full decoupling from federal tax changes in the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The bill drew questions about the fiscal impact of decoupling and the firearm-accessories holiday; supporters emphasized fiscal caution, housing and home-hardening provisions, and family tax relief, while opponents objected to the firearm-related tax break. HB 7031 passed 105-2. The House then passed CS/CS/CS HB 1177 on Space Florida and spaceport operations, which updates business development rules, board membership, and creates a strategic spaceport hub designation. CS/CS HB 639/CS SB 246 on specialty license plates also passed after a strike-all amendment that added several new plates, revised the Fraternal Order of Police plate, and tightened financial and nonprofit requirements for plate sponsors. CS HB 697 on drug prices and coverage passed after debate on pharmacy benefit manager reforms requiring equal reimbursement, prohibiting forced losses on drugs, and allowing consolidated appeals. CS/CS HB 1263 on the Office of Insurance Regulation passed with an amendment clarifying fingerprinting provisions, and CS/CS HB 527 passed with a human-review requirement for insurance claim denials so AI cannot be the sole basis for denying or reducing claims. Additional bills approved included CS HB 1449, which limits use of the statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program when a claim is already in the federal process and, by amendment, narrows the bill to out-of-network emergency services and claims of $50,000 or less; CS HB 93, requiring surgical smoke evacuation systems in hospitals and surgical centers, which passed overwhelmingly after emotional bipartisan praise for the sponsor’s multi-session effort; and CS HB 1217, which prohibits governmental entities from adopting net-zero greenhouse gas policies, after Democrats argued it would preempt local climate and resilience efforts and Republicans argued it protects energy reliability and affordability. The House also passed CS/CS HB 1461 establishing a framework for licensing and regulating advanced nuclear reactors, with supporters framing it as a step toward reliable, affordable, cleaner energy. Later, CS HB 1229 on residential homes for medically or technologically dependent children was explained as creating a licensure program for medically complex children’s homes and was rolled over for final passage as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our launch cadence continues to increase, and we want launch providers and aerospace companies to come
• Our launch cadence continues to increase, and we want launch providers and aerospace companies to come
• Our launch cadence continues to increase, and we want launch providers and aerospace companies to come
• Reasonably and directly attributable to the school of operation.
• Be reasonably and directly attributable to the school's operation.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for two fallen service members, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum call, and several recognitions, including law enforcement officers and visiting students and advocates. Members then adopted the special order report and moved into the special-order calendar. The first major item was HB 7031, the annual tax package, which was explained as a broad measure covering sales tax holidays, property tax changes, tax credits, pari-mutuel tax reductions, vacation-rental tax collection, and decoupling from federal tax changes. Members asked about the fiscal impact of decoupling and the firearm-accessories holiday; supporters emphasized fiscal caution and the package’s mix of consumer and housing provisions, while opponents objected to the gun-related tax holiday. The bill passed 105-2. The House then passed CS/CS/CS HB 1177 on Space Florida and spaceport operations 107-0, with supporters saying it would strengthen Florida’s competitiveness in commercial aerospace. CS for SB 246 on specialty license plates also passed unanimously after a strike-all amendment that added several new plates, revised the Fraternal Order of Police plate, and tightened specialty-plate financial and nonprofit requirements. CS HB 697 on drug prices and coverage passed 100-0 after supporters said it built on prior PBM reforms by requiring fairer pharmacy reimbursement and limiting forced losses on drugs. CS/CS HB 1263 on the Office of Insurance Regulation passed 109-0 after an amendment clarifying fingerprinting requirements, and CS/CS HB 527 on insurance claim denials passed 100-0 with a requirement for human review before claims are denied or reduced solely by AI. The House also passed CS HB 1449 on the statewide provider and health plan claim dispute resolution program 100-0 after narrowing the bill to out-of-network emergency services and claims at or below $50,000. CS HB 93 on protection from surgical smoke passed 178-0 after extensive emotional debate, with supporters describing it as a long-sought patient and worker safety measure requiring smoke evacuation systems in hospitals and surgical centers. Later, CS HB 1217 on prohibited governmental greenhouse-gas policies passed 29-0 after questions clarified that it would bar net-zero policies and related funding arrangements but not general energy efficiency or incidental emissions reductions; opponents argued it would preempt local climate and resilience efforts, while supporters said it protected energy reliability and affordability. The House then began debate on CS/CS HB 1461 on advanced nuclear reactors, with sponsors describing a framework for licensing and oversight of small modular and microreactors and supporters arguing it would help meet future energy demand and improve reliability.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the Vietnam War in 1967, Operation the Vietnam War in 1967, Operation Popeye<00:04:38.639><c> was
• </c><00:29:12.960><c> you</c> scientists in our state operating you scientists in our state operating
• </c> re-entry investments, DOC has launched re-entry investments, DOC has launched different<00:38:08.560
• </c><00:47:50.319><c> by</c><00:47:50.480><c> the</c> are owned and operated by the are owned and operated
• We are operating in panels of two.

Bills: HB60

Committee: Joint Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• And it launched last year.
• And has going through this process helped the overall court operations?
• And has going through this process helped the overall court operations?
• Has going through this process helped the overall court operations?
• It's only limited to their operations.

Summary: The committee heard budget and workload presentations from the Office of the State Public Defender, legal aid organizations, and the Judicial Branch. OSPD requested permanent funding for positions that had been temporarily funded to implement the Racial Justice Act, explaining that the work has become ongoing and now includes additional Supreme Court briefing, habeas proceedings, investigations, expert analysis, and data requests. The State Public Defender also presented the AB 625 public defense workload report, which found statewide staffing shortages, caseloads above recommended standards, and major gaps in investigators and support staff. Senators asked about racial bias claims, the volume of data requests, and the impact of Prop. 36, and OSPD said it would provide additional written information. The legal aid panel asked for a $50 million increase to the Equal Access Fund, $20 million to restart homelessness prevention services, and $10 million for health care access work, while also supporting Access to Justice Commission requests for loan repayment assistance, immigrant family preparedness services, and innovation grants. Witnesses described legal aid as homelessness prevention and cited examples involving eviction defense, domestic violence survivors, and immigration detention cases. Los Angeles Superior Court Presiding Judge Sergio Tapia discussed eviction data, low tenant representation, and court pilots in Compton and at Stanley Mosk that combine mediation, rental assistance, and legal help. Senators asked for service maps, outreach materials, and more detail on funding needs and federal funding losses. For the Judicial Branch overview, the Judicial Council and trial court representatives supported the Governor’s proposed budget, including $70 million for trial court operations, $21.7 million for employee health and retirement costs, and funding for appellate counsel, case processing, and courthouse construction. They said rising costs, staffing retention, and interpreter shortages continue to strain the courts, and described efforts to reallocate interpreter funds and recruit hard-to-find languages such as Mixteco. Senators pressed the branch and the Department of Finance on courthouse facilities, noting that the long-term need is far larger than the current budget proposal; Finance said the branch’s facility needs were estimated at about $22.5 billion over 10 years to start 68 projects and $29.4 billion to complete the remaining projects. The committee requested follow-up information on facilities, judgeships, and interpreter needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• It completely changed the operational ability of 53 general aviation airports in this state.
• </c><00:25:12.480><c> a</c><00:25:12.640><c> major</c> Uh the FA has launched a major Uh the FA has launched
• We are operating right now with three airplanes and two helicopters.
• </c><01:04:08.400><c> drone</c><01:04:08.720><c> operations</c><01:04:09.200><c> and</c> commercial operate
• drone operations and commercial operate drone operations and to<01:04:09.599><c> help</c><01:04:09.839

Summary: The task force meeting began with approval of the July 14 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association. Association leaders described general aviation airports as important to rural access, commerce, emergency response, tourism, agriculture, and workforce development, and cited statewide economic impacts they said exceed $1.6 billion and support more than 9,400 jobs. They thanked the legislature for prior airport funding and said it had helped airports with basic operations and repairs. The association asked lawmakers for four things: continued appropriations for general aviation airports; relief or a more workable process for required financial audits, which they said can cost $10,000 to $20,000 or more and sometimes exceed a small airport’s annual budget; a regularized statewide appropriations process for airport infrastructure needs, which they said total about $100 million and are currently addressed unevenly; and funding for the Aerospace Education Reinvestment Opportunity Act to support scholarships and aviation workforce training. Members of the task force asked follow-up questions about the audit burden, the difference between financial and safety audits, and the difficulty of finding audit firms. The presenters said they would bring specific ideas back on audit reform. Eastern Kentucky University then presented on its aviation program. EKU leaders thanked the committee for prior support, including a $25 million appropriation for a new flight school building at Central Kentucky Regional Airport, and said the project is expected to break ground in 2026. They reported strong enrollment growth, with 502 aviation majors, most of them Kentuckians, and said the program has expanded flight hours and job placement. EKU also outlined plans to add an air traffic control program in response to Senate Bill 87 and the national shortage of controllers, saying it could train students to FAA standards if the university receives the needed investment in simulators, equipment, space, and faculty. They also discussed the need to replace an aging fleet of training aircraft, saying the current planes are decades old and costly to maintain, and that newer aircraft would improve training quality and reduce student costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• of bring in the entire PCA population into CFSS and so had to from an implementation perspective launch
• of bring in the entire PCA population into CFSS and so had to from an implementation perspective launch
• of bring in the entire PCA population into CFSS and so had to from an implementation perspective launch
• We're about to disrupt so many operations, you know.
• </c><01:31:37.480><c> a</c> sessions and support and launch a sessions and support and launch a Statewide

Committees: Senate Health and Human Services , Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• As part of our feasibility study, we spent a lot of time interviewing operators of theater operators
• </c><00:09:41.680><c> a</c> it's a whole another thing to operate a it's a whole another thing to operate
• </c><00:09:47.839><c> of</c> time interviewing, uh, operators of time interviewing, uh, operators of
• It theater operators around the world.
• </c> is misunderstood who owns and operates is misunderstood who owns and operates the<00:46:45.520><

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development and Tourism met to hear presentations on a proposed downtown Lexington Arts Center. Visit Lex opened by framing the projects as regional economic development efforts that could support tourism, quality of life, and workforce attraction and retention. NextStage Development Corp. and ATG Entertainment then described a proposed $120 million project featuring a 2,500-seat performing arts center and a 20,000-square-foot visual arts gallery, with plans for up to 180 events a year, over 300,000 annual visitors, and an opening target of 2029. The presenters said the project would be funded through a $30 million state request, $30 million from ATG Entertainment, and $60 million raised by the nonprofit through philanthropy and other financing sources. They cited a feasibility study by Sound Diplomacy and compared the proposal to the Durham Performing Arts Center, arguing that similar venues have driven downtown revitalization, tourism, and economic activity in other cities. They also said the venue would include community access, school partnerships, subsidized tickets, and revenue returned to the nonprofit for grants and arts programming. Members asked about the total cost, the funding mix, whether the city of Lexington would contribute, and the building’s design. The presenters said they are in contact with city officials and are seeking city support, but have not yet hired an architect or begun conceptual design. They said the design process will involve community input and should fit Lexington’s historic downtown character. Representative Whitten asked whether the project would compete with Louisville; the presenters responded that their market analysis suggests the venue would serve audiences from Lexington, eastern Kentucky, and surrounding areas who are unlikely to travel to Louisville or Cincinnati, making the project complementary rather than competitive.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the nature of the way we all operate.
• </c> of the way we we all operate. of the way we we all operate.
• This third metric of the three is what I call the launch component.
• </c> call the launch component. call the launch component.
• kids into life and what the by launching kids into life and what the next<00:38:04.440><c> chapter</

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• simply asking to ensure that Answer is treated the same way as every other public school in Idaho operating
• I'm our operations director at Answer Charter School over transportation.
• As you heard earlier, Answer launched its first full transportation program in the 2022-23 school year
• As you heard earlier, Answer launched its first full transportation program in the 2022-23 school year
• Today we are simply asking to be treated the same as other schools operating transportation programs.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• HAVING AN UPCOMING PRESENTATION AND WILL SPEAK MORE TO THE FRAME AND DENTAL FRAME PROGRAM AS THEY OPERATE
• PROCESSES AS WE WANTED BUT PART DOES BECOME PART OF IMLC WE WITH THE REPORTING AND OPERATING PROCESSES
• WE HAVE DONE RECENT OPERATIONS.
• WE ARE HAPPY TO SAY THAT STRONG FLORIDA MOMS LAUNCHED TODAY AND YOU CAN FIND THE WEBSITE AT STRONG FL
• MOMS LAUNCHED TODAY AND YOU CAN FIND THE WEBSITE AT STRONG FL MOMS .COM. >> Chair: GOOD TIMING ON THAT

Transcript Highlights:

• Our facilities are operating above planned capacity on a daily basis.
• operate at full capacity and maintain waitlists.
• After a year of planning, DMH launched two weeks ago its updated case management model.
• There's initial progress that doesn't require big operational change.
• It does not cover the launch of the actual data collection and analysis...

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> unprecedented strain on our operations unprecedented strain on our operations our<00:24:15.720><
• </c><03:54:07.479><c> the</c> name is Lilia kapuni I we operate the name is Lilia kapuni I we operate
• Additionally, the operating request would help offset operating costs for 5,600 home-delivered meals
• Additionally, the operating request would help offset operating costs for 5,600 home-delivered meals
• </c> System since 1981 we have operated System since 1981 we have operated entirely<05:16:59.840><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• New Pathways they've been operating.
• Our career training operates through three specialized pillars.
• So we operate through a number of different funding streams.
• Um a new program that we're launching.
• </c> know live downtown and at our operation know live downtown and at our operation in<00:51:08.400>

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Under current law, school districts operating on military installations must use local funds to finance
• Our staff work to provide assistance to any and all sponsors, and we did recently launch, thanks for
• Our staff work to provide assistance to any and all sponsors, and we did recently launch, thanks for
• It's boat ramps, docks, launch docks, those sorts of things.
• And although they are operating budget, we also see significant demand around the outdoor education programs

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several capital-related bills. HB 2353 would raise the pre-design threshold for state-funded capital projects from $10 million to $15 million and index it to inflation beginning in 2027. The sponsor and a testifier said the change would reduce delays and save money on projects by avoiding costly pre-design work for mid-sized projects; staff noted the bill could reduce future capital budget costs. HB 2420 would increase the Small Works roster contract cap in stages from $350,000 to $650,000 by 2030, with a proposed substitute shifting the first increase from July 2026 to January 2027 to allow time for rulemaking. Testimony from universities, cities, ports, counties, and water/sewer districts supported the bill as a way to reduce administrative burden, speed projects, and help small and diverse contractors. The committee also heard HB 2470, which would change how the School Construction Assistance Program treats school facilities on military bases. Staff explained the bill would exclude on-base instructional space from a district’s available-space calculation and adjust state assistance to account for federal funding, potentially increasing eligibility for affected districts such as Clover Park and Medical Lake. The sponsor and supporters said current rules unfairly reduce state support for districts serving military families; OSPI testified in support but said the bill would need amendment to avoid federal-law issues and was working on a revised approach that would increase the SCAP funding assistance percentage instead of directly referencing federal funds. Clover Park School District and the Veterans Legislative Coalition also supported the measure. In executive session, the committee moved HB 2338, which expands the low-income weatherization program to include community-scaled projects, out of committee with a do-pass recommendation by a vote of 17 ayes and 2 excused. The committee then held a work session with the Recreation and Conservation Office on its competitive grant programs, including Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program accounts, youth athletic facilities, community forests, aquatic lands, boating, off-road vehicle, firearms and archery, and federal grant programs. Members asked about demand, ADA compliance, geographic distribution, and technical assistance; RCO said demand is high in several programs and that it uses scoring criteria, regional allocations, and outreach to improve access statewide.