Transcript Highlights:

• <c> is</c><00:36:50.960><c> paying</c><00:36:51.200><c> for</c> and someone else is paying for and someone
• And then we can pay for roads and then we can not charge our citizens to pay for the roads.
• Uh, if they're happy to pay it, then we should let them.
• If you're paying it because you have to, then that's a tax.
• Uh, you can't appeal it until you pay the bill.

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The question is where does that money come from to pay for them?
• The question is: am I paying more money by paying more money to traveling nurses or scabs than just essentially
• The question is: am I paying more money by paying more money to traveling nurses or scabs than just essentially
• But collectively, as a whole, what am I paying the nurses that are at the bedside?
• What am I paying the nurses as a whole that are at the bedside?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Health and Labor heard testimony on HB 1244, a measure relating to labor standards at health care facilities and nursing staff ratios. Committee members opened by explaining hearing procedures, including a suggested two-minute testimony limit and Zoom rules. The bill drew extensive testimony from hospitals, nursing organizations, unions, and individual nurses, with the central debate focusing on whether staffing ratios should be set by statute or left to collective bargaining and unit-level staffing decisions. Opponents included the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Straub Benioff Medical Center, Hawaii Pacific Health, Kapiolani Medical Center, and Queen’s Health Systems. They argued that fixed ratios are too rigid for the changing conditions of hospital care, could worsen workforce shortages, and should be handled through labor negotiations, staffing committees, and existing agreements. Several also pointed to investments in nursing education, loan repayment, and workforce development as better solutions. Queen’s said it had recently reached an agreement with nurses after more than 40 meetings that included a staffing framework, and Kapiolani and others emphasized the need for flexibility in emergencies and specialty care. Supporters, including the Hawaii State Center for Nursing, Pride at Work Hawaii, the Hawaii Nurses Association/American Nurses Association chapter, Hawaii Nurses Association Local 50, UNAC/UHCP, and individual nurses, said unsafe staffing levels contribute to burnout, turnover, errors, and patient harm. Testifiers described chronic short staffing, emotionally and physically exhausting workloads, and situations in which nurses were responsible for too many patients at once. Supporters argued that safe ratios are necessary to protect both patients and nurses, and that collective bargaining has not been enough to ensure safe conditions statewide, especially in facilities without unions. No vote or final committee action was announced in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our forthcoming study finds... ...their reduces their take-home pay.
• But you still got to pay it back.
• Mm-hmm. ...residency, the funding cannot be used to pay the mentor teacher.
• And only after they've exhausted sick leave are they even eligible for differential pay?
• And only after they've exhausted sick leave, are they even eligible for differential pay?

Summary: The committee heard an informational discussion on California’s educator pipeline and shortages, with testimony from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Learning Policy Institute, CSU educator preparation leaders, and CTA. Witnesses said state investments of more than $2.1 billion have helped rebuild teacher supply, with credential issuance and preparation enrollment rebounding after COVID, but demand remains high because of turnover, early-career attrition, and persistent vacancies. Panelists emphasized that shortages are especially acute in special education, bilingual education, STEM, and in high-need schools and regions, and that underprepared teachers, substitutes, and emergency permits remain heavily used. Several speakers stressed that retention, working conditions, compensation, and stable funding are as important as recruitment. Members focused on whether current data systems are sufficient to measure need and track where teachers end up working. The Commission said it can monitor assignments for credential alignment, but does not have full employment data to determine whether grant recipients or credentialed teachers are actually deployed in the shortage areas for which they were trained. The chair asked for better regional and subject-area data, and the committee discussed the risk that layoffs and budget instability could undermine teacher pipeline investments. CSU representatives urged stronger support for student-teacher stipends, better coordination with districts, more capacity for special education preparation, and more stable CSU funding to expand educator preparation. CTA testified that school climate, class size, health benefits, and administrative support are essential to retaining teachers. The committee then moved to budget proposals. For the Golden State Teacher Grant Program, Finance proposed a $14.4 million reappropriation for 2026-27, and the Student Aid Commission supported continued funding, saying the program has influenced candidates’ decisions to enter teaching and work in priority schools. For educator residencies, Finance proposed $250 million one-time Proposition 98 funding through 2029-30; the LAO said it could be adopted if aligned with legislative priorities, and CTC said the program has strong uptake and supports retention. For the computer science supplementary authorization grant, Finance proposed increasing awards from $2,500 to $6,000 and reducing the match requirement, but the LAO recommended rejecting the change because only about one-fifth of the original funding has been used. The committee also discussed registered apprenticeship pathways, rural access, and whether federal Title II, Title III, or IDEA funds could support bilingual and special education teacher preparation. Several items were held open for further information and follow-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have a campus, you've got to pay to the UC Office of the President. It was cut by 10%.
• The state is currently paying more than $33,000 per student to replace a nonresident with a resident
• to educate you, what you would charge an out-of-state student or international student, and we will pay
• But you're absolutely correct that these funds primarily go to support graduate students, to pay their
• salary, funds primarily go to support graduate students, to pay their salaries and fee remission, and

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, chaired by Assemblymember Alvarez, held a hearing focused on University of California budget issues. The committee reviewed UC core operations funding, enrollment trends, federal funding threats, Title IX implementation, and basic needs support. Major themes included the end of the Governor’s multi-year UC compact, the state’s fiscal outlook, UC’s enrollment growth, and the potential impacts of federal policy changes on research, health care, and student aid. On core funding, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to continue compact-related support, defer some payments, and authorize a cash-flow loan. The LAO recommended a smaller or no base increase, earmarking some funds for capital renewal, retiring deferrals when possible, avoiding new compact commitments, and funding UC annually rather than through compacts. UC argued that the compact has supported enrollment growth, student services, and operating costs, but said campuses face rising expenses, structural deficits, and limited reserves. Members questioned the effects of deferrals on students and discussed the need to prioritize less harmful reductions if cuts become necessary. The enrollment panel focused on UC’s growth in California resident enrollment and the nonresident replacement plan at Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego. The LAO recommended maintaining the current enrollment target, funding enrollment separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident replacement plan, and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. UC said it has already met compact enrollment goals, grown California undergraduate enrollment by about 18,800 students, and that further growth depends on ongoing state support. The committee also discussed the cost of enrollment growth, possible differential nonresident tuition, and a reporting request for UC to analyze the nonresident replacement approach; the motion to adopt supplemental reporting language passed. The hearing also covered federal funding risks, with the LAO and UC warning that federal changes could affect research grants, medical center reimbursement, and student financial aid. UC said research cancellations and suspensions are disrupting labs and graduate student support, while federal health policy changes could increase uncompensated care at UC hospitals. In the Title IX update, UC described its systemwide civil rights structure, annual student training, and campus support offices, and members praised the work while asking about ongoing concerns and intersegmental collaboration. The final basic-needs item began with Finance stating the Governor’s budget does not change ongoing support, but the transcript cuts off before further discussion or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• this also includes charter schools now public schools including tribal contract schools um to help pay
• schools</c><00:02:02.000><c> um</c><00:02:02.079><c> to</c><00:02:02.240><c> help</c><00:02:02.399><c> pay
• </c> tribal contract schools um to help pay tribal contract schools um to help pay for<00:02:02.799><
• At the end of the day, they're still going to be most likely paying taxes in Minnesota when they grow
• At the end of the day, they're still going to be most likely paying taxes in Minnesota when they grow

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the Idaho State... ...cost allocation and $10 million for the Idaho State Patrol Division for trooper pay
• The department says in order to make their 2%, they're going to not pay for their maintenance of their
• Not pay for their maintenance of their HVAC system.
• So that's what you're voting for on this: the department says they will not pay for the maintenance of
• Just for another comment, and it isn't just the interest that we may need to pay on the refunds that

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first received updates from LSO on the latest green sheet, including the revenue impact of House Bill 559, recent cash transfers, and the Idaho Budget Rescissions Act for FY 2026. Members then moved through a series of FY 2027 maintenance budgets, beginning with the legislative branch. The committee discussed the statewide 2% reduction layered on top of the governor’s recommendation, benefit-cost adjustments, and how those decisions were being built into the maintenance budgets. The legislative branch budget passed, followed by unanimous-consent adoption of related language. The committee next considered public safety, natural resources, health and human services, economic development, judicial branch, constitutional officers, and general government budgets. In each case, analysts explained how rescissions, ongoing base reductions, and statewide adjustments were incorporated. Several members objected to the across-the-board cuts, arguing they would reduce staffing or services in corrections, juvenile corrections, environmental quality, health and welfare, public defender services, crime victims compensation, tax administration, and treatment courts, while supporters said the committee needed a target and would revisit details in enhancement work groups. Most budget motions passed on divided votes and were forwarded with do-pass recommendations. The committee also adopted multiple sections of standard and nonstandard language, including cash transfers, reporting requirements, and agency-specific provisions. In Health and Human Services, members debated language requiring reporting on large acquisitions and transfers, and in Economic Development and General Government they adopted language affecting the State Public Defender, the Department of Insurance, and group insurance premiums. The meeting ended while the committee was still working through a disputed general government language item about funding employee health insurance premiums from reserve accounts, with members debating whether the language should reference specific reserve funds or broader reserve funding and whether the proposal was properly within JFAC’s scope.

Transcript Highlights:

• Idaho State..." "...cost allocation and $10 million for the Idaho State Patrol Division for trooper pay
• The department says in order to make their 2%, they're going to not pay for their maintenance of their
• HVAC system. ...not pay for their maintenance of their HVAC system.
• So that's what you're voting for on this: the department says they will not pay for the maintenance of
• Just for another comment, and it isn't just the interest that we may need to pay on the refunds that

Summary: The committee received an LSO update on the latest green sheet, including the fiscal effects of House Bill 559, recent cash transfers, and the Idaho Budget Rescissions Act for FY 2026. Staff then walked through FY 2027 maintenance budgets, explaining how statewide decisions, benefit costs, contract inflation, and cost allocation were built into the numbers. Members also discussed clarifications to the health insurance calculation language and the treatment of certain agency plans, including graduate medical education and the Secretary of State’s cash balance approach. The committee considered and approved maintenance budgets for the legislative branch, public safety, natural resources, health and human services, economic development, the judicial branch, constitutional officers, and general government. Several members objected to the across-the-board reductions, arguing they would create long-term costs, harm staffing and services, and shift expenses to other parts of government or to the public. Supporters said the committee needed a target, that the maintenance budgets were structurally balanced, and that further changes could be addressed in the enhancement process. Most budget motions passed on divided votes, and the committee also adopted standard language for each packet. The committee debated several pieces of nonstandard language, including provisions related to budget integrity, reporting requirements for large Health and Welfare acquisitions, a cash transfer for livestock depredation prevention, public defender parking, insurance reimbursement limits, and a proposal to use reserve funds to hold state employee health insurance premiums flat. Some language was adopted by unanimous consent, while the employee premium language prompted extended discussion over which reserve funds could be used and whether the proposal should apply differently to elected officials and other employees. The meeting ended while that issue was still being worked through, with the committee having advanced multiple budget packets and accompanying language to do-pass recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Where are the private businesses paying?
• It looks like you’re robbing Peter to pay Paul. Can you please explain something to me?
• Ashley, is that a violation by paying? Is that normal practice for? Is that, Ms.
• Ashley, is that a violation by paying? Is that normal practice for fairs?
• And why that one pays quarterly, I have no idea.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Summary: The committee began with prayer and approval of the January 8 minutes, then received updates on delinquent private water and sewer reports. Staff reported that for the 2022 reports, 19 of 43 entities had had their turnback reinstated, while 24 remained in escrow; for the 2023 reports, 59 of 64 entities had filed, leaving five outstanding. The committee also filed a report on Adona, where staff said the city had made enough progress toward substantial compliance with municipal accounting laws to discontinue withholding turnback, and the committee adopted that recommendation. The bulk of the meeting focused on municipal accounting noncompliance cases. Gum Springs and Denning were presented with extensive repeat findings involving budgets not adopted by ordinance or resolution, missing or incomplete bank reconciliations, inadequate receipts and disbursement records, payroll issues, and improper handling of Act 833 funds or other city money. Both cities’ mayors and recorders-treasurers testified about efforts to correct records, obtain training, and work with the Municipal League; the committee voted to start the 60-day turnback-withholding clock for both and then filed the reports. Fargo was deferred because no city representative was present. Additional reports included Green Forest, Elaine, Strong, Brooklyn, Mineral Springs, Rondo, Waldo, Columbia County, and several private water and sewer entities. Strong drew significant concern over missing garbage-bag revenue, improper fund transfers, and deficit balances; the committee deferred that report to the March meeting. The committee also heard investigative or referred reports on the Faulkner County Fair Association, Brooklyn payroll direct-deposit fraud, and other entities with questionable disbursements or recordkeeping. In several cases, staff recommended filing the reports after responses were received; in others, the committee deferred action when responses were lacking or representatives were absent. The meeting ended with a motion to defer a Cross County Rural Water matter so the entity could appear at the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those lands were owned by us; they were owned by the counties because the owners of the land didn't pay
• For example, forest products is the only private-sector segment in Clallam County that pays family-wage
• Those lands no longer generated tax revenue to pay for county services.
• Those lands no longer generated tax revenue to pay for county services.
• So we thank you for paying attention to this issue. Thank you.

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held public hearings on several bills, with most of the discussion focused on tribal representation and natural resource management. On HB 2117, which would add a tribal representative to the Board of Natural Resources, the prime sponsor and DNR officials said the bill would strengthen government-to-government relationships without replacing existing consultation duties. Tribal leaders from the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation testified in support, as did the Commissioner of Public Lands and DNR’s tribal relations director. County and timber interests said they were not opposed to tribal representation but raised concerns about trust responsibilities, beneficiary interests, and whether the representative should come from a tribe with commercial forest management experience. The committee later closed testimony on HB 2117 and read into the record 192 pro, 124 con, and zero other sign-ins. The committee also heard HB 2516, which would impose a two-year moratorium on the use of certain anticoagulant rodenticides and bromethalin after a Department of Agriculture report and while the Washington State Academy of Sciences studies alternatives and impacts. The prime sponsor argued the bill balances rodent control with concerns about wildlife, groundwater, and human exposure, while opponents from the pest management industry warned it would remove effective tools and worsen rodent problems, especially for low-income and manufactured-home communities. Supporters included the Washington Poison Center, wildlife rehabilitators, Birds Connect Seattle, the Stillaguamish Tribe, and other advocates who cited poisonings in wildlife and children and pointed to non-toxic alternatives and integrated pest management. The committee read into the record 754 pro, 176 con, and five other sign-ins. For HB 2554, which would repeal RCW 77.110 and related language tied to Initiative 456 and tribal fishing rights, the sponsor and the Attorney General’s Office said the statute is unconstitutional and inconsistent with federal treaty law and court rulings. The Department of Fish and Wildlife also supported repeal, describing the measure as removing an unenforceable anti-tribal statute. The committee then moved on to HB 2327, a bill directing JLARC to audit the county forest board lands trust and DNR’s management of those lands. The sponsor, former Rep. Jim Buck, county representatives, and forest industry witnesses supported an independent review of the trust structure and performance; some asked for amendments to address reconveyance options, broader legal and ecological considerations, and consultation with tribes and the Board of Natural Resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• By way of background, a person is guilty of the offense of patronizing a prostitute if the person pays
• I never worked the streets to fund a drug habit or pay a pimp.
• I did it to refill my refrigerator and pay my bills, period.
• I never worked the streets to fund a drug habit or pay a pimp.
• I did it to refill my refrigerator and pay my bills, period.

Bills: HB1591 , HB2209 , HB2403 , HB2526

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, survivor protections, legal remedies, defendants, theft, robbery, sentencing enhancements, criminal justice, property crimes, failure to register, registration requirements, public safety, law enforcement, prostitution, public health, criminal justice reform, community safety, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• . $139 million of that would go toward paying our fire costs for this past fire season, and another about
• one in FY 27, for a total of right around a billion dollars. $139 million of that would go toward paying
• backfill of the account's current deficit over four years, and it also allocates funds to agencies to pay
• health center in King County that provides care to 100,000 patients regardless of their ability to pay
• When a cap is in place, that same family would go on a wait list, and they would continue to pay about

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee opened with committee guidelines for the 2026 session, including limits on testimony, amendment deadlines, confidentiality expectations, and professionalism rules. Chair Ormsby also reviewed housekeeping for the public hearing, noting the meeting was recorded and live streamed, and that testimony would be limited to one minute because of the large number of sign-ups. The committee then began its work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental operating budget, presented by OFM Director Katie Chapman, who outlined the state’s fiscal pressures: higher caseloads in major programs, a revenue forecast decline of about $390 million, federal policy changes tied to H.R. 1, inflation, and a relatively small ending fund balance. She said the governor’s budget solves about a $2.3 billion shortfall through nearly $800 million in spending reductions, revenue shifts, fund transfers, use of about $1 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account, and some tax preference changes, while also making targeted investments in areas such as child welfare, behavioral health, wildfire response, housing, and IT modernization. Chapman also explained that the proposal does not fully balance over the four-year outlook under the state’s statutory assumptions, but said the governor relied on the budget-balance law’s exception tied to BSA use and low employment growth. A question from Rep. Connors about credit ratings was answered with the view that the impact is difficult to predict and that Washington’s strong pension funding and balanced-budget framework remain positives. The public hearing drew testimony from state officials and many advocates, most of whom opposed specific cuts or fund shifts in the governor’s proposal. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs objected to proposed sweeps from the corporations and charities fund and the library archives account, citing prior cuts, layoffs, cyberattack-related costs, and the need to upgrade aging systems. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove urged restoration of wildfire prevention funding, saying the proposed amount was still $30 million short of the commitment in House Bill 1168 and that underfunding would increase suppression costs and risk to communities. Many education witnesses opposed reductions to Working Connections Child Care, transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, Running Start, and higher education across-the-board cuts, arguing they would harm access, equity, and workforce development. Higher education leaders from community colleges, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Evergreen State College described staffing cuts, program reductions, and pressure on student services, while K-12 groups and OSPI said the budget would deepen existing funding gaps. A large portion of testimony focused on human services, health, housing, and civil legal aid. Child welfare and youth-serving organizations supported some targeted investments but opposed cuts to child care, child welfare network administration, and youth programs; advocates for foster youth, homeless youth, and mentoring programs asked for continued or increased funding. Health care and long-term care providers warned that proposed Medicaid and rate changes would reduce access for seniors, people with disabilities, and safety-net patients, while Planned Parenthood and abortion access advocates urged full restoration of the Abortion Access Project and related reimbursements. Housing and legal aid witnesses backed the governor’s proposed right-to-counsel funding but asked for more support, and homelessness advocates sought contingency funding for federal housing programs. Crime victim and domestic violence service providers repeatedly said the proposed $12 million was far short of the roughly $21.38 million needed to avoid service cuts and closures. Other testimony addressed the Climate Commitment Account shift for the Working Families Tax Credit, with environmental advocates opposing the diversion of CCA dollars and workforce advocates supporting the governor’s economic security and employment programs. No votes or formal committee action were taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• is facing projected budget deficits for the next few years, and it has not identified how it would pay
• Into our budget, and we had the payments for that to pay it off in our budget.
• To pay for, which are very significant. We honor all legislative earmarks going back to the 80s.
• The remaining beds have to pay for the market rate bond on that project.
• UC Merced, 20 years old with an R1 classification, is rising and paying off.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ability of our judges and magistrates to utilize a tool that is unbiased to a defendant's ability to pay
• a non-profit whose posted goal is paying a defendant's bail bond.
• We have to pay for everything on our own. There's misaligned sympathies, but this is wrong.
• We decided not to pay that price.
• In 2022, the belt bond was $135,000 and I could not afford... to pay that.

Bills: SB9 , SB1047 , SB1048 , SJR17 , SJR49 , SB40 , SJR1 , SJR5 , SB 9 , SB 40 , SJR 1

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Keywords: bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, criminal procedure, public safety report, victim notification, family violence, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunction, taxpayer rights, violent crimes, sexual offenses, community safety, constitutional amendment, trafficking

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to protect student data, keep humans in the loop, pay attention to bias, pay attention to accessibility
• If a tenant can pay what they owe, they should be able to stay in their home.
• Now, yeah, they could pay it eventually.
• So once the tenant pays, then they're able to stay.
• The tenant is paying to stay in the home.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to protect student data, keep humans in the loop, pay attention to bias, pay attention to accessibility
• If a tenant can pay what they owe, they should be able to stay in their home.
• Now, yeah, they could pay it eventually.
• So once the tenant pays, then they're able to stay.
• The tenant is paying to stay in the home.

Summary: The House met on June 30, 2026, with opening ceremonies, guest introductions, a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence for two deceased community members. Members also adopted Consent Calendar 29, which included House Concurrent Resolutions 153, 154, and 156, and passed House Concurrent Resolution 157 directing the State Lottery to report on iLottery options to support traditional lottery retailers, as amended to set a February 15, 2027 reporting deadline. The chamber then considered several bills on agriculture, telecommunications, health, fire service standards, corrections, elections, and education. Among the measures passed were Senate Bill 53 on the Delaware Farm to Community Program, Senate Bill 307 on PSC authority for Lifeline telecom carriers, Senate Bill 339 clarifying advance health care directives, Senate Bill 235 extending manufactured home rent increase rules, Senate Bill 325 updating firefighter/EMS background check and membership standards, Senate Bill 309 discharging incarceration-related balances, Senate Bill 324 on constable-related handgun purchase exemptions, Senate Bill 94 on respiratory care practitioners and ECMO medication access, and Senate Bill 293 creating a licensure pathway for summer camp providers in the Purchase of Care program. The House also passed Senate Substitute 2 for Senate Bill 100, proposing a constitutional amendment to protect the right to marry regardless of race or gender while explicitly preserving religious freedom. The bill drew extended debate, with supporters framing it as a safeguard against future rollbacks of marriage equality and opponents raising concerns about constitutionalizing an issue already in statute; several members explained changed votes and personal reflections before the final roll call, which passed 28-12. House Bill 188, which would allow unaffiliated voters to choose a party primary, also passed after amendment, despite some opposition over party-system effects. Two measures were tabled or amended after debate: Senate Bill 233 on removing snow and ice from vehicles was initially tabled to consider a truck-driver exemption amendment, then the amendment failed and the bill later passed as amended; and Senate Joint Resolution 19 on studying health care costs was tabled briefly pending legal clarification. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 404, creating a three-year pilot program for AI and extended reality in schools, passed after testimony from the Department of Education emphasizing guardrails, data privacy, and teacher oversight. The transcript ends as House Bill 478 is being read in, but no final action on that bill appears in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• They would pay for traffic control for a pre-existing access issue, pickup and drop-off issue for the
• principles to pay for libraries would<00:32:38.000><c> pay</c><00:32:38.240><c> for</c><00:32:38.880>
• And while they were practicing, they wore shirts that said, "Pay us what you owe us."
• </c> got pay increases. got pay increases. the<00:41:45.920><c> that</c><00:41:46.240><c> was</c><00:
• We can support ways for teacher retention, such as paying off student loans.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Education met on March 19 and moved through several bills under time pressure, hearing mostly brief testimony. SB 2024 SD2 and SB 896 SD2, both concerning public-private partnerships for charter school facilities, drew support from the Department of Education, the Charter School Commission, White Kids Can, and Hawaii Technology Academy. DOE said any P3 model should apply only to charter schools on private land and not affect public schools on DOE land. Supporters argued the approach could speed construction, reduce costs, and keep public money in public assets, while UPW and HGA raised concerns about privatization. In response, SFA said the intent was to mirror the existing conversion charter school model, with public ownership of assets and unionized staff, and noted some regions have waited years for schools. SB 2613 SD1 on TMK transfers was heard next. DOE said the bill had originally been supported as part of the governor’s package but was amended to require DOE to convey lands for 13 libraries on DOE property, which DOE said would create “donut holes” in campuses and was unnecessary because existing agreements already govern library use. The State Public Library System supported the bill, saying it has long coexisted with DOE but needs clearer separation and more reliable control over its sites. The Attorney General’s office said the library system currently lacks express statutory authority to own real property and flagged implementation issues because some of the affected parcels are not currently owned by DOE. Committee members questioned both sides about current agreements, communication, and how the bill would change operations. SB 494 SD2, concerning charter school audits, received comments from the Charter School Commission, which said the bill was redundant because charter schools already undergo annual audits during the term of their contracts. The Office of the Auditor was also present. SB 2391 SD2, relating to automatic pay increases for teachers, drew strong opposition from the Office of Collective Bargaining, which said step movement and longevity increases are negotiated in each contract and do not automatically carry over when a contract expires; it warned the bill could affect upcoming negotiations with HSTA. HSTA and several other supporters argued the bill would standardize annual step movement, improve retention, and reflect existing contract language. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead of money going to schools or parks or road upkeep, Minnesotan tax dollars will go to paying lawsuit
• dollars<00:03:04.320><c> will</c><00:03:04.440><c> go</c><00:03:04.600><c> to</c><00:03:04.720><c> paying
• </c><00:03:05.160><c> lawsuit</c> dollars will go to paying lawsuit dollars will go to paying lawsuit
• Smaller sums in New Mexico, paying 350,000; San Juan County in that state, 190,000; San Francisco.
• </c> smaller sums in New Mexico paying smaller sums in New Mexico paying 350,000,<00:50:59.680><c> San

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:53.520><c> uh</c><00:20:53.760><c> full</c> full-time and therefore pay uh full full-time
• and therefore pay uh full costs.<00:20:54.480><c> And</c><00:20:54.720><c> so,</c><00:20:55.120><c> as
• It's not that they have other jobs that actually pay their own living.
• </c> other jobs that are that actually pay other jobs that are that actually pay their<00:32:53.039><
• their own, you know, pay for their own<00:32:54.960><c> living.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, who pays? Where is that? I'm trying to find that bit.
• So, who pays? Where<00:34:06.160><c> is</c><00:34:06.280><c> that?
• </c> how they're funded and then they pay how they're funded and then they pay into<00:36:17.960><c>
• </c><00:36:38.960><c> Are</c> paying for it them to come over? Are paying for it them to come over?
• The kid that has to work at McDonald's after school to help mom pay the rent can't necessarily access

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 35%, and the federal government pays $1. 65%.
• How much is. collect, or I guess who pays that? sure exactly off the top of my head.
• They were just asking for an authority that would allow them to pay for it.
• They had, frankly, very little opportunity to reach... pay a loan and so that again was a grant.
• If it's in the pipes in their own system, sometimes they have to pay for that themselves.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Keywords: 1184, house, all