Video & Transcript : 'stem education' :
Page 430 of 500
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- to the Public Schools Educational Support Programs Division of Educational Services for the Deaf and
- In the House of Representatives, House Bill 712 by the Education Committee.
- the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act.
- the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act.
- the Idaho Student Safety and Educator Disclosure Act.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Jun 24th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- A priority is a tribal education.
- I want to move on to another crucial area, the educational needs of Tao students.
- The polos must be consultated and our education experts must be involved.
- through Indian Education Act.
- Um, the education, um. We're looking at issues within TIO.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, January 14, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> empowerment advancing education empowerment advancing education improving<00:56:23.440><c> physical
- I yield back my time. educational exhibit that showcases educational exhibit that showcases contemporary
- </c> hr28 a bill to amend the education hr28 a bill to amend the education Amendments<02:17:46.719><c
- I yield back. insane and educational institutions have insane and educational institutions have a<03:
- Leon has also served as an educator and drove a school bus.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- There's also provisions in there that go into also education...
- That would be under education in public schools.
- And you may say, well, libraries are education?
- So we're constantly looking at certainly ways to improve our education.
- We've eliminated education, but we still have cities and counties.
Committee:
Senate Appropriations
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Let's strive to save all children, not just one, through education.
- I am a retired educator, lifelong.
- I am very active in Sarasota with strengthening public education.
- I have seen what similar legislation has done to education.
- These are youth that are Florida educated, are bright and industrious.
Committee:
Senate Rules
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary (10-15-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> uh read through the steps and educate uh read through the steps and educate the<00:13:25.600><c>
- ,</c><00:20:07.360><c> multi-istic</c> activities and education, multi-istic activities and education
- </c><00:21:36.880><c> multi-ymic</c> activities and education. multi-ymic activities and education. multi-ymic
- </c><00:23:59.440><c> process</c> presentation uh and educational process presentation uh and educational
- </c> wellness education on a daily basis. wellness education on a daily basis.
Summary:
The subcommittee first heard from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet’s Grants Management Division on federal victim-services funding. Staff described the main grant programs they administer, including STOP VAWA, VOCA victim assistance, sexual assault services, Byrne state crisis intervention, and Project Safe Neighborhoods. They emphasized that VOCA is especially volatile because it is funded by the federal Crime Victims Fund, which has declined sharply in recent years, reducing Kentucky’s available awards and forcing cuts to state, local, and nonprofit subgrants. They also outlined steps the cabinet has taken to stabilize funding, including changing the subaward formula, aligning the grant period with the state fiscal year, subawarding one year behind the federal cycle, and retaining a reserve. Members asked about how funds reach victims, how subgrantee amounts are determined, and requested a breakdown of grant recipients and amounts; staff said they would provide that information later.
The committee then received a detailed presentation from the Department of Juvenile Justice on alternatives to detention. Commissioner Randy White and staff explained that ATDs are short-term, less restrictive placements for low-risk youth, including electronic monitoring, home supervision, group homes, foster care, private child care, community programs, mentoring, evening reporting centers, and in-home wraparound services. They described the referral and approval process involving court-designated workers, detention alternative coordinators, courts, and county attorneys, and said DJJ currently has 16 ATD-related contracts, with placements, programs, and electronic monitoring among them. They also reported that between July 1, 2024, and July 30, 2025, 1,652 juveniles were involved in the process, including 168 diversion cases.
Members questioned the cost of juvenile detention versus adult incarceration, whether families pay for electronic monitoring, whether there is a national model for juvenile detention, and what alternatives exist for truancy and contempt cases. DJJ said families do not generally reimburse for electronic monitoring, there is no single national model, and day treatment centers are an important alternative for some youth. The department also said it builds daily routines and wellness education into its facilities, and that more than two-thirds of its programs are evidence-based. Officials said they currently monitor vendor performance through quarterly reviews and can end contracts for poor performance, but that data tracking is still largely manual. They said the new JCOM system, now in pilot in the eastern region, should improve reporting and help identify outcomes and recidivism more effectively.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Revenue Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- grow the Massachusetts economy by empowering our students and investing directly in our technical education
- The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is mandated to establish regulations setting minimum
- needs, we draw confidence from neighboring states that have pursued similar strategies of tying education
- Idaho's launch grant program provides significant education grants to students pursuing careers determined
- But this proposal doesn't compete with essential services like Medicaid or education.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Revenue
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on a large slate of bills related to advertising, economic development, tourism, digital advertising, delivery taxes, and alcohol taxation. The first panel supported H. 3249, which would create a high school trade partnership program linking public schools with private employers, especially in manufacturing, and would offer employers a tax credit for participation. Representative Soder, Uxbridge High School leaders, and others argued the bill would strengthen career pathways, build a skilled workforce, and keep students and jobs in Massachusetts.
The committee then heard testimony on H. 3031 and S. 2003 to modernize the Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund by dedicating an additional share of hotel occupancy tax revenue to tourism promotion. Tourism and hospitality representatives from Cape Cod, Southwick Zoo, and Indian Ranch said the proposal would not raise taxes but would reinvest existing visitor-generated revenue into marketing that supports jobs, local businesses, and municipal tax receipts. A tech-industry coalition opposed several digital advertising tax bills and a delivery tax bill, warning they would raise costs, create uncertainty, and burden consumers, small businesses, and delivery workers.
The largest portion of the hearing focused on S. 2029, which would raise the alcohol excise tax by 10 cents per drink and dedicate the revenue to public health programs. Public health experts, advocates, a student prevention leader, and representatives from Jane Doe, Inc. argued the tax would reduce alcohol-related harms, address decades of inflation-driven erosion in the tax, and generate substantial new funding for prevention, treatment, domestic violence services, and community schools. Committee members asked questions about the current tax structure, inflation, and how the proposal compares with neighboring states. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair adjourned after public testimony concluded.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 05/13/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- . >> Senator May moves to discharge from the Committee on Higher Education, Assembly Bill 4840A, and
- AMEND THE EDUCATION LAW. >> READ THE LAST SECTION.
- Calendar 923, Senate Print 8899, Senator Stavisky, an act to amend the Education Law.
- Calendar 923, Senate Print 8899, Senator Stavisky, an act to amend the Education Law.
- Calendar 924, Assembly 9566A, Assembly Member Berger, an act to amend the Education Law.
Summary:
The Senate opened with routine business, approved the prior journal, and received several motions to discharge identical Assembly bills from committee and substitute corresponding Senate bills. Members also offered brief recognitions for visitors, including Yemeni American community advocates and Cheri Davis, who was honored for her Alzheimer’s advocacy and support work. The chamber then took up several previously adopted resolutions, including Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, Period Poverty Awareness Week, and Nurses Week, with senators speaking in support of each measure’s purpose and importance.
The body then moved through a long calendar of bills, passing a wide range of measures on education, public health, correction law, environmental conservation, municipal law, agriculture, and consumer protection. Notable floor discussion included Senator Ramos explaining her support for a bill requiring salons and similar businesses to display multilingual domestic violence resource information, and Senator Gianaris and Senator Borrello debating a bill to prohibit electronic shelf labeling in stores over concerns about surveillance, dynamic pricing, and impacts on brick-and-mortar retailers. Senator May and Senator Skoufis also spoke on an environmental conservation bill concerning American eel management, with May supporting the species protections and Skoufis objecting to the bill’s structure.
Most bills were adopted by wide margins, though several drew recorded negative votes. The Senate passed the domestic violence information bill, the electronic shelf-labeling bill, and multiple other measures, including bills on eviction notice procedures, surrogate court procedure, and environmental conservation. After completing the calendar, the Senate reported no further business and adjourned until the next day at 11:00 a.m.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a bill that was brought forward by the Department of Education. This is not a vendor bill.
- The Department of Education and Mike Curtinbach with the Department of Education, who leads the school
- We need to make sure we keep our children, educators, and staff safe, and we need to make sure they can
- And so I think that we should take some time to really look at the research, really talk to our educators
- And so I think that we should take some time to really look at the research, really talk to our educators
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the journal, and recognition of the Doctor of the Day. Members also welcomed a visiting group from Women Leading Government and adopted a proclamation honoring Deputy Warden Veronica Parcell and National Corrections Officers and Employees Week. The House then agreed to request Senate consent to adjourn after completing its work on Wednesday, April 22, and later moved into Committee of the Whole to consider bills on the calendar.
In Committee of the Whole, the House advanced several Senate bills. SB 1457, SB 1808, SB 1006, SB 1018, SB 1041, SB 1345, and SB 1512 all received do-pass recommendations, with SB 1552 also receiving a do-pass recommendation as amended. SB 1006 was amended to increase the anonymous small-donation reporting threshold and add an inflation adjustment, drawing debate over transparency. SB 1018, dealing with Sharia law, prompted sharp disagreement over constitutional concerns and community impact, but still advanced. SB 1041, a strike-everything amendment on electronic monitoring in assisted living facilities, drew supportive testimony about accountability and protecting vulnerable seniors. SB 1345 advanced with amendments after discussion of licensing timelines for health facilities and removal of an anonymous complaint provision.
On third reading, SB 1167 and SB 1254 passed, and SB 1763 also passed after debate over school district finance rules. SB 1315, concerning school safety interoperability and communications with law enforcement, failed on a 25-25 tie after extensive debate over whether it was a vendor-driven bill and whether it created an unfunded or poorly designed mandate. After that vote, a motion to reconsider SB 1315 succeeded by a 30-18 vote. The House also concurred in Senate requests to return HB 2035 and HB 2249 for reconsideration. The session ended with announcements about the annual legislative charity softball game, a Democratic caucus meeting, and adjournment until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor (3-5-26)
Economic Development, Tourism, & Labor
Transcript Highlights:
- This could be a learning experience to educate the state's environment and history. Thank you.
- Um this could be a learning experience Um this could be a learning experience to<00:10:46.920><c> educate
- the</c><00:10:47.320><c> state's</c><00:10:47.600><c> environment</c><00:10:48.200><c> and</c> to educate
- the state's environment and to educate the state's environment and history. history. history.
- </c><00:19:55.160><c> that</c><00:19:55.280><c> we</c> to to the good public education that we to to
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Transportation Feb 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It adds to the membership of the council the executive director of the Workforce Training and Education
- removes the council's direct control of expenditures of the commercial truck safety account and education
- It includes additional information on safety challenges of heavy vehicles and the utility of educational
- The last bill, House Bill 2727, requires WSDOT to establish the educational transit access grant program
- House Bill 2727 requires WSDOT to establish the educational transit access grant program to provide funds
Summary:
The committee took up a series of transportation-related bills and proposed substitutes, with most measures advancing after discussion and roll-call or voice votes. House Bill 2092, creating a Washington State Amtrak Cascades Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, was amended by a proposed substitute that broadened membership and duties, and it passed 20-6. House Bill 2114, allowing fee waivers for replacement defective license plates, passed unanimously. House Bill 2172, clarifying route jurisdiction transfers and abandonments for highways and local roads, also passed unanimously after a substitute requiring agreements or legislative action for longer highway abandonments or those involving bridges.
House Bill 2251, which restructures Climate Commitment Act accounts and revenue distribution, drew the most amendment activity. Two amendments were adopted to adjust forest carbon language and clarify Ecology administration funding, while amendments to redirect revenue to transportation infrastructure and to split excess revenue differently failed. The bill then passed 18-8 as amended. House Bill 2374, which redefines e-bikes and electric motorcycles and creates a work group on enforcement and safety, passed unanimously after a substitute added stakeholder representation and asked the work group to explore civil infractions and penalties. House Bill 2410, creating a Commercial Truck Safety and Education Council and increasing a safety fee, passed 25-1 after a substitute changed appointment authority, membership, and other council provisions.
House Bill 2552, authorizing WSDOT and a regional transit authority to use MATOC contracting, was amended to add apprenticeship, prevailing wage, and notification requirements and then passed 16-10. House Bill 2588, expanding ferry district authority beyond passenger-only ferries, passed 16-10 amid concerns about taxing authority and voter input. House Bill 2718, setting timelines and processes for permit streamlining and originally including contractor ratings, had the contractor-rating section removed by amendment and then passed unanimously. House Bill 2722, increasing the vehicle weight threshold for transportation benefit district fees from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds, passed 17-9. House Bill 2727, creating an educational transit access grant program for community and technical college students, passed 21-5 after supporters emphasized student access and equity, while some members raised rural access concerns.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 6 (1-13-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 351, an act relating to military connected educational benefits.
- House Bill 358, an act relating to paramedic education. Representative Stalker.
- </c> military connected educational benefits. military connected educational benefits.
- </c> an act relating to paramedic education. an act relating to paramedic education.
- To Primary and Secondary Education: House Bill 11 and House Bill 35.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Its priorities include increasing participation in clinical trials, supporting education and awareness
- So what’s the department doing to better educate oncologists throughout the state, not just in certain
- He also is the Internal Medicine and Education Director and Clinical Associate Professor. Dr.
- He also is the Internal Medicine and Education Director and Clinical Associate Professor. Dr.
- for Orlando Health Prevention and Wellness, and the internal medicine education director.
Committee:
Senate Health Policy
Summary:
The committee first received an update from the Department of Health on the Cancer Connect Collaborative, the Cancer Innovation Fund, and the new Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator, created and expanded by recent legislation. The department reported that the Cancer Innovation Fund has awarded $80 million to 95 researchers to date, with $60 million available in the current cycle and 65 projects funded across 28 institutions in 16 cancer areas last year. The new pediatric cancer incubator received $30 million and awarded four Florida children’s hospitals $7.5 million each. Senators asked about outreach to oncologists statewide, peer review and accountability, funding for National Cancer Institute-affiliated institutions, and whether underserved and rural areas are being prioritized; the department said it uses website notices, listservs, collaborative outreach, and eligibility criteria favoring rural and high-cancer-care providers, and that it monitors projects through reports, expenditures, and contract provisions.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 312 on patient-directed medical orders, which would create a voluntary, portable, physician-authorized electronic registry for patients to document end-of-life and serious-illness treatment preferences. Supporters, including nurses, hospice and emergency care advocates, and medical professionals, said the bill would help ensure patient wishes are accessible in emergencies, reduce unwanted interventions, and improve continuity of care. Opponents, including Florida Right to Life, argued the bill could broaden end-of-life decisions too far, raise privacy and coercion concerns, and allow withdrawal of care inappropriately. The sponsor said the measure is intended to support patient autonomy and is not anti-life, and noted she was open to amendments.
After public testimony, the committee voted on SB 312 and reported it favorably. The roll call showed support from Senators Berman and Harrell, with the bill passing on the committee vote. The meeting then adjourned.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Service Jul 14th, 2026
Joint Committee on Public Service
Transcript Highlights:
- Even though we are public school educators working in Springfield, we supervise principals, we evaluate
- We create unique models that give students in Springfield access to a high-quality education, and we
- do that in partnership with Springfield Public Schools, the Springfield Education Association, and the
- Department of Education in Massachusetts.
- This is certainly a gap that's impacted us as public educators within the state, and I won't belabor
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Public Service
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Public Service held its 22nd hearing of the 194th General Court to consider late-file bills, with the chairs outlining testimony limits and instructions for submitting written testimony. The committee heard testimony on several local bills, including H.5520, which would allow George Petrinos of Dudley to continue serving as a call firefighter past age 65 until age 70. Representative John Moran said the bill had town support, would have no pension or fiscal impact, and was intended to let Petrinos continue a long record of service.
The committee also heard testimony on H.4499 concerning the Springfield Empowerment Zone Partnership. Witnesses Colleen Curran and Matthew Brunell said the bill would correct an oversight so certain employees of the zone could participate in the public retirement system. They described the organization as a public body subject to open meeting and procurement laws, performing functions similar to a public school district, and said a prior administrative decision had recognized it as a public entity but not extended retirement eligibility to its employees.
Finally, the committee took testimony on Senate Bill 3165 for the town of Holbrook, which would authorize the appointment of Patrick Daugherty as a firefighter despite the maximum age requirement. Holbrook Fire Chief Luke McFadden and Senators John Keenan and Representative Mark Cusack said the department needs paramedic-qualified firefighters, Daugherty is already known to the town and fully qualified aside from the age issue, and the exemption would help address staffing shortages. No questions were raised after the testimony, and the committee then moved to adjourn.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Courtney Salas Ford, Department of Education. Greg Rogers, Department of Education.
- And I just want to say thank you so much to the Department of Education for your entire work on this
- revenue because it is not addressed in these statutes and not governed at all by the Department of Education
- tax revenue because not addressed in these statutes and not governed at all by the Department of Education
- Has not been addressed in these statutes and not governed at all by the Department of Education.
Committee:
All ALC-EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE
Summary:
The Executive Subcommittee met and first approved an emergency rule change from the Department of Education to update consolidation and annexation rules to reflect Acts 919 of 2025 and 157 of the 2026 fiscal session. The rule implements the creation of new isolated school districts after local detachment votes, and officials explained the funding structure for parent districts: they retain foundation funding, declining enrollment funding, and local tax revenue, while 90% of the foundation funding generated by detaching students is forwarded to the new districts. Members discussed the financial impact in detail, and the emergency rule was approved without objection, effective upon adjournment of the Legislative Council meeting on June 19, 2026.
The Department of Human Services then presented an emergency rule allowing hospitals to open separate adolescent substance use disorder units and receive payment for residential services provided to adolescents. The rule was approved without objection, and Senator Irvin requested that the topic be placed on a future public health agenda for an update.
The committee also approved Whitehall’s waiver request to exceed $1 million through cooperative purchasing for construction services related to a project using a vendor with prior experience and a longer-warranty system. In addition, members voted to keep committee per diem, mileage, and expense allocations unchanged for the new fiscal year. Finally, the committee approved a motion to cancel the July 2026 Legislative Council meeting, allow only subcommittee meetings with imminent matters through July 31, and treat July subcommittee actions as final for reporting at the August 21, 2026 meeting.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Courtney Salas Ford, Department of Education. Greg Rogers, Department of Education.
- And I just want to say thank you so much to the Department of Education for your entire work on this
- revenue because it is not addressed in these statutes and not governed at all by the Department of Education
- tax revenue because not addressed in these statutes and not governed at all by the Department of Education
- . ...has not been addressed in these statutes and is not governed at all by the Department of Education
Committee:
All ALC-EXECUTIVE SUBCOMMITTEE
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Commerce and Economic Development Oversight REVISED: SB1101 and SB1966 - Added Apr 16th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- That could be a wide variety of activities, not limited to employment, housing, transportation, education
- That could be a lack of transportation to get to a job, lack of education to get a job, lack of childcare
- or early child education, which prevents economic activity.
- That could be a wide variety of activities, not limited to employment, housing, transportation, education
- or early child education, which prevents economic activity.
Summary:
The committee first laid over SB 1101 and SB 1813, then heard and advanced SB 1966 and SB 80. SB 1966, presented by Chairman Johns, was amended with a PCS to incorporate the House’s Memorial Roads and Bridges language after a House-Senate coordination issue; the committee adopted the PCS and passed the bill out unanimously, 9-0. SB 80, presented by Representative Clay Staires, was also amended with a PCS and described as a cleanup bill removing several outdated turnpike provisions; members noted it reflected a negotiated consensus, and it passed unanimously, 11-0.
After the bill votes, the committee received a required informational presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce on the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). Director Marshall Votes explained that Commerce administers the grant, keeps 5% for oversight, and passes 90% to 17 community action agencies serving all 77 counties. He said the program currently manages about $8.9 million, served about 33,000 low-income families last year, and leverages that funding into more than $250 million in broader community impact through services such as employment support, housing, transportation, education, health, and childcare.
Members asked about Commerce staffing and oversight, and Votes said a small team of a few employees handles planning, monitoring, training, and compliance for CSBG alongside other programs. Committee members thanked Commerce for its work and emphasized the importance of the program for rural communities and all 77 counties. The meeting ended with expressions of appreciation and adjournment.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Career technical education is critically important in this state.
- think, with consistency for the emphasis and the priority that we are giving to career technical education
- In the statement of purpose, I said that these career technical educators must receive three years of
- And I don't think I was aware that it would include some of the other divisions within the education
- I think this legislation doesn't cover the other portion of having to get recertified through an education
Committee:
House Education
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Jan 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It reduces a regulatory burden by reducing the number of continuing education credits required for private
- We updated these incorporated by reference documents to reduce the number of continuing education hours
- These changes ensure that these private, licensed individuals receive the necessary continuing education
- Just for clarification in my head, we're getting rid of the continuing education requirements that are
- Chairman and Senator Lakey, for the record, what we are doing is we are lowering the continuing education
Summary:
The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee met with Senator Shippee presiding in place of Chairman Lakey for part of the meeting. The committee first considered two gubernatorial appointments to the Commission of Pardons and Parole: Scott Smith and Dailen Hobson. Both were moved to the floor with a recommendation for Senate confirmation and approved by voice vote.
The committee then reviewed Rule Docket 21-01-0101-2501 from the Idaho Division of Veterans Services, which removes obsolete rules related to domiciliary care that is no longer provided. Members asked about a weapons prohibition at the state veterans home and whether it related to federal rules and resident safety; the presenter said it did. The docket was approved by voice vote. Next, the committee heard Rule Docket 57-0101-2501 from the Sexual Offender Management Board, which lowers continuing education requirements for private licensed evaluators and treatment providers from 40 to 30 hours and removes duplicative language between the rule and incorporated documents. The presenter requested an early effective date of sine die so temporary rules would not be needed, and the committee approved the docket with that early effective date by voice vote.
After Chairman Lakey returned, Senator Wintrow presented RS 32987, a proposal to add two misdemeanor offenses to the list of crimes requiring DNA collection in Idaho. She said the measure was narrowed from an earlier version with seven misdemeanors, cited public safety and repeat-offense concerns, and noted informal support from stakeholders including the sheriffs’ association. The committee voted to introduce the RS and send it to print by voice vote, then adjourned.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability Jul 20th, 2026
Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability
Transcript Highlights:
- This would include basic education spending and K-12 education, the debt service on previously issued
- This would include basic education spending and K-12 education, the debt service previously issued bonds
- To avoid... ...family programs, health care, and higher education.
- To avoid family programs, health care, and higher education.
- And we also have people who know a lot about Medicaid, education, etc. Next slide, please.
Committee:
Joint Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability
Summary:
The committee held its first meeting, with co-chairs and members introducing themselves and staff outlining the committee’s statutory charge under the 2026 supplemental operating budget. Staff explained that the committee is tasked with studying budget transparency and fiscal sustainability in two phases: first, revenue growth, spending assumptions, statutory cost drivers, and carryforward/maintenance levels; and later, staffing, overhead, performance management, and public reporting tools. The committee also discussed its goals, with members emphasizing a shared factual understanding of Washington’s fiscal situation, the causes of projected structural deficits, and possible paths to a more sustainable operating budget.
Staff then gave a detailed operating budget basics presentation. They reviewed the size and composition of the operating budget, explaining that most spending is concentrated in grants and client services, salaries and benefits, and goods and services, with K-12 education, DSHS, the Health Care Authority, DCYF, corrections, and higher education making up most NGFO spending. They also walked through the distinction between constitutional, federal, statutory, and discretionary spending; the role of caseload and per-capita forecasts; how maintenance level and policy level budgets are built; and how the four-year outlook works, including revenue forecasts, reversions, budget stabilization account reserves, and the official outlook adoption process. Members asked several questions about what is or is not included in the outlook, especially future collective bargaining agreements, health care inflation, court-ordered liabilities, and whether the budget could better separate mandatory from discretionary spending over time. Staff said some of those questions would require follow-up and noted the existence of an outlook accuracy report.
The committee then heard from Josh Goodman of the Pew Charitable Trusts, who introduced Pew’s state fiscal work and its role as the nonprofit partner supporting the committee. He said Pew would help analyze long-term fiscal sustainability, reserve policies, recession preparedness, and practices from other states, and would draw on its 50-state data and subject-matter experts. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported at this meeting.