Transcript Highlights:

• But in rural and coastal Washington, the path to higher education or long careers in big departments
• This comes to you from the Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.
• This comes to you from the Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development.
• My name is Tanya May, and I serve as the assistant superintendent of special education at OSPI and am
• It would overlap eligibility for special education services with access to supports for employment and

Bills: SB6294 , SB6211 , SB5650 , SB6033 , SB6297 , SB6343 , SB6067 , SB6082 , SB6323 , SB6324 , SB5862 , SB5923 , SB6151

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: local government finance, Washington state, RCW, real estate excise tax, REET, sales and use tax, property tax levy, county tax, city tax, affordable housing, housing services, behavioral health, mental health, developmental disabilities, children and families services, youth services, utility tax, low-income utility assistance, veterans assistance, homelessness

Transcript Highlights:

• And my mission as the Small Business Procurement Coordinator is to educate and empower small businesses
• ,</c> through outreach, advocacy, education, through outreach, advocacy, education, certification,<00
• </c> Procurement Coordinator is to educate Procurement Coordinator is to educate and<00:03:59.520><c>
• We will be the resource that educates and empowers Hawaii's small businesses to confidently engage in
• </c> We will be the resource that educates We will be the resource that educates and<00:10:42.800><c>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Government Operations held an informational briefing with the State Procurement Office on its small business procurement program. SPO staff described the program’s purpose as expanding access to state contracting for small businesses, including veteran-, Native Hawaiian-, and women-owned firms, and said they are seeking to make the current five-year initiative permanent before it ends in June 2027. They reported outreach efforts, a new website and newsletter, statewide surveys, draft administrative rules, and a 38% increase in small business registrations in the HANS database. They also explained that the program is intended to support outreach, education, certification, compliance, and a statewide database to connect agencies with qualified small businesses. Committee members focused heavily on whether the program is producing measurable contract awards, not just registrations. The chair and senators questioned the definition of “small business,” noting that SPO currently relies on SBA standards in HANS and is considering a Hawaii-specific definition based on employees, revenue, and Hawaii residency. Members raised concerns that the data showed only a small number of registered businesses receiving awards and that the database does not yet track awards well enough to evaluate performance. SPO responded that the database has had funding gaps, that the position was only filled in February 2025, and that the agency is still building the system and rules needed to track outcomes accurately. A major theme was how to make the program more effective for very small or “micro” businesses and how to reduce the complexity of state procurement. Members discussed the difference between set-asides and bid preferences, with SPO explaining that set-asides are generally tied to RFPs and preferences to IFBs. The committee suggested that future rules should make participation easier, provide more training and hand-holding, and possibly create pathways for micro businesses or groups of small businesses to bid together. No votes or formal actions were taken; the briefing ended with the committee asking SPO to provide more performance data and clearer information on outreach results and database contents.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> examinations and driver's education. examinations and driver's education.
• </c> where the uh driver's education where the uh driver's education provision<00:56:03.200><c> to</c
• </c><00:56:38.160><c> have</c> the curriculum or the education have the curriculum or the education have
• </c> methods of driver's education methods of driver's education instruction<00:59:40.960><c> so</c><
• So this envisions a education provider.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So will the education be done by HHS or by the Department of Agriculture?
• Um, but it's a collaborative educational program.
• :10.040><c> HHS</c><02:01:11.040><c> or</c><02:01:11.360><c> by</c> education be done by HHS or by education
• Um but it's a collaborative um<02:01:22.159><c> educational</c><02:01:22.880><c> program.
• So someone from um educational program.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• about supported decision-making to families whose children have individual education plans.
• Our objectives are to build relationships, educate trusted professionals, and empower individuals like
• </c><00:09:15.200><c> about</c> professionals to provide education about professionals to provide education
• </c> whose children have individual education whose children have individual education plans.<00:09:20.399
• ,<00:10:41.040><c> educate</c><00:10:41.519><c> trusted</c> education, educate trusted education, educate

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator MCU, so my concern is if an institution invests significantly in the training or education for
• And my concern is that in today's transient workforce, they are often not... training or education for
• an advanced training or education for an advanced practice<00:35:08.800><c> nurse</c><00:35:09.079><
• If you owe a debt to your employer for education, well, we could do a committee amendment.
• If you owe a debt to your employer for education, well, we could do a committee amendment.

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• cola to State Employees and education cola to State Employees and education employees that each year
• teaching profession now or in education teaching profession now or in education now that as we go through
• public institutions of higher education public institutions of higher education are able and have legal
• they are asking to be able to education they are asking to be able to education they are asking to be
• why were the counties allowed education why were the counties allowed education why were the counties

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our houses are more expensive, our education is more expensive.
• They need that investment so that we can have educated people working in our workforce.
• </c><01:21:22.520><c> people</c> so that we can have educated people so that we can have educated people
• They need that investment so that we can have educated people working in our workforce.
• They need that investment so that we can have educated people working in our workforce.

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Another example would be that the legislature provides funding to the Department of Education for early
• Another example would be that the legislature provides funding to the Department of Education for early
• </c><00:06:26.680><c> for</c><00:06:26.840><c> early</c> Department of Education for early Department
• of Education for early learning<00:06:27.639><c> scholarship</c><00:06:28.360><c> programs</c><00:06
• the the staff who are educate the the staff who are responsible<00:21:04.880><c> for</c><00:21:05.080

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As early childhood educators, we wear many hats.
• As early childhood educators, we wear many hats. We're transporters.
• Pamela Gibbs, representing the Los Angeles County Office of Education.
• My name is Tina Espagna, Outreach and Education Team Lead for the Office of Communications.
• My name is Marilyn, and I've been a lab scientist for 10 years as well as an educator.

Summary: The committee first heard May Revision child care and human services items. The Department of Child Support Services described two technical adjustments, which the analyst supported. The Department of Social Services then walked through child care proposals, including a reduction in federal and Proposition 64 funding absorbed through a shift from General Child Care to the Alternative Payment program, a 2.01% child care COLA, disaster-related infrastructure grants, a new administrative support cost structure for Alternative Payment agencies, the removal of prospective pay funding after a federal rule change, a reappropriation for existing infrastructure grants, and estimates of unspent child care funds. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended asking for more justification for shifting reductions to CAP, supported the COLA reduction but wanted consistency across programs, recommended removing prospective pay funding, opposed the administrative cost shift, and suggested further review of disaster grant alignment. Members pressed the administration on why more slots would be cut for the same savings, why the COLA was reduced, and whether the administrative percentage would grow over time. The administration said the changes were intended to avoid disrupting currently enrolled families, reflect point-in-time relinquishments and unspent funds, and stabilize contractor operations. Public commenters, including providers, advocates, and county representatives, urged full COLA funding, rejection of child care slot reductions, preservation of prospective pay, and continued investment in child care infrastructure and access. The subcommittee then recessed before moving to health items. In Part B, the Department of State Hospitals presented its May Revision proposals, including a central utility plant replacement project at Metropolitan State Hospital, funding for a continuum electronic health record system, reduced county bed billing authority to reflect phase-in of additional LPS beds, limited contract exemption authority for online clinical subscription services, reversion of prior-year unspent operating funds, and a workforce development proposal to use Behavioral Health Services Act funds instead of General Fund for training programs. The department said the EHR would modernize records and improve continuity of care, and that the contract exemption would prevent delays in essential clinical information services. No votes were taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think, you know, we do a lot of consumer education and partner education.
• We've done education about the backup provider system, but at the end of the day, the We've done education
• I mean, I mentioned in my opening remarks, there's a bunch of public education, et cetera.
• So it's kind of working through some of those dilemmas to educate people.
• Department of Education. The next one is fiscal oversight of federal funding to LEAs. Yes, yes.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the governor’s IHSS budget proposals and extensive testimony from the Department of Social Services, Department of Finance, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, county representatives, labor, consumer advocates, and advocates for older adults and people with disabilities. The administration described IHSS as a large and growing program serving more than 900,000 recipients, and outlined three proposals: shifting the cost of growth in authorized hours per case to counties, eliminating the backup provider system, and aligning IHSS terminations with Medi-Cal terminations. The LAO said the overall budget estimates appeared reasonable but raised concerns about the hours-per-case proposal, including the lack of a comprehensive root-cause analysis, the limited control counties have over statewide cost growth, and uncertainty about how the baseline and savings would work. CWDA, SEIU, and consumer advocates strongly opposed the hours cost shift, arguing that counties use state-designed tools, that demographic changes and rising need explain much of the growth, and that the proposal would pressure counties to cut services and destabilize care. The chair and members repeatedly questioned the administration about the proposed baseline, the claimed savings, and whether the measure effectively circumvents the county maintenance-of-effort agreement. On the backup provider system, the administration said the statewide program is underutilized and administratively expensive, and proposed eliminating it to save about $3.5 million. The LAO suggested the Legislature consider whether administrative costs could be reduced while preserving some version of the program. County and consumer advocates opposed the cut, saying the system is a critical safety net when regular providers are unavailable, especially in rural areas and for people with complex needs. They argued that low utilization reflects the difficulty of finding emergency backup care, not lack of need, and that many counties already rely on local backup systems or other models. Committee members also pressed for better data on requests, fulfillment, and administrative costs, and discussed whether the state could support local alternatives instead of eliminating the program. The final topic was the proposal to align IHSS terminations with Medi-Cal terminations by automating the process when recipients fail to complete Medi-Cal redeterminations. The administration said this would reduce General Fund costs by about $86 million by preventing payment of IHSS in the residual program when recipients are no longer eligible for Medi-Cal, while also automating reinstatement when Medi-Cal is restored. The LAO noted the proposal has been rejected in prior years and suggested improved notice and communication to recipients as an alternative. CWDA and advocates warned that the change could create gaps in care, especially for people who lose Medi-Cal for procedural reasons, and urged additional safeguards such as better notices, faster reprocessing, and automatic reinstatement. Members questioned how many people would be affected, how the residual program currently works, and whether providers could go unpaid during the gap; the department said the automation is already built and would be activated if the proposal is approved. No votes were taken during the discussion, and the committee moved through public comment and questioning without final action on the proposals in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> recreation, fitness, and educational recreation, fitness, and educational spaces,<00:08:52.480><
• So, is it your bill that is suggesting raising the age for required drivers education, or is that someone
• </c> commerce, recreation, and educational commerce, recreation, and educational needs,<00:25:49.200>
• </c> education or is that someone else's? education or is that someone else's?
• and education programs to three<00:59:43.440><c> cities</c><00:59:43.839><c> and</c><00:59:43.920><c

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Shine, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering and strengthening underprivileged communities through education
• State educational institutions as IDs that can be used not to register to vote, but to prove that they
• I understand the current law just generally broadly refers to educational institutions.
• They are different than just any other educational institution. They are state institutions.
• They are different than just any other educational institution. They are state institutions.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and included several member introductions recognizing guests, interns, firefighters, and a doctor of the day. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar and began taking up a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate measures before final passage. The first major bill, health care patient protection, required hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, a pediatric emergency care coordinator, and readiness assessments; it passed 36-0. A public records bill protecting victim identities and temporarily exempting the name of a law enforcement officer who is a victim also passed after questions about access for victims of police misconduct, with a 33-4 vote. The Senate next approved a local government cybersecurity bill creating a state-administered program through Florida Digital Service to help counties and cities strengthen cyber defenses, with priority for rural and fiscally constrained governments; after amendments, it passed 37-0. A clerks of court bill allowing clerks to retain all revenue above projections and, through a House amendment, revising legal notice and traffic citation distribution provisions, passed 38-0 despite debate over impacts on municipalities and law enforcement. The chamber also passed a trademark modernization bill and a septic system permit bill intended to reduce delays for builders; the septic bill was amended to align the House and Senate versions and passed 38-0. The longest and most contested item was the elections bill, which updated citizenship verification procedures using REAL ID and state databases, changed candidate qualification rules, and altered election administration provisions. Numerous amendments were offered and rejected, including proposals to exempt certain seniors, preserve student and retirement-center IDs, allow attestations in place of documentary proof of citizenship, and require human review over automated systems. One amendment to delay implementation until July 1, 2027, was also debated. The transcript ends while debate is still underway on the elections measure, with no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then, you got to be credentialed through a group called the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical
• They look at the level of education available to citizens of their country.
• </c><00:35:31.440><c> available</c><00:35:32.640><c> to</c> at the level of education available to at
• </c><00:36:00.400><c> where</c> people who have a great education where people who have a great education
• And that was where that great education.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate convened, opened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, excused absent members, and approved the journal. The House clerk then announced that the House had passed several bills and requested concurrence. The chamber also received second-reading reports for a number of bills and resolutions, which were referred to the Rules Committee, and committee reports from the Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee and the Judiciary Committee recommending passage of several measures. New resolutions were also introduced, including one honoring Michael Mingi, Amanda Maize, and Senator Maize Bledsoe, and another designating March 31, 2026, as Kentucky Transitional Science Day. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 145, relating to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The chamber concurred in House Committee Substitute 1 and House Floor Amendment 1, then passed the bill as amended by a roll call vote of 35 yeas and 2 nays. The Senate next considered Senate Bill 59, relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources. After adopting Senate Committee Substitute 1, members debated whether the bill’s enforcement provisions were needed to prevent public funds from being used to influence ballot questions; supporters cited prior school-related advocacy, while one opponent raised concerns about possible uneven treatment of schools receiving federal funds. The bill passed 28-9. Finally, the Senate took up Senate Bill 137, relating to a provisional license to practice medicine. Supporters described Kentucky’s physician shortage, especially in rural areas, and argued the bill would help recruit foreign medical graduates by allowing a path to licensure based on prior residency and work experience. A floor amendment was offered to preserve standards by emphasizing U.S. residency pathways and cautioning against lowering the standard of care, but the amendment was withdrawn after discussion. The bill remained under consideration at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Shantima, Assistant Superintendent, representing the Department of Education.
• These barriers directly affect access to education.
• But another thing that we need to roll out here and let the public know is education.
• But another thing that we need to roll out here and let the public know is education.
• I think we all but then I got educated.

Bills: HB2392 , HB2462 , HB2423 , HB1771 , HB2081 , HB2334 , HB2336 , HB1666 , HB2375 , HB2415 , HB2451 , HB2373 , HB1641 , HB1694 , HB1695 , HB1986 , HB1797 , HB1879 , HB2034

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: transportation, tax credit, employer incentives, commuting, environmental impact, flexible work arrangements, carpooling, bicycling, public transportation, consumer protection, subscription services, motor vehicles, ownership expectations, transparency, biodiesel, renewable diesel, diesel blend, B5, blending mandate, clean energy

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several transportation-related measures. SB 2356, relating to parking, drew support from the Office of Planning, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Appleseed Center, Realtors, and the Hawaii Bicycling League. Members discussed the bill in the context of the planned stadium-area mixed-use development, with questions about whether parking would be built in structures rather than as large surface lots. Senators expressed support and noted the measure’s broader housing and parking-reduction goals, but no vote was taken during the hearing. The bulk of the hearing focused on SB 2699, which would create a fare-free youth transit program, a special fund, annual evaluations, and appropriations tied to the environmental, energy, and food security tax. The Attorney General’s office raised technical concerns about whether the special fund met statutory requirements. The Department of Education and Department of Health supported the bill, as did the City and County of Honolulu DOT, Appleseed Center, Hawaii Youth Transportation Council, Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Hawaii Bicycling League, Our Children’s Trust, and numerous youth testifiers. Supporters emphasized reduced family transportation costs, better school attendance, improved health and mobility, and environmental benefits. One senator raised emergency-planning concerns about how children using free transit would be handled during events like tsunamis; DOT and DOE responded that emergency procedures are being developed. The chair said the committee would work on language changes, including a delayed effective date to July 2027, and defer decision-making until the 12th. The final measure discussed was SB 2470, which would require leading pedestrian intervals, accessible pedestrian signals, and other safety improvements at state-controlled intersections, and create a process for community requests for accessible pedestrian signals. Appleseed Center, the Hawaii Association of the Blind, and the Disability Rights Center supported the bill, citing pedestrian safety, reduced collisions, and the need for audible cues for blind and low-vision pedestrians. Testifiers urged a phased-in approach that prioritizes high-traffic intersections. The hearing ended with the bill still under consideration and no final vote announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• We train the pipe fitters, we teach the welders, and we educate the nurses.
• </c><00:02:14.959><c> the</c> teach the welders, and we educate the teach the welders, and we educate
• that creates a foundation for education that creates a foundation for further<00:03:03.920><c> education
• Our commitment to education goes far beyond classroom walls. St.
• We're not just educating students.

Bills: HF2418 , HF1666 , HF232 , HF344 , HF402 , HF431 , HF468 , HF547 , HF583 , HF1476 , HF1711 , HF2787 , HF2788 , HF3207

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: capital investment, political subdivisions, state assistance, funding, project grants, child care, Slayton, state bonds, economic development, extended time revenue, school funding, state aid, career and technical education, CTE, STEM, secondary credit, after-school programs, summer school, learning year program, extended day

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:28.720><c> and</c><00:04:28.880><c> neighbor</c><00:04:29.680><c> neighboring</c> educational
• and neighbor neighboring educational and neighbor neighboring workforce<00:04:30.880><c> development<
• This is for the expansion in addition to the school facility for K-12 education over there.
• This is for the expansion in addition to the school facility for K-12 education over there.
• Minnesota</c><01:38:36.239><c> tax</c> and education about Minnesota tax and education about Minnesota

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The staff would educate other entities and agencies to do it.
• The staff would educate other entities and agencies to do it.
• The staff would educate other entities and agencies to do it.
• So we're looking at working with the Department of Education.
• And first up, we have the Department of Education. Department of Education in support.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint hearing opened with SB 1442, which would update the statute governing the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division and clarify its role as the state Medicaid provider of intensive mental health services for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbance. The Department of Health testified in strong support, saying the current statute is outdated and warning against any unfunded mandate because the division relies on federal funding and faces uncertainty about future resources. Written testimony from several organizations also supported the bill. The committees took no immediate action and said they would hold decision-making until later. The hearing then moved to SB 479 on ABLE savings accounts. The Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities and the Hawaii Disability Rights Center supported the measure, arguing that ABLE accounts help people with disabilities save money without losing benefits and that the state needs more outreach and staffing to expand participation. A testifier with a disability said the bill would help people keep Social Security and housing stability. The chair indicated an intention to move the bill forward, and asked about funding; the discussion settled on a requested appropriation of about $75,000 for incentives. Next, SB 1245 on reimbursement of pharmacists drew broad support from the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, rural pharmacies, the Hawaii Primary Care Association, and others, who said the bill would improve access to care, especially on neighbor islands and in rural communities, and help pharmacies participate in 340B-related services. The Insurance Division and HMSA raised concerns about bill language, saying it could be read to cover pharmacists outside an insurer’s network and that the scope of reimbursable services needed clarification; the pharmacists’ association said the bill is intended to apply only to in-network pharmacists and should continue to reference existing scope-of-practice law. The hearing also took up SB 1279, which would allow pharmacists to authorize medications via telehealth under certain circumstances. The State Board of Pharmacy opposed the bill, citing patient safety, a pilot project with reported errors, concerns about controlled substances and unregulated technicians, and the view that in-person pharmacist services are safer and already available on the affected islands. Several pharmacies and health care groups supported the measure as a way to preserve 340B access and improve service on Lānaʻi and Molokaʻi, while some local pharmacies said they already provide in-person service and opposed remote dispensing. No votes were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can make that argument in everything—in education, and that if we just put more into education, we
• , and that if we just put more into education, we would save on the cost of it in society later on; if
• In everything—in education—and that if we just put more into education, we would save on the cost of
• </c> certificate we frequently will educate certificate we frequently will educate our<00:53:21.000><
• without adding that penalty to Educators without adding that penalty to the<01:07:35.400><c> property

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm representing Education Minnesota, 84,000 educators across the state, about one out of three members
• And while I'm excited about what this could mean for students in Rosemont, I also represent educators
• representing Education Minnesota 84,000 Educators<01:10:36.480><c> across</c><01:10:36.760><c> the</
• across the state about one out Educators across the state about one out of<01:10:37.920><c> three</c
• in Lake City also represent um Educators in Lake City St<01:11:12.199><c> Michael</c><01:11:12.520><

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all