Transcript Highlights:

• to conduct a four-year review, 2023 to 2026, of safety outcomes and the developmental disability placement
• comparison of significant events in these settings: 911 calls, emergency room boarding, and failed placements
• In fact, I'm watching a case where an individual does not have a permanent placement.

Bills: HB2200 , HB2468 , HB2660

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: developmental disabilities, residential settings, data access, safety, stability, terminology correction, social services, healthcare, regulatory compliance, department reorganization, child welfare, court authority, shelter care, family law, court conditions

Transcript Highlights:

• conduct a four-year review, from 2023 to 2026, of safety outcomes and the developmental disability placement
• significant events in these settings, such as 9-1-1 calls, emergency room boarding, and failed placements
• I'm watching a case where an individual does not have a permanent placement.

Summary: The House Early Learning & Human Services Committee met in executive session on three bills. House Bill 2200, concerning JLARC review of safety and stability outcomes for DSHS developmental disabilities clients and a DSHS public reporting requirement, was amended with a technical correction (House Amendment 799) and then reported out with a do pass recommendation. Supporters said the substitute shifts from a dashboard to an annual downloadable report, delays the timeline, and asks JLARC to recommend a methodology for future data collection; one member raised concerns about possible stigma and impacts on providers, but the bill passed 9-2. House Bill 2468, which updates DSHS statutory references to reflect agency restructuring and makes related technical changes, was advanced without amendment after the substitute reinstated the Dementia Action Collaborative expiration date and the requirement for two permanent employees to review the no-paid-services caseload. Members described it as a non-substantive cleanup bill to streamline and harmonize agency law. It was reported out unanimously, 11-0. House Bill 2660, authorizing courts to order conditions to keep a child under age five safe in the home after a shelter care hearing, had several proposed amendments withdrawn before action. The remaining amendment, Wickham 848, was adopted; it adds that the conditions must be the least restrictive necessary, reviewed every 30 days, and consistent with state and federal Indian Child Welfare Act requirements. The substitute bill then passed 9-2, with supporters saying it responds to recent critical incidents and opponents noting concerns but acknowledging shared commitment to child safety. The committee then adjourned and noted there would be no meeting the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the chair moves that Senate File 2077 be recommended for placement on the general register. move
• :01:10.880><c> recommended</c><00:01:11.200><c> for</c> That Senate File 2077 be recommended for placement
• The motion prevails, and Senate File 2077 as amended is recommended for placement on the general register

Bills: SF2077 , HF2439 , HF841

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• STC's impact is very clear, with an impressive 93% job placement. rates for their students.
• have a special connection to TSTC. got his welding degree from there and he is part of that 93% job placement
• As my colleague just said, 93% graduation and placement rate is ridiculous. and that's how they are paid

Transcript Highlights:

• number of contract days, number of instructional days, teaching workloads, salary schedules, salary placement
• number of contract days, number of instructional days, teaching workloads, salary schedules, salary placement
• their salary schedule within their bargaining agreement based on their qualifications or however placement
• their salary schedule within their bargaining agreement based on their qualifications or however placement

Bills: SB6258 , SB5963

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: Washington Medical Commission, medical license, license relinquishment, voluntary surrender, nondisciplinary pathway, physician regulation, health professional licensing, disciplinary database, National Practitioner Data Bank, license renewal, license reinstatement, medical board, professional discipline, credential surrender, healthcare regulation, SB 5963, passport to careers, Washington College Grant, financial aid, higher education

Transcript Highlights:

• Under the interstate compact on the placement of children, which is adopted by all 50 states, DCYF may
• issue a child-specific license to a relative or close family friend for the placement of a specific
• 50 states, DCYF may issue a child-specific license to a relative or close family friend for the placement
• requirement for kinship care and keeps Washington aligned with the broader national compact for the placement

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee held a brief Monday meeting to hear two bills and a gubernatorial appointment. House Bill 2464, sponsored by Rep. Ortiz-Self, would require private detention facilities to report serious incidents such as abuse allegations, deaths, suicides, injuries requiring hospitalization, and service disruptions to the Department of Health and local law enforcement by the next business day, and would require annual law-enforcement reporting to DOH. Rep. Ortiz-Self said the bill is needed because private facilities have been inconsistent and delayed in sharing information, while state facilities already provide data more readily. Testimony from Columbia Legal Services, the League of Women Voters, La Resistencia, and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project strongly supported the bill, citing barriers to reporting crimes and concerns about abuse in private detention. The committee did not vote on the bill during the hearing, but the chair said it would be considered in executive session. The committee also heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2253, a DCYF request bill making several licensing-related changes for foster care, crisis residential centers, and child care. The bill would require immediate termination of certain child-specific foster licenses if high-potency synthetic opioids or illicit substances are found, exempt kinship caregivers from blood-borne pathogen training, allow DCYF to close inactive foster homes, remove sex designation from foster licenses, adjust CRC staffing ratios to one staff for four youth during waking hours and one for six during sleeping hours, and strengthen child care subsidy fraud enforcement through electronic attendance verification and possible license revocation. DCYF and Community Youth Services testified in support, describing the changes as technical fixes that align statute with current practice and reduce burden on providers. Committee members raised concerns that some child care provisions may belong in a different committee and noted the need to ensure the bill does not duplicate or conflict with existing licensing and fraud rules. The committee then held a confirmation hearing for Corey McNally, reappointed to the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board. McNally described the board’s role in release decisions, supervision conditions, violation management, and release plans, and discussed his background in community mental health, the Special Commitment Center, DOC sex offense treatment, and ISRB leadership. Members asked about advances in sex offense assessment and treatment, the distinction between ISRB cases and sexually violent predator civil commitment, board consistency and recidivism work, and victim participation in hearings. McNally said the board uses structured decision-making and actuarial risk assessments, remains neutral on legislation, and provides victim liaisons to offer participation options. The chair closed the hearings, noted the committee would meet the next day on a large packet of bills and one appointment, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• so that notices are in plain view for residents, visitors, and persons inquiring about facility placement
• so that notices are in plain view for residents, visitors, and persons inquiring about facility placement
• And so as we work on residential placements, community placements, the whole conversation around how

Bills: HB1544 , HB2099 , HB2185 , HB2219 , HB2253 , HB2317 , HB2318 , HB2319 , HB2350

Committee: House Early Learning & Human Services

Keywords: child welfare, risk assessment, investigation, child abuse, neglect, military families, early childhood education, access, assistance program, education equity, homelessness, youth programs, advisory committee, prevention, protection, HB 2219, child care licensing, early learning, DCYF, Department of Children Youth and Families

Transcript Highlights:

• from Supreme Court precedent, and it allows the districts. ...to seek court orders for alternative placements
• Honig injunctions are for 45 days, while this bill proposes 60 days for the time being out of placement
• that I'm pretty disappointed in this version of HB 6 not having the repeal of the mandatory DAEP placement
• To start, we are also disappointed with the removal of the repeal for the mandatory DAEP placements for

Bills: HB 1022 , HB2856 , HB3114 , HJR5 , HB6 , HB 120 , HB210 , HB1458 , HB 1188 , HB3126 , HB6 , HB120 , HB210

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• It's important to match the rate that relatives and kinship families receive when they have placement
• that they're paying. a foster parent, so now it matches, um, it's 50% which matches what kinship placements
• With a kinship placement or any foster care, it, it would work the exact same way. Interesting.
• that point then I feel like we're punishing bio families. but we don't do that to other kinship placements

Bills: HB451 , HB645 , HB 1041 , HB 1151 , HB 1155 , HB1536 , HCR12 , HCR12

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening, validated screening tool, evidence-informed tool, conservatorship, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, trafficking prevention, Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Unit

Transcript Highlights:

• First, it will help with veteran work placement in Texas, which is home to more veterans than any other
• We pay for the placement, and anything that's left over is used for the care of the child.
• So on an unverified... kinship placement.
• They're not in a placement that we pay for through our rate system. They're just being...
• The kinship placement, if unverified, would they get less money if this bill were passed?

Bills: HB18 , HB37 , HB 116 , HB388 , HB879 , HB913 , HB 1151 , HB2216 , HB2358 , HB2809 , SB577 , SB1590 , SB1782 , SB1887 , SB2744 , HB18 , HB37 , HB116

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• But right now there's a lot of dispute about screening and placement and then admission and discharge
• But right now there's a lot of dispute about screening and placement and then admission and discharge
• We are on to the 150 alternatives to placement at the Life Skills and Transition Center.
• We're on to the 150 alternatives to placement at the Life Skills and Transition Center.
• Both referrals were ultimately declined due to the higher level of need and priority placement demands

Committee: Joint Human Services Committee

Summary: The committee first approved the February 11, 2026 minutes and then received an update from the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency on the interagency council on homelessness and continuum of care funding. Testimony described rising homelessness tied to tight housing markets, low incomes, aging homelessness, barriers to rental assistance and public benefits, and limited shelter and case-management capacity. Members discussed the need for more affordable housing, continued one-time funding for the North Dakota Homeless Grant and Housing Incentive Fund, better coordination with Health and Human Services on economic assistance and human service zones, landlord engagement, recovery housing, and reentry housing. The committee also heard that federal continuum of care funding remains uncertain, with possible shifts away from permanent supportive housing and housing-first models; members asked for a future update on the impact if federal rules reduce the share available for permanent housing. The committee then took testimony on accessibility of government services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Paul Olson of North Dakota Vision Services School for the Blind described current screening and service delivery, including infant referrals, regional staff, short-term programs, and collaboration with vocational rehabilitation. He said the targeted screening system is working, recommended maintaining the current model, and noted ongoing challenges with staffing, public awareness, and accessible state websites and documents. Public testimony from a visually impaired resident and a deaf resident emphasized barriers such as CAPTCHAs, inaccessible PDFs, employment forms that screen out applicants based on driver’s license status, shortages of interpreters, and the need for video remote interpreting and video relay services, along with training for users and agencies. Finally, the committee heard a final report on the study of child care provider licensing from HHS Early Childhood Director Kay Larson. The report summarized provider input and committee discussion on simplifying North Dakota’s child care licensing structure, reducing administrative burden, and balancing that with health and safety standards. Key topics included licensing categories, child care assistance eligibility, food program sponsorship, staff qualifications, training requirements, ratios and group size, age bands, and preschool exemptions. The committee’s recommendations included streamlining to three provider types plus a preschool designation, revising ratio and age-band rules, and carrying forward certain preschool outdoor-space exemptions. Larson noted that any changes would require statutory changes, rulemaking, and a transition period before new licensing rules could take effect.

Transcript Highlights:

• back and say we need to keep them a little bit longer until they can actually find a more permanent placement
• So what this does is it changes that and gives them 180 days to find a more solid placement.
• And so what this does is it changes that and gives them 180 days to find a more solid placement.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• The placements in this program have to be in a public setting.
• The placements in this program have to be in a public setting.
• The placements in this program have to be in a public setting.
• The placements in this program have to be in a public setting.
• > The</c><01:08:05.680><c> placements</c> The placements in this The placements The placements in this

Transcript Highlights:

• increase is primarily related to expected increases in community-based restoration and diversion placements
• At the beginning of April this year, we had only 250 individuals on that pending placement list.
• As you imagine, it's very difficult to find placement.
• Usually, placement looks like an individual residence within the county of domicile, so a single-family
• That's probably one of the biggest line items in our budget: those acute psych placements. Okay.

Summary: The subcommittee heard budget and policy updates from the Department of State Hospitals, the Commission for Behavioral Health, and the Department of Health Care Services. DSH described its proposed 2026-27 budget of $3.2 billion, including savings tied to IST solutions, higher patient-driven operating costs, and a small increase in caseload projections. Officials said the department has met court-ordered IST treatment benchmarks, with wait times reduced from a pandemic peak of 1,953 pending placements to about 250, and average treatment initiation now around five days. Members asked about the effects of Proposition 36 and SB 1323, rising outside hospitalization costs, Medicare enrollment, and whether IST solution funding was being overbudgeted; DSH said referrals are slightly down overall, aging and medically complex patients are driving outside care costs, and the IST solution savings reflect slower-than-expected program activation rather than a service gap. The department also outlined proposed funding for CONREP cost increases, a new county-by-county LPS bed allocation model, electrical infrastructure upgrades at Napa and Patton, SB 380 transitional housing feasibility work, and additional dental staffing and space at Metropolitan and Patton. The Commission for Behavioral Health reviewed its role in the Behavioral Health Services Act transition and its new Innovation Partnership Fund. Staff said the commission is shifting from county-level innovation oversight to a statewide grant strategy, with the first $20 million RFA drawing strong interest and awards expected in mid-June. Members asked how “innovation” would be defined, whether grants could be renewed after the initial three-year contracts, and how the state would ensure the money supports real service delivery rather than general outreach or training. The commission also sought a liquidation deadline extension for the Alcove youth drop-in center grants so remaining funds can be spent before they revert, allowing sites to finish implementation and support the final evaluation. DHCS provided an overview of CalAIM and BH Connect implementation, including updated specialty mental health access criteria, new ASAM-based substance use treatment standards, contingency management, traditional health care practices for tribal members, workforce investments, evidence-based practice expansion, IMD participation, and transitional rent services. The department also addressed BHSA implementation, saying it does not track specific local program cuts but will monitor county three-year plans, performance measures, and outcomes as counties shift to the new funding structure. On H.R. 1, DHCS said it is preparing outreach, eligibility simplification, and exemption strategies to reduce Medi-Cal coverage losses, including clinic navigators, a statewide outreach campaign, and possible employment supports through a future waiver. The department also reported that BH-CHIP bond funds have supported 437 infrastructure projects, creating 546 facilities and more than 9,500 residential beds, with additional outpatient capacity and tribal investments. Finally, DHCS outlined a proposed 988 trailer bill to create a statewide designation process for 988 centers and mobile crisis teams, with implementation no earlier than October 1, 2027.

Transcript Highlights:

• The only reason the DOT is there is listed is because of the placement as it relates to the roads. always
• </c><00:42:29.760><c> um</c> listed is because of um the placement um listed is because of um the placement
• does um read, if you can read nine would be good. >> Just clarify. >> To be responsible for the placement
• </c><00:52:10.319><c> of</c> &gt;&gt; to be responsible for the placement of &gt;&gt; to be responsible
• for the placement of portraits,<00:52:11.359><c> flags,</c><00:52:12.000><c> bust,</c> portraits, flags

Committee: House Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• in of the career paths taken by our graduates, and our graduates fare very well in terms of job placement
• In terms of job placement, here's where our students end up.
• Forty-eight percent at large or small that helps with career counseling and job placement.
• In terms of job placement, here's where our students end up.
• We have a robust externship program which has a wide variety of placements at small and large firms,

Bills: SB1 , SB3

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: interstate medical licensure compact, physician licensure, medical license reciprocity, expedited licensure, medical practice act, New Mexico medical board, compact commission, physician mobility, telemedicine, license portability, background check, disciplinary action, joint investigation, reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, scope of practice, medical board transparency, multistate compact, licensure renewal, health care workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the president of Binding for Risk Placement Services.
• Um, so I oversee about $3.5 billion dollars of insurance placements at my organization.
• </c> president of binding for risk placement president of binding for risk placement services.<01:34:
• </c> placements uh at at my organization. placements uh at at my organization.
• </c><01:36:37.520><c> of</c> outright prohibits the placement of outright prohibits the placement of

Transcript Highlights:

• It also ensures that these safety considerations are part of decisions involving visitation, placement
• This situation illustrates serious concerns about placement decisions, supervision standards, and oversight
• Foster youth deserve safe placements, adequate food, proper supervision, accountability, and environments
• Reunification efforts and placement decisions must not override basic safety.
• that sanctions protections for children while they are in care and ensures accountability when the placement

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• Secondly, the bill mentions grade placement and grade placement policy, which we interpret to mean retaining
• Secondly, the bill mentions grade placement and grade placement policy, which we interpret to mean retaining
• Secondly, the bill mentions grade placement and grade placement policy, which we interpret to mean retaining

Bills: SB6192 , SB6206 , SB5346 , SB6125 , SB5841 , SB5907 , SB5951

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: education, reading, mathematics, student intervention, instruction, academic standards, child care, first responders, incentives, pilot program, mobile phones, cell phones, smartphones, school phones, classroom distraction, digital citizenship, media literacy, internet safety, cyberbullying, student mental health

Transcript Highlights:

• sure that our residents who are under the Vocational Rehab Services Program, also the Individual Placement
• meeting with a constituent who works for RISE and was concerned about possible cuts to the Individual Placement
• the effective and evidence-based practice of focusing their efforts on individualized employment placements
• We need to focus on individualized employment placements because that is the solution.
• That's why individualized employment placements are the answer: to get them out of that box so that they