Transcript Highlights:

• That bill is one that we've worked on based on last year's bill and over the interim we continued to
• </c><00:07:29.160><c> on</c> we've worked on uh based on we've worked on uh based on last<00:07:30.360
• Keef talked about some projections based on the Nevada market.
• </c> will also equip retail staff with skills will also equip retail staff with skills to<01:11:35.679
• </c> we're nonpartisan community group based we're nonpartisan community group based in<01:15:57.560>

Transcript Highlights:

• If they decide not to, sales tax is based on transactions.
• Yeah, they're not Washington state-based. They're generally contractual and national.
• It's been a game changer for local government and our rural communities in central Washington.
• They create jobs and stabilize our tax base and economy.
• We also are very concerned about the expanding of the tax base.

Summary: House Finance held public hearings on three Senate bills. SB 6129 would raise cigarette taxes, replace current nicotine/vapor product taxes with a 95% tax on nicotine products, and adjust revenue distributions to the Andy Hill Cancer Research account, the Foundational Public Health Services account, and a youth prevention account; staff and supporters said it would correct an unintended loss of public health funding and reduce youth nicotine use, while opponents argued it would be highly regressive, harm retailers and wholesalers, and push sales into illicit markets. SB 6231 would repeal the data center sales tax exemption for refurbishment and end replacement server equipment eligibility; the sponsor and staff said it would raise roughly $200 million and remove an obsolete preference, while labor, port, business, and data center representatives opposed it, citing lost jobs, reduced investment, and concerns about upsetting existing contracts and rural economic development. SB 6228 would repeal the preferential B&O rate for warehousing and reselling prescription drugs and create a lower preferential rate for critical access pharmacies; the sponsor said it would restore horizontal equity in the tax code and offset impacts on rural pharmacies, but pharmacy groups, wholesalers, retailers, and business organizations warned it would raise medication costs, worsen pharmacy closures, and be passed through to patients. The committee heard extensive public testimony on all three bills. Supporters of SB 6129 included public health, cancer, pediatric, and emergency medicine advocates who emphasized youth prevention, cessation funding, and long-term health savings; opponents included tobacco, vape, retail, and business groups who said the bill would increase black-market activity and burden small businesses. SB 6231 drew opposition from construction trades, ports, local governments, chambers, and data center interests, who argued the tax preference supports ongoing construction, permanent jobs, and local tax bases, while committee questions focused on whether the bill would affect existing refurbishment contracts. SB 6228 was opposed by pharmacy associations, independent pharmacists, wholesalers, grocery retailers, and AWB, who said the tax increase would be passed through and could accelerate pharmacy desert conditions; the sponsor and supporters framed the bill as a correction to an outdated preference and a way to protect critical access pharmacies. No votes were taken; each hearing was closed, and the chair announced amendment requests were due Thursday at 5 p.m. and amendments posted by Friday at 5 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Noel, I'm going to make this like the game show. I've phoned a friend.
• We filed a cross-appeal based on field preemption.
• So taking these away from where students are spending their time is an evidence-based practice.
• So taking these away from where students are spending their time is an evidence-based practice.
• </p> <p>With certain individuals based upon what the parent or the caregiver gives us.

Bills: HB302 , HB371 , HB597 , HB1097 , HB1190 , SB34 , SB164 , SB208 , SB232 , SB317 , SB357 , SB421 , SB510

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: legal representation, attorney general, elected officials, defense, legislative acts, judicial review, judiciary, election, judges, 19th Judicial District Court, East Baton Rouge, precincts, coroner, retention, body, mortuary, investigation, missing persons, Amber Alert, Endangered Missing Child Advisory

Transcript Highlights:

• We need to—the prohibits compensation based on number of signatures. You know what?
• there would be some penalty provisions that the Attorney General's office is looking to have, a fine-based
• system, civil penalties, monetary fines, that if they find, if they find, ...based system, civil penalties
• Earlier legislation, this process has moved to more organization-based and for-pay-based.
• They're not playing any shady games.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The committee first took up executive-session votes on prior bills, adopting a House committee substitute for House Bill 2605 and then passing it 9-1, and passing House Bill 2301 by a 10-0 vote. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2124, which would standardize initiative petition forms, require circulator residency or Missouri presence, prohibit per-signature pay, limit who may challenge ballot titles to Missouri registered voters, and adjust timing for constitutional verification. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would improve clarity, reduce fraud, and keep control of the petition process in Missouri hands, while opponents argued it would add burdens, restrict speech and access to the courts, and likely face constitutional challenges. No vote was taken on HB 2124 in the transcript. The committee then heard House Bill 3383, which would require nonprofits involved in signature-gathering or political management to use E-Verify to confirm workers are U.S. citizens, with the sponsor saying it responded to Attorney General investigations into alleged use of non-citizens by signature-gathering organizations. Supporters framed it as a simple election-integrity measure, while opponents called it unnecessary, overreaching, and unsupported by evidence, arguing nonprofits should not be burdened based on unproven allegations. The hearing concluded without a vote, and the committee adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• The meals are to be provided by a Washington state-based nonprofit organization to the extent possible
• This bill also prioritizes Washington state or Washington-based nonprofits and providers whenever feasible
• investing in medically tailored meals, that we are doing so in a way that is intentional, evidence-based
• orange section, beginning in August, Beginning in August, we identified four key areas to focus on based
• And protection is the name of the game as we think about this session and we think about the folks that

Bills: SB5966

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: healthcare, nutrition, medically tailored meals, dietary support, food security, chronic illness

Transcript Highlights:

• Forty percent are rural-based entrepreneurs.
• We want to ensure the program continues to include trusted community-based nonprofit providers.
• Okay, based upon your answers, I'll be supporting. Thank you. Thank you.
• on gestational duration and techniques that are not based in science.
• These restrictions impede patient access to evidence-based care provided by trained APCs.

Summary: The committee met as a subcommittee until quorum was established, then took up a series of bills on business, professions, health, cannabis, and consumer protection. AB 72, creating an electric vehicle economic opportunity zone in Riverside County, drew questions about whether the state should target one region over others, but supporters argued it would help bring EV manufacturing and related jobs to the Inland Empire. The bill passed on a 8-1 vote to Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement. AB 685, which would create the Small Business Resiliency and Innovation Fund to support technical assistance and capital infusion programs, drew broad support from small business networks and chambers, but some groups raised concerns that the June amendments could affect eligibility and that the funding should be clearly supplemental rather than replacing existing support. The author said discussions were ongoing, and the bill passed 10-0 to Senate Appropriations. The committee also approved AB 173, a resolution, on a 7-0 vote, and AB 1760, a Dental Practice Act cleanup bill sponsored by the Dental Board, on a 10-0 vote. AB 1637, which would limit changes to physician-authored medical records and make unauthorized alterations a misdemeanor, was supported by physicians and labor groups who said it would protect patient safety and professional accountability; it passed 10-0 to Senate Appropriations. AB 1785, allowing online sales of pseudoephedrine products with existing age and quantity safeguards, passed 10-0. AB 1973, expanding the ability of advanced practice clinicians to perform procedural abortions within their training, drew strong support from reproductive health providers and strong opposition from anti-abortion witnesses who raised safety concerns; after questions about training and oversight, it passed 7-3 to Senate Appropriations. The committee then considered AB 2025, requiring disclosure when rental listings use digitally altered or AI-staged images. Supporters said it would prevent renters from being misled, while the California Apartment Association said it was working with the author on implementation; the bill passed 8-1 to Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection. AB 2697, allowing drive-through cannabis sales with local approval and security requirements, was supported by cannabis businesses and operators as a way to improve access and compete with the illicit market, while narcotics officers opposed it over ID verification and public safety concerns; it passed 7-3 to Senate Appropriations. Finally, AB 2249, responding to a state audit on cannabis packaging attractive to children by defining prohibited imagery and creating a public rubric and pre-review process, received support from the cannabis operators association and the state auditor’s office, while small independent farmers raised concerns that some categorical bans could sweep too broadly. The transcript cuts off during that bill’s opposition testimony, and no final action on AB 2249 is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• million for human services, and included in that are the Monroe Water and HVAC project, the Veterans Skilled
• Investment in recruiting these crews and developing contractor bases are both very difficult in this
• We're a Spokane-based nonprofit that serves Native families, including those from each of Washington's
• , which will provide simulation-based space to train the next generation of health care professionals
• All four of these projects have broad-based support, including tribal support.

Bills: SB6003 , HB2353 , HB2431 , HB1983

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, HB 2353, predesign thresholds, capital construction, major capital projects, Office of Financial Management, OFM, Washington state, state agencies, infrastructure planning, construction costs, inflation adjustment, capital facilities, project review, allotments, lease approval

Transcript Highlights:

• In the hospital bucket, hospital facilities are generally eligible to participate based on the share
• of their patients who have hospital facilities are generally eligible to participate based on the share
• Our bread and butter is really doing policy research—bipartisan, evidence-based research.
• I am Lisa Nelson, chief pharmacy officer at Unity Care Northwest, a community health center based in
• Allowing EMTs as substitutes maintains safety and matches skills to clinical needs.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2437, which would put the Department of Health’s authority to accredit opioid treatment programs into statute and allow the department to set a fee to cover the cost of those services. The prime sponsor and DOH said the bill would preserve a service that is especially important to tribal and rural providers and would be self-sustaining rather than supported by the general fund. Members asked about the relationship between DOH and HCA and whether the bill would duplicate existing authority; staff and the department said DOH already performs the accrediting role and the bill mainly formalizes that authority and fee-setting power. Public testimony on the bill was then closed. The committee then held an extensive work session on the federal 340B drug pricing program and later opened public testimony on House Bill 2145, which would prohibit manufacturers, distributors, and third-party logistics providers from restricting 340B drug acquisition or delivery and from requiring claims or utilization data as a condition of access. Committee staff and NCSL gave background on how 340B works, recent growth in the program, contract pharmacy issues, and state efforts in other jurisdictions. Testimony on HB 2145 was sharply divided: hospitals, community health centers, tribal representatives, contract pharmacies, and labor groups said the bill would protect safety-net providers, rural access, HIV and behavioral health services, and tribal programs from manufacturer restrictions; business groups, pharmaceutical companies, and employer coalitions argued the program has expanded beyond its original intent, lacks transparency, shifts costs to employers and taxpayers, and should be addressed through federal reform instead. No vote was taken in the excerpt. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2155, which would bar non-human entities from using nursing titles such as RN, APRN, or LPN or otherwise implying they are licensed nurses. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended to protect patients from being misled by AI systems and to preserve transparency and public safety as health care technology expands. The Washington State Nurses Association testified in support, saying AI can be useful but should not replace nurses or be presented as a licensed professional. A member asked about enforcement and liability, and staff said they would follow up on those details.

Transcript Highlights:

• on the existing formula, but the additional $100 million would be based on the road miles formula.
• Asphalt is an oil-based product.
• Based on my service both on that task force as well as...
• I love the idea that the extra $100 million is based on road miles.
• And you use a different pavement design; you have much higher depth of base.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held its first hearing of the session on H. 53, Governor Healey’s Chapter 90 proposal to increase state funding for municipal roads, bridges, sidewalks, and culverts. Committee chairs outlined the hybrid hearing process and invited testimony from municipal officials, labor groups, regional planning organizations, contractors, and administration officials. Across the hearing, speakers consistently supported the bill, emphasizing long-deferred maintenance, inflation in construction costs, climate-related flooding, and the need for more predictable, multi-year funding so cities and towns can plan projects and take advantage of the construction season. The administration described H. 53 as part of a broader $8 billion transportation package, proposing to raise annual Chapter 90 funding from $200 million to $300 million for five years, with the additional $100 million distributed by road mileage to better support rural and small communities. They also highlighted $200 million for culverts and small bridges, plus other transportation investments, and said the five-year authorization would provide certainty for municipal capital planning. Municipal witnesses from places including Carlisle, Beverly, Granby, Hatfield, Newton, Nahant, Gardner, Beckett, and Yarmouth described local road and culvert backlogs, rising asphalt costs, and the difficulty of maintaining infrastructure on limited local budgets. Labor and industry witnesses from the AFL-CIO and MAPA said the bill would support good-paying jobs and provide stability for contractors and producers. The MBTA Advisory Board and regional planning representatives also backed the proposal, noting the connection between local roads and the broader transportation system. Committee members asked questions about the road-mile formula, culvert needs, asphalt costs, and the rationale for a five-year authorization. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows us to build and rehab permanent supportive housing, which is an evidence-based practice for
• which rehab permanent Supportive Housing which is<00:05:02.880><c> an</c><00:05:03.080><c> evidence-based
• </c><00:05:03.919><c> practice</c><00:05:04.280><c> for</c> is an evidence-based practice for is an evidence-based
• So being connected to city water is game-changing for the Woodon Terrace residents.
• But obviously, base funding is really key to what we do.

Bills: HF2148 , HF2693 , HF2542 , HF1141 , HF1770 , HF1489 , HF1709 , HF244 , HF1266 , HF807 , HF2619 , HF1340

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• So I just want to be very clear, this is not the end game.
• Based on priorities and availability. Okay, great. Thank you.
• So each year, based on per capita, we get a certain amount of resources to allocate.
• We are a cloud-based filing system.
• We used 5% as the assumption for increased cost based on what we've seen from our prior experience.

Summary: The subcommittee heard an extensive presentation on the administration’s housing reorganization proposal, which would centralize multifamily affordable housing finance under the new Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC) and align it with the Governor’s trailer bill language. Administration officials said the plan is intended to create a one-stop application and award process, reduce duplicative timelines and costs, and pair state subsidy with private activity bonds and federal tax credits more efficiently. They also described proposed changes to the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program, including shifting a larger share of funding toward housing-related awards while preserving a portion for sustainable communities investments. The Legislative Analyst’s Office generally supported the streamlining concept but recommended changes to the proposed bond set-aside timing and urged flexibility for integrated applications and future reporting on demand. Senators, especially Senator Cabaldon, raised concerns that the proposal could weaken the original climate-and-transportation purpose of the sustainable communities program and that the reorganization would be undercut by the lack of new housing production funding in the budget. The item was held open without a vote. The committee then received a report from the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee and the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee on federal and state housing tax credits. Staff explained that the federal H.R. 1 change lowering the bond-financing threshold from 50% to 25% greatly expanded the number of projects able to use the 4% federal tax credit, allowing California to fund many more projects and units. They also described the state low-income housing tax credit as an important gap-filling tool for projects that still need additional subsidy, and noted existing set-asides for rural, homeless, at-risk, and extremely low-income projects. Members discussed rehabilitation as well as new construction, and the item was informational only. Finally, the Civil Rights Department reported on the effects of federal civil rights policy changes and on three programs facing expiration: California vs. Hate, the Community Conflict Resolution Unit, and Investigations and Conciliation Enhancement. Director Kevin Kish said federal cuts and policy shifts have reduced support for fair housing and other civil rights functions, while CRD’s caseload has grown from about 8,700 open matters a year ago to more than 12,000, with a six-month wait for interviews despite overtime triage efforts. Senators expressed strong support for continuing the programs and concern about the broader federal rollback of civil rights enforcement. The department said it is using overtime, intake triage, and outreach partnerships to manage the workload and direct Californians to appropriate state, local, and nonprofit resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• Jacqueline Deal, and I'm an advisor to State Armor based in Washington, D.C.
• So it's really going to be based on what the officer or anybody, I guess, in this case, has really broadened
• So it's really going to be based on what the officer or anybody, I guess, in this case, has really broadened
• Does it apply to football games? Does it apply to tailgating at LSU?
• It requires that the conduct involve a substantial likelihood of transmission based on current and generally

Bills: HCR7 , HB76 , HB84 , HB132 , HB265 , HB275 , HB322 , HB635 , HB808 , HB883 , HB1054

Committee: House Administration of Criminal Justice

Keywords: juvenile justice, electronic monitoring, annual report, supervision outcomes, data transparency, inmate release, notification, law enforcement, victims, public safety, hit-and-run, crime of violence, felony, sentencing, battery, sound, intentional harm, physical pain, hearing impairment, video voyeurism

Transcript Highlights:

• traditional expenditure breakdown that you are used to seeing from your different presentations, five-year base
• Rangeland Commission, we work together with them too, trying to get all these messages out, Fish and Game
• There was also an ongoing increase made for transcript costs based on a decision that was made by the
• There was also an ongoing increase made for transcript costs based on a decision that was made by the
• I'd like to read the cautionary language from the district court: 'If the state-based system works as

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and first heard a budget presentation for the Department of Parks and Recreation. Legislative analyst Janet Jessup reviewed the agency’s structure, dedicated funds, prior ARPA and general fund infrastructure appropriations, and the department’s FY 2027 requests. Those requests included additional park personnel and trail maintenance staff, one-time project funding, and a supplemental $9.8 million transfer to move grant funds from a consolidated program into the current park operations program. Director Susan Buxton said the agency has no general fund request, emphasized the economic impact of outdoor recreation, and highlighted completed and ongoing capital projects at parks statewide, including Ponderosa, Heyburn, Priest Lake, Eagle Island, Cascade, Harriman, Ashtonia Trail, and Bruneau Dunes. Committee members asked about resident access to campsites, out-of-state pricing, vacancy filling, the new Twin Peaks property in Lemhi County, OHV education, and trail maintenance. Buxton said the agency is filling positions quickly, that higher nonresident fees have increased availability for Idahoans, and that the Twin Peaks acquisition is expected to become revenue-positive within two years. The committee then heard the Office of the State Public Defender budget. Analyst Janica Bicharat summarized the office’s staffing, fund balance, and FY 2027 requests, which included six additional trial attorney positions, secure hosted data storage, and one-time laptop and data migration costs. Director Eric Frederickson described the agency’s transition to a statewide public defense system, noting that it inherited more than 1,300 cases on day one, has since reduced vacancies to about 7%, and is building pipelines for attorneys and social workers. He warned that the pending Tucker v. State of Idaho case could lead to renewed litigation if the system is not adequately funded. In response to questions, Frederickson said the office can absorb the current year’s rescissions through vacancy savings, but future cuts could force reductions in training and contract attorneys, increasing caseloads and risking attorney retention. He also said CPA case costs are running above appropriation, county lease/MOU issues remain unresolved in some counties, and public defenders are generally paid less than county prosecutors and attorney general attorneys. The committee adjourned after announcing the next day’s budget hearings for the Industrial Commission, Public Utilities Commission, and Secretary of State.

Transcript Highlights:

• been a nightmare because they have a group of youth who are just rolling on the e-bikes and playing a game
• So when we come back next session, we have real solid data and direction that is fact-based on how to
• becomes mandatory, what safeguards exist to prevent this from harassing or intimidating candidates based
• what safeguards exist to prevent this information from being used to harass or intimidate candidates based
• And I am concerned based on what the young woman just spoke about.

Transcript Highlights:

• The language that I'm reading, based on what was just given to me, is: 'It is the intent of the Legislature
• terribly selective hypocrisy and the selective outrage that's happening on this floor this morning based
• Ultimately, we need to do work based upon facts and based on what's happening in our community and how
• I'm ashamed to see the political games and maneuvering that are being done.

Summary: The Assembly met with a quorum after a roll call and prayer, then moved through routine business and a lengthy floor debate centered on AB 379, a bill dealing with protections for minors and human trafficking victims. Assembly Member DeMaio first sought to bring the bill up without Public Safety Committee amendments, arguing the committee had gutted the bill and removed felony language for purchasing 16- and 17-year-olds for sex. The body instead adopted a substitute motion to take up Assembly Member Schultz’s floor amendments to AB 379, and the bill became the focus of intense debate over whether the amended language would still adequately protect minors or instead weaken penalties and create a lower standard for 16- and 17-year-olds. Supporters of the amendments, including Schultz, Petri-Norris, Mark Gonzalez, Krell, Wynn, and others, said the changes were intended to strengthen and clarify the law, protect trafficking survivors, and preserve prosecutorial effectiveness while avoiding misinformation about existing law. Opponents, including DeMaio, Gallagher, Dixon, Macedo, Castillo, and others, argued the amendments watered down the bill, failed to restore the original felony treatment for buyers of 16- and 17-year-olds, and amounted to political maneuvering rather than real protection. The chamber also briefly considered a motion to table the amendments, which failed, and an appeal of a ruling on decorum, which was rejected. After debate, the Assembly adopted Schultz’s amendments to AB 379 by a 55-21 vote and then rereferred the bill to the Appropriations Committee. The chamber also handled several procedural items, including re-referrals of other bills, consent calendar actions, and a series of unanimous consent votes on numerous bills and resolutions. The session ended with announcements of committee meetings and the next floor session, followed by adjournment until Monday, May 5 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, before turning it back is I love going to Gopher games, get up to the stadium on occasion, and
• , get up to the stadium on occasion games, get up to the stadium on occasion and<00:13:16.079><c> if<
• So in this table, and this is the base resources line, is the same on both tables.
• The base resources show they reflect that transfer.
• </c> evaluate institutions based on content. evaluate institutions based on content.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Sales tax is based on transactions.
• Yeah, they're not Washington state-based. They're generally contractual and national.
• It's been a game changer for local government and our rural communities in central Washington.
• They create jobs and stabilize our tax base and economy.
• We also are very concerned about the expanding of the tax base.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• The blame game is starting already.
• We have to compromise, and that's the name of the game this year.
• 37.599><c> the</c> to compromise and that's the name of the to compromise and that's the name of the game
• :38.880><c> it</c><00:41:39.119><c> seems</c><00:41:39.359><c> like</c><00:41:39.520><c> there</c> game
• And it seems like there game this year.

Transcript Highlights:

• TCEQ permits are based upon national standards, federal standards.
• Based upon the chip manufacturing issue, watch the train wreck.
• ...whether you're impacting them or not based on certain activities.
• Knowing that we don't know what we don't know, let's war game a bit going forward.
• It could essentially drag out indefinitely based on the bill of holding up an air permit.

Bills: SB2037 , SB1757 , SB1758 , SB1759 , HB29

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• the total FEFP and is calculated based on the total number and... ...FEFP and is calculated based on
• To calculate that base FEFP, you multiply the total number of weighted...
• To calculate that base FEFP, you multiply the total number of weighted FTE by the base student allocation
• The statewide summary shows the base FEFP in purple on your...
• We were the only educational game in town up until a few years ago.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met to review how Florida’s Education Finance Program (FEFP) works, receive an update from the Department of Education on the October 2024 FTE survey and third FEFP calculation, and hear from three county superintendents about forecasting enrollment and reconciling scholarship students. The chair explained that FEFP is funded by both state and local dollars, is recalculated multiple times during the year, and is now closely tied to school choice policy. Department staff said the third calculation was still being rerun but should be completed soon, and described the forecasting process as collaborative among districts, DOE, and the Education Estimating Conference. Superintendents from Polk, St. Lucie, and Hendry counties said enrollment shifts, especially students moving to Family Empowerment Scholarships, homeschooling, or private schools, make budgeting and staffing difficult. They said districts often must hold back funds to protect against midyear losses, which affects collective bargaining, staffing, transportation, and classroom organization. Several members raised concerns about duplicate counting, transparency, and whether students receiving scholarship funds can also remain in district classrooms. DOE said districts can access scholarship information through a secure portal and that scholarship funding organizations are paid quarterly, with a new process requiring certification and possible future payment adjustments to reduce duplication. The superintendents urged better real-time tracking of students through a statewide ID or student information system and suggested scholarship students should be funded separately from district FEFP calculations. Members also discussed whether more frequent or daily attendance-based calculations would improve accuracy, though some warned that daily attendance could create new problems for high-poverty districts. The committee also briefly discussed categoricals, including mental health and ESE funding, with DOE saying it evaluates programs through studies, reporting requirements, and legislative direction. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with a motion to rise and adjourn.