Transcript Highlights:

• It explains how to use long-distance rates to support local rates, how business rates can support residential
• rates, and how higher rates for urban populations can support... for rural rates in rural areas for
• That's a participation rate of about 1.5 percent. rate of about 17 percent.
• So you can see rates for.
• E-Rate does continue.

Transcript Highlights:

• All agencies would be required to use it under this proposal, which would include vendor contracts and
• All agencies would be required to use it under this proposal, which would include vendor contracts and
• All agencies would be required to use it under this proposal, which would include vendor contracts and
• All agencies would be required to use it under this proposal, which would include vendor contracts and
• </c><00:15:37.240><c> that</c> performed at a much higher rate that performed at a much higher rate that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Last year we dispensed with the vendor Last year we dispensed with the vendor payment<01:01:03.640
• </c> how this will affect those vendors how this will affect those vendors there.<03:03:24.600><c> If
• </c> to punish that uh vendor to punish that uh vendor uh<03:07:10.480><c> with</c><03:07:11.120><c>
• And in this the marriage rate is.
• </c> vendors in this bill. vendors in this bill.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> insurance rates. insurance rates.
• The The The the<01:20:55.680><c> base</c><01:20:56.160><c> rates</c> the base rates the base rates were
• </c> of the base rates. of the base rates.
• </c> rates. We've seen it. rates. We've seen it.
• </c> possible resulting rates. possible resulting rates.

Bills: SB2960, SB2347, SB2272, SB3137, SB3132, SB2271, SB2804, SB2175, SB2487

Keywords: homeowners insurance, disaster recovery, replacement cost value, state of emergency, policyholder rights, insurance extensions, tenant rights, landlord obligations, housing crisis, eviction prevention, multilingual access, SB2272, Act 105, home health licensing, home health agency, home health services, Department of Health, DOH, CMS, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Summary: The committee heard several resolutions and one bill focused on energy reliability, utility infrastructure, insurance, tenant rights, and home health licensing. On the energy side, members heard HCR 203/HR 193 on a status update for the Hawaii Electric Reliability Administrator, HCR 204/HR 194 on a comprehensive PUC analysis of cost reduction and risk, and HCR 202/HR 192 creating a legislative task force on future energy pathways. Testimony on the energy measures was generally supportive from the PUC, DCCA’s Division of Consumer Advocacy, the Hawaii State Energy Office, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, with OHA urging that equity, native Hawaiian impacts, and public trust resources be considered alongside cost savings. The committee also heard HCR 125/HR 117 on coordinating with utilities to address aging utility poles and lines along Farrington Highway and other high-risk corridors; Hawaiian Electric supported the measure, Hawaiian Telcom and Charter Spectrum said much of the work is already underway and questioned whether the resolution was necessary, and committee questioning focused on existing double-pole tracking and the role of DOT and the PUC. The committee then took up HCR 137/HR 129 on timely reimbursement of health care claims under the clean claims statute. The DCCA Insurance Division and the Hawaii Insurers Council opposed the measure as drafted, saying it could be read to require payment beyond policy limits and could raise premiums or reduce market participation. United Policyholders supported the measure, arguing it would simply give policyholders more time to collect benefits they already purchased, and clarified that it was not intended to increase coverage beyond policy limits. The committee later amended the resolution to direct the DCCA Insurance Division to prioritize investigation and enforcement of clean claims complaints. In the decision meeting, the committee recommended and adopted passage of HCR 203/HR 193 as is, HCR 204/HR 194 with an amendment removing the eighth whereas clause, HCR 202/HR 192 with an amendment adding a committee representative to the task force, HCR 125/HR 117 as is, and HCR 137/HR 129 with amendments. The committee also heard SB 2960 SC1 on property insurance, which would extend the time policyholders have after a declared disaster to document replacement-cost claims. The Insurance Division and Hawaii Insurers Council opposed it, warning it could force coverage beyond policy limits and increase premiums, while United Policyholders supported it and said it would help disaster survivors recover benefits they already paid for; members questioned whether similar laws in other states had caused premium spikes and clarified that the bill was not intended to exceed policy limits. The committee also heard SB 2347 SD1 on multilingual tenant-rights notices, with OHA, Hawaii Appleseed, and others supporting the bill but urging restoration of language requiring landlords to directly provide the notice at lease signing. Finally, SB 2272 SD1 HD1 on home health licensing drew support from the Department of Health, SHPDA, and the Health Care Association of Hawaii, with the association requesting an effective date amendment; testimony explained that the bill would allow state licensing compliance to be demonstrated through CMS-approved accreditation or certification surveys, potentially reducing duplication and freeing state resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what we're now doing is subsidizing the lease rates.
• It's been growing more than two times the rate of the median wage workers are earning.
• rate of the median wage wages that workers are earning.
• President, 78% success rate. Let that sink in a minute, 78% success rate.
• The current majority has grown at an average rate of 15% for several years now.

Bills: SB6061, SB6234, SB6170, SB6176, SB6182, SB6335, SB5647, SB6047, HB2367, HB2606, SB5998, SB6005, SB6003, SB6129, SB6225, SB6228, SB6231

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, contracting rules, state highway construction, procurement limits, state regulations, infrastructure funding, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law

Summary: The Senate met on February 23, 2026, opened with the usual roll call, pledge, prayer, and approval of the previous journal. Members then adopted Senate Resolution 8698 recognizing piano teachers, with several senators sharing personal remarks about their own teachers and the role of music education in families and communities. Guests from the Washington State Music Teachers Association and the National Guild of Piano Teachers were recognized in the gallery. The chamber then moved into budget debate, considering a series of amendments to the operating budget. Several proposals focused on housing costs, local planning, utility rates, and state spending restraint. Amendment 0772, which would have created a housing-related task force and increased funding, was rejected after debate over housing affordability and regulatory costs. Amendment 0785, restoring growth management planning funding for local governments, was also rejected. Amendment 0791, directing the Department of Commerce to study the effects of climate and clean energy laws on utility costs, and Amendment 0769, related to grid capacity and clean energy investments, were both adopted. Other amendments drew sharper partisan debate. Amendment 0798, which would have reduced the Supreme Court from nine justices to five and redirected savings to public defense, failed. Amendments 0794 and 0795, seeking funding for ballot measure costs tied to initiatives, also failed. Amendment 0799, intended to redirect Pacific Tower lease savings to developmental disability services, was rejected after discussion of the building’s current public uses. Amendment 0773, capping state spending growth and tying it to median wage growth, failed on a roll call vote, while Amendment 0777, addressing concurrent use of paid family and medical leave and sick leave by state employees, also failed after extended debate. Later, Amendment 0776 on tort liability reporting was adopted, as were Amendment 0758 creating a DSHS work group on community-based services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and Amendment 0786 was introduced to reduce cash and food assistance work-related funding, with debate beginning before the transcript ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what we're now doing is we're subsidizing the lease rates.
• All this amendment does is say, hey, let's make the lease rates match the underlying lease and cover
• It's been growing more than two times the rate of the median wages that workers are earning.
• President, 78% success rate. Let that sink in a minute, 78% success rate.
• The current majority has grown at an average rate of 15% for several years now.

Bills: SB6061, SB6234, SB6170, SB6176, SB6182, SB6335, SB5647, SB6047, HB2367, HB2606, SB5998, SB6005, SB6003, SB6129, SB6225, SB6228, SB6231

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, sewage, grinder pumps, residential buildings, regulation, construction, contracting rules, state highway construction, procurement limits, state regulations, infrastructure funding, vehicle registration, enforcement, renewal, transportation, state law

Summary: The Senate convened with roll call, prayer, and approval of the previous day’s journal, then moved to a resolution honoring piano teachers. Senate Resolution 8698 was adopted after remarks from Senator Conway and others describing the role of piano teachers in music education, family life, and community service. Members of the Washington State Music Teachers Association and the National Guild of Piano Teachers were recognized in the gallery. The chamber then took up the operating budget and considered a long series of amendments. Several amendments focused on housing costs and local planning, utility and energy policy, ballot measure costs, state spending growth, tort liability, and paid family and medical leave. Some amendments were adopted, including a study of utility cost impacts from climate laws, a grid-related funding amendment, a tort liability oversight/reporting amendment, and a workgroup on services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Others were rejected, including proposals to create a housing task force, cap state spending growth, fund ballot initiative costs, restore local planning grants, and change paid family and medical leave usage rules. Debate on the budget amendments was often partisan and detailed, with supporters arguing for fiscal restraint, cost transparency, and relief for taxpayers and local governments, while opponents emphasized existing work, program solvency, and the need to preserve services. The Senate also heard amendments on zero-based budgeting, federal education tax credit opt-in language, reproductive health funding, food assistance work requirements, and support for the Pediatric Interim Care Center; some were defeated and some were adopted. Roll-call votes were taken on certain amendments, and the transcript ends during consideration of Amendment 0787, which would restore funding for the Pediatric Interim Care Center.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next bill, Miss Harper, 400, Representative Oliver, ambulance services and set minimum reimbursement rate

Bills: HB44, HB400, HB444, HB487, SB249, SB252, SB58, HB44, HB400, HB444, HB487, SB249, SB252, SB58

Keywords: teachers retirement, credit purchase, St. Clair County, DAY Program, pension reform, dental insurance, benefit rollover, healthcare, insurance policy, annual maximum, HB444, vaccines, vaccine exemption, religious exemption, religious liberty, private school, church school, faith-based school, parochial school, school immunization

Transcript Highlights:

• collect any grant from the state during the pendency of the litigation, nor may cities change their tax rate
• And within that 90-day provision, that fatality rate track provision, if the situation is adjudicated
• say the same thing and add to that, that right now we have one of the lowest workforce participation rates

Bills: SB324, SB1978, SB2139, SB2401, SB2587, SB2610, SB2858, SB3016

Keywords: E-verify, employment verification, state contracts, immigration, labor compliance, ERCOT, Texas electric grid, interconnection, Public Utility Commission, PUC, Public convenience and necessity, electric cooperative, municipally owned utility, electric utility, transmission, generation facilities, grid reliability, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, FERC, SERC

Transcript Highlights:

• You have your budgets and you set your tax rate... ...are local government.
• You have your budgets and you set your tax rate to cover your expenses.
• It's with their contracted vendor, SAIC.
• We have different vendors that do that.
• I'm just not sure who the vendor would be for that. Ms. Swanson?

Summary: The committee met to take testimony on implementation of SB 2753, which eliminates the gap between early voting and election day and creates a continuous voting period. Because the committee initially lacked a quorum, testimony proceeded without legislative action. The Secretary of State’s office explained the bill’s major changes, including new voting hours, combined reporting of in-person results, and the requirement that early voting locations also serve as election day sites. The office said it had formed a statewide steering committee, held workshops with nearly 200 local entities, and developed training materials, but recommended delaying implementation until next year to allow more time for training, budgeting, and resolving operational issues. County election officials and associations largely echoed concerns about cost, staffing, security, and logistics. Witnesses from Harris, Denton, Jefferson, Sherman, and Collin counties described the need for additional workers, equipment, and facility time, especially because the bill removes the usual break between early voting and election day. Several raised concerns about the two-lock ballot box requirement, the transition of election judges and party representation, and the difficulty of using the same locations for both early voting and election day in precinct-based counties or non-joint primary counties. Some witnesses suggested changes such as more flexibility in hours, clearer rules for ballot box keys and election judge transitions, and broader use of countywide polling places or joint primaries. A recurring theme was that the bill’s implementation would require a major public education effort, especially because election-night results would likely be delayed and early in-person and mail ballots would be reported differently than voters are accustomed to. Witnesses warned that delayed results could fuel confusion or misinformation if not explained in advance. Committee members generally agreed that the change could increase voter access but emphasized the need to get implementation right, with several asking witnesses to provide detailed legislative wish lists and specific statutory fixes for consideration in the next session.

Transcript Highlights:

• But, you know, right now we have some of the highest rates of sexual assault in the nation in Utah.
• We have a high rate of suicide in Utah. And you can't stop and have...
• Those students, that would be a vendor that they would still be able to use.
• This is item number six on the agenda: privacy compliance for education technology vendors.
• Shockingly, the investigation found that 52% of these vendors were collecting...

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• data consistently shows that Black women and girls are reported missing at disproportionately high rates
• data consistently shows that Black women and girls are reported missing at disproportionately high rates
• the Indigenous communities, despite making up only highest rate of missing persons in Washington State
• times and was successful in finding the missing person 438 times, giving it roughly a 98% success rate
• Since these third-party vendors like Flock Safety are often headquartered out of state, this opens up

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on four bills. SB 5925 would expand the Attorney General’s civil investigative demand authority to investigate possible violations of the U.S. and Washington constitutions, certain labor and civil rights laws, law enforcement use-of-force issues, and jail-related statutes. Supporters, including the Attorney General’s office, Teamsters 117, and Working Washington, said the bill would make investigations faster and more effective, especially in wage theft and discrimination cases. Opponents, including police, sheriffs, cities, counties, and retail and business groups, argued it would give the AG broad investigative power without enough threshold showing, could burden local governments and employers, and raised constitutional concerns about speech and search protections. No vote was taken. SB 5906 would codify and expand protections for non-public spaces in schools, child care facilities, health care facilities, higher education institutions, and county auditor election areas by limiting immigration enforcement access without a judicial warrant or court order and restricting collection of immigration-related information about students and families. Supporters said the bill would reduce fear, protect privacy, and make existing Keep Washington Working policies clearer and more durable, with testimony from immigrant rights groups, faith organizations, students, PTA, and health advocates. Some organizations, including health care and child care stakeholders, supported the goal but asked for amendments to clarify definitions, create model policies, add training and enforcement provisions, and adjust warrant/subpoena language. The committee also heard strong opposition concerns about federal immigration enforcement, but no action was taken. SB 6070 would expand missing-person tools by allowing certain digital investigative tools to be used in missing endangered person cases, creating new Abney and Purple Alerts for missing Black people and people with disabilities, and broadening the definition of missing endangered person. Supporters included prosecutors, law enforcement, tribal and disability advocates, families of missing persons, and students who argued that faster alerts and better digital tools save lives and address racial and disability disparities in missing-person responses. Testimony described delays in prior cases and the need for more urgent, targeted alerts. The committee then heard SB 6002, which would regulate automated license plate reader systems, set registration, use, retention, audit, and disclosure rules, and prohibit certain uses such as immigration enforcement and surveillance near protected locations. The sponsor said the bill is intended to create statewide guardrails for a technology already in use, and testimony was expected to continue after the excerpt ended; no vote or final action was recorded in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most states right now there are 3,177 pet vendors. Oh, no, excuse me.
• </c> 3177 pet vendors 3177 pet vendors uh<00:08:29.879><c> oh</c><00:08:30.039><c> no</c><00:08:30.280
• Or do you do any communication or put on your website those vendors who are violating that?
• Is that it's also, sir, because the parole violation rate...
• But the vendor did come in and help us get to resolve.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• So some of the vendors may not have more inclusive options than the vendor in the district next door.
• So some of the vendors may not have more inclusive options than the vendor in the district next door.
• So some of the vendors may not have more inclusive options than the vendor in the district next door.
• So some of the vendors may not have more inclusive options than the vendor in the district next door.
• </c> verifiable in a more um in a faster rate verifiable in a more um in a faster rate but<01:07:41.880

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You adjust the rates. Yeah, you would adjust the rate. Somebody could be in charge.
• You're going to have to pay more because when you talk about the rate rates going up, and I'm off my
• He was taken by that beach vendor.
• He was taken by that beach vendor.
• The largest concession vendor, concessionaire vendor in our state parks, does the one at Wekiwa Springs

Summary: The committee heard and acted on a long agenda of local, housing, education, construction, and claims bills. It first took up SB 1730 on affordable housing/Live Local changes, adopting an amendment that narrowed and clarified several provisions, including density, height, parking, attorney fees, and exclusions for certain protected areas, then reported the bill favorably. It also approved SB 1674, which clarifies that local investment restrictions cannot block Israel bonds, after a clarifying amendment. SB 140 on charter schools was reported favorably after significant debate over school conversion, teacher contracts, local control, and the use of surplus school property for housing or other public purposes; several speakers opposed it as harmful to public schools, while the sponsor said it preserved district authority and added options for municipalities and job creation. The committee also passed SB 96 and SB 4, two local claims bills, and SB 1714, which allows SHIP funds to help mobile home owners with lot rent and requires local housing plans to address mobile home park closures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um if there vendor a little bit more.
• In speaking with the vendor this be?
• And the vendor did are looking for.
• </c> How's what's the success rate like? How's what's the success rate like?
• </c> charge for this but these are the rates charge for this but these are the rates you<01:53:02.320

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You adjust the rates. Yeah, you would adjust the rate. Somebody could be in charge.
• You're saying, well, there's your base rate.
• You're going to have to pay more because when you talk about the rate rates going up, and I'm off my
• He was taken by that beach vendor.
• The largest concession vendor, concessionaire vendor in our state parks, does the one at Weeki Wachee

Summary: The committee first took up CS/SB 1730, a Live Local Act bill on affordable housing. The sponsor described it as a set of technical and policy adjustments to strengthen implementation, including changes to zoning, height, parking, moratoriums, attorney fees, and related land-use rules. An amendment by Senator Claudio was adopted, adding provisions such as a 10-story height limit near single-family neighborhoods, exclusions for certain protected areas, and changes to fee and use definitions. The committee then reported the bill favorably. Members next considered CS/SB 1674 on unrated bonds for Israel bonds, with a clarifying amendment adopted to make clear the bill applied only to Israel bonds. CS/SB 140 on charter schools was also approved after debate over parent-led conversion of public schools, municipal job-engine charter schools, and surplus school property; opponents warned about local control and impacts on teachers and communities, while the sponsor said the bill preserved district authority and created new school-choice and economic-development options. The committee also passed SB 96, a claims bill for Jacob Rogers, and CS/SB 954 on recovery residences, after strike-all amendments that addressed zoning, ADA concerns, bed caps, staffing ratios, and limits on operation in certain multifamily settings. Senators expressed support for expanding treatment housing but also raised neighborhood and staffing concerns. The committee then approved CS/SB 1714 on local housing assistance plans, which would allow SHIP funds for limited lot-rental assistance for mobile-home owners and require local plans to address mobile-home park closures. SB 658 on standardized construction lien release forms was reported favorably despite testimony from contractors and lawyers warning about possible effects on lien rights and the separate House proposal. The committee also reconsidered and then approved CS/SB 482 after a late-filed amendment addressing local government art fees and a key issue over defining “extraordinary circumstances,” with counties and cities saying more work remained. Finally, the committee passed SB 24 and CS/SB 4, both local claims bills, CS/SB 712 on synthetic turf and related construction rules, SB 952 repealing the emergency firearms/ammunition restriction, CS/SB 1164 allowing email notice delivery in landlord-tenant matters with opt-in safeguards, and SB 202 on municipal water and sewer rates, which drew extensive opposition from North Miami Beach and Miami Gardens officials over utility surcharges and revenue impacts. The meeting ended with SB 202 still under heavy questioning and testimony about the fairness and financial consequences of the surcharge structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our street vendors Our street vendors are being targeted, their livelihoods are under attack.
• As a street vendor myself and many of my fellow vendors, we have worked hard for many years and knocked
• I am a fruit vendor in Los Angeles.
• As I spoke with the local vendor leader and the organization that's supported street vendors, I slowly
• Let me be clear: permitted vendors are not the problem.

Summary: The committee heard multiple bills, with extensive discussion focused on short-term rental regulation, street vending, park/public safety financing, transit-oriented housing fees, and demographic data collection. SB 346 would require short-term rental platforms to provide local governments with listing addresses and related information to help collect transient occupancy taxes and enforce local ordinances; supporters argued cities and counties need the data to identify unlicensed operators and recover taxes, while opposition from platforms raised privacy and due process concerns and said administrative subpoenas already exist. The bill was amended and passed 7-0 to the Judiciary Committee. SB 635, the Street Vendor Business Protection Act, sought to protect street vendors’ personal information from being shared in ways that could expose them to federal immigration enforcement; supporters described raids and fear in vendor communities, and the bill passed 6-1 to Public Safety. SB 499 would clarify that certain park and recreation facilities designated in local safety or hazard mitigation plans can qualify for fee deferral exemptions when they serve emergency or public safety functions; supporters said parks can serve as fire buffers, evacuation sites, and recovery hubs, while some housing advocates sought a clearer nexus to development impacts. The bill passed as amended 6-0 to Appropriations. SB 358, which would modernize traffic impact fee rules to better reflect lower automobile trip generation for walkable, transit-oriented housing, drew support from housing and transportation advocates and passed 8-0 to Appropriations. SB 515, aimed at improving demographic data collection and reporting by local governments and state entities, passed to Appropriations on a 4-0 vote. The committee also took up SB 276, presented by Assembly Member Stefani on behalf of Senator Wiener, which would allow San Francisco to create a permit-and-enforcement system for the sale of commonly stolen goods on sidewalks. Supporters said the measure is needed to address fencing operations and protect legitimate vendors, while emphasizing it is narrowly targeted and not aimed at food vendors or permitted sellers. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 276, with supporters from the Mission street vendor community and San Francisco Public Works describing enforcement problems and the need for clearer rules and city resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:42.720><c> directly</c> deposit or payment to a vendor directly deposit or payment to a vendor
• You say pay vendors directly.
• directly so it is all accessible vendor directly so it is all accessible through<00:30:40.559><c> a<
• </c><00:32:38.600><c> directly</c> um do you you say pay vendors directly um do you you say pay vendors
• salary to make the contribution rates the same for both IRP and TR accounts.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Personal data is not shared with adult websites or third-party vendors.
• The rates are just the rates.
• The rates are just the rates.
• That is not an increase that can be covered by rates.
• That is not an increase that can be covered by rates.

Summary: The Committee on Children and Families heard public testimony on House Bills 1839, 2921, and 3015, all aimed at requiring age verification for access to online pornography. The sponsors argued the bills are needed to protect children from early exposure, exploitation, sextortion, and related harms, and said the measures mirror laws in other states and recent Texas litigation. Supporters, including the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund, pediatric sexual assault nurse examiners, child advocacy groups, the Missouri Catholic Conference, and the Attorney General’s office, testified that pornography contributes to child sexual abuse risk, addiction, and unhealthy sexual development. Committee members asked about privacy protections, enforcement, penalties, and whether third-party verification or website-based verification would be used; the Attorney General’s office said identifying information should not be retained and that enforcement would occur through court action. No one testified in opposition, and the hearing concluded with the bills remaining under consideration, with a committee substitute to follow for one portion of the legislation. The committee then heard House Bill 2610, which would use the state legal expense fund to cover claims and judgments involving foster care, case management, and residential service providers under contract with the state. Representative Murphy and supporters said the private insurance market for these providers has become unstable and unaffordable, with some agencies facing large premium increases, repeated denials, or inability to find coverage at all. Testimony from the Missouri Coalition for Children, Missouri Alliance for Children and Families, Family Forward, and the Attorney General’s office described the issue as a market failure that could force providers to close and disrupt services for foster children. The Attorney General’s office explained how legal expense fund coverage would work, noted that it can cover negligence and intentional acts for covered entities, and said the bill would shift risk to the state in the absence of adequate private insurance. No opposition was offered. Finally, Representative Terry briefly presented House Bill 24, describing it as the same as Representative Dolan’s grandparents’ bill and emphasizing that grandparents should have first consideration for custody if a child’s parents are unable to care for them. No testimony was offered on the bill. The committee then moved into executive session and voted do pass on House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1696, House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2505 and 24, and House Bill 1772, each by unanimous 14-0 votes. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Using data analytics, we identified a duplicate payment of almost $3,700 issued to a vendor providing
• After notifying the vendor, the agency received and deposited recoupment of the duplicate payment in
• currently working on how we can roll that out, and right now we're negotiating a contract with a vendor
• So we are recommending one vendor, which would be rolled out statewide for all departments.
• Administrative Services would purchase those vehicles, and then we could assign them and charge a rate

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard audit reports from Tom Bullington. For the Department of Public Safety FY24 audit, two findings were presented: a duplicate vendor payment of nearly $3,700 that was later recouped, and a $2.5 million collateral deficiency tied to bank deposits that exceeded FDIC coverage because securities were not properly pledged to the State Police. Agency representatives from Arkansas State Police and the Department of Public Safety answered questions, and members discussed how the collateral requirement works before the report was filed without objection. The committee then reviewed the Department of Transformation and Shared Services FY24 audit, which contained five findings. These included an $800 career service overpayment caused by incorrect rehire data, delayed deactivation and inaccurate listing of fixed assets including stolen cameras, a double count of more than $940,000 in year-end cash records, $10.3 million in health claims that should have been recorded as fiscal year 2024 payables, and repeated deficiencies in vehicle mileage logs. Agency officials said the stolen cameras were recovered through restitution, and they described corrective steps for asset tracking, cash reporting, and vehicle logs. Members asked detailed questions about the vehicle log issues and the planned statewide GPS/telematics rollout. Shared Administrative Services said it is negotiating a vendor contract, expects to implement the system first in its own department, and aims to use GPS, geofencing, alerts, and WEX fuel-card data to improve oversight while preserving privacy. The committee also discussed possible future vehicle sharing across agencies, but no action was taken beyond filing the report. The meeting adjourned after announcing the next meeting date.