Video & Transcript Research : 'spending benchmarks'
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AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee Jan 21st, 2026
Public Safety and Homeland Security
Bills:
HB1, HB198, HB11, HB32, HB33, HB34, HB56, HB68, HB72, HB101, HB102, HB110, HB154, HB166, HB168, HB274, SB114, HB1, HB198, HB11, HB32, HB33, HB34, HB56, HB68, HB72, HB101, HB102, HB110, HB154, HB166, HB168, HB274, SB114
Keywords:
DUI, driving under the influence, ignition interlock, interlock device, driver license suspension, restricted license, motor vehicle, alcohol offense, first offense, repeat offender, blood alcohol concentration, BAC, license revocation, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, ALEA, public safety, traffic safety, chemical dependency, substance abuse, court referral program
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Yeah, $1 million, right, and you spend all of it.
- At the same time, you can spend the 18.4.
- <01:49:24.360>
there that money that we didn't spend there that money that we didn't spend - performance on this National Benchmark performance on this National Benchmark has<02:43:27.760><
- <03:43:33.680>
was the our spending was the our spending was not<03:43:35.640>um <03
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration, June 25, 2026 - AM
Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration
Transcript Highlights:
- $20,000 a child and we're talking about spending $100 a year for a Chromebook.
- day... should not spend the entire school day looking at a screen.
- Are we spending money on something we don't need?
- Um, benchmark and progress monitoring is done as another public ...
- I think definitely not allowing younger kids to spend a lot of time on computers.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Finance Division III (03/04/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- All right, I could spend six hours talking to you about the therapeutic cannabis program.
- Benchmark so I know that we work closely Benchmark so I know that we work closely with<03:26:33.520><
- Not the contracts, but a very short summary of what we're spending.
- 39.439>
I <03:59:39.520>don't know who we're spending it with I don't know who we're spending - <03:59:43.479>
it the purpose we are likely spending it the purpose we are likely spending
Summary:
The Finance Division III work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health Services budget. Department staff said Public Health has a relatively small budget compared with other DHHS divisions, is supported mostly by federal and other non-General funds, and contains nearly 100 accounting units and more than 50 federal grants. They emphasized that the governor’s budget did not include significant cuts, but that federal funding uncertainty and the winding down of pandemic-era resources were major factors affecting the division. The division also explained that some apparent budget growth reflects reorganizations, including moving the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery and some programs from other DHHS divisions into Public Health.
The presentation described Public Health’s mission as serving the entire state through food and water safety, disease surveillance, emergency response, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, WIC, community health center support, and public health data collection. Members asked about bird flu, and staff explained that human-health response would involve Public Health’s lab, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness units, while animal-health issues are handled with the Department of Agriculture; they also noted ongoing milk testing requested by FDA and USDA. The division said its organizational structure includes bureaus for Family Health and Nutrition, Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Protection, Emergency Preparedness, Prevention and Wellness, Statistics and Informatics, and Public Health Laboratories, with about a 15% vacancy rate.
Committee members questioned whether the division’s budget and staffing had really grown since pre-COVID, and staff responded that full-time authorized staffing is about the same as in 2018, with the increase largely due to federal pandemic funding that has since receded and to program transfers between divisions. They said Public Health’s General Fund share is about $24 million out of roughly $1.1 billion in DHHS General Fund spending, or about 2.2% of the department total. Members also asked about the 3,000-position cap and unfunded positions; staff explained that the cap remains in chapter law through June 30, 2025, that 394 positions were unfunded in the governor’s budget, and that the division expects flexibility to move money from personnel lines and fill unfunded positions to manage changing needs. No votes or formal actions were taken in this portion of the work session.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery
Transcript Highlights:
- The other thing that I spend a lot of time doing is co-chairing with Senator Eldridge the Criminal Justice
- The other thing that I spend a lot of time doing is co-chairing with Senator Eldridge the Criminal Justice
- And I would just say there's another phenomenon here too, because one thing that if you spend a lot of
- that and i would just say there's there's another phenomenon here too because one thing that if you spend
- If you spend a lot of time in this space, you'll see it.
Summary:
The committee held a public hearing on a broad set of mental health, substance use, recovery, and patients’ rights bills. Early testimony focused on H. 2227, which would replace stigmatizing substance use terminology in the General Laws, and H. 3950, which would support parents in recovery involved with DCF by requiring more individualized recovery plans, clearer benchmarks for parenting time, access to recovery coaches or counselors, family counseling after sustained recovery, and staff training on addiction and lived experience. Speakers described the bills as ways to reduce stigma, increase accountability, and improve reunification outcomes for families.
A major portion of the hearing centered on S. 1386, which would transfer Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Correction to the Department of Mental Health. Advocates, family members, and disability groups testified that Bridgewater functions like a prison rather than a hospital, with excessive restraint, seclusion, involuntary medication, poor conditions, and racial disparities, and argued DMH should oversee a treatment setting. One DMH occupational therapist and MNA member opposed the transfer, saying the real issue is mixing forensic and continuing-care patients and that DMH should instead create designated forensic units under bills H. 228/S. 1408. Committee members asked about Bridgewater’s population, the history of DOC control, capacity, staffing, and how a transfer might be implemented.
The committee also heard testimony on modernizing the six fundamental rights for psychiatric inpatients, including expanding communication options, clarifying visitation and advocacy definitions, and improving access to gender-appropriate and culturally relevant items. Another bill, H. 2216, would require stronger oversight before antipsychotic medication is prescribed in nursing homes, prompted by concerns about inappropriate use. Finally, testimony supported H. 2240 and H. 2239 on sober homes, with supporters saying discharge and relocation policies are needed when a resident returns to active use or becomes unsafe, while preserving the recovery environment and resident rights. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Dec 18th, 2025 at 01:07 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- calculated way while also contemplating how you might be able to use the money that you're Already spending
- I just want a big chunk of money in there for discretionary spending.
- my presentation yesterday, I talked about how Michigan is actually trying to cost out how much they spend
- And then lines 118 to 131 is how you're going to spend the money that's in the bucket That helps tremendously
- Department: You asked earlier about whether this is what we're spending on bilingual, for instance.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Nov 18th, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- We spend a lot of time talking about the age of a farmer being 60 6 in New Mexico.
- And I'm just a little concerned that we spend too much time trying to put kids on a path towards just
- They spend a lot of money there. And it's a very important place for me.
- They receive a 30 cents Per meal allocation to spend on subsidized commodity agricultural products is
- and he was selling the money ran out, and the schools didn't know how much money they had left to spend
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- to have a stronger economic impact for that reason. ...in excess of a hundred million dollars total spend
- So they're coming, still spending money, just not buying a ticket, which is great for the economic impact
- These events attract visitors who spend money at hotels, restaurants, and local businesses.
- That's just where we came up with a benchmark.
- Those ripples that we see with other events, where you're spending more money on different things, are
Bills:
HB2385, HB3349, HB3962, HB3883, HB4396, HB4811, HB5088, HB4588, HB4867, HB4895, HB5398, HB5616
Keywords:
NRA, funding, major events reimbursement, annual meetings, exhibits, events trust fund, Pan American Games, Olympic Games, motor sports racing, local control, event support contract, INDYCAR, Arlington, tourism, funding eligibility, sporting events, economic impact, local governments, American Performance Horseman, American Rodeo
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Natural Resources Committee Jun 22nd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- a CEQA exemption, but as in print, SB 954 requires conflicting and at times impossible to meet benchmarks
- As in print, SB 954 requires conflicting and at times impossible-to-meet benchmarks, some of which have
Summary:
The committee heard several bills, with SB 1350 by Senator McNerney presented first. The measure would expand California’s use of renewable hydrogen in the power sector by allowing renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using green hydrogen, with supporters emphasizing grid reliability, clean-energy goals, in-state investment, and construction jobs. Support came from labor, clean-energy, municipal utility, and local government representatives; NRDC Action Fund withdrew opposition after amendments, while a few groups remained opposed or neutral. The committee later took a roll call and SB 1350 passed out on a due pass recommendation.
The committee also heard SB 1180 by Senator Allen, which would set operational rules for the Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund created under SB 54, including clearer eligible uses, transparency, technical assistance, and access for tribes and smaller community groups. Environmental justice, ocean, conservation, and local government groups strongly supported the bill, saying it would ensure the fund addresses plastic pollution’s public health and environmental harms. Industry and manufacturing groups opposed unless amended, arguing the bill should stay tightly tied to plastic waste reduction and not broaden into source-reduction policy. After quorum was established, the committee approved SB 1180 on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations.
SB 1326 by Senator Wahab was then heard to strengthen tribal consultation and tribal cultural resource protections under CEQA by recognizing tribal registers and requiring feasible avoidance or mitigation measures when tribes identify resources. Tribal representatives and supporters said the bill would better protect sacred sites and tribal knowledge, while cities, counties, utilities, builders, and rural county groups opposed unless amended, citing implementation concerns, possible litigation, and uncertainty for infrastructure and housing projects. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations.
Finally, SB 954 by Senator Blakespear was presented as a cleanup of last year’s SB 131 advanced-manufacturing CEQA exemption, narrowing eligible projects and adding guardrails such as setbacks, air-quality limits, tribal consultation, labor standards, and habitat protections. Environmental and labor groups supported the bill as a needed correction to an overly broad exemption, while business, manufacturing, housing, and local-government groups opposed, warning it could make the exemption unusable and slow investment. Members debated the balance between environmental protection and manufacturing competitiveness, and the committee voted SB 954 out on a due pass recommendation to the Labor and Employment Committee; the transcript then moved on to SB 1031 on compostable plastics, which was introduced but not acted on in the portion provided.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Each SWCD provided their data into a benchmark analysis, and I think it's important to set them up to
- Each SWCD provided their data into a benchmark analysis, and I think it's important to set them up to
- Therefore, spending more tax dollars on more fuel from corn is throwing good money after bad.
- to apply not only to direct allocations, not only to allocations to nonprofits, not only to our spending
- <01:32:30.159>
um nonprofits not only to our spending um nonprofits not only to our spending
Keywords:
property tax, Indian Tribe, tax exemption, Minnesota, public charity, property tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, unorganized territory, federally recognized, soil conservation, water conservation, local government aid, environmental funding, Minnesota legislation, tax credits, sustainable aviation fuel, environmental policy, corporate franchise, Minnesota taxation, tobacco
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (05/21/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- I would have taken that Senate bill and retained it and had this committee work on it and spend a little
- a little more a lot more time and spend a little more a lot more time on<01:00:10.960>
it. - The one that came out of the Senate sets a benchmark rate of 325% of Medicare.
- The one that came out of the Senate sets a benchmark rate of 325% of Medicare.
- The one that came out of the Senate sets a benchmark rate of 325% of Medicare.
Summary:
The subcommittee continued work on Senate Bill 297 and a new amendment dealing with pooled risk management programs and whether they should be regulated under the insurance department. Lisa Duket, executive director of SchoolCare, testified at length that the draft language could allow co-mingling of public entity risk funds, could trigger producer-licensing requirements for staff who are not actually brokers, and may not fit public entity risk pools because they are not insurance companies. She also raised concerns about the March 1 reporting deadline, the proposed uniform accounting language, aggregate excess insurance, examination costs being charged to the program, and confidentiality provisions that she argued may conflict with right-to-know principles for public entities. She urged the committee to slow down and consider a study committee or more time for review, saying the regulated entities were not adequately involved in drafting the proposal.
Chairman Hunt and the department responded that the bill is intended to create a licensure-based regulatory model, similar to other licensed industries, and that the pooled risk management program would be exempt from producer licensing while anyone else selling or negotiating such coverage would need a producer license. The department said failure to comply would be handled through an administrative licensing process, with denial or nonrenewal of a license and appeal through the department process. On the reporting deadline, the department said March 1 is a standard filing date used for financial analysis and that the filing can be the most recent annual report, regardless of fiscal year end. They also explained that the confidentiality language was taken from existing RSA 5B, that aggregate excess insurance was included as a solvency measure, and that the draft was intended to preserve familiar language while adapting it for pooled risk programs.
The discussion did not include a final vote or formal action on the bill in the portion provided. The committee appeared to be compiling follow-up questions for the insurance department and considering whether additional revisions or a slower process would be needed before moving the bill forward.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'm not going to spend a bunch of time because I know it's getting late.
- And I was able to spend a good part of the day with you.
- And for you both to come to the Capitol, spend all this time.
- not dollars that we can spend.
- So for one school, we spend almost our entire. year's state facilities funding.
Keywords:
instructional materials, public schools, Education Code, adoption, rejected materials, local funds, open educational resources, Texas Education Code, school districts, open enrollment charter schools, funding restrictions, environmental regulation, business compliance, local authority, economic development, state preemption, local control, open education resources, SB 762, Texas public schools
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'm going to spend some time on it because I'm not going to be here when this bill, when the S-bits
- individual or a company can start collecting property and cobble together 15,000 acres, which is the benchmark
- individual or a company can start collecting property and cobble together 15,000 acres, which is the benchmark
- So I want to spend a little time, and I couldn't think of a better bill for it to be, for my last bill
- Can we spend the money in other places?
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a brief introduction of the doctor of the day before moving to the special order calendar. The chamber first took up several claims bills, including SB 6/HB 6507 for relief of L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, which was described as compensation for severe injuries after DCF returned the child to unsafe parents; the House bill was substituted and passed 34-0. SB 26 for the estate of Mark Legata, involving catastrophic injuries tied to FDOT negligence, was also substituted with the House version and passed 35-0. SB 42/HB 47 on specific medical diagnoses and child protective investigations passed 34-0 after supporters said it would require child protection teams to consider certain medical conditions that can mimic abuse. Later, SB 1002 on child welfare passed 37-0 after sponsors said it clarifies that parental drug abuse can constitute harm or neglect and allow earlier court intervention and services, while not changing parental rights law.
The Senate then considered education and health-related measures. SB 206/HB 851 on students with autism spectrum disorder was amended to the House bill and passed 35-0; the sponsor said it expands teacher preparation, requires autism-related training, creates a loan forgiveness program, and adds salary supplements for teachers with autism endorsements. SB 556/HB 453 on high school diploma requirements passed 36-0 and would allow students with disabilities to use Special Olympics participation to satisfy PE requirements, while also fixing a marching band credit issue. SB 688 on naturopathic medicine passed 33-3, reestablishing licensure and regulation of naturopathic doctors. SB 878/HB 1347 on clinical laboratory personnel passed 37-0 to address staffing shortages by aligning Florida more closely with federal CLIA standards. SB 914/HB 867 on dry needling by occupational therapists passed 37-0, clarifying authority for that treatment. SB 530 on state lotteries passed 36-0 with updates to operations, security, and retailer rules. SB 964/HB 6011 on financial disclosures and gifts/honoraria passed 36-0 after an amendment restored a percentage-based reporting option.
The chamber also approved several government-administration and public-records measures. SB 326/HB 131 on curators of estates passed 36-0, updating probate rules for temporary court-appointed curators. SB 758/HB 625 on the Justice Administrative Commission passed 37-0 after an amendment broadened the judicial member to a judge or senior judge rather than only a circuit judge. SB 830 on public records passed 31-5, creating exemptions for the personal information of county and city managers and certain family members. The Senate also passed SB 21/HB 218 on land use regulations, which preserves hurricane-recovery restrictions in affected counties while lifting them later for unaffected counties, and the sponsor thanked colleagues for helping address unintended consequences from prior law. SB 354 on Blue Ribbon Projects was debated extensively over concerns about local control, conservation protections, and vague standards; after a late amendment excluding data centers from commercial areas, the bill was temporarily postponed rather than passed. Finally, SB 1632/HB 1471 on ideologies inconsistent with American principles and domestic terrorist designations drew significant debate over references to Sharia law, religious freedom, notice, and due process; one amendment striking Sharia references failed, and a second amendment with broader revisions was under discussion when the transcript ended.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Louisiana Ports & Waterways Investment Commission May 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We conducted research that was in competitive benchmarking, and in that, we were building on that commodity
Summary:
The Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission met on May 14, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the July minutes. Leadership gave opening remarks welcoming new members and noting that the commission is now administratively housed with the Office of Multimodal Commerce, which is expected to provide staff support, resources, and help restart the commission’s strategic planning work. Commissioners said the next major agenda item will likely be consultant support and further work on the strategic plan.
The commission then repealed a prior July resolution that had requested a Louisiana Ports Infrastructure and Development Fund and identified critical projects for international trade and economic development. Members said the resolution was well-intentioned but premature because the projects had not been fully vetted, LED had not been sufficiently involved, and there was no clear funding plan. The repeal passed by motion and vote, with commissioners emphasizing that the projects themselves remain supported and will be revisited in a more thorough format through the strategic plan.
A major portion of the meeting focused on the collaborative marketing study for the five Lower Mississippi River ports. Joe Toomey and Ken Erickson of Polaris described a regional marketing strategy built from cargo analysis, stakeholder interviews, and port data, aimed at increasing trade, economic growth, foreign direct investment, infrastructure funding support, and long-term coordination. Commissioners and LED representatives said the effort shows stronger cooperation among the ports, will live at LED with a cooperative endeavor agreement, and is already being used in foreign investment outreach and as a possible template for other port regions.
The commission also received an update from the navigation and safety task force. Steve Wall, the new NOBER president, said he would continue the work begun by the late Captain Toby Waddington, who was honored with a moment of silence. Commissioners reported that recommendations from the task force are being implemented, including air gap sensors, bridge-related planning, and bundled dredging projects in the current capital outlay process. The meeting ended with no public comment and adjourned after commissioners indicated they would meet again in the next quarter.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Louisiana Ports & Waterways Investment Commission May 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We conducted research that was in competitive benchmarking, and in that, we were building on that commodity
Summary:
The Louisiana Ports and Waterways Investment Commission met on May 14, 2026, with a quorum present to reopen the commission’s work after a long gap. Members approved the July minutes and heard an update that a bill was moving in the Legislature to transfer the commission’s administrative home to the Office of Multimodal Commerce, with the strategic plan expected to be restarted and a consultant likely considered at a future meeting. The chair and vice chair emphasized that the commission now has stronger staffing and a clearer home for its work.
The commission then repealed its July resolution that had requested a new ports and waterways infrastructure fund and identified priority projects. Members said the earlier resolution was well-intentioned but premature because the projects had not been fully vetted, LED had not been sufficiently involved, and there was no clear funding structure. They said the projects would still be considered in the broader strategic planning process, but in a more thorough and coordinated form.
A major portion of the meeting focused on the collaborative marketing strategy for the five Lower Mississippi River ports, presented by Joe Toomey and Ken Erickson of Polaris, with LED’s Paige Carter confirming LED will serve as the administrative home for the plan. The presenters described a data-driven regional effort built around unity, not uniformity, to promote the ports’ combined strengths, increase trade, attract foreign direct investment, support economic growth, and strengthen funding requests. Members praised the effort as a pilot for statewide coordination, noted that the plan will live at LED, and said it should help the state present a more unified message to investors and policymakers.
The commission also received an update from the navigation and safety task force. Members observed a moment of silence for the late Captain Toby Waddingney, and Steve Wall, the new NOBER president, said he would continue the work using Waddingney’s notes. Commissioners reported that several recommendations from the task force are already being implemented, including bridge air-gap sensors, GIS tools, and dredging project coordination. The meeting ended with no public comment, plans for another meeting in the next quarter, and adjournment by motion.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Apr 28th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- On page two, starting on line four, there's a paragraph that talks about benchmarking policies.
Bills:
HB2894, HB3418, HB3415, HB3413, HB3414, HB3416, HB3417, HB3419, HB3420, HB1739, HB1752, HB1979, HB2941, HB2992, HB3075, HB3086, HB3177, HB3269, HB3278, HB3279, HB3497, HB3644, HB4432, HB3720, HB3849, HB3882, HB3919, HB3941, HB4118, HB4141, HB4268, HB4342, HB4428, HB4429, HB4434
Keywords:
HB2894, Oklahoma Rural Jobs Act, rural jobs, rural investment, tax credit, capital investment tax credit, state tax credits, economic development, rural fund, rural investor, qualified investment, eligible business, Department of Commerce, rural business, investment certification, tax liability, credit cap, workforce development, small business finance, rural development
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- math to focus only on students who demonstrate high proficiency in the statewide assessment or the benchmark
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, approved the journal, and then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several bills. Early floor action included House Bill 2369 on photo-enforced traffic citations, amended so the citation would be signed by the mayor rather than the municipality’s presiding judge; House Bill 2423 on advanced math course enrollment, amended to narrow eligibility to students showing high proficiency on statewide assessments and to remove duplicative reporting; House Bill 2481 on school district financial records, amended to change how the state responds to USFR deficiencies by directing districts to approved training programs; House Bill 2621 on special education/public school enrollment, amended to allow students placed in residential facilities to enroll directly in the district where they live; and House Bill 2756 on public utilities and high-load-factor customers, amended to extend reporting deadlines, exempt smaller utilities, and remove some integrated planning requirements. Each of these bills received do-pass recommendations from Committee of the Whole, with some senators raising concerns about math staffing, school funding, and data-center impacts on rates and infrastructure.
The chamber then adopted the Committee of the Whole report and heard a proclamation supporting stronger Arizona and U.S. relations with Taiwan, including trade, technology, education, and Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. The Senate also calendared House Bill 2192 for additional Committee of the Whole consideration, adopted a Bolick amendment excluding telecom and broadband providers from the definition of online hosting platform, and advanced the bill with a do-pass recommendation. In third reading, the Senate passed House Bill 2249 on the parents’ bill of rights, House Bill 2482 on out-of-school facilities, House Bill 2641 on firefighting foam, House Bill 2661 on dependent children, House Bill 2662 on parenting time, House Bill 2673 creating a study committee on inmate mental health services, House Bill 2745 on legislative subpoena enforcement, House Bill 2752 on the Arizona Commerce Authority, House Bill 2895 on public education, House Bill 2923 on mental health services, and several concurrent memorials urging Congress to address foreign authoritarian property ownership and endangered species issues.
Several members explained votes, often citing budget concerns, staffing shortages, or policy objections. Senators Epstein and others repeatedly argued that many problems in education and mental health require more funding and personnel rather than statutory changes alone. Senator Kuby and Senator Epstein also criticized House Bill 2756 as insufficient to address data-center costs, water use, and ratepayer impacts, though the amended bill passed. The session concluded with passage of House Bill 2192 on employment, committee announcements for the following Monday, and adjournment until April 20, 2026.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Emergency Management Committee Jul 14th, 2025
Emergency Management
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Select Committee on Pension Policy Jun 17th, 2025
Select Committee on Pension Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Department of Retirement Systems, one related to kind of pension plan administrator performance, benchmarking
Summary:
The committee approved the May minutes by roll call vote and then received brief updates from the Attorney General’s office and the Office of the State Actuary. The AG’s office said it would handle legal analysis related to the committee’s work, while the actuary reported that staff were at capacity this summer due to annual valuation work, experience studies, and other retirement system projects, but would have more capacity in the fall. Members also requested access to fiscal note and actuarial materials related to the LEOFF 1 study and related legislation.
The main discussion focused on the LEOFF 1 study, including actuarial funding, a proposed merger/termination/restatement approach, and the possibility of a permanent COLA for Plan 1 members. Several members supported keeping COLA recommendations in the committee’s work, while others raised concerns about whether merging or restating plans could affect benefits, legal status, or IRS tax treatment. The actuary explained that the temporary pause in certain funding rates reflected prior overfunding buffers and assumptions about future investment returns, and said future base-rate funding could still be needed depending on experience.
Members also discussed constituent correspondence, which staff said largely fell into four categories: the LEOFF 1 study, Plan 1 benefits and COLAs, fossil fuel divestment, and ESSB 5357. The committee agreed that divestment concerns are more appropriately directed to the State Investment Board, not this committee. In reviewing the draft interim work plan, members added or adjusted several topics for future meetings, including a July educational briefing on LEOFF 1 history and tax/IRS issues, a September discussion of COLAs, and a December placeholder for excess compensation/pension spiking, pending coordination with the LEOFF 2 Board. The committee then approved the July agenda and adjourned.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The PUC has adopted a reliability standard, a benchmark for aligning related programs.
Bills:
HB2, HB6, HB18, HB43, HB138, HB180, HB300, HB581, HB647, HB748, HB762, HB1240, HB1393, HB1397, HB1584, HB1734, HB2011, HB2254, HB2286, HB2434, HB2467, HB2468, HB2495, HB2516, HB2518, HB2529, HB2564, HB2712, HB2713, HB2715, HB2765, HB2898, HB3146, HB3161, HB3348, HB3800, HB4044, HB4341, HB4370, HB4384, HB4386, HB4396, HB4490, HB4809, HB5057, HB5323, HB5534, HB5668, SB203, SB317, SB719, SB731, SB801, SB867, SB1071, SB1232, SB1798, SB2082, SB2363, SB2603, SB2607, SB2717, SB2797, SB2841, SB2919, SB3038, SJR5, SB4, SB9, SB21, SB23, SB27, SB34, SB40, SB75, SB213, SB458, SB482, SB493, SB647, SB648, SB840, SB841, SB843, SB912, SB1241, SB1253, SB1350, SB1388, SB1423, SB1535, SB1559, SB1709, SB1789, SB1951, SB2037, SB2143, SB2155, SB2544, SB1, SB17, SB260, SB509, SB1506, SB1637, SB1833, SB2308, HB2525, HJR133, HB1393, HB26, HB388, HB2712, HB1633, HB685, HB2286, HB1606, HB1458, HB1240, HB2791, HB3146, HB1397, HB2061, HB647, HB4738, HB2563, HB128, HB581, HB766, HB2259, HB2358, HB4384, HB748, HB1734, HB5180, HB3806, HB3804, HB3803, HB1522, HB3597, HB1612, HB4224, HB1314, HB1237, HB3126, HB2856, HB3114, HB3505, HB5652, HB2025, HB3395, HB2495, HB18, HB2516, HB2713, HB24, HB519, HB609, HB1592, HB3348, HB120, HB6, HB1533, HB2421, HB2273, HB2464, HB2011, HB5057, HB5084, HB5534, HB5668, HB3424, HB2715, HB2564, HB2765, HB2898, HB3800, HB4396, HB4341, HB43, HB5686, HB2467, HB2468, HB2518, HB4310, HB4386, HB4490, HB180, HB5323, HB2, HB149, HB4945, HB2434, HB2529, HB3161, HB3745, HB4044, HB5155, HB5667, HB4996, HB2697, HB2492, HB2355, HB2282, HB2001, HB1902, HB1866, HB1445, HB1443, HB1306, HB1024, HB908, HB305, HB285, HB449, HB171, HB47, HB3464, HB2637, HB4263, HB5436, HB4429, HB3986, HB3966, HB3510, HB2560, HB2026, HB2688, HB4076, HB5246, HB3487, HB3486, HB4226, HB216, HB742, HB2402, HB143, HB5033, HB4413, HB4042, HB2440, HB4426, HB49, HB4112, HB3233, HB2310, HB5515, HB3627, HB2674, HB322, HB1481, HB126, HB3062, HB3421, HB3180, HB2530, HB2524, HB1916, HB3153, HB5650, HB4894, HB3120, HB1629, HB103, HB3234, HB3680, HB5698, HB3171, HB5693, HB2694, HB5664, HB3732, HB2508, HB2293, HB1991, HB2014, HB5331, HB5247, HB4751, HB4690, HB4668, HB4464, HB4395, HB4063, HB3833, HB3623, HB3214, HB3512, HB3250, HB3016, HB2520, HB2221, HB2213, HB3824, HB2067, HB1732, HB1562, HB700, HB1545, HB252, HB146, HB5596, HB1851, HB3619, HB3071, HB3556, HB851, HB4230, HB5320, HB5651, HB5670, HB5665, HB5437, HB5679, HB5699, HB5661, HB5662, HB5654, HB5672, HB5656, HCR141, HCR118, HCR127, HCR40, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SCR12, SCR39, SB2023, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB1200, SB1845, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB1640, SB1449, SB1181, SB1234, SB2926, SB2841, SB1528, SB1854, SB317, SB1250, SB2082, SB1237, SB2819, SB629, SB2608, SB1602, SB2009, SB867, SB640, SB1698, SB2680, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB2334, SB1367, SB2044, SB2363, SB2565, SB1888, SB3036, SB3057, SB3043, SB3063, SB3035, SB203, SB2688, SB2522, SB2459, SB2655, SB2251, SB1884, SB2928, SB2566, SB1749, SB2549, SB2553, SB2919, SB1944, SB1232, SB1798, SB2603, SB2607, SB2683, SB1319, SB3038, SB3045, SB1538, SB3071, SB3065, SB823, SB3062, SB3074, SB1380, HB6, HB581, HB1393, HB1734, HB2286, HB2467, HB2468, HB2495, HB2529, HB2564, HB2765, HB2898, HB3146, HB3348, HB3800, HB4341, HB4386, HB4490, HB5057, HB5323, HB5534, HB5668, HB2, HB2715, SR530, SR552, SB482, SB493, SB841, SB912, SB1241, SB1350, SB1388, SB1559, SB1951, SB2143, SB2155, HB205, HB220, HB561, HB2078, HB2300, HB2652, HB3335, HB3441, HB4212, HB4879, HB5228, HB5616, HB205, HB220, HB561, HB2078, HB2300, HB2652, HB3335, HB3441, HB4212, HB4879, HB5228, HB5616
Keywords:
public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, mental health, telehealth, public schools, discipline management, behavioral interventions, rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services