Transcript Highlights:

• They get through municipal state aid or other funds.
• That is a substantial cost for any city, whether it is a state aid city or not.
• That is a substantial cost for any city, whether it is a state aid city or not.
• That is a substantial cost for any city, whether it is a state aid city or not.
• These MSA funds are intended to be spent on our local state aid street system.

Bills: HF192 , HF268 , HF1214 , HF494

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We looked at career technical education, special education aid, catastrophic aid—as some call it.
• We've been warned, don't call it Cat Aid anymore. I that's in my brain. I always call it Cat Aid.
• And I always call it Cat Aid.
• It's not just special ed; it's special education aid. It's differentiated aid.
• financial aid through various financial<01:21:43.120><c> aid</c> financial aid financial aid programs

Summary: The meeting was the first session of a newly created House Education Funding Committee, which also handles career technical education and higher education legislation. The chair explained that the committee was split off from the larger education committee because of the high volume of bills in the prior biennium, and said its focus would be on education funding policy and related fiscal issues. He noted that the committee had already reviewed major topics with the Department of Education, including the foundation formula, building aid, career technical education, special education aid, catastrophic aid, and higher education funding, and that chancellors from the university and community college systems were scheduled to appear later that morning. The bulk of the meeting was an orientation on committee procedures and decorum. The chair reviewed attendance and replacement rules, hearing procedures, time limits for testimony, and how the committee would handle crowded hearings, early bills, and fiscal notes. He emphasized that hearings are not debates, that sponsors and co-sponsors may present but should not use their position to dominate questioning, and that the chair controls whether additional technical questions are asked of witnesses. He also stressed neutrality, saying members should not display buttons or placards or engage in running debates with testifiers, and that the committee should treat all testimony respectfully regardless of party or viewpoint. Additional housekeeping guidance covered security procedures, use of cell phones and computers during hearings, breaks and hydration in the dry hearing rooms, and courtesy toward the clerk and other staff. The chair also asked members to notify leadership in advance of absences and explained that some bills may require larger rooms or overflow arrangements. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the current aid year, WASAC has already received almost 10,000 WASFA applications.
• In 2014, the legislature passed the Real Hope Act, which allowed students to apply for financial aid
• Currently, many students who use alternative state financial aid applications, often from vulnerable
• I'm able to attend university because of our state's financial aid program.
• And immigrants, students, and apply for the state financial aid with fair, when financial aid is secure

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on House Bill 2073, which would require nonprofit health carriers with surplus above 600% of risk-based capital to pay 3% of the excess to support the Cascade Care Savings premium assistance program. Committee staff said the bill could generate about $80 million in FY 2027 based on 2024 surplus data, while carriers and business groups argued their reserves are needed to pay claims, manage risk, and avoid premium increases. Supporters said the bill would redirect consumer-funded surplus to help Washingtonians afford coverage, especially as federal subsidies expire. No action was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2132, which limits disclosure and retention of personally identifying and financial information in WASFA applications. Staff explained the bill would exempt WASFA records from public disclosure, restrict sharing to narrow purposes, and shorten retention periods, with significant fiscal impacts tied to purging records and updating data-sharing practices. Student and advocacy testimony strongly supported the bill as a privacy and safety measure for immigrant and mixed-status students. The committee also heard House Bill 2403, which lowers the penalty for failure to register as a sex offender and adds community custody and DOC supervision; public defense supported it as a cost-saving, consensus reform, and staff projected DOC savings. House Bill 2587 was also heard, creating a Commerce pilot to provide limited advance grant funding to eligible nonprofits; supporters said it would help smaller nonprofits manage reimbursement-based contracts, while staff estimated indeterminate but potentially significant administrative costs. The committee heard House Bill 2607, which would require DCYF to periodically rebase child care subsidy rate regions to better reflect local cost differences. Supporters from Benton and Franklin counties said current regional rates are outdated and unfairly low in fast-growing areas; staff said the fiscal impact was indeterminate. The committee then moved into possible executive session on several bills. Second Substitute House Bill 1170, dealing with generative AI disclosures and provenance tools, was amended and ultimately passed out of committee on an 18-9 vote after all proposed amendments were rejected. Substitute House Bill 1570 was amended to narrow its scope to Western Washington University and then passed out of committee on a 17-9 vote. The committee also began action on proposed Third Substitute House Bill 1710, which would create a state pre-clearance requirement under the Washington Voting Rights Act, but the transcript cuts off during consideration of amendments to that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> SSPA uh the school support personnel aid SSPA uh the school support personnel aid uh<02:33:29.439
• ,</c> created the the basic supplemental aid, created the the basic supplemental aid, the<02:36:49.319
• Um, the compensatory revenue aid.
• aid.
• It money into basic supplemental aid.

Transcript Highlights:

• STEM and Workforce Program State Aid and operating state aid for community college districts as specified
• and operating state aid for community college districts are as specified in the General Appropriations
• Every year they are underfunded, and they are putting Band-Aids over shotgun wounds at that university
• Bill 4163 requires ADE to recalculate Alhambra Elementary School District's fiscal year 2025 state aid
• due to a change... ...to recalculate Alhambra Elementary School District's fiscal year 2025 state aid

Summary: The meeting covered a series of fiscal year 2027 budget and budget-related bills, beginning with the general appropriations and tax package. Staff and the chair highlighted a budget built around about $1.4 billion in tax cuts, a one-time 2.5% agency reduction, major funding for state employee health insurance, corrections, flood and wildfire relief, and other supplemental appropriations. The chair repeatedly urged support for the package, emphasizing the size of the tax cut and noting that the committee’s joint vote had only three no votes out of 28 members. Members then reviewed several smaller budget implementation bills affecting racing and gambling, capital outlay, commerce and defense innovation, corrections, environment and water policy, higher education, human services, K-12 education, county finance, tax administration, state data governance, and state office rent rates. Key provisions included extending or modifying funds and fee structures, transferring surplus or unneeded monies, creating or revising oversight boards and pilot programs, increasing K-12 funding by 2% for inflation, adjusting university retention limits, expanding SNAP and housing-related requirements, and changing tax conformity and credits. Several members asked clarifying questions about specific items such as electric vehicle charging funds, mobile home relocation payments, university funding, and the new health insurance oversight board. The chair also explained the tax bill’s major changes, including conformity to federal tax law, a larger dependent tax credit, changes to deductions, repeal of certain tax credits, veteran property tax relief, limits on data center tax incentives, and provisions affecting manufacturing infrastructure and unemployment insurance administration. The committee discussed the Budget Stabilization Fund, debt repayment, and education rollover balances, with the chair arguing for using surpluses to pay down debt. The final item discussed was a behavioral health bill creating a home and community-based services program for adults determined to be seriously mentally ill, with a stated FY 2027 total fund appropriation of $7.8 million contingent on federal approval and matching funds. The meeting ended with a reminder that floor action would begin the next day at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 276, sheltering or aiding unmarried minors.
• SB 276 increases the crime of sheltering or aiding an unmarried minor from a first-degree misdemeanor
• SB 276, sheltering or aiding unmarried minors.
• SB 276 increases the crime of sheltering or aiding an unmarried minor from a first-degree misdemeanor
• a defense to the crime of unlawfully sheltering or aiding and unmarried minors where the defendant had

Committee: Senate Criminal Justice

Summary: The committee met and took up several criminal justice, public safety, and boating measures. It first heard SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which would create mental health diversion options for eligible misdemeanor and felony defendants, expand mental health and substance abuse grant uses, require evaluations and treatment recommendations in certain cases, add Hillsborough County to a forensic diversion pilot list, and create a behavioral health data repository. After adopting a technical amendment, the bill received strong support from NAMI Florida, family advocates, sheriffs, and the Murphy family, and was reported favorably on a unanimous vote. The committee also approved SB 86, expanding peer support programs for certain law enforcement support personnel, and SB 472, allowing inmates who complete approved education in correctional facilities to receive credit toward professional licensure requirements. Both bills were amended and then reported favorably without opposition. SB 276, which increases penalties for unlawfully sheltering or aiding an unmarried minor and creates a defense for actions taken to protect a minor from danger, drew questions about runaway youth, LGBTQ youth, and the scope of the defense; the sponsor said he was open to further amendment, and the bill passed favorably. Members then approved SB 402, updating the unlawful use of uniforms, medals, or insignia statute to reference the armed forces by definition rather than by branch. SB 490, as amended, would let law enforcement, correctional, and correctional probation officers carry concealed off duty and exempt law enforcement officers, correctional officers, and active military service members from the three-day waiting period for rifle and shotgun purchases; it passed 8-1 after debate over the waiting period and equal treatment concerns. Finally, the committee passed SB 628, Lucy’s Law, to strengthen boating safety and penalties, after adopting an amendment that removed proposed changes to warrantless blood draws and boating education requirements; the bill was supported by the family of Lucy Fernandez and passed unanimously. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so we have Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund is reduced by $81 million.
• Okay, so we have Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund is reduced by $81 million to $133.
• Okay, so we have Foundation Aid Stabilization Fund is reduced by $81 million to $133.
• So that's the total amount that we add now to the foundation aid payment.
• State aid to public libraries, that's their grant money.

Bills: HB1540

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Summary: The committee first took up amended bill 10-13, a school funding and education appropriations measure. Senator Schaible walked through the final version, which included changes to foundation aid, transportation grants, free and reduced-price meals funding, paraprofessional and teacher support programs, Native American education items, library and school facility projects, and several one-time grants. Members discussed removing the science center grant funding, and Senator Meyer objected to that removal, arguing that Grand Forks had raised matching private and local funds and that other cities had received similar state support. The committee also agreed to adjust regional education association funding to reflect six centers rather than seven, reducing that line to $600,000. The committee then adopted the amendment to 10-13 unanimously and passed the bill as further amended on a unanimous roll call, with Senator Shively designated as carrier. After a brief recess, the committee turned to bill 1540, but no formal action was taken. Bank of North Dakota and OMB representatives raised concerns that the draft included policy changes and procurement/IT exemptions that needed further discussion. Members agreed the bill would be delayed until Monday so the Bank, OMB, and NDIT could confer and work through the mechanics and policy issues before the committee moved it forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:25:10.640><c> highway</c> amount to the county state aid highway amount to the county state aid
• , and municipal state aid.
• </c><00:42:30.160><c> design</c> aid and municipal state aid design aid and municipal state aid design
• </c> basis for uh design on state aid basis for uh design on state aid projects.<00:42:41.440><c> Um<
• </c> standard for um for state aid projects. standard for um for state aid projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• It amends the eligibility requirements for receiving state student financial aid for private schools
• award under the student's financial aid award under the state<00:35:50.640><c> grant</c> state grant
• financial aid offers.
• </c><01:22:15.040><c> Ensuring</c> our financial aid package. Ensuring our financial aid package.
• ><c> office</c> Kate's, our financial aid office Kate's, our financial aid office processes<01:25:45.600

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• >> That's financial aid. >> Uh, there is financial aid out there, but it is provided by private institutions
• >> That's financial aid. >> Uh, there is financial aid out there, but it is provided by private institutions
• >> That's financial aid. >> Uh, there is financial aid out there, but it is provided by private institutions
• >> That's financial aid. >> Uh, there is financial aid out there, but it is provided by private institutions
• >> That's financial aid. >> Uh, there is financial aid out there, but it is provided by private institutions

Summary: The task force meeting began with approval of the July 14 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association. Association leaders described general aviation airports as important to rural access, commerce, emergency response, tourism, agriculture, and workforce development, and cited statewide economic impacts they said exceed $1.6 billion and support more than 9,400 jobs. They thanked the legislature for prior airport funding and said it had helped airports with basic operations and repairs. The association asked lawmakers for four things: continued appropriations for general aviation airports; relief or a more workable process for required financial audits, which they said can cost $10,000 to $20,000 or more and sometimes exceed a small airport’s annual budget; a regularized statewide appropriations process for airport infrastructure needs, which they said total about $100 million and are currently addressed unevenly; and funding for the Aerospace Education Reinvestment Opportunity Act to support scholarships and aviation workforce training. Members of the task force asked follow-up questions about the audit burden, the difference between financial and safety audits, and the difficulty of finding audit firms. The presenters said they would bring specific ideas back on audit reform. Eastern Kentucky University then presented on its aviation program. EKU leaders thanked the committee for prior support, including a $25 million appropriation for a new flight school building at Central Kentucky Regional Airport, and said the project is expected to break ground in 2026. They reported strong enrollment growth, with 502 aviation majors, most of them Kentuckians, and said the program has expanded flight hours and job placement. EKU also outlined plans to add an air traffic control program in response to Senate Bill 87 and the national shortage of controllers, saying it could train students to FAA standards if the university receives the needed investment in simulators, equipment, space, and faculty. They also discussed the need to replace an aging fleet of training aircraft, saying the current planes are decades old and costly to maintain, and that newer aircraft would improve training quality and reduce student costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• official spoke to: the resources that we gave from the public safety grants that we put public safety aid
• The resources that we gave from the public safety grants that we put public safety aid that we passed
• I think it was tied to the tax bill for public safety aid for local communities to spend however they
• uh tied to the tax bill for<00:17:23.880><c> public</c><00:17:24.199><c> safety</c><00:17:24.640><c> aid
• aid for local communities<00:17:26.120><c> to</c><00:17:26.280><c> spend</c><00:17:26.679><c> however

Transcript Highlights:

• pandemic-induced inflation and because of the stimulus from Congress sending trillions of dollars in aid
• Now, however, inflation growth is backed down and that aid has dropped.
• </c><00:05:18.440><c> to</c><00:05:18.720><c> States</c> trillions of dollars in Aid to States trillions
• of dollars in Aid to States and<00:05:19.360><c> families</c><00:05:20.360><c> now</c><00:05:20.759>
• </c><00:05:23.360><c> has</c> growth is backed down and that Aid has growth is backed down and that Aid

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue met on January 8, 2025, with a full roll call and a welcome to new members. The committee took up its only agenda item, House Bill 1, sponsored by Chair Jason Petrie, which would implement a further 0.5% reduction in the individual income tax rate, effective January 1, 2026, with conforming date changes tied to the state’s existing tax-cut framework under House Bill 8 and the budget director’s certification of reserve and revenue conditions. Jason Bailey of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy testified against the bill, arguing that Kentucky’s recent permanent income tax cuts were enacted during an unusual period of temporary pandemic-era revenue surpluses and federal aid, and warning that another cut could worsen future budget pressures. He said the proposed reduction would cost about $718 million annually when fully phased in and would increase risk to state services, especially in poorer rural areas that rely heavily on state funding. In response to questions, the sponsor and other members described the bill as limited to the income tax rate and said any future reversal would require statutory change. Representative Gentry asked about the broader policy goal of moving toward a more consumption-based tax structure and whether the income tax cuts were intended to support growth and population retention. He said he had seen anecdotal signs of housing and population activity in Jefferson County and surrounding areas, though he acknowledged the difficulty of proving causation. He ultimately passed on the bill, saying he wanted more data and was concerned about benefits flowing more to higher-income taxpayers. The committee then voted 17-0 with 3 pass votes to report House Bill 1 favorably to the House floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• For a brief background, the Washington College Grant is the state's largest financial aid program that
• Without aid, they must delay, borrow, or walk away from the opportunity in their own community.
• Connect aid to real jobs, speed up workforce readiness, and grow Washington's economy.
• Connect aid to real jobs, speed up workforce readiness, and grow Washington's economy.
• And we are disenfranchising students who would benefit greatly from the same financial aid that their

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills related to higher education, workforce training, student protections, campus encampments, and EMT recertification. HB 2427 would require tattoo artists to complete annual human trafficking awareness training through the Department of Licensing; the prime sponsor and supporters said tattoo artists may be among the few people trafficked survivors encounter and could help identify and refer victims, while one opponent argued the bill imposes compelled speech and burdens small businesses. HB 2458 would expand Washington College Grant eligibility to approved non-degree credential programs; supporters from community and technical colleges, workforce organizations, and employers said it would help low-income students access short-term training tied to high-demand jobs, while one member raised concerns about short-term credentials and their long-term value. The committee also heard HB 2474, which would strengthen consumer protections when a private institution or program closes by expanding use of the Student Achievement Council tuition recovery trust fund, requiring teach-out or transfer options, and voiding certain student debts if closure rules are violated. The sponsor and agency witnesses said the bill responds to recent closures and gaps in federal oversight, while Independent Colleges of Washington opposed the bill as overly broad and potentially harmful to program innovation, and asked that private nonprofit campuses be excluded. Testifiers from student groups and a national higher-education advocacy organization supported the measure and argued that protections should also apply to public institutions. HB 2589 would regulate campus encampments at institutions of higher education by requiring advance notice, limiting authorization to registered student organizations or recognized bargaining units, and allowing institutions to impose content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions to protect safety and access. The sponsor said it codifies existing practice and does not ban protest, but several testifiers described recent encampments as disruptive or unsafe, while others warned the bill could chill student expression and should not apply to private nonprofit campuses. Finally, HB 2540 would extend EMT recertification intervals from every three years to every six years for EMTs certified in Washington for at least 10 years; firefighters and EMS supporters said it would reduce administrative burden without changing training requirements. The committee took no votes and adjourned after hearing all testimony, with a reminder about amendment deadlines for upcoming bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:59.199><c> Um,</c> a little bit is county program aid.
• Um, a little bit is county program aid.
• Whereas, you know, uh on uh state aid.
• </c> comparatively uh county program aid comparatively uh county program aid probably<00:14:44.079><c
• Um because as you can aid over time.

Bills: HF3396

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, reduce aquatic invasive species aid.
• Next, reduce aquatic invasive species aid.
• Next, reduce aquatic invasive species aid.
• Uh, repeal local government cannabis aid. We've talked about that before.
• </c><01:40:20.400><c> 2.4</c> categorical or general purpose Aid 2.4 categorical or general purpose Aid

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• That includes 10 statewide legal aid organizations and six regional legal aid organizations.
• Currently, those who qualify for civil legal aid need to be...
• Legal aid organizations are problem solvers.
• Legal aid organizations are also partners with legislators.
• organizations, all of the 16 legal aid organizations.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The hearing was held in Clinton Town Hall as part of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means’ budget review, with local officials welcoming legislators and noting the long agenda of many panels. The main presentation was from Secretary Terrence Reedy of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, who outlined the Healey-Driscoll administration’s FY26 proposal for the secretariat, including a $1.7 billion budget and a 7% increase over FY25. He described investments in emergency preparedness, hate-crime prevention, reentry programming, technology modernization, internships, and public safety training, while also noting some reductions driven by resource constraints, including cuts to certain grant programs and administrative costs. Committee members also raised concerns about federal uncertainty and how it could affect state budgets and public safety planning. A major portion of the questioning focused on the Department of Correction. Secretary Reedy and Commissioner Sean Jenkins said the biggest challenges are staffing, officer wellness, facility safety, and contraband—especially K2. They described steps taken at MCI Souza and other facilities, including reducing population at the maximum-security unit, changing management, removing metal products and free weights, improving screening and roll calls, adding a rapid response team, and increasing investigative and technological efforts to combat K2. They also discussed the closure of MCI Concord, saying it was driven by high maintenance costs and staffing needs, and explained that savings are being used to improve staffing patterns and address deferred maintenance over time rather than producing immediate large budget reductions. Members also questioned the budget’s impact on police training and community policing. The administration defended the increase in police academy tuition from $3,200 to $6,000 as reflecting true training costs and said it would still be subsidized by the state, while acknowledging the burden on small municipalities. They said the MPTC is expanding regional training and considering proposals such as Greenfield Community College’s. On community policing, officials emphasized uniform statewide training, de-escalation, and communication skills. The State Police also announced an outside review of the academy by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and said the next class will be split into two smaller groups to improve oversight and allow quicker implementation of recommendations. Other topics included ICE and federal immigration enforcement, with Reedy saying state law prohibits Massachusetts law enforcement from acting in a civil immigration capacity and that no state dollars were used in the Tufts-related ICE operation mentioned by a member. Senators and representatives also raised the upcoming FIFA World Cup, warning that it will require significant public safety resources and likely federal funding. Additional discussion covered restorative justice and juvenile diversion, health care costs in DOC, electronic health records, and the need for more diverse and culturally competent public safety staffing. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We accept that this budget will not restore our operating aid.
• We accept that this budget will not restore our operating aid.
• declare STEM and workforce program state aid and operating state aid for community college districts
• trust fund and declare STEM and workforce program state aid and operating state aid for community college
• Aid for Maricopa and Pima Community Colleges is one.

Bills: HB4154 , HB4155 , HB4156 , HB4157 , HB4158 , HB4159 , HB4160 , HB4161 , HB4162 , HB4163 , HB4164 , HB4165 , HB4166 , HB4167 , HB4168 , HB4169 , SB1847 , SB1848 , SB1849 , SB1850 , SB1851 , SB1852 , SB1853 , SB1854 , SB1855 , SB1856 , SB1857 , SB1858 , SB1859 , SB1860 , SB1861 , SB1862

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: HB4155, amusements, amusement industry, entertainment, recreation, state appropriations, biennium, 2026-2027, fees, licensing, regulation, tourism, parks, fairgrounds, carnivals, arcades, HB4156, capital outlay, appropriations, capital projects

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, we joined the California Fire Rescue Mutual Aid System, receiving new equipment like a Type
• We provide a lot of aid to other communities. We have received aid.
• And that's why the state of California has such a great mutual aid program.
• You've seen the makeup and the mutual aid with Cal Fire on some of these things.
• And it allowed tribes to be signatories to the state's Master Mutual Aid Agreement.

Transcript Highlights:

• the California Council for Interior Design, the Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and Hearing Aid
• We will be hearing testimony from Gilda Dominguez. ...and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board.
• We currently have an audiology aide category that is not licensed and has led to... ...aide category
• They had aides.
• They still have aides, but now they have a profession that has far fewer access-to-care issues than we

Transcript Highlights:

• monitors and coordinates aspects of the response, tasks agencies, and facilitates the state’s mutual aid
• While fire recovery assistance is available, aid varies by recipient, program, purpose, and provider.
• Issue Four: Reappropriation of law enforcement mutual aid.
• Issue Four is reappropriation of law enforcement mutual aid.
• this funding is that small rural law enforcement agencies struggle to front the costs of the mutual aid

Summary: The committee heard a broad public safety budget hearing focused on youth justice funding, probation incentive grants, and disaster response and recovery. On the youth justice item, the Office of Youth and Community Restoration described a proposed change to the JJRBG funding formula that would shift resources away from a DJJ-based measure and toward county youth population, serious offenses, and step-down placements in less restrictive programs. Members asked about data on Native American youth; OYCR said statewide data are limited, but its SYTF data show about 1% of youth in secure youth treatment facilities were Native in 2024. The Department of Finance had no objections, and the item was discussed as a way to support alternatives to long-term incarceration. The committee then reviewed the community corrections performance incentive program for county probation departments. The Department of Finance proposed stabilizing the program with a maintenance payment, updating the performance baseline, and adding a growth factor; the LAO agreed the formula needed changes but recommended using 2022-23 data instead of 2021-23, using marginal rather than average cost assumptions, rejecting the growth payment and minimum guarantee, and adding stronger oversight through the BSCC. Finance said it was open to some technical changes but opposed a new BSCC audit framework, noting Judicial Council already surveys probation departments and that evidence-based practice use has increased over time. Members and staff indicated the proposal still needed further work. A major portion of the hearing focused on the January 2025 Southern California wildfires and state disaster response. A resident of Altadena gave emotional testimony about evacuation failures, loss of home, and the need for accountability. LAO and Cal OES outlined the disaster response and recovery system, including mutual aid, alert and warning, debris removal, FEMA and state funding streams, and the long timeline for reimbursement. Cal OES said it had pre-positioned resources, temporarily took over the county’s wireless emergency alert function for about three weeks, coordinated debris removal and recovery operations, and had already allocated more than $286 million in state funds. Officials also discussed the 100% federal cost share for emergency work for 180 days and the uncertainty created by changing federal processes and the cancellation of the BRIC resilience program. The committee also heard two smaller Cal OES items: a request to reappropriate about $22 million for the law enforcement mutual aid reimbursement program, which the LAO said should be placed in statute with clearer goals and reporting, and an update on Victims of Crime Act funding, where Cal OES said federal VOCA allocations have fallen sharply and that roughly $224 million would be needed to maintain current service levels if federal funding does not improve. Public comment included a request for funding to expand datacasting and emergency alert receivers for wildfire and earthquake warning.