Transcript Highlights:

• And I will just tell you, those three things remain the top priority, really for JBLM: housing, child
• I don't think the position has shifted, but I will tell you priorities have shifted.
• The priority is absolutely toward readiness and war fighting and everything focused on that aspect.
• So that still remains a high priority.
• I do think it's lower on the priority based on the limited resources that we have.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs met to hear updates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Washington Military Department, the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Commerce on federal and state impacts affecting veterans, military families, and military installations. JBLM’s garrison commander said the base remains focused on housing, child care, and spouse employment, but is facing workforce reductions tied to federal personnel actions, especially in air traffic control, 911 dispatch, and firefighting. He also said JBLM is preparing for increased mutual-aid needs during fire season, and that the Army Transformation Initiative could change unit composition at JBLM over time without a major overall population shift. He confirmed that the Lewis Army Museum is on a closure list, but said the building will remain in use for training and that the base is exploring partnerships to keep museum functions operating, possibly with volunteers or local partners. The Washington Military Department reported about 400 Guard members deployed on federal missions and described ongoing state missions in cybersecurity and firefighting. The department said the Army National Guard’s 81st Stryker Brigade will transition to a mobile combat team, with associated changes in equipment, manning, and end strength. It also warned that continuing resolutions are delaying funding, limiting new military construction starts, and increasing costs. The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs outlined a $3.2 million reduction from the governor’s budget and related cuts affecting internships, vacant positions, outreach travel, claims support contracts, counseling and wellness, veterans’ innovation assistance, and the military transition and readiness council staff position. WDVA said it is ending or scaling back several programs, including in-house nursing assistant training, the veteran farm at Ordean, Vet Corps due to AmeriCorps funding changes, and the tobacco cessation program, while noting that the legislature funded about $23.7 million in capital projects for veteran homes, cemeteries, and transitional housing. The Department of Commerce presented on the Defense Community Compatibility Account, which funds projects that reduce conflicts between military installations and nearby communities. The program currently has 10 projects across five legislative districts, including school and child care improvements, water wells, land acquisition, and a joint firefighting training center in Everett. The presenter said the main challenge is that DCCA projects often need non-state funding secured before they can compete, which can make it hard to leverage federal Defense Community Infrastructure Program dollars; he recommended more flexible state timing to help projects qualify for federal funding. In closing discussion, members raised possible future agenda items including child care near bases, veteran homelessness, suicide prevention, Navy Day, military family housing, and a possible Department of Licensing issue involving guard and reserve designations on driver’s licenses. No formal votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after members were invited to suggest topics for the October and December committee meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• If confirmed as administrator, I would have three priorities.
• Senator, if confirmed, the top three priorities that I would be looking at, we know that there's a lot
• This is a priority for all of us. of the basin states along the Colorado River.
• If confirmed, it will be one of my top priorities to hit the ground running on right away.
• It's going to be my top priority. And I look forward to working with you.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result of these misplaced priorities, we've been caught off guard and left in the dark too often
• I agree that we've got to put America's priorities first.
• The priorities at the FBI, which I identified during my confirmation hearing and since, is attacking
• So, the priorities at the FBI since I took... over have been violent crime and national security, and
• I'm not sure if the president has any priorities now or sooner than that.

Keywords: national security, cyber threats, civil liberties, transnational crime, FISA Section 702, public-private partnership, intelligence community, Annual Threats Hearing

Summary: The Senate Intelligence Committee convened for a significant meeting focused on the Annual Worldwide Threats Hearing. Prominent officials from various intelligence agencies presented their insights on emerging national security threats, including concerns over increasing cyber threats, particularly from China and non-state actors. A major discussion point included the balance between national security and civil liberties, as evidenced by conversations surrounding Section 702 of FISA and its implications for privacy protection. The challenges posed by cartels and transnational criminal organizations, especially related to narcotics trafficking, were emphasized as pressing issues necessitating coordinated responses from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. This meeting underscored the necessity of public-private partnerships to tackle these multifaceted threats effectively.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I would say that that is very much an important priority for our commission.
• have gotten all of their transportation system needs addressed, but it is, I can say, a very top priority
• More money than that project would be underfunded and so some of the priorities that our commission has
• And priorities that we need to get done in the state of Texas seems to be dry. wagon out there.
• And priorities change, and so every year those priorities change, but we accommodate. whatever needs

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You're setting up budget priorities through the interim.
• We've visited our two biggest cities and learned from folks all across the state what the priorities
• You've got three big budget priorities that you've said in your budget guidelines, and that's reflected
• The second big budget priority that you've set is how do we make access to high-quality health care,
• The amount of money that you've got available to achieve these three broad priorities is shrinking, and

Summary: The committee heard a final wrap-up presentation from Director So Lee on the Legislative Finance Committee’s budget framework for the upcoming session. He said the state remains in a strong fiscal position, though revenue estimates are lower than earlier projections and available nonrecurring funds have declined by more than $1 billion from the prior session. He emphasized that the recommendation still preserves reserves above 30 percent and supports targeted investments in the committee’s three priorities: increasing per capita earned income through education and workforce development, improving access to high-quality health care and behavioral health, and enhancing quality of life through infrastructure, water, parks, trails, and other community amenities. Director Lee highlighted several major funding areas, including a proposed expansion of the UNM medical education program, water projects, capital outlay for state agency assets, and use of a mix of severance tax bonds, general obligation bonds, and cash for capital needs. He also noted continued pressure from health insurance, liability, and compensation costs, and said the committee would keep using pilot programs for new initiatives. Members broadly praised the staff, interim travel, and budget analysis work. During member comments, Senator Woods focused on school funding stability, liability costs, and fraud or waste in state agencies, arguing the state should take more claims to court to establish precedent and better protect taxpayers. Other members thanked staff and leadership for their work and collaboration. The committee then adopted the catch-up cleanup items and the overall LFC budget framework, with Senator Woods recorded in opposition, and created a technical committee with members from both chambers to resolve any final technical issues before the January session.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:58:52.480> And priorities of the of the Senate. And priorities of the of the Senate.
• I have another concern, and that's those with high disability priorities, those with high priorities
• <01:34:06.480> within immigrants to these priorities within immigrants to these priorities
• We have to... priorities here. We're seeing it through priorities here.
• and it comes down to priorities. Mr. and it comes down to priorities. Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:51:05.160> with and deferred maintenance priorities with and deferred maintenance priorities
• of the districts it'll get uh priority of the districts it'll get uh priority TI<02:36:50.000>
• the reasoning for that for that priority the reasoning for that for that priority um<02:39:26.880
• Does that mean that that's a high priority?
• Does that mean that that's a high priority?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Education held an informational/budget briefing with presentations from the State Library System, the School Facilities Authority, and the Department of Education. The chair opened the meeting by outlining the order of presentations and noting that members would hold questions until after all three agencies had testified. The discussion focused on each agency’s priorities for the upcoming biennium and their budget requests. State Librarian Stacy Aldridge described library usage and services, emphasizing strong demand for physical and digital materials, internet and Wi-Fi access, programs, Kanopy streaming, and PressReader. She highlighted digital literacy classes, RFID self-check and smart shelving improvements, and the role of libraries as community hubs. The library’s budget request included an additional $1.2 million for security guards, $48.484 million for FY 26-27 to support popup libraries during temporary closures and other needs, $500,000 for repair and maintenance, $2 million for Kap planning and design, and $25 million each year for lump-sum capital funding. Mallerie Fujitani said the lump-sum funding is needed to keep roughly 50 projects moving and to avoid delays in construction. School Facilities Authority Executive Director Ricky Fujitani explained the agency’s startup history and its programs for preschools, Central Maui schools, and workforce housing. He said the authority is using standardized, prefabricated, programmatic approaches to speed delivery and improve maintainability, citing prior preschool renovations as a successful model. He reported that of $389 million appropriated, $106 million was released, with $81 million for preschools, $20 million for Central Maui schools, and $5 million for workforce housing; he also noted the workforce housing program was reduced after Maui fire-related reallocations. He said the pilot workforce housing site at Mililani High School has been awarded and pointed to University of Hawaiʻi student housing projects as a model. Superintendent Hayashi then began the Department of Education presentation, introducing DOE leadership and outlining the department’s mission to support academic achievement, character development, and student well-being. He noted the department serves more than 152,000 students in 258 public schools and employs over 42,000 people, with nearly 54% of students facing significant challenges. He framed the budget request around the department’s strategic plan to prepare graduates for college, careers, or military service. The transcript ends during the DOE presentation, before any committee votes or formal actions are taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• A few suggestions just to offer for the set-aside: adding in the set-aside for priority applicants, so
• A few suggestions just to offer for the set-aside: adding in the set-aside for priority applicants, so
• And my last comment, Madam Chair, the comment was raised that the priority was for smaller farmers, and
• was for smaller that uh the priority was for smaller farmers<00:32:53.760> and<00:32:54.000><
• Chair Anderson: I draw members' attention to page three, line 34, that says a priority will be given

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So we use this fund based on priority, and Nathan and his team have a priority list.
• So we use this fund based on priority, and Nathan and his team have a priority list.
• So we use this fund based on priority, and Nathan and his team have a priority list.
• So we use this fund based on priority, and Nathan and his team have a priority list.
• So we use this fund based on priority, and Nathan and his team have a priority list.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It has been a long high-priority highway that is a two-lane road where the mines are bringing equipment
• everything that goes in that area, it is a big priority.
• It's going to be a priority to work on, assuming this passes.
• The Tier One is our priority right now, and that's going to be 136 and 273.
• Then we understand how these come priorities.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next amount for Table 6, we are now going into Priority 6, actually, for departmental Priority 6,
• what uh this is going into uh priority what uh this is priority priority priority six<00:10:44.880><
• The next request, Chair, is Priority 11. Again, within the EF, this is increasing costs.
• The next request, which was Priority 14, we're asking for $600,000 within the ERS for other costs so
• 17 uh is we're asking for was priority 17 uh is we're asking for an<00:18:19.400> increase<00

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I also think, and again, as I said, not in priority order, we have a new president.
• second uh and this is not in priority second uh and this is not in priority order<00:41:53.000><
• um and again as I said not in priority um and again as I said not in priority order<00:42:32.280
• Do they line up with the priorities?
• So that would be a priority of mine. Thank you so much.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Priorities matter. Members' priorities matter.
• Priorities matter.
• But priorities matter.
• I'm used to having appropriate priorities.
• And as I said before, priorities matter. Priorities matter as we're moving through.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate File 3432, a public safety bill requiring identifying equipment and insignia to be removed from emergency vehicles sold to the public. The chamber first adopted a House language amendment, then debated a broader security package that would fund judicial and courthouse security, Capitol security measures, short-term protection for legislators facing credible threats, State Patrol deficiency funding, and additional BCA analysts and investigators to assess threats statewide. Supporters framed the bill as necessary to protect public safety, democracy, and First Amendment activity at the Capitol and courthouses; they also said the package was pared down from larger requests and based on security reviews. The House adopted an A-1 amendment clarifying that BCA staff could investigate threats statewide, and later rejected a Schultz A-3 amendment that would have eliminated all appropriations in the bill. The A-3 was defeated on a 37-94 vote after the House upheld the Speaker’s ruling that a proposed school-safety secondary amendment was not germane, with that appeal decided 69-62. A major theme of debate was whether the Legislature should prioritize security for members and the Capitol before passing school safety funding. Several members argued they could not support spending tens of millions on Capitol and legislative security without first funding school safety for all students, including public, charter, private, and tribal schools. Others defended the bill as necessary because of recent threats and violence, including the June 14 tragedy, and said the Capitol security changes were based on professional recommendations. Some members also criticized the new security setup as overly restrictive or “security theater,” while supporters said the measures were needed to keep the public, staff, and lawmakers safe. After the A-3 was defeated, the bill was read for third time and members continued floor debate. The discussion remained split between those emphasizing immediate Capitol and legislative security needs and those insisting school safety should come first. Representative Agbaje then moved to table the bill, and the clerk began a roll call on that motion.

Transcript Highlights:

• the beautiful conversations we could have at those tables is what are your priorities.
• the beautiful conversations we could have at those tables is what are your priorities.
• the beautiful conversations we could have at those tables is what are your priorities.
• the beautiful conversations we could have at those tables is what are your priorities.
• <01:26:17.400> um tables is what are your priorities um tables is what are your priorities

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee opened by approving the January 16 and January 21 minutes. Members then heard testimony focused on the impact of Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) and the proposed paid family and medical leave program on Minnesota school districts, with the chair framing the hearing as an opportunity to hear from major employers and school leaders about costs and operational effects. Kimberly Lewis, speaking for the Minnesota School Boards Association and related school administrator groups, said districts generally already provide generous, locally negotiated sick leave and had initially adapted to ESST by separating vacation, sick time, and ESST into different buckets. She argued that a 2024 law effectively converted previously bargained sick leave into ESST, which she said undermines contracts, creates large unfunded costs, and may raise constitutional contract-clause concerns. Lewis cited large accumulated leave banks in some districts, increased sick leave use, and estimated significant costs from paid leave, including a reported $2.5 million impact for one large district. She urged flexibility such as prorating ESST for midyear hires and part-time staff and exempting coaches, short-term substitutes, and similar employees from ESST. Superintendent Anarie Fuco of St. Michael-Albertville said her district expects about $400,000 in added fiscal 2026 costs from ESST and paid leave, plus indirect costs from substitute coverage and increased absenteeism. She said schools already have generous bargaining agreements, but the new laws reduce verification and require districts to track leave for temporary staff, creating what she described as a need for “substitutes for our substitutes.” Fuco said the district would face more than $211,000 in direct payroll costs from paid leave alone and asked for flexibility or exceptions for districts already offering comparable benefits. Members asked follow-up questions about how substitute teachers accrue leave and how many districts may be cutting budgets; Lewis and Fuco said many districts are making cuts and that substitute and staffing burdens are growing. A third testifier began by Zoom, but the transcript cuts off before her full testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• File 2586 is DNMC funding for priority File 2586 is DNMC funding for priority admissions.<00:16:
• ,<00:43:31.599> including tribal and county priorities, including tribal and county priorities
• chairs for including our Maxa priority chairs for including our Maxa priority on<00:53:42.000>
• navigate daily, making it a top priority navigate daily, making it a top priority for<00:53:51.599
• recommendations of the priority recommendations of the priority admissions<01:20:40.239> task

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:07.280> of Democrats have put the priorities of Democrats have put the priorities of
• That tells you what their priorities are.
• There should be no higher priority for the U.S.
• US<00:59:34.000> House<00:59:34.319> of priority for the US House of priority for
• We priorities I just laid out and more.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we've had to make priorities, and I'll explain to you those priorities.
• I'll explain to you those priorities and I'll explain to you those priorities.<02:40:45.600> Uh,<
• Uh, as you know, this priorities.
• were priorities.
• And our priorities were priorities.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a House budget briefing focused on the overall state budget and the first of three divisions. The presenter reviewed the size and structure of the budget, noting that the state had eliminated the interest and dividends tax and still balanced the budget. He explained the major spending categories in the general fund and total budget, emphasizing that health and human services and education remain the largest areas, while transportation is largely self-funded. He also walked through the revenue picture, including business taxes, insurance taxes, court fees, communications taxes, and Medicaid recoveries, and said the remaining interest and dividends tax revenue reflected late payments from prior assessments. Members asked about the size of the tax cut from eliminating the interest and dividends tax, federal funding stability, and why Medicaid was being reduced if federal support was expected to remain steady. The response was that the lost revenue would have been about $200 million absent repeal, and that the budget gap was addressed through many small cuts across departments. On federal funds, the presenter said most aid is tied to multi-year grants and that core programs such as Medicare and Medicaid were expected to remain relatively stable, though some federal reductions could occur. He also said some agency reductions came from eliminating long-vacant, funded positions and from expected lapses. The discussion then moved into Division One, which covers smaller and miscellaneous agencies. The division made cuts to the governor’s office, eliminated a temporary position at the Governor’s Commission on Disability, reduced Department of Information Technology spending through a back-of-budget cut, and found savings in Administrative Services. It also delayed maintenance at the Sununu Youth Services Center, stopped advertising for paid family medical leave, changed retiree health insurance funding, and consolidated several personnel-related boards into one. The division eliminated the Commission on Aging and the Office of the Child Advocate, made a temporary special education advocate position permanent, reduced the Secretary of State’s budget, kept municipal rooms-and-meals distributions flat, and made changes to the retirement system, including $55 million to improve Group 2 retirement benefits and a new retirement structure for future state hires. The judicial branch was also asked to find savings and received two additional judges because of expected caseload increases from other eliminations.

Transcript Highlights:

• because it's a priority.
• Follow up with you just on the word priority: how do you see the word priority in this language?
• <02:18:29.760> within question well it says a priority within question well it says a priority
• how do you see the word priority how do you see the word priority<02:18:45.479> in<02:18:45.639
• <02:19:17.200> piece Hall the priority piece Hall the priority piece so<02:19:20.120> if

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education to require objective, science-based evidence for pedagogical methods. The prime sponsor said the bill is a verbatim reintroduction from the prior session and argued that current federal definitions are too vague, allowing subjective surveys and other weak evidence to justify teaching methods. He said the bill is limited to pedagogy, not subject matter, and is intended to improve student outcomes, reduce fad-driven practices, and potentially save money by limiting unnecessary retraining and new materials. Members asked repeatedly about the bill’s scope, including whether it would affect classroom teachers, curriculum content, and existing instructional approaches such as phonics versus whole language or queuing. The sponsor said the bill applies to state and local education bodies and educator training policies, not individual teachers in their classrooms, and that teachers would retain flexibility. He also said standardized testing could be part of a scientific study but is not itself a study, and that textbook providers could be asked to furnish the studies supporting instructional guidance included in their materials. Several members raised concerns about the fiscal note and possible cost shifts to local districts and taxpayers. The sponsor disputed the idea that the bill would necessarily create major new costs or require additional staff, saying any costs would likely be limited and that the department is already applying federal evidence-based rules. He also said if some current methods are not science-based, updating them would be justified even if there were some initial expense. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also recognize that every one of you represents constituents who have priorities, and they expect
• you to come home and explain to them how you met those priorities and how you funded those priorities
• of the only state agency who is working to... ...that you funded those priorities at the expense of
• We also recognize that every one of you represents constituents who have priorities, and they expect
• you to come home and explain to them how you met those priorities and how you funded those priorities

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate Natural Resources Committee was called to order with member and staff introductions, then heard a presentation from the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA). Director Chelsea McGuire described WIFA’s core revolving loan programs for clean water and drinking water infrastructure, its rural water supply development fund, its conservation grant fund, and the long-term water augmentation fund. She said WIFA has invested nearly $3 billion over 30 years in water infrastructure, awarded $87.3 million under the rural fund, and allocated about $211 million in conservation grants expected to save 6.6 million acre-feet of water. She also reported that the conservation grant fund is fully allocated and that WIFA is seeking renewed funding support from the legislature. A major focus was the long-term augmentation fund, which WIFA is using to evaluate large-scale water supply projects through a competitive solicitation and due-diligence process. McGuire said 17 proposals were received and seven projects were selected for further development, including desalination, reuse, groundwater storage, and exchange-based supply arrangements involving Arizona, California, and Mexico. She emphasized that the next phase will include public engagement, technical and financial analysis, and input from potential water buyers, and that the projects are intended to address an identified supply gap of 100,000 to 500,000 acre-feet per year over the next 10 to 15 years. Members generally praised WIFA’s work, especially its support for small and rural communities, and asked about public transparency, conservation savings, federal funding for revolving funds, and the cost and timeline of augmentation projects. McGuire said the revolving funds remain financially stable even if federal funding declines, though forgivable-principal grants could be affected. She also said smaller utilities often need staff help to navigate applications and that WIFA is working to make the rural fund’s process more predictable and accessible. Several senators urged the legislature not to cut WIFA’s funding, while McGuire argued that stable state support is needed to keep project costs down and maintain momentum. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• But Republicans are ready to work on a responsible and balanced budget that's going to fund our priorities
• We need to put the budget first for Minnesotans, protecting their income, funding their priorities, and
• and the things that they core priorities and the things that they need.<00:17:46.400> Our<00:
• I would hope that his first<00:19:25.679> priority<00:19:26.320> would<00:19:26.559>
• be the state of first priority would be the state of Minnesota<00:19:27.679> right<00:19:27.919

Keywords: 1183, house