Transcript Highlights:

• It's an internal House matter, and counsel would not be of any benefit to try and argue that the actions
• Counsel would not be of any benefit to try and argue that the actions of the accused were ethical or
• the AG involved, which shouldn't have been there at all, but that was because of the respectful workplace
• the AG involved, which shouldn't have been there at all, but that was because of the respectful workplace
• I think that's a fundamental fairness, and it's for everyone's benefit here in the body.

Committee: House Judiciary, Rules and Administration

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to encourage you to please support HB 2309 and for support of workplace and workforce diversity
• Together with Executive Order 24-4, HB 2309 demonstrates Washington's commitment to supporting workplace
• Other times they're going into brand new workplaces and laying that actual groundwork.
• For an employee to receive benefits under the shared leave program on the basis of the employee or their
• Our state, all across the state, all across the political spectrum, benefits from the labor of workers

Bills: HB2309 , HB2249 , HB2417 , SGA9066 , SGA9246 , SGA9268

Committee: Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections

Keywords: state employment, classified service, civil service, job qualifications, degree requirements, postgraduate degree, master's degree, doctorate, higher education, Office of Financial Management, OFM, classification plan, salary survey, market rate pay, compensation, workforce diversity, hiring reform, employment eligibility, work authorization, DACA

Transcript Highlights:

• Teachers like me who rely on local libraries for projects would benefit from a simplified process.
• to help design apprenticeship competencies, ensuring strong local alignment between instruction, workplace
• to help design apprenticeship competencies, ensuring strong local alignment between instruction, workplace
• In addition, the district offers, ...workplace expectations and industry skills.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• online advice, 2666 sexual extortion classification, 2669 railroads train link, 2670 employment workplace
• , 2675 constables, 2677 is a place of worship. 2670 employment workplace, 2675 constables, 2677 is a
• definition, 2686 appropriation K-12, 2688 medical board, 2689 hospitals patient, 2690 unemployment benefits

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the journal. Members then introduced the Doctor of the Day, Dr. John Lynch, and recognized several guest groups in the gallery, including Arizona electric co-op representatives, March of Dimes participants, CRNAs, AEA retirees, a University of Arizona legislative fellow, and ACLU visitors. Attendance was recorded at 58 present, one absent, and one excused. The chamber handled routine floor business, including temporary committee replacements, referral of HB 2677 from Judiciary to Public Safety and Law Enforcement, and the first reading and referral of a large number of House bills and one concurrent resolution. The bill list covered a wide range of topics, including education, appropriations, housing, taxes, health care, public safety, energy, water, labor, elections, and several measures related to abortion, firearms, and tribal affairs. Second reading of bills was also announced for another extensive set of measures. During announcements, members promoted a blood drive, a Veterans Caucus coffee-and-donuts event and lunch with a Department of Defense speaker, and several committee meetings or cancellations. No substantive debate or votes on legislation occurred beyond the procedural motions and the final motion to adjourn. The House adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• online advice, 2666 sexual extortion classification, 2669 railroads train link, 2670 employment workplace
• , 2675 constables, 2677 is a post; 2677 is their place of worship. 2670 employment workplace, 2675 constables
• definition, 2685 appropriation K-12, 2686 medical board, 2689 hospitals patient, 2690 unemployment benefits

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , including an escalation of hate and bias incidents in our schools, on our streets, and at our workplaces
• I know many people in the course of my professional and personal life who would benefit greatly from
• They do so because they understand there's not only a societal benefit, but also an economic benefit
• These biases follow people into workplaces, classrooms, public spaces, and even health care.
• They are filed under 1099 private contractors, and yet none of these benefits do we see.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil rights, immigration, hate crimes, and reparations bills. Chair Edwards and Chair Day opened with strict testimony rules, including two-minute limits, written testimony options, and decorum requirements. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell testified in strong support of S. 1126/H. 1920, the Combating Hate in the Commonwealth bill, saying Massachusetts needs stronger tools to address rising hate and bias incidents. Her Civil Rights Division chief explained that the bill would give the division civil investigative demand/subpoena power, expand civil rights enforcement, close loopholes in the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, add protected classes to the hate crimes law, and require better hate-crime data reporting. The committee also heard support for H. 1954 on access to counsel in immigration proceedings, H. 4684 on law enforcement identification and public trust, and H. 1927 to exonerate individuals accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts. Several bills focused on discrimination and civil rights enforcement. Supporters of S. 1248 on organizational standing said fair housing nonprofits need explicit authority to bring discrimination complaints in their own names, especially as federal protections are under attack. On H. 1246, advocates urged adding sex and gender as protected classes in the hate crimes statute, arguing women are not protected under current state law. H. 1820 drew testimony for protections against height and weight discrimination. H. 1995 would regularize sentencing for hate crimes by requiring diversity awareness training for both convictions and continuances without a finding, and H. 1056/H. 1589 would broaden hate-crime victim standing and require restitution to be used to repair harm. H. 1886 would clarify that defense-based social service staff are exempt from mandated reporter obligations when working under attorney-client privilege. The committee also heard testimony on H. 1889/S. 1064, a bill to eliminate disparate impact. Environmental justice advocates, fair housing attorneys, and community members argued that neutral policies can still produce discriminatory outcomes and that Massachusetts should allow state-court claims and a private right of action to address them. Committee members raised concerns about litigation floodgates, punitive damages, and the scope of protected classes, while supporters said the bill would mainly target systemic harms and injunctive relief. Additional testimony supported H. 1922/S. 119, the Fair Investment Act, which would create civil rights protections in venture capital and other investment settings for founders and investors, especially women and minority entrepreneurs. The hearing also included testimony on H. 1683, the Sex Trade Survivor Act, which would expand vacatur and expungement relief for trafficking survivors, remove archaic offenses from the code, and create an interagency commission; supporters emphasized reducing barriers to housing, employment, and reentry. Finally, the committee heard extensive support for H. 1753/S. 1181, establishing a commission to study reparations in Massachusetts. Testifiers described the state’s history of slavery, redlining, and ongoing racial disparities, and urged the committee to report the bill favorably. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• If it's a benefit to pretend as though you're reef safe, that is such a manipulative practice.
• You're wanting to have that same protection for them, that that individual's home or workplace could
• But last thing is publication of the workplace, I think, and I think the intent is to shield that information
• But last thing is publication of the workplace, I think, and I think the intent is to shield that information
• . the workplace.

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard several bills focused on consumer transparency, environmental protection, education accountability, and privacy protections. AB 2143 by Assemblymember Irwin would prohibit online marketplaces from accepting payment for noxious weeds shipped into California; supporters said the bill would close an e-commerce loophole that helps spread invasive species, while TechNet opposed it unless clearer standards and safeguards were added. AB 1744 by Assemblymember Addis, the Clear Labels, Clear Seas Act, would bar sunscreen products containing chemical UV filters from being marketed as “reef safe” or similar claims; supporters, including a Sacramento high school eco club and Surfrider Foundation, said the bill would prevent misleading greenwashing, while the Personal Care Products Council expressed concern about implications for the safety of those ingredients. The committee also heard AB 1861 by Assemblymember Lackey, which would require the California Department of Education to maintain a public, searchable database of special education complaint decisions with personal information redacted. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency and help identify patterns of noncompliance affecting students with disabilities, while county education officials argued state resources should instead go toward filling special education vacancies. AB 2624 by Assemblymember Bonta would expand the Safe at Home address confidentiality program to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers and restrict online posting of their personal information when intended to threaten or intimidate; supporters described rising harassment, doxing, and threats against immigrant-serving organizations, while Assemblymember DeMaio raised First Amendment and public transparency concerns and Assemblymember Patterson questioned the bill’s limits on protest and publication. Because the committee initially lacked a quorum, several bills were heard and later voted on once quorum was established. Members generally praised the bills and, in some cases, requested to be added as coauthors. When votes were taken, AB 1861, AB 1744, AB 2143, and AB 2624 all passed out of committee, with AB 2624 receiving 11 aye votes and 2 no votes; the others were reported out on unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• If it's a benefit to pretend as though you're reef safe, that is such a manipulative practice.
• You're wanting to have that same protection for them, that that individual's home or workplace could
• But last thing is publication of the workplace, I think, and I think the intent is to shield that information
• But last thing is publication of the workplace, I think, and I think the intent is to shield that information
• . the workplace.

Committee: House Privacy and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First, we're concerned about this bill because it won't enhance safety at our workplaces.
• In fact, First, we're concerned about this bill because it won't enhance safety at our workplaces.
• Time and expense will necessarily increase without any clear environmental benefit. Thank you.
• frontline working families to be thinking about this law and the impacts it could have on them in the workplace
• The outcome in the workplace is far bad enough.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on two main bills. ESSB 5975 dealt with lead limits in cookware and a proposed striker that would shift more of the standard-setting and testing process to the Department of Ecology under Safer Products for Washington. Supporters, including industry groups, Ecology, the Department of Health, and environmental advocates, said the striker would provide clearer, science-based, and more workable standards while still reducing lead exposure. Some witnesses, including environmental groups, argued the bill should remain stronger, while others said the striker was an acceptable compromise. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee also heard extensive testimony on ESSB 5360, which would create tiered criminal penalties for violations of the Water Pollution Control Act, Clean Air Act, and Hazardous Waste Management Act, including felony penalties for knowing or negligent conduct in certain circumstances. The prime sponsor and Attorney General’s Office said the bill targets egregious polluters, adds whistleblower and worker protections, and responds to serious environmental harm cases. Tribal, environmental, and advocacy witnesses supported the bill as a way to hold repeat polluters accountable. Labor, business, industry, county, utility, and forestry representatives opposed it, warning that the language could expose workers and permit holders to criminal liability for mistakes or routine operations and that the bill needed more stakeholder work. At the end of the meeting, the committee took executive action on Substitute Senate Bill 6269, which updates the Motor Fuel Quality Act by modernizing the definition of motor fuel and folding alternative fuels into that definition. The bill passed the committee on a 19-0 vote, with two members excused, and was reported out with a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• people, property, and the environment at work in their communities; and whereas the majority of workplace
• injuries and fatalities are preventable, yet more than 2 million people die each year from workplace-related
• will mobilize in an effort to increase employer, employee, and public awareness of safety in the workplace
• , to encourage safe practices, and help companies and organizations enhance their workplace safety efforts
• , now therefore be it... ...and organizations enhance their workplace safety efforts.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• think, to be very intentional about not just providing the privileged homeowners these kinds of benefits
• the other opportunities they have with the Department of Veterans Services to get the other state benefits
• that will alleviate some of the other issues they may have, possibly with income and getting their benefits
• because it is of great concern to me and to those obviously that are not homeowners, that will not benefit
• It provides federal line-of-duty benefits for all the cancers being considered by this committee today

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee met and first announced that House Bill 132 would be rolled at the sponsor’s request because amendment language was still being worked on. The committee then proceeded without full quorum for part of the meeting and moved to House Bill 285, which concerns New Mexico’s disabled veterans property tax exemption. The sponsor and administration explained that the amended bill is a technical cleanup intended to clarify that the exemption applies to a veteran’s primary residence, address multiple-owner situations, and remove duplicative statutory language. Support came from New Mexico counties, the Tax and Revenue Department, and the Department of Veterans Services, all saying the bill would improve uniform administration without changing the substance of the exemption. Members also discussed broader concerns about veteran housing and homelessness, though the sponsor noted those issues were outside the bill’s scope. After quorum was established, the committee formally adopted the amendment to HB 285 and then passed the bill as amended on a do pass motion. Members asked about protest timelines and how the clarification would help veterans who are waiting on certification; the sponsor explained that the bill preserves the ability to protest within existing timeframes and gives veterans additional time to secure certification. The committee then took up House Bill 128, which updates New Mexico’s occupational disease and disablement law for firefighters by expanding presumptive cancer coverage and aligning the state list with newer research and federal changes. Testimony in support came from firefighters, labor groups, workers’ compensation officials, and medical experts, who described occupational cancer as a major cause of firefighter deaths and said the bill would reduce the burden on sick firefighters by presuming coverage rather than forcing them to prove causation. Members also raised questions about women firefighters, the five-year employment baseline, and fiscal impact, and the bill sponsor and Dr. Wu explained that the five-year standard reflects federal compromise and current data limitations. The committee then approved HB 128 on a do pass motion and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It shows up in schools, it shows up in workplaces, and in everyday life, where people feel less safe
• the pandemic, this person gave his hours away to part-time white faculty so they didn't lose their benefits
• And the threat reaches beyond workplaces into the fundamental rights of civic participation.
• Fund organizations like CAIR to conduct Know Your Rights trainings in communities, schools, and workplaces
• Third, enact and enforce robust workplace anti-discrimination protections that explicitly protect employees

Summary: The Select Committee on Racism, Hate, and Xenophobia met to hear from Los Angeles County officials and community advocates about rising hate, discrimination, and xenophobia, with opening remarks emphasizing the need for stronger anti-hate infrastructure, community-based reporting, and state support. Assemblymember Lowenthal noted the broader economic and social impacts of discrimination, and the committee framed the hearing around understanding local conditions and identifying legislative responses. Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission Executive Director Robin Toma presented county hate-crime data showing record-high levels in 2024, with racial/ethnic hate crimes remaining the largest category and anti-Black hate crimes the most common. He also highlighted high levels of anti-Latino, anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-transgender hate, the role of underreporting, and the county’s L.A. vs. Hate system for reporting and victim support. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said it uses hate-crime and hate-incident data to guide proactive patrols, community outreach, and training, and discussed the need to build trust amid immigration enforcement fears that discourage reporting. Community organizations described how current political rhetoric and federal immigration enforcement are intensifying fear and underreporting. LULAC called for multilingual, culturally competent reporting systems, prevention education, and stronger support for grassroots organizations. The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles described severe anti-Semitism, increased security costs, and the need for safe worship protections, security grants, and Holocaust education. The NAACP emphasized the continuing impact of anti-Black racism and the need for cross-community solidarity, while the Los Angeles LGBT Center highlighted rising anti-trans violence and urged funding for gender-affirming care, LGBTQ centers, and reauthorization of California vs. Hate. CHIRLA and CAIR California both described heightened fear among immigrants and Muslims, workplace discrimination, and the need for stronger civil-rights protections, data collection, and community-based reporting. No formal votes were taken. The discussion focused on policy ideas and funding priorities, including improved law-enforcement training, alternative sentencing or diversion for hate offenders, protections for houses of worship, and continued or expanded funding for California vs. Hate, Stop Hate, and related programs. Committee members and witnesses repeatedly stressed that hate is underreported, that words and leadership rhetoric matter, and that California should continue investing in prevention, response, and healing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It shows up in schools, it shows up in workplaces, and in everyday life, where people feel less safe
• the pandemic, this person gave his hours away to part-time white faculty so they didn't lose their benefits
• And the threat reaches beyond workplaces into the fundamental rights of civic participation.
• Fund organizations like CARE to conduct Know Your Rights trainings in communities, schools, and workplaces
• Third, enact and enforce robust workplace anti-discrimination protections that explicitly protect employees

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• advertiser with a substantial nexus with Washington would have to establish a trust account for the benefit
• I'm not asking us to rewrite child workplace laws.
• We have a lot of laws on the books that protect children in the workplace.
• But at the end of the day, making sure that we're also following best practices in workplace law relative
• There's another significant part of it that I don't think is going to provide any meaningful benefit.

Bills: HB2439 , HB2483 , HB2400

Committee: House Consumer Protection & Business

Keywords: public health, tobacco regulation, smoking cessation, vapor products, health policy, youth prevention, data broker, registry, consumer protection, privacy, data regulation, social media, content creation, online platforms, digital marketing, user-generated content, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because the intent of our educational institutions isn't necessarily for the benefit of the personnel
• First, there are no absolute privacy rights in the workplace. That includes teachers' workplace.
• First, there are no absolute privacy rights in the workplace.
• That includes teachers' workplace, and I'm a former teacher, which happens to be schools.
• Due to this diminished expectation of privacy in the workplace, if a teacher wants privacy, they have

Summary: The committee first heard SJR 1104, a proposed constitutional amendment on voluntary religious expression in public schools. Senator Massullo said the measure would protect students and school personnel from discrimination for lawful religious expression, while not requiring prayer or religious activity. Questions focused on whether the proposal would change existing law, whether it could be used to protect coercive conduct by school officials, and whether the staff summary accurately reflected the bill. Public testimony included support from religious-freedom advocates and opposition from American Atheists and some senators who said the measure could make minority-faith students uncomfortable. The committee voted to report SJR 1104 favorably. The committee then took up SB 1738 on educational facilities, which directs state education offices to review facility requirements and recommend design and construction practices to improve safety and accountability. Senator Yarborough offered and the committee adopted an amendment removing crime-prevention-through-environmental-design language and adjusting the bill to preserve safe spaces during emergencies. The bill was reported favorably after brief discussion about balancing transparency, access control, and emergency safety. The committee also adopted a delete-all amendment to SB 824 on charter schools, replacing it with a transparency measure requiring districts to submit annual reports on unimproved land holdings to the Department of Education, which would publish a statewide report; the amended bill was then reported favorably. The committee next approved confirmation recommendations for appointees on tabs 7 and 8, then took up SPB 7036, a committee bill sponsored by Chair Simon. The package included school turnaround and early literacy changes, updates to school safety and health policies, early learning revisions, instructional changes, and educator pipeline provisions. The most contentious part was a proposal to let the state develop instructional materials; several senators questioned costs, guardrails, and whether the state should enter the textbook business. Simon said that portion was still being considered and that the bill would need safeguards if it moved forward. The committee adopted a motion to submit the bill as a committee bill and reported it favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 1620 on public education, described by Senator Leak as a “school board members’ bill of rights.” The bill would give individual board members direct access to district documents and staff, limit district attorneys’ ability to represent both the board and administration, strengthen nepotism rules, and prohibit nondisclosure agreements for employees. Testimony from Volusia County board members, educators, and advocates was sharply divided: supporters argued the bill would improve transparency and protect minority board members, while opponents warned it could undermine superintendent authority, expose confidential student or personnel information, and create confusion in district operations. After debate, the committee voted to report SB 1620 favorably. The committee then heard SB 1170 on cameras in self-contained special education classrooms, with an amendment changing the proposal from a statewide mandate to a district policy allowing parents of students with disabilities to request cameras. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, centered on protecting non-speaking and vulnerable students and documenting abuse; one witness opposed the bill as an unfunded mandate. The committee was still in debate on the bill when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• education, legal advocacy, combating the resurgence of anti-Semitism. seventism on campuses and in workplaces
• It has since built into workplaces, boardrooms, and city streets.
• Now, we should give the committee the benefit of the doubt.
• We're seeing it spread to workplaces, the health care. industry, the publishing industry and more.
• Seven, it's become clear to me that without congressional oversight... schools and workplaces are not

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Keywords: anti-Semitism, hate crimes, college campuses, civil rights, public safety, protests, intimidation

Summary: The committee meeting focused on addressing the rising tide of anti-Semitism across the nation. Among the discussions, members expressed concerns about the disturbing acts of hate witnessed on college campuses, with instances of harassment and intimidation targeting Jewish students being highlighted. High-profile incidents, including vandalism and the display of extremist symbols, prompted urgent calls for investigations and measures to protect civil rights. The importance of moral clarity in confronting such hate crimes was emphasized as well, outlining the responsibilities of leaders to ensure safety and uphold justice.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the actual Social Security law says you got to cut benefits.
• BUT THE ACTUAL SOCIAL SECURITY LAW SAYS YOU GOT TO CUT BEN BENEFITS.
• The department is moving to rewrite or repeal more than 60 workplace regulations.
• We are thankful for his impact and benefit from the legacy he leaves behind.
• WE ARE THANKFUL FOR HIS IMPACT AND BENEFIT FROM THE LEGACY HE LEERVETS BEHIND.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:41.440><c> culture</c> wardens really um workplace culture wardens really um workplace culture
• we recommended to increase base benefits we recommended to increase base pay<00:17:53.640><c> and</c
• </c> leadership communication workplace leadership communication workplace conditions<00:41:54.480><c
• Another thing we did is we did a cost-benefit analysis to look at how many ACL recruits it would take
• </c><00:52:21.240><c> analysis</c> we did is we did a cost benefit analysis we did is we did a cost benefit

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And these are some of the financial benefits that we bring to the state.
• They might be working with a small amount of evidence, and you can have a workplace accident, you can
• They might be working with a small amount of evidence, and you can have a workplace accident, you can
• For example, if somebody has a workplace accident, absolutely, with the leaky windows and the—” “...has
• a workplace accident.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to hear the Attorney General’s budget and related agency presentations. Legislative Council first reviewed the compliance with legislative intent report and the base budget worksheet, highlighting current and ongoing appropriations, FTE changes, one-time funding items, continuing appropriations, and major special and federal funds. Members asked about items such as the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund, the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit grant funding, and staff explained the funding sources and status of those programs. Assistant Attorney General Clare Ness then outlined the Attorney General’s office structure, staffing, and budget pressures. She emphasized the office’s broad statutory duties, the value of its legal and investigative work for state and local governments, and concerns about attorney salary competitiveness, the new and vacant FTE pool, and the impact of the 3% operating budget reduction on BCI, IT, and the crime lab. Members also discussed AG opinions, boards and commissions training, and the office’s litigation and settlement recoveries. Ness and committee members raised the possibility of broader attorney salary benchmarking across state government. The crime lab director described severe space and infrastructure constraints, including overcrowding, shared workspaces, glycol leaks, air handling limits, and aging fire and burglar alarm systems. She said the 2024 study projected a much larger facility would be needed and that a new building on the current health department site would best address the lab’s needs. She also reported that backlogs have improved significantly in DNA, drug, fingerprint, and firearms work, though toxicology had a recent delay after an air compressor failure. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit director described the unit’s fraud, abuse, and neglect work, noted federal-state funding and recent federal scrutiny, and said the unit needs more staff. The gaming division reviewed charitable gaming growth, e-tabs, trust accounts, and compliance issues, while BCI covered its caseload, cybercrime and child sexual abuse material investigations, the missing indigenous person task force, and the use of lottery funds for drug task forces. No formal votes or budget actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And these are some of the financial benefits that we bring to the state.
• They might be working with a small amount of evidence, and you can have a workplace accident, you can
• They might be working with a small amount of evidence, and you can have a workplace accident, you can
• For example, if somebody has a workplace accident, absolutely, with the leaky windows and the— Has a
• workplace accident.

Summary: The committee met as the Commerce and Legal Services Division and first approved the minutes, then received a Legislative Council overview of the Attorney General’s current budget status and a blue-sheet summary of the AG’s base budget for the next biennium. Staff highlighted compliance with legislative intent items, including FTE changes, one-time funding updates, litigation pool spending, opioid settlement receipts, and continuing appropriations. Members asked about specific funds such as the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund and the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and staff explained the statutory basis and status of those items. The Attorney General’s office then presented an extensive overview of its divisions and budget pressures. Chief Deputy Attorney General Clare Ness described the office’s 14 divisions, the role of the office in defending the state and recouping funds, and concerns about attorney pay, recruitment, and retention. Members discussed whether attorney salaries should be benchmarked across state government and whether more legal work could be centralized in the AG’s office. The office also described challenges with the new-and-vacant FTE pool, operating expense cuts, leased office space, and the criminal justice information systems used to connect law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts. The Crime Laboratory director gave a detailed update on space and infrastructure problems, saying the current lab is overcrowded and outdated, with safety, workflow, air-handling, glycol leak, alarm, and maintenance issues that can delay casework and risk evidence integrity. She said a 2024 study projected a need for a much larger facility and that the preferred option would be a new building on the current health department site, at an estimated cost of roughly $40 million to $45 million. She also reported that backlogs have improved significantly in DNA, firearms, fingerprint, and drug cases, though toxicology had recently developed a small backlog after an air compressor failure. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, gaming division, and BCI also provided updates. MFCU’s new director said the unit is federally funded 75/25, focuses on fraud, abuse, and neglect, and is seeking two attorney hires while continuing to work with federal partners on cases and recertification. Gaming staff reported continued growth in charitable gaming and electronic pull-tab activity, with concerns about site competition, large trust balances, possible ineligible expenditures, and the need for more scrutiny as revenues have grown. BCI outlined its staffing, drug task forces, ICAC work, and the Missing Indigenous Person Task Force, which is using its $250,000 appropriation to help tribal nations develop emergency response plans and purchase alerting tools such as IPAWS. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.