Transcript Highlights:

• has to do with whether you contemplated this type of challenge in the reporting and what type of outreach
• has to do with whether you contemplated this type of challenge in the reporting and what type of outreach

Summary: The Early Learning and Human Services Committee opened its 2026 session with member and staff introductions, then took up four bills. HB 2185 would expand the Homeless Youth Advisory Committee to include more members with lived experience of homelessness or involvement in public systems, broaden youth representation up to age 25, and allow members who turn 25 to finish their terms. The prime sponsor and testifiers from homeless youth advocacy organizations supported the bill, saying it would improve representation and the quality of advice to the Office of Homeless Youth. The hearing on HB 2185 was then closed. The committee next heard HB 2319, which renames Washington’s residential habilitation centers by removing the word “school” from their titles and updating related statutory references. The sponsor said the change is meant to reflect current services and reduce confusion, and advocates from The Arc of Washington, Disability Rights Washington, and self-advocates supported the bill as a needed terminology update that would better describe the facilities and avoid misleading the public. No opposition was heard. HB 2230 would limit DSHS to one annual routine review in specified subject areas for community residential service providers and require more document-sharing across divisions to reduce duplicate oversight. The sponsor and provider witnesses said the bill is intended to cut redundant audits and site visits so staff can spend more time on client care, while still preserving investigations and required oversight. HB 2200 would direct JLARC to review safety and stability outcomes across developmental disability residential settings and require a public dashboard comparing data such as 911 calls, ER boarding, placement terminations, and staff retention. The sponsor and several witnesses supported greater transparency, while provider representatives raised concerns about raw data being misleading without per-client or percentage-based context and about possible fiscal impacts. The committee did not take final votes on the bills in the transcript and adjourned after public hearings and caucus time were announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Interviewees recommended K-12 education, utility bill inserts, and statewide outreach templates that
• to make use of SNAP, Farmers Market Nutrition Program, WIC, and other things like that; enhancing outreach

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee opened its 2026 session with committee housekeeping, member introductions, and a reminder that schedules are set a week in advance and amendments must be submitted by the prior day’s deadlines. Chair Reeves emphasized solution-oriented, collaborative, and respectful participation, then outlined that the committee would focus on three interim reports relevant to its work this session: municipal water efficiency, ecosystem services, and food policy. The first presentation, from the William D. Ruckelshaus Center and WSU, reviewed Washington’s municipal water efficiency statute and regulation. Presenters said interviewees largely agreed on the need for better data collection, more technical assistance for smaller systems, and more state funding for both agency staffing and water system infrastructure. Most opposed shifting oversight of the conservation program from the Department of Health to Ecology, and the report recommended keeping oversight at DOH while improving collaboration across agencies and tribes. The presenters also urged broader statewide water planning, more consistent reporting using the AWWA water audit method instead of leakage percentage, re-evaluating the 500-connection threshold, and addressing outdoor water use, rebates, reuse, and public education. Members asked about creating a new office for water oversight, but the presenters said that idea was generally viewed as too costly and impractical under current budget conditions. DNR then presented its 2025 ecosystem services work group report. The department described ecosystem services markets it studied, including regulatory and voluntary forest carbon, avoided wildfire emissions, and water leasing, with lower potential identified for blue carbon, biodiversity, and water quality markets. DNR said about 15,000 acres of state forest land may have carbon-market potential, but emphasized that the analysis was broad and not project-specific, so the report recommends pilots, continued market monitoring, use of third-party developers, and clarification of authority through House Bill 2170. Committee members asked about economic feasibility, timber tradeoffs, and how success would be defined, and DNR said those questions would be better addressed in future, more detailed project-level work. The final presentation covered the Food Policy Forum’s 2025 report to the legislature. Speakers described broad consensus recommendations on food security, local foods in schools, farm-to-food-bank programs, a state farm bill, commercial access, and food system infrastructure. They highlighted pressures on agriculture from development, flooding, drought, water shortages, and the need to preserve farmland and support farmers, food banks, and local procurement systems. The committee chair thanked the presenters and noted that several related bills and policy proposals would be heard later in session. No votes were taken; the meeting concluded after the presentations and brief member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, we are now challenged to do extensive outreach to try to find clients and offer our assistance
• As a result, we are now challenged to do extensive outreach to try to find clients and offer our assistance

Summary: The Assembly Aging and Long-Term Care Committee met on April 22, established a quorum, and adopted its 2023-24 committee rules. The hearing then considered five bills focused on aging, long-term care, immigrant seniors, nutrition, and emergency preparedness. AB 450 would create a task force to study the needs of undocumented Californians age 55 and older; supporters from CHIRLA and other advocates described barriers to housing, health care, retirement, and digital access, while members raised questions about eligibility and process. The bill was approved on a due pass motion and re-referred to the Committee on Human Services. AB 508 would require residential care facilities for the elderly to disclose staffing information upon request at admission and when rates increase. The author and supporters argued that staffing levels are closely tied to quality of care and that families need transparency to make informed choices; a witness described her father’s death in an understaffed facility. Assisted living industry representatives opposed the bill as burdensome but said they were continuing discussions with the author. The committee adopted amendments and passed the bill to Appropriations. AB 1476 would allow senior congregate meal programs to continue offering to-go meals, a practice expanded during the pandemic. Supporters said the option improved access for homebound and food-insecure seniors and helped bring people into senior centers; there was no opposition, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1068 would create a working group on evacuation and sheltering needs for older adults and people with disabilities in long-term care during disasters, and AB 1069 would ensure area agencies on aging and aging/disability resource programs have access to emergency shelters to provide services. Both measures drew broad support from aging, disability, and advocacy groups, with testimony citing recent fires and evacuations, and both were approved and re-referred to the Committee on Emergency Management. The committee also left rolls open for additional members to add votes before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's $25,000 for outreach on grant opportunities from the Humanities Center.
• This is a different focus and approach than the programming and outreach work of Wilderness Inquiry.

Bills: HF2563

Keywords: HF2563, legacy finance bill, Legacy Amendment, outdoor heritage fund, clean water fund, parks and trails fund, arts and cultural heritage fund, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Clean Water Council, Minnesota legacy funds, habitat conservation, prairie restoration, wetland restoration, forest conservation, riparian buffers, water quality, groundwater protection, drinking water, septic systems, watershed planning

Transcript Highlights:

• bring that critical support and the training for our small business owners, from Veterans Business Outreach
• I was so proud to bring the first ever Veterans Business Outreach Center to Nevada.

Keywords: SBA, 7A loan program, underwriting standards, loan defaults, Community Advantage Program, small business funding, testimony

Summary: The committee meeting focused on discussions regarding the SBA's 7A loan program and its implementation challenges. Members raised significant concerns about recent changes to the underwriting standards, which have been criticized for leading to an increase in loan defaults. Ranking members expressed a desire for a return to stronger guidelines to protect taxpayers and ensure the program remains a viable source for small businesses struggling to secure funding. Testimonies from community lenders highlighted their efforts to support underserved communities and stressed the importance of the Community Advantage Program.

Transcript Highlights:

• IN TERMS OF THE DEMENTIA COMPONENTS I WAS TALKING ABOUT A CLINICAL OUTREACH COMING OUT OF I-HEALTH.
• Olson: THAT IS OUR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR EDUCATION AND OUTREACH AND A FORMER TV WEATHERMAN, CERTIFIED

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• language: For the provision of statewide support services for survivors of homicide victims, including outreach
• Statewide support services for survivors of homicide victims, including outreach, services, burial assistance
• Legal Services is partnering with the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants to do outreach in
• With proper investment, they can hire staff, build infrastructure, and expand outreach to support more
• In my work, for example, at HGTP, we do extensive education and outreach, letting housing seekers and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Ways and Means Committee held its final public hearing on the FY26 state budget, with chairs and members emphasizing that public testimony would help shape the budget and asking speakers to keep remarks brief. Committee leaders introduced members, explained the hearing process, and repeatedly thanked residents, students, and advocates for participating. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony focused heavily on education funding and the Chapter 70 formula. Students from Amherst, Northampton, Gateway Regional, Chester Elementary, and other districts described budget-driven cuts to electives, special education supports, paraprofessionals, counselors, transportation, and building maintenance. They urged higher Chapter 70 aid, increased minimum aid, rural school aid, and a reopening or restructuring of the funding formula, arguing that current formulas leave many districts unable to meet student needs and force local layoffs and overrides. Other speakers urged funding or protection for a range of programs and facilities, including the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for homicide survivor services, the Museum of African American History, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and CART/interpreter services, the Access to Counsel housing legal aid program, the Department of Mental Health and Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. One speaker opposed offshore wind-related spending and urged a reset of the state’s energy approach, while another advocated ending the aircraft sales tax exemption. Committee members responded sympathetically to many speakers, asked a few follow-up questions, and several expressed support for maintaining or expanding the programs discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then another thing we've heard through our commissioner mentioned all the outreach we did, that we
• mentioned uh through our um commissioner mentioned all<00:30:44.159><c> the</c><00:30:44.320><c> outreach
• ><c> um</c><00:30:45.600><c> that</c><00:30:45.919><c> we</c><00:30:46.080><c> would</c> all the outreach
• 00:31:02.320><c> our</c> slightly higher price in all of our slightly higher price in all of our outreach
• </c> outreach. We did hear support for that. outreach. We did hear support for that.

Bills: HF624

Keywords: HF624, Minnesota fishing law, game and fish, walleye stamp, walleye stamp validation, angling, angler, fishing lines, two lines, four lines, open water fishing, ice fishing, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, fishing regulations, fish harvest, conservation, Minnesota Statutes 97C.315, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• community outreach team that's helping build communities, and I would like to discuss the value of the
• at</c><01:24:41.280><c> HA</c><01:24:42.560><c> um</c><01:24:42.800><c> our</c><01:24:43.360><c> outreach
• </c> leadership at HA um our outreach leadership at HA um our outreach community<01:24:44.320><c> outreach
• /c><01:24:44.960><c> team</c><01:24:45.520><c> that's</c><01:24:45.920><c> helping</c> community outreach
• team that's helping community outreach team that's helping build<01:24:46.880><c> communities</c> build

Bills: HB1769

Keywords: criminal justice reform, rehabilitation, private prisons, racial equity, Native Hawaiians, community well-being, mass incarceration, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1769, which would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to incrementally reduce the number of people incarcerated in private out-of-state correctional institutions. The DCR director opposed the bill, saying the department does not control overall prison population levels because courts determine admissions, and arguing that Hawaiʻi’s in-state facilities are already over capacity, especially Halawa, which he said is 165% over design capacity. He said only a small portion of the population is under departmental control through furlough programs and argued that bringing people home would require building a new medium-security prison. Supporters, including the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, the Public Defender’s office, and several individuals, argued the bill creates a phased, accountable path to reduce reliance on mainland prisons and bring people home. Supporters emphasized the harms of separating incarcerated people from ʻohana and culture, the disproportionate impact on Native Hawaiians, and the need for diversion, treatment, re-entry support, and fair sentencing. Several testifiers also said the department has more control than it claimed, pointing to underused furlough options, reclassification, and empty beds at some in-state facilities, while others urged clearer statutory language and guardrails. Members questioned the director about whether people could be reclassified or moved to available beds at facilities such as Kulani and Waiawa, and about whether the department could do more through staffing and contract changes. The director said some proposals had been sent to the Department of Human Resource Development, but that major facility changes would be costly and that minimum-security facilities would need substantial upgrades to house medium-security inmates. After discussion, the chair said the committee would defer HB 1769 to Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. for decision-making and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have started pushing racism with performative outreach and outrage across the country.
• ><01:09:37.040><c> and</c><01:09:37.279><c> outrage</c><01:09:38.319><c> across</c> performative outreach
• and outrage across performative outreach and outrage across the<01:09:39.040><c> country.
• The state of Colorado has mandated outreach by the Division of Parks and Wildlife by June of 2026.
• by the Division of Parks and outreach by the Division of Parks and Wildlife<02:16:07.280><c> by</c><

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are more specific outreach and notice requirements.
• We did use the MCOs's to do outreach<00:39:03.040><c> and</c><00:39:03.280><c> tell</c><00:39:03.520>
• <c> people</c><00:39:03.760><c> about</c><00:39:04.000><c> the</c> outreach and tell people about the
• I think most states, in terms of we have the MCOs do outreach before their redetermination date goes
• before um we have the MCOs's do outreach before um their<01:35:12.639><c> their</c><01:35:13.120><c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• bill before the committee are $260,000 one-time for the Secretary of State to conduct some voter outreach
• :02:02.159><c> conduct</c><00:02:02.560><c> some</c><00:02:02.799><c> voter</c><00:02:03.200><c> outreach
• </c> state to conduct some voter outreach state to conduct some voter outreach efforts.<00:02:05.399>
• the Latino Affairs Council, they had made a request for additional staff dealing with some of the outreach
• work that that needed um the outreach work that that needed um and<01:43:49.600><c> some</c><01:43:49.760

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We try to conduct outreach to talk about what the different grant opportunities are.
• </c><00:35:27.920><c> um</c><00:35:28.079><c> to</c><00:35:28.320><c> talk</c> We try to conduct outreach
• um to talk We try to conduct outreach um to talk about<00:35:28.720><c> what</c><00:35:28.960><c> the
• It just depends on outreach, and so we think that this is a bigger conversation.
• It just depends outreach<01:16:24.080><c> and</c><01:16:24.400><c> so</c><01:16:24.960><c> we</c><01:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><01:47:38.159><c> this</c><01:47:38.360><c> kind</c><01:47:38.520><c> of</c><01:47:38.679><c> Outreach
• </c><01:47:39.199><c> work</c> already do this kind of Outreach work already do this kind of Outreach
• I've never had any outreach from any programs, and I am a program... thank you very much for being with
• c><01:49:49.400><c> never</c><01:49:50.239><c> had</c><01:49:50.800><c> any</c><01:49:51.400><c> Outreach
• </c><01:49:51.840><c> from</c> life I've never had any Outreach from life I've never had any Outreach

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Other statewide promise programs invest in outreach, guidance, and support to help students not only
• And Minnesota should follow suit by increasing those outreach efforts through direct mail, text messaging
• statewide promise programs<00:17:31.120><c> invest</c><00:17:31.360><c> in</c><00:17:31.600><c> outreach
• ,</c><00:17:32.080><c> guidance,</c> programs invest in outreach, guidance, programs invest in outreach
• efforts through direct mail, outreach efforts through direct mail, um,<00:17:40.640><c> text</c><00:

Bills: HF2634, HF2241, HF2649, HF2520, HF2610

Keywords: North Star Promise, scholarship, higher education, Minnesota Office of Higher Education, in-demand jobs, workforce development, career training, job market, high-demand occupations, high-demand industries, college aid, state financial aid, FAFSA, student eligibility, program of study, degree program, certificate program, community college, university, labor market data

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, let's jump into some of the work we did this past year with business and community outreach
• </c> um with business and community outreach um with business and community outreach programs.<00:31:
• But in part through the trainings and outreach from MDA, I've come to know we're all better off when
• But in part through the trainings<01:38:03.440><c> and</c><01:38:03.679><c> outreach</c><01:38:04.080
• ><c> from</c><01:38:04.320><c> MDA,</c><01:38:05.199><c> I've</c> trainings and outreach from MDA, I've

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Bills: HJR 99, HB 1399, HB 1400, HB 1094, HB 365, HB 1109, HB 647, HCR 35, SB 14, HB 12, HB 1522, HB 422, HB 675, HB 204, HB 748, HB 912, HJR 99, HB 1399, HB 1400, HB 1094, HB 365, HB 1109, HB 647, HCR 35, HCR 123, HCR 124, HR 57, HR 87, HR 111, HR 228, HR 230, HR 322, HR 624, HR 625, HR 626, HR 627, HR 628, HR 630, HR 631, HR 634, HR 635, HR 636, HR 637, HR 638, HR 639, HR 640, HR 645, HR 646, HR 648, HR 649, HR 651, HR 652, HR 653, HR 654, HR 664, HR 665, HR 668, HR 675, HR 676, HR 678, HR 679, HR 680, HR 683, HR 686, HR 688, HR 689, HR 694, HR 695, HR 697, HR 698, HR 699, HR 472, HR 622, HR 632, HR 633, HR 643, HR 655, HR 657, HR 660, HR 661, HR 662, HR 663, HR 667, HR 670, HR 674, HR 681, HR 682, HR 696

Keywords: animal feed, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, retail, constitutional amendment, retail sale, tangible personal property, Texas tax code, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption, regulation, deceased transportation, HB 365

Bills: HJR 99, HB 1399, HB 1400, HB 1094, HB 365, HB 1109, HB 647, HCR 35, SB 14, HB 12, HB 1522, HB 422, HB 675, HB 204, HB 748, HB 912, HJR 99, HB 1399, HB 1400, HB 1094, HB 365, HB 1109, HB 647, HCR 35, HCR 123, HCR 124, HR 57, HR 87, HR 111, HR 228, HR 230, HR 322, HR 624, HR 625, HR 626, HR 627, HR 628, HR 630, HR 631, HR 634, HR 635, HR 636, HR 637, HR 638, HR 639, HR 640, HR 645, HR 646, HR 648, HR 649, HR 651, HR 652, HR 653, HR 654, HR 664, HR 665, HR 668, HR 675, HR 676, HR 678, HR 679, HR 680, HR 683, HR 686, HR 688, HR 689, HR 694, HR 695, HR 697, HR 698, HR 699, HR 472, HR 622, HR 632, HR 633, HR 643, HR 655, HR 657, HR 660, HR 661, HR 662, HR 663, HR 667, HR 670, HR 674, HR 681, HR 682, HR 696

Keywords: animal feed, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, retail, constitutional amendment, retail sale, tangible personal property, Texas tax code, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption, regulation, deceased transportation, HB 365

Transcript Highlights:

• The car was driven by Jeniece, who is part of the community outreach team.
• The meetings that followed were productive and focused on expanding outreach efforts, including strategies

Bills: HJR99, HB1399, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HCR35, SB14, HB 12, HB1522, HB422, HB675, HB204, HB748, HB912, HJR99, HB1399, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HCR35, HCR123, HCR124, HR57, HR87, HR111, HR228, HR230, HR322, HR624, HR625, HR626, HR627, HR628, HR630, HR631, HR634, HR635, HR636, HR637, HR638, HR639, HR640, HR645, HR646, HR648, HR649, HR651, HR652, HR653, HR654, HR664, HR665, HR668, HR675, HR676, HR678, HR679, HR680, HR683, HR686, HR688, HR689, HR694, HR695, HR697, HR698, HR699, HR472, HR622, HR632, HR633, HR643, HR655, HR657, HR660, HR661, HR662, HR663, HR667, HR670, HR674, HR681, HR682, HR696

Keywords: animal feed, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, retail, constitutional amendment, retail sale, tangible personal property, Texas tax code, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption, regulation, deceased transportation, HB 365