Transcript Highlights:

• The federal government got involved.
• or federal veterans benefit claims.
• So currently, General Jack Bergman, the most senior military officer on the federal side, and the House
• So currently, General Jack Bergman, the most senior military officer on the federal side, and the House
• Bergman, the most senior military officer on the federal side and the House of Representatives, does

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Attorney's Office.
• Services mandated federal contractor.
• federal approval.
• As a former Chief Compliance Officer and working with compliance officers around the country, there are
• We need people that understand them more than I do: our federal relations officers, our general counsel

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The presidency is a federal office.
• in the White House and the Oval Office because he campaigned on enforcing our federal immigration laws
• Today, when a federal officer violates someone's constitutional rights, there is often no meaningful
• As a result, we now live in a moment where federal officers push women down, pepper-spray everyone who
• Today, officers are already facing liability in federal court for constitutional violations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The presidency is a federal office.
• in the White House and the Oval Office because he campaigned on enforcing our federal immigration laws
• Today, when a federal officer violates someone's constitutional rights, there is often no meaningful
• As a result, we now live in a moment where federal officers push women down, pepper-spray everyone who
• Today, officers are already facing liability in federal court for constitutional violations.

Summary: The Senate took up a series of third-reading bills covering horse racing, local taxation, consumer financial security, elections, utilities, batteries, sexual health, body-worn cameras, property tax treatment for inherited homes, adoptee birth records, youth housing bonds, workers’ compensation, and civil rights. SB 795 on horse racing, SB 762 allowing Hercules to seek voter approval for a sales tax increase, SB 505 requiring two-factor authentication for money transmitter platforms, SB 46 barring California ballot access for presidential candidates who have already served two terms, SB 73 restricting federal access to voting machines without a court order, SB 327 on utility oversight and ratepayer protections, SB 501 expanding battery producer responsibility, SB 608 on school contraceptive access, SB 691 on EMS-related redaction of body-worn camera footage, SB 288 clarifying Proposition 19 timing for inherited homes in probate, SB 381 giving adoptees access to original birth certificates, SB 492 creating a youth housing bond, SB 555 increasing permanently partially disabled workers’ benefits, and SB 747 creating a civil cause of action for constitutional violations by federal officers were all debated and advanced. Most measures passed on roll call, with SB 505 and SB 288 approved by unanimous roll call, and SB 73 carrying an urgency clause that also passed unanimously. Debate on SB 747 was the most extensive and contentious. Supporters argued the bill was needed to hold federal officers accountable for alleged constitutional violations, especially in immigration enforcement, and described it as a civil-rights remedy for people harmed by federal agents. Opponents said existing federal and state remedies already cover such conduct, warned the bill was politically motivated, and argued it could increase litigation and strain law enforcement resources. The bill nevertheless passed on a 30-10 vote, with the urgency clause also approved. SB 492 on youth housing also drew debate over state bonding and debt, with supporters emphasizing early intervention for homeless and foster youth and opponents arguing the state should avoid borrowing and instead fund projects through the budget; it passed 30-9 on both urgency and the measure. Other bills also drew focused testimony. SB 555 was presented as a long-overdue cost-of-living adjustment for permanently partially disabled workers’ benefits, and SB 381 was supported as a way to give adopted adults access to their original birth certificates for identity and medical-history reasons. SB 691 was framed as a privacy measure for patients receiving medical or psychological treatment, while SB 501 was described as closing a gap in California’s battery recycling and safety rules by adding medium-format batteries used in e-bikes and portable power systems. SB 762 was presented as a local option for Hercules to address revenue shortfalls, and SB 46 and SB 73 both centered on election integrity and constitutional questions, with members split over federal-state authority and ballot access.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, it is the job of my office and the federal government to hold Medicaid fraudsters accountable.
• and and the is the job of my office and and the federal<00:03:53.760><c> government</c><00:03:54.000
• Attorney's Office, the autism cases that are being investigated, our investigators work with federal
• Attorney's Office, the autism cases that are being investigated, our investigators work with federal
• Attorney's Office, the autism cases that are being investigated, our investigators work with federal

Transcript Highlights:

• So the main hurdle for mask bans and other efforts to control or limit federal officers' behaviors is
• On the other hand, a federal officer who violates state speeding laws while pursuing a fleeing suspect
• Officials," the MCRA as written appears to authorize suits against federal officers.
• So, in other words, if a federal immigration officer violates someone's rights, this law already allows
• “And so letting them require authorization and having officers require authorization from the federal

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on responding to federal immigration enforcement in Massachusetts, with opening remarks from Sen. Liz Miranda and Rep. Bud Williams emphasizing fear in immigrant communities, recent ICE operations, and the need to learn from advocates and affected residents rather than debate individual bills. The hearing was organized around three topics: detention, arrests, and surveillance, with members repeatedly asking what the legislature can do to improve transparency, legal access, and oversight. On detention, Leah Hastings of Prisoners’ Legal Services said most people end up in ICE custody through contact with the criminal legal system and argued that state carceral systems are deeply intertwined with immigration enforcement. She described conditions at Plymouth County House of Correction and Burlington ICE holding as concerning, citing limited medical care, disability accommodations, solitary confinement, retaliatory transfers, and poor attorney access. Hastings said Massachusetts should reduce funding for sheriffs and the Department of Corrections, ban intergovernmental service agreements and 287(g) agreements, and invest instead in housing, treatment, and other community supports. Members also discussed ICE reimbursement, the immigrant legal defense fund, and the need for more immigration attorneys. On arrests and enforcement tactics, David Albright of JALSA said federal immigration enforcement has been expanded by major new funding and incentives, including higher payments for 287(g) and bed contracts, and he noted that most ICE detainees nationally do not have criminal records. He said Massachusetts has one 287(g) agreement with the Department of Corrections and one IGSA with Plymouth County, and that ICE also uses Burlington, Hanscom, and informal local collaboration in places such as Milford and Auburn. Danny Tampona of Neighbor to Neighbor and the LUCE Rapid Response Network described more than 10,000 hotline calls from 46 cities and towns, with arrests often involving masked agents, surveillance of workers and families, traffic stops, broken windows, and arrests at check-ins or schools; he said the network is concentrated in places including Everett, Chelsea, Lynn, New Bedford, Milford, Marlboro, Framingham, and Springfield. He urged legislation requiring clear identification for law enforcement, limits on surveillance technologies, and stronger legal defense resources. On surveillance, Joshua Dancoff of Citizens for Juvenile Justice argued that current state policies allow broad sharing of fingerprints and surveillance data with ICE, including through BRIC, the Massachusetts Fusion Center, and municipal police policies. He cited cases in Chelsea and Everett where children were taken from police custody into ICE custody and said many departments automatically share arrest fingerprints and other information with federal authorities. He recommended limiting fingerprint sharing, restricting surveillance databases and task-force participation, and curbing police and sheriff collaboration with ICE even where no formal 287(g) exists. Members and witnesses also discussed the need for more immigration lawyers, possible bar advocate-style funding for immigration defense, and legislative action to prevent further collaboration and deportation infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal grants...
• There is a potential here where we have federal law enforcement officers seeking to do an enforcement
• There is a potential here where we have federal law enforcement officers seeking to do an enforcement
• action, and Washington law enforcement officers see ...officers seeking to do an enforcement action,
• between our officers and their officers, or our officers standing back and subjecting themselves to

Summary: The committee first took executive action on House Bill 1170, which would require disclosures when content is developed or modified by artificial intelligence and address provenance tools and enforcement. Staff described a proposed substitute and several amendments. The committee rejected amendments that would have applied the bill to public entities and tribal nations, added technical-and-commercial-feasibility language, and created a geo-blocking provision or a right to cure. It adopted amendments allowing comparable existing detection tools to satisfy the bill, protecting covered providers from liability when disclosures are unintentionally altered despite reasonable preservation measures, and setting a January 1, 2028 effective date. Members then debated whether the bill was ready for enactment, with supporters emphasizing transparency and consumer trust and opponents warning it was premature and could hinder innovation. The committee voted 7-4, with two excused, to report the bill out of committee with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 2186, which would expand state support for applicants seeking federal economic development funds, create a matching-funds account, and require a study of available federal grants. The prime sponsor said the bill would help Washington capture more federal dollars, especially for projects that require matching funds, and would expand the Fund Hub WA website beyond environmental grants. Testimony in support came from the Port of Seattle, the Washington Economic Development Association, the City of Pasco, a downtown Kennewick nonprofit, and the Department of Commerce, all saying the bill would improve competitiveness, help underserved communities, and leverage state dollars for larger federal returns. Commerce said it was still developing the fiscal note and technical edits. The hearing on HB 2186 was then closed. Finally, the committee opened a hearing on House Bill 2351, which would protect emergency responders and emergency response operations. Staff explained that the bill would bar local governments and incident command systems from assisting enforcement actions targeting emergency responders based on protected status, create emergency operation zones with restrictions on law enforcement activity, and change the obstruction statute to cover obstruction of emergency responders. The prime sponsor and many local officials, firefighters, and advocates testified in support, citing incidents where federal enforcement actions disrupted wildfire response and other emergencies. Some witnesses raised concerns about administrative burden, ambiguity, and possible unintended consequences, including a proposed mental-health defense and clarification of responder identification. The Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs and the Association of Washington Cities said they supported the goal but wanted changes to avoid conflicts and reduce burdens. The hearing concluded without a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment directs the council and the chief immigration officer to work with the federal government
• Immigration is a federal issue, and the federal government is taking the lead.
• Immigration officer functions by state officers and employees.
• And so I wondered, is there any kind of a sunset provision on this Office of State or Federal Regulations
• And so I wondered, is there any kind of a sunset provision on this Office of State or Federal Regulations

Summary: The Senate opened with a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the reading of an amended joint proclamation expanding the Legislature’s immigration agenda. The proclamation added items calling for financial penalties for government officials, enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed by illegal aliens, and programs and appropriations to support law enforcement in enforcing federal immigration law. The chamber then took up the special order calendar, beginning with Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 2B, the immigration bill. Most of the meeting was devoted to debate and questions on the strike-all amendment to SB 2B. Sponsor Senator Gruters described the bill as a broad immigration enforcement package aligned with President Trump’s agenda. He said it would require greater cooperation with federal immigration authorities, strengthen participation in the 287(g) program, create a chief immigration officer and council, authorize financial penalties for noncompliance, provide bonuses for officers assisting ICE, and direct information-sharing with federal agencies. He also said the bill would bar DHSMV from issuing licenses or ID cards to unauthorized aliens and would end in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Senators Polsky, Pizzo, Smith, Jones, Berman, Osgood, and others questioned the scope of the bill, whether it would affect schools, churches, cities, nonprofits, and green-card holders, and how the 287(g) provisions would work in practice. Gruters repeatedly said the operational focus was on jails and detention facilities, not street-level enforcement. A major point of controversy was the bill’s proposed mandatory death penalty for unauthorized aliens convicted of certain capital offenses. Senator Fine said the covered crimes were the most serious capital felonies, including murder, child sexual battery, destructive-device offenses causing death, and certain trafficking offenses, and argued the provision was intended to withstand constitutional challenge. Senator Pizzo raised Eighth Amendment concerns and questioned whether the bill could mandate death sentences. The tuition waiver provisions also drew extended debate: Fine said the state would save about $41 million by ending discounted tuition for undocumented students, while Democrats argued the savings would not return to general revenue and that the policy would harm students who are already enrolled. Fine and Gruters said green-card holders would not be affected and that the bill targeted only students in the country illegally. The discussion also covered appropriations and implementation. Senator Smith asked about the bill’s large funding levels, and Fine broke down the spending as including $375 million for the chief immigration officer, $100 million in grants to local law enforcement, $29 million for the new Office of State Immigration Enforcement, and $10 million for an unauthorized-alien transport program. Gruters said the funds would reimburse local governments and help address staffing shortages, while critics questioned the lack of benchmarks and the fiscal impact. No final vote or disposition on the bill appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Preservation Office into this new Office of Species, Minerals, and Energy Coordination.
• The National Environmental Policy Act, the Federal Power Act, the Federal Land Policy and Management
• The office distributes federal grants to local communities to help with projects like teaching local
• Officer.
• We may be using federal funds for a project or crossing federal lands for a project.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• State Auditors' Office.
• Control Office unit at the Comptroller's Office.
• About 35 of them are cross-trained and are working with the federal agencies as task force officers and
• We got an Office of Inspector General. We got the AG's office.
• So the GAO, the Government Accountability Office, estimates the federal government losses between $233

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met to hear interim charges on higher education transparency and on preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in state government. The chair emphasized accountability for taxpayer dollars and asked witnesses to address financial reporting, audit practices, and whether more frequent or comprehensive audits would improve oversight. Legislative Budget Board staff described how public university systems and most community colleges respond to requests about internal audit practices, noting that university systems generally follow a similar annual audit timeline and that community colleges use a more varied mix of internal and external audit arrangements. Members focused on gaps in reporting, especially Texas Southern University’s missing submissions for several years and Collin County Community College’s nonresponse to the LBB survey. The State Auditor’s Office then outlined its higher education audit work, including mandatory statewide single audits, DEI compliance audits, HUB and State Use Program audits, benefits proportional audits, and discretionary audits based on risk. The auditor said the office has released 43 higher-ed audit reports since fiscal year 2021 and has two audits in progress, and explained that internal audit reports from institutions help guide future audit selection. Senators pressed the office on the lack of enforcement authority, the value of internal auditors at each institution, and whether community colleges should have more standardized reporting and audit requirements. The auditor and general counsel said the SAO can refer suspected fraud to law enforcement but cannot itself enforce findings, while several senators suggested stronger clawback authority and more robust internal audit structures. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board explained that it collects annual financial reports, sources-and-uses data, and community college finance reports, and uses them for funding formulas and other reporting. It also trains governing board members and said it has limited regulatory authority, though community colleges must certify compliance annually and can lose eligibility for state funds if they do not. Members questioned the reliability of self-attested data, the adequacy of board training, and whether a single reporting structure would be more efficient. During public testimony, a ScholarShot representative argued for clearer, student-facing financial transparency so students can see total cost of attendance and the gap they must cover before enrolling.

Transcript Highlights:

• Three, certified officers unlock the federal money.
• They're never federalized.
• The federal government are task forced into our office.
• So we have the state powers as a peace officer that federal agents don't have.
• So we're relying on federal partners, task force officers, or the FAA, who are also all overworked.

Summary: The Select Committee on Homeland and Border Security convened with a quorum, adopted its standard committee rules, and began its interim work on the charge of keeping Texas skies safe. Members introduced staff and emphasized the committee’s focus on drone threats, border security, fuel trafficking, critical infrastructure, and public safety. The chair outlined that the committee would hear invited and public testimony over the interim to evaluate current law and recommend legislative action for the next session. The first invited witness, Dr. Michael McGee, gave extensive testimony on the rapid spread of drone technology and the difficulty of detecting and countering drones across multiple threat tiers. He argued that criminal organizations and hostile actors already use drones for surveillance, smuggling, and attacks, and that Texas now has new federal authority to counter drones but lacks enough trained personnel and statewide capacity. He recommended expanding Texas training pipelines, creating a statewide task force led by DPS, building a shared statewide data picture, pursuing federal and state coordination, and supporting lower-cost sensor development and Texas-based manufacturing. Members questioned him about airport vulnerabilities, critical infrastructure costs, commercial delivery drones, and the need for universal protection against evolving threats. A Texas Department of Public Safety panel then described current drone and counter-drone operations. DPS officials said drones are widely used for crash reconstruction, search and rescue, tactical overwatch, and critical infrastructure monitoring, while counter-UAS capabilities remain limited and layered, with only a small number of officers certified through the FBI’s two-week counter-drone course. They said DPS used federal coordination and grant-funded equipment successfully during FIFA-related events and is developing regional counter-UAS teams, but state law still needs updates on FAA alignment, weapons on drones, critical infrastructure definitions, altitude restrictions, sporting venues, and public education. The panel also described DPS’s drone first responder program, including rooftop-launched drones at the Capitol, the Alamo, and other sites, and said current mitigation authority depends on federal certification, policies, and coordination with FAA and air traffic control; without mitigation authority, officers mainly rely on visual detection and ground teams to locate operators.

Transcript Highlights:

• Current federal law, 5 U.S.
• Current federal law, 5 U.S.
• Current federal law, 5 U.S.
• Current federal law, 5 U.S.
• and and made arrest on other officers and and made arrest on other police<00:14:38.480><c> officers<

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government considered three bills. House Bill 321, sponsored by Rep. DJ Johnson and supported by the Kentucky League of Cities and the Kentucky Realtor Association, was amended by committee substitute and adopted unanimously. As amended, it extends training deadlines for planning commission and board of adjustment members and adds required training on how planning and zoning policies affect housing supply and accessibility. The committee substitute also limits appeals of final board of adjustment actions to persons or entities claiming injury who own real estate in the same zone as the affected property. The bill passed 8-0, and a title amendment was adopted. House Bill 340, sponsored by Rep. Tony Hampton with support from law enforcement and federal security representatives, would create a new section of KRS Chapter 13 to require criminal justice agencies to provide criminal history records for federal suitability or fitness background checks and allow a $25 fee for records requests reimbursed by the federal government. It also conforms juvenile records law to the new process. The committee approved the bill 9-0 with no opposition. House Bill 520, sponsored by Rep. Chris Fugate and backed by the Kentucky Sheriff's Association, Kentucky Police Chiefs Association, and Kentucky League of Cities, generated the most debate. The bill and committee substitute would exempt certain open police investigation records from disclosure under the Open Records Act when an agency says release could harm an investigation or reveal informants or witnesses. Several senators raised concerns that the “could” standard was too broad and could weaken transparency, while supporters argued it was needed to protect ongoing investigations, witnesses, and officers. The committee initially failed the bill 6-4, then after additional vote changes and discussion, reconsidered it and advanced the amended bill with favorable expression 6-4 to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Executive Office of Public Safety.
• The federal immigration system is broken.
• The federal immigration system is broken.
• asks our officers to help apprehend people Houses and our work sites and asks our officers to help apprehend
• Who took office? You know what happened on January 20 of '25, right? We took office.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is in the governor’s office. This office will sit in the governor’s office as well.
• This is in the governor’s office. This office will sit in the governor’s office as well.
• This is in the governor's office. This office will sit in the governor's office as well.
• Non-federal, state roads. And federal. And federal, so not federal and state.
• And when non-federal-aid highways and associated component parts under the control of the office are

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1157, which would create a Louisiana State Infrastructure Bank to provide another funding mechanism for transportation-related projects, including roads, bridges, rail, ports, airports, and other surface transportation needs. Chairman Borek and DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD said the goal is to leverage state, federal, local, and private dollars, using models from Florida and other states. Members asked about board makeup, staffing, project selection, administrative costs, and how the bank would differ from capital outlay and existing transportation programs. Testimony in support came from business and economic development representatives, including Michael Hecht of Greater New Orleans, Inc., who said infrastructure is critical to major economic projects and that the bank could attract outside capital. The bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up several local and procurement-related bills. House Bill 860, allowing fillable electronic public bid forms, was reported favorably. House Bill 972, naming a portion of Highway 93 in Lafayette Parish the Desert Shield Desert Storm Memorial Highway, and House Bill 965, naming a portion of Highway 163 the Sergeant William Billy Earl Collins Jr. Memorial Highway, were both reported favorably after brief testimony honoring veterans and law enforcement. House Bill 692, authorizing local governments to enter group purchasing agreements, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 685, allowing use of FAST Act cooperative procurement for public motor vehicles and rolling stock, drew support from transit officials and was reported favorably after a roll call vote, with one member voting no. The committee also advanced House Bill 982, which designates portions of highways in Morehouse Parish in memory of local residents killed in a crash after attending an LSU game; it was reported with amendments. House Bill 506, creating special prestige license plates for local high schools as a fundraiser, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 839, lowering the contract limit for hospital service districts to use construction management at risk from $2 million to $1 million, was reported by substitute after testimony from hospital leadership and industry representatives. House Bill 1072, revising powers and emergency procurement authority for the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, was amended and reported favorably after discussion about its relationship to DOTD and emergency repairs. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 887, which revises construction management at risk procedures, including committee makeup, scoring, and financial qualification requirements; it was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 647, creating timelines and an annual application process for waterway projects under a waterway assistance program and fund, was reported by substitute. The last major item discussed was House Bill 873, which would fund pursuit intervention technology and training for law enforcement through a $2 fee on driver’s licenses. The bill was presented alongside emotional testimony from the widow and daughter of Sergeant Grant Candies and from a St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff’s captain, all urging safer equipment and better training for officers. Members expressed strong support, and the discussion continued into funding and grant administration details.

Transcript Highlights:

• We strongly support this measure, a bill to prohibit federal immigration officers from conducting enforcement
• We strongly support this measure, a bill to prohibit federal immigration officers from conducting enforcement
• </c><01:07:10.960><c> officers</c><01:07:11.440><c> and</c><01:07:11.920><c> um</c> agents um and federal
• officers and um agents um and federal officers and um their<01:07:12.240><c> patients</c><01:07:12.799
• facilities or whatever, and federal immigration officers can't enter state facilities, then what's the

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1768, which would prohibit state and county law enforcement agencies and officials from entering into federal immigration-enforcement agreements under 8 U.S.C. 1357(g) and from assisting in certain immigration enforcement actions except in limited circumstances. The Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and the ACLU of Hawaiʻi all testified in strong support, arguing the bill would protect due process, reduce fear in immigrant communities, preserve trust in local police, and keep local resources focused on public safety. Testifiers said cooperation with immigration enforcement can chill court attendance, crime reporting, and cooperation with police, and they emphasized that the bill would not stop federal enforcement or affect other deputization agreements for environmental or other criminal matters. Committee members asked whether any 287(g) agreements currently exist in Hawaiʻi; testifiers said they were unaware of any and believed the bill would maintain the status quo. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then took up House Bill 1548, which would reduce the maximum sentence for misdemeanors from one year to 364 days and allow people previously sentenced to one year to seek sentence modification. The Office of the Public Defender, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Legal Clinic, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the ACLU of Hawaiʻi, and the William S. Richardson School of Law immigration clinic all supported the measure, saying the one-day change could prevent severe immigration consequences such as detention, removal, and bars to relief that can be triggered by a sentence of 365 days or more. Testifiers stressed that the bill would not change criminal liability or public safety, but would align Hawaiʻi law with similar reforms adopted in other states. Members questioned whether the change would affect citizens or create an automatic immigration process; witnesses responded that the issue is the federal immigration consequence tied to the maximum sentence, not actual time served, and that citizens would not face that consequence. The transcript ends during continued discussion of HB 1548, with no final vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> section are anticipated federal funds. section are anticipated federal funds.
• </c> federal funds column for that program. federal funds column for that program.
• Office of the Governor.
• Rural Opportunity Office, L2: 5.5 FTE. Employee Ownership Office: 1.8 FTE.
• </c> this office. this office.

Transcript Highlights:

• "What about the offices in every county, other than an office?
• Currently, there is a carryover that's being administered by the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement
• Missouri Office of Refugee Assistance will begin implementing in federal fiscal year 27.
• The application process is done through the school, done through your office, done at the federal level
• This is 100% federal funds, so $1.5 million in federal funds.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee resumed hearing the Department of Social Services’ Family Support Division budget request for FY 2027, with testimony from Director Mandy Adams, fiscal manager Jennifer Lovell, and other staff. Members reviewed core funding for FSD administration, income maintenance field staff, the call center, Medicaid renewal staffing, EBT, Summer EBT, refugee resettlement, the judgment payment related to EngagePoint, FAMIS/MEDES system maintenance, eligibility verification, and SNAP outreach. Several items were explained as core reductions due to one-time funding, changing match rates, or shifts in federal requirements, especially in light of HR1 implementation and Medicaid/SNAP renewal backlogs. The division emphasized using contract staff, technology upgrades, IVR improvements, and AI call summarization to reduce wait times, clear backlogs, and protect federal funding compliance. A large portion of the discussion focused on the call center and resource centers, including how calls are triaged, how outbound and inbound calls are handled, weekend IVR access, and whether county resource centers are publicized as alternatives. Members asked for more data on backlog volumes, call performance, and customer survey results. The division reported improved average wait times and said it is trying to shift Tier 1 questions to automated tools so staff can focus on more complex Tier 2 matters and interviews. Members also discussed the refugee resettlement line, with questions about why the state is again administering federal refugee support funds, how much of the appropriation will actually be spent in FY 2026 and FY 2027, and what oversight exists; staff said MoRA and its subrecipients will be monitored and that federal reporting and audits apply. The committee also spent considerable time on Summer EBT/Sun Bucks and TANF. Members questioned why some higher-income families might receive Summer EBT in CEP schools, whether the state can alter eligibility rules, and how the program is audited; staff said the criteria come from federal guidance and DESE, and that DSS will be audited later this spring. On TANF, members asked how the department and governor selected organizations and programs for funding, how much TANF was over-appropriated in FY 2026, and whether new additions would require offsets elsewhere. Staff explained that TANF spending is constrained by the block grant and carryover, that some items are mandated or prior-approved, and that new additions would require reductions elsewhere or later restrictions. The committee then recessed before finishing the TANF section, with no votes taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• , federal law enforcement officers, came into southern states to enforce federal law over the objection
• > law</c> federal government uh federal law federal government uh federal law enforcement<01:27:41.480
• In terms of operating, you may have one federal law enforcement officer assisting local police, which
• Attorney's office, as well as federal law enforcement, the sheriff's department, and local law enforcement
• In addition, a lot of state law enforcement officers are assigned to federal task forces, as we call

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• federal law enforcement officers rather than all federal agencies who enforce the law.
• federal law or any state law enforcement officer, reserve officers, general law enforcement officers,
• It's already been challenged as to whether or not a state can control a federal officer.
• and not the federal officers who are doing this activity.
• and not the federal officers who are doing this activity.

Summary: The House Community Safety Committee held public hearings on several bills. House Bill 2203 would create the offense of reckless interference with emergency operations for driving on a roadway known to be closed due to hazardous conditions, with gross misdemeanor penalties, a possible Class C felony enhancement if a rescue leads to injury or involves a minor or vulnerable adult, license suspension, and emergency-response cost recovery. The prime sponsor described recent flooding rescues in Orting as the impetus, and local police support emphasized responder safety and limited resources. The Sentencing Guidelines Commission opposed the felony section, saying the conduct did not warrant felony treatment and recommending a traffic infraction for the first level and a gross misdemeanor for the second. House Bill 2293 would bar Washington law enforcement agencies, the Criminal Justice Training Commission, and related personnel from training with foreign militaries, intelligence agencies, or security services, or funding travel for that purpose. The sponsor said civilian policing should not be trained like military service and argued officers should be trained under U.S. constitutional standards. Opponents from the sheriffs and police chiefs association argued the bill was too broad and unclear, could block valuable counterterrorism and best-practice training, and might need exemptions for Canada, Mexico, and other legitimate international partnerships. Members discussed possible amendments and clarification language. House Bill 2165 would create a new gross misdemeanor for false identification as a peace officer, covering possession or creation of realistic badges, insignia, or other items identifying someone as an officer when they are not commissioned, while preserving defenses for honorary, reserve, posse, and protected expressive uses. The sponsor and governor’s office said current law is too limited because it often requires an active impersonation before enforcement can occur; law enforcement groups supported the goal but raised concerns about definitions, vehicle markings, federal-agent coverage, and whether the offense could be plea-bargained away. House Bill 2173 would prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while interacting with the public, with exceptions for undercover work, SWAT protective gear, and medical or environmental masks, and would allow civil suits for violations. Supporters said the bill promotes transparency and trust and responds to concerns about masked immigration enforcement; opponents warned it could expose officers to doxxing, create liability and recruitment problems, and raise constitutional issues, especially as applied to federal officers. No votes were taken on any of the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment directs the council and the Chief Immigration Officer to work with the federal government
• Immigration is a federal issue; the federal government is taking the lead.
• Could federal law change? Yes.
• I think there are $375,000 available to the Chief Immigration Officer in this new office.
• I wondered, is there any kind of a sunset provision on this office of state or federal regulations in

Bills: SJR36 , SR8 , SR14 , SR15 , SR17 , HCR54

Keywords: accountants, Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, advocacy, legislation, business issues, memorial, law enforcement, sacrifice, tribute, community support, service, community, Holocaust, remembrance, antisemitism, human rights, education, Holocaust Remembrance Day, memorialization, sexual assault