Video & Transcript : 'agency operations' :

Page 76 of 500
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Finance - 04/21/25

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:02:09.039><c> challenge,</c> severe operational challenge, severe operational challenge, potentially
  • </c><00:02:29.280><c> of</c> safe, and efficient operation of safe, and efficient operation of Minnesota's
  • <00:49:31.760><c> line</c> operating line operating line item.<00:49:34.480><c> On</c><00:49:34.720><
  • </c> There's a general fund operating There's a general fund operating adjustment<00:52:32.160><c> of
  • </c> opportunity when I look at the oper opportunity when I look at the oper operating<00:59:49.000><
Committee: Senate Finance
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Ways & Means Feb 23rd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're here today for the purpose of a public hearing on the Senate operating budget proposal.
  • And we are also signed in support of your proposed operating budget.
  • In addition, we ask you to preserve the area agency case management funding.
  • This year, the agency was proud to complete the comprehensive climate action plan.
  • At almost every agency faces an undefined administrative reduction.
Summary: The committee held a public hearing on the Senate operating budget proposal, beginning with a staff briefing from James Kettle. He described the budget as built on relatively flat revenue after multiple forecast updates, with substantial mandatory cost growth, especially in Health Care Authority, DSHS, and DCYF. He highlighted major policy-level additions and savings, including large tort liability costs, continued support for long-term services, reductions tied to child care and K-12 items, several assumed revenue bills, and major transfers from reserves and other accounts. Kettle also noted the four-year outlook remained positive overall, with about $1 billion ending fund balance in the final year and roughly $3 billion in total reserves. A committee member asked about a diagram showing the loss of federal funds, and staff said they would follow up. Public testimony then focused first on K-12 education, where school leaders, teachers, OSPI, PTA, and rural district representatives largely opposed the proposed cuts to local effort assistance, transition to kindergarten, bus depreciation, and related school funding items. Many argued the reductions would disproportionately harm rural and property-poor districts and weaken early learning access, while several students and educators spoke in favor of career and technical education and IT Academy funding. The committee also heard support for wildfire prevention funding from the Commissioner of Public Lands, who thanked the Senate for restoring those dollars but raised concerns about recreation program reductions. Higher education testimony was mixed but generally supportive of the Senate proposal compared with the governor’s budget. Community and technical college leaders warned that the budget still shifts compensation costs to tuition and reduces Running Start funding, while university representatives from Western, Eastern, Central, WSU, and UW thanked the committee for avoiding deeper cuts. Private vocational college students and administrators urged extension of Washington College Grant eligibility for students already enrolled, and others asked to preserve IT Academy and related certification funding. In early learning, child care and advocacy groups praised the decision not to cap Working Connections Child Care but warned that child care and transition to kindergarten still bear a disproportionate share of cuts; they also requested continued support for Dolly Parton Imagination Library and Pierce County early childhood programs, including Family Connects. The hearing continued with testimony on employee compensation, mental health, and human services. State employee and retiree groups supported the budget’s COLA and wildfire funding but objected to cuts in retiree health benefits. Behavioral health and public safety advocates supported mentoring, Trueblood-related funding, crisis stabilization, and the Recovery Navigator Program, while others opposed reductions to those programs and to community-based recovery services. In human services, witnesses thanked the committee for funding victim services, child welfare supports, health homes, adult day care, community health centers, energy assistance, and disability services, while urging the committee to avoid further reductions to skilled nursing, case management, and recovery navigation. No votes were taken during the hearing.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee Apr 20th, 2026

Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • Like we have agencies that actually watch and act and learn.
  • The bill requires the Department of Justice to conduct annual randomized audits of public agency operators
  • Agencies keeping data more than 30 days are outliers.
  • A utility must file regarding the use of AI in utility operations.
  • Apple forces app developers to pay exorbitant fees to operate...
Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on AI, privacy, and surveillance. SB 903 would prohibit AI from independently providing psychotherapy or presenting itself as a licensed mental health provider, require disclosure and informed consent, and reinforce confidentiality and privacy protections for therapy records. Supporters, including a mother and therapist whose son died by suicide after extensive chats with ChatGPT, argued the bill is needed to prevent harmful, crisis-related interactions. Behavioral health groups and labor/privacy organizations supported the measure, while TechNet, the California Medical Association, and the California Hospital Association opposed unless amended, saying the bill could restrict useful clinical tools and create conflicts around triage, screening, and data use. The committee passed SB 903 4-0 to Appropriations, with members noting the need for further work on definitions and implementation. SB 1119 would create a broader framework for chatbot safety for children, including annual risk assessments, crisis response protocols, default child protections, parental controls, notice and time limits, restrictions on advertising and use of children’s data, incident reporting, audits, and a private right of action. The author and supporters again cited the death of Adam Raine as evidence that chatbots can reinforce suicidal ideation and isolate children. Common Sense Media and several labor and privacy groups supported the bill. CalChamber, TechNet, the California State Sheriffs’ Association, and other industry and local government groups opposed unless amended, raising concerns about vague standards, overlap with SB 243, prescriptive design mandates, and litigation risk. The committee approved SB 1119 4-0 to Judiciary, with amendments to be taken there. The committee also heard SB 1013, which would tighten rules for automated license plate reader data by requiring DOJ audits, employee training, and a 30-day retention limit for most data. Supporters said the bill responds to documented misuse and over-retention of data that mostly belongs to innocent drivers. Law enforcement groups opposed, arguing the retention limit would hinder investigations and reduce the usefulness of ALPRs in serious or delayed cases. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations. SB 1292, a local control bill for six cities, would allow camera or sensor-based enforcement of curb and loading zones, with a human reviewing each violation before issuance. Supporters said it would help cities manage congestion and unsafe blocking of bike lanes and loading zones; privacy advocates warned about expanding automated surveillance. It passed 4-1 to Appropriations. Finally, the committee heard SB 1101, which would require higher education institutions to notify students, faculty, and staff when personal information is shared with federal agencies and limit disclosure to what is legally required. Supporters framed it as a transparency and anti-doxing measure in response to recent federal investigations and subpoenas; there was no opposition testimony. The bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. The committee then began hearing SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, which would require advance notice and reporting when employers displace workers due to technology and give displaced workers priority for openings, but the transcript cuts off before the hearing concluded.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • They would have the support of incredibly trained call center operators.
  • And we also want those operators to have that tool at their disposal.
  • Different agencies have different expertise.
  • WellSpace Health has operated a suicide prevention line since 1953.
  • All 58 counties operate as individual. and discretionary services.
Summary: The joint Assembly Health and Select Committee on Native American Affairs held an oversight hearing on AB 988, California’s 988 crisis line and mobile crisis response system, followed by a discussion of suicide prevention and intervention in California Indian communities. Members and witnesses repeatedly emphasized that AB 988 was intended to create a true alternative to 911 for behavioral health crises, with “someone to call, someone to come, and somewhere to go,” and that Native communities continue to face disproportionately high suicide rates and barriers to culturally responsive care. The first panel of call center and stakeholder witnesses largely argued that implementation is falling short of the law’s intent. They said 988 call centers are underfunded, text/chat answer rates remain far below call answer rates, staffing is strained, and the system still lacks meaningful statewide interoperability between 988 and 911. Several witnesses said mobile crisis teams are not being dispatched through 988 as envisioned, and that funding formulas and governance are too opaque. San Joaquin County was presented as a local success story, with integrated 988, access lines, and mobile crisis handoffs that have reduced reliance on emergency departments and involuntary holds. Witnesses also discussed the need for better tribal outreach, the role of CCBHCs, and the importance of culturally competent services. State officials from CalHHS and DHCS described the five-year 988 implementation plan, the current governance structure across multiple agencies, and efforts to support training, public awareness, and referral tools. They reported growth in 988 contacts, ongoing training with the Trevor Project, a statewide resource directory, and a tribal awareness campaign. DHCS also outlined proposed trailer bill language that would create a formal designation process for 988 centers, set statewide standards, and require existing centers to obtain designation by 2029. Officials said current funding includes SAMHSA grants, block grant dollars, and an expected $67.3 million from the 988 fund in the next budget year, with a large share earmarked for Medi-Cal mobile crisis services. No formal vote or committee action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Public Safety Committee Apr 21st, 2026

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • This incident has been widely known as Operation Trojan Horse, an operation that was carried out while
  • These delays not only cause agencies to lose qualified candidates, but also discourage agencies from
  • AB 2257 would restore the option for counties to appoint a county-level corrections agency to operate
  • These agencies have operated with impunity, violating due process.
  • These agencies have operated with impunity, violating due process, engaging in racial profiling, and
Committee: House Public Safety
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Subcommittee on Appropriations - General Administration Mar 2nd, 2026

Subcommittee on Appropriations - General Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • So average 5.3% spend as part of the operating budget; ours sits at about 1.5% of our operating budget
  • And we're rolling out Copilot Chat to all the agencies here, all the consolidated agencies.
  • Yes, I think agencies are ready to be engaged.
  • agencies?
  • I just think of these agencies, DSS for an example.
Summary: The subcommittee held an informational hearing on the Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) within the Office of Administration, with no quorum present and no formal action taken. Chair Voss said the purpose was to review ITSD’s programs, budget needs, and future plans, and members emphasized the value of an informed appropriator. Representative Riggs cautioned that the state should avoid jeopardizing federal broadband funding and asked that AI-related work remain consistent with federal expectations. ITSD leadership, including CIO John Loren and Deputy CIO Tara Damp, outlined the division’s scope and recent modernization efforts. They said ITSD supports 15 executive agencies plus the governor and lieutenant governor, manages about 1,200 production software solutions, handles roughly 35,000 help desk requests per month, and defends against billions of cyberattacks monthly. They highlighted investments in layered security, data center and network redundancy, a unified Microsoft 365 environment, modern development tools, and portal platforms. Damp reviewed the history of IT consolidation, noting budget reductions after 2007, then increased investment beginning in 2020 and especially with ARPA funds in fiscal 2023. Members asked about spending projections, subscription-based licensing, procurement modernization, and the role of non-consolidated agencies such as MoDOT and Conservation. The committee also discussed future funding needs and benchmarking. ITSD said its current spending is about $287 million, with a projected ongoing need of about $345 million to maintain and modernize services, while Gartner comparisons suggested Missouri spends less per employee and as a share of operating budget than peer states. Members asked for more detailed fiscal-year spending profiles for major initiatives and for clarification on what is and is not included in the projections, including Social Services and HR1-related work. ITSD said it would provide additional detail. A major portion of the hearing focused on AI strategy and governance. Tim Marsheski, ITSD’s director of AI and innovation, described a cautious, pilot-based approach centered on secure use, human oversight, and data governance. He cited examples such as an internal HR chatbot that reduced average response time from about 45 minutes to two minutes, pilots with DESE data transformation, and efforts to use AI for code assistance, document scanning, and workflow support. Members asked about workforce impacts, training, closed versus open models, and whether AI could help with auditing and fiscal analysis. ITSD said it is still early on workforce forecasting, but it is building governance, acceptable-use policies, and feedback loops to test tools, measure results, and scale only when they provide value and remain secure.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Labor & Commerce Jan 27th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • The agency... ...and imposing costly pressures with unclear value.
  • I mean, Amazon... ...local operations that are driving the decision-making.
  • First, in both the state and federal law, state agencies and political...
  • as the Department of Health, and I can answer. no fiscal impact for those agencies.
  • I will say that the agency did And how? already sacrificing the most.
Summary: The Labor and Commerce Committee heard public testimony on several bills. Senate Bill 618, the Eric Schrauss Memorial Act, would remove the current time-and-exposure qualifiers for the workers’ compensation presumption that certain heart problems in firefighters and law enforcement officers are occupational diseases. The sponsor and family members of fallen firefighters testified in support, describing delayed claims and arguing the bill would spare grieving families from lengthy appeals. Opponents including counties, self-insurers, cities, and L&I’s research staff said the current qualifiers are based on science, warned the change would greatly expand claims and costs, and noted a 2023 advisory committee did not recommend the change. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5379, which would extend interest arbitration rights to Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission law enforcement rangers. The sponsor and a park ranger testified that rangers are commissioned peace officers who cannot strike and are paid less than comparable law enforcement, leading to staffing shortages and turnover. The bill was presented as a fairness and retention measure. Testimony on Senate Bill 6147, concerning grocery store closures in food deserts, was split: supporters from Tacoma, labor, and local government said a six-month notice requirement would help communities respond to closures like the Fred Meyer shutdown in South Tacoma, while grocers and industry groups argued the bill was too prescriptive, would add legal risk, and would not solve underlying crime and business pressures. Senate Bill 6106, requested by the Employment Security Department, would exempt tribes from the state WARN-style notice law and make employee names and addresses submitted in layoff notices confidential under the Public Records Act. ESD and business groups supported the bill as a clarification and privacy fix, and no opposition was heard. The committee then took testimony on Senate Bill 5927, which would cap future workers’ compensation COLAs at 3%; employers and self-insurers supported it as a way to address volatility and long-term liabilities, while labor, injured-worker advocates, and others opposed it as an across-the-board benefit cut that would erode wage replacement. L&I explained it has been studying possible COLA changes but did not bring forward its own proposal. Finally, Senate Bill 6287 on kratom would restrict adulterated or harmful kratom products, require labeling, set a 21+ sales age, and allow local regulation; supporters backed the age limit and bans on concentrated 7-OH, while some industry witnesses opposed the private right of action and local patchwork rules. The committee adjourned after public testimony; no final votes or executive action were taken in the transcript.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Friday, March 27, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • But we do not operate on hope or whims. We operate on facts and action.
  • </c><00:08:53.519><c> We</c> do not operate on hope or whims. We do not operate on hope or whims.
  • </c> Guard, and other lawful agencies in DHS. Guard, and other lawful agencies in DHS.
  • </c> would we give more money to an agency would we give more money to an agency that<00:13:34.160><c
  • </c> partially defund this agency. partially defund this agency.
Bills: HB7147 , HR1142
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 2 - 04/17/26

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> maintained by the agencies themselves. maintained by the agencies themselves.
  • state agencies are those individual<00:15:10.520><c> agency</c><00:15:10.839><c> records.
  • from agencies.
  • Maybe the records from agencies.
  • </c> operating beyond capacity. operating beyond capacity.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 3/18/26

Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • House File 4207 is the agency policy House File 4207 is the agency policy bill.<00:01:44.240><c> Uh</
  • </c> financial and operational challenges. financial and operational challenges.
  • Paul Public Housing Agency.
  • Paul Public Housing Agency...
  • Paul public agency for granted to St. Paul public housing<00:38:18.000><c> agency.
Bills: HF4207 , HF3639 , HF3981 , HF3064 , HF2123
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

FL House Floor Session - 2025-06-16 (7:00PM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • to operating authority for budget transparency.
  • And operational support to assist our judicial system partners.
  • Lastly, we are allocating $5 million to the State Emergency Operations Center.
  • The budget eliminates 1,138 staff positions across human services agencies, where agencies provided sufficient
  • Our private prisons in Florida operate at a 7%—supposedly operate at a 7% cost savings to our state correctional
Summary: The House met on the final day of session, swore in Representatives Boyles and Hodgers, and observed a moment of silence for the Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as for Representative Rosenwald’s father. The chamber then moved into final budget work, with leaders outlining the plan to take up H.J.R. 5019, HB 7031, HB 5017, HB 5015, and then the general appropriations act once the Senate transmitted it. H.J.R. 5019, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand the budget stabilization fund, was explained and amended to raise the rainy day fund cap, require annual deposits, and allow withdrawals for critical state needs by a two-thirds vote; it passed 100-1. The House then adopted the conference report on HB 7031, the tax package. The bill repeals the business rent tax and aviation fuel tax, delays the natural gas fuel tax, creates or expands several sales tax holidays and exemptions, including permanent exemptions for disaster-preparedness items, hunting/fishing/camping items, and ammunition and firearms-related purchases, and makes changes to property, corporate income, local tax, and economic development provisions. Members debated the removal of recurring housing trust fund and transit-related revenue streams, the new ammunition exemption, and the data center tax changes; supporters argued the package reduces taxes and preserves annual budget flexibility, while opponents raised concerns about housing, transportation, and gun violence. The conference report passed 93-7. HB 5017, creating a debt reduction program funded by a recurring transfer to retire state bonds early, passed unanimously. HB 5015, the state group insurance conforming bill, which directs DMS to develop a formulary management plan and codifies the administrative health insurance assessment, also passed. The House then began explanation and questions on the fiscal year 2025-26 general appropriations act, described as a $115.1 billion budget that is down $3.8 billion from the current year and includes more than $12 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs summarized major spending areas, including pre-K-12 funding increases, health care funding for Medicaid, KidCare, nursing homes, opioid treatment, and mental health, transportation and economic development funding, environmental and water projects, higher education, state administration, justice, and information technology. Questions focused on school vouchers, inflationary pressures on school districts, and the adequacy of funding for housing, transportation, and other priorities.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • MPCA to issue separate permits for operation and construction.
  • </c><00:17:57.280><c> to</c> process with legislators and agencies to process with legislators and agencies
  • ><c> all</c><00:25:15.200><c> the</c><00:25:15.360><c> agencies</c> that's because of all the agencies
  • </c><00:25:52.440><c> and</c> between state and federal agencies and between state and federal agencies
  • </c> Wisconsin all have uh separate operating Wisconsin all have uh separate operating construction<00
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Education Finance Committee 2/13/25

Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Okay, the next spreadsheet is titled Federal Funds to MDE Attributed to Agency Operations.
  • Okay, the next spreadsheet is titled Federal Funds to MDE Attributed to Agency Operations.
  • Okay, the next spreadsheet is titled Federal Funds to MDE Attributed to Agency Operations.
  • Okay, the next spreadsheet is titled Federal Funds to MDE Attributed to Agency Operations.
  • Okay, the next spreadsheet is titled Federal Funds to MDE Attributed to Agency Operations.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/03/2026 - Senate Natural Resources

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • And we should be encouraging our federal regulators, like the Environmental Protection Agency, to be
  • I want more power to the people, not to the agencies. Thank you. All right. You know the drill?
  • ADEQ is neutral on Senate Bill 1279, but does note some agency concerns with the bill.
  • ADEQ is neutral on Senate Bill 1279, but does note some agency concerns with the bill.
  • I do also, though, hear the concerns from the agency, the burden to the agency that is not set up in
Bills: SB1005 , SB1202 , SB1278 , SB1279 , SB1280 , SB1287
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Jun 30th, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • a staffing agency.
  • One is the definition of staffing agency.
  • But does the agency have a time in which they have to respond? This is California agency, right?
  • I know the agency wouldn't love that.
  • The burden will be on local agencies or state agencies that they will have to be sure that their protocols
Committee: House Judiciary
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • The agency is primarily a pass-through.
  • There are no employees of the agency.
  • So, agency challenges.
  • And then some additional hospital operating funds.
  • The operation went off without a hitch.
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • South count for your operations?
  • I would like to continue to do that security operation.
  • That, of course, impacts military and operational readiness.
  • operation in the Caribbean?
  • Security Agency in executing your missions and how do you coordinate with these agencies and deconflict
Summary: In this meeting, key topics included national security concerns with an emphasis on threats from China, Russia, and transnational criminal organizations. Senior military officials provided testimony on the evolving risks posed by these adversaries, particularly focusing on cybersecurity and advancements in weaponry. The discussion highlighted the importance of a cohesive strategy among government departments to effectively respond to the challenges presented by these threats, emphasizing the need for modernization in defense capabilities. Committee members grilled the witnesses on border security and the implications of deploying military resources in domestic operations.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Agencies here in respectful opposition to AB 2630.
  • And two, be a responsible agency, which we have to count on and expect them to be a responsible agency
  • From some of the water agencies and some of the opposition that we heard from.
  • I just wanted to let you know that I was operating on retrospectively what happened.
  • , overseeing 500 officers and all law enforcement operations for the department.
Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills related to parks, wildlife, water, and veterans. AB 1592 would authorize the Department of Parks and Recreation to partner with the California Indian Heritage Center support organization; supporters said it would help move the long-planned center forward with Native-led governance. AB 2216 would expand the Delta Conservancy’s service area and update its authority to better support watershed-scale conservation, climate resilience, workforce, tribal grants, and related projects. AB 1702 would expand state parks access for veterans, National Guard, reservists, and active duty service members by broadening eligibility for the Distinguished Veterans Pass and creating a discounted parks pass. AB 1673 would allow county fish and game commissions to use certain revenues to reimburse sheriffs for fish and wildlife enforcement and wildlife-conflict prevention, especially in rural counties with limited state enforcement presence. The committee also considered AB 1912, which would allow archery deer hunters to carry concealed firearms while hunting, aligning deer hunting rules with those already in place for other big game archery hunts. Supporters argued it would improve hunter safety in remote areas without harming wildlife enforcement, while opponents were not present. AB 1987 would dedicate revenues generated from state wildlife areas back to those areas for operations, maintenance, and habitat management; supporters said the areas are underfunded and need a stable funding source. All of these bills received due pass recommendations and were later approved by the committee, with AB 2216 passing 11-1 and the others passing 12-0. The most contested measure was AB 2630, which would give the State Water Resources Control Board emergency-style authority to make measurement and reporting changes for water diversions and use, with a five-year sunset. The author and supporters said the board needs flexibility to update the CalWATRS reporting system quickly as technology and conditions change. Water agencies, farm groups, and business groups opposed the bill, arguing it would bypass public input and could allow repeated emergency regulations affecting compliance and operations. After extended debate, the committee passed AB 2630 on an 8-4 vote. The committee also approved two consent items, AB 1804 and AB 2260, both unanimously.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • We have a long list of agencies to hear from today, and we want to make sure that each agency, We have
  • a long list of agencies to hear from today, and we want to make sure that each agency is given sufficient
  • We would love to be able to work with executive agencies, partner agencies, her offices, and figure out
  • We're more of an oversight agency. We look strategically across all the agencies.
  • The critical role that our agency, in collaboration with other agencies across the state, has played
Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from Senate Chair Robyn Kennedy and House Chair Chynah Tyler, who emphasized that the fiscal year 2026 hearing was focused on the Health and Human Services budget, asked members to keep questions budget-related, and noted that no public testimony would be taken. They also highlighted the choice of Doherty Memorial High School as the venue to showcase Worcester’s investment in career and technical education. Committee members then introduced themselves before the first panel, the Executive Office of Veterans Services and the state veterans homes, began testimony. Secretary John Santiago said the governor’s FY26 proposal would support implementation of the HERO Act, which he said is now about 95% implemented, including higher disabled veteran annuities, expanded behavioral health benefits, and other service expansions. He described efforts to reduce veteran homelessness, including nearly $20 million in ARPA-funded housing and outreach initiatives, and said the agency has delivered more than 100,000 supportive services to nearly 8,500 veterans. Leaders from the Chelsea and Holyoke veterans homes reported on staffing, quality measures, electronic medical records, and major construction projects at both facilities, including a new Chelsea campus and the new Holyoke home. Members asked about funding transfers, geographic equity in access to the homes, outreach to women veterans and veterans of color, suicide prevention, Gold Star family support, and the impact of federal uncertainty; Santiago said the homes are now licensed and certified, that the current budget is sufficient, and that the agency is expanding engagement and data collection. The second panel, the Office of the Veteran Advocate, testified that its FY26 request is about $3.3 million, up from the current $2 million, to cover staffing, a larger office, and higher technology costs. Veteran Advocate Bob Notch said the office is a new independent oversight agency created in 2022 to examine systems, coordinate with local veteran service officers, and investigate fatalities or serious harm involving veterans in state care. He said the office’s work depends on research, data, and collaboration with other agencies, and that current funding is only enough for minimum operations. In response to questions, Notch and Deputy Commissioner David O’Callaghan discussed the difficulty of tracking veteran suicides, the need for better data across agencies, and the office’s role as an oversight body rather than a direct service provider. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Legislative Health and Human Services Sep 10th, 2025

Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • only operate two Pre-K classrooms.
  • Community-based programs operate only a single Pre-K classroom, and an additional third only operate
  • The agency is pushing hard to maximize federal funding.
  • operational funds to carry it.
  • What agency is it with? Healthcare Authority Department of Health.