Transcript Highlights:

• House File 3544, an act relating to veterans, the first engrossment.
• </c> position and preserves the veterans position and preserves the veterans deputy<00:11:04.079><c>
• , or MDVA, to collaborate with other organizations that support our state's veterans.
• </c><00:16:29.839><c> committees</c> the leaders of our veterans committees the leaders of our veterans
• </c> affordability crisis and many veterans affordability crisis and many veterans are<00:16:56.800><

Transcript Highlights:

• It expands the bill beyond veterans to first responders.
• Speaker, as a U.S. veteran, I rise in support of this bill.
• veterans, like, legitimately.
• We veterans take risks every day whenever we're serving.
• If you're for veterans, this is the bill.

Summary: The House first established a quorum after introductions of the Freedom of the Road Riders and Warsaw High School students. Members then took up House Bill 1855, a reporting bill on alpha-gal syndrome. The sponsor described the bill as a public health surveillance measure to add alpha-gal to Missouri’s reportable conditions, require lab reporting to the Department of Health and Senior Services, and send aggregated data to the CDC. Supporters said the bill would help identify hotspots, guide education and funding, and address a serious tick-borne condition affecting rural and urban Missourians alike. Opponents raised concerns about cost, false positives/negatives, and privacy, but the sponsor and others said the system would be HIPAA-compliant and de-identified at the federal level. Two amendments to HB 1855 were debated. An amendment changing the department’s follow-up authority from “may” to “shall” was adopted, with supporters arguing that if the legislature funds follow-up, the department should be required to do it. A second amendment creating an opt-in/opt-out consent process for reporting was rejected 41-10 after extensive debate over privacy, data collection, and whether consent would undermine disease surveillance. The House then adopted the House committee substitute for HB 1855 as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. The chamber next considered House Bills 2230 and 2978, a revised education measure aimed at reducing screen time in K-5 classrooms and encouraging handwriting and cursive instruction. The sponsor said the bill was based on research linking heavy screen use to poorer educational and behavioral outcomes, and supporters emphasized local control, parent access to screen-time policies, and the need to bring experts together through a state-level focus group. An amendment to exclude virtual school programs was adopted. The House then adopted the committee substitute for HB 2230 and 2978 as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House began debate on House Bill 2355, the Food Is Medicine Initiative. The sponsor said the bill would let Missouri use federal funds through 1115 waivers to pilot medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, nutrition counseling, and related interventions to improve health and lower Medicaid costs. Members generally supported the concept, citing food deserts and the benefits of better nutrition, but an amendment adding vitamin therapies and cleanup language prompted concern from one member about supplement quality and regulation; the transcript ends during that amendment discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• She was a psychiatric nurse for the Veterans Administration and dealt a lot with veterans and health
• Ending veteran homelessness is right within our grasp.
• Unhoused veterans off our streets and out of our shelters.
• This is one of the organizations that gets it and mentors veterans with veterans.
• And... ...of the organizations that gets it and mentors veterans with veterans.

Committees: House Government , House House Government Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• I have the opportunity to treat a lot of veterans through the Veterans Affairs recommendation.
• I have the opportunity to treat a lot of veterans through Veterans Affairs recommendation.
• I have the opportunity to treat a lot of veterans through Veterans Affairs recommendation.
• I have the opportunity to treat a lot of veterans through Veterans Affairs recommendation.
• 150 veterans may be homeless.

Committee: House State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• These veterans and the veterans' families and their children that live with what those veterans did overseas
• These veterans and the veterans family, the service of the veteran.
• These veterans and the veterans' families and their children that live with what those veterans did overseas
• I'm a combat veteran.
• I mean, certainly I appreciate wanting to honor our veterans. My husband is a veteran.

Committees: House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• veterans a real sense of purpose for everything they've done.
• veterans a real sense of purpose for everything they've done.
• Give our veterans a real sense of purpose for everything they've done.
• I'm a Marine Corps veteran. I'm also the chair of the Mayor's Advisory Council on Veteran Affairs.
• And I'm also a commissioner with the Louisiana Department of Veteran Affairs.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a United States Navy disabled veteran.
• The Department of Veterans Affairs carries out red flag policies on its veterans as seen in their patient
• Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, the Veterans Second Amendment Restoration Act, and Lauren Bobert
• That's minus DOD, but it's 20 veterans a day for overdose.
• Our customer, an elderly veteran, fell victim to fraudsters.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> soldiers, our airmen, our veterans, soldiers, our airmen, our veterans, families,<00:04:17.120>
• </c> veterans, and their families. veterans, and their families. legislation<00:08:17.360><c> that</c
• support military members and veterans through confidential and trauma-informed medical care.
• and veterans through military members and veterans through confidential<00:16:09.839><c> and</c><00:
• </c> needs of our military and our veterans. needs of our military and our veterans.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our next preference is a review of a state sales and use tax remittance for disabled veteran adapted
• Once a disabled veteran or service member receives one of the grants and pays state sales and use tax
• The Federal Veterans Administration has awarded 252 housing grants to disabled veterans in Washington
• It's capped at $125,000 per year and $2,500 per veteran per grant. That's what I missed.
• or does any veteran with any type of disability qualify?

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. After confirming a quorum, members unanimously elected Representative Pollet as chair, Senator Wagoner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary for the 2025-27 biennium. The committee also approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously. Chair Pollet then outlined a commitment to more member input on audit scope and coordination with the State Auditor’s Office. Staff presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreation boating programs. They reported that six agencies administer boating-related activities, that the state collected about $108 million in boating-related revenue in 2021-23, and that $86 million was spent, mostly on infrastructure and water access, environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff said Washington’s boating laws and programs are broadly similar to other states and noted that the final report is expected in September. JLARC then reviewed several tax preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction targets because fewer vessels and vehicles converted to natural gas than expected; staff recommended continuing some exemptions and modifying reporting requirements. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preference continues to provide tax relief, but large beneficiaries’ savings are rising while small beneficiaries’ use is declining, leading to recommendations to continue the small-business rate and add or revise performance metrics. Staff also reviewed a nonprofit low-income housing property tax exemption, concluding it helps developers build homes as intended but that the performance metric should better reflect housing outcomes; they recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify it. Other reviews covered multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for pesticides, and silicon smelter energy preferences, with recommendations ranging from continuation to expiration depending on whether the stated objectives were met. The committee then adopted the final cannabis market study for distribution. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that inaccurate and incomplete reporting limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate the market. The board said it concurs with the recommendations, including developing a plan for a new data system and considering broader social equity options. Finally, staff presented the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff said DOH was late on most acute-care hospital inspections, had not fully verified third-party inspection standards, and did not adequately review adverse event correction plans or assess language access barriers in its complaint system. DOH said it concurs with all six recommendations and has already made some transparency improvements, including a public dashboard for adverse event reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, the Committee on State, Veterans, and Military Affairs has had it under consideration, had
• President, the committee<00:22:55.200><c> on</c><00:22:55.360><c> state</c><00:22:55.600><c> veterans
• </c><00:22:55.840><c> and</c><00:22:56.000><c> military</c> committee on state veterans and military
• committee on state veterans and military affairs<00:22:56.559><c> has</c><00:22:56.720><c> had</c><00
• </c> appointed committee on state veterans appointed committee on state veterans and<00:23:39.600><c>

Transcript Highlights:

• So let's Sold to eligible military veterans and active duty service members.
• Department of Veterans Affairs Automotive Adaptive Grant Program.
• But as the direct beneficiary, the veteran is considered the buyer.
• Data provided by Veterans Affairs shows a similar downward trend, both in the number of Washington veterans
• receiving assistance from the federal program and in the total awards to in-state veterans.

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Transcript Highlights:

• So let's Sold to eligible military veterans and active duty service members.
• To claim this preference, a veteran must first receive financial assistance through the United States
• Department of Veterans Affairs Automotive Adaptive Grant Program.
• But as the direct beneficiary, the veteran is considered the buyer.
• Data provided by Veterans Affairs shows a similar downward trend, both for the number of Washington veterans

Committee: Joint Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences

Summary: The Citizen Commission for Performance Measurement of Tax Preferences met on August 4, 2026, with all five commissioners present. The commission approved the May 26, 2026 minutes, welcomed new commissioner Diane Tabilius, and re-elected Andy Knopfsiger Meadows as chair and Dr. Sharon Keiko as vice chair. JLARC staff also introduced two Evans School interns who are assisting with preliminary research for the 2027 review cycle. JLARC presented preliminary findings on seven tax preference reviews, focusing most heavily on the Main Street communities credit, the Equitable Access to Credit Program, and the urban data center exemption. Staff concluded that the Main Street preference has helped increase the number of communities and businesses and recommended continuing it, while also recommending that DAHP collect more detailed and standardized business-count data. The Equitable Access to Credit Program was found to support underserved communities and was also recommended for continuation. The urban data center exemption was found to have been used only for refurbishment projects, not new construction, and staff recommended letting it expire; commissioners and Representative Paulette discussed the need for better performance measures, cost-per-job analysis, and clearer legislative intent language in tax preference statements. Staff then reviewed airplane modification, landfill biogas, automotive adaptive equipment, and housing for people with developmental disabilities. The airplane modification preference was found to likely support jobs and state tax revenue and was recommended for continuation. The landfill biogas preference was also recommended for continuation, with a suggestion for more detailed reporting on use and renewable natural gas production. The automotive adaptive equipment exemption was found to continue providing relief to disabled veterans and service members and was recommended for continuation, while the housing transfer exemption for adults with developmental disabilities had not been used and was recommended to expire. No public testimony was taken at this meeting, and the commission noted that public testimony would be heard at its September meeting before final comments are adopted in October.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on to the veterans' property tax exemption...
• Moving on to the veterans' property tax exemption, it expands the disabled veteran property tax exemption
• We just crushed over a half a million veterans in this state.
• For doing that, we just crushed over a half a million veterans in this state.
• We're going to see an increase of veterans in this state.

Summary: The meeting covered a series of fiscal year 2027 budget and budget-related bills, beginning with the general appropriations and tax package. Staff and the chair highlighted a budget built around about $1.4 billion in tax cuts, a one-time 2.5% agency reduction, major funding for state employee health insurance, corrections, flood and wildfire relief, and other supplemental appropriations. The chair repeatedly urged support for the package, emphasizing the size of the tax cut and noting that the committee’s joint vote had only three no votes out of 28 members. Members then reviewed several smaller budget implementation bills affecting racing and gambling, capital outlay, commerce and defense innovation, corrections, environment and water policy, higher education, human services, K-12 education, county finance, tax administration, state data governance, and state office rent rates. Key provisions included extending or modifying funds and fee structures, transferring surplus or unneeded monies, creating or revising oversight boards and pilot programs, increasing K-12 funding by 2% for inflation, adjusting university retention limits, expanding SNAP and housing-related requirements, and changing tax conformity and credits. Several members asked clarifying questions about specific items such as electric vehicle charging funds, mobile home relocation payments, university funding, and the new health insurance oversight board. The chair also explained the tax bill’s major changes, including conformity to federal tax law, a larger dependent tax credit, changes to deductions, repeal of certain tax credits, veteran property tax relief, limits on data center tax incentives, and provisions affecting manufacturing infrastructure and unemployment insurance administration. The committee discussed the Budget Stabilization Fund, debt repayment, and education rollover balances, with the chair arguing for using surpluses to pay down debt. The final item discussed was a behavioral health bill creating a home and community-based services program for adults determined to be seriously mentally ill, with a stated FY 2027 total fund appropriation of $7.8 million contingent on federal approval and matching funds. The meeting ended with a reminder that floor action would begin the next day at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• This particular amendment is very specific to veterans' benefits, and I know it was introduced somewhat
• But the underlying bill doesn't say it excludes all veterans' compensation claims, as those veterans'
• and veterans who were exposed to different environmental toxins.
• So this is designed as cleanup to make it easier and more consistent for veterans of all eras to be able
• When we give relief to our seniors, our disabled, and our veterans, which is something we should do,

Summary: House Finance met in executive session on March 2 and reviewed a series of tax and property-tax bills. Staff described measures including removing acreage limits for nonprofit public assembly hall property tax exemptions (ESSB 5252), extending timber tax distributions to certain school districts (SB 5994), expanding housing-related local sales tax uses (SB 6027), updating Department of Revenue tax administration provisions (ESSB 6113), consolidating the state property tax levy and expanding senior/disabled exemptions (ESSB 6162), extending disaster-related property tax relief (SB 6343), rolling back 2025 estate tax changes (SB 6347), adding tribes to the Conservation Futures Program (SB 6097), and extending a hazardous substance tax exemption for agricultural crop protection products (SB 6244). Members also discussed several amendments, including changes to rental assistance, library and school tax treatment, veterans’ income definitions and application assistance, estate-tax exemption and CPI language, and reporting requirements for conservation futures land acquisitions. The committee adopted some amendments and rejected others. HRA 440 was adopted to allow rental assistance as an eligible use of the local sales tax revenue for all jurisdictions rather than only Snohomish County. On ESSB 6113, the committee adopted the striking amendment H-3718.2 but rejected amendments to exempt investigative services, live presentations for schools and nonprofits, and library-related exemptions. On ESSB 6162, amendments to modernize veterans’ benefit language, require DOR application assistance, and lower the levy rate were all rejected. On SB 6347, the committee adopted an amendment restoring the estate tax exclusion amount to 2.193 million and changing the CPI reference, while the broader bill was later reported out as amended. On SB 6097, an amendment requiring county reporting on conservation futures acquisitions was rejected. The committee then voted to report several bills out with do pass recommendations: ESSB 5252, SB 5994, ESSB 6027 as amended, ESSB 6113 as amended, ESSB 6162, SB 6343, SB 6097, and SB 6244. SB 6347 was reported out with a do pass as amended recommendation after the adopted amendment. Members generally framed the bills as providing tax relief, clarifying tax administration, supporting housing and schools, or extending existing exemptions, while some members raised concerns about fiscal impact, tax burden shifts, and the need for more accountability or broader policy changes. The meeting concluded with thanks to staff and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• These challenges are especially acute for veterans.
• Veterans who call Texas home, many of whom return from service with wounds that we simply cannot see.
• It's about honoring the service of our veterans with action.
• population and the non-veteran population that could benefit from this potential treatment.
• Ibogaine has helped these veterans? Absolutely. So.

Bills: SB128 , SB640 , SB672 , SB904 , SB1141 , SB1263 , SB1525 , SB1528 , SB2041 , SB2306 , SB2308 , SB2357 , SB2446 , SB2695 , SB2857 , SB2891 , SB2583

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• It expands the bill beyond veterans to first responders.
• It expands the bill beyond veterans to first responders.
• As a veteran, I simply want to say this plainly.
• We veterans take risks every day whenever we're serving.
• If you're for veterans, this is the bill.

Summary: The House first established a quorum after a quorum call and welcomed special guests, including the Freedom of the Road motorcycle riders and students from Warsaw High School. It then took up House Committee Substitute for House Bill 1855, a reporting bill on Alpha-Gal syndrome. The bill sponsor described the condition as a serious tick-borne allergy that has affected his family and many Missourians, arguing that Missouri needs mandatory reporting and surveillance data to identify hotspots, guide public health outreach, and support research and funding. Supporters from both parties said the bill would improve awareness and data collection, while one member raised concerns about the fiscal note and whether the state would get useful information for the cost. The chamber adopted Amendment 1 to HB 1855, changing the follow-up language from “may” to “shall,” but rejected Amendment 2, which would have required patient consent before lab results were reported into the surveillance system. Opponents of the consent amendment said it would undermine disease surveillance and set a bad precedent for other reportable conditions; supporters argued for privacy and individual choice. After debate, the House adopted the committee substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. The House then considered House Committee Substitute for House Bills 2230 and 2978, a K-5 education measure addressing screen time, cursive, and handwriting. The sponsor said the bill responds to research and parent/teacher concerns about excessive screen use, poor literacy outcomes, and mental health effects, and would create a state focus group to review evidence and make recommendations while leaving districts flexibility. Members discussed carve-outs for special education, English language learners, and virtual school, and adopted an amendment excluding the virtual school program. The House then adopted the substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed. Finally, the House took up House Bill 2355, the “Food is Medicine” initiative, which would allow Missouri to use federal funds through 1115 waivers for pilot programs such as medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, nutrition education, and related supports. Supporters said the program could improve health outcomes, reduce Medicaid spending, and help address food deserts. An amendment adding vitamin therapies and updating a date drew discussion over supplement safety and regulation, but the transcript cuts off before a final vote on that amendment or the bill itself.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:42:27.520><c> mental</c> General Martin steel veteran mental General Martin steel veteran mental
• I'm a 10-year Navy veteran. I'm also disabled.
• I'm a family nurse practitioner, a combat veteran, and a full-time caregiver.
• Trauma affects the veteran and the whole family. Healing does too.
• No veteran should have to leave their home to access life-saving care.

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several measures related to child welfare, health care access, overdose response, disability services, and waste management. For SB 710 on child welfare, the Department of Human Services, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, the Attorney General’s office, and multiple advocacy groups testified in support, with the Governor’s office noting support but deferring to the Attorney General on implementation because of separation-of-powers concerns. For SB 952 on child welfare services, DHS, the Governor’s office, and child- and trauma-informed care advocates supported the bill, saying it would help families access services, provide basic material support, and reduce strain on the child welfare system. SB 954 on a home health services rate study also drew support, including from DHS, the Hawaii Healthcare Association, and a public testifier who said the study would help ensure funds reach low-income, disabled, and kupuna recipients. SB 957 on overdose prevention received support from the Department of Health and the Attorney General, who said overdose prevention centers are evidence-based but raised federal-law concerns and recommended amendments; the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center and others also testified in support. The committee then moved to the 1:00 regular calendar and heard SB 850 on disability health disparity, which was supported by the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, self-advocates, and others. Testimony emphasized that a disparity study could improve workforce development, training, and services for people with disabilities. SB 838 on continuous glucose monitoring drew support from health agencies and advocates, with testimony stressing that monitors can be critical for some diabetes patients. SB 829 on health care was supported by the Department of Health and health care stakeholders, who said it would help rotating physicians serve neighbor islands without local hospital privileges and align with CMS rules. SB 446 on waste management drew mixed testimony: the Department of Health and several public entities provided comments, the County of Maui opposed, and environmental advocates urged stronger aquifer protections and limits on ash reuse. During decision making, the committee adopted recommendations to pass SB 298, SB 322, SB 299, SB 450, SB 451, SB 949, SB 710, SB 957, SB 69, and SD 952 with various amendments, including technical changes, blank appropriations, and defective dates. SB 323, SB 324, SB 712, SB 950, SB 954, and SB 959 were deferred, largely because companion House measures were moving or similar Senate measures had already passed. The chair also announced recesses to find quorum and noted that some bills from the earlier Monday calendar were being deferred to avoid duplication.

Transcript Highlights:

• Regarding the issue of veterans, as a veteran, I'm particularly offended.
• I want to say one thing on the veterans.
• As a veteran, this is my question: What are the uses that veterans seek, and what is the argument regarding
• Veterans are one.
• I am a veteran of a foreign war and a veteran of the Texas Army National Guard.

Bills: SB5 , SB11 , SB12 , SB 5 , SB 11 , SB 12

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• An example would be last year a veteran died and left $3 million to the ODBA, or I'm sorry, the Oklahoma
• It passed out of Veterans Committee unanimously.
• It would just require that businesses of a certain size post information about veterans' benefits in
• And this change would make these veterans eligible to receive state-level benefits that Oklahoma offers
• to 100% disabled veterans.

Bills: HB3043 , HB3044 , HB3078 , HB3940 , HB4117 , HB3428 , HB4275 , HB3257 , HB3901 , HB4298

Committee: House Health and Human Services Oversight

Summary: The Health and Human Services Oversight Committee opened with prayer and then heard a series of bills, most of them request bills from state agencies or related to veterans and military matters. House Bill 3043 would let the Oklahoma Dental Board Association hire temporary or PRN workers during peak periods; it passed 11-1. House Bill 3044 would continue an existing tax-return checkoff for donations and passed 12-0. House Bill 3078 would create an online donation option for the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs during license and tax transactions and passed 12-0. House Bill 3940 made a number of cleanup and policy changes to a prior Oklahoma National Guard measure, including retention, benefits, discipline, museum operations, and state active duty pay issues; it passed 11-0. House Bill 4117 would define family resource centers in statute and emphasize faith-based partnerships, workforce development, and braided funding; it passed 12-0. The committee also advanced House Bill 3428, which would require certain businesses to post information about veterans’ benefits in a conspicuous place to help more eligible veterans enroll in benefits; members discussed raising the employee threshold from 50 to 100, but no amendment was adopted during the meeting, and the bill passed 10-2. House Bill 4275 would allow counties and cities to employ case managers and peer support specialists while maintaining certification, to support sheriffs and first responders, and it passed 12-0. House Bill 3257 would treat 100% disabilities caused by VA medical malpractice as service-connected for state benefit purposes, aligning state law with federal treatment, and it passed 12-0. Two public health bills also advanced. House Bill 3901 would authorize psychological autopsies in suicide and overdose cases to better understand causes and improve prevention; members discussed whether the process should include notifying prescribing physicians when patients die from opioid overdoses, and the bill passed 12-0. House Bill 4298 would allow DHS child care rule changes to be distributed by mail and electronically, reflecting current practice, and it passed 12-0. The committee adjourned after reporting all measures do pass.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Veterans Affairs also does it.
• The Department of Veterans Affairs also does it. It took a village.
• For a lot of years, I served as a veteran in the United States Army as a physician.
• The Veterans Administration did that same thing in 2016.
• The Veterans Administration did that same thing in 2016.

Bills: SB2 , SJR36 , SB2 , SB2 , SR29 , SB2