Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, community expansion. And then... The mill, I can't— that's skipping my mind.
• Oh, community expansion. And then you've got the beginning farmer loan program.
• Oh, community expansion. and then. The million, I can that's skipping my mind.
• Oh, community expansion. And then, uh, you got beginning farmer loan program.
• “Purchase of property, expansion of facilities, working capital, and inventory.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2014, the budget for the Industrial Commission, with Representative Kempenich walking through the agency’s major components: the administrative office, Bank of North Dakota, housing finance, Department of Mineral Resources, and the State Mill and Elevator. He described mostly special-fund operations, including bond payments, economic development programs, the rail loan program, the Rebuilder’s Loan Program, housing incentive funding, abandoned well reclamation work, lignite research, litigation reserves, and a capacity purchase arrangement for a future natural gas pipeline. He also explained several one-time funding items, such as grid resiliency grants, housing-related transfers from the Strategic Investment Fund, and enhanced oil recovery funding repurposed from a prior salt cavern study. Members asked about the reduction in housing incentive funding from the Senate version, the use of one-time Strategic Investment Fund dollars for ongoing housing programs, and whether a trigger should be added to increase housing funding later. Kempenich said no trigger was discussed and emphasized that housing needs vary widely across the state. Another exchange focused on the enhanced oil recovery grant program, which he said would be driven largely by the Energy and Environmental Research Center and would use repurposed funds. A longer discussion covered the natural gas pipeline capacity purchase, including its purpose, possible routes, and the idea that the state would be buying capacity rather than immediately building a pipeline. The committee adopted Amendment 25.0181.0207 on a 21-1 vote, with one member absent and not voting. The committee then passed HB 2014 as amended on a 21-1 vote, with one member absent and not voting. Representative Kempenich was designated to carry the bill. The chair then noted this was the final budget hearing for the committee, with one bill remaining to be heard later.

Transcript Highlights:

• In our state today, that is roughly 600,000 adults who are eligible for that expansion population and
• , in addition to the new eligibility requirement of work requirements, the adult population, the expansion
• Some examples include postpartum expansion, which covers additional health services up to one year after
• Postpartum expansion is still relatively new.
• Postpartum expansion is still relatively new. and seeking care.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee met on July 30, 2026, to hear two main briefings. The first, from the Health Care Authority, focused on implementation of federal H.R. 1 Medicaid changes and Washington’s rural health transformation funding. HCA said the state is preparing for major eligibility changes, including the October 1 loss of Medicaid coverage for about 14,000 lawfully present non-citizens and January 1, 2027 work requirements, six-month renewals, and reduced retroactive coverage for roughly 600,000 Medicaid expansion adults. Officials described outreach efforts, new automated verification systems, a verification hub, and plans to use available data sources to reduce manual paperwork, while noting that about one-third of the affected population may still need manual processing. They also said H.R. 1 will limit state-directed payments over time, with an estimated long-term impact of up to $1.5 billion in hospital reimbursements. On rural health transformation, HCA said it is moving quickly to obligate its $181 million federal award through contracts and competitive grants for rural hospitals, workforce, behavioral health, technology, and tribal and community partners. Committee members asked about the impact on rural providers, community service as a work-requirement pathway, emergency Medicaid, tribal and federal reimbursement issues, and whether the state would submit comments on the federal work-requirement rule. HCA said it would file comments, that emergency Medicaid coverage for certain services remains available, and that it is working with tribes and other agencies to avoid erroneous terminations and to move eligible people into other coverage where possible. Members also raised concerns about the administrative burden on families and providers and the need for congressional attention on issues such as TRICARE reimbursement. The second briefing addressed maternal health and the Department of Health’s Maternal Mortality Review Panel report. DOH said maternal mortality in Washington increased for the first time in the report series, but most pregnancy-related deaths remain preventable. Nearly half were linked to behavioral health conditions, especially overdose deaths, with suicide, cardiovascular disease, and COVID-19 also significant causes; most deaths occurred postpartum rather than during delivery. The report found higher mortality rates among American Indian and Alaska Native, Black, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, multiracial, rural, and Medicaid-covered populations, and identified lack of access to care, financial hardship, housing instability, discrimination, bias, and systemic inequities as major contributors. DOH highlighted existing state actions such as one-year postpartum coverage, doula reimbursement, inpatient substance use treatment coverage for birthing people, and vaccine coverage requirements, and offered 12 legislative recommendations focused on affordable and high-quality care, basic needs and community supports, and equitable, culturally responsive services. Presenters from the Suquamish Tribe and Kitsap OBGYN described how the tribe acquired and stabilized a threatened OB-GYN practice to preserve regional access amid provider shortages and hospital service losses. They said rural obstetric care is difficult to sustain because of thin margins, workforce shortages, long travel distances, and higher-risk patients, and emphasized that tribal health systems can offer stronger reimbursement and integrated family-centered care. The Foundation for Healthcare Quality and the Bree Collaborative then outlined statewide maternity-care quality efforts, including work on perinatal behavioral health, care coordination, postpartum screening, doula support, and better-aligned payment models. They said Washington has strengths in innovation but still needs more OB-GYN capacity, better transitions of care, and more culturally responsive, trauma-informed maternal and Native health services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's look at a jail expansion.
• So you take a county that has a jail tax or expansion, and it's going to cost $14 million.
• But I will say that you made the example about jail expansion in a lot of counties.
• If you look at the percentages, we did Medicaid expansion.
• And if you look at, because of the expansion of LEARNS, we are giving three in four years.

Committee: All HOUSE RULES

Summary: The committee first considered House Resolution 1016, which would have allowed introduction of a bill by Representative Richmond addressing disclosure and restrictions for certain real-estate arrangements where buyers purchase interests in entities rather than direct ownership of property. Richmond said the measure was aimed at transparency, consumer protection, and preventing private tribunals or discriminatory practices, while several members questioned whether it would affect homeowners associations, hunting clubs, arbitration clauses, or duplicate existing law. After discussion, the committee voted down the resolution. House Resolution 1006, sponsored by Representative Schultz, proposed increasing the Homestead Tax Credit by $75, from $600 to $675, using a fund created by Amendment 79 and supported by sales tax revenue. Schultz argued the fund could support the increase now and that families needed relief amid high prices. The committee approved the resolution. The committee then heard House Resolution 1007, presented by Senator King and Representative Eaton, which sought to change how turnback funds are distributed to counties, with a focus on giving counties more predictable annual funding for roads, jails, water, sewer, public safety, and other infrastructure. Members raised concerns about taking $150 million off the top of sales tax revenue and about whether the bill should be handled through budget language instead; the resolution failed. House Resolution 1008, by Representative Wooten and Senator King, would have amended the LEARNS education program to reduce costs, limit or change eligibility, and add performance-based requirements and reporting for certain school-choice funding. Supporters said the program was financially unsustainable and needed accountability, while opponents argued the proposal would create larger problems and that the issue should be handled in the regular session. The resolution failed after a point of order prevented reading a supporting letter into the record. Finally, House Resolution 1009 and House Resolution 1013, both tied to Senator Bryant’s proposals on local control over crypto mines and data centers, were discussed together with testimony about water use, energy demand, and local opposition; both failed. House Resolution 1015, which would have amended the IDEA economic-development bill to remove eminent domain authority and address board accountability, also failed after members said more concerns remained to be worked out.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is traditionally what we consider our Medicaid expansion population.
• The current caseload that it applies to is really that Medicaid expansion caseload, which is about 620,000
• Average monthly caseloads are forecasted for the expansion population specifically to be about 64,000
• So this is specific to the Medicaid expansion population.
• Most of that is federal, though, because of the 90-10 match we get on that expansion population.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a work session covering juvenile rehabilitation system capacity, behavioral health capacity, federal funding changes, and a 2026 budget overview. DCYF officials said the juvenile rehabilitation population is older, includes more adult-sentenced youth and post-25 residents, and is projected to keep growing, creating crowding at Green Hill School and placement limits across the system. They described safe operating capacity concerns, staffing turnover, mental health acuity, and the need for additional medium-security and specialized mental health beds, including a proposed Parkland facility and continued development of Harbor Heights. Committee members were told to follow up separately with questions, and the presentation moved on due to time. Behavioral health officials from DSHS and HCA then reviewed forensic and civil capacity. DSHS described expanding state hospital and civil treatment capacity through Olympic Heritage, Maple Lane, Brockman Campus, and a new 350-bed forensic hospital at Western State, while noting ongoing construction, staffing, and funding issues. HCA outlined its strategy to move long-term civil commitment care into community settings through contracted long-term civil commitment beds, intensive behavioral health treatment facilities, PACT teams, and intensive residential treatment teams. Members asked about out-of-state placements, Medicaid funding, and the differences among facility types; officials said the goal is to right-size inpatient capacity while expanding community-based supports. OFM then presented an update on federal funding and the effects of H.R. 1 and H.R. 5371. Agency staff said H.R. 1 would tighten SNAP work requirements, reduce exemptions, shift some lawful immigrants to state-funded food assistance, increase state administrative and benefit costs, and affect Medicaid eligibility, redeterminations, cost sharing, and state-directed payments. HCA estimated major Medicaid caseload reductions and significant future fiscal impacts, while OFM also noted marketplace subsidy changes and higher education and K-12 downstream effects. H.R. 5371 was described as a short-term federal funding extension through January 30, 2026, with some full-year appropriations and a change affecting hemp producers. Finally, Mary Monroe gave a 2026 supplemental budget preview, citing declining NGFO revenue forecasts, reversions, vetoes, and the added uncertainty from H.R. 1, with the projected ending fund balance moving from positive amounts to a negative outlook over the four-year period.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is traditional what we consider our Medicaid expansion population.
• Average monthly caseloads are forecasted for the expansion population specifically to be about 64,000
• Average monthly caseloads are forecasted for the expansion population specifically to be about $64,000
• So this is specific to the Medicaid expansion population.
• Most of that is federal, though, because of the 90-10 match we get on that expansion population.

Summary: The committee held a work session focused first on juvenile rehabilitation system capacity. DCYF officials said the juvenile rehabilitation population is older, includes more adult-sentenced youth, and has longer lengths of stay, especially for “post-25” youth who must remain in secure facilities and cannot go to community beds. They described overcrowding at Green Hill School, placement limits at Echo Glen and Harbor Heights, staffing turnover, mental health acuity, and the need for more medium-security and specialized mental health beds. DCYF said it is pursuing a Parkland facility proposal, a staffing model decision package, and a broader feasibility study and master plan update. No votes were taken; members were asked to follow up with questions later. The committee then heard on behavioral health system capacity from the Behavioral Health Administration and the Health Care Authority. DSHS described growth in forensic and civil bed need, expansion at Olympic Heritage, Maple Lane, and Brockman, and construction of a new 350-bed forensic hospital at Western State expected to open in 2028. HCA reported progress on long-term civil commitment beds, intensive behavioral health treatment facilities, PACT teams, and intensive residential treatment teams, saying the community-based system is being expanded to support step-down care and reduce hospital reliance. Members asked about whether capacity is right-sized, the difference between facility types, and federal match eligibility for services. A federal funding update followed, covering the effects of H.R. 1 and H.R. 5371 on SNAP, Medicaid, marketplace coverage, long-term services and supports, K-12, higher education, and hemp regulation. OFM and agency staff said H.R. 1 adds work requirements, changes non-citizen eligibility, increases state administrative and benefit costs, reduces Medicaid and marketplace subsidies for some groups, tightens redeterminations, and may significantly affect provider payments and state-directed payments. H.R. 5371 extended federal funding through January 30, 2026 and included some agency appropriations and other provisions, including changes affecting hemp producers. Members asked about SNAP error rates and special enrollment periods. Finally, budget coordinator Mary Monroe gave a 2026 supplemental budget preview. She reviewed the state’s near general fund outlook, noting revenue declines since the enacted budget, the effect of reversions, and a preliminary maintenance-level outlook showing a projected increase in NGFO spending over the four-year period. She said the supplemental will reflect updated caseload and cost forecasts and mandatory impacts from H.R. 1, but not policy proposals. No actions or votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is a clarification, not an expansion of powers.
• Texas is certainly ripe for container market expansion.
• It's just north of downtown, and TxDOT is going through this big expansion of I-35.
• Facing significant disruption due to the planned I-35 expansion.
• This billboard was removed earlier this year to make way for the highway expansion.

Bills: HB341 , HB791 , HB1564 , HB1695 , HB1722 , HB1729 , HB1772 , HB2003 , HB2954 , HB2989 , HB3084 , HB3134 , HB3135 , HB3309 , HB3611 , HB3679 , HB3727 , HB3832

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, HB 791, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, specialty license plate, specialty plates

Transcript Highlights:

• So this bill represents a substantial expansion of the Attorney General's power and authority, seeking
• This is a dramatic expansion of the Attorney General's power.
• Another good amendment designed to narrow the sweep of this otherwise broad expanse of the Office of
• of the Attorney General’s power, a significant expansion, with regard to these specified areas under
• of executive power... ...expansion of executive power for a partisan elected official.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB5831 , SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6137 , HB2689 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5957 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6011 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002

Summary: The House took up a series of Senate bills and moved most of them quickly to third reading and final passage, often suspending the rules and adopting committee amendments without objection. Early action included Senate Bill 5944, which addresses compensation for interpreters working for L&I when appointments are canceled or missed; it passed 86-10. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5837, dealing with guardianship and supported decision-making, drew debate over a new right to counsel in guardianship cases and concerns about expanding civil legal obligations, but it passed 73-23. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6197, a plumbers enforcement/discipline measure tied to task force work on wages and the underground economy, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6019, fixing a loophole in home care worker parity law, also passed unanimously, as did Senate Bill 6011, which extends authority for Court of Appeals bailiffs to assess threats against judges and staff, though members noted concerns about access to non-conviction data. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6058, aimed at improving Labor and Industries’ ability to address wage theft complaints and backlog, passed 96-0 after House amendments. Substitute Senate Bill 5923, allowing an island hospital in Skagit County to become a critical access hospital, passed 96-0 amid support for rural health care. Senate Bill 5994, which changes how timber tax revenue is distributed so school districts are not penalized when levies fail, also passed 96-0. Substitute Senate Bill 6076, streamlining public utility district procurement and raising spending thresholds, passed 95-1 after a capital budget amendment. The House then moved to second reading of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5925, a major bill expanding the Attorney General’s authority to issue civil investigative demands in constitutional and discrimination-related matters. The bill prompted extensive debate over civil liberties, due process, and the potential for government overreach. Amendment 2160, which would have required clear and convincing evidence before a CID could issue, was rejected 38-48. Amendment 2149, creating a right to cure before a CID, was also rejected. Amendment 2150, requiring assistant attorney general approval and a reasonable suspicion standard, failed 38-48. Amendment 2151, requiring the Attorney General personally to approve CIDs in writing, failed as well. However, several narrowing amendments were adopted, including limits on scope and relevance (2288), a prohibition on CIDs to federal agencies (2289), a ban on sharing CID-derived information for criminal law enforcement purposes (2290), and a requirement that the Attorney General’s office consult with other agencies in certain overlapping investigations (2154 was rejected, but later amendments continued). Other proposed protections, such as fee-shifting for successful CID challenges and reimbursement when a CID produces no action, were debated at length but not adopted in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:26:45.840><c> of</c> attachments to expedite expansion of attachments to expedite expansion of
• And we realized then how important the expansion of broadband was to each and everybody, you know, the
• And we realized then how important the expansion of broadband was to each and everybody, you know, the
• At the same time, in fact I'm working on a case right now where I..." the expansion of broadband was
• Well, that is an expansion of the commission's jurisdiction over two entities that currently it does

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met in August with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee then reviewed several regulations, generally adopting staff-suggested amendments without objection, and heard brief explanations from agency representatives on each item. The Board of Pharmacy regulations would clarify what registered and certified pharmacy technicians may do under supervision and what certified technicians may not do, while updating registration applications. The Board of Cosmetology package included changes to executive director authority, licensure and reciprocity rules, school requirements, training hours, instructor ratios, sanitation and disease-related rules, complaint procedures, and permit terms; members asked about straight razor language and the increase in student-to-instructor ratios, and the board explained that cosmetologists are not permitted to use straight razors and that the higher ratio was intended to give schools flexibility, especially for part-time students and schools with wait lists. The Occupational Therapy emergency compact regulation added four compact rules adopted in April 2025, and Senator West raised a technical question about certification requirements under House Bill 6; the agency said it had been instructed to file the regulation as submitted. The Department for Fish and Wildlife Resources presented a package covering wildlife management area rules, a northern pintail bag limit increase, reportable disease reporting, and a repeal tied to boat registration fees. After a brief explanation of the new wildlife disease reporting rule, the agency requested and received a deferral of 301 KAR 2:031 to avoid a gap while replacement language is finalized. The Economic Development Finance Authority explained an emergency regulation for the Kentucky Entertainment Incentive Program, saying it was needed because the program had become oversubscribed and because administration was shifting to a new film office and council; members also asked about certification issues under House Bill 6, and the agency said it had filed the regulation as directed. The Department of Workplace Standards emergency PPE regulation was also discussed, with members asking about HB 6 certification language, and the agency gave the same response. The Department of Insurance regulation would create a $10,000 registration fee and a $1,000 annual licensing fee for pharmacy benefit manager licenses, with an agency amendment exempting PBMs that solely serve workers’ compensation plans. Members asked how many PBMs would be affected and why workers’ compensation PBMs were carved out; the agency said there were 70 registered PBMs total, four solely workers’ comp, and that workers’ comp rates are set by statute and could not absorb the fee. Finally, the Public Service Commission’s pole attachment regulation was summarized as a broadband-expansion measure that speeds application review, increases the number of poles allowed in a single application, and shortens dispute timelines; the commission explained it grew out of earlier legislative direction and subsequent emergency amendments, and the committee adopted the staff amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is going to be an expansion of it, but that is not going to be finished until 2033.
• Fortune 500 companies and global industries that are eyeing Texas, especially Central Texas, for expansion
• The expansion that is on the horizon is limitless, and by virtue of taking this bill forward, it's going
• So I think if we have the will here in Texas to do it, we could finish this before I-35's expansion from

Keywords: House Bill 483, high-speed rail, transportation network, Texas, public testimony, rail connectivity, economic development

Summary: The meeting was a press event in support of House Bill 483 and its Senate companion, SB 424, which would repeal the current state ban on high-speed rail investment and direct TxDOT to partner with a private entity to develop a Dallas-Austin-San Antonio rail line along the I-35 corridor. Rep. John Bucy, County Judge Andy Brown, Rep. Rafael Anchia, Rep. Ray Lopez, and Sen. Sarah Eckhardt all argued that Texas’ population growth and highway congestion make passenger rail a necessary transportation alternative and a long-term economic development tool. They emphasized benefits such as reduced commute times, improved mobility, lower congestion and emissions, stronger workforce access, and better connections between major metro areas. Testimony focused on the Texas Triangle as a strong candidate for high-speed rail because of its population density, flat geography, and existing growth patterns. Speakers cited examples from other places, including Florida’s Brightline and rail systems in other countries, to argue that Texas is behind and could catch up through public-private partnerships. They also discussed transit-oriented development, last-mile connections through local systems like DART and Austin’s Project Connect, and the possibility of future expansion beyond the initial corridor. In response to questions, Bucy said the bill would allow TxDOT to seek bids and keep costs flexible, that the line would likely require dedicated high-speed track, and that express service could reduce Austin-San Antonio travel time to roughly 30 minutes and Austin-Dallas to under an hour and a half, though no launch date was set. No formal vote or committee action was taken in the transcript. The event ended with Bucy saying the bill was a positive step and could become a bipartisan effort to build a more connected Texas.

Transcript Highlights:

• is the expansion at MCF Rush<01:25:36.800><c> City.
• Investments and expansion or improvements will be used for decades to come.
• will</c><01:27:31.840><c> be</c><01:27:32.000><c> used</c> expansion or improvements will be used expansion
• Sartell, obviously, supporting the Niron magnetic expansion with some infrastructure.
• expansion expansion uh<02:01:59.199><c> with</c><02:01:59.440><c> some</c><02:01:59.679><c> infrastructure

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• And with the knowledge that our friends on the other side of the wall are moving forward with an expansion
• And with the knowledge that our friends on the other side of the wall are moving forward with an expansion
• And with the knowledge that our friends on the other side of the wall are moving forward with an expansion
• And with the knowledge that our friends on the other side of the wall are moving forward with an expansion
• And with the knowledge that our friends on the other side of the wall are moving forward with an expansion

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 241, which would provide information about alternative pain treatments rather than mandate services. Members cited support from the prime sponsor, medical organizations, insurers, and other stakeholders, and noted there was no fiscal impact. The committee voted unanimously, 7-0, to ought to pass the bill. It then took up House Bill 629, which raises a boat decal fee and dedicates the revenue to the dam maintenance fund. Members described the state’s deteriorating dam infrastructure, noting the large number of dams, the high-hazard sites, and the much larger funding need, while saying the bill would provide only a modest start. They also said boat owners generally did not strongly object to the fee. The committee voted 7-0 to ought to pass. House Bill 1042, concerning an increase in the unified contingent credit limit for New Hampshire Business Finance Authority projects, drew more divided discussion. Supporters said the higher cap would provide needed flexibility and liquidity for business development and that the state treasurer and BFA had explained the credit structure and low historical loss rate; opponents warned the increase would raise state exposure too much, too soon. After debate, the chair postponed the bill, then later returned with an amendment lowering the proposed limit from 450 million to 400 million, which the committee adopted unanimously. The committee then moved to ought to pass as amended. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 1411, which would have allowed withholding payments to the federal government in response to federal actions. Members opposing the bill argued that withholding employee-related funds would be unlawful and ineffective, while supporters said it could serve as a statement and suggested interim study instead. The committee rejected the bill on a 4-3 vote and voted to inexpedient to legislate.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, I want to focus on the Community Care Expansion, or CCE.
• Community Care Expansion is a program that... ...or CCE.
• The first is the capital expansion program, which funds expansion of housing and care with supportive
• First, for CCE capital expansion, we have now awarded all $570 million in our local communities, and
• I'm also here to support the ADRC expansion as well. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittees held a joint hearing on older adults and long-term care supports and services, with members and witnesses focusing on the growing “forgotten/overlooked middle” of Californians who are too wealthy for Medi-Cal but unable to afford long-term services and supports (LTSS). Administration witnesses from DHCS and the Department of Aging described Medicare’s limited long-term care coverage, Medi-Cal’s role for low-income residents, and ongoing state work on LTSS financing, including a 2024 financing initiative and a final report due in 2026. Testimony emphasized rising costs, caregiver shortages, homelessness among older adults, and the need to preserve home- and community-based services to avoid more expensive institutional care. Several advocates urged immediate action, especially Medi-Cal share-of-cost reform, housing supports, and protection of HCBS funding. Members asked for the most urgent budget priorities and were told to focus on share-of-cost reform and assisted-living rate protections, along with broader system navigation and caregiver support. The committee also heard testimony on the Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program. CDA reported that CBAS serves about 42,000 participants through 304 centers, with demand generally stable but geographic gaps in some regions and staffing challenges after the pandemic. DHCS explained a rate-setting issue: a 10% CBAS rate increase had been mistakenly posted on the Medi-Cal fee schedule in 2024, and while Proposition 35 later made the targeted SB 159 rate increase inoperative, DHCS said any repayment by managed care plans would depend on contract terms and the department would not require clawbacks. CBAS providers and advocates warned that the program is in a financial crisis, with six center closures since June 2024, and requested $74.8 million ongoing General Fund to close about half the gap between current reimbursement and costs. Members expressed concern that clawbacks could accelerate closures and noted the program’s role in preventing institutionalization and supporting family caregivers. In the final panel, CDSS presented on In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider recruitment and retention and on the AB 102 statewide bargaining report. CDSS said the IHSS Career Pathways program has concluded successfully, with more than 59,000 providers completing training, and that the AB 102 report—based on workgroup meetings and consultant analysis—will be sent to the Legislature shortly. The department said the workgroup viewed statewide bargaining as more viable than regional bargaining, but identified major issues around consumer participation, county fiscal impacts, administrative responsibilities, and the need to define bargaining scope in statute. CDSS estimated that each $1 per hour statewide wage increase would cost at least $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion annually. Provider unions supported statewide bargaining, arguing it would improve wages, benefits, and workforce stability, while county representatives said any statewide model should preserve consumer focus, protect county finances and realignment funds, and keep core administrative functions with local public authorities. The hearing concluded without votes, with members requesting additional follow-up information and urging continued engagement ahead of the May revise.

Transcript Highlights:

• I understand there are amendments being taken on the expansion of the electioneering boundary from 100
• I understand there are amendments being taken on the expansion of the electioneering boundary from 100
• Any expansion should be evidence-based, locally tailored, and fully funded.
• First, we want to be sure that we are focused on, in addition to expansion, eliminating the inequitable
• Third, we'd like to define better the petitioner... ...support expansion to new languages.

Committee: Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments

Transcript Highlights:

• particular the county commissioners in Jefferson County, they pointed out that for the intended expansion
• particular the county commissioners in Jefferson County, they pointed out that for the intended expansion
• of middle housing and lamards, and pointed out that for the intended expansion of middle housing and
• House Bill 2269 does strike a thoughtful balance between housing expansion and local plan authority.

Summary: The Housing Committee opened its 2026 session with introductions and brief remarks from members, with Chair Peterson noting a light workload and inviting members to submit bills and ideas for future work sessions. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2269, which would narrow last year’s middle-housing authority in limited areas of more intensive rural development to rural counties, while leaving urban growth area authority unchanged. The bill also clarifies that these developments may be served by publicly owned sanitary sewer systems and expands allowable wastewater systems to include large on-site sewage systems; the sponsor said a technical amendment would remove an unintended restriction on urban counties. Representative Bernbaum said the bill was developed over the interim with Representative Engell, Futurewise, and WASAC to address ambiguity from last year’s middle-housing law, especially for small counties like Jefferson County that may need large on-site septic systems. Testimony in support came from Anthony Mixer, the Washington State Association of County Regional Planning Directors, the Association of Washington Business, the Building Industry Association of Washington, and Futurewise, all of whom said the bill would add housing flexibility, support local planning, and help address affordability and supply shortages. Futurewise and committee members discussed the difference between individual septic systems and large on-site systems, with questions about state versus local oversight and flood-prone areas. Members also asked how the bill relates to prior middle-housing legislation, including House Bill 1110 and last year’s engrossed substitute 5471, and whether it would work alongside a separate rural ADU bill. The hearing closed without a vote or other action taken on the bill, and the committee adjourned after the testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Third, we can create what the pending resources we'll have in the CFAP expansion, the ability for CalSAWS
• to provide a state benefit CFP expansion, the ability for CalSAWS to provide a state benefit to those
• Clients, or excuse me, counties after this expansion to apply it to all household members.
• The Truve tool will roll out in fall of 2026 as well as the Work Number expansion.
• I'm going to provide responses to the questions related to CFAP expansion on behalf of CDSS and OTSI.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so what we're really trying to do is line up our re-certifications for the Medicaid expansion, which
• array of services that are non-traditional and approach pain not looking at pain relief from a pharmaceutical

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• additional funding source that helps municipal and governmental entities to finance key airport expansion
• additional funding source that helps municipal and governmental entities. to finance key airport expansion
• businesses, restricts mobility, and increases commuting costs due to COVID-19. ... to toll-only expansions
• HB5347 ensures that Texans' access is not restricted with toll-only route expansion. Thank you, Mr.

Bills: HB483 , HB3345 , HB3643 , HB3821 , HB3849 , HB4472 , HB4523 , HB4524 , HB5346 , HB5347 , HB5376

Committee: House S/C on Transportation Funding

Keywords: high-speed rail, Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, public-private partnership, comprehensive development agreement, CDA, Interstate 35, I-35 corridor, Dallas, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, intercity passenger rail, rail infrastructure, private entity, transportation infrastructure, rail corridor, passenger rail, infrastructure finance, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• move on to House Bill 1531, appropriation of the Agriculture Commissioner to conduct an irrigation expansion
• And so we just want some current data to back up the support for irrigation expansion. ...back up the
• support for irrigation expansion.
• There's a tremendous opportunity in northwest North Dakota for irrigation expansion, and then continued

Bills: SB2271 , HB1216

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and took up three bills. House Bill 1216, dealing with prescription drug expense co-pay accumulators in health plans, was presented by Rep. Karen Carl’s, who explained it would prevent insurers from refusing to count third-party assistance toward deductibles for patients using high-cost, non-generic drugs. An amendment was offered to clarify effective dates, including a delayed January 1, 2026 start for PERS coverage. PERS testified that the amendment would align with its calendar-year benefit structure and likely reduce the fiscal note. The amendment was adopted 16-0, and the bill was set aside for further discussion later. House Bill 1199, creating a criminal justice data-sharing system and missing persons/missing Indigenous people task force, was introduced with a committee amendment changing the Attorney General reference to the Attorney General or designee. The committee noted the bill includes a $250,000 general fund appropriation for ongoing costs. The amendment passed 16-0, and the amended bill received a do pass recommendation by a 15-1 vote, with one no vote from Senator Magrum. House Bill 1531, appropriating $75,000 for an irrigation expansion study by the Agriculture Commissioner, was supported as a way to update older economic-impact studies on irrigation and assess opportunities for expansion. Members discussed its relationship to broader study pauses and the history of irrigation development in the state, including Garrison Diversion and remaining authorized acres. The bill passed 16-0. The committee then discussed scheduling for the coming week, noting a heavy bill load and plans for daily morning meetings before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• State University when it comes to funding, I believe, in the University of Oklahoma's case, is an expansion
• on Oklahoma State University, also, so you have Price at OU, and then you also have a dormitory expansion
• Oklahoma's case, when it comes to funding, I believe in the University of Oklahoma's case, is an expansion
• on Oklahoma State University, also, so you have Price at OU, and then you also have a dormitory expansion
• , both of them in totality adding up to about $40 million, formatory expansion, both of them being in

Bills: SB1177

Committee: House Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget

Summary: The Joint Appropriations and Budget Committee took up Senate Bill 1177, the main budget bill, and first adopted the committee substitute as the working version. Chairman Caldwell presented the bill as the measure funding state government and answered a series of questions about major budget items, including CareerTech funding, child care, school security, teacher pay raises, the state plane purchase, Medicaid, mental health, veterans’ homes, and higher education projects. He said CareerTech received increased funding, child care funding was increased by roughly $12 million over last year, school security funding was continued at $50 million, and teacher pay raises were included through a mechanism that would raise the state minimum by $2,000. He also explained the $3 million state plane item as a restructuring of state aviation assets, and said the budget did not cut law enforcement funding tied to 287(g) agreements.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the rural hospitals and rural clinics, this particular bill is an expansion of the Rural Health Care
• So, to summarize, the past Rural Health Care Delivery Fund was for the expansion or initiation of services
• Chair, just to put a button on it, it doesn't have to be for an... ...expansion of services.
• So you wouldn't necessarily see an expansion. You would just...
• I like representing Dona Ana County and the expansion beyond just... ...counties with 100,000 because

Committee: Senate Senate Finance