Video & Transcript Research : 'impact analysis'

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Jobs and Economic Development - 02/26/25

Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • Grinwell for fiscal analysis.
  • Grinwell for fiscal analysis.
  • Hannah go through past fiscal analysis Hannah go through past fiscal analysis Madam<01:43:27.800
  • It has an impact on our confidence, sense of responsibility, and work ethic.
  • It has an impact on our confidence, sense of responsibility, and work ethic.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Defining “gross annual retail energy sales.” 3/5/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • While able and willing to serve the operation, the one challenge that concerned the utility was the impact
  • We've all learned a lot in the last year about data centers and the impact they are having on our grid
  • A Rewiring America analysis things.
  • A Rewiring America analysis shows<00:09:14.080> that<00:09:14.320> this<00:09:14.560>
  • > smaller<00:18:44.559> utility impact on a smaller utility impact on a smaller utility
Keywords: 1183, house
Summary: House File 3296, as amended, was heard in committee and laid over. The bill would extend an existing exemption in Minnesota’s energy conservation/efficiency program calculations so that certain data centers, like crypto-based data mining operations, would not be counted in a utility’s gross annual retail sales if the new load increases the utility’s base load by 40% or more. Representative Gilman and testifier David Meyer of Glenco Light and Power argued the change is needed because large data loads can make the 1.5% annual savings target effectively unattainable for smaller municipal utilities, and they said the added revenue from the facility has helped lower rates for other customers. Ken Sulum of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association supported the bill, describing it as narrowly drafted to address mid-sized data centers that do not fit other relief provisions but still create local utility problems. Sarah Wolf of Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light opposed the exemption, arguing that energy efficiency remains important amid rising demand and grid stress from data centers, and that large users should continue contributing to efficiency efforts rather than being exempted. Members raised questions about whether the facility had a long-term contract, whether the customer was helping lower rates, and how much savings were being passed on to ratepayers. Meyer said the customer had a three-year agreement extended another three years, the infrastructure costs were borne by the customer, and the facility’s revenue has allowed Glenco to reduce rates by about half a cent per kilowatt hour through a $40,000 monthly buy-down of its power cost adjustment. Some members expressed concern that data centers should continue to improve efficiency over time, while others noted the bill’s focus on smaller utilities facing disproportionate impacts.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-25 (10:00AM Session)

Florida House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Representative Miller, the most recent staff analysis does not show fiscal impact.
  • How will this sunset of CRAs impact?
  • I have three CRAs in my district, and they are doing impactful work, and they've been doing impactful
  • It's in the staff analysis. Hang on just a second, and I'll find it. It's in the staff analysis.
  • It's in the staff analysis. Yeah, it's in the staff analysis.
Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber approved the journal and adopted the special order report, and the Speaker announced a schedule change canceling the floor on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The main business was CS for HB 7033, the House tax package, presented by Rep. Duggan. He described a broad set of tax changes, including the previously passed sales tax rate reduction from 6% to 5.25%, exemptions for certain bullion sales, changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use, property tax administration updates, affordable housing-related exemptions, repeal of the aviation fuel tax, delayed natural gas fuel tax implementation, corporate income tax changes, and other provisions. Debate focused heavily on the TDT section and the bill’s property tax relief structure. Amendments to preserve local flexibility or remove the TDT restrictions were offered and debated; one Duggan amendment was adopted to allow local governments to keep 25% of TDT revenues for general use while directing 75% to property tax relief, and another amendment requiring audit certification of compliance was also adopted. A combined reporting amendment offered by Rep. Eskamani to close corporate tax loopholes was debated at length but failed. On final passage, supporters argued the bill provides immediate, permanent tax relief and affordability help, while opponents said it diverts tourism dollars away from local needs and could harm tourism-dependent counties and services. CS for HB 7033 passed the House 78-29. The chamber then took up CS for CS for HB 1221 on local option taxes, which would give local governments more control over certain local taxes and, as presented, redirect TDT revenues toward property tax relief with some local flexibility. After questions and amendments, including a Miller amendment allowing 25% of TDT revenue for general purposes and another accountability amendment, the bill moved to final debate. Members split sharply: supporters framed it as immediate tax relief and local accountability, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism marketing, infrastructure, and county budgets. The transcript ends during closing debate on HB 1221, before final passage is recorded.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Finance Jan 15th, 2026 at 01:28 pm

Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chair, LFC's analysis as Recent analysis as of August demonstrates that there is no correlation or causal
  • So, for child care assistance, the most recent analysis that we did was a causal match analysis where
  • And we absolutely have that analysis of what it would – how the corpus would decline.
  • So this is concerning, and this is an investment that will Impact that need.
  • I saw an economic impact statement.
Keywords: 996, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • And we were able to do a full-scale analysis of both fires.
  • And that is not only a finding that we had from this post-fire analysis, but also when we deployed to
  • Home hardening is really going to impact our projects, not just in the CWMP.
  • This work directly impacts whether communities like Lake County remain viable.
  • It's going to be a more impactful structure to do everything on.
Keywords: 988, house, all
Summary: The hearing focused on home hardening and defensible space as wildfire mitigation tools, with members and witnesses emphasizing that California’s wildfire losses, insurance costs, and affordability pressures require a broader strategy than the status quo. The chair framed the issue as a tipping point for the state and asked witnesses to discuss how to scale mitigation, improve coordination, and make programs more effective and sustainable. Early testimony from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety explained how embers, flames, structure density, and combustible materials drive community conflagrations, and described the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home standards, including a base “Prepared” level and an enhanced level. IBHS said California is ahead of other states but still needs standardized, verified mitigation, and noted research suggesting home hardening can reduce losses and improve insurability. The Legislative Analyst’s Office highlighted key policy questions for lawmakers, including the state’s role, intergovernmental coordination, cost-effectiveness, program design, long-term sustainability, and barriers to implementation. Members pressed for practical, lower-cost approaches, and witnesses repeatedly stressed that the first five feet around a home is critical, that many mitigation steps are DIY or relatively low-cost, and that financing will be necessary because many homeowners cannot afford full retrofits. Megafire Action argued that home hardening is a market adoption challenge, not something the state can fully pay for, and recommended a blended model of education, low-interest loans, smaller grants, and insurance discounts to drive mass adoption. Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council and Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority described local programs using assessments, neighborhood-based Firewise efforts, grants, and resident participation, while also calling for better marketing, clearer standards, workforce development, and stronger links between mitigation and insurance benefits. In the later panels, Cal Fire and the State Fire Marshal described the state’s layered approach: parcel-level hardening, defensible space, and neighborhood-scale mitigation. Cal Fire said its defensible space inspection program needs ongoing funding and staffing to remain permanent, and the LAO said the proposal has merit but could be modified depending on budget conditions and alternative funding sources. Cal Fire also described a forthcoming defensible space financial assistance program focused on Zone Zero and vulnerable communities, estimating about $8,000 per home and roughly 3,125 homes served with the proposed funding. The State Fire Marshal clarified that local Zone Zero ordinances cannot be less restrictive than state minimum standards, though local governments have flexibility above that floor. Throughout the hearing, members and witnesses returned to the need for a coordinated statewide marketing campaign, consistent standards, targeted incentives, and sustained funding to move from pilot efforts to mass adoption.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

January 14, 2025 - 09:00 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • There is no other sector that has that kind of impact.
  • That GDP has grown by almost 68 percent in that time, so it's now closing in on an $80 billion impact
  • That GDP has grown by almost 68 percent in that time, so it's now closing in on an $80 billion impact
  • And we're not just seeing that in our analysis here in Florida, but nationwide. ...bottleneck.
  • Pandemic impact.
Summary: The Careers and Workforce Subcommittee met for its first meeting of the year, took roll, and heard member introductions centered on the importance of workforce pathways beyond the traditional four-year college route. Members repeatedly emphasized manufacturing, trades, rural workforce needs, apprenticeships, and helping students and adults find multiple paths to good jobs. The chair outlined the subcommittee’s focus on policies that build a skilled workforce and announced the day’s theme would be manufacturing, with presentations from the Florida Department of Commerce, the Florida Semiconductor Institute, and Fleet Force CDL training. Secretary Alex Kelly presented Florida’s manufacturing report, saying manufacturing is a major economic driver and that Florida has become the 10th largest state in manufacturing employment. He highlighted strong job multipliers, rapid growth in manufacturing GDP and establishments, the importance of logistics and ports, and the state’s small-business-heavy manufacturing base. He also stressed the aging manufacturing workforce, the need for modern skills such as robotics, cybersecurity, and data analytics, and the role of public-private partnerships, apprenticeships, and workforce education investments in supporting reshoring and industry growth. Dr. David Arnold described Florida’s semiconductor sector and the Florida Semiconductor Institute’s mission to grow research, workforce, and ecosystem development. He said semiconductors are strategically important, Florida ranks fifth nationally in semiconductor workforce, and the main bottleneck is mid-level technician talent rather than engineers or entry-level workers. He pointed to NeoCity, Valencia College, and other regional partnerships as models, and said the state needs more proactive planning, better instructor capacity, and stronger pathways from K-12 through postsecondary. Evan Agiloff of Fleet Force discussed Florida’s CDL shortage, saying trucking is essential to the supply chain, Florida has about 18,000 open CDL positions, and Fleet Force’s college-based model can quickly move students into middle-class jobs. Members asked about apprenticeships, CTE pathways, semiconductor training, infrastructure needs, and how to expand and better fund workforce programs; no votes were taken.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (04/08/2026)

Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, so if fiscal impact to the state.
  • when you're talking about the the impact when you're talking about the the impact of<00:22:22.480
  • to be thoughtful because the impact to be thoughtful because the impact starts<03:38:31.520>
  • portion, we uh just finished an analysis portion, we uh just finished an analysis of<04:47:47.040
  • And our analysis based on of that.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Capital Investment Committee 3/18/25

Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:01:31.079> the and how it may or may not impact the and how it may or may not impact the
  • this committee and potential impacts to this committee and potential impacts to the<01:12:15.320
  • I just wanted to quickly highlight what some of the driving impacts are and inputs into our analysis
  • If those accelerate or decelerate, that will also have an impact on this analysis.
  • have an impact um on this analysis have an impact um on this analysis uh<01:34:55.880> the
Keywords: 1183, house
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Apr 22nd, 2026

Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm a proud joint author of SB 1352 because I've been so aware of how much these issues are impacting
  • So how does this impact local control, which is important to me?
  • Whether or not, I think the analysis points out that historically it's been about 10%.
  • I think the important part is, at a policy level, there are statewide impacts to wildfire.
  • When the nurses leave, rural areas of care is impacted.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
Summary: The committee heard several revenue and taxation bills, beginning with SB 1124, which would require the California Department of Public Health to create and post signage at tobacco retail locations about lung cancer screening eligibility. Senator Archuleta and Dr. Alex Zhu testified that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death and that awareness is low, while retail groups raised implementation concerns about sign size, notice, and penalties. Members discussed screening access and cost, and the author indicated willingness to reduce penalties. The bill passed 4-0 to the Senate Health Committee. The committee then heard wildfire-related tax relief measures. SB 1352 would clarify that disaster victims rebuilding homes may increase the size of a reconstructed home by up to 10% without triggering reassessment, and SB 1343 would provide a $4,000 income tax credit for sales tax paid on furniture and appliances purchased to furnish a rebuilt primary residence after a disaster. Both measures were supported by local officials and taxpayer groups, with some concern about administration and whether the benefits would skew toward higher-income households. Each bill passed unanimously, with SB 1352 sent to Appropriations and SB 1343 also sent to Appropriations. SB 1172 would place limits and transparency requirements on consultant compensation in local tax-sharing agreements, prompted by concerns that revenues in places like Shafter and Dinuba were being diverted away from local communities. The bill drew support from the League of California Cities and the California Retailers Association, while some members worried about local control. It passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 1408 would authorize the Contra Costa Transportation Authority to place a countywide sales tax measure of up to 1% on the ballot to continue transportation funding; supporters said it would let voters decide on continued investment in roads, transit, and congestion relief, while taxpayer groups opposed it. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations. The committee also considered SB 1404, which would restore a fire prevention fee in state responsibility areas and use it to help fund Cal Fire wildfire prevention and suppression, with the author arguing the fee would help address rising wildfire costs and reduce reliance on other funding sources. Rural county and taxpayer groups opposed it, citing affordability, double-charging, and constitutional concerns; some members also questioned the fee’s administration and burden on fixed-income residents. The bill passed 4-1 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 1102 would create a $2,000 tax credit for frontline nurses working in rural hospitals to improve retention and access to care; it drew support from a rural clinic and no opposition beyond a CTA tax-credit concern, and it passed 5-0 to Appropriations. The consent calendar, including SB 1072, SB 1165, and committee bills SB 1435-SB 1437, was also adopted.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Education Policy - 03/10/25

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • He respectfully urged the committee to carefully consider the broader impact of Senate File 2067 and
  • <00:21:45.559> the<00:21:45.679> ACT Beyond his motivational impact the ACT Beyond
  • his motivational impact the ACT also<00:21:46.400> offers<00:21:46.679> a<00:21:46.840>
  • > the<00:23:49.360> 2015<00:23:50.080> 2016<00:23:50.799> act An analysis
  • <01:10:39.360> by<01:10:39.480> the negatively impacted by the negatively impacted
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

January 14, 2025 - 01:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • And in that situation, yes, it could potentially impact an insured.
  • And in that situation, yes, it could potentially impact an insured.
  • So could you provide some analysis or reasonings why there is no.
  • that's managed, and how that impacts pricing.
  • Not just seniors are being impacted, just children, and she's being directly impacted.
Summary: The subcommittee held its first meeting on homeowners property insurance, with members from both parties introducing themselves and repeatedly noting that insurance affordability, roof condition, claims handling, and storm recovery are top concerns for their districts. Chair Yeager said the meeting was intended as an educational discussion rather than a legislative debate, and introduced a panel that included Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworski, consumer Chad Carr, agent Mary Catherine Lawler, insurer executive Melissa Burt DeVries, and policyholder attorney Chip Merlin. The panel and members discussed major cost drivers in Florida homeowners insurance, including inflation, home age, roof age, mitigation features, claims history, litigation costs, reinsurance, and the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund. Commissioner Yaworski said underwriting has become more sophisticated and that litigation costs, reinsurance, and replacement-cost inflation all affect premiums; he also said litigation is down about 30% and average requested rate increases have fallen from about 22.1% in 2022 to 0.8% today. DeVries said age of home, replacement cost, roof age, and coverage choices can materially change premiums, and explained that reinsurance is a major expense passed through to consumers. Merlin emphasized transparency concerns, argued that insurers are increasingly individualizing risk, and said consumers often struggle with coverage limits, deductibles, and claim denials. Members asked about flood coverage, hurricane deductibles, managed repair programs, mitigation credits, new insurer capitalization, and whether savings from reforms are reaching consumers. Yaworski explained that flood is generally excluded from homeowners policies and covered separately, that hurricane deductibles are mandatory in Florida and usually around 5%, and that the office tracks savings from reforms through rate filings and insurer discussions. He said the state is updating mitigation discounts and monitoring new entrants closely for solvency and market conduct. Several members and panelists said recent reforms have helped reduce some abuses and litigation, but many consumers are still seeing higher premiums because replacement costs and reinsurance remain elevated. No votes or formal actions were taken.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 03/12/25

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:59:55.680> and recognize its profound impact and recognize its profound impact and continue
  • The board has to go through a public safety analysis of each case and then determine whether charges
  • The analysis that has to be done includes things such as the nature and severity of the crime, types
  • other analysis of each case<01:10:14.400> um<01:10:15.159> and<01:10:15.280> then
  • But it doesn't mean that they necessarily would, based on this other analysis that's required.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/27/25

Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • House File 2103 could have a huge impact in many areas of our Minnesota economy.
  • It would have a direct impact in agriculture, as farmers could choose green fertilizer.
  • solar arrays and their positive impacts solar arrays and their positive impacts on<00:51:25.359>
  • <00:51:40.440> of districts make no mistake the impact of districts make no mistake the impact
  • has you know the significant uh impact has you know the significant uh impact on<01:06:17.640>
Bills: HF2103, HF2793
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 3/4/25

Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I know we have some analysis.
  • I know we have some analysis.
  • <00:40:48.560> do for so long um how much of an impact do for so long um how much of an impact
  • We now have three testifiers to speak to the impact of this bill. Please, Mr.
  • <01:14:25.239> on<01:14:25.400> our significant impact on our significant impact on
Bills: HF1005
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Taxation and Revenue Feb 2nd, 2026 at 08:43 am

House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:
  • year to year is really impacting our wells.
  • And we're aware of their analysis. We don't refute their analysis.
  • The function of this committee is to see if there's an impact to the general fund.
  • The amendment is just a cleanup on a little bit of language as recommended in the tax analysis.
  • Anything that has an impact to the general fund... We're going to table it here.
Keywords: 996, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Transportation Committee Jun 29th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill does not impact one's criminal penalties.
  • This bill does not impact one's criminal penalties.
  • Right now, our ability to make a meaningful impact is limited. This legislation fills that gap.
  • You can see it in the analysis as well, I believe, but you could point to it in the bill.
  • Air quality advocates are concerned about the environmental impact of the bill.
Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on active transportation, transit, road safety, and local enforcement. SB 569 would restrict removal or downgrading of bikeways built with state General Fund dollars for at least 20 years, require public hearings before major changes, and was supported by bicycle advocates and some local and environmental groups. The City of Encinitas opposed the bill, arguing it could limit needed safety fixes and should apply only to future projects; committee members discussed whether the bill still allowed safety-based modifications. The bill passed on a due pass vote to Appropriations. SB 741 would streamline the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program by reducing administrative burden and giving transit agencies more flexibility to use funds for service improvements, fare programs, and other transit needs while maintaining oversight and disadvantaged community requirements. Transit agencies and advocacy groups supported the measure, saying it would help agencies respond to post-pandemic ridership and financial challenges. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 1167, which would tighten consumer protections by clarifying that high-powered e-motos and similar motor vehicles are not e-bikes, requiring clearer disclosures and labels, and improving crash reporting. Supporters said the bill would reduce confusion and improve safety for riders, pedestrians, and parents; the Motorcycle Industry Council opposed unless amended, arguing the term “e-bike” is used broadly and the bill could affect existing businesses. The bill passed to Appropriations. Later, SB 953, dealing with vehicular manslaughter cases dismissed through misdemeanor diversion, would add DMV points so fatal conduct remains reflected on driving records; the bill was supported by the victim’s family and safety advocates and passed to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1218, which would let local agencies boot vehicles tied to repeated unpaid illegal dumping citations instead of using DMV enforcement. Oakland officials and community groups supported the bill as a needed deterrent, while the ACLU opposed it as punitive debt collection without a sufficient nexus to the vehicle. The bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 739 would revise the Clean Miles Standard for rideshare companies by allowing CARB and CPUC to adjust electric vehicle mileage targets in light of current market conditions; Uber and Lyft supported the flexibility, while clean air advocates began raising concerns about weakening climate goals as the transcript cut off.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • My counties were impacted, I think three, but broad conversation.
  • We make a powerful impact on community health and youth development.
  • income, if you will, how does that impact Texas A&M?
  • This is what I want to highlight: a bullet under impact.
  • We are making an incredible impact in our region.
Bills: SB1, SB 1
DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee Meeting Jun 24th, 2026

Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • which provides a more accurate measure of roadway impacts than total daily trips.
  • Which provides a more accurate measure of roadway impacts than total daily trips.
  • It focuses full traffic impact study review on projects with substantial peak-hour traffic impacts rather
  • This bill also authorizes technology-enabled traffic monitoring and analysis.
  • Directing a portion of the transportation impact fee to it is smart policy.
Bills: HB373
Summary: The Senate Banking, Business, Insurance & Technology Committee met in hybrid format and heard testimony on several bills. HB 373, as amended, would regulate hemp-derived THC-infused beverages by defining the products, limiting them to 10 mg of Delta-9 THC per container, restricting sales to package stores and licensed marijuana retail stores, requiring testing and labeling, and imposing a 50-cent per container tax; the sponsor said the bill is intended to create guardrails and protect youth, and a wholesaler representative testified in support. HB 398 would allow racinos to serve alcohol until 2 a.m. and remove local authority to require earlier closing times; the sponsor and Bally’s representative said it would help Delaware remain competitive and increase revenue, and no opposition was heard. HB 433 would let municipalities and counties extend last call for bars, restaurants, and clubs from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m.; a witness from Connect Delaware supported it as a competitiveness and retention measure, emphasizing that it is permissive rather than mandatory. The committee also heard extensive testimony on HB 441, which would ban cryptocurrency kiosks/crypto ATMs in Delaware and require existing machines to be removed within 90 days. The sponsor and supporters, including AARP, the Delaware Department of Justice, and the League of Women Voters, argued the machines are heavily used in scams, especially against older adults, and that regulation has not been effective. CoinFlip opposed the bill, saying it is a regulated operator, that the fraud statistics are overstated or incomplete, and that Delaware should instead adopt a regulatory framework and amendment. HB 465 would update the criminal code to formally define virtual currency and incorporate it into theft, money laundering, racketeering, and search-and-seizure provisions; the sponsor said it would align Delaware law with modern crypto-related crimes, and no opposition was presented. The committee then heard HB 467, which would prevent landlords from requiring renters to buy insurance from a specific company while still allowing them to require coverage meeting lease terms; the sponsor described it as a consumer-choice bill and there was no public opposition. HB 435 would require payment parity for certified registered nurse anesthetists and physicians when the same services are provided; the sponsor, nurse anesthetists, the Delaware Health Care Association, the Department of Insurance, and ChristianaCare supported it as a workforce and access-to-care measure, with no opposition. Finally, HS 1 for HB 450, the Road DE Act, would overhaul permitting and traffic-impact review, emphasize peak-hour traffic, set density standards in growth areas, create a transportation impact fee, and direct some revenue to open space, farmland, and coastal restoration; realtors, builders, environmental groups, engineers, and GEAR supported it as a way to speed permitting, reduce sprawl, and improve infrastructure planning. The committee adjourned after public comment; no votes were recorded in the transcript.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Select Committee on Pension Policy Jun 16th, 2026 at 12:40 pm

Select Committee on Pension Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think that it would be fair to also share the impact of a move.
  • Potential individuals who would be impacted by that request.
  • Now, and assuming they all made the option, what would the economic impact be?
  • It's too great of an economic impact. So what does that look like?
  • That's what she's asking, and I just want to know what that impact would be.
Keywords: 904, all
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Select Committee on Pension Policy Jun 16th, 2026

Select Committee on Pension Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think that it would be fair to also share the impact of a move.
  • And if that were possible, what would the economic impact be?
  • Now, and assuming they all made the option, what would the economic impact be?
  • It's too great of an economic impact. So what does that look like?
  • That's what she's asking, and I just want to know what that impact would be.
Summary: The executive committee approved the May minutes by roll call vote, then received an actuarial update from Sarah Baker of the State Actuary’s Office. Baker explained the office’s annual work, including the DRS pension actuarial evaluation, support for state financial reporting, cash flow analysis, a six-year pension contribution outlook, interim support for GIT and WAL CARES, and an upcoming actuarial evaluation of the volunteer firefighters pension plan. She also responded to questions about bills allowing members to transfer into PERS, noting that such transfers have historically increased PERS costs and that any added cost would be borne by PERS members and employers depending on bill structure and affected demographics. Kate Adams of the Attorney General’s office reported no new developments in the cases the committee is monitoring. She said the Dawson case is still in its early stages, with a judge assigned and a discovery plan due at the end of July. The committee asked for continued updates on that litigation. The committee then discussed interim work planning, focusing first on animal control officers’ eligibility for PERS and asking staff to continue researching definitions, comparable treatment in nearby states, and the cost and service-credit implications for affected employees. Members also discussed Plan 3 issues, including comparisons of Plan 2 and Plan 3 membership and data, and possible future briefing topics. The largest discussion centered on Plan 1 COLAs: members and retiree representatives debated whether to pursue a permanent COLA or an ad hoc COLA, and whether budget language should require future budget writers to consider a COLA. Retiree groups said they preferred a permanent COLA but were open to further discussion; staff was asked to continue work on possible language and policy options. The committee reviewed correspondence on four topics: Plan 1 COLA requests, a request to study LEOFF 2-style medical reimbursements for Washington State Patrol survivors, and a request to allow certain members to change survivor option elections after the federal Social Security Fairness Act. The committee agreed to bring the State Patrol medical reimbursement issue and the Social Security Fairness Act issue back for July, with staff to gather more information and provide an informational briefing. The July agenda was approved and includes the OSA annual update, the LEOFF 2 Board annual update, a PERS/TRS Plan 1 ad hoc COLA item, and the two survivor-related topics.