Transcript Highlights:

• This past year, 137 students participated in Pell-approved programming statewide.
• A few other updates I’d like to share: we’ve revised our policies to incorporate the 18-month pathways
• I ask this committee to consider that I have had a leadership role in the DOC statewide family council
• For context, access to crime victim services statewide is currently at risk due to federal vocal funding
• This statewide funding is currently at risk due to federal funding cuts.

Bills: SB5873 , SB5895 , SB5945

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: incarcerated individuals, escorted leaves, criminal justice, rehabilitation, state law, healthcare, incarcerated, extraordinary medical placement, criminal justice reform, medical care, persistent offender, three strikes, resentencing, juvenile conviction, youth offender, juvenile sentencing, life without parole, LWOP, most serious offense, sentencing reform

Transcript Highlights:

• question for maybe staff, and I don't know if I have it readily available, but What is the ratio statewide
• I will begin with an overview of the graduation requirement changes followed by highlights of the revised
• If Level all is integrated into a student inform statewide information student, um, platform, the platform
• We are currently reviewing and revising this for release in July.
• And so, I'm really happy that you asked this question because uh when PED convened uh the statewide committee

Transcript Highlights:

• At the May revision related to the reorganization, we just recommend the legislature refrain from acting
• would like to take a few minutes to orient the subcommittee to Cal ICH, who serves as California's statewide
• It is the first statewide system of its kind in California and across the nation.
• HDIS, the statewide system, compiles processes and validates data from California's 44 Continuums of
• First is that CalISH uses data from HDIS to measure statewide and local impact of programs in the state

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that’s why I say the statewide mandate may not be necessary when you can get resources in some
• I think that's why I<00:31:14.159><c> say</c><00:31:14.240><c> the</c><00:31:14.480><c> statewide</c>
• mandate</c><00:31:15.440><c> may</c><00:31:15.600><c> not</c><00:31:15.840><c> be</c> I say the statewide
• This bill will revise the percentage of a... >> Okay. Uh, second, replace...
• c> Replace line 40 on page two with the following: used for determining a member's pension and to revise

Bills: HB185 , HB378 , SB28 , HB400 , SB155 , HB312 , HB185 , HB378 , SB28 , HB400 , SB155 , HB312

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: appropriation, transportation, judicial system, funding, state budget, Pickens County, local act, vehicle tag fee, registration fee, issuance fee, motor vehicle registration, license plate, replacement tag, transfer tag, renewal fee, county revenue, earmarked funds, ambulance service, emergency medical services, EMS

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have a six-month contract with them, and it's off the statewide contract.
• For follow-up, are these primarily rural Statewide, by your guys, you're recognized for a question.
• Number 4 is a statewide coverage of PparRB.
• I am gonna say we have only one person dedicated to statewide recruitment. We really need more.
• I'm going back to the salary revisions of existing staff.

Committee: House A&B Human Services Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• So the council ultimately approves all of the new standards, the revisions.
• Industry is actually leading on the creation, the ongoing review, and the revision constantly.
• One of the focuses of Build Up is to have statewide wraparound support services.
• And so the focus was to always have access statewide to those individuals.
• Expanding pathways statewide to ensure safe, equitable, and successful access to family wage careers

Summary: The work session focused first on Washington’s apprenticeship system, especially building trades programs and support services. Labor and Industries staff explained how registered apprenticeship works in the state, including the role of the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council, the requirements for paid on-the-job training and classroom instruction, and the difference between apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship. Panelists emphasized that apprenticeship is tied to actual jobs and training agents, and that many waitlists reflect a shortage of job openings and employer participation rather than a lack of interest. They also discussed youth apprenticeship, the growth of apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, and the use of Career Bridge and L&I’s database to help people find programs. Representatives asked whether the state should expand apprenticeship programs and how people can find openings. Speakers said more programs alone would not solve the backlog without more employers signing on as training agents and more apprenticeship utilization on projects. The panel also highlighted the Constructed Career Initiative, a grant-funded navigation and support program that helps people enter and stay in building trades apprenticeships through outreach, case management, and wraparound aid such as transportation, tools, and work clothes. A related nonprofit, Build Up, described similar support services, including prison-based boot and PPE programs and assistance for reentry participants. The panel said these services are especially important because apprentices often face unstable income, housing, food, and transportation barriers. The panel also discussed House Bill 2084 and the new Construction Training Pathway Oversight Committee, which is examining construction training in correctional facilities and how to create clearer pathways from prison-based training to apprenticeship, college, or work. Speakers said the committee is still in its early stages and will report to the legislature. The session ended with committee members thanking the panel and noting the importance of support services and referral networks for apprentices. The meeting then resumed at Renton Technical College, where college leaders and faculty discussed serving non-traditional students. The college reported strong enrollment growth, a median student age of 30, a diverse student body, and high job placement rates, while also noting significant budget cuts and program reductions from the prior year. Health care and early childhood education programs were highlighted, including efforts to expand access through hybrid scheduling, evening and Saturday classes, Spanish-language offerings, and in-person wraparound support for admissions, financial aid, and registration. Faculty said these changes were driven by student data and were aimed at helping working parents, English learners, and other non-traditional students complete credentials and enter family-wage careers.

Transcript Highlights:

• , revises provisions governing the transfer of transferable tax credits for affordable housing, revises
• Moving on, we will open the hearing for Senate Bill 422, which revises provisions relating to voting.
• SB 262 revises provisions relating to graduate medical education.
• This is data from the Office of Statewide Initiatives at UNR.
• It's a measure that revises provisions relating to nicotine products.

Bills: AB568 , SB90 , SB133 , SB147 , SB229 , SB233 , SB240 , SB245 , SB280 , SB378 , SB393 , SB417 , SB434 , SB494 , SB495 , AB62 , SB104 , SB119 , SB132 , SB193 , SB262 , SB422 , SB431 , SB435 , SB468 , SB503

Committee: Assembly Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:37:42.399><c> strategy</c> for something like statewide strategy for something like statewide
• 21.760><c> to1</c><02:44:22.240><c> billion</c> full statewide systems 500 to1 billion full statewide
• </c> us serve on the statutory revisions us serve on the statutory revisions committee<04:50:44.718><
• ,</c><04:50:55.040><c> we</c> doing this in statutory revisions, we doing this in statutory revisions
• </c><04:52:16.240><c> was</c> the statutory revision committee was the statutory revision committee was

Transcript Highlights:

• abuse by school employees involves public institutions, public funds, and the safety of children statewide
• LCYC provides legal services statewide to over 1,000 young people annually through our four main program
• LCYC provides legal services statewide to over 1,000 young people annually through our four main program
• LCYC provides legal services statewide to over 1,000 young people annually through our four main program
• My name is Rebecca Gardea with Q Law Foundation of Washington, a statewide legal aid organization serving

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 6239, which would require civil arbitration for tort claims against the state and its subdivisions before trial. Staff explained current tort-claim procedures and said the bill would apply arbitration to claims of any dollar amount, with a fiscal note pending. The sponsor said Washington’s liability exposure is unusually high and argued the bill would promote early resolution without limiting jury trials, damage caps, or attorney fees. Members asked who pays for arbitration and whether trial rights are preserved; staff said costs are generally split and the bill preserves a jury trial de novo. Testimony on SB 6239 was sharply divided. Counties, cities, school districts, risk pools, and some public-safety groups supported the bill, saying rising liability and insurance costs are straining budgets and threatening core services. Opponents included trial lawyers, legal aid groups, victim advocates, journalists, and survivors of abuse, who argued the bill would create barriers to justice, delay relief, increase costs for claimants, reduce transparency, and retraumatize survivors by forcing private arbitration before a public trial. Several witnesses said the bill was too broad because it would cover employment, contract, and other claims, not just torts involving abuse or negligence. After public testimony closed, the committee noted the large number of sign-ins, with far more in opposition than in support. The committee then took up Senate Bill 6074, which would reinstate parole for certain felony offenses committed on or after July 1, 2027, allow eligible incarcerated people to petition the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board after serving 60% of their sentence, and create a parole implementation work group. Supporters said it would recognize rehabilitation and improve reentry, while some witnesses raised concerns about the bill’s prospective-only application, the 60% threshold, and the need to address racial disparities and parole criteria more fully. The sponsor said the parole bill was paired with tort-liability reform because criminal justice reform advocates have said liability changes are needed to restore parole in Washington.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:37:23.440><c> motor</c> 34.3% of statewide motor vehicle sales tax supports metropolitan area
• The law directing state general funds for half of transitway operating costs was revised and no longer
• Chair, Representative, if further revision in our funding in the transit funding were passed in law,
• Chair, Representative, if further revision in our funding in the transit funding were passed in law,
• Chair, Representative, if further revision in our funding in the transit funding were passed in law,

Bills: HF4693

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• But also on a statewide level, I believe we need to do even more growth in terms of On a statewide level
• Sorry, I just, I guess I missed the revised committee substitute.
• Blackburn is currently serving in that role, where she oversees statewide tourism operations, state parks
• The Workforce Commission is charged with statewide workforce strategy and program oversight and does
• And so what we're trying to figure out, or set forward, is one statewide jurisdiction set mapping set

Bills: HB1823 , HB3031 , HB3369 , HB3378 , HB3429 , HB3624 , HB3657 , HB3880 , HB4215 , HB4476

Committee: Senate Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism

Summary: The Senate Economic Development, Workforce, and Tourism Committee met for a work session focused largely on executive nominations and several House bills. The committee advanced nominations for Jared Lundry and Norville Ritter to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission, Amy Blackburn as Executive Director of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, and Jason Kays to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, with each nominee describing their background and priorities and receiving favorable roll-call votes. Members also considered and advanced a series of bills affecting housing, tourism, workforce, and related programs. HB 1823 would require the Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency to provide advance notice of HOME program changes, limit retroactive rule changes, and give preference to nonprofit grant recipients; it passed 8-1. HB 4476 created a revolving fund related to a music industry rebate program and passed 7-2 after an amendment raising a threshold from 25,000 to 28,000. HB 3880 updated tourism advertising law to include digital media and allowed the Oklahoma Today magazine to move online, with an amendment making publication permissive rather than mandatory; it passed 8-1. HB 3031 created a revolving fund for workforce development tied to skilled trades and the North Point Workforce Development Initiative, and HB 3378 staggered terms on the Oklahoma Science and Technology Research and Development Board; both passed. The committee also passed HB 3369, which aligned LP gas and fire-suppression rules for mobile food vendors and required annual fire safety training, HB 3429, which authorized up to $50 million in bonds for CareerTech-related economic development projects, HB 3657, which clarified agricultural labor reporting and allowed OESC to share workforce data with the Workforce Commission, and HB 4215, which lowered the minimum spend threshold for Oklahoma film post-production incentives from $50,000 to $20,000. Finally, HB 3624, a controversial bill changing how county lines are determined along shifting waterways, drew extensive debate over taxation, property records, and rural impacts before passing 6-5. The chair noted the committee likely had one more meeting remaining and invited further suggested language on the county-line issue.

Transcript Highlights:

• in looking at recent history, including the statute for general corporations, which is 351.1045, revised
• fact that we have one person in the entire state whose job it is dedicated to trying to manage this statewide
• fact that we have one person in the entire state whose job it is dedicated to trying to manage this statewide
• those numbers of stolen vehicles and that the Missouri State Highway Patrol is seeing this issue statewide
• was the main point of last year's testimony: the Highway Patrol is doing everything it can, but statewide

Committee: House Insurance and Banking

Summary: The Insurance Committee met with a quorum and first went into executive session on House Bill 2874, which was approved 9-0 with one member present. The bill was described as a product worked on the previous year, and no substantive opposition was raised before the vote. The committee then heard House Bill 2071, which would allow the Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association to suspend operations rather than terminate, because the medical malpractice market is now considered robust and the association has not written a policy or received a claim in several years. The sponsor and Missouri Insurance Coalition said the association still costs roughly $300,000 to $350,000 annually to operate, with projected savings if suspended, while preserving the ability to reactivate if claims arise within the remaining liability window. Some members questioned whether a sunset would be more appropriate and raised concerns about the open-ended nature of suspension and the handling of the association’s reserve funds. House Bill 1615 was then heard and would lower the statutory minimum number of directors for insurance companies from nine to five, while leaving maximum board sizes unchanged. The sponsor and supporters argued Missouri’s current requirement is outdated, out of step with other states and other regulated entities, and creates unnecessary barriers for smaller insurers without affecting solvency or consumer protection. Members questioned whether any insurers had avoided Missouri because of the nine-director rule; supporters said they had no specific examples but said the change would provide flexibility and align Missouri with modern governance practices. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2902, which would create a Motor Vehicle Threat Prevention Program and commission within the Department of Public Safety to fund grants and coordinate efforts against auto theft. The sponsor said Missouri ranks among the highest states for vehicle theft and argued the program would help local law enforcement, especially in rural areas, address high-tech theft methods and related crimes. Highway Patrol and NICB witnesses testified in support, citing rising theft rates, the use of stolen vehicles in other crimes, and examples from other states where similar task forces recovered stolen vehicles and made arrests. Several members questioned whether a new commission was necessary, suggesting the Highway Patrol or existing agencies could handle the work; no opposition testimony was offered, and the hearing was closed with no further business before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Homelessness is also a statewide challenge.
• Homelessness is also a statewide challenge.
• That data is complex, totaling millions of records statewide.
• No other statewide system provides this level of detailed insight.
• HDIS data is the backbone of statewide accountability.

Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 4 met to hear an information-only agenda focused on homelessness. The chair and vice chair opened with remarks about affordability, accountability, and the need for flexible but effective state responses. The committee then heard an update from Dr. Ryan Finnegan of UC Berkeley’s Turner Center on homelessness trends, data limitations, and program impacts. He said homelessness remains high, with 2024 point-in-time counts showing about 187,000 people experiencing homelessness statewide, though unsheltered homelessness has declined somewhat as shelter capacity expanded. He emphasized that California’s high housing costs and shortage of affordable housing are the main drivers, while also noting persistent racial disparities, high chronic homelessness, and the importance of coordinated housing, health, and social services. He also warned that cuts or changes to federal programs and state funding streams like HAP could threaten progress. Members questioned Dr. Finnegan about the 9% decline in unsheltered homelessness, the timing and methodology of point-in-time counts, how to interpret trends over time, and the role of policy changes such as Housing First, Proposition 47, and Martin v. Boise. He explained that the 9% figure came from 30 continuums of care that had completed 2025 counts, and that HUD’s eventual statewide number would likely differ because not all regions counted that year. He also discussed how different funding sources are layered in local programs, including HAP, local funds, philanthropic support, federal funds, and CalAIM reimbursements. Several members stressed the need for clearer, more comparable measures of effectiveness and outcomes, including whether programs reduce long-term homelessness and move people toward self-sufficiency. The committee then heard from the California Interagency Council on Homelessness on statewide data systems, especially the Homeless Data Integration System (HDIS). Staff described HDIS as the first state-level integrated homelessness data system, built from local HMIS data and used to track demographics, services, outcomes, and program performance across all 44 continuums of care. They said HDIS has enabled statewide dashboards, system performance measures, and new accountability tools under AB 977 and AB 799. Cal ICH also said HAP Round 4 was highly cost-effective under the State Auditor’s methodology, estimating a cost of about $9,172 per person permanently housed, and that new AB 799 dashboards are intended to provide clearer public reporting on outcomes, fiscal data, and progress toward statewide goals. Members asked about measuring self-sufficiency, identifying the best local partners, detecting fraud, and whether the new dashboards will allow better comparisons among program types and funding uses. No votes were taken, and the one scheduled vote was postponed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill revises the Climate and Resiliency Security Fund in the Department of Agriculture, requiring
• It also revises the bill's reporting requirements, including requiring reports twice per year and requiring
• And lastly, it revises the bill's synopsis and makes other technical and clarifying changes.
• MHA-NJ is a statewide nonprofit organization. Thank you.
• MHA-NJ is a statewide nonprofit organization.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an engrossed substitute House Bill 2238 concerning statewide food security.
• This is an engrossed substitute House Bill 2238 concerning statewide food security, and the committee
• First, the legislation directs the State Department of Agriculture to develop a statewide food security
• As such, the bill appropriately directs WSDA in leading a coordinated statewide strategy.
• A statewide strategy will strengthen agriculture, supply chains, and families at the same time.

Bills: HB2104 , HB2554 , HB2619

Committee: Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response, tribal rights, fishing rights, salmon management, state-tribal agreements, natural resources, agriculture, regulations, farming, compliance, economic impact

Transcript Highlights:

• answer your first question, it's my understanding that about 26% of the current fare in Uber rides statewide
• a whole in the state has taken a huge step forward in what they did last year on tort reform and revising
• whole in the state has taken a huge step forward and what they did last year on tort reform and revising
• the U.N. and what they did last year on tort reform and revising the U.M. statute as a whole as it applies
• This instrument provides relative to the Advisory Board for Rare Cancer Treatments, to provide for revisions

Committee: House Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there anything in the Nevada Revised Statutes right now that require the courts to deal with decorum
• We are a statewide coalition of grassroots organizers and community advocates that work directly with
• But as far as revision one of the bill goes, we would be in neutral.
• ensures the appointment of attorneys for indigent parents and children in child welfare cases, and revises
• Assembly Bill 105 revises provisions governing firearms.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• We are the statewide association representing the 50 not-for-profit electric co-ops who provide power
• We are the statewide Association.
• </c> of broader community and statewide of broader community and statewide benefits. benefits. benefits
• Likewise,<01:19:32.880><c> a</c><01:19:33.120><c> revision</c><01:19:33.440><c> of</c><01:19:33.520><
• c> the</c><01:19:33.679><c> community</c> Likewise, a revision of the community Likewise, a revision

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• . $788,344 due to items such as a $652,185 increase associated with various standard statewide adjustments
• These changes are primarily due to a $663,143 net increase from various standard statewide adjustments
• In November 2025, the ratings agency Fitch revised the state's outlook from stable to positive, and that
• In November of 2025, the ratings agency Fitch revised the state's outlook from stable to positive, and
• This is primarily due to standard statewide adjustments.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard the House Fiscal Division’s FY 2027 budget presentations for the State Treasury, Public Service Commission, Department of Civil Service, and Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Treasury’s recommended budget was about $15 million with 74 positions, funded largely by self-generated revenue. Treasury staff highlighted strong investment returns, record unclaimed property recoveries, a new ACH option to speed and reduce the cost of payments, a School Transparency portal that helped uncover questionable school spending, and a new online portal that has sped up processing of cooperative endeavor agreements and related payments. Members praised the transparency work and faster payments, and asked about bond ratings, CEA oversight, and the public accessibility of the transparency site. The Public Service Commission’s FY 2027 budget was presented at $11.5 million, entirely self-generated, with most spending on personnel; commissioners said salary and market adjustments were needed to address heavy attorney and auditor turnover. Civil Service’s FY 2027 budget was presented at $28.7 million, with major funding from interagency transfers and general fund, and officials explained recent pay-plan and special entrance rate changes intended to improve recruitment and retention across state agencies. Members asked how those compensation changes were developed and whether market studies supported them. The Agriculture and Forestry budget was presented at $91.4 million, with major funding from statutory dedications, general fund, and federal dollars, and the commissioner described severe pressure on farmers from low commodity prices, drought, freezes, wildfires, storm damage, and labor shortages. The Agriculture and Forestry discussion was the longest and most detailed. The commissioner said the state is working to expand markets, reduce costs, and help farmers through federal assistance, while also seeking more equipment and fuel for wildfire response after a severe fire weekend and ongoing drought conditions. Members raised concerns about storm-damaged timber, soil and water conservation funding, and the loss of federal dollars that depend on local technicians. The commissioner explained the wildfire suppression subfund, the role of severance taxes, and the limits of current firefighting equipment and staffing. He also discussed the seafood sector, especially shrimp and crawfish, saying imported seafood, currency changes, tariffs, and H-2B worker shortages are hurting Louisiana producers and processors. He said the department is testing imported seafood for antibiotics, wants more authority to hold contaminated product, and is pursuing legislation to support seafood promotion and testing. Members also asked about wood chips, rail transport, timber severance reporting, and incentives for wood pellet use, and the commissioner said the department is exploring new markets, including overseas buyers for wood and agricultural products. No formal votes or bill actions were taken in the portion provided; the meeting consisted of budget presentations, agency testimony, and member questions and comments. The tone throughout was supportive of the agencies’ work, with repeated praise for Treasury’s transparency efforts, Civil Service’s compensation reforms, and Agriculture and Forestry’s advocacy for farmers, foresters, and seafood producers.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, more big picture, my understanding is total cost of special ed statewide is $900 million plus per
• </c> answer um there's also a Statewide answer um there's also a Statewide conference<01:25:48.000><c
• </c><02:08:38.199><c> nonpartisan</c> 319 we're a Statewide nonpartisan 319 we're a Statewide nonpartisan
• The most recent version of the bill does still not have the revised fiscal note, so if there was a revised
• The most recent version of the bill does still not have the revised fiscal note, so if there was a revised

Summary: The committee first heard HB 295, which would make school building aid funds non-lapsing/non-APS. Representative Cahill said the bill was intended to keep any unused building aid money available for future projects, potentially helping move projects up the priority list or provide a little more funding for school construction. Members asked about how much money has lapsed in past years, whether the education trust fund and building aid are separate, and whether any lapsing dollars could be used to pay down debt. Department of Education official Jim Carney said about $29.1 million would be available if building aid is funded to the $50 million maximum in FY26, confirmed that the fund currently lapses, and said the department would gather historical lapse data. Committee members also discussed whether a dedicated fund structure could achieve the same goal, and the chair noted that the education trust fund statute includes school building aid as one of its uses. No vote was taken; the hearing was closed and the committee said it would later hold a work session after receiving more information. The committee then took up HB 237, introduced by Representative Dan McGuire, which would prohibit the use of special education state funds and differentiated aid for students not receiving special education services. The New Hampshire School Boards Association, through Becky Wilson, opposed the bill as written, saying it was unclear, potentially unnecessary, and difficult to implement because adequacy and differentiated aid are distributed as part of a districtwide lump sum rather than as student-specific dollars. She explained that special education costs are embedded across district budgets, including staffing, training, transportation, and instruction, and that some staff and services benefit both special education and general education students. Wilson also said differentiated aid is not tied to a specific pupil and is used at the district’s discretion, though it is intended to support students with greater needs. Committee members pressed on whether the bill would require districts to track money by individual student, whether it could conflict with federal special education law, and whether it would affect least restrictive environment requirements. Wilson said making the funds student-specific could create privacy and accounting problems and could make it difficult to staff inclusive classrooms, though she did not give a definitive legal opinion on federal compliance. She agreed that students who are not eligible for special education would not be included in the separate catastrophic/special education aid reimbursement program. The discussion continued into the second section of the bill, with members exploring how adequacy aid and differentiated aid are used in practice, but no action was taken during the portion provided.