Transcript Highlights:

• </c> their they their services are based their they their services are based premised<00:26:00.080><c
• </c> provide services there. provide services there.
• </c><00:51:59.280><c> The</c> Who delivers the service? The Who delivers the service?
• service? service?
• </c> forward for placement services etc. forward for placement services etc.

Summary: The commission met to continue its study of the cost of special education, with the chair emphasizing that the group needs to narrow its focus over the coming year toward specific cost drivers, including the IEP process, Medicaid, charter schools, and EFAs. Members reviewed a draft first report due November 1 and agreed it would be a brief synopsis of prior meetings, with minutes attached. The September 30, 2025 minutes were amended to correct the number of federally funded department staff from 234 to 23, and to revise language about Senator Sullivan’s comments so they reflected concerns about IEP advocates and fees charged to families rather than support for the concept. The amended minutes were then approved unanimously, with abstentions noted for members who were absent. The main presentation focused on how special education costs are handled for students attending charter schools. The DOE representative said there are 804 students with disabilities in charter schools across 88 of the state’s 176 districts, and that the district of residence remains responsible for all services and costs. She explained that students must meet IDEA criteria through district evaluation and parent consent, and that services are determined through individual IEP meetings rather than by a blanket charter-school decision. Members asked how those costs are tracked, whether any students are merely “monitored,” and whether districts separately identify charter-school special education expenses; the answer was that most districts fold those costs into their overall special education budget, though some may break them out as a line item. The discussion then turned to transportation and mileage costs for staff providing services at charter schools. Testimony indicated that districts may use their own staff, contract staff, or contract with a charter school for certified services, and that travel costs are often either built into contracts or absorbed as part of staff time rather than separately reimbursed. Members questioned whether mileage is reimbursed when staff travel to distant charter schools and whether those costs can be isolated in district budgets; the response was that practices vary by district and are not usually broken out by special education function. Several members argued this makes it difficult to determine the true cost of delivering special education, especially given New Hampshire’s model in which the district of residence pays regardless of where the charter school is located. The chair noted the complexity of the system and compared it to the state’s separate tuition and transportation approach for career and technical education centers.

Transcript Highlights:

• These services include overseeing the state's annual purchasing of $3.7 billion in goods and services
• </c> capital and veteran services capital and veteran services organization<00:19:02.200><c> space</c
• services, cybersecurity services, and connectivity-type services.
• disrupt services in government.
• connectivity type services but services connectivity type services but really<00:32:51.720><c> the</

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:56.320><c> in</c> a hospital ER and medical services in a hospital ER and medical services
• Our mission is to advance equity by addressing the lack of social service services in our communities
• Your support of our GIA request... services to our state holders these services to our state holders
• </c> not present the alcohol rehab Services not present the alcohol rehab Services of of of Hawaii<01
• The first is our shelter services.

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Finance informational briefing on grants and aids was held February 14 and was organized as a high-volume public testimony session with strict procedures: no Q&A, one representative per applicant, one minute per testimony, in-person testimony first, and then Zoom participants. The chairs also announced a recess at 11:00 a.m. for floor sessions and a reconvening at 1:00 p.m. Testimony was heard first from neighbor island applicants, then Oʻahu applicants, with members repeatedly directing speakers to line up and keep remarks brief. Neighbor island testimony focused on a wide range of capital and operating requests. Health and community projects included Hawaii Island Community Health Center’s workforce housing in Kau, Wuli Hawaiian Homestead Association’s learning center and predevelopment work, Rescue Tube Foundation’s beach rescue tube expansion, Puna Community Medical Center’s planned hospital/ER campus, Maui Humane Society’s free veterinary care after the wildfires, Hawaiʻi Care Choices’ palliative care readiness, and the Lyman Museum’s HVAC replacement. Other requests included the Maui Advanced Manufacturing Alliance’s Pāʻia Mill redevelopment, Laua 2020’s preschool and learning lab, Mālama Aina’s USDA-compliant meat processing facility, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association’s water safety programs, Kaha P Organization’s agriculture education support, Ohana Arts’ youth performance project, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center’s emergency closet, EOA Pacific’s Marshall Islands teacher training, and the Central Pacific Youth Athletic Club’s new facility. Oʻahu testimony included the YWCA Oʻahu/Pythink Center’s renovation of Juliet M. Atherton Hall and its community kitchen, West Oʻahu Community Health Center’s wildfire protection and security needs, the Early School’s playground improvements, Surfing the Nations’ food distribution center expansion, and Sounding Joy Music Therapy’s weekly services for people with disabilities. Speakers generally emphasized community benefit, workforce development, health access, food security, disaster recovery, and support for children, seniors, and underserved populations. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:50.720><c> that</c> operation like for example services that operation like for example services
• We provide funds to Social Services, transfer funds to the Social Services Grant, and then of course
• We provide funds to Social Services, transfer funds to the Social Services Grant, and then of course
• </c> of the services of the services provided<01:29:28.679><c> uh</c><01:29:28.800><c> it's</c><01:29
• Contracts for program services. I'm sorry. Yes, you have zero in services. I'm sorry.

Summary: The committee held a Division 3 budget work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Economic Stability. Karen Hebert, the division director, and Nathan White, DHHS chief financial officer, walked members through the governor’s operating budget pages and a briefing book, explaining that the division was consolidated in 2018 and serves programs aimed at financial stability, poverty reduction, child care access, and related supports. Members repeatedly asked for clearer breakdowns of general fund spending, historical growth since consolidation, and how the division’s broad mission areas map onto specific budget lines. A major portion of the discussion centered on the Bureau of Child Development and Head Start collaboration and the child care subsidy program. Hebert said the child care scholarship/subsidy helps low- and moderate-income families access daycare so parents can work, attend school, or receive treatment, and that eligibility is based on state median income up to 85%. She reported a 45% increase in utilization, 4,032 children receiving daycare support as of the end of January, and about 15% of eligible children being served. She also described the quality improvement system “Granite Steps for Quality,” with 160 providers enrolled out of 717 licensed programs, and noted that 1,200 child care professionals added credentials in the last year. Members pressed for cost-benefit information, asking for data on how much the state pays, how many providers and children are served, and whether the department could quantify unmet need. The witnesses said some projects were funded with short-term ARPA child care dollars and that detailed cost data for specific examples, such as the Gorm Community Learning Center expansion, would need to be looked up. They also explained that the child care fund is a federal block grant with required spending set-asides of 9% for quality, 3% for infants and toddlers, and up to 5% for administration, and that unused funds remain available. The committee also reviewed slide 10’s accounting units, including that the Child Care Workforce Fund is 100% general funds and was created as a priority item under HB 2 from the 2024 session, while some other child care-related units are 100% federal funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• So for this last item, for the targeted autism services, we did a utilization review of that service
• or services delivered in the home.
• They bill us for the Cadillac of services and they actually deliver the Hugo of services.
• These are preventive services.
• We have like, you know, these type of services where commercial services, where somebody got a hard,

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met to hear interim charges on higher education transparency and on preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in state government. The chair emphasized accountability for taxpayer dollars and asked witnesses to address financial reporting, audit practices, and whether more frequent or comprehensive audits would improve oversight. Legislative Budget Board staff described how public university systems and most community colleges respond to requests about internal audit practices, noting that university systems generally follow a similar annual audit timeline and that community colleges use a more varied mix of internal and external audit arrangements. Members focused on gaps in reporting, especially Texas Southern University’s missing submissions for several years and Collin County Community College’s nonresponse to the LBB survey. The State Auditor’s Office then outlined its higher education audit work, including mandatory statewide single audits, DEI compliance audits, HUB and State Use Program audits, benefits proportional audits, and discretionary audits based on risk. The auditor said the office has released 43 higher-ed audit reports since fiscal year 2021 and has two audits in progress, and explained that internal audit reports from institutions help guide future audit selection. Senators pressed the office on the lack of enforcement authority, the value of internal auditors at each institution, and whether community colleges should have more standardized reporting and audit requirements. The auditor and general counsel said the SAO can refer suspected fraud to law enforcement but cannot itself enforce findings, while several senators suggested stronger clawback authority and more robust internal audit structures. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board explained that it collects annual financial reports, sources-and-uses data, and community college finance reports, and uses them for funding formulas and other reporting. It also trains governing board members and said it has limited regulatory authority, though community colleges must certify compliance annually and can lose eligibility for state funds if they do not. Members questioned the reliability of self-attested data, the adequacy of board training, and whether a single reporting structure would be more efficient. During public testimony, a ScholarShot representative argued for clearer, student-facing financial transparency so students can see total cost of attendance and the gap they must cover before enrolling.

Transcript Highlights:

• and after-school services, and youth services.
• All directors of a professional service corporation All directors of a professional service corporation
• All directors of a professional service corporation Those services through the corporation.
• Our services cost less than hospital-based services by more than 30%.
• Thank you for your service and long hours.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on multiple bills, beginning with a motion to suspend the five-day notice rule for a long list of Senate bills, which passed on a voice vote. The committee first heard Substitute Senate Bill 6026, a governor-request housing bill that would require cities and counties over 30,000 population to allow residential uses in commercial and mixed-use zones, limit mixed-use/ground-floor commercial requirements in some areas, and allow added height where such requirements are imposed. The lieutenant governor testified strongly in support, arguing the bill would add needed housing capacity without requiring ground-floor retail burdens. The hearing on SB 6026 was then suspended so the committee could move through the agenda. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6294, a broad local government finance measure with eight parts, including expanded uses for certain REET revenues, a new county public utility tax, a new local sales tax for children and family services, expanded housing-related tax uses, changes to county levy structure, longer lid lift periods, and expanded use of rental car tax revenue. Local government, housing, and public health witnesses largely supported the bill, emphasizing flexibility for affordable housing, rental assistance, children’s services, and county fiscal stability. Opponents, including wireless industry, water/sewer district, auto dealer, realtors, energy, and cannabis representatives, objected to specific tax provisions as regressive, costly, or likely to raise consumer prices. Several witnesses requested amendments, including adding public health clinic funding and flood recovery language from House bills. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5400 on local news sustainability, which would create a state grant program funded by a surcharge on large search engines and social media platforms to support journalism jobs and the Murrow Fellowship program. News organizations, the League of Women Voters, open government advocates, and local journalism supporters testified in favor, saying local news is essential to civic life and that the bill would help sustain reporting without using general fund dollars. Technology industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing it unfairly singles out tech companies and could face legal challenges. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6211, which would let opt-in GMA jurisdictions impose REET-2 without voter approval; cities and counties supported it as a parity and infrastructure funding measure, while Realtors opposed the loss of voter approval. Senate Bill 5650, authorizing local cannabis excise taxes, drew support from some local officials but strong opposition from cannabis businesses, which argued Washington’s cannabis taxes are already too high and drive sales to the illicit market. Senate Bill 6033, waiving penalties and interest for taxpayers who failed to collect new sales tax on certain services, was supported by NFIB as a compliance and fairness measure. Senate Bill 6297, exempting temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health providers from sales tax, drew strong support from behavioral health organizations citing workforce shortages and unsustainable costs. Finally, Senate Bill 6343, extending and expanding tax relief for disaster-damaged property and repairs, was presented as aid for flood recovery; local officials testified in support. No final committee votes on the bills were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This slide shows Medicaid payments for residential services and outpatient services over the past five
• We've increased payments for residential services by over 1,700% and payments for outpatient services
• This slide shows Medicaid payments for residential services and outpatient services over the past five
• We've increased payments for residential services by over 1,700% and payments for outpatient services
• .to coverage of IMD services.

Committee: Joint Tribal and State Relations Committee

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and heard an extended discussion with Spirit Lake tribal leaders and program directors about government-to-government relations with the state. Chairwoman Street and others outlined a number of concerns and requests, including taxation of tribal and trust lands, state school support for non-beneficiary students, homelessness services, Indian-managed health care, gaming/e-tabs, the Feather Alert system, industrial farming near waterways, tourism and cultural issues, and the need for more consistent tribal consultation. Committee members responded that many of these issues had previously been passed along without direct action, and several members emphasized the committee’s role in education, communication, and preparing possible legislation or resolutions for the next session. Tribal representatives also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to help legislators better understand tribal jurisdiction and billing issues. A major portion of the meeting focused on Spirit Lake Fish and Wildlife concerns, especially jurisdictional “gray areas” around hunting and fishing on the reservation, recognition of tribal licenses, and the boundary of the reservation around Spirit Lake/Devils Lake. Tribal officials said they wanted a co-stewardship agreement or MOU with the state to clarify jurisdiction, improve cooperation, and address invasive species and aquatic nuisance species. Committee members discussed whether to draft legislation or a resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and they asked for further input from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at a future meeting. The committee also discussed county involvement in land status changes and trust land issues, with Spirit Lake leaders describing a past Benson County resolution that tried to block fee-to-trust transfers and saying it was later rescinded. The committee then heard from Benson County tax equalization director Randy Thompson, who explained how the county values land and handles tax-exempt, inundated, and fee-to-trust parcels. Members asked about the impact of tax-exempt lands on county services and discussed prior legislation that helped counties with large tax-exempt bases. The committee also received a presentation from Dr. Steven Smith of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, including support for non-beneficiary students and workforce training. Members asked about expanding tribal college education into correctional settings, and Smith said the idea was worth exploring through the tribal college system. Finally, HHS interim medical services director Christoph Framing presented remotely on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion, explaining current state funding mechanisms for inpatient and residential behavioral health services and the bill draft directing HHS to pursue a waiver for IMD payments.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the services I receive is Louisiana Rehabilitation Services.
• One of the services I receive is Louisiana rehabilitation services. is Louisiana rehabilitation services
• rates and direct service workers' pay.
• And those services cost more.
• And those services cost more.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• of free services all the way to the pay services?
• Thank you for your service.
• The services that are needed.
• The bill specifies that the services provided may also include wraparound services through state agencies
• , mental health services, general health needs, and whatnot. ...services, general health needs, and whatnot

Summary: The committee first took up SB 1803, which would regulate non-accredited veterans benefits claims assistance by prohibiting unrecognized agents or attorneys from preparing or prosecuting claims, limiting compensation practices, requiring written disclosures and cancellation rights, and making violations subject to Attorney General enforcement. Supporters, including the sponsor and several veterans, said the bill would create needed guardrails against predatory actors while preserving veterans’ choice to use free or paid help. Opponents and some neutral testimony, including a VA-accredited attorney and representatives of the VFW and American Legion, argued the bill still lacked sufficient protections, raised federal preemption concerns, and should require VA accreditation instead. After debate over fees, back pay, and the availability of free services, the committee adopted an amendment and gave SB 1803 a do pass recommendation by a 5-2 vote. The committee then heard SB 1232, a strike-everything amendment dealing with outdoor advertising signs in military airport and ancillary military facility overlay zoning districts. The bill would allow signs on property with a military compatibility permit in areas otherwise treated as residential under a zoning designation, which the sponsor and property representatives said was needed to resolve an ADOT permitting loophole for a specific parcel near Luke Air Force Base and the Northern Parkway. Members questioned whether the change was narrowly tailored, whether other properties could be affected, and whether ADOT and federal highway beautification rules would be satisfied. After the amendment was adopted, the committee approved SB 1232 on a 4-3 vote, with several members saying they would reserve the right to change their votes on the floor. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 1511, which would prohibit operation of a commercial motor vehicle in Arizona unless the operator can prove lawful presence in the United States and would allow impoundment if proof is not provided. The sponsor introduced the bill with a lengthy explanation of commercial driver licensing history and concerns about non-domiciled and limited-term CDLs, contrasting them with Canadian and Mexican commercial licensing arrangements. The transcript cuts off before testimony, questions, or any action on SB 1511.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've also heard... ...to navigate the customer service system at their lender or servicer.
• So again, forbearance request issues, issues dealing with customer service at their lender or servicer
• So again, forbearance request issues, issues dealing with customer service at their lender or servicer
• So in our case...” “...for a non-bank servicer, as the borrower is in forbearance, the servicer must
• So in our case for a non-bank servicer, the non-bank servicer, as the borrower is in forbearance, the

Committee: House Banking and Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It defines navigation services. It adds an emergency service. Provider exemption.
• services? It would be on the provider.
• they can continue to provide the services. services outside of what I would call a protective network
• It is all of the other services in Fort Worth that provide homeless services and they would be impacted
• I have used services in these navigation service providers in any given year. about 10% of North Dallas

Bills: SB604 , SB843 , SB1636 , SB2395 , SB571 , SB1224 , SB1832 , SB2392 , SB747 , SB2623 , SB2624 , SB2185

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:52.880><c> is</c> Our Greater Minnesota bus service is Our Greater Minnesota bus service is
• </c> and human services expenses. and human services expenses.
• </c> Um we do have some crossover service Um we do have some crossover service that<00:15:20.920><c>
• improvement</c> From the rail service improvement From the rail service improvement account<00:20:53.920
• </c> air transportation services account. air transportation services account.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Human Services Committee will come to order.
• and the military service of my husband.
• and the military service of my husband.
• Some may ask whether this duplicates existing services.
• California Association for Adult Day Services, CADS.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Summary: The committee adopted the consent calendar and then heard several bills on child care, aging, child welfare, food access, and youth services. SB 1200 by Sen. Menjivar would redefine infant and toddler age categories in child care licensing to allow providers to serve children beginning at 18 months in the toddler category, with supporters saying it would increase capacity and help family child care businesses stay open; it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 971 by Sen. Choi would authorize counties to offer optional adult education and technology training programs for adults 55 and older through local partnerships; supporters said it would reduce isolation and improve digital literacy, and it passed 4-0 to the floor. SB 1234 by Sen. Alvarado-Gil would require fentanyl to be included in court-ordered drug testing in dependency cases, with testimony from an angel family and law enforcement about child deaths and exposure risks; it passed 4-0 to the floor. The committee also heard SB 1109 by Sen. Alvarado-Gil, which would require additional state review for short-term residential therapeutic programs in very small rural counties or facilities with repeated serious citations. The author and county officials from Alpine County argued that rural counties lack the hospitals, schools, and 24-hour emergency response needed to safely support these placements, while providers opposed the bill as overly broad and potentially destabilizing to STRTP capacity. After the author accepted committee amendments, members voted 4-0 to send the bill to Appropriations as amended. SB 961 by Sen. Ashby would require students applying for financial aid to be notified that they may also be eligible for CalFresh; student and advocacy witnesses described widespread food insecurity on campuses, and the bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1099 by Sen. Gomez Reyes, which clarifies local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA-related exemptions; supporters said it would reduce legal uncertainty for local safety-net services, and the bill was voted 2-0 with the remaining members absent, leaving it on call. SB 1190 by Sen. Grove would create a licensing and regulatory framework for youth transport companies that move minors to out-of-state residential facilities; survivors testified about traumatic transports, supporters called for basic guardrails, and the bill passed 4-0 to Public Safety. Finally, SB 1325 by Sen. Jones would create a narrow pathway for Feeding San Diego to participate in CalFood, with supporters saying it would expand hunger relief in San Diego County and opponents warning it could divert limited food bank resources; the discussion focused on broader funding concerns, and no final vote was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we have appropriate behavioral health services?
• And the third in this short list of services is... the third component of this list of three is services
• services, I would say...
• Access to behavioral health services is crucial.
• At that point in time, it was the Department of Human Services and Social Services that was responsible

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to get services like Meals on Wheels. to get services like Meals on Wheels.
• service member lost to suicide.
• service member lost to suicide.
• service member lost to suicide.
• </c> African-Americans in terms of services. African-Americans in terms of services.

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Transcript Highlights:

• search website for home and community-based services programs.
• We are literally on the verge of creating a senior services waiting list.
• So we have three areas of services for seniors.
• We have home and community-based services, which is at the Department of Human Services, which keeps
• actually transport seniors to the facility and provides centralized services.

Summary: The committee met to hear several House bills related to aging services, child care, and transparency in human services. At the start, the chair announced House Bill 2949 would be laid over until the following Monday and said the committee should expect one additional meeting before deadline. The committee also adopted PCS versions of the bills presented. House Bill 3390, by Rep. Clinton, would require the Oklahoma Department of Human Services to maintain a more detailed provider search website for home and community-based services, including ratings, inspection reports, substantiated complaints, and administrator information. Clinton said the goal was greater transparency and consumer protection, but noted a fiscal impact estimate of about $244,000, with roughly $126,000 affecting the state budget. After a question about whether a rating system already exists, he said he was not aware of one and suggested scaling back the proposal if needed. The bill passed 4-0. House Bill 4199, by Rep. Schreiber, proposed a limited pilot program to help employers and the state share child care costs for workers in a specific income band, with the state matching up to one-third of employer contributions. Schreiber described it as a public-private approach to rising child care costs. The committee passed the bill 4-0. House Bill 4407, by Rep. Blancett, aimed to prevent a future senior services waiting list by encouraging better use of home and community-based services and PACE instead of more expensive long-term care, and House Bill 4412 would create a revolving fund tied to those senior service programs. Blancett argued both bills could improve care and save state money; both measures passed 4-0. The chair then announced the committee had finished its agenda and adjourned, with one more meeting scheduled for the following Monday at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Too many Texans lack access to affordable and dependable broadband services.
• It can handle signals better than cable services can.
• are fiber-based services.
• Hughes is the older, geosynchronous satellite service.
• Because when you have higher population density, these other services, these terrestrial services, provided

Committee: House S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, I'm chair of C-SAC's Health and Human Services Committee.
• And I tell you what, the first month of school, nobody wants services. Everybody wants services.
• It's someone's house that they might be providing the services in.
• And let's be clear, child care services are not throwaway services. They're not optional services.
• And let's be clear, child care services are not throwaway services. They're not optional services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Health Services, and University Recreation.
• , conduct, disability services, and our civil rights compliance team.
• It seems like you've got a lot of great services here.
• Second, our colleges are widening the front door to services.
• Second, our colleges are widening the front door to services.

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Summary: The committee heard a series of informational presentations on student mental health, artificial intelligence, and the High School and Beyond Plan. Central Washington University, Washington State University, the University of Washington, and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges described campus and system efforts to support student well-being through counseling, peer programs, behavioral intervention teams, basic-needs assistance, crisis response, and partnerships with community providers. Presenters said students are reporting high levels of anxiety, loneliness, basic-needs insecurity, and substance-use concerns, while also increasingly seeking services. Members asked about substance-use treatment, student feedback, historical trends, and the distinction between counseling and academic advising. The community and technical colleges also discussed a four-college mental health pilot that expanded access through licensed counselors, telehealth, referral pathways, and stronger connections to basic-needs supports. The committee then shifted to artificial intelligence in higher education. Washington State University, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges described how they are developing AI policies, governance structures, faculty guidance, and training for students and staff. Topics included academic integrity, ethical use, privacy, cybersecurity, equitable access to AI tools, and using AI to support teaching, research, advising, and operations. Presenters emphasized that AI should be used with human oversight and that students need clear course-level policies and foundational skills. Members asked about deepfakes, AI use in hiring and admissions, student monitoring, K-12 alignment, and the risk of bias or privacy problems. Finally, OSPI presented the statewide High School and Beyond Plan platform, School Links, as a practical tool to help students plan for postsecondary pathways and connect to career and college information. The presenter said the new platform is intended to create more equitable access across districts, improve implementation data, and support students’ future planning, while also helping them see a pathway forward. OSPI reported that about 200 districts and 694 middle and high schools are using the platform, with roughly 282,000 students rostered, and said additional funding is needed to complete the statewide rollout beyond June 30, 2026. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• They believe that when our military services work together, those services are greater than the sum of
• Brown and his wife, Shireen, and their family for their more than 40 years of service. selfless service
• They mean it until the particular service that they served in or the particular agency within the service
• I want to step back into service.
• Brown for his exceptional four decades of service.

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: national security, military readiness, Kane nomination, defense budget, China threats, Russia, collaboration, modernization

Summary: The meeting centered on the nomination of retired Lieutenant General Dan Kane for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, delving into various security concerns and the strategic environment facing the U.S. today. Testimonies highlighted the growing threats from adversaries such as China and Russia, with discussions around the necessity of maintaining and modernizing military capabilities to address these challenges. The need for agility in military operations and enhancing collaboration among various defense agencies was underscored. Further, concerns were raised regarding the defense budget and the importance of a strong national defense strategy were prevalent throughout the discussions. The committee members collectively emphasized the need for superior readiness and modernization to keep pace with global threats.