Transcript Highlights:

• information or any error in a citation that does not constitute grounds for dismissal of a charge or for reversal
• c><00:16:03.279> charge<00:16:03.519> or<00:16:03.639> for<00:16:03.800> reversal
• <00:16:04.199> of dismissal of a charge or for reversal of dismissal of a charge or for reversal
• that when that information is not able to be obtained, the remedy is not dismissal of the charge or reversal
• that when that information is not able to be obtained, the remedy is not dismissal of the charge or reversal

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee continued hearing several bills. HB 399 would create an additional district court judgeship in the First Circuit; it drew support from the Judiciary, Public Defender, State Bar, Financial Services Association, and others, and there was no opposition. HB 560 would appropriate funds for Judiciary contracts with community-based organizations; many service providers and coalition representatives testified in support, emphasizing the growing gap between contract payments and the actual cost of services, especially for domestic violence, youth, legal aid, and other vulnerable populations. HB 648 would establish a two-year pilot program in the First Circuit probate and family court for guardianship and conservatorship-related resources; the Office of the Public Guardian and disability advocates supported it, while suggesting amendments to clarify that the bill refers to professional evaluations, including psychological, neurocognitive, or functional evaluations, rather than just physicians’ letters. The committee also heard HB 990, which appropriates funds for claims against the state, with the Attorney General noting 21 claims totaling about $6.5 million plus two additional resolved claims and requesting corrections to identify two matters as judgments rather than settlements. HB 991 would clarify that the Attorney General may conduct FBI fingerprint-based background checks on contractors and employees; it was supported by the Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center and others, with an amendment to include subcontractors. HB 998 would provide that omissions or errors in citations do not require dismissal or reversal if they do not prejudice the defendant; the Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor supported it, while one testifier opposed it, and members discussed whether the language adequately protects due process and how it would apply when identifying information is unavailable. Finally, HB 1174 would address payment-under-protest lawsuits by allowing interest earned on certain funds to be paid in non-taxation cases if the claimant prevails and by setting procedures for premature filings. After testimony, the committee moved into decision-making and recommended passage of HB 399, HB 560, HB 648, HB 990, HB 991, HB 998, and HB 1174, generally with amendments where noted, including effective-date changes and the requested clarifications. The measures were adopted, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed rules get rid of the reversion. The idea is it's an incentive to pay quickly, right?
• So, um, it's just a cleaner, easier process, I think, to just do away with the reversions.
• Staff recommends a reversion to $150 given the amount of activity in the report at issue, but cannot
• the determination letter and requested to pay the reduced fine of $3,000, and staff recommends the reversion
• Staff recommends a reversion to the $150 fine as originally determined. Any questions for Ms.

Summary: The Texas Ethics Commission met on March 11, 2025, first in executive session and then in open session. The chair announced that, in light of Texas Attorney General Opinion KP-484, the commission would conform its practices to the opinion and move to repeal tolling rules for sworn-complaint deadlines. The chair also said the commission would dismiss 36 pending sworn-complaint cases in which the 120-day settlement deadline had been exceeded, even though the delay had been tolled under prior TEC rules. The commission then set future meeting dates for June 12 and September 17 and approved prior meeting minutes. The commission adopted a new criminal-referral rule clarifying that, once jurisdiction over a complaint is accepted, commissioners may vote to make a criminal referral. It also adopted revised advisory-opinion rules, with a clarifying amendment from a commenter, and republished proposed changes to the definition of “principal purpose” for political committees after staff recommended a 49 percent political-activity threshold and further public input. The commission published for comment proposed changes to ethics training rules, facial-compliance review procedures, late-filing waiver and reduction rules, and sworn-complaint procedures, including tighter discovery limits, a default-order set-aside process, and removal of tolling language inconsistent with KP-484. It also republished Chapter 28 rules on Speaker-candidate reporting. The commission adopted several advisory opinions. It declined to give an affirmative defense on whether certain school-district communications were political advertising because related litigation had already addressed the issue. It reaffirmed that a House member may use donated district-office space if it is not reimbursable with public funds and was accepted before the contribution moratorium. It also concluded that a judge may use political funds for travel to a Navy-hosted event as a local dignitary, that legislators’ use of a corporate aircraft for a border-region fact-finding trip could be permissible but would likely trigger reporting obligations, that a TCEQ commissioner’s revolving-door restrictions apply only to matters actually placed before the commissioner, and that a part-time legislative staffer may not take outside employment assisting a registered lobbyist. The commission then heard and acted on numerous fine-waiver appeals, granting several full waivers or reductions and approving staff recommendations on others, and terminated a number of inactive campaign treasurer appointments. Finally, the executive director briefed the commission on the 2025 legislative session, noting that staffing requests are tied to Sunset recommendations and that the House had preliminarily recommended about half of the commission’s appropriations requests.

Transcript Highlights:

• have been saved by Californians who received naloxone from a harm reduction program and used it to reverse
• thousands of doses of naloxone in San Francisco and have been able to report hundreds of overdose reversals
• This is an investment in the most effective overdose. ...outreach and reversal programs that we have
• And we're able to collect data to help tell the story of our participants reversing a fatal overdose
• The community-based programs funded by this initiative ...accounted for 56% of the overdose reversals

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Prior, there were serious reversions across a wide range of areas.
• And the fact of our reversions, over half was because of New Mexico. Got it. Okay.
• Chair, Representative Herndon, I don't know where the reversion would go.
• I do know the 7th and 11th did not have any reversions, especially... Volume 3.
• Listen, and we did all of that, and you've asked about reversion.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first heard an Aging and Long-Term Services Department budget presentation comparing the LFC and executive recommendations. The main differences were in the Aging Network, Adult Protective Services, Program Support, and Long-Term Care Division, especially the executive’s proposed $10 million infusion into the Kiki Savadra Senior Dignity Fund and $6.2 million for expanding New Mexico Care. LFC staff explained that the committee recommendation was lower in general fund and fund-balance use, while the executive emphasized rising senior population needs, meal and transportation costs, and the cost savings of keeping older adults at home. The secretary also reviewed the department’s special requests, including the conference on aging, outreach, emergency preparedness, and the Kiki fund, and described New Mexico Care’s growth, its evaluation results, and the department’s plan to separate Kiki into its own accounting fund. Members largely focused on senior services, rural meal delivery, transportation, caregiver support, and the Kiki fund. Several members urged stronger support for non-metro aging providers and for New Mexico Care, citing its role in keeping seniors out of nursing homes and the program’s reported savings and outcomes. Questions also covered eligibility, background checks for caregivers, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer’s screening, and whether Kiki funds can support home modifications such as ramps. The committee then voted to adopt the LFC recommendation with one executive language change: adding the executive’s page 14 language allowing an additional 12.5% distribution for initial payments to aging network providers at the start of FY27. Representative Dow opposed the motion. The committee then moved to the Attorney General’s budget. LFC staff explained that the office’s budget relies heavily on the Consumer Settlement Fund, with both recommendations reducing general fund revenue while increasing settlement-fund use, and that performance measures were in consensus. The Attorney General said the office was not seeking more general fund, but wanted greater ability to use funds it recovers. He highlighted major consumer and public safety work, including litigation against major social media and AI platforms, a case involving Snapchat and child exploitation/extortion, the statewide crime gun intelligence center, efforts to address oilfield theft, work on missing and murdered Indigenous persons, and efforts to protect federal funds coming into New Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• their devastating cuts to reversing their devastating cuts to Medicaid.<02:43:31.439> Nope.
• Speaker, could simply be reversed with a phone call to the Secretary of the Interior.
• > cruel<04:38:36.480> health Reversing the draconian and cruel health Reversing the draconian
• that we have the opportunity to reverse that we have the opportunity to reverse this<04:41:52.718
• to reverse the disastrous Biden<05:03:04.718> administration's<05:03:05.600> policies.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:48.400> repealer<00:21:48.880> just that point or or a reverse repealer just
• that point or or a reverse repealer just to to to >> No,<00:21:50.000> I<00:21:50.159><
• <00:21:50.960> repeal >> No, I I don't want to reverse repeal >> No, I I don't
• want to reverse repeal unless<00:21:51.520> that's<00:21:51.760> what<00:21:51.840>
• And then the Chair has also asked me to include within the amendment a reverse repealer, and that's my

Keywords: Business and Financial Institutions - Room 409, 2 February, 2026; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2725, which would shorten the required hold period for pawn brokers on precious metal coins and bullion from 21 days to 3 days, change fingerprinting renewal from annually to every three years to match FBI requirements, and make a technical address update. The sponsor and a Mississippi Pawn Brokers Association representative said the change was needed because gold and silver prices are volatile and pawn brokers are disadvantaged compared with jewelry stores. After questions about whether the bill affected pawn loans, the committee adopted a do pass motion and passed the committee substitute. Next, Senate Bill 2530 on perpetual care cemeteries would raise the trust-fund threshold from $50,000 to $75,000 and allow longer-term CDs so cemetery funds can earn more interest. Members discussed Secretary of State oversight, annual reporting, and the fact that only interest, not principal, may be used for cemetery care. The committee then moved the bill out with a title sufficient do pass recommendation. The committee also considered Senate Bill 2712, which would allow small lenders to charge up to a $10 fee for insurance in lieu of filing a UCC on certain collateralized loans. It was described as a way to reduce costs and follow guidance from the Department of Banking and Consumer Finance, and it was passed out on a do pass motion. Senate Bill 2714, a major unclaimed property bill, drew extended discussion about creating a legal process for abandoned safe deposit boxes: banks would inventory contents with a notary and two officers, notify owners and heirs, transfer contents to the Treasurer after notice periods, and allow the Treasurer to auction items while preserving proceeds for claimants. Members raised concerns about notice methods, privacy, wills and other documents, and whether first-class mail should be changed to registered mail; the committee adopted a conceptual amendment to use registered mail and added a reverse repealer, then passed the bill out. Finally, Senate Bill 2732 was introduced to combat identity theft by allowing a child’s credit to be frozen at birth through a form provided with the birth certificate. The sponsor said the bill is aimed at protecting minors from fraud and noted that credit freezes and unfreezes are free. The discussion was brief, and the bill was presented as a consumer protection measure for children.

Transcript Highlights:

• Was there also language in there about reversions?
• Was there also language in there about reversions? Uh, Mr.
• 01.320> about Was there also language in there about Was there also language in there about reversions
• 03.000> Chairman,<00:16:03.280> that<00:16:03.480> was<00:16:03.640> in reversions
• Chairman, that was in reversions? Uh Mr.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first addressed an unintended consequence in the Joint Conference Committee report involving dual and concurrent enrollment funding. Staff explained that a dollar-for-dollar reduction tied to Senate File 81 would have fully funded public school dual/concurrent enrollment while leaving no funds for non-public school students. Senator Salazar moved to strike that provision, the motion was seconded, and it carried. Budget and Fiscal Administrator Don Richards then walked through the conference committee report and the major adopted amendments. He reviewed Senate and House amendments affecting items such as sign language interpreters, rural veterinary education, predator management authorization, petroglyphs and pictographs, senior services, community college funding, school district entitlement payments, the School Foundation Program reserve transfer, a tourism-related rodeo museum change, archaeological work on human remains, a jet airplane reduction, abortion-related language, livestock ear tags, provider rates for developmental disabilities, student-athlete endorsement restrictions, a forensic audit for the Wyoming Business Council, and the Yellowstone tree inscription. He also described several deleted sections and policy changes, including removal of spending-policy provisions, flex authority language, and other budget sections. Richards further summarized new or revised appropriations and conditions, including funding for local cybersecurity, stormwater fees, the Wyoming Natural Resource Trust Fund, lab services, IT modernization, Wyoming Public Television, matching funds, cloud services, and restored governor FTE requests. He noted a compromise on the outdoor trails matching program, a conditional $10 million University of Wyoming operational review appropriation tied to future cost savings, and a stablecoin appropriation. He also explained that the report retained the base-bill reversion language, discussed the remaining general fund balance and statutory reserve, and said the committee would circulate the amendment and signatures for floor action later that day. The meeting then adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, it makes changes to the Business Ready Community Program, and then makes changes to the reversion
• It amends the reversion of funds that have been appropriated to the Business Ready Community account.
• On page eight, the changes to 9-12-602 relate to the financial reversion aspect.
• If there's a reversion that comes in the...
• entity to go ahead and do that reversion before the biennium?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• very enthused about that until that was then appealed to the circuit court, where the circuit court reversed
• Not reversed. Don't ever reverse those. I'm joined by Senior Justice Michael B.
• Not reversed. Don't ever reverse those. I'm joined by Senior Justice Michael B.
• Tenth Circuit, when reviewing whether the plaintiffs were entitled to a preliminary injunction, reversed
• Tenth Circuit, when reviewing whether the plaintiffs were entitled to a preliminary injunction, reversed

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and, for a substantial portion of those who pursue them in adolescence, regret and the need for reversal
• The act of providing the procedure to a minor triggers responsibility for follow-up reversal costs.
• in those courses, and they still do, that puberty blockers are a mere pause button, completely reversible
• Meltzer's responsibility to pay for it or to pay to reverse it.
• an excellent point about how do we care for, how do we address the question of those who want to reverse

Bills: SB1015, SB1049, SB1066, SB1081, SB1092, SB1133, SB1134, SB1139, SB1147, SB1148, SB1168, SB1189, SCR1001, SCR1002, SCR1005, SCR1010

Keywords: gender transition, detransition, healthcare liability, medical malpractice, youth protection, legal action, Arizona law, spousal maintenance, court guidelines, self-sufficiency, financial support, marriage dissolution, child safety, dependency cases, attorney regulation, foster care, legal representation, probation, dangerous crimes, children

Summary: The Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee heard several bills and took action on multiple measures. SB 1066 would create civil liability for knowingly or recklessly publishing fraudulent scientific research, allowing the Attorney General, county attorneys, and injured parties to sue; the sponsor and supporters argued it would deter research fraud and protect the public, while opponents warned it would chill research and speech. After debate over peer review, fraud standards, and the bill’s scope, the committee voted 4-3 to give SB 1066 a do-pass recommendation. SB 1015 would impose strict personal liability on providers who perform gender transition procedures on minors, including liability for later detransition costs and injuries; supporters framed it as accountability for irreversible treatment on children, while opponents called it discriminatory and likely to function as a backdoor ban. After testimony from the sponsor, medical professionals, detransitioners, and civil liberties advocates, the committee also passed SB 1015 on a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered SB 1049, which would limit spousal maintenance awards to four years and change the factors courts use in setting support. The sponsor said the bill was intended to curb long-term maintenance and align support with self-sufficiency, while judicial and family-law witnesses explained the existing guideline system, the 2022-2025 court study, and concerns that a hard cap could ignore case-specific circumstances such as disability or housing instability. The committee adopted an amendment setting the duration cap at four years and approved the bill as amended by a 4-2 vote. SB 1189, allowing campaign funds to be used for personal security for candidates and family members, passed unanimously after supporters cited threats against public officials and personal experiences with harassment. The committee also passed SB 1081, which would prevent a Department of Child Safety attorney from appearing before a judge they had appeared before in the prior five DCS cases; the sponsor said it was meant to reduce familiarity between attorneys and judges, while opponents raised concerns about rural court access and arbitrary limits. SB 1133, which would eliminate the need for a candidate to file a second financial disclosure statement if one had already been filed that year, was amended to add an emergency clause and passed unanimously. The committee then moved to SCR 1001, a referral measure to end early voting at 7 p.m. on the Friday before the general election and require affirmative request for a mail ballot by voters who have provided proof of citizenship; the transcript cuts off as that measure was being introduced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last fiscal year, our reversion out of the category in the 300s, which was contractual, was $3,000.
• What were your reversions last year?
• Did we have a reversion in the budget?
• One, in FY24, I believe there was a reversion from the Secretary of State's office? Mr.
• Chair, yes, there was a reversion. I believe it was under 3%. Okay, what would? Okay.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why should you care about this negative trend and work with us to reverse it?
• Why should you care about this negative trend and work with us to reverse it?
• Why should you care about this negative trend and work with us to reverse it?
• Why should you care about this negative trend and work with us to reverse it?
• <00:32:42.240> a last two years, Minnesota has reversed a last two years, Minnesota has reversed

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And then on the reverse here in the Metro, we're usually not having appointments available.
• And then on the reverse here in the Metro, we're usually not having appointments available.
• The key is flexibility: running just a few times a day, with only one reverse commute.
• The key is flexibility: running just a few times a day, with only one reverse commute.
• The key is flexibility: running just a few times a day, with only one reverse commute.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• But to simply reverse what the Supreme Court said, which is what this amendment does, it takes pretty
• But to simply reverse what the Supreme Court said, which is what this amendment does, it takes pretty
• But to simply reverse what the Supreme Court said, which is what this amendment does, it takes pretty
• But to simply reverse what the Supreme Court said, which is what this amendment does, it takes pretty
• But to simply reverse what the Supreme Court said, which is what this amendment does, it takes pretty

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting covered two committee of conference items. On HB 1260, the House and Senate debated a Senate amendment dealing with sealing certain divorce-related financial records. House members argued the amendment conflicted with the Keane Sentinel decision and would improperly flip the burden of proof on public access to court records, raising constitutional concerns under the state constitution’s open government and privacy provisions. Senate members responded that the privacy amendment and modern conditions support more protection for sensitive financial information, especially in limited uncontested divorces, but several members agreed the issue should be studied in a separate bill with a full hearing next year rather than resolved in conference. The committee ultimately voted unanimously to have the Senate recede and pass HB 1260 in the form originally passed by the House, preserving the underlying bill without the Senate amendment. The committee then took up HB 1574, which extends free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs and provides funding for SNAP administrative costs. The main dispute was the Senate’s addition of $4.4 million for SNAP administration. Senator Gray and DHHS officials said federal changes will shift more administrative costs to the state and that underfunding administration could raise the SNAP error rate, which could trigger future federal penalties and larger state costs; DHHS reported a current error rate of 7.57%, below the national average, and said a higher error rate could cost the state roughly $12 million in a partial fiscal year and nearly $16 million in a full year. Representative Papovich said he understood the department’s needs but was reluctant to support the bill as amended, noting the Senate language resembled a prior bill that had already failed in the House. The discussion ended with the committee still considering the Senate amendment, with members weighing the immediate appropriation against possible future costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• different land use than, say, housing or other more permanent uses of the land that are harder to reverse
• You just said that if they're going to reverse back to the farmland, they can.
• Because they go for 20, 30 years, and if they want to reverse back, those leases can be terminated.
• So how can I reverse back when those farmers may not have the money to terminate those leases?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on H. 3256, a bill stemming from the Massachusetts Cranberry Revitalization Task Force that would remove Chapter 61A barriers for certain renewable energy projects on non-producing agricultural land. Supporters said the bill would let farmers separate adjacent land from Chapter 61A without a municipal right of first refusal, avoid rollback and advance tax penalties, and use small solar or other renewable projects to generate supplemental income while keeping the farm in operation. Testimony emphasized that the proposal is intended to be “farm-first,” limited to marginal or accessory land, and could also produce local tax revenue for municipalities. Some members raised concerns about whether the bill should be limited to solar, the appropriate project size, impacts on other agricultural sectors, and whether future sales or conversion back to other uses should trigger local rights of first refusal. Witnesses said the bill had been reported favorably in a prior session and noted that similar projects typically involve 20-year leases with extensions. The committee also took testimony on S. 2009, which would authorize regional transportation ballot initiatives. MAPC and Transportation for Mass argued that the bill would give municipalities and groups of municipalities a flexible tool to raise local revenue for transportation projects such as transit, roads, bridges, bikeways, and pedestrian infrastructure, with sunset provisions so the revenue ends when the project ends. They said the measure would not raise taxes on its own, but would allow local voters to decide whether to adopt a revenue source, and pointed to examples from other states where similar initiatives funded major transit and infrastructure projects. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony was also heard on S. 1922, which would create a Massachusetts fund allowing voluntary taxpayer donations to the UN Least Developed Countries Fund or related 501(c)(3) nonprofits supporting climate-vulnerable communities. Climate Reality Project representatives said the bill would let Massachusetts residents support climate resilience projects in the world’s poorest countries at no cost to the Commonwealth, and could serve as a model for other states. Senators questioned how recipient countries and nonprofits would be selected, what safeguards would exist regarding countries such as Yemen, and how taxpayers would know where donations would go; witnesses said the fund would be administered through the UN system and that they would provide more clarification. Rep. Michelle Ciccolo also testified on H. 3051, seeking a one-year deferral of the higher interest rate that applies when deferred property taxes become due after the death of a senior or veteran, saying the current jump to 16% can burden heirs and discourage use of the deferral program. The hearing concluded without any votes or committee actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Nothing in the bill will change at all unless the court reverses this ruling and allows and declare it
• Nothing in the bill will change at all unless the court reverses this ruling and allows it, vacates the
• >> The Fifth Circuit yesterday reversed the lower court ruling in the Louisiana Senate district, and
• >> The Fifth Circuit yesterday lifted reversed the lower court ruling in the Louisiana Senate district

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• women, new moms, and young kids, reverse women, new moms, and young kids, reverse the<02:14:36.560
• <04:55:19.760> It's because it's going to reverse this.
• It's because it's going to reverse this.
• reverse opioid overdoses as they happen. reverse opioid overdoses as they happen.
• 11:03.840> drugs Emergency opioid overdose reversal drugs Emergency opioid overdose reversal drugs

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this would add a reverse the screen.
• It is to add a reverse repealer. There are no questions.
• It is to add a reverse<02:18:37.599> repealer.
• There are no reverse repealer.
• That's removing the reverse repealing.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 9 February, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, received an invocation from Dr. Pearl Huggin, and approved dispensing with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. Several guests were introduced, including Dr. Huggin’s family, the doctor of the day, first-year medical students from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, and representatives from Mississippi hospitals and law enforcement. The chamber then moved to the calendar and took up multiple bills. Senate Bill 2911, concerning alternative return-to-work provisions for state retirees, was explained as shortening the required separation period from 90 days to 30 days and allowing retirees to return in certain positions at up to 80% of the salary for the job they are performing, with the employer paying both sides of retirement contributions. Supporters said it would help fill vacancies in education, public safety, corrections, and local government and could save money compared with contract labor; questions focused on work expectations, insurance, and how the bill would apply to teachers, bus drivers, and other retirees. The committee substitute was adopted, and the bill passed on the afternoon roll call. Senate Bill 2272, which would exempt certain agriculture and forestry items from the 1.5% sales tax, was explained as reducing the tax to 0% for qualifying commercial farmers and loggers and expanding covered items to include equipment and fencing supplies. A question clarified that the exemption applies to commercial operations, not individuals raising animals for personal use. The bill passed on the afternoon roll call. Senate Bill 2909, which lowers the years needed for unreduced retirement under tier five from 35 to 30, was also taken up; after adoption of the committee substitute, the bill was laid on the table subject to call of the chair because of a pending amendment. The Senate also tabled a motion to reconsider Senate Bill 2588 (the Shield Act codification) and heard Senate Bill 2260, which creates a government efficiency task force to study ways to streamline agency licensing and service delivery; that bill was explained as a preliminary study commission intended to recommend consolidation and a more one-stop approach to state services.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then for the middle and high school, again, it's that reverse inverse relationship between the size
• Chairman, just reverse the order of the districts.
• But I was curious about the idea of, like, if, for example, we reverse the disaggregation, reverse the
• Disaggregate, reverse the aggregation.
• Reversing it and taking it back to the previous model effectively restores that.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So reversions were relatively close to what was assumed in the budget.
• And a reversion, or more commonly a reversion of assets, is when money is being taken out of the ...or
• more commonly a reversion of assets, is when money is being taken out of the trust fund to be used for
• Their biggest concern was the reversion of assets in 2034, because in their words, it uses one-time funds
• bills, they said that 5085, the merger bill, presents less risk to plan qualification because no reversion

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a work session covering the state revenue outlook, caseload forecasts, wildfire costs, budget balance, tort liability, water supply, and pension policy. The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council reported modest near-term U.S. growth, no near-term Washington employment growth in 2026, continued personal income growth, and elevated inflation, with tariffs and federal policy cited as major risks. Revenue forecasts were slightly improved for the current biennium by about $105 million but down about $185 million for the next biennium. Members asked about income inequality and housing permits; staff said personal income is an aggregate measure and housing production remains below long-term needs. The Caseload Forecast Council then reported that most forecasts were unchanged or only slightly changed, but several programs increased, including Washington College Grant, Working Connections, aged/blind/disabled cash grants, nursing homes, home and community services, and developmental disabilities personal care. The largest policy-driven change was in Medicaid low-income adult caseloads, where federal H.R. 1 was projected to reduce coverage substantially through narrower eligibility, community engagement requirements, and shorter eligibility periods. The committee also heard a wildfire funding update and a 2025 fire season review. Staff explained that the state budgets $93 million annually for suppression and uses supplemental appropriations for costs above that level, with an estimated state supplemental need of about $139 million for the current year. Department of Natural Resources officials said 2025 fire activity remained below the 10-year average in acres burned, but fires were more complex and closer to communities, contributing to higher residence loss. They described expanded use of aircraft, firefighters from other states, corrections crews, and the Arcadia 20 hand crew, and said the state did not need National Guard ground support this year. A budget preview then showed that the near general fund outlook had worsened after vetoes, lapses, and forecast changes, and that maintenance-level costs alone would leave a projected negative balance by fiscal year 2027 and about $4.3 billion by fiscal year 2029, before any policy decisions. Jason Seams, the state risk manager, reported a sharp rise in tort claim costs, with indemnity expenses nearly doubling from fiscal year 2023 to 2025 and DCYF accounting for most of the increase. He said the state self-insurance liability account has run deficits for four straight biennia and is now facing nearly $600 million in deficits, driven largely by a surge in DCYF claims, especially juvenile rehabilitation and long-running sex abuse cases. Members asked about the role of old claims, comparisons with other states, excess insurance, and whether more Attorney General staff could reduce special assistant attorney general costs. The committee then shifted to water policy, hearing from tribal leaders, Ecology, and the Washington Water Trust. Tribal witnesses emphasized overappropriation, declining flows, climate impacts, and the need for legislative oversight and tribal participation in water policy. Ecology described major projects in the Odessa sub-area, Yakima Basin, and Dungeness, along with the need for storage, recharge, conservation, and policy changes to support water supply development. The Washington Water Trust argued that climate change is reducing summer flows and that the state needs more funding, enforcement, and long-term commitment to restore instream flows. The final item was a pension update on LEOFF 1 surplus assets; staff reviewed two 2025 bills that would have merged or restructured the plan and used surplus assets, but neither passed, and instead the budget directed the Select Committee on Pension Policy to study the issue and report back.