Transcript Highlights:

• Detention centers are not equipped to treat high acuity youth requiring hospitalization.
• Investing in a high acuity mental health facility for justice-involved youth in Kentucky is necessary
• </c> violent, often referred to as high violent, often referred to as high acuity. acuity. acuity.
• in detention, but what we're talking about with this center is the high-acuity youth.
• high acuity youth and talking about the high acuity youth and the<00:55:30.079><c> kids</c><00:55:30.319

Keywords: 0:00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:01:19 NKU Capital Project Update 0:38:57 DJJ High Acuity Services Update 1:03:53 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The interim Budget Review Subcommittee for Justice and Judiciary received an update on Northern Kentucky University’s capital project to house the Northern Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office and the Northern Kentucky Crime Lab in the former Highland Heights Civic Center building on NKU’s campus. NKU and Justice Cabinet staff described the project timeline: the building was identified in late 2022, lease terms were agreed to in early 2023, a pre-construction evaluation agreement was executed in May 2023, the General Assembly authorized $21 million in April 2024, and the lease and construction agreement were finalized in spring 2026. The project is now being prepared for bid, with construction expected to start in August and occupancy targeted for January 2028. About $1 million has been spent so far on design and related investigations. Testimony emphasized that the vacant building was structurally sound but required major upgrades, including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roof, windows, a generator, specialized mechanical systems, security, and geothermal work to meet the needs of two separate operations sharing one facility. NKU said it is contributing $3.7 million to the project. Committee members asked about the condition of the building, the urgency of the project, and why the process took so long. Justice Cabinet and real properties officials said the medical examiner’s office had been shut down since roughly late 2017 or 2018, that the state had first sought funding in the 2022 budget for staffing, a lease, and equipment, and that it took time to find a suitable leased location because the facility has highly specialized requirements. Members also asked about operating costs, annual lease costs, and the impact of the office’s absence on families and counties in Northern Kentucky. Officials said the lease cost is based on NKU’s expected maintenance-related expenses, while utilities and staffing are covered through the Office of the State Medical Examiner or Kentucky State Police, with seven medical examiner positions funded in House Bill 500 and two additional KSP positions requested for the crime lab. They explained that, until the new facility opens, bodies from Northern Kentucky are generally transported to Louisville for autopsy, with transportation costs borne by the coroner’s office. No votes were taken, but the committee requested follow-up information, including lease cost numbers and additional details on facility usage and timing.

Transcript Highlights:

• High school age kids are usually what we deal with. So, I don't want to take up any more time.
• the same weight as a traditional high school diploma.
• program as an alternative pathway for students who have withdrawn to earn their high school diploma.
• Absolutely, it carries the same weight as a traditional high school diploma. Okay, great!
• Let me address the basis of the non-traditional high school diploma.

Bills: SB140, HB102, SB133, SB34

Keywords: Coach Safely Act, youth athletics, noncompliance penalties, Department of Public Health, youth athlete, dual enrollment, high school, community college, university, educational access, high school credit, violence prevention, conflict resolution, mediation, public education, high school graduation, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's worked a lot on this, providing safety for our youth and for our coaches. Coach Crow, welcome.
• Wild West because there aren't any standards at 14 and under, and it really becomes disruptive for high
• That population is eight times larger than the high school population.
• This bill does is allow each student at any high school in the state of Alabama to be able to take a
• The State Board of Education is requesting that it applies to middle school instead of high school.

Bills: SB140, HB102, SB133, SB34

Keywords: Coach Safely Act, youth athletics, noncompliance penalties, Department of Public Health, youth athlete, dual enrollment, high school, community college, university, educational access, high school credit, juvenile court, juvenile delinquency, school notification, student safety, K-12, public schools, private schools, superintendent, principal

Bills: HR201

Keywords: congratulatory resolution, education, principal, teacher of the year, school leadership, Hawaii National Distinguished Principal, Masayuki Tokioka Award, United States Senate Youth Program, student delegates, public schools, charter schools, Hawaiʻi Department of Education, Hawaiian language immersion, Native Hawaiian education, K-12, student leadership, civic engagement, Freshman Academy, teacher recognition, principal recognition

Transcript Highlights:

• The uh State High School League runs.
• </c> I have a relationship with the high I have a relationship with the high school<00:05:07.120><c>
• </c> in some sort of Minnesota State High in some sort of Minnesota State High School<00:07:41.760><c
• Um, whereas in Minnesota we land high.
• </c> were historically high were historically high and<01:35:50.440><c> the</c><01:35:50.560><c> aid<

Bills: HF4906, HF3971, HF4777, HF2109, HF2988

Keywords: property tax, tax refund, taxpayer relief, Minnesota taxation, one-time payment, taxation, property valuation, Tax Court, evidentiary standards, Minnesota Statutes, disparity reduction, aid payments, local government, funding, Fillmore County, education funding, managed forest land, classification, forest management plan, agricultural land

Transcript Highlights:

• The Investment Committee itself is a closed-door meeting, so the discussion in that room is very high
• I sit in front of you today with Senate Memorial 20, entitled the statewide youth violence summit.
• that exist across ...based or research-based youth violence prevention or intervention services that
• New Mexico lacks a unified statewide vision to address youth violence.
• talking to youth to hear their perspective.

Bills: SM20, SM9, SJR6, HB124

Keywords: youth violence, violence prevention, violence intervention, community violence intervention, credible messengers, peer support, restorative justice, violence interrupters, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, high-risk youth, public safety, Department of Health, New Mexico, statewide summit, data collection, reporting, interagency coordination, community-based organizations, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico lacks a unified statewide vision to address youth violence.
• Throughout the news coverage and discussions with institutions about youth...
• talking to youth to hear their perspective.
• You've included community-based organizations that focus on helping troubled youth and youth families
• They can raise rates way high, which would cause the people of New Mexico harm.

Bills: SM20, SM9, SJR6, HB124

Keywords: youth violence, violence prevention, violence intervention, community violence intervention, credible messengers, peer support, restorative justice, violence interrupters, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, high-risk youth, public safety, Department of Health, New Mexico, statewide summit, data collection, reporting, interagency coordination, community-based organizations, law enforcement

Summary: The committee first considered the appointment of Mary Patricia Roman to the State Investment Council. Senator Campos presented her as highly qualified, citing more than 34 years in global investing, leadership at J.P. Morgan, and prior service on the SIC investment committee. Roman described her experience with asset allocation, fiduciary responsibility, and the SIC’s vetting process. Senators asked about the council’s role in pension investments, staffing levels, and whether personal values could influence decisions. Roman said the SIC process is robust, heavily staff-driven, and insulated from individual value judgments. The committee reported broad support and voted 8-0 to advance her nomination to the full Senate. The committee then heard the reappointment of John F. Bingaman to the SIC. Senator Worth praised his leadership as SIC chair and his background in private equity, public service, and economics. Bingaman emphasized the growth of New Mexico’s sovereign wealth funds to more than $70 billion, the importance of staffing and asset allocation, and the SIC’s role as a fiduciary for New Mexicans. Senators asked about protecting the funds in a weaker market and about the Blackstone/PNM matter; Bingaman declined to comment on the memorial because he had not read it. The committee voted 9-0 to send his reappointment to the full Senate. The committee next took up Senate Memorial 20, calling for a statewide youth violence summit. Senator Lopez and an expert from the Council of State Governments said New Mexico lacks a cohesive statewide infrastructure for youth violence prevention and intervention, limited data collection, and enough evidence-based services. Supporters from the ACLU, behavioral health organizations, youth-serving nonprofits, and youth advocates backed the memorial as a way to center lived experience, community engagement, and research-based solutions. Some members raised concerns that victims’ families were not explicitly included in the planning group, but the memorial passed on a 6-3 vote. Finally, the committee debated Senate Memorial 9, which asked the Legislative Finance Committee to study whether New Mexico should invest in equity stakes in PNM and New Mexico Gas Company and requested that the PRC pause consideration of the private-equity acquisitions while the study was completed. Supporters argued the state should examine whether utility ownership value could remain in New Mexico, protect ratepayers, and diversify revenue, while opponents from PNM, Blackstone’s representatives, chambers of commerce, and utility advocates said the proposal would duplicate the PRC’s review, create uncertainty, and risk higher rates and delayed investment. The committee adopted an amendment removing references to the PRC, but the memorial then failed on a 4-4 tie after a motion for due pass as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> believe that our youth believe that our youth our<00:37:32.480><c> youth</c><00:37:33.080><c> should
• </c> for youth and young adults. for youth and young adults.
• At the youth resource center, we touched 132 youth last year.
• </c> center supported 75 youth. center supported 75 youth.
• </c> it's from one of the youth. it's from one of the youth.

Bills: HF1767, HF2068, HF4725, HF4637, HF4638

Keywords: human services, community support, integrated care, disability services, stakeholder consultation, homeless youth, grants, funding, Minnesota, mental health, substance use disorder, education, workforce development, licensure, direct care services, healthcare, long-term care, personal care assistants, employment support, medical assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• youth development programs.
• Youth development programs are defined as programs that serve youth from ages 5 to 24 and focus...
• Youth development programs are defined as programs that serve youth from ages 5 to 24 and focus on holistic
• Shortly, you'll hear from youth advocates and providers about why youth development matters.
• The youth keeps the youth out of trouble in summer safe.

Bills: SB5992, SB5918, SB5951, SB6042, SB5952, SB5961, SB5969

Keywords: youth development, funding, positive programs, youth services, community programs, school funding, education, supplies, operating costs, K-12 education, albuterol, access, public schools, private schools, healthcare, school safety, emergency preparedness, mapping, local education policies, curriculum requirements

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 5992, which would create a non-appropriated Youth Development Fund account at OSPI to support grants for positive youth development programs serving ages 5 to 24. Staff explained the fund could receive gifts, grants, endowments, federal funds, legislative appropriations, and other receipts, and that grants could go to nonprofits, tribal entities, and parks and recreation organizations, with school districts and ESDs eligible in limited circumstances. Senator Krishnadasan and several members described the bill as a way to expand access to mentoring, after-school, summer, arts, sports, STEM, and other wraparound supports, especially for youth facing mental health, poverty, homelessness, or other barriers. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, including from students, youth-serving nonprofits, tribes, and state agencies, though one tribal witness asked for consultation, reserved tribal access, and data sovereignty protections. No vote on SB 5992 occurred in the portion provided; the committee moved on to other bills and later returned to testimony on it. In executive session, the committee acted on three bills. For Senate Bill 5952, which would have created a standardized process and form for excusing high school students from PE, the committee adopted Senator Wellman’s substitute, which instead requires districts to honor a prior excusal if a student transfers, and then gave the substitute a due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. For Senate Bill 5961, which transfers the Imagination Library of Washington program from DCYF to OSPI, the committee adopted Senator Wilson’s substitute adding a directive for OSPI, subject to appropriations, to contract with a nonprofit experienced in early literacy through pediatric office visits, and then sent it to Ways and Means with a due pass recommendation. For Senate Bill 5969, concerning IEP transition plans and high school and beyond plans, the committee adopted Senator Cortez’s substitute removing student election language and instead directing OSPI to minimize duplication in the statewide IEP system, then sent the bill to Ways and Means with a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5918, which would increase materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC) funding by $100 per student or $100,000 per district, whichever is greater, starting in the 2026-27 school year. Staff said the bill had no limiting language requiring the money to be spent only on MSOC, and the fiscal estimate projected significant state costs. Supporters from school districts, administrators, PTA, rural education groups, and labor organizations said districts are using local levies to cover basic operating costs such as utilities, insurance, curriculum, and supplies, leaving less for enrichment and forcing cuts to programs. One remote witness opposed the bill on tax and affordability grounds. The sponsor emphasized that MSOC is part of the state’s paramount duty and that districts are using enrichment dollars simply to keep schools open. The transcript then moved on to Senate Bill 5951 on stock albuterol in schools and Senate Bill 6042 on school mapping for first responders, with testimony beginning on both bills but no final action shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most vulnerable youth, but most promising youth that he likes to call them opportunity youth.
• These are youth aged 16 to 24 who are neither in school nor employed.
• Innovation and Opportunity Act youth dollars.
• My name is Fedora Galasso, and I'm the CEO for the Texas Network of Youth Services. of Youth Services
• Former foster youth experience high rates of unstable employment patterns and earn very low incomes in

Bills: HB669, HB 1306, HB3173, HB3807

Keywords: healthcare, Medicare, insurance, financial assistance, families, wage theft, employers, penalties, Texas Workforce Commission, employee rights, employer database, worker rights, death investigation, emergency services, medical benefits, exposure claims, public safety, workforce development, TWC, youth workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, House Bill 2210 modernizes Oklahoma youth apprenticeship systems by allowing students to start
• Section C responds to that, which is a safeguard for high-need fields like teaching, health care, public

Bills: HB2398, HB4363, HB3557, HB3701, HB2210

Keywords: credential of value, education, workforce development, labor market, government reporting, higher education, Oklahoma State University, Board of Trustees, presidential selection, college governance, Oklahoma Agricultural Extension, local funding, financial institutions, county extension services, state funds, academic programs, low-producing programs, Oklahoma State Board of Regents, program review, curriculum quality

Bills: HB10, HB33, HB35, HB42, HB74, HB102, HB107, HB10, HB33, HB35, HB42, HB74, HB102, HB107

Keywords: body-worn cameras, dashboard cameras, law enforcement, public disclosure, investigation, transparency, juveniles, nonviolent offenses, intervention program, juvenile detention, youth services, volunteer firefighters, cancer compensation, death benefits, line of duty, first responders, bail reform, cash deposit, judicial discretion, criminal justice

Transcript Highlights:

• Please help pass SB 2024 as a way to help more families access high-quality school facilities without
• Um, clearly the sectors are where the high need is, which is really west leeward central, right?
• Um clearly the sectors are where the<00:09:15.200><c> high</c><00:09:15.360><c> need</c><00:09:15.600
• Because if people want to have this really high standard, that's fine.
• You know, you're at the point where the standard needs to be really high, which is great.

Bills: HB2185, HB2621, HB2179, HB2534, HB2168, HB2427, HB2560, HB2565, HB2172, HB2298, HB2304

Keywords: sports officials, referees, umpires, athletic directors, school administrators, league administrators, coaches, assault, first-degree assault, substantial bodily injury, temporary restraining order, TRO, private counsel, Department of Education, DOE, sports safety, school sports, amateur athletics, professional sports, public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a lot of youth and keiki trying e-cigarettes.
• Tobacco-Free Hawaii Youth Council.
• </c><00:50:53.440><c> from</c> 18 to 21 to protect more youth from 18 to 21 to protect more youth from
• I am testifying in strong Youth Council.
• We still have programs there serving early childhood, youth, and families.

Bills: HB2614, HB1660, HB1704, HB1563, HB1573, HB1777, HB1749

Keywords: cosmetics, returns, refunds, consumer protection, high-pressure sales, transparency, accountability, HB1660, Hawaii, county labor standards, counties, contractors, building permits, permit denial, permit suspension, permit revocation, wage theft, wages, benefits, hours

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2614, which would require merchants selling cosmetics to accept returns of newer unopened goods within specified time frames and expand signage requirements for return and refund policies. DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection strongly supported the bill, citing updated figures of 180 cosmetic complaints from 2020 to 2025, 54 still under investigation, 148 referred to class action litigation, and more than $1.3 million in consumer losses. Members questioned whether the bill was needed given the pending lawsuit and whether bad actors would comply, while the office responded that clearer signage would improve consumer awareness and could reduce complaints without limiting other remedies. No vote was taken. The committee then heard HB 1660 HD1, which would allow counties to require contractors to disclose wage, benefit, hour, and employment-status information and to deny, revoke, or suspend permits for certain labor-law violations. DLIR, the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters, Operating Engineers Local 3, and Pacific Resource Partnership testified in support, arguing the measure would help deter cheating contractors, protect law-abiding employers, and keep bad actors from undercutting wages and taxes. One member raised concerns about possible delays to affordable housing projects and whether owners should be held responsible for contractors’ misconduct; supporters replied that compliance is a minimum standard, that county action would be discretionary rather than automatic, and that the bill would not bar counties from working with affordable housing developers. No action was reported. Finally, the committee took up HB 1704, adopting the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact to allow telepsychology and temporary in-person practice across state lines. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the State Health Planning and Development Agency, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, and the Hawaii Association of Health Plans supported the measure, saying it would help fill major staffing gaps, especially for forensic evaluations and services in rural and neighbor-island communities. The Board of Psychology raised concerns about the compact’s scope, the need for a study focused specifically on psychologists, background-check requirements, possible loss of regulatory authority and revenue, and the need to update older statutory provisions. Hawaii Association for Justice opposed the immunity language in the compact, and Shawn Scanlon opposed the bill, arguing it could weaken cultural responsiveness and local control and suggesting the state instead improve temporary licensing and other in-state pathways. The committee also questioned the Department of Corrections about its vacancies and whether telehealth could be filled by local providers; no vote was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• My question is around youth who need supportive housing, and so how would this help some of the youth
• help prevent youth homelessness and serve youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness.
• You'll also find within the Office of Homeless Youth the Independent Youth Housing Program, which was
• So again, this is a high priority. I was recently just started on the homeless youth advisory.
• For example, they will no longer refer to youth as street youth, which is considered derogatory.

Bills: SB5957, SB5977

Keywords: homeless youth, youth homelessness, runaway youth, young adult homelessness, housing instability, family reunification, family stability, youth services, homelessness prevention, protective services, Department of Commerce, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, DCYF, advisory committee, lived experience, data sharing, outcome measures, interagency coordination, service providers, at-risk youth

Transcript Highlights:

• sites, workforce partnerships applications and infrastructure tied to the advanced energy research, high

Bills: HB1782, HB2293, HB3176, HB3544, HB3546, HB3619, HB4358

Keywords: artificial intelligence, education reform, innovation, funding, advisory council, broadband, Oklahoma Broadband Office, broadband access, statewide broadband plan, internet connectivity, grant programs, expansion council, termination plan, Oklahoma, Gas Hub, national laboratory, public-private partnerships, aerospace, high-performance computing, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• sites, workforce partnerships, applications, and infrastructure tied to advanced energy research, high-performance
• sites, workforce, partnerships, applications, and infrastructure tied to the advanced energy research, high-performance

Bills: HB1782, HB2293, HB3176, HB3544, HB3546, HB3619, HB4358

Keywords: artificial intelligence, education reform, innovation, funding, advisory council, broadband, Oklahoma Broadband Office, broadband access, statewide broadband plan, internet connectivity, grant programs, expansion council, termination plan, Oklahoma, Gas Hub, national laboratory, public-private partnerships, aerospace, high-performance computing, economic development

Summary: The Senate Technology and Telecommunications Committee considered several House bills focused on artificial intelligence, data infrastructure, broadband, and education technology. House Bill 3176 would create an Oklahoma Gas Artificial Intelligence and Space Research Hub under the Department of Commerce and a National Laboratory Development Program to help Oklahoma pursue federal research designations; members questioned the fiscal impact, public reporting, and agency placement, and the bill passed 7-1. House Bill 3544 would prohibit minors from accessing AI social companions and authorize civil penalties; supporters cited research and safety concerns, and it passed 8-0. House Bill 3619 would modernize state geographic data collection and mapping for census and boundary purposes; members raised concerns about county boundaries, costs, and possible impacts on property and taxation, and it passed 6-2. The committee also advanced House Bill 3546, which bars artificial intelligence and other non-human entities from being granted legal personhood under Oklahoma law, passing 8-0 without debate. House Bill 1782 would create an Oklahoma AI Education Innovation Act with an advisory council and grant fund; members asked about funding formulas, membership, and dual office-holding, and it passed 8-0. House Bill 2293 would extend the Oklahoma Broadband Office sunset while requiring a wind-down plan and legislative review; members discussed the office’s consultation and termination process, and it passed 8-0. Finally, House Bill 4358 would limit screen time for pre-K through fifth grade students to one hour per school day. After questions about enforcement, classroom logistics, and special events, the author struck the title to continue working on the measure, and the bill passed 8-0. Throughout the meeting, members generally expressed support for the policy goals of the bills while flagging implementation, fiscal, and jurisdictional concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• on the youth and young adult...
• Our strategic goal is that youth in foster care graduate from high school and initiate their post-high
• begins robust, The unified program will ensure that every youth begins robust post-high school planning
• with youth homelessness.
• And this is a priority for our youth council. Our homeless youth lead, Joshua, is here.

Bills: SB5911, SB5940, SB5942, SB5957

Keywords: children, youth, financial stability, care services, department of children and families, housing assistance, foster care, pilot program, social services, accountability, family services, state department, child welfare, homeless youth, youth homelessness, runaway youth, young adult homelessness, housing instability, family reunification, family stability

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee held a work session focused on housing and supports for youth and young adults exiting public systems of care, followed by public hearings on several related bills. DCYF Assistant Secretary Vicki Ibarra described existing services for youth ages roughly 13 to 23, including family reconciliation services and the youth and young adult housing response team, which coordinates existing housing resources for young people exiting foster care, juvenile justice, and behavioral health systems. Office of Homeless Youth Director Casey Hannawer Sutton outlined statewide youth homelessness efforts, including a reported 40% reduction in youth homelessness since 2016, expansion of services to 37 counties, functional zero work in anchor communities, and a no-cost agency request bill for technical fixes and eligibility updates. Treehouse and the Mockingbird Society also described their work supporting foster youth, education, transition planning, peer support, and housing stability, and both groups raised concerns about funding cuts, eligibility gaps, and the need for better coordination across systems. The State Board of Health then presented a health impact review of the housing assistance proposal, concluding that rental assistance and related supports for young adults in extended foster care would likely improve housing stability, health outcomes, and equity for some youth, especially those who are Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA2S+, disabled, pregnant or parenting, or involved in the criminal legal system. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5911, which would stop DCYF from using Social Security benefits of youth in extended foster care to reimburse the state for care costs, while requiring DCYF to help eligible youth access and manage those benefits. Senator Alvarado said the bill is a narrower version of earlier proposals and is intended to preserve federal benefits for young adults ages 18 to 21 in extended foster care. Testimony from Partners for Our Children, TeamChild, the Mockingbird Society, and a former foster youth supported the bill, arguing that the current practice is unjust, undermines housing and education stability, and leaves youth without resources they are entitled to receive. Committee members asked about federal guidance, age eligibility, and whether financial literacy supports should accompany the change. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5940, a pilot program to provide housing vouchers and related assistance to up to 50 young people in extended foster care who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Chair Wilson said the bill is meant to address the gap between foster care support and access to federal housing vouchers, and to test a smaller-scale model with reporting due in 2029. Witnesses from the Mockingbird Society, current and former foster youth, and Communities in Schools supported the bill, describing housing instability, trauma, and the need for a stable place to live while pursuing treatment, school, or work. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 5942, which renames the DCYF Oversight Board as the DCYF Accountability Board, moves it administratively to OFM, and narrows its statutory duties by removing certain contract review powers and shifting from annual to biennial reporting with priority performance measures. Testimony from Partners for Our Children supported the clarification of the board’s role.

Transcript Highlights:

• While poultry disease is kind of high on our priority list right now, it's not the only priority for
• Typically, this is our offseason for high-path avian influenza.
• So, end of March is typically when the season starts for high path.
• I would say it has probably caused more devastation than high path this year. Next slide.
• </c> seen is flawed and the numbers are High seen is flawed and the numbers are High um<01:38:10.760>

Bills: HF601, HF271, HF1101, HF979

Keywords: agriculture, depredation compensation, livestock, crop damage, elk, wolves, wildlife management, skills path program, career and technical education, CTE, dual credit, postsecondary options enrollment, apprenticeship, apprenticeship readiness, dual training, work-based learning, career pathways, skilled trades, workforce development, high school to career

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a high school senior from Kirkland, Washington.
• At a time when one in five youth in the U.S. are obese, At a time when one in five youth in the U.S.
• I have two high school kids myself.
• Principals are the ones I've split my high school group.
• I mean, that's the rub with high school, right?

Bills: SB5952, SB5961, SB5969, SB5841, SB5943

Keywords: physical education, school districts, student requirements, education policy, high school, early literacy, childhood literacy, book distribution, Imagination Library, Dolly Parton Imagination Library, preschool, pre-K, reading readiness, school readiness, birth to age five, young children, nonprofit contract, OSPI, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, DCYF

Summary: The committee began with a work session on Washington’s child care oversight and subsidy system, with senators and DCYF officials describing Working Connections Child Care, Early Achievers, licensing, attendance tracking, annual unannounced inspections, and audit processes. DCYF said more than 63,000 families were determined eligible in 2025, about 37,000 were on the caseload, and licensed providers total about 6,600. Officials emphasized that payments go directly to providers after eligibility and authorization are confirmed, and that random and focused audits, along with referrals to the Office of Fraud and Accountability, are used to address overpayments and suspected fraud. Child Care Aware and a Vancouver provider also testified about quality coaching, tiered reimbursement, and the practical realities of inspections and family care settings. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5952, which would standardize the process for waiving high school physical education requirements. Student testifiers supported the bill as a fairness measure that would create a uniform waiver process across districts and help students fit in AP, career, or other coursework within limited six-period schedules. Opponents, including PE teachers and school health advocates, argued that athletics are not equivalent to physical education and warned that a statewide waiver template could weaken PE instruction and student health. The State Board of Education supported the bill as a way to reduce inequity in local waiver practices, while school principals opposed it and said the issue is better addressed through broader graduation-requirement work. Next, the committee took testimony on Senate Bill 5961, which would move the Imagination Library of Washington from DCYF to OSPI. The sponsor and supporters said the change would better align the program with early literacy and the birth-to-grade-three continuum, while preserving a program that currently serves about 120,000 children in all 39 counties. OSPI, the program director, and local partners testified in support, saying the transfer would improve accountability and fit the program’s education mission. The committee then began hearing Senate Bill 5969, which would allow a student’s IEP transition plan to satisfy the high school and beyond plan requirement if the IEP team determines that is appropriate; the sponsor said the bill is intended to reduce barriers for students with disabilities and free up time and resources, but the testimony was only beginning when the transcript ended.