Transcript Highlights:

• weakness and implemented within an evidence-based multi-tiered system of supports.
• weakness and implemented within an evidence-based multi-tiered system of supports.
• system of supports, using the framework of the Washington Integrated Student Supports Protocol.
• And if, in the opinion of the trained signature verifier, the signature does not match, we have a multi-tier
• I am here in strong support of House Bill 1295.

Bills: HB1295, HB2007, HB2262, HB2636

Keywords: reading instruction, structured literacy, early literacy, dyslexia, phonics, phonological awareness, language comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, oral language, orthographic knowledge, multi-tiered system of supports, MTSS, screening assessments, intervention, reading intervention, elementary education, kindergarten, first grade, second grade

Summary: The committee first took up a motion from Ranking Member Root to promptly schedule public hearings on two citizens’ initiatives. Members argued over the constitutional role of initiatives and whether the committee should hear them, but the motion failed on a voice vote. The committee then began public hearings on several education bills, suspending and returning to some as time allowed. House Bill 1295, dealing with evidence-based literacy instruction for K-4 students, drew extensive briefing and testimony. The substitute bill would require evidence-aligned literacy curricula, update teacher endorsement standards, and require some literacy-related continuing education for certificate renewal. Supporters, including the sponsor, a parent advocate, a Puyallup district administrator, PESB staff, and a speech-language pathologist, said the bill would improve reading outcomes, align teacher preparation with the science of reading, and help districts adopt coherent literacy systems. Opponents and critics testified that alternative reading methods such as Read-Write have worked for them and warned against over-prescribing one approach. The hearing on HB 1295 was suspended and left open for additional testimony. House Bill 2262 would require a standalone high school civics course to include instruction on producing a legible, repeatable signature and how signatures are used in elections. The sponsor and supporters, including a county auditor, said the bill could reduce ballot rejections caused by signature mismatches, especially among younger voters, and improve civic participation. Questions focused on whether the bill should specify cursive or account for different writing systems and whether printed signatures are less unique; the auditor said uniqueness helps verification but that printed signatures can still be matched. The committee closed the hearing after hearing strong public support and a small amount of opposition. House Bill 2636 would create a new commission, staffed by JLARC, to review education mandates and funding over time to identify ineffective or underfunded requirements. The sponsor said the goal was to address unfunded mandates and reduce administrative burdens on districts. Testimony from a Seattle resident, a citizen, and a rural education leader supported the idea of reviewing mandates and funding, though one witness suggested narrowing the scope and moving the start date up. The public hearing closed with a large majority of sign-ins in opposition. The committee then began House Bill 2007, which would expand competency-based graduation pathway options. The sponsor and student witnesses said the bill would give students more flexible ways to demonstrate readiness and better align graduation requirements with student strengths. The State Board of Education testified neutrally, supporting competency-based opportunities but saying the bill would add work during its ongoing Future Ready graduation-requirements review and suggesting the legislature wait for those recommendations or name the assessment more specifically to simplify implementation.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Washington Integrated Student Supports Protocol within a multi-tiered system of supports.
• Integrated Student Supports Protocol or other comprehensive models of data-based identification and
• It defines fully implement to include curriculum adoption, use as part of core instruction, and support
• pertaining to assisting school districts with implementing provisions in support of the education of
• different sizes and different levels of personnel support to do that.

Bills: HB1295, HB2262, HB2551, HB2593, HB2594, HB2636

Keywords: reading instruction, structured literacy, early literacy, dyslexia, phonics, phonological awareness, language comprehension, vocabulary, fluency, oral language, orthographic knowledge, multi-tiered system of supports, MTSS, screening assessments, intervention, reading intervention, elementary education, kindergarten, first grade, second grade

Summary: The House Education Committee briefed and took executive action on several bills. House Bill 1295, relating to comprehensive literacy programs and educator literacy training, was revised through a proposed substitute and several amendments. The substitute updated literacy curriculum alignment requirements, changed educator recertification provisions, restored some prior literacy-related state duties, and added reporting and implementation timelines. After debate over whether the bill should create a mandate for districts, the committee adopted one amendment and then passed the bill 17-0. House Bill 2262 would require high school civics instruction to include cursive signature instruction and related election-signature content. Amendments were adopted to allow culturally or linguistically appropriate signature forms, add historical context about marginalized communities, remove the requirement that students produce a legible cursive signature as a graduation condition, and eliminate State Board monitoring of compliance. The committee passed the bill 14-0. House Bill 2551, allowing certain school districts to sell real property with superintendent authorization, was also passed after members debated whether it was a prudent response to district financial pressures; the final vote was 10-4. House Bill 2593, dealing with school district minimum fund balances and monthly financial reporting to OSPI, was amended to remove a provision allowing withholding of apportionment payments for reporting failures. The substitute shifted the bill toward formal financial monitoring, technical assistance, and reporting requirements, and the committee passed it 11-3. House Bill 2594, establishing state requirements to ensure homeless students have equal access to public education, was amended to remove duplicative OSPI provisions and clarify McKinney-Vento alignment; it passed 14-0. House Bill 2636, creating a JLARC-based review process for public education policy and funding, was amended to keep a null-and-void clause from advancing, and the committee passed the substitute 14-0. The committee then adjourned after announcing a future meeting date.

Transcript Highlights:

• to provide the level of support many individuals need.
• David needs 24-hour support. Limiting the number of hours of care will not change that 24/7 need.
• We implore your support of House File 3375.
• We implore your support of House File 3375.
• </c> really need 7 hours of support that day. really need 7 hours of support that day.

Bills: HF3526, HF3375, HF3469

Keywords: home care, licensing, fines, advisory council, grant program, client safety, healthcare regulation, HF3375, Minnesota disability waiver, waiver rate system, human services, individualized home supports, individualized home supports with training, individualized home supports with family training, positive support services, employment support services, employment development services, employment exploration services, billing limits, service authorization year

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, like, we know that there are lots of wraparound and lots of support for higher education that
• system with five tiers of the A through F system.
• I'm here in support of Senate Bill 6235.
• I'm president of Everett Community College, for the record. I'm testifying in support of it.
• I'm president of Everett Community College. For the record, I'm testifying in support of SB 6325.

Bills: SB6251, SB6259, SB6325, SB5978, SB6209, SB6217, SB6227, SB6235

Keywords: medical school, medical education, letter grades, grading system, pass/fail, tiered grading, student assessment, curriculum, University of Washington, Washington State University, School of Medicine, physician training, academic standards, coursework evaluation, RCW 28B, SB 6259, Washington, state financial aid, higher education, public college

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Workforce Education Investment Act (WEA) Oversight Board, hearing from Jane Broome of Microsoft Philanthropies and Joel Anderson of WASAC. They reviewed the history and purpose of the WEA account, emphasizing that it was created as a dedicated, non-supplanting source to expand higher education and workforce investments, especially high-demand fields and financial aid. Broome and Anderson said the board has improved with WASAC staffing and better data, but they raised strong concerns that recent budget actions, especially shifting $400 million in University of Washington general-fund support to WEA, violated the original partnership and undermined trust. Senators asked about AI-related workforce needs, data transparency, and how to define “supplanting,” and the presenters said the board wants to stop supplanting and preserve WEA for its intended purposes. The committee then held public hearings on three bills. SB 6251 would require public medical schools to use letter grades or a tiered grading system; the sponsor said it was intended to standardize grading, but both WSU and UW opposed it, arguing that pass-fail and competency-based systems better support collaboration, mental health, and residency placement, and that only a small share of U.S. medical schools use letter grades. SB 6259 would make students who are found by a court to have caused major damage to a public higher education institution ineligible for state aid and require repayment of aid; the sponsor framed it as accountability for serious vandalism, while the lone testifier from WSU student government opposed it as unfair to lower-income students and potentially chilling to free expression. The final hearing was on SB 6235, which would reverse the “fund split” approach and require the state to fully fund compensation and central services for higher education rather than relying on tuition to cover those costs, while also directing a study on essential student services. Nearly all testimony was in support, from university and community college leaders, faculty, and labor representatives, who said the current system has led to hidden cuts, reduced COLAs, layoffs, program closures, larger class sizes, and reduced student services. After the hearing, the committee moved into executive session and adopted proposed substitutes and passed SB 5978, SB 6209, SB 6217, and SB 6227 to the Ways and Means Committee; SB 6235 was not acted on. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I would urge support of this bill this morning.
• But I would urge support of this bill this morning. Senator Frick, you're recognized close debate.
• In general, I support this measure, adding more structure for when agencies are out of compliance.
• I think of the question. Some of it is the fiscal side of it.
• Some of it is the fiscal side of it.

Bills: HB3415, HB2206, HB3414, HB3265, HB3310, HB3413, HB4486, HB1219

Keywords: state government, vendor contracts, subcontracting, public database, contract assessment, transparency, retirement, law enforcement, Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, school resource officers, public safety, public finance, contract management, service-driven contracts, state accounting, intangible assets, Oklahoma Police Pension, disability benefits, mental health, retirement system

Summary: The Senate Committee on Retirement and Government Resources met with a quorum and first took up two executive nominations for Ben Lepak, one to serve as Secretary of State and one to serve in the governor’s cabinet. Lepak described the Secretary of State office’s work on business filings, recordkeeping, and initiative petitions, and said the office’s career staff handled those duties well. Senators asked about fairness in the initiative petition process and administrative rules; Lepak emphasized transparency and ministerial, nonpolitical administration. Both nominations advanced on 8-0 votes. The committee then considered several House bills tied largely to government transparency and purchasing oversight. House Bill 3415 would require state entities to report contracts and subcontractors, include performance metrics, publicly post contracts and assessments, and document consultant outcomes; it passed 8-0 despite concerns about a $2 million fiscal impact and added OMES workload. House Bill 3414 would require OMES to identify whether contracts are service-based and create a digital warehouse for intangible assets; it passed 6-0. House Bill 3310 would authorize OMES payment-procedure rules, require invoice legitimacy checks and a 60-day payment window, and create compliance reporting with possible budget recommendations for noncompliance; it passed 7-0 after questions about appeals and penalties. House Bill 3413, requiring agencies to include more detail on contractors and consultants in annual budget submissions, also passed 7-0. The committee also approved House Bill 2206, which moves new school resource officers into a law-enforcement retirement system rather than teacher retirement, with testimony that it would help recruit officers and would apply only to new hires; it passed 6-0. House Bill 3265, which expands who can make PTSD disability determinations for first responders to include psychologists and certain licensed mental health professionals, passed 7-0 after discussion of psychiatrist shortages and concerns about diagnostic standards. House Bill 4486, authorizing a Gold Star monument at the Capitol funded by private donations, passed 7-0. Finally, House Bill 1219, barring state agencies and schools from using state funds or resources to promote LGBTQ or Pride Month events or fly the Pride flag, generated extensive debate over its impact on outreach, public health, education, and LGBTQ Oklahomans; it passed 5-2 and the committee adjourned with notice of a larger agenda the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did want to mention that there are a number of letters of support in your packet for House File 276
• </c><00:26:06.399><c> of</c> includes the voices of of includes the voices of of motans<00:26:09.360>
• </c><00:26:23.240><c> our</c> energy Act of of 2007 uh required our energy Act of of 2007 uh required
• of a recognition of at the time so kind of a recognition of uh<00:30:06.159><c> the</c><00:30:06.279
• </c> Department of Education getting rid of Department of Education getting rid of the<00:59:01.880><

Bills: HF276, HF413, HF411

Keywords: human services, Medical Assistance, Medicaid, long-term services and supports, LTSS, public assistance, application process, eligibility determination, customer service survey, wait times, form complexity, lead agencies, Department of Human Services, Department of Children Youth and Families, streamlining, administrative reform, case management, reassessment, intake system, adaptive eligibility form

Transcript Highlights:

• Lacking a truly universal system of health coverage, 6173 appropriately levies support from employers
• Our focus with the bill is the support of the state's Medicaid system and access to essential health
• Lacking a truly universal system of health coverage, 6173 appropriately levies support from employers
• Our focus with the bill is the support of the state's Medicaid system. members.
• Our focus with the bill is the support of the state's Medicaid system and access to essential health

Bills: SB5834, SB5835, SB5883, SB5905, SB6151, SB6163, SB6177, SB6173

Keywords: Washington retirement systems, retirement trust funds, interest earnings, public employee retirement system, teachers retirement system, state patrol retirement system, judicial retirement system, judges retirement system, school employees retirement system, public safety employees retirement system, law enforcement officers and firefighters retirement system, PERS, TRS, LERS, legal expenses, medical expenses, administrative expenses, fraud prevention, overpayment recovery, trust fund protection

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on January 20, 2026, for public hearings on several Senate bills and to move three bills out of committee. The committee heard first on SB 5834, which would make permanent a temporary expansion allowing retirement system trust funds to pay certain administrative expenses from interest earnings; DRS supported the bill and noted an actuarial note showing an indeterminate impact. The committee then heard SB 5835, which would raise the lump-sum retirement allowance threshold for Plan 2 members to match Plan 3 and allow annual adjustment; DRS described it as a technical consistency change with a small one-time systems cost. Both bills were heard only, with no action taken in the transcript. The committee then entered executive session and moved Substitute SB 5249, Substitute SB 5053, and Substitute SB 5203 without recommendation to the Rules Committee, subject to signatures. Staff summarized 5249 as allowing kit homes for emergency housing, 5053 as allowing certain counties to include school district boundaries when forming a public facilities district, and 5203 as directing state agencies to develop wildlife habitat connectivity strategy and creating related accounts. All three motions passed without recorded opposition. Back in public hearing, the committee heard SB 5883 on SEBB eligibility for school employees in their second school year of employment. Supporters, including labor representatives and individual school workers, said the current two-year look-back causes gaps in coverage and hardship for substitutes and paraeducators; opponents, including school district officials and administrators, argued it would create an unfunded mandate, increase district costs, and add administrative burden. The committee also heard SB 5905, which would exclude certain port workers already covered by federal railroad retirement or collectively bargained pension plans from PERS membership; ports, labor, and DRS supported the bill as a narrow technical fix, and the bill was heard without action. The committee then heard SB 6151, which would create dedicated accounts for Ecology fee revenue related to laboratory accreditation and landfill methane work; Ecology and county representatives supported it as a transparency and reinvestment measure. Finally, the committee heard SB 6163, which would require the Individual and Family Services waiver for developmental disability services to be funded at maintenance level and tied to the caseload forecast. Disability advocates said the bill would stabilize services and reduce wait lists, while the fiscal note discussion indicated increased general fund costs. The committee also heard SB 6177, which would require additional budget information on the LEAP fiscal website, and SB 6173, which would create an Apple Health employer assessment on certain large employers with Medicaid-enrolled workers after federal work requirements take effect. SB 6173 drew strong support from health advocates, labor, and patient groups as a way to protect Medicaid funding, and strong opposition from business, retail, hospitality, and hospital groups, who called it an unfair tax and raised administrative and legal concerns. No votes were taken on the public hearing bills in the transcript, and the meeting ended with a reminder that signature sheets would be held for 24 hours under Senate rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• and support the Office of the Public Defender.
• arrests and then the number of cases coming into the system might be up.
• But we have been struggling to get out of this kind of system and make sure that we compensate attorneys
• So I think there's a lot of continuous building out of the system, but I just don't want you to think
• answer some of the questions about how all the pieces of the system work together.

Bills: SB48, SB64, SB100

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm so in support of investment in our area.
• But I just wanted to say I'm fully in support of it.
• I stand in support of Senate Bill 64.
• Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce in support of Senate Bill 100.
• On behalf of the New Mexico Association of Realtors, I'd like to express our support of Senate Bill 100

Bills: SB48, SB64, SB100

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• Mary Dubassan, is here in support of the bill as well.
• Sometimes they're not a part of the public school system, so they get no support whatsoever.
• I think people are now more supportive of us following federal law.
• system out of federal regulation, right?
• Katie Corkin, President of Support, does not wish to speak.

Bills: SB57, SB405, HB62, HB193, HB203, HB222, HB246, HB420, HB475, HB486, HB574, HB584, HB815, HB949, HB1092, HB1214

Keywords: SB 57, Act 735, Act 463, nutrition, public health, food additives, artificial colors, banned chemicals, ingredient labeling, food labeling, FDA, food and beverage regulation, consumer disclosure, school nutrition, Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 40, Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 17, food manufacturers, food retailers, compliance, effective date delay

Transcript Highlights:

• He was the executive director of the state chamber of commerce.
• public Safety type of retirement system.
• I'm the executive director of the Oklahoma law enforcement retirement systems.
• Of purchasing accounting bills that came out of the house, this is one of the bills.
• Some of it is the fiscal side of it.

Bills: HB3415, HB2206, HB3414, HB3265, HB3310, HB3413, HB4486, HB1219

Keywords: state government, vendor contracts, subcontracting, public database, contract assessment, transparency, retirement, law enforcement, Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System, school resource officers, public safety, public finance, contract management, service-driven contracts, state accounting, intangible assets, Oklahoma Police Pension, disability benefits, mental health, retirement system

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a quick show of hands, those in support of this bill?
• in support of this bill.
• I am here to speak in support of a unified special education system.
• system of supports to report..."
• "And student assistant team and adds multi-layered system of supports to replace response to intervention

Bills: SB64, SB19, SB44, SB83

Keywords: special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP, individualized education program, students with disabilities, IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, dyslexia, dyslexia screening, structured literacy, reading intervention, multilayered system of supports, MTSS, student assistance team, free appropriate public education, FAPE, special education compliance, charter schools

Transcript Highlights:

• This has been a lot of work.
• As part of the first kind of pillar, there's a coordinated set of appropriations that are designed to
• There's a number of different appropriations that support and upgrade our position in those particular
• Essentially, you have set the stage for a universal early childhood system in the state of New Mexico
• And it's a reflection of each one of you, your constituents, your communities.

Bills: HB2, SB48, SB64, SB100

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in support of this bill.
• Essentially, we are creating a system of support for educators, students, and communities to have access
• support of House Bill 100.
• Chair, I'm a strong supporter of STEM.
• I'm a strong supporter of STEM.

Bills: HB40, HB100, HJR1, SB64, SB19, SB44, SB83

Keywords: educational retirement, annuity adjustments, cost of living, non-compounding payments, retirement benefits, STEM funding, education, innovation, public education, New Mexico, nominating committees, boards of regents, student representation, political party registration, New Mexico constitution, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• I have grave concerns about introducing this sort of motive into our justice system.
• of the of Attorney It's the whole action of the of Attorney General's<00:47:29.720><c> office.
• </c><00:58:49.600><c> of</c> you just give me some examples of of you just give me some examples of of
• This bill is full of a system approach to program integrity while also protecting access to care.
• program</c> is full of system approach to program is full of system approach to program integrity<01

Bills: HF4338

Keywords: human services, medical assistance, Medicaid, provider enrollment, provider revalidation, fraud prevention, program integrity, background study, background check, fingerprinting, licensing, license revocation, payment withholding, payment suspension, prepayment review, postpayment review, surety bond, compliance training, case management, targeted case management

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, some of us don't have as strong a support system.
• Um, some of us don't have as strong a support system.
• Um, some of us don't have as strong a support system.
• Um, some of us don't have as strong a support system.
• Um, some of us don't have as strong a support system.

Bills: HF2216, HF1978, HF2354, HF1963, HF1994, HF1995, HF1894

Keywords: assisted living, nursing home, long-term care, guardian, conservator, resident rights, arbitration, mandatory arbitration, consumer protection, fee increase, rate increase, price hike, private pay, public funds, Medicaid, waiver services, elderly, seniors, older adults, disability rights

Transcript Highlights:

• I am here speaking in strong support of House Bill 47.
• We stand in support of this bill. We are cautioning the committee on a couple of different things.
• Anybody else in the audience who wishes to speak in support of House Bill 47?
• Is in support of House Bill 47. All right.
• Anybody else on Zoom in support of House Bill 48? Anybody else on Zoom in support of House Bill 48?

Bills: SB29, SB64

Keywords: SB29, math requirements for teaching license, teacher licensure, teacher endorsement, mathematics methods, elementary education, secondary education, special education, early childhood education, reciprocity, Public Education Department, Mathematics and Science Education Act, mathematics instructional leadership framework, professional learning plan, K-3 screening, mathematics screening assessment, mathematics difficulty, support plan, multilevel support, intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• We strongly stand in support of the intention of this legislation.
• support of Senate Bill 29.
• I'm here today in strong support of Senate Bill 29.
• I am in full support of the page 2, line 22, change of that license date to 2028.
• And what is in this bill, it talks about the multi-layered systems of support.

Bills: SB29, SB64

Keywords: SB29, math requirements for teaching license, teacher licensure, teacher endorsement, mathematics methods, elementary education, secondary education, special education, early childhood education, reciprocity, Public Education Department, Mathematics and Science Education Act, mathematics instructional leadership framework, professional learning plan, K-3 screening, mathematics screening assessment, mathematics difficulty, support plan, multilevel support, intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• plan system to MnChoices support plan system to providers. providers. providers.
• In the same month, 85% of the members of the March Public Policy Committee voted to support legislation
• Most of our supportive housing doesn't. We come close.
• </c><01:05:38.920><c> House</c><01:05:39.160><c> File</c> system is a key element of House File system
• ><c> of</c> that our system puts the needs of that our system puts the needs of Minnesota<01:08:32.440

Bills: HF4207, HF4338

Keywords: housing aid, local housing trust, funding projects, income provisions, technical changes, human services, medical assistance, Medicaid, provider enrollment, provider revalidation, fraud prevention, program integrity, background study, background check, fingerprinting, licensing, license revocation, payment withholding, payment suspension, prepayment review

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a medical doctor, and I'm in support of this bill.
• And I want to thank all the supporters of this bill. Some of these stories are tough to hear.
• Landry Parish, and I'm here in support of House Bill 414.
• Landry Parish, and I'm here in support of Bill 414.
• I'm here today to ask for your support of House Bill 1052.

Bills: HB414, HB786, HB1041, HB1052, HB1118, HB1139, HB1182, HB1185, HB1214, HB1217, HB1231, SR63, SCR27, SB5, SB194, SB415, SB433, SB451, SB462, SB516

Keywords: healthcare, criminal convictions, employment, background checks, prohibited offenses, Medicaid, claim payments, extrapolation, provider audits, medical freedom, discrimination, access, medical intervention, child protection, confidentiality, multidisciplinary teams, child advocacy centers, public records, investigations, hospital