Claire Wilson — Introduced herself as the Chair of the Senate Human Services Committee and opened the work session.
Claire Wilson — Addressed as Chair at the start of the testimony.
Claire Wilson — Chair Wilson is addressed by the speaker.
Claire Wilson — Addressed as Chair Wilson by the witness.
Claire Wilson — Addressed by the witness as 'Senator Wilson' while the witness introduced her testimony.
Claire Wilson — The chair is addressed as the speaker transitions to the next witness.
Claire Wilson — The chair is speaking and managing the transition to the next witness and topic.
Claire Wilson — The chair is addressed directly as Amy begins testimony.
Claire Wilson — Amy addresses the chair and committee at the start of her testimony.
Claire Wilson — The chair is thanked after Amy’s testimony concludes.
Claire Wilson — The chair thanks the witness and acknowledges her advocacy on behalf of families across the state.
Claire Wilson — The chair is addressed as the next witness is introduced.
Claire Wilson — The chair thanks the witness and acknowledges her advocacy on behalf of families across the state.
Claire Wilson — The chair is addressed as the next witness is introduced.
Claire Wilson — The chair is introducing the forecast staff and welcoming them to the committee.
Claire Wilson — Addressed as Madam Chair by the presenters.
Claire Wilson — Claire Wilson, acting as chair, is repeatedly addressed during the same meeting exchange as members thank her and continue the discussion. The chair thanks the presenter, invites or continues questions, and remains the focal point of the ongoing procedural exchange.
Claire Wilson — A speaker addresses Chair/Senator Claire Wilson twice in the course of the same exchange, first greeting her and later thanking her and the committee, with one mention duplicated in the transcript metadata.
Claire Wilson — Senator Claire Wilson is part of a brief exchange in which she is directly addressed as 'Madam Chair,' and then immediately referenced again as the person whose comment about beds is being clarified or responded to.
B. Rector — B. Rector was welcomed to the desk and identified for the record as the Assistant Secretary from the Department of Social and Health Services, specifically the Assistant Secretary of the Home and Community Living Administration.
B. Rector — The chair asks whether B. Rector will remain available for additional questions.
Leonard Christian — He thanks the witness and asks about the number of people who may lose eligibility due to immigration status.
Leonard Christian — Leonard Christian questioned whether the observed trend is the result of legislative policy choices rather than an accident or youth behavior, asking for confirmation that the data supports that interpretation. A follow-up reference noted that Senator Christian also had another question, indicating the discussion was continuing within the same exchange.
Leonard Christian — Senator Leonard Christian is introduced as having a question, then asks whether data is tracked on the time between when an individual commits a crime and when they actually begin serving that sentence in JR facilities. The witness then refers back to him as Ranking Member Christian.
Leonard Christian — Senator Leonard Christian is referenced as preparing to ask about Echo Glen’s capacity, then asks for its safe operating capacity.
Dr. Eric Bolter — Dr. Eric Bolter is introduced as the director of the biobehavioral inpatient program at Seattle Children's and a clinical professor at the University of Washington. He then begins his testimony by identifying himself as a psychologist and UW faculty member, and explains that he directs the biobehavioral inpatient program at Seattle Children's.
Scott Levengood — Introduced as CEO of Alpha Supported Living Services.
Stacey Dinn — Stacey Dinn, Executive Director of the Arc of Washington, is introduced and then addressed by the chair, who indicates she may be the first witness to speak.
Eric Bolter — Eric Bolter described Seattle Children’s ABA program and noted that 73% of patients in 2024 had Medicaid, then explained that current ABA reimbursement rates are already too low to cover community and outpatient provider costs. He cited a primary ABA code reimbursing at $98.40 an hour and argued the funding model is unsustainable, especially with the 2% cut already taking effect. He warned that additional HR1-related Medicaid cuts would further shrink an already limited provider pool, reduce inpatient reimbursement and outpatient/community supports, and limit the state’s only program serving individuals with IDD and severe challenging behavior. Bolter concluded that these cuts would increase hospital stays and costs, reduce preventive community services, and push more children with intellectual and developmental disabilities into out-of-state long-term placements, harming families and the continuum of care.
Scott Leavengood — Scott Leavengood, CEO of Alpha Support Living Services, introduced his organization and described its service footprint, including children’s homes and supported living/private residential settings. He explained that the organization had planned to open an intensive habilitative home but lost funding last session after purchasing and renovating the property. He then outlined how supported living and community residential services operate, noting that community residential serves about 4,700 people and discussing how funding levels compare across settings. Leavengood warned that proposed cuts or rate reductions would worsen already low wages for direct support staff, increase reliance on ACA subsidies, and raise employer costs. He also said cuts to HCBS would jeopardize the federal match and trigger CMS access-rule review requirements. Finally, he emphasized that supported living is already underfunded, citing a Milliman study showing a 10% shortfall in 2022 that has grown to about 18.4%, and described severe staffing challenges, including shortages of BCBAs and RNs and turnover rates of 40% to 50%.
Stacey — Chair indicates the committee will hear from Stacey next on SNAP concerns.
Stacey Dimm — Executive director of The Arc of Washington State begins testimony on HR1 and state response impacts.
Carla Reyes — Carla Reyes is introduced as the Assistant Secretary of the Economic Services Administration at the Department of Social and Health Services and invited to testify. She then introduces herself and begins her testimony on food assistance programs, including SNAP impacts.
Carla Reyes — Referenced as the prior speaker who discussed utility deductions.
Claire Lane — Named as one of the advocates who will provide perspective after Carla Reyes.
Claire Lane — Claire Lane, director of the Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition, began her testimony by identifying herself and explaining that she wanted to put a human face on the issue. She then described SNAP eligibility and how deductions can still leave families extremely low-income, emphasizing that the people affected do not have enough money to buy groceries or get by in Washington. She cited Washington SNAP participation and funding levels, noted the impact of rising grocery prices, and introduced food insecurity trend data. Lane explained how USDA and Census measure food insecurity, defined the term through survey questions, and said the data show spikes tied more to state budget cuts and safety-net reductions than to the Great Recession. She also referenced the WAFOOD survey from UW and WSU, which specifically targets food insecurity, and noted that food banks, SNAP, and school meals are the main resources people rely on.
Jen Mazia — Named as one of the advocates who will provide perspective after Carla Reyes.
Amy Rourke — Named as one of the advocates who will provide perspective after Carla Reyes.
Amy Rourke — Amy Rourke testifies about her long-term reliance on SNAP and explains that, despite extensive caregiving, leadership, volunteer, and advocacy work across Washington State, she still barely meets the 80-hour monthly requirement. She argues that the system is unrealistic and punitive, noting that families who fail to meet the requirement can lose not only SNAP but other supports as well. She urges lawmakers to recognize caregiving, community service, and lived experience as real work and to create a more flexible, modern system that families can actually succeed in.
Leanna Crescent — Named as one of the advocates who will provide perspective after Carla Reyes.
Leanna Crescent — Introduced as policy and field manager for the statewide Poverty Action Network.
Jan Musia — Introduced as executive director of the Ballard Food Bank.
Amy Work — Introduced as a SNAP recipient.
Jen Musay — Jen Musay, executive director of Ballard Food Bank, testified about the growing need in her community and the impact of federal SNAP changes. She explained that Ballard Food Bank has shifted into an emergency response role, serving families, seniors, and individuals facing a persistent affordability crisis. Musay warned that H.R. 1 would make the largest SNAP cuts in the program’s history and described the diverse community the food bank serves. She also noted a recent site visit by 36th District legislators, highlighted the sharp rise in food bank usage from 3,200 household visits and deliveries per month before the pandemic to 10,500 today, and said that when SNAP benefits were rolled back to pre-pandemic levels, visits increased by 30%.
Madison — Madison is presented as a young mother working part-time and caring for premature twin boys who need expensive formula. Her family relies on WIC, SNAP, and the food bank, and her quote is used to underscore the hardship that benefit cuts would cause: she says she would stop feeding herself if necessary so her babies can eat. She is then referenced again as an example of a family that would benefit from a holistic anti-hunger approach.
Amy — The next witness is invited to speak.
Leanna — The chair repeatedly references Leanna while discussing scheduling constraints, noting that they may need to adjust timing because they also have JR space to handle.
Lupro — Lupro is referenced as a body of work across the state, described as supporting families who lack a voice.
Amy Moore — The chair twice thanks and acknowledges Amy Moore by name, likely intending to refer to Amy Rourke; both mentions are brief, repetitive acknowledgments of the same witness with no substantive discussion.
Jen — Jen is thanked for being present at the hearing.