Kevin Cook — Senator Cook is referenced in the context of the AI discussion, then recognized to speak. He jokes about being called “legacy,” thanks the department for its AI framework, and asks what benefits AI can provide to the state. The administrator responds directly, reassuring him he is not “legacy” and continuing the discussion of AI adoption.
Kevin Cook — Asked why the dedicated fund amount jumped about $2 million from 2026 to 2027.
Kevin Cook — Mentioned as someone whose question may have been skipped due to time.
Carl Bjerke — Transcribed as "Beerke"; called during roll call.
Phil Hart — Called during roll call.
Cindy Carlson — Cindy Carlson was called during roll call.
Cindy Carlson — Senator Carlson is acknowledged by the chair and then asks whether consolidating 58 FTP would reduce the Health and Welfare budget.
Cindy Carlson — Was addressed in response to a question about IT costs and budget allocation.
Glenneda Zuiderveld — Glenneda Zuiderveld is called during roll call.
Codi Galloway — Codi Galloway is called during roll call, with the name repeated in the transcript.
Codi Galloway — The transcript appears to misrecognize the senator's name as 'Senator Zauderbeld'; likely Senator Galloway is being addressed, but this is uncertain.
Codi Galloway — Senator Zydervel was referenced twice in quick succession as someone who should review a chart related to property tax, including the property tax costs shown on it.
Janie Ward-Engelking — Called during roll call; transcribed as "Ward Engelking."
Janie Ward-Engelking — Senator Ward-Engelking asks about staffing for the voucher tax credit bill and how the program prevents improper use of the tax credit. The witness responds directly to her question, and later remarks again address her by name while referring back to her earlier interrupted question.
Melissa Wintrow — Called during roll call.
Melissa Wintrow — Senator Wintrow raised repeated concerns about long-standing staffing shortages and their impact on service levels, asking how many staff would be needed to improve responsiveness, answer phones, and collect taxes effectively. She emphasized taxpayer and business frustration with poor phone access during tax season and urged investment in staffing so the agency could better serve the public.
Steven Tanner — Called during roll call; transcript says "Representative Tanner."
Steven Tanner — Was addressed as the chair when the witness was invited to come forward.
Steve Miller — Called during roll call.
Rod Furniss — Transcribed as "Furness"; called during roll call.
James Petzke — Transcribed as "Petsky"; called during roll call.
James Petzke — Representative Pesky asked what the governor's 3% holdback is based on.
James Petzke — Representative Petsky asked follow-up questions about the Tax Commission’s dedicated-fund line items, specifically what the funding sources are and whether increasing those appropriations is sustainable long term. The discussion continued with questions about whether different funding structures could improve long-term revenue and support the commission more sustainably.
Dustin Manwaring — Called during roll call.
Brandon Mitchell — Called during roll call.
Brandon Mitchell — Representative Mitchell was called on and then asked a series of related questions about cybersecurity consolidation, including attack success rates, remediation costs, and whether adding 58 FTP would undermine efforts to bring everything into one office. The administrator responded directly to his concerns.
Elaine Price — Called during roll call.
Elaine Price — Asked whether the base adjustment and personnel cost cash transfer were the same thing.
Elaine Price — Was addressed by the analyst in response to the question.
Elaine Price — Asked whether the base adjustment and the personnel cost cash transfer were the same thing.
Elaine Price — Was initially misidentified as the follow-up speaker before the correction to Representative Pesky.
Elaine Price — Asked where the state cost allocation appears in the budget.
Elaine Price — Asked where the state cost allocation appears in the budget.
Elaine Price — Representative Price is addressed in a continuous discussion about whether a fund shift is authorized by the legislature and related concerns about funding process and the speed/efficiency of the administration’s actions. The exchange remains focused on the same issue across the consecutive mentions.
Elaine Price — Representative Price asked about a budget adjustment on page 6-186 that reduces two full-time positions. The analyst confirmed the reduction was ongoing and tied to the end of a rebate-processing program. Price then followed up to ask whether the FTPs would come back and whether the funding would be redirected elsewhere. The analyst replied that the positions would go away and that the associated costs were being shifted to other dedicated funds and programs as part of the agency’s budget proposal.
Chris Bruce — Called during roll call.
Chris Bruce — Asked whether modernization upgrades are sized for current needs or future growth.
Chris Bruce — The administrator responds to Representative Bruce’s questions about office furniture and cost drivers.
Chris Bruce — Was addressed as the member asking about the vehicle replacements.
Brooke Green — Called during roll call.
Brooke Green — Representative Brooke Green asked a final question before closing, and the response addressed her question about eligibility and income.
Edward Hill — No direct mention of the legislator by name; not applicable. (No member mention detected.)
Shawn Dygert — Was addressed as part of the committee greeting.
Administrator Alberto Gonzalez — Opened remarks about ITS and acknowledged staff in the audience.
Joe Palmer — In the course of discussing the IT upgrade budget, the administrator responds to questions associated with Representative Harris and clarifies that if the agency delays the $2.7 million upgrade request, the cost would increase by about $3 million.
Misty Lawrence — Identified as being in the room and serving as CFO or deputy director of finance for Health and Welfare.
Mr. Gonzalez — The speaker addresses Mr. Gonzalez with a question about legacy software and updates.
Jordan Redman — Referenced as having raised a related question about the transfer of equipment.
Mr. LaHosite / Christopher LaHosite — Asked to identify himself for the record.
Christopher LaHosite — Identified himself as a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office and introduced the next presentation.