[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6390652,"mediaKeyId","2112192-723669054dc0d231524a5bc5ed9a6a7b","parentId",2112192,"title","Public defense and court groups urge more funding to address appellate backlog and misdemeanor representation","audioSeconds",2747,"startMs",7929000,"endMs",10676000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112192-723669054dc0d231524a5bc5ed9a6a7b&start=7929&end=10676","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112192-723669054dc0d231524a5bc5ed9a6a7b/thumbnail_7929000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6390652/Washington/Public-defense-and-court-groups-urge-more-funding-to-address-appellate-backlog-and-misdemeanor-representation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390652-4491eff070eb717a2b299b6ea17f3b91/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174665&Signature=BMnKR6fun71jyCe4hbR6XqBMYecP1wasXVccfmfjLzNwFmgii~ETEWa36afJ5iQlJXgP~vp3TaTO8yoh2k~oV4nEqUA7MffgqRs0I68G9S1s3asvINVkHLXfmqsLg~ZFTS1gI9fQbhbJ-JNLyFVy5fLhKxuJnTurJlu3MPIkeF2tKwUlKZiYKZpDfnHhWRarPs673QNMqpLg7Tcx8fUOkip-JlucroftImRHqB7EZAMZCoekYfI92l9Y21gn0Wi4L6zKB52Ein8icYwPV34mI~1D8hlEAw4WOsK6rtSGiju7SyLykvoShXQ3VN9nSFOCaUebGjspf1AukEWiwtID5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Appropriations","date","2025-01-13T00:00:00Z","article","Representatives of the judicial branch, the Office of Public Defense and statewide defender organizations testified that the governor’s proposed funding for public defense and courts is necessary but insufficient to meet current needs.

Larry Jefferson, director of the Office of Public Defense, described an appellate backlog and a surge in misdemeanor cases that has increased demand for counsel. Jefferson said the agency supports the governor’s supplemental and biennial requests but requested additional funding for appellate backlog work, the simple possession and representation program and county/city public defense grants. Ramona Bridal of the Washington Defender Association thanked the governor for package elements that address appellate and sentencing work but urged the Legislature to plan for a larger appropriation to fully reduce caseloads and meet any new Supreme Court caseload standards.

A representative from the Administrative Office of the Courts described judicial branch education as a deferred investment and urged funding for judicial onboarding and operational IT needs that the courts cannot avoid. WDA and public defense groups said they will continue to work with the Legislature and county partners to refine long‑ and short‑term solutions but called the public defense shortage a systemwide problem requiring more than the current proposal.

Ending: Witnesses asked the committee to preserve and expand portions of the governor’s proposal addressing appellate backlog, sentencing review needs, and county public defense grants to reduce caseload pressure and comply with evolving standards.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Appropriations - 1/13/2025 4:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The state Office of Public Defense and judicial stakeholders requested funding to address appellate case backlogs, rising misdemeanor caseloads and training/onboarding for new judges; advocates said proposed funding is a start but more will be needed.","taxTitle","Appropriations, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20254,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6390657,"Housing and homelessness advocates urge full backfill of document‑recording fee and continued shelter funding",5415,787000,6202000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112192-723669054dc0d231524a5bc5ed9a6a7b&start=787&end=6202","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112192-723669054dc0d231524a5bc5ed9a6a7b/thumbnail_787000.jpg","/articles/6390657/Washington/Housing-and-homelessness-advocates-urge-full-backfill-of-documentrecording-fee-and-continued-shelter-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390657-df9b251cd2a267ca7898ee643e180b8a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174665&Signature=JjzA4LQR~JQLzkHzyu2PVzxKLWebrXkx-6R3SO0wFlacQhGfgHF-YtmSb7dGoWeNwWfdqHSoLF7OO1B2OWl2~CcFAal1fIjDh917-19WoHbnEh5bk9KdlMFkrifEisGrki0PEU04D18v9De6oi18AzTJfdFA2i79B-i3dDTGO~1OixnyFSfnzjn-MbBnq3ZkQE8~6-e~2NoF9-iyVtti8Rq~h7bO84HL9V6bXTe0z3PJTZ0kGj5pNE9TXe-H14tHNrpq59csWXomalaVQ24AMO9Yz2-BxeWvCeivu58PtnILmFZZKSN8O7m85gZyilouqV9p3bq4zLrm1ide-fDQGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Housing providers, homelessness advocates and local officials told the Appropriations Committee they were relieved to see the governor’s proposal backfill a portion of the document‑recording fee shortfall but urged a fuller response to avoid widespread cuts to homelessness services.

The governor’s proposal backfilled the decline in document‑recording fee revenues with roughly $258 million in general fund, which Nona Snell said in her overview would maintain consolidated homeless grants and shelter operations. Several witnesses, including Michelle Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance and Samuel Martin of the Washington Coalition for Homeless Youth Advocacy, said the state still faces a document‑recording gap (testimony cited figures in the $250–$403 million range for shortfalls) and urged the Legislature to fully backfill the shortfall to preserve programs statewide.

Haley Willis of the Seattle‑King County Coalition on Homelessness and other speakers warned that without sustained funding, shelters and youth services could close and that unsheltered populations would rise. Advocates also pressed for continued funding for the state’s right‑of‑way encampment resolution program, citing high placement and housing‑retention rates and asking that the Governor’s proposed funding not be limited only to people already housed but be available to respond to new encampments.

The testimony combined statewide advocates, local service operators and county officials calling for an approach that preserves shelter capacity and homelessness prevention investments, and for the Legislature to consider progressive revenue options to avoid deeper cuts.

Ending: Advocates asked the committee to protect homelessness funding in the final budget and to consider additional revenue options to sustain services.","Advocates, service providers and local officials told the Appropriations Committee that backfilling the document‑recording fee shortfall and maintaining right‑of‑way and shelter funding are essential to avoid shelter closures and rising unsheltered homelessness.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6390662,"Education groups warn the budget falls short: K‑12 funding, 9th grade supports and ECAP concerns raised",2898,849000,3747000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112192-723669054dc0d231524a5bc5ed9a6a7b&start=849&end=3747","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112192-723669054dc0d231524a5bc5ed9a6a7b/thumbnail_849000.jpg","/articles/6390662/Washington/Education-groups-warn-the-budget-falls-short-K12-funding-9th-grade-supports-and-ECAP-concerns-raised","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390662-3cdbef1318b46e35f0db746e7319b3fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174665&Signature=L6B8XYo3PhZBlxCMDPqBITK2olZYWflfwP4~M5n99FYqILpBmoKOHCn3bHmjKVL3WUF7yxqV90tchNiT1M0rQ8XzqUd4qa-VDvRqJqWMgLRRsbBuHgFc9PNuOp3wJYu0x9ONPOZ6ZNF0wpF8eNc64m3CQRbrEBHu61-pjlJQzJZuBcyDs5p2-3SYyi5H4TsoCyEFDlFdu3P1kSk5au--DxBnrlSCqEzx8oT7mbSdoc0grruTRQWf8l6eNrVud48QhdzbHRF4rRa0kRSO3ZLivcN7g0mp9gD9DLThoD3ekwArp1jKABVtAHOLWZoyb-dx2IaDuuZ84zjkBDM84hzZpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of school boards, teacher and staff unions, principals and educational nonprofits told the Appropriations Committee the governor’s proposed budget leaves critical K‑12 needs underfunded and should be changed to protect students and school operations.

Speakers urged funding for three priorities frequently described as the \"big three\" — materials, supplies and operating costs (MSOC), special education and student transportation. Nikki Lockwood, president of the Spokane School Board, asked lawmakers to prioritize MSOC and noted that a one‑time $20 per‑student increase in the previous cycle \"only scratched the surface\" of a statewide need she estimated closer to $400 per student. Several education witnesses — including Rick Chiesa of Public School Employees of Washington and Marissa Rathbone of the Washington State School Directors Association — said the proposed share of the state budget for schools would continue to shrink and urged increased funding rather than cuts.

Multiple speakers asked the committee to restore funding for the 9th Grade Success initiative, a program several witnesses said has raised on‑track rates in participating high schools. Henderson Carlisle of the Center for High School Success told the committee that 9th‑grade on‑track status strongly correlates with on‑time graduation and that participating schools saw measurable improvements.

On early learning, ECAP and child care, advocates praised rate increases in the governor’s proposal (an 18% ECAP provider rate increase and maintaining Working Connections child care rates at the 85th percentile), but urged prompt action on slots and on equity for part‑day providers. Andrea Gamboa, a National Board‑certified teacher, and other witnesses strongly opposed proposals to cut stipends for National Board Certified Teachers, saying the reductions would amount to a pay cut for experienced teachers and would undermine retention and mentorship roles.

Ending: Education witnesses said they are willing to work with the legislature but asked the committee to prioritize MSOC, special education, 9th grade supports and protection for ECAP and teacher incentives in the final budget.","School districts, teachers and education associations told the committee the governor’s proposal does not sufficiently fund K‑12 basic needs (MSOC), special education, 9th‑grade success programs and that cuts to National Board stipends would harm teacher retention.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6390667,"Nursing home administrators warn Inslee budget cuts would ‘‘jeopardize’’ care and admissions",116,2002000,2118000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112192-723669054dc0d231524a5bc5ed9a6a7b&start=2002&end=2118","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112192-723669054dc0d231524a5bc5ed9a6a7b/thumbnail_2002000.jpg","/articles/6390667/Washington/Nursing-home-administrators-warn-Inslee-budget-cuts-would-jeopardize-care-and-admissions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390667-7ec12420a9b0b72296e89e26212d7f2a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174665&Signature=nDQTNzLqDSjE0Szd3KKoHT203AVdkhvCa8ElDK~ze9gR7W3PvUIOc78GVVA~9B3pjr8awu5OVhjwDuR6nLeE90W3IphMuUQf06tvnTWzSItiGDJc4JTr7XzK5OwXsEaYpa~B9ZC2LBHPV7rY8K~JQWFB8tahepkBFO-bIvfbZLNOKFYJbNkC2VtRqfwdCEgWGzybVbIx5Z10FzhhdRsl1Natx-0uW04rP827puHMRb8SzwjcmQoG1zPhC7tLlU2AjMTjdsFNAdjKeDn10KLzEaTDeCaTVZY1jx7cYlngrm7uNoMTUML4jsqdjC1xbbwAU1Vq-PCnkyNt3XSl6QXwBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Administrators from multiple skilled nursing facilities and long-term care providers told the Appropriations Committee during the public hearing that Governor Inslee’s budget, as proposed, would underfund nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities and put patient access at risk.

Tom Davis, representing Hudson Bay Health and Rehabilitation Centre in Vancouver, said the proposed plan would cut reimbursement rates and delay a rate rebase until fiscal year 2028, meaning providers would be paid based on 2022 costs in 2027. \"When skilled nursing facilities are underfunded, we struggle to hire staff and must limit patient admissions,\" Davis said, adding that limited bed availability then backs up hospitals.

Teresa Andre, Parkrose Care Center administrator in Tacoma, described facility-level impacts: under the governor’s proposal the facility would \"lose almost $40 per patient per day compared to our current Medicaid reimbursement rate,\" she testified, and that loss across 70 Medicaid residents could exceed $1 million in a year. Joanne Schimelfennik of Good Samaritan Healthcare Center in Yakima said the new reimbursement approach would \"cut rates and base reimbursement off 2022 costs until the fiscal year of 2028,\" calling that trajectory \"unsustainable.\"

Shelter and provider advocates repeated the operational consequences: reduced staffing, inability to accept specialized patients (ventilator‑dependent residents cited), longer hospital stays awaiting placement, and threats to facility solvency. Administrators asked the committee to include the Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) recommended funding for stabilization and to reject the delayed rebase and cuts described in the governor’s proposal.

Discussion vs. decision: Testimony was part of the public comment period; no committee vote or official action followed during the hearing. Advocates requested that the Legislature adopt alternative funding (DSHS recommendations) and not implement the proposed cuts.

Ending: Nursing home operators requested the committee to restore or maintain provider funding in the final budget to prevent bed closures and access shortfalls.","Multiple skilled nursing facility administrators told the Appropriations Committee that proposed Medicaid reimbursement cuts and a delayed rate rebase would force closures, reduce admissions and strain hospital capacity.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6390672,"Appropriations Committee hears Inslee 2025–27 budget overview, revenue proposals and program changes",863,413000,1276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2112192-723669054dc0d231524a5bc5ed9a6a7b&start=413&end=1276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2112192-723669054dc0d231524a5bc5ed9a6a7b/thumbnail_413000.jpg","/articles/6390672/Washington/Appropriations-Committee-hears-Inslee-202527-budget-overview-revenue-proposals-and-program-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6390672-68f2457d0c652d6436fc0d993b2de47c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174665&Signature=iznDoLn4e~RRMvpL~qIs4X~2Itqj49YMFGnoJBflC3-wvevsBnmg-POb8v~Ij6j56Hm3iAot-vfUNxr3PA57aNLTjLomcoIMQgIwWV7bMBDdfU1WOEGgyAyKxWjp0ELEP85mQdtnyxhusCadXyn6BnPgIOp2D0~3-1xSwlCKJryAFfaDQwDuOpAfV7yV~YSrap3MfegeoXTM9JuhZgafbkgCjEUgUZepNpyxHWI1R1dLcGlNEhCyjmtvXkZoiw4ggJagVM3Iru5vcPVP6Knuh8TzhpNFo~1MHnXcXUUp3qljPVctt2AIxORfmD~L1AGDxLSsTNCPPuZFn5yVfllVIQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Budget director Nona Snell presented an overview of Governor Jay Inslee’s proposed 2025–27 biennial operating and the 2025 second supplemental budget to the Washington House Appropriations Committee, outlining a mix of new revenues, transfers from the budget stabilization account and a set of program maintenance, additions and reductions. \"As you all are very aware, there are many challenges to this upcoming budget,\" Snell said, citing slowing revenue growth, rising caseloads, higher costs and workforce shortages.

The governor’s proposal would move roughly $1.6 billion from the budget stabilization account into the general fund in fiscal year 2026 with a transfer back in later years. Snell described a pension transaction that would combine Law Enforcement Officers’ and Firefighters’ (LEOFF) Plan 1 and Plan 2 pensions and transfer about $1.0 billion to the general fund in fiscal year 2026.

On revenue, the proposal includes a new wealth tax — a 1% levy on worldwide wealth above $100 million beginning in fiscal 2027 — that Snell said would raise an estimated $10.3 billion over the outlook period. The budget also proposes temporary and permanent increases to the business-and-occupation (B&O) tax (a temporary 20% increase on business services for firms with more than $1 million in receipts for late 2025–2026, and a permanent 10% increase on all B&O rates), a change to unclaimed property receipts and an increase in the tribal sales-and-use tax share for participating tribes from 60% to 100% (a decrease to state revenue estimated at $39 million). Snell summarized the net new revenue in the governor’s proposal as roughly $12.9 billion over the outlook period.

Snell highlighted priority areas and tradeoffs. In behavioral health, the proposal funds community settings for people moving out of inpatient care, implements Phase 4 of the Trueblood settlement, and funds 75 long-term civil commitment beds at the University of Washington Behavioral Health Hospital; it also delays opening some units at Maple Lane and reduces funding tied to projected operating costs at Olympic Heritage Behavioral Health. In housing, the budget backfills a shortfall in the document recording fee with $258 million of general fund to continue consolidated homeless grants and other housing services. Early learning and child care measures include an 18% increase to ECAP provider rates, 750 additional ECAP school‑day slots and maintaining Working Connections child care provider rates at the 85th percentile as required by law, while delaying an ECAP entitlement that had been scheduled for the 2026–27 school year.

Snell also noted reductions and schedule changes across human services, higher education and climate programs. The capital and operating proposals include continued work on behavioral health facility readiness, $950 million in Climate Commitment Act appropriations across budgets, and creation of a Clean Energy Development Office and a transmission authority to accelerate clean energy and transmission development. She closed by inviting questions; none were offered during the session before the committee moved to public testimony on the biennial and supplemental bills.

The presentation and the public hearing that followed made clear the budget package relies on a mix of near‑term revenue changes and program timing adjustments to preserve services while finding savings.

Ending: The committee transitioned from Snell's presentation directly into a public hearing for House Bill 1198 (the 2025–27 biennial operating bill) and House Bill 1197 (the 2025 second supplemental).","Budget director Nona Snell told the House Appropriations Committee that Governor Jay Inslee's proposed 2025–27 operating budget relies on new revenue measures including a wealth tax and changes to the business-and-occupation tax, and preserves many existing services while delaying or reducing some program expansions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public defense and court groups urge more funding to address appellate backlog and misdemeanor representation

Housing and homelessness advocates urge full backfill of document‑recording fee and continued shelter funding

Education groups warn the budget falls short: K‑12 funding, 9th grade supports and ECAP concerns raised

Nursing home administrators warn Inslee budget cuts would ‘‘jeopardize’’ care and admissions

Appropriations Committee hears Inslee 2025–27 budget overview, revenue proposals and program changes