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House Committee hears H38 to add staff, funding for Human Rights Commission
Summary
The House Committee on General and Housing received an introduction to H38, a bill proposing new positions and a FY2026 budget request for the Human Rights Commission to address a backlog of discrimination cases; further testimony and appropriations action are pending.
The House Committee on General and Housing on Wednesday, Jan. 29 heard an introduction to H38, a bill proposing additional staff positions and related funding for the Human Rights Commission to address an increasing backlog of discrimination complaints.
Representative Tom Stevens introduced H38, saying the measure would “extend the number of positions in the Human Rights Commission.” Stevens told the committee the commission has “been under siege with a lack of capacity” and that the shortage has left some cases unanswered and contributed to staff burnout.
Committee staff member Sophie provided a budget breakdown for the request, saying H38 seeks six additional full-time positions and two additional part-time positions, funded from the general fund in fiscal year 2026. Sophie listed line items including $25,000 for education and outreach, $18,000 for operating expenses and equipment, and $50,000 for additional office space; she said the total runs to roughly $887,000.
The committee discussion also noted a recent letter submitted to the Appropriations Committee that prioritized partial BAA (Budget Adjustment Act) funding for two positions — a full-time intake specialist and a staff attorney — to address immediate capacity needs. A committee member said the letter “supported that” request while acknowledging that partial, short-term funding would require a plan for continued support in FY2026.
Committee members and staff framed H38 as part of a broader effort to reduce delays in the commission’s handling of complaints across the agency’s jurisdiction, which includes housing, state employees and education matters. No formal committee vote was taken on H38 during the session excerpted here.
Committee leaders also reminded attendees of related scheduling: a joint hearing with the Senate committee on the administration’s Townsend proposal is set for 10 a.m. tomorrow, and the committee intends to take testimony from the Human Rights Commission’s executive director, Miss Hartman, at 2 p.m. the same day.
The bill was introduced for consideration; appropriations decisions and any formal committee actions will depend on the Appropriations Committee’s review of the BAA and subsequent legislative steps.
