Transcript Highlights:

• temporary director until the 2026 regular election to ensure continuous leadership and avoid operational gaps
• Unfortunately, a gap in the law remains.
• House Bill 2508 addresses a gap related to homestead exemptions for surviving spouses.
• House Bill 103 seeks to close this gap by establishing a... ...statewide publicly accessible database
• remain informed about possible future tax increases. ...to assess broader trends in local public finance

Bills: HB103

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• million appropriation from the Hurricane Relief Fund to the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority for GAP
• Hawaii Green Infrastructure<00:19:39.600> Authority<00:19:40.080> for<00:19:40.400> GAP
• Infrastructure Authority for GAP Infrastructure Authority for GAP reserves<00:19:41.200> to
• Uh, so we have agreement and uh we have WAM release on our side, but we are I think waiting on finance

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee considered several conference measures on April 25, 2025, mostly waiting on FIN or Ways and Means releases before taking action. SB 25 on eviction mediation was agreed to and passed with amendments, with members voting aye except for one no vote recorded from Representative Pirk and several excused members. SB 1367 on installment loans was also taken up later in the meeting; a revised conference draft was noted to include a five-year timeframe, a $1 convenience fee, and a corrected effective date, and it passed unanimously among those voting. Other measures were repeatedly rolled to later times in Room 224 or 225 because releases were still pending, including SB 1044 on property insurance stabilization, SB 1220 on a renewable gas tariff, SB 500 on electric utilities, HB 1370 on liquor tax/draft beer definitions, HB 939 on alcohol/liquor tax changes, HB 1052 on the universal service program, and SB 1500 on electric utilities. When SB 1220 and SB 500 were eventually heard, both were described as creating or adjusting utility-related processes and both passed with amendments. HB 1370 also passed with amendments after the committee noted it would redefine draft beer for liquor tax purposes. SB 1044 drew the most detailed discussion: the conferees described major funding provisions, including a $30 million reimbursable general obligation bond appropriation for the Hawaii Hurricane Relief Fund, a $20 million reimbursable GO bond appropriation to the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority for a condominium loan program, and a $5 million appropriation for GAP reserves, along with 36-month assessment periods and a temporary recording fee up to $44. The bill passed with amendments. HB 1052 on the universal service program was described as allowing the Public Utilities Commission to use program funds to provide free telecommunications access for individuals with print disabilities, with a $150,000 cap, and it also passed with a conference draft.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, of course, the Finance Corporation does that also.
• I don't see it as a gap. I don't see it as something that is adverse to each other.
• I don't see it as a gap. I don't see it as something that is adverse to each other.
• For your time every month as we bring forth our development money and our finance corporation.
• Investments and we have almost $190 million in assets with our finance corporation.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:01:00 Approval of Minutes 00:02:31 Kentucky Farm Bureau 00:02:42 Kentucky Department of Agriculture 00:28:18 Kentucky Cattlemen's Association 01:48:13, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard first from Kentucky Farm Bureau leaders, who outlined the organization’s current priorities and recent work on farmland transition. Eddie Melton said Farm Bureau is working through 983 county and advisory committee resolutions and highlighted support for the updated selling farmer tax credit, now law through House Bill 775, as well as Senate Bill 28’s agriculture economic development provisions. He said Farm Bureau’s likely priorities include maintaining the 50% share of the tobacco settlement fund for agriculture, protecting funding for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, preserving sales tax exemptions on farm inputs, keeping property taxes controlled, and exploring additional tools to keep farmland in active farmers’ hands, including possible loan or inheritance-tax changes. He also raised concerns about eminent domain transparency, nuisance deer permits, and access to agricultural inputs and crop protection products. Alita Bots described the farmland transition initiative in more detail, saying the revised state tax credit is generating strong interest and that a new federal tax provision now allows eligible land sales to actively engaged farmers to spread capital gains taxes over time. She said the initiative has reached 22 counties and more than 1,300 people this year through outreach and meetings, and that Farm Bureau is pairing policy work with resources to help farm families plan transitions and prepare wills and other estate documents. Drew Graham added that the effort is also meant to bridge the rural-urban divide and support rural communities, and Farm Bureau invited members to its annual meeting in early December. Members asked about rising insurance costs and deer damage. Farm Bureau representatives said severe convective storms, inflation, and higher repair and material costs have driven insurance rate increases, citing five major storm events since 2021 and a recent Owensboro hailstorm that caused about $350 million in losses; they said the company is moving toward percentage deductibles to help moderate increases. On deer, they said crop-loss totals are hard to quantify but acknowledged the problem and discussed possible coordination with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Hunters for the Hungry. Commissioner Jonathan Shell then began the Department of Agriculture presentation, reporting gains from the department’s school agriculture outreach program, including a 23% increase in county participation between March and September and improved teacher-reported student learning, before continuing into the department’s legislative priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Minnesota Senate Education Finance Committee, and we will now come to order.
• It goes to show us that we sit in this Ed Finance Committee that sometimes we have those full circle
• from widening these experts prevent gaps from widening these experts should<01:08:34.159> work
• I'm talking to you as a finance committee to say, where are our priorities?
• I'm talking to you as a finance I'm talking to you as a finance committee<01:25:48.000> to

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, if you recall, we did an oversight hearing on this subject to try to close a gap in federal
• of Maryland having to import that gap of Maryland having to import over<01:34:24.240> 40%<01:
• gaps that have been presented by action at the federal level, which is making it very more difficult
• <01:49:56.240> gaps<01:49:56.640> that<01:49:56.760> have deal with the financing
• gaps that have deal with the financing gaps that have been<01:49:56.960> presented<01:49:57.480

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, April 2, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation by Reverend J.C. Austin of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, and journalized the prayer. Members also introduced several guests and interns, including a shadow from the 45th District, a Legislative Black Caucus fellow, a ninth-grade author from Annapolis High School, a World Autism Acceptance Day group in the gallery, and a student shadowing the Senator from District 30. The chamber then moved to House bills on second reading and Senate bills on third reading. The Senate adopted favorable committee reports and passed several House bills without objection, including measures extending the Maryland Horse Industry Board sunset, requiring housing counseling information for certain first-time homebuyers, expanding the educator expense tax subtraction to full-time pre-K teachers, increasing funding for the State Library Resource Center, extending agricultural use assessment eligibility for community solar projects, allowing the Seat Pleasant Police Department to join the Law Enforcement Officers Pension System, authorizing changes to a tax sale legacy protection program, and granting special taxing authority for the Village of Drummond. The chamber also adopted seven amendments to Senate Bill 1007 on state debt authorizations and ordered it printed for third reading. On final passage, Senate Bill 956 on Maryland Transportation Authority video toll collections passed with 44 affirmative votes. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 841, a major energy affordability and utility reform bill, with two committee amendments adopted. The bill was described as providing short-, medium-, and long-term rate relief, including changes to EmPOWER Maryland, utility cost recovery, data center tariffs, net metering, solar policy, transmission planning, battery storage, nuclear incentives, and low-income assistance. Debate began on the amended report, and a motion to lay the bill over was withdrawn while members discussed waiting on additional amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what And when further Finance.
• <00:25:06.800> and to help the clinic bridge the gap and to help the clinic bridge the gap
• of the Committee on Finance. of the Committee on Finance.
• Okay, I understand we have a finance Okay, I understand we have a finance report. report. report.
• an amendment in the Finance Committee. an amendment in the Finance Committee.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• written testimony that was submitted, including only comments from DLNR and opposition by Budget and Finance
• So, just like Budget and Finance says in the testimony last year, do not support the special fund and
• And I'd also just Budget and Finance.
• says in the just like Budget and Finance says in the testimony<00:05:21.320> last<00:05:21.640
• Expanding community-based co-management helps bridge this gap by connecting young people directly to

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 649, which would create a small boat harbor commercial vessel special fund and raise mortgage fees on commercial vessels to fund harbor improvements. DLNR stood on written testimony in support, while the Ocean Tourism Coalition, Activity and Attractions Association of Hawaii, Calypso Charters, and a local commercial operator all opposed the bill, arguing that the fee increase would burden thin-margin businesses without fixing procurement and staffing problems and that the bill’s fee language and fund allocations were too vague. A DLNR witness also noted a prior bill, HB 2477, had sought to broaden the fee base to more ocean operators statewide rather than increase the percentage. No vote was taken on HB 649 during the portion shown. The committee then heard HB 2599 on aquatic protection, which would prioritize ecosystem integrity and use of best available science in managing aquatic resources and set coral reef resilience goals. DLNR supported the measure, and a testifier from the public urged stronger coral goals for Oahu and a broader framework including water quality, herbivore management, fishery management, enforcement, and coral restoration. There was no opposition or vote shown on HB 2599 before the committee recessed to a joint hearing. In the joint Economic Development and Tourism / Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts hearing, members heard HB 2118 on transferring the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission from DAGS to DBED, HB 2474 on authorizing non-binding international cooperative agreements, HB 1863 on creating an honorary ambassador to Canada, HB 1943 on out-of-state DBED offices and export promotion, and HB 2604 on a performing arts ticket surcharge. Testimony was generally supportive for HB 2118, HB 2474, HB 1863, and HB 1943, with questions focused on agency placement, sister-state relationships, and the rationale for overseas offices. HB 2604 drew opposition from the Tax Foundation and others, who argued the surcharge functioned as a tax and would make arts participation more expensive; the chair recommended deferring it. During decision-making, both committees passed HB 2118, HB 2474, HB 1863, and HB 1943 with amendments, including technical changes and revised effective dates. For HB 2474, the amendments were described as clarifying definitions for sister-state and international cooperative agreements, allowing relationships with national governments, and preserving legislative approval and transparency. HB 1943 was amended to require an office in Laoag City, Philippines, rather than a non-existent DBED Philippines office. HB 2604 was deferred. After the joint session, the Water, Land, Culture, and the Arts committee resumed and heard HB 2395 on permits for taking marine deposits and HB 2361 on administrative support for the Kahului Bay Regional Council, both of which drew only DLNR written testimony and no further action in the excerpt. The committee then began HB 1823 on Coastal Zone Management Act exemptions, with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs testifying first, but the transcript cuts off before further testimony or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• or Minnesota Power territory, you have an option and a tool in your toolbox to help you fund and finance
• solar energy projects on your finance solar energy projects on your home<00:04:53.800> that<00
• I think this is a key part of filling that gap.
• I think this is a key part of filling that gap.
• I think this is a key part of filling that gap.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are they air-gapped? Are they online?
• Second, the voter fund has been utilized to fill very critical gaps for elections administration.
• been utilized to fill very critical gaps been utilized to fill very critical gaps for<00:53:11.559
• And again, the question is, I have not heard the Campaign Finance Board's comments on this.
• I'm with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I call the March 9th, 2026, meeting of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee to order
• March 9th, 2026, meeting of the House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee.
• House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee meeting today. Welcome to the meeting.
• a gap for the foreseeable<01:46:26.160> future.
• About three to four billion dollars in that gap are pavement and bridge conditions.

Bills: HF3919, HF1335, HF3864, HF3916, HF3728

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, electronic license, driver's license, digital credential, transportation, data privacy, authentication, license plates, vehicle registration, validation stickers, Minnesota statutes, transportation policy, aeronautics, transponder, aircraft safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Um and then it's our intention to move this to the Elections, Finance, and Government Operations Committee
• ,<00:05:20.080> and<00:05:20.400> Government<00:05:20.720> Operations Finance, and
• <00:05:32.560> and bill to the Elections Finance and bill to the Elections Finance and Government
• actually closed an opportunity gap. actually closed an opportunity gap.
• gap for black<01:41:04.000> students<01:41:04.320> specifically.

Bills: HF3698, HF3067, HF3730

Keywords: libraries, electronic books, digital audiobooks, licensing agreements, public access, paraprofessional, paraprofessional qualifications, education support staff, teacher aide, teacher assistant, special education, Title I, federal personnel qualifications, Minnesota Department of Education, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, Read Act, reading instruction, math instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill went to the finance committee.
• <01:27:14.159> All bill went to the finance committee.
• All bill went to the finance committee.
• But ultimately uh uh uh we got it gap.
• Ultimately gap which we feel good about.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• e e e e e e e e e e e e So, I will open the Finance Division II work session, and I think we'll be starting
• And the other thing I'll just point out on line 49, there was a $4.5 million gap adjustment included
• What if Finance as a whole decides that, can they cut the budget that we've constructed for Education
• Yeah, I mean, it looks like we've got potentially a $700 million gap, and we're going to work really
• a gap a gap adjustment<03:21:03.520> um<03:21:04.160> putting<03:21:04.399> in<

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 129, which would redefine “evidence-based” in public education. Department of Education testimony said the bill’s definition would conflict with the federal definition and be unusually restrictive, potentially affecting curriculum, educator training, and many existing state requirements. The department said it could force a broad overhaul of school programs and create a need for at least one new state position, with local districts likely facing significant unbudgeted costs. Members raised concerns about impacts on federal pass-through funding, curriculum materials, and whether the bill was workable at all. Several members said the proposal would be too costly and difficult to implement, especially during a tight budget cycle. Representative Papovich moved to retain HB 129, and the motion passed 7-0. Members who supported retention said they wanted to set the bill aside because of the scale of the concerns, while also stating they did not support the bill as written. The committee then opened HB 133, dealing with DMV follow-up on residency and licensing issues tied to voting and other interactions. Department of Safety/DMV officials said the bill would require a $40,000 technology update plus a full-time position to handle manual correspondence and review of possible matches, and that postage was not included in the fiscal note. They said the bill’s 60-day residency trigger is vague, that the DMV would be acting outside its normal role by investigating status after the fact, and that the measure could create privacy and operational problems. Members questioned whether the bill would effectively force people to buy a driver’s license to vote, whether non-driver and voter ID options would avoid that concern, and whether the Secretary of State rather than DMV would be the more appropriate agency to handle any follow-up.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Putnam, this bill needs to go to Finance.
• .<00:03:07.987> [snorts] Finance.
• [snorts] Finance.
• produce revenue sufficient to finance produce revenue sufficient to finance the<00:14:43.120>
• <01:25:22.400> are We are here because HCMC's finances are We are here because HCMC's finances

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that 300% federal poverty level are above the 185% federal poverty level, and so there's this huge gap
• this huge gap group I know<00:26:58.120> this<00:26:58.240> this<00:26:58.360> isn't
• <00:40:25.880> leaves<00:40:26.160> many and reduced meals this Gap leaves many and
• reduced meals this Gap leaves many without<00:40:26.880> access<00:40:27.119> to<00:40
• that's comes in Via um cover the Gap that's comes in Via application<01:07:04.279> fees<01:07

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 707 on the College Savings Program. Members discussed a suggested amendment from the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities to include the Hawaii ABLE Savings Program. The chair said the Department of the Attorney General advised there was no title problem, so the bill could be broadened to cover both the College Savings Program and the ABLE program. The committee also noted technical, non-substantive changes and a defective date of July 1, 3000 for further discussion. HB 707 HD1 was then voted on and the recommendation to pass with amendments was adopted unanimously by the members present, with two members excused. The committee then heard House Bill 424, which would provide free breakfast and lunch beginning the next school year to students who currently qualify for free and reduced-price meals. The Department of Education supported the measure, and testimony in favor came from teachers, public health and food security advocates, and several organizations. Supporters described students being denied meals because of unpaid balances, said school meals should not depend on family debt, and argued that the bill would reduce stigma and help hungry students learn. Committee questions focused on meal pricing, the impact of raising prices on families who pay full price, and whether portion sizes could be increased; DOE said breakfast costs less than lunch, full-price students would bear any increase, and portion sizes must follow USDA rules. Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute and Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network said many families above the free/reduced thresholds still cannot afford meals, citing estimates that the DOE collects about $20 million a year in meal payments and that federal reimbursement totals are much larger. The committee then heard House Bill 757, the universal free school breakfast and lunch bill. DOE and the Department of Health supported it, and testimony was overwhelmingly in favor from county officials, teachers, students, food banks, advocacy groups, and community organizations. Witnesses argued that universal meals would eliminate stigma, reduce paperwork and debt collection, and ensure students do not fall through the cracks because of income cutoffs, language barriers, or administrative hurdles. Several students from Castle High School described classmates asking for food and families struggling to keep meal accounts funded, while teachers said they regularly see negative meal balance notices and hungry students. Advocates also said the bill is the better equity vehicle because it avoids means testing and reaches students who are not currently receiving meals despite needing them. The hearing on HB 757 was still ongoing at the end of the transcript, and no final vote on that bill was shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is being referred to the committee on health finance and policy.
• The bill is being referred to the committee on housing finance and policy.
• Finance Authority that's unencumbered<00:52:47.680> at<00:52:47.920> this<00:52:48.079
• He said the work done here was to find similar money to help stop the gap so that emergency rooms and
• Representative Craft moves that House File 4233 be recalled from the Committee on Energy Finance and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We should also teach about that, and then teach about our finances—how to manage finances.
• Equal funding and encouraging our community to support individuals and aim to close the gap, whether

Transcript Highlights:

• Economic Development Finance Authority 307 KAR 10:70 Emergency. any members have any questions?
• that they we don't have a gap. that they we don't have a gap.
• Economic<00:14:58.160> Development<00:14:58.720> Finance<00:14:59.120> Authority
• Economic Development Finance Authority Economic Development Finance Authority 307<00:15:01.040><
• c> KAR1070 307 KAR1070 307 KAR1070 Emergency Economic Development Finance Authority 307 KAR 10:70

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met in August with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee then reviewed several regulations, generally adopting staff-suggested amendments without objection, and heard brief explanations from agency representatives on each item. The Board of Pharmacy regulations would clarify what registered and certified pharmacy technicians may do under supervision and what certified technicians may not do, while updating registration applications. The Board of Cosmetology package included changes to executive director authority, licensure and reciprocity rules, school requirements, training hours, instructor ratios, sanitation and disease-related rules, complaint procedures, and permit terms; members asked about straight razor language and the increase in student-to-instructor ratios, and the board explained that cosmetologists are not permitted to use straight razors and that the higher ratio was intended to give schools flexibility, especially for part-time students and schools with wait lists. The Occupational Therapy emergency compact regulation added four compact rules adopted in April 2025, and Senator West raised a technical question about certification requirements under House Bill 6; the agency said it had been instructed to file the regulation as submitted. The Department for Fish and Wildlife Resources presented a package covering wildlife management area rules, a northern pintail bag limit increase, reportable disease reporting, and a repeal tied to boat registration fees. After a brief explanation of the new wildlife disease reporting rule, the agency requested and received a deferral of 301 KAR 2:031 to avoid a gap while replacement language is finalized. The Economic Development Finance Authority explained an emergency regulation for the Kentucky Entertainment Incentive Program, saying it was needed because the program had become oversubscribed and because administration was shifting to a new film office and council; members also asked about certification issues under House Bill 6, and the agency said it had filed the regulation as directed. The Department of Workplace Standards emergency PPE regulation was also discussed, with members asking about HB 6 certification language, and the agency gave the same response. The Department of Insurance regulation would create a $10,000 registration fee and a $1,000 annual licensing fee for pharmacy benefit manager licenses, with an agency amendment exempting PBMs that solely serve workers’ compensation plans. Members asked how many PBMs would be affected and why workers’ compensation PBMs were carved out; the agency said there were 70 registered PBMs total, four solely workers’ comp, and that workers’ comp rates are set by statute and could not absorb the fee. Finally, the Public Service Commission’s pole attachment regulation was summarized as a broadband-expansion measure that speeds application review, increases the number of poles allowed in a single application, and shortens dispute timelines; the commission explained it grew out of earlier legislative direction and subsequent emergency amendments, and the committee adopted the staff amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• In prior hearings, the Select Committee heard from consumer advocates on the gaps in charger accessibility
• have the Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank, the iBank, which does different kinds of financing
• Stabilization of these costs plays a significant role in reducing the overall gap between a ZEV and a
• It stands for zero-emission truck and bus infrastructure financing.
• It stands for zero emission truck and bus infrastructure financing.

Summary: The joint informational hearing of the Select Committee on Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure focused on California’s EV market, charging infrastructure, and the effects of recent federal actions. The chair opened by emphasizing California’s progress on EV adoption and charging reliability, but also noted ongoing challenges with affordability, access, interoperability, heavy-duty electrification, and federal headwinds. She highlighted interest in technologies such as inductive charging and thanked host organizations and staff before moving to the first panel. State agency witnesses from Go-Biz, CARB, and the California Energy Commission described current programs and priorities. Go-Biz outlined its role in coordinating agencies, supporting permitting, and advancing the state’s ZEV market development strategy and equity action plan. CARB discussed federal attacks on its clean vehicle regulations, litigation to defend waiver authority, and the importance of incentives and regulatory programs such as Advanced Clean Trucks, Advanced Clean Fleets, Clean Truck Check, HVIP, and Clean Cars for All. The CEC detailed its funding and regulatory work on charging and fueling infrastructure, charger reliability, payment methods, roaming, and statewide planning, while stressing the need for more charging in multifamily housing and more public DC fast charging. All three agencies said federal rollbacks and permitting delays are major obstacles, but that California remains committed to expanding ZEV adoption. The second panel featured advocates, local government, utility, and research perspectives. CalETC urged continuous state funding through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and emphasized the low-carbon fuel standard, multifamily charging, and managed charging. An EV advocacy group proposed a conquest-style state incentive for new and used EV buyers and argued that multifamily housing is a major untapped market, while also favoring Level 2 charging over Level 1 for most home and apartment settings. Los Angeles County and LADWP described large-scale local deployment of chargers, fleet electrification, workforce training, and the need for sustained funding, agency coordination, and streamlined permitting and grid interconnection. UCS recommended prioritizing replacement of older high-emitting vehicles, using fuel policy revenues to support cleaner cars, and expanding bidirectional charging. The chair closed by asking for more discussion on Level 1 versus Level 2 charging and noted the importance of education, affordability, and practical deployment strategies.

Transcript Highlights:

• Students often fill this gap with incomplete or incorrect information.
• Graduate retention for in-state is a persistent gap.
• All of these were approved by the Budget and Finance Committee.
• Budget and Finance reviewed and considered these.
• Budget and Finance reviewed and considered these.

Keywords: 908, all