Transcript Highlights:

• The project is to be funded with fees and self-generated revenues, and the estimated cost is $3 million
• The project is to be funded with fees, self-generated revenues, and the estimated cost is $3 million,
• and self-generated revenues, bringing the total funding authority to which is to be funded with fees
• The increase will be covered by fees and self-generated revenue.
• Obviously, this is going to be an increase for now on other fines or other fees.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee received the May fiscal status statement from the Office of Planning and Budget, which reflected the updated Revenue Estimating Conference forecast. The revised forecast reduced the FY26 general fund excess available from $292.6 million to $179.7 million and lowered projected revenues across the five-year baseline, including a drop in FY27 available funds and larger out-year imbalances. The statement was approved without objection. Members then considered several Facility Planning and Control items and approved them without objection: a $3 million LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans project to build out space in the Center for Advanced Learning and Simulation; a $343,600 increase for HVAC upgrades at the Louisiana War Veterans Home warehouse in Jackson; and a $700,000 increase for Southern University’s A.A. Lenoir Law Center addition. The committee also received, for information only, five change orders over $50,000 but under $250,000. The committee approved contract extensions and funding actions for several agencies. Louisiana Economic Development received approval for one-year extensions and increases for marketing contracts with Zender Communications and Graham Group. The Department of Education’s contract amendment for the Louisiana Gator ESA program with Odyssey was reported favorably after questions about the procurement process and how the contract amount relates to student enrollment. The Sabine River Authority’s $9.5 million operating budget increase and its 2026–2027 budget were approved favorably, with members discussing the planned takeover of Cypress Bend Resort operations. The Department of Health’s HERO Fund round of 15 grant awards, totaling about $4.6 million and projected to create 541 new health care credentials, was also approved favorably. Finally, the Water Sector Commission’s recommendations were adopted, including an additional $619,850 for St. Mary Parish Water and Sewer Commission No. 5 and $1.5 million in emergency subfund assistance for the city of Tallulah, conditioned on a limited fiscal administration order. The committee also reviewed a cooperative agreement between the Louisiana Community and Technical College System and its facilities corporation related to Act 35 projects, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A LITTLE NOTE ON THE FEES WHICH ARE NORMALLY REGARDING GOVERNMENT SERVICES
• AUTO TITLE AND THE LIEN FEES SHOW A DOWNWARD TREND BUT THIS IS DUE TO LEGISLATIVE CHANGES THAT MOVE FUNDS
• THERE ARE FEES AND GRANTS AND THERE ARE SETTLEMENT PAYMENTS AND THERE IS ALL KIND OF THINGS THAT GO INTO
• Bernard: 12 ON YOURS. >> Azhar Khan: TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT CORPORATE PLANNING FEES, >> Sen.
• THERE ARE OTHER TAXES AND FEES WHICH ARE SMALL FEES THAT COME THROUGH DIFFERENT TRUST FUNDS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pipeline safety is funded through the special revenue fund on fees collected from pipeline operators.
• which is funded through um fees which is funded through um fees collected<00:19:42.480> by
• My understanding is just that this was a new fee that the state had never assessed before.
• So first one, there are drone fees reduced registration fees for drones that are part of a one-day event
• being drone fees reduced registration fees<00:59:05.960> for<00:59:06.119> drones<00:59

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was a fee established in this bill.
• We pay the county's witness fees up to $30,000 per county per biennium.
• And then I put the current status of those fees down below.
• We also have some additional fees and expenses in our base budget.
• We also have some additional fees and expenses in our base budget.

Summary: The committee met as the Commerce and Legal Services Division and first approved the minutes, then received a Legislative Council overview of the Attorney General’s current budget status and a blue-sheet summary of the AG’s base budget for the next biennium. Staff highlighted compliance with legislative intent items, including FTE changes, one-time funding updates, litigation pool spending, opioid settlement receipts, and continuing appropriations. Members asked about specific funds such as the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund and the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and staff explained the statutory basis and status of those items. The Attorney General’s office then presented an extensive overview of its divisions and budget pressures. Chief Deputy Attorney General Clare Ness described the office’s 14 divisions, the role of the office in defending the state and recouping funds, and concerns about attorney pay, recruitment, and retention. Members discussed whether attorney salaries should be benchmarked across state government and whether more legal work could be centralized in the AG’s office. The office also described challenges with the new-and-vacant FTE pool, operating expense cuts, leased office space, and the criminal justice information systems used to connect law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts. The Crime Laboratory director gave a detailed update on space and infrastructure problems, saying the current lab is overcrowded and outdated, with safety, workflow, air-handling, glycol leak, alarm, and maintenance issues that can delay casework and risk evidence integrity. She said a 2024 study projected a need for a much larger facility and that the preferred option would be a new building on the current health department site, at an estimated cost of roughly $40 million to $45 million. She also reported that backlogs have improved significantly in DNA, firearms, fingerprint, and drug cases, though toxicology had recently developed a small backlog after an air compressor failure. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, gaming division, and BCI also provided updates. MFCU’s new director said the unit is federally funded 75/25, focuses on fraud, abuse, and neglect, and is seeking two attorney hires while continuing to work with federal partners on cases and recertification. Gaming staff reported continued growth in charitable gaming and electronic pull-tab activity, with concerns about site competition, large trust balances, possible ineligible expenditures, and the need for more scrutiny as revenues have grown. BCI outlined its staffing, drug task forces, ICAC work, and the Missing Indigenous Person Task Force, which is using its $250,000 appropriation to help tribal nations develop emergency response plans and purchase alerting tools such as IPAWS. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• act to amend Title 15 relative to the collection or reporting of debts for criminal court fines or fees
• House Bill 908, by Representative Minas, is an act to amend Title 49 relative to fees charged by the
• All the fees are generated within the constable's office. I see no questions.
• Members, this bill increases the amount a lender may charge for an origination fee, changing it from
• It would allow them to raise their parcel fee up to $150 with the approval of the vote of the people.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and then there's a mileage fee.
• If you're 50 miles outside of Phoenix, there's a hook fee plus a mileage fee for those 50 miles so that
• There's a tow fee and there's a daily storage fee.
• and then there's a daily storage fee.
• It's all generated through license fees and some of the funding that we're talking about today.

Bills: HB2127, HB2257, HB2305, HB2573, HB2772, HB2941, HB2957

Keywords: special license plates, transportation, funding, nonprofits, charitable contributions, boating, watercraft licensing, law enforcement, safety fund, state funding, Arizona Revised Statutes, towing regulation, private towing carriers, vehicle impound, towing rates, preemption, DUI, ignition interlock, substance abuse treatment, driving privileges

Transcript Highlights:

• One, prohibit contingency or percentage-based fees for unlicensed claim agents.
• One, prohibit contingency or percentage-based fees for unlicensed claim agents.
• One, prohibit contingency or percentage-based fees for unlicensed claim agents.
• One, prohibit contingency or percentage-based fees for unlicensed claim agents.
• Prohibit contingency or percentage-based fees for unlicensed claim agents.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on the role of County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs), CalVet’s support for them, and the growing problem of for-profit, unaccredited claims companies. Committee leaders and witnesses emphasized that CVSOs are often the first point of contact for veterans and their families, helping with disability claims, education benefits, survivor benefits, housing, health care, and other wraparound services. Testimony highlighted the return on investment from CVSO work, with witnesses citing hundreds of millions in new federal benefits secured for California veterans and arguing that current state funding is too low relative to the workload and need. County representatives from Nevada, Los Angeles, and San Luis Obispo described local models of service. Los Angeles County highlighted a “no wrong door” approach, peer navigators, suicide review work, justice-involved veteran services, and homelessness coordination, while San Luis Obispo described rural outreach, mental health partnerships, and high suicide rates in its county. Nevada County stressed that smaller counties can be disadvantaged by workload-based formulas and that additional funding would expand access, especially in rural areas. Several witnesses said veterans often need more than claims help and should be connected to mental health, employment, food, and family supports. Much of the discussion centered on predatory claims consultants, which witnesses said charge veterans for services that accredited CVSOs provide free. Members and witnesses described cases involving requests for VA and banking logins, misleading advertising, and contracts that can take a percentage of veterans’ benefits. Committee members expressed support for legislation to curb these practices and for increased funding for CVSOs, including the Legislature’s intent to fund 50% of county veterans’ services operations. A CalVet deputy secretary also testified that California’s accreditation and training system improves claim quality and appeal outcomes, and that CalVet works with CVSOs through training, district offices, and appeals representation.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you wanted a terrible gaming license in the past, that's a very modest fee, as it should be.
• a sliding scale as well as a fixed fee a sliding scale as well as a fixed fee and<05:02:16.760><
• there's a a fee per machine was a fee there's a a fee per machine was a fee per<05:03:51.760>
• We can determine when's the right time to cut in such a fee.
• upfront was an $85 million license fee upfront was an $85 million license fee they<05:16:09.520>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 135, introduced by Representative Michael Harrington. He said the bill would codify a portion of the New Hampshire Constitution to bar New Hampshire businesses from being required to collect sales or use taxes for other states unless Congress mandates it, arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision created an onerous compliance burden for businesses. He described the patchwork of state and local sales tax rules, thresholds, and product exemptions as extremely complex and said the bill was intended to push the issue back toward Congress and the courts. Members questioned whether the bill’s reference to a “foreign government” would apply to other U.S. states, whether the proposal would conflict with the Supremacy Clause, and whether it would create standing for businesses to challenge Wayfair. Harrington responded that “foreign government” meant any government other than New Hampshire, that he believed the state could challenge the decision in court by passing a law contrary to Wayfair, and that businesses were already being harmed by compliance costs. Some members raised concerns about whether the bill was an unfunded mandate or simply a private compliance burden, and Harrington argued that the state itself would not be collecting the taxes, but businesses would still face recordkeeping and administrative costs. Sam Garland of the Department of Justice then testified. He said the department was not taking a formal position on the bill, but offered technical comments. Garland acknowledged that Wayfair created significant compliance burdens and noted that states have become somewhat more uniform, with all states now having a $100,000 economic nexus threshold, though not all use the 200-transaction threshold and local tax variation remains substantial. He said the department’s concerns were legal, describing the issue as uncharted constitutional territory involving both vertical and horizontal federalism. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 2236 Chen, digital financial asset fees, hold in committee.
• AB 803, Garcia. indirect source rules and ARB fees do pass as amended to strike sections 4 and 6 and
• AB 1031, Jeff Gonzales, fee cap for geothermal waste, holding committee.
• AB 342, Haney, hours of sales, do pass as amended to require the license fee be adjusted for inflation
• AB 556, Patterson, CalVet campus based fee waiver, holding committee.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh originally was incomebased fee.
• This tax or this fee is similar to a lot of the other fees that basically stay flat.
• This tax or this fee is similar to a lot of the other fees that basically stay flat.
• This tax or this fee is similar to a lot of the other fees that basically stay flat.
• . fees. fees.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1596, which would raise New Hampshire’s cigarette excise tax from $1.78 per pack to about $2.80, using an inflation-based adjustment since the rate was last set in 2008. Representative Jerry Stringham, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure would keep New Hampshire competitive with neighboring states, generate revenue, and help offset other budget pressures. He also described the bill as repealing an income-based premium charge in Medicaid/CHIP-related programs and restoring cuts to the University System of New Hampshire, arguing that the combined package would still leave the state in a positive fiscal position. He said the tobacco tax increase would likely have some cessation effect but would remain low relative to other New England states, and he cited prior testimony from health groups supporting a larger increase. Members questioned the sponsor about how the new rate was calculated, the prior tobacco tax reduction and restoration, whether tobacco companies would absorb or pass on the tax, and the fiscal note’s estimates for Medicaid premium revenue and UNH funding. Stringham said he used Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation data, that the earlier 10-cent reduction did not produce the expected sales increase, and that the current bill would eliminate the premium charges now in the budget. He later clarified that the Department of Medicaid Services had updated the revenue estimate, but said the bill still showed a surplus overall. He also said the federal government already imposes a $1-per-pack tax and that New Hampshire would remain below neighboring states even after the increase. Two public witnesses testified in opposition to the tax increase. Anna Bettincourt, a tobacco category manager, argued that higher tobacco taxes would unfairly target smokers, reduce New Hampshire’s tax advantage, and likely shift purchases to other states or illicit markets rather than reduce use. She said tobacco companies generally do not lower prices and that Massachusetts’ flavor restrictions had not eliminated sales. In response to questions, she maintained that a smaller increase would still be harmful and that enforcement problems make bans ineffective. The sponsor and some members countered that smokers impose higher health costs and that tobacco taxes are a policy tool for both revenue and public health. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:11.120> Um governor's proposed fee adjustment.
• Um governor's proposed fee adjustment.
• Um, while we're not happy that the seal fee increases from $80 to $325, we understand that the fee has
• not been raised since 2008, and the CCL is a fee-driven, not general fund, appropriation.
• Um, while we're not happy that the seal fee increases from $80 to $325, we understand that the fee has

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Development Act, which is designed to provide our veteran-owned and military spouse-owned businesses with fee
• Development Act, which is designed to provide our veteran-owned and military spouse-owned businesses with fee
• costs and administrative hurdles don't stand in the way, SB 1182 addresses those barriers by reducing fees
• Department of Veterans Affairs and creates a verification letter process that businesses use to claim the fee
• The amendment also broadens the fee waiver to apply not just to relocations, but also to eligible existing

Bills: S1182, S1594

Keywords: veterans, military spouses, business incentives, tax exemptions, economic development, veteran benefits, minor clients, financial assistance, education services, Department of Children and Families, Department of Health

Summary: The Senate Committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum present and took up two bills. SB 1594, by Senator Gates, would change how veterans’ benefits received on behalf of foster youth are handled so the funds are not used to offset foster care costs, but instead are preserved for post-secondary education or aftercare services when the youth leaves foster care. The bill drew one supportive appearance from Victoria Zep of Family Support Services, had no debate, and was reported favorably by a unanimous roll call vote. Senator Sharief later asked to be recorded as a yes vote on the bill. The committee then considered SB 1182, by Senator Jones, which creates the Florida Veterans and Military Spouses Business Development Act to provide fee relief and tax incentives for veteran-owned and military spouse-owned businesses. The committee adopted Jones’s strike-all amendment, which added information-sharing and verification provisions, refined the tax exemptions, and broadened eligibility for fee waivers and sales tax relief. After no questions or debate, the amended bill was reported favorably by unanimous vote. The committee also held a confirmation hearing for three appointees—Matthew Bacchano, Tim Thomas, and Belinda Kaiser—and recommended confirmation on all three in one vote. The meeting concluded with several members offering remarks praising Chair Wright’s long service and leadership on veterans’ issues, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The approval by the BOG as it relates to out-of-state fees for nonresidents is ministerial only.
• tuition and fee costs after other federal, state, and institutional gift aid is applied.
• The approval by the BOG as it relates to out-of-state fees for nonresidents is ministerial only.
• tuition and fee costs after other federal, state, and institutional gift aid is applied.
• tuition and fee costs after other federal state and institutional gift aid is applied.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They also made it so in an industrial park you don't have to pay the permit fees all over again that
• And then in the bill, we had a refund program because we have the registration fee that EV drivers in
• So, your in-state registration fees.
• Uh, and then they'll registration fee.
• . fee. fee.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And second, it shifts the responsibility for arbitration fees to... ...billing models.
• fees evenly regardless of the outcome.
• So current arbitration fees are substantial and growing, and so this is a very important piece.
• So they're actually being kept out of the process because the fees are relatively high.
• system and these types of fee-for-service rates.

Bills: HB136, HB451, SB425, SB466, SB905, SB1986, SB2311, SB2450, SB2805, SB2826, SB2919, SB3001

Keywords: Medicaid, lactation, healthcare, consultation, reimbursement, maternal health, infant care, commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, human trafficking, child welfare, foster care, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, juvenile probation, risk assessment, needs assessment, trauma screening, child abuse prevention, exploitation screening

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and announced it would vote on pending bills at 10:30, with public testimony limited to two minutes. It first took up Senate Bill 905, a TDLR cleanup bill on licensing regulation of speech-language pathologists and audiologists. Senator Zafferini said the committee substitute would streamline advisory board consultation, remove obsolete provisional licenses, and allow any licensed physician to authorize hearing instruments for minors; the substitute was adopted and the bill left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 451, which would require universal screening for commercial sexual exploitation risk for children in DFPS conservatorship and youth under TJJD jurisdiction. The author and witnesses from Children at Risk, the Fort Bend Anti-Trafficking Collective, and Texas CASA supported the bill as a prevention tool with existing infrastructure and training; the committee adopted the substitute and left the bill pending. The committee next considered Senate Bill 466, which would clarify that families may request a fetal death certificate at any gestational age, while keeping existing filing requirements for physicians. A constituent father testified about losing his 11-week-old daughter and being told he could not obtain a certificate, which he said prevented funeral arrangements; the substitute was adopted and the bill left pending. Senate Bill 2311 followed, requiring residential treatment centers to have a written agreement with the school that will educate resident children before becoming operational. The author cited a local dispute where an RTC and school district lacked communication, and witnesses from Texas CASA and Disability Rights Texas supported clearer educational planning while suggesting the Education Code may need conforming changes; the bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2826, known as Alyssa’s Law, which would create a statewide education program on medical child abuse for medical students, health care professionals, and CPS caseworkers. The author and Sheriff Bill Weyburn described Alyssa’s case as involving repeated unnecessary surgeries and argued the bill would improve awareness and early identification, while several witnesses and members raised concerns about false accusations, impacts on medically fragile children, and the need for scientific, peer-reviewed training and safeguards. After extensive discussion, the chair left the bill pending. The committee also heard House Bill 136, which would add certified lactation consultants as Medicaid providers to expand breastfeeding support; witnesses from lactation and nutrition fields said the bill would improve access, maternal and infant health, and long-term savings, and the bill was left pending. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 2805, a surprise-billing/arbitration measure that would clarify provider identifiers and shift arbitration costs to the losing party. The author said the substitute was a legislative counsel draft with no substantive difference, and witnesses from the Texas Medical Association, Texas Society of Anesthesiologists, and U.S. Anesthesia Partners supported the bill as a modest improvement that would reduce administrative confusion and make arbitration fairer without weakening patient protections. Members discussed how arbitration costs affect settlement behavior and how to define the “winner” in close cases. The bill was heard but not voted out during this segment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Independents, and I've heard stories of the fee structure being a bit egregious at times, and it can
• And I've heard stories of the fee structure being a bit egregious at times, and it can be.
• I'm not sure what else you'd like to like fee structure about 100% virtually 100% of them use one of
• That's all they're going to do because they don't want to pay the fees or whatever it might be.
• Are there any fees for licenses that are going to be assessed? Thank you, very good question.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We see the symptoms all over—complaints about impact fees and other things—but those impact fees, an
• One of Habitat's biggest costs are development fees.
• One of Habitat's biggest costs are development fees.
• Uncertainty is far more expensive than the price tag of unplanned development fees.
• In addition to that, there are financing costs, commitment fees, etc.

Summary: The committee heard AB 736, a proposed $10 billion Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, with Assembly Member Buffy Wicks and numerous housing, local government, labor, and advocacy groups testifying in strong support. Supporters said the bond would fund multifamily housing, permanent supportive housing, homeownership, preservation, farmworker, tribal, and other programs, and argued that the state needs new capital because prior bond funds are exhausted and many shovel-ready projects are waiting. Habitat for Humanity California opposed the bill unless it was amended to dedicate 10% of bond proceeds to Cal Home for affordable homeownership, and several senators said they supported the bond but wanted Cal Home strengthened. The committee voted do pass to Senate Appropriations, with the measure placed on call for absent members. The committee also heard SB 1361 by Senator Durazo, which would limit local governments from using SB 79 transit-oriented housing requirements as a reason to stall or condition planned transit projects. Los Angeles Metro, the Building Trades, and several cities and advocacy groups supported the bill, saying it would protect transit investments, jobs, and federal funding from opposition tied to future density around transit stops. Several groups that had initially opposed or been concerned about the bill, including West Hollywood, Streets for All, Greenbelt Alliance, California YIMBY, and the Bay Area Council, withdrew opposition or moved to neutral after amendments. The committee approved the bill as amended to Senate Local Government, with the measure also placed on call. Senator Grayson presented SB 1003, creating an Infrastructure Partnership Financing Program to help local governments and developers fund infrastructure needed for infill housing, and SB 1014, which would require local agencies to provide early, good-faith estimates and itemized lists of required on-site and off-site improvements for housing projects. Both bills were supported by housing advocates, Habitat for Humanity, SPUR, and industry groups, who said the measures would reduce uncertainty, late fees, and project delays. The committee advanced both bills as amended to Senate Appropriations, placing them on call. The committee also took up SB 908, which streamlines energy-code-compliant window replacement and limits aesthetic review, especially for residential replacements; it passed as amended to Appropriations after support from affordable housing and green building groups and no opposition. Later, Senator Allen presented SB 1092 and SB 1093 on mobile home park preservation and post-disaster protections. SB 1092 would give residents notice and an opportunity to make a competing bid when a park owner intends to sell, with supporters arguing it would help preserve unsubsidized affordable housing and protect displaced residents, while park owner representatives argued it would devalue properties, create litigation risk, and interfere with market transactions. SB 1093 would require more communication, access, and consideration of rebuilding or closure after disasters, and would restore certain resident reimbursement rights; supporters cited the Palisades fire and survey data showing residents lacked information and access, while opponents said the bill imposed onerous timelines, liability issues, and penalties and could force owners into rebuilding or compensation assumptions they disputed. Both bills were discussed at length, but the transcript ends before final recorded votes on them.

Transcript Highlights:

• Technology fee fees such as an activity and
• >service fee.
• Technology fee concessions, cetera.
• We have a service fee.
• And fees.