Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1849, relating to capital outlay appropriation, is before the Committee on Appropriations
• Senate Bill 1854, relating to higher education appropriations, is before the Committee on Appropriations
• Bill 1847, the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, recommends the bill be passed, signed by David Farnsworth
• It increases the appropriated FTEs by nine FTEs.
• Senate Bill 1847, an act relating to appropriations, 1925, Chapter 223, Section 23, appropriating monies

Summary: The meeting began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a guest introduction for Deputy Frank Sloop. The Senate then moved through multiple Committee of the Whole calendars, with most measures receiving do-pass recommendations after brief explanations and, in several cases, floor amendments. Topics included public records, capital outlay review, local government, taxation, state budget implementation, higher education appropriations, utility regulation, towing regulation, homeowners association disclosures, nursing board regulation, veteran services, criminal justice, human services, K-12 education, state property management, and the continuation of the Arizona State Board of Nursing. Several bills were amended on the floor before receiving favorable recommendations. House Bill 2114 on motorcycle-related provisions was amended to require that at least one registered owner be legally licensed to operate a motorcycle in Arizona. House Bill 2397 on HOA/condominium disclosures was amended to change disclosure timing and fee rules and make other conforming changes. House Bill 2408 on nursing board regulatory action was amended to remove a clear-and-convincing-evidence burden in disciplinary matters and clarify complaint-sharing procedures. House Bill 2957 on driver’s license/handheld provisions, House Bill 2305 on towing regulation, and House Bill 2321 on DCS-related reporting also received amendments before do-pass recommendations. The largest item was Senate Bill 1847, the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act. Senators offered extensive floor amendments affecting agriculture, corrections, criminal justice, school safety, law enforcement equipment, vehicle theft task force funding, liquor licensing, and other budget items. During third reading and debate on the budget, Democratic senators praised negotiated gains such as funding for aging services, food assistance, civil legal aid, school meals, heat relief, and a three-year moratorium on new data center tax incentives, while criticizing border-related funding, ESA/voucher policy, and cuts to higher education and adult education. One member’s remarks were ruled dilatory after repeated off-topic comments, and the ruling of the chair was sustained by a 16-12 vote. The transcript ends with additional budget-related explanation of votes continuing after the budget’s third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• a generational land transfer.
• Well, 15% were definitely organically generated.
• legislature must appropriate the funding from the trust?
• And generally what that means is that it only happens if the legislature appropriates.
• You can't appropriate funds using the ballot.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition No. 25-15, H.5505, “An Act to Protect Water and Nature.” Committee co-chairs outlined the Article 48 initiative process and explained that the hearing was divided into expert, proponent, opponent, and public-comment sections. The first witness, Undersecretary Stephanie Cooper of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, described current state and federal funding sources for land conservation and outdoor recreation, said existing programs are oversubscribed, and noted that the proposal aligns with the Commonwealth’s 30% land conservation goal by 2030 and 40% by 2050. She also flagged possible governance clarifications in the petition, including board structure and administrative authority, while saying the administration has the expertise to manage such a fund. Proponents from Mass Audubon, the Trustees of Reservations, Mount Grace Land Trust, the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, the Authentic Caribbean Foundation, and Bemis Associates argued that Massachusetts needs a dedicated, sustained revenue stream for conservation, clean water, climate resilience, and public access to nature. They said current funding is inconsistent and insufficient, cited estimates that the state may need roughly $300 million or more annually to meet conservation targets, and emphasized benefits to public health, mental health, biodiversity, flood protection, and the outdoor recreation economy. Several speakers said the measure would dedicate a portion of existing sales tax revenue tied to sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses, and that it would support both urban and rural communities, including underserved communities. Committee members pressed witnesses on the bill’s fiscal and constitutional implications, including how much sales tax revenue would be redirected, whether the measure is constitutional, how funds would be allocated among communities, and why the proposal includes certain revenue sources but not others such as ticket sales. Proponents said the measure would likely direct up to about $100 million annually when fully phased in, that it was designed as a “subject to appropriation” mechanism, and that legal review had found it constitutional. They also acknowledged that the proposal would reduce general fund flexibility but argued it would create a long-term investment in natural resources. The hearing concluded after public testimony, and the committee announced it would accept written testimony until March 27 at 5 p.m.; no vote was taken on the petition at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you'll be looking at and making a decision on the appropriations for treasury, cash, and other appropriations
• It shows the page the appropriation appears on in the manuals, and then the authorized appropriations
• in the appropriation.
• And when you look at our budget manual, the appropriation... ...the appropriation for 2025-26 was $6,399,670.1
• But none of that is new appropriations.

Summary: The committee first adopted revised JBC rules, which staff said were updated to reflect legislation passed in the 2025 session. It then heard a presentation from DFA Secretary Jim Hudson on the governor’s proposed balanced budget for FY27, with no action taken. Hudson said the budget reflects three priorities: limiting state-government growth, continuing investments in education, and advancing income-tax cuts. He highlighted increases for education funding through EFAs, pay-plan costs for Corrections, DPS, and the Attorney General, higher education productivity funding, drug task forces, a Corrections medical contract, the governor’s 1033 initiative, SNAP error-rate reduction efforts, and an additional $100 million set aside for Medicaid sustainability. Committee members questioned the size of the tax cuts, the balance requirement, public education funding, Medicaid trust-fund levels, EFA funding, and the expected impact of new SNAP cost-sharing rules. The Division of Higher Education then presented its productivity-based funding recommendations. Officials said institutions were 2.61% more productive overall, with funding changes driven by a statutory formula that rewards degree production, underserved populations, and high-demand fields. Members asked about declines at UA Little Rock, the formula’s multipliers, the role of the Arkansas Access Act and a new return-on-investment metric, and how two-year colleges are adjusted for size. The committee also reviewed special items and approved two letters: one authorizing 17 net personnel changes across nine institutions, and another adding special language for North Arkansas College’s entry into the University of Arkansas system. The committee then adopted the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s recommendations for all institutions. A lengthy portion of the meeting focused on the University of Arkansas system, especially Fayetteville’s athletics funding and the broader impact of the House/NIL settlement. Chancellor Charles Robinson and system officials explained that the board had waived a longstanding campus transfer and directed the university to provide an additional $6 million to athletics, with some costs likely to be passed through to students but partially offset by existing budget growth. Members debated whether the university should prioritize academics or athletics, how the transfer originated, and whether the athletic changes would affect affordability. The committee also discussed the 1890 extension program at UAPB and the Division of Agriculture’s land-grant funding. UAPB officials said the state match is intended to be one-to-one, that the current recommendation aligns appropriation with actual spending, and that a $2 million set-aside remains available if needed. The Division of Agriculture later clarified that its Smith-Lever extension and Hatch research funds are part of the UA system’s separate budget and that the state matched about $6.2 million in federal extension funding last year. The committee then moved to the Department of Corrections. It approved G1, transferring 51 positions to the secretary’s office to activate a recidivism program, with an estimated cost of about $4 million. Staff then began walking through the department’s FY27 budget, noting an increase of about $8 million for administration and shared services, including a $170,000 sex-offender assessment appropriation moved under Act 723 of 2025 and roughly $6 million more for medical contracts. Questions on the Corrections budget had just begun when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Appropriations report. Appropriations report.
• uh the Appropriations Committee uh the Appropriations Appropriations Appropriations a<00:42:04.760><
• To<01:50:20.560> the<01:50:20.680> Appropriations To the Appropriations To the Appropriations
• Appropriation report passes. Appropriation report passes.
• generation facilities. generation facilities.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Senate General Appropriations Bill. Questions of the sponsor? Other amendments?
• This year's General Appropriations Act reflects that belief.
• Relating to implementing the 2025 through 2026 General Appropriations Act.
• General Appropriations Act.
• General Appropriations Act.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present, then adopted the special order report and moved into a series of budget-related bills. The chamber first took up HB 5011/SB 2506 on environmental resource management and natural resources funding, where Democrats argued the bill would reduce recurring support for the Resilient Florida program, the Florida Wildlife Corridor, invasive species removal, and other conservation efforts. Supporters said the change would shift money from recurring to nonrecurring funding so the Legislature could reassess priorities each year and rely more on private-sector stewardship. After a strike-all amendment and conference posture change, SB 2506 passed 97-12. HB 5013, reducing state-funded property reinsurance reserves, passed 108-0, and HB 5501, redirecting documentary stamp tax distributions from housing and transportation trust funds into general revenue, passed 82-26 after extended debate over its impact on affordable housing and transportation funding. The House also passed HB 5015 on state group insurance, which requires DMS to develop a formulary management system and was described as producing significant savings; members raised concerns about prescription access and implementation, but the bill passed 109-0. HB 5201 on state financial accounting and HB 5203 on the Capitol Center both passed unanimously, as did HB 5009, which creates a Florida Accountability Office and reorganizes audit functions. The chamber then passed HB 7031, a major sales tax reduction bill lowering the state sales tax rate and several related rates; supporters framed it as permanent relief for all Floridians, while opponents said property tax relief would be more meaningful and that the sales tax cut would also benefit tourists and out-of-state visitors. HB 7031 passed 112-0. The House then began consideration of HB 501, the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget, totaling $112.9 billion and emphasizing reduced recurring spending and large reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined their budget silos: K-12 education at $20.6 billion with teacher raises, school hardening, literacy, transportation stipends, and security funding for Jewish day schools; health care at $47 billion with full Medicaid and KidCare funding, opioid settlement spending, mental health beds, and senior services; transportation/economic development at $18.5 billion; agriculture and natural resources at $5.8 billion with reduced Everglades spending but continued water, resiliency, and land management funding; higher education at $8.7 billion; state administration at $2.9 billion; justice at $7.3 billion; and IT at $529 million for Florida PALM, FX, and other systems. Members then began questioning the K-12 budget, focusing on FEFP funding, proration, voucher growth, stabilization dollars, mental health and school safety funding, and whether districts would be held harmless under the proposed allocations.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, the 31.7 will go into the general fund million will go into the general fund and moving forward
• Chair, so none of the funds are appropriated yet for fiscal 26-27.
• The orange slice, or the little slice, is our general fund appropriation.
• Are you a little slice is our general fund appropriation.
• I'd like to point out that direct appropriations is not a grant line.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the Committee on Appropriations.
• Senate Bill 1131 appropriates $1 million from the state general fund in fiscal year 2027 to ADE for distribution
• I just wanted to question: I know you moved it out of a general fund request and into a special fund,
• It was a non-lapsing three-year appropriation.
• Is this intended to be a one-year appropriation, or is it intended to be similar to the last appropriation

Bills: SB1131, SB1249

Keywords: cardiac arrest, defibrillators, school safety, emergency response, CPR training, Arizona education funding, Alzheimer's, dementia, memory care, cognitive decline, brain health, caregiver support, long-term care, in-home care, public health, health services, state plan, dementia services program, Arizona Department of Health Services, aging

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, we're on Article I, General Government.
• Overall recommendations decrease this appropriation by $9.3 million in general revenue to $172 million
• State general obligation bond debt service is appropriated in an amount required to pay principal and
• by up to $3 million per year from general revenue.
• Overall, recommendations would decrease the appropriation for the Ethics Commission by $215,000 in general

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Generational impacts.
• We've got, I think, seven other buildings within a three-block area that run off generation, diesel generation
• Within a three-block area, that run off generation, diesel generation.
• Specific to water appropriation...
• Specific to water appropriation, how do we put our water to beneficial use and how do we appropriate

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• award program more generally. award program more generally.
• profits to the state general fund. profits to the state general fund.
• Um, that net, that $1.5 million generally is what we send to the general fund.
• Um, that net, that $1.5 million generally is what we send to the general fund.
• It's historical appropriations. Again, appropriations, not expenditures.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's generally how it would work.
• The general fund is $3.5 billion.
• We only appropriate, though, a portion of it. This... appropriate, though, a portion of it.
• All that interest goes to the General Fund.
• And you assume this generation is going to live longer, and you assume younger generations are going

Bills: HB188, HB52

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, patient rights, medical treatment, access, affordability, income tax, CHOOSE Act, education funding, ABLE account, tax credits, poverty threshold, legislative funding, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ; SB 1250 appropriation; SB 1251 appropriation, Department of Gaming; SB 1253 safe housing providers
• SB 1307, appropriation for DES emergency shelters — Appropriations, Transportation and Technology, and
• SB 1314, appropriations for criminal justice salary increases — Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
• SB 1317, appropriation for coordinated reentry program — Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
• SB 1317, appropriation for coordinated reentry program — Appropriations, Transportation and Technology

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The other thing I'll comment on is just general.
• And so it would be my hope, maybe next year, maybe next fiscal year, that we could appropriate the appropriate
• request of the new Attorney General.
• But the general revenue that is being assigned, appropriated to the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship
• He really didn't recommend any general revenue.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the previous day’s journal, and a series of special guest introductions recognizing family members, interns, students, public servants, and community advocates. Committee reports and Senate messages followed, including Senate refusals to concur on a large number of amendments to Senate Bill 1421 and the appointment of a conference committee on House Bill 2818. The main floor action centered on the state budget, especially House Bill 2 (public education). The budget chair explained the conference report’s funding mix for K-12 schools, including $8.4 billion for public education, changes to the foundation formula, use of blind pension funds, and possible ARPA dollars later in the process. Members debated whether the report underfunded schools by $45 million or more, with opponents arguing the state was not fully funding the formula and supporters saying total school funding remained at record levels and that the issue was the source of funds rather than the total amount. A substitute motion to send HB 2 back to conference failed 62-89, and the conference report was then adopted 83-68; the bill was third read and passed 83-68. The House then took up House Bill 2003 on higher education, where the conference report largely restored the governor’s recommendation and directed the department to develop a new funding formula by the end of the year. Members discussed performance-based funding, scholarships, apprenticeships, and the need for a slower transition to any new model. The conference report passed 119-28, and the bill was third read and passed 109-32. House Bill 2004, covering Revenue and Transportation, included about $20 million for rural roads and other transportation funding; members discussed constitutional concerns, MoDOT projects, and a small local safety fix. The conference report passed 128-21, and the bill was third read and passed 127-27.

Transcript Highlights:

• all the agencies tested generally all the agencies tested generally complied<00:06:16.639> with
• Um, does the auditor know or did you look at whether these are appropriated general funds that the commissioners
• fund appropriation.
• fund appropriation. appropriation. appropriation.
• appropriations uh for overtime? appropriations uh for overtime?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not the way to attract the next generation. and dedicated public servants.
• But also, in general, it should be at will employment.
• Even though the money has been appropriated.
• Cooper... illegally fired several inspectors general, including the inspector general for OPM.
• Is it people of our generation, you know, 30-year-olds like you and I? Who pays the price?

Keywords: nominations, Scott Cooper, Eric Ulan, federal workforce, Office of Personnel Management, Office of Management and Budget, accountability, collective bargaining

Summary: The committee convened to discuss the nominations of Scott Cooper for Director of the Office of Personnel Management and Eric Ulan for Deputy Director at the Office of Management and Budget. This meeting highlighted the critical roles both positions play in managing the federal workforce, which comprises over two million civilian employees. Concerns were raised regarding the current administration's approach to federal employment, citing issues like mass firings and the undermining of collective bargaining rights. Members expressed the need for better accountability and transparency within the federal system, emphasizing the importance of attracting talented public servants.

Transcript Highlights:

• multi-generational family primarily multi-generational family businesses<00:02:57.440> and<00
• , returning it to the appropriation, returning it to the general<00:09:38.320> fund<00:09:38.720
• Is it a generational farm? Okay, it. Is it a generational farm?
• general register. general register.
• general fund. general fund.

Bills: HF3298, SF3832, HF3528, HF3516, HF3972, HF4118

Keywords: underground storage tanks, petroleum, reimbursement program, environmental regulation, pollution control, dairy assistance, investment relief, agriculture support, food production, economic relief, barbering, licensing, examinations, barber schools, public safety, certifications, Barber Examiners Board, dentistry, licensure, registration

Transcript Highlights:

• Deputy Attorney General Andrew Kim.
• Attorney General providing comments.
• General, you're present on Zoom.
• next we have um Deputy attorney general next we have um Deputy attorney general put<01:02:33.240
• <01:13:47.000> amount Health add a blank appropriation amount Health add a blank appropriation

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several measures related to child welfare, health care access, overdose response, disability services, and waste management. For SB 710 on child welfare, the Department of Human Services, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, the Attorney General’s office, and multiple advocacy groups testified in support, with the Governor’s office noting support but deferring to the Attorney General on implementation because of separation-of-powers concerns. For SB 952 on child welfare services, DHS, the Governor’s office, and child- and trauma-informed care advocates supported the bill, saying it would help families access services, provide basic material support, and reduce strain on the child welfare system. SB 954 on a home health services rate study also drew support, including from DHS, the Hawaii Healthcare Association, and a public testifier who said the study would help ensure funds reach low-income, disabled, and kupuna recipients. SB 957 on overdose prevention received support from the Department of Health and the Attorney General, who said overdose prevention centers are evidence-based but raised federal-law concerns and recommended amendments; the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center and others also testified in support. The committee then moved to the 1:00 regular calendar and heard SB 850 on disability health disparity, which was supported by the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, self-advocates, and others. Testimony emphasized that a disparity study could improve workforce development, training, and services for people with disabilities. SB 838 on continuous glucose monitoring drew support from health agencies and advocates, with testimony stressing that monitors can be critical for some diabetes patients. SB 829 on health care was supported by the Department of Health and health care stakeholders, who said it would help rotating physicians serve neighbor islands without local hospital privileges and align with CMS rules. SB 446 on waste management drew mixed testimony: the Department of Health and several public entities provided comments, the County of Maui opposed, and environmental advocates urged stronger aquifer protections and limits on ash reuse. During decision making, the committee adopted recommendations to pass SB 298, SB 322, SB 299, SB 450, SB 451, SB 949, SB 710, SB 957, SB 69, and SD 952 with various amendments, including technical changes, blank appropriations, and defective dates. SB 323, SB 324, SB 712, SB 950, SB 954, and SB 959 were deferred, largely because companion House measures were moving or similar Senate measures had already passed. The chair also announced recesses to find quorum and noted that some bills from the earlier Monday calendar were being deferred to avoid duplication.

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion is do pass as amended to appropriations. Appropriations. Please call the roll.
• So I'm not sure why we're so opposed to a bill that is just appropriately putting the appropriate amount
• So I'm not sure why we're so opposed to a bill that is just appropriately putting the appropriate amount
• Motion is due pass as amended to appropriations. Motion is due pass as amended to appropriations.
• Motion is due pass as amended to appropriations. Motion is due pass as amended to appropriations.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Department of the Attorney General the Department of the Attorney General um<00:07:30.400>
• We will insert an appropriation amount of $100 million out of the general fund for fiscal year 26 for
• Insert an appropriation amount of $30 million out of the general fund for fiscal year 26 for a new elementary
• We will insert an appropriation amount of $100 million out of the general fund for fiscal year 26 for
• Insert an appropriation amount of $30 million out of the general fund for fiscal year 26 for a new elementary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriation, do pass.
• Nine increases the appropriated FTEs to DIFI by 9 FTEs.
• Ten requires the monies appropriated... ...by 9 FTEs.
• , I am really grateful that... ...of our future generations.
• We stripped its $500,000 a year from the general fund.

Keywords: 1182, all