Transcript Highlights:

• the lottery revenue.
• the lottery revenue.
• the lottery revenue.
• the lottery revenue.
• Revenue, all the lottery revenue, and you're going to hear us talking about more lottery revenue coming

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met to review Division One of a very large budget package, with the chair explaining that the budget was being analyzed in three divisions over multiple days. Members first discussed procedure, including when amendments and line-item votes would be taken, and agreed to proceed with the division’s presentation before questions. Representative Maguire then outlined the division’s approach as a series of tradeoffs to close a large budget gap, emphasizing cuts, some revenue changes, and a focus on overall spending levels as well as individual reductions. The presentation covered a wide range of agencies and policy areas. Major proposed changes included cuts or eliminations to several boards and commissions viewed as costly or duplicative, such as the Housing Appeals Board, Board of Tax and Land Appeals, Human Rights Commission, Commission on Aging, Office of the Child Advocate, and the Personnel Appeals Board, with some functions consolidated into other boards. The division also proposed back-of-the-budget cuts to the Information Technology Department, Judicial Branch, Justice Department, Retirement System, Corrections, and Environmental Services, along with fee increases in several areas. Other notable items included ending marketing for Paid Family Leave, reducing job advertising and tourism promotion, defunding the Arts Council, moving liquor enforcement functions out of the Liquor Commission, and shifting some funds such as the College Savings Commission money to Division Two. Several members questioned specific cuts, especially the elimination of the Council on Aging, the reduction in regional planning commission grants, and the large cut to tourism advertising. Maguire defended the choices as necessary budget tradeoffs, arguing that some programs duplicated work done elsewhere, that regional planning grants were not among the most essential items, and that tourism promotion was a form of spending he viewed skeptically. He also explained that the public defender’s budget was partially restored after a credible claim of a governor’s budget error, and that the committee would continue refining corrections-related cuts because the House was only halfway through the budget process and further changes could still occur in the Senate and conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• He noted that JLBC was being asked to do additional work on the calculation on an LEA basis, and reiterated
• be, okay, we need this much of the general fund for this, because we'll be catching you up with a revenue
• The Rainy Day Fund stands at 9.64% of revenues.
• not at it, and we continue every year to get lower and lower as a percentage of our general fund revenues
• Right now, it has revenues of about $3.7 million, but it has an annual fund balance of $18 million beginning

Bills: HB2063 , HB2271 , HB2416 , HB2478 , HB2593 , HB2692 , HB2813 , HB2992 , HB2993 , HB4044

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: corrections oversight, appropriation, independent office, public safety, funding, firefighters, insurance rates, workers' compensation, firefighter cancer reimbursement, rate deviations, cost analysis, premiums, border security, drug trafficking, human smuggling, law enforcement funding, Arizona, immigration, education reform, K-12

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the time for our House Revenue and Taxation Committee, and we are called to order.
• granularity of audits won't... ...the reduction in the granularity of audits won't result in less revenue
• Representative Furman, welcome to House Revenue and Taxation. Please introduce yourself.
• Representative Furman, welcome to House Revenue and Taxation. Please introduce yourself.
• schools have paid off their levies and no longer have a levy rate by which these numbers can be calculated

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This revenue neutral, I think, was mentioned. It was what we're trying to get to.
• This revenue neutral, I think, was mentioned. It was what we're trying to get to.
• Senate Bill 40 boards depend on local property tax revenue as their primary source of funding.
• Most here, as far as supporting MoSDA goes, it's a matter of revenue diversity.
• For example, the county collector of revenue under Chapter 52 has a $750,000 surety bond.

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we look at the total revenue, uh, the base revenue and general revenue, uh, the base revenue and
• When we look at the total revenue, uh, the base revenue and general revenue, uh, the base revenue and
• BLT revenue.
• </c> hit in revenue um up on the revenue hit in revenue um up on the revenue adjustments.<00:53:58.720
• and estimated revenues the beginning and estimated revenues the base<00:59:53.200><c> revenues</c><00

Keywords: LBA Briefing on Budget, 928, house, all

Summary: The presentation was an LBA overview of Senate changes to the House-passed state budget, with Michael Kane explaining how Senate Finance updated revenue and spending estimates after April revenue figures and agency discussions. He said the Senate’s revenue outlook was higher than the House’s in some areas, but lower in others, especially video lottery terminal revenue, and that the biggest differences also came from changes to revenue splits between the general fund and education trust fund, lapse estimates, and several policy changes in House Bill 1 and House Bill 2. Kane highlighted several major revenue and policy differences: the Senate changed the business tax, tobacco tax, and real estate transfer tax splits; adjusted liquor revenue dedication; removed the House’s meals-and-rooms distribution cap; delayed the Lakes Region facility proceeds plan; altered the PECARD fund treatment; added a granite patron of the arts tax credit; and changed the treatment of unique funds and video lottery terminal revenue. On spending, he noted Senate changes to judicial, corrections, HHS, human rights commission, and other budgets, including additional settlement costs, higher lapse assumptions, and a different approach to Medicaid premium revenue and retirement savings. He also described Senate additions such as a nursing home bed fee, Hampstead Hospital transition funding, and changes to the YDC claims settlement fund. The presentation focused on comparing House and Senate surplus statements across fiscal years 2025 through 2027, including projected ending balances and rainy day fund transfers. Kane repeatedly emphasized that the numbers were still dependent on final revenues and lapse amounts, and that some balances would be carried forward and trued up later in the biennium. No committee vote or final action was described in the excerpt; it was an informational budget briefing and comparison of the two chambers’ proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not generate new revenue, and it does not create additional costs for the state.
• It does not generate new revenue, and it does not create additional costs for the state.
• </c> stabilizing the compensatory revenue stabilizing the compensatory revenue remains<00:42:23.520><
• </c><00:53:28.960><c> And</c> um calculate with uh tribal schools.
• And um calculate with uh tribal schools.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How was this exact number calculated? Because I'm looking at the enrollment trends...
• or coming from general revenue.
• General revenue is estimated to be reduced by $89 million in fiscal year 2006-2007.
• Recurring general revenue is expected to be reduced by $16 million.
• card room revenues from 8% to 5%.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Forecast Council revenue forecast.
• You'll also see $152 million for revenue legislation implementation to the Department of Revenue that
• Despite a positive revenue forecast and active consideration of new revenue, this proposal fails to make
• We also ask that you pass progressive revenue, new progressive revenue, so that we don't find ourselves
• We also ask that you pass progressive revenue, new progressive revenue, so that we don't find ourselves

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on proposed substitute House Bill 2289, the House operating budget. Budget staff Mary Monroe gave a detailed overview of the proposal’s near general fund outlook, reserve levels, major revenue assumptions, and major spending and savings items. She highlighted assumed revenue from capital gains and a proposed “millionaires tax,” a transfer from the budget stabilization account, administrative reductions across agencies, and several major policy shifts, including changes affecting Working Connections Child Care, K-12 education, higher education, long-term care, behavioral health, wildfire response, and state employee compensation. Members then asked questions, including about the higher education building account/operating fee swap and its interaction with the capital budget and Climate Commitment Act funds. The committee also announced amendment deadlines for the budget process. The bulk of the meeting was public testimony, with many speakers generally supporting or opposing specific parts of the budget. Supportive testimony praised funding for wildfire prevention, public health, reproductive health, civil legal aid, the Poison Center, some higher education institutions, and certain disability and child welfare services. Many speakers urged restoration or protection of funding for K-12 education, especially transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, bus depreciation, and Running Start; others opposed cuts to child care, early learning, public defense, long-term care, adult day and home care services, occupational/physical/speech therapy for Medicaid patients, and community and technical colleges. Several local government, health, and nonprofit representatives also asked the committee to preserve public works, homelessness, energy assistance, environmental justice, and recovery/diversion programs, while some business and public safety groups sought continued funding for organized retail crime prevention and related initiatives. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee recessed briefly and later resumed with virtual testimony, where additional witnesses repeated concerns about education cuts, long-term care, health care access, disability services, dispute resolution, early childhood programs, and the need for ongoing or increased funding in those areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Revenue, I will say a global decision, speaking of global decisions, easements are removed
• Lines, anything on Department of Revenue, anything more?
• Is it in the, and it's not a MODOT, I mean, it's general revenue, right?
• I would like to see that transfer to general revenue. And that's about To date on those funds.
• I would like to see that transfer to general revenue. That's about $110 million.

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The committee spent most of the meeting discussing a proposed overhaul of Missouri’s higher education funding model, centered on shifting core funding toward an FTE-based formula. The chair and vice chair argued the current system is outdated and inequitable, saying the new approach would better align state dollars with student enrollment and workforce outcomes. Several members supported the need for change but raised concerns about the speed of implementation, the lack of advance consultation with universities, and the possibility that some institutions could face severe budget cuts, accreditation problems, or even closure. Community college representatives were noted as unanimously opposing the recommendation, and members repeatedly asked for clarification on whether graduate programs would be counted at 9, 12, or 15 credit hours, with no definitive answer provided during the meeting. Testimony and comments focused heavily on the consequences for specific institutions and programs. Some members warned that the proposal could hurt schools with expensive programs such as nursing, engineering, doctoral study, research, and specialized missions, while others argued that institutions should be rewarded for producing graduates who are in demand in the workforce. Truman State, Harris-Stowe, Missouri State, and several community colleges were discussed as examples of schools that could either gain or lose substantially under the model. The chair and vice chair said the proposal was not intended to force consolidation, but several members said the size of the cuts could indirectly lead to consolidation or closure and would require a phase-in to avoid harming students. After the higher education discussion, the committee moved through other budget items. The chair described cuts and restorations in several areas, including removing easement funding at the Department of Revenue, adding hearing officers for the State Tax Commission, restoring some MODOT requests, and shifting interest earnings from I-70 and I-44 project funds back to general revenue. Members also asked about Bartle Hall funding, a Bolivar road project, and new language restricting personal-service spending unless appropriations explicitly allow it. No formal votes were taken in the portion provided; the chair indicated the committee would continue moving through the budget items and follow up on unresolved questions with the department.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:00:58.400><c> May</c> resulting increase in these revenues May resulting increase in these revenues
• The current standard requires an audit, as you heard, if revenues exceed $250,000.
• The current standard requires an audit, as you heard, if revenues exceed $250,000.
• </c> communities above a million to revenue communities above a million to revenue would<02:05:47.040
• </c> accountant for communities with revenues accountant for communities with revenues of<02:05:53.159

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's composed of basically three different revenue sources: general fund revenue, other transfers
• So we basically have a wash when you look at those two revenue components.
• So that's Really, the revenue summary.
• For revenues, the LFC The recommendation totals 11.68 million across all revenue sources, roughly 200,000
• The LFC recommended no increase in general fund revenue.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also pleased that revenues continue to track with our plan, most recently showing us at 157 million
• unnecessary off-budget ...means, avoiding unnecessary off-budget spending, and closely watching revenues
• So, two minutes, and then we'll return with revenue administration. We can take our seats.
• Next up we have the Department of Revenue Administration and Commissioner Lindsay Stepp.
• Lindsay Stepp, Commissioner at the Department of Revenue Administration.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the amendment— So yes, I think that Regents calculated—I think the biggest component of the bill as
• But anyway, in general, this is the Revenue Stabilization Fund you're looking at.
• This is the Revenue Stabilization Fund you're looking at. The, what? It's budget?
• It's revenue stabilization fund. Yes.
• And is that calculated as a percentage of the sale?

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 350, which would extend the grade levels at Ecole Pointe-au-Chien from fourth through eighth grade. The sponsor and several members emphasized the school’s importance to Terrebonne Parish, French immersion, and school choice. An amendment was adopted making the bill subject to appropriation, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. Members then approved House Bill 749, which authorizes the Louisiana Tuition Trust Authority to contract with a program manager for certain savings programs, including ABLE, START, and START K-12, in response to a prior cyber incident and to improve security and customer service. An amendment simplified the bill’s effective-date language so provisions would take effect upon execution of the contract. The bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee also advanced House Bill 979 to increase the survivor benefit for law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty from $250,000 to $350,000. Testimony from the governor’s office said the increase could be covered within existing appropriations and that the amount was consistent with inflation since the benefit was last set. The bill was reported favorably. Later, House Bill 42 creating a phased retirement option for public post-secondary employees in the Teachers’ Retirement System was reported favorably, and House Bill 205 to allow local clerks of court to supplement election commissioner pay by up to $100 per election was also reported favorably after extensive testimony about staffing shortages and stagnant pay. The committee additionally reported favorably House Bill 12 extending survivor benefits to reserve officers killed in the line of duty, and House Bill 324 on judicial salaries, after amending it to remove future COLA provisions and leave only the permanent stipend increase.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if we do, what kind of revenues are we looking at here?
• We haven't calculated the exact amounts on the impacts of a 1% increase in the tax.
• </c><00:34:46.079><c> we</c> and if we do what kind of revenues we and if we do what kind of revenues
• Reed and debed to do calculations on tax Reed and debed to do calculations on tax increases<00:35:40.160
• I hope as this bill moves that there could be strong consideration that the revenues raised for this

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism and on Water and Land heard testimony on HB 504, a measure relating to environmental stewardship and funding for natural resource protection and restoration. Supporters included multiple state agencies and advocacy groups, such as DLNR, HTA, Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force, Resources Legacy Fund, the Hawaiʻi Climate Action Coalition, and others, who said the bill would create dedicated funding for environmental, climate, and cultural resource needs and help address wildfire, flood, coastal storm, and tourism-related impacts. Several witnesses emphasized that Hawaiʻi’s environmental funding gap is large and that visitor contributions should be directed to stewardship and restoration. Some supporters also urged that the measure be applied equitably across all visitor accommodations and related uses, including cruise ship cabins and state rooms, while a few suggested amendments to broaden coverage or create a working group for implementation. Opposition and concerns focused largely on the bill’s tax structure and legal/administrative issues. The Department of Budget and Finance and the Tax Foundation questioned the reimbursable general obligation bond special fund in part two, suggesting it be converted to a regular special fund or deleted. The Attorney General’s office said part two may violate the single-subject rule in the state constitution and recommended deleting it. The Department of Taxation said the proposed points-and-miles language would be difficult to audit and enforce, and Expedia and others said the proposed tax treatment of loyalty points and certain payment forms would be operationally difficult. Industry witnesses also warned the bill could raise costs in a high-tax destination and asked for more marketing support if the tax is increased. The committee also heard concerns that a new tax on cruise ship cabins could raise federal preemption issues. The chair noted the testimony count as 23 in support, 179 in opposition, and one with comments. No vote was taken in the portion provided, and the hearing ended with questions from senators and agency responses about possible amendments, enforcement, and constitutional concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• L&I must formulate and adopt rules governing the methods for premium calculation, and annually they propose
• Also, we have revenue coming in through the Investment Board.
• Senate Bill 6067 adjusts the time-loss calculations to ensure that the full value of health care benefits
• And I’m just curious how the Illinois calculates that. Thank you, Senator.
• But how do you calculate that if they don’t have insurance?

Bills: SB5847 , SB6067 , SB6136 , SB6014 , SB5972 , SB5869 , SB5874 , SB6058 , SB6039 , SB5944 , SB6188

Committee: Senate Labor & Commerce

Keywords: workers' compensation, industrial insurance, injured workers, medical provider network, occupational health, occupational medicine, medical care access, L&I, Department of Labor and Industries, self-insured employers, state fund claims, utilization review, provider credentialing, provider network, treatment guidelines, evidence-based medicine, claims management, claims managers, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability

Transcript Highlights:

• L&I must formulate and adopt rules governing the methods for premium calculation, and annually they propose
• the risk classifications that were limited and what rate for the class would have been under the calculation
• Also, we have revenue coming in through the Investment State Board.
• And I'm just curious how the Illinois calculates that. Thank you, Senator.
• But how do you calculate that if they don't have insurance?

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6136, which would require Labor and Industries to publish actuarial indicated workers’ compensation rates for each risk class and disclose when rate increases are capped below those indicated levels. The sponsor and supporters from the hospitality, retail, business, and construction sectors said the bill would improve transparency about how rates are set and how reserve funds and investment earnings are used to hold down premiums. L&I testified that the bill would require publication of a large amount of rate-setting information, but said it was already developed in the normal process and that the bill had no fiscal impact. Questions focused on reserve use, advisory committee involvement, and how the actuarial calculations interact with investment returns. The committee then moved to executive session and took action on several bills, adopting substitutes or amendments and advancing bills including SB 5292, 6014, 5972, 5869, 5874, 6058, 6039, 5944, and 6180, with most sent to Rules and SB 5292 sent to Ways and Means. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5847, which would expand injured workers’ access to medical care by allowing treatment outside the L&I provider network when no provider is available nearby, limiting employer steering to specific providers, shortening utilization review timelines, allowing provider deviation from L&I guidelines when medically appropriate, and expanding continued treatment and cancer monitoring. Labor and worker advocates argued the bill would better reflect the Murray decision and reduce delays in care, while L&I and employer groups said the current evidence-based guideline system works for most claims and warned the bill could weaken quality controls, create vague standards, and increase costs. Testimony also raised concerns about the 15-mile access rule, the employer communication restrictions, and the appeal process for provider removal. The sponsor said the goal was to improve individualized care and continue working with stakeholders. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6067, which would change workers’ compensation time-loss calculations so that 100% of the employer-paid health insurance contribution is included in the benefit calculation instead of the current partial inclusion. Supporters said the bill would help injured workers keep health coverage during recovery and reduce pressure to choose between medical care and income, while opponents argued it would not guarantee the money is actually used for health insurance, could be diverted to other uses or attorney fees, and would significantly increase costs for employers and the accident fund. L&I said the bill would require IT and administrative changes and estimated substantial ongoing benefit costs. The hearing ended without further action on SB 6067, and the chair closed the session after public testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the residents around that lake, if they are in a village district, may elect to raise the revenue
• First, recreation generates over $325 million in tax revenue to the state every year.
• I ran the calculation in November, to $1,796.
• Department of Labor Statistics has a CPI Department of Labor Statistics has a CPI calcul calcul calcul
• </c> in November when I ran the calculation in November when I ran the calculation it<03:04:26.960><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 332, a bill to add protection and remediation of surface waters as a new authorized purpose for New Hampshire village districts. Prime sponsor Rep. Rosemary Rung said the bill is intended to give local voters in lake communities a voluntary tool to address cyanobacteria blooms and other water-quality problems through village districts, including the ability to raise revenue, adopt ordinances, and pursue treatments or watershed management measures. She emphasized that the proposal is meant to complement, not replace, state law and that any district action would still need to comply with existing permitting and environmental requirements. Supporters, including Andrea Laro of New Hampshire Lakes and Elizabeth Harper of the Lake Sunapee Protective Association, said the bill would help municipalities collaborate on lake protection when state resources are limited. They argued that local districts could bring subject-matter expertise, access grants and technical assistance, and respond more quickly to problems such as septic impacts, runoff, culvert repairs, and in-lake treatments. They also suggested clarifying the bill’s wording around “protection and remediation” to better define the scope of authorized activities. Opponents, including Steve Wolf and Chris Norwood of the New Hampshire Association of Realtors, argued that village districts can already be overly broad and sometimes expand beyond their original purposes. Wolf said existing town and state agencies already handle shoreline protection and warned that village districts can impose ongoing taxes and create governance problems. Norwood urged a study bill instead, citing concerns about the scope of village districts and examples where some districts have taken on planning and zoning powers beyond their original mission. No vote or final action on HB 332 was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• It depends on who does the calculations, I guess.
• It depends on who does the calculations, I guess.
• And so, yes, there is an actual cost; you can calculate it.
• absolutely should be paying our bills and then some, and we need to do a better job of ensuring that the revenue
• So I will support the bill, but we have got to do better as a state to quit cutting the revenue so hard

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Rules

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• adjustments for certain waivers and modifications by the Commissioner of Education, and the method of calculating
• adjustments for certain waivers and modifications by the Commissioner of Education, and the method of calculating
• doing is exempting counties, which are funded by property taxes, from having to spend property tax revenue
• schools for certain waivers and modifications of the Commissioner of Education and the method of calculating
• SB 1118 by Huffman relates to the distribution of state traffic fine revenue received by the comptroller

Bills: HJR99 , HB1399 , HB1400 , HB 1094 , HB365 , HB 1109 , HB647 , HCR35 , SB14 , HB 12 , HB1522 , HB422 , HB675 , HB204 , HB748 , HB912 , HJR99 , HB1399 , HB1400 , HB 1094 , HB365 , HB 1109 , HB647 , HCR35 , HCR123 , HCR124 , HR57 , HR87 , HR111 , HR228 , HR230 , HR322 , HR624 , HR625 , HR626 , HR627 , HR628 , HR630 , HR631 , HR634 , HR635 , HR636 , HR637 , HR638 , HR639 , HR640 , HR645 , HR646 , HR648 , HR649 , HR651 , HR652 , HR653 , HR654 , HR664 , HR665 , HR668 , HR675 , HR676 , HR678 , HR679 , HR680 , HR683 , HR686 , HR688 , HR689 , HR694 , HR695 , HR697 , HR698 , HR699 , HR472 , HR622 , HR632 , HR633 , HR643 , HR655 , HR657 , HR660 , HR661 , HR662 , HR663 , HR667 , HR670 , HR674 , HR681 , HR682 , HR696

Keywords: animal feed, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, retail, constitutional amendment, retail sale, tangible personal property, Texas tax code, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption, regulation, deceased transportation, HB 365

Transcript Highlights:

• They did give us some discounts, but we we purchase Ted from a variety of revenue streams in particular
• are guided by the honor code which now work worked in the case when PCs came along and scientific calculators
• They exclude them from the calculation. Everyone is in the universe.
• If we can't find you, we assume you're unemployed in our calculation.
• So we're 42nd in the total revenue per students in the most recent report produced by sheer American