Transcript Highlights:

• on the staff of General a Major General on the staff of General a Major General on the staff of General
• of the general population of of all general population of of all general population of of all people
• Appropriations come from either onetime Appropriations come from either onetime Appropriations come
• Appropriations from the supplemental Appropriations from the supplemental Appropriations from previous
• this bill will also appropriation this bill will also appropriation this bill will also appropriate

Bills: HB 9, HB 22, HB 908, HB 1392

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tangible personal property, income-producing property, business personal property, tax exemption, local government finance, appraisal district, chief appraiser, rendition statement, property tax relief, small business, commercial property, leased property, related business entity, unified business enterprise, tax situs, Texas Tax Code, local taxing unit, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• The $8.5 million from the state in the special appropriation was matched with a $1.5 million appropriation
• We worry about generations.
• fund and special appropriations.
• Generating for surface transportation.
• The FY26 amount for the general fund is 176.8 million. 176.8 million, that's what's going to the general

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Appropriately, the Court gave the General Assembly until July 24 to enact a new rule.
• The seminal issue in the Lee decision was not whether there was an appropriate enough, appropriately
• The General Assembly has much work to be done.
• House Bill 69 is re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
• House Bill 1117 is re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Keywords: Scheduler, 972, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , it appropriates And lastly, it appropriates it<00:20:01.000> appropriates<00:20:01.680> funds
• For years, the General Fund or the SBI has received a General Fund appropriation to do this and then
• This bill would reduce that General Fund appropriation by $139,000 each year, which is what they get
• <00:57:09.480> Fund<00:57:09.640> appropriation a General Fund appropriation a General
• the general fund.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to personally and publicly thank the General Assembly for choosing to appropriate substantial
• assist in making appropriation assist in making appropriation decisions.<00:03:58.560> We
• assembly for choosing to general assembly for choosing to appropriate<00:04:22.960> substantial
• <00:09:43.200> with<00:09:43.760> appropriating were very generous with appropriating
• were very generous with appropriating additional<00:09:44.880> monies<00:09:45.279> to

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met and approved the July 15, 2025 minutes before hearing a presentation from the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA/KIA) on student financial aid ahead of the January biennial budget session. KHEAA outlined its role administering 17 state-funded grant and scholarship programs, 529 plans, and outreach services, and emphasized that net lottery proceeds after a $3 million literacy appropriation are statutorily dedicated to student aid. The agency focused on the major need-based programs—College Access Program (CAP), Kentucky Tuition Grant (KTG), and KEES—along with dual credit, Work Ready Kentucky, teacher scholarship, and National Guard tuition assistance. Officials said the new federal FAFSA methodology created a major increase in eligible students, especially for CAP, and thanked lawmakers for adding substantial funding this biennium to meet the higher demand. Staff explained that CAP is for Pell-eligible, low-income students, while KTG is a need-based grant for students at private Kentucky colleges; both use FAFSA data, but schools verify final eligibility. They said CAP awards are first-come, first-served and that the higher funding level allowed the program to last the full 21-month application cycle in FY 2024-2025, compared with much shorter periods in earlier years. KHEAA reported about $232 million spent on CAP for roughly 72,000 students last year, with current applications running about 10% ahead of the prior year. Members asked about the difference between applicants and recipients, the effect of lower lottery revenues, and whether recent federal legislation would affect state aid; KHEAA said it does not expect major impacts on grants and scholarships, though student loan changes could affect graduate students. The committee also discussed KEES and dual credit. KHEAA said KEES has been fully funded since its creation and that its forecast was within $76,000 of actual need last year. For dual credit, staff said a recent bill consolidated work-ready dual credit and career/technical education under one scholarship program, and KHEAA will seek growth funding because participation and costs continue to rise. The agency said FY 2025 dual credit spending reached $26.4 million across dual credit and work-ready funding, requiring transfers from Work Ready Kentucky to keep dual credit fully funded. Members asked about transferability of dual credit hours and whether the program reduces later college costs; KHEAA said it does not have hard data on every credit transfer, but it does see higher bachelor’s completion rates and lower student debt, suggesting positive effects. No votes were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> It went into the general fund. >> It went into the general fund.
• wherever they were appropriated. wherever they were appropriated.
• appropriate? Too high too low? appropriate? Too high too low?
• that percentage is appropriate. that percentage is appropriate.
• You also reduced SIPA appropriations. You also reduced SIPA appropriations.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Item number 11, AB 915, do pass to Appropriations.
• Item number 13, AB 915, do pass to Appropriations.
• Item number 13, AB 11.04, do pass as amended to Appropriations. AB 915, do pass to Appropriations.
• Item number 16, AB 1295, do pass to Appropriations.
• Item number 17, AB 1342, do pass to Appropriations.

Summary: The committee heard several energy and utilities bills, with testimony largely focused on wildfire mitigation, affordability, clean energy planning, and utility accountability. AB 706, by Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry, would create a fund to support projects that use forest biomass waste from wildfire mitigation and forest restoration; supporters said it would reduce open burning and emissions while providing reliable renewable power, and the bill later passed 13-0. AB 39, by Assembly Member Zbur, would require larger cities and counties to adopt electrification planning strategies for transportation and buildings; it drew broad support from clean energy, labor, environmental, and local government advocates and passed 9-0. AB 1167, by Assembly Member Berman, would restrict investor-owned utilities from charging ratepayers for lobbying, promotional advertising, and similar shareholder-benefit expenses; supporters framed it as an affordability and transparency measure, while utilities argued the bill was overly broad and already covered by existing rules. It passed 7-0, with some members not voting and the roll left open. The committee also considered AB 1417 on offshore wind community funding transparency, which was amended to remove new fees and instead require reporting on developer support for local and tribal community capacity-building; opposition was withdrawn and the bill passed 9-0. AB 367, by Assembly Member Bennett, would require water districts in high fire-risk areas of Ventura County to have backup power, full tanks during red flag warnings, and hardened facilities; water agencies opposed unless amended due to cost and liability concerns, but the bill passed 10-0. The consent calendar, including multiple additional measures, was approved 11-0. Other bills drew more divided testimony. AB 745 would allow securitization to finance utility undergrounding and prohibit a return on equity for undergrounding projects; supporters said it would lower ratepayer costs, while utilities warned it would effectively discourage undergrounding and could raise other rates. The bill passed 7-4 and was left on call. AB 1423 would apply reliability standards to publicly funded EV chargers installed before 2024; supporters said taxpayers should get functioning chargers, while charging-network representatives objected to retroactive requirements and possible conflicts with existing agreements. It passed 13-0. AB 388 would create a narrow exception to utility regulation to facilitate green hydrogen projects using private power lines; supporters said it would unlock low-cost renewable hydrogen and jobs, while utilities raised concerns about customer protections and grid planning. It passed 12-0. The committee also began hearing AB 825, which the author said would address the high cost of financing major transmission and generation buildout, but the transcript cuts off before the full presentation and action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before us is SPV 2500, the General Appropriations. Bill for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
• Vice Chair Rouson: Relating to the implementing of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act.
• Chair Hooper: The bill provides authority necessary to implement and execute the General Appropriations
• Chair Hooper: With economic issues to be addressed in the General Appropriations Act, that is the bill
• Amounts for the 2025-2026 school year to be set in the General Appropriations Act and aligns payment

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This was originally a general fund, and I believe it had dual appropriations, and I'll double-check after
• This was originally a general fund, and I believe it had dual appropriations, and I'll double-check after
• I guess I would say I expect this to pass the Finance Committee with the current General Fund appropriations
• I guess I would say I expect this to pass the Finance Committee with the current General Fund appropriations
• <01:20:13.480> Fund the current um General Fund the current um General Fund appropriations

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Motion is due pass to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
• Motion is due pass to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
• Motion is due pass to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
• Motion is due pass to Senate Appropriations Committee.
• Motion is due passed to Senate Appropriations Committee.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• department of the Attorney general department of the Attorney General good<00:04:02.159> afternoon
• information, the juvenile, so the 'as appropriate' or how appropriate, as age appropriate, or how shall
• information, the juvenile, so the 'as appropriate' or how appropriate, as age appropriate, or how shall
• So, as appropriate, as age appropriate, or how appropriate, as age appropriate, or how shall we look
• So, as appropriate, as age appropriate, or how appropriate, as age appropriate, or how shall we look

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Library and Technology Committee met on March 14, 2025, to hear House Bill 430, House Draft 2, which would create an internship/on-the-job training program administered by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, with the state serving as the responsible employer for workers’ compensation coverage and appropriations included. Testimony was uniformly supportive from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the University of Hawaii, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and the Department of Education. Supporters emphasized the value of internships as a high-impact educational and career pathway opportunity. The Department of the Attorney General supported the bill’s intent but raised a concern about the criminal history background check language, recommending that the bill be revised so DLIR may conduct checks “as appropriate” rather than requiring a mandatory check for all interns. The AG noted that juvenile records would remain confidential for 16- and 17-year-old interns under existing law and suggested deleting the more specific background-check language or replacing it with the more flexible wording. Several organizations submitted support, including business, health care, tourism, and industry groups. During decision-making, the committee discussed amendments incorporating the Attorney General’s recommendation, adding a 2.5 GPA minimum reference, and clarifying language about private or public sector organizations and placement of interns in state executive branch departments, agencies, or programs. The committee adopted the recommendation to pass the bill with amendments, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• $441,000 per year from the general fund. $441,000 per year from the general fund.
• That would bring in an estimated $440,000 each year, and that would be appropriated out of the general
• That would bring in an estimated $440,000 each year, and that would be appropriated out of the general
• Um, and that would be appropriated out of the general fund to support the common interest community ombudsman
• > generating?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:28.639> from RAR purchases the heat generated from RAR purchases the heat generated
• Now I see in the back in the appropriation extension where we're extending the 23 appropriation, but
• previously a a $400,000 appropriation previously a a $400,000 appropriation and<00:40:04.240>
• the 23 appropriation, but I'm extending the 23 appropriation, but I'm not<00:40:17.200> quite
• June 30 and spend what was appropriated June 30 and spend what was appropriated in<00:41:48.000>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the money was then free to use in the general revenue fund.
• We usually look at that as a percentage of the general revenue.
• minimum general revenue reserve of about $2.2 billion, the projected general revenue surplus is $3.8
• It's a brand-new driver, and we looked at what the Legislature has been appropriating from the general
• . driver and we looked at what the legislature has been appropriating from the general revenue fund to

Summary: The committee met to receive Amy Baker’s presentation on Florida’s long-range financial outlook for fiscal years 2026-27 through 2028-29. Baker said the forecast assumes continued but moderating economic growth, with Florida GDP slowing from recent highs, personal income remaining above average, wages continuing to rise faster than job growth, and population growth eventually slowing as the state approaches 2030 and the baby-boomer cohort fully ages into retirement. She also highlighted weakening housing and real-estate-related revenue, especially documentary stamp collections, along with low consumer sentiment as signs of caution in the outlook. Baker explained that the state’s near-term general revenue picture improved largely because of legislative actions taken in the prior session, including contingency releases, reversions, and other budget adjustments, rather than from major new revenue growth. She said reserves remain strong at nearly $15 billion, or just under 30% of general revenue, with the budget stabilization fund at its constitutional maximum. The main spending pressures identified were critical needs and other high-priority needs, led by a new recurring transfer to the emergency preparedness and response fund and by Medicaid, where rising service costs and medical inflation—especially behavioral analysis costs in managed care—are driving higher expenditures despite lower caseloads and a slightly better federal match. Members questioned the accuracy of the forecast, the Medicaid cost drivers, the treatment of the governor’s emergency fund, federal funding assumptions, and whether recent federal legislation was reflected in the numbers. Baker said the outlook assumes current federal funding paths continue, that the new federal tax/revenue law had not yet been fully incorporated because agencies were still reviewing it, and that the emergency fund line was calculated from recent appropriations without distinguishing specific uses. She also said the vetoed $750 million did not affect the budget stabilization fund because it reverted to unallocated general revenue. No bills were heard, no votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after the presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, up next, we have West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey. Good afternoon, General.
• So it's a $2 million one-time appropriation.
• ...to get this work done appropriately. Any questions of our Attorney General?
• And as I always say, our general revenue appropriation is sufficient for us to complete the task as assigned
• We have a general revenue appropriation of about $2.4 million, a little less than $2.4 million.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the prior meeting, and heard budget presentations from the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the State Auditor. The Secretary of State’s office described its FY27 budget, emphasizing efficiency gains from technology, election security work, and business services. It said it is operating with fewer staff than a decade ago, but rising costs and outdated statutory fees are creating deficits in service of process and other operations. The office asked the committee to consider either increasing fees or allowing it to retain a larger share of business-service revenue, and it also proposed creating an Office of Entrepreneurship to help small businesses navigate state government, grants, permits, and related services. Committee members questioned the Secretary of State’s office about fee increases, the current 50-50 split of certain revenues with general revenue, and whether the proposed entrepreneurship office would duplicate existing services. The office said it would complement, not replace, Commerce, SBDC, or grant programs, and would report metrics and policy recommendations to the legislature. The Attorney General then requested a one-time $2 million special revenue appropriation to hire additional lawyers and support staff, citing increased litigation, federal and state legal work, and the need to defend new laws. He also discussed embedded DMV lawyers handling DUI revocation hearings and said the arrangement costs the office just over $200,000. The State Auditor reported that his office is largely self-funded through special revenue and said he wants to reduce reliance on general revenue over time. He highlighted savings from renegotiated leases and an open government contract, discussed the need for more auditors in the Chief Inspector’s Division, and described fraud recovery and P-card operations. A major topic was delinquent land sales: the auditor said the office sold about 17,000 parcels last year and believes online bidding and better marketing could generate substantially more revenue, with the surplus potentially shared among counties, the state, and other programs. Members also asked about securities fee changes, fairness hearings, fire department audits, IT/cybersecurity, and how surplus proceeds from delinquent land sales should be handled. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• A full-day kindergarten student generates 1.44 units.
• Students generate less funding.
• However, school districts generally aren't aware of how much money those students are generating in the
• Recurring and non-recurring special appropriations, generally to the department for specific initiatives
• Those are your non-recurring appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• not appropriate in terms of doing that.
• Private sector generally comes in with a different intent than generally what the public agencies do.
• I mean, your own attorney general or your inspector general is making these claims.
• Fire's general fund appropriation to the greenhouse gas reduction fund.
• Those expenses are General Fund expenses.

Summary: The hearing opened with budget framing from the chair and the LAO, who said the May Revision addresses roughly a $14 billion budget problem and that the environment and transportation subcommittee’s proposals account for about $1.9 billion of the solution. The LAO urged members to focus on solutions that do not worsen out-year deficits, to preserve reserves, and to defer major policy changes that are not necessary to pass the budget, including the newly introduced water-related trailer bills. Members also raised concern about a late-dropped Olympic-related trailer bill, which the LAO likewise suggested should be deferred for fuller review. The first major item was the Delta Conveyance Project and related water quality control plan trailer bills. The administration argued the proposals would streamline permitting, water rights proceedings, judicial review, and land acquisition, and would clarify DWR’s bond authority for the project. DWR said the project is needed to protect water supply reliability against drought, earthquakes, sea level rise, and other climate-related disruptions, and that the tunnel would help move water when conditions are wet and safer for the environment. Committee members from both parties questioned the timing, the use of budget trailer bills for major policy changes, the scope of the CEQA and water-rights changes, the lack of a bond cap, cost growth, and eminent domain protections. The LAO recommended deferring both water trailer bills without prejudice. Public comment was sharply divided, with labor, water agencies, and some business groups supporting the project as climate adaptation and reliability infrastructure, while environmental, tribal, fishing, county, and community groups opposed it as an attempt to bypass public process and weaken protections. The committee then briefly heard the DMV’s Digital Experience Platform fee trailer bill, which would reinstate a $1 system improvement fee to help fund the vehicle-registration phase of the project. DMV said the fee would raise about $7 million annually and offset roughly $59 million to $60 million of project costs, while the LAO noted it would help but would not solve the Motor Vehicle Account’s broader structural gap. The hearing then moved to California High-Speed Rail, where the new CEO presented an updated plan and said the project remains a major climate and infrastructure investment. He reported a revised Merced-to-Bakersfield cost range of $34.9 billion to $38.5 billion, said the agency is trying to reduce risk through direct procurement of materials, and argued that stable annual funding is needed to avoid higher costs from delays.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was kind of a more recent appropriation.
• It was capitalized with general fund dollars, $300 million.
• Laws of 2022, special appropriation, Section 9. Laws of 2020, special appropriation, Section 9.
• Laws of 2024 special appropriation, Section 9.
• Laws of 2025, general fund appropriation, Section 11, cost of $10 million.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee heard a District 5 New Mexico Department of Transportation presentation from Rhonda Lopez, who reviewed the district’s FY26 budget, staffing vacancies, and the status of special appropriations from 2020 through 2025. She described numerous completed and ongoing projects across the district, including roadway overlays, bridge work, intersection improvements, ADA upgrades, and maintenance projects, and also summarized STIP, TPF, LGRF, and equipment needs. Members asked about a guardrail issue near U.S. 64 in Hogback, the 5% local match for TPF projects, and the status of the New Mexico 371/U.S. 36 intersection funding agreement with the Navajo Nation; DOT said the match is secured or waived where applicable and that the Navajo agreement is nearly finalized. The committee then heard House Bill 270, which would amend the Public Works Apprentice Training Act to require contributions to apprenticeship and training programs for certain public works contracts, including highway-related work, while creating an exception where no approved apprenticeship program exists for a trade classification. The sponsor said the bill was intended to strengthen workforce development and support apprenticeship training. Contractors and asphalt industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing it would raise road project costs and duplicate existing training contributions. A motion to table failed on a tie, and a later motion to pass also failed on a tie, leaving the bill in committee. Next, the committee heard House Bill 322, which would create a transportation trust fund and transportation program fund, dedicate additional revenue sources including a portion of electricity GRT and motor vehicle excise tax, and begin annual distributions for federal matching funds in 2029. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would help address a multi-billion-dollar road funding gap, improve maintenance, and provide a stable source for matching federal dollars. Some members raised concerns about the electricity tax component, its effect on utility bills, and overlap with recently enacted transportation financing measures; others supported the concept but questioned timing and funding priorities. A motion on the bill resulted in a tie and failed, leaving the bill in committee. The meeting concluded with a District 4 NMDOT legislative presentation. The district outlined its geography, budget, staffing vacancy rate, completed special appropriations, active construction and maintenance projects, wildfire-related recovery work, local government funding allocations, and equipment replacement needs. Members asked about school district uses of local funding and the impact of aging equipment and weather on maintenance costs. The presentation ended without any formal action on District 4 items, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That I agree with you should be general fund.
• That I agree with you should be general fund.
• We need a 300% increase in generation capacity.
• And we think that's equitable and appropriate.
• And we think that's equitable and appropriate.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At the appropriate time when we have a quorum, I will recommend deny.
• We stand with you all at the appropriate time.
• It would be the most appropriate one. Get them the services they need.
• It would be the most appropriate one.
• General Rob Bonta, who's proud to co-sponsor this bill.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety bills, with most of the discussion focused on AB 1650, AB 2014, AB 1886, AB 2126, AB 2624, and AB 2257. AB 1650 would require clearer identification on privately owned vehicles rented or leased to government agencies for enforcement operations; supporters framed it as a transparency and safety measure in response to ICE activity, while no opposition testified. AB 2014 would allow post-conviction habeas relief where gender bias or stereotypes were used at trial and may have affected the outcome; supporters described cases involving sexist and anti-LGBTQ stereotypes, while the California District Attorneys Association opposed the bill as overbroad and likely to restrict relevant evidence, though the author said recent amendments removed the evidence-code provisions and left only the habeas remedy. AB 1886 would extend a 12-month probation presumption to youth in out-of-home placements and those discharged from secure youth treatment facilities; youth advocates supported it as a fairness and rehabilitation measure, while judges, probation officials, and district attorneys opposed it as undoing a recent compromise and limiting individualized decisions. AB 2126 would speed hiring of peer partners in child welfare by creating a narrow exemption process for certain foster-youth-related offenses; it drew broad support and no opposition. AB 2624 would expand the Safe at Home address-confidentiality program to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers; supporters cited threats, doxing, and harassment, while one journalist opposed it over possible effects on reporting, and the author and committee members said the bill preserves press protections and is narrowly aimed at threats and harassment. AB 2257 would restore county authority to create a separate corrections department to run jails instead of the sheriff; supporters argued it would improve accountability and address jail deaths and fiscal problems, while sheriffs opposed it as unnecessary and said sheriffs are already subject to oversight. The committee also noted several bills pulled by their authors and adopted a consent calendar of unrelated measures. Votes were not always taken immediately because the committee was waiting for a quorum, but AB 2624 was moved on a do-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations and left on call, and the chair indicated support or favorable recommendations on several of the other measures.