Video & Transcript Research : 'SBA reforms'
Page 103 of 248
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- Means Committee, I had the pleasure of being appointed by Speaker Mariano to chair an unemployment reform
- And public housing reform is funded at $1.3 million, a 2% increase above the FY26 GAA to cover inflation
- The legislature's partnership has been essential to achieving progress and reform.
- So we have changed the shelter program, as you know, in the past few years, significantly reformed it
- The Commission recently approved reforms to its badging system that will allow certain agents to carry
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a public FY27 budget hearing at Barnstable Town Hall, with opening remarks emphasizing the Cape and Islands’ seasonal infrastructure, housing, transportation, workforce, and digital needs. The hearing began with testimony from the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, which outlined the Healey-Driscoll administration’s budget priorities for job training, apprenticeship, youth employment, reentry programs, and unemployment insurance modernization. The secretary highlighted proposed funding for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, Career Technical Initiative, YouthWorks, reentry workforce development, and services for young adults with disabilities, along with a proposal to streamline youth work permits. Members also discussed the unemployment trust fund, the COVID assessment on employers, rising unemployment, and the need to improve DUA customer service and claims processing.
Committee members asked about job seeker barriers such as child care, housing, transportation, and out-migration of young workers, as well as how to keep Cape Cod graduates and seasonal workers in the region. The administration said its strategy is to pair training with broader affordability investments and to expose students to career pathways earlier, including through middle school, early childhood STEM, YouthWorks, pre-apprenticeships, and Building Pathways. Senators and representatives also raised concerns about regional funding disparities, especially for Hampshire Franklin MassHire, and the administration said it is reviewing MassHire funding and service equity through a policy committee and statewide workforce board. On unemployment assistance, officials reported major improvements in wait times and claims processing, but said they are still working through backlogs and staffing challenges while maintaining program integrity.
The committee then heard testimony from the Executive Office of Economic Development. The secretary described House 2 as a fiscally restrained budget with no new taxes or fees, while preserving core programs and using the Mass Leads Act tools to support competitiveness. EOED’s proposal included funding for the Community One Stop for Growth, rural economic development, social enterprise operating grants, regional economic development organizations, the Workforce Investment Trust Fund, Community Workforce Partnerships, Pathmaker, advanced manufacturing training, life sciences, innovation vouchers, AI initiatives, small business assistance, and tourism and live theater support. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation also testified on its FY27 request, focusing on consumer protection, licensing, banking, insurance, and public safety regulation. No votes were taken during the hearing.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 27th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Consider the California problem solvers, immigration reform working group.
- Consider the California problem solvers, immigration reform working group.
- Immigration is arguably one of the immigration reform working group.
- And perhaps we can make some reforms to deal with the frivolous requests.
- This is not about attacking the Coastal Commission; it's about supporting it and basically reforming
Summary:
The Assembly convened, first dealing with quorum and routine procedural matters before moving through a series of third-reading bills, many focused on immigration enforcement, worker protections, child care, and school or voting-site safety. Early measures included AB 2393, AB 1994, AB 1929, AB 1633, AB 1650, AB 1655, AB 1851, AB 1896, and AB 2230, with authors and supporters arguing these bills would provide accountability, protect immigrant communities, preserve access to benefits and services, and limit intimidation by immigration enforcement. Opponents repeatedly argued the bills were anti-law-enforcement, unconstitutional, or based on exaggerated or nonexistent threats. Several bills passed by recorded vote, including AB 2393 (41-15), AB 1994 (58-0), AB 1929 (41-17), AB 1650 (44-19), AB 1655 (50-14), AB 1851 (56-0), AB 1896 (41-19), and AB 2230 (42-15). AB 1633, a 54-vote bill imposing a tax on for-profit detention facilities, was debated at length but the roll was not completed in the excerpt and the item was moved on from temporarily.
After a caucus break, the House returned and took up additional bills. AB 2379 would require child care providers to be informed of constitutional protections and receive multilingual training regarding immigration enforcement; it passed 59-10 on both the urgency and the measure. AB 2460 would direct the education department to update referral protocols so schools can better respond to students affected by immigration enforcement trauma and family deportation; it passed 52-8. AB 2495 would expand prohibitions on unfair immigration-related practices by employers, making immigration-related threats unlawful in workplace disputes; it passed 50-15. Throughout the day, debate was highly partisan and often heated, with repeated exchanges over whether the bills addressed real harms or were political messaging, but the Assembly ultimately advanced the measures that came to a vote.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Second, we support the governor's proposal to reform literacy aid, similar to what Senator Maye Quade's
- the governor's Second, we support the governor's proposal<01:41:01.320>
to <01:41:01.400>reform - ><01:41:01.760>
literacy <01:41:02.160>aid <01:41:02.400>similar proposal to reform - literacy aid similar proposal to reform literacy aid similar to<01:41:02.800>
what <01:41:02.880 - to provide a more propose reforms to provide a more comprehensive,<01:44:04.080>
timely, <01:44
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 2/26/26
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- I think if we did some reform or restructuring with it, they might be made it simpler, made it clearer
- <00:58:25.599>
or <00:58:26.000>something reforming or something reforming or something - I think if we did some reform<00:59:32.559>
or <00:59:32.799>restructuring <00:59:33.440 - >
with <00:59:33.680>it, <00:59:34.319>they reform or restructuring with it, they - reform or restructuring with it, they might<00:59:34.880>
be <00:59:36.160>made <00:59:
Bills:
HF624
Keywords:
HF624, Minnesota fishing law, game and fish, walleye stamp, walleye stamp validation, angling, angler, fishing lines, two lines, four lines, open water fishing, ice fishing, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, fishing regulations, fish harvest, conservation, Minnesota Statutes 97C.315, 1183, house
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- Chairman, I've heard you talk about reform versus revision versus kind of temporary fixes, how all that
- <01:55:38.480>
versus heard you talk about um reform versus heard you talk about um reform - I have a couple more reform ideas that might streamline and simplify everything." trying to mitigate
- I have a couple more reform interim.
- I have a couple more reform ideas<01:58:44.080>
that <01:58:44.480>might <01:58:44.960><
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 2/19/26
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, I think the pre-authorization system could use quite a bit of reform.
feel <01:12:35.600>like <01:12:35.760>this <01:12:35.920>is a bit of reform- Uh I feel like this is a bit of reform.
- We have worked a lot on prior authorization reform over the years, most recently advancing legislation
- <01:16:03.360>
over worked a lot on prior oath reform over worked a lot on prior oath reform
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
WAM-HWN, WAM-PSM, WAM-CPN Informational Briefings 01-08-2026
Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- people into our facilities because without staff there, we really cannot have any kind of prison reform
- also focus on staff wellness because if the staff are not healthy and well, we cannot have prison reform
- >
prison we really cannot have any kind of prison we really cannot have any kind of prison reform - And we also focus on staff reform.
- So that's what we're focusing reform.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- So if you can just take that, getting rid of Q Comp is a $10 million hit, and that was kind of a reform
- So if you can just take that, getting rid of Q Comp is a $10 million hit, and that was kind of a reform
- So if you can just take that, getting rid of Q Comp is a $10 million hit, and that was kind of a reform
- So if you can just take that, getting rid of Q Comp is a $10 million hit, and that was kind of a reform
- made in the last few discipline reforms made in the last few years<01:26:31.679>
maintaining <
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 3/10/25
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- waiver this is really an 1115 sud reform waiver this is really the<00:41:24.960>
um <00:41:25.560 - <00:41:37.400>
waiver <00:41:38.119>DHS enrolled in that sud reform waiver DHS enrolled - in that sud reform waiver DHS is<00:41:38.800>
doing <00:41:39.079>many <00:41:39.319>< - :42:33.440>
a <00:42:33.680>yearslong <00:42:34.680>systems <00:42:35.280>reform - jails this is a yearslong systems reform jails this is a yearslong systems reform effort<00:42:36.480
Keywords:
HF696, rural EMS, ambulance, emergency medical services, uncompensated care, payment pool, rural health, Office of Emergency Medical Services, public safety answering point, PSAP, nontransport, unpaid ambulance calls, EMS reimbursement, rural ambulance provider, general fund appropriation, Minnesota health finance, specialized life support, metropolitan counties, emergency response funding, HF1429
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 59 (4-14-26) - Part 1
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The governor is right to emphasize that reforms should be targeted and evidence-based, not broad changes
- The governor is right to emphasize that reforms should be targeted and evidence-based, not broad changes
- The governor is right to emphasize that reforms should be targeted and evidence-based, not broad changes
- When that elected office was eliminated by constitutional reform in 1976, she became the first clerk
- by championing the educational reforms by championing the educational reforms and<03:08:53.279><
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS Senate Floor - 7 January, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- in From this legislature goes a long way in stabilizing the system again, with the actions and reform
- We have reformed, and we promised we would send money when we got the system reformed.
- for of 2 and 1/2%, that will be $186 million a year in perpetuity going forward, on top of the ORP reform
- We have reformed, and we promised we would send money when we got the system reformed.
- for of 2 and 1/2%, that will be $186 million a year in perpetuity going forward, on top of the ORP reform
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation from Reverend Chip Stevens of First Baptist Church in Jackson, and recited the pledge of allegiance. The body then dispensed with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles, and received several guest introductions, including the president of Mississippi University for Women, the physician of the day, and the session’s pages.
The main item of business was Senate Bill 2004, the Mississippi PERS Stability Act. Senator Sparks explained that the bill would provide a $500 million infusion to the PERS accumulated employers account on July 1, 2026, followed by $50 million annually for 10 years, with backup funding from unobligated general funds if needed. He said the measure was intended to help address the system’s roughly $26 billion liability and to support both state employees and local government employers, noting that the state had already taken other steps to strengthen PERS. The bill was advanced to engrossed status, read for the third time, and placed on the calendar for final passage.
Senator Norwood asked whether the funding would help local governments, and Senator Sparks said it would, because the liability is shared by all employers in the system and affects local balance sheets and bond ratings. Senator Bryan then spoke at length in opposition to the broader direction of retirement policy, criticizing the committee process, the fragmentation of retirement legislation, and what he described as incentives for privatization and unfair treatment of new hires. He said he would still vote for the bill because it sends money into the system, but argued that the state should focus retirement benefits on older retirees and avoid further benefit expansions. Senator Sparks responded that the bill was a necessary cash infusion to honor commitments to employees, stabilize the system, and avoid insolvency, and said more PERS legislation would follow.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Funding (02/25/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- I think this does do a comprehensive statewide education property tax reform and couples it with a low
- I wouldn't call it any sort of reform package or anything like that, but it also includes the necessary
- wouldn't call it uh any sort of Reform wouldn't call it uh any sort of Reform package<03:53:10.640
- We feel it in the letters that we all receive, and, uh, to take a turn now and put in the way of reform
- a barrier yes the barrier can of Reform a barrier yes the barrier can theoretically<04:17:10.199>
Summary:
The Education Funding Committee met to review a large package of bills, with the first four—HB 717, 742, 773, and 603—focused on special education aid, formerly called catastrophic aid. Chair Ladin explained that the committee needed to move a special education bill forward by March 4 and was trying to determine which bill would serve as the vehicle. He described the current formula and the difficulty of estimating the fiscal impact of lowering the threshold from 3.5 times the statewide average cost per pupil to a lower level, noting that DOE did not have reliable data on how many students would fall into the lower-cost bands. The committee also noted that several other bills in the package addressed SWEP and adequacy issues, and that HB 510 dealt with due process rather than funding.
Mark Mello of the Bureau of School Finance testified that the department only has reliable data for special education expenditures above $70,000 per student, since claims are submitted for reimbursement at that point. He said the bureau was trying to estimate how many students might fall between 2.5x and 3.5x or 3x and 3.5x the average cost, but that the basic answer was they did not know and that any estimate would be difficult. He explained that moving the threshold from 3.5x to 2.5x would create a minimum additional cost of about $13.6 million based on existing claims, not counting new students who would enter the range. Members discussed whether districts already had the underlying data, whether a survey should be required, and how districts know when to begin tracking costs for reimbursement.
The committee also discussed proration and the state’s share of special education aid. Mello explained that the current 80% state share is modeled in the formula, but the actual payment has been prorated because appropriations have not matched the statutory liability; he said the state liability was about $50 million, while the budget had provided $34 million, resulting in a 68% payment rate. HB 742 was described as a bill that would eliminate proration by paying the liability directly from the education trust fund with an overflow mechanism. Members also discussed possible alternatives such as changing the state share, using a lower threshold in a transition period, or requiring districts to submit data. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided; the committee was still in discussion and considering which bills to advance.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- The Marijuana Policy Project is a nonprofit that works to reform cannabis laws.
- All I'm trying to do is get to some common sense reform.
- some common sense reform. some common sense reform.
- And for me to use that as a reason to not pass common sense reform legislation, for me, that doesn't
- legislation for me common sense u reform legislation for me um<02:22:04.880>
that <02:22:05.120
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- legislature's engagement on this issue and for the trust placed in the agency to carry out these reforms
- the ballot process, the agency will approach that change in the same way it has approached prior reforms
Summary:
The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 2522 / H. 5909, which would amend state labor law to treat the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) as a public employer and allow its employees to seek collective bargaining rights. The chair explained the Article 48 initiative process, noted that no opponents or members of the public had signed up to testify, and said written testimony would be accepted through March 20. The hearing focused on whether CPCS staff should be brought within the public-sector bargaining framework and how that would interact with the agency’s statutory duties.
Expert testimony began with an NCSL analyst, who gave a national overview of public employee bargaining rights and examples of public defender unions in other states and localities, including Colorado, New York City, Indianapolis, Cook County, Maryland, and Illinois. Department of Labor Relations officials then reviewed prior failed organizing efforts at CPCS and its predecessor, explaining that earlier petitions were dismissed because the agency was not considered a public employer under existing law. They said passage of the initiative would not automatically unionize employees, but would allow a union to petition for an election or written majority authorization, with normal unit-appropriateness and supervisory/confidential employee issues still to be resolved.
CPCS Chief Counsel Anthony Benedetti testified that the agency supports providing information to the legislature but is not taking a position for or against unionization. He described CPCS’s statutory responsibilities, size, and current efforts to expand staffing after recent indigent-defense crises, and said any new bargaining framework would need to operate alongside the agency’s obligations to provide counsel. Proponents from SEIU Local 888 and allied labor groups argued that CPCS employees have long been denied the same collective bargaining rights as other public workers, and that a union would provide just-cause protections, a voice on staffing and working conditions, and better support for recruitment and retention. CPCS attorneys and staff testified in favor of the measure, citing heavy caseloads, rapid expansion, inadequate supervision and office support, and the need for representation in disciplinary and workplace disputes. Committee members asked about bargaining-unit composition, the role of the DLR, the effect of unionization on attorneys’ ethical duties, and the use and cost of paid signature gathering. The hearing ended with no votes taken and no opposition testimony presented.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Human Services Committee Jun 16th, 2026
Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Imagine how much farther we could go with the kind of no-cost reform, common-sense reform, that is proposed
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard and advanced a series of bills focused on homelessness, child care, food security, public assistance, immigration legal services, and veterans’ benefits. SB 479 would allow city-based local health jurisdictions, including Berkeley and Oakland, to run homeless response multidisciplinary teams and share specified information across departments; supporters said the change would improve coordination and outcomes, while no opposition testified. SB 902 would permit electronic signatures for Child Care and Development Services Act paperwork, with supporters describing the burden of paper processes on working families and noting that paper would remain an option. Both bills were referred onward after committee action.
The committee also approved SB 1025, creating an Office of Food Security and Affordability; SB 1030, repealing the CalWORKs “man-in-the-house” rule; and SB 1077, requiring CDSS to develop a communications and contingency plan for CalFresh disruptions during federal government shutdowns. Testimony on these measures emphasized fragmented food assistance systems, the need to modernize outdated welfare rules, and the importance of preparing for future federal benefit interruptions. Each bill drew broad support from advocates, local governments, and social service organizations, with no opposition testimony, and each received a due-pass recommendation to the next committee.
The committee further advanced SB 1194, which would codify the Immigration Legal Fellowship Project to expand access to immigration legal services in underserved regions, and SB 1201, which would seek federal waivers and other protections to help veterans affected by CalFresh changes and connect applicants with county veterans service officers. Supporters said both bills would fill critical service gaps and strengthen legal and food-security infrastructure. SB 1194 received a 6-1 vote, while SB 1201 passed unanimously. Earlier in the hearing, SB 557 and SB 1051 were approved on consent. The committee then adjourned after recording final roll calls for absent members.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
06/10/2026 - House Republican Caucus Calendar #25
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Revenue Estimating Conference May 8th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Page four, you can see that as expected because of the tax reform since the...
- That as expected because of the tax reform since the fall of 2024, the collections would fall at some
Summary:
The Revenue Estimating Conference met with four members present and first approved the prior meeting minutes and recognized the FYI end-of-balance of $577,077,871 as nonrecurring revenue. The main business was revising the state revenue forecast for FY 2026, FY 2027, and the long-range outlook. The Division of Administration recommended a $113 million reduction to the FY 2026 State General Fund forecast and a $104 million reduction for FY 2027, citing weaker-than-expected individual income tax collections, softer corporate income tax receipts, and some weakness in general sales tax, partly offset by stronger motor vehicle sales tax and higher mineral-related revenues tied to oil prices. The Legislative Fiscal Office presented a somewhat different but broadly similar forecast, with modest net increases to the general fund bottom line in the current year and next year, emphasizing caution on income and corporate taxes and more optimism on sales, severance, royalties, and some other revenue streams.
A substantial portion of the discussion focused on the causes of the income tax shortfall, especially withholding and refund patterns after tax changes that lowered rates. Department of Revenue officials explained that withholding tables had been set with a cushion that may be producing larger refunds, and said changing the tables could quickly reduce overwithholding, though the effect would take time to show up. Members also discussed corporate collections, the lingering effects of the franchise tax repeal, the role of settlements and audits, and the extent to which collections are voluntary versus enforcement-driven. The Department of Revenue said corporate collections still had key filing and estimated-payment milestones ahead in May and June, and that refund and audit activity related to the former franchise tax would continue for some time.
The conference then adopted the Division of Administration’s FY 2026 forecast, the FY 2027 recurring forecast, and the long-range forecast, along with the proposed inflation rates for the Millennium Trust and parish severance allocation. Members also adopted the incentive expenditure forecast, noting that the reported amount is only the REC-reported portion and that larger tax exemption amounts come off the top before appropriations. The Treasurer reported a General Fund cash balance of about $404.1 million as of May 5, 2026, and an interfund borrowing base of about $9.18 billion, saying cash levels were similar on average to the prior year. The meeting ended with a note that another REC meeting might be needed depending on the May 16 election, and the conference adjourned without objection.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Transportation, Highways and Public Works Apr 27th, 2026
Transportation, Highways & Public Works
Transcript Highlights:
- add a little bit more context, in 2018, in response to this tragedy, Congress passed the Disaster Reform
- and Reformation Act of 2018.
Bills:
HCR63, HCR69, SCR6, SCR18, SB2, SB19, SB24, SB50, SB70, SB96, SB101, SB103, SB104, SB114, SB122, SB159, SB160, SB182, SB412, SB418, SB460
Keywords:
military drivers, driver's license exemption, active-duty military, federal vehicle, government-owned vehicle, state highways, public safety, task force, Tiger Team, Louisiana National Guard, Fort Polk, Barksdale Air Force Base, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Department of Defense, executive order, military readiness, vehicle licensing, law enforcement, state police, sheriffs association
Summary:
The House Transportation Committee met on Monday, April 27, with a quorum present and took up a series of Senate bills and one House concurrent resolution, most of them related to transportation infrastructure, memorial highway designations, and prestige license plates. Early action centered on Senate Bill 122, which would direct the Department of Transportation and Development to be more proactive about bridge maintenance, inspection, reporting, and public meetings on bridge conditions; the committee adopted a large amendment package before reporting the bill with amendments. The committee also reported favorably SCR 6 supporting an LNG facility at Port Fourchon and SCR 18 directing a study of commercial driver’s license privileges compared with neighboring states.
Several bills designated memorial highways or bridges, including SB 50 for the Elwood T. Brady Jr. Memorial Bridge, SB 70 for the Officer Mark Brock Memorial Highway, SB 460 for the Hayden Lane Mangum Memorial Highway, SB 101 for the Daniel Edward Didillo Memorial Highway and Bill Blue Evans Memorial Highway, SB 160 for the Speaker Joe R. Salter Memorial Highway, SB 418 for the Dick and Jacques Schuford Memorial Highway, SB 103 for the Gladys Edwards Highway, SB 159 for the Surgeon Roelio Roy Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Highway, SB 182 for the Mayor Billy Cobb Memorial Highway, SB 104 for the Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway, and SB 2 for the Falcons Band Highway. The committee also approved SB 114 creating a prestige plate for the Foundation for Moral Law and SB 96 creating a Fallen Heroes prestige plate.
One of the more substantive policy items was HCR 63, which creates a task force to study whether certain active-duty military personnel without civilian driver’s licenses should be allowed to operate federally owned vehicles on state highways; it was reported favorably after discussion of military training and licensing differences. Another major item was HCR 69, urging DOTD to improve Interstate 12 in Livingston Parish; the committee adopted amendments adding findings about flooding, drainage, and evacuation concerns, and then reported the resolution with amendments. The committee also considered SB 19 on the state employee retired prestige plate; after objections about whether proceeds should continue supporting LASERS, the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote, 13-1, with Representative Schamberhorn voting no.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
February 16, 2026 - 01:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- is to address projected deficit in State Employee Health Insurance Trust Fund, and it proposed key reforms
- DEFICIT IN STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH INSURANCE TRUST FUND 189 AND IT PROPOSED TO KEY REFORMS
Summary:
The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met to consider four conforming committee bills tied to the proposed 2026-27 House General Appropriations Act. Rep. Maggard presented PCB SAB 26-04, the annual retirement bill, which updates Florida Retirement System contribution rates based on the annual actuarial study and was said to produce a $31.7 million state savings. He also presented PCB SAB 26-02, which addresses collective bargaining impasses for state employees by tying resolution to spending decisions in the appropriations act or implementing legislation. Both bills drew brief questions, mainly from Rep. Gantt, and both passed favorably on roll call.
Rep. Miller presented PCB SAB 26-03, which reorganizes state audit functions and creates the Florida Accountability Office, consolidating legislative audit work into four divisions and adding whistleblower protections and reporting requirements. Rep. Gantt asked whether the bill changed the use of outside auditors and whether it had a fiscal impact; Miller said the work would be absorbed within existing resources and that the Legislature would retain responsibility. A taxpayer witness supported the bill and urged stronger local-government audit standards and broader whistleblower coverage. The bill passed favorably.
Rep. Abbott presented PCB SAB 26-01, a broader appropriations conforming bill focused on the State Employee Health Insurance Trust Fund, prescription drug formulary changes, a health insurance assessment on agencies and vacant positions, the $3 traffic violation surcharge for the State Law Enforcement Radio System, Capitol complex space management, and changes to the Office of Supplier Diversity. Much of the discussion centered on whether a closed formulary would make medications harder to obtain, with Abbott saying prior authorization would still allow access and that the change was needed to control costs and protect the trust fund. Rep. Gantt and Rep. Robinson raised concerns about employee health benefits and the repeal of supplier diversity provisions, arguing the committee lacked data on the impact to minority- and women-owned businesses; Abbott said the changes would still allow small businesses to compete and that the bill was intended to save money and modernize procurement. PCB SAB 26-01 also passed favorably, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were reported out.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- And then if the disaster reform bill goes through, up to $50 million of that would go over to that newly
- reformed disaster bill because you wouldn't need it in the ACF for big disasters.
Keywords:
auditing, financial reporting, state auditor, public agencies, capital outlay, compliance, federal audits, agriculture, New Mexico Department of Agriculture, fee update, regulatory fees, egg inspection, egg grading, egg dealer, pesticide control, pesticide registration, pesticide applicator, pest management consultant, plant protection, nursery license