Transcript Highlights:

• Under the taxing and spending... THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WE CAN CUT YOUR TAXES AND INCREASE SPENDING.
• UNDER THE TAXING AND SPENDING We are going to rack up $20 trillion.
• We are the party letting moms and dads spend more.
• WE ARE THE PARTY INLETTING MOMS AND DADS TO SPEND MORE.
• That is more than we spend on our own citizens.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have the spending authority to begin<00:12:40.560> immediately.
• <00:12:58.880> is approved, but we didn't get to spend is approved, but we didn't get to spend
• That's the spending request, but I want to talk a little bit about the revenue in this agency.
• Could you use the spending authority? Could you use that to cover the increases you're asking for?
• We're using our cash balance for all of the spending authority. >> Spending authority to do that.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 5 February, 2026; 8:30 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Board of Registration for Foresters, which said it is self-funded through applications and renewals and receives no general fund support. The board requested a budget increase from $62,755 to $77,035, mainly for technology upgrades to its database and website, a social media presence, and about $3,000 more for board travel. Members asked about contractual expenses, staffing, renewals, reserves, and office location; the witness said most renewals are now online, the board has a reserve but he did not know the exact amount, and the board is leased space in the Robert E. Lee Building. No vote was taken, and the chair moved on to the next agency. The Mississippi Board of Examiners for Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists then presented its budget and operational needs. The board described its 10-member structure, three employees, and oversight of about 4,450 social workers and 210 marriage and family therapists. It explained that a prior $50,000 deficit appropriation was approved too late to spend, and asked to include that amount in the current budget for technology upgrades and equipment. The board also requested salary increases, additional travel funds, money for out-of-state compact participation, more contractual funds for database enhancements and digitizing records, and one additional computer. Members questioned the board about its large cash balance, staffing, office location, and the social work compact; the board said it has about $1 million in cash, is in leased space at Old River Place, and needs database changes to support the compact. No action or vote was taken. Finally, the Cosmetology and Barbering Board discussed major licensing and regulatory changes and its budget request. The board said it had already adopted a passing score for the licensure exam, ended the practical exam, extended testing approval periods, removed barriers to temporary work permits, and opened a path for apprenticeships, mobile establishments, and online licensing software. It also described recommendations in SB 2566, including a low-income first-license fee waiver, sanitation warnings, reduced education and instructor-hour requirements, and removal of some display requirements. The board said these changes had already led to new applications and test signups. On the budget side, it said it was withdrawing a prior request for $6,340 for practical-exam contractors because that exam was eliminated, but still sought $120,000 for certified mail, $49,000 for recruitment and retention salaries, and continued flexibility for possible live-streaming requirements under pending legislation. Senators asked whether the practical exam had been eliminated and whether the board could still ensure competency and inspections; the board said skills are still assessed through program completion and theory testing, and it asked to retain inspector positions because it oversees roughly 6,000 to 6,500 licensed shops and salons with only two inspectors.

Transcript Highlights:

• The additional spending that was included in the Legislature's plan.
• need to spend on.
• on the things that they need to spend on.
• From the general fund, it appears that we're spending less than $500 million on CalVet services.
• too much, and then also criticizing us when people make adjustments to those spending levels.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You can't spend it. But what is that number? $3,400 average tax refund.
• This budget spends $300 million less than the governor's proposal.
• Need to say that again: this budget spends less, it spends $300 million less.
• for us to not spend the money that we need to spend to incur hundreds of more dollars from the federal
• for us to not spend the money that we need to spend to incur hundreds of more dollars from the federal

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is some spending that's more important than other spending.
• We're spending more now than we ever have. Yes, absolutely. Yes.
• So we've been spending the Medicaid trust fund.
• It does not decrease the amount of actual spend they've historically had.
• We're currently spending...

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:

• If you have the time to spend with him on that front. All right. Okay.
• We're spending over two million dollars this year.
• So many more questions, but I will spend some time reading this.
• What reasons did Bernalillo County give for not spending their grant?
• So I won't spend a lot of time on that. This slide, of course, is in your package.

Transcript Highlights:

• that spend under $13,000 per student.
• is between spending and property taxes.
• <03:01:18.479> in the result of of spending in the result of of spending in schools<03:01:
• <03:01:39.040> under spend under spend under $133,000<03:01:40.920> per<03:01:41.479>
• and performance but there is spending and performance but there is between<03:02:22.200> spending

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The executive session focused primarily on HB 563, which revises the school funding formula, especially the adequate education grant amounts for special education students and the treatment of fiscal capacity disparity aid. Representative Ladd moved OTPA on Amendment 06508, explaining that FY 26 would largely hold the current formula steady, while FY 27 would increase several per-pupil amounts, including base cost, free and reduced-price meals, English language learner aid, and special education differentiated aid. He said the special education change was based on estimated case loads across disability categories and that the amendment also reinstates fiscal capacity disparity aid, using a formula intended to better assist property-poor communities. Several members supported the amendment as a step in the right direction, saying it better recognizes special education costs and separates property wealth from low-income student counts. Others raised concerns about the lack of time and the absence of a printed spreadsheet showing how the fiscal capacity disparity aid would affect each town. In response, sponsors said the spreadsheet existed, that the LBA had copies, and that the amendment would help about 40 target towns, while Manchester would be the main community receiving less under the new formula because of prior shifts in the extraordinary needs grant. Discussion also covered the broader impact of the bill, with members noting that about 200 of the state’s 245 cities and towns would see an increase and 45 a decrease under the proposed FY 27 changes. Supporters argued the bill was a compromise given limited revenues and that it should move forward so it can be considered by the full House and then Finance. No final vote on the amendment or bill was taken in the portion provided, and the chair indicated the committee was still deciding whether it had enough information to proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first, where we spend the most, is our suite of statewide online resources, or in library lingo we
• The award is onerous if received, and so before you spend thousands of hours of your employees' time
• That means the spending down of a future to rapid deployment before being ensnared in other kinds of
• That spending down of a future does not come back. That is a chilling effect without a doubt.
• attraction spend.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on the impact of recent federal policy and budget actions on Massachusetts libraries, humanities organizations, arts institutions, and tourism. Testimony from library leaders described the loss or jeopardy of Institute of Museum and Library Services funding, including statewide databases, local grants, staff positions, E-rate/hotspot support, and digital equity programs. Witnesses said the cuts have already forced reductions in services, canceled grants and workshops, and in some cases left schools, students, job seekers, and low-income patrons without access to key resources. Members of the committee asked for lists of affected communities and databases, and several witnesses said they would provide additional written detail. Arts and humanities witnesses said federal terminations from the NEA, NEH, and IMLS have hit organizations across the Commonwealth, including Mass Cultural Council, Mass Humanities, Mass MoCA, and local museums and historical societies. They described canceled or rescinded grants, layoffs, reduced programming, and a chilling effect on future applications and on artistic and scholarly work, especially where federal awards had already been matched with local or private funds. Several speakers also raised concerns about executive-branch DEI conditions attached to funding and about book challenges and book banning, saying these trends threaten intellectual freedom and public access to culture and history. Committee members emphasized the economic importance of the sector and the need to publicize the impacts. Tourism officials from Meet Boston and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism testified that federal cuts and broader geopolitical and tariff issues are hurting international visitation, especially from Canada and Western Europe, and could affect major upcoming events such as the 2026 World Cup and Sail Boston. They said reduced funding for Brand USA and Discover New England will weaken long-term marketing efforts and international partnerships, with downstream effects on hotel tax revenue, jobs, and workforce recruitment. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with members mainly asking questions and requesting follow-up written testimony and data.

Transcript Highlights:

• And now we're starting to face the reality that we can't spend at a rate higher than the revenues are
• And now we're starting to face the reality that we can't spend at a rate higher than the revenues are
• And now we're starting to face the reality that we can't spend at a rate higher than the revenues are
• Not only that, county spend money on it.
• not want to spend uh its money<00:14:25.920> on.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we have to really consider what it is we're spending, how much are we spending, on what are we spending
• ,<00:42:25.920> how consider what is it we're spending, how consider what is it we're spending
• , on what are we much are we spending, on what are we spending<00:42:27.760> it,<00:42:28.800>
• spend like $2 million up to $10 million. spend like $2 million up to $10 million.
• our budget first before we spend our budget first before we spend something<00:51:39.599> we<

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3403, authored by Vice Chair Rep. Kazowski, and first adopted an A1 amendment. The amendment made technical and implementation changes recommended by the Department of Revenue, allowed a small portion of funds for county and tribal administrative costs, and clarified timing and reporting for spent and unspent funds. After the amendment was adopted, the bill was moved to Ways and Means. Rep. Kazowski described HF 3403 as a $50 million emergency rental assistance measure to help stabilize households facing eviction, with $44 million directed to counties and $6 million reserved for tribal nations, administered through the Department of Revenue using the existing local homeless prevention aid formula. Supporters said the bill would provide immediate, targeted help to renters and landlords, prevent evictions, and reduce downstream costs to shelters, schools, employers, and health systems. Several testifiers, including representatives from Greater Twin Cities United Way, St. Louis County, Hennepin County, Minneapolis, social workers, a resident, and tribal housing leaders, said local resources were insufficient to meet rising need and emphasized the impact of federal immigration enforcement and related economic disruption on families, workers, and communities. Testimony highlighted sharp increases in rental assistance requests, rising eviction filings, depleted county funds, and the strain on nonprofit and mutual aid efforts. County and city officials said emergency rental assistance and related legal services had already prevented thousands of evictions, but current funding was not enough. Tribal testimony stressed disproportionate homelessness among Native Americans and supported the bill’s tribal allocation. During member discussion, Rep. Amani Hiltsley said the bill was an economic stabilization tool and requested a roll call vote, noting safeguards against fraud and the broader costs of inaction.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so year for spending authority.
• just need to increase that spending just need to increase that spending authority<00:20:44.000><
• And so um the majority spend it in FY26.
• So that that every year than we spend.
• So have to have authority to spend it.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 409, 28 January, 2026; 1:30 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy and the Mississippi State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, followed by the physical therapy board. The Pharmacy Board said it licenses pharmacists, technicians, students, and many facilities and supply-chain entities, including wholesalers, manufacturers, 3PLs, PBMs, and nonresident compounders. Its main requests were a 3% salary increase for specialized staff, about $118,000 for contract help to evaluate pharmacists with substance abuse or mental health issues under a recently passed public health bill, and additional IT spending authority for system upgrades and cloud migration. Members discussed the board’s role in protecting the public, vetting out-of-state facilities, and the need to keep sensitive data secure; no vote was taken. The Chiropractic Examiners board described itself as a small, contract-staffed agency with about 700 active licenses and a database system that is no longer supported by Microsoft. It said it had requested about $173,000, but the legislative budget recommendation was $134,000, and it needs roughly $40,000 more to upgrade or rebuild the system, including security fixes and online renewal capability. Members focused on the cybersecurity risk of using unsupported software and the need to protect personal information; the board also noted that its licensing data does not include banking information because payments are handled through the state portal. The Physical Therapy Board said it regulates physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, with 4,242 licenses and 252 complaints in the last fiscal year, and that demand for the profession continues to grow. Its requests included $6,000 in salary progression for long-serving staff, about $360 more in PDM salary authority, and roughly $38,610 for a one-time upgrade to its LMS licensing system, plus related cloud-migration costs. Senators noted the board’s strong reputation, discussed the burden of annual or biennial renewals, and supported the technology upgrade because the current system is no longer supported and could create liability risks if not addressed.

Transcript Highlights:

• that they made comment on was maintenance—yeah, defer, defer—looking at what we should really be spending
• that they made comment on was maintenance—yeah, defer, defer—looking at what we should really be spending
• c><00:17:43.360> we<00:17:43.480> don't<00:17:43.640> double<00:17:44.160> spend
• <00:17:44.559> for clarifies so we don't double spend for clarifies so we don't double spend
• <00:49:05.799> all that case settled yes did we spend all that case settled yes did we spend

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• what we actually have money to spend. what we actually have money to spend.
• :14.760> spending<00:48:15.880> and<00:48:16.040> government and government spending
• spend it. spend it.
• So, we're spending less than we're earning in interest and we're spending less than we plan to put in
• And I don't want to spend it all.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget we passed holds the line, spending less than last year and reducing per capita spending.
• So you can only spend on this, but you can spend whatever you want.
• , because that is where each local government was spending.
• And this is going to force them to really prioritize their spending and their spending habits.
• I think it's pathetic what Miami-Dade County spends money on.

Summary: The Committee on Appropriations took up SJR 2-F, the proposed constitutional amendment on property tax relief, which would reduce assessment growth on non-homestead property, expand homestead exemptions, create a new exemption for new homesteaders, and direct counties, cities, and school districts to use property tax revenues for specified core services. Senator Avila presented the measure as the governor’s plan to provide historic relief and argued that local governments should tighten budgets and prioritize core functions. Senators raised concerns about the lack of fiscal scoring, the breadth and ambiguity of the permitted uses, the effect on special districts and local services, and whether the proposal would shift costs to fees or other taxes. The committee adopted several amendments, including Avila’s amendment clarifying that ad valorem revenues could be used for county and municipal operations and administration and other expenditures not prohibited by law, and Trumbull’s amendment removing school board ad valorem taxes from the proposal. Other amendments failed, including proposals to allow user fees and non-ad valorem assessments, add a sunset, redirect tourism development taxes, narrow the small-business provision, and change the ballot title to reference local service reductions. Grall’s amendment removing the constitutional trust fund requirement was adopted, while the committee also rejected Berman’s title-change amendment and Smith’s sunset and tourism-tax amendments. The committee then returned to the bill as amended for questions, including extended debate over whether the proposal would affect noncitizen residents, the impact on local government finances, and whether local governments would respond with higher fees or special assessments. The meeting ended with the bill still under discussion after the final round of questions, with Avila saying he would continue working with the governor’s office on the language before the next vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget we passed holds the line, spending less than last year and reducing per capita spending.
• So you can only spend on this, but you can spend whatever you want.
• , because that is where each local government was spending.
• And this is going to force them to really prioritize their spending and their spending habits.
• I think it's pathetic what Miami-Dade County spends money on.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We could spend a long time talking about this topic.
• It's crucial that as you are making decisions about educational spending, you are spending time with
• It's crucial that as you are making decisions about educational spending, you are spending time with
• It's crucial that as you are making decisions about educational spending, you are spending time with
• You know, spending that time in school, I think that’s our job.

Bills: HF550, HF412, HF796, HF140

Keywords: redistricting, Bipartisan Commission, Minnesota Constitution, census, legislative districts, HF412, Minnesota legislature, education committee, K-12 education, school observation, teacher observation, administrator observation, legislative transparency, legislator accountability, House rules, Senate rules, Legislative Reference Library, public reporting, education finance, education policy

Transcript Highlights:

• But if we're looking at policy, then it's easier to see what spending has been useful and effective and
• what spending has really been something we could skip and spend better.
• Something we could skip and spend better elsewhere in the next year.
• what spending has really been something we could skip and spend better. something we could skip and
• spend better elsewhere in the next year.

Summary: The House Committee on Health and Welfare met on May 26 for what was described as the last meeting of the legislative session. H.R. 318 was voluntarily deferred without discussion. The committee first took up H.R. 298, which would have directed the Louisiana Department of Health, with the legislative auditor, to study LDH’s relationships with certain nonprofits, foundations, professional associations, and other nongovernmental entities. The author presented amendments narrowing the definitions, but LDH testified the language was still too broad, would still require substantial review of contracts, memberships, conferences, and related interactions, and would still carry a significant fiscal note. Members raised concerns that hospitals, provider associations, nonprofit care facilities, and other stakeholders could be swept in. The author then voluntarily deferred the resolution, and the committee agreed without objection. The committee then heard Senate Bill 405, which establishes a statewide quality oversight initiative for nursing facilities, directs LDH to work with facilities on care standards and remediation for lower-rated homes, and requires reporting and transparency for families. The bill drew broad support from members and stakeholders, including nursing home and senior advocacy groups, and was reported favorably without objection. House Resolution 290, which asked LDH to study a possible correlation between gender-affirming hormone therapy medications and psychosis or related psychiatric conditions in people 26 and younger, prompted questions about the purpose of the study and concerns that it could affect broader policy debates. The author, a licensed clinical social worker, said the request was intended to examine whether medications were being used too quickly and what effects they might have on adolescent mental health; after discussion, the author voluntarily deferred the resolution, and the committee agreed. Finally, the committee considered Senate Concurrent Resolution 61, urging LDH and commercial insurers to increase reimbursement rates for behavioral health crisis centers operating under a crisis receiving center license. Testimony focused on the Bridge Center for Hope, described as the state’s only Level 3 crisis receiving center, and the need to revisit Medicaid reimbursement for the first 23 hours of crisis care. With no questions or objections, the resolution was adopted. The meeting ended with members thanking the chair and staff, and the committee adjourned for the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but I would say I spend a lot of time at the horse park myself. >> spend a lot of time bragging about
• it, too. >> I do spend a lot of time.
• I figure if I'm going to spend time and money, I might as well spend the effort of cheerleading it. >
• a lot of time bragging about it, too. >> I do spend a lot of time.
• I figure if I'm going to spend time and money, I might as well spend the effort of cheerleading it. >

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:07 Attendance Roll Call: 00:14 SB 68 Discussion 01:21 SB 68 Vote 04:40 SB 20 Discussion 05:34 SB 20 Vote 08:12 Adjournment: 09:15, 958, all

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first took up Senate Bill 68, sponsored by Senator Maize Bledsoe. The bill would give the Kentucky Horse Park authority to bar or restrict participation by individuals sanctioned by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, with supporters saying it would help protect young athletes, adult athletes, and visitors at the multi-use state facility. Testimony from the Horse Park and the U.S. Equestrian Federation emphasized that the measure would have no fiscal impact and would be implemented through existing horse mounted police operations, without actively checking every visitor against the sanction list. The committee then considered Senate Bill 20, sponsored by Senator Maiden and presented with the Kentucky League of Cities. The bill would amend the city training incentive program statute to let cities set different incentive amounts for appointed and elected officials and remove the current statutory minimum and maximum amounts, giving local governments more discretion by ordinance. Senator Maiden said the measure is intended to encourage training for city officials and improve local government operations, and noted it had passed the Senate unanimously the previous year in similar form. Both bills were approved by the committee without opposition. Senate Bill 68 passed 10-0 with favorable expression, and Senate Bill 20 passed 9-0 with favorable expression. During the vote on Senate Bill 20, Senator Elkins explained his aye vote, saying he appreciated that the bill used permissive language and did not create an unfunded mandate. The committee then moved toward adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• But instead, we have a spending bill in front. Of us.
• House File Number 3, a high priority spending bill, $600,000.
• The common one I get from Republicans in my district is "Stop spending!"
• And here comes a spending bill before we have budget targets to spend money to hire people to do what
• To spend on the high end for these smaller grain elevators.

Transcript Highlights:

• They need additional time to spend funds, a reduction in reporting burden, and greater sovereignty in
• spending.
• It allows for longer-term planning, avoids the spending scramble that we often see at the end of the
• fiscal year, and truly allows our tribal partners to engage in some thoughtful, meaningful spending.
• without rushing to spend down dollars at the end.