Transcript Highlights:

• Without further ado, you're recognized to present your agency's budget requests. Thank you, Mr.
• There were six budget requests that this year made on behalf of the agency when we submitted our budget
• That's one of the three programmatic areas that I get a monthly budget update on.
• Are you in the process or have you thought about raising what that daily rate is?
• Right now, the budget that you put before Will this budget request, with its specific increases, help

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their budget out at the new department.
• So that is realigned in the governor's budget.
• Section 3 comes from the agency's budget bill.
• There is no money in our budget for this.
• Concerns about the budget bill.

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we are going to do both budget and policy matters.
• requests for this upcoming budget cycle.
• That process began. It was a pretty significant task.
• That was through the process of a lot of intense work.
• Just this month, we submitted through the process.

Transcript Highlights:

• It represents just a tiny fraction of our state's general fund budget.
• It represents just a tiny fraction of our state's general fund budget.
• of ...we approach the process of submitting our biennial budget request with the utmost care and responsibility
• In total, our budget request represents a 12% increase over the fiscal year 2026-27 base budget, and
• In total, our budget request represents a 12% increase over the fiscal year 2026-27 base budget, and

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee heard a presentation from State Court Administrator Jeff Shorba on the Minnesota judicial branch’s 2026-27 budget request. He outlined the courts’ structure and workload, noting 322 judges, about 2,800 staff, roughly 1 million district court cases annually, and a current budget of about $479 million. Shorba emphasized the courts’ constitutional role, the fact that court fines and fees are deposited into the general fund rather than retained by the branch, and recent legislative investments that helped reduce pandemic-era backlogs, improve technology, sustain treatment courts, and raise interpreter and examiner pay. The budget request focused on several areas: a 6% judicial salary increase to address recruitment and retention problems, including a 15% rise in turnover and a 27% drop in applicants since 2020; funding for health care and office lease cost increases; digital accessibility compliance work required by new federal ADA rules; a modernized justice partner access system for court records; higher pay for forensic psychological examiners, whose workload has risen sharply; increased juror compensation from $20 to $100 per day and mileage adjustments; and ongoing funding for interpreters, jury services, and cybersecurity. Shorba said the total request would be a 12% increase over the FY 2026-27 base budget. Members asked follow-up questions about funding for newly launched treatment courts and how those courts are financed after federal grants expire. Shorba said he would provide more detail later and noted the branch generally starts treatment courts with federal funding before seeking state support. Representative Ric also asked about labor negotiations, and Shorba explained that the judicial branch negotiates its own contracts rather than using the executive branch, with three unions involved and many unrepresented employees. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Criminal judgeships; third, additional funding for due process.
• This is our budget presentation for this year.
• Unlike the state attorney's office, the public defender's office budgets are 20 individual budgets managed
• The statewide totals for budgeting are on the screen.
• Remember, 98% of our budget goes to salaries and benefits.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:13.600> of what you have before you is a budget of what you have before you is a budget
• um that we could not do with this budget um that we could not do with this budget that<00:02:46.080
• in<00:02:49.200> teacher some budget reductions in teacher some budget reductions in teacher
• Funding for the upcoming budget cycle, and we acknowledge that need to curb spending in future budget
• Section 17 is the review process.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, Maggie Epson with the Legislative Budget Board.
• And then in this budget as filed.
• It's a great process. It's a bottom-up approach.
• That's really a significant benefit of the water planning process.
• It's an iterative process.

Keywords: infrastructure, water supply, flood mitigation, Texas Water Fund, community projects, funding allocations

Summary: During this committee meeting, the focus was on discussing critical infrastructure funding, especially related to water supply and flood mitigation projects. Chairwoman Stepney and the Water Development Board presented extensive details regarding the Texas Water Fund, which included $1 billion appropriated to assist various financial programs and tackle pressing water and wastewater issues. Additionally, funding allocations aimed at compromising the state's flood risk and improving water conservation were hotly debated, emphasizing collaboration among committee members and the necessity of addressing community needs in such projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• We can budget differently.
• We can budget differently.
• We can budget differently.
• governor's budget is deeply concerning. governor's budget is deeply concerning.
• . budget. budget.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to call the budget section, I guess we're going to call the budget section, I guess we're
• I mean, you've gotten, been on this budget a long time.
• more to the Commerce budget.
• And we're in the process of hiring a...
• The 2026 number is essentially what was budgeted.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division of the budget section and received updates on several Industrial Commission-related agencies and programs. Legislative Council first reviewed base budget materials, then the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported on its current appropriation and staffing, noting that its new FTEs were being filled gradually and that it remained largely funded through special and federal funds. Agency leaders described homeownership lending, loan servicing, and housing incentive fund activity, including below-market mortgage rates, down payment assistance, and a growing servicing portfolio that has increased workload but not yet required additional FTEs. Housing Finance also detailed use of the Housing Incentive Fund and homeless grant dollars. Officials said the multifamily HIF round drew more than $73 million in requests and awarded $25 million, while the single-family program supported rural development and community land trusts. Homeless grant funding was split between emergency shelter, prevention, and rapid rehousing, with performance-based scoring used to renew or reallocate awards. Members discussed housing affordability, aging households, rental assistance, and the need to coordinate housing and site-preparation messaging with Commerce. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased in the next session. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and operations update. Staff said the agency was on track financially, had filled most of its new reclamation FTEs, and was not expecting major litigation costs beyond normal late-biennium invoices. The director reviewed agency initiatives including Project North Star IT modernization, organizational restructuring, succession planning, rulemaking, and implementation of the development incentive well tax program and critical minerals rules. He also discussed oil and gas activity, explaining that longer laterals, especially three- and four-mile wells and the first five-mile spacing case, are helping keep production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. Members asked about gas capture, hedging, break-even prices, and the effects of Iran and Venezuela on oil markets. The committee also heard about enhanced oil recovery grants and the Pipeline Authority. The EOR program’s $25 million appropriation was fully allocated to six projects, with total awards reaching about $45.1 million when other fund balances were included, subject to a possible 5% reduction if federal DOE money does not materialize. Officials said the projects are public, reimbursement-based, and will produce results over the next several years. Finally, the Pipeline Authority outlined natural gas transmission projects, including the imminent Bakken Express line and the proposed Bakken East project, which WBI was selected to advance after an Industrial Commission RFI process. The project is moving through open season, survey permission, and regulatory work, with in-service dates projected for 2029 and 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's about a 23 million hit in their current year budget. Mr.
• And one of the school districts was able to keep going on with their educational process.
• However, it was not reported to our typical student reporting process.
• There's about $1 million in the budget currently for that purpose, but that's statewide.
• extensive process at all.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to prioritize motans, budget.
• Oh, I mean just look down the budget bills. Go over the budget bills. Uh, energy.
• Oh, I mean just look down the budget bills. Go over the budget bills. Uh, energy.
• Oh, I mean just look down the budget bills. Go over the budget bills. Uh, energy.
• Oh, I mean just look down the budget bills. Go over the budget bills. Uh, energy.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And frankly based on discussions I recall very clearly last year in the budget process that was our intent
• And frankly, based on discussions I recall very clearly last year in the budget process, that was our
• And frankly, based on discussions I recall very clearly last year in the budget process, that was our
• Uh, most of HB 2 does not have things in it, and since the process of doing the budget is, I have to
• <01:16:24.560> is<01:16:24.719> I the process of of doing the budget is I the process

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I certainly agree it is better to have a good budget than an on-time budget, but I Don't think it is
• To your statement as to this budget process and conveying That information, you know, from the executive
• And we're extending this budget until Monday. There will be no budget on Monday.
• Bipartisan budget subcommittees, conference subcommittees, have not met in two months, which is the process
• This budget process has been turned into an abomination of the democratic process. I don't know.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with routine proceedings, approved the prior journal, and processed several messages from the Assembly, including motions to discharge and substitute identical Senate bills for Assembly bills on the calendars. The chamber also reconsidered and restored Senate Print 1788, an act amending the Real Property Tax Law, to the third reading calendar. The Rules Committee reported Senate Print 10324, the state budget appropriations bill, directly to third reading, and the Senate accepted the message of necessity and laid the bill aside before taking it up on the controversial calendar as a budget extender. A lengthy debate followed on the budget extender, with Senator O’Mara and others criticizing the continued delay in finalizing the state budget, the lack of public details, and the absence of a schedule for joint budget committee meetings. Senator Serrano responded that the extender was necessary to keep state government operating while final budget negotiations continued, but could not provide specifics on policy items such as Tier 6 pension changes, New York City aid, local government support, or school aid. The extender was ultimately passed 56-2, with Senators Rhoads and Weik voting no. The Senate then adopted several previously adopted resolutions, including a memorial resolution for former Congressman Eliot Engel and a resolution marking the fourth anniversary of the Tops Friendly Markets mass shooting in Buffalo. The Buffalo resolution prompted extensive remarks from multiple senators about racism, gun violence, community trauma, and the need for policy responses; it was adopted with broad support. The chamber also passed a series of bills on the third reading calendar covering highway, municipal, environmental, banking, veterans, education, public health, and public service matters, with most passing overwhelmingly and a few drawing minority opposition. Notable floor debate occurred on a study bill regarding battery energy storage systems, where senators raised concerns about fire safety and siting; the bill passed 45-13. The Senate adjourned to reconvene on Monday, May 18 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• and<01:25:19.440> there processes of payment processes and there processes of payment processes
• fiscal year 26 budget. fiscal year 26 budget.
• What was your budget? What was your budget?
• So when I was given that number, it was during the budgeting process.
• , our proposed budget is going to budget, our proposed budget is going to specifically<04:22:30.720><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House and Senate tourism briefing focused on the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s interim action plans, current projects, contract oversight, destination management action plans (DMAPs), and the impact of recent legislation and audit findings. Interim CEO Caroline Anderson said she accepted the temporary role to help address agency challenges, emphasized rebuilding trust, and said HTA is reviewing the state auditor’s concerns and posting its response publicly. She also described HTA’s mission and organizational structure under SB 1571, including reporting lines to the governor, the director, and the board, and outlined staff additions in finance, brand marketing, destination stewardship, and planning. A major topic was the permanent CEO search. HTA board chair Tata Po said the goal is to select a CEO within about four months, with the search firm still engaged, the position description being revised to reflect the new law and compensation changes, and approvals still needed before the job can be reposted. Members expressed frustration that the recruitment had been paused and questioned whether HTA has sufficient qualified leadership and staff during the interim period. Board leadership said the current staff is limited by vacancies but that they have confidence in the team and will add resources if needed. Members also pressed HTA on the role of the destination stewardship team and the CNHA/Kilohana contract, asking how staff oversight works and whether staff members were effectively wearing multiple hats. HTA explained that the stewardship team provides direction to contractors and that the work is divided among specialists overseeing projects such as tour guide certification, technical assistance, community tourism collaboratives, and a destination app. The committee also discussed whether the board can still vote on budgets under the new structure; the Attorney General’s office was cited as confirming that the board may advise, but the department director retains budget authority. HTA said it is working with CNHA and HVCB on contract and budget timing, with a goal of shifting to a calendar-year process so recipients know funding earlier.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but it's part of the regular budget process and as part of legislative body.
• Um but it's part of the regular<02:22:03.600> budget<02:22:03.920> process<02:22:04.160
• process, and as part of the operating budget, typically under the town clerk's or some other election
• And, um, currently there already is a transparent process as part of the budgeting process, whether voters
• <02:24:09.600> whether<02:24:09.920> voters of the budgeting process. whether voters

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• process.
• <00:12:32.680> any process any process any questions<00:12:34.680> seeing<00:12:35.040>
• So our budget cost is $15 million with the state budget.
• process.
• the governor of the uh budget the governor of the uh budget process<04:22:07.800> so<04:22

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting featured presentations from the Department of Administrative Services and the Treasury Department on state revenue reporting and unclaimed property. State Comptroller Dana Call explained DAS’s role in compiling statewide revenue reports, including the annual revenue plan set through the budget process and the monthly revenue focus reports that track cash receipts. She noted that unrestricted general fund revenue is about $2 billion annually, while miscellaneous other revenue is a much smaller and less predictable category, averaging roughly $30 million to $32 million a year. She also described two more material internal revenue lines: statewide indirect cost recoveries and post-retirement benefit recoveries, which are billed to agencies and often tied to federal reimbursement rules. Members asked about the interest line in the revenue charts and about how the figures were presented, and Call clarified that the totals were in millions and that the interest item would be explained by the Treasurer. She also explained that the indirect cost and post-retirement recoveries are internal cost allocations that flow back into the unrestricted revenue pool and are reflected in agency budgets as interagency costs. Treasurer Monica Meissner then outlined Treasury Department functions, including bank deposits, statewide disbursements, banking relationships, investments, debt management, compliance, the FONA College Savings Program, the ABLE Plan, scholarship programs, and the abandoned property program. In discussing unclaimed property, she said holders report property after a five-year dormancy period, the state uses automated systems and outreach to locate owners, and claim activity has increased. In fiscal year 2024, the state returned about $12.2 million to citizens through roughly 12,000 claims; over the last 10 years, about $72.6 million has been returned. She also said the state escheated $19.9 million to the general fund and $1.8 million to counties last year, and explained that securities-related proceeds are harder to estimate because they depend on market conditions. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• [Applause] I want to talk about our process going forward.
• But that is also true in the appropriations process.
• That process can be a part of our regular legislative work.
• To start us in this process and to familiarize all of you with the procedural mechanics of budget reinstatements
• It's our belief it was an oversight, A glitch in the veto process.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Anna Mingi, State Budget Director at Minnesota Management and Budget. Mr.
• The governor's budget ends with a... The governor's budget doesn't address the set-aside...
• The governor's budget ends with a... The governor's budget doesn't address the set-aside...
• The governor's budget ends with a... The governor's budget doesn't address the set-aside...
• The governor's budget ends with a... The governor's budget doesn't address the set-aside...

Bills: HF3

Keywords: legislative auditor, reporting, accountability, state finance, executive agency oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee will now come to order. Sienna, please call the roll.
• Across all budget silos, it was decided to run a vacancy report as of February 3, 2025.
• So all of the interviewing process starts in the programmatic office.
• I'm proposing that we align the procedural processing of these two programs.
• I really appreciate your engagement and involvement in this process.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met for two workshops. The first focused on vacant positions in the Division of Early Learning and the Department of Education. Committee members reviewed vacancy reports, including long-vacant positions and positions that had received discretionary pay adjustments. Division and department officials said many vacancies were being filled, advertised, or under review, but acknowledged persistent recruitment and retention problems, especially for engineering, legal, finance, IT, and other specialized roles. Members questioned whether some long-vacant positions were still necessary, whether overtime and workload were being affected, and whether outside contracting, cross-training, combining positions, or eliminating some vacancies could help. Officials said they were considering those options and noted that hiring has become slower and more difficult since the pandemic, with lower applicant volume and more competition from other agencies and private employers. The second workshop addressed draft legislation related to school choice scholarships and the FEFP. The chair said the committee’s prior hearings raised concerns about student identification numbers, cross-checking between districts and scholarship organizations, duplicated FTE reporting, delayed district payments, scholarship payment timing, and inconsistent data sources. She said the proposed language is intended to standardize scholarship processing and improve accuracy and efficiency while preserving the long-standing FEFP principle that funds follow the student. She also said funding scholarship students below the line would not solve the identified problems and could create disparities. The draft would align processing for the Family Empowerment Scholarship and Florida Tax Credit Scholarship programs and would reduce add-on weights by 50% while keeping the current policy structure. No votes were taken. The chair invited further comments and said the draft budget and legislation would continue to be refined before rollout. The meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:58.400> So continue through the budget process.
• So continue through the budget process.
• for capture and reinvest those savings into our fiscal budgeting process.
• Moving on, uh, fiscal budgeting process.
• um a process by which the individual um a process by which the individual budgets<01:49:26.239> under

Keywords: 1187, senate, all