Transcript Highlights:

• <00:49:12.359> uh<00:49:12.640> uh increase the EV fee uh increase uh uh increase the
• <00:53:09.920> in got an increase in got an increase in 2023<00:53:12.119> just<00:
• No one wants fees increased.
• No one wants fees increased.
• No one wants fees increased.

Bills: HF5

Keywords: tax modification, transportation funding, electric vehicle tax, Social Security subtraction, retail delivery fee, motor vehicle registration, state budget, transportation policy, 1183, house

Summary: The Transportation Committee resumed consideration of House File 5, which would reduce transportation-related revenues while also providing tax relief, including a subtraction for Social Security income, elimination of the delivery fee, and a cap on automatic gas tax indexing. The committee adopted the A1 author’s amendment, which added the phrase “using existing resources,” and then proceeded to public testimony. Representative Joy described the bill as making Minnesota more affordable, while several members and testifiers raised concerns about the impact on transportation funding and road maintenance. MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Doppenberg testified that reductions in planned transportation investments would worsen pavement, bridge, and roadway conditions, reduce construction projects and jobs, and add to an already large funding gap. Committee discussion focused on the estimated revenue losses from the bill, including about $45 million in fiscal year 2026 and $55 million annually from repealing the delivery fee, plus additional losses from capping gas tax indexing, for a combined transportation revenue reduction of about $131 million in the 2026-27 biennium. Members also asked about bridge aesthetics, paint, transit impacts, and whether other mandates and cost increases should be considered alongside revenue reductions. Supporters of the delivery fee repeal, including the Minnesota Grocers Association and Minnesota Retailers Association, argued the fee is costly to administer, confusing to consumers, and disproportionately burdens small businesses and lower-income or disabled consumers who rely on delivery. The Minnesota Association of Townships and the Minnesota Transportation Alliance emphasized that rural and local governments face major road and bridge funding needs and warned that reducing revenue would shift costs to property taxpayers or leave projects unfunded. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee continued with testimony and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• seeing in this data that has increased.
• with increased retail access.
• Amani, can I assume that we are seeing an increase in CUD diagnoses simply because there's an increase
• use for tracking increased use because we're now actually tracking utilization.
• , or was it already increasing in those neighborhoods at a higher rate?

Summary: The committee heard a work session on earthquake insurance, beginning with background from the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. OIC staff explained that earthquake and earth movement are generally excluded from standard property policies, that earthquake coverage is usually purchased through endorsements or standalone policies with high deductibles and relatively high premiums, and that surplus lines are a limited backstop market not covered by the state guarantee fund. They also described parametric insurance and captive insurance as more specialized products generally suited to commercial or governmental buyers rather than ordinary consumers. A second panel of insurance and banking experts focused on commercial earthquake exposure, especially for older buildings, collateralized loans, and potential knock-on effects to banks and consumers if a major quake caused widespread damage. Members asked about consumer impacts, mitigation incentives, inventories of vulnerable buildings, and whether legislation such as prior work on unreinforced masonry could help reduce risk. The Washington Bankers Association said earthquake insurance is expensive and that affordability is a major concern, while also noting banks participate in disaster-recovery planning and would be affected by major regional losses. No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington State Institute for Public Policy on its cannabis and Initiative 502 research. WSIPP staff described the agency as a nonpartisan research institute that conducts legislative-directed studies and explained that its long-term I-502 assignment includes periodic reports leading to a final benefit-cost evaluation in 2032. Staff summarized findings from a 2023 report showing that cannabis possession convictions fell sharply after legalization, though some racial disproportionalities persisted, and that closer retail access was associated with higher reported adult cannabis use, more fatal traffic crashes involving drivers from nearby areas, and higher rates of cannabis use disorder diagnoses among Medicaid enrollees. A 2023 youth-focused report found that students attending schools near retailers were more likely to report cannabis use, had more unexcused absences, and were less likely to graduate on time. In the newest 2025 Medicaid study, staff said retail access was associated with higher probabilities of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, related hospitalizations, inpatient treatment, and co-occurring mental health diagnoses, with event-study analysis suggesting the increases appeared after retailers opened rather than before. Members asked about racial disproportionality, the meaning of cannabis use disorder diagnoses, THC and impairment, whether the findings reflected medical versus recreational use, and how the results should be interpreted in light of broader trends and data limitations. No formal committee action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• It doesn't really indicate that it's a tax increase. It says a bunch of great good stuff.
• Importantly, while significantly increasing supply, intoxicating hemp integration would not increase
• Major hit shows can create 200% to 300% increases.
• And so I know this is increasing from 3.30 to 750.
• That this is going to increase back to the share of domestic?

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation met as a subcommittee and heard several bills, with members explaining that measures with significant fiscal impacts would be held for suspense or taken up later. AB 761 would let the Monterey-Salinas Transit District place a local sales tax measure on the ballot with approval from two-thirds of its board rather than needing approval from each member jurisdiction; supporters said it would preserve transit funding for veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities, while an opponent argued it would make it easier to raise a regressive tax. The bill was voted out 5-2 after being called for absent members. AB 1253, which would clarify property tax treatment for wildfire reconstruction beyond substantial equivalence, drew support from the Los Angeles County Assessor and the California Assessors Association but was sent to suspense. AB 8, dealing with hemp enforcement, intoxicating hemp products, and integration of hemp cannabinoids into the cannabis supply chain and tax system, drew strong support from cannabis operators and labor groups and opposition from small cultivators and public health advocates concerned about supply, tax revenue, and voter intent; it was also sent to suspense. The committee then heard AB 1138, a major expansion and modernization of the film and television tax credit program. Supporters, including entertainment unions, workers, studios, and local officials, said the bill would help keep production and jobs in California amid competition from other states and countries; opponents criticized it as picking winners and losers and argued broader business costs were the real problem. The bill was referred to suspense. AB 829, which would create a California Parkinson’s Disease Research Fund and voluntary tax contribution program to support research and services, received unanimous support from advocates and was approved 6-0 to Appropriations. AB 474 would exempt rental income from nonprofit home-sharing programs for low-income homeowners from state income tax and protect participants’ eligibility for certain benefits; supporters said it could help older adults age in place and address housing shortages, and the bill was sent to suspense after members asked for clarification on the fiscal estimate. The committee also heard AB 376, which would exempt wildfire settlement payments from state income tax for certain disaster survivors; supporters from rural counties said the money is meant to help victims rebuild and should not be taxed, and the bill was referred to suspense. Finally, AB 480 would allow developers using low-income housing tax credits to switch from allocated to certificated state credits after an award, with supporters saying it would maximize private investment and stretch housing dollars further; it too was sent to suspense. Throughout the hearing, members repeatedly emphasized the need to balance policy goals with fiscal impacts, and several bills were held or referred to suspense rather than voted out immediately.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those include increases in subgroup populations, such as we've seen a 10% increase in our veteran student
• We're seeing more ADTs increase and fewer traditional students.
• We have seen increases in enrollment in Calbright as well.
• We've seen that increase by roughly 28.4% to just shy of 20,000 students.
• Maybe increased as a result?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that one thing that we needed is to increase the disabled veteran homestead market value exclusion
• They came here and they asked us to increase that due to the fact that properties have increased so much
• They say, "This will increase other individuals' property taxes."
• that properties have increased so fact that properties have increased so much<00:03:29.400> over<
• :03:51.960> individuals' "This will increase other individuals' "This will increase other individuals

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took House File 2438, the tax bill, from the table and proceeded to third reading on the conference committee report. Representative Olson spoke in support of a disabled veteran homestead market value exclusion increase, arguing that veterans’ organizations had requested the change and that the property tax impact on other taxpayers would be small. He said the bill did not include the increase and urged action next year. Representative Acom thanked the committee for including language to require a thorough, unbiased study of nuclear energy, comparing its life-cycle costs, health and environmental impacts, accident risks, transmission needs, and liabilities against other generation sources, with findings due next year. Representative Davids also supported the bill, while noting several local projects and provisions that were not included, such as local option sales tax authority for Saint Paul and projects in Blaine, Virginia, Plymouth, and Minnetonka. He thanked Chair Gomez, committee staff, legislative staff, and others involved in the tax process, and said the bill was appropriately named. After discussion, members voted on the conference committee report. The roll was taken, including remote participation, and the conference committee report on House File 2438 passed with 126 ayes and 8 nays. The bill was repassed as amended by conference, and its title was agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I think to your these increases.
• <00:32:29.200> a as you see, when we're not increasing a as you see, when we're not increasing
• ><00:38:40.320> is<00:38:41.359> um time an increase is proposed it is um time an increase
• <00:45:29.680> the original proposal we had increased the original proposal we had increased
• Um the net result is less increase.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , employee salary increase, judge and employee health insurance, and the lease increase.
• <00:14:52.480> It's team increase. It's team increase.
• Uh, the next line is a motion fee increase from $75 to $100. That's a $25 increase again.
• We have a civil court filing fee increase<00:24:39.440> from increase from increase from $285<
• This isn't the fee increase.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:43:30.160> um um uh or increases in in revenue. um um uh or increases in in revenue. um
• tax increases um gross receipts<01:23:12.400> tax<01:23:12.880> increase<01:23:13.280>
• increased uh for June acceleration. increased uh for June acceleration.
• The rate increase from 10% to 15%.
• Um, that is a tax increase.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• by about 3% statewide, homelessness is increasing by 13%.
• Um, and that tax increase also would weaken the licensed market.
• No, and as it relates to this tax increase in general.
• And I hope in a way that prevents this tax increase. Thank you. Thank you.
• The 15% cap on fees was enacted in 1997 and has not been increased in 28 years.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• attending hiring events, increased attending hiring events, increased presence<00:07:03.840>
• increased staff. increased staff.
• monitoring workload has increased monitoring workload has increased dramatically dramatically dramatically
• Has your staff doubled or increased at all? No. Our total staff is about 15.
• increased at all? increased at all?

Keywords: 00:05 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:42 Department of Corrections 04:14 Department of Juvenile Justice 16:22 Kentucky Law Enforcement Council 28:01 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee heard budget-related testimony from the Department of Corrections on a request for additional funding to take over operations of the Lee Adjustment Center, including $2.2 million in fiscal year 2027 and $5.2 million in fiscal year 2028. The witness said the governor’s budget did not recommend the request. Members asked about the cost savings of private operation versus state operation, the facility’s role in the department’s long-term goals, and whether the state intends to move toward operating all adult correctional facilities directly. The Department of Juvenile Justice then presented on staffing, recruitment, retention, and facility planning. Officials described recent pay increases and other investments, including a 10% security pay raise in 2021, an 8% state employee raise in 2022, higher youth worker starting salaries, and $4.8 million in 2023 funding to sustain salary increases. They said DJJ has also expanded mental health and medical staffing, improved recruitment efforts, and seen an upward trend in hiring. In response to questions, the commissioner said barriers to recruitment and retention include the Tier 3 retirement system, the structured and restrictive nature of detention work, and competition from other employers. He also said the department wants to move toward a regional model for female facilities under SB 162 and believes those facilities can be staffed. DJJ provided staffing figures showing 1,339 funded positions, with 157 filled and 182 vacant at a January benchmark, and 524 detention positions with 450 filled and 74 vacant. Officials said 30 correctional officers were in basic training and expected to join posts soon. Members also asked about the feasibility of staffing additional facilities and the department’s vacancy trends. Finally, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council testified on a funding request for one attorney, one paralegal, one additional monitor, higher costs for existing monitor positions, and Lexington office rent. Officials said the request is needed to handle a growing decertification caseload and expanded oversight responsibilities as the number of academies has increased to about eight, with more than 2,100 instructors requiring biennial review. They said KLEC currently has one attorney and about 15 total staff, with roughly 180 cases pending, more than 50 complaints left to file, and another 30 cases expected soon. Members asked about current staffing, attorney salary, the number of academies, and the move to a separate Lexington office. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned without a quorum for approving minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 25-26, $11 million ongoing and increased reimbursement authority and ongoing resources.
• So moreover, the withdrawals could allow increase legal risk to persist or increase actual safety risk
• Given the budget condition, we recommend rejecting these increases.
• In fact, the budget has increased a billion dollars. So it's hard to trust.
• KAPLA has seen a 70% increase in cases in which we need appointed counsel.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But I believe all of our districts are dealing with those increased insurance costs.
• In the past, we have increased the basic allotment significantly in 2019.
• I want to say this is four times the average increase in public education a year.
• a permanent increase.
• Increase not more than two years like it has been, but what I think it needs to stay: permanent increase

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met to consider House Bill 2, the major public education and school finance bill. The committee first reconsidered and withdrew the prior committee substitute, then took up a new substitute. Senator Creighton explained several changes, including a correction to the golden penny yield weight, an increase in the special education evaluation incentive cap from $45 million to $67 million, timing changes to avoid a funding gap for Bluebonnet curriculum training grants, narrowed language affecting educator preparation providers, added facility-usage reporting language, incorporation of bilingual allotment language from Senate Bill 2185, removal of the $20 million annual cap on JROTC funding, and a prevailing-clause provision to make HB 2 controlling over conflicting measures. Members generally praised the bill’s historic funding level but raised concerns about details and future floor debate. Senator Menendez said he appreciated the special education, safety, and teacher pay funding but was not ready to fully support the bill because of inflationary pressures, facilities funding, and district-specific impacts, and indicated he might vote present. Senator Parker strongly supported the bill, emphasizing historic funding, teacher pay, and the need to continue refining the package. Senator Witt also said he would vote present while seeking more refinement, especially on certification issues for public and charter schools. Senator Bettencourt highlighted the bill’s scale, including about $8 billion in new funding and $1.3 billion for special education, while Senator Hinojosa asked for more flexibility in the basic allotment and thanked the author for bilingual education and coastal-area provisions. The committee then adopted the new committee substitute and voted to report HB 2 favorably to the full Senate. The motion passed 9 ayes and 2 present not voting, with the bill reported as committee substitute do pass and be printed.

Transcript Highlights:

• For local roads, there are appropriation increases as a result of HUTD fund increases that you can see
• governor's recommendation to increase governor's recommendation to increase trunk<00:18:17.600><
• And increases of about 92,000 a year.
• <00:44:31.680> in 24 establish uh the uh an increase in 24 establish uh the uh an increase
• Uh this was a a section that increases Uh this was a a section that increases the<00:53:08.720><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• increase.
• low-income housing tax credit program that increased by 12.5% in one of the 9% tax credits and an increase
• Income has increased by 22 percent since 2018 to 2023, and home sales prices have increased by 72%.
• Income has increased by 22 percent since 2018 to 2023, and home sales prices have increased by 72%.
• In 2024, there was a 20.5% increase.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an increase based on increases in health care costs and actuarial projected increases.
• This is an increase based on increases in health care costs and actuarial projected increases.
• And I think that maybe that's staggered in increases, so it's actually going to increase.
• On what that increase would be.
• These are being driven by both prescription increases as well as medical cost increases.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're increasing the total funds per FTE by $135.26, or a 1.5% increase.
• We're increasing the base student allocation by $66, or a 1.25% increase.
• million increase in operating funds for school district workforce education programs.
• And that includes a $9.4 million workload increase.
• is really not an increase.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper and committee chairs highlighted major spending priorities including a 4% raise for state employees, continued health insurance contributions, investments in water quality, transportation, education infrastructure, and workforce development, along with reductions tied to long-vacant positions. Education funding was a major focus, with increases for K-12 public schools and scholarships, higher education workforce programs, nursing initiatives, tutoring, and university performance funding. Health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and agriculture/environment budgets were also outlined, including Medicaid, mental health, corrections staffing, affordable housing, beach restoration, citrus recovery, and water projects. Members then questioned several budget choices, especially K-12 funding. Senators Polsky and Smith raised concerns that the Senate’s AP and dual enrollment funding changes could disadvantage public schools, while Burgess argued the budget preserves the money in the FEFP and gives districts more flexibility rather than reducing support. Questions also addressed voucher availability, school stabilization funding, and the My Safe Florida Home program. The committee adopted 171 consent amendments and three late-file amendments, then approved SPB 2500 as a committee bill. It also favorably reported implementing and conforming bills for state employees, retirement, natural resources, judgeships, K-12 education, higher education, and health and human services, along with SB 7022 on Florida Retirement System contribution rates and elected-officer DROP options, CS/SB 1320 on the Resilient Florida Trust Fund, SB 7014 ending the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund, SB 7028 on cancer research, CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality and oversight, CS/SB 168 on mental health diversion and behavioral health data, SB 114 creating an insurance and risk management research center at FSU, and SB 180 on emergency preparedness and post-storm recovery. Most bills were reported favorably with little or no opposition, though SB 180 drew discussion about local-government authority after storms and the need to balance recovery speed with local safety and planning concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:50.079> the there is no effort to increase the there is no effort to increase the 125
• 2024 uh that would have increased 2024 uh that would have increased uh<01:54:53.119> the<
• Inflation has increased for New Hampshire about 42% since the last time benefits were increased.
• type of increase that we have now?
• The witness added that if benefits were increased, as long as the increase was in line with existing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In Austin, we just experienced a tax increase.
• That's how much we need to increase just to get back to 2019 spending.
• , we would not have had to go to the taxpayers to increase taxes.
• So that tax increase, that property tax increase, was really a state property tax increase, right?
• So that property tax increase was really a state property tax increase, right?

Keywords: education funding, House Bill 5419, zero-based budgeting, public testimony, school safety, special education

Summary: State Representative Gina Hinojosa and a group of parents and education advocates testified in support of House Bill 5419, a zero-based budgeting proposal aimed at reviewing Texas Education Agency spending and redirecting more public education dollars to classrooms. Hinojosa argued that public schools are being weakened by chronic underfunding, teacher shortages, delayed special education services, and inadequate school safety funding, and said the bill would help cut bureaucracy, vendor contracts, and other non-classroom spending in favor of teacher pay, safety, and special education. Several witnesses, including self-identified Republicans and former GOP officials, backed the bill as a good-government measure and said they were crossing party lines because public schools need more direct investment. They criticized TEA growth, vendor contracts, public-private partnerships, and what they described as unfunded mandates from the state, including school safety requirements. One witness said rural districts are being forced into four-day school weeks, while others cited campus closures, deferred maintenance, and local tax increases tied to state funding shortfalls and recapture payments. The discussion also focused on the need for a systematic review of TEA spending and the lack of a sunset review for the agency since before 2005. Hinojosa and others said increasing the basic allotment would help districts, reduce recapture pressures, and prevent local tax hikes. The exchange was primarily a public hearing and advocacy session; no vote or formal committee action was described in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• This represents a $1.3 billion, or 1.1%, increase compared to current fiscal year 25-26.
• This represents a $2.8 billion, or 5.6%, increase over current fiscal year.
• and... $1.4 million to increase daily reimbursement rates under the statewide inpatient psychiatric
• So as census declines, we see an increase in per-resident costs.
• Overall, the insurance premiums only increased by about $150 per client.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard a presentation on the governor’s proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget for the health and human services silo, which totals $48.5 billion. Agency leaders outlined major requests for AHCA, APD, DCF, DOEA, DOH, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, including behavioral health redesign, Medicaid rate changes, developmental disability services, child welfare and opioid programs, senior services, cancer research, public health initiatives, and veterans’ facility and technology needs. The committee also received an overview of the overall state budget, which was described as $117.4 billion, up 1.1% from the current year. AHCA’s presentation focused on $71.6 million for a Medicaid behavioral health redesign, including funding for residential treatment, a serious mental illness waiver, and higher inpatient psychiatric rates for youth, plus $7.1 million to raise private duty nursing reimbursement in fee-for-service Medicaid, $2.5 million for the background screening clearinghouse, and $124.4 million for the Health Care Connection System (FX). APD requested funding to continue moving people off the pre-enrollment list and to support developmental disability centers, a new forensic facility, an electronic health record system, and higher operating costs. DCF highlighted $81.9 million for eligibility and system integrity, $187.5 million for opioid prevention and treatment, $35.5 million for community-based care lead agencies, and $72.7 million to expand behavioral health bed capacity, including 474 new beds at state hospitals. DOEA sought additional funding for Alzheimer’s services, home care, and community care for the elderly. DOH emphasized $278 million for cancer research and innovation, $5 million for food and product safety testing, $5 million for the Florida FIRST blood-on-ambulance initiative, and $5.7 million for a public lab feasibility study. Veterans Affairs requested funds for facility improvements, cybersecurity, and medication management equipment. Members asked detailed questions about several items, especially the proposed changes to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which would reduce eligibility and the number of people served. Senators and public witnesses criticized the lack of transparency and urged the department to pause the changes and work with stakeholders; the Surgeon General said the issue was driven by funding constraints and federal changes, not a legal barrier, and that the agency was exploring alternatives. Questions also addressed the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, the Kids Care/CHIP expansion implementation, the cancer research funding structure, and the timeline and cost of the FX system. Public testimony focused heavily on ADAP, with speakers warning that thousands could lose medication access and calling for community involvement and a review of the program’s finances. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions, with no votes taken on the budget items during this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Commission. increase as well.
• Um and that would increase as well.
• that $49,000 increase for the and then that $49,000 increase for the uh<02:05:56.320> new<02:
• increase local food procurement. increase local food procurement.
• um increase for the Hathaway program. um increase for the Hathaway program.

Keywords: 916, all