Transcript Highlights:

• PROTECTIONS AGAINST CO WORST UNION DUES AND WE HAVE A $4.6 BILLION INVESTED TOWARD RAISING TEACHER SALARIES
• BECAUSE OF THAT I RECOMMEND INCREASE OF MONEY DEDICATED TO INCREASE TEACHER SALARIES AS WELL AS A CONTINUATION
• FLORIDA HIGHWAY PATROL TROOPER ORLANDO MORALES RESCUED THE DOG AS WATER WAS RISING TO THE DOG'S NECK.
• THE DOG HAS BEEN RENAMED TROOPER AND IS NOW IN A SAFE AND LOVING HOME WITH.
• TROOPER MORALES STAND UP BECAUSE WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR RESCUING THAT GREAT DOG. .

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• protections against coerced union dues and we have a $4.6 billion invested toward raising teacher salaries
• Because of that I recommend an increase of money dedicated to increase teacher salaries as well as a
• Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Orlando Morales rescued the dog as water was rising to the dog's neck.
• The dog has been renamed Trooper and is now in a safe and loving home with Trooper Morales.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It outlines the salary structure for various law enforcement positions, including DPS, Texas Rangers,
• Probably one of our commissioners that, that knows more about that, the way the troopers are in their
• And so, I really need that, that competitive salary.
• Uh, but I need a competitive salary to do that. Uh, right now.
• , trooper, sergeant, uh, investigator, lieutenant, Captain, Major.

Bills: SB 36

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: transportation, regional authorities, mobility, infrastructure, sales tax

Transcript Highlights:

• We have with us Trooper First Class Dustin Starkey, Captain Chris Voshe, Highway Patrol Administration
• It's a net result in over $334,000 of decrease in salaries and math. amendment.
• It's a net result in over $334,000 of decrease in salaries and math.
• It's a net result in over $334,000 of decrease in salaries and match, which is good.
• It's a net decrease in salaries of $240,000. Happy to answer any questions.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum of 98 members present, and granted leave for Representative Jack Ladyman. The chamber approved dispensing with the previous day’s journal and received committee reports from Joint Budget on several appropriations bills, along with an executive communication from Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders noting approval of House Bill 1001 as Act 2. The Speaker also recognized several guests, including law enforcement personnel, physicians, a nurse, STEM students, line workers, and Council of State Governments visitors. The main business was the budget calendar. The House adopted amendments to House Bills 1018, 1023, 1036, 1041, 1055, 1068, and 1077, covering items such as title changes for East Arkansas College, DHS resource reallocations, Nursing Board positions, Capitol Police positions for the Winthrop Rockefeller building, transfer of the early childhood nutrition program to the Department of Agriculture, DFA position changes and the Rural Health Transformation Program, and DHS county office staffing reductions. The chamber then sent the amendments to engrossing. Members passed House Bill 1060, the State Library appropriation, by 77 yeas, 15 nays, and 3 present; Senate Bill 5, the Tobacco Settlement Commission appropriation, by 90 yeas, 5 nays, and 3 present; Senate Bill 13, the Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission appropriation, by 98 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 present; Senate Bill 39, the Arkansas State University appropriation, by 97 yeas, 0 nays, and 0 present; and Senate Bill 56, the Auditor of State continuing education appropriation for local offices, by 81 yeas, 14 nays, and 3 present. The Speaker announced the House was ahead of schedule and moved next week’s floor schedule from Tuesday-Thursday to Monday-Wednesday, with a likely Monday start time around 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. The House then adjourned until 1:00 p.m. the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is largely to compete with those local competitive salaries, to bring them up to an hourly salary
• Teacher salary allocation, it's a total $201 million increase.
• Teacher's salary allocation, it's a total $201 million increase.
• And you also mentioned that there is an increase in salary for teachers.
• There is a dedicated line item within the FFP for teacher salaries.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee first took up SB 7010, which would authorize Roth contributions in state and local deferred compensation plans. Senator Mayfield explained that current law only allows pre-tax contributions, and the bill would let the Department of Financial Services and local governments offer post-tax Roth options. The bill had one support appearance card, no debate, and was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then received a lengthy presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget on the governor’s recommended “Floridians First” budget, totaling $117.4 billion and $53.2 billion in general revenue. The presentation highlighted reserves, debt paydown, tax relief, and proposed reductions and efficiencies, along with major spending areas in education, health care, public safety, corrections, transportation, and economic development. Key proposals included higher K-12 funding, teacher salary increases, funding for Everglades and water quality projects, emergency preparedness, corrections staffing and facility funding, cybersecurity, law enforcement recruitment bonuses, and affordable housing and infrastructure investments. Members asked extensive questions about property tax reserves, litigation funding, emergency response fund balances and spending, the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility and federal reimbursement, the Second Amendment sales tax holiday, animal abuse hotline funding, Hope Florida, corrections staffing, and teacher pay. A major portion of the discussion focused on the Department of Health’s planned changes to the ADAP HIV medication program, with senators and a public witness expressing concern about access to life-saving medications and possible misuse or redirection of funds. The committee did not take further action on the budget presentation, and the meeting ended after additional comments supporting the budget and the corrections funding, with SB 7010 already approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second most important thing was having their salaries reviewed or increases in their salaries.
• It is the ratio between a salary and the midpoint of the salary range for that job.
• It does not provide full salary, but it's a partial salary. There are caps on how much it'll give.
• It does not provide full salary, but it's a partial salary. There are caps on how much it'll give.
• It changes the computation of the final average salary for benefits under the Highway Patrol Troopers

Summary: The Employee Benefits Committee met to approve prior minutes, hear presentations on state employee health insurance, compensation, leave, and related policy issues, and then recess for lunch. PERS reviewed the history and structure of the state health plan, noting the long-standing state-paid family coverage, cost-control measures, wellness incentives, the current grandfathered PPO and high-deductible options, and the effects of recent benefit mandates such as insulin caps, prosthetic coverage, medication management, prescription copay changes, and ambulance balance-billing limits. Committee members questioned the fiscal impact of adding benefits and the possible cost of moving to a non-grandfathered plan, while PERS and HRMS emphasized that health insurance remains the top-ranked employee benefit and that any major plan changes should be considered carefully. HRMS also presented compensation comparisons showing state pay generally below private-market benchmarks, discussed targeted market equity adjustments, identified ongoing recruitment and retention concerns in fields like nursing, IT, engineering, and attorneys, and reviewed leave policies, tuition reimbursement, and family leave comparisons with neighboring states. Job Service provided labor market data showing low unemployment, high labor force participation, and wage growth that still trails some neighboring markets, and OMB explained that prevailing wage requirements apply to federally funded projects under Davis-Bacon, not to ordinary state contracts. After lunch, the committee took up the required process for health insurance mandate bills and adopted an amendment to Joint Rule 211. The amendment clarified that the deadline for submitting mandate measures is intended to allow time for all required reports, including both the cost-benefit analysis and any Employee Benefits Committee actuarial report, while leaving the existing deadline unchanged. The amendment was adopted on a roll call vote, with several members voting yes and a few no votes recorded. The committee then moved into its jurisdiction review of bill drafts, beginning with a bill that would automatically renew pre-tax dental and vision elections; members debated whether it had any actuarial or administrative impact on PERS or the state, and the chair explained that the committee’s role was only to decide whether further analysis was needed before later testimony and recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second most important thing was having their salaries reviewed or increases in their salaries.
• The second most important thing was having their salaries reviewed or increases in their salaries.
• It is the ratio between a salary and the midpoint of the salary range for that job.
• It does not provide full salary, but it's a partial salary.
• It changes the computation of the final average salary for benefits under the Highway Patrol Troopers

Committee: Joint Employee Benefits Programs Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• determines how to prioritize available resources, we believe the data and the 19-year gap in our salary
• So it would say shall not adjust the annual salary of registrars of voters based on population changes
• The more substantive change is that in the salary adjustment for the confidential assistants and the
• deputy registrar, it would clarify that the limitation on the salary adjustment that the bill is providing
• a year, over 50% of the current Louisiana salary.

Bills: HR118 , HR196 , HR237 , HR285 , HCR85 , HB442 , HB443 , SCR5 , SCR29 , SCR33 , SCR63 , SB25 , SB202 , SB319

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: water utility, tax credit, excessive rates, residential service, subcommittee, fallen trees, property damage, insurance, property values, hurricanes, storm damage, local government, homeowners, risk management, committee study, census, military population, Department of Defense, representation, federal funding

Bills: HR202 , HB2095 , SB2657 , SB2138 , SB3110 , SB3082 , SB3109 , HB1800

Keywords: Hawaii, Hawaiʻi, house resolution, congratulatory resolution, education, public schools, librarian of the year, middle school principal of the year, school counselor of the year, teacher of the year, library system, blind and print disabled, accessible learning, braille, audio technology, principal, school counselor, agriculture education, culinary arts, student recognition

Transcript Highlights:

• This is largely to compete with those local competitive salaries, to bring them up to an hourly salary
• Teacher salary allocation, it's a total $201 million increase.
• This is largely to compete with those local competitive salaries to bring them up to an hourly salary
• that is competitive. competitive salaries to bring them up to an hourly salary that is competitive and
• Teacher's salary allocation, it's a total $201 million increase.

Bills: S7010

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Keywords: Roth contributions, deferred compensation, retirement savings, Florida Statutes, tax benefits

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations met to take up SB 7010 by Senator Mayfield, which would authorize Roth post-tax contribution options in state and local deferred compensation plans. The bill was briefly explained, received one appearance in support, had no debate, and was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard a lengthy presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget on the governor’s recommended $117.4 billion “Floridians’ First Budget.” The presentation highlighted major spending areas including education, health care, public safety, transportation, environmental restoration, and economic development. Key proposals included increased FEFP funding for K-12 schools, teacher salary funding, higher education support, Everglades and water quality funding, emergency preparedness reserves, corrections staffing and pay increases, law enforcement recruitment bonuses, cybersecurity, and affordable housing and infrastructure investments. Members asked extensive questions about property tax reserve planning, litigation funding, emergency response fund balances and expenditures, the use of federal reimbursement for the Everglades detention facilities, the animal abuse hotline, Hope Florida, corrections staffing, and the proposed reduction in ADAP eligibility for HIV/AIDS medication assistance. A member of the public also testified at length about concerns that the ADAP changes would harm access to life-saving medications and alleged improper shifting of program funds. Committee members and the presenter acknowledged follow-up questions on several items, but no additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond the favorable report on SB 7010 and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• before you is a piece of legislation that will help out the state police and their funding of the troopers
• And this is the average of a five-year trooper. So this is not a brand new starting trooper.
• And this is the average of a five-year trooper. So this isn't a brand new starting trooper.
• Also, with their pay, we currently pay our troopers based on their POST certificates.
• You don't pay salaries out of rainy day funds.

Committee: House Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• increase the annual not to exceed amount for the adjunct general from 210,000 to 240,000 to reflect the salary
• Item 3 is to revise Rider 57 for new trooper funding to to add a provision directing DPS to provide capital
• So if you're a corporal, you're a little bit more than a, a normal trooper, and there's a sub stipend
• , it, it, it disincentivizes you from basically seeking additional training and becoming a better trooper
• To be able to receive both, so that we have the best trained troopers that we can.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're losing state troopers at an alarming rate.
• It's not because the troopers don't like being part of law enforcement in Idaho.
• Actually, there's one reason why most of our troopers are leaving.
• When you look at what troopers are paid in neighboring states, we can...
• troopers get in other states.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But we get the opportunity to work alongside also our state troopers who keep us safe.
• So if you could join me in giving a hand to our state troopers and to Brewster.
• Our budget pays our salaries and all that good stuff and is found in Title 67, Chapter 4.
• And our budget pays our salaries and all that good stuff is found in Title 67 Chapter 4.
• Yet here we're going to decrease the court and judicial salaries by the budget by $3.7 million.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And staffing, particularly with their mid-level experienced troopers.
• We need to stop the bleeding and help retain our quality troopers.
• And it's just a shame that we're losing our troopers for one reason.
• I've looked at the exit surveys when the troopers leave.
• This is primarily focused on our more experienced mid-level troopers.

Summary: The Senate convened with 31 members present, approved the March 31 journal, and moved through committee reports, gubernatorial messages, and House messages before taking up several bills on final reading. Among the measures considered were House Bill 930 on campaign finance, House Bill 949 on consolidating the STEM Action Center with the Workforce Development Council, House Bill 950 providing a one-time appropriation for a consultant to support Medicaid review work, House Bill 952 revising the Secretary of State’s budget, Senate Bill 1444 for public school support, House Bill 940 revising Idaho Digital Learning Academy policy, Senate Bill 1438 funding the IDLA budget, House Bill 516 on parental rights and education, and House Bill 897 on the Idaho information technology equipment sales tax exemption. The chamber also received and referred additional bills, including House Bill 968 and several appropriations and committee reports. House Bill 930 passed after debate centered on campaign finance transparency, separate campaign accounts, limits on investments, and requiring self-loans over $1,000 to be deposited into campaign accounts. Supporters said it would improve accountability; opponents questioned enforcement and warned against weaponizing campaign reporting. House Bill 949 passed with discussion of consolidating STEM and workforce functions, shifting funds and staff, and reducing administrative costs. House Bill 950 passed as a one-time $200,000 appropriation for a consultant to assist the legislature’s Medicaid review panel. House Bill 952 passed with a small reduction to the Secretary of State’s ongoing general fund budget. Senate Bill 1444 passed despite objections that the school budget underfunds district health insurance and shifts costs to local districts; supporters emphasized federal fund authority and other budget adjustments. House Bill 940 passed after extensive debate on narrowing IDLA’s mission, ending state support for certain uses, limiting elementary and online participation, and reducing enrollments and costs. Senate Bill 1438, the companion IDLA appropriation bill, also passed after debate over the size of the cut, the use of the Public Education Stabilization Fund, and whether the budget should include a cap on enrollments; supporters said it matched the policy changes in House Bill 940, while opponents argued it was too restrictive and could harm students’ access to courses. House Bill 516, dealing with parental rights and education and teacher-union-related payroll and activity restrictions, passed after a lengthy and sharply divided debate over whether it protected taxpayer dollars or unfairly targeted educators and unions. House Bill 897, as amended, was then taken up for final consideration on the Idaho information technology equipment sales tax exemption, with the sponsor explaining that the bill narrows the exemption to internal server equipment and limits it to 20 years in response to changing data-center trends and water-use concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• before you is a piece of legislation that will help out the state police and their funding of the troopers
• And this is the average of a five-year trooper. So this isn't a brand-new starting trooper.
• And this is the average of a five-year trooper. So this isn't a brand new starting trooper.
• Also, with their pay, we currently pay our troopers based on their post certificates.
• I spent about an hour with the colonel and a whole room full of troopers.

Summary: The House Revenue and Taxation Committee approved minutes from March 17, 18, 19, and 20, then took up House Bill 944, sponsored by Rep. Palmer, which would redirect $5 million from the liquor distribution formula to the Idaho State Police choice fund to help address trooper pay and recruitment problems. ISP Director Bill Gardner testified that the agency has severe staffing shortages, unfilled positions, and difficulty recruiting and retaining troopers, especially at the 5-, 10-, and 15-year marks, because its pay has fallen behind other law enforcement agencies. He explained that the bill would help but would not fully solve the problem; he said the original ongoing funding request was $12 million, and a fully sustainable long-term solution would be about $18 million. He also described a new merit-based pay structure and said he would suspend ISP’s lateral transfer program for three years if a solution is reached, to reduce concerns from sheriffs and city police about losing officers. Committee members raised concerns that the bill would shift financial pain to counties and cities, especially rural counties that already struggle to fund local law enforcement and related services. Some members argued the Legislature should use the rainy day fund or restore prior gas-tax support instead of reallocating existing revenue, while others said the bill was a necessary step to address a real law enforcement crisis even if it was not enough. Rep. Palmer said he did not want to use the rainy day fund for ongoing salaries and asked the committee to consider a smaller, more workable solution. After debate, Rep. Cheatham moved to send House Bill 944 to General Orders as a substitute motion, and the committee approved that motion on a 12-3 roll call vote, sending the bill to General Orders rather than advancing it directly to the floor. The committee then briefly recognized its page and secretary before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> upwards of 70% of them are for salary upwards of 70% of them are for salary and<00:19:14.000><c>
• <02:44:50.479><c> and</c> salary and salary and benefits<02:44:52.680><c> only</c><02:44:53.680><c> so
• </c><02:45:31.479><c> all</c> internal reallocation from Trooper all internal reallocation from Trooper
• </c> police we have our Troop G uh Troopers police we have our Troop G uh Troopers that<03:44:05.279>
• </c><04:35:58.959><c> for</c> salaries it pays for salaries for salaries it pays for salaries for support

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division 2 Finance Committee heard an overview and budget presentation from New Hampshire Fish and Game, led by new Executive Director Stephanie Simi and Business Division Chief Kathy Leonti. The agency described its mission to conserve and manage fish, wildlife, and marine resources, and emphasized growing pressures from disease, climate impacts, habitat change, and increased public demand. Simi said the department is largely funded by hunting and fishing license revenue and federal grants, is reviewing staffing and internal processes, and faces critical needs including permanent funding for environmental review staff, infrastructure and IT modernization, and possible service reductions if additional support is not found. Members asked about specific program and policy issues, including chronic wasting disease in deer, hemorrhagic disease in rabbits and hares, moose population decline, and a proposed bait-disease bill. The department said it is actively monitoring diseases and did not see a need for the bait bill at this time. Legislators also discussed the Hike Safe program, which the department said has grown from an expected $100,000 annually to more than $300,000, and a possible boating version of that program, which the department said remains under consideration but would involve complex logistics and multiple agencies. Questions were also raised about rescue costs, out-of-state hikers, and whether boat registrations could be used as a revenue source; Fish and Game said boat registration is handled by the Department of Safety, though the department receives $5 per registered boat for the public boat access program. The budget discussion focused on revenue projections, use of unrestricted Fish and Game funds, and dependence on federal reimbursements. Leonti said the department met the governor’s general fund target but not the Fish and Game fund target without using surplus unrestricted funds, leaving only about $100,000 in the fund by the end of the biennium. She said the budget uses more than $18 million in Fish and Game funds annually against about $14 million in unrestricted revenue, and that five of 193 full-time positions remain unfunded. The department warned that if federal grants were halted, it could cost about $5 million over five months and force the Fish and Game fund to cover the gap. Committee members also requested that future presentations be sent electronically in advance, and the department agreed to do so.

Transcript Highlights:

• State Patrol Honor Guard commanded by Corporal Alexis Robinson and comprised of Corporal Kyle Flag, Trooper
• Matthew Gagley, Trooper Aaron Densley, and Trooper Michael Sessions.
• Trooper Aaron Densley and Trooper Michael Sessions. Hodor! Hoh!
• I also want to acknowledge the recent tragic death of Trooper Tara Marissa Gooding, who was killed last
• ... ...tragic death of Trooper Tara Marissa Gooding, who was killed last month responding to a traffic

Summary: The House convened for the opening day of the 2026 regular session of the 69th Legislature, with 96 members present. The session included the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, a prayer, and a tribal welcome and blessing from Squaxin Island Tribe members, followed by the swearing-in of several representatives by retired Justice Mary Yu. The Speaker also recognized the deaths of Senator Bill Ramos, Speaker Emeritus Frank Chopp, and Trooper Tara Marissa Gooding with a moment of silence. In opening remarks, the Speaker emphasized the impacts of federal actions on Washington, including tariffs, H.R. 1, health care costs, Medicaid and food assistance losses, climate and clean energy funding threats, immigration and civil rights concerns, and the need to protect food, health, shelter, and affordability. Representative Stokesbary responded for House Republicans, focusing on Washington’s high cost of living, opposing an income tax, and urging action on affordability, housing, and crime. Both sides framed the session as a difficult but important period for budget and policy decisions. The House adopted House Resolution 4665 to notify the governor that it was organized and ready for business, and adopted House Concurrent Resolutions 4406 and 4407 to receive the governor’s address and establish the session’s cutoff dates. The chamber also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 8407, adopted permanent House rules, and approved several committee reassignments and appointments. A House delegation then reported back from a visit with Governor Ferguson, and the House adjourned until the next day, when it was scheduled to meet in pro forma session before the joint session for the governor’s State of the State address.

Transcript Highlights:

• And along with the 2% salary<00:07:25.599><c> increment</c><00:07:26.160><c> across</c><00:07:26.560>
• <c> the</c><00:07:26.800><c> executive</c> salary increment across the executive salary increment across
• </c> statutory CPI adjustments and salary statutory CPI adjustments and salary schedule<00:21:23.760>
• for troopers and commercial schedule for troopers and commercial vehicle<00:21:25.440><c> enforcement
• For elected and non-elected, a 2% increase in salary and another 2% increase in FY28.

Committee: House Appropriations & Revenue

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:40 HB 500 Discussion 00:01:50 HB 500 Vote 00:38:40 HB 504 Discussion 00:41:45 HB 504 Vote 00:47:00, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and sergeants of the State Police, as well as countless others, retired troopers.
• and sergeants of the State Police, as well as countless others, retired troopers.
• He has taught countless other troopers how to do investigations and how to do the job, and now he's unable
• This is my third time putting in a bill for an increase in my salary. Thank you.
• My name is Michael Palmer, and I was medically retired from my role as a Massachusetts State Trooper

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its third hearing of the 194th General Court session, taking testimony on several individual bills and home rule petitions, mostly involving retirement and pension-related relief. The committee chair outlined hearing procedures, including three-minute limits for individuals, ten-minute limits for panels, livestreaming, and the deadline for written testimony. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted that House matters heard that day must be reported by Friday, July 11, 2025, subject to extensions, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded. Several witnesses supported bills seeking retirement credit or pension adjustments for public employees. These included H. 2917 for Dedham-Westwood Water District employees seeking pension buy-in credit; H. 2976 for Eileen Mullen to purchase creditable service for teaching in a criminal justice pilot program; H. 2996 for Virginia Cummings, a retired Department of Correction lieutenant seeking greater pension parity; H. 2977 for Wendy Lopieri to buy back part-time community college service; and H. 2989 for Wayne Taylor, who said he was mistakenly credited for fewer years of select board service than he expected. Testimony emphasized long public service, injuries, and what witnesses described as unfair denials or flawed interpretations of retirement law. The committee also heard testimony on bills involving post-retirement earnings and disability-related relief. Kevin Blanchett testified in opposition to H. 2931, arguing it would improperly reduce money owed to a regional retirement system and its members, while the bill’s sponsor argued the retirement board was seeking an excessive recovery based on law firm gross earnings rather than the individual’s earnings. Jamie Magarian described severe injuries from a 2018 crash and urged favorable action on his bill, with support from the State Police Association. Michael Palmer testified in favor of S. 1841, seeking to extend prior violent-crime retirement income-cap relief to his case after being shot on duty and later finding that even part-time private-sector work exceeded his retirement earnings limit.