Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, I'd like to nominate Senator Jim Gray as the vice chair of the Finance Committee.
• <00:21:45.360> for name the Director of Finance for name the Director of Finance for do<00
• We have, in finance, experienced quite a bit of turbulence.
• I also want to thank the finance staff and particularly our CFO, Jim Duris.
• Congratulations to you and your finance officer, and I know Ms.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on January 30, 2025, and first organized itself by electing Senator Jim Gray as vice chair, electing Representative F as clerk, appointing Michael Caine as legislative budget assistant, and adopting the committee’s rules and procedures. The committee also adopted an amendment to the rules allowing audits to be automatically released to the public once placed on the Fiscal Committee agenda, with members discussing that the change would improve transparency and reduce paper handling. The minutes from the November 15, 2024 meeting were approved, with members who were absent abstaining. The committee then worked through a consent calendar and several individual items. It removed or noted withdrawals on a few items, including item 25004 for further discussion, item 25016 withdrawn by the Department of Education, item 257 removed by Representative F, and item 25001 removed under Tab 4. Item 25004, concerning the newborn screening program, prompted testimony from the Department of Health and Human Services explaining that the program is mandatory with an opt-out provision; officials said 99.2% of newborns were screened in 2023, meaning the opt-out rate was under 1%. The committee also approved item 25007, related to DHHS community health workers and telework policy, after hearing that the workers are not placed in schools and that DHHS follows statewide telework policy. On the regular calendar, the committee approved a Department of Administrative Services request to extend the release date for fiscal year 2024 numbers to March 31, and approved a Department of Fish and Game item. It also approved winter maintenance funding for the Department of Transportation after hearing that the $5.7 million request might not last through the winter if additional storms occur; DOT said even a small storm can cost more than $1 million and that crews are dispatched based on road conditions and supervisory judgment. The committee then approved items for the Judicial Council and the Office of Legislative Budget Assistant. The final discussion focused on the Health and Human Services dashboard and the Youth Development Center claims. DHHS acknowledged a data error in the APS client line and said Community Mental Health Center caseload data is still not fully accurate because two centers are undergoing EHR conversions. Members also asked about the low census at the Sununu Youth Development Center and about the process for managing future claims related to the YDC settlement fund. Witnesses from the Attorney General’s office said the fund is handled through a unique arrangement involving DOJ appropriations and judicial branch staff, that current judicial budget cuts are not yet affecting the litigation pace, and that the average resolution so far has been about $500,000, though future claims may vary. No votes were taken on the discussion items beyond the approvals noted above.

Transcript Highlights:

• I primarily work on property taxes, public finance, uh, tax and current financing, and mining and minerals
• there are tax increment financing there are tax increment financing provisions<00:19:24.400>
• That is the aids article. to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
• Within this increment financing article.
• Our Senate Article Seven, the public finance in its entirety.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the February 27th, 2025, Minnesota House State Government Finance and Policy Committee.
• own bill, I'm going to do it for him, and we will be making a motion to refer that to the Judiciary Finance
• <00:02:04.520> and<00:02:04.920> policy to the Judiciary finance and policy to the
• Great, thanks, Chair Nash, members of the State Government Finance and Policy Committee.
• members of the state government finance members of the state government finance and<00:05:16.479

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:

• The recommendations include a decrease of $143 million in other funds from Texas Public Finance Authority
• When was your hearing in front of Senate Finance? It was a week ago Wednesday. Okay.
• So going into Senate finance, we had been.
• And on that Tuesday, TWC reported to the finance committee.
• This bill expanded the use of the fund to finance driver's education. funding for these youth.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But this bill is the work of your Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration.
• But this bill is the work of your Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration.
• But this bill is the work of your Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration.
• Senator Rafa should be finance analyst.
• select committee on school finance select committee on school finance reccalibration<00:12:18.880

Bills: HB0159

Keywords: student rights, free expression, K-12 education, speech protection, religious views, political speech, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome, everybody, to the Higher Ed Finance and Policy Committee.
• And the title is Higher Education Finance Overview. So we will begin.
• subdivision 24 of a previous finance subdivision 24 of a previous finance bill<00:10:13.480>
• 2024 Omnibus higher education finance 2024 Omnibus higher education finance bill<00:24:43.640>
• It kind of lists the order in which the finance article is structured.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Higher Ed Finance and Policy Committee met to begin a budget overview for higher education. The chair noted quorum, committee member introductions, and that Democratic members were absent. The chair also said the Office of Higher Education would not be appearing for the planned budget deep dive, so nonpartisan fiscal staff would present instead. Ken Savory, the committee’s nonpartisan fiscal analyst, introduced a presentation on the higher education finance structure and timeline. Savory explained the state budget cycle, the difference between direct appropriations, statutory appropriations, open appropriations, base funding, tails, and one-time appropriations, and how those concepts apply to higher education. He described the committee’s usual budget areas: the Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State, the University of Minnesota, and the Mayo Foundation. He also reviewed historical spending charts showing higher education’s share of the general fund over time, the 2/3-1/3 funding policy in statute, and how tuition and general fund support have shifted. He noted that the FY 26-27 base for the Office of Higher Education area is about $725 million, including roughly $450 million for the State Grant program and about $99 million for North Star Promise. Members asked about comparing the current budget to earlier biennia, and staff responded that they would need to calculate the percentage difference. The chair then summarized prior budget growth, saying the previous budget was about $650 million over base and the current budget/tail was about $450 million over base. Staff also reviewed the 2024 omnibus higher education bill, including a roughly $5 million reduction to North Star Promise that was redirected to the Fostering Independence Grant program and a $500,000 appropriation for Minnesota State’s Kids on Campus program. The committee did not take any formal votes or actions during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, I'm going to contextualize federal impacts within state public finance, so the state operating
• Second, I'm going to contextualize federal impacts within state public finance, so the state operating
• So now let's kind of contextualize that within public finances, which is not the only way by any means
• So now let's kind of contextualize that within public finances, which is not the only way by any means
• The point is that we are inextricably linked in our public finances to the federal government, and so

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The inaugural hearing of the newly named House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability focused on how federal policy changes could affect Massachusetts, especially in education, health care, research, infrastructure, climate, and business conditions. Chair LaNatra said the committee was created to monitor federal funding decisions and their impacts on state programs and services. Members introduced themselves, then heard testimony from Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Sarah Mills of Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and Quentin Palfrey, the governor’s Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure. Howgate argued that the Trump administration and new Congress pose ideological, practical, and process-related risks to Massachusetts, citing proposed cuts to Medicaid, education, research, and other domestic programs. He said federal dollars make up about a quarter of the state operating budget and capital plan, warned against using one-time reserves to backfill ongoing federal cuts, and urged the state to prioritize core services while protecting areas where Massachusetts is especially strong, such as higher education and research. In response to committee questions, he said the House Medicaid proposal would still cost Massachusetts hundreds of millions and that international student and NIH-related changes could harm the state’s labor force and innovation economy. He also advised that the state communicate clearly without overreacting to daily federal developments. Mills testified that AIM members are most concerned about uncertainty, tariffs, Medicaid cuts, and NIH reductions. She said tariffs are raising costs, disrupting supply chains, and hurting small and medium-sized businesses, housing construction, and exporters, with AIM’s business confidence index falling to its lowest level since the pandemic. She said Medicaid cuts would raise employer health costs, reduce productivity, and strain the health care system, while NIH cuts would threaten Massachusetts’ life sciences and academic research ecosystem. In questions, she said AIM has increased federal outreach, is coordinating with the U.S. Chamber and the Massachusetts delegation, and is hearing concerns from employers about immigration compliance and workforce disruptions. Palfrey described the Healey-Driscoll administration’s efforts to maximize federal funding, including a biweekly interagency council, a municipal partnership effort, and a statewide roadshow. He said Massachusetts has secured nearly $9 billion from major federal laws for projects such as the Cape Cod bridges, Allston Multimodal, grid modernization, clean-energy school buses, and broadband. He also said the administration launched a public website to track federal impacts and is working with municipalities, nonprofits, and the Attorney General on grant changes, legal issues, and litigation. In response to questions, he warned that cuts to NOAA, NSF, Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs could affect services and the state budget, and said the administration is tracking changes to federal grant applications and conditions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Because this is certainly going to be a conversation we're going to have to have in finance next
• in finance next week. in finance next week. Any<00:03:28.000> questions? All right.
• I have had a conversation with the chair of finance who has reviewed the bill and agrees with me that
• <00:04:05.000> the<00:04:05.560> chair<00:04:06.040> of<00:04:06.640> finance
• conversation with the chair of finance conversation with the chair of finance who<00:04:07.800><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, the fund is most effective when it uses gap financing that helps attract additional private
• One of the clearest lessons from the Development Fund finance is that the presence of meaningful private
• Historically, the fund has always been intended to leverage outside financing.
• And typically, we try to follow the lead lender's financing terms.
• North Dakota Housing Finance Agency, and the Department of Commerce.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section’s Commerce and Legal Services Division met to review the Department of Commerce base budget for the 2027-29 biennium and to receive an update on Commerce programs. Legislative Council staff first walked the committee through the “blue sheet” base budget summary, explaining the major line items, the large share of federal grant authority in Commerce’s budget, and the continuing appropriations that support several Commerce funds. Members asked how grant funding is coordinated across agencies, and staff said collaboration varies by program but is strong in areas like UAS and LIHEAP. Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken then presented on current activities, focusing heavily on grant administration, transparency, and economic development programs. Members questioned how grant applicants are selected, whether Commerce tracks applications and return on investment, and how long grant awards take to reach recipients. The commissioner said Commerce uses scoring criteria, outside reviewers, a minimum 30-day application window, and typically completes awards within two to three months. A lengthy exchange followed over whether Commerce should open some grants only to intended recipients versus running competitive application processes; Commerce said it follows best-practice grantmaking and that its attorney in the Attorney General’s office approved that approach. Commerce also highlighted the North Dakota Development Fund, citing long-term investment and job creation results, examples such as Red Trail Energy, Packet Digital, Valiance, Corvent Medical, child care loans, and the Automate ND program. Members asked about acceptable failures, lessons learned, regional economic development coordination, and the expansion of the fund into non-primary sectors. Workforce Director Katie Ralston Howell then outlined a statewide workforce ecosystem review, a new governor’s workforce sub-cabinet, and three task forces focused on simplifying entry, warm handoffs, and data integration. She discussed the in-demand occupations list, Workforce Pell, apprenticeships, and efforts to better connect students with employers and higher education. Commerce also briefly reviewed housing programs and a new housing sub-cabinet. No votes were taken; the committee simply received testimony, asked questions, and adjourned after setting up the next meeting to hear the Attorney General budget in June.

Transcript Highlights:

• renew Representative Hudson's motion to re-refer HF 3542 to the Committee on Children, Families, Finance
• renew Representative Hudson's motion to re-refer HF 3542 to the Committee on Children, Families, Finance
• renew Representative Hudson's motion to re-refer HF 3542 to the Committee on Children, Families, Finance
• renew Representative Hudson's motion to re-refer HF 3542 to the Committee on Children, Families, Finance
• Um all those in Finance, and Policy.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 3542 was heard in committee and moved forward with a recommendation to be re-referred to the Children, Families, Finance, and Policy Committee. The bill would change current law so that the commissioners of Human Services and Children, Youth, and Families must disclose the existence of an investigation, rather than may disclose it, with the stated goal of increasing transparency to the public and legislature. Members and agency officials discussed concerns that mandatory disclosure could tip off subjects of investigations, especially in fraud cases, allowing them to destroy evidence, coordinate stories, or otherwise interfere. The Department of Human Services and the Inspector General said disclosure can compromise investigations and noted that providers are typically notified when payments are reduced, suspended, or withheld, though federal law can sometimes require delayed notice. Representative Pinto offered an A2 amendment to require disclosure within 30 days unless it would compromise an investigation, but it was rejected. Representative Hudson then offered an oral amendment stating that disclosure would be required if the commissioner has taken action to reduce, suspend, or withhold payments to the subject of the investigation. The chair waived the rule to allow the oral amendment, and it was adopted. Staff clarified that the bill would only require disclosure of the existence of an investigation, not underlying details, and would not address trade secret redactions. After the amendment, the committee approved the motion to re-refer the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we need more capital to do things, then the finance committee and others ought to give us all more
• So if the Board of Finance sees that there is definitely a need.
• There's a separate GROW fund that is funded out of finance committee members.
• to people that are on finance that we don't get.
• I personally would hope that the finance and get every legislator a million dollars of growth funding

Bills: SB194, SB200, SB203, SB204, SJR3

Keywords: appropriation, higher education, sports facilities, community college, Luna Community College, KANW, educational radio, rural news, public education, funding, education, documentary, historical figure, Padre Antonio Jose Martinez, cultural heritage, research funding, federal funding, New Mexico, University of New Mexico, New Mexico State University

Transcript Highlights:

• Carly Malone, with the Legislative Finance Committee.
• I work at the Legislative Finance Committee.
• And for whatever reason, the company doesn't get financed.
• And for whatever reason, the company doesn't get financed.
• And for whatever reason, the company doesn't get financed.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• More broadly, for grant programs and financing programs that maybe are not explicitly tied to these target
• down to that micro level and how to best utilize our resources, whether they're incentives, grants, finance
• But a lot of our work, a lot of the grant programs, finance programs, incentive programs that we provide
• they can start manufacturing, and if a company has a little bit of help from incentives or some financing
• I've spent last week alone, personally, myself, 20 hours doing finance training on projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we do have anti-fraud language in the state government finance bill.
• And, um, I believe there's some language in the state government finance bill relating to anti-fraud
• <00:20:18.480> So,<00:20:19.120> uh<00:20:19.280> the government finance bill
• So, uh the government finance bill.
• <00:20:37.440> bill the state government finance bill the state government finance bill relating

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and they'll let the veteran, um, finance that fee, too, which is just encourageable to me.
• <00:04:15.280> that<00:04:15.519> fee, let the veteran um, finance that fee, let the
• veteran um, finance that fee, too,<00:04:16.079> which<00:04:16.239> is<00:04:16.400><
• Ours has already been through finance and well received.
• . uh and uh already been through finance. uh and uh wellreceived.<00:13:02.720> Um<00:13:03.040

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The City Committee on Finance will come to order. Will the clerk please call the roll? Huffman.
• I also want to say I appreciate the Lieutenant Governor and our Senate Finance Chair Huffman for coming
• Chair, members of the Senate Finance Committee.
• Chairwoman Huffman, Vice Chair Hinojosa, and members of the Senate Finance Committee, I'm here today
• Finance stands in recess, subject to the call of the chair.

Bills: SB22, SB 22

Keywords: Texas, moving image industry, incentive program, film production, grant funding, job creation, economic development, youth camp, summer camp, camp safety, emergency operations plan, emergency preparedness, evacuation drill, camp staff training, volunteer training, camper safety, lost camper, natural disaster, fire safety, mass casualty

Transcript Highlights:

• I will need to even check in to finance myself.
• not traditionally financed or market rate developments.
• So there's just really not a financing source.
• But where it hadn't taken me until recently is to finance.
• Finance and watching HHS committee hearings.

Bills: SB502, SB513, SB622, SB670, SB731, SB732, SB916, SB961, SB1122

Keywords: SB 502, Texas peace officers, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC Office of Inspector General, OIG investigators, law enforcement classification, Schedule C, state employee benefits, injury benefits, peace officer status, commissioned officers, state auditor classification, Government Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, human services, health and human services, law enforcement compensation, public employee benefits, Texas state law enforcement, child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• I move for Senator Champion that Senate File 993 be withdrawn from the Committee on Education Finance
• Senator Champion moves that Senate File 9993 be withdrawn from the Committee on Education Finance and
• committee file 993 be withdrawn from the committee on<00:08:34.760> education<00:08:35.320> finance
• and<00:08:35.919> be<00:08:36.159> referred<00:08:36.800> to on education finance
• and be referred to on education finance and be referred to the<00:08:37.080> committee<00:08:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , referred to the Committee on Finance, referred to the Committee on Finance, which<00:18:50.640>
• Recognize the senator from Chittenden North for the report of the Committee on Finance. disrupted by
• So, on a vote of 6-0-1, the Senate Finance Committee recommends support of H. 952.
• <02:12:14.106> [clears throat and snorts] Finance [clears throat and snorts] Finance [clears throat
• Senate Finance started 10 minutes ago.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up is the DFA, Department of Finance and Administration. of these bills.
• of Finance and Administration. of Finance and Administration.
• Senate Bill 3078, appropriation, Banking and Consumer Finance Department.
• department of Senate Bill 3079 finance department of Senate Bill 3079 appropriation<01:15:11.560>
• banking and consumer finance banking and consumer finance uh uh uh this<01:16:51.920> act

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 19 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, received an invocation from Reverend Kenny McGill, and approved dispensing with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. The chamber then spent a substantial amount of time introducing guests in the galleries, including local officials, electric cooperative and farm bureau representatives, a doctor of the day, and student groups, with repeated recognition of workers involved in storm recovery and other public service efforts. Senators also offered brief remarks of support for Senator Warren Barnett’s recovery. The main business was the appropriations calendar. Senator Hopkins gave an overview of the budget process and projected FY 2027 general fund figures, noting that the Senate was still early in the process, had only considered Senate-originated bills, and was awaiting House bills such as education and Medicaid. He highlighted major budget pressures and items including university professor pay raises, agricultural unit increases, education enhancement funds, CAPEX projects, TRICARE funding, and a veterans home appropriation. He also noted that some bills were final passage while others contained reverse repealers and would go to conference. The Senate then considered several appropriations bills. Senate Bill 3051, the Department of Finance and Administration budget and related agencies, was explained by Senator DeBar; it included reductions tied to vacancy projections, contractual and nonrecurring funding changes, and reappropriations for America 250, the Capital City Water Project, coronavirus fiscal recovery expenses, and Bureau of Buildings invoices. It was adopted and passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 3052, the Governor’s Office and Mansion budget, was presented as final action without a reverse repealer, with funding reduced from last year due to the loss of federal GEAR and EANS funds; it also passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 3053, IHL general support, included a $2,000 professor raise and a $20 million CAPEX item, with a total budget of about $1.673 billion; it passed. Senate Bill 3054, IHL subsidiary programs, was explained as having no dollars over LBR and a total of $87.8 million, with a reverse repealer; after a brief question about the university professor raises, it too was adopted and passed.