Transcript Highlights:

• The Grow earns revenues.
• So, there is a A five-year average of severance tax revenue is calculated.
• We had a revenue boom from oil and gas, as well as from a lot of our other revenues.
• A lot more of our revenues are subject to these downturns, a lot more of the revenues that we're going
• We have very volatile revenue here.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So for the first time under H.R. 1, prior to the enactment of H.R. 1, the National Revenue States and
• in on the 15th, and so for that month it wasn't, and then that obviously throws off the entire calculation
• So it's as simple as if someone hits a five instead of a four, that throws off the entire calculation
• what H.R. 1 specifically requires—like I said, it's going to count against us in our error rate calculation—especially

Transcript Highlights:

• So the revenue from these funds funds the exchange operations, the technology platform, the consumer
• So<00:07:17.440><c> the</c><00:07:17.680><c> revenue</c><00:07:18.000><c> from</c><00:07:18.160><c> these
• funds ex uh So the revenue from these funds ex uh funds<00:07:20.319><c> e</c><00:07:20.560><c> the<
• </c><01:37:31.280><c> of</c> million if you do a quick calculation of million if you do a quick calculation
• </c> calculate that. calculate that.

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board met for its third meeting and approved the July 30 minutes. The chair outlined a full agenda covering the state-based marketplace versus the federally facilitated marketplace, connectors and navigators, presumptive eligibility, eligibility/enrollment/redetermination, and a rural health transformation update. Commissioner Lisa Lee and Assistant Director David Barry presented first on Kentucky’s state-based exchange, Connect, explaining that it is an integrated eligibility and enrollment system for Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, TANF, child care, and qualified health plans. They reviewed Kentucky’s move from a state-based exchange to healthcare.gov in 2017 and back to a state-based marketplace in 2021, and said the system helps route applicants to the correct program and allows families to move more easily between Medicaid and exchange coverage as circumstances change. The presenters said the exchange is funded by carrier assessments on qualified health plans rather than general fund dollars, with costs allocated across programs based on use. They said Kentucky’s exchange fees are lower than the federal platform’s and that the state-based system provides local assistance through DCBS offices, connectors, and licensed agents in every county. Members asked about startup and operating costs, fee-setting, and whether any general fund dollars are used; the department said it would follow up with the CFO on fee details and said it was not aware of general fund support for exchange operations. Members also raised concerns about Medicaid eligibility verification and improper enrollment, while the department emphasized that the state system uses different questions than healthcare.gov and is designed to identify the correct coverage based on monthly Medicaid income and annual tax-credit income. The board also discussed enrollment trends, including a COVID-era spike during the public health emergency when disenrollments were largely paused, and current qualified health plan enrollment of more than 97,000 people on Connect. Commissioner Lee explained presumptive eligibility as temporary Medicaid coverage, noting it applies to pregnant women and hospital-based cases, with hospitals able to grant it and certain providers able to grant it to pregnant women. She said full eligibility is still determined within 30 days and that presumptive eligibility ends when full Medicaid eligibility is determined or at the end of the following month. The meeting then shifted to connectors, with representatives from Community Action Kentucky and the Kentucky Primary Care Association describing their statewide outreach network, local offices, and role helping residents apply for Medicaid, renew coverage, report changes, and navigate benefits; they said connectors do not determine eligibility but assist with applications, recertifications, and outreach events across the Commonwealth.

Transcript Highlights:

• less and less, and at some point our actuary, PWC, would have to realize that the savings they calculated
• I think one of the challenges for me on the way that things are calculated currently by the retirement
• I think one of the challenges for me on the way that things are calculated currently by the retirement
• But some of the calculations that your organization goes through is not just based on that process, but
• you're asking a question in a context where we're faced with a $2.5 billion shortfall in the general revenue

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• The models require the filing of a group capital calculation by the ultimate controlling person in the
• the substantive change to the rule made by this amendment is the addition of the group capital calculation
• would then get sedation, but that's, you know, I guess that's the only way you would be able to calculate
• Is there a different way to calculate that fiscal impact? I don't know.
• talked about earlier, every business only has so much margin and therefore reduced income, reduced revenue

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council reviewed several agency rules and requests. It approved without objection an Insurance Department amendment implementing Act 261’s holding company system requirements, two State Board of Election Commissioners rules on poll watchers/provisional voting and certified election monitors, and a Treasurer of State rule removing DEI-related membership requirements to comply with Act 938. The committee also held over for a month a Department of Education request related to excluding a rule from reporting requirements so it could be discussed further with the Department of Commerce. A major portion of the meeting focused on the Department of Human Services’ request to be excluded from rulemaking for Acts 567, 568, 967, and 1025. DHS said federal CMS guidance created comparability and other issues for the Medicaid-related dental and diagnostic lab provisions, making it difficult to implement the acts as written by their effective dates. DHS outlined possible paths, including broader adult dental coverage, waivers, or splitting the dental rate increase from the special-needs cap increase. The Arkansas State Dental Association disputed DHS’s approach, arguing Act 1025 is workable, that the pediatric rate increase should move forward separately, and that DHS should continue pursuing the law rather than stop rulemaking. Committee members questioned both sides extensively about CMS correspondence, waiver timelines, fiscal impact, and whether the acts could be severed. After testimony from DHS, the Dental Association, and a public commenter, the committee adopted a motion not to exclude DHS from reporting requirements for Acts 567, 568, 967, and 1025, meaning DHS must continue the normal rulemaking/reporting process. The committee then accepted the Division of Higher Education’s report, which recommended repealing three of its 32 rules and keeping the remaining 29 in effect. It also received routine written updates on older and newer rulemaking items and filed the monthly updates without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• recovery fund proposal, both business and labor representatives agree on the need to jealously guard revenue
• , but don’t look for new work, like people that choose to retire, they are not captured in that calculation
• In that calculation, the changes in workforce participation change the math and may make that rate a
• And so I wanted to know, has the department's methodology changed at all about how you calculate that
• They run a calculation that's set in statute, and that comes up with those months of benefits.

Summary: The committee heard a report on the Underground Economy Task Force in Washington’s construction industry. Labor and Industries said the task force, created by a 2024 budget proviso, met 11 times and developed consensus recommendations to improve enforcement against worker misclassification, unregistered contractors, and unpaid taxes and premiums. Consensus items included defining and regulating construction labor providers, improving interagency data sharing, increasing penalties for repeat offenders, expanding L&I authority over successor accountability, reviewing agency penalty rules, and exploring tracking of cash payments. Majority-but-not-consensus ideas included posting subcontractor notices at job sites, setting an independent-contractor threshold that would trigger L&I review, holding direct contractors liable for unpaid wages owed by subcontractors, and reviewing reporting requirements. Testifiers from labor, business, and the Attorney General’s Office generally supported stronger enforcement and transparency, while business representatives cautioned against overregulation and said any new rules should avoid burdening legitimate contractors or restricting lawful cash payments and independent contracting. L&I said the final report would be distributed by December 31 and the task force work group would be reconvened. The committee then reviewed the wage recovery work group report. L&I explained current wage complaint procedures and said the work group, made up of labor and business representatives, reached five consensus recommendations: allow L&I to prioritize wage complaints strategically, permit aggregation of related complaints, raise the minimum penalty under the Wage Payment Act from $1,000 to $1,500 and create a penalty matrix, improve employer awareness with materials for new hires, and establish a wage recovery fund. The fund would be seeded by penalties, would not require new employer assessments, and would allow limited early payments to eligible workers facing hardship, with a proposed cap of $2,500 and a later review of the program. Business and labor representatives both supported the overall framework, though business raised concerns about fraud safeguards and recovery of funds if a claim is later found invalid. Members also received an overview of Washington’s apprenticeship system. L&I described the state’s apprenticeship agency structure, the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council, and the difference between Washington’s state apprenticeship standards and the federal Office of Apprenticeship system. The presentation highlighted current participation levels, program approval and objection processes, and strong post-completion outcomes, including median annual earnings above $100,000 and an estimated $7.80 return for every public dollar invested. Committee members asked about how apprentices apply, how sponsors work with L&I, and whether recurring objections could be addressed earlier in the process. Finally, the committee heard updates on wildland firefighter respiratory protection, federal cuts to NIOSH, and economic and federal policy impacts on unemployment insurance and workforce services. L&I said wildland firefighters face significant smoke exposure and cancer risk, but current rules do not require respiratory protection for that work because of technical and operational challenges; the agency is watching efforts in other jurisdictions and at the federal level. On NIOSH, L&I warned that federal staffing and grant cuts could weaken occupational safety research, training pipelines, and programs affecting Washington workers, including firefighter cancer tracking and Hanford exposure assessments. ESD reported rising UI claims, a stable unemployment rate, and pressure on the trust fund, while also describing technology and process changes that have improved claims handling. ESD also said HR1 will significantly increase demand on WorkSource services through new work-search requirements for SNAP and Medicaid recipients, creating an unfunded mandate that the agency is preparing to implement with partner agencies.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, Delta made an estimated $2.85 billion in revenue in flights departing MSP.
• they'd get by flying kids down revenue they'd get by flying kids down to<01:00:02.640><c> detention<
• When that happens, those jobs and that tax revenue and those visitors don't stay in Minnesota.
• So those calculations for a contribution towards health and welfare benefits currently ranges between
• So those calculations calculations calculations for<01:22:25.360><c> a</c><01:22:25.760><c> contribution

Committee: Senate Labor

Transcript Highlights:

• That legislation was put in place with the idea that efficiency in spending statewide tax revenue was
• The Supreme Court said, well, you do that calculation.
• So is there a formula that is calculated out that, let's say that you have this, what everyone calls
• Is that something that is calculable? Madam Chair, Senator Luick, not by me.
• I'm sure NDSU, the economics professors, could kind of calculate some of that.

Committee: Joint Agriculture and Water Management Committee

Summary: The committee met in Fargo and approved the minutes from the March 31 meeting before hearing a series of informational presentations focused on North Dakota agriculture, water, and research. NDSU President David Cook opened with remarks about NDSU’s land-grant mission, emphasizing statewide service through research, teaching, and extension, and highlighting examples such as the Lilac Agriculture startup and the university’s role in applying research to real-world problems. He said he intends to spend time listening across the state to better understand local needs. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study projected significant potential for expanded irrigation acreage, especially in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau, and estimated major economic gains from irrigation, including higher farm returns and support for value-added agriculture. Members discussed water permits, surface water versus aquifers, infrastructure, drought resilience, and the role of legal drains in improving productivity and generating economic activity. The presenters also noted that the full report is available online. Dr. Greg Lardy followed with NDSU’s required interim report, outlining the university’s agricultural research and extension system, including the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, seven research-extension centers, and the economic importance of agriculture to the state. He highlighted recent research impacts such as new crop varieties, potato breeding successes, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, weather-network tools, and 4-H programming. He also described NDSU’s budget priorities: restoring the governor’s proposed 10% cuts, additional operating support, and deferred maintenance funding. Committee members asked about the new agricultural field lab, storage sheds, and NDSU’s partnership with Grand Farm. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor presenting water-related research, including data center cooling, water reuse, smart irrigation, and a feasibility study on co-locating data centers with greenhouse and aquaculture production. Members asked about water use, ownership, and whether the concepts were operational or still speculative. Finally, North Dakota AgTech presented its NSF-funded innovation engine work, describing startup commercialization, on-farm trials, workforce development, and partnerships with NDSU, UND, tribal colleges, and other land-grant institutions. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the prior meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then, even then, if TDT revenues in any one year exceed the prior year's revenues, then the amount
• And then the other would be any TDT revenues that exceed the prior year's revenues.
• for out of TDT revenues, you still get that, you still get the use of the TDT revenues to pay off the
• going to be just revenues.
• to general revenue.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, a moment of silence for fallen Oviedo Officer Jimmy Serrano-Torres, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Chief Joseph Tuminelli as law enforcement officer of the day. The Rules and Ethics Committee report setting the special order calendar was adopted, and the Speaker announced schedule changes for the following week, including canceling the floor session on Monday and starting Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The main floor action centered on CS/HB 7033, the House tax package. Sponsor Rep. Duggan described broad tax changes, including reducing the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%, exempting certain bullion sales, repealing the aviation fuel tax, delaying the natural gas fuel tax, changing corporate income tax treatment for charitable trusts, reducing the pari-mutuel tax on card rooms, and major changes to tourist development tax (TDT) use. The bill would redirect most TDT revenue toward property tax relief, dissolve tourist development councils, and include related property tax and local tax administration changes. Several amendments were debated: a Driscoll amendment to preserve local TDT flexibility failed; Duggan’s amendment giving local governments 25% discretion over TDT revenues was adopted; Eskamani’s combined-reporting amendment failed; and a Duggan amendment requiring audit certification of compliance with the TDT/property tax relief provisions was adopted. After debate, CS/HB 7033 passed 78-29. The House then took up CS/CS/HB 1221 on local option taxes, which was presented as a companion-style measure to give local governments more flexibility while redirecting TDT revenues toward property tax relief. Supporters argued the bill would provide immediate relief to property owners and restore accountability in local tax use, while opponents warned it would undermine tourism funding, infrastructure, and local services. An amendment allowing local governments to retain 25% of TDT revenues for general purposes was adopted, and the bill passed 62-45 after floor debate. The final item shown was the reading of CS/CS/HJR 1257, a proposed constitutional amendment related to property tax exemptions and assessment limits, but the transcript cuts off before debate or action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• This generates approximately 3.8 billion dollars to the state each year. 50,000 of that revenue goes
• to the state highway fund, 25% of that revenue goes to public education, and the remaining 25% goes to
• It just doesn't make sense for the county to raise revenue with a property tax only to pay a sales tax
• The calculations used for both the companies as well as the Comptroller's office and the audit.
• Today, Texas does not receive the lion's share of MROs. sales tax revenue.

Bills: SB214 , SB935 , SB1030 , SB1901 , SB2018 , SB2020 , SB2066 , SB2206

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:46:28.280><c> of</c> isn't isn't the the calculation of isn't isn't the the calculation of affordability
• I understand there's a pushback against companies that do revenue management.
• If I use my calculator to calculate the numbers, that's using software.
• </c><04:04:40.720><c> to</c> software if I use my calculator to software if I use my calculator to calculate
• </c><05:09:11.040><c> to</c> pencil out it takes lot of Revenue to pencil out it takes lot of Revenue

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• How was this exact number calculated?
• or coming from general revenue.
• General revenue is estimated to be reduced by $89 million in fiscal year 2006-2007.
• Recurring general revenue is expected to be reduced by $16 million.
• card room revenues from 8% to 5%.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved to the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27. Budget chairs presented the major spending areas, describing a $114.5 billion overall budget that they said was fiscally responsible and below the prior year’s spending. Highlights included pay increases and retirement adjustments for public safety employees, education funding for K-12, higher education, health and human services, criminal justice, transportation, environmental programs, and agriculture/regulatory agencies. Members then questioned chairs on several items. In education, senators discussed K-12 declining enrollment funding, teacher salary set-asides, private school scholarship spending, mental health funding, preeminence funding for universities, the Hamilton Center at UF, and charter school PICO funding. In health and human services, questions focused on the iBudget waiver waitlist, provider rates, ADAP/HIV funding and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, KidCare, rural health funding, SNAP-related IT and error reduction efforts, and the IDD managed care program. In criminal justice, senators asked about correctional officer pay, prison staffing and infrastructure, air conditioning in prisons, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement recruitment, and court system funding. Environmental and transportation questions covered Florida Forever, water quality, state parks, water projects, housing, elections funding, and emergency management. Several specific actions and explanations were given during debate: the budget includes $8.8 million for state attorney competitive area differentials but no funding for public defender CAD requests; assistant state attorneys will start at $70,000 and assistant public defenders at $65,000; the battery disposal issue was described as a temporary study/preemption approach; and the Senate said the budget does not fund Medicaid expansion, preeminence funding, or the SunBucks Summer EBT state share. Senators also noted that some proposals discussed in committee did not make it into the final budget. The transcript ends with debate statements from members praising the budget process and Chair Hooper, while also expressing concerns about public schools, health care access, affordability, and the lack of funding for certain priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last line: calculating the allowable density on a given lot. Senator. Senator Alvarado.
• Secondly, the per capita revenue for these suburban cities is much lower than, for example, in Seattle
• And so it brings up the question of where do those cities get their tax revenue from?
• But let's take that out of our calculation.

Bills: SB5223 , SB6071 , SB5966 , SB6061 , SB5520 , SB6016 , SB5890 , SB5973 , SB5053 , SB5249 , SB5536 , SB5879 , SB5899 , SB6190 , SB6086 , SB5574 , SB5873 , SB5924 , SB6134 , SB6263 , SB6282 , SB6302 , SB5950 , SB6074 , SB6096 , SB5970 , SB5609 , SB5827 , SB5862 , SB5880 , SB5901 , SB5943 , SB5971 , SB5975 , SB5981 , SB5988 , SB6097 , SJM8016 , SB5496 , SB5907 , SB6031 , SB6155 , SB6158 , SB6227 , SB5947 , SB6085 , SB6234 , SB6274 , SB6194 , SB5909 , SB5868 , SB6026 , SB6044 , SB6239 , SB5923 , SB6045 , SB6106 , SB6089 , SB6170 , SB5954 , SB5968 , SB5489 , SB5762 , SB5832 , SB5847 , SB5963 , SB5969 , SB6027 , SB6032 , SB6049 , SB6066 , SB6079 , SB6082 , SB6113 , SB6114 , SB6160 , SB6162 , SB6164 , SB6176 , SB6289 , SB6309 , SB6319 , SB6347 , SB6308 , SB6200 , SB6080 , SB5911 , SJM8014 , SB6177 , SB6052 , SB6182 , SB5828 , SB6335 , SB6017 , SB6346 , SB6262 , SB5470 , SB5990 , SB6244 , SB5961

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, overpayment recovery, modernization, health care, legislation, healthcare, nutrition, medically tailored meals, dietary support, food security, chronic illness, tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• complexity of construction costs, as well as local, um, the ability of local school districts to generate revenue
• And, you know, I, off of the chart here, did some very quick calculations.
• I actually had the same calculations. So, so he just, uh, and, and, and that's my concern.
• that they have had, um, particularly the Mexico School for the Blind has had dwindling, um, lease revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• My sole goal is to protect the welfare of our children, and I've had revenue meet with these parties
• Revenue keeps that registry and there are a lot of bad products that are on there, and there are some
• So, my calculations, the first chance would be to not commit a crime. That's your first chance.
• So, we're kind of stuck with the number of cases that I've been able to calculate, and y'all tell me

Bills: SB210 , SB292 , HB360 , HB233 , HB66 , HB356 , HB164 , HB238 , HB209 , SB223 , HB307 , SB210 , SB292 , HB360 , HB233 , HB66 , HB356 , HB164 , HB238 , HB209 , SB223 , HB307

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm curious about the updated revenue forecast from Monday.
• We did also see caseload increases in a number of programs, so the full amount of the increased revenue
• And the revenue forecast is good news for us.
• The revenue forecast is good news for our short-term problem.
• There are people who just have made the calculation that they don't want to give a third of their estate

Summary: Senate and House Democratic leaders said they were pleased with progress before cutoff, highlighting work on immigration/federal-overreach protections and affordability measures. They cited bills such as restrictions on ICE activity in private spaces, employer notice requirements for ICE worksite actions, housing expansion in commercial and mixed-use zones, limits on medical debt interest, senior property tax relief, grocery-store covenant restrictions, preventive health care access, energy relief for low-income households, and the proposed millionaire’s tax, which they said would support tax credits and long-term fiscal sustainability. They also noted strong bipartisan movement on many bills and said they were now focused on processing House bills in the Senate and vice versa. Several stalled or controversial measures were discussed. Leaders said the JR bill did not advance in the House because it lacked votes, though support had grown and stakeholder engagement continued. Child welfare and controlled-substance/endangerment bills were described as still under discussion, with lawmakers saying there were differing views on the best way to protect children and that some proposals were paused for further work. The Senate-side transmission and cultural resources package also ran into procedural and timing problems, with one bill ultimately not moving after a request for a full reading delayed the plan. The governor’s comments on the millionaire’s tax and the updated revenue forecast were a major topic. Democrats said they welcomed the governor’s tax ideas, were aiming to balance meaningful tax relief with a sustainable budget, and saw the forecast as providing some breathing room and more reserve capacity, though much of the new revenue would be absorbed by caseload growth and maintenance costs. They also discussed a proposed employer assessment tied to Medicaid-funded health coverage, saying it was intended to address federal cuts and shifting costs, while acknowledging concerns from employers and nonprofits. Other items included the tort-liability/survivor claims bill, which leaders said would preserve jury trials and damages while creating a claims process, the 0.05 BAC impaired-driving bill, and a pension-related proposal to terminate and restate LEOFF Plan 1, with some related transfer ideas still unresolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's now the second largest revenue source, and it's not a reliable revenue source, and there's...
• It's now the second largest revenue source, and it's not a reliable revenue source, and there's certainly
• These represent our revenues.
• In September, the state begins in earnest with our revenue estimates, as Kirk... with our revenue estimates
• So we're not only seeing a flattening of revenue, we anticipated revenue decline.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've enhanced activities that generate more revenue for the Medicaid program, like collecting certain
• that position the agency to negotiate better pharmaceutical rebates, which in turn generates more revenue
• And then the calculation was literally the amount of money that the state was paying in benefits for
• Well, it was part of this ASR calculation, and the affiliate issue, because if you're a capped insurer
• Well, it was part of this ASR calculation, and the affiliate issue, because if you're a capped insurer

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:17:48.880><c> for</c> got a negative number in revenue for got a negative number in revenue for
• ,</c> going to be bringing in revenue, going to be bringing in revenue, what<00:19:00.400><c> this</c
• My problem is on the revenue part. Okay.
• My problem is on the revenue part. Okay.
• Now it's revenues above plan for certain revenues by month, but in one case it's by year and in one case

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So the committee substitute, the House Taxation and Revenue Committee substitute, The House Taxation
• and Revenue Committee substitute to House Bill 248 is this year's general obligations bond bill.
• And that is, how does this work if there are industrial revenue bonds? Mr.
• I would think it would, but that would be up to the interpretation of the Tax and Revenue Department,
• So I'd really have to defer to the Tax and Revenue Department's interpretation for that.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 248, the general obligation bond bill, which would authorize about $392.5 million in bond capacity for senior centers, libraries, and higher education, special schools, and tribal school projects. The sponsor highlighted major projects including a new UNM School of Medicine, a multidisciplinary building at NMSU, renovations at New Mexico Tech, a technical innovation center at CNM, an agricultural science and arts building at ENMU, and library renovations at New Mexico Highlands. Public testimony was supportive, especially from the New Mexico Library Association, and members discussed how the bond process works, including application timing, readiness to spend funds, voter approval, and how unspent bond proceeds revert. The committee voted do pass on HB 248 without opposition. The committee then considered House Bill 309, which would clarify property tax valuation rules for electric energy storage facilities by extending the existing special valuation method for electric generation, transmission, and distribution to battery storage and similar technologies. Supporters from PNM, InterWest Energy Alliance, and Inventergy said the bill would provide consistency and clarity as storage becomes more important to grid reliability and clean energy development. Members raised questions about depreciation, the 12-year schedule, the 20% floor on valuation, possible effects on local government revenues, whether the bill would apply to utilities and co-ops, industrial revenue bonds, and whether it covered microgrids or only battery systems. The committee approved HB 309 on an 8-3 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 48, which would authorize $92 million in bonds for the State Fairgrounds District to support redevelopment of the southwest corner of the fairgrounds, including land acquisition, green space, water and sewer infrastructure, and traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements near San Pedro and Central. Support came from neighborhood groups, housing advocates, the city of Albuquerque, the chamber of commerce, and others who described the project as a long-term investment in safety, infrastructure, and economic revitalization for the surrounding area. Members questioned the bond repayment structure, the 25-year term, the use of district gross receipts and gaming tax revenues, parking impacts, and future bonding needs. The committee voted do pass on SB 48 by a 10-2 margin.