Transcript Highlights:

• The Higher Education Budget Conference Committee is called to order.
• We've received the Senate's counter-offer on budget and projects to what we offered yesterday.
• We have also received the Senate's counter to our implementing bill and conforming bill.
• For implementing bill, lines 1 through 4 and line 6 are in agreement and considered closed.
• This concludes the final higher education budget conference committee.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Higher Education Budget Conference Committee is called to order.
• We've received the Senate's counter-offer on budget and projects to what we offered yesterday.
• We have also received the Senate's counter to our implementing bill and conforming bill.
• For the implementing bill, lines 1 through 4 and line 6 are in agreement and considered closed.
• This concludes the final higher education budget conference committee.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Conference Committee met to review the House and Senate counter-offers on the higher education budget, related projects, the implementing bill, the conforming bill, and proviso language. Members noted that several items were now in agreement and marked closed, including implementing bill lines 1-4 and 6, conforming bill lines 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 13, and a number of proviso items that moved closer between the chambers. Remaining disagreements on the budget and bills were set aside to be bumped to leadership for resolution. Senator Harold thanked the committee and staff, expressing confidence that the remaining issues would be resolved soon and that the final budget would support a strong higher education system. The chair also thanked House and Senate staff for their work and said the committee had reached the end of this conference meeting. No public testimony or member questions were raised. The committee announced that future meeting notices would be posted, that the committee would be on one-hour notice, and Senator Calatayud moved that the committee rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• There will be people who say that this bill will blow up the budget.
• Last I checked, surpluses do not cause budget deficits.
• Senate Bill 2 also has some really strong elements for implementation and the practical needs of implementation
• in the 26-27 school year when this bill is implemented.
• That complexity could definitely hinder effective implementation.

Bills: SB 2

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• code sections open with a reversal peeler as we are trying to find the best way for the state to implement
• And so we're looking at how we can implement a framework to hopefully prevent as much of these events
• <00:01:25.880> regulatory state to uh implement regulatory state to uh implement regulatory
• implement implement a<00:03:43.880> framework<00:03:44.640> to a framework to a framework
• requests for the facilitate budget requests for the board's<00:13:51.200> operations.

Keywords: Accountability, Efficiency, Transparency - Room 210, 3 March, 2026; 2:30 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1596, which Senator Johnson explained as a companion to another crypto-kiosk bill. He said the measure was being used to open the code and remove new kiosk language temporarily while lawmakers work on a regulatory framework for crypto kiosks, which are being used in scams involving callers posing as law enforcement and directing victims to deposit cash into kiosks. Members discussed the lack of reporting and registration data, the estimated number of kiosks in the state, and whether regulation might require identification and registration of the devices. The committee adopted the motion for title sufficient, do pass as amended, and reported the bill out. The committee then considered House Bill 859, which would eliminate the in-person absentee voting envelope while keeping the 45-day in-person absentee voting period and existing excuse requirements. Senator England said voters would still complete an affidavit and cast the ballot directly into an OMR machine, and he noted that circuit clerks preferred this version. The committee asked a few clarifying questions and then passed the bill, reporting it out. Next was House Bill 925, the CLEAR Act, which Senator McMahan described as a revised PEER-related bill that had been worked on with the governor’s office after a prior veto. He outlined provisions creating a PEER review program for agency rules, Medicaid transportation evaluations, a State Board of Health Professions, changes to the corporation work initiative program, and PEER subpoena and enforcement language. An amendment was adopted to delete the subpoena-related sections that had raised constitutional concerns and to retain the reverse repealer. After questions about the advisory role of the new board, the committee passed the bill as amended. The committee also heard House Bill 1171, a strike-all that Senator Sparks said would mirror a Senate bill on grant transparency. The measure would require clearer grant objectives, objective eligibility criteria, disclosure of conflicts and board relationships, reporting by grantees and subgrantees, and signed documentation under penalty of perjury with CPA review. Members asked about enforcement, and Senator Sparks said improper reporting could lead to loss of funds, audits, and possible criminal consequences. The committee adopted the strike-all and reported the bill out. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 1393, which would create an energy development fund at the Mississippi Development Authority for long-term infrastructure planning tied to large industrial energy users. Members asked whether the fund would cover water resources as well as electricity; the sponsor said it was intended for energy infrastructure, not water, and was aimed at large industrial projects such as steel mills. The committee adopted the strike-all and moved to report the bill out.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:20.560> an future will not try to implement an future will not try to implement an
• implement the laws of the state. implement the laws of the state.
• 50 years before re-implementing slavery. 50 years before re-implementing slavery.
• It was in fact tax cap budget.
• , we do such a good job of budget, we do such a good job of implementing<02:29:22.320> an<02:29

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• options, and I stress the word options, to raise additional revenue and relieve pressure on local budgets
• We know our residents' budgets are also being stretched by the costs of housing, electricity, heat, and
• Municipal budgets are under enormous strain.
• Changes to state aid helped us meet rising costs that we have to contend with each budget year.
• Municipalities have few ways to address these budget constraints.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on several property and local tax bills. The main focus was H.56, the Municipal Empowerment Act, which the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, MAPC, and Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo supported as a package of local options and administrative reforms. Supporters said municipalities need more tools to relieve pressure on property taxes and fund services, citing proposed increases to local meals and lodging taxes, a new local vehicle excise surcharge, senior property tax relief, one-year override flexibility for emergencies, and central valuation of telecom and utility property by DOR. The administration said the bill was based on municipal listening sessions and was intended to give cities and towns optional, not mandatory, revenue tools. Opponents, including the National Federation of Independent Businesses, argued the tax increases would hurt restaurants, hotels, tourism, and small businesses and add to affordability concerns. The committee also heard testimony on H.3211, dealing with deeds excise receipts, from Norfolk County Commissioner Richard Staidi. He said Norfolk County is financially stable but needs additional revenue for major capital needs at its agricultural school, especially a new cafeteria and other aging facilities, and also to support county programs such as veteran transportation services. On S.2020, a bill to allow settlements of tax liability, Greater Boston Legal Services, the Asian American Civic Association, and several individual taxpayers urged creation of a more workable offer-in-compromise process at DOR. They said the current system is too subjective, requires an unaffordable $5,000 threshold, lacks clear standards and appeal rights, and leaves low-income taxpayers stuck with unmanageable debt, license suspensions, or business closures. Supporters said the bill would give both taxpayers and DOR a practical way to resolve liabilities and bring people back into compliance. The committee also took testimony on S.1966, which would require nonprofits selling property to disclose any back-tax obligations to buyers. Senator Peter Durant said the bill was prompted by a personal experience in which a tax bill arrived after a nonprofit property purchase was already completed, and he argued the disclosure would prevent buyers from being surprised by retroactive tax liability. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed the session after hearing from all scheduled witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just a little refresher: the roadmap bill, that was an implementation bill.
• agencies, would have a budget within which to work.
• And with that budget, they would make some decisions.
• to make the choices within that budget.
• While budgets operate on annual cycles...

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing covered several environment and natural resources bills focused on natural and working lands, forest protection, municipal reforestation, trail accessibility, and a park naming bill. Representative Moschino and Senator Comerford described the natural and working lands bill as part of the state’s climate roadmap, arguing that protecting these lands supports carbon sequestration, resilience, biodiversity, and helps prevent development pressure on the least expensive land. Senator Comerford also testified on a separate bill to expand access to trails for people of all abilities, saying it would build on the administration’s Trails for All initiative and create a permanent advisory structure and trust fund. Representative Consolvo and family members testified in support of H. 4259 to name the tennis courts at Wether Park in Roslindale after Kim O’Connell, describing her long community service and activism. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 952 and H. 953, bills to protect watershed and state forest lands as parks or reserves. Supporters, including environmental advocates, scientists, and organizations such as Standing Trees, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and the Massachusetts Forest Alliance’s opponents, debated whether state forests and watershed lands should be permanently reserved from logging and other active management. Supporters said the bills would improve carbon storage, water quality, biodiversity, flood and drought resilience, and would protect large acreages of public land at no cost. Opponents, including the Massachusetts Forest Alliance, argued that sustainable forest management and a mix of reserves and managed forests are needed for climate, water quality, wildfire prevention, rural jobs, and carbon outcomes, and urged the committee to allow the administration’s existing reserve process to continue. The committee also heard extensive testimony on the municipal reforestation bill, H. 1013/S. 553, which would create a statewide program, advisory council, and trust fund to support urban tree planting and maintenance. Municipal officials and advocates from Wellesley, Cambridge, Boston, the Mystic River watershed, and other communities said urban trees are critical for cooling, stormwater control, air quality, public health, and equity, especially in environmental justice neighborhoods with low canopy cover and high heat. Several witnesses emphasized that consistent funding is needed because trees take years to mature and many municipalities lack staff or watering capacity. Some witnesses asked that the bill be funded at $100 million and tied to the Mass Ready Act or environmental bond funding. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• after Proposition 2 1/2 became law, and our system of funding education largely through municipal budgets
• by the first year, 60% the following year, 40% then 20%, and then it would shift to the municipal budget
• And because it seems to me that it would then be up to the district to actually implement this...
• And obviously, this is a big part of the foundation budget, right?
• And obviously, this is a big part of the foundation budget, right?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a public hearing on a large slate of bills, with most testimony focused on two main topics: improving access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) for students with disabilities, and raising educator pay statewide. On the AAC bills (House 514/Senate 418), parents, advocates, and attorneys described how AAC devices and communication books help nonverbal or minimally verbal children communicate, participate in class, and reduce frustration and behavioral issues. Testimony emphasized that while districts are generally required to provide devices, many teachers and school staff lack training to use them effectively; the bill would direct DESE to update licensure and training requirements so newly licensed teachers are prepared to support AAC users. Committee members asked about current teacher-prep practices, implementation, and whether DESE could act without legislation, and witnesses said the proposal was intended as a long-term solution and had previously received some support and compromise language. The committee also heard extensive testimony on House 733/Senate 370, which would set a statewide minimum salary of $70,000 for teachers and $55,000 for education support professionals (ESPs/paras), with inflation adjustments and a phase-in structure that would shift costs over time from the state to municipalities. Supporters, including the bill sponsor, MTA leaders, and school employees from several districts, argued that current pay is not a living wage, contributes to staffing shortages and turnover, and forces many educators to work multiple jobs or rely on public assistance. They said the bill would help recruit and retain staff and better reflect the importance of the work. Committee members raised questions about how the state would fund the mandate, how it would interact with Chapter 70 school aid and local budgets, whether other states have similar mechanisms, and whether the proposal could create disincentives for districts already paying above the floor. Witnesses pointed to the Student Opportunity Act, the Fair Share Amendment, and the need for a broader school funding formula review as possible parts of the solution. The committee also briefly heard and discussed Senate Bill 435/House Bill 736, which would require de-escalation training for school bus operators, with the training paid for by employers. The sponsor and a parent advocate said the bill was prompted by a school bus incident involving a child with cerebral palsy and epilepsy and would improve safety and reduce reliance on law enforcement. Members asked whether the bill should also cover bus monitors and other transportation staff, and whether private contractors and public operators currently provide similar training. At the end of the hearing, the chairs closed testimony on the full list of bills and adjourned the hearing without taking any votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• and look forward to seeing implemented and look forward to seeing America<02:04:05.559> enter
• <02:21:19.720> proposal in Medicaid cuts the budget proposal in Medicaid cuts the budget proposal
• budget budget okay<02:44:12.479> now<02:44:12.640> we<02:44:12.800> need<02:44:
• He also asked us to find a way to balance the budget.
• the overwhelming majority of that budget the overwhelming majority of that budget<03:30:13.760> has

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, March 6, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• handle the human services budget handle the human services budget conversation<00:18:07.320>
• and if so, which budget bills?
• The budget, my understanding of the budget process, supplemental budget process, right?
• budget bills, and if so, which<00:31:02.960> budget<00:31:03.280> bills?
• > budget process supplemental budget budget process supplemental budget process,<00:31:39.760> right

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In your budget. I mean, this isn't an RSA item.
• For me, if it's within the... ...budget, then I would urge us to try to use the budget for the Department
• And this may be... ...under the higher ed budget.
• And this may be. under the higher ed budget.
• I know that there's two budgets. There's this budget here, and then there is the local.

Summary: The committee first filed a report on the executive protection detail and then reviewed a long list of House and Senate bills that were ready for action, with members instructed to hold any items they wanted removed. The committee then took up several agency requests to amend bills: the Auditor of State’s request for a $370 increase for special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts’ requests for additional funding for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and requests tied to local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, emergency medical and law enforcement support, and Northwest Arkansas Community College tornado-related repairs. All of those amendments were adopted, and one amendment on House Bill 1034 was held over at Senator Johnson’s request. A major portion of the meeting focused on an amendment for the Department of Corrections to fund a pilot program using mobile technology to identify and disable illegal inmate cell phones at Varner and Cummins prisons. The bill sponsors and Corrections officials described the problem as a serious public safety issue, saying inmates use contraband phones for criminal activity, trafficking, scams, and outside coordination. Members asked about FCC rules, procurement, whether the system would jam or only identify phones, whether it would affect staff or nearby users, how quickly it would work, whether it would be a one-time or ongoing cost, and whether the department had existing budget authority. Officials said the proposal would require an RFP, that current funding was not available in the department’s budget, and that the technology would be a two-year pilot. The committee ultimately adopted the amendment and then gave the underlying bill a do-pass recommendation. The committee also considered an amendment for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, which sought a $4 million increase in appropriation authority. Senators discussed the division’s role in county extension offices, 4-H, research, and salary competitiveness, while others questioned why the division needed more appropriation room when it already had about $10 million in headroom and had requested a different funding level through higher education. Division representatives said the increase would help with salaries and provide flexibility for future funding, and Higher Education staff clarified the original request and recommendation amounts. After extensive discussion, the committee adopted the amendment and gave it a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a homestead property tax credit increase, insurance department conference travel, property appraisal analysis support, career and technical education professional development, regulatory and casino gaming appropriations, a new program integrity line for the Department of Inspector General, consolidation of licensing board appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee Readiness Center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation package for prison expansion that included special language limiting use of the funds. Members asked several questions about the prison reappropriation, including whether it still related to the earlier Calico Rock project and whether special language should be considered separately; the committee moved the governor’s letters forward for drafting and further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're on the mandatory side of the federal budget. So what does that mean?
• And then public assistance programs, I was very involved in 1996 in the state of Utah with implementing
• So that's what we're trying to say we need to implement here.
• We are working with the Federal Office of Management and Budget, OMB, who have invited us to work with
• Because the cost allocation approval for Arkansas, that's done by the Office of Management and Budget

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The meeting focused on the state’s “one door/no wrong door” workforce and social services modernization effort, with consultants Mason Bishop and Cameron Christie presenting recommendations. They argued that Arkansas should shift from fragmented programs and multiple access points to a more integrated system that promotes upward mobility, longer labor force attachment, better employer access to talent, greater efficiency, and faster adaptation to changes such as AI and economic shocks. They described the current system as overly siloed, with separate offices, portals, and funding streams that force job seekers and employers to navigate multiple doors and bureaucratic handoffs. The consultants emphasized that Arkansas should treat workforce and safety-net programs more like a coordinated franchise model, with a single point of access, one team, and integrated governance, service delivery, and financial administration. They discussed federal workforce waivers already submitted, a possible cost-allocation plan with the federal Office of Management and Budget, and a potential benefits-cliff pilot. They also said Arkansas Launch is a useful tool but not a full service-delivery system. Members asked how the proposal would affect DHS offices, local workforce boards, TANF, and disability-related services, and the consultants said TANF should be viewed as a workforce program and that Arkansas could consider co-locating or integrating staff, or even merging agencies as Utah did. Committee members repeatedly cited Utah as a model, noting its high workforce participation and lower reliance on Medicaid and SNAP, and asked whether Arkansas could use TANF and other programs to cross-train DHS workers and make county offices more work-focused. The consultants explained Utah’s 1990s reforms, later audits showing improved customer service, and the role of cost allocation in blending funds behind the scenes. They also addressed federal flexibility and said current waiver efforts are a fallback after a broader federal pilot proposal did not advance. The meeting ended with a request to continue examining case management, specifically whether Arkansas should case-manage people rather than programs, and the chair adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I just want to say thank you to the Chair of Budget.
• But my priority today is to make sure through the budget process the special session budget process that
• We cannot wait until May or June or July, and if it's July budget, the regular budget, it's going to
• I want to thank our budget chair, the budget staff, and everybody else that has been contributing to
• , take effect immediately, budget bill.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A little bit more on the budget in a moment.
• The framework of a budget is... There is a budget deal in place.
• The framework of a budget is in place for a $60.75 billion budget as introduced.
• As the Governor's budget was introduced, that will be the final budget number on the spend.
• Many bills come to the Budget Committee.

Keywords: 1146, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll call the Budget Section Leadership Division meeting to order and ask the clerk to take the roll.
• We've got big operators here with the ops budgets to be able to sustain activity through lower prices
• Joe Morrison from the Office of Management and Budget. And I have a brief update.
• Committee members, Joe Morissette from the Office of Management and Budget.
• I would think that would be part of what we present to you in the budget.

Summary: The Budget Section Leadership Division met with a quorum present and approved the March 18 minutes. The committee first heard an update from the Petroleum Council on oil and gas activity, which described North Dakota production as holding steady around 1.1 to 1.2 million barrels per day despite lower prices and market volatility. The presentation emphasized that efficiency gains, longer laterals, and improved completion technology are allowing operators to sustain output while activity shifts north in the Bakken. Members asked about gas taxation, natural gas liquids, flaring, and enhanced oil recovery; the witness said gas is taxed by volume, most liquids are handled through oil lines or gas processing, and the state’s EOR pilot projects and new gas infrastructure are intended to help hold production flat and expand future recovery. The committee then received a presentation from the Tax Department on the federal “big beautiful bill” and its effect on North Dakota income tax collections. The department explained that most of the federal changes were extensions of existing Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions, but several items — including the larger standard deduction, senior deduction, tip and overtime exclusions, auto loan interest deduction, and business expensing changes — affect state collections. Revised estimates showed a smaller-than-expected impact on individual income tax, with the department suggesting a net cash effect in the range of roughly $30 million to $35 million when business and individual effects are combined, plus a possible one-time distortion from large oil-field transactions in fiscal year 2025. Members asked which provisions apply to standard versus itemized returns, and the department clarified that most of the individual provisions apply broadly, while the SALT-related item is itemizer-specific. OMB then reported on major capital projects and facility funding. Updates included Capitol grounds improvements such as 18th-floor renovations, wayfinding, augmented reality displays for the Rough Rider Hall of Fame, tree management and lighting studies, and restroom and parking reconfiguration in the tower. OMB also described security upgrades at the governor’s residence, where human remains were discovered on site and are being handled with historical and legal review. The state hospital project in Jamestown remains on schedule for substantial completion in winter 2027 and opening in spring 2028, with costs currently estimated a little over $292 million and a line of credit expected to be drawn in April 2027. The North Central State Office Building in Minot is under construction, with a $5.6 million line of credit already accessed. OMB also reported on the State Facility Maintenance Fund, noting about $1.1 million spent so far on projects such as the Liberty Memorial Building roof and foundation work, Capitol window replacement, boiler replacement, and kitchen remodeling. Finally, Legislative Council staff reviewed the interim compliance report on legislative intent and state trust funds. The report highlighted the status of multiple lines of credit, including those for the state hospital and Minot office building, and noted that the executive budget will likely need to include repayment planning for about $350 million of expected outstanding balances. Other updates included the Bank of North Dakota profit transfer schedule, litigation pool spending, the new Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, the Missouri River Correctional Center planning effort, HHS items such as FMAP and child care assistance, Job Service’s unemployment insurance modernization project, and DPI school aid turnback estimates. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• responsible for according to our budget responsible for according to our budget targets<00:10:02.640
• -12 budget, is the formula now?
• As part of the budget building budget.
• <01:22:55.840> next would be um possible to implement next would be um possible to implement
• do it to implement it um in 2026. do it to implement it um in 2026.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Republican budget and the economic policies of President Trump are a disaster for our country.
• The budget resolution passed by the Senate this weekend lays out a plan that would send trillions more
• Herman Center for the Federal Budget in Washington, D.C. Mr. Breshears. Mr.
• and the budget blueprint for fiscal year 2022.
• Herman Center for the Federal Budget.

Keywords: joint hearing, small business, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, economic recovery, tax relief, job creation

Summary: In this joint hearing of the House Committee on Small Business and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, the primary focus was on the importance of making the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) permanent. The chair emphasized that small businesses are crucial for the nation's economic recovery, especially in the wake of current federal policies perceived as detrimental. Witnesses shared their experiences and highlighted how the tax cuts facilitated job creation and business expansion, stressing the need for continued support through ongoing tax relief measures. The meeting included discussions about the economic implications of the TCJA's potential expiration, with members voicing their concerns regarding how this could impact small businesses and the broader economy.

Transcript Highlights:

• But, like you said, the department underwent a process called service-based budgeting.
• The first is prioritization, so we look across each of those areas, and part of service-based budgeting
• And then I will just say, you know, there are a variety of tools that we can use to address our budget
• the regulatory. about not just the, let's call operational implementation of whatever the regulatory
• We are confident that the Legislature is engaged in this from both a policy and a budget perspective,

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no money for the public schools, private schools, or anyone for implementing this.
• The budget for this, the amount of money for this budget is $345 million, of which 75% is federal funding
• The budget is about state and national security.
• The amount of money for this budget is $345 million, of which 75% is federal funding.
• The budget is about state and national security.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the pledge, and a quorum call, then took up House amendments to Senate Bills 2009, 2147, and 2113. On motion, the Senate refused to concur in the House amendments and appointed conference committees for each bill. The chamber then considered several House bills, adopting amendments and passing House Bill 1556, which creates a Children's Cabinet work group to study out-of-home placement and treatment for children with behavioral health issues, and House Bill 1363, which directs development of a customizable cardiac emergency response plan template for schools and athletic events. House Bill 1533, requiring students to complete a half-unit of financial literacy for graduation, also passed after amendment. House Bill 1226, dealing with masks in public places and protest-related identification concerns, passed after the Judiciary Committee removed language about complying with law enforcement requests to unmask.

Transcript Highlights:

• Its implementation has provided a good resource.
• We have an 11 billion budget. I get what you're saying.
• about our entire state budget.
• The table to the right is our district budget. It's a breakdown of our district budget.
• And their maintenance budget is 50 million That's what our district budget is 45.8 million.