Transcript Highlights:

• There's been some very wise budgeting; this allows us to...
• It's $100,000 to implement interstate health compacts. Mr.
• My budget director, Brian, informed me, Mr.
• Speaker, kind gentlemen, the funds that those universities budgeted, that we budgeted this year with
• And so absolutely, as we go in budget year by budget year, we can innovate and make.

Transcript Highlights:

• budget at the current time.
• budget at the current time.
• what you tell us to implement.
• <01:24:42.880> that little bit in the revised budget that little bit in the revised budget
• budget budget um<01:24:55.360> that<01:24:55.520> at<01:24:55.600> the<01:24:55.679

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And this appropriation is not included in the executive budget.
• Members, this appropriation was not included in the executive budget.
• You will see... ...the executive budget. There's no other fiscal impacts.
• So those funds do not go through the PUCN's budget account.
• advocate budget account.

Bills: AB568, SB90, SB133, SB147, SB229, SB233, SB240, SB245, SB280, SB378, SB393, SB417, SB434, SB494, SB495

Keywords: higher education, Nevada System of Higher Education, operational expenses, instructional expenses, public funding, education funding, teacher grants, classroom supplies, instructional support, specialized personnel, civics education, Nevada Center for Civic Engagement, funding, youth programs, civic involvement, Southern Nevada, Clark County, Las Vegas Valley, regional planning, economic resiliency

Transcript Highlights:

• for and pay a hiring or retention bonus to an employee if such expenditure is approved in their budget
• Property appraisers, in addition to tax collectors, to budget for and pay a hiring or retention bonus
• to an employee if such expenditure is approved in their budget by the Department of Revenue.
• Rather, it is allowing property appraisers in Florida the flexibility within their respective budgets
• Senators, this is the implementing bill to the constitutional amendment that we just discussed.

Summary: The Finance and Tax Committee met and first heard SB 674, which would allow county property appraisers, like tax collectors already can, to budget for and pay hiring or retention bonuses if approved in their Department of Revenue budget. Support came from property appraiser representatives, who said the bill would help them compete for specialized staff without requiring new funding. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered SJR 318, a proposed constitutional amendment on tangible personal property used on agricultural land, along with an amendment clarifying the exemption’s scope and allowing the Legislature to set conditions by general law. Farm Bureau and the Florida Chamber supported the measure, and the committee adopted the amendment and reported the joint resolution favorably. Members also took up CS for SB 1664, which would require voter reapproval of local discretionary taxes when they expire; an amendment changed the bill to require expiration dates and tied reapproval to tax expiration rather than a fixed eight-year cycle. Local government and tourism groups raised concerns about impacts on tourist development taxes, transportation surtaxes, beaches funding, and long-term financing, while supporters argued voters should periodically affirm local taxes. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. Next, the committee considered SJR 1510 and its implementing bill SB 1512, both dealing with a homestead-style property tax benefit for certain long-term leased residential properties. After multiple amendments narrowed the proposal substantially, limiting it to one qualifying property and then to single-family homes, mobile homes, and condominium units, counties and cities still opposed the measures as a tax shift to other taxpayers. The sponsor said the changes reduced the scope and fiscal impact, and both measures were reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard SPB 7034, the Senate tax package, which includes permanent sales tax exemptions, multiple tax holidays, motor vehicle fee reductions, a property tax study, rural investment tax credits, a freeze on local communications services tax rates, and other tax changes, with an estimated $2.1 billion revenue reduction. Testimony was mixed: property appraisers supported the property tax study, while many public commenters opposed the firearm and ammunition tax holiday and urged inclusion of gun safes and locks instead. County, city, tourism, and lodging representatives raised concerns about tourist development tax limits and other local revenue impacts, while supporters emphasized tax relief and the study’s value. After debate, the committee adopted a motion to submit SPB 7034 as a committee bill and reported it favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:52:18.000> retail and procedures to implement retail and procedures to implement retail
• Implement um based on conversations with Implement um based on conversations with the<01:23:43.960>
• > implementing the implementing the implementing agencies<01:23:46.639> so<01:23:46.800>
• <01:24:59.679> an to to implement an to to implement an additional<01:25:02.239> um
• idea of adding a pin for implementation idea of adding a pin for implementation of<01:52:13.079>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1077, a governor’s administration bill to increase transient accommodations tax revenue and split it between two new special funds: a climate mitigation and resiliency special fund and an economic development and revitalization special fund for tourism/resort areas. Supporters, including the Governor’s Office, recovery and resilience staff, climate and conservation groups, and several state agencies, said the bill would create a dedicated, more reliable funding stream for wildfire mitigation, coastal resilience, land clearing, infrastructure, and community-led projects. Some supporters also urged changes to the bill, including moving the fund to DLNR, adding DHHL and OHA representation, clarifying community grants, and ensuring the fund can support both state-led and community-led resilience work. The Attorney General’s office flagged a drafting issue, noting that the bill references fees deposited into the new fund even though the new chapter does not authorize fee collection, and recommended deleting that language or adding fee authority. The Climate Advisory Team representative also suggested adding DHHL to the decision-making body and requiring at-large members to have climate, resilience, conservation, or infrastructure expertise. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Kohala Coast Resort Association opposed the measure, arguing that the special fund structure does not meet statutory criteria, that the bill functions as a tax increase, and that the transient accommodations tax is not being collected equitably across all lodging types before any increase is imposed. Other opponents, including tourism and lodging interests, warned that hotels and timeshares already bear most of the tax burden and that raising the TAT could hurt an already struggling visitor industry and drive tourists away. Supporters countered that current funding is far short of what is needed and that a dedicated revenue stream is necessary to address climate impacts now. Committee members questioned why the Legislature should cede spending decisions to a separate executive-branch process, and the administration responded that the bill is intended to create a transparent, recurring mechanism for funding priorities that can be adjusted over time. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• These documents show the conference committee's starting point for the budget, proviso, back of the bill
• , implementing bill, and conforming bills.
• Yes, the Senate is pleased to make the House an offer on the budget.
• The Senate is pleased to make the House an offer on the budget, proviso, back of the bill, implementing
• Members, the highlighted numbers on the right side of the budget spreadsheet indicate where the Senate

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference Committee convened and was formally organized by adopting motions naming Representative Snyder as chair and Senator Brodeur as vice chair. Members were told that an original side-by-side packet had been provided showing the starting positions for the budget, proviso, back of the bill, implementing bill, and conforming bills. Senator Brodeur then presented the Senate’s offer to the House on the budget, proviso, back of the bill, implementing bill, projects, and the Senate conforming bill, SB 2506E, which relates to fuel taxes. He noted that highlighted figures in the budget spreadsheet showed where the Senate had moved. The House said it would review the offer and return with a response, and both sides expressed a willingness to continue working through the budget issues. There was no public comment. Members were advised to watch for notice of the next meeting, likely the following day, with one-hour notice. Senator Truenow moved to adjourn, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:56.319> and got systems that are implemented and got systems that are implemented and
• > out<00:43:02.560> it's implemented, we're finding out it's implemented, we're finding
• And I time it gets fully implemented.
• , computer system once it's implemented, computer system once it's implemented, will<01:00:48.319
• implementation and we're not there yet. implementation and we're not there yet. you<01:16:15.679

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 24 February, 2026; 1:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: Legislative leaders opened the hearing by focusing on statewide technology issues affecting agencies, including rising IT costs, cloud migration, cybersecurity risks, procurement delays, and the need for better coordination across government systems. They said the meeting was intended to hear from agency directors about current challenges and possible legislative solutions. The ITS director described the state’s IT structure as decentralized but increasingly moving toward shared services. He highlighted recent legislative and executive actions on cloud computing, artificial intelligence, procurement modernization, and data sharing, including House Bill 1491, Senate Bill 2426, Senate Bill 2267, House Bill 958, and an executive order on AI. He said ITS has worked with large agencies on a cloud center of excellence, a procurement modernization advisory council, and a state data exchange, and noted plans for a master contract, potentially with OpenAI, that could be available to all public entities. He also emphasized cybersecurity, saying the state is seeking a secure operations center and a broader “cyber maturity” approach after recent incidents. On procurement, he said the goal is to speed up purchasing while keeping it safe, and on optimization he pointed to potential savings from consolidating duplicate agreements, such as multiple Microsoft enterprise contracts. In response to questions, he said exceptions to centralization would be based on business and technical architecture and regulatory requirements such as HIPAA, CISA, or FERPA, rather than ad hoc decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• impact the budget? impact the budget?
• Um so implementing everything to us.
• groundwork for full implementation groundwork for full implementation projects.<01:21:55.040>
• So, this initial implementation funding.
• The implementation path uh in that path.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met to adopt the minutes of the second meeting by voice vote, then heard an update focused on disaster preparedness, resiliency, response, and coordination among state agencies and partners. The chair emphasized avoiding duplication of resources and highlighted the importance of agriculture-related response issues, including animal evacuation, feed distribution, and the role of extension services during disasters. The Department for Public Health was invited to explain its role in emergency planning and response. Public Health described its Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch as the lead coordinating agency for Emergency Support Function 8, covering health and medical services under Kentucky’s emergency operations framework. Testimony outlined its broad responsibilities, including support for hospitals, morgues, local health departments, behavioral health, crisis counseling, suspicious package testing, disease outbreaks, and coordination with emergency management, EMS, transportation, and nonprofit and private partners. Officials also described the agency’s risk-assessment process, training and exercise programs, and deployed assets such as PPE caches, deployable communications, a federal medical station, a mobile treatment center, and alternate care support used in events like the eastern Kentucky floods and COVID-19. The agency also discussed funding through federal cooperative agreements for public health emergency preparedness and hospital preparedness, noting that these programs have evolved since 9/11 and have been shaped by major disasters and emerging threats. Officials said Kentucky’s funding has declined over time and that current awards are partially funded for the first time in the program’s history. They expressed support for efficiency if federal programs are consolidated, but cautioned that combining programs could risk further funding losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the budget.
• Implementing a protocol to handle cases where a user expresses self-harm.
• CSLB made the MOU permanent through a budget change proposal in this year’s budget bill.
• I chair the Education Budget Subcommittee in the Senate.
• So in the budget trailer bill for education, we actually, when the budget was adopted, adopted a method

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills, beginning with SB 41 by Senator Wiener, which would regulate pharmacy benefit managers by increasing transparency, banning patient steering and spread pricing, and requiring full pass-through of rebates. Supporters, including independent pharmacists and health advocates, said PBM practices are driving up drug costs and closing neighborhood pharmacies. Opponents from PBM and health plan groups argued the bill overlaps with recently enacted licensing and reporting requirements, would not lower consumer prices, and may be preempted by ERISA. Members discussed confidentiality issues, consumer savings, and the relationship between SB 41 and the new budget trailer bill; the author asked for an aye vote. The committee then took up SB 378, also by Senator Wiener, aimed at online marketplaces that advertise illegal intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Supporters from labor, public health, and the licensed cannabis industry said online sales are undermining regulated businesses and exposing children to unsafe products. Opponents from tech and hemp industry groups warned the bill is overbroad, could sweep in general-purpose platforms and lawful hemp wellness products, and raises Dormant Commerce Clause and First Amendment concerns. The author said he would narrow the bill, remove industrial hemp references, and address strict liability and standing issues; members largely focused on how to target illegal products without capturing lawful marketplaces. SB 243 by Senator Padilla addressed AI companion chatbots, with supporters including Common Sense Media and transparency advocates warning that these systems can be addictive, manipulative, and dangerous for minors and vulnerable users, citing studies and the death of a Florida teenager. The bill would require disclosures, anti-addiction design limits, self-harm protocols, audits, reporting, and a private right of action. Tech and business groups opposed the measure as overly broad and said its definitions could sweep in general-purpose AI tools; several members supported the goal but questioned the breadth of the definitions and the private right of action. Finally, SB 522 by Senator Wahab would extend just-cause eviction protections to rental units that were previously covered by the Tenant Protection Act but were destroyed in disasters and later rebuilt. Supporters, including Los Angeles city officials and tenant advocates, said the bill would help keep displaced renters housed after wildfires and other disasters. Apartment and realtor groups opposed it, arguing it would remove a key exemption needed to finance rebuilding and could discourage post-disaster reconstruction. Members expressed support for tenant protections in disaster areas, and the author asked for an aye vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• before Mr Mueller goes over the budget before Mr Mueller goes over the budget this<00:19:54.960>
• 2425 which is the current year budget 2425 which is the current year budget and<00:21:51.440>
• Agency total budget, looking at the base budget in fiscal year 2026-27, is about $1.2 billion dollars
• Agency total budget, looking at the base budget in fiscal year 2026-27, is about $1.2 billion dollars
• And so the total budget in this area, looking at their base budget, is fees um agency total budget uh

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Chair Foung Hawj opened the Environment, Climate and Legacy Committee meeting by welcoming members, agency staff, and constituents, and by outlining the committee’s shared-power arrangement for the session. Members introduced themselves and described environmental activities from the interim, including gardening, outdoor recreation, farming visits, Great Lakes work, and a tree-planting trip in Thailand that Hawj said symbolized cultural unity and environmental stewardship. Ben Stanley, the committee’s nonpartisan counsel, then explained the co-chairs’ operating agreement: Hawj would chair the meeting, Senator John Hoffman would chair the next two meetings, then Hawj would chair the following two, with the chair rotating after each pair of meetings. Agendas would be set jointly, additional meetings would require both chairs’ approval, and passing a bill out of committee would require a majority of all committee members, or seven votes. At Senator Tory Westrom’s request, the agreement was to be emailed to members in writing. Stanley also reviewed the committee’s jurisdiction, which includes environmental and natural resources bills, legacy funds, and agencies such as the Environmental Quality Board, Department of Natural Resources, Pollution Control Agency, and Board of Water and Soil Resources, along with several related councils and boards. Fiscal analyst Dan Mueller then gave a budget overview of the committee’s agencies, noting that many current biennium appropriations include one-time general fund money that drops back in the 2026-27 base budget. He highlighted funding levels for the Pollution Control Agency, DNR, Metro Parks, Conservation Corps, BWSR, the Minnesota Zoo, the Science Museum, and the Metropolitan Landfill Contingency Action Trust Account, and said the committee’s base-budget area totals about $2.2 billion. He also reviewed the Legacy funds, estimating available 2026-27 appropriations of about $327 million for Outdoor Heritage, $31.7 million for Clean Water, $133 million for Parks and Trails, and $185 million for Arts and Cultural Heritage. No votes or bill actions were taken at this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, going to slide six, I'm going to jump into our budget request.
• Again, we don't have a specific budget for outreach and communication.
• Also in the audience is Lori Narvaez, our Budget Director.
• Fiscal Year 2027 budget with that of 2026.
• This is the budget request for the Office of Cybersecurity.

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 and compare House and Senate counteroffers on the higher education budget, implementing bill, conforming bill, and related provisos. Members noted that several items were now in agreement and marked closed, including specific lines in the implementing bill, multiple lines in the conforming bill, and a number of budget and proviso items that had moved closer between the chambers. Remaining unresolved items were set aside to be bumped to leadership for further negotiation. Senator Harold thanked the committee and staff, expressing confidence that the final budget would support a strong higher education system and that the outstanding issues would be resolved soon. The chair also thanked House and Senate staff for their work and announced that future meeting notices would be posted, with the committee operating on one-hour notice. No public testimony was taken, no questions were raised, and no formal vote on the budget items was recorded. The meeting concluded with a motion to rise.

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:

• Some new proposals and program highlights in the Governor's budget include the following.
• We love budgets. We love more staff. But how does this actually help the people on the ground?
• the state budget process that we're dealing with today.
• the state, you know, budget process that we're dealing with today.
• Is that correct in this year's budget? In this year's budget for the GGRF component, yes.

Summary: The subcommittee began by announcing a change in the agenda order, moving item 6 ahead of item 1 and then item 7, and noting there would be no votes taken on any items that day. Item 6 covered a proposed operational efficiencies control section for the Natural Resources Agency that would let multiple departments jointly fund landscape-scale or multi-jurisdictional projects and allow Finance to transfer climate bond funds to a lead state entity. The LAO said the proposal was reasonable but suggested the Legislature consider requiring summary notification on how it is used; Finance said it would consider that request. Item 7 focused on the 2026-27 biodiversity and nature-based solutions spending plan. Finance and the Wildlife Conservation Board described the climate bond funding for habitat restoration, wildlife crossings, public access, tribal nature-based solutions, and related work, including $111 million proposed for WCB and $30 million for Salton Sea habitat and public access projects. The LAO supported the overall approach but flagged the San Andreas Corridor Program as an area where the Legislature may want to specify geographic priorities. Members discussed the pace of Salton Sea work and whether the proposed projects would count toward disadvantaged community goals. Item 8 addressed Cal Fire’s aviation contract and staffing needs for wildfire response. Cal Fire said year-round fire activity, a larger and more complex aircraft fleet, and labor market pressures justified the proposed contract increase, including more mechanics, pilots, and maintenance support. The LAO recommended approval, saying the proposal addressed health and safety concerns. Members asked about contractor staffing, competition in the bidding process, and future technology for early fire detection and suppression. The committee then took up item 1 on golden mussel containment. Fish and Wildlife described the invasive species’ spread in the Delta, the task force and response framework, and a request for eight new positions funded by Prop. 4 to support control plans, outreach, monitoring, research, and coordination with partners and law enforcement. Members pressed the department on whether the state should fund more direct decontamination infrastructure and grants to local water managers, and on the realistic goal of containing the mussel. The chair and several members emphasized the urgency of the threat and requested an itemized breakdown of the $20 million request. The hearing then moved to a broader LAO overview of wildfire prevention and response funding, where the LAO summarized the state’s funding mix and warned that ongoing wildfire resilience funding will likely decline as one-time bond and GGRF funds are exhausted, prompting discussion of long-term funding options and the balance between prevention, suppression, and community hardening.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the budget.
• It is our responsibility to implement...
• Budget priorities through the ballot box.
• That can have That can have budget impacts on us.
• thing for our budget and helps us out. thing for our budget and helps us out.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• been a leader in implementing been a leader in implementing responsible<00:32:15.480> e-w
• Manufacturers will need to implement system changes and investments statewide.
• The budget is not subject for review now.
• They can, in various places, change collectors and set their budget yearly.
• They can, in various places, change collectors and set their budget yearly.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:17:54.760> and million when it's fully implemented and million when it's fully implemented
• <00:20:01.799> this 10% um the costs to implement this 10% um the costs to implement this
• How do we budget for that?
• How do we budget for that?
• which we're budgeting we're budgeting which we're budgeting now<02:11:00.960> and<02:11:01.360

Keywords: 1191, senate, 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:

• 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