Transcript Highlights:

• This is not part of their appropriation. This would be additional appropriation.
• Again, currently no money, no appropriation, just appropriation.
• Again, currently no money, no appropriation, just appropriation.
• All we're voting for is an appropriation, an unfunded appropriation.
• This is just an appropriation.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of guests in the galleries, including state officers, medical personnel, student groups, and former first ladies. Members adopted consent-calendar resolutions, and House Resolution 1052 concerning Arkansas Girl State was withdrawn after Rep. DeAnn Vaught explained that 150 girls had missed a registration deadline and that the House would instead host an alternative Girls State experience this summer. The chamber then took up several fiscal-session appropriation bills. Senate Bills 3, 4, 7, 15, 21, and 31, covering appropriations for Shared Services, Health licensing and regulation, Commerce/Insurance, Parks and Tourism, Human Services adult-aging-behavioral health, and administrative courts, all passed with large bipartisan margins. Senate Bill 75, an economic development appropriation for West Memphis, also passed after brief discussion. Senate Bill 77, an unfunded appropriation related to Arkansas Television Network/PBS matching funds, drew extended debate over whether it should support PBS programming, infrastructure, or private-donation matching; it failed on the first vote, was brought back for reconsideration because some members had not voted, and then failed again 73-24. After the fiscal work concluded, Rep. Meeks moved to adjourn sine die, ending the House’s fiscal session. The House then convened as a caucus to elect the Speaker-designate for the 96th General Assembly. The body suspended the formal election process and unanimously elected Speaker Brian S. Evans as Speaker-designate. Evans thanked members, reflected on the prior session, and pledged continued leadership and accountability before the House adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a one-time appropriation.
• The This is a one-time appropriation.
• appropriation in fiscal 26 and 27. appropriation in fiscal 26 and 27.
• under the appropriation article.
• under the appropriation article.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2156, lifestyle compensation fund appropriation.
• HB 2027, appropriation, Braille transcription program.
• Is it appropriate to name a highway after him?
• Senate Bill 1064 relating to appropriation for U.S.
• Senate Bill 1204 relating to appropriation for U.S.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 2 appropriates the funding for one-times in community agencies.
• This maintains a flat appropriation of $42,000 for Kent and Sussex.
• Section 22 refers to the appropriation for the Senior Center contingency.
• Section 23 provides an appropriation to the State Fire Prevention Commission.
• aid appropriation limit.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 588, do pass to the Committee on Appropriations.
• AB 855, do pass to the Committee on Appropriations.
• AB 945, do pass to the Committee on Appropriations.
• AB 1003, do pass to the Committee on Appropriations.
• Appropriations. Yes. AB 645 Carrillo. The motion is due passed to the committee on appropriations.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:22.399> bonds spreadsheet are the appropriation bonds spreadsheet are the appropriation
• Um, it appropriation for open arms.
• The appropriation is also extended.
• The appropriation is also cities.
• 00:22:01.840> in<00:22:02.320> that appropriate or this provision in that appropriate or

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2418, appropriation, major incident task force — Public Safety; Appropriations, Transportation and
• HB 2532, homelessness data performance audit appropriation — Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
• HB 2053, appropriation stormwater recharging map sites — Natural Resources; Appropriations, Transportation
• HB 2416, appropriations DPS local border support — Military Affairs and Border Security; Appropriations
• HB 2759, appropriation, Department of Veterans Services — Military Affairs and Border Security; Appropriations

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Starting on row 31, you'll see your categorical appropriations or your middle of the line appropriations
• into your recurring appropriations.
• And we think this appropriation is an appropriate request for recurring funding that is responsive to
• So that's that appropriation.
• Appropriate, probably.

Transcript Highlights:

• With an appropriation of $108.1 million to the SCG.
• The same appropriation that you all made in FY26.
• A lot of those appropriations were actually multi-year appropriations that you all made from the general
• Those appropriations have declined. appropriations in House Bill 2 or community schools.
• This does not include an appropriation.

Summary: The committee first heard a detailed staff presentation on the LESC FY27 public school support recommendation. Staff reviewed the budget structure and explained that, despite a downward revision in state revenue estimates, the recommendation still relied on recurring and non-recurring revenue to support educator compensation, insurance, transportation, literacy, math, special education, and other school programs. Major recurring items included a 3% compensation increase, funding for an 80-20 health insurance cost share, insurance premium growth, and transportation adequacy funding. Staff also flagged a possible supplemental need of up to $35 million for virtual education tied to rapid enrollment growth in Chama and Santa Rosa, and members raised concerns about the quality, accountability, and funding model for virtual programs. Members asked questions about transportation for rural districts, the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit fees, the treatment of enrollment declines in the school funding formula, and whether the word “average” in salary language should remain in the budget. Staff explained that the SEG should remain whole, that the insurance and transportation recommendations applied to all public school employees but not contractors, and that the budget included multiple math-related investments spread across several lines rather than one single appropriation. There was also discussion of out-of-school learning grants, school meals, literacy center operations, special education training, and the Public Education Reform Fund, including the use of multi-year, evaluation-based appropriations for high-impact tutoring and community schools. After discussion, the committee adopted the LESC budget recommendation. The committee then moved to endorsed legislation proposals. It endorsed a bill allowing the secretary to suspend an individual school board member, with notice and appeal procedures clarified, and a bill creating an 80-20 health insurance cost-share requirement for public school employees, along with a study of the sustainability of public school insurance programs. It also endorsed a bill on attendance provisions for students with severe medical conditions, which would keep those students from being classified as excessively absent. Finally, the committee discussed a teacher residency bill that would raise stipend levels, allow residents to complete service anywhere in New Mexico, and remove the requirement that sponsoring schools must hire them, though the bill did not include an appropriation. Members also raised questions about bilingual, Hispanic, and Black education funding, cultural and linguistic supports in teacher preparation, and where various programs should be placed in the budget or PERF framework.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not part of their appropriation. This would be additional appropriation.
• Again, currently no money, no appropriation, just appropriation.
• Again, currently no money, no appropriation, just appropriation.
• All we're voting for is an appropriation, an unfunded appropriation.
• This is just an appropriation.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, recognized guests, and adopted consent-calendar resolutions before taking up House Resolution 1052 regarding Arkansas Girls State. Rep. Vaught explained that about 150 eligible girls were denied registration because a counselor missed the deadline, and said the House would instead host an “elite Girls State” program for them this summer. He then moved to withdraw the resolution, and the withdrawal was accepted. The chamber also presented a citation to Pastor Richard Hamlin for his service during the session. The House then considered several Senate appropriation bills. Senate Bills 3, 4, 7, 15, 21, and 31 all passed with broad support and emergency clauses. Senate Bill 77, an unfunded appropriation related to Arkansas Television Network/PBS matching funds, drew extended debate. Supporters said it would encourage private donations and could help with programming and infrastructure, while opponents argued the department had not requested the money and that the House should not force additional funding. The bill failed on the first vote, was brought back for a second vote after questions about the rules and the nature of the appropriation, and failed again. After the fiscal session business concluded, Rep. Meeks moved to adjourn sine die, and the House agreed. The House caucus then met to elect the Speaker-designate for the 96th General Assembly. The chamber suspended the formal election process by voice vote and unanimously elected Speaker Brian S. Evans as Speaker-designate. Evans thanked members, reflected on the 95th General Assembly, and pledged continued leadership and accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, the Senate passed our appropriation, so I'm asking for a good vote that we could pass their appropriation
• These are all general appropriations.
• No, there's no increase in this appropriation. Correct.
• Members, this is the appropriation for the Secretary of State.
• These are all general appropriations. And then Senate Bill 74 is also a general appropriation.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:35.839> and there are legislative Appropriations and there are legislative Appropriations
• um looking at the current Appropriations um looking at the current Appropriations<00:09:36.399> for
• Um, affected the ongoing program appropriations?
• <00:20:54.760> these<00:20:55.120> ongoing Appropriations these ongoing Appropriations
• these ongoing Appropriations<00:20:56.799> for<00:20:57.799> um Appropriations for um Appropriations

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Housing Finance and Policy Committee met for an informational session with no bills taken up and no votes or formal actions. Members and staff introduced themselves, and Chair Speno said the committee would focus on understanding housing policy and barriers to building more homes, noting Minnesota’s housing shortage and the need to support both single-family and multifamily construction. House Research analyst Mary Davis and House Fiscal analyst Katrina Heimark gave an overview of the committee’s jurisdiction and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency’s programs and funding streams. Davis outlined areas the committee may hear about, including real estate law, landlord-tenant law, manufactured home parks, housing cooperatives, zoning, property taxes, and MHFA programs. Heimark described MHFA’s five main budget areas—development and redevelopment, housing stability, homeownership assistance, preservation, and resident/organization support—and reviewed recent appropriations, emphasizing that much of the large 2024–25 funding was one-time money and that ongoing base funding is lower in 2026–27. Members asked several questions about how prior appropriations were spent, whether unused funds return to the general fund, and whether funds can be repurposed. Heimark said transferred funds generally are not returned to the general fund if unspent, but are expected to be used for the purposes outlined in the appropriation; she also said she had requested more detailed expenditure information from the agency and would follow up. Questions also focused on who benefits from programs such as rental housing rehabilitation and the affordable rental investment fund, with the testifiers explaining that most MHFA programs are targeted to low- and moderate-income households and that income eligibility varies by program. The committee also discussed the new metro-area sales tax revenue dedicated to housing, with members requesting more detail on reporting, oversight, and allowable uses.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the next rule gets at the nuts and bolts of drafting appropriation language and how appropriations
• may be appropriate.
• <00:19:56.400> may<00:19:56.600> be<00:19:56.840> appropriate appropriation may
• be appropriate appropriation may be appropriate the<00:19:58.880> next<00:19:59.159> section
• > Appropriations state agency operating Appropriations state agency operating Appropriations are

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Finance Committee met for its first 2025 meeting, with co-chairs Senator Marty and Senator Pratt opening the session and members and staff introducing themselves. No bills were heard; the meeting was focused on orientation and on reviewing the committee’s budget rules for the new biennium. Committee members and staff from both caucuses, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB), and legislative fiscal offices were introduced before the presentation began. MMB fiscal staff Brian D. and committee fiscal staff explained that budget rules are a nonbinding agreement between MMB and House and Senate fiscal staff that guides how fiscal proposals are tracked and understood. They reviewed the history of the rules, noting that the current document reflects the most substantial update since the rules were first adopted in the early 2000s, and that the 2025 version was reorganized into eight sections after extensive interim work by House, Senate, and MMB staff. The presenters emphasized that the rules are updated annually, are intended to promote consistent fiscal tracking and transparent communication, and are used as guidance for budget bills rather than as law. The presentation highlighted several substantive rule areas: general tracking rules and comparison points for budget documents; appropriation drafting guidance; treatment of transfers, revenues, and inflation; planning estimates and “budget tails”; and rules for extending, canceling, or reappropriating existing appropriations. Staff also described new or revised provisions, including guidance on understanding current-law changes, using Department of Revenue estimates for tax revenue, and treating inflation in the forecast as a general pressure estimate rather than appropriated dollars. The committee was asked to review the updated rules, but no vote or formal action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We increased appropriations for a driver's license office in Hays.
• We adopted this, put out a funds appropriated, so we can put money in there for it instead.
• increased appropriations of $1 million.
• We adopted this, put out a funds appropriated, so we can put money in there for it instead.
• increased appropriations of $1 million.

Summary: The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Articles 14 and 5 met first and adopted its report on budget recommendations by a 4-0 vote, with three members absent. The chair said the report finalized prior decisions and could not be changed at that stage. Notable additions discussed included increased appropriations for the Office of the Attorney General, DPS driver’s license offices in Hays and Montgomery County, TJJD facilities and programs, Texas Facilities Commission funding for SCIF projects in Lubbock and San Antonio, THC funding for the Juneteenth Museum, an alcohol tourism study, and a TDCJ statewide reentry services pilot program. Members thanked staff and the meeting adjourned after the vote. The Article 3 subcommittee then presented its report for the committee substitute for Senate Bill 1, describing it as a procedural step that incorporated prior discussions, member writers, and changes made with Chairman Bonin. The chair noted that most items had been moved to Article 11 and that rejected riders were duplicates or conflicted with general law. The report was adopted unanimously, 6-0, and the subcommittee adjourned. The Articles 6, 7, and 8 subcommittee followed with its report for Senate Bill 1. During consideration, a member raised a point of order arguing the subcommittee had violated House rules requiring audio and video recording of formal meetings and public availability online. The chair rejected the point of order and proceeded to a roll call vote. After extended debate over the recording issue and the chair’s handling of the point of order, the report was adopted, with the transcript reflecting 6 ayes, 1 nay, and 1 absent. The subcommittee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:56.400> in will have less money to appropriate in will have less money to appropriate
• <00:09:18.000> in Um, so the total amount appropriated in Um, so the total amount appropriated
• :16:49.120> Minnesota appropriation right to the Minnesota appropriation right to the Minnesota
• Mueller. been appropriated since the start of the been appropriated since the start of the legacy<00:
• the availability of that appropriation the availability of that appropriation by<00:25:58.080>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not part of their appropriation. This would be additional appropriation.
• It's just an unfunded appropriation.
• Again, currently no money, no appropriation, just appropriation.
• Again, currently no money, no appropriation, just appropriation.
• All we're voting for is an appropriation, an unfunded appropriation.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The report, same with recommendation that it do pass, and then it's referred to the appropriations and
• Appropriations and Finance Committee.
• To the House Education Committee, then the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.
• House Bill 178, introduced by Representative Mason, an act making an appropriation to the Department
• to the Office of Child Advocate, the appropriate Interim Committee dealing with courts, corrections,

Bills: HM19

Keywords: New Mexico Aviation and Aerospace Day, aviation, aerospace, space industry, missile programs, Spaceport America, White Sands Missile Range, White Sands Test Facility, Kirtland Air Force Base, drone, unmanned aircraft systems, commercial space transportation, NASA, aircraft, STEM education, research laboratories, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, flight testing, medical evacuation

Transcript Highlights:

• Um the appropriated<00:02:39.519> amount<00:02:39.760> is appropriated amount is appropriated
• It remains at the base appropriation.
• 00:03:51.280> by appropriation has been reduced by appropriation has been reduced by $60,000<00
• <00:09:18.160> um<00:09:18.519> appropriation agency administration um appropriation
• The appropriation was didn't.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's room in the appropriation.
• I'll be supporting this appropriation today.
• There's room in the appropriation.
• I'll be supporting this appropriation today.
• So I urge you to move this appropriation forward.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• history background checks as appropriate history background checks as appropriate so<00:05:42.840
• information, the juvenile, so the 'as appropriate' or how appropriate, as age appropriate, or how shall
• information, the juvenile, so the 'as appropriate' or how appropriate, as age appropriate, or how shall
• So, as appropriate, as age appropriate, or how appropriate, as age appropriate, or how shall we look
• So, as appropriate, as age appropriate, or how appropriate, as age appropriate, or how shall we look

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Library and Technology Committee met on March 14, 2025, to hear House Bill 430, House Draft 2, which would create an internship/on-the-job training program administered by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, with the state serving as the responsible employer for workers’ compensation coverage and appropriations included. Testimony was uniformly supportive from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the University of Hawaii, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, and the Department of Education. Supporters emphasized the value of internships as a high-impact educational and career pathway opportunity. The Department of the Attorney General supported the bill’s intent but raised a concern about the criminal history background check language, recommending that the bill be revised so DLIR may conduct checks “as appropriate” rather than requiring a mandatory check for all interns. The AG noted that juvenile records would remain confidential for 16- and 17-year-old interns under existing law and suggested deleting the more specific background-check language or replacing it with the more flexible wording. Several organizations submitted support, including business, health care, tourism, and industry groups. During decision-making, the committee discussed amendments incorporating the Attorney General’s recommendation, adding a 2.5 GPA minimum reference, and clarifying language about private or public sector organizations and placement of interns in state executive branch departments, agencies, or programs. The committee adopted the recommendation to pass the bill with amendments, and the meeting adjourned.