Transcript Highlights:

• The state budget could really be devastating while legislators still have time to balance the budget.
• Well, the good news is that the budget we have, including for the biennium we're setting the budget for
• </c> November shows that we have a budget November shows that we have a budget issue<00:03:05.640><c>
• </c><00:03:21.440><c> two</c> we when we put together a budget two we when we put together a budget two
• We kept a strong budget reserve. We kept a balanced budget.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Budget and policy subcommittee will now come to order. Faith. Please call the roll Chair.
• Welcome to I'd and it budget and policy subcommittee today.
• But again, we understand that the human oversights important.
• All of these operate with human oversight.
• It will need oversight. It does have the ability to go off course.

Transcript Highlights:

• A floodplain restoration program is needed in the state budget, but we don't have one.
• But some of the issues that we've seen with High-Speed Rail is that there wasn't additional oversight
• That part and some of the waivers, I think, allows less oversight on that.
• That part and some of the waivers, I think, allows less oversight on that.
• I think allows less oversight on that especially just moving into more of a fiscally troubling times

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several natural resources and water-related bills. SB 224 by Senator Hurtado would require the Department of Water Resources to implement audit recommendations, improve climate-informed water supply forecasting, and provide annual updates to the Legislature; supporters emphasized the need for better transparency and more accurate water planning, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 556, also by Senator Hurtado, would fund floodplain restoration in the Tulare Basin to reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, and provide habitat and other community benefits; local officials and conservation groups supported it, some initial concerns about Proposition 4 were resolved, and the bill passed as amended. SB 630 by Senator Allen would streamline State Parks and other state real property acquisitions by raising review thresholds and reducing duplicative approvals; conservation groups and park advocates supported the measure, while some members raised oversight and fiscal concerns, and it passed as amended. SB 718 by Senator Allen would reduce hunting and fishing license costs for low-income Californians, framed as helping subsistence users and disabled veterans and seniors, and it passed as amended. The committee also approved SB 427 by Senator Blakespear, which extends the sunset of the Habitat Conservation Fund from 2030 to 2035. Supporters said the fund has protected more than 1.2 million acres, leverages other funding, and supports habitat, recreation, and climate resilience; members highlighted its importance for areas like the Salton Sea and the need to protect the funding stream from future sweeps. SB 586 by Senator Jones, an e-moto off-highway vehicle bill, was taken up with little discussion and passed as amended. SB 639 by Senator Ashby would extend the deadline for Sacramento-area flood protection projects in the Natomas Basin and Beach Lake subareas from 2025 to 2030 to allow completion of remaining work and avoid delays to infill housing; city, county, and flood agency representatives supported it, and it passed as amended. Throughout the hearing, witnesses and members repeatedly emphasized water reliability, flood protection, conservation funding, and reducing bureaucratic delays. Several bills drew broad support from local governments, water agencies, tribes, and conservation organizations, and multiple members requested to be added as coauthors. All of the measures discussed were reported out of committee, generally with amendments and with some items left open for add-on votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, as shown on Chart 12, programs have underspent their budgets in the past.
• on page 17, the report shows how some colleges used endowment funds differently than Legislative budget
• And I mean real oversight; I mean subpoena power.
• In looking for that data, the FTE data in financial reports of actuals and in operating budgets, the
• We can have more oversight. Martin Fletcher (questionable) is looking into it.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we're going to take up Tab 1, review and discussion of fiscal year 2025-2026 budget issues relating
• Members, under Tab 1 is our Criminal and Civil Justice proposed budget.
• In addition, the court's budget also includes $13 million to fund 29 new judges.
• Brooks Cooper is speaking for the budget? Good afternoon, Sherry. How are you? I'm blessed.
• Pamela Whitley also speaking for the budget increase? Yes. Good afternoon. You're recognized.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to review its proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 budget, totaling about $7.6 billion. The chair highlighted funding for the Department of Corrections, including health services, food inflation, and prison population growth; the Department of Juvenile Justice for residential beds and higher food/medical costs; FDLE for a law enforcement apprenticeship program and officer wellness services; justice administration for court-appointed attorney rates and VOCA shortfalls; major IT projects; and court operations, including funding for 29 new judges. Members asked about where the new judgeships would go and whether staffing would accompany them, and staff said the judge positions would be listed later in a conforming bill and that associated court staff were included, but not additional state attorney or public defender staffing. Several members also asked whether the budget addressed pay and staffing shortages in state attorneys’ and public defenders’ offices, and staff said those decisions had not yet been finalized. The committee then heard public testimony from several speakers who urged more funding for prison safety, medical care, and oversight. Speakers described personal experiences involving deaths or serious harm in correctional facilities and jails, alleging inadequate medical treatment, excessive force, isolation, and failures to investigate. One speaker said her son died after being beaten and denied timely medical care in a correctional facility; another said her son was not receiving adequate health care at Charlotte Correctional; and another described her brother’s death in the Marion County Jail after repeated tasing and pepper spraying. The committee adopted a motion allowing staff to make technical adjustments and then approved the committee’s budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Senate Appropriations Committee. The committee also took up CS for CS SB 48 on alternative judicial procedures and foreclosure sales. Senator Garcia offered an amendment to standardize judicial sales, increase transparency, limit preferences in bidding, preserve public notice requirements, restrict plaintiff credit bids to the amount of the judgment unless a deposit is posted, and prevent deviations from statutory timelines and procedures from being hidden in court orders. Garcia said the bill was intended to close loopholes and protect homeowners, especially condominium owners, from unfair foreclosure practices. A representative for Auction.com said similar laws have been used in other states and offered to provide data. After debate, the amendment was adopted, and the bill passed the committee favorably on a roll call vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• a Republican House budget and a Democrat House budget.
• </c> budget. We had a House budget worked on. budget. We had a House budget worked on.
• </c> budget documents. budget documents.
• ><c> are</c><01:33:11.520><c> bearing</c> budgets and our state budget are bearing budgets and our state
• </c> budget agreement. budget agreement.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I haven't seen their budgets to know exactly how they would do it and where they would try to control
• And so what this is is oversight of those funds for the legislature.
• So all this is doing is giving the legislative body oversight of those funds. ...have been awarded the
• So all this is doing is giving the legislative body oversight of those funds.
• It's truly just an oversight committee. Follow-up.

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee approved the minutes from February 26 and March 2, then considered RS 33677, a revised version of a prior bill dealing with Medicaid/provider rate-setting and cost surveys. Representative John Vanderrata said the new draft clarified the intended spending reduction, identified the affected line items and state match, narrowed the services to be cost-surveyed, pushed the implementation date to December of the following year, and added language stating rates are subject to legislative appropriation. Department of Health and Welfare Medicaid administrator Sasha O’Connell explained the department would conduct annual cost surveys similar to current practice, audit a random 15% of responses, and likely continue using its existing auditor, Myers and Stauffer. The committee voted to introduce RS 33677 and send it to the second reading calendar. The committee then introduced RS 33626, which would create a legislative oversight committee for Idaho’s rural health transformation funds, awarded through a federal rural health program. Representative Jordan Redmond said the bill was intended to provide legislative oversight of the nearly $1 billion in funds over five years. Members asked about minority-party representation and rural membership on the committee, and Redmond said leadership had discussed those issues and he expected minority-party participation, while noting the House and Senate versions differed on committee size and rurality requirements. The motion to introduce RS 33626 passed. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 758, a cleanup bill for child care licensing rules. Representative Barbara Ehardt said the bill clarified that providers may use monitors rather than remain physically in the nap room so long as they are within reasonable hearing distance, and it also clarified how providers’ own school-age children are counted in group size. A member of the public, Elizabeth Nune, testified in opposition, arguing the changes would weaken supervision and professionalism in child care. Ehardt responded that without the clarifications, many home daycare providers could be forced out of business. The committee voted to send HB 758 to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not aware that that's been budgeted for at this point.
• No, it has not been budgeted at this point.
• That's my concern, that we still have the same oversight and that this, that we still have the same oversight
• It restores real oversight and accountability to our public colleges and universities.
• It restores real oversight and accountability to our public colleges and universities.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on April 29, 2026, with a quorum present and heard several higher education and K-12 bills. SB 234 by Sen. Presley, which would provide grading for medical school students, was briefly discussed and reported favorably without objection. SB 142 by Sen. Reese, dealing with continued management and oversight of Board of Regents support fund matched endowments if a related constitutional amendment passes, drew questions about endowment matching, oversight, and the roughly $75 million in unmatched requests; it was also reported favorably without objection. SB 482 by Sen. Reese, expanding the role of career coaches in middle and high school graduation planning and reporting on career development fund spending, received support from BESE and others, with committee members discussing counselor workload and district flexibility; it was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up SB 64 by Sen. Hodges, which would require two people to review initial video/audio recordings from cameras in self-contained classrooms when complaints arise, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. HB 1063 by Rep. Owen, a broad higher education governance bill that would increase board oversight of curriculum, hiring, faculty senates, and discipline, generated extensive discussion and testimony from Rep. Owen and a representative of Parents Defending Education Action, but the author said he did not want to vote on it yet and moved to voluntarily defer it; the committee agreed without objection. HB 818 by Rep. Riser, as amended, was converted into a reporting bill requiring public inventories and state reporting on assessments, with Cynthia Posey of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers explaining the amendments; the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably with one opposition card noted. Finally, SB 28 by Sen. McMath, carried by Rep. Carver, would lower the age for associate teachers from 25 to 21 to help address the teacher shortage; Department of Education staff said the change could expand the pipeline, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee also announced it would meet the following week on Wednesday, May 6, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:00.840><c> technical</c><00:10:01.360><c> changes</c> uh, budget technical changes uh, budget
• </c><00:25:04.840><c> of</c><00:25:05.040><c> HMO</c> regulatory oversight of HMO regulatory oversight
• </c> the Department of Management and Budget. the Department of Management and Budget.
• </c><00:45:30.360><c> proposals</c> from uh governor's budget proposals from uh governor's budget proposals
• </c> forward through the budget process. forward through the budget process.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These include breakdowns in communication, gaps in child placement oversight, delays in response time
• have already taken shape in the form of legislation—bills that focus on transparency, strengthening oversight
• Independent oversight. Advancing external review and accountability mechanisms for DCS decisions.
• I won't read it aloud or mention any names, but this, to the Oversight Committee, was an email that I
• The Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting estimates a revenue impact to our state parks revenue

Committee: House Government

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the fact is that that budget within itself went over almost 40-plus percent of what was asked in
• Louis, we decided to place an oversight board made of citizens of the city of St. Louis.
• And they are there to be the oversight board for the city of St.
• Louis overseeing the mayor in the way that used to be done in oversight of the police department there
• So they have oversight. No, I trust you guys do a good job.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The committee met in executive session and first approved House Bill 2889 by a 14-0 roll call vote. It then took up House Bill 3175, “Mason’s Law,” adopting a House Committee Substitute after discussion of a proposed amendment that was not offered because the sponsor and a member agreed the language needed to be cleaned up. The substitute bill was then advanced both due pass and due pass by consent, with unanimous votes of 14-0 and 16-0 respectively. House Bill 3066, dealing with St. Louis police governance and related budget/oversight issues, drew extended debate. Opponents argued it was an overreach, would sidestep local elected officials, and could burden the city budget; supporters said it was not a state takeover but an oversight structure made up of city citizens and that the city should be responsible for certain liabilities. The committee adopted a House Committee Amendment to address lieutenant overtime pay, rolled it into a new committee substitute, and then passed the substitute 11-5. During the vote, members clarified that a refusal to vote could be recorded and the roll was completed after a brief rules question. In public hearing, House Bill 2767 was presented as a 911 funding measure that would increase the prepaid wireless 911 fee from 3% to 4% to generate roughly $1 million more annually for grants to local 911 providers for equipment, training, and related upgrades. Testimony from 911 directors emphasized that prepaid phone revenue has declined as consumers move away from that technology, while the added funding would help modernize statewide emergency response systems; no opposition was heard. House Bill 1990, creating the offense of gift card fraud, was then heard with support from the sponsor, retailers, grocers, convenience store operators, and bankers, who described sophisticated theft schemes involving tampering with cards and stealing activation data; members asked about penalties, how the fraud works, and whether the bill aligns with existing theft classifications. The final bill heard was House Bill 2269, which would move boiler inspector qualifications and related fire/life safety standards from statute into rule to help the state hire inspectors more quickly and align with national standards. The state fire marshal supported the change and said oversight would remain with the boiler board commission. House Bill 3220, focused on teen driver accountability and driver education, drew extensive support from the sponsor, a crash victim’s widow, AAA, motorcycle and pedestrian safety advocates, and MODOT. Supporters said the bill would require driver education for new applicants under 21, tighten supervision and point-assessment rules, and reduce crashes; MODOT estimated a state administrative cost of roughly $350,000 to $850,000 annually, and members asked about parental supervision, the impact on young drivers, and historical crash trends. No votes were taken on the public hearing bills before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the fact is that that budget within itself went over almost 40-plus percent of what was asked in
• Louis, we decided to place an oversight board made of citizens of the city of St. Louis.
• And they are there to be the oversight board for the city of St.
• Louis overseeing the mayor in the way that used to be done in oversight of the police department there
• So they have oversight of that. No, I trust you guys do a good job. My last question is, between...

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It places an undue burden on property owners, limits public oversight, and hinders transparency.
• And so when I did a little math on top of that, that came out to be 0.15% of your annual budget that
• The budget is $337 billion in the biennium, which translates to $220 million per year, or 0.15%.
• Oversight. Pending any questions, members, I reserve my right to close. Thank you, members.
• Emergency Service Districts (ESDs) operate on lean budgets, especially when compared to municipalities

Bills: HB485 , HB1367 , HB1370 , HB1827 , HB1879 , HB2032 , HB2133 , HB2357 , HB3581 , HB3830 , HB4060 , HB4085 , HB4270 , HB4979 , HB5217 , HB5268 , HB5478 , HJR96 , HJR97 , HJR119 , HJR195 , HJR209 , SB4 , SB23 , SJR2 , SJR85 , SB 4 , SB 23 , SJR 2

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, access, affordability, public health, emergency services district, sales tax, gas and electricity, residential use, tax exemption, emergency services, gas, electricity, HB 485, ESD, use tax, residential utilities, utility tax, local option tax, Texas Health and Safety Code

Transcript Highlights:

• The district is a rural district, and it requires a lot of oversight and managing multiple roles, which
• Follow up with us on that, because I think that's going to be a pretty big boost to your budget that
• That's just cash, not budget, but we'll keep this committee posted when the State Board puts that on
• I could be off on that number, but they laid off people due to budget cuts.
• So they'll be looking at provider oversight, subrecipient monitoring.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:03:55.599><c> program</c> uh agency budgets, program uh agency budgets, program implementations
• That does have agency operating budgets year to year, including FTE counts.
• oversight of programs that you oversight of programs that you appropriate<00:58:20.960><c> and</c><00
• </c> &gt;&gt; I um but there's a lot of oversight &gt;&gt; I um but there's a lot of oversight around
• </c> financial management and oversight financial management and oversight structure<01:14:34.000><c>

Bills: SF2434

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: housing, development fund, affordable housing, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, expenditure provisions

Transcript Highlights:

• However, we found that there's little oversight of this program.
• <00:04:08.480><c> and</c> oversight and oversight and accountability<00:04:10.560><c> further</c><00:
• and oversight of the guidelines<00:14:16.880><c> and</c><00:14:17.000><c> then</c><00:14:17.199><c>
• It is not from the University of Minnesota's budget. I can get back to you on that.
• So those extra staff hours we have to deal with overtime, so our overtime budget is increasing.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You know murkier budget peri uh picture.
• ,</c> juxtiposition, this challenging budget, juxtiposition, this challenging budget, uh,<00:03:53.200
• One that would include more oversight.
• </c> session as costs rise and budgets session as costs rise and budgets tighten.<00:39:31.280><c> We
• Both are FHPAP in this budget bill.

Bills: HF1141

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: housing, finance, affordable housing, infrastructure bonds, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, supportive housing, homeless prevention, elderly assistance, community development, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• be the oversight for all that?
• Or are you budget-constrained?
• Is that coming out of your budget, or is that coming out of an NSA's budget? Thank you, Chair.
• That actually does come out of our budget.
• Buckman Direct Diversion is doing oversight.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Environment Department on PFAS contamination in private wells in La Cienega, Santa Fe County. Staff said the plume likely came from historic use of firefighting foam associated with airport and National Guard fire-training activities, with possible additional contribution from septic systems and consumer products. They described the contamination as affecting about 200 private wells, the short-term response of providing residential filters through a $2 million legislative appropriation, and ongoing work to define the plume’s full extent, identify responsible parties, and consider longer-term regional water solutions. Members asked about filter costs, replacement schedules, disposal of used cartridges, follow-up testing, health studies, and whether cleanup or containment had begun; the department said cleanup would follow once the plume is fully mapped and that DOH is soliciting interest in a blood study. The committee also discussed the need to track disposal of PFAS filters and the possibility of broader statewide capacity for similar work. The committee then took up abandoned uranium mine cleanup. NMED and EMNRD staff reviewed the new uranium mine reclamation program created by HB 164, the state dashboard tracking sites, and the FY26 appropriation of $20 million for neglected contaminated sites, of which $12 million is being used for neglected uranium mines and the remainder for other contaminated sites. They said six contractors were hired, three priority sites in Grant County are moving forward quickly, and additional sites are being prepared for possible FY27 work. Members pressed for details on how funds are spent, why the revolving fund remains unfunded, how federal, state, tribal, and landowner requirements are coordinated, where contaminated material will be moved, and whether cleanup could also address homes built with contaminated materials. Staff said the work is governed by multiple regulatory layers, that the state is seeking an additional $25 million for FY27-FY28 plus a time extension, and that partnerships with tribes would require longer-term agreements. The committee also discussed federal cleanup efforts and the new Good Samaritan law, with members urging stronger advocacy for New Mexico sites, including tribal lands, and asking whether the Attorney General should pursue legal action against federal parties responsible for legacy contamination. Staff explained that some sites are already covered by settlement funds tied to responsible parties, while neglected sites are those with no responsible party and no other cleanup program. The committee then heard from EMNRD on Class VI carbon sequestration primacy. Staff said New Mexico currently has no operating Class VI wells, about 27 Class II acid-gas injection wells are operating, and only a small number might be candidates for conversion. They explained that the state’s primacy application would require more public outreach than federal rules alone, and that cost estimates for post-injection site care are based on long planning horizons, with some costs borne by operators and some by the state after closure. No votes were taken on the substantive items discussed; the committee approved the prior meeting minutes and took a brief recess between presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• BESE does have some oversight within our non-public schools.
• That's exactly why Louisiana needs basic oversight and accountability, not less.
• This bill removes oversight for programs serving 3- and 4-year-olds.
• This bill removes oversight for programs serving 3- and 4-year-olds. That should concern all of us.
• When you remove oversight, you remove protection, and children deserve better than that.

Bills: HCR47 , HB628 , HB737 , HB1008 , HB1062 , HB1079 , HB1112

Committee: House Education

Keywords: mandatory reporter, child abuse training, online training, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Education, educator requirements, early childhood education, microcenter, school board, cooperative endeavor, economic disadvantage, vaccination, meningococcal disease, school entry, immunization requirements, public health, academic freedom, free speech, retaliation, faculty rights

Transcript Highlights:

• . budget and the Senate version is fully funded in the Senate budget.
• This bill is partially funded in the House budget.
• This bill is not funded in the House budget.
• This bill is not funded in the House budget.
• There is an amendment number 67 of in the House budget.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met in executive session on March 2, 2026, and worked through two large groups of bills, hearing staff briefings, caucusing, and then voting each measure out to the Rules Committee. In the first group, the committee advanced bills on state accounts (HB 2675, with an amendment creating an adult day service facilities account), immigrant worker protections (2SHB 2105, after adopting a striker and Amendment 8 while rejecting amendments that would have changed enforcement and private rights of action), voting rights compliance (E3SHB 1710, with all proposed amendments rejected), AI content provenance and notices (E2SHB 1170, with Amendment 19 adopted to exempt state/local/tribal governments and certain video-game and technical uses), public official protections (2SHB 233, with a technical amendment adopted), WOTEC civil service coverage (HB 2249), JLARC work plan changes (HB 2120), LEOFF Plan 1 termination/restatement (E2SHB 2034, with several amendments adopted including creation of a pension surplus holding account and study directives, while proposals to redirect funds to the Climate Commitment Act or provide a lump-sum payment were rejected or withdrawn), supplemental retirement bargaining (HB 1069, with a striker adopted), port employee retirement exclusions (EHB 2179, with a striker adopted), local government revenue flexibility (ESHB 2442, with Amendment 72 adopted to remove a county public utility tax and other amendments rejected), wildfire mitigation funding (SHB 2089), and timberland REET changes (HB 1983). The committee also noted that it would not take action on some items in the packet, including SHB 1833. In the second group, the committee advanced bills on local housing tax remittance programs (ESHB 1717), renewable energy tax incentives and grants (E3SHB 1960, with a striking amendment adopted that adjusted rates, timing, and related provisions), nonprofit fundraising hall property tax relief (HB 2431), food bank sales tax relief (SB 6006), local tax increment financing (E2SHB 2451), temporary staffing services for nonprofit behavioral health entities (SB 6297), school and child care-related sales tax exemptions (SSB 6351, with a substitute adopted and the competing amendment made out of order), behavioral health work group extension and leadership council creation (2SHB 2429), Working Connections Child Care changes (SB 6353, with Amendment 43 adopted), language access guidelines for state agencies (SHB 2475), unpaid wage recovery (2SHB 2479), firearms background check fee authority (HB 2521, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided), public employee information sharing (HB 2091, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided), and Office of Independent Investigations jurisdiction changes (ESHB 2508, briefed but not acted on in the portion provided). Throughout the meeting, members and staff discussed fiscal notes, implementation costs, and whether amendments would increase or reduce state impacts, with several amendments aimed at narrowing scope, delaying implementation, or shifting enforcement and funding responsibilities.