Transcript Highlights:

• in the state's funding formula.
• in the state's weighted student funding in the state's funding<00:08:00.879><c> formula.
• </c> federal funds or private partnerships. federal funds or private partnerships.
• those federal funds.
• </c> to accept those federal funds. to accept those federal funds.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call: 0:00:00 Approval of Minutes: 0:01:45 Federal Education Updates 0:02:12 Dual Credit Updates: 0:43:38 Kentucky State University's Doctoral Program Request: 01:27:08 Postsecondary Accreditation: 1:49:05 Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations: 2:14:48 Adjournment 2:16:31, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the previous meeting minutes, and heard a presentation from Austin Reid of the National Conference of State Legislatures on education-related provisions in the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). Reid said the law is projected to increase the federal deficit over 10 years, with major savings coming from Medicaid, student loan changes, and SNAP. He focused on how those changes could affect schools, including possible effects on free and reduced-price meal certification, state funding formulas that use SNAP as a proxy for low-income status, and Medicaid-funded school services for students with disabilities. Reid also outlined the new federal scholarship tax credit, which gives a dollar-for-dollar credit for donations to qualifying scholarship-granting organizations. He said families up to 300% of area median income may benefit, the program begins in 2027, and states must opt in and designate eligible organizations. He noted unresolved questions about whether states can add their own criteria and said Treasury regulations will be important. He also described the expansion of 529 plans to cover more K-12 and postsecondary expenses. On higher education, Reid explained a new workforce Pell grant option for short-term programs, with states and governors playing a role in determining eligible programs. He said the programs must meet placement, completion, and earnings measures and that implementation is expected to be tight before the July 1, 2026 effective date. He also reviewed student loan changes, including lower institutional loan limits, prorated borrowing for part-time enrollment, new caps on graduate and Parent PLUS loans, and a new earnings-based accountability standard that could make some programs ineligible for student loans if graduates earn too little. No votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> funding to this initiative. funding to this initiative.
• :10:34.560><c> updates</c><00:10:34.959><c> and</c> will fund much needed updates and will fund much
• </c> of potential damaging to this funding of potential damaging to this funding and<00:26:37.840><c>
• </c> buildings were transferred to Fairview. buildings were transferred to Fairview.
• . funding. funding.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This was originally funded out of the Nickel package back in 2023.
• We're going to go over the funding slide here in a minute.
• So this is the funding chart, and it's a little different.
• Funding sources that we received through Connecting Washington.
• or percentage reduction in funding.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met for work sessions, public hearings, and executive action. In the work session, WSDOT briefed the committee on the U.S. 12 corridor near Walla Walla and the North Spokane Corridor. Brian White said U.S. 12 is an eight-phase project with seven phases complete, and phase eight would finish the corridor, improve freight mobility and safety, and include a jurisdictional transfer of the old highway back to Walla Walla County. He said the project remains short of full funding, including a gap between the $350 million corridor cost and the $110 million federal Rural Surface Transportation grant, but WSDOT hopes to build smaller independent-utility pieces and begin construction in summer 2027. Charlene K. then reported that the North Spokane Corridor is seven of eight highway miles open, with major remaining work on the I-90 connection and related interchanges, bridges, and trail segments. She described the project as on track for design completion in 2027 and construction completion around 2030, while noting risks tied to federal approval, tight construction space, labor and contractor availability, utilities, and community impacts. The committee also heard from Karen Messmer of the Cooper Jones Active Transportation Safety Council, who summarized the council’s 2025 report and 2026 priorities. She emphasized that pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities remain unacceptably high and urged a safe-system approach focused on safer speeds, roads, road users, vehicles, land use, and post-crash care. She highlighted recommendations including safety-based performance measures, better speed management, more local safety planning support, improved driver education, attention to micromobility and large vehicles, and faster toxicology and crash-data processing. In public hearings, the committee heard Senate Bill 6131, which would expand the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s fatal crash review authority, designate it as a public health authority for limited access to health information, and create a confidential fatality review committee. The sponsor and Traffic Safety Commission said the bill would help identify common contributing factors in all fatal crashes while protecting confidential information; a media representative testified that the bill preserves public access to records already open and supports the goal of improving safety. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6155, which would extend disability parking placard renewal from every five years to every 20 years and remove the need for a health care practitioner’s signature at renewal; supporters said this would reduce burdens on permanently disabled people, while opponents warned it could increase fraud and misuse of placards. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6238, which would raise the minimum tug escort horsepower for oil tankers in restricted waters to 3,000 horsepower or 5% of tanker deadweight, whichever is greater; the sponsor and Board of Pilotage said the change would align statute with current practice and newly adopted rules. Testimony was mixed, and the hearing closed with two people signed in pro and two con. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. It passed Senate Bill 5746 on EV charging infrastructure property crime, Senate Bill 5824 on fifth wheel travel trailer length, Senate Bill 6110 on e-bikes and e-motos, Senate Bill 5839 on county ferry district passenger-only service, and Senate Bill 6148 on regional transit authority bond terms, all with due pass recommendations to the Rules Committee. An amendment to SB 6110 adding several state agency leaders to the e-moto work group was rejected. The committee adjourned after signing committee reports.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:42.560><c> I've</c> you've had to seek transfers on?
• I've you've had to seek transfers on?
• So this fund which is vitally important.
• But I want folks to know to have confidence in this fund, that we are going to fund it, and we're just
• But I want folks to know to have confidence in this fund, that we are going to fund it, and we're just

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on March 21, 2025, accepted the February 21 minutes, and approved a shortened consent calendar after removing Department of Safety item 2565 for separate discussion. That item concerned drone/UAS detection for special events and critical infrastructure. Department staff said the system would help locate drones and operators and support enforcement around temporary flight restrictions, but members pressed them on privacy versus security, and the department acknowledged the issue was primarily about security. The committee ultimately approved the item after discussion. Members also approved Department of Transportation item 2572 after a question about whether increased transfer requests would affect paving; DOT said the paving program would continue as normal. Judicial Council items 2566 and 2567 were also approved without discussion. During informational items, members asked for follow-up on Fish and Game’s Hike Safe card revenues versus search-and-rescue costs, and on DHHS reporting issues, including nursing home bed counts and declining community mental health center client numbers; DHHS said it would verify the bed-count methodology and provide a written update on the mental health data. The committee then entered non-public session to discuss an ongoing legal matter and related funding process. After returning, it considered a request under RSA 21-M:11 for an additional $5 million general fund appropriation for fiscal year 2025. Several members said they would have preferred the full $15 million request, but supported the smaller amount as a temporary step during the budget process, with expectations of monthly reporting back to the committee. The motion to approve $5 million passed 6-3. The committee set its next meeting for Friday, April 18 at 11:00 a.m. and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 16 transfers the existing fund... ...the PBM regulation.
• Section 16 transfers the existing funding from the prescription drug price transparency program into
• general fund. ...it's special funds, but yet it's going to be a reduction to the general fund, and I
• So typically we don't bill general fund agencies, and we do bill special fund agencies.
• And of course, we'll establish the same process for the purposes of transfer funds over to the insurance

Committee: Senate Industry and Business

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Industry and Business reconvened to work on House Bill 1584, which would create a new pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) regulatory structure within the Insurance Department. Insurance Commissioner John Godfrey and Deputy Commissioner John Arnold explained a revised set of amendments negotiated with Representative Casper and the North Dakota Pharmacists Association. They said the bill largely kept the House policy intact but added technical corrections, narrowed some references in Chapter 19-02, created a separate PBM licensing class, set a delayed effective date for licensing, and established emergency authority so the department could begin building the new division. They also described the proposal to fund the program through existing trust fund resources, PBM license fees, and a transfer of about $1.6 million from the prescription drug transparency program fund, while allowing the department flexibility to hire needed attorneys, pharmacists, and examiners. A major point of discussion was Section 10, which would have required the Attorney General to represent and bear costs for lawsuits related to the bill. Chief Deputy Attorney General Claire Ness said the language was too broad and would go beyond normal constitutional defense work, potentially obligating her office to cover all lawsuits against the commissioner or state under the section. Representative Casper said the intent was only to avoid the Insurance Department having to seek emergency funding for litigation, and both he and department officials said they were open to removing the section or narrowing it. After further discussion, the committee agreed to remove Section 10 from the amendments. The committee then voted 4-0 to adopt the amended amendment package, and then voted 4-0 to give House Bill 1584 a do pass recommendation as amended and refer it to Appropriations. Members noted the bill was still a work in progress, but said the revised version was intended to move the PBM regulation issue forward while continuing discussion in the appropriations process.

Transcript Highlights:

• Economic Stabilization Fund and State Highway Fund, here you will see that we project a transfer of 5.1
• Fund or also we call the Rainy Day Fund.
• The Rainy Day Fund will hit its cap at the beginning of fiscal 2026 with partial transfers. in 2025 severance
• Any additional transfers into the fund for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, the total amounts of severance
• But if it is the comptroller that is administering the program, those funds would be transferred to the

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: budget, House Bill 1, public education, healthcare, border security, federal funding, spending limits

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on reviewing the proposed budget for the upcoming biennium, with substantial discussions around House Bill 1 and its implications for public education, healthcare, and border security. The Comptroller presented a revenue overview indicating a total of $194.6 billion available for general purpose spending, which reflects a slight decrease compared to previous years due to fluctuating economic conditions. Members raised questions regarding spending limits and the impact of federal funding on state programs, highlighting concerns about the sustainability of funding in light of potential changes at the federal level.

Transcript Highlights:

• coming back to percentage of the funds coming back to Wyoming?
• <c> forest</c><02:11:55.000><c> health</c> This federal funding and forest health This federal funding
• </c><02:19:20.599><c> and</c> take a way to leverage some funding and take a way to leverage some funding
• We did open up Good Neighbor authority to take in additional funding.
• </c> additional funding. additional funding.

Committee: Joint Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I told them that a transfer of title is not going to clear a title defect.
• I told them that a transfer of title is not going to clear a title defect.
• And there's a big difference between transferring by a quitclaim deed and by fee simple transfer, correct
• Correct. ...quitclaim deed and by fee simple transfer, correct?
• It has to do with how the land was transferred initially.

Committee: House Government Efficiency

Summary: The committee met in executive session first and took up House Bill 2330, reconsidering a prior due-pass vote and then voting the House Committee Substitute due pass by roll call. It then considered House Bill 2291, where an amendment meant to clarify municipal building-code and zoning authority was discussed at length and ultimately withdrawn after members raised concerns that it would undercut the bill’s purpose; the bill itself then received a due-pass recommendation. House Bill 2336, dealing with state property conveyances and title issues, also drew questions about unclear title and the status of several properties, but the committee adopted the House Committee Substitute and voted the bill do pass. The committee then moved into public hearing on House Bill 3136, which would remove the state prohibition on creating a Missouri-based health insurance exchange; the sponsor and a witness argued it could save money, keep exchange fees in-state, and give Missouri more control, while several members objected that it would reverse the 2012 voter-approved prohibition and could entrench federal health-care policy. No action was taken on that bill in the hearing. The committee next heard House Bill 1833, which would let certain state employees opt out of the state health plan and receive a partial cash payout if they have other coverage. The sponsor argued it could be cost-neutral or save money and give employees more flexibility, while members and the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan raised concerns about fiscal impact, adverse selection, administrative burden, and whether the proposal turns a benefit into an entitlement. The witness for the plan said the fiscal note was based on about 4,112 active employees who already opt out, warned the stipend would be taxable and could create a new benefit that is hard to remove, and said proof of outside coverage would need to be maintained. The hearing then moved to House Bill 2506, which would require DESE to post QR-code placards at licensed child care facilities linking parents to existing inspection and complaint records; supporters said it would help parents make safer choices at no fiscal cost, while DESE explained the portal already exists and complaints are investigated quickly, and a witness described serious problems at one facility to illustrate why the information matters. Finally, the committee opened public hearing on House Bill 1758, a proposal to move Missouri to permanent daylight saving time once federal law allows it. The sponsor argued it would improve safety, boost economic activity, and avoid the inconvenience of changing clocks twice a year, while members raised concerns about darker mornings for schoolchildren and commuters and questioned whether the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The hearing was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final committee action on House Bill 3136, 1833, 2506, or 1758 was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no way to regain trust and might lead very well to misappropriated funds.
• There's no way to regain trust and might lead very well to misappropriated funds.
• It prevents patients from timely transfer. It is burdensome.
• Many patients being transferred between hospitals are critically ill.
• So they may be... ...being transferred between hospitals are critically ill.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held public hearings on several House bills and later took executive action on two others. The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2242, which would let the Department of Health issue immunization recommendations and tie preventive-service coverage to federal recommendations as of June 30, 2025, while preserving access to vaccines and other preventive services. Supporters, including the Governor’s office and the Insurance Commissioner, said the bill would protect access, affordability, and stable vaccine purchasing; opponents argued it politicizes vaccine policy and gives too much influence to state agencies and outside groups. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 2152, allowing terminally ill patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities to use medical cannabis under facility policies, with supporters emphasizing dignity, symptom relief, and safeguards, and House Bill 2088, joining the dietitian licensure compact, which supporters said would help military spouses, telehealth, and workforce shortages. House Bill 2110, on ambulance inter-facility specialty care transports, drew support from rural hospitals seeking more staffing flexibility and opposition from nurses and EMS personnel concerned about training, accountability, and patient safety. House Bill 2247, on veterinarian-client-patient relationships and telemedicine, drew support from the sponsor and some stakeholders as a workforce and access measure, but also criticism from the state veterinarian and others who said it could conflict with federal VCPR requirements and public health protections. House Bill 2340, expanding substance use disorder monitoring program eligibility to nursing assistants and stipend support, was presented as a way to help low-wage health workers stay in the workforce; there were no in-person testifiers against it. In executive session, the committee considered House Bill 2155, concerning the use of nursing titles, and House Bill 2531, aligning the ambulance transport fund quality assurance fee with federal regulations. Both bills received do-pass recommendations and were sent to the Rules Committee. For the public hearings, no final committee votes were taken on the other bills in this transcript, and testimony concluded on each measure after the committee heard from sponsors, agency officials, advocates, and opponents.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the federal government even has now issued an executive order to not fund any programs.
• HB 2671 limits the use of mandatory transfer to adult court for 15-, 16-, and 17-year-old youth who were
• At the same time, the bill fully preserves mandatory transfer for serious violent offenses that present
• A youth can be mandatorily transferred to adult court based on repeat low-level felony offenses without
• To be clear, a prosecutor under this bill will have the ability to initiate a transfer proceeding.

Summary: The Special Committee on Government heard three measures and advanced all of them on due pass recommendations. First, HCR 2044, sponsored by the Speaker, would expand Arizona’s constitutional prohibition on preferential treatment and discrimination based on race or ethnicity in public education, spending, hiring, and contracting. Supporters, including Goldwater Institute, Our America, and Heritage Action, argued it would close loopholes around DEI and reaffirm merit-based treatment. Some members raised concerns that the resolution would chill speech and discussion about race and identity, while others said it was needed to prevent race-based preferences. The committee approved the resolution 4-3. The committee then considered HB 2671, as amended by the Blackman Amendment. The bill narrows mandatory adult-court transfer for juveniles classified as chronic felony offenders, limiting it to higher-level felonies and preserving transfer for serious violent offenses. Sponsor Rep. Hernandez and juvenile public defender Michelle Robbins said the change would restore judicial and prosecutorial discretion, keep lower-level repeat juvenile offenders in juvenile court, and reduce recidivism by allowing access to rehabilitative services. Members from both parties spoke in support, emphasizing second chances and juvenile justice reform. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 7-0. Finally, the committee heard HB 2676, also sponsored by Rep. Hernandez, which lowers the minimum age for restoring firearm possession rights for certain juvenile offenders from 30 to 25 and broadens restoration eligibility for other juvenile felony convictions. Supporters said the bill aligns firearm-rights restoration with juvenile record-destruction timelines and helps rehabilitated individuals move forward without unnecessary barriers to employment, education, and housing. The committee passed the bill 7-0 and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our fund, a relief special fund, is funded to around 120%, maybe a little off now with the current markets
• fully funded.
• So is the alternative then to wait until we're 105% funded or 110% funded?
• So is the alternative then to wait until we're 105% funded or 110% funded?
• Chair, members, just to respond to the 100% funding: we're not opposed to being 100% funded.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As the law is now, there is an annual transfer of $3 million into the fund from the state road fund.
• actually a sub-fund.
• actually a sub-fund.
• Again, makes them do it without any funding. There's no funding contemplated in the bill.
• Again, makes them do it without any funding. There's no funding contemplated in the bill.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> well</c><00:10:43.680><c> as</c><00:10:44.079><c> transfer</c><00:10:44.560><c> funds</c><00:10:
• 45.040><c> from</c><00:10:45.680><c> the</c> as well as transfer funds from the as well as transfer funds
• Moving next to line 913, this would involve two transfers to and from the workforce incentive fund.
• to the general fund in fiscal year 2025, and then in fiscal year 2028 that same amount would be transferred
• back into the workforce transferred back into the workforce incentive<00:47:13.599><c> fund.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• transfer money to the ratepayers instead of the renewable energy fund as well as make sure that the
• </c> renewable energy fund renewable energy fund transfer<00:06:55.520><c> money</c><00:06:55.840><c>
• any money was transferred either to the general fund or paid back to ratepayers. they say they say fund
• </c> fund those and then transfer the money. fund those and then transfer the money.
• </c> would be a transfer to the general fund would be a transfer to the general fund to<00:19:28.000>

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so we're not asking for any additional funding right now.
• ,</c><00:14:35.440><c> general</c> done with operating funds, general done with operating funds, general
• </c><00:14:39.199><c> right</c> asking for any additional funding right asking for any additional funding
• Um, pursuant to chapter 14611, we're allowed to request to transfer funds from completed capital projects
• </c><00:16:34.480><c> funds</c> allowed to request to transfer funds allowed to request to transfer funds

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Capital Project Overview Committee approved the February 24 minutes and then voted to confirm Senator Mark Maki as vice chair. The committee next took up DAS request CAP 25004, which sought permission to use the remaining $713,667 from a $7 million appropriation for the purchase of 25 Hall Street to address deficiencies identified in an engineering study. DAS explained the building was bought for $6.25 million after the study revealed issues, and the funds would be used first for the most urgent repairs, especially the roof. In response to questions, DAS said the roof estimate was about $560,000, with other estimated needs including a skylight at $288,000, plumbing at $59,000, HVAC at $325,000, and electrical work at $547,000; the committee approved the request. The committee then considered CAP 25005, another DAS request to transfer $221,632 from five completed capital projects to the Hillsborough County South cell block renovation project. DAS said the project had been identified years earlier, had only recently entered design, and now appeared likely to cost more than the original appropriation because of inflation and delay. Senator Lang asked whether the transfer would be enough, and DAS responded that there was no final estimate yet but they hoped to engineer the project to fit the available funds. The committee approved the transfer. Later, the committee welcomed Senator Maki, who accepted the vice chair position. Under other business, members discussed a prior proposal in HB 2 that would have changed reporting from quarterly to annual; the committee was told the amendment had been made so that change would not go forward, and that the relevant section remained in HB 25 because it corrects capital budget language in multiple places. The committee set its next meeting for June 30 at 9:00 a.m. and requested that the Liquor Commission attend to discuss the 90/95 sale of property. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> funding so we're we're shifting funding funding so we're we're shifting funding between<01:15:11.000
• that funding available.
• that funding available.
• that funding available.
• that funding available.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• These funds. Okay.
• You know, funding and funding and funding and funding and more staff, and I get that.
• Is there's a mof swap where general revenue funds are being utilized instead of the transfer from?
• The summary of federal funds, there's a total of $931 million. and federal funding.
• transferred? Yes.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> those transfer stations up and running. those transfer stations up and running.
• </c> GAP funding has been um provided. GAP funding has been um provided.
• and trying to figure out how we were going to fund these transfer stations. and also um different partners
• Arapahoe Transfer Station.
• So, uh, those funds don't results.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Tribal Relations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This program's current year budget is $19,766,696 with 106 FTE, and is funded through transfers from
• state agencies that it serves and funds collected. ...and is funded through transfers from state agencies
• This program's current year budget is $21,515,381 with 136 FTE, and is funded by a transfer from the
• FTE and is funded by a transfer from the Workers' Compensation Administration Trust Fund of the Department
• And I want you to also recognize that we transferred $350 million to the health insurance trust fund

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• be in addition to, not in lieu of. funding for public schools.
• those funds are being spent.
• Our public schools are trying trying to fill without funding.
• we use to fund our public schools. and create a two-tiered system, well-funded private schools for the
• We need to fully fund our public schools.

Bills: SB2 , SJR36 , SB2 , SB2 , SR29 , SB2

Keywords: Maverick County, recognition, economic development, Texas Senate, community celebration, 1185, senate, all