Transcript Highlights:

• of those endowment funds.
• the general fund to WIA.
• fund are being swapped out with funds from WIA. ...from other accounts like the general fund are being
• from the general fund.
• education funding.

Committee: Joint Joint Higher Education Committee

Summary: The Joint Higher Education Committee met with introductions from members and then held a work session on higher education and statewide accounting practices. OFM Deputy Director Sarah Rupp explained how state and university accounting/reporting differ, including current AFRS/SAM requirements and the transition to Workday/WAM, and described what higher education data are currently included in state reporting versus what will remain excluded, such as transaction-level detail and vendor payment information. University of Washington and Washington State University officials then described the complexity of their institutions’ financial structures, including multiple campuses, auxiliary enterprises, component units, hospitals, clinics, bonds, and other reporting obligations, and how they submit summarized data to the state while maintaining more detailed local accounting systems. The Education Research and Data Center also presented the public four-year finance dashboard created under Senate Bill 5512, emphasizing that the metrics are best used to examine trends within institutions rather than direct comparisons across schools; members asked about data availability and federal reporting delays, and ERDC said it was on track to update the dashboard with newer data and additional metrics. The committee then heard a presentation from the Washington Student Achievement Council on the Workforce Education Investment Account (WIA). Joel Anderson reviewed WIA’s creation under House Bill 2158, its revenue sources, and its intended purpose of supporting postsecondary attainment, high-demand fields, student aid, and workforce education. He said WIA revenue has grown substantially, especially after recent tax changes, and noted that most current appropriations go to higher education, including the Washington College Grant, community and four-year institutions, and some workforce-related programs. Members asked whether WIA supports apprenticeships and trades, and Anderson said it has in some cases, though nearly all current appropriations are now within higher education. Anderson also highlighted a major policy shift in the 2025-27 budget: WIA is now being used to supplant some general-fund higher education spending, especially a large transfer for University of Washington general operations. He said this has reduced the general fund share of higher education funding and increased the share from WIA, raising concerns about whether the account is still being used as originally intended. He also described how WIA is increasingly covering Washington College Grant caseload growth and faculty compensation costs, and said WSAC is working to improve public documentation of ongoing and carry-forward appropriations. The committee did not take any substantive votes on the presentation topics and then moved toward executive session and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:36.080><c> to</c> efficiently delivering funds to efficiently delivering funds to designated
• for example um current financial ratios for example um current ratios<00:31:57.480><c> asset</c><00:
• Um, I don't know if we still have funding left, maybe a little bit of funding, but that we're actually
• Um, I don't know if we still have funding left, maybe a little bit of funding, but that we're actually
• </c> funding but that we're actually funded funding but that we're actually funded by<00:42:55.079><c

Committee: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a 57.5 to 13 supervisor to total FTE ratio. is 23%.
• That funding was for air conditioner replacements.
• A 1-4, 1-5 ratio for supervisors is typically a management ratio for an industry that needs to be.
• Is why is the supervisor to FT ratio so high?
• Funding and so was the CPB funding.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• Ratios will be set by BESE, and there is also... You can continue. Okay.
• Ratios will be set by BESE, and there is also a waiver available for those ratios.
• Amendment 3 has to do with the ratios. So when we look at the ratios, that is a BESE function.
• Two things I want to talk about are the ratios in the bill, Center Mizell.
• on ages, Cognia, the... ...including new ratios on ages, Cognia, the COE licensing, including new ratios

Bills: HB624 , HB1022 , HB1203 , SB82 , SB206 , SB305 , SB376 , SB441

Committee: House Education

Keywords: school safety, emergency operations plan, crisis management, active shooter, drills, training, classroom security, primary health services, behavioral health, school health providers, medical necessity, student health care, education, school week, instructional time, public schools, performance score, student athletes, cardiovascular health, sudden cardiac arrest

Transcript Highlights:

• Regarding crisis residential centers, CRCs, the staffing ratio is revised to one staff to four youth
• , noting that it was common sense not to require the same ratios at night as during the day.
• For decades, the programs have been operating with a 1-to-4 ratio during daytime working hours and a
• 1-to-6 ratio during overnight hours.
• of participants served due to the heightened confusion ratio found in this existing RCW.

Bills: HB2464 , SGA9305

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: detention facilities, law enforcement, reporting requirements, incidents, private detention

Transcript Highlights:

• When you all last session passed the Texas Energy. fund.
• The Texas Energy Fund needs to have a HCR that would allow us to use these funds for these projects.
• They are fully federally funded in this status.
• How does the debt-equity ratio in... in other jurisdictions compared to the debt-equity ratio here in
• is to set a ratio equal to the national average.

Bills: HB551 , HB 1281 , HB1378 , HB1617 , HB2868 , HB2881 , HB3374 , HB4439 , HB4726 , HB4732 , HB4878 , HB4914 , HB4921 , HB4958 , HB5200 , HB5318 , HB5360 , HB5402 , HB5568 , HB5573 , HB5623 , HJR218

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, international organizations, World Health Organization, jurisdiction, state law, enforcement, United Nations, World Economic Forum, attorney general, Texas attorney general, state sovereignty, legal enforcement, Texas Attorney General, electric energy storage, municipal regulation, county regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• Retirement benefits were $1.5 billion, which is what we paid out, and our funded ratio today is 65.2%
• As you know, the PERA fund, which is our largest fund, gives you a breakdown of our funding ratio over
• Slide 10, Madam Chair, looks at our funded ratio going forward.
• They both have a title: funded ratio for the PERA fund.
• So I want to go back to the funded ratio part, so I happen to know from having served.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• But we fund Broward Behavior, help the different coalitions where we have a funding entity, and then
• To increase the funding for the salaries.
• Funded at $10 million, spent $24 million on safety. We were funded at $5 million for mental health.
• There was a question on the ratio, so the recommended ratio is, ...on the ratio.
• So we're funding three hours a day.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education received a presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget and the Department of Education on the Governor’s fiscal year 2026-27 education budget. Shelby Salmons outlined the overall budget framework, and Commissioner Stasi Kamoutsis highlighted major education investments, including $486 million for VPK, $30.6 billion for K-12 education, a $761.1 million increase in FEFP funding, the highest per-student funding level to date, and $201 million more for teacher pay flexibility. The presentation also emphasized school safety, mental health, civics education, and the Guardian Program, along with continued funding for TEACH, HIPPY, Help Me Grow, and civics debate and literacy initiatives. Members asked about how the mental health allocation would be used, counselor staffing ratios, school closures and whether the department intervenes, oversight of school choice and voucher-funded schools, and the Guardian Program’s pay structure and effectiveness. Senators also raised concerns about the FISH school capacity report, data collection, teacher pay, professional development, AI and tutoring technology, and whether the budget adequately supports mental health services and school safety. The Commissioner said many funding decisions are left to districts, that the department stands ready to assist, and that the Guardian Program has been successful and expanded over time. During public testimony, Pinellas County School Board member Laura Hine said her district spends far more on safety and mental health than it receives in state categorical funding, and urged the committee to consider full-day VPK funding, arguing it has improved third-grade reading outcomes in Pinellas. Senators followed up on district flexibility and local spending choices. The committee took no substantive vote on the budget presentation and adjourned after thanking the department for its recommendations and partnership.

Transcript Highlights:

• Funding for CC has come from the general fund or has come from SIF, but there was no new funding awarded
• This funding used both SIF and ARPA funds, and I'll give you some details on that funding a little bit
• There have been many changes to the funding mechanism for this fund.
• the legacy fund, and those became a fixed asset for the legacy fund.
• the legacy fund, and those became a fixed asset for the legacy fund.

Summary: The committee received a compliance and budget update on Industrial Commission agencies and programs, including the Industrial Commission administrative office, the Oil and Gas Research Program, the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the State Energy Research Center, the Research Technology Park grant program, and related funds. Staff reviewed spending and balances for items such as electric grid resiliency grants, lignite research, enhanced oil recovery, the salt cavern business case study, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members also discussed timing, carryover balances, matching requirements, and how some programs are structured to reimburse projects over several years rather than spend funds immediately. Karen Tyler of the Industrial Commission described the agency’s administrative budget, the grant management system nearing completion, and the transition to standalone audits and staffing after separating from other agencies. She also outlined the status of active grant rounds across lignite, oil and gas, renewable energy, outdoor heritage, and clean sustainable energy programs. Members asked about the length of active grants, demand for clean energy funding, and the possibility of future grant rounds. Tyler and members also discussed the salt cavern study, the need to better define its commercial value, and the research technology park grant’s cash-match requirement. Ron Ness then testified on enhanced oil recovery and broader oil and gas market conditions. He said North Dakota production remained steady, but future growth depends on infrastructure, longer laterals, and better use of natural gas and carbon dioxide for EOR. He described the state’s EOR grant round, the use of federal DOE funding to replace part of a state-funded project, and the expectation of additional grant rounds. Members asked about CO2 supply, storage, and the economics of using legacy fields and pipelines to extend oil production and support agriculture and industrial uses. The committee also heard from Bank of North Dakota President Don Morgan, who reviewed the bank’s mission, governance, lending verticals, disaster programs, and new initiatives. He said the bank is seeing deposit growth flatten and is responding to fintech competition by focusing on liquidity, risk management, and a new payment infrastructure initiative called Rough Rider Coin, which he emphasized is not crypto and not a public coin, but a banking payment rail for North Dakota institutions. Members asked about student loan rates, disaster lending, and how the bank’s lines of credit and balance sheet capacity are affected by deposit trends. Morgan said the bank remains profitable and continues to support agriculture, commerce, and industry through participation loans, student lending, and state-directed programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• the strain, so what can we do to support educators and some of their most vulnerable students with funding
• So what can we do to support educators and some of their most vulnerable students with funding challenges
• We require a smaller ratio to our teacher to student.
• We require a smaller ratio to our teacher to student.
• We require a smaller ratio to our teacher to student.

Transcript Highlights:

• funding.
• funding.
• ratio.
• </c> they do want it fully funded. they do want it fully funded.
• Student to faculty ratio. And right? Student to faculty ratio.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:05:04.960><c> these</c> families and that the funding that these families and that the funding
• on those levels of funding.
• They would provide the funding.
• </c> direction on necessary levels of funding direction on necessary levels of funding to<00:10:29.839
• We would like to see that they get the right amount of funding to fund the type of program that they

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The balance in that fund acted at the time and continues to act... ...in that fund acted at the time
• The statute has a maximum leverage ratio.
• It has a maximum leverage ratio of three and a half to one, and with roughly $100 million in the fund
• for funding was 2020.
• It funded 386 positions in 424 schools.

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh the staffing ratio uh president.
• for critical access nursing home funding for critical access nursing home funding.<02:40:56.479><c>
• </c> Funding.
• Uh these new staffing these ratios.
• </c> ratios are so so crucial and important. ratios are so so crucial and important.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, when the department was allocated funding through the Legislature for the opioid settlement funding
• “Funding, one of the line items was money specifically set aside for prevention campaigns.
• We're also concerned about changing the low THC ratios.
• It's going to maintain the funding for FAMU.
• This bill addresses that disparity by adjusting the income-sharing ratio.

Bills: S0688 , S1414 , S0186 , S0902 , S0196 , S1574 , S0878 , S1092 , S1032 , S1684 , S1686 , S1760

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The committee took up several health-related bills and confirmations. It first heard SB 1414 on congenital cytomegalovirus education, which would require the Department of Health to develop and distribute educational materials to expectant and new parents through maternity, prenatal, newborn, and OB-GYN settings; an amendment removed a section on required instruction for medical professionals, and the bill was reported favorably as a committee substitute. The committee then approved a block of appointees on tabs 2 through 7 and separately confirmed Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration after her testimony on Medicaid accountability, transparency, managed care oversight, rural health, behavioral health, and the state’s technology modernization efforts. Senators asked Harris about Hope Florida, Medicaid redeterminations, the CORE project, an anti-marijuana ad campaign at DCF, and compliance with a federal Medicaid-related court order; she said she would follow up on some issues. The confirmation was recommended favorably, with Senator Berman voting no. The committee next passed SB 186 on student health and safety, which expands epilepsy and seizure-disorder training requirements to more school personnel, including bus drivers and charter school staff, and requires seizure-first-aid posters and updated Department of Health education efforts. It also approved SB 902 on Department of Health issues after amendments narrowed the bill’s scope and added provisions on medical marijuana regulation, early childhood intervention, practitioner accountability, and autism workforce development; one speaker raised concerns about marijuana dispensary location restrictions and low-THC ratios. SB 196 creating a uterine fibroid research database was also reported favorably after an amendment protecting patient privacy; the bill drew emotional testimony from a patient describing severe symptoms and the need for more research. SB 688 on naturopathic medicine was approved after committee discussion about scope of practice, referral obligations, and whether naturopathic care should be adjunctive to conventional medicine; supporters described complementary care and access issues, while opponents worried about delayed treatment for serious disease. Later, the committee passed SB 1574, “Maddie’s Law,” to add biliary atresia screening to newborn screening using the same blood specimen already collected at birth and to launch an education campaign; parents of a child affected by the disease testified that earlier screening could have prevented severe harm. SB 878 on clinical laboratory personnel was reported favorably to address staffing shortages by allowing Florida to rely more directly on federal CLIA standards for qualified lab workers. SB 1092 on podiatric medicine was approved after an amendment narrowed it to cellular/tissue-based products and podiatrists’ use of certain therapies; the bill also addresses continuing education, informed consent, and advertising disclosures. SB 1032 on medical marijuana was amended and passed, aligning physician certification and card renewal timelines, setting 70-day and 35-day supply limits, and reducing the fee for honorably discharged veterans while preserving funding for FAMU; Senator Harrell opposed it, saying the longer timeframes were too much of an expansion. The committee also heard SB 1760 on Medicaid coverage transparency from Senator Brodeur, who said the bill focuses on accountability and fiscal responsibility, but the transcript cuts off before further discussion or action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some grant funding has been committed out of the Clean Sustainable Energy Fund.
• Funding for CC has come from the general fund or has come from SIF, but there was no new funding awarded
• This funding used both SIF and ARPA funds, and I'll give you some details on that funding a little bit
• There have been many changes to the funding mechanism for this fund.
• The State Energy Research Center Fund is fund number 490.

Summary: The committee received a compliance and status update on Industrial Commission programs and the Bank of North Dakota. Staff reviewed appropriations and spending for several Industrial Commission funds and grant programs, including lignite research, oil and gas research, clean sustainable energy, grid resiliency, salt cavern analysis, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members discussed the timing of reimbursements, uncommitted balances, and the structure of the pipeline capacity and enhanced oil recovery funding. The Industrial Commission also reported on its administrative budget, grant management system project, and recent leadership transitions across several agencies. Karen Tyler of the Industrial Commission described active grant rounds and the status of major projects. She said the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority approved three projects in its sixth round, with remaining uncommitted cash and loan capacity still available, though no new funding was appropriated this session. She also said the Oil and Gas Research Council approved six enhanced oil recovery projects and expects additional funding after a federal Department of Energy award replaces one project’s state funding. For grid resiliency grants, she said some projects have been funded, some commitments were returned or reallocated, and some DOE funds remain pending. She also updated the committee on the salt cavern business case study, which replaced an earlier larger development proposal, and on the NDSU research park grant, where the nonmatching portion was paid and the matching portion has moved slowly because the match must be in cash. Ron Ness then gave an extended presentation on enhanced oil recovery and North Dakota oil and gas trends. He said production remains steady, but future growth depends on infrastructure, especially gas takeaway and projects like the Bakken East pipeline. He argued that enhanced oil recovery using CO2, natural gas, surfactants, and other methods could extend Bakken production for decades, but that the state needs more CO2 supply, better storage, and updated tax and regulatory incentives. Members asked about lateral lengths, CO2 availability, pipeline impacts, and the role of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and Ness emphasized that the projects are intended to share technical learning across operators and attract follow-on investment. The Bank of North Dakota then presented its compliance report and strategic update. President Don Morgan said the bank’s mission remains to support North Dakota agriculture, commerce, and industry while cooperating with the state’s financial sector. He reviewed the bank’s main business lines: participation lending with community institutions, student loans, disaster lending, mission-based programs, and a new fintech-focused effort. Morgan said deposits are flattening, so the bank is managing balance sheet growth carefully, while still reporting improved net income and strong efficiency. He also introduced Rough Rider Coin as a bank-to-bank payment rail, not a public cryptocurrency, intended to speed and modernize payments within North Dakota’s banking and credit union system. Committee members asked about student loan eligibility, disaster program use, and how credit lines and liquidity would be affected if deposits shrink.

Transcript Highlights:

• or by state funds.
• or by state funds.
• Performance funding.
• So there is no risk uh to those funds funds funds &gt;&gt; and<00:17:59.039><c> I</c><00:17:59.200><c
• </c> be returned back to the general fund. be returned back to the general fund.

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education met to begin hearing budget requests from Kentucky universities. Eastern Kentucky University President David McFaden highlighted EKU’s enrollment growth, its large population of Pell-eligible and first-generation students, and its role in producing graduates for Kentucky’s workforce, especially in health care, public safety, manufacturing, engineering, and aviation. He said EKU is seeking support for a Center for Health Innovation, including a doctor of osteopathic medicine program, with a $50 million accreditation escrow and startup funding that would be returned to the state after accreditation. He also described EKU’s health programs, which have strong pass rates and high in-state employment outcomes, and said the university wants continued asset preservation funding, inflationary operating support, and other recurring budget items. McFaden also outlined EKU’s aviation request, including $10 million for new aircraft and support for an enhanced air traffic control program created in response to a legislative study. He said the program would enroll cohorts of about 30 students, likely attract out-of-state students, and require a $5 million startup investment plus $1.5 million in annual recurring support. He added that EKU’s lab school is seeking a revised funding model tied to enrollment rather than a flat mandated amount. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the medical school escrow, aircraft needs, and program capacity, and McFaden clarified that the escrow would remain intact until accreditation and then be returned to the general fund. Kentucky State University President Kakpo then reviewed prior capital support that helped repair a dorm and several leaking roofs, and said the university is still addressing campus infrastructure problems. He said KSU’s main request is a new health sciences building to house its growing nursing program and language program, along with $40 million for additional dorm renovations and a carve-out for its aquaculture program. Kakpo said the aquaculture PhD proposal would be federally funded and could bring in more revenue, while the new building would help relieve overcrowding and support KSU’s research role. In response to questions, he said KSU’s campus housing capacity would be about 1,334 beds if all dorms were repaired, and that the university is rotating students through renovated buildings while trying to keep them on campus. Committee members also raised safety concerns about the December campus shooting at KSU. Kakpo said the incident was isolated, expressed sympathy for the families affected, and said the university has reviewed campus procedures, added police and security positions, and is strengthening safety processes. The meeting did not include any votes or formal actions; it was a budget presentation and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state would continue under the alternative to fund districts for the 12 to 1 ratio.
• The state would continue under the alternative to fund districts for the 12 to 1 ratio.
• The state would continue under the alternative to fund districts for the 12 to 1 ratio.
• Are LEAs asking for the funding, using the funding, fully expending the funding?
• They're funded through Title III funding.

Summary: The committee heard the May Revision presentation for the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, with public comment focused heavily on K-12 priorities such as universal school meals, kitchen infrastructure, food service and custodial support, youth leadership grants, Special Olympics funding, English learner support, universal pre-K, literacy investments, and concerns about community college funding shifts. Speakers also urged support for expanded learning, teacher recruitment and training, and maintaining or increasing funding for community colleges and student support programs. Finance and the LAO then reviewed the Proposition 98 outlook. Finance said the May Revision lowers the 2025-26 Prop. 98 guarantee to $114.6 billion, about $4.3 billion below January, due mainly to lower revenue estimates, with smaller effects from attendance and property tax changes. The administration also described rebenching for universal transitional kindergarten and a one-time rebench tied to Los Angeles fire-related property tax losses, along with changes to the Public School System Stabilization Account, deferrals, and updated COLA assumptions. The LAO said the budget relies too much on deferrals and one-time funds, creates a structural shortfall, and should instead align ongoing spending with the guarantee and preserve a reserve buffer. Members questioned the TK rebench and the shift of funding from community colleges to K-12, asking why it was being applied retroactively and how colleges would be held harmless. Finance said the changes align funding with where TK costs are being incurred and that reappropriation funding and other adjustments would offset impacts on community colleges. The LAO argued the historical split formula is outdated and should be abandoned in favor of budgeting around current priorities rather than fixed percentages. Members also raised concerns about draining the rainy day reserve and using deferrals, while the LAO said preserving reserves would better protect against future volatility. The committee then moved to specific K-12 and education proposals. Finance outlined May Revision changes including state operations adjustments for the Department of Education, technical trailer bill changes, a $100 million student teacher stipend program administered by Kern County, and updates to the charter school facility grant program. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed increases for expanded learning, literacy coaches, and the student teacher stipend as currently structured, while supporting the minimum grant increase for expanded learning. Members expressed support for teacher recruitment efforts but questioned whether one-time funding can sustain ongoing programs and whether the student teacher stipend should be targeted to shortage areas or low-income communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> as the anticipated fund source. as the anticipated fund source.
• One is called a contingency fund and the other is called an unassigned fund balance.
• Then you get to spend this leftover sort of emergency fund, similar to the state's rainy day fund.
• Then you get to spend this leftover sort of emergency fund, similar to the state's rainy day fund.
• </c><01:05:36.720><c> I</c> set up special contingency funds. I set up special contingency funds.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> straight university funding for the St. straight university funding for the St.
• </c> dependent upon the ratio of that change. dependent upon the ratio of that change.
• </c> debt ratios start to tighten. debt ratios start to tighten.
• new funds for the new purpose.
• </c> general fund later to pay debt service. general fund later to pay debt service.

Committee: House Capital Investment