Transcript Highlights:

• If you look over time, there is an increasing trend.
• Those trends, you know, over time it's been increasing.
• The market is increasing. Production is up. Wholesale prices have stabilized a little bit.
• Oh, despite all of this, we're staring down a more than 25% scheduled tax increase.
• This would repeal the automatic excise tax increase that is scheduled on July 1st.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill includes a one-time operating increase of $940,000 in fiscal year 2026 and an ongoing increase
• to the general operating budget to fund things such as increased IT, increased parking costs, funds
• The increase to our operating budget.
• <00:28:33.480> IT, to fund things such as increased IT, to fund things such as increased IT
• :36.640> for increased parking costs, funds for increased parking costs, funds for deferred<00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Million increase from FY20.
• , so an almost $700 million increase from FY26.
• in English learners, increases in students with disabilities, and also increases in insurance costs.
• So, there's less repetition and it increased efficiency.
• We have helped to increase their pay.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It settled on a 10% increase for salaries for the Secretary of State.
• No, the only increases? No, there's no increase in this appropriation. Correct.
• There is no increase in this appropriation. Happy to answer any questions.
• an amendment for the increased security of the Rockefeller building.
• Again, no increase in this appropriation. Happy to answer any questions.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since this is a three-for-three swap, there is no increase in the total number of positions at the agency
• VR purchased services increased by...
• While the total expenditures for VR purchased services increased by 78 percent, the DSB also did not
• “Well, I'm not looking for a drastic increase because I know that we were short-handed, right?
• If you increase someone's pay, overtime, their dollar amount goes up.

Summary: The committee first considered a Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism request to swap three administrative coordinator positions for one park superintendent, one maintenance supervisor, and one park manager for Blanchard Springs State Park. Members were told the change would be funded by conservation tax special revenues, would not increase total positions, and had OPM’s support. The item was reviewed and approved without objection. Members then approved two special compensation plans: one from the Department of Commerce for lump-sum bonuses of up to $5,000 for employees involved in the unemployment insurance system migration to a cloud-based platform, and one from the Department of Veterans Affairs for $2,000 recruitment bonuses for certified nursing assistants at the Fayetteville and North Little Rock State Veterans Homes. The Department of Health also received approval to reinstate a previously frozen fiscal support manager position for the State Medical Board, with the agency noting the position was already authorized and would not increase total staffing. The committee spent substantial time on a Commerce reduction-in-force affecting the Division of Services for the Blind and related workforce operations. Secretary Hugh McDonald said the layoffs were driven by over-obligated federal funds, lack of fiscal planning, and a need to realign operations; he said the RIF would be permanent and that 56 employees remained furloughed, with 17 positions slated for elimination. Senators questioned the division’s accountability structure, the role of the board and governor, and whether the cuts disproportionately affected African American employees; Commerce was asked to provide racial composition data for the workforce and the RIF. The committee also reviewed quarterly employment and overtime reports. Members asked about overtime levels at DHS, Corrections, and Transportation, and whether higher staffing levels and the new pay plan were reducing overtime. OPM said overtime was being monitored, that direct-care positions are exempt from the hiring freeze, and that the state had hired more than 1,200 employees at DHS since the new system went live. No further action was taken on the report items, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, yes, table four is what the governor provided, which is a ceiling increase, a budget ceiling increase
• <00:14:44.639> for One is to look at the loan increase for One is to look at the loan increase
• But as cost for training and cost for testing increase, we have to increase the ceiling for us to accommodate
• But as cost for training and cost for testing increase, we have to increase the ceiling for us to accommodate
• But as cost for training and cost for testing increase, we have to increase the ceiling for us to accommodate

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, we do see an increase.
• <01:19:40.920> will time this license fee increase will time this license fee increase will
• testified that this needed fee increase testified that this needed fee increase will<01:20:14.679
• <01:23:50.480> uh facilities will see a large increase uh facilities will see a large increase
• <01:41:21.400> water from their ability to increase water from their ability to increase water

Bills: HF2446, HF2878, HF2667, HF1795, HF2683, HF2916

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:01:03.280> some window uh where we could increase some window uh where we could increase
• the balance but only the $5 increase the balance but only the $5 increase would<01:19:50.560>
• associated with the direct fee increase associated with the direct fee increase to<01:21:38.440>
• They're trying to increase that.
• <01:59:34.520> General we may be able to uh increase General we may be able to uh increase

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division II work session focused on Fish and Game’s budget-revenue proposals and several statutory changes the department said it needs to support its operations. The department recommended raising the fisheries habitat fee and wildlife habitat fee to $5 each, estimating additional annual revenue of about $640,000 and $144,000 respectively. Members clarified that these are habitat fees added on top of licenses, not reduced by senior or youth license categories, and discussed the need for RSA changes to allow the revenue to be transferred into the Fish and Game Fund. The department also said it would work internally on any broader license fee increases through the commission process. The committee then reviewed proposals to cap several dedicated accounts and transfer excess balances to the unrestricted Fish and Game Fund. Those accounts included the fisheries and wildlife habitat funds and the game management account, with the department proposing a $750,000 cap on each and transfer of amounts above that threshold. The department said the cap was based on several years of expenditures and the fact that dedicated funds are often used as match for federal funds. Members asked for reports on fund activity and questioned whether the cap and mandatory transfer language should be “shall” or “may,” with the department indicating it would prefer “may” for flexibility. The committee also discussed a Pheasant Management Program account, where the department said current law limits use of the money to buying and propagating pheasants and it wants authority to use it for broader program management. A substantial portion of the meeting addressed Fish and Game’s environmental review unit and the transfer of ARPA-funded positions to DEES under the governor’s initiative. The department said four positions are currently ARPA-funded, that DEES supports keeping them in place through the end of the year, and that the transition will require time because environmental review work is intertwined across the agency. The department explained that before the ARPA positions, biologists handled the work and that current staffing has helped eliminate a backlog and meet deadlines. Members also discussed a proposal to expand environmental review fees beyond private developers to state, federal, municipal, and local governments, with the department saying it would need rulemaking and stakeholder input. Additional requests included authority to conduct raffles to raise funds, creation of a revolving account for donations and raffle proceeds, and repeal of the obsolete fish food sales statute because the vending machines are no longer functional and the account generates no revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• or merit pay, do you know if there’s a breakdown in...” “...the merit increase or merit pay.
• Comparatively, spending increased by more than $5 million.
• by around 11% over this three-year span, while district spending increased by 31%.
• The funding amount can only increase with an increase in the number of students and, per statute and
• Supplemental spending increased on average for all three school years.

Summary: The committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Department of Education on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship, featuring three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central who are also teacher merit pay recipients. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long Zoom-based collaboration with about 23 educators statewide, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about the teachers’ experience, how they share what they learn with their districts, the range of grades represented in the fellowship, and the relationship between the fellowship and merit pay. The teachers emphasized building relationships with students, using data to drive instruction, early intervention, and collaboration across grade levels, while the secretary said the program is intended to identify and elevate high-performing teachers and spread their practices. A major portion of the discussion focused on third-grade reading, retention, and the new ATLAS testing system. Teachers and the secretary said students are screened and progress monitored throughout the year, families are notified early if students are at risk, and schools are using interventions, tutoring, and individualized reading plans. They said ATLAS results are now available much faster than in the past, often within 24 hours or a few days, allowing teachers and parents to respond quickly. Members asked about the impact of poverty, trauma, foster care, DHS involvement, IEPs, and critical shortage areas; teachers said relationship-building, small-group instruction, and coordination with counselors and special education staff are key. The secretary said the fellowship is a small subset of a broader merit pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is trying to build a coherent system with literacy coaches, high-impact tutoring, and clearer standards rather than teaching to the test. Members also discussed broader policy issues, including the need for more positive public messaging about public education, teacher input in decision-making, and support for early childhood education. Several legislators asked whether the state should expand funding for early learning and whether more literacy or academic coaches are needed in districts that improve and then lose eligibility for state support. The secretary said the state has committed literacy coaches to D and F schools and is still working through how to sustain support as schools improve. He also said the administration would look at data and return on investment before supporting additional funding, and he encouraged legislators to help recruit eligible teachers into future fellowship cohorts. After the teacher panel concluded, the committee moved on to the adequacy resource allocation study, where Bureau of Legislative Research staff began a presentation on state and local education funding sources, categorical funds, and district spending patterns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Psychiatric holds, emergency room visits increase.
• So what we're doing is kind of increasing awareness.
• So the regulation to be an accredited center has increased.
• has increased the call volumes in our services.
• The time after that was in 2022, and our funding increased.

Summary: The hearing focused on California’s 988 suicide and crisis lifeline and the broader crisis response system, with members and witnesses emphasizing both the system’s life-saving role and the risks posed by funding gaps, rising demand, and uneven local implementation. Opening remarks highlighted the personal impact of suicide and the need to strengthen crisis response so calls are answered quickly and linked to appropriate care rather than defaulting to 911, emergency rooms, or law enforcement. State officials described the AB 988 five-year implementation plan, which sets goals around public awareness, equitable access, high-quality call/chat/text response, and better integration with ongoing behavioral health services. State agencies reported progress on infrastructure, coordination, and related behavioral health investments. CalHHS said California has expanded mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization units, and youth behavioral health supports, and is preparing additional public awareness and grant programs tied to Proposition 1. DHCS explained that 988 is funded through a federal SAMHSA grant and the AB 988 surcharge, while Medi-Cal separately funds mobile crisis services; officials said the mobile crisis benefit is active in 53 counties and that statewide expansion remains a work in progress. Cal OES described the statewide technical buildout, including network infrastructure in all 11 crisis centers, interoperability with 911, and a pilot of next-generation routing and call-handling tools. The 988 California Consortium said call volume continues to rise sharply, missed calls remain a major concern, text/chat capacity is limited, and centers need more stable funding, better reimbursement, and stronger feedback loops with the state. County and community witnesses stressed that local systems need more flexible, sustained support to match the demand. Lake County described a peer-led rural mobile crisis model that has reduced law enforcement holds and increased housing placements, but said county-run mobile crisis teams still cannot reliably access 988 surcharge dollars and face reimbursement problems from Medi-Cal and commercial plans. Santa Clara County reported strong performance metrics, rapid call answer times, and a broad continuum of mobile crisis services, but said staffing and funding are strained and commercial reimbursement remains slow. The Mental Health Association of San Francisco said the peer-run warm line complements 988 by offering non-emergency support and warm handoffs, but recent budget changes forced cuts to Spanish-language service, federation support, and hours. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing; members mainly asked questions about surcharge levels, budget timing, coordination among agencies, data collection, and how to improve collaboration with frontline crisis centers.

Transcript Highlights:

• officers and there is an increasing officers and there is an increasing Trend<00:02:59.519> over
• <00:09:00.920> penalties designation fifth increasing penalties designation fifth increasing
• <00:15:03.560> in you would not believe the increase in you would not believe the increase
• <00:22:46.000> penalties mandatory jail time increased penalties mandatory jail time increased
• That is a 61% increase in assaults on police officers over a 4-year period.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• not top of mind if they get a increase not top of mind if they get a increase in<00:09:04.240>
• years, our distribution has increased years, our distribution has increased more<01:09:45.839>
• Uh, while we are deeply increasing.
• increased significantly in four years. increased significantly in four years.
• As you've heard increase in demand.

Bills: HF45, HF1148, HF3624, HF3586, HF777

Keywords: HF45, Lake Benton, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Public Facilities Authority, public infrastructure, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, utility replacement, U.S. Highway 75, road reconstruction, municipal infrastructure, local government grant, Minnesota bonding, capital appropriation, food insecurity, prepared meals

Transcript Highlights:

• That's based on increased graduation rates, increased test scores, and subsequently predicted lifetime
• <00:12:44.560> by five in math increased by five in math increased by 10.2%.<00:12:47.519>
• In 2028, the bill would increase general education revenue by approximately 244 million, increase state
• In 2029, the bill would increase the general education revenue by approximately 259 million, increase
• This would increase it to $212.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To date, we increases nearly in half.
• Both bodies have increased that base funding, and we fully support that.
• Both bodies have increased that base funding, and we fully support that.
• I fear that without an increase wealth.
• that are straining the network that we support. be an increase in foreclosures uh as uh be an increase

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• going<00:48:15.200> to<00:48:15.320> be So, this increase is going to be So, this increase
• <00:50:21.000> was This measure regarding TAT increase was This measure regarding TAT increase
• The 1% increase 10.5 million visitors.
• <00:55:24.120> And<00:55:24.240> when of a 1% increase in tourism.
• And when of a 1% increase in tourism.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Increasing access to condoms does not mean an increase in sexual activity. It increases safety.
• Who got zero wage increases because everything went to health care.
• This is not a driver that increases health care costs. This bill.
• This is not a driver that increases health care costs.
• This is not a driver that increases health care cost.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:52.080> by In 2019, pdeium rates were increased by In 2019, pdeium rates were increased
• We received one increase in 2019.
• <00:15:07.920> 41.3% increased 41.3% increased 41.3% since<00:15:10.079> 2010.
• <00:15:41.040> 27.5% the DOC budget has increased 27.5% the DOC budget has increased 27.5%
• And when I a $4 a day in increase.

Keywords: Call to Order 00:17 Department of Corrections 01:35 Community Transitional Services 06:47 Administrative Office of the Courts 23:06 Department of Criminal Justice Training/ KSP 45:49 Adjournment 59:14, 958, all

Summary: The Public Safety and Judiciary Committee met without a quorum, so approval of the January 3, January 20, and February 3 minutes was postponed. The committee then heard an update from the Department of Corrections on halfway house and Recovery Kentucky funding and operations. Deputy Commissioner Hillary Daily said DOC contracts for up to 1,752 halfway house beds and 780 Recovery Kentucky beds, with 16 halfway houses and 13 Recovery Kentucky centers statewide. She reported 6,329 admissions in fiscal year 2025, average daily populations of 1,041 in halfway houses and 494 in Recovery Kentucky, and explained that Recovery Kentucky placements are more restrictive, generally excluding violent and sex offenders, while halfway houses serve probationers, parolees, and sex offenders who need treatment. She also described programming such as MRT, parenting, adult basic education, and trauma-focused services, and said some facilities offer supervised visitation. Daily said no new funding request was included in the current budget, though DOC has sought rate increases in prior cycles. Community Transitional Services director Barbara Stum also testified in support of halfway houses as re-entry and substance abuse treatment centers. She said CTS primarily serves men coming out of prison or returning to prison who need treatment, and that halfway houses provide security, accountability, treatment, employment support, and help with home placement. Stum said the state moved substance abuse treatment into the community in 2010 to avoid sending people back to prison for treatment, and argued halfway houses are the least expensive form of incarceration. She cited daily rates of $33.61 for CTS beds and DOC figures of $37.33 to $44.33 per day, compared with higher prison and jail costs, and said reimbursement has not kept pace with inflation since the last increase in 2019. She said staffing and supplies are the main pressure points, with counselor pay below market rates, and noted two counselor vacancies. A former resident, Michael Bird, testified that CTS helped him recover and re-enter the community successfully. The committee also received an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on implementation of the video arraignment/video conferencing system. AOC officials Zach Ramsey and Charles Buyers said the system is now fully implemented in all courtrooms and is used for video arraignments and other Zoom-based court proceedings. Buyers described the pandemic-era transition from older, inconsistent equipment to improvised laptop/webcam setups, then to a more integrated vendor-supported system with touchscreen controls and a judicial support specialist position for training and operation. He said 324 courtrooms are already up to the current standard, with 128 remaining on an older bundle, and that there are no technical barriers to continued use. AOC said it is seeking $3.8 million in recurring annual funding to keep the systems upgraded and current, and plans to upgrade 46 systems in fiscal year 2026 across 15 counties.

Transcript Highlights:

• a $16,818,000 increase above base in 2028-2029.
• giving OE um the option of of increasing giving OE um the option of of increasing awards<00:25:35.120
• <00:32:20.240> increase continuing to increase increase continuing to increase increase enrollment
• <00:53:31.920> and<00:53:32.079> and increase um the fee increases and and increase
• , limit on the 1% tuition increase, limit on the 1% tuition increase, please?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it's a $1.2 million increase.
• Um, it's a $1.2 million increase.
• Um, it's a $1.2 million increase.
• Um, it's a $1.2 million increase.
• Um, it's a $1.2 million increase.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the last 28 years, a Total tax increases averaged 5.2% per year, yet in fiscal. 2022, they increased
• Do you know if one versus the other increasing homestead exemptions versus increasing rate compression
• There was not an initial pay increase. just an additional across the board salary increase for all state
• or increase in attendance, or a combination of all.
• I know the need is only going to increase given a.

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.