Transcript Highlights:

• And the global market and company strategy to replace state demand with exports is the major determinant
• So the status quo is creating more harmful greenhouse gas emissions with a much greater risk to people
• Projects that involve the conversion or replacement of an existing source, a major air pollution source
• People are clearly tired of the status quo and are voting in the ballot box and with their feet, which
• I want to emphasize that this is not a replacement for other funding sources for affordable housing,

Summary: The committee hearing centered first on AB 1243, the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025, which would direct CalEPA to identify major fossil fuel companies, study California’s climate damages, and assess fees on the largest polluters to fund resilience, recovery, and related projects. The author and supporters argued the bill would make polluters help pay for climate harms, protect taxpayers, create jobs in construction and clean energy, and dedicate at least 40% of funds to disadvantaged communities. Support testimony came from environmental justice groups, labor, youth advocates, health organizations, and many individual witnesses, while opponents from the building trades, chambers of commerce, petroleum, and business groups warned it would raise fuel and consumer costs, threaten refinery jobs, and create legal and economic uncertainty. Committee members debated the bill’s impact on affordability, jobs, refinery closures, and whether cap-and-trade already addresses climate funding needs. The committee ultimately voted to give AB 1243 a due pass recommendation to the Judiciary Committee, with the roll left open. After AB 1243, the committee moved to another bill on wildfire mitigation and related resilience work. The author said the measure addresses a long-running wildfire problem and accepted committee amendments, describing the bill as a response to increasingly severe wildfire seasons and the need to help communities stay safe and rebuild after disasters. The transcript cuts off as that presentation begins, so no final action on the second bill is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• so it's a governmental jurisdiction. another governmental jurisdiction and creating a tax-exempt status
• In addition to that, I would ask Representative Gates to state that the replacement reserves stay with
• In other words, just don't do a deal for 15 years, accumulate all these replacement reserves, and then
• And that 15 percent, there's a lot of things that can qualify under there, from replacing carpet to replacing
• Those people who are dissatisfied with your performance or your county programs can replace you with

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223, HB323, HB524, HB530, HB636, HB762, HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• So, what we have with the status ...
• And then you have a state where TEA was unable to determine the status of the remaining 24.7%, which
• These projects include IT modernization, cybersecurity, cloud services, and replacement.
• , and vehicle replacement. the state vehicle schedule.
• on the actual bill found on your website, the school year 2024-25 has just been crossed out and replaced

Bills: SB1, SB 1

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:

• question asked in committee where was question asked in committee where was the<01:03:50.240> statue
• fall up under and now would the statue fall up under and now would be<01:03:52.799> under<01:
• So amendment seven replaces human or artificially sentient with artificially generated and not human.
• So amendment seven replaces necessary.
• Law saying, 'I need better status.' I probably do.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, and approved the journal. Members then made several announcements about upcoming committee meetings, including Appropriations, Agriculture/Water/Natural Resources, State/Civic/Military/Veterans Affairs, and Finance. The chamber also observed a moment of silence honoring the 13 victims of the Columbine High School shooting on its anniversary, with names read into the record. The House adopted Senate Joint Resolution 19, which celebrates Colorado’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan, supports stronger trade and academic ties, supports the double-taxation agreement, and endorses Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. Supporters highlighted Colorado exports, especially beef, and the long-standing economic and democratic ties between Colorado and Taiwan. The resolution passed on a 60-yes vote with five excused. The House then moved into special orders, including House Bill 1346, which would allow the Department of the Treasury to use a third-party purchaser to sell remaining insurance premium tax credits. Supporters argued the bill would help fully place the credits and avoid a revenue shortfall, while opponents criticized it as a form of borrowing against future revenue and market gaming. After debate, House Bill 1346 passed. The chamber also began consideration of Senate Bill 40, a Prop 123 cleanup bill related to affordable home ownership and land banking. Amendments L16 and L17 passed, while amendment L18, which would have required more reporting on project costs and outcomes, failed. Debate on the bill centered on housing affordability, program flexibility, and whether the state is effectively measuring results.

Transcript Highlights:

• Additionally, the amendment replaces the Office of the Attorney General with the Office of Landlord and
• <00:12:17.519> of<00:12:17.680> the amendment replaces the office of the amendment
• replaces the office of the attorney<00:12:18.399> general<00:12:19.040> with<00:12:19.279
• This exemption could be problematic since the eligibility for replacing a dwelling is based on what is
• status.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, March 20, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate reconvened with a quorum and quickly moved through committee reports and second-reader bills, adopting committee amendments and sending several measures to third reading without objection. Bills advanced included SB 10 on State Highway Administration approval timelines for speed monitoring systems; SB 487 on speed monitoring systems in safety corridors; SB 689 creating a task force on post-release services and re-entry; SB 811 requiring reporting of new home sale prices in multiple listing services; SB 877 authorizing a Baltimore City stop sign monitoring pilot in the 41st district; SB 937, the Maryland Fair Chance Housing Act, limiting use of criminal history in tenant screening; SB 984 barring private immigration detention facilities; SB 465 on out-of-court statements and second-degree assault; SB 187 on pre-release services for incarcerated women; SB 388, the Decade Act, revising multiple economic development and tax credit programs; and SB 844, the annual corrective bill. Most of the floor discussion focused on explaining amendments and the policy effects of the bills. Supporters described the housing bill as expanding second-chance opportunities while adding safeguards, and a senator asked detailed questions about how landlords could screen for serious offenses and sex offender registry status. SB 984 was described as an emergency measure preventing state and local approval of private detention facilities and authorizing enforcement by the Attorney General. SB 465 was presented as closing a gap in Maryland law on witness intimidation and aligning the state with broader practice. SB 187 would rename and expand the women’s pre-release facility into a re-entry facility and require progress reports. The most extended debate came on SB 165, the on-site wastewater systems bill. One amendment to exempt redevelopment properties from inspection was offered and failed by roll call with 27 votes in the negative. A second amendment to require consultation with Maryland Realtors in developing regulations was then offered; supporters argued it would help avoid delays in property settlements and bring real estate professionals into the regulatory process, while opponents said the bill concerned broader wastewater regulations, not just property transfers. The transcript cuts off during that amendment’s discussion, before the final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• can and you feel comfortable<03:27:43.520> that<03:27:43.840> this<03:27:44.080> statue
• that this statue will make it<03:27:45.600> clear<03:27:45.760> to<03:27:46.000> the
• It's the removal out of 17915 and it was replaced into 178.
• gt;> the final publication of the law it was >> the final publication of the law it was replaced
• . replaced. replaced.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up an insurance-related chronic pain bill and an amendment modeled on language from Massachusetts and Maine. The sponsor explained the amendment was developed after stakeholder meetings because the original bill would have created an unaffordable insurance mandate in New Hampshire. The amendment was intended to improve access to non-opioid therapies by limiting prior authorization and step-therapy barriers so they are not more restrictive than for other treatments, including opioid therapies. After questions, the committee took a straw vote and advanced the amendment. The next item was a department-sponsored bill involving the state’s all-payer claims database. Insurance Department officials explained that the bill would encourage self-funded employer plans to opt in voluntarily by giving them aggregated, deidentified claims information in return. They said self-funded plans cannot be required to report data because of federal law, but the bill would provide an incentive while protecting employee privacy. Members asked detailed questions about who would see the data, whether individual employees could be identified, and how privacy would be enforced; the department said access would be aggregated and deidentified, and employer privacy issues would be governed by ERISA and the U.S. Department of Labor. The committee also discussed a glucose-monitoring bill. Members debated whether the bill was aimed at type 1 diabetes coverage or broader access to continuous glucose monitors, and whether it would amount to an unnecessary insurance mandate that could raise premiums. Department testimony estimated the equipment cost and said the annual impact per member would be modest, but also noted that non-insulin therapies have not consistently shown clinically significant A1C reductions. The chair and some members emphasized that the bill should be considered on its own terms as a CGM coverage issue, not as a general diabetes mandate. The committee discussed the bill’s cost implications and asked the department for any prior cost analysis.

Transcript Highlights:

• My bill grants temporary protected status and work authorization to eligible Iranian nationals legally
• My bill grants<01:00:53.440> temporary<01:00:54.160> protected<01:00:54.799> status<
• /c><01:00:55.200> and grants temporary protected status and grants temporary protected status
• IG's and replace them with political<02:23:02.800> allies<02:23:03.920> who<02:23:04.160
• H.R. 8464 addresses the status quo by requiring agencies to conduct fraud prevention activities prior

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . effect of phones and social media on both the educational outcomes and the mental health health status
• devices if given the chance the vibrant energy that once filled non-instructional time has been replaced
• I don't know the status of the case at this moment but I share that because we have to understand this
• But I noticed that we might we might want to include homelessness status as a factor to track And, you
• And do you have any idea particularly in terms of the discretionary replacements?

Bills: HB6, HB27, HB 123, HB210, HB213, HB222, HB610, HB 1085, HB1481, HB6, HB27, HB123, HB210, HB213, HB222

Keywords: mental health, telehealth, public schools, discipline management, behavioral interventions, financial literacy, high school education, curriculum requirements, economics, personal finance, HB 123, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, early numeracy, reading screening, math screening, foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, dyslexia screening, reading intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• At this moment in time, there's 17 schools in various stages that have been identified for replacement
• Given the variance in local communities that are aging or growing rapidly, the status quo is inadequate
• identified for new for replacement. identified for new for replacement. uh<00:02:56.560> nine
• <00:04:01.360> quo aging or growing rapidly, the status quo aging or growing rapidly, the
• We're asking for planning money for another school and the CAM 3 replacement school.

Bills: HB2185, HB2621, HB2179, HB2534, HB2168, HB2427, HB2560, HB2565, HB2172, HB2298, HB2304

Keywords: sports officials, referees, umpires, athletic directors, school administrators, league administrators, coaches, assault, first-degree assault, substantial bodily injury, temporary restraining order, TRO, private counsel, Department of Education, DOE, sports safety, school sports, amateur athletics, professional sports, public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• He is on a Medicare Supplement Plan, and his big concern is if we didn't revert to the status quo, his
• know uh uh didn't revert to the status know uh uh didn't revert to the status quo<00:24:18.159><
• This does not replace the civil and regulatory function of the Commerce Department.
• replace the civil and regulatory function of the Commerce Department.
• replace the civil and regulatory function of the Commerce Department.

Bills: HF2335, HF2400, HF2401, HF2522

Keywords: Medicare, health insurance, supplement policies, preexisting conditions, medical assistance, premium classification, real estate, appraisers, disciplinary actions, sanction matrix, Minnesota Statutes, continuing education, out-of-state, licensing, commerce, fraud prevention, automobile theft, law enforcement, insurance crimes, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• the county neutralized some of their concerns and opposition with more information, or what's the status
• or what's the status of that and<00:43:16.920> if<00:43:17.400> if<00:43:17.520> it
• first, we thought we had something agreed to and worked out, negotiated as far as an agreement to replace
• 01:15:39.400> a uh<01:15:43.040> agreement<01:15:43.520> to<01:15:43.760> replace
• I just have a comment and... ...sounds like they wanted was some trees replaced or something, right?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Technology will replace those positions, creating fewer opportunities for young people in particular
• Technology will replace those positions, creating fewer opportunities for young people in particular
• Technology will replace those positions, creating fewer opportunities for young people in particular
• <00:38:45.160> those positions technology will replace those positions technology will replace
• <01:12:35.000> shedding under that preferential status shedding under that preferential status

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our county faces a critical shortfall of over $100 million in vehicle license fee replacement funds.
• So you can have these replacement site opportunities on the ground level, especially when I think of
• Rental rates don't account for end-of-useful-life replacements.
• Rental rates don't account for end-of-useful-life replacements.
• provides a great overview of the project, and I'm happy to be able to provide an update today on the status

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation on San Mateo County’s request to restore in-lieu vehicle license fee (VLF) funding, which county officials said would otherwise leave the county and its cities facing major budget losses. Supervisors and local officials argued the 2004 VLF swap was intended to hold local governments harmless, but the formula no longer works for San Mateo because of its mix of basic-aid school districts and high property values. They said the loss would force deep cuts to homelessness services, rental assistance, mental health programs, libraries, parks, public safety, wildfire mitigation, and nonprofit partners, with examples including shelter closures, reduced police and fire staffing, and layoffs. The Department of Finance responded that the payments are not statutorily mandated, are discretionary, and are not sustainable in the current fiscal situation, noting the state has still provided more than $300 million since 2012. Members from both parties expressed sympathy, questioned the formula, and said the issue may need a permanent legislative fix; public commenters from cities, labor, nonprofits, and public safety organizations overwhelmingly supported full restoration. The committee ultimately held the item open and later took vote-only action to move two unrelated items on the agenda. The committee also received an update from the Department of General Services on state property redevelopment projects, including the Hillcrest DMV site in San Diego, the Fell Street DMV site in San Francisco, and other state-owned properties. DGS explained that Hillcrest is not yet an active project, while the Fell Street DMV proposal shifted from an integrated housing-and-DMV concept to a plan to relocate DMV into leased space so the site can proceed as housing. Officials said the leased-space option is significantly cheaper than building a new DMV on-site and would allow the housing project to move forward, though questions remained about timing, costs, and whether the partnership model can work. Members pressed DGS on the broader challenge of converting state buildings to housing, and DGS said adaptive reuse depends heavily on building type, floorplate depth, light, and risk from unknown conditions behind walls. The committee also briefly discussed Fairview Developmental Center and the Southern California Veterans Cemetery feasibility study, with DGS saying both are progressing. In Government Operations items, the California Education Learning Lab asked for permanent restoration of its $4 million annual funding and a move from the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to GovOps, arguing that the program supports intersegmental innovation in teaching and learning across UC, CSU, and community colleges, including AI-related work. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended rejecting the restoration and continuing the planned wind-down, citing the state’s projected deficit and suggesting the interagency council could pursue non-state-funded grant opportunities instead. The committee held that item open. The next item, on the California Education Interagency Council, was presented as a staffing request for four ongoing positions, with GovOps saying the council has already been set up administratively and an executive officer has been appointed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our county faces a critical shortfall of over $100 million in vehicle license fee replacement funds.
• So you can have these replacement site opportunities on the ground level, especially when I think of
• Rental rates don't account for end-of-useful-life replacements.
• Rental rates don't account for end-of-useful-life replacements.
• agenda provides a great overview of the project, and I'm happy to provide an update today on the status

Summary: The hearing began with a vote-only agenda and then focused first on San Mateo County’s request to restore in-lieu vehicle license fee (VLF) funding. County officials, city leaders, labor representatives, nonprofits, and public safety advocates argued that the loss of roughly $157 million would force major cuts to homelessness services, housing assistance, mental health programs, libraries, parks, fire and police staffing, and other local services. They described the current formula as outdated and unfair, tied to school funding and basic-aid dynamics that no longer work for San Mateo County, and urged both an immediate budget restoration and a permanent legislative fix. The Department of Finance said the payments are discretionary, not statutorily required, and noted the administration does not view the expenditure as sustainable in the current fiscal climate. Committee members expressed sympathy, questioned the formula, and said they would keep the issue under consideration; the committee later voted to move the two vote-only items on the agenda. The committee then received an update from the Department of General Services on state property redevelopment, including the Hillcrest DMV site in San Diego, the Fell Street DMV site in San Francisco, and other state-owned properties. DGS explained that Hillcrest is not currently an active project, while the Fell Street project shifted from an integrated DMV-housing plan to a more feasible relocation of the DMV into leased commercial space, with a budget change proposal pending. Members pressed DGS on the slow pace of redevelopment, the potential for housing on state sites, and the costs and feasibility of adaptive reuse. DGS said many state buildings are aging and that adaptive reuse depends heavily on building design, floorplate depth, light, and risk from unknown conditions behind walls. The Government Operations portion then turned to the California Education Learning Lab, which supports intersegmental higher education innovation grants. The Lab asked for permanent restoration of $4 million in ongoing funding and a move of its home agency from the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to GovOps, along with technical trailer bill changes. Supporters said the program has funded more than 120 projects reaching thousands of faculty and hundreds of thousands of students, including work on generative AI in higher education. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended rejecting the restoration and continuing the wind-down, citing the state’s projected deficit and suggesting the California Education Interagency Council could pursue non-state-funded grant opportunities instead. The committee held the item open. Finally, GovOps presented the new California Education Interagency Council staffing request, seeking four ongoing positions to support the council, with funding already included in last year’s budget. The department said the governor has appointed Debbie Cochran as executive officer and that the remaining positions are being recruited. Finance and LAO had no objections, and the committee began questions about how the council will be staffed and organized.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Simonaire, primary and secondary educators license in public profiles, notation of veteran status
• Excuse me, the amendment having been withdrawn, appears the Senator has a replacement amendment.
• been withdrawn, appears the Senator has been withdrawn, appears the Senator has a<00:50:45.280> replacement
• a replacement amendment. All right. a replacement amendment. All right.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Thursday, March 12, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation from Pastor Delman Coates, and received several guest introductions, including the doctor of the day, student visitors, homeschool advocates, community leaders, and the Braver Angels group. The chamber also journalized remarks welcoming Dr. Coates and recognized a prayer breakfast, with members offering brief thanks and acknowledgments before moving to legislative business. The Senate handled several messages and nominations, including withdrawal of an appointment, Johns Hopkins Police Accountability Board nominations, and Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners nominations, all referred to Executive Nominations. The chamber also received House Bill 156 and an Executive Nominations Committee report recommending confirmation of a slate of appointments, which was special ordered for later consideration. A motion to return Senate Bill 463 to second reader and special order it for Tuesday was adopted without objection, and Senate Bill 473 was also special ordered for Tuesday. On third reading, the Senate passed a large number of bills, including measures on ignition interlock participation, school construction, port hearing notice, veteran status notation for educators, correctional officer scholarships, benefits exploitation, veterans trust fund applications, presidential electors, advance enrollment for children of active service members, retired law enforcement handgun permits, high-risk pregnancy discharge communication, charitable organization audit thresholds, child care criminal history checks, water pollution discharge permits, blockchain task force creation, franchise registration reform, licensing portability for foreign service members and spouses, Medicaid collaborative care cost-sharing, gift card fraud, school for the deaf board membership, vehicle dealer hearings, massage therapy advertising, protective body armor reporting, lithium-ion battery safety, pharmacy prescriber agreements for opioid use disorder treatment, human relevant research fund contributions, state and higher education email requirements, and auto insurance producer commissions. Most passed unanimously or by wide margins; Senate Bill 348 and Senate Bill 585 passed with 30 and 32 votes in favor, respectively. Senate Bill 140, concerning benefits exploitation, drew extended debate over constitutionality and pending litigation, with one senator citing an Attorney General opinion and another citing a Supreme Court case on neutral principles in church property disputes; the bill ultimately passed with 40 votes. Members later changed several votes on the floor, including on Senate Bills 172, 376, 428, and 48. The session ended while the clerk was beginning to read Senate Bill 629, with the remaining calendar not completed in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also increases costs to replace faculty senators that can no longer be involved due to the size and
• This bill also removes shared governance protections and replaces them with centralized political control
• And unfortunately, these roles cannot be replaced by automation or AI as much as some people may want
• It replaces the voices of educators with the agendas of political appointees, silencing faculty and expertise
• include readings and creative works and other forms of scholarship in our curricula that challenge the status

Bills: SB 37

Keywords: fetal development, education, public health curriculum, middle school, age-appropriate instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• It also increases costs to replace faculty senators that can no longer be involved due to the size and
• This bill also removes shared governance protections and replaces them with centralized political control
• And unfortunately, these roles cannot be replaced by automation or AI as much as some people people may
• It replaces the voices... of educators with the agendas of political appointees, silencing faculty and
• Law that challenged the status quo of the subjects at hand.

Bills: SB 37

Keywords: fetal development, education, public health curriculum, middle school, age-appropriate instruction, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• shelves, which means they can replace shelves, which means they can replace that<01:26:09.600>
• There was improvement to the status quo.
• improvement in the in the status quo. improvement in the in the status quo.
• one who is of an altered mental status one who is of an altered mental status would<03:43:25.920
• ,<03:48:18.080> that's you're of altered mental status, that's you're of altered mental status

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to involuntary commitment as a strategy to support people in crisis related to their mental health status
• to involuntary commitment as a strategy to support people in crisis related to their mental health status
• My second is, again, that dual status is a moving target.
• So if I'm a dual today, I may go to Stony Brook, but what if my dual status gets lifted in two weeks?
• Furthermore, I meet with individuals who present with acute status, rendering them unable to maintain

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held its fourth public hearing of the 2025-2026 session on bills dealing with involuntary commitment and access to addiction treatment, especially proposals to move Section 35 civil commitments away from jails and prisons and into facilities licensed or approved by DPH or DMH. Chairs Velis and Domb framed the hearing as a discussion of how to support people in crisis with compassion, while also warning against using involuntary commitment as a way to remove unhoused people from public view. The hearing also touched on related concerns about discharge practices, treatment capacity, and the need for a broader continuum of care. Testimony split largely along two themes. Addiction researcher Keith Humphreys argued that many people enter treatment under pressure, that involuntary treatment can be ethically justified in the face of overdose risk, but that it should not be mandated unless high-quality services exist first; he emphasized the need for inpatient care when someone is a grave danger, followed by case management and outpatient support. MAMH’s Kate Alicante supported the bill, saying Massachusetts is the only state that commits people with substance use conditions to jails or prisons and that carceral settings add trauma and stigma; she pointed to prior legislative steps, including the Section 35 commission and the planned closure of DOC’s MESAC facility, as evidence that the Commonwealth is moving toward health-based settings. A major portion of the hearing focused on Stony Brook, a sheriff-run stabilization and treatment center in Hampden County. Boston City Councilor John Fitzgerald, several committee members, and multiple people in recovery described the facility as humane, well-run, and effective, with longer stays, medical monitoring, medication-assisted treatment, counseling, and warm handoffs to aftercare. Several witnesses said Stony Brook saved their lives or helped family members recover, and they argued that the sheriff’s office model should be expanded rather than eliminated. Others, including family members and advocates, countered that even a well-run correctional setting remains stigmatizing and that people should not be treated in facilities run by sheriffs or corrections when they have committed no crime. No vote was taken. The hearing concluded with continued testimony, including Senator Friedman’s support for Section 35 as a civil commitment tool but not in a criminal justice setting, and her separate support for a bill to speed inpatient mental health treatment.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:01:10.319> the they're going to need to replace the they're going to need to replace the
• You know, when was it last replaced? Do you, your heating, your air handling system?
• Has that been replaced frequently?
• It's all I'm replacing or what not.
• and have a roof replaced and have a roof replaced with<01:05:26.799> proper<01:05:27.200>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened its first meeting on retained education funding bills, focusing on HB 366, which concerns school building aid for eligible projects, and HB 295, which would make school building aid program funds non-lapsing. The chair framed the discussion broadly around whether school building aid should remain a state program, how to address limited revenues, and whether the current system should continue to prioritize debt service and the existing formula or move toward a different model such as per-pupil allocations, a dedicated fund, or a split between new construction and renovation. He also raised questions about whether leasing should be included and how to manage any new fund under current law and the school building authority structure. Representatives and department staff discussed the current backlog of applications, the age and condition of school facilities, and the possibility that large projects can consume available funding for a year while other districts go unsupported. Tim Carney of the Bureau of School Facilities introduced himself and provided technical context on the program and current debt levels. Representative Luneau argued that under the ConVal decision, the state’s responsibility includes school buildings, construction, and renovation, and that the program also serves an equity function by helping districts with less property wealth. He noted that construction and renovation have long been recognized categories and asked about leasing, which staff said is already supported in statute for charter schools and possibly CTE, with a cap of 30% of annual lease cost or $50,000. The discussion also covered CTE facilities: staff explained that capital funding for CTE centers is state-funded, that federal Carl Perkins funds cannot be used for construction, and that the current rotational capital model means only a few centers are funded each year, which may not match changing program needs. A committee studying CTE capital needs was referenced, along with concerns that the report from that work had not yet been received. Representative Papich urged the subcommittee to focus on policy, principles, and structure rather than just numbers, saying the current system produces a few winners and many districts that never receive aid. He favored a simpler, more equitable per-capita or formula-based approach, while acknowledging the need for a transition plan for projects already in the pipeline. The chair later cautioned against mixing maintenance and operations with construction and renovation, noting that operation and maintenance are already part of the adequacy formula and should not be confused with capital funding. No votes were taken during the meeting; the discussion was exploratory, with members and staff laying out competing approaches and identifying issues for further work.