Transcript Highlights:

• There's debt payments that the treasurer makes on behalf of a DOT capital project, so financing some
• I would put them more on the housekeeping side of a capital request.
• Right now, people are being funded out of Z capital, out of a percentage on the programs.
• They're not fully funded to support delivering the state capital program.
• FIFA 2026 should have capitalized it all.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee met on October 16, 2025, for a budget and revenue overview, a traffic safety presentation, and a discussion of potential transit and active transportation grant programs. Committee staff reviewed the adopted 2025-27 transportation budget, noting $15.5 billion in expenditures, the large share for WSDOT, and the mix of revenue sources including fuel tax, vehicle-related fees, federal funds, Climate Commitment Act revenue, and new 2025 revenues from SB 5801 and SB 5802. Staff said the 2025 session produced a balanced four-year plan, preserved major project schedules, maintained highway preservation funding, and added money for culverts, local preservation, and other priorities. They also described a September forecast showing lower motor fuel consumption than previously expected, but still enough revenue growth to keep the transportation plan balanced. For the 2026 supplemental, staff said agency requests were relatively modest overall, with most capital requests reflecting reappropriations and timing shifts rather than new projects, while WSDOT’s addendum identified much larger future needs for maintenance, preservation, paving, culverts, and safety work. Senators asked for more detail on how revenues are distributed by fund type and geography, how much of the maintenance and preservation request is actual maintenance versus equipment, whether paving needs could be supported through bonding, and how electric vehicle sales trends might affect forecasts. The committee then heard a remote presentation from Dr. Jessica Chikino of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety on traffic safety trends and countermeasures. She said U.S. traffic fatalities have risen sharply over the past decade, with especially large increases for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists, and argued that the U.S. lags other high-income countries in roadway safety. Her presentation highlighted IIHS’s “30 by 30” goal to reduce fatalities 30% by 2030 through safer speeds, stronger impaired-driving countermeasures, better pedestrian protection, and safer commercial vehicles. She discussed research linking higher speed limits to higher fatality risk, the benefits of lower urban speed limits, speed safety cameras, traffic calming, lighting, pedestrian beacons, and safer intersection design. She also described ongoing work with Bellevue on smart signal technology and pedestrian safety pilots. Committee members thanked her for the presentation and said they would share the materials with others. In the final work session, the committee revisited transit and active transportation grant concepts that had been included in the Senate budget proposal but did not advance in 2025. Barb Chamberlain of WSDOT’s Active Transportation Division explained how grant programs need runway, staff capacity, applicant readiness, and clear criteria, and compared program design to getting a plane off the ground. She discussed the proposed Senior Transportation Emphasis Program and regional trails/cycle highways concepts, noting that some projects could be structured as funding-first programs while others would work better as project-line or project-first models. She said regional trail projects are already eligible under existing programs but often score lower because current criteria emphasize safety and population served. Justin Leighton of the Washington State Transit Association then reviewed transit grant programs and argued that transit safety and security needs remain underfunded, including operator barriers, lighting, shelters, behavioral health coordination, and non-uniformed security staff. He said many transit capital programs are oversubscribed, that operator barrier retrofits alone could cost $20 million to $30 million, and that agencies face uncertainty about how recent sales tax changes apply to security-related contracts. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:02:25.959> the<00:02:26.080> new<00:02:26.280> state<00:02:26.640> capital
• <00:02:27.200> grounds display on the new state capital grounds display on the new state capital
• , something took place that is of historical significance here in Frankfort and here in the state capital
• in 1971 the Fraternal state capital in 1971 the Fraternal Order<00:04:34.840> of<00:04:34.960
• <00:04:43.919> grounds displayed on the state capital grounds displayed on the state capital

Keywords: Consideration of HJR 15 02:26 Consideration of HB 30 16:18 Consideration of HB 71 20:05 Consideration of HB 182 23:51, 958, all

Summary: The House State Government Committee met with a quorum and first took up HJR 15, as amended by a committee substitute, which would return the granite Ten Commandments monument to permanent display on the new State Capitol grounds. Representative Baker described the monument’s history, its removal during construction in the 1980s, the 2000 effort to restore it, and recent Supreme Court changes that he said make the historical-tradition analysis more relevant than the former Lemon test. Members asked about the monument’s location, possible amendments to allow other faiths to place similar monuments, and church-state concerns. Several members explained their votes by saying they supported the historical display but wanted further discussion about religious representation. The resolution passed the committee 16-1 with two pass votes and was reported favorably to the House floor. The committee then considered House Bill 30, sponsored by Representative Blanton, which addresses pension spiking in the Kentucky Public Pension Authority. Blanton said the bill codifies a court ruling clarifying that across-the-board pay raises are not pension spiking and noted support from fire, police, and state employees. Representative Tipton reminded members that pension bills should be reviewed by the Public Pension Oversight Board first and said this bill had been reviewed there without issue. The committee approved HB 30 unanimously, 20-0, with favorable expression. House Bill 71, sponsored by Representative Duval, was next. KPPA Executive Director Ryan Barrow said the bill was requested by KPPA, vetted by the Public Pension Oversight Board, and would restructure KPPA by creating an Office of Financial Management and moving the current CFO into an executive director-level role overseeing that office, without affecting system funding requirements. Representative Johnson supported the measure as an administrative codification of current practice. The committee passed HB 71 unanimously, 20-0, with favorable expression. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 182 from Representative Frasier Gordon, which would prohibit state government from using the word “free” to describe taxpayer-funded services. Gordon said the bill is intended to increase transparency and ensure taxpayers are credited for funding public services, while not changing any programs or benefits. Members questioned how the bill would be enforced, what alternative wording should be used, and whether the restriction could affect communication with low-income or low-literacy residents; Gordon said terms like “provided at no cost” or “paid for by taxpayers” would be acceptable and that the bill contains no penalty. The committee passed HB 182 17-3 with favorable expression and sent it to the House floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we move forward in changing capital outlay and the way we do that, the State Engineer's Office is
• efficient at fully funding. and completing community water projects than the piecemeal approach of capital
• So we're not, I mean, capital outlay is hard to do.
• So it will cost capital dollars. On page Page 4, line 9, under section 2.
• This would just put them in the statute to ensure that we can apply for capital funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't even have a capital projects levy.
• Um, when a capital projects levy either.
• operating levy and one was a capital. operating levy and one was a capital.
• voting to renew an existing capital voting to renew an existing capital projects<00:42:07.920>
• or not an operating levy or a capital or not an operating levy or a capital levy<00:43:18.240>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• capital intensive model to the operating capital intensive model to the operating mod<03:22:14.520>
• > in Capital capitalized license purchase in Capital capitalized license purchase in um<03:44:
• It wasn't in the capital budget.
• It wasn't in the capital budget.
• capital budget because it's a capital capital budget because it's a capital expenditure<04:26:49.960

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard the Banking Department’s fiscal year 2026-2027 budget presentation from Commissioner Amelia Galeri. She described the department as a self-funded consumer protection regulator overseeing two main areas: the Banking Trust Division, which supervises state-chartered banks, credit unions, and trust companies, and the Consumer Credit Division, which oversees more than 7,000 licensees including mortgage and money transmitter businesses. She said the department’s budget is about 86% salaries and benefits, with 53 positions all filled, and explained that the agency funds itself through fees, fines, and end-of-year assessments on regulated entities. Galeri said the department is facing workload growth from several directions: continued growth in the trust industry, increased fintech supervision, and a new requirement to regularly examine auto dealers that take finance applications, which adds about 300 exams over two fiscal years. She said the department was directed to flat-fund its budget based on 2025 levels but was allowed to increase travel and training. To stay within that limit, she said the department reduced office space, went paperless, converted administrative and licensing positions into examiner positions, and expects to defund an embedded DOJ database administrator position once a new SharePoint system is fully implemented. Members asked about how the department’s revenue and assessments work, including whether fees were increasing and how much existing banks would pay. Galeri said fees are not being raised, most banks pay little or no fines, and assessments are based largely on asset size, with trust companies paying the bulk. She also explained that fines are set by statute, generally capped at $2,500 per violation for consumer credit entities, and said she would not recommend increasing that cap. The committee then voted to accept the Banking Department’s budget proposal as presented in HQ1, with a motion and second and no discussion. The transcript then moved to the Department of Energy budget. Commissioner Jared Chakin and Chief of Operations Lenny Radio discussed federal program funding, including LIHEAP fuel assistance and weatherization. They said the apparent drop in fuel assistance funding from FY 2024 actuals to the budgeted amount is due to the loss of ARPA and CARES Act supplemental funds, while weatherization remains a federally constrained program with a waiting list and limited flexibility. Members also asked about a proposed transfer from the renewable energy fund; staff said the transfer would still allow the department to carry out its statutory duties for the year, though the committee deferred deeper discussion until House Bill 2.

Transcript Highlights:

• We think it's more efficient than trying to go and hit-and-miss request for capital outlay.
• The trend is that they're going away from capital outlay and towards this fund because it's more orderly
• So it was capital outlay and then matching money from, I believe, the federal government.
• And I know the acequia people work through capital requests and other fundings that are available.
• The completion rate is very high in comparison to other capital outlay or other projects, so the process

Bills: SB193

Keywords: SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law, agricultural water, farmers, Rio Grande, acequia association, forest land protection revolving fund, state fund transfer, irrigation projects, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would also like to mention that Art of the Capital is coming up.
• Also, we do have the Revival of our Capital talent show, so please show off your hidden talents and sign
• the<00:18:59.480> Revival<00:19:00.039> of<00:19:00.159> our<00:19:00.360> Capital
• <00:19:00.799> talent<00:19:01.280> show the Revival of our Capital talent show the
• Revival of our Capital talent show so<00:19:02.600> please<00:19:03.360> show<00:19:03.679

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are ordered to the capital budget subcommittee. All right, that does it.
• They are ordered<00:01:40.479> to<00:01:40.799> the<00:01:41.119> capital<00:01:
• 41.439> budget ordered to the capital budget ordered to the capital budget subcommittee. subcommittee

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate met in a brief pro forma session focused on administrative business and the formal start of budget season. The chamber waived the reading of the prior journal and substituted the previous day’s invocation. Leaders noted that the budget would be introduced and that committees would handle the detailed work later in the day. Several measures were read and referred to committees: Senate Bill 282, the President’s fiscal year 2027 budget bill, was sent to the Budget and Taxation Committee; Senate Joint Resolution 1, concerning salary recommendations for the governor and lieutenant governor from the President Governor Salary Commission, was also referred to Budget and Taxation; and Senate Joint Resolution 2, concerning judicial compensation recommendations from the President Judicial Compensation Commission, was likewise referred to Budget and Taxation. A Senate bond initiative from Senator Hedleman for a Pikesville High School comfort station was read and sent to the capital budget subcommittee. After the introductions, the presiding officer announced that the Senate had completed its constitutional duties for the day and that committee work would proceed. A quorum call confirmed three members present, and the Senate remained in session long enough for the majority leader to move adjournment. The chamber adjourned without objection until Thursday, January 22nd at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• What happens there is, Public Works and Capital Improvement Committee.
• You all budgeted about $6 million in aviation fund balance to make additional capital improvement last
• That is for specifically capital improvements to local airports. Okay, thank you.
• They don't need it in both places in their preference as capital.
• It could have been addressed in GRoW or in capital, so I don't...

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:27:49.919> had<00:27:50.080> around<00:27:50.320> this<00:27:50.559> capital
• , that are being had around this capital, that are being had around this capital, I<00:27:51.200>
• that funds across our housing continuum, that pairs with other committees, you know, from shelter capital
• that funds across our housing continuum, that pairs with other committees, you know, from shelter capital
• that funds across our housing continuum, that pairs with other committees, you know, from shelter capital

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• construction project to to capital construction project to to perform<00:03:24.640> that<00:03
• So, these thresholds are set for a capital project and bond oversight approval.
• This is just setting the thresholds for capital projects and bond oversight approval.
• projects and bond thresholds for capital projects and bond oversight<00:05:24.960> approval<00
• and bond oversight in order to procure the capital project or the item of equipment.

Keywords: Consideration of HB 491 02:14 Consideration of HB 738 07:58 Guest presentation by Taiwan Consul General Elliott Wang 25:20 Consideration of HCR 50 36:37 Consideration of SB 19 49:29, 958, all

Summary: The House State Government Committee met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 491 by Representative Steve Riley. The committee adopted a proposed committee substitute, then heard that the bill would raise the threshold for certain capital project and equipment purchases from $200,000 to $500,000, remove a requirement for a special board meeting when replacing a board of regents member, allow certain employees or contractors to perform capital construction work up to $500,000, remove limits on retired police officers working at postsecondary institutions, and speed release of pension information to employers. Members asked about reporting and oversight of the higher threshold, and the witness said the records are maintained by institutions and available upon request. HB 491 passed on a 19-0 roll call vote. The committee then heard House Bill 738 by Representative Griffey, relating to state personnel and the constitutional officers. The bill would give independently elected constitutional officers more flexibility to hire unclassified employees and set salaries for classified employees up to the midpoint without Personnel Cabinet approval, while leaving pay scales, appropriations, and funding limits unchanged. Representative Griffey and witnesses from the auditor’s office said the measure was intended to reduce red tape, address salary compression, improve pay equity, and help recruit and retain staff; they also said it would allow offices to fill policy roles needed for audits and other work. Members questioned the fiscal note, salary caps, and whether the bill would affect future budget requests. The bill passed 18-1, with one pass, and the chair noted it would move favorably to the House floor. After those bills, the committee briefly welcomed Taiwan’s consul general, Elliot Wang, and Representative Adam Bowling spoke about Kentucky’s relationship with Taiwan, including trade, investment, and prior assistance during disasters. Wang described Taiwan’s economic ties with the United States, ongoing trade and investment developments, defense and education cooperation, and people-to-people exchange programs, noting Kentucky was the first state to sign an education cooperation MOU with Taiwan in 2021.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think to maintain juvenile court in Cambridge, and it's a question of capital investment.
• I think the Third Street courthouse has recently had a great deal of capital investment.
• support for H. 3324, filed by Representative Michelle Dubois, which would authorize the Division of Capital
• support for H. 3324, filed by Representative Michelle Dubois, which would authorize the Division of Capital
• And it has since, up until recently, been backed down by the Department of Capital Asset Management and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened by explaining new attendance and public-testimony procedures, including that testimony would be recorded, livestreamed, and generally made public, with possible redactions for sensitive material. The chairs also noted that no committee rules were being formally adopted yet and that no votes would be taken during the hearing. Senator Collins briefly emphasized the committee’s oversight role on land takings and Article 97 issues, including concerns about proposed regulatory changes and the legislature’s constitutional role. The first major bill discussed was H. 3324, concerning the former Christos site on Crescent Street in Brockton and a proposed transfer of state-owned land from DCAM. Representative Michelle DuBois, Representative Rita Mendes, Mayor Sullivan, the Metro South Chamber’s Chris Cooney, Catholic Charities’ Larry Mayne, and Brockton planning director Rob May all supported the bill, describing the parcel as long vacant and arguing it should be reused for a mixed-use project with Catholic Charities, including affordable/workforce housing, an early education center, food pantry, workforce development, and language classes. Several speakers said the project would help retain Catholic Charities in Brockton and bring tax revenue and community services. DuBois outlined expected amendments, including moving one parcel into a municipal sale partnership and changing a “shall” to “may” regarding a right-turn lane. Some members raised questions about whether a deed transfer to a nonprofit was preferable to a long-term lease and about affordability definitions, but the bill was generally supported. Representative Connolly then testified on two Cambridge bills: H. 3308, relating to the Riverside Boat Club and a reconfigured DCR parcel boundary to support a lease with no loss of public space, and H. 3309, which would facilitate access to justice by preserving consideration of a vacant former probate court site for future court use. Senator DiDomenico supported the Riverside Boat Club measure and the broader goal of restoring court access in Cambridge. Members discussed accessibility, possible future court configurations, and the site’s prior use as an emergency shelter. The committee then heard testimony on S. 2217/H. 2108 concerning Columbia Point and access around the UMass/Bayside area. Harbor Point residents, including Orlando Perrella, Michael Corcoran, Richard Fulham, and Miles Byrne, described severe traffic congestion, emergency-access concerns, and frustration with the UMass Building Authority’s handling of the site and prior community commitments. Senator Collins said the committee should consider seeking an SJC opinion, and possibly an Attorney General opinion, on Article 97 and public-access rights. After the in-person testimony concluded, the committee attempted to reach remaining virtual witnesses on S. 2217 but did not receive testimony. With no further witnesses, the committee adjourned without taking any votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:01.400> and<00:10:01.480> the comes into the into the capital and the comes
• into the into the capital and the Senate<00:10:01.800> chamber.
• It'll be at the Capital Club, the 19th floor, from 11:30 to 12:45. >> Also, having an adjourning memory
• It'll be at the Capital Club, tomorrow.
• It'll be at the Capital Club, the<00:19:31.520> 19th<00:19:32.040> floor<00:19:32.880><

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 6 January, 2026; 12:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The Mississippi Senate convened on January 6, 2026, with a quorum present and opened the session with an invocation by Pastor Jonathan Vasquez and the Pledge of Allegiance. The chamber then administered the oath of office to newly elected and reelected senators, reaffirming their constitutional duties. After that, the Senate organized for the session by nominating and electing Jimmy Jordan as sergeant-at-arms by acclamation, followed by his oath of office. The Senate also recognized several guests and pages, including senior pages Caleb Bierman and Walter Townsend, Dr. Catherine Penhal as doctor of the day, Gerald Mumford, Jackson Mayor John Horhn, Jean Frazier, Mayor Uta Peterson, and Angela Simpson. Members offered multiple announcements and adjournment-in-memory requests honoring several deceased individuals and family members, including Ronnie Massey, Kathy Luke, Jimmy Alexander, Matt McElhaney, Sandra Farr Aiken, Amy Nixon Jackson, Robert L. Bobby Butler, John Buckman, Bonnie L. Monroe, Louis Smith, Davis Gray, David Wayne McClendon, Wells Warren McClendon, Shepherd Thomas McClendon, Yancey Burns, Dorothy Shackelford Stanfill, and Buddy Hollowell. The Senate also announced committee meetings: Public Health would meet after adjournment, Appropriations would meet 10 minutes after recess in Room 216, and Education would meet 5 minutes after Appropriations in Room 216. Finally, Senator Blackwell moved that the Senate stand in recess until 5:00 p.m., with the journal reflecting adjournment until 10:00 a.m. the next morning; the motion passed and the Senate recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas following the completion of the major capital restoration project, Representative Murphy was
• As a new member, I had no context for what capital investment meant, and that always sticks with me when
• House File number 1090, number one on the calendar for the day, is an act relating to capital investment
• In 2019, Mary Murphy was named the House Capital Investment Chair, and I was assigned as her Vice Chair
• Members, if you have served on the Capital Investment Committee, we typically had the big construction

Transcript Highlights:

• The average time for a PCA to review and issue an air permit for new construction or capital investments
• The average time for a PCA to review and issue an air permit for new construction or capital investments
• The average time for a PCA to review and issue an air permit for new construction or capital investments
• The average time for a PCA to review and issue an air permit for new construction or capital investments
• This resulted in an estimated $17.5 billion in capital expenditures and 31,000 jobs lost.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:03.760> projects of the most complex capital projects of the most complex capital projects
• planning or at least talked about in capital planning.
• least talked about in capital planning. least talked about in capital planning.
• proposed that that was in the capital proposed that that was in the capital plan.<00:15:55.519><
• Through this capital plan submission.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:03 Approve Minutes from July 10, 2025- 00:02:41 Statewide Emergency Responder Voice System Testimony- 00:03:38 Investment of State Funds- 00:46:13 Department of Juvenile Justice Update- 1:11:34 Adjournment- 1:54:08, 958, all

Summary: The committee opened with roll call, welcomed a new member, approved the July meeting minutes, and then took up testimony on the statewide emergency responder voice system, also described as the state police radio system replacement project. John Hicks, secretary of the governor’s executive cabinet and state budget director, testified that the project is unusually complex because it combines multiple IT replacements, land acquisition, and tower construction. He said the existing system dates to the early 1970s and that the administration is treating the project as a priority, with work proceeding in phases and weekly coordination among the Justice Cabinet, Kentucky State Police, and Finance and Administration Cabinet. Hicks said the project has already spent about $110 million, with nearly 1,900 portable radios acquired, microwave replacement completed at 56 sites and underway at 76 more, and routers, switches, and network upgrades addressed. He explained that because the State Police are not set up to handle real property work, the administration brought in outside real property consulting vendors through an RFP, and three vendors are now qualified to help identify and negotiate sites. He said the goal is to speed up land acquisition and tower construction while the State Police continue the technology work, and he emphasized that the project is intended to close coverage gaps for state police first and later benefit local governments and other first responders. Members of the committee expressed concern about the project’s cost and pace. Representative Petri noted that about $218.8 million has been authorized since 2018 and questioned whether the project could stretch into 2030 or later, asking what more the General Assembly could do to help. Representative Blandon also raised concerns about the long timeline and the risk of the project becoming another costly, delayed infrastructure effort, while asking when the vendor RFP was completed and whether any sites had been acquired since then. Representative Sharp asked whether there was a detailed plan and timeline, and Hicks responded that the technology side is well defined but the property acquisition side must proceed site by site because each location depends on ownership, access, power, and other factors. Hicks said the west-to-east phasing has been a smart approach and that the executive branch should improve performance to beat the current timeline expectations.

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:24:27.200> and unions must be well capitalized and unions must be well capitalized and
• American families and important capital American families and important capital access<03:36:47.439
• ,<03:50:06.160> well-managed well capitalized, well-managed well capitalized, well-managed
• , well-managed, that is well capitalized, well-managed, that is well capitalized, and<03:58:28.479
• our nation's capital, Washington, DC. our nation's capital, Washington, DC.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said this is inside the income approach, and that rents and capitalization rates are very important
• <00:20:29.600> rate you you um get the capitalization rate you you um get the capitalization
• Um,<00:20:49.280> rents<00:20:49.600> and<00:20:49.840> capitalization<00:20:50.559
• > rates<00:20:52.000> are Um, rents and capitalization rates are Um, rents and capitalization
• rates are very income and capitalization rates are very very<00:20:57.760> important<00:20:58.240

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm a little happy you came here after capital outlay was due, so you're not using this time to hit
• President, these folks were here lobbying for a lot of capital for weeks on end.
• To them, while they were thrilled to become the abortion capital of the world, killing more babies than
• And it was just brought up that many of us use our capital to support acequia infrastructure, Senator
• limitations and requirements for certain capital outlay projects, reauthorizations, and appropriations

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• capital in the general fund. capital in the general fund.
• If the money were authorized for transfer to the operating capital fund, the list of operating capital
• It includes both capital and certain operating expenditures for capital projects. >> Members, in case
• capital authorized uses. capital authorized uses.
• capital projects. capital projects.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all