Transcript Highlights:

• I think I saw Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center on Zoom.
• Niko SL, on behalf of Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center.
• Niko Slen on behalf of Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center.
• We have Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center in support on Zoom.
• Niko Slen on behalf of Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That money, the association believes, would be more efficiently spent on harm reduction strategies.
• That money, the association believes, would be more efficiently spent on harm reduction strategies.
• ,</c><01:02:27.119><c> things</c> of things like harm reduction, things of things like harm reduction
• It followed investments in treatment, recovery, prevention, and harm reduction.
• </c><01:08:09.839><c> in</c><01:08:10.000><c> the</c> decisions and reductions in the decisions and reductions

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What we call federal agency dismantling or reductions in force, there are seven cases.
• call federal agency dismantling<00:20:10.000><c> or</c><00:20:10.320><c> and</c><00:20:10.640><c> reductions
• or and reductions in force, there<00:20:11.840><c> are</c><00:20:12.080><c> seven</c><00:20:12.400><
• </c><00:58:14.400><c> in</c> including through riffs or reductions in including through riffs or reductions
• of the federal the reduction of the federal bureaucracy.<01:12:13.199><c> Um</c><01:12:13.600><c> this

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the State of Hawaii’s affirmative litigation against the federal administration, with no public testimony. Attorney General Lopez and deputies said the office’s goal is to enforce the rule of law, not make partisan points, and noted that Hawaii is involved in 27 ongoing cases. They grouped the cases into four broad areas: immigration, funding freezes and grant terminations, federal agency dismantling/reductions in force, and protecting elections, health, and safety. Several immigration-related cases were discussed in detail. These included a challenge to the federal sharing of Medicaid data with DHS for immigration enforcement, a similar challenge to USDA’s demand for SNAP applicant and recipient data, and litigation over immigration-enforcement conditions attached to federal grants. The office also described the birthright citizenship executive order, saying it conflicts with the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court precedent; lower courts granted preliminary relief, and the U.S. Supreme Court later addressed only the scope of nationwide injunctions, not the merits. In the Department of Transportation case, the court granted a preliminary injunction against the “Duffy directive,” finding the immigration conditions lacked statutory authority, were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the Spending Clause and APA. The briefing also covered multiple funding disputes. In the education funding freeze case, the Department of Education and OMB withheld about $6 billion in formula funds, including roughly $33 million for Hawaii; after suit was filed, the funds were released. Other cases included the termination of over $11 billion in public health grants, which affected Hawaii Department of Health grants, the NIH indirect cost cap case, and NIH grant terminations tied to DEI, transgender issues, and vaccine hesitancy. The speakers said some cases have already resulted in preliminary or permanent injunctions, while others remain on appeal or are still being litigated.

Transcript Highlights:

• You notice on line 17 the reduction of $16 million from the Department of Commerce.
• Economic and community affairs, you see a reduction of $2 million.
• The reduction of $3.4 million is also part of the $58 million in the raise act. act.

Bills: SB113, SB114, SB305, SB111, HB600, SB112, SB150, SB109, SB122

Keywords: education funding, appropriations, local education boards, school safety, workforce development, Alabama, technology, higher education, career technology centers, public institutions, grants, local education agencies, RAISE Act, student outcomes, public schools, accountability, weighted allocations, special education, English language learners, gifted students

Transcript Highlights:

• We feel that once this is accomplished, we'll have a reduction in training.
• We actually have already seen a reduction in to apply for benefits.
• We actually have already seen a reduction in the amount of time it takes for our clients to apply for

Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs received a Department of Children and Families update from CIO Cole Sousa on three major technology modernization efforts: ACCESS, CWIS, and FASMS. For ACCESS, he described the six-year, $205 million project to replace the aging eligibility system used for SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid applications, noting completed releases such as the MyACCESS portal, document management, partner portal, workload management, and client registration modules. He said the system now supports mobile applications, multi-factor authentication, and bot detection, and that the next budget request is $36.625 million to continue moving workers off the mainframe, modernize notices, and complete more worker-portal functions. Members asked about performance data, interoperability with other systems, and the relationship to the FX project and APD; Sousa said API-based real-time exchanges are the goal and that current average case processing time is about 30 days, though he would provide a more exact figure later. The committee then heard about CWIS, a four-year, $75 million child welfare modernization project. Sousa said phase one is complete, including hotline intake, investigations, mandatory reporter, youth, parent, and mobile portals, along with mobile field tools, e-signatures, and customizable dashboards. Current work is focused on case management, assessment and safety planning, licensure, and placement modules, with collaboration from community-based care providers through advisory sessions. For the next fiscal year, DCF is requesting $28 million and expects to finish development by summer and launch in September, while continuing change management and training. Senators pressed on interoperability with ACCESS, FX, and FASMS, the use of a single unique identifier, and whether CBCs would be required to use the statewide system; Sousa said the department’s goal is one statewide system, with licensing costs absorbed by the state and no plan for dual systems after go-live. Finally, Sousa gave a brief update on FASMS, the financial and services accountability system used by managing entities. He said it remains in maintenance mode while DCF prioritizes ACCESS and CWIS, and that modernization of FASMS is still being planned with partner agencies. He estimated current maintenance costs at about $1.3 million and suggested a future modernization could cost roughly $5 million to $7 million, though no firm timeline has been set. The committee expressed support for using data and interoperable systems to improve decision-making, and the meeting adjourned without any votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:18:00.720><c> which</c> way we also did have reductions which way we also did have reductions
• Oh, and so I'm sorry, but 14 was the reduction in the security contract, yes, right.
• Everything else is cover the reduction, correct?
• </c><01:36:13.199><c> of</c> not be able to build with a reduction of not be able to build with a reduction
• One more item, and the last item is prior number 48, which is the reduction of five permanent FTE.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Government Operations committees received a biennium budget preview from Keith Regan, Comptroller and Director of the Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS), who introduced department leadership and described DAGS’ broad responsibilities across accounting, public works, procurement, elections, archives, risk management, and other attached agencies. He emphasized that DAGS supports nearly every state department and cited ongoing workforce challenges, while noting progress in reducing the department-wide vacancy rate from 21% in 2023 to 17.7% in 2024. He also highlighted recruitment efforts, including new salary schedules for engineers and architects, job fairs, internships, and outreach to retiring federal employees. A major focus was modernization of the state’s aging financial systems, especially the 55-year-old FAMIS platform and the Enterprise Financial System (EFS) project. DAGS said it expects to release the RFP for the FAMIS replacement by the end of January and is seeking a second tranche of CIP funding, including $35 million, plus position augmentation and creation of a Business Transformation Office to manage EFS and future modernization work. The department also described major capital projects such as the Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, Wahiawā Civic Center, Kauaʻi Civic Center, and Ahuimanu Community Correctional Center, and reported that Public Works is managing 455 projects statewide valued at more than $2.5 billion. Other budget requests discussed included funding for cemetery operations, with DAGS asking for two positions and $1 million in operating funds to support maintenance of eight cemeteries; a $200 million ceiling increase tied to anticipated insurance proceeds for West Maui fire-related recovery and rebuilding; and several staffing and operating items for district offices and facilities. These included full-year funding for positions in West Hawaiʻi and East Hawaiʻi, support for a small business coordinator at the State Procurement Office, funding for cloud hosting and PeopleSoft licensing, six positions and staff augmentation for the EFS project, electricity costs, and security-related funding. DAGS also noted that two requested reductions totaled $7.9 million, including transferring the security contract to the Department of Law Enforcement and reducing nonrecurring expenses; members discussed whether some security funding should remain with or be moved to DLE, and DAGS said it would not object to that transfer. No votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• That, in the fee reductions, is doing that. The scholarship’s been in place, I believe, since 2023.
• you know, there was legislation that y’all ran in 2023, I think, as well, that required the fee reductions

Summary: The committee met and first welcomed a visiting group from Arkansas State University’s Medical Laboratory and Radiation Sciences program. It then suspended the rules to take up a supplemental report, which was approved and noted as reviewed without objection. Members reviewed the Arkansas Fire Protection and Licensing Board’s occupational report. Counsel for the Department of Labor and Licensing said there had been no fee increases, and the report was accepted without objection. The committee then heard from the Arkansas Department of Health’s Radiation Control Section, which described its radiologic technologist licensing program, including full and limited-scope licensure, unchanged fees since 1999, and a recent operating deficit covered through cost allocation. Members asked about the deficit, possible future fee changes, and whether apprenticeship pathways might be added; the agency said it was not currently planning fee increases and would accommodate apprenticeship if such programs are created. That report also stood as reviewed. Finally, the Arkansas State Board of Physical Therapy presented its report, outlining its licensing and disciplinary role, current licensee counts, compact participation, and recent growth in licensees. The board highlighted lower fees, a $200,000 scholarship program for 10 recipients per year, and a large fund balance that is being reduced through fee cuts and scholarships. Members asked about the scholarship details and the effect on reserves. The report was accepted without objection, and the meeting concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Roughly 95% of those reductions targeted services for people with disabilities, seniors, and those on
• Roughly 95% of those reductions targeted services for people with disabilities, seniors, and those on

Summary: This was a Republican response to the Governor’s State of the State address, delivered by Sen. Keith Wagoner. The speaker argued that Washington is facing an affordability crisis driven by recent tax increases, high living costs, and what he described as unsustainable state spending. He cited inflation in housing, fuel, food, and other essentials, along with concerns about crime, homelessness, drug overdoses, and declining student outcomes, as evidence that the state is failing residents. A major focus was the state budget and tax policy. The speaker criticized Governor Ferguson and the Democratic majority for signing a budget he said included the largest tax increase in state history, followed by a projected revenue shortfall. He also objected to proposed new taxes on items like fuel, cell phones, storage units, and employers, warning that these measures would be regressive and could pave the way for a state income tax. He said Republicans support property tax relief and a spending limit, and he accused Democrats of rejecting those ideas. The response also highlighted cuts to Medicaid in the 2025 budget, saying reductions disproportionately affected people with disabilities, seniors, and long-term care services. The speaker framed this as inconsistent with claims of compassion and said the state should not raise taxes while cutting care for vulnerable residents. He urged viewers to testify on legislation, contact lawmakers and the governor, and support what he called fiscally responsible, common-sense policies during the short legislative session.

Transcript Highlights:

• When reductions are made to the vacancy positions, budget committees usually consider vacancies somewhere
• And with that reduction, the Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund is seeing some revenue generation issues that

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and heard House Bill 1313, an agency bill by Representative Mooney. The bill extends the Resilient Florida Trust Fund within the Department of Environmental Protection and updates the state accounting reference from FLARE to the new POM system. A technical amendment removing the obsolete FLARE account code was adopted without objection, and the bill then passed favorably on a recorded vote with no public testimony or debate. After the bill, the chair reviewed budget process materials for the committee, including agency vacancy reports and three-year reversion reports. She noted that several agencies have relatively low vacancy rates, highlighting the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as especially efficient, while DEP’s vacancy rate was higher and a member asked about long-term vacancies there. On reversions, she said DACS had only about a 2% reversion rate over three years, while Citrus averaged about 40%, DEP about 12%, and Fish and Wildlife about 10%. The chair also discussed upcoming budget recommendations and asked members to review the materials and raise questions. She flagged trust fund concerns, especially for Fish and Wildlife, saying recent license fee waivers may reduce revenue supporting its trust fund and could affect funding decisions in the next budget. The meeting ended after brief clarification on the vacancy report and a motion to re-recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• businesses, like B&O tax reductions, reductions in or eliminating the sales tax on common grocery cart
• And that's why we're also looking at the reductions that this amendment is ignoring, the reductions that
• since 2021. tax rate reductions since 2021.
• Idaho shifted to a flat tax from a 7% reduction going to 5.3%. Percent reduction going to 5.3%.
• Indiana has accelerated flat rate reductions from 3.23% to 2.9%, a 7% reduction.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Transcript Highlights:

• and highway to greenhouse gas reduction and highway to habitat.<00:21:58.400><c> Um</c><00:21:58.720
• </c> is a cleaner environment and reductions is a cleaner environment and reductions in<00:53:24.079>
• </c><01:20:29.360><c> and</c><01:20:29.520><c> reallocations</c> and the reductions and reallocations
• and the reductions and reallocations that<01:20:30.400><c> were</c><01:20:30.560><c> made</c><01:20:
• And that's why the governor recommended even more significant reductions to the base funding.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:02:51.880><c> industrial</c> reduction industrial reduction industrial pre-treatment<01:02:55.000
• The reduction in caseloads is very impressive.
• The reduction in caseloads is very impressive.
• Yeah, there's a big reduction. The Hampshire should be proud.
• We are also doing harm reduction, and that harm reduction, uh, through the same pilot, providing people

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most school districts are facing a reduction in compensatory revenue following the change included in
• And then in 2024–2025, it looks like there were 776, so a 27% reduction.
• 42:21.920><c> that</c><01:42:22.480><c> um</c><01:42:22.880><c> Senator</c> reduction.
• So, that data that um Senator reduction.
• </c><01:44:21.520><c> in</c> So a pretty significant reduction in So a pretty significant reduction in

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, there will be some folks that have increases, some that have reductions, depending on where they're
• But, it'd be somebody's big reduction.
• [Laughter] Chair Hoffman, I did ask folks, do we have any evidence of, you know, reductions in family
• So, um, um, um, the other thing, so if you want the reduction of duplication of aligning efforts across
• of duplication of aligning the reduction of duplication of aligning efforts<01:00:56.640><c> across<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• based on the in when the reduction based on the in when the incremental<01:37:44.880><c> production<
• </c><01:40:49.280><c> doesn't</c> then the severance tax reduction doesn't then the severance tax reduction
• Gas is never included in this uh severance tax reduction.
• Gas is never included in this severance tax reduction.
• Um and I'm I'm afraid I reduction.

Bills: HB0075, HB0128

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosk, financial institutions, regulation, Wyoming Money Transmitters Act, penalties, severance tax, oil production, tax exemption, energy sector, economic impact, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is when reductions in provider taxes and state-directed payments go into effect, an increase in
• This is when reductions in provider taxes and state-directed payments go into effect, an increase in
• </c><00:12:03.760><c> taxes</c><00:12:04.160><c> and</c> um reductions in provider taxes and um reductions
• There are some of the reduction in the hold harmless list goes into effect in 2028.
• </c><00:26:27.360><c> harmless</c><00:26:27.600><c> list</c> reduction in the whole harmless list reduction

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met and approved the minutes from its August 27 meeting. It then received a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislators on the Medicaid provisions in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill, referred to as HR1. She explained that the bill is estimated by CBO to save the federal government $911 billion over 10 years, with more than 20 Medicaid-specific provisions, most of the savings concentrated in five policies and largely backloaded into 2030-2034. She emphasized that the bill’s effects will vary by state, but that expansion states and hospitals are expected to be most affected, in part because of changes to eligibility, provider taxes, and state-directed payments. Castanza highlighted several new funding and flexibility provisions, including a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund for 2026-2030 and a new home- and community-based services waiver option effective July 1, 2028, with $100 million in grants in fiscal year 2027. She also outlined major eligibility changes for Medicaid expansion adults: work or community engagement requirements effective January 1, 2027; twice-yearly redeterminations for the expansion population effective the same date; and new cost sharing for certain expansion adults effective October 1, 2028. She noted that Kentucky, as an expansion state, would be subject to these changes and that state agencies would face significant implementation demands, especially because federal guidance and timelines are tight. A substantial portion of the presentation focused on financing changes. Castanza described new limits on provider taxes, including a 0% safe harbor for new taxes and a phased reduction for existing taxes in expansion states beginning in 2028, while nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities are exempt from the reduction if already taxed. She also explained that state-directed payments will be capped and phased down over time, with existing arrangements grandfathered only briefly; she said Kentucky has 11 approved state-directed payments and could see significant fiscal effects. She added that the bill also bars Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood or similarly situated providers for one year, changes immigrant eligibility rules effective October 1, 2026, lowers the federal match for certain emergency services, and expands the scope of the federal erroneous payment recoupment provision effective October 1, 2029. Throughout, she stressed that federal savings may translate into state cost shifts and that implementation timing will be critical.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Agriculture Committee was tasked with $230 billion in net deficit reduction.
• The Agriculture Committee was tasked with $230 billion in net deficit reduction.
• The Agriculture Committee was tasked with $230 billion in net deficit reduction.
• The Agriculture Committee was tasked with $230 billion in net deficit reduction.
• The Inflation Reduction Act, despite their efforts to deride it, they are going to take advantage of

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , in 2023, rather than reinstate the good time incentive and maintain the longstanding one-third reduction
• , in 2023, rather than reinstate the good time incentive and maintain the longstanding one-third reduction
• , in 2023, rather than reinstate the good time incentive and maintain the longstanding one-third reduction
• , in 2023, rather than reinstate the good time incentive and maintain the longstanding one-third reduction
• early as 50% of the executed sentence, thereby saving a potential 17% sentence, realizing a 17% reduction

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• their infrastructure around the financing around Medicaid, and any uncompensated care impacts, any reductions
• Uncompensated care impacts any reductions in people even having access to health care coverage will impact
• We do anticipate a reduction in terms of the fiscal impact, a reduction in Medicaid spending, and an
• We do anticipate a reduction in terms of the fiscal impact, a reduction in Medicaid spending, and an
• We do anticipate a reduction in terms of the fiscal impact, a reduction in Medicaid spending, and an

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the course of our 16-week, evidence-based model of care, we see measurable reductions in survivors
• clients who receive TRC services experience a 56% increase in return to employment, a 41% greater reduction
• The initial report by the Legislative Analyst's Office could be an upwards of 85% reduction.
• Programs would face service reductions, wait lists would grow, and survivors seeking help would encounter
• And you're saying that what's being proposed is an 85% reduction? That's correct.

Summary: The subcommittee met to hear budget-related updates from the Judicial Branch and the Office of Emergency Services, with no votes taken. The Judicial Council supported the Governor’s proposed budget, highlighting $70 million for increased trial court operating costs, additional funding for court-appointed counsel, Court of Appeal case processing, and courthouse construction and facilities. Trial court representatives emphasized staffing retention problems, especially in counties like San Bernardino, and said stable funding is needed to avoid delays and maintain access to justice. Members also discussed the branch’s remote proceedings program, which has been used in more than 6 million hearings statewide since 2022 and was described as especially important in rural areas and for vulnerable litigants; several members urged making the authority permanent rather than extending it temporarily. A major portion of the hearing focused on Proposition 36 implementation. Finance said the Governor’s budget maintains the $130 million provided in the 2025 Budget Act for court workload and pretrial services, but adds no new Prop. 36 court funding. Judicial Council staff reported nearly 35,000 felony Prop. 36 filings in 2025, with most cases still pending and only a small share of treatment-mandated cases already dismissed after treatment. Witnesses said courts are using the funds for staffing, coordinators, clerks, and treatment-court operations, but that workload varies widely by county and that data collection is limited because courts report aggregate information rather than case-level outcomes. The LAO raised a technical concern about the Department of Finance’s Prop. 47 savings estimate and recommended revising the methodology at May Revision. The committee also reviewed the Orange Central Justice Center facility modification project, where the Judicial Council explained that hidden construction deficiencies and fire-life-safety issues caused costs to rise substantially after demolition began. The LAO said the project itself was supportable but recommended that the Legislature set an ongoing funding level for court facilities, require a long-term facilities plan, and consider more oversight of facility modification projects. Finance said it continues to fund courthouse projects individually and through the State Public Works Board, while acknowledging project delays and cost increases. Finally, Cal OES and advocates discussed victim services funding. Cal OES said it administers about $315 million annually for victim service programs, including VOCA-funded services, but federal VOCA allocations have fluctuated sharply and the state has used one-time General Fund backfills to maintain services. Trauma recovery center advocates warned that an 85% reduction in funding would sharply reduce services for survivors of violent crime, while human trafficking advocates urged reauthorization of the Human Trafficking Victim Assistance Program before funding reverts to pre-pandemic levels in July 2026. Members asked about federal and state funding stability, referral pathways, and the long-term value of these programs in preventing worse outcomes and reducing public costs.