Transcript Highlights:

• Since then, we were given a budget, and we've had three new concepts of plans given to us, showing the
• They would be well done within the budget, and the concepts were workable.
• We know we're going to have to stay within the budget of $595 million, and we need some concepts.
• with asking for the next step with your architect and engineers in the fiscal '27 budget.
• For the next step, which architect and engineers in the fiscal '27 budget? Yes.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Missouri State Capitol Commission met with a quorum present and approved the minutes from its November 3, 2025 meeting. Members also discussed tentative meeting dates for 2026, including May 4, August 3, and November 2, all at noon. A representative from the Missouri Department of Conservation then provided an update on the America 250 “Liberty Tree” effort, explaining plans to plant a heritage white oak-family tree at the Capitol Complex in late March and to identify and map surviving historic Liberty Trees across the state. The main substantive discussion focused on the Capitol restoration project and the need to hire an owner’s representative. Members reviewed the construction subcommittee’s work, Parsons Engineering’s review, and the goal of keeping the project within the $595 million budget while addressing restoration, ADA, HVAC, mezzanines, fiber optics, and parking needs. After clarifying the procurement process, the commission voted to authorize the Office of Administration and FMDC to prepare an RFQ/RFP for an owner’s representative, subject to appropriations, with the understanding that the commission will later review and approve the selection process and candidate recommendations. Commission staff also explained that the owner’s representative selection would use the state’s qualification-based process, including an open solicitation, scoring, a shortlist of three, interviews, and a final recommendation, with the process expected to take about 19 weeks. Near the end of the meeting, a member moved to approve planting the Show-Me 250 Liberty Tree on the Capitol grounds, and the commission unanimously approved that motion before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Pre-K through 12 Education Budget Conference is called to order.
• Persons-Mulicka be named the chair of the Pre-K-12 Education Budget Conference Committee.
• Persons-Mulicka be named the chair of the Pre-K-12 Education Budget Conference Committee.
• We look forward to the work this week as we iron out the Pre-K through 12 budget for 2026-27.
• Let's turn first to the House's first budget offer.

Summary: The House Pre-K through 12 Education Budget Conference convened and organized by naming Rep. Persons-Mulicka as chair and Sen. Burgess as vice chair, with both selections approved without objection. Members also agreed, without objection, that ties are not allowed in committee meetings. Opening remarks from both chairs emphasized working together to resolve outstanding budget issues for the 2026-27 Pre-K-12 education budget. The House then presented its first budget offer. The chair highlighted several points: additional non-recurring child care and development funding to help prevent any child from being disenrolled from the school readiness program in fiscal year 2026-27; agreement to the Senate’s position on $200,000 for patriotic portraits in classrooms; continued support for a $100 million teacher salary increase focused on veteran teachers; and an adjustment to the base student allocation increase to match the Senate’s $50 increase. The offer also included project funding, FEFP summary changes, and proviso/back-of-the-bill items aligned with the House budget offer. No public testimony was offered and no questions were raised on the House offer. The chair reminded attendees that the conference was operating on a one-hour meeting notice. The meeting then adjourned on a motion to rise, without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Pre-K through 12 Education Budget Conference is called to order.
• Persons-Mulicka be named the chair of the Pre-K-12 Education Budget Conference Committee.
• Persons-Mulicka be named the chair of the Pre-K-12 Education Budget Conference Committee.
• We look forward to the work this week as we iron out the Pre-K through 12 budget for 2026-27.
• Let's turn first to the House's first budget offer.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have the money and the budget. Mr.
• I also asked my constituents if they've ever attended a city budget meeting or a county budget meeting
• So when I challenged them to review their local budget... ...county budget meeting, and over 90% said
• There's an analogy of a budget airline that I think applies, and Florida is headed to be a budget airline
• This budget amendment prohibits the state of Florida from spending taxpayer money This budget amendment

Summary: The House met in special session, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and adopted the special order report setting the day’s calendar. The chamber then took up CS/House Joint Resolution 1F, the Governor’s property tax proposal, which would raise the homestead exemption for non-school taxes, lower the annual assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and restrict county and municipal ad valorem revenue to public safety and certain other uses. Sponsor Rep. Overdorf said the measure would return money to homeowners and give local governments flexibility, while opponents repeatedly argued the ballot language was misleading and that the proposal could create large local revenue shortfalls, shift costs to other taxpayers, and threaten local services and debt obligations. Members debated a series of amendments aimed at protecting specific programs from the bill’s effects. Rep. Bartleman’s amendment to exempt Children’s Services Councils and Children’s Trusts was defeated 25-74 after supporters said those entities fund child care, mental health, aftercare, and family support, while opponents said local governments could still choose to fund them. Rep. Cross’s amendment to include water management districts in allowable uses of ad valorem taxes was also defeated, despite testimony that the districts are essential for flood control, water supply, Everglades restoration, and drought response. Rep. Eskamani’s amendment to require the Legislature to backfill public safety funding failed 25-71 after debate over whether the proposal could reduce police and fire budgets and response times. The House then rejected Rep. Woodson’s amendment to require state backfill for senior services, with supporters citing Meals on Wheels, transportation, adult day care, and other aging services, and opponents saying the state already funds senior programs. Finally, Rep. Gant’s amendment to protect veteran services was introduced and debated, with members emphasizing housing, mental health, transition assistance, and homelessness concerns for veterans; the transcript cuts off before the vote on that amendment. Throughout the debate, sponsors and supporters of the main resolution maintained that local governments would retain spending discretion and could use other revenue sources, while critics argued the measure lacked clear backfill provisions and could force cuts or tax shifts at the local level.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you know, for those that weren't with Chair Cleborne and I as we built the budget from last year,
• 00:01:05.880><c> the</c> Chair Cleborne and I as we built the Chair Cleborne and I as we built the budget
• I'm Anna Mingy, Deputy Commissioner with Minnesota Management and Budget.
• and economic forecast and state budget and economic forecast and the<00:04:23.520><c> operations</c>
• A forecast is a high-level, forward-looking budgeting tool based on projections of state revenues and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Of course, the budget for the project is $291.52 million.
• Of course, the budget for the project is $291.52 million.
• That's over $40 million that the budget doesn't contain now as a part of the project.
• That's over $40 million that the budget doesn't contain now as a part of the project.
• Will the project be within budget, and where will the governor's office go?

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:05 Capitol Renovations Update 00:00:40 Damage from Recent Disaster Discussion 00:33:25, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for its third meeting of the session and received an update on the Capitol renovation project from Finance and Administration Secretary Holly Johnson and State Budget Director John Hicks. They reported the project budget remains $291.52 million, with Messer Construction as construction manager, and said the temporary legislative chamber completion has slipped into 2025 because of wiring, voting machine, KET camera, and canopy work. They outlined the current bid schedule: site and utility bids due February 27, 2025; roofing and fourth-floor structural work due April 24; major renovation bids due May 23; bid review in late May and early June; roofing and fourth-floor work beginning in late June; and overall construction starting July 7, 2025. A major focus of the discussion was the project contingency, which officials said is only $10.8 million for an older building with significant unknown conditions. They explained that earlier investigations led to about $60 million in value engineering cuts, including more than $40 million tied to unexpectedly extensive terrace damage on the north, south, and east sides. The terraces were originally expected to need only minor work, but officials said investigations showed reconstruction would eventually be necessary and could not be handled by simple restoration. They also said the mechanical equipment plan changed from a basement location to a vault under the east parking lot, and that the west terrace will still see some ADA-related work. Committee members questioned why the terrace work was not included in the current budget, whether doing it later would cost more, and why bids and construction planning had taken so long. Officials said the terraces were left out because of cost, that future work would likely be more expensive because of market escalation, and that the timing reflected extensive investigation needed to produce reliable bids. Members also raised concerns about scaffolding and the temporary chambers; officials clarified that the scaffolding discussed was for the separate Capitol Dome project, not the chamber project, and said the Dome scaffolding is part of that project cost and is expected to come down in early 2027. They said the temporary chambers are expected to be used for three sessions, through the 28th session, with a return to the Capitol planned for the 29th session, and that public tours of the Capitol would likely end around June depending on the bid results and construction schedule.

Transcript Highlights:

• The previous budget had funded this program with general funds, but during last year's budget negotiations
• </c> um and um explode the budget that way. um and um explode the budget that way.
• </c> several months into the budget period. several months into the budget period.
• </c> through the budget shutdown for SNAP. through the budget shutdown for SNAP.
• </c> have to do to manage the budget? have to do to manage the budget?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Colleagues, this budget was not easy, but I'm proud where we landed. A budget that truly...
• Colleagues, this budget was not easy, but I'm proud where we landed, a budget that truly puts people
• For our students and our schools, this budget is a budget...
• On top of this massive budget bill of over 1,000 pages, we now have a school aid budget of over 470 pages
• Nobody knows what's in this budget. We were just given this huge school aid budget over 470 pages.

Keywords: 983, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome, this is the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services.
• Set of budget and policy proposals for the legislature to consider.
• And the first investment came in the budget in 2020.
• A lot can happen between now and the enactment of the federal budget.
• It is there; it's in the budget; it's just not being implemented yet.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a balanced budget.
• </c><00:47:12.119><c> budget</c><00:47:12.480><c> cycle</c> about the upcoming budget budget cycle about
• <00:47:50.680><c> her</c> propose in her propose in her budget<00:47:52.480><c> uh</c> budget uh budget
• </c><00:49:58.920><c> their</c><00:49:59.160><c> budgets</c> to get the budget their budgets to get the
• <c> House</c> our budget current budget from House our budget current budget from House Bill<01:26:28.040

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee received an orientation from University System of New Hampshire Chancellor Katherine Preventure and Senior Director of Government Relations Lauren Banker on the system’s enrollment, finances, workforce role, and academic programs. They described the system as consisting of UNH, Keene State, and Plymouth State, with about 23,000 students, $928 million in FY24 operating expenses, a $3.7 billion economic impact, and UNH’s R1 research status. They emphasized the system’s role in graduating students into the New Hampshire workforce, its statewide Cooperative Extension and regional campus presence, and its alignment of degree offerings with top occupations identified by New Hampshire Employment Security. The presentation also highlighted partnerships with businesses, internships, and collaboration with the community college system, including 100 transfer pathways and a direct-admit program. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on tuition, state support, and student costs. The chancellor said the state invested $95 million in FY25, with about $81 million used to reduce resident tuition and about $14 million for statutory programs such as Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station. She said the state subsidy is about $7,300 per New Hampshire student, and that resident net tuition averages about $7,000, while nonresident net tuition averages about $16,600. She provided published tuition figures for UNH, Plymouth State, and Keene State, and explained that resident tuition has been held flat for five years while financial aid has increased, reducing average net tuition and fees for New Hampshire students from about $10,500 in 2020 to $9,800. Members asked for clarification on how residency and workforce-retention percentages were calculated, and the chancellor said she would follow up. Members also asked about comparisons with peer institutions, housing and meal costs, research funding, and the reasons for declining enrollment and staffing reductions. The chancellor said peer comparisons were based on flagship universities for UNH and smaller regional publics for Plymouth and Keene, and noted that out-of-state tuition has risen about 2.5% annually. She said housing for a UNH double room is $8,536 and a meal plan is $5,100, and offered to provide a consolidated cost document. On research, she said the system’s direct research spending includes federal funding and that indirect costs were about $34 million last year, with a follow-up promised on the federal/state and direct/indirect split. She attributed enrollment declines largely to demographics and said the system is responding by reducing costs, selling buildings, exiting leases, moving the system office to NHTI, and implementing Workday. She also noted that Plymouth received approval for five three-year bachelor’s degree programs and that members praised the shorter, workforce-focused pathways, especially for manufacturing and other in-demand fields.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> director of the state budget department. director of the state budget department.
• last 25-26 budget.
• </c> budget to to fund the highway patrol. budget to to fund the highway patrol.
• </c> through with you our 2026 budget. through with you our 2026 budget.
• This is $3.6 budget.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• An appraisal increase for our next budget right? Yes. Okay how much is that?
• Chairman, we know in past, recent state budgets, we have, you know, budget a certain amount for public
• education funding, and then we end up with a surplus at the end of that budget.
• I'm not an expert on school district budgeting and finance.
• , or are we talking about 10% of a district's budget?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committee, we're going to take up Senate Bill 2018, the Commerce Department budget.
• We passed that in a previous budget for a million.
• The Senate has taken that out of the DPI budget.
• The Senate has taken that out of the DPI budget.
• Budget passes 7-0. Thanks, committee. Committee, that takes care of the Commerce Budget.

Bills: SB2018

Keywords: funding, commerce, autonomous technology, workforce development, economic growth, grant programs, 908, all

Summary: The E&E Committee met to finalize action on Senate Bill 2018, the Commerce Department budget. Members reviewed several funding lines and made verbal adjustments, including reducing tourism marketing awareness to $5 million, keeping Operation Intern at $2 million, restoring the Destination Development Fund to $20 million, setting Autonomous Agriculture Grants/Grand Farm at $10 million, and reducing the WIP Regional Workforce Impact Program to $5 million. Representative Martinson proposed additional earmarks for the Fargo Theatre, Maddock trolley cars, a theater in Marmarth, and Driscoll’s community hall, and also moved to keep the Destination Development Fund at $25 million; the committee discussed these items, but the transcript does not show separate recorded votes on those proposals. The committee adopted two amendments. One dealt with the drone replacement program and related data-collection direction, with language agreed to by UAS representatives, IT, and the governor’s office. The second, offered by Representative Swantec, created a trigger for funding children’s science centers in Fargo and Grand Forks if the SIF fund exceeds a specified threshold during the 2025-27 biennium; the amendment was clarified to use the term “Children’s Science Education Center” and passed 7-0. The committee then approved a do-pass motion on the Commerce budget as amended and with the verbal changes discussed, passing the bill 7-0. During debate, Representative Louser raised concerns that the budget’s spending could affect property tax relief, while the chair responded that there would still be sufficient money for tax relief and that the programs funded were ongoing and successful. The chair closed by thanking members and staff, noting conference committee assignments and a committee dinner, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are requesting a flat budget over FY26.
• Chairman, in terms of the general fund budget, we are requesting a flat budget over FY26.
• Chairman, we are submitting a flat budget for FY27.
• So, DSA is the first agency that in this budget year that I've heard of requesting a flat budget.
• The civil legal services budget is flat from last year.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we work to finalize next year's state budget, today's Appropriations Committee is really one of the
• steps to complete that process, making sure that our budget process is transparent.
• That's why, starting in our first budget year in 2023, Senate Democrats required every single lawmaker
• This was an important first step to shore up our budget process and ensure that we, as elected leaders
• In addition to the broader budget proposals we're aiming to pass very soon, Mr.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations met with a quorum present, adopted the April 23, 2026 minutes, and then held a discussion focused on eligible legislatively directed spending items (LDSIs) for the FY 2027 budget. The chair explained that the committee was part of a new transparency process requiring legislators to publicly disclose LDSI requests, including the recipient, amount, and purpose, and noted that the forms must be posted publicly for at least 45 days before inclusion in the budget. He said Senate members submitted more than 500 eligible LDSI forms and House members submitted 750, for over 1,250 total proposals made available online. The chair emphasized that the process is intended to increase accountability and public awareness of how tax dollars are spent, and encouraged the public to review the posted forms on the Senate and House websites. During the meeting, four cards of support were read into the record: Wendy Fallow supported the Literacy Center of West Michigan project; Graham Filler supported the H.H.W. request on behalf of Kalamazoo County; and Mayor David LaGrand and Rob Verhulen both supported the aquarium request. No committee questions were raised, no substantive votes were taken on the LDSI items, and the committee moved through routine procedural actions. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, supported and adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll start with the Legislative Budget Board presentation on the budget. Article 5.
• We'll start with the Legislative Budget Board presentation on the budget for the Department of Public
• Corey Sharp with the Legislative Budget Board.
• So eight years ago, was it 23% of your budget?
• Um, yeah, I actually pulled up UTMB's budget, and their budget for '24 was $2.7 billion, of which $1.9

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard a presentation from the Legislative Budget Board on the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Article 5 budget. LBB recommended $3.7 billion in all funds for 2026-27, a 5.2 percent decrease from the base, while FTEs would rise by 856.7. Major items included funding for driver license services, DPS facilities, troopers and recruit schools, crime labs, vehicle and aircraft operations, border security, and rider changes. The committee also reviewed DPS exceptional items not included in the recommendation, including additional staffing, technology, and facility requests. Members focused heavily on driver license operations, criticizing long wait times, call abandonment, and repeated staffing increases without clear process improvements. LBB said the agency’s call-answer rate was about 9 percent in fiscal 2024, with average hold times around 34 minutes, later reduced to roughly 22-25 minutes. Senators questioned whether more FTEs alone would solve the problem and urged a broader efficiency study and better use of technology. DPS officials said they were pursuing process changes, including appointment-system upgrades, online pre-population of forms, and remote issuance options, while noting that Real ID requirements and population growth continue to drive demand. DPS leadership then outlined the agency’s priorities: completion of the Williamson County training academy, recruitment and retention of troopers, capital needs for vehicles and aircraft, and expanded responsibilities at the Capitol complex and the Alamo. Officials said the new trooper funding would help address staffing shortages, public safety, and border operations, and that overtime and deployment patterns had been adjusted to reduce burnout and improve flexibility. They also discussed Operation Lone Star, saying DPS spending is largely overtime, travel, and fuel, and that the agency continues to coordinate with federal partners while awaiting clarity on possible federal reimbursement for border security costs. Senators also raised concerns about oilfield theft, cartel activity, high-speed pursuits, bilingual pay, and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum, and DPS said it would follow up on some of those issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> because as you know this is a budget because as you know this is a budget year<00:09:15.560><c>
• Yeah, so you mentioned the budget and what a small part housing gets this budget year, but there is a
• </c> houses yeah so you mentioned the budget houses yeah so you mentioned the budget and<00:20:03.200
• </c> with uh you know a a challenging budget with uh you know a a challenging budget uh<00:20:28.919>
• </c><00:20:36.000><c> uh</c> what we heard in mmb's budget uh what we heard in mmb's budget uh forecast

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we want, you want, the budget that you create to be fully funded by fair and equitable taxes. budget
• The next panel is Don Griswold and Kurt Wise, Mass Budget Policy Center, and Budget and Policy, excuse
• As a multi-issue organization, we look at many parts of the budget and track a lot of the budget for
• There is the state budget, and funding that comes through the state budget has the power to save lives
• In the last budget cycle, we saw a cut to the DPH budget across the board and BSAS within that.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue, chaired by Senator James Eldridge and Representative Adrian Madaro, opened its hearing with a moment of silence for the late Lowell State Senator Ed Kennedy and reviewed hearing procedures and deadlines. The committee then took testimony on several corporate tax bills, including S. 2033/H. 3110 on offshore tax avoidance, H. 3248 on a manufacturing tax exemption, H. 3057 on a tiered corporate minimum tax, and S. 2041 on a corporate tax haven blacklist, along with a separate business interest deduction bill. No votes were taken during the hearing. Supporters of S. 2033/H. 3110, including labor unions, health care workers, educators, public health advocates, seniors, and several legislators, argued that Massachusetts needs new revenue to offset federal cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, health care, education, and other services. They said the bill would raise roughly $400 million annually by increasing the share of offshore profits included in the state tax base from 5% to 50%, and they framed it as a fairness measure that would require large multinational corporations to pay more while leaving most local businesses and workers unaffected. Testimony emphasized risks to MassHealth, PCA services, adult dental care, hospitals, schools, and public health programs if new revenue is not raised. Opponents, including the Mass Taxpayers Foundation and the Council on State Taxation, argued the proposal is poor tax policy and likely unconstitutional because it would tax foreign-source income without allowing foreign tax credits or a comparable apportionment method. They said Massachusetts should take a broader, coordinated approach to federal tax changes rather than a standalone bill, and warned of litigation risk and possible double taxation. Supporters such as MassBudget and former tax counsel Don Griswold countered that the bill is a reasonable rough-justice approach, consistent with federal and neighboring-state treatment, and that it would primarily affect a small number of very large multinationals. On S. 2041, the Global Business Alliance opposed the proposed tax haven blacklist, while supporting a separate bill allowing business interest deductibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• You look at the overall framework of the budget intentions of the budget.
• And the intentions of the budget, overall legislative budget, is that you and every agency has to get
• You look at the overall framework of the budget intentions of the budget.
• You look at the overall framework of the budget intentions of the budget.
• You look at the overall framework of the budget intentions of the budget.

Bills: HCR122

Keywords: Olelo Hawaii, micro-credentials, Hawaiian language, Niihau dialect, language revitalization, 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Committee on Education and Committee on Hawaiian Affairs first took up HCR 122, which requests the University of Hawaii to allow an ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi E Pathway under the Niʻihau dialect. Testimony was generally supportive, and the chair noted agreement with the House author to mirror amendments already made in the Senate version, including technical, non-substantive changes and a micro-credential reference. Both committees voted to pass HCR 122 with amendments. The committee then heard HCR 181, affirming the legislative intent of HRS 302A-1116 regarding the Department of Education’s authority to create temporary positions. DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi testified that the department follows statutory requirements and consults with the Attorney General, while several members expressed concern that the department’s interpretation could allow repeated annual renewals and undermine the budget process. Members discussed the need to make the bill more explicit that temporary positions may not exceed one year. The committee ultimately adopted the proposed SD1 and passed HCR 181 with amendments. The committee also considered HCR 42 on recognizing cheerleading as a title sport, HCR 53 on a UH associate degree completion audit, HCR 110 on refining campus roles within the UH system, HCR 111 on clarifying UH system and campus responsibilities, and HCR 118 HD1 on strengthening menstrual health education and adopting a comprehensive menstrual cycle curriculum. HCR 42 and HCR 53 were passed with technical/non-substantive amendments, HCR 110 and HCR 111 were passed unamended, and HCR 118 HD1 was passed with amendments reflecting the Senate version. Testimony on HCR 118 strongly supported standardized menstrual health education, with speakers emphasizing student demand and existing school infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• ESD superintendents serve as members of budget review committees.
• ESD superintendents serve as members of budget review committees that review, alter, and approve budgets
• When you get elected to a school board, your main focus is probably oversight of the budget.
• This bill also sets consequences for knowing or negligent budget violations.
• Equity in public education requires fully funding MSOC and rejecting budgets that balance the budget

Bills: SB6130, SB6247, SB6260, SB6268, SB6278

Keywords: voter registration, elections, national holiday, civic engagement, government initiative, school funding, financial management, budgeting, transparency, district governance, SB 6260, public education, K-12, Washington State, OSPI, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, education finance, school transportation, school buses, zero-emission bus