Transcript Highlights:

• At the request of Ms. Badger of Plymouth and Mrs.
• Wang Osagas asked unanimous consent to draw his request for a roll call.
• And now it is a bedrock of our budgeting every single year.
• The fact that there's no new taxes in this budget, I think, is very, very important.
• I think overall this is a good budget and one that deserves your approval.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so this is uh requested positions.
• </c><00:15:36.320><c> of</c> both include the governor's request of both include the governor's request
• That is a budget impact on line 290. House File 135 is a budget impact for assaults on a jailer.
• House File 135 is a budget impact for assaults on a jailer.
• That is a budget impact on line 290. House File 135 is a budget impact for assaults on a jailer.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We also get regular requests from K-12 schools and higher ed, as their budgets are under pressure as
• Students could request books.
• Teachers Students could request books.
• And this small request would help with communication so much.
• </c> submit carry forward requests. submit carry forward requests. adjustments<01:26:50.880><c> to</c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Assembly Bill 100 by Assembly Member Gabriel, an act relating to the Budget Act of 2025.
• Thank you, and I respectfully request an aye vote. Thank you, Assembly Member Gabriel.
• I respectfully request that we adjourn in his memory. Thank you. Thank you.
• All requests to adjourn in memory will be deemed read and printed in the journal.
• All requests to adjourn in memory will be deemed read and printed in the journal.

Summary: The Assembly met on March 6, 2025, established a quorum, and opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and routine procedural motions, including unanimous consent requests and a re-referral of AB 506. The chamber then moved through a series of guest introductions and second-reading items before taking up several resolutions recognizing awareness days and cultural observances. Members adopted ACR 41 on Down Syndrome Awareness Week/Day and HR 24 on Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month after extensive bipartisan remarks focused on family experiences, inclusion, bullying, funding for services, and support for people with disabilities. The Assembly also adopted ACR 48 recognizing Women in STEM Day, ACR 49 recognizing California STEM Robotics Day, HR 18 celebrating Nauruze, and ACR 2 marking the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Each resolution drew co-authors and supportive comments from members across the aisle. The body then debated and passed AB 248, which would remove the state wage cap on county jail inmate labor and allow counties more discretion; supporters framed it as local control and rehabilitation, while opponents argued it would raise costs and conflict with voter sentiment. The Assembly also passed AB 100, a budget-process measure moving a large package of bills to the Senate, and used a substituted roll call for the remaining related bills. Consent calendar items were approved, and the chamber concluded with multiple adjournments in memory, including tributes to Eric Lopez, Johnny D. Giles, and Roger Diamond, before adjourning until March 24, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• We look forward to the committee voting and approving this request. Thank you. Thank you.
• We look forward to the committee voting and approving this request. Thank you. Thank you.
• The town respectfully requests favorable action on this matter.
• The town respectfully requests favorable action on this matter. Thank you. Thank you.
• Request that you reach out to the municipal law unit for their take on this.

Bills: H5426, H5434, S3084, S3087, S3088, S3092

Keywords: North Attleborough, town charter, home rule charter, municipal government, local option, charter amendment, Parks and Recreation Commission, Park Commission, write-in candidate, sticker candidate, ballot access, town election, bylaw, ordinance, board membership, local approval, Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, planning board, associate members

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, it's not on the list, but it was in their request information.
• I understand funding is usually limited and budgets are typically tight.
• That's 10% of our total general fund budget that we lose.
• The $3 million is in their base budget from the general fund.
• So that changed from base budget to House and now Senate.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to hear and discuss three education bills and related budget items. House Bill 1214 would revise K-12 transportation funding by replacing the current rider-based formula with a new formula tied more closely to district size, square mileage, building counts, and the weighted student payment. Sponsors and DPI said the change would better reflect actual transportation costs, hold districts harmless overall, and likely increase funding by about $4 million beyond current spending; they also said parent-provided transportation and open-enrollment mileage rules would remain largely unchanged. No opposition was heard, and the committee closed discussion without taking final action in the transcript. The committee then reviewed House Bill 1013, the education appropriations bill, and walked through proposed adjustments to program and pass-through grants. The chair proposed keeping or reducing some items, eliminating others, and moving one-time items to the stabilization fund; examples included leaving free meals at $4.5 million for now, keeping the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, reducing some grant lines, and removing several new or one-time grants. DPI also explained that the student information system would remain a flow-through grant for this biennium but would move in-house after July 1, 2026. The committee also discussed adding an FTE for the School for the Blind and making a small equipment swap at the Center for Distance Education. House Bill 1369 was discussed as the main school aid bill, including a proposed 2 percent and 2 percent per-pupil payment increase, higher construction bidding thresholds, elimination of the 12 percent cap, and a transfer of $75 million from Foundation Aid to the School Construction Revolving Loan Fund, with the chair suggesting $100 million instead. DPI explained that the bill also included a policy change returning placement decisions for students with disabilities in congregate care to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, with support from the governor’s office. The committee heard testimony from school officials seeking gap funding for Title I losses caused by a switch from free-and-reduced-lunch to census-based allocations, saying districts with many open-enrolled students could lose substantial funding and staff positions. Later, the governor’s office presented a proposed $1.5 million one-time appropriation to help schools buy secure storage for student cell phones if a statewide device policy is adopted; members raised concerns about cost, local control, and whether the money would be enough. The committee also heard student testimony and then recessed without voting on the amendment in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is this is where we see the similarities between our state budget and certainly with the budgets
• We will roll the House budget out. I would like the resources We will roll the House budget out.
• So what you'll notice when you look at our legislative budget requests is that we include a lot of budget
• So you see about 1.6 million dollars of shift in our budget request to allow us to what we think we need
• One position has already been filled for positions up and submitted in our legislative budget request

Transcript Highlights:

• Joint Legislative Budget Committee is called to order. Will the Secretary please note the roll? Mr.
• The first item on your agenda is the Attorney General's request for review of their opioid settlement
• The FY 2026 budget appropriated $10 million from those opioid settlement revenues to the Attorney General
• Item number two: ADOA consider approval of requested transfer of appropriations.
• Approval of requested transfer of appropriations. Mr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:20:04.880><c> of</c><00:20:05.640><c> uh</c> and this was a request of uh and this was a request
• Thank you very much. district's operating budget passed at district's operating budget passed at our<
• </c> much as we possibly can into our budget much as we possibly can into our budget and<02:01:41.400
• </c> property taxes regardless of our budget property taxes regardless of our budget so<02:03:44.360>
• budget budget for Manchester this is the budget budget for Manchester so<04:43:25.878><c> the</c><04

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 193, which limits the maximum credits per course eligible for the Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Program. Representative Ladd said the bill clarifies that eligible courses may not exceed four credits and was requested by the community college system. Representative Earth offered an amendment to make the bill effective on passage, which the committee adopted 18-0. The committee then approved HB 193 as amended by an 18-0 OTPA vote and placed it on the consent calendar. The committee next retained HB 295, concerning School Building Aid program funds, after Representative Spillsbury said the building aid bills were complex and needed more work. The motion to retain passed 18-0, with the chair explaining that retained bills can be revisited later and that related language could be moved among building aid bills. HB 354 was not acted on because the chair said the Department of Education and others had suggested possible changes that should be worked out first. HB 366, another school building aid bill, was also retained 18-0 for the same reasons as HB 295. The committee then considered HB 494, which funds the math learning communities program. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program, reducing the proposed increase by a net $50,000 and keeping funding at current levels for the biennium. After discussion about budget pressures and the program’s role in supporting math instruction and professional development, the amendment passed 18-0, and the bill as amended was approved 18-0 and placed on consent. Finally, the committee took up HB 515, which would repeal charter public school eligibility for state school building aid. Representative Popovici-Muller moved inexpedient to legislate, arguing charter schools should not be treated differently from other public schools, while Representatives Luno and Damon opposed the motion, saying charter schools differ in governance and financial risk and should not receive limited state building aid. The motion failed 10-8, so HB 515 was sent to the regular calendar. The committee assigned Representative Damon to the minority report and Representative Popovici-Muller to the majority report, with a noon deadline the next day. The committee then began HB 716, an appropriation for the dual and concurrent enrollment program. Representative Ladd described the program as a successful affordability measure that saves families money and supports college access. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program at current levels, reducing the proposed increase by $500,000 in each year of the biennium. Shannon Reed of the Community College System said the change could limit enrollment or the number of funded courses, though students could still take additional courses at their own expense. Representative Ladd explained the program’s tuition structure and said the funding would help meet demand; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 716.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we have the one last bill, 1015, the OMB budget before us.
• And I got a request from Senator Mathern.
• We write out a check for the budget. We write out a check for the budget.
• We are establishing a fund as in this budget now.
• And I'll carry this budget. So thank you guys.

Bills: SB2012

Keywords: transportation, funding, infrastructure, grants, municipal, 908, all

Summary: The Government Operations division met to consider House Bill 1015, the OMB budget, with several amendments already in hand. A major portion of the discussion centered on Senator Mathern’s concerns about the proposed new state hospital in Jamestown. He argued the project is outdated, too expensive, and should be delayed or reduced in favor of local behavioral health services and deferred maintenance at the existing LaHogue facility. Other members questioned him about staffing, capacity, constitutional issues, and the relationship between the hospital proposal and broader mental health investments in other bills. The committee also reviewed budget mechanics, including the transfer of up to $240 million from the Social Services Fund to the Human Services Finance Fund, a $40 million deferred maintenance fund, a $3 million deficiency appropriation for the new and vacant FTE pool, and other OMB-related items. Members discussed whether OMB should have managerial control over the Jamestown project and generally agreed that OMB oversight could help manage costs, though concerns about the hospital remained. The committee then considered two funding items that drew the most debate: guardianship grants and a pro-life education campaign. After testimony from a representative supporting the campaign, members agreed to reduce that item by $500,000 and add $1 million for guardianship grants, while leaving the overall bill to be finalized in conference. The committee adopted Amendment Version 2006 with those changes and then passed HB 1015 as amended on a roll call vote, with all members voting aye except Senator Burckhard on the amendment vote; he later voted aye on the bill itself. The chair indicated the bill would move to conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The sponsor has requested that he does not have a copy with us.
• It was nothing that was requested or proposed.
• one budget enhancement, which I'll speak to in a minute.
• one budget enhancement, which I'll speak to in a minute.
• This loan repayment will continue to augment our budget through fiscal year 28.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Resources and Conservation Committee met to introduce several RS drafts and hear agency updates. The committee introduced RS 33151, a bill Representative Boyle described as a federalism measure intended to clarify in state code that state and federal governments should stay within their constitutional lanes. It also introduced RS 33217, dealing with the big game depredation fund; Representative Schurz said it would clarify that remaining fund balances above the legislature’s 10% cap should still be paid out pro rata to farmers and ranchers for elk-related crop damage. RS 33284 was introduced as a proposal to designate hunting as Idaho’s state sport, based on a Twin Falls fourth grader’s research. RS 33287 C1, a revised version of a prior bill, was also introduced after Representative Pickett explained an editing correction and said the bill reflected changes requested by Fish and Game and committee members. RS 313185 was removed from the agenda at the sponsor’s request. The committee later approved the February 3 minutes. The committee then approved Rule Docket 24-3501-2501 for the Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board after John Price said the board completed a full chapter review, held multiple public meetings and a hearing, and incorporated input from agencies and industry groups. Ryan Bernard of DOPL gave a broad update on the division’s consolidation efforts, licensing workload, same-day licensure goals, board mergers, fee reductions, disciplinary procedure standardization, and code cleanup work. He said DOPL oversees more than 259,000 licenses across 44 boards and three safety programs, and highlighted ongoing efforts to align board cash balances with statutory requirements. Director Matt Weaver and Water Resource Board Chairman Jeff Raybould provided extensive water-related updates. Weaver reviewed IDWR’s budget holdbacks, the new water administration bureau, groundwater management in the Eastern Snake Plain and tributary basins, delivery call enforcement, Treasure Valley groundwater conditions, and the ongoing evaluation of merging the Soil and Water Conservation Commission into IDWR. Raybould discussed amendments to the State Water Plan raising the recharge target to 350,000 acre-feet, major funding for water infrastructure, recharge and cloud seeding programs, canal efficiency and groundwater-to-surface-water conversion grants, and the Bear River Compact. Members asked about aquifer management, canal lining and recharge impacts, Bear River depletion estimates, and the costs and timelines of projects such as Anderson Ranch and recharge infrastructure. The meeting also included an invitation for committee members to tour the Veolia water treatment plant on February 19.

Transcript Highlights:

• "So I can tell you that that request has been submitted to the long-term lease holder at y'all's request
• "So I can tell you that that request has been submitted to the long-term lease holder at y'all's request
• ><c> been</c><00:09:48.880><c> submitted</c> know that request hasn't been submitted know that request
• Uh, I serve on general fund, a request.
• </c><00:10:57.040><c> would</c> it would be [snorts] the request would it would be [snorts] the request

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• um we devised a planned out our budget um we devised a budget<00:02:49.200><c> um</c><00:02:49.280><
• I'll predict the budget that the budget.
• Senator Graham: Madam Chair, I'd like to request a roll call. Roll call requested.
• Roll call requested. a roll call. Roll call requested. Senator<01:37:45.199><c> Koop.
• Roll call requested. be a no. Roll call requested.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:13:46.720><c> With</c> income, the household's budget. With income, the household's budget.
• So, we'll take see requests a roll call.
• Let's look at our budget targets.
• Right now we know budget targets.
• ,</c><00:49:50.800><c> it's</c> when you have smaller budgets, it's when you have smaller budgets, it's

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3403, authored by Vice Chair Rep. Kazowski, and first adopted an A1 amendment. The amendment made technical and implementation changes recommended by the Department of Revenue, allowed a small portion of funds for county and tribal administrative costs, and clarified timing and reporting for spent and unspent funds. After the amendment was adopted, the bill was moved to Ways and Means. Rep. Kazowski described HF 3403 as a $50 million emergency rental assistance measure to help stabilize households facing eviction, with $44 million directed to counties and $6 million reserved for tribal nations, administered through the Department of Revenue using the existing local homeless prevention aid formula. Supporters said the bill would provide immediate, targeted help to renters and landlords, prevent evictions, and reduce downstream costs to shelters, schools, employers, and health systems. Several testifiers, including representatives from Greater Twin Cities United Way, St. Louis County, Hennepin County, Minneapolis, social workers, a resident, and tribal housing leaders, said local resources were insufficient to meet rising need and emphasized the impact of federal immigration enforcement and related economic disruption on families, workers, and communities. Testimony highlighted sharp increases in rental assistance requests, rising eviction filings, depleted county funds, and the strain on nonprofit and mutual aid efforts. County and city officials said emergency rental assistance and related legal services had already prevented thousands of evictions, but current funding was not enough. Tribal testimony stressed disproportionate homelessness among Native Americans and supported the bill’s tribal allocation. During member discussion, Rep. Amani Hiltsley said the bill was an economic stabilization tool and requested a roll call vote, noting safeguards against fraud and the broader costs of inaction.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's just where we are with our current budget. Mr.
• budget.
• budget.
• We went through the budget on personal service and contracts, reduced the budget by $3 million.
• Yeah, you're requesting a cake, right? Yes. So this is your...

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, to create the plans and budgeting comes out of DOFAW budget, but not directly to game management.
• Uh, to create the plans and budgeting comes out of DOFAW budget, but not directly to game management.
• Uh, to create the plans and budgeting comes out of DOFAW budget, but not directly to game management.
• You're welcome. out of DOFAR budget but not directly to out of DOFAR budget but not directly to game<
• </c> SR 100 STR 119 and this is requesting SR 100 STR 119 and this is requesting the<00:15:35.600><c>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land heard two gubernatorial nominations and one resolution. Governor’s Message 585 nominated Stanley Ruidas to the Game Management Advisory Commission for a term ending June 30, 2028. DLNR supported the nomination, citing his prior service as GMAC chair from 2020 to 2022 and his work on hunting and wildlife management issues. Ruidas said he hoped to continue as chair and focus on bringing meetings to hunters across the islands and advancing island-specific wildlife management plans. The committee later recommended advice and consent on GM585, and the motion passed unanimously. Governor’s Message 550 nominated Alexandra Kelly Polo to the Legacy Land Conservation Commission for a term ending June 30, 2028. DLNR and several supporters, including the County of Hawaii and community advocates, praised her experience with land acquisition, conservation easements, and county open-space efforts. Kelly Polo said her work has helped protect thousands of acres on Hawaii Island and emphasized the importance of preserving natural resources and working with community groups. The committee recommended advice and consent on GM550, and the motion passed unanimously. The committee also considered SCR 19/SR 100, which requested DLNR to convene a Kīua Bay advisory working group. DLNR and the Hawaii Tourism Authority offered written support, and members said the working group could help address long-standing issues in the area. The committee recommended passage with technical and nonsubstantive amendments, and the motion was adopted unanimously. In a separate joint portion of the meeting, the committees also advanced SCR 75/SR 58, supporting historic preservation staffing for Lahaina rebuild efforts, with both technical and substantive amendments, and later advanced STR 24 with an amendment to include the 100th Infantry Battalion alongside the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Transcript Highlights:

• stability of our budget.
• . budget.
• You've grown the budget 61% before you adopt a budget this session.
• Based budget 5.7%.
• In that particular issue, in that particular area, agency budget requests came in, in the fall at 18%

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> division a division has been requested division a division has been requested members<00:13:17.800
• </c><00:26:05.360><c> a</c> representative Sweeney has requested a representative Sweeney has requested
• </c> you representative Sweeny has requested you representative Sweeny has requested a<00:59:44.520><
• </c> you representative Sweeny has requested you representative Sweeny has requested a<01:08:18.480><
• It inflates the budget without a clear offsetting revenue. budget for additional traffic detail by budget

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But we also have to fight for it in the budget because in the current Governor's budget, there is no
• And we are in a tough budget situation and we're cutting CalWORKs.
• going to request a motion on this bill, if that's okay with you.
• Wait, you want a Republican to vote yes on the human services budget?
• And I hear a co-authored request from Assemblymember Rubio, too.

Summary: The committee heard a series of child and family services bills, with testimony from authors, county officials, advocates, and members of the public. AB 2083 would authorize a regional child care special district for Marina Valley and Paris; there was no public opposition, but a vice chair raised concerns about lack of outreach to Riverside County and possible added fees for residents. The bill was held pending quorum and later noted as enjoying a due pass recommendation, though no final roll was taken in the excerpt. AB 1579, which expands the Children’s Crisis Continuum Pilot Program to allow additional CDSS-approved residential models, drew strong support from San Francisco County, Seneca Family of Agencies, and several counties and advocacy groups, who argued the current crisis residential model is financially and operationally unworkable and leaves youth in hospitals or emergency departments. The Youth Law Center and allied organizations opposed the bill, saying it departs from the original small, community-based crisis model and could lead to more institutional care. The committee passed the bill 6-0 to Appropriations. AB 1628 would extend California’s safe surrender window for newborns from 72 hours to 30 days. The author and fire service supporters said the change would better reflect postpartum recovery and help prevent unsafe abandonment; there was no opposition, and the bill passed 6-0. AB 1634, dealing with the “Kids” specialty license plate program, sought to raise plate fees and revise distribution formulas to generate more revenue for child safety and child care programs. Supporters said the update would modernize outdated 1992 pricing and expand county access, while a committee member objected that the bill would reallocate funds away from state agencies and private nonprofits; the bill was moved on a 5-0 vote with some members not voting. AB 1643 would streamline child support enrollment by having courts transmit support orders directly to child support agencies unless a custodial parent opts out. Supporters said automatic enrollment would reduce poverty and remove paperwork barriers, while opponents warned it could undermine parent choice and create problems for families with sensitive circumstances. The committee passed the bill 6-0. AB 1708 would require regions receiving HHAP homelessness funds to more meaningfully engage smaller cities; many city officials supported it as a way to include jurisdictions that are doing local homelessness work, while Los Angeles’ mayor’s office opposed it. The bill passed 5-0. AB 2395 would standardize access to the child support debt reduction program; supporters described it as a way to help low-income obligors escape uncollectible government-owed debt, while receiving parents and child support agencies warned it could reduce money owed to families and needs more work. The bill passed 4-0. The committee then began AB 1914, which would require local governments to plan for child care in general plans; supporters framed child care as essential infrastructure, while at least one member raised concerns about state mandates on local jurisdictions, and the excerpt ends before any vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• No funding for this bill is provided in the House budget.
• Most of that is transportation budget funding.
• We have limited budgets as it is.
• We have limited budgets, as it is.
• An updated note has been requested.

Summary: The committee first suspended the five-day notice rule and then heard House Bill 2521 on firearm background check fees. Staff explained that the bill would remove the $18 fee cap and allow Washington State Patrol to set fees based on actual program costs, which could be about $33 to $35 per check. Supporters said the change was needed to keep the background check system operating and avoid delays and layoffs; opponents argued it would burden lawful gun owners and amount to an unconstitutional tax or barrier to a constitutional right. No vote was taken in the hearing. Members then heard Substitute House Bill 2475 on language-accessible public programs, which would direct the Office of Equity to develop uniform language-access guidelines, address interpreter and translator shortages, and require agency implementation reporting. Testimony was strongly supportive, emphasizing the need for consistent access for limited-English-proficient residents and the benefits for schools, families, and state services. The committee also heard Second Substitute House Bill 2479 on wage recovery, which would create a wage recovery fund to provide partial advance payments to low-wage workers with meritorious unpaid wage claims and adjust wage penalty provisions. Employers, labor advocates, and legal services representatives largely supported the bill as a bipartisan, worker-protection measure funded by penalties rather than the general fund. The committee next took up Engrossed Third Substitute House Bill 1960 on renewable energy tax incentives, which would replace existing property tax and excise tax provisions with a new state and local renewable energy excise tax structure and related grant programs for local governments and tribes. Counties, utilities, developers, and tribal representatives generally supported the bill’s goal of stabilizing tax treatment for renewable projects, though several witnesses said they wanted amendments to address rates, timing, and late-stage project impacts. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5932 on alternative jet fuel incentives, which would change the timing and duration of existing tax preferences; supporters said it would provide certainty for emerging sustainable aviation fuel projects, while one refinery sought clarification and a broader county threshold. Later, the committee heard Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2238 on statewide food security, directing the Department of Agriculture to monitor food system performance and develop a statewide food security strategy. Agricultural groups, grocers, anti-hunger advocates, and farmers supported the bill as a coordination effort to improve food access, affordability, and supply chain resilience. The committee then heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1903, which would create a statewide low-income energy assistance program through the Department of Commerce; supporters said it would address growing unmet need and complement existing utility programs, while opponents said it did not address the root causes of rising energy costs. Finally, the committee heard Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2416 on waste-to-energy facilities under the Climate Commitment Act and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2515 on large energy-use facilities (data centers), both of which drew mixed testimony centered on balancing emissions, ratepayer impacts, reliability, and environmental or tribal concerns. No final votes were taken in the hearing.