Transcript Highlights:

• The chair now recognizes the budget chairman from McDonald County.
• To inquire of the budget chair. Does the budget chairman yield to an inquiry? I do. Proceed.
• I'm not going to stop on every budget bill.
• To inquire briefly of the budget chair.
• The lady from Greene asks the budget chair for a high-level comparison of the operating budget passed

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we've kind of seen the budget cuts, Q Comp being cut.
• It's a budget for this committee. I will offer the A1 amendment, Representative Myers.
• I'm all for looking at our budget and seeing where we could make...
• And so we really could use some help here with the LTFM budget.
• Could use some help here with the LTFM budget. Thank you.

Bills: HF51, HF1161, HF2201, HF2786, HF1053

Keywords: HF51, Sibley County, State-Aid Highway 21, capital investment, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, transportation infrastructure, road improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, local infrastructure, county grant, Minnesota Department of Transportation, bond proceeds fund, public works, utility infrastructure, education finance, school district funding, tax base adjustment

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> part of that regular budgeting process. part of that regular budgeting process.
• </c><03:13:38.080><c> We've</c> budget. We aren't in a recession. We've budget.
• </c> uh the budget this year. uh the budget this year.
• </c> school closures and a lessening budget. school closures and a lessening budget.
• They put the budget together. They done. They put the budget together.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate budget funds these administrative impacts in the 2729 biennium.
• The Senate budget contains provisions. ...systems associated with the bill.
• Please pass 5862 and include funding in the final budget.
• The Senate budget funds this bill at $6,000 general fund-state to OSPI.
• However, both the House and Senate chair for proposed budgets have a related budget item that would also

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on a series of bills, beginning with House Bill 2689 on Working Connections Child Care. Staff explained that the proposed substitute would keep eligibility at 60% of state median income, eliminate scheduled expansions to 75% and 85%, reduce future subsidy rates from the 85th to the 75th percentile of market, end enhanced regional rates, and change reimbursement rules from prospective enrollment-based payments back to attendance-based payments with a reduced monthly payment after 11 absent days. Child care advocates thanked the committee for removing the proposed cap on the program but opposed the cuts to provider rates and eligibility expansions, warning of harm to families and providers. The committee then heard Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5124 on Medicaid network adequacy for post-acute care, with staff noting administrative costs and indeterminate fiscal effects; hospitals supported the bill as a way to reduce discharge delays and reliance on single-case agreements. Senate Bill 5832, which would raise the new motor vehicle arbitration fee from $3 to $6 to support the Lemon Law arbitration program, drew support from the Attorney General’s Office and auto dealers, who said the fee had not been updated since 1995 and the program was underfunded. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5862, providing a one-time 3% COLA for certain PERS 1 and TRS 1 retirees, with retirees testifying in favor and local government representatives warning about added employer costs. The committee next heard Senate Bill 5922, allowing school districts to transfer money from the Transportation Vehicle Fund to other funds if they reduce their fleet and receive OSPI approval; staff said the bill would mainly add administrative work for OSPI, and no one testified. Substitute Senate Bill 5923 would allow a hospital on an island in Skagit County to qualify as a critical access hospital if federally certified; Island Health testified that the designation would help sustain rural services, and a committee member asked about bed count and Medicaid/charity-care pressures. Senate Bill 5944 would require language access providers to bargain over compensation for missed or canceled appointments and clarify that statutes prevail over conflicting contract terms; WFSE supported the bill, saying it would equalize bargaining rights across agencies. Substitute Senate Bill 5972 would extend interest arbitration rights to correctional employees in city and county jails regardless of population size; labor supported the bill as a retention tool, while cities and counties opposed it, arguing it would raise costs and should include ability-to-pay protections. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5988, authorizing the Department of Health to continue accrediting opioid treatment programs and charge accreditation fees, which DOH said was needed to avoid winding down the program. Later, the committee heard Senate Bill 6151, which would move Ecology fee revenues for landfill methane emissions and laboratory accreditation into dedicated accounts; Ecology supported the bill as improving transparency and reinvesting fees into the programs, and staff said the lab fee shift would be offset by a related budget action. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6194 would pay a rural hospital on a federally recognized Indian reservation, specifically Astria Toppenish, at 150% of the Medicaid fee-for-service rate beginning in 2027; hospital leaders and community members testified that the hospital serves a high-Medicaid, rural, and tribal population and faces persistent losses. Finally, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6302 would direct L&I to investigate possible misclassification of independent contractors on public works projects involving multiple workers doing the same finishing work; labor and business representatives both described it as a negotiated compromise to address underground economy abuses. The committee took no final votes during the hearing and ended by reiterating amendment deadlines for bills scheduled for executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can we come back to the budget item?
• Well, do you have a question on the budget item?
• This is regarding—the whole hearing is about the budget item.
• I have emailed my senators, the Armed Forces Budget Committee.
• I have emailed my senators, the Armed Forces Budget Committee.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Can we come back to the budget item?
• Well, do you have a question on the budget item?
• And the idea that this isn't germane to the budget is definitely...
• I have emailed my senators, the Armed Forces Budget Committee.
• So the budget request is broken up into two different buckets.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on access to gender-affirming care in California, with opening remarks from the subcommittee chairs emphasizing the importance of protecting transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex Californians and asking for decorum during public comment. The first panel from the Department of Justice, Department of Managed Health Care, and Department of Health Care Services described existing state protections, including nondiscrimination rules, privacy protections, shield laws, and Medi-Cal and commercial coverage requirements for medically necessary gender-affirming care. State officials also outlined ongoing litigation against federal actions and against hospital decisions to end or restrict care, including the Rady Children’s case and challenges to federal proposed rules and declarations affecting Medicaid, Medicare, and provider participation. Members questioned state agencies about why some hospitals that had stopped providing care had not been sued, how network adequacy is measured, whether the state can track actual access to gender-affirming care, and what legislative changes might strengthen protections. DMHC said it monitors complaints and independent medical reviews but does not track gender-affirming care as a separate provider category or collect utilization data, while DHCS said Medi-Cal continues to cover medically necessary care and that the state is preparing for possible federal rule changes. Finance staff said the previously approved $15 million for gender-affirming care was still being implemented through Covered California. The second panel featured a physician, clinic leaders, a parent, and a transgender teen describing how care is delivered and the effects of hospital closures and federal pressure. Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy described the history and medical basis for gender-affirming care, said minors need parental consent for medical interventions, and argued that care should be individualized and supported by families. Providers and families testified that hospital closures and insurance barriers have disrupted continuity of care, forced patients to travel farther, and shifted demand to community clinics that lack sufficient funding and contracting support. Several witnesses asked the Legislature to provide new funding, strengthen insurance enforcement, and stabilize access to care for transgender youth and families.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in the budget. in the budget.
• . budget. budget.
• </c> budget in the fall of 2023. Yes. budget in the fall of 2023. Yes.
• we’re doing the budget in January.
• as our own department budget, yes.

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:01 SERVS Informational Update- 00:01:22 Child Removal and Reunification Update: Department for Community Based Services Financials- 00:03:00 Small Business Sales Tax Websites: Department of Revenue-00:28:05 Senior Citizen Meal Programs: Department for Aging and Independent Living-00:35:50 Adjournment-01:41:57, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the September 11 meeting by motion and voice vote. It then received a brief update on the statewide emergency responder voice system, but no presenter was present. The chair said he expected a more substantive update in November and warned that if there is not real progress on acquiring needed private properties, the committee may consider further action, including possibly freezing funding. The main discussion centered on the Department for Community Based Services’ child removal and reunification work and its structured decision-making tools. Commissioner Lisa Dennis and General Counsel Wesley Duke explained that the intake, safety, and risk assessment tools are being used at very high rates and that the department is still implementing and evaluating the system. Dennis said the tools are meant to inform, not replace, professional judgment; when staff disagree with a recommendation, the worker and first-line supervisor consult and decide together. Members questioned whether the system favors keeping children in the home, whether the department has studied safety outcomes for in-home cases versus removals, and whether foster home shortages affect removal decisions. Dennis said child safety remains the top priority, that the practice has not changed, and that the department would provide additional data on outcomes later. Members also asked about permanency timelines and delays in termination of parental rights cases; Dennis said federal timelines are difficult to meet because of family progress, substance use recovery, and court delays, and she confirmed foster parent shortages were not the reason for those delays. The committee then heard a presentation from the Department of Revenue on the new My Taxes portal. Staff said the portal, launched in March, replaced DOR’s portion of the old Kentucky One Stop Business Portal and now allows businesses to file and pay multiple taxes, update account information, and receive official notices. They reported the system is available 24/7 except for scheduled maintenance every other Thursday evening, has maintained over 99% availability since launch, and now has a dedicated contact center with 50 agents plus a public help line and email. In response to questions, the department said early downtime was caused by unexpectedly high traffic, but server capacity was increased and in the last three months there had been only one day of unexpected downtime.

Transcript Highlights:

• In a world where all budgets are tight and vital human services, infrastructure funding, and school budgets
• In a world where all budgets are tight and vital human services, infrastructure funding, and school budgets
• In a world where all budgets are tight and vital human services, infrastructure funding, and school budgets
• In a world where all budgets are tight and vital human services, infrastructure funding, and school budgets
• In a world where all budgets are tight and vital human services, infrastructure funding, and school budgets

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 7.2% of the statewide recurring base budget.
• Within each budget entity, there's a line-by-line of the starting fiscal year base budget for all of
• The base budgets are a starting point. We perform. Budget for all of our departments.
• The base budgets are a starting point.
• We perform our budget duty by making additions and subtractions from this budget.

Summary: The committee meeting began with quorum, member introductions, and an overview of the Agriculture, Environment, and General Government budget process. The chair emphasized using the committee resource book and performance metrics to review the base budget and invited members to identify areas of interest for later discussion. Members were also reminded about appearance forms and speaking procedures. Wes Gregory of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services presented on agricultural best management practices and water policy. He said the office had updated all nine commodity BMP manuals and added a manual for small farms and livestock, expanded enrollment by 742 producers covering 677,000 acres, and used GIS and data analysis to target areas such as the Indian River Lagoon. He also described cost-share projects, a new field application for enrollment and inspections, cross-training staff, and a request for $20 million for regional water quality projects. Members asked about BMP enrollment, compliance, and enforcement; Gregory said noncompliance is uncommon and cases can be referred to DEP. Adam Blaylock of DEP reviewed environmental grant programs, saying the state has appropriated $2.9 billion since 2018 for water quality projects, with about 1,100 projects reducing nitrogen and phosphorus statewide. He described the Water Quality Improvement Grant, Indian River Lagoon, Biscayne Bay, Springs, Alternative Water Supply, and Resilient Florida programs, including a planned public dashboard and a water-quality monitoring portal. Senators asked about the application window, award timing, and the high cost of septic-to-sewer conversions, with Blaylock estimating a blended average of about $35,000 per home. Chief Conservation Officer George Worthing of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission then presented on invasive animal control. He discussed prevention, risk screening, law enforcement at ports, public outreach programs such as the Python Challenge, Lionfish Challenge, and Exotic Pet Amnesty Program, and early detection tools like the Ive Got One reporting system. He also described control efforts for Burmese pythons, tegus, and lionfish, along with research and partner coordination. Members asked about the most harmful invasive species and whether iguanas may be taken; Worthing said iguanas are open for take, subject to other laws. The meeting ended after members briefly identified priorities such as water quality, recreation water quality, sustainability, sea level rise, and septic-to-sewer infrastructure, and the committee adjourned without any formal votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the Legislative Budget Office did not give us what we requested in the legislative budget recommendation
• </c> &gt;&gt; So your your budget request is 1.46. &gt;&gt; So your your budget request is 1.46.
• </c> &gt;&gt; What we had asked for in the budget &gt;&gt; What we had asked for in the budget request
• </c> um in the in the legislative budget um in the in the legislative budget recommendation.<00:04:41.280
• us</c><00:05:03.759><c> back</c><00:05:04.000><c> to</c> budget recommendation took us back to budget

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 14 January, 2026; 1:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We only have a couple of weeks left in session, and the hope would be that we're calendaring all budget
• And so, um hopefully this will be included in the jobs budget bill.
• </c> also traveling in the jobs budget bill. also traveling in the jobs budget bill.
• calendaring all budget bills later this<00:03:07.599><c> week.
• </c> will be included in the jobs budget will be included in the jobs budget bill.<00:03:11.920><c> I

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• What is your annual budget?
• The changes we're discussing today would cut north of $142,000 from our school's budget.
• Laurianne Brogden, online. um the governor's proposed budget and I um the governor's proposed budget
• </c><01:29:43.239><c> shortfalls</c> 1975 despite budget shortfalls 1975 despite budget shortfalls challenges
• quite different to be in a school this size with about a, you know, $600,000 budget.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And is it in the proposed budget right now by the administration as well?
• So just to be clear, in the previous budget years, which budget was this that we put the money to set
• Well, that sounds like a thing we should talk about in the budget process.
• There is a threat of $230 billion federally, nationally, over the budget window, a 10-year budget window
• request, 98.5% of it is budgeted to go straight into people's pockets.

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on food insecurity in California and how state and federal nutrition programs, agricultural production, and food distribution systems intersect. Assemblymembers emphasized that many Californians, including farmworkers, seniors, children, and communities of color, remain food insecure despite California’s agricultural abundance. Panelists and members discussed CalFresh, WIC, school meals, Sun Bucks, food banks, and the impact of federal policy changes, including possible nutrition cuts, tariffs, and immigration enforcement, on access to food and the agricultural workforce. Secretary Karen Ross described CDFA programs aimed at improving access to fresh food and supporting local agriculture, including the senior farmers’ market program, California Nutrition Incentive Program, Healthy Refrigeration Grant Program, Community Food Hubs, Farm to School, urban agriculture, and a proposed tribal food sovereignty program. She said these efforts help connect local producers to consumers, expand healthy food access, and build infrastructure such as refrigeration, mobile markets, and aggregation hubs. Department of Social Services Deputy Director Alexis Fernandez Garcia outlined CalFresh, CFAP, Sun Bucks, CACFP, emergency food programs, and tribal nutrition assistance, noting that CalFresh and related programs significantly reduce poverty and food insecurity, but participation gaps remain for non-English speakers, some Asian American communities, and undocumented households. PPIC researcher Tess Thorman presented data showing that 13% of California households experienced food insecurity in 2023, with higher rates among households with children and Latino, Black, and other households. She said nutrition programs reduce poverty and food hardship, but federal rules, income thresholds, immigration restrictions, and high living costs limit their reach. Members asked about simplifying applications, improving call center access, increasing outreach in multiple languages, and adjusting benefits for inflation. Officials said the state has used available federal options to streamline enrollment, improve customer service, and target outreach, but many core rules and benefit levels are set federally. The second panel shifted to food production and market access. A farmer, a UC food systems leader, and a produce distributor described efforts to connect small and medium farms with food banks, schools, universities, and Medi-Cal food-as-medicine programs. They highlighted programs such as Farms Together, the USDA Southwest Regional Food Business Center, Farm to School, food hubs, and climate-smart infrastructure grants as ways to create stable markets for local growers while improving food access. Speakers also raised concerns about land tenure, consolidation, regulatory burdens, labor constraints, and the loss of federal funding, and members discussed whether state investments and Prop. 4 funds could help sustain and expand these efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, if we're looking at our budget and the federal budget, two of the largest areas that we
• So with the 12 million. a $15 budget split nine ways.
• And in this current budget, in our FY 25 budget, the Commissioner's Court increased staffing levels for
• As I said earlier, 2 3rds of my budget goes to public.
• My tech budget. The technology budget in 2021 was a little over $5 million for the county.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• simple budget budget request. Uh, and we simple budget budget request.
• And that way, the budget that you look at more reflects what our actual budget is.
• And that way, the budget that you look at more reflects what our actual budget is.
• </c> operating budget is was very difficult. operating budget is was very difficult.
• </c> operating budget is. operating budget is.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't set the budget. They other. They don't set the budget.
• committee that will manage both the municipal budget and the school budget.
• committee that will manage both the municipal budget and the school budget.
• </c> on a school district budget committee. on a school district budget committee.
• </c> advisory, budget or finance committee. advisory, budget or finance committee.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget funds education.
• The budget lives within our means.
• </c> infrastructure dollars in the budgets. infrastructure dollars in the budgets.
• This isn't a perfect budget, Mr. President. We have never had a perfect budget.
• We are in a tight budget year.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's why we have huge growth in these county budgets.
• And yet we question their budget decisions on infrastructure.
• So our annualized costs continue to go up and, no doubt, we do budgeting.
• Their annual budget is only 5 million dollars.
• The county budget was 375 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm proud to submit a budget. A little bit of budget speech now.
• It will be a general fund budget of $248.3 billion. But this is interesting.
• That's why tomorrow's budget includes a record-breaking $27,418 per student.
• It's also a budget that fully funds... ...about these things.
• It also is a budget that continues our nation-leading investments.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, the goal of the session is to balance the budget, and I think we did balance the budget well.
• And so things need to get done, and I'm glad that we are passing budget bill and balance the budget responsibly
• we are passing budget bill and balance<00:18:55.760><c> the</c><00:18:56.000><c> budget</c><00:18:56.320
• budget well um and budget balance the budget well um and budget balance<00:18:58.799><c> the</c><00:
• </c><00:19:00.640><c> All</c> balance the budget responsibly. All balance the budget responsibly.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all