Transcript Highlights:

• We had speakers, Kernza food products from local bakeries, and beverage products.
• food products from local bakeries Kernza food products from local bakeries and<01:08:56.359><c> beverage
• :57.279><c> It</c><01:08:57.359><c> was</c><01:08:57.440><c> just</c><01:08:57.600><c> a</c> and beverage
• It was just a and beverage products.

Bills: HF4698 , HF4608

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and supports our entire food system: local food and beverage
• That's local food<03:05:52.560><c> and</c><03:05:52.720><c> beverage</c><03:05:53.040><c> retailers,<
• /c><03:05:53.520><c> suppliers,</c> food and beverage retailers, suppliers, food and beverage retailers

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• spend all the money, where the money comes back to, until the next annual... ...half a million is deposited
• It's just clarifying what monies are being deposited into the fund, specifying that they are recurring
• Members, House Bill 763 provides for a public settlement agreement information database to contain certain

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 27 and first took up House Bill 175 and its companion House Bill 165, both dealing with lottery proceeds for veterans. HB 175 was amended to create a Veterans Service Grant Board within the Department of Veterans Affairs and direct $500,000 annually from Louisiana Lottery net proceeds into a Veterans Service Grant Fund, with unused money returned to the lottery proceeds fund that supports the MFP. Supporters, including the bill sponsor, The Boot Louisiana, LDVA Secretary Charlton McGinley, and Bastion Veterans Organization, argued the grants would help veteran services, workforce placement, mental health, housing, entrepreneurship, and retention of veterans in Louisiana. Members raised concerns about drawing from lottery proceeds that traditionally support education, but the committee adopted amendments and reported HB 175 favorably as amended. HB 165, the constitutional amendment companion, was also amended for technical and ballot-language changes and then reported favorably as amended for voter consideration. The committee then considered House Bill 457, which would authorize the Louisiana Department of Health and the State Fire Marshal to set minimum housing standards for homeless shelters, group homes, and halfway homes. The sponsor said the bill responded to a state auditor recommendation and to unsafe conditions in some facilities; he also explained an amendment changing the Fire Marshal’s duties from mandatory to permissive to reduce fiscal impact and allow agencies flexibility. Some members questioned whether local standards already existed and how enforcement and funding would work, while others supported the need for statewide minimum standards for human housing. The committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 457 favorably as amended. House Bill 488, by Representative Brough, sought to create a Belle Chasse Bridge Merit-Based Special Fund using recurring severance tax revenues from Plaquemines Parish to help buy out the Belle Chasse toll bridge and end what the sponsor described as excessive tolls and fees. He and several local witnesses, including business owners, a YMCA representative, and a parish council member, testified that the tolling arrangement had harmed access, businesses, and quality of life. The committee adopted a technical amendment clarifying the revenue source and then reported HB 488 favorably as amended. House Bill 566, which would prohibit state funds from supporting net-zero greenhouse gas initiatives tied to the 2022 Louisiana Climate Action Plan, drew significant debate over whether it would interfere with agency funding and economic development efforts; the sponsor argued the plan lacked legislative approval and should be repudiated, while members urged caution and suggested hearing from affected agencies. The sponsor agreed to consider deferring the bill, and the committee did not advance it at that time. House Bill 603, a constitutional amendment authorizing investment of state funds in digital assets and precious metals, was discussed as a way to hedge inflation and preserve value; members asked about limits and safeguards, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then began hearing House Bill 763, a transparency measure creating a public database for settlement agreements involving state agencies.

Transcript Highlights:

• spend all the money, where the money comes back to, until the next annual... ...half a million is deposited
• It's just clarifying what monies are being deposited into the fund, specifying that they are recurring
• Members, House Bill 763 provides for a public settlement agreement information database to contain certain

Bills: HB165 , HB175 , HB198 , HB272 , HB457 , HB488 , HB566 , HB603 , HB763 , HB902 , HB909 , HB971 , HB981 , HB1066 , HB1125 , HB1154 , HB1231

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• offered an amendment based on consultation with others to document the annual costs, the annual deposits
• </c> the annual costs, the annual deposits the annual costs, the annual deposits and<00:54:06.640><c>
• I just want to make sure I thought you were talking about annually depositing the assessments, but I
• Representative uh Roman 3 assessments collected by the association, including funds deposited under,
• Um, the second section, 13 through 20, we do deposit it annually today.

Summary: The committee first took up HB 155, which drew a lengthy debate over an amendment to delay implementation until tax year 2027. Supporters said the delay would give lawmakers time to see whether projected revenues materialize and to reconsider the policy if needed; opponents argued it would reduce money available to services and local governments at a time of tightening revenues. Members also discussed broader revenue trends, including tobacco, rooms-and-meals, real estate transfer, and lottery revenues, and disagreed over whether tax cuts tend to increase revenue. The committee adopted amendment 2025-2983H on an 11-9 vote, then voted 11-9 to report HB 155 ought to pass as amended. The bill was sent to the consent calendar, with a majority and minority report to be filed. The committee then considered HB 224, with members expressing concern that the bill would redirect money collected for one purpose to another and should receive more study. A motion for interim study was made and seconded, and the committee approved interim study unanimously, 20-0, sending HB 224 to the consent calendar. Next, the committee took up SB 83, which the Lottery described as a vehicle for technical corrections to gaming law. The Lottery requested changes to remove a bond cap, reconcile inconsistent free-play/promotional-play language, redirect problem-gambling funds to the Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention, and revise background-check language after the FBI declined to conduct checks under the existing wording. The committee adopted amendment 2025-2984 unanimously, 20-0, then voted 20-0 to report SB 83 ought to pass as amended and placed it on the consent calendar. Finally, the committee began work on HB 524, a bill to repeal the New Hampshire Vaccine Association. Representative Yuli said members had received many emails and calls both supporting and opposing the program and that he had questions about transparency and the dollars involved. The transcript cuts off before any vote or further action on HB 524.

Transcript Highlights:

• proudly talking about the grandparents, what the ancestors have been done long time ago that they have deposited
• proudly talking about the grandparents, what the ancestors have been done long time ago that they have deposited
• proudly talking about the grandparents, what the ancestors have been done long time ago that they have deposited
• proudly talking about the grandparents, what the ancestors have been done long time ago that they have deposited
• our family wherever— Grandparents, what the ancestors have been done long time ago that they have deposited

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The committee hearing covered three judicial confirmations for the First Circuit family court. The first nominee, Maria F. Penn, was introduced for confirmation to a six-year term as a district family court judge. Testimony from family law attorneys and the Hawaii State Bar Association was strongly supportive, emphasizing her courtroom demeanor, preparation, knowledge of family law, respect for litigants and counsel, and ability to manage emotionally difficult family court matters. Judge Penn also spoke about her background, including her legal career, prior service as a PDM family court judge, and her view that family court requires both legal judgment and empathy. The chair noted that the committee would not vote that day and would take up votes the next morning. The second nomination was Wilson Aunga for a district family court judgeship. Supporters described his character, community involvement, and suitability for family court, including testimony from the Honolulu prosecutor, longtime friends, classmates, community members, and others. Speakers highlighted his work with youth, his leadership in the prosecutor’s office, his calm and impartial temperament, and his commitment to education and public service. The chair reported 105 supporters, no opposition, and one comment from the Hawaii State Bar Association. Additional testimony continued from members of the public, including a speaker discussing mental health and personal support for Aunga. Throughout the hearing, the chair enforced a two-minute limit on oral testimony and explained that the committee was short on time and would recess as needed. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair announced that voting would occur the following day in the same room.

Transcript Highlights:

• Beginning in January 2026, the state treasurer remitted a quarterly deposit of $157,000 to the joint
• The amount was notable because these quarterly deposits had typically hovered in the $240,000 to $320,000
• The amount was notable because these quarterly deposits had typically hovered in the $240,000 to $320,000
• the inquiry to the Office of State Tax, who suggested the joint powers entity wait until the next deposit
• Then in April of 2026, the quarterly deposit dropped to $104,000.

Committee: Joint Information Technology Committee

Summary: The Information Technology Committee approved the March 26 minutes and received a series of reports from NDIT on major IT projects, the annual report, mainframe modernization, and cybersecurity services. The project portfolio was reported at 116 major projects with a baseline cost of $546 million, overall under budget but modestly behind schedule. Several projects that had been in variance status last quarter were said to have closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning. New startup reports were mostly HHS efforts tied to refugee data management, technical debt cleanup, and legacy application decommissioning, while closeouts included HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT projects with mixed budget and schedule results. In the annual report discussion, NDIT described its service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management reporting, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how revenues and grants flow through the service fund, how NDIT charges agencies for services, and whether customer satisfaction or CSAT scores are tracked and could be reported more regularly. NDIT said it does track service-team CSAT and survey data, and committee members encouraged more regular reporting of those metrics. The committee also discussed application portfolio management, statewide IT planning, and whether agencies should slow new system replacements while the state pursues an ERP system. The mainframe update focused on the state’s ongoing effort to retire legacy systems by about 2030. NDIT and HHS said the work is being managed as a tech-debt program, but progress is slowed by data cleanup, integration complexity, staff retirements, vendor capacity, and federal requirements. Members asked whether there is a coordinated commitment and whether additional vendor support or consultants are needed; NDIT said it is working jointly with HHS and is seeking an RFP to help accelerate modernization. The cybersecurity presentation then shifted to statewide maturity assessments and services. NDIT said it provides endpoint protection, vulnerability scanning, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that assessments are based on CIS controls. Members raised concerns about low participation in the self-assessment process, the lack of mandatory reporting or audit authority, and whether insurance incentives through Enderf or possible State Auditor involvement could improve compliance. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next step we have on the agenda: taxation of financial deposit institutions, and we may have Barbara
• taxation Next step we have on the agenda taxation of<00:36:51.960><c> financial</c><00:36:52.680><c> deposit
• ><00:36:53.800><c> institutions</c><00:36:54.800><c> and</c><00:36:55.400><c> we</c> of financial deposit
• institutions and we of financial deposit institutions and we may<00:36:55.920><c> have</c><00:36:57.000
• In a credit union, you can make a deposit, but you don't own the organization or have a part ownership

Committee: Joint Appropriations & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• The commission collects a license fee, uh, and those fees are deposited into a restricted fund and they're
• The commission collects a license fee, uh, and those fees are deposited into a restricted fund and they're
• ><00:14:42.160><c> are</c> license fee, uh and those fees are license fee, uh and those fees are deposited
• 43.279><c> a</c><00:14:43.600><c> restricted</c><00:14:44.160><c> fund</c><00:14:44.800><c> and</c> deposited
• into a restricted fund and deposited into a restricted fund and they're<00:14:45.279><c> used</c><00

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• In the compensation and the terms of it, we can negotiate a certain deposit into that account that we're
• occur, and it allows the contracting agent, the contractor looking for the service, to be able to deposit
• Um, in the, the compensation and the terms of it, we can negotiate a certain deposit into that account
• to occur and it allows the contracting agent, the contractor looking for the service to be able to deposit

Summary: The committee first handled House Bill 232 by Rep. Carlson, which would shift the process for minors’ employment certificates away from schools and school boards and instead have Louisiana Works create and collect the forms directly from employers. An amendment set was adopted to update the title, revise a section heading, add a collection procedure, and make the bill effective upon the governor’s signature. Carlson and supporters, including members of the Legislative Youth Advisory Council, said the change would reduce burdens on schools, make it easier for 16- and 17-year-olds to enter the workforce, and better fit summer hiring. The secretary said the department could move quickly to notify schools and employers. The bill was reported with amendments. The committee then took up House Bill 951 by Rep. Bamberg, which creates an Office of the Talent Accelerator within Louisiana Works and a business workforce committee to coordinate employer-facing workforce services. After adopting a large amendment set, Bamberg and Secretary Schowan said the office would help Louisiana respond more quickly to business needs, especially as major economic development projects create demand for skilled labor. Supporters from Leaders for a Better Louisiana and Bollinger Shipyards described similar results in Mississippi’s centralized workforce model and said employers need a one-stop, regional approach to training and recruitment. Members discussed needs in welding, electrical, HVAC, data centers, and other sectors. The bill was reported with amendments. House Bill 923 by Rep. Barrault, a technical cleanup bill related to the reorganization of Louisiana Works and related workforce and social service statutes, was then amended and reported with amendments. Finally, House Bill 301 by Rep. Weibel, which would create a voluntary portable benefits framework for independent contractors and gig workers, drew the most debate. Supporters said it would let contractors and hiring entities voluntarily contribute to portable benefit accounts for health, retirement, and similar needs, with examples from other states and the gig economy. Opponents from labor and injured workers argued it could encourage misclassification, weaken workers’ compensation protections, and shift costs to workers and the state. The discussion continued with questions about who would benefit and how the bill would interact with existing contractor law and protections.

Transcript Highlights:

• opportunity presented itself, we have taken the savings that we have incurred from that discipline and deposited
• incurred from that that we have incurred from that discipline<00:48:52.120><c> and</c><00:48:52.240><c> deposited
• </c><00:48:53.320><c> in</c><00:48:53.440><c> the</c> discipline and deposited in the discipline and
• deposited in the Commonwealth's<00:48:54.240><c> budget</c><00:48:54.640><c> reserve</c><00:48:55.240

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, Representative from District 4, are you aware there is one deposit and refinery on the Navajo
• Chair, Representative from District 4, are you aware there is one deposit and refinery on the Navajo
• If the big oil companies, Exxon and Mobil, really thought there were refineries and deposits worth exploring
• I think the science is clear: we have one deposit in Arizona.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and a memorial adoption of HCR 2064 honoring former legislator Barbara Leff, which was unanimously adopted and sent to the Senate. The chamber also recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Eladio Pereira, and numerous student and constituent guests in the gallery. After routine desk business and bill referrals, the House moved into Committee of the Whole to consider a long calendar of measures. Several bills were amended and advanced with do pass recommendations. HB 2170 was narrowed to restrict state purchases of certain electronic and information technology from China/Chinese-controlled entities and to address third-party resellers. HB 2375 dealt with middle housing in historic districts, with amendments limiting demolition of historic structures unless necessary for health and safety and preserving local discretion. HB 2380 focused on school district transparency and meeting location rules, requiring governing board materials online and keeping meetings within district boundaries, with debate over local control and comparisons to legislative caucus retreats. HB 2617, HB 2621, and HB 2671 also moved forward after amendments; HB 2621’s discussion centered on certificates of educational convenience and ensuring special education access for children in unorganized territory and DCS placements. The committee also advanced HB 2720 on anti-human trafficking and prostitution-related reforms, including sealed records for sex trafficking survivors and an anti-human trafficking grant fund; HB 2772, allowing a DNR designation on driver’s licenses, prompted extended questions about emergency care and liability; HB 2784, dealing with school district excess cash refunds, was amended to phase in implementation; HB 2902, affirming support for the Electoral College, drew the most ideological debate, with supporters citing constitutional structure and opponents arguing for a national popular vote; and HB 2950, concerning a tourism/hospitality district, saw a failed attempt to make participation voluntary. The House also considered HB 4025, a study bill on the feasibility of building an oil refinery in Arizona, which sparked extensive debate over fuel prices, refinery capacity, environmental impacts, and whether a study was necessary, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• part of the taxpayer's refund as a voluntary contribution to the Veterans Donations Fund, or the deposit
• part of the taxpayer's refund as a voluntary contribution to the Veterans Donations Fund. or the deposit
• of money is received. refund as a voluntary contribution to the veterans donations fund or the deposit
• This revenue has been deposited into an interest-bearing escrow account.

Bills: HB2143 , HB2273 , HB2290 , HB2373 , HB2784 , HB2794 , HB4037

Committees: House Ways & Means , House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Keywords: public safety, retirement system, investments, trust fund, board of trustees, financial report, income tax rebate, Pinal County, taxpayer eligibility, state revenue, financial assistance, transaction privilege tax, business location, tangible personal property, shared vehicle, sourcing, income tax, veterans, donations, tax refunds

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is in line with what we did last year, when we suspended that deposit into the Rainy Day Fund
• Proposition 98 ...settle-up obligation of $5.6 billion, and then also proposes to suspend the true-up deposit
• billion, we really don't think this is the time that the state should be suspending its true-up deposits
• period when we had the unexpectedly strong revenues, there were some supplemental payments to the, or deposits

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee opened its hearing on the Governor’s 2026-27 budget with remarks emphasizing the start of a months-long process, the need for fiscal responsibility, and concerns about structural deficits, federal funding losses, housing and homelessness, and oversight. The vice chair echoed those concerns, warning against budgets built on short-term fixes and urging accountability. The Department of Finance presented a balanced budget year proposal of about $349 billion in total expenditures, including $248 billion General Fund, while acknowledging a structural imbalance in the out years and proposing a workload budget with limited new spending or cuts. Finance said the budget relies on stronger-than-expected revenues, but also on constitutional obligations such as Proposition 98 and Proposition 2, and on suspending a rainy-day fund true-up deposit to cover a projected $2.9 billion budget-year deficit. The administration highlighted higher education funding, climate and wildfire resilience investments, a new ZEV incentive, added Health and Human Services costs tied to H.R. 1, child care funding, and three tax proposals: third-party delivery tax compliance, a sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, and an extension of the California Competes tax credit. The LAO, by contrast, warned that the budget is “precariously balanced,” cited downside risk from stock market-driven revenues, and urged the Legislature to use reserves, avoid suspending rainy-day deposits, and begin shrinking multi-year deficits sooner rather than later. Member questions focused on wildfire mitigation and insurance, transit and GGRF funding, federal cuts affecting CalFresh and Medi-Cal, the proposed tax credits, homelessness accountability language, and education funding. Several members pressed for earlier partnership on deficit solutions and for more scrutiny of budget choices. The committee also discussed declining enrollment in K-12, community colleges, and CSU, with concerns about whether funding formulas are aligned with actual student demand. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 940, Environment, Water Quality Testing, Secondary Maximum Containment Levels Action Plan
• Senate Bill 803, Alcoholic Beverages Class Three Wineries and Class Four Limited Wineries Bulk Wine and
• Senate Bill 803, Alcoholic<01:04:14.520><c> Beverages</c><01:04:14.920><c> Class</c><01:04:15.240><c>
• Three</c><01:04:15.560><c> Wineries</c> Alcoholic Beverages Class Three Wineries Alcoholic Beverages

Transcript Highlights:

• for the salaries, and then we pull down a federal match of around 32%, and that federal match is deposited
• for the salaries, and then we pull down a federal match of around 32%, and that federal match is deposited
• for the salaries, and then we pull down a federal match of around 32%, and that federal match is deposited
• Does this bill contain the resources needed to improve the state agencies, you know, the computer systems
• Does this bill contain the resources needed to improve the state agencies' computer systems?

Bills: HF1 , HF98

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• very vertically integrated business where we do all of our own operations, programming, food and beverage
• /c><00:10:49.920><c> and</c> operations, programming, food and operations, programming, food and beverage
• </c><00:10:52.800><c> Um</c> Beverage, ticketing, marketing, etc.

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development and Tourism met to hear presentations on a proposed downtown Lexington Arts Center. Visit Lex opened by framing the projects as regional economic development efforts that could support tourism, quality of life, and workforce attraction and retention. NextStage Development Corp. and ATG Entertainment then described a proposed $120 million project featuring a 2,500-seat performing arts center and a 20,000-square-foot visual arts gallery, with plans for up to 180 events a year, over 300,000 annual visitors, and an opening target of 2029. The presenters said the project would be funded through a $30 million state request, $30 million from ATG Entertainment, and $60 million raised by the nonprofit through philanthropy and other financing sources. They cited a feasibility study by Sound Diplomacy and compared the proposal to the Durham Performing Arts Center, arguing that similar venues have driven downtown revitalization, tourism, and economic activity in other cities. They also said the venue would include community access, school partnerships, subsidized tickets, and revenue returned to the nonprofit for grants and arts programming. Members asked about the total cost, the funding mix, whether the city of Lexington would contribute, and the building’s design. The presenters said they are in contact with city officials and are seeking city support, but have not yet hired an architect or begun conceptual design. They said the design process will involve community input and should fit Lexington’s historic downtown character. Representative Whitten asked whether the project would compete with Louisville; the presenters responded that their market analysis suggests the venue would serve audiences from Lexington, eastern Kentucky, and surrounding areas who are unlikely to travel to Louisville or Cincinnati, making the project complementary rather than competitive.

Transcript Highlights:

• The third reform contained in Senate Bill 1758 is a substantially The third reform contained in Senate
• The House bill contains the following provisions that are not in the Senate bill: The House bill contains
• Members, the House bill contains... Hang on. Hang on. We have to get in proper posture.
• The House bill contains downtown development district language, and this amendment strips that section
• You used to be able to take money directly, direct deposit, out of your paycheck.

Transcript Highlights:

• The third reform contained in Senate Bill 1758 is a substantially...
• The third reform contained in Senate Bill 1758 is a substantial expansion of behavioral health services
• The House bill contains the following provisions that are not in the Senate bill...
• The Senate bill contains the following provisions that are not in the House bill: defines careful and
• You used to be able to take money directly, direct deposit, out of your paycheck.

Transcript Highlights:

• this second section, it's enabling legislation that allows the voters to make the decision that's contained
• this second section, it's enabling legislation that allows the voters to make the decision that's contained
• this second section, it's enabling legislation that allows the voters to make the decision that's contained
• Section, it's enabling legislation that allows the voters to make the decision that's contained within
• them versus who's paying depositing them versus who's paying them. them. them.

Committee: House Municipal and County Government