Transcript Highlights:

• This is invaluable to building trust, creating mutual trust, and achieving the ultimate goal of the correctional
• This is invaluable to building two market, creating mutual trust and achieving the ultimate goal of the
• ways and means, with their leadership in the House and Senate, to promote an equitable and fair distribution
• We're not going to distribute resources among sheriffs by formula.
• We're not going to distribute resources between the sheriffs and DOC by formula.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The special commission on consolidation and cooperation among public safety agencies held a hearing focused on union and correctional staff testimony. Chair Dan Hunt and Senator Brownsberger opened by noting the commission’s extensive site visits and prior testimony, and they recognized Correctional Officers Week. Union representatives from KOUF, NCEU, AFSCME, and local county correctional unions described the daily realities of correctional work, emphasizing staff safety, staffing shortages, retention problems, mental health impacts, and the need to preserve local sheriff’s offices and collective bargaining agreements. Testimony centered on several recurring concerns: violence inside facilities, the spread of synthetic drugs such as K2, inmate suicides and suicide attempts, and the strain these issues place on officers, EMS, and local resources. Speakers also raised concerns about gender-identity housing policies, arguing they can create safety and workplace issues for staff, and urged more support for officer wellness, debriefing, and programs like OnSide Academy. Several witnesses argued that county facilities should remain locally controlled and that consolidation with the Department of Correction would weaken programming, staffing, and community-based reentry work. One witness described the Norwegian correctional model as a possible source of ideas for more rehabilitative approaches. Commission members responded with support for correctional staff and asked questions about K2 detection, paperless systems, EMS transports, and possible metrics to quantify incidents and facility needs. Members also discussed the importance of individualized assessments of each facility rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. The commission voted to seek an extension of its reporting deadline from September 30 to November 30, and agreed to continue site visits, including the upcoming Barnstable visit and a June 15 hearing. The meeting adjourned after the motion passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a $24,000-a-year employee, I contribute to a Roth because I don't trust Social Security.
• As a $24,000 a year employee, I contribute to a Roth because I don't trust Social Security.
• We didn't have to take away money from the Housing Trust Fund.
• front, from ...the health insurance for state employees and from the Housing Trust Fund.
• We trust people. They trust government.

Summary: The joint appropriations committee met on April 28 to review the FY 2027 budget package, including the general appropriations feed bills (HB 4138 and SB 1831) and related budget reconciliation measures. Staff described the budget as including about $17.96 billion in general fund appropriations, a one-time transfer of state monies to increase revenues, a 5% lump-sum reduction to most agencies’ discretionary general fund budgets, and several one-time restorations or continuations for items such as school facilities, child care, child safety, corrections stipends, and public safety operating costs. Members spent much of the meeting debating how the across-the-board cuts would be implemented, which programs might be affected, and how fund sweeps from prior-year appropriations and special funds would work, including questions about universities, public safety, rural hospitals, transportation grants, the Corporation Commission, and health insurance costs for state employees and troopers. A major point of discussion was the impact on universities and higher education. Arizona Board of Regents representatives said the proposed reductions and fund sweeps would affect already obligated dollars, research, staffing, and student aid programs, and could force difficult decisions about programs such as the Promise Program, Teachers Academy, and other pass-through funds. Committee members also raised concerns about whether the cuts could lead to tuition increases or reductions in services, while majority members emphasized that agencies and the executive branch should decide how to absorb the reductions. Another major topic was health care and the state employee health plan: staff explained that the budget includes a $228 million general fund infusion to stabilize the plan, while a separate reconciliation bill would raise employee premiums over three years. Members also discussed whether the budget’s changes to AHCCCS/Access and hospital eligibility rules could increase costs for hospitals and reduce coverage. Public testimony largely opposed the budget. Speakers from Opportunity Arizona, the Arizona Board of Regents, and local governments argued that the proposal would shift costs onto working families, reduce support for education, housing, SNAP, health care, and rural infrastructure, and protect tax benefits for data centers and higher-income taxpayers. A mayor from Globe asked for state help after severe flooding damaged roads, water lines, and homes, while a motorcycle safety advocate asked the committee to review a DPS motorcycle safety fund appropriation. Committee members and staff repeatedly clarified that some items discussed were one-time appropriations not continued into FY 2027, that some fund sweeps were from unspent or unencumbered balances, and that the committee planned to take a mass roll-call vote on the budget bills at the end of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've distributed a, don't trust Collin, I've distributed a, Vintage wine chart if anybody is interested
• And then I trust the school to take care of my daughter to be safe and she had no idea that this was
• Trust me. to keep the cost of eggs down or genuinely improve public education, you'll get re-elected.
• Sale and distribution of software applications for mobile devices.
• I'm not trusted in either bathroom right now and this bill makes me very scared that I simply will not

Bills: SB240, SB1183, SB1184, SB1577, SB2043, SB2051, SCR42, SJR68

Keywords: biological sex, gender identity, public facilities, civil penalties, local government, EBT, electronic benefits transfer, food stamps, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, TANF, temporary assistance for needy families, welfare benefits, benefit card fraud, fraud hotline, card replacement, photo ID, recipient photograph, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• I've distributed a, don't trust Collin, I've distributed a, Vintage wine chart if anybody is interested
• And then I trust the school to take care of my daughter to be safe and she had no idea that this was
• Trust me.
• Sale and distribution of software applications for mobile devices.
• And I'm not trusted in either bathroom right now. And this bill makes me very.

Bills: SB240, SB1183, SB1184, SB1577, SB2043, SB2051, SCR42, SJR68

Keywords: biological sex, gender identity, public facilities, civil penalties, local government, EBT, electronic benefits transfer, food stamps, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, TANF, temporary assistance for needy families, welfare benefits, benefit card fraud, fraud hotline, card replacement, photo ID, recipient photograph, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission

Transcript Highlights:

• And another 9 to generate power and distribute to the cooperatives.
• Last week, you also heard from Pew Charitable Trusts who did a comprehensive review of options available
• Um, I know we spend $8 million a year maintaining our distribution infrastructure.
• It takes a long time to build that trust. Once it's breached, I don't know what's fair in that.
• Collectively, we operate more than 26,000 miles of overhead distribution line.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last week, you also heard from Pew Charitable Trusts, who conducted a comprehensive review of options
• I know we spend $8 million dollars a year maintaining our distribution infrastructure.
• How do you recover from the trust issue, the breach, and the damage that's being created financially?
• It takes a long time to rebuild trust. Once it's breached, I don't know what's there in that.
• Distribution line, much of it runs concurrently with pole attachments.

Bills: HB3445, HB3448

Keywords: telecommunications, electric cooperative, rights-of-way, infrastructure, provider access, right-of-way, pole attachment, regulatory access, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're about $290 million general revenue and about $251 million trust fund authority, which of course
• is dependent on the cash available in trust funds for spending.
• So no other category, not trust, not operations, only salaries and benefits.
• General revenue was just over $585 million in trust funds.
• Trust fund, again, another just over $164,000.

Summary: The committee met for an interim appropriations presentation hearing focused on justice administration agencies. Members heard budget requests from the State Attorney’s Office, Public Defenders, the Justice Administrative Commission, Regional Conflict Counsel, Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, and the Guardian ad Litem Office, followed by a presentation from the Department of Juvenile Justice and a brief public comment from a nonprofit advocate. The chair noted that presentations from the Department of Law Enforcement and the Commission on Offender Review would be moved to a later meeting. The state attorney requested funding to true up underfunded circuits under the existing formula, staff 14 new criminal judgeships, replace declining VOCA victim-services funding with general revenue, and cover a projected due process shortfall. The public defender asked for a higher starting salary for assistant public defenders, funding to restore balance in circuits where public defenders lag behind state attorneys, and staffing for new criminal judgeships. Regional conflict counsel and capital collateral regional counsel also sought salary adjustments, additional attorneys and case costs, and competitive area differential funding to address recruitment and retention issues. The Justice Administrative Commission requested funding for Florida PALM readiness and implementation and for IT hardware and software replacement; it also relayed a clerks’ request for reimbursement related to injunctions for protection, Baker Act, Marchman Act, and sexually violent predator cases. The Guardian ad Litem Office said it now has a guardian ad litem for every child in Florida and requested salary increases for senior and managing attorneys to reduce turnover. The Department of Juvenile Justice presented a much larger budget request to expand residential and detention capacity, increase per diem rates, renovate and replace aging facilities, fund the Broward detention center rebuild, improve cybersecurity and the juvenile information system, and cover rising lease costs. Members asked questions about staffing, compensation, detention and residential treatment needs, mental health and substance-use services, and the Broward project timeline. A nonprofit advocate then asked for better data collection on protection orders and related court actions to support funding for domestic violence and recovery services. The committee adjourned without taking any formal votes on the budget requests.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, on section, well, I guess it's going to be our Section 10, but the Community Health Trust Fund
• Keith, could you, once you update them, is there a balance in the Community Health Trust Fund?
• Well, the money from the lawsuits flows into the Community Health Trust Fund, and then it flows out to
• It seems like we could use that money, the Community Health Trust Fund, for...
• It seems like we could use that money, the Community Health Trust Fund, for some of these other projects

Bills: SB2015

Keywords: corrections, rehabilitation, prison budget, department of corrections, adult services, youth services, correctional facilities, Heart River correctional center, Missouri River correctional center, James River correctional center, minimum security facility, county jails, regional jails, deferred maintenance, capital construction, strategic investment and improvements fund, Bank of North Dakota, line of credit, tasers, body cameras

Summary: The committee met to review revised long sheets and section-by-section language for a human services/health budget bill, with much of the discussion focused on how to present block grant funding and full-time equivalent (FTE) positions for behavioral health clinics and CCBHCs. Members debated whether to keep FTE counts in the budget at all, ultimately leaning toward removing or zeroing out the FTE references while keeping the dollar authority, and reducing the salaries-and-wages block grant by about $4.75 million. They also discussed public health federal authority, agreeing to remove about $60 million in unused federal spending authority tied to COVID-era funds, and clarified that if federal money later becomes available it could be requested through the Emergency Commission. A major topic was the provider inflation increase. The House version had 2% and 2%, while members debated alternatives and appeared to settle, at least for further work, on 2% in the first year and 1.5% in the second year, with staff asked to recalculate the fiscal impact. The committee also reviewed FMAP changes, noting a revised 2027 FMAP estimate and its effect on general fund and other funds, and discussed whether to adjust public health and other line items accordingly. Several members emphasized that many of these numbers are still tentative and will be refined before final action. The committee also touched on several policy items and capital-related provisions, including behavioral health services, Medicaid expansion, the moratorium on new ICF beds, and a proposed amendment for a medical homes/fourplex-related item that would show a $400,000 legislative investment with repayment from a developer. There was extended discussion of the All True hospital/facility proposal, with some members favoring leaving it in with a smaller initial commitment and others preferring to remove it and revisit later in conference committee. The meeting ended with staff asked to continue updating the bill language and members instructed to review remaining sections before the next meeting; no final votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in those 29 counties, you're helping distribute food.
• So in those 29 counties, you're helping distribute food.
• And there's a process to distribute.
• And there's a process to distribute.
• Again, distribution of water, food, hygiene kits, comfort items to build trust, and then just to offer

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness and flooding hearing opened with quorum calls, prayer, testimony time limits, and remarks from legislative leaders emphasizing decorum, respect, and the goal of learning from the July 4 flood to prevent future loss of life. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows said the special session and hearings were intended to hear directly from local officials and residents, and that the state would pursue immediate and longer-term legislation and continue working beyond the current session. The committee then heard invited testimony from Kerr County, Kerrville, Kendall County, Real County, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, followed by member questions. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, and emergency management coordinator William B. Thomas described the flood as a sudden, unprecedented event that overwhelmed local systems before many officials or residents understood the danger. They said the county received multiple National Weather Service and IPAWS alerts, but the rain fell in remote upstream areas with limited gauges, and the flood rose too quickly for normal response. They detailed the emergency response, including dispatchers handling heavy call volumes, deputies and volunteer firefighters conducting rescues, and state and federal partners assisting. County officials said 108 people died, including 37 children, and two remained missing. They called for better real-time flood detection, stronger rural emergency management resources, improved broadband and cell coverage, and more funding for swift-water rescue and warning systems. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and City Manager Dalton Rice said the city had floodplain rules, emergency plans, and prior preparedness efforts, but the event exposed gaps in communications and regional warning capacity. They urged the Legislature to fund a flood warning system, whether sirens, automated alerts, or a hybrid, and asked for support for predictive weather modeling, broadband expansion, a hazard mitigation fund, and disaster recovery resources. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority said it had long funded gauges and pursued flood-warning and mitigation projects, including a new software-based flood prediction system and possible retention dams, and planned to dedicate reserve funds to feasibility studies and infrastructure improvements. Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk said his county’s emergency action plan and early alerts helped prevent deaths there, and he recommended easier access to alerting tools, a river-wide warning system, simpler grant applications, and regional coordination. Real County Judge Bella Rubio said rural counties face major challenges because of limited cell service, broadband, staffing, and funding, especially for camps and visitors along the Frio and Nueces rivers, and argued that reliable alert systems should be treated as a necessity, not a luxury. Members asked about the timeline of the flood, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and funding, and several witnesses said the key lessons were better communications, better warning systems, and more investment in rural flood mitigation and emergency response.

Transcript Highlights:

• Without objection, all amendments which have been distributed will not be read in full.
• touching the firearm, leaving the immediate area, and immediately notifying a parent, teacher, or other trusted
• Immediately notifying a parent, teacher, or other trusted adult.
• If I had a nickel for every time I heard my Democrat colleagues saying trust the district schools and
• All amendments which have been distributed will not be read in full. Hearing none, so ordered.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was wondering if this measure incorporates any accounting for equitable distribution of grant funds
• I was wondering if this measure incorporates any accounting for equitable distribution of grant funds
• Pacific Home and Appliance Distribution in opposition. NAAP Hawaii in opposition.
• Distribution in opposition naap<00:36:05.000> hawwaii<00:36:05.680> in opposition<00:36
• that the bill before us now trust that the bill before us now addresses<01:14:53.000> those<01

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Housing held a public hearing on a wide range of housing-related bills. HB 295 on Hawaiian homelands drew support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and individual testifiers who described long waits for DHHL housing, while the Department of Hawaiian Homelands offered comments noting that lowering the Native Hawaiian blood quantum from 50% to 25% would require multiple legal and federal review steps. The committee also heard testimony on several Hawaii Public Housing Authority measures, including HB 99, HB 1096, HB 1097, HB 1095, HB 1093, and HB 1094, which generally received agency support and little or no public opposition during the hearing. HB 1094 prompted questions about the handling and sale or donation of seized property, and the agency said it lacked capacity to manage that work directly and would need to consult the Attorney General on liability concerns. The committee then heard HB 1056 and HB 1467, both related to a proposed Hawaii Homes or housing resiliency program. DCCA, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, the Climate Advisory Team, and Hawaii Realtors supported HB 1056, while the Attorney General requested clarification on fund language. The Insurance Commissioner said DCCA was willing to run the program and that strengthening homes would help keep insurance available in Hawaii. For HB 1467, the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority and Climate Advisory Team also supported the measure, with the Attorney General raising concerns about delegation, the special fund, and extension authority. Testimony on both bills emphasized hurricane retrofits, with some witnesses urging harmonization of the two similar proposals and one witness warning that the bills could conflict with efforts to reduce building-code minimum standards. Other measures included HB 1013 on important agricultural lands, which received support from HHFDC, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, DBEDT, the Agri-Business Development Corporation, and Purple Maiʻa Foundation, with some agencies offering comments. HB 1294 on agricultural workforce housing drew comments from the Attorney General, who said commissions may be established by law rather than by the department itself, along with support from OHA, a council member, and the Democratic Party of Hawaii Education Caucus. HB 89 on teacher housing received support from OHA and education groups, while the Attorney General said the bill may have constitutional issues and suggested amendments to set standards for voucher applications. HB 276 on condominiums and HB 528 on residential leases also drew support, with no testimony in opposition. HB 415 on public safety and fire sprinklers generated the most clear split in testimony: the State Fire Council, a fire department representative, and an individual supported the bill, arguing sprinklers improve safety and can prevent major losses, while BIA Hawaii, Pacific Home and Appliance Distribution, NAAP Hawaii, Gentry Holmes, and DR Horton Hawaii opposed it, saying the added cost would worsen housing affordability and that existing codes already address safety. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing; the chair repeatedly closed each bill after testimony and questions, and the hearing moved through the agenda without recorded committee votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Notably, this distribution is different from that of the leased vehicles, grocery seat tax, revenues
• This has prompted much discussion of altering the distribution of this tax to allocate more or all of
• It may then be the intention of the legislature to distribute the revenues more like those of a general
• The Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET) is listed here under the current distribution.
• It is administratively easier to simply raise registration fees or change the distribution of the sales

Transcript Highlights:

• This only targets intent to distribute.
• That support depends on trust.
• <02:01:56.320> and their conversations will be trusted and their conversations will be trusted
• , commission licences to sell, distribute, commission licences to sell, distribute, furnish,<06:06
• <06:57:34.958> to how that money is distributed to how that money is distributed to workers

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• create more than 30,000 jobs either directly in the industry or in adjacent industries such as distribution
• In-state, small brewers are required to pay the excise tax on products they self distribute or sell in
• So that $10 million gets distributed.
• I believe this is correct, and the Comptroller's office can confirm and then it's distributed by the
• We have to sort of, we have a very unequal distribution of property wealth throughout the state, but

Bills: HB249

Keywords: real property, ad valorem tax, tax appraisal, property value limitation, real estate taxation, property ownership

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I would very much expect a geographic distribution based on need.
• And so I would very much expect a geographic distribution based on need.
• And so I would very much expect a geographic distribution based on need.
• IRA distributions. IRA distributions.
• , distribution, distribution, um um um I<01:15:05.240> really<01:15:05.880> can't<01:15

Bills: HF3425

Keywords: supportive housing, grants, housing assistance, funding, Minnesota Statutes, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm testifying in support of this bill on behalf of Our Children's Trust.
• Trust. Trust.
• <00:15:26.800> Um,<00:15:27.120> our behalf of our children's trust.
• Um, our behalf of our children's trust.
• <00:21:08.080> to demand and get the distribution to demand and get the distribution to wherever

Bills: SB2699

Keywords: fare-free transit, youth transportation, environmental tax, transit equity, public transit, Hawaii, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee reconvened and first addressed SB 2699 on public transit/free transportation for young people. Members noted that the Committee on Transportation had already deferred the measure, and this committee said it would defer it as well before adjourning that brief reconvened session. The hearing then moved to SB 2373, which would establish a state goal to strengthen nature-based carbon emissions reduction solutions and authorize the Hawaii State Energy Office to develop methods to quantify carbon reductions from marine ecosystem restoration. The Energy Office said marine carbon sequestration was outside its expertise and asked to be removed from that portion of the bill, while DLNR and OPSD offered comments and said the work fit better with their areas, with DLNR saying it could take it on if properly resourced. Testimony included support from environmental groups, and committee discussion focused on which agency should lead and whether existing methodologies could be used. Next was SB 21001 on organic waste reduction and diversion. The Department of Health supported the intent but raised implementation concerns. Hawaii Farmers Union strongly supported the bill, arguing it would help build compost supply, improve soil health, and give counties time to develop infrastructure; they cited Vermont as a model and said the bill could extend landfill life and reduce methane. Members asked about the Vermont approach and the need for infrastructure before household-level diversion. The committee also heard SB 2905, which would increase the environmental response, energy, and food security tax and direct more revenue to the electric vehicle charging system subaccount. The Energy Office, PUC, and Tax Department offered comments; youth and clean transportation advocates strongly supported the bill as a way to expand charging access and meet EV adoption goals. A member questioned whether the proposed increase would outpace the state’s ability to deploy chargers, and PUC staff said the current annual appropriation is about $750,000 and that they could provide more data on an appropriate funding level. Additional measures were briefly taken up: SB 3231 on condominium maps and county zoning certification in A districts drew support from the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity and the Hawaii Farm Bureau; SB 2486 on climate change drew comments from the Energy Office, Climate Commission, and OPSD, who said it duplicated existing climate planning and should include adaptation language; and SB 2376 on the renewable fuels production tax credit drew support from industry and agricultural groups, while the Energy Office and Tax Department raised concerns about the rollover provision and the scale of the credit. No final votes were recorded in the excerpt beyond the earlier deferral of SB 2699.

Transcript Highlights:

• and natural resources trust fund. and natural resources trust fund.
• trust fund by project managers. trust fund by project managers. conditions<00:25:04.000> related
• environmental natural resource trust environmental natural resource trust fund<00:27:05.760>
• <01:10:24.719> fund How much money is in the trust fund How much money is in the trust fund
• Uh how much much is in the trust fund?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So is essentially a distribution cost.
• That's still a distribution cost.
• That's still a distribution cost.
• Uh but our distribution system.
• Public Utility Commission's distributed Public Utility Commission's distributed energy<01:34:26.400

Bills: HF3830, HF3688

Keywords: utilities, rate cases, cost recovery, reporting requirements, gas infrastructure, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• committee that spends the proceeds from our lottery that go into the Environment and Natural Resources Trust
• is the community grants program, which are intended to be smaller grants in nature and will be distributed
• general fund because, again, appropriations come from ENRTF or the Environment and Natural Resources Trust
• <00:04:12.160> Fund Environment Natural Resources Trust Fund Environment Natural Resources
• Trust Fund um<00:04:13.240> come<00:04:13.440> from<00:04:13.840> proceeds<00:04

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3426, the annual LCCMR appropriation bill funding projects from the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF), which is supported by state lottery proceeds and does not affect the general fund. The bill was described as containing 108 appropriations totaling $102.036 million, including 11 extensions of prior appropriations, and a new community grants program funded at $28.18 million under the constitutional limit. The author noted the bill is the second year of funding after the 2024 voter-approved amendment renewing the ENRTF and community grants program. Members discussed the bill’s scope and purpose, including projects for scientific research, PFAS mitigation and testing, rapid testing for chronic wasting disease, parks and trails, outdoor recreation, and solid waste/recycling innovation. Co-Chair Heintzeman said the bill had involved many conversations, thanked the author for working with the caucus, and noted that a missing project issue had been addressed to improve the bill’s path forward. He also said statutory changes were being made to the community grants program to reduce fraud risk and incorporate suggestions from the Office of the Legislative Auditor. Co-Chair Koznick asked about whether lottery-funded ENRTF dollars had ever been considered for proportional returns to districts, but the author said he was not aware of such discussions and emphasized that the fund benefits all Minnesotans through projects across the state. After no further questions, the chair renewed the motion to recommend House File 3426 for placement on the general register, and the committee approved it by voice vote with no opposition recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• fund and, in connection therewith, transferring money from the unclaimed property trust fund to the
• And we have built that foundation of trust.
• , We have built a foundation of trust, We have built a foundation of trust, which<01:39:00.680>
• built that foundation of trust. built that foundation of trust.
• <01:56:16.680> immensely, who I trust immensely, who I trust immensely, has<01:56:18.480><

Keywords: 981, all