Transcript Highlights:

• the beginning of the session and started meeting with the governor, there was a push to increase revenue
• We were not increasing revenue as explained and as claimed to have been needed.
• This was not the issue with the revenue.
• 28.959> additional a very high price tag of additional a very high price tag of additional revenue
• This was not the issue with the revenue.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The use of fresh local products will support local farmers through increased revenue and increase local
• products support local farmers through products support local farmers through increased<00:19:04.520> revenue
• and<00:19:05.240> increase<00:19:05.720> local<00:19:06.000> job Increased revenue
• projection<00:28:52.279> um<00:28:52.399> from<00:28:52.679> yesterday revenues
• projection um from yesterday revenues projection um from yesterday which<00:28:53.760> shows<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So he was losing revenue.
• <01:20:11.679> toward directing fine revenue toward directing fine revenue toward maintaining
• Now, in my making up with revenues.
• see that it's producing more revenue see that it's producing more revenue that<02:44:20.000>
• going to lose out on all that revenue. going to lose out on all that revenue.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing began with SB 12, which would let certain veterans who already qualify for a disabled veteran license plate use that VA disability determination to obtain a walking disability placard without having to undergo a second physical or submit additional proof. Senator Waters, the prime sponsor, said the bill was prompted by a constituent and would reduce redundant paperwork. Melinda Sims of United Spinal and Leo Pacquin of the State Veterans Advisory Committee both supported the bill, saying veterans already go through an extensive VA certification process and should not have to repeat it for the state. A DMV representative said the department had no known objection and explained that the change would let the placard travel with the veteran in another vehicle. The hearing on SB 12 was then closed. The committee then took up SB 40, which would allow safe boater education certificates to be completed and tested online, rather than requiring an in-person final exam. Representative Coker and Senator Tim Lang described the bill as a cleanup measure to make a COVID-era online process permanent and said it would improve convenience and keep more revenue in New Hampshire. Tom Praol, representing the vendor, said the state lost significant revenue when the online option ended and argued that online proctoring can verify identity and prevent cheating. The New Hampshire Marine Trades Association supported the bill, saying it would help boaters learn New Hampshire-specific laws and keep dollars in-state. The Department of Safety Marine Patrol was neutral: Captain Tim Dunlvy said the current system includes classroom and online coursework followed by an in-person proctored final exam, and he raised concerns about safety, exam integrity, and lower scores in computer-only testing, while noting New Hampshire’s strong boating safety record. Committee members asked about reciprocity, proctoring methods, costs, and crash data, but no vote was taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's supported by special revenue: criminal fees and damage settlements.
• K-8 is a Revenue Services Division Fund Appropriation Transfer Report.
• , the other revenues that flow through our trust fund and funds, and then these two accounts, we will
• , the other revenues that flow through our trust fund and funds, and then these two accounts, we will
• It is a low general revenue release month for us just because of collections and refunds being what they

Summary: The committee considered a series of appropriation, fund transfer, and reserve requests across multiple agencies. Section B temporary appropriations included funding for state technology upgrades, personnel management staffing and IT skills assessment, court reporters and interpreters, crime victim claims, juvenile sex offender assessments, radiation lab testing, and higher education workforce grants and credentialing pathways. Additional items covered an ARPA grant for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith LPN program, an IIJA grant for the Oil and Gas Commission’s critical minerals work, a restricted reserve transfer for State Police vehicle purchases, a transfer to the Arkansas Heroes Program, and cash fund requests for the Real Estate Commission’s AV system and HVAC work. Most of these items were approved by voice vote. One budget classification transfer request from the Commissioner of State Lands drew extended questioning and was ultimately not approved. Members questioned the $250,000 transfer to operating expenses tied to the purchase of a West Little Rock office building, the ongoing lease costs at the prior location, and whether the agency had adequately planned for building-related expenses. After discussion, the motion failed, and members told the agency to tighten spending and return if needed. The committee then took up 15 pay plan appropriation requests totaling $25.7 million and approved them after discussion with DFA, DHS, Corrections, and the State Board of Election Commissioners. Members focused heavily on DHS staffing shortages at human development centers, where officials said vacancies and turnover were driven by overtime and burnout rather than pay alone; one member asked DHS to submit a written plan to address the issue. Corrections reported the pay plan had improved hiring and retention. The committee also approved overtime appropriations for Emergency Management and Military. Reports on reserve funds, the Budget Stabilization Trust Fund, tobacco settlement, State Central Services, Education Adequacy, Medicaid Trust, IIJA, and revenue transfer activity were received. The Medicaid Trust Fund report prompted significant concern about February’s $90 million draw; DHS said the month was unusually high because of cash-flow timing and that the fund should end the year with a balance between $150 million and $200 million, while lawmakers noted a second $100 million set-aside is planned for FY27. The final discussion centered on DHS’s state hospital damage claim and reconstruction funding, where members expressed disappointment that insurance reimbursement would likely return only about $1.8 million now and possibly about $97,000 more later, far less than the roughly $5 million initially expected. DHS explained the policy was based on actual cash value and depreciation for old buildings, and said the work would proceed on Unit 3 for secured restoration because it was the most cost-effective option.

Transcript Highlights:

• What this bill does is provide an opportunity to get the revenue from the Alabama 21st Century.
• The first amount of revenue it will transfer will be $50 million from the 21st Century Fund.
• Despite the existence of the vape directory managed by the Alabama Department of Revenue, illegal sales
• The tax revenue shall be distributed as follows under this bill: 50% to the general fund, 25% to counties
• The Department of Revenue was consulted on this legislation and worked with the...

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I guess what I'm getting to here is that they will get a tax off the revenue from the play.
• This bill will require the Department of Revenue to license and regulate retailers of novel cannabis.
• So, I've seen it evolve, and all of our revenue in the state is going up.
• That's all I've seen our revenue in the state and ABC is go up.
• in our revenues, but we steadily get more products on our shelves.

Bills: SB90, SB255, SB268

Keywords: Green County, racing, pari-mutuel wagering, gaming regulations, commission appointments, historical horse racing, local tax, mixed spirit beverages, alcohol regulation, licensing, excise tax, distribution agreements, retail sales, wholesalers, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Education Partnership is made up of five entities: the Department of Commerce, the Department of Revenue
• complex because of the data that Revenue has in its hands.
• <00:18:48.400> and data sharing agreement with revenue and data sharing agreement with revenue
• <00:18:52.440> has because of the the data that Revenue has because of the the data that Revenue
• Thank you, and is it from the Department of Revenue or DEED?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Item D, we'll hear the Revenue Report.
• As we look at page number one, you see $5.36 billion in gross revenues.
• They're collecting gross revenues.
• So the cumulative deviation from DF&A net general revenue available for distribution forecasts.
• From DF&A net general revenue available for distribution forecasts.

Summary: The council opened with a prayer, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received the February 2026 Monthly Revenue Report from Carlos Silva of the Bureau of Legislative Research. He reported gross revenues of $5.36 billion and net collections of $4.5 billion, both above the prior year to date, and said the updated forecast now shows a larger expected surplus. Members asked about declines in some tax categories, natural gas severance fee fluctuations, inflation, and economic development incentives; Silva attributed several changes to timing, refunds, tax cuts, weather, and price volatility, and generally described the state’s revenue trend as positive. The Executive Committee, Administrative Rules, Claims Review, Game and Fish, Higher Education, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Medicaid studies, Occupational Licensing Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and other subcommittee reports were adopted. The Medicaid studies report drew extended discussion about DHS staffing and contract nursing costs at state hospitals and human development centers; DHS officials said they were working on a recruitment and retention plan, reported significant vacancies and turnover, and said the state was not at risk of overspending the contracts. Several members urged reducing reliance on contract labor and moving staff onto state payrolls. The Review Subcommittee report prompted questions about a Department of Public Safety aircraft maintenance item and a Department of Shared Administrative Services contract for Deloitte to implement performance and goals management software tied to the state’s new personnel system. After discussion, the aircraft maintenance item was held briefly and then withdrawn from the hold, while the shared services contract was explained as a one-time integration/configuration project for a system that will support employee evaluations and performance-based pay; the report and the separate contract vote were approved. The Personnel Subcommittee also heard testimony from Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald about reductions in force at the Division of Services for the Blind, which he attributed to funding shortfalls and fiscal mismanagement; members questioned the impact on blind and visually impaired clients, the status of board appointments, and whether federal funds could be at risk. The report was adopted with immediate consideration, and the meeting ended after filing the remaining APER report and adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item D, we'll hear the Revenue Report.
• As we look at page number one, you see $5.36 billion in gross revenues.
• They're collecting gross revenues.
• So the cumulative deviation from DF&A net general revenue available for distribution forecasts.
• From DF&A net general revenue available for distribution forecasts.

Summary: The meeting began with a prayer, approval of the prior minutes, and a February 2026 revenue report from Carlos Silva of the Bureau of Legislative Research. He reported gross revenues of $5.36 billion and net collections of $4.5 billion, both above the prior year, and said the updated forecast showed a larger expected surplus than before. Members asked about declines in some tax categories, natural gas severance fees, and possible effects of inflation and international conflict; Silva generally attributed the changes to timing issues, prior tax cuts, refund activity, and price fluctuations, and said he could not speculate on future impacts. The committee then heard and adopted several subcommittee reports, including the Executive Committee, Administrative Rules, Claims Review, Game and Fish State Police, Higher Education, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Occupational Licensing Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and APER filings. Most reports were approved without objection. One budget classification transfer for the Commissioner of State Lands was reviewed and failed. The review report also led to discussion of several contracts, including DHS staffing contracts and a Department of Education security contract, with some items held or separated for individual votes. A major portion of the meeting focused on DHS and state staffing contracts for the Human Development Centers, Arkansas State Hospital, and related facilities. DHS officials said the contracts were on track against seven-year projections, but members expressed concern about heavy reliance on contract labor, vacancy rates, and the need to move workers onto state payrolls. Officials said they were preparing a recruitment and retention plan and described staffing levels, vacancies, and turnover. Members also questioned contract projections and federal-state funding matches, and several urged faster action to reduce contract labor costs. The committee also discussed a Department of Commerce reduction-in-force affecting the Division of Services for the Blind and Employment and Training. Secretary Hugh McDonald said the cuts were driven by funding shortfalls, over-obligation of funds, and federal issues, and that 27 positions would be permanently eliminated while furloughed employees would be recalled. Members raised concerns about service impacts, board appointments, and the division’s fiscal management. The meeting ended after the personnel report was adopted and APER was filed as reviewed, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then finally, revenue bonds are kind of a key area for us. We're limited.
• Uh, they're limited on, on our revenues, uh, every year and so, uh, we have about a $15 million cap on
• Certainly we have some, uh, revenue that covers some of our ongoing maintenance items.
• So people ask about our revenue and how much you guys carry in, in, in your capital side.
• Um, you know, about half of that is paid for through NMI revenues from all those different sources as

Transcript Highlights:

• And Chief Revenue Estimator. So that's kind of where my bona fides in taxes come from.
• Dramatically in recent years, bringing with it growing costs to state governments in foregone revenue
• And I'm not saying the governments are losing revenue; what they're doing is foregoing potential revenue
• For example, Texas recently projected 1 billion in state and local revenue foregone for fiscal 2025 due
• bonds. center incentives through industrial revenue bonds, and that, of course, was done in Doña Ana

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This status was granted by the Internal Revenue Service. It is a...
• You can see the assets, you can see the revenue, you can see the volunteer hours that we are... how we
• I would say the assets and revenue are a little bigger in Tulsa...
• Within that revenue exemption.
• Our revenue nearly tripled from 2023 to 2024, so we're also in support of a blanket exemption...

Summary: The committee heard an interim study on expanding or simplifying sales tax exemptions for Oklahoma nonprofits. Representatives Stark and Schreiber said the issue has been filed repeatedly over several sessions and framed it as a bipartisan effort to keep more charitable dollars in service of communities rather than paying sales tax. Schreiber also suggested broader tax reform or an omnibus approach rather than continuing to add individual exemptions. Marnie Taylor of the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits gave an overview of the sector, describing nonprofits as a major part of the state economy and safety net, and argued that many organizations are highly regulated, under-resourced, and facing declining donations and funding. She said the current patchwork of exemptions is uneven and that a blanket or broader exemption would help organizations serving public needs. Committee members asked for sources behind some of the poverty, education, and health rankings cited in her presentation. Several nonprofit leaders testified about how sales tax affects their operations. RG Foods described the cost of opening neighborhood grocery markets in food deserts and said sales tax on a Tulsa project would divert about $85,000 from programming. Jubilee Partners, Skyline Urban Outreach, the Pencil Box, the Tulsa Police Foundation, Blue Rose Ranch, and Legacy Parenting Center each explained how exemption status or the lack of it affects food assistance, school supplies, public safety equipment, animal rescue, and diapers and family support. Members asked follow-up questions about food desert definitions, budgets, and how much sales tax savings would change operations. No vote was taken in the excerpt, but the study concluded with closing remarks emphasizing that the exemption would keep more money in direct services and support the nonprofit sector statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we surveyed the grape producers, they claim that about 76% of their total revenue is...
• the cost reported by the potato producers, though, regulatory cost burden was about 46% of total revenue
• Total revenue. Again, most of it labor-related.
• Wheat producers reported the lowest percentage of total revenue dedicated to complying with state-level
• accessing capital, so production loans especially, and significant challenges in producing enough revenue

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held an interim work session focused on Washington agriculture’s viability, workforce, and competitiveness. Director Derek Sanderson of the Washington State Department of Agriculture and WSU Dean Raj Kosla described the size and diversity of the state’s farm sector, declining farm numbers, major export markets, and pressures from labor costs, low commodity prices, trade barriers, drought, regulatory burdens, and pests and disease. Kosla emphasized WSU’s land-grant role in education, research, and extension, including precision agriculture, broadband needs in rural areas, and the need for state support to help producers adopt new technologies and train the next generation of agricultural workers. Members asked about retaining farmland, increasing workforce capacity, and the role of precision agriculture. Kosla said precision agriculture can help address labor shortages and water scarcity, but adoption is limited by cost and rural broadband gaps. He explained precision agriculture as tailoring inputs to the right place, time, amount, and manner, and said WSU is working on low-cost sensor technologies and other innovations. Members also asked about how widely precision agriculture is used and whether it improves farm bottom lines; Kosla said adoption varies by tool and that he would follow up with more data. The committee then heard from Dr. Randy Fortenberry of WSU’s Impact Center on an agricultural competitiveness study and the effects of tariffs and trade. He reported that Washington’s competitiveness has generally declined relative to peer states in dairy, grapes, hops, apples, and wheat, with potatoes as the main bright spot. Surveyed producers said a substantial share of revenue is tied to regulatory compliance, with labor-related costs a major driver, and small diversified farms reported land access, capital, and profitability as bigger barriers than regulation. On trade, Fortenberry said Washington agriculture is highly export-dependent and vulnerable to retaliation, citing past losses in wheat, apples, pulses, and cherries when tariffs disrupted markets, while noting current uncertainty around China and India. The committee asked follow-up questions about compliance time, peer-state comparisons, and regulatory burdens; no votes were taken, and the department said it plans an interim report by the end of the year and a final report by June 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, you can speak to what you think the revenues are going to be again. So there will be revenues.
• Uh, you can speak to what you think the revenues are going to be again. So there will be revenues.
• Uh, you can speak to what you think the revenues are going to be again. So there will be revenues.
• When I'm looking at a decrease in revenue of $3.7 million, okay, so passing it gets me right here, okay
• know that house Ways and Means Revenue know that house Ways and Means Revenue projections<00:43:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the last two years, the Canal Authority generated record revenue, even while transits were depressed
• In fact, Washington's maritime economy supports 170,000 jobs and generates $45 billion in revenue, while
• Revenue.
• The regular toll revenue has increased in terms of the canal.
• The Panamanian flag is one of their major sources of revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• Program costs have continued to outpace revenues at the same time that we face the threat of significant
• Making these cuts without consideration of meaningful revenue solutions. does not protect vulnerable
• ; however, this budget still fails to adopt the necessary revenue solutions to support all Californians
• We oppose the Medi-Cal cuts to immigrant families and the lack of revenues in the budget.
• , but this budget still neglects to adopt the necessary revenue solutions to effectively support all

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• authorizes the commissioner and the department to engage in several activities that can generate revenues
• not be able to demonstrate its actions are in the best interest of trust beneficiaries, and lost revenues
• However, immediate revenue is not the sole consideration in determining the best interest of the trust
• This is compared to the total ag lease rental revenue the trust received for all four of...
• This is compared to the total ag lease rental revenue the trust received for all four of Fondomonte's

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Joint Natural Resources and House Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committees of Reference heard the Arizona Auditor General’s sunset review of the Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board. The audit found the board generally met some licensing requirements, but it did not timely investigate and resolve 49 of 159 complaints in fiscal year 2024, and it did not fully comply with conflict-of-interest disclosure and filing requirements. The Auditor General also identified weaknesses in continuing-education verification and other sunset-factor areas, and the board agreed to implement all 21 recommendations. Board staff said complaint volume has risen sharply since the pandemic, that the board’s process is slower because every case goes through an investigative committee and then the full board, and that it has already corrected some conflict-of-interest issues and is adding tools to improve continuing-education audits. The committee then heard testimony from the board’s executive director and from the Arizona Veterinary Medical Association. The executive director emphasized the board’s public-protection mission, described the shortage of veterinarians and veterinary technicians, and said the board is working to improve efficiency through a new e-licensing system and staff training. Members asked about the shortage of large-animal veterinarians, complaint backlogs, and whether the board could do more to recruit rural practitioners; the board said it lacks direct recruiting authority but supports multiple licensure pathways and loan-assistance efforts. The veterinary association supported the board’s oversight and said it is also working on rural and large-animal workforce issues through partnerships and advocacy. The committee then voted to recommend continuing the board for eight years, until July 1, 2034. The committee next took up the Arizona State Land Department, beginning with the Auditor General’s presentation on the department’s sunset review and prior special audit. The audit found the department had not updated its required five-year disposition plan since 2011, had sold more than 48,000 acres without an active plan, had allowed agricultural rental rates to go unchanged since 2006 despite market increases, and had not consistently inspected mineral-related leases or properly managed reclamation bonds. The Auditor General said these issues created risks of lost revenue, reduced transparency, and public-safety hazards, and recommended 18 corrective actions in the main review plus 34 additional recommendations on other issues; the department agreed to most recommendations but declined to adopt a written policy for commissioner-initiated land sales. Commissioner Robin Sahid said the department is working through audit recommendations, has created a rules team, improved its customer portal, and is pursuing new policies on water use, transportation-basin leases, and disposition planning. Members questioned the department about agricultural leases, groundwater valuation, the Fondomonte leases and reimbursement for improvements, the canceled Coyotes land auction, backlog and processing times, and the use of consultants and administrative funds. The commissioner said the department had over 2,000 applications in queue when she arrived, that it has made progress reducing the backlog, and that it is conducting stakeholder outreach on water-efficiency standards and lease addenda. No final vote on the land department continuation was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• what I meant by that was looking at our commercial properties, looking at ways that we can expand revenue
• In fact, I feel like the department has really lacked in its ability to generate the revenue that it's
• not charging market rent; therefore, the beneficiaries and the trust are not able to generate the revenue
• should be able to generate Revenue should be able to generate Revenue because<00:18:23.600> we
• <00:18:32.480> um nothing to generate its own Revenue um nothing to generate its own Revenue

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs heard Governor’s Message 590, the nomination of Archie Kappa Kappa Kappa to the Hawaiian Homes Commission, and received extensive testimony in support from Department of Hawaiian Home Lands staff, labor representatives, and community members. Supporters emphasized his leadership during the Maui wildfire response, his cultural standing, his long community service, and his experience with the Polynesian Voyaging Society. In his own remarks, Kappa described his background as a lifelong Lahaina resident, former lifeguard supervisor, and community organizer, and said he would prioritize commission duties while balancing his voyaging commitments. Members questioned Kappa about attendance, his understanding of the Hawaiian Homes Commission’s responsibilities, and his views on commercialization and revenue generation. He said commission meetings would be his priority, acknowledged he could not guarantee attendance at every meeting, and explained that commercialization meant using commercial properties and leases to generate revenue for Hawaiian Homes communities. He also said he supported using land assets to reduce reliance on legislative appropriations. A senator raised Act 279 and the need to focus spending on reducing the waitlist; Kappa said the act was complex and that he did not yet know enough to speak confidently beyond what he had read. The committee did not vote on the nomination in the portion provided and said it would return to voting later. The committee then took up Governor’s Message 591, the nomination of Lawrence Luua to the Hawaiian Homes Commission. Testimony described his background in banking, military service, Maui County planning, and long involvement with Molokaʻi homestead matters. Luua told the committee he had lived the challenges of homestead life, including housing and road issues, and said he wanted to continue the work of Prince Kūhiō by helping Native Hawaiians return to and live on the land. In response to questions, he said he began attending DHHL meetings regularly in July 2024, discussed concerns about county road obligations versus homestead responsibilities, and said he had struggled with Act 279 because he was concerned about moving funds away from other projects even though he supported its goal of reducing the waitlist. The committee then moved on to the next governor’s message and testimony for another nominee, with a SHPD representative briefly introducing the background of that nominee, but no action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Operational funding is generated through a user-pay revenue model, including park entrance fees, our
• The revenue we receive goes directly back into supporting our state park system, which includes more
• OSPB estimates currently a revenue impact to the state parks revenue fund of approximately $495,900.
• The bill also requires the agreement between the Arizona Department of Revenue and the city, town, or
• The bill also requires the agreement between the Arizona Department of Revenue and the city, town, or

Bills: HB2014, HB2111, HB2156, HB2165, HB2202, HB2305, HB2321, HB2399, HB2403, HB2416, HB2418, HB2446, HB2601, HB2615, HB2620, HB2812, HB2939, HB2940, HB2955, HB2957, HB2960, HB2992, HB4026, HB4049

Keywords: air emissions, fuel blends, environmental quality, feasibility study, Arizona Department of Agriculture, driver license, examinations, motorcycle awareness, public safety, traffic laws, livestock, compensation, funding, ranching, agriculture, veterans, state parks, admission fees, military exemption, recreation access

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2615, a strike-everything amendment creating an Independent Oversight Committee tied to the Department of Child Safety, with authority to review DCS practices, request briefings and audits, visit sites, and receive confidential complaints, along with a $2.2 million appropriation. The sponsor and several parents and advocates testified that stronger independent oversight was needed because of serious DCS failures affecting children and families. Some members supported the goal but objected to housing the committee in the Ombudsman’s office or questioned whether the structure was the right approach. The strike-everything amendment was adopted, but the bill itself then failed on a 5-5 vote. The committee then passed House Bill 2620, which provides $300,000 annually for five years to the Arizona Department of Veterans Services to grant funds to emergency shelters serving veterans without requiring scheduled intake appointments. The sponsor and shelter representatives said the money would support trauma-informed case managers, help veterans connect to VA and shelter resources, and move the state closer to functional zero for veteran homelessness. The bill received unanimous support and a do-pass recommendation. House Bill 2321 also passed unanimously. It requires DCS to place a security freeze on the credit reports of children entering foster care, with the freeze remaining until age 16 unless the child later chooses otherwise, and includes a $100,000 appropriation and one ongoing FTE. The sponsor said foster youth are especially vulnerable to identity theft and need automatic protection. House Bill 2601, which directs ADOT to seek federal segmentation for the Interstate 11 project between Casa Grande and Wickenburg, passed 6-4 after testimony from supporters who said it would keep the project moving and opponents who raised environmental, cost, and litigation concerns. House Bill 2992, a pilot program for child sexual abuse and grooming awareness education in six public schools, also passed 6-4 after testimony from a survivor and advocates; supporters framed it as prevention and critics argued it duplicated existing sex education and should be handled through broader curriculum or parent education. Additional bills considered included House Bill 2156, which appropriates $250,000 to the livestock compensation fund and passed 7-3 despite transparency and conflict-of-interest concerns from an opponent; House Bill 2165, which exempts certain veterans and military members from state park admission fees, as amended to narrow the exemption to retired or disabled veterans and similar National Guard members, and passed 6-4 amid concerns about lost park revenue; House Bill 2960, creating a veterans specialty court grant program and requiring better coordination on incarcerated veterans, which passed 8-0; House Bill 2014, directing studies on gasoline blends and emissions modeling, which passed 6-2 despite concerns about cost and limited impact; and House Bill 2957, preserving non-REAL ID driver licenses and restricting biometric collection and data sharing, which passed 5-4 after amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, the portion is, let's see, it is 0.24% of the revenue of the tax. When the price...
• Even at those revenues, I think you'll find there's a significant gap between the revenues going into
• in increased tax revenue.
• This is moving away from just revenues and looking at the entire economy.
• Jobs created, economic ROI, return and revenue. Those are all calculated using REMI.