Transcript Highlights:

• These reflect errors in the budget change proposal.
• These reflect errors in the budget change proposal.
• As noted, the Budget Act moved some funds around, about 18 million of that was moved As noted, the Budget
• Will there be an impact to the Lifeline budget?
• That is why we support the Governor's proposed budget.

Summary: The hearing was an informational budget session on energy agency proposals, with no votes taken. Early discussion focused on Proposition 4 climate bond implementation, including funding for demand-side grid support, offshore wind development, and transmission financing. The Department of Finance said the budget includes allocations for demand-side grid support and offshore wind, but not yet for the $325 million transmission financing piece pending a required study. The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged the Legislature to consider whether to wait on offshore wind funding, whether to keep shifting funds into demand-side grid support, and how to direct future transmission financing. Members also raised concerns about local technical assistance for offshore wind, Salton Sea priorities, and the need for more information before final decisions. The California Energy Commission and CPUC then reviewed the broader energy package. The CEC highlighted the demand-side grid support program’s growth, distributed energy backup assets, long-duration storage, hydrogen grants, and the SIRP clean energy reliability program. CPUC testimony emphasized affordability, wildfire mitigation costs, rooftop solar cost shifts, and efforts to reduce rates while maintaining reliability and clean energy goals. Members questioned CPUC staffing, delays in proceedings, coordination with the CEC and CAISO, and the impact of rate increases on customers. The agencies also discussed the AB 3264 transmission financing study, with CPUC saying work on the study had already begun and was on track for the July 1 deadline. Several trailer bill and implementation items were also discussed. The committee reviewed a proposal to extend the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program surcharge, with members split over whether it should be handled in budget trailer bill language or policy legislation; the administration said the surcharge supports a critical program serving about three-quarters of a million Californians. The committee also heard a CPUC data-sharing proposal to allow nondisclosure agreements for transmission and reliability data, which members generally supported as a technical fix. DWR explained a proposal to clarify language for the Electricity Supply Strategic Reliability Reserve so it can potentially sell three gas-fired units it owns, and the CEC presented a federal transmission grant proposal tied to grid-enhancing technologies and ratepayer cost recovery. Finally, the committee discussed California Lifeline and possible broadband pilot reforms in light of uncertainty around federal Universal Service Fund support, with CPUC saying it is exploring a statewide standalone broadband option for eligible customers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is the $4 million currently now in the governor's base budget, supplemental budget, or is that what you're
• </c> of work in program we will if his budget of work in program we will if his budget is<00:04:31.320
• </c> exactly the same amounts that um budget exactly the same amounts that um budget and<00:05:34.960
• First up is Budget and Finance: Lisis Alero or Sabrina Nassar, deputy director, Budget and Finance, we
• First up is Budget and Finance: Lisis Alero or Sabrina Nassar, deputy director, Budget and Finance.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs heard testimony on several public safety and criminal justice measures. HB 433 HD1 would appropriate funds for Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation re-entry services; DCR Director Tommy Johnson said the department supports the bill’s intent but noted the same $4 million request is in the governor’s executive budget, and the Correctional System Oversight Commission, Public Defender, ACLU, OHA, Chamber of Commerce, and other groups testified in support. Members asked whether the funding was already in the governor’s budget, and Johnson confirmed it was requested there for the next two fiscal years. HB 1045 would make emergency appropriations for law enforcement personnel costs, and the Department of Law Enforcement, DAGS, Budget and Finance, and the Judiciary testified in support, with DLE saying the amounts match what Budget and Finance will present. HB 1296 would require timely notice and reporting to the Legislature when the governor transfers money to the major disaster fund; Budget and Finance and the Governor’s office offered comments, and no opposition was noted. HB 1002 would extend the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission coordinator’s term and clarify inspection authority; DCR and the commission supported it, with the commission saying a longer term would help the coordinator do the job effectively and allow inspections without notice. HB 596 would clarify what events qualify as disasters and emergencies for emergency management purposes. Hawaii Emergency Management Agency opposed the bill, while maritime and Grassroot Institute representatives supported it. Members asked whether the bill’s 21-day limit should be extended to 30 days, and HEMA said it opposed any change that would limit the governor’s flexibility in the response phase. The committee also heard HB 1128 HD1, which would set factors for warrantless arrests for petty misdemeanors and violations and require officers to record the justification. The Office of the Public Defender, ACLU, and some reform advocates supported it as a check on police discretion and a way to encourage citations, while the Attorney General, Honolulu Police Department, prosecutors, DLE, county police chiefs, SHOPO, and others opposed it as too restrictive and likely to create litigation and court delays. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> moved into the supplemental budget bill. moved into the supplemental budget bill.
• </c><00:01:41.680><c> bill</c> That point the supplemental budget bill That point the supplemental budget
• </c> tails from last year's budget bill. tails from last year's budget bill.
• </c> These sections are in total budget These sections are in total budget neutral.
• Chairman, is the Judiciary supplemental budget. Thank you. Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> The Pre K through 12 Budget Subcommittee will come to order.
• It is a pleasure to have you join. >> Pre-k through 12 budget. Thank you, chair.
• But we need to make sure that that we have budget integrity.
• But we have a big piece of our budget.
• We would be allowed to give because we have to cover budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• The language specified the rider within the larger higher education budget.
• This is more than a line item in a budget.
• If this budget shortfall is not addressed, amended.
• This is what I'm most concerned about in this budget: the drastic increase.
• Did we double their budget? We didn't have the money to double their budget.

Bills: HF2312

Keywords: higher education, college finance, student aid, financial aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, tuition relief, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, work-study, child care grants, Indian scholarships, tribal colleges, Hunger-Free Campus, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget rolls back some Maybe sometime next week or something, the budget rolls back some of the LEA
• state budget, which, ironically, is exactly the same percent of the state's budget that... ...was being
• Speaker, as I sit on the Budget Committee Appropriations, and I get to talk to our brilliant budget staff
• spending in our budget.
• We're part of the budget.

Bills: HB2720, HB2073, SB5816, SB5919, SB5831, SB6244, SB6044, SB5109, SB5877, SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Summary: The House first took up Substitute Senate Bill 6225, a transportation bond measure. Supporters said it was needed to fund preservation and maintenance of Washington’s transportation system, including road upkeep and emergency repairs, while opponents argued the state had already addressed current needs through a recent unanimous budget and existing bond authority. The bill passed final passage 59-38, meeting the required three-fifths vote. The House then considered Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6260, an education budget-related bill with many floor amendments focused on transition to kindergarten, alternative learning experience (ALE) funding, local effort assistance (LEA), educational service district reserves, superintendent pay, MSOC funding, and collective bargaining limits. Most proposed amendments were rejected, though Amendment 2654 on TK priorities was adopted. After the committee amendment as amended was adopted, the bill advanced to third reading and then passed 50-47. Supporters described it as a necessary budget reduction and risk-management measure; opponents argued it cut K-12 funding too deeply, especially in rural and property-poor districts, and would worsen inequities and invite litigation. The House also concurred in Senate amendments and passed several other bills. House Bill 1796, about school construction financing and capital levy use, passed 95-2. Second Substitute House Bill 2105, dealing with immigrant worker protections, passed 58-38. Engrossed House Bill 2211, on food sourcing for a health-related program, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225, regulating companion chatbots and child safety, passed 74-21. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2247, related to animal care, passed unanimously. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2418, streamlining permitting timelines to support housing affordability, also passed unanimously. The House then moved on to additional Senate-concurred bills, beginning with Second Substitute House Bill 1906.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> budget committee, Mr. Dogget. budget committee, Mr. Dogget.
• . budget. budget.
• budget.
• </c> member of the budget committee. member of the budget committee.
• </c> of the House Budget Committee. of the House Budget Committee.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:44.200><c> on</c> budget on budget on 1054<00:03:46.159><c> I</c><00:03:46.400><c> I</c><00:03
• </c><00:27:07.919><c> is</c> its critical work um our budget is its critical work um our budget is highly
• Mostly in here we're looking at the Medicaid budget, but one of the frustrations is if that budget continues
• </c><01:09:19.799><c> um</c><01:09:20.120><c> but</c> at the Medicaid budget um but at the Medicaid budget
• </c> concern and will'll add to budget concern and will'll add to budget uncertainty<01:10:36.320><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The working session focused on the New Hampshire Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s budget request and its recent work. Early discussion centered on a technical question about a statutory dedicated fund for donations: members asked why the budget did not show a line item for accepting donations, and DHHS CFO Nathan White explained that the statute already authorizes the fund, but because no revenue has been received yet, it does not appear in the budget. He said any future donations would go through the normal process under RSA 14:30-a, with fiscal committee and Governor and Council approval and a memo to the Department of Revenue Administration. The chair clarified that the account was not a prerequisite to soliciting donations, and White said the fund would supplement, not replace, General Fund support. Kirk Williamson, the board’s executive director, then presented the board’s mission and budget. He said the governor’s budget provides about $256,500 in the first year and slightly more in the second, all General Funds, and that the board had distributed a technical amendment to continue the executive director position. He described the board’s role as analyzing prescription drug costs, identifying savings opportunities, monitoring market trends, promoting transparency, and making recommendations to the legislature and public payers. He also emphasized that the board operates publicly, with live-streamed meetings and a stakeholder advisory council that includes unions, state agencies, Medicaid, corrections, higher education, and other stakeholders. A major topic was the board’s estimate of $6 million in potential savings, based on Medicare’s newly negotiated prices for 10 drugs. Williamson explained that the board used those federal negotiated prices as a benchmark to estimate what New Hampshire public payers might be missing by not having similar leverage, and said the board is trying to build evidence for future recommendations rather than directly setting prices. Members asked how those potential savings could become actual savings, and Williamson said the board is sharing findings through its advisory council and feedback loops, though it has not yet sent a formal recommendation letter to specific purchasers. He also discussed the difference between pharmacy-benefit spending, which relies heavily on PBM-negotiated rebates, and medical-benefit spending, which is administered differently and is being added to the board’s next report. Williamson highlighted other work, including a model on Humira and a pending legislative effort to improve biosimilar competition, plus a proposed state-backed pharmacy savings card that would be no cost to the state and could save users about $240 per prescription based on Connecticut’s experience. No votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will move on down to the proposed budget. So, let's see here.
• There are a few things that I would like to highlight for the fiscal '27 budget.
• If you look at the fiscal '26 budget If you look at the fiscal '26 budget compared to the fiscal '27
• Thank you for presenting the budget. We will move on down to item F. Okay.
• And net proceeds are up by 2.5% for May actual versus budget.

Summary: The committee met to review Arkansas Scholarship Lottery contracts and receive updates on operations and finances. Sharon Strong, the lottery’s executive director, presented a new three-year advertising and marketing contract with Cranford Company for $19.29 million, replacing an expiring contract and coming in below the prior three-year amount. Members asked about the RFP process, number of bids, and how cost is weighted in the award formula; the contract was reviewed and approved without objection after a motion and vote. The committee also reviewed a three-year Learfield sponsorship contract tied to University of Arkansas promotional events for $86,800 per year, with a corrected three-year total of $260,400; members questioned a system-generated summary figure that incorrectly showed a seven-year total, and staff clarified the contract itself was only for three years with no extensions. That item was also reviewed without objection. Strong then presented the fiscal 2027 budget, highlighting expected savings of about $1 million each from the new gaming system/scratch ticket contracts and the new advertising contract. The lottery projected slight shifts in instant and draw ticket revenue, corresponding prize payout changes, and net proceeds of about $108.2 million transferred to the scholarship account. In the monthly disclosure report for May 2026, she reported flat instant game sales, a 12.6% increase in draw game sales, and year-to-date net proceeds ahead of budget, with strong draw game performance attributed in part to Powerball. Members asked about unclaimed prizes, which remain in reserve during the year and are transferred at fiscal year-end to the scholarship trust account except for a $1 million reserve, and about how scholarship funds are distributed through the Division of Higher Education based on student rosters and class year awards. The committee also discussed the lottery’s financial statements, including revenue, prize payouts, operating expenses, trust account balances, and unclaimed prize balances. Staff explained that the lottery is self-sustaining and funded by lottery revenue, not taxpayer appropriations, and that the trust account balance is used to meet scholarship requests from higher education. The meeting ended with Senator Hill praising the lottery staff’s marketing around a recent large winner in Little Rock, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, the Senate Budget Subcommittee Number 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and
• The actions we will be taking today represent the Senate's budget plan.
• opposition to the proposal for the DMV proposal for the state-to-state system and specifically the budget
• And I'm going to Budget act.
• Senate Budget Subcommittee 5 is now adjourned.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> today so in light of very tough budget today so in light of very tough budget times<00:10:12.200
• the governor's uh Governor's budget the governor's uh budget<00:10:48.920><c> um</c><00:10:49.480><c
• </c><00:39:55.040><c> proposal</c> Governor Wall's budget proposal Governor Wall's budget proposal regarding
• </c> in the program based on past budget in the program based on past budget recommendations<01:02:25.599
• </c> would thank the governor for his budget would thank the governor for his budget proposal<01:47:03.080

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A truly endless number of questions for me, both about WIA and the state budget at large.
• And so this was pretty deep in the budget. You can see Section 951, but the language...
• This was pretty deep in the budget. You can see Section 951.
• And those were made in both the 2020 and 2021 supplemental budgets.
• In the 2023–25 operating budget for $1.15 million from WIA.

Summary: The Joint Higher Education Committee met for a work session on higher education accounting practices and financial transparency. OFM Deputy Director Sarah Rupp explained how state accounting rules and higher education reporting differ, including what data is captured in AFRS today and what will move into Workday, with universities generally reporting summary-level fund data, mandatory codes, and most balance sheet and income statement activity, but not transaction-level detail or vendor payment information. Representatives from the University of Washington and Washington State University described the complexity of their own accounting systems, the many entities and business lines they must track for audits and compliance, and the need to reconcile university-level accrual accounting with state reporting requirements. The committee also heard from the Education Research and Data Center on the public four-year finance dashboard created under Senate Bill 5512; ERDC said the dashboard is based on publicly available data, is best used to examine institutions individually rather than compare them directly, and will be updated with additional metrics in 2025 and 2026. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington Student Achievement Council on the Workforce Education Investment Account (WIA). Joel Anderson reviewed WIA’s creation under House Bill 2158, its revenue sources, and its intended uses for higher education, financial aid, and workforce development. He said recent legislation significantly increased WIA revenues and that, in the 2025–27 budget, the account is being used in new ways, including to replace general fund support for University of Washington operations and to fund a larger share of the Washington College Grant and some faculty compensation costs. Anderson said roughly 98% of current WIA appropriations go to higher education, but the share used to supplant other higher education funding has grown, and he estimated about 60% to 70% of current spending still aligns with the account’s original intent. He also described a new effort to track WIA appropriations across biennia in more detail and noted the WIA Oversight Board’s role in recommending uses of the account and monitoring outcomes. No votes were taken; the committee ended by moving into executive session for staffing issues and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to welcome everyone to the State Administration Budget Subcommittee.
• I want your input as we write next year's budget.
• The budget is not actually actual.
• Perhaps two or three percent of your overall base budget.
• Thank you. and then dive into the budget reductions.

Summary: The subcommittee met to review agency vacancy reports and agency-requested budget reductions, with Chair Lopez framing the discussion around stewardship of taxpayer dollars, agency efficiency, and whether long-vacant positions should be cut or repurposed. Members were given vacancy summaries and asked to focus on how agencies are functioning with current staffing, which positions are mission critical, and whether some vacancies reflect market pay issues, re-engineering of work, or true excess capacity. The chair also noted that agency heads had been asked to provide follow-up information on current openings, average vacancy duration, mission-critical roles, and reasons for vacancies. The Department of Revenue was the first major agency reviewed because it had the largest number of vacancies. Its leadership said vacancies had improved from pandemic-era highs due to market pay adjustments, but that some areas—especially general tax and audit—still had long-term openings. The department explained that some positions are intentionally frozen while work is restructured, that it hires above minimum salary in some cases to stay competitive, and that it is using automation and process changes to reduce backlogs. Members raised concerns about vacancies outside Leon County, out-of-state auditor positions, salary compression, and whether the department should provide a list of frozen positions and the salaries actually needed to recruit. The Department of Financial Services said its long vacancies were concentrated in risk management, law enforcement, and the general counsel’s office, where salaries and competition from private employers and other agencies make hiring difficult. DFS said it was using outside vendors in some areas, had reduced vacancies in its general counsel office significantly, and was willing to identify positions that could be cut, including some from treasury and OAT. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation reported progress in lowering vacancies through statewide recruiting, centralized legal hiring, automation in service operations, and leadership changes in alcoholic beverages and tobacco; it said one recommended cut could be achieved by combining two half-time positions. The Florida Lottery reported a low vacancy rate, said all positions were critical, and explained its longer onboarding time due to extensive background checks; members discussed sales reps, incentives, and the agency’s field-office structure. The Office of Financial Regulation said many of its vacancies were already in the hiring pipeline, with recent vacancies tied to promotions, a death, and internal moves, and noted that it often serves as a training ground for federal agencies. The Office of Insurance Regulation, which had a high vacancy rate concentrated in Leon County, said it had been reducing vacancies from a much higher level and was still working through hiring and administrative constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got your budget presentation.
• How much do you have in your budget now?
• Is it in the budget now?
• And we looked both at budget recommendations within the capital budget as well as in a couple cases in
• that we were not able to adopt those budgets for.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• spending in the budget, has doubled in 10 years.
• It's interesting, the budget, Mr.
• And we have to change our budget, right?
• Same thing with our budget.
• Budget policy. Budget policy and how we manage it makes a big difference.

Summary: The House debated a series of amendments to a major income tax bill, with repeated arguments over tax fairness, affordability, administrative feasibility, and the role of the Department of Revenue. Early motions to reconsider a failed child care amendment were rejected, and Amendment 2561, which would have restricted data sharing with the IRS, was also defeated after debate over privacy, federal relationships, and whether the proposal was administrable. Amendment 2579, which would have required annual reporting on the tax’s effects on filers, businesses, and charitable donations, likewise failed, with supporters emphasizing transparency and opponents arguing DOR was not the right agency and the report was too speculative. Amendment 2598, proposing to use half of new revenue for a broad sales tax cut, was rejected despite arguments that it would reduce regressivity and provide immediate relief; Amendment 2556, expanding sales tax exemptions for diapers and other child-care essentials to include adult diapers and earlier implementation, also failed after debate over scope and timing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do a back-of-the-budget reduction and we restore the IT budget.
• itself within the operating budget.
• the budget impact of that is. It says 67 the budget impact of that is.
• Whereas the governor's budget was around Whereas the governor's budget was around 91<01:36:36.600><c>
• , but an increase over the house's budget, but an increase over the house's budget.<01:36:47.920><c>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, this last year we saw our budgets increased significantly.
• But I just wondered what was put in the budget.
• </c> yep so we have 10 million in our budget yep so we have 10 million in our budget and<01:07:12.640
• Is this in your priority needs for the budget as well?
• </c> aiiz need or a need in the state budget aiiz need or a need in the state budget that's<01:48:46.040

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I hope that we pass this supplemental budget today. I hope we help people.
• spent emergency funds, and we've upended local budgets.
• There was also some discussion about the supplemental budget.
• We passed the supplemental budget.
• This supplemental budget can be modified as well.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first adopted an emergency preamble for H. 4521, establishing a sick leave bank for Kathleen Roder of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, by standing vote, with 8 in favor and none opposed. The chamber also suspended rules to refer several petitions to committee, including a resolution to rescind prior Article 5 constitutional convention applications and a petition on officer training related to stage suicides. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including legislation clarifying the duties of the Adjutant General and enhancing access and support for military-connected families, both with new drafts, and a bill designating Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day, which was ordered to a third reading. A major portion of the session focused on the House’s nonconcurrence in the Senate’s amendment to the fiscal year 2025 supplemental budget and the appointment of a conference committee. Senators from both parties debated how to respond to the federal government shutdown and the threatened lapse in SNAP benefits, with repeated calls for the Commonwealth to use available state resources to prevent hunger, protect vulnerable residents, and seek federal reimbursement. Several members criticized the governor’s use of taxpayer-funded communications on the issue, while others defended the administration’s limited initial response and emphasized fiscal constraints. The Senate ultimately insisted on its amendment and appointed a conference committee consisting of Senators Rodrigues, Comerford, and O’Connor. The chamber also passed several local and special bills, including measures exempting Natick’s assistant fire chief from civil service, authorizing sewer service in Sharon, changing the term of the elected moderator in Holden, updating Medford’s linkage exaction program, and establishing sick leave banks for Candy J. Pike and Kathleen Roder. The Senate later adopted amended resolutions calling on the President of the United States to release contingency funds for SNAP during the shutdown, adopted an order to adjourn to the following Monday, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Chair Shoaf: THE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER, CALL THE MROLL. >> Chair Shoaf: >> Vice Chair
• THEY DON'T THOSE TEAMS ON THEIR OWN OUT OF THEIR OWN GENERAL FUND BUDGET.
• CURRENT BUDGET IS $15.1 BILLION, THE LAST THREE YEARS WE'VE BEEN HOVERING AROUND OUR CURRENT BUDGET
• SO OUR BUDGET HAS GONE UP BY 50% SO WE'RE DELIVERING 50% MORE PRODUCT WITH 500 LESS EMPLOYEES.
• IF YOU LOOK AT THE RATIO OF OPERATING BUDGET VERSUS TOTAL BUDGET, IT'S SITTING AT ABOUT 7%.

Transcript Highlights:

• Big thanks to the Budget Director and others for getting it together.
• I mean, we have an $11 billion budget; we get to leverage federal dollars.
• In early childhood, whose budgets are now in excess of $800 million, Mr.
• There is money in the LFC recommendation in the operating budget that's part of Their budget every year
• It's listed wrong in your budget. It is not for down payment assistance.