Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Hagenbuch, what's the fiscal note associated with your bill?
• process in four-year terms ensures stable leadership, while the funding contingency demonstrates fiscal
• As far as the size of the fiscal note, I think this is something to work out with the author of the bill
• On a personal note, I owe my career trajectory to the current primary care preceptorship program.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard several bills and took no final votes, leaving each measure pending. The first major item, SB 1322 by Senator Hagenbuch, would create a Texas Higher Education Accrediting Commission to evaluate and approve accrediting agencies for public colleges and universities using outcome-based metrics such as retention, graduation, employment, debt, and repayment. Supporters, including Kate Byerley of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, argued the bill would add competition and align accreditation with Texas workforce needs; Senator Menendez questioned the need for a new bureaucracy and noted the $3.6 million fiscal note, suggesting existing reporting and oversight structures could serve the same purpose. The committee then heard SB 1998, which would establish a pediatric subspecialty preceptorship program to encourage medical students to enter pediatric subspecialties. Dr. Lauren Gamble testified in strong support, saying the program would help address shortages and improve access for children, especially in rural and underserved areas. SB 2788, authored by Senator Menendez, would add the PSAT as an accepted assessment for dual credit and Texas Success Initiative purposes; Priscilla Camacho of Alamo Colleges supported the bill, citing strong student outcomes and widespread use of the PSAT as a readiness indicator. Senator Creighton laid out SB 2076, which would remove or modify certain Capitol view corridor restrictions affecting the UT Austin Academic Medical Center project, including the planned specialty hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center expansion. He said the existing corridors are outdated and limit development. The committee also heard SB 1418, a cleanup bill replacing outdated references to ACT Plan with Pre-ACT and removing obsolete SAT subject test language. After brief testimony and no opposition on the later bills, the committee closed public testimony and left SB 1322, SB 1998, SB 2788, SB 2076, and SB 1418 pending before recessing for the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have had a few snowfalls, and it is worth noting that we do have a volume of tourism and skiers in
• And I understand that, but I wanted to make note in this particular bill, that's where it's funded.
• vetting individuals who are up for appointment, and also to that backroom background checks as you noted
• This last fiscal year, 3 million was appropriated.
• Chairman and Senator Steinborn, yes, that's the idea of starting in the new fiscal year.

Transcript Highlights:

• AS A RESULT THE COMMITTEE'S OBJECTIONS ARE PUBLISHED IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE REGISTER AND HISTORY NOTES
• I WOULD ALSO JUST NOTE TO SAY THIS WOULD BE IMPERMISSIBLE.
• THAT BEING SAID, I DO NOTE THAT THERE IS AN ANALOGOUS DEFINITION IN STATUTE FOR POOL NAMELY THAT THAT
• I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT WERE NOTED IN THE LETTER.
• FOR EXAMPLE, OF THE 6600 CASES THAT WENT THROUGH DOE LAST FISCAL YEAR IT IS IN OUR REPORT THAT ABOUT

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• note on this bill.
• I believe there was a fiscal note in previous sessions that was larger than the amount here.
• I believe there was a fiscal note in previous sessions that was larger than the amount here.
• Jacob. there's been a a formal fiscal note on there's been a a formal fiscal note on this<00:17:14.679
• I believe there was a fiscal note<00:17:21.760> in<00:17:21.880> previous<00:17:22.720>

Bills: HF4740, HF3940

Keywords: financial assurance, feedlot permits, manure storage, environmental compliance, agriculture regulation, abandoned infrastructure, pollution control, environmental impact, animal feedlot, livestock, regulations, Minnesota Rules

Summary: The committee approved the March 26, 2026 minutes and then heard House File 4740, authored by Rep. Hansen, which would require feedlots with at least 1,000 animal units to provide financial assurance for closure costs. Hansen argued the bill would shift cleanup responsibility from taxpayers to owners, citing abandoned feedlots, changing ownership structures, and the 2024 Pure Prairie Poultry bankruptcy as examples of why public funds should not be used for closures and cleanup. He also said the bill would apply to new or renewed permits and suggested a statutory definition of abandoned feedlot storage units may be needed. Farm and livestock groups testified in opposition. Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Milk Producers Association, Minnesota Pork Producers Association, and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation said existing MPCA and county permit rules already require closure planning and reporting, and that the bill would add unnecessary costs and barriers for family farms, beginning farmers, and expansion. They warned the financial assurance requirement could function like an animal-unit cap, encourage fragmentation or out-of-state relocation, and impose annual costs that would not improve environmental outcomes. Several testified that true abandonment is rare and that current permitting and closure processes already address it. MPCA staff said the agency has concerns with the bill, noted there is currently no formal fiscal note, and said the agency would need to ensure any appropriations cover ongoing staffing needs. MPCA officials explained that permitted feedlots already must notify the agency before closure, follow a checklist of closure requirements, and undergo follow-up inspection; they said abandonment notifications are uncommon and they are not aware of any currently permitted facilities in abandonment process. Members questioned whether the bill was needed, what form financial assurance would take, how other states handle similar requirements, and whether the proposal would unfairly burden smaller or family operations. No vote on HF 4740 was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in fiscal year 2023-2024, Florida had over $127 billion of revenue that came to the state.
• Just wanted to highlight a little note on the fees.
• One final note: at the far right, you see a graph that's all over the place, and what's happening there
• Here's a 20-year chart on general revenue collections, and you'll see that in fiscal year 2004-2005 we
• If you see fiscal year 08-09 on, we've been growing at a pretty stable, steady trend.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax convened with a quorum present, heard an introductory presentation of committee staff, and then received a staff briefing from Azar Khan on Florida’s state tax structure and revenue outlook. The presentation covered fiscal year 2023-2024 revenues, noting more than $127 billion in total state revenue, with general revenue exceeding $48 billion and sales and use tax making up the largest share. It also compared Florida’s tax burden to other states, highlighted Florida’s low per-capita revenue ranking and strong business formation numbers, and reviewed major and minor revenue sources, tax rates, and the revenue estimating conference process. Members asked about what drives revenue growth, including population, tourism, construction, and auto sales, and about Florida’s regressivity, corporate income tax participation, and investment earnings on state balances. Khan said the state’s revenue picture remains positive and stable, but that future growth is slower than during the COVID-era spike; he also explained that some negative forecast changes were tied to legislative actions such as the insurance premium tax credit, while others reflected lower tobacco consumption and severance activity. He noted that revenue and spending forecasts are separate and that budget-side growth is driving concerns raised in other state economic projections. The committee also discussed possible tax package ideas for the upcoming session, including tax holidays and homeowner relief, but no specific proposals were acted on. The chair announced the committee would not meet the following week and that the next meeting would be in week three of February. The meeting concluded with no objections to a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair noted that a quorum was present.
• <00:03:46.599> year onetime appropriation in fiscal year onetime appropriation in fiscal year
• And then I also wanted to note, how about schools?
• the case for fiscal um and that will be the case for fiscal year<00:30:01.279> 2026<00:30:02.240
• First of all, a great note of gratitude to Senator Dibble for his work on this bill.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As Representative Chavez noted, this is...
• It's about ensuring that health policy is grounded in fiscal reality and data, not guesswork.
• Important to note, this bill does not mandate outcomes or predetermined policy choices.
• Done with respect to the analysis that we get for the fiscal impact.
• And I think with that, I know that our fiscal impact reports are very important, but they don't...

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hennepin County's share of that is about $34 million in fiscal year 2025 and about $37 million in fiscal
• And in fiscal year 2025, that amount is about $16.6 million a year. about 37 million in fiscal year 2026
• And in fiscal year should come from.
• Um, of note, I'll be picking up the majority of the changes on R52 of the side-by-side document. note
• Um, of note, I'll be differences.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Etc. 3 talks about anticipation notes, and I think so.
• We were going to use tax notes. Tax notes, um, and we were going to basically back them.
• A bond is it an anticipation note or no.
• And then on anticipation notes. 7 years.
• use a 7-year tax note for that.

Transcript Highlights:

• On that note, Mr.
• Chairman, I just want to note for the committee that, you know, I supported... the bonding bill.
• Our planning amount, combined with our state road fund, is about $44 million each fiscal year.
• On page 11, we get into the TPF funding for fiscal year 2025 and 2026.
• So, on page 12, we get into the TPF funding for fiscal year 2025 and 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• For those wishing to testify, please note that we have to finish before 10, so at 9:55, we are going
• I saw notes, I saw stamps, I saw pieces of comfort, but I never saw a threat.
• So if I want to send a kite to my friend, a note, if I want to bring in a frog or flower from working
• I also want to note that...
• It is important to note what this bill also does not do.

Bills: HB1826, HB1969, HB2708, HB2729, HB3618, HB4515, HB4764, SB1021, SB1610

Keywords: mental health, women's health, county jail, depression screening, criminal justice, inmate release, identification certificate, Texas Department of Corrections, personal identification, driver's license, state law, reentry services, nondisclosure, criminal history, criminal defendants, community supervision, misdemeanors, felonies, rehabilitation, hearsay

Transcript Highlights:

• The consultant notes a quorum has been established. So we will go ahead and begin public comment.
• As I begin, I'd like to acknowledge our Republican caucus fiscal...
• As I begin, I'd like to acknowledge our Republican caucus fiscal consultants for their dedicated late-night
• Before I jump into the specifics of the line items, it is important to note that there is a significant
• not able to testify today, please submit your comments or suggestions in writing to the Budget and Fiscal

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• years 25 and fiscal years 26.
• for fiscal years 25 and fiscal years 26. for fiscal years 25 and fiscal years 26.
• <00:04:44.080> year the federal funds for TW fiscal year the federal funds for TW fiscal year
• In A for fiscal years 24 and 25, and then in B for fiscal years 26 through 29.
• Occasionally there are a few differences in fiscal years 28 and 29 from fiscal years 26 and 27, but for

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met on March 3, 2026, approved the minutes from February 26, and then held a lengthy informational hearing on the Minnesota Department of Education’s funding and internal allocation of resources. House fiscal staff walked members through several spreadsheets showing federal, non-general fund, and general fund administrative spending, noting the data was filtered from SWIFT and was not exact. The chair said the discussion was intended to help members understand how MDE is funded and how those funds are used internally, in advance of later budget decisions and a separate upcoming hearing on the Perpich Center. Commissioner Willie Jett opened by describing MDE’s mission, statewide reach, and FY 2026 budget of about $14.1 billion, most of which flows directly to districts and charter schools for instruction, special education, transportation, nutrition, and operations. He emphasized transparency, accountability, and the department’s role in implementing laws, distributing aid, and supporting schools and students across urban, suburban, and rural communities. He also noted the department serves more than 873,000 pre-K through 12 students in 2,264 schools. Deputy Commissioner Maren Holden outlined the Office of American Indian Education, the Office of General Counsel, and the Office of Inspector General, highlighting support for American Indian students, legal and rulemaking work, special education dispute resolution, fraud prevention, and student maltreatment investigations. Assistant Commissioner Dr. McCari Traum described the Office of Equity and Engagement, including equity and inclusion training, safe and supportive schools work, public engagement, family outreach, and fraud-prevention coordination. Assistant Commissioner Darren Cordy reviewed nutrition programs, special education services, and the charter center, including free school meals, commodity food distribution, IDEA compliance, and charter school support. Assistant Commissioner Bobby Bernham then described the Office of Teaching and Learning, including early education, academic standards, instruction and assessment, state library services, expanded learning, and literacy work. He highlighted early childhood alignment efforts, standards development across core subjects, professional learning, and library grants. No votes were taken beyond approval of the prior minutes, and the meeting remained informational, with members expected to ask questions after the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we attach it to the bill, will we get a fiscal note?
• Erickson about a fiscal note so I can maybe bring it to the floor.
• fiscal note, but I'd like that, too. fiscal note, but I'd like that, too.
• bill, will we get a fiscal note? bill, will we get a fiscal note?
• note so I can maybe bring it to fiscal note so I can maybe bring it to the<02:13:42.360> floor.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I, I would add to your notes that we need to get reimbursement for all of that as well.
• Uh, 641,000 in fiscal year 2024.
• Uh, the last fiscal year, uh, we spent a little over $4 million in indigent defense.
• Uh, my technology budget for this fiscal year is over $8 million.
• Um, I have no prepared notes today.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was a $450,000 study, and we'll have those results before the end of the fiscal year.
• We'll get you on those notes. We don't want to spam you.
• That's really the only difference of note.
• Here's a little bit of our larger fiscal picture.
• On that note, I want to mention that we do have some legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please note that the schedule is subject to the chair, and that elected officials may testify out of
• I do want to note that Vice Chair Senator Liz Miranda is joining us online.
• Second, our lead sponsors are proposing a change to the bill because of the fiscal situation that the
• And we've mentioned the fiscal issues that come with the BBB.
• I know she did because I found a note in her tote bag one day. I said, take what you need.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House Committee on Children and Families held a hybrid hearing on a broad set of anti-hunger, family support, and basic-needs bills. Early testimony focused on SNAP and DTA operations: Rep. DeRosa and others urged passage of H. 196/S. 167 to require DTA to identify staffing, technology, funding, and operational needs to improve timeliness and customer service, warning that unanswered calls, delayed recertifications, and federal changes could sharply raise state costs through higher SNAP administrative burdens and payment-error penalties. Speakers from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and Project Bread said DTA is under-resourced, caseloads have grown, and families are being denied or delayed due to phone and paperwork barriers. Another major SNAP-related bill, H. 254/S. 147, would require the Commonwealth to replace stolen EBT/SNAP benefits; testimony described more than $13 million stolen from about 27,000 households since June 2022 and argued families should not bear losses from organized theft rings. The committee also heard strong support for H. 207/S. 117, which would restore state-funded nutrition assistance for legally present immigrants excluded from federal SNAP under recent federal changes. Advocates from Project Bread, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, local immigrant services, and public health groups said the federal cuts would leave thousands of residents, including refugees, asylum seekers, trafficking survivors, and children, without food support, and argued Massachusetts has a history of filling this gap. Testimony also supported H. 222/S. 104 to make the Healthy Incentives Program permanent and year-round; supporters said HIP improves nutrition, boosts local farms and regional economies, and had already served more than 212,000 households in FY25. A related child-support bill, H. 201/S. 110, would increase the amount of child support passed through to TAFDC families and expand good-cause exemptions; witnesses said the change would put more money directly in families’ hands, reduce poverty, and better protect survivors of domestic violence and families with complicated co-parenting situations. A large portion of the hearing was devoted to deep-poverty and diaper-related legislation. Supporters of H. 214/S. 118 said cash assistance grants have lost value over time and should be raised annually until they reach half of the federal poverty level; advocates from Children’s HealthWatch, Hopewell, the Lift Our Kids Coalition, and parents described the links between deep poverty, poor child health, family stress, and child welfare involvement. They argued that higher grants would help families meet basic needs, reduce hospitalizations and neglect reports, and provide stability amid federal cuts. Finally, multiple witnesses backed diaper legislation, including H. 220/S. 151 and related bills, to create a diaper benefits pilot and/or diaper allowance commission. Testimony from the National Diaper Bank Network, MassCAP, Children’s HealthWatch, local diaper banks, and parents said diaper need is widespread, affects parental employment and mental health, and can cause health problems for infants; a federally funded pilot in Massachusetts was cited as showing improved employment, financial stability, reduced stress, and fewer diaper rashes. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and asked questions throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• He also noted that there was a committee substitute that needed to be adopted. coming that's going to
• The chair noted that there was a committee substitute for the bill and asked for a motion to adopt it
• She said the bill does not have any quantified fiscal impact.
• It does not have any quantified<00:15:59.600> fiscal<00:16:00.079> impact.
• I did um quantified fiscal impact.

Keywords: HB 66 (discussion only) -- 00:05:33 Consideration of HB 213 -- 00:12:16 Consideration of HB 314 -- 00:22:11, 958, all

Summary: The House State Government Committee opened its first meeting of the year with prayer, the pledge, a roll call, and a reminder of committee procedures, including sign-up rules for public testimony, decorum expectations, and recognition of staff. The chair noted the committee had a quorum and outlined the day’s agenda, which included three bills. Representative Hodgson presented House Bill 66 for discussion only, explaining that it would distinguish between boards and commissions that can meet entirely electronically and larger public agencies that should have a quorum physically present unless there is an emergency. He said the bill also aimed to require agencies to post member information and contact details online so the public can provide feedback. Representative Tipton asked whether the bill would apply to state and local bodies, and Hodgson said it would; no vote was taken on HB 66. The committee then considered House Bill 213, sponsored by Representative Emily Callaway, on reemployment of retired police officers. A committee substitute was adopted unanimously. Callaway said the bill would reduce barriers to rehiring retired law enforcement officers, allow local agencies and universities to offer health benefits in lieu of retirement benefits, lower the service threshold for this specific rehiring from 20 years to 15 years, and give agencies flexibility on retirement contributions. She emphasized that the bill would not allow double dipping and had no quantified fiscal impact. Members raised a question about review by the Public Pension Oversight Board; Callaway said that had not yet occurred, and the chair noted the committee’s practice that pension-related bills are typically reviewed by that board first. Despite that concern, the committee voted 16-2 to report HB 213 favorably, with two members passing. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 314, relating to the Kentucky Communications Network Authority and declaring an emergency. After adopting a committee substitute, Representative Matt Lockett said the bill was intended to reorganize oversight of Kentucky Wired by moving KCNA into the Finance and Administration Cabinet under the Commonwealth Office of Technology, abolishing KCNA’s separate executive director, transferring KCNA functions and records to COOT, and restructuring the board with new members and two governor appointments from lists submitted by KACo and KLC. He said the measure was meant to provide stronger oversight and more direct control over the project, and that the emergency clause was needed because of budget implications. Members asked for clarification on the differences between committee substitutes, and Lockett said one prior substitute removed the attorney general from the board at his request, while the current one added the governor’s appointments. He also said a floor amendment would strike language related to a nonprofit board associated with Kentucky Wired. The transcript ends during discussion of HB 314, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Noted. Um with that being said, are there any other questions? No, no other questions. Okay.
• Noted. Um with that being said, are there any other questions? No, no other questions. Okay.
• All right, that's all the fiscal year.
• It was a contract for fiscal year 23 through 24.
• Um I'm not uh fiscal year 23 through 24.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100 on a roll call vote, with Chairman Douglas voting no but the items still passing. It then took up a Kentucky Department of Tourism contract involving the United Kingdom, France, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the effort supports marketing, public relations, and familiarization trips. The committee approved that contract as well, with Chairman Douglas voting yes after expressing support for tourism promotion. Next, the committee reviewed two Finance Cabinet facilities and support services items involving engineering and architectural services for a specialized lab expansion project. Members discussed why the design work was expensive, and the cabinet explained that the project’s pathogen-related complexity required specialized firms. Chairman Douglas said he believed some architectural and engineering reimbursement rates were too high and should be reexamined, but the committee still approved the items by roll call. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office and the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission on an MOA related to substance use disorder funding. Senator Meredith asked how the commission’s work coordinated with behavioral health programs, and staff explained that the commission allocates funds based on applications and includes relevant state officials. The contract was approved. After that, the committee considered behavioral health items: one new 988 chat-and-text contract to expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage, and a Voices of Hope amendment that doubled funding to continue services into the next fiscal year. Officials said the 988 contract would move more chats and texts in-state, and that the Voices of Hope increase reflected continuation of SAMHSA-funded services; both were approved. Finally, the committee reviewed DCBS contracts, including a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit and a Building Bridges Initiative training contract. Members questioned whether the food survey group’s advocacy role created a conflict, but DCBS said the organization was chosen for its statewide network and that the cabinet would receive the raw data. For Building Bridges, DCBS said the program began in the fall and provides training and peer mentorship for residential child care providers, with results still too early to assess. Both items were approved. The last set of contracts, under the State Treasurer for the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities, prompted questions about why the funding flowed through the treasurer’s office and about a sexuality-related capacity-building initiative. Staff explained the treasurer serves as the designated state agency for federal DD Act funds, and that the sexuality initiative is part of a broader five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, system change, and capacity building; the committee then moved to approve those contracts as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next up, at 9:50, is HB 102, which has a fiscal note.
• c> which has a fiscal note um the uh which has a fiscal note um the uh representative<00:08:35.159>
• That's why the fiscal note is there too.
• That's why the fiscal note is there too.
• note is there too that you know I fiscal note is there too that you know I I<00:26:01.799> when

Keywords: 1189, house, all