Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> assist</c><00:26:56.040><c> in</c> These requested funds will assist in These requested funds will
• </c> even in the governor's budget even in the governor's budget presentation,<00:32:06.680><c> that<
• </c><00:52:53.840><c> as</c> would not have to respond to requests as would not have to respond to requests
• </c> the scope and depth of the the requests the scope and depth of the the requests were<00:54:01.960
• </c><01:03:48.040><c> under</c> or a litigant can make a request under or a litigant can make a request

Bills: HF3455, HF3936, HF3860, HF3656, HF4060

Keywords: public television, funding, Minnesota, operations, appropriation, cybersecurity, state government, legislative commission, extension, technology, civil law enforcement, attorney general, record custody, government transparency, legal services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And just as an example, I requested from the state budget $10 million for a renovation of a regional
• Even when we think about budget time and budget years, this is the last budget that you can actually
• And so a request that Grants, but we need to deal with that.
• And so a request that Grants, but we need to deal with that.
• LA28 has not $1 for that in their budget.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Kindly use your request-to-speak button to get into the queue. Call the calendar.
• The new biennial state budget is before the body.
• Last year on the budget, fiscal year 2026, our spending plan was $31.4 billion.
• Now, when we do, I call it a Democrat spending plan because a budget, when you put together a budget,
• Speaker, thank you, and thank you for getting the budget to us today.

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and then took up a series of memorial and commending resolutions out of order and in block. Members offered tributes to Colonel James T. O’Kelly for his Marine Corps service and later public service; to Taran Mehta and DeWan Anthony Stiegel, Jr.; to Noreen Torin for her long career in Central Virginia journalism; to Bernard L. Henderson, Jr. for extensive public and civic service; and to Child’s Family Orchards for growing a record-setting peach. Several additional memorial and commending resolutions were adopted in block, including newly added resolutions for Stephanie Daniel Myers and Lynn Kathleen McKay, among others. The chamber then considered the conference report on House Bill 30, the biennial state budget. Speakers praised staff and conferees for their work and noted provisions such as pay raises for teachers and state employees, infrastructure funding, a higher standard deduction, and a utility-related rebate issue. Some members criticized the budget as a large spending increase and argued it did not provide enough tax relief, while others supported it and emphasized keeping commitments to data center tax policy and adding co-ops to rebate efforts. After debate, the House adopted the conference report by a vote of 71 yeas to 22 nays. At the close of business, the House was informed that the calendar was complete, reminded about a constituent relationship management software survey, and then recessed pursuant to House Resolution 2069.

Transcript Highlights:

• On the time that I was on the LBC, I remember we had a couple of requests.
• We have made a request of the Department of Homeland Security in writing requesting that Secretary Noem
• I submit a legislative funding request every year.
• My budget that I bring home is so anemic.
• My budget that I bring home is so anemic that you cannot excuse it.

Summary: The committee took up four bills before moving to a broader discussion of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund. SB 434, which would prohibit counties from increasing a home’s assessed value because the owner installed wind mitigation measures, was presented as a homeowner protection measure and reported favorably. CS/SB 110, clarifying that certain 98-year-or-longer residential leaseholders remain eligible for the homestead exemption even if the lease ends at death, was also reported favorably without opposition. SB 856, requiring online real estate listing platforms to display estimated ad valorem taxes using prescribed calculation methods and not the current owner’s tax bill, drew supportive testimony from property appraisers, Zillow, and local government groups; members emphasized transparency for buyers, especially first-time homebuyers, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then spent most of the meeting on SPB 7040, which would recreate and extend the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund through December 31, 2027. Supporters, including the Division of Emergency Management, argued the fund is needed for hurricanes, flooding, other disasters, and rapid response operations, and said the extension preserves legislative oversight that would otherwise lapse. Opponents from advocacy and policy groups argued the fund has been used too broadly, especially for immigration-related detention and enforcement activities, and criticized the lack of tighter guardrails and transparency. They cited deaths in detention facilities, the use of emergency dollars for non-disaster purposes, and concerns about political favoritism and public accountability. Director Kevin Guthrie testified at length in support of the extension, explaining that the fund is used for natural, man-made, and technological emergencies, that reimbursements from federal and other sources are returned to the fund, and that the state has used it for hurricanes, flooding, civil unrest, international evacuations, and immigration-related operations under Operation Vigilant Sentry. He said the division has sought federal reimbursement for some expenses and that the fund helps the state respond quickly when emergencies arise. Members questioned the size of the fund, the amount spent on immigration-related activities, the status of federal reimbursements, and whether lawmakers should have more oversight or unannounced access to detention facilities. The bill discussion remained ongoing in the portion provided, with no final vote on SPB 7040 shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• There were some changes requested by the Secretary of State at the previous meeting for some additions
• There were some changes requested by the Secretary of State at the previous meeting for some additions
• That’s in relation to how often the individual has to submit that written request for confidentiality
• , to be able to put in the legislative branch budget those 12 positions.
• Is this so that the Legislative Council can build a budget?

Summary: The Legislative Procedures and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The committee first considered and adopted a Joint Rule 211 change clarifying the deadline and statutory references for bill drafts involving health insurance mandates, after discussion that the process is still somewhat cumbersome but improved by the clarification. The committee then reviewed a revised draft addressing confidentiality protections for certain legislators and candidates, but members expressed concerns about the breadth, enforceability, and transparency implications of the proposal, and the committee chose not to advance it at this time. The committee received an informational update on the new NCSL Legislator Security Fund. Staff explained that North Dakota is applying for the grant, which could provide about $200 per legislator for home security or related safety expenses, subject to Emergency Commission approval and reimbursement procedures. Members asked about eligible expenses, administrative burden, and whether new legislators would be covered; staff said guidance would be provided if funding is approved. The committee also approved the 2027 timing for the State of the Judiciary, tribal-state relationship message, and State of the State address on January 5, and set the Commerce Department and agricultural commodity reports for January 13 and 14, respectively, as required by statute. A major portion of the meeting focused on legislative staffing and organizational planning. The committee approved a recommendation for 36 Senate staff positions and 41 House staff positions, along with a 3% compensation increase for session staff. Discussion centered on replacing some procedural clerk duties with permanent policy analyst staff, retaining quality assurance roles for now, and adding or repurposing positions in IT, program evaluation, legal, and administration. Members also discussed expanding program evaluation capacity and the need for clearer oversight of new programs, with staff noting upcoming training and model-sharing with other states. Finally, the committee reviewed a proposed new legislator orientation day on November 30 and broader organizational session training changes, including mock committee and floor sessions, security training, and more robust budget/appropriations instruction, but took no final action on the agenda items and adjourned after completing the budget-related recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The work of this unit is of great value for Minnesota in terms of the state budget.
• Finally, we assist other law enforcement agencies when they request it.
• Each Medicaid fraud unit's size is based on the size of its Medicaid budget.
• I guess your request is to continue to please send those to us.
• Sent an email request on that, and they sent a reply.

Bills: HF3043, HF2891

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• How much of your budget, I think I probably asked that wrong, please forgive me, how much of your budget
• Currently, based on budget and on number of staff.
• It's going to be a budget decision.
• On a state budget, it's fairly insignificant.
• On a state budget, it's fairly insignificant.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Education Committee heard House Bill 918, which would realign the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA) by narrowing its mission, reorganizing its board, capping administrative costs at 30%, requiring outside and LSO audits, setting course fees, and limiting state funding per course. The bill would eliminate or restrict funding for private school, virtual school, K-5 Launch Pad, driver's education, custom sections, and most middle school enrollment except remediation, while preserving some access through Advanced Opportunities money and an emergency exception for hard-to-fill teaching vacancies. Representative Pickett said the bill was intended to address concerns about double-dipping, private use, and program growth beyond IDLA’s original purpose, and to reduce state spending by about $13.5 million. IDLA Superintendent Jeff Simmons testified in opposition, saying the bill would restrict school choice, shift costs to families and districts, and reduce access for rural students, especially for electives, dual credit, and middle school enrichment. Several superintendents and school officials from Potlatch, Grace, Butte County, Wendell, Cottonwood, and Kimberly also opposed the bill, arguing that IDLA is essential for rural and small schools to provide electives, dual credit, credit recovery, and career exploration, and warning that the bill would force districts to absorb costs or pass them on to families. Supporters of the bill emphasized oversight, fiscal restraint, and limiting use to core supplemental purposes, while some members expressed concern about cutting effective programs and about the impact on rural districts. After testimony and discussion, the committee first failed a motion to hold House Bill 918 in committee. A substitute motion to hold the bill in committee until a time certain on Monday, March 23, then passed on a roll call vote, so the bill was held over for further consideration. The chair said the committee would return to the issue on Monday.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> how you know districts put their budgets how you know districts put their budgets together<00:19
• </c> solve for to balance their budgets. solve for to balance their budgets.
• So, and it makes sense for your request and thank you for bringing a request that's not asking for any
• /c> thank you for bringing a request that's thank you for bringing a request that's not<00:47:46.480>
• Thank you. resources from general education budgets resources from general education budgets and<01:12

Bills: HF3790, HF3654, HF3371, HF3470, HF1099

Keywords: education finance, lease levy authority, graduation ceremonies, school districts, Minnesota Statutes, local revenue, funding increase, education, state appropriation, local control, HF3371, local optional revenue, school finance, general education aid, school district funding, referendum revenue, referendum market value, equalization aid, state aid, property tax levy

Transcript Highlights:

• We understand that this is an incredible strain on all state budgeting.
• The state has to usually make the request to CMS, get that information.
• So there's been a request, and you've heard of Brian's Law in California.
• It's a request in the FY27 budget to fund the recommended rates from the current rate study.
• Just support the Health Care Authority's budget for the $47 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• Details can be found on this request on page 2-55 if you're looking at the legislative budget book.
• And so I think that's why we see the last few days where the co-chairs have requested additional budget
• Now there is a budget proposal to reduce the budget associated with that.
• There were several changes between the CAP Fund, and the budget wasn't as easy to budget for.
• I would appreciate your feedback on these budgets, on this budget, particularly for when I go in there

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee received a courtesy presentation from Senator Scott Groh and JFAC staff on the state budget process, with a focus on the fiscal year 2026 and 2027 outlook and how policy decisions affect appropriations. Groh and budget analysts explained that the governor’s budget, revised revenue forecasts, and pending tax conformity legislation have sharply reduced the projected ending balance, prompting JFAC to ask agencies for additional 1% to 2% reduction plans on top of the governor’s proposed cuts. They emphasized concern about relying on one-time money to balance the budget and the need for better coordination between policy committees and the budget committee. Alex Williamson then reviewed the Division of Medicaid’s fiscal year 2027 forecast, describing a projected ongoing increase of about $235 million and identifying major cost drivers by plan and fund source. He outlined the governor’s recommended reductions, including possible additional hospital rate cuts, residential habilitation rate changes, transportation administrative cost reviews, managed care administrative reviews, and removal of some services in Idaho Code. Members questioned whether reserve funds could be used instead of further Medicaid cuts, and Williamson said the specific savings from the Medicaid options would be about $22 million in general fund reductions, with the broader budget picture to be addressed by Keith Bybee. Bybee presented the statewide general fund outlook, saying the state’s structural balance has weakened because of lower-than-expected revenue collections, tax policy changes, and uncertainty around conformity. He noted the legislature’s projected ending balance for 2026 had fallen to about $29.8 million under the governor’s plan, and explained that using reserve funds or making additional cuts would change that balance further. He also reviewed long-term budget growth, saying Medicaid and other state spending have risen largely because of policy decisions, while per-capita, inflation-adjusted general fund spending has grown only modestly over two decades. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with committee members discussing the difficulty of further cuts, the possible use of the budget stabilization fund, and the chair asking members for feedback ahead of future JFAC discussions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it takes, we know that because of the budget and different...
• We have money in the budget that you guys helped us get, whoever voted on the budget last year.
• Knowing that our budget is in the process and all the appropriation bills will be held until the budget
• All the appropriation bills will be held until the budget is done.
• in the bill are going to be part of budget negotiations, so Mr.

Bills: SB1198, SB1199, SB1286, SB1683, SB1761

Keywords: Arizona beef council, beef promotion, agricultural marketing, commodity council, livestock, cattle industry, ranching, rural affairs, self-financed program, sunset extension, continuation bill, market development, beef products, Arizona agriculture, Title 41, Title 3, sunset review, marketing order, producer assessment, Salt River horse herd

Transcript Highlights:

• And when they prepare a budget for voter approval, that budget is balanced by charter.
• And when they prepare a budget for voter approval, that budget is balanced by charter.
• when they prepare a budget for voter approval,<00:21:00.640><c> that</c><00:21:00.880><c> budget</c>
• as it was first proposed. revenue side of a budget are the revenue side of a budget are the property
• </c> budget would be about $35,000 per year. budget would be about $35,000 per year.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• an appropriation of $50 that requests an appropriation of $50 million.
• This is OHA's budget request, and it really reflects our strong commitment and confidence in our strategic
• This is OHA's budget request, and it really reflects our strong commitment and confidence in our strategic
• This is OHA's budget<00:03:59.720><c> request</c><00:04:00.720><c> and</c><00:04:01.040><c> it</c><00
• :04:01.280><c> really</c><00:04:01.599><c> reflects</c> budget request and it really reflects budget

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Hawaiian Affairs met in decision-making sessions on March 18 and considered several House bills. On HB 576 HD2, the chair proposed an amendment clarifying that the bill would not apply to transfers of Hawaiian Homes lands under the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, including lease conditions for 99-year terms; the committee adopted the recommendation to pass with amendments, with one no vote. On HB 606, the chair recommended passing the bill with amendments and a committee report requesting a $50 million appropriation; that recommendation was also adopted, again with one no vote. HB 1408 was recommended for indefinite deferral, and no discussion was recorded before adjournment. In a later portion of the meeting, the committee heard testimony on HB 410, which was described by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs as its budget request. OHA testified in strong support, saying the measure would help advance its strategic plan, reduce disparities affecting Native Hawaiians in health, housing, economic development, and education, and improve transparency and data-driven oversight. The committee noted additional support and opposition testimony counts on other measures, including HB 871 and HB 1091, and then moved into decision-making. The committee ultimately adopted the chair’s recommendations to pass HB 410 HD1 unamended, HB 871 HD1 unamended, and HB 1091 HD1 as is. Senator Ihara was noted as excused for part of the later voting. The meeting concluded with no further testimony or discussion and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I see here as part of the broader statewide, is FY 2025 budget law.
• At the moment, the bureaucracy receives a request... ...at the moment the bureaucracy receives a request
• Last year, I had a requirement to vote yes on the state budget.
• So I voted yes on the budget.
• This just allows them to make the change to say we want to amend the budget so they can go into budget

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• budget.
• where—as well as the department's legislative budget request.
• request.
• preparing the department's annual legislative budget request for the upcoming fiscal year.
• By the end of this week, my request to you—my assignment—is please email me and copy our budget chief

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee held its first interim meeting, took roll, and established a quorum. Members introduced themselves, many noting backgrounds in education, school boards, local government, or parenting, and Chair Jenna Persons-Mulicka outlined the committee’s goal of building the fiscal year 2025-26 Pre-K-12 budget. She also reviewed the fiscal year 2024-25 education budget, noting that the Pre-K-12 portion totals about $21 billion, with the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) as the largest driver, along with major funding for VPK, school readiness, and school recognition. She explained that federal COVID relief funds have ended and that recent school choice legislation has affected budget structure. Commissioner Manny Diaz and department leaders then gave overviews of their divisions. Diaz highlighted Florida’s education rankings, record graduation rate, progress monitoring, expanded school choice participation, charter school growth, and teacher salary investments, while emphasizing a focus on literacy, math, and early learning. Carrie Miller described the Division of Early Learning’s school readiness and VPK programs, their funding, eligibility, accountability systems, and the importance of kindergarten readiness. Paul Burns outlined the Division of Public Schools’ work on educator quality, literacy, standards, certification, family outreach, federal programs, and school improvement. Suzanne Pridgen reviewed finance and operations functions, including budget management, FEFP calculations, grants, procurement, transportation, and emergency management. Adam Emerson described parental choice programs, including scholarships, charter schools, schools of hope, virtual education, and home education. Darren Norris detailed the Office of Safe Schools’ responsibilities for risk assessments, compliance inspections, threat management, grants, and training created after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy. Members asked questions about several issues, including whether the Safe Schools office recommends changes to the school safety grant distribution formula, whether early learning eligibility should shift from federal poverty level to state median income, how scholarship payments are verified to avoid funding students who return to public school, and whether daily attendance systems could improve funding accuracy. Other questions addressed hurricane-related survey disruptions, VPK provider reimbursement rates and instructional hours, teacher salary increases, school start time costs, and how voucher schools handle IEP accommodations. Department officials generally said some issues remain under review, supported moving school readiness eligibility to SMI, noted that scholarship and enrollment data are cross-checked and adjusted when needed, and said progress monitoring now helps schools support mobile students. On school safety, officials said exemptions are allowed in statute for some items but not for classroom doors, and that district-specific conditions matter. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported beyond receiving presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Starting to talk about budget.
• This slide summarizes IDWR's responsive plans to that request.
• That would require a spending authority change or increase in our budget.
• This was an enhancement in our budget. Next slide.
• for submittal, both legislation and budget, to this body in 2027.

Summary: The committee first considered RS 33154, introduced by Senator Tammy Nichols, which would update Idaho’s cloud seeding statute with clearer definitions, authorizations, and reporting requirements. Nichols said the proposal was a refinement of a bill from the prior session, did not create or expand a program, and had no fiscal impact, but would improve transparency and public accountability for existing cloud seeding operations. The committee moved to send the RS to print. The Idaho Department of Water Resources then presented zero-based rulemaking for Water District 34 in the Big Lost River Basin (docket 37-0312-2-250). Matt Anders explained that the changes were largely clarifying and reducing unnecessary language, with substantive edits in definitions, river reach descriptions, allocation of natural flow, and timing/administration provisions. He said the rule text was reduced by 484 words and that the committee approved the docket after a brief question about winter stock water use. Director Matt Weaver gave an agency update covering budget holdbacks, the new Water Administration Bureau, groundwater and delivery-call administration on the Eastern Snake Plain, Treasure Valley groundwater conditions, the Bear River Compact, and the proposed merger of the Soil and Water Conservation Commission into IDWR. He described ongoing curtailment and mitigation efforts, new groundwater district work in tributary basins, and concerns about staffing experience and workload. Committee members asked about groundwater district participation, Bear River water rights, and the effects of canal efficiency projects and Bear Lake storage; no votes were taken on the update. Jeff Raybould of the Idaho Water Resource Board reported on revisions to the state water plan, major water project funding, recharge and cloud seeding programs, aging infrastructure grants, and regional sustainability projects. He said the board had submitted state water plan changes tied to the ESPA settlement and a higher recharge target, and discussed projects such as the Anderson Ranch Dam raise, Priest Lake work, and the Twin Falls Canal Company lining project. Members questioned Bear Lake storage and how canal efficiency savings would affect groundwater demand, but no formal action was taken on the board presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chairman, uh, secretary, are there requests that you receive frequently from veterans that
• So these are things that I think that on the federal side that federal funding is In their budget And
• But again, I don't want to speak before they've published their, their, their budget, but because it's
• Last year I requested $600,000 for my, my personnel budget to provide stability.
• That's what I, I requested it last, uh, last session. All right. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will be starting off this morning with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency budget overview.
• We're happy to present the governor's budget proposal.
• The permitting efficiency proposal is a package of policy and budget ideas.
• Do you think that's going to impact your budget? Director Johnson. Mr.
• But I just kind of wanted to overlay this with the larger concern for our state's budget.

Bills: HF1587, HF2293, HF2218, HF1208, HF1482

Keywords: HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty

Transcript Highlights:

• Proud to present to you the budget bill intended to be the vehicle for the budget portion and the omnibus
• Um, of note, the governor's budget request includes no new funding for programs in the Division of Energy
• Um, of note, the governor's budget request includes no new funding for programs in the Division of Energy
• The micro grid 2023 budget year.
• Again, I would request that the bill is laid over, not moved, and we have some discussions on some budget

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the subcommittee for budget.
• And with the pace of change around artificial intelligence, how are you approaching your budget requests
• And with the pace of change around artificial intelligence, how are you approaching your budget requests
• requests.
• That you've got 16 other agencies that you're having to listen to budget requests and so forth.

Summary: The subcommittee held an informational hearing on the Information Technology Services Division (ITSD) within the Office of Administration, with no quorum present and no formal action taken. Chair Voss said the purpose was to review ITSD’s programs, budget needs, and future plans, and members emphasized the value of an informed appropriator. Representative Riggs cautioned that the state should avoid jeopardizing federal broadband funding and asked that AI-related work remain consistent with federal expectations. ITSD leadership, including CIO John Loren and Deputy CIO Tara Damp, outlined the division’s scope and recent modernization efforts. They said ITSD supports 15 executive agencies plus the governor and lieutenant governor, manages about 1,200 production software solutions, handles roughly 35,000 help desk requests per month, and defends against billions of cyberattacks monthly. They highlighted investments in layered security, data center and network redundancy, a unified Microsoft 365 environment, modern development tools, and portal platforms. Damp reviewed the history of IT consolidation, noting budget reductions after 2007, then increased investment beginning in 2020 and especially with ARPA funds in fiscal 2023. Members asked about spending projections, subscription-based licensing, procurement modernization, and the role of non-consolidated agencies such as MoDOT and Conservation. The committee also discussed future funding needs and benchmarking. ITSD said its current spending is about $287 million, with a projected ongoing need of about $345 million to maintain and modernize services, while Gartner comparisons suggested Missouri spends less per employee and as a share of operating budget than peer states. Members asked for more detailed fiscal-year spending profiles for major initiatives and for clarification on what is and is not included in the projections, including Social Services and HR1-related work. ITSD said it would provide additional detail. A major portion of the hearing focused on AI strategy and governance. Tim Marsheski, ITSD’s director of AI and innovation, described a cautious, pilot-based approach centered on secure use, human oversight, and data governance. He cited examples such as an internal HR chatbot that reduced average response time from about 45 minutes to two minutes, pilots with DESE data transformation, and efforts to use AI for code assistance, document scanning, and workflow support. Members asked about workforce impacts, training, closed versus open models, and whether AI could help with auditing and fiscal analysis. ITSD said it is still early on workforce forecasting, but it is building governance, acceptable-use policies, and feedback loops to test tools, measure results, and scale only when they provide value and remain secure.