Transcript Highlights:

• And in light of the tight budgetary times, I think the governor's proposal here is very responsible and
• </c><00:03:43.439><c> times</c><00:03:43.879><c> I</c> light of the tight uh budgetary times I light
• of the tight uh budgetary times I think<00:03:45.000><c> uh</c><00:03:45.120><c> the</c><00:03:45.239
• And this is just leveling it out at a higher figure, is that correct?
• , go down to 70% of the 2017 level.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Some consideration of those budgetary pieces aside from the fact that we don't have $155 million to put
• I can't even describe the level of frustration that I have with this presentation.
• The electronic delivery of such communications is expected to result in a budgetary efficiency measure
• While advocating for funding last session, the Division of Outdoor Recreation predicted this level of
• It's about leveling the playing field, supporting our restaurant industry, and implementing a policy

Bills: AB102 , AB108 , AB117 , AB213 , AB220 , AB221 , AB251 , AB259 , AB331 , AB336 , AB375 , AB379 , AB409 , AB475 , AB476 , AB550 , AB575 , AB594 , SB466

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So, uh, is at the local level.
• </c> level that's been lowered. level that's been lowered.
• </c> had to satisfy those budgetary had to satisfy those budgetary requirements<01:04:28.720><c> in</
• Some of them are at the state level. Some of them are at the federal level.
• Um, we just at the federal level.

Summary: The task force met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the August 20 meeting, and then heard testimony from Representative Steven Doan on House Bill 439, a school nutrition bill aimed at restricting certain ultra-processed foods in schools. Doan said the bill was inspired by his own health journey and his work in agriculture, and he described the measure as targeting specific chemical additives in foods served during the school day, not concession sales or after-hours activities. He said the bill would phase in later to give schools time to adjust and noted that the list of restricted additives was drawn from efforts in other states and advocacy groups. Members asked about the chemical abstract numbers, fiscal impact, summer meal programs, fundraisers, and whether the bill would affect parent-provided items; Doan said he had not done a fiscal note and explained that the bill was intended to apply only during instructional time on school property. Committee members generally reacted favorably, with some raising practical concerns about cost and implementation. One member asked about high fructose corn syrup, which Doan said was not included because it is too pervasive in the food system. Another member noted that schools already limit some homemade items and asked about the line between school-provided and parent-provided food. Doan also said the list was based in part on Turning Point USA materials and similar laws in other states, and he referenced federal efforts to define ultra-processed foods. The committee then heard from Kentucky Department of Education officials Matt Ross, Lauren Moore, and Katie Embry on school meals and nutrition programs. They outlined Kentucky’s school lunch, breakfast, summer meals, and other USDA child nutrition programs, including participation and reimbursement figures, and explained how community eligibility provision schools, meal patterns, offer-versus-serve, smart snacks, and local wellness policies work. They said USDA and FDA are currently seeking public input on a uniform definition of ultra-processed foods, that there are no current USDA requirements specifically on ultra-processed foods, and that schools already operate under federal and state rules governing competitive foods, including a state time restriction on smart snacks. They also discussed local purchasing, noting its benefits but also the procurement and staffing challenges schools face. No votes or final actions on the bill were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• in our state calendar the importance of missing persons and their families and friends and raises a level
• We need this amendment to ensure and safeguard that we protect our budgetary process.
• We need this amendment to ensure and safeguard that we protect our budgetary process.
• </c> that we protect our budgetary process. that we protect our budgetary process.
• And I want federal and the state level.

Transcript Highlights:

• above grade level that time and about 1,600 below grade level.
• level one, that's the lowest level in 23 to 13% in 24.
• in level one, more kids in levels three and four.
• one, the graders um that are in level one, the graders um that are in level one, the lowest level.
• So this is where this has become a budgetary become a budgetary become a budgetary issue.

Bills: SB199 , HB142 , SB86 , HB152 , HB297 , SB1 , SB1

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: parental leave, state employees, local education agencies, adoption, work-life balance, family support, portable benefits, portable benefit account, independent contractor, gig worker, 1099 worker, freelancer, app-based worker, rideshare, delivery driver, worker benefits, health insurance, retirement benefits, life insurance, income replacement insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• We will have a chance to enhance this should we need to during our normal budgetary process.
• Representative McClure: Clearly seen a heightened effort at the federal level to secure our borders.
• I wanted to shift gears a little bit and talk about the collaboration between different levels of government

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> lot has changed at the federal level lot has changed at the federal level within<01:37:25.360><c
• </c> level, as well as needed um local level level, as well as needed um local level data<01:50:13.920
• </c> circumstances and budgetary constraints. circumstances and budgetary constraints.
• been consistently at this level since 2011.
• With cuts at the federal level to IMLS, With cuts at the federal level to IMLS, um<02:54:41.520><c> we're

Summary: The Higher Education Finance and Policy Conference Committee met publicly to compare House and Senate positions on the higher education budget, with the chairs emphasizing transparency and alternating gavel control. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through a spreadsheet of differences across the Office of Higher Education and Minnesota State, including major items such as state grants, childcare grants, work study, tribal college grants, emergency assistance grants, hunger-free campus grants, student parent support, direct admissions, paramedic scholarships, and several medical residency and fellowship programs. The House and Senate also differed on administrative funding, campus sexual assault reporting, and a House FY25 cancellation that would be carried forward. Members discussed several of the larger policy and funding choices. The Senate explained its increase for Minitex as support for operating costs and statewide access to information. The House explained its cuts to student parent support and other items as necessary to work within a zero target and to prioritize direct aid to students, while the Senate said it focused on direct appropriations and access-related programs. On hunger-free campus grants and emergency assistance grants, the Senate said it was changing the distribution method and direct appropriations rather than reducing the overall money, while the House noted differences in whether nonprofit institutions remained included. The committee also reviewed Senate-only additions and reductions in Minnesota State, including free course materials, Lake Superior College remediation, and changes to the Kids on Campus appropriation. A representative from Lake Superior College testified that the PAS remediation funding would help address contamination issues at an emergency training site near Lake Superior and that the money was shifted from the Kids on Campus initiative. No final conference agreement or vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee continued discussing differences and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether it is through a tax credit, a constitutional exemption, or a county-level opt-in, our position
• But in general, I do know a lot of you guys want that fiscal impact for the budgetary purposes. ...and
• But in general, I do know a lot of you guys want that fiscal impact for the budgetary purposes.
• I also think that the services that there's not any more services added to the local level, that they
• I also think that the services that, there's not any more services added to the local level, that they

Committee: House Special Committee on Tax Reform

Summary: The Special Committee on Tax Reform heard three measures focused on property tax relief and tax administration. House Bill 2869, sponsored by Rep. Mike Jones, would authorize counties to offer up to a 100% property tax credit on the primary residence of 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans, with a $500,000 value cap, surviving-spouse carryover, no stacking with other credits, and protections for bonded indebtedness. Jones and supporting witnesses from Missouri veterans organizations said the bill is a practical, county-option approach that recognizes veterans’ service and could help keep federal retirement and disability income in Missouri. The Department of Revenue noted the bill could reduce eligibility for the existing property tax credit and urged timely fiscal-note review. No opposition testified. The committee also heard H.J.R. 115, sponsored by Rep. Dave Griffith, which would place a constitutional amendment before voters to exempt 100% disabled veterans from personal property tax and homestead-related taxes, with surviving-spouse protections. Griffith said the measure has been pursued for years, would affect a relatively small number of veterans, and should be treated as a common-sense benefit for service-connected disabilities. Veterans’ groups strongly supported the resolution, describing it as overdue relief for veterans on fixed incomes and urging the committee to move it forward. Several members discussed whether the policy should be in the Constitution or statute, but all testimony was in favor. Finally, the committee heard HB 3303 from Rep. Cecily Williams, a cleanup bill to clarify that state and local sales or use taxes are exempt when the General Assembly purchases goods or lodging for official business and is reimbursed with public funds. Williams said the current statute lists outdated tax categories and leaves some local taxes on reimbursable expenses, causing the state to pay unnecessary taxes. Members generally supported the concept, and the Department of Revenue testified only on the need for timely fiscal-note requests and said the fiscal impact appeared minimal. No one testified in opposition to any of the three bills, and the committee concluded its hearing without taking final action or votes in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• officials, we have a huge swath and not a supermajority of elected officials in all offices at all... ...levels
• to the Capitol, come to the Legislative Office Building to lobby us personally, whether it be for budgetary
• TO THE CAPITOL, COME TO THE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE BUILDING TO LOBBY US PERSONALLY, WHETHER IT BE FOR BUDGETARY
• So therefore, this is the kind of thing that we at the state level need to address.

Summary: The Senate opened with routine proceedings, approved the prior day’s journal, and then took up a budget extender. Senator Serrano’s appropriation bill was recalled from the Assembly, reconsidered, amended, and sent through Rules to the floor. During debate, senators discussed the ongoing delay in finalizing the state budget, the 13th extender, school aid payments, the Yonkers school district payment, and unresolved issues such as Tier 6 retirement changes and other budget policy items. The extender was passed 57-2 after debate, with senators pressing for more transparency about the budget negotiations and the majority responding that those issues were not germane to the extender. The chamber then recognized several resolutions and guests. Senators spoke in support of Resolution 1948 honoring New York State 4-H and its Capital Days participants, Resolution 2054 commemorating Italian American Day, and Resolution 1620 mourning Denis Michael Troy of Rockland County. The Italian American Day resolution drew extensive remarks from many senators about family histories, immigration, cultural contributions, scholarships, and community traditions, and the Senate welcomed honored guests from the Italian American community. The Rosalyn Yalow Charter School fencing team was also introduced, along with the family of Denis Troy. The Senate then moved through a long calendar of bills, passing measures on public service, city administrative code, municipal law, correction law, criminal procedure, real property tax, education, social services, public health, executive law, parks, judiciary, and alcoholic beverage control, among others. Several members explained votes on bills related to ratepayer protection, hip-hop lyrics in criminal cases, sovereign nations and gaming compacts, and the Traveling with Dignity Act requiring adult changing stations in public facilities. Most bills passed with broad support, though some drew notable negative votes. The Senate completed the calendar and adjourned until Tuesday, May 19, at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether it is through a tax credit, a constitutional exemption, or a county-level opt-in, our position
• But in general, I do know a lot of you guys want that fiscal impact for the budgetary purposes. ...and
• But in general, I do know a lot of you guys want that fiscal impact for the budgetary purposes.
• not think the bill is trying to move general revenue dollars into local aspects, and that the local level

Committee: House Special Committee on Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> ownership among all income levels. ownership among all income levels.
• </c> levels of income. levels of income.
• </c> at all levels of income. at all levels of income.
• ,</c><00:32:04.880><c> the</c> administered at the county level, the administered at the county level
• </c> level as well as administrative burden. level as well as administrative burden.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> addressed at the state and local levels. addressed at the state and local levels.
• With that level of the elimination.
• </c> spending to levels since 2013. spending to levels since 2013.
• It's the budgetary good for this.
• </c><04:38:26.959><c> We</c> the budgetary problems. Okay? We the budgetary problems. Okay?

Bills: HB4553

Keywords: energy, water development, appropriations, fiscal year 2026, flood control, infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• This enrollment level would exceed the compact goal enrollment.
• High-level management. That's good to know, and it's good to emphasize.
• The compacts are intended to provide CSU and UC with predictable funding levels.
• with UC and CSU funding levels over the past few years.
• But we do look at this on a system-wide level.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, it's level funded as to agencies predominantly.
• :11:10.079><c> agencies</c> level funded as to agencies level funded as to agencies predominantly. predominantly
• </c> spending levels. spending levels.
• </c> &gt;&gt; It's an error in calculating the level &gt;&gt; It's an error in calculating the level
• It is a high level of protection of the agencies.

Bills: SB61 , SB8 , SB58 , SB60 , SB167 , SB61 , SB8 , SB58 , SB60 , SB167

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: school psychologist, school psychology, interstate compact, licensure compact, license reciprocity, portable license, equivalent license, professional licensing, psychology board, school mental health, student services, educational services, interstate practice, reciprocal licensing, background check, continuing education, workforce shortage, military spouse, active duty military, compact commission

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to work with doctoral level licensees so it takes a higher level of understanding not just of
• three or level four and so my recommendation here is a request.
• You discussed that completes our budgetary requests.
• It was instrumental in achieving the agency's level of success.
• , or. baccalaureate level, sorry, master's level, and the clinical.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII

Transcript Highlights:

• Um,</c><00:04:59.440><c> so</c><00:04:59.680><c> just</c><00:04:59.919><c> to</c><00:05:00.080><c> level
• Um, so just to level set for the members of the committee, the item before you, what we're requesting
• turning it over a surface level before turning it over to<00:15:50.880><c> Trisha</c><00:15:51.680><
• </c><00:21:40.720><c> the</c> because they've exceeded the levels the because they've exceeded the levels
• or in a budgetary item as needed.<00:38:03.520><c> Just</c><00:38:03.760><c> one</c><00:38:04.000><c

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on December 19, with Senators Long and Lang serving as replacements. The committee approved the November 21 minutes and adopted the consent calendar after removing two Department of Health and Human Services items for separate discussion. It then took up an HHS request involving nursing facility rates, where Nathan White explained that $2.2 million would be transferred from a long-term care Medicaid eligibility contract to the nursing facilities budget. He said the funds would offset an otherwise projected 3.9% average rate decrease and bring the overall average change to zero for the next six months, with rates reset again in July under state law. Members asked about the budget adjustment factor, bed counts, and whether additional funds could raise rates further; White said the factor is statutory, capped at 28.76%, and that more money would lower the factor and increase rates. The committee also corrected a date in the request from February 1, 2025 to February 1, 2026, and approved the item. The committee next approved another HHS item related to rural health transformation grants. Members confirmed the request covered the full amount applied for this biennium, and asked about the technology component. HHS said the grant is not solely about AI, but about broader technology improvements such as electronic medical records, back-end systems, and tools to improve access and sustainability in underserved areas. The committee approved that item as well. The Judicial Council then requested funds for contract attorneys providing indigent defense on a fixed-fee basis. The council said current funds had already been exhausted and that the new appropriation would be used immediately. Members questioned the size of the request and the number of people awaiting counsel; the council reported about 150 incarcerated people and about 300 non-incarcerated people waiting for counsel, more than in recent years. It attributed the increase to competition for attorneys, public defender offices closing intake in some locations because of caseload limits, and broader case and court-system changes. One member raised constitutional concerns about delays in counsel for incarcerated defendants. The committee ultimately amended the request downward to $1 million, approved it, and then approved a motion to place several annual financial reports on file and release them to the public when available. The committee also discussed dashboard reporting from HHS, asking for more detail on community mental health center caseloads and budget-reduction information, and HHS agreed to provide more useful monthly detail.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:54.559><c> of</c> eight semesters at that level of eight semesters at that level of enrollment
• So at one level it's not enrollment.
• It's related to cuts happening at the federal level.
• So, it's granular, commission level.
• ><c> that's</c> budgetary oriented information that's budgetary oriented information that's necessary

Summary: The committee heard updates from the chancellors of the state university system and the community college system on ongoing restructuring, collaboration, and enrollment trends. The university system said its office move to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule and should save students about $250,000 a year while creating revenue for the community college system. Both systems described continued work on transfer pathways, direct-admit outreach, shared advising, and broader efforts to shrink footprints, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in response to declining enrollment and demographic pressure. A major topic was a possible federal change to Pell Grant eligibility that would require students to enroll in at least 7.5 credits. The chancellors said most community college students are part-time because of work and family responsibilities, and that the change could affect roughly 2,000 current Pell recipients and make it harder for students to afford or sustain enrollment. Members also discussed how the state’s governor’s scholarship statute largely benefits full-time students, suggesting possible future statutory changes. The chancellors explained how credits typically work, noting most courses are three or four credits and that students would likely need to add an entire course to meet the proposed threshold. The committee also discussed the broader higher education landscape, including declining high school cohorts, competition among New England institutions, and the need to right-size capacity. One member raised concerns about the health of regional campuses such as Plymouth and Keene; the chancellors said incoming enrollment is down at UNH and Plymouth and holding at Keene, attributing the trend to demographics rather than one campus drawing students away from another. They emphasized the importance of community colleges, adult learners, and short-term workforce programs as part of the state’s future education mix. Finally, the committee touched on the value of the university system’s research enterprise. The chancellor said about $250 million a year flows into the university system in federal research grants, with about $9.5 million currently under stop-work orders from federal agencies. She said the immediate concern is not DEI-related but federal cuts and possible caps on indirect cost recovery. Members noted that the R1 research designation supports business partnerships, student opportunities, and economic development projects such as West Edge in Durham.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in the Appropriations Act, it says, At the local level.
• It's raised at the state level, okay? Other ones have—I'm sorry. Not a local.
• It's raised at the state level, okay? Other ones have sat there.
• Okay, that's the FEFP at a high level working relationship.
• There's only two things at the high level that have happened.

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for an educational session focused on how Florida funds public schools and how property taxes are assessed and levied. Dr. Jim Zengali of the Department of Revenue explained the FEFP school funding formula, noting that it is built on weighted student counts, a base student allocation, and programmatic add-ons such as transportation, exceptional student education, school safety, and mental health. He said school funding is roughly split between state general revenue and local property taxes through required local effort, with additional discretionary and capital outlay millages contributing to total school funding. He also described the Department of Revenue’s role in certifying property rolls at fair market value and reviewing them for substantial compliance, including the so-called “nuclear option” if a roll is not approved. Members asked about trends in millage rates, county-by-county funding differences, the effect of growth and enrollment changes, and how property appraisals are reviewed. Zengali said aggregate millage for school funding has declined over the last decade while revenues have still increased, and he agreed to provide additional data on county trends, parcel strata, student growth, and enrollment impacts. He also clarified that school funding is equalized so students receive similar resources regardless of county wealth, and that federal funding plays only a small role in the FEFP. Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research then discussed existing homestead benefits. She said about half of Florida’s parcels are homestead properties, most fall in the $250,000 to $500,000 value range, and many seniors without mortgages pay property taxes in lump sums rather than through escrow. Baker explained that Florida’s homestead tax burden is middle-of-the-pack nationally and that the main benefits are Save Our Homes and portability on the differential side, plus the $25,000 homestead exemption and related exemptions on the exemption side. She said these benefits reduce taxable value substantially, with homestead properties receiving a large share of the reductions, and noted that the committee requested follow-up data on exemption usage, portability timing, senior exemptions, and county-level patterns. The final presentation, by Lizette Kelly of the Department of Revenue, covered millage rates and the TRIM process. She reviewed the history of truth-in-millage notices, required taxpayer mailings, public hearing notices, and later changes that tied local millage resets to rollback and majority-vote rates. Kelly explained the difference between proposed and adopted millage, the rollback rate, and the majority-vote rate, and described how taxing authorities include counties, cities, special districts, and MSTUs. She also outlined how county taxable value is calculated from just value through assessment differentials and exemptions, and how certain exemptions, such as the additional senior exemption, apply only to the taxing authority that adopted them. No votes were taken during the meeting, but members requested several follow-up data reports for later discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, you're seeing it certainly at the national level.
• I mean, you're seeing it certainly at the national level.
• , a county level, or even at the macro level, if someone wants to refinance their home?
• at the federal level, but as it pertains to your question at the state level, I think to many, especially
• Where is that at the local level?

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:38:06.000><c> the</c> $200 million heaper funding level, the $200 million heaper funding level
• The guidelines don't prescribe any single level of borrowing for any given year.
• expertise to our brought national level expertise to our process. process. process.
• </c><01:10:06.480><c> principal</c> issuing GEO debt with level principal issuing GEO debt with level
• </c> maintains a moderate level of debt. maintains a moderate level of debt.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment