Transcript Highlights:

• The second metric, total expendable net assets per FTE, has that same information on a per-student rate
• And the net investment return and investment return rate show the overall returns on those investments
• There are two different rates in that tax, or actually three different rates, but two of those help pay
• into WIA, specifically the 1.75% rate, which applies to businesses making between $1 million and $5
• rate applies to businesses bringing in over $5 million a year.

Committee: Joint Joint Higher Education Committee

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:

• Economic assumptions include things like the investment rate of return, inflation, and general salary
• These are plan-specific, like rates of retirement, rates of termination, that category of assumptions
• The 2.5 percent rate is subject to change, and it's based on the assumed rate of long-term inflation.
• It could also reduce the effective rate of return.
• And it could also reduce the effective rate of return.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy approved the June minutes by roll call vote, with 11 ayes and 6 excused. The chair then outlined meeting procedures and public comment rules before educational briefings began. Lisa Wan of the Office of the State Actuary gave the agency’s annual update, describing its staffing, clients, strategic plan, and performance measures. She noted the office is a small nonpartisan legislative agency that provides actuarial valuations, fiscal notes, policy analysis, and support for multiple retirement systems and boards, and said the office faces a heavy workload in 2025 because of the demographic experience study and other recurring projects. Jacob White provided the annual LEOFF 2 Board update, covering the board’s structure, plan demographics, funded status, contribution rates, and several policy topics under review. Those topics included a Seattle overtime/pension spiking review, catastrophic disability survivor benefits, retiree return-to-work employer contributions, and the change in interest credited to member accounts. He said the board would continue coordinating with DRS and report back through interim updates. Erin Gutierrez presented background for the LEOFF 1 study, explaining plan benefits, medical and death benefits, historic funding, and federal tax qualification issues. She compared Substitute House Bill 2034 and Substitute Senate Bill 5085, describing 2034 as a restatement/termination approach and 5085 as a merger into a Legacy Retirement Plan, both requiring IRS determination letters. Committee members asked questions about LEOFF 1 medical costs, funding sources, and tax implications, and public commenters urged the committee to protect tax qualification, consider a recurring COLA for PERS and TERS 1, and address pension policy concerns. The meeting ended with adjournment and notice of a 30-minute break before executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• creation of the Dallas tourism PID... ...the City of Dallas has been able to double its conversion rate
• You don't usually hit on all of your bids when you're competing against other peer cities at that rate
• So, some of it might be the interest rate also. You get a lower interest rate.
• That is the current barrier that is impacting these high turn back rates.
• Additionally, each of these areas has seen a decline in voucher success rates.

Bills: HB158 , HB714 , HB 1198 , HB1630 , HB1998 , HB3509 , HB3788 , HB3875 , HB3948 , HB3977 , HB4097 , HB4313 , HB4314 , HB4317 , HB158

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: housing, veterans, surplus government property, affordable housing, funding sources, housing assistance, homeless prevention, landlord incentives, rural housing, domestic violence, community development, tenant readiness, program participants, financial assistance, homelessness, rental support, Texas Tenant Readiness Program, tenant assistance, housing stability, Texas Department of Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• those lease rates.
• How do the Coliseum lease rates compare with other stadium lease rates?
• those lease rates.
• How do the Coliseum lease rates compare with other stadium lease rates?
• With other stadium lease rates.

Summary: The meeting began with a lengthy opening discussion with Secretary Karen Ross of the Department of Food and Agriculture, who reviewed the department’s proposed budget, emphasized California agriculture’s record output, and highlighted major priorities including climate-smart agriculture, groundwater management, local food systems, farm-to-school, food hubs, invasive pest prevention, bird flu response, and food safety. She also warned about federal budget cuts, especially at USDA and FDA, and discussed market access challenges abroad, rising input costs, labor shortages, and the need for automation and workforce training. Members raised questions about the future of Farm to School, the California Nutrition Incentive Program/Market Match, local food procurement, and how to better connect farmers to schools, food banks, and food hubs; Ross said the department had strong evidence the program benefits small farms and Title I schools and noted continued interest in building out local food infrastructure. The committee then took up item one on eliminating vacant positions at the Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Parks and Recreation, and Food and Agriculture. The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained that the Governor proposed eliminating 6,000 vacant positions statewide, with the Joint Legislative Budget Committee previously rejecting 650 of them, including 174 in these three departments. LAO and Finance said the vacancies represented a source of budget flexibility, but warned that eliminating them could create program impacts; LAO recommended retaining the special-funded positions at Fish and Wildlife and Food and Agriculture, while weighing the General Fund positions against other priorities. Finance argued the reductions were part of a broader budget-resiliency exercise and that departments could reclassify or shift vacancies to higher priorities. Members focused heavily on the practical impacts of the cuts. Assemblymember Petrie-Norris argued that Fish and Wildlife staffing shortages were already slowing permits needed for housing, clean energy, water, and transportation projects, and questioned the value of saving relatively small amounts of money. Fish and Wildlife officials said the department had prioritized mission-critical work and could still meet permitting obligations, but acknowledged limited-term staffing constraints. State Parks said the proposed ranger and maintenance cuts would not have immediate effects but could slow maintenance and eventually worsen deferred maintenance. Food and Agriculture said some of the eliminated positions supported early pest detection and eradication, but that the department believed it could still meet its mandate and reclassify positions if needed. The chair and several members signaled concern about the Fish and Wildlife and Parks cuts, while also noting the broader need for budget reductions. The committee then moved to item six, hearing an overview from the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation. Staff described the office’s role in CEQA implementation and said the budget requests were baseline funding to maintain existing functions, including IT services and administrative/legislative support, rather than new programs. The chair asked the presenters to move quickly through background material so the committee could get to questions, and the item began with no votes taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, middle-income Californians are canceling coverage at double the normal rate.
• last year, unlike the significantly higher cancellation rates at higher income levels.
• Across the two states, the average disenrollment rate was 77 percent.
• Across the two states, the average disenrollment rate was 77 percent.
• The 77% disenrollment rate from the two other states and our 50% disenrollment rate does not apply to

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on the impacts of H.R. 1 and related federal actions on Covered California, Medi-Cal, and immigrant access to care. The chair framed the discussion around three main issues: expected losses in marketplace coverage as enhanced federal premium subsidies expire, new federal work and renewal requirements that would add administrative burden to Medi-Cal, and the loss of eligibility for certain lawfully present immigrants. Covered California testified that H.R. 1 and new federal rules, combined with the end of enhanced premium tax credits, are driving higher premiums, lower new enrollment, and more cancellations, especially among middle-income, Latino, and Black enrollees. The agency said California’s $190 million state subsidy program is helping lower-income enrollees but cannot replace the lost federal assistance, and it noted that roughly 120,000 lawfully present immigrants in Covered California will lose federal tax credits in 2027. On Medi-Cal, the Department of Health Care Services said H.R. 1 will require work and community engagement verification, six-month renewals for certain adults, and other changes that the department expects will reduce enrollment substantially. DHCS estimated 233,000 members could lose coverage by June 2027 from the work requirement and 289,000 from six-month renewals, with losses rising much higher by 2028; it also said it is using automation, outreach, clinic navigators, coverage ambassadors, community health workers, and street medicine providers to reduce procedural disenrollments. The department described a two-phase outreach plan and said it is working with counties on implementation, while the Department of Finance said the Governor’s budget maintains $190 million for the state subsidy program and does not propose additional changes at this time. The LAO said its independent forecast is somewhat higher than the administration’s, estimating about 2.1 million fewer Medi-Cal enrollees by June 2028, and urged the Legislature to review county administrative workload and readiness. Public testimony and member comments focused on the human and fiscal consequences of coverage losses. A representative from the Sacramento Native American Health Center warned that reduced reimbursement and coverage losses would destabilize community health centers, increase uncompensated care, and worsen outcomes by pushing patients into emergency care. Members raised concerns about paperwork burdens, county capacity, outreach effectiveness, and whether the state should do more to preserve coverage, including possible modeling of additional H-CARF spending and support for middle-income consumers and immigrant enrollees. The hearing did not take any votes or formal actions, but it ended with public comment and continued discussion of implementation and budget options.

Transcript Highlights:

• continue to keep the statutory requirements of the compact, universal service, just and reasonable rates
• </c> services at just and reasonable rates services at just and reasonable rates for<00:04:05.160><c>
• </c><00:07:34.320><c> So,</c><00:07:34.560><c> is</c> electricity rates in our state.
• So, is electricity rates in our state.
• So, to the to their uh rate payers.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• Our rates are currently about 50 basis points below the market.
• Um, we have a high ownership rate in the state, um.
• Um, sometimes it's higher, almost 90% success rate of keeping people housed.
• The rest of the homes are going to be well below market rate.
• The market rate homes will be sold at $285,000.

Committee: House Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Advanced cancer drugs are improving patients' survival rates, but they come with enormous prices. been
• Advanced cancer drugs are improving patients' survival rates, but they come with enormous prices.
• </c><00:09:45.519><c> of</c><00:09:45.720><c> cancer</c> has some of the highest rates of cancer has
• </c><00:09:56.000><c> but</c> improving patients survival rates but improving patients survival rates
• in the country the infection rates in the country the current<00:14:56.440><c> drugs</c><00:14:57.079

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Health Services opened with the chair welcoming several new members and outlining session rules: hearings would start and end on time, the committee would limit the number of bills heard each meeting, prioritize bills heard during the interim, and generally avoid using the consent calendar except in extreme circumstances. The committee then briefly considered administrative regulations, which were treated as approved if members had no questions. The main item was Senate Bill 14, a measure addressing the 340B drug discount program. The chair said the bill had already passed the Senate in a prior session and had been heard in interim, so he did not present it again. He described the bill as prohibiting drug manufacturers from discriminating against 340B covered entities by refusing 340B pricing when the same drug is offered at that price in the state. He also said the committee would not debate the federal 340B program itself, but would hear testimony on the bill. Hospital leaders and Kentucky Hospital Association representatives testified in support, arguing that 340B savings are essential to rural hospitals, oncology services, transportation support, chronic care, addiction recovery, and new service lines such as chemotherapy and hepatitis treatment. They said the program helps keep care close to home and that manufacturer restrictions on contract pharmacies have reduced access and cost hospitals millions. Opponents from BIO Kentucky and the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions argued the bill would expand federal law beyond Congress’s intent, create administrative burdens, and not lower patient out-of-pocket costs. The chair repeatedly pressed opponents to address why Kentucky should be denied the same 340B pricing available in other states. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The shareholders in the PDIP we have today are looking for the best rate of return because that rate
• The shareholders in the PDIP we have today are looking for the best rate of return because that rate
• The shareholders in the PDIP we have today are looking for the best rate of return because that rate
• The shareholders in the PDIP we have today are looking for the best rate of return because that rate
• </c> you're going to hit the credit rating. you're going to hit the credit rating.

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill also directs the CPUC to establish a separate rate structure to prevent costs associated with
• for disparate treatment unless there is verifiable cost-based reasoning, any rate designed to reflect
• SB 978 directs the CPUC to create a special rate structure for large-load data centers and hard-codes
• , an increase in their unemployment rate.
• State, billing rates in support. Judy E. State, billing rates in support.

Summary: The committee heard several bills focused on workplace technology, labor protections, and data center oversight. SB 947, the No Robo Bosses Act of 2026, would require human review before automated systems are used in discipline, termination, or deactivation decisions and would ban predictive behavior analysis in the workplace. Labor groups, worker advocates, and privacy organizations supported the bill, arguing AI can be biased and should not make life-changing employment decisions without human judgment. Business groups opposed it, saying it was broader than prior versions, could interfere with workplace safety tools, and should not include a private right of action or cover independent contractors. After discussion about due process and accountability, the bill passed the committee 3-1 and was sent to the Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection. SB 978, the Data Center Community Accountability Act, would require data centers to pay upfront for new transmission or distribution infrastructure, create a separate rate structure so costs are not shifted to other ratepayers, and include skilled-and-trained labor standards for construction. Supporters said the bill would protect ratepayers, create good construction jobs, and encourage zero-carbon energy development. Opponents, including the Data Center Coalition and Silicon Valley Leadership Group, argued the CPUC already has ongoing proceedings on these issues and warned the bill could single out one industry and discourage investment. The committee members emphasized labor standards and community concerns, and the bill passed 3-0 to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. SB 951, the California Worker Technological Displacement Act, would expand WARN-style notice requirements for layoffs caused by AI or automation, require reporting to workers, local government, and EDD, and give displaced workers first consideration for other openings. Supporters said the bill responds to rapid AI-driven layoffs and would provide needed transparency and data. Opponents said the definitions were too broad, the notice requirements too burdensome, and the bill conflicted with existing WARN law; they also objected to the private right of action and inclusion of independent contractors. The committee discussed amendments clarifying that an employee may still be discharged for reasonable and substantiated cause during the notice period. The bill passed 3-1 to the Senate Committee on Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection. The committee also approved SB 1032, which would create a licensing and regulatory framework for temporary staffing agencies, and SB 1046, which would direct Cal/OSHA to develop standards to protect lifeguards and park rangers from transboundary pollution in the Tijuana River Valley. SB 1032 drew support from labor and enforcement advocates who said it would help stop staffing fraud, while staffing firms argued the bill was vague and could burden legitimate small businesses; it passed 3-1 to the Senate Committee on Judiciary. SB 1046 was supported by park workers and community groups describing health impacts from pollution and passed 4-0 to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. The committee also took up a consent item, which passed 4-0, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill also directs the CPUC to establish a separate rate structure to prevent cost associated.
• for disparate treatment unless there is verifiable cost-based reasoning, any rate designed to reflect
• SB 978 directs the CPUC to create a special rate structure for large-load data centers and hard-codes
• , an increase in their unemployment rate.
• State, billing rates in support. Judy E. State, billing rates, in support.

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• There is the cremation rate in Oklahoma.
• But that cremation rate is going to continue to rise.
• Turnover rate is essentially zero from year to year.
• rate.
• We're down to about 10% on our turnover rate.

Transcript Highlights:

• basically protects you from catastrophic costs if you were to utilize health care services at a high rate
• pools, so they are necessarily going to increase their rates.
• So there is, and different carriers, there are three ways of rating the policies.
• This is what most of the policies in New Mexico are rated as.
• There is community-based rating, which would essentially have the same premium no matter the age, and

Bills: SB21 , SB42 , SB81 , SB101 , SB139

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Keywords: SB 21, Medicare supplement, Medigap, open enrollment, guaranteed issue, birthday month enrollment, health insurance, insurance regulation, senior health coverage, elderly, retiree, Medicare beneficiaries, preexisting conditions, underwriting restrictions, premium discrimination, New Mexico insurance law, superintendent of insurance, health care coverage, policy portability, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, unit and test completions and their passing rates are another way that they calculate instructional
• Different areas that you looked at, but what are the graduation rates?
• I'd like to see the graduation rates. We should compare that. I mean, there's no reason not to.
• Those graduation rates are very important.
• The other thing I want to say about looking at graduation rate statistics, as we all know, can say a

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• In the severance tax permanent fund, it is invested in below market rate investments.
• Its amortization rate period was 52 years.
• two different rates, we're starting to get up to a pretty significant amount of salary.
• For Pera we're looking at about um between the employer and employee rate over 30%.
• Um, you all did something similar with PA a couple of years ago to pro-rate colas for state retirees

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• over the no new revenue rate, and may not accept state grant dollars.
• The locality will also be prohibited from adopting a Property tax rate over the no new revenue rate or
• When adopting a property tax rate.
• Fix them to the no new revenue tax rate, also.
• But then you back that off to a no new revenue rate, and we're stuck. Okay.

Bills: HB5691 , SB427 , SB2623 , SB2858

Committee: House Intergovernmental Affairs

Keywords: municipal management district, bonds, assessments, property taxes, economic development, eminent domain, special district, SB 427, local government, political subdivision, state loan, state grant, financial reporting, annual financial statement, annual report, county report, municipal finance, water district, municipality, county auditor

Transcript Highlights:

• At any rate, this bill is a little less. a little less involved, and some things that have been done
• So, Texas utilities already implement anti-solar rates and fees in the absence of regulation.
• And then a sound methodology should underpin these rates.
• We have to continue to account for all rate payers in the region and that's what this does. does.
• News and World Report, both the violent crime rate and property crime rate in Austin were higher than

Bills: HB 13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145 , HB366 , HB470 , HB805 , HB912 , HB13 , HB143 , HB144 , HB145

Committee: House State Affairs

Keywords: emergency communication, infrastructure, first responders, grant program, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, local governments, HB 143, Texas Railroad Commission, Public Utility Commission of Texas, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas, well site, surface facility, electrical power line, National Electrical Code, NEC, electrical safety, utility disconnect, service disconnection

Transcript Highlights:

• It's important to note that we could not have achieved our rate of growth or the positive impact we've
• Current rate of obligation is about 107% for Q3 funds, with the release of Q4 GAA this week.
• That's a rate of 17%. And for example, about 534 of those have been vacant for 180 days.
• We submitted a plan to the Legislative Budget Commission on who we would hire, at what rate of pay we
• But again, with this vacancy rate, I can't do as much as I would like.

Summary: The committee met to review agency program funding as it prepared to build the budget, hearing brief presentations from six agencies and then taking member questions. Florida Division of Emergency Management highlighted its role in response, preparedness, recovery, and mitigation, describing a largely federal pass-through budget, major technology investments, and large disaster and preparedness grant activity. The Department of Commerce, Department of State, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Department of Transportation, Department of Military Affairs, Florida State Guard, and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles also summarized their budgets, staffing, and major programs, including workforce and economic development, elections and arts funding, housing assistance, transportation work programs, military readiness, state guard expansion, and highway safety and motorist services. Members focused questions on several issues: arts and library grant funding and whether award criteria had changed; Commerce’s rural infrastructure and job growth grants and why funds were not being disbursed faster; Florida Housing’s use of SAIL, Live Local, Hometown Heroes, and SHIP funds and how smaller agencies learn about and access funding; and DOT’s work program gap between agency and governor proposals. The most extensive questioning was directed to Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles about long DMV lines, vacancies, overtime, staffing shortages, and the ability to shift funds between divisions. The department said staffing and pay constraints, especially in South Florida, were driving service delays and vacancy rates, and that overtime was being used because troopers were leaving for better-paying jobs. The Florida State Guard was also questioned about its spending and procurement pace, including aircraft purchases and facilities. Its director said long procurement timelines explained the low initial spending and that obligations had risen sharply as contracts matured. Members also asked about the department’s public opposition to Amendment 3 and whether agency resources were used in that effort; the director said no contracts or purchases were made to influence the vote and said the colonel’s comments were made off the clock. The meeting ended with the chair asking agencies to respond promptly to unanswered questions, and the committee adjourned without any recorded votes or formal actions beyond receiving the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The attachment rate for storage systems is about 1%.
• They put downward pressure on electricity rates.
• So what does this do to insurance rates?
• their effective rate will actually go down, right?
• Won't that force normal electrical rates up and hurt? the average New Mexican.

Committee: House House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• And just so you're clear what a disability rating is, the VA disability rating is a workers' comp rating
• And just so you're clear what a disability rating is, the VA disability rating is a workers' comp rating
• And these state academic proficiency rates are well below the statewide...
• We want you to raise the rate of attendance.
• We want you to raise the graduation rate. We want you to raise the rate of attendance.

Committee: House House Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2076, which would create a program and fund within ADE, in consultation with AZPOST, to reimburse eligible schools and employees for approved training, certification, and school safety equipment, and would allow schools to adopt policies permitting certain employees to carry concealed firearms on campus if they meet training, notification, and confidentiality requirements. The sponsor, Rep. Bliss, framed the bill as an optional, fiscally responsible medical-response measure focused on bleeding control and emergency preparedness, not a mandate to arm schools. Supporters said the bill adds guardrails, expands access to training, and could help staff respond in emergencies. Opponents, including Giffords, Arizona for Gun Safety, and the Arizona Education Association, argued it would normalize firearms in classrooms, create confidentiality and law-enforcement concerns, expose students and staff to new risks, and divert attention from prevention, mental health, and other school safety investments. After debate, the committee voted 6-5-1 to give HB 2076 a do-pass recommendation. The committee then took up House Bill 2830, which directs the State Board of Education to adopt science standards requiring instruction on fetal and prenatal development and specifies that the content is not sex education. Supporters, including the sponsor, a school board president, and a biology teacher, said the bill is about age-appropriate, medically accurate science, parental rights, and clear statewide guidance. Opponents, including the AEA and Reproductive Freedom for All, said it fragments science instruction, politicizes the curriculum, and omits the broader reproductive and public health context students need. Members debated whether fetal development can be taught without discussing reproduction, and whether the bill is an education measure or an anti-abortion effort. The committee approved HB 2830 on an 8-4 vote. The transcript also included discussion of House Bill 2093, which would repeal required mental health instruction and social-emotional learning in schools; supporters argued it restores parental control and refocuses schools on academics, while opponents said school-based mental health education saves lives and helps students who may not have support at home.