Transcript Highlights:

• For federal authorization, 335,42,369, and for other funding, 463,863,860, for a total FY27 authorization
• This is just the authorization to start these new locations.
• Moving to Delaware State Housing Authority.
• Section 79 authorizes funding for Fort DuPont.
• Section 79 authorizes funding for Fort DuPont.

Committee: Joint Capital Improvement

Summary: The committee met for a fiscal year 2027 capital budget writing session with all 12 members present. It first reviewed and approved the DNREC Resource Conservation and Development drainage project list, which would add projects across New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties and bring the total eligible projects to 1,561. Members offered personal remarks thanking retiring conservation district staff, especially Kevin Donnelly, for years of work on drainage and water issues. The committee then reviewed DelDOT Rule 12 changes, including annual date updates and a reduction in the inflation markup applied to older estimates, and approved the rule as amended. The committee next adopted DelDOT Appendix A and the FY27 paving and rehabilitation list, including the subdivision street management fund and various road resurfacing projects. DelDOT explained that paving projects are for state-of-good-repair work and that major changes from corridor studies would be handled separately. The committee also approved DelDOT epilogue changes, including updates to authorization amounts, a $25 million increase for toll infrastructure work, changes to subdivision street paving language, and an increase in the subdivision street paving management fund to $30 million. Several sections were placed on hold for later updates. The committee then moved through boilerplate epilogue sections in the bond bill, approving a wide range of provisions affecting conservation districts, housing, economic development, corrections, DNREC, public safety, transportation, agriculture, fire prevention, education, and other agencies. Many sections were adopted in groups, while some were held for later revisions or deleted as no longer needed. The session included updates to school capital rules, transportation restrictions and reporting requirements, DNREC conservation and land-use provisions, and funding and administrative authorities across multiple agencies. The committee broke for lunch after approving the education-related sections through 147, with additional sections still pending.

Transcript Highlights:

• the author of the amendment?
• <02:19:39.519><c> of</c><02:19:39.679><c> the</c> author of the author of the amendment?
• to the author of the amendment?
• <c> lieutenant</c> the governor or lieutenant the governor or lieutenant governor<03:05:09.520><c> or
• </c> author of the amendment before we vote? author of the amendment before we vote?

Transcript Highlights:

• Stanley, that the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance be authorized to provide the City
• of Waltham with the right of first... ...management and maintenance be authorized to provide the City
• What we feel is best is to allow the governor to probably get the governor to promulgate regulations
• And it had to rest on solid legal ground within state authority. Not a gesture, a genuine law.
• And to that end, we are also empowering the governor to protect sensitive spaces.

Transcript Highlights:

• I enjoyed him a great Governor Dayton.
• The governor does not present the bills. Our chairs do.
• The governor does not present the bills. Our chairs do.
• The governor does not present the bills. Our chairs do.
• The governor does not present the bills. Our chairs do.

Bills: HF2436 , HF2929

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> is while there are 39 authorized is while there are 39 authorized products<00:10:19.680><c> um</
• SB ... provide then the authority for the provide then the authority for the attorney<00:10:45.360><c
• </c> put together a prior authorization put together a prior authorization working<00:29:46.159><c> group
• ,</c> bill removes prior authorization, bill removes prior authorization, medical<00:37:20.640><c> necessity
• If you can get the governor to governor.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several health-related measures, with most of the discussion focused on bills addressing tobacco/vape enforcement, psychology licensure, hospital price transparency, prior authorization, and medical cannabis. The chair opened by explaining the one-minute testimony limit and that written testimony had been reviewed. For SB 2175 on disposable electronic smoking devices, the Department of Health said the bill’s placement in litter-control law was not a good fit because disposable e-cigarettes contain hazardous materials like lithium and nicotine, but it supported the intent and pointed to a related measure. Public health and tobacco-control advocates strongly supported the bill, citing youth use, toxic waste, battery fires, and the need to tighten definitions and remove exemptions; a long list of organizations and individuals were noted in support, with no opposition mentioned. For SB 2410, which would create a state directory and enforcement tools for authorized e-cigarette products, the Attorney General’s office strongly supported the measure and said it would help enforce the FDA-authorized list of products through certification, inspections, and civil penalties. The Department of Health said thousands of illegal products remain on the market and cited youth usage rates, while public health groups also supported the bill. One tobacco industry-related witness was noted in opposition. SB 2080, the psychology interjurisdictional compact, drew support from the Department of Corrections, which said it had severe staffing shortages and that the compact would help fill gaps, especially for forensic psychology and neighbor island facilities. Some committee members raised concerns about whether the compact would loosen licensure standards and reduce licensing revenue, and the Board of Psychology was said to be meeting and had not taken a formal position; testimony also noted the need for resources if the compact were adopted. The committee also heard SB 2276 on surgical assistance, with DCCA in opposition and a supporter from the field, but little discussion followed. SB 2277 on hospital price transparency drew support from consumer and patient advocates, who argued that clearer pricing would reduce medical debt and help patients shop for care; DCCA and the Department of Health offered comments, with the department suggesting an alternative enforcement model using outside review entities and noting that implementation would require significant staffing and funding. The Healthcare Association of Hawaii opposed the bill, saying federal transparency rules already cover the issue and state law could create duplication. SB 2282 on prior authorization received comments from insurers and providers; HMSA asked that the bill be set aside pending the report of the prior authorization working group created by Act 151, while the Hawaii Medical Association said prior authorization is a major burden but deferred to regulators on resources. Finally, SB 2413 on medical cannabis was supported by the Office of Medical Cannabis and others, who said the bill would close a patient-access gap by allowing viable seed sales; one witness suggested clarifying jurisdictional language and allowing dispensaries to sell seeds to each other. The committee then began SB 2425 on health insurance, where an addiction treatment provider testified that insurers’ refusal to honor assignment-of-benefits payments can delay reimbursement and create relapse risk for patients, but the transcript cuts off before further action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I had the great good fortune when I was governor of North Dakota to fly with him.
• And I think the only reason we got clearance to do it is maybe because I was governor at that time.
• And actually, when I was governor, I hired Andrea to come to work for us.
• After that, she worked for Governor Dalrymple, who succeeded me, and then another guy you might have
• So you said Congress has the authority but then you're gonna look to the states.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So during the 87th Legislature, I authored House Bill 531, which provided notice to a tenant about whether
• Governor Abbott led a delegation to Taiwan where we opened the State of Texas Taiwan office, and then
• I think, you know, Governor Abbott always says we move at the speed of business, and so that's one of
• So unemployment indexing, as you heard from the bill author and sponsor, is a powerful tool.
• So unemployment indexing, as you heard from the bill author and sponsor, is a powerful tool.

Bills: HB 112 , HB199 , HB621 , HB1349 , HB2214 , HB3466 , HB3698 , HB3699 , HCR9 , HB112 , HB199 , HCR9

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: science park district, economic development, technology innovation, higher education collaboration, infrastructure development, Texas Economic Development Office, workforce development, unemployment benefits, state average unemployment rate, benefit year, economic support, Texas Workforce Commission, property owners' association, free speech, assembly rights, government officials, political candidates, floodplain, landlord, tenant

Summary: The Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development met with a quorum and moved quickly through a long agenda, hearing testimony and taking recorded votes on several bills. Early in the meeting, HB 2214 was laid out to exempt certain short-term residential leases and leaseback arrangements from flood-disclosure requirements; Texas Realtors supported the change, and the bill was left pending. The committee then voted out a series of pending measures, including HB 46, HB 186 (with a committee substitute), HB 431, HB 1147, HB 1154, HB 2468, HB 2488, HB 2788 (with a substitute), HB 2791 (with a substitute), HB 3260, and HCR 90, all reported favorably to the full House, with HB 1147 receiving two nays and the others passing unanimously or nearly so. A major portion of the hearing focused on HB 112, which would create a Texas Science Park district and commission to support advanced manufacturing and innovation sites. The bill’s author and supporters, including Samsung Austin Semiconductor, the Texas Association of Business, and the Governor’s economic development office, argued it would strengthen supply chains, attract investment, and support national security and workforce development. Testimony described interest from semiconductor and advanced manufacturing companies and referenced the model of foreign science parks such as Sinshu in Taiwan. HB 112 was left pending after testimony. The committee also heard HB 3698 and HB 3699, both related to unemployment insurance administration. HB 3698 would expand eligibility for the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment program using federal funds, while HB 3699 would tighten the definition of “last work” to help the Texas Workforce Commission investigate UI fraud. Both bills were discussed with TWC resource witnesses and left pending after the committee withdrew the substitutes. HB 1349, which would extend HOA transparency and property-rights provisions to condominiums and refine HOA rules, and HB 621, which would require HOA meeting spaces to be available for residents to reserve for qualified political candidates or elected officials, were also heard and left pending. Finally, the committee heard HCR 9 to designate the first Saturday of each month as Small Business Saturday, HB 199 to index unemployment benefit duration to the state unemployment rate, and HB 3466 to exempt certain cancelable service contracts from Texas’s in-home sales cooling-off law; each drew supportive and opposing testimony and was left pending before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do in the name and by the authority
• Cruz, appointed as Director of the Department of Finance, term to continue at the pleasure of the governor
• Cruz, appointed as Director of the Department of Finance, term to continue with the pleasure of the governor
• President, I ask unanimous consent that all bills on first reading be read by number, author, and title
• President, I ask unanimous consent that all bills on second reading be read by number and author only

Transcript Highlights:

• And two, as they are doing this, while a governor in a state has been provided the authority to really
• While a governor in a state has been provided the authority to really micro-target workforce needs to
• I have 153 positions that are authorized.
• That disability leave has to be authorized by a physician, and employers are also... ...has to be authorized
• hamper authorizers' ability to hold charters accountable and increase authorizer liability.

Summary: The committee heard an overview of the May Revision’s Proposition 98 changes for K-12 and community colleges. The Department of Finance said the minimum guarantee rises by $6.4 billion over the Governor’s Budget across the three-year window, with higher guarantees in each year, full payment of the prior settle-up, and larger deposits into the school rainy-day fund. The LAO said the revenue and LCFF updates were reasonable, but urged caution about the settle-up approach and recommended using more of the available funding to protect ongoing programs and build budget resilience. Members focused heavily on the size of the proposed $3.9 billion settle-up, the $10.3 billion reserve deposit, declining K-12 enrollment, and how much of the new funding should be ongoing versus one-time. The committee then reviewed the community colleges portion of the budget. Finance described the May Revision’s higher SCFF COLA, additional funding for enrollment growth, a student support block grant, apprenticeship adjustments, and continued funding for deferred maintenance, Calbright, Common Cloud, and credit for prior learning. The Chancellor’s Office supported the core investments but asked for more funding for enrollment growth, changes to the growth formula, and a COLA for Student Equity and Achievement. The LAO recommended prioritizing the statutory COLA increase, noted that more than half of districts are already above current-year growth targets, and said the new adult learner demonstration project should be rejected because districts already have tools to support similar services. Members also discussed a $52 million current-year apportionment shortfall, which Finance said was discovered too late for the May Revision and would need to be addressed later. Finally, the committee took up the proposed implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. Finance proposed one-time funding for the California Student Aid Commission and Cradle to Career to build eligibility and data systems, along with trailer bill changes to set up state approval processes. CSAC said the program is promising but highly complex, that California lacks the needed infrastructure, and that the state will need emergency regulations, data linkages, and ongoing funding beyond the one-time proposal. The LAO agreed that some initial funding is needed but warned that the amounts and ongoing costs remain uncertain and that the Legislature should carefully draft the trailer bill language. Members asked about timing, other states’ actions, and how the state would ensure the program is ready for students and institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• While sharing many goals with the Governor, the Senate budget plan diverges from the Governor's proposal
• The first is when I agreed to come and do this job with the Governor, it was really because I've spent
• We have regulatory authority.
• HDFC must also receive award authority for at least 50% of 9% tax credits and 70% of ASICs.
• I'm Preston Prince with the Santa Clara County Housing Authority.

Summary: The subcommittee opened with remarks on the Senate’s budget plan for affordable housing and homelessness, including a proposed $2 billion housing investment and full funding for HHAP rounds 7 and 8. The first major item was the administration’s housing reorganization and trailer bill package, which would codify the new Housing Development and Finance Committee (HDFC), consolidate multifamily housing finance programs into a one-stop application and award process, and shift some authority over bonds, tax credits, and the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program. Administration officials said the goal was to reduce duplication, speed projects from award to construction, and improve accountability by aligning financing decisions. The LAO generally supported the streamlining concept but recommended changes to the proposed bond set-aside and earlier reallocation of unused bond authority, and suggested preserving flexibility for integrated applications and reporting back on the proposed 70/30 split for housing versus sustainable communities funding. Committee members, especially Senator Cabaldon, raised concerns that the new committee structure could add process and delay, and questioned whether the proposal was effectively repurposing the climate-oriented ASIC program into a housing finance tool without enough direct investment in core housing programs. Administration witnesses responded that the structure was meant to create transparency, public accountability, and simultaneous financing awards, and said the proposal was only a first step in a broader consolidation effort. Members also asked about specific programs such as the Joe Serna Farm Worker Housing Grant Program and the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation Program, and staff said those would remain within the broader streamlined framework or the flexible sustainable communities allocation. The committee then heard from CDLAC and TCAC on federal tax credit changes and state housing finance. Staff explained that H.R. 1 increased the federal 9% LIHTC allocation and, more importantly, lowered the bond-financing threshold for 4% credits from 50% to 25%, allowing California to finance many more projects. They reported emergency regulations were adopted quickly to implement the change, resulting in 195 projects and more than 25,000 units in the 4% program, while the 9% program funded 58 projects and nearly 3,000 units. Members asked about the value of the state low-income housing tax credit program and rehabilitation projects; staff said state credits remain important for filling financing gaps and that a portion of bond and credit resources is now set aside for acquisition and rehabilitation. Finally, the Civil Rights Department reported on the effects of federal civil rights rollbacks and on three limited-term or expiring programs: California vs. Hate, the Community Conflict Resolution Unit, and Investigations and Conciliation Enhancement. Director Kevin Kish said federal closures and funding cuts have increased demand on the department, which now has more than 12,000 open matters, up from 8,700 a year earlier, and a six-month wait for intake interviews despite overtime triage and early case screening. Members urged continued funding for the programs, arguing they are essential as federal protections weaken; department staff said California vs. Hate connects callers quickly to support services, the conflict resolution unit fills a gap left by the shuttered federal counterpart, and the limited-term investigators have helped reduce wait times even as filings continue to rise.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> authority. So uh represent Pendigraph. authority. So uh represent Pendigraph.
• , authorizing them to use Unit 490.
• from special revenue spending authority from special revenue authorizing<01:12:30.640><c> them</c><01
• Um so, authorizing them to use unit 490.
• The governor had consideration.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Messages from the Governor, there are none. Messages from the Senate, there are none.
• I rise as a proud co-author of ACR 9, recognizing the estimated 27.6 million adults and children.
• All debate having ceased, the author has asked for the roll to be open for co-authors.
• Clerk will open the roll for co-authors. All members vote who desire to vote.
• Members, this is for co-authors. All those vote who desire to vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:12:15.360><c> um</c> authority in our regular um authority in our regular um investigation<01:12:
• </c><02:34:43.560><c> you</c> prescriptive authority, but when you prescriptive authority, but when you
• within the Business Finance Authority.
• </c><03:47:35.720><c> and</c> know, nominated by the governor and know, nominated by the governor and
• </c> Hampshire Business Finance Authority Hampshire Business Finance Authority doing<03:56:44.760><c>

Committee: House Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year we lost bar authority for the first time in over 15 years, and this bar authority is very specific
• back for the remainder of FY 26 authority, but also for FY 27 authority.
• Again, our bar authority is very limited.
• and additional Bar 27 Authority.
• That's where our BAR authority comes in.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank the author for bringing this today.
• Members, this is for co-authors. All members vote who desire to vote.
• Members, this is for co-authors. All members vote who desire to vote.
• Members, this is for co-authors. All members vote who desire to vote. This is for co-authors.
• There are 68 co-authors added.

Transcript Highlights:

• that nonpartisan legislative staff support the task force, require at least one co-chair to be authorized
• There's also an amendment Echo Four offered by Senator Holy, which would strike language authorizing
• There's also an amendment echo four offered by Senator Holy, which would strike language authorizing
• These are individuals coming from out of our state under authority of a federal law that is not abiding
• I don't recognize your authority to impose these controls over me, and when you try to remove me from

Bills: SB5865 , SB5880 , SB5912 , SB5855 , SB6011 , SB6009 , SB5868 , SB5974

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: garnishment, debt, form standardization, financial protection, legal processes, toxicology testing, laboratories, accreditation, public health, standards, indigent defense, task force, criminal justice, legal aid, public defense, face coverings, law enforcement, public safety, civil liberties, court security

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there other questions of the author?
• Members, questions for the author? Or the sponsor, I should say in this case.
• Correctly, the board members are all appointed by the governor? Not all.
• Is there any other questions of the author, Senator Middleton?
• The author of the bill laid it out the way it's laid out for two reasons.

Bills: SB410 , SB795 , SB2510 , SB728 , SB2689 , HB143 , HB143

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• I think under Governor Pawlenty we combined forces.
• You all gave us authorization to do one in Bidi as well.
• It's a statutory corporation that has bonding authority.
• They're capped at $15 million worth of bonding authority.
• </c> for property tax um um that the governor for property tax um um that the governor I<01:41:52.000

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• So in 2023, Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan recommended that the legislature require DHS
• in 2023 Governor walls and lieutenant<00:01:29.119><c> governor</c><00:01:29.400><c> Flanigan</c><00
• </c> recommendation was funded and authorized recommendation was funded and authorized by<00:01:40.759
• benefit and it was authorized back epsdt benefit and it was authorized back in<00:02:38.239><c> 2013<
• </c><00:05:13.280><c> to</c> that we do have the um authority to that we do have the um authority to

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• These are the enhancements that were authorized by the legislature.
• These are the authorizations from the legislature last year.
• These are the authorizations from the legislature last year.
• You can see there's 447 authorized FTP in this agency.
• And he said to them, ‘Collect no more than you’re authorized to do.’”

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation for the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS), which is in the middle of a multi-year consolidation of IT staff and functions from other agencies. The analyst and administrator explained that ITS now has 243 authorized FTP, with more growth expected as Health and Welfare IT staff move over, and that much of ITS’s budget is driven by personnel, security, and pass-through technology purchases funded through dedicated revenues. The agency’s main 2027 requests included a personnel cash transfer to move costs off general fund and onto dedicated funds, $2.7 million for enterprise firewall/security upgrades, continued access to a federal E-CORE grant for an AI/data repository project, and funding for the Health and Welfare modernization/consolidation. Members asked about the grant, the 3% holdback, whether Health and Welfare’s budget would be reduced, the cost of delaying security upgrades, and why the agency’s FTP count has grown while overall IT costs are being centralized. ITS Administrator Alberto Gonzalez emphasized that the agency is defending against more than 100 million cyberattacks per month, with only a small fraction getting through, and said the firewall request was a critical security need. He said consolidation has produced efficiencies and a net reduction in IT personnel statewide, while also improving security and service delivery. He also explained that the agency is working on a possible policy change to separate continuously appropriated cash into a different fund for cleaner accounting. Questions from members focused on cybersecurity, bandwidth pressures from video/body-cam traffic, procurement speed, AI uses, and the rationale for office furnishings and equipment requests tied to the Health and Welfare move. The committee then moved to the Idaho State Tax Commission budget, another roughly $55 million portfolio with five programs and 447 authorized FTP. The analyst noted that the commission’s budget is heavily general-fund supported, but it also has several dedicated funds and large continuously appropriated flows tied to tax distributions and rebates. For fiscal year 2027, the commission requested additional dedicated-fund support for property tax outreach, $400,000 for GenTax automation, use of dedicated funds for the chief operating officer, replacement items, and the governor’s rescission. Chairman Jeff McRae said the agency returns more than $7.8 billion in revenue for about $55 million in spending, but warned the commission is at a “tipping point” where further cuts would reduce its ability to process revenue and serve taxpayers. Members questioned the commission about phone wait times, staffing levels, the multi-state tax compact, conformity work tied to the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” and the parental choice tax credit program. McRae said the call center would need about 45 staff to meet standard service levels but currently has about seven, and that conformity changes would require significant software, form, and testing work, likely with overtime and possible taxpayer filing delays. He also explained that the tax credit program was designed with electronic-only applications, income prioritization, audits, and criminal penalties to reduce fraud. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided; the meeting consisted of budget presentations, member questions, and agency responses.