Transcript Highlights:

• </c> contributed to the AY's budget deficit. contributed to the AY's budget deficit.
• </c> judiciary and public safety budget bill. judiciary and public safety budget bill.
• We are trying to make sure all the budgets do conform with the budget rules, and I believe the staff
• </c><00:47:21.680><c> aspass</c> Labor Committee omnibus budget aspass Labor Committee omnibus budget
• </c><01:04:21.039><c> And</c> the 25 through 27 budget period. And the 25 through 27 budget period.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on their on PUC side on their budget on their on their<00:22:47.039><c> budget</c><00:22:47.360><c>
• </c> whenever the uh consumer advocate budget whenever the uh consumer advocate budget go<00:24:50.400
• It doesn't impact our budget union.
• </c> that to offset our budget. that to offset our budget.
• </c> I mean meeting minutes, budget. I mean meeting minutes, budget. &gt;&gt; Okay. &gt;&gt; Okay.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Conference Committee on Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations and House Justice Budget
• I look forward to working with you, and thanks for bringing forth this budget proposal.
• I'm real optimistic that we'll be able to get a good budget passed by the House in this.
• A good budget passed by the House and the Senate and sent to the governor.
• In addition, the Senate is pleased to make the House an offer on the budget proviso and all.

Summary: The Conference Committee on Senate Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations and House Justice Budget Subcommittee convened and was formally organized by unanimous consent, with Senator Garcia elected chair and Representative Maney elected vice chair. The members exchanged brief opening remarks emphasizing cooperation and a shared goal of producing a final justice budget agreement. The chair explained that the committee was working from the original conference documents covering the budget, proviso, back of the bill, implementing bill, and conforming bill, as adopted by each chamber. The Senate then presented an offer to the House on the budget proviso and back of the bill, with the chair noting that the Senate had moved closer to the House on several issues and aligned on many funding items in the spreadsheet. Representative Maney said the House would review the offer and return with a counteroffer soon, noting that the chambers were already in agreement on some matters and close on others. There was no public comment, and the committee was placed on one-hour notice for the next meeting. The meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Without objection, I want to call the Lieutenant Governor's Office up concerning their budget and the
• It reverts back to the present budget, current items.
• So if funding increases, though, is there a budgeted amount for the EFAs to increase?
• So whatever is appropriated and budgeted, that's how many we approve.
• So whatever is appropriated and budgeted, that's how many we approve.

Summary: The committee first considered the Lieutenant Governor’s Office budget and personnel request. Office representatives said they wanted to move the office to the state pay plan to better align salaries with other constitutional offices and remain competitive, noting that OPM had approved the positions and grades. Senators questioned the size of the requested increases and the office’s workload, and after discussion the motion to adopt the proposal failed on an 8-8 tie. The committee then voted to expunge that vote and returned to the regular agenda. The committee approved a series of Governor’s letters involving position transfers and appropriation adjustments across several agencies. These included changes for AETN, the Department of Health and Nursing Board/Dietetics Board, multiple DHS divisions, DFA shared services and budget management, and the Department of Public Safety shared services division. Most of these items involved moving positions and associated salary appropriations between divisions, with no major opposition and motions passing. A lengthy discussion followed on the transfer of child nutrition and related nutrition programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Agriculture. Education and DFA officials explained that the programs fit better under Agriculture because the funding and commodities are tied to USDA programs, and they clarified that both state and federal funding and all related positions would move. Senators raised concerns about the math in the letters, the split between state and federal funding, and whether all program resources were being transferred. After the explanation, the committee approved the Education side of the transfer and then approved the Agriculture companion letter. The committee also discussed the Educational Freedom Account program budget. Officials said the $309 million request matched current participation and included a $70 million reserve in case applications increase. Several senators expressed concern about the program’s growth and its effect on public education funding and adequacy, while others noted that the program’s rules and funding levels could be adjusted through the State Board and future legislative action. The committee then approved a Public Safety classification change and a member amendment changing a title at East Arkansas Community College from assistant to the president to assistant to the chancellor, with no change in positions or appropriation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also want to be sure that we have a sustainable budget.
• in your own supplemental budget?
• There's a supplemental budget.
• And we have regular engagement with the two budget teams long before the budgets become public.
• And we have regular engagement with the two budget teams long before the budgets become public.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: Senate and House Democratic leaders held a post-cutoff media availability to review the first half of session and outline priorities for the remainder. They said both chambers made substantial progress on protecting Washington from federal overreach and on affordability, citing measures on ICE access and notice, private spaces, housing expansion, medical debt interest caps, senior property tax relief, working families and small business tax credits, and proposals to phase out sales tax on services. They also highlighted that the House moved nearly 200 bills, about 80% with bipartisan support, and said the chambers are now processing each other’s bills and preparing for a fast-paced final stretch. A major focus was the “millionaire’s tax” and related tax relief proposals. Leaders said the governor’s suggestions, including a sales tax holiday and diaper relief, were welcome and that the updated revenue forecast gives the budget more breathing room and reserves, though much of the new revenue is offset by caseload growth and federal cuts. They said the tax package is intended to support long-term fiscal sustainability and affordability, and that House members will continue shaping the bill in committee. They also discussed a separate proposal to tax large employers whose workers rely on Medicaid, saying it is being considered in light of new federal requirements to track Medicaid employment data, while noting concerns from employers and nonprofits. The conversation also covered several bills that stalled or were delayed. Leaders said the JR bill did not advance because it lacked votes, though support and stakeholder engagement increased this year. They said child welfare bills and Senator Wilson’s proposals were paused after stakeholder concerns, while Representative Fitzgibbon defended the House’s approach to child safety and said lawmakers are still working on the issue. Other topics included the transmission and cultural resources bills, where a late procedural request to read a bill in full disrupted plans to move multiple measures together, and a tort-liability bill that passed the Senate and is expected to continue in the House with amendments. They also addressed the 0.05 impaired-driving bill, the Left Plan 1 pension proposal, the farmworker unionization bill, and the initiative-related bill, with several of these measures described as still under discussion or lacking enough support to move this year.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, I think that those are the least likely things to actually make it into the final budget, and
• of the amendment: to reach something that I think we're much closer to getting to when we have a budget
• I cannot sanction an unbalanced budget, and voting yes...
• I cannot sanction an unbalanced budget, and voting yes on this would instantly cause our budget to be
• I cannot sanction an unbalanced budget and voting yes on this would instantly cause our budget to be

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee took up SB 1638, a federal tax conformity bill that updates Arizona’s tax code to the Internal Revenue Code as of January 1, 2026 and incorporates several H.R. 1-related changes, including subtractions for tips, overtime, seniors, and auto loan interest, plus changes to the standard deduction and charitable contribution deduction. Committee members and staff discussed two amendments: a chair’s clarifying amendment on retroactivity and foreign dividend language, and a more substantive Epstein amendment that would remove the broader conformity provisions and charitable deduction changes while limiting the standard deduction change to tax year 2025. The committee also discussed whether the bill would align Arizona with Department of Revenue forms and how much of the conformity package affected corporate versus individual taxpayers. Public testimony was split. Supporters, including the Arizona Tax Research Association and the National Federation of Independent Business, argued the bill was needed quickly to reduce filing-season confusion, keep Arizona aligned with DOR’s posted forms, and preserve business expensing provisions that help small businesses invest and hire. Opponents, including the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, argued the bill would significantly reduce state revenue, primarily benefit corporations and higher-income taxpayers, and worsen the state’s budget outlook; they also questioned the value of provisions such as SALT conformity, foreign dividend changes, and the tip/overtime subtractions. Committee members debated the fiscal impact, the policy merits of immediate expensing and conformity, and whether taxpayers would need amended returns if the bill changed after filing season. The committee adopted the chair’s clarifying amendment and rejected the Epstein amendment. It then voted to report SB 1638 as amended with a do-pass recommendation. The bill passed the committee by about 4-3, with members explaining their votes along lines of taxpayer certainty and conformity versus concerns about revenue loss and budget balance.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're either on budget or below budget about 70% of the time.
• So, as you see here, 24 FTE budgeted, 19 FTE, we're at a 20% ratio.
• or just requesting a flat budget at this point in time.
• As you can see here, the current budget figures have gone up.
• No budget FTE for obvious reasons. The appropriation.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So people are going to have to be watching if they have a budget that they're interested in.
• And those are the changes I would like to see on this budget. Okay.
• Restores trooper costs removed in base budget.
• We are kind of winding down on our budgets in here. We spend money.
• They're in the budget.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2023 for the Racing Commission. Members confirmed the bill’s existing items, including the internships program and copier replacement, and then adopted an amendment based on the worksheet that moved those items to one-time funding. The committee then passed SB 2023 as amended, with the only noted differences from the Senate version being the one-time treatment of the $20,000 internship item and the copier replacement. Next, the committee considered House Bill 2011 for the Highway Patrol. Representative Pyle explained a series of verbal amendments that shifted several one-time and ongoing expenses from the general fund to the electronic permit fee fund, including body armor, preliminary breath test devices, handgun replacement, emergency vehicle operations course resurfacing, and related items, while also removing the shooting range ventilation project because it could be completed with existing funds. The committee also added a section allowing carryover authority for federal grant dollars tied to the in-car router system. After adopting the amendments, the committee passed HB 2011 as amended. The committee then discussed Senate Bill 2014 for the Industrial Commission, focusing on a proposed amendment by Representative Fisher that would direct additional percentages of North Dakota Mill net income to wheat breeding programs at NDSU’s main experiment station and branch research centers. Members asked about current funding, the size of the proposed transfers, and how the money would be used, with Fisher arguing the funds would support breeding, disease resistance, and related research. Several members said they wanted more information on existing funding and program costs before advancing the idea, so the committee held the amendment for further review and took no final action on the bill during this discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• For us specifically, about 80% of our annual budget is allocated to staff salaries and benefits, and
• is allocated to staff salaries budget is allocated to staff salaries and<00:03:41.000><c> benefits</
• That's a discussion the committee can have going on, but I know the tight constraints of our budgets
• My annual budget for our 62-slot center is about $1.6 million to $1.7 million a year.
• </c><00:12:16.240><c> I</c> with some relief in their budgets I with some relief in their budgets I would

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee will come to order.
• Years ago, we lost a lot of land management positions and we lost budget on our state forests.
• We never had the budget to be able to do something like this.
• We never had the budget to be able to do something like this.
• We'll be reporting out on your conversations with the agencies and the budget recommendations.

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee met with a quorum and heard two Department of Agriculture presentations. First, the Director of Rural and Family Lands described the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which buys development rights through perpetual conservation easements on private agricultural land to preserve farming, wildlife habitat, water resources, and open space while keeping land taxable and avoiding state maintenance costs. He said the program has expanded rapidly since 2023 through streamlined applications, templates, and an online portal, increasing acreage protected from about 66,000 acres through 2022 to more than 210,000 acres, with a higher share in the Florida wildlife corridor. He also said review times were reduced by more than 85 days and that projects under $5 million can move faster under statutory authority. The department is seeking $200 million in nonrecurring funding on top of $100 million recurring, citing 203 existing projects and 224 new applications totaling nearly $2 billion in estimated need. Members asked about the scientific ranking process, South Florida participation, project prioritization, maintenance responsibilities, and whether landowners can exit the program; staff said land remains privately owned, easements are in perpetuity, and partnerships and cost-sharing are prioritized. The committee then heard from the Florida Forest Service director, who outlined the agency’s dual mission of wildfire response and land management. He said the service responds to roughly 2,200 to 2,500 wildfires annually, manages 38 state forests and one ranch totaling more than 1.1 million acres, and receives about 15 million visitors each year. He highlighted the impact of Senate Bill 1638 gaming compact funds, which provided $32 million for land management, recreation, equipment, roads, invasive species control, habitat restoration, prescribed burning, reforestation, and staffing support. He said Florida leads the nation in prescribed fire, with 277,818 acres burned on state forests last year and 2.47 million acres burned statewide, and noted ongoing restoration work such as Picayune Strand. He also described challenges including aging equipment, deferred maintenance, contractor availability, and timber market instability caused by hurricanes and mill closures, and suggested longer-term funding and a higher capital asset allowance. Members discussed timber markets, public communication and marketing, recreation fees, and coordination with other agencies and FDOT. The meeting ended with the chair noting that next week’s meeting would report out agency conversations and budget recommendations, and the committee rose.

Transcript Highlights:

• budgeted amount.
• But yet, that budget was unspent.
• And so the budget process: the state allocates the budget, the UC system then the budget comes down from
• That is your operating budget.
• That is your operating budget.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on the University of California’s compliance with NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA and the pace of repatriating Native American human remains and cultural items. The State Auditor said UC has made progress but still lacks urgency and accountability, citing chronic problems with incomplete inventories, limited staffing, inconsistent campus practices, unsecured or loaned items, and weak systemwide oversight. The auditor reported that 12 of 19 prior recommendations remain open, and projected that, at current rates, some campuses would not finish repatriation for many years. The Native American Heritage Commission and its executive director echoed those concerns, saying the work has been too slow for laws that have been in place for decades and that enforcement regulations are being finalized. Tribal representatives and lawmakers stressed the sacred nature of the remains, the need for clearer deadlines, and the need for stronger consequences and legislative oversight if UC does not comply. UC officials responded that the system has substantially reformed its policies since 2019, including new consultation requirements, equal-number campus and systemwide NAGPRA committees, more staffing, and more funding. Teresa Maldonado said UC has repatriated more than 9,000 of about 17,000 ancestors and large numbers of funerary and cultural objects, and that UC is continuing to implement audit recommendations, improve transparency, and expand support for tribes. UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UC Riverside, and UC Santa Barbara each described campus-specific progress, including more staff, more consultations, more searches of high-risk buildings and labs, updated databases and timelines, and increased repatriations. Berkeley said it has repatriated over 80% of ancestors it held and is on track to meet its federal deadline; San Diego said it has repatriated 73% of ancestors and 53% of cultural items; Riverside said nearly all known ancestors and associated funerary objects have been repatriated or noticed; and Santa Barbara said it has rebuilt its program with clear benchmarks and stronger oversight. Members of the Legislature pressed both sides on whether UC’s efforts are fast enough and whether the university’s reports are specific enough to show real progress. Several lawmakers asked what consequences exist for noncompliance, how the Legislature can use its budget authority without violating UC’s constitutional autonomy, and whether campuses should be required to set clearer completion dates and spend allocated funds more fully. UC and the auditor both said tribal consultation must remain central, but lawmakers emphasized that the current timelines—some extending into the 2030s and 2040s—are unacceptable. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational oversight, with the auditor and UC officials indicating they will continue reporting back through future audits and updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a priority-of-your-budget question.
• And then you guys know government budgeting as well as I do.
• Zero agencies were budgeted to do this.
• So that brings us to a $23 million a year budget.
• Approximately 55% of our budget goes to on-parcel work.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The issue, I think, always boils down to budget.
• And CDCR has, I think, a $13 billion budget—don't quote me, I'm not the budget person—but whenever we
• bring a policy forward, it's always met with the budget concern instead of taking the budget that's
• That's the cost to the budget. That's the cost to the budget.
• We are in a budget hearing, after all.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s handling of mental health care in prisons and allegations of sexual abuse, retaliation, and excessive force in the state’s women’s facilities. CDCR officials described their PREA-based prevention and response efforts, including training, oversight, body-worn cameras, retaliation follow-up, and partnerships with outside groups. The Office of the Inspector General explained its monitoring role, noting increased authority under SB 1069, but also limited staffing and the ability to monitor only a portion of cases. The Legislative Analyst’s Office added that prison population trends could allow the state to close a prison and save over $100 million, with some savings potentially redirected to prevention or response efforts. Advocates and formerly incarcerated witnesses from Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition and the California Coalition of Women Prisoners testified that meaningful systemic change has not occurred and that retaliation, blocked programming, and unsafe reporting conditions remain widespread. They described alleged barriers to community-based services, forced or coercive treatment concerns involving Suboxone, and the need for survivor-centered reentry support, trauma-informed care, and more independent oversight. Sandra DeAnda gave detailed testimony about alleged staff abuse, retaliation, denial of mental health care, and a large use-of-force incident at Central California Women’s Facility, while Amika Mota and April Grayson urged release or resentencing for survivors housed with their abusers and greater investment in outside programs. Members of the committee pressed CDCR and OIG on accountability, use-of-force standards, criminal referrals, disciplinary outcomes, and whether investigations are completed within statutory timelines. CDCR acknowledged cultural problems at both women’s prisons and said it was retraining staff and working on reforms, while OIG said it had monitored 161 investigations and found most grievance routing appropriate, though some cases had lapsed due to time limits. Later exchanges revealed that CDCR has over 13,500 active cases and 109 investigators, and that some cases have exceeded deadlines, prompting concerns from members about whether the current system can adequately investigate misconduct and impose consequences. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Some new proposals and program highlights in the Governor's budget include the following.
• We love budgets. We love more staff. But how does this actually help the people on the ground?
• These are resources that are occurring through the state budget, through the state budget process that
• the state, you know, budget process that we're dealing with today.
• Is that correct in this year's budget? In this year's budget for the GGRF component, yes.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's budget authority, not taxing authority. That's budget authority, not taxing authority.
• calculated into the budget of a larger city.
• They can budget early. They can get in and make it work for that city and that city's budget.
• That is equal to 15% of their budget.
• That is equal to 15% of their budget.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House convened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal and received messages from the governor and Senate on signed and enrolled bills. Committee reports were read, including enrollment of several House bills and recommendations to print or advance measures such as House Resolution 27, House Bill 897, and multiple appropriations and policy bills. The House also introduced a slate of new bills, largely appropriations measures and policy bills on public works, health education, education, liquor, the judiciary, community infrastructure districts, traffic infractions, Medicaid-related health care, campaign finance, portable benefits, and a proposed advisory question on a state gun. The main floor debate centered on House Bill 725, which would have allowed cities to join the Idaho State Health Insurance Pool. Supporters argued it would give cities access to a larger, more efficient pool, lower premiums, and reduce property tax pressure, while opponents warned it would expand government, add administrative costs, and create adverse selection by attracting higher-risk cities. After debate, the House rejected HB 725 by a vote of 30 ayes to 40 nays, and the bill failed. The House then took up House Bill 660, requiring reporting on the immigration status of arrested individuals; supporters said it was a limited, data-gathering measure to inform taxpayers, while opponents cited workload, unclear procedures, and concerns from law enforcement groups. HB 660 passed the House 40-30. Later, the House recessed and returned to consider second-reading budget bills. House Bills 905, 906, 907, 908, and 909 were each brought up under suspended rules and passed. HB 905 and HB 906 funded higher education-related items, including net-zero transfers, a federal AI grant, and a restoration of a 2% rescission; HB 907 restored some career technical education funding using interest earnings from an existing account; HB 908 provided an appropriation for military education assistance; and HB 909 included a one-time $350,000 appropriation for the Secretary of State to produce voter pamphlets for constitutional amendments and initiatives. Debate on these bills focused on fiscal restraint, the use of one-time funds, and whether the appropriations were appropriate or too expansive, but all five ultimately passed the House and were transmitted onward.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:10.160><c> That's</c><00:14:10.399><c> the</c> all of the voted budgets.
• That's the all of the voted budgets. That's the current<00:14:10.880><c> system.
• But one of the biggest pieces I wanted to hit here is the change to the budget vote.
• So currently when people vote their budgets locally, they can capture cost increases.
• </c> that is in raising your local budgets that is in raising your local budgets right<00:42:44.880><

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> assist in putting together a budget assist in putting together a budget request<00:05:08.880><c>
• I cannot propose it as a Board of Regents-approved CIP budget.
• It's not my CIP budget; it's the Board of Regents-approved CIP budget that was approved by the board
• :00.240><c> was</c> of regent approved CIP budget that was of regent approved CIP budget that was approved
• cycle for the supplemental budget year?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met on February 6 and began with decision-making items. SB 663, concerning additional positions for the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, was deferred again after the chair said the university’s response did not include the requested details on vacant positions, recruitment status, and fill dates. The chair said the committee needed the full information before considering new positions, and the university apologized for treating the request as informal rather than a formal committee inquiry. The committee then discussed SB 672, relating to capital improvement projects for the Y. Manalo Research Station. University representatives said the project had been identified late because of timing and that they were still developing a broader plan for SEAR research facilities. The chair questioned how the project fit within the university’s existing Board of Regents-approved CIP priorities and whether any current priorities should be displaced. The university said it could not unilaterally reprioritize the budget, and the measure was deferred pending better direction on how it fits into the overall plan. For SB 557, which would require the John A. Burns School of Medicine to direct a study on physician and dentist recruitment and retention for Maui, the committee heard strong testimony in support from Maui health care providers and community representatives. Supporters described severe shortages of physicians and dentists, long waits for care, and the need for housing, loan repayment, scholarships, transportation, and telehealth support to retain providers. The university said it was willing to help and suggested the work could be done through existing rural health and AHEC efforts. The bill was kept alive for further work, with the chair encouraging the parties to develop a plan. The committee also heard SB 1107, establishing a medical education position at JABSOM to support ECHO-style mentorship and guidance programs. The university opposed the bill, saying it did not believe the measure addressed a problem that needed fixing and that Hawaiʻi already has five ECHO clinics administered through the Hawaiʻi State Rural Health Association, not JABSOM. The committee then took up SB 1204, concerning integration of the Kakaʻako medical school and cancer center. University leadership asked for time to develop a plan and timeline, possibly with an external consultant, and requested the bill be withdrawn. The chair expressed skepticism, citing long-standing concerns about the cancer center’s finances and planning. Testimony included support from the American Cancer Society and a patient who warned that integration could jeopardize the cancer center’s NCI designation and clinical trials, while a university vice president said the NIH P30 grant does not require the cancer center and medical school to remain separate and that many NCI centers are integrated. No final votes were taken on the measures discussed in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> next budget cycle. next budget cycle.
• . budget. budget.
• Or where would the budget cuts budget? Or where would the budget cuts come<00:18:37.880><c> from?
• budgets.
• Mr.<01:10:54.120><c> Chair,</c><01:10:54.240><c> budget.</c> Mr. Chair, budget. Mr. Chair, budget.

Bills: HF4906, HF3971, HF4777, HF2109, HF2988

Keywords: property tax, tax refund, taxpayer relief, Minnesota taxation, one-time payment, taxation, property valuation, Tax Court, evidentiary standards, Minnesota Statutes, disparity reduction, aid payments, local government, funding, Fillmore County, education funding, managed forest land, classification, forest management plan, agricultural land

Transcript Highlights:

• Can we come back to the budget item?
• Well, do you have a question on the budget item?
• And the idea that this isn't germane to the budget is definitely...
• I have emailed my senators, the Armed Forces Budget Committee.
• The budget request is broken up into two different buckets.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Administering the Working Families Tax Credit budget.
• Getting into our budget request, our FY27 budget requests for base and expansions is 15 billion dollars
• So that does impact our budget overall in FY27.
• Budget.
• So what do you, you know, huge agencies with huge budgets?