Transcript Highlights:

• note, which is why we'll be laying this over.
• <00:02:08.520> note<00:02:09.000> which determined through a fiscal note which determined
• through a fiscal note which is<00:02:09.239> why<00:02:09.360> we'll<00:02:09.520>
• As has already been noted, families got ripped off here.
• As has already been noted, families got ripped off here.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• >> So there was a fiscal note done last session, sir, Senator, on basically two elements.
• And I've got the fiscal note that LRC did last session.
• And you have something other than the fiscal note?
• I know fiscal notes are generally pretty good, but I've seen some that are not good, you know, depends
• And I've got the fiscal note that LRC did last session. >> Do you have something other than the fiscal

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the August minutes, and heard a brief announcement from Senator Richardson about the Missing in America Project interring unclaimed veterans’ remains at the Western Kentucky Veterans Cemetery in Hopkinsville. He read the names of several veterans being laid to rest with military honors, and the chair thanked the volunteers involved in the effort. The main presentation was an update on Kentucky’s urban search and rescue program from the Department of Military Affairs and Kentucky Emergency Management. Officials said the program is being built around two regional task force hubs, a helicopter aquatic rescue team, an incident support team, and a rescue aid fund for local search and rescue units. They reported that the $8.3 million appropriated for the program in the 2025 budget was fully executed, that $482,670 of the rescue aid fund went to 29 local teams, and that $493,592 has already been allocated in the current year to 36 teams. They also described warehouse and equipment purchases, staffing with full-time and part-time personnel, and a new training site on state property for collapsed-structure and multi-agency exercises. Officials said the program has already been used in recent disasters, including flood response and urban search and rescue operations in several parts of the state, and claimed the effort has impacted more than 1,500 citizens through rescues, evacuations, and related assistance. They said the helicopter aquatic rescue team is fully operational, the task force roster should be finalized by January, incident support should be online by April, and the full program should be deployable by June 30 or July 1, 2026. Members asked about statewide response times, K-9 search capabilities, and the long-term cost of the program, including concerns about reliance on federal matching funds. The presenters said K-9 assets will be part of the task force, that pre-positioning during forecasted storms can reduce response times significantly, and that they would provide more detailed budget information later.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is for fiscal year 2025.
• This is for fiscal year 2025.
• We had 393 people for fiscal year 2025.
• In fiscal pre-trial in our facilities.
• Um unnecessary detention imposes fiscal.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, so our operating revenues for fiscal year 2025 actually represent a 10% increase over the prior fiscal
• <00:14:45.600> year<00:14:45.760> 2023 fiscal year and uh from fiscal year 2023 fiscal
• Uh we the following fiscal year.
• Odapani, uh, who's our fiscal manager. Odapani, uh, who's our fiscal manager.
• note in that um note in that um the<04:36:02.480> instability<04:36:03.199> that<04

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• note.
• Why don’t we have our fiscal analyst just clarify for us?
• <00:35:06.680> note If you look on the fiscal note, specifically on page four, you’ll notice
• So that’s the fiscal note. costs uh panel Fab fabrication costs uh panel Fab fabrication um<00:35:58.839
• So one could anticipate that the fiscal note when it gets updated for the DE would set out a similar

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm accepting the committee amendments that were offered, and it's noted in the analysis.
• So noted. I want to thank you for bringing this forward, Senator.
• I do want to note that our opposition is very specific to the definitional aspect of the bill and the
• I think it's important to note that this bill is applicable on its face to public entities, including
• , as well as some of the other places that we ended up excluding from the bill, and wanted to make note

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been taking notes, we've been identifying things they've identified as problems in statute, and
• Representative Nash's bill, um, to create fraud fiscal notes, I think would be a huge win.
• Nash's bill um to create fraud fiscal Nash's bill um to create fraud fiscal notes,<00:14:55.680>
• <00:14:57.440> Um notes, I think would be a huge win.
• Um notes, I think would be a huge win.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee Chair Kristen Robbins opened by criticizing the governor’s fraud package as too focused on new spending and staffing, and not enough on culture change, accountability, eligibility rules, and an enterprise-wide IT/data strategy. She said the committee had heard a good overview from multiple commissioners, but she remained concerned that piecemeal technology investments and added staff would not address the root causes of fraud. Robbins also said she would introduce a bill based on issues raised in committee, including requiring grants management staff to complete Office of Grants Management training and certification. A major action announced was the launch of a new whistleblower portal at mnfraud.com, which legislators said will let people submit basic fraud allegations, after which staff will follow up and forward matters to the Office of the Legislative Auditor, BCA, law enforcement, or the attorney general as appropriate. Members noted that the Office of the Legislative Auditor already has a separate reporting portal, and there was a question about why the new site does not allow anonymous reporting; Robbins said contact information is needed so staff can follow up. She also said the portal is intended to centralize and triage reports from agency workers, service recipients, and providers. Republican members said the governor’s proposal still misses key pieces. Vice Chair Anderson argued the package mostly adds staff to agencies that failed to catch or act on fraud, and said Minnesota needs a statewide independent inspector general with authority outside agencies and a stronger whistleblower system. Representative Marion Rarick said the proposed criminal penalty increases are too small compared with federal penalties and criticized the package for adding only one forensic auditor at the BCA while DHS receives many more positions. She also argued that agency managers should face sanctions when fraud occurs under their watch and said the state needs a culture where employees can be rewarded for good work but also held accountable for failures. Members discussed several other ideas, including creating new crimes for kickbacks and theft of public funds, requiring fraud fiscal notes, improving data sharing and eligibility verification, and using better IT so systems can talk to each other. There was also discussion of whether government services should rely less on nonprofits and private contractors; one member said fraud often follows a particular business model rather than the sector itself, while another suggested capping salaries of top nonprofit executives receiving government funds. The committee also noted that the governor’s fraud package is being presented as a package but will likely move as separate provisions through different omnibus bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:12:28.240> year before the 2024 fiscal year before the 2024 fiscal year and<00:12:30.560
• The important thing I think to note, and it's the same with general fiscal rules or monetary policy rules
• So just kind of wanted to note that.
• So just kind of wanted to note that.
• presented by um you know our fiscal presented by um you know our fiscal staff<01:37:32.199> or

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee began with member and staff introductions, including several new members and committee staff. Representative Zach Stevenson, the DFL lead, objected to the day’s presentation, saying he was disappointed the committee was starting with a group he viewed as aligned with Republicans rather than a nonpartisan budget presentation. The chair responded that the committee had a bipartisan agreement and that hearing a different perspective was appropriate. The committee then proceeded to a presentation from economists with the Center of the American Experiment, with questions held until the end. The presentation focused on Minnesota’s budget outlook, arguing that the state faces a structural imbalance and a projected $5.14 billion deficit in the 2028-29 biennium. The presenters said spending has outpaced revenues, highlighted a large increase in general fund spending since 2023, and argued that inflation-adjusted per-capita spending remains above pre-2024 levels through the forecast period. They said the biggest growth areas are E-12 education and especially Health and Human Services, with HHS projected to become the largest budget category and much of its growth tied to Medicaid and long-term care waivers. The presenters also argued Minnesota spends more than most states on welfare and Medicaid, citing comparisons showing the state near the top nationally in spending per person in poverty and in several Medicaid categories. They said some of the HHS growth reflects policy changes from the 2023 session, while other pressures come from enrollment growth, health care prices, federal debt, and an aging population. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and Representative, with the fiscal impact here, this would be something considered as the tax
• On the fiscal impact report, it talks about staging different percentages for the tax credit based on
• But I would note that with the exception of Los Alamos, Bernalillo, I would note that with the exception
• Fiscally responsible bonding bill, focused on expanding access to cancer treatment services in rural
• It is important to note at the onset that this bill is expected to have no fiscal impact on state revenues

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• planning to how soon a solicitation can be released to whether a contract can be executed before the fiscal
• strategically aligned projects may need to pause or adapt based solely on where they fall in the fiscal
• strategically aligned projects may need to pause or adapt based solely on where they fall in the fiscal
• And then last note on that is, is it categorized or could it be better categorized so we can identify
• Despite the technical complexity and existing fiscal constraints, this subcommittee has approached our

Summary: The subcommittee heard a panel on Florida’s IT procurement process from the Florida Digital Service, the Department of Management Services, and the Department of Financial Services. Witnesses walked through the procurement lifecycle, including planning, market research, solicitation, evaluation, award, implementation, and closeout, and emphasized the role of budget timing, contract managers, and subject matter experts. DMS described the state’s enterprise contracting system, noting more than 1,100 active vendor agreements, over 800 involving IT services, and the statutory requirement to request 25 quotes for certain IT purchases. DFS demonstrated the Florida Accountability Contract Tracking System (FACS), explaining how agencies upload contract and payment data and how the public can search contracts and related documents online. Members focused on accountability, transparency, and whether the state is getting the best products and vendors. Questions addressed how contracts are vetted, how technical evaluations are performed, how financial consequences are used for missed deliverables, how public records and confidential information are handled, and how the state screens vendors for foreign-concern or bad-actor issues. Witnesses said agencies rely on technical experts for evaluations, that contract terms should include measurable deliverables and meaningful financial consequences, and that agencies—not procurement staff—generally manage performance, though Florida Digital Service oversees large IT projects of $10 million or more. The committee then shifted to broader policy discussion, including Senate Bill 7026 and proposals to reorganize state IT governance. Several members argued for stronger centralization under a state CIO or similar enterprise authority, while others cautioned against abrupt restructuring and stressed the need for a transition plan. Members also raised concerns about workforce retention, consulting services, recurring project overruns, and the need for better planning and periodic monitoring. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair thanking members and staff and adjourning the subcommittee.

Transcript Highlights:

• to invest and reinvest the administrative trust fund and hold over the balance for the following fiscal
• We're going to wipe that fiscal right out of here. Just need a little bit more time.
• So when you said you got rid of the fiscal, not yet. Okay.
• And it's my understanding that in the federal budget in the current fiscal year, there's $6.5 billion
• The federal taxpayers are spending approximately $6.5 billion this fiscal year.

Summary: The committee considered and reported favorably several bills, most of them sponsored by Senator Rodriguez. CS/SB 164 on vessel accountability was presented as a measure to help law enforcement identify vessel owners, create a free long-term anchoring permit program, increase penalties for derelict vessel violations, and authorize grants for local governments in FWC’s prevention program; it passed without amendment. SB 388, dealing with FWC trust funds, was also reported favorably after Senator Berman asked whether non-game wildlife funds would support immigration enforcement; Senator Rodriguez said they would not. CS/SB 1320 was amended to recreate the Resilient Florida Trust Fund and then passed favorably. CS/CS/SB 344 modernizing the Telecommunications Access System was amended to define new terms and reduce the maximum surcharge from 25 cents to 15 cents, then reported favorably. CS/SB 86 on peer support for first responders expanded eligibility to support personnel and passed with broad support from law enforcement and related groups. The committee also took up CS/CS/SB 92, a hit-and-run accountability bill by Senator Gruters. The adopted amendment added a front license plate requirement, lowered the damage threshold from $5,000 to $2,500, and retained reporting requirements for repair shops. NFIB testified in opposition to parts of the bill, citing concerns about the lower threshold, short reporting deadlines, and potential license revocation, while supporters argued the bill would improve accountability and help solve hit-and-run cases. The bill was reported favorably after debate. The final and most contentious measure was CS/SB 56 by Senator Garcia, which would prohibit geoengineering and weather modification activities in Florida, repeal older weather-modification statutes, create a public reporting system at DEP, and impose penalties for violations. Supporters, including individuals identifying with weather-watch and anti-geoengineering concerns, argued that the bill would address public fears and environmental risks. A cloud-seeding company representative testified that cloud seeding is distinct from solar radiation management and said permitting should exist for responsible weather modification, while warning the bill could hinder beneficial precipitation enhancement. Despite skepticism from some members about the bill’s premise and scope, the committee reported it favorably. The meeting then concluded after members recorded missed votes and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what's the fiscal note for?
• No, that's not what the fiscal note prepared.
• The fiscal note<01:26:57.120> is<01:26:57.600> $35,000 note is $35,000 note is $35,000
• <01:28:28.960> note confusion with that, but the fiscal note confusion with that, but the
• Well, the fiscal office provided a fiscal<02:39:26.800> note<02:39:27.200> based<02:39:

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The report also notes that locations.
• <01:21:25.800> year<01:21:25.920> 2027<01:21:26.960> and fiscal year 2027 and fiscal
• um, that is ongoing beginning in fiscal um, that is ongoing beginning in fiscal year<01:22:04.040
• We are waiting on a fiscal note, so that's just for your awareness at this time.
• We are waiting on a fiscal note, so that's just for your awareness at this time.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The fiscal note that attached is from the original bill. It is not this bill.
• The fiscal note out at the beginning.
• The fiscal note that<01:33:21.679> attached<01:33:22.159> is<01:33:22.480> from<
• Um, and then just to speak on the fiscal Um, and then just to speak on the fiscal note,<01:40:14.560
• <01:40:20.560> note eliminated along with the fiscal note eliminated along with the fiscal

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a fiscally responsible budget that reduces overall spending compared to last year.
• million to support communities statewide since fiscal year 2022-23.
• I want to thank everybody for working with me on this 2026-2027 fiscal year budget.
• We knew this question was going to arise, so I took some notes.
• into no longer being fiscally constrained.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, for the record, my name is Megan Burch, a nonpartisan fiscal analyst, um, supporting the Senate Higher
• one, the Senate offer also nets to the global target amounts for higher education of $22 million in fiscal
• time um in fiscal year 2026. time um in fiscal year 2026.
• increases to 1% per fiscal increases to 1% per fiscal year.<00:12:26.800> On<00:12:27.279
• current um school year and and fiscal current um school year and and fiscal year<00:50:07.040>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Avard, just quickly, it's a fiscal note. >> I don't see one.
• >> just quickly, it's a fiscal note. >> just quickly, it's a fiscal note.
• opportunity to do an updated fiscal opportunity to do an updated fiscal note,<00:41:58.560> but
• <01:04:21.920> Um, to get the fiscal note bills out.
• Um, to get the fiscal note bills out.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That ended this last fiscal year, just under the law in 2018.
• We're just in the process of closing out this fiscal year.
• As of last quarter, so not fiscal year.
• It is also a time for us to discuss changes for the new fiscal year.
• That really shows that as far as for fiscal year 2034 to fiscal year 2037, where we are going to be deficit

Transcript Highlights:

• The total state budget for fiscal year 2024-25 is $117.5 billion.
• The Pre-K-12 budget is the second largest user of general revenue in the state's fiscal year 2024-25
• It's become more fiscally responsible and maximize those student outcomes.
• preparing the department's annual legislative budget request for the upcoming fiscal year.
• a new fiscal year, and then beginning the work for the upcoming LBR.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• We just finished publishing all the 2026 legislative budget notes to the fiscal website.
• on the fiscal website.
• That includes all my updates with the fiscal website.
• We included fiscal staff agencies.
• But I do want to get together with more of the fiscal staff and coordinators.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the June 18, 2025 minutes, and heard four proposed budget format changes. Washington State Parks requested a structural change to separate and better track its Stewardship Services Division, including cultural and natural resources, environmental planning, and Climate Commitment Act investments. DCYF proposed moving direct service functions now housed in program support into the child welfare program so operational costs and direct services would be reported separately; members asked how this would help avoid across-the-board reductions affecting direct services, and the agency said the change would improve transparency and prevent that problem. The Department of Transportation sought to create a new Ferries Program Support sub-program to consolidate four related projects and two existing sub-programs into one administrative/project support structure, while the Department of Veterans Affairs requested only a title change for Program 20 from Field Services to Veteran Services and Counseling and Wellness. The committee voted unanimously to approve all four changes. Kevin Feltis then gave an interim work plan and staffing update for LEAP. He said the office is continuing work on the rewritten capital budget application (BuildSUM), updating the transportation bond model, completing carry-forward levels for the 2027-29 biennium, publishing 2026 legislative budget notes, updating 2025 salary data, and participating in a LegiTech AI pilot for system development within the legislative network. He also noted LEAP’s role in supporting the new Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability. Staffing remained steady at 11 FTEs, with no retirements or staffing changes in the past year, though one vacancy may be filled later and two retirements are anticipated over the next four to five years. The committee also discussed updates to the fiscal.wa.gov website. Planned work includes streamlining how budget data is updated when budgets are released, converting more than 100 reports from Microsoft Reporting Services to Power BI because support is ending, and evaluating whether the site’s search tool should be improved or replaced. Senators and representatives raised concerns about the number of clicks needed to reach capital and transportation project maps and about making public-facing budget information easier to find and understand. Staff said the website redesign was based on prior user testing and that they would look at ways to make maps and other top-level information more accessible. Finally, the committee elected new officers under its alternating-chair rule. Representative Gregerson was nominated and elected chair, and Senator King was nominated and elected vice chair. The meeting then adjourned.