Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I want to be cautious here because this is not a budget bill.
• This bill says nothing about any budget whatsoever.
• It shows the gentleman on the second floor's budget.
• This is not about a budgeting bill.
• I heard a lot of commotion about this budget or that budget or this cut or this cut.

Summary: The House opened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous day’s journal. Messages from the Senate were received, including Senate Joint Memorial 108 and Senate Bills 1227, 1226, and 1225, which were filed for first reading and referred to committees. Standing committee reports also moved House Bill 557 and House Concurrent Resolution 25 to the second reading calendar, and several new House bills were introduced, including measures on civil asset forfeiture reporting, the Idaho Consumer Asset Recovery Fund, license plates, and juvenile transition services. The main floor action centered on House Bill 559, a tax conformity bill tied to the federal tax changes described by supporters as providing relief for workers, seniors, and businesses. Supporters argued it would preserve federal tax benefits for Idahoans, including provisions on tips, overtime, standard deductions, and research and experimentation expensing, and said the fiscal note was a reasonable estimate. Opponents argued the bill would significantly reduce state revenue at a time of budget shortfalls, warned it could force cuts to services such as education, health care, roads, and public safety, and questioned whether the fiscal note fully captured the bill’s cost. Members also raised questions about business underpayments and the treatment of certain deductions. The House first voted to suspend the rules for immediate consideration of House Bill 559 by a two-thirds vote, then debated the bill at length. After debate closed, the House passed House Bill 559 by a vote of 59-9, approved the title, and transmitted the bill to the Senate. The chamber then held third-reading bills one legislative day and moved to announcements and committee schedule notices before adjourning until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Microsoft's yearly profit could cover our state's annual operating budget three times over.
• Maybe they should cut back on their avocado toast budget, you know, stretch their budget further.
• But... ...budget further. But we want a fair tax code. What do we want? Fair tax code.
• Build the kind of state that we deserve. budget further. But we want a fair tax code.
• Our state budget has ballooned 170% accounting for inflation since 1991.

Summary: The meeting was a press conference and Q&A led by Rep. Shaun Scott to promote the proposed Well Washington Fund, a new dedicated account intended to raise about $3 billion annually through a corporate payroll tax on wages above $125,000. Scott said the bill would help offset expected federal cuts under Trump-era policies and support programs most at risk, including cash assistance, higher education, health care, housing, and wildfire mitigation. He also referenced two related proposals: restoring wildfire mitigation funding by ending a tax break for large banks, and allowing counties to raise corporate taxes. Several advocates and affected residents testified in support of progressive revenue. Michelle Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance warned that federal homelessness policy changes and state underinvestment could worsen homelessness and evictions. Christina Savitsky, a disabled veteran, described how Medicaid, food assistance, and work requirements would affect her family. Representatives from the University of Washington AAUP said federal cuts and Medicaid changes threaten teaching, research, workforce training, and hospital finances. Fatima Boxwala of Tech for Taxes and Mikey Stramskis of the Washington Federation of State Employees argued that large corporations and the wealthy should pay more to sustain public services and address understaffing, burnout, and service backlogs. In the Q&A, Scott said the bill may need an emergency clause to make it referendum-proof and argued that the legislature has a mandate to act, citing the 2024 capital gains tax referendum and the state’s regressive tax system. He acknowledged concerns about businesses leaving but said he was more concerned about working people being displaced by unaffordable housing, child care, and health care. No vote or formal committee action occurred; the event was a call for a hearing in the House Finance Committee in 2026 and for legislative passage in both chambers.

Transcript Highlights:

• We limit our budget to 6% when in a wealthy state.
• In this budget, we've got 30 million for food deserts and food insecurity.
• I have long been a proponent of trying to straighten up and validate our budget.
• I've long been a proponent that New Mexico really doesn't have what I call a budget.
• So we use our audits to flag issues that we need to correct in our budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• What does that mean for that budget?
• What does that mean for that budget?
• What does that mean for that budget?
• Well, it means that that budget is going to be stressed, as most of the budgets are.
• Well, it means that that budget is going to be stressed, as most of the budgets are.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Message from the Chief Executive, supplemental budget number one.
• Supplemental Budget Number One affects the previously estimated funds available for budget operations
• ><c> affects</c> Supplemental budget number one affects Supplemental budget number one affects the<00
• Thank you. at 1:00 p.m. for budget hearings in the at 1:00 p.m. for budget hearings in the joint<00:13
• Capital Budget &gt;&gt; Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, March 6, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Listed first are the changes and recommendations for Capital Budget Rider 2.
• the budget self-funded by attorney's fees.
• I'm going to have my budget person. These finance swaps are crazy. I don't think...
• I'm going to have my budget person. These finance swaps are crazy.
• I would defer to our budget folks as far as what it looks like.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This budget represents our values while maintaining a budget growth of 6.3%.
• This budget represents our values while maintaining a budget growth of 6.3%.
• So that is the budget. I know we had the budget before us. I had time to look through it.
• I deeply appreciate trying to put together a $7 billion budget.
• I want to explain why I will be voting no on the budget, and I've been voting no on the budget for years

Summary: The House convened with a quorum present, opened with a moment of silence for Ted Williams, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then accepted the previous day’s minutes and moved into a series of recognitions, beginning with House Resolution 27 designating June 24, 2026 as Staff Appreciation Day. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, and the chamber spent much of the meeting honoring legislative staff across both caucuses, with members and staff introducing themselves and being recognized for years of service and behind-the-scenes work. The House also recognized staff member Justin, who is leaving for a position with the Delaware State Board of Education, and later gave farewell remarks for Representative Kevin Hensley and Representative Charles Postles, both of whom are retiring. Numerous members spoke in tribute to their service, constituent work, and personal character, and both Hensley and Postles offered remarks thanking colleagues, staff, and family. The House then received communications from the Senate, including several bills and resolutions passed and returned, and a notice of Senate concurrence on other measures. Representative Wilson-Anton made a brief statement explaining her vote on Senate Bill 100 and reaffirming support for marriage equality and related civil rights issues. The chamber also took up Senate Joint Resolution 16 and Senate Joint Resolution 17, which set the official revenue estimates for fiscal years 2026 and 2027; both were read, called to roll, and passed by constitutional majority votes of 37-4 and 40-1, respectively. Finally, the House considered Senate Bill 335, the operating budget for fiscal year ending June 30, 2027. Representative Williams presented the budget on behalf of the Joint Finance Committee, describing major funding items including raises for state and education employees, health insurance and retiree benefit funding, developmental disability services, Medicaid growth, purchase of care, and maintenance of reserve funds. Several members praised the committee’s work, while Representative Shupe said he would vote no, citing concerns about the budget’s 6.3% growth despite appreciating the committee’s effort. After the budget presentation and comments, Leader Harris moved that the House recess for party caucuses, and the House stood in recess until the call of the bell.

Transcript Highlights:

• The final FY 2026 state budget left huge hole in our budget.
• The final FY 2026 state budget level funded most of our budget lines, but critical funding for agency
• This is a cross-budget size issue.
• to a $20 million budget.
• So while there's been no direct impacts to MOT's budget from federal budget cuts to organizations that

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on the impact of recent federal policy and budget actions on Massachusetts libraries, humanities organizations, arts institutions, and tourism. Testimony from library leaders described the loss or jeopardy of Institute of Museum and Library Services funding, including statewide databases, local grants, staff positions, E-rate/hotspot support, and digital equity programs. Witnesses said the cuts have already forced reductions in services, canceled grants and workshops, and in some cases left schools, students, job seekers, and low-income patrons without access to key resources. Members of the committee asked for lists of affected communities and databases, and several witnesses said they would provide additional written detail. Arts and humanities witnesses said federal terminations from the NEA, NEH, and IMLS have hit organizations across the Commonwealth, including Mass Cultural Council, Mass Humanities, Mass MoCA, and local museums and historical societies. They described canceled or rescinded grants, layoffs, reduced programming, and a chilling effect on future applications and on artistic and scholarly work, especially where federal awards had already been matched with local or private funds. Several speakers also raised concerns about executive-branch DEI conditions attached to funding and about book challenges and book banning, saying these trends threaten intellectual freedom and public access to culture and history. Committee members emphasized the economic importance of the sector and the need to publicize the impacts. Tourism officials from Meet Boston and the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism testified that federal cuts and broader geopolitical and tariff issues are hurting international visitation, especially from Canada and Western Europe, and could affect major upcoming events such as the 2026 World Cup and Sail Boston. They said reduced funding for Brand USA and Discover New England will weaken long-term marketing efforts and international partnerships, with downstream effects on hotel tax revenue, jobs, and workforce recruitment. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with members mainly asking questions and requesting follow-up written testimony and data.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can we come back to the budget item?
• Well, do you have a question on the budget item?
• This is regarding, the whole hearing is about the budget item.
• I've emailed my senators, the Armed Forces Budget Committee.
• So the budget request is broken up into two different buckets.

Summary: The joint hearing focused on access to gender-affirming care in California, with opening remarks emphasizing the state’s legal protections, the importance of decorum, and the impact of federal actions on transgender, gender-diverse, and intersex Californians. The Department of Justice, Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), and Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) described current state protections, including nondiscrimination rules, privacy and shield laws, Medi-Cal and commercial coverage requirements for medically necessary care, and ongoing litigation challenging federal executive orders, proposed rules, and HHS actions that could restrict care or threaten provider participation in Medicare and Medicaid. Officials also noted that California continues to oppose federal proposals through lawsuits and public comments, and that the state is preparing strategies if those proposals are finalized. Members asked about hospital closures or pauses in care, continuity of care, provider network adequacy, whether additional legislation or funding is needed, and how the state can better track access and enforce existing protections. DMHC said it monitors complaints and independent medical reviews, but does not have a specific provider category for gender-affirming care and does not collect utilization data by service type; DHCS said Medi-Cal covers medically necessary gender-affirming care and that federal proposals are not yet final. Finance staff said the previously approved $15 million allocation is still being implemented through Covered California. The second panel heard from a physician, clinic leaders, parents, and a transgender youth about how families and providers navigate access to care. Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy described the history of transgender medical care, the role of puberty blockers and hormones, and said minors need parental consent for medical interventions, while emphasizing that care should be individualized and that supportive parents improve outcomes. She also described the closure of the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles youth program and the difficulty of rebuilding care in private practice, including insurance contracting barriers and inadequate reimbursement. J.M. Jaffe of Lyon Martin Community Health Services said the clinic has expanded to serve minors after hospital programs closed, but that the shift has created major financial strain and increased demand, and asked for a $26 million state investment to stabilize transgender health services. Parents and youth described delays, cancellations, and uncertainty at Kaiser, Stanford, UCSF, and Rady Children’s, along with the emotional and medical consequences of interrupted care. One parent said TRICARE stopped covering her son’s care after federal changes and that Rady later closed its clinic; her family urged California to backfill lost access and funding. A 16-year-old trans student and other witnesses argued that California should remain a reliable source of care and that current protections are not enough without funding, provider support, and stronger enforcement.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c> To support a balanced statewide budget, To support a balanced statewide budget, the<00:50:17.440
• </c> imbalance in the statewide budget. imbalance in the statewide budget.
• </c> for the state budget. for the state budget. Next<01:04:08.920><c> slide.</c> Next slide.
• </c> imbalance in the state budget. imbalance in the state budget.
• </c> First aspect of the Governor's budget First aspect of the Governor's budget recommendation<01:26

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it's not our budget, it's Ahumoku's budget in this instance.
• Um, it's not our budget, it's Ahumoku's budget in this instance.
• Um, it's not our budget, it's Ahumoku's budget in this instance.
• Um, it's not our budget, it's Ahumoku's budget in this instance.
• Um, it's not our budget, it's Ahumoku's budget in this instance.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a series of resolutions and a few bills, with testimony largely in support across the agenda. Early measures included HCR 15/HR 17 supporting Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy, and HCR 22/HR 22 urging Congress to pass federal kidney disease legislation; both drew support and no opposition. The committee also heard HCR 146 HD1/HR 138 HD1 on “excited delirium,” with testimony from advocates urging the resolutions be broadened to include related terms such as hyperactive delirium and agitated delirium, and from family members and disability-rights advocates describing the issue as harmful pseudoscience tied to police-custody deaths and calling for a ban on the term and better mental-health responses. The committee then took up HCR 123/HR 115 on creating a coordinated support and stabilization task force for Native Hawaiians experiencing homelessness or extreme low income. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands testified in support, describing its transitional housing work and saying collaboration and data-sharing with the state homelessness office would help beneficiaries and others; members questioned whether existing entities already do similar work and whether the proposal would extend beyond beneficiaries. HCR 32/HR 32, which asks the governor’s senior advisor on mental health and the justice system to develop a plan to increase access to Hawaii State Hospital for certain criminal defendants, drew support from the Department of Health, the governor’s office, and disability-rights advocates, who emphasized coordinated planning, diversion from arrest when appropriate, and matching people to the right level of care. Additional resolutions addressed a range of policy issues: renaming Leeward Community College to Puloulou Community College (with no testimony), creating an ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi pathway under the Niʻihau dialect at UH (UH noted existing courses already cover the dialect but not a degree pathway), moving to a demerit-point driver licensing system (support only), and coordinating transportation infrastructure planning for Hawaiian home lands (DHHL supported the measure and said an expired DOT memorandum of understanding had covered related collaboration). The committee also heard support for expanding DHHL financial literacy and homeownership-preparedness programs, a resolution asking the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to examine algorithmic discrimination, and a resolution urging the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Advisory Committee to follow its rules, comply with the Sunshine Law, review its executive director, and strengthen accountability; the last measure drew 11 written supports and no opposition. No final votes or decisions were taken in the portion provided, as the hearing focused on testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Request for the 2026 legislative session budget.
• In the leadership budgets in 2023, the leadership budgets were increased by 10%.
• This regular session, those budgets are actually only getting an increase of about 3%.
• Do I have a motion to adopt the budget? So, thank you. You. Okay, we have...
• Is there any objection to adopting the budget? I see no objection. We have a...

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Request for the 2026 legislative session budget.
• In the leadership budgets in 2023, the leadership budgets were increased by 10%.
• This regular session, those budgets are actually only getting an increase of about 3%.
• Do I have a motion to adopt the budget? So, thank you. You.
• Is there any objection to adopting the budget? I see no objection. We have a...

Transcript Highlights:

• We pray for continued wisdom and discernment in this budget process, and we pray for peace in that process
• I appreciate your work so far on. the individual budget silos.
• In fact, while our state is growing, this year's budget will be less than the budget we passed last year
• In our budget this year, we are fully funding the current Budget Stabilization Fund; that in itself is
• CHAIR HOOPER, YOU ARE RECOGNIZED FOR AN UPDATE ON THE BUDGET CONFERENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have also requested $750 million in this budget deficit, in this budget. $750 million in this budget
• increase as we saw in the budget recently that only serves one part of our state.
• This is not responsible budgeting.
• Many people were shocked to see this project put into budget trailer language.
• It's been $20 billion in a state that is facing a budget deficit, ...in a state that is facing a budget

Summary: The committee heard several audit requests and related testimony. The first major item was an audit of Coachella Valley Unified School District’s contract and fiscal management. The author and supporters described long-standing fiscal mismanagement, large budget shortfalls, layoffs, contracting concerns, and questions about the district’s foundation and use of public funds. District representatives and the Riverside County Office of Education said the district is already under fiscal oversight, has a stabilization plan, and is working to reduce deficits and improve student outcomes. After extensive debate and public comment, the motion to approve the audit was put on call because the committee did not have the required votes from both houses at that moment. The committee then approved an audit of East Bay transit agencies in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Senator Wahab argued the region’s many overlapping transit agencies create fragmentation, duplication, and inefficiency, especially amid a fiscal cliff and possible future tax increases. Transit agencies and labor representatives opposed the audit, saying the agencies already undergo multiple audits, serve distinct local needs, and are implementing regional coordination efforts. After testimony from agency leaders and public commenters, the committee voted to approve the audit. The next item was an audit of California Community Colleges’ unrestricted reserves. Senator Archuleta and supporting faculty representatives said reserves have grown substantially and may be diverting resources from student services, instruction, and workforce programs. They argued there is little oversight when reserves become too high. The Chancellor’s Office and Calbright College were invited to respond, and the audit objectives focused on reserve growth, reasons for high balances, oversight by the Chancellor’s Office, and effects on students and staff. The transcript cuts off during the Chancellor’s Office response, so the final committee action on this item is not shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a budget policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
• The Department of Juvenile Corrections has three different budgeted programs: administration, community
• For that reason, it's no longer in the budget and was not recommended by the governor.
• Once again, I'm a budget policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
• Next up on the agenda is the budget review for the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the Department of Juvenile Corrections budget. Legislative Services analyst Noah Peterson outlined the agency’s funding sources, staffing, recent expenditure patterns, and several FY 2026 and FY 2027 budget requests, including substance use disorder treatment, youth assessment center funding, replacement items, IT upgrades, and a clinician services transfer from the Department of Health and Welfare. Members asked about the governor’s holdback, public works projects, vehicle replacements, and staffing. Director Ashley Dowell said the department’s census has declined due to strong county partnerships, prevention and diversion efforts, and youth assessment centers, and she explained that a staffing analysis found the agency understaffed by 12 positions, with six vacancies converted to direct care roles. She also described the holdback impacts as coming from contract reductions, internal efficiencies, travel and training cuts, and substance use disorder funding adjustments. The committee adjourned after the department discussion. The committee then reviewed the Office of Energy and Mineral Resources budget. Peterson described the office’s mostly federal funding, small staff, dedicated funds, prior energy resilience appropriations, and FY 2027 requests for personnel realignment, Idaho Orchestrating Nuclear (ION) support, and home energy rebates. Administrator Callie Younger said the office is focused on energy resilience, permitting coordination, hydropower relicensing, geothermal and mining projects, and a growing nuclear policy portfolio. She highlighted the new nuclear task force, the office’s request for information to industry, and work on a federal request related to a nuclear lifecycle campus. Members asked about nuclear development, spent fuel, modular reactors, permitting efficiency, and whether the office might merge with the Office of Species Conservation. Younger said the office is exploring a merger because of overlapping permitting functions and could reduce positions and save some general funds, while also improving its ability to handle nuclear and mining work. The chair closed by noting the committee’s alignment with several governor’s office recommendations and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then in total, in a straight of casa subject to 10% of the total funding for the next budget period
• As you can see here, this is provides a bit of a timeline for when the budget year.
• And then the spending time period for budget years. 2, 3, 4, 5, are the the 23 month time periods that
• There is a 20 page budget narrative that was submitted along with supporting budget documents and budget
• Assuming we do agree with the the spending authority for that given budget, you're recognized. >> The

Transcript Highlights:

• This is Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services.
• This is made possible due to Efforts from legislative action that happened in the last budget cycle,
• In operational budgets to state agencies and departments in 2024-25.
• Regarding the federal budget next year, we have not seen any official budget proposals for our programs
• what impact the federal budget for 2026 will have on our programs.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It gives much more flexibility to budget writers. Very easy to explain.
• Our state budget is over $300 billion. So $7... Our state budget is over $300 billion.
• We'll pay attention to the budget that we approved a week ago Monday.
• That budget balanced the budget for two years. It cut the structural deficit in half.
• We approved a budget last week of $250 billion for our general fund.

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then spent much of the session honoring Sister Michelle Gorman, the Senate chaplain, on her final day after 11 years of service. Members from both parties praised her prayers, compassion, humor, and steady presence, and several noted her long career in education and religious service. The chamber also welcomed delegations from the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California and the Japanese Business Association of Southern California, as well as a delegation from Morelia, Mexico, in connection with Sacramento’s sister-city relationship. The Senate then handled several procedural items, including Assembly messages and motions to remove or withdraw certain bills from consent or committee. The chamber adopted a motion to move Budget and Fiscal Review Committee measures to third reading, and later approved author’s and floor amendments. The main floor action was on ACA 20, the Save for California Futures Act, which would expand the state Rainy Day Fund target from 10% to 20% of general fund taxes, change how reserve deposits count under the Gann limit, and extend and broaden debt repayment provisions, including federal unemployment insurance debt. Supporters argued it would strengthen fiscal stability and reduce volatility; opponents said it was too complicated, still allowed too much borrowing, and did not sufficiently prioritize paying down existing debt. The measure passed 29-2. The Senate also took up SB 623, a compromise measure addressing transportation network company accident cases and medical lien practices. The bill would cap certain lien-based medical charges, restrict attorney referrals and kickbacks tied to lien providers, require more standardized billing, and add rideshare safety requirements such as background checks and additional disqualifying offenses; it passed 36-0. The chamber then considered SB 417, the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026, an $11.25 billion housing bond with $10 billion in general obligation bonds and $1.25 billion for veterans home loan assistance. Supporters said it would fund shovel-ready affordable housing, preservation, homeownership, youth housing, infrastructure, and veterans’ housing; opponents criticized it as a “bait-and-switch” that used veterans to justify broader housing debt and argued the state should focus on existing programs and private financing. Despite the opposition, the measure passed 29-2.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is to do something about our overall budget situation.
• Our state budget is over $300 billion. So $7... Our state budget is over $300 billion.
• That budget balanced the budget for two years. It cut the structural deficit in half.
• We're going to have a budget of revenues and budget, a structural deficit moving forward.
• We approved a budget last week of $250 billion for our General Fund.

Keywords: 987, senate, all