Transcript Highlights:

• Insurance plans are paying for in the telehealth visit.
• Who's paying for their insurance? Who's paying for Medicaid? Taxpayers?
• would have to pay for insurance for this employee.
• You're paying $400.
• Everybody pays and nobody gets a credit, right?

Keywords: 1146, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met on June 28, 2026 and considered a long list of budget and policy bills, reporting many of them out of committee, often with amendments. Early measures included AB 2550 on continued dependent health coverage for certain adults with disabilities, AB 4794 allowing tax data sharing with the New Jersey Innovation Authority and Secure Choice Savings Board, and AB 3381/SB 1493 updating occupational therapy licensure requirements. The committee also advanced AB 4014, creating a social media research center at a public four-year institution, though one member opposed it as unnecessary spending given existing research on social media harms. Another bill, AB 5048/SB 1281, would ban certain apparel and diaper products with intentionally added PFAS; some members opposed it over safety and cost concerns, especially for firefighter gear, but it was reported. The committee also moved AB 383, which promotes volunteerism to help FamilyCare and SNAP recipients meet eligibility requirements, and AB 4357, extending telehealth pay parity, though one member objected to parity between telehealth and in-person care. The committee then took up several energy, environmental, and housing-related bills. AB 5188, the Advanced Grid Technologies Act, was released despite opposition from some members and labor interests. AB 2524 would let dual-use solar projects participate in community solar, and AB 5236 would strengthen pediatric psychiatry and behavioral health services; both were reported. AB 5348, allowing temporary use of open-space and related funds for certain municipalities, drew sharp criticism as a diversion of preservation money to fill budget holes, but passed. AB 5280 returned unexpended county appropriations to Hudson County and authorized supplemental operating aid; it also passed despite objections about prior bidding violations. AB 5347 provided certain motor vehicle-related funding to municipalities and was reported, as was AB 5334/SB 4423, appropriating Green Acres and CBT revenues for local open space and park projects. A major portion of the meeting focused on tax and business-related bills. AB 5329 increased the child tax credit for 2026-2028, with testimony urging that the expansion be made permanent; it was reported. AB 3899, the General Contractor Licensing Act, also passed. AB 5310/SB 4406 clarified sentencing under certain circumstances and was reported. AB 5330, allowing temporary transfers in the pension system, drew testimony from NJEA warning that the State Health Benefits Program was in crisis and asking for a longer repayment period to avoid rate spikes; the bill was still reported. AB 1326 created a higher education governance and funding task force and was amended to add a Talmudic institution or theological seminary representative. Later, AB 5333/SB 4424 appropriated additional Green Acres and CBT funds for recreation and conservation projects and was reported. The committee also advanced several business and alcohol-related measures, including AB 5235 establishing the School-Based Partnership for Access and Resilience for Kids program, AB 5325 reducing business formation fees, AB 4836/SB 2368 on portable solar devices, AB 4881 establishing an advanced nuclear energy procurement program, AB 3974/SB 3183 revising renewable energy incentive and solar interconnection rules, AB 4013 creating a social media research center focused on addictive behavior, AB 5225 making temporary alcohol beverage provisions permanent, and AB 5295 revising alcoholic beverage licensing laws. The most contentious debate came on AB 4085, the Fair Price Protection Act, which would restrict “surveillance pricing” and regulate grocery pricing practices. Consumer advocates supported the bill as a protection against individualized pricing, while retailers and chambers of commerce argued the language was too broad and could undermine loyalty programs, discounts, and electronic shelf labels. Despite those objections, the committee voted to report the bill after amendments. Finally, AB 4530/SB 3739 on EV supply equipment standards was reported, and AB 5322 imposing a temporary cap on net operating loss deductions under the corporate business tax sparked strong opposition from business groups and a policy debate over whether legitimate losses and investment-related deductions should be limited; the bill was still moved out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The projections for people to pay those reinstatement fees and what actually people do pay, there's just
• The projections for people to pay those reinstatement fees and what actually people do pay, there's just
• Is that a pay issue also?
• What is the pay now? Well, it depends what job they're in.
• How much are we paying for that individual, and how much longer are we going to pay for that, irrespective

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> on the year as to whether UL is paying on the year as to whether UL is paying us<00:10:39.279><c
• or when we pay off the debt.
• </c><00:20:07.039><c> off</c> the earliest of 202 or when we pay off the earliest of 202 or when we pay
• So, we're currently paying an electric bill. We'll continue to pay an electric bill.
• <00:50:56.559><c> a</c><00:50:56.800><c> half</c><00:50:56.960><c> a</c> paying a half a paying a half

Keywords: 0:00:02 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:00:30 Approval of Minutes 0:00:49 Information Items 0:01:54 Louisville Arena Authority 0:24:50 Project Rpt from Postsecondary Institutions - MSU 0:26:35 Project Rpt from Finance and Admin. Cabinet 0:37:52 Lease Rpt from Finance and Admin. Cabinet 0:40:13 Rpt from OFM – KIA 0:56:00 Rpt from OFM – EDF Grants 0:58:45 Rpt from OFM – OFM 1:01:46 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including a roll call, approval of the prior meeting minutes, and a set of informational reports. Those reports covered University of Louisville research equipment purchases, a Kent County school district debt issue for elementary school renovations, the University of Kentucky’s planned use of construction management risk for a new engineering building, APA certification reports for underwriter and bond counsel selection committees, and a KCNA status report on infrastructure upgrades and purchases. The main presentation was an informational update from the Louisville Arena Authority. Board representatives said the arena was created to drive economic development and reported about $1.4 billion in economic impact from 2010 to 2013. They explained the authority’s financial structure, including arena operating revenues, TIF revenues, debt service, and a long-term capital plan for major repairs and replacements. Members questioned the low net revenue figures, the long timeline before TIF revenues are projected to exceed debt service, the size of capital expenditure spikes, and the University of Louisville revenue-sharing arrangement. The authority said the $2.42 million annual UL payment is fixed under a 2017 refinancing agreement, while other amounts vary with ticket sales and related revenues. They also said the COVID-era state and Metro funds, combined with authority cash, were used to prepay debt and reduce interest, lowering the debt service schedule. The committee then considered and approved a new capital project for a new HVAC system for the student wellness center pool area. The project, presented by university staff, was approved by the board and required committee action. The committee took a roll call vote, and the project passed unanimously. Finally, Janice Thomas of the state budget office presented two tourism, arts, and heritage cabinet grid resilience projects at Kincaid Lake State Resort Park and Kentucky Down Village State Resort Park. Each project costs $7,834,600 and is funded mostly by a federal grid resilience grant, with the remainder from state utility infrastructure replacement funds and energy policy funds. Staff explained that the projects will move park electrical service ownership and maintenance to regional utilities, allowing the state to exit the infrastructure-management role while continuing to pay utility bills through normal metering. The committee approved the action item by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• You said that the parents can do community service in lieu of paying fines.
• Like literally, my mother had to pick and choose every month what bill to pay.
• She might take it to the shop, but she couldn't afford to pay it. They kept her car.
• I can remember a time my mom needed to pay fines, but my mother couldn't afford to pay the fines.
• For somebody who's got money, it's no big deal to pay a fine.

Bills: HB2947, HB3276, HB3513

Keywords: truancy, school attendance, parent responsibility, education code, community service, criminal record nondisclosure, juvenile board, Moore County, appointments, juvenile justice, county legislation, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> evaluation of somebody's ability to pay. evaluation of somebody's ability to pay.
• </c> agreeing to pay the restitution. agreeing to pay the restitution. Correct. Correct. Correct.
• pay were not paying.
• paying.
• </c> their ability to pay pay is, just making their ability to pay pay is, just making those<00:41:02.800

Bills: HF2358, HF3496, HF3504, HF2169, HF3440

Keywords: public safety, coercion, criminal penalties, law enforcement, victim protection, HF3496, supervision abatement, earned compliance credit, earned compliance credits, conditional release, supervised release, corrections, Minnesota Department of Corrections, restitution, willful nonpayment, probation-like supervision, release supervision, community supervision, lifetime conditional release, early termination of supervision

Transcript Highlights:

• can pay less in taxes.
• can pay less in taxes.
• And keep in mind that many people who are not even able to pay taxes don't pay taxes, because they don't
• I get the rhetoric, and I get saying that people should pay their fair share, pay their way, whatever
• of gas, to pay the rent, to pay for their health care.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and several guest recognitions, including a student honored for a national Mandarin speech contest, a Ms. Black Arizona candidate, and a Madison Elementary School reusable-tray pilot program. The body also recognized interns and approved the prior journal. The chamber then moved through Committee of the Whole calendars and adopted committee reports recommending passage of a series of budget-related bills. The main legislative business centered on the 2026-27 budget package and related omnibus measures, including appropriations, budget implementation, capital outlay, commerce, criminal justice, environment, health care, higher education, human services, K-12 education, state property, revenue/taxation, and transportation bills. Most of these measures were advanced with do-pass recommendations, with repeated debate focused on the tax omnibus and the overall budget’s policy choices. Supporters argued the package provided affordability, tax relief, conformity with federal tax changes, reduced government spending, and reforms to entitlement and other programs; opponents argued it favored corporations and wealthy taxpayers, cut health care, food assistance, housing, tourism, wildfire response, and education, and would forfeit federal matching funds. Several members specifically criticized the failure to close the data center tax exemption and to raise sports betting taxes, while supporters defended those provisions as pro-business and pro-growth. There was also discussion of fund sweeps, including university research funds, housing trust funds, and other agency balances, with opponents saying the sweeps targeted encumbered or already-committed money. After debate, the Senate adopted Committee of the Whole reports and advanced the bills, and later took up House bills introduced and placed on third reading, with members explaining their votes on HB 4138, the General Appropriations Act, largely along party lines. At the end of the session, the Senate processed messages from the House requesting the return of SB 1160 and SB 1786 for reconsideration, and the Senate requested the House return HB 2415 for reconsideration. The chamber also introduced and placed several House budget bills on third reading, including HB 4138 through HB 4153, continuing the budget process.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they're going to be paying for their water.
• They're just going to be paying Crystal City instead of the water district.
• You're just going to pay it.
• It just protects the rural utility’s ability to pay back their existing debt, yes.
• And this bill says, well, I’ll pay the debt for you to eliminate that.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The patient pays 20, the insurance pays 80, or whatever their insurance dictates.
• But that 20 the patient pays is.
• They have to pay the GRT on that.
• So what we did is we said we're not going to pay tax on food. They weren't paying tax on food.
• We don't tax ag, but we also don't know what they don't pay.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> to pay for it." to pay for it."
• </c> you guys pay for this?" you guys pay for this?"
• The owner can't pay, won't pay, whatever, right? Correct.
• The owner can't pay, won't pay, whatever, right? Correct.
• ><c> won't</c><00:35:02.480><c> pay,</c> &gt;&gt; The owner can't pay, won't pay, &gt;&gt; The owner

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> nashille taxpayers have had to pay nashille taxpayers have had to pay approximately<00:49:32.960
• </c><00:50:04.079><c> our</c> our budget and we don't even pay our our budget and we don't even pay our
• </c> move on to a better paying move on to a better paying town<00:50:18.400><c> we</c><00:50:18.720>
• </c> beginning um the state was paying beginning um the state was paying 40%<00:54:35.960><c> until</
• <01:15:12.760><c> for</c><01:15:13.000><c> current</c> paying for current paying for current employees

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the gas tax are not going to be paying more, and people who are not paying into the transportation system
• will be paying into the transportation system.
• The people who are not paying into the transportation system will be paying into the transportation system
• Leave the gas tax as it is: gas-powered vehicles pay that, zero-emission vehicles pay into a new system
• I don't mean to imply that one should pay more than the other.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• paying taxes on capital gains? Senator West? I don't have any capital gains.
• I will insist upon performance before I sign off on a pay raise.
• And, well, because that's what we're paying for, right? That's what we're paying for.
• Yet, here they come and they want the state to create five new courts and pay for the salaries and...
• But the pay raise amount, there was a commission that talked about 30%.

Bills: SB260, SB263, SB293, SJR18

Keywords: school safety, Foundation School Program, education funding, student allotment, Texas education, SB 263, Texas franchise tax, cost of goods sold, COGS, broadcasters, television broadcasting, radio broadcasting, media tax, broadcast license, FCC, 47 C.F.R. Part 73, 47 C.F.R. Part 74, film production, television production, tax deduction

Transcript Highlights:

• By increasing the base pay by 15%.
• And then there's longevity pay, but wait, there's more.
• I will insist upon performance before I sign off on a pay raise.
• Well, because that's what we're paying for, right? That's what we're paying for.
• And so judicial pay plays into the democratic process and the true.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're still paying for Sacramento's mistakes, and under this proposal they'll continue paying for years
• I'm married to a North Dakota cowboy who pays cash for everything, and if you can't pay cash for it,
• Look at what we were paying for. Because you know what?
• We have almost $130 billion of bonded indebtedness that, before we pay for anything, we've got to pay
• That, before we pay for anything, we've got to pay the $7 billion for principal and interest on those

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:

• Because potentially government agencies could be paying this $1,000 per case fee or penalty.
• If people pay by credit card, there is a fee, but very, very few pay.
• Okay, so the $35 fee is kind of a nominal fee that we're required to pay by the feds.
• The federal grant pays... It's primarily funded by a federal grant.
• The federal grant pays two-thirds of our program cost; one-third is state funding.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It could be there to pay COLAs in the future.
• But generally speaking, we are paying as a percentage of payroll.
• Same words to describe it, same name, but this one is used essentially to pay COLAs.
• If you had to pay people earlier, you had to pay them for life; that costs you money.
• from it to reduce what the employers were directly paying.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Public Retirement System Actuarial Committee met on February 23, 2026, approved the December 18, 2025 minutes, and heard no public comment. The committee then reviewed actuarial valuation reports and, for most systems, accompanying experience studies. The actuaries reported generally favorable investment and demographic experience across the systems, with funded ratios improving and employer contribution rates declining in several plans. They also explained the role of funding deposit accounts, frozen unfunded liabilities in some plans, and how recent legislative changes, especially the move to five-year DROP periods in some systems, affected assumptions and costs. For the Louisiana Clerk of Court Retirement Relief Fund, the committee adopted the valuation and experience study, recognizing a fiscal 2027 minimum recommended employer rate of 14.75%. For the District Attorney’s Retirement System, it adopted the valuation and experience study and recognized a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 3.00%. For the Firefighters’ Retirement System, the committee adopted the valuation and experience study, recognized a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 25.5%, and noted that DROP balances left on deposit will earn the market rate of return of 11.7%. The committee also adopted the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System valuation for both Plan A and Plan B, recognizing fiscal 2027 minimum rates of 20.75% and 8.75%, respectively. It adopted the Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System valuation and experience study, recognizing a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 26.5%, a DROP crediting rate of 7.4%, and a policy range up to 29.35% for future contributions. For the Registrars of Voters Employees’ Retirement System, the committee adopted the valuation and experience study, recognized a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 0%, and noted a $207,683 allocation to the Member Supplemental Savings Fund for fiscal 2026. Finally, it adopted the Sheriff’s Pension and Relief Fund valuation and experience study, recognizing a fiscal 2027 minimum rate of 7.75%. All motions passed without objection, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of these people are unable to pay. They do not pay.
• LFO interest means choosing between paying rent, keeping the lights on, or paying down debt that never
• As it were, to those defendants who do have the ability to pay.
• What are my consequences if I don't pay?
• Of 300 workers or so, were owed almost $700,000 in back pay on that.

Bills: HB2161, HB2332, HB2102

Keywords: attorney general, legal authority, state powers, judiciary, civil rights, driver privacy, data protection, personal information, surveillance, consumer rights, legal obligations, financial responsibility, debt management, consumer protection, court systems, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And you're going to see private pay for the most part.
• Medicare is equally going to pay for that, but only up to 100 days.
• Private pay does exist; it's very expensive.
• They pay 28 days, correct?
• They will enter a long-term care facility, and Medicaid would pay for it.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from Marty Wright, CEO of the West Virginia Healthcare Association, on the state’s long-term care system. He described the continuum from home care to assisted living to skilled nursing facilities, emphasizing that these settings increasingly serve short-term rehab-to-home patients as well as older adults needing round-the-clock care. He also outlined the number of facilities in West Virginia, the predominance of Medicaid as the payer for long-term nursing home care, the private-pay nature of assisted living, and the role of OFAC/CMS in regulation. A major focus of the presentation was workforce shortages and turnover, especially for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs, along with declining interest in nursing careers and the impact of regulatory burden and burnout. Wright said the system is also struggling to serve younger patients with substance use disorder, mental illness, or other behavioral needs, who are often not well suited for traditional nursing home placement but have limited alternatives. Senators raised concerns about where such patients are being housed, the long-term effects of opioid and behavioral health issues, and the gap between school-age special needs populations and adult care needs. Wright said Medicaid can cover long-term nursing home care for those who meet financial and medical eligibility requirements, but affordability and spend-down requirements remain major barriers. He also warned that Medicare Advantage can create confusion and shorter covered stays for rehab patients, and he urged early planning around long-term care insurance and estate planning. No votes were taken on the presentation, and the committee adjourned after questions and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• To date, the agency has spent approximately $21.9 million of the fund to pay for their contract costs
• It’s a request for a new rider that would specify that the comptroller, and not the agency, will pay
• Generally, in other states, staff pay is based on the executive director's pay.
• And do we want Oklahoma to pay their folks more than we do?
• , not because of happiness, with overwhelming workload and comparatively low pay.

Bills: SB1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met to review Article 8, regulatory agencies, and began Article 9, general provisions, before recessing for floor action. The committee first heard budget presentations from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC). The PUC budget recommendation was about $5.07 billion in all funds, including an additional $5 billion for the Texas Energy Fund, plus funding for staffing and technology needs tied to contested cases, infrastructure resiliency, and outage mapping. PUC witnesses emphasized the agency’s growing workload, the need for more staff and modern systems, and oversight of the Texas Energy Fund. OPUC’s recommendation was about $6.9 million, with a reduction in authorized FTEs to better match actual staffing; the agency requested additional funding for salaries, expert witnesses, and budget flexibility, and members highlighted OPUC’s role representing residential and small commercial consumers in utility proceedings. The committee then heard from the Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), whose recommendation was just over $11.2 million. BHEC’s main requests included funding to fill vacant positions, money for continuous National Practitioner Data Bank queries, and a proposed Texas-owned psychology licensing exam in response to concerns about changes to the national exam. Agency leaders also discussed a rider request that would shift responsibility for certain judgments or settlements to the comptroller. Members asked about prior complaint backlogs, and BHEC said those backlogs had been cleared. The Board of Chiropractic Examiners followed, with a recommendation of just under $2.4 million; the board sought support for staffing, training, broadband, and salary retention, and described its work regulating chiropractors and workers’ compensation-related doctors. The Board of Dental Examiners was the last agency heard before the committee recessed. Its recommendation was just under $10 million, and it requested a 10% salary increase for eligible staff, three additional licensing staff, one staff member to handle required background checks, an additional attorney, and an executive director salary adjustment. Dental board witnesses said licensure growth, increased complaints, and low salaries were straining licensing and enforcement operations, even though the agency reported strong performance and high case completion rates. The chair ended the hearing early because the Senate had to return to the floor, and the committee remained in recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• the vehicle so that we can make the appropriate emergency appropriations for, uh, temporary hazard pay
• It is one of the biggest and it's a fixed cost that, you know, that we basically have to pay.
• It is one of the biggest and it's a fixed cost that, you know, that we basically have to pay.
• </c><00:53:30.240><c> the</c> the rate of an employees usual pay the the rate of an employees usual pay
• </c><00:54:03.680><c> time</c> vacation leave sick leave or pay time vacation leave sick leave or pay

Keywords: 910, house, all