Transcript Highlights:

• These student athletes spend countless hours in the lanes.
• THESE STUDENT ATHLETES SPEND COUNTLESS HOURS IN THE LANES.
• To our guests, yes, I had the privilege of spending an hour or half an hour.
• RESEARCH HAS CLEARLY SHOWN THAT INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
• THERE IS ALSO ABUNDANT EVIDENCE THAT HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS PRODUCE DRAMATICALLY LOWER RECIDIVISM

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, approved the journal, and welcomed several guest groups, including Saugerties student government officers, the Marlboro High School boys bowling state champions, a civics group, a National Guard/9-11 responder advocate, family members honoring Salvador Vizcarrondo Jr., architecture professionals, correctional officers and employees, and small business representatives. Members also offered resolutions recognizing Architecture Week, Correctional Officers and Employees Week, and Small Business Week, along with tributes to community leaders and student achievements. The chamber then took up a series of bills on the non-controversial calendar, passing measures on education leave for incarcerated people, utility interconnection study, property tax exemption, alcohol regulation, executive law, school drill requirements, victim sentencing rights, public health, public officers, public authorities, election law, environmental conservation, veterans/homeland security, labor, and other topics. Several bills were laid aside. Some measures drew brief explanations of vote, including concerns about school safety drills, correctional staffing and safety, and a victims’ rights bill that one senator said mirrored an earlier version he had carried. The most extended debate centered on the 21st Century Antitrust Act (Calendar 879), with supporters arguing it would modernize antitrust enforcement against dominant firms, especially big tech, and opponents warning it would create vague standards, invite private lawsuits, and harm small and rural businesses. Another debated bill (Calendar 818) would restrict sharing of utility consumption data with police; supporters framed it as a privacy measure requiring normal legal process, while opponents said it would hinder law enforcement while still allowing state regulators access. Both bills were ultimately restored to the non-controversial calendar and passed, and the Senate adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• He said the allocation authority should be used to spend money from other sources before spending GR
• So our academic education, the Carl Perkins funds go to career and technical education.
• Some programs include adult basic education, technical education, post-secondary academic and career
• The commission approved spending...
• It's a Judiciary, Public Defender, Treasurer, General Assembly, and Department of Higher Education and

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• So they're higher in need than our overall minimum Kupuna Care eligibility.
• As we found, the older people get, they have a higher percentage of living alone.
• So that is the education and outreach that we have.
• Our space and our impact is on the education and outreach, okay? Yeah, okay.
• </c> funds congressionally directed spending funds congressionally directed spending through<01:16:24.440

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services held an informational briefing on Kupuna Care funding, distribution, utilization, and the status of program rules. The Office of Aging explained that state Kupuna Care funds are distributed using the same federally approved interstate funding formula used for Older Americans Act funds, with eight weighted factors tailored to Hawaii’s conditions: older adults, greatest economic need, low-income minority status, disability, language barriers, geographic isolation, inverse population density, and older adults living alone in poverty. The department said the formula is based on census and American Community Survey data, with current county shares listed as Kauai 7.45%, Honolulu 69.61%, Maui 11.7%, and Hawaii County 17.88%. Officials said the formula is being reviewed with current data and will need federal approval and then public hearing before final adoption. Members questioned how the program works in practice, noting that the statute and eligibility language can sound like direct individual benefits even though services are delivered through area agencies on aging, ADRCs, and contracted providers such as meal and adult day care programs. The Office of Aging said ADRCs determine eligibility and then refer clients to authorized providers, who must meet service standards in their contracts. The chair pressed repeatedly for long-delayed rules, saying the Legislature had expected them years earlier and that clear rules are needed to ensure funds are spent properly and to avoid conflicts of interest. The department acknowledged the delay, said draft rules were written in 2023 after earlier commitments to finish sooner, and said it paused while federal Older Americans Act rules were being updated; it now expects to send the rules to the Deputy Attorney General, then out for public hearing, with a goal of completion in 2025. The department also reported utilization data for the last two fiscal years. In 2023, it expended about 93% of its allocation and served 5,473 older adults at an average annual cost of $1,358; in 2024, it expended about 97% and served 5,520 older adults, with the average cost down by about $200, which officials said may indicate fewer services per person. Eligibility was described as age 60 or older, U.S. citizen or qualified alien, with cognitive impairment or disability and functional deficits, and the statewide profile showed many participants were homebound, living alone, or below poverty. The most-used services were transportation, case management, and home-delivered meals. The chair also asked about the former Kupuna caregiver program; officials said the programs are now combined under Kupuna Care, with most funding going to adult day care to provide respite for working caregivers. County representatives then described local conditions, especially on Hawaii Island. Hawaii County officials said the county covers about 5,000 square miles, has about 208,000 residents, and roughly 24% are age 65 or older. They identified three main challenges: staffing shortages and retention problems among providers, shortages within the county department itself, and the loss of adult day care capacity, with only one center remaining on the island and none on the west side. They said these constraints limit service delivery even as demand grows. At the same time, they highlighted successes such as serving people in the community before they need higher levels of care, providing caregiver counseling and training through adult day care, serving 467 individuals locally, and ensuring the Resource Center answers calls from caregivers seeking help.

Transcript Highlights:

• We collaborate with the American Lung Cancer Screening Initiative in outreach and spend many weekends
• Budget spending on suppression has risen 89%. Home insurance premiums have risen 25%.
• PG&E spends about $2 billion a year trimming trees on other property owners' lands.
• We spend about $2 billion a year trimming trees on other property owners' lands.
• We're asking them to spend thousands of dollars on home retrofits.

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• We also provide budget options and are able to do research on spending and revenue, on enacted spending
• We also provide budget options and are able to do research on spending and revenue, on enacted spending
• We also provide budget options and are able to do research on spending and revenue, on enacted spending
• We also provide budget options and are able to do research on spending and revenue, on enacted spending
• Spending on goods is slightly declining, where more spending on services is taking place.

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> higher education. higher education. Semicolon. Semicolon. Semicolon.
• </c> higher education. higher education.
• </c><01:12:18.960><c> education</c> indeed cover state higher education indeed cover state higher education
• ><c> of</c> higher education state institution of higher education state institution of higher<01:16:
• 08.000><c> education</c> higher education higher education this<01:16:09.920><c> amendment</c><01:16:

Transcript Highlights:

• The housing issue isn't just about educators.
• But that fund initially, or that bill, I apologize, initially creates a higher education major projects
• fund that will be administered by the higher education department for housing units for the universities
• Education Department.
• A lot of this has already previously been mentioned, so I won't spend too much time on it.

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• It's there for you to spend in the next legislative session, usually as non-recurring spending.
• It can hold 8% of recurring spending.
• It's high right now, higher than it has been.
• If you start spending down.
• investment pool for capital spending, when our capital spending started coming out of the general fund

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Just shifting very briefly into spending, slide 15 is our baseline spending projections.
• In the dark blue bars are revenue, the white bars are spending.
• In 2024, we actually saw this unusual flip where higher-income, higher-wage earners saw a higher percentage
• Consumers are under pressure, but they're still spending.
• So I still feel like the spending related to the data centers.

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee met for its January session to review Arizona revenue and economic conditions ahead of the budget process. JLBC staff presented the January baseline, noting projected positive cash balances through FY 2029 and about $577 million to $578 million in discretionary capacity, but also highlighting major unfunded items not included in the baseline, including federal tax conformity costs, ongoing one-time spending for state employee health insurance and school facility repairs, and administrative costs tied to H.R. 1. Staff also reviewed revenue trends by category, saying FY26 general fund revenues were running above forecast overall, with strength in retail, restaurants and bars, and individual income tax payments, while contracting and utility-related collections were weaker or flat. They also compared JLBC and executive revenue assumptions and discussed the executive’s proposed revenue changes, including border reimbursement assumptions, sports betting tax changes, data center-related tax and fee proposals, and other non-general fund measures. A major topic was income tax conformity with recent federal tax law changes. Staff explained that current Department of Revenue forms assume “straight conformity,” but the governor’s proposal and vetoed SB 1106 do not fully match those forms, creating possible amendment and timing issues for taxpayers and the department if the legislature adopts a different policy. Members also discussed the difficulty of forecasting revenues amid volatile monthly collections and uncertainty over how much of the current revenue strength will persist in the second half of the fiscal year. Danny Court of Elliott Pollack gave a broader national and state economic outlook, arguing that the U.S. has avoided recession despite several warning indicators, largely because of AI and data center investment, while employment growth has softened and inflation remains above the Fed’s target. He said Arizona remains relatively resilient, with strong population and job pipelines, but faces housing affordability constraints, slowing employment growth, and a more concentrated population forecast in the Phoenix area. Panelists generally agreed that Arizona remains in better shape than many states, though they cautioned that job growth is slowing, population estimates may be revised, and budget and revenue forecasts should be treated carefully given uncertainty in the data. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> 200 accounts accounting for a higher 200 accounts accounting for a higher maximum<00:25:54.080><
• </c> And 37% pursued post-secary education. And 37% pursued post-secary education.
• I do also want to just defend the folks who did the survey just for a second, the higher education professor
• I do also want to just defend the folks who did the survey just for a second, the higher education professor
• I do also want to just defend the folks who did the survey just for a second, the higher education professor

Bills: HF2135 , HF776 , HF1581 , HF1158 , HF2226

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• In the House of Representatives, House Bill 883 by the Education Committee.
• Department of Education. The U.S.
• and to really advance education all across this country.
• and to really advance education all across this country.
• Department of Education.

Transcript Highlights:

• > education</c><00:19:08.240><c> with</c> Davis pursued educ his education with Davis pursued educ his
• </c><00:36:57.119><c> costs</c><00:36:57.520><c> for</c> damage, and higher costs for damage, and higher
• </c> Representatives to spend its time. Representatives to spend its time.
• </c><05:47:40.480><c> share</c> The very rich are paying a higher share The very rich are paying a higher
• /c><06:08:54.240><c> patting</c> Republicans are spending time patting Republicans are spending time

Transcript Highlights:

• you've heard me in the last several years talk about our priorities: affordability, public safety, education
• by a long measure the largest tax increase in our state's history and thought that would solve a spending
• That should be ruled out, and we should spend that money in more effective things, and I know there's
• You know, the three critical things that the state does is educate, medicate, and incarcerate.
• The questions are really distracted along the way by spending a lot of state money on publicly built

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a media availability on the second day of the 60-day legislative session, reacting to Governor Ferguson’s State of the State address and outlining their priorities. They said the top issue is affordability, and argued the governor and Democratic majority are responding with more taxes, regulation, and government spending rather than restraint. They criticized the prospect of a state income tax, calling it unconstitutional, politically unpopular, and likely to expand beyond high earners over time. They also said the state should avoid raiding the rainy day fund and instead look for savings through tighter budget management, reduced middle management, and a focus on core services. The leaders also discussed public safety, immigration enforcement, child care oversight, transportation, housing, and the Climate Commitment Act. On immigration, they said law enforcement coordination is essential and criticized mixed messages from state leaders about federal enforcement and sheriffs. On child care, they said allegations of fraud in subsidy programs should be investigated through audits and oversight, and rejected the idea that looking for fraud is offensive to honest providers. They said there is some bipartisan agreement on using Climate Commitment Act revenue for the Working Families Tax Credit, transportation, and wildfire prevention, but argued the tax itself is regressive and should be redirected to better uses. On the budget, Republicans said the current deficit will not be solved by a future income tax and that the state will likely need spending cuts or savings. They said there is some limited agreement with moderate Democrats against further tax increases and against using the rainy day fund as a first step. On housing and transportation, they said the real solutions are permitting reform, changes to the Growth Management Act and energy code, and more stable transportation funding, rather than more state spending on affordable housing or piecemeal fees. No votes were taken, and the event ended as a press availability with questions from reporters.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our community colleges are critical to providing open and easy access to higher education for Californians
• How do they provide more access to higher education for the state, and how do we support students' needs
• A final factor is looking across higher education.
• Of your agenda here that shows the differences with the other two higher education systems.
• I want to acknowledge the work that Chair of Higher Education, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 190, we have the Office of Higher Education, and there is $500,000 in fiscal year 26 only for
• On line 190, we have the Office of Higher Education, and there is $500,000 in fiscal year 26 only for
• On line 190, we have the Office of Higher Education, and there is $500,000 in fiscal year 26 only for
• On line 190, we have the Office of Higher Education, and there is $500,000 in fiscal year 26 only for
• On line 190, we have the Office of Higher Education, and there is $500,000 in fiscal year 26 only for

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• education.
• The fees go into a new appropriated account to be spent on certain energy and higher education-related
• Wrapping up, for... ...spent on certain energy and higher education-related purposes.
• education for career services, quantum computing education, and artificial intelligence education for
• educators.

Summary: The committee began with a public hearing on Substitute House Bill 1592, which would change how state public defense funds are distributed and, in the substitute version, keep current law on state funding responsibility while revising the allocation formula. Staff explained the bill would shift county and city distributions to a pro rata, caseload-based model, allow very low-density counties to request OPD to provide some or all public defense services, require additional data collection and reporting, and direct OPD to study caseload reductions and retention. Representative Peterson said the bill is meant to create a better structure for future state support of indigent defense without the very large cost of the original proposal. Testimony from counties, cities, OPD, defenders, and local officials was strongly supportive, emphasizing a statewide public defense crisis, rising local costs, staffing shortages, and the need for a fairer funding model. The committee then heard Substitute House Bill 1742 on environmentally sustainable urban design and Substitute House Bill 1906 on water system regulation and water rates. HB 1742 would create a center in Ecology to promote sustainable urban design, fund design competitions and grants, and establish an advisory council; the sponsor said the bill reflects a desire to support a pilot project through alternative funding, and there was no public testimony. HB 1906 would require more planning and notice for Group A water systems, add customer notice and right-of-first-refusal provisions for some ownership changes, and direct the UTC to consider external funding sources, capital planning, and rate smoothing when setting water rates. Water utility and PUD witnesses supported the goal of improving transparency and consolidation of failing small systems, while noting the substitute reduced some fiscal concerns. The committee also heard HB 2248 on Secretary of State corporate and charity filings, HB 2438 creating the SEED scholarship for early childhood education students, and HB 2515 addressing emerging large energy use facilities such as data centers. HB 2248 would redirect part of annual filing fees to the Secretary of State revolving fund, require initial reports from nonprofits and LLPs, and change trademark certificate procedures; the fiscal note showed modest revenue losses, and the division supported restoring the fee split for operational funding. HB 2438 would transfer $10 million annually from the GET account to fund scholarships and wraparound services for early childhood education degree seekers, with testimony from early learning advocates and a student describing workforce shortages and personal financial barriers. HB 2515 drew extensive testimony both for and against: supporters said it would protect ratepayers, water resources, and grid reliability by requiring tariffs, reporting, clean-energy requirements, and a fee on large energy users; opponents argued it singled out data centers, could hurt investment and jobs, and included unrelated labor and procurement provisions. After public testimony, the committee moved into executive-session briefing on several bills and amendments, including HB 1903 on statewide low-income energy assistance, HB 1909 on a court unification task force, HB 1982 on vacating certain convictions tied to treaty Indian rights, HB 2034 on LEOFF Plan 1 retirement changes, HB 2105 on employer notice of federal I-9 audits, HB 2210 on ranked-choice voting, HB 2215 on Climate Commitment Act fuel supplier obligations, and HB 2271 on post-consumer recycled content requirements. Staff summarized proposed substitutes and amendments, with several changes aimed at reducing or shifting fiscal impacts, narrowing agency duties, or striking provisions entirely.

Transcript Highlights:

• He earned his higher education degree at the City College of New York and developed a lifelong passion
• He earned his higher<00:14:21.279><c> education</c><00:14:21.839><c> degree</c><00:14:22.560><c> at</
• c><00:14:22.880><c> the</c><00:14:23.040><c> City</c> higher education degree at the City higher education
• His project helped mentor low-income students in India as they pursued higher education. Dr.
• . education. education.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are requesting $453,83,21 in spending authority. behavioral health programs.
• to spend funds that we collect for operations, um, specifically for our ID regional programs and the
• community care spending has changed.
• </c><00:36:31.680><c> I</c><00:36:31.920><c> think</c> maybe prescribing they spend it.
• I think maybe prescribing they spend it.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• or employed in a low-skilled job, which is higher than those who are U.S.
• or employed in a low-skilled job, which is higher than those who are U.S.
• The ABOD handbook is critical for staff training and customer education.
• The ABOD Handbook is critical for staff training and customer education.
• Because we are going to be having to educate both our staff and our customer base.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not one of your disputed studies that show the connection between a higher education and greater earning
• Young people who have grown up here and worked hard here, who simply want a chance at a higher education
• Why shouldn't we want children to pursue higher education if that is within their dreams?
• Education is a vital part of that dream.
• The in-state tuition for current college students at Miami-Dade College, FIU, and higher education institutions

Bills: SJR36 , SR8 , SR14 , SR15 , SR17 , HCR54