Transcript Highlights:

• Crucially, the bill ensures that at least 40% of the funds are directed toward projects and programs
• Crucially, the bill ensures that at least 40% of the funds are directed toward projects and programs
• Crucially, the bill ensures that at least 40% of the funds are directed toward projects and programs
• Now, if the goal of AB 1243 is to fund climate action, we already have a program that's doing that.
• Now, if the goal of AB1243 is to fund climate action, we already have a program that's doing that.

Summary: The committee hearing centered first on AB 1243, the Polluters Pay Climate Superfund Act of 2025, which would direct CalEPA to identify major fossil fuel companies, study California’s climate damages, and assess fees on the largest polluters to fund resilience, recovery, and related projects. The author and supporters argued the bill would make polluters help pay for climate harms, protect taxpayers, create jobs in construction and clean energy, and dedicate at least 40% of funds to disadvantaged communities. Support testimony came from environmental justice groups, labor, youth advocates, health organizations, and many individual witnesses, while opponents from the building trades, chambers of commerce, petroleum, and business groups warned it would raise fuel and consumer costs, threaten refinery jobs, and create legal and economic uncertainty. Committee members debated the bill’s impact on affordability, jobs, refinery closures, and whether cap-and-trade already addresses climate funding needs. The committee ultimately voted to give AB 1243 a due pass recommendation to the Judiciary Committee, with the roll left open. After AB 1243, the committee moved to another bill on wildfire mitigation and related resilience work. The author said the measure addresses a long-running wildfire problem and accepted committee amendments, describing the bill as a response to increasingly severe wildfire seasons and the need to help communities stay safe and rebuild after disasters. The transcript cuts off as that presentation begins, so no final action on the second bill is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And C, the program spend those funds.
• It encourages competition, protects student funds, and preserves the current program.
• tax credit program also administered by Children's Scholarship Fund?
• credit program, it's private funds, right?
• It’s not strictly a voucher program because those funds become private funds once they’re dispersed to

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This year the reinsurance program is funded through a state appropriation.
• some programs that of those but funded some programs that are,<00:42:46.240> you<00:42:46.400
• And so we are expanding the rural clinical rotations program that was funded by the legislature, and
• But we will be able to do more with the RHTP funds to enhance those programs.
• program fund is going to make up less than 40% of the estimated loss of federal Medicaid funding.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for that program change in the funding for that program but<00:08:08.879> it<00:08:09.199>
• Operating adjustment funding ensures that agencies can retain experienced staff who run the programs
• Ignoring operating adjustments and reallocations of funding also leaves these programs vulnerable to
• for the Minnesota Food one-time funds for the Minnesota Food Shell<01:24:14.239> program.
• This is a concern because this program is already facing a drop of $75 million in funding this summer

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ARPA FUNDS OR FUNDS BUDGETED TO OUR PROGRAM FROM THE STATE.
• SO THE TOTAL FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM OVERALL AT THIS POINT IS 633 MILLION AND YOU CAN SEE THERE HOW IT
• IN THE PROGRAM WERE IN THE PROCESS.
• IT IS THE BONDING FACILITY PROGRAM.
• WE HAVE A PROGRAM THAT EXPANDS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, FUNDING STARTS IN JULY AND THEY START

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• And then moving forward, what do we fund? We fund the high-speed rail.
• While increased funding is beneficial, I have concerns about cuts to the middle class scholarship program
• While increased funding is beneficial, I have concerns about cuts to the middle class scholarship program
• for funding.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the Senate journals and adopted floor amendments. Members voted on motions to advance Budget and Fiscal Review Committee measures and to suspend Joint Rule 62A so the budget committee could hear budget-related bills with shortened notice; both motions passed by roll call. The chamber then moved through the Daily File, including several second-reading bills and gubernatorial appointments. Three appointments were confirmed: Julie Lee and Ann Patterson to the Delta Stewardship Council, and Santa Cruz County Sheriff Christopher Clark to the Board of State and Community Corrections. Senators also took up Senate Joint Resolution 17, which urges Congress and the President to clarify that states may extend burial and memorial benefits in state veterans’ cemeteries to Republic of Korea veterans who served alongside U.S. troops in Vietnam; the resolution passed unanimously. The Senate then considered AB 109, the Budget Act of 2026, with extensive debate on the state’s fiscal condition and major budget priorities. Supporters said the budget is balanced, maintains reserves, reduces the structural deficit, and protects funding for child care, Medi-Cal, distressed hospitals, in-home supportive services, housing, higher education, and transit. Opponents argued it relies on future tax increases, leaves a structural deficit, and does not adequately address affordability, public safety, or repayment of unemployment insurance debt. After debate, AB 109 passed 28-9, and the chamber later approved the consent calendar items 81 through 86. The session ended with adjournments in memory of Honorable Hajan Lee, Doris Fisher, and James Leslie Barbie. The Senate announced its next floor session would be Thursday, June 18, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• C1 is $225,000 to return funds from the TANF program.
• This is to fund the Education Facilities Partnership Program.
• This is to use unexpended funds from previous years on the adult diploma program.
• The RSVP program, retired senior volunteer program, is a program for retired seniors.
• These are, this is state funding. This is not federal funding. The RSVP program, retired.

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:18.880> are<00:09:19.120> fully programs are fully programs are fully funded.<00
• in 2028-29. fund but there are changes to programs fund but there are changes to programs within<01:
• And that program is uh uh dipping into our general fund.
• program is uh uh dipping into our general<01:20:03.520> fund.
• So when that program is general fund.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, the Last program we have here is the modal program.
• Can you tell me where that program is being used now, the airports that are receiving that fund, and
• So, the money that goes to the local government road fund, it's in their specific programs.
• Right now, vehicle registration fee revenue is programmed to go to several different funds, the road
• So the road fund funds will ultimately be replaced By bonding funds, unless there's a federal match required

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The funding is coming from that same insurance premium tax fund.
• funds?
• funds?
• If you're going to, I do like elements of this retirement fund, or this retirement program that you're
• general fund.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee was called to order, a quorum was established, and the minutes from the prior meeting were approved. The first major presentation came from Montana Public Employees Retirement System executive director William Hollahan, who gave an overview of Montana’s Volunteer Firefighters’ Compensation Act plan. He explained that the plan covers volunteer firefighters in unincorporated areas, is funded by 5% of state fire insurance premium taxes, and currently serves 228 departments with about 2,936 active members and 1,242 retirees. He described eligibility rules, annual training and reporting requirements, benefit levels for partial and full pensions, disability, death, medical, and funeral benefits, and said the plan is actuarially sound with roughly $60 million in assets and a funded ratio slightly above 100%. Committee members asked about prior-service credit, whether EMS personnel are included, the effect on recruitment and retention, and whether expanding coverage would require a funding analysis; Hollahan said prior service is not credited, EMS is not currently included, and any expansion would need financial review. Tim Walleen of Workforce Safety and Insurance then presented a draft North Dakota workers’ compensation solution for volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS personnel. He explained that volunteer responders are already covered by workers’ comp for medical and wage-loss benefits, but the proposal would set a minimum annual wage of $30,000 for calculating wage-loss benefits for qualifying volunteers, with the benefit paid at two-thirds of that amount. Representative Porter suggested tying the volunteer definition to existing code rather than a fixed dollar amount, and Walleen agreed. Questions focused on whether search and rescue or other volunteer emergency services could be included, whether departments would face new paperwork, and whether volunteer organizations can already elect coverage; Walleen said there would be no additional paperwork and that volunteer coverage is already available. The committee also heard from volunteer fire service representatives and the state fire marshal. An Oakes-area firefighter, Mr. Olson, testified that small departments are struggling with retention, communication, and administrative burdens, especially around separate bookkeeping and funding rules for donated or fundraising money, and he said departments need clearer guidance from the state. State Fire Marshal Dr. Matthew Clark introduced himself and outlined a broader effort to improve education, support, and coordination for fire departments, including a planned 10% audit of certificates of existence beginning in 2027, more outreach through his office, and better assistance with training, reporting, and grant access. He said his office is authorized under current law to provide these services, but the role has been vague and underused. Finally, Arnagard Rural Fire District Chief Rick Schreiber testified in favor of new recruitment and retention ideas, including retirement-style benefits, health insurance, tax incentives, scholarships, grants, and more remote or regional training. He said volunteer departments are losing members, that local tax and donation funds are already stretched, and that any new retirement or incentive program should be sustainable and likely involve a mix of state and local support.

Transcript Highlights:

• Supply Fund, which is the Water Fund's program mechanism for encouraging non-traditional projects. water
• The substitute makes transfers from the water fund to the program funds irreversible.
• Typically, existing facilities get funded under the program, although there are opportunities for new
• There is a funding gap for both of the different programs, totaling eight billion dollars in funding
• gathered for each funding program, how much we can fund and how much remains.

Bills: SB7

Keywords: water infrastructure, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, water supply, environmental sustainability, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program, funded vouchers without the required proof of residency and/or proof of income in 12 of the
• , the program that is managing the funds, that putting in annual income eligibility check in here is
• The voucher program, EFAs, private schools—we are under no constitutional mandate to fund this program
• of how the program is implemented, but which entities are funded with state education funds and for
• of how the program is implemented, but which entities are funded with state education funds and for

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For this particular program.
• Um, most of them are funded through state general funds.
• So a lot of this is based on prevention programs, but it goes hand in hand with our treatment programs
• For this particular program, we do not have a waitlist for some of our other programs, as I mentioned
• And, and since these are one-time settlement funds, what is the plan for when these funds run out and

Transcript Highlights:

• in the past where they've had all these great programs, but then when the funding goes away, the programs
• when the funding goes away, the but then when the funding goes away, the programs<00:09:28.040> go
• new programs in multiple health departments.<00:22:06.760> We're<00:22:07.360> funding
• This program is totally funded by CMS, and so this is a statement that we're required to make.
• So, the process that we've identified now is whenever the program leads identify a particular funding

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are having to manage for federal programming and federal funding during the shutdown, and it's
• That's kind of how the funding comes in to run this program.
• We do request support for the authorization and funding of a one-year VJI pilot program there in New
• We help write grants as necessary and identify grants that will help fund those programs.
• fund those programs, but we are not, I am not currently... working with that organization as of yet,

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, when the family qualifies for both programs, they can stack funding.
• And so we do need to turn over every stone to make sure that this program is properly funded.
• is is properly sure that this program is is properly funded.<01:40:32.400> And<01:40:32.639><
• Uh it makes program adjustments fund.
• the programs are funded appropriately. the programs are funded appropriately.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened, led the pledge of allegiance, and established a quorum before approving the corrected journal. The Majority Leader then moved a long list of bills—House Bills 1150 through 1179—to be made special orders for February 11, 2026 at 9:15 a.m., and the chamber agreed without objection. The committee then took up House Bill 1150, a supplemental appropriation for the Department of Agriculture. Representative Serna explained it included technical adjustments tied to other agencies, plus a pilot program to test a biocontrol strategy for the mountain pine beetle infestation in Colorado’s ponderosa pine forests. After brief opposition from a member who said he would vote no on spending measures generally, the bill passed. House Bill 1151, the supplemental appropriation for the Department of Corrections, generated extensive debate. Supporters said the bill was necessary to cover major costs such as medical case loads, outside medical and mental health contracts, local jail payments, prison case load, private prison utilization, and food services, while also addressing staffing and parole/community corrections coordination. Opponents argued the state keeps funding more beds instead of investing in services that reduce incarceration, criticized DOC management and delays, and said the legislature should demand better accountability and efficiency. Supporters countered that DOC does not control the parole board or community corrections, that the prison population is aging, and that the state must pay for required custody and care. The transcript ends amid continued debate over the corrections supplemental, with no final vote on House Bill 1151 shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And um with that, I’ll bring um this is the Empowering Small Communities program that we funded in 2023
• we can to get funding for this program.
• Last year we did fund a program through MnDOT for, like, $30,000 grants for consultants.
• Last year we did fund a program Chair.
• Last year we did fund a program through<00:47:59.200> Mindot<00:47:59.760> for<00:48:00.400

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes it's just state and local funding, and sometimes it's federal housing programs.
• So sometimes it's hard to get local philanthropists to put up money for funds like programs like this
• I wonder, how are they funding these programs?
• The program we were just discussing, over half those funds were donated.
• But a lot of people who are not in this room can't afford to fund this program.

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223, HB323, HB524, HB530, HB636, HB762, HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: housing finance, multifamily residential, low income, tax exemption, audit requirements, affordable housing, local government, development bonds, housing assistance, financial assistance, low income housing, community support, affordability, veterans housing, community involvement, air conditioning, tenant support, healthcare, elderly, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• although<00:36:59.200> I, program special fund, which although I, program special fund, which
• program participants and to program program participants and to program staff.<00:40:31.920>
• Department of Defense is one of the few programs where the current administration is funding, increasing
• Department of Defense is one of the few programs where the current administration is funding, increasing
• Department of Defense is one of the few programs where the current administration is funding, increasing

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Pilot Program Overview. Pilot Program Overview.
• funds with another 50%. funds with another 50%.
• The unit breakdown is 65 Army programs, 15 Navy programs, 12 Air Force programs, and five U.S.
• > Force<00:36:12.960> programs, 15 Navy programs, 12 Air Force programs, 15 Navy programs
• We expect more programs to utilize these funds in the future.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard an Office of Education Technology presentation on the Kentucky Education Technology System (KTS) and a request to increase its annual budget from $15.4 million to $30 million, including an additional $14.6 million. The witness described KTS as a statewide service model that provides districts with student information and financial systems, internet bandwidth, regional support, cybersecurity, online registration, learning management and email services, and collaborative instructional technology support. He argued the state’s centralized purchasing saves districts 40% to 60% compared with buying services individually, and said federal internet discounts and district matching funds create a strong return on investment. He also said KTS has faced long-term funding cuts, has not received a cost-of-living increase since 1992, and is now at a “breaking point” where some services may have to be shifted to districts at higher cost. The request was broken into six main items: restoring funding for the computer science and information technology academy; strengthening cybersecurity defenses in response to sharply rising attacks on K-12 systems; funding online registration through Infinite Campus; stabilizing ongoing support costs for Infinite Campus; providing cost-of-living increases for KTS services; and increasing the KTS financial assistance sent to districts, which requires local matching funds. Members asked about the current appropriation, and the witness said it is $15.4 million. One member praised the office’s work and support for districts, while another noted the district had been an early adopter of one-to-one technology. The committee then received an overview of the KRS 156 salary schedule and step-and-rank system for state-operated career and technical education staff at area technology centers. Officials explained that salaries are set under statute and regulation based on years of service and educational rank, with annual calculations tied to statewide teacher salary averages and retroactive adjustments to July 1. They said the current ABR request is $325,000 over the biennium to cover step and rank increases. The presentation noted that KRS 156 salaries are generally comparable to local districts but are less competitive with business and industry, making recruitment and retention difficult, especially for instructors coming from the trades. Members agreed that trade instructors are underpaid relative to the market and said the issue deserves further review, with department officials indicating they are considering possible statutory revisions and a delayed implementation in a future biennium.