Transcript Highlights:

• The CEC prepares a forecast for the state, and that is a forward-looking forecast that then is taken
• We review the utilities' forecasted expenditures on a going-forward basis, starting with a test year
• We do have some cases where costs are somewhat uncertain, and so they're not approved as forecasts, and
• So a forecast happens within a general rate case, then utilities spend toward that forecast, and then
• work, so they're looking at historicals to help assess what the forecast should be.

Summary: The hearing was an informational budget session on energy agency proposals, with no votes taken. Early discussion focused on Proposition 4 climate bond implementation, including funding for demand-side grid support, offshore wind development, and transmission financing. The Department of Finance said the budget includes allocations for demand-side grid support and offshore wind, but not yet for the $325 million transmission financing piece pending a required study. The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged the Legislature to consider whether to wait on offshore wind funding, whether to keep shifting funds into demand-side grid support, and how to direct future transmission financing. Members also raised concerns about local technical assistance for offshore wind, Salton Sea priorities, and the need for more information before final decisions. The California Energy Commission and CPUC then reviewed the broader energy package. The CEC highlighted the demand-side grid support program’s growth, distributed energy backup assets, long-duration storage, hydrogen grants, and the SIRP clean energy reliability program. CPUC testimony emphasized affordability, wildfire mitigation costs, rooftop solar cost shifts, and efforts to reduce rates while maintaining reliability and clean energy goals. Members questioned CPUC staffing, delays in proceedings, coordination with the CEC and CAISO, and the impact of rate increases on customers. The agencies also discussed the AB 3264 transmission financing study, with CPUC saying work on the study had already begun and was on track for the July 1 deadline. Several trailer bill and implementation items were also discussed. The committee reviewed a proposal to extend the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program surcharge, with members split over whether it should be handled in budget trailer bill language or policy legislation; the administration said the surcharge supports a critical program serving about three-quarters of a million Californians. The committee also heard a CPUC data-sharing proposal to allow nondisclosure agreements for transmission and reliability data, which members generally supported as a technical fix. DWR explained a proposal to clarify language for the Electricity Supply Strategic Reliability Reserve so it can potentially sell three gas-fired units it owns, and the CEC presented a federal transmission grant proposal tied to grid-enhancing technologies and ratepayer cost recovery. Finally, the committee discussed California Lifeline and possible broadband pilot reforms in light of uncertainty around federal Universal Service Fund support, with CPUC saying it is exploring a statewide standalone broadband option for eligible customers.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, with this forecast from today, what can we expect to see?
• the Federal you've got the forecast the Federal you've got the forecast showing<00:10:30.760>
• Do you do more forecasts? And obviously we had this question.
• Do you do more forecasts? And obviously we had this question.
• Do you do more forecasts? And obviously we had this question. No, not necessarily.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:19.519> for proposed in the February forecast for proposed in the February forecast
• And then in columns K and L forecast.
• change from the forecasted amount. change from the forecasted amount.
• <00:26:12.240> in $2 million from the February forecast in $2 million from the February forecast
• The forecast article adjusts the fiscal year 2025 forecasted appropriations so that they match what was

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Additional analyses of forecasted climate information, as well as broader collaboration, could both help
• We also recognize that forecasts are not always going to be perfectly accurate, but again, decisions
• We also found that DNR could help inform siting of new infrastructure with forecasted wildfire maps in
• We also recognize that forecasts are not always going to be perfectly accurate, but again, decisions
• We also recommend the legislature direct DNR to use forecasted information in its statutorily mandated

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee I-900 Subcommittee heard JLARC’s annual update on the status of legislative implementation of State Auditor recommendations, followed by two State Auditor performance audits. JLARC staff reported that for the 2024 review period there were three new legislative recommendations and three unresolved older recommendations. They said the legislature did not convene a work group on civil asset forfeiture, and no formal action was taken on two water-use-efficiency recommendations. Two recommendations related to concurrent Medicaid enrollments were addressed in a bill introduced this session, but that bill was not adopted. The first audit examined how Washington can ensure climate-resilient electricity infrastructure. The State Auditor found the state has opportunities to better adapt new energy infrastructure by using more site-specific climate information, broader collaboration, and vulnerability assessments. The report recommended expanding climate analyses through the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group if funding is available, using forecasted information in DNR wildfire maps, designating a non-regulatory office to coordinate siting and conflict resolution, and expanding vulnerability assessments in Ecology and Commerce processes. Agency witnesses generally agreed resilience is important but emphasized existing efforts, the need to avoid duplicative requirements, the importance of affordability and efficiency, and the role of current forums such as the Clean Energy Siting Council and SEPA processes. The second audit reviewed fines for human trafficking and related sexual exploitation crimes. Auditors found courts assessed fines inconsistently, collection rates varied, some revenues were sent to the wrong local government, and some jurisdictions did not use the money as required for enforcement, prevention, or survivor services. The audit recommended courts work with prosecutors to improve awareness of mandatory fines, and that King and Pierce County improve coding, templates, and tracking so revenues are routed and used correctly. King County testified that it appreciated the audit and described its existing prevention and survivor-support work. The committee took no votes or formal actions and adjourned after the presentations and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Usually we like to talk about forecasts in our presentation, but as it so happens, later this afternoon
• there is a revenue estimating conference that's going to revise the forecast, and so I left that out
• A part of this equation is also the forecast, and that certainly is coming within the next couple of
• I think we have a GR forecast that's next Friday.
• How we do that, you know, that's going to be very difficult as we navigate and get the forecast.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax met to hear a staff presentation on Florida property taxes. Staff Director Azar Khan gave an overview of the property tax system, including constitutional limits, January 1 assessment rules, homestead and non-homestead residential property, commercial and agricultural classifications, tangible personal property, and centrally assessed property. The presentation highlighted major exemptions and assessment caps, such as the homestead exemptions, Save Our Homes, the 10% cap for non-homestead property, and favorable treatment for agricultural/classified use land. It also reviewed long-term growth in just value and taxable value statewide, along with declining millage rates over time as taxable values have risen. Members then discussed the possibility of eliminating property taxes and the fiscal consequences of doing so. Senator Jones asked about the impact on local governments and referenced estimates that replacing property tax revenue could require roughly $43 billion; staff responded that current levied amounts are in the ballpark of more than $30 billion for non-school levies and more than $20 billion for school levies, but that the exact impact would depend on county and district budgets and collections. Senators Bernard, Passidomo, Gates, and others emphasized the need for more data on alternative revenue sources, such as sales tax increases or other combinations, and for input from counties and cities before considering broad tax changes. Chair Avila explained the presentation was intended to give members a foundation before property tax proposals are heard in committee, noting that several bills had already been filed involving homestead and tangible personal property. No bills were voted on, and no formal action was taken beyond the informational presentation. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:36:53.359> looking<00:36:53.520> at<00:36:53.680> a February forecast we
• So, as Chair Torkelson reminded us, forecasts are forecasts and they're not always accurate on that.
• <00:40:51.200> are Torqulson reminded us, forecasts are Torqulson reminded us, forecasts are
• forecasts<00:40:51.839> and<00:40:52.000> they're<00:40:52.240> not<00:40:52.400
• > always forecasts and they're not always forecasts and they're not always accurate<00:40:53.119

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are showing that we were a little over $5 million below forecast.
• First, we built a flexible financial model, grounded in the legislative forecast, to forecast funding
• So now let's look at what the model shows under the current policy and forecast.
• important is that forecast is front-loaded, meaning that a lot of costs hit earlier.
• To meet these forecasts, the demand that the new 3 million gallon water plant has...

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:56.319> and personnel aid then was um forecasted and personnel aid then was um forecasted
• The November forecast laid a critical task before us, and the February forecast strengthened our focus
• <00:17:47.760> base remain as their February forecast base remain as their February forecast
• <00:47:23.280> for under the February 2025 forecast for under the February 2025 forecast for
• building lease aid at the forecasted building lease aid at the forecasted amount.<01:21:27.840><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• February forecast would be February forecast would be about<01:39:29.640> 8.9<01:39:30.360>
• forecasted forecasted anticipated<01:40:24.160> amount<01:40:24.640> that<01:40:25.200
• We still have overall budget forecast.
• you know, when you look at the forecast you know, when you look at the forecast and<01:43:00.640
• Well, it is new spending, but it's already in the forecast. But it's already in the forecast.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• earlier, and now it looks like that may be revised up. to ERCOT and PUC as they're the ones making the forecasts
• Lines 4 through 12 to improve ERCOT's load forecasting.
• . of things we discovered through this process is that there's a lot of uncertainty in forecasting now
• year later and adding another 60 megawatts and in doing that, they it would escape some of the forecasting
• Uh, for we were in in forecasting. If you, uh, the that are caught in the P. U. C.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Residential and small commercial consumers will benefit from more accurate load growth forecasting and
• To that end, a mechanisms to determine whether forecasted load growth is real and sustainable may be
• The load went up and down with, with, with, uh, with the forecast.
• We have House Bill 5066, which is driving that forecast.
• Um, a lot of data centers, of course, the, the bottom bracket there is just your base forecast, but then

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm not sure how they go about reviewing these after the February forecast.
• <00:17:29.960> is when the Fe February forecast is when the Fe February forecast is released
• So I'm not sure how they go about reviewing these after the February forecast.
• so I'm not sure how they go about reviewing these after the February forecast.
• <00:18:33.320> so is based on the November 24 forecast so is based on the November 24 forecast

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:37:05.680> you know looking ahead at the forecast you know looking ahead at the forecast
• But it is unwise in my opinion to get out ahead of the February forecast.
• We don't even know what the February forecast is going to say.
• So, I February forecast is going to say.
• We're not waiting for the February forecast. We're not waiting for anything.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3403, authored by Vice Chair Rep. Kazowski, and first adopted an A1 amendment. The amendment made technical and implementation changes recommended by the Department of Revenue, allowed a small portion of funds for county and tribal administrative costs, and clarified timing and reporting for spent and unspent funds. After the amendment was adopted, the bill was moved to Ways and Means. Rep. Kazowski described HF 3403 as a $50 million emergency rental assistance measure to help stabilize households facing eviction, with $44 million directed to counties and $6 million reserved for tribal nations, administered through the Department of Revenue using the existing local homeless prevention aid formula. Supporters said the bill would provide immediate, targeted help to renters and landlords, prevent evictions, and reduce downstream costs to shelters, schools, employers, and health systems. Several testifiers, including representatives from Greater Twin Cities United Way, St. Louis County, Hennepin County, Minneapolis, social workers, a resident, and tribal housing leaders, said local resources were insufficient to meet rising need and emphasized the impact of federal immigration enforcement and related economic disruption on families, workers, and communities. Testimony highlighted sharp increases in rental assistance requests, rising eviction filings, depleted county funds, and the strain on nonprofit and mutual aid efforts. County and city officials said emergency rental assistance and related legal services had already prevented thousands of evictions, but current funding was not enough. Tribal testimony stressed disproportionate homelessness among Native Americans and supported the bill’s tribal allocation. During member discussion, Rep. Amani Hiltsley said the bill was an economic stabilization tool and requested a roll call vote, noting safeguards against fraud and the broader costs of inaction.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also forecasts those costs into year-of-expenditure dollars.
• best job at looking backwards to look forwards on what the inflation forecast ought to be.
• Inflation has been higher than ODOT forecast.
• I give the specific example of the traffic and revenue forecast.
• I give the specific example of the traffic and revenue forecast.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee first received an informational update on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project from Carly Francis and Travis Brower. They described the project’s purpose as improving seismic resilience, safety, freight movement, transit, and bicycle/pedestrian access across the Columbia River, and said the updated cost estimate is $13.2 billion to $14.4 billion for the full corridor. They explained the increase from the 2022 estimate as driven by construction inflation, a more conservative inflation curve, schedule delays, more detailed engineering, and risk modeling. They also outlined the funding plan, including $2.1 billion in federal funds, $1 billion each from Oregon and Washington, and $1.5 billion in projected toll revenue, and said they are working to obligate federal funds by the end of September. The panel described a first funded phase that would include the bridge, highway connections, tolling infrastructure, bridge removal, and transit design, with light rail to Vancouver still intended but dependent on additional funding. Members questioned the risk of losing federal transit funds, whether bridge design decisions were being made with legislative input, and whether the space reserved for light rail could be used for buses if transit funding does not materialize. The committee then heard testimony on maintaining Oregon’s existing roads and bridges from representatives of Knife River, the Asphalt Pavement Association of Oregon, and CRH. Witnesses said pavement and bridge preservation is severely underfunded, with ODOT needing about $400 million per year for pavement preservation but receiving roughly $100 million annually. They showed examples of deteriorating highways such as U.S. 97 and I-84 and argued that delaying maintenance leads to much higher reconstruction costs, more safety risks, and higher user costs. Knife River described layoffs and reduced work in Oregon because of limited preservation funding, while witnesses also said rising wages, equipment costs, fuel, and permitting delays are increasing project costs. Committee members asked about the role of prevailing wage, diesel equipment, hauling distances, and whether preservation work could be prioritized more effectively. Finally, economist Joe Cortright presented on recent ODOT megaproject cost overruns. He said Oregon has experienced persistent overruns driven by overly optimistic revenue forecasts, heavy reliance on debt, consultant costs, inflation above forecast, and projects that have become much larger in scope than originally presented. He cited major increases in the Interstate Bridge, Rose Quarter, and Abernathy Bridge projects and argued that some designs are far wider and more expensive than necessary. Cortright said better accountability, clearer priorities, and more disciplined project sizing are needed, and committee members pressed him on why agencies proceed with larger designs even when consultants recommend narrower, less expensive alternatives.

Transcript Highlights:

• Forecasted programs are in each revenue forecast.
• in February when we get a new forecast in February when we get a new forecast it<00:08:10.120>
• Go down to the next set: forecasted programs.
• Berg: Is that FFP number also a forecasted number that will change with the forecast, or is that based
• Is that FFP number also a forecasted number that will change with the forecast, or is that based on past

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an introductory overview of its jurisdiction and budget, with the chair emphasizing the committee’s role over a large portfolio of children, youth, and family programs and the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). House Research and House Fiscal staff explained their roles and described the 2023-24 reorganization that transferred many programs from DHS, DPS, MDH, and MDE to DCYF, along with a statute recodification and a crosswalk resource for members. Doug Berg then walked through the committee’s budget structure, explaining the difference between all-funds and general fund views, the major funding sources, and how forecasted programs and grant bases roll forward. He highlighted that the committee’s general fund base is a little over $2.1 billion for the biennium, with large federal components such as SNAP and TANF, and noted smaller accounts including child protection-related opioid funds and federal reimbursement offsets (FFP) for administrative costs. Members asked several questions about federal financial participation, TANF, and the effect of the repeal of the Diversionary Work Program (DWP). Staff explained that FFP generally applies to administrative costs for federally related programs and usually does not change much unless program activity changes, while TANF is a block grant that has been stable for years. On DWP, staff said the program was sunsetted effective March 1, 2026, and that the associated funding and administrative costs were being reworked rather than simply removed. A member also asked about federal funding fluctuations; staff said no changes were currently factored in, though SNAP or other federal policy changes could alter future numbers. Danielle Penelli then presented on economic assistance and employment supports transferred to DCYF, focusing first on MFIP, Minnesota’s state-supervised, county-administered welfare program jointly funded by state and federal dollars. She explained that MFIP provides cash and food assistance, employment and training services, and related supports, with a 60-month time limit and certain exemptions for illness, incapacity, or other barriers to employment. She also described the program’s income and asset standards, including a $10,000 asset limit with exclusions for homesteads and one vehicle per assistance unit member age 16 or older. Members asked clarifying questions about how the time limit applies and what assets count, and staff responded that the limit applies to the caregiver and does not restart with additional children. Penelli also introduced support services grants, which fund employment services for MFIP, DWP, and SNAP participants through workforce centers, counties, tribes, and community agencies, and help cover some county and tribal administrative costs. She began outlining nutrition programs under DCYF, including SNAP, the Minnesota Food Assistance Program, the Minnesota Food Shelf Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the American Indian Food Sovereignty Program. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during this meeting; it was primarily an informational staff briefing and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• HHFDC's 2019 Hawaii housing planning study forecasts demand over the five years from 2020 to 2025 of
• HHFDC's 2019 Hawaii housing planning study forecasts demand over the five years from 2020 to 2025 of
• As a result, the same study forecasts a demand of 1,855 units of 100 to 120 to 140% AMI rentals over
• a demand of 1,855 units of 100 forecasts a demand of 1,855 units of 100 to4<00:36:12.240> 120
• is needed for 120 to 140 study forecasts is needed for 120 to 140 Ami<00:37:38.640> rental<00

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of housing measures focused on streamlining approvals, reshaping financing programs, and expanding affordability requirements. SB 27 would exempt state-financed housing developments from County Council approval; SB 38 would bar county legislative bodies from changing housing proposals in ways that increase project costs; SB 25 would let counties reduce housing capacity in one area only if they offset it elsewhere with no net loss; and SB 379 would require perpetual affordability covenants for HHFDC projects and prohibit affordable housing in special flood hazard areas. SB 378 would create an HHFDC working group to identify mixed-use Maui properties for possible acquisition, SB 414 would authorize condemnation proceedings for a new Lānaʻi access road tied to disaster recovery, and SB 13 would eliminate the state income tax mortgage interest deduction for second homes. Testimony was mixed across the bills, with state agencies and housing advocates generally supporting faster permitting and more production, while county planners, NAIOP, Catholic Charities, and others raised concerns about local control, marketability, financing feasibility, and long-term affordability enforcement. A major portion of the hearing centered on the rental housing revolving fund. SB 70 would limit eligible applicants to government agencies or organizations that reinvest all surplus into additional housing; HHFDC said most developers would not object in principle but questioned how the surplus requirement would be enforced, while NAIOP and Catholic Charities opposed it as too restrictive and difficult to monitor. SB 71 would amend the fund’s preference criteria and eligibility rules, and SB 163 would require HHFDC to prioritize projects with the shortest repayment terms and highest unit production per dollar per year. HHFDC and some advocates supported the goal of faster recycling of funds, but NAIOP and Catholic Charities warned that shorter loan terms and narrowed preferences could burden developers and disincentivize projects, especially for lower-income tenants. The chair indicated SB 163 would be deferred and its concerns folded into amendments to SB 71. In decision-making, the committee voted to pass SB 27, SB 38, SB 70, and SB 71 with amendments, and SB 25 unamended. The chair said SB 27 would be amended to include projects with a state financing commitment and a report note that such projects still undergo 21-38 review; SB 38 would receive technical changes and language preventing county bodies from imposing cost-increasing conditions; SB 70 would add language addressing enforcement of the surplus requirement and a preamble citing the need to recycle taxpayer-financed housing value; and SB 71 would be amended to incorporate concerns raised in SB 163, including a broader preamble and revised priority criteria. SB 163 was deferred, while the other measures on the agenda were heard but no final action was described in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• , a week and a half when the next forecast comes out.
• when the next forecast comes out.
• when the next forecast comes out.
• forecasts.
• Um and and uh in the future forecasts.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• happens that later this afternoon, there is a revenue estimating conference that's going to divide the forecast
• Weve sometimes group real property just so that we are able to understand that and forecast what's happening
• Part of this equation is also the forecast and that, you know, that that that certainly is is is coming
• I believe I think we have a GR forecast. That's that's next Friday.
• You have 3 that gate and get the fort forecast.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:23.840> for<00:06:24.000> the<00:06:24.080> mile forecast for the mile forecast
• That is what is currently forecast.
• We're forecasting the 1% reduction.
• <00:25:02.760> that representative McKenzie we forecast that representative McKenzie we forecast
• we do impact both recessionary forecasts we do impact do<00:25:40.080> forecast<00:25:40.799>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a forecast bill, and I'm going to have Mr. Strom introduce the bill, if I could.
• Representative Kisha, House File 780 is the annual forecast adjustment bill.
• The November forecast had initial adjustments, as you can see from the bill.
• Strom regarding the mechanics and the purpose of this forecast bill?
• <01:20:24.159> bill forecast bill forecast bill uh<01:20:25.639> chair<01:20:25.960>

Bills: HF56, HF780

Keywords: HF56, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Hutchinson Area Transportation Services, Hutchinson, McLeod County, transportation facility, vehicle storage, equipment storage, fueling facility, temperate storage, local infrastructure, public works, general obligation bonds, education finance, school funding, state aid, appropriations