Video & Transcript : 'nonemitting generation' :

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AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/02/2026 - Senate Director Nominations

Director Nominations

Transcript Highlights:
  • Today, I'm proud to be a second-generation Arizonan, the wife of an Army veteran, and the mother of one
  • now accounts for more than 10% of Arizona's workforce and contributes significantly to the state's general
  • And many of these tourism serves as one of the few industries generating meaningful economic Arizona's
  • And many of these tourism serves as one of the few industries generating meaningful economic Tourism
  • serves as one of the few industries generating meaningful economic impact and opportunity.
Keywords: 1182, all
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Agenda Feb 10th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • So they're requesting to reduce $3,362,400 from the general fund, anticipating about $339,000 in savings
  • to the general fund.
  • But it's a dedicated fund, so it does require legislative action to transfer it into the general fund
  • In the budget book, it shows us a general fund cash transfer of the governor's recommendation of $10
  • The Miscellaneous Revenue Fund is generated from those old penitentiary revenues.
Keywords: 989, all
Summary: The committee heard budget presentations first for the Idaho Workforce Development Council. Analyst Brooke Dupree reviewed the agency’s statutory role, funding sources, staffing, and FY27 requests, including an ongoing transfer within the In Demand Careers Fund to increase trustee and benefit payments for Idaho Launch grants, a proposal to consolidate the STEM Action Center into the council, and requests for reappropriation authority for several grant funds. Director Wendy Sechrist said Launch, workforce training, semiconductor, and child care grants have produced strong participation and wage gains, and she explained that the proposed STEM merger would transfer remaining dedicated-fund balances to the Workforce Development Training Fund. Members asked about the effect of a $10 million cash transfer on Launch awards, repayment of grants by students who do not meet requirements, and the use of employer training funds; Sechrist said wording such as “up to $10 million” would avoid reducing awards and that the agency is still exploring debt collection options. The committee then reviewed the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Dupree outlined the agency’s vocational rehabilitation and independent living services, its dedicated funds, and FY27 requests for additional appropriation to spend Social Security reimbursement revenue and for replacement vehicles from the adaptive aids fund. Administrator Beth Cunningham said the agency uses those funds to support clients’ employment and independence, and that the requested increases would help cover needed vehicles and offset other costs. She also said holdbacks would have a modest effect on services, including reduced site restoration funding and some cuts to client services and travel. Finally, the Idaho State Historical Society presented its budget. Dupree described the agency’s preservation mission, staffing, dedicated funds, and FY27 requests, including $450,000 for the second year of moving state records and collections into a new archives addition, plus IT hardware and reappropriation authority. Director Janet Gallimore emphasized stewardship of state records and artifacts, the importance of the collections move, and the agency’s role in America 250 activities. Members asked about archaeological review travel, the agency’s long tenure, and the use of miscellaneous revenue; Gallimore agreed to provide travel records and thanked the committee for its support. The meeting ended with a presentation of historical artifacts and adjournment until the next day.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Jan 14th, 2026

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • When the Auditor General completed his comprehensive review of how we fund school choice within that
  • Stop mixing up the money, the Auditor General said.
  • The Auditor General will audit the Department of Education and the SFOs every single...
  • And the Auditor General will do that on an annual basis.
  • My comment will be very brief and pretty general.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s Founders’ Day and a visiting debate student. The chamber then received and adopted, by a 39-0 vote, a committee report confirming 52 gubernatorial appointments to various state, regional, and local boards and commissions. The first major bill was SB 250 on rural communities. Senator Simon described it as a broad rural renaissance package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance Grant Program, housing and transportation investments, and additional education and health care support. Two amendments were adopted to remove overlapping rural health provisions after Florida secured federal rural health funding and to update hospital funding estimates. Senators from both parties spoke in support, though some raised questions about eligibility for certain rural grants and the distribution of federal funds. The bill passed 39-0. The Senate then took up CS/SB 318 on educational scholarship programs. Senator Gaetz said the bill responds to the Auditor General’s findings by separating scholarship funding from public-school funding, requiring student identification and verification, reducing scholarship organization fees, tightening payment and audit rules, and creating a stabilization fund for scholarship demand. Three amendments were adopted, including removal of a declining-enrollment provision from this bill and changes to enrollment documentation and withdrawal procedures. Senators debated the bill’s impact on accountability, public schools, and scholarship providers, but generally supported the reforms. The bill passed 38-0. At the end of the session, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify SB 250 and CS/SB 318 to the House, welcomed Palm Beach County Day participants, and adjourned until the following Thursday.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Ethics and Elections Nov 19th, 2025

Ethics and Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • You remain inactive but eligible to vote for two general election cycles.
  • Once that second general election cycle comes up, if there has been no Once that second general election
  • So if someone were to do it, it's more general criminal mischief.
  • It would just be for the next general election cycle. Just the next general election, okay?
  • general election?
Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met with a quorum present and took up Senate Bill 62 by Senator Errington, which would create an enforceable requirement that partisan candidates meet the 365-day party affiliation or no-party registration requirement before qualifying. The committee adopted an amendment changing the effective date to upon becoming law, heard no opposition, and then approved the bill. The committee also approved a slate of 15 gubernatorial nominees en bloc and recommended them to the floor. The Florida Supervisors of Elections presented their 2026 legislative priorities. Their requests included automatically updating voter records when DHSMV changes driver license numbers, treating verified petition signing by inactive voters as voter activity that restores active status, adding election equipment and ballots to the state’s critical infrastructure protections, clarifying public-records treatment of election worker names and addresses, allowing more flexibility for early voting sites when a supervisor’s office is not suitable, eliminating the need for provisional-ballot envelopes when polling hours are extended by emergency order, and allowing vote-by-mail voters to remain on the list for the next general election unless they opt out. Senators asked questions about inactive voter status, security implications, early voting site requirements, and vote-by-mail renewal, and several members expressed support or interest in the supervisors’ proposals. During public testimony, several speakers urged stronger election-integrity measures, including proof of citizenship, tighter chain-of-custody controls, more hand-counting or manual audits, quarterly list maintenance, and reduced reliance on vote-by-mail and voting machines. They also criticized current audit systems and cited outside reports and research they said showed vulnerabilities in Florida’s election process. No additional committee action was taken after public testimony, and the meeting adjourned.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

April 10, 2025 - 09:00 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • The bill authorizes the CFO and other approved parties to loan acquired Bitcoin to generate additional
  • The bill requires the transfer of Bitcoin payments to the General Revenue Fund and reimbursement from
  • the General Revenue Fund to the designated fund in U.S. currency.
  • We're going to allow the CFO to invest in Bitcoin, which, you know, my generation don't understand.
  • It's about giving the next generation a fighting chance at what we call the American Dream.
Summary: The Insurance and Banking Committee met with a quorum and heard three bills. HB 487 would authorize the CFO and State Board of Administration to invest up to 10% of certain state funds in Bitcoin, require specified custody methods, allow Bitcoin lending under rule, and create a process for accepting taxes and fees in Bitcoin. The sponsor and several proponents argued it would diversify state investments, hedge inflation, and position Florida as a leader in digital assets. Members raised concerns about volatility, security, valuation, and whether Bitcoin was being singled out over other cryptocurrencies, but the bill was reported favorably after debate and a roll call vote. The committee then considered HB 7011, an Open Government Sunset Review measure for records of insolvent insurers. The bill would continue some exemptions but make additional records public, including underwriting files, risk-solvency assessments, corporate governance annual disclosures, and the names, benefits, and compensation of insurance executive officers. There was no public testimony, and members discussed privacy and safety concerns, but the bill passed and was reported favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 1433 on hurricane mitigation grants and insurer regulation. The bill would tighten restrictions on former executives of failed insurers, raise capital requirements for new insurers, and require mitigation credits when homeowners receive Safe Florida Home funds. An amendment was adopted to require a licensed person to make final claim-denial decisions when AI or automation is used and to prioritize filings that lower rates. Consumer advocates supported the transparency and consumer protections, while industry representatives urged caution on the AI provisions. After debate, the amended bill was reported favorably. The meeting ended with closing remarks from the ranking member, vice chair, and chair reflecting on the committee’s work and likely final meeting of the term.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm the Assistant General Counsel for Texans for Law Suit Reform, and I'm here in support of this bill
  • In 2022, 14 attorneys general joined in a...
  • Nor are there any guardrails on what can be used as a reliable source or generally known fact in the
  • Those problems were all uncovered as a result of our 2020 general election.
  • The general custodian of electronic election records is required to place.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • Andrew Sheeran, I'm the General Counsel for... Thank you, sir. Thank you. Good morning.
  • Andrew Sheeran, I'm the General Counsel for the Agency for Health Care Administration.
  • So that's a summary of the agency's position in general with regard to sunset provisions.
  • I am the General Counsel for the Department of Management Services.
  • But that's what I would say generally.
Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee reviewed several agency rules and objections under Chapter 120. First, the committee revisited prior objections to Agency for Health Care Administration rules containing sunset provisions. AHCA’s general counsel said the agency amended 26 of the objected rules but declined to amend five others, arguing sunset provisions are lawful, are not themselves rules, and were consistent with a 2019 gubernatorial directive. Committee members questioned that position, especially for licensing and certificate-of-need rules, and urged the agency to consider legislative changes; no formal action was taken on that item during the discussion. The committee then considered an objection to Department of Management Services Rule 60G-1.001 defining the Governor’s Mansion grounds. Committee staff argued the rule is vague and improperly refers to future land acquisitions without updating the rule since 1998. DMS defended the rule as a general definition tied to publicly recorded property and a master lease, but said it would not object if the Legislature chose to codify the definition in statute. After discussion, the committee voted to file the objection. Members also received informational updates from the Department of Environmental Protection on the Solaris state lands inventory system, and from the Florida Gaming Control Commission on its response to the Tampa Bay Downs unadopted-rule litigation, in which the commission said it has stopped relying on the prior tax interpretation and will not promulgate a rule on that issue. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation said it would remove an unsupported cigar wholesale dealer permit reference, repeal an obsolete excise-tax deduction rule, and amend penalty guidelines and an affirmation in its alcohol, beverage, and tobacco rules. Finally, the Division of Administrative Hearings’ interim director discussed case-processing times, possible changes to ALJ status, and whether the Florida Rules of Evidence should apply in administrative proceedings, emphasizing the need to weigh costs, independence, and impacts on pro se litigants. The chair noted this was likely the committee’s final meeting of the year.
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

General Laws Apr 8th, 2026

General Laws

Transcript Highlights:
  • The House Committee on General Laws will now come to order. Please call the roll.
  • And I just am generally disappointed with the climate that I see now and the climate that I've seen for
  • general to make clear that in this exception we're intending the attorney general and all of the line
  • for all of the line assistant attorneys general in the way that it did everywhere else.
  • And we are done with our General Laws hearing for Senate Bill 1062, and we are adjourned.
Keywords: 959, house, all
ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Agenda Mar 9th, 2026

Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:
  • I missed something on page 28, 550.01, and it's the General Hunt tag quotas.
  • So you had the general in one section, and then you had the additional 1,500 whitetail.
  • Technology is only going to get stronger and future hunting generations will become weaker.
  • Technology is only going to get stronger and future hunting generations will become weaker.
  • I'm a fifth-generation Idahoan, born to a Black Angus cattle ranch in Kimberly, Idaho.
Keywords: 989, all
Summary: The Resources and Conservation Committee first heard Department of Fish and Game Rule Docket 13-0104-2401, a broad rewrite of licensing and tag rules that incorporated the new nonresident draw framework, moved several licensing provisions into one chapter, added or clarified definitions, and made other cleanup changes. The department also described changes to landowner appreciation and permission hunts, including adding turkey eligibility and a 79-acre minimum for certain landowner properties, clarifying disability certification, combining some deer tag quotas, changing controlled-hunt thresholds, and revising refund and exchange provisions. Members asked about nonresident disabled veteran tag allotments, the acreage standard, and the policy against selling landowner appreciation tags; the department said the tags are separate allotments, the acreage was chosen as a practical midpoint, and the commission does not allow monetization of wildlife tags. The committee ultimately adopted the docket, but struck Sections 700.02 and 800.02 concerning bighorn sheep auction and lottery hunt areas after a tied vote on an attempt to approve the rule without those exceptions. The committee then approved Docket 13-117-2401, a repeal of the bait-for-big-game chapter because its content had been moved into another chapter. After that, it took up Docket 13-0108-2401, the big game hunting rules, which included moving license and tag provisions out, adding a definition for a bow “verifier,” allowing electronic tagging in the future, updating muzzleloader sabots to match statute, creating a center-fire open-site season, removing some bow restrictions, revising motorized hunting rules, authorizing certain private-land predator hunting near feeding sites, adding herd-health kill authorizations, and moving the bait rules into this chapter. A major portion of the docket addressed advanced hunting technology restrictions for big game and wolves, including limits on thermal optics, night vision, drones, and transmitting trail cameras during certain dates, with exceptions for wolves and livestock protection. The department said the proposal came from a lengthy public process and was intended to protect fair chase while preserving wolf management tools and livestock protections. Public testimony on the technology docket was extensive and sharply divided. Supporters argued the restrictions were needed to preserve fair chase, prevent unfair advantages, and protect wildlife populations, while opponents said the rules would hinder wolf management, reduce the ability to find wounded or dead game, and conflict with Idaho law on wolf take methods. Several speakers emphasized the process used by Fish and Game and the need to keep hunting ethical and challenging; others said the proposal would make Idaho an outlier compared with neighboring states. Because of time limits and the volume of testimony, the committee did not vote on the technology docket and instead voted to hold Docket 13-0108-2401 in committee for later consideration.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Transportation Mar 5th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • The interest rate that we're paying generally is right about 4%. All right.
  • Where we can start getting that next generation of workers on construction.
  • The Office of the Attorney General listed no fiscal impact.
  • I'm Austin Nielsen with General Motors, and we oppose the bill before you today.
  • General Motors supports the dealer franchise system.
Keywords: 904, all
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Health and Public Affairs Feb 13th, 2026 at 04:01 pm

Senate Health & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • This puts the Attorney General on that equation and then gives the individual the right to work with
  • Attorney General, making a filing with the Attorney General for relief in the event there is an action
  • work through the Attorney General rather than going directly to the commission.
  • through the Attorney General rather than going directly to the commission.
  • I just, in general, anyone who participates in the compact...
Bills: HB10, HB12, HB34, SB130, SM21
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

December 9, 2025 - 12:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • So we felt general was supervision was a better half and within the collaborative management agreement
  • Marilyn over I'm a retired general.
  • Very similar pattern to what we saw and the general use are.
  • But we can look at the general health care utilization among these children.
  • Do we look at that as a generational issue?
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Apr 30th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • So House Bill 25 4256 seeks to provide the Attorney General authority to recover economic damages on
  • So the application of Illinois Brick prevents Texas Attorney General from recovering monetary damages
  • This bill only allows the Attorney General to seek that. Subject to that, Mr.
  • This would allow the attorney General to go somewhere further down the chain of purchase or the chain
  • So it just gives more credibility and, and where, where, where this was generated from.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Local Government (Part I) Apr 24th, 2025

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • Each home sale generates over $114,000 in trickle-down economic activity.
  • And we have a very generous community, and we're thankful for that.
  • I'm the general counsel. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, members. And I'll be brief.
  • These are like generational ships.
  • Because we have people that can use it for multiple generations in different uses.
Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met with a quorum at the start, adopted a two-minute limit for public testimony, and heard a series of housing, local government, fire code, and district-governance bills. Several measures were laid out with committee substitutes, including SB 628 on county fire code administration through interlocal agreements with emergency service districts; SB 208 creating a Workforce Housing Capital Investment Fund for zero-interest loans to nonprofit builders; SB 2835 allowing cities to opt into single-stair apartment buildings; and SB 2477 easing office-to-residential conversions in certain cities. Other bills addressed ESD spending thresholds (SB 2778), hospital district updates (SB 1042), subdivision/platting issues (SB 1708), public housing tax credit eligibility (SB 2608), groundwater district representation for Marfa and Presidio (SB 3044), park board authority in Waller County (SB 2367), ETJ removal procedures (SB 2523), and reporting death certificates to appraisal districts to help address squatting and homestead issues (SB 2521). Testimony was largely supportive on the housing bills. Supporters of SB 208, including Habitat for Humanity affiliates, a Brownsville nonprofit developer, Texans for Housing, and an educator, said the revolving fund would help nonprofit builders finance land, infrastructure, and development costs for affordable homes, especially for families earning 30% to 80% of area median income. SB 2835 drew support from architects, planners, and housing advocates who argued that single-stair buildings can be safe, more efficient, and better suited to missing-middle housing, though the Texas APA registered qualified opposition, saying the proposal bypasses the usual code-development process and may not be sufficiently studied. SB 2477 also received broad support from housing groups and policy organizations, who said office conversions could help address vacancy and housing shortages, though Corpus Christi raised a concern about fee recovery and local cost reimbursement. The committee also heard support for SB 628 from a county fire marshal and an ESD representative, who said the bill would reduce duplicate fire-code enforcement and costs. SB 2778 was backed by a Bexar County ESD fire chief, who said the current $2,000 expenditure approval threshold is outdated and slows emergency purchases and repairs. SB 2608 was supported by the El Paso housing authority, which said adding certain Section 8 projects to the at-risk LIHTC set-aside would help renovate aging subsidized housing. SB 3044 was presented as a way to give Marfa and Presidio representation on the groundwater district board while preserving permitting authority. Each bill heard public testimony was left pending subject to the call of the chair, and the committee recessed to reconvene after the Senate adjourns.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Taxes Committee Meeting - 2025-04-09

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • So the funds from this would go into the general fund, is that correct? Chair Gomez? Yes, Mr.
  • It simply puts more money into the general fund.
  • To the general fund, we should find a way to regulate this from the use of their data.
  • He has an incredible book out there called "The Anxious Generation," which really...
  • Testifier just a general comment. Okay, we'll get back to you later.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Settlements for personal physical injuries or physical sickness are generally not taxable.
  • Settlements for property loss or damages to property are also generally not taxable up to the adjusted
  • And further, how these businesses are also generally taxed in other states as well.
  • There are in our consideration two possible justifications for providing an exemption in general.
  • So it's a great benefit particularly when you consider having a disability generally generally means
Keywords: 988, house, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • of $1.1 billion of these new General Fund costs.
  • , a net increase of 1.1 billion of these new general fund costs.
  • Every dollar generates up to $1.80 in economic activity.
  • And that's because most of that cost falls on the General Fund.
  • H.R. 1 was the biggest transfer of wealth we've seen in generations.
Summary: The Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on the impacts of H.R. 1 on California’s safety net, focusing on Medi-Cal and CalFresh. The chair and vice chair framed the issue as a major federal disruption that would reduce benefits and shift costs to the state, counties, hospitals, and other local systems. The first panel included the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Department of Finance, the UC Berkeley Labor Center, and the Food Research and Action Center, each describing projected enrollment losses, higher state and county costs, and implementation challenges. The LAO outlined H.R. 1’s main changes: new and expanded work requirements, more frequent eligibility redeterminations, restrictions on certain non-citizen eligibility, and financing changes affecting provider taxes and federal matching rates. The LAO estimated that 1 to 2 million people could be disenrolled from Medi-Cal and more than 600,000 could lose CalFresh, with additional costs from reduced federal support and possible state and county administrative burdens. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s budget includes about $1.4 billion General Fund in 2026-27 to respond to H.R. 1, with larger out-year reductions in federal funds and projected Medi-Cal caseload losses of up to 2 million by 2029-30. The UC Berkeley Labor Center projected up to 3 million Californians could lose full-scope Medi-Cal by 2028 when H.R. 1 is combined with state budget changes, while noting the state could choose policies that would reduce some of those losses. The Food Research and Action Center warned that CalFresh cuts and time limits would increase hunger, worsen health outcomes, and strain local economies and emergency systems. Members questioned the witnesses about procedural disenrollments, regional variation, the overall growth in Medi-Cal spending, the future of the MCO tax, the CalFresh error rate, and the downstream effects on hospitals and county indigent care. Several senators argued that the federal law was driven by tax cuts for high-income earners and would disproportionately harm low-income Californians, immigrants, and communities of color. Administration witnesses said some impacts are still being analyzed, that counties and departments are working on implementation, and that the Legislature may need to use statute, reporting, and oversight tools as federal guidance develops. No votes or formal actions were taken during this portion of the hearing.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Taxes - 04/24/25

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • to generation.
  • </c> and then pass on to the next generation and then pass on to the next generation is<00:10:18.640>
  • c> in</c><00:14:52.399><c> rural</c> generational farmers out in rural generational farmers out in rural
  • </c><00:15:26.480><c> I</c> generations. Thank you for listening. I generations.
  • </c><00:24:13.360><c> public</c> musical entertainment for general public musical entertainment for general
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 02/11/25

Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:02:34.920><c> manager</c> she's also president and general manager she's also president and general
  • </c> six general managers so for each general six general managers so for each general manager<00:15:
  • We're a grassroots general farm organization.
  • We're a grassroots general farm organization.
  • We're a grassroots general farm organization.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

WAM-HHS Informational Briefing 01-08-2025

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:04:06.200><c> fund</c> and 25 our uh general fund and 25 our uh general fund Appropriations<00
  • </c> almost 200 million F year 27 in general almost 200 million F year 27 in general fund<00:04:19.160
  • </c><00:04:48.360><c> fund</c> the percentage of general fund the percentage of general fund appropriates
  • </c> federally funded position to General federally funded position to General funds<01:39:57.960><c>
  • </c> positions from federal funds to General positions from federal funds to General funds<01:52:44.280
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Health and Human Services committees heard Hawaii Health Systems Corporation’s biennium budget request, with testimony from HHSC leadership on the Hilo/Big Island region (HTH 212) and the Oahu region (HTH 215), plus discussion of capital improvement projects and systemwide partnerships. HHSC described its role as the rural healthcare safety net, serving a high share of Medicare, Medicaid/Quest, and uninsured patients, and said its costs are elevated by state employee fringe benefits, which it said are about 64% compared with roughly 30% in the private sector. HHSC also said pandemic-era federal aid, including relief funds and PPP loans totaling about $100 million, reduced the need for general fund support in prior years. For HTH 212, HHSC said its general fund request for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 was higher than the governor’s recommendation because of rising insurance, pharmaceutical, and contractor labor costs, and because it includes $13.2 million in FY 2026 and $2.3 million in FY 2027 for Epic electronic medical record implementation in East Hawaii. For HTH 215, HHSC said the requested general funds were aligned with the governor’s recommendation, in part because of increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for long-term care facilities under prior legislation. HHSC also said it was restoring a special fund ceiling so the region could spend its cash collections on operations. Members asked about the 64% fringe rate, and HHSC explained the difference was mainly due to defined-benefit pension and retiree health insurance costs, which private hospitals generally do not bear at the same level. Members also asked about the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home, and HHSC said operations would be funded through the general fund corporation for the home when it opens, with management by Ohana Pacific, but no additional legislative operating funds were being requested at that time. Other questions focused on staffing and vacancies, including an abolished procurement position and an ongoing IT help desk recruitment need. HHSC highlighted several capital and partnership projects, including a $25 million state CIP request matched by $25 million from the Benioff family for the Benioff Health Center, an ER expansion and reconfiguration at Corner Community Hospital, and $7.5 million in each fiscal year for Kauai EMR capital funds to join the Epic platform. Testimony also described collaborations with Queen’s, the University of California San Francisco, Hawaii Pacific Health, the Hawaii Cancer Consortium, the Department of Health, and the state hospital to improve specialty access, clinical trials, behavioral health, and patient placement across the system.