Transcript Highlights:

• If you're here for H.R. 285 with Representative Brass, he's asked us to defer this bill, so H.R. 285.
• If you're here for H.R. 285 with Representative Brass, he's asked us to defer this bill, so H.R. 285.
• We simply ask that our essential services no longer be deferred.

Bills: HR118, HR196, HR237, HR285, HCR85, HB442, HB443, SCR5, SCR29, SCR33, SCR63, SB25, SB202, SB319

Keywords: water utility, tax credit, excessive rates, residential service, subcommittee, fallen trees, property damage, insurance, property values, hurricanes, storm damage, local government, homeowners, risk management, committee study, census, military population, Department of Defense, representation, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• The question that I have, you referred to deferred maintenance, and I'm looking for a definition of deferred
• This is more maintenance, deferred maintenance, future capital projects, things that a cost-share program
• And we were talking deferred maintenance as well with drinking water.
• This is more maintenance, deferred maintenance, future capital projects, things that a cost share program
• And we were talking deferred maintenance as well with drinking water.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the deferred maintenance costs at the deferred maintenance costs at the National<00:33:31.200>
• <00:35:44.320> maintenance these funds for deferred maintenance these funds for deferred maintenance
• > C uh the Deferred maintenance is is C uh the Deferred maintenance is is C catching<00:37:03.560
• > this the Deferred maintenance issues on this the Deferred maintenance issues on this campus<
• <00:37:47.599> maintenance address this um deferred maintenance address this um deferred maintenance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:46:03.560> So huge deferred maintenance. So huge deferred maintenance.
• Cuz what's deferred maintenance.
• to do is move away from deferred to do is move away from deferred maintenance<00:56:03.720> to
• to have deferred maintenance. to have deferred maintenance. >> Absolutely.
• That instead of a deferred maintenance.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Government Operations held an informational briefing with the State Procurement Office on its small business procurement program. SPO staff described the program’s purpose as expanding access to state contracting for small businesses, including veteran-, Native Hawaiian-, and women-owned firms, and said they are seeking to make the current five-year initiative permanent before it ends in June 2027. They reported outreach efforts, a new website and newsletter, statewide surveys, draft administrative rules, and a 38% increase in small business registrations in the HANS database. They also explained that the program is intended to support outreach, education, certification, compliance, and a statewide database to connect agencies with qualified small businesses. Committee members focused heavily on whether the program is producing measurable contract awards, not just registrations. The chair and senators questioned the definition of “small business,” noting that SPO currently relies on SBA standards in HANS and is considering a Hawaii-specific definition based on employees, revenue, and Hawaii residency. Members raised concerns that the data showed only a small number of registered businesses receiving awards and that the database does not yet track awards well enough to evaluate performance. SPO responded that the database has had funding gaps, that the position was only filled in February 2025, and that the agency is still building the system and rules needed to track outcomes accurately. A major theme was how to make the program more effective for very small or “micro” businesses and how to reduce the complexity of state procurement. Members discussed the difference between set-asides and bid preferences, with SPO explaining that set-asides are generally tied to RFPs and preferences to IFBs. The committee suggested that future rules should make participation easier, provide more training and hand-holding, and possibly create pathways for micro businesses or groups of small businesses to bid together. No votes or formal actions were taken; the briefing ended with the committee asking SPO to provide more performance data and clearer information on outreach results and database contents.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of it has to do with deferred maintenance, so insurance costs are going up not just because the
• um a lot of it has to do with deferred um a lot of it has to do with deferred maintenance<00:02:
• <00:36:07.720> or connection with the maintenance or connection with the maintenance or dispersement
• maintenance concerns in the condominium market right now and of the requirements of ...
• > the the Deferred maintenance concerns in the the Deferred maintenance concerns in the condom

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several insurance and condominium-related bills. SB 1137 would require insurers to notify policyholders of approved rate changes within 30 days and at least 30 days before the effective date. The Insurance Division supported the bill, while testimony focused on condominium master policies and whether the notice period would be enough for associations to respond to rate increases. The division said the bill would mainly affect admitted carriers, not surplus lines insurers that write many condominium master policies, and warned against limiting the nonadmitted market. SB 293, requiring sellers to disclose when USPS cannot deliver mail or packages to a residential property, was also heard with HAAI Realtors commenting. SB 752 would extend notice periods for cancellation or nonrenewal of property-casualty policies; the Attorney General’s Office raised concerns about contractual impairment and retroactive application. The committee also heard SB 575, which would allow authorized insurers to offer building and hurricane damage coverage for condominium buildings at a lower rate than prior surplus lines coverage. The Insurance Division stood on written testimony, and a condominium owner urged amendments to require a membership vote before such coverage changes, citing concerns about condominium self-governance. SP 1046 would require managing agents to notify unit owners and the Real Estate Commission when a condominium association fails budget and reserve reporting requirements. The Real Estate Commission said the bill was administratively workable as drafted but noted ambiguity over who counts as the “managing agent”; several testifiers opposed the measure, arguing it could disrupt the principal-agent relationship and impose legal judgment on nonlawyers, while others supported it. SP 150, dealing with captive insurance companies seeking exemption from examinations, drew the most detailed discussion. The Captive Insurance Council supported the bill as a way to reduce duplicative oversight and improve Hawaii’s competitiveness, while the Insurance Division opposed it as drafted, citing concerns about broad commissioner discretion, possible missed issues between exams, staffing shortages, and the need to preserve oversight. A committee member asked about a possible middle ground, including a shorter exemption period or limiting the bill to self-attestation companies; the division said it would need more information and that annual filings and approval requirements would still provide oversight. The committee also heard SP 212, which would require at least two Real Estate Commission members to be licensed engineers or architects; testimony included support and a concern about conflicts of interest among people who serve in multiple roles in the condominium and real estate sectors. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided, and the chair moved from one measure to the next after testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our deferred maintenance backlog is nearly $6 billion.
• maintenance that we all the Deferred maintenance that we have<00:14:53.720> across<00:14:54.000
• We've fallen far behind in keeping up with deferred maintenance.
• We've fallen far behind in keeping up with deferred maintenance.
• ability to keep up with deferred ability to keep up with deferred maintenance<00:48:39.640> there's

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This has been a historic area of long deferred maintenance, and it releases some funding to systematically
• maintenance and um area of long deferred maintenance and um it<03:11:47.239> releas<03:11:47.520
• much progress tackling deferred much progress tackling deferred maintenance<03:54:35.600> but
• <03:56:09.720> maintenance<03:56:10.239> we our backlog of deferred maintenance we
• our backlog of deferred maintenance we prioritized<03:56:11.279> our<03:56:11.479> initial<

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a Department of Corrections capital budget presentation on HB 25, focused largely on urgent maintenance and security needs at the New Hampshire State Prison for Men and other DOC facilities. DOC officials described the governor’s proposed priorities: boiler surge and radiator tank replacements, electronic controls and camera upgrades, and replacement of HVAC units using R22 refrigerant. They also outlined additional requested projects totaling $15.4 million, including a body alarm/man-down system at Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility, steam line and trap repairs, fire alarm replacements, and removal of an underground diesel tank in favor of above-ground storage. DOC testified that many systems are well beyond their expected service life, including 40-year-old boilers, outdated analog cameras, and HVAC equipment using discontinued R22 refrigerant. They said the men’s prison is relying on a leased temporary boiler, has significant steam leaks causing major water loss and reduced boiler efficiency, and is dealing with frequent fire alarm faults and deteriorating wiring. On the body alarm system, they said the vendor no longer supports the equipment and replacement parts are no longer available. On the diesel tank, members questioned whether it could be abandoned in place or whether fuel could be reused; DOC said it had not explored all alternatives and would follow up, while noting the tank is underground and tied into the warehouse system. Members also asked whether some current investments could be reused in the planned new men’s prison. DOC said some items, such as air handlers, might potentially be moved, but most projects are needed to keep the current facility operational and would not be practical to transfer. Questions were also raised about the leased boiler arrangement, the use of the man-down system by staff and visitors, and whether the kitchen project could be converted to a modular unit. DOC said the modular kitchen approach is necessary because the existing kitchen cannot remain fully operational during repairs. The committee then moved to lapse extensions, and DOC identified several projects no longer needing extensions, including items numbered 64, 65, and 66 in HB 25, with the chair noting those balances would be deleted and that the lapse amount was $550,500.

Transcript Highlights:

• So above all maintenance pool funds.
• require a large volume of maintenance require a large volume of maintenance pool<00:04:52.800>
• :59.199> and Inability to address maintenance and Inability to address maintenance and lifestyle
• Um, adequate maintenance bull fixed.
• <00:08:53.279> life maintenance pools and then deferred life maintenance pools and then deferred

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard capital plan presentations from the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, the Personnel Cabinet, and the School Facilities Construction Commission. The Justice Cabinet described its large portfolio of more than 900 facilities across the state and said decades of underfunded maintenance have created a backlog of repairs. Requested projects included a high-acuity mental health treatment facility for juvenile justice youth, two female detention centers to support the regional detention model, major corrections repairs and replacements, a new kitchen at Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex, a new dormitory at the Kentucky Correctional Institute for Women, completion of a new Eastern Kentucky prison, DOCJT training facility upgrades in Richmond and Madisonville, State Police radio system replacement and post construction, a combined Frankfort headquarters/Post 12 facility, and expanded crime lab and storage capacity. When asked about the high cost of the EKCC kitchen project, staff said construction inside an operating facility raises costs and that building a new adjacent kitchen would be more economical in the long run. The panel also asked about Fish and Wildlife officers training at DOCJT; staff said they do and that the training is funded through the CLEFT fund. The Justice Cabinet also said the recently enacted Senate Bill 4’s AI inventory and registry requirements would be part of its enterprise application and AI inventory system work. The Personnel Cabinet requested funding to replace CHRIS, the state’s human resources and payroll system, which supports payroll and benefits for about 48,000 employees and the Kentucky Employee Health Plan for roughly 192,000 members. Staff said the current SAP-based system went live in 2011, is approaching end of support in 2030, and has not received functionality enhancements since 2016. They said the replacement is estimated at $151 million, with most of the cost tied to professional services and software, and that the project would begin in July 2026, go live by July 2030, and require a stabilization period through 2032. In response to questions about outsourcing payroll or reusing existing systems, staff said the complexity of state HR, payroll, tax updates, and integrations with other agencies makes outsourcing or partial reuse impractical. The School Facilities Construction Commission introduced its role in helping all 171 school districts address unmet facility needs, focusing on core school facilities such as roofs and elementary buildings rather than athletic projects. No votes or formal actions were taken during the excerpted discussion; the meeting consisted of presentations, explanations of requested projects, and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Just for context, we are asking for $42.5 million as year two of our eight-year deferred maintenance
• In terms of deferred maintenance, I would quantify this as dire need.
• Related to the deferred maintenance list, these are woefully necessary projects.
• It is not to be salacious Or alarmist in any way, but with deferred maintenance, if we can't get out
• We just received the funding for our year one deferred maintenance list in late November, and we are

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > here<00:14:21.720> Mr Representative Morikawa, Madam Speaker, may this matter be deferred
• continued day-to-day maintenance of our highways.
• continued day-to-day maintenance of our highways.
• continued day-to-day maintenance of our highways.
• continued day-to-day maintenance of our highways.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• high level the state's deferred high level the state's deferred maintenance<00:02:04.960> and
• has calculated that the Deferred has calculated that the Deferred maintenance<00:04:38.479> on
• There will never be an absence of deferred maintenance balance for DCT.
• > last Deferred maintenance from this last Deferred maintenance from this last round<00:18:51.159
• DCT<00:19:03.960> in deferred maintenance balance for DCT in deferred maintenance balance

Bills: HF919, HF1192, HF212, HF214

Keywords: wastewater, infrastructure, funding, Litchfield, economic development, environmental compliance, Hastings, water treatment, PFAS, nitrates, bonds, capital investment, public health, HF212, Round Lake-Brewster, Independent School District No. 2907, school construction, school building, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• The numbers on this slide speak for themselves: of the deferred maintenance of all assets managed by
• <00:03:54.400> maintenance themselves of the Deferred maintenance themselves of the Deferred
• <00:04:23.919> is this community when maintenance is this community when maintenance is deferred
• maintenance across our the Deferred maintenance across our prison<00:05:13.440> facilities<00
• <00:08:03.560> maintenance because of our deferred maintenance because of our deferred maintenance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Higher ed certainly needed asset preservation — we call it deferred maintenance, whatever you want to
• We're responsible for helping them with deferred maintenance. So, that's one thing.
• <00:03:21.200> maintenance<00:03:21.680> is<00:03:21.840> the toward deferred
• maintenance is the toward deferred maintenance is the expression<00:03:22.400> we<00:03:22.720
• So, that's one deferred maintenance.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're one of the highest state agencies that has a deferred maintenance number that is in that crisis
• million is in uh the Deferred million is in uh the Deferred maintenance<00:47:24.319> category
• maintenance currently we're in deferred maintenance currently we're one<00:47:41.280> of<00:47
• maintenance number that has a deferred maintenance number that is<00:47:45.599> um<00:47:46.160
• you say 78 million in deferred you say 78 million in deferred maintenance<00:52:55.400> costs

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And maintenance that I'd like to know what are they doing.
• And we talk about things like deferred maintenance and other things which can help that process be more
• We talk about things like deferred maintenance and other things which can help that process be more effective
• Yeah, I think I would have to defer to the department on that one.
• But anything further, I might defer to the department to further clarify.

Summary: The joint education committee continued its adequacy study with a detailed Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on resource allocation, covering how Arkansas school districts and charters spend foundation and other funds on matrix and non-matrix items. Staff explained the methodology for mapping expenditures, the district and school categories used in the analysis, and key findings showing that districts spend more per student from all fund sources than the foundation amount alone. The presentation highlighted that classroom teachers account for the largest share of matrix spending, while operations and maintenance, student support staff, nurses, and other lines also drew significant attention. Members asked for additional breakdowns by district type, size, rural/urban status, and trend data, and several questions focused on how waivers affect funding and spending, especially for library media specialists and other positions. The committee then discussed non-matrix spending, including instructional aids, non-technology-related facilities, school safety, mental health services, dyslexia support, food service, gifted and talented, career and technical education, and other items not explicitly defined in the matrix. Staff reported that non-matrix spending exceeded $2 billion in 2025, with most of it coming from other fund sources, and that the top superintendent-identified unmet needs over recent surveys were mental health services, school safety, and dyslexia support. Members raised concerns about dyslexia identification and funding, possible over-identification, and whether some support costs are being coded in ways that obscure the true spending picture. There was also discussion of facilities funding, the building fund, and the Department of Education’s partnership program for school construction and maintenance, with staff agreeing to provide more information and potentially bring department officials back for a future meeting. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly requested more granular data and clarifications, including waiver counts and funding impacts, trend lines for superintendent-reported needs, district-by-district spending spreadsheets, and definitions for certain matrix and accounting terms such as salary enhancement, LEA indebtedness, and other employee health insurance. The chair noted that the committee would continue the adequacy process over the coming months and use the worksheet in the binder to develop recommendations for the next biennium. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting; instead, the committee received the report, asked for follow-up data, and agreed to continue the discussion at future meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• accurate. $6 billion is deferred accurate. $6 billion is deferred maintenance<00:41:37.599> need
• Minnesota's got quite a big deferred maintenance issue, too. I think it's over three billion.
• Minnesota's got quite a big deferred maintenance issue, too. I think it's over three billion.
• maintenance when we $9 billion deferred maintenance when we had<00:47:52.880> an<00:47:53.040
• Minstate's got quite a big deferred Minstate's got quite a big deferred maintenance<00:48:00.720

Bills: HF4266

Keywords: higher education, state grants, financial aid, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium, summer 2026, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we deferring it for an additional meeting? We deferred until September.
• He requested that we defer this to August. Staff recommends that we defer this.
• She requested to defer this report. Staff recommends we defer this report.
• Staff recommends we defer this report. Without objection, we will defer this report.
• The 60-day clock, we could defer that till August and then start it. Yes, let's defer it.

Summary: The committee approved the prior minutes and then received a series of audit and compliance updates. Staff reported on delinquent private water and sewer reports, delinquent 2013-2023 water reports, and several municipal accounting code noncompliance cases. Denning and Gum Springs were recommended to be removed from the 60-day clock after staff visits showed improved records, while Fargo, Lead Hill, Almy, Jericho, Haynes, Biggers, Gilmore, and Holly Grove were discussed for repeat findings involving missing audits, poor bookkeeping, unpaid or misapplied street funds, deficit balances, and other accounting deficiencies. Several of these entities were given additional time or had reports filed without objection, while others were deferred for later review. Fargo’s mayor said the town had been understaffed and was working to improve its accounting systems; the committee voted to defer the matter to the August meeting. Lead Hill’s mayor described efforts to complete overdue water audits and improve office procedures, and the committee also postponed action for 60 days. Almy’s mayor and recorder-treasurer were present, and the committee placed the town on the 60-day clock for repeat accounting issues. Biggers and Gilmore both acknowledged long-running audit problems and said they were working with auditors and the IRS; their reports were filed. Holly Grove’s treasurer said she had only recently taken the position, and that report was filed as well. The committee spent considerable time on the street-fund misuse cases for Jericho and Haynes. Jericho was found to have exceeded the statutory threshold tied to fines and costs, with staff noting the town had since become current on its repayment plan; the committee deferred the report to September. Haynes was also behind on its repayment plan for street funds, with staff saying the town had recently made up the shortfall and was current as of the meeting, but the committee still deferred the report to September. Members and staff also discussed how the speed-trap law is applied, whether certain fines and costs count toward the threshold, and the role of the prosecuting attorney in deciding whether to take further action. The committee then reviewed a special report on the Pulaski County Regional Solid Waste Management District, which had six findings involving board approval of payroll and contracts, credit card documentation, vehicle and cell phone use, competitive bidding, electronic funds controls, and unusually high advertising spending. District Director Craig Douglas said the board had delegated some authority, that receipts were missing during a temporary staffing gap, and that advertising was needed to educate the public; he also defended the sale of trailers and other equipment as a way to exit the trailer business. Several members questioned the explanations and the low resale value of equipment, but the committee ultimately deferred the report to September. The meeting also included a recognition of accounting students interning with audit staff and a final set of actions on deferred water and sewer reports: 11 were filed, seven were deferred for lack of proper responses, and a private report on Shannon Hills Water, Sewer, and Fire Department was noted as involving misappropriation by an office manager and inadequate internal controls.

Transcript Highlights:

• The college bears more than $250 million in deferred maintenance and faces well-documented infrastructure
• We all understand the importance of trying to ensure that we address deferred maintenance, trying to
• We all understand the importance of trying to ensure that we address deferred maintenance, trying to
• Today we are debating a higher ed deferred maintenance bond bill using dedicated fair share monies.
• Today we are debating a higher ed deferred maintenance bond bill using dedicated fair share monies.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up a higher education capital bond bill, House 4769, and considered a long series of amendments focused largely on campus facilities, housing, and related policy issues. Many amendments were adopted, including funding or project language for MassBay Community College HVAC and window replacement, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Springfield Technical Community College, Cape Cod Community College nursing/allied health expansion and housing-related land use, Worcester State University and Quinsigamond Community College, Middlesex Community College, Salem State’s Sullivan Building, Roxbury Community College’s Center for Economic and Social Justice, UMass Boston’s Manning College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and several Massachusetts State College Building Authority updates. Some amendments were rejected, including proposals on a sustainable hand hygiene incentive program, unlocking housing on surplus land, a Senator Bill Owen Center designation, Urban College of Boston, and a board membership change. A number of amendments were held or withdrawn during the process. A major debate centered on an amendment by Senator Tarr to dedicate $300 million of surtax revenue to K-12 education, framed as a response to Chapter 70 funding concerns and the need to modernize school aid. Supporters argued that local districts face rising costs and that the state should set aside fair share revenue for school funding and future school building investments. Opponents said the bill was the wrong vehicle and noted the Commonwealth already dedicates substantial surtax revenue to K-12 programs. The amendment was defeated by roll call. Tarr also offered amendments on a safety valve for surtax revenue declines, equity analysis of surtax allocations, bond covenant requirements, and Chapter 62F taxpayer protections; those were not adopted. The Senate also adopted a separate amendment on AP credit policies at public higher education institutions, though the transcript reflects some procedural confusion around that vote. After completing amendments, the Senate ordered the bill to a third reading and then passed it to be engrossed by a recorded vote of 38-0. Senators then adopted several extension orders giving committees additional time to report on pending bills, including Environment and Natural Resources and Municipalities and Regional Government. The chamber also adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m. The session concluded with a unanimous memorial adjournment in honor of Bolton Police Chief Luke Hamburger, followed by a brief statement recognizing Rare Disease Day and the challenges faced by patients seeking diagnosis and treatment.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are deferred maintenance.
• The prison has staggering deferred maintenance and high operating costs.
• dent in our deferred maintenance needs. dent in our deferred maintenance needs.
• <01:14:30.000> maintenance<01:14:30.400> numbers<01:14:30.800> keep deferred maintenance
• <01:15:28.080> maintenance<01:15:28.400> inside the deferred maintenance inside the

Bills: HF3220

Keywords: school safety, school security, emergency access, law enforcement access, master key box, secure key box, entry device, school grants, education finance, Department of Education, charter schools, school districts, cooperative units, appropriation cancellation, one-time appropriation, school safety plan, emergency preparedness, public safety, school building security, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• They spoke up a little bit about one of the things that they made comment on was maintenance—yeah, defer
• They spoke up a little bit about one of the things that they made comment on was maintenance—yeah, defer
• They spoke up a little bit about one of the things that they made comment on was maintenance—yeah, defer
• They spoke up a little bit about one of the things that they made comment on was maintenance—yeah, defer
• They spoke up a little bit about one of the things that they made comment on was maintenance—yeah, defer

Keywords: 912, senate, all