Transcript Highlights:

• communities and actually with our budget communities and actually with our budget request<00:53:
• We're currently in the process<00:59:47.280> of process of process of completing<00:59:49.440>
• come under budget by 200,000 for that. come under budget by 200,000 for that.
• <01:10:39.360> reserve prioritize maintaining budget reserve prioritize maintaining budget
• So um or the budget reserve trust fund.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:11 Approval of Minutes 00:02:00 Information Items 00:02:25 CPE Special Report 00:03:26 Review of Executive Branch Agency Plans 00:31:48 A. Attorney General 00:32:10 B. Court of Justice 00:36:41 C. Cabinet for Economic Development 00:50:44 D. Kentucky Public Pensions Authority 00:56:06 E. Board Discussion of Planning Issues 01:05:12, 958, all

Summary: The Capital Planning Advisory Board opened its fourth meeting, confirmed a quorum, approved the prior meeting’s minutes by unanimous voice vote, and then heard information items and agency presentations. The main substantive presentation came from the Council on Postsecondary Education, which outlined its capital planning recommendations for the 2026–28 biennium. CPE staff described the role of Kentucky’s research and education network (Kron), including connectivity to cloud services, Internet2, identity services, and new local AI/inferencing capacity, and argued that the network is now essential to higher education, health care, and extension services. They said the network’s recent upgrades were driven by privacy, security, redundancy, and the need to support modern research and AI workloads at lower cost than commercial providers. CPE also presented its broader higher-education capital request: $700 million for asset preservation and $1.73 billion for new construction, for a total recommendation of about $2.4 billion. Staff said they do not plan to recommend IT projects or equipment in this cycle, despite reviewing 48 IT submissions totaling nearly $1.4 billion and equipment requests totaling $322.6 million. For asset preservation, they said the recommended allocation method would remain based on each institution’s share of Category 1 and 2 square footage, and they noted that the state’s prior facility assessment is now 12 years old, with deferred maintenance still estimated in the $7–9 billion range. For new construction, they said the requests are heavily focused on STEM and health-related facilities that are difficult to retrofit into older buildings. Board members asked about how asset-preservation amounts were determined, including why Northern Kentucky University’s request was much larger than its prior allocation. CPE staff responded that campus size, building age, and institutional prioritization affect the requests, and that schools are asked to submit more projects than are likely to be funded. The board then moved on to an Attorney General capital plan overview, where senior counsel Will Schroeder began describing the office’s technology needs and the office’s prior reliance on a 2020 appropriation to replace legacy systems and improve security.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:24.560> and<00:14:24.800> what process for that determination and what process
• Um, again, the process this<01:42:18.480> process<01:42:18.719> in<01:42:18.960> my<
• <03:02:38.880> of is not going to impact the process of is not going to impact the process
• , valuations, budgets, valuations, budgets, you<03:07:34.880> know,<03:07:35.439> full<
• example when we do our operating budget example when we do our operating budget we<03:11:41.760>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I brought this amendment to SB 30 to the Joint Budget Committee, which is the process available.
• present yes ready for discussion thank madam chair i brought this amendment to sb 30 to the joint budget
• committee which is the process available the amendment is necessitated because many arkansas citizens
• She returned last time over a million dollars of her budget back to the state treasurer.
• She is a shrewd and effective manager of her office's budget. All right.

Summary: The committee met and took several budget-related items out of order. It first approved a revised Auditor’s Office letter and amendment that reduced requested salary and match increases to 10 percent for operations and UCP, and then approved a revised Lieutenant Governor’s Office request that kept positions at line-item maximums while revising regular salary and match appropriations to a total increase of $99,876. Both items passed without objection. The committee then considered a member amendment from Senator Rice to Senate Bill 30 affecting the Governor’s Office. The amendment would eliminate one Governor senior advisor position, reducing authorized positions from 59 to 58 and cutting regular salaries and matching funds by a total of $264,895. Senator Rice argued the change was warranted because of concerns about former Corrections Secretary Joe Profury’s conduct, transparency, and refusal to appear before Joint Performance Review. Members debated the relevance of the amendment to current duties, whether the governor could still hire the individual in another role, and whether a Board of Corrections member could speak. After discussion, the committee rejected the amendment on a roll call vote. Under regular business, the committee approved an OPM request to reinstate a labor market rate at the crime lab so it can recruit two medical examiners, with pay up to $300,000 for those positions. Members also approved Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for 11 positions tied to the new veterinary medicine school, including clinic, lab, communications, mental health, and administrative roles. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• that hasn't been adjusted for and adopted within a budget process, but that's just extra revenue coming
• assignment through this process.
• assignment through this process.
• <00:58:54.240> That's they can adjust budgeting. That's they can adjust budgeting.
• >> next budget. >> next budget.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Carolyn Mercer, Assistant Director of Budget and Financial Analysis Division.
• Michael Delaney, Director of Budget Financial Analysis. All right, excellent. Rep.
• Fixed for next year in the budget?
• ...around in the last budget, do you recall?
• I am Isha Canada, Deputy Commissioner, D.S. process.

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee approved the minutes from its May 14, 2026 meeting and then considered four fiscal transfers. FAC 2026-9 for the Office of the State Controller transferred $4.345 million among fringe benefit accounts in the General Fund and Special Transportation Fund. Members questioned several employee benefit accounts, including active and retiree health care, Social Security, higher education alternative retirement, and OPEB; agency staff explained the transfers were based on updated year-end projections, with some accounts showing surpluses and others needing additional funds. The item was approved, with two no votes noted. FAC 2026-10 for the Military Department transferred $150,000 from the Honor Guards account to personal services and Governor’s Guard accounts to cover operational needs, and it was approved without opposition. FAC 2026-11 for the Department of Social Services transferred $3.3 million among accounts. Most of the discussion focused on a surplus in the substance use disorder waiver/reinvestment account, lower-than-expected TANF/TFA caseloads, federal family planning backfill requirements, and staffing challenges in eligibility operations. DSS said some funds remained unused because a residential care vendor did not enter into a contract, some reserves were intended for future multi-year investments, and eligibility staff require 12 to 18 months of training; the item was approved. FAC 2026-12 for the Department of Children and Families transferred $3.05 million among accounts for year-end operational needs. Members asked about closures of day treatment and community-based prevention programs, and DCF said children were transitioned to other providers without service interruption, with closures driven by provider decisions and financial viability. DCF also explained that some prior funding had been used as gap funding and that ongoing support had been built into the budget. The committee approved the transfer and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that an educational process that you plan on implementing?
• Is that an educational process that you plan on implementing?
• That took a little bit of working through the process.
• It's a process that most everyone had to do.
• So we can reprioritize within state budgets.

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:

• We have the Tax Commissioner budget left, 1006.
• out. 1015 is the OMB budget.
• As you know, that's typically one of the last budgets.
• Resources budget, not in DEQ, where it should be.
• But, again, if you have a deeper process... One in his area.

Bills: SB2225, HB1619

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, community development, infrastructure improvement, funding grants, long-term care, infrastructure loan, nursing facilities, financial assistance, North Dakota Century Code, 908, all

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met to clear several remaining bills and discussed scheduling around upcoming conference committees. The chair noted that full committee meetings would likely be held after floor session, while Thursday and Friday mornings were being reserved for conference committees. Members also discussed how conference committees would be scheduled and where they would appear on their dashboards. The committee first took up House Bill 1577, relating to wastewater facility grants. Amendments were adopted to create a loan/line-of-credit mechanism through the Bank of North Dakota and the Department of Environmental Quality to keep two canceled federal BRIC-funded projects moving: a lagoon project in Fezenden and a wastewater treatment project in Lincoln. Members emphasized the language was intended to apply only to those projects and to preserve the possibility of federal reimbursement later. The amendment passed 16-0, and the bill as amended received a 15-1 do pass recommendation. The committee then reconsidered House Bill 1009 and adopted an additional amendment transferring the remaining balance in the bioscience innovation grant fund to the general fund, rather than issuing another round of grants. That amendment passed 16-0, and the bill as amended also received a 16-0 do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 1619, creating a long-term care facility loan fund and adjusting an existing medical facility loan program. After discussion, members amended the bill to reduce the long-term care fund cap to $10 million per project, set the interest rate at 2%, extend repayment to 30 years, and align the medical facility loan program to 2% with a 30-year term. The amendment passed 14-2, and the bill as amended received a 16-0 do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• process, I think that'd be great. process, I think that'd be great.
• So, who do you please... office uh with this whole process. office uh with this whole process.
• It's in your budget as SBIR.
• You'll see it in our regular budget and in our exception budget.
• You'll see it in our regular budget and in our exception budget.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He said there are already checks and balances in the process to ensure the integrity of that process,
• He said there are already checks and balances in the process to ensure the integrity of that process,
• process.
• process.
• process.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an introductory organizational session for the House Legislative Administration Committee. Chair Greg Hill and Vice Chair Vanessa Sheen welcomed members, introduced the new clerk and committee staff, and described the committee as generally nonpartisan and focused on bills on their merits. They also noted that many bills are handled on a consent calendar after discussion, and that the committee often works closely with staff, House counsel, and the House clerk on procedural matters. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on committee operations and expectations: how committee reports should be prepared and submitted, the use of electronic submissions, scheduling hearings, and the need for clear bill placards at the witness table for livestream viewers. Members discussed the committee’s calendar, including a proposed conflict with the governor’s budget address, and ultimately settled on moving the remaining hearings to February 19. The chair also emphasized advance notice for absences or amendments, and said executive sessions can be scheduled as time allows under current rules. House Clerk Paul Smith testified about his role as a nonpartisan officer and said he would be providing informational testimony on a bill affecting a law he sponsored years ago, as well as on a forthcoming PSLF-related bill for legislators. He also spoke about legislative customs, precedents, and the value of parliamentary procedure. The chair concluded with guidance on decorum: arrive on time, avoid interruptions during testimony, keep food out of the room, use electronic devices discreetly, and route questions through the chair for clarification rather than debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a budget matter. I'd like to address the budget committee. You're recognized. Thank you, Mr.
• as we have it set up here in Joint Budget.
• as we have it set up here in joint budget.
• This is C1 on the Joint Budget Committee agenda. So we passed over item B1. So this is item C1.
• So anyone have any questions on that process or on the letter?

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The Joint Budget Committee met with a quorum, recognized visiting student groups, and then moved through its agenda. An amendment to Senate Bill 30 concerning the governor’s office was initially raised by Senator Ross, who argued that a senior advisor position tied to former corrections official Joe Profiri was costly and reflected poor performance and noncooperation with legislative oversight. Representative Wooten echoed those concerns, criticizing Profiri for not appearing when subpoenaed. The chair cut off further debate and referred the amendment to the personnel committee for review. The committee then referred an amendment by Senator Johnson to the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism to special language, and referred House Bill 1080 by Representative Ladyman, relating to the Department of Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities, to special language as well. Under other business, Senator Dismang explained a revised special-language amendment for the Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment’s waste tire program to correct a timing issue in the governor’s letter. The committee suspended the rules to allow the revised language to be considered and referred it to special language for the next day’s agenda. No votes were taken on the substantive amendments beyond the procedural motion to suspend the rules, which passed. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjourned, with members told to return the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT'S THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUNDS. THE INTENT.
• WHEN WE CONSIDER THIS JOINT RESOLUTION IN THE MIDST OF THIS BUDGETING PROCESS WE ARE IN, IT SEEMS LIKE
• AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BUDGETING PROCESS, $750 MILLION WILL COME OFF THE TABLE AND CAN NO LONGER BE
• WE WILL BE PASSING BUDGETS OUT OF THE HEALTHCARE BUDGET FOR HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OR OUR SAFETY
• HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT CUTS MADE TO THE BUDGET.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Trump administration, as well as components of the proposed House budget reconciliation process,
• ed budget?
• within our higher ed your entire budget within our higher ed budget?
• So, our entire budget, yes, is budget?
• the higher budget, uh, higher ed within the higher budget, uh, higher ed budget<01:51:56.239> as

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Higher Education Finance and Policy Conference Committee met publicly to compare House and Senate positions on the higher education budget, with the chairs emphasizing transparency and alternating gavel control. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through a spreadsheet of differences across the Office of Higher Education and Minnesota State, including major items such as state grants, childcare grants, work study, tribal college grants, emergency assistance grants, hunger-free campus grants, student parent support, direct admissions, paramedic scholarships, and several medical residency and fellowship programs. The House and Senate also differed on administrative funding, campus sexual assault reporting, and a House FY25 cancellation that would be carried forward. Members discussed several of the larger policy and funding choices. The Senate explained its increase for Minitex as support for operating costs and statewide access to information. The House explained its cuts to student parent support and other items as necessary to work within a zero target and to prioritize direct aid to students, while the Senate said it focused on direct appropriations and access-related programs. On hunger-free campus grants and emergency assistance grants, the Senate said it was changing the distribution method and direct appropriations rather than reducing the overall money, while the House noted differences in whether nonprofit institutions remained included. The committee also reviewed Senate-only additions and reductions in Minnesota State, including free course materials, Lake Superior College remediation, and changes to the Kids on Campus appropriation. A representative from Lake Superior College testified that the PAS remediation funding would help address contamination issues at an emergency training site near Lake Superior and that the money was shifted from the Kids on Campus initiative. No final conference agreement or vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee continued discussing differences and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• > helping<00:17:54.400> out milk processing capacity helping out milk processing capacity
• report will be able to start the process report will be able to start the process of<00:27:50.080
• things for motans within this budget things for motans within this budget target.<00:42:29.599><
• <00:45:02.000> year<00:45:02.560> of<00:45:02.880> the budget year of the budget
• If our state's general fund budget was an entire gallon jug of water, uh, under this new budget we're

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• process and how it works. process and how it works.
• Our budget is built on a two-year budget.
• And this year is in the second year of the two-year budget, and we call it the budget adjustment.
• <01:19:38.000> of 18 uh reflect our regular process of 18 uh reflect our regular process of
• <01:23:54.680> in facilities and budgets for uh youth in facilities and budgets for uh youth

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional reading by poet April Osmon, who read two poems focused on bridging political divides and shared humanity. Members then recognized the final day of service for the legislative pages, thanking them for their work during the 2026 session and presenting each page with a pin and a photo opportunity. The chamber then handled bill referrals: Senate Bill 193, creating a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons, was referred to Judiciary; Senate Bill 198, regulating tobacco products and tobacco substitutes, went to Commerce and Economic Development; Senate Bill 214, concerning pre-kindergarten education in geographically isolated school districts, went to Education; and Senate Bill 218, reducing chloride contamination in state waters and carrying an appropriation, was referred to Appropriations. The House also read and adopted two concurrent resolutions: HCR 237 congratulating Vermont-associated 2026 Winter Olympic medal winners, and HCR 238 honoring the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired on its 100th anniversary. Much of the remainder of the session consisted of tributes and guest recognitions tied to those resolutions. Members highlighted Vermont’s Olympic skiers and coaches, including Ben Ogden, Paula Moltzan, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Jessie Diggins, Mikaela Shiffrin, Barbara Ann Cochran, Bill Koch, and others, and read a note from Diggins thanking Vermont for its support and emphasizing teamwork and community. Speakers also praised VABVI’s century of service and its role in helping blind and visually impaired Vermonters, and several members offered personal remarks honoring retiring Representative Francis “Topper” McFaun for his long service, mentorship, and family legacy.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is a proposal to integrate community support approval process reports.
• community support approval process community support approval process reports<00:26:03.120> um
• approval moratorum and and a process approval moratorum and and a process report.<00:26:11.679><
• This is a governor's proposal for budget and technical changes, just moving where the budget activities
• Uh so this legislative and budget team.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:12:39.520> I budget. That's way above my pay scale. I budget.
• . >> What's that budget?
• > budgeted for that in our in the budget budgeted for that in our in the budget that<01:18:03.120>
• From your budget? from? From your budget? >> I<01:18:54.960> Yeah.
• budget so I can do things differently? budget so I can do things differently?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House-Senate higher education briefing focused on how the University of Hawaii athletics department plans to remain competitive in the NIL era, especially as the House settlement and related changes allow new forms of athlete compensation. Chair and Senator Kim opened by framing the issue as balancing competitiveness, sustainability, compliance, and UH’s educational mission. Coaches Laura Beeman and Timmy Chang described how NIL and the transfer portal are already affecting recruiting and retention, with Beeman saying women’s basketball has lost six to 10 recruits because UH cannot yet match offers, and Chang citing examples of players being courted with large sums and the need to retain proven local and out-of-state athletes. Both emphasized that student-athletes should still prioritize education, culture, and team values, while also receiving support that helps them stay at UH. Athletic Director Matt Elliott then outlined UH’s broader strategy. He said the department’s vision is to create an outstanding student-athlete experience, recruit and retain elite athletes, compete at the highest level of the Mountain West, and strengthen the bond with the community. He described NIL as having moved from a largely unregulated period to a new phase in which institutions can directly control some NIL payments, while outside deals still must be reviewed for fair market value. Elliott said UH wants to use NIL to help athletes cover basic needs and build financial stability, while also keeping them academically on track. He noted the department is pursuing fundraising, including a “Boost the Bose” account, corporate sponsorships, and licensing deals, to support NIL opportunities. In response to questions from Senator Kim, Elliott clarified that UH’s approach involves both institution-controlled payments and outside NIL deals: internal payments can be structured at the department’s discretion within the cap, while external sponsor deals must go through NIL Go and meet market-value standards. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• without losing $2 in the process. without losing $2 in the process.
• <01:02:27.040> or it talks about or advisory budget or it talks about or advisory budget or
• c> or<01:02:44.200> finance It's or advisory budget or finance It's or advisory budget or
• do pay attention to what the budget do pay attention to what the budget advisory<01:05:42.600>
• . budget. budget.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference first took up House Bill 158 on public inspection of absentee ballot lists. The Senate explained that its amendment replaced the original bill with a requirement that the Secretary of State review absentee ballot data after each general election and report findings to the committees of jurisdiction, focusing on unusual patterns such as multiple ballots sent to the same address. After a brief caucus, the House agreed to the Senate position, and members voted individually to concur. The committee then discussed House Bill 281, which concerns making the electronic voter checklist available in a sortable format. The main dispute was whether the public list should include the mailing address where an absentee ballot was sent if it differs from the voter’s registered address. The Senate argued that including mailing addresses could expose where voters actually live or are away from home and could create safety concerns, while the House argued the information could help candidates reach voters and was not primarily a fraud measure. The parties also discussed a related nursing home verification provision and record-retention/public-records questions. After caucusing, the House agreed to the Senate’s position with the added nursing home signing language, and the committee closed the bill on consent. House Bill 340, concerning electioneering by public employees, was then taken up with a Senate amendment that narrowed the definition of electioneering by tying it to existing statutory language, added a prohibition on expressly or primarily political surveys, and created a civil penalty option alongside the misdemeanor penalty. Senators and representatives debated whether the penalties should be mandatory or discretionary and how the language would apply to certain categories of public employees. After further clarification and caucus, the House accepted the Senate’s amended replace-all language, and the committee closed HB 340. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 1062, authorizing the Secretary of State to conduct random audits of citizenship qualifications of registered voters. The Senate explained that its changes removed the need for a permanent audit power by allowing records to be checked against databases and by requiring identification for registration going forward, which is why it added a sunset clause. The House member objected to the sunset and wanted the authority to continue indefinitely, and discussion continued as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1007 by joint budget.
• House Bill 1022 by joint budget.
• House Bill 1035 by joint budget.
• House Bill 1036 by joint budget.
• House Bill 1053 by joint budget.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• through the civil commitment uh process. through the civil commitment uh process.
• process.
• process.
• process.
• There's processes, you adulthood there.

Bills: SF0010, SF0005

Keywords: mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, bankruptcy, hospital, county, healthcare, financial stability, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The process for those farms is that they are reviewed.
• The process for those farms is that they are reviewed.
• And they say, ‘We’ve identified, as I noted, it’s a risk assessment process.
• And they say, ‘We’ve identified, as I noted, it’s a risk assessment process.
• What is the base budget for the program is what I was really asking.

Keywords: 1183, house