Transcript Highlights:

• So that would result in a savings of $450,000 in fiscal 25, $900,000 in fiscal 26 and 27, and $900,000
• in fiscal 28 and 29.
• This would have a fiscal impact of $1 million in fiscal 28, $2.8 million in fiscal 29, for a total of
• $3.8 million in fiscal 28 and 29.
• fiscal 26 and 27, and $900,000 in fiscal fiscal 26 and 27, and $900,000 in fiscal 28<00:04:44.320

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• year after fiscal year, also going to supplemental... ...fiscal year after fiscal year, also going to
• This fiscal year now, we are on track. Well, let me start with last fiscal year.
• That has been a compounding of fiscal year after fiscal year. And we probably should have done...
• fiscal year 2024.
• our fiscal year 26 GAA.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held its sixth public hearing on the Governor’s H-2 budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, focused on public safety and judiciary agencies, at the Foxborough Community Center. After opening remarks and local welcomes, the committee heard first from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, led by Secretary Gina Kwan, who outlined a $1.72 billion budget, up $69.8 million from FY26. She said the proposal emphasizes core operations, readiness, and partnerships with municipalities, and highlighted work on firearms-law implementation, State Police reform, DOC reentry efforts, hate-crimes prevention, emergency response, and planning for major events including the World Cup. Members also raised concerns about DNA backlog reporting, State Police academy boxing and training standards, ICE communication, disaster relief funding, crime lab staffing, EMS placement, and diversity in public safety leadership. Several exchanges focused on specific operational issues. Secretary Kwan and her team said the State Police are tracking the influx of forensic work from local sheriffs, that the boxing program remains suspended pending an IACP review and likely will not return in its prior form, and that EOPS has no direct communication with ICE but supports law-enforcement coordination where appropriate. On disaster preparedness, officials said the new disaster relief fund is being developed with MEMA and A&F, currently capitalized at $14 million with another $14 million expected, though members urged a more permanent funding source. On the crime lab, staff said the roughly $4.5 million increase is intended to cover core operations and a structural funding gap rather than expand services. The secretary also said EOPS is not ready to absorb OEMS from DPH at this time, though she would keep an open mind. The committee then heard from district attorneys, led by Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden, who said the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association is seeking a 10% increase in operating budgets, including about $16.7 million for staffing salaries, to recruit and retain prosecutors, advocates, and support staff. He said the request reflects rising workload and the need to keep the criminal justice system functioning efficiently and fairly. The hearing was recessed briefly after the district attorneys’ opening remarks, with additional testimony expected to continue afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• fiscal year 2027 recommendation.
• is projected to be spent for fiscal year 2026, knowing that we are not quite at the end of fiscal year
• For fiscal year 2026, knowing that we are not quite at the end of fiscal year 2026.
• I know my good friend and I share a love for fiscal discipline and a commitment to fiscal discipline.
• It's fiscally responsible.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, adopted two commendatory resolutions honoring the Plimpton Historical Society’s Deborah Sampson Day recognition and Megan’s Light’s Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month observance, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committee. The chamber also briefly recognized Diane Talk of the South Shore Regional Emergency Communication Center on her retirement after 30 years of dispatch service. Later, the Senate passed two local bills to enactment: House No. 4006, authorizing Dartmouth to grant an additional all-alcoholic beverages license, and House No. 473, relating to the charter of Westwood. The main business was the Senate Ways and Means presentation of the fiscal year 2027 budget, totaling about $63.3 billion. The chair described the budget as balanced, with no new taxes or tax cuts, based on a consensus revenue estimate of $986 million in growth over FY26 (2.4%), and including about $15.8 billion in federal financial participation and roughly $2.7 billion from the Fair Share surtax. The budget emphasized record local aid, including $1.376 billion in unrestricted general government aid, $7.66 billion for Chapter 70 education aid, increased minimum school aid, higher regional school transportation reimbursement, rural aid, and the revival of the Foundation Budget Review Commission. It also highlighted major investments in MassEducate free community college, food security, housing, and support for vulnerable residents. Members then engaged in extended colloquy on the budget’s major cost drivers and policy choices. Questions focused on debt service, pension and OPEB liabilities, MassHealth caseload and rising per-enrollee costs, child care funding, and program integrity in DTA and other benefit programs. The chair said debt service would be about $2.67 billion, pension payments would be $5.1 billion, OPEB would receive a $150 million payment, and MassHealth enrollment was projected at about 2 million with costs driven by acuity and medical inflation. He also said the budget includes no collective bargaining agreements and no state tax changes. Senators supporting the budget praised its investments in education, local aid, homelessness prevention, public health, libraries, and housing, while minority leaders and others stressed the need for fiscal discipline, transparency, and further work on affordability and municipal support. The Senate also received a House message on House No. 5316, which the House had nonconcurred in, and a conference committee was appointed on the disagreement.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:40.760> note<00:07:40.919> was fiscal note, because the fiscal note was fiscal
• The fiscal note on page 12 this.
• Chairman, members, the fiscal note in the bill came in. There's no fiscal year 27 cost.
• fiscal note. fiscal note.
• the fiscal note in the bill came in. the fiscal note in the bill came in.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:52.000> year dollars um in any uh in any fiscal year dollars um in any uh in any fiscal
• He said they accept the fiscal note generally, and he does not usually deal with bills that have fiscal
• <00:37:03.359> note know we accept the the fiscal note know we accept the the fiscal note
• from where Senate Fiscal from where Senate Fiscal sen so<00:48:21.640> so<00:48:22.440>
• question this is an incomplete fiscal question this is an incomplete fiscal note<00:48:42.920>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do want to talk about the fiscal impact, but if you don't mind, Mr.
• And I do have a lot of information in my fiscal impact statements. So yes.
• Does this fiscal statement include any schools that do Thank you, Chairman.
• It just says provide a fiscal impact.
• Again, I don't want to speak for our fiscal person either.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is the fiscal note.
• It's gone. citizens of this state need a fiscal citizens of this state need a fiscal note. note. note
• I doubt the fiscal And guess what?
• <00:36:29.640> impact indicates that there's no fiscal impact indicates that there's no fiscal
• fiscal cost to the state of Minnesota. fiscal cost to the state of Minnesota.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are very late in the fiscal year, and we have a significant deficiency with regard to our obligation
• Professor... for the fiscal year 2025 to provide a supplementing certain existing appropriations for
• We are very late in the fiscal year, and we have a significant We are very late in the fiscal year, and
• I'm hoping that he can give us an explanation of where we stand in the current fiscal year with regard
• I'm hoping that he can give us an explanation of where we stand in the current fiscal year with regard

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate began with the Pledge of Allegiance and then adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Lenz Arthur Joseph, a five-year-old Hyde Park child whose death was described as a tragic loss to his family, school, and community. Senators offered condolences and a moment of silence was observed. The chamber also recognized several guests, including students and scholarship recipients from the Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship Program and visitors from River Valley Charter School and Fall River’s Green School. The main legislative business was Senate 2521, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill providing about $189 million for early education and care providers so they could receive June child care financial assistance payments. The minority leader questioned why the deficiency had arisen so late in the fiscal year and asked about preventing similar shortfalls. The Ways and Means chair responded that the bill was time-sensitive, that such supplemental appropriations are common for caseload-driven accounts, and that the House had already passed the measure. He also reported that FY25 revenues were about $1.1 billion above benchmark, though most of that was restricted Fair Share revenue or excess capital gains. The Senate took a roll-call vote on engrossment, and the bill passed to be engrossed by a vote of 39-0. The Senate then agreed to a conference committee on the FY26 budget bill, House 4001, after insisting on its amendment. It also adopted resolutions recognizing the Massachusetts-Hokkaido sister-state relationship and the Concord-Nani sister-city anniversary. The chamber suspended rules to advance a petition to ban DEHP in IV bags and tubing, and it agreed to a House referral change for Senate 2522, a health care petitions bill, sending it to the Judiciary Committee. Finally, the Senate adopted the emergency preamble and passed Senate 2521 to be enacted before adjourning to meet again the following Monday in memory of Lenz Arthur Joseph.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so did fiscal grant the $397,000? Yes, that was approved by fiscal. Thank you.
• And so did fiscal grant the $397,000? Yes, that was approved by fiscal.
• And so did fiscal grant the $397,000? Yes, that was approved by fiscal. Thank you.
• And so did fiscal grant the $397,000? Yes, that was approved by fiscal. Thank you. Okay.
• year 18 through the current fiscal year 18 through the current fiscal<03:31:09.120> year fiscal

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the University System of New Hampshire chancellor on the system’s budget, enrollment, finances, workforce role, and response to federal policy changes. The chancellor said the governor’s recommended budget would reduce university system funding by about $16.5 million over the biennium, or roughly 8.3%, and asked that state funding be held at the governor’s level. She described planned cost reductions already underway, including lower headcount, reduced benefits and retirement contributions, property sales, and lease reductions, and said the system expects to remove about $20 million from its cost structure in fiscal year 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on enrollment and finances. The chancellor said fall 2024 enrollment was about 23,000, with New Hampshire enrollment increasing for the first time since 2013, and noted that the system remains a major workforce pipeline, with about 3,000 graduates entering the state workforce each year. She explained that net tuition has fallen over time because of declining enrollment and increased financial aid, while research grants and contracts have grown significantly. She also walked through endowment funding, explaining that payouts are based on a 12-quarter rolling average and are intentionally smoothed to reduce volatility; members asked for follow-up information on payout comparisons, administrative salaries, headcounts, and compensation per student. Members questioned the university about the relationship between state support, tuition, endowments, and research spending. The chancellor said the system has used state capital support to leverage major investments, including the UNH Life Sciences building, Plymouth’s Hyde Hall, and the Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, and described partnerships with businesses such as Lonza and regional manufacturers. She also explained a long-running New Hampshire 529-related revenue stream that has built endowment support for scholarships, and said the system’s endowment now totals about $988 million. In response to questions about possible cuts, she said the system is considering academic program sharing, consolidation of specialties, online delivery, AI-assisted administrative efficiencies, and footprint reductions, but declined to name specific programs. The committee also discussed DEI-related issues and federal grants. The chancellor said the system is reviewing executive orders and a U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague letter, and that general counsel is working through websites, programs, and more than 1,200 federal grants to ensure compliance. She said the system spends about $3 million on what it calls DEI-related offices and services, but emphasized that these services include disability support, veteran support, Title IX, ADA, and employment-law compliance, and that the system does not have race-based programs, separate housing, or separate graduation ceremonies. She reported that the system had received stop-work orders on four federal grants totaling about $700,000 and warned that reductions in federal direct or indirect costs could affect research, jobs, and innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Fiscal 2027.
• And it's not that they're going to be able to achieve victory in fiscal year '29, or I'm sorry, fiscal
• That '28 penalty will be based on the lower of your fiscal '25 or fiscal '26 error rate.
• Or fiscal '26 error rate.
• We're only talking fiscal years.

Bills: HB2053, HB2116, HB2148

Keywords: stormwater, recharge mapping, water resources, groundwater, appropriation, Arizona, HB2116, Colorado River, litigation fund, water rights, Arizona water law, general fund appropriation, state budget, interstate water compact, Colorado River Compact, water litigation, A.R.S. 45-119, natural resources, water policy, river management

Transcript Highlights:

• On the fiscal note side, he said they have not gotten the fiscal note back yet, but he was told that
• transportation so on the fiscal note transportation so on the fiscal note side<00:18:24.080>
• interested in seeing what the fiscal interested in seeing what the fiscal cost<00:26:51.360>
• previous fiscal note was, just to give us a ballpark as well.
• really close to the to the prior fiscal really close to the to the prior fiscal note note note um

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And we don't expire fiscal year 2031.
• The aggregate hasn't been reached yet, but you can see based on the progression from fiscal 2020 to fiscal
• progression from fiscal of 2020 to<00:23:44.799> fiscal<00:23:45.200> 2024, to fiscal 2024
• <00:58:59.680> year >> fiscal year >> fiscal year >> that's<00:59:02.079>
• The other is how do we do compared to last fiscal year?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met to review tax expenditures, elect a chair and clerk, and hear updates on two credits due for periodic review: the career and technical education (CTE) center tax credit and the research and development (R&D) tax credit. Members first organized the meeting, then heard from Jennifer Ramsey of DRA, who explained the purpose of the tax expenditure review process and summarized the CTE and R&D credits. She said the CTE credit allows donations to CTE centers for a credit against business profits tax, is capped at 25% of a taxpayer’s liability, has a $500,000 aggregate limit, and was extended in SB 98 to fiscal year 2031. She also noted DRA could not provide detailed financial data because of statistical disclosure limits when too few taxpayers claim the credit. Committee members pressed for more historical and aggregate information, arguing they needed numbers to judge whether the credit is effective and worth continuing. The committee then heard from Chrissy Vanderhook of the Department of Education on the CTE credit. She described New Hampshire’s CTE system as serving 26 secondary centers and seven post-secondary centers, with industry partners providing internships, work-based learning, equipment, employee time, and other in-kind support that can qualify for the credit. She said the department reports annually to legislative leaders and that fiscal year 2025 credit activity was down about 48% from FY24, partly due to staffing changes and outreach issues. Members asked whether the program extends to community college-level programs, and she said it can, though she was not sure how broadly it is used that way. The committee also discussed a new Granite Patron of the Arts credit, which DRA said went into effect July 1 and is included in the tax expenditure report even though it is not yet listed in the statute. For the R&D credit, Ramsey explained that it offsets business profits tax and can carry forward to business enterprise tax, is based on incremental research spending, and currently has a $7 million annual aggregate cap. She said the cap has not yet been reached but could require proration as early as fiscal year 2026 if not increased. She noted there were 271 taxpayers claiming the credit in fiscal 2024 and that a proposal last session to raise the cap to $10 million and increase the per-company limit did not advance. Mark Liberty of BEA said the credit is an important recruitment and retention tool, especially for life sciences, aerospace, defense, and advanced manufacturing, but acknowledged BEA does not track direct revenue return. Andrea Hchvaria of New Hampshire Life Sciences argued the R&D credit is critical for startups and cited growth in applicants from 71 in 2008 to 248 in 2024, with qualified wages rising substantially over that period. Committee members repeatedly asked for more objective economic-impact data, but DRA said it only tracks who claimed the credit and the amount claimed, not broader business outcomes.

Transcript Highlights:

• > 22 years ago so fiscal you'll see fiscal 22 years ago so fiscal you'll see fiscal 22 when<00:13
• They do prepare our fiscal note worksheets and also some fiscal note quick guides, which is kind of a
• note worksheets and also some fiscal note worksheets and also some fiscal<00:34:27.800> note<
• And so, to Representative O'Rourke's question, you'll see in, say, fiscal year 22 and fiscal year 23,
• state's fiscal state's fiscal year<00:46:00.040> and<00:46:00.160> so<00:46:00.359

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee received an overview from Chris of the Legislative Budget Assistance Office on how it will estimate unrestricted revenues for the General Fund, Education Trust Fund, Highway Fund, and Fish and Game Fund. He explained that the committee’s work is based on current law, not pending bills, and that the estimates will feed into a House resolution and an amendment to House Bill 1, the operating budget. He also described the broader budget process, including how House and Senate estimates are reconciled, how surplus statements account for revenue changes from enacted bills, and how a committee of conference could resolve differences later in the session. No votes were taken. Members then asked about why the Education Trust Fund was running below plan. Chris said the shortfall appeared to be driven largely by business taxes, including differences in the BET/BPT split and improved tax-processing systems that better track where business tax payments belong. Representative Orr also asked about tobacco tax collections and out-of-state sales; Chris said tobacco revenue was likely overestimated in 2023 based on COVID-era patterns, with more people smoking at home, and noted that e-cigarette tax revenue goes to the General Fund while cigarette taxes are split between the General Fund and Education Trust Fund. He said he did not have a specific estimate for cross-border sales. Commissioner Lindsay St. Pierre of the Department of Revenue then began a deeper dive into the department’s role and the taxes it administers. She reviewed the department’s mission, organizational structure, taxpayer services, and the tax policy and legislative analysis staff who prepare fiscal notes and testify on bills. She noted that the department administers about $2.9 billion in revenue across major taxes such as business taxes, meals and rooms, and utility property tax, and that the figures being discussed were preliminary because the annual report had not yet been issued. The discussion was informational only, with no formal action taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• her committee has a fiscal note.
• her committee has a fiscal note.
• does have a fiscal note.
• HF1 or, excuse me, HF2 does not have a fiscal note yet.
• HF1 or, excuse me, HF2 does not have a fiscal note yet.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The meeting focused on a package of anti-fraud bills and oversight reforms. House File 3 would direct the Office of Legislative Auditor to compile existing audit and recommendation data into a matrix or numeric score showing how well agencies have implemented past recommendations over a five-year look-back period, with the goal of giving legislators a clearer, more usable accountability tool. Supporters said it would not create new data, only aggregate what already exists, and estimated the bill’s cost at about $240,000. They argued it would help lawmakers identify agencies that repeatedly fail to address waste, fraud, and abuse. House File 2 would require state employees and agencies to immediately report suspected fraud to law enforcement and to legislative committee leaders, require unannounced in-person site visits for grant recipients, and add criminal penalties for failing to carry out those duties. House File 1 would create an independent state Office of Inspector General to investigate fraud in state government, with subpoena power, authority to stop payments, and the ability to share information with other agencies. Speakers said the new office should be independent and nonpartisan, separate from existing agency inspector general functions, and more focused on investigations than the Legislative Auditor. Members also discussed the new fraud and oversight committee, which will meet on Mondays and plans to invite DHS Commissioner Jodi Harpstead to testify. The committee said it will work alongside standing committees, create a whistleblower reporting website, and investigate issues as they arise. In response to questions, Robbins said HF 3 already had a fiscal note and HF 2’s fiscal note was still pending. She also said the committee is considering AI tools to flag irregularities in state programs, and that such tools might have detected problems like those seen in Feeding Our Future.

Transcript Highlights:

• that's what everybody's here for, the exciting part: presentation of the Governor's environmental fiscal
• Governor's environmental fiscal year 2026-2027 budget recommendations.
• The number of cases filed at PERC in the 2022-23 fiscal year was 329.
• Currently, the state has 29 fiscally constrained counties. And 2024.
• Currently, the state has 29 fiscally constrained counties.

Summary: The committee convened with a quorum, welcomed new member Senator Ralph Massullo, and first took up confirmation of five appointees to water management district and basin board positions. Senator McLean moved favorable confirmation of Ted Everett, Jerome Pate, Michael Romano, Paul Bissfam, John Hall, and Virginia Johns, and the motion passed by roll call. The main agenda item was the Governor’s Florida First budget presentation for the environmental agencies. Kim Kramer and DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert outlined proposed environmental funding of about $5.8 billion, including more than $1.4 billion for water resources, $810 million for Everglades restoration, $408 million for water quality, $202 million for Resilient Florida, $75 million for beach renourishment, $150 million for Florida Forever, $70 million for state park infrastructure, and $221 million for hazardous waste cleanup. They also highlighted proposed funding for FWC operations, manatee care, python removal, oyster reef restoration, forestry and wildfire equipment, and citrus research and disease response. Members asked about Florida Forever funding, state park wastewater and septic needs, a cut to the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, and how beach renourishment is handled after storms. The committee then heard the general government budget presentation. Agencies highlighted included DBPR, Gaming Control, the Lottery, DMS, PERC, DFS, OIR, and Revenue. DBPR discussed funding for license processing, an animal abuse hotline, vehicle replacement, and IT recruitment; Gaming Control requested new law enforcement squads and a licensing/enforcement IT system; the Lottery emphasized marketing, retail engagement, IT, and retention funding; DMS proposed building, fleet, telecommunications, cybersecurity, and local government grant investments; PERC described workload growth after SB 256 and requested staffing, operations, and pay increases; OIR sought more staff for consumer protection and market oversight plus building renovations; DFS highlighted My Safe Florida Home funding, fire marshal and first responder support, financial investigations, and gold and silver legal tender implementation; and Revenue requested operational, IT, and fiscally constrained county funding. Members questioned DBPR about unfunded HOA fraud and condo transparency items, DMS about cybersecurity grants, and DFS about My Safe Florida Home funding levels, abandoned grants, and reduced program uptake. No further action was taken, and the committee adjourned without additional votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, our fiscal note still expenditure.
• Not fiscal note dated today, May 1st.
• while I believe at this point our fiscal while I believe at this point our fiscal analyst<00:19:
• The analysis that was 1st fiscal note.
• Our first fiscal note was 140 million, I believe.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state fiscal year. state fiscal year.
• This is as of fiscal year 26, so the current fiscal year.
• This is as of fiscal year 26, so the current fiscal year.
• This is as of fiscal year 26, so the current fiscal year.
• This is as of fiscal year 26, so the current fiscal year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 56304 million in resources for fiscal 56304 million in resources for fiscal year year year 26<00
• If we focus on fiscal year 26, ...
• If we focus on fiscal year 26, the story is a little different because in fiscal year 26 State Grant
• two fiscal years.
• two fiscal years.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, Madam Chair, just to oversimplify: for fiscal years 2026, $565,000; fiscal year 2027, $3.365 million
• > for<00:25:09.279> the $565,000 for fiscal year 27 for the $565,000 for fiscal year 27
• appropriates $2.8 $8 million for fiscal appropriates $2.8 $8 million for fiscal year<00:25:20.360
• <00:25:41.440> years<00:25:41.840> 26 for fiscal years 26 for fiscal years 26 565k<
• /c><00:25:46.720> in<00:25:46.880> the 565k fiscal year 27 3.365 in the 565k fiscal year

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• million in fiscal year 2028 and 2029.
• year 26 and an addition of $4,000 in fiscal year 26 and $7,000 in fiscal year 27.
• In fiscal year 26, and $336,000 in fiscal year 27.
• And on line 69, we add to that $18,000 in fiscal year 26 and $35,000 in fiscal year 27 for an operating
• That carries tails beginning in fiscal year 2020. And ongoing funds.