Transcript Highlights:

• We know that our state is facing a budget deficit and a workforce shortage, two things that are only
• I want to thank the legislature and all of you who supported the budget proviso that had been in the
• 2023-25 budget.
• proviso was simply wiped out in the budget that you all adopted for 2025-27.
• And I think this gets to the operating budget issue.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education bills. SB 5841 would require students’ high school and beyond plans to show completion of at least one FAFSA or WASFA application, or a parent/guardian opt-out. The sponsor and supporters said it would reduce barriers to postsecondary education, improve financial aid completion, and bring more students and federal dollars into the state. School groups opposed it, warning it would add an unfunded administrative burden and create verification challenges, especially for small districts and families with undocumented students. Senators discussed data-sharing from the Washington Student Achievement Council and noted the bill’s connection to existing FAFSA outreach efforts. The committee then took testimony on SB 5922, which would let districts petition OSPI to transfer money from transportation vehicle funds to other district uses if they reduce their fleet because of enrollment declines. The sponsor said the bill would free up unused bus funds for other pressing needs. Members asked about whether districts could shift to smaller vehicles and how the funds could be used. The committee also heard SB 5858, which would move the pupil transportation safety net for special passengers into statute. Supporters from OSPI, districts, school directors, and PTA said the program is essential for transporting students with disabilities, homelessness, or foster care needs, and that current funding is far below demonstrated need. No votes were taken on these bills. Finally, the committee heard SB 5943, which would allow limited use of school impact fees for modernization and, in districts under binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight, for up to 25% of operations and maintenance. The sponsor and one superintendent argued it would help districts with aging buildings and new state mandates like safety and energy-efficiency requirements. Builders, business groups, and school coalition representatives opposed the bill, saying impact fees should remain tied to growth-related capital costs and warning it could worsen housing affordability and weaken the nexus required for impact fees. The chair closed by noting the session’s budget constraints and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• is, give you an idea of that budget.
• Real quick, just kind of how our budget works.
• What I prepared here was based on the budget hearing.
• Our budgeting process involves ensuring that about a third of our agency's budget is allocated to capital
• It's not subject to congressional budgets.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE TO OUR FOURTH INTERIM SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING OF THE PRE K 12 BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE
• PAST THREE INTO COMMITTEE MEETINGS WE HAVE FOCUSED ON THE BIGGEST ENTITY FUNDED AND OUR PRE K 12 BUDGET
• IN SUBSEQUENT LINES WE WILL HIT ON THIS ISSUE INCLUDING FUNDING DEMANDS AND EXTENDED BUDGETS FOR THE
• SECOND ISSUE REGARDING EXTENDED BUDGET PROCESS.
• THE STATE BECAUSE IT IS EARLY SESSION YEAR SET THE BUDGET IN MARCH OF THAT YEAR.

Transcript Highlights:

• So whenever we, you know, in the budget, and you all vote on the budget, one of the things that's always
• How much does this budget leave us in reserves?
• So we try and do a projection every year because we have to, you all have to budget.
• say operating budget op-ed, through to the FY 27 request.
• Our budget cannot deficit spend. The states can't deficit spend.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are proposing Senate File 1832, the Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Budget Bill.
• Uh, so it is included in the budget bill as I had promised, as we discussed earlier this week.
• Well, Representative Schultz, I think having it move in a budget bill is sufficient. So, Mr.
• Representative Niska, but having it in the budget bill made sense to our side.
• bill is sufficient. it move in a budget bill is sufficient.

Bills: HF3228, HF475

Keywords: workers' compensation, insurance programs, employee protection, Minnesota statutes, safety regulations, statue replacement, Hubert H. Humphrey, national commemoration, civil rights, Minnesota history, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> advisory board to the next budget cycle. advisory board to the next budget cycle.
• but the budget that's coming up.
• but the budget that's coming up.
• Would you believe in the last budget that's what happened to our budget is last the last budget we had
• </c> budget but the budget that's coming up. budget but the budget that's coming up.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1395 is the education budget. It has several components to the budget.
• the budget.
• . budget. budget.
• </c> Department of Human Services budget. Department of Human Services budget.
• There was no MDOT budget right now.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 12 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> director of the Legislative Budget director of the Legislative Budget Office.
• </c> their budget. their budget.
• </c><00:53:38.800><c> of</c><00:53:38.960><c> 2024,</c> expenditure budget of 2024, expenditure budget
• ,</c> applies to the tax expenditure budget, applies to the tax expenditure budget, so<00:56:30.680><
• . budget. budget.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• He changed them to budget committees.
• We have to budget.
• development calendar outlining how the budget process works.
• Because I do know that they do post their budget and things.
• Because I do know that they do post their budget and things.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum calls, and introductory remarks, including recognition of former Representative Ardian Zika and law enforcement officer of the day Representative Chuck Brannan. Members also unveiled a portrait of Speaker Daniel Perez, with extended remarks praising his leadership and the institution of the House. The Speaker then explained the process for taking up returning messages from the Senate, noting that the House would consider Senate amendments to bills already passed by both chambers. The House first concurred in Senate amendments and passed CS/CS/HB 1503 on computer science education and certification, which adds computer science and artificial intelligence content to high school instruction and creates a teacher certification program, with implementation delayed to give the Department of Education time to develop curriculum. The chamber then considered CS/CS/HB 1085 on local government cybersecurity, adopting a House amendment to allow local governments to buy into the cyber grant program whether or not they receive a grant, add a five-year sunset, and keep the program under the Florida Digital Service rather than a university. The House concurred in the Senate amendment and passed the bill 104-1. Members also refused to concur in Senate amendments to CS/HB 351 on concurrent legislative jurisdiction over military installations and HB 6011 on reporting gifts or honoraria, sending both bills back to the Senate. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/HB 1471, which would create a process for designating domestic terrorist organizations and related restrictions. Supporters said the Senate amendment clarified the definition of “promote,” refined notice and timeline requirements, and aligned the bill with federal-style procedures; opponents argued it lacked due process, could chill speech, and gave the governor and cabinet unprecedented power without adequate evidentiary standards or judicial review. Members also debated a related public records bill, CS/CS/HB 1473, which would exempt certain records tied to the designation process; critics said the exemption would further reduce transparency and due process. Despite objections, the House adopted the amendments and passed HB 1471 by 80-25, while the public records measure was taken up as a technical companion to align with the newly amended bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of the financial results of budget to actual, you can see this dark blue bar represents the
• That's really reflecting of them budgeting for some open positions.
• </c> them budgeting for some open positions. them budgeting for some open positions.
• </c> course there's a little bit of budgeting course there's a little bit of budgeting for<00:12:07.040
• And then, if the LCC has a budget for them, we also are able to pay that. Thank you.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It is funded only in strong budget years, only with non-Prop 98 General Fund dollars, meaning Prop 98
• constitutional mechanism that diverts additional resources into Proposition 98 without it being a budget
• the key breakthrough of the Local Control Funding Formula was the state's finance... share of the budget
• constitutional mechanism that diverts additional resources into Proposition 98 without it being a budget
• We've got a state budget with a structural deficit that we're worried about that might be $14 to $20

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations heard SCA 5, the Education Equalization Act, which would create an Equalization Reserve in the General Fund funded only in strong budget years with non-Prop 98 dollars. Senator Cortese and supporters argued it would provide a stable, ongoing stream of funding to reduce per-pupil disparities between basic-aid and non-basic-aid districts without reducing the Prop 98 minimum guarantee. Supporters included education foundation, school board, administrator, employee, and business representatives. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, argued the measure unfairly excludes charter and county school students and could worsen inequities; some committee members also raised concerns about its fiscal effects and constitutional structure. The committee ultimately voted 4-0 to adopt SCA 5, with the measure kept on call for additional members. The committee then took up a series of Assembly bills, most of which were suspense-file candidates and were moved without objection after brief or waived presentations and no opposition testimony. AB 402, AB 708, AB 1080, AB 1126, AB 1235, AB 1555, AB 1641, ACA 7, AB 1672, AB 1943, AB 2565, and AB 2571 were all sent to suspense. AB 1204 drew testimony from school district leaders and coalition members who said it would worsen LCFF funding disparities by shifting future growth away from the base grant; the bill was opposed and moved to suspense. AB 1672 received support from CalPACE. The Department of Finance did not attend and had no comments on the measures. Finally, ACA 18 was presented as a constitutional amendment to double student voting seats on the UC Board of Regents, creating separate undergraduate and graduate student representation. The author and UC student witnesses said the change would strengthen student voice on issues such as tuition, housing, basic needs, and free speech, and would align UC with CSU and community college governance. There was no opposition testimony, but the committee treated ACA 18 as a suspense-file candidate and moved it to suspense without objection. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're able to do this more efficiently by working together and pooling budget.
• So you can see a quarter of the budget goes to that national programming.
• They approve all budgets. As well as a USDA audit on our finances.
• Quarterly board meetings as well as a budget meeting.
• So July we do a mid-year budget review, so we actually look at our budget with our board twice a year

Summary: The Senate Agricultural Committee approved minutes from February 26 and March 3, 2026, then heard three House bills. House Bill 630 would move existing administrative-rule language on airborne control permits for predatory animals into statute without changing policy; the sponsor said the permits are free, limited to private property, and used for livestock, wildlife, or domestic animal protection rather than sport hunting. House Bill 631 would similarly codify current rule language on certificates of free sale for Idaho products, with the fee capped at $100 per certificate. Both bills drew no opposing testimony and were sent to the floor with due pass recommendations. The committee also heard House Bill 826 on the Idaho Honey Commission. The sponsor said the bill shifts regulatory authority from the commission to the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, cleans up code, and reflects current practice under an existing memorandum of understanding. Testimony from the Idaho Honey Industry Association supported the bill, emphasizing the importance of the honey sector and noting that hobbyist beekeepers are not affected. Members asked about hobbyist thresholds, pesticide-related bee registration, and penalties; the sponsor and department explained that hobbyists remain exempt from commission funding, bee site registration is handled elsewhere in department rules, and the $10,000 penalty already exists while the misdemeanor provision is being removed. The committee passed the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation. After the bills, Dairy West gave a presentation on its regional checkoff program covering Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Utah. Speakers described producer-funded promotion, research, school nutrition, sports sponsorships, retail promotion, farmer relations, sustainability outreach, and export development. They said Idaho remains the largest dairy-producing state in the region, with major exports to Mexico, Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea, and emerging markets elsewhere. In response to questions, they said the industry relies heavily on immigrant labor and that the organization is not a lobbying group. The committee took no action on the presentation and adjourned after the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• actually sort of help with our budget situation.
• I know you're not the budget committee, but some of our important things are budget.
• I know you're not the budget committee, but some of our important things are budget.
• I know you're not the budget committee, but some of our important things are budget.
• They have final approval authority for the department's budget.

Summary: The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session with an update from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Commissioner Dave Upthe Grove outlined DNR’s size and scope, previewed agency-request legislation, and emphasized budget priorities. He said DNR will seek authority to sell ecosystem service credits, better use underutilized water rights with tribal consultation, add a tribal representative to the State Board of Natural Resources, make minor timber-sales efficiencies, and include wildland firefighters in the LEOFF pension system. He also urged restoration of wildfire prevention and preparedness funding, warning that reduced funding would mean fewer firefighters, less forest health work, and less support for rural fire districts. He noted DNR’s wildfire suppression costs are rising and argued prevention spending can reduce larger, more expensive fires. State Forester George Geisler followed with a detailed wildfire season review. He said Washington now responds to fires year-round and also assists other states, including Texas. He described DNR’s use of 31 aircraft, 691 firefighters, and corrections-based crews, and said the agency’s success rate for keeping fires under 10 acres improved slightly from 93.7% to 94.1%. He highlighted increased arson activity, especially around Spokane, and described the Crescent Road Fire as an example of early detection, rapid response, and the use of bulldozers, aircraft, and hand crews to contain a fire to 182 acres with no structure losses. Senator Saldan praised the emphasis on prevention and the use of bulldozers as cost-effective tools. Assistant deputy supervisor Dwayne Emmons then reviewed the trust land transfer program, which was codified in statute in 2023 after being funded through the capital budget for decades. He said more than 130,000 acres of underperforming trust land have been transferred since the 1990s to other public or tribal entities for more appropriate use, while DNR acquires replacement lands to keep the trust whole. He described the current application and ranking process, including tribal input, and said DNR is requesting funding for remaining parcels from the last round, including portions of Tract C, Babcock Bench, and Middle Fork Snoqualmie. In questions, Senator Wagoner raised concerns about DNR’s decision to remove some acres from timber harvest rotation and its impact on local revenue and mills; the commissioner responded that current five-year harvest plans provide short-term stability and that any changes would be explored through the Board of Natural Resources process, not through immediate reductions in supply. The committee then received a history briefing from staff member Jeff Olson on the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission and agency structure. He traced the evolution from early fish and game commissioners to the current commission-appointed director model adopted by voter-approved Referendum 45 in 1995. Olson explained the commission’s statutory duties, membership requirements, and how Washington compares with other states. Chair Chapman said he had no plans to hear a bill this session changing the commission’s makeup, but he expressed personal interest in exploring reforms, accountability, and possibly a future broader coalition or referendum process. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational only, and the chair adjourned the session with holiday and New Year’s wishes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It comes out of our budget.
• Um, the current projected budget is $3.2 billion. Do you have any updated projected budget?
• Um, the current projected budget is $3.2 billion. Do you have any updated projected budget?
• <01:36:46.239><c> hole</c> budget hole budget hole &gt;&gt; in<01:36:47.199><c> our</c><01:36:47.520>
• </c> budgets. There is that much fraud. budgets. There is that much fraud.

Bills: HF3694, HF3844, HF4006, HF3785, HF3849, HF4102, HF3441, HF3507, HF3562

Keywords: transportation, tow trucks, variable message signs, road safety, emergency service, optometrist, window glazing, motor vehicle regulations, medical prescriptions, transportation safety, infrastructure, construction, appropriation, state project, motorized bicycles, motorcycles, electric vehicles, transportation regulations, safety standards, dealer license

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> I'll present our proposals for budget I'll present our proposals for budget and<00:03:29.040><c>
• This is a budget-neutral item, but does have an impact on the...
• The mandate is more of a state budget thing than anything else.
• The mandate is more of a state budget thing than anything else.
• The mandate is more of a state budget thing than anything else.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> already paid for that in other budgets already paid for that in other budgets because<00:36:19.680
• Future until we start seeing that show up on budgets?
• </c> potentially you know we're also a budget potentially you know we're also a budget committee<01:20
• </c> uh receiving the governor's budget uh receiving the governor's budget overview<01:41:30.719><c>
• </c> would like to respond to um the budget would like to respond to um the budget proposal<01:41:49.480

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And she has come in not only on budget, but under...
• There's a problem, but this is concerning the governor's budget, and she has come in not only on budget
• , but under budget.
• We were asking for full funding for the approved budget from last year.
• And you do what you will with your budget.

Summary: The committee first reviewed a list of bills already ready for “do pass,” including several House bills (HB 1010, 1018, 1020, 1023, 1041, 1055, 1077) and Senate bills (SB 4, 16, 23, 24, 55, 59). It then took up the JBC Personnel Subcommittee report (B1), where a substitute motion to separate out the governor’s staff-related item for a separate vote was debated at length. Members raised concerns about transparency, a requested appearance by a governor’s staff member, and whether the administration should be compelled to testify. The substitute motion failed on a roll-call division vote, and the committee then adopted the subcommittee report as presented. The committee next questioned Treasurer John Thurston on House Bill 1034 and his office’s budget request, focusing on salary increases for his executive team, the size of raises under the new pay plan, office hours, and whether the increases were justified. Thurston said the request was to fully fund the approved pay plan, later reduced to a 10% increase after discussion with legislative leaders, and explained that salaries were set within the approved plan. Several members criticized the raises as too large or unfair, while others noted the compromise and thanked him for cooperating. The committee then adopted the HB 1034 letter. After that, the committee reviewed Schedule C and several special-language items, including amendments to SB 4, SB 58, HB 1052, and SB 77. It discussed a new item allowing DFA to establish a GAMP program for agricultural extension office improvements, with no funding attached, and adopted it. The committee then passed or adopted a series of measures, including SB 29, SB 51, HB 1034, and the remaining ready bills listed at the start of the meeting. SB 4 was set aside as not ready. The meeting ended with notice that the committee would reconvene in 15 minutes in another room to handle special language.

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor has a right to her budget and whom she hires or doesn't hire, correct? I'm sorry.
• And she has come in not only on budget, but under...
• There's a problem, but this is concerning the governor's budget, and she has come in not only on budget
• , but under budget.
• We were asking for full funding for the approved budget from last year.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also want to be sure that we have a sustainable budget.
• from that forecast that has influenced the talk around the upcoming supplemental budget?
• in your own supplemental budget?
• There's a supplemental budget.
• And we have regular engagement with the two budget teams long before the budgets become public.

Summary: Senate and House Democratic leaders said they were pleased with progress before cutoff, highlighting work on immigration/federal-overreach protections and affordability measures. They cited bills such as restrictions on ICE activity in private spaces, employer notice requirements for ICE worksite actions, housing expansion in commercial and mixed-use zones, limits on medical debt interest, senior property tax relief, grocery-store covenant restrictions, preventive health care access, energy relief for low-income households, and the proposed millionaire’s tax, which they said would support tax credits and long-term fiscal sustainability. They also noted strong bipartisan movement on many bills and said they were now focused on processing House bills in the Senate and vice versa. Several stalled or controversial measures were discussed. Leaders said the JR bill did not advance in the House because it lacked votes, though support had grown and stakeholder engagement continued. Child welfare and controlled-substance/endangerment bills were described as still under discussion, with lawmakers saying there were differing views on the best way to protect children and that some proposals were paused for further work. The Senate-side transmission and cultural resources package also ran into procedural and timing problems, with one bill ultimately not moving after a request for a full reading delayed the plan. The governor’s comments on the millionaire’s tax and the updated revenue forecast were a major topic. Democrats said they welcomed the governor’s tax ideas, were aiming to balance meaningful tax relief with a sustainable budget, and saw the forecast as providing some breathing room and more reserve capacity, though much of the new revenue would be absorbed by caseload growth and maintenance costs. They also discussed a proposed employer assessment tied to Medicaid-funded health coverage, saying it was intended to address federal cuts and shifting costs, while acknowledging concerns from employers and nonprofits. Other items included the tort-liability/survivor claims bill, which leaders said would preserve jury trials and damages while creating a claims process, the 0.05 BAC impaired-driving bill, and a pension-related proposal to terminate and restate LEOFF Plan 1, with some related transfer ideas still unresolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Only 81% of our budget is allocated to personnel.
• under normal federal budget timelines.
• Are you in a deficit budget right now?
• We have a $189 million budget deficit. And we have an $181 million budget deficit as well.
• We were at $900,000 of our budget, and this year it's going to be $1.6 million of our budget.

Keywords: 1184, house, all