Transcript Highlights:

• Instructure is kicking in $75 million of their own money.
• Yeah, but I would say it's $75 million for this piece.
• Yeah, for just this piece, for the state, $110 million; Instructure is putting in $75 million.
• For the state, $110 million; Instructure is putting in $75 million. Okay.
• My other question would be, what would happen if we came up with, say, $75 million?

Committee: Joint Capital Improvement

Summary: The committee met to finalize the FY27 bond bill, beginning with a roll call and a detailed review of updated appropriation amounts. The Comptroller General walked through major changes across agencies, including additions for OMB, the Department of State, DNREC, Agriculture, Education, and Transportation, and explained the funding sources that would cover the total $1.256 billion package. Members then debated several large items, especially the $110 million appropriation for the Diamond State Port Corporation, the $35 million Legislative Hall addition, the $20 million Community Reinvestment Fund, and the $30 million land and building acquisition line. Questions focused on the port project’s costs, expected jobs, return on investment, and whether the state would face future commitments; Secretary of State Charney Patitofunded Chances and other officials testified that the port expansion would create construction and permanent jobs and support long-term economic growth, while some members remained skeptical and objected to the process and spending priorities. The committee also discussed school construction funding, with officials explaining that additional money would forward-fund projects already in the pipeline and help districts that had been turned down for certificates of necessity. Other items reviewed included funding for park improvements, marina acquisition, the Plummer Center demolition and transfer, the Pyle Center sewer project, the Site Readiness Fund, affordable housing, the Arts Endowment Fund, an unclaimed property task force, and various transportation and community transportation projects. Several members raised concerns about county distribution, minority-party involvement in negotiations, and the scale of certain appropriations, but the majority defended the package as statewide investment and economic development. The committee then voted on the Section 1 addendum and a series of new and replacement epilogue sections, including provisions for the port project, Legislative Hall minor capital improvements, land acquisition, affordable housing, the Community Reinvestment Fund, downtown development districts, the Rite Aid demolition, the Site Readiness Fund, school construction formula review, and enhanced school capital funding. Most motions carried, with a few recorded no votes or abstentions on the main addendum. The meeting concluded with a motion authorizing technical corrections by the Comptroller General’s office, followed by closing remarks thanking staff and members for their work and noting that this was likely the final bond committee meeting for some participants before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Bradford, Chair of the Committee on Rules, who reports the following bills: House Bill 75
• The Chair recognizes the majority leader, who calls up House Bill 75, printer's number 3514, on page
• It disincentivizes donor participation because it goes from 90% to 75% and expands to other areas other
• So, to 75% for two-year commitments.
• leader moves that the following bills be recommitted to the Committee on Appropriations: House Bill 75

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved several journals, and welcomed a number of guests, including Irish dignitaries, scholarship winners, interns, student pages, and members of Omega Psi Phi. After confirming a quorum, the chamber received committee reports and referred new bills and resolutions, then recessed for caucuses and committee meetings before returning to floor action. In the afternoon session, the House considered several bills and amendments. It approved amendments to House Bills 426, 1127, 2551, and Senate Bill 146, while rejecting an amendment to HB 1127 that would have tightened background-check requirements for out-of-state dentists. The chamber also agreed to HB 2234, which creates a spent grain donation tax credit and updates the malt beverage tax credit, and HB 2551, which limits text-message notices by the Turnpike Commission and other agencies about unpaid fines, fees, or tolls. Senate Bill 146, creating the Veterans Trust Fund Board, was amended to add audit-related changes and then agreed to. The House then took final passage votes on several bills. HB 133, allowing a process to petition for reinstatement of parental rights, passed 191-11; HB 138, barring parental incarceration as the sole basis for termination of parental rights, passed 200-2; HB 2207, on capital development loans, passed 202-0; and HB 2224, dealing with utility rate and tax-related changes, passed 202-0 after extensive debate over affordability, consumer protections, and tax relief. HB 2473, repealing the Flood Insurance Education Information Act of 1996, also passed unanimously, and HB 2544, addressing school administrator rights and compensation disputes, passed 141-61. The most extensive debate centered on HB 2632, which reallocates educational tax credit caps and replaces the EITC and OSTC programs with a new options tax credit framework beginning in 2027-28. Supporters said it would improve transparency, accountability, and access for the poorest students, while opponents argued it would reduce scholarship opportunities, add burdens, and harm families and schools that rely on the current programs. After lengthy debate, the House passed HB 2632 by a vote of 105-97. The chamber then announced a Finance Committee voting meeting, recommitted several bills to Appropriations, and adjourned until June 23, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• As most of you know, we are currently dependent on about 75% of...
• As most of you know, we are currently dependent on about 75% of crude from outside of California.
• We produce 25% of crude here. 10% of the 75, meaning 65 left, comes from elsewhere internationally, but
• as a whole, which include both the refinery margins as well as the retail margins, have gone up by 75
• No, I mean, as I said, the 70, 75 cents of the extra $2 a gallon we're paying from January is tied to

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• eligible for forgiveness if an economic development project locates in the building and creates at least 75
• Is it something 75? I do have that as well, if you would like. Yes, please.
• of that $600 million is series 2026C and D, representing a $100 million transaction that will issue $75
• </c><00:26:29.280><c> million</c> transaction that will issue 75 million transaction that will issue
• 75 million of<00:26:29.800><c> tax-exempt</c><00:26:30.960><c> and</c><00:26:31.080><c> approximately

Summary: The committee first discussed and approved a new airport-related project involving two 60-by-80 corporate hangars. Members asked about how the project would generate revenue, and staff explained that hangar rent and fuel sales would help repay the costs, with more than half of the funding coming from the FAA. The project was approved by roll call vote. The committee then approved two large capital pool projects: a $1,715,120 roof replacement and skylight project for the Libraries and Archives building in Frankfort, and a $2,105,400 exterior renovation project for several state buildings, including Health and Family Services, the Kentucky History Center, and the State Office Building. After that, the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented one loan increase and five grant reallocations. The loan increase was for Springfield’s wastewater treatment plant project, rising by $262,300 to just over $2.88 million because bids came in higher than estimated. Members asked about the delay between approval and bidding, and staff explained the design, environmental review, and state approval process can take one to two years. The committee approved the six action items, and then received informational updates on additional water projects that required no action. The Cabinet for Economic Development next presented one forgivable loan and 11 KPDI/KPDI EDF grant projects. The loan was a $1 million forgivable loan for the Perry County Economic Development Board to acquire the Coalfields Industrial Building, with repayment forgivable if a project creates at least 75 jobs. The grant projects included site-readiness and industrial development work in Pendleton, Elizabethtown/Hardin, McCreary, Floyd, Marion, Fleming, Graves, Eddyville/Lyon, Caldwell, Mercer, and Johnson counties. Members asked how local match percentages are set and were told they are based on county population and updated every two years; staff also explained that beneficiaries usually provide the match and are reimbursed after submitting costs. The committee approved the action items. Finally, the Office of Financial Management presented two new debt issues and three SFCC debt issues. The new debt items were a Kentucky Housing Corporation bond authorization of up to $600 million for single-family mortgage revenue bonds, including a $100 million initial transaction, and a $5.5 million multifamily conduit bond for 98 apartments in Lexington. Informational items covered University of Kentucky refunding bonds and Turnpike Authority refunding bonds, both of which produced savings. The three SFCC debt issues for Campbell, Edmonson, and Perry counties were then approved by roll call vote. The meeting ended with brief discussion of the upcoming calendar and scheduling before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Starting October 1st, 2027, that goes to a 75% state match and a 25% federal.
• that</c><00:03:31.920><c> goes</c><00:03:32.280><c> to</c><00:03:32.440><c> a</c><00:03:32.520><c> 75%
• </c> October 1st, 2027 that goes to a 75% October 1st, 2027 that goes to a 75% state<00:03:34.360><c>
• change in administration takes effect October 1 of 2027, October 1, 2027, it represents an estimated 75%
• Then October 1st it goes to the 75%.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Please amend this legislation to include 75-year bonding authorization for Sound Transit.
• This amendment is about getting voter-approved light rail projects done responsibly. 75-year money will
• HB 2711, we would like to see language added that allows Sound Transit light rail projects to use a 75
• Allowing 75-year bonding aligns financing with the long life of light rail assets and helps keep projects
• And then it allows districts to impose a property tax up to $75 per $1,000 assessed.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held a work session on two major corridor projects before moving to public hearing and executive session. In the Yakima area, WSDOT, Yakima County, and Ecology described the Interstate 82/east-west connector work as a coordinated effort to add capacity, improve interchanges, and address the Boise Cascade mill site contamination that sits in the project footprint. County and Ecology witnesses said the county is ready to remove wood waste and contaminated material, but the project is stalled pending a draft work plan and a de minimis consent decree; several senators pressed for faster action and clearer direction from Ecology. The committee then heard an update on the SR 3 Belfair freight corridor, where WSDOT said environmental review is complete and the next major step is an access hearing this summer, followed by right-of-way acquisition and construction likely in late 2027 or early 2028. Local and tribal partners emphasized the project’s importance for freight mobility, housing growth, emergency access, and regional economic development. The public hearing was on engrossed substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation resources bill that largely tracks provisions from prior legislation but also adds or changes several tax and account provisions. Staff explained that the bill clarifies fuel tax and peer-to-peer tax distributions, treats trade-in value differently for recreational vessel and luxury vehicle taxes, provides a six-month motor home exemption and penalty waiver for the luxury vehicle tax, allows lease payments to be made over time, exempts tribal members and nonresidents, creates a Preserve Washington account, changes some transfer timing, and repeals the luxury aircraft tax. Testimony was mixed: aviation groups supported repealing the luxury aircraft tax; trucking and some citizens opposed fuel tax and diesel tax increases; Sound Transit, transit advocates, labor, and ferry interests asked for amendments such as 75-year bonding authority, mobile driver’s licenses, ferry funding, and bike education funding. Alaska Airlines and Delta also supported adding mobile ID language. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills, including SHB 1823, SHB 2114, E2SHB 2251, SHB 2323, SHB 2410, EHB 2588, 2SHB 1923, and HB 2495, all with due pass recommendations after adopting amendments where applicable. The committee adopted a striking amendment to E2SHB 2251 adjusting Climate Commitment Act account distributions and a striking amendment to EHB 2588 limiting the ferry district changes to Whatcom County and removing the voter-approval tax provision. It also adopted an amendment to 2SHB 1923 that added further conditions for passenger-only ferry districts, including whale-protection and fare-related provisions. Senator King voted no on E2SHB 2251, objecting that the bill reduced the transportation share of Climate Commitment Act revenues. The chair announced one more executive action meeting would be held Wednesday morning, with amendment requests due the prior day.

Transcript Highlights:

• there's a permanent temporary total disability, the worker receives monthly payments of between 60 and 75%
• benefits that the employer pays to be included in the monthly benefit to 100% rather than the 60% to 75%
• You heard about just for the state fund, $75 million to $100 million per year in added benefit costs,
• So as you heard, benefits are between 60 and 75% roughly of their workers' wages.
• contribution that is then added to the overall worker compensation rate, and then we pay between 60 and 75%

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6136, which would require Labor and Industries to publish actuarial indicated workers’ compensation rates for each risk class and disclose when rate increases are capped below those indicated levels. The sponsor and supporters from the hospitality, retail, business, and construction sectors said the bill would improve transparency about how rates are set and how reserve funds and investment earnings are used to hold down premiums. L&I testified that the bill would require publication of a large amount of rate-setting information, but said it was already developed in the normal process and that the bill had no fiscal impact. Questions focused on reserve use, advisory committee involvement, and how the actuarial calculations interact with investment returns. The committee then moved to executive session and took action on several bills, adopting substitutes or amendments and advancing bills including SB 5292, 6014, 5972, 5869, 5874, 6058, 6039, 5944, and 6180, with most sent to Rules and SB 5292 sent to Ways and Means. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5847, which would expand injured workers’ access to medical care by allowing treatment outside the L&I provider network when no provider is available nearby, limiting employer steering to specific providers, shortening utilization review timelines, allowing provider deviation from L&I guidelines when medically appropriate, and expanding continued treatment and cancer monitoring. Labor and worker advocates argued the bill would better reflect the Murray decision and reduce delays in care, while L&I and employer groups said the current evidence-based guideline system works for most claims and warned the bill could weaken quality controls, create vague standards, and increase costs. Testimony also raised concerns about the 15-mile access rule, the employer communication restrictions, and the appeal process for provider removal. The sponsor said the goal was to improve individualized care and continue working with stakeholders. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6067, which would change workers’ compensation time-loss calculations so that 100% of the employer-paid health insurance contribution is included in the benefit calculation instead of the current partial inclusion. Supporters said the bill would help injured workers keep health coverage during recovery and reduce pressure to choose between medical care and income, while opponents argued it would not guarantee the money is actually used for health insurance, could be diverted to other uses or attorney fees, and would significantly increase costs for employers and the accident fund. L&I said the bill would require IT and administrative changes and estimated substantial ongoing benefit costs. The hearing ended without further action on SB 6067, and the chair closed the session after public testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Milliman's projections are over a 75-year period.
• They project 75 years of future premium revenue and investment income, and they project 75 years of future
• Again, these are 75-year projections, so there's always going to be uncertainty, but a key part of the
• Again, these are 75-year projections, So there's this new program.
• Again, these are 75-year projections, so there's always going to be uncertainty, but a key part of the

Committee: Joint Pension Funding Council

Summary: The Pension Funding Council met on October 8 with introductions from council members and then heard a presentation from the Office of the State Actuary on long-term economic assumptions and the state pension systems’ financial condition. OSA reported that the combined pension systems were 100% funded as of June 30, 2024, with open plans above 95% funded, and explained that strong investment returns and prior funding policy decisions contributed to that position. The actuaries recommended increasing the inflation assumption from 2.75% to 3%, increasing general salary growth by 0.25%, keeping the Plan 1 membership growth assumption at 1%, and raising the assumed investment return to 7.25% for all plans. They also reviewed estimated budget impacts and explained that investment gains are smoothed over up to eight years, while other assumption changes flow directly into future valuations. The council also heard comments from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council and the State Investment Board, both of which said their inflation and return outlooks were broadly consistent with the actuary’s recommendations. ERFC discussed inflation trends, the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, and why Seattle-area inflation tends to run above the national average, while SIB said its 15-year inflation assumption is 2.5% and that 7.25% is a reasonable long-term return assumption. Public testimony included support for maintaining Plan 1 funding efforts and caution from the Association of Washington Cities about the budget impact of higher assumptions and the risk of overfunding pensions. The council then considered and adopted a motion to maintain the current prescribed long-term economic assumptions, with a roll call vote of 4-2. It next considered the long-term services and supports trust program and, after hearing an overview from DSHS and OSA, adopted the recommended WA Cares premium rate of 0.58% by a unanimous 6-0 vote. OSA said the WA Cares program is still in its learning phase, with no benefits yet paid, and recommended no premium change at this time regardless of the outcome of the related ballot measure. The council also elected Katie Chapman as chair and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• are members who retired prior to June 30, 2025—and they only got it once they were over 60 or over 75
• The first group is a closed group of retirees who had attained age 75 prior to July 1st, 2020.
• What if we opened up that first group and allowed retirees to grow into that age 75 group?
• You can see if we look at all retirees growing into the age 75 provision, about $753 million...
• For retirees to have 25 years of service, but that age 75 is going to be open to all retirees.

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate two items on the agenda are Senate Concurrent<00:22:01.600><c> Resolution</c><00:22:02.080><c> 75
• </c><00:22:02.559><c> and</c><00:22:02.799><c> Senate</c> Concurrent Resolution 75 and Senate Concurrent
• Resolution 75 and Senate Resolution<00:22:03.760><c> 58</c><00:22:04.240><c> requesting</c><00:22:04.720
• Chair's recommendation for STR 75 and SR 58 pass with amendments. I, Vice Chair.
• Chair's recommendation is to pass STR 75 and SR 58 with amendments. Chair and vice chair vote I.

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land heard two gubernatorial nominations and one resolution. Governor’s Message 585 nominated Stanley Ruidas to the Game Management Advisory Commission for a term ending June 30, 2028. DLNR supported the nomination, citing his prior service as GMAC chair from 2020 to 2022 and his work on hunting and wildlife management issues. Ruidas said he hoped to continue as chair and focus on bringing meetings to hunters across the islands and advancing island-specific wildlife management plans. The committee later recommended advice and consent on GM585, and the motion passed unanimously. Governor’s Message 550 nominated Alexandra Kelly Polo to the Legacy Land Conservation Commission for a term ending June 30, 2028. DLNR and several supporters, including the County of Hawaii and community advocates, praised her experience with land acquisition, conservation easements, and county open-space efforts. Kelly Polo said her work has helped protect thousands of acres on Hawaii Island and emphasized the importance of preserving natural resources and working with community groups. The committee recommended advice and consent on GM550, and the motion passed unanimously. The committee also considered SCR 19/SR 100, which requested DLNR to convene a Kīua Bay advisory working group. DLNR and the Hawaii Tourism Authority offered written support, and members said the working group could help address long-standing issues in the area. The committee recommended passage with technical and nonsubstantive amendments, and the motion was adopted unanimously. In a separate joint portion of the meeting, the committees also advanced SCR 75/SR 58, supporting historic preservation staffing for Lahaina rebuild efforts, with both technical and substantive amendments, and later advanced STR 24 with an amendment to include the 100th Infantry Battalion alongside the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, we'll next call from HHS, Aaron Hebert again. 75% being the state and 25 the feds 75% being
• > go</c><01:16:02.800><c> to</c><01:16:03.040><c> 75.
• </c> going to go to 75. going to go to 75.
• </c> &gt;&gt; The uh state is 75 and the feds is 25.
• &gt;&gt; The uh state is 75 and the feds is 25.

Committee: House Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's 75% of them.
• So so that's 75% of then next year. So so that's 75% of them. them. them.
• The warrant is up to 75%, as you can in the amendment. 75% is the total adequacy warrant they can put
• Are you going to put 75% of the left.
• </c><01:45:16.880><c> So</c> $18 million or 75% of 18 million. So $18 million or 75% of 18 million.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> governor did not put the ongoing 75 governor did not put the ongoing 75 million<04:01:14.720><c>
• </c> the next 10 years we're going to put 75 the next 10 years we're going to put 75 million<04:01:30.040
• million, we'll budget 75 million.
• </c> right now and did you collect the 75 right now and did you collect the 75 million<04:05:15.960><
• </c> decided um to um identify by Statute $75 decided um to um identify by Statute $75 million<05:03:

Summary: The committee held a work session on the Department of Business and Economic Affairs’ budget, with testimony from division leadership on staffing, funding sources, and program changes. Early discussion focused on vacant positions in the agency, including a senior planner tied to FEMA requirements, a federally funded program assistant, a program specialist to be reclassified during a planning reorganization, and two Housing Champions positions that were authorized but not funded in the current biennium and are requested for 2026-27. The witnesses also explained that temporary welcome center positions are filled as funds allow, and that the agency’s requested general fund increase is driven largely by the Division of Travel and Tourism Development and its formula-based funding. Members then reviewed rest areas, welcome centers, outdoor recreation, economic development, procurement, and workforce opportunity lines. The department said there are 12 rest areas, with 5.8 million foot counts in FY 24, and that welcome centers are generally open year-round, though Sutton is currently closed and staffing relies on a mix of full-time and temporary employees. The outdoor recreation position is federally funded through USDA and supports business outreach, trade shows, and industry promotion. In economic development, the agency said increased dues reflect participation in the Northern Borders Regional Commission, and that a marketing line item is intended to support recruitment and promotion of growth industries such as advanced manufacturing and life sciences. The Apex Accelerator Program was described as a state-federal partnership requiring a state match and providing government contracting assistance to businesses, while the Office of Workforce Opportunity was explained as a federally funded WIOA-related effort administered through multiple agencies and subrecipients. A major point of discussion was the proposed reduction to the Small Business Development Center, which members said had generated significant public concern. The department described SBDC as a highly effective technical assistance program for new and small businesses, but said the cut was one of the few places it felt it had room to reduce funding. Members asked about federal support and matching requirements for various programs, and the department said less than half of its overall budget is generally funded by the state and that some programs require state match. The committee also discussed travel and tourism marketing and the Joint Promotional Program, with the department saying those funds support broader advertising campaigns and grants to chambers and trade associations for events such as Bike Week, Restaurant Week, and the Seafood Festival. No votes were taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> now uh so I'm introducing Senate Bill 75 now uh so I'm introducing Senate Bill 75 which<01:40:00.440
• He said he was here in favor of Senate Bill 75.
• He said he was here in favor of Senate Bill 75.
• He said he was here in favor of Senate Bill 75.
• </c><02:01:45.560><c> as</c> please vote Senate Bill 75 as please vote Senate Bill 75 as inexpedient<

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• There's one in north between 71 and 75.
• </c><00:35:55.760><c> There's</c><00:35:56.000><c> one</c> north between 71 and 75.
• There's one north between 71 and 75.
• Um, I live on I-75 and the question I want to talk to you about is, uh, I have two questions if I may
• They've reached the 75%, but the way the statute reads, once you get to 100, you have to forfeit the

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on Transportation approved the minutes from its September 16 meeting and then heard a presentation from Jason Sawala, deputy state highway engineer with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, on rest areas and truck parking. He described Kentucky’s system of eight welcome centers, 14 rest areas, and four truck havens, and said the Cabinet spent just over $12 million in fiscal year 2025 to operate and maintain those facilities. He also explained that the Cabinet’s truck parking study found truck parking demand has increased 24% since 2012, driven by just-in-time delivery, stricter hours-of-service and electronic logging requirements, and fewer drivers. Sawala said the study looked not only at Cabinet-owned facilities but also private truck stops and lots, and identified unmet parking demand across the state, especially at 1:00 a.m. He noted that 11 sites, mostly existing rest areas, weigh stations, or welcome centers, were identified as promising expansion locations, with estimated project costs in the $30 million to $36 million range in 2022 dollars. He said the Cabinet is working on design and project development for those sites and is seeking federal funding opportunities where available. Members raised concerns about safety, congestion, and trucks parking on ramps or in residential areas, and several asked about funding, charging for parking, and whether autonomous vehicles might reduce future demand. Sawala said the 820 public rest-area spaces are marked spaces only, that he was not aware of any state charging for public truck parking, and that federal programs can help fund some expansions. He also said he was not aware of local-government parking programs offhand but would look into it. Members generally emphasized the importance of truck parking for safety, commerce, and avoiding burdens on local communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Miles an hour to 75 miles an hour. This is not a requirement.
• It does not require anyone to drive 75 miles an hour; it simply provides that option.
• the sponsor in the Senate to ask our permission to give the commission the authority to raise that to 75
• bill, allowing the Highway Department of Transportation the ability to determine a speed limit up to 75
• deals with allowing MoDOT to determine whether or not to increase the speed limit on rural highways to 75

Transcript Highlights:

• Miles an hour to 75 miles an hour. This is not a requirement.
• It does not require anyone to drive 75 miles an hour. It simply provides that option.
• option—sorry, not the Highway Patrol, the department—the option to look at whether or not to go to 75
• the sponsor in the Senate to ask our permission to give the commission the authority to raise that to 75
• bill, allowing the Highway Department of Transportation the ability to determine a speed limit up to 75

Summary: The House recognized its drafters and research staff, then moved through committee reports and several conference committee reports and final passage motions. Senate Joint Resolution 87 was adopted and finally passed after debate over a provision affecting the City of St. Louis sheriff; supporters said the final version restored the original format with a minor wording change, while opponents argued it removed local voter control. The resolution passed 95-46 on both the conference report and final passage votes. Members then adopted and finally passed Senate Bill 973, a measure combining a wholesaler provision and a land bank/real estate transparency provision, with supporters describing it as consumer protection and cleanup language. Senate Bill 1421, a public safety package, was also advanced after a motion to exceed the conference differences; debate focused on clean slate provisions, masked intimidation penalties, prosecuting attorney salaries, fentanyl language, good time credit, Brianna’s Law, and a St. Louis liability provision. The conference report passed 116-18, final passage 110-25, and the emergency clause for the drone-related portion passed 136-5. The House also adopted and finally passed Senate Bills 835 and 1111, a broad package including insurance claim assignment protections, court automation updates, treatment court administration, a circuit judgeship codification, a St. Louis civil case surcharge, and anti-SLAPP protections. Senate Bill 1408, which authorizes MoDOT and the Highway Commission to consider raising rural interstate speed limits from 70 to 75 mph, was receded to the Senate version and finally passed 93-46. Senate Bill 913, extending multiple agricultural tax credits through 2033 and adding a short-line railroad credit, drew extensive debate over tax credits, budget priorities, and return on investment before the previous question was ordered and the bill passed 107-30. Finally, Senate Bill 1553 was passed, creating incentives and a grant program tied to critical minerals and pharmaceuticals to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers; supporters framed it as a jobs and national security measure, while one member raised concerns about local revenue impacts before clarifying the bill’s scope. The House then received Senate messages indicating the Senate had passed a House bill, and the session continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is where that compromise comes back in. 75 FTE.
• This is where that compromise comes back in. 75 FTE.
• Yes, and that's where 75 FTE shows up there.
• And that's where 75 FTE shows up there. 75 FTE and then $20 million, not the $50 million. Correct.
• Senate was a 75. We ended up at 50. I think I was at 75. I've scrapped through, but I can't see it.

Committee: House Conference Committee on Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• At least 75-plus poultry houses were destroyed.
• Of that fund, 75% stays local. 25% is remitted to the state.
• And so then that's when you see shrimp prices on the dock get to 75 cents to a dollar a pound.
• So then that's when you see shrimp prices on the dock get to 75 cents to a dollar a pound.
• prices on the dock get to 75 cents to a dollar a pound.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard the House Fiscal Division’s FY 2027 budget presentations for the State Treasury, Public Service Commission, Department of Civil Service, and Department of Agriculture and Forestry. Treasury’s recommended budget was about $15 million with 74 positions, funded largely by self-generated revenue. Treasury staff highlighted strong investment returns, record unclaimed property recoveries, a new ACH option to speed and reduce the cost of payments, a School Transparency portal that helped uncover questionable school spending, and a new online portal that has sped up processing of cooperative endeavor agreements and related payments. Members praised the transparency work and faster payments, and asked about bond ratings, CEA oversight, and the public accessibility of the transparency site. The Public Service Commission’s FY 2027 budget was presented at $11.5 million, entirely self-generated, with most spending on personnel; commissioners said salary and market adjustments were needed to address heavy attorney and auditor turnover. Civil Service’s FY 2027 budget was presented at $28.7 million, with major funding from interagency transfers and general fund, and officials explained recent pay-plan and special entrance rate changes intended to improve recruitment and retention across state agencies. Members asked how those compensation changes were developed and whether market studies supported them. The Agriculture and Forestry budget was presented at $91.4 million, with major funding from statutory dedications, general fund, and federal dollars, and the commissioner described severe pressure on farmers from low commodity prices, drought, freezes, wildfires, storm damage, and labor shortages. The Agriculture and Forestry discussion was the longest and most detailed. The commissioner said the state is working to expand markets, reduce costs, and help farmers through federal assistance, while also seeking more equipment and fuel for wildfire response after a severe fire weekend and ongoing drought conditions. Members raised concerns about storm-damaged timber, soil and water conservation funding, and the loss of federal dollars that depend on local technicians. The commissioner explained the wildfire suppression subfund, the role of severance taxes, and the limits of current firefighting equipment and staffing. He also discussed the seafood sector, especially shrimp and crawfish, saying imported seafood, currency changes, tariffs, and H-2B worker shortages are hurting Louisiana producers and processors. He said the department is testing imported seafood for antibiotics, wants more authority to hold contaminated product, and is pursuing legislation to support seafood promotion and testing. Members also asked about wood chips, rail transport, timber severance reporting, and incentives for wood pellet use, and the commissioner said the department is exploring new markets, including overseas buyers for wood and agricultural products. No formal votes or bill actions were taken in the portion provided; the meeting consisted of budget presentations, agency testimony, and member questions and comments. The tone throughout was supportive of the agencies’ work, with repeated praise for Treasury’s transparency efforts, Civil Service’s compensation reforms, and Agriculture and Forestry’s advocacy for farmers, foresters, and seafood producers.

Transcript Highlights:

• that income is at or below 115% of the area's median income, and that actually affects about 55% to 75%
• affects about<00:03:07.640><c> 55%</c><00:03:08.800><c> 55</c><00:03:09.320><c> to</c><00:03:09.400><c> 75%
• ><c> 55</c><00:03:11.400><c> to</c><00:03:11.560><c> 7</c><00:03:12.320><c> 57%</c> about 55% 55 to 75%
• of or 55 to 7 57% about 55% 55 to 75% of or 55 to 7 57% of<00:03:14.040><c> homeowners</c><00:03:14.680