Transcript Highlights:

• board is um still in the assessment board is um still in the assessment process<01:20:02.400>
• <01:20:41.239> process I think that whole assessment process I think that whole assessment
• These are those statewide assessments that all our schools participate in, on the Smarter Balanced Assessment
• <05:28:20.040> uh these are those Statewide assessments uh these are those Statewide assessments
• <05:28:24.760> Andor on the smarter balance assessment Andor on the smarter balance assessment

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee held an informational briefing with the University of Hawaiʻi, led by new President Wendy Hensel and Vice President for Budget and Finance Calbert Young. Hensel outlined the university system’s scope, student demographics, research activity, and campus missions, emphasizing four strategic priorities: serving Native Hawaiians and Hawaiʻi, student success, workforce development, and economic diversification through innovation and research. She highlighted the system’s enrollment, research funding, and the roles of Mānoa, Hilo, West Oʻahu, the community colleges, and specialized institutions such as JABSOM and the Cancer Center. Young then reviewed the budget request, focusing largely on making prior one-time appropriations permanent and supporting recurring needs. Items included funding for Mānoa athletics, the Hawaiʻi Institute for Marine Biology, K-12 teacher education, Pamantasan Council support, Hilo programs, Windward’s mental health technician certificate, Maui’s practical nursing bridge program, and student support positions such as financial aid and admissions counselors. He also described workforce-related requests tied to nursing expansion at Mānoa and West Oʻahu, as well as facilities support at West Oʻahu. A major portion of the testimony addressed the university’s two Kakaʻako medical facilities. Young explained that declining tobacco settlement and cigarette tax revenues are no longer sufficient to cover debt service for JABSOM and the Cancer Center, so the governor’s budget includes general fund support to supplement those obligations. He also described a regents-approved request not included in the governor’s proposal: expanding the Hawaiʻi Promise financial aid program to the four-year campuses, estimated at about $11–12 million. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• throat], coroners are an essential part of local, state, and federal government, which should be assessed
• throat], coroners are an essential part of local, state, and federal government, which should be assessed
• throat], coroners are an essential part of local, state, and federal government, which should be assessed
• throat], coroners are an essential part of local, state, and federal government, which should be assessed
• as a priority by their state assessed as a priority by their state and<00:36:53.119> local<00

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• between the parties, the local government then is able to file that agreement along with placing an assessment
• placing<00:04:48.720> an agreement along with placing an agreement along with placing an assessment
• 50.400> on<00:04:50.720> the<00:04:50.960> property<00:04:51.440> to assessment
• and lean on the property to assessment and lean on the property to ensure<00:04:52.160> that<
• There is an assessment of a financial institution's excise tax in Alabama on all financial institutions

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• /c> From $25 to $100, and the funds for that, going into 60% into the driver's training penalty assessment
• the last count I had on<00:08:33.680> on<00:08:34.080> criminal<00:08:34.719> assessments
• <00:08:35.360> that<00:08:35.599> are on on criminal assessments that are on on criminal
• assessments that are collected<00:08:36.080> across<00:08:36.399> the<00:08:36.640>
• million a year in criminal assessments million a year in criminal assessments and<00:08:49.360><

Keywords: Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 28 January, 2026; 9:00 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 21104, a Gaming Commission criminal penalties bill presented by Commissioner Jay McDaniel. He said the measure is essentially the same as a bill passed by the Senate last year and would keep penalties low for people merely playing gaming, but make it a felony for operators of illegal online gaming platforms, with a $100,000 fine per conviction and forfeiture authority for funds tied to the crime. The committee substitute was described as clarifying that the penalties target the operator rather than the platform being used. After no questions, the committee moved and adopted the bill. The committee then heard three Department of Public Safety bills from Commissioner Tindle. Senate Bill 2232 would raise seat belt fines from $25 to $100 and direct the additional revenue into existing driver education-related funds, with the stated goal of supporting driver education programs and improving teen road safety. Members asked about the revenue impact and whether the money would be appropriated back to the department and schools; Tindle said the funds would still be subject to legislative appropriation. The bill was moved and adopted, though some members raised concerns about redirecting local fine revenue. Senate Bill 2314 was described as a cleanup bill for driver’s license statutes, updating outdated references, removing obsolete paperwork requirements, allowing first-class mail and optional digital notice through mobile ID, and reflecting the department’s move from Jackson to Pearl. Members questioned whether first-class mail could shorten response time for suspension notices and how mobile ID notices would work; Tindle said the change was intended to save money and allow electronic notice if users opt in. The committee also adopted this bill. Senate Bill 2817 would reorganize DPS by consolidating several divisions into a new Mississippi State Bureau of Investigations, combine equipment and software purchases, raise autopsy fees from $1,000 to $1,200, increase salvage title inspection fees from $75 to $125, and open a broader discussion about the Highway Patrol’s future role. It was also moved and adopted. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2230 from Senator Hill, which would extend electronic warrants to misdemeanors; members discussed efficiency, warrant databases, and Fourth Amendment concerns, but no final action on that bill was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will add that I have had some conversations with Assessment and Accountability.
• And just like everything else in legislative, I believe it's measured and assessed through hours and
• SLDS supports looking at occupation or hourly data to understand and assess the impact and outcomes of
• Having an intentional approach to how those things are taught and assessed.
• That needs assessment will be repeated every three years. To inform our progress moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• The substitute also promotes financial and data sustainability by directing. the FBS to assess a capitated
• I know you have the TDI involved in this, and I just want to make sure about the assessment of the compliance
• single provider that came into the room... the ER, that's a lot, that I was female, so they could assess
• If the Texas Medical Board conducts an initial assessment or investigation and sees that the person is
• ones that were surveyed at the time do have them, and hospitals should be allowed to continue to assess

Bills: SB95, SB268, SB493, SB619, SB660, SB922, SB984, SB1098, SB1188, SB1307, SB1332, SB1822

Keywords: immunization, written informed consent, civil liability, health care provider, vaccine compensation, administrative penalty, health care, licensing, complaint procedure, disciplinary action, law enforcement, pharmacy benefit manager, PBM, gag clause, prescription drug pricing, out-of-pocket cost, cash price, pharmacist, pharmacy, prescription drug benefit

Transcript Highlights:

• The external consultant assessment proposed a long-term business plan that would involve the creation
• And, of course, patients don't have to agree to any kind of assessment, but having the physicians—and
• to agree to any kind of have to agree to any kind of um<00:42:41.079> um<00:42:42.160> assessment
• <00:42:43.160> but<00:42:44.040> having<00:42:44.440> the um um assessment but
• having the um um assessment but having the Physicians<00:42:45.640> and<00:42:45.720> so

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met on February 6 and began with decision-making items. SB 663, concerning additional positions for the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, was deferred again after the chair said the university’s response did not include the requested details on vacant positions, recruitment status, and fill dates. The chair said the committee needed the full information before considering new positions, and the university apologized for treating the request as informal rather than a formal committee inquiry. The committee then discussed SB 672, relating to capital improvement projects for the Y. Manalo Research Station. University representatives said the project had been identified late because of timing and that they were still developing a broader plan for SEAR research facilities. The chair questioned how the project fit within the university’s existing Board of Regents-approved CIP priorities and whether any current priorities should be displaced. The university said it could not unilaterally reprioritize the budget, and the measure was deferred pending better direction on how it fits into the overall plan. For SB 557, which would require the John A. Burns School of Medicine to direct a study on physician and dentist recruitment and retention for Maui, the committee heard strong testimony in support from Maui health care providers and community representatives. Supporters described severe shortages of physicians and dentists, long waits for care, and the need for housing, loan repayment, scholarships, transportation, and telehealth support to retain providers. The university said it was willing to help and suggested the work could be done through existing rural health and AHEC efforts. The bill was kept alive for further work, with the chair encouraging the parties to develop a plan. The committee also heard SB 1107, establishing a medical education position at JABSOM to support ECHO-style mentorship and guidance programs. The university opposed the bill, saying it did not believe the measure addressed a problem that needed fixing and that Hawaiʻi already has five ECHO clinics administered through the Hawaiʻi State Rural Health Association, not JABSOM. The committee then took up SB 1204, concerning integration of the Kakaʻako medical school and cancer center. University leadership asked for time to develop a plan and timeline, possibly with an external consultant, and requested the bill be withdrawn. The chair expressed skepticism, citing long-standing concerns about the cancer center’s finances and planning. Testimony included support from the American Cancer Society and a patient who warned that integration could jeopardize the cancer center’s NCI designation and clinical trials, while a university vice president said the NIH P30 grant does not require the cancer center and medical school to remain separate and that many NCI centers are integrated. No final votes were taken on the measures discussed in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Life-cycle assessments done on the industry, including one done just a few years ago for Hawaii County
• Life-cycle assessments done on the industry, including one done just a few years ago for Hawaii County
• Life-cycle assessments done on the industry, including one done just a few years ago for Hawaii County
• Life-cycle assessments done on the industry, including one done just a few years ago for Hawaii County
• Life-cycle assessments done on the industry, including one done just a few years ago for Hawaii County

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees first heard Senate Bill 151 relating to the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and geothermal development on Hawaiian homelands. DHHL and Ulupono Initiative testified in strong support, saying the measure would help advance clean energy goals, create economic opportunities, and support DHHL’s mission. Fine Electric also supported the bill. Several members of the public testified in opposition, raising concerns about consultation with beneficiaries, water impacts, land issues, and the scale of the proposed spending. In response to questions, DHHL staff explained slimhole drilling, the permitting distinctions between water exploration and geothermal exploration, and said prior studies and geophysical testing had been done. The chair then recommended passage with amendments, including SMA technical amendments, a directive to establish a permitted interaction group to study geothermal options, removal of the appropriation language, and a new effective date. The committees adopted the recommendation and passed SB 151 with amendments, with one senator voting no and several excused. The joint committees then took up Senate Bill 371 on property damage to critical infrastructure facilities. The Department of the Attorney General supported the bill with amendments, recommending broader critical infrastructure language to cover systems such as transportation, gas, power, water, and oil, and suggesting additional changes to improve prosecution. Utility and other supporters also testified in favor. The chairs proposed adopting the AG’s amendments except one, and further expanding the bill to make manslaughter explicit when a death results from disruption of critical infrastructure, and to add water as a covered infrastructure category. The committees adopted the amended recommendation and passed SB 371 with amendments. Finally, the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee heard Senate Bill 585 on special purpose revenue bonds for Bana Pacific. The Attorney General noted a possible issue with the company’s entity status and the bill title, but Bana Pacific stated it was in the process of converting from an LLC to a corporation and was satisfied with the title. The State Energy Office supported the concept, and Bana Pacific described the project as an integrated biogas and green hydrogen facility that would support energy security, create jobs, and reduce emissions. The committee then moved on to Senate Bill 964 on waste-to-energy, where the State Energy Office offered supportive comments but many testifiers opposed the measure, arguing incineration is costly, polluting, and inferior to recycling. Written testimony showed more opposition than support, and public testimony focused on environmental and cost concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, HB 2193 would direct the TVC to conduct a study to assess the number of veterans eligible for
• HB 101 creates a temporary task force composed of state agency leaders assigned to assess mission needs

Bills: HB101, HB290

Keywords: voter approval, local tax, disaster declaration, tax rate increases, community funding, PFAS, agriculture, criminal offense, pollution, Johnson County, environmental regulation, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and investigate the grievance assess and investigate the grievance that's<00:52:09.839> made<
• They assess their own members to fund.
• They assess their own members to to<01:10:17.920> pay<01:10:18.159> those<01:10:18.480>
• and sign off on complete that assessment and sign off on it. it. it.
• collected and they need that assessment collected and they need that assessment completed,<01:14

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the May 12 minutes, then deferred item 285 on the routine personal service contract green list for Western Kentucky University to the July 2026 meeting. It also noted that several deferred university contracts had been withdrawn by the institutions, and then approved the remaining agenda items without objection, including personal service contracts, amendments, memoranda of agreement, Kentucky Entertainment incentive agreements, deferred items, and corrections, except for items pulled for further review. The main pulled item was a Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts contract supporting Fayette District Court’s juvenile treatment court through Fayette County Public Schools. Court officials explained that the program, created under Supreme Court rules in 2022, serves court-connected juveniles with mental health and related needs, operates at the courthouse, and uses a school-employed program manager funded through a pass-through arrangement with Fayette County Public Schools and the Urban County Government. They said the program has had over 100 referrals, accepted about half, and had at least 25 successful graduates, with 11 high school graduates among participants. Members asked about who pays for drug screens, family involvement, and what counts as successful completion; the officials said the Urban County Government’s Division of Youth Services pays for drug screens and services, and that parents must participate in classes and support services. The committee then approved the contract review, with some members explaining their votes in support and one member emphasizing the committee’s role in reviewing contracts in the public interest. The committee also reviewed two Auditor of Public Accounts contracts. The auditor’s representative said contract 11, with Vantage Point Solutions, will examine the Kentucky Communications Network Authority/Kentucky Wired network for $700,000, well below the $1.5 million appropriated, and that a report is expected before the 2027 regular session. Contract 12 funds a special examination of investment managers used by Kentucky’s retirement systems, prompted by a Legislative Oversight and Investigations request to assess whether investments tied to ESG factors are consistent with fiduciary duties; the representative said the retirement systems have been cooperative and that findings are expected on a similar timeline, with some flexibility built into the deadline. After questions about the Texas litigation referenced in the explanation, the committee approved both auditor contracts without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Every year, they assess the value of my asset. They apply a classification rate.
• ><00:23:30.600> you<00:23:30.720> know,<00:23:31.200> how How does the state assess
• We investigate foodborne and sexually transmitted disease outbreaks, assess animal bites for rabies risk
• transmitted disease outbreaks, assess transmitted disease outbreaks, assess animal<00:34:53.840>
• a tax on Anytime that you are assessing a tax on a<01:17:49.440> small<01:17:49.720> number

Bills: HF4621, HF4123, HF4616, HF1183

Keywords: child tax credit, financial assistance, low-income families, state revenue, tax policy, net investment income, taxation, business income, self-employment, tax increase, wealth tax, fairness, public services, high-income earners, economic equity, Internal Revenue Code, employee classification, federal law, Minnesota statutes, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• We do an assessment to really see what some of those needs are.
• When we do those home visits, that is part of the assessment.
• We have a financial management system in which we assess the hours every month.
• That's why we do our assessments.
• We do follow-up assessments at six months to assess because really we want to make sure that there is

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first heard an Aging and Long-Term Services Department budget presentation comparing the LFC and executive recommendations. The main differences were in the Aging Network, Adult Protective Services, Program Support, and Long-Term Care Division, especially the executive’s proposed $10 million infusion into the Kiki Savadra Senior Dignity Fund and $6.2 million for expanding New Mexico Care. LFC staff explained that the committee recommendation was lower in general fund and fund-balance use, while the executive emphasized rising senior population needs, meal and transportation costs, and the cost savings of keeping older adults at home. The secretary also reviewed the department’s special requests, including the conference on aging, outreach, emergency preparedness, and the Kiki fund, and described New Mexico Care’s growth, its evaluation results, and the department’s plan to separate Kiki into its own accounting fund. Members largely focused on senior services, rural meal delivery, transportation, caregiver support, and the Kiki fund. Several members urged stronger support for non-metro aging providers and for New Mexico Care, citing its role in keeping seniors out of nursing homes and the program’s reported savings and outcomes. Questions also covered eligibility, background checks for caregivers, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer’s screening, and whether Kiki funds can support home modifications such as ramps. The committee then voted to adopt the LFC recommendation with one executive language change: adding the executive’s page 14 language allowing an additional 12.5% distribution for initial payments to aging network providers at the start of FY27. Representative Dow opposed the motion. The committee then moved to the Attorney General’s budget. LFC staff explained that the office’s budget relies heavily on the Consumer Settlement Fund, with both recommendations reducing general fund revenue while increasing settlement-fund use, and that performance measures were in consensus. The Attorney General said the office was not seeking more general fund, but wanted greater ability to use funds it recovers. He highlighted major consumer and public safety work, including litigation against major social media and AI platforms, a case involving Snapchat and child exploitation/extortion, the statewide crime gun intelligence center, efforts to address oilfield theft, work on missing and murdered Indigenous persons, and efforts to protect federal funds coming into New Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:31:48.600> and<00:31:49.159> Child Child Protection assessments and Child Child
• Protection assessments and Child Protection<00:31:49.880> Case<00:31:50.159> Management
• She said three people do the assessment and determine the rate based on a variety of factors, including
• > and<01:15:29.480> they<01:15:29.639> determine<01:15:30.040> the the assessment
• and they determine the the assessment and they determine the rate<01:15:30.440> you<01:15:30.560

Bills: HF1346, HF1169, HF1276

Keywords: mandatory reporting, training requirements, child maltreatment, abuse detection, local welfare agency, child protection, child welfare, paperwork reduction, social services information system, SSIS, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, foster care, children in placement, county social services, Tribal governments, private child placing agencies, case management, administrative burden, information technology, human services

Transcript Highlights:

• First of all, I have to respectfully disagree with the Attorney General's Office and their assessment
• 04:19.079> their Attorney General's office and their Attorney General's office and their assessment
• :04:21.479> um<00:04:22.479> uh<00:04:22.880> for<00:04:23.160> one assessment
• of this measure um uh for one assessment of this measure um uh for one thing<00:04:25.240> I<
• My last comment: if you're going to do it, you should do it for all to make it a fair assessment, all

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Agriculture and Environment hearing on January 27, 2025, took up multiple measures, beginning with a proposed constitutional amendment, HB 559, to recognize a right to clean water and air, a healthful environment, climate, native ecosystems, and beaches. The Attorney General’s Office testified with concerns that the amendment’s broad language could create challenges for future legislatures and environmental enforcement, while the Climate Commission and DLNR supported it. Environmental and advocacy groups, including Climate Protectors Hawaii, 350 Hawaii, Greenpeace Hawaii, and others, strongly supported the measure, arguing it would strengthen decision-making and protect Hawaii’s natural resources. Committee members raised questions about how the amendment would interact with existing constitutional protections and recent litigation, and the AG’s office said the proposal could lead to broad judicial interpretation and possible liability issues. The hearing then moved on without a recorded vote on this bill. The committee next heard SB 552, which would establish a healthy soils program in the Department of Agriculture and require annual reporting and funding. The Climate Change Commission supported the bill, and the Department of Agriculture said it stood on its submitted testimony but noted existing commissions and the greenhouse gas sequestration task force already address similar objectives, suggesting SB 552 may duplicate current efforts. Agricultural and environmental advocates, including the Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Farm Bureau, and others, supported the concept of a consolidated healthy soils program, saying it would better organize existing efforts, improve access for producers, and support conservation practices. The Agribusiness Development Corporation said it would support either DOA or ADC administering the program, and committee discussion focused on implementation, program overlap, and whether the bill should better integrate existing compost reimbursement and related efforts. The final measure discussed in the excerpt was SB 678, which would create an Agricultural Development Food Security Special Fund, dedicate a portion of the environmental response, energy, and food security tax to it, and appropriate funds equal to 3% of the state budget for agriculture. The Department of Agriculture strongly supported the bill, saying the funding would align with its goals and help support farmers and ranchers. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Department of Budget and Finance raised concerns that the proposed special fund may not meet statutory criteria. Farm and industry groups generally supported the measure but suggested changes, including adding uses related to local food sourcing, distribution, and biosecurity. Committee members questioned the scale of the appropriation, noting it could amount to roughly $250 million and a major increase in DOA’s budget, and discussed whether the department could realistically implement such a large program. The hearing ended with testimony counts noted for the measures heard, and the chair indicated the committee would reconvene later for any unfinished business.

Transcript Highlights:

• We meet weekly on our strategic priorities, and we're always assessing and looking at the efficiency
• workers and field both assessment workers and field service<00:21:33.720> workers.
• As executive member, I'm assessing that.
• priorities and we're always assessing priorities and we're always assessing and<00:23:06.960>
• monitoring and assessment of patients. monitoring and assessment of patients.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Third reading of the bill: An act relative to the assessment of local property taxes in the city of Springfield
• An act relative to the assessment of local property taxes in the city of Springfield, House No. 3213.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House took up several committee reports and adopted a series of congratulatory resolutions, including recognition of the Monson Lions Club’s 70th anniversary, the town of Groveland’s 175th anniversary, and James McLaughlin’s retirement from the Franklin Fire Department. The chamber also considered two emergency preambles for sick leave bank bills and adopted both, for James Caruso of the Department of Transportation and Carlos Borges of the Department of Correction. A separate bill dissolving the Wellesley Housing Development Corporation was passed to be enacted. The Rules Committee reported and the House adopted orders extending reporting deadlines for the Housing Committee and the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. The Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee then listed a number of bills for House consideration, including measures on the Gloucester Fisheries Commission, a special mayoral election in Methuen, assault and battery on a transit worker, retirement benefits for Levera Gilbert and Leo McCaskill, Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day, recall elections in Berlin, special police officer age limits in Weston, moderator terms in Holden, legal notices in Hingham, and support orders for adult children in need of support. The House suspended Rule 7A, ordered these bills to a third reading, and later passed several of them to be engrossed. On third reading, the House passed to be engrossed bills increasing the income limit for Ipswich’s senior tax deferral program, adjusting Springfield’s local property tax assessment rules, and amending the Seacon town charter. The Seacon bill was amended by substitution before passage. The two sick leave bank bills for Caruso and Borges were then passed to be enacted. The House also adopted an order to adjourn to meet the following Tuesday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think something like that should be assessed by some health care providers that they have a doctor-patient
• relationship with to assess it and determine before prescribing something like that.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Mental Health met in executive session and first took up Senate Bill 878, a pharmacy-related bill by Senator Fitzwater. Members adopted a committee substitute and a committee amendment before voting the bill do pass by a vote of 13 ayes and 2 noes. The substitute added language previously seen in other legislation on pseudoephedrine and 340B, and the amendment aligned the bill with Senate floor language on ivermectin. The committee then considered House Bill 3457, Representative Burns’ medically complex patients bill. Members adopted a substitute that narrowed the definition of “medically complex patient,” changed one provision from “shall” to “may,” and required primary care physician approval of a care plan before it could be entered into the alert system. One member raised concerns about making hydroxychloroquine over-the-counter and about pharmacists prescribing class two devices such as CPAP machines, but the substitute and then the bill itself were both approved unanimously, 15-0. Finally, the committee approved two resolutions sponsored by Representative Hruza. House Resolution 5380, on ALS awareness, was amended to add more encouragement for assistive technology and augmentative and alternative communication, then passed 15-0. House Resolution 4661, on chronic kidney disease, was also voted do pass 15-0. The meeting ended after brief closing remarks and adjournment.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and um currently, you know, the the way that the language is is very different from how needs are assessed
• <00:03:35.560> I assessed and delivered at the moment.
• I assessed and delivered at the moment.
• eligibility based solely on assessed eligibility based solely on assessed need<00:07:59.800>
• Sometimes the MnChoices assessment provides a good guidance, and that information is not being shared

Bills: HF4338

Keywords: human services, medical assistance, Medicaid, provider enrollment, provider revalidation, fraud prevention, program integrity, background study, background check, fingerprinting, licensing, license revocation, payment withholding, payment suspension, prepayment review, postpayment review, surety bond, compliance training, case management, targeted case management

Transcript Highlights:

• , there's now a sliding scale in place where they can assess a lower amount.
• You know, we assess them.
• We do have some self-insured in the state that we assess, but they support what we do.
• Nationally, our assessments are kind of right in the middle.
• So when we assess one, they get assessments from every.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 13 January, 2026; 1:45 PM, 925, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard first from the Office of State Public Defender, which said its core budget request was essentially level funding, with attorney and investigator pay raises already included because of the DA pay raise linkage. The main discussion focused on two initiatives: a rural public defense pilot in four counties and a Hinds County/Jackson public defense expansion. The pilot, funded last year with capital expense money, has formed a nonprofit, hired a director and staff, opened an office in Kosciusko, and began taking cases on October 1; most of its 44 cases involved day-one jail visits. The office said the project is intended to improve early representation, reduce jail time, and generate data, while not displacing local public defenders. For Hinds County, the office said new data show about 31% of cases originate from state-agency arrests, and it is seeking roughly $525,000 more to fully fund positions, bringing the total request to about $952,972 for five lawyers, an investigator, a legal secretary, and office expenses. Senators asked about funding sources and workload standards; the office said the pilot request had been submitted as general funds rather than capital expense, and that it is using weighted workload measures rather than strict national caseload standards. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office, represented by Deputy Attorney General Doug Miracle, who presented the FY 2027 budget request. The office requested $45.48 million total, including $35.31 million in general funds, which is a reduction from the prior year’s appropriation, but also requested a $1.58 million increase in salary funding. Miracle said the office is losing attorneys to other state agencies and district attorney offices because of salary caps and pay disparities, noting the Attorney General’s statutory salary cap of $150,000 and that more than 18 attorneys left last year. He said HB 1509 created higher pay levels for district attorneys and assistant district attorneys, making retention harder for the Attorney General’s office, and asked for either the salary increase or authority to move funds between budget lines. Miracle also highlighted the office’s work on child welfare and human trafficking, noting that federal HHS officials were visiting Jackson to discuss foster children and that the office administers the state’s human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation fund. He said the office is working to reduce time children spend in state custody and support services for trafficking victims and foster youth. The committee discussed statewide youth court reform as well, with Miracle explaining that the office supports expert recommendations and a plan that could create 25 youth court positions in 20 chancery districts at an estimated $10 million, based on DHS and AOC data and a model using state-employed and contract lawyers. No votes were taken during the excerpted meeting.