Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, a lot of what we've had to do on budget adjustments has to do with the recent inflation. Mr.
• A lot of what we've had to do on budget adjustments has to do with the recent inflation.
• you loudly and clearly when you say, and I don’t know that I’ve heard that before, that they are claiming
• Retirees in the special risk class will receive an alternative cost-of-living adjustment of 1.5% after

Summary: The Senate took up the 2026-2027 budget and related implementing bills. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented a $115 billion General Appropriations Bill, saying it reduces overall spending from the prior year, preserves reserves, and includes a 3% raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major budget areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental/agricultural agencies. Highlights included increased funding for school safety, teacher and scholarship funding, workforce education, Medicaid and kid care, corrections operations, judgeships, affordable housing, hurricane recovery, Everglades and water quality projects, and arts and cultural grants. Members asked detailed questions about several items. Senators discussed the Emergency Management Trust Fund, cultural arts grant allocations, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salary support, charter school capital outlay funding, Bright Futures and EASE funding, New College funding, DOC deficits and inmate health care/food service costs, the ADAP HIV drug program, Medicaid reductions for non-critical access hospitals, and the use of opioid settlement and COVID relief funds. Chairs explained that some apparent reductions reflected shifts below the line or reclassification, that the ADAP appropriation would only cover about six months, and that some vacant positions were being removed as part of a right-sizing effort. Questions also covered lottery staffing, concealed weapons permit processing, elections security funding, and arts grant selection and proviso language. The Senate then substituted House bills for the Senate budget and implementing measures, amended them into the Senate posture, and passed them. HB 5001 (the appropriations bill), HB 503 (implementing bill), HB 5201 (collective bargaining), and HB 5205 (retirement) all passed 36-0 and were sent to conference. Other budget-related bills also passed, including SB 2506 on fuel taxes, SB 2508 on the state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge, SB 2510 on court trust funds, SB 2512 creating 13 circuit and 12 county judgeships, SB 2514 on K-12 education, SB 2516 on higher education, and SB 2518 on health. Most of these passed unanimously, with the Senate requesting the House either pass the Senate versions or include them in budget conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, a lot of what we've had to do on budget adjustments has to do with the recent inflation. Mr.
• A lot of what we've had to do on budget adjustments has to do with the recent inflation.
• you loudly and clearly when you say, and I don't know that I've heard that before, that they are claiming
• Retirees in the special risk class will receive an alternative cost-of-living adjustment of 1.5% after

Summary: The Senate took up the 2026-2027 budget package, beginning with an overview of the $115 billion General Appropriations Bill (SB 2500). Appropriations Chair Hooper said the budget reduces overall spending from the prior year, preserves reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for state employees and 5% raises for law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then highlighted major spending in their areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/economic development, and environmental/agricultural programs. Major items discussed included school funding increases, workforce and university investments, Medicaid and child welfare funding, corrections operating deficits, housing and hurricane recovery, Everglades and water quality projects, and state employee compensation. Members asked detailed questions about several budget items. In education, senators discussed teacher salaries, declining enrollment supplements, scholarship funding growth, and charter school capital outlay. In higher education, they asked about Bright Futures, New College funding, and the EASE grant program. In health and human services, senators focused on the iBudget waiver, Medicaid hospital rate reductions, the ADAP HIV drug program, and the use of opioid settlement funds. In criminal justice, questions centered on DOC deficits, inmate health care and food service costs, public defender and state attorney funding, and whether the budget would prevent the need for National Guard support. In environmental and state agency budgets, senators discussed Florida Forever land acquisition, conservation easements, cultural grants, the Emergency Management Trust Fund, and election security funding. After the budget presentations and questions, the Senate substituted House bills for the Senate budget bills and adopted amendments to place Senate language onto the House vehicles for conference. The chamber passed HB 5001, the appropriations bill, by a 36-0 vote and agreed to conference. It also passed the implementing bill, collective bargaining and state employee bills, retirement legislation, fuel tax and SLERS bills, the court trust fund bill, judicial certification bill, K-12 and higher education conforming bills, and other related measures, generally by unanimous votes. Several motions were adopted to request the House to pass the Senate versions or include them in budget conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, that claim doesn't hold up.
• clarifies that certain requirements relating to rules adopted by Ecology only apply to those rules adjusting
• finally is amendment labeled H, offered by Senator Banke, which makes the same emissions threshold adjustment
• So yes on the concept, TBD if we need to make some adjustments, but for today I'm asking for a yes.

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2515, which addresses emerging large energy use facilities, especially data centers. Staff explained that the bill requires utilities to adopt tariffs or policies for data centers, adds reporting and sustainability requirements, sets renewable energy targets, and creates a sales tax exemption for certain eligible data center equipment in eastern Washington. The House sponsor said the bill is intended to protect ratepayers, grid reliability, water resources, and Washington’s climate goals as data center growth accelerates. Tribal representatives and several environmental and labor witnesses urged restoring provisions removed from the House version, especially authority to curtail data center load during energy emergencies and to refuse service if reliability or affordability would be harmed; they also asked for stronger water reporting and protections for salmon. Utility, business, and data center industry witnesses supported the bill’s general framework but raised concerns about implementation, costs, and some of the added requirements, while some opposed the tax exemption and the loss of earlier protections. No final action on 2515 was taken during the hearing portion shown. The committee then heard and acted on several bills in executive session. It passed Substitute House Bill 1302, which allows municipal utilities to waive connection charges for industrial symbiosis projects. It also passed House Bill 2338 on community-scaled weatherization projects after rejecting an amendment, and House Bill 2367 on eliminating preferential treatment for a coal-fired plant after rejecting an amendment. Substitute House Bill 2496 on tribal consultation by the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council was amended and then passed, while amendments to change public meeting and tribal summary provisions were rejected. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225 on AI companion chatbots, House Bill 2426 on PCHB efficiency and appeals, House Bill 2606 on the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, Engrossed House Bill 2575 on reducing reporting obligations, and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2215 on Climate Commitment Act compliance for fuels were also advanced, with some amendments adopted and others rejected. The committee then reopened public hearing on House Bill 2416, which would treat a Spokane waste-to-energy facility differently under the Climate Commitment Act by allocating no-cost allowances in the second compliance period and requiring a decarbonization and waste-reduction plan. Spokane city officials, labor, environmental groups, and Ecology generally supported the bill as a balanced approach that protects ratepayers while allowing the facility to decarbonize, though Avista raised a concern about language implying a utility compliance obligation. After that, the committee resumed testimony on House Bill 1170, which requires large AI providers to offer provenance tools and disclosures for AI-generated or altered images, video, and audio. Supporters said the bill would help workers and consumers identify synthetic media and prevent impersonation and misinformation, while industry and civil liberties witnesses argued the bill is technically difficult, uses new definitions, and may be unworkable or premature compared with California’s evolving approach.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here today to testify on my own behalf against House Bill 2313, which despite its claims of addressing
• has done across the multiple conversations that she's having to provide some type of relief or adjustment
• With this adjustment, HB 2517 can strike the right balance between project efficiency, local permitting
• Finally, we think we'd like to include a provision that would adjust for inflation at least once every

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2517, which would give regional transit authorities, especially Sound Transit, more flexible permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects. Staff and the bill sponsor said the goal is to let permit applications and technical reviews proceed concurrently with property acquisition and land use decisions, reducing delay and uncertainty for large transit projects. Sound Transit testified that the bill could save as much as nine months, while a city representative from Bothell asked for an amendment requiring notice to property owners before permits are advanced on land not yet owned or controlled by the agency. The committee then took testimony on HB 2313, concerning publicly owned grocery stores in underserved areas. The bill would let cities acquire land, build or rehabilitate stores, seek capital grants, and create tax increment financing areas for grocery access projects, with annual reporting requirements. Supporters, including the sponsor, Food Lifeline, and Northwest Harvest, argued that grocery closures and food deserts are real problems and that local governments need tools to fill gaps when private grocers leave. Opponents, including grocery industry groups and several students, warned that public stores could undercut private grocers, burden taxpayers, and create operational and property-rights concerns; some testimony also questioned the need for government ownership and the use of tax increment financing. A proposed substitute removed eminent domain and tax increment financing provisions and narrowed the bill to grant-funded stores in underserved areas. Next, the committee heard HB 2451, a major rewrite of local tax increment financing rules. The bill would tighten notice, consultation, reporting, and mitigation requirements for TIF areas, strengthen the “but-for” test, limit where increment areas can be located, and protect existing taxing districts by excluding certain levies and requiring negotiation, mediation, or arbitration when impacts are significant. Cities, ports, counties, libraries, fire chiefs, and hospital districts largely described the bill as a negotiated compromise that improves transparency and addresses unintended impacts, though some local governments said they still wanted more flexibility or protections for existing projects. One city testified against the bill, arguing the new restrictions would make TIF much less useful for large redevelopment efforts. The committee then heard HB 2298, which would authorize county auditors to create voluntary property title protection programs to help prevent land-record fraud by allowing owners to record a protection instrument that delays recording of a title transfer for up to five business days unless identity verification is provided. Auditors, treasurers, and county officials strongly supported the bill as a practical response to rising deed fraud, while title and foreclosure industry representatives said the proposal was too limited, could interfere with foreclosures or other transfers, and would only delay—not prevent—fraud. The final bill heard was HB 2566 on local government procurement, which would raise certain small-purchase and small-public-works thresholds for counties, remove some differences between larger and smaller counties, and give counties more options when no bids are received. County representatives supported the bill as a needed update to procurement rules and a way to reduce bureaucracy and keep pace with inflation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Support is individualized, intentional, and continuously adjusted based on the needs of each community
• It's also been a mandate you all claim to support.
• I have to adjust my spending. Perhaps a suggestion you all might consider: this approach as well.
• I have to adjust my spending. Perhaps a suggestion you all might consider this approach as well.

Bills: SB5992 , SB5918 , SB5951 , SB6042 , SB5952 , SB5961 , SB5969

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: youth development, funding, positive programs, youth services, community programs, school funding, education, supplies, operating costs, K-12 education, albuterol, access, public schools, private schools, healthcare, school safety, emergency preparedness, mapping, local education policies, curriculum requirements

Transcript Highlights:

• Summative data claims proficiency, but I would ask you, when is proficient proficiency?
• That was you all in 2025 with the adjustment to the school board training in law.
• That was you all in 2025 with the adjustment to the school board training in law.
• So that we make sure that we are still in compliance, and then made adjustments accordingly.

Transcript Highlights:

• The department distributes sales and use tax claims from the General Fund into the Legacy Fund.
• We'll talk about prior period adjustments, and that's where that is.
• is if you look at the consolidated fund statement that comes out, it's listed as a prior period adjustment
• I mean, what we're doing is adjusting it back to the general fund at this point.

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• proceeds and revenues from the sale of the SYSC shall be deposited in the youth development center claims
• deposited in the youth development be deposited in the youth development center<00:09:36.880><c> claims
• </c><00:09:37.279><c> and</c><00:09:37.519><c> administration</c> center claims and administration center
• claims and administration settlement<00:09:38.880><c> fund.
• Well, I will say that we are one of five states with a budget adjustment factor for nursing home rates

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He then turns to the claim that Social Security is being double-taxed.
• He says he is not making that claim from doors, but from numbers from state departments.
• He says he is not making that claim from door conversations, but from numbers from state departments.
• </c><00:52:06.280><c> and</c><00:52:06.359><c> so</c> federal law haven't been adjusted and so federal
• Representative Gomez continued that the data shows differently than the claim that the proposal impacts

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, there was a recent Delaware case law, I can't claim to have read it, that questions the authority
• case law, I can't claim to have read<01:31:30.000><c> it,</c><01:31:30.560><c> that</c><01:31:30.880
• The first one is to make every effort to notify the homeowner of the right to claim a surplus.
• Chair, I just want to make sure I identified the provisions you specifically recommend an adjustment
• </c><01:59:08.400><c> to</c> specifically recommend an adjustment to specifically recommend an adjustment

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:43:46.399><c> and</c> department 46.6 in fy2 24 adjusted and department 46.6 in fy2 24 adjusted
• yes right and million actual to adjusted yes right and then<02:44:14.240><c> I</c><02:44:14.359><c>
• budget adjustments include 2.7 million<02:46:20.600><c> increase</c><02:46:21.040><c> for</c><02:46:
• Somebody goes to small claims court and files a claim against a contractor, and the contractor is obliged
• We can generally adjust to whatever we are required to do. Thank you both. It was excellent.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division 2 Finance Committee heard an overview and budget presentation from New Hampshire Fish and Game, led by new Executive Director Stephanie Simi and Business Division Chief Kathy Leonti. The agency described its mission to conserve and manage fish, wildlife, and marine resources, and emphasized growing pressures from disease, climate impacts, habitat change, and increased public demand. Simi said the department is largely funded by hunting and fishing license revenue and federal grants, is reviewing staffing and internal processes, and faces critical needs including permanent funding for environmental review staff, infrastructure and IT modernization, and possible service reductions if additional support is not found. Members asked about specific program and policy issues, including chronic wasting disease in deer, hemorrhagic disease in rabbits and hares, moose population decline, and a proposed bait-disease bill. The department said it is actively monitoring diseases and did not see a need for the bait bill at this time. Legislators also discussed the Hike Safe program, which the department said has grown from an expected $100,000 annually to more than $300,000, and a possible boating version of that program, which the department said remains under consideration but would involve complex logistics and multiple agencies. Questions were also raised about rescue costs, out-of-state hikers, and whether boat registrations could be used as a revenue source; Fish and Game said boat registration is handled by the Department of Safety, though the department receives $5 per registered boat for the public boat access program. The budget discussion focused on revenue projections, use of unrestricted Fish and Game funds, and dependence on federal reimbursements. Leonti said the department met the governor’s general fund target but not the Fish and Game fund target without using surplus unrestricted funds, leaving only about $100,000 in the fund by the end of the biennium. She said the budget uses more than $18 million in Fish and Game funds annually against about $14 million in unrestricted revenue, and that five of 193 full-time positions remain unfunded. The department warned that if federal grants were halted, it could cost about $5 million over five months and force the Fish and Game fund to cover the gap. Committee members also requested that future presentations be sent electronically in advance, and the department agreed to do so.

Transcript Highlights:

• These are nominal rates, meaning they are not adjusted for inflation.
• This slide shows the California excise tax adjusted for inflation since 1923.
• This slide shows the same revenue data but adjusted for inflation.
• Here, this slide shows the California excise tax adjusted for inflation since 1923.
• This slide here is basically shows the same revenue data but adjusted for inflation.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing on managing the transportation fuels transition, fuel pricing, and supply reliability. Chair Allen opened by discussing prior legislation, including SB 1322 and special session measures, that expanded reporting to the California Energy Commission (CEC) and gave the state tools to study gasoline costs, refinery margins, inventories, and potential supply disruptions. He framed the hearing around refinery closures, rising imports, global conflict affecting crude markets, and the need to balance affordability, reliability, and the state’s long-term clean-fuels transition. CEC Vice Chair Siva Gunda, CDTFA Chief Deputy Director Gentian Droboniku, and DPMO Director Ty Miller presented data showing California’s growing dependence on imported crude and refined products, declining in-state refining capacity, and stable-to-tight inventories that are being supported by higher imports. They said the new transparency laws have improved understanding of the market and pointed to the proposed Gateway Pipeline, marine imports, and distribution constraints as important supply issues. CDTFA and DPMO emphasized that retail margins, especially for branded gasoline, have widened significantly, with large price gaps between branded stations and hypermarts/unbranded stations, and that some of the recent price increases were tied to the Iran conflict while earlier spikes were more consistent with localized market behavior and possible price gouging. DPMO also said it is investigating high-priced branded stations, monitoring algorithmic pricing under AB 325, and continuing to analyze diesel spot-market transparency. The CEC and CARB also discussed the Transportation Fuels Transition Plan and the SB 237 assessment, describing them as efforts to plan for a managed decline in fossil fuel demand while protecting workers, communities, and consumers. They said California’s climate goals remain centered on an 85% greenhouse gas reduction by 2045, with continued use of liquid fuels expected but with lower-carbon alternatives, more efficient vehicles, and alternative fuels playing a larger role. Committee members focused heavily on workforce impacts, the need for concrete transition planning, and whether the agencies could provide a clearer picture of what California’s fuel system will look like under the state’s long-term goals. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when we hear claims that high property taxes are simply the result of overspending at the local level
• So when we hear claims that high property taxes are simply the result of overspending at the local level
• The Democrat candidate right now claims to oppose it, but I haven't really seen that in writing or the
• </c> The Democrat candidate right now claims The Democrat candidate right now claims to<01:26:23.240>
• Or it's a graduated system, but it's usually based on the adjusted gross income number on the tax forms

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Standards to similar claims or deny review without ever reaching the merits of the claim.
• after an order to show cause, allowing courts to reach the merits of otherwise procedurally barred claims
• previously unavailable records or information, contradicting key trial facts. standards to similar claims
• or deny review without ever reaching the merits of the claim.
• of diligence by defense counsel prior to judgment. ...where there is no longer a requirement for a claim

Committee: House Public Safety

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Putting statewide rent control is not a way in which would allow for me to adjust for fluctuation of
• Putting statewide rent control is not a way in which would allow for me to adjust for fluctuation of
• It's to adjust the wording on page 2, line 18, before the period: insert, 'unless the park owner can
• Chair, sorry, I'd like to move forward with an amendment, which is an adjustment on page three: delete
• Amendment uh which is an adjustment page Amendment uh which is an adjustment page three<01:33:56.320>

Bills: HF1143 , HF1548 , HF1340 , HF2549 , HF2559 , HF1673 , HF2740 , HF2507 , HF2461 , HF2381 , HF2695

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: education funding, unemployment aid, special education, Minnesota statutes, appropriations, housing, redevelopment, local government, trust funds, community development, HF1340, housing infrastructure bonds, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, MHFA, affordable housing, supportive housing, permanent housing, adaptive reuse, area median income, AMI

Transcript Highlights:

• for an adjustment to this rate.
• 00:34:20.800><c> adjustments</c><00:34:21.359><c> every</c> subject to annual adjustments every subject
• </c><00:34:28.960><c> This</c> PUC for an adjustment to this rate.
• This PUC for an adjustment to this rate.
• ><c> difficult</c><01:16:31.520><c> to</c> You claim it's available, difficult to You claim it's available

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'd also have a claim to recoup costs from the state of California when our regional entities should
• Anyone would characterize this as a bribe, and I have escalated extensive documentation of my claims
• N-32-25 granted local governments authority to temporarily adjust SB 9 implementation rules specifically
• These are practical, targeted adjustments that help the law function as intended.
• And those two tweaks that we made were to adjust communities of interest: the community of Rosena Ranch

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• recognized as being one of the most regressive taxes out there, that it hurts the same people you're claiming
• people because we know who is going to get affected by the sales tax or the same people that it's claiming
• claiming to help. It was even came up claiming to help.
• During that time, she was able to regain employment, and through counseling, we helped her adjust her
• </c><00:57:52.320><c> her</c> counseling, we helped her adjust her counseling, we helped her adjust her

Bills: HF3279 , HF1879 , HF1417 , HF2462

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: housing, sales tax, homeownership, rent assistance, community stability, education, counseling, financial assistance, housing development, culturally appropriate services, HF1417, manufactured home parks, manufactured housing, mobile home parks, housing development fund, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, MHFA, infrastructure grants, infrastructure loans, affordable housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I made a claim that there was something put into last year's 2023's yield bill, and in fact that
• gt; Um &gt;&gt; Um &gt;&gt; Um I<00:05:34.240><c> made</c><00:05:34.440><c> a</c><00:05:34.480><c> claim
• </c><00:05:35.000><c> that</c><00:05:35.680><c> uh</c> I made a claim that uh I made a claim that uh
• </c> H. 660 also makes technical adjustments to earlier appropriations to align funds with current needs
• It also adjusts the wound care telehealth pilot to $91,712.66, supporting drop-in consultation and wound

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A week after her final shift, the company sued her for $100,000, claiming breach of contract, fraud,
• So, potentially adjusting that moving forward.
• So, uh potentially<00:21:04.799><c> adjusting</c><00:21:05.200><c> that</c><00:21:05.440><c> moving</
• c> potentially adjusting that moving potentially adjusting that moving forward. forward. forward.
• When costs rise but prices cannot adjust accordingly, employers have very little room to absorb these

Bills: HF3889 , HF2567 , HF3878

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Keywords: workforce development, grant program, employment, economic development, funding, employment contract, labor policy, employee rights, unconscionable provisions, public policy, legal enforcement, airport workers, wage standards, labor rights, minimum wage, economic equity, 1183, house