Transcript Highlights:

• um we devised a planned out our budget um we devised a budget<00:02:49.200><c> um</c><00:02:49.280><
• It allows us development of the budget.
• Uh and so the bill also includes budget.
• Um, this budget reinsurance to continue.
• I'll predict the budget that the budget.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, the House Budget and Senate Appropriations Conference Committee on Transportation, Tourism
• The Senate has another offer for the House on the budget and projects.
• We appreciate your budget offer and are also offering you House Offer 2 on proviso, back of the bill,
• We've had the hour to review the budget offer, and I believe we've made great progress these last few
• All budget rows that remain different will bump. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, the House Budget and Senate Appropriations Conference Committee on Transportation, Tourism
• The Senate has another offer for the House on the budget and projects.
• We appreciate your budget offer and are also offering you House Offer 2 on proviso, back of the bill,
• We've had the hour to review the budget offer, and I believe we've made great progress these last few
• All budget rows that remain different will bump. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Summary: The House Budget and Senate Appropriations Conference Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met to exchange final budget offers and reconcile differences on the budget, proviso, back-of-the-bill items, and the implementing bill. Senator DeSiglie said the Senate had made a good-faith effort to move closer to the House position, and the House chair responded that the House was offering House Offer 2 and that the parties had made substantial progress over the previous few days. The House stated it agreed with all shaded budget lines and any rows where the two chambers were already aligned, while any remaining differences would “bump.” The Senate then accepted the House’s offer on several specific lines, including 16B, 164, 323, 369, 445, 447, 441, and 493, with a brief clarification about whether one line was 16B or 16. No public testimony was taken, and no additional business was raised. The chair and Senator DeSiglie exchanged closing remarks about their long working relationship, and the conference committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• For those of you that haven't had GROW, it's a way for you to get inside the budget and do projects that
• It is to help state agencies that didn't get completely filled up in the budget.
• It was almost impossible to get something in the budget.
• This is your ability to play in the budget to figure out what you want and needs are and to help your
• And I hope we use the budget not as a ledger of limits but as a tool to uplift the people of New Mexico

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, budget. Wait a minute. Lory's got a budget report. My bad. Financial report.
• I gave you all our budget in... Make a motion that it be accepted as standard.
• Thank you very much. budget. Wait a minute. Lory's got a budget. Wait a minute.
• Lory's got a budget<00:09:31.920><c> report.</c><00:09:32.480><c> My</c><00:09:32.720><c> bad.
• </c> budget report. My bad. budget report. My bad. Financial<00:09:34.399><c> report.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting focused on a legislative ethics complaint involving Representative Daniel G. Givens. The committee considered and voted on several probable-cause motions alleging violations of KRS 6.731 based on different sets of conduct: intimidating statements or actions toward a private business, attempts to obtain contributions in exchange for possible state catering vendor business for a private company, and inappropriate treatment of an individual at the Capitol Annex before, during, and after a July 2023 committee meeting and in his office. Each motion was made, seconded, and approved by roll call, with Arnold Simpson voting no on the motions and the other members voting yes. After the probable-cause votes, the chair noted that Representative Givens and counsel could attempt to file an agreed settlement in the case. The committee then concluded its business on the complaint. Later, the chair explained that the Government Contract Review Committee had disapproved a personal service contract for legal services related to the ethics investigation, but the ethics commission, as an independent body with contracting authority, approved the contract effective that day notwithstanding the disapproval. The commission also accepted a financial report by motion and seconded vote, and members expressed appreciation for the staff’s work and the time spent on the case. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill related to the budget. Senator Laird. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
• Proposition 98 maneuvers of current and past budget plans.
• We also continue to practice significant policy changes in the budget document.
• We've had subcommittee meetings, budget committee meetings, and the like.
• And this is a good budget. It keeps that momentum going. I ask for an aye vote.

Summary: The Senate opened with a ceremonial Independence Day observance featuring a prayer, color guard, Pledge of Allegiance, and a performance of the national anthem by Philo Abit, followed by acknowledgments of the event organizers and the California Military Department’s flyover. The body then moved to business, beginning with Assembly Bill 126, the education budget trailer bill. Senator Laird described major education investments, including a 4.31% LCFF COLA, increased special education funding, teacher pipeline support, universal school meal funding, kitchen infrastructure grants, homelessness support, and pregnancy disability leave for K-12 teachers. Senators Nilo and Choi opposed the bill, criticizing Proposition 98 funding maneuvers and transparency concerns, while Senator Perez supported it as a historic investment. The bill passed on a 28-8 vote. The Senate then adopted Senate Resolution 67, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Senators from both parties spoke at length about patriotism, the nation’s founding ideals, immigration, civil rights, and the need to acknowledge America’s historical injustices while celebrating its democratic promise. The resolution passed unanimously, 36-0. The chamber also confirmed Jesse Melgar, Tom Epstein, Joseph Williams, and Mark Beckley to or for reappointment to state boards and departments, each by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Later, the Senate concurred in Assembly amendments to SB 830, a Bay Area regional ballot-measure administration bill, after supportive remarks from Senators Arreguín and Cortese; the concurrence passed on a 29-4 vote. The consent calendar was then approved, with one item later reconsidered and removed. The session concluded with an adjournment in memory of former Madera County Supervisor Max Rodriguez, whose public service and community leadership were praised, and with remarks from the President Pro Tem reflecting on the Independence Day observance before the Senate recessed and announced its next meeting date.

Transcript Highlights:

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

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Agricultural Committee approved minutes from February 26 and March 3, 2026, then heard three House bills. House Bill 630, on airborne control of predatory animals, would move permit-related language from administrative rule into statute without changing policy; the sponsor said permits are free, limited to private property, and used for livestock, wildlife, or domestic animal protection rather than sport hunting. House Bill 631, on certificates of free sale, would likewise move existing rule language into statute and cap the certificate fee at $100. With no opposing testimony on either bill, the committee voted to send both to the floor with due pass recommendations. The committee then heard House Bill 826 on the Idaho Honey Commission. The sponsor said the bill shifts regulatory authority from the commission to the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, codifies current practice under an existing memorandum of understanding, and cleans up code related to penalties and rules. Testimony from the Idaho Honey Industry Association supported the bill, emphasizing the importance of the honey industry, the commission’s self-funded structure, and that hobbyist beekeepers are not affected. Committee questions focused on the hobbyist threshold, pesticide-related bee registration, and the penalty provisions; the sponsor and ISDA staff explained that hobbyists are defined elsewhere in code, bee location registration is handled under a different program, and the misdemeanor penalty is being removed while the $10,000 penalty remains. The committee voted to send HB 826 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. After the bill votes, Dairy West gave a presentation on its regional dairy promotion and research work across Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and Utah. Speakers described producer-funded assessments, governance, marketing and nutrition programs, school and sports outreach, export markets, and financial oversight. Committee questions covered export destinations, export products, and workforce issues; Dairy West said Mexico and Southeast Asia are key markets, exports are mainly powders, cheese, butter, and whey products, and immigrant labor is critical to dairy operations. The committee adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't know that. 18.2 is ...through the governor's office in their budget.
• since 2021, included in Governor Hobbs' border budget asks.
• since 2021, included in Governor Hobbs' border budget asks.
• I think it kind of is, but I think because of the budget things...
• The budget process is down here.

Bills: HB2416, HB2663, HB2759, HB2806

Keywords: border security, drug trafficking, human smuggling, law enforcement funding, Arizona, public safety, immigration, military leave, national guard, employment rights, paid leave, disaster response, veterans services, education programs, funding, appropriation, Yavapai county, lawful presence, public programs, verification

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, Senators, Tab 1, the budget reflects this committee's proposed health and human services budget
• The budget reflects this committee's proposed health and human services budget.
• So, Senators, the HHS budget increased by more than $2.1 billion, or 4.6%, over the current-based budget
• So, Senators, the HHS budget increased by more than $2.1 billion or 4.6% over the current-based budget
• They've proposed solutions, and they need to give the budget process time for the budget to be approved

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Prior to that, it was based on several different line items within the Department of Education budget
• You can find all of our board minutes, expenditures, our audit, all of our budget information, anything
• What we presented today is what we've done with a full budget.
• A $10 million cut to our budget is a 40% cut to our budget.
• How do you, with the governor's recommendation of $10 million from your budget, how you plan to still

Summary: The Senate Education Committee first approved the January 26 and January 27, 2026 minutes by voice vote. The committee then heard a presentation from Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA) Superintendent Jeff Simmons, joined by Cambridge Superintendent Anthony Butler, on IDLA’s role as Idaho’s statewide supplemental online learning program. Simmons described IDLA’s funding model, course offerings, growth in enrollment, quality controls, teacher certification and oversight, use of Idaho teachers and curriculum, free open-content resources, and efforts to support families through lower course fees and waived dual-credit fees. He also said IDLA is preparing for a proposed $10 million budget cut, which he said would significantly reduce enrollments and course offerings. Butler testified that IDLA is especially valuable for small rural districts like Cambridge for credit recovery, dual credit, scheduling flexibility, and keeping students on track to graduate. Senators asked about teacher certification, costs, evaluation in a virtual setting, AI use, statutory naming, and how IDLA would be affected by budget reductions. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1234, sponsored by Senator Carlson, which would change Lewis-Clark State College’s name to Lewis-Clark State University. President Cynthia Pemberton testified that the change would not alter the institution’s mission, programs, or focus, but would reduce confusion about the school’s offerings, better reflect its four-year and graduate programs, and help recruitment and partnerships. She said the proposal has broad support from the State Board of Education, K-12 partners, local chambers, and campus stakeholders, and estimated a one-time rebranding cost of about $50,000. Senators asked about the cost and intent language, and the committee voted to send the bill to the Senate floor with a do-pass recommendation. The meeting adjourned afterward, with notice that there would be no Education Committee meeting the following day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, that's a sticky subject for our schools, and they don't even know how to plan their budget, as
• you know we don't have budget targets yet ourselves.
• and they don't even know how to plan and they don't even know how to plan their<00:09:45.760><c> budget
• as you know we don't have their budget as you know we don't have budget<00:09:47.640><c> targets</c>
• targets yet ourselves so I'm budget targets yet ourselves so I'm hoping<00:09:50.320><c> that</c><00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our annual budget averages.
• maintenance budget.
• budget the piece for construction?
• My question is, is that In your budget, where's the construction piece for your budget? So, Mr.
• Chairman, if you look at the FY 25 budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because we use fall 25, spring 26, and summer 26 budgets.
• We do the budget. The governor makes a recommendation.
• budget, the governor's budget, let's be clear about this.
• The governor's budget is a suggestion, right? We base budget.
• Governor Bergamese always complained that we didn't use his budget.

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Review Committee met to continue work on a draft higher education funding formula and related capital building fund changes. Lisa Johnson of the North Dakota University System updated the committee on the board’s developing policy for low-producing academic programs. She said the board is using a five-year rolling window, with thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, and that programs flagged in three consecutive review cycles would go to the board for review. Possible outcomes include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the policy would account for enrollment, program costs, workforce need, and programs that serve students outside their major. Johnson said the board would likely use an accompanying procedure to consider those factors. She also reported that about 200 programs could potentially be reviewed under current guidance, with 135 inactivated and 112 terminated, and said the process is intended to support quality and stewardship rather than simply cut programs. Jamie Wilkie then reported on the Capital Building Fund. He reviewed the fund’s history, matching requirements, and use for extraordinary repairs, deferred maintenance, and some legislatively authorized projects. He said about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with roughly 78.7% going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Committee members pressed for updated information on how much deferred maintenance has actually been reduced, and several members said they wanted clearer reporting on the return on investment from new buildings versus repairs. NDSU representatives said the tier funding has helped significantly reduce deferred maintenance and allowed demolition and renovation work on campus. The committee also discussed the need for updated five-year facility plans and space-utilization information from the institutions. The committee then began a section-by-section review of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and restructure the capital building fund. The draft would fund UND and NDSU differently from the other nine institutions, use fall enrollment rather than completed credits, add performance funding for completions in in-demand fields, create research incentives for UND and NDSU, and combine capital building fund tiers while changing matching requirements and eligible uses. Members raised concerns about the treatment of professional students, the use of CIP codes, incentives for waivers, and whether the formula should rely on more current data. The committee did not take final action on the draft during this meeting, but it continued detailed discussion and indicated more review would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• They also had a budget. They had case. They also had a budget.
• </c><00:12:01.839><c> that's</c> what we've done in the budget that's what we've done in the budget that's
• </c><00:12:57.279><c> with</c> about what we done in the budget with about what we done in the budget
• So, uh happy from our education budget.
• for the uh our budget to clear the<00:50:48.880><c> Senate.

Bills: HB527, HB563, HB580, HB579, SB190, HB15, HB390, HB527, HB563, HB580, HB579, SB190, HB15, HB390

Keywords: liability, off-roading, parks, participant safety, risk management, SNAP, food assistance, public assistance, income standards, Department of Human Resources, eligibility, HB580, Alabama Healthy Schools Act, public schools, K-12, school nutrition, school meals, cafeteria, vending machines, fundraising sales

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Petrie, an act relating to branch budget Petrie, an act relating to branch budget bills.<00:53:13.480
• </c> Petrie, an act relating to branch budget Petrie, an act relating to branch budget bills.<00:53:18.360
• </c> Petrie, an act relating to branch budget Petrie, an act relating to branch budget recommendations
• </c><00:53:34.680><c> And</c> to branch budget recommendations.
• And to branch budget recommendations.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:10:39.760><c> I</c> budget. That's way above my pay scale. I budget.
• So we've already budgeted for that in the budget that we've set for this year. >> What's that budget?
• budgeted for that in our in the budget budgeted for that in our in the budget that<01:16:03.360><c>
• </c> &gt;&gt; what's that budget? &gt;&gt; what's that budget?
• </c> from from your budget? from from your budget? &gt;&gt; I<01:16:55.199><c> Yeah.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: A joint informational briefing of the House and Senate higher education committees focused on how the University of Hawaiʻi athletics department plans to remain competitive in the new NIL era, including the effects of the House v. NCAA settlement, direct institutional payments, and the need to balance competitiveness with the university’s educational mission. Senators and committee members introduced themselves, and the briefing featured remarks from women’s basketball coach Laura Beeman, football coach Timmy Chang, and Athletic Director Matt Elliott. Coach Beeman said NIL has already affected recruiting and retention in women’s basketball, estimating the program has lost six to 10 student-athletes because it lacks the funding to keep comparable talent. She emphasized that the issue is not greed but retention, culture, and keeping student-athletes who value the university and community, while also using NIL as a way to teach financial literacy, privacy, and adult responsibilities. Coach Chang described similar pressures in football, including transfer portal volatility and competing offers from other programs, and gave examples of players whose personal and family circumstances made NIL support important for staying at Hawaiʻi. Athletic Director Elliott said the department’s vision is to create an outstanding student-athlete experience, recruit and retain elite athletes, compete at the top of the Mountain West, and strengthen community ties. He said the department wants to preserve the educational focus while adapting to a system in which student-athletes can share in revenue. Elliott explained that UH is seeking a $5 million annual NIL fund, is fundraising through the community and the “Boost the Bose” account, and is also pursuing individual NIL deals, corporate sponsorship-related deals, and licensing opportunities. In response to Senator Kim’s question, he said NIL compensation can come through two tracks: institutional payments within the department’s discretion and outside deals that must be reviewed for market value under the new reporting system. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, we now have four budget bills to consider.
• First one being Budget Bill 9-003-D, an act making appropriations for the support of government, aid
• Next item, Budget Bill 9-07C, an act to law, major components of legislation necessary to implement the
• state health and mental hygiene budget for the 2026-2027 state fiscal year.
• And mental hygiene budget for the 2026-2027 state fiscal year. Questions or comments?

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The New York State Senate Finance Committee met with Senator John Liu presiding in place of Chair Liz Krueger. The committee considered four budget bills: Budget Bill 9-003-D (aid to localities appropriations), Budget Bill 9-004-D (capital projects appropriations), Budget Bill 9-07C (health and mental hygiene budget implementation), and Budget Bill 9-009-C (state fiscal plan implementation for 2026-2027). No substantive debate or testimony was presented beyond brief calls for questions or comments. Each bill was moved, seconded, and put to a vote. Budget Bills 9-003-D, 9-004-D, and 9-07C were approved and reported with vote sheets submitted. Budget Bill 9-009-C also advanced, with at least one nay vote noted from Senator O’Mara. All four bills were sent to the floor, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• removed it from the budget.
• </c> the house was inserted into the budget the house was inserted into the budget went<04:01:19.479>
• <04:03:41.199><c> um</c><04:03:42.199><c> it</c><04:03:42.439><c> is</c> budget um it is budget um it
• However, it is that the budget writers create the budget; there's all of that.
• </c> certainly however it is that the budget certainly however it is that the budget writers<04:07:56.439

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 180, which concerns critical incident stress management teams. Representative Mark PR, the bill sponsor, proposed an amendment to add a definition of “team leader” and to clarify that teams may or may not be affiliated with a municipality. He argued that a certification test offered by the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation is unnecessary and too expensive at $400, since team members are volunteers who already receive training and continuing education. Committee members asked about the training structure and certification language, and the sponsor explained that the teams are self-certified and that the amendment was intended to clean up the bill’s language. The committee then voted on HB 180 in executive session. Amendment 0261H was adopted 11-0, and the bill was then moved as amended and passed 11-0. The committee placed the bill on consent. Later, the committee heard House Bill 438, sponsored by Representative Timothy Horan, dealing with immigration detention and related state policy. Horan described the bill as an update to earlier legislation and said it would codify best practices, prohibit state cooperation with mass deportation efforts, bar for-profit operation of immigration detention facilities, and require Executive Council approval before the governor could deploy the National Guard for immigration deportation activities. Committee members questioned whether the bill could be read as authorizing detention facilities and discussed the relationship between the state and Strafford County Jail. An amendment presented on behalf of Representative Patrick Long was described as a technical rewrite that removed several sections and changed language, but the hearing ended before any vote was taken on HB 438.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's advocating for funding to be included in this year's budget.
• And to be included in this year's budget and to exceed the previous request.
• We have federal accountability, workload, and other various budget proposals.
• It's in response to, of course, the multi-year budget deficit that we're facing.
• It's in response to, of course, the multi-year budget deficit that we're facing.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have annual budgets. We review budgets.
• I always call it a firefighter approach to budget, like let's budget because of something that's going
• There would be no budget impact for the first year.
• last minute and said, oh, our operating budget is not right.
• And instead, we just put it into recurring budgets.

Bills: SB132, SB241

Keywords: SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement, technology funding, revolving fund, capital equipment, enterprise services, state IT budgeting, software budgeting, amortization, depreciation, State Treasurer, Department of Finance and Administration, New Mexico, information technology, IT infrastructure, fund accounting, legislative appropriation

Summary: The committee first heard HB 158 as amended, which would require state agencies receiving appropriations from the Grow Fund to submit accountability and evaluation plans to the State Budget Division and the Legislative Finance Committee. LFC staff said the bill would put existing practice into statute and formalize agency reporting and evaluation responsibilities. The bill drew no opposition testimony, and after questions about whether agencies or LFC would do the evaluations, it passed on a 9-0 due pass vote. HB 255, the Public Safety Workforce Building Program, was then presented as a bipartisan measure to consolidate public safety workforce funding into a competitive grant program for local law enforcement, fire, detention, and public attorney offices. The sponsor said it would not require a new appropriation. There was no opposition testimony, and the committee approved it on a 9-0 due pass vote. The committee then took up SB 309, which would replace the lottery’s 30% return requirement with a fixed floor return for several fiscal years, with a reversion to the current law if the floor is not met. Lottery officials and supporters argued the change would let the lottery offer more competitive prizes, including higher-value scratchers, and potentially increase scholarship revenue; opponents, including Think New Mexico and a nursing student, warned it could cap long-term growth and reduce scholarship funding. After extended debate, the bill passed on a 7-2 due pass vote. Later, SB 79, creating a statewide mosquito-borne disease prevention program through the Department of Health, was presented by its sponsor as a response to West Nile virus and warmer winters. Testimony from the sponsor and the state entomologist emphasized rising mosquito risk and the need for county grants and statewide coordination. Although the committee initially moved to table the bill because funding had already been included in the budget, that motion failed and the bill ultimately received a due pass vote. The committee also heard HB 295, which would create a centralized accessibility reporting position in the Department of Health; after testimony for and against, an amendment stripping the appropriation was adopted, and the bill passed 5-3. The committee then heard HB 124, establishing an Office of New Americans within Workforce Solutions to coordinate workforce integration for immigrants with lawful status. Supporters described barriers faced by immigrant workers and the need for bilingual training and centralized assistance, while the sponsor said the office would have no first-year budget impact. The bill passed 6-4. Finally, the committee considered SB 273 and SB 274, both involving state financial support for affected entities and the Patient Compensation Fund. SB 273, which would provide temporary state assistance to communities affected by economic disruption, passed after debate about precedent and economic recovery. SB 274, which sought repayment from the Patient Compensation Fund for prior state infusions, drew opposition from hospitals and physicians who warned of higher surcharges and questioned the timing and legality; discussion continued around the committee substitute and the fund’s statutory restrictions.