Transcript Highlights:

• costs.
• We write it off as training costs.
• The total cost... The total cost for this is $11,700,000.
• Operations.
• Replacing this vehicle will Replacing this vehicle will reduce maintenance cost, improve operational

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been operating since 1963, so 62 years of continuous operations.
• In either case, Texas has operational control of the aircraft. The operator doesn't.
• cost.
• So tell us about your experience on the cost to operate and maintain, OK.
• You, you should include and must include the continual operational costs of that asset.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• costs on your electric bills.
• cost that keeps it cleaner.
• He said the big operators are fantastic, and even many mid-sized and smaller operators do what they need
• These funds were targeted to address rising personnel costs and required operational expenses, including
• It is a cost issue.

Summary: The Senate Education Committee’s Appropriations Subcommittee met to hear budget presentations from OETA, the Commissioners of the Land Office, and the Oklahoma Educational Quality and Accountability Commission (OEQA). The chair asked witnesses to stay focused on budget requests and agency operations rather than policy, unless policy affected the numbers. OETA reported no request for additional funding. Director Sean Black highlighted the agency’s 70th year of continuous broadcasting, completion of transmitter replacements, conversion to fiber, and lower electricity costs from more efficient equipment. He said OETA would offset the loss of federal CPB funding through donations, events, and partnerships, and described its statewide reach, educational programming, and multiple broadcast and streaming channels. Members asked about energy use and were told the new transmitters had reduced power costs. The Commissioners of the Land Office discussed record distributions to schools, a flat budget, and planned spending on invasive woody species, implementation of SB 951, IT modernization, and possible changes to mineral management and staffing. The secretary requested funding for a revenue compliance director, field services manager, internal auditor support, and other adjustments, while explaining the agency’s use of stabilization funds and carryover. Senators questioned orphan and abandoned wells, AI use, and staffing efficiency; the secretary said the agency was trying to work more closely with operators, use AI and in-house software where possible, and manage wells and land in ways that protect school revenue. OEQA presented its priorities for teacher quality, including Teach Forward apprenticeship pilots, dashboard expansion, accreditation review, statutory cleanups, and continued monitoring of cell phone-free zones. The agency described a small, stable budget, five unfilled positions, and a proposed $100,000 reduction for FY 2027 based on efficiencies. Members asked about Teach Forward applications, multilingual testing, and the broader quality of teacher preparation programs; OEQA said it had received three Teach Forward applications and that translating certification tests would raise cost and validity concerns. Senators urged OEQA to play a stronger role in connecting teacher preparation programs with classroom needs, and the meeting adjourned without any votes or formal actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• In a least cost, Solar, hydro, and storage, in a least-cost, least-impact portfolio for Washington.
• and include the indirect costs.
• But the cost to operate them and integrate them in the grid has gone up dramatically.
• The upfront costs are large, just like for renewables. The upfront costs are large per megawatt.
• 18 levelized cost of energy, showing utility solar is a third of the cost of nuclear.

Bills: HB2090 , HB2215 , HB2245 , HB2272

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: nuclear energy, renewable energy, energy strategy, sustainable development, state energy policy, climate change, fuel regulations, compliance obligations, sustainability, environmental policy, consumer-owned utilities, clean energy, port districts, market customers, energy transformation, ski areas, winter sports, terminology update, recreation, regulatory changes

Transcript Highlights:

• The remainder goes to rehabilitation and other costs associated with operating prisons like maintenance
• This table is another way of looking at the cost of operating prisons.
• In this case, we're looking at a breakdown of the current average cost per person of operating prisons
• And again, as you can see, Large portions of the costs are driven by the cost of providing security and
• These costs are not driven by operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then our cost-share ag cost-share program, we've demonstrated success there over the years.
• When it comes to your projections on operation and maintenance costs, what do you all do internally to
• We'll also have operational costs to try and reestablish those timber stands in those areas as well.
• Same question: when you project the costs associated with maintenance and operational expenditures, what
• , how much electricity is going to cost.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government heard budget presentations from the Northwest Florida, Suwannee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, and South Florida water management districts for FY 2026-2027. Each district described its preliminary budget, major funding sources, staffing levels, and priorities within the four core missions of water supply, water quality, natural systems, and flood protection. Common themes included reduced budgets from the prior year due to completion of major projects, continued reliance on state appropriations and ad valorem revenue, rising construction and maintenance costs, and the need to maintain aging infrastructure while advancing alternative water supply, springs restoration, flood control, and land management projects. Committee members repeatedly asked how much of each district’s budget and personnel were devoted to the core missions, how maintenance and operating projections were developed, and how projects were selected. The districts generally said most spending was tied to core responsibilities, with administrative overhead relatively small, and explained that budgets are built through a mix of staff analysis, governing board direction, strategic basin planning, and cooperative funding with local, state, and federal partners. Several districts highlighted specific projects, including Water First North Florida, Black Creek, Taylor Creek Reservoir improvements, Crane Creek, Everglades restoration, and various springs and watershed projects. The districts also noted challenges from hurricanes, inflation, cybersecurity, and aging water control structures. South Florida Water Management District’s presentation focused on Everglades restoration and the large-scale infrastructure needed to move, store, and clean water in South Florida. The director said the district’s $1.05 billion preliminary budget is largely for flood control, water supply, ecosystem restoration, and maintenance of extensive canals, levees, pumps, and reservoirs, and emphasized that recent restoration investments are producing measurable water quality and salinity improvements. No votes were taken on the district budgets, and the committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the FTPs stayed the same and the operating costs dropped by $4 million.
• The same and the operating cost dropped by $4 million. Why? What's going on there?
• Lippett: your personnel costs from 2025 to 2027 rise $4 million, operating expenditures dropped by $4
• And that cost to them is a great cost, more than what we would charge for our inspection.
• These are the costs needed to compensate the division's employees and any operating costs that aren't

Summary: The committee first heard a report from the Joint Millennium Fund co-chairs on recommended uses of Millennium Fund dollars. The recommendations included one-time funding for juvenile safety assessment centers and child advocacy centers, ongoing funding for the Upper River Youth Leadership Council Recovery Center, $5 million for a statewide drug awareness media campaign, and $25 million one-time for Medicaid claim payments to reduce the general fund impact in fiscal year 2027. Members asked about the Medicaid recommendation because the fund had previously been directed away from Medicaid; the co-chairs said the request was made in light of a revenue downturn and was intended as one-time funding, with any unused balance returned. The report was accepted by unanimous consent. The committee then reviewed the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Legislative staff summarized the division’s consolidation of licensing boards, staffing, fee-balance management requirements, and the governor’s and committee’s budget recommendations, including vehicle replacement and IT hardware requests. Administrator Russ Barron said the division has reduced overall expenditures since consolidation, improved licensing and inspection timeliness, and used fee changes, fee holidays, and board mergers to keep board balances within the target range. Members questioned rising personnel costs, the use of opioid settlement funds for prescriber DEA fees, the continued need for a 10% transfer exemption, vehicle replacement timing, and how complaints and discipline are handled; Barron said complaints drive investigations, boards set fees subject to legislative approval, and a universal discipline bill could improve consistency. Finally, the committee heard the state lottery budget. Staff described lottery revenues, prize payouts, dividend distributions to schools and state buildings, and a small one-time request for replacement computers. Director Andrew Arulenandum said the lottery has reduced management layers, renegotiated major contracts for significant future savings, and is trying to improve performance without relying heavily on paid advertising. Members asked about the role of lottery detectives, the return on advertising spending, and the need for MacBooks and iMacs; he said detectives investigate theft and other lottery-related crimes, advertising results are hard to isolate from jackpot size, and the Apple equipment is needed for in-house design work. The committee concluded its business and adjourned, with a reminder about upcoming budget-setting work sessions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The maximum estimated cost of work or furnishing of equipment, material, supplies, or operating services
• The maximum estimated cost of work or furnishing of equipment, material, supplies, or operating services
• The maximum estimated cost of work or furnishing of equipment, material, supplies, or operating services
• The manufacturer may also own, operate, or control dealer.
• So costs have increased $50 in four years for the...

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• operations, along with practice plans.
• Athletics is operating in unprecedented times.
• , our grants indirect cost on grants and contracts, represents a negotiated rate for real costs.
• So the indirect costs are calculated by looking at what's called cost accounting.
• I would just say one thing is inflationary costs.

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met to hear an overview of State University System finances from the Board of Governors and detailed budget presentations from Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and the University of North Florida. The witnesses explained how university budgets are organized into fund categories such as education and general, contracts and grants, auxiliaries, local/designated funds, capital projects, and component units such as direct support organizations. They also described carry forward funds, the statutory reserve and spending-plan requirements, the PICO/HECO capital outlay process, and how universities use investment accounts, audits, and board oversight to manage restricted and unspent funds. The universities emphasized that most operating dollars are restricted to specific uses and that state support helps keep tuition low. Members asked about differences in funding levels among institutions, especially why FSU receives more funding than UCF despite lower enrollment. Officials said preeminence funding, performance funding, and special legislative appropriations explain much of the difference, and the Board of Governors noted that Florida now has four preeminent universities, with UCF nearing that status. Questions also focused on what happens to unspent carry forward money, how it is invested, and whether the Board of Governors or Legislature can require funds to be returned; officials said the money is invested conservatively, subject to board and audit oversight, and can roll forward under a detailed spending plan, though the Legislature can change funding levels. The committee also discussed capital projects, with members asking about delays, inflation, and whether more projects should be phased or funded faster; witnesses said PICO funds remain with the state until needed and are reimbursed as construction proceeds. A substantial portion of the discussion covered athletics, research, student fees, and endowments. The universities said athletics is generally expected to be self-supporting, though limited use of auxiliary or carry forward funds may be allowed for projects benefiting the broader student body. They also described the financial pressures from name, image, and likeness changes and new NCAA-related costs, and said institutions are planning for those changes now. On research, the universities explained sponsored research funding, indirect cost recovery, compliance obligations, and tech transfer, but did not provide specific commercialization revenue figures and said they would follow up. Members also asked about student fee increases, student input, counseling and wellness funding, and how housing costs affect affordability; the universities said student committees and boards review fees, and aid packaging is intended to keep student debt low. Endowments were described as being held in separate foundations/DSOs with independent investment committees and used mainly for scholarships, faculty support, and research.

Transcript Highlights:

• the cost of regulatory issues.
• These systems cost millions of dollars up front and hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to operate
• Our facility began operating in 1939 and has been family operated since 1968.
• We're driving up costs.
• Can you walk us through the actual cost and logistics of installing and operating fence-line monitoring

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Transcript Highlights:

• Clearly that operates or locomotives on natural gas.
• Look to new technologies that new ways of doing business to hopefully continue to drive fuel costs, operational
• costs and other things out of our system to, again, try to provide the lowest cost options for our customers
• And then 3rd and most importantly, right now, today, solar is the lowest cost, most cost-effective form
• >> You know, I think the cost of power just like the cost of most things across the country has has increased

Transcript Highlights:

• While these potential costs do not currently warrant closing and operating a nuclear power plant, they
• While these potential costs do not currently warrant closing and operating a nuclear power plant, they
• While these potential costs do not currently warrant closing and operating a nuclear power plant, they
• While these potential costs do not currently warrant closing and operating a nuclear power plant, they
• While these potential costs do not currently warrant closing and operating a nuclear power plant, they

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• Next on cost share.
• But you’re absolutely right: it does not necessarily represent the full cost of operating the system.
• And I will provide some statistics on— ...represent the full cost of operating the system, and I will
• that cost per year to continue to operate that system."
• Project costs going forward: construction costs total about $30 million.

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met to receive interim status updates on several water-related studies and Department of Water Resources projects. The committee approved the March 26, 2026 minutes, observed a moment of silence for the late Representative Conmy, and then heard updates on the watershed management study and the stormwater/wastewater study. Staff reported that the committee had already received the testimony contemplated in the study plans, including input from state agencies, local governments, and out-of-state entities, and that any further action would be at the committee’s discretion. The Department of Water Resources then provided project and budget updates on NAWS and the Southwest Pipeline Project. Reese reported NAWS is expected to serve about 81,000 users, with a total projected cost of about $571 million and about $96 million remaining, while the Southwest Pipeline Project is estimated at $1.06 billion total with about $409 million remaining. Members asked about funding sources, capacity needs, and whether current and future construction is being designed for increased demand; department staff said current work is designed for ultimate capacity, but some future components may need redesign based on new requests. The committee also discussed local cost shares, Minot’s role in NAWS funding, and whether the system is adequate for peak demand. A major portion of the meeting focused on the department’s cash management, carryover, and long-term water funding outlook. The department said Resources Trust Fund revenues are tied to oil extraction taxes and are affected by stripper well exemptions and future oil price declines. Members expressed concern about large carryover balances and whether the state is obligating more money than can realistically be spent in a biennium. The department reported about $340.6 million in remaining carryover and said it is trying to reduce that through a two-tier pre-construction/construction process and closer project vetting. The department also summarized the Deloitte studies on regional governance and finance and on cost-share policy. Stakeholders generally favored keeping the current governance structures for NAWS and Southwest with improvements, while Red River stakeholders leaned toward a different option; the department said it will bring an implementation plan back in September. On cost share, Deloitte’s recommendations would reduce some percentages, prioritize projects differently, and use other measures to close a projected long-term funding gap. Members debated affordability, local burden, deferred maintenance, and whether statutory changes may be needed to allow the commission more flexibility in prioritizing and funding projects. No formal votes or final actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving the updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• and reduced transportation costs.
• more. ...drill more because it's more energy and it costs more and it costs more, and I'm hearing that
• And those costs do not operate in a vacuum; they factor directly into business decisions about whether
• costs of our refineries.
• So that communities know what the impact is from these operations and what the cost and timeline for

Committee: Senate Environmental Quality

Transcript Highlights:

• of health care costs.
• Supply costs have increased on average by 5% since COVID-19 officially ended, and pharmaceutical costs
• Cost targets.
• We want to mention that one of the hospitals on the high-cost list this year is operating on a negative
• costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then the expenses that go to operate the facility—the cost of supplies, the... ...that go to operate
• Chairman, in contractual services and the other operating costs, the LFC is slightly higher here.
• So yes, the election fund does not have any payroll costs, does not have any operating costs.
• Does not have any operating costs? This is purely running the election. Next slide.
• As we heard, the 2025 election operations and administration cost $15 million.

Bills: HB1

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• However, Senate Bill 108 takes election costs out of the Secretary of State's operating budget to give
• So that gets us to $2.6 million as the elections program base operating costs.
• So that's what it costs the operation day-to-day to run its daily needs outside of administering the
• to having our operating budget come in front of you with just our administrative costs.
• You mentioned the remainder of it is for our office to bolster our operating costs, like I said, and

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So that obviously drives the costs, which you can kind of see in the range of costs.
• It's important to note that there is no single cost for CCS. CCS costs vary dramatically by source.
• So CCS does have a cost and it does need policy. In the U.S., there are 29 operational projects...
• overall costs for products.
• We have rising costs.

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the major ones is the capital cost of SMRs.
• After five or six reactors have been deployed, the cost should come down the cost curve as there are
• From an operational standpoint...
• first-of-a-kind cost underestimation, not cost overrun, which makes future AP1000s much more financeable
• or operating a— Recycling facility or operating a nuclear reactor?

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to hear a series of presentations on the economics, financing, workforce, and community impacts of advanced nuclear deployment in North Dakota. William Bridge of Nucleon Energy presented the committee’s economic impacts and private-sector financing report, estimating construction and operating job impacts, local spending, and state/local tax effects for hypothetical SMR projects. He said the report assumes first-of-a-kind costs are still high, used a $6 million per megawatt nth-of-a-kind proxy, and estimated peak construction workforces of about 500 for a 200-MW plant and 1,000 for a larger facility, with roughly 100 operating jobs for a 200-MW plant. Committee members questioned security costs, capital cost assumptions, water and transmission siting constraints, and whether the model included fuel and waste; Bridge said the report included initial fuel in capital cost and that waste disposal is funded through existing federal mechanisms. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning efforts. She described declining labor-force participation, retirements, and the need for a much larger future workforce, and said NEI has organized recommendations around career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and nontraditional recruitment. She highlighted tools such as the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, timing for training relative to plant development, and whether advanced manufacturing would reduce staffing needs; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. The committee also heard from Gary Yaco, mayor of Red Wing, Minnesota, who described Prairie Island’s role in his community. He said the plant provides a large share of local property tax revenue, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to emergency preparedness funding and training, and is broadly supported by the city despite periodic protests and public concerns. He emphasized the plant’s security, regular drills with local and federal responders, and the absence of problems with dry cask storage. Later, Benton Arnett of NEI discussed the current financing landscape for advanced nuclear, explaining how tax credits, federal loan support, off-take agreements, and new business models are helping projects move forward. He said early projects face high upfront costs and long lead-time procurement, but that investor confidence is improving as federal policy and regulatory streamlining continue. The committee asked about waste funding, comparisons with natural gas, the effect of political shifts on investor confidence, and whether the market will narrow to a few winning technologies; Arnett said the industry is still sorting that out, but expects clearer winners in the late 2020s and early 2030s. The meeting concluded with an introductory presentation from Julie Kazeraki of DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing, who said the office is focused on accelerating nuclear deployment through financing support.

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:10:02.080><c> distribution,</c> for cost of gas, cost of distribution, for cost of gas, cost of
• You're trading fuel costs for transmission cost.
• You're trading fuel costs for transmission cost.
• You're trading fuel costs for transmission cost.
• You're trading fuel costs for transmission cost.

Bills: HF3298

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy