Transcript Highlights:

• : to whom was referred the message from Her Excellency the Governor making appropriations for the fiscal
• 5050, reports in part recommending that the accompanying bill, an act making appropriations for the fiscal
• Third reading of the bill: An act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing
• House Bill 5348, an act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain
• House Bill 5348, an act making appropriations for fiscal year 2026 to provide for supplementing certain

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House took up several local bills after suspending procedural rules and Joint Rule 12 for a petition from Mark J. Cusack concerning military creditable service for judges, referring it to the Committee on Public Service. The House also considered four local measures: a Harwich affordable housing trust bill, a Charlemont commercial recreation tax bill, a Millis senior property tax exemption bill, and a Falmouth sewer-related funding bill. All were advanced through second reading and ordered to a third reading. The chamber then passed to engrossment a series of additional local bills, including a Hopkinton bridge designation bill, a Nantucket charter amendment, a Swampscott disability property tax exemption bill, an Arlington senior tax exemption amendment, and a Reading home rule charter bill. Each was approved without recorded opposition. The House later recessed and returned to consider a supplemental fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill, House Bill 5348, reported out of Ways and Means with a total appropriation of $300 million. House Bill 5348 was taken up by suspension of the rules, read a third time, passed to be engrossed, and then passed to be enacted after the constitutionally required separate vote, with no votes in opposition recorded. The House adopted an order to meet again Wednesday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Loan repayments are policy bills with a fiscal impact.
• So, it's creating a new program, and so it's more than just the fiscal piece.
• Madam Chair, I mean, I think that if we have something that has a fiscal...
• I think this is also, though, a fiscal impact that would not need...
• That exist and have a fiscal impact would be germane, and that new policies, new programs with a fiscal

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, fiscal responsibility matters.
• Second, fiscal responsibility matters.
• This is one of the most straightforward fiscal decisions we can... ...make.
• And they've been facing fiscal cliffs, and we've talked about that a number of times.
• We are putting the state on a path to much greater fiscal stability.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• $775 million next year, fiscal year 2027.
• year 26, and then an additional fiscal year 26, and then an additional uh<00:27:44.240> $775<
• <00:27:47.520> year uh $775 million next year, fiscal year uh $775 million next year, fiscal
• more just in fiscal year 2026 and<00:33:37.679> then<00:33:38.000> an<00:33:38.240>
• year 2026 appropriation change to take place before the end of the fiscal year.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House began with a point of personal privilege honoring Master Sergeant Nicole M. Amimer of White Bear Lake, including a House resolution recognizing her military service and sacrifice and a moment of silence. Members then took up House File 4987, which would rename a highway in White Bear Lake as the Master Sergeant Nicole M. Amimer Memorial Highway. The motion to suspend rules and advance the bill prevailed, and the bill later passed 126-0 after supportive remarks from Representatives Olsen and Curran about honoring Amimer and her family. The chamber then considered Senate File 476, the human services policy bill. Representative Noor described it as a broad package covering direct care and treatment, Department of Health policy, aging and disability services, behavioral health, vulnerable adult maltreatment, continuity of care, and miscellaneous policy changes. Representative Schumacher said the bill reflected stakeholder work and added guardrails, especially around fraud and provider processes. Several amendments were offered and adopted, including a technical A13 amendment; an A8 amendment was withdrawn; and an A1 amendment on individualized home supports was also withdrawn. The bill passed 93-39. Finally, the House took up House File 4546, the forecast adjustment bill for the Department of Human Services and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Representative Noor said it was a routine biennial adjustment to align spending with the February forecast. Representative Johnson W offered an amendment on foster family information-sharing but withdrew it after concluding it was not germane. Debate focused heavily on the size of the forecast increases, especially in medical assistance and housing supports, with Representative Schultz arguing the bill reflected large cost growth and urging a no vote. Noor responded that the increases were driven by forecasted utilization, eligibility, rate changes, and program integrity changes. The bill passed as amended 93-39.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm glad we're managing our finances fiscally responsibly.
• As a fiscal conservative, I am sympathetic to that argument.
• Number one, a true fiscal impact analysis.
• Number one, a true fiscal impact analysis.
• But that is not the full fiscal picture.

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:33.520> note, fiscal note, fiscal note, >> Yeah,<00:21:34.280> please<00:21
• First being, you made reference to a fiscal note in your presentation, but I haven't seen a fiscal note
• Is there a fiscal note on this bill? There's not a fiscal note.
• But we do not have a fiscal note from the cabinet. Mr.
• I think this bill does require a fiscal note.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Gross adjusted collections for this fiscal year to date is $7.76 billion.
• That is up 4.4% from the last fiscal year to date at $7.44 billion.
• That is up from the last fiscal year to date, which was $5.9 billion.
• As for fiscal year 2026, the allocations were included in your packet.
• It's a request for approval of special maintenance funding for fiscal year 27.

Summary: The Arkansas Legislative Council met and first adopted the previous meeting minutes, then honored Lori McDonald of the Department of Human Services for nearly 28 years of state service. Members read a resolution recognizing her legislative, constituent, and leadership work at DHS, and the council adopted it unanimously. McDonald thanked members for their support, and the Senate also presented her with a citation, a flag flown over the Capitol, and a commemorative coin. The council then received the May 2026 revenue report, which showed gross adjusted collections of $7.76 billion year-to-date, up 4.4% from the prior year, and net available for distribution of $6.36 billion. The Bureau of Legislative Research noted collections were running above last year and that the updated forecast reflected a surplus. The Executive Subcommittee report was adopted after members were told it had approved captive insurance premiums and deductibles, a claims administration contract, emergency DHS rules, waiver requests, committee fund allocations, and the cancellation of the regular July ALC meeting in favor of only meeting for urgent matters. Several subcommittee reports were then adopted, including Administrative Rules, Game and Fish and State Police, Hospital/Medicaid/Developmental Disabilities, Lottery Oversight, Occupational Licensing Review, Peer Review, Review, State Insurance Programs Oversight, and Personnel. During the Administrative Rules discussion, members questioned the Department of Education about delays and vendor performance under the ClassWallet contract; department officials said they were meeting regularly with the vendor, keeping expense review in-house, and would consider other options if needed. In Personnel, the Department of Commerce clarified that a reallocation request was part of a broader departmental realignment and shared services move, not the Arkansas Workforce Connection waiver. The council also reviewed and took action on several communications, including filing retirement system investment summaries as reviewed, approving rural community grant funding, giving favorable advice for state park acquisitions/expansion, approving special maintenance funding for state parks, and filing proposed Office of State Technology service rates as reviewed before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• So how, what will be the fiscal impact to our counties if we did away with the farm? You recognize?
• So I want to echo some of the concerns about fiscally constrained counties.
• So I want to echo some of the concerns about fiscally constrained counties.
• I know it's an HCR, so I didn't see a fiscal on it.
• So I didn't see a fiscal on it. Do you have any estimation of what is an REC on it?

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on March 20, 2025, and first approved HB 4025, creating the Duke Farm Stewardship District in Lee County, on a 17-0 vote. The committee then advanced HJR 1215, which proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt agricultural tangible personal property from property tax, after extended debate about the fiscal impact on counties, especially rural and fiscally constrained ones; it passed 16-1. HB 411 also passed unanimously after an amendment, extending affordable housing tax exemption treatment to certain nonprofit projects on leased land, including Habitat for Humanity projects. The committee likewise approved CS/HB 669, allowing local governments to purchase certain unrated bonds, and CS/HB 4017, codifying the Vermont Drainage District charter in Charlotte County, both without opposition. The committee also approved HJR 1039, which would let the Legislature prevent assessed-value increases for homestead properties that are improved to mitigate flood damage, and the related implementing bill HB 1041; both passed 17-0. Public testimony on these items included some opposition to the flood-related amendment, but no floor debate changed the outcome. The final major item was CS/HB 1221 by Rep. Miller, which would require local option taxes to be renewed by voter referendum every eight years, with longer terms allowed for bonded projects. That bill drew the most extensive testimony and debate, with counties, tourism groups, and local officials warning about impacts on tourism funding, infrastructure, schools, and public safety, while supporters argued for taxpayer accountability and periodic review. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably on a 13-4 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• represents again the end of the fiscal represents again the end of the fiscal year<00:04:38.320>
• <00:26:52.000> year our funds uh for the fiscal year our funds uh for the fiscal year exceeded
• And you know a fiscal year 24 to 25.
• Fiscal year 2024 was $300 million.
• Fiscal year 2024 was $300 million.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with a quorum call, the Pledge of Allegiance, a prayer, and approval of the prior meeting minutes. The first presentation was from Bo Craycraft of the Judicial Form Retirement System, who gave an update on investment performance, asset allocation, cash flow, and projected employer costs. He reported strong fiscal year 2025 investment results, with both the legislative and judicial retirement plans outperforming their actuarial assumed rates of return and benchmarks, driven largely by U.S. equity performance. He also noted the plans remained near their target asset allocation and continued to experience negative cash flow, though he said that was manageable in context of strong asset growth. Craycraft then discussed a recent experience study and actuarial assumption changes, especially a revised salary growth assumption and a higher cash balance interest credit rate. He said these changes increased projected employer costs, with contributions rising from about $700,000 to a projected $2 million in later years, though he expected the eventual 2025 valuation and investment gains to reduce that estimate. Members asked about mortality assumptions, the impact of the experience study on liabilities, and the sharp increase in the judicial plan’s projected employer cost. Craycraft explained that the increase was driven mainly by the updated assumptions and that no other major plan changes were involved. At the chair’s request, Craycraft also addressed the recent rise in Medicare Advantage premiums for the plan’s health coverage, saying the 2025 increase was largely tied to Part D changes and the Inflation Reduction Act and had been about 45%, but that future growth was expected to be under 5%. After his presentation, the committee moved to the Kentucky Public Pensions Authority update, where the next speaker began by saying the funds had exceeded actuarial assumed returns for the fiscal year.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the nonpartisan fiscal analyst covering this committee.
• have the fiscal components requested I have the fiscal components in<01:20:11.360> front<01:20
• <01:28:01.360> we<01:28:01.480> had was fiscal 23 for fiscal 24 we had was fiscal 23
• that it comes back here when the fiscal that it comes back here when the fiscal note<01:47:00.080
• to have that deeper dive once the fiscal to have that deeper dive once the fiscal note<01:47:04.400

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So last fiscal year for H-DAP, counties spent $83 million.
• And then in the coming fiscal year, in this current fiscal year, they're projected,... to allow both
• So last fiscal year for H-TOP, counties spent $83 million.
• And then in the coming fiscal year, in this current fiscal year, they're projected, Their project in
• For HSP, similarly looking at spending trends, the program last year, in the last fiscal year, in fiscal

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing focused on the impacts of federal HR1 on CalFresh and Medi-Cal, along with related state mitigation efforts. CDSS, DHCS, DDS, county representatives, LAO, and Finance discussed automatic exemptions, data-sharing between departments, county workload, and the timing of implementation. CDSS said about two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 64 are already known to be exempt in CalFresh, and that administrative data matches could newly exempt about 200,000 of the roughly 955,000 adults potentially at risk. DHCS said Medi-Cal work requirements would begin in 2027 and the department is working to automate exemptions, including for IHSS recipients and some caregivers, while DDS said its population is expected to be covered by auto-exemptions. County welfare directors emphasized that individualized worker contact is critical, that counties need more staffing and stable funding, and that without it they expect delays, higher error rates, and reduced exemption screening capacity. Members pressed for written timelines, county-by-county impact data, and clearer guidance; the administration said it would provide follow-up materials and technical assistance. No votes were taken. The committee then heard a separate discussion on a proposed CFAP expansion or “CFAP Plus” concept to provide state-funded benefits to additional populations affected by HR1, including lawfully present non-citizens and ABODs. CDSS said implementation could not occur before October 1, 2027 because of policy and system-design constraints, and that adding unique eligibility rules would increase complexity and cost. Finance cautioned that any expansion would have General Fund impacts likely in the hundreds of millions to multiple billions. Members asked for cost estimates and technical feedback on trailer bill language, and CDSS said it would review the proposal and respond. The hearing also covered CDSS’s CalFresh strategic plan and mandated reporter training updates. CDSS said it is hiring a strategic plan lead to develop a long-term, data-informed CalFresh plan, and that the revised mandated reporter training is on track for launch in fall/winter 2026, ahead of the July 1, 2027 statutory deadline. The training will include updated content on structural racism, ICWA protections, implicit bias, and the distinction between reporting and supporting families. Members praised the work and asked for continued updates. Later panels focused on Promise Neighborhoods, Stop the Hate, and housing programs. Promise Neighborhood advocates and CDSS described the state’s prior $12 million investment, a positive evaluation showing roughly a 4-to-1 return, and a new proposal to support place-based partnerships and community schools through AB 1969. Stop the Hate grantees and CDSS reported that the program has provided direct services, prevention, and statewide coordination to millions of Californians, and urged reauthorization before funding expires; members asked for best-practice language and discussed focusing future funding on solidarity work, harm reduction, legal services, and education. Finally, CDSS presented on the CalWORKs Housing Support Program and Housing and Disability Advocacy Program, saying proposed General Fund investments of $105 million and $55 million would prevent funding cliffs and allow the programs to continue through 2026-27, while the absence of new funding would force reductions in housing assistance, subsidies, and enrollments.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we find ourselves in a tough fiscal situation.
• because it's not a noble project, but because, looking at our impending budget deficit, we have a fiscal
• Let's be fiscally responsible given the situation we find ourselves in now.
• find ourselves in a tough fiscal find ourselves in a tough fiscal situation<00:02:41.200> as<
• <00:04:45.919> responsible the bill let's be fiscally responsible the bill let's be fiscally

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the 13.7 million related to fiscal the 13.7 million related to fiscal capacity<00:23:35.840>
• The fiscal note is the as-introduced version of the bill; this bill was amended, so the fiscal note is
• bill was amended so the fiscal note is bill was amended so the fiscal note is dated<01:12:20.360>
• to F them later they can come to fiscal to F them later they can come to fiscal the<01:34:29.000
• > the<01:34:30.080> circumstances the fiscal can look at the circumstances the fiscal can

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up HB 713, which would require mile markers on Route 112, the Kancamagus Highway. The sponsor and DOT testimony described the road as a heavily traveled but isolated corridor with little or no cell or radio service, frequent accidents and breakdowns, and serious public-safety problems when emergency responders cannot quickly locate incidents. Members discussed where markers should be placed, how frequently they should appear, whether both sides of the road should be marked, and the potential cost; DOT said the project could be done with federal funds and might be combined with other work to reduce mobilization costs. The committee agreed the bill was straightforward and voted OTP 18-0, with discussion that a friendly amendment might be offered later to refine the language. The committee then heard HB 563, concerning calculation of adequate education grants. Testimony explained that the bill would add fiscal capacity disparity aid in FY 27 and increase the special education differentiated aid factor, while also reducing extraordinary needs grants so the overall fiscal impact would be net neutral. Members noted the changes were limited to the second year because of the budget process and school district ballot timing. Supporters argued the fiscal capacity aid would help property-poor towns and should be expanded, while others emphasized the bill’s budget-neutral structure. The committee voted to retain HB 563 for further consideration in the budget process. Finally, the committee opened HB 675, which would limit the authority of school districts to make certain appropriations. A Derry resident and former local official testified in favor, arguing that property taxes are too high, that school spending has outpaced town-side tax caps, and that local voters should have more control over school budgets. Committee members questioned whether the issue should instead be handled locally through existing processes or broader governance changes, and one member noted the state’s constitutional obligation to provide an adequate education. The discussion continued, but no final action on HB 675 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So a $250,000 each fiscal year.
• Here's the corresponding savings of $150,000 each fiscal year.
• savings of the $150,000 each fiscal savings of the $150,000 each fiscal year.<00:26:51.200> On
• But I think the interesting thing is there was no fiscal note with that.
• They just was no fiscal note with that.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a low of actually... the first year is fiscal year 23. So the first year is fiscal year 23.
• the fiscal capacity disparity aid bump. the fiscal capacity disparity aid bump.
• and that's what enabled us to put fiscal and that's what enabled us to put fiscal capacity<04:41
• the right side was based on fiscal the right side was based on fiscal capacity<04:56:54.480>
• That is the heart of fiscal<04:58:12.080> capacity. fiscal capacity. fiscal capacity.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, last year, fiscal has increased.
• Um we do not have in fiscal year 2027.
• I believe have in uh fiscal year 27.
• um which is noted in the fiscal note. um which is noted in the fiscal note.
• Um so, let me ask, do we fiscal note.

Bills: HF4362, HF4252, HF4440

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun rights, gun control, campus safety, public college, university, postsecondary institution, higher education, visitor carry, concealed carry, open carry, campus policy, Minnesota Statutes 624.714, petty misdemeanor, parking lot carry, firearm possession, public safety, college campus, student carry

Transcript Highlights:

• This section was added by the General Assembly in fiscal year 2018.
• Again, this includes a core reduction from the previous fiscal year.
• of the fiscal year.
• year or next fiscal year unless things change.
• This is the same that we had in fiscal year 26.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:08:32.159> year Um, and that is for federal fiscal year Um, and that is for federal fiscal
• We will not get our federal fiscal 24.
• The following fiscal year, because it's a full federal fiscal year, will be just under $16 million of
• 09:35.040> it's<01:09:35.359> a following fiscal year, because it's a following fiscal
• > the<04:36:04.561> bill fiscal note on the bill fiscal note on the bill on<04:36:06.879

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting covered two committee of conference items. On HB 1260, the House and Senate debated a Senate amendment dealing with sealing certain divorce-related financial records. House members argued the amendment conflicted with the Keane Sentinel decision and would improperly flip the burden of proof on public access to court records, raising constitutional concerns under the state constitution’s open government and privacy provisions. Senate members responded that the privacy amendment and modern conditions support more protection for sensitive financial information, especially in limited uncontested divorces, but several members agreed the issue should be studied in a separate bill with a full hearing next year rather than resolved in conference. The committee ultimately voted unanimously to have the Senate recede and pass HB 1260 in the form originally passed by the House, preserving the underlying bill without the Senate amendment. The committee then took up HB 1574, which extends free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs and provides funding for SNAP administrative costs. The main dispute was the Senate’s addition of $4.4 million for SNAP administration. Senator Gray and DHHS officials said federal changes will shift more administrative costs to the state and that underfunding administration could raise the SNAP error rate, which could trigger future federal penalties and larger state costs; DHHS reported a current error rate of 7.57%, below the national average, and said a higher error rate could cost the state roughly $12 million in a partial fiscal year and nearly $16 million in a full year. Representative Papovich said he understood the department’s needs but was reluctant to support the bill as amended, noting the Senate language resembled a prior bill that had already failed in the House. The discussion ended with the committee still considering the Senate amendment, with members weighing the immediate appropriation against possible future costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the current fiscal year?
• The other somewhat complicating factor is the World Cup is over two of our fiscal years.
• What is the per offender per day food cost compared to the last fiscal year?
• That will be coming in this fiscal year. Correct me if any of this is wrong.
• That will be coming in this fiscal year.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In fiscal year 24, we've served over 30,000 people with that funding.
• Over 20,000 people in fiscal year 24.
• housing over 20,000 people in fiscal housing over 20,000 people in fiscal year year year 24<00:07
• Thank you, Director Bailey. fiscal cliffs um that are caused by fiscal cliffs um that are caused by either
• <00:59:58.079> year Cliff coming up in the next fiscal year Cliff coming up in the next fiscal

Keywords: 1183, house