Transcript Highlights:

• Um, meanwhile, the attorney generals.
• don't flow through the state general don't flow through the state general fund,<01:18:33.120>
• The the total of the general fund.
• <01:19:18.880> Not 2/3 of what the general fund is. Not 2/3 of what the general fund is.
• actually part of the general fund? actually part of the general fund?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• regard to unrestricted local aid, this budget includes the promise of a commission to study the distribution
• This debt crippled Haiti's economy for generations.
• today, it shall meet again tomorrow at 10 a.m., and the only item to be on the calendar shall be a general
• The only matter before us will be the general appropriations bill.
• The only matter before us will be the general appropriations bill.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up debate on the FY2026 general appropriations bill, with several members speaking in support of the Ways and Means budget. Senators Comerford, O’Connor, Feeney, and DiDomenico emphasized the budget as a values-driven response to federal uncertainty, highlighting investments in MassHealth, education, housing, food security, local aid, libraries, transit, mental and behavioral health, and support for vulnerable residents. They also praised the budget’s lack of new taxes and its focus on spending within available revenues, while noting major cost pressures from health care and federal policy instability. Specific programs and items repeatedly cited included universal free community college, expanded financial aid, rural and minimum school aid, TAFDC/EAEDC increases, the Healthy Incentives Program, universal school meals, housing supports, Home and Healthy for Good, and funding for Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital. Speakers framed these investments as both fiscally responsible and morally necessary, and several noted that amendments would be considered during the debate. No votes on the budget itself were taken in the excerpt. After the budget remarks, Senator Miranda spoke in recognition of Haitian Flag Day and the history of Haiti, including foreign interference and the importance of protecting Haitian immigrants in Massachusetts. Another senator then honored Malcolm X on the 100th anniversary of his birth, connecting his legacy to the budget process and calling for investments in equity, education, housing, and health care. The Senate then adopted an order to meet the next day at 10 a.m. with the general appropriations bill as the only item on the calendar, and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It creates a simple low-cost standard requiring high schools to distribute voter registration materials
• Where civic infrastructure is weak, and often these students don't have the generational knowledge to
• So great to see the future generation who's going to solve all these problems that we can't seem to solve
• California's general election ballots are lengthy, particularly in— in gubernatorial elections when judicial
• identified concerns about the broad nature of those rules discourage public officials from making general

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:06:40.000> given<00:06:40.240> to Um, I am given to understand that some of the general
• So that's where we're at in terms of, you know, I thought I would just share generally my principles,
• This committee deals with other revenue, other funds that are outside of the general fund conversation
• But for the most part, we have the highway user tax distribution fund, the state airports fund, and the
• quite see the kinds of impacts that we see from those kinds of things that are supported through the general

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We created a better government that distributed the goods to Minnesota, be it health care, education,
• Line 220 is the change to the general fund total for the whole bill in 2026.
• Line 222 is the change to the general fund number in 2026 to the central office.
• Losing that actually changes the total amount of general fund money in the bill. Thank you, Mr.
• Many of my committees I have often frankly complained about, but really, generally, I have not in this

Bills: HF2436, HF2929

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, HF2929, SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, food assistance, nutrition assistance, public benefits, eligibility determination, income eligibility, federal poverty guidelines, poverty level, county agency, Tribal agency, human services, children and families, benefits administration

Transcript Highlights:

• Generally then, Senate Bill 72 would align the business code to extend the length of a rental agreement
• Combined these funds had balances of $25 billion at the end of 2024 and generated more than $1.1 billion
• The trust company also manages the Texas Treasury pool account, which averages $79 billion generated
• How you, where you carry it, where you put it on the mattress, um, um, and then financial assets in general
• , how we manage assets but financial assets in general, uh, two, two-factor authentication and how digital

Bills: SB 21, SB 72, SB 140, SB 262, SB 370, SB 372, SB 495, SB 627, SB 703, SB 764, SB 842

Keywords: cryptocurrency, bitcoin, investment reserve, economic resilience, financial security, vehicle rental, damage waiver, consumer rights, business regulations, refund policy, telephone solicitation, telemarketing, text message marketing, SMS marketing, robotext, spam text, consumer protection, deceptive trade practices, DTPA, Business & Commerce Code

Transcript Highlights:

• In another generation, these younger people would have been able to afford a studio or one bedroom, but
• I'm a third-generation member of the Altadena community. I'm a survivor.
• I do generally support the idea of keeping kids with their parents, if we can.
• And the rest of the Latino community is distributed through the city of Santa Monica.
• , and it's distributed throughout the entire city.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with the most detailed discussion focused on AB 316, AB 251, AB 474, AB 1201, AB 464, and AB 614. AB 316 would prevent AI developers or deployers from arguing in civil cases that an AI system’s alleged autonomy absolves them of responsibility. Supporters framed it as a narrow guardrail to protect families, especially children, from harms like dangerous chatbots and deepfakes; opponents, including TechNet and the Chamber of Progress, raised concerns about possible strict-liability implications. The bill was moved out of committee to Privacy and Consumer Protection. AB 251 would let judges lower the burden of proof in elder abuse cases when a skilled nursing facility or RCFE intentionally destroys evidence. Supporters said the measure is needed because elder abuse victims are often unable to testify and records are vulnerable to spoliation, while opponents argued existing sanctions are sufficient and warned of more litigation. The bill passed, with committee members emphasizing the vulnerability of elder abuse victims. AB 474 sought to expand nonprofit home-sharing programs, including tax incentives for low-income homeowners and changes to housing law and lodger rules. Supporters said it would help older adults and low-income Californians avoid homelessness, but several members and the California Apartment Association raised concerns about removing lodger-law protections for homeowners; the author committed to keep working on the issue. The bill passed to Human Services. AB 1201 would give courts discretion to provide family reunification services to parents with certain violent felony convictions, rather than applying an automatic bypass. Supporters from Starting Over Inc. described personal experiences with permanent family separation and argued the bill would give parents a fair chance when the conviction is unrelated to child safety. Some members supported the measure but questioned whether domestic violence histories should be treated differently; the author said the bill still allows courts to deny services when reunification would endanger a child. The bill passed to Human Services. AB 464 addressed sexual abuse and retaliation in state prisons by extending reporting time after release, adding 90-day monitoring after reports, barring rehiring of confirmed abusers, and strengthening reporting and anti-retaliation rules. Survivors testified about abuse, retaliation, and failures in CDCR’s response; the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 614 would standardize the Government Claims Act filing deadline at one year for all claims. The author and supporters argued the current six-month deadline for injury and wrongful death claims is too short for victims to learn the process, find counsel, and gather evidence, while businesses often get a full year. A civil rights attorney and a family member of a deceased jail detainee testified in support, describing how the current deadline can block meritorious claims. The bill was presented for committee consideration as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 4123 and 4616 are a step forward in generating meaningful revenue needed to support state
• ,<00:24:41.040> and<00:24:41.200> support vaccine distribution, and support vaccine
• distribution, and support healthcare<00:24:41.960> workers<00:24:42.360> in<00:24:42.520
• A growing base of residents across Minnesota who choose to live, work, and invest here generates ongoing
• A growing base of residents across Minnesota who choose to live, work, and invest here generates ongoing

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard presentations on two tax bills: House File 4123, by Representative Agbaje, would expand Minnesota’s net investment income tax to include certain business income, especially income from S corporations and LLCs not subject to federal self-employment taxes, while keeping the current rate and million-dollar threshold; she said it would raise an estimated $88.7 million next year. House File 4616, by Chair Gomez, would impose a 1% annual tax on fortunes above $10 million. Gomez framed the bill as a response to growing wealth inequality and argued that wealthy households and large fortunes should contribute more to public services, while Agbaje said her bill would broaden the tax base and help meet state needs. Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project, Erica Mominee of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, Lauren Richards, and teacher Kristen Sinicariello, said the bills would help address wealth and income inequality and provide needed revenue for public health, education, and other public services. They pointed to federal tax cuts for high-income households, cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, and strains on state agencies and schools. Richards said small businesses already pay more than large corporations like Amazon, and Sinicariello argued that higher revenue would support classrooms and help equalize opportunity. Opponents, including Brian Cook of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Dalton Danielson of the Minnesota Business Partnership, and John Beschi of NFIB Minnesota, warned that both bills would hurt business competitiveness and investment. They argued that HF 4123 would effectively create a new higher tax tier for pass-through businesses and that HF 4616 would be difficult to administer, could force sales of illiquid assets, and could discourage entrepreneurship and capital investment. No votes or final committee action were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee moved through bill presentations and public testimony before member discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:55.040> is know civics's engagement in general is know civics's engagement in general
• <00:35:08.160> election need more people in a general election need more people in a general
• First up, we have Attorney General on Zoom. Yung Min Lee, Deputy Attorney General, not present.
• there to um pay for the general there to um pay for the general election.<01:10:12.239> That's
• starting the day after um the general starting the day after um the general election. election.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1525, which would appropriate funds to counties to open more voter service centers for in-person voting, provide money to the Office of Elections to print and mail the voter information guide to all registered voters, and support a public outreach campaign to increase voter participation. The Office of Elections supported the bill and estimated costs of a little over $2 million to print and mail the guide and about $178,000 for outreach, noting it spent about $441,000 on election advertising in 2024. Testimony from advocacy groups including Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Common Cause Hawaii, and Indivisible Hawaii strongly supported the measure, emphasizing access for neighbor island voters, people with disabilities, new voters, and voters who need ballot assistance. County election officials from Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai provided comments or testimony that were more cautious. They said additional funding would be welcome, but staffing and logistics remain major constraints, especially for election-day service centers. Honolulu’s city clerk said funding alone would not necessarily solve long lines, while Maui’s county clerk explained that voter service centers require trained seasonal employees, extensive training, and the ability to handle many ballot styles. Maui also described its current pop-up sites, including Hana, as expensive but necessary for remote communities, and said the county is already running at bare minimum staffing. Members asked questions about who decides how many service centers are opened, how staffing is handled, and whether there is a middle-ground model between the old precinct polling places and the current voter service center system. Honolulu explained that county clerks make those decisions under current law and that the county has tried pop-up sites in addition to its main centers. The discussion also noted that in 2024 most voters used vote by mail, while a smaller number used early in-person voting or final-day service centers. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our general business manager, but she is very active in making sure that this issue doesn't happen
• So in previous years, we've had an end-of-year general meeting where we talk about end-of-year business
• superintendent, Because educators, I'm a second-generation superintendent, second-generation teacher
• And the finding was the money goes back into the general fund. Is that correct? That is correct.
• Thank you. ...money goes back into the general fund. Is that correct?

Summary: The committee met to review education audit reports and heard responses from several school districts with findings. Camden Fairview School District was cited for using operating funds for an end-of-year employee awards banquet and for unauthorized credit card charges that caused a small loss; district officials said the current administration had strengthened controls, stopped the banquet practice, and improved monthly credit card reconciliation. Members questioned whether the prior officials were still employed, whether the credit card issue was an outside hack, and how teacher appreciation could continue without using district funds. Forest City School District was cited for spending about $33,000 on an off-campus staff celebration and entertainment event; district representatives said the money came from long-standing Pepsi-related donation funds, that the event was intended to recognize staff and growth, and that they would change practices and receive training going forward. Members discussed whether those funds were private donations or operational funds, and staff said the district’s accounting treatment made them subject to the constitutional restriction at issue. The committee also reviewed several other findings. Conway School District was referred for an ongoing investigative report involving misuse of district funds and resources by former maintenance employees. Magnolia School District had undeposited activity funds totaling more than $21,000, tied to a resigned high school secretary and sponsor receipts not deposited. Westside School District had about $30,000 in credit card charges lacking documentation or business purpose, including charges by the superintendent, personal purchases, and items shipped to personal addresses; the matter was referred to the prosecuting attorney. Boonville School District was cited for paying a board member’s son more than the statutory limit for seasonal groundskeeping without the required exemption, and DESE later denied the exemption request. After discussing those cases, the committee filed the remaining eight findings en masse and then filed the 89 reports with no findings. Members noted that most school districts audited had clean reports and encouraged districts to continue good practices while learning from the findings discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• She was eventually located 85 miles away in a distribution center in North Carolina.
• Nominations are now in order for judges of the general district court.
• House Resolution number 484, nominating persons to be elected to general district court judgeships.
• Those in favor of the nominees for judges of the general district courts as noted in House Resolution
• 484 for Of the nominees for judges of the general district courts, as noted in House Resolution 484,

Keywords: March 13, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That amendment allows future changes in the exemption to be made in general law by act of the Legislature
• is a supplemental appropriation that appropriates $11,645,266 from the unappropriated balance of general
• any questions. ...appropriation that appropriates $11,645,266 from the unappropriated balance of general
• to the unappropriated balance of general revenue.
• Senate Originating Bill 5 is a supplemental appropriation that appropriates $4,025,000 from the general

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from the prior meeting. It then reconsidered Committee Substitute for House Bill 5212, noting that an Education Committee amendment had been inadvertently omitted the day before; the vice chairman withdrew the prior motion to report the bill, and the committee returned to the bill with the technical Education Committee amendments pending. The transcript then moved through a long agenda of bills and supplemental appropriations, with the committee generally hearing brief explanations from counsel, occasional member questions, and then voting to adopt amendments and report measures to the full Senate. Among the substantive policy bills, the committee advanced House Bill 4007 on the Industrial Access Road Fund, allowing an additional possible $3 million transfer in a fiscal year, expanding eligible uses, and increasing county/municipal spending limits; House Bill 4765, which raises salaries for state police, teachers, and school service personnel and, via a strike-and-insert amendment, creates a market pay enhancement tied to county and regional income data; House Bill 5162, recodifying tax lien sale procedures and clarifying ownership and government-property tax treatment; House Bill 5382, extending the Neighborhood Investment Tax Credit Program to July 1, 2031; House Bill 5685, authorizing up to $150 million in revenue bonds backed by excess lottery funds for State Culture Center improvements; House Joint Resolution 42, placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot to raise the homestead exemption from $20,000 to $40,000; House Bill 4010, creating an airport hangar grant program and fund; House Bill 4404, increasing from $500 to $5,000 the amount volunteer fire departments may spend on training and fire prevention materials; House Bill 4592, requiring standardized campus safety mapping data for higher education institutions; House Bill 4784, extending and making retroactive a qualified opportunity zone business tax modification; and House Bill 5088, increasing retirement benefits for Division of Natural Resources police officers, with a one-time $4.25 million cash injection. The committee also reported several supplemental appropriations and originating bills, including Senate Bill 842 for the Spay Neuter Assistance Fund, Senate Bill 846 for Culture and History capital repairs, Senate Bill 872 for Natural Resources capital repairs (reduced to $10 million in committee substitute), Senate Bill 876 for Department of Health facilities, Senate Originating Bills 1 through 5 covering Culture and History, road funds, corrections IT and services, tobacco education, and the Adjutant General’s armory board transfer, respectively. Most items were adopted by voice vote; House Bill 4765’s strike-and-insert amendment was adopted after a division vote of 10-6. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The agency is mandated to generate 9.6 million dollars.
• The agency generates in excess of $10 million a year for the state.
• His response is generally, Microsoft doesn't care.
• As far as the general street.
• In my day job, I'm a general. I'm a general contractor.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It has been distributed, and I move for a... ...ending in 0.02H.
• It has been distributed, and I move for its adoption. I will speak on it.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that the stuff is going to be generating that the stuff is going to be generating continually<00
• the the um maps are being distributed the the um maps are being<01:13:42.239> distributed<01:
• that New Hampshire has ever generated that New Hampshire has ever generated<01:38:52.880> so<
• or tourism in general, etc.
• > Etc<02:17:41.840> so<02:17:42.519> uh general or tourism in general Etc so uh

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Solid Waste Subcommittee met to discuss proposed amendments to HB 171 and HB 215. For HB 171, Representative Gerna outlined technical changes to a landfill moratorium bill: DES would be allowed to accept applications only to review them for completeness, a notwithstanding clause would override automatic approval timing rules, the word “fully” would be removed, and an unnecessary reference to perennial water bodies would be deleted. Members raised concern about whether applications deemed complete during the moratorium would still have to comply with later changes in law or rule. Director Mike Whap of DES said applicants would likely need to amend applications if policy changes occurred, and suggested the bill could explicitly state that later changes apply to pending applications. The subcommittee generally supported the revised language and agreed the amended bill could go directly to executive session, though one member said the underlying legislation was ill-advised but preferred the amended version over the original. The committee then turned to HB 215, which would create a two-stage landfill siting review centered on a “net public benefit” determination before full technical review. Representative Gerna explained that the amendment would define net public benefit, require an independent third-party assessment paid for by the applicant, and set up a process for selecting the contractor from a list submitted by the applicant, with DES and the host community involved and the commissioner choosing if no agreement is reached within 60 days. Members asked how “host community” would be defined; DES said it would generally mean the municipal governing body, though that body could appoint others. The amendment also broadened the factors considered in both harms and benefits, including human health, property values, tourism, recreation, wildlife, local economic benefits, and infrastructure improvements. The discussion also added a provision directing DES to consult with the Department of Transportation, the Department of Business and Economic Affairs, and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources as needed when reviewing the third-party assessment. Director Whap said interdepartmental consultation is normal and that DES would likely adopt rules to guide the process. Members questioned whether the new framework would be too vague or burdensome for applicants, but Whap said it would not be designed to stack the deck against applicants and that the process should provide clearer, more balanced criteria. No votes were taken during the meeting, and the subcommittee appeared to continue refining the amendment language before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• In general, though, when...
• First, a little bit of generalities.
• And so that goes into your general fund.
• You know, I do like the idea of finding a way to, with the general worksheet, the general special ed
• So do I know how they generated that?

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then received a lengthy DPI presentation from Stanley Schauer on statewide reading and math assessment data for students with and without disabilities. He explained the assessment systems used over time, the absence of 2019-20 data, and how North Dakota’s standards are set by educators. Members asked about alternate assessments, cohort trends, the apparent drop in proficiency in higher grades, and the new NDA+ assessment. Schauer emphasized that the biggest pattern in the data was the relative stability of students with disabilities, the post-pandemic drop and partial recovery, and the need to focus on reducing the novice category. He also said the state plans to revisit high school standard setting and that future data could be broken out by program, disability category, and schools using science-of-math or other initiatives. Public testimony from special education staff suggested that the flat performance of students with disabilities during COVID likely reflected continued services and intensive supports, and committee members discussed whether the current disparity goal is realistic and whether growth measures would be more useful than simple proficiency buckets. After the presentation, the committee took a short break and then moved into discussion of special education funding models. Chair Richter said members should contact Schauer directly with ideas for additional data views and noted that the committee would continue its work on funding and possible model changes. Brandon Bomback of Grand Forks Public Schools began a presentation arguing that the special education funding formula, especially the weighting factor, should be reconsidered if the committee wants a system that better reflects accountability and student needs. He said his comments were based on the perspective of a larger district and focused on the special education weighting factor rather than other parts of the formula. The remainder of his presentation was not included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• No communication with the general council and then ramrodding it through general and not listening to
• No communication with the general council and then ramrodding it through general and not listening to
• No communication with the general council and then ramrodding it through general and not listening to
• No communication with the general council and then ramrodding it through general and not listening to
• <02:28:29.280> counsel general counsel general counsel general<02:28:31.200> counsel<02

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, there is clear evidence of harm to children generally.
• What age groups or classes of kids did you generally teach in your 30 years of experience?
• <01:42:24.639> given lawmakers you all have generously given lawmakers you all have generously
• are uh classes of kids did you generally are uh classes of kids did you generally teach<01:44:32.360
• yes yes I would think that in general yes yes I would think that in general having<01:54:11.040>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you say $10 million state general fund?
• So that's $10 million above... ...in state general fund.
• Their generic use is between 80 and 90 percent.
• Right now, Arizona’s generic use rate is 89.42 percent.”
• And I agree in general with this thing.

Bills: SB1052, SB1115, SB1118, SB1120, SB1121, SB1124, SB1171, SB1172, SB1174, SB1175, SB1214, SB1233, SB1235, SB1316, SB1345, SB1372, SB1399, SB1458, SB1494, SB1496, SB1564, SB1602, SB1621, SB1628, SB1630, SB1631, SB1668, SB1672, SB1814, SB1821

Keywords: assisted living, health care, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, physician orders, informed consent, AHCCCS, remote work, state agency, employment, public health, housing, zoning, middle housing, urban development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, historic preservation, radiation protection

Transcript Highlights:

• We have our general business manager, but... ...but she is very active in making sure that this issue
• So in previous years, we've had an end-of-year general meeting where we talk about end-of-year business
• superintendent, ...because educators, I'm a second-generation superintendent, second-generation teacher
• And the finding was the money goes back into the general fund. Is that correct?
• The next report was referred to the prosecuting attorney and attorney general, and it was for Boonville

Keywords: 1204, all