Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to call to order the assembly's budget subcommittee on number six.
• act and $10 million from the 19-20 budget act.
• Principal Program Budget Analysis, Department of Finance, Kathy McCloud, Finance Budget Analyst, Department
• change proposal which is in line is a line item in the governor's proposed budget.
• I do have a couple questions just to flesh out the this year's budget proposal.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, as this body knows, within our budget, we had requested two additional positions.
• So, that's the budget side of it.
• </c> So, that that's the budget side of it. So, that that's the budget side of it.
• What are we baking into the budget with this? Representative, we have that actually online.
• </c> baking into the budget with this? baking into the budget with this?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:07.920><c> for</c> we already have money in the budget for we already have money in the budget
• The budget, uh, my recollection is around five or 600,000.
• So it's not a big budget as far as the expenditure.
• The budget uh little slow getting going.
• So it's not a big big budget uh 600,000.

Bills: HB178, HB124, HB96, HB250, SB289, SB317, HB359, HB178, HB124, HB96, HB250, SB289, SB317, HB359

Keywords: HB178, Ten Commandments, public schools, K-12 education, Alabama, school display, religious display, Bible, Judeo-Christian, Establishment Clause, church-state separation, religion in schools, founding documents, Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, Northwest Ordinance, social studies, civics, history curriculum

Transcript Highlights:

• The executive FY 26 budget request was $28 million in general fund to sustain provider rate increases
• Um, we received funding in our FY 26 budget to offer people waiver services as they apply.
• Just want to know that our budget, our overall budget is much higher.
• We are working, um, and making sure that we are budgeting properly for that.
• The governor's budget didn't reflect the fact that they were upside down that far.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requires the SAU budget to be a separate warrant article.
• </c> bill, they don't have a lobbying budget bill, they don't have a lobbying budget like<00:54:44.800
• budgets and funding unrelated<01:09:36.719><c> expenditures.
• Hampshire's bienium budget went into Hampshire's bienium budget went into effect. effect. effect.
• back of the budget cut they already<01:35:38.560><c> have.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their budget.
• >> Representative Burton. to even in this budget um not give them to even in this budget um not give
• And so, uh, whether we have a program budget or a budget is built upon the dollar, um, we have to find
• And so, uh, whether we have a program budget or a budget is built upon the dollar, um, we have to find
• I'm not anywhere the budget it's in.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> can provide you with a budget. can provide you with a budget.
• </c> priorities in the executive budget. priorities in the executive budget.
• </c> the budget. Long overdue, much needed. the budget. Long overdue, much needed.
• </c> at the executive budget very closely. at the executive budget very closely.
• </c> um budget um budget number<01:35:57.120><c> so</c><01:35:57.280><c> that</c><01:35:57.600><c> we

Bills: HB1518, HB1699, HB1747, HB1705, HB1565, HB1801, HB1645, HB2115, HB2114

Keywords: HB1518, Hawaii SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, food stamps, Department of Human Services, DHS, pre-release SNAP, pre-release application process, incarcerated individuals, prisoner reentry, reentry services, formerly incarcerated, jail release, prison release, recidivism, food security, benefits eligibility, controlled substance felony, drug felony, drug conviction

Summary: The committee opened its first meeting of the 2020 session and heard testimony on several measures, beginning with HB 1518, which would allow people incarcerated and nearing release to apply for SNAP benefits before release. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Human Services said they support the bill and are already piloting a pre-release application process at two facilities, with plans to expand it. The Attorney General’s Office supported the intent but noted a technical issue: one section of the bill appears to affect TANF as well as SNAP, while the title refers only to SNAP. A wide range of advocates, including Catholic Charities, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Hunger Action Network, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, ACLU of Hawaii, and others, testified in strong support, emphasizing food insecurity after release, reentry stability, and reduced recidivism. The committee did not take a vote during the hearing. The committee then heard HB 1747, which would direct the Department of Human Services to seek federal waivers or extensions related to restricting certain SNAP purchases, including sugary drinks. DHS said it had already been approved for a narrow demonstration waiver and was working with retailers on implementation, with a target date of August 1. Supporters of the measure argued it would promote healthier choices, while opponents, including Hawaii Appleseed, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, said such restrictions are ineffective, stigmatize low-income residents, create burdens for retailers and DHS, and may be difficult to implement. Members asked DHS to clarify the scope of the waiver and confirmed it applies to sugary drinks and beverages containing more than 10 grams of sugar. Finally, the committee took up HB 1705, which would allow licensed mental health counselors to serve as child custody evaluators, but there was no testimony from the relevant agencies and the item was quickly set aside. The committee also heard HB 1565, which would establish a judiciary working group to improve family court processes and legal representation for youth in the child welfare system. The Attorney General’s Office offered minor technical amendments, and supporters from the Office of Wellness and Resilience, High Hopes Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and a social work student described the need for legal representation, citing better reunification and stability outcomes and the importance of youth voice in court proceedings. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> particularly this important budget particularly this important budget subcommittee<00:01:31.040>
• Nothing I say is budget for prosecutors.
• In the end, it parts of the budget bill.
• </c> How would you manage the budget How would you manage the budget differently?
• And I'm just thinking about all of that you presented and how a budget and budget line items are really

Keywords: 0:00:04 Call to Order 0:00:50 Dept for Public Advocacy 0:51:31 Life Learning Center 1:21:06 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Justice and Judiciary heard testimony from the Department of Public Advocacy (DPA) on attorney compensation and alternatives to incarceration. Because the committee lacked a quorum, the chair skipped formal roll call and minutes approval, then invited DPA Public Advocate Damon Preston, Deputy Public Advocate Melanie Lowe, and alternative sentencing worker Cena/Tina Mills to present. Preston said DPA is fully state-funded, has 698 funded positions, and was near full staffing with 673 filled positions and 42 new law graduates expected to join in August. He argued that DPA’s resources lag behind those of prosecutors, noting that local prosecutorial offices receive substantially more total funding and have additional revenue sources beyond the state budget. Preston focused on salary disparities and turnover. He said DPA trial-office attorneys total about $26 million in salaries, compared with about $41.9 million for prosecutors on publicly listed state funding, and estimated that more than 100 additional prosecutors are paid through other sources, bringing total prosecutor compensation to a little over $50 million versus DPA’s $26 million. He said starting DPA attorney pay is $58,200, experienced attorney pay averages about $73,000, and that these levels are too low given law school debt and the state’s constitutional obligation to provide defense counsel. He also said DPA attorney turnover is about 20%, median service time before separation was 15 months in 2024, and exit interviews often cite salary as the main reason for leaving. He gave examples of former DPA attorneys moving to prosecutor offices for raises ranging from 12% to 50%. Committee members asked about how often defendants are represented by private counsel versus DPA and how that affects workload. Preston said a 2017 study found about 50% of misdemeanor cases and about 75% of circuit court cases were handled by DPA, with DPA handling most of the most labor-intensive cases. He said DPA will step aside when a defendant hires private counsel or is found ineligible, and he acknowledged the system historically erred by denying counsel in some cases, though he said the current concern is whether DPA is now appointed too broadly. Members requested updated trend data on appointments over the past decade. Preston also described DPA’s pay scale and said the agency’s compensation structure makes retention difficult. Mills then described DPA’s alternative sentencing worker program, which she said has operated for about 20 years and has received national recognition. She shared a case example involving a client named Patrick, who faced a prison sentence on a possession charge and was referred to a horse-based treatment and certification program in Shelbyville. She said the client wanted treatment and a fresh start, a bed became available, and she and the client’s attorney presented an alternative sentencing plan to the court. The presentation was interrupted briefly by a technical issue, but the testimony continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, this is the largest part of our state budget.
• She said every committee has a budget, and the Education Policy Committee has a budget that could take
• . committee has a budget the this the committee has a budget the this the education<00:11:51.200><c>
• </c><00:13:21.000><c> does</c> pay for mileage and what budget does pay for mileage and what budget does
• </c> realize that you don't have the budget realize that you don't have the budget to<00:31:25.559><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> finance um works with our budget finance um works with our budget formulation<01:11:20.600><c> uh
• That's slightly higher than the current budget, but when we prepared the agency's budget request back
• That's slightly higher than the current budget, but when we prepared the agency's budget request back
• </c> um you'll see that we have budgeted um you'll see that we have budgeted about<01:50:10.199><c> 3.1
• </c> keep those revenues uh as uh budgeted keep those revenues uh as uh budgeted for<01:50:28.280><c>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Safety presented an overview of highway fund and unrestricted revenue collections, focusing on the Division of Administration, the Road Toll Bureau, and the Division of Motor Vehicles. Amy Newbery explained that the main unrestricted funding sources are highway funds and general funds, with highway fund revenue of about $263 million in FY 2024 and a FY 2025 projection of $261.2 million. She said revenue growth has been modest and has not kept pace with costs, creating structural deficits that required general fund transfers of $50 million in FY 2022-23 and another $10 million in FY 2024-25 to balance the fund. Jennifer Hall described Road Toll operations, including motor fuel tax collection at the distributor level, compliance enforcement, and licensing for fuel distributors, transporters, IFTA carriers, and oil discharge/pollution control. Members asked about IFTA, dyed-fuel enforcement, the possibility of using the state forensic lab for dyed-fuel testing, and whether audit positions had been filled; the department said it recently hired a part-time fuel enforcement officer, still uses IRS testing, could explore lab testing, and had no audit vacancies. Hall also discussed factors affecting fuel-tax revenue, including gas prices, crude oil forecasts, weather, tourism, GDP, and inflation, and said FY 2024 road toll revenue was $127.5 million, above plan, with FY 2025 projected at $127.71 million. The committee then turned to DMV-related revenues. Newbery said motor vehicle registration revenue was $93.1 million in FY 2024 and is projected at $90.4 million in FY 2025, with the state share going directly to the highway fund. Members asked about the state/town fee split, the five-year registration cycle dip, the distribution of registration revenue by vehicle weight category, and the impact of electric-vehicle surcharges; the department said the five-year dip is still occurring and will fade over time, and it would follow up on the weight-category breakdown. The presentation also noted that driver-license revenues have stabilized, inspection revenues remain steady, plea-by-mail revenue was added to the highway fund in FY 2024, and general fund revenues tied to the department are relatively small and have declined as some functions moved to OPLC. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:58:06.600><c> which</c> biennium, to the housing budget, which biennium, to the housing budget
• ,<01:25:54.840><c> authorities,</c> budgets, authorities, budgets, authorities, definition,<01:25:56.920
• This was in the governor's budget.
• There's two in the governor's budget.
• This was in the governor's governor's governor's budget. budget. budget.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If they were in the state budget, that would bring rates down substantially.
• But so on that note, I'm not asking you to make sort of a budget projection.
• Our budget is set independently of the commissions.
• We do come before the legislature with budget change proposals.
• Budget. Utilities should have to do the same.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, wildfire costs, and the California Public Utilities Commission’s role. Chair and members framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while maintaining reliability and keeping bills affordable. The hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and the Public Advocates Office, with testimony from Professor Severin Borenstein and CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds. Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining that generation is largely deregulated while transmission and distribution remain regulated, and that most rate-setting follows cost-of-service regulation. He emphasized that the hardest issue is setting the allowed return on equity: too high can raise bills and encourage capital-heavy spending, while too low can deter investment and harm reliability. He argued there is no silver bullet, said performance-based regulation and price caps have limits, and suggested some costs now charged through electric bills—such as climate programs, low-income subsidies, and wildfire-related public policy costs—might more appropriately be paid through the state budget. Reynolds described the CPUC’s oversight role, saying the commission reviews utility spending through general rate cases, balancing accounts, and other proceedings, and that affordability is addressed through front-end scrutiny, post-spend accountability, and legislative direction. She highlighted wildfire mitigation as a major driver of rate increases, noted recent progress on clean energy procurement and battery storage, and said the CPUC is working on return-on-equity decisions, FERC advocacy on transmission costs, and implementation of SB 254 and other statutes. Members pressed on a range of issues, including wildfire securitization, load growth from EVs and data centers, gas-system stranded assets, balancing accounts, and a water-service dispute in Keene involving Union Pacific. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up commitments from the CPUC to provide data and updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota Management and Budget shares Minnesota's economic forecast.
• Minnesota Management and Budget says the state's budget and economic forecast is strong, but not exactly
• Federal funds are a very important piece of the state budget.
• Federal funds are a very important piece of the state budget.
• </c> important piece of the state budget. important piece of the state budget.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The program covered three main topics: Minnesota’s February economic forecast, gun violence prevention efforts, and the growing debate over data centers. Minnesota Management and Budget reported a stronger-than-expected outlook, replacing a projected deficit with a $3.7 billion surplus for FY 2026-27 and a projected positive balance for FY 2028-29, though officials warned the state still faces a structural imbalance and possible federal funding losses tied to Medicaid reimbursements and fraud-related federal actions. Lawmakers also discussed affordability concerns, with Senate Republicans promoting a tax-relief package focused on property taxes, vehicle tab fees, and ending taxes on tips and overtime. A lengthy segment focused on gun violence prevention, including a Capitol rally by Annunciation Catholic Church families, students, and advocates. Senator Ron Latz said an interim working group he co-led with Senator Zeinab Mohamed gathered public and expert input and helped shape ideas for the session. He said there is no single solution, but cited measures such as red flag laws, universal background checks, an assault weapons ban, high-capacity magazine limits, safe-storage requirements, ghost gun and binary trigger bans, and more school counseling and wraparound mental health supports. Latz emphasized that he sees these as compatible with the Second Amendment and said he hopes to build bipartisan support, especially around school counseling and other “common-sense” measures. Latz said the short session and narrow margins mean compromise will be necessary, and that if a package does not pass this year, lawmakers will return to the issue next session while voters should hold legislators accountable in future elections. The final segment introduced the data center discussion, with Senator Bill Liske describing how data centers have grown from small server rooms into large industrial facilities and noting that some communities are considering moratoriums or restrictions because of neighborhood impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of things with the actual budget of things with the actual budget request,<00:02:46.160><c> you<
• </c> we don't typically put in our budget we don't typically put in our budget request.<00:12:37.839>
• </c><00:15:17.760><c> committee</c> legislative budget committee legislative budget committee recommendation
• Then the next slide just is our current FY26 budget.
• You can see how that's FY26 budget.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 29 January, 2026: 8:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to jump right into the, uh, Uh, the budget part of the testimony.
• Um, I will be, my name is Chloe Powers with the Legislative Budget Board.
• Land bolding legislative budget board.
• Uh, I would like to think we have a very simple budget.
• Leanne Bolding, Legislative Budget board. I think this is the final presentation here.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Justice Budget Committee will come to order.
• The governor has released his legislative budget request, a freedom budget, and that obviously will be
• And sometimes I get asked about the budget, you know, knowing that this is a budget committee, I will
• I know that there was budgeted for three new DJJ facilities.
• request, and the governor supported that budget request.

Summary: The Justice Budget Committee heard detailed presentations from the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections on staffing, services, and budget needs. DJJ Secretary Hall emphasized that the agency’s main public safety strategy is education, along with prevention and recidivism reduction. He described major staffing improvements after pay increases for probation, detention, residential care, and prevention workers, and outlined DJJ’s mental health, aftercare, and education continuum, including the Florida Scholars Academy and Florida Youth College. He said the new statewide education model is showing early gains in progress monitoring, high school graduation, and postsecondary enrollment, while also noting ongoing operational issues such as IT connectivity, rural staffing gaps, and the need for geographic pay adjustments for teachers. He also discussed detention center replacement plans in Hillsborough, Broward, and Palm Beach, and said DJJ would transition the Broward JAC to a security contractor after the sheriff’s office pulls sworn officers from the site. Members asked about campus performance differences, teacher pay, detention education quality, and concerns about the rollout and leadership of the Scholars Academy. Hall said some campuses face rural access and infrastructure problems, but the blended learning model provides continuity when internet or staffing issues arise. He defended the superintendent’s qualifications and said early problems with inappropriate online content were addressed. Representative Porras raised concerns about educational quality and the superintendent’s past disciplinary history, while Representative Barrera urged more mentorship and fatherhood-focused programming in juvenile facilities. DOC Secretary Dixon said the prison system is under pressure from rising inmate populations, staffing shortages, and overtime costs. He argued that the system needs funded posts for every functioning housing unit, noting that the department has added housing units without enough staff and now relies heavily on overtime, mobile officer deployments, and shift conversions to keep facilities operating safely. He highlighted that many officers are new, that outside-hospital transports have risen sharply, and that mental health units require additional staffing. DOC’s mental health chief described a large and growing treatment system with outpatient, inpatient, intensive outpatient, and court-ordered services, saying about a quarter of the prison population has a diagnosed mental illness. Community corrections staff described treatment programs, employment specialists, mobile probation and reentry units, and a new mental health first aid training initiative. Reentry staff reported expanded substance abuse, education, CTE, chaplaincy, and digital learning programs, including Edovo and a forthcoming Work Bay platform. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• therefor, to take effect immediately, bill related to the budget.
• the unnecessary singling out of charter schools in a budget bill.
• The unnecessary singling out of charter schools in a budget bill.
• It should not be tucked away into a budget bill.
• We should not be tucking away policy changes in a budget bill. Thank you.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The admin, the consumer ad and public relations part of our budget.
• And so we only, this is our budget from last year. Oh, this is the new one?
• We only—this is our budget from last year. Oh, this is the new one?
• But we didn't budget for it. Yeah, oh, that's right.
• , that's been our budget since 2005, okay?

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Agricultural Affairs Committee approved the minutes from January 26, 2026, and announced a brief follow-up meeting on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. with one item on the agenda. The main presentation was from the Idaho Potato Commission, introduced by Jamie Hyam, who reviewed the commission’s finances, noting about $15.3 million in assessments and related revenue, $812,000 in reserves after obligations, and no budgeted revenue from the new Idaho potato license plate because it had not yet been received when the budget was set. Members asked about the license plate revenue, and Hyam said it had exceeded expectations and was generating significant funds for the highway fund. Hyam also described the commission’s work in promotion, research, education, and export development. He highlighted partnerships with the University of Idaho and the potato seed program, explaining that new varieties can take 10 to 12 years to develop and that public research helps keep seed access broad rather than controlled by private companies. He said the commission is focused on trade and market access, especially Mexico, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, while noting that Japan remains a long-running challenge. He also discussed competition from China, India, and other countries, rising input costs, labor and succession issues, weather and disease pressures, and the impact of GLP-1 drugs and changing dietary trends on potato consumption. Committee members asked about domestic demand, export markets, tariffs, quality control, and the role of Idaho branding. Hyam and commission staff said domestic demand remains strong but is pressured by overproduction, higher yields, and health trends; they also said the commission monitors product quality through employees in stores nationwide. The commission emphasized that Idaho potatoes remain a premium product and closed with a national advertising spot promoting the “Grown in Idaho” seal. No votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes, and the meeting adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a great budget that we're working with. We got Act 15 done.
• We have to consider the budget.
• We're negotiating a budget, so don't raise this stuff. Okay, fine. We're in a budget negotiation.
• , current budget, 5% shortly after another 2%.
• I think that we worked very hard in the last budget.

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• &gt;&gt; Let<00:20:08.960><c> the</c><00:20:09.200><c> budgeters</c> &gt;&gt; Let the budgeters &gt;&
• </c> &gt;&gt; some of it in the budget &gt;&gt; some of it in the budget for<00:23:09.760><c> loan</c
• ,</c> appropriated in the GF budget, appropriated in the GF budget, &gt;&gt; right?
• if that's where you did &gt;&gt; in the budget if that's where you did it. it. it.
• </c> maintenance budget maintenance budget for<01:01:13.359><c> a</c><01:01:13.599><c> long</c><01:01

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the September 24 and September 27 meetings unanimously. It then reviewed a spreadsheet and draft report tracking the status of various dedicated funds, with members deciding which items should be kept active, removed, or flagged for follow-up next year. Several funds were identified as no longer needing action because they had been repealed, terminated, or were already handled elsewhere, including mosquito-related funding, child care licensing, and the prescription drug affordability board item. In other cases, members agreed to keep the fund on the list but remove question marks and add notes for future review or for another committee to address. A number of funds drew more detailed discussion. Members agreed that the Fish and Game fee increase issue should not be handled by this committee directly, but that staff should notify the relevant sponsor/department that a legislative change would be needed. They also discussed a medical cannabis fund that was running down significantly; the committee agreed to keep it active, note the concern, and send a letter to the department and Representative McDonald suggesting that HHS review whether fees or another revenue source should be changed, with the possibility of a late bill if needed. The lead poisoning prevention fund was also kept, with a note that the department should take action if it wants changes, and the committee discussed a grants-and-aid escrow-related item, concluding it should remain active and be kept on the list. Members also discussed several legacy or special-purpose funds. They agreed to recommend deleting the broodstock reference, to keep the emergency fund while asking for a better explanation of its funding source, and to retain the building maintenance fund as active. The Recovery Monument fund was identified as inactive and likely eligible for transfer of its remaining $1,000 to the addiction treatment and prevention fund. The Matthew Elliott Trust Fund prompted the most extended discussion; members concluded it should not continue as-is and agreed to draft a letter to the Attorney General recommending that the fund be closed through probate court and the remaining $5,657 transferred to Fund 122, or otherwise handled as unclaimed property if appropriate. The committee also discussed a firemen’s association-related transfer and agreed it should remain, while noting that any broader change would require legislation and a sponsor in the relevant policy committee.