Video & Transcript : 'school purchasing' :
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance Mar 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Our medical schools revenue, is that held in a different account, and none of that gets used for any
- , but not other schools.
- to purchase equipment... ...across our campuses to purchase equipment and supplies together, and by
- combining our purchasing power we are getting discounts across the systems.
- And we do a lot of training of K-12 teachers, especially high school teachers, for AP courses.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Jul 7th, 2025
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- We also worked with a company for our tribal offices and for our school.
- For our school, that's imperative, as it is a Bureau of Indian Education school.
- Our Mescalero Apache High School does quite a bit of work with them.
- We do have to make some rapid changes to ensure that those schools don't close down.
- A lot of those homeowners have gone decades without purchasing home insurance.
VA
Virginia 2026 Regular Session
Commission on Updating Virginia Law to Reflect Federal Recognition of Virginia Tribes Jun 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I know that they're out of school, so this is nice that you're here too.
- Of that 20, 18-year-olds, we needed to determine how many of those children would graduate high school
- , Out there is that our cavalier attendees today from the law school might be able to draft a letter
- The guidance is really on the everyday purchases being used for the benefit of the tribe on tribal land
- Also, regarding ICWA, I did clerk for ICWA court right out of law school, so I'm happy to work on any
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs Jan 23rd, 2025
House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- We make loans to your communities, either the municipalities or your school districts.
- We made one loan for the Gallup-McKinley School District, and it saved them more than a million dollars
- I include in those charter schools, land-grant Merced's, public improvement districts—those things that
- Payments at a 0% interest from the folks that purchase those homes.
- We purchase those loans from them up front, give them the money so they can continue to build, and we
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Judiciary Committee Jul 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Nevni Perrier on behalf of the California School Employees Association, also in support. Thank you.
- It would require an owner to provide notice of opportunity to submit an offer to purchase to resident
- I am sympathetic on the purchasing aspect of this bill. I think the notice...
- Assemblymember Harabedian said he was sympathetic to the purchasing aspect of the bill.
- He said he appreciated that and asked what the purchase would look like.
Summary:
The committee heard several bills, with most drawing support after amendments or ongoing stakeholder negotiations. SB 29, by Senator Laird, would extend a sunset on the law allowing pain-and-suffering claims to survive a plaintiff’s death; supporters, including a family member describing a medical negligence case, labor groups, consumer advocates, and disability and elder organizations, argued it prevents defendants from running out the clock, while hospitals, medical groups, and business organizations warned of higher costs and added liability. After extensive debate about data collection, settlement reporting, and the impact on health care access, the bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote.
SB 294, by Senator Reyes and presented by Senator Laird, would require employers to notify a worker’s emergency contact if the worker is arrested or detained and would create a template to inform employees of state and federal labor rights. Labor and worker advocates said the bill would help workers understand and enforce their rights amid weakened federal enforcement; there was no opposition on file, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 697 would modernize water-rights adjudication by allowing the State Water Board to use technology instead of requiring in-person field investigations; with no opposition, it also passed unanimously.
The committee also advanced SB 37 on attorney advertising, SB 645 on peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 303 on bias-mitigation trainings in public workplaces, and SB 464 on expanding pay-data reporting for specified state workers. SB 37 drew support from consumer and legal groups but concerns from Walker Advertising about joint advertising; members said negotiations were ongoing, and the bill passed. SB 645 would extend anti-bias jury-selection rules to certain civil rights cases; criminal-defense and defense groups said they were close to agreement, and the bill passed. SB 303 and SB 464 were both amended to narrow scope and moved forward after several opponents shifted to neutral or removed opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all sent to Appropriations.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Tribal and State Relations Committee Jul 22nd, 2026 at 11:00 am
Tribal and State Relations Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm looking into how other schools can do it because I feel like the other schools need to step up as
- Also, the fire burned down a school playground. After that... ...school playground.
- We have the Turtle Mountain High School, which is a tribally controlled grant school.
- It's a grant school, was a contract school, has been operating in this manner for nearly 50 years. school
- Community School, the Jamerson School at Tribes, as well as Tate Topa in Spirit Lake.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- may not have an AED if it's an elementary school or middle school.
- , high schools.
- We have five high schools in our school district. ...five high schools in our school district.
- In the school? My daughter graduated from high school.
- Schools were closed, so I want to be clear: schools were closed.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs Feb 23rd, 2026
Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- So I understand the need maybe sometimes to purchase as opposed to lease.
- We can still make the purchase.
- We can still make the purchase.
- One of the other challenges is that if we have a line-item appropriation for a specific purchase, then
- So if we're selling properties and purchasing properties, the report is just to make sure that everyone
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations (3-27-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- It creates a statutory authority for the board to be able to purchase liability insurance and do some
- </c><00:03:37.879><c> uh</c> uh the board to be able to Pro uh uh the board to be able to Pro uh purchase
- liability insurance and do some purchase liability insurance and do some other<00:03:40.360><c> things
- You can apply as an exam applicant and come in just like anybody coming out of school.
- We talked about Chairman Cook about, you know, an amendment to have these items purchased in the county
Summary:
The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on March 27, 2025, with a quorum present and first took up House Bill 255, relating to physical therapy. The bill sponsor and representatives of the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy and APTA Kentucky said the measure is mainly a cleanup and modernization bill that updates outdated statutory language, changes PTAs from “certified” to “licensed,” gives the board authority to purchase liability insurance, moves fee and fine caps into regulation without changing current fees, renames temporary permits as provisional licenses, and creates a pathway to more easily recognize some internationally trained physical therapists already practicing in other states. Senators asked whether the bill changed training, scope of practice, Medicaid, or supervised practice standards; witnesses said it did not, and that supervised practice requirements remain in place with out-of-state practice accepted only when equivalent or more stringent. The committee approved HB 255 with favorable expression.
The committee then considered House Bill 618, an alcoholic beverages measure with a Senate committee substitute. The bill was described as having three parts: allowing restaurants to buy limited quantities of alcohol from retail outlets to meet customer demand while keeping the three-tier system intact and requiring quarterly reporting; creating a temporary auctioneer license to auction previously retail-sold alcohol in original packaging, such as estate or bourbon collections; and giving quota bar license holders the same opportunity restaurants already have to sell barrel picks by the bottle. Testimony supported the bill as a way to help restaurants, auctioneers, and bars, while a senator raised a question about sales tax on auction sales and another noted that nonprofit or church-related alcohol auctions already require permits under existing law. One senator suggested future guardrails to encourage local purchasing, but no amendment was adopted. The committee passed HB 618 with favorable expression.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Revenue Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- When people have stable housing, they succeed in school, show up for work, contribute to the economy,
- It funds grants for down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers purchasing single-family homes
- and the Department of Revenue funds grants for down payment assistance with first-time homebuyers purchasing
- signed by the purchaserer transferee or on an applicable applicable small property Signed by the purchaser
- Because if it was a commercial entity purchasing a property or an individual family, well, if they own
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hearing on several housing-related bills, with chairs Adrienne Madaro and James Eldridge framing the discussion as part of the Legislature’s broader response to the state’s housing crisis and noting that many of the bills build on the 2024 Affordable Homes Act. The chairs reviewed hearing procedures, including the three-minute oral testimony limit, the option to submit written testimony, and the hybrid format. No votes were taken during the hearing.
Testimony began with support for H. 3278, a bill to create a graduated deed excise tax for affordable housing. Representative Worel argued that higher-end real estate transactions should contribute more to fund affordable housing production, saying the measure would not burden working families and would help address racial inequities in homeownership and displacement. Representative Soder then supported H. 3247, which would promote redevelopment of abandoned buildings through expanded tax incentives for renovating vacant properties for sale or rent, arguing that it would bring blighted units back into use and generate future tax revenue.
The committee also heard testimony on H. 3040/S. 1969, residential improvement or R-PACE legislation. Robert Giles of Home Run Financing and Nicole Steele of Amalgamated Bank described the program as a voluntary, assessment-based financing tool that could help homeowners pay for energy efficiency, resilience, and other major repairs without upfront costs, and said it could complement existing Mass Save programs while expanding access to more homeowners. In contrast, Judith Lieben of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute opposed H. 3039/S. 1946, the Housing Development Incentive Program bill, arguing it would expand subsidies for market-rate and luxury housing in Gateway Cities instead of directing resources to low-income renters. Representative Hawkins also testified in support of H. 3121, which would end large investor control of homes in Massachusetts by imposing an excise tax on large owners of small residential properties and using the revenue for first-time homebuyer down payment assistance. After testimony and a few member questions, the chairs asked whether anyone else wished to testify and then adjourned the hearing.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Secondly, the purchase age Is 21. Third, I'm sorry, that's not different than Ken King's.
- We do have that purchase age in common at 21. Again, we have a lower THC threshold.
- One joint, one impulse purchase, one edible can threaten for a lifetime a person's access to housing
- One joint, one impulse purchase, one edible can threaten for a lifetime a person's access to housing
- And I've passed two bills last session trying to kind of curb this, the smoke shops next to schools.
Summary:
Senator Nathan Johnson presented a pair of bills he described as a comprehensive cannabis reform package for Texas. He said one bill would regulate hemp-derived THC with a 21-and-over purchase age, a 5 mg THC threshold, testing, labeling, licensing, packaging, and marketing standards, an advisory committee to report to the Legislature, and a tax structure that would direct revenue to public health, law enforcement, testing, and the Texas Compassionate Use Program. He also said the legislation reflects work by Chairman Ken King and is intended as an alternative to a total ban, which he argued would be unenforceable and undesirable.
Johnson said the second bill would decriminalize possession and personal use of up to 2 ounces of marijuana, allow limited home cultivation, and create a path to expunction for people convicted of conduct that would no longer be illegal. He argued current Texas THC laws are inconsistent, harmful, and disproportionately affect communities of color, while also diverting law enforcement resources. He said the bills aim to create a more consistent and enforceable framework and to support medical THC use.
Supportive testimony came from Shawn Salvahi, a veteran and Texas Cannabis Collective representative, who said decriminalization and homegrow would help veterans and first responders and that leaders should correct mistaken policy. Senator Molly Cook, an ER nurse, also backed Johnson’s approach and opposed SB 5, saying prohibition has failed, worsened safety, and created criminal and economic harms. In questions, Johnson said the Senate is likely to move SB 5, that the House could still change the outcome, and that he has been consistent in opposing a ban since 2018. The discussion also briefly touched on redistricting, with participants urging attention to flooding and criticizing proposed maps, but the main action was the presentation and defense of the THC bills ahead of floor consideration.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- $250 will also be paid for a complete employment skills certification and for one-half of a high school
- So one-half of a high school credit, the employment skills certification, or an earned workforce credential
- And $1,000 is for earning a high school diploma. Thank you for that description.
- I think, but there could be some restrictions on how they can buy or those type of purchasing agreements
- These are the Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation DAPSAF rules.
Summary:
The Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a series of agency rules and related requests. The Department of Corrections and Post-Prison Transfer Board reported quarterly updates and had no questions, so both were filed. The Department of Commerce sought repeal of rules tied to the minority and women-owned business enterprise programs and the Consolidated Incentives Act, explaining the rules were repealed by implication or duplicative of statute; all were reviewed and approved. The Insurance Department presented a new rule implementing Act 426 of 2025 for online marketplace guarantee providers, using Airbnb-style host damage protection as an example, and it was approved. The Department of Education updated the Arkansas Adult Diploma Program rule to reflect statutory payment amounts for milestones and diplomas, and it was approved. DFA presented a rule creating a reporting method for the Arkansas rice beer and sake excise tax credit; members asked about verification of Arkansas rice use, and the rule was approved. DHS presented a SNAP rule implementing federal changes to work requirements and energy assistance counting, including raising the able-bodied adult without dependents age limit to 64 and removing some exemptions; it was approved after questions about terminology and waiver-related issues.
The committee also approved DHS Medicaid rules allowing rehab hospitals to bill for psychiatric units and exempting Arkansas from the federal recovery audit contractor requirement, citing other program integrity measures already in place. The State Board of Public Accountancy, under Labor and Licensing, presented rules implementing Act 428 of 2025, including a new CPA licensure pathway with a bachelor’s degree plus two years’ experience, substantial equivalency for out-of-state CPAs, and removal of the government not-for-profit accounting requirement; despite some negative comments, both rules were approved. The committee then granted the Department of Education’s request to be excluded from certain reporting requirements, and approved its request to retain all 18 Division of Public School Academic Facilities and Transportation rules under Act 781 review. Remaining outstanding 2023-session rulemaking and monthly updates were noted in packets with no questions, and the meeting adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee Apr 13th, 2026
Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill, in addition to ensuring that before they make a big purchase, consumers know what the minimum
- Consumers are purchasing more devices that connect to the internet in the form of smart TVs, smart home
- The requirements in this bill provide information that consumers can use to purchase connected devices
- In Long Beach, it runs directly through the city, next to elementary, middle, and high schools, parks
- In Long Beach, it runs directly through the city, next to elementary, middle, and high schools, parks
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> services in schools to $100 million. services in schools to $100 million. $20<00:24:10.280><c> million
- them. >> Law enforcement will be able to purchase them, yes. >> Yeah.
- How would you define who is eligible or allowed to purchase them?
- >> 10 to purchase. fire. So, moving on to another question, fire.
- </c> >> 10<01:00:28.240><c> to</c><01:00:28.400><c> purchase.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Session Jan 22nd, 2026
Massachusetts Joint Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The colors will be posted by the Lynn English High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC.
- As the group departs, let's all thank the Lynn English High School Marine Corps Junior ROTC.
- LGBT families worried about their kids being targeted or bullied at school.
- Did you know that utilities aren't required to purchase power at the lowest price? It's crazy.
- It makes it so that utilities got to go out and purchase that energy at the lowest price.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions Jun 21st, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- Cannabis is also subject to the 6.25% sales tax that we pay on a majority of our purchases.
- and a penny goes to... ...here, so a penny goes to the MBTA and a penny goes to the Massachusetts School
- Next slide, please. 29% of high school seniors reported using marijuana last year, 18% of sophomores,
- Do you believe that purchasing from a black market is going to make it better?
- This doesn't happen from the cannabis that is purchased legally and safely from dispensaries nearly as
Summary:
The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-10, House Bill 5002, titled “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy,” which would repeal Massachusetts’ adult-use cannabis legalization framework. Chairs Brendan Crighton and Kate Hogan outlined the Article 48 initiative process and explained that the committee is gathering testimony for a report to the legislature. The hearing was organized into expert, proponent, opponent, and public testimony, with written testimony accepted through March 27.
The first witness, Jessica Trow of MassBudget, testified in opposition to repeal and focused on cannabis-related revenue and social equity. She said legalization has generated nearly $2 billion statewide since adult-use sales began, with revenue flowing through the Marijuana Regulation Fund, the state sales tax, and local taxes and fees. She emphasized that funds support public health, the Cannabis Control Commission’s social equity work, the Cannabis Social Equity Fund, and municipal budgets, and argued that legalization has created pathways for communities harmed by prohibition. The petition’s spokesperson, Wendy Wakeman, argued in favor of repeal, saying legalization has worsened public health, safety, and quality of life, citing higher potency, addiction, youth use, impaired driving, workplace positives, and black-market concerns. Committee members questioned her about the data sources, the will of the voters, the role of paid signature gatherers, and the petition’s funding, including out-of-state and dark-money concerns.
Opponents of the initiative then testified that repeal would harm a regulated industry that has created jobs, tax revenue, and social equity opportunities. Caroline Pino of STEM, Kristen Rogers of Levia, Judith Ledbetter of Project De-Stigmatized Healthcare, and Armani White of Firehouse Dispensary/EON described their businesses, community investments, and personal reliance on cannabis, and warned that repeal would push consumers back to the illicit market and undermine equity programs. In public testimony, Lucas Thayer of the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition and Jeff Rawson, a chemist and consumer protection advocate, also opposed the measure, arguing that regulated cannabis is safer than unregulated products and that repeal would damage investments and public safety. The hearing ended after the public testimony, and the committee voted to close the hearing.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Formal House Session 19 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Jaden graduated from Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in 2022, where he played varsity baseball.
- Right now, utilities are locked into purchasing energy every six months, regardless of the price, and
- at times they are purchasing energy when it's at the peak of pricing.
- We are now allowing them the flexibility to purchase the energy when it is the most affordable, and the
- He leaves behind a lasting impact on Fall River, Durfee High School, and the generations of students,
Summary:
The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several procedural matters, including adopting a resolution recognizing the work of Ukraine Forward and suspending Joint Rule 12 for a number of petitions. The chamber also scheduled several bills for later consideration, including measures on unemployment insurance for fluctuating work schedules, the Medical Society mission statement, a youth training wage, bridge and intersection namings, handicapped parking fines, public-way safety, excavation restoration, motor vehicle safety, and a Newton police age requirement. Two engrossed local bills were passed to be enacted: one authorizing retired police officers as special police in Plainville and another allowing Orange to increase its Board of Selectmen membership.
The main policy debate centered on House No. 5151, An Act relative to energy affordability, clean power, and economic competitiveness. Supporters described it as a broad affordability and clean-energy package that would cut costs for ratepayers, reform Mass Save, speed clean-energy procurement and interconnection, return a portion of alternative compliance payments to customers, and address biomass and other energy issues. Opponents argued the bill relied too heavily on long-term programs and new administrative structures while offering little immediate relief, and raised concerns about costs being shifted to consumers, impacts on natural gas, and the pace of implementation. Several amendments were debated and rejected, including proposals to shift public benefit charges away from peak hours, pause public benefit charges for a year, require greater utility disclosure before rate increases, and add a forest-clearing penalty for solar development.
One amendment to the energy bill was adopted: a consolidated amendment that included budget-billing consumer protections for gas customers, requiring notice and conservation recommendations when usage rises significantly. The House also adopted an amendment to a separate conservation-restriction bill for Hanson, changing a figure in the underlying law, and passed that bill to be engrossed as amended. The energy bill’s consolidated amendment passed by roll call, while several other amendments failed by roll call votes. The House observed multiple moments of silence honoring Jaden Booker, Thomas Skip Karam, former Freetown Police Chief Carlton Abbott, and former Representative and Senator William Q. “Biff” McLean, Jr.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions Mar 23rd, 2026
Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions
Transcript Highlights:
- Cannabis is also subject to the 6.25% sales tax that we pay on a majority of our purchases.
- So a penny goes to the MBTA and a penny goes to... ...the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
- Next slide, please. 29% of high school seniors reported using marijuana last year, 18% of sophomores,
- Do you believe that purchasing from a black market is going to make it better?
- This doesn't happen from the cannabis that is purchased legally and safely from dispensaries nearly as
Bills:
H5005
Keywords:
environment, water conservation, natural resources, public funding, environmental justice, 1212, all
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
HSH Public Hearing - Tue Feb 3, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST
Human Services & Homelessness
Transcript Highlights:
- The reason for this is that it seems like limiting SNAP purchases to unhealthy items.
- </c> you know, like limiting SNAP purchases you know, like limiting SNAP purchases to<00:30:18.760><c
- </c><00:40:59.400><c> And</c><00:40:59.480><c> these</c><00:40:59.640><c> numbers</c> school moves.
- And these numbers school moves.
- ,</c><00:41:10.720><c> and</c> unable to due to work, school, and unable to due to work, school, and
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.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Budget Section Commerce and Legal Service Division Jun 24th, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- for BCI undercover vehicle replacements, and through March 6 those undercover vehicles had been purchased
- We have now purchased two more cubicles, and we actually put them in our break area.
- We can't purchase any of those sensors or anything else for those systems.
- A little bit of LSD might make a hit or two in a school sometimes.
- A little bit of LSD might make a hit or two in a school sometimes.
Summary:
The committee met to hear the Attorney General’s budget and related agency presentations. Legislative Council first reviewed the compliance with legislative intent report and the base budget worksheet, highlighting current and ongoing appropriations, FTE changes, one-time funding items, continuing appropriations, and major special and federal funds. Members asked about items such as the Missing Indigenous People Grant Fund, the Internet Crimes Investigation Fund, and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit grant funding, and staff explained the funding sources and status of those programs.
Assistant Attorney General Clare Ness then outlined the Attorney General’s office structure, staffing, and budget pressures. She emphasized the office’s broad statutory duties, the value of its legal and investigative work for state and local governments, and concerns about attorney salary competitiveness, the new and vacant FTE pool, and the impact of the 3% operating budget reduction on BCI, IT, and the crime lab. Members also discussed AG opinions, boards and commissions training, and the office’s litigation and settlement recoveries. Ness and committee members raised the possibility of broader attorney salary benchmarking across state government.
The crime lab director described severe space and infrastructure constraints, including overcrowding, shared workspaces, glycol leaks, air handling limits, and aging fire and burglar alarm systems. She said the 2024 study projected a much larger facility would be needed and that a new building on the current health department site would best address the lab’s needs. She also reported that backlogs have improved significantly in DNA, drug, fingerprint, and firearms work, though toxicology had a recent delay after an air compressor failure. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit director described the unit’s fraud, abuse, and neglect work, noted federal-state funding and recent federal scrutiny, and said the unit needs more staff. The gaming division reviewed charitable gaming growth, e-tabs, trust accounts, and compliance issues, while BCI covered its caseload, cybercrime and child sexual abuse material investigations, the missing indigenous person task force, and the use of lottery funds for drug task forces. No formal votes or budget actions were taken during the meeting.