Transcript Highlights:

• This matches the compensation. plan that was included in the House passed budget about two weeks ago
• For employers who already fund a large share of New Mexico's budget.
• A very prudent raise, given our budget situation, and that gets stripped out from under Them.
• They're trying to figure out—we're all in the budget cycle right now, right?
• That matters a lot because you all know what it means to manage those city budgets.

Bills: SB240

Keywords: capital outlay, capital projects, severance tax bonds, general fund appropriations, supplemental severance tax bonds, UNM School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, infrastructure, state buildings, courts, schools, higher education, road improvements, water and wastewater, tribal infrastructure, tribal projects, public safety, housing, emergency services, bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's a promise that we broke last session when we were trying to balance the budget.
• And that's a promise that we broke last session when we were trying to balance the budget.
• We are really sure that we don't cut student aid when we hit tough budget times.
• PLU does not receive operating dollars from the state budget. Don't ask for them.
• In a time of tight state budgets, In a time of tight state budgets, where even more cuts are proposed

Bills: HB2498, HB2443, HB2567, HB2363, HB2422

Keywords: nursing education, nursing program standards, board of nursing, state board, national accreditation, accreditation body, nursing school, nurse educator, clinical simulation, simulation director, lead nurse educator, NCLEX, licensure exam pass rate, corrective action plan, technical assistance, higher education, program approval, Washington RCW, professional development, nursing licensure

Transcript Highlights:

• the foundation budget in all of its elements and all of its impacts.
• That's why we've spoken so often about the need for a Foundation Budget Review Commission, because we
• But the day will come sooner than we might think in the context of budgets and supplemental budgets and
• I'm very hopeful that the House and the Senate, when we take up the budget later in the spring, will
• The Senate passed a Foundation Budget Review Commission.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Big banks drain public resources, a significant portion of city and state budgets...
• And our total state budget is about 20 billion, rough numbers.
• the transportation budget, are around $25 billion.
• Budget issues are chronic and recurring.
• shortfall that Tacoma was dealing with this past budget cycle.

Summary: The committee first received a JLARC work session on the 2025 tax preference performance reviews, covering nine tax preferences and recommending legislative action on eight. JLARC reviewed natural gas transportation fuel preferences, travel agent and tour operator B&O rates, a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income housing developers, and several shorter reviews including senior center property tax relief, a disabled veteran adapted housing remittance, trade convention nexus treatment, wholesale sales of fertilizer/pesticides/seed, a hazardous substance tax exemption for pesticides stored for out-of-state shipment, and three energy-related preferences for a silicon smelter. JLARC generally recommended continuing preferences that met stated or inferred objectives, modifying some to improve reporting or performance metrics, and allowing the unused silicon smelter preferences to expire. The Citizen Commission endorsed JLARC’s recommendations, and committee members asked a few clarifying questions, including about trends in travel agent/tour operator beneficiaries and the housing exemption’s performance metric and data issues. The committee then heard a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 5754, which would create a Washington State public bank. A presentation from California public banking advocates and the Bank of North Dakota described public banks as government-owned financial institutions intended to keep public funds working locally, support lending for housing, infrastructure, and community development, and partner with community banks and credit unions. Committee questions focused on leverage, liquidity, constitutional issues, and how the model would interact with existing state investment and debt structures. Staff summarized the bill’s structure, including activation conditions, governance, powers, and fiscal impacts, noting the fiscal note was largely indeterminate and startup costs could be significant. Public testimony on SB 5754 was divided. Supporters included statewide elected officials, county and city officials, labor, educators, community advocates, and residents, who argued the bank could lower borrowing costs, improve access to capital, keep public money in Washington, and help finance infrastructure, housing, and disaster resilience. Opponents included community bankers and county treasurers, who warned about risks to safety and liquidity of public funds, questioned the need for a new institution given existing programs, and argued the proposal lacked a proven track record in Washington. The hearing concluded with no vote taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> The Justice Budget Subcommittee will come to order. Is Rosa please call the Roll?
• In 2023, we came to the Legislature in our budget request and asked for additional salary dollars to
• And then we implemented that with approved through the Budget Commission through the Legislative Budget
• I'm real interested in trying to make the budget accurately reflect quarters Costas wherever it is.
• But in order to do that, that's part of their legislative budget request.

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:

• </c> that we passed in the budget. that we passed in the budget.
• that we haven't budgeted.
• We need that number starting from the governor's budget, the House budget, and the Senate budget to maybe
• we haven't from the budget that we haven't budgeted. budgeted. budgeted.
• c> and</c> governor's budget, the house budget, and governor's budget, the house budget, and the<00:39

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first adopted the September 5 minutes and then approved the remaining consent calendar items after removing several bills for separate consideration, including 25-252, 25-248, 25-251, and 25-253. The committee then took up 25-252 from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, where members asked about the arts tax credit program, staffing, and volunteer coordination. Department representatives said the program had recently been authorized, forms had been finalized, three of six laid-off staff had been rehired through a federal grant, and the agency was now trying to recruit participants. Members also discussed whether tax-credit-raised funds could count as federal match; the department said they could not, because federal rules require state dollars. The item was adopted. The committee next considered 25-248 from the Department of Safety, which was described as a technical correction moving funds from equipment to hardware and software after consultation with the Department of Administrative Services. A member asked about “buy American” waivers, and the department said it would follow up with more information. The item was adopted. The committee then approved 25-251 from the Department of Administrative Services, which included discussion of ongoing problems with Anthem’s retiree health plan mail-order pharmacy. Department staff said many issues were tied to implementation changes and prescription renewal rules, that some complaints were being resolved through the vendor and the retiree health office, and that the contract would be rebid in the coming year, likely causing further changes. On 25-253 from the Department of Health and Human Services, members questioned the department’s September 5 health alert and whether it diverged from CDC guidance. DHHS said the alert was an annual evidence-based guideline for respiratory virus season and immunizations, largely aligned with CDC recommendations, and that some differences reflected timing and population-specific guidance. The item was adopted. The committee then heard 25-237 from the Department of Justice on the annual litigation fund request. Attorney General John Formela said the request was about $4.3 million, roughly 40% below last year and below the five-year average, with major costs tied to YDC civil and criminal litigation and some DHHS class actions. A member criticized the large increase over the budgeted $350,000 and said the budgeting approach should be corrected in the next cycle. Another member asked about YDC settlement reductions; the attorney general said confidentiality limited specifics, but explained that under the new statute the office had accepted well over half of administrator awards, rejected some, and negotiated lower amounts in others while still resolving most cases. The item remained under discussion at the end of the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then, um, my understanding of the proposed budget from the governor is that jury trials are cut back,
• </c><00:10:57.519><c> I</c> system on that portion of the budget I system on that portion of the budget
• Subdivisions would be able to predict and budget for reserve money and to hold it on their budget and
• </c><02:03:46.280><c> um</c> find it within its operating budget um find it within its operating budget
• Would be 2% or a 3% contribution that would go through the next budget cycle, if I may.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no increase in the base budget and no housing infrastructure bonds in the governor's budget,
• There's no increase in the base budget and no housing infrastructure bonds in the governor's budget,
• There's no increase in the base budget and no housing infrastructure bonds in the governor's budget,
• The governor's budget doesn't include a single dollar more in the base budget for housing, given the
• There's no increase in the base budget and no housing infrastructure bonds in the governor's budget,

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• :06:22.000><c> reducing</c><04:06:22.479><c> opioid</c> budget also calls for reducing opioid budget
• ,</c><04:51:08.080><c> which</c> local DC government DC budget, which local DC government DC budget,
• So, I would have tried to put that billion dollars back into their budget, their own budget.
• </c> bill HR4 to rescend certain budget bill HR4 to rescend certain budget authority<05:15:52.480><c>
• For Christ's sakes, people, the foreign budget is something that's 1% of our budget.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 1012, house, all

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:

• Because Medica has shifted responsibility onto the state, Gwen's waiver budget cannot even sustain her
• cannot even sustain her 40 waiver budget cannot even sustain her 40 hours<00:03:04.239><c> a</c><00:
• </c> to the state budget if we adopt it. to the state budget if we adopt it.
• absorbs the full cost of Medicaid budget absorbs the full cost of care.
• . budget. budget.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on a health insurance/home care nursing provision and on other consumer protection items. Nick Keis and Emily Walters, both parents of medically complex children, testified that commercial health plans had recently begun capping home care nursing as if it were intermittent home health visits, which they said was contrary to Minnesota law and legislative intent dating to 2010. They described severe impacts on their families, including hospitalizations, loss of nursing coverage, strain on waiver budgets, and the risk of children being forced out of the home and into institutions. Representative Bierman echoed that the bill was a straightforward clarification of existing law, not a new mandate or added cost, and a staff member later cited the statutory definition of home care nursing as ongoing, continuous nursing services that cannot be met through intermittent or visit-based care. The committee also discussed the practical difference between home health visits and private duty/home care nursing, with testimony emphasizing that the latter is medically necessary, assessed, and not unlimited in practice. Laura Sales of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office testified on changes to the Consumer Protection Restitution Fund (CIPRA). She said the fund has begun distributing restitution, starting with consumers harmed by the closure of Woodbury Dental Arts, but that current statutory language limits the office’s flexibility to prorate payments. She asked for an amendment allowing the AGO to distribute available funds more equitably so more eligible consumers can receive some payment, rather than requiring full payment to the oldest claims first. Annette Meeks, representing Citizens Against Gambling Expansion, testified in support of banning sweepstakes gambling in the Commerce Committee omnibus report. She argued that online sweepstakes casinos are an illegal gray-market form of gambling, cited rapid growth and billions in revenue, and said other states have acted through enforcement and legislation to stop them. She urged the committee to include language from Senate File 4474 to clarify state law and prohibit sweepstakes gambling. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting shown; members mainly asked questions and received testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is part of the appropriation budget.
• It's probably good that I'm not in charge of the budget, because if I was, half our budget would go to
• , fight for your roads in the budget.
• And so then that turned into a budget negotiation.
• This is a budget issue.

Bills: SB1059, SB1209, SB1273, SB1332, SB1452, SB1456, SB1549, SB1552, SB1818, SB1826, SB1827

Keywords: appropriation, Department of Transportation, right turn lane, traffic improvement, infrastructure funding, nonoperating identification, homeless exemption, veterans, emancipated minors, Arizona Department of Transportation, transportation, infrastructure, pavement rehabilitation, funding, Arizona, SB1332, light rail, light rail expansion, Maricopa County, Phoenix

Transcript Highlights:

• It is my first subcommittee hearing here in Budget 4.
• It is my first subcommittee hearing here in Budget 4.
• of that budget proposal, is not really his budget proposal.
• of that budget proposal is not really his budget proposal.
• And I think especially this year, I'm just struck by the budget, the Governor's budget proposal that's

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When bargaining, the district comes to the table and says, “This is your budget.
• We have about an $86 million insurance budget, and about 3% of that goes to administrative fees. families
• </c> school boards responsible for budgets school boards responsible for budgets and<00:17:45.280><c>
• , budget cuts will likely<00:19:06.799><c> be</c><00:19:06.960><c> an</c><00:19:07.200><c> impact</c>
• As you know, requesting fiscal budget.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We have an 11 billion budget. I get what you're saying.
• about our entire state budget.
• The table to the right is our district budget. It's a breakdown of our district budget.
• We have a total district budget this year of 45.8 million.
• And their maintenance budget is 50 million That's what our district budget is 45.8 million.