Transcript Highlights:

• Low amount of patients. Do you know of an environmental reason for either of those?
• One is that we pay our providers an enormous amount of money. That's just reality.
• It gives us access to the distribution for the Water Trust Board. Board does, right?
• The use of the EMS fund distribution, right?
• So now we have around $15 million going into the EMS distribution, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the distribution from returns that UTIMCO is made. Okay.
• It's a 7% distribution, 7% distributed annually. And so that's 7% approximately.
• They make a 7% distribution.
• That distribution is then what's given to the...
• Now, what is the top amount to issue debt?

Summary: The committee heard testimony first from the Texas General Land Office and School Land Board. GLO officials described the agency’s role in managing more than 13 million acres of state lands and mineral interests for the Permanent School Fund, overseeing the Alamo, coastal programs, veterans’ services, and federal disaster recovery. They said the agency has generated about $6 billion for the Permanent School Fund since Commissioner Buckingham took office, and that its disaster recovery portfolio is about $14 billion across multiple events, with more than 22,000 housing units rebuilt or reconstructed since Hurricane Harvey. Members asked about land purchases such as Brewster Ranch, rare earth mineral leasing, SpaceX-related beach access, and whether the lands are public access lands; GLO staff said the holdings are managed to maximize revenue for education, that most land is leased rather than open to public access, and that they are coordinating on coastal access and compliance. On the School Land Board, members sought clarification on the difference between GLO-managed lands and the Permanent School Fund Corporation’s investment role, and staff explained that GLO generates the revenue while the separate corporation invests it. No votes or formal actions were taken. The Board for Lease of University Lands then testified. University Lands officials explained that they steward 2.1 million acres of surface and mineral interests in West Texas for the Permanent University Fund, which supports UT and Texas A&M institutions. They said a 2025 lease sale produced about $50 million in bonus revenue from 28,000 acres, and described the Board for Lease’s role in approving lease forms, lease sales, and development agreements. Members asked about the size and use of the PUF, how distributions work through UTIMCO, whether PUF money can be used for athletics, and how the land is managed; the witness said the fund is a constitutional endowment, the land is largely leased rather than sold, and distributions are generally used for buildings, labs, and other permanent structures, with some institutions also using a portion for operations. No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee then took up municipal utility districts. Testimony from a law firm, the Texas Municipal League, Fort Bend County Commissioner Vincent Morales, and Johnson Development largely supported MUDs as a financing tool for infrastructure tied to growth. Witnesses said MUDs help fund water, sewer, drainage, roads, parks, and related infrastructure, allowing development to proceed without shifting costs to existing taxpayers and helping keep housing affordable. They emphasized that MUDs are created with disclosure to homebuyers, are subject to the Open Meetings Act and Public Information Act, and are overseen by TCEQ for bond issuance and related financial stress tests. Members questioned whether MUDs are taxing entities, whether they can be created inside city limits or ETJs, how much control cities and counties retain, and whether MUDs are becoming permanent local governments; witnesses acknowledged they levy taxes and debt, can exist within city limits with city consent, and often function as long-term local entities. The committee did not take any formal action during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hampshire that's trying to distribute Hampshire that's trying to distribute power<00:40:42.640><
• related cost um it takes the same amount related cost um it takes the same amount of<01:15:43.239
• because of transmission and distribution because of transmission and distribution so<01:19:11.639
• distributed energy resources distributed distributed energy resources and<04:36:49.959> I'll<
• <05:07:21.840> of meters once a significant amount of meters once a significant amount of

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and Secretary, I just wanted to make a comment regarding the additional amount for your budget.
• It is a pretty low amount.
• It is not a bump up of a huge amount to someone in terms of of paying for groceries.
• It's not a huge amount, not going as far.
• And then of the remaining amount... there's probably most of the remaining amount that is purchased items

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, the grant amounts were up to $50,000 based on your revenue.
• <00:04:25.880> were Paul in addition the grant amounts were Paul in addition the grant amounts
• left, which is probably what would that be, $60 million left to distribute?
• will be distributed?
• We have not distributed any dollars outside of the Promise Act loan program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we looking at changing any of the VPK money to increase the amount we're giving providers? No.
• of $317,000 and the expense category in the amount of $1.9 million to support the obligation shortfalls
• of $317,000 and the expense category in the amount of $1.9 million to support the obligation shortfalls
• “What is the timeline for distributing what you’ve already been, what you’re drawing down through this
• Meyer: So the timeline for distributing the funds, first we need to get the authority.

Summary: The Legislative Budget Commission considered 21 budget amendments, most of them routine authority adjustments tied to federal grants, Medicaid payment programs, and trust fund realignments. The Department of Education received $14.751 million for a Preschool Development Grant to support early learning system improvements, workforce credentialing and training, IT modernization, and related early childhood certification work. The Department of Veterans Affairs shifted $2.2 million within its trust fund to cover higher nursing home occupancy, replace contract nursing with OPS staff, and meet rising operating costs. The Department of Health moved about $9.1 million to support Disability Determinations, where roughly 140,000 cases were pending or in process, and said the change would help reduce backlog and avoid a deficit. The Agency for Health Care Administration presented multiple amendments for Medicaid-related programs, including $766 million for indirect medical education, $1.9 million for managed care network adequacy audits, $209 million for the Rural Health Transformation Program, and several large supplemental payment programs for hospitals and physicians; members asked about CMS approval delays, provider access, and how rural funds would be distributed. The commission also adopted an amendment realigning KidCare funds, placing a $32.1 million surplus into reserve, though several members objected that the state had not yet implemented the 2023 KidCare expansion and that children remained on a wait list. Another Medicaid amendment placed a $376 million surplus into reserve after updated estimating conference projections. Other agencies also received approvals. FDLE received $16.26 million to buy counter-unmanned aircraft systems equipment such as radar and RF sensors to detect and mitigate drone threats. The Department of Juvenile Justice received $1.6 million for the Florida Scholars Academy and a Social Services Block Grant realignment, with staff confirming corrective action had been taken after prior audit findings about allowable SSBG spending. The Division of Emergency Management received federal pass-through authority for FIFA World Cup security and counter-UAS funds, both controlled by the Miami host committee, and members noted the state had little direct oversight over how those local grants would be used. The Department of Commerce received $148.4 million for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery work, with questions focused on the split between housing, infrastructure, and administrative costs. The Department of State received $408,377 for arts and culture federal grant obligations. All amendments were adopted, generally without objection, after brief questioning and no public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• their registration so it's a hard amount their registration so it's a hard amount to<00:09:54.279
• <00:27:25.080> and system regulating the distribution and system regulating the distribution
• with the goal of signing contracts with distribution companies in those areas.
• <01:16:13.239> were many people and the amounts were many people and the amounts were different
• had<01:19:34.120> lost whatever uh amount that they had lost whatever uh amount that they

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. HB 655 would limit collection of unpaid motor vehicle taxes, fees, and penalties to the most recent five consecutive years of delinquency. The Department of Transportation opposed the bill, saying it could significantly affect state and county revenues and that the fiscal impact was hard to estimate. The Tax Foundation noted the bill would shorten the existing collection period, while an individual testifier supported it as a narrow measure that would help owners of old or inherited vehicles. In questioning, the department said it could not quantify the cost but suggested it would prefer case-by-case flexibility rather than a fixed five-year limit. HB 697 would authorize Department of Transportation and Department of Law Enforcement personnel to inspect and certify evidence from automated speed enforcement systems and would appropriate funds for the program. The Department of Transportation supported the measure, citing the workload created by the red-light camera pilot and the need to assist police and prosecutors. The Department of the Attorney General supported the concept but recommended technical amendments so the verification language would apply consistently across the chapter and allow the appropriate reviewing entity to act. The committee also heard support from the AAHU Metropolitan Planning Organization and opposition from three individuals. HB 711 would require defendants convicted of causing the death of a parent or legal guardian of a minor child while driving under the influence to provide financial support to the surviving child. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing that criminal restitution must be tied to verified losses and that this type of long-term support is better handled in civil court, where trusts, conservatorships, and insurance claims can be addressed. The Department of Transportation supported the bill as a deterrent to impaired driving, and police, prosecutors, and an injury prevention group also submitted support. Members questioned whether the measure was better suited to civil litigation, and the public defender agreed that the civil system was the proper venue. HB 108 would allow direct shipment of beer and distilled spirits by certain licensees and require county liquor commissions to adopt rules. The Attorney General raised constitutional concerns, saying the bill’s different treatment of out-of-state manufacturers could violate the dormant Commerce Clause and recommended revisions. Brewers and distillers testified in support, saying the bill would put beer and spirits on a similar footing with wine direct shipment, help small producers reach consumers, and support the local economy without increasing underage access. They also said the bill should be amended to address grandfathering language. No final votes or committee actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• through a report that came through the Legislative Finance Committee in terms of rural libraries, amounts
• If they had had the endowment funds a few years ago, when the endowment was only distributing a couple
• Senator: The distribution was approximately...
• Senator: The distribution was approximately $23,000 this year from the fund.
• Yes, it's divided evenly between each library, the total amount of the disbursement available.

Bills: SB61, SB62, SB99

Keywords: rural libraries, funding, cultural affairs, education, community support, appropriation, state investment, public resources, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They've done a tremendous amount of research and seeing the numbers that, Anniversary, but they have
• There was a period of time where the amount we had was reduced."
• We're going to liquidate any property, bill and collect amounts owed to that particular estate.
• And we distribute available assets to the claimants.
• of distributions in Chapter 631.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of Financial Services and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, then returned to its ongoing budget workshop with the Department of Management Services. DFS’s Division of Risk Management described its role as the state self-insurance fund, covering about 200,000 employees and 27,000 vehicles, paying roughly $150 million in claims last year, and managing a pilot ETS treatment program for veterans and first responders that had 49 patients and 804 treatments as of the latest report. The Division of State Fire Marshal outlined its fire prevention, training, emergency response, and grant programs, including hurricane deployments, the Florida State Fire College, and several capital and grant requests for roof, courtyard, memorial, and equipment needs. The Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation explained how it handles insolvent insurers under Chapter 631, currently administering 14 estates with $1.2 billion in assets and $3.7 billion in liabilities, and said no new receiverships had been opened since February 2023. Members asked about grant backlogs, fire truck procurement delays, memorial repairs, and whether affiliate transfers were occurring in insurer liquidations. Secretary Griffin then updated the committee on DBPR’s implementation of House Bill 1021 on community associations. He said the department had used the new authority to expand education, complaint handling, and ombudsman services, including 10 free standardized courses, a new condo website, and a four-hour board certification course that had already drawn more than 12,000 attendees. He reported that outreach to condominium communities had increased by more than 60%, that complaint filings were up 39% while jurisdictional dismissals dropped to 11%, and that about 81% to 82% of the 65 new positions had been filled. Members pressed him on whether the department had enough authority and funding, how condominium counts are determined, how self-reported structural integrity reserve study data is verified, and whether more public-facing complaint tracking and better reporting from local governments or developers would improve the system. The committee then resumed questioning Secretary Allende of DMS about outstanding budget and operations issues. Members focused on the delayed People First contract extension required by statute, with the secretary saying the delay involved technical and contractual complexity in moving a legacy hard-coded system to the cloud. They also revisited the state data team and data catalog project, asking why a statutory 2022 deadline had not been met, how the four-person team and broader data staff were organized, how many applicants were considered for key positions, and what each role was doing. The secretary said the catalog work was being simplified into six metadata fields and supported by a broader community of practice, but no firm completion date was given during the exchange.

Transcript Highlights:

• nuclear natural gas and distributed nuclear natural gas and distributed generation<00:15:34.240>
• Some look at near-term being more distributed generation, potentially batteries located across the distribution
• Some look at near-term being more distributed generation, potentially batteries located across the distribution
• Some look at near-term being more distributed generation, potentially batteries located across the distribution
• Some look at near-term being more distributed generation, potentially batteries located across the distribution

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we will have the bill distributed.
• They distribute 260,000 clothing items, hygiene kits, and kids' Christmas gifts.
• <00:02:10.599> 260,000 insecurity they distribute 260,000 insecurity they distribute 260,000
• We also distributed goods last year.
• the relationship between bail amounts the relationship between bail amounts and<00:30:34.720>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this also is permitted under IRS rules governing in-service distributions.
• And this also is permitted under IRS rules governing in-service distributions.
• . distributions. distributions.
• <00:04:11.360> of Trustees spent a significant amount of Trustees spent a significant amount
• So the distributions in that statute.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman and members, House Bill 2388 appropriates an unspecified amount of monies through the...
• since FY 23; however, the distribution of it has never been written down.
• The distribution has always been an even distribution to those five counties, but it's never been said
• anywhere, and... ...even distribution to those five counties, but it's never been said anywhere, and
• But it's a safe assumption that it's a very small amount. It's a small percentage. Perfect.

Bills: HB2352, HB2388, HB2418, HB2499, HB2500, HB2579, HB2584, HB2804

Keywords: funding, auditor general, county treasurer, procedural reviews, state appropriations, HB2388, Arizona Commerce Authority, ACA, small modular reactor, SMR, nuclear energy, advanced nuclear, data center, data centers, economic development, study, appropriation, general fund, jobs, wages

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2584, which would prohibit public funds from being used for genetic sequencing equipment made by companies owned or controlled by entities domiciled in a foreign adversary. The sponsor said the bill is intended to prevent sensitive genetic data from being sold or used against the United States. There was little public testimony, and the committee approved the bill on a 13-5 vote for a do pass recommendation. Members then considered HB 2804, a rural development and housing tax credit bill that would let the Department of Housing allocate up to $2 million per year in credits for qualifying rural affordable housing projects, with the program set to expire in 2037. Supporters, including the sponsor, the mayor of Flagstaff, and housing investors and developers, said the credit would leverage federal LIHTC dollars, attract private capital, and help finance affordable housing for seniors, veterans, and low-income residents in rural Arizona. Opponents from the Arizona Free Enterprise Club argued state LIHTC programs are inefficient, costly, and hard to oversee. The committee passed the bill 13-4. The committee also heard HB 2388, as amended, which appropriates $100,000 to the Arizona Commerce Authority to study the economic benefits of small modular reactors and data centers, with a report due by June 30, 2027. Supporters said the study could help Arizona plan for future energy and data-center growth, while opponents argued the agency already has other funding sources and should not receive additional money for the study. The amended bill passed 10-7. After a presentation from Auditor General Lindsay Perry on county treasurer procedural reviews and the Santa Cruz County embezzlement case, the committee approved HB 2352, which provides $2,385,900 in FY 2029 for the Auditor General to continue county treasurer reviews, on an 11-7 vote. The committee then unanimously approved HB 2418, as amended, which directs $600,000 to be evenly distributed among five major incident task force counties and codifies the longstanding distribution practice. Finally, the committee took up HB 2499, the first of two ESA administration bills, which would appropriate $2.6 million and 12 FTEs to the Department of Education for ESA administration and oversight beginning in FY 2027; the bill drew extended debate about ESA growth, accountability, testing, and spending oversight, but the transcript cuts off before the final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• They distribute them.
• They distribute them.
• They distribute them.
• They distribute them.
• They distribute them.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• these monies are distributed across the state?
• I don't have the county distribution, but it has a wide distribution.
• That's an incredibly high amount. It's still far less than the request amount that's coming in.
• That's what this $222 million allows for them to actually apply for the amount or be awarded the amount
• The amount...

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:26.920> and that Define criteria and amounts and that Define criteria and amounts and
• existing Frameworks for the distribution existing Frameworks for the distribution of<00:19:31.000
• <01:30:26.639> that uh covers or estimates the amount that uh covers or estimates the amount
• <01:46:57.080> of Gap um and it's a significant amount of Gap um and it's a significant amount
• you answered because I saw the amounts you answered because I saw the amounts for<02:01:04.520><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to hear a Minnesota Department of Education presentation on federal education funding and the potential effects of federal actions on those dollars. Chair Kunesh framed the discussion around concerns about threats to the U.S. Department of Education and noted that federal funds make up about 10% of Minnesota’s education budget, or roughly $1.4 billion. Senator Lang pushed back, emphasizing that 90% of school funding comes from state and local sources and urging the committee to focus on state mandates and how to pay for them. New member Senator Clark introduced himself and said he would teach ethics or running if he were a teacher. Department staff explained that federal education dollars are divided between entitlement/formula funds and competitive/discretionary grants. They said Minnesota receives federal money through established systems and that the department is seeking clarity about how federal changes might affect the flow of funds, oversight, and program administration. They also outlined Minnesota’s legislative review process for federal funds, which includes several pathways such as the governor’s biennial budget, supplemental budget submissions, legislative advisory committee review, and expedited review processes when needed. The presentation then focused on ESEA Title funding, especially Title I. Staff said Title I is one of the largest federal education programs in Minnesota, with about $200 million in current funding, and supports 476 local education agencies. They described how funds are allocated through Minnesota’s North Star accountability system and Compass support structure, based on measures such as poverty, graduation rates, and state assessment performance. Examples of allowable supports included professional development, attendance initiatives, reading curriculum, training, and peer coaching. Senators asked whether executive action could affect these funds and whether the money flows directly to districts or through the state; staff responded that they would avoid speculation and would continue explaining the different funding streams and oversight structure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bosy explained that, on behalf of Senator Lang, the bill's prime sponsor, the legislature sets the amount
• occurs, the balance goes back to the local tax burden on communities, which only receive a prorated amount
• <00:13:13.680> of<00:13:13.800> their only get a pro-rated amount of their only get
• The senator said they were looking at lines 22 through 25, which refer to an extra designated amount
• <00:43:02.319> of with actually a declining amount of with actually a declining amount of

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:29:06.919> of provide a small amount of provide a small amount of hydrogen<00:29:08.799
• This registry of ammonia certificates produced by local distributed ammonia facilities will act in a
• This registry of ammonia certificates produced by local distributed ammonia facilities will act in a
• operate off the grid on distributed operate off the grid on distributed energy<00:45:49.079>
• <00:49:22.440> green Distributed green ammonia production offers many advantages.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The goal of the program is to distribute The goal of the program is to distribute a<00:08:55.920
• to the most a finite amount of resources to the most amount<00:08:58.880> of<00:08:59.120>
• <00:14:54.399> Other those in equal dollar amounts. Other those in equal dollar amounts.
• the public students and the total amount the public students and the total amount that<00:35:12.320
• to uh more evenly distribute the funds. to uh more evenly distribute the funds.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A high amount of them are under the promise plan. And as far as what they...
• I raised the same question when I was looking... at the amount of the fee.
• Last year, we distributed nearly $25 million in financial aid to our students.
• Our distributed model goes differently. Paul, Elizabeth can answer and then Paul.
• As introduced, House Bill 42 would bring the amount of up to $787 million per fiscal year.

Bills: HB42, HB 125, HB 1233, HB2853, HB3148, HB3326, HB3701, HB4066, HB4361, HB4762, HB4909, HB4912, HB42, HB125

Keywords: higher education, funding, financial allocation, state budget, Texas A&M University, University of Houston, education funding, medical education, osteopathic medicine, healthcare workforce, Tarleton State University, industry-recognized credentials, workforce development, career opportunities, feasibility study, student fees, university funding, student union, education, UT El Paso