Transcript Highlights:

• . $7.8 million for fixing a budgeting error that occurred. Marketplace health insurance.
• But unfortunately, they were. written out of the federal budget.
• So where does this amount usually fit in this budget?
• that was already there somewhere when we passed the budget?
• So to filter $3 million out of our state's budget to them seems a little bit...

Transcript Highlights:

• therefor, to take effect immediately: Budget Bill.
• A.B. 108 is a budget bill junior that amends A.B. 108 is a budget bill junior that amends the Budget
• As a down payment on what we expect to be a broader effort as part of the budget that begins July 1st
• Are able to participate in the property tax postponement program in the current budget year.
• This bill passed out of the Budget Committee 18 to 0. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, these are not funded in the budget. I have to move money around.
• I am the Budget and Procurement Manager. All right, my name's Tim Gallivan.
• I am the Budget and Procurement Manager here at the Secretary of State.
• The central budget office reads that bill, and then we assign that out to the subject matter experts
• These are budgeted, auditable support costs.

Summary: The committee held a special hearing on a tentative amended, restated gaming compact between the State of Washington and the Squaxin Island Tribe. Washington State Gambling Commission Director Tina Griffin said the state and tribe had reached tentative agreement after collaborative negotiations, and explained the approval process: public comment and a commission vote with ex officio legislative members, followed by governor review, tribal submission to the Secretary of the Interior, and Federal Register publication before the compact becomes effective. Squaxin Island representative Ray Peters said the tribe supports the amendments, describing them as clarifications that improve casino regulation and align the compact with other state compacts while supporting jobs and funding for housing, health care, and other services. Commission staff member Johnny Bray walked through the compact changes, including restating several appendices, removing the CX2 addendum, and adding new appendices on limitations and electronic table games. He said the limitations appendix raises certain wagering and facility ceilings, including higher table-game and tribal lottery system limits, authorization for credit for qualified patrons, and screening requirements for high-limit areas. He also described the new electronic table games appendix, which allows wager limits up to $500 and a nine-to-one ratio of electronic games to gaming stations, along with additional responsible-gaming commitments. Members asked about the location of the tribe and whether higher limits could increase problem gambling; staff said the limits are ceilings, other tribes already have similar authorizations, and the tribe must screen patrons and implement protections. The committee then held a work session with Secretary of State Steve Hobbs and staff on the office’s fiscal note process. Tim Gallivan explained the office’s three-day turnaround, workload-based FTE estimates, use of assumptions and ranges, and how fiscal notes include both salary/benefit costs and broader operating costs such as enterprise support and administration allocations. He also described how litigation costs are estimated in coordination with the Attorney General, including when costs are known, estimated from comparable cases, or marked indeterminate. Members questioned whether fiscal notes can reflect policy disagreements and how assumptions differ across agencies, and discussed examples involving the Washington Voting Rights Act and ranked choice voting. Hobbs and staff said fiscal notes are based on bill language, not intent, and that early sponsor contact can help refine estimates. No votes were taken in the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• But if you look at some of the old budgets, sometimes they have slogans on our budgets that are promoting
• I'll just be frank: the executive budget every year... I'll just be frank.
• The executive budget every year. Last year, we had a bill to address the executive budget.
• I really wanted to focus on the budget without mentioning the governor by name.
• He's putting it on the budget. And then it's being promoted in the committees.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first heard RS 33112, a proposal to prohibit Idaho state government from using logos, mottos, or slogans associated with elected officials on official documents, presentations, and correspondence. Representative Scott said the intent was to keep government communications neutral and avoid promotional slogans such as “Leading Idaho,” but members raised drafting concerns and questioned whether the language could unintentionally affect ordinary state seals or mottos. After discussion, Scott asked that the RS be returned to the sponsor, and the committee voted to do so. The committee then considered RS 33140, which would require civil asset forfeiture reports now filed locally to also be sent to the State Controller’s Office for storage and publication, with the reporting deadline changed from February to April to match existing timelines. Scott said the goal was greater transparency and better legislative oversight, and she explained the reporting would cover forfeiture data, not storage of seized property. Members asked about costs, the reporting form, and whether the bill covered only law enforcement forfeitures; the committee adopted the amendment and voted to introduce the RS. RS 33141 followed, seeking to add penalties for agencies that knowingly fail to report executed MOUs, MOAs, contracts, and related agreements to the State Controller. Members questioned the scope of the penalty, possible liability issues, and whether quasi-government entities were included. After discussion, the committee voted to return RS 33141 to the sponsor for reworking. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 504, a lottery bill aimed at preventing bulk-buying syndicates from purchasing large numbers of tickets and capturing winnings, often through out-of-state groups. Lottery officials said the bill would set a $5,000 per 24-hour purchase limit, allow investigators to deny winnings tied to bulk-purchase violations, and preserve transparency by keeping prize information public. Members asked about enforcement, whether the bill would affect ordinary groups of Idahoans, and whether the same group could evade the limit by using multiple buyers. After no public testimony against the bill, the committee voted to send HB 504 to the floor with a due pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So when the forecast was made, um, MDE provided data to the Minnesota Management and Budget uh in order
• Uh you can see those savings will not be included in the K through 12 education um budget in conference
• uh in order for management and budget uh in order for them<00:03:55.440><c> to</c><00:03:55.680><c>
• </c><00:05:17.120><c> in</c> through2 education um budget in through2 education um budget in conference
• Uh, the schools are looking at this and they are trying to figure out what their budget will look like

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• our budget this year.
• Budget this year.
• If we pass something like this, it should be done in the context of a fully formed budget out of the
• If we can't get the best ideas in the world early on, it's going to be hard for us to reach a budget
• Legislative process, prepared a budget and legislative proposals. We did not do that this year.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><02:21:19.720><c> proposal</c> in Medicaid cuts the budget proposal in Medicaid cuts the budget proposal
• budget budget okay<02:44:12.479><c> now</c><02:44:12.640><c> we</c><02:44:12.800><c> need</c><02:44:
• that's a tough one now his budget that's a tough one now his treasury<02:47:19.479><c> secretary</c>
• He also asked us to find a way to balance the budget.
• the overwhelming majority of that budget the overwhelming majority of that budget<03:30:13.760><c> has

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, March 6, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• TIPS, and then potential future mandates, we have the budget stabilization fund for your portfolios,
• and there's a short-duration portfolio in the budget stabilization fund, and that budget stabilization
• Chairman, I was just a representative company for, I mean, and this gets into a budget question, but
• Yes, yes, I think, you know, given that we're in budget season, I'll ask for a lifeline here.
• So are you going to have more discussions about the Budget Stabilization Fund as well?

Summary: The Legacy Fund Committee received updates from the North Dakota Retirement Investment Office (RIO) on fund performance, liquidity, in-state investments, and internal management. Scott Anderson reported strong returns for the Legacy Fund across multiple time periods, with performance exceeding the policy benchmark and expectations, driven largely by strong equity markets and effective implementation. He also reviewed private market pacing, noting commitments were on plan but that unfunded obligations and distributions were lower than expected, and presented a new liquidity analysis showing the fund had substantial capacity to meet obligations even under stressed market scenarios. The committee also discussed RIO’s internal investment program and cost savings. Anderson explained how internal management of fixed income, equity, and cash overlay strategies has reduced fees and transaction costs, while improving flexibility and portfolio construction. Members asked about staffing needs, and RIO leadership said asset growth has outpaced current staffing, with a request for additional FTEs likely coming to support investment, operations, risk, and legal functions. The committee also reviewed the Legacy Fund’s in-state investment program, including 50 South Capital and infrastructure lending, and heard that one manager’s buildout is progressing more slowly because many opportunities are still early-stage. Adam Odison presented a preliminary estimate of the 2026 Legacy Fund earnings distribution, projecting about $894.8 million under current law, with roughly $237 million to the Highway Fund and $554 million to the Property Tax Relief Fund after the sinking and interest fund allocation. Jody Smith then gave a project update on a new standalone Legacy Fund website required by statute, intended to consolidate performance, holdings, governance, fees, and use-of-funds information for the public, with a planned launch around the October State Investment Board meeting. She also raised a possible future proposal to place the Legacy Earnings Fund back under State Investment Board management so the cash could remain invested longer before being transferred out, though members noted liquidity, accounting, and bank-deposit implications would need further review. Finally, Kelvin Holden of the Bank of North Dakota reviewed the match loan program, explaining how it supports large economic development projects by pairing Bank of North Dakota loans with State Investment Board CDs. He said the program currently has about $272 million outstanding and has supported projects such as Coal Creek Station and the MDU gas line to Gwinner. Members discussed whether the program’s return is appropriate and noted a prior moratorium on new investments so the committee can revisit the policy next session. The committee then elected Senator Klein as chair and Representative Hogan as vice chair, and the meeting ended with members thanking staff and partners for the fund’s progress.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's currently their operating budget.
• And here's the key: this does not cut local budgets.
• They know how to balance and budget that. They know what's coming.
• Yeah, but you know you can budget for that.
• So I turn in my budget as the fire chief to Ms.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on March 26 and first reported favorably HB 287, which renews the Louisiana Tax Commission’s authority to levy certain fees used to fund its operations. The author and Tax Commission representatives said the fee supports the commission’s appeals and assessment work and is not a new charge. The committee then adopted a technical amendment and reported HB 553 favorably as amended; that bill expands the Assessor Certification Program Committee from 5 to 11 members and adjusts education and recertification requirements for assessors. The committee then took up HB 412, a constitutional amendment on property assessment and reappraisal. After an amendment in concept was adopted to remove the bill’s proposed 30-year homestead exemption, members questioned the remaining provisions, which would tie annual assessment growth to CPI and move the reassessment cycle from four years to five. The author, assessors, and local government representatives debated whether the proposal would create predictable tax growth or instead leave many properties assessed below market value and shift burdens to businesses and local services. The author ultimately voluntarily deferred HB 412 and its companion HB 340 for further work. Members next heard HB 514 and HB 961, both senior-property-tax measures, but both were voluntarily deferred after brief discussion and technical amendments. HB 514 would have created an optional additional homestead exemption for certain homeowners age 65 and older, phased in over time and tied to income and a surviving-spouse provision; HB 961 would have extended related eligibility to certain trusts. The committee also deferred HB 515, 543, and 540 to future meetings. Finally, the committee favorably reported HB 521 and HB 570, both dealing with millage and reassessment rules. Supporters, including local government and industry groups, argued the bills would give taxing authorities more flexibility to avoid being forced to levy the maximum millage simply to preserve future authority. Assessors and local officials explained current reassessment and roll-forward rules, while the author said the bills would reduce pressure to overtax residents and businesses. HB 521 was reported favorably, and HB 570 was reported favorably as amended after adoption of a six-part amendment set, mostly technical changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• That project will be completed about a year ahead of schedule and under budget.
• This year, we have in our budget hiring another 75, plus or minus.
• So what we do every year as we establish our budget, our budget is about $1.2 billion total.
• So what we do every year as we establish our budget, our budget is about $1.2 billion total.
• But most of our fiscal year 26 budget, a larger portion is still coming from airline revenue.

Summary: The Transportation Committee met to consider two bills and then held a lengthy discussion on Florida airport infrastructure. SB 246, presented by Senator Rodriguez on behalf of Senator Gruters, would authorize a UFC specialty license plate, with proceeds supporting the UFC Foundation’s charitable work. A UFC Foundation representative described community beneficiaries and said the plate would help raise funds for local charities. With no questions or debate, the committee voted SB 246 favorably. The committee also took up SPB 7012, a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles public-records exemption bill that would remove the October 1, 2026 repeal date for certain active investigatory records. Senator Avila moved to submit it as a committee bill, there was no objection, and it was reported favorably as a committee bill. The remainder of the meeting focused on the Comprehensive Airport Infrastructure Program. FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue outlined Florida’s aviation system, the department’s airport funding programs, and the state’s role as a financial partner in safety, capacity, preservation, and economic development projects. He said Florida has 128 public-use airports, 21 commercial-service airports, and four large-hub airports, and noted that airport funding is largely supported by gas-tax-related revenues, with additional support from documentary stamp revenue and other fees. He also discussed the new airport infrastructure planning requirements created last session and said all required airports had submitted plans. Committee members asked about the loss of aviation fuel tax revenue, workforce development, project timelines, and how FDOT prioritizes funding, with Perdue emphasizing safety, preservation, capacity, economic return, and matching funds. A panel from Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Tampa international airports then described major capital programs, passenger growth, and funding needs. The airports highlighted terminal expansions, parking, baggage systems, airfield rehabilitation, people movers, and other modernization projects, along with the importance of maintaining aging facilities while accommodating growth. They said FDOT and FAA grants are helpful but increasingly insufficient for runway and taxiway costs, and several panelists said passenger facility charges and other revenue tools are important to future self-sufficiency. Members also asked about workforce shortages, small-business participation, landing-fee negotiations, and non-aeronautical revenue. The panel said workforce challenges are most acute in trades and maintenance, small-business programs are active at each airport, and landing fees are negotiated with airlines to keep airports competitive while funding needed improvements.

Transcript Highlights:

• You don't need it budget cycle.
• </c> short back out in the next budget. short back out in the next budget.
• My name is Janice Thomas, deputy state budget director.
• </c><00:57:38.720><c> bill</c> authorizations are in the budget bill authorizations are in the budget
• review</c><01:03:23.760><c> subcommittee</c> also sit on budget review subcommittee also sit on budget

Keywords: 0:00:07 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:00:47 Approval of Minutes 0:01:05 Correspondence and Information Items 0:54:15 Lease Rpt from Postsecondary Institutions 0:56:19 Project Rpt from Finance and Administration Cabinet 1:08:46 Lease Rpt from Finance and Administration Cabinet 1:13:00 Rpt from Office of Financial Mgmt - KIA 1:20:00 Office of Financial Management 1:35:50 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with routine business, including welcoming new committee member Senator Reginald Thomas, approving the minutes, and receiving a correspondence report on several information items. Those items included University of Kentucky research equipment funding, UK capital project funding using federal/private funds, debt issues from McGoffin County and Owen County school districts, lease modifications by the Division of Real Properties, asset preservation project revisions at Eastern Kentucky University and Northern Kentucky University, and Kentucky Communications Network Authority (KCNA) information on Kentucky Wired critical infrastructure. The main discussion focused on a dispute over the Kentucky Wired communication shelters, or “huts,” and related payments under KCNA’s agreement with Asellicom/Excel. Brad Kilby of Asellicom testified that KCNA had not paid for the huts, that Asellicom had not received the alleged $8 million or any later payment, and that Asellicom remained the legal owner. Committee members pressed him on whether payment had been received, whether anyone else might have received it, and whether the lawsuit or dispute resolution process clarified the issue. Kilby said no payment had been received and that the matter was part of ongoing litigation. KCNA Executive Director Doug Hendricks and General Counsel Adam Atkins then testified. They said a certified check for $8.5 million was mailed in July, based on the Finance and Administration Cabinet secretary’s determination that $8.5 million was due under the model procurement code, even though KCNA had initially requested about $12 million to cover a worst-case estimate. They said the contract allowed payment in full or in tranches, that the huts were completed and operational, and that KCNA had not received documentation supporting Asellicom’s higher $10.1 million claim. Members expressed frustration over the missing check and the broader implications for Kentucky Wired, and one member requested that the committee obtain all agency requests related to KCNA/Kentucky Wired since inception; the co-chairs said they would look into making that information available. No formal vote was taken on the dispute during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they were in the state budget, that would bring rates down substantially.
• But on that note, I'm not asking you to make a budget projection.
• Returning to this process allows for budget discipline, Three-year period.
• Our budget is set independently of the commission.
• We do come before the legislature with budget change proposals.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, reliability, and wildfire-related costs. The chair framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while keeping bills affordable and the system reliable, and noted the hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and Public Advocates Office. Professor Severin Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining the split between deregulated generation and regulated transmission/distribution, the basics of cost-of-service regulation, and the role of return on equity. He argued that high allowed returns can encourage capital-intensive spending and that many public policy costs now embedded in rates would be better funded through the state budget, while warning that price caps or performance-based regulation are not silver bullets. CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds described the commission’s role as economic regulator of investor-owned utilities and said affordability is being addressed through rate case scrutiny, reasonableness reviews, and legislative direction. She said wildfire mitigation and insurance costs have been major drivers of rate increases, but some wildfire-related costs are time-limited and will roll off rates over time. She also highlighted progress on clean energy procurement, battery storage growth, and integrated resource planning to meet climate goals while maintaining reliability. Reynolds said the CPUC is reviewing utility spending, disallowing imprudent costs where appropriate, and litigating at FERC to challenge transmission costs. Members pressed both witnesses on several issues, including whether rates are being inflated by legislative mandates and balancing accounts, whether utility returns are too high, and whether the state should shift more public-policy costs off electric bills and into the General Fund. Senators also raised concerns about load growth from data centers and ports, gas-system stranded assets as electrification advances, and whether the CPUC is over-regulating or discouraging innovation. Reynolds said the CPUC is working with the Energy Commission, CAISO, and the Air Resources Board on a holistic planning process, and pointed to tools such as interconnection reforms and demand flexibility. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up requests for reports and data.

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.
• Returning to this process allows for budget discipline,... ...budget discipline, prioritization of utility
• Our budget is set independently of the commission's.
• We do come before the legislature with budget change proposals.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If that were to be the case, then we have budget uncertainties.
• If that were to be the case, then we have budget uncertainties.
• If that were to be the case, then we have budget uncertainties.
• If that were to be the case, then we have budget uncertainties.
• </c> will not be the world's easiest budget will not be the world's easiest budget to<00:52:55.839><c

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:10 SB 11 Discussion 00:01:20 SB 11 Vote 00:05:00 SB 41 Discussion 00:5:43 SB 41 Vote 00:15:03 SB 59 Discussion 00:20:30 SB 59 Vote 00:28:15 SB 57 Discussion 00:29:40 SB 57 Vote 00:40:00 SB 125 Discussion 00:42:43 SB 125 Vote 00:50:53 SB 191 Discussion 00:53:19 SB 191 Vote 00:59:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 11, a proposal to create a matching-grant program for neighborhood storm shelters in rural Kentucky. Sponsor Steve Meredith and supporters from the Kentucky League of Cities and the City of Morgantown said the idea was to use FEMA-style funding to help residents who live far from community shelters, noting that in some rural counties it can take 30 to 45 minutes to reach a shelter during severe weather. The committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill 11-0, with no nay votes. The committee then considered Senate Bill 41, which would require a ballot referendum whenever a taxing entity raises property taxes more than 4 percent, rather than relying on the current petition process. Sponsor Gary Boswell said the bill would give taxpayers more direct control and argued that local governments should simply avoid raising taxes above the threshold. Superintendents from Rockcastle and Casey counties opposed the bill, saying it would weaken local control, add election costs, delay budgets, and make it harder for school districts to keep up with inflation, insurance, transportation, and construction costs. After debate, the committee passed the bill 7-3 with favorable expression. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 59, which would add criminal penalties to KRS 65.013, the law barring public funds from being used to advocate for or against ballot questions. Sponsor Steve Rawlings said the measure was prompted by reports of school officials using public resources to oppose a 2024 ballot issue and argued the law needs real enforcement to protect taxpayers and election integrity. Members raised concerns about First Amendment issues and the bill’s gray areas, especially for public employees speaking on their own time; Rawlings said the substitute removed volunteer references, allowed balanced issue debates, and clarified that employees acting on their own time and resources would not be prohibited. The committee passed the bill 8-3 with favorable expression. The committee also began hearing Senate Bill 57, as substituted, from Senator Danny Carroll. The bill would create a nuclear-ready site readiness pilot program under the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority, with up to three projects receiving up to $25 million each to help cover early site permitting and related licensing costs. Carroll, along with witnesses from the UK Center for Applied Energy Research and the Public Service Commission, said the goal is to build a nuclear energy ecosystem in Kentucky, with safeguards including surety bonds, deadlines, and cost-recovery provisions. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um so those those past 2023 budget bill.
• actually prior budget language.
• </c> sections that look a lot like the budget sections that look a lot like the budget uh<00:25:58.320
• There are a couple of budget language.
• </c> a couple of different allocation budgets a couple of different allocation budgets uh<00:48:34.640

Bills: HF2438

Keywords: transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a budget matter. I'd like to address the budget committee. You're recognized. Thank you, Mr.
• I want the whole budget committee in the state of Arkansas to understand what we're spending this amount
• going to hear further comments on this in the committee process as we have it set up here in Joint Budget
• So I think you may be looking at the personnel agenda as opposed to the Joint Budget Committee agenda
• This is C1 on the Joint Budget Committee agenda. So we passed over item B1. So this is item C1.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a direct and fair way to help close our $6 billion budget gap.
• But we do know one thing: we know that we are blowing an estimated $1.7 billion budget hole into our
• budget.
• This proposal creates a $1.7 billion gap in the state budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year.
• It helps us start to balance the budget.

Keywords: Scheduler, 972, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You've answered my budget-specific questions.
• However, in your budget, there's no adjustment in your budget to address that $525,000.
• We are absorbing additional duties within the budget that we've already presented.
• . of it is, as it relates to the cars already in the budget, they already asked for cars in the budget
• that has already been placed in the budget.

Bills: SB25, SB132, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB237, SB250, SB433

Keywords: registrar of voters, parish registrar, chief deputy registrar, confidential assistant, election administration, elections, salary schedule, compensation, merit evaluation, population-based pay, census-based pay, Department of State, Secretary of State, State Board of Election Supervisors, redistricting, senate districts, Senate District 33, Senate District 34, Senate District 35, precincts

Transcript Highlights:

• But it can make a difference to the people who will suffer most from budget cuts.
• It is to be prudent about how you spend your budget and have reserve funds.
• And just wanted to obviously note that we have a budget deficit right now.
• In 2025, Governor Newsom included a partial tax exemption in his budget for military retiree pay.
• To allocate in the budget procedures to address important priorities.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I did email Brady Larson up at fiscal staff who does the transportation budget earlier.
• It's like 2 percent of my budget is funded by that formula.
• I did email Brady Larson up at fiscal staff who does the transportation budget earlier.
• It's like 2 percent of my budget is funded by that formula.
• next year, I would maybe just remind you that, but, um, Budget.

Summary: The committee met as a study subcommittee on fixed-route public transportation and first approved the December 11 minutes. It then heard detailed presentations from transit leaders in Grand Forks, Bismarck/Mandan, and Fargo about their systems, including route structures, paratransit service, ridership trends, fare changes, funding sources, fleet replacement needs, and operational challenges. Grand Forks described Cities Area Transit’s 17 routes, university shuttle service, expanded paratransit coverage, a 2025 fare increase, and rising costs for labor, fuel, parts, and new buses. Bismarck/Mandan’s Bisman Transit outlined its fixed-route and paratransit operations, recent service expansions approved for April 1, fare structure, ridership recovery since COVID, and major funding streams including mill levies, federal grants, and new local sales tax revenue. Fargo’s MATBUS representative emphasized the importance of continued state support for urban fixed-route transit. Members asked extensive questions about cost per ride, fare increases, school transportation, veteran service partnerships, app-based ticketing, local funding formulas, and whether ride-share or microtransit could replace fixed routes. Transit officials said fixed-route service remains essential because it provides reliable capacity, supports jobs and access to services, and preserves federal funding tied to public transit operations. They also said paratransit is costly but necessary for riders with disabilities, and that vehicle and maintenance costs have risen sharply. Minot’s transit superintendent added context on the state’s existing transit aid formula, explaining that it is weighted more toward rural and paratransit providers and that urban fixed-route systems are seeking a separate, dedicated funding source rather than changes to the current formula. The committee also heard public testimony from North Dakota Protection & Advocacy supporting both fixed-route and paratransit service for disabled riders, and from Minot staff on refurbished buses, CDL driver recruitment, and why the agency is not pursuing full electric buses. Near the end, members discussed whether to recommend additional state funding for the four urban fixed-route systems. A motion passed to have Legislative Council prepare a summary of the subcommittee’s activities for inclusion in the Government Finance Committee’s report to Legislative Management. Members then continued discussing possible recommendations, including a separate funding source for urban fixed-route transit and whether the four urban systems should meet to develop a proposed amount.