Transcript Highlights:

• I'm pleased to present SB 1021, a bill that directs the California Fish and Game Commission to adopt
• I'm the founder and CEO of Field of Dreams, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in California.
• It's a game changer. We get these kids out in the field for that one day.
• We have the utmost respect for our fish and game and, most importantly, our wildlife.
• So we always base our hunts on our fish and game and, most importantly, our wildlife.

Committee: House Water, Parks, and Wildlife

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a proven model, so this is not a new idea based on theory.
• How many people do you expect to release based upon this retroactive to January 1994?
• also wrote a book for kids with incarcerated parents, but for people who don't have entrepreneur skills
• also wrote a book for kids with incarcerated parents, but for people who don't have entrepreneur skills
• Skills. Misdemeanor records keep them from getting everything from construction to desk jobs.

Bills: SB1110 , SB1140 , SB1234 , SB1275 , SB1426 , SB1436 , SB1470 , SB1489 , SB1512 , SB1540 , SB1556 , SB1568 , SB1569 , SB1573 , SB1585 , SB1609 , SB1627 , SB1634 , SB1635 , SB1648 , SB1654 , SB1687 , SCR1027 , SCR1040

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Elections

Keywords: home confinement, electronic monitoring, community supervision, criminal justice reform, recidivism, expungement, misdemeanor, criminal record, Arizona Revised Statutes, judicial process, record sealing, juvenile court, legal representation, appointed attorney, guardian ad litem, child welfare, veterans, mental health, criminal diversion, military service

Transcript Highlights:

• There’s one more: life skills training.
• The life skills piece was another huge part of just making sure that people... ...that people have those
• additional skills that they need in order to get the job and keep it.
• All these were based on our sunset hearing, and those are all made manifest inside the documents here
• I can't find anywhere else in the law where fines are based on the revenue of the entity when they're

Bills: HB191 , HB35 , HB29 , HB123 , HB35 , HB29 , HB191 , HB123

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, sales and use tax, local tax exemption, county tax, municipal tax, county commission, municipality, Alabama Department of Revenue, tax exemption, ordinance, resolution, fiscal year, September 1 effective date, notice requirement, local government, tax administration, revenue law, state and local taxation, volunteer firefighters

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and members, Senate Bill 1290 prohibits the Arizona Game and Fish Commission from transporting
• Science-based decisions on recovery are what is needed. Thank you. Ross, thank you very much.
• I represent the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, and we are registered neutral for the bill.
• I represent the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, and we are registered neutral for this bill.
• And I thank the Game and Fish Commission for coming and speaking to it.

Bills: SB1005 , SB1202 , SB1278 , SB1279 , SB1280 , SB1287

Committees: Senate Natural Resources , Senate Senate Natural Resources Committee of Reference

Keywords: cosmetics, animal testing, prohibition, manufacturers, sales regulation, state preemption, groundwater, water conservation, Arizona water resources, drought management, water quality, solar radiation management, environment, regulation, Arizona Revised Statutes, weather modification, licensing, environmental impact, public safety, cloud seeding

Transcript Highlights:

• It excludes school instructional facilities located on military bases from a district's inventory of
• It excludes school instructional facilities located on military bases from a district's inventory of
• It also adds a bump to any schools being built on the base.
• Many of the contractors want to keep their skilled workers on these.
• It can be based on a single CBA in an area not even related to where the project is occurring.

Bills: HB2295

Committee: House Capital Budget

Keywords: Washington capital budget, supplemental capital budget, capital appropriations, state building construction account, taxable building construction account, climate commitment account, natural climate solutions, housing trust fund, affordable housing, supportive housing, homelessness, manufactured home communities, mobile home parks, school construction, school modernization, school seismic safety, healthy schools, school electrification, SCAP, behavioral health facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• They offer a wide variety of different skill sets and willingness to learn. with our team.
• They offer a wide variety of different skill sets and willingness to learn.
• Has my community-based group been cut? How can I find this in the budget? Help me navigate.
• And, you know, obviously it takes some skill and experience to navigate some of these reports.
• And is it based on, and also I guess related, is it based on common requests you get?

Committee: Joint Legislative Evaluation & Accountability Program

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the June 18, 2025 minutes, and heard four proposed budget format changes. Washington State Parks requested a structural change to separate and better track its Stewardship Services Division, including cultural and natural resources, environmental planning, and Climate Commitment Act investments. DCYF proposed moving direct service functions now housed in program support into the child welfare program so operational costs and direct services would be reported separately; members asked how this would help avoid across-the-board reductions affecting direct services, and the agency said the change would improve transparency and prevent that problem. The Department of Transportation sought to create a new Ferries Program Support sub-program to consolidate four related projects and two existing sub-programs into one administrative/project support structure, while the Department of Veterans Affairs requested only a title change for Program 20 from Field Services to Veteran Services and Counseling and Wellness. The committee voted unanimously to approve all four changes. Kevin Feltis then gave an interim work plan and staffing update for LEAP. He said the office is continuing work on the rewritten capital budget application (BuildSUM), updating the transportation bond model, completing carry-forward levels for the 2027-29 biennium, publishing 2026 legislative budget notes, updating 2025 salary data, and participating in a LegiTech AI pilot for system development within the legislative network. He also noted LEAP’s role in supporting the new Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability. Staffing remained steady at 11 FTEs, with no retirements or staffing changes in the past year, though one vacancy may be filled later and two retirements are anticipated over the next four to five years. The committee also discussed updates to the fiscal.wa.gov website. Planned work includes streamlining how budget data is updated when budgets are released, converting more than 100 reports from Microsoft Reporting Services to Power BI because support is ending, and evaluating whether the site’s search tool should be improved or replaced. Senators and representatives raised concerns about the number of clicks needed to reach capital and transportation project maps and about making public-facing budget information easier to find and understand. Staff said the website redesign was based on prior user testing and that they would look at ways to make maps and other top-level information more accessible. Finally, the committee elected new officers under its alternating-chair rule. Representative Gregerson was nominated and elected chair, and Senator King was nominated and elected vice chair. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it's based on your ADMR.
• </c><00:34:23.159><c> adequacy</c> in terms of this is your base adequacy in terms of this is your base
• Now it's called SBLP, site-based licensing plans.
• </c> all four now it's called sblp site-based all four now it's called sblp site-based licensing<01:20
• That’s very local-based on a state level. That cluster piece is the answer.

Summary: The committee first heard HB 295, which would make school building aid funds non-lapsing/non-APS. Representative Cahill said the bill was intended to keep any unused building aid money available for future projects, potentially helping move projects up the priority list or provide a little more funding for school construction. Members asked about how much money has lapsed in past years, whether the education trust fund and building aid are separate, and whether any lapsing dollars could be used to pay down debt. Department of Education official Jim Carney said about $29.1 million would be available if building aid is funded to the $50 million maximum in FY26, confirmed that the fund currently lapses, and said the department would gather historical lapse data. Committee members also discussed whether a dedicated fund structure could achieve the same goal, and the chair noted that the education trust fund statute includes school building aid as one of its uses. No vote was taken; the hearing was closed and the committee said it would later hold a work session after receiving more information. The committee then took up HB 237, introduced by Representative Dan McGuire, which would prohibit the use of special education state funds and differentiated aid for students not receiving special education services. The New Hampshire School Boards Association, through Becky Wilson, opposed the bill as written, saying it was unclear, potentially unnecessary, and difficult to implement because adequacy and differentiated aid are distributed as part of a districtwide lump sum rather than as student-specific dollars. She explained that special education costs are embedded across district budgets, including staffing, training, transportation, and instruction, and that some staff and services benefit both special education and general education students. Wilson also said differentiated aid is not tied to a specific pupil and is used at the district’s discretion, though it is intended to support students with greater needs. Committee members pressed on whether the bill would require districts to track money by individual student, whether it could conflict with federal special education law, and whether it would affect least restrictive environment requirements. Wilson said making the funds student-specific could create privacy and accounting problems and could make it difficult to staff inclusive classrooms, though she did not give a definitive legal opinion on federal compliance. She agreed that students who are not eligible for special education would not be included in the separate catastrophic/special education aid reimbursement program. The discussion continued into the second section of the bill, with members exploring how adequacy aid and differentiated aid are used in practice, but no action was taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not evidence-based. It working. It's not evidence-based.
• skill?
• </c> life skills has a long-term benefit. life skills has a long-term benefit.
• skills.
• </c> are structured team-based processes. are structured team-based processes.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• It will provide the state board flexibility to select counsel based on specific case needs.
• These rules affect only lands owned or managed by Fish and Game.
• Director of Programs and Policy Department of Fish and Game.
• These rules affect only lands owned or managed by fishing game.
• Chairman, so we have campgrounds here in Region 3 that are Fish and Game-owned properties.

Committee: Senate Resources and Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• This was just authorization only for the game and fish to approve the use of game and fish funds for
• </c> game and fish to approve the use of game game and fish to approve the use of game and<00:04:48.120
• Chairman, that was in the base bill and it is retained.
• </c><00:16:06.560><c> So</c> the base bill and it is retained. So the base bill and it is retained.
• That would be obviously based on the outcome of the CapCon bill, is that correct?

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first addressed an unintended consequence in the Joint Conference Committee report involving dual and concurrent enrollment funding. Staff explained that a dollar-for-dollar reduction tied to Senate File 81 would have fully funded public school dual/concurrent enrollment while leaving no funds for non-public school students. Senator Salazar moved to strike that provision, the motion was seconded, and it carried. Budget and Fiscal Administrator Don Richards then walked through the conference committee report and the major adopted amendments. He reviewed Senate and House amendments affecting items such as sign language interpreters, rural veterinary education, predator management authorization, petroglyphs and pictographs, senior services, community college funding, school district entitlement payments, the School Foundation Program reserve transfer, a tourism-related rodeo museum change, archaeological work on human remains, a jet airplane reduction, abortion-related language, livestock ear tags, provider rates for developmental disabilities, student-athlete endorsement restrictions, a forensic audit for the Wyoming Business Council, and the Yellowstone tree inscription. He also described several deleted sections and policy changes, including removal of spending-policy provisions, flex authority language, and other budget sections. Richards further summarized new or revised appropriations and conditions, including funding for local cybersecurity, stormwater fees, the Wyoming Natural Resource Trust Fund, lab services, IT modernization, Wyoming Public Television, matching funds, cloud services, and restored governor FTE requests. He noted a compromise on the outdoor trails matching program, a conditional $10 million University of Wyoming operational review appropriation tied to future cost savings, and a stablecoin appropriation. He also explained that the report retained the base-bill reversion language, discussed the remaining general fund balance and statutory reserve, and said the committee would circulate the amendment and signatures for floor action later that day. The meeting then adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our estimates for this fiscal year are around $2.6 billion based on consensus revenue.
• So on a $42 million revenue base, a $60 billion budget, we were over by $52 million.
• I haven't been involved in and aware of any other attempts to expand gaming beyond that.
• In short, the $1,200 threshold is a sensible guardrail for problem gaming.
• Just as important, we are the eyes and ears of the casino when it comes to problem gaming.

Bills: H4975

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Keywords: federal tax changes, OBBBA, revenue impact, pass-through entities, state budget, tax relief, high-income earners, opportunity zones

Transcript Highlights:

• And my concern there is the Department of Game and Fish—I don't know... ...is the Department of Game
• The Department of Game and... Madam Chair, therein lies a problem, I feel.
• Game and Fish is well versed in the wildlife of our state.
• details that is based on community engagement.
• These are based all on project readiness and receipt. Okay.

Bills: SB154 , SB187 , SB193 , SM3

Committee: Senate Senate Conservation

Keywords: insurance, wildfire, flood damage, natural disasters, property coverage, water projects, appropriation, New Mexico, finance authority, infrastructure, New Mexico Finance Authority, funding, SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law

Transcript Highlights:

• They are changing based on expansion.
• and school-based pre-K facilities.
• and school-based pre-K facilities.
• So what are the requirements for home-based daycare?
• So what are the requirements for home-based daycare?

Summary: The committee heard first from LFC staff on a brief about New Mexico’s universal child care expansion. Staff said child care assistance has clear benefits for parents and families, but LFC has not found evidence in New Mexico that it improves children’s educational outcomes; they argued pre-K is the better tool for that goal. The brief highlighted four concerns with universal access: an estimated annual cost of about $849.7 million, a sharp decline in registered homes, possible crowding out of lower-income families, and reduced access for children under age two. Staff also suggested possible mitigations such as prioritizing slots for low-income and at-risk families, reinstating sliding-scale co-pays, and tying quality improvements to workforce wages. Members raised questions about the cost estimate, funding sources, provider quality, and whether the data showed actual crowding out. Several lawmakers expressed support for child care generally but concern about the fiscal impact and whether universal access would divert resources from the families most in need. Others emphasized the importance of child care for workforce participation, rural communities, and family stability, and questioned how registered homes are counted and regulated. LFC staff clarified that the cost estimate was for child care assistance only, not the entire ECECD budget, and that the data showed declines in the share of lowest-income children and infants/toddlers served, though not causation. The ECECD secretary then presented the department’s response, saying universal child care is intended to complete a cradle-to-career system and that the department has already seen strong uptake, increased capacity, and rising workforce participation. She said 6,206 families were found eligible in the first month, the share of infants and toddlers served rose, and new provider applications and licensed slots increased after the November rollout. The department also emphasized wage increases, quality improvements, and a new wage scale/career lattice, while projecting a lower near-term cost than LFC’s estimate and requesting additional funding for child care, early pre-K, home visiting, workforce systems, and capacity-building. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided; the discussion was informational and focused on questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• is the primary need-based program at the federal level.
• is the primary need-based program at the federal level.
• So the North Star Promise Plus was the base award, as I mentioned.
• This program has a base budget of $200,000 per year. Demand for this program remains high.
• Developing good study skills, academic skills, the resources and help necessary to do a college search

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• He has gone to every game, and the team is doing well, and he's been able to pay cash at the gate for
• I go to CDSC soccer games in St. Louis.
• Well, again, I can't go down the street to watch another MLS game in St. Louis.
• And my biggest concern, if we do go to no cash and it's all based upon digital, who controls that?
• The way that I read this right now, could we consider an app-based purchase a retail purchase?

Committee: House Special Committee on Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:

• He has gone to every game, and the team is doing well, and he's been able to pay cash at the gate for
• I go to City SC soccer games in St. Louis.
• Well, again, I can't go down the street to watch another MLS game in St.
• And my biggest concern, if we do go to no cash and it's all based upon digital, who controls that?
• The way that I read this right now, could we consider an app-based purchase a retail purchase?

Committee: House Special Committee on Tax Reform

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 3256, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Dernel, which would require businesses to accept U.S. cash and prohibit cashless-only establishments, with exceptions such as unattended fuel pumps, card security deposits, and businesses that convert cash to a no-fee prepaid card for on-site use. Dernel argued the bill protects seniors, veterans, children, and unbanked or underbanked consumers who may be excluded by cashless policies, and said cash is legal tender and important for privacy and access. She also said she would remove an outdated subsection referencing banks or credit unions. Members raised concerns about whether the bill improperly limits business discretion, whether cashless policies can improve safety and reduce costs, and whether the bill’s definitions were too broad or unclear. Questions focused on what counts as a “retail establishment,” whether the bill would apply to schools, doctors, apps, and event venues, and who would be liable for violations. One member noted possible conflict with existing Missouri law on legal tender and suggested the bill may need clearer definitions and revisions. Testimony was mixed. The Missouri Petroleum and Convenience Association supported the bill, saying cashless trends and credit card fees hurt gas stations and convenience stores, though they asked for practical exceptions. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry opposed the bill, arguing businesses should decide their own payment policies, especially for safety and operational reasons, and objected to the proposed Class D misdemeanor penalty, which they said is harsher than penalties in other states. Additional witnesses from consumer and advocacy groups spoke in favor, emphasizing consumer choice and the continued need for cash. No final vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're heartened that it includes a base budget increase of 7% and a restoration of $130 million base
• And our recommendation is based on a few key factors.
• CSU on top of and apart from any base increase.
• learning skills that will be useful for them while they're in school.
• So we respectfully bargain with them based on their interests.

Summary: The subcommittee heard opening remarks and updates from UC President James Milliken and CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia on the state of higher education, including federal funding losses, civil rights/Title IX compliance, enrollment, housing, and budget needs. Both leaders emphasized the value of UC and CSU to California’s workforce, research, and economic mobility, while warning that federal grant cancellations, investigations, and changes to student aid are creating major financial and operational strain. UC reported losing or having at risk more than 1,600 grants and over $1 billion in research activity, while CSU said it had lost more than 200 grants totaling about $161 million, including minority-serving institution grants that affected student support programs. Both systems said they are investing in civil rights services and trying to limit the release of personally identifiable information in response to federal requests. The committee then reviewed the higher education student housing grant program. Finance and Legislative Analyst’s Office staff said the governor’s budget does not include major new changes but continues support for the program. CSU reported 12 approved projects that will add about 5,047 beds, with roughly 75% below market rate, and said it has about 68,000 beds systemwide, a 92% occupancy rate, and ongoing housing insecurity among students. UC said its housing projects have added more than 7,000 beds when reduced-rent and regular-rent units are combined, but nearly 10,000 students were on housing wait lists at the start of fall 2025. Both systems described rapid rehousing efforts, emergency beds, and partnerships with community colleges, and UC noted several joint housing projects, including at Riverside, Merced, and Santa Cruz. Members discussed whether future housing bonds and use of surplus school sites could help expand capacity. In the enrollment section, the LAO recommended maintaining UC’s 2026-27 resident undergraduate target, funding enrollment growth separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident reduction plan at the three highest-demand UC campuses, and holding UC enrollment flat in 2027-28. For CSU, the LAO recommended revising the 2026-27 enrollment expectation downward to reflect updated projections, while also funding enrollment growth separately and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. CSU said it has rebounded from pandemic-era declines, is above its funded target by about 3,000 FTE, and is shifting about $89 million and 10,000 FTE from lower-demand campuses to higher-demand ones while developing turnaround plans for seven campuses with sustained enrollment declines, including Sonoma State. UC said it has already exceeded its compact enrollment goals and is planning continued growth, but that sustaining it depends on ongoing state support. Members raised concerns about campus-specific enrollment declines, nonresident caps at UC San Diego, and the need for stronger turnaround plans and teacher preparation pathways. The final section covered core operations and deferred payments: Finance said the governor proposes another one-year deferral of about $129.7 million for UC and $143.8 million for CSU, and the LAO recommended retiring the deferrals when one-time funds are available. CSU described rising compensation, financial aid, utilities, insurance, and deferred maintenance costs, and said it is pursuing cost-saving measures such as procurement alignment, campus integration, and shared administrative services.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also addresses the sunsetting of industry-based certifications (IBCs) and provides notice of
• Criterion-based assessments are essential.
• They will base the next question on how the student performed before.
• It's sort of graded, it's programmed based upon human grading.
• A test can be scored as a criterion-based test or a norm-referenced test.

Bills: HB8

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm very interested in skilled trades like plumbing, welding, and mechanics.
• I'd also like to learn practical entrepreneurship and business skills.
• </c> me um I'm very interested in skilled me um I'm very interested in skilled trades<00:56:34.680><c
• He said his friend Preon is enrolled in a respected community-based skilled trades program called Urban
• </c><00:57:41.240><c> that</c> get the chance to learn skills that get the chance to learn skills that

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We do team-based care at Mayo Clinic. We also do team-based learning and education.
• We define competency based on number of opportunities they have.
• We define competency based on number of opportunities they have.
• We define competency based on number of opportunities they have.
• We define competency based on number of opportunities they have.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy