Transcript Highlights:

• Both of those are on time and on budget.
• You know, we came in with a flat budget, and our budget got cut even more than that, so we definitely
• So, our budget is flat other than those requests.
• This is part of our budget request. We're requesting 2 million.
• Really, the facilities' budgets are made up of utilities and food.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is exploratory, not for us to implement is exploratory, not for us to implement any<00:18:05.280
• <00:36:14.079> year,<00:36:14.320> but reduced in a tight budget year, but reduced
• in a tight budget year, but would<00:36:14.800> be<00:36:14.880> nice<00:36:15.119>
• This is something they wanted to have an opportunity, being a budget year, to add to the bill because
• <00:51:34.319> defining<00:51:34.880> an with um implementing or defining an with um implementing

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm doing a budget in Manchester. I'm not sure.
• I'm doing a budget in Manchester. I'm not sure.
• themselves the best way to implement themselves the best way to implement these.<00:36:30.400>
• implementing these ordinances. implementing these ordinances. uh<00:37:22.320> as<00:37:22.560
• This is more than 10% of our entire budget for the year.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The other were doing their budgeting.
• Some of that is governed in municipal budgeting law. The implementation of educational programs.
• Uh the uh municipal uh budgeting law.
• implementation of educational programs. implementation of educational programs.
• I know it is not a budget year.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:51.360> of<00:02:51.599> the to do with implementation of the to do with implementation
• the uh policy proposal and the budget the uh policy proposal and the budget proposal<00:46:53.280
• our budget. our budget.
• Uh, this had to come out of my budgets.
• <01:42:26.000> really out of other parts of the budget really out of other parts of the budget

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is going to, I think it's gonna be implemented in July on July 1.
• And as far as um we're talking about some of the economic issues or even some of the budgets as they
• They put it in the budget, it's put through.
• Like I was saying, some of our members are members of other budget or of other committees, you know,
• And also keep in mind this session that's coming up, it's a 30-day budget session.

Transcript Highlights:

• We would have to convert and move to a completely different assessment type and implement, kind of move
• to a completely different implementation.
• So the cost, you know, we didn't know very clearly at the onset of beginning the work to implement this
• So I think we're giving them a unique perspective in the way that we're implementing our waiver here.
• Okay. ...through our experience as we can take as we implement. Okay.

Summary: The committee reviewed three DHS service contracts: a $690,000-plus sole-source contract for DCFS with Evident Change for maintenance and operation of the Child Welfare Structured Decision-Making Assessment tools; a $1.2 million contract with Sifter Solutions for a SNAP waiver compliance solution and related app; and a $156,000 contract with Samaritan Integrative Services for psychiatric services at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. Staff said the Evident Change contract was needed to keep daily safety risk assessments, case planning, and reunification tools functioning, and that the vendor’s proprietary system made it sole source. Members questioned DHS about reliance on the vendor, the lack of an off-ramp, whether the state was paying more or less annually, and why the contracts were not aligned on the same cycle. DHS and the vendor said the new Evident Change contract was limited to maintenance and operations, that no additional services or employees were being added, and that the broader CQI/review contract would come up separately later. For the SNAP waiver contract, DHS explained that the waiver is intended to exclude certain unhealthy foods from SNAP purchases to improve nutritional value, and that Sifter Solutions would provide a dynamic list for retailers and an app for clients to check products by barcode. DHS said the contract is sole source because it is tied to the waiver implementation and because the vendor can provide the needed dynamic list and education features. Staff said the contract would be funded with remaining federal SNAP Nutrition Education dollars that would otherwise revert to the federal government, and that the University of Pennsylvania would conduct the evaluation at no cost. Members asked about the public benefit, future renewals, and whether the state would own the application; DHS said the two-year term was designed to match the waiver period and allow time to reassess future procurement options. Members also asked about the nutrition education component, and DHS said it is developing videos with a nutritionist on preparing budget-friendly healthy meals and plans to link them to the app and website. After discussion, no objections were raised, and the items were reported as reviewed. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• that you've noticed um after budget that you've noticed um after budget hearings<00:07:27.919>
• So that is our road map that we’re using for our budget development.
• So that is our road map that we’re using for our budget development.
• about it as we get into the budget about it as we get into the budget session<00:27:34.720> and
• I'll stop there because I know you're on time budget. Thank you.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But will the committee implementation. But will the committee implementation.
• Now, was there funding in our budget? No, we we currently do in our budget?
• And we're going to be looking at budget. And we're going to be looking at budget.
• we left in the budget for at risk budget we left in the budget for at risk budget we left in the budget
• this give them authority to implement this give them authority to implement this act.

Bills: HB 1535, HB 123, HB 111, HB 180, HB 342, HB 1027, HB 1178, HB 610, HB 1277, HB 1615, HB 1620, HB 5342, HB 4885, HB 4751, HB 4689, HB 4530, HB 4488, HB 2149, HB 2041, HB 2071, HB 1813, HB 2282, HB 2248, HB 2243, HB 2522, HB 2310, HB 2513, HB 2300, HB 1902, HB 3719, HB 4284, HB 4327, HB 3743, HB 3778, HB 3801, HB 5153, HB 5147, HB 4877, HB 4850, HB 3158, HB 3261, HB 3005, HB 3033, HB 3138, HB 3099, HB 2849, HB 2967, HB 3488, HB 3477, HB 3466, HB 3396, HB 3469, HB 2594, HB 2776, HB 2564, HB 2298, HB 5331, HB 5646, HB 5247, HB 5323, HB 2015, HB 4384, HB 3896, HB 4014, HB 3627, HB 3594, HB 2524, HB 510, HB 561, HB 5111, HB 5446, HB 1181, HB 3963, HB 2785, HB 1661, HB 2460, HB 24, HJR 138, HB 3800, HB 42, HB 129, HB 677, HB 668, HB 2128, HB 2038, HB 2316, HB 3686, HB 2563, HB 1160, HB 3883, HB 2788, HB 2663, HB 3305, HB 3474, HB 1105, HB 3490, HB 3597, HB 1295, HB 3512, HB 3783, HB 2017, HB 3010, HB 3112, HB 4215, HB 3223, HB 3464, HB 3120, HB 4214, HB 4081, HB 4783, HB 4063, HB 2783, HB 5085, HB 2510, HB 3426, HB 4361, HB 1169, HB 2516, HB 4700, HB 3560, HB 3860, HB 3146, HB 184, HB 198, HB 247, HB 367, HB 449, HB 1778, HB 514, HB 632, HB 2582, HB 766, HB 2715, HB 2712, HB 3069, HB 3505, HB 1269, HB 4224, HB 5032, HB 2240, HB 5180, HB 3348, HB 4668, HB 4665, HB 3395, HB 3157, HB 4395, HB 4325, HB 4386, HB 4273, HB 2760, HB 2820, HB 1828, HB 1579, SB 2349, SB 1268, SB 610, SB 1577, SB 1369, SB 2032, SB 2034, SB 1057, SB 1044, SB 922, SB 1759, SB 1143, SB 1506, SB 1403, SB 2361, SB 870, SB 372, SB 72, SB 1583, SB 2314, SB 1267, SB 1273, SB 765, SB 552, HB 2145, HJR 112, HB 1804, HJR 110, HB 1194, HB 1531, HB 5008, HB 3421, SCR 27, HB 5398, HB 1407, HB 426, HB 1535, HB 123, HB 1773, HB 1871, HB 2035, HB 2448, HB 2492, HB 1411, HB 4753, HB 4666, HB 4529, HB 1499, HB 1610, HB 2028, HB 1506, HB 886, HB 3546, HB 796, HB 223, HB 1475, HB 3556, HB 4638, HB 111, HB 180, HB 342, HB 1027, HB 1178, HB 610, HB 1277, HB 1615, HB 1620, HB 5342, HB 4885, HB 4751, HB 4689, HB 4530, HB 4488, HB 2149, HB 2041, HB 2071, HB 1813, HB 2282, HB 2248, HB 2243, HB 2522, HB 2310, HB 2513, HB 2300, HB 1902, HB 3719, HB 4284, HB 4327, HB 3743, HB 3778, HB 3801, HB 5153, HB 5147, HB 4877, HB 4850, HB 3158, HB 3261, HB 3005, HB 3033, HB 3138, HB 3099, HB 2849, HB 2967, HB 3488, HB 3477, HB 3466, HB 3396, HB 3469, HB 2594, HB 2776, HB 2564, HB 2298, HB 5331, HB 5646, HB 5247, HB 5323, HB 2015, HB 4384, HB 3896, HB 4014, HB 3627, HB 3594, HB 2524, HB 510, HB 561, HB 5111, HB 5446, HB 1181, HB 3963, HB 2785, HB 1661, HB 2460, HCR 98, HCR 92, HCR 126

Keywords: Trinity River Authority, river authority, Sunset Advisory Commission, Texas Sunset Act, board of directors, governor appointment, public water authority, regional water authority, water resources, local government, natural resources, board training, ethics, open meetings, public information, conflict of interest, complaint procedures, public comment, director removal, governance reform

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:16:35.040> bill um as we know the bud the budget bill um as we know the bud the budget
• allow for us to follow our budget rules. allow for us to follow our budget rules.
• The budget does conform to all of the budget rules.
• I would the budget constraints.
• budget because of defrail obligations. budget because of defrail obligations.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget funds education.
• The budget lives within our means.
• infrastructure dollars in the budgets. infrastructure dollars in the budgets.
• This isn't a perfect budget, Mr. President. We have never had a perfect budget.
• We are in a tight budget year.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's ready to implement.
• It's ready to implement.
• It's ready to implement.
• It's ready to implement.
• It's ready to implement.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting focused on Kentucky school choice and innovation, with discussion of the state constitution’s “common schools” requirement and how that has been interpreted alongside newer education models. Chairman Tipton described model laboratory schools, Gatton and Craft Academies, magnet and virtual programs, and said these options show that Kentucky has long expanded opportunity through innovation. He then turned the discussion to Senate Bill 207, which he said was designed to support schools of innovation. Senator Steve West reviewed the history of Kentucky charter schools and explained that SB 207 was modeled on a South Carolina approach. He said the bill allows a local school board to contract with a third-party entity to manage an existing school, seek waivers from certain state rules, and receive SEEK funding while also allowing outside private investment. He emphasized that the district initiates the process, that the school remains public, and that the bill includes accountability through a time-limited contract that can be ended if the school is not performing. Members asked about the difference between SB 207 and the earlier charter school law, whether schools could cherry-pick students, and whether teachers would remain district employees. West and Tipton said the new model is tied to an existing school rather than a new charter, cannot cherry-pick students, and keeps teachers as district employees. Representative Brown raised concerns that charters and exceptions could leave some children out, especially lower-income students, while West responded that the proposal is intended to expand choice for families who may not otherwise have it and cited examples from other states where similar models improved low-performing schools. No vote or formal action was taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:53.120> authority rescend certain budget authority rescend certain budget authority
• The White House budget office.
• This means this bill budget office.
• <02:35:54.560> a can get to work implementing a can get to work implementing a comprehensive
• And that's why I budget constraints.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, July 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• BUDGET.
• All in all, we know the budget is not final.
• is enacted, we have the best possible budget.
• I am excited about our budgets, the one-house budget, and very excited about the $500 million...
• I WANT TO THANK OUR LEADER ANDREA STEWART-COUSINS, I AM EXCITED ABOUT OUR BUDGETS, THE ONE HOUSE BUDGET

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Human Services and Labor budget hearing opened with Senate and Assembly co-chairs introducing members and naming secretaries for the record. The agencies covered included Human Services, Labor, Temporary and Disability Assistance, Children and Family Services, Veterans Services, Human Rights, Workers’ Compensation, the Welfare Inspector General, and the Public Employment Relations Board. Members then gave brief statements on their priorities for the upcoming budget negotiations. A major theme was affordability, with repeated discussion of child care, SNAP, housing, and worker supports. Senators and Assembly members highlighted the Senate and Assembly one-house proposals for a $500 million child care worker retention grant program, additional child care slots and subsidies, cost-of-living adjustments for human services workers, and expanded support for supportive housing, youth employment, HEAP, and energy affordability. Several members also emphasized food insecurity and SNAP-related issues, including funding to address payment errors, prevent penalties, expand SNAP education, and respond to expected federal changes. Labor-related issues included workers’ compensation fraud, wage theft enforcement, workplace violence, temporary disability insurance reform, and the creation of dedicated enforcement funding for the Department of Labor. Some members supported using workers’ compensation assessments or insurance-company-related funding to pay for anti-fraud efforts, while others preferred grants to district attorneys or broader DOL enforcement. There was also discussion of occupational health clinics, labor standards in any SEQRA changes, and expanding access to doctors in the workers’ compensation system. Veterans, child care, and public assistance fraud prevention were also discussed, including funding for veterans legal defense and mental health services, microchip/secure EBT cards to reduce skimming, and restoring or protecting various programs. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with the chairs stating that the Senate, Assembly, and Executive would continue negotiations toward a final budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m voting yes, but I do have concerns if the federal big budget betrayal bill, H.R. 1, bankrupts our
• And of course, bills like this become part of the budget.
• And of course, bills like this become part of the budget.
• Even knowing that town budgets are small, it's more the principle of the thing.
• And I've said we need to look at the baseline budget. I don't know.

Bills: SB1063, SB1118, SB1153, SB1154, SB1209, SCM1001

Keywords: appropriation, transportation, safety improvements, Route 70, infrastructure, housing, zoning, middle housing, urban development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, historic preservation, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, special license plate, special plate, license plate, vanity plate

Transcript Highlights:

• A breakdown of the different sections of the budget, as well as the agency budget, the PED, and the reform
• budget language, as including.
• Means for you all in the budget.
• And then where there is budget language to accompany those appropriations, we include the budget language
• The budget. And, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our budget is built on a two-year budget.
• And this year is in the second year of the two-year budget, and we call it the budget adjustment.
• farmers, and other Vermonters implement farmers, and other Vermonters implement projects<01:12:42.840
• <01:23:54.680> in facilities and budgets for uh youth in facilities and budgets for uh youth
• There was money that was set aside in last year's budget, in the '26 budget, to conduct an environmental

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional reading by poet April Osmon, who read two poems focused on bridging political divides and shared humanity. Members then recognized the final day of service for the legislative pages, thanking them for their work during the 2026 session and presenting each page with a pin and a photo opportunity. The chamber then handled bill referrals: Senate Bill 193, creating a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons, was referred to Judiciary; Senate Bill 198, regulating tobacco products and tobacco substitutes, went to Commerce and Economic Development; Senate Bill 214, concerning pre-kindergarten education in geographically isolated school districts, went to Education; and Senate Bill 218, reducing chloride contamination in state waters and carrying an appropriation, was referred to Appropriations. The House also read and adopted two concurrent resolutions: HCR 237 congratulating Vermont-associated 2026 Winter Olympic medal winners, and HCR 238 honoring the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired on its 100th anniversary. Much of the remainder of the session consisted of tributes and guest recognitions tied to those resolutions. Members highlighted Vermont’s Olympic skiers and coaches, including Ben Ogden, Paula Moltzan, Ryan Cochran-Siegle, Jessie Diggins, Mikaela Shiffrin, Barbara Ann Cochran, Bill Koch, and others, and read a note from Diggins thanking Vermont for its support and emphasizing teamwork and community. Speakers also praised VABVI’s century of service and its role in helping blind and visually impaired Vermonters, and several members offered personal remarks honoring retiring Representative Francis “Topper” McFaun for his long service, mentorship, and family legacy.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a budget bill.
• It's a budget bill. We given bill. It's a budget bill.
• cut back on our budget in that regard. cut back on our budget in that regard.
• the police department's budget.
• the police department's budget.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, as we start construction on I-5 and implement tolls on I-205, we looked at diversion and what
• There is also the requirement to be in the president's budget and then the funds are allocated based
• It would not fit within the budget that we have right now. Okay. Thank you.
• My question for you, Carly, is what happens if we go over budget?
• The first two scenarios assume that the low-income discount would be implemented at the time tolling

Summary: The Joint Committee on Interstate 5 Bridge met remotely with Washington legislative members to receive updates on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Program, including environmental review, cost and funding, tolling, and procurement for construction. Program staff said the final supplemental environmental impact statement was published in April 2026, with a federal record of decision expected in early summer. They described the recommended design as a single-level fixed-span bridge, centered I-5 alignment, C Street ramps, one auxiliary lane in each direction, and dispersed park-and-ride parking. Members raised concerns about transparency, the closed chat function, and the decision not to include two auxiliary lanes; staff said the one-lane option was recommended through consultation with partner agencies and analysis, but the final decision would come with the record of decision. Staff also said the diversion analysis projected less than 3% traffic diversion to I-205 in 2045, though members from Oregon and Washington expressed concern about impacts to their communities and asked for more detail on mitigation and decision-making. The committee also reviewed a major cost update. Staff said the full five-mile program is now estimated at $13.5 billion to $15.2 billion, with a likely cost of $14.4 billion, up from a 2022 estimate of $5 billion to $7.5 billion, citing inflation, schedule delays, scope changes, and more detailed risk modeling. They said the first funded phase has been reduced to a $5.68 billion package focused on the Columbia River bridge replacement, connections to I-5, Hayden Island and SR-14, bridge demolition, tolling infrastructure, and advancing light rail design. Funding for that phase was described as $5.69 billion, including $2.1 billion federal funds, $1 billion from each state, and $1.5 billion in projected toll revenue. Members asked what would happen if costs rise further; staff said the estimate includes substantial contingency, the project will use progressive design-build to manage risk, and the team will continue updating the finance plan annually. A separate tolling and traffic-revenue presentation explained that four toll scenarios were analyzed using regional travel demand modeling, a toll diversion model, and a post-processing review. All scenarios assume pre-completion tolling beginning July 1, 2028, a 50% low-income discount for eligible users, and exemptions for tribal preemptions, emergency vehicles, maintenance vehicles, and organized militia. Staff said the low-income discount would affect about 4% to 6% of annual transactions and reduce annual revenues by roughly 2% to 3%. They said Scenario 2 was used for the financial analysis and is sufficient to support the $1.5 billion toll contribution in the funded phase. Members asked about toll collection costs, revenue impacts of the discount, and how the scenarios differed; staff said collection costs are expected to be in line with other WSDOT toll facilities, but exact costs are not yet set because toll rates are not final. Finally, WSDOT staff outlined procurement and delivery steps for construction. They said WSDOT will be the lead contracting agency, using progressive design-build, with a request for qualifications targeted for early July 2026, a request for proposals in October, contractor selection in April 2027, construction starting in 2028, and tolling beginning in 2028. Staff said the approach is intended to consolidate scope, reduce interface risk, and allow transparent negotiation with an independent cost estimator, while preserving an off-ramp if a fair price cannot be reached. Members asked for more detail on timing, cost allocation, and the share of the first phase funded by tolls; staff estimated tolls account for about 26% of the first phase cost.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also understand that there have been challenges and scaling, and implementing the statute in today's
• And we realize that this is a unique position that not all rural water companies can budget.
• They haven't really started on how they're going to implement that yet.
• That was implemented many years ago.
• They are in the midst of a... implementing it now.

Keywords: 1184, house, all