Transcript Highlights:

• </c> us to take a new approach in our budget us to take a new approach in our budget and<00:09:33.920
• ><c> working</c> and our budget folks are working and our budget folks are working overtime<00:09:36.000
• </c><00:09:39.519><c> history</c> transparently what our budget history transparently what our budget
• They're about planning to budgeting.
• </c> stewards of the budget. stewards of the budget.

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Roll Call: 00:00:09 State of the Judiciary: 00:02:33 The Corrections - KCTCS Reentry Program: 00:49:44 Update on 2022 RS SB 90: 01:27:49, 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Committee on the Judiciary met on November 6, 2025, approved the minutes, and welcomed guests including Kentucky Specialty Courts manager Elizabeth Nichols and Boyle/Mercer Family Court Judge Bruce Petri. The committee then heard the Chief Justice of Kentucky, Deborah Lambert, deliver her state of the judiciary address, focused largely on judicial branch funding, facilities, technology, and specialty court programs. Chief Justice Lambert said the branch is facing a projected $14.3 million shortfall for fiscal year 2026 and asked lawmakers for supplemental support, access to reserve funds, and higher base appropriations to cover inflation and nondiscretionary costs. She also requested a 15% across-the-board pay increase for judicial branch employees, citing salary gaps with other state workers and declining judicial compensation relative to national averages. She emphasized that the branch has received a clean FY 2025 audit and said the requests were intended to sustain current operations rather than expand them. A major portion of her remarks covered court technology and facilities. She described the move to Chamberlain during Capitol renovations, the purchase of that building as a cost-saving measure, and the need to fund courtroom audio/video systems and a new statewide case management system. She also discussed courthouse maintenance, flood damage, mold issues, security system upgrades, and the $47 million asset preservation fund created last session, while asking for additional local facilities funding and one-time disaster-related support. Lambert highlighted specialty court and statewide program results, including foster care review boards, family recovery courts, court designated worker programs, drug and mental health courts, and the Judicial Commission on Mental Health. She thanked legislators for prior bills and support, including House Bill 1, Senate Bill 26, and the CES law, and said 2026 recommendations will focus on civil commitment reforms under KRS 202C. During questions, Senator Wheeler asked whether some courthouses are being overbuilt; Lambert said most facilities are inadequate, though some may be larger than needed, and that future needs and population changes must be considered. She also noted that virtual hearings and technology have improved efficiency. No votes or formal committee actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the commissioner at Minnesota Management and Budget, and with me today is MMB Deputy Commissioner
• management and budget and with me<00:02:43.400><c> today</c><00:02:43.680><c> is</c><00:02:43.840><c
• </c> terine at this point given um the budget terine at this point given um the budget constraints<00
• </c><00:32:07.000><c> recommendations</c> of budget recommendations of budget recommendations okay<00
• </c><01:24:26.480><c> we</c> veterans last session in the budget we veterans last session in the budget

Bills: HF10

Keywords: undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• should be provided and allow members to be able to provide input on the budget.
• The annual members meeting does not necessarily time with budget adoption.
• should be provided and allow members to be able to provide input on the budget.
• The annual members meeting does not necessarily time with budget adoption.
• </c> travel separately because of the budget travel separately because of the budget impacts<01:18:56.320

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> operation Operation management budget operation Operation management budget Services<00:02:36.000
• Game and Fish fund is 14%; the general fund makes up 30% of our budget in 24-25.
• Game and Fish fund is 14%; the general fund makes up 30% of our budget in 24-25.
• think Brad Hager and his colleagues can contest that the DNR budget is one of the most complicated budgets
• </c><00:42:46.800><c> that</c><00:42:46.960><c> was</c> banal budget that was banal budget that was passed

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , and it's part of the executive budget, which we would see later under the budget worksheets.
• and it's part of the executive budget and it's part of the executive budget<00:01:51.000><c> and</c>
• > of</c><00:01:54.680><c> course</c> under the budget work sheets of course under the budget work sheets
• Um, it's not a part of that budget because it wasn't accounted for in that budget.
• I oversee the forensic programs in Oʻahu, and I did a budget.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard several bills on January 30. SB 286 and SB 287 both concerned supplemental funding for the Honolulu Department of the Prosecuting Attorney: SB 286 for the career criminal prosecution unit and SB 287 for the victim witness assistance program. Testimony from the department explained that these bills are filed each year because the Attorney General’s core budget allocation may not be sufficient, though the department said the core had recently been increased and the supplemental request might no longer be necessary. For SB 287, the department also warned of a possible federal Victims of Crime Act funding freeze that could cut about $1.88 million and severely harm victim services. Both bills drew support from county and community witnesses, and members asked about prior-year funding and why the requests were limited to fiscal 2025-26; no votes were taken in the excerpt. SB 289, from the State Ethics Commission, would create a more uniform administrative fine process under the ethics code and lobbyist law. The commission said the measure would not change substantive enforcement but would let it issue a notice and order of fine first, with the respondent able to request a hearing within 20 days, which would speed up cases that are not factually disputed. Members questioned whether the bill would deny due process or function like an automatic parking ticket, and the commission responded that respondents could still challenge the fine and that the process would apply to violations with fines under $1,000. The committee also heard SB 304, which would add 11 positions for the First Circuit Adult Client Services Branch; Judiciary testimony said probation caseloads are high, with an average of 116 cases per officer, and the added staff would help meet national supervision standards and better serve higher-risk clients. Members asked whether the positions were already in the budget and about current staffing ratios; the witness said the positions were not already funded and that the Judiciary supported the bill with amendments. The committee then heard SB 311, a proposed constitutional amendment to exclude spending money to influence elections from protected free speech. Testimony was strongly divided: supporters argued that Citizens United has distorted elections and empowered special interests, while opponents warned the language was too broad and could affect nonprofit advocacy and grassroots groups. Finally, SB 313 would impose a 1% wealth asset tax on individuals with $20 million or more in assets. The Department of Taxation said it had concerns about the bill’s ambiguity and administration and noted it would require annual valuation and likely additional resources; opponents, including family business representatives and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, argued the tax would be difficult and costly to administer, would require sensitive business disclosures, and could force family businesses to pay from company cash. Supporters said wealthy residents should pay a fair share. The committee heard testimony and questions on these bills, but the excerpt does not show final committee votes or actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I brought this amendment to SB 30 to the Joint Budget Committee, which is the process available.
• present yes ready for discussion thank madam chair i brought this amendment to sb 30 to the joint budget
• We don't allow citizens to give testimony in budget committee, so if you're here on behalf of the board
• She returned last time over a million dollars of her budget back to the state treasurer.
• She is a shrewd and effective manager of her office's budget. All right.

Summary: The committee met and took several budget-related items out of order. It first approved a revised Auditor’s Office letter and amendment that reduced requested salary and match increases to 10 percent for operations and UCP, and then approved a revised Lieutenant Governor’s Office request that kept positions at line-item maximums while revising regular salary and match appropriations to a total increase of $99,876. Both items passed without objection. The committee then considered a member amendment from Senator Rice to Senate Bill 30 affecting the Governor’s Office. The amendment would eliminate one Governor senior advisor position, reducing authorized positions from 59 to 58 and cutting regular salaries and matching funds by a total of $264,895. Senator Rice argued the change was warranted because of concerns about former Corrections Secretary Joe Profury’s conduct, transparency, and refusal to appear before Joint Performance Review. Members debated the relevance of the amendment to current duties, whether the governor could still hire the individual in another role, and whether a Board of Corrections member could speak. After discussion, the committee rejected the amendment on a roll call vote. Under regular business, the committee approved an OPM request to reinstate a labor market rate at the crime lab so it can recruit two medical examiners, with pay up to $300,000 for those positions. Members also approved Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for 11 positions tied to the new veterinary medicine school, including clinic, lab, communications, mental health, and administrative roles. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had the Department of Economic Development in budget hearings last week, and we were going through
• their budget items.
• Some of these programs within the budget.
• What's the size of the budget that travels with the commission?
• What's the size of the budget that travels with the commission?

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their own households, budget, make house payments, they have to, so this is fair.
• We have plenty of problems to worry about at the state level and how our revenue affects our budgets,
• Thank you. that we don't even have a say on those budgets.
• What this is though, and again, I know you're not on budget with us, but there are several...
• Your Committee on Budget will resume hearing testimony in Hearing Room 3 at 5 p.m.

Summary: The House first established a quorum after several members were absent, then moved into bills for perfection. House Bill 261, dealing with anti-Semitism in public schools and higher education, drew extensive debate. The sponsor described rising anti-Jewish incidents and said the bill would require educational institutions to adopt nondiscriminatory policies, use the IHRA definition as a guide, and treat failures to address harassment as Title VI issues. An amendment from the gentleman from Pulaski was adopted to clarify that protected First Amendment speech, religious expression, and political viewpoints would not be reported or cataloged. Supporters said the bill was needed to protect Jewish students; opponents argued it singled out one group, could chill speech about Israel and Palestine, and created unequal reporting requirements. The House ultimately ordered the bill perfected and printed as amended. The chamber then took up House Bill 2384 on housing affordability and building codes. The sponsor said the bill would lower housing costs by rolling back energy-code mandates to 2009 standards, setting clearer permitting timelines, and allowing certain multifamily buildings to use a single staircase. Supporters argued current codes raise costs, discourage builders, and contribute to Missouri’s housing shortage. Opponents raised concerns about local control, preemption of municipal energy standards, and public safety, especially the single-stair provision; the sponsor responded that the design has been used safely in other states and cities. A Pulaski amendment requiring municipalities with online ordinances to keep only one hard copy available was adopted, and after debate the previous question was moved and approved. The House then adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. House Bill 1766, addressing personal property tax, was also perfected and printed. The sponsor said the bill would apply Hancock/CPI-style tax limitations to personal property tax growth, arguing that rapidly rising vehicle values had created a windfall for political subdivisions and unfairly increased taxpayer burdens. Supporters said the bill would slow growth without eliminating it, while opponents argued local governments need revenue to keep up with inflation and that the measure would reduce resources for schools and other services. Finally, the House began consideration of House Joint Resolution 154, which would place into the Missouri Constitution a Medicaid work requirement mirroring federal policy. The sponsor said adults ages 19 to 64 would need to work, volunteer, participate in a work program, or attend school for 80 hours a month to remain eligible, and the discussion began with questions about whether the constitutional change was necessary and how documentation requirements would work.

Transcript Highlights:

• While California's pending budget deficit and the balancing budget requirement, it's important to better
• This is especially relevant in the context of California's overall budget volatility, which is already
• I'm a Senior Policy Fellow at the California Budget and Policy Center.
• We know state leaders are facing difficult budget decisions now and in the future.
• And the reason why we're here is we're having a very tough budget year. We all know that.

Summary: The joint informational hearing examined California’s taxation of multinational corporations, especially the state’s water’s-edge election versus worldwide combined reporting. The LAO and Franchise Tax Board explained the basic mechanics of unitary taxation, apportionment, and how water’s-edge generally excludes most foreign subsidiaries while worldwide reporting includes the full unitary group. FTB officials said water’s-edge filers are a small share of corporate filers but account for a large share of tax liability, and they described filing trends, industry mix, and the administrative steps needed to administer either system. Members and witnesses debated the policy trade-offs. Supporters of moving away from water’s-edge argued that it enables profit shifting, especially for large multinational and IP-heavy firms, and that eliminating it could raise significant revenue and improve fairness for smaller domestic businesses. They cited estimates of billions in potential revenue and said California already has the audit and reporting infrastructure to handle worldwide reporting, though some transition time would be needed. Opponents argued that worldwide reporting would tax foreign activity unrelated to California, create double taxation, increase compliance burdens and litigation, and could be difficult for foreign-based multinationals to document. They also warned that some of the revenue estimates are highly uncertain because foreign affiliate income is not directly observable. Committee members asked about foreign government pushback, the risk of companies leaving California, the effect on intellectual property shifting, and whether federal or Supreme Court action could block a change. Witnesses generally said major firms would be unlikely to leave because California taxes sales rather than physical presence, but some costs could be passed on to consumers. The panel also discussed alternatives such as conforming to federal international tax rules like NCTI/GILTI and adding anti-abuse rules. No vote or bill action was taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• While California's pending budget deficit and the balancing budget requirement, it's important to better
• I'm a Senior Policy Fellow at the California Budget Policy Center.
• We know state leaders are facing difficult budget decisions now and in the future.
• We know state leaders are facing difficult budget decisions now and in the future. here.
• And the reason why we're here is we're having a very tough budget year. We all know that.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on California’s taxation of foreign subsidiaries of U.S. corporations, especially the state’s water’s-edge election versus worldwide combined reporting. Committee members and witnesses discussed how unitary taxation and sales-factor apportionment work, why multinational corporations are a small share of filers but a large share of tax liability, and how foreign income, profit shifting, and double taxation concerns affect policy choices. The Franchise Tax Board explained current filing rules, the seven-year water’s-edge election, and recent filing statistics showing about 21,562 water’s-edge returns in 2023, roughly 6% of C corporation filers but about half of corporate tax liability. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and FTB staff emphasized that revenue effects from eliminating water’s edge are uncertain because foreign affiliate income is not directly observable, and they noted possible revenue volatility and administrative complexity. Several committee members asked about foreign government pushback, the burden on FTB, whether certain industries are more likely to shift profits, and whether companies would leave California; witnesses generally said there was no strong evidence that firms would exit the state because tax liability is driven mainly by California sales. They also discussed how California already administers both methods, how the election can be advantageous or disadvantageous depending on a firm’s facts, and how federal reforms like GILTI/NCTI, CAMT, and OECD Pillar Two may affect the issue. The second panel presented sharply contrasting views. One professor and a tax policy advocate argued that water’s edge creates unfairness, encourages profit shifting, and leaves California with billions in lost revenue, while a Tax Foundation witness argued that mandatory worldwide reporting would tax the wrong income, create double taxation and litigation risk, and impose heavy compliance burdens, especially for foreign-based multinationals. A later panel from the California Budget and Policy Center supported closing the “water’s-edge loophole,” saying it would raise needed revenue for public services and level the playing field between large multinationals and smaller domestic businesses. No vote or formal action was taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• At that time, the annual budgets for CSU and UC were appropriated line item by line item in the state
• budget, including how much the segments were to use, Line item in the state budget, including how much
• Yet their salaries continue to grow year after year regardless of any contingency in the state budget
• the receipt of approximately $40 million in new, unallocated ongoing state funding in the 2025–26 budget
• The state budget fell short of providing that new, unallocated ongoing funding, and this then triggered

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• States and D.C. challenged their directive from the Federal Office of Management and Budget to all federal
• , which had no end date attached to it, had gone into effect, we would have lost about 42% of our budget
• For the fiscal year that ended on June 30th, 2025, the state's total budget was $28,976,000,000.
• Some of these cuts have definitely been at the hands of the Office of Management and Budget.
• Another issue has been that the Office of Management and Budget, which also, again, does not. have the

Transcript Highlights:

• So the expansion on what this budget does is spend $500 million on projects the way we have it funded
• The testimony was that it's already in the budget. I think that's what we heard.
• But again, it isn't after every little project; it doesn't affect a water budget.
• And then Senator Myers should be carrying historical budget to the full.
• So we'll be down to just the water and higher budget in these individual bills.

Bills: SB2004, HB1600

Keywords: ethics commission, immunity, conflict of interest, complaints, public officials, transparency, legislative action, criminal prosecution, complaint resolution, HB 1600, immigration law clinic, University of North Dakota, UND Law, law school clinic, legal aid, immigration attorney, student clinic, pro bono, immigration legal services, caseload limit

Summary: The committee reconvened to continue work on water-related appropriations and related bills, with the chair emphasizing the need to move the water bill to conference committee soon because of differences with the House. Members reviewed project funding levels and carryover balances across several water projects, including NAWS, Southwest, Valley City, Cirrus River flood control, Hart River, Redder water supply, municipal and rural water, general water, and discretionary funding. The discussion focused on reduced revenue forecasts, the use of a $150 million line of credit as a working assumption, and concerns about large carryover amounts and piling up cash. No final changes were made to the water funding numbers, but the chair said the committee would revisit the bill after further cleanup of the draft language. The committee then took up House Bill 1600, which would create an immigration law clinic at the University of North Dakota law school. Members agreed the program should be treated as a one-time pilot rather than ongoing general fund spending, so they adopted an amendment changing the $400,000 appropriation to one-time funding from the strategic investment fund. The amended bill passed unanimously, and Senator Meyer was assigned to carry it. House Bill 1417, dealing with parole and probation-related policy, was also amended. The committee removed Section 8, which eliminated the bill’s appropriations language, based on testimony that the referenced funding was already included elsewhere in the budget. The amended bill then passed unanimously. The committee also discussed possible future amendments to water study language, including earlier reporting deadlines and a proposal to require larger new water project requests to go through the Water Topics Overview Committee before being introduced, but no final action was taken on those concepts. Several other bills, including the AI-related House Bill 1448 and law enforcement bonus bill 1193, were left for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we'll start with the Attorney General's budget.
• So we'll start with the Attorney General's budget.
• funding changes that you're making for FTE, including the removal of three positions in the base budget
• Including the removal of three positions in the base budget, and then the removal of the executive staff
• and OMB budget, and I think we're in good shape to—I know they want to get these budgets out by next

Bills: SB2012

Keywords: transportation, funding, infrastructure, grants, municipal, 908, all

Summary: The Government Operations Division met to continue work on budget and bill amendments. The committee first took up the Attorney General’s budget and reviewed a detailed amendment package that adjusted FTE levels, salary equity funding, funding sources, and several one-time appropriations. Changes included removing some House-added items, adding contingent funding tied to other bills, restoring certain funding sources, increasing the electronic smoking device manufacturer fee, and adding a provision on 24/7 sobriety program fees. Senator Dwyer then offered a further amendment to make the electronic smoking device fee a $2,000 application fee with a $500 annual renewal fee, which passed. The committee then voted 4-1 to adopt the budget as amended and give it a do pass recommendation as amended. The committee next considered House Bill 1143, relating to Great Plains Food Bank funding. After testimony from Amy Cleary on behalf of Great Plains Food Bank, members discussed the organization’s statewide role and the project’s financing, including a planned $30 million facility and existing fundraising. Senator Burkhard moved to restore the appropriation from $5 million to $10 million, and the motion passed 4-1. The committee then voted 4-1 to give the bill a do pass recommendation as amended, with Senator Burkhard designated as carrier. Finally, the committee discussed House Bill 1524, which would fund regional planning councils and authorize 16 FTEs. Members expressed sympathy for the councils’ work but concerns about approving new state-funded positions. No action was taken, and the chair asked to hold the bill over for further review. The committee then recessed, noting remaining budget work and upcoming hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair calls Jeb Bell with the Legislative Budget Board. Mr. Bell.
• Um, how big is your agency total budget? Our total budget is 65 billion for the biennial.
• Are there any areas in your budget that y'all have cut from last biennium to this biennium?
• No, our, our baseline budget remains the same.
• Yeah, Secretary of Defense has about $1 trillion budget and over 3 million personnel.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate budget fully funds the cost. This concludes my remarks. Thank you.
• Family income and the 2025-27 biennial budget.
• We can appropriate that money in the budget.
• I mean, we can appropriate that money in the budget. have budget conference left.
• I mean, we can appropriate that money in the budget.

Bills: HB2689, SB5420, SB5868, SB5877

Keywords: Working Connections Child Care, child care subsidy, subsidized child care, Washington DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, low-income families, child care providers, licensed child care centers, family child care, market rate survey, subsidy rates, income eligibility, state median income, SNAP, Basic Food, collective bargaining, provider reimbursement, daily payment, half-day care, partial-day care

Transcript Highlights:

• You actually would need a smaller budget.
• </c> your overall budget structure. your overall budget structure.
• What's your total budget?
• Uh, the total budget is $7.2 million, I think. $7.2 million is your total budget? At least, yes.
• And I believe that we will come in under budget this year as well.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services met in person, approved the July 15 minutes, and heard a presentation from Dr. Matthew Holder and Dr. Henry Hood of the Lee Specialty Clinic in Louisville. The clinic serves people with complex intellectual and developmental disabilities through a transdisciplinary model that combines medical, dental, behavioral, psychiatric, therapy, and other services under one roof. The presenters argued that this population is large-cost but small in number, often receives little provider training, and is vulnerable to diagnostic overshadowing, overmedication, and missed medical or dental problems. The clinic reported that in Tennessee, payer data showed average costs of about $5,200 per member per month before clinic involvement, with a 44% reduction in overall health care spending after patients were seen, including lower emergency room use, inpatient admissions, and prescription use. They said those savings were measured by the payer, not the clinic, and that the savings accrued to Medicaid or managed care payers rather than the clinic itself. They also shared a case example of a patient who had been placed on hospice but improved after diagnosis and treatment at the clinic. Patient and parent satisfaction were described as very high, generally above 95%. The clinic asked for roughly $5 million to expand into Northern Kentucky, estimating 500 to 700 patients would use the new site and projecting annual savings of about $13 million to $19 million once mature. Members asked about the budget, startup and operating costs, where the savings go, and whether the clinic had considered taking full risk or another value-based model. Senator Meredith and others encouraged the clinic to explore an accountable care or risk-based arrangement, while the presenters said they were open to that discussion but had not pursued it yet. The exchange ended with follow-up questions about the clinic’s overall budget structure and public-private funding mix.

Transcript Highlights:

• Two simple changes. establishment of a budget committee uh establishment of a budget committee uh for
• </c> appoint a committee member to the budget appoint a committee member to the budget committee.<00:
• <00:03:59.920><c> committee</c> budget committee budget committee uh<00:04:01.840><c> under</c><00:04
• </c> warrant article uh outside of the budget warrant article uh outside of the budget uh<00:04:30.800
• :33.440><c> u</c><00:04:33.759><c> is</c> uh the uh budget committee u is uh the uh budget committee

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the largest budget drivers in the out years is rising special education costs.
• One of the largest budget drivers in the out years is rising special education costs.
• One of the largest budget drivers in the out years is rising special education costs.
• One of the largest budget drivers in the out years is rising special education costs.
• </c> second one of the largest uh budget second one of the largest uh budget drivers<00:15:12.199><c>

Bills: HF2582, HF2266, HF2518, HF2039, HF1941

Keywords: child care, grants, appropriation, workforce development, families, YWCA Minneapolis, job training, child development, economic assistance, WomenVenture, economic development, entrepreneurship, women entrepreneurs, business training, financial support, youth programs, funding, employment, Minnesota, American Indian

Transcript Highlights:

• We do, however, have a budget line in the state budget, and I want Commissioner Timmons to talk about
• </c> smallest and Least Complicated budget smallest and Least Complicated budget you<00:08:36.080><c>
• <00:08:43.000><c> which</c><00:08:43.120><c> is</c> budget which is budget which is 115,000<00:08:45.720
• </c> the time that the governor's budget the time that the governor's budget narrative<00:10:43.120><
• We budgeted for that seat to be filled. Well, you did already.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all