Transcript Highlights:

• There are some state dollars that have been requested by 'Who We Play For' in appropriations.
• I think $975,000 is what they Requested this year.
• If Florida's budget had all of its eggs in one basket, Medicaid would be that basket.
• I think it's really probably just to align with our annual budgeting process.
• And it should be in time for us to do our budget for the following year.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , at least in the recent jobs budget.
• , at least in the recent jobs budget.
• Chair, I know you have a lot of demands on your committee budget.
• Chair, I know you have a lot of demands on your committee budget.
• Chair, I know you have a lot of demands on your committee budget.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> I request the yeas and nays. >> The yeas and nays have been requested.
• >> I request the yeas and nays. >> The yeas and nays have been requested.
• Speaker, I request the yeas and nays. >> The yeas and nays are... Requested.
• Speaker, I request that my name be removed as a co-sponsor of H.R. 2555.
• The gentleman's request is granted. The Chair will now entertain requests for one-minute speeches.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, April 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As they're dealing with, they would argue, the tightest budgets and the hardest budgets they've had in
• I do want to note on the modular housing piece, in the Senate budget, we actually put funding in for
• Even with the 3% increase in the state's FY 26 budget, the operating line subsidy is still limited.
• Failure to grow puts more pressure on property taxpayers and on school budgets.
• And it’s part of the reason why we put some more resources in the Senate budget for that.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held its second introductory hearing to frame the session’s housing agenda. Chairs Cyr and Haggerty described the hearing as a chance to hear a wide range of perspectives on Massachusetts’ housing crisis, including underbuilding, zoning and permitting barriers, rising costs, and the need for both state and local action. The committee heard from court, municipal, advocacy, and regional housing leaders, with recurring themes of increasing supply, preserving existing housing, preventing displacement, and expanding resources for renters and homeowners. Chief Justice Diana Horan of the Housing Court said the court is handling more than 40,000 new filings annually with only 15 judges, and estimated the court would need about 21 judges to meet demand. She described complications from RAFT-related stays, mental health and guardianship issues, aging housing stock, and the new eviction sealing law, which she said was being implemented smoothly but may require additional resources if filings continue to rise. The Massachusetts Municipal Association and MAPC emphasized that municipalities need flexibility, funding, and better tools such as MassWorks, Housing Works, H-DIP, 40R reforms, inclusionary zoning changes, and a local option transfer fee; they also said local control concerns and long permitting timelines remain major barriers. MAPC and others stressed that supply growth alone will not solve the crisis and urged continued support for subsidized housing, access to counsel, and modular/off-site construction. Advocates and housing providers focused on displacement, preservation, and tenant protections. Homes for All Massachusetts and Mass Law Reform Institute called for rent stabilization, stronger tenant protections, foreclosure prevention, elimination of junk fees, continued funding for RAFT and HomeBASE, and expanded access to counsel. Mass Union of Public Housing Tenants said the state needs far more extremely low-income housing, more operating subsidy, and major investment to repair public housing, while also supporting tenant technical assistance during redevelopment. Franklin County’s housing authority warned that rural communities are being left out of many state programs and asked for a rural LIHTC set-aside, a permanent rural credit boost, and a review of housing choice programs. A Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation researcher presented findings that communities that add housing generally see stronger municipal finances, and that housing growth can improve property tax and state aid outcomes. Seasonal community representatives from Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket described extreme affordability pressures and the need for tailored tools. Nantucket’s housing trust chair said the island has made progress through local funding, inclusionary zoning, and deed-restricted units, but still needs a real estate transfer fee and faster ways to preserve year-round housing. Across the hearing, members and witnesses repeatedly returned to the need for a mix of production, preservation, tenant protections, and local flexibility, rather than relying on any single policy solution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, and at the appropriate time, I'd respectfully request your aye vote. Okay, thank you.
• I didn't want to call you out as a Senate budget chair, but as someone who's very well versed in the
• But I will say that there is another opportunity through the budget process.
• But I will say that there is another opportunity through the budget process.
• Well, the entire state funds the CDFW's budget, but would you like to respond? Well, I...

Summary: The committee heard SB 1393, an omnibus update to the Fish and Game Code covering steelhead trout and Dungeness crab management. Supporters from The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, CalTrout, and the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations said the bill would strengthen the steelhead report card program, refine crab fishery rules, and clarify vessel transit through closed crab areas. There was no opposition, and the bill was accepted with amendments and moved on a 4-0 vote to the Appropriations Committee. The committee also heard SB 1250, which would require Caltrans to incorporate wildlife connectivity into transportation planning and asset management, with performance targets and coordination with wildlife agencies. The author and supporters argued it would improve ecosystem connectivity, reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions, and save money by integrating crossings, culverts, and fencing into planned projects. The California Building Industry Association moved to neutral after amendments clarifying the bill would apply to transportation rights-of-way and not create exactions on private property. The bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. Members then considered SB 1212, which would repeal California’s ban on importing and selling kangaroo products. The author argued kangaroo harvest in Australia is tightly regulated and that California’s ban is outdated, while opponents from Humane World for Animals, Animal Legal Defense Fund, and others said the bill would reopen the market to products from a cruel commercial slaughter industry and undermine long-standing wildlife protections. No motion was taken at that point. The committee also heard SB 1268, codifying the Outdoors for All initiative, which supporters said would protect and expand equitable access to parks and outdoor recreation; it advanced 3-0. Finally, the committee heard three Western Joshua Tree bills from Senator Arreguín: SB 1061, SB 1062, and SB 1063. Supporters from water agencies, local governments, and industry said the bills would reduce fees and streamline permitting for tree relocation, public infrastructure, and basic utility hookups in desert communities. Opponents withdrew or softened opposition on the first two bills after amendments, but objected to SB 1063 as too broad. SB 1061 and SB 1062 each passed 2-0 to Appropriations, while SB 1063 was still under discussion at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So roll call has already been requested.
• So roll call has already been requested.
• </c> requested the clerk will take the role. requested the clerk will take the role.
• </c><01:15:17.679><c> and</c> I want to pos the the the budget and I want to pos the the the budget and
• :19.440><c> isn't</c><01:15:19.679><c> a</c> management and budget committee isn't a management and budget

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• However, it was requested by the revisor that we not amend the effective date and just redraft it as
• Um, however, it was requested<00:01:34.479><c> by</c><00:01:34.640><c> the</c><00:01:34.799><c> revisor
• by the revisor that we um not requested by the revisor that we um not amend<00:01:37.360><c> the</c>
• And then on 3.4 to 3.5, this is another revisor request to include this instruction to amend the title
• It eliminates two words at line 1.15 at the revisor's request.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully request that you approve AB 790. Thank you very much.
• It reduces long-term costs across the state budget.
• What would 5% of the general fund budget be to be spent on homelessness?
• What would 5% of the general fund budget be to be spent on homelessness?
• And you never know with the way the budgets are on everything.

Summary: The Assembly Human Services Committee met with quorum established after beginning as a subcommittee. The committee heard AB 790, which would require jurisdictions receiving state homelessness funds to develop systems specifically supporting women and children, especially single mothers and survivors of domestic violence. Supporters said current homelessness programs overlook this population; the bill was amended and passed unanimously on a 7-0 vote. The committee also heard ACA 4, the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act, which would dedicate a minimum share of the state general fund to affordable housing and homelessness programs. Supporters argued more stable funding is needed to address the housing crisis, while opponents questioned whether more spending would help; the measure passed 5-2 to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Members then heard AB 349, which would index the infant supplement for parenting foster youth to inflation. The author and sponsor described the needs of pregnant and parenting teens in foster care and rising costs for diapers and formula; the bill passed 6-0 to Appropriations. AB 779, which expands a domestic violence consultant pilot in child welfare offices statewide, also passed 6-0 after testimony that it would help keep families together safely and improve trauma-informed responses. AB 1335, which would remove a private CARF accreditation requirement for regional center employment programs and rely on state oversight instead, drew support from disability service providers but opposition from the chair over concerns about weakening quality checks; it failed on a 2-2 vote and reconsideration was denied. The committee also considered AB 1066, a bill to bar state-funded immigration legal services for people unlawfully present in the country who have certain serious felony convictions. Supporters framed it as a public-safety and fiscal-responsibility measure, while opponents said it would restrict due process and align California with mass-deportation policies. The bill failed on a 2-2 vote. Two bills, AB 277 and AB 318, were pulled by the author and not heard. After final roll calls on absent members, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did see the Department of Agriculture's testimony and their requests, and ADC's testimony and requests
• their requests adc's testimony requests<00:21:50.120><c> uh</c><00:21:50.400><c> we</c><00:21:50.679
• We're going to line item all funding requests.
• what to fight for or not in future conversations on the budget.
• </c><02:18:54.240><c> an</c> want to note that haa did request an want to note that haa did request an

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Budget Committee will come to order.
• AB 107 is a budget bill junior, which includes a variety of changes to the Budget Acts of 2023, 2024,
• The first bill, AB 107, includes amendments to budget bill items in the 2023, 2024, and 2025 Budget Acts
• the budget of our citizens and the budget of the utilities to make sure they are held accountable for
• We're also considering the budget of our citizens and the budget of the utilities to make sure they are

Summary: The Senate Budget Committee heard two bills: AB 107, a budget bill junior making largely technical changes to the 2023, 2024, and 2025 Budget Acts, and AB 117, a trailer bill authorizing a regional transit loan package for Bay Area agencies. Department of Finance staff said AB 107 contains no new state money or new policy items, but makes adjustments such as extending encumbrance periods, updating federal authority, moving $20 million in tourism promotion funding from Visit California to GoBiz, and adding an APA exemption for certain climate bond program guidelines. AB 117 would allow CalSTA to loan up to $590 million from unallocated Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program funds to MTC, which would then lend to BART, Muni, Caltrain, and AC Transit; the loans would run 12 years with two years interest-only, and the state said the structure is intended to be cost-neutral and protected by repayment safeguards. Committee discussion focused heavily on transparency, oversight, and whether the transit loan could jeopardize future projects or become a de facto bailout if a Bay Area sales tax measure fails. Several senators questioned the need for the APA exemption in AB 107, arguing that emergency or existing public processes might provide better oversight, while supporters said the exemption was needed to get voter-approved climate bond funds out the door and that the language had already been agreed to in the budget process. On AB 117, senators raised concerns about declining ridership, fare evasion, safety, post-pandemic travel patterns, repayment sources, and the impact on other TIRCP projects such as BART Phase 2. Finance staff and transit representatives responded that ridership changes were driven by COVID-era shifts, labor and safety issues, and changing commute patterns, and that the loan would be secured against existing state transit assistance streams rather than general fund dollars. Public comment was largely supportive of both bills. Water, natural resources, and environmental groups backed the APA exemption in AB 107, saying it would speed implementation of Proposition 4 funding for water recycling, wildfire, coastal resilience, and related projects. Transit agencies and labor groups supported AB 117, saying the loan is needed to stabilize operations and preserve service while local revenue measures and efficiency efforts are pursued; San Francisco, Caltrain, BART, and AC Transit all testified in favor, though San Jose asked for stronger protections for previously approved TIRCP-funded projects. The committee first passed AB 107 and AB 117 on 8-4 and 9-4 votes, placed them on call, then later lifted the calls and both bills ultimately passed with 11 votes each and were sent out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we're adding two that requested to be a part. Thank you, sir.
• No one's making a public records request.
• Anyone who's ever requested a public record knows that it's not instantaneous either.
• Anyone who's ever requested a public record knows that it's not instantaneous either.
• I'm just going to request you work with us between here and the floor. Absolutely.

Bills: SR119, SCR65, HCR47, HB196, HB218, HB256, HB325, HB352, HB434, HB448, HB476, HB608, HB624, HB626, HB632, HB749, HB818, HB1059, HB1112, HB1242, HB1249

Keywords: SR119, Senate Resolution 119, D-D Breaux, Sara Breaux, LSU gymnastics, LSU Gymnastics Training Center, LSU Board of Supervisors, facility naming, honorary resolution, public buildings and grounds, women's athletics, Title IX, college gymnastics, SEC gymnastics, Louisiana State University, Tiger Athletic Foundation, women in sports, coach recognition, sports legend, campus naming

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met with four members present and took up a long agenda of education-related bills. Early items included SCR 65, which would create a K-12 student success task force to study statewide career and academic pathway advising; the committee adopted a substantive amendment adding designees and then reported the resolution favorably. The committee also reported favorably on SCR 119, honoring Coach D.D. Breaux, after brief remarks about her LSU gymnastics legacy and the request that LSU study naming its gymnastics training facility in her honor. Several bills affecting school operations and student support were heard and reported favorably, including HB 434 on probationary school bus driver employment and superintendent authority over dismissal; HB 484 expanding scholarship benefits for children and spouses of fallen or disabled firefighters and police officers; HB 749 and HB 1059 on savings accounts and TOPS math eligibility alignment; HB 218 adding food insecurity questions to student questionnaires, which was amended and reported favorably; HB 325 expanding TOPS Tech eligibility through dual enrollment and part-time use; HB 476 requiring Safe Haven law postings in middle and high school restrooms; HB 1249 clarifying access to school-based health centers, with an amendment adopted; HB 1242 allowing more than one early learning center license at the same location under certain circumstances; HB 632 improving data protections and functionality for LA First; and HB 352 on behavioral health services for public school students, which was amended to address IEP and dispute-process concerns before being reported favorably. Two bills drew extended debate over transparency, privacy, and school autonomy. HB 608 would create confidentiality for intercollegiate athletics revenue-sharing documents; LSU representatives argued the bill was needed to protect student-athletes and competitive information, while PAR and the Louisiana Press Association opposed it as an improper secrecy carve-out for state-generated revenue. Despite the opposition, the committee reported HB 608 favorably. HB 1112, which would exempt BESE-approved non-public pre-K programs from certain licensure and safety requirements and adjust related definitions, was amended and then heard with testimony from the Pelican Institute in support, arguing it corrects overreach from prior law and protects private school autonomy and parental choice.

Transcript Highlights:

• For fiscal years 2025, the agency's indirect administrative rate is budgeted at 1.5%.
• requests.
• We have a, um, a one-year grant cycle where we, we publish the request for proposals.
• Exceptional I request, that's to show support for them.
• And we do have, um, $192 million outstanding in that program, unfunded request.

Bills: HB294

Keywords: energy efficiency, tax exemption, residential properties, sustainability, real estate

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:04.559><c> tighten</c> you know as our as our budgets tighten you know as our as our budgets
• the state budget to our County<00:53:21.720><c> budgets</c><00:53:22.359><c> and</c><00:53:22.520><c
• budget, and they're asking for a lot of money.
• about our budget how we have<01:36:59.119><c> a</c><01:36:59.280><c> limited</c><01:36:59.960><c> budget
• </c> the environment committee could request the environment committee could request it<01:46:44.719>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this is the kind of appropriate approach for a tough budget year, and also a very small but,
• Senator, Representative Kalvinan, can you tell us if you have requested a fiscal note on this?
• Last spring, we undertook a public records request in which...
• Thomas, does some of the push for this bill stem from the public records request process with school
• districts, such as possibly the time or guardrails associated with having to make the requests?

Bills: HB2008, HB2075, HB2203, HB2395, HB2409

Keywords: school libraries, public school libraries, library funding, professional associations, library associations, librarians, information services, dues, membership fees, public monies, school governing body, county free library district, municipal library, library contracts, library services, books and programs, Arizona education, Title 15, Library Freedom Act, school district transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• So in many budget years, the tax committee may have a budget and may choose to spend that budget on different
• ><c> may</c> committee may have a budget and may committee may have a budget and may choose<00:10:02.760
• </c> programs they impact the state budget programs they impact the state budget pursue<00:10:45.959>
• </c> once Robin thank you so we could request once Robin thank you so we could request it<01:28:19.639
• </c> represent Robins yeah you could request represent Robins yeah you could request that<01:28:25.239

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And when the time is appropriate, I respectfully request your aye vote. Thank you so much.
• So with that, I respect, we request and I vote. All right. Thank you.
• Oh, I just respectfully request and I vote.
• You know, if the ratepayers have a budget, then utilities outpacing their budget, like, you know, it's
• Nuclear power can benefit our ratepayers and be executed on time at a reasonable budget.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the MAP covers both a budget and policy request.
• They decide our budget and our unit size based on the size of our state Medicaid budget.
• . budgets. budgets.
• That's our request, and so we'd ask that you give us those amendments and that budget allocation so that
• </c> it especially vulnerable to budget it especially vulnerable to budget disruptions. disruptions.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• While that's going on, we're not hearing a whole lot about the budget.
• What request do you have of the governor? What do you want to accomplish in this meeting?
• some feedback on his proposed budget.
• provide some feedback on his proposed budget.
• We've got a couple other budget savings ideas.

Summary: Republican legislative leaders used the availability to focus on affordability, budget pressures, and opposition to several Democratic tax proposals. They criticized a circulating draft income tax proposal as a de facto small-business tax, arguing it would hurt LLCs, S corporations, housing investment, and the broader economy. They also attacked a proposed tire fee, a possible cigarette tax increase, and other tax ideas as regressive or hidden from consumers, while saying Republicans would not support any tax increases and urging budget cuts and spending restraint instead. The leaders said they planned to raise these concerns in an upcoming meeting with Governor Ferguson, along with questions about his budget and how he reconciles prior opposition to a wealth tax with support for an income tax. They also discussed a bill to make it harder to qualify initiatives for the legislature, calling it anti-democratic, and said the majority was ignoring or undermining voter-driven policy efforts. On child welfare, they criticized DCYF oversight and supported stronger accountability, including a bill to fix the state’s “imminent harm” standard and another proposal to stop the state from collecting certain federal disability and survivor benefits from foster youth. Other topics included tort liability reform, where Republicans said the state’s repeated failures in child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation are the underlying problem, not just the cost of claims, though they were open to limited reforms such as disclosure of litigation financing. They also discussed the 340B drug pricing program, saying it is complicated and could affect hospitals, FQHCs, patients, and pharmaceutical innovation. On public safety and technology, they expressed cautious support for bills regulating kids’ social media and AI use, but stressed First Amendment concerns and the need to avoid private rights of action; they were more skeptical of a bill limiting police retention of automatic license plate reader data, saying law enforcement needs effective tools to solve crimes. No votes were taken, and the event ended with Republicans reiterating that affordability was their top priority.

Transcript Highlights:

• But just to be clear, it has not went through the budget process for design.
• I'm the budget director for the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet.
• Norton to talk about the estimate for the operational budget from year to year.
• But how we arrived at that budget is we took a look at two things.
• </c><00:43:18.720><c> a</c> are in the process of requesting a are in the process of requesting a modification

Keywords: The original version of this live stream dropped before the meeting was technically finished. This is the complete copy pulled from back up sources., 958, all

Summary: The committee met to hear updates from the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Department of Corrections on two related issues: a proposed high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility and medical services contracts, including the impact of Wellpath’s bankruptcy proceedings. At the start, the chair agreed to hear the Department of Corrections first so members could get context on the medical contract before turning to DJJ’s proposal. DOC officials said Wellpath, the department’s comprehensive medical and mental health provider since 2013, was awarded its current contract through a 2021 procurement process. They reported that Wellpath’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan had been confirmed and that the company had transitioned ownership to lenders, but had not yet fully completed the bankruptcy process. DOC said there had been no service lapses, no reduction in care, and no known impact on Kentucky vendors or hospitals, and that DOC staff meet with Wellpath almost weekly. Members asked whether the committee had been kept informed and whether the bankruptcy could affect future services or subcontractors. DJJ then presented its concept for a high-acuity facility, explaining that the project is still in the preliminary programming and conceptual stage and has not yet entered the formal design phase with DECA. Officials said the proposal in the capital plan would create a 24-bed facility, with 16 clinical beds and 8 assessment/stabilization beds, to serve justice-involved youth with serious mental health needs. They said the facility would need to separate males and females and high- and low-risk youth, and that current placements often require sending youth out of state to places such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Arkansas, and Texas. Staff said the goal is to centralize treatment, improve safety, and reduce the need for fragmented or out-of-state placements. Committee members questioned the cost estimates, staffing needs, and whether the facility was justified given the small number of youth currently placed out of state. DJJ said the operational estimate includes an unknown medical-contract component and that the number of youth needing the facility can fluctuate because of surges in the juvenile population. Officials also said they had consulted with South Carolina, which is developing a similar facility, and noted that renovating existing facilities was considered but could be more expensive or impractical than building a separate site. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• So $14 million is the budget that we're operating off of.
• And this is just a request.
• And this is just a request.
• to get some of the federal dollars into a budget.
• And I always like to say when you're building budgets, if the pie doesn't get any bigger, all we have

Keywords: 1204, all