Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:47.079> geography<00:35:48.079> uh also G um GIS type software geography uh
• also G um GIS type software geography uh technology<00:35:48.800> that<00:35:48.920> we
• proposal also has a no governance budget proposal also has a no fee<01:13:44.760> transaction
• proposal has other governance budget proposal has other transactions<01:13:51.199> that<01:13
• recommendation no fee their budget recommendation no fee reimbursements<01:15:49.920> are<01:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

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

• <00:30:10.760> And<00:30:10.920> I software across the enterprise.
• And I software across the enterprise.
• And we aren't just a line on a budget.
• , surveillance, time tracking software, surveillance, time tracking software, photo-optical<01:20
• software just to meet your state law. software just to meet your state law.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They are eating away at our members' budgets and their profitability.
• Most merchants are like me, who are tied to our software, so what will work with our computer software
• Most merchants are like me, who are tied to our software, so what will work with our computer software
• That's what the budget is based on right now.
• There are costs we have no control over, and it's very hard to budget.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met for its second hearing to study the future of credit card payments and sales transactions and their impacts on small businesses. Members heard extensive testimony from credit unions, retailers, restaurants, and payment-industry representatives on interchange fees, processing fees, fraud, chargebacks, rewards programs, and the ability of businesses to pass fees on to customers. Several witnesses argued that swipe fees have risen sharply, are especially burdensome for restaurants and other small businesses, and are charged on taxes and tips that are merely pass-through amounts. They urged state action to prohibit fees on tax and tip portions, improve transparency, and allow surcharging or convenience fees, while opponents warned that state regulation could reduce fraud protections, increase compliance costs, and threaten consumer rewards programs. Business owners and trade groups described thin margins, rising costs, and the difficulty of understanding merchant statements or negotiating with processors. Restaurant witnesses said card-not-present and online transactions create the greatest fraud and chargeback risk, with money often removed immediately from merchants’ accounts and disputes rarely resolved in their favor. Retail witnesses gave examples of rising effective rates, higher fees on rewards cards, and the burden of processing fees on low-value transactions. A representative from the Massachusetts Restaurant Association and others said restaurants are effectively paying fees on meals tax and gratuities, which they argued should not be subject to interchange charges. On the other side, the Cooperative Credit Union Association said interchange revenue helps credit unions fund fraud prevention, rapid card replacement, and member protections, and warned that state limits on interchange could weaken those safeguards and lead to higher consumer costs or reduced services. Airlines for America testified that airline credit card rewards are popular, support travel and jobs in Massachusetts, and could be harmed by interchange reform. The National Restaurant Association and a payments-policy attorney countered that interchange fees are set by card networks rather than competitive markets, that banks remain highly profitable even with rewards, and that states can act after recent court decisions. No votes were taken; the hearing consisted of testimony and questions from commissioners.

Transcript Highlights:

• Buyer of enterprise hardware and software. The command sets the security specification.
• One budget. One phone number when the unthinkable happens.
• And there's still going to be influence over that budget, the facilities.
• Named Senate confirmation, not just the budget.
• Yes, we provide services to, like I said, and software to ready-made software that can provide a lot

Bills: HB146, HB150, HB1500, HB1545, HB1562, HB2067, HB2520, HB2818, HB3214, HB3250, HB3466, HB3512, HB3623, HB4063, HB4395, HB4464, HB4668, HB4690, HB5331, HB3833, HB146, HB150

Keywords: HB 146, Texas Capitol, State Capitol, State Preservation Board, Congress Avenue, Travis County, traffic lanes, lane closure, road closure, municipal authority, local control, Capitol area, downtown Austin, special events, construction traffic plan, pedestrian safety, public works, transportation policy, government code chapter 443, cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:13.680> right is our primary ask in the budget right is our primary ask in the budget
• <00:37:57.920> and we're very deficient in our budget and we're very deficient in our budget
• <00:50:30.400> We know we're in a budget shortfall. We know we're in a budget shortfall.
• Committee on Finance for budget Committee on Finance for budget briefings.<04:43:40.718> Uh
• of the budget guru from our department. of the budget guru from our department.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Budget and policy subcommittee will now come to order. Faith. Please call the roll Chair.
• Welcome to I'd and it budget and policy subcommittee today.
• there unique data, privacy or data security concerns that are unique to AI as opposed to any other software
• So we'll go through kind of a robust review all of that software.
• foundation understanding. >> Representative Young, you're recognized, Madam Chair, I think from a budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Public Safety for the replacement of equipment, computer hardware, and associated software
• Committee on Finance, makes appropriations to the State Department of Agriculture for the purchase of software
• Committee on Finance, makes appropriations to the State Department of Agriculture for the purchase of software
• of money by the Department of Education for the replacement of computer hardware and associated software
• shortfall related to the cost of provider services in the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services budget

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• believe there was a request, um, for an appropriation to fund the acquisition and maintenance of software
• But if they don't have any financing in order to acquire the software to do that, they're not going to
• acquisition and maintenance of software acquisition and maintenance of software licensing<00:02:
• be interested in using their software. be interested in using their software.
• We will execute the program within the current budget. >> Okay, that's good.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard and then took action on several measures. Senate Bill 3048, relating to the State Building Code Council and the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, received support from OPSD and the Chamber of Commerce, with OPSD requesting amendments tied to software licensing and a public permitting dashboard. The committees ultimately recommended passing the bill with amendments, including an effective date, and later adopted that recommendation by vote. Senate Bill 3083, relating to protective orders, drew support from the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office, the Military and Community Relations Office, and a member of the public, while the Judiciary asked that the bill be deferred or amended because a prior notification process had lapsed and a new mandate could be difficult to implement. The committees nevertheless recommended passage with amendments and an effective date, noting implementation concerns in the report, and that recommendation was adopted. The committees also considered Senate Bill 3010, which would allow law enforcement, animal control officers, and firefighters to enter unattended vehicles to rescue animals in distress. The Animal Legal Defense Fund supported the measure as a common-sense good Samaritan protection, and the Hawaii Association for Justice recommended a small amendment. The bill was recommended for passage with amendments and later adopted. Senate Bill 3187, relating to off-site construction and SPEED Task Force recommendations, received OPSD testimony in support with comments; the committees recommended passing it with amendments, deleting the dollar amount and adding an effective date, and adopted that recommendation. In a later joint hearing with the Committee on Education, Senate Bill 2138, which would expand the Hawaii National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program to graduate study, received support from the University of Hawaii, the Department of Defense, the Hawaii Army National Guard, and the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office. Members asked whether the current law limited assistance to undergraduate degrees and whether the program would require new funding; witnesses said the bill would simply expand authority and could be implemented within the current budget. Senate Bill 2614, authorizing high school diplomas for certain veterans whose schooling was interrupted by military service or wartime practices, also drew support from DOE and the U.S. Defense State Liaison Office, with DOE explaining it had previously issued diplomas under an earlier version of the law and would verify eligibility through an application process. Senate Bill 2687, requiring a 100th Infantry Battalion history curriculum plan and pilot program, drew mixed testimony: DOE said the topic is already covered in existing social studies standards and the bill was unnecessary, while supporters argued the history is not being consistently taught and should be mandated. The transcript cuts off before final action on the education bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think your budget is your budget, and you live within the budget.
• the agency's FY26 operating budget.
• That's what you get for your budget.
• budget, which we didn't do before.
• I'll ask that our budget director, Ms. Brighting, I'll ask that our budget director, Ms.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• We're pretty busy right now with the budget going on on Beacon Hill, so some of the members are at a
• percent of our funding for staffing, supplies, and equipment maintenance is provided through the QPS budget
• It includes teacher training, model car kits, new computer software, and other program expenses.
• We bought new computer software and other program expenses.
• and safety practices; securing resources through equipment donations and partnerships; providing budget

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held an informational hearing at Quincy Public Schools focused on career and technical education (CTE). Committee members said the visit was intended to gather input for statewide CTE legislation, including efforts to expand awareness and access, improve middle school exposure, invest in equipment and facilities, and strengthen ties to workforce boards and labor pathways. Quincy officials described their CTE system as integrated with academics and highlighted support from district, city, and state partners. School leaders outlined Quincy’s CTE offerings, including 15 Chapter 74 programs at Quincy High School and four at North Quincy High School, with about 1,360 students enrolled. Presenters emphasized curriculum aligned to DESE frameworks, work-based learning, industry-recognized credentials, safety training, business electives, dual enrollment and articulation with Quincy College, and grant funding such as Skills Capital and Perkins. They also discussed support liaisons for nontraditional careers and military pathways, advisory committees, and plans to seek Chapter 74 approval for an engineering program at North Quincy, along with new computer science and business offerings. Testimony from MassHire South Shore described workforce partnerships, YouthWorks, job fairs, resume workshops, and the Credit for Life Fair, while the assistant superintendent explained Quincy’s MyCAP planning grant and efforts to build a student-driven college and career readiness system. Three students testified about their pathways in welding, early education and care, and healthcare technology, describing hands-on learning, certifications, clinical or co-op experiences, and future plans for college and careers. Committee members praised Quincy as a model for combining CTE with general education, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn and unanimous adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• They were referred to this subcommittee by the Joint Budget Committee in April.
• This is a new contract for their pension administration system software.
• This is a new contract for their pension administration system software, modernization, migration, and
• This is for external quality review and to update the budget scope and performance indicators of this
• This is for additional user licenses for their financial software.

Summary: The committee met to review a supplemental agenda item, procurement rule revisions, methods of finance, discretionary grants, contracts, reports, and a member disclosure. The supplemental agenda was accepted, and the Office of State Procurement’s rule revisions were approved after Jessica Patterson explained they were driven by 2025 legislative changes, including Act 782, CASO Consulting recommendations, and updates to sole source, bid, protest, and debarment provisions. The methods of finance and discretionary grants were also approved, covering a range of university capital projects, health and human services grants, historic preservation awards, and tobacco prevention and cessation programs. The committee then reviewed RFQs and six ratifications. The ratifications included a Workforce Connections payment to ACT WorkKeys for services provided during a contract gap, a Department of Health ratification for water-leak repairs, a large Department of Public Safety ratification for Motorola’s Arkansas Wireless Information Network upgrade, a Veterans Affairs HVAC ratification, an ADFA medical services ratification, and a UA Little Rock painting contract ratification. Members questioned the Public Safety ratification at length about why the expired Motorola contract was not caught sooner and why it took months after discovery to come forward; agency officials said the work was tied to bond funding and was not tracked in ASIS, and the chair urged agencies to develop better monitoring procedures. The committee approved a large slate of construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including many recurring service agreements for DHS, higher education institutions, corrections, health agencies, and state support functions. Several members asked about specific contracts, including aerial application services for correctional farms and a Southern Arkansas University custodial contract, and staff or agency representatives provided brief explanations. The meeting concluded with review of reports and approval of a member disclosure involving Representative Andrew Collins’ investment interest in a company leasing property to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• He joins our commuter services division where he's responsible for making sure the hardware and software
• pricing of all the related things dealing with maintenance enhancements and the related third-party software
• And we may consider the salaries in the budget bill of state officers, um, in, in elected, elected officers
• So appointed officers and elected officers in the budget bill.
• I believe, is calculated between. 25,000 to 35,000 and it would give the employee access to some software

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:55:18.239> called have a task management software called have a task management software
• Uh output outputs of our software are.
• budget and fiscal deputy administrator. budget and fiscal deputy administrator.
• This program 205 school finance budget.
• of uh budget reductions statewide. of uh budget reductions statewide. agencies<03:05:19.920>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first, and these are software related, they're not about the Secretary of State's office or their
• This is strictly... ...about software. The first is a capacity issue. It's a huge concern for me.
• Switching to a single software solution doesn't account for these critical differences. differences,
• Austin is a great example of this. ...where homelessness tripled between 2021 and 2023 with a budget
• of $144 million, compared to San Antonio's rise of 7% during the same period with a budget of $93 million

Bills: HB45, SB1540, SB2225, SB2284, SB2382, SB2487, SB2514, SB2595, SB2876, SB2877, SB3031, SB2753

Keywords: flooding, disaster response, emergency preparedness, state guidance, public safety, election officials, confidentiality, personal information, government transparency, spirit beverages, alcoholic beverages, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, distribution, taxation, firearms, local regulation, archery equipment, weapons, voter registration, statewide list

Transcript Highlights:

• That person retired with a significant leave balance, and that's never budgeted, or it's rarely budgeted
• So will we see budgets that have additions, whether you have these budget guidelines or not?
• That's my question on that budget item. Mr.
• , or over the budget on it and stuff on it.
• Typically not, because budgets grow.

Summary: The Budget Section approved the March 18 minutes and received an OMB update showing the general fund is still ahead of the budgeted starting point, but revenues through May are now about $76 million below the legislative forecast, driven mainly by individual income tax and sales tax shortfalls. OMB also reported the budget stabilization fund is above its cap, meaning a transfer to the general fund is expected, and reviewed oil price/production assumptions, noting continued volatility. Members asked about the income tax netting process, the sales tax decline, oil price discounts/premiums, natural gas taxation, and when the executive branch would present its revenue forecast. The committee then acted on several Emergency Commission requests. It approved, as a group, requests for federal mine reclamation funds for the Public Service Commission, an additional criminal investigator FTE and funding for the Attorney General’s office, and a DPI transfer for bridge software costs. It separately approved DPI request 2164 for $500,000 to support the food vendor program after debate over whether the program’s savings were known and whether the money was simply a pass-through. OMB also reported on federal grants, fiscal irregularities, tobacco settlement proceeds, budget guidelines for agencies, FTE pool usage, vacancy savings, and the DAPL settlement, noting the settlement funds had been deposited and that a deficiency appropriation may be needed later to cover remaining accrued interest. Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus presented on the primary residence credit program, saying participation has grown sharply and that the current biennium will likely need about $431 million, roughly $22 million above the appropriation. He explained how the credit interacts with homestead and disabled veteran benefits, how the 3% property tax cap works, and why county valuations and mill rates vary. The committee also received a Legacy Fund/Budget Stabilization Fund report showing strong returns, and DOT Director Ron Henke received approval for two Flex Fund highway projects on ND 49 and ND 31. Henke also explained remaining Highway 85 funding and said the department is exploring uses for leftover state dollars. Finally, the Department of Mineral Resources reported on abandoned well plugging and site restoration, noting North Dakota remains in relatively strong shape compared with other states, and DPI began a presentation on gap funding tied to the 3% levy cap, reporting 24 districts received $1.8 million in the first year and projecting higher future needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• That person retired with a significant leave balance, and that's never budgeted, or it's rarely budgeted
• So will we see budgets that have additions, whether you have these budget guidelines or not?
• That's my question on that budget item. Mr.
• or over the budget on it and stuff on it.
• Typically not because budgets grow.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Deputy Budget Director of the State Budget Division at DFA.
• And I'm wondering why it's in PED's budget instead of CYFD's budget? Mr.
• State-level budget controls are intertwined with budget oversight, monitoring, and maintenance by central
• How do we budget for those?
• I told him that I'm trying to budget and lay out a sound budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• Into our budget.
• So, we were able to come in under budget.
• Is that correct that their budget that the LFC budget is proposing, Madam Chair? It's Close.
• million is a 49% budget increase.
• We're managing two budgets, so we're not.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:13.840> for they're going to be able to budget for they're going to be able to budget
• for our budget, right?
• if you've ever heard me testify about the banking department's budget, 80% of our budget is salaries
• Um, we did provide, um, budget them.
• - source software, open- source software, a<00:53:12.800> digital<00:53:13.119> asset<00

Keywords: 1189, house, all