Transcript Highlights:

• So that was in the budget; there's the expected revenue.
• We, as this body, when we do the budget every year, right? Right.
• We don't say, hey, you... ...we do the budget every year, right? Right.
• It's clear in their budget; we have the money to do this.
• And, you know, in their budget, we have the money to do this.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To submit a capital budget form called the C-100 for major capital project funding requests.
• We come with a design request. And then should you approve that, then another two years goes by.
• Thank you, Capital Budget Committee. I'm excited to be here.
• I didn't even recall that you had jumped ship here from the Capital Budget. I miss you guys.
• We then turn those rank lists into OFM, and they're submitted to the budget process, through the budget

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several capital-related bills. HB 2353 would raise the pre-design threshold for state-funded capital projects from $10 million to $15 million and index it to inflation beginning in 2027. The sponsor and a testifier said the change would reduce delays and save money on projects by avoiding costly pre-design work for mid-sized projects; staff noted the bill could reduce future capital budget costs. HB 2420 would increase the Small Works roster contract cap in stages from $350,000 to $650,000 by 2030, with a proposed substitute shifting the first increase from July 2026 to January 2027 to allow time for rulemaking. Testimony from universities, cities, ports, counties, and water/sewer districts supported the bill as a way to reduce administrative burden, speed projects, and help small and diverse contractors. The committee also heard HB 2470, which would change how the School Construction Assistance Program treats school facilities on military bases. Staff explained the bill would exclude on-base instructional space from a district’s available-space calculation and adjust state assistance to account for federal funding, potentially increasing eligibility for affected districts such as Clover Park and Medical Lake. The sponsor and supporters said current rules unfairly reduce state support for districts serving military families; OSPI testified in support but said the bill would need amendment to avoid federal-law issues and was working on a revised approach that would increase the SCAP funding assistance percentage instead of directly referencing federal funds. Clover Park School District and the Veterans Legislative Coalition also supported the measure. In executive session, the committee moved HB 2338, which expands the low-income weatherization program to include community-scaled projects, out of committee with a do-pass recommendation by a vote of 17 ayes and 2 excused. The committee then held a work session with the Recreation and Conservation Office on its competitive grant programs, including Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program accounts, youth athletic facilities, community forests, aquatic lands, boating, off-road vehicle, firearms and archery, and federal grant programs. Members asked about demand, ADA compliance, geographic distribution, and technical assistance; RCO said demand is high in several programs and that it uses scoring criteria, regional allocations, and outreach to improve access statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• The fiscal note has not been requested, but at the request of members, we can probably get one from the
• I am requesting a yes vote on this bill.
• The fiscal note has not been requested, but at the request of members, we can probably get one from the
• I am requesting a yes vote on this bill.
• Thoughtful budget writing takes time.

Summary: The committee first heard staff and sponsor testimony on House Joint Resolution 4210, which would remove constitutional limits on the length of regular legislative sessions and instead let the legislature set adjournment dates by statute. Rep. Breonna Thomas and supporters said the measure would give lawmakers flexibility to set a sustainable schedule and improve working conditions, while opponents argued it would concentrate more power in the legislature and could lead to a year-round session. No vote was taken on the resolution during the hearing. Members then heard House Bill 2520, which would clarify that county governing bodies may hold emergency special meetings outside the county seat or remotely during true emergencies and may act at such meetings even if the public cannot first listen in. Rep. Deborah Lekanoff said the bill was prompted by the Skagit Valley flooding and was meant to help local governments respond quickly in disasters. Testimony was split: counties and some others supported the clarification, while open government advocates urged tighter language defining “emergency” and limiting the bill to state or federally declared emergencies. The hearing was closed without a vote. The committee also took testimony on House Bill 2499, in proposed substitute form, concerning conservation district supervisors. The substitute would let conservation districts opt into the general election system under Title 29A, remove the landowner requirement, keep a farm-operator requirement for some seats, extend terms from three to four years, and require financial disclosure filings in some circumstances. Supporters argued the bill would modernize elections, increase transparency, and improve voter access; opponents warned it could be costly for small districts, reduce participation, and create unintended consequences. No final action was taken in the hearing portion shown. In executive session, the committee voted 7-0 to report House Bill 2408, a cleanup bill removing obsolete references to the Office of Financial Management, with a due pass recommendation. It also voted 5-2 to report House Bill 2435, creating a legislative office of Indian affairs, with a due pass recommendation; some members supported the bill as improving government-to-government relations with tribes, while others wanted a fiscal note before fully supporting it.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Governor last November in the budget announced his support for this housing bond package.
• Every family has to live within a family budget.
• Put it in the budget. It's going to be there.
• Put it in the budget. It's going to be there.
• Let's just start paying that $350 now, put it in the budget. It's going to be there.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's very important that we do keep in mind that we have a budget that we have to balance up here while
• And so I also want to say that it is the land that has provided our budget.
• So, in our FY27 request, the PRC requested grow Funding to in-house the administration of it.
• So that's what's happening as far as our budget request goes, and Relates to this.
• That when we put together our FY27 request, including the GROW funding request, we were sure to make

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The money I saved on gas and maintenance helped stretch my limited budget.
• But having sat on that budget committee, that's one year and then just the general budget committee,
• And we did, in fact, file a request for reconsideration.
• I respectfully request an aye vote. Thank you. Great. Thank you.
• Budget trailer. The Legislature capped HOA fines at $100.

Summary: The committee heard a long housing agenda with several bills presented before quorum was established. AB 1725, as amended, would require disclosure of nearby oil wells and methane monitoring issues in a specific district; the author and community witnesses described serious health and safety risks in Vista Hermosa Heights, while the California Apartment Association, California Building Industry Association, and California Chamber of Commerce opposed, arguing the bill targeted the wrong industry and that the state should instead fix abandoned wells directly. AB 2110, a local finance tool to create tax increment districts for workforce housing for education, health care, manufacturing, and public safety workers, drew no witnesses in support or opposition and was presented as a way to help workers live closer to jobs. AB 1732 would expand CEQA streamlining for public university and college housing projects; UC and several housing and labor groups supported it, while housing advocates raised concerns about amendments affecting existing 100% affordable housing exemptions. AB 1771, amended into a study bill, would direct HCD to report on the long-standing resident manager requirement for apartment buildings with 16 or more units; the rental housing industry supported studying the issue, while the chair emphasized the need to consider tenant protections and the impact on current resident managers before changing the law. The committee also heard AB 2185, which would direct state affordable housing programs to update guidelines to better support factory-built housing; it drew broad support from housing, labor, technology, and local government groups, with no opposition. AB 2748 would delay new EV-readiness requirements for 100% affordable housing developments, keeping the prior 40% standard through 2035; supporters said the higher standard would add significant costs and threaten project feasibility, while clean air and transportation advocates argued the code changes are modest, important for equity, and should not be rolled back. Members split along those lines, with some emphasizing housing production and others urging more public subsidy for EV infrastructure rather than delaying the code. SB 417, a proposed $10 billion affordable housing bond for the November ballot, received extensive support from housing organizations, local governments, labor, and business groups, but Habitat for Humanity and the Los Angeles mayor’s office asked for specific allocations for CalHome and interim housing; the bill was ultimately moved to Appropriations on an 8-0 vote, with members noting ongoing negotiations over funding priorities. Finally, AB 1740 would create an urban multimodal community designation for Santa Monica, allowing local approval of certain low-impact coastal-zone activities—such as some housing, bike and bus lanes, outdoor dining, and building changes—without Coastal Commission review. The author and Santa Monica officials said the bill would reduce delays and uncertainty for infill housing and local economic recovery while preserving protections for sensitive coastal resources; supporters included housing, business, and city groups. The Coastal Commission and environmental organizations opposed, saying the bill would carve out broad exemptions, weaken public access and appeal rights, and bypass the local coastal program process that Santa Monica has not completed. Committee members debated the Commission’s role, with some criticizing it for opposing legislation and others arguing the bill was a common-sense way to modernize coastal permitting. A motion and second were made on AB 1740, and the bill was left pending with the committee’s action to be taken when appropriate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Roers. was about $50,000 to $100,000 of our budget.
• What that looked like was diversified. for 43% of our total budget.
• Chairman, may I make a tiny request?
• Sounds like a demand more than a request.
• We did so at a cost to our budget of $342,218. That was in 2025's budget.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> this budget? this budget? &gt;&gt; No. &gt;&gt; No. &gt;&gt; No.
• budget.
• </c> our budget. our budget.
• budget?
• We would just budget operating budget.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds met to review inactive and dedicated accounts, note prior legislation that had passed, and begin its annual review of agency funds. Members discussed several inactive funds, including some HHS-related accounts, a law enforcement memorial fund, and possible cleanup of accounting references where funds had been reorganized or merged. Staff noted that some newer funds may simply not have started receiving revenue yet, and the committee agreed to follow up on specific accounts later rather than address everything immediately. The committee then heard from Fish and Game on its dedicated funds. Topics included the statewide public boat access account, which is used for boat ramp and access-site maintenance and is supported by boat registration fees and federal funds; the ORV education, training, and enforcement account, which has declined over time and may need attention because revenue depends heavily on weather and snowmobile use; and the search and rescue account, which is funded by Hike Safe cards, a $1 fee from boat and OHRV registrations, and court-ordered fees. Fish and Game also explained that the conservation license plate fund had been merged into the non-game species management account, which is supported by donations, federal funds, and a statutory general fund transfer, and that pheasants are treated as game species under a separate program. The committee spent considerable time on the lifetime license account, an off-book Treasury-held account that collects lifetime license sales and returns funds to Fish and Game based on annual sales plus 9% of the fund balance. Members questioned why the account’s presentation did not clearly show the transfer as a revenue reduction and suggested the reporting format needed cleanup so the flow of money would be easier to understand. Fish and Game said the account is operating properly and that the transfer to the unrestricted Fish and Game fund exceeded $400,000 in the most recent year. The committee also reviewed the publications and fundraising revolving fund, which keeps a $100,000 balance for inventory purchases and transfers excess year-end funds to the unrestricted Fish and Game fund; members again raised concerns that the reporting format did not clearly show the transfer, and staff said they could add a note or other clarification.

Transcript Highlights:

• The State Patrol obviously could not have forecasted in their budget requests last year all of the horrific
• Appeals are really in the speaker and request a roll call.
• Now we know that the DOJ did request this information from the states.
• Many of the red states did comply with that request.
• Now we know that the DOJ did request from the state's this information.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Today we have two requests for moments of silence.
• By Justice Budget Subcommittee, Representative Smith, and others.
• By Justice Budget Subcommittee, Representative Smith, and others. C.S.
• By budget. Next bill. By Budget Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Representative Salzman.
• By Budget Committee, Judiciary Committee, and Representative Salzman.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, quorum call, and several recognitions, including tributes to former members and law enforcement. The chamber then adopted the special order report and moved to the day’s special-order calendar. Early bills passed unanimously, including CS/HB 401 on FDLE security details for major party nominees for governor and lieutenant governor, CS/HB 1063 on gubernatorial transition procedures, HB 593 on governmental agencies and personnel, CS/CS/HB 655 on confidential attorney-client meetings for local governments in pending litigation, and HB 6011 on ethics gift/honoraria reporting procedures. Each of these measures was explained by sponsors as transparency, security, or administrative process legislation, and each passed 115-116 to 0. The chamber then took up CS/HB 125, designating October 14 as Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance. The bill drew extensive and sharply divided debate over whether a state remembrance was appropriate for Kirk, with opponents arguing he was a polarizing political figure and that the House should focus on affordability and other constituent concerns, while supporters framed the bill as a defense of free speech and opposition to political violence. A proposed amendment to replace the designation with a George Floyd remembrance was ruled not germane. After structured debate, the bill passed 82-31. Members also considered transportation designation measures. SB 628, substituted for CS/HB 885, included multiple road and bridge namings and an amendment designating a 124-mile stretch of State Road 80 as the President Donald J. Trump Highway; the amendment and bill passed 82-26. CS/HB 33 similarly designated portions of roads as Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue and President Donald J. Trump Boulevard, prompting another lengthy debate over the appropriateness of honoring political figures and the use of public roadways for such designations; it passed 82-30. The House then began debate on CS/HB 35, “Isaiah’s law,” which would add driving without a valid license to the habitual traffic offender list after repeated offenses, with sponsors citing a fatal hit-and-run and opponents questioning prosecutorial discretion and the bill’s practical effects.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are in a tough situation budget-wise right now, and we can't afford to have a single dollar going
• situation budget-wise right now and<00:26:33.799><c> uh</c><00:26:33.960><c> we</c><00:26:34.159><c>
• </c><00:42:55.760><c> a</c> within this jurisdiction so I request a within this jurisdiction so I request
• <01:29:04.920><c> a</c><01:29:05.040><c> roll</c> request a roll request a roll call<01:29:07.440><c>
• </c> call uh roll call having been requested call uh roll call having been requested there<01:29:09.239

Bills: HF1, HF98

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• This request was in the governor's budget.
• budget.
• Section four is the request from the Minnesota Zoo that was in the governor's budget, $3.8 million one
• :38.440><c> solid</c><00:23:38.840><c> private</c> requested by NWRA, the solid private requested by
• </c> years as well, supplement budget year. years as well, supplement budget year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I get a little bit more concerned as we move things from the operating budget out of the operating budget
• Would this hurt in any way Conservation's budget? No, no, it will not. Because... Budget?
• MoDOT will not— they don't have it anywhere in their budget to spend out of their fiscal year 2027 budget
• MODOT will not, they don't have it anywhere in their budget to spend out of their fiscal year 2027 budget
• on the budget.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is made to utilize funds and during the 30 days previous to the request.
• A person who has to budget $25 for their necessities Without taxes added, a person who has to budget
• And were they requesting this change?
• And were they requesting this change?
• It's like $50. $100 is the request. It's still not enough, right?

Bills: HB2510

Keywords: community custody, probation, Department of Corrections, DOC supervision, Washington criminal law, sentencing, felony supervision, risk assessment, sex offense, serious violent offense, domestic violence, repetitive domestic violence, failure to register, sex offender registration, dangerous mentally ill offender, indeterminate sentence, parole, conditional commutation, gross misdemeanor, misdemeanor

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:03.680><c> So,</c> utilities proposed proposed budget.
• So, utilities proposed proposed budget.
• </c> requested to support this investment. requested to support this investment.
• We thank the committee for considering this request and we welcome questions.
• We were not successful in the congressional request from last year for 3 million.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, is the federal office that prescribes what must be tested
• States may request an exception to some or all of the Medicaid RAC requirements, which is what Arkansas
• Everyone wants to know about our budget.
• For SFY 26, we have an approximately $9.7 billion budget as prescribed in our annual operating plan.
• A waiver request cannot. Those are the big differences that we always get lots of questions about.

Summary: The Medicaid Subcommittee of the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee met to receive a primer on the subcommittee’s history and on how Medicaid oversight works in Arkansas. Legislative audit staff reviewed the subcommittee’s origins in response to earlier Medicaid audit concerns and explained that Medicaid is audited every year in the statewide single audit because it is a high-risk, large federal program. Staff summarized recent audit findings, including issues with eligibility controls, data matching, contractor charging, incarcerated juveniles’ coverage handling, provider eligibility support, and the state’s Medicaid recovery audit contractor exception request. They also noted a DHS departmental audit finding involving employees who improperly received benefits, which was referred for possible prosecution. The Department of Human Services gave an overview of the Medicaid program, describing eligibility groups, delivery systems (fee-for-service, managed care/PASSE, and premium assistance for expansion adults), the size of the program, and the agency’s budget and provider base. DHS also outlined the difference between state plan amendments and waivers and said other committee materials would be sent to members. The Office of Medicaid Inspector General described its role in detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse, explaining that it investigates suspected intentional fraud, suspends providers when there is a credible allegation of fraud, recovers improper payments in mistake cases, and recommends policy changes when trends are identified. The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit explained that it prosecutes provider fraud criminally and civilly, handles neglect, abuse, and exploitation cases in long-term care settings, and works with DHS, OMIG, and federal partners. Members asked about where cases are filed, how provider suspensions work, whether beneficiary fraud is investigated, and how education is provided to providers. DHS confirmed that beneficiary fraud cases are referred to local prosecutors and said the expansion population will move toward community engagement/work requirements under federal changes, with a soft launch planned before full implementation. The meeting ended with no formal votes beyond adoption of the prior minutes and no other committee actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Office of Management and Budget, or OMB, is the federal office that prescribes what must be tested
• States may request an exception to some or all of the Medicaid RAC requirements, which is what Arkansas
• Everyone wants to know about our budget.
• So for SFY 26, we have an approximately $9.7 billion budget as prescribed in our annual operating plan
• A waiver request cannot. Those are the big differences that we always get lots of questions about.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill requests it to be transferred from the general fund.
• </c><00:52:32.599><c> uh</c> included the extension in his budget uh included the extension in his budget
• </c><00:59:59.319><c> we</c> mechanism like this in his budget we mechanism like this in his budget we
• </c> is nearly all of the projected budget is nearly all of the projected budget surplus<01:05:36.760
• </c><01:42:17.440><c> and</c> governor's doing puts out a budget and governor's doing puts out a budget

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> floor</c><01:05:48.559><c> amendments</c> requesting that certain floor amendments requesting that
• A tough budget.
• </c> budget. A tough budget. budget. A tough budget.
• >> Sponsorship request, Mr.
• co-sponsor requests. >> Thank you.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• budget is approximately $15.5 million.
• The budget shows four positions.
• The budget shows four positions.
• budget.
• We reduced our budget a bit.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony from Insurance Commissioner DJ Bettencourt on the New Hampshire Insurance Department budget. He said the department is self-funded through assessments on insurers based on New Hampshire premium volume, with about $8 billion in premiums written in the state and a department budget of roughly $15.5 million. He explained that the department has 88 authorized positions, eight vacancies, and that three full-time positions were unfunded after the governor’s requested 4% reduction exercise. He also said the department is trying to balance staffing needs with not overburdening carriers during a hard insurance market. A major topic was the department’s $2.6 million rebate to industry from the prior fiscal year, which Bettencourt described as a credit against the next assessment rather than a direct cash payment. Members questioned why that credit was not reflected as a reduction in the upcoming budget, and Bettencourt and staff explained that the budget assumes full staffing and full spending, with any year-end surplus returned to insurers. The commissioner said the department had added staff in recent years for succession planning and to preserve institutional expertise, and that the rebate reflects careful budgeting rather than excess spending. Members also asked about staffing changes by division, including positions unfunded in fraud, property and casualty examinations, life and health examinations, and tax. Bettencourt said fraud investigations remain strong and that the department can use outside contractors for examinations, with those costs billed to the company being examined. He also described the department’s examination process, including periodic financial exams and targeted market conduct reviews triggered by consumer complaints or trends. Additional questions covered OIT transfers, the department’s oversight of fully insured health coverage, the insurance premium tax and fines going to the general fund, and the department’s limited role in auto repair reimbursement disputes, where he said complaints have recently declined.