Transcript Highlights:

• We increased excise taxes. We increased B&O taxes. The B&O taxes that we're increasing, Mr.
• We increased B&O taxes on assisted living.
• States, and we increased taxes on that industry as well.
• We increased taxes on our child care industry, Mr.
• This... ...budget assumes an 8% increase in reckless spending, an 8% increase in reckless spending.

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, and observed a moment of silence for the unexpected death of Autumn Gildon, wife of Senator Gildon. The chamber then approved the previous day’s minutes and signed several bills before moving into caucuses and Senate messages. The main action of the day was consideration of the state operating budget, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5167, which the House adopted from conference committee and then passed on final passage after extended debate. Supporters of the budget said it was a balanced plan that protects core services, including food, shelter, health care, public schools, special education, behavioral health, and support for vulnerable residents, while making difficult choices in a tight fiscal year. Opponents argued it relied on the largest tax increases in state history, would burden working families and businesses, and could reduce access to health care and other services. The conference report was adopted 57-39, the bill then passed 52-45, and it was immediately transmitted to the Senate by a 58-39 vote. The House also took up Engrossed House Bill 1217, a rent stabilization measure affecting lease renewals and manufactured housing lot rents. Proponents described it as needed relief for renters facing steep increases and a way to provide predictability and stability, while opponents warned it would function as rent control, discourage new housing investment, and reduce supply. The conference report was adopted 55-42, and the bill passed final passage 54-44 before being immediately transmitted to the Senate 59-39. In addition, the House passed several housing and environmental bills: Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1096, focused on housing supply and buildable land, passed 94-4; Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1108, creating a cost-driver analysis process for housing affordability, also passed 94-4; and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1293, dealing with litter reduction and plastic bag provisions, passed unanimously 98-0. The chamber also received Senate messages on other bills and recognized the work of staff and members at the close of session.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that would be for increasing customers, generally increasing customer support.
• increase of FTEs, like we've increased by 10 FTEs, 20 FTEs, to ease over the last four years.
• So it's increased from 207 to. 191, and that's in- That'd be almost like 50% increase in their workforce
• them spread out that have increased efficiencies.
• This is funding to. increased state aid for that strategy.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:49:59.480><c> again,</c> increases, again, increases, again, I'm<00:50:00.760><c> not</c><00:50:
• :46.080><c> aid,</c><00:54:46.280><c> and</c> We increased county program aid, and We increased county
• </c> increase in pressures on their budgets. increase in pressures on their budgets.
• And we also increased gas taxes.
• </c> And we also increased gas taxes. And we also increased gas taxes.

Transcript Highlights:

• $142,000 in matching, increasing the total appropriation by $498,000.
• not received... ...that 10% increase.
• So this ask versus the ask just to increase the line-item maximums—was that off the table?
• On the increases, Mr. Elligan, did you do? On the increases, Mr.
• Because there's some pretty good increases here: 138 to 171, 126 to 183, 141.

Committee: All JBC-PERSONNEL

Transcript Highlights:

• The increase for—is that Zender? The increase for— is that Zender Communications?
• And so this increase...
• This increase, it feels like this increase in the contract, to me, looks like we're upping the purse.
• The increase will be covered by fees and self-generated revenue.
• We think that we can increase the business a lot.

Summary: The committee first heard a fiscal status statement from the Office of Planning and Budget showing that updated Revenue Estimating Conference forecasts reduced the FY26 general fund excess available from $292.6 million to $179.7 million, with lower revenues across the five-year baseline and larger out-year imbalances. With no questions, the statement was approved. Members then reviewed several Facility Planning and Control items, including approval of a new $3 million LSU Health Sciences Center project in New Orleans funded by self-generated revenues, a $343,600 increase for HVAC upgrades at the Louisiana War Veterans Home in Jackson, and a $700,000 increase for Southern University’s A.A. Leno Law Center addition. The committee also received informational change-order reports and approved Louisiana Economic Development contract extensions for Zender Communications and Graham Group, as well as a Department of Education contract amendment for the Louisiana Gator ESA program with Odyssey after questions about the contract’s up-to amount and procurement process. The Sabine River Authority sought approval for a $9.5 million increase to its operating budget and its 2026-2027 budget, explaining the increase was tied to taking over the Cypress Bend Resort hotel and related property; members asked about long-term self-sufficiency and local support, and the items were approved favorably. The Louisiana Department of Health received approval for 15 HERO Fund grant awards totaling about $4.6 million to support 541 new health care credentials statewide. The Water Sector Commission’s recommendations were also approved, including $619,850 more for St. Mary Parish Water and Sewer Commission No. 5 and emergency subfund support for the city of Tallulah, conditioned on a limited fiscal administration order. Finally, members reviewed an agreement between the LCTCS Board and its Facilities Corporation under Act 35, and the meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> exclusion of new homes increases exclusion of new homes increases individual<00:05:26.919><c> property
• </c><00:10:06.800><c> So,</c> be increasing in coming months. So, be increasing in coming months.
• c> to</c> higher than the percentage increase to higher than the percentage increase to Ramsey<00:39:
• </c><00:46:10.920><c> I</c> increases, and that's not enough. I increases, and that's not enough.
• </c> power to do so that increases power to do so that increases equitable<00:48:44.960><c> funding</

Summary: House File 4845 was presented as a tax modernization and local aid bill that would adjust Minnesota income tax brackets for inflation, add a new top bracket of 10.85% for high earners, and increase local government aid and county program aid beginning in 2026. Representative Hollins said the bill would strengthen local government funding and require the Department of Revenue to recertify aid distributions. The chair noted the bill would be laid over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill. Supporters, including St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter? no, Mayor Kelly Her of St. Paul, AFSCME Local 34, and Rebuild Minnesota, argued that cities and counties need more stable revenue to cover rising costs, public safety, human services, and property tax pressure. They said the bill would help local governments meet unmet needs and reduce reliance on property taxes. Opponents from the Minnesota Business Partnership and Minnesota Chamber of Commerce argued the new top rate would hurt competitiveness, talent recruitment, and business investment, especially because many businesses pay through the individual income tax code. Some testifiers also opposed directing more aid to cities that they said restrict housing development, while others urged the committee to address unfunded mandates and fraud instead of raising taxes. During member discussion, Representative Joyce opposed creating another bracket and suggested using cannabis tax revenue instead. Representative Wiener said the state has a spending problem and cited fraud concerns, while Representative Roach questioned whether the bill truly helped greater Minnesota and noted the current LGA appropriation is just over $644 million. Representative Hollins responded that the proposal would mostly benefit greater Minnesota by shifting more of the tax burden to high earners in the metro area. No vote was taken; the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the 2026 tax bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We recommend funding a smaller increase.
• But that's a different issue from the increasing inflation.
• You know, some proposals for ongoing spending increases, for one-time spending increases because of that
• Healthcare costs have also increased by more than 10 percent.
• Increasing those grants to $100,000.

Transcript Highlights:

• But regardless of what the full cash value is increased to, it can only be increased up to 5%.
• But regardless of what the full cash value is increased to, it can only be increased up to 5%.
• It cannot increase beyond that full cash value.
• It cannot increase beyond that full cash value.
• Again, the property owner was not going to suffer a property increase more than their normal 5% increase

Bills: HB2120 , HB2173 , HB2261 , HB2786 , HB2792

Committees: House Ways & Means , House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Keywords: property tax exemption, disability, veterans, widows, income limits, Arizona Revised Statutes, property tax, electronic communication, tax assessment, tax correction, real estate, agriculture, tax classification, land use, nonprofit organizations, transaction privilege tax, tax exemption, textbook rental, education, business leasing

Transcript Highlights:

• The FEFP includes an increase of $761.1 million.
• The FEFP includes an increase of $761.1 million.
• The Floridian First budget also includes increases in key areas of our FEFP budget: an increase of $100
• The Floridian First budget also includes increases in key areas of our FEFP budget: an increase of $100
• Are these individuals getting increased to do dual duties?

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Transcript Highlights:

• On year three, will there be an additional $800,000 increase?
• Um, it is an increase to the administration fee.
• or budgetary increases right now.
• , and what would that increase be?
• Have you seen any increase in number of failures due to the increased amount of water usage?

Summary: The committee reviewed a series of Arkansas DHS and Department of Health rules, most tied to 2025 legislation. Early items covered Medicaid changes including presumptive eligibility application timing, adding a fictive kin definition for foster child eligibility, raising the able account disability onset age to 46, allowing continuous glucose monitors to be billed by both pharmacy and DME providers, increasing the RSV vaccine administration fee for children, a telemedicine exemption for ET3 ambulance services, and a physical therapy access rule that also included occupational therapy. Members generally asked limited questions and most rules were reviewed without objection. A major portion of the meeting focused on the dental rate increase rule under Act 1025. DHS said it implemented rate increases for certain pediatric, special-needs, and oral surgeon services, but not orthodontics, and it interpreted the act as applying only to oral and maxillofacial surgeons, not general dentists. The Arkansas State Dental Association and legislative sponsors testified that the intent was to cover general dentists performing oral surgery procedures for special-needs patients, estimating the broader interpretation would add about $1.5 million annually. Committee members debated the plain language of the act versus legislative intent, and the rule was reviewed, but with testimony noting the issue should be fixed in future legislation. Later items included the Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies rule adding doula and lactation consultant billing and remote monitoring benefits; an adverse decisions rule extending provider appeal time from 35 to 65 days; CNA training program updates; PASSE network-status disclosure rules; certification rules for community-based doulas and community health workers; cosmetology, massage therapy, lead-based paint, radiation, radiologic technology, and RV park rule updates. Most of these were described as technical, statutory, or federally driven changes and were reviewed without objection. The committee briefly reopened the CGM rule after a motion to expunge the prior vote, and Representative Wardlaw said he would hold the rule for further review because he believed the billing changes did not match the law’s intent. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• increase in tax revenues.
• You just testified that whenever there's an increase in the tax, there's an increase in revenue.
• </c><01:00:15.880><c> $4</c> a dollar increase $4 a dollar increase $4 49.7<01:00:17.960><c> million<
• </c><01:01:53.839><c> you'll</c> there's a tobacco tax increase you'll there's a tobacco tax increase
• So if we increase the sales tax, is there an increase or decrease in sales compared to revenues?

Summary: The public hearing focused on HB 290, which would raise cigarette and e-cigarette/vaping taxes and create a committee to study tobacco and nicotine tax policy. Representative Jerry Stringham introduced the bill as both a public health and revenue measure, arguing that nicotine use causes health harms and public costs, and that New Hampshire’s cigarette tax has been unchanged at $1.78 per pack since 2013. He said the bill would raise the cigarette tax by $1 per pack to $2.78, still below most New England states, and would also adjust vaping taxes, which he described as having been set as placeholder rates in 2019. He said the bill would also establish a study committee to review broader tobacco and nicotine taxation, including products such as premium cigars. In response to questions, Stringham said the proposed cigarette tax would be roughly equal in real dollars to the 2008 rate after inflation, and he suggested that a smaller annual increase could be considered, though he believed a larger increase would have a stronger public health effect. He explained that the vaping tax structure differs between closed and open systems because one taxes a fixed hardware product while the other taxes reusable liquid, and he said the proposal would move the rates toward a more uniform approach. He also said New Hampshire would remain below neighboring states even after the increase, though members raised concerns about cross-border shopping, business impacts, and preserving the state’s competitive advantage. Several members questioned whether the bill’s main purpose was revenue or reducing smoking and vaping. Stringham said he viewed it primarily as a public health bill, but also as a revenue measure, and said he would consider it successful even if consumption fell enough to reduce revenue. Other members emphasized personal freedom and argued the committee should focus on taxation rather than cessation, while some supported the bill as a way to capture revenue from out-of-state buyers and keep New Hampshire’s rates below surrounding states. The hearing consisted of testimony and questions only; no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• On year three, will there be an additional $800,000 increase?
• On year three, will there be an additional $800,000 increase?
• It is an increase to the administration fee.
• And so that's sort of the department's position on any rate increases or budgetary increases right now
• If you've seen any increase in number of failures due to the increased amount of water usage.

Transcript Highlights:

• By all accounts, it's increased the dollar per gallon of, it's increased cost by about a dollar per gallon
• That increased in 1927 to 3 cents.
• As the state grew and transportation demands increased, lawmakers enacted several increases over time
• That increased by about 9% to 17.5%.
• There was no increase in crude oil.

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, we have have asked for a slight increase in funding because of the increase in complaints
• Well, whatever increases, large or small, that we provided for schools. whatever increases we provide
• If you increase the basic allotment, if you increase any other aspect of the formula is you're going
• If we increase the basic allotment, we actually will increase by the way the statute's written, salaries
• , that increase would actually be able to also increase salaries.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• A fee increase is now necessary to Licensing fees despite rising costs, a fee increase is now necessary
• Therefore, when expenditures increase, no corresponding allocation increase from the legislature like
• Therefore, this board has been absorbing those increases for the past eight years without increasing
• If we don't do the fee increase, what would that timeline increase to you? Mr.
• That's a 25% increase.

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• Page 433, Rule 400, fees were increased.
• For initial licensure, that would be an increase from $150 to $300, and renewals would be an increase
• Therefore, when expenditures increase, there is no corresponding allocation increase from the legislature
• Therefore, this board has been absorbing those increases for the past 10 years without increasing any
• The call-out that I will make to this committee is that the proposed fee increase represents a 100% increase

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> part in maybe the increase. part in maybe the increase.
• But any increase in tolls would allow us to increase our capital program and increase the amount of toll
• But any increase in tolls would allow us to increase our capital program and increase the amount of toll
• </c> council for future toll increases. council for future toll increases.
• </c> to the toll increase to the toll increase bill. bill. bill.

Committee: House Public Works and Highways

Transcript Highlights:

• The big theme here is an increasing workload. We had a 10% increase in our caseload in FY25.
• In FY25, that has increased because of the ability to file complaints online, which has increased by
• has increased by 48%.
• Our trials have increased, and we expect them to increase more in the future because of their ability
• And then we do appreciate the increase, the recommended increase in the 400,000.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• I think when this ballot measure went to the voters originally to limit our ability to increase taxes
• that increase in the revenue was going to be.
• It limits the ability of the government to increase fees by executive fiat.
• And if we're increasing taxes in government or we're increasing fees in government, the elected officials
• It increases money for education, period, end of story. Thank you, Mr.

Committee: House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee first heard SCR 1028, a voter-referral constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds legislative vote for state fee and assessment increases set by agencies, closing what supporters described as a loophole that has allowed fee hikes without direct legislative approval. The sponsor argued the measure would restore accountability and prevent agencies from using fees as a workaround for tax increases, while opponents from business and economic groups warned it would make agencies less responsive, delay needed adjustments for inflation and program costs, and shift costs to taxpayers or reduce funding for services. After debate, the committee returned SCR 1028 with a do pass recommendation by a 5-3 vote, with one member absent. The committee then took up SB 1142, which would have Arizona opt into a federal tax credit program for donations to scholarship-granting organizations and set eligibility requirements for those organizations. Supporters said the program would bring in private dollars at no state cost, expand school choice, and help students with tutoring, special needs, transportation, and other educational expenses; they also argued that if Arizona does not opt in, donations could flow to other states. Opponents, including the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, said the federal program was not yet fully written, lacked guardrails, and could further strain public schools by diverting resources away from the majority of students who remain in district schools. The committee returned SB 1142 with a do pass recommendation by a 5-3 vote, with one member absent, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget includes an ongoing increase of $30.7 million Prop 98 General Fund to support a 20% increase
• But this would likely require disproportionate increases—higher increases for the lower funding band,
• so more increases for the schools that have the smallest number of students, and then lower increases
• So there's been an increase per ADA.
• With the increase in qualified and increased, slight increase in negative, assuming that there might

Summary: The committee heard opening public comment and then took up several K-12 budget items in the Governor’s January proposal. On LCFF and necessary small schools, the Department of Finance described a 2.41% COLA, a roughly $2.2 billion increase for districts and charters, and a $30.7 million ongoing augmentation to raise necessary small schools funding by 20%. The LAO supported funding the COLA and said the small schools proposal had merit, but questioned the 20% figure and warned about a sharp funding cliff around the enrollment thresholds. Members and witnesses repeatedly raised declining enrollment, attendance, and the need to align funding with outcomes and local cost pressures. The chair and several members also asked whether consolidation, shared administration, or alternative formulas could better address small district costs, and the issue was left open for further discussion. The panel then discussed special education equalization. Finance proposed $509 million ongoing Proposition 98 funding to raise the statewide special education base rate to $999 per ADA, which would fully equalize SELPA base rates; the LAO said the same target could likely be reached with less money under current assumptions. CDE strongly supported equalization as an equity issue and said about 15% of students are identified with disabilities, with identification rising by roughly 20,000 to 25,000 students per year. Members raised concerns about staffing shortages, high caseloads, and the need to use any additional funds for inclusive practices, alternative diploma pathways, and the extraordinary cost pool. The committee also discussed whether the budget language should reflect the $509 million amount or the $999 rate, and the item was held open. For the Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant, Finance proposed restoring $757.3 million one-time to complete the program, while the LAO recommended approval because learning loss remains unresolved and districts have generally used the funds for tutoring, supplemental instruction, and other academic supports. CDE explained that LEAs must revisit their needs assessments and that many districts are using the funds alongside other support systems, but members pressed for clearer accountability and better data on how much money actually goes to tutoring or other direct services. The committee then reviewed the Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant, with Finance proposing $2.8 billion one-time and the LAO saying discretionary funding can help districts address local priorities but should be paired with fiscal oversight and possibly more targeted priorities. Members split between supporting flexibility for local needs and worrying that the grant could be used to cover ongoing structural deficits without clear evidence of student-outcome gains; the issue was also held open. Finally, the committee heard a high-level overview of school facilities funding under Proposition 2, with Finance proposing to continue $1.5 billion in bond spending in 2026-27. OPSC said that at the current pace all Prop 2 K-12 funds would likely be exhausted around 2029-30, and that demand is shifting toward modernization as enrollment declines in many areas. Members asked about school closures, reuse of unused sites, and the new small school district facilities program, which OPSC said is moving toward proposed regulations and would begin accepting modernization applications in November 2026 and new construction applications in January 2027. The committee also briefly noted community college facilities funding and asked for more information later in the process.