Video & Transcript : 'operational costs' :
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WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Labor & Commerce Jan 26th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Labor & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- So it may result in increased staff costs, increased premiums, pension costs, and claim costs.
- fund, and then the cost of the claim if they're self-insured, and then obviously the claim costs.
- The cost of PTSD is high. It’s true.
- This bill does impose some costs on municipalities, but it shares those costs that are being borne by
- a small operation like mine.
Committee:
Senate Labor & Commerce
Keywords:
kratom, taxation, regulated substances, health safety, state revenue, cannabis, marijuana, home grow, home cultivation, personal cultivation, adult use cannabis, recreational marijuana, 21 and older, controlled substances, RCW 69.50, Liquor and Cannabis Board, LCB, plant limits, cannabis possession, cannabis concentrates
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 4/28/26
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> 23% of its operational costs while if we 23% of its operational costs while if we look<01:12:10.080
- </c><01:14:09.040><c> costs</c> you look at the operational costs you look at the operational costs Operational
- </c><01:14:12.159><c> it's</c> Operational cost is not revenue, it's Operational cost is not revenue,
- it's operational<01:14:13.360><c> cost.
- </c><01:14:24.800><c> cost</c> that's a quarter of operational cost that's a quarter of operational cost
Committee:
House Health Finance and Policy
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 1/23/25
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Substitute costs are now taking up a larger portion of our school district's operating budget.
- Substitute costs are now taking up a larger portion of our school district's operating budget.
- Substitute costs are now taking up a larger portion of our school district's operating budget.
- So we’re having our direct cost and also the indirect cost of our vendors putting that cost down to us
- </c> covering of those costs it cost us about covering of those costs it cost us about $240<01:19:05.520
Summary:
The committee opened by approving the January 16 and January 21 minutes. Members then heard testimony focused on the impact of Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) and the proposed paid family and medical leave program on Minnesota school districts, with the chair framing the hearing as an opportunity to hear from major employers and school leaders about costs and operational effects.
Kimberly Lewis, speaking for the Minnesota School Boards Association and related school administrator groups, said districts generally already provide generous, locally negotiated sick leave and had initially adapted to ESST by separating vacation, sick time, and ESST into different buckets. She argued that a 2024 law effectively converted previously bargained sick leave into ESST, which she said undermines contracts, creates large unfunded costs, and may raise constitutional contract-clause concerns. Lewis cited large accumulated leave banks in some districts, increased sick leave use, and estimated significant costs from paid leave, including a reported $2.5 million impact for one large district. She urged flexibility such as prorating ESST for midyear hires and part-time staff and exempting coaches, short-term substitutes, and similar employees from ESST.
Superintendent Anarie Fuco of St. Michael-Albertville said her district expects about $400,000 in added fiscal 2026 costs from ESST and paid leave, plus indirect costs from substitute coverage and increased absenteeism. She said schools already have generous bargaining agreements, but the new laws reduce verification and require districts to track leave for temporary staff, creating what she described as a need for “substitutes for our substitutes.” Fuco said the district would face more than $211,000 in direct payroll costs from paid leave alone and asked for flexibility or exceptions for districts already offering comparable benefits. Members asked follow-up questions about how substitute teachers accrue leave and how many districts may be cutting budgets; Lewis and Fuco said many districts are making cuts and that substitute and staffing burdens are growing. A third testifier began by Zoom, but the transcript cuts off before her full testimony.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment & Energy Dec 4th, 2025 at 08:00 am
Environment & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- Liable persons include the current owner or operator of a site, the owner or operator of the site at
- The state can recover most of its oversight costs and technical assistance costs.
- The state's oversight costs are also recoverable.
- The other truth is the current cost of insurance is directly tied to the future cost of claims.
- And if they were prudent, then the cost of the wildfire is just sort of the cost of doing business, and
Committee:
House Environment & Energy
Summary:
The committee first heard an update on the Model Toxics Control Act (MOTCA) and related cleanup programs. Department of Ecology staff described how MOTCA and the hazardous substance tax fund cleanup, prevention, stormwater, and other environmental work across state agencies, but warned that forecasted revenues have fallen while appropriations and transfers have outpaced incoming funds. Ecology said the operating account will require spending reductions to stay solvent this biennium, and that further cuts may be needed if forecasts worsen. Ecology also reviewed the state cleanup process and the scale of the problem, noting more sites are being discovered each year than are being cleaned up. The Pollution Liability Insurance Agency said its dedicated petroleum-tax-funded accounts remain stable, and highlighted its newer financial assurance and heating oil loan/grant programs, while noting concerns about equity for small property owners facing large cleanup liens.
Practitioners and stakeholders then offered differing views on how MOTCA should work. One cleanup attorney argued the program has become too slow, expensive, and process-heavy, and urged a more risk-based, collaborative approach with less reliance on conservative assumptions. Environmental and community advocates countered that MOTCA is essential for cleanup, pollution prevention, stormwater control, and public participation, especially in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods that bear disproportionate toxic burdens; they urged stronger funding, tighter scrutiny of tax exemptions and budget diversions, and more accountability for stormwater spending. Port and city representatives emphasized that MOTCA grants are critical for large brownfield and waterfront cleanup projects that support redevelopment, but said long timelines, permitting delays, and funding uncertainty can stall projects and jeopardize existing commitments.
The committee then shifted to utility wildfire risk. Staff summarized recent legislation on wildfire mitigation plans, captive insurance, securitization, and the wildfire response and resilience account. Chelan PUD described extensive mitigation work including vegetation management, grid hardening, undergrounding, AI cameras, weather stations, and partnerships on forest-health projects, and asked the Legislature to restore funding to the wildfire response and resilience account. Puget Sound Energy described similar investments across its service territory, including undergrounding, tree wire, sensors, cameras, weather stations, drones, and public safety power shutoffs, and said wildfire is its top risk. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner summarized a 2022 utility liability market study and a 2025 wildfire mitigation work group, recommending restored community resilience funding, clearer wildfire risk information for property owners, and a grant program based on recognized home-hardening standards. Committee members asked about insurance cancellations, neighborhood-level risk, and whether utilities’ or insurers’ maps are used; the commissioner’s office said insurers generally use their own data and that Washington’s FAIR Plan remains small compared with other states.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee May 7th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We think about the system, transmission, distribution, market operations, greenhouse gas emissions, cost
- And especially those vegetation management, the operation and maintenance costs are collected in real
- ... ...management, the operation and maintenance costs are collected in real time.
- about the cost of all the different resources in the system, so that as we operated the grid, we could
- about the cost of all the different resources in the system, so that as we operated the grid, we could
Summary:
The committee first heard AB 1026 by Assembly Member Wilson, which would require investor-owned utilities to provide clearer front-end information and follow more consistent timelines for post-entitlement energization applications tied to housing projects. The author and supporters from the Housing Action Coalition and Mission Housing said utility delays can hold up approved housing, add costs, and create uncertainty, and they argued the bill would align utility processes with recent state efforts to streamline local permitting. PG&E and Southern California Edison opposed the bill, saying existing CPUC timelines and the ongoing energization rulemaking already address the issue, that the bill could be duplicative or premature, and that some proposed timelines were too short. The committee discussed the bill’s relationship to the CPUC’s September 2024 decision, and AB 1026 was ultimately approved on a 15-0 vote, with the consent calendar also passing.
The second half of the hearing was the committee’s annual oversight hearing on electric reliability. Representatives from the CPUC, CEC, CAISO, and DWR reviewed lessons from the 2020 and 2022 heat emergencies, emphasizing that California has since added significant resources, improved planning, and created backstop programs such as the strategic reliability reserve. They said the summer 2025 outlook is cautiously optimistic, with no expected shortfalls under traditional planning conditions and a projected surplus, though wildfire and extreme heat remain risks. The agencies also described major changes in planning and operations, including more battery storage, updated resource adequacy rules, expanded transmission planning, and reforms to the interconnection queue.
Members asked about data center load, Diablo Canyon’s future, the strategic reliability reserve, demand response, wildfire mitigation costs, affordability, and regional market expansion. Witnesses said data center demand is a major variable but can be managed through better forecasting, flexible service arrangements, and siting in areas with existing capacity; they also said firm clean resources remain valuable while planning continues around Diablo Canyon’s scheduled retirement. On affordability, they said the agencies try to balance reliability with least-cost procurement, and that new resources can lower market prices even as they require upfront investment. CAISO also highlighted the value of the Western Energy Imbalance Market and the planned day-ahead market, saying regional coordination improves both reliability and cost savings.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
December 2, 2025 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- This funding supports activities such as but not limited to staffing and operating costs that supports
- This budget supports fixed in variable cost for staffing operations, such as leases, foams, travel supply
- This example gives visibility on a lean program operating cost in addition to the operating cost.
- costs.
- But also when you start looking at our operating cost, when you're looking at per fte for 4,000 employees
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Apr 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So how does the cost work? Does this affect the cost of ratepayers? So how does the cost work?
- These are operating costs... ...district is particularly impacted by this.
- These are operating costs that have existed for decades, either in the unitary tax or with this mitigation
- But the main cost is that it costs a lot to maintain a system.
- Thus, they must front all the costs. ...which are forced to operate on a reimbursement-only model.
Summary:
The committee heard several energy, water, and utility bills, with extensive testimony on cost, ratepayer impacts, and climate or reliability goals. SB 919 by Senator Grayson would extend the biomethane monetary incentive program through 2030 and support renewable natural gas development by reducing interconnection cost barriers. Supporters said RNG helps methane reduction and organic waste diversion, while opponents, including TURN and environmental groups, argued the bill could shift costs to ratepayers and subsidize combustion-based fuels, especially dairy digesters. The author said committee amendments removed the rate-basing provisions and instead urged the CPUC to act quickly on its pending decision; the bill was left for a later vote. SB 931 by Senator Laird would reauthorize the Diablo Canyon Community Impact Mitigation Program through 2030. Supporters said San Luis Obispo County and local schools rely on the funding for emergency preparedness and public safety, while TURN argued the extension would add about $47 million in statewide ratepayer costs and should instead be paid from existing PG&E deal revenues. Members discussed the bill as a continuation of the 2022 Diablo Canyon agreement, and the author said the measure simply restores the five years omitted from that deal.
The committee also heard SB 1215 by Senator Cortese, which would direct the CPUC to set deployment targets for EV charging in multifamily housing. Supporters said renters and apartment residents are largely shut out of home charging, and that prior utility programs showed the model can be cost-effective and beneficial to ratepayers. The bill was amended to address affordability, ratepayer benefits, and limits on major system upgrades. SB 1295 by Senator Stern would create a framework for using distributed batteries and other local resources to solve grid constraints more cheaply than traditional infrastructure. Supporters said it could improve reliability and reduce costs by targeting batteries where they provide the most grid value, while utilities said they were open to continued discussion. SB 1359, also by Senator Stern, would require the CPUC to more carefully evaluate major gas infrastructure investments and alternatives such as electrification before approving new spending. Environmental groups supported the bill as a guardrail against stranded assets, while gas utilities opposed it, warning it could undermine the obligation to serve, create safety and reliability risks, and retroactively change the rules for approved investments.
On water policy, SB 1125 by Senator Menjivar would create a statewide low-income water rate assistance program upon appropriation. Supporters said about 1.6 million households have water debt and that affordability is a statewide issue, not just a problem for disadvantaged communities. Some members raised concerns that the bill lacked a funding source and that state mandates, such as chromium-6 treatment requirements, already strain local water agencies; the author and supporters responded that the bill includes administrative caps and transparency measures and is intended to work alongside future funding. The committee then heard SB 1098 by Senator Pérez, which would restrict the use of utility memorandum and balancing accounts by requiring exceptional circumstances, adding sunset dates, and creating cost-sharing or lower-return rules for certain spending. TURN and other supporters said the accounts allow utilities to recover costs after the fact with too little discipline, while Edison and PG&E opposed the bill, arguing that some costs are unpredictable and that the CPUC already has a formal review process. SB 1125 was moved to Appropriations with a roll call, and the roll was left open for additional votes; the other measures were discussed with no final committee actions announced in the excerpt.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Transportation Feb 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- about cost?
- As a reading my mind, you know, with regards to cost, my question is going to be regarding the costs,
- guy, operational guidelines.
- operations began.
- So we can operate unless we have local acceptance because without infrastructure, we can operate like
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee Mar 3rd, 2026
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Transcript Highlights:
- What we call the revenue requirement, as you've heard this morning, is the authorized cost of operating
- It includes costs like operations and maintenance and long-lived capital assets that are recovered over
- Utilities earn their return only if they manage costs within approved budgets, operate prudently, and
- Utilities earn their return only if they manage costs within approved budgets, operate prudently, and
- What we are seeing is that a lot of those costs have been operational.
Committee:
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held an oversight hearing focused on electric rates, utility regulation, affordability, wildfire costs, and the California Public Utilities Commission’s role. Chair and members framed the discussion around the challenge of transitioning to a cleaner grid while maintaining reliability and keeping bills affordable. The hearing also served as the annual update from the CPUC and the Public Advocates Office, with testimony from Professor Severin Borenstein and CPUC President-designate Alice Reynolds.
Borenstein gave a primer on utility regulation, explaining that generation is largely deregulated while transmission and distribution remain regulated, and that most rate-setting follows cost-of-service regulation. He emphasized that the hardest issue is setting the allowed return on equity: too high can raise bills and encourage capital-heavy spending, while too low can deter investment and harm reliability. He argued there is no silver bullet, said performance-based regulation and price caps have limits, and suggested some costs now charged through electric bills—such as climate programs, low-income subsidies, and wildfire-related public policy costs—might more appropriately be paid through the state budget.
Reynolds described the CPUC’s oversight role, saying the commission reviews utility spending through general rate cases, balancing accounts, and other proceedings, and that affordability is addressed through front-end scrutiny, post-spend accountability, and legislative direction. She highlighted wildfire mitigation as a major driver of rate increases, noted recent progress on clean energy procurement and battery storage, and said the CPUC is working on return-on-equity decisions, FERC advocacy on transmission costs, and implementation of SB 254 and other statutes. Members pressed on a range of issues, including wildfire securitization, load growth from EVs and data centers, gas-system stranded assets, balancing accounts, and a water-service dispute in Keene involving Union Pacific. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with several follow-up commitments from the CPUC to provide data and updates.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- live customer support line during hours of operation, require operators to provide quarterly reports
- down and our energy costs.
- down and our energy costs.
- Upton brought up, avoided cost.
- fully operating themselves.
Keywords:
public utility, common carrier, regulation, Public Service Commission, New Orleans, constitutional amendment, distributed energy, energy storage, electricity demand, virtual power plants, reliability, hurricane resilience, esthetics, cosmetology, hair services, beauty industry, Louisiana regulation, Louisiana Economic Development, sunset law, legislative authority
NE
Nebraska 2025-2026 Regular Session
Health and Human Services Committee - Room 1510 Jun 30th, 2026 at 02:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- That's a minor cost in relationship to program failure.
- The programs currently operated at the Whitehall campus operate under a state-issued health care facility
- HHS operates and inhabits buildings that are owned and operated by the State Building Division administrator
- So combined, slightly over $1 million in savings to not operate Whitehall, but some of those operating
- You have to have the program fully operational.
Summary:
The Health and Human Services Committee held an invited-testimony hearing on LR 425, which examines the Whitehall campus in Lincoln and possible long-term options for youth currently served there. Chair Brian Hardin explained that Whitehall houses two separate programs for adolescent males: a substance use program and a youth-who-sexually-harm program. Testimony from DHHS officials described Whitehall as a Joint Commission-accredited psychiatric residential treatment facility (PRTF) that provides about 40 hours of weekly programming, family involvement, school services, and community reintegration activities. Officials said the department is evaluating whether the programs should remain at Whitehall or move to another state-owned facility, with Hastings described as the department’s preferred alternative because it is more residential in design than a youth rehabilitation treatment center (YRTC).
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Appropriations Jan 12th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- supplemental operating budget.
- to the budget and mandatory suppression costs.
- from material supplies and operating costs, combined with sales tax on staffing services, PD, and IT
- costs.
- in the operating budget, and so we hope that you can facility would come with that, those costs in the
Summary:
The House Appropriations Committee opened with committee guidelines for the 2026 session, including limits on testimony, amendment deadlines, confidentiality expectations, and professionalism rules. Chair Ormsby also reviewed housekeeping for the public hearing, noting the meeting was recorded and live streamed, and that testimony would be limited to one minute because of the large number of sign-ups. The committee then began its work session on Governor Ferguson’s proposed 2026 supplemental operating budget, presented by OFM Director Katie Chapman, who outlined the state’s fiscal pressures: higher caseloads in major programs, a revenue forecast decline of about $390 million, federal policy changes tied to H.R. 1, inflation, and a relatively small ending fund balance. She said the governor’s budget solves about a $2.3 billion shortfall through nearly $800 million in spending reductions, revenue shifts, fund transfers, use of about $1 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account, and some tax preference changes, while also making targeted investments in areas such as child welfare, behavioral health, wildfire response, housing, and IT modernization. Chapman also explained that the proposal does not fully balance over the four-year outlook under the state’s statutory assumptions, but said the governor relied on the budget-balance law’s exception tied to BSA use and low employment growth. A question from Rep. Connors about credit ratings was answered with the view that the impact is difficult to predict and that Washington’s strong pension funding and balanced-budget framework remain positives.
The public hearing drew testimony from state officials and many advocates, most of whom opposed specific cuts or fund shifts in the governor’s proposal. Secretary of State Steve Hobbs objected to proposed sweeps from the corporations and charities fund and the library archives account, citing prior cuts, layoffs, cyberattack-related costs, and the need to upgrade aging systems. Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove urged restoration of wildfire prevention funding, saying the proposed amount was still $30 million short of the commitment in House Bill 1168 and that underfunding would increase suppression costs and risk to communities. Many education witnesses opposed reductions to Working Connections Child Care, transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, Running Start, and higher education across-the-board cuts, arguing they would harm access, equity, and workforce development. Higher education leaders from community colleges, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Evergreen State College described staffing cuts, program reductions, and pressure on student services, while K-12 groups and OSPI said the budget would deepen existing funding gaps.
A large portion of testimony focused on human services, health, housing, and civil legal aid. Child welfare and youth-serving organizations supported some targeted investments but opposed cuts to child care, child welfare network administration, and youth programs; advocates for foster youth, homeless youth, and mentoring programs asked for continued or increased funding. Health care and long-term care providers warned that proposed Medicaid and rate changes would reduce access for seniors, people with disabilities, and safety-net patients, while Planned Parenthood and abortion access advocates urged full restoration of the Abortion Access Project and related reimbursements. Housing and legal aid witnesses backed the governor’s proposed right-to-counsel funding but asked for more support, and homelessness advocates sought contingency funding for federal housing programs. Crime victim and domestic violence service providers repeatedly said the proposed $12 million was far short of the roughly $21.38 million needed to avoid service cuts and closures. Other testimony addressed the Climate Commitment Account shift for the Working Families Tax Credit, with environmental advocates opposing the diversion of CCA dollars and workforce advocates supporting the governor’s economic security and employment programs. No votes or formal committee action were taken during the hearing portion described in the transcript.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:04:23.120><c> in</c><00:04:23.360><c> our</c> cost which we now call base cost in our cost which
- He said the base cost includes a certain dollar amount per enrolled child for maintenance and operation—he
- </c> pupil for maintenance and operation. pupil for maintenance and operation.
- </c> catch part of the burden the cost. catch part of the burden the cost.
- </c> cost in 1984. cost in 1984.
Committee:
Senate Education Finance
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Mar 9th, 2026
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- costs due to cost-of-living adjustments.
- These funds are mission critical to state government operations and directly address the cost of delivering
- These funds are mission critical to state government operations and directly address the cost of delivering
- Operating investment.
- This outcome reflects significant internal cost controls and operational discipline across the agency
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Summary:
The hearing in Barnstable opened with remarks from the House and Senate co-chairs about the importance of holding Ways and Means budget hearings on the Cape, especially given the region’s seasonal economy and infrastructure needs. The committee then heard testimony from Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Lauren Jones on the governor’s FY27 budget proposal. She highlighted funding for workforce programs including the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, Career Technical Initiative, registered apprenticeship, YouthWorks, reentry workforce programs, and services for young adults with disabilities. She also discussed MassHire career centers, the MassHire Innovation Project, and the Department of Unemployment Assistance modernization effort, noting improved call wait times and claims processing, but acknowledging continued challenges and federal funding uncertainty.
Members asked about job-seeker barriers such as child care, housing, and transportation; domestic outmigration of young workers; youth work permits; unemployment insurance costs and the COVID assessment on employers; and the state’s unemployment rate and UI trust fund solvency. Jones and Undersecretary Josh Cutler explained the difference between workforce training funds and the unemployment trust fund, described the statewide trigger that extends unemployment benefits from 26 to 30 weeks when regional unemployment averages 5.2 percent, and said the administration is reviewing the trust fund with labor and business stakeholders. They also said the administration is trying to preserve front-line DUA staffing while shifting resources to customer service and adjudication, including a Friday adjudication pilot and seasonal hires.
Senators and representatives also pressed the administration on regional equity in workforce funding, especially for Hampshire Franklin MassHire, which was described as serving a large rural area with fewer resources than other regions. Administration officials said they are reviewing MassHire funding formulas and modernizing the system with a policy committee and state workforce board input, but did not offer an immediate fix. The committee also heard that early childhood education apprenticeships are expanding quickly, with state funding leveraged to secure federal grants and support new Grow Awards. The hearing then moved to the Executive Office of Economic Development, where Secretary Eric Paley outlined House 2 proposals for economic development, including support for the Community One Stop for Growth, rural economic development, workforce partnerships, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, AI, small business assistance, tourism, and tax incentives. Undersecretary Leila D’Amilia followed with testimony on consumer affairs and business regulation, describing funding for consumer protection, banking oversight, occupational licensure, and public safety inspections.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Appropriations Feb 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- In higher education, one of the larger items is a cost shift to the operating fees account, which generates
- to cut programs and staff in order to pay for basic operating costs.
- Providers cannot sustain frozen rates while wages and operating costs continue to rise.
- This additional half percent will cost me over $125,000 in the next year when we are already operating
- We operate LEAD and AJA programs.
Summary:
The House Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on proposed substitute House Bill 2289, the House operating budget. Budget staff Mary Monroe gave a detailed overview of the proposal’s near general fund outlook, reserve levels, major revenue assumptions, and major spending and savings items. She highlighted assumed revenue from capital gains and a proposed “millionaires tax,” a transfer from the budget stabilization account, administrative reductions across agencies, and several major policy shifts, including changes affecting Working Connections Child Care, K-12 education, higher education, long-term care, behavioral health, wildfire response, and state employee compensation. Members then asked questions, including about the higher education building account/operating fee swap and its interaction with the capital budget and Climate Commitment Act funds. The committee also announced amendment deadlines for the budget process.
The bulk of the meeting was public testimony, with many speakers generally supporting or opposing specific parts of the budget. Supportive testimony praised funding for wildfire prevention, public health, reproductive health, civil legal aid, the Poison Center, some higher education institutions, and certain disability and child welfare services. Many speakers urged restoration or protection of funding for K-12 education, especially transition to kindergarten, local effort assistance, bus depreciation, and Running Start; others opposed cuts to child care, early learning, public defense, long-term care, adult day and home care services, occupational/physical/speech therapy for Medicaid patients, and community and technical colleges. Several local government, health, and nonprofit representatives also asked the committee to preserve public works, homelessness, energy assistance, environmental justice, and recovery/diversion programs, while some business and public safety groups sought continued funding for organized retail crime prevention and related initiatives.
No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee recessed briefly and later resumed with virtual testimony, where additional witnesses repeated concerns about education cuts, long-term care, health care access, disability services, dispute resolution, early childhood programs, and the need for ongoing or increased funding in those areas.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- When new technology increases the cost of renovations, the cost of production hinders progress.
- Domestic operations.
- Require the report to include the total cost to the county for the previous month and the estimated cost
- Operating within ERCOT.
- I think if you simply look at what the cost of equity and what the cost of debt is, then what you'd get
Bills:
HB551 , HB 1281 , HB1378 , HB1617 , HB2868 , HB2881 , HB3374 , HB4439 , HB4726 , HB4732 , HB4878 , HB4914 , HB4921 , HB4958 , HB5200 , HB5318 , HB5360 , HB5402 , HB5568 , HB5573 , HB5623 , HJR218
Committee:
House State Affairs
Keywords:
political contributions, address privacy, Texas Ethics Commission, election transparency, campaign finance, international organizations, World Health Organization, jurisdiction, state law, enforcement, United Nations, World Economic Forum, attorney general, Texas attorney general, state sovereignty, legal enforcement, Texas Attorney General, electric energy storage, municipal regulation, county regulation
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee 2/24/25
Transportation Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- It has low ridership, huge operating subsidies, and ridiculous maintenance costs.
- It has low ridership, huge operating subsidies, and ridiculous maintenance costs.
- </c> is possible and and and and cost is possible and and and and cost effective<01:05:08.079><c> um<
- keep the line going with very little ridership, the maintenance cost, and the planned cost over the
- the maintenance cost um and the<01:25:08.159><c> Planned</c><01:25:08.960><c> cost</c><01:25:09.320>
Committee:
House Transportation Finance and Policy
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/22/2026 - Joint Legislative Audit Committee
Joint Legislative Audit Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- costs, and most also lacked information to help them determine what it would cost to continue operating
- costs, and most also lacked information to help them determine what it would cost to continue operating
- costs and continued lack of state funding may deter them from continuing to operate the systems.
- Additionally, although we were unable to determine the exact cost of continuing to operate the systems
- , as I've mentioned a couple of times before, ...determine the exact cost of continuing to operate the
Committee:
Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 2 on Resources, Environmental Protection and Energy Apr 16th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So I can't talk to the operational impact overall.
- costs.
- Is the contracting, I'm sorry, is the contracting more cost effective, or is it more cost effective to
- may want to operate.
- may want to operate.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- to sort of inflate the cost.
- to sort of inflate the cost.
- costs, cost overruns, projects project costs, cost overruns, projects last<00:16:33.800><c> longer,</
- </c> Commercial Vehicle Operations. Commercial Vehicle Operations.
- </c> short lines operating in Minnesota. short lines operating in Minnesota.
Committee:
Senate Transportation