Transcript Highlights:

• budget that's been presented.
• I explained that formula in the budget statement.
• And so we'll talk about that, but for the budget. And for GIS.
• within the approved FY 2027 budget.
• And, you know, we did ask for a 911 budget, and again, they did not provide three years of 911 budget

Keywords: 914, all

Summary: The Oklahoma 911 Management Authority met with a quorum and approved the April 2 regular meeting minutes and financial reports for February through April 2026. The board then adopted the FY 2027 budget, which included a 5% staff increase, reclassifying the 911-98 liaison into a training coordinator role, adding a GIS specialist position, higher funding for training, travel, NG911 deployment, cybersecurity training, recruitment, and the 911 coordinator workshop, along with increased GIS repository funding and a new technology roadmap allocation. The budget also set aside $3 million for a one-time PSAP distribution and maintained grant closeout and reserve funding levels. The board approved the $3 million PSAP one-time distribution and its guidelines, using the statutory population-and-land-area formula, with funds restricted to GIS, eligible technology items, or grant matching rather than salaries or construction. Members also denied Washington County 911’s request to waive the 20% match for a radio console grant after staff found the county had sufficient carryover and other funding sources. The board approved an in-person 911 telecommunicator training curriculum and simulator for technical schools, with a requirement for a full simulator and NENA-approved certification, and approved a $249,820 statewide recruitment campaign with ICG Advertising to promote 911 careers. On GIS compliance, the board authorized staff, with legal counsel, to begin enforcement steps against PSAPs that do not complete required GIS data remediation and repository uploads by the June deadline, including notice and possible escrow action by the Oklahoma Tax Commission. The board also approved several individual grants, including projects for fiber/NextGen 911 transition, ADA furniture, NextGen 911 equipment, a consolidation feasibility study, recorder upgrades, and radio console upgrades for multiple counties and PSAPs. Committee and staff reports highlighted 911 Day at the Capitol, upcoming POP grant availability, new grant categories for FY 2027, cybersecurity training planning, NG911/GIS tool development, 988 outreach, and ongoing project and standards work.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a budget bill.
• It's a budget bill. We given bill. It's a budget bill.
• cut back on our budget in that regard. cut back on our budget in that regard.
• the police department's budget.
• the police department's budget.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is to fund additional technical staff and software costs, including time management software for
• It's not part of the typical budget that we have on an annual basis.
• This is just to correct their budget.
• It's also to correct that budget. And C is a request from ASU Beebe.
• And that is what's really put a strain on our budget the last two years.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to go next to Spb 7, 0, 2, 4, by appropriations relating to state planning and budgeting.
• Budget airily if if they are not implemented.
• As I said, I can't give you a number across the did budget this last year on what we have spent on it
• I'm just wondering, practically the count ability ultimately sits with the legislature and the budget
• >> Yes, we're going to have and I said this is going to this is a big budget item.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The software solution will integrate existing sensors.
• , because y'all are in budgets right now.
• We receive no direct baseline funding through the state budget.
• Our operating budget is provided by Texas A&M University.
• Software was They had the actual software engineers Came in on their own time and actually programmed

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since 2022, my team has been developing data and software for probabilistic records.
• Maybe they should cut back on their avocado toast budget, you know, stretch their budget further.
• But... ...budget further. But we want a fair tax code. What do we want? Fair tax code.
• Build the kind of state that we deserve. budget further. But we want a fair tax code.
• Our state budget has ballooned 170% accounting for inflation since 1991.

Summary: The meeting was a press conference and Q&A led by Rep. Shaun Scott to promote the proposed Well Washington Fund, a new dedicated account intended to raise about $3 billion annually through a corporate payroll tax on wages above $125,000. Scott said the bill would help offset expected federal cuts under Trump-era policies and support programs most at risk, including cash assistance, higher education, health care, housing, and wildfire mitigation. He also referenced two related proposals: restoring wildfire mitigation funding by ending a tax break for large banks, and allowing counties to raise corporate taxes. Several advocates and affected residents testified in support of progressive revenue. Michelle Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance warned that federal homelessness policy changes and state underinvestment could worsen homelessness and evictions. Christina Savitsky, a disabled veteran, described how Medicaid, food assistance, and work requirements would affect her family. Representatives from the University of Washington AAUP said federal cuts and Medicaid changes threaten teaching, research, workforce training, and hospital finances. Fatima Boxwala of Tech for Taxes and Mikey Stramskis of the Washington Federation of State Employees argued that large corporations and the wealthy should pay more to sustain public services and address understaffing, burnout, and service backlogs. In the Q&A, Scott said the bill may need an emergency clause to make it referendum-proof and argued that the legislature has a mandate to act, citing the 2024 capital gains tax referendum and the state’s regressive tax system. He acknowledged concerns about businesses leaving but said he was more concerned about working people being displaced by unaffordable housing, child care, and health care. No vote or formal committee action occurred; the event was a call for a hearing in the House Finance Committee in 2026 and for legislative passage in both chambers.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a budget bill.
• final budget authority. That is the the final budget authority.
• It's a budget bill. We given bill. It's a budget bill.
• cut back on our budget in that regard. cut back on our budget in that regard.
• corrections budget. Um just wondering uh corrections budget.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused primarily on House Bill 1087 and House Bill 123, both related to firearms. HB 1087 was introduced as a Second Amendment measure, but after questions from the chair and discussion with law enforcement, the sponsor agreed it should be set aside and referred to a study committee for further review, rather than advanced as written. The New Hampshire Chiefs of Police Association testified in opposition to the bill as written, while also indicating support for the sponsor’s proposed amendment or a study approach. The bulk of the discussion centered on HB 123, which would require the return of firearms after a not guilty verdict or dismissal. The sponsor and several members described the bill’s purpose as speeding up the return of property, but law enforcement and judicial branch witnesses raised concerns about federal law, the need to ensure a person is still legally eligible to possess firearms, and the bill’s 24-hour return requirement. Witnesses from the State Police and judicial branch explained the current process, including background checks through the state police gun line, and said the existing procedure already aims to return firearms promptly while allowing time to verify disqualifying information. Members and witnesses discussed possible amendments, including removing language that would bar background checks and instead tying return of firearms to completion of the check within a set time frame. Judicial branch and State Police witnesses said a process that requires a background check and return within a reasonable period, with notice if there is a delay or denial, would better address safety and legal concerns. The hearing ended without a vote; the committee closed the public hearing and indicated it would continue working on the language before executive session.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is why the governor recommended an online renewal option for DLS in the DVS budget.
• issues that I just highlight is there is centralized tracking and data sharing depending on the software
• on tracking and data sharing depending on tracking and data sharing depending on the the the software
• DPS could be having elements of software DPS could be having elements of data<00:09:35.720> of
• that you use then that the software that you use then that comes<00:09:42.000> to<00:09:42.440

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In our budget, we've put forward the FY25 budget, which I hear is very much in the birth canal, may be
• In our budget, we've put forward the FY25 budget, which I hear is very much, is in the birth canal, may
• They can pay for software to figure out exactly how to target all of us.
• They can pay for software to figure out exactly how to target all of us.
• They can pay for software to figure out exactly how to target all of us.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first adopted three congratulatory resolutions recognizing the retirements of Dolores Hayes, Lisa Audet, and Kate Fitzpatrick. It then handled several procedural matters, including suspending Joint Rule 12 to refer a sick leave bank bill for a Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office employee to the Committee on Public Service and referring House petitions to their respective committees. The chamber also adopted a conference report on the joint rules for the 2025-2026 session after remarks from Senators Creem, Tarr, Lovely, and Fattman emphasizing transparency, public access, recorded votes, longer notice for hearings and conference reports, remote participation, and periodic review of the rules. The report was accepted by a 40-0 roll call. The Senate then took up the bill strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth, Senate No. 2538, commonly described as Shield Act 2.0. Senator Friedman and others argued the bill was needed to protect reproductive and gender-affirming care from out-of-state and federal interference, to limit disclosure of sensitive information, to create a state-level EMTALA-style protection for emergency care and active labor, and to strengthen privacy and licensing protections for providers and institutions. Senators Cyr, Lovely, and Fattman also spoke in support, framing the bill as a response to recent federal and state threats and as an extension of Massachusetts’ prior shield-law work. The chamber considered numerous amendments. Several were rejected, including amendments by Senators Finegold and Keenan and multiple Tarr amendments on topics such as medical records, consistency with existing law, and public health data collection. Some amendments were adopted, including a Montigny amendment on health-connected data disclosure, a Brownsberger amendment further protecting privacy for reproductive and gender-affirming care, a Rauch amendment clarifying protections for patients in active labor, a Tarr amendment removing an exemption for data from personal tracking devices, and a Rodrigues corrective amendment. After the amendments, the Ways and Means substitute was adopted, the bill was ordered to a third reading, and it then passed to be engrossed by a 37-3 roll call. At the end of the session, the Senate adopted a memorial adjournment in honor of former Senate Majority Leader Louis P. Bertinazi. The Governor also filed a message submitting a bill to build resilience for Massachusetts communities, authorizing future capital spending for energy and environmental affairs, which was referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 1 p.m. and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• long time, when there was a budget long time, when there was a budget shortfall<01:01:56.640>
• We would just push of it in the budget.
• We still have the same software, so we get updates whenever they update their software. available for
• > updates have the same software so we get updates have the same software so we get updates of
• Uh, we have a subscription to our software.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• efficiency budget.
• efficiency budget.
• A budget, and in our annual opening budget, we were able to meet the governor's efficiency budget.
• In in the House budget, a as you budget.
• know not all IT spend is in in my budget know not all IT spend is in in my budget budget.<01:48:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Public education is necessarily a huge part of our state budget, and legislators should understand why
• <00:34:42.240> and a huge part of our state budget and a huge part of our state budget and
• but we rely on our partners the budget but we rely on our partners in<01:18:06.719> local<01:
• These cities have minimal technology, lack minimal hardware and software capabilities, including basic
• These cities have minimal technology, lack minimal hardware and software capabilities, including basic

Bills: HF550, HF412, HF796, HF140

Keywords: redistricting, Bipartisan Commission, Minnesota Constitution, census, legislative districts, HF412, Minnesota legislature, education committee, K-12 education, school observation, teacher observation, administrator observation, legislative transparency, legislator accountability, House rules, Senate rules, Legislative Reference Library, public reporting, education finance, education policy

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:40:37.359> for<00:40:37.599> these acquiring AI software for these acquiring AI
• software for these purposes?
• <00:40:51.599> that<00:40:51.839> we To become a piece of AI software that we purchase
• And then we would also continue to need to budget for three years for just our record retention, which
• And then we would also continue to need to budget for three years for just our record retention, which

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Despite that inflationary adjustment, districts around the state are facing massive budget cuts.
• Carlton is facing approximately a 10% budget cut this year.
• > a<00:02:59.280> 10%<00:03:00.159> budget<00:03:00.480> cut<00:03:00.800
• > this<00:03:01.080> year approximately a 10% budget cut this year approximately a 10%
• and um software and um software experience<00:41:09.960> uh<00:41:10.160> I'm<00:41

Bills: HF827, HF1258, HF2387, HF2388, HF2534, HF2016

Keywords: education, school funding, consolidation aid, financial support, Minnesota Statutes, education finance, ice arena, school districts, cooperation agreement, equal sports opportunities, school milk program, nutrition, food waste, kindergarten, public schools, supplemental revenue, charter schools, funding, state appropriations, general education funding

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a long flowing software that needs update. We all know it.
• Chair, thank balance the budget. Mr.
• We just don't, and our budget targets are not allowing the budget targets, the financial situation that
• We just don't and our budget support.
• c> allowing<01:15:46.000> the<01:15:46.239> budget targets are not allowing the budget

Bills: HF2436

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to be up in Senate Finance for my budget in about five to ten minutes.
• of my very first pieces of legislation that I advocated for as I started my career in a startup software
• company, an R&D startup software company, and it does work because we ended up keeping the company here
• of my very first pieces of legislation that I advocated for as I started my career in a startup software
• company, an R&D startup software company, and it does work because we ended up keeping the company here

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those funds have to come out of our limited budget.
• A lot of times the software vendor has to do some kind of update to it.
• A lot of times the software vendor has to do some kind of update to it.
• That would be obviously official personnel that would be checking, you know, based on the software update
• So software updates, you'll... ...have a contract with or a county employee that's doing this work.

Bills: SB801, SB1200, SB1410, SB1717, SB1862, SB1863, SB2216, SB2681, SB506, SB2626, SJR63

Keywords: SB 801, birth certificate, birth record, certified copy, homeless, homelessness, unhoused, vital records, state registrar, local registrar, county clerk, fee waiver, identity documents, ID access, housing insecurity, shelter, transitional housing, Health and Safety Code, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission

Summary: The Senate Committee on State Affairs heard testimony on several bills, with most measures left pending after public testimony closed. SB 801, by Sen. Menéndez, would require DSHS and local clerks to issue birth certificates at no cost to people experiencing homelessness. The author and Maria Benavides of SA Youth said the fee and mailing requirements are major barriers to obtaining ID, housing, and work, and Benavides described clients who were able to secure housing and employment after getting birth records and IDs through her program. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard a set of bills related to the Gulf of Mexico/Gulf of America naming issue: SB 1410 would require state agencies to use “Gulf of Mexico” in official documents, SB 1717 would conform state law to the federal renaming to “Gulf of America,” and SJR 63 would amend the Texas Constitution to match that change. Support testimony for the latter two emphasized alignment with federal action and the use of different geographic names by different countries. All three measures were left pending. Members then heard SB 1200, which would require plaintiffs suing defense contractors to disclose in discovery whether they are receiving litigation funding from adversarial nations such as China, Russia, or Cuba. The author and Texans for Lawsuit Reform said the bill targets third-party litigation funding and foreign influence on lawsuits, especially those affecting defense contractors; the committee substitute narrowed the definition of defense contractor and expanded applicability to actions involving defense contractors’ activities. SB 2626, which requires continuing medical education on pregnancy-related emergencies for OB-GYN physicians and nurses, drew support from witnesses who said it would reduce confusion about Texas abortion law and improve care in emergencies. SB 506, SB 2681, SB 1862, SB 1863, and SB 2216 all focused on elections, including ballot language standards, voter registration challenges, interstate voter-roll cleanup, procedural audits, and election equipment security; testimony split between supporters who said the bills improve transparency and integrity and opponents who warned of vague standards, added costs, and possible voter disenfranchisement. Each of those bills was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know we have a huge budget.
• budget, Roderick Welsh, Director.
• LBB presentation on budget: KJ Curtis. And we have the agency presentation on budget: Billy M.
• In addition, DIR is seeking budget authority to implement additional IT In addition, DIR is seeking budget
• on budget, J.R.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee first heard the Legislative Budget Board and Secretary of State Jane Nelson on the Secretary of State budget. LBB said the recommendation would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million overall, with major changes including removing federal HAVA funding and one-time business system replacement money, adjusting the agency’s base request, deleting an outdated Interstate Crosscheck rider, and directing HAVA funds to be drawn down first. Secretary Nelson and staff defended the agency’s needs, emphasizing election security, business filings, international protocol, and the Texas Register, and requested additional staff, a new website, digitization of records, IT and cybersecurity upgrades, and renovation of the Rudder Building. Senators discussed voter-roll maintenance, cross-checking data, call-center response times, and the need for online voter registration and more efficient election administration. No votes were taken. The committee then took up the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB outlined a $2.4 million decrease for the office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs, driven by unexpended balances and the removal of one-time federal and border-security items, while noting continued funding for disaster response, victim assistance, and $2.9 billion for border security at roughly the prior level. Governor’s staff said Texas remains focused on border security, economic development, and public safety, and discussed efforts to seek federal reimbursement for prior border spending. Members asked about the National Guard’s status, possible federal assumption of border costs, the music incubator program, the Semiconductor Innovation Consortium, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, defense economic adjustment grants, and a new $5 million nonprofit security grant proposal. Staff said the semiconductor program has 12 approved projects totaling about 948 jobs and $17 billion in capital investment, and that the nonprofit security request was added late to address threats to houses of worship and other nonprofits. No formal action was taken. Finally, the committee heard the Texas Facilities Commission and lease-payment recommendations. LBB said the Facilities Commission recommendation would reduce appropriations by about $2.0 billion, mainly by removing border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, while adding money for higher utility costs, Rudder Building refurbishment, and additional staff. The lease-payment recommendation would decrease general revenue by $9.3 million. LBB also noted new riders related to completing the State Library and Archives building, tenant communication during disruptions, and a space-utilization report. In agency testimony, members asked about border wall maintenance responsibility, total facilities-related debt, and the status of capital complex construction. The Rudder Building renovation and related security needs were repeatedly discussed as important one-time infrastructure investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• reviewing, working with the chief budget reviewing, working with the chief budget officers officers
• work a lot with uh chief budget work a lot with uh chief budget officers,<00:37:24.560> do
• A $3 million general fund budget.
• <01:28:53.440> is And for the current year our budget is And for the current year our budget
• overall budget?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Interim Joint Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met for its first summer interim meeting, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and took roll. The first presentation came from Jerry Gels, principal of Ignite Institute in Erlanger, who focused on the rising cost of dual credit. He said dual credit tuition has increased from about $150 to $290 for a three-credit course over roughly five years, which he argued is discouraging participation, especially for working-class and low-income students. He cited Ignite data and broader college outcomes to argue dual credit improves college persistence, shortens time to degree, and reduces student debt, noting that many of his students enter college with substantial credit and that low-income students at Ignite have increasingly participated after targeted efforts and scholarship use. He also said the instructional labor is largely paid by county school systems, so he questioned the size of the tuition increase and said the committee should examine how the costs are being set and whether college tuition should be stabilizing as more students arrive with credits already earned. Members asked about who pays for dual credit, the role of state scholarship support, and whether tuition varies by institution. Gels said students in his district generally pay the dual credit cost themselves, though some districts may cover it, and he noted the dual credit scholarship now covers fewer classes than before. He said the price appears to be set centrally rather than varying by university, and he emphasized that the higher cost is creating barriers even though the courses are taught largely by local teachers on school payrolls. He also described Ignite’s efforts to expand access for free- and reduced-lunch students, saying participation among that group rose from 27% with no dual credit to about 90-92% taking at least one dual credit class. The committee then heard from the Goldwater Institute, represented by Michael Frazier and Dr. Tim Minella by Zoom. They argued Kentucky’s public universities should face stronger accountability and transparency, citing declining public confidence in higher education, rising costs, and what they described as administrative growth and research spending that does not clearly benefit students or the Commonwealth. They proposed requiring a 10-year accounting of staffing growth by category, comparing it to enrollment and low-income Kentucky enrollment, and limiting non-STEM faculty teaching releases for research unless approved under a baseline consent process. They also criticized certain university-funded research projects as examples of misdirected spending and said public reporting should distinguish Kentucky residents from non-residents more clearly, pointing to a reported decline in low-income in-state undergraduate enrollment. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not the computing power; it's right now the software.
• Those minutes really... ...matter—software, et cetera.
• Feature sets, software, and then frequency capability.
• For example, constant software updates and hypersensitivity to failure.
• Apple has their own proprietary software and language.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all