Transcript Highlights:

• But every state agency votes on their increases.
• No increases beyond that. With that, Mr. Chairman, I would say... No increases beyond that.
• Are they trying to increase the size of Albuquerque?
• Are they trying to increase the size of Las Cruces?
• Chairman, has there been a cost increase?

Bills: HB63 , HB64 , HB184 , HB200 , HB47 , HB48 , HB2 , HB9

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: water project fund, New Mexico Finance Authority, NMFA, Water Trust Board, water infrastructure, wastewater, drinking water, flood prevention, watershed restoration, water storage, conveyance, delivery, water treatment, recycling, reuse, municipal infrastructure, local government finance, capital outlay, grants, loans

Transcript Highlights:

• We're increasing the total funds per FTE by 1.64%.
• We're increasing the base student allocation by $50.
• Overall, the HHS budget has increased by more than $2.1 billion, or 4.6%.
• when we get to the voucher program with that $700 million increase.
• We are increasing that allocation.

Summary: The Senate took up the 2026-2027 budget package, beginning with an overview of the $115 billion General Appropriations Bill (SB 2500/HB 500). Appropriations Chair Hooper said the budget is smaller than last year’s, maintains strong reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for all state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then highlighted major spending in their areas, including $34.9 billion for Pre-K-12 education, $11.9 billion for higher education, a $2.1 billion-plus increase in health and human services, $7.9 billion for criminal and civil justice, $16.8 billion for transportation/tourism/economic development, and major environmental and regulatory investments such as Everglades restoration, water quality, and land acquisition. Members asked detailed questions about several items. Topics included the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries and charter school funding, New College funding, ADAP/HIV drug assistance, Medicaid rate reductions for non-critical access hospitals, DOC operational deficits and inmate health/food costs, judicial staffing, and school enrollment supplements. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected shifts in how scholarship and categorical funds are tracked, that the ADAP appropriation would take effect immediately upon enactment but would only cover part of the year, and that hospital reductions were tied to a broader DPP funding increase. Questions also covered lottery staffing, concealed carry licensing workload, and whether vacant positions were being eliminated as part of budget right-sizing. After the budget discussion, the Senate substituted House bills for the Senate budget bills and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles. The chamber then passed HB 500, HB 503, and HB 5201, and agreed to conference on each. It also passed SB 7028/HB 5205 on retirement, SB 2506 on fuel taxes, SB 2508 on the state agency law enforcement radio system, SB 2510/HB 5401 on court trust funds, SB 2512 on judgeships, SB 2514 on K-12 education, SB 2516 on higher education, and SB 2518 on health, with each bill passing by unanimous or near-unanimous votes and then being sent to conference or requested of the House for concurrence.

Transcript Highlights:

• So in committee, ...we realized that this fee was an increase.
• It doesn't stop price increases.
• then the price increase is already occurring.
• That's okay, though, because I don't think it's a huge increase.
• Does that count as a price increase? It's a self-imposed price increase.

Bills: HB471 , HB798 , HB947 , HB1140 , HB1186 , HB1195 , HB1222

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Keywords: surveillance, price discrimination, consumer protection, automated decision systems, data privacy, broadband, cable service, price increase, notification, digital assets, abandonment, custodian, escheatment, blockchain, cryptocurrency, unclaimed property, state treasurer, telecommunications, spoofing, call authentication

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's more than a 470% increase. $175 to $1,000, so that's more than a 470% increase, and eliminates
• This bill will increase our tobacco license fees by 700%.
• is generating increased tax revenue for the state.
• is generating increased tax revenue for the state.
• This bill will increase those declines, and coupled with the increased license fees, I don't know how

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2483, which would create an annual data broker registry at the Department of Licensing beginning in 2027. Staff explained that data brokers would have to register, pay a fee, and disclose information about the types of data collected, security measures, opt-out options, and whether precise geolocation or consumer health data is involved. Prime sponsor Rep. Kloba said the bill is intended to make data collection and resale more visible to consumers and to address harms such as scams, tracking, and surveillance pricing. Testimony was mixed: TechNet, the Association of Washington Business, and the Washington Retail Association opposed the bill as drafted, saying the definition of data broker is too broad and could sweep in businesses that are not true data brokers, while the sponsor and committee members discussed possible clarifying amendments and public-data carve-outs. The committee then heard House Bill 2400, which would regulate monetized social media content featuring children. Staff described provisions requiring vloggers above certain revenue thresholds to register with the Department of Revenue, creating trust accounts for minor children appearing in monetized videos, allowing young adults to request deletion of monetized childhood content, requiring reporting by social media services, and establishing civil penalties and statutory damages. Rep. Reeves said the bill is meant to draw a line between ordinary family posting and monetizing children online, citing concerns about child labor protections and exploitation. TechNet and AWB opposed the bill, arguing that social media platforms should not be made the middleman for trust accounts and that the private right of action and enforcement structure should be revisited; they urged further work during the interim. Finally, the committee took testimony on House Bill 2439, an omnibus tobacco and vapor product bill. Staff said it would create a responsible vendor program, raise license fees and penalties, require retailers to buy from licensed wholesalers or distributors, add certification requirements for vapor manufacturers, study extended producer responsibility for vapor waste, expand lab testing authority, tighten age-verification rules, prohibit certain imitation or entertainment vapor products, remove state preemption so local governments could adopt stricter rules, and redirect portions of tobacco tax revenue to public health accounts. Supporters, including public health groups, King County, the American Heart Association, and pediatricians, backed the youth-prevention, local-control, and funding provisions. Industry and retail witnesses opposed the bill, focusing on the loss of preemption, higher fees, compliance burdens, and the risk of pushing sales to the illicit market; some also argued the bill should rely more on state-level uniform regulation and stronger enforcement rather than new restrictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So a really, really nice jump in terms of increasing the So a really nice jump in terms of increasing
• So that amount did increase.
• So accounting for the increases and decreases reflects tax increases, not changes caused by properties
• Taxing district property value increases separated by increases on existing and new property.
• Some counties implemented hiring freezes and lowered costs of increased living, or living increases,

Committee: Joint Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The increase is primarily related to expected increases in community-based restoration and diversion
• Last year, we increased this by 25.
• It does increase in the out years.
• “Increase in the out years.
• And that increases every day.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Department of State Hospitals (DSH), the Commission for Behavioral Health, and the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) on budget proposals and implementation updates. DSH outlined its proposed 2026-27 budget, including funding for patient operating expenses, IST solutions savings, conditional release program costs, LPS bed allocation changes, electrical infrastructure projects at Napa and Patton, SB 380 transitional housing feasibility work, and expanded dental services at Metropolitan and Patton. DSH also reported that it has met court-ordered IST treatment benchmarks in the Stiavedi v. Clinton case, with average time to initiate treatment down to about five days and pending placements reduced to roughly 250, while noting that Proposition 36 could increase referrals and SB 1323 may divert some individuals earlier into community-based treatment. Members asked about rising outside hospitalization costs, Medicare enrollment, the timing and structure of capital projects, and whether IST solution funds are being fully used; DSH said the savings reflect slower-than-expected ramp-up of community programs and that the Central California FACT replacement program is still on track for January 2027 activation. The Commission for Behavioral Health described its role under the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), including data, evaluation, grantmaking, technical assistance, and transparency work. It highlighted the new statewide Innovation Partnership Fund, a five-year, $20 million-per-year program with small and large grant categories; the first RFA drew strong interest, with more than 400 questions and over 1,000 bidders’ conference participants. The Commission also discussed a proposed extension to spend down about $4.1 million remaining for the Alcove Youth Drop-in Center grants so sites can finish implementation and Stanford can complete the final evaluation. Members asked about grant duration, whether projects can be renewed, what qualifies as innovation, and whether the fund could support service delivery rather than awareness campaigns or training; the Commission said awards are expected to be three-year contracts and that proposals must be new or meaningfully expanded approaches that support BHSA priority populations. DHCS reviewed major behavioral health changes under CalAIM and BH Connect, including peer support, mobile crisis, contingency management, traditional health care practices for tribal members, updated specialty mental health access criteria, and new substance use treatment standards based on ASAM’s fourth edition. DHCS reported strong contingency management results, with more than 13,000 members served and 95% testing negative for stimulant use during treatment, and said 21 Indian health care providers have been approved to offer traditional health care practices. It also described BH Connect initiatives such as the $1.9 billion access reform and outcomes incentive program, workforce investments, evidence-based practice expansion, IMD participation by four counties, and transitional rent services. On BHSA implementation, DHCS said it is not tracking individual county contract cuts but is monitoring county plans and statewide outcomes, while stakeholders raised concerns about local prevention and service gaps. DHCS also outlined its H.R. 1 implementation strategy, including outreach, streamlined renewals, exemptions for disabled, substance use, and medically frail individuals, and proposed clinic navigator and outreach funding; it said it has not yet produced a focused estimate of H.R. 1 impacts on behavioral health populations. The discussion ended with DHCS noting that B-CHIP bond funding has supported 437 infrastructure projects, creating 546 new or expanded facilities and more than 9,500 residential beds across the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• The tier rates have been increased in this provision that's in this bill, and that's expected to increase
• </c> Um, the provisions that increase Um, the provisions that increase revenue,<00:02:27.040><c> um,<
• This would increase<00:06:49.560><c> um</c> increase um increase um uh<00:06:50.400><c> refunds</c><00
• </c> uh increase. uh increase.
• However, increases to the program, increases to the income tax credit, or an increase to the annual appropriation

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• ;&gt; We're increasing this from &gt;&gt; We're increasing this from uh uh uh up<00:12:11.120><c> to<
• </c> &gt;&gt; We're increasing our tax rates. &gt;&gt; We're increasing our tax rates.
• </c> to talk a little bit about the increase. to talk a little bit about the increase.
• </c> this tax increase would do. this tax increase would do.
• </c> increases to both sodium and chloride. increases to both sodium and chloride.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• However, as context, the underlying bill is estimated to increase state revenues by approximately $73
• We're concerned about the increase in taxes and also the retroactivity because it doesn't even sound
• Has anybody done the math to see how much premium increase we're going to see at the consumer level?
• Chris. and concerns about health industry consolidation are increasing.
• This would impact future rate increases in those four counties referenced earlier.

Bills: HB2487

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact

Transcript Highlights:

• And that increase is attributed to the increased funding.
• As funding increases, we see increases in those numbers.
• <01:05:28.640><c> in</c><01:05:28.880><c> those</c> increases, we see increases in those increases, we
• </c><01:07:33.200><c> year</c><01:07:33.520><c> after</c> increase, a steady increase year after increase
• </c><01:25:13.600><c> 33</c> an increase. is an increase of 33 an increase. is an increase of 33 million

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• The increase is primarily related to expected increases in community-based restoration and diversion
• Last year, we increased this by 25.
• It does increase in the out years.
• “Increase in the out years.
• And that increases every day.

Transcript Highlights:

• So increasing licenses means increased fees, which means additional revenues, which support our operations
• The first is an increase of $4.6 million in federal funds due to an estimated increase in federal funds
• of past CPI levels, the total pool has increased significantly; therefore, California's share is increasing
• As a result, the increase in staff and the increase in the cost of doing business for staff has greatly
• due to increases in poverty.

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

Summary: The committee met to consider several budget and staffing requests tied to constitutional offices and the Supreme Court, with opening remarks noting that fringe benefits are now calculated at 40% to 45% and that constitutional officers may pay the maximum if they choose. Item B, a Supreme Court request for one new Supreme Court police chief position with no appropriation increase, was approved. Item C, from the Secretary of State, sought five additional Capitol Police corporal positions, title realignments, and salary maximum adjustments, along with a $498,000 appropriation increase; members questioned how the office could absorb pay changes without new funding, and the office explained it was cleaning up a large and outdated classification structure while also preparing to provide security for an additional building. The item was approved. Item D, from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, proposed moving from line-item maximum salaries to state pay-plan grades, with no change in total positions but about a $349,000 increase in salaries and matching funds. Office representatives said the office had not had raises in nearly a decade and needed the change to stay competitive and retain staff, but members raised concerns about comparing the office’s pay to other agencies and about office staffing and accessibility. Senator Hill asked to hold the item for offline discussion, and the committee agreed to hold it until the next day. Item E, from the Auditor’s Office, requested salary realignments, increases to line-item maximums, and two new positions tied to UCP claims and compliance work, with a total increase of $579,468. The auditor said the office had already pulled a government relations position from the request after an updated packet was issued, and defended the remaining increases as market-based and revenue-neutral, with some work funded by interest earnings. Members questioned the need for a legislative affairs position and whether the salary increases were aligned with the market, but after discussion the committee approved the item. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through Aaliyah, we increased funding by 2.5 million.
• We also plan to increase some hours here within the department.
• Finally, the National Guard was increased by 1 million.
• That is the Senate, so the Senate has increased it by 300,000.
• what some of that increased amount is for?

Bills: HB186 , HB185 , HB184 , HB183 , HB181 , HB312 , HB405 , HB182 , HB460

Committee: House Ways and Means General Fund

Keywords: Alabama budget, general fund appropriations, fiscal year 2026, state budget, appropriations act, HB186, executive branch funding, legislative branch funding, judicial branch funding, debt service, capital outlay, corrections, Medicaid, public health, mental health, transportation, education, law enforcement, tourism, veterans affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• That also increases costs.
• So a lot of the increase of the cost of living in California is due to. a lot of the increase of the
• But if something were to increase in the middle of the year and they need to increase the, do it a special
• You know, our security labor costs have increased. Our insurance costs have increased.
• And don't increase it all the way up to 20%.

Committee: Senate Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• So it would be approximately a $10 to $12 million increase in total.
• I'm not saying you don't need a rate increase for adults across the board.
• And every year that number has declined because of the increase...
• A modest fee increase is all we asked for: 60% of the 50th percentile.
• One is the rate increase.

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Summary: The Administrative Rules Subcommittee reviewed several agency rules and requests. The Arkansas Insurance Department presented an amendment to its holding company system rule to implement Act 261, adding a group capital calculation requirement and related guidance for insurer holding company groups; it was reviewed and approved. The State Board of Election Commissioners presented two rules: one clarifying poll watcher conduct, vote challenges, and provisional voting procedures, and another increasing pay for certified election monitors and defining training, observation, and report-writing compensation; both were reviewed and approved. The Arkansas Financial Education Commission updated its rules to remove DEI-related membership requirements to comply with Act 938, and that rule was also reviewed and approved. The committee held over the Department of Education’s request to be excluded from reporting requirements for a month. The main discussion centered on the Department of Human Services’ request to be excluded from reporting requirements for Acts 567, 568, 967, and 1025. DHS explained that CMS had raised comparability and other federal issues with the Medicaid-related acts, especially the dental provisions in Act 1025 and the diagnostic lab cap in Act 567, and said it was exploring options including a waiver, medical-necessity-based approaches, and splitting the pediatric rate increase from the special-needs cap increase. The Arkansas State Dental Association disputed DHS’s interpretation, arguing Act 1025 is workable, that the pediatric rate increase should move forward separately, and that DHS should continue pursuing federal approval rather than declining to adopt rules. Public testimony from a special-needs advocate also emphasized unmet dental needs and long waitlists for waiver services. After extensive questioning, a motion to deny DHS’s request to be excluded from reporting requirements for Acts 567, 568, 967, and 1025 passed. The committee then reviewed the Division of Higher Education’s Act 781 report, which asked to repeal three of its 32 rules and continue enforcing the remaining 29; that request was approved. The committee also received routine written updates on outstanding 2023 and 2025 rulemaking items, with no questions raised, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because this is going to increase the cost of your premiums.
• Is this going to increase rates?
• The opposition mentioned 15% to 25% premium increases on average.
• Is that because we saw an average of—that's what was the increase of building code increases?
• So that piece doesn't mandate an increase in the coverage.

Committee: Senate Insurance

Summary: The committee first heard SB 1315 by Senator Cabaldon, the “Drive My Car Act,” which was described as a forward-looking bill aimed at ensuring that owners of vehicles with advanced autonomous or software-driven features retain the right to drive their own cars. Cabaldon explained that, after discussions with stakeholders, the bill would likely be redirected out of the insurance space and into transportation to address concerns about mandatory software updates disabling human driving. Members broadly praised the concept as a timely response to emerging technology, and there was no opposition testimony. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass motion to the Transportation Committee, with members voting aye and the bill held on call until all votes were recorded. The committee then took up SB 876, the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, presented by the Insurance Commissioner and supported by the committee chair. The bill was framed as a comprehensive response to wildfire disaster claims problems, especially after the Los Angeles-area fires, and would require more accurate replacement-cost estimates, stronger optional extended replacement-cost coverage, improved building code upgrade coverage, faster claim payments, clearer adjuster communication, pre-disaster emergency response plans, and stronger penalties and restitution for unfair claims handling. Supporters, including United Policyholders, California Environmental Voters, the Los Angeles Mayor’s office, AARP California, and consumer advocates, said the bill would help survivors avoid underinsurance, delays, and repeated trauma in the claims process. Opposition came from several insurance and industry groups, including APCIA, the Personal Insurance Federation of California, the Pacific Association of Domestic Insurance Companies, the Civil Justice Association of California, and the California Building Industry Association. They argued the bill remained too broad, would raise premiums, reduce flexibility, and could worsen availability in an already fragile market, especially because of mandatory coverage expansions and faster payout requirements. Committee members questioned both sides extensively about cost, optional versus mandatory provisions, contents coverage, ALE limits, building code upgrades, and rate-setting timelines. The committee ultimately passed SB 876 as amended to the Judiciary Committee on a due pass motion, with one no vote from Vice Chair Niello and the remaining recorded members voting aye; the bill was held open briefly to add a missing vote before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's to increase the felon firearm penalty.
• It's only logical that there would be an increased penalty in this situation, especially increasing when
• So why would we increase the penalty? So why would we increase the penalties in 2020?
• But what this bill does is, well, it does say increased penalties, and it is an increased penalty for
• But what this bill does is, well, it does say increased penalties and it is an increased penalty for

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• from 71,998 to 80,980, an 8,991 square foot increase.
• , and a net increase of 13,245 gross square feet.
• It's increased from $101,000 to $240,000.
• Also, we've included a 3% compensation increase for staff.
• And so, it's a $250,000 increase from last year, just to this year with the increases with SIMS, as well

Committee: House Public School Capital Outlay Oversight Task Force

Transcript Highlights:

• When property values are increasing, sales are increasing, that's going up.
• When property values are increasing, sales are increasing, that's going up.
• Anything over that is to be characterized as a tax increase.
• An increase as to property value?
• It could only increase 10%. So we had a 19% increase in taxable value.

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

Summary: The Committee on Finance and Tax met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Property Appraisers Association of Florida on ad valorem valuation, exemptions, and the property tax process. Lauren Levy reviewed the legal and historical framework of Florida property taxation, including Save Our Homes, the 10% cap on non-homestead assessments, portability, tangible personal property exemptions, TRIM notices, and the distinction between taxable value and millage rates. He emphasized that property appraisers are independent constitutional officers who assess just value, administer exemptions, and are overseen by the Department of Revenue, with values and exemptions generally determined as of January 1 and subject to challenge through the Value Adjustment Board or circuit court. Mike Twitty described the mass appraisal process in Pinellas County, explaining how property appraisers value large numbers of parcels using the same core approaches as fee appraisals but with statistical testing, field reviews, aerial imagery, and technology. He discussed the importance of budget, staffing, and the January 1 valuation date, and noted that recent hurricanes caused significant damage, increased petitions, and required new procedures to help property owners with value reductions and FEMA-related issues. Paul Polk focused on Department of Revenue oversight, explaining sales ratio studies, uniformity measures such as COD and PRD, time adjustments, sales qualification reviews, and in-depth studies that can lead to corrective action if assessment standards are not met. He also noted that the Department reviews property appraiser budgets to preserve independence from county pressure. Senators asked about the supersized homestead concept, DOR review and rejection standards, value trends, and the impact of storms and new construction on taxable value. Twitty and Polk said value growth has been driven by a mix of new construction, market appreciation, cap resets, and storm-related adjustments, while noting that some counties saw market value decline even as taxable value rose. They also said some property tax relief proposals would be easier to implement than others depending on how local tax bills are structured, especially where law enforcement millage is separately identified. No votes were taken on legislation, and the committee adjourned after the presentation.