Transcript Highlights:

• Have we appropriated money in the budget through the fund, and how much did we do, and is there enough
• to cover everything, including what's going to be in the budget?
• yeah, there's both general fund and some bonding authority provided to the Board of Finance in the budget
• Budgets are going to be reconciled; projects are out there.
• I can't say any more than that: an 11 plus billion dollar budget, the 26 to 27 percent reserves, and

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1551, budget stabilization fund, transportation fund.
• SB 1571, school district budgets, two years. Government.
• SB 1571, school district budgets, two years. Government.
• SB 1571, school district budgets, two years. Government.
• SB 1541, budget stabilization fund, public safety salaries.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• never have been in rates in the first place, and shifting them back and forth based on the state budget
• to take as much of that as possible out of rates through this structure, especially when we have budget
• Yeah, I mean, you know, if there—well, you talked about budget surpluses, which don't sound like they're
• Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, the last negotiation with the governor on the budget, there's already
• And I think we'll probably, when we come back, we'll have a robust discussion given the federal budget

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Natural Resources heard Senator Becker present a broad energy and affordability bill focused on shifting certain utility-related costs out of rates and into a new public power fund structure. The bill’s major elements included using cap-and-trade climate credit revenues to provide larger and better-timed customer credits, especially for low-income customers; creating a fund to help cover wildfire mitigation, care and fairness, and other public-purpose costs; adjusting rate-setting and wildfire spending oversight; and streamlining permitting and CEQA review through programmatic environmental documents for similar projects. Becker said the goal was to reduce regressive costs in rates while still supporting climate and infrastructure goals. Support came from municipal utilities, community choice advocates, environmental justice and clean energy groups, and the Climate Center, many of whom said they supported the bill and wanted to continue working on amendments. Opposition came from the California Chamber of Commerce, utility companies, business groups, and labor representatives, who argued the bill would shift rather than solve cost pressures, create rate instability, and introduce reliability and investor risks. Several opponents also criticized the proposed funding structure and the inflation-capped rate-setting approach. Committee members asked Becker about the rationale for the power fund, the change from 85% to 100% of cap-and-trade revenues going to customer credits, the reduced frequency of wildfire mitigation reporting, and the adequacy of streamlined environmental review. Becker said the bill was intended to move wildfire and other public-purpose costs out of rates over time and to speed up review without eliminating project-specific environmental analysis. The committee ultimately voted to pass the bill on a due-pass recommendation, with members noting ongoing discussions on permitting and other amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES WE'VE INCLUDED THE STARTING POINT FOR THE BUDGET SPREADSHEET, PROJECTS PROVISO
• WITH THAT THE SENATE HAS AN OFFER FOR THE HOUSE, MEMBERS OF THE GRAY ROWS ON THE BUDGET SPREADSHEET REPRESENT
• EFFORT TO MOVE CLOSER TO THE HOUSE POSITION AS WE WORK TOWARDS RESOLVING AND CLOSING OUT SEVERAL BUDGET
• YOU OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO BUILD ON THE PROGRESS MADE AND FINALIZED AT BALANCED AND RESPONSIBLE BUDGET

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For more than three decades, he has helped with so many challenges at CPF, from COVID to budget challenges
• Thanks to the leadership of our Speaker, our Budget Chair, and all of my colleagues on the floor, this
• the Department of Education respond to legislative data requests within 10 days and submit annual budget
• In fact, our budget blueprints... ...currently the proposal of the Governor before us.
• In fact, our budget blueprint, which our Speaker and our chair of our budget committee released just

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• just wanted the body, though, to know how important he was to the process and all members of the Budget
• We just passed a budget yesterday, and this is a budget reduction proposal.
• It reduces budget costs. It reduces children being placed in foster care.
• We just passed a budget yesterday, and this is a budget reduction proposal.
• It reduces budget costs. It reduces children being placed in foster care.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the House Journal by a 125-0 roll call vote. Members then spent a large portion of the morning recognizing special guests, interns, students, and constituents, including school groups, interns, a Savannah Bananas player, and several birthday and personal privilege announcements. On legislation, the House agreed to conference on Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1421. The chamber then took up Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 1000, a bipartisan measure to reauthorize the Missouri Tourism Supplemental Revenue Fund and continue support for the Division of Tourism and Missouri Film Office. Supporters from both parties emphasized tourism’s economic importance statewide; the bill passed 136-6. The House next debated House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 1020, an omnibus Department of Revenue bill covering fee office contracting, vehicle registration penalties, Real ID document retention, and other DOR changes. The body adopted an amendment lowering late registration penalties, making document retention opt-in, and restoring a five-year plate option, followed by a second amendment removing cosmetic damage as a basis for rejecting rebuilt-vehicle inspections. The bill then passed 130-10. Later, the House began debate on a combined judiciary/civil legislation bill involving insurance assignment-of-benefits restrictions, anti-SLAPP protections, workers’ compensation and court administration changes, and expungement-related funding; members adopted a title change and several amendments, including one to make attorney-fee awards more even in anti-SLAPP motions, while also debating a proposed St. Louis police legal expense fund amendment and whether it had been properly vetted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Racism, how we handle the budget, you know, a variety of issues that get asked.
• I told people, keep coming and asking, right, you know, trying to help educate them on the budget bills
• I remember back maybe two or three sessions before, we had an informal kind of budget appropriations
• and how all the... remember back maybe two or three sessions before we had an informal kind of a budget
• to Senator Davison’s point about appropriators, that there may be a way to explain more about the budget

Summary: The Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then took up a draft bill to make legislators’ and candidates’ residential addresses confidential in public records. Legislative Council and the Secretary of State explained the proposal was prompted by security concerns and would protect residential addresses while still allowing election officials to verify residency and keep candidate names and offices public. Members raised concerns about unintended consequences, transparency, and how the change would affect rural districts and residency enforcement. The Secretary of State suggested an amendment to end the confidentiality when a candidate’s term ends, and the committee agreed to hold the bill over for further discussion at the next meeting. The committee also reviewed follow-up materials on legislator security and best practices, including advice on situational awareness, internet hygiene, varying routines, and reporting threats, along with NCSL materials comparing capitol security practices in other states. Members discussed a recent security incident and the need to keep alert contact information current, and staff said they would continue working with the Highway Patrol on legislative-specific notifications. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to Garrity Consulting’s final report on mitigating the effects of legislative term limits. The consultants summarized survey, focus group, and stakeholder input showing concerns about loss of institutional knowledge, leadership turnover, onboarding demands, and workload pressures, while also noting public support for term limits and annual sessions. Recommendations included considering annual sessions or shifting biennial sessions to even-numbered years, restructuring organizational session and interim committee work, creating office hours and more structured orientation and mentorship, expanding ongoing training and staff support, improving public communication and virtual testimony rules, and addressing barriers to service such as employer support and travel costs. Members discussed the tension between making the legislature more effective and preserving a citizen-legislature model, and the report was received as a roadmap for future implementation rather than immediate action.

Transcript Highlights:

• 14:05.040><c> and</c> of work plans, required reporting and of work plans, required reporting and budget
• </c><00:14:06.880><c> Conditions</c><00:14:07.279><c> related</c><00:14:07.600><c> to</c> budget amendments
• Conditions related to budget amendments.
• </c><00:21:47.760><c> that</c><00:21:48.159><c> becomes</c> ...and very detailed budgets that become
• So if somebody submits a request for reimbursement for something that has not been approved in the budget

Bills: HF3426, HF3428

Keywords: natural resources, environment, sustainability, conservation, outdoor recreation, land acquisition, real property, trust fund, commissioner approval, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, conservation easement, land purchase, state land, public lands, property acquisition, value assessment, tax assessed value, Metropolitan Council, Board of Water and Soil Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Energy and Environment, Public Protection
• requests and our six-year capital plan and annual budget requests.
• in or the upcoming budget cycle. >> Right?
• cycle that we're in or the budget cycle that we're in or the upcoming<00:17:54.640><c> budget</c><00
• :17:54.960><c> cycle,</c> upcoming budget cycle, upcoming budget cycle, &gt;&gt; right?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee heard testimony from the Energy and Environment Cabinet on the state-owned dam repair program and Kentucky’s electric grid resilience program. On dams, Commissioner Tony Hatton explained the legal definition and hazard classifications for Kentucky dams, noting there are 975 regulated dams statewide, including 76 state-owned dams, and that hazard ratings are based on potential loss of life or property damage if a dam fails. He described the cabinet’s screening criteria, including inundation mapping, engineering condition, and compliance status, and said the cabinet uses a design-bid-build procurement process to manage public funds responsibly. Hatton outlined current and planned dam projects funded from the prior biennium, including Willisburg Lake in Washington County, where work will address hydraulic capacity, unstable downstream slopes, and likely require a coffer dam, flood wall, auxiliary spillway, and raw water line replacement. He also said Big Bone Lake State Park Dam will be decommissioned, Clemens Lake Dam at Morehead State University is in design for a major rehabilitation, and additional projects include Marion County Sportsman’s Dam, Chenoa Lake Creek/Canning Creek Dam, and a rehabilitation study for the Mud River at Lake Malone. The cabinet also requested $500,000 for routine repairs and maintenance. Members questioned cost estimates, inflation, and whether it would be better to fund design separately; cabinet officials said estimates are current best engineering estimates, costs have generally stayed within about 10%, and the current funding flow requires all funds to be available before bidding. The committee then received a status update on the electric grid resilience program, a five-year federal formula grant under Section 40101(d) of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Officials said Kentucky has received years one through three of funding, which has been allocated to state park facilities and municipal electric utilities, while years four and five have not yet been received and would go to distribution cooperatives and remaining municipal utilities. Projects discussed included upgrades at Ken Lake State Park and Kentucky Dam Village, plus municipal projects in Owensboro, Princeton, Williamstown, and Hopkinsville. The cabinet said the selected projects focus on hardening infrastructure, replacing poles, wires, conductors, and transformers, improving vegetation management, and adding or upgrading outage management systems. Officials reported that all projects are under contract and moving into subcontracting and construction, while the Department of Parks is finalizing an agreement with Western Kentucky Rural Electric Cooperative for the park-related work.

Transcript Highlights:

• A family's budget from their own income is also really important.
• In essence, it's looking at data around what a survival budget for folks looks like by county.
• juvenile justice budget, which is primarily on secure facilities.
• So, here's how we have to talk about the budget.
• It should be that the 2025 budget did not meet. The need, it says 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are increasing with each budget cycle.
• </c> increasing uh with each budget cycle. increasing uh with each budget cycle.
• A lot of what you do is to create a budget for people.
• </c><00:34:44.000><c> which</c> years and and the 2016 budget which years and and the 2016 budget which
• Uh when it for this next budget cycle?

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 01:02 Approval of Minutes: 02:03 Annual Investment Review: 04:10 Adjournment: 37:34, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, welcomed new staff member Sean Parks, and announced that it would not meet in November. The next meeting was scheduled for December 8 at 10:00 a.m., with the chair noting that pension bills would be heard then and emphasizing that all pension bills must go through the full process and include actuarial analysis. Brad Gross of the Public Pension Oversight Board presented a detailed review of Kentucky retirement systems’ investments and funding. He said fiscal year 2025 ended with about $50.5 billion in pension assets and $12.52 billion in retiree health assets, both up from the prior year. He reported strong investment performance across the systems, with all Kentucky public pension funds exceeding their policy benchmarks and the median peer return of 10.4%. He also discussed long-term return trends, asset allocation differences among the systems, fee levels, and cash flow, noting that cash flow remains a key monitoring issue and that supplemental appropriations have improved the cash position of some funds, especially the Kentucky State Police and TRS systems. Gross also explained that assumed rates of return have generally fallen over time, which increases unfunded liabilities and required contributions, and said the systems’ current assumptions range from 5.25% to 7.1%. He noted that the committee’s materials included peer comparisons and historical charts, and that all asset classes were within target ranges. In response to a question from Senator Funky From, Gross was asked about pension spiking and whether supplemental general fund contributions could create a false sense of security in cash flow analysis; the question was raised but not resolved in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:32:48.320><c> will</c> decided what Minnesota's budget will decided what Minnesota's budget will
• And in the end, that's basically what we have is a bare-bones, keep-the-lights-on public safety budget
• And in the end, that's basically what we have is a bare-bones, keep-the-lights-on public safety budget
• And in the end, that's basically budget.
• As Chair Mhler said, there were budget.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And then section six, the school budget...
• school budgets.
• And then section six, the school budget...
• And then section six, the school budget...
• Section six, the school budget, the language that was being struck around the publication of school budgets

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Education met with a quorum and first took up Senate Bill 68, which was presented by Kentucky Department of Education staff as a cleanup measure to reduce duplicative or outdated reporting requirements. The bill, as amended by a committee substitute, would streamline reporting on local wellness policies, school breakfast programs, school budgets, audits, and school nutrition assessments, while preserving existing requirements to adopt wellness and physical activity policies and maintain audit obligations. Members asked whether removing reporting on physical activity and related topics would weaken oversight; KDE responded that districts would still have to adopt the policies and be reviewed under federal nutrition monitoring, but the state reports were often incomplete, hard to compare, and not especially useful. The committee adopted the substitute and passed SB 68 unanimously. The committee then heard Senate Bill 207, the School Innovation Act, sponsored by Senator West. The bill would create an optional program allowing school districts to apply to the Kentucky Board of Education for waivers from certain administrative regulations and establish three-year “schools of innovation,” potentially with third-party partners, to give struggling schools more flexibility and a fresh start. Senator West said the model was inspired by a visit to a school of innovation in South Carolina and by examples from South Carolina and Indiana, and he argued that the bill would let districts try new approaches without mandating participation. He also said existing “district of innovation” language in statute is a relic and that the bill would replace it with a school-based model. Committee members asked about fiscal impact, eligibility, and whether the bill was limited to failing schools. Senator West said the fiscal note was indeterminate because participation is voluntary and could range from none to many districts, but he expected little direct budget change and possible outside philanthropic funding if a district chose to participate. He said the bill does not limit participation to the bottom 5% of schools and would be left to local district discretion. Members also raised whether high-performing or specialized schools could use the model; West said yes, if a district chose. Supportive testimony emphasized that the bill could reduce burdensome oversight and allow schools more flexibility to innovate. The discussion ended with continued questions and no final action recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><07:41:37.360><c> committee</c> municipal and school budget committee municipal and school budget
• ><c> with</c><07:43:07.280><c> budget</c> had nothing to do with budget had nothing to do with budget
• </c> banual budget date and if I know, Mr. banual budget date and if I know, Mr.
• </c><07:43:51.600><c> Speaker,</c> bianual budget. And lastly, Mr. Speaker, bianual budget.
• </c> both a municipal and school budget both a municipal and school budget committee<07:44:01.280><c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you look at the capital plan rolling forward, economic development is currently budgeted at about
• If you look at the capital plan rolling forward, economic development is currently budgeted at about
• I think it's good to—I proposed an amendment in the budget, but I withdrew it—but to kind of take a look
• This is a massive drain on local public safety budgets that should be protecting commercial centers from
• At the same time, the federal Treasury has been... ...zero in the current budget.

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If economics, budget, or tourism is your concern, remember that Tourism contributes a direct 22% of our
• Through the bill before us, SB SB 3125, we have found a way forward that stabilizes our state budget,
• To fix the puka in our budget, the revenue preserved and generated by this bill is about evenly split
• is 25% higher typically... ...our budget is 25% higher typically every year than those states.
• We're going to continue to take that critical look at our state budget, and I'm hopeful in the interim

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Number one, Senator Gile and Rendle County Fair budget taxation.
• They're referred to the Capital Budget Subcommittee.
• </c> County Fair budget taxation. County Fair budget taxation.
• </c> They're referred to the capital budget They're referred to the capital budget subcommittee.<00:27
• Uh, budget tax. yes. Uh, budget tax. &gt;&gt; Thank<00:28:43.120><c> you,</c><00:28:43.279><c> Mr.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• High energy costs mean tighter budgets, higher food prices, and fewer opportunities in places already
• So also, it would impact our county budget in Rio Arriba County.
• Small businesses know how to budget for incremental costs year to year.
• I haven't seen any small business that can budget for wildfire or flood.
• And we won't have the type of budget that we have now.

Summary: The committee first took up the proposed 2026 tax package, Senate Bill 151, and adopted a committee substitute after discussion of the package’s funding capacity and included measures. The substitute bundled five bills: a physician tax credit, a quantum facility infrastructure tax credit, a construction materials gross receipts deduction for affordable multifamily housing, a local journalist employment tax credit, and a health equipment gross receipts deduction. Members discussed amendments that raised the physician credit from $4,000 to $10,000, narrowed the housing deduction to project-based certification, and reduced the journalist credit threshold from four stories to three. Concerns were raised about the fiscal impact on municipalities, especially Albuquerque, and about the funding mechanism, but the committee voted 6-4 to give the substitute a do pass recommendation. Senator Sanchez explained his vote, saying he wished more could have been included in the package. The committee then heard Senate Bill 18, the Clear Horizons Act, which would codify statewide greenhouse gas reduction targets and direct the Environment Department and Environmental Improvement Board to develop plans and rules for emissions reductions. The sponsors said the bill builds on the governor’s 2019 executive order, includes a 10,000-metric-ton threshold for covered emitters, allows certified offsets, and is intended to protect public health, reduce climate-related costs, and provide regulatory certainty. Supporters argued the bill would help communities facing wildfire, drought, health harms, and rising insurance and utility costs, and that it would encourage clean-energy investment and long-term economic stability. Opposition testimony came from mining, oil and gas, rural electric cooperatives, construction, agriculture, auto dealers, chambers of commerce, banks, water recycling companies, and realtors. They argued the bill functions like a carbon tax or broad regulatory mandate, would raise energy and compliance costs, could reduce investment and jobs, and would disproportionately affect rural, tribal, agricultural, and low-income communities. Several witnesses warned of higher electricity and fuel bills, revenue losses for local governments, and uncertainty from delegating major policy decisions to rulemaking. Supporters included public health advocates, educators, local officials, clean-energy businesses, tribal and environmental advocates, and residents affected by wildfire and drought, who said the bill is necessary to address climate harms and protect public health and the economy. No final committee vote on SB 18 was reached in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I also note that the executive budget does include an increase of $24.4 million.
• And this is, for me, possibly the number one budget item that I have this year.
• The bill requires a budget unit to eliminate any positions within the budget unit that have been vacant
• And finally, the bill defines what a budget unit is. I'm happy to answer any questions.
• This type are like budgeting with a very narrow view.

Summary: The committee took up several appropriations, transportation, naming, and education measures. It first approved SB 1035, which provides a FY27 General Fund appropriation for a 5% salary increase for Arizona Department of Corrections sworn officers and civilian employees; an amendment set the appropriation at $34 million and extended the raise to private prison employees under contract. Testimony from corrections advocates emphasized severe staffing shortages and pay gaps with other law enforcement employers, while some senators objected to including private prisons. The bill passed 6-3. The committee then approved SCM 102 and SCM 1006, which rename stretches of highway in honor of L.F. Quinn and PFC Michael Nolan, respectively, after emotional testimony from family members and local supporters; both memorial measures passed 9-1. SB 1065, appropriating $3.64 million for the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Military Veterans Fund, also passed 6-4 after supporters described HBOT as a promising, drug-free treatment for veterans, while opponents questioned the evidence and FDA approval for the claimed uses. SB 1248, which clarifies funding and attendance rules for county jail and juvenile detention education programs, passed unanimously 10-0 after county school officials said it would prevent double-counting students and separate funding streams properly. The committee also advanced transportation bills focused on the fast-growing West Valley corridor. SB 1204 appropriates $5.5 million to ADOT to design and conduct environmental analysis for interchange improvements at U.S. 60 and SR 303; supporters from the City of Surprise described severe congestion, safety risks, and economic impacts, while some senators argued the project should be funded through HURF rather than the General Fund. It passed 8-1, and the chair invited members to discuss broader HURF funding issues later. SB 1207, a smaller $150,000 study bill to examine financing mechanisms for development tied to U.S. 60/SR 303 infrastructure, also passed 7-1 after local officials said it would help align growth with transportation funding. SB 1274, creating a Police Foundation specialty license plate and fund for Phoenix Police Foundation programs, passed 6-2; the foundation said proceeds would support officer wellness, remembrance, and community/youth outreach. Finally, SB 1001, a $1 million appropriation for the Older Individuals Who Are Blind program, passed 9-0 after blind seniors and advocates testified that the services preserve independence and prevent more costly institutional care. The committee also heard SB 1161, which would make non-lapsing a prior $750,000 DPS appropriation for the Yuma County Family Advocacy Center, with the sponsor explaining it was intended to allow the funds to be spent over multiple years; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature is in charge of pension policy and budget policy.
• That's a pretty shockingly good number, but I think folks, budget writers who were around at that time
• , remember what a positive that was to the budget situation—to have the returns that high and taking
• part... ...budget situation to have the returns that high and taking pressure off the state budget.
• And the only other somewhere else is the general fund budget or contribution rates.

Summary: The committee began with a work session from the State Investment Board, where staff described the board’s structure, $230 billion in assets under management, and its mandate to maximize returns at a prudent level of risk for pension and other state funds. They reviewed long-term performance, noting strong historical returns and explaining that the board generally invests public equities passively through low-cost index funds. Members also discussed sustainability practices, including ESG integration, proxy voting, climate and DEI blueprints, and the board’s view that divestment or asset-class restrictions can reduce returns and increase costs. Senators asked about deferred compensation, legislative influence over investment policy, and digital assets; staff said the board is slow-moving and that any major change would be studied carefully. The public hearing then focused on SB 5439, which would prohibit new thermal coal investments beginning in 2026 and require full divestment by 2030, with limited exceptions. Supporters argued coal is a poor long-term investment and a major climate and health risk, and several said the bill still gives the board flexibility to retain holdings in companies transitioning to clean energy. The committee also heard testimony on SB 6109, which would bar investments in private detention facilities and require divestment by 2030; supporters said state money should not profit from immigrant detention, while staff confirmed the board currently holds a small investment in Geo Group. SB 6304 would require responsible investment principles for the State Investment Board, including consideration of human rights, environmental degradation, corruption, and related risks, along with proxy voting guidelines and annual reporting. Testimony in favor emphasized ethical investing, climate risk, and avoiding complicity in human rights abuses, while board staff had earlier said they view such decisions through an investment-risk lens rather than a values-based lens. The committee also heard Substitute SB 5945, which would exclude most offenses committed before age 18 from counting as strikes under the state’s persistent offender law and would allow retroactive resentencing for affected people, with exceptions for first- and second-degree murder and serious sex offenses. Staff said the substitute would likely affect fewer cases than the original bill, with estimates ranging from about 10 to 24 resentencings. Public defense, prosecutors, and sheriffs’ representatives raised concerns about workload, victim impacts, and retroactive application, while supporters and pro bono providers said they were prepared to help with resentencing and reentry support. No votes were taken during the hearing.