Transcript Highlights:

• We do take into account... ...the lost revenue reduction from the increased revenue from the increased
• We do take into account the lost revenue reduction from the increased revenue from the increased fee.
• That was an 8.5% increase, whereas currently we're sitting at a 7.0% increase in expenditures.
• And just for the record, I'm concerned about those cap rate increases again, and we've had huge increases
• those cap rate increases again, and we've had huge increases.

Summary: The committee met to review the governor’s fiscal 2027 budget presentation, with the chair repeatedly asking members to keep questions brief and avoid speeches. The discussion focused first on the overall revenue and spending outlook, including concerns from members that the executive forecast was more optimistic than the JLBC baseline and that the budget appeared to front-load revenue and expenditure growth. The governor’s budget team said the forecast was close to JLBC’s, that the budget was structurally balanced, and that differences were roughly $100 million per year on ongoing revenue. Members asked for follow-up calculations in writing, including the total multi-year gap and the amount of revenue enhancements above base revenues. A major portion of the meeting centered on tax and fee proposals tied to data centers, water use, and sports betting. The governor’s team defended eliminating the existing data center tax incentive as the removal of a loophole rather than a new tax, arguing the incentive had already succeeded in attracting major investment. They also described a proposed Department of Water Resources fee-setting authority for data centers to support a new Colorado River Protection Fund, and said the proposal would apply to existing and future facilities without a grandfather clause. Members raised concerns about fairness, competitiveness, and whether the changes would require a supermajority vote. The team also discussed increased sports betting fees, saying the revenue forecast did not include dynamic behavioral effects. The committee then moved through major spending areas, including corrections, public safety, border security, cybersecurity, K-12 education, Medicaid, and developmental disabilities. The governor’s budget includes ongoing funding to prevent correctional officer pay cuts, money to comply with prison health care court orders, probation funding, body-worn cameras, law enforcement staffing, fentanyl task forces, and cyber readiness grants. Members questioned the lack of funding for a prison oversight committee and asked for corrections spending totals over the administration. On border security, the executive said it was seeking about $759.7 million in federal reimbursement for border-related costs and that the governor had met with federal officials, including Secretary Noem and Tom Homan, about the request. In education, the budget proposes renewing Prop. 123, adding K-12 base funding, and issuing $1.5 billion in school facilities bonds over three years; members debated whether the proposal was appropriate and whether Prop. 123 revenues could support the debt service. The meeting also covered AHCCCS cost growth and federal HR1 impacts, with the executive warning of major coverage losses and hospital funding reductions, and DDD funding, where the governor’s team said the budget fully funds services and includes about $120 million in supplemental needs. No votes were taken; the meeting was a presentation and question-and-answer session only.

Transcript Highlights:

• They also increased our rent by 5%, where our Social Security cost-of-living increase was 2.8%.
• They also increased our rent by 5%, where our Social Security cost-of-living increase was 2.8%.
• </c> cost of living increase was 2.8%. cost of living increase was 2.8%.
• fees or increasing rent costs.
• fees or increasing reason for increasing fees or increasing rent<00:07:23.960><c> costs.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• 09:54.560><c> money</c><00:09:54.720><c> we're</c> increasing the amount of money we're increasing the
• This adj uh increases an an bottom.
• Money from that increase from 1 to 2%.
• </c> explain why we're seeing a 1.22 increase explain why we're seeing a 1.22 increase in<00:37:52.640
• </c><00:59:34.000><c> when</c> the postal increase comes in. when the postal increase comes in. when

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So, this does not increase the stated increase.
• So, this does not increase the stated increase.
• </c> stated increase. stated increase.
• That's about a five-cent increase if nothing else increases.
• That's about a five-cent increase if nothing else increases.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:26.960><c> Our</c> that our premium is increasing. Our that our premium is increasing.
• 29.759><c> that</c><00:04:30.240><c> is</c> licenses are increasing and that is licenses are increasing
• </c> increase for WCARE. increase for WCARE.
• :13:28.000><c> health</c> the average increase for health the average increase for health insurance<00
• of the expiring U.S. health care subsidies would make it a two-part increase: both the rate increase

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the September 16 minutes, and then received an update from Insurance Commissioner Sharon Clark and staff on the Department of Insurance. Clark reviewed department activity, including growth in premium volume and licensing, consumer complaints and recoveries, and a rise in fraud referrals. She said the department has 66 open fraud cases and described common schemes such as staged auto accidents, inflated repair or cleanup charges, and roofing scams. She also said the department’s investigators often prepare strong cases but face reluctance from local prosecutors, especially in Fayette and Jefferson counties, to pursue them. Clark reported favorable workers’ compensation news, saying rates will decrease 9.7% next year for the 20th straight year. She contrasted that with a difficult property insurance market driven by storms, reinsurance costs, inflation, labor shortages, and litigation, but said Kentucky’s market remains relatively stable, citing the Kentucky Fair Plan’s small number of policies. She then warned of significant 2026 health insurance premium increases on the exchange: 16.1% for Molina, 23% for Anthem, and 37% for WCare, after CareSource withdrew. She said the rates were reviewed by actuaries and found fair, but that the biggest pressure point is the scheduled expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, which she said could leave about 90% of exchange enrollees facing a compounded increase. Members questioned Clark about fraud prosecution, the number of people in commercial versus public coverage, and the impact of expiring subsidies. Clark said the prosecution issue is mainly with Commonwealth attorneys and that rural counties are more cooperative than urban ones. She also said the health market is individually rated and that older enrollees would be hit harder, while the loss of tax credits could push some people out of the marketplace. One member asked about the attorney general’s recent opinion on SB 188, the PBM bill; staff said attorneys were still reviewing it. Clark closed by noting that Kentucky’s fraud and towing/storage legislation has become a model for other states.

Transcript Highlights:

• That was a 105% increase. In 2025, we received 7,860 complaints, a 19% increase over 2024.
• That was 105% increase. In 2025, we received 7,800. increase.
• It's over 100% increase.
• It's the third phase of our ongoing increases.
• I don't believe that the LAO suggested a 100% fee increase, but a possible fee increase might be considered

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee heard presentations from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS), the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) program, and the Coleman mental health receivership. The hearing focused on correctional health care, reentry, aging incarcerated populations, and the state’s progress toward compliance in the Plata and Coleman receiverships. Members also discussed the OIG’s intake complaint workload and medical inspection findings, as well as broader questions about staffing, vacancies, and the cost of court oversight. The OIG requested $275,000 General Fund for two permanent positions in its intake processing unit, citing a sharp rise in complaints from 3,200 in 2022 to 7,860 in 2025. OIG officials said complaints are categorized by issue and prison, prioritized by urgency, and generally responded to within 30 days, but they do not track complaint “validity” rates. The medical inspection unit reported that in cycle seven, case review performance was generally adequate while policy compliance was often inadequate; the lowest-scoring areas included emergency services, medication management, and health care environment. Members asked for more detailed reporting on complaint types, priority levels, and systemic issues. CCHCS described rising health care costs driven by an aging prison population, staffing vacancies, and contract medical expenses. Officials said more than 80% of the budget is personal services, and they are using hiring events, social media outreach, and expanded classifications to reduce vacancies. CalAIM officials reported early implementation success in pre-release and reentry services, including 89% Medi-Cal activation at release, 87% assigned managed care plans, 88% reentry care plans, and 59% warm handoffs, with about 169,000 claims submitted and $14.7 million reimbursed. The LAO noted that the Plata medical receivership has increased per-person costs and that the state should continue oversight while seeking ways to reduce vacancies and expand federal reimbursement opportunities. For the Coleman mental health receivership, the receiver’s office requested $33.9 million from the Mental Health Special Deposit Fund, including $8.2 million for receiver office staffing and $25.3 million to make court-ordered bonus payments permanent. The LAO supported continued oversight but recommended additional steps to address vacancies, including greater out-of-state recruitment, expanded telemental health, and possible consolidation of mental health services. The LAO also recommended reducing the telemental health staffing request and monitoring its effects. Members questioned the long-term cost of receiverships, the pace of compliance, and whether more detailed benchmarks and staffing data should be provided. No formal votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The highest premium increase in the state is a staggering 35.7% for the upcoming year.
• of 220%, with some facing up to a 700% increase in their net premiums.
• They could see their health insurance increase by as much as $15,000 a year.
• So yes, this projection does assume some enrollment increase; however...
• How did you assume a 15% increase?

Committee: Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• The first section on the state equalization, those are changes, increases or decreases.
• Um, these are not increases or decreases.
• We funded the teachers and I see that increase, sir.
• They, they received additional funds in addition to the salary increases.
• both to minimums and percentage increases to salaries throughout the last few years.

Transcript Highlights:

• This increases the heavy commercial vehicle weight distance tax by 35%, increases vehicle registration
• We are increasing the tax for the citizens.
• Increases in vehicle weight, gross vehicle weight versus their tax rate.
• That is a tax increase, is it not? Mr.
• It's a tax increase.

Bills: SB2 , SB2

Committees: Senate Senate Finance , Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: SB 2, State Highway Project Bonds, highway funding, transportation bonds, state road fund, motor vehicle fees, vehicle registration fees, electric vehicle fee, EV surcharge, plug-in hybrid fee, weight distance tax, road construction, infrastructure financing, Department of Transportation, State Transportation Commission, bonding authority, county road funds, municipal road funds, transportation improvement program, state highways

Transcript Highlights:

• “And in Missouri specifically, rate increases 61%.
• Rate increases have to be considered on the basis of cost.
• , even with that big increase that we had last year?
• , even with that big increase that we had last year?
• So you smooth out those rate increases.

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The committee first met in executive session, laying over H.J.R. 153 and H.J.R. 119, then unanimously advanced HB 2904 after adopting a committee amendment and substitute. HB 2904 passed 13-0. The committee also adopted a substitute for HB 2933 and sent that bill do pass by a vote of 11-3. The committee then moved into regular session and heard HB 2266, which would add the attorney general and staff, or as members suggested possibly assistant attorney generals, to the list of officials authorized to concealed carry while performing duties. The sponsor and an assistant attorney general testified that the bill was intended to protect AG staff who travel and work in courthouses and hotels; some members raised concerns about the breadth of the term “staff,” and one witness urged clearer limits and identification safeguards. No vote was taken on HB 2266 in the portion provided. The committee then heard HB 2207 and HB 2233 together, both aimed at restructuring Missouri’s electric industry to allow competitive generation while keeping transmission and distribution regulated. The sponsors argued that competition would lower costs, improve reliability, spur innovation, and let customers choose suppliers, while preserving PSC oversight of the grid and default service. Supporters, including a market think tank and retail energy advocates, said competitive states have seen more generation investment and that private generators bear their own risk rather than ratepayers. Opponents, including Evergy, argued deregulation has not delivered promised savings, can increase fraud and consumer confusion, and would force divestment of utility generation assets without clear guardrails. Members pressed witnesses on comparisons to Illinois, Texas, Pennsylvania, legacy costs, divestment mechanics, and whether the PSC would still set generation-related rates; witnesses disagreed sharply on the likely effect on residential prices and on whether the bill’s structure was sufficiently specific.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state share is increasing from 50% to 75%.
• It's funding the $3 increase to the per diem.
• increase at the Louisiana State Penitentiary: increases to offender medical costs, overtime, supplies
• Is there an increase, a significant increase in population that has warranted a need?
• ...is there an increase, a significant increase in population that has warranted a need for us to consider

Summary: The committee first took up the fiscal status statement, certification of the state surplus, and the five-year baseline budget. Officials from the Office of Planning and Budget and the Division of Administration said the January fiscal status statement had no changes, and the commissioner certified a surplus of $577,073,871. They also reviewed the baseline outlook, noting projected imbalances in later years driven by declining revenue, including the redirection of motor vehicle sales tax, and rising costs such as inflation and Medicaid-related expenses. The fiscal status statement was approved without objection. The governor’s executive budget was then presented as a third consecutive standstill budget, with administration officials emphasizing efficiency savings, no reduction in services, and no reduction in state workforce. They said the budget relies on prior savings efforts and incorporates agency-level cuts and reorganization, while also addressing higher costs in corrections, DCFS, and health care. Major items highlighted included funding for LA GATOR, the high-impact jobs program, DCFS modernization, corrections population and overtime needs, nursing home and managed care adjustments at LDH, and additional support for the MJ Foster Scholarship Program. Members asked about the impact of inflation, the use of federal versus state funds, the future of voucher and GATOR funding, and whether more support should go to DCFS and the Hero Fund. The committee also received the calculation of the FY27 expenditure limit, set at $20.1 billion, and the annual comprehensive financial report for FY2025, which received a clean audit opinion. Members approved a BA-7 increasing federal funds for an executive office transportation grant, approved additions to the Act 751 higher education deferred maintenance project list and a Baton Rouge Community College project combination, and approved contract amendments for CPRA with Coastal Estuary Services and Access Sciences. The committee also corrected a legislative intent item naming the New Orleans Recreational Development Foundation. Finally, the judiciary presented a weighted caseload study for district and appellate courts, explaining it as an updated tool to assess judicial workload and potential judgeship needs; members discussed its limits, the role of specialty courts and commissioners, and the need for further legislative-judicial collaboration before any changes are made.

Transcript Highlights:

• some operating services increases, primarily driven by inflation and other changes.
• Our staffing remains about...” “...the same, 26 full-time positions, with no requesting increases.
• Our staffing remains about the same, 26 full-time positions, with no requested increases.
• Our funded ratio consistently increased. As of last year, funded ratio reached 84.3%.
• This increase has been accounted for in the original RFP, so it was anticipated. That is correct.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget met on February 19, 2026, and first received unchanged fiscal status and five-year baseline budget reports from the Office of Planning and Budget; the fiscal status statement was approved without objection, and the baseline budget required no action. The committee then approved a request from Facility Planning and Control to add five higher education deferred maintenance projects to the eligible list under Act 751, and reviewed four change orders over $50,000 for informational purposes only. Members approved the Louisiana Lottery Corporation’s fiscal year 2026-2027 operating budget after testimony highlighted projected gross revenue of $610 million, 29 years without legislative auditor findings, and continued support for the MFP. The committee also approved, en bloc, the operating budgets for LASERS, the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana, the School Employees’ Retirement System, and the State Police Retirement System. Retirement officials described modest budget increases or decreases, strong investment performance, and ongoing efforts to reduce unfunded liabilities; members discussed the impact of surplus payments toward UAL debt and the possibility of future COLAs, including a 2% COLA if the legislature reaches the required two-thirds vote. The committee approved payment of $20,262.32 in prior-year deputy sheriff supplemental pay expenditures from the current-year budget. It also approved several legislative intent clarifications for prior appropriations, including changes involving Tangipahoa Parish, Harahan, Allen Parish, Morgan City, and DeSoto Parish School System-related funding. In addition, the Water Sector Commission’s recommendation for $2.8 million in additional funding for four ongoing water and sewer projects was approved. The remaining items were reviewed without action: an RTI International contract extension for DEQ air-quality filter weighing, amendments to four Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism marketing contracts to extend and supplement funding, and the fifth-year amendment to the Office of Risk Management’s Sedgwick claims administration contract, valued at $21.1 million. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:09:18.800><c> in</c> senate's carrying $150,000 increase in senate's carrying $150,000 increase
• It's a $200,000 increase only item.
• Then the House is carrying a $300,000 increase in FY 26-27 and a $300,000 increase in FY 28-29.
• a $300,000 increase in FY2627 and a $300,000<00:15:11.040><c> increase</c><00:15:11.440><c> in</c><00
• </c> $300,000 increase in FY2829. $300,000 increase in FY2829.

Summary: The Agriculture Conference Committee met for an initial organizational and comparison session on House File 2446, the agriculture broadband and rural development bill. Members introduced themselves, noted that no conference target had yet been set, and agreed to begin with a side-by-side review of House and Senate positions. No oral testimony was taken; instead, the chair listed written testimony submitted by a wide range of agricultural, environmental, local government, food bank, and industry groups. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the major funding differences. Both bills included some shared items such as operating adjustments, wolf and elk damage compensation, and certain technical changes, but they differed on several major appropriations. The House generally proposed larger increases for meat inspection, local food purchasing, and the Board of Animal Health, and added items such as county inspector grants, biofertilizer innovation, a biosolids/PFAS-related study, a soil health study, broadband installation study funding, an Agri Works program, an Agri Support program, a milk grant program, and several House-only transfers and grants. The Senate included items such as a climate coordinator position, biofuel-related reductions and policy changes, livestock processing funding, farm-to-school and urban agriculture changes, MARL funding, cottage foods licensing updates, and several Senate-only pass-through grants and transfers. Staff also noted differences in the agriculture emergency account transfer approach and in how the two bodies handled the Second Harvest Heartland and related food distribution provisions. House Research then reviewed the policy language differences in the bill. The House language included provisions allowing more flexible use of grant administration funds, unpaid prior-year claims, county inspector grants, and updates tied to its own policy article, while the Senate language included the climate coordinator, PFAS-related commercialization language, cooperative development grant permissive language, and other Senate policy changes. The committee did not take any votes or final actions at this meeting; the session was informational and focused on identifying differences for later negotiation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you envision increasing the ratepayer-funded portion of the ELRP program to increase enrollment, or
• in price above increases in input costs.
• So you do see an increase in prices and an increase in margins that's not matched by an increase in crude
• Instead, we’ve seen bills increasing, rates increasing, memo and balancing account costs increasing.
• Yes, you should assume that it will increase because our budget will be increasing, and while we always

Transcript Highlights:

• First, the increase in the Proposition 98 funding requirement.
• . that additional increase in two years.
• Year, but in two years will give you a 4% increase.
• Utility increases are up over 200% over the last decade.
• So districts got used to those fixed-cost increases being covered.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance met for its annual Proposition 98 overview, with Chair Alvarez outlining the committee’s focus on K-12 funding, student outcomes, and use of one-time funds. Superintendent Tony Thurmond gave an update on education issues, including wildfire recovery support for affected school communities, ongoing concerns about federal threats to education funding and immigration enforcement, progress on literacy and math, dual-language immersion, educator housing, and support for dual enrollment. Members broadly expressed support for these priorities, while also raising concerns about implementation, funding stability, and the need for schools to remain safe places for students. The committee then reviewed the Governor’s Proposition 98 proposal. The Department of Finance said the 2025-26 Proposition 98 guarantee is projected at $118.9 billion, with higher revenues and TK-related rebenching driving the increase. The LAO said the budget adds about $7.5 billion over two years and discussed the volatility of the guarantee, especially in 2024-25, when changes in revenue could have an outsized effect on school funding. Members questioned the proposed $1.6 billion delayed settle-up payment, the legal basis for delaying it, and the impact of possible federal funding freezes. The LAO presented alternatives such as a reserve deposit or delayed disbursement, while Finance said the proposal is intended to manage uncertainty. Members also raised concerns that ethnic studies implementation was not funded in the January budget, and Finance said the administration was not proposing funding for it. The committee next heard on the Proposition 98 rainy day fund and education deferrals. Finance said the reserve would receive a mandatory deposit of about $1.2 billion in 2024-25 and a discretionary deposit of $376 million in 2025-26, leaving a balance of about $1.5 billion. The LAO supported rebuilding the reserve as a way to manage volatility. On deferrals, Finance described the Governor’s plan to eliminate remaining deferrals by 2025-26, and the LAO said paying them off improves cash flow and budget resilience. Members generally supported eliminating deferrals and rebuilding reserves, though some asked about acting earlier if revenues allow. The committee also reviewed the proposed $1.8 billion student support and professional development block grant; Finance said it would fund professional development, recruitment and retention, and dual enrollment, while the LAO recommended clearer language on local discretion and use for one-time costs. Members were divided, with some supporting flexibility and others warning that one-time block grants can create instability and confusion for districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• After 30 years, we had to increase fees.
• By substantially increasing the number of engineers while only increasing the necessary fire captains
• It includes a proportionate increase in contract county funding and increases in administrative staff
• You have taken steps to make some substantive increases that are well underway.
• competitive bidding, that is also being increased with this provision.

Transcript Highlights:

• That is an increase in just this year alone.
• That is an increase in just this year alone.
• And a lot of them have cost increases to them.
• An $18 million increase.
• Now we're increasing it on top of that.

Summary: The committee first received a briefing on the updated “green sheet” budget materials and how to read the FY 2027 columns, along with a review of several bills with fiscal impacts, including HB 503, HB 556, HB 559, and HB 578. Staff explained where the documents could be found online and answered questions about the timing and size of the bills’ fiscal effects, including the tax conformity bill and county jail reimbursement changes. The main business was the 2026 Idaho Budget Rescissions Act. Members debated whether to adopt the governor’s 3% rescission, add an additional 1% reduction, or add an additional 2% reduction. Supporters of deeper cuts argued the state needed structural balance, a larger ending balance, and a response to revenue uncertainty and the pending tax conformity bill. Opponents said across-the-board cuts were too blunt, could harm Medicaid, education, public safety, and other programs, and should be handled agency by agency. The committee first rejected the 1% and 2% substitute motions, then approved the governor’s 3% rescission motion on a due-pass recommendation. The committee then approved a transfer of $22,366,500 from the Public School Income Fund to the General Fund, with the motion passing after a roll call vote. It next took up statewide decisions, starting with ongoing base reductions for selected state agencies. After debate over whether the reductions should be 3%, 4%, or 5%, the committee rejected the higher-cut substitutes and approved the governor’s 3% base reduction recommendation. Members emphasized that the work groups would still have flexibility to adjust individual agency budgets later. Finally, the committee considered personnel benefit cost increases for FY 2027. Staff explained the proposed health insurance and other variable-rate adjustments, and members debated whether to use the governor’s recommendation or a DOGE Working Group recommendation that slightly changed the funding mix and total. The governor’s recommendation was defended as more consistent with prior employee-benefit review practice, while supporters of the DOGE proposal said it would tighten legislative control over funding. The governor’s recommendation was ultimately rejected, and the committee moved on after the roll call votes on the competing motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• So most states since 2013 have increased their gas tax.
• So most states since 2013 have increased their gas tax.
• They’re not being asked to increase it.
• I am testifying in support of this fee increase.
• I am testifying in support of this fee increase.

Bills: HB2109 , HB2139 , HB2192

Committee: House Transportation

Keywords: vehicle loads, public highways, transportation, road safety, infrastructure, HB2139, snowmobile registration, snowmobile fee, vehicle license fee, registration fee, Department of Licensing, RCW, vehicle registration, winter recreation, off-road vehicle, moped, motorcycle, trailer, recreational vehicle, vintage snowmobile

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is becoming an increasing part of how you fund education as you can see, K-12, higher education
• you with increased revenue stability over time.
• And it was really comforting to see that they had increased our bond rate. Great.
• NPSIA passed on a 16% premium increase in FY26. We did project a 16% increase for FY27.
• So, the contribution increases that were passed in Senate way to help that, reducing the cold.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• It is scheduled to increase to 4 mils in two years.
• in increasing the minimum allowable thickness of reusable the increasing the minimum allowable thickness
• It is scheduled to increase to 4 mils in 2 years.
• We do have concerns with the proposed fee increase on paper bags.
• We expect that it would do so by simply the increase of the cost of the wrapping.

Bills: HB1420 , HB2233 , HB2271 , HB2212 , HB2284

Committee: House Environment & Energy

Keywords: textile responsibility, recycling, sustainability, environmental impact, consumer protection, waste reduction, environment, retail, bags, pollution, consumer products, plastic, environmental policy, postconsumer waste, microplastics, environmental protection, washing machines, water quality, litter reduction, public health