Transcript Highlights:

• Colleagues, we've seen and gone through the budget process here; we know how convoluted the budget process
• Colleagues, we've seen and gone through the budget process here; we know how convoluted the budget process
• Not because we oppose transparency, but because this is already required through the budget process.
• The first page of the budget breakdown shows the percentage at the right corner of every single line
• Most of those are line-item budgets. They show you exactly what the money is being spent on.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, everybody, and welcome to the first meeting of the House Budget Review Subcommittee on
• The last thing I'll stop with is kind of additional budget requests.
• There was a small inflationary adjustment in the last budget.
• Uh, we would ask that that would budget.
• My last item in the budget, our request, is a carve-out for our aquaculture program.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education met to begin hearing budget requests from Kentucky universities. Eastern Kentucky University President David McFaden highlighted EKU’s enrollment growth, its large population of Pell-eligible and first-generation students, and its role in producing graduates for Kentucky’s workforce, especially in health care, public safety, manufacturing, engineering, and aviation. He said EKU is seeking support for a Center for Health Innovation, including a doctor of osteopathic medicine program, with a $50 million accreditation escrow and startup funding that would be returned to the state after accreditation. He also described EKU’s health programs, which have strong pass rates and high in-state employment outcomes, and said the university wants continued asset preservation funding, inflationary operating support, and other recurring budget items. McFaden also outlined EKU’s aviation request, including $10 million for new aircraft and support for an enhanced air traffic control program created in response to a legislative study. He said the program would enroll cohorts of about 30 students, likely attract out-of-state students, and require a $5 million startup investment plus $1.5 million in annual recurring support. He added that EKU’s lab school is seeking a revised funding model tied to enrollment rather than a flat mandated amount. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the medical school escrow, aircraft needs, and program capacity, and McFaden clarified that the escrow would remain intact until accreditation and then be returned to the general fund. Kentucky State University President Kakpo then reviewed prior capital support that helped repair a dorm and several leaking roofs, and said the university is still addressing campus infrastructure problems. He said KSU’s main request is a new health sciences building to house its growing nursing program and language program, along with $40 million for additional dorm renovations and a carve-out for its aquaculture program. Kakpo said the aquaculture PhD proposal would be federally funded and could bring in more revenue, while the new building would help relieve overcrowding and support KSU’s research role. In response to questions, he said KSU’s campus housing capacity would be about 1,334 beds if all dorms were repaired, and that the university is rotating students through renovated buildings while trying to keep them on campus. Committee members also raised safety concerns about the December campus shooting at KSU. Kakpo said the incident was isolated, expressed sympathy for the families affected, and said the university has reviewed campus procedures, added police and security positions, and is strengthening safety processes. The meeting did not include any votes or formal actions; it was a budget presentation and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The report shows how colleges are increasing their budgets for nursing, education, and social work, signaling
• However, as shown on Chart 12, programs have underspent their budgets in the past.
• on page 17, the report shows how some colleges used endowment funds differently than Legislative budget
• It supports the operating budgets of the foundation, and our foundation is audited annually as part of
• In looking for that data, the FTE data in financial reports of actuals and in operating budgets, the

Transcript Highlights:

• You're doing all this with 11 employees and what is your state budget cost?
• We can't go over our budget anymore. The second piece that's been a challenge.
• That's what you, the legislature, have budgeted for us. This year of the biennium.
• So we will exceed our budget and not.
• Be able to plug those thousand because we're not we're going to stay within our budget.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• can you imagine if Washington budgets can you imagine if Washington took<01:15:26.520><c> a</c><01:15
• lot to be proud of when it comes to financial restraint, challenges are ahead of us in the coming budget
• in restraint challenges are ahead of us in the<01:16:47.760><c> coming</c> the coming the coming budget
• the large amount of federal budget the large amount of federal funding<01:16:52.440><c> from</c><01:
• This is important, but we do have to carefully look across our budgets of every agency and find savings

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I guess in the scheme of things I'm looking at and the budget and the way things are going, you know
• Um, what are you going to cut in your office budget to um for this? Well, understand your point.
• </c><00:05:08.360><c> Well,</c> budget to to um for this? Well, budget to to um for this?
• </c> high cost of living. uh with the budget high cost of living. uh with the budget cuts<00:32:29.919
• </c><00:35:02.480><c> and</c> You have less state budget problems. and You have less state budget problems

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees on Transportation and Culture and the Arts and Economic Development and Tourism heard three measures. HB 450, which would transfer the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts to the Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, drew support from DBEDT, the State Foundation, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, DAGs, and individuals. Members asked about the bill’s purpose and the relationship between arts administration and international/cultural considerations. The committees voted to pass HB 450 with amendments, including a housekeeping change allowing specific legislative direction in narrow cases; the measure was adopted with unanimous or near-unanimous votes. HB 437, relating to out-of-state offices, received testimony in support from DBEDT and representatives of the Filipino Chamber of Commerce and another individual. The discussion focused on whether an overseas office in the Philippines was the best use of funds, given existing offices and trade relationships in places like Beijing and Taiwan. Members questioned the return on investment, fiscal priorities, and whether DBEDT had a broader strategic plan for selecting markets. The committees ultimately passed HB 437 with a Senate Draft 1 and technical amendments, with some members voting with reservations. HB 1391, relating to trade and creating a Hawaii-Ireland trade commission, also advanced after a lengthy discussion. DBEDT said it offered comments rather than a firm recommendation and explained that the bill appeared intended to build economic ties with Europe through Ireland, but members questioned why a commission was needed, how it would be structured, and whether similar efforts should focus on other countries. DBEDT said it would provide reports on sister-state relationships and office performance, and noted that trade initiatives would likely require private-sector participation. The committees passed HB 1391 with amendments and reservations from some members.

Transcript Highlights:

• You have to be open three years and have budget.
• Hey guys, the Arizona K-12 budget is actually in surplus and this year the entire... state budget is
• That is really looking at budgets.
• It is under our overall K-12 budget, and our overall K-12 budget has a 28%... million dollar surplus
• We have a record surplus in our state budget.

Bills: HB3, HB3

Keywords: education savings account, educational expenses, certified educational assistance organization, school choice, funding, special education, tuition reimbursement, emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• And I also, it's in your committee analysis that I requested the budget funding through the normal budget
• Recently, the Senate Budget Committee released its state budget plan, which did include funding for exactly
• That's something that will be addressed through the budget process.
• I'll note that the Senate Democrats do have proposed $100 million in their budget plan.
• That's something that will be addressed through the budget process.

Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing several bills on public safety, parole, criminal justice oversight, Proposition 36 implementation, behavioral health, gang database reform, cargo theft, and nonconsensual intimate images. The chair explained hearing procedures and noted that SB 906 was pulled from the agenda. Several measures were heard but not voted on because quorum was lacking. SB 1446, a committee bill, would expand discretion in en banc parole review, make en banc votes public record, and allow CDCR referrals for sexually violent predator evaluation of certain incarcerated people serving determinate or indeterminate terms. Support came from the California District Attorneys Association; opposition came from the Ella Baker Center, Uncommon Law, public defenders, and others who argued it would add confusion, litigation risk, and unnecessary duplication. The author said the bill was intended to clarify review standards and improve transparency. SB 1278 would exclude certain sex offenses and habitual/one-strike offenders from elderly parole eligibility. The San Diego District Attorney’s Office and California District Attorneys Association supported it, citing cases such as Gregory Vogelsang and David Funston; opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and others argued elderly parole is already highly restrictive, evidence-based, and cost-effective. Vice Chair Seyarto strongly supported SB 1278, emphasizing victim justice and public safety. SB 1354 would bar out-of-state military personnel not operating under Title 10 from entering California to perform military or law enforcement functions without the governor’s permission; a committee amendment removed a criminal penalty and left enforcement to the Attorney General. SB 926 would provide funding for Proposition 36 implementation, with committee amendments deleting a specific appropriation and shifting funding decisions to the budget process; supporters said counties need resources for treatment, probation, and administration, while opponents criticized the bill as fiscally reckless and duplicative. SB 874 would require background checks and clearer statewide standards for Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, especially ABA services for children; supporters said it would improve patient safety and program integrity. SB 1210 would extend CalGang-style oversight, notice, appeal, and DOJ regulation to all gang databases, not just shared ones; supporters described harms from inaccurate, unregulated local databases, while police chiefs opposed applying the CalGang framework to all local investigative files. The committee also heard SB 1019, which would create a DOJ cargo theft task force and add reporting requirements; supporters from BNSF, trucking, shipping, ports, and law enforcement said organized cargo theft is harming supply chains and worker safety, and no opposition was presented. Finally, SB 1217 would create a DOJ clearinghouse to help victims remove nonconsensual intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes, from covered platforms; amendments narrowed the bill’s scope and clarified law enforcement’s role. The author and survivor witnesses described ongoing trauma from repeated reposting of exploitative images and argued the bill would provide a centralized removal process. The transcript ends during testimony on SB 1217, with no final votes taken on the measures heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• I remember coming into budget meetings, and you're like, I got this.
• We know we're going to come back and do the budget.
• We know we're going to come back and do the budget.
• Is this a policy cloaked in a budget crisis that's some kind of misdirection?
• What do we think, how can we get there, knowing our budget constraints, where we are in our budget timeline

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We know we're going to come back and do the budget.
• We know we're going to come back and do the budget.
• Is this a policy cloaked in a budget crisis that's some kind of misdirection?
• What do we think, how can we get there, knowing our budget constraints, where we are in our budget timeline
• Of prayer at this stage of session, given where we are in the budget process.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> as the correct budget recommendations. as the correct budget recommendations.
• And this requires the governor to request, through a bill separate from the budget or supplemental budget
• And this requires the governor to request, through a bill separate from the budget or supplemental budget
• And then it goes directly to the finance committees kind of as a secondary budget.
• So I mean given budget.

Bills: HB1617

Keywords: carbon emissions, tax credit, fossil fuel, agriculture, food security, environmental tax, greenhouse gas, 910, house, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on HB 1949, which would create a public dashboard for the green fee to improve transparency and accountability. Testimony from the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, and many community and conservation groups was generally supportive, with several speakers urging that the governor’s project recommendations remain largely intact and that community-driven projects continue to guide spending. One amendment was suggested to place the dashboard at the Department of Budget and Finance for fiscal expertise, while other testimony favored keeping it with the commission. Members asked about procurement, ETS involvement, recurring hosting costs, and whether the dashboard could be funded from green fee revenues; the commission said it could work with ETS and that green fee funds could reasonably be used. The committees then voted to pass HB 1949 with amendments. The committees also heard HB 2618, which would require the governor to submit a separate bill for amounts tied to any increase in the transient accommodations tax and, in later discussion, was expanded into a broader restructuring of future green fee allocations. Testimony from the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Hawaii Reef and Ocean Coalition, and others supported the bill and emphasized the value of more predictable, dedicated funding for conservation and climate-related work. During decision-making, the chair described amendments creating several special funds under DLNR, including a watershed biodiversity and wildfire risk reduction fund, an aquatic resources conservation fund, a coastal restoration fund, a cesspool conversion revolving loan fund, and a green fee special fund for remaining revenues, with recommended amounts discussed for some of the funds. The committees voted to pass HB 2618 with amendments. The hearing then moved to HB 1644, a consumer protection measure for residential solar sales that would require compliance with consumer protection laws, licensing or contractor affiliation for sellers, and a standardized disclosure form. Testimony in support came from the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, DCCA’s Office of Consumer Protection, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, the Hawaii Solar Energy Association, and several solar companies and individuals. Supporters said the bill would address complaints about third-party sales practices and improve disclosure, especially around financing. The committee then began hearing HB 2243, which would require electric utilities to provide public, electronic customer bill impact analyses and annual reports to the Public Utilities Commission; the Division of Consumer Advocacy and the PUC offered comments supporting the measure’s intent.

Transcript Highlights:

• governor's budget um and uh that is governor's budget um and uh that is because<00:46:18.359><c> uh</
• the exceptions because, budget-wise, once they're in, they're in.
• </c><00:47:34.280><c> uh</c> exception um that isn't uh budgeted uh exception um that isn't uh budgeted
• </c><00:47:59.800><c> wise</c> the exceptions because uh budget wise the exceptions because uh budget
• [00:49:33.789] ... that number about what it's in the governor's budget.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I just think again that what we've seen coming out of the governor's budget, unfunded mandates coming
• Matson has are: is there funding for what he talked about in the budget, with what's been approved by
• Chair Hoffman, Senator Abeler, for the record, at least the budget director at DHS...
• <00:31:33.760><c> and</c> budget and budget and so<00:31:35.559><c> um</c><00:31:36.039><c> we'll</c>
• in the budget uh with what's<00:31:51.080><c> been</c><00:31:51.200><c> approved</c><00:31:51.559><c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of which are included in the governor's executive budget; those not included in the budget will
• </c><00:42:16.920><c> those</c> the governor's executive budget those the governor's executive budget
• </c> banum budget banum budget cycle<00:42:23.680><c> the</c><00:42:23.880><c> director</c><00:42:24.680
• in the governor's executive budget now.
• </c><00:53:08.400><c> now</c> the governor's executive budget now the governor's executive budget now

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that if this group want to change and then this group don't then and the other thing if are those budgets
• In my mind the budgets would kind of go together.
• the fact that if this group want to change and then this group don't, and the other thing, if those budgets
• In my mind the budgets would kind of go together.
• Change and then this group don't, and the other thing, if those budgets are going to be put together,

Bills: HB8, HB380, HB8, HB380

Keywords: tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, public health, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, human cloning, criminal penalties, embryo, genetic modification, bioethics, campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer, public K-12 schools, public schools, public charter schools

Transcript Highlights:

• Challenges in this space included meeting the budget neutrality requirement because Medicaid is less
• expensive... ...included meeting the budget neutrality requirement because Medicaid is less expensive
• And so it's difficult to make the case to the federal government that this will be budget neutral for
• means is the idea behind managed care is that you sort of shift the risk and have a little bit more budget
• So that is a goal of our transition to managed care by enforcing budget predictability, hopefully, with

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee received an update from the Department of Health and Welfare on House Bill 345 and Idaho’s transition to comprehensive Medicaid managed care. Medicaid administrator Sasha O’Connell reviewed the bill’s directives, including rural hospital designation, work reporting and community engagement requirements, eligibility redeterminations for expansion adults every six months, changes to renewal processes, the choice waiver, state-directed payments, discontinuation of Healthy Connections Value Care and primary care case management, site-neutral payments, practice authority protections, and expanded cost-sharing. She also explained that the department is awaiting some CMS guidance and is pursuing federal approvals and public comment on several state plan amendments and waivers. A major focus was the planned move to comprehensive managed care, under which one managed care organization would coordinate most services for each enrollee, with Idaho planning three statewide plans rather than regional contracts. O’Connell said the department has held listening sessions, tribal consultation, and a request-for-information process, and that feedback has centered on continuity of care, timely provider payment, network adequacy, behavioral health and developmental disability services, and the need for clear, consistent contract standards. She said the department is using other states’ contracts and a set of program design pillars to shape the upcoming request for proposals, with a phased rollout planned for January 2029 for most services and January 2031 for developmental disability services. Senator Wintrow asked about EPSDT after a related statutory repeal in House Bill 345, expressing concern that families might think the protection had been removed. O’Connell responded that EPSDT remains a federal requirement for children and youth and that the department has not changed that obligation. The committee took no vote or formal action and adjourned after the update and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, for the guys, I see a couple of you looking at me that are on the budget, several of you are on
• the budget.
• Diligently searching those budget books.
• I've slept since I saw this, but I thought in the judiciary's budget, and I think our liaisons are in
• So I do prefer that as a budget member, but I know not everybody likes that.

Summary: The Committee on Financial Institutions heard House Bill 2863, which would clarify Missouri’s trust “no contest” clause law under the Missouri Uniform Trust Code. Representative Cameron Parker said the bill was brought forward by the Missouri Bar to clean up and clarify existing law without changing its substance. Testimony from trust and estate attorney John Chalas and the Missouri Bar supported the measure, explaining that it would refine procedures for seeking court guidance, protect nominal defendants, preserve beneficiaries’ ability to challenge bad-faith trustee conduct, and clarify the effect of prior rulings. No opposition was offered, and the hearing on HB 2863 was closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2967, which would create the Missouri expungement fund to support technology and system maintenance for expungement-related work, including the statewide court automation system and the Missouri criminal history records system. Representative Parker described the bill as a framework to help handle growing expungement demands, including marijuana-related and clean slate expungements. Committee members asked about funding sources, the one-third allocation among agencies, whether personnel costs could be covered, and whether the fund should include language on interest and biennial sweeps. Eric Cheneings of the Judicial Conference testified in favor, saying the bill is largely a housekeeping measure that recognizes the ongoing, coordinated nature of expungement work and the need for stable funding. He noted that the bill’s proposed dedicated fund would help avoid annual lapses and support continuing maintenance of sealed records, while leaving funding source decisions to the legislature. No one testified in opposition, and the hearing on HB 2967 was also closed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I think if you look at the priorities of budgeting over the last decade, it's been grossly out
• I mean, in 2013, going into that session, the budget was about $32 billion.
• So it just comes down to their budget priorities, and their budget priorities are, frankly, out of touch
• It's about $200 million a year, to Senator McCune's point, in a budget of $78 billion.
• The Senator McEwen's point, in a budget of $78 billion.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: Senate and House Republican leaders used the media availability to focus on affordability and to criticize the Democratic majority’s newly released income tax proposal. Leaders John Braun and Drew Stokesbary argued the plan would raise costs, harm small and medium-sized businesses, and fail to deliver meaningful tax relief elsewhere. They said the bill’s marriage penalty, lack of loss carryforward, and treatment of pass-through entities were especially problematic, and they warned it could eventually expand beyond high earners. They also cited other pending measures they said would increase costs, including taxes or fees affecting insurance, tires, clothing, social media, cigarettes, and solid waste. A major portion of the discussion centered on Republican-hosted listening sessions on the initiatives, which they said were intended to provide balanced public testimony after Democrats declined to advance hearings. House Republicans said they invited speakers both for and against the initiatives, including a wide range of opponents, and emphasized that the sessions were meant to show the public a fair debate. They also discussed several policy bills they oppose, including housing and homelessness measures they said would limit local control near schools and parks, and a bill creating a regulatory framework for automated license plate readers, which they said still raises concerns for cities and law enforcement despite some improvements. In response to questions, Republicans said they support funding for public defense but believe it should be handled within existing budget priorities rather than through an income tax. They also said they are watching bills on government fraud oversight, SNAP restrictions on unhealthy foods, and public safety, including measures related to sexually violent predators and child safety. Throughout the event, leaders repeatedly framed their agenda as protecting affordability and public safety while opposing what they described as tax increases and regulations that would make life more expensive in Washington.

Transcript Highlights:

• The total budget expended by the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health is like $1.1 billion.
• I guess just with the budget appropriation, do you feel like that's an appropriate amount of money?
• I guess just with the budget appropriation, do you feel like that's an appropriate amount of money?
• As you'll notice, the department did post on the fiscal portal a couple of items, legislative budget
• A couple of items, legislative budget requests from the department: a forensic FACT program to help address

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive an update from the Florida Department of Children and Families on implementation of House Bill 7021, which revised the Baker Act and Marchman Act and was funded with a $50 million appropriation. Deputy Assistant Secretary Bill Hardin reported that the department has updated reference guides, training, administrative rules, and forms; launched regional behavioral health collaboratives; and created the Office of Children’s Behavioral Health Ombudsman. He said early data show continued declines in Baker Act use, high diversion rates from involuntary examinations through 988, mobile response teams, and care coordination, along with generally positive provider feedback on changes such as allowing psychiatric nurses to initiate emergency treatment orders and clarifying the 72-hour examination period. Hardin also described Marchman Act changes, including a streamlined petition process, remote testimony, improved discharge planning, and a new annual data report. He said the department has completed or is completing multiple training courses for providers and law enforcement, and has adopted or is finalizing numerous rules and forms. He reported that the regional collaboratives are identifying common statewide needs such as service capacity, resource sharing, funding flexibility, and peer support, while the ombudsman office is handling complaints and helping families navigate services. Members asked about whether the current funding is sufficient, future budget needs, outreach for the new ombudsman office, and services for juveniles. Hardin said DCF has posted legislative budget requests for additional forensic FACT services and short-term residential treatment beds, including children’s beds, and noted the ombudsman office is staffed with two FTEs and supported through existing complaint-management and regional systems. He said outreach is being done through regional collaboratives and coordination with other agencies, especially the Department of Education, and that juvenile transport and placement issues have improved with the new law. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentation and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• that Senator Reyes has taken the committee Which help align the measure more closely with the recent budget
• Program, SBTAP, needs more robust protections in the wake of changes in the federal administration's budget
• projecting a 7.8 billion dollar drop in state revenues due to tariffs which has contributed to our budget
• Preliminary analysis from the Budget Lab at Yale estimates that tariffs could translate on to an average
• of $3,800 in annual household costs, placing significant strain on family budgets, and altering spending

Keywords: 988, house, all