Transcript Highlights:

• information where a match information exists to that entity. ...conduct those checks and provide match
• information where match information exists to that entity.
• Almost the vast majority... ...employment based on a central registry match.
• Only 30,595 of those checks resulted in a match for the individual.
• And that's an independent match as well? Correct. And you're from Leander? Yes.

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• I feel like there's been a few questions as it relates to our efforts on savings.
• We're not having to do that by us incorporating those savings as we move along.
• And that's where that billion dollars in federal fund savings originated from.
• And that savings number was more $300 million.
• us cost savings in a resolicitation process.

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:

• to $56.3 million in General Fund savings in 2026-27.
• This is a reduction of savings of... ...in General Fund savings in 2026-27.
• This is a reduction of savings of $29.7 million from the Governor's budget.
• the asset test punishes savings.
• We should not be making budget decisions that penalize work, savings, and independence.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they weren't anticipating using us, and as a result, we were able to save them what we think will
• And that, you know, that is significant if you're a local government and you're able to save, you know
• So we don't have bond payments matched up against them, but we're still getting those payments in.
• So we won't do it in those instances, but if they're about a matched set of books, we will absolutely
• But we're hopeful to continue to put financing into it. at a match situation.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• the savings.
• So don't look at the savings right now?
• In Department of Finance, are we on track for the full savings?
• Cutting home care does not save money.
• And I saved the state a lot of money. I was paid only 10 years of that.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for saving time as well as for serving as chair.
• The preferences did not meet the fuel savings target.
• It saves $2.9 million to $13 million.
• of small beneficiaries and their savings are decreasing.
• Beneficiary savings are indeterminate but likely minimal.

Summary: The meeting began with JLARC’s biennial executive committee elections. After confirming a quorum, members unanimously elected Representative Pollet as chair, Senator Wagoner as vice chair, Representative Orcutt as secretary, and Senator Solomon as assistant secretary for the 2025-27 biennium. The committee also approved the May 14 meeting minutes unanimously. Chair Pollet then outlined a commitment to more member input on audit scope and coordination with the State Auditor’s Office. Staff presented a preliminary report on Washington State recreation boating programs. They reported that six agencies administer boating-related activities, that the state collected about $108 million in boating-related revenue in 2021-23, and that $86 million was spent, mostly on infrastructure and water access, environmental protection, boater safety, and marine law enforcement. Staff said Washington’s boating laws and programs are broadly similar to other states and noted that the final report is expected in September. JLARC then reviewed several tax preferences. For natural gas used as a transportation fuel, staff said the preferences reduce fuel costs but did not meet emissions-reduction targets because fewer vessels and vehicles converted to natural gas than expected; staff recommended continuing some exemptions and modifying reporting requirements. For travel agents and tour operators, staff said the preference continues to provide tax relief, but large beneficiaries’ savings are rising while small beneficiaries’ use is declining, leading to recommendations to continue the small-business rate and add or revise performance metrics. Staff also reviewed a nonprofit low-income housing property tax exemption, concluding it helps developers build homes as intended but that the performance metric should better reflect housing outcomes; they recommended the legislature decide whether to continue or modify it. Other reviews covered multipurpose senior citizen centers, disabled veteran adapted housing, trade convention attendance, agricultural fertilizer and seed wholesaling, hazardous substance tax treatment for pesticides, and silicon smelter energy preferences, with recommendations ranging from continuation to expiration depending on whether the stated objectives were met. The committee then adopted the final cannabis market study for distribution. Staff reported that Washington businesses produced two to three times more cannabis than retailers sold in 2023, and that inaccurate and incomplete reporting limits the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s ability to regulate the market. The board said it concurs with the recommendations, including developing a plan for a new data system and considering broader social equity options. Finally, staff presented the proposed final report on Department of Health oversight of hospital data reporting, inspections, and complaints. Staff said DOH was late on most acute-care hospital inspections, had not fully verified third-party inspection standards, and did not adequately review adverse event correction plans or assess language access barriers in its complaint system. DOH said it concurs with all six recommendations and has already made some transparency improvements, including a public dashboard for adverse event reporting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we have to match that up with age demographics.
• This isn't... something's not matching up. They have to be worked one by one.
• Something's not matching up. They have to be worked one by one.
• Not surprisingly, it correlates to the savings experienced by operators.
• So the total, again, on one hand, you can say it's $406.6 million in savings.

Committee: Joint Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee

Summary: The committee met to receive updates from the Tax Commissioner’s office on property tax relief programs and related compliance work. Commissioner Brian Croshys reviewed the Homestead Property Tax Credit, Disabled Veteran Credit, and Primary Residence Credit, noting that the Homestead program expanded significantly after HB 1158, that some households are “adjusting out” of eligibility as incomes rise, and that the committee may want to consider indexing income thresholds. Members asked for additional data on bracket breakdowns, possible costs of eliminating income limits for seniors, and how many households are zeroed out by the combined programs. Croshys also discussed the simpler administration of the disabled veteran credit, the growth in participation, and the heavy workload and auditing safeguards built into the new primary residence credit system. He said the department found no material compliance findings and that the program is designed to be digital-first, with county auditors and the Tax Commissioner’s office both involved in review and notification. The committee recessed for lunch and later reconvened, with the chair noting that more detailed PRC information would likely be available at a September meeting. Shelly Myers then presented the statewide property tax increase, or “zero growth,” report and the 2025 statistical report. She explained how county auditors report levy and valuation data, how increases and decreases are counted, and which jurisdictions showed the largest percentage changes in countywide, citywide, school district, and park district levies. In the statistical report, she summarized recent trends in assessed values: agricultural values remained relatively flat, while residential, commercial, and centrally assessed property values increased over the past five years. She also reviewed statewide tax levies by property class and clarified that centrally assessed growth figures were annual averages. Members discussed how shifts in land use and annexation can make it appear that tax burdens are moving from ag to residential/commercial property. Myers then summarized the interim study on the 3% levy limitation under HB 1176, saying most counties complied without budget changes, while some used hiring freezes, deferred purchases, or reserve funds; 23% of counties had to reduce levies, and the affected funds were mainly general, road and bridge, and weed control. She said 12 counties reported zero new growth in the data and that 35 counties reported not using all of their cap. The committee also received an oil tax presentation from Croshys on the stripper well extraction tax exemption. He outlined the number of active stripper wells, the production and revenue implications of the exemption, and projections for future biennia under different tax scenarios. He said the exemption represents substantial savings to operators but also corresponds to production tax revenue that would otherwise be collected, and he emphasized that future outcomes depend on oil prices, well counts, and technology such as CO2 enhanced oil recovery. Nathan Anderson of the Department of Mineral Resources briefly answered a question about why Red River wells have a different production threshold than Bakken wells, explaining it was tied to completion costs and lateral length. The committee then heard from Charlie Gorecki of the EERC, who presented an analysis of typical Bakken well decline curves and argued that most oil is produced before a well reaches stripper status, but that keeping wells open and investing in refracturing or other interventions can recover additional production. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting; the main actions were receiving reports, asking for follow-up data, and scheduling further discussion for a later meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're doing this at a time where we have a 75% match rate for the administration of the SNAP program.
• We're doing this at a time where we have a 75% match rate for the administration of the SNAP program.
• How is it saving money though? I mean, how is it saving money for you all, for the state?
• How is it saving money though? I mean, how is it saving money for you all, for the state?
• >> How is it saving money though? I mean, >> How is it saving money though?

Bills: SB61 , SB8 , SB58 , SB60 , SB167 , SB61 , SB8 , SB58 , SB60 , SB167

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: school psychologist, school psychology, interstate compact, licensure compact, license reciprocity, portable license, equivalent license, professional licensing, psychology board, school mental health, student services, educational services, interstate practice, reciprocal licensing, background check, continuing education, workforce shortage, military spouse, active duty military, compact commission

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's where... ...trying to match fees with the polluters causing the problem.
• , eliminating vacant positions, and find operational savings as well.
• , eliminating vacant positions, and find operational savings as well.
• And so when I incorporate that into my overall... ...savings as well.
• Or do we have a fairly even match, or do we have not enough people asking for the allocations?

Summary: The committee hearing focused heavily on CARB’s broad trailer bill request for regulatory fee authority. Finance and CARB argued the proposal would let CARB develop fees to recover reasonable costs for implementing and enforcing regulations, while the LAO recommended rejection because the authority was too broad, could apply to an entire division of code, and would delegate core legislative taxing/fee-setting power without enough guardrails. Members from both parties raised concerns about the breadth of the authority, accountability, affordability impacts, and whether the Legislature would be put in an up-or-down position after CARB had already developed regulations. CARB responded that fees would still go through a budget change proposal and legislative approval before collection, and cited existing examples such as transport refrigeration units and commercial harborcraft fees. The committee then reviewed CARB’s request for permanent resources to implement SB 905 on carbon capture, utilization, storage, and carbon dioxide removal. CARB said the Legislature had previously authorized limited-term positions and funding, but it had struggled to recruit and retain staff with specialized regulatory and technical expertise, and that the work had included pre-rulemaking contracts, technology review, and permit-related preparation. Members questioned the pace of work, the use of limited-term positions, and whether additional permitting authority would be needed. CARB said it hoped to begin rulemaking later in the year if permanent resources were approved. Members also discussed the cap-and-trade spending plan, noting lower-than-expected auction revenues but higher interest earnings, and the need to monitor the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and possible May Revision changes. The committee then heard overviews of the zero-emission vehicle package, the Community Air Protection Program, demand-side grid support, and e-bike incentives. CARB described ongoing investments in community-based transportation equity, drayage trucks, harbor craft, and other clean technology demonstrations, while members pressed on affordability, program duplication, and whether enough funding was being directed to incentive programs. No formal votes were taken during the portion provided, and the chair repeatedly indicated that the hearing was intended to surface concerns for later budget negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so if we can put the tax credit and put these programs in place now, we can save a lot of things
• Like we can save murder, I mean murders. We can save, you know, crime.
• Third, it saves manpower.
• That's usually saved for a city court or a lower state court.
• Just like the soccer matches in Kansas City are going to be an event where there are many people.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• That means Cass County would save approximately $20,000 annually if this legislation passed.
• We overlooked that savings that occurs by repealing it a year early and had not applied that.
• Due to the fiscal note, I will... ...save the committee time and share my detailed layout for a time
• We just didn't match it. We don't have to match it. We do our own donations to the university.
• We didn't match it. That's the problem. So I will hold my nose and vote yes.

Bills: SB214 , SB935 , SB1030 , SB1901 , SB2018 , SB2020 , SB2066 , SB2206

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Andrew Miner for working with us on this to save a little time.
• So this is a New Mexico match fund, correct? Yes.
• And then I just want to comment on the, where am I on the New Mexico match fund?
• Yeah, I'd love to know what we're going to waste money on and try to save now.
• So we can put money in there and help save our veterans. Thank you. That's all.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Now some districts may go up, some may go down depending on how the match is.
• Now some districts may go up, some may go down depending on how the match is.
• Now some districts may go up, some may go down depending on how the match is.
• Now some districts may go up, some may go down depending on how the match is.
• expands the uh 529 tax credit or savings expands the uh 529 tax credit or savings account<00:50:03.000

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• you know, Rondo Community Land Trust has a history of not only serving African Americans but also saving
• have to interpret whether or not HRA-created local housing trust funds are eligible for the state match
• Paired with the newly matched mortgage product from NeighborWorks HomePartners, this will open doors
• We used $79,000 of our own money that we saved and took out a small loan.
• As we did when we rolled our rent back at the start of COVID and saved our residents $50,000 in rent

Bills: HF1143 , HF1548 , HF1340 , HF2549 , HF2559 , HF1673 , HF2740 , HF2507 , HF2461 , HF2381 , HF2695

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• These are all 529 college savings accounts.
• These are all 529 college savings accounts.
• Because there's a match.
• I think they call it, not really a match.
• Those are all of our 529 savings account programs. Okay, so would this put our savings at risk?

Bills: HR195 , HR196 , HR197 , HR198 , HR199 , HR200 , HR201 , HR202 , HR203 , HR204 , HR205 , HR206 , HR207 , HR208 , HR209 , HCR87 , HCR88 , HCR89 , HCR90 , HR192 , HR193 , HR194 , HCR80 , HCR81 , HCR82 , HCR83 , HCR84 , HCR85 , SB235 , SB416 , SB425 , SB435 , SB439 , HCR15 , HCR41 , HCR76 , HCR77 , SCR3 , HB91 , HB167 , HB227 , HB243 , HB264 , HB321 , HB335 , HB398 , HB492 , HB623 , HB624 , HB660 , HB689 , HB708 , HB719 , HB802 , HB804 , HB884 , HB906 , HB926 , HB934 , HB940 , HB955 , HB968 , HB969 , HB978 , HB985 , HB1005 , HB1022 , HB1028 , HB1029 , HB1069 , HB1077 , HB1095 , HB1104 , HB1107 , HB1185 , HB1187 , HB1199 , HB1201 , HB1203 , HB1217 , HB1220 , SB66 , SB68 , SB76 , SB139 , SB336 , SB475 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HCR4 , HCR47 , HCR32 , HR38 , HR96 , HR160 , HCR31 , HCR61 , SCR19 , HB64 , HB68 , HB92 , HB12 , HB42 , HB205 , HB222 , HB267 , HB324 , HB325 , HB350 , HB478 , HB610 , HB617 , HB745 , HB749 , HB752 , HB797 , HB807 , HB821 , HB896 , HB979 , HB992 , HB1000 , HB1024 , HB1050 , HB1166 , HB1172 , HB1173 , HB1207 , HB1218 , HB1223 , HB316 , HB549 , HB578 , HB748 , HB798 , HB824 , HB988 , HB989 , HB1001 , HB1032 , HB1081 , HB1108 , HB1129 , HB1140 , HB1157 , HB1192 , HB1195 , HB1198 , HB1244 , SB73 , SB89 , SB128 , SB149 , SB191 , SB196 , SB238 , SB318 , SB340 , HB306 , HB366 , HB911 , HB1161 , HB1230 , HB59 , HB481 , HB772 , HB897 , HB1003 , HB1008 , HB1112 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB525 , HB1058 , HB181 , HB1118 , HB1082 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB225 , HB284 , HB393 , HB458 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB864 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1113 , HB1234 , HB1240

Keywords: Louisiana Young Heroes Day, Louisiana Public Broadcasting, LPB, house resolution, ceremonial resolution, special observance, youth recognition, student achievement, community service, public service, high school students, youth leadership, disability advocacy, autism, diabetes, epilepsy, foster care, STEM, robotics, literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Both are built off the forecast of 15,722 units, matching FY 26.”
• You can think of it as like a savings account. We also hear contingency fund.
• You have like Boise has $47.5 million in the savings, that’s a 15.2%.
• I think the interest that we use to calculate the savings for fiscal year 27 was 4%.
• So why are they staying in these savings accounts? So that would be a question.

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation on the K-12 public school support budget, including how support units, career ladder funding, health insurance, discretionary funding, transportation, facilities, and the Public Education Stabilization Fund (PSIF) work. Legislative Services explained that FY 2026 support units were revised downward, creating a $22.3 million ongoing general fund reduction, and walked through the FY 2027 agency request and governor’s recommendation. The governor recommended no increase for population forecast adjustments, but did recommend some statutory and policy changes, including shifting certain interest earnings to the general fund and reducing funding for some virtual school and IDLA-related items. The agency request also included one-time proposals for a high-needs special education fund and a regional service model for related services. Members asked extensive questions about how career ladder dollars are distributed, how health insurance and discretionary funds interact, why the health insurance increase in the budget differed from current plan estimates, and how facilities money under House Bill 292 is used. There were also questions about the size and use of the Idaho Career Ready Students fund, the maintenance-of-effort implications of special education funding, and whether some special education costs are being used for student housing or other noninstructional expenses. The superintendent and budget staff emphasized that many of the budget lines are formula-driven or statutorily required, that local districts determine actual staffing and spending within those formulas, and that special education costs continue to outpace available funding. Superintendent Debbie Critchfield then framed the budget request around enrollment trends, shifting demographics, and the need for more flexibility in how districts use existing dollars. She highlighted proposed categorical flexibility for some funds, changes to digital content and curriculum distribution, continued literacy gains, growth in career technical education programs funded through Idaho Career Ready Students, and the importance of endowment and Millennium Fund support. She also described the special education proposals as a temporary bridge while the state considers larger formula changes and noted a near $100 million gap between special education spending and funding. She further outlined planned federal waiver requests on assessments and flexibility, and said the department is seeking more state control over testing and reporting requirements. The committee did not take final action on the budget during this portion of the meeting. Members raised concerns about interest transfers from dedicated funds, the complexity of the funding formula, special education accountability, and whether the state should revisit the overall school funding model. Several follow-up data requests were made, including information on health insurance participation, regional special education service needs, and school contingency fund balances.

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, saving money.
• We have to have a state match on management costs.
• Pinellas County gave up 0% of their match for their county. So.
• County gave up 0% of their match for their county.
• Information management includes information storage, county funding savings.

Committee: Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Major General James Hartzell of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs on the agency’s mission, outreach efforts, state veterans nursing homes, and support programs. He highlighted Florida’s large and growing veteran population, the state’s existing nursing homes and the planned 10th home in Collier County, and the department’s dental assistance program, which served 245 veterans in the first quarter of the fiscal year and completed 1,631 procedures while saving more than $525,000. He also discussed veteran service officers, the benefits guide, the department newsletter, efforts to reduce veteran homelessness, and mental health outreach through the Overwatch/Firewatch program. Senators asked about future nursing home locations, adult day health care, homelessness, and the dental program; Hartzell also announced that retired Colonel D.J. Reyes will become deputy executive director on November 7. The committee then heard from Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director of the Division of Emergency Management, on disaster response, recovery, and agency modernization. He described the State Emergency Response Team, the new Florida Central Operations and Coordination Office warehouse in Auburndale, and the new state emergency operations center in Tallahassee, which is ahead of schedule and designed to hold about 220 people and withstand 200-mph winds. Guthrie reviewed recovery efforts for recent storms, including debris removal, volunteer villages, sheltering, and FEMA reimbursement totals for Hurricanes Milton, Helene, Debbie, Idalia, Ian, and earlier storms. He also discussed the Elevate Florida home-elevation program, the Florida Recovery Obligation Calculation training initiative, the DEMES platform, and WebEOC, noting that 60 counties and 22 colleges and universities are using the system. Members asked Guthrie about flood-response resources for cities, training for local officials, and lessons from inland flooding after recent storms. He explained how local governments can request pumps and other assistance through county and state channels, described upcoming elected-official training, and emphasized mutual aid and EMAC as key future disaster-response tools. The committee took no formal votes or other legislative action and adjourned at the end of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:01.440><c> we</c><00:09:01.680><c> could</c><00:09:01.839><c> actually</c><00:09:02.360><c> save
• </c> in line 17 and 18 we could actually save in line 17 and 18 we could actually save people<00:09:03.600
• </c><00:21:42.240><c> it</c> No, I meant in Oh, we were matching it No, I meant in Oh, we were matching
• using it to match the language that<00:21:59.600><c> was</c><00:21:59.760><c> in</c><00:22:00.000><c
• If you want to make it match... Medicine shall not be grounded for votes.

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• And currently only 19 states have savings in their 1115 waivers.
• If we had an IMD waiver, is it probably the case that we could save $30, $40 million in that?
• If we had an IMD waiver, is it probably the case that we could save $30, $40 million in that?
• But I would just say that’s the reason why, because it would match the task force itself.
• with federal and how they match with tribal government.

Committee: Joint Tribal and State Relations Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• This past fall, I was physically assaulted twice by coaches at youth soccer matches.
• I do over 500 matches a year.
• I do over 500 matches a year.
• I do over 500 matches a year.
• I do over 500 matches a year.

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety