Video & Transcript : 'DFPS budget' :
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AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
PUBLIC HEALTH WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE-SENATE AND HOUSE Apr 1st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We're looking for ideas that provide us with a solid plan, a program narrative, a budget, and help show
- You’ll notice that spending for budget period one—we are already in budget period one—that began on December
- Along with the budget dollars having to be spent by October of next year, we must obligate all dollars
- You'll notice that spending for budget period one, we're You'll notice that spending for budget period
- one, we are already in budget period one.
Summary:
The committee first heard extensive public testimony from youth and advocates urging stronger restrictions on vaping. Speakers described vaping as a youth-targeted public health problem, citing flavored products, social media marketing, nicotine addiction, brain development concerns, school disruption, and exposure to harmful aerosol. They recommended prohibiting vaping in public indoor spaces and aligning vape rules with smoke-free laws. Committee members praised the speakers and encouraged them to continue building support for future legislation.
The main presentation was on Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program, administered through DFA. Secretary Jim Hudson and program director Brad Andi explained that Arkansas received about $209 million in the first year under the federal program, with potential for roughly $1 billion over five years if performance is strong. They emphasized that the program is meant for long-term rural health transformation, not general operating support, debt relief, or new construction. The state’s plan centers on four initiatives: HEART for prevention and community health, PACT for access and provider collaboration, RISE for workforce development, and THRIVE for technology and telehealth. Officials said applications will be handled through upcoming notices of funding opportunity, with a focus on local, shovel-ready projects, regional collaboration, and transparency.
Committee members asked how the program would work for hospitals, clinics, nonprofits, schools, faith groups, and urban providers serving rural patients. Officials said eligibility is broad if applicants can show a connection to rural health, and that targeted renovations, mobile units, school-based clinics, farm-to-school or garden projects, EMS equipment, residency expansion, and behavioral health initiatives may fit if they align with the plan. They stressed that the program cannot fund working capital, routine maintenance, or new buildings, but can support repurposing space and collaborative networks. Members also raised concerns about protecting existing rural providers from being displaced, and officials said applications would be reviewed by a state committee with technical assistance and a reimbursement-based process.
The committee then reviewed and took no objection to several DHS and Health Department rules. DHS presented a Medicaid/CHIP rule implementing federal requirements for incarcerated youth, including pre- and post-release coverage, care coordination, targeted case management, and screening services, with no public comments received. The Health Department also presented a licensing rule for audiology and speech pathology that implements recent acts and changes the renewal deadline; that rule was likewise reviewed without objection. The meeting adjourned after no further business.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Corrections and Public Institutions Mar 9th, 2026
Corrections and Public Institutions
Transcript Highlights:
- Because this is just a budget question.
- I'm guessing that cost would go up for the operating budget for Potosi?
- in our state... ...operating budget.
- And I guess I will defer all of my budget questions, maybe to the chair since he sits on budget as well
- I'll just add that states that have done a deep dive into these budgets have found that death penalty
Summary:
The Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions met with a quorum and heard testimony on three bills, with no executive session. House Bill 2153, by Rep. Jim Murphy, would repeal the death penalty in Missouri. Murphy argued the death penalty is costly, not a deterrent, irreversible when mistakes are made, and harmful to victims’ families through repeated appeals. Supporters included Archbishop Mitchell Rozanski, Baptist minister Brian Kaler, Public Defender Director Matthew Crowell, Dr. Heidi Moore of Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty, former inmate Clifton Davis, Empower Missouri’s Gwen Smith Moore, the Innocence Project, Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation, and former Rep. Tony Lobotto. Testimony focused on moral objections, wrongful convictions, racial arbitrariness, the burden on victims’ families, and significant state and defense costs. Several members asked about costs, retroactivity, and the effect on current death-row inmates; Murphy said the bill would apply prospectively only. No vote was taken.
House Bill 3154, by Rep. Bennie Cook, would update Missouri Gaming Commission fingerprint/background-check requirements to explicitly include sports wagering and fantasy sports applicants, suppliers, and key persons. Cook said the bill is intended to ensure proper criminal background checks through the Highway Patrol and to align the statute with newer gaming activities. Missouri Gaming Commission Executive Director Mike Lira testified in support, explaining that fingerprints are needed to identify out-of-state criminal histories and that federal guidance requires specific statutory language for sports wagering background checks. The committee asked a few clarifying questions, and there was no opposition.
House Bill 3535, also by Rep. Bennie Cook, would add fireworks-related authority and clarify that state fire marshals, who are already post-certified peace officers, may act in exigent circumstances and assist other officers during investigations or emergencies. State Fire Marshal Tim Bean supported the bill, saying it would give fire marshals another tool and help with illegal fireworks investigations. One witness opposed the bill, objecting to the phrase “exigent circumstances” as too subjective and potentially harmful to Fourth Amendment protections. The hearing concluded without a vote, and the chair then dismissed the committee.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Taxation and Revenue Feb 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- So that's just a technical fix so it doesn't come out of the operating budget.
- I do think that our operating budget in the Legal Services Bureau does include some small amount for
- And what we are trying to do here is provide for more stable planning of our budget.
- But for the couple that do per year, we end up setting up a contingency in our budget in the event that
- So then are we next year, are we going to reduce your budget a little bit to, in order to do this?
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 108, which amends the Watershed District Act to fix a problem created by last year’s changes: appointed watershed district boards could not legally levy taxes, even though several districts already had mill levies. The sponsor and staff explained the bill would preserve the existing tax authority by tying it to the soil and water district responsible for the watershed district. There was no public opposition, and the committee voted do pass on HB 108 as amended.
The committee then heard House Bill 154, a tax credit bill intended to decouple New Mexico’s Advanced Energy Equipment Tax Credit from changing federal definitions and to add fusion machines and related components to the state definition. Supporters from economic development, industry, utilities, and education argued the bill would provide certainty, attract advanced manufacturing, and help New Mexico compete for investment without changing the credit’s caps or fiscal impact. Members questioned why hydrogen, geothermal, and small modular reactors were not included; staff said those technologies were not in the federal definition and that adding them now could create unintended consequences. The committee voted do pass on HB 154, with one member voting reluctantly yes.
House Bill 291, the Taxation and Revenue Department’s annual tax code cleanup bill, was then presented and amended twice. The first amendment preserved New Mexico’s independent definition of qualified research for the tech jobs and R&D credit. The second removed a proposed expansion of the film tax credit to certain tribal expenditures after concerns about fiscal impact; members discussed possible future approaches for tribal film activity and the film partner loophole. The bill also makes technical and policy changes including rounding certain payments to the nearest nickel, waiving interest when tax deadlines are extended for good cause, removing small late-filing penalties in some cases, allowing delinquent taxpayers to renew permits under installment agreements, intercepting excess delinquent property tax auction proceeds for other state tax debts, clarifying tobacco tax treatment for larger vape cartridges, and tightening film credit rules. After public opposition from business groups and discussion from members, the committee voted do pass on HB 291 as twice amended.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/27/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- I’m voting yes, but I do have concerns if the federal big budget betrayal bill, H.R. 1, bankrupts our
- And of course, bills like this become part of the budget.
- And of course, bills like this become part of the budget.
- Even knowing that town budgets are small, it's more the principle of the thing.
- And I've said we need to look at the baseline budget. I don't know.
Keywords:
appropriation, transportation, safety improvements, Route 70, infrastructure, housing, zoning, middle housing, urban development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, townhomes, historic preservation, Grand Canyon, Grand Canyon National Park, special license plate, special plate, license plate, vanity plate
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 11 (1-21-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It is budget neutral.
- </c><00:14:02.240><c> It</c><00:14:02.480><c> is</c><00:14:02.639><c> budget</c> measurable outcomes.
- It is budget measurable outcomes.
- It is budget neutral.<00:14:04.320><c> And</c><00:14:04.560><c> in</c><00:14:04.720><c> fact,</c><00:
- >> Budget review subcommittee on >> Budget review subcommittee on postsecondary<00:22:50.880
Keywords:
Convene 00:00
Senate Message 05:10
Calendar/2nd Readings 07:06
Report of Committees 07:47
Orders of the Day 08:52
HB 176 09:09
HB 178 12:19
HB 280 15:34
Motions, Petitions, and Communications 19:55
Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 32:05
Recess for ConC and Rules Meeting 32:05
ConC and Rules Report 39:04
Adjournment 40:48, 958, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- In the 85th session, the Legislative Budget Board said $63.8 million might be the cost.
- last legislative session, it seemed that every year... where I was finding ways to try and cut my budget
- think about what transformation truly means in this space, I heard the comments about the fiscal budget
- That's the first thought, is that if we have a budget challenge, but we have an opportunity to partner
- Even the budget problem is, if we can invest, and I wrote it here.
Keywords:
housing, affordable housing, state regulations, zoning, local government authority, drug court, juvenile justice, diversion programs, rehabilitation, criminal justice reform, remote proceedings, depositions, virtual hearings, court technology, criminal responsibility, age of maturity, expungement, mental health services, juvenile record sealing, 1184
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EEP Public Hearing - Thu Feb 13, 2025 @ 10:15 AM HST
Energy & Environmental Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- We're going to clarify this applies to the duties of the Department of Budget and Finance rather than
- the state generally, and that budget and finance obligation is limited to revenues associated with the
- <01:30:12.280><c> of</c><01:30:12.520><c> Department</c><01:30:12.920><c> of</c><01:30:13.080><c> budget
- </c><01:30:13.320><c> and</c> duties of Department of budget and duties of Department of budget and finance
- and finance obligation and that budget and finance obligation is<01:30:18.080><c> limited</c><01:30:
Summary:
The Energy and Environmental Protection Committee met on February 13, 2025, after a brief recess for a concurrent hearing. The committee heard testimony on several measures, including HB 332 on recycling and lithium-ion batteries, HB 256 on environmental protection and federal air standards, HB 348 on single-use plastics in lodging establishments, HB 810 on noise pollution and helicopter-related civil actions, HB 505 on Red Hill coordination, HB 975 on carbon sequestration incentives, and HB 974 on utility financing and step-in agreements. Testimony was generally supportive on HB 256, HB 348, HB 505, HB 975, and HB 974, while HB 332 drew both support and opposition, including concerns from the Consumer Technology Association about battery recycling policy. On HB 975, OPSD supported the program but urged language to prevent use for carbon offsets, and the committee discussed how the program would be monitored and reimbursed. On HB 974, the chair summarized extensive amendments addressing reserve fees, revenue definitions, trust funds, default procedures, and customer credits, while noting the Consumer Advocate’s changed view that a reserve fee may not be constitutionally required.
In decision making, the committee adopted amendments and recommended passage for HB 332, converting it into a working group to study recycling of small- and medium-format lithium-ion batteries, with members from state agencies and industry and a note that an appropriation may be needed. HB 256 was passed with amendments to clarify compliance with federal law unless standards become more stringent. HB 348, HB 810, and HB 505 were each passed as is. HB 975 was passed with amendments, including language to prevent use of the program for carbon offsets and a note that dollar amounts would be blanked out and addressed in the committee report. HB 974 was also passed with amendments after the committee reviewed the proposed changes and discussed the reserve fee issue. The committee additionally noted that HB 1476 had previously been deferred and would remain deferred, and the meeting concluded with adjournment.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- has provided an additional three billion dollars for 6.8 pennies of... school compression in that budget
- We had budgeted $18 billion in the last legislative session.
- All that money has to go into the state budget.
- money comes in for rate compression or it comes in for homestead exemption, it has to go into the budget
- Our operational budget is $9,700 per kid, 10,000 if you include the pass-through for teacher retirement
Keywords:
property tax, homestead exemption, school funding, state aid, constitutional amendment, SJR 2, Senate Joint Resolution 2, property tax relief, school property tax, ad valorem tax, residence homestead, school district taxes, Texas Constitution Article VIII, public school finance, homeowner exemption, elderly exemption, senior tax relief, disabled exemption, tax year 2025, voter approval
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House DFL Media Availability 1/6/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We're really excited about the idea of working with Republicans on Minnesota's budget to make sure we
- working with Republicans<00:14:52.680><c> on</c><00:14:52.880><c> Minnesota's</c><00:14:53.519><c> budget
- </c><00:14:53.880><c> to</c> Republicans on Minnesota's budget to Republicans on Minnesota's budget to
- </c><00:14:54.519><c> have</c><00:14:54.600><c> a</c><00:14:54.759><c> sound</c><00:14:55.160><c> budget
- </c><00:14:55.920><c> from</c> make sure we have a sound budget from make sure we have a sound budget
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
JHA Public Hearing - Wed Feb 12, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Neil M. here for the Department of Budget and Finance.
- </c> and then what the legisl that's a budget and then what the legisl that's a budget category<00:32
- </c><00:36:04.680><c> and</c> Department of budget and Department of budget and finance<00:36:06.880>
- So we think this should be in the base budget of the Judiciary.
- Next testimony is from the Department of Budget and Finance.
Summary:
The committee met on February 12 at 2 p.m. and heard several measures related to corrections, re-entry, law enforcement, retirement benefits, and gun violence prevention. On HB 10002, which would extend the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission coordinator’s term and clarify unannounced inspection authority, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said it had no objection to the term length or to 24/7 unannounced access. The commission’s chair, Commissioner Mark Patterson, asked for a longer term, saying the commission needs more time and stability to manage reform efforts after years without staff during COVID. Community Alliance on Prisons and Carolyn Eaton also supported a longer term, with both suggesting six years would better insulate the position from politics. The chair noted he had asked Chair Bot for background on the prior committee’s changes and said that could be discussed during decision-making.
The committee then heard HB 67, which would require DCR to help inmates obtain civil identification documents such as IDs, birth certificates, and Social Security cards as soon as practicable, including for people in furlough or community placement programs. DCR said it supported the bill and described ongoing work with the city and county on ID machines and with agencies on certificates and Social Security cards. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Oversight Commission, Community Alliance on Prisons, and the Office of Public Defense all supported the measure, emphasizing that identification is essential for housing, employment, and successful re-entry and noting the disproportionate impact of incarceration on Native Hawaiians.
On HB 1183, which would classify certain law enforcement administrators and Department of Law Enforcement employees as Class A members for retirement purposes, the Department of Human Resources Development, the Employees’ Retirement System, and the Department of Law Enforcement all supported the bill. DHRD said it would help recruitment and retention, ERS said it had technical amendments to suggest, and DLE said the change would help with succession planning and allow the governor to appoint the most qualified leader. The committee also heard HB 1045, an emergency appropriation bill to cover payroll fringe benefits for Department of Law Enforcement personnel after salary funding had been shifted to other departments; Budget and Finance and DLE explained the need for the supplemental funding, and no opposition was noted.
Finally, the committee took up HB 664, which would create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention, a grant program, a resource bank, and a special fund. The Attorney General recommended adding standards for grant awards and warned of overlap with the existing Gun Violence and Violent Crimes Commission, suggesting consolidation and repeal of the older commission to avoid duplication. Supporters included the Brady Campaign, Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action Hawaii, a physician, and an Army veteran, who argued the office would centralize data, coordinate prevention efforts, and help secure outside funding. Testimony was mixed, with the chair noting 37 supporters, nine opponents, and three commenters, but no vote was taken during the hearing.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
Restrictive Housing Legislative Working Group (RHG) - Tue Dec 16, 2025 @ 9:30 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> facility modifications in its budget facility modifications in its budget bill<00:32:26.559><c>
- alignment are essential data, and budget alignment are essential for<00:33:05.120><c> meaningful</c>
- And so we’re basically putting more people in prison, but we’re not increasing their budget.
- </c> increasing their their budget. increasing their their budget.
- </c><01:22:32.639><c> uh</c> time, we're also facing a budget uh time, we're also facing a budget uh
Summary:
The working group convened with all members present, approved the minutes from its October 16, 2025 meeting and its October 28, 2025 Halawa Correctional Facility site visit by unanimous consent, and received no public testimony on the agenda or minutes. The chair then reviewed the statutory timeline under Act 292/SB 104, noting the group continues until January 8, 2027, and discussed required reporting dates and the need to develop a work plan for the remaining meetings. The chair also said the October 16 DCR presentation would be treated as satisfying the group’s interim-report purpose, though the legal reporting obligations to the Legislature and oversight commission still needed to be sorted out.
The main discussion focused on DCR’s proposed amendments to Act 292 and the department’s interim report. Director Johnson said the department’s October 16 presentation included recommended statutory amendments because the law, as written, could not be fully complied with; the proposals were described as section-by-section changes intended to address implementation problems. Members discussed several specific issues, including transfer language for higher levels of care, the 2010 MOA with the Department of Health, and replacing “physician” with “clinician” to reflect staffing realities. DCR explained that the change would allow licensed clinicians, including APRNs and doctors of osteopathy, to make decisions when physicians are not on duty, and that the MOA is being updated so transfers can occur from any DCR facility to the state hospital.
An OHA staff member gave a detailed critique of the proposed amendments, saying they would weaken Act 292’s intent by reducing procedural protections, expanding exceptions, and relying on aspirational language such as “strive” and “if practicable.” OHA also raised concerns about the lack of baseline data on restrictive housing use and said the department’s report showed serious operational problems, including overcrowded and outdated facilities, limited space for private medical or mental health exams, and the use of suicide/safety cells for people who may not need mental health treatment. DCR responded that it had requested 35 new medical positions in the budget, supported by the governor, and said those positions are needed to meet basic care obligations for people in custody.
The group did not take a vote on the proposed amendments. Instead, members agreed to continue the discussion, with the chair saying the reports, settlement tracker, 2010 MOA, and comparison guidelines would be distributed and used as the basis for future work. In the final discussion on work-plan priorities, members identified staffing shortages, physical plant limitations, and the need to examine humane alternatives and implementation challenges as key topics for upcoming meetings.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Ways and Means Apr 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- House Bill 2 by Representative Bacala provides for the comprehensive capital outlay budget.
- Those individual line items will remain in the budget, but hopefully they will be unified so that that
- It's delayed if a bid comes in a little over budget.
- But across the street may be another project that the bid comes in under budget.
Summary:
The House Ways and Means Committee met on April 13, 2026, with a quorum present and began by reviewing House Bill 2, the comprehensive capital outlay budget. The committee adopted amendment set 3575, including a technical correction, and heard the chairman explain how the proposal reallocates limited surplus and bonding capacity by trimming some P1 requests, redirecting dormant projects, and creating project bundles for certain university and DOTD projects to allow funds to move more flexibly between projects. He said the approach was intended to reduce waste, improve efficiency, and allow agencies to manage overruns and underruns within bundled projects. The committee then reported HB 2 favorably as amended without objection.
The committee next took up House Bill 3, the Omnibus Bond Act, which was described as the financing measure that implements and funds the capital outlay program authorized in HB 2 by repealing prior bond authorizations and authorizing new general obligation bonds through the State Bond Commission. Members voted to report HB 3 favorably without objection. The committee also adopted a motion to make HB 3 special order number three for Thursday, April 16, 2026, so it could be heard with the other money bills. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Eight - Wednesday, January 21
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Tax credits, you know, we need to understand how they affect the budget.
- We need to talk about how they're going to impact future budgets.
- Tax credits, you know, we need to understand how they affect the budget.
- We need to talk about, you know, how they're going to impact future budgets.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 4/30/25 - Part 1
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- First reading of Senate File Number 1832, an act relating to state government establishing a biennial budget
- :26.400><c> establishing</c><00:06:26.960><c> a</c><00:06:27.120><c> bianual</c><00:06:27.680><c> budget
- </c> government establishing a bianual budget government establishing a bianual budget for<00:06:28.160
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (01/28/2026)
Executive Departments and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- each year and we don't have the budget each year and we don't have something<03:27:26.080><c> that's
- for New Hampshire's 2026 budgeting for New Hampshire's 2026 fiscal<04:04:01.680><c> year.
- </c> The intent is to take existing budgets The intent is to take existing budgets and<04:12:32.319><
- We're looking at a the state budget.
- </c><04:57:55.440><c> in</c> significant part of the state budget in significant part of the state budget
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- ><c> that</c><00:18:30.840><c> budget</c><00:18:31.560><c> this</c> probably tightened that budget this
- probably tightened that budget this year.
- </c> cost in their budget? cost in their budget?
- </c> already stressed budgets. already stressed budgets.
- </c> impact, budgets are set. impact, budgets are set.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Finance Division I (02/09/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:09:11.040><c> and</c> include your your capital budgets and include your your capital budgets
- about $180 million when it comes to the capital budget.
- Um for many years that capital budget.
- For example, the last couple of<00:19:58.320><c> budget</c><00:19:58.640><c> was</c> of budget was of
- </c> again on the public works capital budget again on the public works capital budget committee,<00:
Summary:
The committee first heard testimony from State Treasurer Monica Misipelli on House Bill 1042, which would increase the contingent credit limit for the BFA. She explained that under RSA 66 the state’s debt capacity is capped at 10% of unrestricted revenue, and that guaranteed debt counts in the calculation even though it is not direct debt. She said the state currently has about 65% of its capacity used, roughly $120 million of remaining room, and that raising the BFA contingent credit limit from $200 million to $450 million would reduce that capacity. She noted the state’s debt-to-revenue ratio is about 4.2%, that the state’s credit rating is not immediately affected by the guarantee program unless the state actually has to assume the liability, and suggested unused guarantee authorizations, such as one for the Peace Development Authority, could be reviewed in the future.
Members asked whether a credit guarantee affects bonding ability like actual debt, what the usual debt level is relative to the statutory cap, and whether the increase would crowd out future capital borrowing. Misipelli answered that guarantees are included in the formula and do affect available capacity, though the current ratio remains manageable. She also said she had been using a $120 million benchmark for capital budget planning and was now modeling $130 million in future state debt. When asked whether the full $250 million increase was necessary, she deferred to the BFA, saying the question should be answered by the agency.
James Key Wallace, executive director of the New Hampshire BFA and interim commissioner of Business and Economic Affairs, then testified in support of the bill. He said the request was driven by larger project costs over the last several decades, with construction inflation causing guarantees to be used up in bigger chunks, and by the fact that the BFA has been close to its current cap. He said the agency does not use taxpayer funds, has never had a payout on a guarantee in nearly 35 years, and requires collateral, reserves, and an 80% loan-to-value buffer. He told members the Senate had a similar bill to raise the limit to $400 million and that the BFA considered that range acceptable. In response to questions, he said a smaller increase such as $150 million would cover known transactions but might not provide enough runway for future opportunities, and he confirmed the bill was brought at the BFA’s request. He also said businesses consider housing availability when deciding whether to locate in New Hampshire, since housing and workforce are key location factors.
At the end of the work session, the chair closed House Bill 1042 and opened House Bill 241, a bill on health insurance coverage of pain management services for chronic pain. Representative Nagel began introducing the bill and asked for copies of the treasurer’s debt-capacity report, but the transcript cuts off before any further action on HB 241.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, the new federal budget triples ICE annual budget to nearly 29.9 billion a year and increases immigration
- Uh, the new federal budget triples ICE annual budget to nearly 29.9 billion a year and increases immigration
- Uh, the new federal budget triples ICE annual budget to nearly 29.9 billion a year and increases immigration
- Uh, the new federal budget triples ICE annual budget to nearly 29.9 billion a year and increases immigration
- Because of the budget, the federal budget that was passed. Yeah.
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the impact and legality of federal immigration enforcement efforts in Hawaii, with Chair Carl Rhodes framing it as the sixth and final interim briefing in a series on the rule of law and local effects of federal actions. He said the discussion would focus on due process concerns, questioning and detention of citizens and lawful immigrants, free speech issues, and pressure on state and local law enforcement, and noted the issues may be revisited in the 2026 regular session. There was no public testimony or committee vote; only invited speakers presented.
Dr. Amy Agayani opened by arguing that immigrants are integral to Hawaii’s history, economy, and communities, and contrasted that with what she described as harmful narratives portraying immigrants as criminals. She cited figures that one in five Hawaii residents is foreign-born, that immigrants make up about 20% of the labor force and over 27% of entrepreneurs, and that roughly 40,000 people in Hawaii are undocumented, many of whom may have pathways to legal status but face language, information, and court barriers. She also said federal enforcement has expanded beyond undocumented immigrants to include citizens and lawful residents, and warned that attacks on birthright citizenship and visa categories could affect many families.
Matina Mock of the legal clinic emphasized the complexity of immigration law and the severe lack of legal representation, noting a nationwide backlog of 11.3 million immigration-related applications and 3.4 million court cases, plus about 1,400 pending immigration cases in Honolulu with only two immigration judges. She said Hawaii has only six or seven nonprofit immigration legal service providers, and that represented clients are far more likely to obtain relief. Mock described a recent case involving a lawful student visa holder who was transferred among multiple federal facilities before being brought to Honolulu without clear notice, which she said illustrated due process violations. She also said ICE activity in Hawaii has sharply increased, with about 150 arrests from January to July 2025, a 380% increase over the same period in 2024, and that many detainees have no criminal record.
Stephanie Haro Sevilla and another clinic fellow described 2025 enforcement as a major shift driven by a January executive order, the end of prior limits on arrests in sensitive locations, and arrest quotas they said require 3,000 arrests per day nationwide. They said this has led to arrests without warrants or probable cause, broader targeting of people with minor offenses or no criminal history, and the use of resources from other federal agencies and local law enforcement for civilian immigration enforcement. They also said the federal detention center in Honolulu is holding roughly 40 to 80 civilian detainees on any given day, often in conditions they characterized as prison-like, and warned that the current escalation could eventually affect lawful permanent residents and naturalized citizens. The speakers urged the public to support immigrant-rights advocates and local protective policies and funding measures.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children (6-25-25) - Reupload
Transcript Highlights:
- Um but we long term in the budget.
- And then, in the budget, it's actually on page 116 from House Bill 6 from 2024. Yeah.
- And then, once again, I'm not the cabinet budget director.
- for this PDM increase. in the budget, it's actually on page 116 in the budget, it's actually on page
- I can I can the cabinet budget director.
Keywords:
1. Call to Order and Roll Call – 00:00:24
2. Discussion of The Center for Courageous Kids – 00:02:46
3. Discussion of Adult Protective Services and State Guardianship Programs – 00:25:22
4. Discussion of Annual Report of the External Child Fatality and Near Fatality Review Panel – 01:00:34
5. Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations – 01:33:41
6. Adjournment – 01:42:07, 958, all
Summary:
The committee’s first interim meeting opened with roll call and a reminder that Kentucky had 8,641 children in out-of-home care with active placements as of June 1, 2025. The first presentation was from the Center for Courageous Kids (CCK), a donor-funded camp in Scottsville that serves children with lifelong illnesses and disabilities at no charge. Representatives described the camp’s history, its year-round family retreats and summer sessions, its medical and accessibility supports, and its impact on campers’ confidence and independence. They said CCK has served more than 43,000 campers from 46 states and 13 countries, including 22,000 from Kentucky, and noted plans to reach all 120 Kentucky counties.
CCK also outlined future capital needs: a new art barn and a medical lodge. The organization said the art barn project would cost $2.5 million, with a legislative request of $1.5 million, and the medical lodge would cost $2.875 million, with a legislative request of $1.75 million. Members responded very positively, with several praising the camp’s work and one member asking about operational challenges. CCK said its main challenges are awareness, staff and volunteer recruitment, and expanding medical and housing capacity; it also said it is accredited by the American Camp Association and receives health and safety visits and audits.
The committee then moved to a presentation on adult protective services and state guardianship programs from Jessica Wayne and Cliff Bryant of DCBS. They explained the legal framework for guardianship, the difference between full and limited guardianship/conservatorship, emergency appointments, and the state’s role as a last-resort guardian when no family member or private entity is available. They reported 4,464 individuals under state guardianship as of June 1, with most cases involving dementia, developmental disability, intellectual disability, nursing home or long-term care placement, severe mental illness, or brain injury. They also said the division has 89 field workers across 14 regional offices, with an average caseload of 52 and a goal of reducing that into the mid-40s through additional hiring.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on H.F. 2115 - Human Services Omnibus - 05/13/25
Transcript Highlights:
- I'll just note that the House has language around this in our budget bill, so I think the discussion
- Um, so I around this in our budget bill.
- </c><00:45:49.760><c> side</c> community um and in on the budget side community um and in on the budget
- </c><01:10:10.159><c> At</c><01:10:10.400><c> a</c> setting their individual budgets.
- At a setting their individual budgets.