Transcript Highlights:

• It needs adjustments, right? Mr. Chairman and Representative, yes, we do.
• We have different revenues, we have some caseloads, and we are even adjusting the current year budget
• We are even adjusting the current year budget for the supplementals potentially and ACCESS, DES, and
• Going to make it through the second year because there typically are adjustments that have to be made
• ... ...your budget for all the baseline stuff, and in year two we'll come back and maybe adjust this

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first took up HCR 2047 and the identical companion H.R. 2002, both of which would direct state communications to use the terms Judea and Samaria instead of West Bank and affirm the historical, biblical, and legal legitimacy of those names. The sponsor and several proponents, including Jeff Schwartz, Jason Morris, Rabbi Pinchas Alouche, and Jake Bennett, argued that the language is historically accurate and that “West Bank” is a political term that erases Jewish history. No one testified against either measure. HCR 2047 passed 10-6, and H.R. 2002 passed 11-6, both with due pass recommendations. The committee then heard HB 2554, which would establish a biennial state budget process and biennial capital planning, shifting agencies to submit budget requests every other year and requiring the governor to propose a two-year executive budget. Sponsor Rep. Joseph Chaplik said the bill would make government smaller, more disciplined, and more efficient, reduce long budget sessions, and restore a part-time legislative model. JLBC staff provided historical context on Arizona’s past annual and biennial budgeting systems and noted that second-year budgets are often modified for revenue and caseload changes. Several members raised concerns about legislative leverage, flexibility, and whether the change would be constitutional or practical. The bill received a do-pass recommendation after debate. Next, HB 2014, as amended, would require ADEQ and the Department of Agriculture to study gasoline blend emissions and feasibility for seasonal fuel sales in certain areas, with appropriations for the studies. Sponsor Rep. Lisa Fink said the bill responds to fuel vulnerability in Maricopa County and possible supply disruptions tied to California refinery closures. Some members supported the concept but voted present or no, citing prior stakeholder work, cost, and uncertainty about whether the studies would change outcomes. The amended bill passed with a do-pass recommendation. HB 2180, as amended, appropriated funding for the AZ Reach hospital transfer program; Rep. Julie Willoughby and AZ Reach representatives said it helps rural hospitals transfer patients efficiently and keeps clinicians at the bedside. The committee adopted an amendment reducing the appropriation from $2.5 million to $500,000, and the bill passed with a due pass recommendation after testimony from rural health providers. Finally, HB 2156, as amended, appropriated $250,000 to the livestock compensation fund to help ranchers with wolf depredation losses and conflict-avoidance measures. Game and Fish staff said the existing federal funding is unstable and insufficient, and the state fund helps compensate ranchers in rural Arizona. Some members supported the fund but opposed using general funds, citing budget constraints, transparency concerns, and wildlife conservation priorities. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill with a due pass recommendation. The meeting adjourned after the final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• No serious legislation claiming to protect the equal rights of all can be drafted without it.
• No serious legislation<00:41:57.600><c> claiming</c><00:41:57.960><c> to</c><00:41:58.080><c> protect
• </c><00:41:58.480><c> the</c> legislation claiming to protect the legislation claiming to protect the
• Senate File 473 creates the problem it claims to resolve, inequality.
• </c> Constitution, that claim goes in front Constitution, that claim goes in front of<01:25:46.600><c

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But do we want to be going to small claims court for every— No. No.
• But do we want to be going to small claims court for every— No. No.
• ><c> for</c><00:35:31.359><c> every</c> small claims court for every small claims court for every &gt
• ,</c> animal has not been returned or claimed, animal has not been returned or claimed, you<01:21:35.760
• </c> animal has not been returned or claimed. animal has not been returned or claimed.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're really not intended to assess funding progress or adjust contribution rates.
• valuation, which would include contribution rates and would be appropriate for future PFC action to adjust
• as we are conducting this study, we review the assumptions, we review past experience, and then we adjust
• We make no adjustment to that data, and then we just display it in the report, inflows and outflows,
• So there's been some suggestion that these rates may be due for some adjustments, and that an actuarial

Committee: Joint Pension Funding Council

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . to the clerks of court retirement and relief fund to provide relative to cost-of-living adjustments
• , to provide for calculation of the amount of the adjustment, to provide relative to the authority of
• the Board of Trustees to grant an adjustment, to provide for the funding deposit account, to provide
• And it takes all of the retirement system cost-of-living adjustment laws about funding and authority
• And this is just dealing with when the board can grant the cost-of-living adjustment.

Committee: House Retirement

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Those apply in the prosecutor-initiated sentence adjustments in plea hearings and also when charges are
• Those apply in the prosecutor-initiated sentence adjustments in plea hearings and also when charges are
• apply in the prosecutor-initiated Those apply in the prosecutor-initiated sentence<00:04:53.280><c> adjustments
• </c><00:04:54.040><c> in</c><00:04:54.240><c> plea</c><00:04:54.440><c> hearings</c> sentence adjustments
• in plea hearings sentence adjustments in plea hearings and<00:04:55.000><c> also</c><00:04:55.280><c

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• question about the bill requires local assessors to process applications, verify eligibility, and adjust
• question about the bill requires local assessors to process applications, verify eligibility, and adjust
• </c> the exemption may be claimed the exemption may be claimed cumulatively<02:38:38.319><c> with</c>
• ,</c><02:40:11.359><c> if</c><02:40:11.520><c> you</c><02:40:11.680><c> will,</c> utilize the adjusted
• , if you will, utilize the adjusted, if you will, property<02:40:12.399><c> values,</c><02:40:13.359>

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And while we may believe that by changing the other parameters and kind of making adjustments, in no
• And so I don't necessarily see how the adjustment that we're talking about harms those students.
• And so I don't necessarily see how the adjustment that we're talking about harms those students.
• And so I don't necessarily see how the adjustment that we're talking about harms those students.
• </c><00:29:24.880><c> that</c> necessarily see how the adjustment that necessarily see how the adjustment

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This shows you again that prices, after we adjust for inflation, are not back to where they were even
• It's adjusted for labor flows across industries and occupations.
• It's adjusted for labor flows across industries and occupations.
• Overall, net earnings from work are rising at 3.7%; adjusted for population, that would be about 3.6%
• With regard to the reasons that there have been such large adjustments in the employment data over time

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: At the April meeting of the Finance Advisory Committee, staff presented an updated state revenue forecast that was more cautious than January’s because of heightened economic uncertainty tied to the Iran conflict and broader national risks. The general fund’s available resources were revised down from $577 million in January to $378 million in the April forecast, with the lower estimate driven by reduced revenue projections while spending assumptions were unchanged. Staff said the outlook depends heavily on how long the Middle East conflict lasts and noted that a prolonged disruption could weaken the forecast further, while a quick resolution could improve conditions. George Hammond of the University of Arizona gave a broad economic overview, highlighting geopolitical risk, elevated oil and gasoline prices, sticky inflation, weak Arizona job growth, and uncertainty around federal policy, tariffs, immigration, and AI-related investment. He said Arizona’s recent job growth has been very weak and concentrated mainly in health services, while most other sectors lost jobs, and he attributed much of the slowdown to low hiring rather than layoffs. He also discussed population growth, noting that Arizona remains above the national average but is increasingly dependent on net migration as natural increase slows, and he warned that housing affordability remains strained even as Phoenix inflation has moderated. Panelists generally echoed the cautious outlook but pointed to some offsets. Liz St. Clair said Arizona’s near-term revenues could benefit from tourism tied to spring training and the Final Four, though higher fuel costs could dampen discretionary spending. Other panelists noted that the federal policy environment, tariffs, and immigration changes are likely to restrain growth, while productivity gains, especially from technology and AI, may help businesses maintain output. Several members also discussed housing, saying single-family permits have fallen while rental supply has improved affordability, and they raised concerns about labor-force growth, wage disparities, and the reliability of recent employment data revisions. No formal votes or actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• This fund adjustment moves two The third and final request, that was part of the agency's request and
• part of the governor's recommendation, was a fund adjustment.
• This fund adjustment moves two positions from federal fund sources to dedicated fund sources, specifically
• Much like schools receiving the main school support budget, IESDB also has a career ladder that adjusts
• That adjustment would provide the funding for their expected FY27 placements.

Summary: The committee first took up the Department of Environmental Quality budget. Staff outlined enhancements for monitoring and maintenance at the Triumph Mine, a transfer for Coeur d’Alene Basin remediation, and a fund shift to move positions from federal funds to the Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program fund. Members also approved language to consolidate certain air permitting and drinking water permitting fee funds, and later adopted additional language related to a solid waste regulatory fund transfer tied to House Bill 555. The DEQ motion passed with do-pass recommendations. The committee then considered the Department of Lands, focusing heavily on fire preparedness funding for the Forest and Range Fire Protection Program. Members debated whether to restore one-time General Fund money for standby crews in FY 2026 and FY 2027, with some arguing the department had reverted funds in prior years and had other dedicated funds available, while the department explained those funds were legally committed to other purposes and that the standby crews support state firefighting readiness. The FY 2026 supplemental passed, the FY 2027 enhancement initially failed, reconsideration was debated under parliamentary rules, and after reconsideration the FY 2027 fire preparedness funding passed. The committee also adopted language allowing transfers between department programs and approved language restricting the use of General Fund firefighter bonus money to firefighters. Next, the committee reviewed Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind. The budget included career ladder adjustments, a van replacement, staffing for a new 18-bed residential building in Gooding, replacement items, and an endowment fund adjustment. Members debated a substitute motion that would fund the new cottage staff for the opening of the new dormitory, with supporters emphasizing the need to avoid leaving the new facility unused and opponents noting the budget’s size and the broader constraints on other agencies. The substitute motion failed and the original motion passed, resulting in a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered the State Department of Education budget. The agency requested additional spending authority for school bus camera grants, an extended USDA farm-to-school grant, and ongoing child nutrition technology grants. A substitute motion to increase the farm-to-school authority to match the anticipated federal extension failed, and the original motion passed, approving the dedicated and federal fund increases and sending the budget forward with a do-pass recommendation. The committee then adjourned after announcing the next day’s agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• But prior to this law, the state would often make accounting adjustments.
• The state regularly makes adjustments to the required deposits or withdrawals from that account within
• And so we think the state, by the same logic, could also adjust an optional deposit based on what happens
• By the same logic, the state could also adjust an optional deposit based on what happens with revenue
• But if you're specifically concerned about this forecasting issue and this prior-year adjustment, then

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Straight away, what you're thinking about is that we probably need to adjust our budgeting just because
• But the really interesting thing to me about this chart is the all other adjustments to the budget.
• The rest of it is adjusting your budget to services.
• The main difference that you're seeing there is the adjusted revenue number, which brought it up by $137
• Are you a real believer in that adjusted revenue number, or is it a more conservative number?

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee received an agency update from Idaho Transportation Department Director Scott Stokes. He described ITD’s role in highway construction and maintenance, DMV services, and aeronautics, emphasizing public accountability, employee expertise, and the department’s operating priorities of operating, preserving, and expanding the system. He highlighted major projects and emergency responses, including road washouts, bridge repairs, and the reopening of an overpass after a truck crash, and said growth and revenue availability remain the department’s biggest challenges. Stokes also reviewed ITD’s budget picture, noting most funding comes from dedicated state and federal transportation sources, and outlined governor-recommended enhancements for equipment, Highway 16 operations, and roadside tree removal, while saying future project pacing will depend on available funds. Committee members asked about whether lane-mile growth is keeping pace with population growth, how ITD is planning for a new north-south route in the Kootenai County area, the effect of a 2025 law limiting pedestrian and bicycle spending, and how expected budget cuts might affect the department’s five-year project plan. Stokes said congestion is often a local-network issue as well as a state highway issue, that planning for future routes is being done with local communities, that the pedestrian/bike law has had little effect on ITD’s own projects, and that new project bidding will be scaled to available funding while design work continues. The committee then heard a JFAC budget discussion from Chairman Grow, Keith Bybee, and Brooke Dupree on the statewide fiscal outlook and transportation funding. They explained that the state faces a tighter general fund picture than in recent years, with possible 3% governor holdbacks and an additional 1% to 2% reduction being discussed, and that the legislature’s revenue forecast and tax conformity decisions will affect the ending balance. Bybee said the budget stabilization fund remains strong compared with 2009, but the legislature must decide whether to use one-time cash or make deeper ongoing cuts to restore structural balance. Dupree reviewed transportation revenue sources and prior legislation, including gas tax and registration fee increases, TECM bonding authority, and general fund transfers to ITD and local governments, and noted the governor did not recommend the full $275 million general fund transfer requested by ITD. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• But it's always a change in theater, if you will, as we adjust and refocus.
• I, I can, we, we've adjusted many times and, and we're used to deployments, hurricanes, wildfires, border
• We made other adjustments along the way. We were double shifting hotels, which was problematic.
• So we made adjustments, and the Legislature was great working with us to accommodate those.
• We made other adjustments along the way. We were double shifting hotels, uh, which was problematic.

Committee: Senate Border Security

Summary: The Senate Committee on Border Security held its first hearing of the 89th legislative session, established a quorum, welcomed new and returning members, and adopted the committee rules without objection. The chair said the hearing would be limited to invited state agency witnesses and was intended as a status update for new members on current border operations, especially in light of the change in federal administration. Testimony came from the Office of the Attorney General, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Texas Military Department. The Attorney General’s representative said border-related litigation is largely in a holding pattern while the new U.S. Department of Justice awaits additional leadership, and noted prior cases involving concertina wire, buoys, and the CBP One app. DPS described Operation Lone Star’s evolution from filling gaps when Border Patrol was overwhelmed to current operations focused on interdiction, criminal arrests, fentanyl and meth seizures, and national security concerns, while also noting improved morale and more voluntary deployments as border pressure has eased. The Texas Military Department reported more than 5,000 personnel on state active duty, extensive use of barriers, drones, boats, and rapid-response forces, and said Operation Lone Star has resulted in more than 531,000 apprehensions and a 90% reduction in illegal crossings. Members and witnesses discussed whether the state should maintain its current border-security footprint while federal policy settles, with the chair emphasizing preserving institutional knowledge and leaving tactical decisions to the governor. Questions also covered trooper fatigue, Border Patrol training under SB 602, and concerns about cartel-driven commercial trucking and fuel depots near the border. The committee heard that Border Patrol training with DPS has resumed, and the chair asked agencies to keep the Legislature informed as legal and operational circumstances change. No bills were heard and no votes were taken beyond adopting the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• No quiet claim action or quiet title action is needed.
• quiet claim action or quiet title action<00:45:13.280><c> is</c><00:45:13.640><c> needed.
• claims, It reduces fraud claims, uh<00:49:46.840><c> fraud</c><00:49:47.080><c> claim</c><00:49:47.320
• He then says the filer makes a claim that his civil rights were violated and demands $10 million.
• </c> he makes a claim this guy makes a claim he makes a claim this guy makes a claim that<01:00:57.280

Committee: Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Too often we claim to be without sin, though our sin is ever before us.
• </c> and other non-merits defenses to claims and other non-merits defenses to claims under<03:18:41.160
• And behind every claim is a family story.
• It simply ensures that claims are heard fairly and decided on their merits.
• These claims should be decided on the merits, not dismissed due to technical defenses.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 16, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, you mentioned if there's a Then we obviously make some adjustments on those amortization.
• Yeah, you mentioned if there's a big gain, you know, you can adjust the amortization down.
• Now, in terms of long-term changes, we're keeping our eye on that and we would make adjustments as things
• To the extent that it starts to impact that, we will make some adjustments in our assumptions.
• And to the extent that it starts to impact that, we will make some adjustments in our assumptions.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So after doing that comparison, they submit actual requests for adjustments with any justification, separate
• something that doesn't reflect their local knowledge, they have an opportunity to say here's the adjustments
• We adjust made in August. We adopted our new forecasts.
• looking at other conferences like the early learning conferences for school readiness and vpk that we adjust
• And for this reason, we had to make a decision on whether to make it a one time adjustment or whether

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:18.960><c> for</c><00:08:19.280><c> immediate</c> 2026 budget adjustments for immediate 2026
• budget adjustments for immediate action. action. action.
• </c> H.790, an act relating to fiscal year 2026 budget adjustments.
• </c><00:09:29.440><c> again</c><00:09:29.680><c> and</c> the full budget adjustment again and the full
• budget adjustment again and finding<00:09:30.240><c> these</c><00:09:31.040><c> small</c><00:09:31.360

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm a small school adjustment.
• </c> necessarily a small school adjustment. necessarily a small school adjustment.
• is</c><01:19:15.480><c> within</c><01:19:15.920><c> that</c> adjustment comes in is within that adjustment
• </c> allowing that small school adjustment allowing that small school adjustment among<01:19:58.400><
• </c> provides that small school adjustment. provides that small school adjustment.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Postsecondary Education Committee held its first-ever meeting and first meeting of the session, with Chairman Tipton outlining committee procedures, attendance rules, and the process for submitting committee substitutes. After a roll call confirmed full attendance, the committee heard a presentation from Senator David Givens on the history and purpose of Kentucky’s performance-based funding model for postsecondary education. Givens said the model was created to replace an older “shares” approach that distributed funds based largely on prior-year allocations, and argued the new system better aligns funding with student success and the state’s long-term educational attainment goals. Council for Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson and CPE staff then explained the model in more detail. They said the system was designed to address long-standing funding disparities among institutions, reward outcomes such as degrees, credit-hour progression, and completion in high-demand fields, and support the state’s “60 by 30” goal of having 60% of Kentuckians hold a postsecondary credential by 2030. Thompson said Kentucky is now at 56.2% attainment, above the national average, and highlighted gains in graduation and retention rates, lower student borrowing, and improved completion outcomes. He also emphasized that the model is part of a broader strategy that includes affordability, adult learners, low-income students, and wrap-around support services. CPE staff described the work group process that developed and periodically revises the model, noting that the General Assembly created the framework in House Bill 303 and later enacted Senate Bill 153 and Senate Bill 191 to codify changes. They explained that in 2016 the legislature carved out about 5% of institutional budgets, roughly $43 million, to be redistributed through the new model, and that the model has been reviewed every three years with changes made each time. Recent revisions included increasing the student-success weight, adding a premium for low-income students, creating a premium for adult learners, and redefining underrepresented students as first-generation college students. No votes were taken at this meeting, and the committee adjourned after the informational presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our committee has done the hard work to make the changes, make the surgical adjustments, and make the
• thoughtful adjustments to implement that vision.
• enrollment decline may be required to complete a turnaround plan describing how its budget may be adjusted
• It also adjusts the annual salary of the vice chair of the California Energy Commission and clarifies
• And then also criticizing us when people make adjustments to those spending levels and when people have

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the final three-party agreement for the 2026-27 state budget and 19 implementing bills, including two budget bill juniors and 17 trailer bills. Committee leadership and administration officials described the budget as a balanced plan that reduces out-year structural deficits, maintains large reserves, and makes major investments in health care, education, housing, child care, public safety, and other core services while also responding to expected federal cuts and fiscal uncertainty. The Department of Finance outlined the package’s major components, including Medi-Cal adjustments, education funding increases, higher education changes, child care and human services updates, housing and homelessness funding, energy and transportation provisions, and tax and general government changes. Members asked questions about several provisions, including CSU enrollment targets and turnaround plans, the Prop. 98 settle-up mechanism, the plastics market development payment program, housing accountability measures, NextGen 9-1-1 implementation, and veteran services. Staff and administration witnesses explained that the higher education language is intended to improve campus-by-campus reporting and oversight, that Prop. 98 settle-up would be finalized later through the statutory certification process, and that NextGen 9-1-1 now includes one-time funding, quarterly reporting, an independent technical review, and a state audit. Members also discussed the HAP homelessness funding increase to $900 million and the balance between accountability and timely distribution of funds. The most extended exchange centered on comparisons between funding for veterans and Medi-Cal/immigrant health coverage. Republican members argued the budget spends far more on undocumented immigrant services than on veterans, while Democratic members and Finance staff responded that the comparison was misleading because many veterans’ services are federally funded and the state budget also includes dedicated veteran support. The chair and other members emphasized that the budget reflects difficult tradeoffs and that the package protects vulnerable populations, preserves health care access, and advances affordability. No final vote was described in the excerpt, but members indicated support for the overall package and said they would support it on the floor.