Transcript Highlights:

• And so these 40 people are sort of a result of the proliferation of balancing accounts and memorandum
• But what’s filling in that gap has been this proliferation of memorandum and balancing accounts.
• And I—” “That gap has been this proliferation of memorandum and balancing accounts.
• The legal division, it’s balancing accounts, two things.
• Tell me real quickly, what, what, tell me more about balancing accounts.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> yield back the balance of my time. yield back the balance of my time.
• </c> &gt;&gt; Gentleoman reserves balance for time. &gt;&gt; Gentleoman reserves balance for time.
• </c> &gt;&gt; And I reserve the balance of my time. &gt;&gt; And I reserve the balance of my time.
• </c> gentleman from Vermont, Miss Balance. gentleman from Vermont, Miss Balance.
• Yield back the balance of my time. >> Gentleman yields back the balance of his time.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• items in the education trust fund are taken care of and not maintain a large surplus balance, and so
• Um, do you know what the ending balance in the ETF will be? I'm sure you do. I do. I do.
• And we balance the budget to how to it.
• </c><00:14:58.959><c> I'm</c> ending balance in the ETF will be?
• I'm ending balance in the ETF will be? I'm sure<00:14:59.199><c> you</c><00:14:59.360><c> do.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Why was that balance important?
• , the societal balance.
• , the societal balance.
• So I think that coming up with this definition here recognizes the balance that was needed.
• </c> understood that there was this balance understood that there was this balance the<00:44:45.119><

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> recommendations and others to balance recommendations and others to balance the<00:10:53.720><c>
• Louis County offers our employees up to... we can carry cruel balances that exceed thousands of hours
• Louis County offers our employees up to... we can carry cruel balances that exceed thousands of hours
• Louis County offers our employees up to... we can carry cruel balances that exceed thousands of hours
• We are seeking balance. We are seeking common sense.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 1325 and adopted the author’s A2 amendment before hearing testimony. Representative Schultz presented the bill as a set of bipartisan changes to make Minnesota’s earned sick and safe time law more workable for small businesses, public employers, and taxpayers, arguing the current law is an unfunded mandate that increases costs and property taxes. The bill’s supporters said it would add flexibility, including changes affecting coverage for certain workers, employer size thresholds, front-loading, weather-related exceptions, and a delay on penalties. Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach of the Department of Labor and Industry opposed the bill, saying it would exclude about 800,000 workers, or roughly 30% of the workforce, from earned sick and safe time protections and create confusion and enforcement problems. She also objected to the proposed penalty delay, saying the department already uses compliance assistance and needs penalty authority for serious violations. The Minnesota Chamber supported modifications to the mandate, saying businesses—especially small ones—have struggled with compliance and that the law has had unintended effects on PTO policies and leave use. The League of Minnesota Cities supported parts of the bill, especially changes affecting more generous city leave policies and weather-event exemptions, saying current language creates confusion and can interfere with emergency staffing. Opponents from Education Minnesota, SEIU Minnesota, TakeAction Minnesota, and a nurse from Unity Hospital argued the bill would strip protections from part-time workers, minors, and workers with family caregiving needs, and would weaken a law they said has helped workers avoid discipline or lost wages when sick. Supporters from counties and an HR consultant emphasized administrative burdens, emergency staffing needs during weather events, and the difficulty of applying ESS rules to existing leave policies. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the bill was laid over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the balance at the end of the year is turned over to the state in general funds.
• However, the balance doesn't, you know, we don't put it in our pocket or anything.
• </c><00:28:55.919><c> as</c> 1st I believe the balance remaining as 1st I believe the balance remaining
• So how much more in fines are you going to give us so we can balance our budget?
• </c> um uh again is is a big deal to balance um uh again is is a big deal to balance the the the budget

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Department of Labor on several House Bill 2 sections. Members discussed raising the annual elevator certificate fee, which had been $50 since at least fiscal year 2014; the commissioner said the Inspection Division generates more revenue than its costs, and members agreed to amend the fee to $75 and later voted unanimously to accept Section 137. The department also explained a proposed change to civil penalty/warning language in Section 139 to align enforcement across labor laws; that section was accepted unanimously. The commissioner then gave a detailed overview of the second injury fund, describing how it is financed by assessments on insurance carriers, how claims are reviewed for reimbursement, and how the fund is intended to reimburse certain workers’ compensation costs. Members questioned whether the program still serves its original purpose, whether it is revenue-neutral, and whether it should be sunset; the department said the fund is a mixed bag for the state and industry, but no sunset language was adopted. Sections 140 and 141 were then accepted unanimously. The committee next heard from the Judicial Council on Sections 125 through 127. The witness said the changes would streamline payment for indigent defense services other than counsel, reduce the number of bills requiring judge review, and expand the council’s ability to contract with providers for services such as translation and evaluations. He also explained a proposed fail-safe allowing the executive director to decline to process questionable invoices and send them to a judge instead. Members generally supported the streamlining, and Sections 125 through 127 were accepted unanimously. Toward the end of the discussion, members asked about the cost impact of changing the misdemeanor/felony threshold from $1,000 to a higher amount. The Judicial Council said felony cases are significantly more expensive than misdemeanors because they involve more hearings, more discovery, and more attorney time, with assigned felony cases costing several times more on average. No action was taken on that question in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Item B shows decreases related to unexpended balances.
• So we haven't, when it was first launched, we've really just spent down that balance.
• So we haven't, when it was first launched, we've really just spent down that balance.
• So we haven't, when it was first launched, we've really just spent down that balance.
• Items B through D remove one-time funding and unexpended balance amounts.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee began with Article I budget items for the Secretary of State. LBB staff outlined recommendations that would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million, including changes to HAVA funding, removal of one-time business system replacement money, and a rider directing the agency to use Fund 5095 first. Secretary Jane Nelson and staff then defended several exceptional items, especially additional staffing for elections and business filings, a new website, digitization of records, cybersecurity tools, and renovation of the James Earl Rudder Building. Members focused heavily on election administration, cross-checking voter rolls, Harris County complaints, call-center response times, and whether online voter registration should be expanded. No votes were taken; the discussion was informational and budget-focused. The committee then heard the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB presented a recommended $2.4 million decrease for the governor’s office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs driven by one-time funding and unexpended balances, while still preserving major border security funding and victim assistance funding. Governor’s staff emphasized Texas’ economic growth, the importance of border security, and efforts to seek federal reimbursement for the roughly $11 billion Texas has spent on border operations. Members discussed whether shifting National Guard deployment to federal control could reduce state costs, and they also reviewed the music incubator program, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, and the semiconductor innovation consortium. Staff highlighted a $5 million late-added request for grants to protect nonprofits from violence and terrorism. Again, the exchange was largely explanatory, with no formal action. Finally, the committee took up the Texas Facilities Commission and lease payments for revenue bonds. LBB recommended major reductions overall, including removal of border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, but added money for higher utility costs, renovation of the Rudder Building, and additional facilities staff. George Purcell also noted stable maintenance-and-renewal funding and new riders related to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission building, tenant communications, and space utilization. For lease payments, LBB recommended a smaller appropriation tied to revenue-bond costs allocated across agencies. The discussion was informational, with members asking about the Rudder Building renovation, border wall progress, and capital complex construction timelines; no votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• The general fund balance, as shown on the general fund balance chart, remains strong in the governmental
• Total general fund balance increased by $1.66 billion during the fiscal year.
• Dickinson State's book balance did not agree to the general ledger.
• You know, as we've stepped in here, Travis is looking at cash balances.
• Their beginning balance is really high.

Summary: The committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with the statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and OMB reported a clean, unmodified opinion for the state, with strong financial results including a $40.6 billion net position, $30.99 billion in assets, $1.81 billion in liabilities, and continued Legacy Fund growth. OMB also explained the new GASB 101 compensated-absences reporting change and discussed pension-liability fluctuations tied to discount-rate assumptions and investment performance. Members asked about how the state compares to others and about the effect of short-term commodity price swings, and OMB said the report reflects actual fiscal-year results rather than forecasts. The committee then heard the University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund revenue, insufficient monitoring of service organizations at CTS, NDSU, and UND, improper bank reconciliations at Dakota College of Bottineau, Dickinson State, and Williston State, and investment/cash reconciliation problems at Bismarck State College related to bond proceeds. University officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations. Members raised questions about NDSU’s use of certificates of deposit, and university staff explained that CDs are used to earn interest on funds being accumulated for future projects. Several other audits were presented, most with clean opinions and no findings, including the State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Notable exceptions included a State Fair Association audit with an adverse opinion on the foundation component unit because its financial statements were not available for audit, and a Securities Department performance audit finding that performance-based pay increases and bonuses were issued without required evaluations. The committee also discussed the State Auditor’s future needs, including more staff capacity, data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, possible subpoena authority, independent legal counsel, and whether some audits—such as the Ethics Commission and State Fair—should be handled by independent third parties or under different statutory arrangements.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the balance of my time. the balance of my time.
• I yield back the balance of my time. Yield the balance of what? Reserve the balance.
• </c> I reserve the balance of my time. I reserve the balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> I reserve the balance of my time. I reserve the balance of my time.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sheet, 100% off-balance sheet.
• </c> off-balance sheet or on-balance sheet off-balance sheet or on-balance sheet custody<02:01:02.480
• They're off-balance<02:01:35.240><c> sheet,</c><02:01:35.760><c> 100%</c><02:01:36.480><c> off-balance
• </c> off-balance sheet, 100% off-balance off-balance sheet, 100% off-balance sheet. sheet. sheet.
• </c> on-balance sheet. on-balance sheet. Senator<02:01:46.480><c> Mr.</c><02:01:46.720><c> Larson.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And as we opine about cuts, typically cuts materialize on the balance sheet.
• And I think it's that balance that we are trying to strike here.
• There’s been a lot of conversation around our balance sheet and all of that.
• There’s been a lot of conversation around our balance sheet and all of that.
• So, balance sheet is a private term that talks about assets, liabilities, and equity.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight heard ACA 20, the Safe for California Futures Act, a constitutional amendment to strengthen the state’s Budget Stabilization Account (rainy day fund). The authors, Assembly Members Gabriel and Valencia, said the measure would raise the reserve cap from 10% to 20% of General Fund revenues, change how reserve deposits are treated under the Gann limit so deposits would not count against the spending cap until withdrawn, and update eligible debt repayments to include items such as budget loans, Proposition 98 settle-up obligations, and unemployment insurance debt. They emphasized that the proposal was intended to protect schools and core public services and to help California better withstand revenue volatility and future downturns. Committee discussion focused heavily on the technical effects of the measure, especially its interaction with Proposition 98 and the Gann limit. LAO and Department of Finance staff explained that Prop. 98 funding would not be changed directly, that the reserve deposits would be treated as exclusions from the appropriations limit, and that withdrawals would count when spent. Members asked about current reserve levels, mandatory deposits, and whether the measure would create more room for discretionary spending; supporters argued it would simply allow the state to save more in good years, while one member expressed concern that it could function as a slush fund and expand spending opportunities. Several members cited recent budget volatility, record revenues, and the need for stronger reserves, while others stressed that the measure should be understood as a future-oriented savings reform rather than a response to this year’s budget choices. Public testimony was uniformly supportive. California Forward, Elevate California, and the California Chamber of Commerce all backed the proposal, with the Chamber noting support for the policy and highlighting the importance of addressing unemployment insurance debt for small businesses. The chair concluded by thanking the authors, staff, and witnesses, and said ACA 20 was expected to move to the Assembly floor the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's paid with fund balances.
• The Maternal Health Outreach Media Campaign is paid with fund balances.
• So when I read that, the fees are based The fees are based on the balance that we have. Yes, sir.
• So when that balance goes down, the fees will go up, basically. That's correct, sir.
• And the coronavirus money was just the federal money that we spent and that caused our balance to go

Summary: The committee met to review a large slate of fiscal year 2026 and 2027 appropriation, transfer, and continuation requests across multiple sections. Early items included temporary appropriations for agencies such as Health, DHS, Education, Public Safety, State Police, Emergency Management, Aeronautics, Military, Economic Development, and Game and Fish, covering items like maternal health outreach, energy assistance repayments, Wynne High School tornado rebuilding, senior food services, cybersecurity, crime victim reparations, aviation grants, conservation incentives, and emergency tower maintenance. Members asked questions on several items, including DHS aging carry-forward funds and Treasury custodial banking fees tied to COVID-era balances; the committee also approved a disclosure by the chair on the Game and Fish-related item before voting to approve the section. The committee then approved continuation requests, CARES Act and ARPA reallocations, and federal grant appropriations. Notable discussion included the Boonville developmental disability project, ALIGN program reallocations at several universities, a small business technical assistance grant at UA Little Rock, and a Department of Public Safety highway safety grant, for which members requested more detail on operating expenses and professional fees. Additional approvals covered a transfer to the Merit Teacher Incentive program, restricted reserve fund transfers for military medical command and university projects, and a state central services deduction held at 2%. The Department of Commerce also received approval for a reallocation of positions and spending authority tied to its organizational realignment. Later sections included shared technology and higher education transfers, cash fund appropriations for school Medicaid reimbursements, corrections, youth mental health, narcotics detection canines, bike safety equipment, a state motor pool pilot, and law enforcement safety costs. The committee also reviewed budget classification transfers, including a Governor’s Office legal fee transfer related to a California lawsuit, and heard explanations about E-Rate reimbursements affecting the Office of State Technology. Members asked about VOCA funding levels for crime victim services and about the National Security Grant Program for nonprofits and faith-based organizations; officials said federal funding had declined from prior highs but appeared to have stabilized, and that the nonprofit security grant is an annual federal program. The meeting concluded with review of pay plan requests, DHS overtime funding for child protection caseloads, and a year-end adjustment request allowing DFA to make up to $1 million in transfers to close the books, after which the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The top left picture is simply the UAL balance being paid down in the near term.
• The top left picture is simply the UA balance being paid down in the near term.
• So of the 39,000, approximately 60%, or 23,000, have balances under $1,000.
• Of the 23,000, nearly 70% have balances under $500 with under two months of service.
• So these are folks with small balances and not a lot of service.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I agree that an investigation, requesting investigation, is totally within the balance of something we
• I also understand that it's a balancing act that the state must engage in when it comes to sovereign
• No, it isn't, but it is a step... ...in the right direction, but when it comes to balancing sovereign
• Senator Trudeau: And I think that the balance is being struck in a way that has to be respected, and
• And I think that the balance is being struck in a way that has to be respected.

Summary: The Law and Justice Committee first heard testimony on four gubernatorial appointments to the Sentencing Guidelines Commission. Kristen Ferreira, a Chelan County Superior Court judge, said she would bring a rural court perspective; Lisa Mannion, the King County Prosecuting Attorney, emphasized fairness, equity, victim input, and modernization of sentencing grids, and answered a question about her gun responsibility advocacy by saying responsible gun ownership and Second Amendment rights can coexist. Kate Bedward, an appellate public defender with experience in tribal and other defense systems, said she wanted to help evaluate whether the sentencing scheme is meeting Washington’s goals. Rochelle Cleland, seeking renewal in the survivor/lived-experience seat, stressed the importance of survivor and victim voices and criticized the commission for leaving the victim advocate seat vacant and for how it handled a recent vote. The chair said the committee would take executive action on the appointments the following Tuesday. In executive session, the committee reviewed and amended several bills. SB 5906, concerning data and personal safety protections in public accommodations, was amended with a substitute and an amendment requiring notification of union representatives when certain early learning or school employees are subject to immigration enforcement; it received a due pass recommendation. SJM 8014, requesting an investigation into the killing of Aishanor Eski Aege, was amended for more neutral language and also received a due pass recommendation, with members noting the emotionally charged nature of the memorial. SB 6087, expanding liability protections for donations of baby items, and SB 5890, reclassifying certain high-speed driving conduct as negligent driving in the first degree, both advanced after substitutes/amendments were adopted. SB 6017, addressing victim- and witness-centered court procedures, advanced after the sponsor withdrew a proposed amendment for later floor work; members discussed trauma-informed protections and funding concerns. The committee also advanced SB 5520 on compensation for wrongly convicted persons after rejecting amendments that would have removed civil detention language and advance-payment provisions, with members debating the scope and fiscal impact of the bill. SB 6239, concerning arbitration for older tort claims, moved forward after extensive discussion about balancing survivor access to compensation with state and local fiscal concerns and sovereign immunity. SB 5886, expanding personality rights to forged digital likenesses, was advanced with a substitute combining it with related subject matter. Finally, SB 6190 on critical infrastructure protection and scrap metal records was amended to require photographs and database reporting for certain transactions and then received a due pass recommendation. The committee adjourned after sending the bills to the Rules Committee, subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• HAS APPROPRIATED BETWEEN 19 MILLION TO 28 MILLION EACH YEAR IN FUNDING FOR RISK BACK OF BUILD TO BALANCE
• VISIBILITY THAT EITHER THE EXISTING MODELS WE HAVE STILL ARE NOT PRODUCING THE OUTCOMES TO HAVE A BALANCED
• BUDGET OR NOT HAVING A BALANCED BUDGET, CAN YOU EXPAND UPON THIS?
• IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
• SO WE KNOW ANY TIME LIKE TWO YEARS AGO IF YOU'RE APPROPRIATED ADDITIONAL $3 MILLION TO A CBC TO BALANCE

Transcript Highlights:

• meeting, but this item summarizes all of our sources and uses and how it's affecting the uncommitted balance
• In summary, it details the changes in the uncommitted balance from Quarter 3 in August to now, as we're
• Mountain View specifically to better balance out and bring in more enrollment so that we are closer to
• balances are.
• This work is going to result in an updated uncommitted balance. Is that correct?

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we are on a path to get our work done and get a budget balanced for the people of Minnesota.
• You would see if you looked at those targets that we approached the issue of balancing this budget in
• this budget in different ways balancing this budget in different ways but<00:03:32.159><c> I</c><00:
• You know, uh, we are right now balancing the budget to the forecast, and in the Minnesota Senate, the
• the budget to we are right now balancing the budget to the<00:10:40.079><c> forecast</c><00:10:40.399

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• committee formed on behalf of a statewide candidate and a statewide multicandidate committee, the balance
• So we had run into a little bit of an issue on the reporting of the ending balance, but we have not changed
• Secretary of State Office wanted to have that ending balance.
• So just that we're clear before we vote on these amendments, does it still say that the beginning balance
• and ending balance are reported, but they're not disclosed?

Bills: SB2156

Keywords: campaign finance, disclosure, political contributions, election transparency, North Dakota Century Code, 908, all

Summary: The committee met to reconsider and further amend Senate Bill 2156, a campaign finance/reporting bill tied to Secretary of State filing requirements and new software implementation. Members and legislative counsel explained that the bill would keep current law in place for 2025, then take effect January 1, 2026, when the new system is expected to be ready. Discussion focused on hard reporting dates, how year-end and quarterly reports would be handled, which entities must disclose balances, and clarifying that some provisions apply to statewide political parties and certain political committees but not to candidates or candidate committees in the same way. Representative Steiner walked through the amendment, describing it as mostly technical and intended to align reporting deadlines with fixed calendar dates, simplify compliance, and preserve existing treatment for some balance disclosures. Members asked about public availability of certain filed information, the meaning of references to beginning and ending balances, and whether the new fines and other provisions would also be delayed until 2026. Legislative counsel said the bill’s effective date would cover the entire act and noted some disclosure questions were not clearly answered in current law. The committee adopted the amendment and then approved Senate Bill 2156 as amended on a do-pass motion. The roll call was unanimous, and the chair adjourned the meeting, noting the changes were intended to help the Secretary of State’s office and candidates transition to the new reporting system.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have that committee trying to balance the best that they can.
• So it's a balancing act that the branch does every single day.
• And so we're trying to balance all of those facts. Right.
• And the governor is projecting that the budget is roughly balanced, but the only reason it's roughly
• balanced is because we had a large entering fund balance, and, like I mentioned, we were also drawing

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation held a hearing focused on courthouse facility funding and the Governor’s budget proposals for the judicial branch. The Legislative Analyst’s Office outlined the state’s courthouse funding structure, including the Trial Court Facilities Act, the main facility funds, the fixed county facility payment, and the heavy reliance on General Fund backfill. LAO also explained that the state’s construction funds were depleted after large transfers and declining fine-and-fee revenue, leaving a backlog of roughly 80 construction projects and more than 22,000 deferred maintenance projects statewide. Members and witnesses discussed the long timelines for capital projects, the need for reassessments, and the impact of inflation, CEQA, and site acquisition delays. Judicial branch representatives, including Justice Hill, Judge Moorman, and Judge Tapia, testified that courthouses across the state face serious seismic, ADA, security, and maintenance problems. They described cost-cutting efforts in design and construction, but emphasized that many facilities are aging and unsafe, with examples from Los Angeles, Compton, Ukiah, and other courts involving flooding, elevator failures, asbestos issues, and closures that disrupted thousands of cases. Judge Moorman highlighted the Ukiah courthouse replacement as an example of a project that is on time and on budget and would improve access, safety, and community services. Judge Tapia stressed that deferred maintenance in Los Angeles County alone exceeds $1.4 billion and argued that preventive maintenance is fiscally prudent because emergency repairs and closures are more costly. Committee members pressed the panel on how priorities are set, whether caseload and population growth are adequately reflected, how quickly projects can be accelerated, and what level of funding would actually meet statewide needs. The Department of Finance and Judicial Council staff explained that the county contribution is fixed and not inflation-adjusted, that acquisitions require willing sellers and can be delayed by CEQA and market conditions, and that the Judicial Council’s prioritization process was based on 2019 criteria that may need updating. LAO cautioned that any new General Fund commitment would require tradeoffs with other state priorities and suggested the Legislature decide what level of funding it is willing to support. The committee also reviewed the Governor’s budget proposals for courthouse facilities, which include backfill for the construction fund, selected new construction and judgeship-related projects, and major facility modifications such as the Orange County Central Justice Center and relocation of Los Angeles courtrooms from the Spring Federal Building.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the balance that's currently sitting there.
• Difficult balance between sometimes that we're saying that it could be used for CTE.
• This chart shows you the history of what we call unrestricted school cash balances.
• If you turn to page 91, you can see the balance. Is by school district and charter school. Mr.
• cash balances.