Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, first from the director of budget and finance, Director Salo or deputy director. it yes you can chair
• I'm the deputy director for the Department of Budget and Finance, and we're here to support this bill
• :05:28.520><c> of</c> the deputy director for Department of the deputy director for Department of budget
• <00:05:29.000><c> and</c><00:05:29.199><c> finance</c> budget and finance budget and finance and<00:05
• and uh finance office as for the budget and uh finance office as they<00:28:40.279><c> don't</c><00:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Public Safety and Military Affairs met on its 3:15 p.m. reconsideration and hearing agenda. The committee first reconsidered SB 1379 on emergency preparedness and voted to pass it with amendments. The amendments would require HEMA to submit a report to the Legislature on a community readiness centers plan, including public and private sites, funding sources, partnerships, stakeholder coordination, and projected annual funding, due 20 days before the 2026 Legislature convenes. The committee also made technical and fiscal-related changes, including blanking out certain amounts in the bill and committee report while retaining recommended amounts there, and changing the effective date language. The committee then voted unanimously to adopt the amended recommendation. The committee heard SB 1364, which makes emergency appropriations for law enforcement personnel costs. The Department of Budget and Finance supported the bill but said the figures in oral testimony would be slightly higher than those in written testimony and that updated numbers would be emailed later in the week. Because the exact figures were not yet available, the chair deferred decision-making to February 7, 2025. The committee also heard SB 1451 on critical infrastructure, SB 1452 on the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, SB 1149 on hate crimes reporting, SB 1321 on the Hawaii Correctional System Oversight Commission, and SB 1341 on energy industry information reporting. For SB 1451, testimony was split, with support from state law enforcement and opposition from the Public First Law Center, which argued the information was already protected under existing law; the committee later adopted a motion to pass the bill with amendments, including a narrower definition of critical infrastructure information and a revised effective date. SB 1452 received support from law enforcement and prosecutors, with a requested cleanup amendment to correct a federal drug-name spelling issue; decision-making was postponed to allow the department to provide language. SB 1149 drew substantial testimony both for and against; supporters emphasized better hate-crime data collection and transparency, while opponents raised concerns about definitions and free speech. The committee adopted amendments and passed the bill, with the chair summarizing the move from the older UCR system to NIBRS and noting a public dashboard expected by September 30, 2025. SB 1321 was passed with amendments shortening the oversight coordinator term from four years to three years, though one senator voted with reservations in favor of a longer term. SB 1341 was passed as is after brief support testimony, and the committee adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the FY 2025 budget, the Army increased funding for barracks maintenance problems, but the effects
• He will be handed a budget that has not kept pace with inflation.
• The Army continues to face a multi-year trend of flat budgets, which has forced Army leaders to fund
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and I am a consistent supporter of a big. increase in DHS' budget
• And I hope we might move forward in budgets and in policy to express that as a bipartisan priority.

Committee: Senate Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, reminder, we will have a second caucus after floor for the budget bill, so please come back
• Thank you very much. budget bill so please come back for that.
• Seeing none, reminder, we will have a second caucus after floor for the budget bill, so please come back
• Thank you very much. budget bill so please come back for that thank you very much

Summary: The meeting covered seven Senate-amended House bills on the caucus agenda. HB 248 was described as changing prior language about private process servers and, in the Senate strike-everything version, prohibiting more restrictive utilization controls for FDA-approved non-opioid pain medications than those applied to opioid or narcotic drugs, with a repeal date of September 1, 2028. HB 2265 would continue limiting certain court fees charged to criminal defendants, though the Senate removed the provision barring courts from creating new fees without express legislative authorization. HB 2404 would require authorized transporters for certain mental health transports; the sponsor explained the Senate changes delay implementation until 2030 and preserve officer involvement when safety concerns exist. HB 2611 would strengthen DCS group foster home safety rules, including drug screening consequences for employees and additional security standards, with the sponsor emphasizing child safety and accountability. HB 2950 would authorize tourism improvement areas and lodging assessments, with the Senate shifting assessment approval to the governing body and removing some new-business assessment requirements. HB 2986 made multiple ADEQ-related changes, including replacing the recycling fund with the solid waste fee fund and expanding its uses. HB 2995 revised child custody and domestic violence standards to make domestic violence a dominant factor in custody decisions, with Senate amendments adjusting findings, evidence standards, burdens of proof, and adding an emergency clause. Most bills were met with sponsor concurrence and no recorded opposition. HB 2404 drew questions about whether peace officers would still be involved in transports; the sponsor clarified officers would still handle the initial pickup and could be recalled if the person remained high risk or aggressive. HB 2611 was supported as a child-protection measure based partly on recommendations from youth in group homes. HB 2950 was described as a private, opt-in tourism financing tool that would cost taxpayers nothing. HB 2986 was noted as having passed the Senate unanimously. HB 2995 generated the most discussion. Supporters said it addresses coercive control and financial abuse in domestic violence cases and was developed through a lengthy stakeholder process, including court input, to better protect children and families. One member objected that the bill’s wording could sweep in ordinary marital conduct, such as managing finances, making demeaning remarks, or threatening to call police or file for divorce, and urged an amendment to narrow the language. Supporters responded that the bill is aimed at coercive control in custody disputes, that the emergency clause reflects immediate need, and that fixes could be revisited later. The caucus ended with a reminder about a second caucus after floor for the budget bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• previously referenced is that the State 911 Board had the opportunity to take some ARPA funds and some budget
• stabilization funds you all kindly appropriated. ...take some ARPA funds and some budget stabilization
• We had two different parts of the budgets that were looking at, we're going to pay for some GIS data,
• So we just cut, I want to say it was $200,000 to $400,000 out of the budget because we didn't need to

Committee: House Emerging Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He asked whether this committee or task force was the one in the budget book language that says the governor
• Next week we'll be hearing from the Department of Health and Welfare on, I believe, their budget and
• With that, we are adjourned. the language, like in our budget book that says that the governor will have
• So, and next week we'll be hearing from the Department of Health and Welfare on, I believe, their budget

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee considered several RS drafts for introduction. RS 331-128, brought by Sen. Kelly Anthon, would amend Idaho law so chiropractors can prescribe certain vitamins, minerals, and fluids they are already authorized to administer, allowing them to purchase those items from pharmacies or distributors; it was moved to print. RS 33023, introduced by Sen. Mark Harris, would amend involuntary commitment law to include tribal health care facilities as acceptable holding sites and tribal police officers as peace officers for initial mental health crisis evaluations; it was also moved to print without opposition. RS 32893, introduced by Sen. Carl Birke, was described as a code cleanup bill removing outdated language from the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired statutes; the committee voted to print it. RS 32994, brought by Sen. Melissa Wintrow, would codify child visitation protections in cases of substantiated physical or sexual abuse and clarify that courts may consider a parent’s incarceration when termination of parental rights is sought; after a question about judicial feedback, it was moved to print and approved. The committee also heard RS 33184 from Sen. Julie Van Orden, which would establish the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Program and a legislative oversight committee to monitor use of anticipated federal rural health funds, including recommendations on subgrants and spending. Van Orden said the committee would ensure legislative oversight of how the money is distributed, with rural representation built into the membership. A senator asked whether this was the same as a governor-led task force referenced in budget language; Van Orden clarified that the bill creates a separate legislative oversight body, distinct from the governor’s application-related committee. The motion to introduce and print RS 33184 passed on a voice vote with one nay. The committee then adjourned, noting no meeting the next day, a Thursday meeting, and an upcoming hearing on the Department of Health and Welfare budget and programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this is where, after one of your budget bills passes or one of the bills is completed, somebody discovers
• an uh<00:04:03.840><c> one</c><00:04:04.080><c> of</c><00:04:04.239><c> your</c><00:04:04.640><c> budget
• bills</c><00:04:05.280><c> passes</c><00:04:05.680><c> or</c><00:04:06.159><c> uh</c> uh one of your budget
• bills passes or uh uh one of your budget bills passes or uh one<00:04:06.480><c> of</c><00:04:06.560

Bills: HF3321

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Keywords: legislative corrections, technical errors, legal consistency, Minnesota statutes, overhauling laws, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have a budget subcommittee coming up, this is your time to announce it. Senator Richardson.
• The Budget Subcommittee 5 will be meeting here in the Capitol in Room 113.
• Budget Subcommittee 3 will be meeting in Room 1200 on health and human services.
• Budget Subcommittee 1 on education will be meeting in Room 2100, 10 minutes after we finish the floor
• Budget Subcommittee 4 will meet in Room 113, 15 minutes upon adjournment. Thank you, Senator.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their county commission would be the chief election or chief budget officers, whereas in third-class
• The current budget for the police department, fire department, ambulance, and everything will not be
• The money will not be taken away, or we will not take any money away from the budget.
• And again, you know, the intent is not to take away from the current budget that they're on now.
• We have to cut $1 billion from our fiscal year budget in 2007, another billion dollars in 28.

Committee: House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Summary: The Committee on Local Government met in executive session and first adopted a substitute for Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 975, which replaced Senator Black’s version with Representative Farnan’s bill. Members discussed that the controversial community-agreement language had been removed and that related community paramedic language had been moved to another bill. The committee then voted 16-0 to do pass the substituted bill. The committee next considered House Bill 3496, dealing with county officials’ salary schedules and county classification issues. Representative Reedy explained the substitute added election authorities language, incorporated another bill on sheriffs and prosecuting attorneys, and changed the title and substance to address county valuation rules for certain fourth-class counties. Members discussed the impact on county classifications and the inclusion of abated and tax-exempt property in valuation calculations. The substitute was adopted, and the committee voted 15-1 to do pass the bill. In public hearing, Representative Sharp presented House Bill 3028 as a Lewis County fix to allow more at-large members on a county board instead of requiring one from each township; a retired Lewis County commissioner testified in support, and no opposition appeared. Representative Thompson presented House Bill 2431 to let Lexington ask voters for a public safety sales tax after a major gas explosion; supporters said it would fund police, fire, and ambulance needs without reducing current budgets, while an opponent argued against new taxes and special laws. Representative Violet presented House Bill 2732 to raise the voter-approved cap on water service line repair fees from $12 to $24 annually; St. Peters officials said costs have risen and the program helps residents avoid large repair bills, while an opponent said existing programs are solvent and opposed the increase. No votes were taken on the public hearing bills, and the committee adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• This will allow for more predictability in the employer rate and allow the state to budget more easily
• Fire chiefs manage the 30% of the budget that has to go to the retirement system.
• So I hear what you're saying with the chiefs overseeing the budget, but that dollar amount that it's
• chiefs overseeing the budget, but that dollar amount that it's coming out of the budget specifically
• And the fire chiefs have experience in managing budgets.

Committee: House Retirement

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have our budget director, Ms. Briding, available for technical assistance on questions.
• outside of the Early Trust Fund in those state agencies when they come back to request increased budgets
• So, in the expansion of child care, just this year, within the Higher Education Department budget, there's
• It's in our budget for 10 million through Grow A Year, and then also the money that we have in our budget
• Go to the budget director to add additional context, Mr. Chair.

Bills: SB132 , SB241

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement, technology funding, revolving fund, capital equipment, enterprise services, state IT budgeting, software budgeting, amortization, depreciation, State Treasurer, Department of Finance and Administration, New Mexico, information technology, IT infrastructure, fund accounting, legislative appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• Mainly, in the spirit of trying to make sure that our agencies are able to balance their budgets and
• Now the plan that in the intent language for our budget said, bring us a plan about how you fix both…
• We can always raise taxes to balance a budget, but that's not necessarily appropriate.
• As has been stated, I've stated many times that the sword cuts both ways in that we can balance a budget
• by either increasing fees or decreasing costs. ...a budget by either increasing fees or decreasing costs

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee approved the January 20, 2026 minutes and then took up several DOPL administrative fee and rule dockets. The first major item was the Physical Therapy Licensure Board fee rule, where DOPL said the board’s cash balance had fallen below statutory targets because of higher overhead, the move to the Chinden campus, and the transition to the OASIS licensing system, while licensee numbers were also declining. The Idaho Physical Therapy Association supported the increase to preserve an independent board. Some senators argued the committee needed a fuller cost-benefit analysis and objected to raising fees instead of using cross-subsidization or broader restructuring, but the committee ultimately approved the rule on a roll call vote. The committee then reconsidered the Occupational Therapy Licensure Board fee rule after a prior tie vote. DOPL said the board’s reserves were down to about 20% of expenditures and would be exhausted by fiscal year 2027, even after personnel and travel cuts, and proposed doubling several fees. Committee counsel explained that a rejection requires findings of fact under Idaho Code, which prompted discussion about the proper procedure for rule rejection. After debate, the committee voted to reject the fee increase and then approved the rest of the rule package. Next, the committee reviewed the Drinking Water and Wastewater Professionals rules, which included several technical licensing changes and a fee increase intended to restore the board’s cash balance to at least 30%. A senator raised concerns about federal versus state control in water regulation, but the committee approved the docket with the fee section excluded. Finally, the committee revisited the Acupuncture Board fee rule, where DOPL proposed a 100% to 150% fee increase to address financial shortfalls. Testimony included a board official’s explanation that the board needed the increase to remain solvent and a senator’s anecdotal support from South Dakota practitioners, but other senators argued the increase was excessive and unsupported. A motion to reject the acupuncture fee increase failed, and the committee then approved the docket, with the meeting adjourned afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mainly, we, in the spirit of trying to make sure that our agencies are able to balance their budgets
• Now the plan in the intent language for our budget said, bring us a plan about how you fix both... ..
• We can always raise taxes to balance a budget, but that's not necessarily appropriate.
• As has been stated, I've stated many times that the sword cuts both ways in that we can balance a budget
• A budget can be balanced by either increasing fees or decreasing costs, and so I have not been convinced

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, anyways, of course, this will go into the box and into the budget discussions, but this is a
• priority for me this session, so I wanted to put forward the bill and make sure that it's part of our budget
• Our pay is directly what is voted on every year for the budget. So, Mr.
• So that is the check and balance in the contracted piece, in addition to what goes into the budget, if
• go to, so that is the check and balance in the contracted piece, in addition to what goes into the budget

Committee: Senate Senate Public Safety Committee of Reference

Summary: The Public Safety Committee met for its first session, introduced staff and pages, and then heard several bills. SB 1010 would designate Loop 202 as the Charlie Kirk Highway; an amendment to rename it the Freedom of Speech Highway failed, and after testimony both supporting the honor and objecting that it would affect the Ed Pastor portion of the freeway, the bill received a do pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. SB 1077 would impose felony penalties for operating online services that facilitate prostitution, pandering, or child sex trafficking, and also address harmful sexual material and age verification; with no public testimony, it passed 5-2. SB 1093 would expand the definition of riot to include force or violence causing property damage and add riot to racketeering and conspiracy provisions; the ACLU opposed it as overbroad and harmful to protest rights, but the committee still gave it a do pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. SB 1058 would create the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act to bar government firearm registries and restrict firearm-related merchant category codes; gun-rights advocates supported it as a privacy measure, and it passed 4-3. The committee also heard SB 1035, which appropriates funds for a 5% pay increase for sworn correctional officers and department civilians at ADCRR. The sponsor said the raise is a top priority and part of budget discussions. Correctional employee representatives supported the pay increase but argued it is not enough and urged a larger raise, while private prison representatives and the Arizona Police Association asked that the increase also cover private prison employees to preserve pay parity and retention. Some members raised concerns about the fiscal impact and about whether private prison funds would be directed to salaries rather than profit. An amendment extending the raise to private prison employees under contract with the department was adopted, and the amended bill passed 4-3, with several members explaining their votes based on the need for a footnote or further safeguards and others supporting parity across state and private facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Missouri Budget Project.
• We're a nonpartisan nonprofit think tank that analyzes revenues and budgets.
• I'm with the Missouri Budget Project.
• We're a nonpartisan nonprofit think tank that analyzes revenues and budgets.
• And they are now at great risk of having real cost to our budget if our error rate in SNAP is above a

Committee: House Legislative Review

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SUBCOMMITTEE ALSO HEARD A LOT ABOUT APD FAILURE TO PULL PEOPLE OFF THE WAITLIST AND ENROLLED THEM IN THE BUDGET
• AND COMMUNITY SERVICE TO MEDICAID RECIPIENTS WITH INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES THREE BUDGET
• IT PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE MANAGED-CARE DELIVERY OF ALL SERVICES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE I BUDGET WAIVER
• OVER AND IT WAS ELIGIBLE FOR ENROLLEES AND PREET MOMENT CATEGORIES ONE THROUGH SIX WITH AN INITIAL BUDGET
• WITH AN INITIAL BUDGET OF 112 MILLION.

Transcript Highlights:

• I always find it very interesting, and I always try to bring it back that we're worried about the budget
• these areas when they're... seeing a lower amount coming in and how are they going to manage their budgets
• This impacts the state budget. The budget is there to protect people.
• And how are we as a state going to respond to that to protect people, not just protect the state budget
• So we would look, basically, at fiscal impacts and how that can balance into a sustainable budget and

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• A quorum being present, I want to welcome everybody to our Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee.
• We have a bigger budget than some countries, with $116 billion last year.
• I know we proposed a smaller budget this year, but we have the capacity financially and the brain capacity
• And I think we've done that multiple times in different bills, from our budget to these bills.
• we've been supporting public schools in Florida and literally had a history-making impact on the budget

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee heard and advanced three bills. CS/HB 1267, by Rep. Boussada, would require school districts to allow Schools of Hope to use vacant or surplus facilities or co-locate in schools with capacity, with non-instructional services handled through a pro rata agreement and a performance-based agreement requiring Schools of Hope to meet expectations within five years. Supporters argued it would better use underfilled public schools and help students in the bottom 10% of schools statewide; opponents raised concerns about local control, funding, and the effect on public schools. The bill passed 13-2. The committee also heard CS/HB 1115, by Rep. Valdes, which would require sharing certain discretionary sales surtax revenues with eligible charter schools based on enrollment, create a standardized charter school monitoring tool, and align Schools of Hope sponsoring-entity rules with charter school processes. Supporters said it would improve consistency and accountability; critics questioned fiscal impacts and district flexibility. That bill passed 13-2. The final bill, CS/HB 1213, by Rep. Alvarez, would create a K-12 School Route Optimization Pilot Program using five counties to test AI-assisted analysis of school bus routes and walking conditions, with the goal of improving child safety for students who currently walk long distances. Members discussed hazardous conditions, possible use of safe-school transportation funds, and the bill’s lack of fiscal impact. Public testimony included support from education and parent groups. The bill passed unanimously, 15-0. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Review and discussion of fiscal year 2025. 2026 budget issues relating to the Senate Appropriations Committee
• Today you have the proposed budget that we've been working on drafting in tab one.
• Sarah, I encourage all of you to to to dive in deep into this budget.
• We've developed a good government budget that provides for the transportation tourism and economic development
• Thank you, Senator Avila and again centers encourage you to please, you know, dig into this budget.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And, I mean, you're under the budget committee, so my opinion is just my opinion, but when you look at
• We set a funding rate in the budget that is a per member per month amount, and it's currently at $800
• So the governor's budget reflects the request that you presented, is that right? Correct.
• The budget is...
• If you have questions, concerns, or thoughts about the budget, please come see me.

Bills: HB205 , HB226 , HB234

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: sales tax, use tax, exemption, tax conformity, tangible personal property, Alabama Department of Revenue, retail tax, consumer use tax, nonresident, religious publications, church magazines, Bible class materials, Sunday school materials, tax administration, indirect tax, state revenue, HB226, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax

Transcript Highlights:

• spending and improved accountability, it is important for the districts to provide easy access to its budget
• Statutes require budgets and certain graphical representations to be included on school district websites
• education and general carry forward reporting, FAU underreported their carry forward balance due to using budget
• Could you explain to me the impact of that budget underestimation or something?
• I can't imagine what the total budget is for the school systems. I guess we should find out.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee received a presentation from Auditor General staff on recurring findings from audits of district school boards, colleges, and universities. For school districts, the main issues discussed included missing or outdated safe-school officer training documentation, weak purchasing-card controls, vendor banking-change fraud risks, incomplete background screenings and disqualification-list procedures, missing website budget disclosures, excessive or untimely IT access, late deactivation of former employees’ access, missed emergency drill deadlines, inaccurate capital outlay and resiliency education records, weak tangible property inventories, adult education reporting errors, untimely bank reconciliations, and improper use of workforce development funds. The auditors said many of these issues are repeated from prior years and are summarized in their annual report on significant findings and financial trends. For universities and colleges, the auditors highlighted similar control weaknesses, including vendor information change controls, IT access issues, cash and investment reconciliation problems, purchasing and procurement deficiencies, personnel and compensation issues, and student fee compliance concerns. Specific examples included a UF consulting contract totaling about $6 million, FAU underreporting carry-forward balances by about $77 million, UCF’s payment loss of about $107,000 from an email scam tied to vendor changes, and a North Florida College unauthorized transfer involving a few hundred thousand dollars. The committee asked questions about the UF consulting work, the FAU carry-forward issue, and whether the listed findings meant every named entity had every issue; auditors clarified that the lists reflected entities with findings in those categories, not necessarily each specific problem. The committee then turned to enforcement for entities with long-standing uncorrected audit findings. Staff reported 144 entities with 197 findings repeated in three or more successive audit reports and recommended sending letters requesting updated corrective-action status, including for late-filed 2022-2023 reports where appropriate. The committee approved the staff recommendation and directed letters to be sent. The meeting ended with members emphasizing the importance of audit oversight and taxpayer accountability.