Transcript Highlights:

• amount allocated to California for the VOCA grant has decreased from $396 million for the 2018 award to $87
• amount allocated to California for the VOCA grant has decreased from 396 million for the 2018 award to 87

Summary: The committee heard a broad public safety budget hearing focused on youth justice funding, probation incentive grants, and disaster response and recovery. On the youth justice item, the Office of Youth and Community Restoration described a proposed change to the JJRBG funding formula that would shift resources away from a DJJ-based measure and toward county youth population, serious offenses, and step-down placements in less restrictive programs. Members asked about data on Native American youth; OYCR said statewide data are limited, but its SYTF data show about 1% of youth in secure youth treatment facilities were Native in 2024. The Department of Finance had no objections, and the item was discussed as a way to support alternatives to long-term incarceration. The committee then reviewed the community corrections performance incentive program for county probation departments. The Department of Finance proposed stabilizing the program with a maintenance payment, updating the performance baseline, and adding a growth factor; the LAO agreed the formula needed changes but recommended using 2022-23 data instead of 2021-23, using marginal rather than average cost assumptions, rejecting the growth payment and minimum guarantee, and adding stronger oversight through the BSCC. Finance said it was open to some technical changes but opposed a new BSCC audit framework, noting Judicial Council already surveys probation departments and that evidence-based practice use has increased over time. Members and staff indicated the proposal still needed further work. A major portion of the hearing focused on the January 2025 Southern California wildfires and state disaster response. A resident of Altadena gave emotional testimony about evacuation failures, loss of home, and the need for accountability. LAO and Cal OES outlined the disaster response and recovery system, including mutual aid, alert and warning, debris removal, FEMA and state funding streams, and the long timeline for reimbursement. Cal OES said it had pre-positioned resources, temporarily took over the county’s wireless emergency alert function for about three weeks, coordinated debris removal and recovery operations, and had already allocated more than $286 million in state funds. Officials also discussed the 100% federal cost share for emergency work for 180 days and the uncertainty created by changing federal processes and the cancellation of the BRIC resilience program. The committee also heard two smaller Cal OES items: a request to reappropriate about $22 million for the law enforcement mutual aid reimbursement program, which the LAO said should be placed in statute with clearer goals and reporting, and an update on Victims of Crime Act funding, where Cal OES said federal VOCA allocations have fallen sharply and that roughly $224 million would be needed to maintain current service levels if federal funding does not improve. Public comment included a request for funding to expand datacasting and emergency alert receivers for wildfire and earthquake warning.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's no secret that Minnesota's 87 counties are responsible for delivering many of the services to citizens
• It's no secret that Minnesota's 87 counties are responsible for delivering many of the services to citizens

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• And if I asked you if 87% of companies, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, just as early as
• two weeks ago, 87% of all companies operating in Florida have 20 or fewer employees, does that sound

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Summary: The Appropriations Committee took up SB 2B, a major immigration bill by Senator Gruters, described by supporters as a Trump-aligned package to strengthen Florida’s role in immigration enforcement. The bill would create a grant program for local law enforcement, expand jail-ICE agreements beyond sheriff-operated jails, establish a chief immigration officer and a state immigration enforcement council, require more coordination on E-Verify and detention-bed reporting, allow immigration status to be considered in bail decisions, increase penalties for certain offenses tied to illegal reentry and voting, and repeal in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Much of the sponsor’s presentation and debate emphasized focusing on criminal offenders, improving coordination with federal authorities, and using state resources to support detention and enforcement. Committee questioning focused heavily on the tuition-waiver repeal, reimbursement for jail costs, E-Verify coverage, and whether the bill could lead to street-level immigration enforcement in schools or churches. Senator Smith, Senator Pizzo, Senator Polsky, Senator Sharief, and others challenged the tuition repeal as unfair to students who were brought to Florida as children and argued for grandfathering current students or studying the fiscal impact first. Senator Fine defended the repeal as ending a state subsidy for people who are not lawfully present and argued the change would save tens of millions of dollars. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri testified that the bill was limited to jail-based enforcement, said there was no current street-level 287(g) program in Florida, and stated he did not believe the bill raised concerns for law enforcement or schools/churches. A representative of the Florida Supervisors of Elections supported the voting-related section, while a Florida Highway Patrol representative said state agencies would need additional funding if they were expected to take on more enforcement duties. The committee adopted Senator Gruters’ late-filed amendment correcting a drafting error. Senator Smith’s amendment to require an OPAGA study on the tuition-waiver policy was withdrawn after discussion, and his handwritten amendment to delete the repeal of in-state tuition for undocumented students failed on a roll-call vote. The bill then advanced as amended, with several members speaking in debate both for and against it. Supporters framed it as a focused public-safety and enforcement measure; opponents criticized the special-session process, the cost, and the tuition repeal’s impact on students already enrolled.

Transcript Highlights:

• Due to new federal law, this high error rate is going to result in almost $87 million in new state spending
• In practice, this creates an uneven treatment across Minnesota's 87 counties.
• In practice, this creates an uneven treatment across Minnesota's 87 counties.
• creates an uneven treatment<01:52:08.159><c> across</c><01:52:08.639><c> Minnesota's</c><01:52:09.280><c> 87
• </c> treatment across Minnesota's 87 treatment across Minnesota's 87 counties.<01:52:10.880><c> Um</c

Bills: HF3831 , HF3603 , HF1900 , HF495 , HF3750 , HF4316 , HF2136 , HF4384

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• And now the costs have gone up to $87 million is the construction costs compared to the one-year budget
• whole overall review and it was all taken into consideration and so he cannot understand why it's now $87
• understand</c><01:32:16.480><c> why</c><01:32:16.719><c> it's</c><01:32:16.960><c> now</c><01:32:17.280><c> 87
• </c> cannot understand why it's now 87 cannot understand why it's now 87 million million million &gt;
• from what he told me was that that number was a solid number and he doesn't understand how is that $87

Transcript Highlights:

• what we're looking at: 10,000 law enforcement, the judges, staff, everybody in this public defenders, 87
• what we're looking at: 10,000 law enforcement, the judges, staff, everybody in this public defenders, 87
• what we're looking at: 10,000 law enforcement, the judges, staff, everybody in this public defenders, 87
• what we're looking at: 10,000 law enforcement, the judges, staff, everybody in this public defenders, 87
• what we're looking at: 10,000 law enforcement, the judges, staff, everybody in this public defenders, 87

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• State Health Improvement Program lives, which promotes policy, systems, and environmental changes with 87
• mean you don't have some audit teams to check on them, but if you did that, you would have all these 87
• mean you don't have some audit teams to check on them, but if you did that, you would have all these 87
• </c><00:50:42.480><c> have</c><00:50:43.119><c> all</c><00:50:43.359><c> these</c><00:50:43.559><c> 87
• </c> did that you would have all these 87 did that you would have all these 87 counties<00:50:45.799>

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a Minnesota miracle today for the people back home in 87 counties to know that we aren't taking
• their</c><01:02:32.079><c> hard-earned</c> It's a Minnesota miracle today for the people back home in 87
• people<01:02:51.520><c> back</c><01:02:51.839><c> home</c><01:02:52.720><c> in</c><01:02:53.119><c> 87
• 01:02:53.839><c> counties</c><01:02:55.119><c> to</c><01:02:55.440><c> know</c> people back home in 87
• counties to know people back home in 87 counties to know that that that we<01:02:58.880><c> aren't</

Transcript Highlights:

• about Representative Gilman's bill, you know, one of the things that came up was kind of where do our 87
• about Representative Gilman's bill, you know, one of the things that came up was kind of where do our 87
• about Representative Gilman's bill, you know, one of the things that came up was kind of where do our 87
• about Representative Gilman's bill, you know, one of the things that came up was kind of where do our 87
• about Representative Gilman's bill, you know, one of the things that came up was kind of where do our 87

Bills: HF4382 , HF2929

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Medical Examiner's Office, which combined to provide medicolegal death investigation for 74 of the 87
• > for</c><01:23:30.480><c> 74</c><01:23:30.960><c> of</c><01:23:31.120><c> the</c><01:23:31.280><c> 87
• </c><01:23:31.840><c> Minnesota</c> investigation for 74 of the 87 Minnesota investigation for 74 of
• the 87 Minnesota counties.<01:23:32.800><c> And</c><01:23:33.199><c> uh</c><01:23:33.520><c> Mr.
• I would just like to add that 74 of the 87 counties represents 96% of the state's population for this

Bills: HF3698 , HF4243 , HF4239 , HF4241 , HF4242 , HF4240

Committee: House Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:

• Dana Witt, who in an interview said, "I don't see why we don't have policies that are uniform across 87
• Dana Witt, who in an interview said, "I don't see why we don't have policies that are uniform across 87
• Dana Witt, who in an interview said, "I don't see why we don't have policies that are uniform across 87
• Dana Witt, who in an interview said, "I don't see why we don't have policies that are uniform across 87
• Dana Witt, who in an interview said, "I don't see why we don't have policies that are uniform across 87

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're in all 87 counties, five campuses across the state, and we believe we touch the life of every
• So the universities in every 87 counties and we provide research and education and knowledge transfer
• So the universities<01:20:38.960><c> in</c><01:20:39.120><c> every</c><01:20:39.360><c> 87</c><01:20:
• 40.000><c> counties</c><01:20:40.320><c> and</c><01:20:40.560><c> we</c> universities in every 87 counties
• and we universities in every 87 counties and we provide<01:20:42.080><c> um</c><01:20:42.800><c> uh<

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Our museum and its board is dedicated to telling veteran stories from all 87 counties and all service
• And every one of the 87 counties in Minnesota employs county veteran service officers who display that
• And every one<00:36:51.359><c> of</c><00:36:51.520><c> the</c><00:36:51.760><c> 87</c><00:36:52.320><
• c> counties</c><00:36:52.560><c> in</c><00:36:52.800><c> Minnesota</c> one of the 87 counties in Minnesota
• one of the 87 counties in Minnesota employs<00:36:53.760><c> county</c><00:36:54.079><c> veteran</c>

Summary: The subcommittee opened its first meeting of the session with member introductions and a statement from the chair that veterans issues would remain distinct and receive separate attention. The first item was an update on the Minnesota Military and Veterans Museum at Camp Ripley from Executive Director Randall Dietrich. He said the museum has operated for nearly 50 years, has outgrown its current space, and is building a new 40,000-square-foot facility with $32 million in state support plus several million more in private funding. He described construction progress, planned exhibits including restored military artifacts and the USS Ward gun, and said the museum is scheduled to open on September 12. In response to Senator Kunish, Dietrich said the museum is actively incorporating stories and flags representing women, tribal nations, and other underrepresented groups, including 11 tribal flags at the entrance, and is working to integrate those stories throughout the galleries rather than isolating them. The committee then received an update from the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs on the veterans suicide prevention plan from Rachel Johnson, Veterans Committee Health Director, with John Kelly later answering questions on department impacts. Johnson said the plan is a coordinated statewide framework built with legislative support, expanding regional coordinators, veteran health navigators, data analytics, and community partnerships, including a suicide mortality review pilot in Hennepin County. She said Minnesota loses about 100 veterans a year to suicide, that firearms remain the primary mechanism, and that prevention must address community connection, economic stability, and access to care, not just clinical treatment. She also said the plan aligns with state and federal strategies and is intended as a living roadmap. In response to questions, Johnson said the department is exploring data-sharing policy issues, has not seen a direct financial impact from federal VA staffing changes, and is tracking federal proposals affecting VA advisory groups. She also said 988 data is available in general but more Minnesota-specific data on the veteran option is still being gathered. Members asked follow-up questions about trends in veteran suicide, the role of families in identifying warning signs, and the Hennepin County mortality review pilot. Johnson said the annual number has remained around 100 for about 15 years, with a dip in 2024 and a return to that level in 2025, and that the Hennepin County pilot was chosen because it offers a manageable geography and existing coalition work, with an initial review expected by May or June. The final item began a presentation from the Minnesota Association of County Veteran Service Officers. Legislative chair Larry Fonder said the group’s priorities are protecting veterans from fraud and modernizing the property tax benefit for disabled veterans, but the presentation would focus on educating the committee about the role, training, certification, and accountability of county veteran service officers. President Tom Anderson, the Winona County VSO and a Navy veteran, began describing his background and office staffing when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have made decisions on over 3,400 grants in all 87 counties, and these grants are for history programs
• 03.440><c> all</c> decisions on 30 over 3,400 grants in all decisions on 30 over 3,400 grants in all 87
• :04.920><c> these</c><01:10:05.080><c> grants</c><01:10:05.400><c> are</c><01:10:05.600><c> for</c> 87
• counties and these grants are for 87 counties and these grants are for history<01:10:07.120><c> programs
• As mentioned, grants have gone to all 87 counties, to nearly a thousand different organizations across

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here on behalf of the Minnesota Sheriffs Association, representing all 87 sheriffs across our great
• Minnesota sheriff's Association<00:03:28.519><c> representing</c><00:03:29.000><c> all</c><00:03:29.120><c> 87
• </c><00:03:30.159><c> sheriffs</c> Association representing all 87 sheriffs Association representing
• all 87 sheriffs across<00:03:30.959><c> our</c><00:03:31.159><c> great</c><00:03:31.400><c> state</c>
• In my case alone, and I'm one of 87 sheriffs in the county, I put 29 guns on the street that shouldn't

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• was</c><01:21:16.000><c> a</c><01:21:16.199><c> rise</c> So that highway is going to cost us about $87
• understand it's a partnership, and we're not asking for all the funds to come from the State, but it's an $87
• from the state but the funds to come from the state but it's<01:22:36.760><c> an</c><01:22:36.800><c> $87
• c> project</c><01:22:38.159><c> is</c><01:22:38.280><c> what</c><01:22:38.400><c> it's</c> it's an $87
• million project is what it's it's an $87 million project is what it's estimated<01:22:39.040><c> at<

Transcript Highlights:

• We sent it over within 87 to 5 vote.

Bills: HJR1101 , SB1319 , SB1264 , HB4237 , SB1277 , SB2069 , HB3066 , HB2115 , HB2153 , HB2268 , HB2961 , SB1679 , SB2018 , HB4294 , SB2095 , HB4113 , SB1894 , SB1810 , HB4268 , HB1752 , HB3413 , SB625 , HB3644 , HB3940 , HJR1096 , HJR1100 , HJR1099 , HB2992 , SB1636 , HB4302 , SB1613 , SB1443 , HB1409 , HB1675 , HB1225 , HB1381 , HB4359 , SB1503

Keywords: Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority, OMMA, medical marijuana, cannabis, marijuana regulation, administrative rules, permanent rules, rule approval, joint resolution, legislative oversight, Title 75 Section 308, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 442, patients, caregivers, licensees, dispensaries, growers, processors, SB1319

Transcript Highlights:

• ...items already included in the budget are $420 million in funding for early childhood education, $87

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 13, 2026, and considered the main budget bills for fiscal year 2026-27. Members heard a broad overview of House Bill 1, the general appropriations bill, including the governor’s proposed budget, major funding items for education, workforce, corrections, health, and economic development, and a plan to use surplus funds to pay down LASERS’ unfunded liability. The committee discussed a 29-page amendment set that shifted savings from retirement and other areas into one-time expenditures, including FEMA Katrina debt, LSU, firefighter pay raises, crime victim reparations, rehabilitation services, and additional school choice support. Questions focused on the MFP per-pupil adjustment, the crime victim reparations shortfall, LSU funding, waiver slots, and whether the bill remained at a standstill overall. The committee adopted the amendments and reported HB 1 favorably as amended, making it Special Order No. 1 for April 16. The committee then took up House Bill 312, the supplemental appropriations bill, which also redirected the full $144.3 million surplus payment to LASERS and used savings from MFP, Medicaid forecast changes, and other reductions to fund statewide initiatives. Those included LED, corrections, DOTD road projects, public safety, IT modernization, school safety, firefighting equipment, community and technical college workforce programs, and DCFS shortfalls. Members raised questions about mental health funding and the retirement payment strategy; the amendments were adopted and HB 312 was reported favorably as amended and set as Special Order No. 4. House Bill 313, the funds bill, was amended to make additional deposits into the State Emergency and Response Fund, Voting Technology Fund, oil and gas regulatory funds, geological storage, reading enrichment, Imagination Library, and conservation accounts; it was reported favorably as amended and set as Special Order No. 5. House Bill 314, the revenue sharing distribution bill, received amendments inserting fiscal year 2027 distribution numbers and was reported favorably as amended and set as Special Order No. 7. The committee also advanced House Bill 383, the ancillary expenses bill, which covers self-generated, dedicated, and federal funds for agencies such as Group Benefits, Risk Management, Prison Enterprises, and Technology Services; a technical amendment updated accounting-standard references, and the bill was reported favorably as amended and set as Special Order No. 6. House Bill 983, the judiciary budget, was amended with a technical date correction and reported favorably as amended; members discussed funding for judges, staff pay, FINS, and whether pending legislation affecting Orleans Parish judges would later change the budget. House Bill 1126, the legislative branch budget, was reported favorably without amendment after brief questions about the Law Institute increase, and HCR 3, the hospital stabilization formula resolution tied to Medicaid hospital reimbursements, was reported favorably and set as Special Order No. 8. The committee also made HB 983 Special Order No. 9 and HB 1126 Special Order No. 10 for April 16, authorized technical corrections on adopted amendments, and adjourned after the chair thanked members and staff for their work.

Transcript Highlights:

• ...items already included in the budget are $420 million in funding for early childhood education, $87

Bills: HB1 , HB312 , HB313 , HB314 , HB383 , HB983 , HB1126 , HCR3

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: revenue sharing, fund distribution, homestead exemption, state funding, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• 60, SB 1207 appropriation study, transportation, 1245 probation, 80OT, 1250 procuration, state route 87

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of the doctor of the day. Members also offered personal privilege remarks, including a thank-you for care packages sent to deployed National Guard troops, an introduction of Mom’s Demand Action guests, and a proclamation honoring the 205th anniversary of Greek Independence Day. The Speaker announced several committee assignments and bill referrals, including the withdrawal and reassignment of SB 1050 and SB 1519, and the House then moved into Committee of the Whole. In Committee of the Whole, the House considered and approved three Senate bills. SB 1125 received a do pass recommendation; discussion noted it was part of a broader set of child welfare-related measures stemming from hearings and the Emily Pike case, with emphasis on communication gaps between tribes and DCS, and DCS’s support for the bill. SB 1193 was amended on the floor to include paramedics along with EMTs, with supporters saying the bill protects private information held by DHS vendors. SB 1448 was also amended and passed; it adds utility, telecommunications, and video service workers to the aggravated assault statute when they are engaged in official work duties, and members debated whether the protection was necessary or overly broad, with supporters stressing on-duty protection and opponents questioning the need for a special classification. After the Committee of the Whole rose, the House adopted its report and referred the three bills to engrossing. The chamber then took up third-reading votes on SB 1023, relating to optometrists, which passed 43-10, and SB 1211, relating to sentencing, which passed 53-0. The House also heard announcements about upcoming committee meetings and a proclamation naming April 26 through May 2, 2026, as Arizona Water Professionals Week. The House adjourned until 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, 2026.