Transcript Highlights:

• I'll start with prevention in the area.
• In the area of prevention, we have one of our largest contractor providers, the Florida Network.
• And that's really important because when you think about prevention, it's not just about preventing delinquency
• That is part of our work on the prevention side.
• Other things that kind of fall into that prevention space that may not always get categorized as prevention

Summary: The Justice Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the justice budget and the major agencies within it. Chair Maney explained that the committee would hear broad presentations rather than detailed budget questions, and the first panel included the Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Corrections, Commission on Offender Review, Department of Law Enforcement, Office of the State Courts Administrator, and the Attorney General’s Office. Each agency described its mission, staffing, budget, and major responsibilities, with repeated emphasis on public safety, rehabilitation, staffing shortages, technology needs, and the importance of mental health services and education in reducing recidivism. Secretary Hall described DJJ’s prevention-to-aftercare continuum, including civil citation, detention, probation, and residential commitment programs, and highlighted reductions in juvenile arrests and commitments. Secretary Dixon said DOC’s biggest issues are staffing, overtime, and inflation, while noting progress in education, reentry, and a low recidivism rate. FDLE Commissioner Glass outlined the agency’s investigative, forensic, intelligence, and protective functions, including work on fentanyl enforcement and crime reporting systems. The State Courts Administrator emphasized the judiciary’s constitutional role, case volume, and challenges in providing interpreters, experts, and technology support. Chief Deputy Attorney General Guard described the office’s litigation, criminal appeals, consumer protection, and opioid recovery work, especially defending state laws and recovering opioid settlement funds. Members then asked questions about prison conditions, immigration enforcement, court filing fees, crime reporting, staffing ratios, and transnational gangs. Agency leaders responded that they were not aware of ICE contracts in some cases, that FDLE works with immigration authorities and detention facilities under existing authority, and that filing fees are a legislative policy decision. The committee also heard from the Justice Administrative Commission, prosecutors, public defenders, guardian ad litem, regional conflict counsel, and capital collateral regional counsel, who focused on indigent representation, dependency and death penalty cases, and persistent staffing and retention problems. No votes were taken, and the meeting concluded after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Should we also say how audits will work, because we're not measuring that in the study?
• Should we also say how audits will work, because we're not measuring that in the study?
• And that's why very clear authority and accountability is built into the bill now prevents that.
• </c> incredibly dangerous and preventable incredibly dangerous and preventable problem,<00:31:59.320>
• </c> registration of game or fish to prevent registration of game or fish to prevent control<01:31:01.480

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pathways rather than trying preventative pathways rather than trying to<00:10:36.160><c> solve</c><00
• Paul Mon responded that it is really hard to measure a negative, and hard to say we stopped somebody
• He said those things are happening, but they are hard to measure, and that is the hard part about trying
• <00:17:35.520><c> a</c> measure a measure a negative,<00:17:37.360><c> and</c><00:17:38.320><c> it's<
• </c><00:29:20.000><c> the</c> topics, helping to prevent the topics, helping to prevent the retraumatization

Bills: HF2362, HF2136, HF1316, HF2009, HF1918, HF1614

Keywords: youth intervention, funding, mental health, education, community programs, HF1316, child support, new hire reporting, centralized work reporting system, independent contractors, payors, employers, payor of funds, withholding orders, income withholding, child support enforcement, Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families, gig economy, rideshare drivers, delivery drivers

Transcript Highlights:

• We're taking an important step towards prevention of uncontrolled hemorrhage.
• <00:19:06.240><c> of</c><00:19:06.799><c> and</c><00:19:07.200><c> preventing</c> prevention of and preventing
• prevention of and preventing uncontrolled<00:19:08.720><c> hemorrhage.
• This and a series of actions taken by this body are nothing more than simply preventing our students
• </c><00:29:32.399><c> our</c> nothing more than simply preventing our nothing more than simply preventing

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there anything in this bill that does prevent those costs from getting passed on to the consumer,
• Is there anything in this bill that does prevent those costs from getting passed on to the consumer,
• Those measures protect children without shutting small business and without cutting off access for families
• Those measures protect children without shutting small business and without cutting off access for families
• So that is a preventative program that is working in Kansas City, and we were trying to get it statewide

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the previous journal by roll call. Members then offered personal privilege remarks honoring Dr. Penelope Martin Knox of Raytown Schools for Black History Month and introduced guests, including Adeline Overcast, who was made a page for the day, and visitors from a rural hospital in Rolla. Several new bills were first read, including measures on blind pensions, penalties for impeding first responders, and flag display in the state capitol. The chamber then took up multiple third-reading bills. House Bill 2596, dealing with multiple employee self-insured health plans for small businesses, passed unanimously after supporters said it would help small employers offer affordable health coverage. House Bill 1644, addressing franchisor liability and joint-employer issues, passed 103-45 after debate over whether it protected small businesses or limited workers’ ability to sue franchisors. House Bill 2423, increasing funding for the Division of Finance through fee authority, passed 146-0 despite concerns about higher costs being passed on to consumers. House Bill 2641, regulating intoxicating hemp-derived products and aligning state law with federal changes, drew extensive debate over a beverage carve-out, impacts on hemp businesses, and public safety; it passed 109-34. The House also passed House Bills 2498 and the combined House Bills 2637 and 3155. HB 2498, a juvenile justice reform bill shifting some referral responsibilities to prosecutors and expanding information sharing, passed 100-44 after strong debate over whether it would politicize juvenile cases and overburden treatment facilities, versus claims it would improve accountability and public safety. The combined sentencing bill, HB 2637/3155, passed 102-45 amid disagreement over whether it was truly a transparency measure or instead increased mandatory minimums and reduced judicial discretion. Finally, the House considered House Joint Resolution 154, which opponents described as an attack on Medicaid expansion tied to work requirements. Supporters argued it would encourage able-bodied recipients to work, volunteer, or attend school and reduce administrative costs, while opponents warned it would increase bureaucracy and risk coverage losses for vulnerable Missourians. The transcript ends during the procedural vote on the previous question for HJR 154, before the final disposition is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you mentioned wanting to prevent schools from being A couple of things.
• So you mentioned wanting to prevent schools from being able to cram a bunch of hours into the day.
• adding any provision in the bill that would limit the per-hour day for any of the schools that would prevent
• think they would get a phone call from someone who was upset about one of the various accountability measures
• And so we have to have that accountability measure to make sure it stays in effect because our kids deserve

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• example, road weather information systems, closed-circuit TV systems, and traffic sensor systems that measure
• detection system draws upon road weather information systems that have a multitude of different devices measuring
• And I thought it was so interesting to talk about liability and preventing accidents.
• User fees align supply and demand, helping to prevent under-use and over-use of the roads by furnishing
• the revenues to the transportation system directly, not much is accomplished right now except for preventing

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a great tool to prevent people from going to your competitor, whom you might want to have a little
• It's certainly a good tool to prevent people from going out on their own and creating businesses—not
• Non-competes prevent talented workers from seeking employment in different companies in the same industry
• the aisle, is I think we have a lot of good conversations and support for the idea that we should measure
• This bill will say, we're going to measure it; we're going to know how big of a problem it is; we're

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators and everyone present, SB 50 is a forward-thinking and crucial measure to enhance Florida's coastal
• We were adding mental health training to the Veterans Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program that
• We were adding mental health training to the Veterans Suicide Prevention Training Pilot Program that
• The protections in this bill will prevent any municipality or county from imposing frivolous obstacles
• Additionally, it specifies that a political subdivision may not enact or enforce measures governing presidential

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions recognizing visiting groups, including FSU students and officials, Catholic lay leaders, Broward County school officials and students, and veterans-related guests. The chamber then took up a series of bills, with several routine reviser measures passing unanimously: SB 36 adopting the 2025 Florida Statutes, SB 38 changing a division name in the statutes, SB 40 deleting repealed provisions, and SB 42 cleaning up obsolete language and cross-references. SB 50 on nature-based coastal resilience was amended to strengthen the Florida Flood Hub’s role and passed 39-0 after debate about mangroves, oyster reefs, living shorelines, and hybrid green-gray infrastructure. SB 116, a major veterans bill, passed 39-0 after extensive discussion of veteran benefits awareness, mental health training, coordination with federal agencies, adult day health care, and the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. SB 118 on presidential libraries passed 36-3 after questions and debate over state preemption of local zoning and related regulation, and SB 126 on mailing prescription hearing aids passed 39-0 to expand access for adults after licensed evaluation. The Senate also passed SB 150, as amended, to conform to the House by changing the bill’s wording from “animals” to “dogs” in the natural-disaster abandonment context. SB 294 passed 38-0 to limit collaborative pharmacy practice from being expanded to certain serious cardiac conditions. Senate Memorial 314 was adopted by voice vote, urging Congress to seek a larger Florida National Guard force structure. SB 322 passed 39-0 creating a nonjudicial process for commercial property owners to have unauthorized occupants removed by the sheriff. SB 348 passed 39-0, making it an ethics violation to falsely claim a military rank for material gain and allowing delinquent ethics fines to be withheld from public paychecks. SB 7012 on child welfare passed 39-0 and would recruit former public safety workers into CPI/case manager roles, create a treatment foster care pilot in two judicial circuits, and improve data collection and services for commercially sexually exploited children. Later, the Senate returned to SB 108 on administrative procedures, which passed 39-0 after debate over a five-year review cycle for agency rules, reporting requirements, and greater transparency in rulemaking. SB 160 on public accountancy passed 39-0 after an amendment clarifying contracted services and discussion of easing pathways into the CPA profession while maintaining standards. SB 110 on rural communities passed after an amendment package and extensive debate, with provisions described as creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and road funding, school support, and health care investments for rural areas. At the end of the session, the Senate waived rules to immediately certify all passed bills to the House, observed a moment of silence for former Surfside Chief John Healy, and received additional announcements before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have strong prevention support services.
• Prevention support services. We need to do so much more in investing to break that cycle.
• PITFA, as it rolls off my tongue, prevents states from imposing discriminatory...
• the already established youth tobacco prevention and vapor products account.
• Investing in cessation and prevention services will amplify those reductions.

Summary: The committee heard briefings, sponsor presentations, and public testimony on several finance bills. HB 2038 would impose an additional B&O tax on businesses operating social media platforms beginning in 2027 and create a youth behavioral health account funded by the tax. The sponsor argued the bill would help address youth mental health harms linked to social media and support implementation of the Washington Thriving plan. Supporters in testimony, including youth advocates and some public health voices, said social media contributes to youth anxiety and addiction and that the revenue should be used for behavioral health services. Opponents, including technology and business groups, argued the tax unfairly singles out one sector, could be passed on to consumers, and may violate federal internet tax law. The hearing on HB 2038 was suspended and later reopened for public testimony; no vote was taken. HB 2297 would create tax incentives for grocery stores in underserved communities, including local B&O preferences, a sales tax exemption for security services, a 30-year property tax exemption program, a B&O tax credit, and a B&O exemption for certain locally owned or employee-owned stores. The sponsor and supporters said the bill is intended to preserve and attract grocery stores in food deserts, especially after recent store closures, and to help communities with limited transportation and access to healthy food. County representatives supported the goal but raised concern about the bill’s sales tax exemption and its effect on local revenues. Public testimony was largely supportive, with advocates, local officials, grocers, and residents describing grocery stores as essential community infrastructure. No action was taken. HB 2382 would raise cigarette taxes by $2 per pack, restructure vapor and other tobacco product taxes, and dedicate portions of the revenue to a time-sensitive emergency system, tobacco enforcement, and the foundational public health services account. The sponsor said the bill would generate needed revenue, support cancer research funding, and strengthen public health and enforcement. Supporters said higher tobacco taxes reduce use and help cover long-term health costs, while some public health witnesses supported the revenue but suggested directing more funds to existing tobacco prevention accounts. Opponents from retail and industry groups argued the proposal is regressive, could increase illicit sales and cross-border purchasing, and would hurt small businesses and low-income consumers. The committee also heard HB 2487, a Department of Revenue request bill that would narrow the B&O exemption for insurers to clarify that it applies only to premium income subject to insurance premium tax, and apply the change retroactively to 2019. The sponsor and supporters said the bill closes a loophole created by a recent Supreme Court ruling and preserves tax equity, while insurers and business groups objected to the retroactive application, warning of higher premiums and unfair taxation. Finally, HB 2018 would increase the solid waste tax by 0.5% per year for five years and direct the new revenue to a local government solid waste assistance account for county and city waste management plans. County officials supported the bill as a way to stabilize funding for solid waste systems, and testimony emphasized rising disposal and infrastructure costs. No votes were taken on any of the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• For instance, we would like to add in more of a focus on preventing fraud from occurring in the first
• fraud from occurring in the preventing fraud from occurring in the first<00:28:39.120><c> place</c><
• it's much more we know that it's much more cost-effective<00:28:46.080><c> to</c><00:28:46.480><c> prevent
• to prevent fraud rather than<00:28:48.399><c> try</c><00:28:48.720><c> to</c><00:28:48.960><c> recover
• , tens of billions of dollars measure, tens of billions of dollars for<01:40:23.119><c> an</c><01:40:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That's going to get more first-gen home buyers into a home and also prevent evictions and keep them in
• /c><00:08:30.280><c> home</c><00:08:30.960><c> and</c><00:08:31.120><c> also</c><00:08:31.520><c> prevent
• </c> buyers into a home and also prevent buyers into a home and also prevent evictions<00:08:32.520><
• 00:34:33.679><c> some</c><00:34:33.840><c> really</c><00:34:34.040><c> good</c><00:34:34.200><c> measures
• </c> came up with some really good measures. came up with some really good measures.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House considered the conference committee report on House File 1141, a housing bill, and moved to adopt the report and repass the bill as amended. Rep. Howard said the compromise would help build thousands of new homes, keep Minnesotans housed, and improve transparency and collaboration with the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, while remaining budget-neutral. He highlighted investments in housing infrastructure bonds, greater Minnesota workforce housing, manufactured housing, EHPAP, supportive housing, and a new provision for greater public access at MHFA board meetings, while noting that some Senate proposals, including a manufactured housing bill of rights and a ban on private equity home purchases, were not included. Several members spoke in support of the compromise. Rep. Kozlowski emphasized the bill’s role in addressing housing instability, homelessness, and workforce shortages, citing investments in first-generation homebuyer assistance, supportive housing, and preservation of beds and units. Rep. Skraba and Rep. West also supported the bill, with Skraba praising the bipartisan process and West arguing the bill focused on supply-side solutions such as manufactured housing and easing development constraints. Rep. Schultz opposed the bill, arguing the money should instead go to school safety, fraud prevention, asset preservation, and lowering costs for taxpayers. After brief discussion, the House adopted the conference report and advanced the bill to third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• the pre-award risk assessment required under clause two demonstrates that it's necessary, certain measures
• ensuring that department staff have appropriate training on financial reconciliation and fraud prevention
• ><c> would</c><00:29:35.400><c> have</c><00:29:35.640><c> to</c><00:29:35.760><c> be</c> certain measures
• would have to be certain measures would have to be employed<00:29:37.200><c> uh</c><00:29:37.400><c>
• . prevention. prevention.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• His judgment is measured, and his commitment to the people of Maryland is unquestioned.
• His judgment<00:08:57.839><c> is</c><00:08:58.160><c> measured.
• c><00:08:59.040><c> and</c><00:08:59.279><c> his</c><00:08:59.600><c> commitment</c> judgment is measured
• . and his commitment judgment is measured. and his commitment to<00:09:00.160><c> the</c><00:09:00.320
• </c><00:29:12.880><c> from</c> Indeed, they will both be prevented from Indeed, they will both be prevented

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• legally accredited and prohibiting any individual from guaranteeing VA benefits is not a radical measure
• </c><00:26:31.120><c> Protecting</c><00:26:31.600><c> veterans</c> radical measure.
• Protecting veterans radical measure.
• <00:26:40.480><c> somebody</c><00:26:40.720><c> from</c><00:26:40.960><c> securing</c> prevents somebody
• from securing prevents somebody from securing financial<00:26:41.919><c> assistance.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It prevents property taxes from overloading a family's budget by shedding them off once they cross a
• So local voters have approved nearly 90% of their local tax and bond measures in recent years.
• Tax and bond measures in recent years.
• I'm sure we're going to have some corrective measures and course corrections in the future.
• , research, and measure again.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from me and my questions throughout the four panels—and you should expect to hear—is: How are we measuring
• panels to be you should expect to hear is how are we measuring overall funding sufficiency and for the
• LCFF base grant amounts are calculated on a per-student basis measured by average daily attendance of
• So the statewide system of support does rely on the best practices measures throughout it.
• Proposition 2 was a bond measure passed by the voters in 2024 to pay to renovate and build new TK-12

Summary: The committee heard opening public comment and then took up several K-12 budget items in the Governor’s January proposal. On LCFF and necessary small schools, the Department of Finance described a 2.41% COLA, a roughly $2.2 billion increase for districts and charters, and a $30.7 million ongoing augmentation to raise necessary small schools funding by 20%. The LAO supported funding the COLA and said the small schools proposal had merit, but questioned the 20% figure and warned about a sharp funding cliff around the enrollment thresholds. Members and witnesses repeatedly raised declining enrollment, attendance, and the need to align funding with outcomes and local cost pressures. The chair and several members also asked whether consolidation, shared administration, or alternative formulas could better address small district costs, and the issue was left open for further discussion. The panel then discussed special education equalization. Finance proposed $509 million ongoing Proposition 98 funding to raise the statewide special education base rate to $999 per ADA, which would fully equalize SELPA base rates; the LAO said the same target could likely be reached with less money under current assumptions. CDE strongly supported equalization as an equity issue and said about 15% of students are identified with disabilities, with identification rising by roughly 20,000 to 25,000 students per year. Members raised concerns about staffing shortages, high caseloads, and the need to use any additional funds for inclusive practices, alternative diploma pathways, and the extraordinary cost pool. The committee also discussed whether the budget language should reflect the $509 million amount or the $999 rate, and the item was held open. For the Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant, Finance proposed restoring $757.3 million one-time to complete the program, while the LAO recommended approval because learning loss remains unresolved and districts have generally used the funds for tutoring, supplemental instruction, and other academic supports. CDE explained that LEAs must revisit their needs assessments and that many districts are using the funds alongside other support systems, but members pressed for clearer accountability and better data on how much money actually goes to tutoring or other direct services. The committee then reviewed the Student Support and Professional Development Discretionary Block Grant, with Finance proposing $2.8 billion one-time and the LAO saying discretionary funding can help districts address local priorities but should be paired with fiscal oversight and possibly more targeted priorities. Members split between supporting flexibility for local needs and worrying that the grant could be used to cover ongoing structural deficits without clear evidence of student-outcome gains; the issue was also held open. Finally, the committee heard a high-level overview of school facilities funding under Proposition 2, with Finance proposing to continue $1.5 billion in bond spending in 2026-27. OPSC said that at the current pace all Prop 2 K-12 funds would likely be exhausted around 2029-30, and that demand is shifting toward modernization as enrollment declines in many areas. Members asked about school closures, reuse of unused sites, and the new small school district facilities program, which OPSC said is moving toward proposed regulations and would begin accepting modernization applications in November 2026 and new construction applications in January 2027. The committee also briefly noted community college facilities funding and asked for more information later in the process.

Transcript Highlights:

• This just updates some of the parameters around measuring sustainability and some of the things that
• And so it sustainability measurements.
• I don't know that we can measure it, but I just want to advocate that this is exactly what government
• I don't know that we can<00:26:41.840><c> measure</c><00:26:42.159><c> it,</c><00:26:42.320><c> but</
• We also had grants canceled to prevent terrorism and for, um, stop school violence.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are grateful to the legislature for measures you passed from our previous versions of this legislation
• This bill delivers with measures that increase municipal flexibility, stability, and efficiency.
• Today, unresolved debt with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue prevents me from accessing credit
• Today, unresolved debt with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue prevents me from accessing credit

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on several property and local tax bills. The main focus was H.56, the Municipal Empowerment Act, which the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the Massachusetts Municipal Association, MAPC, and Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo supported as a package of local options and administrative reforms. Supporters said municipalities need more tools to relieve pressure on property taxes and fund services, citing proposed increases to local meals and lodging taxes, a new local vehicle excise surcharge, senior property tax relief, one-year override flexibility for emergencies, and central valuation of telecom and utility property by DOR. The administration said the bill was based on municipal listening sessions and was intended to give cities and towns optional, not mandatory, revenue tools. Opponents, including the National Federation of Independent Businesses, argued the tax increases would hurt restaurants, hotels, tourism, and small businesses and add to affordability concerns. The committee also heard testimony on H.3211, dealing with deeds excise receipts, from Norfolk County Commissioner Richard Staidi. He said Norfolk County is financially stable but needs additional revenue for major capital needs at its agricultural school, especially a new cafeteria and other aging facilities, and also to support county programs such as veteran transportation services. On S.2020, a bill to allow settlements of tax liability, Greater Boston Legal Services, the Asian American Civic Association, and several individual taxpayers urged creation of a more workable offer-in-compromise process at DOR. They said the current system is too subjective, requires an unaffordable $5,000 threshold, lacks clear standards and appeal rights, and leaves low-income taxpayers stuck with unmanageable debt, license suspensions, or business closures. Supporters said the bill would give both taxpayers and DOR a practical way to resolve liabilities and bring people back into compliance. The committee also took testimony on S.1966, which would require nonprofits selling property to disclose any back-tax obligations to buyers. Senator Peter Durant said the bill was prompted by a personal experience in which a tax bill arrived after a nonprofit property purchase was already completed, and he argued the disclosure would prevent buyers from being surprised by retroactive tax liability. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed the session after hearing from all scheduled witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Specifically, we have the aquifer monitoring and measuring enhancement.
• What's being done with that since we're pumping all this money into, you know, stabilizing, trying to prevent
• what's being done with that since we're pumping all this money into, you know, stabilizing, trying to prevent
• And we did some telemetry things, some quantitative measurement grants, I think to the tune of about

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the Department of Water Resources budget. Analysts and Director Matthew Weaver explained the agency’s staffing, continuously appropriated funds, and the effect of ARPA and other one-time infrastructure dollars on the budget. Members asked about efforts to stabilize the Snake River Plain aquifer, the impact of budget holdbacks, groundwater monitoring, and the status of major recharge and conversion projects. Weaver and Water Resource Board Chairman Jeff Raybould said the state is working to reduce groundwater pumping, expand recharge, and build infrastructure to reach a long-term managed recharge goal of 350,000 acre-feet annually, with current recharge averaging about 251,000 acre-feet and capacity potentially exceeding 500,000 acre-feet in good water years. They also discussed project delays caused by permitting, federal land access, and coordination with multiple landowners, and said the $30 million infrastructure appropriation was fully obligated and largely spent. The committee also discussed water projects in other basins, including the Palouse Basin, Mountain Home, Elmore County, and the Bear River. Raybould said the board is considering a Bear River study to identify storage, recharge, and irrigation opportunities under the Bear River compact, and estimated that some future projects, such as a Moscow-area pump station and pipeline, could be very expensive. Members raised concerns about data centers, water quality in the Snake River Plain aquifer, and the role of private and local matching funds in water infrastructure. Weaver said data center water use is a public-interest issue that depends on scale and location, and that groundwater contamination issues are generally handled by the Department of Environmental Quality. The committee then heard the Soil and Water Conservation Commission presentation, which focused on the proposed merger/affiliation with the Department of Water Resources and on funding for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). Weaver, serving as interim administrator, said a stakeholder review recommended moving the commission’s affiliation from Agriculture to Water Resources while preserving its current duties, nonregulatory mission, and resources. He said related legislation and a concurrent resolution would support that transition and allow time for further code review and a combined budget in 2027. Analysts also explained a supplemental and FY 2027 enhancement for CREP funding, noting that rising land values increased the state match needed for enrolled acres. Weaver said CREP can help reduce groundwater pumping, that about 11,000 of the 50,000-acre statewide cap are currently enrolled, and that full enrollment could significantly aid aquifer conservation. The committee adjourned after thanking the agencies and noting the next day’s agenda.