Video & Transcript : 'budget requests' :

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TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session Apr 22nd, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Last year, it was about 1,000, and the ask in this most recent budget was $100 million.
  • And the ask in this most recent budget was $100 million.
  • We're doing this at the request of the Texas Council of Family Defense Attorneys.
  • This amendment is necessary pending ongoing budget negotiations with the House.
  • President, the following members hereby request to suspend Senate Rule In writing, Mr.
Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Pastor Jim Harris of Tilden Baptist Church, followed by remarks from Senator Zaffirini recognizing his service and retirement as an agricultural teacher. The chamber also received a message from the governor on appointments to the Coastal Water Authority Board of Directors. Senators then adopted SR 434 honoring Goodwill Industries of San Antonio’s 80th anniversary, with Senators Gutierrez, Menendez, and Zaffirini praising its workforce training and second-chance employment mission; SR 435 recognizing Dr. Christine Ramos Camacho as Doctor of the Day; and a group of additional resolutions adopted by voice vote. Senator Zaffirini also introduced the McMullen County Day delegation, and Senator Gutierrez introduced the Doctor of the Day. The Senate then took up and passed several bills. SB 1951 addressed penalties for late property rendition filings and removed a financial incentive for appraisal districts; SB 1261 related to financing water supply projects in the state water plan; SB 1620 created a Texas Forensic Analyst Apprenticeship Pilot Program; SB 530 updated higher-education accreditation rules; SB 2183 standardized fireworks sales periods statewide; SB 2368 strengthened the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act and added foreign-affiliation safeguards for electricity market participants; SB 1398 limited children without placement (CWOP) practices and added community-based care transparency; and SB 1960 established digital replication rights for voice and visual likenesses. Each of these bills advanced through suspension of the regular order, passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage, with recorded votes generally showing strong support and some opposition on a few measures. The chamber also debated SB 825, which would require an annual study of the economic, environmental, and financial impacts of illegal immigration. Senators Middleton, Hinojosa, Gutierrez, and Eckhardt debated whether the study should include positive as well as negative impacts; an amendment to require that broader analysis failed, and the bill was left pending after passage to engrossment. Other measures passed included SB 2010, prohibiting political subdivisions from operating guaranteed income programs; SB 546, requiring reporting and continued implementation of school bus seat belts; SB 586, establishing the Historical Texas Cemetery designation program; SB 1150, requiring inactive oil and gas wells to be plugged or returned to production under a compliance plan; SB 1184, lowering the minimum age of wine eligible for sale by wine collection sellers; SB 2185, clarifying bilingual education allotment funding; SB 1923, making child support follow the child in certain temporary placements; SB 2252, expanding early literacy and numeracy supports and screening tools; SB 1870, barring local decriminalization of drugs; and SB 2405, the major TDCJ sunset bill, which included facility planning, parole and rehabilitation reforms, and an amendment protecting parole board discretion. Most of these bills were adopted after floor amendments and passed with recorded votes, often along party-line or near-party-line divisions.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Environment, Climate and Legacy - 03/27/25

Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:
  • The second set of columns are budget.
  • Um, some of request to uh carry forward.
  • Again, on this one, we do not have a budget request by any agency or governor.
  • Our request for legacy funds projects.
  • Now in the omnibus budget bill in 2023.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • the budget so that we could have a better discussion.
  • <00:31:12.600><c> a</c> requesting a requesting a um<00:31:14.639><c> be</c><00:31:14.880><c> requesting
  • And since then, uh, we've been providing supplemental information requested and requests for clarifications
  • </c><00:49:36.559><c> and</c> supplmental information requested and supplmental information requested
  • :49:38.640><c> end</c><00:49:38.839><c> of</c> request for clarifications and end of request for clarifications
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committees considered a large number of Senate bills, with many measures advanced either unamended or with technical or substantive amendments. Early action included SB 88 and SB 11 SD1, both passed unamended, and SB 562 SD1 and SB 642 SD1, which were passed with amendments reflecting agency testimony. SB 1133 SD1 was amended to remove duplicative county requirements and clarify tax credit carry-forward eligibility, while SB 1569 SD1 on sports wagering was deferred. Later, SB 933 on nonprofit/federal funding support drew strong testimony from nonprofit and health advocates emphasizing the risk of federal funding freezes and the importance of protecting services such as early learning, domestic violence support, housing, and workforce supports; the committee recommended amendments to define eligible organizations, require reporting, and include the Judiciary. SB 934 and SB 935 were also amended, with SB 934 tying mass transit funding to Honolulu project milestones and SB 935 revising retirement-system language to change “fewer than five years” to “five or more years.” The committees then took up additional measures with targeted amendments. SB 1033 was amended to clarify that the bill applies to legal entities, not individuals, though members noted concerns about closely held family corporations and asked that the issue be reflected in the committee report. SB 1166, SB 1249, and SB 1256 were advanced with amendments or committee-report notes reflecting concerns from the Attorney General, Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council, and Hawaii Farmers Union United, respectively. SB 1432 and SB 137, both relating to electric utilities, were amended to require retention of covered employees after mergers or acquisitions and to direct the PUC to consider whether proposed transactions further state policy goals. SB 157 on antitrust was narrowed to focus on coordinator conduct in rental housing markets, SB 252 on invasive species received a defective effective date, and SB 336 on defense of state employers and employees passed unamended. SB 536 on the Hawaii Community Development Authority was deferred to a later hearing, and SB 1064 on medical cannabis was heavily amended to authorize cultivator licenses with limits on canopy size, license counts, physician fees, and a special-fund appropriation for enforcement. In the Ways and Means portion, the committee passed several bills unamended, including SB 19, SB 124, SB 264, SB 345, SB 422, and SB 741 and SB 747 later in the agenda. SB 361 was amended to remove references to the attorney general and delete an appropriation section, SB 438 was amended to redefine buffer zones and landfill-unit language, and SB 441 and SB 494 were amended to blank appropriations and, in SB 494, assign charter-school audit responsibility to the state auditor. SB 659 was substantially amended to promote local procurement, including county-level geographic preferences and higher thresholds for locally sourced purchases, and SB 732 was amended to adjust film tax credit provisions, including the streaming-platform definition and sunset-related language. SB 819 was amended to replace references to “educators” with “teachers.” Throughout, most measures were adopted without recorded opposition, though several members noted reservations on particular bills.
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Elementary and Secondary Education Feb 18th, 2026

Elementary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Right now, it's been funded by about a $2.5 million to $3 million line item in the budget.
  • And so I don't know that you've looked much at the budget and we're in the process of that.
  • I mean, again, I haven't completely—I don't sit on budget like we do.
  • This year, obviously, it's a tighter budget year. I'm aware of that.
  • There's a process in place to request less screen time by a parent.
Keywords: 959, house, all
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Consumer and Public Affairs Jan 22nd, 2026 at 01:59 pm

House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Has that been put into the Attorney General's budget or just attorneys' budgets?
  • Has that been put into the Attorney General's budget or just attorneys' budgets?
  • Is this in the budget, this downfall that we're talking about?
  • into the budget?
  • In the budget to backfill for the giant hole that it will crush into the budget.
Keywords: 996, all
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Special Committee on Tax Reform Feb 19th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Special Committee on Tax Reform

Transcript Highlights:
  • Even though we are at almost 900 fiscal notes this session that we have been requested to do, we are
  • So there would be a savings, and I do know that budget and planning's fiscal analysis actually kind of
  • If our local budgets are so fragile that they depend on taxing the primary residence of a 100% disabled
  • Representative, it's been requested that if you could share that with, just if you'll send it to Vow
  • We did not get the fiscal note request to the department until later on February 17th, so five days,
Keywords: 959, house, all
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Fiscal Policy Feb 12th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • Individuals may voluntarily request this envelope through DHSMV or a tax collector's office.
  • And for instance, this year, we will get in the base budget $50 million, hopefully more, knock on wood
  • But the request from the local governments is $184 million for our beach projects this year.
  • But the request from the Hello. budget $50 million, hopefully more, knock on wood.
  • But the request from the local governments is $184 million for our beach projects this year.
Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and reported favorably a series of bills after hearing sponsor presentations, public testimony, and roll-call votes. Among the health and public safety measures, CS/SB 68 would require pediatric readiness standards in hospital emergency departments; CS/SB 340 would require nursing students to complete human trafficking identification training; CS/SB 32 and SB 210 would create a new injunction process and related public records provisions for victims of serious violence by a known person; and SB 418 would add autism-focused law enforcement training and a voluntary Blue Envelope Program for drivers with ASD. Each of these bills received supportive testimony and passed the committee. The committee also approved several child safety and community protection measures. CS/SB 606 would add drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum materials, and SB 428 would expand the state swim lesson voucher program to older children, with strong support from advocates and families concerned about drowning risks, especially for children with autism. CS/SB 302 would streamline permitting and incentives for nature-based coastal resiliency projects, and SB 636 would create an alternative beach management pathway for coastal communities, though beach preservation advocates warned about perpetual easement language and funding concerns. SB 628, designating Warrior Sacrifice Way in Pensacola, also passed unanimously. In addition, the committee advanced CS/SB 1734 on juvenile justice, with a late-file amendment updating definitions for juvenile probation and detention officers and codifying detention cost-share language. It also reported favorably CS/SB 246, a specialty license plate bill that was amended to include the UFC plate and an additional first responders resiliency plate, and CS/SB 1028, which revises Citizens Property Insurance Corporation clearinghouse procedures and related insurance market rules. Several witnesses testified in support or with technical concerns on the insurance bill, and members discussed competitive safeguards, clearinghouse scope, and Citizens’ assessment risk. At the end of the meeting, members requested to be recorded on specific bills, and the committee adjourned.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Fiscal Policy Feb 12th, 2026

Fiscal Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • Individuals may voluntarily request this envelope through DHSMV or a tax collector's office.
  • And for instance, this year, we will get in the base budget $50 million, hopefully more, knock on wood
  • But the request from the local governments is $184 million for our beach projects this year.
  • But the request from the Hello. budget $50 million, hopefully more, knock on wood.
  • But the request from the local governments is $184 million for our beach projects this year.
Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy met and reported a series of bills favorably, covering health care, public safety, insurance, coastal resilience, juvenile justice, drowning prevention, transportation designations, and beach management. Senator Harrell presented CS/SB 68, requiring hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric emergency care policies, training, designated pediatric readiness personnel, and participation in a national readiness assessment; it passed. Harrell also presented CS/SB 340, requiring nursing students to complete two hours of human trafficking identification training before licensure; it also passed. Senator Sharif’s CS/SB 32 and SB 210, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and the related public records bill, were both reported favorably. Senator Garcia’s CS/CS/SB 302 on nature-based coastal resiliency, Senator Jones’s SB 418 on law enforcement interaction with individuals with autism and the Blue Envelope Program, and Senator Martin’s CS/SB 1734 updating juvenile probation and detention officer definitions and related cost-share language were also approved. The committee then took up several drowning-prevention measures. CS/SB 606 by Senator Smith would add drowning prevention and safe bathing education to postpartum materials and direct the Department of Health to create standardized materials; an amendment removed a records-retention requirement, and the bill passed. SB 428 by Senator Yarborough would expand the state swim lesson voucher program from children ages 0-4 to ages 1-7; it received strong support from advocates, including a young swim instructor and autism advocates, and passed. The committee also approved CS/SB 246, a specialty license plate bill that was amended to include the UFC plate and a First Responders’ Resiliency Foundation plate, and CS/SB 1028, which revises Citizens Property Insurance and clearinghouse procedures to prioritize admitted carriers and prohibit public funds for the clearinghouse; that bill drew discussion about market competition, Citizens’ exposure, and potential impacts on policyholders. Additional measures reported favorably included SB 628, designating a portion of South Navy Boulevard in Pensacola as Warrior Sacrifice Way to honor the sailors killed in the 2019 Naval Air Station Pensacola attack, and CS/SB 636 on beach management, which would create a proactive pathway for coastal communities to obtain erosion-related designations and align with federal programs. Beach industry testimony supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about perpetual easements and funding shortfalls. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional votes on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Local Government Jan 22nd, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • of the proposed city or town, state the name of the proposed city, the number of inhabitants, and request
  • balance our budget.
  • The structural deficit in the county's budget is unsustainable.
  • The permittee may request modification, and the request must be processed within 45 calendar days.
  • A fiscal note was not requested. So, in other words, a very spicy bill. Good way to end. Yes.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Local Government Jan 22nd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • of the proposed city or town, state the name of the proposed city, the number of inhabitants, and request
  • balance our budget.
  • The structural deficit in the county's budget is unsustainable.
  • The permittee may request modification, and the request must be processed within 45 calendar days.
  • A fiscal note was not requested. So, in other words, a very spicy bill. Good way to end. Yes.
Summary: The committee heard several local government bills. Senate Bill 6181, sponsored by Senator Conway, would let county legislative authorities in certain large western Washington counties file a city incorporation petition without collecting resident signatures if the area is fully within an urban growth boundary and has more than 25,000 people. Supporters from Pierce County said the current signature requirement makes incorporation too difficult for large urban unincorporated areas like South Hill, while opponents argued the signature threshold is an important test of community support and raised concerns about boundaries, taxes, and the adequacy of the bill’s details. Senate Bill 6132 would give the Port of Moses Lake additional bonding authority tied to a tax increment financing area to help finish a rail project; the port said rising costs and a pending federal grant made the extra flexibility necessary. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6154, which would give local governments more flexibility in how they use hydraulic project approval permits for culvert replacement. Counties and cities testified that many emergency culvert repairs are expensive and that some sites provide little fish habitat benefit, so they want the option to redirect equivalent resources to higher-priority fish passage projects elsewhere in the watershed. A few commenters supported the bill as a practical way to improve habitat and flood resilience, while one remote witness objected to the broader legal framework for salmon habitat projects. Senate Bill 6189 would extend from July 1, 2026 to July 1, 2028 the deadline for creating an additional public facilities district for regional aquatics and sports facilities; Olympia, Tumwater, and regional partners said they need more time to complete feasibility and coordination work for a proposed aquatic center. In executive session, the committee took action on several bills. It adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 6037 to Ways and Means, adopted a substitute and passed Senate Bill 5983 to Rules, and passed Senate Bills 5995 and 6013 to Rules without amendments. For Senate Bill 6066, the committee adopted an amendment into a new substitute and passed the bill to the Transportation Committee. The committee did not take action on Senate Bills 5820 or 6064.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • It would also request the implementation of formal policy and procedures for documenting DWR's operational
  • A floodplain restoration program is needed in the state budget, but we don't have one.
  • and stewards 16 properties throughout the redwood and giant sequoia range that we acquired at the request
  • of State Parks, one as far back as 1997... ...acquired at the request of State Parks, one as far back
  • I respectfully request the committee to vote in support of Senate Bill 639. I'll be brief.
Summary: The committee heard and advanced several natural resources and water-related bills. SB 224 by Senator Hurtado would require the Department of Water Resources to implement audit recommendations, improve climate-informed water supply forecasting, and provide annual updates to the Legislature; supporters emphasized the need for better transparency and more accurate water planning, and the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. SB 556, also by Senator Hurtado, would fund floodplain restoration in the Tulare Basin to reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, and provide habitat and other community benefits; local officials and conservation groups supported it, some initial concerns about Proposition 4 were resolved, and the bill passed as amended. SB 630 by Senator Allen would streamline State Parks and other state real property acquisitions by raising review thresholds and reducing duplicative approvals; conservation groups and park advocates supported the measure, while some members raised oversight and fiscal concerns, and it passed as amended. SB 718 by Senator Allen would reduce hunting and fishing license costs for low-income Californians, framed as helping subsistence users and disabled veterans and seniors, and it passed as amended. The committee also approved SB 427 by Senator Blakespear, which extends the sunset of the Habitat Conservation Fund from 2030 to 2035. Supporters said the fund has protected more than 1.2 million acres, leverages other funding, and supports habitat, recreation, and climate resilience; members highlighted its importance for areas like the Salton Sea and the need to protect the funding stream from future sweeps. SB 586 by Senator Jones, an e-moto off-highway vehicle bill, was taken up with little discussion and passed as amended. SB 639 by Senator Ashby would extend the deadline for Sacramento-area flood protection projects in the Natomas Basin and Beach Lake subareas from 2025 to 2030 to allow completion of remaining work and avoid delays to infill housing; city, county, and flood agency representatives supported it, and it passed as amended. Throughout the hearing, witnesses and members repeatedly emphasized water reliability, flood protection, conservation funding, and reducing bureaucratic delays. Several bills drew broad support from local governments, water agencies, tribes, and conservation organizations, and multiple members requested to be added as coauthors. All of the measures discussed were reported out of committee, generally with amendments and with some items left open for add-on votes.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session (Part II) May 23rd, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It shortens the deadline for property owners to request a remote hearing from 10 days to five days so
  • that subpoena hearing notices must be sent 15 days in advance rather than five, allows lessees to request
  • if they are contractually obligated to pay taxes, prevents courts from ordering discovery unless requested
  • Tier 2 changes made to ensure that the bill maintained the structural goals and the overall fiscal budget
  • And I believe we can be proud of a lot of the things that are in this budget.
Summary: The Senate first adopted a motion to suspend Rule 5.14 and move the intent calendar deadline to 6 p.m. that day. It then took up and passed several bills, often by suspending the regular order of business and the constitutional three-day rule. HB 1866 gave limited Texas peace officer authority to National Park Service law enforcement officers within the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park; HB 4996 increased the penalty for refusing to release a fraudulent lien when the victim is a public servant; and HB 5033 created a trigger mechanism for ending vehicle emissions inspections if federal law changes. HB 1533 made a range of appraisal and property tax procedure changes, HB 2282 raised the arrest warrant reimbursement fee from $50 to $75, HB 3421 updated probate and estates procedures, and HB 4263 revised Texas Juvenile Justice Department grievance procedures. Each of these measures advanced through second reading, third reading, and final passage, with recorded votes generally showing strong support and some opposition on a few bills. The chamber also considered major policy bills. HB 2, the large public education and school finance package, drew extensive floor discussion and multiple amendments. Senators emphasized its $8.5 billion investment, including teacher and staff pay, school safety funding, special education, charter and traditional school funding changes, and other allotment adjustments. Several senators praised the bill as historic and collaborative, while also noting the need to monitor implementation and future effects. After adopting amendments and hearing supportive remarks from multiple members, the Senate passed HB 2 on final vote, 31-0. Other debated measures included HB 143, which codified cooperation between the Railroad Commission and the Public Utility Commission to address electrical safety hazards at well sites and related facilities, and CS SB 3074/3070, which allowed limited written communications from the governor, lieutenant governor, and legislators to TCEQ commissioners about permit applications, with disclosure and response requirements. Senator Johnson raised concerns that the TCEQ bill could politicize an apolitical permitting process and potentially affect federal delegation, but the bill was amended and passed 28-3. The Senate also passed HB 4426 on Railroad Commission permits for commercial surface disposal facilities, HB 3161 giving TMRS cities more flexibility on employee contribution rates, and HB 2712 allowing future test years for certain water and sewer utility rate-making, with an amendment to protect ratepayers if projections overcharge them. At the end of the session, the Senate handled several procedural motions, including re-referring HB 1904 from Criminal Justice to State Affairs and suspending posting rules so committees could meet later that day. The chamber then recessed until 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 25, 2025, for a local and uncontested calendar, and planned to adjourn until 5:00 p.m. that same day after that calendar concluded.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, February 10, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Musk is out because he's been charged to cut the budget by $2 trillion.
  • The Chair will now entertain requests for one-minute speeches.
  • Just watch what happens at the Republican budget hearing that is upcoming.
  • </c><05:13:02.480><c> all</c> objection the Y and ns are requested all objection the Y and ns are requested
  • Speaker, I request to address the House for one minute to revise and extend my remarks.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee 3/2/26

Transportation Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:19:54.799><c> and</c> uh legislative budgets and uh legislative budgets and uh<00:19:56.559><
  • passed a budget that was pretty substantial.
  • passed a budget that was pretty substantial.
  • Continuing to add to the base budgets is problematic.
  • </c><01:05:01.119><c> that</c> be reimbured through this budget that be reimbured through this budget
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee 3/17/26

Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> another request or a concern. another request or a concern.
  • </c> entire agency's budget because entire agency's budget because of<00:36:13.800><c> an</c><00:36:13.920
  • </c><00:51:35.480><c> a</c> Chair, I'll like I'll like to request a Chair, I'll like I'll like to request
  • </c> requested, there will be a roll call. requested, there will be a roll call.
  • Bailey, our budget director, is and Ms.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • than what's being requested in this measure,<01:14:50.800><c> right?
  • Gary, on behalf of Avis Budget.
  • Budgets, comments, concerns?
  • Uh again, Transportation was requesting.
  • </c><02:19:45.760><c> Budgets,</c> it already has a defective. Budgets, it already has a defective.
Keywords: 910, house, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2485, which would require cardiovascular screening for student athletes. The Department of Education and Department of Health said they support the bill’s intent but noted that many screenings are already part of existing school-entry and well-child exams. The Attorney General’s office asked for clarifying language on who performs the screenings, where results go, how “positive findings” are defined, how referrals would work, and whether funding would be appropriated if DOE must hire health professionals. The American Heart Association strongly supported the bill, citing the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes and arguing that sports physicals are an effective opportunity for early detection. No vote was taken, and the committee moved on after testimony. The committee then heard HB 89, concerning a school psychologist working group and possible licensing or credentialing of school psychologists. The Department of Education and Board of Psychology supported the measure. The Hawaii Psychological Association said it supports licensing school psychologists but asked to be included in the working group, arguing it is an important stakeholder. The Hawaii Association of School Psychologists opposed including HPA, saying the issue is between school psychologists and DCCA and that HPA is not part of their organization. Testimony and discussion focused on the long-running disagreement over whether school psychologists should be regulated under the Board of Psychology or another mechanism, and on title protection and scope of practice. No action was reported during this portion. The committee also took up HB 2445, relating to standardized emergency responses for immigration enforcement at or near schools. The Department of Education said it already issued internal law-enforcement guidance and questioned whether the bill was necessary, while also raising concerns about the bill’s 1,000-foot buffer language and the limits of school authority over activity off campus. The Board of Education echoed those concerns and suggested the bill may need clearer definitions. Supporters, including the White Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and an attorney testifying on Know Your Rights training, argued that recent federal changes have increased ICE activity near schools and that a law is needed to ensure clear, public protocols, staff training, and family protections. A student testifier said the measure was a top priority of the state student council. The transcript ends during testimony, with no vote or final committee action shown.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 3/12/25

Elections Finance and Government Operations

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:18:23.600><c> to</c> enough we don't have enough budget to enough we don't have enough budget
  • </c> clearly and this is why I'd also request clearly and this is why I'd also request a<00:48:23.880
  • We are requesting to strike the word "to."
  • We are requesting to strike the word "to."
  • budget budget likely<01:15:56.080><c> not</c><01:15:56.760><c> nor</c><01:15:57.040><c> would</c><01
Keywords: 1183, house
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/16/2026 - Senate Finance

Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:
  • Just for everyone's awareness, we're going to hold, at the request of the sponsor, House Bill 29.
  • We're going to hold, at the request of the sponsor, House Bill 2939, and then we're going to sort of
  • I believe that amendment was done at your request, correct? Thank you for doing that, by the way.
  • So asking for a copy of that report is where we're coming from with that request.
  • They've seen a significant drop in such requests over there.
Summary: The committee approved the March 9, 2026 minutes and held HB 29 and HB 2939 at the sponsor’s request. It then took up HB 2016, which would bar late-filing penalties when a taxpayer’s income tax liability is zero; after an amendment narrowed the bill to income tax filers, the Department of Revenue was neutral on the bill but supported the amendment, and members debated whether removing the penalty would reduce incentives to file. The committee adopted the amendment and returned HB 2016 with a do-pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. The committee also heard HB 2289, which updates the property-value examples used in bond/override election pamphlets and truth-in-taxation notices from older low values to a $300,000 home example. The sponsor and Arizona Tax Research Association said the update would better reflect current home values and improve voter understanding, while some members argued the bill could confuse voters or that the second example should be closer to the current median home price. The committee passed HB 2289 on a 4-3 vote. Several bills related to school district bonding and agricultural property classification were then considered. HB 4103 would prohibit school districts from calling bond elections if enrollment is below 50% of capacity; supporters said districts should use or monetize excess space before seeking more debt, while school administrators and several senators argued it would block needed maintenance and local voter choice. HB 2104 and HB 2105 would give agricultural property owners a temporary reprieve from repeated reclassification and inspections after winning an appeal, with farm groups supporting the measures and county assessors opposing them as limiting oversight; both bills passed 4-3 after amendments. The committee also passed HB 2256 on a 7-0 vote, which creates a process for salvage auction dealers to obtain abandoned titles when insurers do not complete salvage title transfers, and HB 2979 and HB 2996 unanimously, addressing credit union regulatory timelines and clarifying that certificates of insurance do not alter policy coverage. Finally, the committee heard HB 2174 on insurance modeling organizations and HB 2477 on AZ 529 plan updates, with HB 2174 discussed at length over regulatory treatment of models and HB 2477 described as a conformity bill expanding K-12 and credentialing uses and rollover options.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

EDU Public Hearing 02-04-2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • That's a $3.4 billion construction budget, which this time the state can't afford.
  • and then have these next benion budget and then have these proposals<00:10:25.600><c> for</c><00:10:
  • First, we are requesting, though the board approved funding for three schools.
  • >> The budget the board approved, um, we would complete them. >> No, the building out. >> What's that
  • We collect this information and can provide it to the committee upon its request.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • And if I remember correctly, FEMA had just denied a request for funding for some of that work.
  • Requests for information, RFIs, often time that feels like the clock is being reset.
  • So Chris and I both serve on the state budget subcommittee that actually addresses wildfire.
  • State budget subcommittee that actually addresses wildfire and resources.
  • They didn't mess up anyone budget-wise. They built great homes, and they kept on budget, on target.
Summary: The hearing focused on lessons from the 2017 Tubbs Fire and how Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, and local partners have changed wildfire prevention, recovery, and rebuilding practices since then. Assemblymembers emphasized that the region has become a model for the state, with a shift from suppression to prevention, and panelists described improvements in defensible space, home hardening, vegetation management, alerting, and community coordination. The discussion also highlighted the continuing importance of sharing Sonoma County’s experience with other wildfire-impacted communities across California and beyond. Fire officials and local leaders described specific prevention measures now in place, including Santa Rosa’s vegetation management ordinance, ignition-free/Zone Zero requirements in rebuilding, restrictions on certain mulches, removal of dead and dying trees near roads and defensible space zones, and expanded prescribed burning authority. They also stressed the importance of community organization through block captains, Firewise/COPE-style networks, and the Mark West Area Community Fund. Speakers said these networks helped residents navigate recovery, avoid fraud and bad contractors, coordinate with local agencies, and support neighbors, but they argued that such efforts need more formal structure and stable funding. Water and permitting officials discussed how the fires changed their work. Santa Rosa Water described new regional coordination, generator and backup power upgrades, emergency training, and lessons learned about wildfire-related contamination in water systems, including the need to restore pressure, flush, and test quickly after a fire. Permit Sonoma said rebuilding was balanced by streamlining permits while still requiring safer, more resilient construction, and noted that reduced fees and one-stop permitting helped speed recovery. United Policyholders described helping residents maximize insurance proceeds, organize information, and avoid scams, while warning that insurance availability and affordability remain major barriers and that insurers are increasingly rewarding risk-reduction measures. Across the panels, the main policy requests were for faster and more flexible grant processes, more stable long-term funding for prevention and community programs, stronger support for home hardening and defensible space, better training and tools for local governments and legislative staff, and continued attention to insurance and utility-related resilience. No formal votes or actions were taken in the transcript excerpt; the hearing was informational and ended with a transition toward public comment and further discussion of remaining statewide wildfire policy needs.