Transcript Highlights:

• The funding for the bill would be put into the budget in the Senate.
• There is an $18 million promotional fund that is currently in the Tourism Department budget.
• It's $18 million, and it's a promotional fund that's currently in the Department of Tourism's budget.
• So we've been talking to the Senate Finance, and because this money is already in the budget, I mean,
• Representative Hernandez, you said you were looking in the budget for— is it in the budget?"

Bills: HM45, HB276, HB300

Keywords: Taos County, Questa, produced water, treated produced water, water reuse, water quality control commission, freshwater conservation, rural communities, acequias, Indian nations, tribes, pueblos, water rights, industrial water use, data centers, artificial intelligence, AI, quantum computing, economic development, renewable energy

Transcript Highlights:

• In a $50 billion budget, we can argue about the size of that on a different day.
• But $2.5 million annually in a $50 billion budget seems like a very weak argument to me to not allow
• Our budget people aren’t going to do that. We still have the caucus system.
• Our budget people aren't going to do that. We still have the caucus system.
• And that may not seem like a lot of money in a $50 billion budget, but it's $9 million we don't need

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and voted to pass House Bill 2125, which drew some concern from Rep. Woods about subpoena power for the Secretary of State, and House Bill 1812, which passed unanimously. The committee then moved to public hearing on House Bills 2387 and 2480, both aimed at reinstating Missouri’s presidential preference primary and adjusting absentee voting rules. Sponsors Rep. Veit and Rep. Banderman argued the primary would increase participation, make Missouri more relevant in presidential politics, and better reflect voter preferences, while also proposing changes to the in-person absentee window to reduce overlap with April elections and encourage in-person voting. Testimony in support came from the Missouri Republican Party, the Missouri Democratic Party, the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, ACLU Missouri, Missouri Farm Bureau, and several individuals. Supporters emphasized broader voter participation, the value of a primary over caucuses, and the need to make Missouri’s presidential process more accessible and visible. Party representatives said they were willing to work on binding language so primary results would inform or bind delegate selection, and Democrats said their rules already bind delegates to primary results. Several members said they would be more comfortable supporting the bills if the primary were made binding by statute and if the primary were closed to party members only. Opposition focused on the fiscal cost, the nonbinding nature of the primary as written, and concerns that the bill could mislead voters into thinking they were directly electing a nominee when delegates are still chosen through caucus/convention processes. Witnesses and clerks also objected to shrinking the excused in-person absentee period from six weeks to three, warning it could create confusion and burden election offices. The committee heard no final vote on HB 2387 or HB 2480 before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• on the Skagit River, there was a steelhead season that wasn't able to run this year because of a budget
• would be good in the sense that we would have fishermen out there doing the work and not relying on budgets
• on the Skagit River, there was a steelhead season that wasn't able to run this year because of a budget
• be good in the sense of that we would have fishermen out there doing the work and not relying on budgets
• In this era of 50% budget cuts, we can pivot toward hydrologic infiltration by restoring our ancestral

Bills: SB6104, SB6241, SJM8015, SB6318

Keywords: agriculture, protection, state regulation, farmers, land use, sustainability, steelhead, conservation, wildlife, fishing, environmental protection, federal response, wildfire protection, community safety, infrastructure, natural resources, commercial shellfish, fees, fishing industry, regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Actually, I think the fees are a little greater than the budget, or... ...that we're adding that.
• Actually, I think the fees are a little greater than the budget, or... ...actually, I think the fees
• This is a different approach, something that would be more palatable to the budget.
• And we are right now considering a 2026 budget, a state budget that's primarily funded by oil and gas
• It improves accountability, reduces risks, and helps the budget.

Bills: HB70, HB93, HB95, HB139, HB140, HJR4

Keywords: Public Regulation Commission, PRC, utility oversight fund, public utilities, utility regulation, commissioners, commission staff, chief of staff, ethics, Gift Act, revolving door, post-employment restrictions, consumer complaints, telecommunications, pipeline safety, natural gas pipelines, oil pipelines, license fees, regulatory oversight, administrative cleanup

Transcript Highlights:

• It's very hard right now, with a lot of state-to-state budget conditions being what they are and with
• I think it will be over time, and we had our first major budget oversight hearing this morning, and we
• to providers except for one time, but it looks like it's going to be swept again this year in the budget
• Unfortunately, the last year that that report was required by the state budget, meaning the Legislature
• Unfortunately, the last year that that report was required by the state budget, meaning the legislature

Summary: The committee first handled several routine items, approving three gubernatorial appointees not required to appear: Hampus Eitsiter to the Boating and Waterways Commission, Peter Stern to the California Horse Racing Board, and Dean White to the State Mining and Geology Board. It also approved referral of bills to committees and floor acknowledgements, all by 5-0 votes. The committee then heard Tyler Sadwith’s appointment as Chief Deputy Director of Healthcare Programs at the Department of Health Care Services. Sadwith said his priorities would be protecting Medi-Cal access amid federal changes and continuing CalAIM and behavioral health reforms. Senators questioned him extensively about rural and financially distressed hospitals, Medi-Cal reimbursement, eligibility redeterminations, work requirements, fraud controls, dental access, labor and delivery closures, and CalAIM’s evaluation. He said DHCS is working on expedited payments, hospital monitoring, county technical assistance, targeted audits, and community supports such as medically tailored meals. Public commenters from county, hospital, and care organizations supported his confirmation, and the committee voted 5-0 to send the appointment to the full Senate. The committee also heard from Dr. Chris Thayer, nominated to lead the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Thayer described OEHHA’s role as providing transparent, scientifically rigorous health assessments and risk communication to inform other agencies and policymakers. Senators focused on the agency’s use of models versus real-world data, CalEnviroScreen, Prop 65, PFAS, wildfire health impacts, and how OEHHA communicates risk to the public. Thayer said the office relies on a mix of data sources where direct evidence is limited, is updating CalEnviroScreen, and is working to reduce Prop 65 over-warning through guidance and outreach. The discussion did not reach a final vote on his appointment in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's very hard right now with a lot of state-to-state budget conditions being what they are and with
• I think it will be over time, and we had our first major budget oversight hearing this morning, and we
• to providers except for one time, but it looks like it's going to be swept again this year in the budget
• Unfortunately, the last year that that report was required by the state budget—meaning the Legislature
• Unfortunately, the last year that that report was required by the state budget, meaning the legislature

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the biennial budget for 2024 and 2025, the county appropriated $2.75 million to establish a rapid
• I'm just curious, out of the Pierce County budget, what bucket does this come out of, or is it just a
• The original $2.75 million came from the county general fund in the '24-'25 budget.
• But it really varies depending on the budget year and available funding.
• They got some quotes, and it was just way out of their budget, right? Over $300,000.

Summary: The committee met for work sessions on land banking/shared homeownership and on maximizing existing housing stock. Members first heard an overview from Commerce on alternative homeownership models, including community land trusts, limited equity cooperatives, condominiums, accessory dwelling units, middle housing, church land for housing, and public land transfers. The discussion focused on how these models can help households build equity while keeping housing permanently affordable. Committee members asked about statewide counts of co-ops and land trusts, and Commerce said it does not track all of those entities directly. Pierce County staff then described the Pierce County Community Development Corporation’s rapid acquisition fund and its role in acquiring, holding, and transferring public land for affordable housing. They said the county used general fund and affordable housing sales tax dollars to buy properties, preserve a manufactured home park through resident ownership, and create a pipeline of sites for future development. Members asked about the advantages of a public development authority, funding sources, the use of surplus and underutilized public property, and how the model works with housing authorities. Spokane land bank staff followed with testimony that land banks can reduce blight, preserve affordability, and help nonprofits acquire land quickly, but that holding costs and taxes can make the work harder without state support. They also described brownfield assessments, donated properties, and work on Black homeownership and public surplus properties. The committee then heard from the Northwest Cooperative Development Center on limited equity cooperatives, especially in manufactured housing communities. The witness said Washington now has about 43 limited equity co-ops and that recent subsidy funding and legislation have accelerated resident purchases of manufactured home communities. Members asked how residents benefit from capped equity, how values are affected, and whether the model improves access to lending; the witness said the model stabilizes costs, allows modest equity gains, and that a recent law allowing manufactured homes in co-ops to be titled as real property should improve access to traditional financing. The committee also discussed House Bill 1974 from the prior session and possible updates to land banking legislation. In the second work session on maximizing existing housing stock, Commerce reviewed recent housing laws and implementation timelines, including ADUs, middle housing, condo liability reform, SEPA changes, tiny homes, and co-living. Members raised concerns about the long implementation horizon, vacancy data, corporate ownership of homes, and the need for better support for small landlords and first-time ADU owners. Sightline then testified on mobile dwelling units, arguing that RVs, tiny houses on wheels, and similar units are a low-cost, quick-to-install housing option that is often blocked by zoning; the witness said many Washington residents already live in these units, often informally. Finally, AARP discussed housing options for older adults, including ADUs, missing middle, manufactured home communities, co-living, universal design, and village-style support models, emphasizing aging in place and the need for more accessible, affordable housing choices.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I've been able to show what is in the budget.
• We try and The resource issue: we have a unified budget system in the judiciary.
• So you'll hear a lot about, 'Don't mess with the unified budget,' which I think frustrates legislators
• Well, they submit their budgets through the department. They submit reports through the department.
• We've budgeted funding to this board and to the positions and so forth.

Transcript Highlights:

• number one on the calendar for the day: an act relating to state government, establishing a biannual budget
• The bill before us is the budget for the Workforce Labor and Economic Development Committee, otherwise
• That's true for the whole legislation, but I think especially true for this budget: a $50 million cut
• This is more of a technical item for the funding and where it came from within our budget.
• Budget included provisions for a teacher apprenticeship program.

Transcript Highlights:

• In this one, I believe we have an agreement to defer as it's in the budget.
• Is that correct with it's in the budget. Is that correct with you?<02:08:58.239><c> Yes.
• My understanding on this one is this one is also going to be deferred as it's in the budget.
• </c><02:09:35.520><c> Is</c> be deferred as it's in the budget.
• Is be deferred as it's in the budget.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to the Legacy Fund because I know this is going to increase some challenges as you go to work on a budget
• to the Legacy Fund because I know this is going to increase some challenges as you go to work on a budget
• the timeline for that is a little unclear to me, as the announcement seemed to coincide with the budget
• the timeline for that is a little unclear to me, as the announcement seemed to coincide with the budget
• We also look at the feasibility of the plan that they provided, as the budget seem reasonable to us.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• As part of our review of the programs and the base budget, we have asked the Department of Education
• Collectively, these programs total $16 million in the Pre-K-12 education budget.
• Our boards determine, or they approve our budgets, they approve our personnel, they drive decision-making
• And our budget at the time, you know, we have a ton of federal dollars that were cycling through with
• But you do your budgeting in April, and you have to reach into the crystal ball and figure out, okay,

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum and first heard a Department of Education program review on three district support programs: assistance to low-performing schools, the Florida Partnership program, and regional literacy teams (RAISE). Dr. Paul Burns described how the Bureau of School Improvement supports schools with D/F grades through regional teams, classroom observations, professional learning, and targeted funding, noting that 104 of 168 low-performing schools improved after 2022-23 and that the share of failing schools fell from 6% to 4%. He also outlined the Florida Partnership’s $4 million annual appropriation for advanced-course teacher training and student access, and the RAISE literacy program’s $5 million funding, universal/targeted/intensive supports, and progress monitoring results. Senators asked about rural participation, post-COVID reading data, parent support, and how long schools remain under monitoring after improving; Burns said rural districts can participate statewide, parents can access school and department support, and schools continue to receive monitoring after exiting low-performing status to prevent recidivism. The committee then received a presentation on the school district education foundation matching grants program from Suzanne Pridgen, who explained that the Consortium of the Florida Education Foundations administers the grants, which require private matching funds and support tutoring, literacy, STEM, career education, professional learning, books, and supplies. She said the program leverages about $1.44 in private support for every state dollar. The committee then moved to the regional education consortia, where representatives from PAEC, NEFEC, and Heartland, along with several rural superintendents, described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide economies of scale, professional learning, HR, risk management, purchasing, legal and operational support, crisis assistance, and leadership development for small and fiscally constrained districts. Superintendents from Lafayette, Holmes, Calhoun, Union, DeSoto, and Hendry counties testified that the consortia are essential because rural districts often have very small staffs, multiple-duty administrators, and limited in-house expertise. They cited support with insurance and hurricane recovery, training for new finance and HR staff, instructional coaching, CTE and leadership programs, and help with turnaround schools. Members emphasized that these districts can be high-performing despite limited resources, and several senators praised the consortia’s value. Senator Gaetz asked about additional back-office collaboration, possible regulatory relief, and FEFP issues tied to scholarship-related enrollment swings; rural superintendents responded that more local control would help. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was adopted without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's it's a budget neutral bill. >> Okay. Okay.
• That's it's a budget neutral bill. >> Okay. Okay.
• Um so budget neutral bill. Okay. Okay.
• </c><00:47:02.800><c> year</c> beginning of the year and a budget year beginning of the year and a budget
• I'll just note build a budget.

Bills: HF3843, HF3597, HF4003, HF3167, HF4193

Keywords: workforce development, appropriations, nonprofit organizations, employment services, state funding, paid leave, S corporations, employment law, exemptions, Minnesota Statutes, cancer, healthcare, appropriation, Rural Cancer Institute, Minnesota clinicians, pilot program, nursing, education, University of Minnesota, equity

Transcript Highlights:

• It affects groceries, child care, and household budgets.
• </c> conscious uh in this tight budget year. conscious uh in this tight budget year.
• </c><02:10:36.639><c> challenges,</c> Taber and ongoing budget challenges, Taber and ongoing budget challenges
• You as Colorado citizens from budget.
• They have to come up with a balanced budget, which we cannot do.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On the next slide, you'll see just a quick reminder of kind of a snapshot of our budget, and we have
• Uh, I do want to highlight the next one is the 13% of the USDA budget.
• </c><00:08:44.800><c> and</c> of kind of a snapshot of our budget and of kind of a snapshot of our budget
• As some of you may of the USDA budget.
• So, just a quick breakdown of the budgets we have for our East Grand Forks program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget is not subject for review now.
• We're trying to stand up an office of Inspector General currently to review budgets in the OA or the
• They can, in various places, change collectors and set their budget yearly.
• They can, in various places, change collectors and set their budget yearly.
• Cela: The budget wouldn't have to be approved each time by the agency each year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We did it in a budget-neutral way, and I'll come back to that in a moment.
• neutral way and I'll come back to budget neutral way and I'll come back to that<00:05:02.320><c> in<
• What you're seeing here is a bit of a depiction of that budget-neutral concept that I mentioned.
• </c><00:07:43.319><c> uh</c> sometimes to address uh budget uh sometimes to address uh budget uh budgetary
• </c> you'll see that in the governor's budget you'll see that in the governor's budget with<00:18:57.159

Bills: HF1005

Keywords: health insurance, medical assistance, behavioral health, reimbursement rates, primary care services, physician fee schedule, managed care, residential services, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, on this, so why, since this is a tax, why is it included in the budget?
• It was in our one-house budget. So, still... It was in our one-house budget, so still.
• There's been, you know, broad budget hearings.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The New York State Senate Finance Committee met with Senator John Liu presiding for Chair Liz Krueger, joined by members of the majority and minority. The committee considered a broad agenda of bills covering agriculture, public health, technology, taxation, corrections, education, housing, transportation, and civil rights. Among the measures discussed were a youth agriculture entrepreneurship summer employment program, a Bronx asthma study commission, a statewide multi-factor authentication requirement for governmental entities, a tax on noise emissions from certain helicopter and seaplane flights, a requirement that state events serving alcohol include New York-produced alcohol, a veterans and service members alternative resolution program, packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure legislation, limits on certain debt-collection practices involving foreign sovereign debt, commissary rules in correctional institutions, school energy performance contract recovery periods, a senior rent cap tied to income, a dental health demonstration project, farm succession planning, Operation SNUG gun violence prevention grants, expanded breast cancer screening coverage, direct Medicaid billing for creative arts therapists, a vacant storefront registry, academic credit for volunteer firefighters and EMTs, a plan to expand wheelchair-accessible vehicles outside New York City, STAR exemption notification, restrictions on certain tropical hardwoods in state contracts, a PSC guidebook on gas and electric rate making, gender-affirming care coverage and anti-discrimination provisions, and state leave for Civil Air Patrol members on airport-assigned missions. Most of the meeting focused on the packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure bill, which drew extended debate. Supporters said the bill had been revised after months of discussion with industry, included waivers for food safety and federal-law conflicts, and could save local governments money through producer responsibility funding. Opponents argued it would raise costs, harm food packaging flexibility, threaten food safety, and hurt manufacturers and small businesses, citing examples from dairy, meat, and coffee businesses. The sponsor’s representative said the bill had been updated and that some small businesses would be exempt, while acknowledging not all concerns were resolved. The committee also discussed the fiscal impact, with testimony that upfront state costs would be reimbursed and localities could see savings. Several other bills prompted brief policy discussion, including the helicopter/seaplane noise tax, where staff explained it would be assessed per ticket or up to $200 per flight and exempt quieter aircraft meeting DOT standards, and the sovereign debt/claims bill, where a senator warned it could drive financial activity out of New York. The committee also heard concerns about the packaging bill’s effect on New York food manufacturers and the availability of waivers. After discussion, the committee voted to report the bills; the transcript indicates the measures passed, generally with some members recorded as without recommendation or opposed, and all listed bills were moved to the floor before the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Commencing the 23rd day of April for the purpose of completing the 2026-28 biennial budget and appointment
• It provides for us to have time to consider the budget bill.
• hours' notice before we're called back by the Speaker, as well as notice before consideration of the budget
• hours' notice before we're called back by the Speaker, as well as notice before consideration of the budget

Keywords: April 22, 2026 - Special Session 1, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was looking at last year's budget appropriation, and a few things caught my eye.
• was to get yourselves, as constitutional offices, on her pay plan, but find the money within your budget
• And that's what you see in our budget cycle.
• Again, not in my budget. It was in there. Okay. All right. Thank you.

Summary: The committee met to consider several budget and staffing requests tied to constitutional offices and the Supreme Court, with opening remarks noting that fringe benefits are now calculated at 40% to 45% and that constitutional officers may pay the maximum if they choose. Item B, a Supreme Court request for one new Supreme Court police chief position with no appropriation increase, was approved. Item C, from the Secretary of State, sought five additional Capitol Police corporal positions, title realignments, and salary maximum adjustments, along with a $498,000 appropriation increase; members questioned how the office could absorb pay changes without new funding, and the office explained it was cleaning up a large and outdated classification structure while also preparing to provide security for an additional building. The item was approved. Item D, from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, proposed moving from line-item maximum salaries to state pay-plan grades, with no change in total positions but about a $349,000 increase in salaries and matching funds. Office representatives said the office had not had raises in nearly a decade and needed the change to stay competitive and retain staff, but members raised concerns about comparing the office’s pay to other agencies and about office staffing and accessibility. Senator Hill asked to hold the item for offline discussion, and the committee agreed to hold it until the next day. Item E, from the Auditor’s Office, requested salary realignments, increases to line-item maximums, and two new positions tied to UCP claims and compliance work, with a total increase of $579,468. The auditor said the office had already pulled a government relations position from the request after an updated packet was issued, and defended the remaining increases as market-based and revenue-neutral, with some work funded by interest earnings. Members questioned the need for a legislative affairs position and whether the salary increases were aligned with the market, but after discussion the committee approved the item. The meeting then adjourned.