Transcript Highlights:

• Here in California, there are 1.8 million undocumented people, people who pay about $8.5 billion. $1
• officials think twice if they thought that they would have to afford themselves they would have to pay
• It's so alarming that last week we learned that our hard-earned tax dollars as a donor state that pays
• And so I get very tired of hearing from people at the federal level or even from this house that pay
• There is a way to do it. instead of paying for a car this and that, pay for an attorney to be able to

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> need to pay their plan review fee. need to pay their plan review fee.
• But the pay is probably the biggest challenge. Private pays much more.
• But we do need to, that it's the pay.
• Pay is definitely I think good end?
• a contractor and they're they're paying a contractor and they're paying<04:26:44.080><c> a</c><04:26

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The task force held its first meeting, beginning with roll call and introductions of members and participants in the room and on Zoom. The chair emphasized Sunshine Law transparency, noted the meeting was on September 11, and opened public testimony on the orientation report. No one testified in person or on Zoom, and the chair observed a moment of silence in remembrance of 9/11 before moving into the agenda. The chair then reported on several orientation presentations given statewide between July 18 and September 5, including meetings with transit-oriented development, the Maui Chamber of Commerce, the Kona-Kohala Chamber, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce on Hawaiʻi Island, the Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce, the Hawaiʻi Island Native Hawaiian Chamber, and the Capo Chamber of Commerce. The main presentation item was a detailed overview from Kauaʻi County on its permitting process. County staff explained that zoning and building permits are handled separately on the outer islands, with zoning focused on form, character, and compatibility, and building permits focused on health and safety. They described a two-tier zoning system: ministerial permits that are automatically approved if not acted on within 30 days, and discretionary permits that go to the planning commission and can become lengthy contested cases if there is intervention. They also discussed special management area review in coastal areas, which can add time, and explained that building permits must conform to what was approved in zoning. Kauaʻi County staff also outlined the building permit process, including online and in-person submission, coordination with planning, engineering, water, wastewater, health, and fire agencies, and the county’s fully electronic review system using ProjectDox and related software. They noted that applicants are encouraged to check zoning, water, wastewater, and floodplain issues before hiring someone to prepare plans, especially for homeowners. The county shared permit and utility statistics and said the public can check permit history through Click2Gov. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided; after the Kauaʻi presentation, the chair opened a question period for members.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Uh, I may not have the ability to pay Uh, I may not have the ability to pay the<02:12:05.440><c>
• </c> properties in that development to pay properties in that development to pay for<04:37:08.719><c>
• </c> in the town is paying $15 per thousand in the town is paying $15 per thousand on<04:42:07.040><c
• </c> would say, you know, I'm willing to pay would say, you know, I'm willing to pay for<04:48:17.680
• </c> project is the special assessment paying project is the special assessment paying for.<04:52:07.200

Committee: House Housing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's go out there and do politics, but pretend that we care about the citizens and how much they're paying
• Give us a chance to not have to pay for electricity that's not even made yet while we're paying for stuff
• The U.P. is already paying the highest energy costs in the country, and the mines are Already paying
• So you can make political points. already paying the highest energy costs in the country.

Summary: The Senate convened with 30 members present, heard the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, and approved several temporary excusals. The chamber received gubernatorial appointments to multiple boards and commissions, then recessed and later took up resolutions and legislation. It adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 13, a tribute memorializing former Senator and Representative Robert Geake, after remarks honoring his long legislative career and public service; the resolution was adopted and all members and the Lieutenant Governor were added as co-sponsors. The Senate also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 14, which approved an extension of a state of emergency related to gasoline prices through Labor Day. Senator Camilleri argued the extension would help lower fuel costs for residents, while Senator McBroom later criticized the resolution as political theater and urged action on substantive energy legislation, including a pending Upper Peninsula-related bill. The resolution passed by roll call, 36-1. In floor action, the Senate introduced and referred several bills, including measures on the Income Tax Act, Michigan Trust Fund Act, road classification, the Food Law, Motor Fuels Quality Act, and automated decision tools in employment. The chamber then passed three bills on third reading: Senate Bill 480 on child care organization licensing and regulation, Senate Bill 517 amending the Revised School Code, and Senate Bill 278 amending the State Housing Development Authority Act of 1966. The Senate adjourned after statements and a final motion to adjourn until June 25 at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• force to set the minimum foundation program formula and recommend permanent, predictable funding for pay
• develop a recommendation for a restructured formula that creates a long-term permanent mechanism for a pay
• legislature has attempted over the last two years to pass a mechanism to give teachers a permanent pay
• raise by paying down our debt and using those savings to be able to give our teachers a permanent pay
• we need to look at how we can come up with a permanent mechanism and a revenue source to be able to pay

Bills: HB410 , HR310 , HR314 , HR316 , HR317 , HR321 , HR275 , HR276 , HR279 , HR282 , HR286 , HR289 , HR292 , HR295 , HR302 , HR319 , HR307 , HR273 , SCR59 , SCR61 , SCR62 , SCR68 , SCR69 , SCR70 , SCR54 , SCR55 , SCR64 , SCR75 , HCR32 , HB776 , HB42 , HB119 , HB159 , HB302 , HB1017 , HB1028 , SB217 , SB283 , HB953 , SB208 , HR74 , HB998 , HB901 , HR20 , HCR65 , HCR71 , HCR98 , HB284 , HB306 , HB341 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB603 , HB605 , HB614 , HB625 , HB646 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB798 , HB911 , HB955 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1191 , HB1240 , HB1255 , SB82 , SB89 , SB97 , SB123 , SB237 , HB36 , HB74 , HB75 , HB258 , HB259 , HB414 , HB459 , HB784 , HB848 , HB956 , HB1095 , HB1220 , HB1252 , SB469 , SB479

Keywords: recording, privacy, notification, direct conversation, law enforcement, first responder, penalties, oil and gas, orphan wells, inactive wells, shut-in wells, marginal wells, plugging and abandonment, well decommissioning, site remediation, site restoration, Oilfield Site Restoration, OSR program, financial security, bonding

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer, the pledge, and a national anthem performance, then moved through several personal privileges and recognitions. Members welcomed a student cancer survivor and entrepreneur, Bella of Brave Bella Bead Company, and also recognized a new legislative assistant, a page leaving for college, and a resolution honoring National Mississippi River Day. The chamber also received conference committee reports and enrollment reports, and returned some previously failed measures to the calendar, including H.R. 119 and H.B. 410. The main floor action centered on a series of Senate concurrent resolutions, most of which were adopted overwhelmingly. These included SCR 59 on re-evaluating flood maps and insurance rates tied to the Comite River Diversion Canal, SCR 61 urging higher reimbursement for behavioral health crisis centers, SCR 62 calling for review of school-zone safety and speed limits, SCR 68 creating a blockchain and digital innovation task force, SCR 69 encouraging continued research to reduce sugarcane burning, SCR 70 supporting the Major Richard Star Act for medically retired combat-wounded veterans, SCR 54 supporting the Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act, SCR 55 designating the Peggy Martin Rose as the official state rose, SCR 64 creating a construction manager-at-risk task force, SCR 75 studying a Louisiana maneuvers museum and trail, and SCR 80 creating a task force on the minimum foundation program and long-term teacher pay funding. Most passed with little or no opposition, with SCR 84 on earthquake seismic activity in several parishes amended to adjust task force membership before final adoption. The House also heard a personal privilege statement honoring the late Ponder P.C. Clinton Jr., a noted Black farmer, cattleman, and community leader in Shreveport’s Cedar Grove neighborhood, and expressed condolences to his family. Later, members received a hurricane-season reminder from Rep. Jay Galle about disaster response procedures and the need to work through parish emergency offices. The transcript ends as the House moves into additional concurrent resolutions returned from the Senate with amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• state of Minnesota said, "Members of the military who have sacrificed so much for us should not have to pay
• for us should not sacrificed so much for us should not have<00:03:12.160><c> to</c><00:03:12.320><c> pay
• ><c> property</c><00:03:13.400><c> taxes</c><00:03:14.160><c> at</c><00:03:14.440><c> a</c> have to pay
• their property taxes at a have to pay their property taxes at a certain<00:03:14.880><c> level."
• They don't have a way to pay for it. This was the way to pay for it.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And who's paying for that? The school districts do. And who's paying for that?
• Who pays for that? I think it's the school district pays for it.
• It's the school district that pays for it.
• I'm not opposed to it, but again, how do you pay for it when you don't have funds and when you don't

Committee: House Special Committee on Rural Issues

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you are renting and you're unable to pay your rent, if you are renting and you have an unforeseen
• situation that impacts your ability to be a good renter, A renter who pays on time.
• Obviously, the county pays half, the state pays half, and it was still important that they kept this
• Yakima County has also budgeted to pay for half of that judge. So I ask for a yes.
• Yakima County has also budgeted to pay for half of that judge. So I ask for a yes. Further remarks.

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5995 , SB5831 , SB6134 , SB6136 , SB6137 , HB2689 , SB5922 , SB5944 , SB5957 , SB5988 , SB5994 , SB6011 , SB6065 , SB6103 , SB6151 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002 , HB2720 , HB2073 , HB2487 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6137 , SB6244 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB6044 , SB6132 , SJM8002

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, insurance tax, state regulation, insurers, taxation, budget impact, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives

Transcript Highlights:

• The pay line on the redeemed warrant was altered and replaced with the name of a private business, but
• But we still have to be mindful of our guests that want to pay with cash and have taken that into consideration
• In addition, we reviewed three pay periods for these individuals that determined that these same individuals
• received unapproved overtime pay totaling over $6,600 during the pay period we reviewed.
• , our review of 24 instances in which employees at the Fayetteville Veterans Home received overtime pay

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-STATE AGENCIES

Summary: The committee opened with prayer and approved the January minutes, then heard a series of audit reports with findings. The Department of Human Services report described theft and fraud involving false benefit claims, including about $8,000 in Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, about $5,800 in Medicaid benefits, and an altered state warrant for nearly $610,000 that was cashed by an auto body shop in California; it also noted asset-control problems and an error in sales tax paid on exempt vehicle purchases. Members asked whether the fraudulent business had been flagged or notified to other agencies, and DHS said the matter had been referred to law enforcement but no broader notification to California officials was known. The Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism report cited missing museum receipts of nearly $3,500 and issues with change funds at Daisy State Park and War Memorial Stadium, including a missing $100 drawer fund and an $80 overage; officials said they were considering cashless operations at War Memorial Stadium and provided an update that the museum theft investigation was still ongoing, with misdemeanor time limits expired but felony investigation still possible. The Department of Corrections report found unauthorized fuel-card purchases totaling about $4,500 and a delayed disaster-recovery test for offender management software; Corrections said staffing had been increased for fuel-card oversight and that a full production disaster-recovery test was now scheduled after DIS upgrades were completed. The Department of Veterans Affairs report found four Fayetteville Veterans Home employees were paid for hours not worked, with additional unapproved overtime totaling more than $6,600, a duplicate vendor payment of nearly $1,000 that was refunded, and many overtime instances lacking proper approval; the department said it had tightened overtime approval policies statewide. The committee also received a special report on law enforcement agencies’ compliance with Arkansas’s racial profiling policy requirement. Legislative Audit said it had received responses from 203 of 383 agencies and forwarded updated policies to the Attorney General, while identifying 180 agencies that had not responded and were deemed out of compliance. Members asked what happens if agencies still fail to respond and requested a list of nonresponding agencies; staff said their role is limited to collecting and forwarding policies, and the committee agreed to receive the list. All reports were filed or reviewed without objection, and the meeting adjourned after announcing the next meeting date and a possible room change due to building work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Vice Chairman, pay for House Bill 4298. Thank you, Mr. Chair, members.
• OK, staying in the same vein of Of representing pay, we're gonna go to House Bill 4300.
• OK, and now I'm gonna yield the chair to Representative Pay, Vice Chair Pay, and take it from there.
• I'm sorry, I don't want to pay taxes any...
• I want to raise what we pay foster parents...

Bills: HB4422 , HB4117 , HB4300 , HB4298 , HB2984 , HB3344

Committee: House Children, Youth and Family Services

Keywords: immigration, public assistance, legal status, food assistance, state benefits, family resource center, community support, employment services, kinship families, social connections, child care, criminal history, background checks, child safety, licensing, Oklahoma laws, advisory committees, daycare, licensed child care facility, child care subsidy

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, and this is the bill that would pay family for caregiving.
• It's just instead of paying a licensed caregiver, we're going to pay the same amount to a family member
• We're just paying a family caregiver instead of a licensed caregiver.
• Representative Nelson's question: Are we not paying someone to take care of these kids now?
• I mean, because I kind of mentioned that we're paying it one way or the other, but is that the case that

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to consider three measures, beginning with Senate Bill 2016 for Job Service. Testimony described Job Service’s workforce, unemployment insurance, and labor market functions, its long-term reduction in FTEs and budget, and its reliance on federal funding that does not keep pace with inflation. The bill included funding for an additional FTE for the H-2A housing inspection program, continued support for the JP3 offender placement pilot, and one-time funding for IT and mainframe costs tied to a system modernization effort. The committee approved the bill 20-0, with Representative Swiontek named as carrier. The committee then discussed Senate Bill 2305, which would allow family members to be paid as caregivers for certain young people with disabilities instead of only licensed outside providers. Members noted the specialized, 24-hour nature of the care, workforce shortages, waiting lists, and the potential to avoid more expensive institutional care. Questions focused on how the program would be structured, including certification requirements and whether it would remain a pilot or become part of the broader human services budget. The committee passed the bill 20-0, with Representative Roar as carrier and Representative Nelson available as backup. Finally, the committee took up Senate Bill 2024 for the Department of Environmental Quality. The House change was limited to increased special-fund support for water and wastewater operator certification testing to expand availability, while the Senate version already included added FTEs for emerging contaminants and fuel inspection work. Members discussed federal funding uncertainty, including IIJA and ARPA-related concerns, but the department said its major projects, including the new laboratory, were not currently in jeopardy. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended 22-0, with Representative Berg as carrier.

Transcript Highlights:

• The PowerSchool is currently paying for PowerSchool is currently paying for credit monitoring for anybody
• Do we have to pay any rounds? Not us, but did... to pay any rounds?
• Not us, but did the PowerSchool folks have to pay? Uh, based on the news stories, they paid.
• the bonds that they're issuing. tuition to repay the bonds that they're going to be in business to pay

Bills: HB315 , HB152 , HB205 , SB184 , SB209 , HB309 , SB280 , SB267

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation Education

Keywords: sales tax, local exemption, Consumer Price Index, tax holiday, clothing tax exemption, school supplies, sales tax exemption, baby supplies, baby formula, maternity clothing, menstrual hygiene products, use tax, exemption, tax conformity, tangible personal property, Alabama Department of Revenue, retail tax, consumer use tax, nonresident, religious publications

Transcript Highlights:

• You can own a short barrel rifle if you pay the federal. government $200.
• You just can't own a rifle with a barrel 16 inches or less if you don't pay the fee to the federal government
• And so to be They would still be paying the $200 federal stamp for those links to be legal under the
• You still would be required to pay the $200 federal stamp, but here in Texas in particular.
• We as gun owners should not have to pay the price for negligence. should not have to pay the price for

Bills: SB108 , SB318 , SB507 , SB511 , SB533 , SB1026 , SB1386 , SB1433 , SB1434 , SB1596

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: elections, Election Code, poll workers, election clerks, presiding judge, alternate presiding judge, polling place, central counting station, county chair, political party, gubernatorial election, vote counting, election administration, Texas elections, precinct officials, ballot counting, county election officials, election integrity, election fraud, Attorney General

Transcript Highlights:

• for them to continue to drag things out and then it would have been if they weren't and they had to pay
• and you've got to hire the right people and and being competitive with contractors on being able to pay
• So I mean, do they have to pay all, you know, fines and fees before they can register a current vehicle
• Are they destroyed or the house where their house where the the who pays for the the maintenance and
• Who pays for storage? So because it is so expensive, we we don't do that very often.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sabadoza would pay, and so they can adjust those prices.
• My human instinct to pay more attention to threatening or negative information was exploited.
• We're going to have to—someone's going to have to pay for that.
• and to pay workers, who are indeed also consumers, the minimum they are willing to work for.
• I don't want to pay the same prices for my groceries as anybody else.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing focused on a package of Massachusetts privacy and technology bills, especially measures to ban the sale of location data, establish a comprehensive consumer data privacy law, and regulate biometric recognition and surveillance pricing. Chairs and sponsors argued that self-regulation has failed, that data brokers and large tech companies routinely collect and monetize sensitive information, and that state action is needed because federal protections are weak or absent. Several speakers tied the bills to reproductive health, gender-affirming care, domestic violence, children’s data, and other sensitive uses of location and biometric information. Supporters included legislators and advocates who backed H. 86/S. 197 (Location Shield), H. 78/S. 45/H. 104/S. 29 (comprehensive privacy bills), H. 99/S. 47 (surveillance pricing in grocery stores), and H. 36/S. 36 (biometric recognition accountability). They emphasized data minimization, bans on selling sensitive data, consumer rights to access, delete, and opt out, and in some cases a private right of action. Several witnesses said Massachusetts should lead or align with other states, while others argued that stronger protections are needed because data can be weaponized by stalkers, anti-abortion actors, abusive partners, insurers, or law enforcement. Industry and coalition witnesses urged the committee to favor a more standardized, interoperable framework modeled on laws already adopted in other states, warning that novel definitions, data-minimization rules, and private rights of action could create compliance burdens, confusion, and costs for businesses, including small businesses. They argued that entity-level exemptions for sectors already covered by federal laws like HIPAA or GLBA promote consistency, and that Attorney General enforcement is preferable to private lawsuits. Committee members questioned witnesses on patchwork concerns, the scope of exemptions, and whether the proposed bills would harm or help consumers and small businesses. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; written testimony was noted as due later, and the committee continued taking testimony from multiple panels and virtual witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the state is at risk to pay the funding back.
• Just a few weeks pay the funding back.
• We can pay for renovation, which we're looking at three projects right now.
• We can pay for for new construction.
• for</c><00:10:20.640><c> additional</c> Likewise we can't pay for additional Likewise we can't pay for

Committee: Joint Health Services

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The good-paying jobs in this state.
• PAY CASH AND IT HAS BEEN NOT OPTIMAL FOR THOSE.
• Medicaid kicks in, and guess who pays for Medicaid? Taxpayers.
• We're going to kill kids and make Minnesota taxpayers pay for it.
• IT'S A LOT OF MONEY And we are not paying close enough attention to this. Mr.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But there is no need for us to be paying for all the management administrators and all that which are
• Peter over here in the general operating fund and one program pay another program.
• </c> and they're taking from Paul to pay and they're taking from Paul to pay Peter<00:35:31.680><c> over
• </c><00:35:35.359><c> another</c> fund and one program pay another fund and one program pay another program
• </c> says don't pay attention to RSA 3211. says don't pay attention to RSA 3211.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like, do they have to pay dues to that organization?
• It's the dues-paying members. It's the non-dues-paying bargaining unit members. It's everyone.
• Does the state pay for the stamps or does the bargaining unit pay for the stamps?
• It's not just the dues-paying members.
• I was negotiating what my pay structure, my benefits would be.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions before taking up a special order calendar of bills. Early measures included a claims bill for relief to L.E. through the Department of Children and Families, which passed 34-0 after substitution from the House version, and a claims bill for the estate of Mark Legata, which passed 35-0 after the amount was reduced in the substitute. The chamber then approved CS for CS for SB 42 on child protective investigations and specific medical diagnoses, requiring investigators to consider certain medical conditions that can mimic abuse; the sponsor described it as a fix for cases where medical evidence is overlooked, and it passed 34-0. A bill on autism education for teachers was also substituted with the House version, amended to replace the Senate language, and passed 35-0 after supportive remarks from members. The Senate next passed a land-use bill, SB 218, adjusting hurricane-related development restrictions so they continue in storm-damaged counties but expire in unaffected counties in 2026, with debate focused on local control and recovery needs; it passed 36-0. The chamber then approved several other measures with little or no opposition: a probate bill modernizing curators of estates (36-0), a Blue Ribbon Projects bill creating a framework for large planned developments with conservation set-asides, which drew extensive debate over local control, growth management, and the bill’s breadth before being temporarily postponed, a state lotteries update (36-0), a diploma requirements bill allowing Special Olympics participation to substitute for PE and clarifying marching band credit (36-0), and a naturopathic medicine licensure/regulation bill that reestablishes a licensing framework and board, which passed 33-3. The Justice Administrative Commission bill was amended to broaden membership to include a judge or senior judge and passed 37-0. The Senate also passed a public records exemption for certain local administrators and their families (31-5), a clinical laboratory personnel bill easing staffing requirements by aligning more closely with federal CLIA standards (37-0), a dry needling bill clarifying occupational therapists may perform the practice (37-0), a financial disclosures bill revising gift/honoraria reporting and restoring a percentage-based reporting option via amendment (36-0), and a child welfare bill expanding when parental drug abuse can be treated as harm or neglect and allowing earlier court intervention and services (37-0). Later, the chamber took up a bill on ideologies inconsistent with American principles and terrorist organizations. The sponsor said it would prevent enforcement of foreign or religious law over the Constitution, create a due-process process for domestic terrorist designations, and bar public funds from supporting terrorism. Senators raised questions about the lack of a time limit on conduct used for designation and whether conviction is required; an amendment was then offered to remove specific references to Sharia law and the bill’s findings, with the sponsor of the amendment arguing the language stigmatized Muslim constituents and singled out Islam. The transcript cuts off during that amendment debate, so no final action on the bill is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we do have to pay attention to the balanced system of government that we live in. >> Okay.
• When you get up to 10 times, the state kicks in 80%, and the local school district has to pay 20%.
• And above 10 district has to pay 20%.
• </c> times the per pupil cost, the state pays times the per pupil cost, the state pays it<01:14:52.080
• To pay for it. And seriously, we are not talking about asking for perfection.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee Subcommittee on Adequacy and Funding Sources opened its second meeting by reviewing four retained bills assigned to it: HB 651, HB 772, HB 491, and HB 734. The chair said the goal was to compare the bills across the board, consider whether any one of them should be the committee’s recommended vehicle, and then vote on a recommendation to the full committee. He noted the bills would move out before November 21 and be taken up on the House floor in January, while related LSRs were also being developed for the coming session. Representative Ames argued that HB 651 should be the main vehicle because it would substantially raise the adequacy base and adjust differential aid categories to better reflect real school costs, including poverty, special education, and English learner needs. He described the bill as building on court guidance and said the current funding formula is far below actual district needs. He also supported HB 491 as a study vehicle to examine revenue options, saying the legislature needs informed choices about how to pay for the changes. Representative Damon strongly backed HB 651 and HB 491, citing constitutional obligations, the Conval and Rand rulings, and large projected funding increases for districts such as Claremont, Windham, and communities in the chair’s district if HB 651 had passed earlier. Representative Fellows said he has an LSR similar to HB 491 that would study existing and new revenue options using criteria such as revenue potential, administrative cost, affected groups, implementation timeline, and implementation cost, with input from revenue administration and outside agencies. Representative Papich Muller emphasized constitutional separation-of-powers concerns, reading Article 83 and saying he was not comfortable with the broad claim that “cherish” clearly mandates a specific spending level, though he said he intends to follow Supreme Court guidance. Representative Ricky read testimony from a local school board member arguing that the state already imposes many mandates on schools while providing the least funding in the country, and that HB 651 would help restore meaningful local control. No final vote or action was taken in the portion provided, though the chair had indicated the subcommittee would vote before adjournment.