Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and that gave us a larger than expected surplus at the end of this biennium. memorialize uh the Hortman's
• > expected and that gave us a larger than expected and that gave us a larger than expected surplus
• surplus at the end of this bianium. surplus at the end of this bianium.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you count that with the $32 billion surplus we had in financial 2020.
• and many others across the state should be in crisis while our leg is sitting on a record budget surplus
• Vasquez stated the surplus is a result of underfunding our public school system.
• The population has surged while Texas has enjoyed a multi-billion dollar surplus, but basic funding per

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m sure people have mentioned on your show that we had a $18 billion surplus and they spent $10 billion
• we had a$1 mentioned on your show that we had a$1 18<00:07:53.639> billion<00:07:54.159> Surplus
• and<00:07:54.759> they<00:07:54.919> spent<00:07:55.080> $10 18 billion Surplus
• and they spent $10 18 billion Surplus and they spent $10 billion<00:07:56.080> more<00:07:57.080

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• they don't want to do some of the hard decisions that are going to be made after having a record surplus
• they don't want to do some of the hard decisions that are going to be made after having a record surplus
• they don't want to do some of the hard decisions that are going to be made after having a record surplus
• they don't want to do some of the hard decisions that are going to be made after having a record surplus

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House Republican leaders spoke to reporters about the ongoing Minnesota House standoff, saying Democrats had still not returned to the chamber and that no meaningful progress had been made toward a power-sharing deal. They rejected claims by Rep. Hortman that the sides were closer to an agreement, saying the same proposal had been offered for about 15 days and that any deal would first require Democrats to “show up to work.” Republicans also said they were open to written negotiations on a tie arrangement, but only if the terms were new and acceptable to both sides. The discussion focused heavily on the consequences of the absent Democrats and the Republicans’ efforts to keep legislative work moving. GOP members said they were still meeting with constituents, discussing bill ideas, and preparing work on capital investment, roads, bridges, wastewater, school funding, and budget issues. They emphasized priorities such as stopping fraud, improving reading outcomes, public safety, and limiting taxes and wasteful spending, while also saying agencies had previously been told not to attend Republican-led committee hearings and that they hoped those meetings could resume. Republicans also addressed questions about pay and per diem, saying members were still receiving legislative salary but not per diem and arguing that lawmakers who do not show up should face penalties, including loss of pay. They said such penalties would need to be authorized by the Rules Committee. On other matters, they said there was nothing new to announce on possible legal action, they had not yet fully reviewed the president’s funding freeze, and they were open to meeting again with Rep. Hortman, including at 3:30 the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to make sure that we clarify, and everyone understands, the surplus land procedure.
• Does the surplus land procedure require DEP to find that the land no longer serves conservation purposes
• A surplus land procedure required DEP to find that the land no longer serves conservation purposes?
• DEP already has a mechanism in place to recognize surplus lands today.
• So does the surplus lands get voted on by ARC and the governor and the cabinet? Senator Truenow.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, pledge, and several introductions recognizing visitors, students, local officials, and professional groups in the gallery. The chamber then took up a report from the Ethics and Elections Committee confirming 42 executive appointments; the report was adopted by a vote of 36-0. The Senate also adopted a resolution honoring the Ripple Project for childhood cancer awareness and funding. The bulk of the meeting was spent on special-order bills, many of them open-government sunset review measures and policy bills. The Senate passed bills preserving or updating public records exemptions for aquaculture records, trade secrets, and cybersecurity information; a child-abuse reporting statute of limitations bill; a commercial driving schools bill; a human trafficking training requirement for nursing graduates; a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and its companion public-records bill; a nature-based coastal resiliency bill with an amendment restricting dredge-and-fill in Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve; a chiropractic patient-funds bill; specialty license plate legislation; a one-time waiver for late financial disclosure fines; public school personnel compensation changes; the Florida Farm Bill with amendments protecting Everglades lands and technical corrections; homestead exemption clarification for long-term leaseholders; disability presumption clarifications for firefighters and law enforcement; reinsurance intermediary manager conformity changes; patriotic displays in public schools; ADS-B aviation fee restrictions; autism-related law enforcement training and a blue envelope program; public post-secondary safety policy requirements; and a bill allowing licensed agents to market health care sharing ministries. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including local vessel restrictions, temporary certificates for practice, and domestic animals. Members debated a number of measures, especially the health care sharing ministries bill, where opponents raised consumer-protection and commission concerns and supporters argued for free speech, religious liberty, and expanded consumer choice; it passed 32-5. Other debated bills included the autism law enforcement bill, the school athletics bill addressing coach support for student-athletes, and the Farm Bill, where senators discussed surplus land safeguards and biosolids timing. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, often 37-0 or 38-0, with a few closer votes such as the patriotic displays bill (36-2) and the health care sharing ministries bill (32-5).

Transcript Highlights:

• Trap tag account surplus management. That's another thing we really need to look at.
• And those statutory changes could free up about $1.3 million in surplus for these critical needs.
• I'm just curious about the trap fee surplus, I guess you referred to it as.
• So that's why since 2013 we've built up quite a surplus that has not been used.
• And as Lisa and Dick and Kate referenced earlier, that surplus in the Dungeness crab account continues

Summary: The Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture held its annual State of the Fishery forum, focusing on salmon, Dungeness crab, kelp, ocean conditions, and related aquaculture and committee reports. Opening remarks from committee leadership emphasized climate impacts, reduced federal NOAA support, state investments through Proposition 4, coastal resilience funding, and the importance of fisheries to rural economies and tribal communities. Secretary of Natural Resources Wade Crowfoot described a decade of drought and climate stress, highlighted progress such as Klamath River dam removal, wetland restoration, and the state’s salmon strategy, and warned that federal funding uncertainty and staffing cuts could undermine restoration and fishery recovery efforts. Senator Cortese raised concerns about illegal cannabis cultivation damaging riparian habitat and water flows, and both Crowfoot and Fish and Wildlife Director Bonham said enforcement against illicit grows remains a major environmental priority but is constrained by resources. Director Bonham provided a broad update on California fisheries, reporting encouraging signs for salmon after several difficult years, including improved ocean conditions, stronger returns in some runs, and successful short recreational openings in 2025. He also noted major challenges, including reduced federal hatchery production at Nimbus, ongoing uncertainty around winter-run and spring-run recovery, and the need for continued habitat restoration, monitoring, and hatchery investment. On Dungeness crab, Bonham said the fishery remained valuable but constrained by whale entanglement risk, warming ocean conditions, and domoic acid concerns; he described new marked-line distribution, ropeless and alternative gear trials, and ongoing aerial and vessel monitoring. He also said the department’s unified cannabis enforcement task force had served numerous warrants and seized large amounts of illegal cannabis, but more funding is needed for sustained operations. In the salmon panel, Yurok Tribe fisheries director McCovey said the Klamath still faces low run sizes, climate-driven warming, wildfire impacts, and federal uncertainty, but he pointed to dam removal, restoration work, and AB 263’s river-flow protections as major advances. PCFFA president Bradshaw stressed that the three consecutive salmon closures have devastated coastal communities and argued for major reinvestment in aging Central Valley hatchery infrastructure and better broodstock management at Fall Creek. CalTrout’s Schneider said salmon remain at risk statewide, but cited Prop 4, habitat reconnection, floodplain restoration, improved water management, and monitoring as the main tools for recovery. In the crab panel, CDFW’s Schumann reported that the 2024–25 season produced record prices per pound and about $55 million in value despite delays and trap reductions, but he warned that three confirmed whale entanglements and elevated whale presence could force a conservative opener for 2025–26. PCFFA’s Domrash supported marked line, alternative gear, and a new gear-recovery network, while also criticizing the current ramp system as a response to a problem not fully grounded in science.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Leeling, after you guys squandered an $18 billion surplus, raised taxes by $10 billion
• concerned about the price of eggs suddenly in this body, and members, after having an $18 billion surplus
• Thank you. members after having an $18 billion members after having an $18 billion Surplus<00:48:56.079
• uh two years ago we are now Surplus uh two years ago we are now facing<00:48:58.559> over<00:
• <01:05:46.760> that's<01:05:46.960> been the $8.5 billion do Surplus that's been the

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• members, the Democrats claim to have fully funded education last session when we had an $18 billion surplus
• The Democrats claim to have fully funded education last session when we had an $18 billion surplus, but
• c><00:21:10.480> an<00:21:10.640> $18<00:21:10.960> billion<00:21:11.520> surplus
• ,<00:21:12.080> but when we had an $18 billion surplus, but when we had an $18 billion surplus

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The A-2 Amendment is just another conversation and is trying to unlock these surplus dollars and getting
• I would say I contend that my proposal is just removing the surplus dollars.
• Those surplus dollars exist and they are not feeding anybody. They are a surplus.
• again by mentioning this false choice or false implications that just because you have a nutrition surplus

Bills: HF51, HF1161, HF2201, HF2786, HF1053

Keywords: HF51, Sibley County, State-Aid Highway 21, capital investment, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, transportation infrastructure, road improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, local infrastructure, county grant, Minnesota Department of Transportation, bond proceeds fund, public works, utility infrastructure, education finance, school district funding, tax base adjustment

Transcript Highlights:

• in The budget and economic forecast released in November predicts the biennium will end with a surplus
• Whether we are facing structural surplus or structural imbalance, we know our job is to balance the budget
• structural budgets whether we are facing structural budgets whether we are facing structural Surplus
• > structural<00:24:36.919> imbalance<00:24:37.840> that<00:24:38.000> we Surplus
• or structural imbalance that we Surplus or structural imbalance that we know<00:24:38.279> our

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The program opened with interviews on the start of Minnesota’s 94th Senate session, where the chamber is evenly split 33-33 after the death of DFL Senator Kari Dziedzic and a special election to fill the vacancy. DFL Majority Leader Aaron Murphy and Republican Leader Mark Johnson both said the tied Senate and narrow margins in both chambers will require more cooperation and compromise. Murphy emphasized affordability issues such as health care, child care, housing, college costs, and medical debt, while Johnson said Republicans want to refocus on Minnesota’s needs, limit tax increases and mandates, and use the split chamber to gain more influence in negotiations. Both leaders said they expect bipartisan work on issues like mental health, EMS, public school funding, permitting reform, and mandate reform. Former Senator Ann Johnson Stewart was also sworn in after winning the special election for District 45 and said she hopes to work on infrastructure, transportation, bonding, and jobs. The Senate Finance Committee then held a hearing on the social impact of legalizing online sports betting. Testimony from researchers and gambling addiction experts warned that online sports betting can contribute to addiction, family harm, and financial distress, with one witness describing it as a public health disaster and citing higher bankruptcy filings in states that legalize it. Committee discussion also reflected the competing view that many Minnesotans want the option to bet legally, while lawmakers have a responsibility to protect residents from harm. The final segment focused on Minnesota’s budget and economic forecast. Officials said the state is expected to end the 2026-2027 biennium with a surplus, but spending growth is projected to outpace revenues in the following years, creating a structural deficit of nearly $6 billion in fiscal years 2028-2029. Legislators said the forecast underscores the need to address spending, inflation, and long-term obligations such as special education and disability services, and some Republicans called for attention to waste, fraud, and abuse. The report noted that an updated forecast will be released in February, which could further shape budget negotiations.

Transcript Highlights:

• The surplus. For many, this sounds like the solution to our budget problems.
• The surplus was, and never is, a pile of money that we can just take from until it's depleted.
• Much of our surplus was spent last session, or the session before, when we made budget promises to the
• Another part of that $24 billion surplus balance included $6.6 billion in federal COVID relief dollars
• This funds, instead of returning the $24 billion surplus to the overtaxed, hard-working men and women

Bills: SB1637, SB1, HB300, SB2601, SB37, HB2011, HB3595, HB3071, SB12, HB3372, SB457, HB2067, SB2337, SB447, SB1506, SB1566, SB763, HB3556, SB13, SB2018, SB331, SB379, HB145, SB441, SB2878, HB2885, HB2017, HB5246, SB8, SB2308, SB1540, HB 119, SB1405, SB3059, SB15, SB568

Keywords: SB 1637, deadly conduct, Texas Penal Code, Section 22.05, firearm, gun, pointing a gun, recklessness presumption, peace officer, law enforcement, police, officer-involved shooting, use of force, justification, self-defense, defense of others, Chapter 9, criminal prosecution, Penal Code amendment, appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• So you added the full surplus statement.
• Will the VT then be in the surplus statement?
• So that's um in the surplus statement?
• But when we do a surplus is right now.
• 04:02:17.120> too, within the surplus statement too, within the surplus statement too, there'll

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 110, as amended by the Senate, which would establish fees for alteration-of-terrain applications and direct the Department of Environmental Services to adopt rules for a permit-by-notification process for certain projects. Trisha Milo introduced the bill for Senator Lang and noted that the department had worked on the amended language. Matt Mayberry of the New Hampshire Homebuilders Association said the industry strongly supported the bill, describing it as a public-private partnership that would speed review for developers without affecting local control, with builders paying the costs rather than taxpayers. Members focused heavily on how the bill’s fee structure and permit thresholds would work, especially for projects near shoreland, wetlands, and protected water bodies. Representative Opel raised concerns about whether the bill reduced review of habitat and shoreland impacts or shifted costs unfairly; Philip Trobridge of DES explained that the bill does not eliminate those reviews and that shoreland projects still receive greater scrutiny. He said the bill creates different tiers, with the permit-by-notification process applying to certain projects between 100,000 and 150,000 square feet that are not in protected shoreland, while larger or shoreland-affected projects remain under the standard review process. He also said the proposed fees were based on sustaining the program, covering added habitat and species review responsibilities, and keeping reviews efficient. Trobridge said the new fee structure would generate about $1.2 million in additional revenue and help fund additional staff and related program costs. He stated that the department had worked with the regulated community and believed the fees were fair and reasonable, though he acknowledged the bill’s wording was confusing and that the threshold could be revisited later if the new process works well. Members also discussed how the state process interacts with local approvals, and Trobridge said both state and local approvals are required before a project can begin. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Combined with what we have spent so far, that is more than we have left in our surplus.
• We have billions of dollars of surplus, and yet we are.
• unfunded mandates, and yet public school funding has remained flat while they hoard a record-breaking surplus

Transcript Highlights:

• This is surplus, fair share, so-called millionaires tax. We're talking about two of them today.
• This is surplus, fair share, so-called millionaires tax. ...in spending.
• This is surplus fair share, so-called millionaires tax dollars that were not expended in the FY24 operating
• We are in the middle now of FY25, and it looks as though there's going to be a significant surplus in

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate considered a series of amendments to a supplemental appropriations bill and related measures, with several adopted and several rejected or withdrawn. Early amendments on equitable approaches to public safety and a Holyoke local account clarification failed, while amendments providing $2.5 million for Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers technical assistance and expanding access to gender-affirming medications and mifepristone were adopted. The chamber also adopted a technical amendment on alternative protein grants, a clarification to ETF modernization, and an energy storage systems amendment. Other proposals on homeowner protections, La Casa funding, emergency contract reform, an energy dashboard, EV charging ratepayer impacts, hate crimes, distressed hospital payments, and task force membership were rejected or withdrawn. A substantial portion of the debate focused on health care, food assistance, and public safety. Senators spoke in support of funding for community health centers, hospital relief, and EBT anti-skimming protections, including $15.5 million for chip-enabled EBT cards and related replacement-benefit support. One amendment to strengthen protections against impersonating federal officers was rejected, while another on professional protections was withdrawn after discussion of ballot address privacy and security concerns. The Senate also adopted amendments to continue prior appropriations for a North Shore food pantry and drought management efforts, and it later approved a sick leave bank for a Department of Mental Health employee. The chamber then took up the fiscal year 2025 fair share supplemental budget conference report, which Ways and Means described as $1.39 billion in spending split between transportation and education, including MBTA improvements, Chapter 90 aid, regional transit authorities, special education circuit breaker reimbursements, higher education deferred maintenance, and career technical education capital grants. After a roll call, the bill passed, with one recorded negative vote. The Senate also adopted a separate Ways and Means amendment and ordered the bill to third reading before final passage. The session ended with adjournment motions and a moment of silence honoring Melissa and Mark Hortman and other victims of political violence, along with a memorial adjournment for firefighter Jeffrey DeSanchez.

Transcript Highlights:

• at a lapse currently that looks like it's going to be over the minimum lapse that we have on that surplus
• <00:16:50.880> have<00:16:51.200> on<00:16:51.360> that<00:16:51.560> surplus
• <00:16:52.080> So lapse that we have on that surplus.
• So lapse that we have on that surplus.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Joint Fiscal Committee met on May 15 at 10:00 a.m. and first approved the April 17 minutes. It then took up a consent calendar covering tabs three through seven, with items 089 and 097 removed for separate discussion. The committee approved the remainder of the consent calendar and then adopted item 089, which involved Department of Safety/Homeland Security grant funding for active shooter incident management and school reunification training. Officials said the project is a mandatory Homeland Security grant set-aside, with training for public safety officials and school districts and internal social media used only to promote training schedules; members asked about marketing, outcomes, and how success would be measured. The committee next considered item 097 for the Division of Historical Resources. Agency officials said the request was driven by a decade-long increase in Section 106 and state historic preservation reviews, many tied to disaster-related infrastructure work such as culvert and road repairs, and that the grant would add capacity to handle roughly 1,000 to 1,500 reviews per year. The committee approved the item after brief discussion. Under the regular calendar, the Department of Transportation presented a fuel-related transfer. Members questioned the decline in the highway fund balance, which staff said was being affected by rising expenses, flat-to-moderate revenue, and a rough winter that increased maintenance costs. DOT officials said they were considering toll rate increases and noted the agency pays market wholesale fuel rates; they also discussed prior fuel hedging decisions and said they have authority to hedge again if it makes sense. The committee approved the DOT item, then approved a miscellaneous action item to fill a position at the LBA. Members also asked the chair to remind the Attorney General to appear at a future meeting regarding the YDC claims report. The committee set its next meeting for Friday, June 19 at 11:00 a.m., and adjourned after a brief note of appreciation for recent corrections and changes reported by the liquor commission.

Transcript Highlights:

• WELL, WE'VE EMBARKED ON LOOKING AT PROJECTING HOW MUCH OF A SURPLUS DO WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AT
• THEN WE ARE LOOKING AT OKAY, HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN WE SERVE USING THAT SURPLUS RECURRING MONEY.
• GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICE WHERE IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE GOING HAVE MONEY REMAINING, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A SURPLUS
• YOU DON'T WANT TO RUN A DEFICIT WITH A SURPLUS, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU USE THAT MONEY TO PROVIDE THE

Transcript Highlights:

• LRCP25-042 from the New Hampshire Council on Resources and Development, two memorandums regarding surplus
• Development. two Resources and Development. two memorandums<00:26:40.559> regarding<00:26:41.120> surplus
• <00:26:41.600> land memorandums regarding surplus land memorandums regarding surplus land

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee met and first approved the June 30, 2025 meeting minutes. The committee then took up a series of Department of Transportation property actions, including authorization to grant an access point in Exeter, sell two small tracts in Keene, amend a prior Guilford disposal based on a revised survey and appraisal, sell 0.42 acres in Lincoln, list and sell 9.77 acres in Chesterfield, sell 0.54 acres in Fremont, and approve a permanent access easement in Belmont. The committee also approved a utility easement in Albany and a permanent access easement on Route 153 for the Bickfords. Most of these items involved direct sales or listings, administrative fees of $1,100, and conditions requiring surveys and local/state approvals; several were approved unanimously after brief or no questions. Representative Faulkner declared a conflict of interest on the Chesterfield item, and Representative Newman sat in for that matter; later, Faulkner was recused from the Belmont item as well. The committee also approved a Department of Administrative Services request to grant a perpetual utility line easement to Public Service Company of New Hampshire for a facility under construction at the Hampstead hospital property, with the administrative fee waived because the grant was in exchange for utility service. During discussion of informational item LRCP25-038, staff explained that no committee action was needed because the item was only to notify members that a parcel’s fair market value had been reduced due to a change in access. The committee received additional informational materials from the New Hampshire Council on Resources and Development, including minutes from its May 8 meeting and memorandums on surplus land review for Meredith and Hampstead. The next meeting was set for December 9 at 9:30 a.m. at Granite Place, Room 228, and the chair noted the meeting would be on a Tuesday because of building scheduling. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think expensive is a little bit subjective, seeing as we had a $185 billion surplus.
• had<00:08:58.399> an<00:08:58.440> $185<00:08:59.079> billion<00:08:59.640> Surplus
• c><00:09:00.120> we<00:09:00.240> had<00:09:00.360> that had an $185 billion Surplus
• we had that had an $185 billion Surplus we had that 10<00:09:00.760> a.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of you are very familiar with, but it's going to go retroactive so that we can utilize some of the surplus
• In fact, we're operating with a surplus right now, and what this is projected to do is absorb some of
• that surplus that we're operating with.

Summary: The Senate Revenue and Tax Committee met to consider Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senator Jonathan Dismang, which continues the state’s long-running effort to reduce Arkansas income tax rates. Dismang said the bill would lower the personal income tax rate retroactive to January 1, 2026 and delay the corporate income tax change until the following January, bringing the rate down from 7% to 3.7%. He also said the bill would use existing surplus funds and estimated that a person making $65,000 would see their effective tax burden reduced by about 45% compared with earlier rates. The committee heard several witnesses in opposition, including a United Methodist pastor/social worker, a parent describing her son’s disability and need for supported living services, representatives from Arkansas Appleseed and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, and a Marshallese community advocate. They argued that Arkansas should preserve revenue for public schools, health care, food assistance, housing, rural hospitals, early childhood education, and disability services, and said the tax cuts would disproportionately benefit higher-income taxpayers while providing little relief to working families. Several speakers cited low state spending relative to national averages and warned that further cuts would worsen existing service gaps. In closing, Dismang and other supporters said the state can be both compassionate and competitive, that no essential services would be cut by the bill, and that Arkansas has continued to grow revenue despite prior tax reductions. Members emphasized balancing service funding with economic competitiveness and noted the legislature’s focus on lower-income tax brackets in earlier reforms. The committee then voted to do pass SB1, and the bill was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• of you are very familiar with, but it's going to go retroactive so that we can utilize some of the surplus
• In fact, we're operating with a surplus right now, and what this is projected to do is absorb some of
• that surplus that we're operating with.

Summary: The Senate Revenue and Tax Committee considered Senate Bill 1, sponsored by Senator Jonathan Dismang, which would continue Arkansas’s phased income tax reductions, lowering the personal income tax rate to 3.7% and delaying the corporate income tax change until the following January. Dismang said the bill was part of a long-running effort begun in 2013 to reduce rates using conservative budgeting and surplus revenue, and he estimated the change would reduce the effective tax burden for a person making $65,000 by about 45%. Committee members supporting the bill emphasized that the measure would not cut state services and argued Arkansas should balance competitiveness with funding essential programs. Several speakers opposed the bill, including a clergy member/social worker, a parent advocating for disability services, representatives from Arkansas Appleseed and Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, and a community advocate from the Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese. They argued the state should preserve revenue for public schools, health care, housing, food assistance, early childhood education, and supported living services, citing underfunded schools, a waitlist for pre-K, hospital and child care pressures, and the needs of low-income and vulnerable residents. Some speakers said the tax cuts would disproportionately benefit higher-income taxpayers while providing little relief to working families. In closing, Dismang said Arkansas could be both compassionate and competitive and that no essential services would be cut because the state is operating with a surplus. After discussion, Senator Dismang moved do pass, Senator Petty seconded, and the committee approved SB 1 by voice vote. The committee then adjourned.