Video & Transcript : 'nonpotable water' :
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HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
PBS Info Briefing - Mon Feb 3, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- > for demolition of that site and since for demolition of that site and since the<00:20:28.679><c> water
- </c><00:20:29.200><c> sewer</c><00:20:30.200><c> and</c><00:20:30.400><c> electrical</c> the water sewer
- and electrical the water sewer and electrical infrastructure<00:20:31.320><c> is</c><00:20:31.600><c
- </c><01:13:07.080><c> system</c> things like the the the hot water system things like the the the hot
- water system the<01:13:08.080><c> ventilation</c><01:13:08.920><c> system</c><01:13:09.600><c> things
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- have tremendous funding initiatives with the border and Medicaid and with heavy infrastructure and water
- We have a fabulous public school system, and we have a one-water school that shows that public education
- And we are, and water is a big deal. We don't have water.
- So, and by the way, I haven't been able to have a drink of water in the last four hours because we can't
- open our water bottles.
Committee:
Senate Education
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Members from both parties emphasized education as a major issue, while several Republicans framed the committee’s work around school choice and parent empowerment. Senator West and other Democrats stressed protecting public schools, listening to Texans, and considering the effects of vouchers or education savings accounts on school districts and communities.
Chairman Creighton laid out Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, describing it as a universal education savings account program modeled on similar programs in other states. He said the bill would provide about $200 million for a universal eligibility pool and additional funding for students with disabilities and lower-income families, with priority weighting for former public school students. He also highlighted anti-fraud measures, vendor pre-approval, criminal background checks, cybersecurity protections, annual testing requirements for participating students, and the use of the Comptroller rather than TEA to administer the program. Creighton repeatedly said the bill is not a voucher and argued it would not take money from public schools, which he said would receive separate historic funding increases.
Members questioned Creighton about the 500% of federal poverty line definition, the adequacy of the $10,000 ESA amount, whether the program would favor students already in private school, how microschools and homeschool pods would fit, and whether the bill protects religious liberty and private-school autonomy. Democrats raised concerns about disability protections, 504 students, foster children, public-school funding, open records, and the historical context of vouchers. Republicans generally supported the bill as a way to expand options for parents and students, while also asking about administration, fraud prevention, and data security. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, with EdChoice President Robert Inlow presenting in support of SB 2 and citing the growth and reported success of school choice programs nationwide.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Informal House Session 4 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Third reading of the bill: An act relative to the Board of Water Commissioners of the Dalton Fire District
Summary:
The House opened with the Wellesley High School girls’ swim team leading the Pledge of Allegiance and being formally recognized for winning its sixth Division Two State Swim and Diving Championship. The chamber also received a resignation letter from Representative Natalie M. Blais of the First Franklin District, effective January 19, 2026, which was placed on file.
The House then acted on several procedural and local matters. It adopted committee reports extending reporting deadlines for the Education and Public Service committees to March 18, 2026, and advanced three bills to third reading: a Boston Police age-waiver bill for Louis Cabral and sick leave bank bills for Marnie Jean Goldstein and William Blaylock. The House also passed to enactment charter amendments for Provincetown and Greenfield, concurred in a Senate amendment to a Wellesley land-conveyance bill, and engrossed bills concerning the Dalton Fire District Board of Water Commissioners and Milton alcohol licensing.
On House No. 4717, relating to the annual town meeting for Orange, the House adopted an amendment offered by Representative Walsh and then passed the bill as amended. Later, on House No. 1110 concerning subprime loans, the House adopted an amendment discharging the bill from the Bills in the Third Reading committee and referred it to the Committee on Ways and Means. The House also adopted a special adjournment in memory of former Representative Salvatore Semino and adjourned to meet Tuesday at 11 a.m. in informal session.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Informal House Session 24 Mar 16th, 2026
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- prepared and are now before the House: House No. 528, an act enhancing certain powers of the Board of Water
Summary:
The House met in formal session, began with the Pledge of Allegiance, and adopted the Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling report setting a series of bills for consideration. The calendar included local bills on Brockton residency requirements, Salem election administration, Longmeadow preliminary elections, Charlemont recall elections, Conway election rules, Concord remote town meeting participation, North Attleborough’s senior property tax exemption, Holyoke City Council meetings, Southbridge and Raynham liquor licenses, and Reading’s home rule charter, along with statewide measures on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, non-competition agreements, fresh fruits and vegetables in schools, and consumer rights of renters. The House suspended Rule 7A, then ordered the listed bills to a third reading.
The chamber then took up several engrossed bills for final passage. House No. 4763, validating the results of Bourne’s May 20, 2025 annual election, was passed to be enacted after a required separate constitutional vote on the emergency preamble, which was adopted. The House also passed to be enacted bills enhancing powers of the Cataumet Fire District water commissioners, authorizing the Otis Fire District to fund the Historical Society of East Falmouth and Cataumet, and further regulating the Salem licensing board.
Additional third-reading actions included House No. 4321, allowing the Dalton Fire District to continue employing interim fire chief Christopher Francis Chahot, which was ordered to a third reading, and House Nos. 4267 and 4582, waiving maximum age requirements for a Boston police officer and a Boston firefighter, both of which were passed to be engrossed. After a recess, House No. 4763 was again taken up and passed to be enacted. The House then adopted an order to meet the following Wednesday at 11 a.m. and adjourned to that time, with notice of a Democratic caucus at noon.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Mar 16th, 2026
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Jan 22nd, 2026 at 09:08 am
House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a water.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Informal House Session 4 Jan 15th, 2026
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Joint Minerals, Business & Economic Development Committee, June 4, 2026 - PM
Minerals, Business & Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- very good and that navigate those waters very good and could<00:20:31.280><c> work</c><00:20:31.440>
- or fiber or airports or access to water or fiber or airports or workforce<01:04:21.359><c> or</c><01
- And obviously some of that money would not only go for curbs and gutters, sewer, water, but also for
- And obviously some of that money would not only go for curbs and gutters, sewer, water, but also for
- And obviously some of that money would not only go for curbs and gutters, sewer, water, but also for
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs (01/23/2026)
State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><01:30:24.239><c> because</c> flip what we had into the water because flip what we had into the water
- what woke me up was a mixture of oil So what woke me up was a mixture of oil and<01:32:21.600><c> water
- ,</c><01:32:22.159><c> the</c><01:32:22.400><c> ocean</c> and water, the ocean and water, the ocean coming
- By then, the compartment is already half full of water.
- workmen took a big, huge canvas and wrapped it around the belly of the ship so when the water was let
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (04/14/2025)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Bill 65, relative to storm water management for solar arrays.
- <00:07:01.520><c> relative</c><00:07:02.000><c> to</c><00:07:02.319><c> storm</c><00:07:02.639><c> water
- </c><00:07:03.039><c> management</c> 65 relative to storm water management 65 relative to storm water
- </c><01:01:48.400><c> actually</c> that we got from Senator Waters actually that we got from Senator
- </c><01:02:09.040><c> had</c> to at least what Senator Waters had to at least what Senator Waters had
Committee:
House Science, Technology and Energy
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- The Committee on Judiciary and Elections and the Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water recommend
- President, the Committee on Judiciary and Elections and the Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water
- House Bill 2257, document sections 5232 and 5383, on site statute, rebutting, and water sports.
- Nobody has worked harder on one of our most important issues, which is water, than Senator Dunn has.
- SB 1217, water supply, development fund, cap. Rules. S. 1256, and Z4, technical correction.
Summary:
The Senate met, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then handled a series of messages and floor actions. The chamber transmitted a large group of Senate bills to the governor and Senate Concurrent Memorial 1004 to the Secretary of State. It also received House requests to return Senate Bills 1175 and 1198 for reconsideration, which were granted without objection. The Senate then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several House concurrent resolutions.
On H.C.R. 2001, a constitutional referral on election requirements, senators debated a Judiciary Committee amendment and a Hoffman floor amendment that would require voter ID, allow election-day tabulation of early ballots at polling places, and require legislative funding for implementation. Supporters said the measure would improve election security, voter confidence, and speed up results; opponents argued it was vague, could undermine mail voting, and lacked clear implementation details. The amendment was adopted, and after further debate the Committee of the Whole gave H.C.R. 2001 a do-pass recommendation by a 15-12 vote. Later, on third reading, the full Senate passed H.C.R. 2001 by a 16-12 vote and transmitted it to the House.
The chamber also considered H.C.R. 2003, a referral on student athletics and biological sex. Senator Ortiz offered a floor amendment to replace the blanket ban approach with rules based on athletic ability and inclusion; supporters said it would preserve fairness while avoiding discrimination, while opponents said it would gut the measure and weaken protections for girls’ sports. The Ortiz amendment failed 11-16, and H.C.R. 2003 then received a do-pass recommendation in Committee of the Whole and later passed third reading. H.C.R. 2044, a referral on prohibiting preferential treatment and discrimination, also received a do-pass recommendation without recorded controversy. The Senate then adjourned after completing the remaining procedural motions and votes.
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-05-13 - 10:00AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- They fleshed that out to include water<00:53:06.160><c> conservation</c><00:53:07.200><c> uh</c><00:53
- :07.359><c> projects</c><00:53:07.680><c> and</c><00:53:07.920><c> then</c> water conservation uh projects
- and then water conservation uh projects and then gave<00:53:08.480><c> us</c><00:53:08.720><c> a</c>
- > as</c><00:53:14.400><c> well</c><00:53:14.559><c> as</c><00:53:14.800><c> a</c><00:53:14.960><c> water
- </c><00:53:15.280><c> conservation</c> have uh as well as a water conservation have uh as well as a water
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
HOU-EDU, HOU Public Hearings 03-17-2026
Transcript Highlights:
- last year as well, and we had proposed to do away with the impact fees last year and the measure got watered
- last year as well, and we had proposed to do away with the impact fees last year and the measure got watered
- last year as well, and we had proposed to do away with the impact fees last year and the measure got watered
- last year as well, and we had proposed to do away with the impact fees last year and the measure got watered
- last year as well, and we had proposed to do away with the impact fees last year and the measure got watered
Summary:
The joint House committees on Housing and Education heard HB 1713, HD1, which would repeal school impact fees and transfer remaining balances in the school impact fee and certain fair share accounts to the school facilities special fund. The Department of Education testified in opposition, while the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, the Attorney General’s office (with comments and suggested constitutional amendments), the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, the School Facilities Authority, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, NAP Hawaii, Avalon Development Company, Mark Development, Maui Chamber of Commerce, Housing Hawaii’s Future, Landis Research Foundation, BIA Hawaii, and others testified in support. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii offered comments. The DOE said the bill would weaken a key tool for matching school facilities to residential growth, while supporters said the current program leaves funds unused or restricted in ways that limit their effectiveness.
A lengthy discussion followed about the difference between the older school impact fee program and the separate fair share agreements tied to land use entitlements and change-of-zone approvals. DOE Deputy Superintendent Jesse Suki explained that fair share funds are tied to the district where they were collected, may be too small to build a full school on their own, and are held until needed for projects such as Core Ridge, Central and West Maui, and other planned schools. Committee members pressed DOE on why funds had remained unspent for years, how much money was in the accounts, and whether the department had reviewed audit findings about the program. Members also questioned whether homeowners ultimately bear these costs through developers passing them along.
The committee did not take a vote during the portion of the meeting provided. The discussion ended with members and DOE debating whether the current statute should remain in place, whether past entitlements should be affected, and whether the bill should be amended to better address remaining construction-related obligations and the use of collected funds.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- areas where I'm proud to have done a lot of work, and working with you, is strengthening Florida's water
- years, we have made meaningful progress in protecting and restoring our waterways, from strengthening water
- The policies we deal with here, whether it's water management, health care, insurance, education, or
- Our communities is a slap in the face for my grandmother, who drank out of Black water fountains, who
- He is an accomplished distance runner, open-water swimmer, and enjoys hiking and surfing.
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for Army Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, the Pledge of Allegiance, and quorum established. Members approved the journal and adopted the special order report setting the day’s calendar. The chamber also recognized Sheriff Mike Chitwood as law enforcement officer of the day and later held several introductions and farewell remarks, including lengthy closing speeches from Representatives Eskamani and Overdorf reflecting on their service and legislative priorities.
The House then took up and passed a series of Senate bills, often after adopting House strike-all or conforming amendments. CS/SB 590 on mandatory child abuse reporting was clarified to apply prospectively only and passed 111-0. SB 418 on law enforcement interactions with individuals with autism was amended to incorporate House language, including blue-envelope provisions, and passed 111-0. CS/CS/SB 1668 on the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA) was amended to preserve House provisions and passed 112-0. CS/SB 1246 on the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund was amended to expand eligible health science programs and allow certain non-health-care contributions, then passed 112-0. CS/CS/SB 1404 on memory care passed 111-0.
Later bills also advanced with broad support: CS/CS/SB 1030 on recovery residences passed 168-0 after debate over medication-assisted treatment; CS/CS/SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools passed 112-0 after amendments allowing limited coach support for student-athletes with parental consent; CS/CS/SB 422 on automatic dependent surveillance broadcasts passed 108-2; and CS/CS/SB 598 on funeral, cemetery, and consumer services passed 111-0 after an amendment on exclusive arrangements. The chamber then began debate on CS/CS/SB 1134, which would restrict counties and municipalities from official DEI-related actions and contracting practices. Members questioned its scope and exceptions, and Representative Gant offered an amendment to narrow the bill’s DEI definition; debate on that amendment was underway when the transcript ended.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 40 (3-5-26)
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate Joint Resolution 62, directing the Division of Water to provide recommendations and clear guidance
- Senate Joint Resolution 62, directing the Division of Water to provide recommendations and clear guidance
- Senate Joint Resolution 62, directing the Division of Water to provide recommendations and clear guidance
- Senate Joint Resolution 62, directing the Division of Water to provide recommendations and clear guidance
- Senate Joint Resolution 62, directing the Division of Water to provide recommendations and clear guidance
Summary:
The Senate convened, opened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, excused absent members, and approved the journal. The House clerk then announced that the House had passed several bills and requested concurrence. The chamber also received second-reading reports for a number of bills and resolutions, which were referred to the Rules Committee, and committee reports from the Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee and the Judiciary Committee recommending passage of several measures. New resolutions were also introduced, including one honoring Michael Mingi, Amanda Maize, and Senator Maize Bledsoe, and another designating March 31, 2026, as Kentucky Transitional Science Day.
The Senate then took up Senate Bill 145, relating to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The chamber concurred in House Committee Substitute 1 and House Floor Amendment 1, then passed the bill as amended by a roll call vote of 35 yeas and 2 nays. The Senate next considered Senate Bill 59, relating to prohibited uses of tax dollars and resources. After adopting Senate Committee Substitute 1, members debated whether the bill’s enforcement provisions were needed to prevent public funds from being used to influence ballot questions; supporters cited prior school-related advocacy, while one opponent raised concerns about possible uneven treatment of schools receiving federal funds. The bill passed 28-9.
Finally, the Senate took up Senate Bill 137, relating to a provisional license to practice medicine. Supporters described Kentucky’s physician shortage, especially in rural areas, and argued the bill would help recruit foreign medical graduates by allowing a path to licensure based on prior residency and work experience. A floor amendment was offered to preserve standards by emphasizing U.S. residency pathways and cautioning against lowering the standard of care, but the amendment was withdrawn after discussion. The bill remained under consideration at the end of the transcript.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention - 03/05/26
Housing and Homelessness Prevention
Transcript Highlights:
- I was asked to wait while water remained in the home.
- The water being turned off, I think, was one of them.
- </c><00:25:17.400><c> The</c><00:25:17.560><c> water</c><00:25:17.920><c> being</c> can't remember them
- The water being can't remember them all.
- The water being turned<00:25:18.440><c> off,</c><00:25:18.680><c> I</c><00:25:18.760><c> think,</c><00
Committee:
Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Legislative Oversight & Investigations Committee (10-9-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- I mean, makes you wonder sometimes whether they could put something in the water to stop this, but, you
- The speaker said the situation made him wonder whether something could be put in the water to stop it
- You know, that's 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without food.
- ,</c><01:18:20.600><c> and</c><01:18:20.760><c> 3</c><01:18:21.080><c> weeks</c> 3 days without water
- , and 3 weeks 3 days without water, and 3 weeks without<01:18:21.920><c> food.
Keywords:
Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:01
SERVS Informational Update- 00:01:22
Child Removal and Reunification Update: Department for Community Based Services Financials- 00:03:00
Small Business Sales Tax Websites: Department of Revenue-00:28:05
Senior Citizen Meal Programs: Department for Aging and Independent Living-00:35:50
Adjournment-01:41:57, 958, all
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from the September 11 meeting by motion and voice vote. It then received a brief update on the statewide emergency responder voice system, but no presenter was present. The chair said he expected a more substantive update in November and warned that if there is not real progress on acquiring needed private properties, the committee may consider further action, including possibly freezing funding.
The main discussion centered on the Department for Community Based Services’ child removal and reunification work and its structured decision-making tools. Commissioner Lisa Dennis and General Counsel Wesley Duke explained that the intake, safety, and risk assessment tools are being used at very high rates and that the department is still implementing and evaluating the system. Dennis said the tools are meant to inform, not replace, professional judgment; when staff disagree with a recommendation, the worker and first-line supervisor consult and decide together. Members questioned whether the system favors keeping children in the home, whether the department has studied safety outcomes for in-home cases versus removals, and whether foster home shortages affect removal decisions. Dennis said child safety remains the top priority, that the practice has not changed, and that the department would provide additional data on outcomes later. Members also asked about permanency timelines and delays in termination of parental rights cases; Dennis said federal timelines are difficult to meet because of family progress, substance use recovery, and court delays, and she confirmed foster parent shortages were not the reason for those delays.
The committee then heard a presentation from the Department of Revenue on the new My Taxes portal. Staff said the portal, launched in March, replaced DOR’s portion of the old Kentucky One Stop Business Portal and now allows businesses to file and pay multiple taxes, update account information, and receive official notices. They reported the system is available 24/7 except for scheduled maintenance every other Thursday evening, has maintained over 99% availability since launch, and now has a dedicated contact center with 50 agents plus a public help line and email. In response to questions, the department said early downtime was caused by unexpectedly high traffic, but server capacity was increased and in the last three months there had been only one day of unexpected downtime.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Jul 16th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- It actually began with water in about 2020.
- highlighted what we then described as troubling signs of possible market manipulation in California's water
- And that is so apparent to me in your focus when I was water chair on water for your community, on the
- So apparent to me in your focus when I was water chair on water for your community, on the ag community
Summary:
The committee heard several AI- and consumer-protection-related bills, with extensive testimony from authors, supporters, and industry opponents. SB 53 by Senator Wiener would create transparency requirements for large AI developers, including disclosure of safety and security protocols, reporting of critical safety incidents, whistleblower protections, and the CalCompute public cloud. Supporters said it is a narrower, transparency-based follow-up to last year’s vetoed AI safety bill, while opponents argued it still relies too much on company size, could expose trade secrets, and should be narrowed further. The committee approved SB 53 on a do-pass-as-amended vote to Appropriations, with the roll held open for absent members.
SB 766 by Senator Allen would codify the FTC’s Cars Rule and create a three-day cooling-off period for certain used-car purchases, along with stronger disclosure rules on pricing, add-ons, and government affiliation claims. Supporters said it would save consumers money and time and help buyers avoid bad deals, while dealer and industry groups said amendments addressed many of their concerns. Several former opponents moved to neutral, and the committee passed SB 766 unanimously as amended to Appropriations.
SB 7 by Senator McNerney would regulate automated decision-making systems in employment by requiring notice, human review for discipline and termination, and limits on predictive behavior analysis. Labor and consumer advocates supported the bill as a safeguard against biased or overly automated workplace decisions, while employer and industry groups raised concerns about scope, notice burdens, and the predictive-analysis ban. The committee passed SB 7 to Appropriations on a 4-2 vote, with the roll held open. SB 833, also by Senator McNerney, would require human oversight of AI used in critical infrastructure, along with training and system assessments; it drew limited opposition focused on scope, and the committee passed it as amended to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote, also holding the roll open.
Later, the committee took up SB 11, which would address AI-generated voice, image, and video cloning and deepfakes by clarifying likeness protections, requiring consumer warnings, and addressing misuse and evidence tampering. Supporters framed it as a targeted response to nonconsensual deepfakes, while industry groups said recent amendments improved the bill but still had concerns about penalties and warning language. The committee also heard SB 720, the Safer Streets Act, which would let cities opt into a revised red-light camera system that shifts from driver to owner liability, removes facial identification, makes violations civil rather than criminal, and directs revenue toward transportation safety projects; the author presented the bill, but the transcript ends before any final action on SB 720.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The purpose of the project is to give listeners an understanding of how Minnesota's clean water, land
- 59:00.760><c> are</c><00:59:01.359><c> Minnesota's</c><00:59:02.119><c> clean</c><00:59:02.440><c> water
- </c><00:59:02.799><c> land</c><00:59:03.200><c> and</c> how are Minnesota's clean water land and how
- are Minnesota's clean water land and Legacy<00:59:03.839><c> funds</c><00:59:04.520><c> how</c><00:59
- :59:26.520><c> clean</c> benefited from min Minnesota's clean benefited from min Minnesota's clean water
Committee:
House Legacy Finance
Keywords:
public television, funding, grants, arts and culture, Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio, arts education, cultural heritage, community engagement, public radio, community radio, educational grants, community cable, public access, programming funding, civic engagement, ethnic media, public access television, Minnesota Humanities Center, funding appropriation
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- in the upcoming supplemental budget, including $2.5 billion in new funding to bolster the state's water
- It allowed you to make critical investments in infrastructure, including broadband, water, higher education
- I think that, you know, I'd get around to it, but water would be a—I thought you'd bring that up.
- And some of the main points I'd like to call out: the $2.5 billion for water infrastructure and supply
- And some of the main points I'd like to call out, the $2.5 billion for water infrastructure and supply
Bills:
SB 1
Committee:
Senate Finance
Keywords:
campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs.
Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue.
The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.