Transcript Highlights:

• A fiscal note has been requested and it's in process.
• Just a couple of points here: would you just simply clarify on this legislation?
• So our request is...
• So we do not support the legislation as written.
• So we think this is really important legislation.

Bills: SB6239 , SB6074 , SB5886 , SB6041 , SB6190

Committee: Senate Law & Justice

Keywords: tort claims, state liability, Washington law, government accountability, legal process, parole, criminal justice reform, felony, recidivism, rehabilitation, public safety, personality rights, right of publicity, publicity rights, name image likeness, NIL, deepfake, AI-generated content, digital impersonation, forged digital likeness

Transcript Highlights:

• This is my third legislative session. Happy to be working with you. Thank you. Mr.
• I staff finance and appropriations, transportation, and technology. This is my 31st session. Mr.
• The legislative intent of this bill is to help every single student.
• There was a legislator from Tucson, Cavera, that posed the bill.
• Because of this, I am personally and deeply invested in this legislation.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard a series of bills, many dealing with cryptocurrency and tax administration. SB 1042 would allow certain state retirement and treasury funds to invest up to 10% in virtual currency; SB 1043 would let state agencies accept cryptocurrency payments; SB 1044 and SCR 1003 would exempt virtual currency from property tax, with SB 1044 contingent on voter approval of the referral. All four measures advanced on 4-3 votes, with Democratic members largely opposing them as risky, speculative, and favoring wealthy crypto interests. The committee also considered SB 1221, which would require the Department of Revenue to notify legislative tax chairs before adopting a new tax interpretation or application that would adversely affect taxpayers and to testify if a hearing is held. Supporters framed it as transparency and good governance, while opponents worried about added red tape and administrative burden. The bill passed 4-3. Another major item, SB 1142, would opt Arizona into a new federal scholarship tax credit program administered through certified scholarship-granting organizations; supporters said it would expand scholarship opportunities for public, charter, private, and homeschool students, while opponents argued it would deepen inequities, lack accountability, and divert resources from public schools. That bill also passed 4-3. A lengthy discussion followed on the Department of Revenue’s press release about tax conformity and the governor’s executive order. DOR explained that the forms were issued assuming conformity with federal changes, including the standard deduction and certain below-the-line adjustments, and said taxpayers generally should file on time but may need amended returns if the Legislature later changes the law. Members pressed DOR on the cost and clarity of the guidance, with estimates that widespread amendments could cost the department about $20 million. Finally, the committee heard SB 1254, which would require both grantor and grantee signatures on real property conveyances before recording; county assessors said it would reduce deed-fraud risk and fix recording gaps. County officials from Maricopa and Mohave supported the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had to say we were only able to prove about 10% of the actual projects requested.
• Pass to the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget.
• to the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget.
• We will also be recommending the appropriation of interest funds to address these gaps.
• all of our members will at least on the appropriation budget.

Committee: Senate Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, the administration had to request a supplemental appropriation bill of $2.8 billion in March
• So we've had a lot of pieces of legislation.
• So we've had a lot of pieces of legislation.
• This uniform dollar add-on increase is the more appropriate mechanism to utilize.
• Karina Hendren with the Legislative Analyst's Office.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health held the first of several hearings on the Governor’s May Revision for health care, with opening remarks focused on the state’s projected $12 billion deficit, looming federal Medicaid changes, and the potential impact on Medi-Cal, public health, reproductive health, and safety-net providers. Several members criticized the proposal as balancing the budget on vulnerable Californians, while others defended the need for cost containment and questioned the administration’s assumptions. The chair set ground rules for respectful, focused questioning and outlined three topics: the Medi-Cal proposals, Proposition 35, and Proposition 56. DHCS Director Michelle Baas presented the May Revision’s Medi-Cal package, saying the department’s budget totals $200.6 billion overall, including $45.2 billion General Fund, and that the proposals are intended to address rising caseloads, pharmacy costs, and managed care spending. She described proposed changes for adults with unsatisfactory immigration status, including a freeze on new full-scope enrollment for those 19 and older, $100 monthly premiums beginning in 2027, elimination of adult dental and long-term care coverage, removal of PPS/RAP payments to FQHCs and rural health clinics for that population, and a pharmacy rebate aggregator. Other proposals included eliminating certain OTC drug classes, removing GLP-1 coverage for weight loss, prior authorization and step therapy changes, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset test, eliminating acupuncture as an optional benefit, allowing utilization management for hospice, raising the managed care minimum medical loss ratio to 90%, reducing PACE capitation rates toward the midpoint of the actuarial range, eliminating the skilled nursing facility workforce and quality incentive program, and suspending the SNF backup power requirement. The LAO said the revised Medi-Cal spending estimate is about $2.5 billion higher than the Governor’s Budget in the budget year, and that the increase appears driven more by higher per-enrollee costs than by caseload alone. The LAO said the budget solutions are concentrated in a few areas, are largely ongoing, and should be considered in light of federal uncertainty, but suggested the Legislature could explore alternatives such as more targeted income thresholds for the undocumented expansion and simpler asset-test rules. Department of Finance officials said the proposals are difficult but necessary to address a third consecutive deficit and rising Medi-Cal costs. Members then pressed the administration on the methodology and impacts of the proposals, especially the enrollment freeze, premiums, asset test, hospice controls, PACE reductions, and the elimination of benefits and provider payments. No votes or formal actions were taken at this hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 138 is budget-related legislation that establishes legislative intent to provide more statewide uniformity
• And I think it was appropriate because...
• That, number one, it is validated appropriately.
• It shouldn't take new legislation and tax funds.
• It shouldn't take new legislation and tax funds.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• request.
• >> We’ve modified our request down. We’re no longer requesting 70.
• </c> requesting to stay at 62. requesting to stay at 62.
• And so the difference in our request this year from previous years is we need a general fund appropriation
• And so the difference in our request this year from previous years is we need a general fund appropriation

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 22 January, 2026: 1:30 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Section seven is appropriation section. Section seven is appropriation section.
• </c><00:10:23.519><c> The</c> reimbursement um appropriation. The reimbursement um appropriation.
• </c> fund appropriation. fund appropriation.
• This is the 2023 laws appropriation for fiscal years 24 and 25 and allows those appropriations to be
• Then the next section is the Laws 2025 appropriation and allows appropriations to be available until

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would request a roll call, please. Roll call requested. Roll call granted. Uh, Mr.
• </c> not appropriations not appropriations and<00:25:06.720><c> um</c> and um and um on<00:25:08.000>
• </c> because $10 million was appropriated because $10 million was appropriated back<00:32:19.960><c>
• </c> this money was appropriated years ago. this money was appropriated years ago.
• </c> legislation in a bipartisan fashion. legislation in a bipartisan fashion.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:49.440><c> two</c> within our budget, we had requested two within our budget, we had requested
• Chairman, uh the appropriation, Mr.
• c> Appropriations, Travel, Recreation, Appropriations, Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, Wildlife, Wildlife
• ><00:23:15.960><c> a</c><00:23:16.280><c> interim</c> appropriations when this was a interim appropriations
• Uh it is uh an direct appropriation.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 57.440><c> strong</c><00:16:57.680><c> funded</c> appropriate assumptions, a strong funded appropriate
• This legislation provides a 2237.
• 22:52.960><c> uh</c><00:22:53.120><c> the</c> involves the the legisl uh the involves the the legisl
• </c><00:25:59.600><c> You're</c> 1.5 for legislative members. You're 1.5 for legislative members.
• </c> there's a request for a roll call. there's a request for a roll call.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If we appropriate something or if I appropriate something, you know, by under the law, it can all be
• I mean, obviously it wasn't a department request, but it wasn't a request of theirs.
• I've had conversations with them, that's my request.
• That was a department request. This is a partial restoration.
• That's something they've requested.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee heard extended discussion of the chair’s House budget substitute, especially House Bill 2 for elementary and secondary education and House Bill 3 for higher education. The chair said the operating budget leaves roughly $300 million in reserve, explained several cuts and restorations, and described proposed changes to child care, including cutting enhancement payments and keeping attendance-based rather than enrollment-based subsidy payments. Representative Fogle objected to the child care cuts and the proposed language limiting the department’s move to prospective payment and enrollment-based reimbursement; State Budget Director Dan Hogg testified that the governor’s office still intended to move to payment on enrollment in May if the budget language did not block it, while prospective payment remained under review because of federal funding concerns. The chair also explained a restriction on Parents as Teachers services for children already in public pre-K, and members debated whether that would reduce duplication or improperly limit services. The chair further proposed a new competitive Title I innovation grant program funded by a reallocation of some Title I dollars, with questions raised about what services would be reduced to offset it. The bulk of the meeting focused on a major higher education funding overhaul in House Bill 3. The chair and vice chair proposed replacing the current base-plus model with an FTE-based formula that would distribute the same overall state funding according to student credit hours, with community colleges funded on a 12-hour FTE, four-year undergraduate students on a 15-hour FTE, and graduate enrollment discussed as a separate issue. They said the goal was to make funding follow students rather than institutions and to reduce long-standing disparities between schools. Several members supported the idea as overdue and more transparent, while others warned it was being done too quickly and could harm institutions with high-cost programs, research missions, or smaller enrollments. Concerns were raised about possible closures, accreditation problems, and unintended effects on workforce programs such as nursing, engineering, and technical training. The chair and vice chair said there was no intent to force consolidation, but acknowledged that some institutions would gain and others would lose under the new model. Members also questioned how the formula would treat research and doctoral funding, especially at the University of Missouri, and whether graduate programs were properly counted. The chair said some special-purpose lines were retained, but a large portion of MU’s research and doctoral funding was folded into the broader pool and redistributed through the FTE model. Several members asked for clarification on whether graduate hours were counted at nine credits, and the chair said he was not certain and would seek follow-up from staff or the department. Community college representatives were discussed as having unanimously opposed the recommendation, and the chair noted that the institutions were briefed only shortly before the hearing. No votes were taken during the exchange, and the committee appeared to be gathering testimony and concerns ahead of markup and future action on the budget bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• , I feel confident that the appropriated, I feel confident that the department<00:07:03.840><c> can</
• The office of legislative<00:09:49.279><c> order</c><00:09:49.440><c> and</c><00:09:49.600><c> other<
• /c><00:09:49.920><c> pointed</c><00:09:50.160><c> out</c> legislative order and other pointed out legislative
• </c> should have stronger legislation for. should have stronger legislation for.
• This is not an appropriate recommendation.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And at the appropriate time, Mr. Chair, I'd like to move favorable in the minutes.
• Members, our goal with this piece of legislation is to give children their voices back.
• Members, our goal with this piece of legislation is to give children their voices back.
• Nick Cuncle, Louisiana State Law Institute, present providing information if requested.
• H.B. 603 went through Appropriations Committee, 16-0, and of course... ...went through Appropriations

Bills: HB165 , HB603 , SB77 , SB140 , SB185

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: HB165, lottery proceeds, Lottery Proceeds Fund, Veterans Service Grant Fund, constitutional amendment, veterans, military veterans, veterans' benefits, veterans services, family support, state lottery, education funding, Minimum Foundation Program, problem gambling, compulsive gaming, state treasurer, ballot proposition, constitutional referendum, lottery revenue, Louisiana resident veterans

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 821 would appropriate $3.866 million per year to provide water treatment systems and well
• Idess, identify yourself and proceed. continue Appropriations that will help continue Appropriations
• of 2.8 million enhance the appropriation of 2.8 million that<00:23:37.640><c> was</c><00:23:37.799><
• </c> due to clean water fund Appropriations due to clean water fund Appropriations to<00:26:09.440><c
• He thought it would be easy as a legislator, but it was still rigorous to get recertified.

Bills: HF363 , HF2155 , HF1524 , HF821 , HF1677 , HF1292

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF363, property tax credit, agricultural water quality credit, Minnesota agricultural water quality certification program, clean water fund, class 2a, class 2b, certified acres, conservation incentive, water quality, agricultural property, county assessor, county auditor, Department of Revenue, Department of Agriculture, property tax reimbursement, school district reimbursement, legacy finance, taxes committee, southeastern Minnesota

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that we started giving the appropriation that we started giving the appropriation was<00:54:35.440
• </c> million uh Grant is being appropriated million uh Grant is being appropriated is<01:28:37.000><c
• </c><01:33:23.239><c> for</c> then we'll make our first request for then we'll make our first request
• current request that you have that you current request that you have that you were<01:37:15.239><c> here
• </c><01:37:26.199><c> would</c> on this $10 million appropriation would on this $10 million appropriation

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So on both accounts, this is being requested to be repealed.
• So on both accounts, this is being requested to be repealed. All right. Thank you.
• As part of the request, he asked the committee to extend the temporary rule beyond its expiration date
• So is there legislative oversight over that money, or how does that get right to the schools?
• So is there legislative oversight over that money, or how does that get right to the schools? Mr.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee took up a series of State Board of Education rule dockets, most of them described by presenters as cleanup or clarification changes. Nicholas Wagner first presented a repeal of the pay-for-success contracting rule because it duplicated statute and had never been used; the committee approved the repeal. He also explained a cleanup to the Career Technical Centers rules to remove duplicative language tied to the federal Perkins 5 law and to delete an unnecessary reference to “data,” and that docket was approved as well. Greg Wilson then presented several dockets on uniformity, educator ethics, special education, and thoroughness. The uniformity changes were mostly technical edits, including abbreviating State Board of Education to SBOE and adding “standard” to a Career Technical Education certificate title; the committee approved that docket. On the Code of Ethics for Idaho Professional Educators, Wilson said the revisions came from the Professional Standards Commission and public comment, and included limits on digital communication with students to district-approved devices and platforms, plus other clarifications about misuse of school property and public funds; the committee approved it. He also described a temporary special education rule and a pending special education manual update intended to bring Idaho into compliance with federal IDEA requirements after an OSEP letter, including changes to specific learning disability criteria and dual enrollment, and the committee approved both the temporary and pending special education dockets. The final major item was the pending social studies standards under rules governing thoroughness. Wilson said the Legislature had rejected prior revisions, so the standards were reworked through a summer process with educators and outside reviewers. He said grade 4 social studies and U.S. history standards were revised, and a new 9-12 Western Civilization section was added. The committee approved the social studies docket, then corrected and re-approved an earlier docket number to ensure the record was accurate. The meeting ended with the chair noting the committee would discuss the budget the next day and then adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• legislative oversight.
• </c><00:22:25.360><c> I'd</c> appropriate legislative oversight.
• I'd appropriate legislative oversight.
• </c> request a roll call. request a roll call.
• c> to</c> legislators legislators were going to legislators legislators were going to make<01:47:59.119

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We appropriated this during the tough times we appropriated about 600,000 to 700,000 in capital outlay
• And I will just switch over to our legislative priorities.
• First, we request and others. We are asking the state to caps that restrict competition.
• First, we request and others.
• But we don't have the authority to legislate like you do or to enforce any legislation.

Committee: Joint Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do not believe that a rule is a legislative enactment.
• I do not believe that a rule is a legislative enactment.
• This is just clarifying in this piece of legislation who already is required to.
• Yes, roll call vote has been requested. Any more comments? Okay. Okay.
• And I do appreciate the senator or the representative for bringing this legislation.

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee first considered House Bill 494, which would move background-check rules into statute. Representative Josh Wheeler and Department of Health and Welfare Chief of Staff Jared Larson said the change was needed to maintain access to the FBI’s national fingerprint database and to clarify who is subject to checks, without adding new categories of people. Senators questioned the bill’s reference to federal public policy and the FBI’s role, and some expressed concern about federal influence and state sovereignty. After debate, a motion to hold the bill in committee failed, and the committee voted to send HB 494 to the 14th order for possible amendment, with the intent of restoring language related to sex-offender background checks. The committee then heard House Bill 526, which would expand Idaho’s cottage food law to allow certain time- and temperature-controlled foods to be sold directly by small entrepreneurs up to a $5,000 threshold. Representative Jeff Ehlers said the bill was meant to help startup food businesses avoid the cost of commercial kitchens and permits, while still requiring labeling and direct-to-consumer sales. Testimony from Food Northwest and public health district officials opposed the bill, warning that the foods involved carry greater foodborne illness risks, that the current cottage food labeling rules were designed for shelf-stable foods, and that the bill lacked training or safety standards. Supporters argued consumers should be able to choose and that regulation does not eliminate all risk. After discussion, the committee voted to send HB 526 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Several senators voiced support for small business and consumer choice, while others noted concerns about food safety and liability. The committee adjourned after announcing it would meet again the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• With that being said, the chair calls Kelsey Vela, Analyst for Legislative Budget Board.
• In addition, DPS is requesting five million in general or revenue to increase automation and self-help
• As population growth increases, demand for driver's license applications and testing DPS is requesting
• As far as our appropriation requests, I'll hit on some of these and then we can. dive into detail with
• with this appropriation to make the driver's license. experience more consumer-friendly.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Keywords: 1184, house, all