Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Jeb Bell, and I'll be laying out the summary of budget recommendations for the Public Utilities
• Once again, Jeb Bell, Legislative Budget Board.
• Once again, Jeb Bell, Legislative Budget Board.
• I appreciate the time to come before you all and for you to hear our budget considerations today.
• These are the budget recommendations for the Board of Chiropractic Examiners.

Bills: SB1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met to review Article 8, regulatory agencies, and began Article 9, general provisions, before recessing for floor action. The committee first heard budget presentations from the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and the Office of Public Utility Counsel (OPUC). The PUC budget recommendation was about $5.07 billion in all funds, including an additional $5 billion for the Texas Energy Fund, plus funding for staffing and technology needs tied to contested cases, infrastructure resiliency, and outage mapping. PUC witnesses emphasized the agency’s growing workload, the need for more staff and modern systems, and oversight of the Texas Energy Fund. OPUC’s recommendation was about $6.9 million, with a reduction in authorized FTEs to better match actual staffing; the agency requested additional funding for salaries, expert witnesses, and budget flexibility, and members highlighted OPUC’s role representing residential and small commercial consumers in utility proceedings. The committee then heard from the Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC), whose recommendation was just over $11.2 million. BHEC’s main requests included funding to fill vacant positions, money for continuous National Practitioner Data Bank queries, and a proposed Texas-owned psychology licensing exam in response to concerns about changes to the national exam. Agency leaders also discussed a rider request that would shift responsibility for certain judgments or settlements to the comptroller. Members asked about prior complaint backlogs, and BHEC said those backlogs had been cleared. The Board of Chiropractic Examiners followed, with a recommendation of just under $2.4 million; the board sought support for staffing, training, broadband, and salary retention, and described its work regulating chiropractors and workers’ compensation-related doctors. The Board of Dental Examiners was the last agency heard before the committee recessed. Its recommendation was just under $10 million, and it requested a 10% salary increase for eligible staff, three additional licensing staff, one staff member to handle required background checks, an additional attorney, and an executive director salary adjustment. Dental board witnesses said licensure growth, increased complaints, and low salaries were straining licensing and enforcement operations, even though the agency reported strong performance and high case completion rates. The chair ended the hearing early because the Senate had to return to the floor, and the committee remained in recess.

Transcript Highlights:

• SJR 36 by Hall, proposing a constitutional amendment relating to appropriations for the preservation

Bills: SJR36, SB1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure

Summary: The Senate convened briefly with an opening prayer by Senator Birdwell, who asked for protection and wisdom for Texans affected by severe weather, as well as for state and national leaders. The chair noted hazardous travel conditions from the winter storm and advised that attendance was not essential for affected members and staff; the journal was to reflect the weather event. The chair announced the signing of Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 in the presence of the Senate. On first reading and referral, the secretary read Senate Joint Resolution 36 by Hall, proposing a constitutional amendment related to appropriations for preserving certain items of historical moment, and Senate Bill 1 by Huffman, the General Appropriations Act. A motion in writing was then offered by Senator Zaffirini to recess the Senate until 10 a.m. Friday, January 24. With no objection, the motion carried and the Senate recessed until that time.

Bills: HB0036, HB0112, HB0106, HB0111, SF0001

Keywords: wildfire, fire management, funding, forestry, state investment, task force, capital construction, state funding, legislative services, budget appropriation, unexpended funds, sunset clause, conservation, employment, inmate crew program, Wyoming, major maintenance, community colleges, budget, education

Bills: HB0036, HB0112, HB0106, HB0111, SF0001

Keywords: wildfire, fire management, funding, forestry, state investment, task force, capital construction, state funding, legislative services, budget appropriation, unexpended funds, sunset clause, conservation, employment, inmate crew program, Wyoming, major maintenance, community colleges, budget, education

Transcript Highlights:

• But, you know, we're kind of drilling down into the budget section of this and what that additional budget
• Drilling down into the budget section of this and what that additional budget looks like, those requests
• budget request that we've set forward. budget request that we've set forward.
• cost for this budget. cost for this budget.
• of your budget information and so on. of your budget information and so on.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:01 Department for Public Health Budget Request 00:01:46 Department for Community Based Services Budget Request 00:31:58 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) 00:57:13, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes, then heard a lengthy presentation from the Department for Public Health on Kentucky’s rural health transformation plan and related budget questions. Commissioner John Langfeld said the state received a $212.9 million federal award, one of the larger awards nationally, and outlined five focus areas: maternal and infant health, integrated EMS/trauma response, behavioral health and substance use disorder, oral health, and chronic disease prevention with an emphasis on obesity and diabetes. He stressed that the effort is intended to be integrated, data-driven, and sustainable, and that the federal funds cannot be used for new construction, clinician salaries, research and development, EHR replacement, or to pay for currently billable services. He also said the program carries accountability requirements and that funds can be clawed back if milestones are not met. Members pressed for clarification on duplication with other budget requests, sustainability after the five-year funding period, and how success would be measured. Langfeld said he was not aware of any duplicate funding with the department’s additional budget requests and said the rural health funds were separate from those requests. He also said the program will be tracked through specific metrics and timelines, using both execution measures and outcome measures such as readmissions, with more rapid-cycle feedback to allow course correction. Representative Fleming raised concerns about possible overlap with navigator funding and asked for more detail on the budget breakdown; Langfeld said a detailed line-item budget had been prepared but was still awaiting final CMS approval before release, and that he would explore sharing more information once restrictions were lifted. The committee then heard from the Kentucky State Public Health Laboratory about a request for a new central lab expansion. The presenter described the current 35-year-old facility as outdated and constrained by aging infrastructure, obsolete equipment, deferred maintenance, and inadequate space, and said the lab performs critical work with no in-state alternative for many services, including newborn screening, select-agent and biosafety level 3 testing, animal necropsy for rabies, genetic sequencing, environmental and food safety testing, and response to emerging infectious diseases. The project is already in design phase C, expected to finish in mid-April, with construction funding sought at roughly $276 million on top of about $35 million already approved for design. Members asked about long-term operating costs, backup arrangements, and whether the current facility would remain in use; the presenter said the current lab would continue to be used by the department while other divisions move into vacated space, and that the lab has mutual-aid agreements with the Southeast Consortium and universities for contingency support. Finally, the Department for Community Based Services began its budget presentation on SNAP and relative caregiver issues. Commissioner Lisa Dennis and budget director Misty Sammons identified the governor’s recommended budget items tied to new federal requirements under HR1, including changes affecting payment error rates. The discussion was just beginning when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• some concerns and we wanna address those concerns, but we'll handle that, uh, we believe in a floor amendment
• that it's a large, like we should credit all the thoughtful work that went into the constitutional amendment
• The chair moves that SJR 57 without amendment be reported favorably to the full House with the recommendation
• The chair moves that SJR 57 without amendment be reported favorably to the full House with a recommendation

Bills: HJR40

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare access, Affordable Care Act, federal funding, constitutional amendment

Bills: SB 4, SJR 2

Keywords: property tax, homestead exemption, school funding, state aid, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• So, House File 3900 is a constitutional amendment that is working on amending our state constitution
• pre-filing requirement for amendments pre-filing requirement for amendments offered<00:03:20.360
• that is working constitutional amendment that is working on<00:04:29.240> amending<00:04:29.800
• So your oral amendment is on 2.29?
• no oral amendment no oral amendment >> no<00:24:27.720> oral<00:24:27.920> amendment

Bills: HF3900, HF1849

Keywords: permanent school fund, school endowment fund, Minnesota constitutional amendment, school aid, public school funding, State Board of Investment, investment income, distributable amount, school districts, property taxes, income taxes, voter approval, ballot question, constitutional amendment 2026, education finance, fund perpetuity, purchasing power, trust lands, swamp lands, internal improvement land fund

Bills: HB1, HB312, HB313, HB314, HB383, HB983, HB1126, HCR3

Keywords: state budget, appropriations, education funding, public health, social services, government operations, state institutions, budget, funding, state general fund, local government, fiscal year, economic development, state treasury, emergency response, education, voting technology, sustainability, revenue sharing, fund distribution

Transcript Highlights:

• commitment and that's how we end up with over $50 billion in property tax relief currently in the budget
• to the, uh, a constitutional amendment.
• We had the 2011, uh, pinch, uh, where we saw public education start to cut budgets and, and, and pull
• Um, that's because we had a budget deficit. We had a revenue shortfall for whatever reason.
• Um, OK, just for perspective, I was looking at the, the budgets, the entire budgets of some other countries

Bills: SJR 4

Keywords: term limits, state offices, constitutional amendment, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform

Transcript Highlights:

• Where it's going to the voters for a constitutional amendment.
• These constitutional amendments, there's a lot of attention on to these.
• The Legislative Budget Board will get it right when it comes to a constitutional amendment. ...know the
• It also does not affect the ability of agencies to appeal to the Legislative Budget Board.
• As you know, I'm always open to amendments. I'll see.

Bills: HB565, HB3743, HB4310, HB5083, HB5129, HB5195, HB5331, HB5469, SB21, HB3185, SB 21

Keywords: constitutional amendment, fiscal impact, state budget, ballot measure, transparency in voting, management-to-staff ratio, state agencies, employee regulations, government efficiency, workforce management, public information, governing board, transparency, confidentiality, access rights, privacy, identifying information, state agency, consent, occupational license

Transcript Highlights:

• And uh, there is an amendment from CHFS, and I understand they are on Zoom to briefly explain this amendment
• And then we'll need a motion to accept the agency amendment. Are they there?
• Commissioner Dennis, do you have the information on this amendment? You don't? Okay.
• Okay, please proceed in explaining this amendment. Yes.
• Any questions on the amendment?

Keywords: 00:00:00 Introductions 00:00:22 Roll Call 00:01:56 Discussion on SB 85 00:14:03 Vote on SB 85 00:16:15 Explanation of Agency Amendment 00:19:04 Voice Vote on Amendment 00:19:33 Discussion on Kentucky Foster Children Housing, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 85, sponsored by Senator Meredith, which would move the Office of the Ombudsman from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to the State Auditor’s office and make related cleanup changes. Meredith said the bill grew out of a prior task force and a two-year transition from Senate Bill 48, and he argued the move would create independence, improve access to the ITWIST database, ensure complaints are not lost in the handoff, and add confidentiality protections for whistleblowers. Auditor Allison Ball and her staff said the bill would codify access and procedures after earlier disputes and a court-mediated settlement, and they described the measure as necessary to make the new structure work effectively. Members asked how the Ombudsman would handle complaints and verify services in cases involving waiver recipients and other cabinet services. Ball and her staff said the Ombudsman would investigate complaints, make inquiries, and provide accountability outside the cabinet structure, with timelines and procedures similar to the Auditor’s office. The committee also discussed staffing and whether the office would need more personnel; Ball said the office already had about 100 people but could use more. The bill passed 10-0 with favorable expression. The committee then approved an agency amendment to administrative regulation 922 KAR 1:001490 concerning foster parent background checks. Cabinet staff explained the amendment corrected a drafting error by removing references to civil determinations in a second section of the regulation because the system cannot search those determinations, while still allowing the required checks under state and federal law. Senator Herron asked what a civil determination meant, and staff said it could involve a court finding in a custody or abuse case, though such findings are now typically handled through the child abuse and neglect registry. The amendment was adopted. Afterward, the committee began a discussion on Kentucky foster children housing and related issues. Ball and Ombudsman staff presented a preliminary assessment of children placed in office buildings, saying the review covered 49 children placed over a four-month period and showed a different picture than the public narrative of only older, high-acuity youth. They reported that some children had no documented behavioral or disability issues, many came directly from home, the average age was 13, the average stay was four nights, and placements were spread across several regions rather than centered only in Louisville. Members raised concerns about the lack of formal policies and procedures, staff safety, and how to ensure children are treated appropriately, and Ball said the Ombudsman was continuing a deeper review. No final action was taken on that discussion in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• and our families and each person represented in this process as we come together to finalize our budget

Keywords: legislative session extension, General Appropriations Act, budget process, session deadlines

Summary: The Florida House of Representatives convened for a brief session focused on procedural matters. Representative McClure moved to waive rules and introduce House Bill 5017 and House Joint Resolution 5019. The primary business was Representative Garrison's House Concurrent Resolution 1635, which extends the 2025 regular legislative session until 11:59 PM on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The resolution specifies that only the General Appropriations Act (GAA), its implementing bill, and an enumerated list of conforming bills, joint resolutions, and general bills may be considered during the extension. All other legislative measures will be indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration as of 12:00 AM on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The resolution was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• SJR 36 by Hall, proposing a constitutional amendment.

Bills: SJR36, SB1, SJR36, SB1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's what this amendment does. This amendment just strengthens our SAPA bill.
• And that's what this amendment does. And that's what this amendment does.
• Second Amendment? So, with that, Mr. Second Amendment? So, with that, Mr.
• This is Senate File 101, Second Amendment Protection Act. Amendments three, page one. Page two.
• <00:36:31.599> Amendments Amendment Protection Act. Amendments Amendment Protection Act.

Bills: SF0101

Keywords: Second Amendment, firearm regulation, state legislation, public safety, civil penalties, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment was brought up by those and it's a fantastic amendment.
• The amendment was brought up by those and it's a fantastic amendment.
• The amendment was brought up by those and it's a fantastic amendment.
• The amendment was brought up by those and it's a fantastic amendment.
• The amendment was brought up by those and it's a fantastic amendment.

Bills: SF0101

Keywords: Second Amendment, firearm regulation, state legislation, public safety, civil penalties, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the constitutional amendment together. the constitutional amendment together.
• <00:52:33.119> Any in as an author's amendment. Any in as an author's amendment.
• <00:54:31.760> to Minnesota Constitution be amended to Minnesota Constitution be amended to
• making difficult budget decisions. making difficult budget decisions.
• and its agencies are working on amending and its agencies are working on amending this<01:09:16.719

Bills: HF3900

Keywords: permanent school fund, school endowment fund, Minnesota constitutional amendment, school aid, public school funding, State Board of Investment, investment income, distributable amount, school districts, property taxes, income taxes, voter approval, ballot question, constitutional amendment 2026, education finance, fund perpetuity, purchasing power, trust lands, swamp lands, internal improvement land fund

Bills: HB2

Keywords: capital outlay, budget, infrastructure, appropriation, general obligation bonds, 965, house, all

Keywords: House Caucus of the Whole - Budget and Education, 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a constitutional amendment. Yes, sir. And um, it's just a... ...amendment. Yes, sir.
• I would also add this is a constitutional amendment as well, for a vote of the citizens of... ...for

Bills: HB486, HB508

Keywords: Baldwin County, Belforest Landmark District, annexation, constitutional amendment, local governance, 1136, house, all