Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much for all of your service. Let's give them a... In the gallery.
• Thank you so much for all of your service.
• So thank you for your service, and colleagues, I urge an aye vote. Thank you.
• service delivery for critical services, including day programs, independent living services, and behavioral
• , accessible services for all.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh many months of service that you had.
• At her service and other organizations.
• well as his legislative service.
• well as his legislative service.
• as well as his his professional service as well as his legislative<01:23:38.639><c> service.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Alabama Senate convened with prayer and the pledge, confirmed a quorum, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. The chamber then received House messages referring House Bill 614 on supplemental appropriations and House Bill 224 on the distribution and use of tax funds to the Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee. Committee reports followed on several bills, including favorable reports for House Bills 169, 542, 593, and 13, with HB 542 amended in committee. The Senate also referred Senator Orr’s proposed rules change to the Rules Committee. A series of resolutions were taken up and adopted, including Senate Resolution 109 creating the Alabama Boating Safety Task Force, Senate Joint Resolutions 102 and 103, House Joint Resolutions 237, 215, 216, 218, and 235, Senate Joint Resolution 88 supporting the U.S. Department of Energy’s nuclear life cycle innovation effort, Senate Joint Resolution 93 creating a rural EMS and volunteer fire department study commission, Senate Joint Resolution 94 commending Exchange Club of Tuscaloosa Officer of the Year honorees, and Senate Joint Resolution 110 commending William Riley Hawkins Jr. on his retirement from AARP Alabama. The Senate also recognized several guests in the gallery, including local school superintendents and a student visitor. The chamber then moved through local legislation, adopting BRs and passing numerous local bills and constitutional amendments, including measures for Mobile, Prichard, Class 2 municipalities, Mingo County, Talladega County, Perry County, Wilcox County, Clay County, Washington County, and Madison County. Senate Bill 376 on Mobile County and Senate Bill 379 on Madison County were both passed and transmitted. Most local bills passed on unanimous or near-unanimous votes using the previous roll. The Senate also adopted Special Order Calendar Resolution 111, setting a special order calendar for the 27th legislative day that prioritized a long list of appropriations, education, retirement, dam safety, and higher education bills. On that calendar, House Bills 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 565, and Senate Bill 380 were taken up. HB 235’s committee substitute was tabled, a floor substitute was adopted restoring funding to the McQuain Center and removing some arts grants, and the bill passed. HB 236 passed after a language amendment. HB 237 passed as the Education Opportunities Reserve Fund bill. HB 238 passed after a floor substitute that shifted arts grants, added Voices for Alabama’s Children, adjusted RAISE Act weights, and increased funding for poverty, special education, and gifted students, along with a small amendment. HB 239 passed as the public education employee pay raise bill, with a substitute adding a retiree bonus and members discussing that the bonus would also be carried through SB 380. HB 240, HB 241, HB 242, and HB 565 all passed. SB 380 on the teachers retirement system received committee amendments and was being advanced as the vehicle for the retiree bonus, with Senator Orr explaining the bonus would be about $33 million and based on $1 per month of service for eligible retirees with at least 10 years of service.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Miss Nash will be helping us out with all of the technology.
• , shrinking inspections, and that leads less service to Minnesotans and so it's not a technology.
• In addition, um technology.
• One services as things change and grow.
• </c><00:05:17.360><c> shrinking</c> uh shrinking services shrinking uh shrinking services shrinking inspections

Bills: HF2446

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• e e e e e e e Welcome to Health and Human Services. Uh, why don't we start with the pledge?
• Sorry, um, do we know about how many in Massachusetts use the service? I do not.
• </c> 1989 the technology 1989 the technology of<01:04:57.319><c> prosthetic</c><01:04:57.839><c> technology
• Human Services just to to tie this all Human Services just to to tie this all up<02:15:11.559><c> um<
• </c><02:35:51.720><c> a</c> having having been denied Post Service a having having been denied Post Service

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, there's always work being done to try and develop, you know, technologies and varieties that
• and so forth where they can technologies and so forth where they can be<00:51:49.520><c> responsive<
• </c> try and develop, you know, technologies try and develop, you know, technologies and,<00:52:42.720
• I think the probably the challenge with some of that is technology is also one of the things that is
• </c> think we want to lose the technology think we want to lose the technology advantage<01:36:43.920

Committee: Joint Agriculture

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:18 University of Kentucky Department of Agricultural Economics Presentation 00:02:18 Farm Credit Mid-America Presentation 01:12:41, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , as you all are aware, because this was really debated extensively in the committee, was taxing services
• So the extension of the sales tax base to services is something that the legislature did not yet address
• payments coming from the school systems, and... ...the debt service payments coming from the school
• A couple of examples of which are OGB, Office of Group Benefits, and OTS, Office of Technology Services
• Voluntarily, our Public Service Commission participates in it with us.

Summary: The House Ways and Means Committee met on March 10, 2026, for a series of informational presentations rather than bill hearings. House Fiscal Division staff reviewed the state’s tax structure, the 2024 third special session tax reform package, and the Revenue Estimating Conference process. They explained the move to a 3% flat individual income tax, a 5.5% flat corporate income tax, the higher standard deduction and retirement-income exclusion, the repeal of several deductions and credits, the repeal of the corporate franchise tax, and the expansion of the sales tax base to certain digital goods. Staff also walked through tax exemption data, showing the size of exemptions relative to collections, and discussed forecasted revenue gaps in the out years, including the effect of the scheduled sales tax rate reduction and the return of transportation-related revenues to their prior dedication. Members asked about declining mineral revenues, digital sales tax collections, corporate collections, and the impact of tax credits and exemptions. Division of Administration and Legislative Fiscal Office staff said lower oil and gas prices, long-term production declines, and the timing of corporate payments were major factors in revenue trends, and that it will take at least another year or two of tax returns to fully understand the reform’s effects. They emphasized that corporate collections are still below the $600 million threshold that affects the state general fund and Revenue Stabilization Fund, though the forecast remains $900 million. The committee also discussed surplus and excess revenues, the distinction between discretionary and non-discretionary spending, and how current-year and prior-year balances are allocated under the constitution. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the relationship between Ways and Means and Appropriations. Chairman McFarland stressed that new fiscal-note bills can force cuts elsewhere if revenue is not available, and urged members to coordinate early with fiscal staff before advancing costly legislation. Members also asked how pending constitutional amendments on teacher pay and inventory tax might affect the budget; staff said the teacher stipend proposal is not currently funded in the executive budget and that the inventory tax proposal would mainly affect local governments and any reimbursements from the Revenue Stabilization Fund if approved. The committee then heard from Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan Bouchoux, who reported strong results from recent reforms, including $92 billion in capital investment, 37,000 new jobs, a record year of announcements, a top-10 corporate tax climate ranking, and a pipeline of 189 active projects representing nearly 42,000 potential jobs and $280 billion in potential investment. Members praised LED’s work and discussed the need to pair economic development with workforce training, infrastructure, and predictable tax policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• The extension of the sales tax base to services is something that the legislature did not yet address
• payments coming from the school systems, and the debt service payments coming from the school systems
• A couple of examples of which are OGB, Office of Group Benefits, and OTS, Office of Technology Services
• Earlier in the meeting around the sales tax collection, specifically to digital goods and services.
• Voluntarily, our Public Service Commission participates in it with us.

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are also starting to service off the reservation.
• New initiatives: I'll start with the Technology and Innovation Office.
• So, by the statute, this is called the Technology and Innovation Division.
• You can see the cuts in the BIA, the BIE, and Indian Health Service.
• To provide that law enforcement service, we see a reduction in force.

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We did, however, cut money that was going to Lutheran Social Services because that CEO made $420,000,
• The film board, Bureau of Mediation Services, and several other agencies as well.
• Provide for their families, provide products, goods, and services that Minnesotans use every day.
• world that we have enjoyed over the decades, as well as the technology and research.
• , technology, and our leadership staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• Turning the page, I one, basic civil legal services.
• Recommendations for basic civil legal services funds originating from within the Treasury, including
• And if we didn't provide these services, Texas counties would be forced to provide the service and pay
• Texas counties would be paying $90 to $125 an hour for their services.
• Uh, the other thing we're requesting with respect to technology.

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

Transcript Highlights:

• Chris Groghung with Cap Lapsi, on behalf of Republic Services, in support.
• Rethink Waste, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, People, Food, and Land, and CR&R Environmental Services
• Don Kepke, on behalf of the California Manufacturers and Technology Association, in respectful opposition
• This technology-neutral approach avoids prematurely defining eligible fuels and can provide a necessary
• It expressly allows public transit service to substitute for parking requirements.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm president of CASE, an attorney with the Department of Health Care Services.
• Good morning, Alyssa Carroll with the California Department of Social Services.
• I'm an enforcement attorney for the California Department of Social Services.
• I'm an attorney for the Department of Social Services, respectfully asking you to vote aye.
• They are moments centered in culture, traditions, service, and community.

Committee: Senate Governmental Organization

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it argued against the finding of a lower court saying that the technology was not covered under the
• </c><00:08:00.920><c> advancement</c> or some other technological advancement or some other technological
• All three of those justices said that the technology argument was not valid.
• And again, the justices Bader Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan voted to overturn the technology argument
• that's been made. the technology piece, I I just I'm I'm the technology piece, I I just I'm I'm struggling

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> READ Act, it's partly because technology READ Act, it's partly because technology has<01:30:53.400
• </c> for your public service to our state. for your public service to our state.
• Demanding that they provide certain services at the cost of other services, as we've heard from so many
• also sits on Human Services.
• So, it's the two on Human Services.

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and it also provides that 7% of the revenues are dedicated to the city and county public defense services
• , school districts, and educational service districts.
• Over time, they built careers in service.
• We're taking as a premise that without this income tax, we can't fund needed services.
• We are rapidly becoming more and more of a service economy.

Summary: House Finance met in executive session on Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6346, the proposed “millionaires’ income tax” package. Staff reviewed the bill and a long list of amendments affecting the new income tax, related business tax changes, and several exemptions and implementation provisions. The committee adopted amendments to exempt diapers from sales tax, allow certain tribal income treatment clarifications, create an advisory group to help implement the tax, move up the repeal date for some business tax changes, and require the measure to go to the voters; several other amendments on federal conformity, agricultural income, pass-through entities, and the marriage threshold were rejected or withdrawn. The committee then adopted the striking amendment as amended and advanced the bill on a 9-6 do pass vote, with supporters arguing it would fund education, health care, child care, and tax relief, and opponents warning about competitiveness, capital flight, and the state’s spending growth. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 6097, which would add federally recognized Indian tribes as eligible entities for county Conservation Futures Program funding. Staff said the bill would not change the tax levy structure and would have no state revenue impact, while tribal witnesses said it would improve voluntary conservation partnerships for habitat, farmland, and open space. Members asked about the bill’s scope, and staff confirmed it applies only to federally recognized tribes. House Finance also heard Senate Bill 6162, a property tax reform measure that would consolidate the state school levy, expand senior and disability property tax exemptions, raise income thresholds, and simplify the application process with a standard deduction. The prime sponsor and county assessors supported the bill as a way to help seniors, disabled persons, and disabled veterans stay in their homes and reduce administrative burden, while several testifiers opposed it as a tax shift that would raise costs for others and potentially strain local revenues. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6113, an administrative and technical tax cleanup bill related to last year’s tax changes; the Department of Revenue supported it and noted a possible clarifying amendment, while nonprofits, schools, libraries, health care groups, workforce training providers, and trade associations asked for additional exemptions for live presentations and related educational activities. The chair announced that Senate Bill 6097 would be added to Monday’s executive session, Senate Bill 6114 was removed, and amendments for Monday’s bills were due by 5 p.m. that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we can go after R&D, we can go after HQ, we can go after service and business service kinds of businesses
• Now we can go after R&D, we can go after HQ, we can go after service and business service kinds of businesses
• Now we can go after R&D, we can go after HQ, we can go after service and business service kinds of businesses
• Now we can go after R&D, we can go after HQ, we can go after service and business service kinds of businesses
• </c><00:48:01.280><c> and</c> in a lot of small business services and in a lot of small business services

Keywords: The first few minutes of this meeting was missed on the live stream. This upload restores those few minutes, 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met with Secretary Jeff Null and General Counsel Matt Wing of the Cabinet for Economic Development for an overview of the cabinet’s main economic development tools, strategy, and compliance practices. Null said the cabinet uses a data-driven approach focused on competitiveness, site readiness, wages, workforce training, and long-term assets such as roads, rail spurs, water, and sewer improvements. He emphasized that the cabinet tries to balance attracting new employers with supporting existing businesses, and said compliance is a core value of the agency. Null walked members through several programs, including the closing fund, Kentucky Business Incentive (KBI), Bluegrass State Skills Corporation training support, and the KIA sales-tax refund tool for construction materials and equipment. He said the closing fund has received $80 million over two years for projects generally involving at least $10 million in investment, though some flexibility exists. He also explained that Bluegrass State Skills funding is typically about $2,000 to $3,000 per job and can be used flexibly for training, including sending Kentucky workers to be trained elsewhere or paying trainers to come to Kentucky. He described KBI as a pay-as-you-go, incremental tax credit tied to actual jobs and investment, and said the legislature’s tiered refundable credit structure allows more targeted use of incentives in heritage and non-heritage counties. A substantial portion of the presentation focused on compliance and monitoring. Null said incentive agreements are written with commercial terms and spell out jobs, investment, wages, and training commitments. The cabinet requires regular reporting, invoices, and sampling, and can use clawbacks or suspend benefits if companies fail to meet obligations or lose required environmental permits. He said the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority reviews incentive applications in public meetings and often requires company representatives to answer questions before preliminary approval is granted. No votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, Hammer, you and I have talked a lot about our life and service.
• You know, Hammer, you and I have talked a lot about our life and service.
• for non-attorney immigration service providers.
• It is an attorney who provides legal services.
• And they take advantage of people who are seeking legal immigration services.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, prayer, pledge, and several recognitions, including remarks from Senator Berman on Democratic priorities and introductions of military leaders and an intern. The chamber then moved through a long special-order calendar, with many bills substituted to House companions, amended, and passed, while several others were temporarily postponed. Major measures approved included the dangerous dogs/Pam Rock Act (SB 572/HB 593), which tightened penalties and procedures for dog attacks and passed 36-0; local government land regulation (SB 1080), which was amended to remove agricultural enclave language and passed 26-8; vessel/freedom-related legislation (SB 1388/HB 1137), which passed 35-0; blood clot screening and treatment (SB 890/HB 1421), which added registry and training provisions and passed 36-0; fleeing or eluding law enforcement (SB 468/HB 113), which increased offense levels and passed 36-0; concealed carry/licensing for certain officers and service members (SB 490/HB 383), which passed 33-3; timeshare management (SB 496/HB 897), which clarified governance and annual meeting requirements and passed 36-0; background screening education (SB 614/HB 531), which created a public webpage and passed 36-0; utility service restrictions (SB 1002/HB 1137), which preempted local energy-source restrictions and passed 36-0; Medicaid oversight (SB 1060), which created a joint oversight committee and passed 35-0; health facilities authorities (SB 68), amended to make fentanyl urine screening more discretionary, and passed 36-0; and veterans’ nursing home beds (SB 78/HB 797), which authorized veteran- and spouse-designated beds and passed 36-0. The chamber also passed disability history and awareness instruction (SB 540/HB 447), a highly personal bill honoring Evan Hartzell that drew extended debate about disability language, inclusion, and education; it passed 35-0 after 35 co-sponsors were added. Manufacturing policy bills SB 600 and SB 602 were approved after amendments to add reporting, ranking metrics, and fee-use restrictions, both passing 35-0. Educational opportunities for military children (SB 1528) passed 36-0 after testimony from student sponsors and senators praising the bill’s origin. Several other bills, including Medicaid oversight, mammograms, Parkinson’s disease, condominium/cooperative associations, waste management, human trafficking, and Bright Futures, were postponed or not taken up during this segment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> infrastructure and Technology infrastructure and Technology modernization<00:07:11.039><c> needs
• </c><00:07:47.199><c> is</c> natural resources reducing Services is natural resources reducing Services
• This is affecting staffing levels and delaying technology upgrades, including online services and system
• </c> to maintain existing levels of service to maintain existing levels of service to<03:07:49.359><c
• </c> focus is is on commuter bus service focus is is on commuter bus service supporting<04:29:10.920>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division 2 Finance Committee heard an overview and budget presentation from New Hampshire Fish and Game, led by new Executive Director Stephanie Simi and Business Division Chief Kathy Leonti. The agency described its mission to conserve and manage fish, wildlife, and marine resources, and emphasized growing pressures from disease, climate impacts, habitat change, and increased public demand. Simi said the department is largely funded by hunting and fishing license revenue and federal grants, is reviewing staffing and internal processes, and faces critical needs including permanent funding for environmental review staff, infrastructure and IT modernization, and possible service reductions if additional support is not found. Members asked about specific program and policy issues, including chronic wasting disease in deer, hemorrhagic disease in rabbits and hares, moose population decline, and a proposed bait-disease bill. The department said it is actively monitoring diseases and did not see a need for the bait bill at this time. Legislators also discussed the Hike Safe program, which the department said has grown from an expected $100,000 annually to more than $300,000, and a possible boating version of that program, which the department said remains under consideration but would involve complex logistics and multiple agencies. Questions were also raised about rescue costs, out-of-state hikers, and whether boat registrations could be used as a revenue source; Fish and Game said boat registration is handled by the Department of Safety, though the department receives $5 per registered boat for the public boat access program. The budget discussion focused on revenue projections, use of unrestricted Fish and Game funds, and dependence on federal reimbursements. Leonti said the department met the governor’s general fund target but not the Fish and Game fund target without using surplus unrestricted funds, leaving only about $100,000 in the fund by the end of the biennium. She said the budget uses more than $18 million in Fish and Game funds annually against about $14 million in unrestricted revenue, and that five of 193 full-time positions remain unfunded. The department warned that if federal grants were halted, it could cost about $5 million over five months and force the Fish and Game fund to cover the gap. Committee members also requested that future presentations be sent electronically in advance, and the department agreed to do so.

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:01:37.400><c> hearing</c> Services hearing Services hearing aids<02:01:39.840><c> Physical</c> aids
• </c> current access to the vital services current access to the vital services offered<03:27:58.720><
• such as maternity and Emergency services such as maternity and Emergency Services<03:28:06.439><c> we
• </c><03:35:31.760><c> from</c> and special health care services from and special health care services
• </c> performed by the development service performed by the development service quality<04:02:25.439><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The employee had a break in service.
• in one and a half years more career service credit than was due.
• James Caldwell, Chief Fiscal Officer, Shared Administrative Services.
• Courtney Trailer, Chief of Staff, Shared Administrative Services.
• James Caldwell, Chief Fiscal Officer, Shared Administrative Services.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-STATE AGENCIES

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from the prior meeting. It then heard audit reports from Tom Bullington, including two reports with findings and three without findings, which were filed without objection. The Department of Public Safety FY24 audit had two findings: a duplicate vendor payment of nearly $3,700 that was later recouped, and a $2.5 million collateral shortfall tied to bank-held cash funds because securities were not properly pledged in the State Police’s name. Agency representatives from Arkansas State Police and the Department of Public Safety answered questions, and members discussed how collateralization works for deposits above FDIC coverage. The committee next reviewed the Department of Transformation and Shared Services FY24 audit, which contained five findings. These included an $800 career service overpayment caused by a rehire data entry error, delayed deactivation and inventory issues for assets including stolen cameras, a double count of more than $940,000 in year-end cash records, $10.3 million in health claims that should have been recorded as fiscal year 2024 payables, and repeated deficiencies in vehicle mileage logs. Agency officials explained that the stolen cameras were recovered through restitution, that inventory reviews are being expanded, and that the vehicle log problems are expected to be addressed through a statewide electronic GPS/telematics system. Members asked about the scope of audit testing, asset tracking, vehicle oversight, and whether the new vehicle system would allow monitoring of use, fuel purchases, geofencing, and possible sharing of vehicles across agencies. Shared Administrative Services said it would administer the statewide system, with departments retaining operational responsibility and access controls. After discussion, the committee filed the report without objection and adjourned, noting the next meeting would be held June 4.