Transcript Highlights:

• process for all parties predictable process for all parties involved. involved. involved.
• my personal experience with your committee on education yesterday and explained my concern that a model
• /c><01:06:48.359> concern<01:06:49.400> that<01:06:49.560> a<01:06:49.600> model
• and explained my concern that a model and explained my concern that a model policy<01:06:50.520>
• with a number of entities” and I’m not going to read “shall develop and review at least annually a model

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional reflection on Nowruz, the Persian New Year, emphasizing renewal, spring, and the challenges facing Iranian families amid conflict. The speaker connected the holiday’s themes of hope and responsibility to Vermont and democracy, then the chamber moved to routine business, including first readings and referrals of five House bills: H.945 on hemp products, H.946 on utility advertising and costs in rental agreements, H.947 on a residential universal design building code, H.948 on membership of the Retired Employees Committee on Insurance, and H.949 on homestead and non-homestead property tax yields and technical education finance changes. Three Senate bills were also read and referred: S.189 on hospital service reductions, S.203 on penalties for repeat DUI offenses, and S.313 on transforming Vermont’s career technical education system. The House also recognized several guests and announcements, including family members of members, airport employees, a UVM student intern, and visitors from Brazil. A House concurrent resolution, HCR 168, was read and congratulated Girl Scout Troop 60336 of Milton on earning the Bronze Award for a community garden project that improved accessibility through rain barrels and raised beds. The resolution highlighted the troop’s leadership and the role of its co-leaders, and the chamber applauded the guests in attendance. The main floor action centered on House Bill 642, relating to youthful offender proceedings, where Representative Booton of Barre City offered an amendment to stop the scheduled expansion of Raise the Age to 20-year-olds. Supporters argued the change would preserve current treatment of 18-year-olds while preventing an automatic expansion they said could strain the system and raise public safety concerns; opponents, including the Judiciary Committee, urged waiting for required Department for Children and Families reports due in 2026 before making changes. After debate, a roll call vote was taken on the amendment, with members calling the roll as the vote proceeded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Conveyance Project, so that a third element is to streamline judicial review, and that is really modeled
• off the CITES proposal that this body approved, I believe it was two years ago, and also modeled off
• So we avoid that front end, I would say, extremely predictable disagreement about how land is valued.
• on motor vehicle taxes, you know, large enforcement settlements, and moving toward a polluter-pays model
• happy to go into additional detail, but also fine to leave it there should you have any questions. model

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think CMS even had a program to even help them change their business model in these rural hospitals
• I think CMS even had a program to even help them change their business model in these rural hospitals
• That sort of is the model that we have.
• That sort of is the model that we have.
• If if I had to predict, Is that correct?

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 3 February, 2026; 3:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first took up several bills described as vehicles to keep options open for pending rural health issues, especially the rural health transformation fund and the Greenwood Hospital situation. The chair explained that Greenwood Hospital is struggling financially and operationally, including a Medicaid overpayment dispute in which Medicaid planned to recoup $2 million from a December payment, threatening payroll and continued operation. The committee discussed a proposed committee substitute that would delay recoupment until May 1 and preserve legislative flexibility to help Greenwood if a workable plan emerges. The committee adopted motions for title sufficiency and due pass on the block of bills, including the committee substitute and reverse repealer provisions. The committee then turned to two certificate-of-need bills. One bill, 2474, was presented as a rural hospitals measure that would let certain rural hospitals obtain certificates of need for services such as outpatient dialysis units, ambulatory surgical facilities, and geriatric psychiatric units, with definitions aimed largely at Delta and other rural counties. The chair also included a provision making the state health officer’s licensing decision final and not subject to judicial review, with only a short reconsideration process available. Senator Hill objected, arguing the bill concentrated too much power in the health department, eliminated meaningful court review, and unfairly picked winners and losers instead of letting the market work. The chair responded that the goal was to reduce costly, repetitive litigation and preserve access to care in areas where hospitals struggle financially. The committee then considered Senator Blackwell’s broader CO bill, which would address appeals and litigation more generally by shifting costs to the losing party in CO disputes. A reverse repealer was adopted first, and the chair explained that the bill was intended to reduce endless and expensive appeals while still allowing a limited opportunity for reconsideration. Senators Hill and others raised concerns about limiting judicial review and expanding health department power, while the chair said many states have no judicial review in this area and that the committee was exploring the issue further. The chair said he had asked several members to study the matter and contact the National Council of State Legislatures. The committee ultimately adopted the motions on the bills and amendments by voice vote, with the ayes prevailing each time.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a prediction making it on that list.
• That's a prediction making it on that list.
• That's a prediction making it on that list.
• That's a prediction making it on that list.
• That's a prediction making it on that list.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened with procedural remarks, including notice of an overflow room and a brief apology from Representative Andress about returning to his seat after introducing HB 114. The committee then took up HB 476, a proposed 15-week abortion ban. Chairman Lynn explained that a request to withdraw the bill had been filed, but because the bill was already scheduled for hearing, the committee would proceed with testimony and the withdrawal would require later House action. The chair also reminded witnesses to keep remarks to three minutes and asked the audience to remain respectful. Most testimony focused on abortion access, maternal health, and the likely effects of a 15-week limit. Opponents, including Nancy Pariser, Dr. Cynthia Rasmussen, Dr. Young, Bonnie Bruno, and others, argued that abortion restrictions increase maternal mortality, worsen miscarriage care, create “OB deserts,” and can delay emergency treatment in cases such as sepsis or ectopic pregnancy. Several speakers cited experiences from Texas and Georgia and warned that HB 476 contained no exceptions for rape, incest, or maternal health. Supporters of the bill, including Paul Galasso and Lynn Hill, framed abortion as the loss of unborn life and argued that 15 weeks still allows most abortions while saving lives; they also said New Hampshire’s current law is already adequate and that the bill should be strengthened rather than abandoned. Other witnesses emphasized practical and economic concerns, saying unwanted pregnancies can worsen poverty, childcare burdens, housing insecurity, and women’s lifetime earnings. Some speakers urged lawmakers to focus instead on affordable housing, childcare, and family support. No committee vote or final action on HB 476 occurred during the hearing; the meeting consisted of opening remarks and public testimony only.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Education would update the model referral protocols for students' behavioral health
• And they create a more predictable process for everyone involved.
• And they create a more predictable, predictable process for everyone involved.
• And for the and they create a more predictable process for everyone involved.
• Importantly, this needs to stand as a model for other states.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly convened, first dealing with quorum and routine procedural matters before moving through a series of third-reading bills, many focused on immigration enforcement, worker protections, child care, and school or voting-site safety. Early measures included AB 2393, AB 1994, AB 1929, AB 1633, AB 1650, AB 1655, AB 1851, AB 1896, and AB 2230, with authors and supporters arguing these bills would provide accountability, protect immigrant communities, preserve access to benefits and services, and limit intimidation by immigration enforcement. Opponents repeatedly argued the bills were anti-law-enforcement, unconstitutional, or based on exaggerated or nonexistent threats. Several bills passed by recorded vote, including AB 2393 (41-15), AB 1994 (58-0), AB 1929 (41-17), AB 1650 (44-19), AB 1655 (50-14), AB 1851 (56-0), AB 1896 (41-19), and AB 2230 (42-15). AB 1633, a 54-vote bill imposing a tax on for-profit detention facilities, was debated at length but the roll was not completed in the excerpt and the item was moved on from temporarily. After a caucus break, the House returned and took up additional bills. AB 2379 would require child care providers to be informed of constitutional protections and receive multilingual training regarding immigration enforcement; it passed 59-10 on both the urgency and the measure. AB 2460 would direct the education department to update referral protocols so schools can better respond to students affected by immigration enforcement trauma and family deportation; it passed 52-8. AB 2495 would expand prohibitions on unfair immigration-related practices by employers, making immigration-related threats unlawful in workplace disputes; it passed 50-15. Throughout the day, debate was highly partisan and often heated, with repeated exchanges over whether the bills addressed real harms or were political messaging, but the Assembly ultimately advanced the measures that came to a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I think obviously that's that would be my predicting future election results, and I do not have that
• um what that course will be can predict um what that course will be over<00:53:43.760> the<00
• entered into an agreement on July 15th of this year, basically for a cell and gene therapy access model
• Two, to support those things and prevention models which the commission has awarded.
• in, videotape them, put them in a messaging which they can then send out, and they will be a role model

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met and approved the minutes from its August 27 meeting. It then received a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislators on the Medicaid provisions in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill, referred to as HR1. She explained that the bill is estimated by CBO to save the federal government $911 billion over 10 years, with more than 20 Medicaid-specific provisions, most of the savings concentrated in five policies and largely backloaded into 2030-2034. She emphasized that the bill’s effects will vary by state, but that expansion states and hospitals are expected to be most affected, in part because of changes to eligibility, provider taxes, and state-directed payments. Castanza highlighted several new funding and flexibility provisions, including a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund for 2026-2030 and a new home- and community-based services waiver option effective July 1, 2028, with $100 million in grants in fiscal year 2027. She also outlined major eligibility changes for Medicaid expansion adults: work or community engagement requirements effective January 1, 2027; twice-yearly redeterminations for the expansion population effective the same date; and new cost sharing for certain expansion adults effective October 1, 2028. She noted that Kentucky, as an expansion state, would be subject to these changes and that state agencies would face significant implementation demands, especially because federal guidance and timelines are tight. A substantial portion of the presentation focused on financing changes. Castanza described new limits on provider taxes, including a 0% safe harbor for new taxes and a phased reduction for existing taxes in expansion states beginning in 2028, while nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities are exempt from the reduction if already taxed. She also explained that state-directed payments will be capped and phased down over time, with existing arrangements grandfathered only briefly; she said Kentucky has 11 approved state-directed payments and could see significant fiscal effects. She added that the bill also bars Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood or similarly situated providers for one year, changes immigrant eligibility rules effective October 1, 2026, lowers the federal match for certain emergency services, and expands the scope of the federal erroneous payment recoupment provision effective October 1, 2029. Throughout, she stressed that federal savings may translate into state cost shifts and that implementation timing will be critical.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides model statutes that states can conform to their own.
• introduce model legislation that states<01:18:39.440> can<01:18:39.600> p<01:18:40.400
• > uh<01:19:00.800> model of states.
• It provides model uh model of states.
• It provides model uh model statutes<01:19:01.760> that<01:19:02.080> states<01:19:02.480

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The question becomes, in our state walls we have some predictability and some certainty that protocols
• One is to focus on debt reduction for those rural hospitals. models.
• It's a model that's working, and it addresses a need that, if not for this model, it's would be a bad
• This is a new model that moves away from the service level system to service packages.
• That might not be the TC3 model as it, it's a. I call it a pagination.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• wielding diplomatic, informational, military, and economic influence to… export its authoritarian model
• You predicted during the posture hearing last year that Chinese and Russian aircraft, you said that they
• By providing predictive analysis, real-time decision support, and enhanced situational awareness in a
• about a drug smuggler's ship size, location, time of year, expected route, and now we can use that predictably

Keywords: national security, China, Russia, cybersecurity, border security, military deployment, transnational crime, defense modernization, military strategy

Summary: In this meeting, key topics included national security concerns with an emphasis on threats from China, Russia, and transnational criminal organizations. Senior military officials provided testimony on the evolving risks posed by these adversaries, particularly focusing on cybersecurity and advancements in weaponry. The discussion highlighted the importance of a cohesive strategy among government departments to effectively respond to the challenges presented by these threats, emphasizing the need for modernization in defense capabilities. Committee members grilled the witnesses on border security and the implications of deploying military resources in domestic operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we don't see that coming as predictable as formula funding.
• One was predictability.
• It's not predictable, but it's there. We get it.
• The contractors have no predictability, and we experienced this firsthand in Grant County.
• You know, we have the I-10, another I-10 project between Deming and Lordsburg, Model marker 34 to the

Transcript Highlights:

• And the model that we’ve adopted is to maintain that collaboration.
• for either standards or the risk-based model.
• for either standards or the risk-based model.
• > on standards or the risk based model on standards or the risk based model on page<00:55:17.400
• <01:59:15.440> that have developed clinical models that have developed clinical models that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They would like us to model this legislation as other states, rounding up or down to the nearest nickel
• It's always great to see Breel, as the Chair predicted last summer, back.
• As the Chair predicted last summer, we are now the same height.

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, welcomed numerous guests and interns to the chamber, and established a quorum with 202 members voting on the master roll call. The House then received committee reports on several bills and a resolution, including measures from Consumer Protection, Finance, Communications and Technology, Rules, and Appropriations, and agreed to the reports. House Bill 1877 was reported as passed by the Senate without amendment and was signed by the Speaker for presentation to the Governor. The chamber adopted House Resolution 363, as amended, directing the Joint State Government Commission to study Pennsylvania’s early childhood education system, including the role of public and private equity in child care and recommendations to improve access and affordability. The House also advanced several bills on final passage, including House Bills 2551, 75, 76, 426, 1127, 2234, and 1585. These measures addressed issues such as banning government text-message collection of fees and tolls, medical licensing for physician assistants and physicians, native habitats at Commonwealth facilities, joining the dental and dental hygienist compact, a spent grain donation tax credit, and restrictions on mugshot removal fees. Most passed with broad support, though House Bill 1127 drew opposition over concerns about licensing standards and the compact structure. Members also considered House Bill 2650, creating the Governor’s Responsible Infrastructure Development Certification for data centers, and House Bill 2496, establishing a temporary pause on data center proposals while local ordinances are reviewed. Both bills were amended several times. Debate on HB 2650 focused on data center impacts on electricity costs, water use, noise, community benefit agreements, and farmland protection; one farmland-protection amendment was tabled, while other amendments on closed-loop cooling and enforceable local criteria were adopted. Debate on HB 2496 centered on preserving local control and home rule authority for municipalities, with amendments clarifying that local governments could continue curative amendment procedures and retain zoning powers. The House agreed to both bills as amended. The House also re-reported several bills from Appropriations and Rules, reconsidered and re-accepted a prior committee report on House Bill 2359, and announced caucus and committee meetings. At the end of the session, the House moved several bills to Appropriations, removed Senate Bill 1058 from the table calendar to the active calendar, and adjourned until Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at 11 a.m., unless recalled sooner.

Transcript Highlights:

• Modern prevention, that brings to mind predictive policing. Can you wrap it up, please?
• And so in the interest of money not going towards predictive policing and AI models being used to determine

Bills: HB2416, HB2663, HB2759, HB2806

Keywords: border security, drug trafficking, human smuggling, law enforcement funding, Arizona, public safety, immigration, military leave, national guard, employment rights, paid leave, disaster response, veterans services, education programs, funding, appropriation, Yavapai county, lawful presence, public programs, verification

Summary: The Military Affairs and Border Security Committee approved the February 16, 2026 minutes and then heard several bills. HB 2416 would appropriate $20 million for DPS border support, including equipment, officer positions, and grants to local governments for border-related prosecutions and detention costs. Supporters, including the Arizona Sheriffs Association, said the funds are fully used each year and are largely spent on drug interdiction; opponents argued the bill’s immigration-related language could expand enforcement and that the money should instead go to health care, education, food assistance, or prevention programs. After debate, the committee passed HB 2416 on a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered HB 2806, which would require county recorders, ADOT, and AHCCCS to use the federal SAVE system and report citizenship-verification results to JLBC and the Auditor General. The sponsor was absent, and an ACLU representative testified in opposition, arguing SAVE is not appropriate for voter eligibility checks, could disenfranchise eligible citizens, and would likely cause litigation and administrative confusion. Members raised concerns about necessity, due process, and whether the state already verifies citizenship adequately, but the bill still received a do-pass recommendation on a 4-3 vote. HB 2663, a technical cleanup bill updating military leave language for state and local employees who are National Guard or Reserve members, drew no opposition and passed unanimously. HB 2759 would appropriate $500,000 to the Department of Veterans Services for grants tied to veterans programs at Yavapai County institutions; testimony described it as helping veterans with housing gaps, emergencies, and professional development while they wait for GI Bill payments. Several members questioned why it was limited to Yavapai County and whether private institutions should be included, with some viewing it as a pilot program and others wanting statewide expansion. It passed 4-3, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill creates a model to address delays, staffing shortages, and backlogs in local government development
• We have a very high increase, and it lacks predictability that developers are looking for, and we understand
• And so there's this very fine needle that needs to be threaded where you balance the predictability that

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard a series of bills, mostly local claims and growth-management or permitting measures. SB 16, SB 14, and SB 24 were uncontested claims bills providing relief for injuries or damages involving the City of St. Petersburg and Miami-Dade County; each was described as settled or favorably reported by a special master, and each was reported favorably without debate. SB 288, a negotiated bill on rural electric cooperatives, was presented as a clarification to protect co-op authority over generation and power purchases while preserving consumer protections; it drew support from industry stakeholders and was reported favorably. SB 830 created a public-records exemption for certain local administrators and their families’ personal information, citing threats against city managers, and it also passed favorably. The committee also considered several land-use and permitting bills. SB 1138 would create a registry of qualified professionals to conduct pre-application review for plats and development, aiming to reduce delays and backlogs; local government groups raised concerns about preemption and preserving quasi-judicial authority, but the bill passed favorably with one no vote. SB 168 expanded public nuisance law to include gambling houses, increased penalties, and authorized attorney’s fees and foreclosure of unpaid fees; it was reported favorably. SB 686 revised the agricultural enclave statute to create a public-hearing process for certain residential projects in urban service areas, with a sunset date later amended to June 30, 2026; conservation and planning groups raised concerns about local planning authority and public participation, but the bill passed favorably. SB 548, a growth-management and impact-fee cleanup bill, clarified plan-based methodology, extraordinary circumstances, interlocal agreements, and refund procedures for impact fees. Local government and development stakeholders testified that it would improve predictability while preserving flexibility, though some sought further refinement on fee increases and refunds; the bill was amended and then reported favorably. SB 1234 addressed building permits and inspections, including permit validity, small-project exemptions, temporary hurricane protection, standardized permit forms, and expanded use of private providers; county officials objected to reduced oversight, while builders and private-provider advocates supported the measure. After testimony and debate, the bill was reported favorably. At the end of the meeting, Senator Jones requested to be recorded on several votes, and the committee adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• PED is now using that to fund our model and support schools, instructional coaches when it comes to literacy
• So we're talking about things like the opportunity culture model that was being used in, in Carlsbad.
• There's a couple other models out there, and so the department is administering those funds for districts
• Chair, very quickly, uh, I, I can't predict everything that will happen, obviously, but, um, we've already
• and in a way that no other state in the country is doing, and a lot of people are looking at us as a model

Transcript Highlights:

• THEY HAVE IT DELTA MODEL. WE HAVE CITRUS FAMILY CARE NETWORK THAT HAS A CHANCE MODEL.
• NORTHWEST IS NOT CURRENTLY HAVING THE SAFE MODEL HOMES.
• WHAT I CAN SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT THAT IS A MODEL. IT'S A TREATMENT MODEL.
• THESE ARE TEAMING MODELS.
• WE CAN CONNECT THOSE MODELS TO THOSE FAMILIES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• eligibility based on being a student, just age, which is easier to track and changes with 100% predictability
• <00:03:57.120> two<00:03:57.360> other<00:03:57.640> potential predictability two
• other potential predictability two other potential benefits<00:03:58.760> albeit<00:03:59.200
• <00:37:37.680> way always in a completely predictable way always in a completely predictable
• <03:57:32.359> pretty these Provisions are just modeled pretty these Provisions are just modeled

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bill 552, which would remove the “full-time student” requirement for children ages 19 to 25 covered under the state retiree health insurance plan. The prime sponsor said the change would align retiree coverage with state employee and ACA plans, would not cost taxpayers because retirees pay the premiums, and could even reduce administrative burden and possibly state costs. The chair noted the bill simply removes the words “if full-time student” from statute and said the proposal affects very few retirees and has no cost to the state. No opposition was presented, and the chair closed the hearing on HB 552 after no further testimony. The committee then opened a public hearing on House Bill 648, which would require commercial insurance coverage for glucose monitoring devices and supplies for people with diabetes. The prime sponsor, a retired dietitian and diabetes educator, gave extensive testimony describing diabetes as common, costly, and serious, and argued that continuous glucose monitoring is important for managing type 2 and gestational diabetes, preventing hypoglycemia, and improving safety and decision-making. She said CGMs can alert users to dangerous blood sugar changes, help people understand how food, activity, and medication affect glucose, and save lives while offering a strong return on investment. During questions, a committee member asked whether the bill should specify that the monitoring be tied to prescribed treatment, and the sponsor agreed that adding “prescribed” would be appropriate. The member also asked about the proper threshold for coverage and whether the bill should be tied to fasting-test diagnosis; the sponsor responded that A1C is only one measure of control and does not show daily fluctuations, and said she was not prepared to recommend a specific threshold but could provide clinical guidelines later. No vote was taken during the hearing, and the sponsor indicated support for the bill’s general approach to broader CGM access.

Transcript Highlights:

• So is the model only in after-the-fact usage, or is it something that's used?
• But I think you're asking, like, do the things that OSPI maintain inform... ...model.
• You know, just coming at this from a total lay versus... model.
• If I can add on one quick thing to Sean's comment: the question earlier about the model—so the model
• to a different model.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on OSPI’s school apportionment system, which distributes K-12 funding to districts. Auditors said the system and its underlying 2008-era infrastructure are outdated, unstable, inefficient, and at high risk of errors or failure. They also found weak controls over data input, documentation, oversight, and monitoring, with heavy reliance on a small number of staff and vendor knowledge. In limited testing of three districts, the system calculated 2023–24 funding correctly, but auditors identified small discrepancies between state budget inputs and underlying statutory language and said broader system risks remain unresolved. JLARC members asked about the scope of the district testing, whether smaller districts face greater risk, the meaning of the funding discrepancies, and whether the system could support a future change to a simpler per-student funding formula. Auditors said the discrepancies were small but could compound into millions statewide, and that the audit did not evaluate broader policy questions or alternative system owners. They recommended OSPI modernize or replace the system and address current control weaknesses while the new platform is developed. OSPI officials largely agreed that the current platform needs replacement and said a feasibility study completed in 2024 found the system at catastrophic risk of failure. They clarified that the Legislature had approved up to $16 million in the state IT pool for the project, but that funding is released through gated oversight and not all of it had yet been appropriated for the current biennium. OSPI disputed the auditor’s characterization of some rounding and budget-law issues, saying the calculations were consistent with agency rules and legislative inputs, and explained that some manual workarounds are used to handle newer statutory requirements. One member of the public testified in support of modernizing the system and strengthening controls. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• positioned to scale The Proven model positioned to scale The Proven model Emirates<00:42:27.000>
• We as a state, Minnesota has a proven model to follow.
• We as a state, Minnesota, have a proven model to follow.
• So I've got some issues with just the whole model to begin with.
• <01:08:58.279> Mr<01:08:58.799> Davis proposed model Mr Davis proposed model Mr Davis

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so that is how we came up with the money distribution, based on the model of CPS and their lawyers
• We think that's a good model because it's more efficient.
• We think that's a good model because it's more efficient.
• We think that's a good model because it's more efficient.
• "Insurance here, did they ever ask you about the cost, predictability of workers' compensation?"

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 13 January, 2026; 1:45 PM, 925, all

Summary: The subcommittee heard first from the Office of State Public Defender, which said its core budget request was essentially level funding, with attorney and investigator pay raises already included because of the DA pay raise linkage. The main discussion focused on two initiatives: a rural public defense pilot in four counties and a Hinds County/Jackson public defense expansion. The pilot, funded last year with capital expense money, has formed a nonprofit, hired a director and staff, opened an office in Kosciusko, and began taking cases on October 1; most of its 44 cases involved day-one jail visits. The office said the project is intended to improve early representation, reduce jail time, and generate data, while not displacing local public defenders. For Hinds County, the office said new data show about 31% of cases originate from state-agency arrests, and it is seeking roughly $525,000 more to fully fund positions, bringing the total request to about $952,972 for five lawyers, an investigator, a legal secretary, and office expenses. Senators asked about funding sources and workload standards; the office said the pilot request had been submitted as general funds rather than capital expense, and that it is using weighted workload measures rather than strict national caseload standards. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office, represented by Deputy Attorney General Doug Miracle, who presented the FY 2027 budget request. The office requested $45.48 million total, including $35.31 million in general funds, which is a reduction from the prior year’s appropriation, but also requested a $1.58 million increase in salary funding. Miracle said the office is losing attorneys to other state agencies and district attorney offices because of salary caps and pay disparities, noting the Attorney General’s statutory salary cap of $150,000 and that more than 18 attorneys left last year. He said HB 1509 created higher pay levels for district attorneys and assistant district attorneys, making retention harder for the Attorney General’s office, and asked for either the salary increase or authority to move funds between budget lines. Miracle also highlighted the office’s work on child welfare and human trafficking, noting that federal HHS officials were visiting Jackson to discuss foster children and that the office administers the state’s human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation fund. He said the office is working to reduce time children spend in state custody and support services for trafficking victims and foster youth. The committee discussed statewide youth court reform as well, with Miracle explaining that the office supports expert recommendations and a plan that could create 25 youth court positions in 20 chancery districts at an estimated $10 million, based on DHS and AOC data and a model using state-employed and contract lawyers. No votes were taken during the excerpted meeting.