Transcript Highlights:

• The semiconductor, which is responsible for, you know, if you sort of extrapolate to the computer hardware

Summary: The committee first discussed the state budget and employee compensation, focusing on the 1% pay increase proposal and the broader cost of state employee raises and benefits. Members noted that over the past several years the state has invested heavily in payroll, pension contributions, pay studies, and band realignments, and several senators argued that the 80/20 health insurance change and other benefit improvements amount to significant compensation increases even without an additional raise. Others cautioned that recurring revenue is limited, that recent revenue collections were weaker than expected, and that the state should be careful about committing to ongoing costs given possible economic slowdown, federal uncertainty, drought, wildfire risk, and the possibility of future budget pressure. The committee then heard extensive testimony on SB 177, a major economic development proposal centered on quantum computing, advanced energy, robotics, synthetic biology, and related technologies. Supporters described the bill as a large strategic investment intended to leverage New Mexico’s national laboratories, universities, and existing quantum workforce to attract companies, create high-wage jobs, and diversify the economy. Testimony emphasized that much of the quantum workforce would be skilled trades and technicians rather than Ph.D.-level researchers, and members asked detailed questions about whether the state would receive long-term returns, how intellectual property and clawbacks would be handled, and whether the package included recurring costs. Witnesses also explained the bill’s trade association and workforce-development components, and several senators raised concerns about energy use, water use, guardrails, and ensuring the state does not subsidize outside interests without benefits returning to New Mexico. After debate, the committee moved to table SB 177 indefinitely, with members noting that the funding and structure were already incorporated into House Bill 2. The motion passed on an 8-0 vote, with several members excused. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• provisions protect Florida businesses and individuals by preventing the introduction of high risk hardware

Transcript Highlights:

• for new equipment for state veterans' homes, $702,700 for replacement items, and $220,000 for IT hardware

Summary: The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee heard budget presentations for the Idaho Military Division, the Division of Veterans Services, and PERSI. For the Military Division, analysts reviewed the agency’s structure, recent transfers of emergency medical services into the division, and the fiscal year 2027 request, which included hazardous materials response funding, a pay-parity adjustment for 223 state employees, a small enhancement for grant administration overhead, and rescissions tied to vacant positions and reduced tuition assistance and state match funding. General Donnellan said the division had absorbed the 3% rescission, but further cuts to state education assistance for Guardsmen would be concerning. Members also asked about the EMS transition, CEC-related pay parity, and the general’s military service. The committee then reviewed the Division of Veterans Services budget. Analysts described the state veterans homes, cemeteries, and veterans assistance programs, along with ongoing staffing challenges and the use of a temporary nursing pool to reduce reliance on contract nurses. Administrator Mark Champal said the division is making progress on staffing, expects to save nearly half a million dollars through the new pool, and continues to manage near-capacity homes while the new Boise veterans home is under construction. He also highlighted outreach efforts for homeless and vulnerable veterans, the division’s high satisfaction rates, and recent gains in benefits claims, education certifications, and community support connections. Finally, PERSI’s budget and operations were discussed. Analysts outlined the retirement system’s dedicated funding, the ongoing pension software upgrade, and requested one-time funding for the final year of that project, a continuity-of-operations and records management plan, and IT replacements. Director Mike Hampton reported strong investment returns, a funded ratio around 90%, and more than $1.3 billion in annual benefits paid. Committee members asked about retiree cost-of-living adjustments, the PERSI Choice 401 plan, the possibility of moving toward defined contribution or hybrid plans, and the meaning of “other” participating employers. Hampton said the board had recommended a retroactive retirement allowance adjustment through 2022, explained that PERSI’s structure supports retention, and noted that board meetings are now livestreamed. The committee adjourned until the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The mechanisms, the input, the hardware tied to the gambling function, screens or software modules or

Transcript Highlights:

• The hardware and software for all employees is in working order and is also charged with keeping the

Keywords: Texas Ethics Commission, HB18, SB12, political contributions, civil penalties, Attorney General, criminal election offenses, legislation

Summary: In the latest meeting of the Texas Ethics Commission, significant discussions centered around newly passed legislation, specifically HB18 and SB12. HB18 introduces a civil penalty for members who accept political contributions while absent from the state, addressing potential obstructions to legislative actions. Senators and commissioners engaged in an in-depth dialogue about the implications of this bill, with many expressing concerns regarding enforcement and compliance. In contrast, SB12 expands the jurisdiction of the Attorney General to prosecute criminal election offenses, further tightening the oversight of election activities. The meeting concluded with acknowledgement of the efforts put forth by previous commission chairs, highlighting their contributions to the commission's success.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are more like the corner drugstore, the corner hardware store where everybody knows your name.

Bills: HF1679, HF1019, HF2321, HF1740, HF2278

Keywords: public television, funding, grants, arts and culture, Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio, arts education, cultural heritage, community engagement, public radio, community radio, educational grants, community cable, public access, programming funding, civic engagement, ethnic media, public access television, Minnesota Humanities Center, funding appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• What is the timing of you know surplus?
• So, the the continuation of the surplus.
• We we have a surplus. Right. We we have a surplus.
• </c> revenue, how do you spend your surplus? revenue, how do you spend your surplus?
• surplus surplus uh<00:49:03.839><c> was</c><00:49:04.240><c> created,</c><00:49:05.119><c> but</c><00

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It varies year to year depending on our surplus revenue. and how we operated the previous year.
• I would say last year, the surplus revenue transfer was 194. Yes, sir. 194 million? Yes, sir.
• And then, whatever's remaining is subject to a surplus transfer.
• So how do you have a 200 million dollar surplus but a multi-billion? $15 debt. Yeah.
• Surplus means I don't have debt. I think you all need to re-evaluate that.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I have to thank the surplus that we gathered, you know, several years ago, and uh our amenity here
• strictly into the legacy omnibus bill, although there's one article about park, but there's other surplus
• </c><00:03:23.200><c> that</c><00:03:23.440><c> we</c> have to thank the the surplus that we have to
• thank the the surplus that we gathered,<00:03:24.480><c> you</c><00:03:24.640><c> know,</c><00:03:25.040
• uh in the environment committee surplus uh in the environment committee that<00:03:58.400><c> we</c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When we are able, with a surplus or available revenue, we have been able to pay our teachers more, and
• Now that we have a surplus, what's different about this bill is that the teacher pay increases for the
• Example: a very, very large percentage of our surplus to go to our public schools and our teachers.
• The last thing I would say is don't judge politicians by what they fund when there's a surplus.
• Right now, you guys are generous because there's a surplus.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, with that said, we've just come off of an $18 billion surplus that disappeared during 2023.
• However, with that said, we've just come off of an $18 billion surplus that disappeared during 2023.
• But this this Off of an $18 billion surplus that disappeared during 2023.
• and we have in billion dollar surplus and we have in the<00:37:11.520><c> last</c><00:37:11.760><c>
• <00:42:16.400><c> 27</c> actually a surplus and that the 27 actually a surplus and that the 27 fiscal

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3403, authored by Vice Chair Rep. Kazowski, and first adopted an A1 amendment. The amendment made technical and implementation changes recommended by the Department of Revenue, allowed a small portion of funds for county and tribal administrative costs, and clarified timing and reporting for spent and unspent funds. After the amendment was adopted, the bill was moved to Ways and Means. Rep. Kazowski described HF 3403 as a $50 million emergency rental assistance measure to help stabilize households facing eviction, with $44 million directed to counties and $6 million reserved for tribal nations, administered through the Department of Revenue using the existing local homeless prevention aid formula. Supporters said the bill would provide immediate, targeted help to renters and landlords, prevent evictions, and reduce downstream costs to shelters, schools, employers, and health systems. Several testifiers, including representatives from Greater Twin Cities United Way, St. Louis County, Hennepin County, Minneapolis, social workers, a resident, and tribal housing leaders, said local resources were insufficient to meet rising need and emphasized the impact of federal immigration enforcement and related economic disruption on families, workers, and communities. Testimony highlighted sharp increases in rental assistance requests, rising eviction filings, depleted county funds, and the strain on nonprofit and mutual aid efforts. County and city officials said emergency rental assistance and related legal services had already prevented thousands of evictions, but current funding was not enough. Tribal testimony stressed disproportionate homelessness among Native Americans and supported the bill’s tribal allocation. During member discussion, Rep. Amani Hiltsley said the bill was an economic stabilization tool and requested a roll call vote, noting safeguards against fraud and the broader costs of inaction.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay so we're really chipping away at that so-called surplus.
• So, part of this surplus...
• So effectively a surplus.
• Because we've got the surplus I'm looking at right here, 23.76.
• I know the surplus number.

Keywords: budget, House Bill 1, public education, healthcare, border security, federal funding, spending limits

Summary: The meeting primarily focused on reviewing the proposed budget for the upcoming biennium, with substantial discussions around House Bill 1 and its implications for public education, healthcare, and border security. The Comptroller presented a revenue overview indicating a total of $194.6 billion available for general purpose spending, which reflects a slight decrease compared to previous years due to fluctuating economic conditions. Members raised questions regarding spending limits and the impact of federal funding on state programs, highlighting concerns about the sustainability of funding in light of potential changes at the federal level.

Transcript Highlights:

• You have a surplus statement, which I'll go over in a second, and you also have two amendments, which
• Just going over the surplus statement really quick.
• Uh<00:04:19.440><c> you</c><00:04:19.759><c> have</c><00:04:20.239><c> a</c><00:04:20.639><c> surplus
• </c> over the surplus statement really quick. over the surplus statement really quick. uh<00:05:23.680
• </c> surplus beginning into the next bianium. surplus beginning into the next bianium.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If that were to happen in the short term, you would see a less than $4 billion surplus in fiscal year
• Short term, you would see less than a $4 billion surplus in fiscal year 2029.
• By our calculations, that's about $100 million of that surplus money.
• Even if actuarially projected as overfunded, that surplus is built on long-term assumptions.
• The bill targets a surplus that's not assured.

Bills: HB1069, HB2091, SB6355, HB2104, SB6003, HB2441, HB2124, HB2610, HB2338

Keywords: collective bargaining, retirement benefits, employee rights, public sector, supplemental benefits, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, electric transmission, energy policies, infrastructure, regulatory framework, transmission systems, aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response

Transcript Highlights:

• Short term, you would see a less than $4 billion surplus in fiscal year 2029.
• By our calculations, that's about $100 million of that surplus money.
• Even if actuarially projected as overfunded, that surplus is built on long-term receipts.
• Even if actuarially projected as overfunded, that surplus is built on long-term receipts.
• The bill targets a surplus that's not assured.

Summary: The committee took up executive action on the capital budget, Proposed Substitute Senate Bill 6003, and several policy bills. Staff described amendments to the capital budget that shifted funding among behavioral health, local/community projects, irrigation projects, and juvenile rehabilitation capacity, plus a technical fix to the water pollution control revolving program. The committee adopted Senator Dozier’s budget-neutral amendment and a technical amendment, then advanced the amended capital budget to the Rules Committee. It also moved House Bills 2441, 2124, 2471, 2133, 2610, and 2338 forward with due-pass recommendations, and advanced Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2251 on Climate Commitment Act accounts to the Transportation Committee after adopting two amendments and withdrawing three others. A major public hearing focused on Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034, which would terminate and restate LEOFF Plan 1 in 2029, transfer surplus assets, and direct portions to the Climate Commitment Account and the pension funding stabilization account. Staff said the plan is currently about 160% funded and explained the bill’s IRS-review process, statute of limitations, and estimated implementation costs. Testimony was sharply divided: some retirees, firefighters, counties, and cities opposed the bill as an improper use of pension assets and urged benefit enhancements or protection of local medical obligations, while others supported using the surplus for broader public purposes. No vote was taken on the bill during the hearing. The committee also heard House Bill 2179 on PERS coverage for certain port workers, with ports and the Washington Public Ports Association supporting clarification for railroad employees covered by the federal railroad retirement system. House Bill 1069, allowing Department of Corrections employees to bargain over supplemental retirement benefits, drew support from Teamsters and corrections workers, while House Bill 2091, expanding employee-information sharing with bargaining representatives, drew union support and privacy objections from Washington Policy Center. Finally, Second Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1210 on targeted urban area tax preferences drew support from labor, local governments, and project proponents, and opposition from contractor groups and environmental advocates over project labor agreement requirements and nuclear-related concerns; Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408 on community preservation and development authorities and Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1974 on land bank authorities for affordable housing were also heard, with both receiving supportive testimony from community and housing advocates.

Transcript Highlights:

• From the 23 to 25, we still have a surplus but part of it is it safe to say that part of that surplus
• So, part of this surplus, vast majority of the surplus, The majority of the surplus for this buy-in is
• So effectively a surplus.
• We've got the surplus I'm looking at right here, 23.76.
• I know the surplus number.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We wanted to show how this line movement occurs without that expected surplus...
• We wanted to show how this line movement occurs without that expected surplus from that system.
• And that gives us an expected surplus of about $2.5 billion. It's a great position.
• When we talk about overfunding, when we talk about an expected surplus versus a real surplus, hopefully
• When we talk about overfunding, when we talk about an expected surplus versus a real surplus, hopefully

Summary: The committee approved the July minutes and then received an informational presentation from the Office of the State Actuary on the financial condition of the state retirement systems. The actuary reported that employer contribution rates are generally declining, helped by strong investment returns and reduced funding for PERS 1 and TERS 1, while funded ratios have continued to improve; on a combined basis the plans were reported at 100% funded in 2024, with open plans above 95% and legacy plans varying by system. The presentation also reviewed projected rates and funded ratios under current assumptions, noted that pension costs are taking a smaller share of the state general fund, and discussed risks from investment volatility, policy changes, and demographic experience. Committee members asked about savings from lower rates, deferred asset smoothing, and how Washington compares with other states. The committee then considered the state actuary’s recommendation on long-term economic assumptions and adopted all four recommendations by roll call votes: inflation at 3.0%, general salary growth at 3.5%, membership growth for Plan 1 funding at 1.0%, and investment rate of return at 7.25%. The actuaries explained that the inflation and salary growth increases were driven largely by higher long-term inflation expectations, while the investment return recommendation matched the current statutory assumption. Members discussed the timing of the Pension Funding Council’s decision, the effect of tariffs and inflation uncertainty, and how assumption changes would affect future contribution rates and budgets, particularly for open plans. Staff then gave an update on the LEOFF 1 study, explaining the difference between being “ahead of schedule” and truly overfunded, and summarizing responses received from DRS, the State Treasurer, and the State Investment Board on the merger and restatement proposals. DRS said both bills could be administered, though the merger bill’s COLA banking provision would be challenging until its new system is ready; the Treasurer urged caution, especially about the restatement bill and the use of one-time funds; and the Investment Board said removing assets from the trust would have some transaction costs but likely small impacts. The committee discussed whether to invite additional agencies and local government groups to testify, and staff said more responses, including from Ice Miller and the State Actuary, were expected for the October meeting. Finally, the committee heard a briefing on PERS 1/TERS 1 COLA policy and related bills from the last session. Staff reviewed the committee’s prior ongoing COLA recommendation, the SCPP-endorsed bills that would have created a one-time 3% COLA followed by an ongoing COLA, the Senate merger bill, and a separate ad hoc COLA bill. Public testimony largely supported Plan 1 COLAs and stable contribution rates, while several speakers urged caution about transferring LEOFF 1 surplus assets or merging legacy plans, and others raised concerns about climate risk and the pension fund’s investments. No further committee action was taken on the COLA item during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• year of bad news in 2025, May revision next week, it's hard to forget that the state had a record surplus
• December 2022, five months after the legislature had passed a budget with a historic $100 billion surplus
• I remember asking the new member orientation why we did not put more of the projected surplus aside in
• , the state collects much more in revenue than it has in core spending, which is budget spending. surplus
• And if you had your, if at the time you had this untested projected surplus temporary holding account

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Surplus lines insurance is a specialized coverage available from certain insurers not licensed in Texas
• , but eligible as surplus lines carriers.
• However, TDI does license and regulate the surplus lines agents.
• Surplus lines agents are responsible for placing coverage with eligible carriers.
• Except for certain commercial lines that have been exempted by statute, a surplus lines agent must make

Transcript Highlights:

• So what this bill does is it defines excess surplus as the amount of a nonprofit health carrier surplus
• Two decades ago, OIC did a study that showed hefty surplus levels.
• What we're talking about is excess surplus over and above a hundred times a statutory requirement.
• According to data from OIC, Premera's surplus grew by $916 million over the past 15 years.
• Today, the top two carriers combined carry nearly $3.4 billion in excess surplus.

Bills: SB5808, HB2254, HB2385, SB6006, SB6351, SB6198, SB6260, SB6353, SB5949, SB6129, SB6228, SB6231, SB6229, SB6173

Keywords: health insurance, premium assistance, funding, healthcare access, state budget, HB 2254, Washington, Health Care Authority, partnership access line, psychiatric consultation line, first approach skills training, behavioral health, mental health, assessment, administrative costs, health carriers, self-funded plans, multiple employer welfare arrangement, MEWA, employers