Transcript Highlights:

• Homesteader exemptions are increased annually for inflation.
• The impact of the state is going to be there.
• What's the impact on my community?
• What's the impact on my county's fiscal responsibility?
• ... ...impact of the implementing bill to make it better.

Summary: The Senate took up Committee Substitute for Senate Joint Resolution 2F, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand homestead property tax relief, lower the assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and limit county and municipal ad valorem tax revenues to specified uses. Senator Avila presented the measure as a major property tax reform intended to provide relief to homeowners and restrain local government spending, while opponents argued it would shift costs to fees, services, and state appropriations and could harm local budgets, public safety, schools, and other services. Several senators also raised concerns about the ballot language and the lack of a completed fiscal analysis. The chamber considered and rejected multiple amendments. Senator Sharif’s income-based “circuit breaker” amendment failed, as did Senator Smith’s sunset clause amendment and Senator Berman’s amendment to rewrite the ballot statement for greater accuracy. During questioning, Avila said the revised language was meant to preserve flexibility for local governments and that future legislatures could set implementing procedures and, if necessary, prohibit certain local expenditures by general law. He also confirmed that the proposal would not affect refinancing or portability, and said the measure would not prevent local governments from continuing to fund many services such as libraries, parks, animal control, code enforcement, mosquito control, public housing, county health departments, and elections. Debate on final passage was extensive. Supporters described the proposal as overdue relief for homeowners and a way to force local governments to prioritize spending, while critics called it a risky tax shift that could reduce local revenue by billions and force cuts or higher fees. Some senators emphasized concerns about public safety funding, mental health and social services, and the accuracy of the ballot summary; others argued the measure would give voters a chance to decide on property tax reform. After debate, the resolution was rolled over for third reading and the Senate continued discussion, but the transcript provided does not include a final vote on the joint resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 349, Dixon, foster care infant supplement, due pass is amended to retain the inflation adjustment.
• pass as amended to increase instead of eliminate. caps and allow DFW to annually adjust the cap for inflation
• AB 342, Haney, hours of sales, do pass as amended to require the license fee be adjusted for inflation
• AB 374, Haney, hours of sales, do pass as amended to require the license fee be adjusted for inflation
• AB 1244 Wicks, transportation impact mitigation. Due pass out on an A roll call.

Committee: House Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> a lot of inflation in the medical area. a lot of inflation in the medical area.
• </c> keeping up with the inflation increases. keeping up with the inflation increases.
• </c><02:55:55.520><c> on</c> not going to touch these, the impact on not going to touch these, the impact
• </c> economic impact economic impact and<03:18:51.359><c> the</c><03:18:51.680><c> 88</c><03:18:52.160
• :19:04.960><c> than</c><03:19:05.200><c> revenue</c> impact is way different than revenue impact is way

Transcript Highlights:

• So, a significant amount of impact. In summary, AB 1658 makes permanent...
• Over the past decade, construction cost inflation has substantially outpaced general inflation, and current
• Construction cost inflation has substantially outpaced general inflation, and current statutory thresholds
• California is disproportionately feeling these negative impacts.
• California is disproportionately feeling these negative impacts.

Committee: House Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• And, of course, greater stability... ...with inflation.
• We have done some analysis on key workforce areas and impact.
• I can tell you firsthand the enormous impact.
• Without this funding, programs will be significantly impacted.
• We've seen the impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• The estimated impact to counties and cities is $1.8 million for one month, and the impact to the road
• :05.599><c> and</c><00:08:05.840><c> cities</c> estimated impact to counties and cities estimated impact
• </c><00:19:43.520><c> Um,</c> impacts of those investments. Um, impacts of those investments.
• </c> individual, it has a significant impact individual, it has a significant impact to<00:21:05.679>
• </c> impact on speeds within the work zone. impact on speeds within the work zone.

Committee: Joint Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• Last session we made a couple of decisions that greatly impact our grocers and made it that much more
• The assessment of impacts in the project analysis must be done in consultation with any impacted taxing
• The assessment of impacts in the project analysis must be done in consultation with any impacted taxing
• If voters in the impacted district approve a property tax levy lid lift, the impacted taxing district
• Sometimes we get into implementation and we come to a better understanding of actual impacts.

Bills: HB2313 , HB2451 , HB2298 , HB2566 , HB2517

Committee: House Local Government

Keywords: grocery stores, public ownership, food accessibility, community services, economic development, tax increment financing, local government, municipal finance, public infrastructure, property title protection, land record fraud, county auditors, voluntary program, real estate, procurement, contracting, transparency, financial oversight, municipal permitting, transit projects

Transcript Highlights:

• And the other is provider inflation, and we haven't discussed that yet. Mr.
• I have is I think there were requests to change the inflators for educators.
• Chairman, sort of, I think it's a good time to talk about the inflators.
• The governor did recommend one and a half percent inflators for everybody. Not as...
• And a half percent inflators for everybody. Donna's given up on the committee, I think.

Bills: SB2399

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division

Summary: The committee reconvened and first reconsidered House Bill 1612, the aerospace medical and mental health support center bill. Senator Cleary offered an amendment to reduce the general fund appropriation from $500,000 to $250,000 and require the university or project sponsors to find the remaining funding from other sources. The amendment passed, and the bill was then recommended do pass as amended, with members citing concerns about university funding, but others supporting the project as a one-time seed investment. The committee also discussed a possible future FMAP increase beginning October 1, 2026, which could reduce general fund costs by roughly $9 million, though members noted the figures were still preliminary and could be addressed later if needed. The committee then returned to Human Services budget items, including early childhood and child care funding, a community cultural center grant, and several other adjustments. Members discussed reducing the “best in class” amount, changes to child care grants and quality/infrastructure funding, and clarifying that prior child care assistance appropriations were in fact being spent. They also agreed to reduce the 1915(i) Medicaid waiver line by $2 million, with the understanding that the entitlement would still be funded as needed. The committee also considered taking guardianship funding out of House Bill 1012 because a separate bill, Senate Bill 2029, would move that funding elsewhere; members agreed that removing it from the budget could help the overall bill and could be restored if the separate bill failed. Several study amendments were discussed. Senator Cleary proposed adding a maternal health study related to prenatal services, doulas, midwives, and Medicaid, and members expressed support. The committee also discussed a software/case-management study proposal, but the department said it had not requested it and would not support it as presented, so members leaned against advancing it unless the department first evaluated it. Another amendment would authorize the department to work with the city of Grafton on a long-term plan for the LSTC campus and require a report back to the legislature; members supported that as legislative intent. The committee also agreed to remove a truancy study section for later conference discussion, and it reviewed other possible study ideas, including assistive technology, before adjourning to await updated long sheets and bill text.

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to raise the caps to stay up with inflation.
• We want to raise the caps to stay up with inflation, Mr. Chair.
• So let's just let them adjust automatically, let them set with inflation.
• So any state agency that this would impact that receives a million dollars or more will have to have
• And it shouldn't impact the way that we do business.

Bills: HB2 , SB145 , SB143

Committee: Senate House Appropriations & Finance

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 143, which would raise caps on certain agriculture fees so they can keep pace with inflation. Senator Woods explained that the bill only adjusts fee ceilings, not automatic increases, and an amendment was adopted to tie the caps to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the U.S. Department of Labor. There was no public support or opposition testimony, and the bill was then passed on an 8-0 do-pass vote, with several members excused. The committee then took up Senate Bill 145, which would change the state audit system by raising thresholds for smaller local public bodies and creating a statewide federal single audit for state agencies. The State Auditor and DFA said the bill was intended to streamline audits, reduce delays, and align New Mexico with federal rules and other states, but multiple CPA and audit witnesses opposed the statewide single-audit concept, warning it could reduce transparency, weaken accountability, and increase the risk of fraud, waste, and abuse. Committee members pressed for clarification on how the audit structure would work, which agencies would be covered, and whether DFA or independent auditors would conduct the work; the sponsors said amendments were needed to clarify the bill and remove problematic language, including the appropriation and references to gifts and donations. The committee adopted an amendment striking the appropriation language and then continued questioning without taking final action in the excerpt. The final portion of the meeting shifted to the House Bill 2 budget presentation. Committee members reviewed the Senate Finance version of the budget, which included about a 2.7% increase in recurring spending, 30% reserves, and major investments in health care affordability, early childhood, public education, housing, clean energy, water, and agriculture-related priorities. Members asked about water testing needs, water settlement funding, career technical education funding, and the contingency fund/disaster reserve structure. The presenters said some items still needed technical work and that additional adjustments would be made before final passage.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:00.360><c> on</c> not have a significant impact on not have a significant impact on historic
• </c><00:15:11.639><c> a</c> project or one that's impacting a project or one that's impacting a historic
• lands could still be impacting um you lands could still be impacting um you know<00:45:30.079><c> some
• </c><01:10:40.719><c> by</c> hear directly from people impacted by hear directly from people impacted
• </c><01:27:48.159><c> that</c> rent was being charged and inflate that rent was being charged and inflate

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several housing, land use, and preservation bills. HB 1008 HD2 would require the Department of Land and Natural Resources to complete historic preservation determinations for state affordable housing projects within 90 days and create sensitivity-based review pathways. HHFDC, DLNR’s State Historic Preservation Division, and written testimony from DBEDT supported the bill as an expedited process for projects unlikely to affect significant historic resources. Members asked how the bill would define significant versus non-significant historic properties, how it would interact with Kapakai analysis, and whether burial councils had been consulted; SHPD said the bill would not replace Kapakai review and that burial councils had not been included. Written support also came from OHA, Hawaii Realtors, and the Maui Chamber of Commerce. HB 1093 would clarify the Hawaii Public Housing Authority’s powers relating to housing projects. HPHA supported the measure, saying it would align definitions with prior law and help deconcentrate poverty by allowing mixed-income rebuilding. The director also said the bill was increasingly urgent because of reported federal HUD priorities that could affect public housing and Section 8 funding. HB 1096 HD1 would repeal state low-income housing preferences for disabled veterans and spouses of deceased veterans, with HPHA saying federal veteran programs such as VASH are a better mechanism and that the state preference has not been used in years. HB 1411 would allow HHFDC projects to give sale or lease preferences to applicants who live or work within five miles of a project; HHFDC and the Hawaii Chapter of NAIOP supported it as a way to keep residents connected to their communities, while members raised constitutional concerns about broader local-preference policies. The committee also heard HB 367 HD1, which would create county permit exemptions for certain agricultural and maintenance activities. Written testimony included opposition from the Department of Planning and Permitting and support from the Hawaii Farm Bureau, Grassroot Institute, and others. A public testifier opposed the bill, arguing that permit exemptions could worsen safety and compliance problems. Finally, HB 826 HD1 would allow county planning commissions, by special permit, to authorize residential housing in agricultural districts for agricultural workforce housing, long-term rental, or fee simple ownership under certain conditions. HHFDC supported it as a faster alternative to lengthy state land-use redistricting, but the Department of Agriculture, Land Use Commission, and Office of Planning and Sustainable Development raised concerns about food production impacts, due process, service provision, jurisdictional conflicts, and the use of special permits for what could amount to district boundary changes. Public testimony was mixed, with some support and some opposition. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Solar panels, when turbines, they have an environmental impact.
• That said, today the impact of the solar panel versus coal, it is 20 times less carbon than coal.
• Solar panels, when turbines, they have an environmental impact.
• Solar panels and turbines have an environmental impact.
• That said, the impact of a solar panel versus coal is 20 times less carbon than coal.

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> an inflation adjustment. an inflation adjustment.
• </c> adjusted to account for the inflation adjusted to account for the inflation rate<01:09:44.719><c
• </c> both enrollment and inflation both enrollment and inflation adjustments<01:10:13.600><c> as</c><
• But its impact will fall the middle.
• 53:54.080><c> local</c> impact on legislation and local impact on legislation and local officials,<04

Transcript Highlights:

• Everybody in this room has lived through the massive inflation that we had a few years ago.
• So if you look at a 30 percent drop from where it was, plus the inflation of what things cost us, we're
• Everybody in this room has lived through the massive inflation that we had a few years ago.
• Everybody in this room has lived through the massive inflation that we had a few years ago.
• The impact on 9-1-1 services is especially concerning.

Committee: House Rules - Legislative

Summary: The Missouri House Legislative Rules Committee held a hearing on House Bill 2243, sponsored by Rep. Bryant-Wolfen, which would repeal a 2021 provision that exempted certain manufacturing and mining-related industries from local sales tax. The sponsor argued the change unintentionally stripped counties of revenue they had already approved through local votes, shifting the burden onto ordinary Missourians and leaving local governments without a replacement source of funding. Committee members questioned whether the bill would amount to a tax increase, whether a referendum or local voter approval should be required, and whether the measure could discourage investment or job growth. The sponsor said the bill simply restores local taxing authority and noted the fiscal note showed roughly $35 million in local revenue at stake statewide. Testimony in support came from local officials from Iron County, Adair County, and St. Genevieve County, including commissioners, a sheriff, and a 911 board official. They said the exemption reduced revenue for roads, ambulance service, law enforcement, and 911 operations, forcing service cuts and higher local levies. Iron County witnesses said the loss hit a county dependent on mining and reduced ambulance coverage and sheriff funding; Adair County officials said the exemption affected expected revenue from a large solar project and other energy infrastructure; St. Genevieve County officials cited sharp monthly declines in sales tax receipts and said inflation made the loss even more severe. Supporters emphasized that these were locally approved taxes and that the affected companies still benefit from county services. Opposition came from Associated Industries of Missouri, which argued the original exemption was part of Missouri’s effort to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision and keep tax rules uniform for out-of-state sellers. The group warned that removing the exemption could make Missouri’s tax system less simple and potentially jeopardize local use-tax collections statewide, with a much larger possible revenue loss if the law were challenged. The committee chair said the hearing would continue with a hard stop for floor business, and at the end of testimony he indicated he planned to take executive action on the bill later in the week. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is there a fiscal impact with this? Now, there's no fiscal impact.
• And if you do the inflation rate, instead of a fee from $1 to $20 instead of $20 dollars, it should be
• So, I think it's time that they need to raise their fees just because of inflation.
• So, it's a very simple bill, but boy, it has a lot of impact when you're in a court of law and trying

Bills: SB1192 , SB1264 , SB1284 , SB1810 , SB1921

Committee: Senate Public Safety

Keywords: substance abuse, counseling, assessment fees, mental health, alcohol and drug programs, domestic violence, domestic abuse, assault and battery, assault, battery, strangulation, dangerous weapon, family or household member, intimate partner, pregnant woman, great bodily injury, batterers intervention program, batterers' intervention, anger management, victim safety

Transcript Highlights:

• This operation impacted several families.
• There's been a real impact here that is harming regular Californians.
• It's a continuing impact.
• Each of us experiences the impacts of this anti-competitive behavior every day.
• And there is a requirement to assess impact on workers.

Summary: The committee heard several bills and took action on a number of them. SB 1234 by Senator Alvarado-Gil would require fentanyl to be included in drug tests ordered by juvenile courts for parents or guardians in dependency cases; there was no opposition, a committee member confirmed it would apply to caregivers rather than children, and the bill was supported for moving forward. SB 1257 by Senator Arreguín would require the Attorney General to publish an annual public report on immigration enforcement incidents at designated safe locations such as schools, hospitals, courthouses, and places of worship; supporters from immigrant advocacy and health groups testified about fear and chilling effects in communities, while questions focused on how data would be collected and concerns were raised about sanctuary policies. SB 1176 by Senator Choi would bar foreign adversary entities from buying California agricultural land; supporters cited national security concerns, but committee members pressed on enforcement, straw buyers, and who would be responsible for identifying prohibited purchasers, and the bill was held on a 2-4 vote after debate. The committee also heard SB 1146 by Senator Gonzalez, which would require clear disclosure when AI-generated or altered images, audio, or video are used in health-related advertisements depicting health care providers. The California Medical Association and California Dental Association supported the bill, describing deepfake health ads as deceptive and harmful; it passed the committee 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 988 by Senator Grayson would regulate auto glass insurance practices by restricting assignment of benefits, requiring claim numbers and itemized estimates, and addressing steering and billing practices; supporters said it would curb fraud and stabilize premiums, while independent glass businesses worried about steering and market concentration. After discussion of consumer choice and small-business impacts, the bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. SB 1288, presented by Senator Grayson on behalf of Senator Laird, would require financial institutions to make a good-faith effort to notify beneficiaries of non-probate assets and would reduce barriers to claiming those assets, especially for nonprofits. Nonprofit witnesses described long delays and burdensome account-opening requirements, while SIFMA and bankers opposed the bill unless amended, citing conflicts with federal and industry obligations and concerns about retroactivity and verification. The bill passed 8-0 to call. The committee also heard SB 941 by Senator Padilla, which would cap commissary markups in private immigration detention facilities at 35% above vendor cost; the Attorney General’s office and immigrant advocates supported it as a response to exploitative pricing and poor conditions, and it passed 8-0 to call. Finally, SB 909 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would raise and index public works contractor fees and penalties and dedicate more penalty revenue to enforcement; labor supporters said stronger funding is needed to address wage theft and backlogs, while contractors opposed the fee and penalty structure as uncapped and costly. The bill was moved forward on a vote and remained on call after committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> obviously that's going to have an impact obviously that's going to have an impact on<00:12:35.360
• impact on unfunded liabilities?
• </c> what that impact might be. what that impact might be.
• </c> of the system and what will its impact of the system and what will its impact be<01:20:26.480><c
• </c><01:20:33.920><c> Uh</c> impact. Thank you for the question. Uh impact.

Committee: Joint Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• He was an admired educator who had a profound and very positive impact on every single child that he
• HE WAS AN ADMIRED EDUCATOR, WHO HAD A PROFOUND AND VERY POSITIVE IMPACT ON EVERY SINGLE CHILD THAT HE
• It is a driver of economic activity that generates $12.9 billion in total economic impact across the
• Golf is an impactful part of New York economically, environmentally, and socially, and it is entirely
• Inflation from tariffs or from rising gas prices worldwide, we can make sure that prices are fair.

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the journal, and took up a series of motions to discharge identical Assembly bills to the Third Reading Calendar, along with committee reports and amendments. The chamber also received an introduction from Senator Gonzalez honoring Maria Raine and her advocacy for guardrails on AI chatbots after the death of her son, and later adopted a Rules Committee report sending several General Business Law bills directly to Third Reading. The resolution calendar was adopted with some exceptions, and the Senate recognized several previously adopted resolutions honoring individuals and observances, including Barnabas McHenry, Arthur Jones Jr., Floyd Todd Peterson III, the Lexington School for the Deaf, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, Apraxia Awareness Month, Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, Prevention Week, Physician Anesthesiologists Week, and Golf Day in New York. The Senate then considered and passed numerous bills, many on consumer protection and public policy topics. Measures included bills on General Business Law, Public Health Law, Correction Law, Environmental Conservation Law, Executive Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, Public Officers Law, Not-for-Profit Corporation Law, Public Housing Law, Education Law, Labor Law, and Public Service Law. Several bills were laid aside, including a Public Health Law bill by Senator Fernandez and a Public Service Law bill by Senator Parker. The chamber also passed a concurrent constitutional resolution by Senator Stec proposing an amendment to Article 14. During floor debate, senators explained votes on several measures. Senator Ramos spoke in support of paid sick leave for domestic workers, describing the bill as a long-overdue labor protection for a workforce historically excluded from such rights. Senator Fernandez described her bill as the Manufacturer Disclosure and Transparency Act, aimed at requiring notice and public disclosure of certain pharmaceutical patent settlement agreements to improve transparency and competition in prescription drug pricing. Senator Ryan and Senator Martins supported a bill restricting hidden algorithmic price manipulation online, and Senator May supported a bill limiting excessive rental car fuel charges as part of a broader consumer protection package. The Senate also passed a memorial highway bill naming a portion of Route 19 in LeRoy for Lieutenant Gary A. Scott, with Senator Borrello explaining the veteran’s service and sacrifice.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're simply asking you to help us keep up with inflation.
• As you can see, we've had some consolidation of bills that I think will all have a great impact.
• So how do we know what the fiscal impact of this is?
• Gold is a fantastic hedge against inflation for people.
• Anybody familiar with precious metals knows they are good hedges against inflation.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first considered House Bill 350, which would extend the grade levels at Ecole Pointe-au-Chien from fourth through eighth grade. The sponsor and several members emphasized the school’s importance to Terrebonne Parish, French immersion, and school choice. An amendment was adopted making the bill subject to appropriation, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. Members then approved House Bill 749, which authorizes the Louisiana Tuition Trust Authority to contract with a program manager for certain savings programs, including ABLE, START, and START K-12, in response to a prior cyber incident and to improve security and customer service. An amendment simplified the bill’s effective-date language so provisions would take effect upon execution of the contract. The bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee also advanced House Bill 979 to increase the survivor benefit for law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty from $250,000 to $350,000. Testimony from the governor’s office said the increase could be covered within existing appropriations and that the amount was consistent with inflation since the benefit was last set. The bill was reported favorably. Later, House Bill 42 creating a phased retirement option for public post-secondary employees in the Teachers’ Retirement System was reported favorably, and House Bill 205 to allow local clerks of court to supplement election commissioner pay by up to $100 per election was also reported favorably after extensive testimony about staffing shortages and stagnant pay. The committee additionally reported favorably House Bill 12 extending survivor benefits to reserve officers killed in the line of duty, and House Bill 324 on judicial salaries, after amending it to remove future COLA provisions and leave only the permanent stipend increase.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there is no, basically no fiscal impact.
• We're simply asking you to help us keep up with inflation.
• So how do we know what the fiscal impact of this is?
• Gold is a fantastic hedge against inflation for people.
• Anybody familiar with precious metals knows they are good hedges against inflation.

Bills: HB12 , HB42 , HB205 , HB222 , HB324 , HB325 , HB350 , HB416 , HB482 , HB610 , HB749 , HB797 , HB807 , HB821 , HB979 , HB992 , HB1193

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: survivor benefits, law enforcement, reserve officer, auxiliary officer, public safety, Medicaid, dental coverage, healthcare access, medical necessity, Louisiana Department of Health, judicial salaries, judges, judiciary compensation, cost of living adjustment, COLA, Louisiana Supreme Court, court of appeal judges, district court judges, city court judges, parish court judges

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:19:41.559><c> in</c> to do and makes a much bigger impact in to do and makes a much bigger impact
• :56.400><c> of</c> $9.5 million so the the impact of $9.5 million so the the impact of increasing<00:
• </c> there um this will be directly impacted there um this will be directly impacted on<00:50:09.319>
• <01:05:38.960><c> that</c><01:05:39.160><c> those</c> impact that those impact that those funds<01:05
• It's not going to have a significant impact.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means