Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Hampshire called the Welcome Home Loan Hampshire called the Welcome Home Loan Program.<00:42:34.400
• </c> worked with New Hampshire Community Loan worked with New Hampshire Community Loan Fund<00:42:38.160
• </c> pushed into higher interest chatt loans pushed into higher interest chatt loans with<00:43:12.720
• Loan Oak Estates in allowed us one sale.
• They all our own now CO North Loan Fund.

Bills: HF4234 , HF484 , HF483 , HF2614

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF4234, Minnesota private activity bonds, tax-exempt bonds, bond cap, aggregate bond limitation, residential rental projects, multifamily housing, affordable housing finance, housing bonds, public finance, bond allocation, private activity bond cap, Minnesota Statutes 474A.02, tax committee, natural gas, gas hookups, residential construction, energy policy, local control, state preemption

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a real difficult issue out there, and that is properly staffing our loan.
• Things like loan forgiveness, loan repayment, those are good, but that's not going to be enough to convince
• So that's why something like loan forgiveness is great in the short term, but when you're making, you
• So that's why something like loan forgiveness is great in the short term, but when you're making, you
• The Mass RePay loan repayment program has proven to be an effective and essential retention tool that

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on a large docket focused on primary care, workforce development, and medical debt. Chairs Cindy Friedman and John Lawn outlined hearing procedures and noted that testimony would be taken on 17 matters. The committee first heard testimony on bills to establish a community health center nurse practitioner residency program and to strengthen mental health centers. Senator Keenan, Rep. Keefe, and health center leaders described the Worcester nurse practitioner residency as a successful pipeline and retention strategy, citing workforce shortages, training needs in community health centers, and the cost of the program. Rep. O’Day also supported the mental health centers bill, saying it would raise payment rates, improve reimbursement for behavioral health services, and help clinics retain staff and expand access. The committee then took testimony on bills to address medical debt through hospital financial assistance reform. The Attorney General’s Office, Health Care for All, Health Law Advocates, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and individual patients supported the measure, arguing that hospital financial assistance policies are inconsistent, hard to find, and difficult to navigate. Witnesses said the bill would standardize eligibility criteria, create a uniform application, improve notice requirements, and expand access to discounted care up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Several personal stories described medical bills being sent to collections, confusion over insurance billing, and the burden of debt on low-income and chronically ill patients. Committee members asked about hospital concerns, the role of the health safety net, and whether the bill addressed root causes of medical debt; testimony emphasized that the proposal was meant to improve transparency and access rather than replace broader insurance reforms. The hearing also focused heavily on “Primary Care for You” legislation, H. 1370 and S. 867, which would increase primary care investment and create a new payment model. Rep. Haggerty, physicians, a patient, community health center leaders, and the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers described a primary care crisis marked by low reimbursement, staffing shortages, long waits, burnout, and difficulty recruiting clinicians. Supporters said the bills would shift spending toward preventive, team-based care, improve access and equity, and reduce long-term costs. The Massachusetts Association of Health Plans said it was directionally supportive of increased primary care investment but warned that any new spending must stay within the cost growth benchmark and preserve existing contracting structures. The hearing ended with additional testimony on a community health center workforce and loan repayment grant bill from Rep. Stanley, and with further discussion from Dr. Alan Garo about the need for payment reform in primary care.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have approved a loan program for some struggling hospitals in California—loans, not grants.
• How did you folks determine the fact that grants would be available for these clinics, but not a loan
• How did you folks determine that these hospitals with these closing maternity wards are getting loans
• But why a grant and not a loan, per se?
• They're getting loans. That would have otherwise received any kind of federal funding.

Committee: Senate Budget and Fiscal Review

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the provision that provides a deduction for interest paid on certain car loans.
• Car loan interest payments will be deductible if the car loan meets certain qualifying factors; basically
• This means we're only incentivizing car loans for U.S.-built cars.
• And on page nine, so on that car loan interest, is it reduced or to both?
• Senator, we're looking up to see what we're looking at in our notes, and the car loan interest has to

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• that many students across this nation are deeply saddened by some of the conversations around student loans
• Staffing reductions at Federal Student Aid have extended processing times for loan relief applications
• and reduced visibility into students' federal loan status.
• the students who are acting through the fund get for their tuition reimbursement recovery or their loan
• particular, we're looking at a lot of STRF claim eligibility that closely mirrors federal student loan

Summary: The joint Sunset Review Oversight Hearing focused on the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE) and its reauthorization, operations, enforcement, fiscal condition, and student protections. Committee leaders and DCA officials praised the Bureau’s recent improvements in data systems, licensing, inspections, and enforcement, while noting the Bureau’s role has become more important as federal higher education oversight weakens. Bureau Chief Deborah Cochran said the agency has met its inspection mandate for the first time since the law was enacted, increased citations and disciplinary actions, reduced pending complaints, and used data tools to identify risk and monitor institutions more effectively. A major portion of the hearing centered on student harm, especially school closures, transcript access, predatory recruiting, and the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF). Members asked how the Bureau protects students when schools close, whether bad actors can reopen under new entities, and whether enforcement tools are strong enough. Cochran said the Bureau can cite, fine, place schools on probation, revoke licenses, and order refunds, but it is seeking new authority to deny approval to operators who previously closed schools improperly or failed to refund students. She also said the Bureau is tracking ownership data and is concerned about institutions targeting immigrant and visa students. On STRF, Cochran explained that the fund is currently healthy, assessments are at zero because the balance is above the statutory target, and the Bureau paid about 1,100 claims totaling roughly $17 million over the last four years. Several members questioned the fairness of the assessment structure and discussed alternatives such as surety bonds, but the Bureau said STRF is working well and no change is needed at this time. Fee increases and the Bureau’s structural deficit were another major topic. Cochran said the Bureau reduced costs by eliminating positions, streamlining inspections, improving data analysis, and shifting some student-relief costs to STRF, but that legislative action is still needed to address the deficit. She said the proposed fees were based on workload analyses and that application fees generally match service costs, while annual fees are designed to cover most of the Bureau’s revenue needs. Some members and stakeholders criticized the proposed increases as too high, especially for out-of-state registration and campus fees, while others argued the Bureau needs sufficient resources to regulate effectively. Public commenters from private schools, Northeastern University, San Joaquin Valley College/Carrington College, and TICAS generally supported the Bureau’s mission and reauthorization, but urged changes such as risk-based oversight, better transcript protections, stronger limits on repeated provisional approvals, and more targeted fee and STRF reforms. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with no formal action beyond discussion and receipt of testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• fee was created by the legislature last year and is an $80 fee assessed on each residential mortgage loan
• out of this state and related to property within this state, with the exception of reverse mortgage loans
• “It is payable at the time of the loan closing and applies to closings on or after July 27, 2025.
• It exempts from the fee chattel loans or retail installment contracts to purchase dwellings secured as
• We also support the bill's targeted carve-outs, including those for chattel loans and reverse mortgages

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard public testimony on several bills. SB 5885 would expand affordable housing on property owned by religious organizations by lowering the density-bonus affordability threshold from 100% to 50% and adding a sales and use tax exemption for qualifying projects. The sponsor and supporters from Redmond, Tacoma, Spokane, faith organizations, and housing nonprofits said the current standard is too restrictive and that churches and other faith groups have underused land that could help meet the state’s housing shortage. A county planning representative raised concern about an unfunded mandate to update local development regulations, and one testifier said the bill should be paired with funding for county planning work. The committee also heard SB 5884, which would expand a sales and use tax deferral program for redevelopment of underutilized property. The bill would broaden eligible land beyond surface parking lots to include vacant, partially used, or underutilized parcels, and would allow cities to approve projects with at least 50% affordable units, or 20% in designated residential targeted areas. Supporters from Spokane, Vancouver, Kent, Bellingham, and the Washington State Association of Counties said the current program is too narrow and should be available in more places, including counties and more cities. Construction industry groups supported redevelopment but objected to a provision tying eligibility to apprenticeship utilization, saying it could disadvantage nonunion contractors and create compliance burdens. For SB 5937, the committee heard testimony on smart access systems in rental housing. The bill would require landlords, upon request, to offer a non-biometric, non-app-based alternative key and to provide privacy policies and limits on data collection for smart access systems. Tenant advocates supported the bill as a privacy and access protection, citing concerns about app-based locks, data tracking, lockouts, and retaliation. Landlord and multifamily housing groups said they were open to the concept but argued the bill was too broad and could impose burdens on small housing providers or simple keypad systems, and they asked for narrower definitions and clearer implementation language. Finally, the committee took testimony on SB 5938, which would make technical changes to the foreclosure prevention fee created last year, including exempting certain reverse mortgages and chattel loans, preventing duplicate charges on some state-backed transactions, and directing Commerce to study a possible state homeowner assistance fund. Homeownership counselors, legal aid, HOA advocates, and equity organizations supported the bill, saying it would clarify fee collection, protect low- and moderate-income buyers from unnecessary costs, and help sustain foreclosure prevention services. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the transcript, and the meeting ended after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• He took out a loan to buy the equipment that he needed, and he tore out his existing production line.
• He's already paid a $145,000 down payment and has about $400,000 on loan at an 11% interest rate.
• He's already paid a $145,000 down payment and has about $400,000 on loan at an 11% interest rate.
• He's already paid a $145,000 down payment and has about $400,000 on loan at an 11% interest rate.
• He's already paid a $145,000 down payment and has about $400,000 on loan at an 11% interest rate.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're going to start with House Bill 66, Health Care Professional Loan Fund changes, and you all have
• I created a committee that would review the loans, and that was one of the principal things.
• We are grateful for the expanded loan repayment for physicians and other health professionals.
• I'm not sure if she still has any loans to be repaid, but this is great incentive.
• I'm not sure if she still has any loans to be repaid, but this is great incentive.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 66, which would expand and restructure the Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Fund. The sponsor said the substitute narrows the bill to a $25 million fund, with 50% reserved for physicians and the rest for other health professionals, and raises physician awards to at least $75,000 per year for a four-year commitment. Supporters from nursing, physical therapy, health systems, social work, and advocacy groups said the program would help recruit and retain providers in New Mexico. The committee moved the substitute and then passed the bill on a do-pass motion. House Bill 38, dealing with coverage for prosthetics, orthotics, and mobility devices, drew extensive testimony from amputees, Paralympians, clinicians, and disability advocates. The bill would clarify and expand coverage for activity prosthetics, activity wheelchairs, and related complex rehab technology, with limits on the number of devices and replacement tied to physiological changes. Supporters said access to these devices is medically necessary for physical and mental health, independence, and participation in sports and daily life. After questions about provider qualifications, insurance contracting, and replacement for growing children, the committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill. House Bill 257 would appropriate funds to increase Medicaid reimbursement for vagus nerve stimulation implants for drug-resistant epilepsy. The sponsor and manufacturer’s representative argued current reimbursement is too low, leaving only UNM Hospital performing the procedures and limiting access statewide; they said better reimbursement could reduce emergency visits and long-term Medicaid costs. Members raised concerns about the bill’s language, including whether it could allow payment above allowable rates or create uncertainty about the reimbursement standard. A motion to table failed, and the committee then passed the bill 5-4, with several members noting they supported the concept but wanted the language tightened before the next committee. The committee also passed House Bill 178, which appropriates $3 million for shade structures in rural parks and outdoor recreation areas, after testimony that the project would reduce sun exposure, heat illness, and skin cancer risk. House Bill 198, which provides $2 million for peer-to-peer mental health training and treatment for first responders, also advanced on a do-pass without recommendation after members said they supported the goal but wanted clearer language on training standards, liability, and administration. Finally, House Bill 202, which would require data-sharing agreements to help the Office of Child Advocate access records from state agencies, drew support from child advocacy groups but concern from IT and family advocates about timelines, system complexity, privacy, and the need for family collaboration; the discussion continued with suggestions to refine the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also curious, in the event of default on whatever the construction loan is, because the property
• Early on, the Housing Trust Fund made low-interest loans available to us, but that is no longer there
• And the last three co-ops we've had... ...loans available to us, but that is no longer there.
• And the last three co-ops, we've had to use the set loan provided by the Housing Finance Commission,
• There really isn't a share loan lender that is actively involved and eager to keep going.

Committee: Senate Housing

Summary: The committee heard presentations on several housing finance and permitting tools. Chattanooga described its payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) affordable housing program, which ties property tax abatements to the number and affordability level of units provided, using a calculator based on market rents and HUD affordability levels. Senators asked about the 15-year term, auditing, and whether the program was attracting private market-rate developers; the presenter said the first mixed-income project would include 278 units with 42 affordable units and that annual compliance monitoring is conducted. Shoreline then described its MFTE and inclusionary housing approach, emphasizing that longer 20-year exemptions helped make projects pencil out and that most recent development has clustered around light rail station areas; city staff said they will study whether the program should be adjusted further and noted the importance of the new state inclusionary housing law. The Department of Commerce and MRSC discussed tax increment financing, proportional impact fees, and the CHIP program. Commerce explained that TIF can fund public improvements such as roads, utilities, parks, broadband, and some affordable housing or child care facilities, but jurisdictions should only use it when development is likely to occur and the public benefit justifies the investment. On impact fees, Commerce said fees should be proportional to the actual infrastructure demand of a project and based on capital facility plans; it also noted that fee reductions for affordable housing must be backfilled through CHIP. Senators asked for more information on CHIP funding levels, project selection, and how much of it supports affordable housing. Commerce also presented the first annual permit-timelines report under the 2023 permitting reforms, saying 2024 data showed timelines still exceeding statutory goals and that future reports will examine factors such as paper versus electronic processing and local reform efforts. Auburn and Bellevue highlighted local permitting innovations. Auburn said it has moved to fully electronic review, uses MyBuildingPermit.com, has internal performance standards, and offers a stock-plan program that can cut later review to about a week; staff said most stamped plans still require at least two review cycles and that the city is watching how middle-housing code changes affect development. Bellevue described a pilot with GovStream AI to use artificial intelligence for pre-application assistance, document triage, and plan-review support, with the goal of reducing back-and-forth and improving application quality. Finally, Seattle presented a pilot for accessory dwelling unit co-development in which a mission-driven partner would finance, build, and manage backyard ADUs for homeowners, with the owner eventually buying out the partner; senators raised questions about rent-setting, management fees, liability, and what happens if a homeowner sells early. The committee also heard from community land trust representatives, who explained how ground leases and resale restrictions keep homes permanently affordable and allow public subsidies to serve multiple generations.

Transcript Highlights:

• implement these schemes, the Department dramatically increased the scope and authority of the Student Loan
• Your experience overseeing SBA loans will be a great asset as the Department looks to reform a very broken
• student loan program.
• Your position on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program?
• I'm confirmed, it is of high priority to make sure that the students who are receiving disability loans

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Keywords: educational reform, federal grants, bureaucracy, wealth disparity, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting engaged in discussions focused primarily on educational reform, the influence of federal grants on local education systems, and the growing disparities in wealth and access to quality education. Members expressed concerns about the bureaucracy surrounding federal funding that hampers schools' ability to obtain necessary resources for improvement. Several members highlighted personal anecdotes from constituents, emphasizing the urgent need for reform to help students succeed in both K-12 and higher education environments. The meeting included public testimonies that provided insights into various community perspectives on these pressing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> those</c><00:37:19.359><c> loans</c><00:37:20.079><c> other</c> delinquencies on those loans other
• Next we look at the use of debt consolidation loans.
• access and the ability to get loans.
• it a hard time to get unsecured loans.
• </c><01:43:13.400><c> for</c> Grandma take out extra school loans for Grandma take out extra school loans

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So, health professional student loan repayment program, nursing student loan repayment program, actual
• We do know the number of students that are not meeting their obligation and need to pay back their loan
• The first is for the Health Professional Loan Repayment Program, E&E, and then $200,000 to the Rural
• On page 238 is a new decision item for the student loan repayment federal authority increase.
• On page 238 is a new decision item for the student loan repayment federal authority increase.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• We keep calling EWAs loans. They are not loans. There is no credit rating for them.
• It's the payday loan people that are behind this. It's the pawn shops.
• It's the payday loan people that are behind this.
• Payday loans, they don't have an app, right? They're bricks and mortar.
• The interest rates that they were charging on these loans for these people to have to go in were just

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, pledge, roll call, and a quorum present, then approved a motion to lay over House Bill 1525 for one legislative day. It also voted not to concur with House amendments on Senate Bills 2294, 2297, 2070, 4017, and 2262, appointing conference committees for each. The chamber then took up a series of House bill amendments and final-passage votes. On amendments, the Senate adopted changes to House Bill 1229 on fleeing law enforcement and driving-record transparency after debate over insurance impacts and public safety; House Bill 1510 on teacher retention, on-site child care, and licensure study language; House Bill 1160 to restrict student personal electronic devices during instructional time; House Bill 1429 to address drone harassment and stalking of animals; House Bill 1203 to harmonize medical marijuana provisions; House Bill 1600 to create a UND immigration clinic with reporting requirements; House Bill 1130 to broaden K-12 funding formula changes and reduce state fiscal impact; House Bill 1279 to modify the coal conversion tax exemption; House Bill 1442 to adjust membership and scope of a state task force; and House Bill 1464 to convert a maternal care services proposal into a study and remove the appropriation. The Senate rejected an amendment to House Bill 1022 concerning the Retirement and Investment Office bonus program, then passed the bill. It also passed House Bill 1234 on a $90 million transfer to reduce PERS liability, while rejecting a floor amendment to it. On final passage, the Senate passed House Bills 1008 (Public Service Commission budget), 1218 (temporary moratorium and study on economic analysis for drain projects), 1234 (PERS funding transfer), 1146 (PERS defined contribution cleanup and emergency clause), 1355 (expanded notice for administrative rulemaking), 1470 (Game and Fish fee changes and guide/outfitter updates), 1029 (Capital Grounds Planning Commission duties), 1017 (Game and Fish budget), 1374 (township supervisor open-meeting exemption for on-site inspections), and 1064 (NC-SARA membership and distance education regulation). It defeated House Bill 1583 on false political advertisements with civil-action language and House Bill 1393 on earned wage access provider regulation. The transcript ends as the Senate begins consideration of House Bill 1326 on self-defense and unlawful firearm possession by felons.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we're moving on to our last House measure, HB 984, HD 2, SD 1, relating to agricultural loans.
• For HD 2-SD 1 relating to agricultural loans.
• We also know that helping get more ag loans to the agriculture community is important, so we're just
• Although there's no appropriation in this bill, increasing the loan limits will require approval from

Transcript Highlights:

• Few lenders are able to offer construction loans due to the time and the expertise required to review
• That would be the construction loan loss guarantee.
• That would be the construction loan loss guarantee.
• And with respect to the construction loan loss guarantee, that loan loss guarantee would be in place
• I’m here to support the request for the Student Loan Empowerment Network.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're really going toward loans to try and extend the life of those funds and get more value out of
• fund, wouldn't it mean that a lot of much poorer communities would end up having to take almost all loan
• They're really going toward loans to try and extend the life of those funds and get more value out of
• fund, wouldn't it mean that a lot of much poorer communities would end up having to take almost all loan
• They're really going toward loans to try and extend the life of those funds and get more value out of

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• And on line 21 is a subtraction for student loan reimbursement payments for critical access employees
• ,</c><00:39:12.640><c> or</c> organization that is leased, loaned, or organization that is leased, loaned
• </c><01:06:16.400><c> or</c> authorization must be spent loan or authorization must be spent loan or
• </c> principal and interest earned on loans principal and interest earned on loans of<01:06:26.559><c
• We have allowed loan forgiveness for students who are of critical access dental programs.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• products, the 184A, the 247, various direct loan project programs involving loans.
• products, the 184A, the 247, various direct loan project programs involving loans.
• products, the 184A, the 247, various direct loan project programs involving loans.
• products, the 184A, the 247, various direct loan project programs involving loans.
• products, the 184A, the 247, various direct loan project programs involving loans.

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Hawaiian Affairs committee heard a budget presentation from the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands on its biennium requests for critical projects, repairs and maintenance, and operations. DHHL described its role in administering the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust, noted the large beneficiary wait list, and said prior funding, including Act 279, has helped the department accelerate land development and reduce vacancies. Officials said they have about 47,219 applications involving 29,548 Native Hawaiians, roughly 28 projects underway, and that about $471 million of a $600 million appropriation has been encumbered, with the remaining lapse-fix funds expected to be resolved before the June 30, 2026 deadline. DHHL emphasized that its current request would support additional lot development and could help produce roughly 6,000 units from the existing project pipeline, with another phase of requests potentially adding about 2,000 more units. The department said it is prioritizing shovel-ready projects, accelerating lease awards and orientations, and using a mix of approaches including paper leases, rental-with-option-to-purchase, owner-builder, and loan programs. Officials also discussed a shift toward denser urban development, citing projects in West Oahu and Honolulu, and said the department is working to reduce its vacancy rate and move beneficiaries onto the land more quickly. Members questioned why Oahu, despite having the largest wait list, was receiving comparatively lower amounts, and DHHL responded that land availability and cost drive those decisions, with Oahu having limited developable land and very high acquisition costs. The department pointed to land acquisition on Kauai and other islands, and to urban high-rise projects that can yield far more units on small parcels. Members also raised long-term maintenance and wildfire risk, asking whether current acquisition and development choices account for future infrastructure costs; DHHL said maintenance is a growing concern, especially on large unused or isolated lands, and that it is pursuing Firewise planning, federal funds, and partnerships to reduce risk. The discussion also touched on mixed-use and community-led development, with DHHL explaining that it leases land to nonprofit homestead associations under general leases with milestones, business-plan requirements, and land-use restrictions to support local services and community goals.

Transcript Highlights:

• subdivision 47.20, subdivision 4a that governs the maximum interest rate charged for conventional loans
• I think we'll have a substantive change on how folks are buying loan products, but it's just allowing
• usury law, and that you realize that's a maximum that can be charged for any kind of consumer-based loan
• , like an auto loan, unsecured loan, or credit cards and different things.
• When it's entity to consumer, the consumer is at a disadvantage, and so that's where the loans that are

Bills: HF2601 , HF2607 , HF2027 , HF2608

Committee: House Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We have some disaster relief for TIB and for Crab that are loans, that we hope the federal government
• will pay us for so that they don't have to pay it, but I think we're willing to cover those loans if
• We have some disaster relief for TIB and for Crab that are loans, that we hope the federal government
• Disaster relief for Tibb and for Crab that are loans that we hope the federal government will pay us
• for so that we they don't have to pay it, but I think we're willing to cover those loans if it doesn't

Summary: Senate Transportation Committee leaders presented a bipartisan transportation budget package made up of three bills: a supplemental budget, a bond proposal, and a resources bill with technical updates. Chair Mark Olius and Ranking Member Curtis King said the plan is balanced over six years, uses conservative assumptions, and includes no new taxes, relying instead on bonding and existing revenue changes. They emphasized three priorities: preservation and maintenance of highways, bridges, ferries, and flood-damaged infrastructure; safety, including more funding for State Patrol staffing and tribal traffic safety; and job creation through infrastructure investment. The supplemental budget would add about $1.7 billion for preservation over six years, including roughly $1.3 billion for highways, plus $100 million for preservation-related safety improvements. It also includes funding for ferry preservation, flood recovery loans for local transportation infrastructure, Columbia River dredging, the Fairfax Bridge, and State Patrol staffing. Questions from members and reporters focused on how much roadwork the preservation money would cover, why the proposal does not include funding for three additional new ferries, and how federal FEMA aid and ongoing mediation over treaty obligations factored into the budget. The senators said the first three ferries are fully funded, that future vessel purchases will be revisited later, and that flood recovery funds were included now so local governments can repair roads without waiting for federal action. The resources bill would create a mobile driver’s license program for 2028 and dedicate a portion of future sales tax revenue to ferry operations. It also repeals the luxury aircraft tax and replaces it with higher aviation fuel taxes and annual registration fees, which the senators said better avoids unintended consequences for aircraft businesses while still requiring transportation users to contribute. The package also includes studies on hydrogen ferries and updating the in-state shipyard bid credit, and it proposes more efficient ferry maintenance and emergency response capacity at Eagle Harbor. No votes were taken in the transcript, and the senators said they would continue presenting the proposal to caucus members for support.