Transcript Highlights:

• But I'm like, right, because it's a good program and people are using it, right?
• So we are passing good programs that people need.
• So we are passing good programs. Because it's a good program and people are using it, right?
• So we are passing good programs that people need.
• and our students' futures need and deserve more.

Summary: Senate budget writers, led by Chair June Robinson with Senators Noel Frame and Derek Stanford, rolled out the Senate operating budget and described it as a difficult supplemental budget shaped by flat revenue growth, rising maintenance costs, and uncertainty from federal actions, including H.R. 1 and tariffs. They said the proposal aims to preserve core services such as K-12 education, health care, food assistance, housing stability, and long-term care while making targeted reductions and avoiding broad-based tax increases like sales, property, or B&O tax hikes. A major focus of the discussion was how to pay for the Working Families Tax Credit and how to handle cuts in the Working Connections child care program. Robinson said the Senate budget uses policy changes, especially an attendance-based payment adjustment, rather than the governor’s proposed enrollment cap and waitlist, because lawmakers wanted to avoid destabilizing the child care workforce and reduce harm to families. She also said the Senate is open to negotiating with the House on the Climate Commitment Act use of funds for the tax credit, noting that the statute allows it, though some advocates oppose that approach. The senators defended using $750 million from the rainy day fund, saying it was preferable to deeper cuts and still leaves reserves above $1 billion in the near term. They also argued that Washington’s revenue system is too dependent on property and sales taxes and that a future “millionaires tax” could help stabilize funding, especially for education and other core services. In response to criticism from educators and Republicans, they said the state has made progress on school funding and that rising program costs reflect increased need and utilization rather than waste. No votes were taken in the transcript, and the event was a budget rollout and press Q&A rather than a formal committee action.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's important to have a localized report that speaks to our state's needs and future outlook. look to
• From this Texas Clear Lanes initiative, 18 projects from the program advocate completed, 25 are under
• Plan for and prioritize how we are to maintain and develop the public infrastructure. and for future
• Now is the time for legislature to invest in our children's future.
• Truly, an investment in infrastructure pays. dividends in the future.

Keywords: Texas, Infrastructure Report Card, ASCE, population growth, climate change, investment, public safety, engineering standards

Summary: The meeting focused on the release of the 2025 Texas Infrastructure Report Card, highlighting key findings and recommendations for improving infrastructure across various sectors in the state. Julie Jones, Vice President of ASCE Texas, opened the session by introducing key speakers, including Dr. Art Wood and committee co-chairs Griselda Gonzalez and Austin Mazzarelli. Throughout the discussion, the report's grades were revealed, showing the state's infrastructure received an overall grade of 'C'—adequate but requiring significant attention and investment. Emphasis was placed on the rising challenges posed by climate change and increased population growth, underscoring the need for strategic investments in infrastructure to support Texas' economic growth and public safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's predicting the future.
• That's predicting the future.
• </c> times over in future dividends. times over in future dividends.
• </c> future years according to the schedule. future years according to the schedule.
• </c> Futures strongly supports the bill. Futures strongly supports the bill.

Committee: Senate Ways and Means

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've already lost $1.4 billion in soybean futures values.
• That's a great program. It's a phenomenal program. No one could get mad at farm to school.
• I'd like to create more programs to support that kind of work.
• c> are</c><00:12:20.959><c> resources</c> Uh the future resources are resources Uh the future resources
• programs to support that kind<00:14:06.000><c> of</c><00:14:06.160><c> work.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we also are facilitating risk reduction programs.
• Those are our low-interest loans program.
• representing 140 programs across the state.
• and treatment programs across the state.
• treatment programs across the state.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation heard updates from the Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Department of Justice. Cal OES Acting Director Tina Curry described the department’s proposed budget, disaster response and recovery work, Los Angeles wildfire recovery, FEMA reimbursement delays, hazard mitigation grant applications, planning for major events like the FIFA World Cup and LA28 Olympics, and the state’s next generation 911 priorities. Senators raised concerns about Operation Stonegarden, small-disaster recovery delays, FEMA reimbursement timing, VOCA funding, and the need for more detailed reporting on federal grants and recovery costs. The committee then focused on Next Generation 911. Cal OES staff said the current regional deployment encountered call-routing and transfer failures, leading the department to pause further rollout and propose a new phased plan centered on a statewide provider, followed by an open procurement for a long-term vendor. They said the plan is intended to improve reliability, simplify architecture, and support Los Angeles-area PSAPs ahead of the Olympics, with a target of full statewide transition by summer 2030. The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged the Legislature to pause major changes until it receives more information, including a clearer explanation of the problems, alternatives considered, costs, cybersecurity and privacy issues, and oversight needs. Members expressed mixed views, with some supporting a joint oversight hearing and requesting quarterly fiscal reports and monthly progress updates. The Department of Justice then presented its overall workload, emphasizing public safety enforcement, fentanyl and human trafficking prosecutions, housing enforcement, civil rights work, and extensive federal litigation against the Trump administration. DOJ said the additional federal accountability work has significantly increased staffing and overtime demands, though it has hired 44 additional employees. The committee also heard DOJ’s firearms workload proposal, including funding for SB 704 implementation, continued firearms IT modernization, and a proposed shift of Bureau of Firearms costs to the General Fund. The LAO recommended using special funds and loans instead of ongoing General Fund support where possible, and asked DOJ to develop a framework by January 2027 for determining which firearms and ammunition workload should be supported by fee revenue. The Department of Finance largely agreed with the need for SB 704 funding but disagreed with the LAO’s proposed loan approach for the firearms account.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Infill Infrastructure Grant Program, the Joe Serna Farmworker Housing Grant Program, and along with
• a few federal programs that are administered at HCD: the HOME program and the Community Development
• HDFC-administered programs?
• That's progress, but it was still a variety of programs. And each program needed their own...
• funding programs.

Summary: The committee held an outcome review hearing on AB 519, focused on streamlining California’s affordable housing finance system. State housing officials described the work group process and the resulting report, which calls for a consolidated application and coordinated review process across HCD, CalHFA, TCAC, and CDLAC, while preserving a separate direct path for projects that do not need state subsidy. They said the goal is to reduce duplication, align timelines, and get projects to construction faster, with implementation now being carried forward through the new Housing Development Finance Committee (HDFC) and related reorganization changes. Officials from HCD, CalHFA, and HDFC said the new committee launched July 1 and is developing regulations, a unified application workbook, and review procedures, with public comment and hearings planned before final adoption. They emphasized a two-track system: one for projects needing state subsidy and one for tax credits/bonds only. Members also discussed the transition period in 2027, the need to clear existing pipeline projects first, and the possibility of construction financing tools. Committee members raised concerns about transparency, stakeholder feedback, and whether additional statutory changes would be needed; staff said current authority appears sufficient. Affordable housing developers and advocates generally supported the reforms but said the work must go beyond a single application. They urged fully funding projects, simplifying post-award functions, modernizing asset management, preserving a direct path for locally funded and rehab projects, and improving geographic equity, especially for rural and farmworker housing. Several witnesses stressed that the system also needs stable funding, including general fund support and the proposed housing bond, and that the state should continue engaging stakeholders as the new process rolls out. Public comment echoed those themes and included a veteran describing the difficulty of navigating housing and VA-related systems, reinforcing the hearing’s focus on simplifying access to housing resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> can learn and do some for some future can learn and do some for some future planning.<00:24:58.480
• The Department of Education's kuleana is to prepare young people for their future and for the future
• </c> stability of the program. stability of the program.
• </c> These positions cover analytics, program These positions cover analytics, program specialists,<00
• the major programs lot of the program the major programs for<02:38:07.760><c> DOE</c><02:38:08.399><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do hope to get one more visit out there in the near future.
• We've done things like expanded our mentorship program.
• The strategy that we've adopted is an intelligence-led program.
• There is no established body of precedential case law to guide future decisions.
• That's another reason why our IT program is so important.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so Minnesota's future workforce will And so Minnesota's future workforce will depend<00:31:53.120
• the program.
• c> program.
• workforce programs.
• Um, 10,000 of them that program.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , perhaps, accelerated degree programs.
• It's maybe a more doable metric to think about for the future.
• allocations to various programs.
• We would support programs in optometry, dentistry, pharmacy, and...
• proposals for these programs this year.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, chaired by Assemblymember Alvarez, held a hearing focused on University of California budget issues. The committee reviewed UC core operations funding, enrollment trends, federal funding threats, Title IX implementation, and basic needs support. Major themes included the end of the Governor’s multi-year UC compact, the state’s fiscal outlook, UC’s enrollment growth, and the potential impacts of federal policy changes on research, health care, and student aid. On core funding, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to continue compact-related support, defer some payments, and authorize a cash-flow loan. The LAO recommended a smaller or no base increase, earmarking some funds for capital renewal, retiring deferrals when possible, avoiding new compact commitments, and funding UC annually rather than through compacts. UC argued that the compact has supported enrollment growth, student services, and operating costs, but said campuses face rising expenses, structural deficits, and limited reserves. Members questioned the effects of deferrals on students and discussed the need to prioritize less harmful reductions if cuts become necessary. The enrollment panel focused on UC’s growth in California resident enrollment and the nonresident replacement plan at Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego. The LAO recommended maintaining the current enrollment target, funding enrollment separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident replacement plan, and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. UC said it has already met compact enrollment goals, grown California undergraduate enrollment by about 18,800 students, and that further growth depends on ongoing state support. The committee also discussed the cost of enrollment growth, possible differential nonresident tuition, and a reporting request for UC to analyze the nonresident replacement approach; the motion to adopt supplemental reporting language passed. The hearing also covered federal funding risks, with the LAO and UC warning that federal changes could affect research grants, medical center reimbursement, and student financial aid. UC said research cancellations and suspensions are disrupting labs and graduate student support, while federal health policy changes could increase uncompensated care at UC hospitals. In the Title IX update, UC described its systemwide civil rights structure, annual student training, and campus support offices, and members praised the work while asking about ongoing concerns and intersegmental collaboration. The final basic-needs item began with Finance stating the Governor’s budget does not change ongoing support, but the transcript cuts off before further discussion or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• By focusing on one-time tax reductions rather than expanding permanent programs, we ensure long-term
• we ensure long-term permanent programs we ensure long-term fiscal<00:02:40.000><c> stability</c><00:
• </c><00:08:08.560><c> representative</c> the future representative the future representative Johnson<
• Medicaid is a focused program. We’re spending, we’re getting federal funds up to $12 billion.
• </c><00:46:25.040><c> legislature</c> one-time basis a future legislature one-time basis a future legislature

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so it's performance to programs etc.
• And we what happens into the future?
• It's only the incremental portion that's abated. a program where we we determine the a program where
• There's a talent attraction program, and very, very important for our program for major retention for
• Let's use every tool the KBI program.

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

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

Transcript Highlights:

• And the thing that's really key about that program is we start with the dual enrollment.
• a local talent pipeline that's job-ready, diverse, and future-focused.
• Businesses are aware of support programs but aren't engaging with them.
• But those programs are. committed in scale and funding.
• You do know how to reach us for future reference.

Committee: House Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a very needed program for the future. We're just in tight budget times now.
• It's a very needed program for the future. We're just in tight budget times now.
• It's a very needed program for the future. We're just in tight budget times now.
• It's a very needed program for the future. We're just in tight budget times now.
• It's a very needed program for the future. We're just in tight budget times now.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Education met without a quorum, so the minutes were not approved. The main presentation was from retired economics professors John Garren and Dr. Kums, who discussed their Bluegrass Institute research on teacher compensation in Kentucky since the Kentucky Education Reform Act era. They said teacher base salaries, adjusted for inflation, have declined over the last decade, while state-paid “on-behalf” benefits such as pension and health insurance contributions have risen sharply; they argued total teacher compensation has increased modestly overall, but less than per-pupil funding. They also presented broader context on staffing growth, declining average daily attendance, Kentucky’s low share of teachers among total school staff, and flat or weak NAEP and ACT performance trends, including widening white-Black score gaps on NAEP. Members questioned the methodology and interpretation of the compensation figures. Representative Bojanowski argued the on-behalf calculations may overstate teacher compensation because they include insurance and pension costs that also benefit classified employees and retirees, and he asked for clarification on the denominator used to derive the per-teacher amount. Representative Truit said the presentation could be misleading if it implies teachers earn $94,000 in salary, and he objected to framing pension stabilization payments as teacher pay. The presenters responded that they were using total compensation, not salary alone, said they had divided total personnel-related on-behalf payments by the relevant staff count, and promised to review and send a technical explanation. Representative Truit and Chairman Typton both emphasized that compensation should be viewed as salary plus benefits, not salary alone, and noted that pension contributions are part of the cost of employing teachers. The presenters said their intent was to show the full compensation package and its relevance to labor supply and teacher shortages, not to claim that individual teachers earn the total compensation figure as salary. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond the decision to revisit the minutes at a later meeting due to the lack of quorum.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the program provides uh more than the program provided more than $24 million in onetime funding for
• </c><00:17:22.480><c> at</c> um some current effective programs at um some current effective programs
• over uh with a future inclusion to a<00:40:20.000><c> future</c><00:40:20.240><c> omnibus</c><00:40:
• These students are our future.
• These students are our future.

Bills: HF3492 , HF3493 , HF3494 , HF3495 , HF3602

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: school safety, grants, education funding, Northern Lights Express, security improvements, rural schools, safe schools, charter schools, nonpublic schools, Tribal education, funding increase, safe schools aid, school security, mental health support, Tribal schools, cybersecurity, funding, mental health, evidence-based plans, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• their program.
• ><c> their</c><00:10:10.399><c> program.
• Uh the fed the for a federal program.
• </c> eligible for financial aid programs. eligible for financial aid programs.
• ,</c> acceptance for financial aid programs, acceptance for financial aid programs, you<01:06:08.960>

Committee: Senate Executive Departments and Administration

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This program, per statute, expires two years after all the money appropriated for this program has been
• administered by the OAG and the related benefits for that program.
• **Senator Brent Webster**: ...and the future problem would be in the future, in cases like this, where
• Let the LBB talk about the Landowners' Compensation Program.
• Okay, back to the point earlier on the advocate program.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And also understands what it means for the future.
• So I like to think of the 96 Act as a roadmap to the future.
• That may or may not be true in the future, and how do we weigh that?
• We have our own powers here in this state to decide the future.
• to co-invest in things like the BEAD program, the $42 billion program, to get next generation technology

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With that said, I just wanted to transition to a future planning discussion.
• And if I look at some of the other hospitals, they are at risk in the future.
• At risk in the future.
• And so we have 11 Moms Do Care programs across the state, and we have six First Steps Together programs
• Any other ideas, future iterations? We see the chat with lots of links.

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The meeting was an organizational and planning session of the Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression. After roll call and housekeeping, the co-chairs thanked Senator Liz Miranda for her service and announced Senator Adam Gomez as the new Senate co-chair. Senator Miranda explained her transition off the leadership role due to other responsibilities and personal losses, while Senator Gomez said he was honored to join, would listen and learn, and would bring a Western Massachusetts perspective to the statewide commission. Members discussed current maternal health developments, including a new Department of Public Health regulation implementing the 2024 midwifery law and allowing temporary licenses for licensed certified professional midwives. The commission also reviewed open seats and possible future appointees, with an emphasis on adding regional, clinical, and lived-experience diversity. Several commissioners raised concerns about birthing hospital and inpatient obstetric unit closures, workforce shortages in OB-GYN and midwifery, reimbursement changes, and the need to expand training slots and funding for perinatal care. A major theme was how the commission should focus its work in the coming year. Members suggested more attention to parent-child relational health, pediatric screening for postpartum mood disorders, coordination across OB-GYN, pediatrics, infant mental health, and home visiting systems, and stronger involvement from clinicians and organizations such as PSI of Massachusetts. The Division of Public Health and the Division of Insurance shared updates on community midwifery reimbursement, a payer learning community, insurance coverage for mental health examinations, and the need for better education about birthing centers and doulas. Commissioners also discussed substance use and maternal mental health supports, noting that current funding for community-based organizations is limited compared with demand. The group reviewed upcoming maternal health events in April, including Black Maternal Health Week activities, and agreed there was not enough time to plan a new commission event for May. Instead, members favored using the commission’s communication channels to share relevant events and information. The commission approved a motion to create a biweekly digest for information sharing, with urgent items still able to be sent directly to commissioners, and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we also are facilitating risk reduction programs.
• Those are our low-interest loans program.
• representing 140 programs across the state.
• treatment programs across the state.
• treatment programs across the state.

Keywords: 987, senate, all