Transcript Highlights:

• of the single-claim cap of $125,000 and because overall statewide claims exceeded our depredation budget
• We are budgeted at $1.8 million to pay depredation claims on a given year.
• current gaps to meet producers when they're ready, rather than delaying projects based on timing, budget
• current gaps to meet producers when they're ready, rather than delaying projects based off of timing, budget

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• LECs are already held to strict financial standards by lenders, budgets, reserves, audits, and long-term
• Second, LECs have very strict budget... ...those lender requirements.
• Second, LECs have very strict budget dues and other requirements well-suited to the LEC model, having
• state, the cities, the county, and special districts, all of which are also trying to balance their budgets

Summary: The committee heard several public hearings on tax and housing-related bills. HB 2451 on local tax increment financing was briefed as a negotiated trailer bill adding new limits and consultation requirements for increment areas, including restrictions on using areas that already have needed public improvements, earlier sunset rules, more detailed project analysis, and stronger notice, mediation, and arbitration procedures for affected taxing districts. Supporters from cities, ports, and fire districts said the bill rebalances the process and protects impacted jurisdictions; the hearing then closed. HB 2322 would change the alternative jet fuel tax incentive program by replacing the current production-capacity trigger with a fixed effective period beginning in 2031 and ending in 2046, while clarifying carbon-intensity requirements. The sponsor said the change adds certainty and supports cleaner aviation fuel. A refinery representative supported the program but asked for clarification to include Pierce County or define “blender,” while a climate-health opponent argued the bill subsidizes continued fossil-fuel combustion and should be rejected. HB 2590 would revise the limited equity cooperative definition and exempt such cooperatives from WUCIOA unless they opt in, while preserving the property-tax exemption requirements; supporters said it would reduce red tape and better fit cooperative housing, while members raised concerns about unintended restrictive membership rules and asked for fair-housing guardrails. HB 2655 would create a new sales and use tax exemption for construction and equipment at certain new data centers in eastern Washington, subject to labor, wage, apprenticeship, employment, and sustainability requirements. Supporters framed it as a jobs and clean-energy opportunity tied to hydrogen development and regional competitiveness, while opponents said it was a subsidy for large corporations and could strain water, power, and public revenues. The committee then moved to executive action and advanced HB 1983, the second substitute for HB 1974, the substitute for HB 2334, HB 2367, and the substitute for HB 2650, all with due pass recommendations. Amendments were adopted on HB 1974 and rejected on HB 2367; the other bills were advanced without amendment. Votes were recorded on each measure, with HB 1974 passing 10-4, HB 2334 passing 13-1, HB 2367 passing 11-3, and HB 2650 passing 14-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recent budget cuts are directly threatening our ability to provide the support students need during this
• Students must navigate college independently under FERPA, but budget cuts are eliminating the various
• hear next is from our friends at Central and Evergreen about what they are trying to do in this new budget
• Unfortunately, this is... ...a class that, in our current financial climate and budget reductions, has

Summary: The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee heard two work sessions focused on student access and retention, then held public hearings on gubernatorial appointments before taking executive action. Washington Student Achievement Council staff presented the Washington Completes FAFSA campaign, created by Executive Order 2508, describing its advisory board, outreach strategy, dashboard tracking, and progress toward goals of 46,000 FAFSA/WASFA completions and improved equity in completion rates. They also highlighted broader college access tools such as trainings, printed materials, completion events, Otterbot texting support, and the new “Changing the Narrative” report and College Toolkit, which emphasize multiple postsecondary pathways, relatable messengers, and short video content. The committee then heard from the Council of Presidents and Central Washington University and Evergreen State College on student support services. Presenters discussed retention data, FERPA-related limits on parent communication, and the impact of budget cuts on advising, tutoring, wellness, and other services. Evergreen described the Shelton Promise program, including recruitment, summer bridge, basic-needs supports, peer mentoring, texting outreach, and early retention results showing 52 of 53 students continuing. Central Washington outlined its learner access and support plan, including required advising, University 101, early academic alerts, peer mentoring embedded in coursework, the Students First Center, and a Paying for College Guide, while noting that budget reductions have limited some support offerings. In the public hearing, the committee considered Latasha Wortham’s appointment to the Tacoma Community College Board of Trustees and a panel of student appointees to various boards and councils, including Evergreen, Washington Student Achievement Council, the Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight Board, Washington State University, Eastern Washington University, Edmonds College, and Western Washington University. Testimony emphasized first-generation and immigrant backgrounds, student advocacy, basic needs, and the importance of student voice in governance. In executive session, the committee adopted a substitute and gave Senate Bill 6325 a due pass recommendation to Ways and Means; the bill would shift certain higher education cost increases from tuition to state funds over time and direct a WSIPP study on essential student services. The committee also recommended confirmation for the listed gubernatorial appointments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, tomorrow at 1:30 in Room 409, Appropriation Subcommittee will meet for budget hearings.
• meet</c><00:36:12.800><c> um</c><00:36:12.960><c> to</c><00:36:13.440><c> for</c><00:36:13.760><c> budget
• </c> will meet um to for budget hearings. will meet um to for budget hearings.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 21 January, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, as we're here, we talk about budgets.
• You know, as we're here, we talk about budgets.
• He said that in Missouri, when this occurred, they put a fiscal note on it or sent it to the budget committee
• in</c> In Missouri, whenever this occurred, we actually put a fiscal note on it or sent it to the budget

Bills: HB69 , HB114 , HB161 , HB69 , HB114 , HB161

Committee: House State Government

Keywords: firearms, possession, Class 1 municipalities, criminal penalties, federal law, stolen firearms, prohibited persons, HB114, Alabama Sunset Law, sunset bill, Board of Dental Examiners of Alabama, dental board, dental licensing, dentist regulation, professional licensing, occupational licensing, healthcare regulation, licensure board, state agency continuation, agency sunset review

Transcript Highlights:

• Tomorrow, Appropriation C will begin agency budget hearings at 8:30 in 2011A.
• Tomorrow, appropriation C will begin<00:27:19.919><c> agency</c><00:27:20.400><c> budget</c><00:27:20.799
• hearings</c><00:27:21.200><c> at</c><00:27:21.440><c> 8:30</c><00:27:22.080><c> in</c> begin agency budget
• hearings at 8:30 in begin agency budget hearings at 8:30 in 2011A. 2011A. 2011A.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 13 January, 2026; 2:00 PM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the amount of money we have right now, if you see that in the budget bill, that's not new money.
• One of the things you'll see in what we proposed in the governor's budget was kind of a reappropriation
• cover both the people that are running a little behind and needed the money shifted to the later budget
• destabilizing to both our planning work programs, and resources were stretched beyond what we had budgeted

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• GO TO THE EXCHANGE NOW ANY OF HUNDREDS POTENTIALLY OF OPTIONS TO PICK WHATEVER YOU WANT WITH THE BUDGET
• YOU ARE USING IN A TIME OF EIGHT TIGHT BUDGET WE WILL HAVE A DEFICIT.
• EACH COUNCIL OF RESIDENT HAS A BUDGET AND THEY ELECT A BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
• FLORIDA HEALTHCARE WAS PROUD TO SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION THAT WAS ULTIMATELY INCLUDED IN THE STATE BUDGET

Transcript Highlights:

• think it is important to understand the role property taxes play in local government finances and budgeting
• think it is important to understand the role property taxes play in local government finances and budgeting
• , the property appraiser, and the clerk, so all of those functions are running through the county budget
• We had January 1st that captured all that information, and then it was budgeted in the following year

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for a listening session focused on a presentation by Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research on local government revenues and expenditures. Baker reviewed statewide financial data for counties, municipalities, and independent special districts, using 2018-19 as a baseline year because it was stable and pre-COVID. She explained that counties rely heavily on taxes, with ad valorem taxes making up about 73% of county tax revenue and about 24% of total county revenues statewide, while municipalities rely more on charges for services and have a lower statewide ad valorem share of about 14.7%. She also noted wide variation across local governments, with some counties and cities highly dependent on property taxes and others using them minimally or not at all. Special districts were shown to be very different from counties and cities, with hospital-related revenues and expenditures dominating many of them, while water management districts were more reliant on ad valorem taxes and focused expenditures on the physical environment. Baker also summarized expenditure patterns: counties spent the largest share on public safety, while municipalities spent the largest share on general government services, followed by physical environment and public safety. She emphasized that local government structures vary widely and that the committee should study what characteristics are associated with greater property tax reliance. She said the next research steps would be to extend the analysis through later years, including the COVID and inflation period, and to examine institutional and legal factors that shape local fiscal structures. Members asked about unfunded mandates, fuel taxes, reserves, school taxes, millage rates, and how property taxes relate to specific services such as police and fire. Baker said the current analysis did not yet account for mandates or school taxes and that further work could examine links between revenues and expenditures, commercial versus residential tax burdens, and other factors. After the presentation, members reported back on local meetings with counties and municipalities. Several described large differences in millage rates, revenue mixes, and the impact of any property tax changes on fiscally constrained counties versus larger, wealthier ones. Concerns were raised about how local governments would replace lost revenue, especially for public safety and emergency response, and members discussed the need to consider both revenue replacement and ways to rein in spending. The co-chairs said the committee would continue gathering information, send members follow-up homework and requests for panel suggestions, and invite additional input from constituents, stakeholders, and local governments. The meeting ended with no votes or formal actions beyond adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was an exceptional item in the budget that TECO requested and was granted.
• The Congressional Budget Office 2025 Shipbuilding Plan will grow the United States Navy by 100 ships
• Something that the Legislative Budget Board did is they said that this bill would require TMD to establish
• During a state budget shortfall in 2003, the Sheriff's Association of Texas played a key role in securing

Bills: SB 36 , HB 1065 , HB2929 , HB2956 , HB3009 , HB3420 , HB3626 , HB3649 , HB4956 , HB4993 , HB5293 , HB5308 , HB5528 , HCR118 , SB36 , HB4023

Committee: House Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Keywords: transportation, regional authorities, mobility, infrastructure, sales tax, employee classification, private security, misclassification, workforce regulations, Texas Workforce Commission, autism, peace officers, training program, law enforcement, intervention, communication, developmental disability, family violence, central database, criminal offense

Transcript Highlights:

• to be a key piece of, of that facility, uh, I understand because of Congress's inability to pass a budget
• at the end of the day, I understand because the continued resolution, because they couldn't pass a budget
• when you look at the fact is, is, uh, those entities which are the largest research and development budgets
• Approved the $335 billion budget, uh, seems like pennies, which it is, but is TDLR able to absorb that

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• We have some school district contacts That's a very small portion of our budget.
• Our budget, we have a mix of earned revenue and contributed revenue.
• There is a budget rider. in the budget to fund this program should the conferees agree to do that.

Bills: HB 1178 , HB1411 , HB1441 , HB1773 , HB1813 , HB2107 , HB2598 , HB2911 , HB2967 , HB3672 , HB5263 , HB3797

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: education, temporary certification, out-of-state educators, teacher shortage, military spouses, personal leave, school holidays, employee compensation, overtime provisions, school safety, peace officers, mental health, de-escalation techniques, trauma-informed care, student trustee, school board, student representation, education policy, nonvoting position, school governance

Transcript Highlights:

• I ran here, as you all know, we're in the depths of budget discussion.
• /c><00:03:19.159><c> the</c><00:03:19.280><c> depths</c><00:03:19.599><c> of</c><00:03:19.799><c> budget
• </c> all know we're in the depths of budget all know we're in the depths of budget discussion<00:03:21.480

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• School food services directors work tirelessly to meet nutrition standards, stay within tight budgets
• Balance the budget. And get whole milk back in school.
• across the country, the funding levels we debate here in this room aren't an abstract number in the budget
• If the House Budget Chair's proposal to increase House income verification passes, I would have to process

Bills: SB222

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Keywords: whole milk, school lunch, school meals, National School Lunch Program, Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, Child Nutrition Act, USDA, nutrition standards, dairy, nonfat milk, low-fat milk, reduced-fat milk, lactose-free milk, nondairy beverages, plant-based milk, milk substitution, parental consent, legal guardian, food allergies, allergic reaction

Summary: This meeting of the committee focused primarily on the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, S222, which aims to permit schools to offer a fuller range of milk options, including whole, reduced, and low-fat varieties, that have garnered bipartisan support. Chairman Bozeman opened the session by highlighting concerns over children's nutrition and the obesity epidemic, emphasizing the significance of nutritious school meals in addressing these issues. Experts from various organizations were invited to discuss the implications of this bill as well as the current challenges facing school meal programs, including budget constraints and food supply issues. The meeting included passionate testimonies about the direct impacts of current dietary guidelines and federal funding reductions affecting schools' abilities to provide healthy meal options.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, our budget at the county is a tough one as well.
• In many counties, including Meeker, County budget constraints mean that emergency management is not a
• This uncertainty has caused a lot of fluctuations within our counties and their budgeting.
• Oftentimes, our counties are budgeting a full 12 months ahead of when the state is able to turn their

Bills: HF1354 , HF1901 , HF2124 , HF2130 , HF2260 , HF2099 , HF104 , HF134 , HF1769

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Keywords: public safety, school safety, active shooter, active shooter drill, violence prevention, threat reporting, anonymous tip line, See It, Say It, Send It, Minnesota Fusion Center, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, BCA, officer-involved death, missing person, endangered missing person, criminal background check, national background check, FBI fingerprint check, adult entertainment license, massage license, correctional facilities

Transcript Highlights:

• economic development just because they're in statute, as has been said, there's no direct impact state budget
• That's more than double my annual budget. One and half square miles. Roughly 4,000 citizens.
• That is what is in the budget. We are not trying to run to That is what is in the budget.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're talking about a $300 million hit that, if we can prep for and budget for through a concept like
• There's no budget impact. Secondly, it would ask who would benefit.
• debate on House Bill 14 and a tax bill, and just the concerns that we were not able to stay within a budget
• Chair, sorry, Representative, the general fund target was set as part of the overall general fund budget

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• and being able to That I did find housing stability, knowing my monthly expenses, and being able to budget
• Listen, any of y'all that have been in any of the budget committees have seen all...
• Listen, many of y'all that have been in any of the budget committees have seen all the job openings that
• Listen, many of y'all that have been in any of the budget committees have seen all the job openings that

Summary: The Housing, Agriculture and Tourism Subcommittee heard and advanced several bills. HB 615, allowing landlords to send required notices electronically with tenant written consent, was amended to allow either landlords or tenants to send messages electronically and passed favorably after testimony from legal aid and tenant advocates urging stronger opt-in, opt-out, and notice protections. HB 665, dealing with local government impact fees and development permits, would limit certain art-related impact fees, define “extraordinary circumstances,” and require more public process before fee increases; it passed after local government and industry testimony focused on refining the extraordinary-circumstances definition and concerns about public art funding. HB 365, a tenant protection bill for affordable housing units receiving public incentives, was amended to apply only to leases of 13 months or less and to take effect in July 2026; it passed with support from housing advocates and AARP and was described as preventing mid-lease rent increases while preserving renewal-time adjustments. HB 381, requiring issuance of addresses and parcel identification numbers within a set timeframe, was amended to extend the deadline to 20 business days and shift the fee consequence to the address fee rather than the building permit fee; it passed after discussion about delays affecting developers and local government responsibility.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm sure they're driven by budget more than anything. Thank you. Are there any more questions?"
• those decisions I'm sure they're<00:10:58.920><c> driven</c><00:10:59.440><c> by</c><00:10:59.639><c> budget
• </c><00:11:00.160><c> more</c><00:11:00.360><c> than</c> they're driven by budget more than they're driven
• by budget more than anything<00:11:02.440><c> thank</c> anything thank anything thank you<00:11:05.399

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met with a quorum and approved the minutes from its previous meeting. It then considered several transportation-related bills, beginning with House Bill 157 on special license plates. The bill, as amended by a committee substitute, would create a commercial Friends of Agriculture plate to support agriculture-related programs, with proceeds going to the same fund used by the existing farm tag. Members also discussed the committee substitute’s fee exemptions for military-related plates, and the bill was reported favorably with the substitute attached. The committee next took up House Bill 682 on utility relocation. Testimony from Charter Communications explained that the bill would update outdated law so cable and broadband providers are treated like public utilities for reimbursement when forced to relocate facilities for highway projects, while preserving the Transportation Cabinet’s discretion over reimbursements. Members asked about the current reimbursement process and fiscal impact; witnesses said the bill does not change cabinet discretion and therefore has no fiscal note. The bill was reported favorably. House Bill 443, which would shift the east end signage of the H. Rogers Parkway farther east to US 23 in Prestonsburg to reflect the already four-laned section and support future federal funding efforts, also received favorable expression. House Bill 444, a commercial driver’s licensing measure brought by the Transportation Cabinet and amended by committee substitute, would align Kentucky reporting requirements with federal law and allow drivers age 18 and older to qualify for a hazardous materials endorsement, with limits excluding school buses and interstate transport. Members discussed the safety rationale and the need for drivers in agriculture and propane delivery; the bill was reported favorably with the substitute attached. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 493 on towing and storage of motor vehicles. Representative Pollock and a Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance witness described it as a cleanup bill aimed at transparency and enforcement against predatory towing and inflated charges, and members noted constituent concerns about towing practices. The bill was reported favorably with a committee substitute attached. The committee also reviewed Administrative Regulation 600 KAR 1:041, which updates disadvantaged business enterprise certification rules to conform to federal nomenclature and related federal changes; the regulation was reviewed without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• waiting for the benefits that many of the projects promise to bring in their communities and household budgets
• limiting unnecessary litigation. will help deliver critical infrastructure projects on time and on budget
• We get jobs done right, on time, the first time, safety, and on budget.
• Things get built on time, on budget, and done right.

Committee: Senate Environment and Public Works Committee

Keywords: environmental review, permitting process, infrastructure, bipartisan legislation, economic growth, Nucor, West Virginia

Summary: The meeting focused on critical discussions surrounding the need for modernizing the federal environmental review and permitting processes. Witnesses from various sectors, including Nucor, provided testimony on the delays and costs associated with current regulations, emphasizing the impact on infrastructure and economic growth. Major projects in West Virginia, such as the Corridor H and Coalfield Expressways, were highlighted as examples of initiatives stalled by excessive permitting hurdles, prompting calls for bipartisan legislation to streamline these processes while maintaining environmental protections. The committee expressed a commitment to address these issues immediately, highlighting the urgency to enhance efficiency in permitting to facilitate economic development.