Transcript Highlights:

• Providers also had some thoughts that if the department reduced rates, they would still be forced to pay
• changes to direct napping supervision are not in the best interests of the children, their parents paying
• the changes to direct napping supervision are not in the best ends of the children, their parents paying
• for the service, or for the provider. are not in the best answer to the children, their parents paying

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• serve in the legislature is driven a lot by the fact that it's a part-time legislature with part-time pay
• We'll see how we, you know, navigate through paying for working families tax credit, which is now in,
• For folks who don't pay close attention to what happens here, but maybe they'll read this story and hear
• For folks who don't pay close attention to what happens here, but maybe they'll read this story and hear

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: Senate budget writers, led by Sen. June Robinson, 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, long-term care, housing stability, and child care while mitigating federal cuts, and they emphasized that it does not include 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 reduce the budget gap. Robinson said the Senate proposal uses about $750 million from the rainy day fund because additional cuts would be too severe, and she noted the statute allows that use in a slow-growth economy. Senators also discussed the Climate Commitment Act as a possible funding source for the tax credit, but said they would negotiate with the House on that issue. On child care, they said the Senate avoided the governor’s approach of capping Working Connections Child Care enrollment and creating a waitlist, instead relying more on attendance-based payment changes to reduce costs while trying to avoid destabilizing the provider network. The senators also responded to criticism from educators and Republicans. They acknowledged concerns from the Washington Education Association that schools and special education remain underfunded, but argued the state has made major progress and that Washington’s tax structure limits school funding growth because of the 1% property tax cap. They said a future “millionaires tax” could help stabilize revenue and support education and other services. In response to Republican claims of a “spending addiction,” Robinson said critics should identify specific cuts they would support, and noted Republicans had offered little support for prior budget-cutting measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pretty simple: we're just looking to see, when we have insurance, what the dental loss ratio is, so we pay
• When we have insurance, what the dental loss ratio is, so we pay for insurance and we want to know really
• But did you know that we have to pay to administer it? We use general fund money to administer it.
• So now we have to pay more to administer federal dollars.

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Which would permit the school districts and charter schools to pay 80% of the health insurance for all
• This matters because the original bill addressed who pays.
• The original bill addressed who pays.
• And this is making a real tangible impact in take-home pay, in participation in health care programs,

Bills: HB63 , HB64 , HB184 , HB200 , HB47 , HB48 , HB2 , HB9

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: water project fund, New Mexico Finance Authority, NMFA, Water Trust Board, water infrastructure, wastewater, drinking water, flood prevention, watershed restoration, water storage, conveyance, delivery, water treatment, recycling, reuse, municipal infrastructure, local government finance, capital outlay, grants, loans

Transcript Highlights:

• permit the school districts and charters Which would permit the school districts and charter schools to pay
• This matters because the original bill addressed who pays.
• The original bill addressed who pays.
• And this is making a real tangible impact in take-home pay, in participation in health care programs,

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up several House bills, mostly related to funding for conservation, housing, education health insurance, and public projects. HB 184 as amended made technical fixes to the Conservation Legacy Permanent Fund and Investment Fund to prevent trapped balances and improve distributions to the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund; public testimony from conservation groups strongly supported it, and the committee voted due pass. HB 200 as amended created an incentive program for starter-home construction and homebuyer assistance; supporters said it would help low- and moderate-income buyers, address the shortage of starter homes, and support local builders, and the committee adopted an amendment striking the appropriation because funding was already included in House Bill 2 before voting due pass. The committee then considered a substitute for HB 47, the school employee health insurance “80-20” bill. The substitute kept the 80% employer contribution but added statewide participation in NMSIA, removed waivers, added reference-based pricing, and expanded oversight to control costs and stabilize the risk pool. Supporters, including school employees, unions, and educator advocates, said it would improve recruitment and retention and reduce take-home health costs; the committee approved the substitute and moved do pass on the substitute while not passing the original bill. The committee also approved HB 63, authorizing NMFA Water Project Fund loans or grants for 113 water projects recommended by the Water Trust Board, and HB 64, which appropriated $13.3 million from the Public Project Revolving Fund for drinking water, local planning, and cultural affairs facilities. HB 48, a straight appropriation already included in the budget, was tabled. The meeting ended after those actions, with no opposition recorded on the final motions.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a long-term agreement that could be put in place that the Air Force is paying the city of Clovis
• endorsed this service, and then some type of weighted criteria of is it going to be something that they pay
• for that service, pay for that utility, for instance, and putting money, continued money, back into
• this bill does is it takes the cap off of the military retiree tax break on just on their retirement pay

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee heard House Bill 29, which would appropriate $8 million to the military base impact fund. The sponsor and supporters said the money would help local communities around New Mexico’s military installations compete for federal grants and fund mission-readiness infrastructure such as utilities, roads, water treatment, and other defense-critical projects. Support came from the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the New Mexico Veterans and Military Families Caucus, the Kirtland Partnership, and others, who argued the investment would strengthen military readiness, protect jobs, and bring federal dollars into the state. Committee members asked about the types of projects eligible, whether data centers or clean-energy projects could be involved, how water and local regulations would apply, and how the grant process would work. The bill was reported out with a due pass recommendation and no opposition. The committee then heard House Bill 221, which would remove the $30,000 cap on the New Mexico income tax deduction for military retirement pay. The sponsor said the change would cost about $6 million annually but would help attract and retain military retirees, many of whom retire relatively young and may start businesses or remain active in the state economy. The Department of Veterans Services and the New Mexico Veterans and Military Families Caucus testified in support. Committee questions focused on how many retirees would be affected, the fiscal impact, and longer-term projections; department staff said the veteran population in New Mexico is gradually declining over time based on VA modeling. HB 221 also received a due pass recommendation with no opposition. After both bills were approved, the chair announced the committee was nearing its dinner hour and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then it also does take that price that you pay and apply it towards your deductible.
• And then it also does take that price that you pay and apply it towards your deductible.
• And then it also does take that price that you pay and apply it towards you. and then it also does take
• that that price that you pay and apply it towards your deductible so my son recently had Crohn's disease

Summary: The House Health and Welfare Committee convened with a quorum, approved the January 19 and January 20, 2026 minutes, and adjusted its agenda to account for absent members. The committee then introduced several RSs, including RS 3305 on cottage food operations, which would allow certain small-scale entrepreneurs to test refrigerated or frozen foods under a $5,000 threshold without full commercial-kitchen regulation. Members also introduced RS 32945, which would allow directed blood donation, and RS 32947, which would require providers to disclose cash and insurance prices for procedures and let patients choose the cash price while applying it toward deductibles. Committee members raised questions about how the pricing proposal would interact with payer-provider contracts and whether patients would have cash available, but the RS was still introduced. The committee also introduced RS 33015, updating Idaho law on epinephrine delivery systems so school-related self-administration or administration with parental permission would cover both EpiPens and newer single-dose nasal spray options. RS 32948, the oral parity proposal, was introduced after a brief numbering correction; it would address anti-cancer oral medications so patients are not required to pay the full deductible up front for pill forms when comparable IV treatments can be paid over time. Representative Bruce said the goal was to align coverage treatment between oral and intravenous cancer drugs. Finally, the committee heard RS 32915, which would repeal the Yellow Dot Program. Representative Scott said the program, created in 2020, is little used, costs the state money, and is outdated by newer technology and other ways to alert EMS to medical conditions. Members asked about the Senate’s prior inaction and the program’s cost, and the RS was introduced. The chair then shifted to committee business, noting that rules review would begin the next day and likely take several meetings, and asking members to submit budget recommendations by the beginning of the next week. The committee also discussed expectations for members to present RSs once they become bills, and the meeting adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then it also does take that price that you pay and apply it towards your deductible.
• And then it also does take that price that you pay and apply it towards your deductible.
• And then it also does take that price that you pay and apply it towards you. and then it also does take
• that that price that you pay and apply it towards your deductible so my son recently had Crohn's disease

Committee: House Health and Welfare

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• INSTEAD OF PAYING RENT, YOU TAKE THAT THOUSAND DOLLARS AND PUT IT IN A SAVINGS ACCOUNT BECAUSE THAT'S
• THAT WHERE WE ARE 50TH OUT OF 51 IF YOU COUNT THE WASHINGTON DC KIND OF AS A STATE WE ARE 50TH TEACHER PAY
• EVERYTHING IN THE BUDGET IS SERVING THE PEOPLE OF FLORIDA, IS SERVING CORRECTLY AND WHEN WE ARE 50TH IN PAY
• TO DO WAS I HAD THESE GREAT IDEAS ON THINGS THAT COULD BE IMPROVED FOR THE STATE AND WE DO HAVE TO PAY

Transcript Highlights:

• As far as a starting pay, no, but neither is the judges. I mean, yeah, it's... It's y'all.
• So, the current elected officials, although in 2027 with this new crew, there will be a new pay scale
• ; the old folks are... ...new pay scale; the old folks are like, "How does this impact me right now?
• Is this going to decrease my pay that I have right now?"

Bills: SB107 , HB158 , HB353 , HB354 , HB357 , HB181 , HB465 , HB526

Committee: Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund

Keywords: SSUT, simplified sellers use tax, sales tax distribution, municipal revenue, municipal population, annexation, deannexation, incorporation, boundary change, federal census, decennial census, Department of Revenue, local government finance, revenue sharing, municipal boundaries, population recalculation, probate judge, Boundary and Annexation Survey, Alabama municipalities, HB158

Transcript Highlights:

• So for every deliverable, we hold 10 percent till the project's complete, at which time then we pay the
• single deliverable is held to the project end, and once the project is in good working order, then we pay
• But we pay the deliverables after the deliverables have been met.
• carryover, but I can access it in a line of credit that we would have to discuss how we're going to pay

Bills: SB2015

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Human Resources Division

Keywords: corrections, rehabilitation, prison budget, department of corrections, adult services, youth services, correctional facilities, Heart River correctional center, Missouri River correctional center, James River correctional center, minimum security facility, county jails, regional jails, deferred maintenance, capital construction, strategic investment and improvements fund, Bank of North Dakota, line of credit, tasers, body cameras

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Human Resources Division met to finalize changes to the human services budget bill and related amendments. Members discussed several items, including a proposed $5 million appropriation for the Altru Hospital project to address inflationary costs, with the rest of the funding question left for conference committee. They also agreed to keep the 10-year operating requirement language for the project and remove a matching-funds provision that was no longer needed. The committee spent considerable time on the OASIS child welfare IT system. Donna Auckland explained that the project is still in the RFP stage, with vendor selection and contract negotiation likely taking months, and that the system will require 50-50 federal matching authority. Based on that testimony, the committee agreed to reduce the general fund amount from $14 million to $6 million and use a line of credit for the remaining authority, while preserving the federal match authority so the contract can be signed and the project can proceed. Members also approved a technical fix to add governor’s designee language for the Children’s Cabinet, which had been missed in another bill already on the governor’s desk. Keith reviewed updated long sheets showing additional budget adjustments, including provider inflation changes, a $50,000 Family Voices grant, reductions to CARES Act COVID funds, and moving the $5-per-day basic care rate increase from ongoing to one-time funding. No formal votes were recorded in the transcript, and the committee adjourned with plans to reconvene Monday if the final bill version was ready.

Transcript Highlights:

• report it to the Minnesota Department of Education, is primarily made up of the proceeds from bonds and pay-as-you-go
• bond sales and pay-as-you-go levies that school districts across the state use to update and maintain
• report it to the Minnesota Department of Education, is primarily made up of the proceeds from bonds and pay-as-you-go
• bond sales and pay-as-you-go levies that school districts across the state use to update and maintain

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House File 1340, authored by Chair Lee, which would expand the use of housing infrastructure bonds to support the adaptive reuse or conversion of buildings into affordable housing. The author described the bill as a way to help nonprofit and other affordable housing developers compete for surplus buildings, especially when school districts are selling unused properties on the open market. Tom Parent of Minneapolis Public Schools testified in support, explaining that school districts manage facilities through separate capital budgets and that selling surplus property at fair market value helps offset future property tax burdens. He said districts often face tension between maximizing sale proceeds and meeting community needs, and pointed to Minneapolis examples where former school buildings are being converted to housing, including projects serving youth experiencing homelessness. He argued the bill could better align reuse of school properties with community housing needs while protecting local taxpayers. In response to a question from Representative Scraba, the author confirmed the bill does not allocate new dollars but instead expands eligible uses under the statute for housing infrastructure bonds. No vote or formal action was taken during the exchange, and the bill was presented as part of a broader bipartisan discussion about reuse of vacant buildings for housing and other community purposes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lots of issues like that, and you know, there’s lots of people who are doing buy-here-pay-here car lots
• 54.000><c> here</c> lots of people who are uh doing buy here lots of people who are uh doing buy here pay
• 02:54.680><c> lots</c><00:02:55.080><c> those</c><00:02:55.280><c> types</c><00:02:55.440><c> of</c> pay
• here car lots those types of pay here car lots those types of facilities<00:02:56.480><c> and</c><00

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:06 SB145 Discussion: 00:34 SB145 Vote: 03:05, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and took up Senate Bill 145, first adopting a committee substitute. Senator Givens explained that the bill addresses retail installment contracts under KRS Chapter 190 by adjusting the timing for collection/enforcement on past-due vehicle installment payments, with the substitute also aligning KRS Chapter 371 for non-vehicle retail installment contracts such as furniture and appliances. The substitute raises a fee from $10 to $15, a change described as updating an amount that had not been revised since 1996 and bringing the two chapters into alignment. Members discussed the bill in general terms, noting its relevance to weekly installment arrangements, buy-here-pay-here car lots, and consumer purchases of household goods. One member said the proposal made them somewhat nervous because of possible effects on consumers with low-value items, but stated there were no known concerns and that they trusted the sponsor’s judgment. No opposition was voiced during the roll call. The committee voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 145 as amended by the committee substitute, and the bill passed. After the vote, members thanked Senator Givens, and there was brief discussion that the bill had not yet reached the point of being ready for consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• above what we pay.
• above what we $28,000 that the PD pays above what we pay<00:22:16.440><c> so</c><00:22:17.120><c> so
• </c> expertise um we're going to have to pay expertise um we're going to have to pay some<05:29:51.120
• You know, we got to pay them for utilities.
• You know, we got to pay them for utilities.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Law Enforcement on its priorities following the January 1 transfer of law enforcement assets into the department, including the sheriff’s division, narcotics enforcement, criminal investigations, homeland security, and the inspector general’s office. DLE said its goals are to improve public safety, accountability, communications, training, and standards. The department outlined planned initiatives such as stronger federal partnerships, narcotics and gun-violence enforcement, an agricultural crime unit, traffic and commercial vehicle enforcement, an explosive/fireworks enforcement section, gun buybacks, new police facilities in the airport area, Aahu, and the leeward side, a state training center, upgraded law-enforcement IT, and efforts to narrow salary gaps with county departments to improve recruitment. A major portion of the discussion focused on illegal fireworks enforcement after the recent explosion tragedy. DLE said its current task force is small and relies on ad hoc support from HPD, the Attorney General’s office, criminal investigations, and sheriffs, which is not sustainable. The department requested eight FTEs for the effort—one administrator, two clerical staff, and six investigators—plus funding for a laboratory, equipment, storage, disposal, vehicles, safety gear, and a criminalist. DLE said the explosive enforcement section would use an existing facility and that the initial lab startup cost is about $2 million. Members asked for follow-up materials, and DLE said it would send the explosive enforcement forms and additional details to the Finance and Judiciary chairs. Members also questioned staffing vacancies, interagency coordination, and whether new specialized units could be filled. DLE said it has about 119 vacancies and that recruitment is hindered by a roughly $28,000 starting pay gap with county police departments; academy classes are down to about 12 to 14 recruits. The department said it is streamlining hiring, using QR-code recruitment, and hopes specialized units will attract applicants. On coordination, DLE said it works closely with HPD and other agencies on operations such as fireworks enforcement and public events, and that DOCARE remains a case-by-case partner but is not currently moving into DLE. The committee also received updates on the Silver Alert program, which is nearing rollout with county MOUs and a coordinator expected later in the month, the special duty officer program, which is being moved to a web-based vendor-managed system at no cost to the department, and the SaferWatch school safety system, which is being deployed statewide with annual software costs of $3,500 per school in the first year and $2,500 thereafter. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• With no insurance standing behind them, there was no one left to investigate a claim, defend it, or pay
• It also creates temporary protection so physicians' personal assets aren't seized to pay for a company's
• importantly, it does all of this with the goal of improving affordability, not by asking people to pay
• The bill would retain more PCPs by reducing burnout, reducing administrative hurdles, paying enough to
• into detail, but these include supporting community health centers by requiring commercial insurers to pay

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill deals with the pay for election commissioners.
• With the pay for election commissioners, we've gone back and looked at the fact that election commissioners
• So this bill originally was to increase their pay.
• And so paying them for their 14- to 16-hour days, a little bit more money is very, very important to
• Sorry, that's above my pay grade. That's with the HR director. That's her job.

Summary: The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee met on May 6, 2026, approved the April 28 minutes, and heard several bills before moving into confirmation hearings. HB 205, by Rep. Bacala, would allow local governing authorities to supplement election commissioners’ pay by up to $100 per day; supporters from clerks of court and the Secretary of State’s office said the increase is needed to recruit and retain qualified commissioners amid longer days, training demands, and election security changes. The committee also reported HB 210, a cleanup bill clarifying retroactive application of a prior ethics law, and HB 228, which recreates the Department of State Civil Service and related entities through 2033. It likewise reported SR 86, which bars eyeglasses with audio/video recording capability in the Senate chamber without the Senate President’s permission, and HB 1177, which protects the identities of lottery hunt winners until after the drawing. HB 1045, limited to Pointe Coupee Parish, raises an audit threshold for certain water districts from $500,000 to $600,000 to reduce audit costs, and HB 813 would move Orleans Parish sheriff terms so the sheriff takes office in January instead of waiting until May; all were reported favorably. Senator Miller also announced that SB 491 would not be taken up that day. The committee then questioned nominees to the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East. The first group, including Peter Vicari and Ronald Schumann, was asked extensively about recent personnel actions, an internal investigation, and the authority’s handling of a report that members said would likely be released after a board vote. Senators focused on the firing of the chief of police/operations personnel, allegations of payroll fraud, and whether the authority had improperly combined the chief of police role with compliance duties in a way that may conflict with statute and Civil Service guidance. Committee members also raised concerns about the chief’s contract, whether it had board approval, and whether the authority’s bylaws and salary practices complied with law. The nominees and counsel said some matters were still under review and that a separate compliance position was being considered. The committee later heard from additional nominees, including David Martin, Gregory Marsiglia, and Elton Jude Myers, who described backgrounds in engineering, law, procurement, and governmental contracts. Senators again pressed them on the need to separate compliance/auditing duties from the chief of police role, and the nominees generally agreed that those functions should be distinct and that the authority should have qualified auditing expertise. The meeting ended with no public comment and adjournment after the confirmation discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill deals with the pay for election commissioners.
• With the pay for election commissioners, and basically we've gone back and looked at the fact that the
• So this bill originally was to increase their pay.
• Paying them a little bit more money for their 14- to 16-hour days is very, very important to our office
• Sorry, that's above my pay grade. That's with this HR director. That's her job.

Bills: SR86 , SB491 , HB205 , HB210 , HB228 , HB813 , HB1045 , HB1177

Committee: Senate Senate & Governmental Affairs

Keywords: Senate rules, Louisiana Senate, Senate Chamber, smart glasses, recording eyewear, audio recording, video recording, wearable technology, covert recording, legislative security, media access, chamber decorum, Senate President, internal rules, public access, lobbyists, official journal, public notices, competitive bid, Louisiana legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• So if, in a perfect world, if we could pay for all of our students to take an ACT, is your interest in
• I mean, we have ways that the state can require it if the state is paying for it.
• But if the state's not paying for it, then it's not a requirement.
• I mean, we have ways that the state can require it if the state is paying for it.
• But if the state's not paying for it, then it's not a requirement.

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• provide a tax credit for Idahoans so that if they are engaged in those transfers, they will not have to pay
• And the use of services without paying taxes.
• I know it's completely above my pay grade.
• The state's ultimately going to pay for it, right? Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for that question.
• So the government entity is paying a broker to go find a vendor.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Summary: The Senate State Affairs Committee met in a special session and introduced several measures focused largely on immigration enforcement and firearms policy. The committee introduced RS 33695, which would impose an excise tax on international money transfers and provide a tax credit for Idahoans; RS 33831, requiring local and county law enforcement to apply for and participate in ICE 287(g) agreements; RS 33832, the Refugee and Illegal Alien Accountability Act, which adds reporting and status-verification requirements and restrictions on unlawful harboring or transporting; and RS 33835, which would allow certain Idaho Department of Correction inmates with federal immigration detainers and final removal orders to be released to federal authorities before sentence completion, with an estimated state savings of $3.5 million. All of these RSs were moved to print without opposition. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1430, which strengthens enforcement of Idaho’s firearms preemption law by creating penalties and a private cause of action against local governments that willfully violate state firearms statutes, while preserving existing authority for discharge ordinances and university rules. Support came from the NRA and the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance, and the bill’s sponsors emphasized notice and an opportunity to cure before litigation. The committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 894, concerning open meetings, was presented as clarifying that members of the public may record open meetings by audio, video, or photographs, with exceptions for executive sessions and certain correctional and parole settings. It was advanced to the floor unanimously. House Bill 932, an advisory vote measure asking Idahoans to choose a favorite firearm from a list of historically significant guns, drew extended discussion and humor from committee members and was also sent to the floor with a do pass recommendation. H.C.R. 36, a resolution honoring the Idaho National Guard and supporting modernization, including a transition from A-10s to F-16s and Army force-structure changes, was approved despite one member expressing reluctance about losing the A-10s. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 888, which would shift procurement of information technology services to the Office of Information Technology Services and allow use of third-party brokers or existing procurement channels. Testimony from the bill’s supporters emphasized faster procurement, cost savings, and centralized oversight, while the Office of Information Technology Services testified neutral but raised concerns about workload, transparency, and the need for clearer selection and appeals procedures. After discussion about rulemaking and safeguards, the committee voted to send the bill to the floor with a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• provide a tax credit for Idahoans so that if they are engaged in those transfers, they will not have to pay
• by the transfer of wealth outside the state. ...outside the state and the use of services without paying
• I know it's completely above my pay grade.
• The state's ultimately going to pay for? Right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for that question.
• So the government entity is paying a broker to go find a vendor.

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: 989, all