Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1169, appropriations, graduate medical education program, Appropriations, Transportation, Technology
• SB 1195, appropriation, legal assistance services aid, Appropriations, Transportation, Technology, and
• SB 1204, appropriation, U.S. 6E, SR 303, Appropriations, Transportation, Technology.
• SB 127, appropriation, study, transportation infrastructure, Appropriations, Transportation, Technology
• SB 1154, appropriation, State Route 64 study. SB 1154, appropriation, State Route 64 study.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's appropriation.
• </c> special education aid appropriation. special education aid appropriation.
• <c> electron</c> appropriation for summer electron appropriation for summer electron electronic<00:35
• :01:11.599><c> the</c> appropriation sections for the appropriation sections for the department<01:01
• </c> expectations and are more appropriate expectations and are more appropriate than<01:02:33.920><c

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:56.400><c> in</c> will have less money to appropriate in will have less money to appropriate
• </c><00:09:18.000><c> in</c> Um, so the total amount appropriated in Um, so the total amount appropriated
• :16:49.120><c> Minnesota</c> appropriation right to the Minnesota appropriation right to the Minnesota
• Mueller. been appropriated since the start of the been appropriated since the start of the legacy<00:
• </c> the availability of that appropriation the availability of that appropriation by<00:25:58.080><c

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Um the appropriated<00:02:39.519><c> amount</c><00:02:39.760><c> is</c> appropriated amount is appropriated
• It remains at the base appropriation.
• 00:03:51.280><c> by</c> appropriation has been reduced by appropriation has been reduced by $60,000<00
• </c><00:09:18.160><c> um</c><00:09:18.519><c> appropriation</c> agency administration um appropriation
• The appropriation was didn't.

Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.

Transcript Highlights:

• The request is for $3.39 million in appropriation.
• It's for $16,617 in new appropriation and $32,000 in reallocations of previously awarded appropriation
• These are cash fund appropriation requests.
• They don't have sufficient appropriation. Okay.
• This is an overtime appropriation request.

Committee: All ALC-PEER

Summary: The committee considered a series of appropriation, transfer, and review items, approving most requests in Sections B through J. These included temporary appropriations for state technology upgrades, personnel management, court reporters and interpreters, crime victim claims, juvenile sex offender assessments, radiation lab testing, higher education workforce grants, an ARPA grant for the UAFS LPN program, an IIJA grant for geological/critical minerals work, a restricted reserve transfer for 102 State Police vehicles, a transfer to the Arkansas Heroes Program, several cash fund requests for the Real Estate Commission HVAC and AV needs, and overtime appropriations for Emergency Management and Military. One budget classification transfer request from the Commissioner of State Lands for $250,000 to cover operating expenses tied to a new building was discussed at length but failed on the vote after questions about the lease and operating costs. A major portion of the meeting focused on a $25.7 million pay plan appropriation request for 15 agencies. Members questioned why the Department of Human Services had not requested additional pay-plan dollars for human development centers, where DHS acknowledged staffing shortages, high turnover, and heavy overtime but said the issue was not lack of pay-plan funding. DHS was asked to provide a written plan to address staffing problems. The Department of Corrections testified that the pay plan had improved retention and hiring, and committee members asked for follow-up data on vacancies and staffing outcomes. Members also clarified that the pay-plan request was appropriation only, not new funding, and approved it. The committee then reviewed fund reports, including the restricted reserve, Budget Stabilization Trust Fund, Tobacco Settlement, State Central Services, Education Adequacy, Medicaid Trust Fund, IIJA, and Revenue Services transfer reports. DHS and DFA were questioned closely about the Medicaid Trust Fund, with members noting a $90 million February draw and asking about projected year-end balances; DFA and DHS said February was a high-expense, low-revenue month and projected the fund would remain solvent through the fiscal year, ending between $150 million and $200 million, while a second $100 million set-aside is planned for FY27. The committee also discussed a state hospital damage report, where DHS explained that insurance proceeds would not fully cover the repair costs because of depreciation and the age of the buildings; members expressed concern that the state would recover far less than originally expected, and DHS said any additional insurance recovery would be limited and returned to restricted reserve.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we would respectfully request that you consider making future appropriations two-year appropriations
• We again respectfully request that you consider making future appropriations two-year appropriations.
• Well, what I was getting at, you know, in our appropriation, Mr. Chairman, in our appropriation...
• Additionally, you've appropriated $9 billion in special appropriations for civil legal services.
• General Appropriations Act.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1550, appropriation Queen Creek. PSLE and appropriations. SB 1580, appropriation fire incident.
• SB 1550, appropriation Queen Creek. PSLE and appropriations. SB 1580, appropriation fire incident.
• PSLE and appropriations. SB 1582, appropriation school safety. Education and appropriations.
• SB 1550, appropriation Queen Creek. PSLE and appropriations. SB 1580, appropriation fire incident.
• PSLE and appropriations. SB 1582, appropriation school safety. Education and appropriations.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the journal, and recognition of the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Kai Sun. Members also welcomed newly sworn Representative Cody Rhyme and congratulated Sergeant-at-Arms Chuck Fitzgerald on his recent wedding. Several members introduced guests and visiting groups, including pharmacists at Pharmacy Day at the Capitol, the Arizona Education Association, the Well-Being Collaborative of Arizona, and local officials and constituents from around the state. The chamber then took up House Resolution 2001, which designated March 18, 2026 as Health Workforce Well-Being Day in Arizona. The resolution cited burnout and workforce shortages among physicians, nurses, medical students, residents, pharmacists, and other health professionals, and urged state officials and health organizations to prioritize workforce well-being. It was adopted without objection to waive first and second reading, and Representative Bliss introduced guests connected to the Well-Being Collaborative. The House also considered several bills on third reading. House Bill 2375, relating to housing and historic neighborhoods, drew extensive debate over local control, historic preservation, housing shortages, and concerns about exclusion and segregation; it passed 31-24, but without the required two-thirds vote for its emergency clause. House Bill 2931, concerning the Arizona Civil Rights Advisory Board, passed 36-19, and House Bill 2992, creating a child sexual abuse and assault awareness and prevention pilot program, passed 35-20 after debate over whether funds should instead support broader sex education. Senate Bill 1010, substituted for House Bill 4027 and relating to historic names, passed 33-22. The House also handled committee assignments, referrals, and first readings of additional Senate bills before adjourning until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> there's three different appropriation there's three different appropriation types<00:21:25.000><
• Then the last type is an open appropriation. It's kind of a subset of a statutory appropriation.
• Um, some of the accounts are directly appropriated; some are statutorily appropriated, and they vary
• <00:25:39.159><c> they</c> are statutorily appropriated and they are statutorily appropriated and they
• </c> and this fund is directly appropriated and this fund is directly appropriated in<00:26:33.000><c

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1307, appropriation DES emergency shelters — Appropriations, Transportation and Technology, and Health
• SB 1314, appropriations criminal justice salary increases — Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
• SB 1317, appropriation coordinated reentry program — Appropriations, Transportation and Technology, and
• SB 1317, appropriation coordinated reentry program — Appropriations, Transportation and Technology, and
• on Appropriations.

Summary: The Arizona Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, confirmed attendance, and approved the prior journal. Several senators then used points of personal privilege to introduce guests and recognize visitors, including Chaplain Ron Lagata, an Air Force air traffic controller apprentice shadowing Senator Gabaldón, a guest of Senator Farnsworth, and a group connected to Arizona’s space industry and Special Olympics Arizona. Senator Bolick read a proclamation for “Not in Our State,” condemning human trafficking and calling on Arizonans, schools, churches, nonprofits, law enforcement, and businesses to work together to prevent trafficking and support victims. Senator Tothley then gave an emotional statement about the death of an eight-year-old girl in his community, criticized delays in the turquoise alert system, and urged statewide changes so alerts go out more quickly and broadly. The Senate observed a moment of silence in the child’s memory. The chamber then moved through second reading of a long list of bills and resolutions covering topics such as counseling after traumatic events, military permitting, EMS reciprocity, election procedures, court-ordered treatment, assisted living, juvenile detention education, Alzheimer’s funding, gaming appropriations, short-term rentals, law enforcement mask prohibitions, fire district formation, prison and correction officer issues, port of entry funding, appeals court structure, and congressional term limits. Several bills were also referred to committees, including measures on voting centers, candidate petition circulators, weather modification, federal land acquisition consent, bleed control kits, foreign donations, unemployment benefits, and SNAP purchases. The Senate also announced upcoming committee meetings and then adjourned until Monday, January 26, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1195: appropriation, legal assistance. SB 1195: appropriation, legal assistance services aid.
• SB 1204: appropriation, U.S. 6E, SR 303. Appropriations, transportation, technology.
• Appropriations, transportation, technology.
• Appropriations, transportation, technology.
• SB 1132: appropriation, Arizona State Hospital.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established attendance, approved the prior journal, and welcomed several guests, including the Doctor of the Day, a student shadowing a senator, representatives from Republic Services, and visitors from Copper Valley Energy. Senators also announced administrative deadlines, including extensions for opening Senate folders and for Senate bill introduction preparation, with the bill introduction deadline set for February 2. The main floor business was the reading and reference of a large number of Senate bills and resolutions across many subject areas, including education, government, appropriations, natural resources, health and human services, finance, judiciary and elections, and military affairs and border security. The calendar also included second-reading placement for another large group of bills covering topics such as firearms, behavioral health, family courts, insurance, water, taxation, public safety, and elections. No substantive debate or votes on the merits of the measures occurred during this portion beyond the procedural reading and referral of the bills. Standing committee reports were accepted without being read, and committee announcements were made for upcoming meetings of Government, Health and Human Services, Regulatory Affairs and Government Efficiency, Education, Judiciary and Elections, and Public Safety. The Senate then adjourned on motion until Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriation base.
• This covers both forms of appropriation.
• Regarding appropriations, on line 56, you'll see the total appropriations in column R, which is $16,640,000
• Appropriation and other finance items. Mr.
• The appropriation was sufficient.

Bills: HF2312

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• But that's also true in the appropriations process.
• The Legislature has the power to reinstate an appropriation.
• The Legislature has the power to reinstate an appropriation.
• The appropriation in question was recurring and had not been increased in years.
• Sincerely, Ron DeSantis, Governor. ...and entitled An Act Making Appropriations.

Summary: The Florida House convened in Special Session 2025B after recording a quorum and reading the joint proclamation calling the session from January 27 to January 29, 2025. Speaker Perez outlined the special-session process, including canceling regular committee meetings, distributing notebooks with the call, the bill to be filed by Representative McClure, and the bill analysis, and creating three select committees on illegal immigration to hear HB 1B later that day. He also announced a new process for reviewing vetoed appropriations through combined workgroups, beginning with legislative budget vetoes. The House then took up the governor’s veto of portions of HB 5001, the 2024 appropriations act. After reading the governor’s communication, Representative Kennedy moved to reinstate specific appropriation 2802 and its related proviso on page 412, describing it as legislative services support funding needed for IT, forecasting, auditing, and accountability functions. The motion passed 111-0. Kennedy then moved to reinstate specific appropriation 2803 and its related proviso, described as the second line item for legislative support services, and that motion also passed 111-0. No Senate messages, committee reports, reconsiderations, or bills on the calendar were reported. The House then adopted a motion to adjourn and reconvene Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., or upon the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• A quorum of the Senate Finance and House Appropriations is present.
• There was general fund appropriation in about $300,000 that I believe originated in 2018.
• But that's the general fund appropriation at this point in time.
• The third program is the Idaho Code Commission, which is continuously appropriated.
• nearly all of its appropriations.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and first reviewed the Industrial Commission’s base budget and FY 2027 requests. The analyst and agency staff described the commission’s dedicated-fund structure, the IRIS technology modernization project, and several requested adjustments: ongoing support for IRIS maintenance, additional funding for the annual seminar and CWICS training, an increase for the Peace Officer Temporary Disability Fund due to rising claims, and replacement IT hardware. Members asked about the IRIS contract, seminar fees, and the crime victims compensation fund and general fund support. Agency staff said IRIS is still being supported by an outside vendor because OITS lacks the needed expertise, that seminar and training fees are already competitive and the plan is to expand services rather than lower fees, and that crime victims compensation could be covered temporarily by dedicated or federal funds if needed. No votes were taken on the Industrial Commission budget during the meeting. The committee then heard the Public Utilities Commission budget review. The analyst explained the commission’s dedicated funds, staffing, and the FY 2026 trailer appropriation tied to the Wildfire Standard of Care Act, along with a FY 2027 request for IT hardware only. Questions focused on a large variance in the indirect cost recovery fund, which staff attributed to timing of federal reimbursements and rent not being charged to that fund at the time. Commissioners and staff also received positive comments about the implementation of the wildfire-related duties. No action was taken on the PUC budget. Next, the Secretary of State’s budget was presented. The analyst outlined the office’s election, business, and commission functions, noted the prior $10 million election system upgrade, and described FY 2027 requests for a voter pamphlet and guide, overtime for the post-election audit team, and replacement technology. Secretary of State Phil McGrane and staff emphasized the rapid growth in business filings, the office’s revenue generation, and the need to maintain service levels, arguing against ongoing cuts. He said the voter pamphlet request is tied to statutory election-year mailings, the overtime reflects cyclical election workload, and the office is considering AI cautiously due to sensitive voter data. Members asked about business filing growth, the difference between a pamphlet and a voter guide, and the possible impact of hand-counting ballots; McGrane said hand-counting would mainly affect counties, not the state office. The meeting ended with scheduling remarks for the next day’s budget work and a note that the FY 2026 rescission bill was still being processed.

Transcript Highlights:

• and what isn't appropriate, and that we bring them to that conversation table at the appropriate time
• What isn't appropriate, and that we bring them to that conversation table at the appropriate time as
• The motion is do pass as amended to Appropriations.
• File item 6, SB 1067, the motion is do pass as amended to Appropriations.
• At the appropriate time, I respectfully ask for your aye vote. Thank you.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• So starting on line 4, the state grant program, the Senate offer number two proposes an appropriation
• On line 5, the Senate proposes a $1 million per biennium increase in the child care grants appropriation
• So starting on line 4, the state grant program, the Senate offer number two proposes an appropriation
• On line 34, the Senate accepts the House offer to reduce the appropriation for the rural veterinarian
• </c><00:03:21.360><c> for</c> to reduce the appropriation for to reduce the appropriation for unrepresented

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2180, appropriation. Health, Human Services and Appropriations.
• HB 2200, appropriation and appropriations. HB 2211, State Route 88.
• HB 2207, appropriations. Public safety, law enforcement and appropriations.
• HB 2067, appropriation to package a project. HB 2068, appropriation Wolfwood Road.
• HB 2069, appropriation protection water. HB 2070, appropriation Hila County.

Transcript Highlights:

• Early Childhood Appropriations The Early Childhood Appropriations<00:43:02.920><c> on</c><00:43:03.280
• </c><00:43:23.359><c> will</c> youth and families Appropriations will youth and families Appropriations
• ><c> center</c> slide the Appropriations in the center slide the Appropriations in the center column<
• Appropriations we also see higher Appropriations we also see higher Appropriations<00:46:47.520><c> from
• </c><01:04:27.240><c> spreadsheet</c> on the eight appropriation spreadsheet on the eight appropriation

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> and trails general fund appropriation and trails general fund appropriation has<00:03:13.680><c>
• The House has more direct appropriation. The Senate has more appropriation.
• </c> build a better appropriation next time. build a better appropriation next time.
• So appropriation is needed for projects like this.
• So appropriation is needed for projects like this.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is requested to increase the agency’s federal fund appropriation.
• So of their PC appropriation, 85% was actually expended on personnel.
• That's just comparing appropriation to expenditures.
• where there were imbalances between the cash and the appropriation or between the appropriation in a
• And so, like we talked about with fourth PC appropriation, that creates variance in our tracking of appropriation

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation on the K-12 public school support budget, including how support units, career ladder funding, health insurance, discretionary funding, transportation, facilities, and the Public Education Stabilization Fund (PSIF) work. Legislative Services explained that FY 2026 support units were revised downward, creating a $22.3 million ongoing general fund reduction, and walked through the FY 2027 agency request and governor’s recommendation. The governor recommended no increase for population forecast adjustments, but did recommend some statutory and policy changes, including shifting certain interest earnings to the general fund and reducing funding for some virtual school and IDLA-related items. The agency request also included one-time proposals for a high-needs special education fund and a regional service model for related services. Members asked extensive questions about how career ladder dollars are distributed, how health insurance and discretionary funds interact, why the health insurance increase in the budget differed from current plan estimates, and how facilities money under House Bill 292 is used. There were also questions about the size and use of the Idaho Career Ready Students fund, the maintenance-of-effort implications of special education funding, and whether some special education costs are being used for student housing or other noninstructional expenses. The superintendent and budget staff emphasized that many of the budget lines are formula-driven or statutorily required, that local districts determine actual staffing and spending within those formulas, and that special education costs continue to outpace available funding. Superintendent Debbie Critchfield then framed the budget request around enrollment trends, shifting demographics, and the need for more flexibility in how districts use existing dollars. She highlighted proposed categorical flexibility for some funds, changes to digital content and curriculum distribution, continued literacy gains, growth in career technical education programs funded through Idaho Career Ready Students, and the importance of endowment and Millennium Fund support. She also described the special education proposals as a temporary bridge while the state considers larger formula changes and noted a near $100 million gap between special education spending and funding. She further outlined planned federal waiver requests on assessments and flexibility, and said the department is seeking more state control over testing and reporting requirements. The committee did not take final action on the budget during this portion of the meeting. Members raised concerns about interest transfers from dedicated funds, the complexity of the funding formula, special education accountability, and whether the state should revisit the overall school funding model. Several follow-up data requests were made, including information on health insurance participation, regional special education service needs, and school contingency fund balances.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we can appropriate that money in the budget.
• I mean, we can appropriate that money in the budget.
• Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6026, as amended by Appropriations, be reported out of Appropriations
• of appropriations with a due pass recommendation.
• Substitute Senate Bill 5828, as amended by appropriations, is reported out of appropriations with a due

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 5828, which would restore and adjust Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship award levels for students attending private, not-for-profit four-year institutions. Staff explained the bill would set the awards at 90 percent of the regional and state college rate rather than 50 percent of the research rate, with an estimated fiscal impact of $3.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and $18.6 million over four years. Testimony was largely in support from private college presidents, students, and school counselors, who said the bill would help low-income and first-generation students and preserve access and enrollment choices; some public college student representatives said they did not oppose the bill but argued that cuts to public-school aid should be restored first. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 5911, which would prohibit DCYF from using benefits or funds of youth in extended foster care as reimbursement for their cost of care beginning in 2027, while requiring support for benefit management and payee arrangements and allowing protected accounts such as ABLE accounts. Staff estimated a net fiscal impact of $608,000 in fiscal year 2027 and $2.2 million per biennium thereafter. Testimony in support said the bill would end the practice of withholding SSI and other benefits from youth in care and better support disabled youth transitioning to adulthood. Members asked questions about fiduciary responsibility and representative payee arrangements. In executive session, the committee adopted amendments and advanced several bills. It adopted Amendment Clark 350 to House Bill 2689, raising the required provider response rate for the child care market rate survey to 65 percent, and then reported the bill out with a due pass recommendation by a vote of 18-11, with two excused. It adopted Amendment H-3743.1 to Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5395 on retrospective prior authorization denials and reported that bill out unanimously. It also adopted Amendment Pool 272 to Senate Bill 5420 and reported that bill out unanimously. For Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5496, the committee adopted several amendments clarifying scope and penalties but rejected amendments that would have delayed the bill or replaced it with a study; the bill was then reported out with a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard amendment briefings on other bills, including 5981, 6026, 6160, 6184, and 6211, but deferred action on some items heard that morning.