Transcript Highlights:

• Then between the bold lines fiscal 25.
• <00:09:18.880> notes me in in figuring out that fiscal notes me in in figuring out that fiscal
• You'll see again the agencies along the left side and then changes for the current fiscal year, fiscal
• The agencies are along the left side, and then changes for the current fiscal year, fiscal 25, and then
• It is only triggered administration.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Association and Farm Bureau over the course of several weeks to address their concerns, such as triggers
• Association and Farm Bureau over the course of several weeks to address their concerns, such as triggers
• conflict response planning, and agency resources devoted to a proposal whose biological, logistical, fiscal
• conflict response planning, and agency resources devoted to the proposal whose biological, logistical, fiscal
• consider that as you proceed with this proposal to try and identify how to do that in a way that's fiscally

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We apologize if that causes any PTSD or triggers for you.
• That's actually pretty low among states, but it would potentially trigger the state having to take on
• see that a little under $2 billion was injected into the economy through SNAP benefits in the 2024 fiscal
• In fiscal year 2024, the Basic Food Program served approximately 525,000 households per month, representing
• This could be a significant fiscal impact for our state, considering that SNAP benefits have historically

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee held a work session on food systems and food security, with no public testimony. The first panel focused on household food security and data. Marie Spiker of the University of Washington explained what food insecurity means, its health impacts, and the importance of reliable measurement, warning that the federal Census food security data is being terminated and that there is no true replacement. She described Washington’s WaFOOD surveys as a useful complement, not a substitute, and noted that they show food insecurity affects households at a range of income levels. Katie Raines of WSDA described the state’s food systems work, the need for shared data and dashboards, and the role of agriculture in both food production and the hunger safety net. Committee members asked about the $2.2 million state food assistance allocation, the scale of the SNAP gap, and how household size, housing costs, and other factors intersect with food insecurity. The committee then heard from Tracy Roof of the University of Richmond on the history of SNAP and its relationship to agriculture. She traced the program from Depression-era commodity distribution through the modern farm bill, emphasizing that food assistance has long functioned both as anti-hunger policy and as an agricultural and economic stabilizer. She highlighted how SNAP expands during recessions, supports retailers and farmers, and has become more important since the Great Recession because participation stayed high even as the economy recovered. Roof also noted that Washington has relatively high SNAP participation and low payment error rates, but that recent federal changes could reduce eligibility and shift more costs to states. Members asked how Washington compares to other states and why the program is structured as it is. A later panel featured the Washington State Food Policy Forum and a joint systems presentation from the Washington Farm Bureau, Washington Retail Association, and Washington Food Industry Association. The Food Policy Forum described its consensus-based recommendations on food insecurity, climate and water, regional food infrastructure, farmland protection, and farm viability, including more support for producer purchasing, water planning, and farmland conservation. The industry groups presented a systems map showing how agriculture, processing, retail, and transportation are interconnected, and argued that rising costs, regulations, labor and fuel expenses, retail theft, and thin margins make it harder to keep farms and stores viable. They said food security depends on store viability and local agricultural profitability, and promised to provide a more detailed list of policy recommendations. The final panel included state agency staff from DSHS, DOH, and WSDA. Bryce Montgomery said the Basic Food program serves about 920,000 Washingtonians monthly and warned that H.R. 1 could require Washington to pay up to 15% of SNAP benefits, broaden work requirements, and restrict immigrant eligibility. Karen Mullen described DOH nutrition programs, including WIC, farmers market nutrition benefits, fruit and vegetable incentives, and a fruit-and-vegetable prescription program, while noting funding instability and the end of SNAP-Ed. WSDA’s Katie Raines began describing ongoing food assistance and farmer support challenges, including farmer mental health and the need to address food insecurity across both producers and consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• And what is clear fiscally responsible.
• year is not in conjunction with fiscal year is not in conjunction with the<00:45:54.400> calendar
• In one case, through a fiscal sponsorship, strengthening the capacity of community-based nonprofits on
• In one case, through a fiscal In one case, through a fiscal sponsorship,<01:20:05.679> strengthening
• <01:21:36.480> additional state since 2020 trigger additional state since 2020 trigger additional

Bills: HF3403, HF3410, HF3424

Keywords: HF3403, emergency rental assistance, rental aid, homelessness prevention, housing crisis, imminent risk of homelessness, eviction prevention, county aid, Tribal governments, local government aids, general fund appropriation, Minnesota revenue commissioner, poverty level, low-income housing, housing stability, family homeless prevention and assistance, emergency housing assistance, eviction, rent, redemption

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the end of the federal fiscal year.
• Future funding for fiscal year 26 will be subject to the federal legislation on the budget and be much
• And so, uh, we federal fiscal year.
• Uh, and then, um, federal fiscal year.
• <01:11:50.719> federal which can many times trigger federal which can many times trigger federal

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met to adopt the minutes of the second meeting by voice vote, then heard an update focused on disaster preparedness, resiliency, response, and coordination among state agencies and partners. The chair emphasized avoiding duplication of resources and highlighted the importance of agriculture-related response issues, including animal evacuation, feed distribution, and the role of extension services during disasters. The Department for Public Health was invited to explain its role in emergency planning and response. Public Health described its Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch as the lead coordinating agency for Emergency Support Function 8, covering health and medical services under Kentucky’s emergency operations framework. Testimony outlined its broad responsibilities, including support for hospitals, morgues, local health departments, behavioral health, crisis counseling, suspicious package testing, disease outbreaks, and coordination with emergency management, EMS, transportation, and nonprofit and private partners. Officials also described the agency’s risk-assessment process, training and exercise programs, and deployed assets such as PPE caches, deployable communications, a federal medical station, a mobile treatment center, and alternate care support used in events like the eastern Kentucky floods and COVID-19. The agency also discussed funding through federal cooperative agreements for public health emergency preparedness and hospital preparedness, noting that these programs have evolved since 9/11 and have been shaped by major disasters and emerging threats. Officials said Kentucky’s funding has declined over time and that current awards are partially funded for the first time in the program’s history. They expressed support for efficiency if federal programs are consolidated, but cautioned that combining programs could risk further funding losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• :04:43.400> and planning years and fiscal years 28 and planning years and fiscal years 28 and
• that students were enrolled was fiscal that students were enrolled was fiscal year<00:29:51.080>
• <00:41:10.160> year school year fiscal year school year fiscal year 26<00:41:12.760> represent
• school district is receiving for fiscal school district is receiving for fiscal year<01:35:00.280
• <01:35:22.920> year<01:35:23.119> 25 ed funding for fiscal year 25 ed funding for fiscal

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee first approved the January 21st minutes by voice vote. Members then resumed a school finance overview focused on how Minnesota’s “base” budgeting system works and how future committee targets are set above or below that base by the Ways and Means chair, in consultation with fiscal staff. Staff emphasized that school funding decisions are tied to the state budget base and that changes made by the tax committee can affect school levies and school finance more broadly. The presentation then turned to property tax fundamentals. Staff explained that roughly 65% of school district revenue comes from state aid and about 20% from property taxes, with property tax revenue applying to school districts rather than charter schools. They reviewed the two main school tax bases—referendum market value and adjusted net tax capacity—along with class rates, sales ratios, and equalization. They also described tax credits, especially the school building bond agricultural credit, which helps reduce the property tax burden on agricultural land in Greater Minnesota. Members discussed student choice programs and how funding follows students. In response to questions from Representative Quam, staff explained postsecondary enrollment options (including direct enrollment and College in the Schools) and online learning, noting that funding generally follows the student to the serving institution or district. Staff also reviewed Minnesota’s pupil-counting system, including average daily membership and pupil weighting, and explained that students attending charter schools, other districts through open enrollment, or online programs are counted where they are served. The presentation concluded with broader school finance context: funding sources, equity and adequacy goals, constitutional and statutory authority, and the state’s school data systems (EUP/FARS, MARS, and STARS). Staff also began reviewing long-term enrollment trends, noting the impact of the baby boom, later growth from the mid-1980s through about 2000, and projected modest declines in public school enrollment through 2029.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so, uh, sorry, that was a huge segue that got triggered by a question on personnel, but I wanted
• Um, so, uh, sorry, that was a huge segue that got triggered by a question on personnel, but I wanted
• was a onetime situation that the fiscal was a onetime situation that the fiscal committee<00:52:
• shows a higher amount in state fiscal shows a higher amount in state fiscal year<00:54:07.640>
• So, fiscal year 24, you were referring to the actual general fund spending that year, right?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division III work session focused on the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health Services budget. Department staff said Public Health has a relatively small budget compared with other DHHS divisions, is supported mostly by federal and other non-General funds, and contains nearly 100 accounting units and more than 50 federal grants. They emphasized that the governor’s budget did not include significant cuts, but that federal funding uncertainty and the winding down of pandemic-era resources were major factors affecting the division. The division also explained that some apparent budget growth reflects reorganizations, including moving the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery and some programs from other DHHS divisions into Public Health. The presentation described Public Health’s mission as serving the entire state through food and water safety, disease surveillance, emergency response, maternal and child health, chronic disease prevention, WIC, community health center support, and public health data collection. Members asked about bird flu, and staff explained that human-health response would involve Public Health’s lab, infectious disease, and emergency preparedness units, while animal-health issues are handled with the Department of Agriculture; they also noted ongoing milk testing requested by FDA and USDA. The division said its organizational structure includes bureaus for Family Health and Nutrition, Infectious Disease Control, Public Health Protection, Emergency Preparedness, Prevention and Wellness, Statistics and Informatics, and Public Health Laboratories, with about a 15% vacancy rate. Committee members questioned whether the division’s budget and staffing had really grown since pre-COVID, and staff responded that full-time authorized staffing is about the same as in 2018, with the increase largely due to federal pandemic funding that has since receded and to program transfers between divisions. They said Public Health’s General Fund share is about $24 million out of roughly $1.1 billion in DHHS General Fund spending, or about 2.2% of the department total. Members also asked about the 3,000-position cap and unfunded positions; staff explained that the cap remains in chapter law through June 30, 2025, that 394 positions were unfunded in the governor’s budget, and that the division expects flexibility to move money from personnel lines and fill unfunded positions to manage changing needs. No votes or formal actions were taken in this portion of the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let me clarify: the trigger for the sales tax lowered from 3% to 2% on food is not actual revenue.
• It is estimated available revenue certified by the finance director and the legislative fiscal officer
• The fiscal year turns at the end of September.
• At that point... fiscal year on October 1.
• This certainly does contemplate Elmore coming online in the next fiscal year as well.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• grounded in data and fiscal analyses. grounded in data and fiscal analyses.
• As such, there is no fiscal impact on the revenues of the state, so there is no fiscal note.
• no fiscal note. no fiscal note.
• ,<00:52:36.360> and fiscal officer from Joint Fiscal, and fiscal officer from Joint Fiscal
• Fiscal Office. Fiscal Office.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House began with routine business, including referral of Senate Bill 211 on motor vehicle inspections to the Transportation Committee and Senate Bill 298 creating the Vermont Voting Rights Act to the Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs. The chamber also referred House bills reported by Ways and Means to Appropriations, including H. 211 on data brokers and personal information and H. 931 on miscellaneous education law changes. JRH9, a joint resolution urging the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to reconsider its opposition to rapid prompting method communication instruction for students with apraxia of speech or autism, was read and referred to Human Services. Several announcements followed, including a welcome to members of the Vermont chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association, a reminder about an education reform meeting, and a correction regarding a prior reference to S. 138 of 2023 and the working group on student protections from harassment and discrimination in schools. The House also recognized guests in the gallery, including Donnie Kanovsky, who was described as a proponent of JRH9. The Speaker announced that H. 606 on firearms procedures, H. 642 on youthful offender proceedings, and later H. 585 would be bumped to later in the calendar. The House then took up H. 537, the right to grow vegetable gardens. The committee explained the bill would protect vegetable gardening in common interest communities and rental housing, while allowing reasonable restrictions and landlord or association oversight; witnesses included a South Burlington resident, HOA and landlord representatives, and legislative counsel. The committee reported an 8-0-0 vote, the House adopted the committee amendment, and ordered third reading. The chamber then passed H. 171 on Attorney General investigations into a law enforcement officer’s use of a firearm and H. 519 allowing Randolph police officers to enroll in Group C of the state retirement system. The House also passed H. 536 on toxic heavy metals in baby food products after extended debate over whether infant formula should be included. Supporters said the bill would help parents make informed choices and noted the amendment was intended to align with federal action; opponents argued formula-specific federal work was still underway and urged waiting. The chamber then passed H. 550 on gender equity in correctional facilities, H. 733 on franchise agreements, H. 775 on housing production tools, H. 887 on crime victim status under the Fair Employment Practices Act, H. 917 on military affairs, and H. 921 on alcoholic beverages. Action on H. 930 addressing chronic absenteeism was postponed one legislative day, and H. 942 on miscellaneous agricultural subjects began second reading with the committee outlining sections on water quality training, non-sewage waste management, and unit pricing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um I I think that I fiscal note.
• impact note, or fiscal note worksheet, on that bill.
• That will also reduce the work required by DEES, which will reduce the fiscal note.
• not uh that we're minimizing the fiscal not uh that we're minimizing the fiscal note<05:38:03.680
• note uh reducing the on the fiscal note uh reducing the fiscal<05:48:07.360> note<05:48:07.840

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB572 Gonzalez vehicle crash reports hold in committee SB827 Gonzalez local officials fiscal training
• on a b-roll call application provisions and instead require an employee who performs high exposure trigger

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm executive director of the Office of Budget and Fiscal Management.
• the office of budget and fiscal the office of budget and fiscal management.<00:06:58.319> I
• year in in July so that every the fiscal year in in July so that every dollar<00:10:42.240> that<
• If the reduction is in effect for the entirety of the rest of the fiscal year, closer to 5%.
• maintaining um a good fiscal maintaining um a good fiscal responsibility<01:21:16.880> to

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Will there be a fiscal note? Uh, yes, Madam Chair.
• there be a fiscal note? there be a fiscal note? Representative<00:15:38.560> Lee.
• definitely um, fiscal note for for that. definitely um, fiscal note for for that.
• We haven't even passed our energy tax, which is zero fiscal cost.
• <01:25:44.440> policy name is Dalton Danielson, fiscal policy name is Dalton Danielson, fiscal

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, it is worth noting that this bill does not have a fiscal impact whatsoever.
• um trigger the child the reporting act. um trigger the child the reporting act.
• What this does, because this bill has a fiscal note, it's not a big fiscal note, but what I want to have
• So have a place to accept and... a fiscal note. It's not a big fiscal a fiscal note.
• It's not a big fiscal note,<01:50:31.679> but<01:50:31.920> what<01:50:32.080> I

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That, in turn, is another independent trigger of the ability to seek coverage from the wildfire fund.
• Because legal risk, credit risk, and the fiscal health of both municipal utilities and the cities that
• We also think that we need to broaden some of the triggers to ...ratepayers in the way that we have in
• We also think that we need to broaden some of the triggers to shut down transmission lines much earlier
• We also think that we need to broaden some of the triggers to shut down transmission lines much earlier

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy held a hearing on the California Earthquake Authority’s SB 254 report and possible reforms to California’s utility wildfire recovery system. The chair framed the discussion around the Palisades and Eaton fires, the high and growing wildfire-related costs on utility bills, and the need to weigh tradeoffs among survivors, ratepayers, utilities, insurers, and taxpayers. The chair emphasized that the SB 254 report is an inventory of policy pathways rather than recommendations, and that the Legislature’s role is to evaluate the options publicly. The first panel featured wildfire survivors William Abrams and Joy Chen, who described severe ongoing displacement, housing insecurity, delayed compensation, and frustration with what they characterized as opaque and unfair compensation structures. They argued for greater transparency, clearer accountability for utilities, stronger oversight of wildfire mitigation spending, and incentives tied to safety performance. They also urged faster survivor payments, but only if they are full, fair, and not financed by shifting more costs to taxpayers or ratepayers. Committee members asked about gaps in the SB 254 report, the meaning of “full” compensation, and how a fast-pay facility might work. The second panel included the California Earthquake Authority, RAND, PG&E, LADWP, Consumer Attorneys of California, and the Public Advocates Office. Tom Welsh of CEA explained the report’s process and the current wildfire fund structure, including that utilities remain liable, the fund reimburses eligible claims, and prudency reviews can require reimbursement to the fund. RAND’s Lloyd Dixon outlined how roughly $38 billion has been paid to survivors, insurers, and public entities since 2017, and noted substantial litigation costs and cost-shifting among stakeholders. Utility representatives supported reforms that preserve financial stability and reduce risk, while consumer and public-interest advocates opposed shifting more costs to ratepayers and stressed accountability, audits, and safety-linked recovery. No votes or formal actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that when, was that the trigger?
• That like the threshold, the trigger point, the red button?
• And there's a trigger point for that decision-making process.
• There was no trigger event. It was your father's gut feel.
• And fiscal recovery as well.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <07:47:42.878> fiscal<07:47:43.280> note, In fiscal year, in this fiscal note, In fiscal
• fund revenue by $65.9 million in fiscal fund revenue by $65.9 million in fiscal year<07:48:20.240
• Like I say, this has had six renditions of the fiscal note and... ...six renditions of the fiscal note
• So, I encourage you to flip to page 13 of the most recent fiscal note of the many fiscal notes that there
• And so once again, with this fantastic fiscal note, God bless our fiscal analysts.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, then fiscal 28 is the 316. Fiscal 29 is the 326.
• fiscal 28 is the 316.
• Fiscal 29 is the fiscal 28 is the 316.
• One is defunded in the current fiscal environment.
• So, I in the current fiscal environment.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• people who moved, forgot their registration info, or just made clerical errors, and then this would trigger
• Would they risk triggering an investigation? Would they stand a chance under this bill?
• Would they risk triggering an investigation for trying to do their civic duty?
• And there is no fiscal attached to this. Sponsors stated that there's no cost to the...
• to you, which seems like weeks or months ago, it was only a few days ago, and she said this to the fiscal

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of member introductions recognizing interns, pages, and a retiring Senate employee. Leadership also announced that budget talks with the House were continuing and that senators should not plan to be in next week, with hopes of sharing more budget news soon. The chamber then moved to third reading and took up a major bill on citizen initiatives and constitutional amendments, with sponsors saying it was needed to address documented petition fraud and to protect the integrity of the process. That bill drew extensive debate. Supporters argued that recent investigations showed widespread fraud in petition gathering, that the measure would add reasonable guardrails, and that it would prevent taxpayer-funded government messaging from being used to influence ballot measures. Opponents said the bill would make it much harder for ordinary Floridians to place amendments on the ballot by adding costs, deadlines, registration requirements, fines, and felony exposure, and they warned it would chill grassroots participation and effectively favor wealthy or corporate-backed campaigns. After debate, the Senate passed the bill 28-10. The Senate then adopted several House amendments and concurred on a series of education and public-safety measures, including bills on stem cell therapy, student-athlete electrocardiograms, cardiac emergency planning in schools, school safety, Bright Futures and other education policy items, and educator preparation. Most of those measures passed unanimously or with overwhelming support, and the chamber also recognized additional interns and a long-serving education advocate before recessing and returning to continue with House messages.

Transcript Highlights:

• people who moved, forgot their registration info, or just made clerical errors, and then this would trigger
• Would they risk triggering an investigation? Would they stand a chance under this bill?
• Would they risk triggering an investigation or trying to do their civic duty?
• And there is no fiscal attached to this. Sponsors stated that there's no cost to the...
• to you, which seems like weeks or months ago, it was only a few days ago, and she said this to the Fiscal

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a series of introductions recognizing interns, pages, a retiring sergeant-at-arms employee, and advocates visiting for a Prader-Willi Syndrome awareness resolution. Leaders also noted ongoing budget talks with the House and said senators should not plan to be in next week while negotiations continue. The main floor debate centered on Committee Substitute for House Bill 12.5, a citizen-initiative elections bill. Sponsors said it was intended to address petition fraud and protect the integrity of the constitutional amendment process, citing investigations, arrests, and fraudulent petition activity tied to recent initiatives. Opponents argued the bill would make it much harder and more expensive for citizens to place amendments on the ballot, chill volunteer participation, and effectively favor wealthy or corporate interests. After extensive debate, the bill passed 28-10. The Senate then moved through a series of education bills, including measures on Bright Futures, Gold Seal, Florida ABLE, dual enrollment, educator preparation, and broader education policy, all of which passed unanimously. After a recess, the chamber took up House messages and concurred in amendments to bills on stem cell therapy, student athlete ECGs, cardiac emergency response plans, and school safety. Those measures also passed with broad support, with the school safety bill drawing some questions about the Guardian program and child care facilities.