Transcript Highlights:

• and forced to subordinate lean financing and forced to turn<00:51:45.200> to<00:51:45.440>
• Thank you. subordinate lean financing. Thank you.
• <01:19:42.000> Chair, gap for motans. Thank you Mr. Mr. Chair, gap for motans.
• a need to address this gap um, that's coming<01:21:25.440> up.
• <01:21:38.960> and there will be an additional um gap and there will be an additional um gap

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair Howard and the Housing Finance and Policy Committee.
• They are noble stop gaps, the demand.
• And unfortunately, we can't absorb this gap locally.
• <00:16:07.040> Policy of the House Housing Finance Policy of the House Housing Finance Policy
• Good afternoon, House Housing Finance and Policy Committee members.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 3403, authored by Vice Chair Rep. Kazowski, and first adopted an A1 amendment. The amendment made technical and implementation changes recommended by the Department of Revenue, allowed a small portion of funds for county and tribal administrative costs, and clarified timing and reporting for spent and unspent funds. After the amendment was adopted, the bill was moved to Ways and Means. Rep. Kazowski described HF 3403 as a $50 million emergency rental assistance measure to help stabilize households facing eviction, with $44 million directed to counties and $6 million reserved for tribal nations, administered through the Department of Revenue using the existing local homeless prevention aid formula. Supporters said the bill would provide immediate, targeted help to renters and landlords, prevent evictions, and reduce downstream costs to shelters, schools, employers, and health systems. Several testifiers, including representatives from Greater Twin Cities United Way, St. Louis County, Hennepin County, Minneapolis, social workers, a resident, and tribal housing leaders, said local resources were insufficient to meet rising need and emphasized the impact of federal immigration enforcement and related economic disruption on families, workers, and communities. Testimony highlighted sharp increases in rental assistance requests, rising eviction filings, depleted county funds, and the strain on nonprofit and mutual aid efforts. County and city officials said emergency rental assistance and related legal services had already prevented thousands of evictions, but current funding was not enough. Tribal testimony stressed disproportionate homelessness among Native Americans and supported the bill’s tribal allocation. During member discussion, Rep. Amani Hiltsley said the bill was an economic stabilization tool and requested a roll call vote, noting safeguards against fraud and the broader costs of inaction.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't want to speak for the state finance agency.
• Um, this was a program, a new program, brought to us by the state finance agency.
• I don't want to speak for the state finance agency.
• Um, this was a program, a new program, brought to us by the state finance agency.
• brought to us by the state finance brought to us by the state finance agency.<00:08:58.560> Um

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Finance to February 3rd's 2026 agenda. Our first presentation is Agency 370.
• Julissa Rodriguez with the Legislative Finance Committee.
• Ruby Ann Esquibel with the Legislative Finance Committee.
• The ones that are bolded are many of yours in this Senate Finance Committee.
• And what did the Board of Finance appropriate out of emergency funding last year?

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving to Department of Finance. Jennifer O'Mears from the Department of Finance.
• Justin Edelman, Department of Finance.
• Department of Finance. All right. Thank you. LAO, any follow-up? Department of Finance? No.
• Now we'll turn to Department of Finance. Hi there. Tess Shurkenback with Department of Finance.
• Tess Shurkenbeck, Department of Finance.

Summary: The committee heard a broad public safety budget hearing focused on youth justice funding, probation incentive grants, and disaster response and recovery. On the youth justice item, the Office of Youth and Community Restoration described a proposed change to the JJRBG funding formula that would shift resources away from a DJJ-based measure and toward county youth population, serious offenses, and step-down placements in less restrictive programs. Members asked about data on Native American youth; OYCR said statewide data are limited, but its SYTF data show about 1% of youth in secure youth treatment facilities were Native in 2024. The Department of Finance had no objections, and the item was discussed as a way to support alternatives to long-term incarceration. The committee then reviewed the community corrections performance incentive program for county probation departments. The Department of Finance proposed stabilizing the program with a maintenance payment, updating the performance baseline, and adding a growth factor; the LAO agreed the formula needed changes but recommended using 2022-23 data instead of 2021-23, using marginal rather than average cost assumptions, rejecting the growth payment and minimum guarantee, and adding stronger oversight through the BSCC. Finance said it was open to some technical changes but opposed a new BSCC audit framework, noting Judicial Council already surveys probation departments and that evidence-based practice use has increased over time. Members and staff indicated the proposal still needed further work. A major portion of the hearing focused on the January 2025 Southern California wildfires and state disaster response. A resident of Altadena gave emotional testimony about evacuation failures, loss of home, and the need for accountability. LAO and Cal OES outlined the disaster response and recovery system, including mutual aid, alert and warning, debris removal, FEMA and state funding streams, and the long timeline for reimbursement. Cal OES said it had pre-positioned resources, temporarily took over the county’s wireless emergency alert function for about three weeks, coordinated debris removal and recovery operations, and had already allocated more than $286 million in state funds. Officials also discussed the 100% federal cost share for emergency work for 180 days and the uncertainty created by changing federal processes and the cancellation of the BRIC resilience program. The committee also heard two smaller Cal OES items: a request to reappropriate about $22 million for the law enforcement mutual aid reimbursement program, which the LAO said should be placed in statute with clearer goals and reporting, and an update on Victims of Crime Act funding, where Cal OES said federal VOCA allocations have fallen sharply and that roughly $224 million would be needed to maintain current service levels if federal funding does not improve. Public comment included a request for funding to expand datacasting and emergency alert receivers for wildfire and earthquake warning.

Transcript Highlights:

• This $7.5 billion funding gap is nearly six times higher than a decade ago in 2017.
• We get them in the Finance Committee, Appropriations. We get it...
• We get them in the Finance Committee, Appropriations.
• I'm the Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration.
• The gap is $19 million; project cost looks like $50 million.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee first heard TRIP’s annual New Mexico transportation report from Carolyn Boniface Kelly, which described deteriorating roads and bridges, congestion, safety concerns, and a large transportation funding gap. The report said more than half of major roads statewide are in poor or mediocre condition, over 170 bridges are rated poor, congestion costs drivers significant time and money, and traffic crashes and road conditions impose billions in annual costs. Members broadly agreed the report underscored the need for more stable transportation funding, with several noting the state’s recurring underinvestment and the safety risks to motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2, a transportation bonding and revenue package. Senator Gonzales and Governor’s office and NMDOT representatives said the bill would authorize about $1.5 billion in additional bond debt for ready-to-go highway projects, while also increasing certain motor vehicle excise, registration, weight-distance, and EV-related fees to help support debt service and transportation funding. Supporters, including contractors, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber, the Department of Finance and Administration, and transportation officials, argued the bill would improve safety, economic development, project delivery, and funding stability, and help preserve federal dollars. Opponents, including the Rio Grande Foundation and some committee members, objected to the tax and fee increases, argued the state should use existing surpluses or other funds instead, and raised concerns about impacts on families, businesses, and local governments. Committee members questioned how projects would be selected, how the new fees were calculated, how EV surcharges would work, and whether local government distributions would be affected. NMDOT said the projects would be reported to the legislature annually, selected using crash data, asset management, and project readiness, but bond approval would remain with the State Transportation Commission. After debate, Representative Romero moved do pass on SB 2 as amended, Representative Hochman-Vigil seconded, and the committee approved the bill 7-2, with Representatives Brown and Dow voting no and several members expressing reservations despite supporting the need for transportation investment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, was today in Senate Finance...
• We know we have gaps. Will money solve everything?
• Appropriations and Finance Committee Substitute for House Bill 493, an act relating to public finance
• House Appropriations and Finance Committee Substitute for House Bill 493. 493.
• That's House Appropriations and Finance Committee Substitute for House Bill 493.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there is that time gap, I know that it's almost impossible to bridge that gap with the kids carrying
• Our finance data collection that I oversee will still use the same finance data collection.
• Our finance data collection that I oversee will still use the same finance data collection.
• When you look in Finance Facts, you'll see one district that When you look in Finance Facts, you'll see
• There's an honesty gap that exists.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Legislative Finance Committee and with the Department of Health.
• I'm Ruby Ann Iskebel with the Legislative Finance Committee.
• And looking at the LFC recommendation, this creates more gaps and creates more risk.
• a $5 million gap in funding what we needed for our services.
• We anticipate that with additional vacancies, we still have not met the gap.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:45.799> committee<00:01:46.680> he and chair of the finance committee he and
• chair of the finance committee he says<00:01:47.360> if<00:01:47.600> these<00:01:47.799
• For example, the Education Finance Committee will have to work through a more than $687 million drop
• We're going to have all-day Finance meetings. We're going to have all day on the floor.
• <00:03:38.400> meetings going to have all day Finance meetings going to have all day Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• strong supporters of the clerks and the essential work that they perform, and with continued funding gaps
• Oversight is further constrained by gaps in available data.
• There are currently already estimated 260,000, 2,600,000 people in the Florida Medicaid gap.
• So we are kind of forcing them into the coverage gap.
• Under tab 22, we'll take up HB 5403, correctional facilities financing and capital improvement.

Bills: S0006, S0026, S0206, S0532, S0576, S1012, S1110, S1178, S1192, S1758, S1760, S7046, S7048

Keywords: child welfare, negligence, settlement, injury compensation, Department of Children and Families, motorcycle accident, compensation, Department of Transportation, legal claim, autism, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special education, exceptional student education, ESE, teacher preparation, educator certification, micro-credential, loan forgiveness, student loan repayment

Summary: The Appropriations Committee met and considered a large agenda of bills, reporting several measures favorably. Early action included SB 6, a settled claim bill involving the Department of Children and Families and the estate of Leila Estrada and Sapphire Williams, which was approved for $3.8 million. The committee also passed a cybersecurity internships bill creating a Department of Commerce program with Cyber Florida, and SB 532, which lets clerks of court retain the full amount of certain excess revenue and clarifies foreclosure-sale procedures. Veterans housing measures, CS for CS for SB 1602 and SB 1604, were approved to create a pilot program and a related trust fund for vacancy relief and risk mitigation for veteran housing. The committee also favorably reported SB 1110 on Medicaid and insurance coverage for orthotics and prosthetics, with emotional testimony from a student and family describing the high cost and importance of activity-specific prosthetics. Members also approved CS for CS for SB 1012 after adopting an amendment that removed inmate emergency and specialty medical service compensation provisions while retaining changes to the contractor-operated institutions inmate welfare trust fund. Another bill, CS for CS for SB 1614, was narrowed by a delete-all amendment to focus on limiting the use of excess fees for new building construction by local governments. All of these measures were reported favorably after brief debate, with some support testimony submitted in writing or waived. The most extensive discussion centered on CS for CS for SB 17, a major Medicaid and public assistance overhaul. The bill would create a Joint Legislative Committee on Medicaid Oversight, allow the Legislature to retain its own actuary, tighten Medicaid program oversight, update encounter-data reporting, set performance standards for managed care plans, revise pharmacy benefit manager rules, and require DCF to implement SNAP fraud-reduction and payment-accuracy reforms, including photo IDs on EBT cards and updated work requirements. It also would direct agencies to seek federal waivers for Medicaid work requirements for able-bodied adults and expanded behavioral health services. After lengthy questioning and testimony, the committee adopted amendments adding a transitional medical benefits glide path for people who gain employment and later lose Medicaid eligibility, and exempting hospice patients with six months or less to live. Supporters argued the bill would improve accountability, reduce fraud, and save money, while opponents warned it would create administrative burdens, increase paperwork, and cause eligible people to lose coverage or food assistance. The committee ultimately reported the bill favorably as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> One major driver affecting the hospital's finances is uncompensated care.
• under financial pressure that could cause it to close. >> One major driver affecting the hospital's finances
• You know, there have been ideas floated to save HCMC from closing so we don't have this gap in our care
• <00:09:00.399> in closing to so we don't have this gap in closing to so we don't have this
• gap in our<00:09:00.720> care<00:09:00.959> here<00:09:01.120> in<00:09:01.279>

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The program focused on two major Senate efforts: emergency support for Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) and modernization of the state’s human services software systems. On HCMC, Senator Rich Draheim said the hospital is a critical level-one trauma center and a key part of Minnesota’s safety net, warning that its closure would overwhelm the rest of the system. He argued the state should prioritize stabilizing HCMC and other hospitals rather than expanding programs that he считает are not adequately fixed, and he opposed raising taxes such as Hennepin County’s sales tax to fund the hospital, saying property-tax and cost-of-living pressures are already too high. The Senate’s Health and Human Services Supplemental Budget Bill includes a one-time $150 million appropriation to stabilize HCMC, with accountability and reporting requirements. The segment also noted DFL Senator Ann Rest’s bipartisan Senate File 4986, which would direct Hennepin County sales tax revenues to HCMC after certain county obligations are met. Draheim and others emphasized that HCMC’s finances are strained by uncompensated care and low reimbursement rates, and that rural and metro hospitals alike are under pressure. The second half of the program highlighted Senate File 4719, sponsored by Senator Melissa Wicklund, to create a Human Services Systems Steering Committee. Wicklund said outdated, siloed Department of Human Services systems slow access to SNAP, medical assistance, and other basic-needs programs, create errors and inefficiencies, and make fraud harder to detect. She said the committee would bring counties, state agencies, and IT officials together to prioritize modernization. She also said the upgrades would be expensive, citing a child welfare system replacement estimated at nearly $80 million, but noted federal matching funds are available and that failing to modernize could lead to penalties. Wicklund also discussed a longer-term bill, Senate File 5020, to create an IT funding account and planning process for future system upgrades.

Transcript Highlights:

• I noted this morning the comments from the Department of Budget and Finance.
• <00:10:18.920> this<00:10:19.040> is<00:10:19.200> really of budget and finance
• this is really of budget and finance this is really anticipated<00:10:20.040> to<00:10:20.160
• the doctoral level of training of pharmacists that we have to be able to fill some access-to-care gaps
• committee which is finance to determine committee which is finance to determine the<00:44:45.760>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on January 31 and heard six bills. The chair opened by outlining committee practices, including giving at least 72 hours’ notice for hearings, releasing testimony by 5:00 p.m. the day before hearings, and deferring bills needing substantive HT1 changes so members would not vote “blind.” Members briefly thanked the chair for the transparency approach before moving to the agenda. HB 223 would create a Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy special fund and workforce assessment fee to support a pharmacy center. Testimony from the Board of Pharmacy, the Hawaii Pharmacists Association, the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo College of Pharmacy, Mokai Drugs, and others generally supported the measure, emphasizing workforce data, rural access, student loan repayment, and retention. The committee later advanced HB 223 with amendments, including leaving fee amounts blank for further discussion and inserting a defective date, and the motion passed unanimously. HB 940 would appropriate funds for the rat lungworm lab at UH Hilo; HB 546 would establish the Aloha Intelligence Institute at UH to advance AI; HB 549 would create an early learning apprenticeship grant program; HB 1172 would add the Department of Taxation to the Statewide Longitudinal Data System for wage-data sharing; and HB 1320 would require UH to collect and publicly report graduate outcome data and create a dashboard. Testimony on these bills was largely supportive, with some privacy concerns raised on HB 1172 and a request to protect taxpayer confidentiality. In decision-making, the committee passed all five bills with amendments, generally deleting or blanking appropriations and FTEs for Finance Committee review, adding defective dates for further discussion, and in HB 549 adding a statement that the program is a matter of statewide concern. The committee recessed briefly for decision-making and then adopted the chair’s recommendations on each bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the House Committee on Finance.
• How get that tax gap question, right?
• is a department of budget and finance is a department of budget and finance adjustment<04:09:48.319
• <04:30:20.960> and develop and identify whatever gaps and develop and identify whatever gaps
• > for<04:43:39.520> budget Committee on Finance for budget Committee on Finance for budget

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The public financing system has remained unchanged for the past 30 years.
• Sorry, public financing. Public financing on that. Okay. Okay. Two more eyes.
• Sorry,<00:53:12.000> public<00:53:12.160> financing.
• <00:53:12.640> Public Sorry, public financing. Public Sorry, public financing.
• Two more financing on that. Okay. Okay.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 126, which would change civil asset forfeiture law. The Attorney General’s Office, Honolulu Police Department, and county prosecutors opposed the bill’s proposed SD1, arguing that requiring a criminal conviction and changing how forfeiture proceeds are distributed would weaken or effectively end the tool, create fiscal and law enforcement problems, and make it harder to address organized crime or cases where an owner cannot be identified. The Public Defender’s Office, Community Alliance on Prisons, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, and other supporters argued the measure would improve transparency and accountability, protect property rights, and reduce abuses that disproportionately affect low-income people. The chair questioned law enforcement about fairness, storage of seized property, and access to counsel, and the discussion focused heavily on whether forfeiture should depend on a conviction. No vote was taken. The committee then heard HB 280, which would make the Community Outreach Court permanent and appropriate funds for it as a division of the First Circuit district court. The Department of the Attorney General and Judiciary supported the concept and described the court’s success in helping people resolve cases, clear license stoppers, recall bench warrants, and access services, but suggested amendments to remove the Attorney General from the bill’s definition and funding mechanism. The Public Defender, Department of Human Services, mental health and substance use advocates, neighborhood and community groups, and others strongly supported the bill, emphasizing its benefits for people facing housing instability, behavioral health issues, and transportation barriers. No opposition was voiced, and no vote was taken. The committee also heard HB 370, which would increase partial public campaign financing for elective offices. The Campaign Spending Commission supported the original bill and asked the committee to restore the original percentage amounts, keep the proposed funding increases, and reinstate funding for two additional full-time staff positions. Supporters said the public financing system has not kept pace with inflation and needs modernization to be viable; a few testifiers opposed the measure. The committee reported 30 in support, two opposed, and one comment, and then moved on without a vote. Finally, HB 371 was heard, a campaign contribution bill that would bar state and county contractors, grantees, and certain related persons from contributing during the contract period. The Campaign Spending Commission said the bill is intended to address pay-to-play concerns and false-name contributions, while the State Procurement Office raised concerns about the burden of requiring agencies to provide contract information for all contracts regardless of dollar value. The testimony ended with the commission saying it was working with procurement and the Attorney General on implementation details; no vote was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank the author as we continue to work on these issues and try and shore up the gaps, because
• really that's what we're trying to do is shore up all the gaps across California when it comes to our
• I want to thank you for your leadership in this and finding the gap and, most importantly, allowing me
• So, here in California, Financing and federal VA loans.
• We don't have a gap.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs heard several veteran-focused measures, with extensive testimony in support from veterans’ organizations and individual veterans. SB 888 would exclude VA service-connected disability compensation from household income calculations for the low-income disabled veterans’ property tax exemption, addressing a situation where disability benefits can disqualify veterans from tax relief. SB 1354 would prohibit military personnel from another state, territory, or district from entering California to perform military or law enforcement functions without the Governor’s express permission, while preserving Title X activity, training, and mutual aid arrangements. SB 623 would place the Veterans Bond Act of 2026 on the ballot to authorize a $1.25 billion general obligation bond for the CalVet Home Loan Program, which supporters said is nearing depletion of bond authority and remains a critical path to homeownership for veterans and military families. SB 1407 would increase the state income tax exclusion for military retirement pay and surviving spouse benefits to the first $40,000, subject to income caps, as a retention measure to keep military retirees in California. Supporters for the bills emphasized housing stability, affordability, retention of veterans in California, and the economic benefits of keeping military retirees and their income in the state. SB 888 and SB 623 drew broad support from veterans’ groups, county veterans service officers, and related organizations, with no opposition testimony. SB 1354 also received support from veterans’ advocates, while committee members sought clarification on training, mutual aid, and the bill’s scope, and the author agreed to work on amendments. SB 1407 drew strong support from veterans and military organizations, but also formal opposition from the California Tax Reform Association, which argued the state already provides generous veteran benefits and that the tax break would be unfair to other public servants. The committee voted to advance all four measures. SB 888 was approved and re-referred to Revenue and Taxation; SB 1354 was approved as amended and re-referred to Public Safety; SB 623 was approved as amended, given urgency, and re-referred to Housing and Community Development; and SB 1407 was approved and re-referred to Revenue and Taxation. The consent item, SCR 143, was adopted unanimously. After the initial votes, the committee later took add-on votes to confirm passage of SB 888 and SB 1354, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to thank the author as we continue to work on these issues and try and shore up the gaps, because
• really that's what we're trying to do is shore up all the gaps across California when it comes to our
• I want to thank you for your leadership in this and finding the gap and, most importantly, allowing me
• So, here in California, Financing and federal VA loans.
• We don't have a gap.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I know that we have the chair of Senate Finance here, and I'm trying to get her out so that she can go
• important that special education students continue to receive the services they need and there is no gap
• She's going to go back to her hard work in Senate Finance.
• And the Senate Finance chair just left. I need her.
• Those gaps for school counselors, school psychologists, and school social workers.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a Finance Committee amendment. Mr.
• finance districts, recommends the bill be amended as follows.
• It requires a district board to provide a finance a property to... ...to finance a property service in
• This is meant to fill in a gap if one exists.
• Senator Mesnard, to Finance Chairman: I move that the Finance Committee amendment to the House bill,

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This April 23rd meeting of the Senate Finance Committee will come to order.
• Lexy Stangle has prepared an amendment memo, excuse me, dated April 22nd, summarizing the Senate Finance
• gap with um state funding. gap with um state funding.
• <00:41:58.400> My and members of the Finance Committee.
• My and members of the Finance Committee.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all