Transcript Highlights:

• We have a very robust inventory of assets in terms of our investment portfolio.
• had over many, many years, we are required by law to do maintenance and preservation of existing assets
• before we do any new expansion. ...many, many years to do maintenance and preservation of existing assets
• by the same code that we live by at FDOT, which is you do maintenance and preservation of existing assets
• by the same code that we live by at FDOT, which is you do maintenance and preservation of existing assets

Summary: The committee heard introductory remarks from Chair LaMarca and members, then received presentations on electric utility planning, transportation infrastructure, and broadband deployment. Public Service Commission staff explained how Florida’s utilities plan for reliability and cost through 10-year site plans, demand forecasting, and economic dispatch. The presentation emphasized Florida’s residential-heavy load, growing EV demand, expanding solar and battery storage, continued reliance on natural gas combined-cycle plants, and the role of nuclear power. Members asked about energy efficiency, rates, renewable options beyond solar, cybersecurity, grid resilience, data centers, and small modular nuclear reactors; the witness said efficiency programs are reviewed every five years, utilities must balance reliability and affordability, and large new loads like data centers generally must pay for their own infrastructure needs. Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue described FDOT’s five-year work program, decentralized district structure, and funding mix, noting that the agency is predominantly state-funded and prioritizes maintenance and preservation before expansion. He highlighted record investment levels, major congestion-relief projects, toll-road revenues, seaport and airport partnerships, spaceport investments, workforce and equipment needs, and emerging technology such as advanced air mobility. Members asked about project timing, MPO planning, rail and ferry funding, airport governance, winter storm preparedness, and flooding/sea-level rise; Perdue said faster delivery depends on resources, local governments lead transit operations with FDOT as a capital partner, and coastal and drainage projects are designed around storm surge and resiliency. The Office of Broadband reported on six grant programs supporting infrastructure, community facilities, digital connectivity, and future digital capacity and broadband expansion. Director Leo Garcia said the office has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars across most counties, leveraged significant private investment, and focused heavily on rural areas. He noted that broadband efforts are intended to support telehealth, education, workforce development, and economic growth, and said the state has reduced the number of unserved locations from more than 400,000 to a projected 170,000 after current awards are completed. He also said the office needs additional budget authority for the upcoming digital capacity program and that the larger federal/state broadband deployment program will be used to reach remaining unserved and underserved areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our higher education institutions are public assets, and this committee and the legislature as a whole
• cost share between state institutions and students makes up the revenue streams to support these assets
• For public assets, some of the project goals were to ensure that we were including public assets as part
• This also risks putting the state in a position where their own assets, whether that's physical facilities
• development pipeline, might not be sufficiently resourced for success. in a position where their own assets

Transcript Highlights:

• If we were to make a decision to add some state-owned assets across the state in our regions, and if
• What have y'all done thus far to reach out to our state-owned assets for advanced computation?
• Considerable time was required to transport, program, issue, and implement these assets.
• I will tell you about my conversation with a DPS person; he's a phenomenal asset.
• We're not expending assets on something that we don't need them on.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• performance and asset management performance and strategies.<00:52:27.359> on<00:52:27.680>
• Our budget is wholly funded from the trust fund assets and does not include any state funds.
• It can only be used for the trust and the assets in the retirement system.
• funded from the trust fund ass assets funded from the trust fund ass assets and<01:40:59.920>
• and the assets in the retirement system. and the assets in the retirement system.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• likely to find ourselves fighting in court for years about what the decedent wanted to do with their assets
• These are valuable assets that still have useful life.
• Several of these assets are aging. Several are operating under expiring environmental permits.
• As these emergency assets phase out, new supply is tested against real stress, and the build-out that
• question is what happens just a few years ahead, and in the decade after that, as these emergency assets

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or about $9,000 per customer, growing the gas utilities' rate base and adding soon-to-be-stranded assets
• But many of the most important thermal resources are public assets, including the land under parks and
• roads, rivers, lakes, and…” “Public assets, including the land under parks and roads, rivers, lakes,
• are running up costs for massive investments in the gas system that will inevitably cause stranded assets
• The results of this foolish policy will only grow as gas becomes a stranded asset due to the increasing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on several climate and utility-related bills, especially H. 3449/S. 2292 to expand the municipal fossil fuel-free building demonstration program from 10 to 20 communities and related home rule petitions for Somerville and other municipalities. Witnesses from Somerville, Salem, Worcester, Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, Wellesley, Watertown, and the Massachusetts Municipal Association argued that local governments should be allowed to opt into fossil fuel-free or net-zero building standards, citing climate goals, environmental justice concerns, housing production, and data showing all-electric construction can cost about the same as or less than mixed-fuel construction. Committee members repeatedly pressed witnesses for cost data and asked for written follow-up, while also discussing whether strong environmental standards affect housing supply; witnesses responded that the main housing constraints are financing and that they would provide more data from local projects and state studies. A second major topic was H. 3564, which would require gas companies to provide municipalities with detailed multi-year pipe replacement plans, allow local review and objections, and limit reimbursement for projects not previously disclosed except in emergencies. Municipal leaders and advocates said the bill would improve coordination of street work, reduce disruption and costs, and help cities plan for electrification, network geothermal, and non-pipeline alternatives. Testimony from Wellesley, Cambridge, Arlington, Newton, and others emphasized repeated problems with last-minute gas main work, the need for advance notice, and the value of municipal participation in planning gas system retirement and alternatives. The committee also heard testimony on the “tactical transition” bills, S. 2249/H. 3539, aimed at managing the gas-to-clean-energy transition. Supporters from Gas Transition Allies, Rewiring America, and 350 Mass said the bills would require joint gas-electric planning, create an advisory council, eliminate subsidies for new gas hookups, shift investment toward repairs and clean alternatives, protect workers through retraining, and make utility plans more transparent. They argued these changes would reduce ratepayer costs, avoid stranded gas assets, and support orderly decarbonization. In addition, HEET testified on H. 3541, which would update greenhouse gas accounting to better reflect methane’s short-term climate impact, and H. 3543, which would establish a framework for managing shared thermal resources and thermal energy networks; committee members asked several questions about the meaning, ownership, and consumer-cost implications of the proposed “thermal commons.” No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was an OB case, and it was after they had pretty much lost all their assets, but it was meant to send
• I do think it's important to, you know, sort of take that off the table in terms of personal assets.
• So those would not be assets of an LLC or an S corp or a C corp, depending on the type of filer, but
• it would be personally owned assets.
• And I think that's an important... ...type of filer, but it would be personally owned assets.

Bills: HB99, HB49, HB164, SB30, SB43, SB50, SB136

Keywords: medical malpractice, malpractice reform, patient's compensation fund, PCF, health care liability, tort reform, damage caps, punitive damages, hospital liability, physician liability, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, outpatient facility, ambulatory surgical center, urgent care, free-standing emergency room, insurance surcharge, superintendent of insurance, New Mexico hospitals, medical review process

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to say this: He's an amazing asset and friend back home, and he sets the bar incredibly high
• He's an amazing asset and friend back home, and he sets the bar incredibly high for what it means to
• That’s a huge asset and, I guess, competitive advantage that the Pensacola area has.
• Obviously, I think my background in fundraising can be a huge asset to the university there.
• And I think if we're looking to comprise the best board possible, individuals like that are a great asset

Summary: The committee first took up a confirmation for UCF trustee reappointment candidate Mr. Christie, who described his long service on the board, his UCF business-school background, and his focus on strengthening UCF’s financial foundation, workforce alignment, and engineering and technology programs. Members praised his service and asked about UCF’s future direction, including its role in Florida’s space and engineering sectors. He was allowed to leave early for a meeting with the governor. The committee then heard the Higher Education Appropriations budget presentation for fiscal year 2025-26. The chair outlined a proposed $11.5 billion higher education budget emphasizing workforce education, Florida College System operations, career and technical education, the GATE program, nursing education through the Florida Center for Nursing, UF/IFAS agriculture technology, tutoring, autism and neurodevelopment services, student financial aid, and $250 million for state universities through the Board of Governors. Senator Davis asked about line grant flexibility, and the chair said a conforming bill would address details. The committee adopted a motion allowing technical corrections and then adopted the budget proposal as a recommendation to the full Appropriations Committee. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmations for university boards, especially the University of West Florida, where several nominees were questioned about Title IX compliance, free speech, workforce readiness, military/veteran ties, and prior statements about privatization and higher education. Rebecca Matthews, Rachel Moyah, Ashley Ross, and Adam Kessel each described their backgrounds and goals for UWF; Kessel faced extensive questioning about his past writings on privatization, the GI Bill, and speech suppression, and said he would not recommend privatizing Florida universities and supported veterans’ education benefits. Public testimony on UWF was largely opposed, with speakers arguing the nominees lacked local ties and warning the slate would harm the university and community. The committee also heard from FAMU reappointment nominee Judge Belvin Perry, who emphasized student success, workforce quality, and FAMU’s continued rise, and from UCF nominee Mark Philburn and FSU nominee Peter Jones, both of whom highlighted their professional experience and commitment to student success and prudent stewardship. The meeting extended its time to 6:30 p.m. to continue hearing nominees and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• The contango assets<01:19:49.040> in<01:19:49.360> Wyoming,<01:19:50.159> which<
• So they purchased all the Contango assets. >> Okay.
• All the Contango assets. >> Oh, they're a big player.
• they purchased all the contango assets. they purchased all the contango assets. >> Okay.
• All the contango assets. >> Yes. All the contango assets.

Bills: HB0075, HB0128

Keywords: virtual currency, kiosk, financial institutions, regulation, Wyoming Money Transmitters Act, penalties, severance tax, oil production, tax exemption, energy sector, economic impact, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Building codes exist for the safety and asset preservation of individuals, not as tools for municipalities
• <00:49:54.319> set<00:49:54.599> forth<00:49:55.359> for<00:49:55.680> asset
• these codes were set forth for asset these codes were set forth for asset preservation<00:49:56.760
• Maybery said, protecting our assets, do you feel that there's any communities that are maybe pushing
• do you feel that there's any assets do you feel that there's any communities<00:55:36.160> that

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The board also agreed to modify the fund's asset allocation, reducing the allocation to global equities
• also agreed to modify the fund's asset also agreed to modify the fund's asset allocation<00:17:09.439
• Those licenses are renewed on a yearly basis and are not an asset of the business.
• <01:34:48.480> of on a yearly basis and not an asset of on a yearly basis and not an asset
• the business they're certainly an asset the business they're certainly an asset of<01:34:50.760>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed House Bill 1, focusing on the legislative branch budget, especially the Senate and House lines. Members discussed that the Senate’s fiscal year 2025 adjusted authorized amount was higher than 2024 actual spending, largely due to personnel, benefits, and travel, and one member proposed a $500,000 annual cut. Staff explained that any reduction would need to be allocated across specific line items such as personnel, benefits, and travel, and noted that the Senate budget is entirely General Funds. After discussion of how the adjusted authorized figures were calculated and why the branch no longer staffs some joint committees as it once did, the committee moved on without taking a vote on that section. The committee then heard a detailed presentation from the New Hampshire Retirement System. NHRS officials described their statutory administrative budget, which is funded through the retirement trust rather than the General Fund, and said the FY 2026-2027 increase is driven by IT modernization, cybersecurity, a new strategic plan, and additional staff positions. They also reviewed the system’s funding progress, clean audit opinions, investment performance, and changes to asset allocation, while noting that several recent pension-related laws required major database changes. Members questioned the large increase in salaries and benefits, the need for new employees versus contractors, the purpose of training costs, and the source of the Group Two benefit funding. NHRS said the governor’s budget includes General Funds for Group Two benefit changes, with $5 million in FY 2026 and $27.9 million in FY 2027, and that the figures reflect the governor’s recommendation and related HB 2 provisions. Committee members also asked about employer and employee contribution rates for Group Two police and fire members, which NHRS said were not included in the budget document but were about 31.2% for police and 30.35% for fire, with employee shares around 11.55% and 11.8%. The committee did not make a decision on the NHRS budget during this exchange and indicated it would review the details further before returning to it later. The committee then heard from the Community Development Finance Authority on the State Treasury Department budget line for the required state match to administer the federal Community Development Block Grant program. CDFA explained that its $280,000 annual request for FY 2026 and FY 2027, totaling $560,000, supports administration, technical assistance, contracting, and monitoring of roughly $19 million in annual federal CDBG funds. Members asked about the leverage of the state match, oversight of projects, staffing, and grant prioritization. CDFA said it has 18 employees, uses public hearings and a scoring system to prioritize awards, and conducts both desk and on-site monitoring, with annual audits to ensure compliance. No vote was taken on the CDFA item in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• stores and all that sort of stuff, ever brings in enough revenue to overcome, over the life of that asset
• , the cost of the asset.
• stores and all that sort of stuff—ever brings in enough revenue to overcome, over the life of that asset
• , the cost of the asset.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• some might think that we don't need to advertise or market it at all with such an invaluable natural asset
• But some might think that we don't need to advertise or market it at all with such an viable natural asset
• Most of those are rural, and we're providing them assets like photos and B-roll and actually trimmed-down
• Most of those are rural, and we're providing them assets like photos and B-roll and actually trim down

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the real property asset manager with the Department of Administrative Services.
• I'm the<00:23:40.640> real<00:23:40.880> property<00:23:41.200> asset<00:23:41.600
• > manager<00:23:41.919> with<00:23:42.159> the the real property asset manager with
• the the real property asset manager with the department<00:23:42.640> of<00:23:42.799> administrative

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee met and first approved the June 30, 2025 meeting minutes. The committee then took up a series of Department of Transportation property actions, including authorization to grant an access point in Exeter, sell two small tracts in Keene, amend a prior Guilford disposal based on a revised survey and appraisal, sell 0.42 acres in Lincoln, list and sell 9.77 acres in Chesterfield, sell 0.54 acres in Fremont, and approve a permanent access easement in Belmont. The committee also approved a utility easement in Albany and a permanent access easement on Route 153 for the Bickfords. Most of these items involved direct sales or listings, administrative fees of $1,100, and conditions requiring surveys and local/state approvals; several were approved unanimously after brief or no questions. Representative Faulkner declared a conflict of interest on the Chesterfield item, and Representative Newman sat in for that matter; later, Faulkner was recused from the Belmont item as well. The committee also approved a Department of Administrative Services request to grant a perpetual utility line easement to Public Service Company of New Hampshire for a facility under construction at the Hampstead hospital property, with the administrative fee waived because the grant was in exchange for utility service. During discussion of informational item LRCP25-038, staff explained that no committee action was needed because the item was only to notify members that a parcel’s fair market value had been reduced due to a change in access. The committee received additional informational materials from the New Hampshire Council on Resources and Development, including minutes from its May 8 meeting and memorandums on surplus land review for Meredith and Hampstead. The next meeting was set for December 9 at 9:30 a.m. at Granite Place, Room 228, and the chair noted the meeting would be on a Tuesday because of building scheduling. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It reinstates the Medi-Cal asset limit at $21,000 for individuals and $31,000 for couples, effective
• It authorizes funds previously provided for the distributed energy backup assets program to be used for
• and the administration for working together to reject all cuts to IHSS, strengthening the medical asset
• We also reject the reduction of the Medi-Cal asset limit to an absolutely unrealistically low level.
• are exploring and where we have the fiscal capacity to do so, when we're looking at increasing the asset

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:52.399> Uh, assets that are kept within them.
• Uh, assets that are kept within them.
• The first, as we've mentioned, is asset management.
• <00:31:46.320> We we've mentioned is asset management.
• We we've mentioned is asset management.

Keywords: 00:03 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:57 Capital Projects and Highway Plan 56:11 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met to hear the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s presentation on the governor’s 2026 capital projects budget and recommended highway plan. Secretary Gray and cabinet staff first thanked KYTC snow and ice crews, local road departments, first responders, utility workers, and others for their work during a major winter storm, then outlined the capital budget request. The cabinet said its facilities are aging, with about 35% at or beyond useful life, and that limited road fund revenues led it to focus mainly on maintenance, maintenance pools, aircraft maintenance, environmental compliance, AASHTOWare upgrades, state park road maintenance, truck parking, and reauthorization of several projects, including airport work and road projects. The cabinet said the governor’s budget includes about $22.8 million in state funds for the capital budget over the biennium, plus carry-forward language for maintenance pools and project reauthorizations to avoid losing federal funds. Members asked about repeated reauthorizations, cost increases, and whether projects should be restarted as new requests after carrying over for multiple budgets. The cabinet responded that budget office policy generally allows only one reauthorization before a project must be resubmitted, and said many delays are due to acquisition or other project issues. Members also questioned the basis for increased-cost line items and the $5 million request for commercial truck parking; cabinet staff said they could provide original project cost details and that many increases are inflationary, while the truck parking project is expected to use federal funds and is a cabinet priority. The committee also discussed the decline in road fund receipts, which the cabinet attributed largely to lower motor fuels tax revenue. The presentation then shifted to the 2026 recommended highway plan. Officials said the plan covers more than 1,300 projects over six years and anticipates about $9.5 billion in federal and state funding. They said the plan is intended to maintain existing assets, advance long-term priority projects, and honor prior commitments, including the Mountain Parkway, the Brent Spence Companion Bridge, and the I-69 Ohio River Crossing. About 40% of plan funds are dedicated to existing pavements, bridges, and guardrails, and officials cited a 61% rise in highway construction costs from 2020 to 2025 as a major challenge. To help offset those pressures, the cabinet is seeking $125 million from the budget reserve trust fund for the Brent Spence Bridge and release of a federal grant condition tied to the already appropriated $150 million for the I-69 crossing. No votes were taken at the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, the, um, uh, there were no assets, uh, and the, uh, nothing was... general thank you uh dep
• and we um we put a million dollar assets and we um we put a million dollar of<00:55:04.720> those
• :26.640> the<00:55:27.240> uh<00:55:27.440> nothing<00:55:27.799> was Assets
• Those cases where there is assets, the court decides how they are to be, um, uh, monetized and sent to
• So Acme Coyote Supply, uh, uh, has their assets sold and they go into the general fund, and those monies

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to go elsewhere, but it's because they can't afford to improve them because they can't use these assets
• <00:04:28.560> and<00:04:28.680> the their charitable gambling assets and the their
• c> improve them because they can't use improve them because they can't use these<00:04:48.840> assets
• would<00:04:49.800> really<00:04:50.520> ask<00:04:50.720> for these assets
• so we would really ask for these assets so we would really ask for your<00:04:51.080> support

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Marina in the calf barn, and they do a fantastic job of raising calves and have been a tremendous asset
• Marina in the calf barn, and they do a fantastic job of raising calves and have been a tremendous asset
• Marina in the calf barn, and they do a fantastic job of raising calves and have been a tremendous asset
• Marina in the calf barn, and they do a fantastic job of raising calves and have been a tremendous asset
• Marina in the calf barn, and they do a fantastic job of raising calves and have been a tremendous asset

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee held a Dairy Day hearing focused on Minnesota’s dairy industry, beginning with a presentation recognizing Pat and Jodi Lunneman of Twin Eagle Dairy in Clarissa as Minnesota Milk Producers’ Dairy Producer of the Year. Their farm’s history, growth from a 50-stall tie-stall barn to an 800-900 cow freestall operation, and the role of family and long-term employees were highlighted. Members praised the Lunnemans’ work, community involvement, and the collaborative nature of the video tribute. Garrett Luthin, president of Minnesota Milk Producers Association, testified on industry priorities. He said the group represents Minnesota’s 1,625 dairy farms and emphasized that dairy farmers invest in their communities and want policies that support long-term viability. He raised concerns about compliance with labor mandates such as earned sick and safe time, paid family leave, and secure retirement requirements, saying dairy work does not fit a standard schedule and that smaller farms lack HR capacity to track leave requirements. He also urged improvements to county and state permitting by allowing processes to run concurrently rather than sequentially, and he expressed support for dairy profitability and development programs. Members asked about the status of federal dairy support programs, labor mandate implementation, and the realities of dairy work. Luthin said Minnesota Milk was waiting on federal action to keep certain dairy funds in place and described labor compliance as a wage and administrative burden. Pat and Jodi Lunneman later described why they expanded their farm in the 1990s, citing labor efficiency, changing economics, and the need to remain profitable; they said they do not use robotic milkers but do use robotic calf feeders. Pat explained their double-12 parallel parlor, three-shift milking schedule, and the need to keep equipment fully utilized. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The asset is actually the vehicle.
• The asset is actually the vehicle.
• <01:40:58.320> Let<01:40:58.480> me asset that is not really viable.
• Let me asset that is not really viable.
• They go down and very valuable asset.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 22 January, 2026; 8:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The hearing began with the State Board of Architecture’s budget presentation. The executive director described the board’s mission to regulate architecture, landscape architecture, and certified interior design to protect public health and safety. He highlighted the board’s consolidated structure, license totals, high reciprocity rate, recent rule changes to reduce barriers to practice, and a proposed FY 2027 budget of $368,123, which included a 5% staff salary increase and higher operating costs. He also noted a newly identified need to modernize the licensing system, estimated at at least $25,000, and asked that the board not be reduced below the requested level. A board member also praised the small staff’s responsiveness and effectiveness. The State Board of Public Accountancy then presented its budget and policy requests. The executive director said the board regulates CPAs and CPA firms, oversees the CPA exam process, and has about 3,600 active individual licensees and 800 firms. The board requested only a 3% compensation increase for staff, plus a special request to allow an audit supervisor to repay the cost of a Becker review course through payroll deduction as part of succession planning. She also described a board-approved waiver program that began January 1, eliminating application fees for CPA exam candidates and retakes; 42 candidates had used the waiver in the first two weeks. In response to questions, she said the board does not assist CPAs with IRS disputes, but it does investigate complaints from the IRS, SEC, PCAOB, or others. Finally, a representative presented for the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors. She explained that the board regulates licensed counselors and psychotherapy providers, meets frequently, and has two staff members. The board’s main request was for additional investigative capacity: a full-time investigator and related funding, because complaints are currently handled by part-time investigators, contractors, and sometimes board members, which can require recusals from hearings. She said the state auditor had recently flagged complaint backlogs at regulatory agencies, supporting the request. The board also sought funding for a contractual administrative position, salary progressions, and a one-time technology increase to modify its new licensing system for the counseling compact and better search functions. Members questioned the board about its large cash balance, which was reported at about $860,000, and whether it should provide fee relief or other benefits to members; the presenter said the board would look into that and noted that revenues had increased significantly in recent years, partly due to out-of-state and telehealth-related licensing demand.