Transcript Highlights:

• several million dollars to us allocated several million dollars to us recently<00:11:32.959> $30<
• , and it is cheaper than general obligation bonds.
• that uh we can they can uh the the bond that uh we can float<00:42:27.839> for<00:42:28.000><
• And it's everybody's competing against general obligation bonds. So we have to start looking.
• So we have to start obligation bonds.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have $27 million allocated for the Columbus water storage tank, which will begin construction this
• collected from something called the Border Special Fuels Permit, which could potentially finance bonding
• Our bonding initiative moved through the session, and we all, I think you included, us included, became
• And so when the bonding bill, the Senate House Bill 2, had already been passed, we didn't receive any
• of funds. allocation of funds and the selection of the university to carry it out.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it has to be there for the life of the bond.
• bonds, 21%.
• And the Clean Water Program has about 70% revenue bonds and 30% improvement bonds.
• And the clean water program has about 70% are revenue bonds and 30% are improvement bonds.
• DOT has allocations, DOT has state funds.

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met to receive interim status updates on several water-related studies and Department of Water Resources projects. The committee approved the March 26, 2026 minutes, observed a moment of silence for the late Representative Conmy, and then heard updates on the watershed management study and the stormwater/wastewater study. Staff reported that the committee had already received the testimony contemplated in the study plans, including input from state agencies, local governments, and out-of-state entities, and that any further action would be at the committee’s discretion. The Department of Water Resources then provided project and budget updates on NAWS and the Southwest Pipeline Project. Reese reported NAWS is expected to serve about 81,000 users, with a total projected cost of about $571 million and about $96 million remaining, while the Southwest Pipeline Project is estimated at $1.06 billion total with about $409 million remaining. Members asked about funding sources, capacity needs, and whether current and future construction is being designed for increased demand; department staff said current work is designed for ultimate capacity, but some future components may need redesign based on new requests. The committee also discussed local cost shares, Minot’s role in NAWS funding, and whether the system is adequate for peak demand. A major portion of the meeting focused on the department’s cash management, carryover, and long-term water funding outlook. The department said Resources Trust Fund revenues are tied to oil extraction taxes and are affected by stripper well exemptions and future oil price declines. Members expressed concern about large carryover balances and whether the state is obligating more money than can realistically be spent in a biennium. The department reported about $340.6 million in remaining carryover and said it is trying to reduce that through a two-tier pre-construction/construction process and closer project vetting. The department also summarized the Deloitte studies on regional governance and finance and on cost-share policy. Stakeholders generally favored keeping the current governance structures for NAWS and Southwest with improvements, while Red River stakeholders leaned toward a different option; the department said it will bring an implementation plan back in September. On cost share, Deloitte’s recommendations would reduce some percentages, prioritize projects differently, and use other measures to close a projected long-term funding gap. Members debated affordability, local burden, deferred maintenance, and whether statutory changes may be needed to allow the commission more flexibility in prioritizing and funding projects. No formal votes or final actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving the updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• We increase the base student allocation by $85, or 1.58%.
• I also was looking at the mental health allocation for our public schools.
• There's no increase in the mental health allocation...
• There's no increase in the mental health allocation compared to last year.
• That money was allocated under President Simpson.

Summary: The Senate took up the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27, with Chair Hooper and the appropriations chairs walking through the $114.5 billion budget. Major highlights included pay increases for state law enforcement, firefighters, park rangers, and correctional officers; funding for teacher salary increases and K-12 enrollment stabilization; workforce and university funding in higher education; major Medicaid, nursing home, waiver, and opioid-related investments in health and human services; corrections and prison-capacity funding; transportation, housing, and emergency management spending; and large environmental appropriations for Florida Forever, Everglades restoration, and water quality projects. Members then asked detailed questions about specific items. Senators pressed on the Hamilton Center at UF, the difference between assistant state attorney and public defender pay, declining student enrollment funding, private school scholarship vouchers, mental health funding in schools, the lack of preeminence funding, APD’s iBudget waiver wait list and provider rates, ADAP premium assistance and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, prison staffing and air conditioning, Florida Forever land-buying versus easements, SNAP and Sun Bucks funding, Hope Florida, election audit funding, and the IDD managed care program. Chairs generally explained the negotiated compromises, noted where funding was flat or omitted, and in several cases said items would be revisited next year or depended on agency implementation. Several senators used debate to praise the budget while also criticizing major policy choices. Leader Berman argued the state should have expanded Medicaid, invested more in public schools instead of vouchers, and accepted federal summer EBT funds. Other senators highlighted local wins such as Biscayne Bay restoration, Tri-Rail, housing assistance, ADAP funding, and declining enrollment support. The transcript ends with debate remarks thanking Chair Hooper for his work on the budget; no final vote is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• What I'm asking for is the remaining of what we haven't already allocated for teacher salaries to be
• The allocation of over $600 million toward early literacy and numeracy...
• She was told that charter schools can get a bond for their building, but they cannot levy taxes.
• , which is why the facilities funding allocation is critical to them.
• I cannot tax nor call a bond vote in order to address our facility needs.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language. Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, the California Earthquake Authority will lose over $40 million allocated for seismic retrofits
• We can't use bond funding for ongoing projects.
• this is a common sense, you know, bipartisan effort to ensure that funds that were previously out allocated
• This is a common sense, you know, bipartisan effort to ensure that funds that were previously out allocated

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Emergency funds are allocated for each emergency through Minnesota Statute 192.52.
• Emergency funds are allocated for each emergency through Minnesota Statute 192.52.
• <00:03:52.280> through allocated for each emergency through allocated for each emergency through
• Of course, you may recall the Purple Star Schools program, bonding bill funding for maintaining MDVA
• Of course, you may recall the Purple Star Schools program, bonding bill funding for maintaining MDVA

Bills: HF4615, HF3532, HF4492, HF4171

Keywords: military, pay, officers, enlisted members, state active service, Minnesota Statutes, veterans, burial eligibility, honor guard, state cemeteries, military service, burial fees, veterans affairs, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, advisory task force, commanders task force, veterans service organizations, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW

Transcript Highlights:

• aware that instruction and general facilities are currently funded through our general obligation bond
• and our severance tax bond package, but our university certainly has struggled in terms of how we can
• Section E talks about affording the match with institutional reserves, institutional bonds in accordance
• with the Institution Bond Act, property tax levies, federal or tribal support.
• Representative, yes, that is correct. 150 million is allocated to UNM School of Construction and also

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And for any school district levy or bond election, that language would no longer be required.
• And for any school district levy or bond election, that language would no longer be required.
• school district um levy or or bond school district um levy or or bond election,<00:19:53.760>
• McQuay: And then the same with the bond election question.
• counseling services um is also allocated counseling services um is also allocated to<01:43:57.200

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our work focused on whether project approvals, funding allocations, and expenditures complied with state
• So, Allison, you just look at the state allocation?
• Legislation in 2025 moved the oversight of the State Fire and Tornado Fund and bonding fund from the
• These questions have a direct bearing on how the legislature allocates resources across institutions
• So it's not, you know, not everybody's getting the same allocation.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our work focused on whether project approvals, funding allocations, and expenditures complied with state
• So, Allison, you just look at the state allocation?
• Legislation in 2025 moved the oversight of the NDFT and bonding fund from the North Dakota Insurance
• These questions have a direct bearing on how the legislature allocates resources across institutions
• So it's not, you know, not everybody's getting the same allocation.

Summary: The committee convened, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received a memo summarizing major audit items. The State Auditor’s office and outside auditors then presented a series of audits, many of which were clean with unmodified opinions and no findings, including the Bank of North Dakota, the Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Quality, Lake Region State College, and the Office of the Governor. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association audit was also clean overall, but it repeated findings about limited segregation of duties and auditor assistance in preparing financial statements, which the auditor said were expected to continue because of the organization’s small size. Committee members asked about out-of-state board addresses, and the association explained those members were North Dakota residents using South Dakota mailing addresses. Several audits did include findings. The Council on the Arts audit identified two issues: payroll charged to federal awards without supporting time records, and $12,825 in Cultural Endowment Fund spending that was not allowable under state law, including staff training, retreats, and executive director candidate travel. The Department of Public Instruction audit found unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, but additional testing confirmed the funds were credited properly and students completed required school district work, so no improper payments were identified. The University of North Dakota audit found a lack of documentation and transparency in School of Law admissions decisions; the auditor said the law school used a holistic process but did not keep notes or evaluation tools to show why applicants were admitted, waitlisted, or denied. UND leadership said the school is in good standing with the American Bar Association and agreed better documentation is needed, and the auditor said the issue was the missing documentation, not ABA accreditation itself. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which found four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating cap, grant conditions not being met, improper breeder fund awards, and improper procurement. The auditor said promotion fund spending exceeded the cap by $327,447 and the fund balance dropped sharply over the audit period. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson said the agency had become complacent, that grant requests were treated as routine, and that controls and documentation need to be tightened. He also explained that the breeder fund overpayments involved two horses whose ownership transfers were not properly documented before racing, and that the procurement issue stemmed from an advertising contract that proceeded without proper written procurement procedures after a misunderstanding with the State Procurement Office. The auditor said the Racing Commission will now be audited every two years because of the findings. The committee also received updates on Dakota College at Bottineau’s bank reconciliations, which Minot State University said had been brought current after an 18-month backlog, with only one account still needing cleanup; members asked for a written report on the corrective actions. The North Dakota Fair Foundation was reported to have dissolved, with remaining funds transferred to another nonprofit account for continued support of the state fair. Finally, the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, revising the earlier estimate to about $1.1 million based on incomplete district survey responses, and said the Anti-Lunch Shaming law likely increased meal debt because schools must feed students regardless of account balance. Members discussed the need for a more accurate year-end debt figure and possible future reporting at a later committee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is on the bonding bill side.
• And this is an $8 million appropriation from a bonding bill in previous years. Great.
• <00:07:06.960> We This is on the bonding bill side. We This is on the bonding bill side.
• bonding bill in previous years. bonding bill in previous years.
• <00:57:07.680> um committee and for which we allocate um committee and for which we allocate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:24:27.520> for program uh there's staff allocation for program uh there's staff allocation
• uh to to that request for the allocation uh to to that request for the allocation um<01:38:40.280
• does not last the life of the bond, right?
• Okay, and just a last question: What is the status of the bond, the original bond payoff?
• <05:54:39.400> the um what is the status of the bond the um what is the status of the bond

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Education on its budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. The Superintendent and staff described the department’s mission, enrollment and staffing scale, recent gains in NAEP reading and math, persistent attendance problems since the pandemic, and the need for resources to support student recovery, middle school math, and other strategic priorities. The department said its proposal is intended to be aligned with its 2023–2029 strategic plan, fiscally balanced, and reliable for schools, while also addressing inflation, workforce needs, and uncertainty in federal funding. Assistant Superintendent and CFO Brian Hallet reviewed federal grants, non-general funds, and the budget development process. He said federal funds make up about 11% of the department’s FY25 appropriation and warned that House budget proposals could threaten predictable funding for core programs. He also explained that the department began its biennial budget work in April 2024 and used an internal review group to identify possible reallocations. The department characterized its request as a “flat” budget proposal overall, with a large share devoted to continued funding for existing recurring needs, and noted challenges including a projected state funding decline, inflation, lingering pandemic impacts, recruitment and retention, and uncertainty about future federal support. A major topic was the department’s capital improvement program. DOE officials argued for a risk-based, proactive approach using lump-sum “buckets” to manage facilities and deferred maintenance across more than 21.5 million square feet at 268 sites. They said this would allow more efficient prioritization of projects and better coordination with complex area superintendents, principals, and legislators. Members asked about how legislative priorities would fit into the bucket system, county-versus-state property jurisdiction issues affecting school facilities, enrollment decline and staffing ratios, and how the department plans to adjust facilities and human resources to shifting enrollment patterns. DOE said it is studying enrollment trends, will brief the Board of Education next month, and is willing to provide further briefings to legislators. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Does it count toward the bond cap?
• obligation bonds reimbursable General obligation<01:01:34.559> bonds<01:01:35.440> uh<
• bond cap it is bonds count toward the bond cap it is our<01:01:50.640> understanding<01:01:50.839
• bonds at that point in time.
• bonds at that point in time.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um you uh allocated food security.
• light of that, we do have a bonding light of that, we do have a bonding request<00:29:40.240>
• 652 million that Minnesota was allocated 652 million that Minnesota was allocated through<00:59:
• Senate File 3584 then is passed and on its way to Higher Education, as amended. bond uh bonding dollars
• to not get bond uh bonding dollars to not get wrapped<01:49:31.520> up<01:49:31.679> in

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Will this be 50/50 metro outstate, or is that allocated in there?
• Will this be 50/50 metro outstate, or is that allocated in there? Chair Howard.
• In terms of, we don't call out specifically an allocation, but I would say that there are the providers
• In terms of, we don't call out specifically an allocation, but I would say that there are the providers
• I guess I'd be a little bit more comfortable if it was actually in the bill that a certain allocation

Bills: HF3425

Keywords: supportive housing, grants, housing assistance, funding, Minnesota Statutes, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a table there that shows all of those statutory allocations.
• So, especially some of those percentage allocations may be less robust.
• Providing that sort of continuous appropriation or statutory allocation.
• The 1.2 billion allocated annually through the California Climate Credit.
• So first there's in terms of how you allocate it you can allocate it statutorily either on a continuously

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• More specifically, this bill will authorize $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds, our state's
• So I really hope that we do allocate a good portion of funding through those infrastructure funds so
• <00:11:41.280> that<00:11:41.400> have housing infrastructure bonds that have housing
• infrastructure bonds that have went<00:11:41.640> into<00:11:41.760> manufactured<00:11
• so I really hope that we do allocate so I really hope that we do allocate a<00:12:32.680> good

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I noticed here that for emergency grants that were allocated, $2.5 million were allocated throughout
• illustrates um how we how we allocate illustrates um how we how we allocate funding<01:11:25.320
• <01:12:57.679> process up about 7% of our allocation process up about 7% of our allocation
• <01:13:29.000> is<01:13:29.120> $ allocation is $ allocation is $ 6631<01:13:31.280>
• <01:13:35.440> funding we allocate so we don't allocate funding we allocate so we don't allocate

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had the bonding capacity for 16 million and I thought it was foolish to tie up all of that bonding
• We had the bonding capacity for 16 million and I thought it was foolish to tie up all of that bonding
• We had the bonding capacity for 16 million and I thought it was foolish to tie up all of that bonding
• We had the bonding capacity for 16 million and I thought it was foolish to tie up all of that bonding
• We had the bonding capacity for 16 million and I thought it was foolish to tie up all of that bonding

Keywords: Reupload to restore attendance roll call Roll Call 00:00:00 Approval of Minutes from September Meeting 00:00:24 Presentation of the Kentucky Association of Counties Legislative Platform for the Upcoming 2026 Session 00:01:48 Discussion of Legislation Concerning Firefighter Death Benefits 00:35:43 Discussion of DNA Collection in Jails for Felony Arrests 00:45:52 Discussion of Federal Immigration Law Enforcement 00:54:18 Adjournment 01:15:39, 958, all

Summary: The committee met for its sixth meeting, established a quorum, and approved the minutes from the October 21 meeting. The main agenda item was a presentation from Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) leaders and county officials on jail funding and jail-system reform. Speakers said county jail costs have reached crisis levels, citing large and rising general-fund subsidies in counties such as Hardin, McCracken, and Warren, and noting that county general-fund contributions to jail funds have increased by 76% since 2019. KACo outlined a three-part legislative approach for the upcoming session: incentivizing regional jails, clarifying responsibility for pre-trial felony detainees, and redefining the model for housing state inmates in county jails. On regional jails, they proposed one-time state construction funding, statutory changes to allow former county jails to serve as 96-hour holdover facilities, broader participation of jailers on regional jail authority boards, an increased supplement for closed county jails, and a one-time payment for counties that close local jails and join regional facilities. Union County Judge Adam Onan described his county’s savings from contracting with Webster County and said regionalization can reduce costs where feasible. Harlan County Judge Executive Dan Mosley focused on pre-trial felony detainees, saying counties bear the full cost of housing people awaiting trial for long periods, sometimes years, and that pre-trial time is later credited toward state sentences. He argued the state benefits from that credit and referenced prior bills that would have reimbursed counties for time-served credit. Shelley Hampton then proposed replacing the current per diem model for state inmates with contracts requiring the Department of Corrections to pay actual housing costs and to support programming such as substance abuse treatment, cognitive behavioral programming, re-entry services, workforce training, and academics. No votes were taken on the jail proposals, and the meeting ended with the presentation and discussion of the county recommendations.