Video & Transcript Research : 'fee phaseout'
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CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 063 Mar 18th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We keep talking about fees, moving fees around, charging this fee, charging that fee.
- We keep talking about fees, moving fees around, charging this fee, charging that fee.
- We keep talking about fees, moving fees around, charging this fee, charging that fee.
- We keep talking about fees, moving fees around, charging this fee, charging that fee.
- assessing a fee. assessing a fee.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
EDT-WTL, EDT-AEN, EDT Public Hearings 03-18-2025
Economic Development and Tourism
Transcript Highlights:
- fee to a TAT where it’s not currently being assessed.
- port um and under Section 266 the fees port um and under Section 266 the fees are<00:23:49.120><
- to doctors and they're being hit with a fee.
- to doctors and they're being hit with a fee.
- They don't want to pay the fee.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Economic Development and Tourism and on Water and Land heard testimony on HB 504, a measure relating to environmental stewardship and funding for natural resource protection and restoration. Supporters included multiple state agencies and advocacy groups, such as DLNR, HTA, Hawaiʻi Ocean Legislative Task Force, Resources Legacy Fund, the Hawaiʻi Climate Action Coalition, and others, who said the bill would create dedicated funding for environmental, climate, and cultural resource needs and help address wildfire, flood, coastal storm, and tourism-related impacts. Several witnesses emphasized that Hawaiʻi’s environmental funding gap is large and that visitor contributions should be directed to stewardship and restoration. Some supporters also urged that the measure be applied equitably across all visitor accommodations and related uses, including cruise ship cabins and state rooms, while a few suggested amendments to broaden coverage or create a working group for implementation.
Opposition and concerns focused largely on the bill’s tax structure and legal/administrative issues. The Department of Budget and Finance and the Tax Foundation questioned the reimbursable general obligation bond special fund in part two, suggesting it be converted to a regular special fund or deleted. The Attorney General’s office said part two may violate the single-subject rule in the state constitution and recommended deleting it. The Department of Taxation said the proposed points-and-miles language would be difficult to audit and enforce, and Expedia and others said the proposed tax treatment of loyalty points and certain payment forms would be operationally difficult. Industry witnesses also warned the bill could raise costs in a high-tax destination and asked for more marketing support if the tax is increased. The committee also heard concerns that a new tax on cruise ship cabins could raise federal preemption issues.
The chair noted the testimony count as 23 in support, 179 in opposition, and one with comments. No vote was taken in the portion provided, and the hearing ended with questions from senators and agency responses about possible amendments, enforcement, and constitutional concerns.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
HSH Public Hearing - Tue Jan 28, 2025 @ 9:00 AM HST
Human Services & Homelessness
Transcript Highlights:
- It prohibits the assessment of any fees...
- at fines and fees and also just at fees at fines and fees and also just at fees themselves<01:06
- And in the event that they do impose fines or fees, if the family cannot pay those fines or fees, they
- rarely imposes fines and fees on on you rarely imposes fines and fees on on you it's<01:16:19.320>
- <01:33:06.679>
and to youth fees and to youth fees and fines fines fines um<01:33:10.080><
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several measures related to housing, homelessness, caregiving, and tax relief. On HB 431, which appropriates funds for the CAL initiative and HHFDC, the Department of Human Services supported the bill and noted the Governor’s request for $50 million per year for HMS, the need for more permanent supportive housing, and a technical issue with establishing a special fund in session law. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions strongly supported the measure, describing it as unprecedented funding for CAL projects and linking it to goals of reducing homelessness and expanding housing inventory. Catholic Charities Hawaii, the ACLU of Hawaii, and the Reimagining Public Safety in Hawaii Coalition also supported the bill, emphasizing permanent supportive housing, diversion from jail, and public safety benefits. The chair redirected one testifier to stay on the measure when testimony drifted to another program. Written support was also noted from several organizations and agencies.
The committee then heard HB 225 on squatting. DHS said it appreciated the intent and deferred to the Attorney General and task force members, while noting that outreach on public lands differs from private land, where owner consent is required. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill and wanted a voice in finding a solution. The Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions also said it supported the intent, while opposition from the Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands and support from one individual were noted.
For HB 280, which would make the community outreach court permanent and appropriate funds, the Judiciary strongly supported the bill, describing the court as a mobile, community-based program serving vulnerable populations and connecting participants to services. The Office of the Public Defender also supported the measure, saying the program has helped people move off the streets and into stable housing and that permanent funding would allow expansion. Written support from the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition was noted. The committee then moved to HB 71, creating a refundable family caregiver tax credit, where the Department of Taxation provided comments, the Executive Office on Aging and AARP Hawaii supported the measure, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii raised concerns about duplication with an existing dependent care credit and the lack of incentives for cost control. The committee next heard HB 753, which would increase the applicable percentage for the household and dependent care services tax credit. Support came from the Executive Office on Aging, Catholic Charities Hawaii, AARP Hawaii, and Hawaii Children’s Action Network, while the Tax Foundation again raised technical concerns about complexity and administration but noted the bill adds guardrails against abuse. No votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Finance Division I (02/09/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- shoreline fee. shoreline fee.
- So, one of those fees is the $5 fee.
- fee of a dollar, a mil foil fee of $450, and a lake fund fee of $5.
- So approximately 25% increase. 27% increase with the... fee of a dollar, a mil foil fee of $450, fee
- fee for the dams? fee for the dams?
Summary:
The committee first heard testimony on House Bill 1042, which would increase the BFA contingent credit limit. State Treasurer Monica Misipelli explained that under RSA 66, state debt capacity is tied to unrestricted revenue and that guaranteed debt counts in the calculation even though it is contingent rather than direct debt. She said the state currently has about 4.2% to 4.3% debt-to-revenue ratio, about $120 million in additional capacity, and that approving the bill’s proposed increase would reduce available capacity for future state borrowing, including capital budgets. She noted the BFA has a long history of using guarantees without a state payout, but said the legislature should consider whether the full additional $250 million is needed and whether unused guarantee authorizations, such as one for the Pease Development Authority, should be reviewed in the future.
Committee members asked whether guarantees have the same effect as actual debt for bonding capacity, and the treasurer confirmed that they do for purposes of the formula. Members also asked about the usual level of debt relative to the statutory 10% cap, and she said the state generally stays well below that limit. BFA Executive Director James Key Wallace then testified that the request was driven by rising project costs, inflation, and the need for more runway so the agency does not have to return to the legislature in an emergency. He said the BFA is self-supported, has never had a guarantee paid out by the state, requires collateral and reserves, and believes the appropriate range is closer to $400 million to $450 million; he also said a Senate bill would raise the limit to $400 million. He added that the BFA’s pipeline includes projects from about $15 million to $100 million and that housing availability is an important factor in business location decisions.
After closing the work session on House Bill 1042, the committee opened House Bill 241, a bill on health insurance coverage for pain management services for chronic pain. Representative Dave Nagel, the prime sponsor, gave extensive background on his long career in pain medicine and said the bill is intended to improve access to non-opioid therapies and evidence-based pain management. He described the broad population affected by chronic pain and opioid use disorder, and said the proposal has long had bipartisan and stakeholder support. No vote or final action was taken on House Bill 241 in the portion of the meeting provided.
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions, May 21, 2026 - AM
Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions
Transcript Highlights:
- what those fees look like.
- <01:41:39.760>
So, fees for certain records. So, fees for certain records. - to to assess a fee. to to assess a fee. >> Mr.<01:47:56.880>
Downing. - In addition, to the records fee issue, I want to briefly talk about attorneys' fees.
- the mandatory ability to wave fees? the mandatory ability to wave fees?
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/25/25
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- This $4.4 million proposal increases water-use permit and application fees and water-use fee rates and
- >
on <00:18:33.919>sustainable next fee proposal focuses on sustainable next fee proposal - It is to increase the daily permit fees from $7 to $10 and the annual permit fee from $35 to $45.
- And um that is because we know fees.
- talk a little bit more about the fee talk a little bit more about the fee proposals<00:41:12.079
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- The legislation required that applicants for registration pay a fee, and the fee wasn't designated in
- The fee structure remained largely the same. The fee structure remained largely the same.
- It's the same, similar fees.
- The promoters still pay the same fees for their promoter's license and for the event fee.
- We want to pay for your registration fees, pay for those fees that have required you to get in, because
Summary:
The Administrative Rules Subcommittee met to review a long agenda of agency rule changes, beginning with housekeeping on the order of business and then taking up rules from multiple state agencies. Early items included Department of Energy and Environment rules on landfill post-closure trust fund spending thresholds and liquefied petroleum gas standards, DFA’s odometer disclosure rule allowing electronic signatures and disclosures, and several Department of Health rules covering ionizing radiation, mobile home and recreational parks, lead-based paint, counseling licensure, hearing instrument dispensers, athletic training, dental specialties and compacts, nursing, pharmacy, physician assistants, medical compacts, speech-language pathology and audiology, radiologic technology, massage therapy, community health workers, doula certification, and cosmetology/body art. Most of these were described as technical updates, conformity with recent acts, federal standards, or compact participation, and nearly all were approved without objection after brief questions and, in many cases, no public comment.
The committee also reviewed Department of Labor and Licensing rules on minimum wage/independent contractor standards, boiler rules, motor vehicle commission requirements for ATV/LSV dealers, professional wrestling regulation, appraiser qualifications, and military recruiting and retention programs. Testimony generally emphasized that the rules implemented recent legislation, updated fees or licensing standards, or streamlined existing processes. Members asked a few questions about fee structures, the rationale for regulating professional wrestling, and how the National Guard’s public-private partnership and incentive programs would work; the department said the recruiting incentives would be funded from existing appropriations and were intended to improve retention and force strength. These rules were also approved without objection.
The most extensive discussion came on the Department of Education’s Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program rule. The department said the revisions, based on Act 920 of 2025, were intended to add guardrails, clarify allowable expenses, and speed approval of core educational purchases. Changes included defining core educational expenses, limiting certain sports-related spending, adding an intentional misuse standard, restricting phone purchases except for disability-related needs, setting a $1,000 threshold for additional review of technology purchases, capping carryover funds at $8,500, and creating a reconsideration process for denied expenses. Members raised concerns about safeguards, appeals, sports equipment, provider credentialing, rural vendor access, and whether the department would be flexible or overly restrictive. The department said it would review every request, provide written explanations for denials, allow appeals up to the State Board, and refer suspected fraud to prosecutors if necessary. After hearing from 13 members of the public, the committee continued to discuss the rule, but the transcript ends before any final vote on the EFA rule is shown.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:10:33.360>
Is fee will have to happen more often. - Is fee will have to happen more often.
- Uh, and as fees and certain penalties.
- , even though maybe your best judgment says that you've been assessing fair fees?
- , executing some of those higher fees, executing some of those higher fees, even<00:28:31.600>
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/23/2026 - Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Study Committee
Arizona Off-Highway Vehicle Study Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- I believe right now if it's under 2,500 pounds it's just a fee of $3.
- And so you take that fee that we reduced it.
- Then you started the $25 off-road vehicle fee. So then now we could channel that.
- becomes a $10 fee or $11 fee or $5 — whatever that number is.
- Right now we have 115,084 that are primarily off-highway — that's the $3 fee.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- , standardizing application fees, capping tenant screening fees at $50, and regulating late fees.
- fees are non-refundable, so folks are paying those fees over and over again.
- This is in addition to sometimes a $100 admin fee or $200 holding fee, sometimes in conjunction with
- all of those fees that are non-refundable.
- We are not asking to regulate those types of fees, just the fees associated with processing an application
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Transportation (3-12-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- or county attorney-operated traffic school to relieve them of the $500 penalty, but not the court fees
- other fees that that could be added onto other fees that that could be added onto to<00:16:53.240>
- That system is planned to be integrated from a fee calculation perspective here in the next couple of
- it, so therefore we had to raise the fee.
- The fee is increased by $23.25. Officer Horton, do you have anything to add? Nothing to add.
Keywords:
Roll Call 00:23 Roll Call
Approval of Minutes 00:57
HB 664 Discussion 01:26
HB 664 Vote 08:25
HB 682 Discussion 10:46
HB 682 Vote 12:12
HB 493 Discussion 13:00
HB 493 Vote 20:20
HJR 5 Discussion 21:14
HJR 5 Vote 25:08
Kavis and Sherriff’s Inspection Discussion 27:40
Admin. Reg Consideration 35:40, 958, all
Summary:
The Senate Transportation Committee met with a quorum, approved prior meeting minutes, and then took up several transportation-related measures. House Bill 664, concerning work zone safety, was amended by the committee to clarify that a peace officer may issue a citation based on images from an automated speed enforcement device. Representative John Blanton said the bill was prompted by the 2019 death of Jared Lee Helton in a work zone and is intended to slow drivers, protect workers, and improve safety. The bill would allow automated devices to transmit speed and rear license plate images to an officer, require active worker presence and warning signage with flashing lights, keep the $500 fine, and direct fines to the work zone safety fund. After questions about whether citations would be mailed and whether a worker must be present, the committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 664 favorably with expressions of opinion that it should pass.
House Bill 682, sponsored by Representative Ken Upchurch, was also amended by a committee substitute and reported favorably. The bill gives cable operators and broadband providers the same reimbursement treatment as other public utilities when their facilities must be relocated for construction projects. House Bill 493, sponsored by Representative Steve Pollock, was taken up next and, after a committee substitute was adopted, was reported favorably. Pollock described the bill as a transparency measure for towing and storage, creating a certification process through the Transportation Cabinet, requiring public rate sheets, and setting rates to be reasonable and customary in Kentucky. The substitute removed an initial $1,500 cap, extended notice timing to up to five days in some cases, and clarified fees related to investigations and fatalities. Senators asked about regional differences in towing rates, and Pollock said the cabinet would consider different situations and that posted rates would govern.
House Joint Resolution 5, designating honorary road and bridge names, was amended by both a committee substitute and committee amendment and then reported favorably. Representative Josh Branscum said the resolution honors various Kentuckians and is especially in memory of Russell County Deputy Joshua Fipps, who was killed in the line of duty in September 2024. The committee approved the resolution and a title amendment. Later in the meeting, Senator Armstrong asked to be recorded as voting aye on HB 664, HB 682, and HB 493. The committee also received an update from Transportation Cabinet IT Director Heather Stout on the CAVIS system, including improved performance, upcoming integration with KY ELT, centralized lien management, online boat renewals, permanent fleet plates, rolling replating changes, temporary tag printing, insurance modernization, and an electronic sheriff’s inspection system expected to reduce fraud and streamline transfers. No vote was taken on the CAVIS update, and the committee also began consideration of a referred administrative regulation on hazardous materials endorsement requirements.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Sometimes these fees can be as high as 23% of the franchise's gross receipts.
- increase in fee becomes a financial burden on business owners.
- First, it caps the municipal franchise fee. It sets it currently at 2%.
- Let's say that there's a fee because it is an overflowing dumpster.
- And it's those extra fees that can really then drive up the cost even greater.
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 1904, which would classify intentionally released helium balloons as litter and create criminal penalties for balloon releases. The author and supportive witnesses argued that balloon releases harm wildlife, livestock, waterways, and infrastructure, and that the bill would close a loophole in current litter law. Several members questioned whether criminal penalties were appropriate, and the author said he was willing to work toward civil penalties and fines instead. No vote was taken, and HB 1904 was left pending.
The committee then took up several pending bills and reported them favorably to the full House, including HB 3249, HB 3866, HB 4112, HB 1768, HB 1499, HB 573, and HB 464. These measures dealt with topics such as TCEQ contested-case procedures, outdoor storage containers, high-level radioactive waste, concrete plant permitting and grants, unannounced concrete batch plant inspections, and a scrap tire grant program. Most were adopted with substitutes and passed on recorded votes, generally with unanimous or near-unanimous support.
A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 3997, which would create expedited permitting timelines for LNG facilities and related wastewater permits. Industry witnesses said the bill would provide certainty for multibillion-dollar projects without eliminating public participation, while environmental groups opposed parts of the bill that they said could limit contested-case participation and be unrealistic for SOAH timelines. TCEQ staff described the current wastewater permitting process and said some of the bill’s timing provisions could be workable, especially with an expedited fee. The bill was left pending after the author said he would continue working on committee substitute language.
The committee also heard HB 1237 on extending the renewal window for expired TCEQ occupational water licenses, and HB 4519, a TERP consolidation bill that would combine several clean transportation grant programs into fewer programs. HB 1237 was left pending without testimony, while HB 4519 drew broad support from environmental and industry witnesses who favored simplifying the program, though some asked for stronger emphasis on particulate matter and hydrogen funding. The committee withdrew the substitute on HB 4519 and left it pending. Finally, HB 5033, which would eliminate the motor vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program if federal authority changes, drew opposition from environmental and inspection-industry witnesses who warned it would weaken air-quality protections and could remove an important enforcement tool. The author said the bill was intended as a trigger mechanism and would be refined, and HB 5033 was left pending. The committee also heard HB 1227 on municipal solid-waste franchise fees and private-provider access; the author said he would bring a substitute after hearing concerns from cities, and the bill was left pending.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Financial Services Committee Mar 18th, 2026
Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- who pay the fee.
- Um a wire transfer fee house last year.
- So anyone who actually who pay the fee.
- It holds all wire transfer fees collected under the act.
- It holds all wire transfer fees collected under the act.
Bills:
HB585
Keywords:
Washington County, circuit clerk, compensation, county government, local legislation, 1136, house, all
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- tuition and fees and expenses early on. tuition and fees and expenses early on.
- fees are $8,246, which is a 134 percent increase.
- the fees are $8,246, which is a 134 percent increase.
- fees are $8,246, but in 2025, the fees are $8,246, which<00:22:10.000>
is <00:22:10.640>134% - c> was<00:27:46.000>
always charge more fees and so it was always charge more fees and so
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on State Administration May 5th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- fees are higher?
- Last year, the last fiscal year, the assessments and fees were $2,800.
- So previously to the fee study being conducted and then the fees being increased...
- So previously to the fee study being conducted and then the fees being increased, the fee tied to escrow
- the fee. ...helped us evaluate the costs and the future of that program.
NE
Nebraska 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Afternoon Session Apr 9th, 2026
Nebraska Unicameral Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- All fees, mileage, and commission are collected.
- The fee for a nonresident motor vehicle permit would be two times the resident fee.
- The fee for a temporary nonresident motor vehicle permit would be two times the fee for a resident motor
- The commission shall establish such fees by rule and regulation.
- permit, and the convenience fee.
Bills:
LB737, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB1216, LB1256, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB743, LB745, LB749, LB778, LB787, LB365A, LB823, LB900, LB903, LB940, LB954, LB1127, LB1127A, LB1205, LB1240, LR293, LR296, LR422, LR505, LR507
Keywords:
LB737, Olmstead, developmental disabilities, disability services, community-based services, integrated settings, DHHS, Department of Health and Human Services, stakeholder advisory committee, independent consultant, public hearing, legislative oversight, disability rights, community integration, housing, employment, education, transportation, community supports, self-advocacy
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Mar 12th, 2025
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- to pay an assessment or a fee? That number is pretty low.
- Association's fee, you know, so that's good to learn that. The fact is...
- For past assessments, so the fines or fees or those types of things, you're not able to foreclose on
- They are also required to post their managerial certificates with a list of the transfer fees that is
- And some of those fees do really add up.
Bills:
HB406
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, current law governing fee schedules for court-appointed attorneys in child protection cases
- asked them to submit their family protection representation fee schedules.
- Criminal fee schedules do not match the work that is done in child protection cases.
- So anyway, I won and I got my fees paid.
- We need to be paid a reasonable fee. I can tell you in Galveston County, we're paid $100 an hour.
Keywords:
judicial bond, guardianship, probate law, county judge, statutory county court, attorney general, criminal prosecution, public order, law enforcement, jurisdiction, attorney ad litem, parent-child relationship, compensation, legal representation, government entity, probate, court proceedings, record delivery, wills, legal documentation
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Jurisprudence heard several family-law and probate bills. Senate Bill 2052 would codify a rebuttable presumption that a parent acts in the best interest of a child and require clear and convincing evidence to overcome that presumption in disputes involving non-parents; the author and several witnesses supported the bill as a clarification of existing case law, while one witness suggested refining the modification language. Public testimony was closed and the bill was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1923, which would allow child support to follow a child placed temporarily with kin or fictive kin under a parental child safety placement or authorization agreement; the bill’s author and a grandparent caregiver testified in support, while one witness suggested the Attorney General could handle the change administratively. That bill was also left pending.
Senate Bill 1838 would standardize fee schedules and compensation rules for attorneys ad litem and related court-appointed counsel in DFPS child-protection cases. The author said the bill would clarify unclear current law, and witnesses from the Texas Indigent Defense Commission and family-defense bar supported it, though one asked that expert-witness expenses be expressly included. Senate Bill 387 would raise the bond requirement for county judges handling guardianship proceedings to at least $500,000; the author described it as a refiling of a prior bill that passed unanimously but was vetoed, and a statutory probate judge testified in support. Senate Bill 1839 would require original or paper wills to be delivered to the transferee court when probate proceedings are transferred; the committee substitute broadened the delivery methods, and the district clerk witness supported the change. All three bills were left pending.
The committee also took up Senate Bill 1536, which had previously been voted out with the wrong committee substitute; members reconsidered the vote, adopted the corrected substitute, and then voted 3-0 to report the bill favorably to the full Senate, with local and contested calendar certification. Finally, Senate Bill 1940 would create a transfer-on-death mechanism for manufactured homes classified as personal property, similar to existing tools for real property and vehicles; the author and an estate-planning attorney testified that it would streamline transfers and reduce probate costs. A non-substantive committee substitute was still being prepared, and the bill was left pending.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
December 2, 2025 - 03:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- , if they don't cut the fees they can charge for these.
- So I wonder what that was included in regards to the fees.
- how the fees are calculated.
- But we are working way to approach on those fees going back.
- Chair in reference to 2 the fees.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Committee of Conference on HB 1, HB 2 (06/16/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- buy that dedicated fund fee in order to get the fishing license fee.
- increase their cremation fees. increase their cremation fees.
- It's not a new fee. I guess All right. It's not a new fee.
- <06:14:20.080>
that any of the fee or the fee revenue that any of the fee or the fee revenue - This next one, the new fee, or just referring to some previous fees?
Summary:
The committee of conference on HB 1 and HB 2 reviewed comparison documents and worked through a long list of House and Senate positions, agreeing on some technical or already-enacted items while setting aside others for later discussion. Early on, members agreed to delete a House Bill 2 section tied to a bill already passed into law, and a representative explained a technical amendment to the EFA provisions clarifying enrollment-cap repeal language and compulsory attendance rules for EFA students. That amendment was discussed but a vote was postponed because not all members were present. The committee also noted that the overall EFA budget numbers had already been settled separately.
Several items were either agreed to or held for further negotiation. Members agreed to delete sections already covered by other enacted bills, including BTLA-related language, and to accept a technical amendment changing "municipalities" to "political subdivisions" in a section affecting funding eligibility. They also agreed on some items involving workers’ compensation second injuries, certain pilot-program language, and some sections related to state loan repayment and other technical corrections. In contrast, they set aside or disputed items involving site evaluation, lottery-related provisions, opioid abatement, the Commission on Aging, Granite Advantage premium costs, renewable energy/offshore wind funding, special education funding, and several education trust fund and unique-fund provisions.
The committee spent substantial time on policy disputes. The House side argued against keeping money in dedicated Fish and Game funds rather than increasing the main Fish and Game fund, while the Senate side defended its approach and raised concerns about fee impacts, including one tied to the fishing license. The members also discussed a housing appeals board proposal, with one member suggesting a possible compromise that would preserve some function while shifting duties and possibly sunsetting the arrangement later; the contracts for the positions were noted as running through June 30, 2028 and June 30, 2029. Another extended discussion concerned the child advocate records-access section, which one side wanted removed as policy that should go through the normal bill process, while another member asked to hold it and suggested a possible middle-ground, time-limited approach.
Later, the committee agreed to remove sections already handled in other bills, including House sections 254 and 255, and discussed but did not resolve disputes over liquor licensing functions, cannabis-related language, cost containment, special education, and several fee and fund provisions. The Senate explained its position on the governor’s commission language, saying opioid abatement trust funds could not be used for that purpose and that the commission should continue to be funded through 5% of gross liquor profits; it also described renaming the body the Commission on Addiction Treatment and Prevention and expanding its scope to include problem gambling. The meeting ended with several major items still open for later negotiation.