Transcript Highlights:

• This meant a significant reduction in funding for the care fund, subjected them to the new tax.
• I want to just touch on harm reduction.
• I currently serve as an advisor on tobacco harm reduction to PMI U.S. Services Inc.
• I am a drug policy consultant with a background in criminal justice reform and harm reduction.
• That's a 71% reduction in youth vaping in five years. Have the prices gone down? No.

Bills: SB6073, SB6113, SB6116, SB6129, SB6162, SB6114, SB5857

Keywords: SB 6073, LEOFF, Law Enforcement Officers' and Fire Fighters' Retirement System, retirement system, pension, public safety retirement, wildland firefighter, aviation firefighter, wildland fire, forest firefighter, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, firefighter benefits, retirement benefits, service credit, disability retirement, survivor benefits, employer contributions, Washington RCW, public employees

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have any questions about the Crime Reduction Grants, she's the go-to person on those.
• We've given over the course of the Crime Reduction Grant Act's history. It was passed in 2019.
• Last year we had 8.5 million in Requests for crime reduction grants.
• As we've mentioned several times, you award crime reduction grants.
• A 57% reduction in suspensions.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I do want to acknowledge there's a reduction, and let's help us to keep it simple: a reduction of four
• How many reductions are we seeing?
• A reduction of 1.5 positions is what you're telling me? Yes. Okay.
• So the reduction equivalent is equal to half the positions.
• So the positions are 1.5, but the reduction is equivalent to half that.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, my good friend has explained the reduction So, Mr.
• President, my good friend has explained the reductions in the conference committee report in terms of
• He's alluded to it, but I'm hoping that he can explain why such reductions were necessary to the extent
• I am also deeply concerned about a reduction in a program of federal financial participation.
• He said he is deeply concerned about a reduction in a program of federal financial participation such

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first took up and passed several House bills establishing sick leave banks, including House 4182 for a Massachusetts Department of Transportation employee and House 1590 for Eric J. Awaniak. It also advanced and then enacted House 4237, a fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill providing interim funding before final action on the general appropriations act. During the session, Senator Collins also recognized Chaplain Clementina Cherry of the Lewis D. Brown Peace Institute as a distinguished guest, with remarks entered into the record. The main business was the conference committee report on the fiscal year 2026 state budget, House 4001/House 4240. Senate Ways and Means leadership described the budget as balanced, on time, and fiscally responsible, with $61.01 billion in spending, no new taxes or fees, and a $33 million deposit to the stabilization fund. They highlighted major investments in Chapter 70 school aid, special education circuit breaker reimbursements, unrestricted local aid, MassEducate, universal free school meals, MBTA and regional transit funding, MassHealth, food security, and mental health services. The report also included policy items such as broker fee responsibility, fare-free regional transit, housing studies, a gold star family annuity provision, and a crumbling concrete commission. Minority leader Senator Tarr and others questioned the spending reductions, use of one-time funds, and the treatment of excess capital gains, arguing for greater fiscal caution and concern about future federal actions and long-term spending growth. Supporters responded that the reductions reflected revenue uncertainty, federal policy risks, and the need to preserve budget stability, while using some one-time sources to balance the plan. The conference report was adopted by a roll call vote of 38-2, the emergency preamble for House 4240 was approved by standing vote, and the FY26 general appropriations bill was then enacted and sent to the Governor. The Senate also adopted an order to dispense with printing a calendar for the next session and adjourned until Thursday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so they could withstand a reduction of that employer contribution.
• There's been a 7% employer contribution reduction that has been put into this budget.
• So it would take the OPEB employer contribution to 9.5%. ...reduction that has been put into this budget
• So there is no expected reduction in the Head Start program.
• Chair, and so additionally, there's a reduction in administration at a million dollars.

Bills: SB1177

Keywords: education funding, mental health services, public safety, housing, state budget

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee met to consider Senate Bill 1177, the general appropriation bill. The chair and budget authors explained that the proposal was built to balance the budget using a mix of general revenue, cash sweeps, and other fund transfers, including money from unclaimed property, revenue stabilization, and other statutory funds. Members also discussed a proposed $35 million OWRB revolving loan fund tied to ARPA interest and a $200 million transfer from the Revenue Stabilization Fund to the Taxpayer Endowment Trust Fund as part of a long-term savings strategy. A number of agency-specific items drew questions. Members reviewed the OPEB employer contribution reduction, rent coverage for state agencies, child care and Head Start funding, Department of Corrections revenue from ICE-related agreements, sheriff grant funding, and education funding, including about $99 million in additional formula funding, a $2,000 teacher pay raise, and reading-related appropriations such as Strong Readers and Just Right Reader. The committee also discussed mental health funding, including a $30 million consent decree line, a proposed privatization of CCBHC services with an estimated $10 million savings, and related reduction-in-force costs. Other topics included Attorney General transfers and litigation funding, higher education allocations, Langston University extension funding, historical society requests that were not funded, and a biosolids pilot program. During debate, supporters argued the bill fulfilled the constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget and highlighted increases for education, health care, and water infrastructure. Opponents criticized the use of one-time cash, tax cuts, and what they described as special-project spending, while raising concerns about transparency and underfunded services such as child care and transportation. After debate, the committee voted 18-5 to pass Senate Bill 1177.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our next group contains appeals where staff is recommending a reduction of the...
• Given the number of prior late reports, no reduction was originally available.
• So this report was not eligible for waiver or reduction.
• Commissioner Schmidt: I move we approve the staff reduction.
• The recommendation in the packet that went out was no reduction from $3,100.

Summary: The Texas Ethics Commission convened at 9:03 a.m. and held an executive session, reconvening at 10:18 a.m. During the meeting, the Commission approved a settlement agreement with Michael Quinn Sullivan, ending ongoing litigation. The agreement involved Sullivan dropping his legal challenges regarding a civil penalty previously imposed by the Commission. The Commission also announced personnel changes, including the departure of the director of enforcement, Marie Prim, and the appointment of Jordan Hun as interim director. The Commission discussed outside counsel contracts, approving the addition of Bickerstaff, Heath, Delgado, Acosta LLP to their pool of qualified vendors. They scheduled their next meeting for September 23rd and approved minutes from previous meetings. The agenda included several rulemaking items, with three rules adopted and five proposed for publication in the Texas Register. Notably, amendments to Chapter 20 regarding reporting contributions and expenditures were approved, as well as changes to lobbyist registration thresholds in Chapter 34, which were proposed for publication. The Commission also addressed advisory opinions, adopting several, including one regarding political advertising by charter schools and another concerning the revolving door prohibition for former state employees. Appeals for administrative waivers and reductions of fines were considered, with several fines waived or reduced based on individual circumstances. Lastly, the Commission discussed policies related to alternative dispute resolution and clarified responsibilities between the Commission and staff, concluding the meeting at 11:15 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those would be counted as savings towards deficit reduction.
• Some of these things will just be a loss in enrollment or a reduction in enrollment, so maybe less.
• Overall, the package backloads the spending reductions.
• And front loads all of the um the revenue reductions.
• And that's, and that's a, a reduction in federal revenue coming into the state.

Transcript Highlights:

• To answer your question, the reduction is based on updated opioid settlement fund revenues.
• So can you speak to... ...known effective harm reduction programs. So can you speak to this?
• project or program, and it also includes $5 million in the budget year to support the harm reduction
• I'm a co-director at the UBA Harm Reduction Collective. Thank you.
• We're a co-funded program and the only harm reduction program serving Nevada County, California.

Summary: The committee heard a budget oversight hearing on the Department of Health Care Services, focusing first on the overall Medi-Cal budget and a March General Fund loan to cover a current-year shortfall. DHCS said the 2025-26 budget proposal totals $193.4 billion, with Medi-Cal projected at $188.1 billion total funds and $42.1 billion General Fund, driven by higher enrollment, pharmacy costs, managed care growth, and costs tied to eligibility expansions and the COVID-era redetermination unwinding. The department said the $3.44 billion loan was needed to manage cash flow and ensure timely payments to providers and plans, while the LAO noted Medi-Cal’s cash-basis budgeting creates volatility and that more detailed estimates would come with the May Revision. Members discussed federal Medicaid threats, the need for transparency on cost drivers, and the impact of pharmacy spending, long-term care, and immigration-related coverage expansions. The second major topic was family health programs, including California Children’s Services, the continuous coverage unwinding, and opioid settlement fund spending. DHCS described CCS funding methodology changes, ongoing county stakeholder work, and a delayed rollout of CCS monitoring and oversight until July 1, 2025, while county representatives and advocates argued the program is underfunded and asked for more technical assistance and a delay in implementation. On the unwinding, the department explained that federal redetermination flexibilities helped maintain coverage after the pandemic, but the Governor’s budget proposes ending them at the end of June 2025; advocates urged making the flexibilities permanent to avoid coverage losses. For opioid settlement funds, DHCS and Finance said the budget increases funding for naloxone distribution while reducing other harm-reduction spending based on updated settlement revenues, prompting criticism from members and public commenters who argued the change would weaken effective harm-reduction programs. The hearing also included an update on Proposition 35 implementation. DHCS said the voter-approved measure continuously appropriates MCO tax revenues beginning in 2025, with up to $4.6 billion annually available for specified Medi-Cal and provider investments in 2025 and 2026, but implementation depends on consultation with the required stakeholder advisory committee. The department and LAO noted uncertainty about future federal rules affecting the MCO tax after 2026. Public testimony largely supported maintaining Medi-Cal expansions, protecting immigrant coverage, preserving harm-reduction funding, and increasing support for community health workers, pediatric dental care, and CCS county administration. No votes were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:43.640><c> in</c> entitlement program reductions in entitlement program reductions in federal
• A cut of that magnitude would amount to an 8% to 12% reduction in federal Medicaid outlays if that reduction
• A cut of that magnitude would amount to an 8% to 12% reduction in federal Medicaid outlays if that reduction
• </c><00:36:12.119><c> are</c> is not cut or that reductions are is not cut or that reductions are minimized
• well I we'll always look for reductions well I we'll always look for cost<01:09:00.799><c> reduction

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a reduction from the existing operating budget.
• The reductions in revenue estimates require reductions in recurring expenses in the budget proposal.
• The amendments before the committee total $103 million, including a net reduction of $67.5 million in
• The major reductions made by the Finance Committee to balance the budget include a reduction of $53.1
• other state revenue sources as recognized by REC and a reduction of $47.1 million in state general fund

Bills: HB1, HB2, HB3, HB312, HB313, HB314, HB383, HB983, HB1126, HCR3

Keywords: state budget, appropriations, education funding, public health, social services, government operations, state institutions, capital outlay, budget, infrastructure, appropriation, general obligation bonds, bond authorization, capital improvement, financial management, state treasury, funding, state general fund, local government, fiscal year

Transcript Highlights:

• We call them SERPs Community Mission Reduction Plans.
• I think sooner rather than later on the vacancy reductions.
• And just for Clean Cars for All and wood smoke reduction, too. Thank you. Good morning.
• reduction is key.
• These communities are the most harmed by the reduction of resources.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• large reductions in their awards.<01:09:04.880><c> reductions</c><01:09:05.359><c> so</c><01:09:05.679
• </c> see further reductions of 13 to 21%. see further reductions of 13 to 21%.
• </c> 60 to $80,000 will see grant reductions 60 to $80,000 will see grant reductions of<01:10:41.360>
• </c> future if these state grant reductions future if these state grant reductions are<01:10:57.040><
• . a reduction of under the new parameters. a reduction of close<01:15:20.000><c> to</c><01:15:20.239>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and personnel services reductions.
• Those ongoing resources were included as part of statewide efficiency vacancy reductions.
• In this budget and this restoration is the sunset of that temporary reduction the last two years.
• CDPH describes the harm reduction initiative and the harm reduction programs as the backbone of the state's
• CDPH describes the harm reduction initiative in the harm reduction programs as the backbone of the state's

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These were designed to take effect right away while the most painful cuts, such as reductions to Medi-Cal
• It rescinds unobligated funds from the Inflation Reduction Act for certain U.S.
• It rescinds unobligated funds from the Inflation Reduction Act for certain U.S.
• For the Inflation Reduction Act repeals and rescissions, it repeals the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund
• We're also concerned that the reductions of staff and the elimination of the department, the U.S.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held its fifth hearing of the year to examine the newly enacted federal H.R. 1 and its effects on California. Members and the chair described the law as a major threat to state health, food, education, and climate programs, and emphasized that California would not be able to fully backfill the federal cuts. Several members also highlighted the bill’s tax provisions, including temporary deductions for tips, overtime, seniors, and auto loan interest, while warning that the largest benefits flow to higher-income taxpayers and that major cuts to Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and clean-energy incentives are delayed or phased in over time. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Department of Finance presented detailed overviews of the bill’s likely impacts and implementation timelines. They identified the main affected areas as health care coverage and financing, food assistance, higher education, personal income taxes, and clean-energy/electric-vehicle credits. They explained that H.R. 1 limits provider taxes used to finance Medi-Cal, adds work and redetermination requirements, restricts CalFresh eligibility and increases state costs, changes student loan and Pell Grant rules, extends and modifies federal tax provisions, and phases out many clean-energy credits. Finance also noted major rescissions of Inflation Reduction Act funds, new border and immigration enforcement spending, and the possibility of PAYGO sequestration if Congress does not act to offset the deficit increase. During member questions, the committee focused on likely enrollment losses, administrative burdens, and fiscal exposure for the state and counties. Witnesses said many details still depend on federal guidance, but they estimated significant impacts on Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and graduate/professional student borrowing, and noted that California’s high CalFresh error rate could increase state costs. UC testified that the elimination of Graduate PLUS loans would affect thousands of professional students, especially in health, law, and other high-cost programs. Members asked for follow-up data on county, health, and tax impacts, and staff agreed to provide additional tables and estimates as implementation guidance becomes clearer. Public commenters from counties, early childhood advocates, health coalitions, disability rights groups, immigrant-rights organizations, and other stakeholders urged the Legislature to mitigate the law’s effects. They warned of higher county costs, reduced access to health care and food assistance, increased administrative burdens, and harm to children, immigrants, people with disabilities, and low-income families. Several urged new state revenue solutions and stronger protections for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, child care, and home- and community-based services. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with a commitment to continue monitoring federal guidance and to work on state responses in the budget process.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> there may have been a slight reduction there may have been a slight reduction in in in foot<00:37
• Uh the towards our deficit reduction.
• ><c> of</c> reductions, elimination or reduction of reductions, elimination or reduction of discretionary
• Um but position reductions property.
• </c><01:39:31.520><c> in</c> considered and significant reduction in considered and significant reduction

Keywords: 0:00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:00:28 Approval of Minutes 0:00:40 Information Items 0:01:13 Rpt from Postsecondary Institutions 0:26:46 Project Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet 0:30:53 Lease Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet 0:39:20 Rpt from OFM – KIA 0:52:42 Econ Development – EDF Grants 0:55:15 OFM Debt Issues 0:58:43 Informational Discussion 1:44:36 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including a quorum call, approval of minutes, and informational items on school district financing and KCTCS equipment purchases. It then considered two KCTCS capital projects after initially rolling them together and later unrolling them: a Fire Commission Fire Academy maintenance building project that had grown from an original $2 million authorization to $4.7 million because of design changes, soil issues, and higher mechanical costs, and a $1.5 million renovation of the Blake Lee building at Somerset Community College for a health science simulation lab. Members questioned the large cost increase on the fire academy project and the adequacy of front-end due diligence, while KCTCS said the project was bid and ready to proceed and that a 15% contingency had been included. Both projects were approved by roll call vote, with the Blake Lee project ultimately approved after the committee unrolled the items and took them separately. The committee next heard and approved a University of Kentucky public-private partnership for the Hamburg East Medical Office Building, a five-story, 220,000-square-foot facility with a not-to-exceed budget of $275 million. UK said the project is intended to expand outpatient access, consolidate some services, and support projected growth in patient volume; the building will house multiple specialties, urgent care, therapy, imaging, and a retail pharmacy. Members asked about possible community uses, consolidation of services, and whether the project would free up other space, and UK said it hopes to consolidate some services and free campus space. The project was approved by roll call vote. The committee then approved three UK lease renegotiations: a specialty pharmacy and infusion services lease at Wellington Way in Lexington, a Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences lease at Conte Terrace, and a College of Social Work lease at McGrath Park Way. Members asked about rising lease rates, occupancy, and whether space needs should be reduced; UK and the lessor’s representative said the pharmacy space remains busy, the ophthalmology lease was lower than before, and the social work lease had been negotiated down from a higher request. The committee also approved a Department of Military Affairs project amendment for a Mutual Field Maintenance Shop Restoration project, increasing federal funding by $1 million to $4.5 million because of higher construction costs, and approved a Kentucky State University Shanty Hall renovation project funded by bond and HBCU Title III funds. Finally, it approved a new lease for the Office of Mines and Minerals in Pike County, a new lease for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Pulaski County, and a lease renewal for the Cabinet for Health and Family Services in Kenton County after questions about rent increases and office utilization; the cabinet said the Kenton County space still has limited vacancy and remains in use by field staff. The meeting ended as the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority began presenting six sewer and water loans and six cleaner water program grant reallocations, with members agreeing to roll those items for later consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• When there are reductions on the program support side, how do you ensure that it's not across the board
• Are you referring to, as we're entering into reductions and as we have been taking reductions within
• This past session, when there were reductions taken, it was a flat percentage within the program support
• We see those reductions, like the reductions we received this biennium, were to our operations, which
• So for sort of the budget reductions, I don't think this makes an imbalance in any way.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the June 18, 2025 minutes, and heard four proposed budget format changes. Washington State Parks requested a structural change to separate and better track its Stewardship Services Division, including cultural and natural resources, environmental planning, and Climate Commitment Act investments. DCYF proposed moving direct service functions now housed in program support into the child welfare program so operational costs and direct services would be reported separately; members asked how this would help avoid across-the-board reductions affecting direct services, and the agency said the change would improve transparency and prevent that problem. The Department of Transportation sought to create a new Ferries Program Support sub-program to consolidate four related projects and two existing sub-programs into one administrative/project support structure, while the Department of Veterans Affairs requested only a title change for Program 20 from Field Services to Veteran Services and Counseling and Wellness. The committee voted unanimously to approve all four changes. Kevin Feltis then gave an interim work plan and staffing update for LEAP. He said the office is continuing work on the rewritten capital budget application (BuildSUM), updating the transportation bond model, completing carry-forward levels for the 2027-29 biennium, publishing 2026 legislative budget notes, updating 2025 salary data, and participating in a LegiTech AI pilot for system development within the legislative network. He also noted LEAP’s role in supporting the new Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability. Staffing remained steady at 11 FTEs, with no retirements or staffing changes in the past year, though one vacancy may be filled later and two retirements are anticipated over the next four to five years. The committee also discussed updates to the fiscal.wa.gov website. Planned work includes streamlining how budget data is updated when budgets are released, converting more than 100 reports from Microsoft Reporting Services to Power BI because support is ending, and evaluating whether the site’s search tool should be improved or replaced. Senators and representatives raised concerns about the number of clicks needed to reach capital and transportation project maps and about making public-facing budget information easier to find and understand. Staff said the website redesign was based on prior user testing and that they would look at ways to make maps and other top-level information more accessible. Finally, the committee elected new officers under its alternating-chair rule. Representative Gregerson was nominated and elected chair, and Senator King was nominated and elected vice chair. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• A reduction in participant fees.
• A reduction in participant fees.
• , and program reductions.
• </c><01:25:36.960><c> We</c> reductions, and program reductions.
• We reductions, and program reductions.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• if these reductions are implemented?
• I don't foresee there being any reduction in time.
• if these reductions are implemented?
• implement it. with these reductions, if these reductions are implemented.
• It would appear at least a reduction.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up House Bill 911 by Rep. McMakin, which proposes a major restructuring of Orleans Parish courts into a single judicial district with one clerk of court and a consolidated system, while keeping current judges in place through the end of the year and allowing them to run in scheduled elections. The committee first adopted a three-minute debate rule, then later rejected a motion to suspend it. The bill was then amended with a large set of mostly technical changes, and the amendments were adopted without objection. Supporters argued the bill would modernize Orleans’ court structure, reduce duplication, and align Orleans with other judicial districts. They cited Supreme Court data, prior studies, declining population and caseloads, and the state’s direct funding of Orleans criminal court as reasons to consolidate and reduce judgeships. Opponents, including local legislators and attorneys, said Orleans is not comparable to other parishes because of complex litigation, multiple-defendant criminal cases, jury-trial volume, tourism-related cases, and the need for specialized dockets. They also criticized the process as rushed and said local judges, legislators, and practitioners were not adequately involved. Testimony from ACLU and defense-side witnesses emphasized that case counts are not uniform across parishes and that Orleans has a high number of jury trials and a large workload per judge. They warned that eliminating judgeships could increase delays and create transition costs, while supporters countered that other districts manage similar or heavier work with fewer judges. White-card witnesses from Orleans Civil District Court, including Judge Kernan Reese, Judge Sidney Cates, and Clerk Chelsea Richard Napoleon, testified that Orleans handles complex and time-sensitive matters, that the clerk’s office relies on self-generated funds, and that the bill’s funding and office references contain inaccuracies. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So that's the reduction you see on line five.
• So that's the reduction you see on line five.
• In the 2028-29 biennium, it's a net reduction of $47,392,000.
• </c> payment schedule, you see the reductions payment schedule, you see the reductions across<00:15:51.199
• </c> that's being contemplated for reduction that's being contemplated for reduction in<00:21:46.960>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:30:39.840><c> the</c> neutral 100% carbon reduction the neutral 100% carbon reduction the Minnesota
• </c><00:41:32.359><c> in</c> score uh but carbon reductions in score uh but carbon reductions in feedstock
• </c> might provide the largest uh reduction might provide the largest uh reduction but<00:45:26.720><
• We will not get to the volumes that we need to do the carbon reduction.
• credit through the inflation reduction credit through the inflation reduction act<01:02:16.799><c> known

Keywords: 1183, house