Transcript Highlights:

• As I said, with this bill, there cannot be a reduction in tax revenue because it only kicks in if property
• So for the first two years this goes into effect, there would be a reduction in the budgeted increase
• So for the first two years this goes into effect, there would be a reduction in the budgeted increase
• in tax revenue because it be a reduction in tax revenue because it only<00:10:22.680><c> kicks</c><00
• in the in the there would be a reduction in the in the budgeted<00:10:41.560><c> increase</c><00:10:

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:08 Senate Bill 79 (Sen. McDaniel): 00:48 Senate Bill 67 (Sen. Nemes): 08:09 Adjournment: 12:43, 958, all

Summary: The Senate State and Local Government Committee met and first took up Senate Bill 79, sponsored by Senator McDaniel, with testimony from McDaniel and Deputy Secretary Robert Long of the Personnel Cabinet. They described the bill as a cleanup measure for personnel law that would, among other things, add interns to the definition of employee while excluding them from full-time employee status, remove the Personnel Cabinet secretary as an ex officio member of the KERS Board, clarify personnel board membership and grievance rights, limit appeals of satisfactory-or-above evaluations, address layoffs and reemployment rights, allow leave donation in certain resignations or retirements, restrict remote work from outside Kentucky without approval, permit deductions for unreturned state equipment, and make DJJ facility supervisors non-merit positions. The committee voted on SB 79 and passed it with favorable expression. The committee then heard Senate Bill 67, presented by Chair Nemes, an elder property tax bill. The bill would freeze the assessed value of a primary residence for homeowners age 65 or older until the property is no longer their primary residence, while still taxing at the current rate. Nemes said the measure was intended to help seniors on fixed incomes and noted a fiscal analysis showing little to no direct revenue loss, though it could reduce projected budgeted growth in property tax revenue. Committee discussion noted a local impact and a statewide budget impact estimate of about $4 million for the first two fiscal years. SB 67 also passed with favorable expression, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• that have come from Washington. ...and other reductions that have come from Washington, D.C., so we're
• So you will see some reductions in this budget.
• It also seemed untenable to make an additional $750 million of reductions in this budget.
• So it was the place that we felt we could still maintain services and take a reduction.
• Was it something that was under discussion last year when you're thinking about reductions?

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: Senate budget writers, led by Sen. June Robinson, rolled out the Senate operating budget and described it as a difficult supplemental budget shaped by flat revenue growth, rising maintenance costs, and uncertainty from federal actions, including H.R. 1 and tariffs. They said the proposal aims to preserve core services such as K-12 education, health care, food assistance, long-term care, housing stability, and child care while mitigating federal cuts, and they emphasized that it does not include broad-based tax increases like sales, property, or B&O tax hikes. A major focus of the discussion was how to pay for the Working Families Tax Credit and how to reduce the budget gap. Robinson said the Senate proposal uses about $750 million from the rainy day fund because additional cuts would be too severe, and she noted the statute allows that use in a slow-growth economy. Senators also discussed the Climate Commitment Act as a possible funding source for the tax credit, but said they would negotiate with the House on that issue. On child care, they said the Senate avoided the governor’s approach of capping Working Connections Child Care enrollment and creating a waitlist, instead relying more on attendance-based payment changes to reduce costs while trying to avoid destabilizing the provider network. The senators also responded to criticism from educators and Republicans. They acknowledged concerns from the Washington Education Association that schools and special education remain underfunded, but argued the state has made major progress and that Washington’s tax structure limits school funding growth because of the 1% property tax cap. They said a future “millionaires tax” could help stabilize revenue and support education and other services. In response to Republican claims of a “spending addiction,” Robinson said critics should identify specific cuts they would support, and noted Republicans had offered little support for prior budget-cutting measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• 13th, 2026 at 11:09 a.m., changes the name of the authority to the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction
• Authority and the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction Authority Fund. ...to the Wildfire Mitigation
• and Risk Reduction Authority and the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction Authority Fund.
• of HB 2292 and respectfully ask for you to vote yes to establish the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction
• of HB 2292 and respectfully ask for you to vote yes to establish the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction

Summary: The committee heard three measures. HB 2013 would require the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to submit an exceptional event demonstration to the EPA when wildfire smoke from federally managed land affects the state. The sponsor said it would help Arizona avoid penalties tied to uncontrollable wildfire events and could ease pressure on air-quality compliance; Sierra Club opposed it, arguing the bill could create unnecessary filings and burdens, while ADEQ was neutral. The committee voted 5-1 to give HB 2013 a due pass recommendation. HB 2292, as amended, would create the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction Authority and fund under the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, with the amendment renaming the authority, capping administrative costs at 8%, and prioritizing funding for single-family and multifamily dwellings. Supporters from Coconino County and the County Supervisors Association said the program would help reduce wildfire risk, support community hardening, and address rising homeowners insurance costs by redirecting $20 million from existing insurance premium tax revenues; members clarified it was not a new tax. The committee adopted the amendment and then approved the bill 8-0. HCM 2011 urges Congress to pass federal legislation to delist the Mexican wolf, defund the reintroduction program, and transfer management to local authorities. Supporters said ranchers have been harmed by wolf predation and that delisting is overdue, while Sierra Club opposed the memorial, saying the species remains under-recovered and decisions should be based on science. The committee approved the memorial 5-2 and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 97 is a valuation reduction for conservation easements. It is an allowance for that reduction.
• </c><00:19:46.559><c> to</c> Lines 104 and 105 are the reductions to Lines 104 and 105 are the reductions
• Um the reduction in chair's mark.
• :52.080><c> economic</c> reduction would create added economic reduction would create added economic
• ><c> impacts</c><01:54:30.480><c> the</c> reduction in LGA directly impacts the reduction in LGA directly

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the reduction in the 2026-27 biennium of $4 million.
• There's a $500,000 reduction to the top line of the program, but that reduction is coming from the actual
• There's a $500,000 reduction to the top line of the program, but that reduction is coming from the actual
• A reduction of $100,000 in each biennium.
• </c> Foundation partnership and the reduction Foundation partnership and the reduction amount<00:21:19.840

Bills: HF2312

Keywords: higher education, college finance, student aid, financial aid, state grants, North Star Promise, scholarships, tuition relief, Minnesota State, University of Minnesota, Office of Higher Education, work-study, child care grants, Indian scholarships, tribal colleges, Hunger-Free Campus, student parents, pregnant students, parenting students, sexual misconduct

Transcript Highlights:

• Estimated cost reduction of $9.6 million General Fund in the budget year.
• We have significant reductions in registry and overtime utilization.
• So reduction in HR1 funding really impacts us dramatically.
• That's a 12% to 23% reduction. And of those, about 8,000 to 16,000... ...a 23% reduction.
• There will be a $315 million reduction in revenue that comes from both a reduction in direct funding

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And emission reduction credits started accumulating this coming January.
• I'm just looking for further clarity on the emission reductions provision.
• On the emission reductions provision, what is going to be eligible?
• Oh, well, it's not risk reduction.
• Oh, well, it's not risk reduction.

Summary: The committee heard three major insurance-related bills. SB 1209 by Senator Allen would give the Insurance Commissioner new authority to require insurers to implement corrective actions found in market conduct and financial exams, with penalties for failure to comply. Supporters, including Commissioner Ricardo Lara and his deputies, said current law leaves CDI without a direct way to compel remediation of repeated violations or obtain needed financial information, while opponents argued the bill expands CDI authority too far, could duplicate existing penalties, and should be limited to legal violations rather than recommendations. After discussion, members and the author agreed to narrow the bill through amendments, including tying it to legal violations, applying penalties per exam rather than per policy, and clarifying accounting language; the committee then passed the bill 5-1 to Appropriations, with one member on call. SB 1301, also by Senator Allen, would reform residential property insurance non-renewals by requiring clearer written explanations, giving homeowners a chance to mitigate correctable issues, and prohibiting certain unfair non-renewal bases such as claims below deductible or claims not paid by the insurer. The author and supporters said Californians face unusually high non-renewal rates and often receive vague notices that make it hard to keep coverage, while opponents warned the bill’s original 180-day notice period and reporting requirements were too burdensome and could worsen availability. Senator Richardson said he would support the bill after the author agreed to reduce the notice period to about three months and continue working on a mitigation-based process; the committee then approved the bill 4-1, with one member on call. The committee also considered SB 1026 by Senator Gonzalez, which would strengthen regulation of bail fugitive recovery agents by allowing CDI to suspend or revoke licenses without a criminal conviction, expanding prohibited conduct, and tightening insurance and appointment requirements. Supporters, including Commissioner Lara, said the 2022 licensing law left loopholes that allow misconduct to continue and that the bill would improve public safety and accountability. Opponents from the bail industry and crime victims groups argued the bill requires unavailable or impractical insurance coverage, including coverage for willful acts, and could reduce the number of recovery agents and delay justice. Members raised concerns about the insurance language and availability, and the author said the bill was still being worked on with opposition; the committee passed it 4-1, with one member on call. Finally, the committee heard SB 982 by Senator Wiener, the Affordable Insurance and Recovery Act, which would let the Attorney General seek recovery from fossil fuel companies for climate-related costs affecting the Fair Plan and private policyholders. The author said Californians are paying rising insurance and disaster costs while fossil fuel companies that contributed to climate change are not, and witnesses from flood and wildfire communities and climate policy experts supported the bill as a way to fund recovery and resilience. Opponents, including business and labor representatives, argued the bill would impose broad liability, invite litigation, and harm jobs and energy affordability. The hearing included extensive testimony, but no vote was taken on SB 982 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we don't have natural organic reduction we don't have natural organic reduction reduction<00:39:
• </c><00:53:26.800><c> We're</c> natural organic reduction. We're natural organic reduction.
• </c> um when when natural organic reduction um when when natural organic reduction and<01:20:13.520><
• </c> organic reduction. organic reduction.
• ><c> chamber</c><01:20:57.120><c> after</c> natural organic reduction chamber after natural organic reduction

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The big standout over there is the reduction in corporate income tax.
• The code changes have not yet been taken into account in the reduction that we have discussed.
• And so therefore, if I read your charts correctly, even taken into account the reduction in...
• Even taken into account the reduction in collections of the corporate income tax overall, because of
• There are some policy shifts regarding the Inflation Reduction Act.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there will be a reduction and the funding that the hostile look at.
• This will be known reduction. This will be no reduction in the hospitals will be aware of.
• It is not subject to these reductions.
• With respect to these reductions, we're certainly looking at ways to you.
• And as of November 2025, it was reduced to 19 minutes, which is the 15, which is a 50% reduction.

Transcript Highlights:

• From that, we looked at a reduction in permits and fees, so just a 75% reduction.
• As well as a 75% reduction in gross receipts tax.
• And so the first is a G.R.T. reduction. When I say reduction, it's by means of a G.R.T. reduction.
• So, in order to qualify for this G.R.T. reduction, they have to provide evidence.
• Deduction or reduction in gross receipts tax.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reductions that drastically and disproportionately are going to affect our health care system, including
• We fully recognize that there are difficult reductions proposed in this budget, and this is in order
• For those that are paid above it, it would be approximately a 3% reduction. Okay.
• And page 21 of today's agenda shows the reductions by provider payment.
• It's a reduction, so those dollars would go away as well.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health held the first of several hearings on the Governor’s May Revision for health care, with opening remarks focused on the state’s projected $12 billion deficit, looming federal Medicaid changes, and the potential impact on Medi-Cal, public health, reproductive health, and safety-net providers. Several members criticized the proposal as balancing the budget on vulnerable Californians, while others defended the need for cost containment and questioned the administration’s assumptions. The chair set ground rules for respectful, focused questioning and outlined three topics: the Medi-Cal proposals, Proposition 35, and Proposition 56. DHCS Director Michelle Baas presented the May Revision’s Medi-Cal package, saying the department’s budget totals $200.6 billion overall, including $45.2 billion General Fund, and that the proposals are intended to address rising caseloads, pharmacy costs, and managed care spending. She described proposed changes for adults with unsatisfactory immigration status, including a freeze on new full-scope enrollment for those 19 and older, $100 monthly premiums beginning in 2027, elimination of adult dental and long-term care coverage, removal of PPS/RAP payments to FQHCs and rural health clinics for that population, and a pharmacy rebate aggregator. Other proposals included eliminating certain OTC drug classes, removing GLP-1 coverage for weight loss, prior authorization and step therapy changes, reinstating the Medi-Cal asset test, eliminating acupuncture as an optional benefit, allowing utilization management for hospice, raising the managed care minimum medical loss ratio to 90%, reducing PACE capitation rates toward the midpoint of the actuarial range, eliminating the skilled nursing facility workforce and quality incentive program, and suspending the SNF backup power requirement. The LAO said the revised Medi-Cal spending estimate is about $2.5 billion higher than the Governor’s Budget in the budget year, and that the increase appears driven more by higher per-enrollee costs than by caseload alone. The LAO said the budget solutions are concentrated in a few areas, are largely ongoing, and should be considered in light of federal uncertainty, but suggested the Legislature could explore alternatives such as more targeted income thresholds for the undocumented expansion and simpler asset-test rules. Department of Finance officials said the proposals are difficult but necessary to address a third consecutive deficit and rising Medi-Cal costs. Members then pressed the administration on the methodology and impacts of the proposals, especially the enrollment freeze, premiums, asset test, hospice controls, PACE reductions, and the elimination of benefits and provider payments. No votes or formal actions were taken at this hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're providing personnel, as well as our personnel, to do some fuel reduction work.
• So, you know, I think more money out for doing more fuel reduction will help.
• You know, I think more money out for doing more fuel reduction will help.
• We currently continue to seek out grants so we can do more fuel reduction.
• We currently continue to seek out grants so we can do more fuel reduction.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 13th, 2026 at 11:09 a.m., changes the name of the authority to the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction
• Authority and the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction Fund. ...changes the name of the authority
• to the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction Authority and the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction
• of HB 2292 and respectfully ask for you to vote yes to establish the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction
• of HB 2292 and respectfully ask for you to vote yes to establish the Wildfire Mitigation and Risk Reduction

Bills: HB2013, HB2292, HB2334, HB2349, HB2350, HB2845, HCM2011

Keywords: air pollution, wildfires, environmental standards, public health, Arizona Revised Statutes, wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, forest fire, brush removal, defensible space, community hardening, vegetation management, fire-resistant construction, wildland urban interface, WUI, insurance premium tax, property insurance, homeowners insurance, commercial property insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• The fourth thing that we did is there is a reduction in operating of $650,000 because of passage of In
• The next item is actually a reduction of $10,615, and that is a reduction in operating expenses, which
• The next item is actually a reduction of $10,615, and that is a reduction in operating expenses, which
• Now, the item that we talked about in the reduction from the, excuse me, the reduction that the Senate
• But you can see that in the House version it's zeroed out, and it's a reduction of $650,000 on the far

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House Appropriations Government Operations Division met to consider House amendments to Senate Bill 2001, the budget for the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly. Representative Meyer and Legislative Council staff reviewed the House changes, which included higher lodging funding tied to a prior bill, an increase for North Dakota legislators’ forum dues, a transfer of $290,000 for public printing from the Secretary of State to Legislative Council, a $650,000 reduction tied to the nuclear energy study because that funding was already provided elsewhere, and a new section allowing legislative space on the 15th floor of the Capitol to be used for additional Legislative Council employees. John Bjornson explained the 15th-floor space proposal and said staff would work with Facility Management and CTE to address relocation needs and timing, with CTE’s move potentially delayed until after its busy school-year period if necessary. The committee then reviewed the Senate version of the bill in more detail. Staff walked through the Legislative Assembly budget items, including per diem and compensation adjustments, lodging and mileage estimates, IT and audio/video funding, and dues increases for national and state legislative organizations. Members asked about mileage assumptions and the emergency clause, and staff said the emergency language is standard and allows flexibility for transfers, carryovers, and other budget actions. The committee also reviewed the Legislative Council budget, including funding for 25 new FTEs, interim travel, IT costs, professional services, public printing, and one-time items such as equipment and term limits consulting, while the advanced nuclear energy consulting item was removed in the House version. After discussion, the committee adopted the House amendment to Senate Bill 2001 and then voted to do pass the bill as amended. Both motions passed on roll call, and the amended bill was sent to the full Appropriations Committee. Near the end of the meeting, Representative Paula gave notice that she would bring a separate amendment later on the Industrial Commission budget related to homelessness grant funding, noting it would not use SIF or general fund dollars.

Transcript Highlights:

• These proposed $12 billion in budget reductions drastically and disproportionately affect our health
• My question is surrounding the overall cost reduction.
• Page 21 of today's agenda shows the reductions by provider payment.
• It's a reduction, so those dollars would go away as well.
• Well, it's a total fund reduction of about $470 million to $500 million.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a $3 million reduction to that original appropriation of $7 million.
• </c> bofuels incentives grant reduction bofuels incentives grant reduction program.<00:09:57.600><c>
• This matches the $1.5 million from the reduction from dairy with an I.
• This matches the $1.5 million from the reduction from dairy with an I.
• c> and identical reduction of new revenue and identical reduction of new revenue of<00:20:42.880><c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> achieve a 50% carbon emissions reduction achieve a 50% carbon emissions reduction over<00:27:16.000
• Some would be 75% reduction; others, 100%.
• threshold some would be carbon reduction threshold some would be 75%<00:36:14.440><c> reduction</c><
• 00:36:15.000><c> others</c> 75% reduction others 75% reduction others 100%<00:36:17.440><c> the</c><00
• incentive for even greater carbon reductions in SAF.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House budget resolution includes $1.5 trillion in specified spending reductions, although they do
• target $2 trillion in total spending reductions.
• act which is uh which is reduction act which is uh which is consistent<00:15:17.279><c> with</c><00:
• This would amount to about an 8 to 12% reduction in the federal Medicaid outlays.
• </c> states Minnesota could see a reduction states Minnesota could see a reduction of<00:43:30.480><c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With this in mind, I want our subcommittee to have a discussion this afternoon on reduction issues as
• I want you to submit real reductions that can potentially be taken.
• These reductions can include vacancy cuts, reductions based on reversions, and reductions achieved through
• We will not only be looking at reductions this session.
• Thank you. and then dive into the budget reductions.

Summary: The subcommittee met to review agency vacancy reports and agency-requested budget reductions, with Chair Lopez framing the discussion around stewardship of taxpayer dollars, agency efficiency, and whether long-vacant positions should be cut or repurposed. Members were given vacancy summaries and asked to focus on how agencies are functioning with current staffing, which positions are mission critical, and whether some vacancies reflect market pay issues, re-engineering of work, or true excess capacity. The chair also noted that agency heads had been asked to provide follow-up information on current openings, average vacancy duration, mission-critical roles, and reasons for vacancies. The Department of Revenue was the first major agency reviewed because it had the largest number of vacancies. Its leadership said vacancies had improved from pandemic-era highs due to market pay adjustments, but that some areas—especially general tax and audit—still had long-term openings. The department explained that some positions are intentionally frozen while work is restructured, that it hires above minimum salary in some cases to stay competitive, and that it is using automation and process changes to reduce backlogs. Members raised concerns about vacancies outside Leon County, out-of-state auditor positions, salary compression, and whether the department should provide a list of frozen positions and the salaries actually needed to recruit. The Department of Financial Services said its long vacancies were concentrated in risk management, law enforcement, and the general counsel’s office, where salaries and competition from private employers and other agencies make hiring difficult. DFS said it was using outside vendors in some areas, had reduced vacancies in its general counsel office significantly, and was willing to identify positions that could be cut, including some from treasury and OAT. The Department of Business and Professional Regulation reported progress in lowering vacancies through statewide recruiting, centralized legal hiring, automation in service operations, and leadership changes in alcoholic beverages and tobacco; it said one recommended cut could be achieved by combining two half-time positions. The Florida Lottery reported a low vacancy rate, said all positions were critical, and explained its longer onboarding time due to extensive background checks; members discussed sales reps, incentives, and the agency’s field-office structure. The Office of Financial Regulation said many of its vacancies were already in the hiring pipeline, with recent vacancies tied to promotions, a death, and internal moves, and noted that it often serves as a training ground for federal agencies. The Office of Insurance Regulation, which had a high vacancy rate concentrated in Leon County, said it had been reducing vacancies from a much higher level and was still working through hiring and administrative constraints.