Transcript Highlights:

• [snorts] funding.
• </c> that fund would only be for equipment. that fund would only be for equipment.
• </c> some of these funds? What is going on? some of these funds? What is going on?
• </c> rental trust fund? rental trust fund?
• </c><01:20:33.280><c> would</c><01:20:33.440><c> then</c> fund for funding, uh, which would then fund

Bills: SF0032, SF0010, SF0001, HB0001

Keywords: 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety, mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, Wyoming, budget, funding, education, wildfire prevention, healthcare, community colleges, grants, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• more in federal funds.
• No new funding.
• No new funding. Um but uh that language. No new funding.
• > um</c><00:21:06.559><c> and</c> general fund and federal funds um and general fund and federal funds
• and</c><00:21:44.240><c> federal</c><00:21:44.559><c> funds</c> million general funds and federal funds

Bills: SF0032, SF0010, SF0001, HB0001

Keywords: 911 services, emergency response, grant funding, next generation technology, government accountability, public safety, mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, Wyoming, budget, funding, education, wildfire prevention, healthcare, community colleges, grants, economic development

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe it's around $20 million, but we need to continue to put money into that fund for those sites
• This is pretty much a straight appropriation bill of $50 million to continue the cleanup of funds out
• I support the appropriation to fund the assessment and cleanup of abandoned uranium mines.
• SB 249 recognizes that this crisis cannot be addressed with one-time funding or symbolic action.
• Any expended balance at the end of FY27 will revert to the general fund.

Bills: SB201, SB226, SB242, SB249

Keywords: rural libraries, education, cultural funding, library services, community resources, contaminated sites, environmental cleanup, uranium mining, state funding, abandoned sites, tribal affairs, Indian Child Welfare Act, appropriation, children, youth, compliance, field liaison, Indigenous rights, missing persons, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• Phase one, which was tremendously successful, was almost exclusively funded by money raised locally.
• That's what the Monahans Broadband Project has sought funding for.
• The funds that were appropriated for that purpose, to make sure that they can be utilized by an eligible
• change of eligible addresses, which basically states that certain locations would be eligible for funding
• It would still be eligible for funding. And so that, you know, obviously is a great concern.

Bills: HB2838, HB2964, HB3213, SB924

Keywords: broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority

Transcript Highlights:

• alternative technologies when feasible, and this body has given our office the flexibility to use state funds
• It's led to things such as the Permanent University Fund and the Permanent School Fund.

Bills: HB2838, HB2964, HB3213, SB924

Keywords: broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority

Transcript Highlights:

• So their funding situation is adequate.
• So their funding situation is adequate.
• is</c><00:10:40.800><c> the</c><00:10:40.959><c> 2.25</c> funds our largest funding is the 2.25 funds
• </c><00:20:32.960><c> a</c> fund each time we're not able to fund a fund each time we're not able to
• Of course, the last funding stream that's also in this committee is called premium funds.

Bills: HF711, HF653

Keywords: agriculture, agricultural education, leadership development, Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council, MAELC, chapter 41D, grant funding, general fund appropriation, commissioner of agriculture, farm education, youth agriculture programs, ag literacy, workforce development, extension education, research funding, extension services, technology transfer, grant programs, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So these both flow into what we call the marijuana regulation fund.
• After this revenue is deposited in the marijuana regulation fund, we’ll go to the orange section. 85%
• This 15% of the fund goes to what is called the cannabis social equity fund.
• It’s a separate fund, and it was actually established in the 2022 cannabis equity bill.
• It’s a separate fund, and it was actually established in the 2022 cannabis equity bill.

Bills: H5005

Keywords: environment, water conservation, natural resources, public funding, environmental justice

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a hearing on Initiative Petition 25-10 / House Bill 5002, “An act to restore a sensible marijuana policy,” which would repeal Massachusetts’ adult-use cannabis legalization framework. The chair explained the Article 48 initiative process and noted that, if the Legislature does not enact the measure as written, additional signatures would be needed for it to qualify for the 2026 ballot. The committee heard testimony from an expert, proponents of the petition, opponents, and members of the public, and accepted written testimony through March 27 at 5 p.m. Jessica Trow of MassBudget testified first, focusing on cannabis revenue and spending in Massachusetts. She said legalization has generated nearly $2 billion for the Commonwealth and municipalities since FY 2018, including excise tax, sales tax, local option taxes, fees, and community impact fees. She described how revenues are distributed to public health, the Cannabis Control Commission’s social equity efforts, the cannabis social equity fund, the MBTA, the School Building Authority, the general fund, and local budgets, and argued the industry has supported social equity and community investments. Opponents of the petition argued that repeal would harm public health, consumer safety, jobs, tax revenue, and social equity programs. Wendy Wakeman, speaking for the ballot committee, said legalization has increased potency, addiction, and mental health concerns, and that the state lacks sufficient data on harms. In contrast, business owners, clinicians, and advocates including Caroline Pino, Kristen Rogers, Drudus Ledbetter, Armani White, Lucas Thayer, and Jeff Rawson said the regulated market provides tested products, jobs, tax revenue, and pathways for people harmed by prohibition, while repeal would push consumers back to the illicit market and undermine equity goals. Committee members questioned witnesses about the evidence base, the role of out-of-state funding, the petition’s impact on existing businesses, and whether narrower regulatory fixes might address concerns instead of repeal. No vote was taken; the hearing was closed after testimony ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is not only drives up costs for law-abiding Texans, but also funds further criminal enterprises.

Bills: HB316

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, affordable care act, medical assistance, federal funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, funds have been expended in legal fees, and now an attorney is trying to invade the separate property
• Um, they are now seeking to, because that's invalidated, to partition separate property, lock the funds
• in the registry of the court, and then because the funds are in the registry of the court and the court
• we are On a slippery slope where some attorneys are trying to invade separate property and put the funds
• If I didn't have that and I didn't have the funds, I would have still been in jail till this day.

Bills: HB116

Keywords: film industry, incentives, economic development, state funding, media production

Transcript Highlights:

• The remainder of the taxes would be placed in the state general fund.
• but don’t wholly encompass what the Well Washington Fund funds, obviously in Seattle they’re not funding
• I support this bill, HB 2100, and a Well Washington Fund.
• Passing this bill and establishing the Well Washington Fund will provide much-needed funding for programs
• If not the Well Washington Fund, then how? I wish it weren't so.

Bills: HB2334, HB2140, HB2326, HB2100

Keywords: cash transactions, pennies, currency adjustment, economic impact, consumer protection, tax exemption, governmental transfer, agriculture, land use, property tax, emergency medical services, levies, healthcare funding, local government, taxation, excise tax, large companies, payroll expenses, minimum wage, Well Washington fund

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2140, which would exempt land sold or transferred to a governmental entity from the additional tax owed when land is removed from an open space current-use classification in certain circumstances. Staff explained the bill’s current-use tax rules and noted the fiscal impact is expected to be minimal but indeterminate. Representative Lowe said the bill is meant to fix a narrow problem where a county takes a small frontage strip for public purposes and the owner is still charged back taxes; FutureWise testified in support of the intent but asked for language tweaks to ensure the transferred land does not later become incompatible with agricultural or open-space use. The hearing on HB 2140 was then closed. The committee then heard House Bill 2326, which would allow a fire protection district to impose an EMS levy on the portion of its district not already covered by another taxing district’s EMS levy, with voters in the affected area approving it. Fire district and fire chief representatives testified in support, describing situations where a small overlap prevents most residents in a district from voting on or funding EMS service. Opponents argued the bill would add to property tax burdens. Testimony concluded and the hearing was closed. Next, House Bill 2334 was heard, responding to the federal decision to stop minting new pennies by setting rules for rounding cash transactions to the nearest five cents. Staff said rounding would apply only to cash payments and would occur after taxes and fees are included; the fiscal note was described as indeterminate but minimal at the state level, with some implementation costs. Retail and grocery groups generally supported the bill but requested clarifying amendments and protections related to tax obligations, consumer lawsuits, SNAP equal-treatment rules, and local ordinances; other testimony supported the measure as a practical response to the penny’s disappearance. The hearing was then closed. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2100, a proposed payroll expense tax on large operating companies to fund the new Well Washington Fund for higher education, health care, cash assistance, energy, and housing, with an oversight board and a credit for eligible city payroll taxes. Staff described a substitute narrowing the bill to employers with 250 or more employees and at least $7 million in payroll, with several public-sector and health-related exemptions; the fiscal note projected substantial revenue. Supporters, including labor, poverty, housing, health, and faith advocates, said the bill would help offset federal cuts and protect vulnerable residents. Business, retail, hospitality, construction, and chamber representatives opposed it, warning about job losses, higher costs, and harm to competitiveness. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended as a near-term response to federal funding cuts, and testimony continued with many additional witnesses before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the Taxpayer Endowment Trust Fund.
• assistance revolving fund.
• Revolving Fund.
• Yeah, the legal services revolving fund is a separate fund. Or so being transferred there.
• million in that fund.

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:

• , and then funding for the...
• Chair, you referenced the sovereign wealth fund, the taxpayer endowment trust fund.
• On the sovereign wealth fund, the sovereign wealth fund is a statutory fund. Follow-up? Thank you.
• The reason why I asked the question is the Revenue Stabilization Fund is a statutory fund.
• The reason why I asked the question is the Revenue Stabilization Fund is a statutory fund.

Bills: SB1177

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

Summary: The Joint Appropriations and Budget Committee took up Senate Bill 1177, the main budget bill, and first adopted the committee substitute as the working version. Chairman Caldwell presented the bill as the measure funding state government and answered a series of questions about major budget items, including CareerTech funding, child care, school security, teacher pay raises, the state plane purchase, Medicaid, mental health, veterans’ homes, and higher education projects. He said CareerTech received increased funding, child care funding was increased by roughly $12 million over last year, school security funding was continued at $50 million, and teacher pay raises were included through a mechanism that would raise the state minimum by $2,000. He also explained the $3 million state plane item as a restructuring of state aviation assets, and said the budget did not cut law enforcement funding tied to 287(g) agreements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, members, House Bill 2207 appropriates $300,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2027
• Chair, I can't speak to speculation on whether this would make, or, yeah, provide funding.
• I do not know whether that provides funding through, like, sales. I can look at the end.
• I don't know whether that provides funding through sales.
• Payne, while the money for this program goes to the department to fund the program, training, materials

Bills: HB2207

Keywords: braille, disability access, education funding, state corrections, inclusion, 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And for many providers, this federal funding is the lion's share of their funding they receive.
• And for many providers, this federal funding is the lion's share of their funding they receive.
• </c> funding that we rely on. funding that we rely on.
• </c> funding levels. funding levels.
• </c> um general fund revenues. um general fund revenues.

Bills: HF3425

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

Transcript Highlights:

• The largest portion of this goes towards the Housing Trust Fund, where $225 million in funding includes
• She applied because that project, funded with Housing Trust Fund dollars, would be an opportunity for
• We offer our strong support for the additional funding being provided to the Salmon Recovery Funding
• We're seeking additional funding to the program that will allow our project to be funded.
• this due to lack of funds.

Bills: SB6003

Keywords: capital budget, funding, infrastructure, state projects, budget allocation, 904, all

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held its first meeting of the 2026 session to hear Governor Ferguson’s proposed supplemental capital budget from OFM. Jen Masterson said the budget uses about $396 million in new appropriations, leaving $5.4 million in bond capacity, and includes funding from the Common School Construction account, Climate Commitment Act accounts, and federal funds. She highlighted housing as the largest share of the proposal, along with urgent state facility repairs, K-12 school seismic and modernization grants, natural resource projects, and higher education preservation and minor works. Committee members asked about the timing of housing projects, and Masterson said the proposed supplemental projects would not be completed within the year. Public testimony was heavily focused on housing. Supporters praised the Housing Trust Fund, especially the $73 million for affordable homeownership, $20 million for manufactured housing preservation, and related investments in land banking, workforce housing, right-to-counsel, and community projects such as Thrive Center Tacoma, Alliance Place, and the African diaspora cultural anchor village. Several speakers urged the legislature to increase housing funding beyond the governor’s proposal, while others emphasized the need to preserve manufactured home communities and support rural and flood-impacted households. One testifier criticized overall state tax levels, but the chair noted the capital budget is bond-funded rather than a direct tax increase. Testimony on K-12 and higher education generally supported the budget’s school modernization, seismic safety, lead remediation, and college preservation funding, though some districts and campuses asked for additional project funding. Rural districts described the small schools modernization program as essential because local bonding capacity is limited. In higher education, UW and WSU speakers said the budget did not fund certain decarbonization and renovation projects they wanted, while community and technical colleges, Western Washington University, Central Washington University, and Eastern Washington University supported the preservation and minor works investments. Natural resources testimony backed salmon recovery and community forest funding, with requests to expand those programs. Local government and utility groups opposed the proposed $75 million transfer from the Public Works Assistance Account to the operating budget, warning it would weaken infrastructure lending and could jeopardize projects already underway. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting ended after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• , but, um, the permanent school fund is very unique in law in that the members are fiduciaries of the
• fund.
• They protect the fund. They do not, uh, they preserve the corpus of the fund.
• So they are the protectors of the fund, and it actually says in our Texas Constitution that they are
• Having already received swift funding, this process is well underway.

Bills: HJR40

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare access, Affordable Care Act, federal funding, constitutional amendment

Transcript Highlights:

• If you look at line 22, the general fund funding is $435,907,000.
• that has a $4.5 million per year cap out of the fund.
• A $4.5 million per year cap out of the fund.
• The bill also does not include any additional funding for...
• They draw funding from the ATV Dedicated Account, a long-established fund created by the legislature

Bills: HF2439

Keywords: environmental protection, pollution reduction, waste management, climate change, funding allocations

Bills: HF2440

Keywords: labor market, employment, economic development, funding, data analysis, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Funding to end HIV item.
• Funding related to House File 2707 for additional funding for the Safe Harbor Program at MDH.
• From receiving behavioral health fund payments.
• We could have funded the third path for children.
• At our organization, this funding is a lifeline.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding

Transcript Highlights:

• and may also set limits for expenditures from funds other than the general fund.
• </c> development fund base budget set forth. development fund base budget set forth.
• fund fund appropriation.<00:19:46.160><c> Uh</c> appropriation.
• general fund budget.
• </c> There is nothing uh else that we fund. There is nothing uh else that we fund.

Bills: HF2440

Keywords: labor market, employment, economic development, funding, data analysis, 1183, house