Transcript Highlights:

• So this is a self-funded plan meaning So this is a self-funded plan meaning So this is a self-funded
• , but you as far as the self-funded plans, but all self-funded plans do have an all self-funded plans
• This is a self-funded plan and our department of a self-funded plan and our department of a self-funded
• So they don't regulate self-funded plans. don't regulate self-funded plans. don't regulate self-funded
• So self self-funded we created offer it So self self-funded we created offer it So self self-funded we

Bills: SB 1, HB 500, SB 1, HB 1400, HB 1094, HB 365, HB 1109, HB 647, HB 500

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• Increases funding.
• It is not just simply funded by state funding.
• You mentioned the LAR that was submitted. and that they didn't request any new funds. funds depleted
• Members this budget amendment is not requesting any additional funding from the budget but emphasizes
• You said to fund or defund? fund to defund, defund. Yes, sir.

Bills: SB1, HB500, SB1, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HB500

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption

Bills: HB0036, HB0112, HB0106, HB0111, SF0001

Keywords: wildfire, fire management, funding, forestry, state investment, task force, capital construction, state funding, legislative services, budget appropriation, unexpended funds, sunset clause, conservation, employment, inmate crew program, Wyoming, major maintenance, community colleges, budget, education

Bills: HB0036, HB0112, HB0106, HB0111, SF0001

Keywords: wildfire, fire management, funding, forestry, state investment, task force, capital construction, state funding, legislative services, budget appropriation, unexpended funds, sunset clause, conservation, employment, inmate crew program, Wyoming, major maintenance, community colleges, budget, education

Transcript Highlights:

• We did set up the trust fund, and this time we are adding $1 billion to the Medicaid trust fund, which
• Madam Chair, yes, so when we built it last year, we didn't fund it. So this year, we're funding it.
• And the whole idea is that we've got the trust fund.
• As of right now, the fund will reach $2 billion by 2043, which is the goal of the fund, to get to $2
• Would it be accurate to say that this fund, like all of the funds that we have created in recent years

Bills: SB4, SB7, SB9, SB17

Keywords: Medicaid, healthcare, medical education, salaries, graduate education, clinician pay, health sciences, education funding, faculty salary, University of New Mexico, healthcare funding, general fund, state budget, New Mexico legislation, gun control, firearm safety, dealer regulation, illegal trade, background checks, 996

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, and how is it funded?
• Is it just whatever funds TEA has, or is there a separate line item?
• I can get back to you on that question; I'm not sure how the TEA handles that funding. All right.

Bills: HB 1061, HB2800

Keywords: education, teacher certification, cost subsidies, public school funding, career and technology education, reimbursement, subsidy, education funding, student subsidies, cost reimbursements, public school finance, public school, examination fees, apprenticeship, workforce development, career education, high school students, technical education, employment, 1184

Transcript Highlights:

• interest rather than that interest going to the general fund.
• It uses climate emissions reduction funding.
• We have not had dedicated funding for Washington state ferries.
• It doesn't go into the general fund.
• funding levels for the Washington State aeronautics account.

Bills: SB6352

Keywords: transportation, infrastructure, resources, funding, state law, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It relates to performance tier funding under the Public Junior College state finance program.
• Members, the current funding system rewards public junior colleges for student transfers to public four-year
• Generally, it would expand incentives into the state's outcomes-based funding model for community colleges
• It is funded through the Foundation School Program. It's an estimated appropriation.
• So Blinn normally has an increase in state funding.

Bills: SB 49

Keywords: Galveston County, legal expenses, appropriation, litigation, state funding

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard several higher education bills and took public testimony on each. Senate Bill 60 would let public junior college libraries donate outdated, duplicative, or valueless materials instead of treating them as surplus property; no public testimony was offered, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 49 would expand performance-tier funding incentives so community colleges are also rewarded for student transfers to private four-year universities; it also received no public testimony and was left pending. Senate Bill 365 would allow higher education institutions to choose a transcript lookback period between 5 and 10 years for adult undergraduates seeking to waive older transcripts. Senator Eckhardt and witness Daniel Arrevalo described how old academic records can block adults from returning to college; the bill was left pending after testimony. Senate Bill 895 would expand the FAST dual-credit program beyond public school students to include eligible private school and homeschool students, with support from the Texas Private Schools Association, the Texas Homeschool Coalition, and a coordinating board witness explaining the funding structure; it too was left pending. Senate Bill 1400 would clarify what counts as a transfer for performance-tier funding by allowing students with 30 or fewer prior university credit hours to still be counted as transfer students when moving from a public junior college to a general academic institution. Former Representative Leighton Schubert testified that the change would address funding losses and better reflect modern student pathways; after testimony, the bill was left pending. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• . funds. funds.
• And then the full restoration was, of course, the $8 million general fund as originally requested. the
• general fund as originally requested.
• They could move money from the JSA account to general funds, or they could deny that and accept a request
• </c> fund as well. fund as well.

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:

• [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:

• For members who would like to close on their bill, simply make a request to the members of the committee
• 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:

• 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
• In the previous fiscal years, the funds requested by applicants are conservative, and the needs have
• </c><00:20:23.679><c> requested</c><00:20:24.080><c> by</c> fiscal years the funds requested by fiscal
• years the funds requested by applicants<00:20:24.640><c> are</c><00:20:24.799><c> conservative</c><00
• </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

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:

• Chairman, I respectfully request the right to close. any questions Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• This is not only drives up costs for law-abiding Texans, but also funds further criminal enterprises.
• And it was a request, uh, that was put in the bill for that.
• Additionally, the offender would have to receive a request from an administrator, educator, or security
• At the author's request, we will not be considering House Bill 2695 today.

Bills: HB316

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

Transcript Highlights:

• transparency that ensures that attorneys, uh, unrepresented parties, and court-appointed officials can request
• This idea or this request actually was made to me, uh, by, uh, district Judge in Tarrant County, Judge
• I would just ask the representative to expand that to any individual who has the right to request that
• If I didn't have that and I didn't have the funds, I would have still been in jail till this day.
• So what I'm requesting and you'll see here is language very similar to the grandparent access statute

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:

• Revolving Fund.
• I have one question about our decision not to fund the high-density collection storage request that the
• wasn't funded.
• request.
• And I noticed that none of those requests are being funded with this particular budget.

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.