Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, Catherine Logan, Department of Revenue, no comments. Okay. Department of Revenue, no comments.
• I’ll take Senate Bill 128 first, which is a department bill, and I have Ms.
• Chairman, this is a department bill once again.
• Junkin here from the Department of Veterans Affairs, who I’ve worked with on the bill. Mr.
• Conn Junkin, Executive Counsel for the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on April 21, 2026, and took up a series of tax, revenue, and property-tax related measures. SB 318 was amended and reported as amended; it revises the Department of Revenue’s annual tax exemption budget process by removing parish-level reporting from that report, creating a separate business tax benefit report by NAICS code, and requiring parish sales tax collectors to produce a similar local exemption report. SB 128, allowing the Department of Revenue to use an existing vendor for address-change services, was reported favorably. SB 149, concerning the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds and requiring good-faith deposits only from the winning bidder, was amended and reported as amended. SB 180, which lets a surviving spouse of a deceased disabled veteran transfer an expanded homestead exemption one time under certain circumstances, was reported favorably. SB 196, extending the tax appeal period from 60 to 90 days and making conforming changes elsewhere in law, was amended and reported as amended. SCR 11, creating the Anchor Home Task Force to study tax credits to encourage Louisiana college graduates to stay and work in the state, was reported favorably. SB 340, making the permanent homestead exemption form requirement statewide for assessors, was reported favorably. Later in the meeting, the committee heard several bills from Senator Gregory Miller on the state’s ongoing tax sale and ad valorem tax reform package. SB 73 was reported favorably to resolve a conflict between prior legislation and the 2024 constitutional amendment on tax sale timing. SB 238 was reported favorably to clarify which collection procedures apply to older tax sales and to preserve prior notice procedures where already completed. SB 191 was amended to restore the requirement for two advertisements for tax lien auctions instead of one, and then reported favorably as amended. SB 89, a backup measure to require the St. Charles Parish assessor to provide a permanent homestead exemption form, was also reported favorably, with the sponsor noting it was intended to avoid duplication if the statewide bill already enacted the same policy. Testimony was generally supportive across the agenda, with Department of Revenue, Department of Veterans Affairs, local tax, sheriffs, press, and land title representatives appearing in support or for information. Committee members asked a few clarifying questions, mainly about the scope of homestead exemption portability, whether local governments would face new costs, and the effect of the tax appeal deadline change. No roll-call votes were taken; the committee adopted amendments where offered and reported the bills and resolution favorably or as amended by unanimous consent. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state of Oklahoma, if you're not aware, we got sued by the Department of Justice last year.
• Members, House Bill 3649 is a request bill from the Department of Mental Health that would allow them
• I think the concern is that the department has, as... Thank you for the question.
• I think the concern is that the department has specifically the state-run CCBHCs that they're going to
• House Bill 3979 is mandatory language as it pertains to the Department of Commerce's P3 program.

Bills: HB4421 , HB4426 , HB4432 , HB4329 , HB3551 , HB3763 , HB1411 , HB2730 , HB3465 , HB3649 , HB3650 , HB3674 , HB3941 , HB3970 , HB3979 , HB3980 , HB3981 , SB1074

Committee: House Appropriations and Budget

Keywords: child welfare, fentanyl exposure, drug endangerment, environmental testing, safety analysis, remediation, child protection, Department of Human Services, violence prevention, HB4426, SIDE tax credit, strategic industrial development enhancement, income tax credit, economic development, tax incentive, qualified economic development expenditures, qualified initial infrastructure expenditures, industrial park, economic development zone, port authority

Bills: HB4421 , HB4426 , HB4432 , HB4329 , HB3551 , HB3763 , HB1411 , HB2730 , HB3465 , HB3649 , HB3650 , HB3674 , HB3941 , HB3970 , HB3979 , HB3980 , HB3981 , SB1074

Committee: House Appropriations and Budget

Keywords: child welfare, fentanyl exposure, drug endangerment, environmental testing, safety analysis, remediation, child protection, Department of Human Services, violence prevention, HB4426, SIDE tax credit, strategic industrial development enhancement, income tax credit, economic development, tax incentive, qualified economic development expenditures, qualified initial infrastructure expenditures, industrial park, economic development zone, port authority

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll take Senate Bill 128 first, which is a department bill, and I have Ms.
• Chairman, this is a department bill once again.
• That way the Treasury Office doesn't have to be responsible for maintaining those funds.
• Junkin here from the Department of Veterans Affairs, who I've worked with on the bill. Mr.
• Conn Junkin, Executive Counsel for the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs.

Bills: HR118 , HB1120 , SCR11 , SB73 , SB89 , SB128 , SB149 , SB180 , SB191 , SB196 , SB238 , SB318 , SB340

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: water utility, tax credit, excessive rates, residential service, subcommittee, tobacco tax, excise tax, smokeless tobacco, vapor products, public health, FDA, risk-proportionate, tax credits, higher education, workforce development, brain drain, economic incentives, SB 73, Act 10, Act No. 774 of 2024

Transcript Highlights:

• Treasury, we're doing good.
• As many of you know, our department was created in 2019, when we merged the traditional Department of
• We partnered with the Department of Corrections.
• Department of Labor.
• Louis City Health Department are deploying those funds.

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Carson believes that the definitions in SB 570, as amended by the Senate Executive Departments
• , as amended by the<00:04:25.759><c> Senate</c><00:04:26.160><c> Executive</c><00:04:26.639><c> Departments
• </c><00:04:27.040><c> and</c> the Senate Executive Departments and the Senate Executive Departments and
• legislators or at least one was voting on something that was going to result in a check from the Treasury
• </c> Treasury to him and his wife. Treasury to him and his wife.

Committee: House Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:21:43.440><c> uh</c><00:21:43.520><c> to</c> authorizes the department uh to authorizes the department
• </c><00:24:47.520><c> of</c> authorizes the Maryland Department of authorizes the Maryland Department
• :04.880><c> that</c><00:38:05.040><c> a</c> emergency department determines that a emergency department
• </c><01:14:17.840><c> building</c> opening of the old treasury building opening of the old treasury building
• Department of General phenomenal job.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just have a question, a few questions, for the department.
• salaries that you're looking at and moving your employees around, as far as the overall police department
• Treasury bonds that, because we pulled that position, we are not going to be able to try to get back

Committee: All JBC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee met to consider several budget and staffing requests tied to constitutional offices and the Supreme Court, with opening remarks noting that fringe benefits are now calculated at 40% to 45% and that constitutional officers may pay the maximum if they choose. Item B, a Supreme Court request for one new Supreme Court police chief position with no appropriation increase, was approved. Item C, from the Secretary of State, sought five additional Capitol Police corporal positions, title realignments, and salary maximum adjustments, along with a $498,000 appropriation increase; members questioned how the office could absorb pay changes without new funding, and the office explained it was cleaning up a large and outdated classification structure while also preparing to provide security for an additional building. The item was approved. Item D, from the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, proposed moving from line-item maximum salaries to state pay-plan grades, with no change in total positions but about a $349,000 increase in salaries and matching funds. Office representatives said the office had not had raises in nearly a decade and needed the change to stay competitive and retain staff, but members raised concerns about comparing the office’s pay to other agencies and about office staffing and accessibility. Senator Hill asked to hold the item for offline discussion, and the committee agreed to hold it until the next day. Item E, from the Auditor’s Office, requested salary realignments, increases to line-item maximums, and two new positions tied to UCP claims and compliance work, with a total increase of $579,468. The auditor said the office had already pulled a government relations position from the request after an updated packet was issued, and defended the remaining increases as market-based and revenue-neutral, with some work funded by interest earnings. Members questioned the need for a legislative affairs position and whether the salary increases were aligned with the market, but after discussion the committee approved the item. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...I know you're aware that there are multiple trusts under my office that get managed through Treasury
• through know you're aware that there are multiple trusts under my office that get managed through Treasury
• Under the annual support and incentive grant, ...to the state 911 department under the annual support
• And the The annual interdepartmental service agreement with the State 911 Department, under which the
• Association of School Committees, the Department of Education, prior commissioners, and our new current

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on a proposed Massachusetts baby bonds program, including H. 3429, S. 2146, and the Treasurer’s related bill H. 48. Treasurer Goldberg and a broad coalition of advocates, researchers, health professionals, and people with lived experience said the program would create trust accounts for children born into low-income families or in DCF custody, with funds available at age 18 for education, homeownership, business startup, or other long-term asset-building uses. Supporters argued the program would help close the racial wealth gap, improve economic mobility, and not affect eligibility for financial aid or public benefits. Committee members asked about administration, investment returns, eligibility, and withdrawal rules; the Treasurer said the accounts would be held in trust and managed by her office with an advisory board, with funds accessible at 18 and usable through age 35 if the beneficiary remains a Massachusetts resident. No vote was taken during the testimony shown. The committee also heard testimony on legislation establishing Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day, including S. 2666 and H. 4625. Senator Ross, Representative Badger, physicians, survivors, and advocates described invasive lobular carcinoma as difficult to detect because it often grows in lines rather than forming a lump, can be missed on mammography, and is underfunded and underrepresented in research and clinical trials. Witnesses said the bill would codify an annual October 15 proclamation to raise awareness, improve diagnosis, and encourage more targeted research and treatment. Committee members asked why the disease is so hard to detect, and medical witnesses explained the imaging challenges and the lack of lobular-specific protocols. The witnesses urged favorable reports. The committee then took testimony on H. 4648, a bill concerning the purchase or lease of Fenn Farm in Stockbridge by the Stockbridge-Munsee community. Representative Davis, the Stockbridge Land Trust president, and the tribal president testified that the bill would remove a conservation restriction tied to a state MVP grant so the tribe could manage the land without a restriction that they said would conflict with tribal sovereignty and Indigenous stewardship practices. They said the parcel is a sacred site connected to Monument Mountain and that the restriction is unnecessary because the land is already surrounded by conserved property. The witnesses asked for favorable action on the bill. Finally, the committee heard testimony on H. 3416, a resolution urging Congress to create a national infrastructure bank. Representative Senna and several advocates argued that an off-budget infrastructure bank could finance major repairs and upgrades to roads, bridges, rail, water systems, broadband, and housing without adding to the state budget, while creating jobs and supporting economic growth. Witnesses cited historical precedents for national infrastructure banks and said Massachusetts could benefit substantially from such a program. The transcript shown does not include a committee vote or final action on the resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• And to a department doing it in math.
• </c><01:00:48.319><c> some</c> self-funded department with with some self-funded department with with
• </c><01:03:49.280><c> and</c> Hampshire Fish and Game Department and Hampshire Fish and Game Department
• </c><01:19:58.560><c> of</c> transferred to uh the department of transferred to uh the department of
• So we source within the department.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on SB 63, a bill described by Senator Tim Lang and other supporters as a technical correction to the rooms and meals tax distribution formula. Lang said the bill would clarify that the Division of Travel and Tourism’s 3.15% promotional allocation is taken from gross rooms-and-meals revenue before the 30% municipal reimbursement fund is calculated, which he argued restores the intended 2009/2021 structure and avoids an unintended loss to tourism marketing. Committee members raised questions about whether the bill actually changes section one or instead addresses DRA’s interpretation, and whether the measure could be affected by the budget process or HB 2. Jessica Keeler of Ski New Hampshire testified in strong support, saying the bill would preserve the promotional budget formula that had been in place since 2009 and that the 2019 revision effectively reduced the promotional allocation by placing the municipal share first. She said tourism promotion has helped increase visitation, revenues, and jobs, and warned that without a fix, the joint promotional program and other tourism efforts could be cut in future budgets. She also said the bill would not change the current year’s tourism budget but would matter for future cycles. Mike Summers of the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association also supported SB 63, calling it a correction to the 2021 changes and arguing that state tourism marketing is essential because small businesses cannot reach distant markets on their own. He said the industry has benefited from state promotion, especially after COVID, but is now facing softer occupancy rates, lower Canadian visitation, and financial strain from debt and operating costs. Summers said the industry cannot make up for major tourism budget cuts on its own and urged maintaining or increasing travel and tourism funding. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill creates an account for the program within the state treasury.
• insurance fraud that some of this money has gone to stand up insurance fraud investigations and that department
• Insurance Commissioner, State Conservation Commission, the conservation districts, and the Washington Department
• It has performed well, delivered the funds needed without hitting the state treasury for those three
• We work with the Department of Commerce. We see this as really an important opportunity.

Bills: SB6061 , SB5844 , SB6079 , SB6137 , SB5831 , SB6031 , SB6178

Committee: Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development

Keywords: tourism, self-supported assessment, funding, statewide promotion, economic development, storage rental, tenancy agreements, tenant rights, landlord obligations, termination notice, insurance, wildfire prevention, policy nonrenewal, cancellation, risk management, sports wagering, sports betting, sports gambling, bookmaking, gambling regulation

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill creates an account for the program within the state treasury.
• fraud... ...that some of this money has gone to stand up insurance fraud investigations and that department
• Insurance Commissioner, State Conservation Commission, the Conservation Districts, and the Washington Department
• It has performed well, delivered the funds needed without hitting the state treasury for those three
• We work with the Department of Commerce.

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 6137 on sports wagering. Staff explained that the bill would allow wagering on collegiate events involving Washington colleges, but would continue to prohibit bets on the performance of individual college athletes. Tribal representatives from the Jamestown S’Klallam, Puyallup, and Kalispel tribes testified in support, saying the bill would keep wagering within the regulated tribal marketplace, protect integrity, and help smaller tribal casinos participate through a hub-and-spoke model. University of Washington and Washington State University representatives supported the ban on individual prop bets and emphasized student-athlete safety, while WSU also argued the bill would expand exposure to harassment and online abuse. No vote was taken. The committee then heard Senate Bill 6079, which would create the Strengthen Washington Homes wildfire mitigation grant program. Staff said the bill would fund grants for wildfire-hardening homes to IBHS standards, authorize pilot projects, and prohibit insurers from using wildfire risk to disqualify homes that meet the standards. Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuder and Senator Marcus Riccelli supported the bill, arguing that wildfire losses and non-renewals are increasing and that upfront mitigation is cheaper than recovery. Local officials and advocates from Medical Lake, Washington Realtors, and climate and wildfire groups also supported the measure. Insurance industry representatives supported the mitigation goals but objected to the bill’s requirement that insurers provide coverage based on IBHS designation and to using the commissioner’s regulatory account as a funding source, saying underwriting still needs to consider broader risk factors. No action was taken. The committee next held a work session and public hearing on Senate Bill 6061, which would create a tourism self-supported assessment program. State of Washington Tourism, the Washington Wine Commission, the Washington Hospitality Association, the Brewers Guild, the Port of Seattle, and rural economic development representatives said the state’s tourism program is underfunded and that an industry-led assessment could provide a stable, competitive funding source. They said the model would be governed by a ratepayer oversight board, subject to ratification, and could generate significant visitor spending and tax revenue over time. Some testimony raised concerns about the scope of eligible businesses and the bill’s references to other industries, but supporters said friendly amendments would refine those details. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5844 on self-storage rental agreements, which would allow electronic agreements, clarify acceptance by continued occupancy, and create a uniform process for termination or nonrenewal for nonpayment or nonmonetary defaults. Self-storage operators supported the bill as a modernization measure that would improve safety and consistency, and no vote was taken on any of the bills heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• or SSCCs, are local child welfare entities that enter into performance-based contracts with the Department
• served as residency director of the surgery training program, as well as chairman of the surgical department
• You know, probably that exit strategy will be related to the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company
• vaccinating people against hepatitis B, but we will see, you know, monetary returns back into the Treasury
• No meds, no food, being brought into my emergency department.

Bills: SB623 , SB1266 , SB1310 , SB1373 , SB1580 , SB1952 , SB2032 , SB2269 , SB2544 , SB2653 , SB2796

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Since that was a topic of conversation in the last department, let's ask at this department.
• It's going to be for the department heads. It's going to be for the department head.
• It's going to be for the department head. Say that again? It's going to be for the department.
• So this program came from the Department of Health, so the Department of Emergency Management did not
• No, it came from the Department of Health. It came from the Department of Health.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Alabama Department of Archives and tour. Alabama Department of Archives and tour.
• ><c> Archives</c><00:15:30.399><c> will</c> The Alabama Department of Archives will The Alabama Department
• We maintained department $25 million.
• :30.080><c> services</c> department of rehabilitation services department of rehabilitation services
• So this all relates to unclaimed properties through the treasury department, right?

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is the amendment for the Treasury Office of State Appropriation.
• There are increases in appropriation in the Department of Corrections and also the Secretary of State
• Members, this is the appropriation for the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
• This is the appropriation for the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
• This is an act for the Department of Human Services Secretary's Office appropriation.

Summary: The House convened with a prayer and pledge, established a quorum, approved leave requests, dispensed with the prior journal, and received a governor’s communication listing several fiscal-session bills that had been signed into law. The chamber also adopted a consent calendar of resolutions and recognized multiple guests, including law enforcement officers, a doctor and nurse, a House staff member celebrating her 80th birthday, and several student athletic teams and Special Olympics participants. During the floor session, members heard a personal privilege statement from Representative Dolly Henley apologizing for any confusion about her request to vote no on House Bill 1098. The House then took up appropriations and related budget measures. Senate Bill 1, the Arkansas Senate appropriation, passed 90-1 with the emergency clause. An amendment to House Bill 1034 concerning the Secretary of State’s appropriation was rejected. The House passed a batch of general appropriation bills, then separately passed House Bill 1020, House Bill 1041, House Bill 1098, Senate Bill 2, Senate Bill 14, Senate Bill 26, Senate Bill 68, Senate Bill 69, and Senate Bill 72. House Bill 1023 and House Bill 1053 failed. Several bills were pulled from batches for separate votes at members’ requests, and the chamber repeatedly noted that some measures contained no appropriation increase while others reflected pay-plan, security, performance-fund, or capital-project adjustments. Senate Bill 69 was described as a supplemental for a University of Arkansas food science building without drawing on general revenue. Most measures passed with strong margins, though House Bill 1023 and House Bill 1053 failed. The House then adopted a motion to adjourn until 3 p.m. Monday, and committee announcements noted House Management would meet 15 minutes after adjournment and that the deadline for submitting resolutions was that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• $14.5 million for the MJ Foster Promise Program Fund for Scholarships, and $14.3 million to the Department
• FEMA for Hurricane Katrina debt payments; $11.2 million to the LSU system; $5.2 million to the Department
• You mentioned something about the sheriffs in Vernon Parish, the sheriff's department?"
• "In Vernon Parish, the Sheriff's Department? Yes.
• known as the Funds Bill, provides for the transfer, use, and deposit of state monies and various Treasury

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

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: revenue sharing, fund distribution, homestead exemption, state funding, local government

Transcript Highlights:

• hunting permits, and stuff, and where they can check it off if they want to donate to the Oklahoma Department
• The PCS still retains that spirit and it also incorporates language from the Department of Commerce,

Bills: SB44 , SB134 , SB1378 , SB1400 , SB1403 , SB1832 , SB2018 , SB2143

Committee: House A&B Finance Subcommittee

Keywords: sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, contractors, charitable purposes, state law, retirement, public employees, reemployment, benefit adjustment, Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, Olympics, funding, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, local businesses, revolving fund, event hosting, sales tax, tax exemption, tax refund, Oklahoma Sales Tax Code

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Heidi Armstrong, Department of Education, and the department supports this bill.
• This bill was not initiated by the department, but the department recognizes that Hawaii is the only
• We stand on our written department.
• </c><01:35:35.600><c> of</c> that somebody from the Department of that somebody from the Department of
• </c> exclusionary factor of a department exclusionary factor of a department employee.<01:43:06.800><

Bills: SB2024 , SB896 , SB2613 , SB494 , SB2391 , SB2125 , SB2614 , SB2615 , SB3262 , SB3325 , SB3118

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: charter schools, public-private partnership, school facilities, education funding, community need, education, capital improvement, reporting, transparency, technical expertise, public school land transfer, Department of Education, DOE, land conveyance, fee simple title, tax map key, TMK, Act 307, Session Laws of Hawaii 2022, Act 139

Transcript Highlights:

• of State to align the law with the current responsibilities of the department.
• Let's go to recreation in the Department of State first. What's that?
• Let's go to recreation, the Department of State first.
• It recreates the Department of State and the statutory entities made a part of the department by law.
• It recreates the Department of State Civil Service and the statutory entities made a part of the department

Bills: HB117 , HB228 , HB250 , HB260 , HB393 , HB400 , HB446 , HB534 , HB551 , HB576 , HB842

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Keywords: Department of State, statutory entities, re-creation, termination, Louisiana laws, Department of State Civil Service, Louisiana legislation, government re-creation, authority termination, financial disclosure, public servants, ethics, immediate family, transparency, legislators, transportation, foreign travel, cultural exchange, public service, HB393