Transcript Highlights:

• They do support this shift in funding from the EE program to the IPS program because of a surplus in
• But trying to enforce non-disclosure agreements by using non-competes is not appropriate.
• this a little bit because the one thing I don't like about this bill is that it does not have appropriations
• The small business assistance appropriation is important.
• I think that we've figured out a way to agree and disagree as appropriate, and when we disagree, we do

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's to ensure a surplus because sometimes there are people that can't work. ...that are in that
• And that's to ensure a surplus, because sometimes there are people that can't work or won't work or turn

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, good afternoon, welcome to the March 19th, 2025 Assembly Appropriations Committee hearing.
• We'll just respectfully ask at the appropriate time that this pass through committee.
• We cannot find insurance coverage in the traditional are not emitted surplus line markets with the increasing
• Everyone, welcome to the March 19th, 2025 Assembly Appropriations suspense hearing on assembly bills.
• An electronic copy of the agenda is available at the Assembly Appropriations Committee website, which

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, your Appropriations and Finance Committee has been referred House Bill 47 as amended and has
• Committee, to get a final recurring appropriation.
• And there's no appropriation in this bill? Madam Speaker and gentlemen, no.
• Madam Speaker, I now move HB 180, House Appropriations and Finance Committee House Appropriations and
• House Appropriations and Finance Committee substitute for House Bill 180 has now passed.

Bills: HB111, HB103, HB109, HB128, HJM2, HJM3, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50, HB49, HB60, HB108, HB120, HB124, HB145, HB154, HB158, HB164, HB180, HB291, HJR6, HJR7, HR1, HJM1, HM13, HM47

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• to create an administrative, expedited approval process for affordable housing developments in appropriate
• In appropriate areas.
• The Senate substitute simply adds a clause that says that it is established from the funds appropriated
• The Senate substitute simply adds a clause that says that it is established from the funds appropriated
• The Appropriations Committee is meeting 15 minutes after adjournment.

Keywords: March 06, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, this is an Office of Fiscal Analysis publication, and I think they're reflecting the appropriation
• It would be the revised appropriation if this item were approved by the committee.
• Right back, or this is appropriate, Madam Governor.
• So, essentially the same question, and looking at the post-FAC action, it is the appropriation that this
• It's the overall surplus that we have in our PS from fiscal year 26, and it's predominantly related to

Keywords: 962, all

Summary: The Finance Advisory Committee approved the minutes of its April 2 meeting and then took up three budget transfers. The first, FAC 2026-6 for the Office of the State Treasurer, moved $75,000 from personal services to other expenses to pay for consultant help applying for federal energy credits under the Inflation Reduction Act’s direct pay provisions. Treasurer’s office staff said the agency had one open position and several others pending posting, and members discussed how the transfer related to vacant positions and the committee’s budget display. The second item, FAC 2026-7 for the Office of the State Controller, transferred $700,000 from personal services to other expenses to cover higher Core-CT software maintenance and licensing costs. Comptroller staff said the office had 21 open positions, most in Core-CT, and explained that the system, implemented in 2003, receives regular quarterly and monthly updates from Oracle. Members also discussed how the system serves payroll, HR, purchasing, accounting, and related functions for many state agencies, including UConn and the Board of Regents. The final item, FAC 2026-8 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, transferred $700,000 from personal services, the veterans opportunity pilot, and headstones accounts to other expenses for year-end operational needs. Commissioner Ron Welch said most vacancies were in the skilled nursing facility, food service, and physical plant, with staffing challenges especially for nurses and aides. He also explained that the veterans opportunity pilot never fully launched, that the Institutional General Welfare Fund has been depleted and the agency now relies more on general fund support, and that the department faces rising food, utility, and pharmaceutical costs, including a federal VA reimbursement change that will leave the state responsible for medication costs by 2027. All three transfers were approved, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• we've imposed on families here in the state in the past three years, on top of the $18.5 billion surplus
• we've imposed on families here in the state in the past three years, on top of the $18.5 billion surplus
• we've imposed on families here in the state in the past three years, on top of the $18.5 billion surplus
• we've imposed on families here in the state in the past three years, on top of the $18.5 billion surplus

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 331, as amended by the A1 amendment, and the bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill. The bill would permanently exempt school supplies from the sales tax, which the author described as a pro-family, pro-affordability, and pro-education measure intended to put money back into families’ pockets and avoid the burden of a temporary sales tax holiday. A representative from We Make Minnesota testified in opposition, arguing the exemption would provide only modest savings to most families while reducing revenue for public services. He said Minnesota already offers more targeted relief through the K-12 education subtraction/credit, noted that similar exemptions in other states are usually temporary, and estimated the bill would cost tens of millions of dollars annually while saving the average family only a small amount per child. He also said the bill was broad enough to cover many office supplies and could benefit higher-spending purchasers disproportionately. Committee members debated the bill’s scope and cost. Supporters said the exemption would help families immediately and noted that many eligible families do not claim existing credits because they must save receipts and file for reimbursement. Opponents argued the same money could be better used for K-12 formula increases or expanded targeted credits, and one member said the bill would narrow the sales tax base and was not well targeted. The author said he was open to working on limits to make the bill more targeted, but emphasized that the goal was direct tax relief for families.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clerk: HB 2002 by Darby, relating to the eligibility of an organization to receive surplus agricultural
• This bill relates to the eligibility of food banks to receive surplus goods through the Department of
• Clerk: HB 1851 by Morales of Maverick, relating to disposition of certain surplus motor vehicles and
• This bill allows public schools to be able to purchase surplus vehicles for campus safety purposes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, any surplus or profit is benefits.
• <01:21:43.640> are the details of the appropriations are the details of the appropriations
• <01:21:57.920> for, general fund direct appropriation for, general fund direct appropriation
• This is an one-time appropriation.
• ongoing appropriation for continued ongoing appropriation for continued full-time<01:24:45.720><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:44.480> And<00:20:44.640> meanwhile, surplus lines market.
• And meanwhile, surplus lines market.
• But we understand that at this certainly at this time an appropriation or a dedicated revenue source
• Uh, this bill does not appropriate funds to the BFA.
• Uh, this bill does not appropriate funds to the BFA.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this body has already allocated a settlement fund to make the people whose surplus assets that were
• And this body has already allocated a settlement fund to make the people whose surplus assets that were
• 31.800> whose settlement fund to make the people whose settlement fund to make the people whose surplus
• 32.880> that<00:10:33.040> were<00:10:33.160> seized<00:10:33.600> after surplus
• assets that were seized after surplus assets that were seized after tax<00:10:34.280> forfeiture<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Democrats over the last two years have raised taxes by $10 billion, spent down the budget surplus.
• And again, $18 billion of surplus was spent. Taxes and fees were raised by another $10 billion.
• again,<00:07:52.880> $18<00:07:53.280> billion<00:07:53.919> of<00:07:54.160> surplus
• again, $18 billion of surplus was spent. again, $18 billion of surplus was spent.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:26:00.480> um spent less than they appropriated. um spent less than they appropriated.
• appropriations for FY27. appropriations for FY27.
• <00:39:50.720> this special meeting to appropriate this special meeting to appropriate this
• to walk away with a 3.1 million surplus to walk away with a 3.1 million surplus though.<01:02:56.559
• find the funds within an appropriation find the funds within an appropriation within<01:13:44.960

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that's appropriate, Chair. Okay, absolutely. Thank you.
• So that’s not appropriate.
• And I had a question in regards to the famous appropriation, the $35 million.
• But it's not a surplus.
• <06:48:00.638> it's Surplus um and it's not a surplus it's Surplus um and it's not a surplus

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Law Enforcement on its priorities following the January 1 transfer of law enforcement assets into the department, including the sheriff’s division, narcotics enforcement, criminal investigations, homeland security, and the inspector general’s office. DLE said its goals are to improve public safety, accountability, communications, training, and standards. The department outlined planned initiatives such as stronger federal partnerships, narcotics and gun-violence enforcement, an agricultural crime unit, traffic and commercial vehicle enforcement, an explosive/fireworks enforcement section, gun buybacks, new police facilities in the airport area, Aahu, and the leeward side, a state training center, upgraded law-enforcement IT, and efforts to narrow salary gaps with county departments to improve recruitment. A major portion of the discussion focused on illegal fireworks enforcement after the recent explosion tragedy. DLE said its current task force is small and relies on ad hoc support from HPD, the Attorney General’s office, criminal investigations, and sheriffs, which is not sustainable. The department requested eight FTEs for the effort—one administrator, two clerical staff, and six investigators—plus funding for a laboratory, equipment, storage, disposal, vehicles, safety gear, and a criminalist. DLE said the explosive enforcement section would use an existing facility and that the initial lab startup cost is about $2 million. Members asked for follow-up materials, and DLE said it would send the explosive enforcement forms and additional details to the Finance and Judiciary chairs. Members also questioned staffing vacancies, interagency coordination, and whether new specialized units could be filled. DLE said it has about 119 vacancies and that recruitment is hindered by a roughly $28,000 starting pay gap with county police departments; academy classes are down to about 12 to 14 recruits. The department said it is streamlining hiring, using QR-code recruitment, and hopes specialized units will attract applicants. On coordination, DLE said it works closely with HPD and other agencies on operations such as fireworks enforcement and public events, and that DOCARE remains a case-by-case partner but is not currently moving into DLE. The committee also received updates on the Silver Alert program, which is nearing rollout with county MOUs and a coordinator expected later in the month, the special duty officer program, which is being moved to a web-based vendor-managed system at no cost to the department, and the SaferWatch school safety system, which is being deployed statewide with annual software costs of $3,500 per school in the first year and $2,500 thereafter. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Baker Act to be assessed and evaluated, and then a determination made about whether there's an appropriate
• a Baker Act to be assessed and evaluated and then a determination made about whether there's an appropriate
• So we focus on making sure that we've got the appropriate levels of care available, and then also that
• And that doesn't matter how much is appropriated if it doesn't go into the organization to keep it afloat
• So that is a new service for which about $4 million was appropriated. It is in effect.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee held a panel discussion on Florida’s mental health and substance abuse system, with representatives from DCF, AHCA, two managing entities, and two providers describing how the state’s behavioral health network is funded and operated. Members focused on the implementation of prior legislative investments, especially the $50 million in recurring funding from Representative Maney’s bill and the earlier $126 million community behavioral health appropriation. Witnesses said the newer funds were used mainly for crisis beds, discharge planning, outpatient services, regional collaboratives, and a USF Marchman Act report, while the larger behavioral health appropriation supported CAT, FACT, FIT, forensic teams, residential and outpatient services, and crisis care, with most dollars going directly to services and only a small share to administration. A major theme was access to crisis care and the role of mobile response teams, 988, and central receiving facilities in diverting people from Baker Act admissions and reducing readmissions. DCF and providers said mobile response teams have expanded, are being used to de-escalate crises and connect people to care, and have shown strong diversion results and reductions in Baker Acts in some regions. Members also asked about waitlists, children in crisis, and how to handle people without housing or support; providers said discharge planning is individualized but often constrained by homelessness, transportation, and a lack of safe placements, and several witnesses identified housing as one of the biggest barriers to recovery and stability. The committee also examined provider sustainability, reimbursement, and funding gaps. Witnesses described delays caused by contract timing, cost allocation rules, and Medicaid reimbursement rates that do not always keep pace with labor and operating costs, especially for smaller providers and rural networks. DCF and AHCA said managing entities can provide advances, retroactive rate adjustments, and technical assistance, and that Medicaid managed care plans have network standards and complaint/dispute processes. Members raised concerns about a reported $7 million loss in federal non-sustainable funds, provider closures, and whether there is a formal ombudsman process for disputes; DCF said the federal reductions were known and tied to one-time funds, and that the department generally handles provider issues informally while working with managing entities to preserve continuity of care.

Transcript Highlights:

• STB capacity that's going to be smaller than what you've been doing through the use of general fund surplus
• evaluation—I mean, really rigorous, high-quality research that I think gives us a leg up as an appropriating

Summary: The committee heard a final wrap-up presentation from Director So Lee on the Legislative Finance Committee’s budget framework for the upcoming session. He said the state remains in a strong fiscal position, though revenue estimates are lower than earlier projections and available nonrecurring funds have declined by more than $1 billion from the prior session. He emphasized that the recommendation still preserves reserves above 30 percent and supports targeted investments in the committee’s three priorities: increasing per capita earned income through education and workforce development, improving access to high-quality health care and behavioral health, and enhancing quality of life through infrastructure, water, parks, trails, and other community amenities. Director Lee highlighted several major funding areas, including a proposed expansion of the UNM medical education program, water projects, capital outlay for state agency assets, and use of a mix of severance tax bonds, general obligation bonds, and cash for capital needs. He also noted continued pressure from health insurance, liability, and compensation costs, and said the committee would keep using pilot programs for new initiatives. Members broadly praised the staff, interim travel, and budget analysis work. During member comments, Senator Woods focused on school funding stability, liability costs, and fraud or waste in state agencies, arguing the state should take more claims to court to establish precedent and better protect taxpayers. Other members thanked staff and leadership for their work and collaboration. The committee then adopted the catch-up cleanup items and the overall LFC budget framework, with Senator Woods recorded in opposition, and created a technical committee with members from both chambers to resolve any final technical issues before the January session.

Transcript Highlights:

• 01:01:10.200> it's because um I just don't think it's because um I just don't think it's appropriate
• so I'll be opposing the appropriate so I'll be opposing the motion<01:01:13.480> okay<01:01:14.079
• renewable energy fund, which is a big deal to balance the budget, and I believe it is sort of on our surplus
• <01:09:26.080> statement<01:09:26.520> yeah<01:09:27.319> represent our Surplus
• statement yeah represent our Surplus statement yeah represent McGuire<01:09:29.279> yes<01:09

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Department of Labor on several House Bill 2 sections. Members discussed raising the annual elevator certificate fee, which had been $50 since at least fiscal year 2014; the commissioner said the Inspection Division generates more revenue than its costs, and members agreed to amend the fee to $75 and later voted unanimously to accept Section 137. The department also explained a proposed change to civil penalty/warning language in Section 139 to align enforcement across labor laws; that section was accepted unanimously. The commissioner then gave a detailed overview of the second injury fund, describing how it is financed by assessments on insurance carriers, how claims are reviewed for reimbursement, and how the fund is intended to reimburse certain workers’ compensation costs. Members questioned whether the program still serves its original purpose, whether it is revenue-neutral, and whether it should be sunset; the department said the fund is a mixed bag for the state and industry, but no sunset language was adopted. Sections 140 and 141 were then accepted unanimously. The committee next heard from the Judicial Council on Sections 125 through 127. The witness said the changes would streamline payment for indigent defense services other than counsel, reduce the number of bills requiring judge review, and expand the council’s ability to contract with providers for services such as translation and evaluations. He also explained a proposed fail-safe allowing the executive director to decline to process questionable invoices and send them to a judge instead. Members generally supported the streamlining, and Sections 125 through 127 were accepted unanimously. Toward the end of the discussion, members asked about the cost impact of changing the misdemeanor/felony threshold from $1,000 to a higher amount. The Judicial Council said felony cases are significantly more expensive than misdemeanors because they involve more hearings, more discovery, and more attorney time, with assigned felony cases costing several times more on average. No action was taken on that question in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2002 by Darby. reeling the eligibility of an organization to receive surplus agricultural products
• Speaker members this bill relates to the eligibility of food bank Receive surplus goods through the Department
• HB 1851 by Morales of Maverick relaying disposition of certain surplus motor vehicles and another law
• Speaker, this bill allows public schools to be able to purchase surplus vehicles for campus safety purposes

Bills: HB 118, HB388, HB 114, HB205, HB2789, HB2791, HB499, HB2960, HB3163, HB3135, HB2427, HB1618, HB1672, HB1722, HB1338, HB787, HB2618, HB879, HB 1126, HB4134, HB3513, HB718, HB1536, HB1445, HB1640, HB1893, HB1734, HB3229, HB3306, HB 1276, HB3272, HB3276, HB3516, HB4145, HB1585, HB4810, HB2989, HB2558, HB3014, HB2742, HB1695, HB29, HB 125, HB145, HB171, HB255, HB50, HB363, HB 116, HB491, HB1495, HB368, HB 1285, HB1905, HB2002, HB917, HB2723, HB2067, HB 1238, HB745, HB 1188, HB1606, HB2003, HB2147, HB2355, HB2546, HB2495, HB2818, HB2249, HB3228, HB3240, HB1507, HB658, HB1748, HB1851, HB1922, HB2798, HB 107, HB1587, HB3684, HB 118, HB388, HB 114, HB205, HB2789, HB2791, HB499, HB2960, HB3163, HB3135, HB2427, HB1618, HB1672, HB1722, HB1338, HB787, HB2618, HB879, HB 1126, HB4134, HB3513, HB718, HB1536, HB1445, HB1640, HB1893, HB1734, HB3229, HB3306, HB 1276, HB3272, HB3276, HB3516, HB4145, HB1585, HB4810, HB2989, HB2558, HB3014, HB2742, HB1695, HB609, HB630, HB420, HB767, HB1708, HB1404, HB2457, HB140, HB227, HB913, HB2198, HB2763, HB 1261, HB 1135, HB1318, HB2358, HB2765, HB2735, HB3307, HB 1242, HB2842, HB333, HB201, HB694, HB2415, HB155, HB272, HB405, HB519, HB 1136, HB 1275, HB1437, HB1532, HB1675, HB1868, HB1888, HB1990, HB2286, HB2523, HB3129, HB3251, HB3354, HB3479, HB3803, HB3804, HB3805, HB3806, HB3887, HB4163, HB4238, HB 1240, HB1842, HB2029, HB2622, HB3255, HB654, HB4643, HB4945, HB3611, HB3724, HB3623, HB3810, HB4127, HCR78, HCR12, SB767

Keywords: HB 388, HB388, coordination of benefits, COB questionnaire, health benefit plan, health insurance, insurance commissioner, Texas Department of Insurance, uniform form, primary payer, secondary payer, multiple coverage, dual coverage, Medicaid, CHIP, managed care, HMO, small employer health plan, school district health coverage, self-funded plan

Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, over the last two years, $18 billion of surplus was spent, another $10 billion raised on
• of the one-party Democrat control that have gotten us to this place—spending an entire $18 billion surplus
• You know, the deficit that has been created, the spending of the $18 billion surplus, raising taxes and
• At a time that we could have used the $18 billion surplus and maybe gotten ahead or set more away and

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And during the last two years, we saw a period of time where the massive nearly $20 billion budget surplus
• 00:39.760> budget the massive nearly 20 billion budget the massive nearly 20 billion budget surplus
• :00:41.360> a<00:00:41.520> whole<00:00:41.719> host<00:00:42.039> of surplus
• was spent on a whole host of surplus was spent on a whole host of wasteful<00:00:42.840> spending

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House Republicans held a press event to announce two priority bills focused on immigration and state spending. Rep. Isaac Schultz said his bill, House File 10, would stop taxpayer funding for people in Minnesota illegally, including through programs such as Northstar Promise, MinnesotaCare, medical assistance, and legal services. He framed the proposal as a way to redirect limited state resources to Minnesota families, veterans, people with disabilities, the homeless, and infrastructure needs, and said it could save more than $100 million, with some estimates discussed during debate reaching about $200 million for MinnesotaCare alone. Rep. Max Rymer introduced House File 16, which would require reporting to ICE or other federal immigration authorities when an undocumented immigrant is suspected of committing a violent crime, and would bar local governments from withholding information from federal authorities. He said the bill is intended to end sanctuary-city practices and improve public safety. Both lawmakers argued that the measures are narrow, targeted at violent offenders, and consistent with cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. They also said the bills respond to voter concerns about illegal immigration and rising costs. During questions, the members said the state-funding bill is aimed at state dollars, while the reporting bill complements federal law by addressing local noncooperation. They discussed concerns about eligibility tracking and said current programs do not provide enough data on how many undocumented people receive benefits. Schultz cited a family in his district that lost MinnesotaCare after an income change as an example of what he sees as unfair treatment compared with benefits for undocumented immigrants. No votes were taken at the event; the lawmakers said these are the first of several bills they plan to advance this session.