Transcript Highlights:

• As you know, the salary and benefits is certainly a big part.
• You might think, "Oh, y'all got a lot of money in salary and benefits," but we have a... salary and benefits
• It seems like we are very competitive in the Southeast region regarding salaries.
• Regarding salaries, they did a great job, and I appreciate their efforts.
• The salary base here is very good. Any other questions?

Transcript Highlights:

• Our third and final request is for a salary adjustment for staff.
• We actually filled vacancies, but we increased the salaries to be competitive.
• The second highest priority on our list would be our salaries.
• And so that's an average of $164,000 a year for their salaries.
• I'm going back to the salary revisions of existing staff.

Committee: House A&B Human Services Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• The plus up was due to a salary..."
• And the language is that the salary we're freezing the salary of the director.
• <00:19:35.840><c> um</c> salaries um salaries um uh<00:19:37.840><c> commisserate</c><00:19:38.480><c
• </c> to in with the rental increase uh salary to in with the rental increase uh salary progression<00
• </c> um in employee uh salaries. um in employee uh salaries.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• All of the salary decisions are grayed out. want to have a bigger conversation about how to do salary
• The first item is 18. $1.8 million, mostly for FTEs and salaries. So item A is.
• And the $95,000 annual salary for the position, that's going to be sufficient for what?
• The salary was there, yeah, it is, that salary is higher than was in their our budget before the session
• We need some salary actions and a staff attorney. Thank you. to get done. Thank you, Jordan.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:

• teacher salary.
• Teacher salary equalization is awarded based on a formula to assist districts in raising teacher salaries
• and reducing salary disparities with other states.
• You will see that the teacher salary report is listed twice.
• You will see that the teacher salary report is listed twice.

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the previous minutes and then focused on an update from the Department of Education on early childhood programs, especially the state-funded Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) program. Secretary Jacob Oliva and Deputy Commissioner Stacey Smith said Arkansas had received a federal Preschool Development Grant and described ongoing work to review ABC slots, which have been flat for years at about 23,800 slots and roughly $114 million. They said about 1,000 slots statewide are currently unfilled despite a waiting list of more than 2,000 families, and the department is shifting toward paying based on enrollment rather than guaranteed slots. Members asked about school choice, income eligibility, year-round access, curriculum flexibility, transportation, and whether funding should be increased or rebalanced; the department said it is collecting data, may survey providers more formally, and is considering whether to modernize income thresholds, daily rates, and other program rules. The committee agreed to form an early childhood subcommittee and asked the Bureau of Legislative Research to help gather historical information on income limits and other program details. The second major portion of the meeting was a legal presentation on the framework for Arkansas school adequacy by BLR education attorney Taylor Lloyd. She reviewed the constitutional basis for a “general, suitable, and efficient” public school system, the Dupree and Lake View cases, and the principle that adequacy and equity are different but related: adequacy asks what resources are needed, while equity asks whether those resources are distributed fairly. She explained that the General Assembly must define adequacy, study it, and react to evidence over time, and that the current adequacy definition includes curriculum and career/technical frameworks, the 38 mandatory Carnegie units, state testing standards, and sufficient funding. She also described the matrix as a funding tool, not a spending mandate, and noted that categorical funds are separate from the matrix. BLR’s Elizabeth Bynum then gave the historical framework, tracing legislative responses from Dupree through Lake View and into the present. She highlighted major changes such as the creation of equalization funding, fiscal distress and academic distress laws, the adequacy study process, the Educational Adequacy Fund, facilities and transportation changes, declining enrollment and student growth funding, and later adjustments to teacher salaries, isolated funding, and categorical programs. She explained that the adequacy study has evolved through committee hearings, surveys, site visits, and outside consultants, and that recent changes include updates to accountability references and the addition or removal of certain funding categories. Members asked follow-up questions about how the matrix is used, whether homeschool or private-school funding raises comparable issues, whether stakeholders include private and homeschool participants, whether school board members should be surveyed, and whether the state should revisit average daily membership versus attendance-based funding. No votes were taken on the adequacy presentations, but the committee did agree to continue the early childhood discussion in a future subcommittee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> actually approve the salary? actually approve the salary?
• </c> committee actually approved a salary. committee actually approved a salary.
• </c> setting and approving their own salary. setting and approving their own salary.
• </c> the hiring decision and two, the salary the hiring decision and two, the salary on<00:47:00.600>
• One of the basic fundamental salary.

Committee: House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs

Summary: The committee heard a series of resolutions and a few bills, with testimony largely in support across the agenda. Early measures included HCR 15/HR 17 supporting Kamehameha Schools’ admissions policy, and HCR 22/HR 22 urging Congress to pass federal kidney disease legislation; both drew support and no opposition. The committee also heard HCR 146 HD1/HR 138 HD1 on “excited delirium,” with testimony from advocates urging the resolutions be broadened to include related terms such as hyperactive delirium and agitated delirium, and from family members and disability-rights advocates describing the issue as harmful pseudoscience tied to police-custody deaths and calling for a ban on the term and better mental-health responses. The committee then took up HCR 123/HR 115 on creating a coordinated support and stabilization task force for Native Hawaiians experiencing homelessness or extreme low income. Department of Hawaiian Home Lands testified in support, describing its transitional housing work and saying collaboration and data-sharing with the state homelessness office would help beneficiaries and others; members questioned whether existing entities already do similar work and whether the proposal would extend beyond beneficiaries. HCR 32/HR 32, which asks the governor’s senior advisor on mental health and the justice system to develop a plan to increase access to Hawaii State Hospital for certain criminal defendants, drew support from the Department of Health, the governor’s office, and disability-rights advocates, who emphasized coordinated planning, diversion from arrest when appropriate, and matching people to the right level of care. Additional resolutions addressed a range of policy issues: renaming Leeward Community College to Puloulou Community College (with no testimony), creating an ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi pathway under the Niʻihau dialect at UH (UH noted existing courses already cover the dialect but not a degree pathway), moving to a demerit-point driver licensing system (support only), and coordinating transportation infrastructure planning for Hawaiian home lands (DHHL supported the measure and said an expired DOT memorandum of understanding had covered related collaboration). The committee also heard support for expanding DHHL financial literacy and homeownership-preparedness programs, a resolution asking the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission to examine algorithmic discrimination, and a resolution urging the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Advisory Committee to follow its rules, comply with the Sunshine Law, review its executive director, and strengthen accountability; the last measure drew 11 written supports and no opposition. No final votes or decisions were taken in the portion provided, as the hearing focused on testimony and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It doesn't move the salary cap for them necessarily.
• It doesn't move the salary cap for them necessarily.
• It doesn't move the salary cap route.
• This will definitely help them out as far as their salary and income and what have you.
• This will definitely help them salary.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, approved excusing absent members, dispensed with the previous day’s journal, and allowed bill introductions and committee reports throughout the day. Members also recognized guests in the gallery, including Judge Smitherman and later Karen Butler, wife of Senator Tom Butler. The chamber adopted Senate Joint Resolution 11, honoring Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated on its Founders Day and 118 years of service, after reading the resolution at length and hearing brief remarks from Senator Figures. The Senate then adopted the Rules Committee’s special order calendar and took up several bills. Senate Bill 12 by Senator Gudger, repealing a prior community development districts law tied to a Coleman County project, passed. Senate Bill 19 by Senator Livingston, dealing with health insurance/prostate cancer screening, also passed. Senate Bill 89 by Senator Sessions, repealing the 1931 State Pilotage Commission statute, passed; Senate Bill 134 by Senator Beasley, concerning taxation and interstate warehousing of tobacco products, passed after a committee amendment was adopted; Senate Bill 100 by Senator Kelly, extending the State Board of Pharmacy sunset for one year with appointment changes, passed; Senate Bill 114 by Senator Bell, expanding Alabama’s handling of out-of-state warrants to additional felonies, passed; Senate Bill 122 by Senator Stewart, regarding the State Board of Registration for Foresters, passed; Senate Bill 35 by Senator Kitchens, updating vessel registration language for Coast Guard compliance, passed; and Senate Bill 127 by Senators Coleman-Madison and Stewart, continuing the Board of Examiners in Counseling for four years, passed. Senate Bill 28 by Senator Elliott, which would raise the earnings cap for retired law enforcement officers and district attorneys returning to work and address school bus driver staffing, was discussed at length but carried over at the sponsor’s request. Senators raised concerns about the bill’s impact on RSA/retirement system funding and the possibility of broader pressure for similar retiree reemployment arrangements, while supporters emphasized staffing shortages, training savings, and benefits for schools and public safety. The session concluded with the calendar completed and a new resolution introduced by Senator Orr recognizing the 250th anniversary of the United States Postal Service, which was taken up for immediate consideration and adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have lowered their requested increases in regular salary and match in both their operations and
• Regular salaries and match for operations is now $245,490.
• Regular salary match for UCP is now at $109,711. Members, do we have any questions on item C?
• The spreadsheet also details the revised requests for regular salary and match appropriations totaling
• The amendment will also lower regular salaries by $189,211 and matching by $75,684, for a total reduction

Committee: All JBC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee took up several budget and personnel items, first approving revised requests from the Auditor’s Office and the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. The Auditor’s request lowered its salary-and-match increases to 10 percent, with operations and UCP amounts reduced to $245,490 and $109,711. The Lieutenant Governor’s revised request kept positions at line-item maximums and sought $99,876 in regular salary and match appropriations, or 17.43 percent. Both items were approved without objection. The main discussion centered on a member amendment from Senator Rice to Senate Bill 30 affecting the Governor’s Office. The amendment would eliminate one senior advisor position, reduce authorized positions from 59 to 58, and cut salaries and matching funds by a total of $264,895. Senator Rice argued the reduction was warranted because of concerns about former Corrections Secretary Joe Profury’s handling of corrections-related matters, including the Franklin County land purchase, transparency issues, and his refusal to appear before Joint Performance Review. Several members questioned the relevance of the testimony and noted the Governor could still hire him in another role if she chose. After discussion, a roll call vote was taken and the amendment failed. The committee then approved two routine items: OPM’s request to reinstate a labor market rate at the crime lab so it can offer up to $300,000 to recruit two medical examiners, and Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for 11 positions tied to the new veterinary medicine school. Both requests were approved, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of the salaries fall within the pre-approved plan. Thank you.
• They make a higher salary. Many of them do.
• we keep raising salaries, but we're working less.
• And I think it behooves all the constitutional officers to think about who pays their salaries.
• Absolutely. to think about who pays their salaries. Sure. Absolutely.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, we have our annual increases that go into effect July 1st, and the current salary, as you
• Currently, we have our annual increases that go into effect July 1st, and the current salary, as you
• </c> average when you look at this salary average when you look at this salary comparison<00:47:48.040
• </c> 10 years of experience have a salary 10 years of experience have a salary that<00:48:20.880><c>
• He left because of the salary, and he had a special needs child and needed flexibility.

Bills: HF747 , HF360

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no record of how the salary is set.
• In testimony, it was said that the salary is a small portion of the budget, when in fact, the salary
• </c> own salary, without documented approval. own salary, without documented approval.
• </c><00:49:28.920><c> is</c> There is no record of how the salary is There is no record of how the salary
• that the salary is a small<00:49:33.440><c> portion</c><00:49:34.480><c> of</c><00:49:34.640><c> the

Bills: SB3136 , SB2521 , SB2851 , SB3154 , SB3262 , SB2387 , SB3001 , SB2818 , SB2972 , SB2372 , SB2108 , SB888 , SB3320 , SB2798 , SB2110 , SB3007 , SB2615 , SB2095 , SB2101 , SB3138 , SB2756 , SB3229 , SB2969 , SB3286 , SB3238 , SB2557 , SB3140 , SB2014 , SB3097 , SB3096 , SB3069 , SB99 , SB2930 , SB2268 , SB2543 , SB3022 , SB3109 , SB3215 , SB3152 , SB3156 , SB3234 , SB3053 , SB3067 , SB2673 , SB411 , SB2041 , SB2919 , SB2532 , SB2152 , SB2721 , SB2446 , SB2601 , SB2239 , SB2804 , SB3324 , SB2802 , SB2577 , SB2320 , SB2706 , SB2595 , SB2781 , SB2961 , SB2433 , SB2657 , SB2340 , SB3045 , SB3203 , SB2861 , SB3245 , SB2803 , SB3204 , SB3025 , SB2138 , SB2645 , SB3082 , SB2109 , SB2261 , SB3332 , SB2811 , SB2567 , SB2125 , SB2866 , SB83 , SB874 , SB2386 , SB3137 , SB3132 , SB2175 , SB2272 , SB2271 , SB847 , SB3302 , SB2089 , SB2102 , SB2050 , SB2694 , SB2487 , SB2061 , SB709 , SB3083 , SB2151 , SB2852 , SB2471 , SB2568 , SB2253 , SB2697 , SB2429 , SB2929 , SB3032 , SB2057 , SB148 , SB2353 , SB2075 , SB2907 , SB2074 , SB3219 , SB3218 , SB2367 , SB3048 , SB17 , SB3253 , SB2376 , SB3103 , SB2999 , SB3255 , SB1166 , SB3157 , SB2698 , SB3029 , SB2146 , SB2470 , SB3040 , SB3076 , SB2575 , SB3294 , SB2438 , SB2530 , SB2688

Transcript Highlights:

• schedule to increase the base salary of all teachers if the voters approve an increased distribution
• A school may not reduce eligible teacher base salaries below the base salary schedule reported to ADE
• program to increase salaries and base salaries. reported to ADE and FY 2027.
• the program to increase the salaries and base salaries We've got. ...and directs the legislature to enact
• legislation for the program to increase the salaries and base salary schedules.

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several education-related bills. SB 1572, the Return to Civics Instruction Act, would require Freedom Week, civics instruction on the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and a Declaration recitation for grades 3-12; it passed 3-2 after some members argued schools already provide civics instruction and that the legislature should not mandate curriculum. SB 1798, as amended, would require each high school to designate a FAFSA point person, post contact information, and implement a FAFSA awareness strategy; the Arizona Board of Regents supported it, while some members raised concerns about mandates on charter schools and staffing burdens. The committee also passed SB 1711, which directs the State Board of Education to develop and post age-appropriate resources on preventing and recognizing inappropriate contact, with testimony split between support for parent-accessible safety materials and concerns about sex-education compliance issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the flaw in the formula: as teacher salaries increased over time, supplements did not because they
• Their salaries did not increase while teaching salaries did.
• So next, I wanted to show some salaries of neighboring states and the public schools, the coaches in
• On top of a starting teaching salary of $47,000, On top of a starting teaching salary of $47,500, a head
• I don’t think that that’s a negative when you start looking at coaching salary.”

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Florida High School Athletic Association Executive Director Craig Damon, joined by student athletes Sydney Daniel and Taylor White, on current issues in high school sports. Damon said the association received more than 309 allegations this year, including 113 recruiting complaints, but only two coaches were suspended for recruiting violations, and those were self-reported. He focused on rising sportsmanship problems, violent incidents, and ejections, saying the association is working with coaches and athletic administrators on prevention and positive-behavior campaigns. He also discussed mental health pressures on student athletes, the effects of frequent transfers and school choice on team stability and community pride, and the need for more qualified coaches on campus who understand interscholastic rules and student support responsibilities. Senators asked about the transfer system, violent conduct, and whether the association would propose changes; Damon said he would support guardrails that protect school choice while limiting midseason athletic transfers. The committee then took up a panel on high school coaches’ compensation led by Florida Coaches Coalition Executive Director Dr. Andrew Ramgett, with Coach Mike Hickman, Coach Charlie Ward, and superintendents from Okaloosa and Walton counties. Ramgett argued that coaching supplements are outdated, often amounting to very low hourly pay despite year-round duties, and said Florida’s system has not kept pace with increased responsibilities, inflation, or neighboring states. He also criticized restrictions on booster-club support, minimal coaching certification requirements, and turnover among coaches, and urged changes that would allow coaches to negotiate fairer compensation and receive external funding. Hickman and Ward emphasized the long hours, family strain, and mentoring role of coaches, while the superintendents said districts face finite budgets and must balance coach pay against teacher, bus driver, and other staffing needs; they also warned that booster-funded pay could create inequities between wealthy and less affluent communities. Senators discussed whether booster-club funding should be allowed, whether compensation should vary by performance, and whether any new funding should be categorical. Public comment followed from Florida Athletic Coaches Association Executive Director Shelton Cruz and former coach Tyrone McGriff, both of whom stressed the broader educational and safety impact of coaches and asked lawmakers to support the next generation of coaches. After the presentations, the committee took up confirmation hearings for appointments on tabs 3 through 6 and, by a single roll-call vote, recommended all appointees favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> scenarios. uh wage and salary scenarios. uh wage and salary dispersements<00:04:17.440><c> stronger
• dispersements,</c> Now, wage and salary dispersements, Now, wage and salary dispersements, there's<00
• </c> and salary dispersements for fiscal 27. and salary dispersements for fiscal 27.
• and salary variable relies on U.S. wages and salary for its main driver.
• ><00:58:44.000><c> salary.

Summary: The meeting focused on reaching consensus on official Kentucky revenue estimates for fiscal years 2026 through 2028, using updated S&P Global economic forecasts compared with the September presentation. Staff explained that the updated forecast relied partly on alternative data because of the federal government shutdown, and they walked through changes in national and Kentucky economic assumptions across control, optimistic, and pessimistic scenarios. The control forecast was described as slightly more optimistic in the near term but more cautious in fiscal 2027 and 2028, with GDP growth revised up for the current year and down somewhat in the outer years. The pessimistic scenario now assumed a two-quarter recession beginning in the current quarter, while the optimistic scenario was given a higher probability weight than before. The presenters highlighted several Kentucky-relevant variables that changed since September, including weaker manufacturing employment, weaker housing starts, weaker consumer sentiment, and lower expected non-farm employment in fiscal 2026. At the same time, wage and salary disbursements were revised upward in fiscal 2027, reflecting higher disposable income from tax changes, and real consumer spending was expected to be stronger in the near term. They also discussed assumptions about tariffs, business profits, the Federal Reserve, unemployment, oil prices, retail sales, vehicle sales, exports, and consumer sentiment, noting that some indicators were little changed while others shifted materially. Consumer sentiment was attributed to affordability concerns, tariff impacts, and a general sense of malaise, but was expected to improve in later years from a low base. Members asked follow-up questions about why the forecast worsened in later years and about the consumer sentiment assumptions. Staff responded that the forecast assumed larger take-home pay and refunds from tax withholding changes, along with some easing of tariff effects, which they believed would help offset a negative wealth effect from stock market declines. They also noted that S&P Global’s December forecast, which had already been published, was essentially consistent with the presentation and that the firm believed its earlier assumptions had tracked recent data well. No vote or final action was recorded in the portion provided, but the discussion was aimed at settling the revenue estimates that will underpin the upcoming branch budget bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We had hundreds of millions of dollars in extra salary savings that we do not have now.
• And as I referenced before, we were able to cover our budget for years for inflated salary savings.
• We had hundreds of millions of dollars in extra salary savings that we do. for inflated salary savings
• We had hundreds of millions of dollars in extra salary savings that we do not have now.
• So there's some very large costs that salary savings has covered historically.

Transcript Highlights:

• The public should know about these salaries and know what they're getting, and the salaries that are
• spent at TVA. $6500 Congress people on salary doing $6500 Congress people on salary doing tva's<05:15
• ><c> spent</c> getting and the salaries that are spent getting and the salaries that are spent at at
• The TVA Salary Transparency Act requires TVA to report to Congress on the salaries of employees making
• </c><05:19:07.798><c> transparency</c> cover this the TVA salary transparency cover this the TVA salary

Transcript Highlights:

• , and we're 14th in the nation in starting salary ranking, but we are low-ranking in the the nation for
• We pay the highest salaries. By far, we have an 80,000 average for our teachers.
• Yeah, by penalty I mean that if we're going to pay a higher salary, we only get compensated...
• When the salary goes up, you still have to pay the TRS component of it.
• Folks testify in favor of it, so that's also causing salaries to increase, a certain average salary.

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• And the fund pays their salary. Co-Chairs, Senator McLean, yes, that is true.
• And the fund pays their salaries. Is that true? Co-Chairs, Senator McLean, yes.
• From the county paying for the salary of this employee going to continue?
• can't freeze salaries.
• We have to start freezing salaries to get ourselves out of this hole.

Summary: The Emergency Board approved a series of consent federal grant applications from the Natural Resources and Public Safety subcommittees, along with several budget and position requests. The board approved grant applications for parks, transportation, judicial, emergency management, higher education, school nutrition, and other programs, including retroactive approvals where deadlines had passed. One member objected to the Natural Resources consent grants over concerns about future funding needs, but the motion still passed. The board also approved a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, including digital privacy protections, circuit court security, and a statewide facilities assessment. A major discussion centered on Southern Oregon University’s financial stability. The Higher Education Coordinating Commission reported on SOU’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and projected cash shortfall. The subcommittee recommended, and the board approved, allocating $7.5 million from the special appropriation for short-term stability, with a required update at the September 2026 Emergency Board meeting and a future request for the remaining funds. Members debated the broader crisis in higher education, with several saying SOU’s situation reflects systemwide enrollment and funding pressures and that long-term restructuring will be needed. The board also approved an AmeriCorps volunteer generation grant, an apprenticeship expansion grant, and a Department of Education nutrition equipment grant. In public safety, it approved funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a statewide evacuation planning tool, and a juvenile justice information system modernization report, while requiring a follow-up viability report. The Department of Justice received approval for additional antitrust positions and expenditure limitation, though several members raised concerns about the funding structure and incentives tied to settlement revenues; the motion passed despite objections. In natural resources, the board approved funding for the Water Resources Department’s well abandonment, repair and replacement grants, an assistant water master position in Washington County, groundwater data collection in the Lower Umatilla Basin, a wetlands remote sensing pilot, and parks-related grant applications for operations, maintenance, and capital improvements. Members generally supported the requests but raised concerns about geographic equity, long-term sustainability, and whether some county responsibilities were being shifted to the state. The meeting also included discussion of a Department of Emergency Management evacuation tool as an urgent wildfire preparedness measure, with members emphasizing its potential to save lives.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those raises are based on the salary of the chairman.
• </c> over LBR, which includes salary over LBR, which includes salary progression progression progression
• Which is $30,000, $755 over LBR, salary and salary progression. Salary and salary progression.
• </c><01:20:09.280><c> progression</c> 375 for salary progression 375 for salary progression due<01:20
• ,</c> those uh transfers included salaries, those uh transfers included salaries, travel, travel, travel

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see salaries increased by 6.6%. At a different level, you'll see salaries increased by 6.6%.
• As you can see, about 47% is tied to salaries and related benefits.
• As you can see, about 47% is tied to salaries and related benefits.
• Salaries make up about 2.9%, IAT 2.7%, operating services 1.6%, and related benefits 1.5%.
• IAT sits at about 19.7%, salaries at 11.6%, and related benefits at 5.2%.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee began a series of House Appropriations budget hearings focused on the fiscal year 2026-2027 executive budget, the preamble, and the executive department. Staff presented revenue and spending trends showing projected declines in revenues alongside increasing expenditures, with members emphasizing the need for a standstill budget and additional efficiencies. The House Fiscal Division also reviewed the FY25 surplus and FY26 excess, the constitutional uses of surplus funds, and the overall FY27 budget structure, including the distinction between discretionary and non-discretionary spending. The commissioner of administration described the administration’s use of one-time money, efficiency reviews, and budget reductions, while members asked about revenue forecasts, the motor vehicle sales tax dedication, corporate tax changes, and the impact of federal policy changes on state costs, especially SNAP and Medicaid administration. The committee then moved through several executive department agencies. The Division of Administration presentation covered its budget, vacancies, debt service, and reductions tied to statewide adjustments and efficiency measures. GOSEP’s functions were described as transferred into the Department of Military Affairs under Act 262 of 2025, and military officials outlined the new combined structure, emergency response duties, overseas deployments, youth programs, and concerns about future federal funding. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority reviewed its largely dedicated funding and explained that large apparent balances reflect long-term project planning and multi-year capital work. The Office of the State Inspector General presented a budget increase for consulting services tied to the governor’s DOGE-style efficiency initiative, and the inspector general said the effort had identified nearly $1 billion in savings across the executive branch, largely through eligibility reviews in Medicaid and SNAP and implementation of prior audit recommendations. Members raised questions throughout about how budget figures were calculated, why some totals appeared to rise while state general fund support fell, and how federal changes would affect state agencies. There were also questions about the transition of GOSEP into Military Affairs, the status of school safety centers, and whether the new structure would change local emergency responsibilities. No formal votes or amendments were taken during the portion provided; the meeting consisted of presentations, explanations, and member questions.