Transcript Highlights:

• general fund application?" general fund application?"
• general fund. general fund.
• general fund. general fund.
• year's general fund. year's general fund.
• Just<02:21:14.240> a<02:21:14.560> general Just a general Just a general idea idea

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House opened with the national anthem, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a roll call establishing a quorum. Members then approved the journal of April 8, 2026, and heard several introductions and tributes, including recognition of Home Education Day in Colorado, a welcome to Sigma Lambda Gamma members, and a reminder about an education luncheon. The chamber then recessed briefly before moving into second reading and floor consideration of bills. The main substantive debate centered on House Bill 1357, which phases out the Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation (TREP) program. Supporters said the program serves a relatively small number of students, costs more per student than community college alternatives, and should be wound down so limited state education dollars can go to core services and the school finance formula. Opponents argued the state had promised the program to students who planned their education around it, including some who turned down scholarships, and said the change would harm future teachers and should have been treated as a pause rather than an end. The House adopted an appropriations amendment (L003), withdrew a proposed substitute amendment (L005), and then passed HB 1357 as amended. The House also passed House Bill 1358, which reduces the appropriation for the Colorado Academic Accelerator Grant Program by $5.2 million in general fund. The sponsor described it as a grant program supporting community learning centers and math/STEM enrichment, but said funding will end after the following fiscal year and the program must step down so families can seek other services. The bill was adopted without further opposition. Finally, the House considered House Bill 1359, which redirects certain revenue from public school land natural resource removals to the state public school fund rather than the permanent fund, with projected transfers of $25 million in FY 2025-26 and $45 million in FY 2026-27. Supporters said the measure is needed to help balance the budget. An opponent raised concerns about impacts on a constituent ranch lease tied to a proposed green energy project, but the sponsor clarified the bill applies only to royalties and leases on state-owned public school lands. The House then adopted HB 1359.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are generating $74 per student, which doesn't seem like a lot.
• generate dollars for public education. generate dollars for public education.
• > dollars It's really been generating dollars It's really been generating dollars significantly
• <00:04:25.600> dollars um that we've been generating dollars um that we've been generating
• <00:04:40.720> to and um going from 2% uh generation to and um going from 2% uh generation

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: A Minnesota senator discussed recent education gains, including the state’s all-time high graduation rate of nearly 85%, and credited bipartisan work on education policy and finance, along with targeted investments in classroom funding, student and staff mental health, and overall student well-being. She said those efforts have especially helped groups that have historically lagged behind, including American Indian, African-American, and Asian students. A major topic was Senate File 3593, a bipartisan proposal for a constitutional amendment to modernize the state’s school trust fund. The senator explained that Minnesota’s school trust lands and related fund, now about $2.3 billion, currently distribute roughly $74 per student through interest and dividends. The amendment would allow more flexible investment and increase the distribution from 2% to 4.5%, which supporters estimate would raise per-student funding to about $122 without increasing taxes. She said the proposal is intended to preserve the fund’s corpus while generating more money for schools now, with a three-year lookback to review results. She also highlighted school safety funding in the session’s public safety bills, including money for school security and the first-ever grants to non-public schools. She said those dollars can support not only building security but also mental health and social-emotional needs. In the education omnibus bill, she pointed to changes to compensatory aid formulas, a report on how districts use dollars for teacher and staff health insurance, and interest in a possible statewide health plan to improve efficiency and services. No votes were taken in the interview, but she urged voters to approve the constitutional amendment in November and noted that blank ballots would count as no votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's pretty generic.
• , SEG, for general counsel services.
• Let’s have the Attorney General pursue this.
• And we don’t have the Attorney General exercising this general supervision and sort of displacing a state
• Yeah, I thought it was general fund money. I ask, Mr.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And on the generation side, we own and can generate about 7.5 gigawatts of power, or 7,500 megawatts
• Uh so we are fully generation.
• 12 we own and can generate about 7 12 we own and can generate about 7 12 gawatts<00:04:10.480>
• generating capacity. generating capacity.
• One power generation total power.

Keywords: Meeting Start - 00:00 Roll Call – 00:15 Approval of Minutes of the July 15, 2025, Meeting 00:55 Helping Power Kentucky’s Growth – 01:25 Powering and Deploying AI – 41:00 Fueling America’s Intelligence – 56:12 Adjournment – 01:10:37, 958, all

Summary: The Artificial Intelligence Task Force met with a quorum, adopted prior meeting minutes, and then focused on energy policy and economic development as they relate to AI and data centers. John Bevington of LG&E and KU, introduced by Caroline Clark of LG&E/KU and PPL, described the utility’s Kentucky-only service territory, vertically integrated system, 1.3 million customers, and about 7.5 gigawatts of generating capacity. He said the company has supported 76 Kentucky projects in 2024 totaling about $3 billion in announced investment and roughly 3,000 jobs, with a large share of statewide announcements occurring in its service area. Bevington said LG&E and KU’s current project pipeline is unusually strong, totaling about 170 projects and 8.5 gigawatts of requested power, with data centers accounting for about two-thirds of that demand. He broke the pipeline into existing customer expansions, new-to-Kentucky projects, and 20 data center projects representing about 5.6 gigawatts of potential load. He highlighted a Louisville data center project by PO Development Company and Powerhouse Data Centers that has announced a 400-megawatt facility and may expand to 525 megawatts, estimating that such a project could represent about $4 billion in investment. He also explained that large data centers generally must locate near transmission lines and that utilities must conduct studies, order long-lead equipment, and secure reimbursement commitments before proceeding so other customers are not harmed. Members asked about how Kentucky compares with other states, the size of data center projects, and whether regulatory reform is needed. Bevington said the 20 projects reflect current Kentucky interest, which he attributed in part to the state’s sales tax exemption for data centers, and noted that states like Ohio have had similar incentives for years. In response to questions from Senator Thomas, he confirmed that data centers can vary in size and said the state should have a regulatory environment that supports economic development, while emphasizing that the benefits would flow to the state, local communities, and schools rather than just the utility. He also cited national and regional data suggesting data centers generate indirect jobs and tax revenue, and said LG&E and KU are investing in transmission, reliability, solar, and gas generation projects, including proposed additional 645-megawatt natural gas units and other system upgrades, to meet expected demand.

Transcript Highlights:

• their general fund.
• was our general fund appropriation.
• of how we're covering Debt service with general fund support.
• Yeah, that's generally what we intend the split to be, yes.
• Ongoing general fund and will support three permanent positions.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The generations behind them aren't expressing those same sentiments.
• And so the money was then free to use in the general revenue fund.
• And so the money was then free to news in the general revenue fund.
• We usually look at that as a percentage of the general revenue.
• minimum general revenue reserve of about $2.2 billion, the projected general revenue surplus is $3.8

Summary: The committee met to receive Amy Baker’s presentation on Florida’s long-range financial outlook for fiscal years 2026-27 through 2028-29. Baker said the forecast assumes continued but moderating economic growth, with Florida GDP slowing from recent highs, personal income remaining above average, wages continuing to rise faster than job growth, and population growth eventually slowing as the state approaches 2030 and the baby-boomer cohort fully ages into retirement. She also highlighted weakening housing and real-estate-related revenue, especially documentary stamp collections, along with low consumer sentiment as signs of caution in the outlook. Baker explained that the state’s near-term general revenue picture improved largely because of legislative actions taken in the prior session, including contingency releases, reversions, and other budget adjustments, rather than from major new revenue growth. She said reserves remain strong at nearly $15 billion, or just under 30% of general revenue, with the budget stabilization fund at its constitutional maximum. The main spending pressures identified were critical needs and other high-priority needs, led by a new recurring transfer to the emergency preparedness and response fund and by Medicaid, where rising service costs and medical inflation—especially behavioral analysis costs in managed care—are driving higher expenditures despite lower caseloads and a slightly better federal match. Members questioned the accuracy of the forecast, the Medicaid cost drivers, the treatment of the governor’s emergency fund, federal funding assumptions, and whether recent federal legislation was reflected in the numbers. Baker said the outlook assumes current federal funding paths continue, that the new federal tax/revenue law had not yet been fully incorporated because agencies were still reviewing it, and that the emergency fund line was calculated from recent appropriations without distinguishing specific uses. She also said the vetoed $750 million did not affect the budget stabilization fund because it reverted to unallocated general revenue. No bills were heard, no votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after the presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:19:58.960> it<00:19:59.120> appears general the general laws and it appears general
• Um there is one 100% general funds.
• Um I truly one is general funds.
• You'll also notice that our budget is primarily general funds, 85% general funds.
• We<01:43:18.480> have<01:43:18.880> generated We have generated We have generated $31.1

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Auditor General did their work.
• The auditor general might disagree with me.
• Where the auditor general is limited in their scope based on what the feds tell the auditor general they
• Excuse me, Auditor General Perry.
• And the Attorney General will consider...

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's pretty generic.
• , SEG, for general counsel services.
• Let's have the Attorney General... Let's turn this over to the Attorney General.
• Let's have the Attorney General pursue this.
• And we don't have the Attorney General exercising this general supervision and sort of displacing a state's

Summary: The committee convened, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received a memo summarizing major audit items. The State Auditor’s office and outside auditors then presented a series of audits, many of which were clean with unmodified opinions and no findings, including the Bank of North Dakota, the Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Environmental Quality, Lake Region State College, and the Office of the Governor. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association audit was also clean overall, but it repeated findings about limited segregation of duties and auditor assistance in preparing financial statements, which the auditor said were expected to continue because of the organization’s small size. Committee members asked about out-of-state board addresses, and the association explained those members were North Dakota residents using South Dakota mailing addresses. Several audits did include findings. The Council on the Arts audit identified two issues: payroll charged to federal awards without supporting time records, and $12,825 in Cultural Endowment Fund spending that was not allowable under state law, including staff training, retreats, and executive director candidate travel. The Department of Public Instruction audit found unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, but additional testing confirmed the funds were credited properly and students completed required school district work, so no improper payments were identified. The University of North Dakota audit found a lack of documentation and transparency in School of Law admissions decisions; the auditor said the law school used a holistic process but did not keep notes or evaluation tools to show why applicants were admitted, waitlisted, or denied. UND leadership said the school is in good standing with the American Bar Association and agreed better documentation is needed, and the auditor said the issue was the missing documentation, not ABA accreditation itself. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which found four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating cap, grant conditions not being met, improper breeder fund awards, and improper procurement. The auditor said promotion fund spending exceeded the cap by $327,447 and the fund balance dropped sharply over the audit period. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson said the agency had become complacent, that grant requests were treated as routine, and that controls and documentation need to be tightened. He also explained that the breeder fund overpayments involved two horses whose ownership transfers were not properly documented before racing, and that the procurement issue stemmed from an advertising contract that proceeded without proper written procurement procedures after a misunderstanding with the State Procurement Office. The auditor said the Racing Commission will now be audited every two years because of the findings. The committee also received updates on Dakota College at Bottineau’s bank reconciliations, which Minot State University said had been brought current after an 18-month backlog, with only one account still needing cleanup; members asked for a written report on the corrective actions. The North Dakota Fair Foundation was reported to have dissolved, with remaining funds transferred to another nonprofit account for continued support of the state fair. Finally, the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, revising the earlier estimate to about $1.1 million based on incomplete district survey responses, and said the Anti-Lunch Shaming law likely increased meal debt because schools must feed students regardless of account balance. Members discussed the need for a more accurate year-end debt figure and possible future reporting at a later committee meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• An estimated $600 million and consists of approximately $258 million in general revenue funds and $342
• Now, there is $17.8 million in general revenue to address IT-related issues, including the third-year
• There is $11.6 million in General Revenue to make...
• The agency is also requesting non-recurring general revenue. I would argue.
• Both of these requests are non-recurring general revenue.

Summary: The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee met to hear member-led presentations on agency budget requests after prior meetings with the agencies. Representative Barnaby summarized the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ fiscal year 2025-26 request, highlighting major funding for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, Florida Forest Service wildfire and land management needs, citrus disease and research efforts, a new Conner Complex facility and lab, agricultural water and BMP projects, agricultural law enforcement staffing and equipment, maintenance and vehicle needs, and federal grant-related spending. No vote was taken on the department’s request during the meeting. Representative Bartleman presented the Department of Environmental Protection request and said the subcommittee supported it fully. The request emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality grants, springs, harmful algal bloom and red tide response, alternate water supplies, resilience and flood prevention, beach and coral reef restoration, land acquisition and state parks, and cleanup of petroleum, dry cleaning, and hazardous waste sites. Representative Alvarez asked DEP to provide a list of the most contaminated lakes, along with estimated costs, so the committee could prioritize cleanup efforts. Representative Black summarized the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission request, which included additional law enforcement funding in high-demand areas, oyster and reef restoration, habitat restoration, heavy equipment for land management and prescribed burning, a water survival training center, and red snapper data research. Representative Salzman then presented the Department of Citrus request, describing a lean agency budget focused on operations, PALM readiness, marketing and consumer awareness, greening-resistant plant material, and building repairs; the workgroup recommended fully funding the request. The meeting ended with members thanking the chair and staff for the more member-driven budget process, and the subcommittee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• And just in general, when we're talking about reserves, we're really talking about general fund reserves
• And that's just the general fund difference.
• So the corpus is generally untouched.
• The permanent funds typically spin off into more generalized uses, like the General Fund or the beneficiaries
• So that's general fund. Yeah, grocery seats is entirely general fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• You grab a generator.
• You grab a generator.
• to general revenue.
• This transfer appropriation is a reimbursement for services generated by general revenue-supported agencies
• Well, more just have a general question.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Order of Business 13: General File.
• We are on the first agenda, Order of Business 13, General File. Order of Business 13, General File.
• I would move to take Senate Bills 460 and 495 from their place on General File and place them on General
• I would move to take the remaining bills on General File and place them on General File for the next
• AB 93 is ordered to the General File.

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:07:06.800> education general education general education base<00:07:09.280> you<00:
• <00:09:07.560> education that just basic general education that just basic general education
• <00:59:31.960> education biggest part of the general education biggest part of the general
• <00:59:47.000> additional count as a way to generate additional count as a way to generate
• want to to confirm to that the General want to to confirm to that the General Ed<01:27:09.639>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• mechanic writing instruments generally mechanic writing instruments generally with<00:34:37.720>
• <00:58:45.960> attempts um uh if the Attorney General attempts um uh if the Attorney General
• distributions and the attorney general distributions and the attorney general has<01:00:31.480><
• legis lure and so the Attorney General legis lure and so the Attorney General is<01:03:29.200>
• I'm a former Assistant Attorney General I'm a former Assistant Attorney General and<01:10:16.719

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A brief update on the generative AI executive Generative AI and kind of where things stand related to
• For some little background, I am a second-generation Mexican.
• For some little background, I am a second generation Mexican.
• expanding or creating new programs funded by the General Fund.
• Jason Kenney, Chief Deputy Director for the Department of General Services.

Summary: The subcommittee held an informational budget hearing covering several GovOps, CDT, CPPA, and DGS items. GovOps reported that most deliverables under the Governor’s generative AI executive order have been completed, including guidelines, procurement tools, community-impact guidance, and a new project delivery lifecycle for Gen AI projects; one workforce-related deliverable remains. Members and public commenters raised concerns about privacy, labor impacts, and how the state will explain and oversee Gen AI use. The committee also heard a proposal to create a California Education Interagency Council with $5 million ongoing and 16 positions to coordinate workforce and education systems; LAO questioned duplication and recommended limited-term funding, while supporters said a neutral convening body is needed to improve coordination and student outcomes. GoServe presented the College Corps budget proposals, describing the program as a paid service and career-development opportunity for undergraduate students that helps reduce college costs while supporting communities through tutoring, food insecurity work, climate and disaster response, and other service. The administration sought one-time and ongoing funding to expand the program to more campuses and students, while LAO objected to the high administrative costs and recommended rejection. Several students and alumni testified that College Corps provided financial support, professional experience, and career pathways. The committee also heard a $5 million proposal for a Belonging Campaign to address loneliness and social isolation through research, outreach, and local grants; LAO said the proposal lacked clear goals and measures, while supporters said the effort is needed for youth, seniors, and community resilience. The Department of Technology updated the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, saying construction is underway on the statewide open-access network and the project remains on track for the 2026 deadline, though LAO noted a required business plan had not yet been submitted. The California Privacy Protection Agency presented its Delete Act implementation request for the DROP platform, which will let consumers request deletion of personal information held by data brokers; LAO flagged oversight concerns because CDT is both developing the system and involved in project support. Public commenters from business groups urged caution on CPPA’s rulemakings, warning of compliance costs and job impacts. The Department of General Services then discussed implementation of Proposition 2 school facilities bonds, requesting staffing and administrative funding to manage the new bond program and continue school facility work. Officials said the program can also help districts affected by the January wildfires, including interim site funding and expedited assistance. Finally, DGS requested authority and positions to operate Building 18 for labor-agency tenants relocating from older Capitol Mall space; SEIU Local 1000 criticized the state’s four-day return-to-office policy and said telework has improved productivity and retention. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded after public testimony and member questions on each item.

Transcript Highlights:

• Most attorney general offices around the country have a solicitor general, and the solicitor general
• Most attorney general offices around the country have a solicitor general, and the solicitor general
• general and the solicitor general general and the solicitor general basically<06:09:02.600> is
• General Funds.
• But it's the general mix has shifted towards general funds.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• and everyone listens to major generals, so I would defer to the major general.
• and everyone listens to major generals, so I would defer to the major general.
• defer to the major general. Thank you. defer to the major general. Thank you.
• to the general register. to the general register.
• re-referred to the general register. re-referred to the general register.

Bills: HF4615, HF3532, HF4492, HF4171

Keywords: military, pay, officers, enlisted members, state active service, Minnesota Statutes, veterans, burial eligibility, honor guard, state cemeteries, military service, burial fees, veterans affairs, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, advisory task force, commanders task force, veterans service organizations, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW

Transcript Highlights:

• dedicated Revenue um is generated dedicated Revenue um is generated through<00:04:08.120> the
• <00:10:30.240> funds small small amount of General funds small small amount of General funds
• state from the general state from the general funds<01:10:51.480> our<01:10:51.800> general
• it's primarily generated revenue is it's primarily generated revenue is primarily<03:00:37.840> generated
• The witness said generally yes.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division 2 Finance Committee heard an overview and budget presentation from New Hampshire Fish and Game, led by new Executive Director Stephanie Simi and Business Division Chief Kathy Leonti. The agency described its mission to conserve and manage fish, wildlife, and marine resources, and emphasized growing pressures from disease, climate impacts, habitat change, and increased public demand. Simi said the department is largely funded by hunting and fishing license revenue and federal grants, is reviewing staffing and internal processes, and faces critical needs including permanent funding for environmental review staff, infrastructure and IT modernization, and possible service reductions if additional support is not found. Members asked about specific program and policy issues, including chronic wasting disease in deer, hemorrhagic disease in rabbits and hares, moose population decline, and a proposed bait-disease bill. The department said it is actively monitoring diseases and did not see a need for the bait bill at this time. Legislators also discussed the Hike Safe program, which the department said has grown from an expected $100,000 annually to more than $300,000, and a possible boating version of that program, which the department said remains under consideration but would involve complex logistics and multiple agencies. Questions were also raised about rescue costs, out-of-state hikers, and whether boat registrations could be used as a revenue source; Fish and Game said boat registration is handled by the Department of Safety, though the department receives $5 per registered boat for the public boat access program. The budget discussion focused on revenue projections, use of unrestricted Fish and Game funds, and dependence on federal reimbursements. Leonti said the department met the governor’s general fund target but not the Fish and Game fund target without using surplus unrestricted funds, leaving only about $100,000 in the fund by the end of the biennium. She said the budget uses more than $18 million in Fish and Game funds annually against about $14 million in unrestricted revenue, and that five of 193 full-time positions remain unfunded. The department warned that if federal grants were halted, it could cost about $5 million over five months and force the Fish and Game fund to cover the gap. Committee members also requested that future presentations be sent electronically in advance, and the department agreed to do so.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh you will see in general public.
• <00:42:36.640> fund general fund general fund funding.<00:42:38.560> Uh<00:42:38.880>
• <00:42:42.560> fund recommendation um in that general fund recommendation um in that general
• Please members general register.
• is being referred to the general is being referred to the general register.<00:46:36.640> All

Bills: HF1151, HF1239, HF1240, HF2020, HF2514, HF2515, HF2451

Keywords: Compensation Council, salaries, state officials, judicial compensation, legislative process, public funds, misuse, law enforcement, accountability, state government, legislative auditor, compliance, transparency, retirement benefits, health insurance, dependents, state employees, Medicare, legislative studies, government oversight