Transcript Highlights:

• On page four, you can see the continued positive trajectory of our funded ratio, and at the same time
• On page four, you can see the continued positive trajectory of our funded ratio, and at the same time
• On page four, you can see the continued positive trajectory of our funded ratio, and at the same time
• On page four, you can see the continued positive trajectory of our funded ratio, and at the same time
• On page four, you can see the continued positive trajectory of our funded ratio, and at the same time

Summary: The committee first reviewed House Bill 1, focusing on the legislative branch budget, especially the Senate and House lines. Members discussed that the Senate’s fiscal year 2025 adjusted authorized amount was higher than 2024 actual spending, largely due to personnel, benefits, and travel, and one member proposed a $500,000 annual cut. Staff explained that any reduction would need to be allocated across specific line items such as personnel, benefits, and travel, and noted that the Senate budget is entirely General Funds. After discussion of how the adjusted authorized figures were calculated and why the branch no longer staffs some joint committees as it once did, the committee moved on without taking a vote on that section. The committee then heard a detailed presentation from the New Hampshire Retirement System. NHRS officials described their statutory administrative budget, which is funded through the retirement trust rather than the General Fund, and said the FY 2026-2027 increase is driven by IT modernization, cybersecurity, a new strategic plan, and additional staff positions. They also reviewed the system’s funding progress, clean audit opinions, investment performance, and changes to asset allocation, while noting that several recent pension-related laws required major database changes. Members questioned the large increase in salaries and benefits, the need for new employees versus contractors, the purpose of training costs, and the source of the Group Two benefit funding. NHRS said the governor’s budget includes General Funds for Group Two benefit changes, with $5 million in FY 2026 and $27.9 million in FY 2027, and that the figures reflect the governor’s recommendation and related HB 2 provisions. Committee members also asked about employer and employee contribution rates for Group Two police and fire members, which NHRS said were not included in the budget document but were about 31.2% for police and 30.35% for fire, with employee shares around 11.55% and 11.8%. The committee did not make a decision on the NHRS budget during this exchange and indicated it would review the details further before returning to it later. The committee then heard from the Community Development Finance Authority on the State Treasury Department budget line for the required state match to administer the federal Community Development Block Grant program. CDFA explained that its $280,000 annual request for FY 2026 and FY 2027, totaling $560,000, supports administration, technical assistance, contracting, and monitoring of roughly $19 million in annual federal CDBG funds. Members asked about the leverage of the state match, oversight of projects, staffing, and grant prioritization. CDFA said it has 18 employees, uses public hearings and a scoring system to prioritize awards, and conducts both desk and on-site monitoring, with annual audits to ensure compliance. No vote was taken on the CDFA item in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Affordability Fund.
• The long-term permanent funds, those that fund the general fund directly, are at $56 billion at the close
• fund portion of the Land Grant Permanent Fund, whereas the Severance Tax Permanent Fund distributes
• Are they general fund funded or independent? Mr. Chair, they are not general fund funded.
• fund as well. retirement funds, and there's an Arizona retirement fund as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• funding formula.
• Page 9, this is the general fund detail. This is the general fund detail.
• Federal funding or state funding? Madam Chair, the funding is federal. Thank you.
• So with respect to the TANF funds, granted, they are federal funds.
• to have matching funds to receive those funds.

Bills: SB37 , SB29

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach

Transcript Highlights:

• We administer the fund.
• But in terms of facilities funding, we really don't use federal funds for that.
• the PSCOC funds.
• We have funded three with the funding, and those funds have been long-standing in New Mexico.
• Those funds are mainly meant to be put into these permanent funds for education.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:22:26.160><c> You</c> about the funding going forward. You about the funding going forward.
• &gt;&gt; Medical<00:53:11.800><c> loss</c><00:53:11.960><c> ratio.</c> &gt;&gt; Medical loss ratio.
• &gt;&gt; Medical loss ratio. &gt;&gt; Okay. &gt;&gt; Okay. &gt;&gt; Okay.
• I think that's kind of leveled funding.
• ,</c><01:35:39.640><c> our</c> that through continued funding, our that through continued funding, our

Summary: The Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board first approved the September 24 minutes and then heard a presentation from four certified community behavioral health clinic providers: Pathways, NorthKey, Seven Counties Services, and NewVista. The presenters explained the difference between traditional community mental health centers and CCBHCs, describing CCBHCs as an enhanced model that integrates behavioral health, primary care, wraparound services, and crisis response. They reviewed the federal history of the model, Kentucky’s entry into the Medicaid demonstration in 2022, and the scheduled end of the enhanced federal match on December 31, 2027. They also emphasized required services such as 24-hour mobile crisis, care coordination, and services for veterans, and described care coordination as a key feature that helps patients follow up after hospital or emergency discharge, manage medications, and connect to transportation and other supports. The presenters gave examples of improved outcomes, including a patient who was able to remain living independently because of coordinated home-based and telehealth support, and they argued that CCBHCs are helping Kentucky build a more responsive crisis system through 988, mobile crisis teams, and crisis stabilization units. They said the model is data-driven, uses performance metrics, and has led to stronger collaboration among community partners. One speaker said more than 100 agencies participated in a Jefferson County community health needs assessment and continued meeting afterward to reduce redundancies and barriers to care. They also said crisis call hub compliance and mobile crisis outreach compliance improved significantly over the past year. Members asked about how navigators and connectors fit into the model, how CCBHCs work with managed care organizations, and how the program could expand statewide. The presenters said navigators are not built into the CCBHC model but may be used through referrals, while the CCBHCs continue to bill MCOs the same way and receive a Medicaid wrap payment for the enhanced rate. They said the goal would be for all community mental health centers to become CCBHCs, but that a state plan amendment would be needed and could not be limited only to CMHCs if submitted to CMS. They estimated about $28 million would be needed statewide to continue the program in the next biennium, combining the loss of enhanced federal match and the state share of enhanced service costs. The board also discussed transportation, with one presenter explaining that their program arranges Medicaid transportation for eligible appointments, and members raised concerns about mental inquest warrant transport and whether sheriffs should remain involved. No votes were taken on the CCBHC or transportation items during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• I KNOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LIMITED DIFFERENTIAL AND SO THEY PREEMINENT FUNDING FORMULA DEPENDS UPON
• A ROLLING THREE YEAR FULL TIME ENROLLMENT POLICY RESIDENT RATIO.
• BUT MEMBERS, OUR FLORIDA PREEMINENT UNIVERSITIES ARE BUILT AND FUNDED BY FLORIDA'S TAXPAYERS.
• PARTICULARLY THE MENTAL HEALTH FUNDING.
• WHICH I WISH WE WOULD BE FUNDING SO THAT THEY COULD HAVE A POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through the Correctional Officer Grant Fund that the state provided us, we received 2.6 million dollars
• We had to maintain our ratio of 8 to 1 within the facility.
• You said that after 30 days of being at the center, Medicaid stops funding.
• I personally am trying to look at how the state can help with that funding because there's not a strategic
• I think you're thinking of the John Paul Taylor Center, which would be state-funded, but there's also

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• credit funding.
• That is one way in which we are aligning funding: using other funding to make sure that we can still
• Funding for the Indian Education Act is kind of broken down into below-the-line program funding.
• Then we got $25,000, then we got competitive funding, and this year I have received no funding.
• So, we'll again shift to funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's jump into the agenda, and we'll begin with HB 893 by Representative Koster, trust fund interest
• respect to the legislative and the judicial branches, as well as making sure that this IOTA trust fund
• This raises their reported income, increases taxes, and makes financial ratios appear weaker.
• Park fully supported the passage of the slots bill, which included racing requirements and included funding

Committee: House Commerce Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• funding from driver's training, and then took the interest from the Idaho Career Readiness Fund.
• Yes, we're in a budget-type crunch, but she found some funds and is not asking for additional funding
• This is about funding. There's no question. It's a funding bill. And this will be paid regardless.
• What is the risk-benefit ratio? What are What is the risk-benefit ratio?
• One of them is the Water Pollution Control Fund. It's a 10% shift from that fund to the Superfund.

Transcript Highlights:

• Who will have the funds to do it?
• This amount is self-funded by the judiciary and is subject to an available funding clause.
• and secure some funding for this particular type of fund.
• funds.
• funds.

Bills: HB12 , HB42 , HB205 , HB222 , HB324 , HB325 , HB350 , HB416 , HB482 , HB610 , HB749 , HB797 , HB807 , HB821 , HB979 , HB992 , HB1193

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: Medicaid, dental coverage, healthcare access, medical necessity, Louisiana Department of Health, judicial salaries, judges, judiciary compensation, cost of living adjustment, COLA, Louisiana Supreme Court, court of appeal judges, district court judges, city court judges, parish court judges, salary increase, Judicial Compensation Commission, judicial budget, Act 390 of 2025, Act 793

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you understand my concern that they may not have the funding or the bandwidth to actually accomplish
• Well, there's a lot in there, so If the number of students is going down, then our teacher-to-student ratio
• And that is a tall order for funding that we need to address at The issue within this bill is suspension

Bills: HB2987 , HB3026 , HB3076 , HB3288 , HB3315 , HB3467 , HB3711 , HB3885 , HB4427 , HB4359 , HB4363

Committee: House Education Oversight

Keywords: education, academic standards, subject matter standards, State Board of Education, legislative review, joint resolution, curriculum, school standards, Oklahoma Administrative Code, education oversight, common education, curriculum standards, state education policy, rulemaking, legislative veto, kindergarten, military families, education policy, school districts, international military dependents

Transcript Highlights:

• WE ARE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN A 1 TO 18 THE ROWLEY RATIO AND SO WE NEEDED A LOT OF THEM.
• I THINK THE RATIO IS DIFFERENT IN OUR PROGRAM.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second, the cost-to-income ratio.
• Today, according to Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, that ratio has surged to a record 5.6 times
• short-term rental bill, I can see the free hand of the free market reaching in from New York with hedge funds
• short-term rental bill, I can see the free hand of the free market reaching in from New York with hedge funds

Committee: House Business

Transcript Highlights:

• But again, there's three things that this funding funds.
• sources such as federal funds as well as local funds.
• Fund.
• be 100% funded by the General Fund.
• funds.

Summary: The hearing focused on the governor’s May Revision proposals for transportation, natural resources, climate, and related programs, with the Department of Finance and the LAO presenting competing views on the state’s fiscal condition. Finance said the budget remains balanced over two years, with major climate-bond, water, parks, transportation, DMV, and agriculture proposals, while the LAO argued the state still has a structural deficit and should reject or defer many new discretionary spending items, preserve reserves, and be cautious about ongoing commitments. The LAO specifically questioned the timing and scale of new spending for programs such as Clean California, Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, and the Golden Gate Fields acquisition, and urged more clarity on future obligations and revenue scenarios, including for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes proposal for Bay-Delta water quality implementation. Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Finance described it as an enforceable, science-based alternative to a more traditional regulatory approach, with the state’s $25 million request intended to support early implementation, monitoring, habitat restoration, and environmental flows. The LAO countered that the Water Board has not yet adopted the updated Bay-Delta plan, that the proposal may be premature, and that the Legislature should wait for more information on the state’s total funding commitment and the program’s long-term costs. Several members expressed support for the program as a way to reduce conflict and protect water reliability, while others echoed concerns about timing and fiscal exposure. The committee also examined the proposed $125 million Proposition 4 contribution toward acquiring the Golden Gate Fields property for a shoreline park and habitat project. State officials said the acquisition is a time-sensitive, once-in-a-generation opportunity, with an appraised value of $175 million and additional philanthropic and local funding expected to close the gap. Members questioned whether the project had gone through the usual competitive process, whether the site is the best use of scarce park bond dollars, and how public access, habitat, and disadvantaged-community priorities would be protected. The discussion ended without a vote, and the committee moved on to transportation items including Clean California litter abatement, the Games Route Network, homeless encampment coordinators, and DMV modernization and field office proposals, with LAO recommending rejection or delay on several of those requests as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I do have kind of funding model.
• And with that, you mentioned Title II funding, but there's also Title I funding that may come with this
• </c> charter schools are are fully funded charter schools are are fully funded from<01:46:05.119><c>
• </c><02:29:59.520><c> Let</c> to fund objectionable districts. Let to fund objectionable districts.
• County funding comes county uh funding.

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• The state fiscal officer will transfer the funds into the capital expense fund as unobligated amounts
• part of the city's sales tax fund distribution or the county state aid road portion of the funds.
• </c> also requires entities receiving funds also requires entities receiving funds to<00:03:54.640><c
• It makes the same fund creation.
• </c> funding level of the retirement system? funding level of the retirement system?

Committee: Joint Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• this exclusively through the general fund.
• the General Fund.
• Are truly funding.
• We tried to fund it year by year.
• We need to have more funding in these programs. It's how we fund them.

Summary: The committee heard several housing-related measures, beginning with SB 222 by Senator Wiener, the Heat Pump Access Act. The bill would streamline permitting for heat pump water heaters and HVAC systems, allow virtual contractor participation during inspections, and limit HOA barriers to installation. Supporters, including Spur, a contractor, and several clean-energy and environmental groups, said the measure would lower costs, reduce pollution, and speed replacements. The League of California Cities opposed the bill over the permit fee cap and concerns about virtual inspections, while committee members raised questions about HOA authority, electrical panel upgrades, and whether the bill could create unintended costs for local governments. SB 222 was approved 10-0 and sent to Local Government. The committee then considered SB 677, a follow-up to SB 79. The author announced the bill had been narrowed to two items: mobile home exemption language and a future SB 79 cleanup bill in the next session, with the larger set of implementation issues to be handled separately. Local governments and counties said the reduced bill still needed clearer definitions and more implementation guidance, while several housing and transit advocates supported the narrowing and the decision to revisit the broader cleanup later. After the amendments were accepted, SB 677 passed 10-1 and was sent to Local Government. The main debate centered on SB 417, a proposed $10 billion affordable housing bond for the 2026 ballot. Supporters, including the California Housing Consortium, labor, housing nonprofits, local governments, and many advocacy groups, argued that the state’s existing housing bond funds were exhausted, that thousands of shovel-ready projects were waiting for financing, and that the bond would leverage federal tax credits and private capital to produce and preserve affordable homes. Opponents and skeptics focused on state debt levels, the cost of housing production, and whether another bond was the right approach, with Habitat for Humanity asking for a dedicated CalHome allocation. Committee members discussed debt capacity, affordability, homeownership, and the need to keep funding flowing to existing programs. SB 417 passed 8-1 to Appropriations. The committee also heard SB 492, a youth housing and youth center bond proposal, which the author said was intended to be folded into the larger housing bond package; testimony from Covenant House California emphasized the need to house transition-age youth and prevent long-term homelessness. No vote on SB 492 was shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• this exclusively through the general fund.
• the General Fund.
• We tried to fund it year by year.
• We need to have more funding in these programs. It's how we fund them.
• And I am going to be right there asking for that funding.

Committee: Senate Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• And this will be allocated through the funding model.
• That includes funding for linking industry to nursing education, the line funding as we call it.
• with donors in order to continue to fund our nursing programs.
• So I want to revisit the issue of funding public education.
• I served on the Student Investment Fund Board for 10 years.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The committee first heard a confirmation from UCF trustee reappointee Mr. Christie, who described his background in medical devices and prior board service and said he wanted to help UCF strengthen its financial foundation, workforce alignment, and engineering and technology pipeline. Members asked about UCF’s direction, and he emphasized the university’s role in producing engineers and supporting Florida’s space and technology sectors. The committee then moved to the higher education budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which was presented as an $11.5 billion total budget including local funds and focused heavily on workforce education, nursing, agriculture technology, tutoring, student aid, and university initiatives. Chair Harrell highlighted increases for school district workforce education, Florida College System operations, career and technical education grants, the GATE program, nursing education through USF’s Florida Center for Nursing, UF/IFAS rural and agricultural programs, UCF’s Community School Grant Program, UF’s literacy and tutoring initiatives, autism and neurodevelopment services, full funding for major scholarship programs, and $250 million for state universities through the Board of Governors. Senator Davis asked about line grant flexibility, and Harrell said a conforming bill would address the details. The budget proposal was adopted as a recommendation to the full Appropriations Committee, with staff authorized to make technical corrections. The committee then took up a series of confirmations, beginning with Florida State University reappointee Peter Collins, who emphasized his long FSU ties, leadership on the board, and goal of keeping FSU on a path toward top-10 status and AAU membership. Rebecca Matthews, a new University of West Florida appointee, discussed her education-related volunteer work, Florida Education Foundation service, and interest in supporting UWF’s continued excellence; senators questioned her on Title IX and she said she would support student protections and compliance. Rachel Moyah, another UWF appointee, highlighted her education, school board experience, and priorities of student safety, fiscal discipline, and workforce readiness; she also said she would comply with Title IX and other applicable rules. Ashley Ross, also nominated to UWF, said she would focus on university advancement, military ties, cybersecurity, civil engineering, and strong governance, and agreed that Title IX protections should be preserved and advanced. The most extensive questioning came during the confirmation of Adam Kessel, a UWF appointee and Heritage Foundation fellow, who was asked about prior writings on privatizing public universities, his comments about the GI Bill, and his views on free speech and Project 2025. Kessel said he did not recommend privatizing Florida universities, clarified that his comments about the GI Bill and over-enrollment were about broader higher education policy, and said he supports veterans and the GI Bill. He described his higher education work as focused on civic education, accreditation, student success, tenure, and free speech, and said trustees should improve campus culture through policies, training, and institutional neutrality. Public testimony on UWF was sharply divided: former UWF leaders and community members warned that the new slate of trustees and their vote to make Scott Yenor chair had chilled donations, enrollment, and community trust, while a James Madison Institute representative praised Kessel’s scholarship and thoughtful approach. The committee also heard from FAMU reappointment Belvin Perry, who cited his judicial career and board service and said his goal is to support student success, retain strong faculty and staff, and help FAMU continue rising in national standing. Finally, the committee began hearing from remote appointees, including UCF nominee Mark Philburn, who emphasized his construction, affordable housing, and higher education board experience, and FSU nominee Peter Jones, who described his finance and investment background and long service to FSU boards and committees. The last nominee heard before the transcript ended was Florida Gulf Coast appointee Paul Applegarth, whose audio issues delayed his remarks; he began by noting his prior federal confirmation, military service, and GI Bill-supported education.