Transcript Highlights:

• a different methodology to offset costs related at the school district level to implementing the bridge
• project is through the Badlands area, which is about a $5.5 million job that gets you up to the Long X Bridge
• project is through the Badlands area, which is about a $5.5 million job that gets you up to the Long X Bridge

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 748 by Representative Brough is an act in Title 17 relative to toll exemptions on ferries, bridges
• or leased by Louisiana school boards will be exempt from paying tolls on state and local ferries, bridges
• State Infrastructure Bank, a revolving loan fund that will provide low-cost financing for roads, bridges

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• parenting plan plan plan without without without burning<00:13:12.240> the<00:13:12.320> bridge
• <00:13:13.600> Again, burning the bridge, shall we say?
• Again, burning the bridge, shall we say?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The New Mexico STEM Innovation Network seeks to bridge the gap between education and industry, ensuring
• Equally important, the STEM Innovation Network strengthens the bridge between K-12 education and New
• HB 100 matters because it bridges the workforce pathway and sets up a network that serves some of the

Bills: HB40, HB100, HJR1, SB64, SB19, SB44, SB83

Keywords: educational retirement, annuity adjustments, cost of living, non-compounding payments, retirement benefits, STEM funding, education, innovation, public education, New Mexico, nominating committees, boards of regents, student representation, political party registration, New Mexico constitution, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a bridge between the state and tribal governments. We...
• let me say what my office does is, on a federal-aid project, when we build, say, a billion-dollar bridge
• let me say what my office does is on a federal aid project, when we built, say, a billion-dollar bridge

Summary: The committee heard a work session on voting access on tribal lands, beginning with a presentation from Dr. Chelsea Jones of the Brennan Center. She described barriers affecting Native voters and voters on tribal lands, including long travel distances to polling places and drop boxes, nontraditional addresses, unreliable postal service, language access, and limited broadband. Citing research, she said turnout on tribal lands trails turnout off tribal lands by about 10 percentage points nationally and about 10% in Washington, with larger gaps in some convenience voting measures. Members asked about the meaning of “lost votes,” the role of tribal leadership and community trust, and whether outreach by election officials and candidates could help; Dr. Jones emphasized that the study measured missed voting opportunities, not missing ballots, and that partnerships with trusted community leaders are important. The University of Washington Elections Database then presented data on voter registration, turnout, signature challenges, curing, and ballot rejection for voters whose addresses fall within tribal reservation boundaries. The presenters said registration on reservations increased from about 107,000 in 2010 to 137,000 in 2024, turnout on reservations remained about 8 to 9 percentage points lower than outside reservations in recent general elections, and signature-challenge and rejection rates were generally low but somewhat higher in off-year elections. They reported that about 60% to two-thirds of signature-challenged ballots are cured, with cure rates similar inside and outside reservations, and that late return is the most common reason for primary ballot rejection while signature mismatch is the leading cause in general elections. A question was raised about USPS postmarking issues and how those might affect future data; the presenters said they plan to track return method and cure timing more closely. The committee also received an overview of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. Staff reviewed the office’s history, the Centennial Accord, the Millennium Agreement, and related state-tribal frameworks, and GOIA Director Tim Rainan described the office’s role as a bridge between the state and tribal governments, including consultation, policy coordination, training, and convening work groups. He said GOIA now has six positions, is part of the governor’s executive cabinet, and is working on a statewide tribal relations training module and consultation handbook. In response to a question, he said tribal voting is not a major topic at the Centennial Accord but is discussed more extensively through ATNI. The committee then shifted to contracting equity, hearing from WSDOT, DES, OMWBE, and the Office of Equity. WSDOT described its race-neutral small business and veteran goals, mentorship and support programs, and its response to the federal suspension of the DBE program; DES discussed statewide contracting spend, the EDGE pilot for small construction firms, and efforts to improve procurement access; OMWBE reported growth in certified firms and about $371 million in state spend with certified firms in the most recent year, while noting ongoing impacts from federal DBE changes; and the Office of Equity outlined its broader work on agency consultation, dashboards, and systems change. No votes were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Here's a bridge that was expanded as a result of canal widening. ...with the above-grade infrastructure
• Here's a bridge that was expanded as a result of canal widening.
• More bridges need attention along the canal.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a work session covering the state revenue outlook, caseload forecasts, wildfire costs, budget balance, tort liability, water supply, and pension policy. The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council reported modest near-term U.S. growth, no near-term Washington employment growth in 2026, continued personal income growth, and elevated inflation, with tariffs and federal policy cited as major risks. Revenue forecasts were slightly improved for the current biennium by about $105 million but down about $185 million for the next biennium. Members asked about income inequality and housing permits; staff said personal income is an aggregate measure and housing production remains below long-term needs. The Caseload Forecast Council then reported that most forecasts were unchanged or only slightly changed, but several programs increased, including Washington College Grant, Working Connections, aged/blind/disabled cash grants, nursing homes, home and community services, and developmental disabilities personal care. The largest policy-driven change was in Medicaid low-income adult caseloads, where federal H.R. 1 was projected to reduce coverage substantially through narrower eligibility, community engagement requirements, and shorter eligibility periods. The committee also heard a wildfire funding update and a 2025 fire season review. Staff explained that the state budgets $93 million annually for suppression and uses supplemental appropriations for costs above that level, with an estimated state supplemental need of about $139 million for the current year. Department of Natural Resources officials said 2025 fire activity remained below the 10-year average in acres burned, but fires were more complex and closer to communities, contributing to higher residence loss. They described expanded use of aircraft, firefighters from other states, corrections crews, and the Arcadia 20 hand crew, and said the state did not need National Guard ground support this year. A budget preview then showed that the near general fund outlook had worsened after vetoes, lapses, and forecast changes, and that maintenance-level costs alone would leave a projected negative balance by fiscal year 2027 and about $4.3 billion by fiscal year 2029, before any policy decisions. Jason Seams, the state risk manager, reported a sharp rise in tort claim costs, with indemnity expenses nearly doubling from fiscal year 2023 to 2025 and DCYF accounting for most of the increase. He said the state self-insurance liability account has run deficits for four straight biennia and is now facing nearly $600 million in deficits, driven largely by a surge in DCYF claims, especially juvenile rehabilitation and long-running sex abuse cases. Members asked about the role of old claims, comparisons with other states, excess insurance, and whether more Attorney General staff could reduce special assistant attorney general costs. The committee then shifted to water policy, hearing from tribal leaders, Ecology, and the Washington Water Trust. Tribal witnesses emphasized overappropriation, declining flows, climate impacts, and the need for legislative oversight and tribal participation in water policy. Ecology described major projects in the Odessa sub-area, Yakima Basin, and Dungeness, along with the need for storage, recharge, conservation, and policy changes to support water supply development. The Washington Water Trust argued that climate change is reducing summer flows and that the state needs more funding, enforcement, and long-term commitment to restore instream flows. The final item was a pension update on LEOFF 1 surplus assets; staff reviewed two 2025 bills that would have merged or restructured the plan and used surplus assets, but neither passed, and instead the budget directed the Select Committee on Pension Policy to study the issue and report back.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bridge of the Americas in downtown El Paso closes to commercial traffic in about the next year or so.
• However, the U.S. government has decided to close the cargo crossing through the Cordoba Bridge.
• United States has made the decision to close the cargo lanes, especially on that Cordova Americas bridge

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, if we're looking at I&S, that's for roads, bridges, those types of structures, capital projects
• Our road and bridge, which we're far in the market, the latter road, equates to $12.5 million.
• Our road and bridge, which we're far in the market, the latter road, equates to $12.5 million.

Bills: SB9

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap, tax rollback, tax levy, maintenance and operations, debt rate, disaster relief rate, Texas Legislature, local taxing unit

Summary: The Senate Committee on Local Government met to hear Senate Bill 9, which would lower the voter-approval tax rate for certain local taxing units from 3.5% to 2.5%. Sen. Bettencourt, the bill author, argued the change would continue the state’s property tax reforms begun in 2019, slow local levy growth, and give voters more say over larger tax increases. He and supporters cited data showing property tax levies have grown faster than population plus inflation, and said the bill would help protect taxpayers while preserving the state’s broader investments in school tax relief, water, rural law enforcement, and ambulance funding. Supporters included the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Public Policy Foundation, and the Texas Association of Manufacturers. They said the bill would improve transparency, encourage more disciplined budgeting, and create certainty for homeowners and businesses. They argued that lower tax-rate growth would help attract and retain employers and investment, and that voters would still be able to approve higher rates when needed. Local officials and other opponents said the bill would constrain cities and counties facing rapid growth, inflation, infrastructure needs, and public safety costs. Testimony from county judges, city finance officials, firefighters, and urban county representatives emphasized pressures from jail operations, roads, water, EMS, police and fire staffing, and unfunded mandates. Several witnesses asked for carve-outs or exemptions for public safety and disaster-related costs, warning that a one-size-fits-all cap could force service cuts or shift costs elsewhere. The committee heard extensive questioning but no final vote or disposition on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This was awarded through the Building Bridges Program.
• to be experts in everything, but asking them to be experts in healthcare also is, in some cases a bridge
• So this is going to be a great bridge to Department of Health's planning and process to get folks ready

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe the system is bridging individuals to go to emergency rooms and psychiatric facilities.
• not cut our funding to the California Reducing Disparities Project. the project, because we are the bridge
• I think a year would be devastating to have to wait to be able to make that bridge.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And like California Bridge did with addiction care in California and emergency... ...intended pregnancy
• And like California Bridge did with addiction care in California in emergency rooms, this small investment
• The Access Bridge model, the fellowship model, is a very efficient model of teaching and accelerating

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on April 8 and heard a long series of bills, beginning with AB 54 on medication abortion access. The author and supporters, including the Attorney General’s office and reproductive justice advocates, said the bill would protect California’s medication abortion supply chain and shield providers and manufacturers from civil, criminal, and professional liability. Opponents from the California Family Council argued the bill removes safeguards and increases risks. The bill was moved forward on a committee motion. The committee then heard several reproductive and public health measures, including AB 551 to create a pilot program supporting emergency departments in providing reproductive health services, AB 260 to protect medication abortion access and telehealth, AB 309 to remove sunset dates on laws allowing pharmacy syringe sales and lawful possession of sterile syringes, AB 536 to preserve colorectal cancer screening coverage if federal guidelines are challenged, AB 804 to make housing support services a Medi-Cal benefit, AB 594 to address student health insurance billing and transparency, AB 836 to study and expand the midwifery workforce, AB 1418 to collect data on health coverage for eligible employees, and AB 1500 to maintain and expand the abortion.ca.gov information site. Supporters emphasized access, preventive care, workforce shortages, and public health benefits, while opponents raised concerns about abortion, syringe distribution, and the focus of state resources. Most measures were advanced by committee vote, with roll calls showing broad support and a few no votes from members on some bills. The final bill discussed in the transcript was AB 1037, which would update substance use disorder laws to reflect evidence-based, harm-reduction approaches and remove barriers to treatment. The author and supporters described it as a compassionate response to overdose and treatment access problems, while law enforcement opposition argued it would encourage drug use and endanger communities. The transcript cuts off during testimony on AB 1037, so no final committee action on that bill is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2061 by Holt relating to the designation of State Highway 242 bridge intersecting State Highway 59
• in Montgomery County as the Lance Corporal Armando Hernandez Memorial Bridge, referred to the Subcommittee
• Bridge referred the Committee on Transportation HB 2316 by GRIDS relating to the manner of reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• But, uh, while county road and bridge infrastructure is extremely important, we continue to struggle
• seeing the issue on our import side, so product coming from Mexico, once it goes crosses the far bridge
• or some of our bridges and we have an overweight corridor, um, the overweight corridor.

Transcript Highlights:

• cities to really go business to business and provide those businesses with information about emergency bridge
• We actually own and operate roads and bridges, but we are a capital partner, a regulatory authority,
• other states or use infrastructure in other states, you quickly realize that Florida's roads and bridges

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to organize for the session, take roll, and hear introductory remarks from members and agency heads. Members briefly introduced themselves and their districts, with several noting transportation, economic development, emergency response, military, and hurricane recovery issues in their areas. Chair Shove then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and current-year budget, noting a total of about $20.3 billion, with most funding coming from trust funds and only a small share from general revenue. The committee also heard that upcoming meetings would include presentations from major agencies in the subcommittee’s purview. The first agency presentation was from the Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Major General John Haas described the Guard’s three missions—supporting national security, responding to state emergencies, and adding value to the state—and highlighted deployments for hurricanes, border security support, and ongoing support to the Department of Corrections. He emphasized that the Guard is understrength relative to Florida’s size and demand, said recruiting is strong, and identified force structure growth as the main challenge. Members asked about aircraft, funding sources, and recruiting; Haas explained the Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing fleet, said aircraft purchases are funded through legislative appropriations, and reported strong interest in the Florida State Guard’s recruiting pipeline. Executive Director Mark Thieme then described the Florida State Guard’s expansion into air, ground, and maritime capabilities, including Black Hawks, boats, drones, canine search-and-rescue teams, and ground support units. He said the agency supported immigration enforcement and hurricane response, and asked for continued legislative support to expand aviation, maritime, and medical capabilities. Members praised the Guard’s disaster response work and asked about aircraft, funding, and staffing. Secretary Cord Byrd of the Department of State followed, focusing on election administration, election security, the SunBiz and voter registration IT systems, arts and culture, corporations, libraries, and historical resources. He said Florida’s election system remains a national model, reported two prosecutions for non-citizen voting, and discussed modernization needs for legacy IT systems. The committee also asked about voter lookup tools, password privacy for SunBiz, and arts funding vetoes. Secretary Alex Kelly of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s broad portfolio, including workforce, economic, community, and international commerce functions, plus housing recovery, broadband, small business support, rural infrastructure, defense-community grants, and law enforcement recruitment bonuses. He said access to capital is the biggest barrier for small businesses and noted ongoing work with CareerSource, the Department of Corrections, and other partners on workforce and reentry. Secretary Jared Perdue of the Department of Transportation then outlined FDOT’s record budget and five-year work program, emphasizing emergency response, preservation and maintenance, safety, and major investments in roads, ports, airports, transit, and spaceport infrastructure. He said the department has removed millions of cubic yards of storm debris, is ahead of schedule on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, and faces a large unfunded project backlog. Members asked about supply chain issues, project priorities, and workforce needs, and Perdue said FDOT is open to collaboration on recruitment and retention.

Transcript Highlights:

• how these programs have been able to support students thrive academically with confidence, while bridging
• And we welcome opportunities to continue building bridges with her and with others.
• in the living room, so we will know if she leaves in the middle of the night to try to jump off a bridge
• Low-income older adults participating in the bridge subsidy program pay 30% of their income toward rent
• , with the bridge subsidy making up the difference in total rent.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Ways and Means Committee held its final public hearing on the FY26 state budget, with chairs and members emphasizing that public testimony would help shape the budget and asking speakers to keep remarks brief. Committee leaders introduced members, explained the hearing process, and repeatedly thanked residents, students, and advocates for participating. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony focused heavily on education funding and the Chapter 70 formula. Students from Amherst, Northampton, Gateway Regional, Chester Elementary, and other districts described budget-driven cuts to electives, special education supports, paraprofessionals, counselors, transportation, and building maintenance. They urged higher Chapter 70 aid, increased minimum aid, rural school aid, and a reopening or restructuring of the funding formula, arguing that current formulas leave many districts unable to meet student needs and force local layoffs and overrides. Other speakers urged funding or protection for a range of programs and facilities, including the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for homicide survivor services, the Museum of African American History, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and CART/interpreter services, the Access to Counsel housing legal aid program, the Department of Mental Health and Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. One speaker opposed offshore wind-related spending and urged a reset of the state’s energy approach, while another advocated ending the aircraft sales tax exemption. Committee members responded sympathetically to many speakers, asked a few follow-up questions, and several expressed support for maintaining or expanding the programs discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said it is a tool to get to school and work, and that the state subsidizes roads, bridges, and parking
• 48:15.079> and for this program maybe into roads and for this program maybe into roads and bridges
• maybe into better bus routes bridges maybe into better bus routes something<00:48:18.839> that
• 33.599> and subsidizing in this state for roads and subsidizing in this state for roads and bridges
• It is a tool to get to school and work, and the state subsidizes roads, bridges, and parking. able to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Demand for skilled operators is very high, from clean energy to roads, bridges.
• 20:48.679> roads very high from clean energy to roads very high from clean energy to roads Bridges
• our communities depend on the Bridges our communities depend on the work<01:20:51.400> that<01
• :45.360> I90 working in Austin Minnesota on our I90 working in Austin Minnesota on our I90 Bridge
• projects um the pathway has grown Bridge projects um the pathway has grown significantly<01:27:50.760

Bills: HF339, HF1272, HF2121, HF2122, HF1216, HF1003, HF2319

Keywords: HF339, Nursing Home Workforce Standards Board, nursing homes, long-term care, elder care, workforce standards, certified worker organizations, labor funding, general fund appropriation, worker grants, Minnesota labor law, nursing home staffing, caregiver workforce, section 181.214, HF1272, nursing home, boarding care home, nursing home workers, labor standards, Medicaid-certified facility

Transcript Highlights:

• you did<00:08:03.000> give<00:08:03.120> us<00:08:03.240> the<00:08:03.360> bridge
• in<00:08:03.680> the<00:08:03.879> Gap<00:08:04.440> info did give us the bridge
• in the Gap info did give us the bridge in the Gap info but<00:08:05.319> one<00:08:05.560>
• we play in capital we're meant to<00:35:38.119> be<00:35:38.240> a<00:35:38.359> bridge
• not a long term and get to be a bridge not a long term and get people<00:35:40.440> kind<00:35

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This cultural mall that Fia is working on, and I echo the comments of her strong leadership, will bridge
• This cultural mall that Fia is working on, and I echo the comments of her strong leadership, will bridge
• This cultural mall that Fia is working on, and I echo the comments of her strong leadership, will bridge
• I would rather see capital investment be roads and bridges, not civic centers and swimming pools.
• that not Civic centers and and bridges that not Civic centers and swimming<00:25:08.120> pools

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So again, the funding that we’ve received is going to help us bridge that so that we can retain that
• So again, the funding that we’ve received is going to help us bridge that so that we can retain that
• So again, the funding that we’ve received is going to help us bridge that so that we can retain that
• So again, the funding that we’ve received is going to help us bridge that so that we can retain that
• So again, the funding that we’ve received is going to help us bridge that so that we can retain that

Keywords: 1183, house