Transcript Highlights:

• Something that we're aware of, but I think we need to more uh focus on the fact that we have a looming deficit
• /c><00:03:48.239> over<00:03:48.959> our<00:03:49.280> budget have a looming deficit
• over our budget have a looming deficit over our budget because<00:03:50.000> of<00:03:50.159>
• And we have a deficit. That's what we know right now.
• And we have a deficit. $10 billion. And we have a deficit.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this is our first deficit bill of the session.
• We'll have at least one or two deficit bills, too.
• <00:30:06.000> We'll for extra deficit in the House.
• We'll for extra deficit in the House.
• <00:30:08.080> bills, have at least one or two deficit bills, have at least one or two deficit

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 24 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, received the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, and approved dispensing with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. The chamber also welcomed several guest groups, including members of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Land Committee, the Stone County Republican Party, Mississippi State University Student Association leaders, the first graduating class of the Mississippi LEAD program, Montgomery County 4-H leaders, and Mississippi Young Bankers. Floor privileges were granted to Alice Marie Johnson and her guest. The Senate then took up Senate Resolution 28 honoring Alice Marie Johnson of Olive Branch, recognizing her work on clemency and second chances after her own pardon and appointment to a White House pardons-related role. Johnson addressed the Senate, describing her personal history, her time in prison, and her advocacy for people impacted by incarceration and harsh sentencing. Representative Kimberly Remak also presented a House recognition in her honor. The resolution and presentations emphasized redemption, justice reform, and Johnson’s Mississippi roots. On the calendar, the Senate passed Senate Bill 3104, a deficit appropriation bill for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, after Senator Hopson outlined numerous funding items. Those included payments related to wrongful incarceration claims, attorney general litigation, a MIMA settlement, claims involving educational television and the community college board, Medicaid deficit funding, emergency management and county disaster assistance, repairs and relocation needs tied to the Bolton building, AOC pass-through and judge-related costs, licensing board and Marine Resources special funds, student financial aid, and DHS income-verification software to reduce SNAP error rates. The bill passed by morning roll call. The Senate also passed Senate Bill 3105, a placeholder deficit vehicle with no dollars attached, and then passed and retained several later items, including Senate Bill 3053 on IHL general support, after discussion of performance metrics and higher education accountability.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:27:32.640> grant the ambulance operating deficit grant the ambulance operating deficit
• And staring at a $6 billion deficit.
• This is economic insanity from deficit.
• If you wonder why there's a deficit there, that's why.
• If you wonder why there's a deficit there, that's why.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This<00:53:50.640> drastic<00:53:51.119> reduction<00:53:51.520> in<00:53:51.760
• > subsidies<00:53:52.240> will This drastic reduction in subsidies will This drastic reduction
• The bipartisan infrastructure bill, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, which
• Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act,<09:38:51.436
• , borrows against our children's deficit, borrows against our children's futures,<09:39:15.040> and

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We generally talk about spending, but there's also reduction that can be made, which is especially important
• However, the true valuation of the actuarial liability would be $64 million, which would be a reduction
• However, the true valuation of the actuarial liability would be $64 million, which would be a reduction
• Over the last several years through our budget deficit, there's been some facilities that need to be
• Tomas de la Rueva is amazing research stuff, so I think they're building a great team, fix the deficit

Bills: SB1041, SB1050, SB1131, SB1138, SB1249, SB1267, SB1272, SB1317, SB1461, SB1488, SB1504, SB1517, SB1523, SB1580, SB1582, SB1584, SB1585, SB1602, SB1630, SB1654, SB1672, SB1673, SB1718, SB1761, SB1819, SB1826, SB1827

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, veterans, lifetime pass, state parks, Arizona, access, disabled veterans, cardiac arrest, defibrillators, school safety, emergency response, CPR training, Arizona education funding, automated license plate readers

Transcript Highlights:

• however, forces a strict residential zoning code on every city and county, even if there's no housing deficit
• dwelling units, allowed, yes, in God's backyard, density increases along transit corridors, parking reductions
• dwelling units, allowed, yes, in God's backyard, density increases along transit corridors, parking reductions

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered a series of bills, many focused on local government authority, land use, housing, and public notice requirements. Several measures were reported favorably, including SB 984 on firefighter cancer benefits and prevention, SB 1612 requiring local governments to accept electronic payments, SB 936 on temporary door locking devices, SB 962 on affordable housing protections for farms, SB 218 on land use regulations in hurricane-affected counties, SB 1020 on regulation of chickee huts, and SB 1434 on infill redevelopment of environmentally challenged properties. SB 1180 on community development district recall elections was amended to narrow and clarify the recall process and to add provisions on synthetic turf and compact urban mixed-use districts before being reported favorably. SB 380 on legal notices was also amended and reported favorably despite significant opposition from the Florida Press Association, Common Cause, and others who argued it would further fragment public notice access; supporters said it would modernize publication options and save money. Testimony on the bills was mixed. Supporters of the housing and redevelopment measures argued they would increase attainable housing, streamline approvals, and make better use of underutilized or contaminated land, while local government groups and advocacy organizations warned about overdevelopment, reduced public input, infrastructure strain, and conflicts with comprehensive planning. On SB 1444, which combined preemptions related to religious gatherings, private clubs, and certain permitting requirements, supporters framed it as protecting religious freedom and limiting local micromanagement, while the League of Cities and the Florida Association of Counties opposed it as overly broad and unclear; the bill nevertheless passed favorably after debate. SB 218 was presented as restoring normal land-use authority in counties unaffected by hurricanes while preserving protections in damaged areas, and SB 984 was described as clarifying firefighter cancer benefits and health coverage rules; both passed without controversy. The committee also heard extensive testimony on SB 948, a strike-all on local government land development regulations and orders that would create a statewide framework for starter homes and lot-split rules within urban growth areas. Supporters said it would expand housing supply and reduce regulatory delays, while opponents said it would override local zoning, weaken infrastructure and environmental protections, and apply too broadly. The bill drew support from housing advocates and some local officials, but opposition from the Florida League of Cities, Florida Association of Counties, and others. The transcript ends with SB 948 still under consideration, with testimony continuing and no final vote shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And those reductions are disproportionately occurring in smaller and rural districts.
• And those reductions are disproportionately occurring in smaller in rural districts.
• They don't typically get identified for either special ed or giftedness, or sometimes we have a very deficit

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We effectively operated at that $500,000 per month deficit in fiscal year 26 to deliver the expectations
• One of them is first, there's an on the savings and efficiencies reduction of outside counsel, and then
• like you ought to be able to look from a prior year how much was spent and see whether there was a reduction

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget recommends $63 million in base budget reductions based on historical reversions, ensuring
• The budget recommends $63 million in base budget reductions based on historical reversions, ensuring
• The Deferment Aggressions Fund addresses the current year projected deficit with $179 million in the

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• H1 recommends $56 million for the executive office, which is a $9.7 million reduction below the FY25
• The reduction is driven by administrative and staffing reductions and reductions to grant programs, including
• And it's a pilot, and we'll see what benefits there are or if there's some deficits.
• My testimony raises the alarm about the reductions to civil rights and anti-discrimination protections
• However, none of the above is possible if we realize a deficit in our anticipated federal funding.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing was held in Clinton Town Hall as part of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means’ budget review, with local officials welcoming legislators and noting the long agenda of many panels. The main presentation was from Secretary Terrence Reedy of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, who outlined the Healey-Driscoll administration’s FY26 proposal for the secretariat, including a $1.7 billion budget and a 7% increase over FY25. He described investments in emergency preparedness, hate-crime prevention, reentry programming, technology modernization, internships, and public safety training, while also noting some reductions driven by resource constraints, including cuts to certain grant programs and administrative costs. Committee members also raised concerns about federal uncertainty and how it could affect state budgets and public safety planning. A major portion of the questioning focused on the Department of Correction. Secretary Reedy and Commissioner Sean Jenkins said the biggest challenges are staffing, officer wellness, facility safety, and contraband—especially K2. They described steps taken at MCI Souza and other facilities, including reducing population at the maximum-security unit, changing management, removing metal products and free weights, improving screening and roll calls, adding a rapid response team, and increasing investigative and technological efforts to combat K2. They also discussed the closure of MCI Concord, saying it was driven by high maintenance costs and staffing needs, and explained that savings are being used to improve staffing patterns and address deferred maintenance over time rather than producing immediate large budget reductions. Members also questioned the budget’s impact on police training and community policing. The administration defended the increase in police academy tuition from $3,200 to $6,000 as reflecting true training costs and said it would still be subsidized by the state, while acknowledging the burden on small municipalities. They said the MPTC is expanding regional training and considering proposals such as Greenfield Community College’s. On community policing, officials emphasized uniform statewide training, de-escalation, and communication skills. The State Police also announced an outside review of the academy by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and said the next class will be split into two smaller groups to improve oversight and allow quicker implementation of recommendations. Other topics included ICE and federal immigration enforcement, with Reedy saying state law prohibits Massachusetts law enforcement from acting in a civil immigration capacity and that no state dollars were used in the Tufts-related ICE operation mentioned by a member. Senators and representatives also raised the upcoming FIFA World Cup, warning that it will require significant public safety resources and likely federal funding. Additional discussion covered restorative justice and juvenile diversion, health care costs in DOC, electronic health records, and the need for more diverse and culturally competent public safety staffing. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• those participating in our first panel to go over the IHSS overview in the governor's proposed reductions
• So, acknowledging that we'll be talking about the Governor's IHSS budget reductions proposed in a few
• Okay, so in the May revise, you're going to have updated numbers of the potential reduction in savings
• Such previous budget solutions included across-the-board provider rate reductions.
• Lived experience is not a deficit. It is expertise.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First up, director Yamane in deficits.
• They all got cognitive deficits.
• deficits with lack of capacity. deficits with lack of capacity.
• <00:43:28.560> That's have have cognitive deficits. That's have have cognitive deficits.
• So they wouldn't got cognitive deficits.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Health and Human Services opened its first hearing of the 2026 session and heard testimony on several bills, with the chair emphasizing one-minute testimony, written submissions, and live streaming. For SB 768, relating to an alternative water source income tax credit, the Department of Taxation said a drafting issue needed clarification on the $500 cap and estimated a revenue loss of $6.8 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2028. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii and the Libertarian Party opposed the bill as an unnecessary subsidy and tax-code complication, while one supporter was noted. A member questioned the size of the projected loss and suggested future analysis of net fiscal impacts and methodology. The committee then heard SB 389, which expands a general excise tax exemption to additional health-related providers and purchases. The Department of Taxation said the change would be a minimal code adjustment but would require public education; the Tax Foundation said the bill should be framed in light of the original physician-shortage rationale for the exemption. The Hawaii National Guard and Aloha Care supported the measure, along with several other organizations and individuals, while the Libertarian Party opposed it as favoritism and tax-code complexity. A member asked about administrative burden and potential tax impact, and the department said it did not yet have a calculation but was working on one. The committee also heard SB 877, which would appropriate funds to increase Medicaid in-home services if federal matching funds are maximized, and SB 1139, which would direct DHS to expand Medicaid eligibility for children from birth to age five regardless of household income. DHS stood on written testimony for both bills, and Aloha Care, the Hawaii Medical Association, disability advocates, children’s advocates, and CARES testified in support, arguing the measures would improve access and family stability. The Libertarian Party opposed both bills, warning of higher long-term costs, entitlement growth, and reduced private-sector options. Members questioned the fiscal and programmatic differences between crisis and warm-line services during discussion of SB 787, a bill to fund a Department of Health warm line; the department said the warm line would serve noncrisis callers more cheaply than crisis staffing, and that about 34.7% of 2024 Hawaii CARES contacts were mild issues that could have been routed to a warm line. Supporters cited mental health needs after the Lahaina wildfire and the affordability crisis, while opponents argued the service duplicated existing resources and expanded government involvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• As I mentioned, we've seen a reduction, and I know that was data presented yesterday, in overall arrests
• addressing their trauma, their behavioral health issues, and other barriers that they face to risk reduction
• their funding streams to better target higher-risk kids and use what we know as evidence-based risk reduction
• to what we're proposing here, and they put it into what they call medical care availability and reduction
• And I think the acknowledgment of our communities having a deficit and a need for physicians also needs

Transcript Highlights:

• And they have work within the current funding model and they did have a deficit this year.
• We know we only had 3 million dollars in our risk pooling when you combined all the deficits of other
• How do you deficit spends like that in reality that it's just a practical question?
• And, you know, we do see deficits going into the next year, sometimes from their books.
• But I don't believe in the CDC has paid millions of dollars in deficit out of their own pocket.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bottom three sections of the chart represent structural operating deficit we face, uncompensated
• We face this even without HR1 reductions that we expect will start in 2027.
• c> of the chart represent structural of the chart represent structural operating<00:07:59.360> deficit
• we face uncompensated operating deficit we face uncompensated care<00:08:02.800> needed<00:08
• face this even without HH HR1 reductions face this even without HH HR1 reductions that<00:08:11.599

Transcript Highlights:

• So by adopting the amendment that we did in House Bill 2 and then making that motion to make the reduction
• at the end with the decisions to deficit at the end with the decisions to to<02:05:25.760> date
• I tried to put some notes there tying back to the governor's budget so you can see where the reductions
• I tried to put some notes there tying back to the governor's budget so you can see where the reductions
• And what's coming out of the office of the commissioner, the 601, oh, is that the reduction in,

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first revisited HB 781, the cell phone bill, after previously retaining it. On reconsideration, members moved to OTP the bill, and it passed unanimously. The committee then moved into the budget tracking packet and adopted an amendment to HB 2 to add the same cell phone policy language, also unanimously, and separately reduced HB 1 by $1 million to match the policy change. Members noted the cell phone language had already been stripped of grant funding language in the House version and that the policy and funding pieces were being aligned across the budget bills. The committee then took up a Department of Education technical amendment to HB 2 on charter school grants, which made timing and administrative changes without altering grant amounts, and adopted it unanimously. Members also discussed but held other education-related items, including adequacy grants, pending broader decisions on overall education funding. Another HB 2 item concerning E-911/state police radio communications prompted a longer discussion about whether E-911 surcharge funds were being used for purposes that should instead be general-funded. After debate over whether to leave the current practice in place or split the funding 50/50 between E-911 and general funds, the committee adopted a joint HB 1/HB 2 change to shift the funding source to a 50/50 split and delete the HB 2 language authorizing the prior use; the motion passed 7-0. The committee also discussed but did not act on several lottery-related provisions, including the video lottery terminal amendment, the increase in maximum ticket price from $30 to $50, and related tax split changes, with members planning to hear from the Lottery Commission on Monday. The meeting ended with the committee beginning review of new amendments in the tracking packet, including a Department of Education request related to Public School Infrastructure Commission grant administration, but no action was taken on that item in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• the budget I'm very aware of the deficit the budget I'm very aware of the deficit that<00:36:06.560
• Despite all these efforts, each program will operate at an annual budget deficit.
• We are running a structural deficit on the current 18, and as we were talking about earlier, when we
• for us as pretty significant uh deficit for us as well<01:02:53.359> and<01:02:53.559> if<
• So all along we've been planning for how we're going to make up that structural deficit.

Bills: HF2090, HF982, HF2229

Keywords: higher education, scholarship, financial aid, state grant, tuition assistance, Pell grants, student retention, education equity, disabled veterans, veterans' dependents, dependent children, college affordability, books and fees, University of Minnesota, public colleges, Office of Higher Education, veterans benefits, military families, permanent disability, 100 percent disability

Transcript Highlights:

• So this is about calendaring a deficit.
• I look forward to what your solution is so that our school districts don't continue to be in deficit,
• I look forward to what your solution is so that our school districts don't continue to be in deficit,
• I look forward to what your solution is so that our school districts don't continue to be in deficit,
• I look forward to what your solution is so that our school districts don't continue to be in deficit,

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And so there is a deficit or a discrepancy in what we are able to pay folks in Miami-Dade and Broward
• There is a deficit or a discrepancy in what we are able to pay folks in Miami-Dade and Broward County
• Diving down to what the actual issues may be, I know that in the past we've had salary deficits, and
• And as a result, that put the department in a budget deficit, as you pointed out.
• So the first thing I did when I got here was I made sure that we dealt with a deficit... One out.

Summary: The committee met to review agency program funding as it prepared to build the budget, hearing brief presentations from six agencies and then taking member questions. Florida Division of Emergency Management highlighted its role in response, preparedness, recovery, and mitigation, describing a largely federal pass-through budget, major technology investments, and large disaster and preparedness grant activity. The Department of Commerce, Department of State, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Department of Transportation, Department of Military Affairs, Florida State Guard, and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles also summarized their budgets, staffing, and major programs, including workforce and economic development, elections and arts funding, housing assistance, transportation work programs, military readiness, state guard expansion, and highway safety and motorist services. Members focused questions on several issues: arts and library grant funding and whether award criteria had changed; Commerce’s rural infrastructure and job growth grants and why funds were not being disbursed faster; Florida Housing’s use of SAIL, Live Local, Hometown Heroes, and SHIP funds and how smaller agencies learn about and access funding; and DOT’s work program gap between agency and governor proposals. The most extensive questioning was directed to Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles about long DMV lines, vacancies, overtime, staffing shortages, and the ability to shift funds between divisions. The department said staffing and pay constraints, especially in South Florida, were driving service delays and vacancy rates, and that overtime was being used because troopers were leaving for better-paying jobs. The Florida State Guard was also questioned about its spending and procurement pace, including aircraft purchases and facilities. Its director said long procurement timelines explained the low initial spending and that obligations had risen sharply as contracts matured. Members also asked about the department’s public opposition to Amendment 3 and whether agency resources were used in that effort; the director said no contracts or purchases were made to influence the vote and said the colonel’s comments were made off the clock. The meeting ended with the chair asking agencies to respond promptly to unanswered questions, and the committee adjourned without any recorded votes or formal actions beyond receiving the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:19.599> So,<00:03:20.239> uh, budget deficit going forward.
• So, uh, budget deficit going forward.
• ,<00:03:24.239> uh,<00:03:24.319> the<00:03:24.560> structural budget deficit
• , uh, the structural budget deficit, uh, the structural deficit<00:03:25.519> in<00:03:25.760>
• deficit in half, nearly in half, 45%. deficit in half, nearly in half, 45%.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all