Transcript Highlights:

• </c> payment error rate.
• So the payment error payment error rate.
• </c> to the risk of the payment error rate. to the risk of the payment error rate.
• </c> and maintaining low payment error rates. and maintaining low payment error rates.
• SNAP outreach payment error rates.

Bills: HF45 , HF1148 , HF3624 , HF3586 , HF777

Committee: House Children and Families Finance and Policy

Keywords: HF45, Lake Benton, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Public Facilities Authority, public infrastructure, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, utility replacement, U.S. Highway 75, road reconstruction, municipal infrastructure, local government grant, Minnesota bonding, capital appropriation, food insecurity, prepared meals

Transcript Highlights:

• And these can be, you know, kind these disease prevention and provider payments.
• So the provider payment fees can be used for any provider payments and are subject to some caps later
• You can use some of the grant funding for provider payments again, not already reimbursable by through
• Whether you can get Medicaid payment for at least one form of live video, Medicaid payment for star in
• Funding from providers payment, not reimbursable and not exceed 15% of the total grant funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• All reimbursement is based on in-state spending, which is carefully and thoroughly... early reviewed,
• including wages paid to Texas residents, payments to Texas domicile entities, air travel to and from
• However, the current levels of reimbursement are not as robust as those in other states.
• The uplifts can be combined but cannot exceed a... a total of 6% above the base reimbursement rate.
• If this is approved, then a payment request is submitted, and the check or direct deposit payment is

Bills: SB22 , SB 22

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: Texas, moving image industry, incentive program, film production, grant funding, job creation, economic development, youth camp, summer camp, camp safety, emergency operations plan, emergency preparedness, evacuation drill, camp staff training, volunteer training, camper safety, lost camper, natural disaster, fire safety, mass casualty

Transcript Highlights:

• A provider may claim a monthly payment for the full number of days in which a child is authorized if
• In July 2026, provider payment will transition from a retroactive attendance-based reimbursement system
• Substitute House Bill 2689 modifies the attendance-based reimbursement.
• Second, the cancellation of the upcoming enrollment-based payment transition is estimated to generate
• Second, the cancellation of the upcoming enrollment-based payment transition is estimated to generate

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held its last scheduled public hearing of the year on March 9, 2026, taking testimony on House Bill 2487, Substitute House Bill 2689, and Engrossed House Bill 2681. For HB 2487, staff and the Department of Revenue explained that the bill would narrow a B&O tax exemption for insurance-related businesses after a 2024 Supreme Court decision, make several related changes including annuity and assigned risk plan exemptions, adjust the advanced computing surcharge threshold for certain affiliated groups, and allow a penalties-and-interest waiver with a repayment plan. DOR supported the bill as clarifying the original intent and preventing double taxation, while insurers and health plan groups opposed it, arguing it would create higher costs, retroactive tax liability, and uncertainty; consumer and policy groups testified in support, saying it closes a loophole and restores the intended tax structure. Committee members questioned the retroactivity, the number of affected businesses, and the fiscal estimates, and the chair reminded members that amendment requests were due by noon for the next day’s executive session. For Substitute HB 2689, staff described changes to the Working Connections Child Care program that would keep income eligibility at 60% of state median income, reduce future rate-setting from the 85th to the 75th percentile, block enhanced rates for certain cross-region providers, cancel the planned move to enrollment-based prospective payments, revise attendance-based reimbursement to a full month for absences of 10 days or fewer and half-month for longer absences, and require a 65% market survey response rate for validity. The fiscal note projected substantial savings, offset by implementation and staffing costs. SEIU 925 and Head Start representatives supported the simpler House approach to attendance billing but raised concerns about the new survey threshold and the risk of increased audits and provider burden; they also noted an amendment under discussion to address the 2026 survey issue. Committee questions focused on how a full month is defined under the attendance rules. For HB 2681, staff said the bill would raise annual issuance and renewal fees for cannabis producer, processor, and retail licenses by $400, generating about $866,000 per year for the dedicated cannabis account with minimal administrative cost. No one signed up to testify, and the chair closed the hearing without a vote on any of the bills. The chair also thanked committee staff for their work and reiterated that amendments for the heard bills were due by noon that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• It can only be used for this fund, and this fund can only be used to reimburse the investigation and
• would need about $11,000 to make changes to the data processing systems to increase this lump sum payment
• would need about $11,000 to make changes to the data processing systems to increase this lump sum payment
• . changes to the data processing systems to increase this lump sum payment limit and the state actuary
• to reimburse school districts for a vehicle And district includes state depreciation payments to reimburse

Summary: The Appropriations Committee held a public hearing on several bills. Senate Bill 5109 would raise the mortgage lending fraud prosecution surcharge on recorded deeds of trust from $1 to $5 and remove the 2027 sunset on the surcharge and account. Committee staff said the change would generate additional revenue for county auditors and the Department of Financial Institutions to contract with prosecutors; King County and the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys testified in strong support, saying the current funding has eroded and the bill would better sustain mortgage fraud prosecutions. A question was raised about whether other budget funding could serve a similar purpose, but supporters said the dedicated surcharge/account structure was the best fit. No vote was taken. The committee also heard Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5500, which would require DCYF’s biennial child care report to include a current cost-of-quality study in addition to the market rate survey. Testifiers from Child Care Aware of Washington, child care providers, and the early education design team supported the bill, saying the market rate survey alone does not capture the true cost of providing quality care. Staff said the bill would have a small fiscal impact for DCYF. The committee then heard Substitute Senate Bill 5834 and Senate Bill 5835, both Department of Retirement Systems request bills: one would broaden use of pension fund interest earnings for fund-protection expenses beyond the 2025-27 biennium, and the other would raise the threshold for lump-sum payment of small monthly benefits from $50 to $250. Neither bill drew public testimony, and staff said the fiscal impacts were minimal. Later, the committee heard Engrossed Senate Bill 5872, which would create the Pre-K Promise Account for ECAP funding and allow gifts, grants, and donations to be used solely to expand the program. Supporters including rural health coalitions, the Balmer Group, and Snohomish County said the account would help expand access to early learning, especially in child care deserts; DCYF estimated staffing costs to administer the account. Substitute Senate Bill 6007 would direct WSIPP to study DCYF’s child welfare screening tools and their effects on outcomes, with a reported cost of about $234,000; there was no public testimony. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6019 would clarify home care agency rate-setting and require that no more than 20% of Medicaid home care rates go to administrative costs, with DSHS saying there would be no fiscal impact. Labor and caregiver witnesses supported it as a parity and accountability measure. Finally, Senate Bill 6065 would allow school districts in binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight to use transportation vehicle funds more flexibly, including temporary loans or permanent transfers with approval; a rural education representative supported the bill, and staff said OSPI would incur only modest administrative costs. The committee took no final action and adjourned after the hearings.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Graduate Medical Education payments have been suspended also.
• The Graduate Medical Education payments have been suspended also.
• It's county reimbursement of funds limitations on payments, and this goes back to the conversation that
• limitations on reimbursement of funds limitations on payments<02:19:00.639><c> and</c><02:19:01.240>
• </c><02:22:31.280><c> correct</c> that re rebate or reimbursement correct that re rebate or reimbursement

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting began as a Division 3 work session on HB 71, but much of the early discussion focused on whether a previously discussed non-germane amendment could be considered or voted on that day. Members and the chair debated process and notice requirements, and the clerk’s guidance was that the amendment needed a separate public hearing before the full Finance Committee. The amendment was described as requiring DHHS contracts and addenda to include compliance with the Patient Bill of Rights, with a repeal date so the requirement would expire on November 30, 2026. The motion to move OTP on HB 71 with the amendment was withdrawn, and the committee agreed the amendment would be scheduled for a future full Finance hearing instead. The committee then turned to HB 71 itself and heard testimony from DHHS representatives John Williams and Jenny O’Higgins on the fiscal note and policy implications. Members questioned the estimate that the bill could put $12 million to $18 million per year in federal funding at risk, including HUD and Office of Refugee Resettlement funds. DHHS explained that the estimate was based on a broad reading of the bill’s term “specified alien,” which they said was not clearly defined in the bill, so they analyzed it using the federal definition of “alien” and assumed the bill could affect lawfully present non-citizens as well as undocumented individuals. They said the figure represented a worst-case scenario and that they were not claiming the loss was certain. Members also pressed DHHS on whether the bill could affect emergency sheltering in schools, public academies, or institutions of higher learning during disasters. DHHS said the language could create conflicts with federal funding conditions because emergency shelter programs generally cannot impose barriers on who may be sheltered, and they warned that excluding certain people could affect refugee-related and HUD funding. Questions were raised about whether the bill’s language would apply to private institutions as well as public ones, and whether the state could still use schools in short-term emergencies. DHHS said the language was broad, that they could not answer every legal question definitively, and that they would need input from public health and legal staff. No final vote on HB 71 was taken in the portion provided; the committee remained in discussion/work session mode after the amendment motion was withdrawn.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:58.759><c> stru</c> to phase out this um payment stru to phase out this um payment stru structure
• </c><00:35:47.960><c> structure</c> structure to a direct payment structure structure to a direct payment
• </c><00:36:13.319><c> rather</c> statute um and do direct payments rather statute um and do direct payments
• </c><00:48:57.680><c> is</c> with as far far as the reimbursement is with as far far as the reimbursement
• </c> the um nursing home facility payment the um nursing home facility payment system<01:15:32.679><c

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Reimbursement in this way.
• Placer County is just under $20,000 in reimbursement. Alameda County is $27,893 in reimbursement.
• The total reimbursement?
• increase in reimbursements.
• reimbursement under the program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• medical boards did not discipline 70% of physicians who had peer review sanctions or malpractice payments
• This would create more stable payments for providers, and it would reduce the requirements across payers
• Third, the bill designates a payment floor so federally qualified health centers cannot be paid less
• And under this bill, Medicaid would reimburse up to 50 percent of residency costs, leveraging a federal
• hospice agencies, ...entities demand contracts that far exceed what is currently reimbursed to home

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Health

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Health held a hybrid hearing on a wide range of bills focused on patient safety, workforce development, health equity, and access to care. A major portion of the hearing centered on H. 2362/S. 1491, which would require health care providers to offer trained chaperones for sensitive exams. Sponsors and supporters said the bill is a common-sense safeguard prompted by cases of physician sexual abuse, and survivors gave emotional testimony describing grooming, isolation, and abuse during exams when no chaperone was present. Support also came from a health services researcher, a physician, and a RAINN representative, all arguing that trained chaperones and clearer documentation would improve transparency and protect patients. Committee members asked about clarifying who may serve as a chaperone and whether the bill would apply to other clinicians such as PTs and OTs. The committee also heard testimony on H. 2401/S. 1485, which would require explicit informed consent for certain educational exams performed on unconscious patients. The bill’s supporters said patients should know in advance if students or physicians will conduct non-medically necessary exams while they are under anesthesia, and that the measure would protect survivors from retraumatization. The hearing then moved to H. 2537, a primary care access bill. Health Care for All, the Massachusetts Medical Society, pediatric and internal medicine physicians, and a patient advocate described long waits, provider shortages, and difficulty finding primary care, especially for low-income people and people of color. They supported the bill’s proposed primary care spending target, payment reforms, Medicaid graduate medical education funding, and a commercial payment floor for health centers. Another set of bills addressed workforce and safety issues. H. 2397/S. 1593 would establish a nursing workforce center; nursing leaders said Massachusetts should make the current workforce council permanent to support data collection, apprenticeships, and long-term planning for the state’s largest health care workforce. H. 2396/S. 1535 would require safe patient handling and mobility programs in health facilities; nurses described serious injuries from lifting patients and said better equipment and programs would reduce staff injuries and improve patient outcomes. H. 2501/S. 1505 on LGBTQ+ health disparities drew support from a medical student and Doctors for America, who urged collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data to improve care and school outcomes. Finally, H. 2448/S. 1522 on patient safety and equitable access to care drew strong support from nursing organizations and individual nurses who described unsafe staffing, burnout, and patient harm, while the Massachusetts Association of Behavioral Health Systems opposed the bill as redundant for psychiatric facilities already regulated by the Department of Mental Health.

Transcript Highlights:

• given, uh, authorization to fund or develop or whatever, uh, incentive payments or rebate payments or
• </c><00:23:43.440><c> as</c> phrased here as incentive payments as phrased here as incentive payments
• given, uh, authorization to fund or develop or whatever, uh, incentive payments or rebate payments or
• </c><00:33:49.760><c> once</c> treatment facility reimbursements once treatment facility reimbursements
• Reimbursements, which is where million.

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Subdivision five pertains to certification and payment.
• </c> pertains to certification and payment. pertains to certification and payment.
• </c> the payments to be issued. the payments to be issued.
• </c> recognized and and reimbursed. recognized and and reimbursed. Madam<00:24:26.280><c> Chair.
• This bill creates a reasonable and accountable mechanism, verified by the state auditor, to reimburse

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• "Is entitled to receive," which means you can opt out of the payment.
• , make car payments, and clothe their kids. make car payments, clothe their kids, on a lot less than
• What this amendment is trying to do is only remove per diem and mileage reimbursement.
• The title now says to limit reimbursement for certain per diem and mileage.
• I believe it's non-taxable because I'm using it to reimburse myself.

Bills: HB145 , HB164 , HJR6 , HR1 , HB20 , HB65 , HB66 , HB80 , HB166 , HB295 , HB306 , SB29 , SB37 , HB99 , HB206 , HB213 , HB270 , HJR5 , SB104 , SB193 , HJM2 , HJM3 , HJM1 , HM7 , HM17 , HM4 , HM22 , HM23 , HM24 , HM26 , HM2 , HM16 , HM32 , HM13 , HM47 , HM20 , HM51 , HM1 , HM31 , HM35 , HM36 , HM46 , HM53 , HM54 , HM39 , HM11 , HM14 , HM21 , HM34 , HM50

Keywords: high-wage jobs, tax credit, job creation, New Mexico, economic development, lobbying, transparency, public records, government oversight, accountability, constitutional amendment, legislative sessions, veto override, New Mexico legislature, session length, House Resolution 1, HR1, House investigatory subcommittee, special committee, legislative investigation

Transcript Highlights:

• Our Supreme Court's already said that restitution or non-payment of restitution is not something that
• and I think their restitution payments and I think the<00:18:23.000><c> same</c><00:18:23.360><c> is
• </c><00:18:46.720><c> of</c> said that restitution or non-payment of said that restitution or non-payment
• of support they're obviously not payment of support they're obviously not going<00:20:20.559><c> to<
• </c><00:51:16.799><c> of</c> this case it was um reimbursement of this case it was um reimbursement of

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on several bills. SB 335 would route objections by political party officers to candidate nomination papers through the Office of Elections. The State Election Director testified that his office was not the right venue for party-membership challenges because it could create conflicts and force the Attorney General to represent the chief election officer in court; members discussed whether all objections should instead go directly to Circuit Court, but no action was taken. SB 280 would expand first-degree negligent injury to cover injuries negligently caused by intoxicated drivers. The Public Defender opposed the bill as too harsh and urged either a lower penalty or clearer statutory definitions of “under the influence,” while the Prosecuting Attorney supported it as a needed increase in accountability for drunk drivers who actually injure someone. Committee members raised concerns about overlap with existing offenses, proportionality, and whether the change would increase jury-trial volume; the prosecutor responded that the bill would apply to a smaller subset of cases involving actual injury and would help ensure more serious treatment of those cases. The committee also heard SB 292, establishing Safe Harbor protections for survivors of sexual exploitation who seek medical or law enforcement assistance, with testimony in support from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, HPD, U Alliance, and others, and no opposition. SB 31, concerning an additional penalty for dog owners whose dogs destroy property on agricultural land, drew only supportive testimony. SB 356 would require restitution in the form of financial support to the minor children of victims killed or disabled by an intoxicated driver; the Public Defender opposed it as better suited to civil court and questioned enforcement after probation, while the Prosecuting Attorney supported it and said courts can issue enforceable restitution orders. Testimony also strongly supported SB 1284, a proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting discrimination based on ethnicity, age, disability, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes, with supporters arguing it would strengthen protections in response to current political conditions. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• AS MENTIONED THE UTILITY RELOCATION REIMBURSEMENT GRANT PROGRAM IS UNDER OUR UMBRELLA IN THE OFFICE OF
• BROADBAND AND THE OFFICE WILL BE OVERSEEING A $50 MILLION ALLOCATION TOWARDS REIMBURSED PROVIDERS FOR
• THAT'S WHAT WE WILL BE PROCESSING TO REIMBURSE THEM FOR THEIR COSTS BUT THE ONLY COSTS THAT WE WOULD
• AND TIMELY REIMBURSED FOR THAT WORK BECAUSE IT WILL BE A REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM ON THE FRONT END AND
• IN THAT SAME BILL DOT HAS A 50% REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM AND WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON WHAT PROCEDURES

Transcript Highlights:

• We have known for a long time that reimbursement rates are abysmally low, and directed payment programs
• We have known for a long time that reimbursement rates are abysmally low, and directed payment programs
• We have known for a long time that reimbursement rates are abysmally low, and directed payment programs
• We have known for a long time that reimbursement rates are abysmally low, and directed payment programs
• We have known for a long time that reimbursement rates are abysmally low, and directed payment programs

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> total payments is now um up to 17%. total payments is now um up to 17%.
• </c> for reimbursing us is 15%. for reimbursing us is 15%.
• </c> coverage and reimbursement rates. coverage and reimbursement rates.
• Are we talking about the reimbursement rates? >> Yes. The reimbursement rates can be different.
• </c> reimbursement rates are fixed. reimbursement rates are fixed.

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 562, which would create a home damage mitigation and resilience grant program aimed at helping homeowners make property improvements that could reduce insurance costs and non-renewals. Commissioner DJ Bettencourt of the New Hampshire Insurance Department explained that the program is modeled in part on Alabama’s safer homes program, but tailored for New Hampshire hazards such as floods, microbursts, heavy snow, ice, and falling trees. He said the grants would be limited to primary residences, subject to a means test, capped at $10,000, and intended to help homeowners make targeted improvements such as roof fortification or tree removal that could improve underwriting outcomes and lead to premium discounts. Bettencourt said the program would not use state taxpayer funds and would instead rely on philanthropic donations, possible federal or regional housing-bank funding, and other outside sources. He said the department would not need new staff, and that a current position could be reconfigured to help administer the program part-time. Committee members asked about the funding language, the meaning of “loans” in the bill, whether there were any other states using a similar no-state-funds model, and how many homeowners could be helped. Bettencourt said Rhode Island and Connecticut were moving forward in a similar way, and that the number of beneficiaries would depend on how much money is raised. Members also questioned how the grant program would actually lower premiums, whether savings would apply only to participants or more broadly, and how the IBHS evaluation process would work. Bettencourt and department staff said the direct benefit would be to the homeowner whose property is improved, though neighbors could also benefit in some cases. They explained that IBHS is a building-safety organization that certifies contractors and inspectors and that its standards can qualify homes for insurer discounts. Questions were also raised about confidentiality provisions, first-come-first-served grant awards, rollover of unused applications, and possible tax treatment of donations. The sponsor said those details would be addressed through rulemaking or existing tax rules, and no vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also establish a directed payment program which would raise medical assistance reimbursement rates
• ><c> would</c><00:17:23.839><c> raise</c> payment program which would raise payment program which would
• </c> medical assistance reimbursement rates medical assistance reimbursement rates to<00:17:26.959><c
• </c> Medicaid payments at for birth centers. Medicaid payments at for birth centers.
• </c><02:23:39.359><c> is</c> discount until they get reimbursed is discount until they get reimbursed

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next bill is Senate Bill 5845, modernizing and clarifying timely payment requirements for health carriers
• , so carriers must request a refund from providers within 12 months from the date of the original payment
• We have Senate Bill 5845 before us, modernizing and clarifying timely payment requirements for health
• One example is reimbursement.
• This bill doesn't mandate new coverage or set payment rates. It simply shines a light.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee first met in executive session and advanced five bills out of committee. SB 5999, as amended by a substitute, would let rural counties under 100,000 population appoint an APRN or physician assistant as an acting local health officer; SB 5185 would create a pathway for international medical graduates to physician licensure through a Washington Medical Commission pilot; SB 5845 would revise timely payment rules for health carriers, including longer acknowledgment and payment timelines and clarifications on scope; SB 6071 would standardize overpayment recovery timelines for carriers; and SB 6258 would create a non-disciplinary pathway for relinquishing Washington Medical Commission licenses. Each bill received a due pass recommendation and was sent to Rules, with the bills passed subject to signatures. The committee then heard SB 6226, which would protect the clinical autonomy of audiologists and ensure hearing-instrument and communication-device rules are applied consistently across care modalities, including telehealth. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, emphasizing access for rural and mobility-limited patients and the importance of teleaudiology, though one association cautioned the bill could affect broader regulatory authority. The hearing closed with 54 pro, zero con, and two other sign-ins. Next, the committee heard SB 6305, the Truth in Mental Health Coverage Act, which would require carriers to submit standardized annual data to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner on mental health and substance use disorder coverage, access, utilization, reimbursement, and network participation, with public posting in raw and dashboard form. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would improve transparency and accountability without changing benefits, while opponents argued it could duplicate recent parity reforms and add administrative burden. The hearing closed with 396 pro, two con, and zero other sign-ins. Finally, the committee heard SB 5924, a proposed substitute expanding pharmacists’ prescriptive authority for certain limited conditions and products, including some preventive and minor-illness treatments, and allowing limited diagnosis within defined bounds. Supporters said it would improve access, especially in rural and underserved areas, reduce administrative barriers from collaborative drug therapy agreements, and align with the sunrise review; opponents, including the medical association, said the bill went beyond the review and needed more time, while some testimony raised concerns about psychiatric prescribing. The hearing closed with 279 pro, six con, and four other sign-ins, and the committee adjourned after concluding its business.

Transcript Highlights:

• It started simply in that we already have a GRT exemption for co-payments and deductibles.
• Medicaid payments, and they have to pay GRT on medical supplies and certain types of insurance payments
• Medicaid reimbursement issue.
• It's on Section 3, and we're talking about Medicaid reimbursements. Where should no Medicaid be?
• Does it mean there's a direct payment from the state?

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• Normal withholding, normal estimated payments, that type of thing.
• These are just irregular salary payments, so they don’t fit the normal structure of our salary payments
• These are just irregular salary payments, so they don’t fit the normal structure of our salary payments
• As soon as we can, we'll make that payment of $13.6 million.
• As soon as we can, we'll make that payment of $13.6 million.

Summary: The Budget Section approved the March 18 minutes and received an OMB update showing the general fund is still ahead of the budgeted starting point, but revenues through May are now about $76 million below the legislative forecast, driven mainly by individual income tax and sales tax shortfalls. OMB also reported the budget stabilization fund is above its cap, meaning a transfer to the general fund is expected, and reviewed oil price/production assumptions, noting continued volatility. Members asked about the income tax netting process, the sales tax decline, oil price discounts/premiums, natural gas taxation, and when the executive branch would present its revenue forecast. The committee then acted on several Emergency Commission requests. It approved, as a group, requests for federal mine reclamation funds for the Public Service Commission, an additional criminal investigator FTE and funding for the Attorney General’s office, and a DPI transfer for bridge software costs. It separately approved DPI request 2164 for $500,000 to support the food vendor program after debate over whether the program’s savings were known and whether the money was simply a pass-through. OMB also reported on federal grants, fiscal irregularities, tobacco settlement proceeds, budget guidelines for agencies, FTE pool usage, vacancy savings, and the DAPL settlement, noting the settlement funds had been deposited and that a deficiency appropriation may be needed later to cover remaining accrued interest. Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus presented on the primary residence credit program, saying participation has grown sharply and that the current biennium will likely need about $431 million, roughly $22 million above the appropriation. He explained how the credit interacts with homestead and disabled veteran benefits, how the 3% property tax cap works, and why county valuations and mill rates vary. The committee also received a Legacy Fund/Budget Stabilization Fund report showing strong returns, and DOT Director Ron Henke received approval for two Flex Fund highway projects on ND 49 and ND 31. Henke also explained remaining Highway 85 funding and said the department is exploring uses for leftover state dollars. Finally, the Department of Mineral Resources reported on abandoned well plugging and site restoration, noting North Dakota remains in relatively strong shape compared with other states, and DPI began a presentation on gap funding tied to the 3% levy cap, reporting 24 districts received $1.8 million in the first year and projecting higher future needs.