Transcript Highlights:

• I think maybe there is also kind of a balance there.
• I think maybe there is also kind of a balance there.
• So I think we wanted to strike that balance.
• So I think we wanted to strike that balance.
• On balance, we think this is a very good May revision for schools.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we've walked a tightrope really to balance the needs of the present with the needs of the future
• against these immense needs uh, balanced against these immense needs would<00:03:58.239><c> make</c>
• the needs of the present with to balance the needs of the present with the<00:04:14.400><c> needs</c
• </c> little bit more of a balanced approach. little bit more of a balanced approach.
• </c><00:27:21.279><c> markets</c> in our unique role that balances markets in our unique role that balances

Bills: HF1141

Keywords: housing, finance, affordable housing, infrastructure bonds, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, supportive housing, homeless prevention, elderly assistance, community development, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• reserve the balance of my time. time. time.
• Speaker, and reserve the balance of my time.
• Speaker, and reserve the balance of my time.
• Speaker, and reserve the balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He was just literally doing his job and providing a checks and balances and a fact-check.
• constituents for many, many years, that they are able to access that data where they can be that checks and balances
• over some of our own. ...where they can be that checks and balances over some of our own.
• It's not like it's checks and balances over, you know, some private bank.
• This is governmental checks and balances over government.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, I just wanted to inquire about the balance in this program, but also the process whereby we can
• Chair, I just wanted to inquire about Chair, I just wanted to inquire about the<00:05:20.240><c> balance
• <c> this</c><00:05:21.120><c> program,</c><00:05:21.759><c> but</c><00:05:22.080><c> also</c> the balance
• in this program, but also the balance in this program, but also uh<00:05:24.400><c> the</c><00:05:24.960
• The sponsor asked about the current revenue and the current balance for the home care program, or whether

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Striking a balance between resiliency and affordability for small commercial residential consumers is
• Um, and ERCO's primary responsibility is balancing generation and load.
• seen a lot more demand response and so businesses make decisions to not use power sometimes and so balancing
• perspective, from an operations understanding the operation of the grid and what we need, that there's a balance
• And thermal generation, and we've got to maintain that balance.

Transcript Highlights:

• fully support its provisions allowing Moorhead Area Public Schools to permanently transfer fund balances
• Schools to permanently<00:05:15.560><c> transfer</c><00:05:15.960><c> fund</c><00:05:16.240><c> balances
• </c><00:05:17.080><c> from</c> permanently transfer fund balances from permanently transfer fund balances
• </c> usually when we do these fund balance usually when we do these fund balance transfers,<00:09:47.000
• This bill reflects careful, balanced work and a commitment to both safety and accountability.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> inventory and if if you're in a balance inventory and if if you're in a balance if<00:36:28.319>
• ><c> Market</c><00:36:29.480><c> that's</c> if we're in a balanced Market that's if we're in a balanced
• </c> is to have a market that has a balanced is to have a market that has a balanced supply<00:36:39.920
• </c> Minnesota ended the year with a balanced Minnesota ended the year with a balanced Market and<00:
• </c> need to ensure that there is a balance need to ensure that there is a balance of<01:40:13.840><c

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's at the point at which we migrate the balance of the public safety answering points onto the
• How is the DOJ balancing a significant? I just have one question.
• The question is how are we balancing existing workloads with the incoming? Yes.
• We're balancing, we're managing.
• Although the fund has a sufficient balance, we project the fund to be structurally in balance in the

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation heard updates from the Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the Department of Justice. Cal OES Acting Director Tina Curry described the department’s proposed budget, disaster response and recovery work, Los Angeles wildfire recovery, FEMA reimbursement delays, hazard mitigation grant applications, planning for major events like the FIFA World Cup and LA28 Olympics, and the state’s next generation 911 priorities. Senators raised concerns about Operation Stonegarden, small-disaster recovery delays, FEMA reimbursement timing, VOCA funding, and the need for more detailed reporting on federal grants and recovery costs. The committee then focused on Next Generation 911. Cal OES staff said the current regional deployment encountered call-routing and transfer failures, leading the department to pause further rollout and propose a new phased plan centered on a statewide provider, followed by an open procurement for a long-term vendor. They said the plan is intended to improve reliability, simplify architecture, and support Los Angeles-area PSAPs ahead of the Olympics, with a target of full statewide transition by summer 2030. The Legislative Analyst’s Office urged the Legislature to pause major changes until it receives more information, including a clearer explanation of the problems, alternatives considered, costs, cybersecurity and privacy issues, and oversight needs. Members expressed mixed views, with some supporting a joint oversight hearing and requesting quarterly fiscal reports and monthly progress updates. The Department of Justice then presented its overall workload, emphasizing public safety enforcement, fentanyl and human trafficking prosecutions, housing enforcement, civil rights work, and extensive federal litigation against the Trump administration. DOJ said the additional federal accountability work has significantly increased staffing and overtime demands, though it has hired 44 additional employees. The committee also heard DOJ’s firearms workload proposal, including funding for SB 704 implementation, continued firearms IT modernization, and a proposed shift of Bureau of Firearms costs to the General Fund. The LAO recommended using special funds and loans instead of ongoing General Fund support where possible, and asked DOJ to develop a framework by January 2027 for determining which firearms and ammunition workload should be supported by fee revenue. The Department of Finance largely agreed with the need for SB 704 funding but disagreed with the LAO’s proposed loan approach for the firearms account.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's at the point at which we migrate the balance of the public safety answering points onto the
• How is the DOJ balancing a significant I just have one question.
• The question is how are we balancing existing workloads with the incoming? Yes.
• We're balancing, we're managing.
• Although the fund has a sufficient balance, we project the fund to be structurally in balance in the

Summary: The committee heard an overview from Cal OES on disaster response, LA wildfire recovery, federal FEMA reimbursements, security monitoring, and the state’s 911 transition. Cal OES said its budget supports disaster preparedness and recovery, including ongoing work in Los Angeles, where it reported about 700 FEMA public assistance applications totaling roughly $1.2 billion and about $545 million in state wildfire response and recovery funding already allocated under AB 100. Members pressed for more detail on FEMA delays, hazard mitigation grants, federal event planning, and the status of Operation Stonegarden, while also raising concerns about small-disaster recovery, federal shutdown impacts, and the need for more timely reporting. A major portion of the hearing focused on Next Generation 911. Cal OES described problems with the current regional deployment, especially call-routing and transfer failures, and said it now plans to shift to a statewide provider as an interim step, then run an open procurement for a long-term vendor. The agency said it expects to execute a bridging contract in the coming weeks, release an RFP in the second quarter of 2026, award a long-term contract in the fall, begin transitioning Los Angeles-area PSAPs ahead of the 2028 Olympics, and complete statewide migration by summer 2030. The LAO urged the Legislature to pause further implementation until it has more information on the problems, alternatives, costs, privacy/security issues, and oversight needs, and recommended quarterly and monthly reporting if the project proceeds. Several senators echoed concerns about cost, redundancy, cybersecurity, and whether the statewide model could create new risks, and the chair said she would pursue a joint oversight hearing with the Emergency Management Committee and seek input from the State Auditor. The Department of Justice then presented its overall workload and budget pressures. DOJ highlighted its work on fentanyl enforcement, human trafficking, firearms recovery, housing enforcement, consumer protection, environmental and civil rights litigation, and a large federal litigation workload, saying it has filed 59 lawsuits against the Trump administration and won most of them. DOJ said the added federal cases and other mandates have strained existing staff, though 44 additional hires have been made. Members praised DOJ’s work on immigration, housing, and federal accountability, and asked for more information on detention facilities and staffing. The committee also reviewed DOJ’s firearms-related budget proposals. DOJ requested funding for continued firearms IT modernization, implementation of SB 704 on firearm barrels, and a temporary shift of Bureau of Firearms costs to the General Fund. The LAO supported the IT modernization request but recommended funding SB 704 from the Dealer’s Record of Sale Special Account, with startup costs covered by a loan from the Firearm Safety and Enforcement Special Fund, and suggested limiting the General Fund shift to one year and treating it as a loan. The LAO also asked DOJ to develop a framework by January 10, 2027, for deciding which firearm and ammunition workload should be supported by fee revenue rather than the General Fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• This will be the presentation by DFA for the balanced budget proposal by the governor.
• The letter that you have from the governor summarizes her proposed balanced budget.
• Hudson, on the balanced budget, isn't there a requirement of the Constitution?
• And you have to approve a balanced budget, yes, sir. All right. So one more question.
• Hudson presented in his balanced budget.

Summary: The committee first considered revisions to the JBC rules, which staff said were all prompted by acts passed in the 2025 legislative session. The rules were adopted without objection. Members then received a balanced budget presentation from DFA Secretary Jim Hudson on the governor’s FY27 proposal, which he said was built around three priorities: limiting state government growth, continuing investments in education, and advancing income tax cuts. He highlighted major additions for education funding, EFA growth, pay plan costs, higher education productivity funding, drug task forces, corrections medical costs, the governor’s 1033 initiative, SNAP error-rate reduction, and Medicaid sustainability, while also explaining a new A/B funding category structure intended to prioritize recurring costs and preserve room for tax cuts. Members questioned Hudson about the cost of income tax reductions, the constitutional balanced-budget requirement, education funding, the Educational Adequacy Fund, Medicaid trust fund balances, and the impact of federal changes on Medicaid and SNAP. Hudson said each tenth of a percent income tax cut would cost about $58 million, the budget remained balanced, public education would still receive historic increases, and the Medicaid trust fund would be monitored closely with additional set-asides proposed. He also said the FY27 SNAP administrative cost increase would be about $18 million. The committee then heard from the Division of Higher Education, which reported institutions were 2.61% more productive overall and that the budget recommendation followed the statutory productivity formula. Questions focused on why some institutions were receiving decreases or large increases, how the formula works, and how the new return-on-investment metric and committee composition would affect future funding. The committee approved several higher education-related actions, including personnel changes for nine institutions and special language for North Arkansas College’s move into the University of Arkansas system. Staff then walked members through the higher education appropriation summary, explaining large percentage increases at several institutions were tied to federal funds or corrected carry-forward issues, including the U of A School of Mathematical, Sciences and the Arts, South Arkansas College, SAU Tech, ASU Mountain Home, and ASU Newport. Members also discussed UAPB’s 1890 extension program and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s land-grant matching funds; officials said UAPB’s recommendation was being aligned with actual spending and that the Division of Agriculture’s Smith-Lever and Hatch matches were included within its overall appropriation. The committee ultimately adopted the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s recommendations for all institutions and then moved on to the Department of Corrections section, with the chair outlining how the committee would proceed through those appropriations by section.

Transcript Highlights:

• This will be the presentation by DFA for the balanced budget proposal by the governor.
• The letter that you have from the governor summarizes her proposed balanced budget.
• Hudson, on the balanced budget, isn't there a requirement of the Constitution?
• It is a requirement that we present a balanced budget. Yes, sir.
• Hudson presented in his balanced budget. Yes, sir.

Summary: The committee first adopted revised JBC rules, which staff said were updated to reflect legislation passed in the 2025 session. It then heard a presentation from DFA Secretary Jim Hudson on the governor’s proposed balanced budget for FY27, with no action taken. Hudson said the budget reflects three priorities: limiting state-government growth, continuing investments in education, and advancing income-tax cuts. He highlighted increases for education funding through EFAs, pay-plan costs for Corrections, DPS, and the Attorney General, higher education productivity funding, drug task forces, a Corrections medical contract, the governor’s 1033 initiative, SNAP error-rate reduction efforts, and an additional $100 million set aside for Medicaid sustainability. Committee members questioned the size of the tax cuts, the balance requirement, public education funding, Medicaid trust-fund levels, EFA funding, and the expected impact of new SNAP cost-sharing rules. The Division of Higher Education then presented its productivity-based funding recommendations. Officials said institutions were 2.61% more productive overall, with funding changes driven by a statutory formula that rewards degree production, underserved populations, and high-demand fields. Members asked about declines at UA Little Rock, the formula’s multipliers, the role of the Arkansas Access Act and a new return-on-investment metric, and how two-year colleges are adjusted for size. The committee also reviewed special items and approved two letters: one authorizing 17 net personnel changes across nine institutions, and another adding special language for North Arkansas College’s entry into the University of Arkansas system. The committee then adopted the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s recommendations for all institutions. A lengthy portion of the meeting focused on the University of Arkansas system, especially Fayetteville’s athletics funding and the broader impact of the House/NIL settlement. Chancellor Charles Robinson and system officials explained that the board had waived a longstanding campus transfer and directed the university to provide an additional $6 million to athletics, with some costs likely to be passed through to students but partially offset by existing budget growth. Members debated whether the university should prioritize academics or athletics, how the transfer originated, and whether the athletic changes would affect affordability. The committee also discussed the 1890 extension program at UAPB and the Division of Agriculture’s land-grant funding. UAPB officials said the state match is intended to be one-to-one, that the current recommendation aligns appropriation with actual spending, and that a $2 million set-aside remains available if needed. The Division of Agriculture later clarified that its Smith-Lever extension and Hatch research funds are part of the UA system’s separate budget and that the state matched about $6.2 million in federal extension funding last year. The committee then moved to the Department of Corrections. It approved G1, transferring 51 positions to the secretary’s office to activate a recidivism program, with an estimated cost of about $4 million. Staff then began walking through the department’s FY27 budget, noting an increase of about $8 million for administration and shared services, including a $170,000 sex-offender assessment appropriation moved under Act 723 of 2025 and roughly $6 million more for medical contracts. Questions on the Corrections budget had just begun when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The balance of the fund is extremely important.
• So what will happen is if the fund's balance is exhausted, the rate goes up on businesses.
• It really requires you all to do a balancing act.
• Up with you, Senator, our balance is still quite high, but happy to offline.
• The table on the left is a balance sheet—a very basic balance sheet—where you have revenues at the top

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's finding the balance and just opening dialogue.
• We need to balance that right now, especially as we head down this road, right? Right.
• We may have to go back to unexpended balances.
• That list narrowed to 300 projects with balances of just about $78.2 million.
• So, this language says with 99% balances. So, if they were to spend...

Transcript Highlights:

• So it is the balancing act that Lupe had referenced related to... Yeah. I can start.
• So it is the balancing act that Lupe had referenced related to...
• It's just to balance the General Fund.
• It's so that we can balance our budget. And we are getting attacked, you know.
• for each fund to receive the balances, revenues, and make authorized expenditures.

Summary: The committee first heard May Revision child care and human services items. The Department of Child Support Services described two technical adjustments, which the analyst supported. The Department of Social Services then walked through child care proposals, including a reduction in federal and Proposition 64 funding absorbed through a shift from General Child Care to the Alternative Payment program, a 2.01% child care COLA, disaster-related infrastructure grants, a new administrative support cost structure for Alternative Payment agencies, the removal of prospective pay funding after a federal rule change, a reappropriation for existing infrastructure grants, and estimates of unspent child care funds. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended asking for more justification for shifting reductions to CAP, supported the COLA reduction but wanted consistency across programs, recommended removing prospective pay funding, opposed the administrative cost shift, and suggested further review of disaster grant alignment. Members pressed the administration on why more slots would be cut for the same savings, why the COLA was reduced, and whether the administrative percentage would grow over time. The administration said the changes were intended to avoid disrupting currently enrolled families, reflect point-in-time relinquishments and unspent funds, and stabilize contractor operations. Public commenters, including providers, advocates, and county representatives, urged full COLA funding, rejection of child care slot reductions, preservation of prospective pay, and continued investment in child care infrastructure and access. The subcommittee then recessed before moving to health items. In Part B, the Department of State Hospitals presented its May Revision proposals, including a central utility plant replacement project at Metropolitan State Hospital, funding for a continuum electronic health record system, reduced county bed billing authority to reflect phase-in of additional LPS beds, limited contract exemption authority for online clinical subscription services, reversion of prior-year unspent operating funds, and a workforce development proposal to use Behavioral Health Services Act funds instead of General Fund for training programs. The department said the EHR would modernize records and improve continuity of care, and that the contract exemption would prevent delays in essential clinical information services. No votes were taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is called a contingency fund and the other is called an unassigned fund balance.
• And this is an unassigned fund balance.
• </c><00:41:19.280><c> So</c><00:41:20.400><c> when</c> with unassigned fund balance.
• So when with unassigned fund balance.
• Some of them have retain fund balance authority, and they put money in it.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:51.320><c> uh</c> 158.3 uh million so a lower balance uh 158.3 uh million so a lower balance
• </c> the lower education trust fund balance the lower education trust fund balance is<00:14:56.040><c
• So it's kind of a balancing act.
• We've been able to provide balanced budgets. We have diverse revenue sources.
• It's like having a significant cash balance sheet. That's positive for the credit rating.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee meeting began with an overview from the Legislative Budget Assistant Office on how Ways and Means will work with agencies and leadership during the budget and revenue-estimating process. Staff explained that the governor’s budget is still being developed, agencies are cautious about going on record early, and the committee will use worksheets and updated fiscal reports to track estimates. The presentation emphasized that the fiscal year 2025 budget status is a point-in-time snapshot and remains fluid because the annual comprehensive financial report has been delayed, which could change the beginning balances for both the general fund and education trust fund. The budget update highlighted that the general fund is currently stronger than originally assumed, while the education trust fund is weaker. The speaker said the general fund began FY25 with a much larger balance than expected, while the education trust fund came in lower due to higher-than-budgeted adequacy spending and weaker business tax performance. Revenue trends showed the general fund slightly ahead year to date, but the education trust fund down significantly. The committee also discussed unbudgeted appropriations, including attorney general litigation, legal settlements, abandoned property claims, adequacy true-ups, and education freedom accounts, as well as the role of lapses and off-budget items in the final balance. Members asked about the delayed liquor commission audit and whether it could affect revenue forecasts. Staff said the delay was mainly caused by the commission’s switch in point-of-sale systems and staffing losses, but did not expect major ongoing reporting issues. They also noted that liquor fund variances are more likely tied to Medicaid expansion costs than to commission operations. The governor’s office was said to be working on possible budget reductions, but no January request to the fiscal committee was expected. Commissioner Lindsay Stepp of the Department of Revenue Administration then presented an overview of state revenue sources, focusing first on the meals and rentals tax. She explained that DRA administers 14 taxes that account for most state revenue, and that meals and rentals tax growth has slowed after strong post-pandemic gains. She described factors affecting the tax, including employment, inflation, fuel and food prices, wages, and weather, and noted that online platforms like Airbnb have improved compliance by collecting and remitting tax on behalf of hosts. Members asked about short-term rental compliance and how DRA identifies unlicensed rentals; Stepp said referrals, anonymous tips, and platform data help enforcement.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the ending balance is there, but if you want, the beginning balance for each committee is under the
• So the ending balance is there, but if you want, the beginning balance for each committee is under the

Summary: The Executive Subcommittee met and first considered an emergency rule from the Department of Education amending consolidation and annexation rules to implement Act 919 of 2025 and Act 157 of the 2026 fiscal session. Department staff explained the change was needed to support newly detached isolated school districts while avoiding financial hardship for the parent districts by preserving declining-enrollment funding, local tax revenue, and using existing unused department funds rather than new appropriations. Senator Irvin emphasized the policy background and financial mechanics, and the committee reviewed and approved the emergency rule without objection, effective upon adjournment of the Legislative Council meeting on June 19, 2026. The committee then approved an emergency rule from the Department of Human Services allowing hospitals to open separate adolescent substance use disorder units and receive payment for residential services provided to adolescents. Senator Irvin requested the item be brought to the Public Health committee for an update, and the rule was approved without objection, also effective June 19, 2026. The committee next heard a waiver request from Whitehall for cooperative purchasing over $1 million for construction services tied to a specific vendor and system; the athletic director said the vendor had a strong track record and the project would begin in late August 2026 and finish in November 2026. The waiver was approved on motion. In the director’s report, the committee adopted the same per diem, mileage, and expense allocations for the coming fiscal year, noting committees had not spent their full allocations. It also approved a motion to cancel the July 2026 Legislative Council meeting because of scheduling conflicts, while allowing subcommittees to meet in July only for items with imminent need; any July subcommittee actions will be final and reported to the full council at its August 21, 2026 meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, outstanding balances now are a bit over six point five billion dollars.
• That does include the balances that are included in this reoff fill and the.
• Our estimated balances on the projects included in this bill is about 250 million.
• We've taken out five, and our balance is a little over 22 million, so they've done a great job with that

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• RS 32994 deals with visitation of children, and basically it's a good, simple bill to balance parent
• And I don't—I think we can all agree that we want to make sure children are safe, balancing parents'
• And I don't—I think we can all agree that we want to make sure children are safe, balancing parents'
• rights, but not sending... ...children are safe, balancing parents' rights, but not sending them into

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Senate Health and Welfare Committee considered four RS introductions. RS 33128, introduced by Sen. Anthon, would amend Idaho law so chiropractors authorized to administer certain vitamins, minerals, and fluids could also prescribe them, allowing them to purchase those drugs from pharmacies or distributors; it was moved to print and approved by voice vote. RS 33023, introduced by Sen. Harris, would amend involuntary commitment law to allow tribal health care facilities to serve as holding sites and define tribal police officers as peace officers, addressing coordination problems on reservations; it was also moved to print and approved by voice vote. RS 32893, introduced by Sen. Bjerke, was described as a code-cleanup measure removing outdated language from the Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired statutes; it was moved to print and approved by voice vote. RS 32994, introduced by Sen. Wintrow, would put into statute rules governing child visitation in cases involving substantiated abuse and clarify that courts may consider a parent’s incarceration when termination of parental rights is sought; Sen. Wintrow said she had shared the language with the courts and received no negative feedback. The committee moved it to print and approved it by voice vote. The committee also heard RS 33184 from Sen. Van Orden, which would establish the Idaho Rural Health Transformation Program oversight structure and create a legislative oversight committee for the federal rural health transformation funding, described as $187 million over five years. Members asked whether the proposal was separate from the governor’s task force; Sen. Van Orden said it was the legislature’s own oversight committee, distinct from the application’s existing oversight structure. The motion to print passed on a voice vote with one nay. The chair then announced no meeting the next day, a Thursday meeting to follow, and that the committee would hear from the Department of Health and Welfare the following week before adjourning.