Video & Transcript : 'budget reform' :
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NH
Transcript Highlights:
- ,</c><00:18:13.520><c> an</c> without adding to the state budget, an without adding to the state budget
- We need broad sweeping zoning reforms that can start to solve this crisis.
- We've done a lot of work on housing reform in the different states.
- So a lot of zoning reform at the moment.
- </c> looked at minimum lot size reform. looked at minimum lot size reform.
Committee:
Senate Commerce
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Election Laws Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Election Laws
Transcript Highlights:
- This simple reform would allow voters to rank candidates in order of preference, ensuring that elected
- With that in mind, we hope to move forward in implementing this reform.
- This sort of advocacy in support of a local reform can be difficult for municipal leaders, especially
- Our budgets are under a lot of stress these days.
- I think that's a great point: people can support a democracy reform that doesn't necessarily hurt one
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Election Laws
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a public hearing focused primarily on ranked choice voting (RCV) legislation and several local home rule petitions, along with one petition to authorize remote participation in Concord town meetings. Chairs Keenan and Hunt outlined hearing procedures and noted the committee would hear both in-person and virtual testimony. The committee also took testimony on Concord’s request for remote participation in open and special town meetings, with supporters arguing it would make town meeting more accessible to residents with childcare, mobility, work, or disability barriers while preserving direct democracy.
A large portion of the hearing centered on RCV local-option bills and municipal petitions from communities including Concord, East Hampton, Salem, Chelsea, Arlington, Revere, Amherst, and others. Supporters—among them local officials, legislators, election advocates, educators, veterans, and nonprofit leaders—said RCV would reduce vote-splitting, encourage more candidates, promote more positive campaigning, improve representation, and increase turnout. East Hampton officials described their existing use of RCV, saying it produced record turnout, was easy for voters to understand with education, and could be expanded to multi-winner races without major added cost. Concord and Amherst witnesses said their voters had already approved local steps toward RCV and urged the committee to let municipalities implement the system without further delay.
Testimony in favor of the local-option RCV bill emphasized home rule and local control, with several witnesses arguing the state should not block communities that have already voted to adopt RCV. Speakers from MassVOTE, the AFT Massachusetts, Voter Choice Massachusetts, Progressive Massachusetts, the Boston Teachers Union, and Veterans for All Voters said the reform would strengthen democracy, broaden participation, and save money by avoiding low-turnout preliminary elections. Some witnesses also referenced examples from Cambridge, Maine, and Utah to argue that RCV is workable, nonpartisan, and familiar to voters. The hearing ended with no votes or final committee action taken in the transcript provided.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Special Committee on Tax Reform Feb 26th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Special Committee on Tax Reform
Transcript Highlights:
- And district, the kind of the accessibility of district budgets vary.
- Some districts have their budgets posted on their website.
- And district, kind of the accessibility of district budgets vary.
- Some districts have their budgets posted on their website.
- The Special Committee on Tax Reform is adjourned.
Committee:
House Special Committee on Tax Reform
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session - part 2 May 7th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The Energy Committee overall represents a small portion of our state budget, but it has a really big
- Coming into session, my highest priority was to pass a budget that would prevent a government shutdown
- This bill could have potentially included net meter reform in the state of Minnesota.
- This bill could have done a number of great reforms that, quite frankly, this state needs.
- It's something that's smart for family budgets and for business bottom lines.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Special Committee on Tax Reform Feb 26th, 2026
Special Committee on Tax Reform
Transcript Highlights:
- The Special Committee on Tax Reform will now come to order. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
- a little bit more efficiently as opposed to people, you know, if they're tapping into that budget or
- And district, the kind of the accessibility of district budgets vary.
- The Special Committee on Tax Reform is adjourned. Thank you for allowing me to lead you."
- The Special Committee on Tax Reform is adjourned. Thank you for allowing me to lead you."
Committee:
House Special Committee on Tax Reform
Summary:
The Special Committee on Tax Reform met in executive session and first adopted a substitute and then gave do pass recommendations to H.J.R. 115, which would align homestead language with the Senate version by changing the acreage limit from 2.5 acres to 5 acres, and to HB 2869, which was amended to tie a $500,000 threshold to CPI and use assessed value rather than market value. The committee also voted HB 3303 do pass without amendment after brief discussion about its purpose and potential tax implications.
In regular hearing, the committee heard HB 2234 from Rep. Tricia Burns, which would change how surplus proceeds from tax foreclosure sales are handled. Burns and witness Tamara Rucker explained that when a home is sold for more than the delinquent taxes owed, the surplus can currently escheat to county revenue after three years; the bill would move those funds to the unclaimed property division and improve notice to property owners or heirs. Members discussed how the process works, the lack of uniform notification and payout standards, and the amount of surplus involved in some counties. No opposition testified.
The committee also heard HB 2964, another bill from Rep. Burns, to move property tax bill mailing and delinquency dates later in the year, from early December/January to late February/April. Burns said the change would ease hardship around the holidays and help seasonal residents. Testimony from the Missouri School Boards Association raised concerns that districts would need to carry an additional 60 to 90 days of reserves, or roughly 15 to 20 percent more, to bridge the delayed revenue, though the witness said the impact would vary by district. The hearing concluded with no further business, and the committee adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs May 7th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Porter, but that this tragic event highlighted the need for federal reforms.
- And earlier at the press conference, I talked about the reforms.
- I also want to plug in additional funding in the state's budget.
- So when budgets are cut, oftentimes we take resources from these underutilized areas.
- As I said this morning, I sit on both budget and Appropriations.
Summary:
The Select Committee on Native American Affairs opened with a welcome and acknowledgment of Native land, then heard testimony focused on missing and murdered Indigenous people (MMIP), the Feather Alert system, and the impact of Public Law 280 (PL 280) on tribal communities in California. Chairpersons Antonette Del Rio, Cheyenne Stone, Charles Martin, and others described historical trauma, ongoing underreporting, and the need for education, tribal consultation, and stronger state and county responses. Members of the committee repeatedly emphasized equity, urgency in missing-person cases, and the importance of media attention, data collection, and better coordination with tribes.
A major theme of the first panel was the practical failure of law enforcement systems in MMIP cases, especially in PL 280 jurisdictions. Chairperson Charles Martin described the case of Morongo tribal citizen Amy Porter, whose disappearance and death were not met with a timely Feather Alert, and said the family had to organize its own search. Witnesses and members discussed the need for better training, cross-jurisdictional communication, and more consistent use of Feather Alerts. Several members noted that California’s diverse tribal landscape, including federally recognized, non-federally recognized, and rancheria communities, makes one-size-fits-all responses inadequate.
The second panel focused on exploitation and trafficking in a PL 280 state. Professor Carol Goldberg explained that PL 280 created serious underfunding, weakened trust, and made investigations harder by shifting jurisdiction without providing resources. Chairman Joe James, Morning Star Gali, and Dustin Contreras linked trafficking and MMIP to historical violence, jurisdictional gaps, and the targeting of Native communities by traffickers who exploit weak coordination. They urged stronger tribal policing authority, more formal partnerships, mandatory training, youth education, and funding for victim services and trauma recovery. Committee members asked about the relationship between trafficking and MMIP, the need for school-based prevention, and how task forces and local partnerships could be expanded.
The final panel began with Acting Director Isaac Borges of the Attorney General’s Office, who outlined state efforts including Missing in California and Indian Country outreach, the Native American Marcy’s Law card, tribal response planning, and a PL 280 advisory council. He said the state is working with POST on updated training and with tribal experts to improve law enforcement response. The hearing concluded with continued calls for budget support, better media outreach, and implementation of the bills and reforms discussed, including Feather Alert improvements, tribal policing authority, and stronger coordination across state, county, and tribal systems.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 04/10/25
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- In the Department of Commerce's budget proposal, one of the modifications that they'd like to do and
- Yeah, within the governor's<00:16:02.639><c> budget,</c><00:16:03.040><c> there</c><00:16:03.199><c>
- is a plan to governor's budget, there is a plan to rebenchmark<00:16:05.360><c> uh</c><00:16:05.680>
- That being said, if a Can Renew budget line item is $15 to $20 million or so, and we have the chance
- </c><00:26:51.039><c> this</c> opportunity to make some reforms this opportunity to make some reforms
Committee:
Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs Mar 4th, 2026
Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Municipal court reform was needed in 2015.
- Senate Bill 1087 does nothing to undo the provisions of municipal court reform, nor does it increase
- This bill is about common-sense reform. It protects public safety. It preserves accountability.
- I saw another one, like $24 million in another budget book. Like, why not?
- So by that, we are simply part of the Secretary of State's budget.
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 1087 from Senator Joe Nicola, which would update limited driving privileges and create a process to suspend licenses after repeated failures to appear or pay for minor moving traffic violations. Nicola said the bill was intended to improve public safety and municipal court compliance without restoring the pre-2015 system of fines and fees. Supporters, including officials from Independence, O’Fallon, and the Missouri Municipal League, argued that municipal court reform had sharply reduced citations and increased failure-to-appear rates, leaving courts with too little leverage to ensure compliance and creating safety problems for repeat offenders. They said the bill would preserve discretion, protect work and basic travel needs, and help law enforcement and courts address chronic noncompliance. Opponents, including the State Public Advocate, argued the bill would restore a cash-cow system, burden low-income residents, and create harsh consequences for missed notices or address problems. The hearing closed without a vote on SB 1087.
The committee then moved into executive session and reconsidered House Bill 2288, ultimately voting to reconsider and then voting the bill due pass by a 10-5 margin. The committee also adopted a substitute and passed House Bill 3006 due pass by 13-1, passed House Bill 2289 due pass by 10-3 with one present, and passed House Bill 2906 due pass by 13-1 after adopting an amendment and rolling it into a substitute. Members discussed procedural issues about quorum and the reconsideration motion during the HB 2288 vote.
Later, the committee heard House Bill 3491 from Representative Don Mayhew, which would codify English-language proficiency requirements for commercial driver’s license holders and impose penalties on drivers and motor carriers when those requirements are violated. Mayhew and a Lincoln County prosecutor described a recent Highway 61 incident involving a Minnesota CDL holder who could not communicate in English, could not identify his location, and was taken out of service after a Highway Patrol proficiency test. Supporters said the bill would mirror federal rules in state statute, improve safety, and hold both drivers and carriers accountable. Some members questioned whether the bill was redundant with federal law, whether it would be enforceable before an accident, and whether the language was too broad, especially the phrase about conversing with the general public. The prosecutor said the current tools are mostly reactive and that the bill would help remove dangerous drivers and penalize carriers, but no final action was taken on HB 3491 in the portion provided.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- I’ve done a lot of work in litigation reform over the years.
- that. ...good steps towards reforming it, and I do thank Senator Leach for his work on that.
- One is it relates to school budgets, the operating budget of the school district, and what impact does
- The equalization basis is the controlled budget that you essentially are setting for schools.
- That means you are paying the $3 million to get them to the $5 million budget.
Committee:
Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference
Summary:
The committee approved the February 2, 2026 minutes and held Senate Bill 1090. It then took up SB 1503, which would require pension fiduciaries and proxy advisory firms to base voting and advice solely on economic interests, prohibit ESG or ideological considerations except in limited circumstances, and authorize attorney general enforcement. The sponsor said the bill was meant to protect investors and align with federal action; supporters argued proxy advisors lack transparency and can influence votes against shareholders’ financial interests. Arizona retirement system representatives said they were neutral but warned the bill would add major operational costs, create reporting burdens, increase litigation risk, and could narrow the market for proxy advisory services. The committee passed SB 1503 on a 4-3 vote.
The committee then considered SB 1293, which would bar GPLET abatements from applying to school-district revenue during the eight-year abatement period. Supporters said the bill would protect school funding and reduce the state aid backfill tied to GPLET projects, while opponents from Phoenix, Mesa, and economic development groups said GPLET is a key redevelopment tool that helps finance downtown and blighted-area projects and that the bill would weaken future investment. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1293 on a 4-3 vote. It also heard and passed SB 1414, which gives insurers 30 days to review and respond to third-party settlement demands; insurers supported the bill as a reasonable commercial timeframe, while trial lawyers opposed it as too slow and urged a 15-day standard, with members indicating they expected a possible friendly amendment.
Next, the committee heard SB 1633, which would create an Arizona income tax subtraction for capital gains from the sale of a primary residence, after five years of occupancy. Opponents argued it would mainly benefit wealthy homeowners and could cost the state tens of millions annually, while the sponsor said it could help homeowners move without facing large tax bills and improve housing turnover. The committee passed the bill 4-2. It also adopted an amendment to SB 1429, which would have expanded Arizona Commerce Authority board ex officio membership, then held the bill for further consideration. Finally, the committee passed SB 1536, allowing temporary consolidation of street light improvement districts, and heard SB 1724, which clarifies when property splits or consolidations trigger limited property value recalculation, with county assessors supporting the measure as an anti-gaming reform.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- And whereas this call to action led to significant reforms, including the creation of the Office for
- This reform ensures that survivors no longer must return to court again and again to reprove their need
- This reform ensures that survivors no longer must return to court again and again to reprove their need
- conversations about our Arizona family courts and ensuring that survivors’ voices remain central to reform
- SB 1833, 2026–2027 state budget implementation appropriations; transportation and technology.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 7 on Accountability and Oversight Mar 11th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Good afternoon, and welcome to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight.
- Therefore, I'm going to make a quick remark and then ask the chair and vice chairs of the Budget Committee
- Chairman, that San Diego is proud to lead when it comes as a national model on housing permit reform.
- Since I took office, through a series of policy reforms and other best management techniques, we have
- More needs to be done to show that these state-level reforms are working.
Summary:
The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on California’s homelessness funding, focusing on the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HAP) Grant and the Encampment Resolution Grant Program. HCD described new accountability requirements, including regional action plans, stronger reporting and expenditure conditions, housing-element compliance, encampment response plans, and public dashboards that track fiscal spending, service outcomes, and encampment resolution status. Officials said the goal is to use the data to identify underperforming grantees, provide technical assistance, and, if needed, withhold or reallocate funds.
Local officials from San Diego, Fresno, and Santa Cruz said the programs have helped expand shelter, outreach, and permanent housing, and that state dollars have leveraged local and federal resources. Mayor Todd Gloria said San Diego has used HAP to expand shelter and safe sleeping options, reduce downtown encampments, and increase housing production, but argued the state’s new accountability website is too high-level and does not fully reflect countywide conditions, behavioral health outcomes, or the role of continuum-of-care partners. Fresno officials said HAP and other state funds helped the city add shelter beds and reduce homelessness, while Santa Cruz emphasized that state funding helped build local coordination and draw in federal vouchers.
Members pressed the panel on whether HAP is actually reducing homelessness, what the best success metrics should be, and whether the state is getting full, usable data from grantees and subcontractors. Several members asked for more granular jurisdiction-level reporting, better tracking of nonprofit spending, and clearer measures beyond point-in-time counts and “people served.” HCD said it is still improving HMIS participation and data quality, but can already show outcomes such as exits to permanent housing and returns to homelessness. The hearing ended with broad agreement that transparency is important, but disagreement remained over the best measures of success and how much emphasis should be placed on housing, prevention, shelter, and treatment.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Democratic Leaders Media Availability Feb 3rd, 2026 at 11:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- Meet the needs of the people of our state and the best ways to reform and improve our tax code.
- Because of the federal cuts, we are experiencing, again, an unbalanced budget.
- We're always trying to balance our budgets four years out.
- That was shown to everyone last year when we had to balance the budget.
- And by the bill, you won't receive any money for this budget.
Summary:
House and Senate Democratic leaders announced and defended a new “Millionaire’s Tax” bill, saying it is intended to raise revenue from the highest earners while reducing reliance on sales tax and B&O tax and funding education, health care, community safety, and other state needs. They said the proposal is a starting point and will likely change as they continue talks with the governor, business groups, local governments, and other stakeholders. They also said the bill is not subject to cutoff because it affects state revenue, and that the Senate hearing is scheduled first in Ways and Means, with the House expected to follow after the Senate version moves over.
The leaders described the bill as narrowly targeted at roughly 30,000 individual payers, with the first $1 million of income taxed at zero and the rate matching the state capital gains tax above that level. They argued the measure is not a broad income tax and rejected claims that it creates a marriage penalty, saying the structure mirrors the capital gains tax and uses Washington’s capital gains definitions. They also said the bill includes credits and deductions to address pass-through businesses, including dollar-for-dollar credits for B&O and public utilities taxes and an election allowing some businesses to pay the tax at the entity level.
A major part of the discussion focused on how the bill would use revenue. Leaders said about 5% would go to counties for public defense costs tied to a new Supreme Court mandate, while the rest would support tax relief and new spending. They said the package would expand the Working Families Tax Credit, increase the small business credit, end the B&O surcharge a year early, and exempt some hygiene and grooming products from sales tax, with the tax-relief share estimated in the 20% range. They also said the necessity clause is needed because of structural budget problems and federal policy changes, and they expressed confidence that voters and lawmakers have become more open to taxing high earners, citing the capital gains tax vote and broader public concern about inequality and federal cuts.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session 3/23/26 - Part 2
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It could use some reform, but the reform that we need is not voting down this bill.
- It could use some reform, but the reform that we need is not voting down this bill.
- It could use some reform, but the reform that we need is not voting down this bill.
- It could use some reform, but the reform that we need is not voting down this bill.
- It could use some reform, but the reform that we need is not voting down this bill.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
State Rep. Shaun Scott Press Conference Dec 2nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Microsoft's yearly profit could cover our state's annual operating budget three times over.
- Maybe they should cut back on their avocado toast budget, you know, stretch their budget further.
- But... ...budget further. But we want a fair tax code. What do we want? Fair tax code.
- Build the kind of state that we deserve. budget further. But we want a fair tax code.
- Our state budget has ballooned 170% accounting for inflation since 1991.
Summary:
The meeting was a press conference and Q&A led by Rep. Shaun Scott to promote the proposed Well Washington Fund, a new dedicated account intended to raise about $3 billion annually through a corporate payroll tax on wages above $125,000. Scott said the bill would help offset expected federal cuts under Trump-era policies and support programs most at risk, including cash assistance, higher education, health care, housing, and wildfire mitigation. He also referenced two related proposals: restoring wildfire mitigation funding by ending a tax break for large banks, and allowing counties to raise corporate taxes.
Several advocates and affected residents testified in support of progressive revenue. Michelle Thomas of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance warned that federal homelessness policy changes and state underinvestment could worsen homelessness and evictions. Christina Savitsky, a disabled veteran, described how Medicaid, food assistance, and work requirements would affect her family. Representatives from the University of Washington AAUP said federal cuts and Medicaid changes threaten teaching, research, workforce training, and hospital finances. Fatima Boxwala of Tech for Taxes and Mikey Stramskis of the Washington Federation of State Employees argued that large corporations and the wealthy should pay more to sustain public services and address understaffing, burnout, and service backlogs.
In the Q&A, Scott said the bill may need an emergency clause to make it referendum-proof and argued that the legislature has a mandate to act, citing the 2024 capital gains tax referendum and the state’s regressive tax system. He acknowledged concerns about businesses leaving but said he was more concerned about working people being displaced by unaffordable housing, child care, and health care. No vote or formal committee action occurred; the event was a call for a hearing in the House Finance Committee in 2026 and for legislative passage in both chambers.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 7 on Accountability and Oversight Aug 5th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Welcome to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee. Good morning, everybody.
- budget at ASM.ca.gov.
- solutions elsewhere in the budget.
- cycle or to have a program this budget cycle?
- They just needed to pay for their tax cut under the federal budget rules.
Summary:
The hearing focused on the expected health coverage losses tied to H.R. 1, the resulting pressure on California’s county indigent care systems, and what data and policy changes the Legislature may need before the next budget cycle. Chair Hart and Assemblymember Addis framed the issue as a major rollback in coverage that could leave more Californians uninsured and push more people into county safety-net programs. Members repeatedly emphasized the need for baseline, county-by-county data on eligibility, benefits, caseloads, and funding before making larger structural decisions.
The Legislative Analyst’s Office explained the history of county indigent care under Welfare and Institutions Code 17000, the shift in funding through 1991 realignment, and the later redirection of funds to CalWORKs. LAO said county programs vary widely in scope and eligibility, that current realignment funding does not automatically rise with demand, and that the Legislature faces tradeoffs if it changes the funding structure. Administration witnesses from Finance and DHCS projected large Medi-Cal and Covered California enrollment losses, with DHCS estimating more than 1 million Medi-Cal members could eventually lose coverage under work requirements and redeterminations, and noting that a new federal rule could make exemptions more restrictive. Officials also said there is no single statewide real-time data system for uninsured or indigent care populations, though some hospital and utilization data exists with significant lags.
County representatives from Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Tulare described how their indigent care programs are being rebuilt or strained after years of low demand. They warned that many newly uninsured residents will need only basic, emergency-oriented care under county programs, not the preventive and continuous care available through Medi-Cal, and said that without new state support counties may have to divert funds from public health or reduce other services. Several counties asked for bridge funding, technical statutory changes, and flexibility to adjust realignment methodology. The California Health Care Foundation closed by arguing that the problem is statewide and needs a statewide solution rather than a patchwork county response.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Retirement and Government Resources REVISED Feb 17th, 2026
Retirement and Government Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- In that reform, it says that no benefits can be given out without being paid for.
- And this was actually started back in 2011 with the pension reform, where we started finding a state
- But they are very, very concerned about dropping this in on a current budget right now.
- But they are very, very concerned about dropping this in on a current budget right now.
- I know that this is one of those years where we’re looking at a tight budget.
Bills:
SB134 , SB1356 , SB1407 , SB1611 , SB1639 , SB169 , SB1722 , SB182 , SB1870 , SB2039 , SB432 , SB609 , SB715 , SB716
Committee:
Senate Retirement and Government Resources
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Retirement and Government Resources considered a series of retirement, pension, and state employee bills. Senate Bill 1870 would let small municipalities in OPERS with populations of 2,000 or less opt out for new employees; members questioned the fiscal impact and the bill passed 8-0 after the chair struck the title to get a clearer actuarial analysis. Senate Bill 1722 passed 9-0 and would require OMES construction contract fees to be based only on construction costs, not interior design and furnishings, with members discussing how to define those terms and whether historical or specialized projects could still be accommodated. Senate Bill 1639 passed 9-0 after an amendment removed provisions affecting the Indian Education Act commission, leaving a bill to repeal several dormant boards and commissions. The committee also passed Senate Bills 715 and 716, which would increase municipal contributions to firefighter and police pensions, respectively; members raised concerns about city budgets, and the sponsor said he was open to phasing in the increases. Senate Bill 182 passed 5-2 to add certain DHS Inspector General officers and OJA residential care specialists to hazardous duty retirement, and Senate Bill 609 passed 7-0 to allow police recruits to buy up to five years of prior out-of-state service credit as a recruitment tool.
The committee then passed Senate Bill 169 5-2 to increase state employee longevity pay by 50%, with supporters citing high turnover and opponents warning about budget pressure and the need for broader raises. Senate Bill 134 passed 7-0 to shorten the waiting period for county employees to return to work from one year to six months. Senate Bill 432 passed 6-0 to raise volunteer firefighter pension benefits, and because it was double-assigned it would next go to Appropriations. Senate Bill 1407 passed 7-0 after an amendment requiring OMES to provide the Commission on the Status of Women an itemized accounting of funds; the bill generally clarifies staffing and financial reporting authority for the commission. Finally, Senate Bill 2039 passed 8-0 after an amendment narrowing the bill to military personnel who are also teachers and defining salary for buyback purposes; the sponsor said the measure would help service members return to teaching and buy back up to five years of credit. The committee also passed Senate Bill 1356 7-0, a broader OMES cleanup bill moving certain functions elsewhere, though members flagged concerns about relocating the state use program and the pay-for-success fund and suggested further study on those sections.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Second Regular Session of the 60th Legislature Day 1 Feb 2nd, 2026 at 12:00 pm
Oklahoma House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And I believe these last seven years have been the greatest in State history, we've gone from budget
- Sustainable budgeting demands discipline.
- Last year With your partnership, we delivered one of the greatest budget reform wins in history: the
- It robs self-reliance and it balloons budgets.
- In 10 years, Medicaid is projected to eat up 37% of our annual budget, $9 billion dollars.
Bills:
HB3725 , HB3260 , HB3660 , HB3369 , HB3370 , HB2937 , HB3419 , HB3264 , HB3266 , HB3267 , HB3268 , HB3310 , HB4311 , HB3841 , HB3024 , HB3075
Keywords:
labor, e-verification, immigration, employers, employment eligibility, Department of Labor, penalties, funeral licensing, continuing education, Oklahoma Funeral Directors Association, professional development, licensing requirements, HB3660, natural organic reduction, human composting, soil reduction, green burial, funeral services, cremation, burial permit
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Transportation Subcommittee on LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency Feb 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Today's hearing was intended to receive that SB 1098 report and to discuss policy reforms and funding
- So we're trying to work with our budget And hopefully you can all work with yours.
- We had member agency support of about 51% of our operating budget.
- We had nearly 33% of our operating budget covered from fares.
- We know that more must be done to increase passenger rail ridership, not just to reforms.
Summary:
The Senate Subcommittee on LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency held an informational hearing focused on the corridor’s financial stability, service reliability, governance, capital planning, and long-term resiliency. Chair Lackey opened by criticizing the unfinished SB 1098 report and the underwhelming Transit Transformation Task Force work, arguing that the corridor remains at a crossroads with weak ridership recovery, poor on-time performance, and major capital projects that are not moving quickly enough. Senator Archuleta emphasized safety, maintenance, and the need to avoid state subsidy if ridership and revenues can support service.
CalSTA and Caltrans described major state investments and ongoing planning efforts, including $125 million for San Clemente resiliency work, additional leveraged federal and state funds, more than $25 billion in funded projects in the pipeline, and the development of a corridor project database and service-planning tool under SB 1098. Caltrans also reported restoring Surfliner service to 13 weekday round trips between Los Angeles and San Diego, piloting expanded service to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, and reorganizing internally to elevate transit and rail oversight. On zero-emission strategy, officials said hydrogen fuel-cell trains are being procured for longer-distance service while electrification remains the long-term ideal and battery-electric options are being explored for shorter routes.
The committee then heard from Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle and Caltrain representative Jason Baker. Metrolink described its shift to “regional passenger rail,” with schedule changes aimed at all-day service, better transfers, and growth in student and weekend ridership, but warned of a fiscal cliff because member agencies now cover most operating costs while fare revenue remains low. Kettle said the agency has not reached consensus among its five county partners on a dedicated revenue solution and warned that service cuts may be unavoidable without new funding. Caltrain reported strong post-electrification ridership gains, improved customer satisfaction, and expanded service, but also warned of a large annual operating deficit that could force reductions in frequency, weekend service, stations, and evening operations if stable funding is not found.
Members also discussed public safety, marketing, station placemaking, parking and concession revenue, and hydrogen fuel-cell technology. Senators urged stronger promotion of rail service, safer and cleaner stations, and more ambitious planning to match the state’s investments. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational, with officials asked to continue reporting back on SB 1098, San Clemente planning, service performance, and funding solutions.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- , but raising the current excise tax isn't reform.
- And in order to do that, we need some pretty comprehensive tax and market reform.
- We've asked them how they're making room in their budgets.
- This may be another year of constrained budgets.
- Costs will vary depending on county size, budget, and the agreed-upon solutions.
Bills:
SB6294 , SB6211 , SB5650 , SB6033 , SB6297 , SB6343 , SB6067 , SB6082 , SB6323 , SB6324 , SB5862 , SB5923 , SB6151
Committee:
Senate Ways & Means
Keywords:
local government finance, Washington state, RCW, real estate excise tax, REET, sales and use tax, property tax levy, county tax, city tax, affordable housing, housing services, behavioral health, mental health, developmental disabilities, children and families services, youth services, utility tax, low-income utility assistance, veterans assistance, homelessness
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- But this is a A big part of these reforms is taking this to the public.
- They're doing it to save one-half of one percent of the general fund budget.
- We are about to begin our budget.
- budget.
- So the city manager proposed a budget at the voter...
Committee:
Senate Local Government