Transcript Highlights:

• We're hoping because of the reduction in the rate of receiving new applications and through the work
• The guardianship waitlist reduction, you know, we've Got recommendations both in the base budget and
• I'm hoping that waitlist Reduction will happen naturally as applications come down, and we do support
• And so, if we have a reduction in those contractual services, we're already short ombud service dollars
• And a reduction on top of that.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So in this presentation... ...results in prevention or reduction of future hospitalizations.
• I also want to say this is a $2 billion-a-year endeavor, a poverty reduction tool to keep families with
• We do expect that we'll see a reduction in the caseload for several reasons.
• And so that would translate into about a $46 million state reduction.
• So the total five-year incremental change compared to the March 2025 revenue forecast is a reduction

Summary: The committee held a work session focused first on juvenile rehabilitation system capacity. DCYF officials said the juvenile rehabilitation population is older, includes more adult-sentenced youth, and has longer lengths of stay, especially for “post-25” youth who must remain in secure facilities and cannot go to community beds. They described overcrowding at Green Hill School, placement limits at Echo Glen and Harbor Heights, staffing turnover, mental health acuity, and the need for more medium-security and specialized mental health beds. DCYF said it is pursuing a Parkland facility proposal, a staffing model decision package, and a broader feasibility study and master plan update. No votes were taken; members were asked to follow up with questions later. The committee then heard on behavioral health system capacity from the Behavioral Health Administration and the Health Care Authority. DSHS described growth in forensic and civil bed need, expansion at Olympic Heritage, Maple Lane, and Brockman, and construction of a new 350-bed forensic hospital at Western State expected to open in 2028. HCA reported progress on long-term civil commitment beds, intensive behavioral health treatment facilities, PACT teams, and intensive residential treatment teams, saying the community-based system is being expanded to support step-down care and reduce hospital reliance. Members asked about whether capacity is right-sized, the difference between facility types, and federal match eligibility for services. A federal funding update followed, covering the effects of H.R. 1 and H.R. 5371 on SNAP, Medicaid, marketplace coverage, long-term services and supports, K-12, higher education, and hemp regulation. OFM and agency staff said H.R. 1 adds work requirements, changes non-citizen eligibility, increases state administrative and benefit costs, reduces Medicaid and marketplace subsidies for some groups, tightens redeterminations, and may significantly affect provider payments and state-directed payments. H.R. 5371 extended federal funding through January 30, 2026 and included some agency appropriations and other provisions, including changes affecting hemp producers. Members asked about SNAP error rates and special enrollment periods. Finally, budget coordinator Mary Monroe gave a 2026 supplemental budget preview. She reviewed the state’s near general fund outlook, noting revenue declines since the enacted budget, the effect of reversions, and a preliminary maintenance-level outlook showing a projected increase in NGFO spending over the four-year period. She said the supplemental will reflect updated caseload and cost forecasts and mandatory impacts from H.R. 1, but not policy proposals. No actions or votes were taken during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• So given that reduction, this $150 million becomes even more necessary.
• A reduction from 6% to 5.25% sounds like a great gesture.
• There's a 20% reduction in total spending from the current year budget.
• There were some reduction issues based on a reduction in trust funds that ran out and that we no longer
• And there was a slight reduction in vacant positions.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present, then adopted the special order report and moved into a series of budget-related bills. The chamber first took up HB 5011/SB 2506 on environmental resource management and natural resources funding, where Democrats argued the bill would reduce recurring support for the Resilient Florida program, the Florida Wildlife Corridor, invasive species removal, and other conservation efforts. Supporters said the change would shift money from recurring to nonrecurring funding so the Legislature could reassess priorities each year and rely more on private-sector stewardship. After a strike-all amendment and conference posture change, SB 2506 passed 97-12. HB 5013, reducing state-funded property reinsurance reserves, passed 108-0, and HB 5501, redirecting documentary stamp tax distributions from housing and transportation trust funds into general revenue, passed 82-26 after extended debate over its impact on affordable housing and transportation funding. The House also passed HB 5015 on state group insurance, which requires DMS to develop a formulary management system and was described as producing significant savings; members raised concerns about prescription access and implementation, but the bill passed 109-0. HB 5201 on state financial accounting and HB 5203 on the Capitol Center both passed unanimously, as did HB 5009, which creates a Florida Accountability Office and reorganizes audit functions. The chamber then passed HB 7031, a major sales tax reduction bill lowering the state sales tax rate and several related rates; supporters framed it as permanent relief for all Floridians, while opponents said property tax relief would be more meaningful and that the sales tax cut would also benefit tourists and out-of-state visitors. HB 7031 passed 112-0. The House then began consideration of HB 501, the proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget, totaling $112.9 billion and emphasizing reduced recurring spending and large reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined their budget silos: K-12 education at $20.6 billion with teacher raises, school hardening, literacy, transportation stipends, and security funding for Jewish day schools; health care at $47 billion with full Medicaid and KidCare funding, opioid settlement spending, mental health beds, and senior services; transportation/economic development at $18.5 billion; agriculture and natural resources at $5.8 billion with reduced Everglades spending but continued water, resiliency, and land management funding; higher education at $8.7 billion; state administration at $2.9 billion; justice at $7.3 billion; and IT at $529 million for Florida PALM, FX, and other systems. Members then began questioning the K-12 budget, focusing on FEFP funding, proration, voucher growth, stabilization dollars, mental health and school safety funding, and whether districts would be held harmless under the proposed allocations.

Transcript Highlights:

• for sure that's something we do every single year, whether it's a reduction year or not.
• for sure that's something we do every single year, whether it's a reduction year or not.
• for sure that's something we do every single year, whether it's a reduction year or not.
• and budgets the first place reductions and budgets the first place we<00:11:47.399> go<00:11:
• <00:12:08.720> there's at for a big chunk of reduction there's at for a big chunk of reduction

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee convened an informational Division 3 Finance hearing focused on DHHS programmatic issues rather than budget line items. The chair emphasized that members should avoid questions requiring dollar figures and noted that the coming budget cycle would likely be difficult because revenues are expected to be tighter. Commissioner Lori Weaver said the department wanted to use the session to explain its functions at a high level, with more detailed presentations to follow, and to collect questions for later responses. Weaver outlined DHHS’s mission of supporting optimal health for state residents and described the department’s three main responsibilities: protection and prevention, client service delivery, and regulatory oversight. She said DHHS has eight divisions, a $3.6 billion total budget, about $1.217 billion in general funds, roughly a quarter of state positions, and personnel costs that are less than 11% of the budget. She also noted a recent hiring freeze, explained that the department did not request new positions except where required by law, and said vacancy rates had improved from 22% to 14% over the last two years but could rise again because of attrition and the hiring freeze. Weaver and CFO Nathan White then discussed why the DHHS budget is complex, explaining that it is built from multiple funding sources and is shaped by assumptions made months before the fiscal year begins, actual service demand, and cost allocation rules used to draw down federal funds. White highlighted maintenance-of-effort requirements, including TANF, where state spending is needed to secure federal matching funds and shortfalls can trigger penalties. At the committee’s request, DHHS agreed to provide a simplified historical accounting of TANF contributions to show how the match is assembled across positions, contracts, and other factors. The department also reviewed its roadmap, which Weaver described as a framework developed with staff and stakeholders around three themes: culture, community, and customer service. She highlighted priorities such as Mission Zero to end emergency department boarding, expanding access to community-based and residential behavioral health services, reducing reliance on institutional care, improving contract management with nonprofit and provider partners, using data dashboards to guide decisions, and investing in workforce stability and culture. No votes were taken; the main action was DHHS’s commitment to provide additional follow-up materials, including the TANF contribution breakdown.

Transcript Highlights:

• of funding in order for them to reduce their overall fiscal impact by going through a head count reduction
• These funds would be used to pay for software as well as the reduction in the head count.
• used to pay for software as well<00:02:25.240> as<00:02:25.600> the<00:02:26.000> reduction
• well as the reduction in the head count. well as the reduction in the head count.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I see that the agricultural land reduction. Is a 42% reduction in taxes. Is that purposeful?
• So, I see that the agricultural land reduction is a 42% reduction in taxes. Is that purposeful?
• Is a 42% reduction in taxes. Is that purposeful?
• So, I see that the agricultural land reduction is a 42% reduction in taxes. Is that purposeful?
• Is a 20% reduction. Why is there a larger reduction proposed for agricultural land and homesteads?

Bills: SJR50, SJR51, SJR52, SJR53, SJR54, SJR39, SB1290, HB4028, HB4029, HB4073, HB4074, HB4075, HB4076, HB4077, HB4078, HB1250, HB2951, HB2961, HB3151, HB3581, HB3705, HB3970, HB3972, HB3980, HB3981

Keywords: Medicaid, federal funding, state law, healthcare, low-income adults, Oklahoma Constitution, healthcare regulations, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, permanent rules, joint resolution, OHCA, health care rules, administrative rules, major rule, Title 75, Title 317, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 317:30, health policy, state health programs

Transcript Highlights:

• I think we're all aware that there have been some discussions about the reduction of federal dollars
• By these institutions, and what would happen if you have a 5% or 20% reduction.
• in those funds that was a reduction in those funds that these<02:28:49.760> institutions<02:28
• in in financing or drastic reduction in in financing or finances?
• happen if you saw a 20% or 5% reduction happen if you saw a 20% or 5% reduction in<02:37:00.000>

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The purpose of this bill is to provide a reduction in the personal income tax.
• The House of Delegates lowered the income tax reduction from 10 percent.
• The House of Delegates lowered the income tax reduction from 10 percent.
• First, we passed a 27 and a quarter percent tax reduction a couple of years ago.
• And today we've added to that with an additional 5 percent reduction in personal income tax.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first considered confirmations from Senate Executive Message No. 4. On a 33-0 vote, it confirmed all nominees except number 54, then separately confirmed nominee 54 on a 30-3 vote. The special order of business was then closed. The chamber then took up a series of House-amended bills and generally concurred in the amendments before passing each bill. These included SB 723 on law enforcement cooperation with bordering states; SB 947 on birth certificate copies for homeless minors; SB 392 on personal income tax reduction; SB 54 on criminal penalties for abuse or neglect of incapacitated adults; SB 228 on technology in child abuse and neglect investigations, including a three-county caseworker aid pilot; SB 231 on value-based payment requirements; SB 402, the Workforce Readiness Opportunity Act, with House removal of tax credits and other provisions while retaining micro-credential programs; SB 553 on transfer of contractor licenses to qualifying immediate family members; SB 575 on refusal review hearings; SB 686, the Coal Tenancy Modernization and Miners' Protection Act; SB 906 on lawful prescription of crystalline polymorph psilocybin under FDA recommendations; and SB 1226 on penalties for disturbing religious worship. Most final passage votes were unanimous or near-unanimous, and several bills were made effective from passage or given a specific effective date. Later, the Senate concurred in House amendments to SB 63, the Creating Sustaining Opportunities for Academics and Rural Schools Act, after discussion noting the House removed county charter school language and changed the effective date. The bill passed 32-2 and was made effective from passage. The Senate also concurred in amendments to SB 502, the Women's Collegiate Sports Protection Act, and SB 153, creating the Unemployment Automation and Administration Fund; SB 502 was set to take effect July 1, 2026, and SB 153 was also made effective July 1, 2026. Finally, the Senate reconsidered and again passed SB 392 by a 32-2 vote. The session ended with several introductions, announcements, and a recess until 5:30.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's about a $35 million reduction from FY26, and it's roughly 2% of the overall budget.
• No, that is actually one of the governor's core reductions that he made.
• There are reductions that are in this ITSD consolidated core.
• There was a core reduction in ITSD's budget that core reduced $33,000 GR.
• We did have some reduction in retirees, but it was mostly new state employees.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it was about a 40,000 kid reduction.
• There's also a reduction in births that happened after the Great Recession 2011.
• Well, I mean, a one percentage point reduction in average daily attendance, even with.
• The same number of kids is a $380 million reduction in district budgets. Okay. Statewide.
• This explains the small reduction in the early draft of the 2026 UTP.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:47:25.920> Center reduction Center reduction Center um<00:47:27.760> H<00:47:28.559
• I love harm reduction.
• Hawaii health and harm reduction Hawaii health and harm reduction Center<00:57:32.400> Aloha<
• Next we have Nichols Leverence, Hawaii Harm Reduction Center.
• <01:13:50.880> Center harm health and harm reduction Center harm health and harm reduction

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Health heard testimony on several bills. On SB 1441, which would repeal the transfer of the Oahu Regional Health Care System from HHSC to the Department of Health, the Department of Health said it strongly supports the measure and requested clarifying amendments. HHSC/Oahu Region also supported the bill and said it had no objection to the department’s amendments. In response to questions, witnesses said the agencies have been working on an MOU to support transfers of long-term care patients to Leahi, with the current goal being about 10 to 15 patients, but transfers would occur only as space and staffing allow; one patient was reportedly being admitted at the time, and the process was described as slow and case-by-case. The committee then heard SB 1443 on payment rates for state hospital patients and related Department of Health services. The hospital administrator said the bill would allow rates above Medicaid for community or foster-home placements if patients cannot be placed at Leahi or elsewhere, and would set Medicaid-level reimbursement for outside medical services used by state hospital patients. He said at least one provider was interested in offering services at that rate and that the population involved is largely non-ambulatory long-term care patients. Members asked about availability and training, and the witness said special training could be provided. SB 1322, a broad mental health bill, drew mixed testimony. The Department of Law Enforcement supported giving crisis-intervention-trained officers more discretion to transport people to medical care instead of arresting them. The Attorney General supported the bill but recommended revisions to emergency-transport language and restoring liability protections. HHSC and Queens Hospital supported the overall goal but sought amendments to preserve the mental health emergency worker role in decision-making and to avoid negative impacts on emergency departments. The Disability Rights Center and ACLU opposed parts of the bill, arguing that it weakens due process, reduces protections in involuntary treatment and transport, and should retain a three-person treatment panel rather than reduce it to one. A Queens representative said the current program works well and reported that more than 90% of MH1 cases once went to hospitals, but that figure has dropped to about 60-70%, with about 20% now diverted to community settings or the behavioral health crisis center. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• and also the inflation reduction act. and also the inflation reduction act.
• <00:21:26.880> in expected to lead to a reduction in expected to lead to a reduction in overall
• The big money within House Bill 1, when we did another rate reduction, the rate reduction conditions
• reduction reduction the<01:00:51.200> rate<01:00:51.520> reduction<01:00:52.079> conditions
• the rate reduction conditions the rate reduction conditions hit<01:00:55.599> in<01:00:56.319

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting focused on preliminary fiscal 2026 revenue estimates and the governor’s office request for an official revision to fiscal 2026, with members reminded that any estimate adopted now would not bind the December official estimates. Staff from S&P Global walked through three forecast scenarios—control, optimistic, and pessimistic—based on recent federal tax changes, tariffs, and other policy developments, emphasizing that the outlook remains highly uncertain. Under the control scenario, the presentation projected below-trend real GDP growth of 1.8% in fiscal 2026, slowing to 1.5% by fiscal 2028, with unemployment peaking around 4.5% and the Federal Reserve cutting rates three times to a long-run range of about 2.75% to 3%. The optimistic scenario assumed lower effective tariffs, stronger growth, and better labor and housing outcomes, while the pessimistic scenario assumed a broader trade war, higher effective tariffs, faster deportations, weaker employment and consumer spending, and unemployment rising to about 6.3%. Speakers also noted that the forecast was prepared before later BLS revisions and that recent data on inventories and AI-related investment made the recent quarters look unusually volatile. Members discussed how the current fiscal 2026 outlook compared with earlier assumptions and noted that the eventual revenue revision may be smaller than the spread between the optimistic and pessimistic economic scenarios. The governor’s office and committee members also reviewed sector-specific impacts, including manufacturing, housing, light vehicle production, exports, and consumer sentiment, with particular concern about Kentucky’s auto and housing-related industries. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe a tribal nation has been impacted by this reduction.
• has been impacted uh by this reduction has been impacted uh by this reduction also<01:23:49.040>
• , an estimated predicted reduction, in the fiscal 2026-27 biennium.
• <01:46:18.480> an then yes there is a reduction an then yes there is a reduction an estimated
• reduction of estimated predicted reduction of in<01:46:23.080> the<01:46:23.199> fiscal

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Program reductions, delayed facility maintenance, I can't buy a bus.
• Program reductions, delayed facility maintenance, I can't buy a bus.
• here are the results staff reductions here are the results staff reductions increased<00:10:46.639
• <00:10:51.639> delayed district program reductions delayed district program reductions delayed
• <00:42:16.920> in the following concerns reductions in the following concerns reductions in

Bills: HF957, HF877

Keywords: education, mandate relief, school funding, local control, state laws, fund transfers, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It establishes a review process upon notice of agency denial, reduction, suspension, or termination of
• , suspension, or termination of reduction, suspension, or termination of long-term<00:05:18.960> care
• in custody and petition for a reduction in custody and replaces replaces replaces uh<00:18:49.760>
• <01:20:12.000> And reduction in custody on their own.
• And reduction in custody on their own.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have been advocating for meaningful, significant tax cuts for years, the reduction of our taxes to
• We have been advocating for meaningful, significant tax cuts for years, the reduction of our taxes to
• We have been advocating for meaningful, significant tax cuts for years, the reduction of our taxes to
• We have been advocating for meaningful, significant tax cuts for years, the reduction of our taxes to
• Their surviving spouse will see a 59% reduction in her VA benefits when the veteran passes away.

Bills: HF169, HF195, HF194, HF1756, HF2133

Keywords: HF169, Minnesota insurance, health plan, summary of benefits and coverage, SBC, patient assistance program, deductible, health insurer, consumer disclosure, out-of-pocket costs, medical assistance funds, copay assistance, health coverage transparency, chapter 62Q, enrollee, HF195, Fairmont, street reconstruction, bonding bill, capital investment

Transcript Highlights:

• shift, and we're hopeful that they will, you know, we'll see a reduced impact, or kind of a reduced reduction
• <00:01:57.200> to um or kind of an a reduced reduction to um or kind of an a reduced reduction
• <00:26:00.000> Um,<00:26:00.559> so government aid uh reductions.
• Um, so government aid uh reductions.
• the spreadsheet will show is a reduction the spreadsheet will show is a reduction uh<00:26:37.200

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor requested a 3% reduction from this number.
• He requested a 3% reduction from that $716.6 million.
• And then the next one over is the governor's 3% reduction.
• the 3% governor reduction.
• And I know you've got a 3% reduction.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The governor requested a 3% reduction from this number.
• He requested a 3% reduction from that $716.6 million.
• the governor's 3% reduction.
• That would see a reduction in funding even after the 3% governor reduction.
• And I know you've got a 3% reduction.

Summary: The committee met to discuss higher education funding and capital building policy. Members first heard an update from NDUS Deputy Commissioner Lisa Johnson on low-producing academic programs. She described a proposed board policy using a five-year rolling window and thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, with programs flagged for three consecutive review periods going to the board. Possible outcomes would include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the review would account for program costs, service to other students, workforce demand, and the difference between inactivation and termination. Johnson said the board would consider broader factors and that campuses already do detailed program analysis. Several members also asked about cost savings and staffing impacts from program terminations, and Johnson said the board would try to provide more information later. The committee then received a report on the Capital Building Fund from Jamie Wilkie. He reviewed the program’s history, matching requirements, and recent uses, noting that about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with most going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Members discussed whether the program is reducing deferred maintenance and requested updated systemwide data on deferred maintenance and campus space utilization. Wilkie said the board is considering a new study to update deferred maintenance figures, which are based on information more than 12 years old. He also reported that several institutions have used current biennium funds for projects such as residence hall renovations, health sciences housing, generators, and building repairs. Later, the committee began a detailed walkthrough of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and also revise the capital building fund structure. The draft would use fall enrollment FTEs, add completion incentives for degrees in in-demand fields, and create a separate research funding component for UND and NDSU tied to doctoral completions and external research expenditures. Members raised concerns about the use of older data in the formula, the treatment of waivers, the weighting of professional and health sciences programs, and the use of CIP codes to define CTE and education incentives. The bill draft would also combine capital building fund tiers, broaden eligible uses for deferred maintenance and legislatively authorized projects, change matching requirements, repeal the old formula chapter and the capital pool, and transfer funds from the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund into the capital building fund. No final votes were taken during the portion provided; the meeting was primarily discussion and review.

Transcript Highlights:

• high priority or an urgent need, we recommend that if it approves it, it finds dollar-for-dollar reductions
• We do offer a backfill to a reduction to the state court facilities construction fund based on improved
• We do offer a backfill to a reduction to a backfill to the state court facilities. a backfill to a reduction
• The savings amount reflects a reduction in total contract costs.
• This will significantly alleviate the service-level reductions caused by lower-level federal funding

Keywords: 988, house, all