Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I their software to do that.
• <04:04:55.520> Much replacement. Who benefits? Much replacement. Who benefits?
• <04:17:15.279> that the sort of demographic replacement that the sort of demographic replacement
• investy studies on a replaceable investy studies on a replaceable amendment<05:55:42.480> to<
• accommodation and the replaceable accommodation and the replaceable amendment<05:57:31.440> was

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Elderly Affairs heard HB 1790-FN, which would address involuntary admissions for certain individuals with a substance use disorder. Representative Lucy Weber introduced the bill for Representative Long, and the committee heard extensive testimony both in support of and in opposition to the proposal. Opponents, including John Burns of SOS Recovery and Jake Barry of New Futures, argued that involuntary commitment is not well supported by research, can retraumatize people, may increase overdose risk after release, and could undermine New Hampshire’s existing recovery and harm-reduction efforts. They emphasized that treatment should be voluntary, trauma-informed, and paired with housing, recovery supports, and other community-based services. Representative Long said he was willing to accept DHHS’s request to amend the bill into a study commission, though he expressed concern that a prior state study had not led to action. He said the commission should focus on implementation details, including where people would be placed, staffing, withdrawal management, elopement prevention, length of commitment, and aftercare. He described involuntary commitment as one tool for people with severe dangerous addictions, distinct from drug court, and said it could help avoid criminal records. Committee members asked about capacity at New Hampshire Hospital and how the proposal would work in practice. DHHS officials Katya Fox and Cynthia Pabonis testified that the bill raises major policy and fiscal concerns. They said New Hampshire’s current system has benefited from investments in naloxone, medication-assisted treatment, recovery centers, and community-based services, and that those investments have helped reduce overdose deaths. They estimated the bill would require a new 70-bed facility costing about $40 million to build and about $33.3 million annually to operate, with only a small portion offset by insurance, plus more than $600,000 in annual legal costs and additional staffing and system changes. They also said New Hampshire Hospital has 185 beds, with about 100 patients typically ready for less restrictive settings, and that housing shortages are a major bottleneck. NAMI New Hampshire also testified in opposition, saying families often want any possible treatment for loved ones but still opposed the bill. No vote or final action was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• In other forms of public digital procurement, software, databases, media agencies receive predictable
• In other forms of public digital In other forms of public digital procurement,<00:07:48.560> software
• ,<00:07:49.120> databases,<00:07:49.919> media procurement, software, databases, media
• Emmerick said that when you put something online, someone can download it, and there is software and
• and other apps that, there's software and other apps that, you<00:37:36.079> know,<00:37:36.240

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• see that the cause that we identified from the agency is that they had updated their loan tracking software
• I don't know if part of that's the hardware, part of that is the software, the rest of that is the support
• Software, the rest of that is the support.
• and only issue new pocket cards upon initial application or in an instance where the card needs replacement
• only issue new registration cards upon initial application or in instances where the card needs replacement

Summary: The committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with the statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and OMB reported a clean, unmodified opinion for the state, with strong financial results including a $40.6 billion net position, $30.99 billion in assets, $1.81 billion in liabilities, and continued Legacy Fund growth. OMB also explained the new GASB 101 compensated-absences reporting change and discussed pension-liability fluctuations tied to discount-rate assumptions and investment performance. Members asked about how the state compares to others and about the effect of short-term commodity price swings, and OMB said the report reflects actual fiscal-year results rather than forecasts. The committee then heard the University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund revenue, insufficient monitoring of service organizations at CTS, NDSU, and UND, improper bank reconciliations at Dakota College of Bottineau, Dickinson State, and Williston State, and investment/cash reconciliation problems at Bismarck State College related to bond proceeds. University officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations. Members raised questions about NDSU’s use of certificates of deposit, and university staff explained that CDs are used to earn interest on funds being accumulated for future projects. Several other audits were presented, most with clean opinions and no findings, including the State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Notable exceptions included a State Fair Association audit with an adverse opinion on the foundation component unit because its financial statements were not available for audit, and a Securities Department performance audit finding that performance-based pay increases and bonuses were issued without required evaluations. The committee also discussed the State Auditor’s future needs, including more staff capacity, data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, possible subpoena authority, independent legal counsel, and whether some audits—such as the Ethics Commission and State Fair—should be handled by independent third parties or under different statutory arrangements.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's a lot easier to enlarge print using iPads, computers, and software.
• Using mapping software, we found that 573,000 Texas high school students are residentially zoned to a
• First, AI should never replace teachers that put effort into creating effective curriculum and instruction
• Second, AI grading and AI detection software should not be treated as reliable enough to determine a
• Right now, students are being falsely accused of cheating because detection software incorrectly flags

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a software system, there's interface now that they have to do, there's talk of transmitting
• And the software and the interface that now will be needed for the supervisors of elections throughout
• Now you're talking about software costs that the supervisors of elections would incur.
• It does do some clarifying in how things can be repaired, replaced, and renovated.
• This is a delete-all amendment, which replaces the House language with what's currently in the Senate

Summary: The Florida Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness for sexual assault survivors, a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange, and a memorial proclamation for former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. The chamber then moved to special-order bills, with senators also briefly discussing the session’s pace and thanking staff and colleagues for their work. The first major bill, on driving and boating offenses, was amended and passed 37-0. As amended, it increases penalties for repeat DUI/BUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide/vessel homicide offenses, and adds notice requirements and misdemeanor penalties for refusing lawful breath or urine tests. Senators also passed SB 306 on Medicaid providers 37-0, requiring Medicaid managed care plans to offer more after-hours and holiday access and ensuring more primary care appointment availability outside regular business hours. The Senate then passed a major condominium and cooperative associations bill, also 37-0, after extensive debate and multiple amendments. The measure extends deadlines for structural integrity reserve studies, adds flexibility for reserve funding and budgeting, tightens rules for managers and inspectors, limits certain requirements to buildings of three or more habitable stories, and extends the rescission period for condo purchases. Senators from both parties praised the bill’s sponsors for years of work responding to post-Surfside safety and affordability concerns. The longest and most contentious item was SB 7016/HB 1205 on constitutional amendment petition procedures. Sponsors said the bill responds to fraud and abuse in the citizen initiative process by tightening circulator rules, requiring faster submission of signed petitions, adding voter notification, increasing penalties, and shifting costs to sponsors. Opponents argued it would burden volunteers and make it harder for citizens to qualify initiatives. The chamber adopted a series of amendments, including changes to the petition-circulator threshold, volunteer protections, submission timing, invalid-signature investigation thresholds, and notice/cure provisions, while debate continued over whether the overall package would protect election integrity or suppress citizen-led amendments.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a software system, there's interface now that they have to do, there's talk of transmitting
• There is a software system, there's interface now that they have to do, there's talk of transmitting
• Senator Davis: Do those costs contemplate the scanning system and the software and the interface that
• Now you're talking about software costs that the supervisors of elections would incur.
• It does do some clarifying in how things can be repaired, replaced, and renovated.

Summary: The Senate began with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including interns, Denim Day awareness, and a resolution honoring Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange on the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. The chamber also observed a moment of silence for former Senator Karen Johnson Gendron. After routine business, the Senate took up several special-order bills. The first major bill, transportation offenses involving death, increased penalties for repeat DUI/BUI manslaughter and vehicular homicide offenses. An amendment added penalties for refusal to submit to breath or urine testing and required law enforcement to notify suspects of those penalties. The bill passed 37-0. The Senate then passed SB 306 on Medicaid providers, requiring broader after-hours and holiday access to care and setting network standards for Medicaid managed care plans, also by a 37-0 vote. The chamber next considered a major condominium and cooperative associations bill responding to post-Surfside safety and financial concerns. Senators described the measure as balancing building safety with financial relief, extending reserve-study deadlines, allowing temporary reserve relief after inspections, tightening oversight of managers and inspectors, and adjusting voting, resale, and reserve rules. After extensive debate and praise from members for the bill’s sponsors and staff, the bill passed 37-0. The longest discussion centered on a constitutional amendments/petition process bill aimed at curbing fraud in citizen initiative petitions. Sponsors argued that the 2024 petition process was plagued by fraud and identity theft and proposed tighter rules for circulators, faster submission deadlines, voter notification, penalties, and limits on petition handling. Senators offered and adopted multiple amendments, including changes to petition-circulator definitions, invalid-signature thresholds, and voter notification procedures. After a substitute amendment was withdrawn, the Senate continued debating the underlying amended bill, with members split between concerns about election integrity and worries that the bill would burden volunteers and make it harder for citizen initiatives to qualify.

Transcript Highlights:

• When you did this FIR, did we use the new software that LFC got appropriated last year to do some of
• Chair, our software and our process, we have been using pretty extensively to evaluate economic development
• This proposal came in the new year, and so we haven't had time to evaluate the impact using that software
• So, I mean, that's why we got the software.

Bills: SB151, HB8, SB177

Keywords: corporate income tax, franchise tax, gross receipts tax, tax credit, tax deduction, controlled foreign corporation, CFC, bonus depreciation, interest expense, apportionment, unitary group, high-wage jobs tax credit, local journalism, news media, newspaper printer, physician incentive, health care workforce, affordable housing, multifamily housing, construction materials

Transcript Highlights:

• measure is to pass with amendments, making changes to the definition of interactive telecommunications software
• definition of interactive tele definition of interactive tele telecommunications<00:22:29.520> software
• <00:22:30.120> to<00:22:30.400> reinstate telecommunications software to reinstate
• telecommunications software to reinstate the<00:22:31.360> opt<00:22:31.640> out<00:22:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection and Economic Development and Tourism committees heard S.B. 890, which would have prohibited the sale, display, or marketing of products labeled as poi unless wholly derived from Hawaii-grown taro. The Attorney General’s Office raised Commerce Clause and free speech concerns, and the Department of Agriculture offered support with comments. Testimony was mixed: several individuals and organizations supported the bill as a way to protect the cultural integrity and purity of poi and support local taro farmers, while an industry representative opposed the bill as written, arguing that poi is a process, that the language was too restrictive, and that the industry already faces taro shortages and supply variability. Committee members also discussed the limited supply of local kalo, the use of imported taro for tabletop products, and the need to expand production. After testimony, the committees recommended passing S.B. 890 with amendments. The amendment package would convert the measure from a prohibition to a labeling requirement so poi made with ingredients from outside Hawaii must be labeled with the origins of those ingredients, remove references specifically to taro to accommodate other ingredients, add a severability clause, and set a defective date of July 1, 2050. The measure was adopted, with one senator voting with reservations and the rest voting aye. The committees then took up previously heard measures. S.B. 281, relating to telehealth, was recommended for passage with amendments to reinstate an opt-out from video conferencing in the definition of interactive telecommunications software; it was adopted. S.B. 1449, relating to prior authorization of health care services, was recommended for passage unamended and was also adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• genetic makeup, you no longer need knee replacements.'
• <01:22:35.680> You<01:22:35.880> have longer need knee replacements.
• You have longer need knee replacements.
• raised capital and I've built software raised capital and I've built software products<01:56:05.800
• gene therapy or stem knee replacement gene therapy or stem cell<02:47:11.880> therapy.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With our current inspection software, which is the same program that we use for our general commercial
• Um with our<00:05:19.360> current<00:05:19.680> inspection<00:05:20.440> software,
• c><00:05:21.000> which our current inspection software, which our current inspection software,
• a USDOT number for school bus use would eliminate the need for us to get a different inspection software

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think this is very good and<00:15:16.079> the<00:15:16.399> software<00:15:16.800>
• that's<00:15:17.120> involved<00:15:17.600> in and the software that's involved in
• and the software that's involved in administrating<00:15:18.800> this<00:15:19.360> has
• One was for these operating costs, $3 million, which replaces the cuts that came from the feds.
• Education, let's consider how many people we're replacing in this country.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This approach supplemented and did not replace existing processes identifying students for advanced courses
• supplemented and did not replace supplemented and did not replace existing<01:09:33.440> processes
• 08.280> and nutrition and charter school teams and nutrition and charter school teams and software
• > enhance<01:57:09.520> fiscal<01:57:09.920> analysis<01:57:10.400> and software
• to enhance fiscal analysis and software to enhance fiscal analysis and case<01:57:10.880> tracking

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and I their software to do that.
• <04:17:15.279> that the sort of demographic replacement that the sort of demographic replacement
• by replacing all by replacing<05:55:20.638> all<05:55:20.958> after<05:55:21.200> the
• investy studies on a replaceable investy studies on a replaceable amendment<05:55:42.480> to<
• accommodation and the replaceable accommodation and the replaceable amendment<05:57:31.440> was

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is to replace that with some training for the CEO at our mandatory trainings.
• It's got four bolts to replace. You call me, and I'll send you a replacement set. Okay.
• replacements, and usually only for a couple of weeks.
• It cost the city about $30,000 every time I had to replace an officer.
• The city about $30,000 every time I had to replace an officer.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:59:46.480> there's Charters um quarter Replacements there's Charters um quarter Replacements
• We have Everlaw, which is our software for redaction, and that seems to be increasing.
• our<01:10:44.239> right<01:10:44.400> to<01:10:44.560> no<01:10:44.880> software
• <01:10:45.560> that<01:10:45.960> software our right to no software that software our
• right to no software that software are<01:10:47.520> we<01:10:47.760> need<01:10:48.040

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division II committee heard a Department of Education budget presentation from Commissioner Frank Edelblut and CFO Tammy Valen-cour. The department outlined its organizational structure and emphasized that it functions largely as a flow-through agency for school funding. The commissioner reviewed general fund and Education Trust Fund items, including state aid, dropout prevention, special education, building aid, lease aid, charter schools, Education Freedom Accounts, and the district adequacy calculation. He also highlighted the public school infrastructure fund, saying the state has invested well over $50 million in school safety since 2018 for measures such as access controls, locks, and window film, and argued that safety spending should be ongoing rather than reactive. Members asked about the variability in the school infrastructure line, special education aid, and the Discovery Education learning platform. Edelblut explained that some safety funding had come from one-time surplus appropriations rather than the agency line, and said special education aid was underappropriated because districts submitted more invoices than expected; he said the governor added $16 million to address the shortfall. He also described CTE renovation funding, noting four projects were initially proposed but only Jaffrey and Milford were still moving forward, with local votes required and the state covering 75% of costs. He said Milford’s project was omitted from the governor’s budget by oversight. The department also reviewed enrollment trends, noting public school enrollment has fallen from about 230,000 students in 2002 to about 185,000 today. Edelblut clarified that charter students are not eligible for Education Freedom Accounts, while EFA students attending non-public schools are counted as EFA students. He described several one-time surplus-funded initiatives, including Student Clearinghouse, MTSSB work, civics curriculum development, computer science education, and adult education. He also discussed a $4 million CTE tuition and transportation grant, saying it was kept as a competitive grant rather than a formula grant to avoid creating an ongoing maintenance-of-effort commitment that could jeopardize federal Perkins funding. In the final portion, Edelblut identified prioritized needs in the department’s budget, especially funding for a state administrator for assessment to support the legislatively required civics assessment, and additional support for the Discovery Education platform. He said every school in the state is using the platform and cited more than 1.5 million educator engagements, while a member raised concerns about mixed reviews and uneven district awareness of the program. No votes or formal actions were taken during the presentation and question period.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the tax credit has helped to replace railroad ties, upgrade rail, strengthen bridges, and modernize
• It replaces an outdated council that we have with a new post-secondary attainment council.
• They have test areas where they're running some income verification software.
• They have test areas where they're running some income verification software.
• It it's just not verification software.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 4 February, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened, confirmed a quorum, received an invocation from Dr. Lenon Duncan, and led the pledge of allegiance. Routine business followed, including unanimous consent to dispense with reading the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. Several guests were introduced, including a governmental affairs representative, a doctor of the day and medical student, a county leadership group, agricultural youth council participants, a former senator’s spouse, and MSMS students. The chamber then took up several appropriations and finance measures. Senate Bill 2189, the transfer bill for state funds and agency budget setup, passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 2190 increased the Working Cash Stabilization Reserve Fund minimum balance from 10% to 15% of general fund revenue; supporters said it would strengthen the state’s fiscal position, and it passed by morning roll call after no questions. Senate Bill 2480, a capacity project bill providing $265 million from CAPEX to MDOT for highway projects in Madison and Rankin counties and initial work on Highway 90, was amended to make it effective upon passage and then passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 2832 extended the railroad tax credit repealer to 2029, and Senate Bill 2847 required state and local tax calculations to round to the nearest nickel in response to the federal penny phaseout; both passed by morning roll call. The Senate also approved Senate Bill 2191, which expands the purposes for which municipal use tax funds may be spent to include sidewalk repair and building acquisition/rehabilitation, after questions about municipal and subdivision sidewalks. Senate Bill 2885 created the Mississippi Work and Save Program, a voluntary retirement savings option for small employers and employees, with the sponsor emphasizing that participation is optional and that the program is intended to help workers without access to retirement plans; it passed by morning roll call. Senate Bill 2834, the omnibus tag bill, and Senate Bill 2838, the omnibus qualified resort area bill, were each amended with committee substitutes and passed by morning roll call. Later, the Senate suspended the rules and took up a large block of resolutions and commemorative measures, including sympathy and congratulatory resolutions, arts awards, sports championships, and other recognitions, along with House concurrent resolutions and two House bills designating observances. The transcript ends while the clerk is reading the long list of titles in the block.

Transcript Highlights:

• And you made a couple of replacements. I just made a couple of replacements.
• I just made one replacement right here. just made one replacement right here at the end.
• So, we're replacing 521. We're replacing 311 with... What's 311? 311.
• HB 311 was replaced with HB 521.
• And so on, I would like to replace on line 99 on, I would like to replace on line 99 on page four with

Bills: HB 14, HJR 31, HB 43, HB 18, HB 106, HB 36, HB 26, HB 149, HB 121, HB 206, HB 136, HB 3114, HB 2733, HB 1732, HB 3700, HB 467, HB 1130, HB 1846, HB 1442, HB 1147, HB 2176, HB 2701, HB 805, HB 2890, HB 1154, HB 1644, HB 2118, HB 1718, HB 2488, HB 2596, HB 1971, HB 2468, HB 484, HB 2578, HB 3204, HB 1041, HB 307, HB 685, HB 1710, HB 538, HB 2525, HB 3125, HB 2027, HB 2894, HB 3077, HB 3684, HJR 99, HB 1399, HJR 5, HB 1330, HB 2110, HJR 2, HJR 6, HB 1587, HB 14, HJR 31, HB 43, HB 18, HB 106, HB 36, HB 26, HB 149, HB 121, HB 206, HB 136, HB 3114, HB 2733, HB 1732, HB 3700, HB 467, HB 1130, HB 1846, HB 1442, HB 1147, HB 2176, HB 2701, HB 805, HB 2890, HB 1154, HB 1644, HB 2118, HB 1718, HB 2488, HB 2596, HB 1971, HB 2468, HB 484, HB 2578, HB 3204, HB 1041, HB 307, HB 685, HB 1710, HB 538, HB 2525, HB 3125, HB 2027, HB 2894, HB 3077, HB 3684

Keywords: nuclear energy, advanced reactors, energy security, grant programs, Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, farm products, tax exemption, ad valorem taxation, agriculture, Texas Constitution, livestock, producer, finance, young farmers, financial assistance, pest control, rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services

Transcript Highlights:

• I replaced my furnace too; that broke too. It was an expensive year last year.
• my furnace too that and did I replaced my furnace too that broke<04:48:19.878> too<04:48:20.160
• I replaced Gary Abbott this summer, so I'm about six months in the new role, so please be gentle with
• I own a software company, but I'm a building scientist.
• company but I'm a building software company but I'm a building scientist<05:12:23.920> I<05:12

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 216, which Representative Carol Maguire described as a fix to a workers’ compensation/retirement “glitch.” The bill would remove the current limit that only one year of workers’ compensation time can be credited as retirement service time. Maguire argued the limit is arbitrary and affects only a very small number of grievously injured workers, while committee members asked about the fiscal impact, available data, and whether the change could affect workers’ compensation rates or incentives. Mark Kavar of the New Hampshire Retirement System said Labor could not provide data on how many people exceed a year on weekly indemnity benefits, so the fiscal note used a conservative estimate that could be scaled down; he also explained that workers’ comp is not earnable compensation, which is why service credit stops after a year, and noted that many long-term cases move into disability retirement or lump-sum settlements. The committee closed the hearing, entered executive session, and voted ought to pass on HB 216 by a 13-0 roll call, sending it to consent and noting it would also go to Finance. The committee then acted on House Bill 85, adopting Amendment 0037 and then voting ought to pass as amended by another 13-0 roll call. The bill was described as allowing second-year respiratory therapy students to work under supervision using the skills they have already learned, with support from the Hospital Association and no opposition noted. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 267, the animal chiropractors bill. Members said the bill had been approved previously but was vetoed because of a defect; the problem has now been corrected, and the bill is intended to reduce delays caused by requiring veterinary referrals before chiropractors can treat animals. The committee voted ought to pass 13-0 and placed the bill on consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill replaces the 1% cap of the Property Tax Postponement Program with a fixed annual allocation
• This bill replaces the 1% cap of the Property Tax Postponement Program with a fixed annual allocation
• This bill replaces the 1% cap of the Property Tax Postponement Program with a fixed annual allocation
• A lot of them are outdated and need to be replaced, some of that equipment.
• A lot of them are outdated and need to be replaced, some of that equipment.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee met to consider the final three-party agreement for the 2026-27 state budget and 19 implementing bills, including two budget bill juniors and 17 trailer bills. Committee leadership and administration officials described the budget as a balanced plan that reduces out-year structural deficits, maintains large reserves, and makes major investments in health care, education, housing, child care, public safety, and other core services while also responding to expected federal cuts and fiscal uncertainty. The Department of Finance outlined the package’s major components, including Medi-Cal adjustments, education funding increases, higher education changes, child care and human services updates, housing and homelessness funding, energy and transportation provisions, and tax and general government changes. Members asked questions about several provisions, including CSU enrollment targets and turnaround plans, the Prop. 98 settle-up mechanism, the plastics market development payment program, housing accountability measures, NextGen 9-1-1 implementation, and veteran services. Staff and administration witnesses explained that the higher education language is intended to improve campus-by-campus reporting and oversight, that Prop. 98 settle-up would be finalized later through the statutory certification process, and that NextGen 9-1-1 now includes one-time funding, quarterly reporting, an independent technical review, and a state audit. Members also discussed the HAP homelessness funding increase to $900 million and the balance between accountability and timely distribution of funds. The most extended exchange centered on comparisons between funding for veterans and Medi-Cal/immigrant health coverage. Republican members argued the budget spends far more on undocumented immigrant services than on veterans, while Democratic members and Finance staff responded that the comparison was misleading because many veterans’ services are federally funded and the state budget also includes dedicated veteran support. The chair and other members emphasized that the budget reflects difficult tradeoffs and that the package protects vulnerable populations, preserves health care access, and advances affordability. No final vote was described in the excerpt, but members indicated support for the overall package and said they would support it on the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are requesting the majority of our 400 increase is for those software licenses related to the
• One is it is designed to replace some of what we currently use with contracting, which places the agency
• And so this will help replace some of those positions as that funding falls off because a lot of that
• We want to continue making progress on replacing this database.
• So getting this additional funding and helping us continue to make progress on that Waters replacement

Keywords: 996, all