Transcript Highlights:

• 370 relating to partial public financing 370 relating to partial public financing of<00:53:05.160
• campaign financing updates our public campaign financing system<00:57:18.880> which<00:57:19.079
• current campaign Finance system over the current campaign Finance system over the last<00:58:49.160>
• , whether it's partial public financing.
• <01:32:23.400> legisl campaign Finance legisl campaign Finance legisl where<01:32:25.440><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held its first hearing of the 33rd Legislature and heard several measures, beginning with HB 131, which would allow agencies to disclose government records to researchers for certain purposes and direct the Office of Information Practices to adopt uniform rules. OIP supported the bill, saying it would help researchers access government records, while DLNR questioned whether the bill was necessary, raised concerns about costs and exemptions, and suggested a definition change regarding media. The Public First Law Center and other supporters said the bill would not remove existing exemptions or create new disclosure requirements, but would simply authorize rulemaking to create a clearer process for research access. Common Cause Hawaiʻi raised concern about including news media in the measure. The chair emphasized that the rulemaking process would allow agencies and the public to work through details, and the committee moved on without a recorded vote in the transcript. The committee then heard HB 411, which would create uniform administrative penalty procedures under the state ethics code and lobbyist law, and HB 412, which would expand lobbying definitions to cover certain communications with high-level executive officials about procurement and make some contracts voidable if awarded through unethical lobbying. The Ethics Commission supported HB 411 as an efficiency measure that would streamline the charge process without changing substantive rights, while HB 412 was described as a narrow transparency measure modeled on other states. The State Procurement Office warned that voiding contracts could cause delays, warranty issues, third-party complications, and higher reprocurement costs. The Ethics Commission responded that any contract revocation would be at the Attorney General’s discretion and likely reserved for egregious cases, and that the threat of voiding a contract would help deter noncompliance. The committee also heard HB 413, which clarifies that lobbyist campaign contribution prohibitions apply during periods when both houses of the Legislature are in session; the Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission both supported the bill and the Ethics Commission requested amendments to clarify jurisdiction between state and county lobbyist enforcement. Finally, the committee took up HB 149, which would require domestic and foreign corporations to report independent expenditures and political contributions to shareholders. The only testimony noted in the transcript was written comments from Matson, which said the requirement would be expensive and cumbersome and that the information is already publicly available through existing campaign finance reporting websites. No votes or final committee actions on the bills were recorded in the provided transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• TIF<00:00:59.200> financing<00:00:59.800> report<00:01:00.280> of uh financing
• uh TIF financing report of uh financing uh TIF financing report of the<00:01:00.480> past<00:
• the day, little tax increment finance the day, little tax increment finance legislative<00:01:23.000
• <00:02:36.520> affects of how tax increment financing affects of how tax increment financing
• so uh, whereas like if you had financed so uh, whereas like if you had financed a<00:15:21.240><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:43:30.240> branch<00:43:30.640> chief, finance branch chief, finance branch chief,
• critical for all 4% LITC uh, financed critical for all 4% LITC uh, financed housing.<00:47:51.040
• <01:13:54.320> that members who kind of help finance that members who kind of help finance
• deputy executive director and a finance deputy executive director and a finance director.<01:23:
• finance and housing finance, including the administration of revolving loan funds and complex capital

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard testimony on five housing-related measures. SB 2232 would create a three-year tiny home grant pilot program within HHFDC, with annual reporting to HHFDC and the Legislature; testimony was mixed, and the bill was later recommended for passage with amendments, including a full-time housing development specialist, a residential-use-only restriction for the tiny homes, and a blanked appropriation. SB 2192 would bar county down-zoning that reduces housing capacity unless equivalent capacity is added elsewhere in the county; it drew support from housing advocates and comments from planning officials, and was also recommended for passage with amendments. SB 2378 would clarify insurance requirements for single- and multifamily projects seeking expedited county permitting; engineers and housing groups supported it, while one testifier opposed it, and it was recommended for passage with a technical amendment. SB 2524 would appropriate funds to the City and County of Honolulu for housing-related departments to comply with prior acts; the Honolulu department supported it, and members asked about prior spending and funding sources. SB 2398 would require residential housing utility availability maps; the Honolulu Board of Water Supply opposed the bill as written, citing infrastructure security, accuracy, liability, and administrative burden concerns, while supporters said it would improve transparency for developers. The chair proposed amendments to make the maps broad and geographic rather than parcel-specific, remove contested-case and reliance provisions, allow disclaimer language, and change the date; the bill was then recommended for passage with amendments, with one member noting reservations. All five measures were ultimately passed out of committee with amendments, with votes recorded and some members excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we finance implications and so on.
• <00:07:22.920> bill, finance bill, finance bill, but<00:07:24.040> not<00:07:24.280>
• :11.000> provisions reflect the finance-related provisions reflect the finance-related provisions
• <02:15:27.840> Uh was included in the finance bill. Uh was included in the finance bill.
• praise for AURI and the Finance praise for AURI and the Finance Committee.<02:19:20.599> I

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll start with the Department of Finance.
• This is for Finance, sorry. This is for Finance.
• This is for finance. Devin Mitchell with the Department of Finance.
• Devin Mitchell with the Department of Finance.
• We'll kick it off with Finance, please. Hello again, Devin Mitchell with the Department of Finance.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance met to review CSU and State Library budget issues, enrollment trends, the Capital Fellows program, and a Title IX update. Chair David Alvarez opened by stressing that CSU faces serious financial pressure, including a systemwide deficit and proposed cuts that he and several members said were too large and likely to harm access, course offerings, and student services. Public comment focused heavily on the Braille Institute Library, with patrons, staff, veterans, and advocates urging restoration of funding and warning that the proposed cut would severely affect blind and visually impaired Californians across Southern California. Several CSU faculty, staff, and union representatives also opposed the proposed reductions and warned of larger class sizes, fewer sections, and layoffs. On the CSU core operations item, the Department of Finance explained the Governor’s proposal to reduce ongoing General Fund support by about $375 million and defer a 5% base increase, while the LAO said CSU core funding would be roughly flat once tuition and targeted augmentations were considered, but warned that rising costs and prior shortfalls would still force campuses to cut spending. CSU’s Chancellor’s Office said the proposed cut would deepen existing problems, citing prior-year budget gaps, job losses, reduced course sections, and student-service reductions. Members pressed Finance and the LAO on whether cuts could be made more surgically, especially at the Chancellor’s Office or in institutional support rather than in instruction, and the LAO said the Legislature has flexibility to target cuts more specifically. CSU also described ongoing consolidation efforts, including shared services among campuses and the planned Cal Maritime/Cal Poly San Luis Obispo integration, while cautioning that savings are not yet fully known. The committee then discussed CSU enrollment. The LAO recommended holding enrollment targets flat because the budget does not add new funding, while CSU reported strong recent growth, including more California residents, record first-year enrollment, and expanded direct admissions and transfer pathways. Members questioned why some campuses with high demand turn away many applicants while others continue to lose enrollment, and CSU said it is shifting resources from campuses with sustained declines to those with demand, using a 10% below-target threshold. The committee also discussed whether enrollment declines mirror local population trends, how to improve marketing and program alignment, and whether lessons from Cal Poly Humboldt’s conversion could inform other campuses such as Sonoma State. The Capital Fellows item drew a Finance proposal for a salary increase and an LAO counterproposal for a smaller raise plus future COLA language; the committee kept the item open. Finally, CSU reported progress on Title IX compliance, saying it has completed most State Auditor recommendations, expanded civil rights staffing, and increased training, prevention, and case-management efforts, though members asked how proposed budget cuts might affect those services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hugo Solis Galena with the Department of Finance.
• So, Department of Finance, we'll start with you. Hugo Solis-Galina with the Department of Finance.
• Amber Alexander with finance.
• Department of Finance, welcome. Thank you.
• As you heard from my colleague in the Department of Finance, Finance speak to, many of our kitchens are

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Providing shared operational services, such as HR, finance, procurement, and facilities guidance, which
• Some states have established dedicated agencies focused on charter financing and sharing local revenue
• Second is to address the financing problem. ...to public charter schools at or below market value.
• Second is to address the financing problem, which would also include access to virtual charter schools
• First, we refer to the committee on finance. All those in favor say aye. All those opposed, no.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Tom Franta, founding executive director of the Mountaineer Charter School Alliance. He described the new nonprofit’s goals of supporting West Virginia charter schools through advocacy, legal and compliance assistance, shared operational services, professional development, communications, and network-building. Franta emphasized that charter schools face major facility and financing challenges, and he urged use of existing public buildings, low-interest revolving loans, credit enhancement tools through the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, and federal matching funds to help level the playing field for charter schools, including both brick-and-mortar and virtual schools. Members asked about what he meant by “level the playing field,” and Franta said charter schools receive 99% of basic state aid but lack access to the full range of public education funding and dedicated facilities support, forcing them to divert dollars toward buildings rather than classrooms. He said the goal is to ensure parents choosing a public charter option can expect appropriate funding. After the presentation, the chair announced Senate Bill 171 was removed from the day’s agenda. The committee then considered Senate Bill 166, which creates an exception to West Virginia Invest grant eligibility so individuals who already have a post-secondary degree may still receive support if pursuing an associate degree or certificate in emergency medical services. The committee reported the bill to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and under the original double committee reference, first be referred to the Finance Committee. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 428, with a committee substitute that splits the bus operator title into three pay grades based on years of service and raises the cafeteria manager title from pay grade D to E. Senators asked whether duties would change; counsel and the sponsor said the bill is intended as a retention incentive, with no change in responsibilities, and that the fiscal note would remain the same. The committee adopted the committee substitute and then reported the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation, again first referring it to the Finance Committee. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, housing finance agency on line 83.
• the housing finance agency policy bill. the housing finance agency policy bill.
• be remitted to the housing finance be remitted to the housing finance agency. agency. agency.
• <00:19:48.400> Agency authored, and the Housing Finance Agency authored, and the Housing Finance
• commissioner of the Housing Finance commissioner of the Housing Finance Agency<00:19:53.919>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that Campaign Finance?
• Finance Finance board<00:35:09.520> Senator<00:35:09.880> Matthews<00:35:10.359> we
• <00:37:34.119> finding<00:37:34.440> you finances finding you finances finding you $33,000
• <00:47:53.480> board directed to the campaign Finance board directed to the campaign Finance
• <00:48:21.480> board able to go to the campaign Finance board able to go to the campaign Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > finance.
• To finance? to finance. To finance?
• referred to Finance. referred to Finance.
• to uh go to the Finance Committee. to uh go to the Finance Committee.
• subject of finance uh and finance and subject of finance uh and finance and and<01:42:58.120>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee is now called to order.
• Good afternoon, Chair and members of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee.
• The bill would include lawsuit financing in the definition of commercial loan.
• Litigation financing is the most significant development in modern civil litigation.
• But legal funding is different than litigation financing.

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met to hear several bills, beginning with a consent calendar that included AB 665 and AB 866, both adopted on a do pass basis and referred to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 801, which would create a California Community Reinvestment Act to require covered financial institutions, including state-chartered banks, credit unions, residential mortgage lenders, and money transmitters, to meet the financial needs of low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color. The author and supporters argued the bill would close gaps left by the federal CRA, address redlining and discriminatory lending, and expand investment in housing, small business, and community development. Support came from community groups, CDFIs, labor, and housing advocates, while opposition from mortgage bankers and credit unions argued the bill would impose costly new reporting and regulatory burdens, especially on institutions they said already serve underserved borrowers well. Committee members discussed the scope of the bill, the experience of other states with state CRA laws, and possible carve-outs or tiered treatment for smaller credit unions. AB 801 was passed as amended and referred to Appropriations, with the roll left open and later completed; one member voted no and others were not voting or voted aye as the roll was finalized. The committee also heard AB 743, which would require licensing and surety bonds for commercial lawsuit financing and bring those transactions under DFPI oversight. The author said the bill was aimed at a largely unregulated, multi-billion-dollar industry and was intended to increase transparency and address concerns about foreign interests, fraud, and abusive litigation funding practices, while not affecting consumer legal funding. Supporters, including Unified Patents, the Civil Justice Association of California, the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Trucking Association, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said the bill was an important first step toward disclosure and regulation. There was no opposition testimony. AB 743 passed unanimously as amended and was referred to Appropriations, with the roll held open briefly for absent members before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• School finance audit payments.
• <04:24:14.960> from of healthcare policy and financing from of healthcare policy and financing
• financing from the education. financing from the education.
• Financing Financing Appropriation<05:17:04.240> from<05:17:04.480> item<05:17:04.638><
• <05:17:26.718> cash healthcare policy and financing cash healthcare policy and financing cash

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The committee and floor took up House Bill 1411, which concerned the Cover All Colorado program. Debate centered on whether removing the program’s cap would create an open-ended entitlement and add pressure to the state budget. Supporters and opponents argued over fiscal impacts, with several members saying the program had grown far beyond its original cost estimate and that the state needed to protect the budget and maintain a balanced plan. The bill was ultimately passed as amended. House Bill 1412 was then considered, authorizing the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to use statistical sampling and extrapolation to recover Medicaid overpayments in certain provider audits, including ABA therapy and non-emergency medical transportation. Sponsors said the measure would help recapture millions in overpayments tied to fraud, waste, and abuse, and noted safeguards such as strict benchmarks, internal audit review, and a third-party audit firm. An amendment striking the word “alleged” from the bill was adopted, and the bill passed as amended. House Bill 1413, which changes leave provisions for certain public servants, was also approved. The bill removes a statutory cap on how much sick leave state employees may earn, while leaving actual leave policies to departments and bargaining agreements, and increases annual military leave to align with federal law. Members described it as a modest employee-benefit measure in a year without across-the-board pay raises. The House also laid over House Bill 1410 until later in the day and received the committee of the whole report on a large slate of other bills. Later, Representative Richardson sought to reverse the committee’s action on an amendment to House Bill 1389, which involved the comprehensive human sexuality education grant fund, arguing the grant program should be repealed if it is no longer funded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your Committee on Finance has had under consideration Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 487
• Your Committee on Finance has had under consideration Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 487
• Your Committee on Finance has had under consideration Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4245
• Your Committee on Finance has had under consideration Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 4418
• Your Committee on Finance has had under consideration Engrossed Committee Substitute for House Bill 5074

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The executive came in with additional asks in Senate Finance.
• Um, I am also wondering, um, What was the main conversation in Senate Finance?
• I think it was amended in Senate Finance. It's on the Senate floor.
• The Senate Finance Committee amended.
• Line 186, uh, Senate Finance added 166.

Transcript Highlights:

• that have been paid out by the finance that have been paid out by the finance Administration<00:
• <00:37:41.839> and you next on the agenda's finance and you next on the agenda's finance and
• <00:39:14.680> and<00:39:14.839> administration finance and administration finance and
• <00:46:05.520> and that can be found on the finance and that can be found on the finance and
• interested in the finance uh interested in the finance uh presentation<00:53:53.920> just<00:53

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss the guardian ad litem system, including appointment qualifications, training, payment, and whether any changes are needed. Roll was called, the February 25, 2025 minutes were approved, and the chair emphasized that the meeting was informational only and no vote would be taken. Representatives from the Court of Justice, including Chief Justice Deborah Henry Lambert and several family and district judges, testified about how the system has evolved since concerns raised in 2019 about overappointment and fees. Court witnesses said the judiciary responded to earlier concerns by requiring open appointment lists of trained and qualified attorneys, improving training, and increasing oversight of fee orders. They reported that statewide GAL fees have fallen from a little over $14 million in 2019 to about $12 million, even as caseloads have grown, and said the average payment works out to about $650 per case, with the statutory cap for trial-level GAL fees still set at $500 since 1986. They argued that the current local appointment model works well, especially in rural areas, and warned that moving to a DPA-style regional model would create serious scheduling and conflict problems because of overlapping dockets and related criminal cases. Judges from rural districts described shortages of available attorneys, high burnout, travel burdens, and the difficulty of finding enough counsel in smaller counties. They also said the Court of Justice cannot seek certain federal Title IV-E reimbursements, but urged the legislature to encourage the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to pursue that funding through an MOU. One judge noted that some appointed attorneys are effectively underpaid relative to private rates and that better compensation would help attract and retain lawyers. The discussion also covered training standards adopted after the 2019 audit. Witnesses said Rule 37 now requires initial training and four hours of multidisciplinary continuing training every two years, with topics including child development, trauma-informed care, substance use, child welfare, forensics, ethics, and communication with clients. They said the Court of Justice has offered in-person regional trainings and remote options, and that the goal is to keep qualified attorneys on the appointment lists while improving representation for children and parents in dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination-of-parental-rights cases.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a finance consultant at MRSC. So I'm here today to talk about tax increment financing.
• So I'm here today to talk about tax increment financing.
• And basically what tax increment financing is, is a financing tool to fund public improvements that will
• It is finding access to long-term financing.
• It would be managed by the Housing Finance Commission and the Co-op mortgage financing.

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard presentations on a range of housing finance, permitting, and affordability tools. Chattanooga described its affordable housing PILOT program, which uses a per-unit property tax abatement tied to the rent loss from providing affordable units, with a 15-year term and annual compliance monitoring. Committee members asked about the program’s structure, whether it had been used elsewhere, and who was participating; the presenter said the first mixed-income project would bring 278 units with 42 affordable units and that the model was attracting private market-rate developers. Shoreline then described its MFTE and inclusionary zoning approach, emphasizing that longer tax exemption periods and station-area zoning changes had helped spur development, with most current pipeline projects concentrated near light rail stations. The committee also heard from the Municipal Research Services Center and the Department of Commerce on tax increment financing, proportional impact fees, and permit timelines. Commerce explained that TIF can fund public improvements such as roads, utilities, broadband, and some affordable housing or child care facilities, while proportional impact fee guidance is intended to help jurisdictions charge fees more closely aligned with actual project impacts. On permit timelines, Commerce presented its first annual report under recent law changes, using 2024 as a baseline year and noting that reported timelines were generally longer than statutory goals; members asked about outliers, paper versus electronic processing, and whether back-and-forth between applicants and staff was driving delays. Commerce said it would follow up with more data, including on CHIP funding and permit reform practices. Several local governments then shared permitting process improvements. Auburn reported relatively short review cycles and described its move to fully electronic permitting, internal performance standards, and a stock plan program that speeds review for repeated home designs. Bellevue described an AI permitting pilot with a local startup to help with pre-application questions, document triage, and plan review, aiming to reduce incomplete applications and revision cycles. Seattle presented a pilot for accessory dwelling unit co-development in which a mission-driven partner would help homeowners split lots, finance, build, and manage ADUs, with the homeowner eventually buying out the partner and retaining ownership; committee members asked about rent setting, management fees, and default risk, and staff said they would follow up. The committee also heard brief overviews of community land trusts and limited equity cooperatives as permanent affordability models, with presenters urging continued state and local funding support and policy recognition for these approaches.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've spoken to both of the chairs of State Government Finance and Policy and Health Finance and Policy
• chairs of state gov and health finance chairs of state gov and health finance and<00:34:11.639><
• and Policy and be re-referred to the Committee on Public Safety Finance and Policy.
• and Policy and be re-referred to the Committee on Energy Finance and Policy.
• and Policy and be re-referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• finance finance which<00:39:40.400> recommends<00:39:40.880> that<00:39:41.200> the
• This is relevant when an owner goes to finance a mobile home as a home, as the home must be financed
• >> as the senator from finance. >> as the senator from finance.
• So uh your Senate Finance President.
• To finance a finance as real estate.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The House Revenue and Finance Committee meeting is now called to order.
• The legislation requires the Department of Finance.
• The legislation requires the Department of Finance.
• We just got this as I was walking out the door from the finance folks.
• Does the Department of Finance have time and resources to operationalize this?

Summary: The House Revenue and Finance Committee met to consider two tax-related measures sponsored by Representative Holofsky. The first was House Substitute 1 for House Bill 386, the Tipped Worker Tax Relief Act of 2026, which would allow a temporary Delaware income tax deduction of up to $15,000 for qualified tips for tax years 2027 through 2029, with phaseouts at higher incomes and a refundable credit for lower-income workers. Committee discussion focused on whether the bill applied to residents and non-residents, whether credit-card tips were included, the need for an updated substitute, and the expected fiscal impact. The Office of the Comptroller General said the bill would likely reduce general revenue and that the fiscal note had not yet been fully reviewed, while Deputy Secretary Goldsmith said the Department of Finance could administer it and that implementation costs would be modest. After public comment, the committee voted on a motion to release the bill, but it did not receive enough votes, so the chair said she would walk it for additional signatures. The committee then heard Senate Bill 219, which would phase in an increase in the military pension income exemption from $12,500 to $25,000 by tax year 2029. Representative Holofsky argued the measure would help attract and retain military retirees, support the economy, and provide a strong return on investment through spending, taxes, and community participation. Members raised concerns about whether the benefit should be income-based, with one member arguing that higher-income retirees may not need the tax break, while supporters emphasized the multiplier effect and the value of veterans to the state. Public testimony from Veterans of Foreign Wars representatives strongly supported the bill and described how the exemption could influence retirement decisions and local economic activity. A motion to release the bill also failed to get enough votes, and the chair said she would walk it for signatures before adjourning the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:14.560> board entered into the campaign finance board entered into the campaign finance
• > which<00:16:36.320> clearly campaign finance board which clearly campaign finance board
• been doxed from campaign finance been doxed from campaign finance reports.<00:31:41.919> Uh
• This is about campaign finance disclosures and what information can people get from your campaign finance
• <01:00:09.760> report your campaign finance report your campaign finance report and<01:00:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all