Transcript Highlights:

• appropriate.
• Or you can say that kind of activities are appropriate. Right now, that's appropriate.
• Thank you. ...forward to moving this bill at the appropriate time and just committed.
• Motion is be adopted as amended to the Committee on Appropriations.
• On file item 1, SCA 5, motion is to be adopted to the Committee on Appropriations.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments heard several measures, beginning with SCA 5, Senator Cortese’s proposal to create an Equalization Reserve Account to help reduce long-standing per-pupil funding disparities between basic aid and non-basic aid school districts. Supporters, including education leaders and school employees, argued the measure would provide a stable, long-term funding source to improve student services and staffing. Charter school representatives opposed the bill, saying it excluded charter schools from the benefits and could raise equal protection concerns. Senator Cortese responded that the bill only addresses district funding and does not alter charter funding formulas. After quorum was established, SCA 5 was approved and sent to Appropriations. The committee also heard S.J.R. 18, a resolution by Senator McNerney condemning the Citizens United decision and urging limits on corporate influence in elections. The author argued that corporate and dark money have overwhelmed campaign finance and weakened public trust. There was no formal witness testimony in support or opposition, and members discussed the resolution’s symbolic nature and its relationship to free speech and campaign finance rules. The resolution was adopted and referred onward. The committee then took up ACA 7, Assembly Member Jackson’s constitutional amendment to clarify Proposition 209 and allow more race-conscious tools in education to address racial equity gaps. Supporters said current law prevents targeted, evidence-based interventions and that the measure would help close persistent disparities; opponents argued it would weaken Prop. 209, invite discrimination, and likely fail at the ballot or in court. After extensive debate, the measure was approved as amended and sent to Appropriations. The committee next heard ACA 18, which would add a second student voting seat to the University of California Board of Regents, ensuring both undergraduate and graduate student representation. The author and student regent witnesses said the UC board is the only major higher education governing board in California with just one student vote, and that more student representation would improve decision-making and reflect the student body. The measure drew support from student organizations and was approved. Finally, AJR 29 was heard, opposing a federal executive order affecting vote-by-mail administration and defending California’s mail voting system as safe and secure. The author said the order would improperly interfere with state election administration. The resolution was adopted. Items 3 and 4 on consent were also approved, and the committee adjourned after all agenda items were acted upon.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is very temporary appropriation request item B1.
• It's for $6,000 in appropriation.
• These are pay plan appropriation requests.
• I think if it's about appropriation versus funding, all the requests for this month are strictly appropriation
• So strictly just an appropriation.

Summary: The PEER Review Subcommittee met to consider a large agenda of appropriation, transfer, contract, and other review items. Members approved temporary appropriation requests in Sections B through F, including funding for prosecuting attorneys, education-related adjustments, school operating needs, labor licensing divisions, ARPA fund returns from Workforce Services, IIJA grants for state police CDL implementation and a forestry-related county grant, reserve fund transfers for teacher scholarships, school facilities, and economic development, and a Commerce reallocation tied to organizational realignment. Cash fund requests in Section G and budget classification transfers in Section H were also reviewed, along with pay plan requests in Section I, overtime requests in Section J, and multiple methods of finance in Section K. The committee also reviewed discretionary grants in Section L, including agriculture promotion board grants and DHS aging/adult behavioral health grants, plus RFQs, construction contracts, intergovernmental contracts, and out-of-state contracts in Sections M1 through M5. Several items drew questions from members. Workforce Services explained that $225,000 in TANF-related funds would be returned to the federal government because the two-year hold period for uncashed or moved checks had expired. Commerce officials described the $25 million site infrastructure grant program, saying it supports site development, due diligence, and infrastructure build-out at eligible sites of 30 acres or more, including rural communities, with grant agreements and matching requirements providing accountability. DHS and Education officials answered questions about the Care Solace mental health referral contract, saying it is a statewide concierge/referral service that helps schools connect students to Arkansas providers and follow up so students do not fall through the cracks; members asked for more information on provider selection, school-day scheduling, and Arkansas vendor participation. The committee held one item over: the DHS discretionary grant item for the RSVP retired senior volunteer program in L2, after concerns were raised about whether state general revenue was being used effectively and how much administrative overhead the providers retain. Members also questioned several contracts, including a DHS sole-source contract with EMSLink for document management software and a DHS bridge contract with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care for Medicaid inspections of care reviews; in both cases, agency staff explained the need to avoid service disruption and said follow-up information would be provided. A Department of Corrections reentry center contract was discussed for its recidivism results, and ARDOT retirement-system investment contracts were briefly explained. The meeting ended after a lengthy discussion of the Medicaid Trust Fund balance, with DFA and DHS officials saying the state is expected to finish the fiscal year without exhausting the fund, that a restricted reserve of $100 million is available as a backstop, and that the larger question is what minimum balance should be maintained going forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll then discuss legislative appropriations.
• These are direct appropriations sent to these organizations or districts for their use.
• If the man dollar appropriation, it's not enough, but it's certainly the right thing to do.
• Are there other similar prior appropriations?
• Do we have enough money through legislative appropriation?

Transcript Highlights:

• The motion is do pass and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. Valencia? Yes. Aye. Chen?
• Bonta, the recommendation is do pass as amended to the Committee on Appropriations.
• AB 801, the motion is do pass as amended to the Committee on Appropriations. Chiavo?
• Pass as amended and referred to the Committee on Appropriations. She's on her way.
• Do you pass or refer to the Committee on Appropriations and AB 866?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a or deleting a $100,000 appropriation a or deleting a $100,000 appropriation from<01:26:14.560>
• that we need to take the appropriation that we need to take the appropriation out<01:26:26.560><
• <01:56:09.119> Madam an appropriate way to do it. Madam an appropriate way to do it.
• appropriations, which is an appropriate appropriations, which is an appropriate single<02:00:06.159
• . appropriations. appropriations.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How much of that funding has already been appropriated in the current biennial budget?
• And so we actually haven't been appropriated any dollars.
• So it would not be—when you say how much is appropriated, you appropriate in the IT pool.
• , you know, appropriated on paper.
• So we operate within the appropriations that you all provide us.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on OSPI’s school apportionment system, which distributes K-12 funding to districts. Auditors said the system and its underlying 2008-era infrastructure are outdated, unstable, inefficient, and at high risk of errors or failure. They also found weak controls over data input, documentation, oversight, and monitoring, with heavy reliance on a small number of staff and vendor knowledge. In limited testing of three districts, the system calculated 2023–24 funding correctly, but auditors identified small discrepancies between state budget inputs and underlying statutory language and said broader system risks remain unresolved. JLARC members asked about the scope of the district testing, whether smaller districts face greater risk, the meaning of the funding discrepancies, and whether the system could support a future change to a simpler per-student funding formula. Auditors said the discrepancies were small but could compound into millions statewide, and that the audit did not evaluate broader policy questions or alternative system owners. They recommended OSPI modernize or replace the system and address current control weaknesses while the new platform is developed. OSPI officials largely agreed that the current platform needs replacement and said a feasibility study completed in 2024 found the system at catastrophic risk of failure. They clarified that the Legislature had approved up to $16 million in the state IT pool for the project, but that funding is released through gated oversight and not all of it had yet been appropriated for the current biennium. OSPI disputed the auditor’s characterization of some rounding and budget-law issues, saying the calculations were consistent with agency rules and legislative inputs, and explained that some manual workarounds are used to handle newer statutory requirements. One member of the public testified in support of modernizing the system and strengthening controls. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill assigns responsibility to the appropriate state agencies.
• The motion is do pass, recommended consent to the Committee on Appropriations.
• The motion is do pass, recommended consent to Appropriations.
• The motion is do pass, recommended consent to the Committee on Appropriations.
• The motion is due pass to the Committee on Appropriations. Call her on? Call her on. Aye.

Summary: The Assembly Insurance Committee met as a subcommittee at first because a quorum was not initially present, then later established a quorum and heard several bills. The main special-order item was AB 1795 (Gibson), which would create statewide standards for testing, inspection, and remediation of wildfire smoke damage in homes, with CalEPA and public health agencies developing science-based standards and insurers required to follow new claims-handling timelines. Supporters, including Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and wildfire survivors, said the bill would bring consistency and safety; insurers and consumer groups generally supported the concept but sought further amendments on scope, standards, and claim handling. The committee voted do pass as amended and refer AB 1795 to Appropriations, with the roll held open for later additions. The committee also considered AB 1576 (Ortega) on the Subsequent Injury Benefit Trust Fund, which would make changes intended to reduce litigation and employer assessments while preserving the program’s purpose of encouraging hiring of workers with prior disabilities. Labor-side witnesses supported the bill as a reform step, while business, public entity, and insurance groups opposed it, arguing it did not address the core structural problems and that a trailer bill was a better vehicle for broader reform. AB 1576 was voted do pass to Appropriations, with the roll held open. AB 1931 (Papan) would create an optional limited-lines license for utilities to offer home protection products for repairs to appliances and utility service lines. Support came from HomeServe, utilities, and industry groups, who said the bill would clarify current law and add consumer protections such as training, disclosures, and a free-look period; there was no opposition in the room. The committee passed AB 1931 to Appropriations. AB 2361 (Pacheco) would limit vicarious liability for peer-to-peer vehicle-sharing platforms like Turo while preserving insurance coverage requirements; supporters said it would align California with other states, while consumer attorneys opposed it as reducing accountability and consumer recovery. The committee passed AB 2361 as amended to Appropriations. AB 2098 (Kalra), heard later, would require employers to allow leave for workers to attend treatment for occupational injuries during work hours, subject to notice and business-necessity limits; labor groups supported it and business and insurance groups sought narrower standards. It was also voted do pass to Appropriations. The committee then completed roll-call add-ons and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• For the North Star Promise Program, the appropriation for fiscal year 25 was $117 million; however, $5
• Appropriation and using it for other things.
• I want to begin by expressing my I want to express my sincere gratitude for the annual appropriation
• This slide highlights the specifics in how we are utilizing this appropriation.
• What impact would that have on this $10 million appropriation? Would it enable you to do more?

Transcript Highlights:

• There are the cash fund appropriations, but these are appropriations we already had looked at for the
• <00:40:23.600> The bill for any appropriations. The bill for any appropriations.
• > the<00:40:25.320> bonded appropriations of the of the bonded appropriations of the of
• > are appropriations, but these are appropriations, but these are appropriations<00:40:36.400>
• As recommended by the Committee on Appropriations. Now would be the appropriate time for questions.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• wherever they were appropriated. wherever they were appropriated.
• then it appropriates the federal funds. then it appropriates the federal funds.
• appropriate? Too high too low? appropriate? Too high too low?
• that percentage is appropriate. that percentage is appropriate.
• You also reduced SIPA appropriations. You also reduced SIPA appropriations.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is that an additional penalty that is appropriate?
• Speaker, your appropriations. Mr. Mr.
• <01:22:44.239> to committee number two appropriations to committee number two appropriations
• number two appropriations. Mr. Mr. number two appropriations. Mr. Mr.
• your committee number two appropriations your committee number two appropriations will<01:29:38.880

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or other legislative appropriation decisions.
• year 25, as well as the... ...based on the appropriations made in fiscal year 25, as well as the appropriations
• to fund that appropriation.
• 85.5 billion is the exact amount that was directly appropriated to the states.
• But no funds were appropriated to TIDC to carry out these new duties.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee convened for its first hearing of the 89th regular session, confirmed a quorum, adopted committee rules by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the committee’s organization, introduced staff, and described the budget as conservative and focused on one-time investments. She highlighted major SB 1 priorities including property tax relief, full funding for public education formulas, teacher pay, school safety, border security, Medicaid growth, dementia research, energy and water infrastructure, transportation, wildfire suppression, and other capital and public safety needs. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending in 2026-27, with a projected $23.8 billion ending balance from the current biennium. He cautioned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid committing short-term surpluses to ongoing expenses. He also explained that the Economic Stabilization Fund is projected to hit its constitutional cap, meaning an estimated $5.6 billion in severance tax and related revenue would remain in general revenue in the upcoming biennium rather than flow into the fund. Senators discussed whether to raise or rename the fund and the implications of keeping more severance-tax revenue in general revenue. The Legislative Budget Board then gave an overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major funding changes. LBB staff explained that the bill is essentially flat at $332.9 billion in all funds, but includes large method-of-finance shifts and major property tax relief. They detailed how prior property tax relief enacted in the 88th Legislature grew from an estimated $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher property values and hold-harmless provisions, and said SB 1 continues that relief with a total of $51 billion in ongoing and new property tax support. Members asked extensive questions about the automatic growth in school tax compression, the constitutional homestead exemption, COVID-era federal funding, Medicaid assumptions, and the sunset of the non-homestead circuit breaker. No additional votes or final budget actions were taken beyond adoption of the committee rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• or other legislative appropriation decisions.
• or other legislative appropriation decisions.
• to fund that appropriation.
• $85.5 billion is the exact amount that was directly appropriated to the states.
• The 100 had to be appropriate. They used 100; TEA used 40. Forty was the existing.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee held its first hearing of the 89th regular session, adopted nearly identical committee rules from the previous legislature by a 15-0 vote, and began review of Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-27. Chair Huffman outlined the budget framework, emphasizing conservative spending, a $332.9 billion all-funds budget, and major priorities including property tax relief, public education, border security, health and human services, transportation, energy, and water infrastructure. She also introduced committee and leadership staff and described the hearing schedule and public testimony procedures. Comptroller Glenn Hager presented the biennial revenue estimate, saying the state has $194.6 billion available for general-purpose spending, including a $23.8 billion ending balance, but warned that revenue growth is returning to more normal levels and that lawmakers should avoid using temporary spikes for ongoing commitments. Senators questioned him extensively about the Economic Stabilization Fund cap, sales tax trends, inflation, and whether the state should consider raising the cap or using severance-tax revenues differently. Hager said the Rainy Day Fund is expected to hit its cap, which would leave more severance-tax revenue in general revenue, and he stressed that infrastructure needs remain significant. The Legislative Budget Board then gave a detailed overview of SB 1 and the budget’s major components. LBB staff explained that the bill includes continued funding for the Foundation School Program, $850 million for the Texas State Technical College endowment, $1.3 billion for the Texas University Fund, $6.5 billion for border security, salary increases for correctional officers and state troopers, $3 billion for dementia research, higher community attendant wages, expanded community-based care, $5 billion for the Texas Energy Fund, and funding to clear volunteer fire department grant backlogs. They also outlined supplemental priorities such as water infrastructure, retirement legacy payments, rail grade separations, wildfire aircraft, and emergency facilities, and said the current controlling budget limit is the tax spending limit. A major portion of the hearing focused on property tax relief. LBB explained that prior-session relief grew from an expected $18 billion to $22.7 billion because of higher-than-anticipated property values and interactions among hold-harmless provisions, and that SB 1 continues and expands relief with $51 billion in total property tax relief, including $3 billion more for compression, $3 billion to raise the homestead exemption from $100,000 to $140,000, and a $500 million placeholder for business tax relief. Senators discussed the automatic nature of some of these costs, the effect of the non-homestead circuit breaker, the role of federal COVID funds, and the need to maintain school finance commitments if the state continues to compress school tax rates.

Transcript Highlights:

• General government transportation appropriation will come to order.
• And the annual appropriation cycle at the federal government level.
• Combined OIa ODA merger, our appropriation history over the course of the several years.
• Our regular appropriation history that you all have presented to us.
• The appropriation. History that you see here over the course of the last five years.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All other support and opposition can be stated at the appropriate time.
• At the appropriate time, I'd request an I vote. Thank you. Thank you.
• Item number two, SB 80, motion is due pass as amended to Appropriations.
• Item number four, SB 491, motion is due pass to Appropriations.
• Item number four, SB 491, motion is due pass to appropriations.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy met without a quorum at first and began as a subcommittee, then later established quorum and heard several measures. The main policy bills discussed were SB 24, which would restrict investor-owned utilities from using ratepayer funds for political advertising, lobbying, and efforts against municipal utilities, and SB 283, the Clean Energy Safety Act of 2025, which would strengthen safety standards for battery energy storage facilities after the Moss Landing fire. The consent calendar also included SB 80, SB 491, SB 593, SB 804, and SCR 25, which were taken up without debate. SB 24 drew strong support from consumer and environmental advocates, who argued that ratepayer money should not be used for political or promotional activity and that current rules lack meaningful consequences. Opponents from the utilities and business community said the bill was too broad, could interfere with shareholder-funded advocacy and legal work, and might unintentionally affect public service communications and expert consulting. Several committee members shared support for the bill’s goal but raised concerns about its breadth, especially around legal fees and communications; the author said he was willing to work on amendments, including on consultant fees, and accepted committee amendments. SB 283 received broad support from firefighters, local governments, utilities, labor, and business groups. Supporters said the bill would improve fire safety, require fire authority consultation and inspections, and prevent battery storage from being sited in unsafe indoor combustible facilities. The author described the Moss Landing fire and said the bill would add standards based on NFPA guidance while preserving local governments’ ability to adopt stricter rules. No opposition testimony was presented. The committee voted SB 283 out 16-0, and SB 24 was also approved after a roll was held open and later closed, ultimately passing 11-1. The consent calendar passed 16-0, and the meeting adjourned after the final roll calls were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Pursuing is an active allocation appropriation, but again, that's, that's a different committee, the
• finance committee and, and appropriations Committee that then were voted on by the entirety of, of as
• to whether or not a direct appropriation is appropriate by the legislature at this time into a, a newly
• No private investment, only legislatively appropriated funds.
• Amount of safety and appropriateness regarding the safeguards. Well, I'm gonna break us there.

Bills: SB 21, SB 72, SB 140, SB 262, SB 370, SB 372, SB 495, SB 627, SB 703, SB 764, SB 842

Keywords: cryptocurrency, bitcoin, investment reserve, economic resilience, financial security, vehicle rental, damage waiver, consumer rights, business regulations, refund policy, telephone solicitation, telemarketing, text message marketing, SMS marketing, robotext, spam text, consumer protection, deceptive trade practices, DTPA, Business & Commerce Code

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriations appropriations um<00:02:20.720> that<00:02:21.040> are<00:02:21.200>
• <00:02:29.920> is show up as a a direct appropriation is show up as a a direct appropriation
• There's not an appropriation in the bill.
• I'm not going to go appropriations.
• > a We consider RDA appropriations a We consider RDA appropriations a competition.<00:27:24.320

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do not have quorum yet, so when appropriate, we'll ask for that. So thank you.
• So I definitely will support it and move it at the appropriate time. Thank you.
• The motion was due pass to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
• Archileta. to Senate Appropriations. Wahab? Aye. Wahab, aye.
• Motion is due pass to Senate Appropriations Committee. Wahab. Aye. We'll have I.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But what would be the downside of not fully appropriating the additional $100.
• The appropriation is $500,000.
• So the appropriation is 1,132,328 on the GR line.
• On the federal line, the one below, the appropriation is 6,025,492.
• If they're getting a state appropriation, then they can't increase tuition.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , one that does not have an appropriation.
• does not have an appropriation, one that does not have an appropriation.<00:15:16.040> So,<00
• So, I want to speak about appropriation.
• I this is the appropriate use of money.
• appropriated. Thank you, Mr. Chair. appropriated. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all