Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Agbaje to the committee, and I move that House File 1010 be referred to the Judiciary and Finance
• Thank you, Co-Chairs Bierman and Backer, and members of the House Health Finance and Policy Committee
• Thank you, Co-Chairs Bierman and Backer, and members of the House Health Finance and Policy Committee
• <00:23:54.240> and be referred to the Judiciary finance and be referred to the Judiciary finance
• <00:24:06.919> and is referred to the Judiciary finance and is referred to the Judiciary finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is being referred to the Committee on Transportation Finance and Policy.
• The bill is being referred to the Committee on Agriculture Finance and Policy.
• But who knew it just took a Republican author to get bipartisan support for a campaign finance bill?
• referred to the Committee on Transportation Finance and Policy.
• , and Policy and be re-referred to the Committee on Commerce, Finance, and Policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• The methods of finance, if you would. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon, members.
• As the chair stated, the first items for your review today are the methods of finance.
• As the chair stated, the first items for your review today are the methods of finance.
• This is an amendment to an existing method of finance for baseball stadium improvements.
• These are the methods of finance, Mr. Chair.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Finance. Tom Kahn, Department of Finance.
• I don't think we have a specific fiscal estimate this time, but I'll defer to finance.
• Yeah, and I'll come to permanent finance.
• Department of Finance, do you have anything?
• Department of Finance, Kayla Knott. Nothing further to add. LAO, Angela Short.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Committees. and Vice Chair of the Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development and of Finance
• Among many other committees, she has served as a member of Business and Commerce, Finance, State of the
• HB 152 by Raymond relating to the provision of funding under public school finance system on the basis
• Relating to the use of average enrollment for purposes of the public school finance system referred to
• Relating to the small and mid-sized district. under the public school finance system referred to the

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• language is in Section 13.65, subdivision 1, which is Not fall under the purview of State Government Finance
• lucky for everybody on State Government, it prevents—there's no need for it to go State Government Finance
• And be re-referred to the Committee on Human Services, Finance, and Policy.
• House Bill 1093 will be recalled from the Committee on Human Services Finance and Policy and be referred
• to the Committee on Health Finance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, I'm going to go ahead and call the Senate Finance Committee to order.
• Questions on adoption of the amendment as amended from the Committee on Finance.
• Questions on adoption of the amendment as amended from the Committee on Finance.
• This came to us from the House Committees on Government Organization and Finance.
• Chairman, I move the adoption of the amendment from the Committee on Finance.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from the previous meeting. It then took up House Bill 5510, which was amended to incorporate provisions modernizing Alcohol Beverage Control licensing and fees and to treat low-proof spirits more like beer, including a $1.25 per gallon tax. The committee adopted the strike-and-insert amendment and reported the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation. The committee next considered a major education funding bill, Committee Substitute for Committee Substitute for House Bill 5453. After counsel explained the proposed block-grant school funding structure and supplemental aid for special education, members discussed whether charter schools should be included. The committee adopted an amendment to include charter school students in the special education funding provisions, then adopted another amendment removing certain outdated staffing ratio and administrator limitations effective July 1, 2027. The amended bill was then reported to the full Senate. The committee also took up House Bill 5412, dealing with multi-year contracts for educational materials with technology licensing components and science-of-reading training for K-5 teachers. Members amended the bill to clarify contract language, extend the training timeline, change “endorsement” to “training,” and require charter school teachers to participate. The amended bill was reported to the full Senate. House Bill 4006, focused on aerospace and advanced manufacturing development, was explained as creating grant and workforce programs tied to aerospace investment and jobs. The committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment that changed the funding mechanism and other details, then reported the amended bill to the full Senate. Committee Substitute for House Bill 4009 was also amended to shift from the portable benefits concept to a broader workforce-readiness package, including a microcredential program and expansion of the apprenticeship tax credit to all apprenticeship programs; it too was reported to the full Senate. Finally, House Bill 4004, the Recharge West Virginia Act, was explained as a reimbursement program for employers training employees who earn upskill credentials and receive wage increases. The committee adopted an amendment raising the annual employer reimbursement cap from $50,000 to $100,000, then reported the amended bill to the full Senate. The meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the challenges in developing condos really lie in raising capital and financing these projects.
• We might need to obtain higher interest equity, like mezzanine or preferred financing, and all.
• This comes at a higher cost of capital, and so that’s what it means to finance a condo project in today
• This bill increases the financial viability of the condominium projects by reducing financing costs.
• It affects our ability to finance these projects and to provide more product to the marketplace.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to do and right now this conference and what we're here to do is talk about step one public school finance
• thanking Chairman Brad Buckley for his tireless work and dedication to public education and school finance
• One of the things that we've learned is that, is that we really can't leave school finance alone, that
• School finance is not a sculpture. It's a garden.
• School finance deserves its own moment. It is so important.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:56:35.240> and Committee on Public Safety finance and Committee on Public Safety finance
• <00:56:47.240> and Committee on Public Safety finance and Committee on Public Safety finance
• House File 22 as amended is re-referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy.
• House File 22 as amended is re-referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy.
• House File 22 as amended is re-referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• here for here's the house finance here for here's the house finance committee<00:06:20.160> and
• afternoon members of the finance afternoon members of the finance committee<00:34:29.399> my<
• the New Hampshire house finance the New Hampshire house finance committee<01:26:23.840> uh
• <01:28:56.639> committee members of the house finance committee members of the house finance
• uh esteemed members of the house finance uh esteemed members of the house finance committee<04:05

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee opened a public hearing on House Bills 1 and 2, which concern the governor’s proposed FY 2026-2027 budget. The chair explained that the committee must fit the budget to House Ways and Means revenue, which is about $800 million below the governor’s estimate in an almost $16 billion budget. He also noted a projected current-budget overspend, the impact of recently passed legislation, possible fee updates, no new tax proposals at that time, and the importance of federal funding and Medicaid stability. Testimony was limited to three minutes, with the chair asking speakers to avoid duplication. Much of the testimony focused on Medicaid, disability services, and home- and community-based care. Speakers urged the committee to restore or protect funding for transportation, Medicaid, day programs, in-home supports, and behavioral health services. Several individuals and providers described how cuts would affect people with disabilities, medically fragile children, and families who rely on services to remain employed and avoid institutional care. A home care provider argued that a proposed 3% Medicaid cut would increase hospitalizations and costs, while a behavioral health representative asked for sustainable Medicaid rates, uncompensated care support, housing resources, and continued funding for community behavioral health clinics. Another major topic was the Group II retirement provisions in HB 2 for public safety workers. Representatives from police, fire, corrections, probation/parole, and related associations testified in support, saying prior pension changes hurt recruitment and retention, pushed experienced workers to neighboring states, and should be reversed to restore promised benefits. They argued the provisions would help keep public safety careers viable and honor commitments made to first responders. An executive counselor also warned that when the state shifts costs away from itself, local property taxpayers bear the burden, and she opposed cost shifts such as Medicaid premiums and universal vouchers. A separate speaker urged funding public schools rather than universal vouchers, arguing vouchers can leave other students behind as resources are diverted.

Transcript Highlights:

• What litigation financing is, it does just that. It finances the litigation.
• litigation financing. litigation financing.
• > it<00:24:40.080> does What litigation financing is, it does What litigation financing
• It finances the litigation. just that. It finances the litigation.
• 25:17.200> $3 Litigation financing starts around $3 Litigation financing starts around $3 million

Keywords: Judiciary, Division A - Room 409, 3 February, 2026; 2:00 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2893, a municipalities bill on zoning notice requirements. The committee substitute would require notice of proposed zoning changes to be posted on Facebook, Instagram, and X 30 and 15 days before the hearing, while also continuing newspaper publication, posting on a local website if available, making the proposal available at a government office or library, and extending the appeal period for landowners from 10 to 20 days. Members raised concerns about relying on social media for accurate notice and whether local governments would need accounts on those platforms, but the sponsor said the bill was meant to supplement, not replace, newspaper notice. The bill was described as supported by municipal interests, and the committee adopted a motion for a title sufficient, due pass committee substitute. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2027, which creates a rebuttable presumption that joint physical custody is in the best interest of a child. The sponsor and other senators said the bill is intended to add a tool to existing custody law, not replace the Albright factors or other custody standards, and would apply even where the parents were never married. Questions focused on paternity, how the presumption could be rebutted, and whether distance between parents would defeat equal time; the sponsors said paternity rules would remain unchanged and courts could deviate when joint custody is not feasible, such as when parents live far apart. Senators also asked about chancellors’ reactions, and the sponsor said he had discussed the measure with many of them and had revised the bill in response to prior concerns. The committee then passed the bill on a motion for title sufficient, due pass. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 2747, a consumer legal funding bill. The sponsor and a representative of the industry described the measure as regulating consumer legal funding, which provides small advances to injured plaintiffs for household expenses while litigation is pending, and distinguishing it from litigation financing, which pays litigation costs. They said the bill would impose consumer protections, require attorney review, prohibit quid pro quo arrangements between funders and law firms, bar law firms from operating side funding businesses, and block foreign money from entering the market. The discussion was informational at this stage, with the witness explaining that the bill is intended to regulate an existing practice and protect consumers and the legal system.

Transcript Highlights:

• To begin the process of returning to fiscal sensibility, the Finance Committee's instruction in this
• We've got a lot of finance members around, and some remember that.
• We would strike the finance instruction because it allows the opportunity to cut Medicaid.
• It is not germane to the instruction in this process to the Finance Committee, which is limited, as I
• Broader instruction to the Finance Committee, and then we can get into these issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now to point three: cheap financing.
• Hence, cheap financing is key.
• Now to point three, cheap financing.
• Number three, cheap financing.
• Hence, cheap financing is key.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on several climate and utility-related bills, especially H. 3449/S. 2292 to expand the municipal fossil fuel-free building demonstration program from 10 to 20 communities and related home rule petitions for Somerville and other municipalities. Witnesses from Somerville, Salem, Worcester, Cambridge, Newton, Arlington, Wellesley, Watertown, and the Massachusetts Municipal Association argued that local governments should be allowed to opt into fossil fuel-free or net-zero building standards, citing climate goals, environmental justice concerns, housing production, and data showing all-electric construction can cost about the same as or less than mixed-fuel construction. Committee members repeatedly pressed witnesses for cost data and asked for written follow-up, while also discussing whether strong environmental standards affect housing supply; witnesses responded that the main housing constraints are financing and that they would provide more data from local projects and state studies. A second major topic was H. 3564, which would require gas companies to provide municipalities with detailed multi-year pipe replacement plans, allow local review and objections, and limit reimbursement for projects not previously disclosed except in emergencies. Municipal leaders and advocates said the bill would improve coordination of street work, reduce disruption and costs, and help cities plan for electrification, network geothermal, and non-pipeline alternatives. Testimony from Wellesley, Cambridge, Arlington, Newton, and others emphasized repeated problems with last-minute gas main work, the need for advance notice, and the value of municipal participation in planning gas system retirement and alternatives. The committee also heard testimony on the “tactical transition” bills, S. 2249/H. 3539, aimed at managing the gas-to-clean-energy transition. Supporters from Gas Transition Allies, Rewiring America, and 350 Mass said the bills would require joint gas-electric planning, create an advisory council, eliminate subsidies for new gas hookups, shift investment toward repairs and clean alternatives, protect workers through retraining, and make utility plans more transparent. They argued these changes would reduce ratepayer costs, avoid stranded gas assets, and support orderly decarbonization. In addition, HEET testified on H. 3541, which would update greenhouse gas accounting to better reflect methane’s short-term climate impact, and H. 3543, which would establish a framework for managing shared thermal resources and thermal energy networks; committee members asked several questions about the meaning, ownership, and consumer-cost implications of the proposed “thermal commons.” No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• “You know, financing is a big chunk of this.
• You know, financing is a big chunk of this, right?
• The more expensive a system is, then you have to finance it, right?
• You know, hopefully ultimately financing costs. So anyway, I know like that that we passed.
• It could be for the financing partner.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused on ways Massachusetts can accelerate solar deployment, lower costs, and preserve reliability as electricity demand rises and federal support for solar and other renewables changes. Chair Creem opened by emphasizing solar’s role in meeting climate mandates and peak demand, citing June heat-wave data showing behind-the-meter solar reduced wholesale prices and saved ratepayers money. Commissioner Elizabeth Mahoney of DOER said Massachusetts has grown from 3 MW of solar in 2008 to 3.5 GW today, highlighted SMART 3.0 as a flexible, evergreen incentive program, and said DOER is working on updated rates, interconnection reforms, flexible interconnection, net crediting, and a petition to the DPU to speed implementation. She also said Massachusetts joined the lawsuit over canceled federal Solar for All funding. Committee members and witnesses discussed several policy changes to speed projects before federal tax credits expire, including automated permitting, remote inspections, faster interconnection, and changes to caps on municipal and regional solar development. Senator Barrett pressed Mahoney on whether the 10 MW municipal cap and regional caps should be lifted, and on whether the state should increase its solar tax credit to offset the loss of the federal residential credit. Mahoney said the municipal cap should be revisited and that interconnection cost allocation and other market issues need to be worked out before lifting broader caps. She also said DOER is open to automated permitting and is already developing a permitting portal under the 2024 climate law. Industry and advocacy witnesses largely supported streamlining measures. Sunrun’s Bronte Payne urged removal of a proposed requirement that all net-metered facilities enroll in SMART, and recommended automated permitting, remote inspections, flexible interconnection, better hosting-capacity information, consumer protections, and continued support for Connected Solutions and virtual power plants. Permit Power’s Hannah Bernbaum and Solar App’s Matthew McAllister argued that smart permitting and remote inspections can significantly reduce soft costs and delays, with McAllister saying Solar App now operates in over 320 jurisdictions and saves about three weeks on average. They said remote inspections are already common and can be done safely with photos, video, and qualified third parties. Community solar and clean energy advocates, including CCSA’s Kate Daniel and Vote Solar’s Lindsay Griffin, supported a 10 GW solar target by 2035, a higher refundable state tax credit for low-income households, interconnection reforms, flexible interconnection, and preserving the option to build outside SMART so projects can retain renewable energy certificates. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and members requested follow-up materials and draft language from witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• On January 15th of each year, the State Board of Finance will estimate the amount of bonding capacity
• The legislature will authorize the State Board of Finance to issue severance tax bonds for the amount
• of the Senate Finance, the Vice Chair. of Senate Finance and a leading Democrat member of the Judiciary
• There are some small changes here that were primarily recommended to me by Senate Finance.
• Doing this language would never pass as appropriations or through Senate finance.

Transcript Highlights:

• ; Kathy McLeod, Finance Budget Analyst, Department of Finance.
• Matthew McCado, Department of Finance? No? Department of Finance. I don't have it.
• We'll start with Department of Finance.
• We'll start with Department of Finance. Excellent. Department of Finance. Excellent. Thank you.
• This is Test Sherkenback with the Department of Finance.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety heard several items focused on youth safety and law enforcement resources. The committee first took up tribal youth diversion programs, with the Legislative Analyst’s Office describing the Tribal Youth Diversion Grant Program and its two cohorts of grantees funded through the Board of State and Community Corrections. Tribal representatives from the Yurok Tribe and San Pasqual Band of Indians testified that diversion, tribal courts, school partnerships, mentoring, and culturally grounded services helped reduce truancy and justice-system involvement, but that short-term funding interruptions and limited capacity prevented them from serving all youth in need. Committee members discussed the importance of early intervention, tribal-state court collaboration, and possible misidentification of Native youth in the justice system. The committee then heard the California Highway Patrol’s overview of surge operations supporting local crime suppression, including organized retail theft. CHP reported that its surge teams have been used in response to mutual aid requests and cited arrests, stolen vehicle recoveries, and firearm seizures in Oakland, Bakersfield, and San Bernardino. Members asked about demand for these operations and whether CHP could meet requests without affecting other duties; CHP said requests have increased and are accepted when resources allow. The committee also heard CHP’s request for a $5 million General Fund augmentation and 12 positions for its Computer Crimes Investigation Unit to make child sexual abuse material and human trafficking investigations a higher priority. CHP cited rising cybertip volumes, a case involving AI-generated CSAM, and the need for more investigators and forensic capacity. A larger portion of the hearing focused on the Internet Crimes Against Children task forces and a separate $5 million ongoing General Fund proposal for Cal OES to continue the program. Task force commanders from Sacramento, San Diego, Silicon Valley, and Fresno described rapidly growing cybertip volumes, heavy caseloads, forensic backlogs, and the need for training and equipment for affiliate agencies statewide. They emphasized that the ICAC model relies on local partnerships, deconfliction, and subject-matter expertise to identify victims, execute warrants, and rescue children, and they gave examples of cases that led to arrests and child rescues. Members generally supported the work but raised questions about overlap between CHP and ICAC efforts, the need for broader statewide collaboration, and whether more resources should be directed to task forces and victim services. A public commenter also urged expansion of homeless youth exploitation services and the California Youth Crisis Line.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, but you know, I guess I'm just wondering would there be a cost to the campaign finance to do this
• Jeff Sigerson, Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board: Thank you, Madam Chair.
• for to do a cost to the campaign Finance for to do this<00:09:00.480> perhaps<00:09:00.839>
• <00:09:10.519> and<00:09:10.720> public with the campaign finance and public with the
• campaign finance and public disclosure<00:09:11.480> board<00:09:12.240> I<00:09:12.680

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• > fiscal referral to finance by the day's fiscal referral to finance by the day's fiscal note<
• note report to the committee on finance note report to the committee on finance and<00:22:31.039
• We will take it in Senate Finance.
• We will take it in Senate Finance.
• We will take it in Senate Finance.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Just governance and any interplay with campuses and finances.
• Chairman, Senator Sorvaag, while it's being financed, the foundation owns it.
• But once it's financed, it transfers to the university.
• But once it's financed, it transfers to the university.
• That is exactly why I chose finance. Finance is a field... That is exactly why I chose finance.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.