Transcript Highlights:

• they help to encourage growth because you want people to want that growth, and this is one way to offset
• they help to encourage growth because you want people to want that growth, and this is one way to offset
• As it stands right now, a portion of that is taken up by impact fees or offset by impact fees.
• As it stands right now, a portion of that is taken up by impact fees or offset by impact fees.
• We've never lowered our property taxes to offset impact fees, despite us having raised impact fees seven

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 5695, which would create the Sayers Ranch Municipal Utility District in Bastrop County between Elgin and Bastrop. Representative Gurdis said Bastrop County commissioners unanimously supported the district. There was no public testimony, the bill was left pending, and later reported favorably to the full House on an 8-0 vote. The main debate centered on Senate Bill 291, which would require condemning entities to pay landowner attorney’s fees if they fail to provide 10 years of appraisal reports with an initial offer in an eminent domain case. Supporters, including Rita Beving and Charles Maley, argued the bill would add an enforcement mechanism and better protect landowners in a process they described as intimidating and lopsided. Opponents, including Tom Zabel and Lisa Kaufman, said current law already provides a remedy through abatement and attorney’s fees under Section 21.047 of the Property Code, and warned the bill could create inconsistency, delay public infrastructure projects, and increase costs. The bill was left pending. The committee also heard House Bill 5699, a simple MUD boundary change in Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 405 that would allow a tract to leave one district and join another. Representative Schofield said the landowner and district agreed to the change and to pay the tract’s share of debt. The committee substitute was adopted and the bill was reported favorably on an 8-0 vote. Later, the committee considered House Bill 5489, which would impose a four-year moratorium on impact fees. Representative Dyson framed it as an “active study” to test whether impact fees raise housing costs. College Station officials and other opponents argued impact fees help fund infrastructure for growth and that local governments should retain control; supporters said the fees are regressive and add to housing prices. The bill was left pending. The committee then heard Senate Bill 292, which would update the Landowner Bill of Rights to add information on surveys, require separate offers for property not sought in condemnation, and require the rights document to be delivered with the initial offer. Supporters said it would improve transparency and fill gaps in the current document, while opponents said it was unnecessary because the law already exists and warned against revisiting a 2021 compromise. The transcript ends during that discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• They're crucial to the system because they offset the market power of large retailers like Amazon, Walmart
• It offsets The electronic payment system is a benefit to small businesses and small merchants.
• It offsets and keeps them competitive.
• restaurants, because again, as I say, they're important to the system; they represent the volume that offsets
• They represent the volume that offsets large merchants who would like this system to be a closed system

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on the future of payments and sales transactions by credit card heard extensive testimony from credit union, banking, retail, restaurant, and payments-industry representatives about proposals to limit interchange fees, especially on the tax and tip portions of transactions. Several witnesses opposed state-level restrictions, arguing they would create a patchwork of rules, burden state-chartered institutions, raise compliance complexity, and ultimately reduce resources for fraud prevention, cybersecurity, rewards, and access to credit. Others, including retail and merchant advocates, said swipe fees are a significant and growing cost for small businesses and that states should consider reforms such as limiting fees on taxes and tips, allowing surcharging, improving transparency in merchant contracts, and studying collection costs more closely. Witnesses also discussed recent legal and regulatory developments, including Illinois’s interchange-fee law, OCC and NCUA interim rules, and the ongoing Visa/Mastercard antitrust settlement. Industry representatives said the Illinois law has been delayed and is likely preempted for most transactions, while merchant advocates argued the state efforts and court rulings show that networks and banks do not set fees competitively. The proposed antitrust settlement was described by some as a meaningful but limited merchant victory, with temporary fee reductions and expanded surcharge/steering rights, while others said it still falls short of structural reform. The commission members pressed witnesses on the practical effects of fees, the cost of cash, whether merchants can pass costs through, and whether small businesses are actually seeing benefits from the current system. Members repeatedly emphasized the need for a fair middle ground that protects both small businesses and the payment system. No substantive votes or policy actions were taken beyond accepting testimony, and the meeting ended with adjournment after all scheduled witnesses had spoken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Public Educational Radio Stations, to help consolidate expenses for their member stations to help offset
• <01:48:40.080> the member stations to help offset the member stations to help offset the millions
• You're retiring, too? Yeah. We're leaving soon. Okay. Several of us. He said somebody else. Okay.
• <02:09:28.920> We're not You're retiring, too? Yeah. We're not You're retiring, too?
• somewhere else, like maybe my retirement somewhere else, like maybe my retirement account.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in the works with not a of retirements in the works with not a lot<01:19:03.199> of<01:19:03.480
• Energy is a lot like a retirement account, members. You diversify.
• Energy is a lot like a retirement Energy is a lot like a retirement account account account members
• utility cannot reach for this remedy when they haven't engaged in sufficient planning to avoid or offset
• to avoid or offset or mitigate an<01:59:01.920> extraordinary<01:59:02.400> event<01:59

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That offsets the Social Security deduction that's going to come in place.
• And it helps offset the disadvantages that we have at the local level with local taxes that are not quite
• those people properly registered at DMV, they're going to pay higher fees, and these higher fees offset
• And these higher fees offset the loss on fuel tax. We have that in place in the code.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from the January 15 morning meeting. The main agenda item was the Department of Revenue’s budget and revenue presentation from Secretary Eric Nelson, Deputy Secretary Peter Shirley, and Deputy Secretary Mark Mucco. Nelson said the state remains double-A rated with a positive outlook, the budget includes a 5% personal income tax reduction, and the 2027 general revenue estimate is $5.493 billion, up $170 million from the prior year. Shirley gave an economic overview, saying West Virginia is forecast to see continued but slowing employment growth, continued wage growth, gains in private education/health services and business services, declines in some sectors, improving labor force participation relative to the nation, and strong recent net in-migration. He also noted continued growth in natural gas production and a modest rebound in coal production, though coal faces longer-term demand pressure. Mucco reviewed revenue trends and said 2025 collections were about $5.5 billion, below the prior year but above estimate, with personal income tax and sales tax driving the surplus. He explained that the forecast incorporates the 5% PIT cut and annual conformity to the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including changes such as Section 179 expensing, bonus depreciation, R&D expensing, business interest deductions, and a new manufacturing facility expensing provision. He also discussed the effects of tax credits, severance tax volatility, declining tobacco revenues, and health care provider tax changes tied to federal Medicaid rules. He said road fund revenues are largely flat absent policy changes, and county commission revenues are growing faster than state revenues. Members asked about when new economic development projects like NewCore would appear in the projections, how much 20,000 new jobs would matter, whether the department had a calculator for job-growth impacts, the status of recent tax cuts, road fund growth, tobacco/vape taxation, and whether migration data could be broken down by county. The witnesses said major projects are not yet in the S&P-based forecast but would likely add jobs, wages, and tax revenue over time; they estimated 20,000 jobs would be a significant increase. They also said the state is unlikely to hit the current personal income tax trigger in the near term. No substantive votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and the committee adjourned after a motion carried by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• an ongoing shortage of mental health professionals, particularly in rural areas, due to provider retirements
• We've implemented a retired status which allows the board to issue a license and retired status to a
• We have retired annuitants. They can be. And so to do that, we have utilized temporary help.
• We have retired annuitants that help with application review and processing.
• I retired from the San Diego Fire Department three years ago and moved to Santa Rosa.

Summary: The joint sunset oversight hearing reviewed five regulatory entities: the Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Board of Psychology, the Physician Assistant Board, the Podiatric Medical Board, and the California Massage Therapy Council. Across the hearing, each entity described recent accomplishments, licensing and enforcement workload, workforce shortages, and efforts to modernize processes. Common themes included streamlining licensure, expanding access to care, addressing telehealth or emerging technology, and balancing consumer protection with workforce needs. For the Board of Behavioral Sciences, members discussed workforce shortages in mental health, supervision barriers, telehealth confidentiality, AI in therapy, interstate compacts, school-based services, and military spouse licensure. The board said it has expanded outreach, improved licensing processes, and created temporary practice authority tracking, while also expressing concern about counseling compacts and emphasizing California-specific law, ethics, and cultural competency. Public commenters supported the board’s work and the possible move to a national MFT exam, while also urging more resources. The Board of Psychology highlighted fee adjustments, streamlined licensure pathways, enforcement process improvements, new CPD requirements, and proposed changes including a psychotherapist-client privilege exception for investigations. Committee members and public witnesses focused heavily on that privilege proposal, with some members opposing it as too broad and privacy-invasive, while the board argued it is needed to obtain records in bias and sexual misconduct cases. The board also discussed workforce shortages, processing improvements, and the use of inactive status for psychological associates. The Physician Assistant Board reported growth in the PA workforce and education programs, SB 697 implementation, and financial pressure from rising enforcement costs. The main policy debate centered on physician-to-PA ratios and practice agreements, with board representatives and many public commenters arguing that current restrictions limit access to care, especially in rural areas, while the California Medical Association defended the need for explicit ratios and agreements. The board also discussed AI, fee increases, and tracking temporary practice authority. The Podiatric Medical Board described licensing and renewal reforms, residency expansion, enforcement support, and budget constraints, while public testimony raised concerns about a proposed fee increase and about reimbursement parity and practice recognition for podiatrists. Finally, the California Massage Therapy Council defended the certification model over licensure, citing lower costs, local government collaboration, anti-trafficking work, and its role in vetting applications and disciplining bad actors; no formal votes or final actions were taken during this portion of the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So our voter fund offsets about 11% of the cost of the elections that's otherwise borne by our taxpayers
• So our voter fund offsets about 11% of the cost of the elections that's otherwise borne by our taxpayers
• So our voter fund offsets about 11% of the cost of the elections that's otherwise borne by our taxpayers
• So our voter fund offsets about 11% of the cost of the elections that's otherwise borne by our taxpayers
• The voter fund offsets about 11% of the cost of the elections that's otherwise borne by our taxpayers

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Did he retire? >> He did. >> Oh, okay. >> He did, yes.
• Uh, for SNAP, we participate in the Treasury Offset Program, however, so we can recoup from tax returns
• participate<01:32:30.000> in<01:32:30.159> the<01:32:30.320> Treasury<01:32:30.639> offset
• participate in the Treasury offset participate in the Treasury offset program,<01:32:31.600>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee chair opened by explaining that the committee has expanded from a traditional audit-follow-up role into an oversight role focused on whether audit recommendations are implemented and whether controls are in place to detect fraud. He said the committee was concerned about fraud uncovered in social service programs in other states and wanted to understand New Hampshire’s safeguards, especially around major contracts and program performance. Charles Buchanan, director of the New Hampshire Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and investigator Tim Brackett described the unit’s structure and mission. Buchanan said the unit, housed in the Attorney General’s Criminal Justice Bureau, investigates and prosecutes fraud by health care providers serving Medicaid beneficiaries, as well as abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation of residents in health care facilities. He outlined common Medicaid fraud schemes such as billing for services not rendered, upcoding, using unqualified staff, drug substitution, kickbacks, supplemental charges, and inflated customary charges. He also described resident abuse/neglect and drug diversion in hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living settings. Brackett said his role is financial investigator/auditor and noted the unit is grant-funded and must include a prosecutor, investigator, and auditor. The witnesses then explained how cases reach the unit and how they are handled. Most referrals come from the state Department of Health and Human Services’ program integrity unit and from managed care organizations’ special investigations units, which look for fraud, waste, and abuse and refer credible allegations. Other sources include qui tam whistleblower actions, the national Medicaid Fraud Control Units association, citizen complaints, provider referrals, adult protective services law-enforcement referrals, local law enforcement, and federal agencies. Once a referral is received, the unit can accept or deny it; accepted matters may be investigated criminally or civilly, while nonviable matters can be referred back to HHS or other agencies for administrative action, including repayment demands and reimbursement offsets. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today marks his final official visit... before his retirement next month.
• We could use it to help offset our sales tax reduction.
• They would raise the millage to offset what we gave them.
• I'm not two years ago to offset; that is what they ask us to do.
• If a mandate TDT for spending must be offset, what funding source would counties like Monroe use to maintain

Bills: HB 118, HB 388, HB 114, HB 205, HB 2789, HB 2791, HB 499, HB 2960, HB 3163, HB 3135, HB 2427, HB 1618, HB 1672, HB 1722, HB 1338, HB 787, HB 2618, HB 879, HB 1126, HB 4134, HB 3513, HB 718, HB 1536, HB 1445, HB 1640, HB 1893, HB 1734, HB 3229, HB 3306, HB 1276, HB 3272, HB 3276, HB 3516, HB 4145, HB 1585, HB 4810, HB 2989, HB 2558, HB 3014, HB 2742, HB 1695, HB 29, HB 125, HB 145, HB 171, HB 255, HB 50, HB 363, HB 116, HB 491, HB 1495, HB 368, HB 1285, HB 1905, HB 2002, HB 917, HB 2723, HB 2067, HB 1238, HB 745, HB 1188, HB 1606, HB 2003, HB 2147, HB 2355, HB 2546, HB 2495, HB 2818, HB 2249, HB 3228, HB 3240, HB 1507, HB 658, HB 1748, HB 1851, HB 1922, HB 2798, HB 107, HB 1587, HB 3684, HB 118, HB 388, HB 114, HB 205, HB 2789, HB 2791, HB 499, HB 2960, HB 3163, HB 3135, HB 2427, HB 1618, HB 1672, HB 1722, HB 1338, HB 787, HB 2618, HB 879, HB 1126, HB 4134, HB 3513, HB 718, HB 1536, HB 1445, HB 1640, HB 1893, HB 1734, HB 3229, HB 3306, HB 1276, HB 3272, HB 3276, HB 3516, HB 4145, HB 1585, HB 4810, HB 2989, HB 2558, HB 3014, HB 2742, HB 1695, HB 609, HB 630, HB 420, HB 767, HB 1708, HB 1404, HB 2457, HB 140, HB 227, HB 913, HB 2198, HB 2763, HB 1261, HB 1135, HB 1318, HB 2358, HB 2765, HB 2735, HB 3307, HB 1242, HB 2842, HB 333, HB 201, HB 694, HB 2415, HB 155, HB 272, HB 405, HB 519, HB 1136, HB 1275, HB 1437, HB 1532, HB 1675, HB 1868, HB 1888, HB 1990, HB 2286, HB 2523, HB 3129, HB 3251, HB 3354, HB 3479, HB 3803, HB 3804, HB 3805, HB 3806, HB 3887, HB 4163, HB 4238, HB 1240, HB 1842, HB 2029, HB 2622, HB 3255, HB 654, HB 4643, HB 4945, HB 3611, HB 3724, HB 3623, HB 3810, HB 4127, HCR 78, HCR 12, SB 767

Keywords: HB 388, HB388, coordination of benefits, COB questionnaire, health benefit plan, health insurance, insurance commissioner, Texas Department of Insurance, uniform form, primary payer, secondary payer, multiple coverage, dual coverage, Medicaid, CHIP, managed care, HMO, small employer health plan, school district health coverage, self-funded plan

Transcript Highlights:

• know, that I've heard from are leaving because of taxes, because they can, when they get closer to retirement
• emergency appropriations with a supermajority vote, similar to bonding, coupled with the requirement to offset
• the vote similar to bonding coupled with the requirement<01:19:15.960> to<01:19:16.159> offset
• <01:19:16.600> these<01:19:16.800> expenditures requirement to offset these expenditures
• requirement to offset these expenditures in<01:19:17.560> future<01:19:18.000> budgets

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Tax Committee met to receive a presentation from House Fiscal staff Cynthia Templin and Katrina Heimark on state tax revenues, property tax aids and credits, and key budget terms and timelines. They explained the difference between fiscal years, tax years, biennia, the general fund, and dedicated funds, and reviewed the legislative budget calendar, including the governor’s January budget recommendation, the February forecast update, March budget resolution deadlines, and the expected end of session in May. The presentation focused on how Minnesota tax revenue is collected and where it goes. House Fiscal said fiscal 2024 total revenue for public services was about $102.5 billion, with $46.5 billion coming from state and local taxes. Of total state tax revenue, about 85% goes to the general fund and about 15% is dedicated to other funds. They noted that income and sales taxes make up the largest share of state collections, while local property taxes are the largest share of local revenue. They also reviewed constitutional and statutory dedications, including the Legacy sales tax dedication, the motor vehicle sales tax dedication to transportation, and the auto parts sales tax dedication that was changed in 2023 to a 100% transportation dedication phased in over 10 years. Members asked several questions about slowing income tax growth, possible effects of migration and corporate departures, and whether changes in population or wages were affecting revenue trends. Templin said she was not aware of recent independent or MMB studies tying revenue loss to migration, but would look into it. Members also discussed the sharp rise in tax receipts in fiscal 2021 and 2022 after the pandemic downturn, with staff explaining that the low fiscal 2020 base and a shift toward goods purchases during COVID helped drive the increase, especially in sales tax revenue. No bills were taken up and no votes were recorded during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, please take your conversations to the aisles or the retiring room.
• to the aloves or the retiring room. to the aloves or the retiring room.
• Members, if you could please take your conversations to the aisles or to the retiring room.
• And so that's, in my opinion, a great win, and not to mention it helps offset the cut we had to do to
• And so that's, in my opinion, a great win, and not to mention it helps offset the cut we had to do to

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We didn't want her to retire until she's 90. But she does a wonderful job.
• Borrego and the Lieutenant Governor, was a state senator and he was getting ready to go ahead and retire
• I've been with New York Life, in fact, I just retired from New York Life as a registered rep and financial
• other states and as you know with other agencies, they receive recurring general fund that helps offset

Transcript Highlights:

• to reject the pressure from President Trump and national Republicans. ...operatives urging you to offset
• Again, I'm Colonel Retired Dr. George Patron. I am a pediatrician with the Army for 23 plus years.
• I was a retired Public Information Officer for the city of Houston and have written legislation for two
• Before retirement, I practiced law in Texas for 42 years and testified at least seven times in 2021 before

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of customer service we must maintain our board staff and we're asking. for an increase that will offset
• I think new pathways, growing in enrollments in RN programs, probably some retirements as well in the
• We had 5,233 licensees, active, retired, and inactive.
• We he he did retire and I believe it was within seven or eight or nine days of of me going online and

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Retirement Fund Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association.
• uh of retirement. uh of retirement.
• offsets.
• Patrol Retirement Plan. I am also a Patrol Retirement Plan.
• retirement association. retirement association.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee first approved the April 14, 2026 meeting minutes without objection. It then took up Senate File 4860 / House File 4812, the St. Paul Teachers Retirement Fund Association bill, which would reduce the employee contribution rate for coordinated members from 9% to 8% starting after June 30, 2026, raise the retiree COLA from 1% to 1.5% beginning January 1, 2027, and increase the state-funded employer contribution by 2.7%. Staff said the bill’s cost is just over $12 million per year over 15 years. Representative Lilly said the bill was intended to bring parity to St. Paul teachers after prior work in this area left some behind. Several St. Paul teachers testified in support, describing financial strain, burnout, and the difficulty of balancing teaching with family responsibilities. Hannah Geimer said the 1% contribution change would make a meaningful difference in her budget as a single parent. Eric Erickson said he and his wife have spent decades working extra hours and coaching, and argued that St. Paul educators pay more and receive less in retirement than other teachers. Arzoo Faroozan Yazdani, a Central High teacher, said the higher contribution rate and lower COLA make it hard to stay in the district and raise a family. Lisa Hodek said teachers are undercompensated for the demands of the job and that the pension disparity has created frustration and a sense of betrayal. Phil Tensic, the SPTRFA director, summarized the request as seeking an 8% contribution and 1.5% COLA to match TRA, and noted that the plan’s members are spread across legislative districts, not just in St. Paul. Members discussed the history behind the pension disparity. Senator Nelson questioned whether “parity” was the right term given the plan’s funding problems and the legacy of the “big red box,” referring to past underfunding. Tensic and Senator Pappas explained that the state had previously allowed St. Paul schools not to contribute for a period of years, that supplemental district and state aid began in 2018, and that the plan is projected to be amortized by 2039 and must be paid off by 2048. Members also noted that the bill and related pension proposals depend on available funding; Representative O’Driscoll and others said no final financing agreement had been reached, though leadership was continuing discussions. The committee received letters of support from Education Minnesota, the St. Paul Federation of Educators, and 40 individual supporters. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is for Representative Olson's bill, the pension offset for state active duty.
• come from Representative Olson's House File 2338, and this relates to the state active duty pension offset
• I'm excited that we're finally going to be implementing some pension offsets for our state active duty

Transcript Highlights:

• could result in a small revenue loss for us at MDA of about approximately $10,000, but we would be offset
• could result in a small revenue loss for us at MDA of about approximately $10,000, but we would be offset
• could result in a small revenue loss for us at MDA of about approximately $10,000, but we would be offset
• could result in a small revenue loss for us at MDA of about approximately $10,000, but we would be offset
• could result in a small revenue loss for us at MDA of about approximately $10,000, but we would be offset

Bills: HF858, HF2577, HF2576

Keywords: bioincentive payments, agriculture, job creation, environmental compliance, financial reporting, waste handling, sewage sludge, PFAS regulation, environment, record retention, fertilizer disposal, pesticide disposal, environmental impact, safety regulations, burning prohibition, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• universal agreement that just allowing the department to reimburse and say, here's some money to offset
• ><00:14:55.120> the<00:14:55.279> cost<00:14:55.519> of here's some money to offset
• the cost of here's some money to offset the cost of that<00:14:55.839> detention<00:14:56.959
• that we see that this bill would really help us help the sheriffs and detention centers, not only offset
• that we see that this bill would really help us help the sheriffs and detention centers, not only offset

Bills: SF0010, SF0005

Keywords: mental health, detention, competency evaluation, treatment, contractual agreements, bankruptcy, hospital, county, healthcare, financial stability, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Appears on page SC62, Unit 701, Judicial Retirement. Are there any amendments to Unit 701?
• It's an offset, but we denied priority number two.
• Next unit, please. >> Appears on page 20, Unit 4103, School District Retirement Reimbursement. >> Are
• 4103, school district retirement 4103, school district retirement reimbursement. reimbursement.
• <03:50:10.399> um treasures office and the retirement um treasures office and the retirement

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We can, um, put a special allocation in place to help offset some of the cost of the lack of investigators
• We can, um, put a special allocation in place to help offset some of the cost of the lack of investigators
• It has grown to $2.2 million, and this is discretionary for our committee. place to to help offset some
• of the cost place to to help offset some of the cost of<00:18:55.360> the<00:18:55.600> lack

Keywords: 1136, house, all