Transcript Highlights:

• This bill says it goes up for inflation and down for deflation.
• It doesn’t directly impact my district.
• It impacts us all, and the solution would impact us all as well. And it’s just a seed funding.
• The state land trust allows us to do this without impacting the general fund.
• What's the impact of doing that?

Committee: House House Appropriations Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee opened by announcing a heavy agenda and noting that Senate Bill 1176 would be held. It then took up several Senate bills, beginning with SB 1272, which appropriates $5 million for the City of Douglas as a state match for the Douglas Port of Entry project. The bill was amended to draw the money from the Water Supply Development Revolving Fund instead of the General Fund. Senator Gowen, the Douglas mayor, and city staff described the project as a $678 million federal investment opportunity that would support water, wastewater, and broadband infrastructure, create jobs, and improve border security. The committee approved SB 1272 as amended on a 15-0 vote with three present and one not voting. The committee next approved SB 1503, as amended, which expands the state death benefit to include civilian pilots employed by law enforcement agencies and applies the change retroactively to January 1, 2026. Senator Gowen and DPS leadership testified that the change was needed so the family of a pilot killed in a February helicopter crash would qualify for the benefit. The bill passed 18-0 with one not voting. SB 1274, as amended, created a separate timeshare salesperson license and training path; supporters said it would streamline licensing for people who only sell timeshares, while one member objected to the added rulemaking discretion. It passed 17-1 with one not voting. The committee also approved SB 1286, which expands veterinary telemedicine by allowing longer prescription periods for certain medications after an electronic exam, with shorter limits for antimicrobials. Supporters said it would help rural and disabled pet owners and had been negotiated to the satisfaction of veterinarians and telemedicine advocates. The bill passed 18-0 with one not voting. SB 1519, as amended, raised the off-highway vehicle weight threshold from 2,500 to 3,500 pounds and revised related registration and funding provisions; supporters argued it would reflect newer enclosed-cab vehicles and better align Arizona with neighboring states, while opponents warned of trail damage and said the study process was not complete. It passed 10-7 with one present and one not voting. Finally, the committee approved SB 1618, which restructures the Military Affairs Commission, adds members with defense and aerospace expertise, requires more frequent meetings and reporting, and updates the Military Installation Fund and related duties to better attract and retain defense missions. Supporters said the changes would help Arizona compete for military and defense investment, while some members questioned whether the commission’s mission was being broadened too far and whether the existing structure should instead be handled through other agencies. The bill passed 10-6 with one present and one not voting. The committee then considered SCR 1020, which would index legislative salaries to inflation or deflation starting with future officeholders if approved by voters. Supporters argued the current $24,000 salary had eroded significantly since 1998 and limited who could serve, while opponents objected to legislators voting on their own pay or preferred reducing session time instead. The resolution was approved and sent forward for voter consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now let's focus on the impact of the Medicaid cuts.
• Those who like charts can see the impacts of funding.
• So if you see SNAP go away, it's a huge impact.
• Also, it's impactful across the state.
• Also, it's impactful across the state.

Committee: Senate Human Services

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee held a work session focused first on the impacts of H.R. 1 on Medicaid and SNAP, especially for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, older adults, and low-income families. DSHS Assistant Secretary B. Rector explained Washington’s Medicaid structure for developmental disabilities and long-term care, noting that most community-based services are optional under federal Medicaid rules and could be vulnerable if state budgets tighten. He described several H.R. 1 changes, including possible cost sharing, a lower home equity limit, work requirements affecting the ACA expansion population, immigration-related eligibility losses, and a future new waiver opportunity. He said Washington could see about 2,700 people lose Medicaid eligibility due to immigration status and that most people with DD or long-term care needs would likely qualify for work requirement exemptions, but he warned that reduced federal dollars could put home and community-based services at risk. Advocates and providers described the practical effects of Medicaid cuts on crisis services, supported living, and family stability. Dr. Eric Bolter said Washington has only a small continuum of services for people with IDD and severe behavioral needs, and that lower ABA reimbursement and other Medicaid reductions could shrink already limited outpatient, residential, and inpatient options, leading to more hospital stays and out-of-state placements. Scott Leavengood said supported living is already underfunded, with high turnover and staffing shortages, and warned that past cuts led to longer waitlists and fewer people served. Stacey Dimm of The Arc of Washington argued that HCBS is the main service system for most people with developmental disabilities and that cuts would push people into more restrictive and expensive institutional care. She also emphasized that many families already lack access to paid services and that workforce, housing, and family support shortages make the system fragile. The committee then shifted to SNAP and food assistance. DSHS Assistant Secretary Carla Reyes outlined H.R. 1 changes to SNAP, including expanded work requirements, reduced exemptions, tighter immigration eligibility, elimination of the SNAP education program, higher state administrative costs, and a new state share of benefit costs tied to error rates. She said about 129,000 Washington residents could be at risk under the new work rules, roughly 30,000 legal immigrants could move to the state-funded food program, and the state could face hundreds of millions in new costs. Anti-hunger advocates and food bank leaders said the changes would increase hunger and administrative burden while reducing benefits, and they stressed that food banks cannot replace SNAP. A SNAP recipient, Amy Rourke, testified that even with extensive civic involvement she barely meets the proposed work-hour threshold and said the rules would punish parents, caregivers, and people facing transportation or child care barriers. She urged the state to count caregiving, advocacy, and community service as qualifying work and to build more flexible pathways for compliance. In the second half of the meeting, the committee turned to juvenile rehabilitation caseload forecasting and court data. Caseload Forecast Council staff presented the current JR forecast, saying caseloads had declined for years, rebounded after COVID, and are now projected to remain mostly flat through the current biennium before rising modestly over the longer term. Members asked about the distinction between regular JR and adult-sentenced youth, and staff explained that longer lengths of stay in the adult-sentenced population reflect policy choices made in prior legislation. Andrew Peterson of the Administrative Office of the Courts described data-sharing efforts intended to help JR forecast admissions, including quarterly counts of pending felony cases and youth criminal history information. He said the courts began sharing some data in 2022 and 2024, but staffing limits interrupted the effort, and JR recently asked to resume and expand the information flow to support weekly forecasting and better planning for facility capacity.

Transcript Highlights:

• You're going to hear me talk a lot about inflation today.
• The thing that I will point to and tell you why we're there is 100% inflation.
• We've seen inflation hit heavy highway construction like nothing else.
• sometimes there were there was a year where we hit almost20%. inflation in heavy highway in one year
• And now I'm told that this is going away, inflation and everything else.

Committee: House Appropriations and Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> says we can't give you what inflation says we can't give you what inflation was,<00:22:24.320><c
• And this is going to have some drastic impacts, good impacts.
• And this is going to have some drastic impacts, good impacts.
• To do this because it's so complicated, and a little tweak here and there can have a big impact down
• they but there's also a fiscal impact that<00:42:08.240><c> will</c><00:42:08.480><c> help</c><00:42

Transcript Highlights:

• This layoff will have an impact on our tribe, and it will also impact a lot of businesses in these areas
• </c><00:20:17.120><c> and</c><00:20:17.320><c> high</c> got caught up in inflation and high got caught
• up in inflation and high interest<00:20:17.880><c> rates</c><00:20:18.400><c> and</c><00:20:19.000><
• I’m wondering if you could tell us the impact of the unemployment trust fund of this bill and how much
• I think that last year it was about $10 million for fewer workers, and three years ago, so inflation

Summary: House File 3030 was taken up for discussion and amended with the A1 author’s amendment before moving forward. The bill was presented as an Iron Range package with three parts: a 26-week unemployment insurance extension for workers laid off by Cleveland-Cliffs, and two mining-related provisions dealing with safe storage of reactive mine waste and a site-specific sulfite standard. The authors said the bill was intended both to help laid-off workers immediately and to support the long-term future of mining jobs in the region. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive of the unemployment extension and the broader goal of preserving Iron Range jobs and communities. Representatives of affected workers, union leaders, a county commissioner, a tribal elder, and RAMS all described the layoffs as potentially long-term and warned of broader economic harm to families, local businesses, schools, and the region if mining jobs continue to decline. Several testifiers emphasized that mining is central to the Iron Range economy and argued that the bill would give workers time and hope while also helping keep people in the region. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency testified that it generally supported the bill’s intent but raised concerns about the environmental rulemaking language in Article 2, Section 2. MPCA said the provision would amount to a new major rulemaking, would require significant time and resources, and should be reviewed by the Environment, Natural Resources, Finance and Policy Committee. During member questions, one legislator said there was strong support for the UI extension in Article 1 but expressed concern about the environmental issues in Article 2 and asked why those provisions were not being reviewed by the environment committee. The meeting ended with public testimony closed and member questions beginning; no final vote was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition, criminal fine and fee revenue has declined substantially, which has also impacted the funds
• In addition, criminal fine and fee revenue has declined substantially, which has also impacted the funds
• , impacting over 2,760 litigants.
• In total, approximately 10,000 cases impacting more than 20,000 litigants were disrupted over those 11
• Has that contribution escalated based upon inflation and the age of the facilities and so on?

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation held a hearing focused first on courthouse facility funding and then on the Governor’s proposed court facilities budget. Legislative Analyst’s Office staff outlined the state’s court-facilities funding structure, including the 2002 shift of trial court facility responsibility from counties to the state, the main funding accounts, the insolvency of the construction fund, the move to General Fund support, the backlog of deferred maintenance, and the large estimated cost of needed new construction and repairs. Judicial Council representatives and judges from Los Angeles and Mendocino described severe seismic, safety, ADA, security, and maintenance problems, with examples of floods, elevator failures, asbestos-related closures, and long-delayed or underfunded projects. They argued that chronic underinvestment is making facilities less safe and more expensive to maintain, and that courthouse conditions directly affect access to justice and public confidence. Committee members pressed witnesses on how projects are prioritized, whether population and filing volume are adequately reflected, why reassessments have not been updated since 2019, how long acquisitions and construction take, and what level of funding would actually close the gap. Members also questioned the fixed county contribution, the use of General Fund backfills, and whether the state should set a clearer long-term funding target for the judicial branch. LAO staff emphasized that any new General Fund commitment would require tradeoffs with other budget priorities and said the Legislature must decide its appetite for funding. Judicial Council staff said the current prioritization was based on the 2019 reassessment and trailer bill language, that a new reassessment would cost about $14 million, and that acquisition delays are often driven by willing-seller issues and CEQA requirements. The chair asked for written testimony and indicated the committee would consider a future field hearing. In the second panel, Judicial Council and Department of Finance representatives reviewed the Governor’s budget proposals for court facilities. They said the proposal includes continued backfill for the State Court Facilities Construction Fund, several new construction and reappropriation items, relocation of Los Angeles courtrooms from the Spring Federal Building, and completion of a fire/life-safety project in Orange County. A court executive from Ventura testified that courthouse conditions affect public trust, employee morale, and the quality of service, citing roof leaks, elevator breakdowns, and HVAC failures as examples of why sustained facilities funding is needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• She and her devoted, loving husband, Kent, made an impact on many. ...home on a ranch near Stephenville
• Ruth brought laughter and joy to generations, and her impact will continue to be felt, not just in our
• As we reflect on his contributions and the love he had for his family, let us celebrate the impact he
• They have impacted over 200 young people across the state who have been given support and mentorship,
• I think it's going to have a huge impact.

Bills: HB5560 , HB2 , HB24 , HB3233 , HB1397 , HB2067 , HB3133 , HB5696 , HB5680 , HB2885 , HB3966 , HB3556 , HB3595 , HB144 , HB26 , HB2038 , HB521 , HB4 , HB 1178 , HB42 , HB 1211 , HB783 , HB3963 , HB2240 , HB1690 , HB 1234 , HB3372 , HB27 , HB4211 , HB2243 , HB2853 , HB4638 , HJR7 , HB 100 , HB 126 , HB3783 , HB5138 , HB2512 , HB5616 , HB4751 , SB17 , SB1637 , SB1833 , SB2155 , SB21 , SB2778 , SB260 , SB8 , SB12 , SB37 , SB379 , SB441 , SB1566 , SB2878 , HB4112 , HB3866 , HB4749 , HB2844 , HB150

Keywords: groundwater, civil penalties, water conservation, drought contingency, environmental protection, public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, zoning, public notice, local government, residential development

Transcript Highlights:

• In doing so, we don't want to open up MoDOT contracts to possible artificial inflation of bids, per se
• We don't want to open up MoDOT contracts to possible artificial inflation of bids, per se, as the director
• They're saying they could inflate, the contractors could inflate that and therefore cost the taxpayers
• Is it not much of an impact? I mean, what...

Committee: House Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight

Summary: The House Transportation Committee first announced that House Bill 1873 had been pulled at the sponsors’ request and would not be heard. The committee then took up House Bill 2759, which would require MoDOT to publish engineer’s estimates after a project is awarded or rejected, with the sponsor and supporters framing it as a transparency and accountability measure that would help taxpayers and contractors understand why bids are accepted or rejected. Supporters, including the Missouri Asphalt Paving Association and a state public advocate, said the bill would not affect bidding because the estimate would be released only after award, and argued that other states already do this without higher costs. MoDOT opposed the bill, saying its estimates are meant to reflect fair market value at the time of letting and that releasing them could let contractors pattern bids around MoDOT’s numbers, potentially setting an artificial floor or otherwise distorting competition. Committee members questioned both sides closely about whether publishing the estimate after award would still influence future bids, whether rejected bids are already explained, and whether the bill would help identify problems with project scope or estimating. The sponsor said the bill had been refined and referenced an amendment to make clear the disclosure would occur at award or rejection, not before bidding. No vote was taken during the hearing. The committee then heard House Bill 2837, which would change how vacancies on the Bi-State Development Agency board are filled by returning to a system where the governor appoints from within the district rather than from lists submitted by the St. Louis city mayor and county executive. The sponsor argued the current process gives too much control to St. Louis City and County and does not adequately represent growing areas such as St. Charles County. Opponents from the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County, Citizens for Modern Transit, and a state public advocate argued the change would weaken local control for the jurisdictions that actually fund and use the transit system, noting that St. Charles, Jefferson, and Monroe counties do not pay the same transit taxes and in some cases do not receive service. The hearing ended after testimony in opposition, with no vote taken and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• as well as a separate plans one merger bill that would also have impacted left one.
• For example, if inflation were 1% lower or higher each of the next few years compared to our 2.75% annual
• .. ...one unit, and quite frankly every time we've had the conversation on the long-term COLA the impact
• It would be an adjustment up to 3% annually, with inflation banking.
• Again, inflation is at play.

Committee: Joint Select Committee on Pension Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• But what the court did not address is the fiscal impact on the states.
• The court did not address the fiscal impact on the states, and that's the role of Congress, but Congress
• impact on the states and that's the role of the Congress but Congress hasn't addressed it either it's
• We are also reclassifying one assistant position, and we had an inflation in our utilities bills from
• I understand inflation.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:51.120><c> Reduction</c><00:14:51.519><c> Act,</c><00:14:52.480><c> which</c> of the Inflation
• Reduction Act, which of the Inflation Reduction Act, which was<00:14:52.959><c> the</c><00:14:53.199
• Each of every one of us has an opportunity to make a difference, to do things that will have an impact
• </c><00:26:33.440><c> So,</c><00:26:33.679><c> thank</c><00:26:33.840><c> you</c> a big impact on our
• So, thank you a big impact on our state.

Transcript Highlights:

• certainly know weather and weather events, lots of uncertainty and instability around costs, tariffs, inflation
• affecting Oklahoma citizens as well as they're dealing with increased cost of labor and goods and inflation
• So, it would be, I mean, I'd love to know the impact on them.
• I was just curious if it had any fiscal impact. Would you repeat it?
• Was there a physical impact on this bill? No further questions.

Bills: SB1969 , SB1953 , SB1277 , SB1287 , SB1061 , SB1916 , SB1589 , SB2178 , SB1444 , SB1438 , SB1501 , SB1873 , SB1364

Committee: Senate Business and Insurance

Keywords: massage therapy, licensing, multistate compact, regulation, healthcare, professionals, Employer Health Plan Transparency Act, health insurance, claims data, contract provisions, health care providers, auditable materials, HIPAA compliance, insurance regulation, unemployment benefits, employment security, work search, job search, reemployment, jobless benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no fiscal impact with that.
• So I saw that they said they're not sure if inflation's impacting the uptake of this opportunity, but
• That inflation has for sure eaten into it, and we all know that a week ago today the state was kicked
• Don't want to go too low because we still have to adjust it somewhat for inflation, but that's where
• This is more of an administrative bill that, because the measure has no physical impact, we're trying

Bills: SB1280 , SB1392 , SB1393 , SB1395 , SB1400 , SB1405 , SB1832 , SB1839 , SB1989 , SB2001 , SB2143

Committee: Senate Revenue and Taxation

Keywords: excise tax, oil tax, natural gas tax, state revenue, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, income tax, tax credit, aerospace sector, employment, economic development, adaptive reuse, affordable housing, urban renewal, economic impact, program, housing, revitalization, urban development, income tax credit, manufacturing

Transcript Highlights:

• we hosted more than 1,400 student visitors on site, and this also allows us to go and positively impact
• The second thing we've done is adjust for inflation.
• The skyrocketing cost of tuition has impacted the amount that each profession is eligible for.
• infused money in the budget last session, part of the problem is that, as was mentioned earlier, inflation
• How will the board ensure fairness while also being mindful of the impact on students in the campus communities

Bills: SB1998 , SB646 , SB2786 , SB2076 , SB2615 , SB1961 , SB1418 , SB2647 , SB1322 , SB2788

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• that number of 80, 100, 70, however many different bills are being considered statewide are going to impact
• be some time that it would take to do this, but overall, in terms of, think of, you know, all the impact
• in a patchwork approach to food ingredient oversight, creating duplicative regulatory structures, inflating
• already heightened food costs, and undermining... ...inflating already heightened food costs and undermining
• your bill as it is today is that I am not convinced that a registry is going to have a tremendous impact

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and took up four bills. First, CS/SB 150, “Trooper’s Law,” by Senator Gates, would make it a third-degree felony to abandon or restrain an animal during a declared weather emergency, such as a hurricane or tornado. The bill was presented as a response to a widely publicized case of a dog tied to a fence during Hurricane Milton. Several speakers supported the measure, and the committee voted unanimously to report it favorably. Next, SB 374 by Senator Trunow would refine the definition of “farm product” to include plant and plant products and bar local governments from restricting the collection, storage, and processing of farm products on bona fide agricultural land. An amendment related to food waste was withdrawn for further discussion, and public testimony came from composting, recycling, and poultry interests in support. The bill was then reported favorably. The committee also heard SB 560 by Senator Martin on chemical additives in food products, which would restrict a list of 10 chemicals in food. The sponsor argued the bill was aimed at serious health concerns and noted some chemicals had already been banned federally; industry and retail witnesses opposed the bill as creating a patchwork of state rules and potential market disruptions, while some senators supported the health goal but raised concerns about consistency. The committee voted to report SB 560 favorably, with one recorded no vote. Finally, SB 572, the Pam Rock Act by Senator Collins, would create a statewide dangerous dog registry and impose additional criminal penalties, permitting requirements, microchipping, sterilization, and insurance requirements for dangerous dogs. The sponsor and family members of attack victims described severe injuries and deaths to support the need for public notice and accountability. Some members questioned the usefulness of a registry and the burden of the information requirements, but the sponsor said the bill was intended to prevent repeat attacks and help victims. The committee voted to report SB 572 favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a necessity, and as a rural legislator, you understand that the digital divide impacts many of your
• There are some significant concerns regarding potential safety or reliability impacts.
• So inflation. And what was the reason that you didn't revisit those rates?
• It has to have an impact on cost.
• And I get that there's sticker shock, but inflation is a real thing, and costs.

Bills: HB3445 , HB3448

Committee: House S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband

Keywords: telecommunications, electric cooperative, rights-of-way, infrastructure, provider access, right-of-way, pole attachment, regulatory access

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:09:24.320><c> yes,</c> from every direction by inflation, yes, from every direction by inflation
• Corey's impact extends beyond athletics. Corey's impact extends beyond athletics.
• so-called inflation The Democrat so-called inflation reduction<00:41:16.560><c> act</c><00:41:17.280
• </c> how foreign influence may be impacting how foreign influence may be impacting their<02:49:53.920
• This is the impact of the the street.

Transcript Highlights:

• a project this size, the cost of delay is in about the $100 million a year range, just based on inflation
• a project this size, the cost of delay is in about the $100 million a year range, just based on inflation
• and so looking at a on inflation and so looking at a two-year<00:06:46.400><c> uh</c><00:06:46.639><
• Light rail has a positive impact on economic development.
• Light rail has a positive impact on economic development.

Transcript Highlights:

• They impact thousands of Idahoans each year, causing injuries as well as tens of millions of dollars
• Senators, this resolution has no fiscal impact and contains no request for funding.
• it may help encourage more private funding on this issue, which is positive, it has no budgetary impact
• And especially with the impact that universities and college sports have on local communities, not just
• And it will be For a decision may be impacted, and it would behoove us not to be making these deep cuts

Transcript Highlights:

• So inflation is the real tax, and it disproportionately harms working families.
• Inflation is actually a regressive tax. It widens the wealth gap.
• And inflation creates... ...may weaponize currency like the CBDC, and inflation creates a wealth gap
• And also it gives an opportunity for everyone to have a hedge against inflation.
• That is when inflation expectations outpace nominal yields.

Committee: House House Regulatory Oversight Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Regulatory Oversight heard two bills related to Arizona bullion and gold-backed transactions. HB 2123 would establish an Arizona bullion depository under the State Treasurer, allow third-party administration and electronic payment systems, require insurance for deposits, and recognize gold and silver as legal tender. Representative Lisa Fink presented the bill as a way to provide an optional, inflation-resistant payment method and to make gold and silver more accessible to ordinary Arizonans; a witness from the Transactional Gold and Silver Project described the depository as a fully allocated, insured warehouse system tied to a debit card and said the model had been used in other states. The committee voted 4-0 with one present to give HB 2123 a do pass recommendation. The committee then considered HB 2140, which would allow state and local governments to use the Arizona bullion depository, permit the State Treasurer to place up to 10% of state monies in bullion there, and require rulemaking by the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. Representative Fink again argued that holding some bullion could diversify state assets and reduce counterparty risk, citing Utah’s treasurer and broader central bank gold accumulation. A member asked about the bill’s rulemaking language and the sponsor said she was open to discussing changes with the State Treasurer. With no public testimony, the committee voted 4-0 with one present to recommend HB 2140 do pass, and then adjourned.