Transcript Highlights:

• as you know, legislation.
• the percent increase in spend if we were comparing initial appropriations to initial appropriations.
• So when we come every legislative session, we provide an estimate of what the supplemental appropriate
• through the supplemental appropriations process to reduce that appropriation to kind of right-size it
• Yeah, everything will depend on the legislature. and the appropriation that is provided for that legislation

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is appropriation only.
• it is appropriation only.
• That would be for the legislators.
• This is appropriation. This is appropriation only. This is appropriation only.
• If I'm the legislator, I would rewrite your appropriation bill.

Summary: The committee first received a report on the executive protection detail, which was filed without questions. Members were then given a long advance list of House and Senate bills ready for consideration, followed by several amendment requests from agencies. The committee adopted amendments for the Auditor of State to increase special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and several other items including local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, and local law enforcement funding. It also held one amendment on House Bill 1034 and moved a Northwest Arkansas Community College cash fund increase tied to tornado-related campus repairs. The committee then considered a series of member amendments and appropriation items, including increases for the Public Defender Commission and deputy prosecuting attorneys to cover higher bar license fees, and a $12 million federal appropriation-only item. A lengthy discussion followed on a proposal from Senator Wallace and Representative Tosh to fund a pilot program for prison cell-phone detection/jamming technology at two correctional facilities. Sponsors and Department of Corrections officials said the system would target illegal contraband phones, would be procured through an RFP, and would be a two-year pilot; members raised questions about legality, cost, scope, data, and whether the department should use existing budget authority. The committee ultimately advanced the item by motion. The committee also took up an amendment from Senator Caldwell for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, seeking a $4 million appropriation increase. Testimony emphasized that the division’s extension offices and research functions are underfunded, that salaries are not competitive, and that the request would help with staffing and flexibility; other members questioned why the division needed more appropriation authority when it already had room under current limits and noted that the request exceeded the higher education board’s recommendation. The amendment was adopted after extended debate. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a $150 million increase to the homestead property tax credit, a $23,000 reallocation for the Insurance Department’s conference costs, $100,000 for property appraisal review work, $1.5 million for career and technical education professional development, $300,000 for DFA regulatory federal spending, $5 million for Inspector General fraud investigations, a consolidation of appraiser/abstractor/home inspector appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee readiness center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation for corrections capital projects that would add special language restricting use of the $73.7 million prison-expansion reappropriation. The committee also heard a summary of a supplemental appropriations package involving fund transfers for pregnancy resource centers, senior centers, assistance grants, used tires, and UAMS pregnancy/stroke programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Appropriations; HB 2308, Dental Insurers; HB 2323, Insurance and Appropriations; HB 2333, Federal and
• , 2595 appropriation cocaine in a county, 2596 appropriation tribal assistance, 2599 law enforcement
• uranium monitoring, 2890 appropriation gun out of unify, 2891 appropriation tribal housing workforce
• , HB 2892 appropriation rule bus, 2893 appropriation Navajo Nation, 2894 appropriation rural state bus
• Appropriation Navajo Nation, 2894 appropriation rural state bus routes, 2097 appropriation Kindalichi

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior day’s journal, and recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. John Lynch of Legislative District 12. Members also introduced a number of guests and visiting groups, including Arizona electric co-op representatives, March of Dimes advocates, CRNAs, AEA retirees, a University of Arizona legislative fellow, and other constituents and visitors in the gallery. The chamber then handled routine floor business: attendance was recorded at 58 present, one absent, and one excused; committee substitutions were announced; HB 2677 was removed from the Judiciary Committee and additionally referred to Public Safety and Law Enforcement; and a large slate of House bills and one concurrent resolution were first read and referred to committees. The clerk also read a lengthy list of bills on second reading, covering a wide range of topics including education, health care, housing, taxation, elections, water, labor, public safety, and other policy areas. No substantive debate or votes on legislation occurred during the floor session beyond the referral actions and procedural announcements. Members made announcements about upcoming blood donations, a Veterans Caucus coffee and donuts event, and several committee meetings scheduled for later in the day or the following day. The House then adopted a motion to adjourn until 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 22, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• or other legislative appropriation decisions.
• or other legislative appropriation decisions.
• There was also $12.3 billion, which was appropriated contingent on the passage of legislation.
• Item House Bill 19 from the previous legislative session appropriated 1.8 million in general revenue
• Happy to be here with you this afternoon to discuss OCA's legislative appropriation requests for the

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:

• <00:02:46.080> budget that we created the legislated budget that we created the legislated
• Leading up to the 2024 legislative session, or early in the legislative session, the Legislative Budget
• Leading up to the 2024 legislative session, or early in the legislative session, the Legislative Budget
• Leading up to the 2024 legislative session, or early in the legislative session, the Legislative Budget
• completed prior to the 2024 legislation completed prior to the 2024 legisl<00:13:02.440> session<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on the fiscal note process, prompted by concerns raised in a prior hearing about the fiscal note for the Paid Family and Medical Leave law. Chair Marty, Senator Pratt, and Senator Wiklund said the goal was not to revisit the bill itself but to strengthen understanding of fiscal note standards, the role of the Legislative Budget Office (LBO), and communication with agencies. They emphasized bipartisan concern that fiscal notes must be respected and that the process should be clearer going forward. Christian Larison of the LBO explained that the 2024 fiscal note issues stemmed from three main problems: choosing the proper baseline for a program that had not yet started, interpreting the seven-day qualifying event/waiting period, and determining whether DEED could adjust the first-year premium rate. He said the LBO, DEED, MMB, and House fiscal staff ultimately used the October 2023 actuarial analysis as the baseline because it was the most recent and likely most accurate estimate, but that choice meant the fiscal note did not show the difference from the 2023 enacted budget. He also described how DEED later interpreted the seven-day provision as a waiting period and how the premium-rate assumptions affected the fiscal impact. Larison outlined possible responses, including more assertive early communication from the LBO, providing more detailed analysis in unusual cases, and possibly creating a working group through the LBO Oversight Commission to consider new standards for substantial assumption changes, complex new programs, and third-party actuarial work. He also noted the LBO has authority to issue unapproved fiscal notes if standards are not met, though it has not used that authority. In questions, Senator Murphy asked about protecting the credibility of fiscal notes, and Larison said maintaining independence, objectivity, and consistent standards is central to the LBO’s role. No votes or formal actions were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• or other legislative appropriation decisions.
• legislative appropriation decisions.
• There was also $12.3 billion which was appropriated contingent on the passage of legislation.
• House Bill 19 from the previous legislative session appropriated $1.8 million in general revenue and
• House Bill 19 from the previous legislative session appropriated $1.8 million in general revenue and

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chelsea Griffin and I'm a legislative Chelsea Griffin and I'm a legislative analyst<00:11:04.800
• Um, it appropriation for open arms.
• The appropriation is also extended.
• The appropriation is also cities.
• Miam Arab, uh, committee legislative Miam Arab, uh, committee legislative assistant<00:25:11.360

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or other legislative appropriation decisions.
• There was also $12.3 billion, which was appropriated contingent on the passage of legislation.
• House Bill 19 from the previous legislative session appropriated $1.8 million in general revenue and
• action and appropriation.
• Happy to be here with you this afternoon to discuss OCA's legislative appropriation requests for the

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:

• We wouldn't be good as legislators.
• That does not include any state appropriated dollars, whether it's straight appropriation or through
• That's appropriating. We are not appropriating. That $7,000 means nothing.
• But I've talked to a few, and I can only commit, because that would be a legislative process and appropriations
• It just is that, from a legislative appropriator standpoint, something doesn't...

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:08:30.880> and disclosures for the legislators and disclosures for the legislators and
• on Appropriations? on Appropriations?
• . legislator. legislator.
• Members of the Appropriations Committee received detailed testimony from Legislative Council regarding
• action on H. 941 for two legislative action on H. 941 for two legislative days. days. days.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through first readings and referrals of several bills. House Bill 950, the pay act for certain state employees, was read and referred to Appropriations, and House Bill 951, the government appropriations bill, was read and referred to Ways and Means. Senate bills referred included S. 138 on commercial property assessed clean energy projects, S. 181 on eliminating a pre-sentence investigation requirement for deferred sentences, S. 206 on licensure of early childhood educators, S. 219 on an energy navigator program report, S. 239 on the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Working Group, and S. 291 on travel disclosures for legislators and certain executive officers, each sent to the appropriate committee. The chamber also read several House concurrent resolutions adopted on the consent calendar. These included resolutions congratulating Rice Memorial High School’s Division Two girls soccer team and Division One field hockey team, designating March 2026 as Athletic Trainers Month in Vermont, and remembering the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disasters in Japan. The Japan remembrance resolution included a message from the Japanese consul general expressing gratitude for Vermont’s solidarity and friendship after the disaster. Later, members offered announcements recognizing guests in the gallery, including Rice Memorial athletes and coaches, representatives of the Vermont Association of Athletic Trainers, and students and teachers from Pondbrook and Sterling College. The House also heard a detailed floor speech in support of House Bill 861, which would establish a statewide Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator. The sponsor described accessibility barriers faced by disabled Vermonters, argued that ADA responsibilities are currently uneven across state government, and said a coordinator would improve coordination, compliance, and access across agencies. The House then announced the order of upcoming bills, starting with H. 861 and H. 931, but no final vote on H. 861 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• and what isn't appropriate, and that we bring them to that conversation table at the appropriate time
• What isn't appropriate, and that we bring them to that conversation table at the appropriate time as
• Again, with an eye toward that legislative whiplash, as we now call it.
• The motion is do pass as amended to Appropriations.
• You know, this is a priority piece of legislation for us.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, these are the appropriate.
• Lastly, there is an appropriation to the MFA to address housing.
• Senate Bill 2 has a $140 million appropriation.
• You had stakeholders from even legislators; regional legislators were there, former legislators too,
• So say you appropriate that planning and design funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• time if that's appropriate.
• time if that's appropriate.
• Management from one of the six legislators.
• The task force will be selected by the chairman of the Legislative Management from one of the six legislators
• So as a bit of history, last legislative session, the legislature... ...last legislative session, the

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, pledge, roll call, and a quorum present, then approved a motion to lay over House Bill 1525 for one legislative day. It also voted not to concur with House amendments on Senate Bills 2294, 2297, 2070, 4017, and 2262, appointing conference committees for each. The chamber then took up a series of House bill amendments and final-passage votes. On amendments, the Senate adopted changes to House Bill 1229 on fleeing law enforcement and driving-record transparency after debate over insurance impacts and public safety; House Bill 1510 on teacher retention, on-site child care, and licensure study language; House Bill 1160 to restrict student personal electronic devices during instructional time; House Bill 1429 to address drone harassment and stalking of animals; House Bill 1203 to harmonize medical marijuana provisions; House Bill 1600 to create a UND immigration clinic with reporting requirements; House Bill 1130 to broaden K-12 funding formula changes and reduce state fiscal impact; House Bill 1279 to modify the coal conversion tax exemption; House Bill 1442 to adjust membership and scope of a state task force; and House Bill 1464 to convert a maternal care services proposal into a study and remove the appropriation. The Senate rejected an amendment to House Bill 1022 concerning the Retirement and Investment Office bonus program, then passed the bill. It also passed House Bill 1234 on a $90 million transfer to reduce PERS liability, while rejecting a floor amendment to it. On final passage, the Senate passed House Bills 1008 (Public Service Commission budget), 1218 (temporary moratorium and study on economic analysis for drain projects), 1234 (PERS funding transfer), 1146 (PERS defined contribution cleanup and emergency clause), 1355 (expanded notice for administrative rulemaking), 1470 (Game and Fish fee changes and guide/outfitter updates), 1029 (Capital Grounds Planning Commission duties), 1017 (Game and Fish budget), 1374 (township supervisor open-meeting exemption for on-site inspections), and 1064 (NC-SARA membership and distance education regulation). It defeated House Bill 1583 on false political advertisements with civil-action language and House Bill 1393 on earned wage access provider regulation. The transcript ends as the Senate begins consideration of House Bill 1326 on self-defense and unlawful firearm possession by felons.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm John Bjornson, legislative counsel.
• I've been asked to give you a little update on legislative staff needs and the legislative branch building
• But the legislative assembly and legislative council are likely going to have to grow because this constant
• But the legislative assembly and legislative council are likely going to have to grow because this constant
• Much of the work that we have done was completed actually last legislative session, the 69th legislative

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:13.840> We appropriated from the legislature.
• We appropriated from the legislature.
• again, it would help future legislators again, it would help future legislators in<00:08:50.480>
• decisions about direct appropriations. decisions about direct appropriations.
• Because of the 2027 legislative session.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House debated a motion to suspend the rules so House File 3843 could be recalled from committee and given second and third readings for final passage. The bill, carried by Representative Baker and supported by Representative Niska, would create a subcommittee of the governor’s workforce development board to vet nonprofit and other applicants for workforce development dollars, with the legislature retaining final authority. Supporters argued the proposal would add an extra layer of scrutiny, reduce fraud risk, and help prevent problems like those highlighted in recent reporting and past nonprofit funding scandals. Supporters repeatedly tied the bill to concerns about fraud in state grantmaking, citing the Feeding Our Future scandal and other nonprofit cases as examples of why more oversight is needed. Representative Baker said the committee process can be overwhelmed by many direct-appropriation requests at the end of session, and that a board-based vetting process would help identify red flags. Representative Enen and Representative Schultz also backed the motion, saying the bill would improve accountability and protect taxpayer dollars. Representative Pinto opposed the urgency motion, saying he supports moving toward more competitive grants but not adding another layer of bureaucracy without a fiscal note or fuller committee process. He argued the bill would not do what supporters claimed and that the legislature already makes funding decisions. After debate, the House took a roll call vote on the motion to suspend the rules. The motion failed by one vote, 67 yeas to 66 nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate file two, legislative budget, be Senate file two, legislative budget, be assigned<00:36:14.720
• . appropriations. appropriations.
• > appropriations.
• facilities appropriations. facilities appropriations.
• Senate File 62, Legislative Reorganization of the Department of Audit, sponsor: Appropriations.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, the pot of money that we generally look at for non-recurring appropriations and expenses. appropriations
• been made through the legislative process.
• non-recurring appropriations.
• with no cuts to those appropriations.
• The legislation that you passed.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the high level for CYFD that maps all of the appropriations you all made in the General Appropriation
• Act this legislative session.
• It's fairly new after the legislative session we started that.
• The original language was appropriated in the GAA of 2022.
• Because it doesn't need legislation to happen at this point.

Transcript Highlights:

• Government: HB 2352, appropriation ... Appropriations: HB 2352, appropriation ... HB 2353 ...
• appropriations.
• HB 2620, appropriation.
• 2890, appropriations; Education and Appropriations: HB 2892, appropriations; HB 2893, appropriations
• HB 2894, appropriations; HB 2897, appropriations; Education and Appropriations: HB 2898, appropriations

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer by Paul Sorensen, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the journal from January 15, 2026. Members also recognized the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Tammy Penhollow, and several guests in the gallery, including education leaders and representatives from Republic Services. Attendance was recorded at 57 present, zero absent, and two excused. The main floor business was the reading of communications and a very large slate of bills. The clerk listed numerous House bills for first reading and referral to committees, covering topics such as veterans, natural resources and water, financial services, minimum wage, commerce, education, housing, child care, health and human services, public safety, artificial intelligence, taxation, transportation, agriculture, and appropriations. The House also moved through second reading of another extensive group of bills on subjects including health care, criminal justice, transportation, education, firearms, housing, and state budget matters. No substantive debate or votes on individual bills were recorded in the transcript beyond the procedural referral and reading of measures. The House then received announcements about upcoming committee meetings, birthday wishes for Representative Aaron Márquez, and notices that some committees would not meet. The chamber adjourned on a motion until 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your line of questioning is appropriate.
• They feel is appropriate for each area.
• I think we had a robust conversation two sessions ago about what is appropriate, what's an appropriate
• I think we had a robust conversation two sessions ago about what is appropriate, what's an appropriate
• So I think that the existing statutory language was appropriate two years ago and is appropriate today

Keywords: 999, senate, all