Transcript Highlights:

• our starting balance in FY 2026-27.
• </c> forecast in November any unspent balance forecast in November any unspent balance from<00:04:58.600
• </c><00:05:35.319><c> in</c><00:05:35.479><c> FY</c> starting balance in FY starting balance in FY 2627
• </c><01:14:50.920><c> the</c> realistic is it for us to balance the realistic is it for us to balance
• </c><01:21:09.000><c> the</c> that and and of course balance the that and and of course balance the budget

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:16.320><c> of</c> we now forecast a positive balance of we now forecast a positive balance
• So, that starting balance less the structural imbalance leaves us with a projected balance of $3.7 billion
• </c> structural balance. structural balance.
• </c> balance of $377 million in FY28 and 29. balance of $377 million in FY28 and 29.
• </c> of both the FY28 29 projected balance of both the FY28 29 projected balance and<00:34:14.200><c>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's no balance in 185.
• </c> said no they'll there's no balance said no they'll there's no balance Billing<00:28:05.840><c> at
• </c><00:34:14.079><c> our</c> amount of money to balance our amount of money to balance our Books<00:
• Yeah, balance billing is not working. Otherwise, no balance billing would work.
• Yeah, balance billing is not working. Otherwise, no balance billing would work.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee discussed three ambulance reimbursement bills and tried to distinguish their approaches. House Bill 185 would require insurers to pay the full amount billed by an ambulance provider when there is no contract rate, with no balance billing to the patient; the Insurance Department clarified that emergency ambulance services are already covered under the benchmark plan, so the bill’s reference to policies without ambulance coverage is effectively meaningless. House Bill 725 would set reimbursement at 325% of the Medicare rate for non-contract ambulance services and prohibit balance billing. House Bill 316 was described as addressing the broader problem that Medicare/Medicaid rates are low and that current balance billing shifts costs to patients or municipalities; its sponsor said the bill would require insurers to pay a rate that gives providers a fighting chance to remain in business, and he viewed 325% of Medicare as the most logical option. Members debated whether insurers should pay the billed amount, a negotiated in-network rate, or a regulated percentage of Medicare. Some argued that out-of-network ambulance providers are underpaid and that in-network rates are often too low to sustain service, especially for emergency providers who cannot steer patients. Others said ambulance companies should not be able to bill whatever they want and questioned the fairness of charging insured patients or insurers more than the service is worth. There was also discussion of whether rate schedules should be reviewed by an oversight body and whether different costs in rural areas justify different reimbursement levels. A recurring issue was balance billing and who ultimately bears the shortfall. Several members said balance billing harms patients and often does not get paid, leaving cities and towns or property taxpayers to cover the difference for municipal ambulance services. Others argued that shifting the cost to insurance premiums would spread the burden more fairly, though it could raise premiums by a few dollars per person per month. No vote or final action was taken in the excerpt; the discussion focused on clarifying the bills and weighing their policy tradeoffs.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> is</c> fund balance.
• Unassigned fund balance is fund balance.
• It is no longer unassigned fund balance. balance. balance.
• undesignated fund balance.
• </c> on how they spend their fund balance. on how they spend their fund balance. Okay?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> efforts to achieve a structural balance. efforts to achieve a structural balance.
• </c><00:04:25.120><c> of</c> we now forecast a positive balance of we now forecast a positive balance
• </c><00:04:55.280><c> is</c> that $4.9 billion beginning balance is that $4.9 billion beginning balance
• </c> projected FY28 and 29 negative balance projected FY28 and 29 negative balance into<00:32:00.399>
• </c> projected FY20 and 29 negative balance projected FY20 and 29 negative balance and<00:32:15.279><

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Aaron Campbell, State Economist Dr. Tony Becker, and State Budget Director Anna Mingi presented the November 2025 budget and economic forecast. Campbell said the state now projects a nearly $2.5 billion surplus at the end of the 2026-27 biennium, about $575 million better than the end-of-session estimate, but also a projected negative balance of about $2.9 billion in FY 2028-29, reflecting a worsening structural imbalance. He said the budget reserve stands at $3.4 billion, with cash flow and budget reserves totaling $3.8 billion after a $244 million addition, and emphasized that Minnesota’s AAA bond rating and reserve policy remain strengths even as future sessions will need to address the long-term gap. Becker said the national economic outlook has changed only modestly since February, but growth remains below trend through the forecast horizon. He cited slower consumer spending, weak private investment, continued tariff uncertainty, lower projected immigration, and modest inflation that stays near 3% through 2026 before easing. Revenue forecasts for the next biennium were revised up to $66.3 billion, driven mainly by higher individual income tax receipts and other revenue, partly offset by lower sales and corporate tax forecasts. He also noted risks from federal policy changes, the recent shutdown’s effect on data availability, and possible equity market volatility. Mingi said general fund spending is projected to rise sharply, with current biennium spending up $3.4 billion from end-of-session estimates and planning-year spending up $1.9 billion. She attributed much of the increase to carryforward from prior one-time appropriations, discretionary inflation, and especially Medical Assistance. MA costs are projected to be about $2.5 billion higher over 2025-29, largely because managed care rates rose more than expected due to higher utilization and higher-cost services, including pharmacy costs, while long-term care and disability waiver costs also increased. In response to questions, officials said the federal reconciliation bill had only a relatively small effect on the health care changes, and that the carryforward amounts reflect unspent prior appropriations that now show up in later years rather than new spending.

Transcript Highlights:

• And while the balance in FY28 and 29.
• That starting balance less the structural imbalance leaves us with a projected balance of $3.7 billion
• ,</c><00:16:13.519><c> including</c> earns on its cash balances, including earns on its cash balances
• </c><00:32:32.000><c> FY2627</c> healthy projected balance in FY2627 healthy projected balance in FY2627
• So, our projected balance in forward.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: Minnesota Management and Budget officials presented the February 2026 budget and economic forecast, saying the state remains in a strong financial position but faces continued structural imbalance and significant uncertainty. Commissioner Aaron Campbell said the FY 2026-27 balance is now projected at more than $3.7 billion, up about $1.3 billion from November, and the FY 2028-29 planning period is projected to end with a $377 million positive balance. He emphasized that the improvement comes largely from higher projected revenues, especially individual income and corporate franchise taxes, but warned that the state is increasingly reliant on more volatile sources such as capital gains, interest income, and corporate profits. State Economist Dr. Anthony Becker said the national outlook improved slightly, with stronger projected GDP, consumer spending, and investment, but weaker payroll growth and ongoing trade-policy uncertainty. He noted that the forecast was complicated by missing federal data because of the federal shutdown, and that tariffs, immigration policy, equity markets, and possible AI-related shifts all present risks. Revenue projections were raised for the current biennium, including individual income tax receipts, sales tax revenue, corporate franchise tax revenue, and other revenues, while Becker stressed that federal funding threats, especially involving Medicaid and other entitlement programs, could materially alter the outlook. State Budget Director Anna Mingi said general fund spending in the current biennium is projected to be $68 million lower than previously estimated, but planning-year spending is up $152 million. The biggest spending changes came from education, where special education costs rose sharply after updated local spending data, and from human services, where a new prepayment review process for certain Medicaid benefits reduced projected spending by $133 million this biennium and $105 million in the next. She also said discretionary inflation is now estimated at $1.04 billion, up $104 million from November. Campbell closed by saying the state’s reserve remains at a record $3.8 billion and that Minnesota’s AAA bond rating and reserve policy help protect against downturns. He cautioned, however, that the long-term structural imbalance remains about $3.4 billion in the planning years, or $2.3 billion excluding discretionary inflation, and urged policymakers to offset any new spending with reductions. No votes or formal actions were taken; the meeting was a presentation and question-and-answer session on the forecast.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• reserves the balance of time.
• I reserve the balance of my time. Gentleman reserves the balance of his time.
• the balance of his time.
• I reserve the balance of my time. >> Gentleman reserves the balance of his time.
• I reserve the balance of my time. >> Gentleman reserves the balance of his time.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I reserve the balance of my time.
• I reserve the balance of my time.
• I reserve the balance of my time.
• I yield back the balance of my time. As a democracy, and I yield back the balance of my time.
• I YIELD THE BALANCE.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> back the balance of my time. back the balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, July 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• compares the most recent year's ending fund balance to the prior year's balance.
• balance currently is 100.
• capital budget balance to reduce the budget balance deficit, use of general fund budget balance reserves
• capital budget balance to reduce the budget balance deficit use of general fund budget balance reserves
• Then the use of lease-back agreement funds balance to reduce the capital budget balance, because that's

Summary: The committee first heard a follow-up on the Arizona State Board of Chiropractic Examiners special audit. The Auditor General’s contractor reported that the board has made progress on most of the 28 recommendations from the 2024 audit, with 25 in process and three not yet implemented. Remaining concerns included complaint investigations not being resolved within 180 days, continued open meeting law compliance problems, and failure to consult the Attorney General’s open meeting law experts. The follow-up also identified new issues with posting disciplinary/non-disciplinary actions and maintaining a complete public records request log. Board staff said they had adopted new complaint timelines, subpoena limits, conflict-of-interest procedures, public meeting guidance, training, and a new licensing platform, and they described efforts to professionalize investigations and improve transparency. Members pressed the board on open meeting violations, complaint backlogs, lobbying activity, and the resignation of the board chair, while the executive director said the audit findings were being treated as a roadmap for reform. The committee then received the January 2026 Arizona school district financial risk analysis. The Auditor General’s office said the number of highest-risk districts rose from two to nine, and districts approaching highest risk increased from seven to nine. The report highlighted common risk factors such as declining student counts, budget reserve problems, use of capital funds for operations, and weakening general fund positions. Tucson Unified was used as an example of a highest-risk district, with declining enrollment, reserve declines, and capital funds redirected to operations; Scottsdale Unified was cited as approaching highest risk. The office explained its web-based dashboard, district action plans, and ongoing outreach to affected districts. Sierra Vista Unified School District superintendent Terry Romo then presented the district’s response to its financial risk designation. She said she inherited the problems, quickly developed an action plan, and is working to stabilize enrollment, reduce staffing through attrition, close an elementary school, freeze nonessential spending, tighten purchase controls, and renegotiate or cancel high-cost contracts. She also said the district is redirecting DAA funds, considering sale or lease of property, and improving communication with families through letters, videos, and enrollment outreach. Committee members questioned the district about declining enrollment, school safety, academic performance, and the pace of corrective action, while Romo emphasized that the district is trying to protect both students and finances and avoid returning to the high-risk list.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE BALANCE REMAINS THERE.
• DO YOU TO KNOW HOW MANY ACCOUNT BALANCES CURRENTLY EXCEED THE STATUTORY LIMIT?
• IN TABLE 11 WE FOUND HUNDREDS OF PROGRAM BALANCES THAT HAD ACCESS BALANCES TOTALING 2.3 MILLION DOLLARS
• YOU WILL HAVE THE DELICATE BALANCE OF HAVING TO MAKE POLICY AND BALANCE OFF THE INTEREST OF HOW THIS
• OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT OF DEMAND IS AT AN APPROPRIATE BALANCE BEING STRUCK.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> balance of my time, Mr. Speaker. balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
• </c> reserve the balance of my time. reserve the balance of my time.
• </c> reserve the balance of my time. reserve the balance of my time.
• </c> reserve the balance of my time. reserve the balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, June 23, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> balance of my time. balance of my time.
• </c> the balance of my time. the balance of my time.
• </c> back the balance of my time. back the balance of my time.
• </c> the balance of my time. the balance of my time.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, December 15, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> pick you up, you will be balanced bill. pick you up, you will be balanced bill.
• </c> to cover the balance of the bill. to cover the balance of the bill. Right. Yes.
• That's you don't pay balance billing.
• </c> would pay balance billing. would pay balance billing.
• </c> out, then they will pay balance billing. out, then they will pay balance billing.

Bills: HB44, HB400, HB444, HB487, SB249, SB252, SB58, HB44, HB400, HB444, HB487, SB249, SB252, SB58

Keywords: teachers retirement, credit purchase, St. Clair County, DAY Program, pension reform, dental insurance, benefit rollover, healthcare, insurance policy, annual maximum, HB444, vaccines, vaccine exemption, religious exemption, religious liberty, private school, church school, faith-based school, parochial school, school immunization

Transcript Highlights:

• HF 3007 is a welcome step toward a balanced approach to data centers in state law.
• HF 3007 is a welcome step toward a balanced approach to data centers in state law.
• HF 3007 is a welcome step toward a balanced approach to data centers in state law.
• HF 3007 is a welcome step toward a balanced approach to data centers in state law.
• HF 3007 is a welcome step toward a balanced approach to data centers in state law.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not going to go over every number in this balance sheet.
• There's a line that says unreserved fund balance per policy.
• I'm not going to go over every number in this balance sheet.
• There's a line that says unreserved fund balance per policy.
• </c><00:38:10.040><c> sheet</c> briefly the next is the balance sheet briefly the next is the balance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have the carry-in balance to make up the difference.
• And also, I must say, the budget is just balanced.
• And also, I must say, the budget is just balanced. It's precariously balanced...
• And also, I must say, the budget is just balanced.
• And also, I must say, the budget is just balanced.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee opened its hearing on the governor’s 2026-27 budget with remarks from the chair and vice chair emphasizing the need for early, ongoing legislative partnership, fiscal restraint, and attention to housing, homelessness, and oversight. The Department of Finance presented a balanced budget for 2026-27 that relies on stronger-than-expected revenues, but also acknowledges large structural deficits in the out-years. The administration said the budget is a “workload” budget with limited new spending or cuts, includes a $4.5 billion Special Fund for Economic Uncertainties balance and a $14.4 billion rainy day fund, and proposes to address the current-year deficit largely by suspending a rainy-day deposit while still paying down long-term liabilities. Major budget items highlighted included Proposition 98 adjustments and a $5.6 billion settle-up obligation, higher education compact funding, climate and wildfire resilience spending, a new ZEV incentive, additional Health and Human Services costs tied to federal H.R. 1 impacts, child care funding, and three tax proposals involving delivery platforms, sustainable aviation fuel, and an extension of the California Competes credit. The Legislative Analyst’s Office warned that the budget is “precariously balanced,” citing downside risk to revenue estimates driven by elevated stock-market valuations and leverage, as well as persistent structural deficits that could worsen if not addressed early. The LAO urged the Legislature not to rely on optimistic revenue assumptions, recommended setting aside the Proposition 98 settle-up rather than spending it, continuing rainy-day fund deposits, and beginning to shrink multi-year deficits sooner rather than later. Committee members largely focused on the size of reserves, the timing of deficit solutions, and whether the administration should bring forward more detailed proposals before the May Revision so they can be publicly vetted. Members also raised a range of policy concerns. Topics included wildfire mitigation and home hardening, the shift of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund resources to Cal Fire and the loss of discretionary GGRF spending, transit funding, federal cuts and new state costs in CalFresh and Medi-Cal, the proposed sustainable aviation fuel tax credit, housing and homelessness accountability language, declining enrollment in K-12 and higher education, community college growth, CSU right-sizing, disability services reimbursement rates, wildfire and flood disaster recovery, and the closure of the California Rehabilitation Center alongside Prop. 36 funding. Finance staff responded that many of the federal cost increases are driven by H.R. 1, that the ZEV incentive is a response to the loss of the federal passenger-vehicle credit, that Prop. 36 funding remains in place through prior budget actions, and that the administration expects to continue working with the Legislature through subcommittee hearings and the May Revision.

Transcript Highlights:

• the budget, and we are very committed to the work of balancing the budget for the people of Minnesota
• And I think as we talk about balancing this budget, we can get lost in numbers, but the story has got
• the budget, and we are very committed to the work of balancing the budget for the people of Minnesota
• And I think as we talk about balancing this budget, we can get lost in numbers, but the story has got
• </c><00:01:48.880><c> the</c> work that we have to do to balance the work that we have to do to balance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all