Transcript Highlights:

• This consolidation will save our taxpayers millions in transportation, maintenance, and administrative
• <00:21:32.080><c> millions</c><00:21:32.640><c> in</c><00:21:32.880><c> transportation</c> taxpayers
• millions in transportation taxpayers millions in transportation maintenance<00:21:34.480><c> and</c><
• Our taxpayers in Lawrence County followed through with the understanding that our kids would receive
• Our taxpayers in Lawrence County followed through with the understanding that our kids would receive

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development met for an information-gathering session and opened by clarifying that the subcommittee would not be voting on budget requests. Because there was no quorum at first, the committee did not take up approval amendments. The first presentation focused on a budget request to incentivize national certification for school social workers and school psychologists. Rep. Vanessa Gracal, along with Amy Oats and Leslie Gilpin, argued for a $500,000 annual appropriation to provide $2,000 salary supplements to nationally certified school social workers and school psychologists working primarily in their certification areas. They said the stipend would help recruit and retain professionals amid shortages, noted that current Kentucky certification numbers are low, and explained the rigorous certification and renewal requirements. In response to questions, they said there is currently no appropriation for this purpose in HB 500 and none they were aware of in HB 6 in 2024. The next topic was school facility funding needs, led by Rep. Bob McCool, Johnson County Superintendent Tom Cochran, Commissioner of Education Robert Fletcher, and other district representatives. They described the “gap funding” issue for school construction projects that had already started before COVID-era inflation sharply increased costs. Johnson County and Harrison County were highlighted as examples of districts that had already committed local funds, passed nickel taxes, and begun construction but now need additional state support to finish projects. Speakers emphasized that many projects were audited and approved, that the state has already funded about half of the gap, and that roughly $130 million more is being sought in HB 500 to complete the remaining work. They stressed that unfinished projects would leave districts with half-built schools and that completing them would bring long-term savings and better facilities for students. The committee then turned to testimony from KASA representatives on the impacts of HB 500 as introduced. The witnesses discussed the importance of school psychology and school social work certification, the benefits of advanced training for student services, and the need to recognize and support highly qualified staff. A member asked whether HB 500 or HB 6 included an appropriation for the certification stipend, and the witnesses answered no. The meeting also included a motion to approve the minutes from the prior meeting once a quorum was present, and the minutes were approved by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, you know, taxpayers have got a right to see where their money's going, and that's all this is doing
• Now, you know, taxpayers have got a right to see where their money's going, and that's all this is doing
• </c> see where taxpayer dollars are going. see where taxpayer dollars are going.
• Now, Now, Now, you<00:30:40.159><c> know,</c><00:30:40.399><c> taxpayers</c><00:30:40.880><c> have</c
• have got a right to you know, taxpayers have got a right to see<00:30:41.679><c> where</c><00:30:41.840

Bills: SB23 , SB71 , SB105 , SB109 , SB115 , SB131 , SB148 , SB165 , SB23 , SB71 , SB105 , SB109 , SB115 , SB131 , SB148 , SB165

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: law enforcement, taser, restrained individuals, police procedures, civil rights, income tax, tax exemption, Alabama tax code, Section 40-18-3, civilian employees, Department of Defense, DoD, Armed Forces, military pay, combat zone, deployment, National Guard, Reserve components, emergency response, federal employees

Transcript Highlights:

• This unnecessary special election is expected to cost California taxpayers more than $230 million.
• —$230 million to taxpayers to have the special election.
• This unnecessary special election is expected to cost California taxpayers more than $230 million.
• This unnecessary, again, stated again, special election is expected to cost California taxpayers more
• We all know what he's doing to get national attention, but to hold hostage the taxpayers of California

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on August 20, 2025, and considered a large number of bills, with most of the discussion centered on election redistricting and several health, labor, environmental, and government-operations measures. The first major item was ACA 8, a constitutional amendment tied to a proposed November special election and temporary mid-decade congressional redistricting in response to partisan redistricting efforts in other states. Supporters, including Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, a 2020 redistricting commissioner, labor groups, and allies of the measure, argued it was necessary to defend democracy, protect representation, and respond to federal actions affecting California. Opponents, including Assemblymember Tom Lackey reading a statement for Assemblymember Gallagher and Assemblymember Dixon, argued the measure would undermine the independent redistricting commission, amount to a partisan power grab, and cost taxpayers roughly $230 million. Committee members also focused heavily on fiscal questions, including litigation costs and county election funding, and Department of Finance staff said counties would be made whole and funding would be advanced. The committee ultimately voted the measure out on a B roll call. The committee then heard SB 280, the implementing bill for the special election and related redistricting process. Supporters repeated the argument that California needed to respond to Texas and other states, while opponents again emphasized the cost, the strain on county budgets, and the state’s broader fiscal pressures. Department of Finance witnesses said the election funding would be provided in advance and that the state would work with counties and the Secretary of State. The bill was moved out on a roll call after extended debate. The committee also advanced several other bills, including SB 283 on battery storage safety standards, SB 470 extending remote participation and open-meeting flexibility for state boards and commissions, SB 697 modernizing stream adjudication procedures, SB 513 requiring more accessible employee training records, SB 30 restricting transfer of older diesel locomotives, SB 841 and SB 81 creating protections for vulnerable facilities and health care spaces from immigration enforcement, SB 358 revising traffic impact fee standards, and SB 630 streamlining state parks land acquisitions. Other measures discussed included SB 62 expanding health coverage benefits, SB 68 requiring restaurant allergen disclosures, and the committee heard both support and opposition on SB 68 from the California Restaurant Association and consumer advocates. Supporters of the health and immigrant-protection bills emphasized patient safety, reproductive health, immigrant rights, and access to care, while opponents on the restaurant bill warned of added mandates and litigation risk for small businesses. Across the hearing, committee members frequently returned to fiscal impacts, county implementation burdens, and whether the bills would save money, cost money, or shift costs to local governments. Several bills were reported out of committee, often on A or B roll calls, with some members not voting on particular measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• attached sounds more like a fleecing for Minnesota taxpayers.
• Taxpayers also currently pay to clean up and mitigate ag pollution issues through no fault of their own
• </c><00:24:51.520><c> over</c><00:24:51.760><c> 54</c> which has already cost taxpayers over 54 which
• has already cost taxpayers over 54 million<00:24:52.960><c> today</c><00:24:53.960><c> but</c><00:24
• also currently pay to clean up taxpayers also currently pay to clean up and<00:24:58.440><c> mitigate

Transcript Highlights:

• Having said that, it's also imperative to us that every taxpayer dollar that is spent in support of these
• But also ensuring that the taxpayers are being well-served, that the dollar we take from my electrician
• election way back, and I love your intense focus on ensuring that those who are hired and paid by taxpayer
• So if you want to save some taxpayers' money, look at that issue when I bring it up again.
• But I also know that I have a duty to the taxpayer who is funding those programs in significant numbers

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• is there any consideration or was there... ...any consideration about returning that money to the taxpayers
• the set aside for the Governor's Fund, the Governor's closing fund, and then $100 million for the taxpayer
• start with the first step, and I think what this is trying to do is signal not only to Oklahoma taxpayers
• So I think that the fact that we can maybe save the taxpayers of Oklahoma a million dollars by getting

Bills: SB1177 , HB3705 , SB1942 , SB2026 , SB1533 , SB1327 , SB2065 , SB2155 , SB2159

Keywords: education funding, mental health services, public safety, housing, state budget, tax credit, parental choice, private school, income tax, dental insurance, health care, medical necessity, insurance claims, dentist rights, military discharge, veterans, DD Form 214, confidentiality, grandchildren access, veteran burial

Transcript Highlights:

• legislature and partner institutions to make economic return, statewide impact, and accountability to taxpayers
• It devastates families, strains health care systems, and costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year
• It jeopardizes the taxpayer investment that has already been made.
• It jeopardizes the taxpayer investment that has already been made.

Summary: The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee held its final meeting of the 2026 session, opening a public hearing on Senate Bill 6321, which would authorize up to $6 billion in state general obligation bonds over six years and create the Washington Institute for Scientific Advancement within the Department of Commerce. Staff explained that the institute would oversee grants for scientific research and facilities, with the proposal requiring voter approval for the debt and institute creation. Senator Slatter, the prime sponsor, said the bill was intended to stabilize research funding in Washington in response to federal cuts and uncertainty, and noted it was modeled in part on similar efforts in California and Texas. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support. Representatives from Washington State University and the University of Washington described the state’s research enterprise as an economic engine and emphasized the importance of stable funding for jobs, innovation, and competitiveness. University of Washington witnesses said federal funding disruptions had reduced new NIH awards, cut student support, and threatened research programs in medicine, mental health, clean energy, forest resilience, and climate adaptation. Several early-career researchers and union members testified about personal impacts from grant terminations, furloughs, and delayed career transitions, arguing that the bill would help protect scientific work, workforce development, and public health outcomes in Washington. After closing the hearing on SB 6321, the committee moved into executive session. It voted do pass on Substitute House Bill 2525 and sent it to the Rules Committee. The committee also approved a slate of gubernatorial appointments for confirmation recommendation, and then adjourned after thanking staff and members for their work during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• It reduces costs for taxpayers, expands transit access for vulnerable Floridians, and treats public transit
• Transit agencies and taxpayers ultimately bear those costs, as contractors must factor it into their
• Transit agencies and taxpayers ultimately bear those costs, as contractors must factor it into their
• contractors could provide at a much more efficient, more economical price point, ultimately saving taxpayer

Bills: S0828 , S1274 , S1310 , S1378 , S1562

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Transportation Committee took up several measures and adopted amendments on multiple bills. SB 1274, as amended, removed a number of provisions from the original bill and added items including local authority to lower residential street speed limits, clarification on obscured license plates, FDOT funding for certain rural airport aviation projects, limits on yellow-light timing changes tied to red-light cameras, changes to private use of license plate readers, and other transportation-related revisions. After brief questions and supportive testimony, the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also approved SB 1310, which was converted into a study bill directing FDOT to study advanced detection and monitoring systems at public railroad crossings and report findings and policy options to the governor and legislature. Railroad industry testimony supported the study but raised concerns about interoperability with train safety systems and suggested the study consider additional safety tools such as red-light cameras and wayside horns. The committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. SB 828, as amended, would extend sovereign immunity protections to private contractors providing public transit services on behalf of governments, with supporters saying it would reduce costs and provide certainty for transit providers, while opponents warned it was an overbroad expansion of sovereign immunity and could conflict with railroad employee protections under federal law. The committee reported that bill favorably as well. The committee then passed SB 1378, which strengthens traffic enforcement by clarifying when vehicles may be treated as abandoned, adding penalties for unlawfully attached plates or stickers, and allowing forfeiture of vehicles used to flee law enforcement even without an immediate arrest. It also approved SB 1562, which aims to prevent manufacturers from concentrating sales of certain vehicle brands through a single dealer group and instead promote competition among independent dealers. In addition, the committee unanimously confirmed a slate of appointees, and members later recorded additional affirmative votes on several bills before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• so these scammy businesses that are committing this fraud, they're first of all, they're stealing taxpayer
• of all, this fraud, they're first of all, they're<00:04:18.560><c> stealing</c><00:04:18.880><c> taxpayer
• </c><00:04:19.440><c> dollars,</c><00:04:19.680><c> but</c> they're stealing taxpayer dollars, but they're
• stealing taxpayer dollars, but they're<00:04:20.079><c> stealing</c><00:04:20.880><c> uh</c><00:04:21.040

Summary: House DFL leader Stevenson said the tied House will require cooperation, noting the caucus has tried to model bipartisan work through co-chairs and that he has a good working relationship with Speaker Damuth. He highlighted the three new DFL special-election winners—Xp Lee, Shelley Buck, and Meg Luger-Nikolai—as bringing health, tribal leadership, nonprofit, labor, and education experience to the chamber. On policy, Stevenson said DFLers want to push back against certain federal immigration enforcement tactics, including masked officers and warrantless entries, and tied the issue to the murder of former Speaker Melissa Hortman. He also said the caucus will pursue gun restrictions such as bans on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, binary triggers, and ghost guns, while acknowledging that Republican leadership would need to allow a floor vote for any bill to advance. He added that DFLers are open to and will lead on fraud prevention, especially in programs serving vulnerable Minnesotans, and said those who steal public funds should face prison. Looking ahead to the second year of the biennium, Stevenson said he hopes for a large bonding bill focused on statewide infrastructure needs, but warned he will not support using bonding as leverage for unrelated policy concessions. He also said affordability will be a major focus, especially food, energy, housing, and health care costs, and argued Minnesota should try to counter rising premiums and hold insurers and pharmaceutical companies accountable.

Transcript Highlights:

• need to have their half-year tax rate now, seeing that the bills are going out to all us property taxpayers
• bills are going out to all<00:04:44.080><c> us</c><00:04:44.320><c> property</c><00:04:44.800><c> taxpayers
• </c><00:04:45.919><c> effective</c><00:04:46.479><c> July</c> all us property taxpayers effective July
• all us property taxpayers effective July 1,<00:04:47.759><c> 2025.

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 718 met to reconcile House and Senate language. Members discussed two main parts of the bill: provisions requiring the Department of Education to report on rules that exceed state or federal requirements, including any fiscal impact on school districts, and language related to the new Pasquaney school district and its tax-rate setting timeline. Conferees said they were agreeable to the Senate’s additions on reporting and the handling of indeterminable fiscal impacts. The group focused on a House amendment, 2725H, which made two technical changes to the Senate language: adding the word “certified” to align with existing statutory language and changing the bill’s effective date to “upon passage” so the Department of Revenue Administration could act in time. A further clarification was proposed to specify July 1, 2025, for the tax-rate language, and members agreed to that change as well. There was some concern raised that the bill’s underlying special education implications could have indeterminate fiscal effects on school districts, and one member said that without a fiscal note they could not support it. After discussion, the House members voted in favor of the three changes, the Senate member present also supported them, and the chair announced the result as effectively unanimous. The committee then said the report would be drafted and the bill would move forward, with HB 102 mentioned as another item to be placed on consent.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the taxpayer is certainly free to claim any tax credit in the code to the furthest extent allowed.
• Um it can be tough to figure out specifically what credit is being claimed unless the taxpayer is audited
• So just because a taxpayer has that amount of gross income doesn't necessarily mean that it's going to
• </c> you're asking is just because a taxpayer you're asking is just because a taxpayer has<01:01:59.119
• would respond to these how how taxpayers would respond to these changes?

Bills: HB2488 , HB2456

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HP 1972, which would create a nonrefundable family caregiver tax credit, and on a related tax measure to increase the existing dependent care tax credit. Supporters of HP 1972, including AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and others, said unpaid caregivers are essential to keeping kūpuna and other loved ones at home and described significant out-of-pocket costs. The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation raised technical concerns, including the need to avoid overlap with existing credits and to prevent double-dipping. The department said taxpayers can claim credits to the extent allowed, but recommended explicit language barring the same costs from being claimed under more than one credit. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair moved the bill along after questions. The committee then heard HP 1975, which would repeal the sunset on the state rent supplement program for kūpuna. AARP, Catholic Charities Hawaii, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the program permanent, saying it helps low-income older adults avoid eviction and homelessness and allows them to remain in affordable housing. Catholic Charities described clients who were paying unsustainable shares of income for rent before receiving the supplement. Members also shared a constituent example of an elderly retiree who needed the subsidy to stay housed. Written support was noted from additional organizations and individuals. Next, the committee took up HB 1706, which would expand Medicaid prospective payment reimbursement to include mental health services furnished in federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics by mental health professionals under supervision. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, and DHS said it appreciated the intent to address workforce shortages and expand training, but cautioned that unlicensed professionals cannot currently bill Medicaid and that a state plan amendment would be needed, with limited precedent for approval. Members asked about the likelihood and timing of federal approval and whether the bill could help rural areas; DHS said approval is uncertain and the process can take time, though it saw possible alignment with the state’s rural health transformation efforts. The committee also discussed HB 546, a three-year health coverage continuity pilot program for people losing Medicaid coverage. DHS, the Attorney General’s office, DCCA, Catholic Charities, the University of Hawaii, and others testified, with DHS warning that federal changes could increase uninsured rates and that the state may need to act quickly. Catholic Charities and others emphasized the risk to Medicaid recipients, including homeless and near-elderly residents, while DHS explained the state’s existing premium assistance program for certain immigrants and compared it to the proposed pilot. The excerpt ends during discussion of that comparison, with no vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> school two blocks away at taxpayer school two blocks away at taxpayer expense<01:04:39.720><c> outside
• We have a responsibility to our residents, our constituents, and our taxpayers, and I think this doesn't
• and I think you know this taxpayers and I think you know this doesn't<01:15:41.520><c> end</c><01:15
• </c><01:16:11.199><c> money</c><01:16:11.960><c> but</c> of looking after the taxpayers money but of
• So not only are taxpayers funding a program that, by design, is allowed to take 10%... manage it within

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:11:04.800><c> so</c> overburdensome for County taxpayers so overburdensome for County taxpayers
• We, of course, can't stop out-of-state contractors from bidding on our taxpayer-funded projects, but
• <01:17:18.080><c> funded</c> taxpayer funded taxpayer funded projects<01:17:20.239><c> uh</c><01:17:20.320
• that we should paid for by the taxpayers that we should procure<01:18:03.199><c> the</c><01:18:03.320
• </c><01:18:08.400><c> shouldn't</c><01:18:08.840><c> be</c> for the by the taxpayers shouldn't be for

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Taxpayers will foot that bill.
• It's on the back of American taxpayers.
• It is something that's created, it's funded by the taxpayers.
• It is something that's created, it's funded by the taxpayers.
• </c> taxpayer dollars. Let's sound the alarm. taxpayer dollars. Let's sound the alarm.

Bills: HR1300 , HB2616 , HB1993 , HCR86 , SB1003 , SB2393 , HB5317 , HB4544 , HB3234 , HR1299

Keywords: H.Res. 1300, HR1300, rules resolution, House Rules Committee, veterans affairs, VA, NICS, National Instant Criminal Background Check System, firearms background check, gun control, veteran privacy, Department of Justice, disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, DIC, veterans benefits, Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum, National Mall, House procedure, floor consideration

Transcript Highlights:

• Taxpayers' money, let the taxpayers go look at it. I'm here today in this committee because Rep.
• And for the people, the taxpayers, to be able to see that. And everyone knows it's a public record.
• So the public can go—the taxpayers, they're paying this money—can go look and see what's there.
• What happens would be that taxpayer could go to that committee, bring it up, and ask them about it.
• We're talking about taxpayer dollars that we paid, and nobody's communicating with us.

Summary: The committee first considered HB 431, which would require annual training for municipal mayors. After adopting a technical amendment adding municipal retirement systems to the training categories, members heard testimony from the bill author and Louisiana Municipal Association (LMA) officials that the measure would require 16 hours of annual training, count existing ethics/harassment/cybersecurity requirements toward that total, allow online and in-person options, and impose no penalty other than public audit disclosure of compliance. The bill was favorably reported. Members then heard HB 150, authorizing Cameron Parish to create a local insurance program to help residents recover and repopulate after hurricanes without state funding. Testimony emphasized that the program would be locally funded and likely function as a subsidy or premium offset rather than a standalone insurer. The bill was favorably reported. HB 822, dealing with nonprofit entities appointing members to certain economic development district boards, was also favorably reported after discussion of an amendment to set a two-year forfeiture period for noncompliant nonprofits. The committee then took up HB 204, which would require monthly financial reports from certain East Baton Rouge Parish agencies to the Legislative Auditor. After an amendment removing the Council on Aging, testimony from CATS, BREC, and the auditor focused on whether the information was already public, the burden of monthly bank-statement reporting, and whether bank statements would expose sensitive information. Members ultimately agreed to voluntarily defer the bill for further work. The committee also favorably reported HB 136 on Harahan classified police hiring, HB 376 extending provisional appointment timeframes in civil service, HB 377 changing pay-range rules for the State Examiner and Deputy Examiner, HB 450 clarifying veterans’ points in fire and police civil service exams, HB 273 repealing a duplicate local tax statute, HB 1068 on garbage collection contract terms, and HB 864 allowing New Orleans to establish fire limits in certain state-right-of-way areas to address bridge fires. The transcript ends as HB 444 on adding commissioners to the East Baton Rouge Recreation and Park Commission was being introduced.

Transcript Highlights:

• Modern government should work better for workers, for taxpayers, and for the Californians that rely on
• And that is important for all Californians and all California taxpayers.
• AB 2367 gives us the information we need to do better for patients, workers, and taxpayers.
• , unions, and the public to determine whether outsourcing is being used appropriately or whether taxpayer
• , and I ask for your support. ...district to again use taxpayer dollars the most efficiently, and I ask

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to public employment. AB 1601, by Assemblymember Rogers, would give Sonoma County flexibility to work with its retirement board and actuaries on a possible retiree cost-of-living adjustment; supporters said Sonoma is the only 1937 Act county system without an automatic COLA and that retirees have gone since 2008 without an increase, while no opposition testified. The bill passed on a do-pass vote and was placed on the floor. AB 1729, by Assemblymember Lee, would update state telework policy by requiring written telework plans, adding more structure before return-to-office decisions, and restoring public reporting on telework savings. Supporters, including SEIU Local 1000, the Association of California State Supervisors, and many state workers, argued telework improves productivity, reduces emissions and commute costs, and could save the state about $225 million annually; there was no opposition. The committee approved the bill 6-0 and re-referred it to Appropriations. AB 1630, by Assemblymember Colosa, would allow union representatives to invite bargaining-unit members to observe meet-and-confer sessions, including remotely, to increase transparency and engagement. UC and CSU opposed the measure, saying observer rules should be negotiated at the table and warning the bill lacked clear limits on the number of observers and could create logistical and security problems. The bill passed 5-0 with one member not voting and was sent to Appropriations. AB 1750, also by Assemblymember Colosa, would require school employees who exhaust sick leave and are absent due to illness or injury to receive full salary for an additional five months. CTA supported the bill as a needed safety net for teachers and classified staff, while school districts and administrators opposed it over cost, staffing, and student stability concerns, saying it could encourage longer absences and strain already tight budgets. The committee passed the bill 5-0 and sent it to Higher Education. AB 1896, by Assemblymember Gonzalez, would bar people who participated in immigration enforcement from holding California public employment, with supporters framing it as a response to ICE and Border Patrol actions and opponents warning it was overbroad and could exclude otherwise qualified applicants from law enforcement jobs; the bill passed 5-1 and was referred to Public Safety.

Transcript Highlights:

• Modern government should work better for workers, for taxpayers, and for the Californians that rely on
• And that is important for all Californians and all California taxpayers.
• AB 2367 gives us the information we need to do better for patients, workers, and taxpayers.
• , unions, and the public to determine whether outsourcing is being used appropriately or whether taxpayer
• , and I ask for your support. ...the district to again use taxpayer dollars the most efficiently, and

Committee: House Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:

• Each tax credit is capped at $20,000 per taxpayer.
• This amendment is being offered because of a lawsuit against a fire district that did use taxpayer funds
• This amendment is being offered because of a lawsuit against a fire district that did use taxpayer funds
• The idea that a special district funded by taxpayer dollars should be able to spend taxpayer dollars
• “There are many constituents and many taxpayers who may not have a primary language of English.

Summary: The chamber first established a quorum, then moved through House Bills for Perfection. The first major measure discussed was House Bill 305, which would set policies for reconsideration of library materials in public and school libraries, require appeals processes, and prohibit tracking or retaining personalized user data, especially for minors. Supporters framed it as a local-control and parental-rights bill that largely codifies existing library practices, while some members raised concerns about the privacy language and whether materials should be removed during reconsideration. After discussion, the House adopted the committee substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. Members then took up House Bills 2366 and 2511, a bipartisan construction-industry bill aimed at combating illegal labor and off-the-books hiring. The bill would give the Attorney General more investigative authority, including subpoena power, require complaints to be made by affidavit, and impose stronger penalties on violators. Supporters said it would protect law-abiding contractors and workers and level the playing field, while some members asked about possible overreach and whether the bill could be used against businesses unfairly. The substitute was adopted and the bills were ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 2409 followed, proposing child care tax credits for contributions to providers, employer assistance, and provider expansion; it was presented as a response to Missouri’s child care shortage and workforce challenges. Members from both parties largely supported it as an economic and family policy, though one member noted the bill’s fiscal cost and contrasted it with recent budget cuts to child care subsidies. The House adopted the substitute and ordered the bill perfected and printed. The chamber also considered House Bill 1885, which makes changes to the Missouri Clean Water Commission by adjusting membership qualifications and conflict-of-interest rules to make appointments easier while adding recusal procedures. Members said the changes would help fill vacancies and bring in knowledgeable members, and the bill was ordered perfected and printed. House Bill 2658 addressed telephony laws, expanding the no-call list to any phone subscriber, adding anti-spoofing provisions, and creating penalties for caller ID spoofing; an amendment adding misdemeanor penalties for spoofing was adopted, and the bill was then perfected and printed. House Bill 1919 would require more employers to file certain tax withholding documents electronically, aligning state practice with IRS rules; it passed with support and was ordered perfected and printed. Finally, House Bill 1871, an omnibus elections bill, proposed several election administration changes, including electronic receipt of notices, shifting filing deadlines away from holidays, expanding testing windows for voting equipment, protecting the confidentiality of the permanently disabled voter list, requiring tax compliance for certain local candidates, and tightening write-in candidate rules. A key amendment removed an expansion of no-excuse absentee voting to keep the fiscal note at zero; that amendment was debated at length and then adopted before the bill moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm sitting here thinking about how taxpayer dollars should be used.
• I think there's some misuse of taxpayer dollars here.
• But the question is, how should we be using our taxpayer dollars in those settings?
• And I think we're misusing taxpayer dollars.
• positions, taxpayer dollars, whether it's majority political positions, minority political positions

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• As taxpayers' money is going into this project, the taxpayers should benefit from it through training
• It would be a burden on taxpayers to decouple from that. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• It would be a burden on taxpayers to decouple from that. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• And we also took pains to make sure there's language that the taxpayer making the donation has...
• We also took pains to make sure there's language that the taxpayer making the donation has to be arm's

Summary: The Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee heard and voted on several bills, beginning with SB 190, which would authorize revenue bonds for Gila Regional Medical Center to replace an aging linear accelerator for cancer treatment. The sponsor and hospital representatives said the project is critical for rural patients who otherwise travel long distances for radiation therapy. After a brief amendment changing the bond term from 20 to 30 years, the committee advanced the bill 7-0. The committee then took up SB 152, a broadband affordability and rural telecommunications bill that would keep money in the broadband fund for maintenance, expansion, and a new affordability program after the federal ACP lapsed. The sponsor and broadband stakeholders said the bill is needed to close the digital divide, while some industry witnesses supported the affordability goal but wanted changes to broaden eligibility and adjust program rules. The committee heard public testimony from supporters and opponents, then passed the bill 8-0. Next, SB 77 would require certain highway and public works contractors to contribute to apprenticeship training funds; labor groups supported it as workforce development, while highway and asphalt contractors opposed it as an added cost and argued they already run their own training programs. After extended debate about whether the 60-cent-per-hour contribution would raise project costs or simply redirect existing prevailing-wage funds, the committee advanced SB 77 on a 5-3 vote. The committee also heard SB 182, a dyed diesel gross receipts tax deduction for agricultural use, but held it for the tax package without a vote. SB 151, a corporate income tax decoupling bill intended to recover revenue lost to federal tax changes, drew strong support from tax and advocacy groups and strong opposition from business, oil and gas, and chamber representatives who called it a tax increase that would hurt investment and competitiveness. Committee members raised concerns about long-term revenue stability and business impacts, but the sponsors said the bill would restore state tax capacity and selectively decouple from federal provisions; the bill was held for later consideration in the tax package. Finally, the committee heard SB 133 on eliminating gross receipts tax on medical providers for medical equipment and supplies, and SB 212 on a ski-area construction equipment gross receipts tax exemption, with sponsors arguing both would improve competitiveness and support industry investment; both were discussed as possible tax-package items and held for further consideration.