Transcript Highlights:

• For your purposes, appropriations doesn't begin for a month, so you can rest a little bit.
• your purposes, appropriations For your purposes, appropriations doesn't<00:15:07.839> begin<00
• Education will meet 5 minutes after appropriations this afternoon in Room 216.
• this afternoon in room appropriations this afternoon in room 216. 216. 216.
• . appropriations. appropriations.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 6 January, 2026; 12:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The Mississippi Senate convened on January 6, 2026, with a quorum present and opened the session with an invocation by Pastor Jonathan Vasquez and the Pledge of Allegiance. The chamber then administered the oath of office to newly elected and reelected senators, reaffirming their constitutional duties. After that, the Senate organized for the session by nominating and electing Jimmy Jordan as sergeant-at-arms by acclamation, followed by his oath of office. The Senate also recognized several guests and pages, including senior pages Caleb Bierman and Walter Townsend, Dr. Catherine Penhal as doctor of the day, Gerald Mumford, Jackson Mayor John Horhn, Jean Frazier, Mayor Uta Peterson, and Angela Simpson. Members offered multiple announcements and adjournment-in-memory requests honoring several deceased individuals and family members, including Ronnie Massey, Kathy Luke, Jimmy Alexander, Matt McElhaney, Sandra Farr Aiken, Amy Nixon Jackson, Robert L. Bobby Butler, John Buckman, Bonnie L. Monroe, Louis Smith, Davis Gray, David Wayne McClendon, Wells Warren McClendon, Shepherd Thomas McClendon, Yancey Burns, Dorothy Shackelford Stanfill, and Buddy Hollowell. The Senate also announced committee meetings: Public Health would meet after adjournment, Appropriations would meet 10 minutes after recess in Room 216, and Education would meet 5 minutes after Appropriations in Room 216. Finally, Senator Blackwell moved that the Senate stand in recess until 5:00 p.m., with the journal reflecting adjournment until 10:00 a.m. the next morning; the motion passed and the Senate recessed.

Transcript Highlights:

• To run it appropriately as a state cemetery.
• The other appropriation is for conducting a comp and class study.
• We changed that last year and appropriated some money.
• We're utilizing the funds that are appropriated by this body.
• You appropriate it to Zuni, and they spend it.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in the Appropriations Act, it says, At the local level.
• That's in the Appropriations Act. Okay. 3.092 mills. That's in the Appropriations Act.
• That's in the Appropriations Act. That's something the Legislature fixes.
• They find it more appropriate.
• If they are not able to get the appropriate vote, they may vote a lower millage rate with the appropriate

Summary: The Select Committee on Property Taxes met for an educational session focused on how Florida funds public schools and how property taxes are assessed and levied. Dr. Jim Zengali of the Department of Revenue explained the FEFP school funding formula, noting that it is built on weighted student counts, a base student allocation, and programmatic add-ons such as transportation, exceptional student education, school safety, and mental health. He said school funding is roughly split between state general revenue and local property taxes through required local effort, with additional discretionary and capital outlay millages contributing to total school funding. He also described the Department of Revenue’s role in certifying property rolls at fair market value and reviewing them for substantial compliance, including the so-called “nuclear option” if a roll is not approved. Members asked about trends in millage rates, county-by-county funding differences, the effect of growth and enrollment changes, and how property appraisals are reviewed. Zengali said aggregate millage for school funding has declined over the last decade while revenues have still increased, and he agreed to provide additional data on county trends, parcel strata, student growth, and enrollment impacts. He also clarified that school funding is equalized so students receive similar resources regardless of county wealth, and that federal funding plays only a small role in the FEFP. Amy Baker of the Joint Legislative Office of Economic and Demographic Research then discussed existing homestead benefits. She said about half of Florida’s parcels are homestead properties, most fall in the $250,000 to $500,000 value range, and many seniors without mortgages pay property taxes in lump sums rather than through escrow. Baker explained that Florida’s homestead tax burden is middle-of-the-pack nationally and that the main benefits are Save Our Homes and portability on the differential side, plus the $25,000 homestead exemption and related exemptions on the exemption side. She said these benefits reduce taxable value substantially, with homestead properties receiving a large share of the reductions, and noted that the committee requested follow-up data on exemption usage, portability timing, senior exemptions, and county-level patterns. The final presentation, by Lizette Kelly of the Department of Revenue, covered millage rates and the TRIM process. She reviewed the history of truth-in-millage notices, required taxpayer mailings, public hearing notices, and later changes that tied local millage resets to rollback and majority-vote rates. Kelly explained the difference between proposed and adopted millage, the rollback rate, and the majority-vote rate, and described how taxing authorities include counties, cities, special districts, and MSTUs. She also outlined how county taxable value is calculated from just value through assessment differentials and exemptions, and how certain exemptions, such as the additional senior exemption, apply only to the taxing authority that adopted them. No votes were taken during the meeting, but members requested several follow-up data reports for later discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you know what you appropriated last year? Less than $5 million.
• Um, the legislature appropriated $4.7 million and, um, in the 2025 legislative session, um.
• We weren't successful in that, and again we received $4.7 million of an appropriation.
• We'd love a champion or two to help us out with House Appropriations and Senate Finance.
• I think that's probably the appropriate way of going, and I know LFC now will bring in.

Transcript Highlights:

• So their base appropriation was just over $1 million per year, and it goes up to 1.597.
• <00:10:15.839> in not receive any direct appropriations in not receive any direct appropriations
• little over $3 million from a fiscal year 25 appropriation.
• And then in fiscal year appropriation.
• <00:14:29.600> and um a $400,000 base appropriation and um a $400,000 base appropriation and

Bills: HF2438

Keywords: transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school

Transcript Highlights:

• I asked that question of the Senate Appropriations Chair.
• I had conversations with the Senate Appropriations Chair about it.
• And one important way that we do that is through appropriation.
• And it isn't just about appropriating. It's about funding.
• And so it would be my hope, maybe next year, maybe next fiscal year, that we could appropriate the appropriate

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the previous day’s journal, and a series of special guest introductions recognizing family members, interns, students, public servants, and community advocates. Committee reports and Senate messages followed, including Senate refusals to concur on a large number of amendments to Senate Bill 1421 and the appointment of a conference committee on House Bill 2818. The main floor action centered on the state budget, especially House Bill 2 (public education). The budget chair explained the conference report’s funding mix for K-12 schools, including $8.4 billion for public education, changes to the foundation formula, use of blind pension funds, and possible ARPA dollars later in the process. Members debated whether the report underfunded schools by $45 million or more, with opponents arguing the state was not fully funding the formula and supporters saying total school funding remained at record levels and that the issue was the source of funds rather than the total amount. A substitute motion to send HB 2 back to conference failed 62-89, and the conference report was then adopted 83-68; the bill was third read and passed 83-68. The House then took up House Bill 2003 on higher education, where the conference report largely restored the governor’s recommendation and directed the department to develop a new funding formula by the end of the year. Members discussed performance-based funding, scholarships, apprenticeships, and the need for a slower transition to any new model. The conference report passed 119-28, and the bill was third read and passed 109-32. House Bill 2004, covering Revenue and Transportation, included about $20 million for rural roads and other transportation funding; members discussed constitutional concerns, MoDOT projects, and a small local safety fix. The conference report passed 128-21, and the bill was third read and passed 127-27.

Transcript Highlights:

• That one’s off to the Appropriations Committee.
• That one’s off to the Appropriations Committee.
• That one’s off to the Appropriations Committee.
• That moves on to Appropriations.
• That moves on to Appropriations.

Summary: The committee heard several public safety and criminal justice bills. AB 837 by Assemblymember Davies would add ketamine transportation to existing drug trafficking law; supporters, including district attorneys and peace officer groups, said it would address a growing and dangerous drug trend, while opponents argued increased penalties do not reduce drug supply and can worsen health harms. The bill was approved on a due-pass-as-amended vote and sent to Appropriations. AB 352 by Assemblymember Pacheco would make threats against judges and court commissioners an aggravating factor in sentencing; judicial and law enforcement groups supported it as a response to rising threats, while ACLU and criminal justice advocates said existing law already covers threats and the bill is unnecessary. It also passed to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 938 by Assemblymember Bonta, which expands vacatur and affirmative-defense relief for survivors of human trafficking, intimate partner violence, and sexual violence, including for some violent offenses. Survivors and advocates testified that the bill would allow people coerced into crimes to tell their full stories and seek relief, while district attorneys and sheriffs warned it could sweep too broadly and affect public safety. The chair and several members strongly supported the measure, and it passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 475 by Assemblymember Wilson would make prison work assignments voluntary and is tied to a broader effort to remove involuntary servitude language from the state constitution; supporters framed it as a rehabilitation and dignity issue, while one member objected to the premise and cited the defeat of a related ballot measure. The bill was voted out to Appropriations but left on call pending additional votes. Assemblymember Lowenthal presented AB 704, which would allow people convicted of low-level offenses before age 26 to petition to seal and destroy records after a waiting period. Supporters said the bill addresses the limits of expungement in the digital age and recognizes young adult brain development; prosecutors and police groups raised Brady/disclosure concerns and objected to treating 18- to 25-year-olds like children. The committee debated those issues at length before sending the bill to Appropriations. Lowenthal also presented AB 812, which would expand resentencing opportunities for incarcerated firefighters who serve on conservation fire crews; supporters emphasized rehabilitation, wildfire response, and reduced recidivism, and the hearing continued with support testimony and the start of opposition testimony as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• comfortable leaving the appropriation comfortable leaving the appropriation open<00:59:37.760>
• Another table here on appropriations: again, 2010-2011 was the first year I can find a specific appropriation
• Another table here on appropriations: again, 2010-2011 was the first year I can find a specific appropriation
• Another table here on appropriations: again, 2010-2011 was the first year I can find a specific appropriation
• <01:24:21.719> are then for any future Appropriations are then for any future Appropriations

Bills: HF601, HF271, HF1101, HF979

Keywords: agriculture, depredation compensation, livestock, crop damage, elk, wolves, wildlife management, skills path program, career and technical education, CTE, dual credit, postsecondary options enrollment, apprenticeship, apprenticeship readiness, dual training, work-based learning, career pathways, skilled trades, workforce development, high school to career

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill states that salary increases appropriated are considered a financial urgency and provides for
• Mind you, we appropriated $1.4 billion in this budget for teacher raises.
• What we appropriate for raises for any public employees does not prohibit collective bargaining over
• So it's not just limited; like in this year's budget, we appropriated.
• When the legislature appropriates, what is the average amount that the legislature is appropriating for

Transcript Highlights:

• It appropriates $100 million from the general fund to the special revenue fund account, the hourly worker
• So just funding the amounts needed uh to pay for the difference between the $100 million appropriation
• that's that $100 million appropriation that's that $100 million appropriation in<00:02:39.120>
• <00:02:42.720> It<00:02:43.040> appropriates<00:02:43.760> $100 general fund
• It appropriates $100 general fund.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If you go on to the next slide, it's the appropriations that we've had.
• last year, that special appropriation of $200 million.
• Appropriations, Senate Finance for the trust and support in us as we've moved forward.
• We have the special appropriation.
• The agency will also seek a supplemental appropriation to cover FY 26.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 3 is a series of appropriation Section 3 is a series of appropriation extensions.<00:09:
• $469,000 left of that appropriation.
• page 10, does extend the appropriations page 10, does extend the appropriations for<00:37:37.320
• with the extension of the appropriation with the extension of the appropriation for<00:37:50.240
• appropriation and the the date change. appropriation and the the date change.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is your sense that the ongoing Prop. 98 is appropriate? Is it conservative?
• So the LCFF on the K-12 side is continuously appropriated.
• Thank you, and happy to take any questions at the appropriate time. Thank you all.
• Provisional language for both appropriations was inadvertently removed during...
• So we don't see any urgency for making those appropriations at this time.

Summary: The committee heard an overview of the May Revision’s Proposition 98 changes for K-12 and community colleges. The Department of Finance said the minimum guarantee rises by $6.4 billion over the Governor’s Budget across the three-year window, with higher guarantees in each year, full payment of the prior settle-up, and larger deposits into the school rainy-day fund. The LAO said the revenue and LCFF updates were reasonable, but urged caution about the settle-up approach and recommended using more of the available funding to protect ongoing programs and build budget resilience. Members focused heavily on the size of the proposed $3.9 billion settle-up, the $10.3 billion reserve deposit, declining K-12 enrollment, and how much of the new funding should be ongoing versus one-time. The committee then reviewed the community colleges portion of the budget. Finance described the May Revision’s higher SCFF COLA, additional funding for enrollment growth, a student support block grant, apprenticeship adjustments, and continued funding for deferred maintenance, Calbright, Common Cloud, and credit for prior learning. The Chancellor’s Office supported the core investments but asked for more funding for enrollment growth, changes to the growth formula, and a COLA for Student Equity and Achievement. The LAO recommended prioritizing the statutory COLA increase, noted that more than half of districts are already above current-year growth targets, and said the new adult learner demonstration project should be rejected because districts already have tools to support similar services. Members also discussed a $52 million current-year apportionment shortfall, which Finance said was discovered too late for the May Revision and would need to be addressed later. Finally, the committee took up the proposed implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. Finance proposed one-time funding for the California Student Aid Commission and Cradle to Career to build eligibility and data systems, along with trailer bill changes to set up state approval processes. CSAC said the program is promising but highly complex, that California lacks the needed infrastructure, and that the state will need emergency regulations, data linkages, and ongoing funding beyond the one-time proposal. The LAO agreed that some initial funding is needed but warned that the amounts and ongoing costs remain uncertain and that the Legislature should carefully draft the trailer bill language. Members asked about timing, other states’ actions, and how the state would ensure the program is ready for students and institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• to appropriate it, or if the appropriators don't appropriate it, to just take it from somewhere else
• don't or if the appropriators don't appropriate<01:45:46.320> it, appropriate it, appropriate
• <01:53:27.960> bill Where the line the appropriation bill Where the line the appropriation
• going to say what's appropriate? going to say what's appropriate?
• . appropriates. appropriates.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 31 March, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, received an invocation from Dr. Reginald Anderson, and recited the pledge of allegiance. The journal and committee reports were dispensed with by voice vote. Early in the meeting, senators also introduced guests, including Dr. Adrian Gilliam Pierre as doctor of the day and several school groups and community visitors in the galleries. A major portion of the session was devoted to recognizing student athletes and coaches through commendation resolutions. The Senate honored the Northside High School Gators boys basketball team for winning its first Class 2A state championship, the Morton High School Panthers boys basketball team for winning the 2025 Class 4A title, East Rankin Academy teams for multiple championships, Simpson County Academy’s boys cross country team and Lily Overby, Brookhaven Academy’s fast-pitch softball team, and several other schools and programs. The chamber also recognized Mississippi artist Castro Coleman (Mr. Sipp) for his music contributions, and later introduced the Meridian High School Choir, Brookhaven Academy fifth graders, and David Hoke, who has delivered Bibles to all 50 state legislatures. The Senate then took up nominations and approved three by advise-and-consent: Kent Gerard Nico to the Mississippi Hospital Equipment and Facilities Authority, Marcus Jones Martin to the State Tax Appeals Board, and Keith Allen Williams Jr. to the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation. After that, Senator Kirby moved to suspend the rules and take up a large block of commending resolutions, which the Senate agreed to consider together. The block included numerous resolutions honoring schools, athletes, educators, and community figures, and the Senate agreed to proceed to final passage by roll call with no objection noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Second reading of bills: HB 4138, General Appropriation; HB 4139, Amusements; HB 4140, Implementation
• ; HB 4141, Appropriations; HB 4142, Commerce; HB 4143, Criminal Justice; HB 4144, Environment; HB 4145
• I move that the Appropriations Committee amendment to Senate Bill 1118 be adopted. Thank you, sir.
• I move that the Gress floor amendment to the Appropriations Committee amendment be adopted.
• Of the scope that is appropriate for naturopaths and what they're trained in doing.

Summary: The House met in regular session, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the prior journal, and recognized several guests and personal privileges, including introductions of students and family members. The chamber also took up a motion to request the Senate return SB 1160 for reconsideration, and then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider measures on the calendar. In Committee of the Whole, members considered SB 1118, SB 1178, and SB 1419. SB 1118 received an appropriations committee amendment and a floor amendment related to balancing housing affordability with historic preservation, and was recommended do pass as amended. SB 1178, dealing with naturopathic medicine accreditation and scope issues, drew debate: supporters said it would protect patient access and provider supply by updating accreditation-related definitions, while opponents argued it expanded scope too far and sidestepped federal accreditation concerns; the bill was ultimately recommended do pass as amended. SB 1419, concerning solar energy devices and disclosure protections for residential, multifamily, commercial, and industrial units, was also amended and recommended do pass as amended. SB 1497 was retained on the calendar. The House then entered an additional Committee of the Whole for SB 1242 and SB 1270. SB 1242, which allows audio and audio-visual technology for mental health evaluations or treatment hearings, was amended to modify the definition of a mental health treatment agency and recommended do pass as amended. SB 1270 also received a floor amendment and was recommended do pass as amended. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole and additional Committee of the Whole reports, properly engrossing SB 1118, SB 1178, SB 1419, SB 1242, and SB 1270, while retaining SB 1497. On third reading, the House passed SB 1162, SB 1274, SB 1426, SB 1552, and SB 1814. SB 1814, which establishes a substance use disorder treatment standards and oversight study committee, drew remarks in support of a study committee to address fraud, waste, abuse, and treatment reform. The House also announced upcoming committee and caucus meetings and adjourned until 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• health service as appropriate.
• Behavioral health services are certainly nowhere near funded appropriately.
• near funded appropriately.
• It had not been appropriated. So can we talk about that?
• It was appropriated for a specific purpose.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on AB 988 implementation and suicide prevention in California Indian communities. Members and the chairs emphasized that 988 was intended to create a behavioral health crisis system with “someone to call, someone to come, and somewhere to go,” and then turned to the disproportionate suicide burden facing Native youth and the need for culturally responsive outreach and services. Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan, the bill’s author, said the law has already saved lives but argued that key parts of the system—especially interoperability between 911 and 988, mobile crisis dispatch, and adequate funding—are not yet working as intended. The first panel of stakeholders and call center leaders largely said California’s 988 network is underfunded and not fully integrated. Speakers from the Steinberg Institute and 988 California said call, text, and chat demand has grown sharply, but staffing and funding have not kept pace, leaving text/chat answer rates far below the state’s goals and sending many contacts to out-of-state backup centers. They also said mobile crisis teams are not being dispatched through 988 statewide, and that the state’s current governance and funding structure is too fragmented. WellSpace Health and other providers described 988 as the “front door” to crisis care, urged more stable funding, and recommended broader use of the CCBHC model to support mobile crisis and behavioral health infrastructure. San Joaquin County offered a local success story, describing a countywide crisis continuum that links 988, mobile crisis, behavioral health access lines, and follow-up services through warm handoffs and coordinated outreach. County officials said the model has reduced reliance on emergency departments and involuntary holds, and they noted that local partnerships and repeated community meetings were key to implementation. Members asked about staffing, tribal outreach, and how to make the system more measurable and interoperable; panelists said staffing projections should be based on actual call volume and contact length, and that tribal-specific outreach has often depended on temporary grant funding. State officials from CalHHS and DHCS then described the five-year implementation plan, the roles of multiple agencies, and current performance data. They said California’s 988 system has handled more than 74,000 contacts in a recent month, with in-state answer rates of 87% for calls and lower rates for chats and texts, and that unanswered contacts are routed to backup centers. They highlighted training efforts, LGBTQ+ competency work after the end of the federal “Press 3” option, and efforts to improve reimbursement for mobile crisis services. No formal votes or committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can see for fiscal year 26-27, the DE reduces general fund appropriations by just over 55 million
• I will also note there are a couple of changes to special revenue funds that don't have appropriation
• <00:02:50.720> by<00:02:51.520> uh um general fund appropriations by uh um general
• That is included, um, appropriations.
• an appropriation from the legislature. an appropriation from the legislature.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• use a tourism appropriately use a tourism appropriately Mahalo<00:42:43.200> thank<00:42:
• An appropriate notice will be posted.
• Would you need any appropriation or other support to execute a pilot program?
• <01:27:26.480> funds obligation bonds and appropriates funds obligation bonds and appropriates
• Building Materials in Havi appropriates Building Materials in Havi appropriates funds<01:33:44.760

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Agriculture and Food Systems and Tourism hearing focused on HB 189 and HB 966, both dealing with agricultural tourism. HB 189 would require counties to adopt ordinances governing review and permitting of agricultural tourism as secondary uses on working farms, require the principal agricultural use to pre-exist any tourism-related permit, and limit ag tourism to land where productive agriculture is occurring. HB 966 would create statewide uniform standards for agricultural tourism, require county registration of activities, require ag tourism to coexist with agricultural activity on a farming operation, and end the tourism use when agricultural activity ceases. Testimony on HB 189 was mixed. The Department of Agriculture and Kualoa Ranch opposed the bill, arguing that the proposed restrictions and income-based limits could burden bona fide farms and ranches, reduce flexibility for counties, and harm food production, jobs, and diversification efforts. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism supports its food sales and community market and warned the bill could cost more than 350 jobs. The Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council also opposed the measure for similar reasons. The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported the bill with suggested amendments, including clearer language around agricultural dedication. The Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau supported the intent of the bill but urged caution, saying ag tourism should remain tied to actual agricultural production and that counties need flexibility to address abuses without imposing overly rigid standards. Members discussed how to define a bona fide agricultural operation and whether property tax agricultural dedication could serve as a clearer qualifier. They also raised concerns about how counties would enforce revenue thresholds or separate accounting for tourism and farm income, and whether state law should better target clearly non-agricultural uses such as gondolas or other abusive developments. The Department of Agriculture and Farm Bureau said counties already have authority to regulate ag tourism through ordinances, but that any new standards should avoid unintended burdens on true farmers and ranchers. HB 966 was then introduced, and initial testimony again reflected support for the bill’s intent from some agricultural groups and opposition or caution from others. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism can help educate visitors and support agriculture, the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported county flexibility, and the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau reiterated concerns about the bill’s income comparison provisions and the need to distinguish legitimate agricultural tourism from misuse. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1847, general appropriations, fiscal years 2026 and 2027, transportation technology.
• Senate Bill 1849, capital outlay, appropriations, transportation technology.
• Senate Bill 1860, property, appropriations, transportation technology.
• Pro Tem, I believe we're announcing joint appropriations. I don't see anything up there, but...
• Joint appropriations. I don't see anything up there, but it'll be tomorrow at 10 o'clock in...

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I wanted to highlight a few things with this recommendation for the special appropriations.
• The House Appropriations and Finance Committee (HAFC) adopted the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC)
• This growth appropriation would be to DFA to allocate to agencies based on a schedule of building use
• Only the construction costs are taken into consideration when we receive appropriations.
• Last year, we received an appropriation to procure a new plane.

Keywords: 996, all