Transcript Highlights:

• Then we will invite our Budget Subcommittee Chairs to comment on their respective areas of the budget
• Budget Committee staff.
• Through the budget process.
• I also want to thank the Budget Chair and all of the Budget Chairs.
• the budget negotiations.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, we now have four budget bills to consider.
• Next item, Budget Bill 9-07C, an act to law, major components of legislation necessary to implement the
• state health and mental hygiene budget for the 2026-2027 state fiscal year.
• And mental hygiene budget for the 2026-2027 state fiscal year. Questions or comments?
• to implement the state fiscal plan for the 2026-2027 state fiscal year.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The New York State Senate Finance Committee met with Senator John Liu presiding in place of Chair Liz Krueger. The committee considered four budget bills: Budget Bill 9-003-D (aid to localities appropriations), Budget Bill 9-004-D (capital projects appropriations), Budget Bill 9-07C (health and mental hygiene budget implementation), and Budget Bill 9-009-C (state fiscal plan implementation for 2026-2027). No substantive debate or testimony was presented beyond brief calls for questions or comments. Each bill was moved, seconded, and put to a vote. Budget Bills 9-003-D, 9-004-D, and 9-07C were approved and reported with vote sheets submitted. Budget Bill 9-009-C also advanced, with at least one nay vote noted from Senator O’Mara. All four bills were sent to the floor, and the meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So let's talk about some of those challenges for 2027–29 in our budget.
• So let's talk about some of those challenges for 2027, 29 in our budget.
• We've got basically a projected structural budget deficit for fiscal year 28.
• That's only about 16% of the overall UW budget.
• And the most recent biennial budget, unfortunately, reverted back to lower levels due to the state budget

Summary: The Joint Committee on Employment Relations met on May 8, 2026, to review goals and objectives for the 2027–2029 master collective bargaining cycle and to hear updates on higher education and Washington Management Service bargaining. OFM’s Jenny Sheehan outlined the state workforce, noting that most employees are represented, the workforce remains heavily governed by civil service rules and CBAs, and the state is entering bargaining under a constrained hiring and budget environment. She described the bargaining timeline, the role of the June revenue forecasts in determining whether targeted compensation increases can be funded, and the state’s goals of affordability, maintaining labor relations, supporting equity, and addressing non-economic issues such as AI use, leave, immigration-related workplace concerns, and union access in a hybrid work environment. Sheehan also reviewed the 2025–2027 bargaining cycle, including the prior WPEA ratification issue and the requirement that tentative agreements be submitted by October 1 for financial feasibility review and possible legislative funding. She said the 2025–27 agreements cost about $1.2 billion in general funds and $1.7 billion total, excluding the later-funded WPEA agreements. In response to a question, she explained that paid family and medical leave is not bargained over directly because it is governed by statute and ESD rules. She then presented on Washington Management Service bargaining, explaining that only certain WMS employees are eligible to bargain, that representation remains small, and that current WMS contracts are handled through addenda to existing agreements. She also described interest arbitration for certain groups, including ferries and public safety-related employees, and said arbitration awards still must be financially feasible and submitted by October 1. The committee also heard from Western Washington University and the University of Washington on higher education bargaining. Western described its locally bargained contracts, the importance of local bargaining for workload, tenure, grievance, and safety issues, and the impact of the state fund split on budget planning. Western said it has no state funding for student compensation and has requested inclusion of student employees in the wage base. UW outlined its large workforce and the different bargaining frameworks under RCW 41.56 and 41.80, emphasizing that state funding and tuition make up only a portion of its budget and that the fund split and health care cost increases significantly affect compensation planning. UW also highlighted its request for state funding for academic student employee compensation, saying rising costs are reducing the number of positions and affecting class sizes and the academic pipeline. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after members discussed the upcoming bargaining and arbitration timelines.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our budget is really struggling.
• Our budget is really struggling.
• Our budget is really struggling.
• Levy what they need for their budgets Levy what they need for their budgets but<00:10:18.000>
• district's general fund fund one budget district's general fund fund one budget is<00:20:47.960>

Bills: HF957, HF877

Keywords: education, mandate relief, school funding, local control, state laws, fund transfers, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Beginning July 1, 2025, budgets will be...
• This slide shows an overview of DCYF's total budget.
• As a result, over 99.7% of our budget transferred from originating agencies.
• , or just under one-third of that budget.
• The first one is around the child care grants that we had implemented.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• you tell us just your total budget, real quickly?
• But what percentage of your budget is state dollars at all? It's in that zone.
• In each of the 10 regional parks implementing agencies, that determines the projects.
• In each of the 10 regional parks implementing agencies, that determines the projects.
• <01:49:32.239> because out of our operating budget because out of our operating budget because

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• out the full implementation in the state of New Mexico.
• They really examine how we implement and why we are implementing this.
• budget.
• Get a grasp of this: we can't budget this. We can't.
• We can never budget for it. It's my problem.

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, thank you to our budget chair.
• Speaker, the budget chair, the budget subchairs, and so many members for their hard work involved in
• I don't often speak on matters of the budget, and in big part because, again this year, I think our budget
• We are in a budget crisis, and one of the biggest drivers of our budget crisis are our uncontrolled labor
• We are confronting that in this budget.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a long floor session focused heavily on budget trailer bills, labor agreements, housing, environmental review, and several resolutions. Members also introduced visiting guests, including family members, district staff, Mandela Washington Fellows, and UC Berkeley public policy students. Procedural motions were taken up early, including a successful roll-call vote to suspend rules so certain budget-related bills could be heard without reference to file. The chamber approved several major budget measures. SB 129, the labor trailer bill, passed 56-4 after supporters said it made technical budget adjustments, funded collective bargaining, supported In-Home Supportive Services, and addressed pension and project-related issues. SB 131, the public resources and housing trailer bill, passed 50-3 after extensive debate over homelessness funding, CEQA exemptions, advanced manufacturing, high-speed rail, rural access to funds, tribal consultation, and environmental protections; multiple members voiced support while also urging follow-up changes. The Assembly also adopted SB 139, implementing agreements for professional and operating engineers, by 69-1, and SB 140, implementing the correctional officers’ agreement, by 71-0. Later, AB 130, the housing trailer bill, was taken up on concurrence in Senate amendments after a successful rule suspension; members discussed tribal consultation protections, CEQA reform, prevailing wage, and vehicle miles traveled provisions, with debate continuing as the transcript ended. The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 927, extending the Williams inspection window for certain school districts, which passed 70-0. In addition, ACR 16 naming the 10th Street Bridge the POW/MIA Bridge passed 70-0. AJR 9, urging full and consistent federal funding for the National Park Service, drew broad bipartisan support and passed 66-0 after members highlighted California parks’ economic and cultural importance. HR 47, recognizing the Fourth of July and the Declaration of Independence, prompted extended remarks on democracy, civics, immigration, military service, and community celebrations before being adopted by voice vote with 64 co-authors added. The consent calendar was also adopted 64-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• Neil Miira, who is our budget administrator.
• <00:05:18.880> and Administration division uh budget and Administration division uh budget
• first year is really the implementation first year is really the implementation cost<00:13:45.720
• <00:18:54.520> and director saliva um would budget and director saliva um would budget and
• > finance it's budgeted within budget and finance it's budgeted within budget and finance and<00:

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's a $700 million budget for the Department of Human Services.
• That's why we extended the rollout and implementation time period.
• That's why we've got the three-and-a-half-year implementation program.
• That's why we extended the rollout and implementation time period.
• budgeting and accounting system.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills on third reading, with several title amendments and a few effective-date motions adopted. Early in the session, members passed HB 4452 removing acreage limits on land owned by church or religious trustees, HB 4577 creating reciprocal driver’s license recognition agreements with Ireland and Japan, HB 4588 authorizing West Virginia participation in a federal tax credit scholarship program, and HB 4592 requiring higher education institutions to create coordinated campus safety maps. HB 4602 was amended to align with a prior Senate child welfare pilot program, and members discussed its projected cost and implementation timeline before passing it. HB 4603 created a pre-adjudicatory alternative disposition process in abuse and neglect cases, and HB 4606 narrowed bail rules by requiring consideration of residency and community ties while prohibiting personal recognizance bonds for violent felony offenses after an adopted amendment. The Senate also passed HB 4710 changing the party-registration deadline for candidates from 60 to 180 days before an election, with debate over its impact on independents, and made it effective January 1, 2027. HB 4712, known as Bailey’s Law, increased penalties for DUI causing death and related conduct, with emotional testimony from members about the victim and similar tragedies. HB 4765 established a pay raise for teachers, school personnel, and state police and added a market-pay enhancement system based on county cost-of-living differences; an amendment to the amendment capped county differentials and guaranteed at least a 1% increase in every county. HB 4865 created an optional program for high school and homeschool students to serve as election official trainees, and HB 4869 established narrow guaranteed-issue rights for Medicare supplement policies. Later bills included HB 4995, which strengthened video/audio recording rules in special education classrooms and was passed, then reconsidered and passed again; HB 4996 creating a new crime for making threats of violence against schools or children; HB 5048 guaranteeing virtual instruction for foster children in temporary placement; HB 5065 adding recordkeeping and geolocation requirements for hotel marketplace facilitators to ensure proper hotel tax remittance; and HB 5074 reallocating medical cannabis fund revenues to child protection, homeless services, research, law enforcement, and other purposes. The Senate also passed HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which increased penalties for domestic violence offenses and adjusted bail provisions, after amending it to conform with the earlier bail bill. Additional measures passed included HB 5166 requiring notice before political committees are fined for filing violations and allowing limited extensions, HB 5168 directing $12 million in lottery funds to EMS first responders and county EMS support, HB 5182 authorizing certain state treasurer security personnel to carry concealed firearms, HB 5212 streamlining higher-education financial aid rules, HB 5214 allowing court-ordered drug testing of parents before reunification in abuse and neglect cases, HB 5353 regulating virtual currency kiosks with licensing, disclosures, and transaction limits, and HB 5366 exempting J-LAP records from FOIA to protect confidentiality for lawyers and judges seeking assistance. Most bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 5074 and HB 5353 drew some dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so I around this in our budget bill.
• <00:45:49.760> side community um and in on the budget side community um and in on the budget
• <01:10:10.159> At<01:10:10.400> a setting their individual budgets.
• At a setting their individual budgets.
• it says for the purposes of implementing it says for the purposes of implementing the<01:49:04.480

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:12.879> analysis and worked in their budget analysis and worked in their budget analysis
• The budget periods are based on year.
• However, some implementation concerns remain.
• Um the nonpartisan congressional budget Um the nonpartisan congressional budget estimates<00:33:
• , a boatload of them about implementation, a boatload of them about implementation, project<01:05

Bills: HF1925

Keywords: nurse licensure, multistate license, healthcare, public safety, interstate compact, nursing regulation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• health and human services and, before that, as a director of the Mayor's Office of Management and Budget
• I come to this role as a lifelong transit rider and with more than 30 years of experience implementing
• You know, the capital budget for the MTA with the 2025-29 plan, there's a glaring hole in that.
• I will certainly, Senator, take a close look at the budget.
• So... ...some recommendations that they're in the process of implementing.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The joint meeting of the Senate Finance, Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, and Transportation committees considered four nominations to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board: Melanie Hartzog, Jeanette Sadecott, Matthew Rand, and James O’Donnell. Each nominee gave opening remarks describing their public service or transportation-related experience and their interest in issues such as affordability, accessibility, state of good repair, regional connectivity, and transit safety. Senators also raised concerns about MTA transparency, the 2025-29 capital plan funding gap, fare and toll evasion, worker safety, and the need for better service in underserved areas. Members pressed the nominees on several policy questions, including the feasibility of free or reduced-fare buses, expanding bus service and bus lanes, restoring Hudson Valley and Harlem Line service, improving west-of-Hudson and Rockland County transit, and advancing the Second Avenue Subway and accessibility projects. The nominees generally said they were open to studying these ideas, emphasized collaboration with the MTA, governor, mayor, and legislature, and supported greater transparency and investment in transit infrastructure. Senators also highlighted labor concerns, including the MTA workers’ contract and safety for bus operators and other transit workers. At the end of the hearing, the committees voted separately on each nomination. Melanie Hartzog, Jeanette Sadecott, Matthew Rand, and James O’Donnell were each approved by the committees and advanced to the Senate floor. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our school district does not have a current program on implementing a dyslexia program.
• I understand in budget language that we’ve budgeted for four, two one year and two the next.
• in budget language that we've budgeted in budget language that we've budgeted for<00:34:05.399><
• However, the last three budget cycles, the budget language has not withstood that and provides for the
• <00:35:01.440> language continue to do that in budget language continue to do that in budget

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education bills and first received a presentation from Paige Cash of Kentucky FFA/Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education. She described the reach of CTE in Kentucky, saying more than 143,000 secondary students are enrolled in CTE courses, and highlighted work-based learning, dual credit, industry certifications, and student organizations such as FFA, DECA, FCCLA, HOSA, TSA, and SkillsUSA. She said CTE funding has helped update lab equipment, support teacher training, fund field trips, and expand participation in career and technical student organizations. Representative Wilson presented House Bill 132, which would address home hospital instruction reimbursement in cases involving short stays, particularly mental health placements that are often under five days. He said schools continue providing instruction even when they are no longer reimbursed under current rules. The committee advanced the bill unanimously after a motion and second, with the measure passing with an expression of opinion that it should pass. The committee then heard House Bill 272 on dyslexia, sponsored by Representative Heavrin. The bill would require KDE to annually update the dyslexia toolkit, require local boards to adopt policies for identifying and assisting K-3 students with dyslexia, require KDE to report district implementation data to LRC, and require teacher preparation programs to include dyslexia instruction. Members discussed whether the bill would require teacher diagnoses, how it would interact with existing IEP/504 and RTI processes, and concerns about added reporting and district burden. Supporters said many students are falling through the cracks and that earlier identification is needed; Representative Willner noted a shortage of school psychologists. The committee passed HB 272 with a motion and second, though several members voted pass and explained concerns about reporting burdens, red tape, and district costs. Finally, the committee began hearing House Bill 193, a dual credit cleanup bill presented by Joe Carol Ellis of KHEAA. She said the bill would consolidate the statutes governing general education dual credit and CTE/work-ready dual credit scholarships to match current funding practice and reduce confusion for K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions. The presentation was underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, we have two budget amendments on today's agenda.
• Fiscal year 2025-26 proviso and implementing language authorizes the agency to request budget authority
• Fiscal year 2025-26 proviso and implementing language authorizes the agency to request budget authority
• to implement the Directed Payment Program.
• I'm not the budget expert here. I think this is going into reserve.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Until we Lawmakers budget appropriately?
• Can you just briefly tell us where that is in the budget? And Mr.
• needs would be to help them and assist them with the budget proposal.
• Some of you may be familiar with the one that was implemented in Bernalillo County. Ms.
• Uh, legislation and budget. Uh, thank you, Madam Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• , where do you see—are you all within budget?
• Are you talking about the operating budget or the construction budget? The construction budget.
• . be in the budget to renovate that floor be in the budget to renovate that floor but<00:11:44.639>
• <00:11:50.519> to sufficient uh funding in the budget to sufficient uh funding in the budget
• sorry for next uh budget sorry for next uh budget year year year okay okay okay so<00:23:41.760>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Randy White on the state’s juvenile detention network and several facility projects. He identified the currently operating detention centers as Boyd County for females, Breathitt County for low-risk males, Fayette County for high-risk males, Adair County for high-risk youth from Jefferson and surrounding counties, Warren County for high-risk males, and McCracken County for low-risk males. Members asked about capacity and staffing; White said Boyd County houses 33 and is usually near full, Breathitt County is about half full, Fayette County runs about 80-90% full, Campbell County’s operational limit is about 25 due to staffing, Adair County can hold 60 and has hit capacity several times this year, Warren County holds 43 and usually runs near capacity, and McCracken County holds 43 and is not currently full. He said staffing is generally harder in higher-risk facilities and in metropolitan areas because of wages and housing costs. White then updated the committee on the Louisville Detention Center downtown renovation and the Lyon facility project. For the Louisville downtown facility, he said schematic design and design development are complete, construction documents are expected by late February or early March, bids are anticipated in April, and completion is projected for March 2027. He explained the delay is due to extensive renovation work needed to bring the building up to current building, life-safety, ACA, and PREA standards, including security, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, food service, and roof work. The project is designed for 64 beds for high-risk Jefferson County boys, with the facility currently vacant and those youth being housed in Adair County and Campbell County. For the Lyon project, he said the contract was issued November 21, 2024, demolition is underway, completion is expected June 14, 2026, and the facility will have 34 beds in four pods for low-risk offenders; he said the project appears to be on time and on budget within the $4.5 million authorization. The committee also discussed the medical services contract. DJJ officials said they are reviewing whether to continue with the current state contract provider, Wellpath, or pursue an RFP, while retaining current merit staff and continuing oversight through four nurse program administrators. They said DJJ uses a state master agreement to staff nurses, APRNs, and the chief medical officer, and that the current contract is about $20 million per year. Members asked about Wellpath’s bankruptcy filing; officials said they were aware of it, asked questions, and were told it would not affect Kentucky service delivery or contracting, though they could not recall the bankruptcy type and offered to provide more detail later. They also said DJJ is working with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to become a Medicaid provider, and any future contractual partner will need to be a Medicaid provider. Finally, White described the proposed high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility. He said DJJ must accept court-ordered youth even when they have severe mental illness, but detention centers are not equipped to treat those youth and private psychiatric hospitals often refuse them or discharge them early. He argued that a dedicated secure treatment facility is needed for a small number of highly violent, high-need youth who require intensive psychiatric care and are disruptive in detention. The facility would provide behavioral and psychiatric treatment, reduce delays caused by lack of beds or outside placements, and serve youth determined by clinical assessment to need a secure treatment environment. No votes were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Their projected budget for federal fiscal year 26 is a little over $1.5 million.
• that you were talking about, or is that just the state-level budget and funding?
• Well, I would not be the—I can't really speak to their budget or whether or not the budget is tight with
• And I, you know, we're going into fiscal and looking at budget, and I don't see that money in your budget
• They must be implemented by January 1 of 2027.

Summary: The subcommittee first recognized the Arkansas Community Colleges Leadership Institute and received a brief DHS update on the Living Choices Assisted Living Waiver reimbursement process, including that the new cost-reporting period began in January and provider/contractor calls are underway. The main presentation then focused on SNAP and TANF, with DHS describing federal changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill that tighten SNAP work requirements for adults ages 18 to 64 without certain exemptions, remove some prior exemptions, and add new federal definitions for Native American populations. DHS also reviewed SNAP Employment and Training providers, their service areas, projected budgets, participant characteristics, and outcomes, noting that the program is currently voluntary but will shift toward mandatory participation for those subject to the new rules. Members asked detailed questions about how mandatory participation will be implemented, how referrals will be made, what other training options exist, how verification of work, volunteering, disability, and exemptions will be handled, and whether DHS has enough funding and provider capacity. DHS said it will conduct verbal and written notices during eligibility interviews, make direct referrals to providers, use six-month recertifications and documentation from employers or volunteer organizations, and apply sanctions for noncompliance after determining whether a good cause exists. Members also requested additional data, including age breakdowns of at-risk SNAP recipients, provider-level outcomes and costs, and information on other training programs such as WIOA. The committee then moved to Medicaid community engagement requirements for ARHOME, which DHS said are also required by the same federal law and must be implemented by January 1, 2027. DHS said it is preparing policy, system changes, communications, and a customer-service/outbound verification vendor, and plans a soft launch beginning in July to help clients understand what would be required if the rule were already in effect. Members raised concerns about timing, local versus central decision-making, and how clients in rural areas will be notified and assisted. The meeting concluded with broader discussion of the committee’s workforce-development goals, the recently released Alliance for Opportunity audit, and interest in continuing the contract with that group to help guide future reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• the LTE and then the stationary budget the LTE and then the stationary budget but<00:35:07.079><
• <00:39:25.920> okay implement okay implement okay okay<00:39:29.040> thank<00:39:29.200
• <01:34:18.719> part but um BNF would be the budget part but um BNF would be the budget part
• questions as we go through this budget questions as we go through this budget um<05:00:16.000>
• I'm sure as we go through the budget I'm sure as we go through the budget requests<05:17:10.558>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Law Enforcement on its priorities following the January 1 transfer of law enforcement assets into the department, including the sheriff’s division, narcotics enforcement, criminal investigations, homeland security, and the inspector general’s office. DLE said its goals are to improve public safety, accountability, communications, training, and standards. The department outlined planned initiatives such as stronger federal partnerships, narcotics and gun-violence enforcement, an agricultural crime unit, traffic and commercial vehicle enforcement, an explosive/fireworks enforcement section, gun buybacks, new police facilities in the airport area, Aahu, and the leeward side, a state training center, upgraded law-enforcement IT, and efforts to narrow salary gaps with county departments to improve recruitment. A major portion of the discussion focused on illegal fireworks enforcement after the recent explosion tragedy. DLE said its current task force is small and relies on ad hoc support from HPD, the Attorney General’s office, criminal investigations, and sheriffs, which is not sustainable. The department requested eight FTEs for the effort—one administrator, two clerical staff, and six investigators—plus funding for a laboratory, equipment, storage, disposal, vehicles, safety gear, and a criminalist. DLE said the explosive enforcement section would use an existing facility and that the initial lab startup cost is about $2 million. Members asked for follow-up materials, and DLE said it would send the explosive enforcement forms and additional details to the Finance and Judiciary chairs. Members also questioned staffing vacancies, interagency coordination, and whether new specialized units could be filled. DLE said it has about 119 vacancies and that recruitment is hindered by a roughly $28,000 starting pay gap with county police departments; academy classes are down to about 12 to 14 recruits. The department said it is streamlining hiring, using QR-code recruitment, and hopes specialized units will attract applicants. On coordination, DLE said it works closely with HPD and other agencies on operations such as fireworks enforcement and public events, and that DOCARE remains a case-by-case partner but is not currently moving into DLE. The committee also received updates on the Silver Alert program, which is nearing rollout with county MOUs and a coordinator expected later in the month, the special duty officer program, which is being moved to a web-based vendor-managed system at no cost to the department, and the SaferWatch school safety system, which is being deployed statewide with annual software costs of $3,500 per school in the first year and $2,500 thereafter. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• FIRST WE WILL HAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SENATE BILL 64 BY JOHN COTES, DOCTOR OF THE DIVISION
• THE PROCESS FOR IMPLEMENTING THAT, WE ARE 3.5 YEARS SINCE THAT TIME I BECAME EJECTED JUNE 29 OF 2000,
• OR THE IMPLEMENTATION IS SO IMPORTANT IN THE LONG TERM WASTEWATER DISCHARGES ARE GOING TO IMPROVE.
• WE TAKE TIME TO DEVELOP, BUT THOSE ARE PART OF THE WEIGHT THE STATE WOULD IMPLEMENT REQUIREMENTS AND
• OUR BUDGET IS APPROXIMATELY $8 MILLION A YEAR UTILITIES.

Keywords: 999, senate, all