Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Chair Schumacher and members of the House Human Services Finance and Policy Committee.
• Currently, the gap between our cost of providing care and our Medicaid reimbursement is $60 per patient
• hearing and considering our proposal with Representative Reier, House File 1644. which addresses this gap
• I also want to say I've worked for more than two decades in finance and operational consulting and understand
• Is it going to become closer, I guess, to bridge the gap from the enhanced rate to the standard rate?

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding

Transcript Highlights:

• We are the Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee.
• the data the reasons why there's a gap the data the reasons why there's a gap in<00:32:05.440>
• on federal financing.
• program um speaking of Federal Financing program um speaking of Federal Financing I<01:02:12.839
• talked a lot about the Federal Financing talked a lot about the Federal Financing at<01:02:21.559

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee is now called to order. Sergeants, please call the roll.
• Right now there's a gap.
• The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee is now adjourned.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it was financed.
• Senator Sparks, as far as the finances of the... Receiving universities are concerned.
• I just don't understand the higher education finance on this.
• Finance, House Bill 3370 to Local Government, House Bill 3371 to Finance, House Bill 3418 to Criminal
• House Bill 3486 is referred to Finance, House Bill 3487 to Finance, House Bill 3709 to State Affairs,

Bills: SB111, SB128, SB203, SB205, SB261, SB317, SB393, SB397, SB466, SB510, SB582, SB705, SB731, SB748, SB801, SB867, SB876, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1250, SB1285, SB1310, SB1400, SB1444, SB1483, SB1553, SB1556, SB1581, SB1608, SB1698, SB1723, SB1730, SB1835, SB1858, SB1903, SB1946, SB1950, SB1986, SB2017, SB2043, SB2056, SB2058, SB2063, SB2082, SB2105, SB2133, SB2137, SB2177, SB2203, SB2260, SB2311, SB2334, SB2344, SB2403, SB2417, SB2446, SB2519, SB2522, SB2532, SB2600, SB2611, SB2619, SB2637, SB2688, SB2717, SB2764, SB2785, SB2790, SB2794, SB2841, SB2847, SB2857, SB2878, SB2891, SB2943, SB2955, SB2972, SB2995, SB3037, SB3057, SB3059, HJR2, HB26, HB206, HB334, HB451, HB517, HB554, HB1109, HB2081, HB2756, HB3204, HB3809, SJR3, SB5, SB72, SB509, SB616, SB963, SB985, SB1025, SB1080, SB1143, SB1172, SB1245, SB1267, SB1271, SB1273, SB1355, SB1422, SB1759, SB1786, SB2361, SB17, SB314, SB455, SB761, SB1023, SB1968, SB2122, SB2371, SB2420, SB2544, SB1, SB260, SB1506, SB1637, SJR36, SJR50, SJR63, SCR12, SCR39, SB2023, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB1073, SB810, SB1505, SB583, SB507, SB1434, SB1772, SB2016, SB1163, SB1122, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1436, SB287, SB261, SB1882, SB393, SB1791, SB209, SB2429, SB511, SB2309, SB510, SB1085, SB1975, SB2717, SB1262, SB636, SB2056, SB884, SB1200, SB1845, SB2458, SB801, SB3014, SB3013, SB758, SB2797, SB2076, SB2876, SB1640, SB1449, SB1181, SB1359, SB1234, SB2926, SB2972, SB2841, SB1528, SB2891, SB1854, SB317, SB2532, SB1250, SB2082, SB2203, SB1285, SB1237, SB2819, SB629, SB2608, SB1602, SB1723, SB1858, SB1946, SB2009, SB2177, SB2460, SB2785, SB867, SB1608, SB640, SB1698, SB705, SB748, SB2680, SB2994, SB2747, SB1950, SB913, SB1071, SB1086, SB1087, SB1483, SB1444, SB1553, SB1556, SB1703, SB2133, SB2297, SB2298, SB2622, SB2955, SB3059, SB2637, SB2334, SB1861, SB2043, SB1367, SB2857, SB128, SB3058, SB2044, SB2363, SB2311, SB1986, SB2565, SB2943, SB1888, SB2417, SB3048, SB3052, SB3053, SB3036, SB3057, SB3056, SB3043, SB3037, SB3050, SB3063, SB3047, SB3035, SB2446, SB466, SB2611, SB2794, SB2105, SB2017, SB1790, SB1778, SB1730, SB2995, SB2847, SB205, SB2619, SB1903, SB203, SB3061, SB1581, SB2600, SB2799, SB2790, SB2688, SB2515, SB1230, SB876, SB2522, SB2639, SB2137, SB2519, SB2403, SB2459, SB3051, SB2655, SB2251, SB2764, SB2878, SB1884, SB111, SB582, SB2617, SB1835, SB2751, SB2063, SB1400, SB2058, SB2260, SB2928, SB1310, SB2566, SB2344, SB1897, SB1749, SB1361, SB2549, SB2553, HJR2, HJR1, HB1109, HB517, HB1130, HB1689, HB2884, HB1393, HB2559, HB26, HB2756, HB3204, HB3012, HB1327, HB451, HB109, HB206, HB1238, HB2890, HB9, HB2081, HB4215, HB2970, HB37, HB1899, HB3809, HB334, HB554, HB1593, HB2607, HB3526, HB3810, HB5092, HB388, HB2809, HB1151, HB913, SB2919, SB1782, SB1705, SB2696, SB1944, SB2215, SB644, HB3307, HB879, HB116, HB12, HB2703, HB1610, HB1615, HB1620, HB30, HB21, HCR7, HCR75, HCR86, HCR92, HCR93, HCR126

Keywords: special education, school districts, legal fees, reporting requirements, transparency, hospital reporting, child abuse, neglect, administrative penalty, medical ethics, child protection, student privacy, numerical class rank, education policy, academic programs, high school, fetal development, health curriculum, public schools, middle school health education

Transcript Highlights:

• Bad actors are adapting faster than ever, exposing gaps in aging technology, disconnected data, and manual
• ,<01:26:26.760> nutrition programs like school finance, nutrition programs like school finance
• This gap is often referred to as the cross subsidy.
• This gap is general education funds.
• ><01:37:45.840> at<01:37:46.080> Spiro financing $60,000 per student at Spiro financing

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• :07.480> up<00:22:08.000> a<00:22:08.240> a<00:22:08.280> new some some gap
• , um we order up a a new some some gap, um we order up a a new report.<00:22:08.760> And<00:22
• finance finance or<01:25:48.560> excuse<01:25:48.800> me<01:25:49.240> uh<01:25
• Um so we can needs to go on to finance. Um so we can include<01:25:57.560> it.
• When making a serious safety gap.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The lack of access to insurance or inadequate coverage can also limit financing available to buyers,
• The lack of access to insurance or inadequate coverage can also limit financing available to buyers,
• The lack of access to insurance or inadequate coverage can also limit financing available to buyers,
• in knowledge about the theme was the Gap in knowledge about the basics<00:32:19.440> of<00:32
• What we are trying to do is fill in a gap for a market that is sorely lacking.

Bills: HF2228, HF46, HF856, HF2149, HF2215

Keywords: homeowners insurance, property insurance, commercial property insurance, insurance affordability, insurance market stabilization, reinsurance, catastrophic reinsurance fund, self-insured pool, premium costs, coverage notice, liability reform, climate risk, climate change, housing affordability, multifamily housing, rental housing, common interest communities, cooperatives, small business insurance, Minnesota Commerce Department

Transcript Highlights:

• We are reconvening the House Committee on Finance.
• where where's the gap here? where where's the gap here? >> Yeah.
• Kitagawa, members of the finance Kitagawa, members of the finance committee.<01:03:25.680> Thank
• So workforce alignment, workforce gaps So workforce alignment, workforce gaps are<01:09:14.000><
• <03:36:28.479> STAFF and the rest of the finance STAFF and the rest of the finance STAFF [

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's call the Senate Finance Committee meeting to order.
• This is the last official finance committee meeting. Mhm. Yes, it does.
• because she's not running, and thank you very much for your service and the service to finance.
• your service and the service to finance. your service and the service to finance.
• Let me just say it's been a great pleasure and honor to be on Finance for four years.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Finance Committee is called to order. So we are going to have a work session today.
• But before we begin, I'd like to welcome our newest member to the Finance Committee, Representative Janice
• Well, I am excited to join the Finance Committee. My name's Janice Zahn [member_20877].
• And with that, House Finance is adjourned.
• And with that, House Finance is adjourn. Thank you.

Summary: The House Finance Committee held a work session that began with welcoming new member Rep. Janice Zahn, who introduced herself as representing the 41st Legislative District. The Department of Revenue then gave an update on the Antio-related legislation following the Washington Supreme Court decision and the 2025 session changes. DOR explained its voluntary disclosure program and the new expanded voluntary disclosure agreement for taxpayers with unreported investment income, including broader eligibility and interest/penalty relief, but said utilization has been minimal so far because additional implementation questions remain unresolved. The committee next received the annual update on the Working Families Tax Credit. DOR reported record participation in 2025, with about $205 million refunded through October and a major increase in applications after TurboTax added the credit to its filing software. Officials said most dollars went to households with children, outreach efforts remained important, and community partners and state agencies helped increase uptake. Members focused heavily on fraud concerns, especially tax preparers allegedly filing claims without applicants’ knowledge or diverting refunds; DOR said it is using fraud detection tools, training preparers, and trying to make applicants whole, but current law does not provide direct penalties against preparers. The final portion covered implementation of engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5814, which expanded sales tax to certain services. DOR described the new tax framework, its guidance process, and the large volume of ruling requests and outreach since the law took effect October 1. Committee members asked about fiscal assumptions, the scope of taxable services, and whether the department had revised its implementation estimates; DOR said the fiscal note assumed broad application absent explicit exemptions and that no expenditure revision had been made. In stakeholder testimony, Expedia and T-Mobile argued the law creates complexity and competitive disadvantages for Washington businesses, while a construction training provider said the tax raises tuition for workers seeking required certifications. School and nonprofit representatives said the tax will increase costs for special education services, arts programming, and other public-facing activities, and urged exemptions or further legislative fixes. The chair closed by noting the committee would revisit 5814 in the next session and then adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can be appointed for other things that you're good at, and finance is one of the things he was good
• You can be appointed for other things that you're good at, and finance is one of the things he was good
• existing resources, existing programs at our DOE and our New Hampshire Saves, but the New Hampshire Finance
• existing resources, existing programs at our DOE and our New Hampshire Saves, but the New Hampshire Finance
• existing resources, existing programs at our DOE and our New Hampshire Saves, but the New Hampshire Finance

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I will call the meeting for the Education Finance Committee to order. We have a quorum.
• We have the director of school finance here, Kathy Ericson, and available for questions.
• I'm the director of school finance at the Minnesota Department of Education. I'm sorry.
• /c><00:01:57.040> Minnesota school finance at the Minnesota school finance at the Minnesota Department
• I know we're in the education finance I know we're in the education finance committee,<00:11:00.800

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• students are not learning what actually results from a sexual relationship, which I think is a very broad gap
• Just like the small financial decisions we make have compounding effects on our finances, the choices
• responsive education increases student engagement, boosts academic achievement, and helps close opportunity gaps
• Not all will move into a career in engineering or finance, but we still make sure they have access to
• By doing so, we will begin to close gaps, open doors, and ensure our Commonwealth remains a leader in

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on a wide range of bills, with the largest portions focused on the Healthy Youth Act (S.340/H.656), comprehensive and inclusive curriculum bills (H.655/S.371 and related measures), climate literacy education (H.560/S.391), computer science coursework (H.534/S.362), arts education funding and STEM-to-STEAM proposals (H.561 and H.4297), and a homeschooling reporting bill (H.518). Supporters of the Healthy Youth Act argued it would preserve local control while requiring medically accurate, age-appropriate, LGBTQ-inclusive sex education and regular updates to state health frameworks; opponents raised parental rights, age-appropriateness, and opt-out concerns, with some calling for fetal development content. Supporters of inclusive curriculum bills said they would improve representation, belonging, and civic understanding, while opponents argued they could undermine parental authority or promote ideological content. Climate, computer science, and arts advocates emphasized workforce readiness, student engagement, and the need for state support and funding to expand access and teacher training. Testimony on the climate literacy bill described increasing climate impacts in Massachusetts and argued that interdisciplinary instruction would prepare students for science, policy, and green careers; witnesses said the bill was not a mandate but a support and funding measure. Computer science supporters said access remains uneven, especially for girls, students of color, and students with disabilities, and urged stronger statewide requirements and AI-related standards. Arts advocates backed both the STEM-to-STEAM bill and the Lowell Mason arts funding proposal, citing research on student achievement, attendance, creativity, and the economic importance of the arts sector. The homeschool bill was supported by a homeschool advocacy group as a modernization of reporting requirements. The committee closed testimony on numerous bills where no one remained signed up or testimony had concluded, including several education, curriculum, and commission proposals. No votes were taken during the hearing itself. At the end of the session, the committee closed out the remaining testimony and adjourned after a motion and second.

Transcript Highlights:

• Davies: Prop. 98 was passed overwhelmingly by voters to ensure that, no matter the state of our finances
• And we've had to work hard to find ways to fill in the gaps.
• We did not pick this fight, but we are not going to back down because we have to stand in the gap for
• Research shows that closing racial gaps in wages, education, housing, and lending could have added $16
• and bookkeeping software, and many other... ...and word processing software, finance and bookkeeping

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum after a roll call, observed a moment of silence for the fatal B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base, and proceeded with routine procedural business, including re-referrals of numerous Senate bills to different committees and several rule suspensions to allow bills to be heard or moved. Assembly Member DeMaio attempted to amend and then return AB 109 to the Senate to add health care premium reductions, but the motions were ruled out of order and his request to suspend the rules failed on a 13-45 vote. The main floor action was on AB 109, the 2026-27 state budget. Assembly Member Gabriel presented the budget as balancing fiscal responsibility with protections for health care, schools, housing, wildfire prevention, and the safety net, while opponents argued it raised costs, underfunded education and public safety, and relied on gimmicks. Supporters emphasized investments in hospitals, Medi-Cal, IHSS, child care, food banks, housing, and reserves, and repeatedly defended the budget’s approach to Proposition 36 funding and prison closures. After extensive debate, the Assembly voted to concur in the Senate amendments to AB 109, and the bill was immediately transmitted to the Governor. Later, the Assembly took up SCR 89 on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Members from several caucuses spoke in support, arguing DEI is central to equal opportunity, civil rights, and California’s identity, and warning against federal efforts to roll back such programs. Assembly Member DeMaio spoke in opposition, saying DEI treats people differently based on immutable characteristics. The transcript ends during that debate, with the resolution still under consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reviews but remain unbuilt or delayed or empty due to permitting, financing, or other infrastructure
• force to sort this out, to make recommendations back to the Legislature on exactly how to fill the gaps
• force to sort this out, to make recommendations back to the Legislature on exactly how to fill the gaps
• of<00:43:52.480> the<00:43:52.640> conversation,<00:43:53.359> figure gaps
• in some of the conversation, figure gaps in some of the conversation, figure out<00:43:53.760> what

Bills: HB1979

Keywords: environmental review, affordable housing, clean energy, judicial proceedings, public participation, Hawaii Revised Statutes, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1979 HD3, which would shorten the time to file certain judicial challenges to environmental assessments and environmental impact statements for affordable housing and clean energy projects, and would also affect transfer of some environmental court appeals to the Supreme Court. The Office of Planning and Sustainable Development supported the amended bill, saying the changes were improved from earlier versions and that the shorter filing period was reasonable for these priority projects. Hawaii Gas asked that the bill’s clean energy definition be broadened to align with existing renewable energy law so emerging technologies like renewable hydrogen and renewable gas would be included. Kauai Island Utility Co-op and Greenpeace Hawaii testified in support and opposition, respectively, with supporters arguing the bill would reduce litigation uncertainty and opponents saying the shorter deadline would limit public participation and not solve the real causes of project delays. Opposition testimony came from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Earthjustice, Sierra Club, 350 Hawaii, and others, who argued the bill could chill legitimate public-interest claims, especially where there is limited public notice, and that environmental review was being unfairly blamed for delays caused by permitting, financing, or infrastructure problems. Several speakers said the measure would reduce transparency and make it harder for communities to respond in time. One testifier from Earthjustice said the environmental review process itself is not the problem and should not be weakened for projects that still need public disclosure and community engagement. The committee then moved to decision-making and, citing the volume of opposition and concerns about public participation, transparency, and whether the bill would actually improve timelines, the chair deferred HB 1979 HD3 indefinitely. The hearing was adjourned after the vote decision was announced. The transcript then shifted to HB 2585, relating to tourism and statewide standards for agritourism. Testimony was mixed: farmers and agricultural groups described agritourism as essential to keeping small farms and ranches viable, while also urging safeguards so it would not be abused or displace real agricultural production. Some speakers warned the bill’s revenue-based limits could unintentionally shut down existing farm stays and related operations, especially in Maui County. The Hawaii Farm Bureau said it supported the intent but wanted clearer protections for bona fide agriculture and more flexibility around revenue requirements and force majeure situations. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Gap policies don't cover the Part B premium.
• It pays for all the gaps in Medicare.
• <00:50:15.280> in folks it pays for all the gaps in folks it pays for all the gaps in Medicare
• <01:00:41.280> or info before it gets to finance or info before it gets to finance or after
• it we'll quantify it before Finance it we'll quantify it before Finance thank thank thank you<01

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and Finance Bill Mackey, who will speak about financial oversight of the system.
• and Finance Bill Mackey, who will speak about financial oversight of the system.
• I'm Tim Hips, Treasurer of the Minnesota State Board of Trustees and Chair of the board's Finance and
• My name is Bill Mackey, and I have served as the vice chancellor for finance and facilities for Minnesota
• <00:49:10.799> among<00:49:11.119> our<00:49:11.359> student achievement gaps

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope we can better understand some of their lessons: how did Maine structure and finance a system that
• and work closer with care coordination, discharge planners, nutritionists that know how to close the gap
• And I think we need to be mindful of the gap of people who are retiring, no longer able to lift heavy
• My first bill, Chapter 19 in the Act of '93, created tax incremental financing and economic development
• The information collected from this buoy has helped bridge data gaps and will build a more conclusive

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Agriculture and Fisheries held a public hearing on 19 legislative proposals, with testimony limited to three minutes per speaker and seven minutes per panel. The hearing opened with testimony on bills promoting urban agriculture and vacant-lot conversion, including H.121/S.61, which Green Roots staff and community members supported as a way to turn vacant lots in environmental justice communities into urban farms and gardens that improve food access, health, community cohesion, and climate resilience. Rep. James Arena-DeRosa also spoke in support of H.109/S.56, the PFAS bill, describing it as a measure to protect soil and farms from contamination and to create relief for affected farmers. A major portion of the hearing focused on H.109/S.56, which would ban land application of sewage sludge/biosolids, provide liability protection and relief funds for farmers, and address PFAS contamination in soil, water, crops, and animals. Testimony came from environmental groups, farm organizations, and individual farmers, including the Mass Food System Collaborative, Conservation Law Foundation, Clean Water Action, CEMAP, NOFA, Sierra Club, and several farmers who described contamination in Maine and Massachusetts and urged the committee to act. Witnesses emphasized that PFAS poses serious health risks, that farmers should not bear responsibility for legacy contamination, and that the bill should be paired with funding for testing, remediation, and assistance. Committee members asked questions about farm liability, the scope of the bill, contamination in different ownership situations, and the costs and timelines of remediation, with Senator Comerford and others clarifying that the bill is intended to protect farms and farmers rather than non-agricultural landholders. The committee also heard strong support for H.416, a farm-to-institution pilot program, from Rep. Lee Davis, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures, and Berkshire Bounty. They said the pilot would connect Massachusetts farms to schools, hospitals, correctional facilities, and other institutions, creating new markets, strengthening local supply chains, and supporting food-is-medicine efforts. Members discussed whether the model could be statewide and referenced existing programs such as Island Grown Initiative and local hospital and insurance partnerships. Another agricultural bill, H.1058, was supported by Rep. Mark Sylvia and the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association as a way to allow unused cranberry water rights to be transferred within the same watershed for municipal mitigation while helping growers retire or consolidate bogs. The hearing also included testimony on the broader farm omnibus bill H.112/S.55 and related measures, with the Massachusetts Farm Bureau and others praising the committee’s work on agricultural resilience, food security, agritourism, workforce development, and farmland access, while suggesting additional transportation-related fixes for farmers. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, how are you filling in the gap there?
• And then our other financing uses is the money that we send to HCA for our Medicaid contribution, our
• We want to have family, friend and neighbor, we want to have family childcare, but the gap is huge and
• and again thank you to the legislature for giving us both the supplemental funding to help close our gap
• rate to close and, and you probably know this Chair, that 2017 FIT study that kind of never got the gap

Transcript Highlights:

• In financing debt, we've saved over $100 million in the past 10 years.
• Texas State is working to close that gap.
• world-class research, transforming our lives, and making Texas better. begin to close the historic funding gap
• Texas has a critical nursing shortage, that gap right now is about 45,000 and we aim to help alleviate

Keywords: 1184, house, all