Transcript Highlights:

• So, if they have general experience, general knowledge that is allowed to come in, but specific matters
• So, if they have general experience, general<00:02:09.599> knowledge<00:02:10.160> that
• department of the attorney general department of the attorney general respectively<00:04:39.360>
• Attorney Generals. Oh, in person. Attorney Generals. Oh, in person.
• general, deputy attorney general. general, deputy attorney general.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Labor and Technology Committee heard testimony on several measures. SB 2245 would tighten revolving-door restrictions for state employees by barring new employees from acting on matters they worked on before state service and imposing a 12-month post-employment restriction for certain former Governor and Lieutenant Governor staff; the Ethics Commission and League of Women Voters supported it, and the committee later passed it as is. SB 99 would allow certain retirees to return to work as school resource officers or investigators without losing retirement benefits; the Attorney General supported the investigator portion, ERS and other agencies offered comments and suggested amendments, and the committee passed the bill with amendments, including changes from the Attorney General, ERS, and the Department of Law Enforcement, plus a far-future effective date. SB 2304, which would expand identity theft law to cover AI/deepfake or materially deceptive media impersonation, drew opposition from the Attorney General and Honolulu Prosecutor over prosecution burdens and First Amendment concerns, while some prosecutors and others supported it; the committee deferred the bill. SB 2115, dealing with collective bargaining impasse procedures for repricing public employee classes, drew opposition from human resources officials who said arbitrators lack the technical expertise needed, while unions and HGA supported the measure; the committee deferred decision-making to a later hearing. The committee also heard SB 1036, a net neutrality bill that would bar broadband providers from blocking, prioritizing, or zero-rating traffic. Supporters argued Hawaii needs stronger consumer protections, while the Hawaii Broadband Office said it saw no current problem in Hawaii and warned the bill could affect federal BEAD funding unless exempted; the committee deferred the measure. SB 1163 would prohibit the sale of geolocation and browser data and data collected through microphone-based background apps; Consumer Protection supported the intent but urged a broader privacy framework, and the Honolulu Prosecutor sought an exemption for lawful law-enforcement investigations, which the committee later accepted along with Hawaiian Telecom’s proposed amendments before passing the bill with amendments. SB 2076 would update publicity-rights law to address AI/deepfake uses of a person’s likeness; testimony supported the goal and amendments from the Recording Industry Association of America, and the committee passed the bill with amendments, including replacing references to AI/deepfake with “digital replica.” After hearing testimony, the committee recessed briefly to obtain quorum and then reconvened for decision-making. It adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass SB 2245 as is, passed SB 99 with amendments, deferred SB 2304, deferred SB 2115 to a later hearing, deferred SB 1036, passed SB 1163 with amendments, and passed SB 2076 with amendments. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• kilowatt hours of energy generated kilowatt hours of energy generated by<00:50:27.320> solar<
• We're not generating RECs.
• <01:19:29.200> electricity facilities generate electricity facilities generate electricity
• The generating wrecks, do.
• then the RPS in general class one. then the RPS in general class one.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• general fund aid appropriation summary. general fund aid appropriation summary.
• <00:04:00.239> education proposal uh for the general education proposal uh for the general
• cancel to the general fund. cancel to the general fund.
• to the general fund in fiscal year 2025. to the general fund in fiscal year 2025.
• fund<01:46:49.679> formula general a general education fund formula general a general education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > um the association of Inspector generals um the association of Inspector generals um every<00
• has Minnesota the State Attorney General has Minnesota the State Attorney General within<00:23:52.400
• during all this and it was generally during all this and it was generally ignored<00:36:45.240><
• <00:53:24.799> says until the new Inspector General says until the new Inspector General says
• is on 18.1 14 The Inspector General is on 18.1 14 The Inspector General certifies<00:56:58.240><

Bills: HF1, HF1384

Keywords: Office of Inspector General, inspector general, legislative audit, fraud prevention, waste and abuse, public funds, grant oversight, state grants, grant management, whistleblower protection, retaliation, subpoena power, data practices, government transparency, accountability, law enforcement referrals, sanctions, debarment, payment withholding, public assistance fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• points that the Attorney General made. points that the Attorney General made.
• Thank you, Attorney General.
• Thank you, Attorney General.
• Thank you, Attorney General.
• Thank you, Attorney General.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And $26,300,000 from the State General Fund in FY 2019 to the Smart Fund.
• Very generous, very generous. Yep. Any additional questions or comments? Mr.
• And so that trickles through for districts and general...
• And so that trickles through for districts and general...
• and appropriations that are specified in the General Appropriations Act.

Summary: House Republican caucus met on April 29 to review the FY 2027 budget package and several related “budget implementation” bills, with Chairman Livingston noting that HB 2415 was being held. Staff and members walked through HB 4138, the General Appropriations Act (“feed bill”), which appropriates about $17.96 billion from the general fund and includes one-time fund transfers, 5% lump-sum reductions for most agencies, funding for the state health insurance plan, school facilities, child care, correctional officer stipends, public safety, and other prior-year items. Members emphasized that the budget reflected House and Senate negotiations after the governor left budget talks, and Republican leaders framed it as a package that lowers taxes, shrinks government, and funds priorities such as K-12, child care, foster care, and public safety. The caucus then reviewed a series of mostly standard budget bills: HB 4139 on gaming/racing assessments; HB 4140 on federal monies, the budget stabilization fund, and ACE initiative savings reporting; HB 4141 on capital outlay, highway construction, airport funding, and rural transportation match funds; HB 4142 on commerce and lottery distributions; HB 4143 on corrections reporting; HB 4144 on environmental provisions and water-related fund uses; HB 4145 on state employee health insurance premiums and DES reforms; HB 4146 on higher education funding provisions; HB 4147 on SNAP administration and error-rate reduction; HB 4148 on K-12 inflation adjustments, school facilities, and ASDB property-sale oversight; HB 4150 on county expenditure flexibility and state office rent rates; HB 4151 on the Department of Revenue’s integrated tax system funding and related charges; HB 4152 on tax conformity, deductions, and repeal of several renewable-energy tax preferences and the Rio Nuevo diversion; and HB 4153 on transportation reporting. Discussion repeatedly centered on health plan solvency, SNAP/ACCESS eligibility and fraud controls, school funding, rural transportation, and tax conformity and relief. The caucus also took up several blue-sheet bills: HB 2035 on extended-family placement notifications in child welfare cases; HB 2170 restricting certain PRC-controlled companies from state IT contracts; HB 2249 expanding Parents’ Bill of Rights provisions; HB 2573 on DUI interlock/restricted-license rules and psychotherapy definitions; and HB 2873, which was amended to allow withdrawal of referendum petitions before ballot qualification. HB 2415 was held. The Speaker closed by praising the caucus for its budget work, saying the package delivers tax relief, protects vulnerable populations and public safety, and reflects months of Republican negotiations, and the meeting adjourned to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• million to the general fund. million to the general fund.
• to repeal a transfer from the general to repeal a transfer from the general fund<00:16:07.120>
• proceeds would go to the general fund. proceeds would go to the general fund.
• Chief Deputy Attorney General Mr.
• Minnesotans are a generous people.

Bills: HF2783, HF2603, HF2846, HF2354, HF1836, HF2713, HF1198, HF1389

Keywords: state government finance, biennial budget, appropriations, Minnesota Management and Budget, Healthy Aging Subcabinet, Office of Healthy Aging, older adults, aging policy, long-term care, caregivers, public health, Medicaid fraud, medical assistance fraud, attorney general subpoena power, fraud enforcement, business filing fraud, Secretary of State, deceptive mailings, consumer protection, certified public accountant

Transcript Highlights:

• I don’t see the Attorney General.
• Is the Attorney General here? Charles.
• Is the Attorney General here? Charles.
• And my recourse is to get the Attorney General.
• The House increased line 12 for the Attorney General.

Bills: SB152, SB145, SB190, HB247

Keywords: telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion, rural internet, broadband infrastructure, eligible telecommunications carrier, ETC, tribal consent

Transcript Highlights:

• income that was generated.
• One cent increase generates another $6.6 million.
• Because if it's through the general fund, that's got a double-edged sword, right?
• It goes to the General Fund, and then the General Fund is generous to give it...
• Through the general fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• A revenue-generating system Commercial success changes what is possible.
• It is already generating economic activity.
• They have gate fees for airlines that they use for generating revenue.
• And that's, again, value capture in terms of revenue generation.
• I'm the Inspector General of High-Speed Rail.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 draft business plan, with testimony from the authority, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the High-Speed Rail Inspector General. Chair Cortese framed the hearing around the project’s recent changes: a new CEO, revised delivery strategy, loss of federal funds, renewed interest in private financing and value capture, and proposed adjustments to the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment. He also raised concerns about statutory compliance, transparency, and whether the draft plan fully reflects required elements and true costs and timelines. Authority CEO Ian Chaudhry said the project has made substantial construction progress in the Central Valley and is moving toward track installation, with the state’s $1 billion annual cap-and-invest funding providing a stable base. He argued the plan uses design optimization, direct procurement of materials, and revised sequencing to reduce costs and support an early operating segment by about 2032-33. He also promoted broader commercialization of the corridor through real estate, energy, broadband, logistics, and public-private partnerships, saying private sector interest is now real. Several senators pressed him on station locations, tax increment financing, utility relocation authority, permitting delays, transparency, and whether the project can realistically reach Los Angeles and San Francisco on the current timeline and budget. The LAO and Inspector General were more skeptical. LAO analyst Helen Kirstine said the draft plan assumes major scope changes, including a shorter segment, a Merced station outside downtown, more single-tracking, and several statutory changes that have not yet been enacted. She warned that the plan may not comply with recent legislative requirements, that funding may still be insufficient even for the reduced segment, and that borrowing against future cap-and-invest revenues is risky because those revenues are uncertain and volatile. Inspector General Ben Belknap said the draft plan fails to comply with newer statutory requirements, especially regarding the Merced-to-Bakersfield scope, the funding plan, and missing procurement milestone dates. He said the presentation obscures cost increases and schedule delays and limits the Legislature’s ability to compare current estimates with prior reports. Committee members generally supported continued oversight and some form of project delivery reform, but several expressed concern that the plan relies on legislative changes that have not been approved and on private financing that may not materialize. Chaudhry said the authority would address the Inspector General’s findings in the final business plan and continue to pursue federal grants, private capital, and corridor commercialization. No vote was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• use generative AI to look at, once a survey is conducted, ...allow us to use generative AI to look at
• I want to thank Assembly Member Patterson for bringing up the generative AI.
• with aligning General Fund program expenditures to available revenues.
• I will just note that there's no General Fund for this proposal.
• I think one thing to highlight is these positions want to be funded with General Fund.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health held an informational hearing on the Governor’s May Revision, focusing first on the Commission on Behavioral Health, then EMSA, and then the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The Department of Finance said the state faces a third consecutive deficit and that the May Revision includes difficult trade-offs, including proposed eliminations or reversions of some behavioral health and public health funds. The LAO echoed concern about the structural deficit and said it was still awaiting some budget details before offering a full analysis. For the Commission on Behavioral Health, Finance proposed eliminating $20 million in Mental Health Wellness Act funds, arguing the money would help offset General Fund costs and noting future Proposition 1 innovation funding. The commission strongly opposed the cut, saying it would eliminate or delay launch-ready grants for early childhood supports, full-service partnerships, and peer respite, and would eventually end ongoing grant programming. Several advocates and commissioners testified that the funds support underserved communities and that Proposition 1 is not a substitute for the existing programs. The chair asked Finance to look for alternatives, but no vote was taken. EMSA presented mostly technical budget adjustments: increased authority for the California Poison Control System, a correction to EMSIS funding, and a reappropriation for enterprise services and data management. CDPH then reviewed a broader set of May Revision proposals, including reversions from the California Reducing Disparities Project, workforce development, STD prevention, hepatitis C prevention, hospice, and extreme heat funding, as well as a new generative AI pilot for health facility survey reporting. Members raised concerns about cuts to CRDP and gender health equity programs, especially because many grants are mid-contract and serve underserved communities; CDPH said the reversions were part of solving the deficit and that CRDP had been successful, while also clarifying that abortion.ca.gov would not be eliminated. Public comment was overwhelmingly opposed to the CRDP and related cuts, with many speakers describing the programs as life-saving and cost-effective. No formal votes or actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• , I generally think they're large.<00:25:02.640> They're<00:25:02.880> generally<00:25:
• They're generally seniors, right? large. They're generally seniors, right?
• >> Yes, General Clark.
• >> Inspector General Clark. >> Inspector General Clark.
• >> Inspector General, thank you.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Enterprise as it relates to the general Enterprise as it relates to the general fund<00:11:09.279
• within the numbers I would say generally within the numbers I would say generally we<00:42:41.839
• And then general assistance.
• And then general assistance.
• And then general assistance.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the general register. the general register. >> Yes,<00:20:59.840> chair.
• be passed and referred to the general be passed and referred to the general register.<00:28:46.399
• be re-referred to the general register. be re-referred to the general register.
• matter if we send this to the general matter if we send this to the general register.<00:35:32.800
• to be referred to the general register. to be referred to the general register.

Bills: HF4075, HF3826, HF3825, HF3827, HF3459, HF3711, HF4200, HF3908, HF3712

Keywords: firearm restrictions, domestic violence, public safety, court orders, criminal convictions, identity theft, subpoena authority, fraud, statute of limitations, financial crime, victim notification, expungement, criminal justice, plea agreements, minor victims, identification protection, stalking, crime data, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, law enforcement grants

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:28.080> enforcement our Attorney General enforcement our Attorney General enforcement
• Biometric data is used is data generated Biometric data is used is data generated from<00:10:21.480
• <00:12:09.480> public governments or to the general public governments or to the general public
• that is relevant to an investigation conducted by the Attorney General.
• There's no private Attorney General.

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House first took up House Bill 955, relating to next steps in transforming Vermont’s education system. The chamber suspended rules to consider the Senate proposal of amendment immediately, and the House Education Committee reported that while it appreciated the Senate’s work, differences remained on issues including the timing of class size minimums, possible tuition or fees under the foundation formula, school construction details, and merger committee groupings. The committee voted 11-0-0 to refuse concurrence and request a committee of conference. After a brief correction on the committee straw poll, the House voted to refuse concurrence in the Senate amendment and appointed Representatives Conlin, Kornheiser, and Quimby as the House conferees. The House then suspended rules to message its action to the Senate forthwith. The House next took up Senate Bill 71, the consumer data privacy and online surveillance bill. The Commerce and Economic Development Committee recommended amendment, and the floor report described the bill as creating a comprehensive Vermont data privacy law effective January 1, 2028. The report outlined consumer rights to know, access, correct, delete, and port personal data, and to opt out of targeted advertising and sale of data; duties for controllers and processors; limits on sensitive data use; special protections for minors and health-related geofencing; Attorney General enforcement; and an 18-month cure period. The committee heard extensive testimony from a broad range of advocates, industry representatives, privacy experts, and other stakeholders, and it reported the bill out favorably with amendment on a vote of 11-0-0 before the House recessed for dinner.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with that, Assistant Attorney General Eisen Trout and/or Assistant Attorney General Stannifer, do
• Assistant Attorney General Eisen Trout, your response?
• Assistant Attorney General Eisen Trout, your response?
• “I have a general idea. How do you have that general idea? Anthony was generally pretty...”
• “I, Anthony, was generally pretty forthcoming with me.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The hearing concerned a Legislative Ethics Board complaint against Representative Tara Simmons in Washington State OAH Docket 401-645. The judge outlined the process, the two issues on appeal—whether Simmons violated RCW 42.52.020 and RCW 42.52.070, and, if so, what penalty should apply—and admitted a number of exhibits by stipulation or prior ruling, while taking one exhibit under advisement pending an offer of proof. The board also moved to sequester witnesses, which was granted, and the judge deferred ruling on a motion to exclude three defense witnesses until after hearing the board staff’s case. Opening statements followed, with staff alleging Simmons used her position to benefit an outside organization and to secure special privileges, and the defense arguing the conduct was lawful, technical in nature, and consistent with prior ethics guidance. Board staff then called Kimberly Gordon, an attorney and founding board member/treasurer of American Equity and Justice Group (AEJG), as its first witness. Gordon testified that AEJG used data dashboards to make justice-system data more accessible, received state proviso funding sponsored by Simmons, and also received two donations from Simmons—$10,000 and $40,000. She said the first donation was intended to help hire Antoine Coleman, whom Simmons had recommended and who was later identified as Simmons’s romantic partner, and that AEJG returned the $10,000 and declined the $40,000 after concluding there was a potential conflict of interest. Gordon also testified that AEJG believed Simmons’s involvement in the organization and her communications about Coleman created ethical concerns. Gordon further testified about a second proviso intended to expand AEJG’s work into education data and its subcontract with Equity in Education Coalition (EEC). She said EEC did not perform the expected deliverables, prompting repeated communications with the Administrative Office of the Courts and a meeting involving Chris Stanley, where AEJG raised concerns that EEC was not complying and that Simmons had intervened in the dispute. According to Gordon, Stanley ultimately directed the parties to rewrite the subcontract and continue, but AEJG later moved forward largely without EEC’s assistance. The board staff introduced AEJG’s complaint and related timeline exhibits during her testimony. After direct examination, the hearing recessed for lunch, and cross-examination by Simmons’s counsel began when the hearing resumed.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill becomes effective on the general effective date and applies retroactively to taxable years
• This bill becomes effective on the general effective date and applies retroactively to taxable years
• The training has to be approved by the Auditor General. Any questions?
• The Auditor General, a man with Representative Carter, the Auditor General accounted for a number of
• House Bill 2169 asserts the Attorney General is liable for defamation if the Attorney General meets required

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting covered a long series of bills, mostly in health, education, commerce, federalism, and government. In health, members discussed radiology technology updates (HB 2050), a tribal Medicaid waiver/drawdown measure with no state cost (HB 2177), an emergency medicine study committee (HB 2183), fetal death certificate and remains-transfer requirements (HB 2184), a physician assistant licensure compact (HB 2190), dementia care telemonitoring funding (HB 2202), SNAP error-rate reduction and fraud/eligibility oversight bills (HB 2206, HB 2442, HB 2797), child welfare protections like credit freezes and recorded interviews (HB 2321, HB 2322), and podiatric licensure compacts (HB 2438). Several of these were described as consent-calendar items, while HB 2206 and the SNAP-related measures drew discussion about fraud reduction, administrative burden, and work requirements. In commerce and finance, the committee heard bills on mobile food vendors and local permits (HB 2118), earned wage access services with fee caps and disclosure rules (HB 2309), CPA licensure changes (HB 2476), cash acceptance for retail purchases under $100 (HB 2555), drone delivery and unmanned aircraft guardrails (HB 2875), timeshare salesperson licensing (HB 2877), and a prohibition on state-mandated social credit scoring in lending decisions (HB 2903). The tax and retirement-related items included 529 plan conformity and Roth IRA transfer rules (HB 2477), annual tax conformity to the Internal Revenue Code (HB 2785), ASRS technical and disability-related changes (HB 2089, HB 2090, HB 2092), and a bill on employee health insurance definitions (HB 2089). The Arizona Commerce Authority bill (HB 2754) would add legislative members to the board and shift more control over trade offices and Arizona Competes Fund spending to the legislature. The education section focused heavily on school governance and finance. Bills included patriotic youth group presentations in schools (HB 2312), school board term limits (HB 2318), mandatory training for governing board members (HB 2379), independent municipal advisors for bond elections (HB 2320), restrictions on districts buying operating charter/private school sites to game enrollment formulas (HB 2376), conflict-of-interest limits for school facilities board architects and engineers (HB 2378), public meeting and travel transparency rules for districts (HB 2380), limits on long-term school property leases and reporting requirements (HB 2384), tighter bidding rules for school construction job orders using Building Renewal Grant funds (HB 2482), and a voluntary computer science proficiency seal (HB 2764). Sponsors repeatedly framed these as transparency, accountability, and anti-abuse measures, while some opposition centered on local flexibility, housing use, and existing training providers. In federalism and government, the committee heard bills to give counties more time to mail sample ballots (HB 2006), require courts to identify veterans at first appearance for possible veterans court referral (HB 2226), study veterans’ awareness of benefits (HB 2406), broaden military leave protections (HB 2663), require SAVE verification for voter registration and certain state services (HB 2806), require U.S.-sourced voting machine components by 2029 (HB 2901), affirm the Electoral College (HB 2902), and establish due process protections for justice of the peace courts against outside administrative action (HB 2976). Government committee items included a later deadline for library trustees’ annual reports (HB 2129), a two-year limit on certain adult protective services reports to the Attorney General (HB 2228), and an exemption for public and semi-public cold plunges from ADEQ spa rules (HB 2439). Several bills were reported as consent-calendar items, and a number of sponsors noted committee votes, fiscal neutrality, or favorable testimony in support of the measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• General revenue represents $53.2 billion.
• This chart reflects each policy area of general revenue.
• of Veteran Affairs, General Hospital.
• And then my last comment was Surgeon General Ladapo.
• Thank you, Surgeon General and Secretary Harris.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard presentations on the governor’s proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 budget for the health and human services agencies. Kendall Kelly outlined the overall HHS budget at $48.5 billion, with AHCA accounting for the largest share, and agency heads then highlighted major proposals for Medicaid behavioral health redesign, APD waiver enrollment and facility needs, DCF child welfare, opioid, and mental health investments, DOEA funding for Alzheimer’s, home care, and community services, DOH funding for cancer research, public health initiatives, and lab capacity, and VA funding for facility improvements, cybersecurity, and medication management. Several members praised specific proposals, including increased reimbursement for private duty nursing, Alzheimer’s supports, and the Florida FIRST blood-in-ambulance initiative. Senators also questioned the proposed changes to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), with the Surgeon General explaining that the department expects a reduction in covered patients from about 30,000 to about 20,000 because of funding pressures tied to rebates, federal changes, and premium tax credit issues. Public testimony strongly criticized the ADAP changes, citing lack of transparency and warning that many patients could lose access to medications. Other questions focused on the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, DCF’s substance abuse and mental health data dashboard, Kids Care/CHIP expansion implementation, APD bed and facility planning, and the FX Medicaid technology project. DCF said about $7 million is set aside for the dashboard system, and AHCA said the governor’s budget includes $124.4 million for FX maintenance and continued module development, with $13.5 million to begin claims processing work. The committee did not take a substantive vote on the budget presentations and adjourned after questions and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• House File 1224 is placed in the General Register.
• motion is to place it on the general motion is to place it on the general register<00:03:58.599>
• house file 1224 be placed in the general house file 1224 be placed in the general register<00:04
• file 1224 is placed in the general file 1224 is placed in the general register<00:04:41.600>
• House File 2403 as amended is placed on the general register.

Bills: HF1224, HF1615, HF2403

Keywords: foreclosure, mortgage postponement, homeowners, redemption period, Minnesota Statutes, cannabis, hemp, lower-potency, edibles, regulations, licensing, local control, consumer safety, age restrictions, commerce policy, financial institutions, insurance regulation, limited long-term care insurance, Medicare supplement, health insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1, the general appropriation bill, outlines how the state will allocate funds for the upcoming
• Committee to balance the budget include a reduction of $53.1 million in state general fund to maximize
• State general fund savings in the Medicaid program.
• There are no state general fund dollars in this bill. Okay, we have some amendments on this bill.
• The bill includes $94.5 million from the State General Fund for the legislative branch.

Summary: Senate Finance met on May 21, 2026, with nine members present. The committee first recognized Mother Pearl Porter during a personal privilege presentation by Senator Boudreaux. It then took up the major budget measures for fiscal year 2026-27, beginning with HB 1, the general appropriation bill. The committee heard that the state budget was about $46.6 billion and that recent Revenue Estimating Conference revisions required reductions in recurring spending. Amendments removed new funding for GATOR and increased MFP amounts, while also directing Revenue Stabilization Fund dollars toward infrastructure, economic development, and local government needs. The committee adopted amendment set 4238 and reported HB 1 as amended, with authority for technical changes. The committee next considered HB 312, the supplemental appropriations bill for the current fiscal year. Members were told the amendments balanced the budget to the May REC forecast through a net reduction in state general fund spending, including savings in Medicaid and other agencies, while covering updated costs such as medical vendor administration, DCFS operations, DOC offender medical expenses, and disaster-related costs. Amendment set 4239 was adopted, and HB 312 was reported favorably as amended. HB 2, the capital outlay/infrastructure bill, was then amended with set 4230 and reported as amended. HB 3, the omnibus bond act authorizing bond usage for HB 2, had no amendments and was reported favorably. The committee also advanced HB 313, the funds bill, which includes the constitutionally required deposit of $144.3 million of FY 2025 surplus into the Budget Stabilization Fund and various transfers and fund adjustments. Amendments expanded or created several funds and mechanisms, including infrastructure and economic development-related funds, and HB 313 was reported favorably as amended. HB 314, the revenue sharing bill distributing the constitutionally mandated $90 million to local governments, was reported favorably without amendment. HB 383, the ancillary appropriations bill for fee-supported agencies, received amendment 3138 and was reported favorably as amended. HB 983, funding the judiciary, was amended to remove judicial pay adjustments and instead fund a possible transfer of the integrated criminal justice information system to the Supreme Court if SB 141 becomes law; it was reported favorably as amended. HB 1126, the legislative branch appropriations bill, was amended and reported favorably as amended. Finally, HCR 3, the hospital stabilization resolution used to support Medicaid hospital reimbursements, was amended to give LDH more flexibility on the timing of directed payments and preprint submissions, then reported as amended. The committee adjourned after a motion to do so.