Transcript Highlights:

• I am KJ Curtis with the Legislative Budget Board, and we will start with the Texas Public Finance Authority
• That's a financing tool offered.
• Sorry, Davini, Executive Director of the Texas Public Finance Authority.
• I'm Billy Atkinson, I'm Chair of the Board of Directors of the Texas Public Finance Authority and with
• In addition to closing project financing since 2014, TPFA has proactively and independently executed

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• germane to the following Senate committee substitute for committee substitute for House Bill 381, Finance
• Our House Finance Committee did some great work, and I think it's really important to this body.
• amended, thus adopting Senate committee substitute for House Bill 381, finance amended, and recommend
• amended, thus adopting Senate committee substitute for House Bill 381, finance amended?
• It will also be referred to the Finance Committee.

Keywords: 905, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll call this meeting of the House Finance and Policy Committee to order and note that a quorum is present
• We will now move on to our one bill for the day, which is our housing finance bill.
• And this leaves the total Minnesota Housing Finance Fund base at $319.6 million. $319.618 million in
• The program slated to receive more one-time resources in your bill will help the agency finance more
• Since 2012, housing infrastructure resources have financed more than $9.6 billion.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then for new members again, and anyone who wants to attend, the Legislative Finance Committee is
• consideration and reports same with the recommendation that it do pass and thence referred to the Finance
• Business transportation committee, then Senate Finance Committee.
• Unanimous consent to change the Senate Judiciary to the Senate Finance Committee.
• I think that was either a handwriting error on our part, but clearly it needs to be in Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 64, do pass as amended, thence referred to the Finance Committee.
• Senate Bill 58, do pass, thence referred to the Finance Committee.
• Senator Kerry Hamblin. 58, do pass, thence referred to the Finance Committee.
• Senate Bill 177, introduced by Senator Muñoz, an act relating to public finance, making transfers from
• Senate Finance, we're going to go in like 20 minutes after the floor, so 2:20 now, so let's just say

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, George Harris, the Department of Finance.
• Christon Malhotra, Department of Finance.
• George Harris with the Department of Finance in La...
• Department of Finance. George Harris, Department of Finance.
• And I believe Department of Finance is going to, we'll start with Department of Finance, then LAO and

Summary: The joint hearing focused on California’s child care, preschool, and transitional kindergarten oversight, with chairs emphasizing the state’s Master Plan for Early Learning and Care and the need to break down silos between programs. CDSS and CDE reported progress toward the plan’s goals, including universal access to TK for all four-year-olds next school year, expanded access for low-income three-year-olds, and more children with disabilities being served in state preschool. They also noted ongoing work on quality rating/review reform, funding structure changes, and the need to address rates, workforce shortages, and federal uncertainty around Head Start. Testimony from advocacy groups and providers largely supported expanding access while simplifying the system. Children Now, Every Child California, and the California Budget and Policy Center argued that California still has uneven access, especially for infants, toddlers, and three-year-olds, and urged investments in mixed delivery, inclusion, full-day options, and a cost-of-care rate methodology. Every Child California recommended consolidating part-day and full-day contracts, streamlining eligibility priorities, making the two-year-old option permanent, and funding staffing incentives. Parent testimony highlighted how child care gaps and county-to-county transfer delays can disrupt work, safety, and children’s stability, and providers described low reimbursement rates, the need for health and retirement benefits, and support for delinking subsidy rates from private pay. The second panel addressed universal transitional kindergarten. The Learning Policy Institute reported rapid TK expansion, with most districts now offering TK, but said access still depends on facilities, staffing, and whether programs are available at all school sites. The Department of Finance said the governor’s budget would fully implement TK by adding funding for all eligible four-year-olds and lowering the adult-to-child ratio from 12:1 to 10:1. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the administration’s enrollment and cost assumptions were optimistic and estimated lower TK enrollment growth and lower costs for the ratio change. CDE supported the expansion and urged continued funding for UPK coordinators, teacher development, and mixed-delivery planning grants. Members questioned facilities shortages, staffing competition, and how to ensure TK expansion does not displace CSPP or Head Start classrooms. No formal votes or actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on, school finance, so on slide eight. you get a picture of all in funding on school finance and
• All of this money comes from the school finance system so the school finance system the first funding
• The School Finance Commission.
• I think the SPED funding deficit is the largest in the whole school finance system.
• finance system is not. leave with the child?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:16.800> at businesses are denied financing at businesses are denied financing at nearly
• Fortis was development finance.
• c> for through creative financing for through creative financing for entrepreneurs<00:03:58.000><
• Many are many are viable financing.
• <00:05:21.680> models innovative financial financing models innovative financial financing

Bills: HF3707, HF3732, HF2581, HF3731

Keywords: unemployment insurance, judicial officials, paid leave, economic development, worker protections, workforce development, unemployment benefits, youth training, grants, job creation, grant funding, revolving loan, underserved communities, disadvantaged groups, electrical licensing, installation, Class A installer, regulations, labor and industry, 1183

Summary: The committee first adopted the minutes from February 26 and then heard House File 2581, authored by Representative Frazier, which sought $1 million for Fortis Capital, a nonprofit economic development lender. Frazier and Fortis CEO Brian Smith described Fortis as a gap-financing lender that helps underserved entrepreneurs who cannot meet traditional bank underwriting standards. They said the organization has made 37 loans totaling more than $4 million since 2021, leveraged another $29.5 million, and created 314 jobs. Smith said Fortis typically charges around 6.5% interest, has had two defaults, and uses a revolving loan fund model that recycles repayments; members discussed how the proposal fits with other state economic development programs and whether Fortis should instead be part of a competitive grant process. The chair laid HF 2581 over for possible inclusion in a budget bill. The committee then heard House File 3707, brought by Representative Berg, which would extend confidentiality protections to unemployment insurance and paid leave judges and related staff by adding them to the definition of judges for purposes of protecting personal information. Berg and testifiers from the Department of Economic Development and MAPE said the bill responds to harassment and safety concerns, including threats, doxxing, and an attack near an office, and is intended to protect people making sensitive determinations. MAPE supported the bill as an update to existing protections for similar workers. Members raised concerns that the bill’s language was too broad, especially the reference to the paid leave division, and questioned whether it should cover only judges or also call-center and other staff. Department and committee members agreed the language likely needed narrowing and discussed possible amendments and whether to move the bill to Judiciary and then revisit it. No final vote was taken on HF 3707 during the discussion, and the bill remained under consideration for further language work.

Transcript Highlights:

• The department has solicited interest from New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and received a letter
• <00:21:22.640> The Hampshire Housing Finance Authority.
• The Hampshire Housing Finance Authority.
• <00:21:26.159> Authority New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority New Hampshire Housing Finance
• in New Hampshire Housing Finance in New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority<00:23:10.799> is<

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its September 29 meeting and then took up a series of Department of Transportation and Department of Administrative Services property actions. Several DOT items involved disposal of land originally acquired for the now-dissolved Conway bypass or other highway projects, including a 445.6-acre Conway parcel proposed for sale to the town of Conway for conservation use, a 1.78-acre Chesterfield parcel for sale to an abutter, a 6.13-acre Madison parcel tied to the Conway bypass, and a bulk disposal package of 22 improved parcels in Merrimack, Litchfield, and Hudson. Members asked about appraisals, conservation easements, federal funding restrictions, tenant occupancy, and whether the state would recover its original investment; DOT said values were based on appraisal or market analysis, federal reimbursements may be required where federal funds were used, and proceeds from turnpike-related property would return to the turnpike fund. All of these disposal motions were approved. The committee also approved several DOT lease/easement items. These included a Greenfield railroad-corridor lease for equestrian use, a Lake Winnipesaukee dock lease to CE Realty Trust, a similar dock lease to Needle Eye Association, and an easement in Carroll for Industrial Wireless to build a private road and cross Mount Deception Brook for a cell tower project. Members focused on maintenance responsibilities, liability insurance, access limitations, fencing, and the relationship between the railroad corridor and adjacent uses. DOT said lessees would be responsible for maintenance, access to the railroad would be restricted, and liability insurance would be included where appropriate. The committee also approved a separate easement for Eversource in Rochester to install utility lines serving the new courthouse, with the department explaining that the easement is a narrow strip needed to complete construction. The Department of Administrative Services received approval for a use-of-premises agreement allowing Rockingham County to lease 300 square feet in the Brentwood courthouse for office space, and for a perpetual utility easement in Rochester for Eversource, with a waiver of the administrative fee. The committee also heard that the Rochester courthouse project needs the utility work to finish construction. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly asked about insurance, public access, valuation, and whether tenants or abutters would have first opportunity to buy or lease the affected properties. All motions before the committee were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• We offer programs that can help finance recovery from that.
• On the drinking water side, they could work with the finance authority to finance the...
• I know the Board of Finance, I believe, has some emergency financing powers, but our infrastructure programs
• So, we don't finance solar projects just because they're solar projects.
• We finance solar projects that power wastewater Treatment plants.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hugo Salis Galena with the Department of Finance.
• We'll go ahead and get started with Finance again.
• Hugo Solis Galena with the Department of Finance.
• Hugo Solis Galena with the Department of Finance.
• We'll start with Finance. Hugo Solis-Galiana from the Department of Finance.

Summary: The subcommittee on Education Finance heard an overview of the governor’s budget proposals and higher education financial aid trends, with a major focus on the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), Cal Grant spending, and the effects of recent federal student aid changes. The Department of Finance said the budget would fully fund Cal Grant at projected levels and reduce MCS coverage from 35% to 17.5% of unmet need in 2026-27, while the Legislative Analyst’s Office supported considering the reduction as a cost-saving measure given out-year deficits. UC and CSU representatives opposed the cut, saying MCS is important to affordability and debt-free degree goals; they estimated average awards would fall substantially and that campuses do not have funds to backfill the loss. The Student Aid Commission said the proposal would reduce aid but simplify administration, and members questioned how lower awards would affect students, borrowing, and work-study options. No vote was taken, and the issue was held open for possible future action. The committee then discussed federal changes to student loans and Pell Grant policy under H.R. 1, including caps on Parent PLUS loans, elimination of Grad PLUS loans, and new proration rules for federal direct loans based on enrollment intensity. The LAO said these changes would likely push some borrowers into the private market, especially graduate and professional students and some parents of students at private institutions. CSU said the changes would affect thousands of graduate and part-time students and could reduce access by about $97 million in loan availability for part-time borrowers, while UC said the new definitions of professional degrees were too restrictive and would reduce access for nursing, teaching, law, dentistry, and other programs. Community colleges said they use relatively little federal loan aid but are monitoring Workforce Pell. Members raised concerns about workforce impacts, social mobility, and whether the state should consider alternative loan programs or other ways to reduce student costs. This issue was also held open. In the segment financial aid update, the LAO reported Cal Grant spending is projected to rise to about $3.2 billion in 2026-27, driven by more recipients and higher awards tied to UC and CSU tuition increases, while CSAC said FAFSA and CADAA applications are up significantly year over year. CSU, community colleges, and UC described their aid packaging and rising aid totals, with CSU reporting over $5.5 billion in aid to 381,000 students, community colleges reporting over $4.3 billion to more than 920,000 students, and UC reporting $3.17 billion in grant aid to undergraduates. Members asked about Cal Grant reform, application trends, and long-term outcomes; UC and community colleges pointed to alumni and wage dashboards, and the LAO noted the state’s Cradle to Career data effort. The committee then took public comment, including testimony on library funding and other education-related priorities, and concluded by holding the issues open without formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have public financing.
• This is another public financing bill.
• This is another public financing bill.
• This is another public financing bill.
• This is another public financing bill.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's say this is established, and now this is a vehicle that can be used for the financing, a financing
• mechanism or part of a financing mechanism for that kind of a new project.
• And the stadium that is there today was financed without that kind of investment.
• , a financing mechanism or part of a financing mechanism for that kind of a new project.
• But what's I think important. was financed without that kind of investment.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• notice and affecting the revenues of the state under Rule 31 will be referred to the Committee on Finance
• for notice and affecting the revenues of the state under Rule 31 is referred to the Committee on Finance
• which recommends that the bill finance which recommends that the bill ought<00:06:55.039> to<
• I recognize the senator from Addison, Senator Hardy, for the report of the Committee on Finance.
• the committee on finance. the committee on finance.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to thank the Campaign Finance Board.
• publicly thank the campaign finance publicly thank the campaign finance board<00:56:52.880> for
• finance uh know when they should<00:57:39.440> update<00:57:39.760> it?
• <01:01:50.480> Um<01:01:50.799> there the campaign f finance board.
• Um there the campaign f finance board.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, I know that Senator Bolick is in Finance.
• But the states reserve the right to regulate campaign finance authority.
• We examine this issue of campaign finance.
• Campaign finance plays an essential role in the democratic process. That is clear.
• What is not always clear is who has oversight over campaign finance rules and regulations.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The department will also solicit interest from the town of Guilford and New Hampshire Housing Finance
• The department also solicited interest from New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, and they are not
• Authority and they are not Finance Authority and they are not interested. interested. interested.
• The department will also solicit interest from the town of Fremont and New Hampshire Housing Finance
• Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. Hampshire Housing Finance Authority.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee met and first approved the June 30, 2025 meeting minutes. The committee then took up a series of Department of Transportation property actions, including authorization to grant an access point in Exeter, sell two small tracts in Keene, amend a prior Guilford disposal based on a revised survey and appraisal, sell 0.42 acres in Lincoln, list and sell 9.77 acres in Chesterfield, sell 0.54 acres in Fremont, and approve a permanent access easement in Belmont. The committee also approved a utility easement in Albany and a permanent access easement on Route 153 for the Bickfords. Most of these items involved direct sales or listings, administrative fees of $1,100, and conditions requiring surveys and local/state approvals; several were approved unanimously after brief or no questions. Representative Faulkner declared a conflict of interest on the Chesterfield item, and Representative Newman sat in for that matter; later, Faulkner was recused from the Belmont item as well. The committee also approved a Department of Administrative Services request to grant a perpetual utility line easement to Public Service Company of New Hampshire for a facility under construction at the Hampstead hospital property, with the administrative fee waived because the grant was in exchange for utility service. During discussion of informational item LRCP25-038, staff explained that no committee action was needed because the item was only to notify members that a parcel’s fair market value had been reduced due to a change in access. The committee received additional informational materials from the New Hampshire Council on Resources and Development, including minutes from its May 8 meeting and memorandums on surplus land review for Meredith and Hampstead. The next meeting was set for December 9 at 9:30 a.m. at Granite Place, Room 228, and the chair noted the meeting would be on a Tuesday because of building scheduling. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill is being reported to our finance committee.
• Okay, the bill is being reported to our Finance Committee.
• Okay, the bill is being reported to our Finance Committee.
• The bill is being reported to our Finance Committee.
• The bill is being reported to our Finance Committee.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Civil Service and Pensions met on March 24, 2026, with a quorum present and eight bills on the agenda. The committee considered measures affecting retirement and leave benefits for several groups, including NYC sanitation members (S-4667A), NYC correction members (S-4706A), county and municipal airport firefighters (S-9262), NYC water supply police (S-9356), EMT members in the NYC Employees’ Retirement System (S-9378), Suffolk County correction officers (S-9394), and Civil Air Patrol members on Air Force-assigned missions (S-9406). The committee also took up S.A.424A, which would provide a legacy credit to children and siblings of military service members or those killed in the line of duty; members spoke in support of the bill as a way to recognize and support military families. Most bills were moved without opposition and received unanimous approval, with the chair repeatedly confirming vote counts from the voting sheets. S-4667A, S-4706A, S.A.424A, S-9262, S-9356, S-9378, and S-9394 each received seven ayes, zero nays, and zero abstentions/AWRs. S-9406 also advanced, but with one AWR and six ayes. Members offered brief supportive comments on several bills, especially those benefiting veterans, correction officers, firefighters, and other public safety workers. All eight bills were reported out of committee, most to the Finance Committee and S.A.424A to the floor. The meeting then adjourned after no further business was raised.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those reporting this bill to finance? Aye. Opposed? AWR. Thank you.
• This bill is reported to finance.
• All those in favor of moving this bill to finance? Aye. Opposed? AWR.
• This bill is reported to finance.
• This bill is reported to finance.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Crime Victims, Crime and Correction, chaired by Senator Salazar, met with Senators Harckham, Murray, and Bailey present, and considered 10 bills related to correctional policy, reentry, victim services, and public health in facilities. Measures discussed included educational access for incarcerated individuals, a phone call before transfer, expanded substance abuse programming for non-English speakers, commissary/canteen issues, a reentry pilot program, SNAP screening before release, discharge planning for wrongfully convicted individuals, public water testing transparency in correctional facilities, evidentiary standards in disciplinary hearings, and notification to victims about the address confidentiality program. The committee also corrected the record on one bill title during the meeting, clarifying that S. 1645 was actually a human trafficking assistance priority bill. Members generally expressed support for the bills, with brief comments highlighting the importance of reentry services, public health, and victim protections. Senator Harckham spoke in support of the water testing bill, citing PFAS and other contaminants, and Senator Murray praised the address confidentiality program bill. Most bills were moved by motion and seconded without substantive debate. All bills were reported out of committee, with several specifically reported to Finance. Senator Murray cast negative votes on some measures, while the rest were approved by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Gilman moves that House File number 3687 be recalled from the Committee on Human Services Finance
• and Policy and be re-referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy. >> I recognize the member
• Yes, I'm requesting that House File 386 be recalled from Committee on Human Services Finance and Policy
• and be re-referred to the Committee on Health Finance and Policy.
• , and Policy, and be Agriculture, Finance, and Policy, and be re-referred<00:11:41.400> to<00:

Keywords: 1183, house