Transcript Highlights:

• The House consent has been requested at the response to the request of the sponsor to return the bill
• The House consent has been requested to return House Bills 836 and 878 to committee at the request of
• Unanimous consent has been requested at the request of the sponsor. There's a replacement bill.
• Unanimous consent has been requested at the request of the sponsor. Is there objection?
• We want to balance the budget.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received messages from the Governor and Senate, including notice that the Governor signed House Bill 556 and that several enrolled House and Senate measures were transmitted for signatures or filing. The chamber also processed committee reports on a range of bills, including appropriations, agriculture, state affairs, and judiciary matters, and referred House Resolution 33 and later House Resolution 34 for printing. Several bills were returned to committee at the sponsors’ requests, including House Bills 649, 567, 627, 530, 903, 763, and 857. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on concurrence with Senate amendments to House Bills 629, 678, 522, 684, 561, and 860. Members described the amendments as mostly friendly or technical, covering issues such as requiring a paper copy of vehicle registration, narrowing drone-related language and penalties, changing wording on sheriff recapture funding, adding the Basque Autonomous Community flag to the flag bill, and adjusting health-related provisions involving emergency treatment, drug/alcohol exposure, and rape-kit language. The House unanimously concurred in each case. The most extended floor debate centered on House Bill 940, which revises the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance. Supporters said the bill would realign IDLA to its original purpose, curb duplicate use by districts and virtual schools, eliminate driver’s education and LaunchPad, and stop what they described as double-dipping or misuse of public funds. Opponents argued IDLA is an essential service for rural districts, homeschoolers, and students needing AP, dual credit, or courses unavailable locally, warning that the bill would cut access and harm small schools. After debate, the House suspended rules, considered the bill, and passed House Bill 940 by a vote of 48-22. The House also debated Senate Concurrent Resolution 123, recognizing the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists. Supporters framed it as a tribute to Idaho ranching and rangeland heritage, while opponents objected to its connection to a United Nations initiative and raised sovereignty concerns. The resolution passed the House 39-28. Later, the House recessed and reconvened, received additional messages and committee reports, and began first reading of new bills including House Bills 944-951 and Senate Bills 1396-1398, with several measures referred to committees for further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did submit a request for a special appropriation, our request number two for the beginnings of the
• The other thing that you need is a budget.
• We didn't put that in our budget request this year just because we knew how short we were, and we thought
• Regarding the appropriation requested as part of our FY 2026 budget, the requested salary increase of
• In summary, our FY 2026 budget request ensures competitive salaries to attract and retain qualified staff

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an increase of less than 3% of our FY 25 operating budget, and further requests $11.9 million
• and further request operating budget and further request 11.9<00:23:42.440><c> million</c><00:23:42.760
• is not intended to supplant the Judiciary's budget request.
• is not intended to supplant the Judiciary's budget request.
• The Civil Legal Services fund is not intended to supplant the Judiciary's budget request.

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:

• On slide 17, I just want to talk briefly about our budget and the two budget recommendations before you
• It's not part of NPSU's budget.
• The only other thing on the budget I would request, and John Clarke mentioned this earlier, is we normally
• This is our agency's request and.
• for our future requests.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> come and present their capital budget come and present their capital budget request.<00:08:46.399
• start that we have two related requests in our operating budget.
• I present their capital budget request.
• requests in our operating<00:26:42.080><c> budget.
• And lastly, budget request for the DOC.

Bills: HF3220

Keywords: school safety, school security, emergency access, law enforcement access, master key box, secure key box, entry device, school grants, education finance, Department of Education, charter schools, school districts, cooperative units, appropriation cancellation, one-time appropriation, school safety plan, emergency preparedness, public safety, school building security, 1183

Transcript Highlights:

• We ask for your strong consideration of fully funding Governor Healey's FY27 budget request for TSS.
• One key component of our budget request...
• The commission's total fiscal year 2027 budget request...
• The commission's total fiscal year 2027 budget request is $32.9 million.
• The commission is working with EOTS, but requesting it in our operational budget as well, as it is a

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Let us prioritize our budget. This is a budget bill.
• Let us prioritize our budget. This is a budget bill.
• Let us prioritize our budget. This is a budget bill.
• Let us prioritize our budget. This is a budget bill.
• This is a budget prioritize our budget.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• budget is strained and could not afford to do so.
• Again, not at the request of any system, just to make the budget balance.
• Again, not at the request of any system, just to make the budget balance.
• Was it just a budget issue?
• So for us, 87% of our budget goes to salaries and benefits.

Bills: SB6251, SB6259, SB6325, SB5978, SB6209, SB6217, SB6227, SB6235

Keywords: medical school, medical education, letter grades, grading system, pass/fail, tiered grading, student assessment, curriculum, University of Washington, Washington State University, School of Medicine, physician training, academic standards, coursework evaluation, RCW 28B, SB 6259, Washington, state financial aid, higher education, public college

Transcript Highlights:

• start budget conference meetings.
• The bills we pass today are identical to the budget bills we passed in regular session.
• Because we are being efficient in our time today, ...in budget conference.
• I move to accede to the request of the Senate for a budget conference, having passed the following bills
• Representative Garrison moves to accede to the request of the Senate for a budget conference, having

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• requests or issues.
• So with both of those at $96.5 million, that's our first request.
• Agenda item two pertains to a requested budget augmentation for operational sustainability and legal
• And that’s exactly my concern with this approach to budgeting.
• I'm here to support Senator Umberg's request for $150,000...

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of budget proposals, beginning with Exposition Park. Park leadership described the 160-acre state property’s historic role, growing visitation, and major upcoming events, including the FIFA World Cup fan fest and the 2028 Olympics. The governor’s proposal sought $96.5 million for utility replacement, site improvements, code compliance, accessibility, and public safety/traffic systems, plus $1.698 million for operational sustainability. The LAO said the proposals had merit but suggested the Legislature could consider downscaling some work given the budget condition. Members generally supported the requests, emphasizing deferred maintenance, public access, and the park’s statewide importance; both Exposition Park items were held open. The California Science Center requested funding to open and operate the new Air and Space Center, a major expansion featuring the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The LAO supported the proposal but suggested the Legislature consider alternative funding sources such as admission fees, higher parking fees, or private funds. Members debated whether the state should continue to fund operations without charging admission, with the Science Center explaining its public-private funding model and warning that fees could sharply reduce attendance, especially for underserved communities. The item was held open. The committee also reviewed continuation funding for the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation’s consumer protection and debt collection programs. DFPI and Finance said the requests would extend existing expenditure authority and were not General Fund asks. The LAO supported limited-term funding but urged cumulative reporting or a sunset-style review before permanent funding. Members pressed DFPI on outcomes, workload, and the high cost of the debt collection licensing program, noting that the number of licensees was far below early estimates and that assessments on the industry were substantial. Public commenters from the debt collection industry echoed those concerns, while others supported DFPI’s consumer protection work. The committee then heard a Board of Registered Nursing request for $1.4 million to fund eight special investigators. The board said complaint volume has risen with licensee growth and more complex cases, and members asked about complaint outcomes, regional caseloads, med spa oversight, viral complaints, and bias-related complaints. The board explained its investigation, probation, and intervention processes and said most cases reaching the Attorney General result in discipline. That item was also held open. After public comment on additional agenda items, the committee voted on several vote-only items. Items 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, and 17 were approved 4-0. Items 7, 9, and 14 were also approved, with the chair correcting the tally to 4-0. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our FY part of our FY 27 budget request for the Health Care Authority.
• Getting into our budget request, our FY27 budget requests for base and expansions is 15 billion dollars
• Okay, moving on to our last division for the budget request for today, the Income Support Division.
• So had we not received some of that support, there are funding requests that are part of our IT budget
• Chair, Senator Trujillo, there is part of the budget request that does include leases and equipment and

Transcript Highlights:

• And the governor's budget does include a request to cover the continued costs of ministering the program
• As you can see, our budget change proposal request included the following specific amounts.
• Today, we're asking you to ensure that our budget request supports access so all Californians in crisis
• estimates, budget change proposals, and April finance letter requests.
• Estimates, budget change proposals, and April finance letter requests.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:16.800><c> from</c> requests, $3.8 billion in requests from requests, $3.8 billion in requests
• and bonding requests.
• This work supports the governor's recommendation for admin's capital budget requests.
• Summer security events pushed this request to be our number one request.
• We have two capital budget requests this year.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We provide them an option to do that and you can see through the The request that we're requesting additional
• Requests not included in recommendations, you can see the rider requests from AgriLife Research. and
• FTEs so where where is that request?
• Land bolding, legislative budget board, you're just asking where the request shows up in our documentation
• So with this request...

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on the budget.
• Currently, almost 60% of Townsend's operating budget is for the school budgets.
• budget.
• Our school budget...
• I urge the Legislature to support the Mass Coalition for the Homeless FY26 budget requests to strengthen

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Ways and Means Committee held its final public hearing on the FY26 state budget, with chairs and members emphasizing that public testimony would help shape the budget and asking speakers to keep remarks brief. Committee leaders introduced members, explained the hearing process, and repeatedly thanked residents, students, and advocates for participating. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony focused heavily on education funding and the Chapter 70 formula. Students from Amherst, Northampton, Gateway Regional, Chester Elementary, and other districts described budget-driven cuts to electives, special education supports, paraprofessionals, counselors, transportation, and building maintenance. They urged higher Chapter 70 aid, increased minimum aid, rural school aid, and a reopening or restructuring of the funding formula, arguing that current formulas leave many districts unable to meet student needs and force local layoffs and overrides. Other speakers urged funding or protection for a range of programs and facilities, including the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for homicide survivor services, the Museum of African American History, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and CART/interpreter services, the Access to Counsel housing legal aid program, the Department of Mental Health and Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. One speaker opposed offshore wind-related spending and urged a reset of the state’s energy approach, while another advocated ending the aircraft sales tax exemption. Committee members responded sympathetically to many speakers, asked a few follow-up questions, and several expressed support for maintaining or expanding the programs discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we have our partners at HCA, DSHS, and DOH who are making those operating budget requests.
• Is there communication happening with the operational budget now?
• House Bill 1543, which was agency request legislation, was passed into law.
• to quantify cost estimates into your budget cycles.
• However, this policy is intended to inform future capital budget funding after 2028.

Bills: HB2330, HB2338

Keywords: energy systems, capital funding, state campus, school infrastructure, sustainability, weatherization, energy efficiency, community projects, environment, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> our budget request. our budget request.
• gain</c><00:51:32.360><c> with</c> budget requests with these gain with budget requests with these gain
• budget request over a adjusted in future budget request over a 20-year<00:51:37.880><c> amortized</c
• </c><00:51:52.840><c> actually</c> budget request with what is actually budget request with what is actually
• budget request that TRS this additional budget request that TRS makes<00:53:51.840><c> directly</c><00

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:00:12 Approval of Minutes: 00:01:34 Actuarial Valuation Update – KPPA: 00:02:10 Actuarial Valuation Update – TRS: 00:25:32, 958, all

Summary: The meeting began with roll call, confirmation of a quorum, and approval of the prior minutes. The main presentation was from KPPA officials Ryan Barrow and Erin Saratt on the annual actuarial valuations for the retirement and insurance systems. They said the systems’ funding status improved overall, with three of five insurance funds fully funded, CERS hazardous dropping from over 100% funded to 90.9% because of premium changes, and KRS receiving $650 million in supplemental funding over the biennium. They also reported strong investment returns above assumed rates, higher payroll and membership counts, and resulting actuarial losses tied to higher salaries and premiums, especially on the insurance side. Members asked several questions about what drove the actuarial losses and whether legislation affected them. KPPA said the CERS insurance loss was driven by premium increases and Senate Bill 10, while the pension-side losses were largely due to higher payroll and benefits for Tier 1 and Tier 2 members. They explained that new Tier 3 employees are designed to add no additional unfunded liability, and that the state administers the systems but does not directly control all hiring. Questions also focused on retiree health premiums, which KPPA said rose about 15% for non-Medicare retirees and 38% for Medicare retirees, with the increase attributed to utilization, prescription costs, and the Inflation Reduction Act. The committee then heard from TRS Deputy Executive Secretary and General Counsel Beau Barnes on the 2025 TRS actuarial valuation. He reported that the Retirement Annuity Trust and Health Insurance Trust both received full funding, the retirement trust’s funded ratio improved to 61%, TRS 4 remains well funded with no liability, and the health insurance trust improved to 89.1%. Barnes said TRS is on track to fully fund legacy liabilities within the amortization period, with 2044 as the point when the system reflects 100% funding and 2046 as the last year needing additional dollars for the legacy liability. He also explained that lower assumed investment returns and updated mortality assumptions increased liabilities, but that TRS uses direct rate smoothing for budgeting purposes. At the end of the meeting, the chair circulated a proposed set of “do’s and don’ts of pensions,” emphasizing that future legislation should not create unfunded liabilities. Barnes also noted he would later discuss several legislative proposals for the 2026 session, but the transcript provided ends before that discussion or any votes on those proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• The $150 million for the current year budget, out of a $17 billion budget, can be found, whether through
• So we want to negotiate a budget with no details. So we want to negotiate a budget with no details.
• The budgets never add up.
• For the record, I did not support her budget.
• Vice Chair, request to speak. Mr.

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2785, a major Arizona tax conformity measure that would align state law with the Internal Revenue Code as of January 1, 2026 and apply retroactively to tax year 2025. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would make Department of Revenue tax forms legal, provide certainty to taxpayers already filing under those forms, and deliver about $440 million in tax relief through provisions such as no tax on tips and overtime, a larger standard deduction, a $6,000 senior deduction, and changes to deductions and the SALT cap. Opponents argued the bill would significantly reduce state revenue, disproportionately benefit higher-income taxpayers, and should not move forward without a broader budget plan. After an amendment addressing retroactivity and foreign dividend language was adopted, the committee approved HB 2785 on a 5-4 vote. The committee then heard several Arizona State Retirement System technical cleanup bills. HB 2089, clarifying the health insurance premium benefit subsidy, passed 9-0. HB 2090, changing the disability timeframe for long-term disability benefits, passed 8-1. HB 2092, allowing certain employees over age 65 to waive ASRS participation within 30 days of eligibility, also passed 8-1. These measures were described by staff and the sponsor as simple corrections, with little opposition. Finally, the committee considered HB 2477, which conforms Arizona’s 529 education savings plan to federal law, expands allowable uses, and adds rules for 529-to-Roth IRA rollovers and ABLE transfers. Supporters called it a cleanup bill that would simplify administration for families, while some members raised concerns about the Roth rollover and possible use of funds transferred from ESA accounts. The bill passed 5-3 with one member voting present. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the transportation budget request, the original staff recommendation was yes; they used this
• budget, it was about a quarter of their base budget.
• Two days ago, we adopted this language that the State Treasurer may request budget increase from other
• They may request a budget increase from other state funds to pay, and that would be something that would
• So the Economic Development Department may request budget increases up to $5 million from internal service

Bills: SB241, SB145

Keywords: child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level

Transcript Highlights:

• Unanimous consent has been requested.
• That has been requested. Is there objection?
• Consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• Consent has been requested. Is there objection?
• Consent has been requested. Is there objection?

Summary: The House convened with roll call, prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the journal. The chamber then received messages from the Governor and Senate, including notice of several House bills signed by the Governor, Senate bills and resolutions transmitted for signature or first reading, and committee reports advancing a number of measures. The House also referred Senate Concurrent Resolution 122 to State Affairs and introduced several new bills, including House Bills 936 and 937, and Senate Bills 1297 and 1352, all of which were sent to committee. On third reading, the House passed House Bills 873, 890, 900, 928, 929, 930, 932, 879, 898, 896, 895, 856, and 911, along with Senate Bills 1321, 1224 as amended, 1347, 1380, 1381, 1383, 1384, 1385, 1386, and House Resolution 28. The bills covered election deadlines, surplus state property, insurance claims on state facilities, a merit-based health care/DEI restriction bill, patient-negotiated medical discounts, campaign finance reporting, an advisory ballot question on an official state gun, industrial hemp regulation, historic preservation office reorganization, enforcement of compliance with state law, data center water use, protection of human remains, large-load utility ratepayer protections, and several appropriations or enhancement budgets. Most passed by comfortable margins, though House Bill 928 drew the most debate and passed 56-14, and House Bill 930 passed narrowly 36-34. Several measures drew notable testimony or opposition. Supporters of House Bill 928 argued it would remove DEI-related practices from Medicaid health care and replace them with merit-based standards; opponents warned it would block anti-racism and implicit-bias training and could worsen health disparities. House Bill 896 prompted concerns that it politicized enforcement of the law by allowing selected officials to refer alleged violations to the Attorney General, while supporters said it created a needed compliance mechanism with a cure period. House Bill 895 on data centers, House Bill 911 on large-load utility protections, and House Bill 856 on human remains all emphasized transparency, resource management, or closing loopholes. The House also returned some bills to committee, sent others to general orders, made announcements, and adjourned until Monday, March 23, 2026.