Transcript Highlights:

• In fiscal year 2024-25, CalVet funded more than $245 million in home loans, a 22.5% increase over the
• We are appreciative thus far of the progress in this legislature to increase the tax exemption to $40,000
• Wages in our state for veterans serving as policemen or electricians are easily going to be in the $125,000
• But if we don't make progress to increase the cap this year, the veteran community will lose faith in
• It's just the cost to the budget, but they're not talking about the ripple effects when you keep high-wage

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veteran Affairs heard several veteran-focused measures, with extensive testimony in support from veterans’ organizations and individual veterans. SB 888 would exclude VA service-connected disability compensation from household income calculations for the low-income disabled veterans’ property tax exemption, addressing a situation where disability benefits can disqualify veterans from tax relief. SB 1354 would prohibit military personnel from another state, territory, or district from entering California to perform military or law enforcement functions without the Governor’s express permission, while preserving Title X activity, training, and mutual aid arrangements. SB 623 would place the Veterans Bond Act of 2026 on the ballot to authorize a $1.25 billion general obligation bond for the CalVet Home Loan Program, which supporters said is nearing depletion of bond authority and remains a critical path to homeownership for veterans and military families. SB 1407 would increase the state income tax exclusion for military retirement pay and surviving spouse benefits to the first $40,000, subject to income caps, as a retention measure to keep military retirees in California. Supporters for the bills emphasized housing stability, affordability, retention of veterans in California, and the economic benefits of keeping military retirees and their income in the state. SB 888 and SB 623 drew broad support from veterans’ groups, county veterans service officers, and related organizations, with no opposition testimony. SB 1354 also received support from veterans’ advocates, while committee members sought clarification on training, mutual aid, and the bill’s scope, and the author agreed to work on amendments. SB 1407 drew strong support from veterans and military organizations, but also formal opposition from the California Tax Reform Association, which argued the state already provides generous veteran benefits and that the tax break would be unfair to other public servants. The committee voted to advance all four measures. SB 888 was approved and re-referred to Revenue and Taxation; SB 1354 was approved as amended and re-referred to Public Safety; SB 623 was approved as amended, given urgency, and re-referred to Housing and Community Development; and SB 1407 was approved and re-referred to Revenue and Taxation. The consent item, SCR 143, was adopted unanimously. After the initial votes, the committee later took add-on votes to confirm passage of SB 888 and SB 1354, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• As you move from left to right, it shows the starting wage for ISP. We're not the top.
• I've also heard some worry from some sheriffs that if we increase our pay, then there are people will
• I haven't dealt with wages in any way. I'm the transportation guy, and I've tried to avoid that.
• We need to move forward with some sort of pay increase.
• And what that pay increase is is more than just this.

Summary: The House Revenue and Taxation Committee approved minutes from March 17, 18, 19, and 20, then took up House Bill 944, sponsored by Rep. Palmer, which would redirect $5 million from the liquor distribution formula to the Idaho State Police choice fund to help address trooper pay and recruitment problems. ISP Director Bill Gardner testified that the agency has severe staffing shortages, unfilled positions, and difficulty recruiting and retaining troopers, especially at the 5-, 10-, and 15-year marks, because its pay has fallen behind other law enforcement agencies. He explained that the bill would help but would not fully solve the problem; he said the original ongoing funding request was $12 million, and a fully sustainable long-term solution would be about $18 million. He also described a new merit-based pay structure and said he would suspend ISP’s lateral transfer program for three years if a solution is reached, to reduce concerns from sheriffs and city police about losing officers. Committee members raised concerns that the bill would shift financial pain to counties and cities, especially rural counties that already struggle to fund local law enforcement and related services. Some members argued the Legislature should use the rainy day fund or restore prior gas-tax support instead of reallocating existing revenue, while others said the bill was a necessary step to address a real law enforcement crisis even if it was not enough. Rep. Palmer said he did not want to use the rainy day fund for ongoing salaries and asked the committee to consider a smaller, more workable solution. After debate, Rep. Cheatham moved to send House Bill 944 to General Orders as a substitute motion, and the committee approved that motion on a 12-3 roll call vote, sending the bill to General Orders rather than advancing it directly to the floor. The committee then briefly recognized its page and secretary before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• As an example, whether or not a tax policy increases state revenue... ...tax policy increases state revenue
• increase state revenue.
• And we also looked at the wage data from ESD.
• potentially a way to increase that.
• So we're not anticipating an increase in arrests, and we do not actually anticipate an increase in people

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee met on January 7, 2026, approved the December minutes, and adopted an amended work plan. Staff proposed moving the drug take-back program sunset review up to 2026 and delaying the thermal energy network pilot review to 2028, which would free capacity for new studies. Members also discussed active bills that would eliminate two recurring JLARC reports, including one on lodging tax revenue data collection, and the committee adopted the work plan without objection. JLARC staff then outlined new performance measures for the committee itself, covering effectiveness, efficiency, and quality. The measures include member and legislative satisfaction surveys, presentations to other committees, recommendation follow-up, staff retention, on-time report delivery, peer review results, and national recognition. Members praised the effort and did not take formal action, treating the measures as an ongoing process. The committee also heard a proposal to improve JLARC’s review of tax preference performance statements by adding a standard rubric in fiscal notes to assess whether a metric matches the policy objective, is measurable, uses reliable data, and allows enough time for evaluation. Members supported the pilot approach. Staff also described planned changes to public records reporting guidance, including opt-outs for low-volume metrics, better validation, targeted outreach to nonreporting agencies, and a survey of records officers. Two preliminary reports were presented. On ignition interlock devices, JLARC found that only 41% of drivers with a requirement had installed a device, with installation rates rising sharply with income; financial assistance reaches only about 11% of users, and JLARC recommended clearer program goals and stronger coordination between the Department of Licensing and State Patrol. On the drug take-back program, JLARC found that the fee structure tied to operator expenditures limits the Department of Health’s ability to recover oversight costs and recommended public reporting of oversight spending and a statutory change to better align fees with actual costs. Agency representatives generally agreed with the findings, described current coordination and administrative changes, and said they would consider the recommendations. No formal votes were taken on the reports, which will return in final form later in the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• The audit aimed to measure the extent to which I-1163 achieved its broad policy goal of increased safety
• The audit aimed to measure the extent to which 1163 achieved its broad policy goal of increased safety
• Achieved its broad policy goal of increased safety for vulnerable populations.
• You can see it's been increasing since 2022.
• It's an occupation with high turnover and relatively low wages, but also this audit and others we've

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on the Restoring Quality Home Care Initiative (I-1163), which created home care aide certification requirements, FBI background checks, and an abuse/neglect registry. Auditors said some requirements likely improve safety, especially background checks and training, but the state lacked pre-2011 data to measure outcomes directly. They also found Washington has a long-term care workforce shortage, though its workforce supply ranks better than many states, and that more stringent entry requirements do not appear to reduce workforce participation compared with other states. The audit’s main concern was that the certification process is slow and burdensome. Auditors reported that most applicants never finish certification, that only about one-third of fiscal year 2025 applicants were certified within the 200-day legal deadline, and that the average time to certification was 463 days. They identified delays between training and testing, limited testing access in some areas, and redundant Department of Health verification of FBI background checks as key causes. The audit recommended streamlining the process by accepting applications later in the process, expanding testing within training programs, and eliminating the redundant background-check verification. Department of Health and Department of Social and Health Services staff largely agreed with the audit’s findings and recommendations. They said they have already made improvements, including moving exams into more than 110 training programs, increasing credentialing staff, and reducing barriers through rule changes. DSHS noted testing is offered in 13 languages. Committee members asked about testing contract incentives, language access, and whether the agencies would seek statutory or budget changes to implement the recommendations. No public testimony was offered, and the meeting adjourned without any vote or formal action by the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1766, inmate labor wages. SB 1767, ADOC director educational programs.
• SB 1797, essential drug price increase limits.
• SCR 1041, reporting teacher salary increases to schools.
• We must be clear that continued delays in water policy increase the risk for every risk.
• We must be clear that continued delays in water policy increase the risk for everyone.

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a recorded roll call showing 30 members present. The journal was approved, no guests were introduced at first, and the Governor’s signed bill HB 2022 was reported. The President also announced temporary committee substitutions for the Rules Committee on February 9. Senator Shamp introduced licensed naturopathic physicians in the gallery and highlighted SB 1178, which would expand their authority to administer certain intravenous drugs, including antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals. The chamber then read a lengthy calendar of first- and second-reading bills and resolutions covering elections, education, health care, water, criminal justice, housing, taxation, and other topics, with no floor action taken on those measures during the reading. The Senate recessed to recognize law enforcement personnel involved in the rescue of an eight-year-old boy from a human trafficking situation. A proclamation commended Deputies Gregory Sanders and Jacob Montoya, along with Cochise County and Border Patrol personnel, for their courage and professionalism. After returning to order, members made personal privilege remarks urging the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to review $2.85 million in election-related funding for the Secretary of State, and another senator spoke about water security and the need for long-term planning. Additional announcements included caucus and committee meeting notices, an invitation to Arizona Aerospace Day, and a motion to adjourn until Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 1:15 p.m. The transcript ends as the chamber was considering adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Removing all vaccine requirements leaves students and employees with disabilities at risk, increases
• It allows it to qualify for community restitution with the obligation rate tied to minimum wage.
• There also isn't a tie having their labor paid at minimum wage, so it raises the question how many hours
• Instead of promoting accountability, it really does open the door to misuse and will increase the cost
• We've seen so many bills this year that have unfunded mandates that increase costs for schools and for

Summary: The Senate met in Committee of the Whole on several calendars and advanced a series of House bills, mostly on party-line or voice votes after brief committee reports and some floor debate. Measures considered included HB 2028 (licensing timeframes/court assessments), HB 2047 (forcible entry and detainer), HB 2168 (nuisance actions), HB 2411 (coerced abortion/abortion-inducing drugs), HB 2557 (patient records), HB 2060 (educational facilities), HB 2086 (vaccination mandates and mask prohibitions), HB 2144 (child support), HB 2830 (fetal and prenatal development instruction), HB 2015 (tax administration), HB 2100 (small subdivision requirements), HB 2327 (records confidentiality), HB 2460 (business property theft/shopping carts), HB 4056 (public records fees exemption for legislators), HB 2417 (speed-detecting devices), HB 2601 (I-11 environmental engineering study), HB 2660 (health boards/licensure investigations), and HB 2975 (state land soil maps). Several bills were amended in committee before being recommended do pass, including HB 2028, HB 2557, HB 2060, HB 2086, HB 2830, HB 2327, HB 2460, HB 4056, and HB 2660. Floor debate focused mainly on HB 2086 and HB 2830, where Democrats argued the bills would undermine public health guidance and education expertise, while supporters framed them as limiting mandates and directing curriculum. HB 2100 drew criticism over water supply concerns and the Rio Verde Foothills example, and HB 2975 drew opposition over concerns it would hinder renewable energy development. HB 2460 prompted debate over whether shopping carts were abandoned or stolen and whether the bill improperly preempted local control. HB 4056 was criticized as giving legislators special treatment on public records fees and potentially enabling harassment of schools and local governments. The Senate then took up third-reading roll-call votes. HB 2016, HB 2140, HB 2195, HB 2439, HB 2028, HB 2557, HB 2086, HB 2830, HB 2327, HB 2460, HB 4056, and HB 2660 all passed, with recorded votes ranging from 16-10 to 26-0. Members explained several no votes on public health, education, tax, and transparency grounds, while supporters emphasized enforcement, local control, or administrative efficiency. The chamber also adopted Committee of the Whole reports and transmitted the passed bills to the House, then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, so, same with municipal ordinances or living wages setting stipends.
• </c><00:15:10.320><c> setting</c> ordinances or living wages setting ordinances or living wages setting
• </c> conflict with our minimum wage laws. conflict with our minimum wage laws.
• ratepayers, increased climate and increased water pollution, etc.
• ratepayers, increased climate and increased water pollution, etc.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• increase from one year to two years.
• The fiscal impact on this bill assumes the result of the increased benefit will increase claim duration
• or eliminating planned employee wage increases, and making plans to lay off more staff.
• The increased expenditures for the included regulated professions and facilities are anticipated to increase
• up to 40% or more without increasing quality.

Bills: SB6294, SB6211, SB5650, SB6033, SB6297, SB6343, SB6067, SB6082, SB6323, SB6324, SB5862, SB5923, SB6151

Keywords: local government finance, Washington state, RCW, real estate excise tax, REET, sales and use tax, property tax levy, county tax, city tax, affordable housing, housing services, behavioral health, mental health, developmental disabilities, children and families services, youth services, utility tax, low-income utility assistance, veterans assistance, homelessness

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Democrat leadership there is increasing Democrat leadership there is increasing taxes.<00:24:22.159
• Nothing to raise wages. Nothing costs. Nothing to raise wages.
• It's that real wages, inflation-adjusted wages, are going up for the American people.
• It's that real wages, inflation-adjusted wages are going up for the American people.
• and faster wage growth. inflationadjusted wages are going up for inflationadjusted wages are going up

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What we've seen more recently is a very sharp increase in filings.
• If it's wage and hour, we can help get you to the Labor Commissioner.
• If it's wage an hour, we can help get you to the Labor Commissioner.
• But we are seeing a very sharp increase.
• As noted under civil rights, you continue to see an increase.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again this legislation will increase the support that our first responders have in being able to make
• development And adding guardrails, including a prohibition on increasing development capacity.
• So if you just say we can't increase the CARA with a swap, it doesn't do any good for us.
• So we've seen a complete increase in that.
• So we've seen a complete increase in that.

Bills: SB5903, SB6037, SB5983, SB5995, SB6016, SB6066

Keywords: cemetery districts, elections, local governance, public policy, administrative procedures, fire protection, districts, emergency services, funding, legislation, tax exemption, land transfer, governmental entity, property tax, current use classification, zero emission, cargo handling, port district, environmental impact, grant allocation

Transcript Highlights:

• Further, Project 2025 has called for increased surveillance of abortion, weaponizing state data collected
• On January 20th, the federal administration started issuing a series of executive orders to wage an all-out
• However, since 2022, the threats to patients and providers have only increased, and many...
• which are our biggest expense except for salary, which we also believe strongly in paying a living wage
• biggest expense except for rate, you know, salary, which we also believe so strongly in paying living wage

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Steering and Policy held a public hearing on potential updates to Massachusetts’ 2022 Shield Law to strengthen protections for reproductive and gender-affirming health care. Chair Cindy Friedman said the hearing was prompted by escalating federal and out-of-state threats, and testimony was sought on loopholes and clarifications involving emergency abortion care, limits on cooperation with outside investigations, protection of patient data, and safeguarding licenses of providers and attorneys involved in this care. The Attorney General’s Office, ACLU of Massachusetts, GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, Reproductive Equity Now, the Massachusetts Medical Society, TransHealth, and Health Imperatives all supported strengthening the law. Witnesses urged broader bans on sharing health data with hostile states, explicit AG enforcement authority, exclusion of reproductive and gender-affirming prescriptions from the prescription monitoring program, protections for electronic medical records, and allowing clinicians to use practice names on prescription labels. Several speakers also called for protections for parents of transgender youth, attorneys, and nonprofit organizations, and some raised related concerns about insurance discrimination and the burden of post-24-week abortion restrictions. Committee members asked questions about enforcement mechanisms, data privacy, patient consent, and how to balance interoperability with privacy protections in electronic records. Witnesses said the goal was to prevent immediate harm while preserving patient control and access to care. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed by inviting written testimony and then moved to adjourn the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• The increases can be both harmful in terms of increasing child support in too small of increments for
• people who have substantial increases in their wages, or increasing it too much for people who don't
• people who have substantial increases in their wages, or increasing it too much for people who don't
• and the increases than these increases and the increases can<00:52:06.520><c> be</c><00:52:06.760><c
• </c> substantial increases in their wages or substantial increases in their wages or increasing<00:52

Bills: HF2233, HF1524, HF1893, HF1396, HF2456, HF2959, HF2300, HF2412, HF3022, HF2825, HF1862, HF1373, HF1039, HF3070

Keywords: Uniform Special Deposits Act, special deposit, banking law, financial institutions, escrow, escrow account, trust account, security deposit, beneficiary, depositor, creditor process, garnishment, attachment, levy, setoff, recoupment, financial market infrastructure, retirement benefits, compensation, earnest money

Transcript Highlights:

• The last audit of anti-Semitic incidents recorded 353 in Florida, representing a 277% increase since
• This also does not take into account other people, other Semitic peoples, that already face increased
• Over the years, this Senate and the Florida... this issue in Florida of exponential increase in Jewish
• is Amy McCord, and I want to make it abundantly clear that I believe everyone should make a living wage
• Then and only then can we responsibly talk about pay increases.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met with a quorum and took up several bills before returning to the budget and public testimony. CS/SB 600 on bail bonds was explained as revising bail bond agent training, limiting solicitation, clarifying partial release procedures, and directing clerks to automatically discharge certain bonds when detention is ordered; an amendment adjusted cash bond return rules, charitable bail fund treatment, forfeiture remission timing, and clerk procedures. The bill and amendments were adopted, and CS/SB 600 was reported favorably after supportive appearances from clerks and industry stakeholders. The committee then approved CS/SB 436 on felony battery, which expands qualifying prior offenses for felony reclassification and adds felony battery resulting in bodily injury to prison release offender status, after a technical amendment and supportive testimony from law enforcement. CS/SB 928, known as Missy’s Law, requiring immediate remand to custody upon conviction of dangerous crimes, drew both support and opposition; defense lawyers warned of unintended effects on co-defendants and docket management, while the victim’s family supported the measure. The bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 1332 on career offender registration, requiring more frequent in-person registration and stricter reporting, also passed favorably. The committee next approved a substitute amendment and then CS/SB 682 on violent criminal offenses, which strengthens domestic violence penalties, electronic monitoring, injunction protections, and related procedures, including military protective orders and body camera use. CS/SB 1072 creating an anti-Semitism task force in the Attorney General’s Office was reported favorably after extensive public debate over definitions, free speech concerns, and representation on the task force; the sponsor said the bill does not criminalize criticism of Israel but addresses threats and intimidation. CS/CS/SB 532 on clerks of the court was also approved, authorizing clerks to retain more revenue and, through amendment, clarifying foreclosure sale procedures and clerk administration of judicial sales. Finally, the committee heard the criminal and civil justice budget overview, described as a $7.9 billion proposal focused on corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, and courts. Public testimony centered heavily on prison conditions, staffing, heat, infrastructure, and inmate care, with speakers urging higher pay, better transparency, and more investment in facilities and air conditioning. The chair announced that SB 1632 and its conforming bill would be temporarily postponed and read into the record the many registered supporters and opponents. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• a provision that if any funding of these federal grant funds are transferred to their salaries and wages
• And this section would allow the Office of Management and Budget to increase the appropriation authority
• And the increase of appropriation authority would be limited. To allow them to expend the funds.
• And the increase of appropriation authority would be limited to the amount of the grant award, and it
• But we're not going to increase the amount of FTE requests.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Appropriations Division met in a work session on the draft Rural Health Transformation appropriations bill, 25.1392.01000, with no public testimony taken. Legislative Council and the Department of Health and Human Services walked through the bill, which would appropriate about $397.8 million in federal grant funds over two federal fiscal years, provide transfer authority, allow certain federal funds to be used for salaries and wages without counting against existing transfer limits, and authorize OMB to adjust other agencies’ spending authority if they receive grant awards through HHS. The bill also includes several temporary statutory exemptions to help implement the program, plus recipient acknowledgement/reporting requirements, periodic reports to Legislative Management, and an immediate effective date upon filing. Committee discussion focused heavily on how the federal rural health transformation money can be used and administered. Department officials explained that CMS will review projects for allowability and sustainability, that the state has flexibility to move funds among categories, and that the grant is limited to 10% administrative costs. Members asked about whether the funding could support renovations, equipment, ambulances, bulk purchasing, food distribution, and other rural health ideas, and were told many details will depend on CMS approval and the eventual applications. Questions also addressed cash flow, timing of obligations and reimbursements, FTE funding, and whether grant recipients should be told the program will not continue beyond the federal period; officials said the language is meant to prevent expectations of automatic continuation, not to bar future legislative action. The committee also discussed the bill’s use of a two-year appropriation amount, with staff explaining that the state must appropriate enough authority to cover the federal grant cycle and that unused authority would lapse if the full amount is not received or spent. Members raised concerns about whether the bill’s language could limit creativity or future program design, but department officials and several members emphasized the need for flexibility because CMS may reject overly specific directives. After discussion, the committee voted to recommend the bill draft to the full committee; the motion carried on a roll call vote, and the chair said the full Joint Appropriations Committee would take up the bill at the special session next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Increased routes means greater tourism, more flexibility, more people.
• More of them, but not an increase to them. You recognize? Thank you, Chair.
• We'll see increased fuel sales in the state of Florida. Here.
• We'll see increased fuel sales in the state of Florida because of that as well.
• That's what I call a wage.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on April 2, 2025, with a quorum present and took up four bills. The committee first heard HB 4041, which would create the Corkscrew Grove Stewardship District in Collier County to finance and maintain infrastructure such as transportation, utilities, and stormwater systems without changing county regulatory authority. The bill drew no opposition, was reported favorably, and passed 14-0. The committee then considered HB 1485, which repeals Florida’s aviation fuel tax provisions. The sponsor argued the change would simplify the tax code, attract airline investment, and support lower fares and more routes. Members raised concerns about the estimated recurring $22.8 million impact on the State Transportation Trust Fund and $2 million on general revenue, and airport representatives warned of reduced grant and development funding, especially for general aviation and municipal airports. Supporters said the change would increase competition and fuel sales in Florida. The bill was reported favorably on a 12-5 vote. Next, the committee heard HB 999, which would recognize gold and silver as legal tender, allow electronic debit access to bullion accounts, and remove tax burdens on transactions involving precious metals. The sponsor and supporters described the bill as a way to protect purchasing power and provide an alternative parallel to the dollar, while opponents and some members raised concerns about consumer protections, predatory practices, privacy, and the role of the Office of Financial Regulation in rulemaking. After extensive testimony, the bill was reported favorably 19-0. Finally, the committee considered PCB WMC 25-01, which would reduce the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25% and also lower several related taxes, including the business rent tax, nonresidential electricity tax, mobile home sales tax, and coin-operated amusement machine tax. The proposal was estimated to reduce revenue by about $5.5 billion annually. Members discussed impacts on the budget, education funding, and whether savings would reach consumers, while supporters emphasized relief for Floridians and business competitiveness. The bill passed unanimously 19-0 and was reported favorably. The chair then noted a prior procedural apology on the record, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> premium still increase in 2 years? premium still increase in 2 years?
• are increasing, right?
• </c> increasing, right? increasing, right?
• </c><03:15:37.160><c> wages</c><03:15:37.480><c> were</c> the World War II era wage wages were the World
• </c> wages due to high inflation. wages due to high inflation.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Victims of domestic violence and wage theft refuse to seek relief. Children... Thank you.
• Victims of domestic violence and wage theft refuse to seek relief.
• And while the intensity has certainly increased, these problems and challenges are not new.
• Street corners, who are looking for lower-wage people to work, sadly.
• people to work. street corners who are looking for lower-wage people to work, sadly.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We would require 14.1% additional increase in the current rate.
• We would require 14.1% additional increase in the current rate.
• We would require 14.1% additional increase in the current rate.
• We would require 14.1% additional increase in the current rate.
• Seeing none, we'll be moving on to HB 222, relating to the wage and hour law.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Every year we come back in session, we see a massive increase.
• Part of it, we look at it as the population increase.
• We shouldn't have seen a cost increase.
• But in a sense, when that happens, what does that increase look like?
• , $15 an hour minimum wage,' or '$15 an hour to start.'

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee met with Representative Josh Tanner and Legislative Services budget staff to discuss the Health and Welfare budget, with a focus on identifying possible cuts and understanding how JFAC evaluates budget reductions, cost shifts, and fiscal notes. Tanner emphasized that the state faces constitutional balanced-budget requirements and ongoing Medicaid and Health and Welfare supplemental costs, citing governor holdbacks, provider rate cuts, and proposed reductions in Health and Welfare as areas the committee should review. He argued that the committee should dig into the numbers itself, consider whether programs are truly serving the most vulnerable, and bring specific recommendations to JFAC with clear fiscal impacts, including any cost shifts to other state or local entities. Members asked about how JFAC handles cuts that may shift costs to hospitals, prisons, counties, or emergency rooms, and whether policy changes such as work requirements or eligibility rechecks would reduce Medicaid growth. Tanner said JFAC primarily balances the budget based on actual numbers, not assumptions about future savings, and that if the committee wants policy changes, it should advance them through legislation rather than leaving decisions to JFAC. He also discussed Medicaid expansion, saying it has grown far beyond initial expectations, and said any savings from repealing or reducing expansion would be a committee decision about whether to reallocate funds or let them disappear from the budget. The committee then received a detailed overview from Legislative Services staff on budget tools and resources, including the base budget dashboard, the Legislative Budget Book, the Legislative Fiscal Report, the Fiscal Source Book, session records, and performance reports. Staff demonstrated how members can drill down into agency, division, and program-level budget history, enhancement history, and fund sources. A discussion followed about inflation-adjusted and per-capita budget trends, with staff noting that such analyses exist for the overall state budget and may be expanded further. The chair closed by asking members to review the Health and Welfare divisions and return with recommendations, noting that any proposed increases must be offset by reductions elsewhere, and said the committee’s report to JFAC was likely to occur in the first week of February.