Transcript Highlights:

• , has cut their funding.
• It sells the future of Arizona's rural residents to a New York-based hedge fund.
• Please decide on behalf of the people of rural Arizona and not on behalf of the hedge fund from New York
• Please decide on behalf of the people of rural Arizona and not on behalf of the hedge fund from New York
• of the fund and rulemaking for the fund.

Committee: House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee began by announcing that House Bill 2094 would be held and not heard that day, then received a lengthy update from Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzky on Colorado River negotiations and post-2026 operating rules. He described Arizona’s legal position, the basin’s water allocations, current shortages, conservation efforts, and the state’s view that the Upper Basin should share more of the reductions and move more water from reservoirs above Lake Powell to Lake Mead. Members asked about tourism, recreation, tribal water rights, public outreach, and the role of the state’s delegation and the federal government. Buschatzky said Arizona has already made major conservation cuts and that further reductions are likely, whether by agreement or federal action, and emphasized ongoing negotiations and public meetings. The committee then heard House Bill 2758, which would expand McMullen Valley groundwater transfer rules to allow eligible entities, including private water companies, to withdraw and transport groundwater under specified conditions, with ADWR oversight and reporting requirements. Supporters argued the bill would provide a lawful, regulated way to move water for urban growth and housing needs, while opponents from La Paz County and rural advocacy groups said it would accelerate aquifer depletion, harm private wells, and benefit a New York hedge fund at the expense of local residents. After debate over guardrails, stakeholder outreach, and the impact on rural communities, the committee adopted the Griffin amendment and passed HB 2758 as amended on a 6-4 due-pass vote. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 2098, which revises bonding authority and public hearing notification requirements for county water augmentation authorities and allows such authorities to enter into local repayment agreements with WIFA. Pinal County officials and related stakeholders testified in support, saying the changes would help the Pinal County Water Augmentation Authority finance future water and infrastructure projects, including possible augmentation efforts tied to Bartlett Dam, and would clean up statutory language to match the authority’s needs. The transcript ends during testimony on HB 2098, before any committee vote on that bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• funding available we're ready to break ground but we're really watching those funding sources right
• what typical state funds and local CPA funds can serve.
• what typical state funds and local CPA funds can serve.
• We also have a sole source Far beyond what typical state funds and local CPA funds can serve.
• And there's also some funding bills, which... There's also some funding bills with Chairman Sierra.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Housing

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held its second introductory hearing to frame the session’s housing agenda. Chairs Cyr and Haggerty described the hearing as a chance to hear a wide range of perspectives on Massachusetts’ housing crisis, including underbuilding, zoning and permitting barriers, rising costs, and the need for both state and local action. The committee heard from court, municipal, advocacy, and regional housing leaders, with recurring themes of increasing supply, preserving existing housing, preventing displacement, and expanding resources for renters and homeowners. Chief Justice Diana Horan of the Housing Court said the court is handling more than 40,000 new filings annually with only 15 judges, and estimated the court would need about 21 judges to meet demand. She described complications from RAFT-related stays, mental health and guardianship issues, aging housing stock, and the new eviction sealing law, which she said was being implemented smoothly but may require additional resources if filings continue to rise. The Massachusetts Municipal Association and MAPC emphasized that municipalities need flexibility, funding, and better tools such as MassWorks, Housing Works, H-DIP, 40R reforms, inclusionary zoning changes, and a local option transfer fee; they also said local control concerns and long permitting timelines remain major barriers. MAPC and others stressed that supply growth alone will not solve the crisis and urged continued support for subsidized housing, access to counsel, and modular/off-site construction. Advocates and housing providers focused on displacement, preservation, and tenant protections. Homes for All Massachusetts and Mass Law Reform Institute called for rent stabilization, stronger tenant protections, foreclosure prevention, elimination of junk fees, continued funding for RAFT and HomeBASE, and expanded access to counsel. Mass Union of Public Housing Tenants said the state needs far more extremely low-income housing, more operating subsidy, and major investment to repair public housing, while also supporting tenant technical assistance during redevelopment. Franklin County’s housing authority warned that rural communities are being left out of many state programs and asked for a rural LIHTC set-aside, a permanent rural credit boost, and a review of housing choice programs. A Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation researcher presented findings that communities that add housing generally see stronger municipal finances, and that housing growth can improve property tax and state aid outcomes. Seasonal community representatives from Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket described extreme affordability pressures and the need for tailored tools. Nantucket’s housing trust chair said the island has made progress through local funding, inclusionary zoning, and deed-restricted units, but still needs a real estate transfer fee and faster ways to preserve year-round housing. Across the hearing, members and witnesses repeatedly returned to the need for a mix of production, preservation, tenant protections, and local flexibility, rather than relying on any single policy solution.

Transcript Highlights:

• The several campus construction projects that were funded by funds provided by this body were completed
• Part of the pass-through funding that comes to the medical authority is academic research funding that
• Funding that has come along.
• Yeah, so it was funded at the end of FY25 using the prep funds, I guess, and was put into.
• and our research funding.

Committee: House A&B Health Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• up general fund revenues, but to put like tax credits with the same funding stream.
• Public safety is funded typically through a city's general fund.
• that fund that.
• We have building fund, public safety or safety and whatever funds.
• We've got road funds, extension funds.

Summary: The committee met to continue its tax reform and relief study agenda, approved the December 3, 2025 minutes, and announced a new subcommittee to examine property tax statement issues with counties, auditors, and the tax office. Representative Headland was named chair, Senator Rummel vice chair, and Representatives Dressler and Dr. Dr. and Senator Patton were also assigned. The chair noted the group may need an additional meeting and thanked staff and attendees. A major portion of the meeting focused on economic development incentives. The Department of Commerce presented on the Renaissance Zone program and TIF districts, describing Renaissance Zones as locally tailored tools that combine local property tax relief with state income tax incentives. Commerce said the program has supported thousands of projects since 1999 and cited examples from Beach and Mandan showing increases in property and taxable value, business retention, housing, and downtown revitalization. Committee members raised concerns that smaller rural communities often lack the staff and expertise to apply, and Commerce said it provides outreach through conferences, office hours, and one-on-one assistance. League of Cities and local officials from Bismarck and Ellendale echoed the capacity issue, discussed how the programs have worked in their communities, and suggested possible reforms or more targeted support for small towns. Ellendale’s mayor also described two TIF districts, one for industrial infrastructure in Oaks and one for housing infrastructure tied to a data center project in Ellendale. The committee then turned to stripper oil taxation. The Tax Department gave a comparison of oil and gas tax structures in selected states, noting that most have some form of stripper or marginal well provision, while Alaska does not appear to have a specific stripper-well exemption. Members asked for more detail on definitions and North Dakota’s annual adjusted rate. The Department of Mineral Resources followed with a detailed presentation on North Dakota stripper wells, explaining the statutory thresholds, the 12-consecutive-month production test, and the fact that once a well qualifies it remains on stripper status even if production later rises. DMR said about 11,332 stripper wells are active, representing roughly 54% of wells and about 16% of state production, and emphasized that stripper status can extend well life, preserve tax revenue, and reduce orphaned wells. Committee members and industry witnesses discussed refracs, the economics of keeping marginal wells active, and the competitive disadvantage created by North Dakota’s oil price discount. No votes were taken on these informational items.

Transcript Highlights:

• those funds are being spent.
• That means for rural schools, which are already stretched thin. They're going to lose funding.
• It fails English learners, it drains rural public schools.
• we use to fund our public schools. and create a two-tiered system, well-funded private schools for the
• We need to fully fund our public schools.

Bills: SB2 , SJR36 , SB2 , SB2 , SR29 , SB2

Keywords: Maverick County, recognition, economic development, Texas Senate, community celebration

Transcript Highlights:

• We'd certainly like to see more funding added to this. We're at 200,000.
• The increase in what's happening with funding, with our approach.
• Regarding the BOLD funding, is this money still available nationally?
• And then is there any plans, or should we make plans, to reapply for the funding?
• And so we are working on trying to secure some of those funds to pull down.

Committee: All ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE AND DEMENTIA ADVISORY COUNCIL

Summary: The Arkansas Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Advisory Council met with legislative members and agency, advocacy, and provider representatives present. The council adopted its rules and procedures, approved the prior meeting minutes, and authorized the co-chairs to approve special expenses. Members then heard an extensive update on the state Alzheimer’s plan and current developments in diagnosis, treatment, research, caregiving, and workforce issues. David Cook of the Alzheimer’s Association described major changes since the first state plan, including the growth of blood-based biomarkers, broader access to amyloid PET scans, and the availability of disease-slowing treatments such as Leqembi and Kisunla. He emphasized that Arkansas still faces major barriers in rural areas, including limited provider awareness, insurance coverage concerns, shortages of specialists, and long wait times for memory care and infusion services. He also highlighted caregiver burden, the need for better education and care navigation, and new efforts such as a dementia resource center pilot with UAMS, respite grants, and workforce training. Members discussed the importance of public education on brain health, diet, exercise, and risk reduction, as well as the need to collaborate with chronic disease partners and improve outreach to primary care providers. The council approved four proposed focus areas for the next state plan: advancing risk reduction, brain health, early detection and diagnosis; strengthening family caregiver support; improving access to diagnostics and treatment; and supporting access and quality of care, including workforce training and crisis response. Members also discussed possible legislative or statutory changes to keep the council active and engaged, and they agreed to pursue a future meeting in August, tentatively August 12 in Hot Springs, with additional meetings under consideration for later in the month. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because we're already out of balance without even including that rainy day fund.
• to sweep them into the general fund.
• Well, I would say that using pension funds to balance the budget is a poor use of pension funds and,
• I mean, these are rural child care desert counties, Columbia, all sorts, right?
• Couture talked about our rural areas. There's rural child care operations there, too.

Summary: House and Senate Republican leaders held a media availability focused on the final stretch of the legislative session, with most of the discussion centered on budget proposals, a proposed income tax on high earners, and several policy bills they oppose. They criticized the operating budget for relying on a new income tax, using one-time fund sweeps and pension-related financing, and drawing down the rainy day fund, while saying the capital budget was more bipartisan and the transportation budget had some positive emphasis on road preservation but still included concerns such as Public Works Trust Fund sweeps and ferry funding. A major topic was allegations that sign-ins on the income tax bill included duplicates or fraudulent entries. Republicans said they took the issue seriously, supported verification improvements, and argued that even after removing duplicates the bill still drew over 100,000 unique emails opposing it. They rejected claims that their side had manipulated the process and said the Legislature should fix the sign-in system, possibly with more IT safeguards, while also arguing the bill should lose its emergency clause so voters could weigh in through a referendum. Republicans also criticized bills they described as anti-police or anti-law-enforcement, including measures related to face coverings and sheriff qualifications, and they opposed a bill requiring arbitration before claims against the state or local governments can go to jury trial, saying broader tort reform is needed instead. They said the state’s liability problems stem from harm done in areas like juvenile rehabilitation and child welfare. On the budget side, they objected to cuts to Medicaid, child care, transitional kindergarten, rural school funding, and other programs, while also warning against using pension funds to balance the budget and against a proposed 75-year Sound Transit bond, which they called financially irresponsible. No votes were taken in this media availability.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bilingual funding goes up, but tier two funding goes up.
• funds.
• Funding-wise? Yeah. Funding-wise? Yeah. Very well.
• Rural schools fully support student safety, but these mandates often arrive without sufficient funding
• So funding does matter. So funding does matter.

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• The 340B program is the backbone of rural health care.
• It funds our mobile dental program, which serves 17 schools in 2025.
• The 340B program acts as a community trust fund for my clinic.
• This jeopardizes the ability of rural hospitals to maintain services for rural communities.
• Instead, the funding usually goes into hospital investment portfolios.

Bills: HB2145 , HB1828 , HB2155 , HB2437

Committee: House Health Care & Wellness

Keywords: 340B drug pricing, healthcare access, patient rights, discounted medications, manufacturer limitations, health professions, plasma donation, physician substitutes, medical regulation, nursing titles, healthcare, regulation, professional standards, licensure, accreditation, opioid treatment, health services, fee authority, public health

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> already trying to leverage our funding already trying to leverage our funding with<00:25:13.799>
• ><c> are</c> with the federal funds that are with the federal funds that are available<00:25:15.520><
• will fund the work out is mifa funds will fund the investment<00:25:44.080><c> tax</c><00:25:44.480>
• </c> our facility we need additional funding our facility we need additional funding to<00:42:30.040>
• big</c><00:46:51.760><c> cat</c> additional fund funding for our big cat additional fund funding for

Bills: HF1013 , HF1598 , HF1656 , HF2162

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: energy, economic development, funding, renewable resources, Clean Energy Economy Minnesota, air ventilation, geothermal, school financing, Minnesota Climate Innovative Finance Authority, geothermal energy, renewable energy, construction funding, Como Zoo, energy efficiency, HF2162, Minnesota, planning grants, renewable development account, clean energy, Department of Commerce

Transcript Highlights:

• The money in the fund should stay in the fund.
• The money in the fund should stay in the fund.
• fund itself.
• fund itself.
• The grain indemnity fund is the... The fund was created with general fund dollars.

Transcript Highlights:

• Land, Agricultural and Rural Affairs and Appropriations.
• Appropriations and agricultural and rural affairs.
• HB 2170, state contract fund prohibition.
• Land, Agricultural and Rural Affairs. No, HB 2198 criminal...
• Land, agricultural and rural affairs.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> get feedback from all of our rural get feedback from all of our rural communities<00:17:37.360><
• </c><00:18:56.640><c> uh</c> quality of care uh for all rural uh quality of care uh for all rural uh
• of people who are are rural number of people who are rural.<00:23:34.880><c> We</c><00:23:35.039><c>
• We are not rural. We are not Texas.
• and what they use those grant funds and what they use those grant funds<01:28:49.520><c> for.

Summary: The committee first approved the draft minutes from September 26. Senator Gray then raised the idea of creating a continuing subcommittee or recurring agenda item on palliative care and hospice, noting that the issues are evolving and suggesting the committee revisit the idea in coming months. The bulk of the meeting focused on Department of Health and Human Services updates. Officials described contingency planning for SNAP amid the federal shutdown, including a USDA notice that November benefits may not be fully funded, letters to participants warning of possible delays, and coordination with the New Hampshire Food Bank and local pantries. They said New Hampshire serves about 42,000 SNAP households, with average benefits around $300 a month, and that the department is also preparing to transfer funds for a special fiscal committee meeting. WIC was discussed separately: officials said WIC benefits had been extended through November 7 using additional USDA funds, but that some community agency-based WIC services may need to pause while money is redirected to food benefits. Officials also outlined New Hampshire’s rural health transformation grant application under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill, describing a potential five-year, up-to-$1 billion opportunity focused on critical access hospitals, small rural hospitals, federally qualified health centers, community mental health centers, and EMS. Members asked about transportation, workforce, and nursing retention; officials said transportation is included in the proposal, housing is not, and workforce supports may include lower tuition or awards but not loan repayment or traditional scholarships. They also said the final application would be submitted in early November and that priorities would be adjusted depending on the eventual federal award. Finally, Medicaid director Henry Lipman gave a quarterly postpartum coverage update. He said postpartum coverage is now nearly universal nationwide, and in New Hampshire 2,351 women had used the benefit through May 2025. He reported that mental health services were the most frequently used postpartum service, followed by preventive care, substance use disorder treatment, and cardiovascular-related care, and noted that Medicaid women have experienced a disproportionate share of maternal deaths. Committee members asked about rural distribution and the share of women receiving mental health services, and Lipman said the department would follow up with additional data. The meeting then moved into the annual update on New Hampshire’s 10-year mental health plan, with staff describing progress toward a more integrated continuum of care and improved data infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs continue to be necessary for rural communities.
• The California high-cost fund A, makes a possible. at 27%.
• And those are just... ...one alerts to our rural residents.
• Those are just a few of the critical services our networks enable in rural California.
• We are deeply committed to our rural communities.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:

• rescinded, so our funding will run out in September of this year.
• That funding was for air conditioner replacements.
• What would it be the impact particularly in rural.
• Programming and we spend some of the funding for production.
• Funding and so was the CPB funding.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• , like the water trust fund, that kind of funding that already...
• We can fund this whole thing with the general fund.
• We fund projects.
• being funded.
• First of each year, a project receives funding from a community benefit fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Wildfire Resilience Fund.
• If fully funded, it will save Washington State $1,000, ...and state funds.
• But we know that what is certain is that House Bill 1168 funding, the 1168 funding, has transformed the
• , restore funding under 1168.
• , restore funding under 1168.

Bills: HB2131 , HB2221 , HJM4009 , HB2619

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: sea lion, predation control, salmon preservation, fishing industry, voluntary donations, ungulate, wildlife conservation, ecosystem management, population sustainability, environmental impact, wildfire, federal response, community protection, natural resources, firefighter safety, agriculture, regulations, farming, compliance, economic impact

Transcript Highlights:

• And it could be worse for rural areas.
• These additional funds will allow us to do that.
• The pilot is funded. But we also passed through here. Not for the pilot. The pilot is funded.
• As a self-funded board, we do have money in our fund balance for this, but we have to follow our LFC
• As a self-funded board, we do have money in our fund balance for this, but we have to follow our LFC

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 213, which would allow optometrists to perform three specific laser procedures. The sponsor presented a committee substitute adding 32 hours of approved advanced training, supervised live-patient practice, adverse-event reporting, and other accountability measures. Supporters argued the bill would improve access to care, while the New Mexico Medical Board opposed it, citing patient-safety concerns and the much greater training required of ophthalmologists. After debate, the committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill 6-3. The committee then considered House Bill 65, renamed the Foster Care Plus pilot program. The substitute changed the bill to require clinical assessment instead of CAN assessment, added reporting to the Legislature and LFC, and clarified contracting with clinical experts. CYFD officials said the $2.5 million request, combined with existing growth funding, would support more children, staff, foster-parent stipends, and related services, and that the program is already being implemented with help from Oklahoma-based experts. Some members remained concerned about cost, staffing, and whether the program could be sustained, but the committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill 8-1. House Bill 127, on expedited medical licensure, was amended to create a provisional pathway for internationally trained physicians, require a job offer and benchmarks before full licensure, and establish a telemedicine registry. The Medical Board supported the amended bill, while public commenters emphasized physician shortages and access to care. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill. House Bill 128, which updates firefighter occupational disease and disablement presumptions to add cancers and other changes, drew strong support from firefighters, labor, and workers’ compensation officials; the committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill. House Bill 156, which removes the sunset on the state’s authority to set vaccine guidelines and continue its vaccine program, also passed after supporters argued it preserves access and opponents raised broader vaccine-policy concerns. The committee then began hearing House Bill 137, a buprenorphine access bill, with the sponsor and advocates describing pharmacy supply barriers and a committee substitute aimed at setting minimum stock standards, requiring distributor reporting, and avoiding fines on pharmacies.

Transcript Highlights:

• To amend the revenue stabilization law, to create funds, to make transfers to and from funds and fund
• To amend the revenue stabilization law, to create funds, to make transfers to and from funds and fund
• A lot of these rural...
• Is it new money, or what's funding it? What would fund this? Where's this money coming from?
• Is it new money, or what's funding it? What would fund this?

Transcript Highlights:

• Rural Water Assistance Fund, or RWAF, and the Water Loan Assistance Fund, or WLAF, are being.
• We have the Rural Water Assistance Fund, RWAF.
• Water Assistance Fund, State Participation, Rural Assistance, SWIFT, and then the DFA.
• Those were the dollars that that we allocated through our Rural Water Assistance Fund.
• Item number six, funding for rural health programs.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles VI, VII, & VIII