Transcript Highlights:

• They are making decisions every day at the local level that have the greatest impact on our students.
• She brings a high level of dedication, expertise, and innovation to New Mexico's education system, and
• So we will continue; our intent is to continue to serve them at the level that they need to be served
• Whether that's with federal funding or state funding, we are not changing course in terms of the level
• In addition to what I've described, Heather can interact on a high level with the Governor's Office and

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• That was my comfort level, was going to blue.
• either constraints or the budgetary requirements to the funding now, next year, 10 years, 50 years from
• There is no requirement from a budgetary standpoint.
• Just like a lot of things in our budgetary process, it's based on appropriations.
• Charles is carrying that effort, suggests that less than one-half of 1% of the current budgetary structure

Transcript Highlights:

• The Kentucky Communications Network Authority's response to the committee's budgetary history queries
• the packet, and KCNA representatives are in the audience to answer any questions related to its budgetary
• The Kentucky Communications Network Authority's response to the committee's budgetary history queries
• the packet, and KCNA representatives are in the audience to answer any questions related to its budgetary
• Who might we... questions related to its budgetary questions related to its budgetary history.

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including approval of the June meeting minutes and receipt of several correspondence and information reports. Those reports covered quarterly capital project status updates from state agencies and postsecondary institutions, lease modifications, asset preservation projects, school district debt issuances, and Kentucky Communications Network Authority budget history materials. Members also raised questions about a long-open stream mitigation account and were told the funds are fee-in-lieu stream mitigation monies administered through Fish and Wildlife, with staff promising to follow up on the specific project. The committee then reviewed and approved several capital project actions. These included a new Camp Oralis dining hall project for the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, explained as a reauthorization because the funding split changed to 64% federal and 36% agency funds; an appropriation increase for the Shelbyville armory addition due to higher construction costs and security requirements; and emergency repair projects for Fort Boonesboro flood remediation and the Kentucky State Police Supply Branch fire damage. Members also approved a tenant improvement fund request for parking garage safety improvements at the Mayo Underwood Building. The Office of Financial Management presented three Kentucky Infrastructure Authority items and one Cleaner Water Program reallocation. The loans included a Shepherdsville sewer/drainage project and two Auburn water and lead service line projects; the grant reallocation involved unused Cleaner Water Program funds, with staff emphasizing that all ARPA-funded cleaner water dollars must be spent by December 31, 2026 or returned. After discussion, the committee approved the package. The committee also approved six Economic Development Fund grants, and the Cabinet for Economic Development began presenting the first six KPDI projects, though the transcript cuts off before those project details were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• We get certain level the family, right? We get certain level of<00:15:55.759><c> income.
• and low-level offenders.
• and low-level offenders.
• We also have low-level offenders.
• </c><00:37:32.720><c> and</c> juvenile detentions high level and juvenile detentions high level and low-level

Summary: The committee met to hear a presentation from Dr. Hicks on the governor’s recommended budget for the next biennium. He reviewed the revenue outlook, noting modest general fund growth, a large rainy day fund balance, and the impact of recent income tax reductions. He said the budget was built around recurring reductions, lower debt service and retirement contribution rates, and the use of excess restricted funds, while protecting K-12 education, Medicaid, postsecondary education, public safety, and pension obligations. Dr. Hicks outlined several major spending and reserve proposals, including $350 million from the Department of Insurance’s excess restricted funds to support Medicaid in the first year, $150 million for the affordable housing trust fund, $125 million for rural hospitals, $100 million to offset lost federal ACA premium tax credits, $75 million for utility assistance, and $50 million for food assistance. In education, the proposal included a phased pre-K for all plan funded by sports wagering tax revenue, a 3% annual salary increase for full-time school personnel, continued full funding of teacher pensions, a 2.5% annual increase in SEEK base funding, and additional support for career and technical education and school facilities. He also discussed Medicaid cost pressures, including higher managed care, pharmacy, behavioral health, and nursing facility costs, and explained the expected effects of federal HR1 changes on Kentucky’s Medicaid program. Those changes include work and community engagement requirements and more frequent eligibility redeterminations for expansion members, which the administration estimated would reduce enrollment by about 4,300 in the first year and 28,000 in the second year. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting, which was limited to the budget presentation and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• for the opportunity to address the committee today regarding the New Mexico Gaming Control Board's budgetary
• The DFA has recommended a 14% budgetary increase for the Gaming Control Board, which is the amount we
• I urge the committee to adopt the full 14% budgetary increase recommended by DFA, approve the $1 million
• That's a lot of days compared to many jurisdictions on a national level.
• The lack of horses being bred on both a national and state level is declining significantly.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> from a budgetary from a budgetary perspective<00:06:54.000><c> with</c><00:06:54.160><c> that</c
• a grade level in the following year.
• </c> that are proposed at the federal level that are proposed at the federal level that<01:19:32.679>
• The reality is Walz's administration has grown spending to unsustainable levels.
• Our kids need to be able to read at grade level. We need safe communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a budgetary issue.
• But with the situation we have going right now with the budgetary process and not knowing exactly where
• it is, if we went hopefully through the budgetary process, we can ask for An allocation to a JCA bill

Bills: HB3882 , HB4273 , HB4280 , HB4281

Committee: House A&B Transportation Subcommittee

Keywords: transportation, revolving fund, grants, infrastructure, economic development, income tax, aerospace, higher education, tax credit, qualified employee, funding, safety, state highways, bridges, apportionment, Oklahoma, transportation funding, sales tax, road maintenance, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:14:59.360><c> overlooks</c><00:14:59.760><c> the</c><00:15:00.000><c> high</c><00:15:00.160><c> level
• </c><00:15:00.399><c> of</c> 3823 overlooks the high level of 3823 overlooks the high level of openness
• I think expanding that to statewide, but where there is some sort of dollar amount, budgetary amount
• amount would better capulate budgetary amount would better capulate or<00:21:44.080><c> capitalize</
• </c><00:30:44.799><c> of</c> sense to require some level of sense to require some level of transparency

Committee: Senate Elections

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a much more typical level of volatility.
• liabilities. kinds of budgetary liabilities.
• At the local level, it feels different, right?
• feels like a pinch at the local level.
• They're trying to recover just at the county level as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Justice and doing the consumer enforcement work that is no longer happening at the federal level
• Regarding all of the budgetary cuts, specifically for the Department of Transportation cuts, what was
• So, were these budgetary cuts solely done through OMB measures, or were some of them also directed via

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee

Transcript Highlights:

• board, as was noted, does things like approving land transactions, sustainable harvest calculation levels
• With a tribal representative at the board level, we can ensure that all engagement is understood and
• With a tribal representative at the board level, we can ensure that all engagement is understood and
• We are now at an alarming 38% level, and we have the receipts. We've done the data.
• We’re having an impact, and this is with research-level removals.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5838, which would add a federally recognized tribal representative to the State Board of Natural Resources. The Department of Natural Resources commissioner and tribal leaders said the change would bring Indigenous knowledge and a voting voice to decisions on trust lands, while preserving existing tribal consultation. Some county and economic interests said they were not opposed to tribal participation but stressed the board’s fiduciary duty to trust beneficiaries and asked for more review of the board’s purpose; one witness questioned whether the beneficiaries had been consulted. The prime sponsor, Senator Claudia Kaufman, said the bill is about inclusion and equity and indicated openness to an amendment adding both eastside and westside tribal representation. The hearing closed with 142 written comments reported: 33 pro, 107 con, and 2 other. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5960, which would require Fish and Wildlife to designate at-risk ungulate populations and take predator mitigation actions when populations fall below specified benchmarks. Senator Shelley Short said the bill responds to declining deer and elk numbers and a lack of management, especially in northeast Washington. Supporters argued the bill would codify existing agency plans and restore balance in wildlife management, while opponents—including conservation groups, the Sierra Club, and several scientists and advocates—said the state’s predator-prey study found wolves were not the main driver of ungulate declines, pointing instead to habitat, forage, weather, disease, and vehicle collisions. Ranching and farm groups supported the overall goal but objected to the bill’s in-state wolf translocation provisions. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said it recognized the bill’s intent but opposed it because some directives were impractical, costly, or would require legislative approval. The hearing closed with 1,197 written comments reported: 843 pro, 352 con, and 2 other. The committee then held a work session on Lake Washington salmon predation. Larry Phillips and Muckleshoot Fisheries Director Jason Schaffler described a coalition effort to reduce predation on juvenile salmon in the Lake Washington system, saying invasive and predatory fish such as walleye, rock bass, American shad, northern pike, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass are harming sockeye and Chinook recovery. They said sockeye returns have fallen from hundreds of thousands to about 18,000 in recent years, ending tribal and sport fisheries, and argued that targeted predator removal, supported by prior state and county funding, could help restore runs. Senators asked about the methods and funding, and the presenters said fishing and netting are being used to suppress larger predatory fish and that more sustained investment is needed. Finally, the committee began public hearing on Senate Bill 1697, which would make federally recognized tribes eligible recipients for county conservation futures funds. Testifiers from the Washington Farmland Trust and the Tulalip Tribe said the bill would expand voluntary conservation partnerships, help tribes steward farmland and habitat, and make it easier to leverage county funds with other grants. They described past projects where tribal participation improved conservation outcomes but said tribes could not directly access conservation futures dollars under current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• The income levels are slightly different with Medi-Cal.
• I believe that some of these are budgetary issues too, right?
• So, again, happy to talk about it more, but want to give that high-level note.
• So you're saying it would be more cost-efficient to do it at the county level than the statewide level
• CSBG is approximately 90% of the grant levels.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether that customer be a citizen, a municipality, or another budgetary unit, it's that budgetary unit
• Then central organizations saying, here's opportunities... ...for cross-pollination across budgetary
• We don't need to recreate the wheel every time in each budgetary unit, and we should have a list of those
• use cases that each budgetary unit can draw on.

Committee: House House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference

Summary: The House Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Committee heard a presentation from Steven Garrison of the Cicero Institute on how Arizona state government could use AI to improve service delivery, reduce costs, and streamline procurement. He argued AI should be treated as software, with agencies proactively identifying use cases, tracking outcomes, and avoiding unnecessary agency-level regulation or new bureaucratic structures. Members questioned him about workforce impacts, privacy, agency involvement, and the balance between innovation and guardrails; he said AI would likely augment workers in the short term and create new jobs over time, while legislative oversight should focus on specific harms and gaps in law rather than broad agency rules. The committee then considered HB 2592, which directs the Arizona Department of Administration to require budget units to identify AI opportunities, reduce administrative duties, streamline procurement, and establish AI governance, while also sending emergency or temporary AI rules to the legislature for approval. An amendment added reporting requirements to the governor, legislative leaders, and Secretary of State on efficiency measures and barriers encountered. After limited testimony, including support from Jeannie Magdua of Conservative Ladies of America, the committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill as amended on a 4-2 vote, with one member absent. The final bill, HB 2452, would add data centers and small modular reactors to county comprehensive planning considerations and adjust county planning requirements for land use and energy-related development. Supporters, including Russell Smolden of the Arizona Municipal Power Users Association and Dave Morris of Americans for Prosperity Arizona, said the bill would improve long-term planning for data centers, energy infrastructure, and emerging technologies. The County Supervisors Association opposed it, arguing it improperly singled out specific uses, blurred comprehensive planning with zoning, and reduced local control. The committee passed HB 2452 on a 4-3 vote and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether that customer be a citizen, a municipality, another budgetary unit, it's that budgetary unit.
• opportunities, then central organizations saying, here's opportunities for cross-pollination across budgetary
• We don't need to recreate the wheel every time in each budgetary unit, and we should have a list of those
• use cases that each budgetary unit can draw on.

Bills: HB2452 , HB2592

Committees: House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation , House House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference

Keywords: comprehensive plans, county governance, data centers, zoning, state regulations, land use, energy production, infrastructure, environmental impact, artificial intelligence, government regulation, innovation, procurement, administrative burdens

Transcript Highlights:

• At the federal level, the U.S.
• The bill as it currently stands is designed to respond to a very, very specific budgetary reality that
• But House Bill 2100 is designed to respond to the current budgetary reality that we are in, which the
• And candidly, I think when you look at what's happening at the federal level, the uncertainty and the
• Policies that have already failed at the local level should not be expanded statewide.

Bills: HB2334 , HB2140 , HB2326 , HB2100

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: cash transactions, pennies, currency adjustment, economic impact, consumer protection, tax exemption, governmental transfer, agriculture, land use, property tax, emergency medical services, levies, healthcare funding, local government, taxation, excise tax, large companies, payroll expenses, minimum wage, Well Washington fund

Transcript Highlights:

• They don't want this legislation at that level. The key is that it's an estimate.
• </c><00:54:14.480><c> finance</c> voters on how your budgetary finance voters on how your budgetary finance
• </c><01:52:59.679><c> So</c> u both at the state and local level.
• So u both at the state and local level.
• </c> the state level? the state level?

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• A journey-level worker is someone who is fully skilled and qualified in the occupation.
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, at levels that exceed occupational exposure limits.
• What could you tell us about the specific budgetary footprint that we’re...
• We're seeing policies from the federal level in play.
• So that level of knowledge spiked.

Summary: The committee heard a report on the Underground Economy Task Force in Washington’s construction industry. Labor and Industries said the task force, created by a 2024 budget proviso, met 11 times and developed consensus recommendations to improve enforcement against worker misclassification, unregistered contractors, and unpaid taxes and premiums. Consensus items included defining and regulating construction labor providers, improving interagency data sharing, increasing penalties for repeat offenders, expanding L&I authority over successor accountability, reviewing agency penalty rules, and exploring tracking of cash payments. Majority-but-not-consensus ideas included posting subcontractor notices at job sites, setting an independent-contractor threshold that would trigger L&I review, holding direct contractors liable for unpaid wages owed by subcontractors, and reviewing reporting requirements. Testifiers from labor, business, and the Attorney General’s Office generally supported stronger enforcement and transparency, while business representatives cautioned against overregulation and said any new rules should avoid burdening legitimate contractors or restricting lawful cash payments and independent contracting. L&I said the final report would be distributed by December 31 and the task force work group would be reconvened. The committee then reviewed the wage recovery work group report. L&I explained current wage complaint procedures and said the work group, made up of labor and business representatives, reached five consensus recommendations: allow L&I to prioritize wage complaints strategically, permit aggregation of related complaints, raise the minimum penalty under the Wage Payment Act from $1,000 to $1,500 and create a penalty matrix, improve employer awareness with materials for new hires, and establish a wage recovery fund. The fund would be seeded by penalties, would not require new employer assessments, and would allow limited early payments to eligible workers facing hardship, with a proposed cap of $2,500 and a later review of the program. Business and labor representatives both supported the overall framework, though business raised concerns about fraud safeguards and recovery of funds if a claim is later found invalid. Members also received an overview of Washington’s apprenticeship system. L&I described the state’s apprenticeship agency structure, the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council, and the difference between Washington’s state apprenticeship standards and the federal Office of Apprenticeship system. The presentation highlighted current participation levels, program approval and objection processes, and strong post-completion outcomes, including median annual earnings above $100,000 and an estimated $7.80 return for every public dollar invested. Committee members asked about how apprentices apply, how sponsors work with L&I, and whether recurring objections could be addressed earlier in the process. Finally, the committee heard updates on wildland firefighter respiratory protection, federal cuts to NIOSH, and economic and federal policy impacts on unemployment insurance and workforce services. L&I said wildland firefighters face significant smoke exposure and cancer risk, but current rules do not require respiratory protection for that work because of technical and operational challenges; the agency is watching efforts in other jurisdictions and at the federal level. On NIOSH, L&I warned that federal staffing and grant cuts could weaken occupational safety research, training pipelines, and programs affecting Washington workers, including firefighter cancer tracking and Hanford exposure assessments. ESD reported rising UI claims, a stable unemployment rate, and pressure on the trust fund, while also describing technology and process changes that have improved claims handling. ESD also said HR1 will significantly increase demand on WorkSource services through new work-search requirements for SNAP and Medicaid recipients, creating an unfunded mandate that the agency is preparing to implement with partner agencies.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we've certainly been hearing it at the ground level.
• So we've certainly been hearing it at the ground level.
• , they figure out a way to not make that tough decision, or to mitigate the level, the level, to not
• make that tough decision or to mitigate the level or the degree of what that decision is.
• A lot of budgetary uncertainty. A lot of financial uncertainty. A lot of budgetary uncertainty.

Summary: The Senate took up Committee Substitute for Senate Joint Resolution 2F, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand homestead property tax relief, lower the assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and limit county and municipal ad valorem tax revenues to specified uses. Senator Avila presented the measure as a major property tax reform intended to provide relief to homeowners and restrain local government spending, while opponents argued it would shift costs to fees, services, and state appropriations and could harm local budgets, public safety, schools, and other services. Several senators also raised concerns about the ballot language and the lack of a completed fiscal analysis. The chamber considered and rejected multiple amendments. Senator Sharif’s income-based “circuit breaker” amendment failed, as did Senator Smith’s sunset clause amendment and Senator Berman’s amendment to rewrite the ballot statement for greater accuracy. During questioning, Avila said the revised language was meant to preserve flexibility for local governments and that future legislatures could set implementing procedures and, if necessary, prohibit certain local expenditures by general law. He also confirmed that the proposal would not affect refinancing or portability, and said the measure would not prevent local governments from continuing to fund many services such as libraries, parks, animal control, code enforcement, mosquito control, public housing, county health departments, and elections. Debate on final passage was extensive. Supporters described the proposal as overdue relief for homeowners and a way to force local governments to prioritize spending, while critics called it a risky tax shift that could reduce local revenue by billions and force cuts or higher fees. Some senators emphasized concerns about public safety funding, mental health and social services, and the accuracy of the ballot summary; others argued the measure would give voters a chance to decide on property tax reform. After debate, the resolution was rolled over for third reading and the Senate continued discussion, but the transcript provided does not include a final vote on the joint resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• through something or why they're driving the way that they are or et cetera, it could also create a level
• We still have to go through the budgetary process.
• We're not asking to change anything of the budgetary process where we take our information and we go
• If we approve a budget and we make a transfer, we're going to have to go through our budgetary process
• We would like to see that MOU finalized and done at the local level without interference.

Committee: House Crime and Public Safety

Summary: The committee on Crime and Public Safety held public hearings on House Bill 3175 and House Bill 3066. HB 3175, called Mason’s Law, was presented by Rep. Chris Brown as a system to let the Department of Revenue, Missouri Highway Patrol, and MULES alert officers during traffic stops if a driver may have a disability or health condition affecting communication. Brown described a traffic stop involving a young man with autism and said the bill would allow a physician-verified designation tied to license plates and driver records. Testimony in support came from Mason and his mother, who said the bill could prevent dangerous misunderstandings, along with a friend, a speech-hearing association representative, and Kansas City police, who said officers already receive crisis-intervention training. No opposition testimony was offered. HB 3066, by Rep. Brad Christ, would clarify parts of the new St. Louis City police governance structure, including responsibility for civil liabilities, budgeting, and extending the transition director’s term. Christ said the bill is meant to clean up language from last year’s police governance changes and address disputes over who pays for lawsuits arising from different time periods, while also allowing the Board of Police Commissioners more flexibility to move money within its budget. Several witnesses and members raised concerns that the bill would weaken the city’s Board of Estimate and Apportionment, reduce transparency and checks and balances, and shift financial burdens onto city taxpayers and vital city services. City representatives opposed the bill and urged waiting for a memorandum of understanding to resolve the issues locally, while supporters from the police board, the police officers association, and the Attorney General’s office said the bill would provide needed clarity and efficiency and help resolve lingering liability questions. No votes were taken on either bill during the hearing. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that several other House bills and a House resolution would not be executed that day and might be heard later.

Transcript Highlights:

• Congress and Flood is working on reducing regulation mandates on a federal level.
• Were those only referring to federal budgetary restraints? No.
• Were those only referring to federal budgetary restraints? No.
• The purest form of democracy left at the state level. Keep outside the glass outside.
• And I asked him that, and he put his hands on my shoulders, and he came eye-level with me.

Bills: LR509 , LR510 , LR511