Transcript Highlights:

• let's go ahead and start a general let's go ahead and start a general overview<00:13:33.399>
• on line eight shows the general on line eight shows the general education<00:36:14.760> base<
• billion line 10 shows the other general billion line 10 shows the other general education<00:36:
• <00:42:48.480> a to the to the to that but generally a to the to the to that but generally
• This also lines up with an aid appropriation on my typical aid appropriation spreadsheet.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met on January 21, 2025, for its first hearing of the session and began with organizational business. Members and staff introduced themselves, described their districts and backgrounds, and the chair reviewed committee procedures, including how to request bill hearings, amendment deadlines, and handout deadlines. The committee also heard introductions from nonpartisan and partisan staff, including House Research and House Fiscal Analysis personnel who will support the committee’s work this session. The main substantive item was an overview presentation on the state budget and education finance process. Staff explained how Minnesota’s general fund is forecast twice a year, how the committee should read the budget documents and aid/levy tracking sheets, and how the current biennium compares with the upcoming budget window. They described the November forecast, noted that the committee will later receive the February forecast, and outlined the committee’s role in reviewing K-12 state aid spending, school district revenue, and property tax impacts. Staff walked through the aid appropriation summary spreadsheet and explained its columns, including end-of-session spending, fiscal year 2024-25 actuals and estimates, and the 2026-27 and 2028-29 planning horizons. They emphasized that many education programs are forecast-driven and can change with enrollment and other data. The presentation also summarized the state’s overall revenue mix and spending priorities, noting that K-12 education is the largest general fund category and that state aid makes up the majority of school revenue. No bills were heard and no votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• When that program was originally appropriated last biennium, it was appropriated with all general funds
• We were able to collect federal match, and then... ...appropriated last biennium it was appropriated
• with all general funds.
• Section 26 would require us to seek a deficiency appropriation for expenditures that exceed our appropriated
• This is $4 million worth of general fund.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate Appropriations HR Division met with all members present to review the medical services portion of the HHS budget. Sarah Aker, Executive Director of Medical Services, walked the committee through several budget items, including HCBS cost-to-continue adjustments, the DD bed assessment, expansion of value-based purchasing, targeted rate increases for home health and QSP services, and the cross-disability waiver. Members generally supported the targeted increases for home health and QSP, and Aker explained that the cross-disability waiver funding would support startup work, service design, and infrastructure ahead of a planned July 1, 2028 implementation. The committee spent significant time on rate-setting and provider payment issues. Members discussed ambulance rate rebasing, with several senators expressing concern that the proposed increase was too high relative to peer states; the committee ultimately moved toward reducing that item to $1 million rather than zero so it could be revisited in conference committee. They also discussed a House-added critical access hospital networking grant and similarly leaned toward reducing it to $1 million. Aker explained the department’s value-based purchasing plans, including use of a vendor selected through RFP, and clarified how the department’s existing Medicaid managed care and hospital value-based programs work. A major portion of the meeting focused on long-term care and basic care payments, including a House-added extension of the $5 per day basic care add-on and a proposed shift in nursing facility incentive grants toward a withhold-based model. Senator Mathern indicated he would bring an amendment to delay or modify the withhold change, and Aker said the department would prefer language that directly addresses whether a withhold may be implemented. Members also discussed 1915(i) services, FMAP changes, the Medicaid legacy system modernization carryover, and a House-added legislative intent section on medical assistance. The committee adjourned for the morning with plans to return later to continue Human Services budget work and revisit unresolved items in conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• department of the Attorney General department of the Attorney General respectfully<00:52:09.000>
• the payment requires an appropriation the payment requires an appropriation from<00:58:40.000>
• obligation bonds the state can issue within the debt limit, and the state will need to appropriate general
• I'm Deputy Attorney General Rodney Charo of the Department of the Attorney General.
• Yeah, I'm blanking out the appropriation amount. It still says so blank is appropriated.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 410, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs’ biennium operating budget. OHA asked for a modest increase over its base budget, including $1.2 million to fund 13 new full-time positions for a strategy and implementation team tied to its long-term plan, with emphasis on housing, education, health, and economic resilience. OHA also described a broader effort to work directly with executive branch departments to improve outcomes for Native Hawaiians. Testimony was largely supportive, with several individuals speaking in favor and one testifier expressing strong frustration about Native Hawaiian rights and access to resources. The chair noted there were 38 additional written/supporting testimonies and three in opposition. Members asked about OHA’s funding sources and public land trust revenues; OHA said it is not receiving the full 20 percent share, described a public land trust working group and system issues, and said a related bill would seek funding to begin an inventory. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee then considered House Bill 304, which would make the Hawaiian version of a law binding when the law was originally drafted in Hawaiian and later translated into English. The Judiciary supported the bill, saying it reinforces Hawaiian as an official language and looks to the original language for legislative intent. The Attorney General supported the intent but recommended narrowing the bill with a proviso to avoid ambiguities, limiting it to laws originally drafted in Hawaiian that were not later amended, codified, recodified, or reenacted in English. Public testimony was generally supportive, though one speaker raised broader sovereignty concerns. Members questioned how many laws would be affected and whether the proposed amendment would undercut the bill; the Attorney General said the amendment was meant to address uncertainty in interpretation. No final action was reported. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 603, which would direct OHA to administer a Native Hawaiian business marketing program to promote Native Hawaiian-owned businesses through marketing and technical assistance. OHA supported the concept, saying a label or branding program could help consumers identify and support Native Hawaiian-owned businesses, but requested that funding be redirected to a working group to study program design, implementation, enforcement, and long-term viability. The chair noted four supportive testimonies had been received, and a member asked OHA to confirm that its programs serve all Hawaiians, not only those eligible for homelands; OHA said it serves all Hawaiians in the state. The transcript ends before any vote or further action on HB 603.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Governor's May Revision budget includes a one-year, limited-term appropriation of $2.2 million General
• an appropriation, without a legislative appropriation currently.
• I will note that generally speaking, LIO's recommendation, I will note that, generally speaking, the
• Is it transferring appropriately?
• Now, moving on to the $40 million one-time General Fund appropriation for the nonprofit security grant

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:10:00.560> fund judicial branch general fund judicial branch general fund appropriation
• /c><01:00:47.520> um<01:00:47.839> appropriation million of general fund um appropriation
• makes an if the general court makes an appropriation<06:22:29.360> of<06:22:29.600> general
• <06:22:29.920> funds,<06:22:30.320> which appropriation of general funds, which appropriation
• <06:46:59.680> fund program with a general fund program with a general fund appropriation.

Keywords: 10am HB 1 & HB 2, 928, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference for HB 1 and HB 2 reviewed the side-by-side budget comparison and began working through agreed and disputed items. Members first confirmed that grayed-out items were already settled and discussed a process for making later technical and intent changes, especially to true up abolished positions after additional decisions were made. They then moved through several budget sections, including judicial branch reductions, retirement systems, the Department of Justice, the Human Rights Commission, liquor enforcement, corrections, and the Department of Information Technology. Several items were agreed to or treated as settled package items, including the judicial branch position, the Department of Justice reduction, the Human Rights Commission item being held until related HB 2 language is finalized, the Housing Appeals Board being moved into the Board of Tax and Land Appeals, and the Office of Child Advocate. The committee also agreed to update the House bill language as needed based on HB 2 decisions, and to keep certain IT support rows in place unless related boards and commissions are eliminated. The effective date remained July 1, 2025, with no change. The main unresolved discussion centered on the retirement systems budget, where the Senate defended a large increase for deferred IT security and investment-function improvements, while the House argued the increase was too large and favored a back-of-the-budget cut. The Senate said the funds would support strategic IT and investment changes and would remain in the trust if cut, while the House emphasized the size of the increase and suggested a compromise. The committee ultimately retained the Senate position on retirement systems for the moment and said it would return to the issue later. On corrections and liquor enforcement, the committee described a negotiated back-of-the-budget cut structure, including a $10 million cut for corrections with some restoration of POS offices and administrative aides, and a liquor enforcement cut that was treated as part of a broader package. The Department of Safety item related to commercial enforcement and motor vehicle inspections was held for later discussion. The meeting ended with several items agreed, several held for coordination with HB 2, and some major budget questions still open.

Transcript Highlights:

• If there's anything that's appropriate. appropriate to continuously appropriate.
• Is it, I mean, there's a very large amount of money being generated. Who is it being generated by?
• , because with the ones that aren't continuously appropriated, the discretionary ones, in general those
• that doesn't happen generally generally those really do kind of go on autopilot and honestly I mean
• You appropriate.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it appropriate to start with Go Dodgers? Okay.
• The state is home to more than 200 general aviation airports.
• The state is home to more than 200 general aviation airports.
• Motion is do pass to Assembly Appropriations. Motion is do pass to Assembly Appropriations.
• The motion is do pass to Appropriations. Gipson, aye. The motion is do pass to Appropriations.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That funding was appropriated in Senate Bill 3 of the 88th fourth called. and was appropriated for transfer
• I just had some general. General comments. Border security. Thank you for everything y'all do.
• Tezer's is only accepts contributions from the local governing entity and general appropriations.
• general revenue.
• Appropriation Bill coming up.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The General Fund includes the Open Appropriation for Fire Suppression.
• Without using the entire appropriation. So we propose to return those dollars to the General Fund.
• These updates cover several large one-time General Fund appropriations.
• This chart shows a number of those large one-time General Fund appropriations we received.
• That was an appropriation of $150 million, which included $110 million in one-time General Fund dollars

Transcript Highlights:

• This project will generate jobs.
• It will generate tens of thousands of construction-related jobs, as well as... ...generate tens of thousands
• We think it's generally a pretty fair construct.
• Motion is do pass to Appropriations.
• Motion is due pass to Appropriations.

Summary: The committee heard presentations on several energy, environmental, and consumer protection bills while operating at times without a quorum. Senator McNerney presented SB 925, which would direct the California Energy Commission to develop a statewide roadmap for fusion energy, and SB 1350, which would expand the use of green hydrogen in the power sector by allowing renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using hydrogen. Supporters said both bills would help California maintain leadership in emerging clean-energy industries, attract investment, and create jobs. Opponents of SB 1350 raised concerns about greenwashing, resource shuffling, and increased NOx emissions from hydrogen combustion, while supporters said committee amendments added guardrails against those outcomes. Senator Ashby presented SB 1010, a manufacturer-funded extended producer responsibility program for refrigerants in appliances; supporters said it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve recovery, while opponents argued existing laws already regulate refrigerants and that the bill could raise costs and disrupt recycling markets. Senator Grayson presented SB 1145 to streamline CEQA and federal reuse procedures for qualifying projects in the Concord Reuse Project Area, which supporters said would help deliver long-planned housing, jobs, and open space, while one housing group sought stronger affordable-housing guarantees. Senator Cabaldon presented SB 1341, which would give CalRecycle authority to reduce processing fees for wine and spirits bag-in-a-box containers when fee collections exceed program needs; supporters said the current fee increase was abrupt and excessive, while opponents warned against giving the agency too much discretion. Senator Padilla presented SGR 13, urging the U.S. to secure enforceable commitments to eliminate transboundary sewage pollution in the Tijuana and New River watersheds during the 2026 USMCA review, and SB 1033, which would require testing and disclosure of heavy metals in protein products; SGR 13 drew strong support from border and environmental justice advocates, while SB 1033 drew support from consumer and health groups and opposition from industry groups concerned about labeling burdens and scope. Senator Caballero presented SB 1183, requiring a state study of the environmental, land-use, and economic impacts of industrial solar in the Central Valley; farm and land-use advocates supported the bill, while solar industry groups opposed unless amended, saying it should better reflect solar’s benefits and existing state analysis. After testimony, the committee took roll and adopted several measures on a 4-0 or 3-0 basis, with bills including SJR 13, SB 925, SB 1350, SB 1145, SB 1341, SB 1033, and SB 1010 advanced on call to Appropriations or, in the case of SB 1010, already voted with a 3-1 result before being held on call.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate Appropriations Committee meeting will come to order.
• Senate Bill 1177's general appropriation bill has moved due pass, and I'll yield for questions.
• Yeah, I'm assuming that's in this general appropriations. It's part of this dollar amount, right?
• These are programs that have been in our appropriation that have been in our appropriation.
• It talks about the General Revenue Fund from the General Revenue Fund and it just basically says as may

Bills: SB1177

Keywords: education funding, mental health services, public safety, housing, state budget, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That funding was appropriated in Senate Bill 3 of the 88th Fourth called and was appropriated for transfer
• 24-25 appropriations.
• I just had some general, general comments. Border security, thank you for everything y'all do.
• $215,000 in general revenue.
• Act or in the Special Appropriations Act Supplemental Appropriation Bill coming up.

Transcript Highlights:

• , efficiently delivers generators, efficiently delivers generators, heaters,<00:14:26.079> power
• concerning a supplemental appropriation concerning a supplemental appropriation to<00:28:04.240>
• House Bill 1175 by appropriation.
• and that we make sure that our general and that we make sure that our general fund<00:43:34.640>
• general fund at 53 plus million dollars. general fund at 53 plus million dollars.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, approved the journal, and then took up several ceremonial and procedural items before moving to resolutions and a large consent calendar of supplemental appropriation bills. The chamber also received committee reports, including Agriculture and Natural Resources appointments to the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund, the Colorado Agricultural Development Authority, and the Wildlife Habitat Stamp Committee, which were recommended for the consent calendar and confirmation. A major portion of the meeting was devoted to tributes and personal privilege remarks. Senators recognized Cap Alpha Psi Fraternity for its mentorship, scholarship, housing, and community service work in Colorado, and later honored Ukraine Power, a Colorado Springs nonprofit that raises funds and delivers generators, heaters, power banks, and other aid to people in Ukraine. Senators emphasized the ongoing war in Ukraine and praised Coloradans helping with humanitarian relief. The Senate then adopted SJR 12, designating February 20, 2026, as Colorado FFA Day, after extended remarks about agricultural education, leadership development, and the role of FFA in both rural and urban communities. The resolution passed on a 33-0 vote, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. The chamber also passed a 30-bill consent calendar of supplemental appropriations and related measures, with several senators recording no votes on selected bills. Final passage followed for House Bill 1151 and the remaining bills on the calendar, covering supplemental appropriations to departments including Corrections, Health Care Policy and Financing, Agriculture, Early Childhood, Education, Human Services, Judicial, Labor and Employment, Law, Local Affairs, Military and Veterans Affairs, Personnel, Revenue, State, Transportation, Treasury, and capital construction and education-related funding measures. Debate on HB 1155 focused on Medicaid and behavioral health cuts, with one senator opposing the bill over parity concerns and others supporting it as part of broader budget balancing. Most bills passed with strong majorities, though several had recorded no votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The general authority are two main things.
• So, it's a general—not a general fund, but an enterprise agency. But every...
• I think that's new language for an appropriation.
• With the COG appropriation that was appropriated last year, this is basically extending the time duration
• You all appropriated, Mr. Chair, $2 million last year.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Being a third-generation owner is about more than just maintaining a brand.
• It's about honoring the sweet traditions that connect families across generations.
• We are going to consider that before we consider the appropriations.
• The appropriations we'll do as a batch, as two separate batches by page.
• This is the appropriation for, and it contains EFAs.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:43:33.520> fund funded through the general fund funded through the general fund appropriation
• So, that's money that's going to have to be made up by the districts with other general fund appropriations
• The total Department of Education general fund appropriation for Chair<01:50:40.719> recognizes
• fund appropriations. appropriations. appropriations.
• > appropriation<01:54:44.080> for Education general fund appropriation for all of the Department

Keywords: Several minutes after the convene vote and before the introduction failed to properly steam. This version was pulled from a local back up., 958, all

Summary: The House convened with 97 members present, declared a quorum, approved excusing absent members, and suspended the rules to allow co-sponsorships and vote modifications. The journal for February 25, 2026 was approved. The clerk also reported that the Senate had passed Senate Bills 98 and 122 and requested concurrence. The House then received second-reading reports on a range of bills, including measures on prison educational programs, respiratory care, dietitians, wildlife depredation, temporary structures, military families, civil rights, local boards of education, light pollution, controlled-substance prescribing licenses, youth health services, class sizes for exceptional children, the athletic trainer compact, limited commercial driver’s licenses, and Senate Bill 145 relating to the Department of Agriculture and Alcohol Beverage Control. Committee reports moved several bills forward, including the main budget bills House Bill 500 and House Bill 504, along with measures on workforce investment, data centers, domestic violence, guardians ad litem, domestic relations, health delivery and “food is medicine” initiatives, state personnel, open records, and fish and wildlife resources. House Bill 500 and House Bill 504 were taken from the Rules Committee and placed on the orders of the day. House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill, was then taken up for third reading and explanation. Members presented extensive floor explanations of House Bill 500 and House Committee Substitute 1, describing it as a “good first draft” of the executive budget. Supporters said the proposal emphasizes restrained spending growth, base reductions with exemptions for key areas, employee salary increments, and deposits to the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for future one-time investments. They highlighted funding for K-12 education, postsecondary aid and workforce training, Medicaid and behavioral health, public health infrastructure, pensions, veterans, public safety, economic development, tourism, and state technology and facility maintenance. The budget substitute was adopted by voice vote, and the discussion continued with detailed descriptions of the bill’s provisions; no final passage vote was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would provide an opportunity for the general funders to participate in the general revenue funds
• The recommendations reflect a decrease of $400 million in general revenue dedicated to... appropriated
• Last session, the legislature appropriated $400 million in general revenue funds for the transfer to
• And lastly, general aviation airports.
• receipts for donations, and alignment of a general revenue dedicated funds to the agency's 24, 25 appropriations

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• will go to the Appropriations Committee.
• The general election statute says you have to be an elector of your district by the date of the general
• And so the request on behalf of the department is that this money be appropriated out of general funds
• and bring a deficiency appropriation in.
• It's not an appropriation.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee opened with roll call and a review of special-session procedure: bills would be heard in filing order, with related school-lunch bills grouped together, and any bill advancing would require a motion, second, and majority vote to be introduced. Members also discussed that the committee was functioning much like a delayed-bills committee, with final referral to either Appropriations or Policy depending on the bill’s fiscal impact. The first major proposal was Senator Schibley’s bill to create a narrow, statewide Bank of North Dakota bridge-loan program for struggling nonprofit medical facilities, prompted by Jacobson Memorial Hospital’s financial crisis. He argued the hospital and surrounding EMS services could close without short-term help, while committee members questioned the added language, the population cap, the $10 million fund with $5 million per applicant limit, and whether the program could open the door to future requests. Representative Headland then presented two cleanup bills from the prior property-tax session: one to fix notice and tax-certification issues for local taxing districts, and another to correct how the primary residence credit is applied so taxpayers receive the full benefit rather than counties retaining part of the reimbursement. Members asked about township hearing timing, the estimated $10–15 million annual impact, and whether the credit issue could be fixed retroactively; Headland said the bill was intended to correct the problem going forward. Three school-lunch bills drew extensive discussion. Representative Vetter proposed a small administrative appropriation to add an FTE to help eligible families enroll in the existing free/reduced lunch program, saying the goal was to ensure needy children are signed up and that the state should not subsidize meals for wealthy families. Representative Nathe offered a broader bill mirroring the pending initiated measure but placing the program in statute instead of the Constitution, moving implementation up a year, and funding it with a one-time $65 million from the strategic investment fund; he said this would preserve legislative flexibility and avoid constitutional entrenchment. Representative Dressler proposed raising the state-funded eligibility threshold from 225% to 300% of poverty, arguing it would expand access while still preserving federal reimbursements and encouraging better enrollment systems. Members debated costs, future budget pressure, whether the bills set a precedent for responding to ballot measures, and whether the program should include breakfast and other operational details. Other proposals included Senator Powers’ bill to create a hyperbaric oxygen board and support rural access to hyperbaric chambers for wounds, concussions, PTSD, and other conditions; Representative Tolman’s reporting-requirements bill to force new or expanded programs to justify purpose, alternatives, evaluation methods, and full implementation costs; Representative Frelich’s bill addressing the ongoing redistricting litigation and what happens if the Supreme Court or lower courts alter the current map; and a bill requested by the Public Service Commission and ITD for FERC litigation support and ADA website/document compliance. The committee also heard a rural-health eligibility bill from Representative Twait aimed at steering federal rural health dollars toward rural providers, with questions focused on whether the mileage limits would exclude some communities. One Holocaust education item was deferred until the sponsor could be located.

Transcript Highlights:

• fund appropriations.
• At the higher education, it's not included in the General Appropriations Act.
• This is an enterprise agency, although it does have a small general fund appropriation that came in.
• There was no general fund increase requested; this is all their enterprise revenue, mainly generated
• Chair, this appropriation was a special appropriation to basically supplement a program that school districts

Transcript Highlights:

• appropriates appropriates funds<00:15:27.360> up<00:15:27.519> first<00:15:27.720>
• Up next, Attorney General providing comments.
• Up next, Attorney General providing comments.
• Up next, Attorney General providing comments.
• <00:32:27.919> they available um in that appropriation they available um in that appropriation

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on March 14, 2025, and heard five University of Hawaii-related bills. SB 741 would create an external audit committee for the UH system and Board of Regents; UH and UHPA opposed it, saying existing internal and external audits already provide robust oversight, and the committee later recommended deferring the bill indefinitely as duplicative. SB 1252 SD2 would create a dementia training program for health care providers; the Alzheimer’s Association and other supporters said broader training is needed across the care workforce, while the university discussed using JABSOM as a coordinator. The committee deferred the bill to March 19 for an HD1 reflecting JABSOM’s suggestions and removing the appropriations/FTE language. SB 1502 SD1 would fund faculty positions, student programs, and facilities at UH Manoa and West Oahu for defense-sector workforce development. UH and Chamber of Commerce Hawaii supported the measure, describing a pipeline for students into intelligence, cybersecurity, and related fields, while one individual opposed it as too closely tied to military contracting and urged investment in other sectors instead. The committee amended the bill to remove FTE references and advanced it; the vote to pass with amendments was adopted, with several members voting aye and some excused. SB 1530 would require performance-based allocation of UH general funds and efficiency reporting. UH and the Attorney General’s office raised concerns, saying the bill’s metrics would apply across the entire general fund budget and were not practical as drafted; the committee also noted opposition from the Budget and Finance Department and individuals. SB 1624 SD1 would restrict RIM funds to renewing, improving, or modernizing existing facilities and require annual reports. UH opposed the bill and explained that RIM is a lump-sum approach used to address deferred maintenance and capital needs, with Board of Regents approval and quarterly reporting already in place; the Attorney General suggested constitutional amendments. The transcript ends during discussion of SB 1624, with no final action shown in the excerpt.