Transcript Highlights:

• for another project in the district, and they're linked narratively like we canceled this project but
• we're doing this project in my district.
• c> is<00:37:32.400> in member whose district that project is in member whose district that
• and for another project in the district and for another project in the district and they're<00:37
• But it's a this project in my district.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the other projects, we have a tremendous load of projects in the highway plan.
• And then the other projects, we have a tremendous load of projects in the highway plan.
• So thank you. very hard to deliver every project we very hard to deliver every project we possibly<00
• sometimes when you hear about projects sometimes when you hear about projects moving<00:22:00.559
• So So producing projects out there.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met on Transportation, approved the prior meeting minutes, and received a road fund update from Transportation Cabinet officials Mike Hancock, Sean McCernan, and Ron Rigney. McCernan reported that FY 2024-2025 road fund revenue came in $38.5 million above the enacted estimate, but was about $11 million below FY24 because of a lower motor fuels tax rate. He said motor vehicle usage tax receipts were stronger than expected, and that the road fund ended the year with a $61.6 million surplus account that, under the budget bill, must be appropriated to state construction. Members focused heavily on how declining motor fuels receipts affect the formula funds that support cities, counties, and rural/secondary roads. Hancock and McCernan explained that lower gas tax receipts reduce both the road plan and revenue sharing, while higher vehicle sales tax receipts from motor vehicle usage go directly to the road fund and do not help the formula distributions. They also said fuel efficiency, hybrid and electric vehicle trends, and the removal of a prior hybrid fee all affect revenue collections. On tolling, officials said Louisville bridge toll revenues are covering bills and commitments, but they did not have the latest collection figures in front of them and said they would provide them later. The committee also asked about project delivery delays, right-of-way acquisition, disaster recovery work, annual contract awards, cash management, and overprogramming in the highway plan. Officials said project delays often stem from right-of-way purchases, utility relocation, and the large volume of projects in the plan, and described the process as a “duck paddling” situation with substantial work happening behind the scenes. They said FY25 contract awards were already just under $998 million by the July letting and expected to exceed last year’s total, and explained that cash balances are managed so they do not fall below $100 million; the current balance was said to be about $166 million. No further votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is why soil and water districts were formed and um the Mesa district, which is right next door at
• Jack has worked, this is a project that goes over 7 soil and water districts.
• I know, um, the soil and water districts are getting at least a million dollars to try to put in projects
• Now, I was asked to talk about Rural projects or projects in the rural parts of the state with soil and
• Um, that's a lot of what our district offices, um, staff, we have 6 district offices across the state

Transcript Highlights:

• Longmeadow in my district, a passive crossing improvement project for the north-south rail line at $1.2
• So one of the things, and I've had a couple of these projects in my district, I've talked to some colleagues
• The other seven people that signed on don't live in my district, and they are stopping a project in my
• Across the project.
• across the Commonwealth in your district and other districts.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing at UMass Amherst on Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget, focusing on energy/environment-related transportation issues and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The chairs and members opened with thanks to UMass, university leadership, court officers, and legislative staff, and Chancellor Javier Reyes highlighted UMass Amherst’s research, workforce, sustainability, and transportation contributions, including energy research, transit operations, and partnerships with MassDOT. The hearing then moved to MassDOT and MBTA testimony on the administration’s transportation funding package, including House 2, the FY26 Fair Share supplemental, and a proposed four-year Chapter 90 authorization. MassDOT officials described the budget as part of a broader multi-year transportation investment strategy, citing funding for operations, snow and ice removal, regional transit authorities, the MBTA, the Merit Rating Board, sustainable aviation fuel credits, micro-transit and last-mile grants, unpaved road improvements, bridge and pavement work, and housing-related transportation infrastructure. They emphasized workforce expansion, capital delivery capacity, safety improvements, and local aid, including the new lane-mile-based Chapter 90 formula intended to benefit rural communities. Officials also discussed major projects and programs such as Grant Central, culvert and unpaved road grants, work zone speed cameras, congestion hotspot fixes, the Sagamore and Bourne Bridge projects, and MBTA operating support and safety upgrades. Testimony from the MBTA and rail/transit staff focused on improved ridership, service frequency, accessibility, and safety, including progress on the Green Line Train Protection System, reduced delays, expanded bus and commuter rail service, and the South Coast rail extension. Regional transit authorities reported increased ridership and described new fare-free, connectivity, and community transit grants. Aeronautics testimony covered airport capital work, drone and data programs, sustainable aviation fuel efforts, and workforce development in aviation maintenance. Committee members then asked questions, especially about Western Massachusetts priorities, Chapter 90 funding, bridge repairs, snow and ice costs, Cape Cod bridges, Buzzard’s Bay rail, and Compass Rail/West-East Rail. Officials said several federal rail grants were moving forward, that Sagamore Bridge procurement would begin soon, and that the administration remained committed to pursuing federal funding and multi-year transportation investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, SB 7 expands funding eligibility for water reuse, permitted reservoir projects, conveyance projects
• to that district to that area.
• It moves through the irrigation district. So, you know.
• between those those districts?
• land for projects, whether it's a reservoir or other type of project.

Bills: SB 7

Keywords: water infrastructure, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, water supply, environmental sustainability

Transcript Highlights:

• and delays of the projects.
• The Midway Rising project truly is a once-in-a-generation project. It's on city-owned land.
• New project, it does make sense.
• When we can underwrite the project with confidence, the projects will move forward.
• Jack Wurston, on behalf of the Santa Clara Valley Water District and the Alevenheim Municipal Water District

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One is we made changes to the stabilization fund so that we are able to, one, if a school district projected
• I understand it's a member project.
• , and $25 million in PICO projects.
• Do you know whether those projects were submitted as member projects?
• I know that there were a number of non-water projects as well as water projects that were funded for

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Donnell C. Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. A quorum was announced, the journal was approved, and the Speaker said the chamber would take up 11 budget conference reports, with debate and final votes on each report. The first report considered was HB 7031E, the tax package, followed by HB 501E, the state budget appropriations bill. On HB 7031E, Chair Duggan explained that the conference report included a range of tax reductions and tax-related changes, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related provisions, reductions in certain taxes and fees, and new exemptions or administrative clarifications. He said the package also added items such as sales tax relief for certain university construction projects, a tennis admissions exemption, and changes to agricultural property tax treatment, and that the amendment reduced state and local tax revenues by $272.2 million. Members questioned the bill about the child care tax credit reduction from three years to one, the homestead exemption provision for certain diplomats and foreign service personnel, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the inclusion of firearm accessories and tennis tickets in sales tax holidays. After structured debate, the House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began the conference report on HB 501E, the $114.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which was described as below the prior year’s spending level and leaving more than $14 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major allocations across education, higher education, IT, health care, transportation and economic development, justice, state administration, and agriculture/natural resources. Highlights included increased FEFP funding and veteran teacher raises, full funding for Bright Futures, major IT modernization projects, Medicaid and behavioral health funding, transportation and local infrastructure spending, correctional and law enforcement investments, fire station and emergency response funding, and large environmental and water-quality appropriations. Members asked detailed questions about school voucher fraud oversight, scholarship funding, teacher raises, preeminence funding, ADAP changes, SNAP data tools and error rates, Medicaid rate changes, prison wastewater monitoring, and other budget items, but the transcript ends during the budget questions before final action on HB 501E is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• HANDBOOK FOR EACH OF THE DISTRICTS.
• ENSURE CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT THE VARIOUS WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS.
• I THINK THAT WE WOULD BE PROVIDING MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT.
• THOSE ESTIMATES ARE SOMETHING YOU PROJECT OUT THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.
• DECEMBER 28, 2025 AND THAT PROJECT WILL ALSO BE GRANDFATHERED.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:27.879> we philanthropic sources the projects we philanthropic sources the projects
• project that decarbonizes existing industrial processes or a project that supports the development of
• unique position to catalyze projects unique position to catalyze projects that<00:20:27.400>
• Uh, what were those projects again, out of those three projects? There were three projects.
• So does it loan for hydro projects? Executive Director, we have done hydrothermal projects.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In my district alone, a 70-acre, 330-megawatt project, alongside a residential community and elementary
• This project is an urban intermodal rail station.
• And by definition, frequently like this project, many of those individual projects have had extensive
• , two resource conservation districts, and a large amount of non-districted land without surface water
• , two resource conservation districts, and a large amount of non-districted land without surface water

Summary: The committee heard several bills, with SB 1350 by Senator McNerney presented first. The measure would expand California’s use of renewable hydrogen in the power sector by allowing renewable portfolio standard credit for power plants using green hydrogen, with supporters emphasizing grid reliability, clean-energy goals, in-state investment, and construction jobs. Support came from labor, clean-energy, municipal utility, and local government representatives; NRDC Action Fund withdrew opposition after amendments, while a few groups remained opposed or neutral. The committee later took a roll call and SB 1350 passed out on a due pass recommendation. The committee also heard SB 1180 by Senator Allen, which would set operational rules for the Plastic Pollution Mitigation Fund created under SB 54, including clearer eligible uses, transparency, technical assistance, and access for tribes and smaller community groups. Environmental justice, ocean, conservation, and local government groups strongly supported the bill, saying it would ensure the fund addresses plastic pollution’s public health and environmental harms. Industry and manufacturing groups opposed unless amended, arguing the bill should stay tightly tied to plastic waste reduction and not broaden into source-reduction policy. After quorum was established, the committee approved SB 1180 on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations. SB 1326 by Senator Wahab was then heard to strengthen tribal consultation and tribal cultural resource protections under CEQA by recognizing tribal registers and requiring feasible avoidance or mitigation measures when tribes identify resources. Tribal representatives and supporters said the bill would better protect sacred sites and tribal knowledge, while cities, counties, utilities, builders, and rural county groups opposed unless amended, citing implementation concerns, possible litigation, and uncertainty for infrastructure and housing projects. The committee voted the bill out on a due pass recommendation to Appropriations. Finally, SB 954 by Senator Blakespear was presented as a cleanup of last year’s SB 131 advanced-manufacturing CEQA exemption, narrowing eligible projects and adding guardrails such as setbacks, air-quality limits, tribal consultation, labor standards, and habitat protections. Environmental and labor groups supported the bill as a needed correction to an overly broad exemption, while business, manufacturing, housing, and local-government groups opposed, warning it could make the exemption unusable and slow investment. Members debated the balance between environmental protection and manufacturing competitiveness, and the committee voted SB 954 out on a due pass recommendation to the Labor and Employment Committee; the transcript then moved on to SB 1031 on compostable plastics, which was introduced but not acted on in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• district or charter district.
• district or charter district.
• any projects that they have to have going on in that school district.
• any projects that they have to have going on in that school district.
• The LEA refers to the districts, so each individual district may have projects that need to be paid over

Summary: The House/Joint Education committee continued its adequacy study with a Bureau of Legislative Research presentation on resource allocation, focusing first on matrix spending and then non-matrix spending. Staff explained the methodology for mapping APSCN expenditure data to matrix lines, reviewed district and school categories used in the analysis, and highlighted key findings: foundation funding covered a large share of matrix costs but total spending on matrix items exceeded foundation funding, with classroom teachers making up the largest share. Members asked for additional breakdowns on waivers, superintendent survey responses, trend data, and spending by district type, size, and rural/urban status. Staff also noted limitations in tracking two matrix lines—salary enhancement for other employees and all personnel health insurance—because of coding and definition issues. The committee then reviewed non-matrix expenditures, including instructional aides, facilities, school safety, mental health, dyslexia services, gifted and talented, and career and technical education. Staff reported that non-matrix spending remained above $2 billion over the last three years, with most of it coming from other funds rather than foundation funding. Members raised concerns about dyslexia identification and funding, mental health needs, school safety, food service, athletic transportation, and whether some items should be added to the matrix. The Department of Education clarified that the building fund reflects district-held funds for construction and maintenance projects, while the facilities partnership program is a separate state process for approved projects. In the final discussion, staff summarized total spending as more than $15,800 per student in 2025, with about 69% going to matrix resources and 31% to non-matrix resources. The chair explained the adequacy process and the committee’s role in setting future funding recommendations, and members discussed the recommendations worksheet included in the binder. The chair then proposed postponing the remainder of Part Two of the presentation until a May meeting after the fiscal session, along with inviting the Department of Education back for more detailed questions; with no objections, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And works construction has begun on a school construction project, and there's debt that a school district
• District spending.
• They're a shovel-ready project.
• This would be the initial district, and I think it'll help other districts.
• They're like, 'Hey, you got this project; we learned from that first initial project.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a large project with many phases.
• This is the boating access project. The boating access projects are at the top.
• That's typical of a boating excess project.
• I know that many of you others have seen the cooperation and things in your district and projects come
• to success in your district.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, in the back, we have. our district engineer from the best district in the state, Eric Likens
• from the Odessa district, so.
• Those are the districts that that undertake the project development and delivery and maintenance of our
• And I mean, maybe they're small projects. They just need to be done in their districts or areas.
• He's the district engineer for the Odessa District, which in... includes Reeves County.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Priority projects in our 2025-2026 plan include four seismic retrofit projects, ten projects to support
• If that is not an available option for a district, they can continue to resubmit a project to the state
• . college bond projects.
• of the remaining funds for modernization projects and 35% for growth projects.
• and their specific projects and the loading order of those projects.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Since then, the project budget has increased approximately $1.25 million.
• Additional project sources include $5.8 million of state historic tax credits.
• However, they decided not to move forward with the project.
• However, they decided not to move forward with the project.
• City Council Member, District 3, Freddie King III; State Representative, District 99, Candace Newell

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Summary: The State Bond Commission met on May 21 with a quorum present and approved the April 16 minutes. The commission then reviewed and approved a large slate of local government and public authority financing requests, including election propositions for the November ballot, water and sewer infrastructure projects, fire protection and recreation district bonds, school board financing, and several refunding transactions. Most items were found to meet technical requirements and were approved on motions by Speaker DeVillier and seconded by Senator Talbot. Among the more notable items were the East Baton Rouge City-Parish refunding bonds for the Greater Baton Rouge Airport District, the City of Kenner’s retroactive approval request tied to a convention center agreement with GMB Basketball LLC, a Louisiana Housing Corporation financing increase for the Federal City Building 10 affordable housing project, and preliminary approval for the Northwest Louisiana Finance Authority’s Petro Tower redevelopment in Shreveport. The commission also approved financing for Southern University’s Scott’s Bluff student housing project and the Crescent City Schools/Harriet Tubman Charter School project. The Crescent City Schools item prompted questions about how MFP funds are used; staff explained that lease payments would support the bonds and that MFP funds are generally split between educational expenses and facilities-related costs. The commission received six monthly cost-of-issuance reports, which required no action, and a status update on the state debt schedule. It also approved Resolution No. 2 authorizing up to $425 million in general obligation refunding bonds to refund the Series 2016 bonds and tender other outstanding bonds for savings, with pricing tentatively set for June 16 and closing for June 30. During other business, New Orleans City Council President J.P. Morel thanked the commission for its role in helping address the city’s fiscal crisis and for approving a charter amendment election item aimed at strengthening budget oversight. The meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:28:06.399> to district and the district continues to district and the district continues
• <00:40:36.240> we project it's a very large project we project it's a very large project we
• to project.
• to project.
• to project project varies from project to project project okay<00:50:45.319> u<00:50:46.559><

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met after several reschedulings due to flooding, welcomed a new assistant, and confirmed a quorum. It first approved the March 11 minutes, then reported that the day’s agenda included 310 items totaling about $139.4 million, with all vendors registered with the Secretary of State. The committee then approved deferred items involving the Transportation Cabinet/Department of Highways, including one routine PSC green-list item and one PSC amendment item, after hearing from the Transportation Cabinet’s Division of Professional Services and noting prior questions had been answered. The bulk of the meeting focused on Department of Education contracts tied to reading and literacy initiatives. Officials described a competitive grant program for high-quality instructional resources and related professional learning, explaining that resources are selected through evidence-based reviews and a quality curriculum task force, and that districts apply using an instructional resources alignment rubric. Members questioned the program’s reach, whether districts opt in, how many schools applied, and whether the effort is producing measurable reading gains. Department witnesses said about 155 schools applied and were awarded, the program is voluntary, and the University of Louisville’s Reading Research Center is collecting qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate effectiveness. Several members expressed concern that the state has repeatedly funded literacy efforts without improving reading scores, though the committee ultimately approved the education items, with Senator Meredith noting support but frustration about the lack of progress. The committee also approved an MOA amendment item supporting the Principal Partnership Project, which provides tools, resources, and professional learning for administrators and helps meet statutory evaluation-training requirements. Members asked about the use of nonrecurring federal funds and whether the arrangement affects retirement benefits; staff said the contract pays districts based on daily wage and additional workdays, which does increase retirement packages. Representative McCool voted yes but voiced caution about possible supplanting. Finally, the committee took up an Office of the Controller contract for a brokered insurance-related procurement. Representative Balman moved to disapprove the contract, arguing the winning broker was not the low bidder and that the committee lacked answers about how technical scoring outweighed a roughly $600,000 price difference. The motion to disapprove did not prevail, and the contract was approved after further discussion about procurement scoring and the committee’s limited information.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dave Catterson, staff for the Joint Transportation Committee, and I'm the project manager for this project
• What is this whole project about?
• I am the project manager on this project.
• has impacts from delaying a project and increasing project costs.
• Well, the costs of the projects now in terms of the paving... ...into a road improvement district.

Summary: The committee first heard an update on the Joint Transportation Committee study of transportation impacts if the Lower Snake River dams were removed. WSDOT and Jacobs described the study’s phases, including current work on geology, infrastructure risk, and a total logistics cost model. They explained that the study is examining how freight now moved by barge—especially wheat, fertilizer, and wood—could shift to rail and roads, and they outlined several scenarios ranging from no-dam future conditions to new unit-train terminals, short-line rail options, and a combined “many solutions” scenario. Members asked about irrigation, impacts in Idaho and Oregon, port capacity, emissions, competition, EV trucks, and whether the model could estimate transportation effects if grain volumes decline. The presenters said the study assumes current production levels continue, does not model irrigation changes or broader farm-economics impacts, but does account for transloading costs and can estimate transportation impacts under different volume assumptions. WSU’s independent review team said the model has improved substantially but still needed refinement, especially in routing, road data, and spatial detail, and that stakeholder engagement had been strong though delayed by model development. No votes were taken. The committee then received a presentation on the alternative sidewalk funding study. Staff and consultants said the study is exploring ways local governments could sustainably fund sidewalk maintenance, repair, and new construction, using a statewide survey, interviews, national research, and case studies in eight jurisdictions. They noted sidewalks are important for pedestrian safety and connectivity, but there is no dedicated funding source in Washington, and existing grants and local revenue tools are highly competitive or limited. The consultants highlighted sidewalk fees or utility-style charges as the most promising option to study, while a parcel tax was largely set aside because of state property-tax uniformity concerns. Members asked whether the study would duplicate existing funding or add to current taxes, and how a sidewalk fee would be collected; the consultants said the goal is to expand local options, not mandate adoption, and that fees would likely be billed through utilities rather than property taxes. A preliminary draft report is due December 15, with a final report due in mid-June. Next, staff gave a brief update on the ocean-going vessels study, which is examining shore power and emissions rules for vessels at berth. The presenter explained that federal Clean Air Act rules and California waiver authority create legal limits on how far Washington can go if it wants to adopt similar standards, and that deviations from California’s approach can increase litigation risk. The report will summarize stakeholder outreach and will be presented in draft form at the next JTC meeting. Finally, county engineers from Chelan and Douglas counties began a presentation on county transportation challenges, with the association’s director emphasizing collaboration with state agencies and local partners on issues such as fish passage barriers and infrastructure needs. The county presentation was only beginning when the transcript ended, and no committee action or votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mark Fenstermaker for the Bay Area Air District.
• Since then, over 400 wildfire projects have been approved statewide, with projects...
• Since then, over 400 wildfire projects have been approved statewide, with projects being approved in
• Fuel reduction projects.
• the actual project.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And on page three, that's a map of the projects across the state: Soil and Water Conservation District
• projects, Healthy Soil projects, and Noxious Weed projects across the state.
• We'll have an even flow of planned projects and ready-to-construct projects.
• All of those are projects that are shovel ready, and so what we do essentially is move through our district
• And so those are projects that our district engineers identify as being on the frontiers of the STIP

Keywords: 996, all