Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, there are a few sources for Texas for economic development projects for general aviation and
• This bill would increase general revenue funding for the Texas Department of Transportation's Strategy
• So mainly what it's doing is if you are a general aviation airport, you would qualify for this program
• Currently, there are 14 non-hub airports and 257 general aviation airports.
• Currently, there are 14 non-hub airports and 257 general aviation airports.

Bills: HB483, HB3345, HB3643, HB3821, HB3849, HB4472, HB4523, HB4524, HB5346, HB5347, HB5376

Keywords: high-speed rail, Texas Department of Transportation, TxDOT, public-private partnership, comprehensive development agreement, CDA, Interstate 35, I-35 corridor, Dallas, Waco, Austin, San Antonio, intercity passenger rail, rail infrastructure, private entity, transportation infrastructure, rail corridor, passenger rail, infrastructure finance, vehicle registration

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:25.800> review so, in addition to this general review so, in addition to this general
• Assembly<00:36:30.880> may In addition, the General Assembly may In addition, the General
• Or is that population in general? Or is that significantly<00:47:21.080> higher?
• >> Just have a general question. What >> Just have a general question.
• <01:01:06.080> Counsel, Executive Director and General Counsel, Executive Director and General

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Basically just describing what general fund is and what it’s currently used for.
• Because I want to make sure it's clear it's general fund that we're talking about.
• No, it's adding in need for general fund between ongoing and annual. Ms. Leone?
• Leone, so in ongoing need for general fund annually...
• Yeah, annual need, general funds or general fund to backfill... Okay.

Keywords: 907, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, General. Any questions? Any discussion?
• >> General, reading the bill around line 31, it talks about reimbursing.
• Thank<00:02:47.280> you,<00:02:47.519> General.
• Thank you, General. Any questions? Thank you, General. Any questions?
• . that generally speaking be determined. that generally speaking the<00:03:17.200> way<00:03:17.280

Keywords: Vet. and Military Affairs - Room 409, 8 January, 2026; 10:30 A.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee took up Senate Bill 2018, which would create a state-funded reimbursement program to pay Tricare premiums for eligible Mississippi National Guard members. The sponsor explained the bill is intended to improve quality of life, recruiting, and retention, especially for part-time Guardsmen who lack other medical coverage. General Chris Thomas testified that the proposal is a major priority for the Guard and would help address a significant gap in insurance coverage among soldiers and airmen. Members asked how the reimbursement would work, when payments would be made, and whether the benefit would cover the full premium. Thomas said the mechanics were still being worked out, but the intent was to reimburse members fully for their monthly premium, likely through some recurring reimbursement process. He clarified the bill is aimed at traditional part-time Guard members, not full-time AGR or federal technicians who already have medical coverage. Senators also asked whether the benefit would extend to families. Thomas said the current version covers only the service member, though a family plan option exists and the committee discussed the possibility of pursuing that later if the numbers work. The sponsor noted an appropriation bill would be needed to fund the program, with a fiscal note estimated at $4.6 million if all eligible members participated, though that amount would likely be lower because some already have insurance. The committee then adopted a do-pass motion, approved the bill, and reported it out.

Transcript Highlights:

• the older generation.
• So we call that multi- or two-generation, or we're supporting both generations.
• We need that as a basic skill in general in our next generation, and even our adults need that in general
• So how do they generate profit? How do they generate profit for the images? Do people buy that?
• in general.

Summary: The committee first approved the December 16 minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their economic and public-system impacts. She explained that ACEs are population-level risk indicators, not individual diagnostic tools, and said higher ACE exposure is associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare and justice involvement, and lower workforce participation. She cautioned that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across the life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based interventions and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, trends in ACEs, and home visiting; she emphasized supportive relationships, protective factors, and the importance of positive childhood experiences. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco, along with a recorded family story from Abby, about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota. Abby described how Healthy Families North Dakota supported her family after a premature birth and NICU stay by providing weekly in-home coaching, developmental screenings, postpartum mental health check-ins, referrals, and parenting support. The presenters explained that home visiting is voluntary, relationship-based, and usually begins prenatally or shortly after birth, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, pregnancy navigators, human service zones, self-referrals, and other community partners. They said North Dakota currently has four main evidence-based models operating through 12 organizations, with Healthy Families available in all 53 counties, though only a fraction of eligible families are served. Funding was described as a patchwork of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E, Medicaid, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and other grants; members discussed whether the Legislature or agencies should expand support and how to improve outreach and sustainability. Finally, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, focusing on AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and chatbot-related risks. The report summarized federal and state law, including North Dakota’s existing computer-generated image provisions, the federal PROTECT Act, the Take It Down Act, and recent federal executive orders on AI policy. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI’s effect on critical thinking and misinformation. The committee then heard from BCI Special Agent Cassidy Halsef, who said AI is already driving a sharp rise in child exploitation cases in North Dakota, including AI-generated explicit images of real minors and school-based incidents involving mass-shared manipulated images. She said investigators are seeing more cyber tips, more difficult forensic work, and lasting harm to victims and families, and urged stronger legal penalties, specialized training, victim services, and prevention education in schools and communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:27:42.000> It It's general funds. Yeah, I don't. It It's general funds.
• funding them with the general fund. funding them with the general fund.
• less to the general fund, and it is effectively a general fund cost.
• the discretion of the general fund. the discretion of the general fund.
• funded general funded um uh general funded general funded thing.<03:04:49.840> And<03:04:50.640

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee worked through several HB 2 budget amendments, focusing first on energy-related transfers and then on judicial funding. For the energy item, members discussed moving remaining money from the renewable energy fund into the general fund for the biennium, with later-year amounts going to the general fund rather than ratepayers. They noted the proposal was based on prior House Bill 111 language, that the exact amount was still being worked out with the Department of Energy, and that some language about “incentive payments” was being removed or clarified. Amendment 1211H was moved and adopted on a 5-4 vote. The committee then considered amendment 1040 on the governor’s scholarship fund, which would eliminate the program and sweep uncommitted funds. Members supporting the program argued it helps New Hampshire students afford in-state college and should be reworked rather than repealed; opponents said the remaining balance was limited and the program should be ended. Amendment 1040 was defeated 4-5. The committee then turned to a judicial council request tied to a Franklin Pierce criminal justice clinic that had previously used ARPA funds. Supporters said the clinic cleared 323 cases in nine months, provided training for future attorneys, and could reduce more expensive assigned-counsel costs by helping the public defender system handle cases more efficiently. The amendment would add $100,000 to the judicial council line for that purpose. There was some confusion over the line item and whether the request should be attributed to the judicial branch or judicial council, which was corrected during discussion. Members also discussed a larger issue: the judicial council’s budget request appeared lower than intended because of a possible clerical error in how prior-year funding was calculated, especially after the last budget combined HB 1 and HB 2 funding. The committee compared the public defender line and assigned counsel line, noting that if public defender funding is cut, more cases would shift to assigned counsel, which is more expensive. No final vote on the judicial council amendment is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• notice the top line is our general notice the top line is our general employees<00:19:24.960>
• quickly um starting with our general quickly um starting with our general employees<00:19:51.840
• <00:24:40.840> employees changes to our general employees changes to our general employees
• <00:25:13.440> plan increase benefits for our general plan increase benefits for our general
• <00:32:32.200> plan employers uh which in the general plan employers uh which in the general

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• aside that general revenue to transfer it to the ESF.
• 10% of deposits to the General Revenue Fund in the prior biennium.
• And so tell us about what is deposited into the General Revenue Fund.
• Yeah, in general it should be close to $50 billion.
• Is that we are generating in Texas alone.

Bills: SJR4, SJR 4

Keywords: economic stabilization fund, state finance, constitutional amendment, budget management, financial security, term limits, state offices, governor, lieutenant governor, election reform, 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Most of it, over $48 billion, was in general revenue.
• Taxes are appropriated for all kinds of general purposes.
• In 2023-2024, general revenue had over $48 billion of revenue that went in.
• General revenue had over $48 billion of revenue that went into the fund.
• So in 20 years, we have doubled our general revenue collections.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax convened with a quorum present, heard an introductory presentation of committee staff, and then received a staff briefing from Azar Khan on Florida’s state tax structure and revenue outlook. The presentation covered fiscal year 2023-2024 revenues, noting more than $127 billion in total state revenue, with general revenue exceeding $48 billion and sales and use tax making up the largest share. It also compared Florida’s tax burden to other states, highlighted Florida’s low per-capita revenue ranking and strong business formation numbers, and reviewed major and minor revenue sources, tax rates, and the revenue estimating conference process. Members asked about what drives revenue growth, including population, tourism, construction, and auto sales, and about Florida’s regressivity, corporate income tax participation, and investment earnings on state balances. Khan said the state’s revenue picture remains positive and stable, but that future growth is slower than during the COVID-era spike; he also explained that some negative forecast changes were tied to legislative actions such as the insurance premium tax credit, while others reflected lower tobacco consumption and severance activity. He noted that revenue and spending forecasts are separate and that budget-side growth is driving concerns raised in other state economic projections. The committee also discussed possible tax package ideas for the upcoming session, including tax holidays and homeowner relief, but no specific proposals were acted on. The chair announced the committee would not meet the following week and that the next meeting would be in week three of February. The meeting concluded with no objections to a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• generic, so it's electric generating.
• generic, so it's electric generating.
• generic, so it's electric generating.
• generic, so it's electric generating.
• generic, so it's electric generating.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the Department of Environmental Services on proposed changes in House Bill 2 and related technical changes in House Bill 1 tied to the governor’s permitting realignment initiative. The proposal would move environmental review staff from Fish and Game and DNCR to DES to create a more centralized “one-stop shop” for applicants needing DES permits, especially for wildlife and natural heritage reviews. DES said the goal is to speed permitting, support a 60-day review clock, and improve coordination among agencies while keeping the substantive review work in place. Members asked about staffing impacts, the scope of the transferred duties, and whether the change would create redundancy or weaken the other agencies. DES said most of the affected staff work primarily on these reviews, though Fish and Game staff also handle other state and federal reviews, which is why the proposal was adjusted to keep one of the four Fish and Game positions there and move three to DES, along with two positions from DNCR. DES also described a new supervisory position in HB 2 to manage the transferred staff within its land resources bureau. Officials said the reviews would still be done by specialists, but under DES supervision, and that the agencies would continue to coordinate recommendations on species impacts and mitigation. The committee also discussed fee increases intended to offset costs, including a 50% increase in wetlands fees and a 100% increase in alteration-of-terrain fees, with the department saying the changes would cover the new positions. Members raised concerns about impacts on private homeowners, possible incentives to work without permits, and whether fines should be used more as a revenue source or for mitigation. DES said wetlands permits are roughly split between homeowner-related and commercial projects, that permit-by-notification already creates a two-tier structure for smaller projects, and that enforcement relies partly on public complaints and online permitting systems. The department also said most fines currently go to the general fund and vary widely year to year, with about $75,000 budgeted, and that the proposal would also create permit-by-notification authority for alteration-of-terrain projects between 100,000 and 150,000 square feet, mirroring language in Senate Bill 110. No vote or final committee action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it just generically wheat? Well, it absolutely is not generically wheat.
• That's a segregating generation.
• And so that funding used to be much more general fund.
• It will come out of the general fund, in essence.
• come out of general fund.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2023 for the Racing Commission. Members confirmed the bill’s existing items, including the internships program and copier replacement, and then adopted an amendment based on the worksheet that moved those items to one-time funding. The committee then passed SB 2023 as amended, with the only noted differences from the Senate version being the one-time treatment of the $20,000 internship item and the copier replacement. Next, the committee considered House Bill 2011 for the Highway Patrol. Representative Pyle explained a series of verbal amendments that shifted several one-time and ongoing expenses from the general fund to the electronic permit fee fund, including body armor, preliminary breath test devices, handgun replacement, emergency vehicle operations course resurfacing, and related items, while also removing the shooting range ventilation project because it could be completed with existing funds. The committee also added a section allowing carryover authority for federal grant dollars tied to the in-car router system. After adopting the amendments, the committee passed HB 2011 as amended. The committee then discussed Senate Bill 2014 for the Industrial Commission, focusing on a proposed amendment by Representative Fisher that would direct additional percentages of North Dakota Mill net income to wheat breeding programs at NDSU’s main experiment station and branch research centers. Members asked about current funding, the size of the proposed transfers, and how the money would be used, with Fisher arguing the funds would support breeding, disease resistance, and related research. Several members said they wanted more information on existing funding and program costs before advancing the idea, so the committee held the amendment for further review and took no final action on the bill during this discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Department of the Attorney General the Department of the Attorney General um<00:07:30.400>
• Uh, so, Ricky, you heard what the Attorney General said.
• said so is it the Attorney General said so is it the intent<00:10:30.600> for<00:10:31.320>
• We will insert an appropriation amount of $100 million out of the general fund for fiscal year 26 for
• We will insert an appropriation amount of $100 million out of the general fund for fiscal year 26 for

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• uh and to the current a generation uh and to the current a generation um<00:08:21.960> and
• they<00:10:36.720> haven't where generations, if they haven't where generations, if they
• Election Officer, the Attorney General Election Officer, the Attorney General shall<00:20:08.040
• I'm Deputy Attorney General.
• Lee, Deputy Attorney General.

Bills: SB2041

Keywords: land court, real property, legal documents, bureau of conveyances, judicial confirmation, property registration, working group, Hawaii Revised Statutes, reform, 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard SB 2041, which would repeal the Land Court, transfer its functions to the Bureau of Conveyances, and create a working group to recommend implementation. DLNR and Judiciary stood on their written testimony, while Realtors supported the bill and one testifier raised concerns about the loss of judicial authority, title disputes, adverse possession, and possible effects on Kuleana lands. Members questioned whether property could be deregistered and what the legal consequences would be, and the Bureau of Conveyances said deregistration is already available but burdensome. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, and the measure was adopted by both committees. The Judiciary Committee then heard SB 2247, which restricts certain governor-appointed, Senate-confirmed executive branch employees from participating in campaign fundraising. The State Ethics Commission and Campaign Spending Commission supported the bill as a way to curb pay-to-play concerns and the appearance of undue influence, and several advocacy and civic groups also testified in support, with one person opposing. The committee agreed to amend the bill so the restrictions apply only after confirmation and continue until the person leaves the covered position. The committee voted to pass SB 2247 with amendments. Finally, the Judiciary Committee heard SB 2143, which would make the Attorney General the interim Chief Election Officer if that office becomes vacant until the Elections Commission appoints a replacement. Supporters argued the bill would provide continuity, prevent delays in certifying election results, and protect election integrity; opponents argued it would politicize the office, create a conflict of interest, and was unnecessary because current law already provides a process for filling vacancies. Testimony was extensive and sharply divided, with many speakers on both sides. The transcript provided does not include a final vote or action on SB 2143.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:53.320> overview background and general overview background and general overview information
• little bit of uh kind of General little bit of uh kind of General overview<00:02:06.759> uh
• <00:02:29.599> um general um general um context<00:02:31.040> to<00:02:31.280> the
• <00:15:58.440> pattern enacted and the general pattern enacted and the general pattern for
• <01:43:25.480> register file 14 14 to the general register file 14 14 to the general register

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I just had a couple of general questions. So one, Very general.
• It came over with general fund total in there.
• to the general fund every single year.
• So, the, the only thing we did to the general fund is we added 65 million for maintenance.
• from the attorney general?

Transcript Highlights:

• So there's two or the general fund.
• into the account and we generated into the account and we generated revenue<00:18:55.360> of<
• That is 100% general funds.
• do report on it but it is 100% general do report on it but it is 100% general funds.<00:39:13.440
• revenues generated or deposited in the revenues generated or deposited in the fund.<01:23:24.719>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds met to review the House budget provision that would impose a 5% administrative charge on a broad list of dedicated funds, with some exemptions. Members discussed the House approach versus the Senate’s more general approach of leaving the governor discretion over which funds could be charged. The chair explained the committee was hearing from agencies about any legal, contractual, or practical reasons their funds should be exempt, and the agenda was expanded to include several departments and written submissions from others. The Department of Education testified first, identifying several funds it said should be exempt: a printing revolving fund that is funded by transfers rather than fees; teacher certification, which is self-funded by educator licensing fees and would require an immediate fee increase if charged; a vending stand set-aside tied to the federal Randolph-Sheppard program and subject to federal approval and vendor committee procedures; and a public school infrastructure/safety account, where most revenue is transferred from the education trust fund or general fund rather than generated by fees. Members questioned the department about the effect on school safety projects and whether the fee would simply reduce the number of projects completed each year. The Veterans Home asked for exemptions for three funds: a donation benefit account used for recreational activities and quality-of-life expenses for residents, a small memorial trust fund whose interest supports veteran activities, and a resident member account that holds veterans’ personal income such as Social Security and pensions. The department argued the charge would reduce donations, cut services, and effectively function like an income tax on vulnerable veterans. The Banking Department also requested exemption for its consumer credit administration license fund, saying it is used to keep exam fees low and is expressly intended by statute to reduce costs on regulated businesses; it said the 5% charge would undermine that framework and could eventually force higher fees. The Department of Justice began testimony on its dedicated funds, starting with the medical legal investigative fund, which pays for death investigations and related services under statute and without general fund support. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee mainly heard testimony and asked questions about the practical and legal effects of applying the administrative charge.

Transcript Highlights:

• In conference appropriation general bills, Ways and Means passes.
• In conference general bills, item one, state affairs, he passes.
• We give that discretion to the Attorney General. discretion to the Attorney General to make a filing
• electronic notices. holder, generate electronic notices.
• All of this is going to be automatically generated.

Keywords: MS House Floor - 1 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We are here today as we join the previous Attorney General of the United States and attorneys general
• The rates of suicide for Generation Z girls is higher than any generation in recorded history and is
• <00:02:46.879> of join the previous Attorney General of join the previous Attorney General
• the United States and attorney generals the United States and attorney generals from<00:02:49.760
• Z girls is higher than any Generation Z girls is higher than any generation<00:03:22.720> in<

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Rep. Zach Stevenson and Sen. Mann presented Minnesota legislation aimed at requiring warning labels on social media platforms, modeled on the Surgeon General’s recommendation, and adding pop-up notifications every 30 minutes to show users how long they have been on a platform. They argued that social media use is linked to serious mental health harms among youth, including anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, and said the bill is part of a broader effort to add guardrails on big tech. They also referenced related Minnesota efforts on deepfakes, child influencers, platform-use disclosures, and a separate effort to remove cell phones from classrooms. The hearing featured emotional testimony from parents Bridget Noring and Tabitha Urbansky, who described losing sons to fentanyl poisoning after drugs were arranged through Snapchat. Both said social media platforms can function as drug markets and that warning labels and other restrictions could help prevent similar tragedies. Eric Mishy of SAVE and the Kids Campaign also testified in support, saying social media is contributing to anxiety, depression, suicide, sextortion, trafficking, bullying, and drug sales, and that companies have not done enough to stop these harms. In response to a question about the pop-up feature, Stevenson said the idea is new in Minnesota but similar to “are you still watching” prompts on streaming services, intended to add friction and interrupt addictive use. He and others said no state had yet enacted similar warning-label laws, though several have proposed them, and they emphasized that regulating technology companies is difficult because of their resources and lobbying power. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, though the bill was scheduled for a House Commerce Committee hearing the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, House Bill 4138 is the General Appropriations Act, also known as the feed bill.
• It has required a general fund cash infusion every year since 2016 or 2017.
• Very generous. Mr. Chairman, is that for one person or a family? Family of four.
• Very generous, very generous. Yep. Any additional questions or comments? Mr.
• and appropriations that are specified in the General Appropriations Act.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• general fund next year is going to be $100 million in new recurring money.
• Hitting our general fund because we think the general fund next year is going to be $100 million in new
• I hope that we find a way where the quantum generates its own power.
• What's the water use generally associated with quantum computing? Mr.
• Sure, nothing beyond a general manufacturing footprint.

Bills: SB151, HB8, SB177

Keywords: corporate income tax, franchise tax, gross receipts tax, tax credit, tax deduction, controlled foreign corporation, CFC, bonus depreciation, interest expense, apportionment, unitary group, high-wage jobs tax credit, local journalism, news media, newspaper printer, physician incentive, health care workforce, affordable housing, multifamily housing, construction materials