Transcript Highlights:

• Barber relative to applied behavioral analysis reimbursement rates, to the Committee on Health Care Financing
• The Committee on Ways and Means, to whom was referred the Senate bill making appropriations for fiscal
• Second reading of the bill: an act making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing
• Third reading of the bill: an act making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing
• The Senate bill making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House met in joint session, suspended Joint Rule 12 for several petitions, and then took up a series of local bills reported by the Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling. Those bills included authorizing the town of Avon to appoint a town clerk, allowing the City of Revere to pay a sum to Denise Manatra, widow of school committee member Anthony Manatra, and validating the results of a special election in Hardwick. The House suspended Rule 7A, gave the bills second readings, ordered them to a third reading, and later passed House No. 972, authorizing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to supply water to the Linfield Center Water District, to be engrossed. The major substantive action was on Senate No. 2540, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill. The Committee on Ways and Means recommended passage with a full substitute amendment contained in House Document No. 4265, totaling $536,832,564. The House adopted the amendment, ordered the bill to a third reading, and then passed it to be engrossed as amended. When the Senate returned the bill with notice that it had nonconcurred in the House amendment and appointed a conference committee, the House voted to insist on its amendment and also appointed its own conference committee members: Mr. Mike Woods of Boston, Ms. Ferrante of Gloucester, and Mr. Smola of Warren. The House then adopted an order to adjourn until Wednesday at 11 a.m., with notice of a Democratic caucus at noon and roll calls at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We did have to transfer funds from fiscal year 25 to cover the shortfall in fiscal year 24, which leaves
• Okay, so that was a glance at fiscal year 25, and now planning ahead for fiscal years 26 and 27, which
• R okay so that was uh a glance at fiscal R okay so that was uh a glance at fiscal year<00:35:14.359
• <00:35:49.359> year as the fiscal year as the fiscal year 26<00:35:51.599> uh<00:35
• Grant um the appropriation for fiscal Grant um the appropriation for fiscal year<00:50:45.640>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee received an informational presentation from the Minnesota Office of Higher Education on the State Grant program and governor-recommended changes, with some discussion of North Star Promise. Staff explained that State Grant is the state’s largest financial aid program, intended to promote college access and choice for students with the highest financial need, and that it works alongside Pell Grants. They reviewed program eligibility, award calculation, and participation rules, and noted that the program serves a large share of low- and middle-income students, including many dependent students, student parents, BIPOC students, and adult learners. They also described how awards and spending are distributed across public and private institutions and how the agency projects spending using enrollment, tuition, and FAFSA data. A major focus was the current fiscal-year deficit in State Grant. Staff said the program is experiencing a shortfall driven by higher-than-expected enrollment, more students with greater financial need, and major FAFSA formula changes that increased the number of applicants with zero or negative student aid index values. They said the office has already rationed awards where allowed and imposed a FAFSA deadline for spring awards, and does not expect to fund some awards. Officials explained that if the program projects a surplus, they typically adjust the living and miscellaneous expense allowance to spend down funds; if it projects a deficit, they can increase student and family responsibility to reduce award sizes, but the program must stay within its appropriation. Senator Duckworth asked several questions about whether unused funds could be transferred between State Grant and North Star Promise, and how the two programs are treated. Staff said State Grant funds revert to the general fund at the end of the biennium, while North Star Promise uses a special revenue account, and that transfers may be possible but would need clarification under current authority. They referenced a prior legislative transfer from North Star Promise funds to cover a shortfall in the Fostering Independence Grant and said they would follow up on the exact transfer authority. No votes or formal actions were taken during the presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, So there's a fiscal note of $765,000. What is the, what is this cost for?
• And by the way, LBB says there's no fiscal impact or no significant fiscal impact, and that may also
• This fiscal note is kind of staggering.
• And so the the fiscal note with regards to placing the services on texas.gov.
• That number's approached 1000 in the most recent full fiscal year.

Bills: HB 2510, HB 3589, HB 4611, HB 4655, HB 4665, HB 4666, HB 4670, HB 4700, HB 4730, HB 4798, HB 4838, HB 5136, HB 5243, HB 5302, HB 5539

Keywords: assisted living, healthcare, licensing, criminal offense, personal assistance, group home, regulation, health and safety, inspections, resident care, criminal background checks, adoption, parental rights, registry, vital statistics, disclosure, counseling, foster care, independent living, financial literacy

Transcript Highlights:

• we have been discussing throughout the budget process, which is how do we balance compassion and fiscal
• responsibility, and how do we address the state's fiscal issues in a thoughtful and prudent manner,
• In total, there are over $35 billion in funds set aside that build fiscal resiliency for the state.
• So when we have our current fiscal year 2025-26, So when we have our current fiscal year 2025-26, next
• California is facing an unprecedented fiscal moment.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And from our survey data analysis, we concluded that in general, having some paid leave, even if it wasn't
• And from our survey data analysis, we concluded that in general, having some paid leave, even if it wasn't
• We have finishing up one fiscal year and moving into another fiscal year.
• something else, too, that comes up frequently is where we are on the market rate survey and our cost analysis

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then heard a presentation from Maddie San Juan of the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas on the report “Holding It All Together: Working Moms and Child Care in Arkansas.” She said the research found Arkansas moms are working and want to work, but child care costs, inflexible schedules, inadequate paid leave, and the mental load of caregiving are major barriers. She cited survey and focus group findings showing flexible hours were the most requested workplace support, 69% of moms identified child care costs as a barrier, and many families spend a large share of income on care. Members asked about labor force trends, what flexibility means in practice, and the cost and age structure of child care assistance programs. The presenter also noted child care affects economic development and workforce recruitment, and mentioned a Department of Commerce option that may help pay child care for people seeking training. Department of Education and Office of Early Childhood staff then gave updates on internal dashboards for enrollment, applications, and provider participation in School Readiness Assistance (SRA), saying the tools are now live for internal use and should improve transparency and data access. They said CLASS transition funding from the PDG grant would be released soon to providers who completed observations, and clarified that OEP awards based on CLASS scores are separate from OEC’s work. They also warned providers about a payment interruption during the transition to a new system: June 26 would be the last day to submit SRA payments for processing, payments would stop June 30, and billing would continue without processing from July 1 to 13, with back payments expected when the system resumes around July 14. Members raised concerns about provider cash flow, early childhood special education funding, an overpayment appeal involving a child care center, and whether CLASS data would be public; staff said the data is FOIA-able but not used by the department to set current quality or rates. The department also said it is reviewing audit requirements tied to Head Start and SRA, that Early Head Start children remained in their facilities after a closure, and that a market rate survey/cost analysis is still in procurement. Staff reported that the QRIS process will begin with a June 23 webinar and that CLASS will be part of a broader quality system still being developed with provider and parent input. They also said the local lead network was re-competed and will cover all counties starting July 1 with 23 local leads, and that the PDG partner group has been formed to provide ongoing stakeholder feedback. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes support for state financial reporting, as well as a cash flow analysis for the State Investment
• What are those key questions that you're seeking to answer, what data analysis or actuarial insights
• out, you know, the problem we've had with the permanent COLA bill is the cost to future $2 billion fiscal
• And these budget times that we're in, that fiscal note on a permanent COLA is a problem.
• When I turn to last month's regular committee, page F-35, and there's some analysis highlights, for 2026

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it includes support for the state financial reporting, as well as a cash flow analysis for the State
• What are those key questions that you're seeking to answer, what data analysis or actuarial insights
• out, you know, the problem we've had with the permanent COLA bill is the cost to future $2 billion fiscal
• And these budget times that we're in, that fiscal note on a permanent COLA is a problem.
• When I turn to last month's regular committee, page F-35, and there's some analysis highlights, for 2026

Summary: The executive committee approved the May minutes by roll call vote, then received an actuarial update from Sarah Baker of the State Actuary’s Office. Baker explained the office’s annual work, including the DRS pension actuarial evaluation, support for state financial reporting, cash flow analysis, a six-year pension contribution outlook, interim support for GIT and WAL CARES, and an upcoming actuarial evaluation of the volunteer firefighters pension plan. She also responded to questions about bills allowing members to transfer into PERS, noting that such transfers have historically increased PERS costs and that any added cost would be borne by PERS members and employers depending on bill structure and affected demographics. Kate Adams of the Attorney General’s office reported no new developments in the cases the committee is monitoring. She said the Dawson case is still in its early stages, with a judge assigned and a discovery plan due at the end of July. The committee asked for continued updates on that litigation. The committee then discussed interim work planning, focusing first on animal control officers’ eligibility for PERS and asking staff to continue researching definitions, comparable treatment in nearby states, and the cost and service-credit implications for affected employees. Members also discussed Plan 3 issues, including comparisons of Plan 2 and Plan 3 membership and data, and possible future briefing topics. The largest discussion centered on Plan 1 COLAs: members and retiree representatives debated whether to pursue a permanent COLA or an ad hoc COLA, and whether budget language should require future budget writers to consider a COLA. Retiree groups said they preferred a permanent COLA but were open to further discussion; staff was asked to continue work on possible language and policy options. The committee reviewed correspondence on four topics: Plan 1 COLA requests, a request to study LEOFF 2-style medical reimbursements for Washington State Patrol survivors, and a request to allow certain members to change survivor option elections after the federal Social Security Fairness Act. The committee agreed to bring the State Patrol medical reimbursement issue and the Social Security Fairness Act issue back for July, with staff to gather more information and provide an informational briefing. The July agenda was approved and includes the OSA annual update, the LEOFF 2 Board annual update, a PERS/TRS Plan 1 ad hoc COLA item, and the two survivor-related topics.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we don't go out and do some kind of analysis.
• This year we got about 70 requests for analysis by our CNC team.
• This year we got about 70 requests for analysis by our CNC team.
• We've got basically a projected structural budget deficit for fiscal year 28.
• We've got basically a projected structural budget deficit for fiscal year 28.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Employment Relations met on May 8, 2026, to receive updates on upcoming collective bargaining for the 2027–29 biennium. OFM’s Jenny Sheehan reviewed the state workforce, noting that most employees are represented, the workforce remains constrained by hiring limits and civil service rules, and bargaining goals include financially feasible agreements, maintaining labor relations, supporting an inclusive workplace, and addressing issues such as AI use, leave, and immigration-related workplace protections. She also outlined the bargaining calendar, the role of the June revenue forecast in determining what compensation proposals can be funded, and the need to reach tentative agreements by September 2026 for October 1 submission and legislative consideration. She described recent bargaining themes from unions, including limits on AI, expanded leave, access to union members in hybrid workplaces, and classification changes, and she summarized prior-cycle costs, including about $1.2 billion in general funds and $1.7 billion in total funds for 2025–27 awards, excluding the delayed WPEA agreements that were later funded after a return to bargaining. The committee then heard from Western Washington University and the University of Washington on higher education bargaining. Western described its locally bargained contracts, the importance of re-opener clauses tied to state budget decisions, and concerns about the instability of the state “fund split,” which shifts compensation costs between state funds and tuition revenue. Western also emphasized that student employees are increasingly central to retention and urged inclusion of student compensation in the wage base. UW similarly described its large and diverse workforce, the split between RCW 41.56 and 41.80 bargaining frameworks, and the reliance on state funding, tuition, and other revenue sources to cover compensation increases. UW highlighted the financial strain of the fund split, the lack of state funding for academic student employee compensation, and the impact of rising ASE costs on class sizes and the university’s teaching and research missions. OFM also presented on Washington Management Service bargaining, explaining that only certain WMS employees are covered, that bargaining began in 2024, and that current agreements include addenda for WMS-specific provisions. The presentation noted that WMS bargaining is still limited in scope, with only a few represented units, and that compensation bargaining generally covers band minimums and maximums rather than all salary levels. Finally, OFM reviewed interest arbitration rules for certain state employee groups, explaining that arbitration is available for some essential-service and statutorily covered employees, that arbitrators decide disputed contract language based on statutory criteria, and that awards still must be found financially feasible by OFM. Committee members asked about PFML treatment, the timing of arbitration, and the budget pressures facing bargaining, and the meeting adjourned without any votes or formal actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1951 proposes to expand the prohibition, ensuring fair competition and promoting fiscal responsibility
• For a non-union company, fiscally it does not make any sense for us to bid on a project where prices
• We did a sensitivity analysis on the loads to make sure that But if the load forecast had not come in
• And so this new Adjusted forecast that we're showing still falls into that sensitivity analysis that
• We use it for the regional transmission plan and an RPG project analysis.

Bills: HB1951, HB2715, HB3092, HB3237, HB3278, HB3511, HB3592, HB3675, HB3778, HB3782, HB3826, HB3970, HB4016, HB4049, HB4341, HB4344, HB4406, HB4427

Keywords: collective bargaining, public works, government contracts, labor agreements, state funding, removal from office, political subdivisions, local government, judicial proceedings, administrative judicial region, electric transmission, public convenience, landowner consent, utility regulation, energy infrastructure, energy consumption, higher education, governmental entities, sustainability, electricity reduction

Transcript Highlights:

• your hard work over the last couple of months in developing these recommendations for the 2025 2026 fiscal
• aggregate all of our it within the Department of Revenue, there is 76.4 million for payments to fiscally
• Expands Florida's voting of improvement program. >> This is actually describe very well in the staff analysis
• And this was a meta analysis. And this is conducted by the NIH.
• This meta analysis found that the higher levels of Florida children exposed did lead to a decrease.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again, settle up savings in fiscal year 24, and now there's settle up costs in fiscal year 26, so that
• Year 18 through Fiscal Year 27.
• Recommendations include $100 million in Fiscal Year 26 and $150 million in Fiscal Year 27 for anticipated
• Will allow us to get to that point by fiscal year 28 and we will.
• That was the level of funding in fiscal year 23.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we were able to do a full-scale analysis of both fires.
• And that is not only a finding that we had from this post-fire analysis, but also when we deployed to
• In fiscal years 2020-21 and 2021-22, Cal Fire received funding from the Wildfire and Forest Resilience
• Therefore, Cal Fire is requesting $6.1 million from the General Fund and 31 positions in fiscal year
• Overall, our aggregate benefit-cost ratio is 4.45 using FEMA's benefit-cost analysis toolkit, and so

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As on behalf of the California Association of Nursing Anesthesiology, appreciate the analysis.
• The point is there's no state fiscal cost. We received 15 aye votes in Assembly BMP.
• And so the bill analysis. This doesn't include where all that money went, right?
• I appreciate the work of the committee in getting the analysis done and having us have a chance to unveil
• Additionally, the analysis points out of to express support. Name, organization, and position.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As identified in the fiscal note, this effort would require a significant amount of work and several
• RMI conducted an analysis. We did the impact assessment.
• Don't make me tell my metro county commissioner the truth about fiscal and physical limits.
• about f fiscal and physical limits. about f fiscal and physical limits.
• <02:08:13.119> So, didn't have a fiscal note on it. So, didn't have a fiscal note on it.

Bills: HF2438

Keywords: transportation finance, transportation policy, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, Metropolitan Council, highway funding, trunk highway fund, county state-aid highway fund, municipal state-aid street fund, state aid roads, local roads, bridge funding, road construction, transit funding, passenger rail, freight rail, aviation, airport development, safe routes to school

Transcript Highlights:

• It also does not allow HUD to cap Tier 1 projects below 60% for the fiscal year 2026 funding.
• I, too, am very thankful for the report and the in-depth analysis that was done.
• We are still in the preliminary stages of our analysis of the surveys and the results we have, so more
• My understanding, because we did talk about this with them, you know, just knowing kind of the fiscal
• So if we change models, has the department started the budgeting process in regards to a fiscal note

Summary: The committee first heard an update on North Dakota’s Interagency Council on Homelessness and Continuum of Care funding. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported that homelessness remains driven by tight housing markets, low incomes, rising rents, and barriers to rental assistance, public benefits, and disability determinations. She said the state’s one-time North Dakota Homeless Grant is serving all regions but reaches far fewer households than the former Rent Help program, and that aging homelessness, shelter staffing shortages, and limited affordable units are growing concerns. Members discussed the need for more housing supply, better coordination with Health and Human Services, landlord engagement, reentry housing, and possible continued one-time funding for the $10 million Homeless Grant and $25 million Housing Incentive Fund. Henderson also warned that federal Continuum of Care funding is uncertain, with HUD expected to issue a new notice June 1 and possible shifts away from permanent supportive housing toward transitional housing and other models. The committee then took testimony on accessibility of government services for people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing. Paul Olson of North Dakota Vision Services School for the Blind described the school’s services for infants, children, and adults, including screenings, mobility training, assistive technology, and outreach across the state. He said the agency works closely with Vocational Rehabilitation and is also involved in improving website and document accessibility, especially for PDF materials. Public testimony highlighted barriers such as inaccessible CAPTCHA systems, online forms, driver’s license requirements on job applications, and limited transportation in rural areas. A deaf resident urged broader use of video remote interpreting and video relay services, along with training so people know how to use them effectively. Finally, Kay Larson presented the final report on the child care provider licensing study. The report recommended streamlining North Dakota’s child care licensing structure into three provider types plus a preschool designation, while preserving health and safety standards and maintaining eligibility for child care assistance. The committee discussed simplifying training and qualification rules, revising ratio and group-size requirements, and adjusting age bands for infants and toddlers. The report also noted that some changes would require statutory amendments and later administrative rule changes, with a transition period likely extending through 2029. No formal votes were taken in the transcript, but the committee accepted the updates and scheduled follow-up presentations for a later meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• One thing that is important to note is municipalities do not have fiscal autonomy.
• Putting fiscally constrained counties against non-fiscally constrained counties is just really not good
• We need more jail space, more parks and libraries because in 2008 we were fiscally constrained.
• Independent analysis warned Rep.
• Every year I've been here since 2020, there's a fiscal cliff that we are now approaching.

Transcript Highlights:

• And from our survey data analysis, we concluded that in general, having some paid leave, even if it wasn
• We have finishing up one fiscal year, moving into another fiscal year, but we anticipate that there will
• We have finishing up one fiscal year moving into another fiscal year, but we anticipate that there will
• something else, too, that comes up frequently is where we are on the market rate survey and our cost analysis

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1961 addresses these needs by enhancing data collection and analysis, ensuring that Texas
• There is a fiscal note we've discovered on that bill, so we're going to back up and call that bill back
• This bill has no fiscal note, as the program is already fully funded.
• feel like it's... ...prudent to still add more money to that portion of it or wait until another fiscal
• Yes, there is a fiscal note that you're referring to.

Bills: SB1998, SB646, SB2786, SB2076, SB2615, SB1961, SB1418, SB2647, SB1322, SB2788

Keywords: pediatrics, medical education, subsidiary, preceptorship, medical training, student programs, mental health, loan repayment, education funding, mental health professionals, healthcare access, Texas Success Initiative, exemption, public officers, employees, higher education, Capitol view, Austin, urban planning, construction

Transcript Highlights:

• also kind of wondering about the fiscal also kind of wondering about the fiscal impact<00:31:46.840
• fiscal fiscal impacts<00:31:54.480> to<00:31:55.240> um<00:31:55.720> the<00:31
• If there is a fiscal note, this is a public safety bill, so if there's a fiscal note, it will be addressed
• If there is a fiscal note, this is a public safety bill, so if there's a fiscal note, it will be addressed
• Committee and we just got the fiscal Committee and we just got the fiscal note<00:50:09.079>

Bills: HF7

Keywords: public safety, criminal justice, sentencing guidelines, Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, public sentencing database, felony dismissals, prosecutor reporting, bail notice, bond posting, law enforcement data, arrest data, public records, sex trafficking, human trafficking, mandatory minimum sentence, peace officer assault, police assault, fleeing police, vehicular flight, stolen motor vehicle

Transcript Highlights:

• page, the first page is cost analysis. page, the first page is cost analysis.
• financial analysis for this. financial analysis for this.
• modelers in the state did this analysis. modelers in the state did this analysis.
• They're risk analysis people.
• It's a risk analysis.

Keywords: 1189, house, all