Transcript Highlights:

• We're excited for this upcoming budget season.
• care silo of the budget.
• items in that budget for the Department of Health.
• But it's something that I know that during budget, we're budgeting and as we're cutting, we're going
• That alone is a $385 million increase in our budget than what the governor's budget will look like just

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard a presentation on the governor’s proposed fiscal year 2026-27 budget for the health and human services silo, which totals $48.5 billion. Agency leaders outlined major requests for AHCA, APD, DCF, DOEA, DOH, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, including behavioral health redesign, Medicaid rate changes, developmental disability services, child welfare and opioid programs, senior services, cancer research, public health initiatives, and veterans’ facility and technology needs. The committee also received an overview of the overall state budget, which was described as $117.4 billion, up 1.1% from the current year. AHCA’s presentation focused on $71.6 million for a Medicaid behavioral health redesign, including funding for residential treatment, a serious mental illness waiver, and higher inpatient psychiatric rates for youth, plus $7.1 million to raise private duty nursing reimbursement in fee-for-service Medicaid, $2.5 million for the background screening clearinghouse, and $124.4 million for the Health Care Connection System (FX). APD requested funding to continue moving people off the pre-enrollment list and to support developmental disability centers, a new forensic facility, an electronic health record system, and higher operating costs. DCF highlighted $81.9 million for eligibility and system integrity, $187.5 million for opioid prevention and treatment, $35.5 million for community-based care lead agencies, and $72.7 million to expand behavioral health bed capacity, including 474 new beds at state hospitals. DOEA sought additional funding for Alzheimer’s services, home care, and community care for the elderly. DOH emphasized $278 million for cancer research and innovation, $5 million for food and product safety testing, $5 million for the Florida FIRST blood-on-ambulance initiative, and $5.7 million for a public lab feasibility study. Veterans Affairs requested funds for facility improvements, cybersecurity, and medication management equipment. Members asked detailed questions about several items, especially the proposed changes to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), which would reduce eligibility and the number of people served. Senators and public witnesses criticized the lack of transparency and urged the department to pause the changes and work with stakeholders; the Surgeon General said the issue was driven by funding constraints and federal changes, not a legal barrier, and that the agency was exploring alternatives. Questions also addressed the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, the Kids Care/CHIP expansion implementation, the cancer research funding structure, and the timeline and cost of the FX system. Public testimony focused heavily on ADAP, with speakers warning that thousands could lose medication access and calling for community involvement and a review of the program’s finances. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions, with no votes taken on the budget items during this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• OPERATED WITH A $2.2 BILLION BUDGET AND OVERSAW MORE THAN 15,000 CONTRACT PROTECTIVE SERVICES OFFICERS
• I heard from State legislators, how am I going to fill the hole in my State budget caused by cuts to
• I HEARD FROM STATE LEGISLATORS, HOW AM I GOING TO FILL THE HOLE IN MY STATE BUDGET CAUSED BY CUTS TO
• fewer people will end up getting health insurance—up to 17 million, according to the Congressional Budget
• UP TO 17 MILLION ACCORDING TO THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, September 8, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• First one is, are either of these funds subject to the 5% sweep that the House put in its budget for
• And with that Oil Pollution Control Fund, we budget in there the ability to respond to the first three
• oil pollution control fund, we we budget oil pollution control fund, we we budget in<01:10:39.280
• Are they just going to shove it in a drawer, or are they going to have to create some, you know, database
• I just, it's some, you know, database?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But if we found that we can't calculate a number because there's no federal or national database that
• There's no federal or national database that tells you that, you know, Eric Murphy was in over here and

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee discussed a draft amendment to consolidate two proposed studies into one Legislative Management study on sentencing, corrections, and parole oversight. Representative O’Brien explained that the revised language would cover the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s inmate classification, housing, placement authority, and transitional services, including work or educational release, while avoiding confusion over separate study proposals. Members also discussed whether issues such as earning good time, meritorious time, parole eligibility, and release decisions would be included; the chair and members concluded those topics would be covered under the parole board and related study language. Several members raised concerns about recidivism data, including the difficulty of counting people who are incarcerated in other states or in the federal system after release from North Dakota custody. Representative Murphy noted that DOCR appears to be using the best available national-study-based method, but that the data limitations remain a problem. The chair and others said the study should focus on what can be measured and that interagency communication is important, while Representative Burke noted that incorporating federal data would be difficult because comparable state-level data would be lacking. The committee then moved and approved the amended study language, with a technical correction changing “early release” to “placement authority.” The motion passed 8-0. The committee later took up further amendments to engrossed Senate Bill 2015, approved those amendments 8-0, and then passed engrossed Senate Bill 2015 as amended on an 8-0 roll call. Members briefly discussed a minimum security facility planning number, confirming the pad/landing number at 20, and the chair said the bill would be sent to Legislative Council for final drafting and could be ready as soon as the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• . than voting for or against a budget.
• And how do can I set a budget for that?
• , valuations, budgets, valuations, budgets, you<03:07:34.880> know,<03:07:35.439> full<
• example when we do our operating budget example when we do our operating budget we<03:11:41.760>
• In my town, Bradford, our total budget is four million.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• U.S. persons through a U.S. person identifier known to be a U.S. person identifier, to search the databases
• I certainly agree that it does raise issues that the, you know, if you search a database, a substantially
• large database.

Keywords: John Eisenberg, assistant attorney general, national security, China Initiative, Department of Justice, judicial authority, executive actions, nomination hearing

Summary: The committee meeting primarily involved discussions around key nominations and pressing legal issues pertaining to the Department of Justice. Notable discussions included the nomination of John Eisenberg for assistant attorney general for national security, where concerns over the revival of the China Initiative were raised. Senators expressed significant apprehensions regarding previous actions taken under this initiative and its implications for national security. Additionally, there were critiques of the broader implications of executive actions that challenge judicial authority, aligning with ongoing dialogues about the integrity of the judiciary and executive oversight.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm one of 2 Article 4 budget analysts with the Legislative Budget Board, and today I'll be providing
• I'm with the Legislative Budget board. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• All right, Natasha Thomas, Legislative Budget Board.
• Oops, right, Natasha Thomas, Legislative Budget Board.
• My county budgets are very small.

Transcript Highlights:

• Why we picked SIPA was last year when we didn't have a supplemental budget.
• We didn't spend any supplemental budget.
• of the water and comprehensive database of the water and wastewater<00:14:44.720> infrastructure<
• That is not what we're basing our budget for general fund usage on. >> Mr.
• for general fund usage basing our budget for general fund usage on.

Bills: SF0069, SF0070, SF0016, HB0078, HJ0002, HB0085, HB0086

Keywords: wastewater, stormwater, infrastructure, environmental quality, public data, data collection, funding, study, water development, irrigation, public works, agricultural supply, municipal water, grazing lands, subleasing, non-owned livestock, state lands, rental fees, agricultural policy, land management

Transcript Highlights:

• The local government budget season starts in June and usually you see the initial budget end of July
• So what the intent here is, if a budget is before, if the council's discussing a budget.
• , that the budget that they were talking about at that particular . . . meeting wasn't the budget that
• Well, I mean, if you're at a, you know, you have a budget that's not even there, you know, your budget
• . and things evolve, right, in the budget process. workshop the latest and greatest of that budget should

Bills: HB150, HB869, HB876, HB 1043, HB1494, HB1522, HB150

Keywords: cybersecurity, state command, information resources, data protection, incident response, information technology, classification officer, job descriptions, state positions, competency-based, information sharing, government efficiency, public sector, private sector, distributed ledger, title registry, real estate, property liens, pilot program, healthcare

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm not going to see it in your budget I'm not going to see it in your budget when<00:13:22.800>
• you're going to save that in the budget you're going to save that in the budget that<00:16:39.000
• I think as we prepare the '26-'27 budget, we now have the experience and understanding to budget that
• because that happened after we budgeted because that happened after we budgeted for<00:24:17.559
• with the office of legislative budget with the office of legislative budget assistant<00:43:00.960

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Fiscal Committee met on February 21 and first approved the January 30 minutes and the consent calendar, with item 2540 removed by the Department of Education and item 25057 set aside for discussion. The committee then took up FIS 25057, a Department of Transportation request tied to a federal grant for building information modeling and related data standardization across DOT systems. Transportation officials explained that the $2.405 million consultant-heavy request would connect surveying, design, construction, and asset management systems, improve efficiency and long-term asset tracking, and help the department catch up with other states. Several senators questioned the lack of immediate, quantifiable budget savings and the reliance on consultants, but the item was ultimately adopted. The committee next approved FIS 25054 for the Department of Health and Human Services after questioning a $16 million shortfall in the Children’s Health Insurance Program. DHHS explained the variance as a budgeting and accounting issue tied to separating CHIP from Medicaid managed care, pandemic-era continuous enrollment, and the new federal requirement for 12 months of continuous coverage for children. Members also approved a Cannon Mountain fee item, where park officials described a proposed price freeze for early-bird passes, a new in-season tier, and modest increases in off-season pricing, while noting operating cost pressures, strong snow conditions, and favorable customer value ratings. That item was adopted unanimously. The committee also approved the Department of Corrections item after discussion of staffing, retirement eligibility, overtime, and recidivism. Commissioner Helen Hanks said retirement-eligible staff had declined slightly, recruitment was improving, overtime hours were down, one housing floor had been closed because of lower population, and the department had reduced reincarceration by 8% over seven years, which she said produced substantial savings. The item was adopted. During informational items, the committee heard a Legislative Budget Assistant performance audit of the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights. The audit found the commission inefficient and ineffective in processing complaints, with average case closure taking 840 days, significant backlogs dating back decades, expired administrative rules, weak management controls, disorganized and outdated procedures, unreliable data, and unresolved prior audit findings. The audit included 25 recommendations, two of which may require legislative action. Commission staff said they appreciated the recommendations and expected the additional resources from the prior budget cycle to help address the backlog and improve transparency and efficiency.

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we will cover the bianial budget.
• And I know, um, the budget director, they'll only allow us to budget up to um 150,000 even though we
• And I know, um, the budget director, they'll only allow us to budget up to um 150,000 even though we
• something, uh is the budgeted census. something, uh is the budgeted census.
• > census<01:44:52.560> was Now remember that budgeted census was Now remember that budgeted

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:14 Staff Report on the Firefighter Commission Minimum Training Standards and Administrative Spending- 00:02:02 Response from the Kentucky Fire Commission-00:32:06 Judge Testimony on Child Removal-00:42:47 Update on Child Removal and Reunification-01:11:19 Staffing at Kentucky Veteran Centers-01:40:15 Adjournment-02:05:55, 958, all

Summary: The Legislative Oversight and Investigation Committee met without a quorum, so no votes were taken. Staff presented a study of the Kentucky Fire Commission focused on firefighter minimum training standards and administrative spending. The presentation explained that Kentucky’s training standards are built from NFPA guidelines, that the commission currently requires 115 hours for volunteer firefighters and 300 hours for paid firefighters, and that those reduced hours were adopted by removing electives and other non-NFPA content. Staff also said the commission’s IFSAC certification testing for firefighter 1 and firefighter 2 aligns with NFPA standards, but the commission cannot require local departments to train or certify firefighters. Staff recommended that the commission formally promulgate regulations establishing the reduced training hours and work with KCTCS to better separate administrative costs for certain programs so compliance with the statute can be demonstrated. The finance portion of the report said the commission is funded by general fund appropriations for State Fire Rescue Training and by an insurance premium surcharge that supports the Firefighter Foundation Program Fund. Staff reported that the commission stayed within the 5% administrative cap tied to the overall surcharge allotment, but could not confirm compliance with a separate 5% cap for specific programs because KCTCS accounting does not break out those costs in enough detail. Staff suggested the General Assembly may want to clarify what counts as administrative cost in statute. Members asked about investment returns, local fire department funding, and whether training documentation is required; staff said some of those topics were outside the study scope and that IFSAC testing relies on chief certification that a candidate is ready to test. Representatives from the Fire Commission then responded, saying they agreed with the report’s recommendations and would work to clarify the 5% issue with legislators and KCTCS. They explained that the reduction in training hours was intended to remove electives, better align with NFPA standards, and address the difficulty volunteer departments have in getting members to complete lengthy training. Commission officials said training is documented through rosters and annual compliance reviews, and that IFSAC-certified firefighter testing is based on demonstrated skills rather than a required number of training hours. They also said the difficulty in tracking the second 5% cap stems from the way KCTCS’s PeopleSoft system records reimbursements as single transactions, making it hard to isolate administrative costs by program.

Transcript Highlights:

• label for products such as a concrete producer that sends their mix and required... information to a database
• We have a contingency rider in the budget for $2.5 million in GR to start this program.
• We're expecting a long budget discussion, as we normally do.
• hearing, we'll be looking at scheduling, knowing that if there is a gap in our schedule because of the budget

Bills: HB573, HB1499, HB1768, HB3071, HB3249, HB3866, HB4112

Keywords: environmental enforcement, legislative oversight, inspection, concrete plants, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, environmental product declaration, grant program, ready-mixed concrete, manufacturers, sustainability, concrete plant, concrete batch plant, wet batching, dry batching, central mixing, standard permit, TCEQ, environmental regulation, air quality, construction permit

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, I see that the budget request is a significant increase in that area.
• Six new programs I do want to mention that our budget is kind of unique.
• The thing to consider too is that in funding, our budget is small.
• And just talk about the institutions' budget. It's a tough year for them.
• Here is the budget for the institutions. I do want to highlight...

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I know in my heart that was the last fifteen dollars she had in her budget at a state convention,
• Those primaries help build the databases for the Republican and Democratic parties, and of course there's

Bills: HB2139, HB2253, HB3632, HB4171, HB4309, HB4508, SB760, SB1470

Keywords: voting access, polling place, disability, caretaker provisions, ballot delivery, election code, HB 2253, Texas Election Code, bond election, bond issuance, local government, election cancellation, disaster declaration, natural disaster, emergency election, county election officer, polling place notice, open meeting, election workers, voter safety

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, I think we all know how difficult the budget is this year, and this is really an opportunity
• dual-status youth, I was told by the courts that my DNA would be collected and stored in a statewide database

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard and advanced a series of foster care, benefits, housing, and poverty-related bills. AB 373 would require appointed counsel for nonminor dependents in dependency proceedings to represent the young adult’s expressed wishes rather than substitute counsel’s judgment; supporters said it would respect autonomy for foster youth ages 18 to 21, and the bill passed 4-0, later updated to 6-0 and then 7-0 as absent members were added. AB 42 would exempt merit-based scholarships, grants, loans, and fellowships from income calculations for CalWORKs and CalFresh and align the two programs’ exclusions; student and anti-poverty advocates said it would prevent students from losing benefits when they pursue education, and it passed 6-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 534 would encourage transitional housing providers serving foster youth to move from leasing to owning properties by extending contract terms and improving access to financing; witnesses said ownership would improve stability and reduce landlord barriers, and it passed 4-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 562 would require counties below the state average for family placements to use a family-finding checklist and best-practice support; supporters emphasized family-first placements for foster youth, and it passed 6-0, later updated to 7-0. AB 661 would direct the Department of Social Services to develop an implementation plan for a permanent statewide guaranteed basic income program; supporters described positive results from pilot programs and the bill passed 5-2, later updated to 7-0. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• The revenue budgeted for January has been revised from 375,000,000, which was just our estimate of the
• And then finally, line two is the SSTB notes revenue budgeted and others.
• This is the one that was in the budget for July, so this has been revised from 375.5 million to 537.4
• Inadequate support would lead to delays, miscommunication, or budget overruns.
• that consistently nationally across thousands and thousands of projects that they have in their databases

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not a an open database. It's just one that would be to the district attorneys. Thank you.
• And tell me about the expungement process from the OSBI database.

Bills: SB137, SB1216, SB1226, SB1238, SB1255, SB1256, SB1258, SB1325, SB1460, SB1543, SB1730, SB1733, SB1921

Keywords: electronic monitoring, Department of Corrections, criminal justice, rehabilitation, public safety, SB 1216, drug court, drug courts, Oklahoma drug court, eligibility, substance abuse treatment, addiction, diversion program, criminal justice reform, probation violation, revocation, intermediate revocation facility, plea agreement, speedy trial waiver, preliminary hearing waiver

Transcript Highlights:

• The second issue we noted in the audit was an extended budget.
• accountability, and have budget predictability.
• You can't, a family can't run their family budget this way. They wouldn't survive.
• You can't tell me within $100 million how big this budget is. Wow. Wow.
• Our bill will lower that management fee to make more money available to budget for scholarships.

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met for its first meeting of the 2025 session to hear the Auditor General’s operational audit on 2024-25 school funding accountability challenges, focused largely on the Family Empowerment Scholarship and its interaction with the FEFP. Deputy Auditor General Matthew Tracy described rapid growth in scholarship enrollment, timing mismatches between scholarship payments and public-school funding calculations, delayed membership survey processing, weak cross-check and recoupment procedures, inconsistent handling of parent survey responses, and limited documentation for withholding and returning funds. The audit said these issues contributed to funding inequities, duplicate-payment risks, and an unexpected draw on state education funds, and it recommended separating scholarship funding from the FEFP, aligning application windows with budget timing, strengthening controls and staffing, and creating clearer, documented recoupment and balance-limit processes. Committee members questioned whether current law gives the department and scholarship funding organizations enough authority and whether the system is effectively a pay-and-chase model. Several senators expressed concern about the lack of timely reconciliation, the size of the funds involved, and the absence of clear records showing how money was recovered or withheld. Adam Emerson, executive director of the Office of School Choice, said the department is working more closely with school districts and scholarship funding organizations, including pausing payments when districts identify students still enrolled in public schools, and said the office wants to improve the process. President Gates then previewed legislation he said would address the audit’s findings by funding Family Empowerment Scholarships as a separate FEFP categorical, expanding the Education Stabilization Fund, setting clearer application and acceptance deadlines, moving to monthly payments with eligibility verification before each payment, assigning student IDs for scholarship assistance, lowering SFO management fees, requiring annual audits, and requiring prompt return of audit-related funds. Public comment included a private-school attorney describing losses from unpaid scholarship amounts. Members generally supported the need for reform, with several senators saying the program should be preserved but better structured and more accountable. The committee adjourned after the discussion, with no vote taken on the legislation.

Transcript Highlights:

• for lunch a couple months ago, and I know that we are eager to work with you and pass a bipartisan budget
• for lunch a couple months ago, and I know that we are eager to work with you and pass a bipartisan budget
• for lunch a couple months ago, and I know that we are eager to work with you and pass a bipartisan budget
• We're going to do a deep dive on the budget that flows through the Office of Higher Education, so with
• going to do a a deep dive on the budget going to do a a deep dive on the budget that<00:07:24.800

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• >> HEALTHCARE BUDGET SUBCOMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
• FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 BUDGET LAST WEEK APPROPRIATIONS PROJECTS AND BUDGET IN PROVISO.
• THE NEXT STEP OF THE BUDGET PROJECT APPROPRIATIONS PROJECTS AND BUDGET IN PROVISO.
• THERE WAS NO OPERATING BUDGET BACK IN AUGUST OF 2030.
• THE INITIAL BOARD MEETING THERE WAS NO BUDGET APPROVED NO DEVELOPMENT OF THE BUDGET THE BUDGET CYCLE