Transcript Highlights:

• you all have tried to address this recently is in 2024, you passed a bill that limited our long-term debt
• capital program to an increasingly cash-based system as opposed to one that's reliant entirely on debt
• So very unusually, New Mexico has often taken out debt for projects as little as 5,000 to 10,000, 10-
• year debt for vehicles.
• this was a central strategy to start To enable us over the long term to rely more on cash and reserve debt

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• We hold tuition and fees down, so students graduate without debt.
• We hold tuition and fees down, so students graduate without debt.
• A number of auxiliary accounts are used to finance debt, for example, for parking structures, parking
• revenue generated in those areas may have an excess, but if that account is used to pledge against the debt
• leverage it to help our population in the state of Florida get a quality education and graduate without debt

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to examine how Florida’s state universities are funded and to begin discussing a possible university funding model. The panel included the State University System chancellor and CFOs from FSU, UF, FAMU, FAU, UNF, and UCF. Members first reviewed major cost drivers, which the universities said are broadly similar across institutions: wages and benefits, equipment and supplies, financial aid, professional services, utilities, IT, and maintenance. Several institutions noted unique pressures from geography, growth, research intensity, and mission, such as UCF’s size and engineering focus, UF’s land-grant and research enterprise, FAMU’s need to recruit top talent while serving a high-Pell student population, and FSU’s large facilities and research obligations. The chancellor also summarized systemwide cost growth since 2012-13, including higher health insurance, retirement, and salary costs, while noting tuition had been held flat. The committee then discussed other revenue sources, including auxiliaries, restricted funds, capital projects, and component units such as foundations and health systems. University leaders explained that many of these funds are restricted to specific purposes, and some, like UF Health, account for a large share of operating expenses. Members also discussed the current performance-based funding process. University representatives generally praised it for transparency, accountability, and its focus on student success, but said the heavy use of one-time funds, nonrecurring appropriations, and unfunded mandates makes long-term planning difficult. FSU and others argued that rising employee costs, waivers, and facilities expenses are not fully covered, while FAMU said performance funding has improved outcomes but can disadvantage institutions serving more low-income students. In response to questions about improvements, the universities suggested more recurring and predictable funding, better coverage of mandated costs, more flexibility in fees, and continued investment in research and strategic priorities. The chancellor said the Board of Governors is considering a version 3.0 of performance funding that would benchmark institutions against peers and Carnegie classifications. The committee also explored whether universities should have more flexibility to set out-of-state tuition and professional school tuition. Most university leaders favored giving boards of trustees more authority, while the chancellor cautioned that increasing out-of-state enrollment or tuition too much could affect legislative support. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair thanking the panel and adjourning the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• In a day and age when the culture and the conversation is evolving around the amount of debt that a lot
• I think it's the no-debt in having a well-paid career.
• I think it's the no-debt in having a well-paid career.
• You know, you don't have to be in debt to do this.
• And then you add on top of that, you're going to graduate with no debt and you're going to have a very

Summary: The Careers and Workforce Subcommittee met to discuss apprenticeship education and workforce development, with panelists from Santa Fe College, the Florida Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association, ABC East Coast/ABC Institute, and Piper Fire Protection. Members heard that apprenticeships are growing in Florida, with panelists emphasizing that these programs offer paid, tuition-free training, progressive wage increases, and strong job placement in high-demand fields such as HVAC, electrical, fire protection, and construction. Panelists also described efforts to expand into new areas like accounting, cybersecurity, network infrastructure, and surgical technology, while stressing the importance of aligning programs with employer demand. A major topic was funding and reimbursement. Panelists said the current model is complicated and often leaves providers with only a portion of the funds appropriated for apprentices, with one provider saying reimbursement can be as low as 44% and others describing caps, contract delays, and inconsistent CareerSource support. They argued that more of the money should reach training providers, that small businesses need more support to participate, and that transparency and contract reform could help expand enrollment and improve program quality. Several also raised barriers such as instructor approval rules, paperwork, and facility costs. Members asked about admission criteria, program costs, employer incentives, outreach to high school students, and whether apprenticeships should have greater access to other funding sources. Panelists said the main requirements are being employed and willing to work and learn, and that outreach through schools, career fairs, community partnerships, and public awareness campaigns is essential. They also discussed articulation agreements that can provide college credit for apprenticeship training and suggested statewide credit recognition and possible direct funding to providers as policy improvements. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with the subcommittee adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• not, say, paid, but it means that you can do that without incurring any sort of additional cost or debt
• not, say, paid, but it means that you can do that without incurring any sort of additional cost or debt
• <00:12:07.480> as<00:12:07.760> a sort of um additional cost or debt as a sort of um
• additional cost or debt as a prospective<00:12:08.839> teacher<00:12:09.600> we've<00:
• CTE and workforce trends, uh, student debt for high-demand fields.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We carry a collective debt to these families and to the fallen that we can never fully repay.
• We carry a collective debt<00:03:25.959> to<00:03:26.080> these<00:03:26.360> families
• 03:26.880> and<00:03:27.000> to<00:03:27.120> the<00:03:27.200> fallen debt
• to these families and to the fallen debt to these families and to the fallen that<00:03:28.000> we

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a moment of silence, then reported favorable on House Bill 954, relating to approval of an amendment to the charter of the town of Stowe, and referred it to Ways and Means. Members then adopted JRS 54, a joint resolution setting weekend adjournment so the two houses would reconvene no later than Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Several announcements followed, including a Memorial Day remembrance, which was journalized, an art project in the card room, and a recognition of Harwood Union High School athletes and one individual champion. The House also heard a farewell and birthday acknowledgment for a departing member from Bennington. The calendar was then announced, with House Bill 932, Senate Bill 325, and Senate Bill 323 slated for consideration. The House suspended rules to take up House Bill 932 immediately and concurred in the Senate proposal of amendment. The bill concerns regulation of forestry under Act 250, and the Stowe member explained the amendment was a narrow technical revision developed with the Land Use Review Board and the Agency of Natural Resources. The House then suspended rules to take up Senate Bill 325, heard a 6-0 committee of conference report on regional planning and Act 250 tier jurisdiction, and adopted the report after brief questioning about noise limits. The House also suspended rules to message its action to the Senate forthwith. Senate Bill 323 was postponed to the afternoon session, and the House recessed until 1:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd rather have reduced taxes rather than adding $10 to $15 trillion in national debt over a short period
• And so I've always sort of, every time we have these conversations, I bring up debt levels.
• I've always sort of, every time we have these conversations, I bring up debt levels, keeping an eye on
• you know, they're spending with available resources, i.e. disposable income, or they're going into debt

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: At the April meeting of the Finance Advisory Committee, staff presented an updated state revenue forecast that was more cautious than January’s because of heightened economic uncertainty tied to the Iran conflict and broader national risks. The general fund’s available resources were revised down from $577 million in January to $378 million in the April forecast, with the lower estimate driven by reduced revenue projections while spending assumptions were unchanged. Staff said the outlook depends heavily on how long the Middle East conflict lasts and noted that a prolonged disruption could weaken the forecast further, while a quick resolution could improve conditions. George Hammond of the University of Arizona gave a broad economic overview, highlighting geopolitical risk, elevated oil and gasoline prices, sticky inflation, weak Arizona job growth, and uncertainty around federal policy, tariffs, immigration, and AI-related investment. He said Arizona’s recent job growth has been very weak and concentrated mainly in health services, while most other sectors lost jobs, and he attributed much of the slowdown to low hiring rather than layoffs. He also discussed population growth, noting that Arizona remains above the national average but is increasingly dependent on net migration as natural increase slows, and he warned that housing affordability remains strained even as Phoenix inflation has moderated. Panelists generally echoed the cautious outlook but pointed to some offsets. Liz St. Clair said Arizona’s near-term revenues could benefit from tourism tied to spring training and the Final Four, though higher fuel costs could dampen discretionary spending. Other panelists noted that the federal policy environment, tariffs, and immigration changes are likely to restrain growth, while productivity gains, especially from technology and AI, may help businesses maintain output. Several members also discussed housing, saying single-family permits have fallen while rental supply has improved affordability, and they raised concerns about labor-force growth, wage disparities, and the reliability of recent employment data revisions. No formal votes or actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• however, the federal government has failed to live up to our promise, not delivering on the student debt
• VA has warned about the rise of scams where predatory schools will promise quote immediate student debt
• Is it important that DOD do everything it can to deliver debt cancellation under the public service loan
• and also requiring the GAO to analyze. the challenges that service members face with student loan debt

Keywords: NDAA, military recruitment, personnel readiness, testimony, military leaders

Summary: The committee meeting focused on pressing issues related to the U.S. military's recruitment and personnel strategies, especially in light of the upcoming NDAA for fiscal year 2026. Chairperson expressed appreciation for the service of witnesses including senior military leaders from different branches, emphasizing the importance of personnel as the backbone of national defense. Discussions revealed concerns regarding the recent lowering of recruitment standards across military branches, which could potentially affect the quality of service members and long-term military readiness. Witnesses were asked to address the implications of these changes on military health and efficiency.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Department of Commerce in these matters, we've turned more than $85 million in restitution and debt
• We've included Representative Davis' House File 1809, which is the Change to the debt report date, my
• modifies the Of an annual report from Minnesota Management and Budget to the legislature regarding debt
• We also propose to amend the deadline for the uncollectible debt report, which will allow MMB staff sufficient

Bills: HF627, HF474, HF361, HF1837

Keywords: HF627, fiscal note, fiscal notes, Minnesota Legislature, state government, committee procedure, ranking minority member, minority party, standing committee, Ways and Means, Finance Committee, legislative process, budget analysis, fiscal impact, Minnesota Statutes 3.98, committee chair, legislative transparency, HF474, Hubert H. Humphrey, Henry Mower Rice

Transcript Highlights:

• Trade uncertainty may induce businesses and consumers to take on less debt, suppressing both private
• The<00:20:20.799> next<00:20:21.039> line's<00:20:21.520> debt<00:20:21.840>
• service will need to be tracked debt service will need to be tracked against<00:21:07.280> the
• <00:43:28.720> So<00:43:29.280> the<00:43:29.520> expenditure debt service.
• So the expenditure debt service. Right?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's the general education one, the community service fund, debt service...
• Line 80, you can see the debt service fund.
• 84, and 86 are subtracted out of that to get the final net debt service number.
• of levies involved in there. the uh Debt Service Levy um lines 81 82 the uh Debt Service Levy um lines
• <01:35:01.159> Service benefits or pension Debt Service benefits or pension Debt Service fund

Keywords: 1183, house

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

Transcript Highlights:

• By refinancing debt, we've saved over $100 million in the past 10 years.
• students receive financial aid and over 55% of our recent graduates complete their studies with no debt
• And of those who do have debt, it's less than a used Toyota, about $20,000.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we've issued debt and it's going to be a bullet payout years from now, we've put money aside so we're
• that comes with expense or the debt that comes with borrowing<01:10:02.040> for<01:10:02.280>
• <03:55:08.680> Service<03:55:09.520> which agencies we then have Debt Service which
• debt debt repayments<03:55:24.680> then<03:55:24.840> the<03:55:25.040> next<03
• But look, at the end of the day, we have control over what goes into debt service because you got to

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the University System of New Hampshire chancellor on the system’s budget, enrollment, finances, workforce role, and response to federal policy changes. The chancellor said the governor’s recommended budget would reduce university system funding by about $16.5 million over the biennium, or roughly 8.3%, and asked that state funding be held at the governor’s level. She described planned cost reductions already underway, including lower headcount, reduced benefits and retirement contributions, property sales, and lease reductions, and said the system expects to remove about $20 million from its cost structure in fiscal year 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on enrollment and finances. The chancellor said fall 2024 enrollment was about 23,000, with New Hampshire enrollment increasing for the first time since 2013, and noted that the system remains a major workforce pipeline, with about 3,000 graduates entering the state workforce each year. She explained that net tuition has fallen over time because of declining enrollment and increased financial aid, while research grants and contracts have grown significantly. She also walked through endowment funding, explaining that payouts are based on a 12-quarter rolling average and are intentionally smoothed to reduce volatility; members asked for follow-up information on payout comparisons, administrative salaries, headcounts, and compensation per student. Members questioned the university about the relationship between state support, tuition, endowments, and research spending. The chancellor said the system has used state capital support to leverage major investments, including the UNH Life Sciences building, Plymouth’s Hyde Hall, and the Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, and described partnerships with businesses such as Lonza and regional manufacturers. She also explained a long-running New Hampshire 529-related revenue stream that has built endowment support for scholarships, and said the system’s endowment now totals about $988 million. In response to questions about possible cuts, she said the system is considering academic program sharing, consolidation of specialties, online delivery, AI-assisted administrative efficiencies, and footprint reductions, but declined to name specific programs. The committee also discussed DEI-related issues and federal grants. The chancellor said the system is reviewing executive orders and a U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague letter, and that general counsel is working through websites, programs, and more than 1,200 federal grants to ensure compliance. She said the system spends about $3 million on what it calls DEI-related offices and services, but emphasized that these services include disability support, veteran support, Title IX, ADA, and employment-law compliance, and that the system does not have race-based programs, separate housing, or separate graduation ceremonies. She reported that the system had received stop-work orders on four federal grants totaling about $700,000 and warned that reductions in federal direct or indirect costs could affect research, jobs, and innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• It appropriates funds for the water system for bond debt service and tunnel repair.
• System for bond debt service and tunnel repair.
• But for this particular bill, there are still some pretty big concerns with the reality of restructuring

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So then I guess what I would also want to know is, what is our current federal debt?
• Speaker, gentlelady, I don't know the federal debt offhand.
• We have, in literal terms, federal debt. Because we print money. $37.6 trillion in federal debt.
• Alike, if our percentile of debt was the same as our federal debt, and if we were in such a hole on interest
• very different situation, we'd be buckling up and we'd Be looking at ways to reduce the growth of debt

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 5017 creates a debt reduction program to reduce the state's debt by retiring bonds prior to
• Members, this just pays off our debt. Question to the sponsor. Questions to the sponsor?
• Second, House Bill 5017 creates a debt reduction... Florida businesses and families.
• Second, House Bill 5017 creates a debt reduction program to continue paying off our state debt early.
• And most of your capital goes to your debt.

Summary: The House convened on the final day of session, observed a moment of silence for the Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and for Representative Rosenwald’s father, then swore in and seated new members Boyles and Hodgers. The Speaker also outlined the chamber’s end-of-session priorities, including action on the budget and related conforming bills. The House then took up H.J.R. 5019, a constitutional amendment to expand Florida’s budget stabilization fund by raising the cap, requiring annual transfers, and allowing withdrawals for critical state needs. After sponsor explanations and questions about what would qualify as a critical need and how the fund might respond to possible federal funding cuts, the House adopted an amendment that added more flexibility for suspending transfers and withdrawals. The joint resolution then passed on final passage. Members next considered HB 7031, the tax package conference report. The bill repeals the business rent tax and aviation fuel tax, delays the natural gas fuel tax, creates or extends several sales tax exemptions and holidays, and makes changes affecting property taxes, local taxes, pari-mutuel taxes, and revenue distributions. Debate focused heavily on the new permanent exemption for ammunition and hunting-related items, the elimination of recurring housing trust fund and transit-related distributions, and the shift of some funding from recurring to nonrecurring status. Supporters argued the package provides tax relief and preserves annual budget flexibility, while opponents criticized the ammunition exemption and the reductions in recurring housing and transit support. The conference report was adopted and the bill passed. The House then passed HB 5017, which creates a debt reduction program funded by a recurring transfer from general revenue to retire state bonds early, and HB 5015, the state group insurance conforming bill, which directs DMS to develop a formulary management plan and codifies the administrative health insurance assessment. Finally, the chamber began explanation and questions on the General Appropriations Act conference report for fiscal year 2025-26, described as a $115.1 billion budget that is down from the current year and includes more than $12 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs summarized major budget areas, including K-12 education, health care, transportation and economic development, agriculture and natural resources, higher education, state administration, justice, and information technology, highlighting funding for school choice, Medicaid, housing, transportation infrastructure, Everglades restoration, workforce programs, cybersecurity, and technology modernization.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, there's an extra 30 hours in there that students are absorbing, and they're absorbing that debt and
• So, there's an extra 30 hours in there that students are absorbing, and they're absorbing that debt and
• So, there's an extra 30 hours in there that students are absorbing, and they're absorbing that debt and
• So, there's an extra 30 hours in there that students are absorbing, and they're absorbing that debt and
• and that time they're exorbing that debt and that time away<00:13:02.360> from<00:13:02.680><

Bills: HF1458, HF2063, HF2164, HF1377, HF927, HF1059, HF1910, HF2232

Keywords: CPA, certified public accountant, public accounting, accountancy, licensure, license mobility, substantial equivalency, interstate practice, out-of-state accountant, NASBA, Uniform CPA Examination, board of accountancy, attest services, audit, tax preparation, financial advisory, consulting, accounting education, master's degree, bachelor's degree

Transcript Highlights:

• Students are paying out of pocket and taking on considerable debt for access to their education, all
• So as students are told to budget carefully, take on debt responsibly, and plan for the future, So as
• So you’re putting debt on students who may not even be able to get a job to pay for it.
• And I don’t know that just giving out debt to undocumented students is really a good idea.
• And the only solution you provide students is just to take on more debt.

Summary: The committee first adopted its 2025-26 rules on a 7-0 roll call, then approved three consent items—AB 88, AB 240, and AB 313—on a due-pass motion to Appropriations. The hearing then moved to AB 648, which would give community college districts the same zoning authority as the UC and CSU systems to build student and staff housing on property they own or lease. The author and supporters argued the bill would help address severe housing insecurity and homelessness among community college students, while opponents and some members raised concerns about local control, zoning exemptions, and the impact on nearby communities. AB 648 passed the committee on a 5-2 vote and was sent to the Local Government Committee. The committee next heard AB 466, which would require California Community Colleges and CSU campuses to provide organ and tissue donor registry information during student orientation, and request UC campuses to do the same. Supporters shared personal stories about transplants and donation, saying college orientation is a good opportunity to increase registrations. Some members worried about information overload during orientation and suggested campuses have flexibility in how they present the material, but the bill advanced on a unanimous 7-0 vote to Appropriations. AB 326 followed, proposing campus-by-campus external audits of the CSU every three years and public release of the audits. The author, faculty supporters, and a student argued that systemwide audits do not provide enough transparency about how money is spent at individual campuses, citing examples of financial mismanagement and fee increases. CSU opposed the bill, saying it already conducts annual consolidated external audits and that campus-level audits would add cost without added benefit. After extensive discussion about transparency, audit scope, and implementation, the bill passed 6-1 to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 335, which would create a California Black-Serving Institution Grant Program to support Black student success and broader underserved student services; supporters emphasized persistent equity gaps and low completion rates, while an opponent argued the bill needed to be carefully amended to comply with Proposition 209 and equal protection requirements. The transcript ends during that item’s discussion, before a final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• you're given a top-line dollar amount that you can work with, and all you get to do is rearrange the debt
• There are three sources of funding for facilities and bonded debt funding.
• the instructional. facilities allotment, which was created in 1997, and then the EDAs, the existing debt
• districts. qualified for that funding, and that funding that year paid for one-third of all bonded debt
• Charter of Facilities funding was first created in 2017 it was modeled after the EDA, the existing debt

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• The same policy also requires agencies to refer debt that is over 120 days past due to the Minnesota
• The same policy also requires agencies to refer debt that is over 120 days past due to the Minnesota
• It is not that they are not attempting to collect that debt or those overpayments.
• debt report and that is submitted to the debt report and that is submitted to the to<01:24:58.480>
• um issues and so uh uncollectible debt um issues and so uh Deputy<01:27:42.080> Commissioner<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met on January 9, 2025, to focus on internal controls, fraud prevention, and legislative oversight of state agencies. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall explained Minnesota’s internal control framework, based on the GAO Green Book, and described five core controls: assigning responsibility, separating duties, restricting access, maintaining policies and procedures, and keeping records. She tied each control to examples from recent audits, including DHS’s Medicaid provider debt recovery, the Minnesota State Academies’ travel reimbursement issue, privileged access at the Minnesota State Lottery, missing mileage-verification procedures at the Board of Firefighter Training and Education, and weak documentation in the Board on Aging’s senior nutrition program. Deputy Legislative Auditor Jod Mson Rodriguez then presented a new follow-up report on implementation of prior recommendations from 2022 through 2024, including special reviews. She said the office gathers agency documentation, evaluates progress, and categorizes recommendations from implemented to not applicable, while noting that some items require more work to verify and that this reflects OLA capacity rather than agency performance. Examples included the Department of Commerce, where some policy changes were verified but further work would be needed to confirm consistent investigator compliance, and the Metropolitan Council, where more data analysis would be needed to determine whether bonus payments were properly earned. She also noted that a legislature-directed recommendation to require grant manager training had not been implemented. Overall, OLA reported that state agencies had implemented or partially implemented close to 70% of its recommendations, while the legislature had implemented or partially implemented about 40% of recommendations from the last three years. Members generally praised the office’s work and discussed how agencies respond after reports are issued. Senator Westrom raised concerns about a recent media report on alleged fraud in CCAP, and Randall said OLA was aware of the issue but could not discuss details. Senator Draheim asked about post-report agency engagement, and Randall and Rodriguez said follow-up varies, with some agencies seeking private meetings and others engaging less, but that the follow-up process often prompts further discussion and improvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 19 by Meyer relating to the issue of the repayment of the debt by local governments, including the
• adoption of the ad tax rate and the use of a tax revenue that the repayment of the debt refer for the
• HB 2478 by Telerico relates to the reporting of certain information regarding medically necessary debt