Transcript Highlights:

• And we need to be open about it and also ensure that we give people their dignity. And so...
• We need to be open about it and also ensure that we give people their dignity.
• They always have an open-door policy to work through that language. Thank you. Great.
• They can't open their business, which I know is not your goal.
• It's not an open telephone book for everybody to just browse through trying to It's not an open telephone

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm open to suggestions of, if anybody can give me some suggestions on how to present it to them that
• This committee gives the mayor authority to transfer that money, that 10%. Is that a valid motion?
• , this committee gives the mayor authority to transfer that money, that 10%.
• ...to transfer that money, that 10%. Is that a valid motion?
• We have a second on that motion, but before you ask a specific question, can we—yeah, let me open it

Summary: The committee first approved a motion by voice vote, then received updates on delinquent private water and sewer reports. For the 2012 reports, staff said five additional 2024 reports had been received since the December meeting, bringing the total to 17 with escrow funds released and 26 still escrowed. For the 2023 delinquent reports, two more had come in, leaving five outstanding; both reports were filed without objection. The committee then focused on Act 709 repayment issues for the town of Daisy. Audit staff said Daisy had made unauthorized payments to a nonprofit and had used restricted street funds for fire-related expenses, and that the town had not yet adopted the required repayment ordinance. Mayor Lisa Cogburn said the council had not approved repayment because members disputed the amount, though she said the town had funds to pay. After discussion about the audit calculations and statutory repayment requirements, the committee adopted a motion requiring 10% repayment of the street fund under the statute and providing that failure to comply would result in withholding turnback funds. The Daisy report was then filed. The committee reviewed numerous additional audit findings from cities, counties, and water departments. Several local officials appeared and described corrective steps, including reconciliation work in Harrison and Carroll County, revenue-code corrections in Izard County, monthly bond-pending reviews in Alexander, fixed-asset documentation and receipt procedures in the town of 56, and bookkeeping/receipt improvements in Ozan and Lee County. Some matters were deferred, including several private water and sewer reports and Green Forest, while others were filed. Reports involving more serious issues were referred to the prosecuting attorney and Attorney General, including Bull Shoals, Lone Oak County, Beaver, Central City, Gravette, Ralston Water Department, Thornton Waterworks, and others. The committee also filed 19 reports with resolved findings and 53 reports with no findings, and adjourned with the next meeting set for February 12, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll open the hearing on House Bill 1280, establishing a commission to study public school open enrollment
• you using the open border tactics. you using the open border tactics.
• regarding our open enrollment program. regarding our open enrollment program.
• Um, the law is clear that a student may transfer to an open enrollment program once in a year and if
• <01:44:14.080> program transfer to an open enrollment program transfer to an open enrollment

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:40.320> made a reduction in the transfer made a reduction in the transfer made annually
• There's also a one-time transfer on line 31.
• There's also a one-time transfer on line 31.
• participate remotely in meetings governed by the open meeting laws from a location that is not open
• <01:09:52.560> for the polling place will be open for the polling place will be open for voting

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:29.400> to and um and we we're we're open to and um and we we're we're open to committee
• MOTANS for Open Government, MN. MOG.
• <00:25:57.120> their<00:25:57.399> files they open their files they open their files
• <00:51:30.920> government where minnesotans for open government where minnesotans for open
• on close enough okay Minnesotan for open on close enough okay Minnesotan for open government<01:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• e e e e e The Chair opened the hearing on Senate Bill 119, introduced by Senator Gray.
• Welcome, and we're about to open Senate Bill 127.
• We're going to open the hearing on Senate Bill 127. Thank you, Mr.
• All right, let's open the hearing on Senate Bill 126.
• All right, open the hearing on bill 255.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some, at this point, most programs that are going are set to transfer have transferred, although there
• > there transfer have transferred although there transfer have transferred although there are<
• c><00:03:35.560> the<00:03:35.720> programs transfer of transfer of all the programs transfer
• Early Learning grants were transferred Early Learning grants were transferred over<00:05:14.360>
• <00:49:12.960> of parental consent or a transfer of parental consent or a transfer of permanent

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an introductory overview of its jurisdiction and budget, with the chair emphasizing the committee’s role over a large portfolio of children, youth, and family programs and the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). House Research and House Fiscal staff explained their roles and described the 2023-24 reorganization that transferred many programs from DHS, DPS, MDH, and MDE to DCYF, along with a statute recodification and a crosswalk resource for members. Doug Berg then walked through the committee’s budget structure, explaining the difference between all-funds and general fund views, the major funding sources, and how forecasted programs and grant bases roll forward. He highlighted that the committee’s general fund base is a little over $2.1 billion for the biennium, with large federal components such as SNAP and TANF, and noted smaller accounts including child protection-related opioid funds and federal reimbursement offsets (FFP) for administrative costs. Members asked several questions about federal financial participation, TANF, and the effect of the repeal of the Diversionary Work Program (DWP). Staff explained that FFP generally applies to administrative costs for federally related programs and usually does not change much unless program activity changes, while TANF is a block grant that has been stable for years. On DWP, staff said the program was sunsetted effective March 1, 2026, and that the associated funding and administrative costs were being reworked rather than simply removed. A member also asked about federal funding fluctuations; staff said no changes were currently factored in, though SNAP or other federal policy changes could alter future numbers. Danielle Penelli then presented on economic assistance and employment supports transferred to DCYF, focusing first on MFIP, Minnesota’s state-supervised, county-administered welfare program jointly funded by state and federal dollars. She explained that MFIP provides cash and food assistance, employment and training services, and related supports, with a 60-month time limit and certain exemptions for illness, incapacity, or other barriers to employment. She also described the program’s income and asset standards, including a $10,000 asset limit with exclusions for homesteads and one vehicle per assistance unit member age 16 or older. Members asked clarifying questions about how the time limit applies and what assets count, and staff responded that the limit applies to the caregiver and does not restart with additional children. Penelli also introduced support services grants, which fund employment services for MFIP, DWP, and SNAP participants through workforce centers, counties, tribes, and community agencies, and help cover some county and tribal administrative costs. She began outlining nutrition programs under DCYF, including SNAP, the Minnesota Food Assistance Program, the Minnesota Food Shelf Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the American Indian Food Sovereignty Program. No formal votes or bill actions were taken during this meeting; it was primarily an informational staff briefing and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• <03:06:42.400> of Kirkmyer concerning the transfer of Kirkmyer concerning the transfer of
• Ascent was an open-ended, extended high school with no required credential destination.
• <04:00:06.280> of and Kirkmeier concerning transfers of and Kirkmeier concerning transfers
• transfers this amendment transfers $300,000 $300,000 $300,000 from<06:21:32.800> the<06:21:33.040
• Similar remarks to her amendment on the transfer bill where she freed these dollars up.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• would be to look at transfer would be to look at transfer opportunities<00:15:21.880> for
• Thank you very much for your time, and I am open for any questions.
• Thank you very much for your time, and I am open for any questions.
• Thank you very much for your time, and I am open for any questions.
• Thank you very much for your time, and I am open for any questions.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Bachman Hall and heard testimony on several UH-related bills. HB 542 would expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to provide unmet-need scholarships at four-year UH campuses. UH system officials, the UH Student Caucus, and a Honolulu Community College student testified in support, emphasizing college affordability, student retention, and workforce needs. Committee members asked about current program data, eligibility, transfer patterns, and cost; UH said it had data available, noted about 10% of current Hawaiʻi Promise students transfer to four-year campuses, and estimated the full expansion would cost about $12 million. UH also suggested a possible alternative of focusing on transfer opportunities from two-year to four-year campuses. The committee then heard HB 840, which concerns athletics appropriations for UH. UH Mānoa and UH Hilo supported the bill. UH officials said the funding would help cover recurring athletics operating costs, women’s sports travel and recruiting, Austin Awards, and a new nutrition fueling station, while Hilo said the money would help with travel, per diem, and conference-related costs. Members asked about the history of the athletics funding, the difference between Austin Awards and special talent waivers, NIL planning, and whether the appropriation should be restored to the base budget. UH explained that a $4 million athletics appropriation was originally made in 2018 or 2019, later removed from the base, and has been reappropriated annually since then. Finally, the committee heard HB 842, which would fund three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions at UH Mānoa’s Counseling and Student Development Center. UH supported the bill, and Academic Labor United and a high school student testified in favor, citing student stress, overwork, and the need for more counseling access. In questions, members discussed the current counselor-to-student ratio, recruitment challenges in a tight labor market, and strategies for hiring, including looking at candidates on soft-money grants who may be seeking stable employment. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So. ...is an open door for quite a bit of fraud.
• We have been holding off on opening it due to funding.
• If we do open it, it buys us a little bit of time.
• The other two, Bear 1, 2, and 4 are open.
• or Bear 3 is not open.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'll open it up to clear um act. So I'll open it up to further<01:43:59.840> discussion.
• So before I open it up to you.
• So, I'll open it up bottom line.
• opening us up to more risk. I'm sorry. opening us up to more risk. I'm sorry.
• Um, so let's open up with number one and open for discussion. No, that's fine.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met with Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre and Charitable Gaming Chief Compliance Officer Kulie Aoyo to review proposed changes in HB 2 and related amendments affecting video lottery terminals, historic horse racing, charitable gaming, and scratch tickets. McIntyre said the late-arriving amendment made revenue estimates difficult, especially because the bill would allow operators to decide when to convert from HHR to VLTs and would change the floor-space rules. He explained that the existing 70/30 floor-space split between machines and table games was negotiated to protect charity revenue, and warned that moving to a 90/10 split could reduce charity revenue, potentially by as much as $17 million, while also changing the character of the facilities. Committee members discussed whether to keep the 70/30 split, and McIntyre said he could provide updated estimates later that day, including net impacts after any offsetting gains or losses under current law. Members also asked about the governor’s proposed operator share versus the Sweeney amendment’s higher operator share. McIntyre said the governor’s 45% figure was based on his own estimate and on comparable rates in other states, and he supported it as a way to maximize revenue for the state and charities. He also described a change to high-stakes tournaments: after speaking with Rep. Sweeney, he said the amendment was clarified to apply only to those tournaments and would lower the house take from 10% to 5% to encourage participation in rare, high-buy-in events. The committee also discussed a separate proposal to raise the maximum scratch ticket price from $30 to $50; McIntyre said the change would take time to implement, would likely increase net state revenue by about $1 million in year two, and was consistent with pricing in neighboring states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut. Additional questions covered sports betting and a separate Kino-related estimate. McIntyre said March Madness is the busiest period for sports betting and that the state’s sports betting revenue has exceeded initial expectations. He also said he had estimated that removing a municipal-vote restriction for Kino could cost about $12 million total, with $2 million in the first year and $10 million thereafter. No formal votes were taken during the discussion; the chair indicated the committee would revisit the VLT amendment and other sections later, and McIntyre agreed to send updated revenue estimates to committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• work that's been done from his level throughout this year in that committee to share a few words opening
• Number two, ITAR simplification to facilitate technology transfer.
• ITAR simplification to facilitate technology transfer is a U.S. law that strictly controls the export
• , and economic coercion. ...dumping practices, forced technology transfers, and economic coercion.
• We encourage continuation and continuity as this review process opens up, and we're open to any questions

Summary: The joint hearing of the Assembly Select Committee on California-Mexico Bi-National Affairs and the Assembly Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Committee focused on the USMCA and how the agreement affects California’s economy, jobs, supply chains, and competitiveness. Opening remarks emphasized California’s heavy trade dependence on Mexico and Canada, the importance of stable trade rules, and concerns that tariffs or uncertainty could harm workers, small businesses, agriculture, logistics, manufacturing, and border communities. Members said the hearing would help inform a future legislative report or resolution on California’s priorities for the agreement’s review. Academic and policy witnesses argued that the USMCA is central to North American economic integration and California’s role in it. Testimony from UC San Diego and CETYS University described California and Mexico as co-producers rather than simple trading partners, highlighting sectors such as medical devices, aerospace, semiconductors, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. Witnesses also warned that the upcoming review could involve not just trade but security and immigration issues, and they urged a stronger, longer-term agreement with more certainty, better border efficiency, and new tools such as specialized technician visas, binational certification standards, innovation zones, and a technology fund. Go-Biz and chamber representatives said USMCA provides predictability, market access, and support for small and medium-sized businesses, while also creating compliance burdens through rules of origin, labor standards, and customs procedures. They pointed to California’s trade missions, export support programs, and state-level cooperation with Mexico and Canada as ways to help firms participate in regional supply chains. Mexican government and business representatives said the agreement is largely functioning well, that Mexico’s public consultation process received nearly 800 submissions and about 2,000 chapter-specific comments, and that many stakeholders favor maintaining or extending USMCA. No formal votes were taken; the committee heard testimony and asked witnesses for follow-up information to inform its report and future recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• You take 25's revenue, figure out the municipal revenue that should be transferred, you make the transfer
• the school building aid transfer.
• Revenue coming up with a transfer number Revenue coming up with a transfer number that<01:06:02.680><
• you make the should be transferred you make the transfer<01:06:10.359> in<01:06:10.920> 26
• of Revenue transferred from the real<04:30:59.920> estate<04:31:00.319> transfer<04:31

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in a work session on revenue estimates and reviewed updated spreadsheet pages for several tax categories, using prior agreements and new testimony to refine FY 2025-2027 estimates. Early discussion covered insurance tax estimates, where members reviewed a letter from the insurance commissioner saying he was comfortable with the numbers provided; the committee accepted those estimates without opposition. Members also discussed utility property tax, with testimony about recent infrastructure buildout, tariffs, depreciation, and the difficulty of forecasting future growth. After debate over whether to use the average of high and low estimates or lean lower, the committee unanimously adopted the utility property tax numbers. The committee then turned to real estate transfer tax and communications tax. For real estate transfer tax, members cited county input, housing market conditions, interest rates, lumber costs, and uncertainty about future policy; they agreed to use the averages and adopted those estimates unanimously. For communications tax, members noted the decline in landline-based revenue and the shift to data services. After discussion of whether to use the low estimate or the average, the committee settled on the average with a small rounding-down adjustment when the figure ended in .5, and adopted the numbers unanimously. The chair also clarified that these estimates remain subject to change until the final resolution is adopted. The committee next accepted interest and dividends estimates as presented, with members noting the decline in that revenue source and the lack of additional information beyond the department’s analysis. Finally, the committee began discussing tobacco tax revenue, with members noting long-term declines in smoking, offsetting effects from out-of-state sales, and a suggestion to take a slightly conservative approach by reducing the average by 0.5. The transcript cuts off during that discussion, so no final vote on tobacco is shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, risk transfer can greatly reduce the initial capitalization costs.
• Let's take this opportunity to open up the floor for questions and discussions.
• The more durable wildfire fund with risk transfer.
• So, you know, as you opened, you talked about your own personal experience.
• Whether it's a rigorous enough review by the PUC is the open question.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, members, we can open up our white binders here. Behind tab 3, we'll get to 356.
• Again, other transfers. Section is the monies coming from the Consumer Settlement Fund.
• Transfers again in the Consumer Settlement Fund.
• I can't get into the details now in open session, but rest assured it does include CYFD.
• Transfer.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senators and guests in the gallery, please rise for the opening prayer to be given by Senator Osgood
• of South Florida for that transfer.
• of South Florida for that transfer. of South Florida for that transfer.
• The various water quality improvement programs you talked about in your opening were $584.4 million.
• It also allows the Save Our Homes benefit to transfer, or port, to a new homestead for any homestead

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved to the conference report on House Bill 501E, the General Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026-27. Budget chairs presented the major spending areas, describing a $114.5 billion overall budget that they said was fiscally responsible and below the prior year’s spending. Highlights included pay increases and retirement adjustments for public safety employees, education funding for K-12, higher education, health and human services, criminal justice, transportation, environmental programs, and agriculture/regulatory agencies. Members then questioned chairs on several items. In education, senators discussed K-12 declining enrollment funding, teacher salary set-asides, private school scholarship spending, mental health funding, preeminence funding for universities, the Hamilton Center at UF, and charter school PICO funding. In health and human services, questions focused on the iBudget waiver waitlist, provider rates, ADAP/HIV funding and the return of Biktarvy to the formulary, KidCare, rural health funding, SNAP-related IT and error reduction efforts, and the IDD managed care program. In criminal justice, senators asked about correctional officer pay, prison staffing and infrastructure, air conditioning in prisons, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement recruitment, and court system funding. Environmental and transportation questions covered Florida Forever, water quality, state parks, water projects, housing, elections funding, and emergency management. Several specific actions and explanations were given during debate: the budget includes $8.8 million for state attorney competitive area differentials but no funding for public defender CAD requests; assistant state attorneys will start at $70,000 and assistant public defenders at $65,000; the battery disposal issue was described as a temporary study/preemption approach; and the Senate said the budget does not fund Medicaid expansion, preeminence funding, or the SunBucks Summer EBT state share. Senators also noted that some proposals discussed in committee did not make it into the final budget. The transcript ends with debate statements from members praising the budget process and Chair Hooper, while also expressing concerns about public schools, health care access, affordability, and the lack of funding for certain priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• The system is now open to vote.
• House Bill 2763, signed in open session.
• The system is now open to vote. Thank you. Thank you.
• Signed in open session. The system is closed.
• You pass House Bill 4117, signed in open session.

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, recorded attendance, welcomed former Senator Limpancrazi, and recognized page Owen Washburn and his family. The chamber then moved through messages and second-reading listings, and the Committee of the Whole considered several House bills. HB 2398, dealing with watercraft operation and peer-to-peer watercraft sharing insurance, received a floor amendment clarifying the types of insurers that may provide primary commercial boat liability coverage and was reported do pass as amended. HB 2477, relating to the Arizona Education Savings Plan, was amended to add investment guardrails, conflict-of-interest protections, an advisory team, limits on land investments, and statutory treatment of the local government investment pool, then reported do pass as amended. The Committee of the Whole also considered HB 2251 on midwifery, which was amended to transfer oversight of licensed midwives from the Department of Health Services to the Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board, add a licensed midwife to the board, separate midwife and naturopathic funds, apply investigative and disciplinary procedures, and make conforming changes; it was reported do pass as amended. HB 2991, concerning minors’ access to technology content and social media, drew extensive debate. A floor amendment revised age-signal and parental-consent procedures, changed default settings language, removed a private right of action, and made other technical changes. Senators Tise, Epstein, and others argued the bill still raised serious First Amendment and censorship concerns, while Senator Bullock defended it as a child-safety measure that did not require uploading ID. The bill was ultimately reported do pass as amended. In third reading, the Senate adopted the Committee of the Whole report, retained HB 2397 on the calendar, and voted on several bills. HB 2104, HB 2105, HB 2763, HB 2786, HB 2771, HB 2782, and HB 4117 passed; HB 2457, HB 2494, and HB 2696 failed. HB 2457 and HB 2494 drew opposition over local control and land-use concerns, while HB 2696, aimed at fuel and gas prices, drew criticism that the Commerce Authority was not the right vehicle and that the issue was driven by federal policy. HB 4117, relating to offenses against public order and religious services, passed after sharp debate over whether it would protect worship or chill protest and free speech, with opponents warning of vague language and potential political prosecutions. The Senate also voted to reconsider its prior action on HB 2311 and HB 2601, requested the House return HB 2995 for reconsideration, and adjourned until Thursday, June 11, at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• But now But now that you guys have funded it, it does open up the farm to school program for us to work
• In a situation where we have an open In a situation where we have an open campus that provides free lunches
• We transferred 600,000 from our We transferred 600,000 from our general fund to our food service program
• Even if the carton of milk wasn't opened, even if ...even if the orange just sat on the plate.
• So. >> So, you said that 140,000, I believe, was your general fund transfer. >> That is for us, yeah.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and needs to be transferred somewhere else.
• bathroom and needs to be transferred bathroom and needs to be transferred somewhere<00:05:27.680
• trying to get these folks to transfer trying to get these folks to transfer over<00:26:19.919>
• This really opens things up for them.
• If they can open it up to more people, he thinks they will see a huge increase.

Bills: HB0122, SF0004, SF0012, SF0013, SF0067, SF0070, SF0124

Keywords: healthcare, rural health, transformation program, funding, incentives, training, access, perpetuity fund, Medicaid, emergency medical services, ground ambulance, healthcare funding, reimbursement rates, military, national guard, reenlistment, extension bonus, Wyoming, Wyoming National Guard, recruitment

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's not something that's going to open the floodgates or keep districts open longer.
• the floodgates or keep districts open the floodgates or keep districts open<00:54:42.200> longer<
• A second question we had was if, after you transferred the money, if you earned interest on those transferred
• Thank you. transferred under this Authority and um transferred under this Authority and um we<01:15:30.639
• A second question we had was if, after you transferred the money, if you earned interest on those transferred

Keywords: 1187, senate, all