Transcript Highlights:

• in the relationship and utilization of related parties in operational duties, excessive executive salary
• in the relationship and utilization of related parties in operational duties, excessive executive salary
• package, including base pay, bonuses, and incentives, cannot exceed 150% of the department secretary's salary
• All submitted cost allocation plans and confirmed compliance for any impacted salaries.
• those included, again, noncompetitive procurement practices for both related and non-related parties, salary

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee held its first meeting of the term and heard introductory remarks from the chair, vice chair, ranking member, and members, who broadly described their interest in child welfare, mental health, aging services, homelessness, and agency accountability. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction, including child welfare, mental health and substance abuse safety net services, domestic violence, developmental disabilities, elder services, and child support, and introduced the Department of Children and Families (DCF) as the first agency panel for the term. DCF presented an implementation update on HB 7089, a 2024 law aimed at increasing accountability and transparency for community-based care (CBC) lead agencies that deliver most child welfare services under contract. The department said the bill was prompted by forensic examinations that found problems such as noncompetitive procurement, related-party transactions, excessive executive compensation, and weak financial oversight. DCF described new contract requirements and monitoring tools covering board governance and annual training, conflict-of-interest disclosures, financial penalties for noncompliance, fidelity bond requirements, limits on direct service provision by lead agencies, related-party procurement rules, procurement thresholds, real-property approvals, compensation caps, expanded public reporting, and a new Future of Child Protection and Funding Work Group. DCF reported that some lead agencies had completed required board training, others were still on schedule, and two agencies exceeding the direct-service threshold had been referred to the Auditor General. Members asked DCF about the reasons for the bill, the impact on children, the work group’s regional representation, aging-out youth, the Embrace Families transition, board training requirements, and whether enforcement actions had been taken. DCF said the bill was intended to protect funds for children and families and improve oversight, and clarified that the Central Florida lead agency contract was awarded through competitive procurement rather than an absorption. DCF also said the board training was designed to be meaningful but not overly burdensome, with timing left partly to lead agencies as they implement the new requirements. The committee then heard from two CBC leaders, who generally supported the accountability goals of HB 7089 and said their agencies had already addressed most of the new governance and disclosure requirements. They reported that board training had been completed or was being scheduled, but both agencies said the fidelity bond requirement has been difficult or impossible to obtain in the market as written, though they were able to secure the separate performance bond. The CBC witnesses also warned that recruiting providers is increasingly difficult, especially for higher-acuity children and group-home placements, due to limited provider supply, regulatory burden, insurance costs, and rising risk. They said these pressures are contributing to budget deficits in some areas and urged lawmakers to consider the funding model, insurance and indemnification issues, and the risk of overregulation reducing provider participation.

Transcript Highlights:

• And my personal salary, you know, was lined up with being paid out of a state budget. ...salary, you
• asked for a COLA increase for civil legal aid attorneys, and I was going to get an increase in my salary
• I was told that so long as my personal salary was not affected, it was okay.
• As long as my personal salary was not affected, it was okay.
• So it was okay that my salary was increasing because it was part of a class of people, and it was not

Summary: The hearing resumed in the Legislative Ethics Board matter involving Tara Simmons after the board confirmed no ex parte communications had occurred overnight. Respondent’s counsel moved to dismiss two allegations at the close of the board staff’s case: that Simmons pressured the Administrative Office of the Courts to alter a contract in favor of her employer, and that she violated ethics rules by combining legislative support for AEJG with a personal donation to the organization. Board staff opposed the motion, arguing the evidence showed Simmons’s legislative and personal dealings were intertwined. After a recess for deliberation, the board denied the motion to dismiss, and the hearing moved into the defense case. The first defense witness was Sharon Navas, executive director of the Equity and Education Coalition (EEC). Navas testified that she met Simmons in 2018, later hired her, and took steps to separate Simmons’s legislative duties from her work for EEC. She said Simmons was never paid for lobbying or legislative acts, that her compensation came from unrestricted funds, and that the organization used written ethics-compliance language and a formal scope of work. Navas also described the proviso-funded dashboard project involving Anthony Powers and Chris Stanley, testifying that Simmons was not involved in the project’s day-to-day work, did not attend the meetings about the dispute, and was not part of the alleged contract disagreement. On cross-examination, staff focused on the contract documents, the dashboard work, and whether the scope of work matched the parties’ understanding. Tara Simmons then testified in her own defense. She described her background, legislative career, disability accommodations, and extensive efforts to seek ethics guidance from House counsel and board-related materials before taking outside employment or supporting provisos. She said she relied on prior ethics advice when separating her legislative role from outside work and when seeking provisos for AEJG and EEC. Simmons also addressed her relationship with Anthony Powers, describing it as a friendship rooted in criminal justice reform work and prior collaboration. The hearing was still in the middle of Simmons’s direct testimony when the transcript excerpt ended, with no final ruling on the merits or disposition of the allegations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so compensation plans for most people are just salary, right?
• There's a base salary, which is usually about 20% at the highest level.
• About was executive salaries.
• For PG&E, the salary, or the total compensation, was $19.8 million.
• For PG&E, the salary, or the total compensation, was $19.8 million.

Summary: The hearing focused on the SB 254 Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study and its recommendations for addressing California’s wildfire risk, utility liability, and the financing of catastrophic losses. Committee members and presenters discussed the history of the wildfire fund created after the 2018 fire crisis and PG&E bankruptcy, the role of the California Earthquake Authority as fund administrator, and the report’s three broad policy pathways: continuing mitigation investments, more equitably allocating catastrophe costs, and considering expanded state involvement in catastrophe financing. Presenters emphasized that the report was intended as a neutral, stakeholder-informed analysis rather than an advocacy document, and that the status quo is not working well for survivors, ratepayers, insurers, or utilities. CEA, CPUC, and the Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety each described their contributions and recommendations. CEA outlined options such as risk-tolerance standards for utilities, preserving safety certificate accountability, tying executive compensation more directly to safety, confidential near-miss reporting, liability reforms, and a fast-pay facility for survivors. CPUC stressed that wildfire mitigation and liability costs are a major driver of electricity affordability problems, and said the state should broaden how wildfire recovery and mitigation are funded beyond ratepayers alone. Energy Safety highlighted its wildfire mitigation plan oversight and recommended stronger safety reporting and stronger safety weighting in utility executive compensation. The modeling portion of the report estimated that a more durable wildfire fund could require about $36 billion in capitalization, with lower initial capital needs if risk transfer or liability reforms are used, but potentially higher ongoing premium or assessment costs. The report also examined state-backed insurer or backstop models, post-event funding mechanisms, and targeted community wildfire mitigation, which could reduce overall funding needs. Members raised concerns about the cost burden on ratepayers, the financial stability of utilities, the fairness of asking communities outside high-risk areas to pay, the role of local governments and home hardening, and whether broader climate-related liability or insurance reforms should be considered. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with plans for further committee hearings and stakeholder discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, I too have wrestled with the idea that judges do make, you know, fairly good salary.
• I think for some of them going on the judiciary is a big step up in salary from what they did before
• I think for for some fairly good salary.
• from what they did step up in salary from what they did before<00:43:16.000><c> if</c><00:43:16.240>
• Their salaries are really quite low, and it is important that we keep our courts strong.

Summary: The committee took up House File 3874, the Judiciary budget bill, and first moved it to the Ways and Means Committee. The bill was described as funding the judicial branch’s budget request, including courthouse and judge security measures, home safety for judges and staff, a $1 million courthouse safety grant program, and funding related to paid family and medical leave costs that the courts must absorb. A court administrator explained that some base adjustments were budget-neutral internal shifts within the court system, moving money from district courts to other courts to better meet overall needs. Members then debated several amendments. The A7 amendment, which reduced some of the requested security funding for administrators and aligned it more closely with legislative security levels while retaining flexible Supreme Court security personnel, was adopted. The A1 amendment, which would have deleted the additional operating adjustment for paid family and medical leave, failed on a 7-7 tie after debate over whether the courts should bear the employer share of that cost and whether the program itself was an unfunded mandate. The A2 amendment, also related to paid family and medical leave funding, likewise failed on a 7-7 tie after similar discussion about the judiciary’s ongoing employment costs and the branch’s inability to raise its own revenue. The committee then adopted the A4 amendment, which increased the courthouse safety grant program from $1 million to $4 million. Supporters said there was unmet demand for courthouse security grants and that the money would help with hardware such as screening equipment, while the court administrator said the branch would not spend more than it could use and that the grants would be reviewed by a committee including law enforcement and county representatives. The administrator noted the funding would be one-time money and would not cover staffing costs. The committee also discussed the judiciary’s ongoing need for funding, with members arguing both that the courts should be treated like other employers and that the judicial branch, as an independent branch of government, must be funded by the legislature. The final A5 amendment was then introduced, with staff noting it would delete a section already covered by the adopted A7 amendment and reduce an appropriation on page four, line 14.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have skin in the game because they are paying these young people salaries as they work there.
• They have skin in the game because they are paying these young people salaries as they work there.
• They have skin in the game because they are paying these young people salaries as they work there.
• They have skin in the game because they are paying these young people salaries as they work there.
• Could you elaborate on the salaries.

Committee: House Postsecondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• About 48% of the total budget is for personnel services, which consists of salaries, other compensation
• And this is the stat that I'm most proud of: Last year, the jobs LED announced had an average salary
• numbered, but it's on the page, the result, the $91,000 per year, I'm sorry, $91,000 average annual salary
• terms, we know that anytime you double, double, now, I want to be clear on that, the average state salary
• terms, we know that anytime you double, double, now, I want to be clear on that, the average state salary

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard the FY27 executive budget review for Louisiana Economic Development (LED). House Fiscal outlined a $59.4 million LED budget, with major funding from state general fund, self-generated revenue, federal funds, and a marketing dedication, and explained reductions tied largely to the removal of one-time funding and carryforwards. The Secretary highlighted recent economic development results, including major capital investment announcements, job creation, the high-impact jobs program, Louisiana Fast Sites, and efforts to support existing businesses and small business growth. Members repeatedly asked for clearer public-facing materials on the tax and economic benefits of incentives, the use of the entertainment development fund, the structure of the high-impact jobs and Fast Sites programs, and how LED competes with other states. LED also discussed its Storyteller Initiative, regional project distribution, and the role of major events and film-related incentives. The committee then reviewed Louisiana Works’ FY27 budget of $352.7 million. Staff explained that the budget is driven mainly by federal funds and statutory dedications, with changes largely attributable to the One Door to Work Act and the transfer of workforce functions and positions into the department. The Secretary noted a planned $5 million move for the Louisiana STEM Council and a small request for elevator repairs, and members discussed the unemployment insurance trust fund’s improved balance, which lowered employer tax rates and increased benefits. Questions focused on workforce shortages, coordination with LCTCS and other training partners, the new Louisiana Talent Accelerator and workforce modernization efforts, the need for marketing to attract workers back to Louisiana, and remaining gaps in funding for rehabilitation services and disability employment programs. Finally, the committee took up the Department of Conservation and Energy’s FY27 budget of $201.3 million. Staff described decreases tied to the end of the Solar for All grant, lower orphan well spending as prior balances were drawn down, and reductions in some one-time funding and interagency transfers. The Secretary said the department’s reorganization is now largely complete and emphasized a focus on eliminating duplicative functions, strengthening enforcement and permitting, and using available funds more efficiently. Members questioned the reduction in orphan well funding, the impact of the Solar for All repeal, the use of settlement dollars, and the department’s plans for AI-assisted permitting and modernization of the Sunrise database. They also discussed ongoing work on seismic activity in Red River Parish, commercial fishermen’s claims for gear damaged by energy infrastructure, and efforts to improve financial security requirements for operators so future orphan well liabilities are better covered.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, back on I guess the main amendment, this amendment adds salary supplements and teacher salary
• So the question is: why are we doing that, and wouldn't this place salary supplements and the teacher
• We talked about the salary supplements and the teacher salary increase implementation plan.
• What it'll also allow is it allow those teachers to get their salary supplements quicker.
• And what it'll also allow is it allow those teachers to get their salary supplements quicker.

Committee: Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• personnel plan staff in the years that salary increases are denied for faculty or staff.
• The highest-paid president makes $611,000 a year, and the CSU Chancellor's base salary is $795,000.
• The highest-paid president makes $611,000 a year, and the CSU Chancellor's base salary is $795,000.
• I've significantly amended this bill from what it was originally proposed in terms of salary caps.
• I have amended this bill from what it was originally proposed in terms of salary caps.

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Part of that was for the salaries, part of that was for operations. >> Okay.
• ,</c><00:14:36.959><c> part</c> Part of that was for the salaries, part Part of that was for the salaries
• </c><01:05:21.520><c> Um</c> of salaries to 44%. So a 3% increase. Um of salaries to 44%.
• So, when the salary increases, then you have to have the contribution increase accordingly.
• So, when the salary increases, then you have to have the contribution increase accordingly.

Committee: Senate Labor and Technology

Summary: The committees heard testimony on several personnel and employment bills. SB 2119 would require the state or counties to reimburse public officers and employees for approved work-related travel costs within 30 days; testifiers from the State Procurement Office, UPW, HGA, the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly, and others supported the measure, citing delayed reimbursements. SB 3131 would update state position titles by changing “private secretary” to “executive assistant” and “secretary” to “administrative assistant” where applicable, and it drew support from DEED and comments from the State Librarian. SB 3069 would permanently exempt a limited number of specialized positions in DAGS Public Works and the Comptroller’s office from civil service; DAGS, HCDA, and DEED supported it, while UPW opposed it. Committee members questioned whether the exemption should be narrower and whether the positions should be consultants or actual employees, and DAGS said the roles were narrowly tailored, highly specialized, and intended to help manage complex projects such as Aloha Stadium, the convention center, and other major redevelopment work. The committee then heard SB 3180, which would repeal the limit on temporary employment in a single position for two 89-day terms. Testimony included support from the Procurement Office, DOE, DHRD, the State Librarian in opposition, UPW written comments, HGA, the Grassroots Institute of Hawaii, and others. Discussion focused on whether the bill was needed to address abuse of repeated 89-day hires and whether it would affect recruitment and career pathways. Finally, SB 2137 would allow departments, divisions, and agencies to assume hiring and recruitment functions from DHRD under certain conditions. DHRD opposed the bill, saying existing law already allows delegation and that agency-level recruitment often lacks the expertise and staffing to do the work; UHPA supported it, and UPW submitted written support. In questioning, DHRD said it had reduced backlog and was now current on screening, while also offering programs like Operation Hire Hawaii for faster agency-led recruitment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Current law governing the sheriff's attorney's salary has remained largely unchanged for 36 years.
• When the salary range was originally established, the purchasing power of the dollar was significantly
• The bill corrects that imbalance by adjusting the salary range to the level that reflects today's economic

Committees: House Emerging Issues , House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, what we're doing with House Bill 3941 is we're modifying the salary structure for our bailiffs
• The district courts are really struggling with getting bailiffs, and this increases their salary. ...
• with getting bailiffs, and this increases their salary.

Bills: HB2650 , HB2696 , HB3177 , HB3264 , HB3298 , HB3321 , HB3322 , HB3497 , HB3499 , HB3500 , HB3742 , HB3845 , HB3941 , HB3970 , HB3980 , HB3981 , HB4421

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met and advanced a large slate of House bills, with most measures receiving unanimous or near-unanimous support and little debate. Early in the meeting, House Bill 2696 passed to exempt sensitive cybersecurity records—such as network configurations, passwords, and incident response plans—from public disclosure. House Bill 3941, which modifies the salary structure for bailiffs to help district courts recruit and retain them, also advanced. House Bill 3970, authorizing court reporters to use speech-to-text technology, was amended to add an effective date and emergency clause before passing. The committee also approved several criminal justice and court administration measures. House Bill 3264 makes domestic violence by strangulation an 85% crime. House Bill 3321 directs the cost administration implementation committee to gather county data and produce an annual report. House Bill 3497 clarifies when the state may appeal pretrial decisions to the Court of Criminal Appeals. House Bill 3499 expands special judges’ authority to include certain vehicle and personal property title matters, and House Bill 3500 passed from a committee substitute. House Bill 3845 was described as bringing Oklahoma into compliance with federal requirements tied to child support enforcement and driver’s license revocation processes. Several bills focused on district attorney recruitment and criminal procedure. House Bill 3980 creates a loan repayment assistance program for assistant district attorneys serving in high-need areas, and House Bill 3981 creates a related locality incentive program; both advanced after questions about title status and later appropriations handling. House Bill 4421, “Leo’s Law,” aimed at protecting children from fentanyl poisoning, also passed. House Bill 3742, described as a due process protection act, would require timely disclosure of charges and evidence to defendants and their counsel. The committee also advanced House Bill 3177, extending parity to Corporation Commission reporters, and House Bill 3322, which addresses how courts interpret duplicate statutory sections. No bills were rejected, and the meeting adjourned with notice that more controversial measures would be heard the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• gesture on the part of our congressional delegation to pull a few bucks out of Fish and Wildlife salaries
• ... ...delegation to pull a few bucks out of Fish and Wildlife salaries and give it to Idaho Fish and
• that we send Senate Joint Memorial 115... delegation to pull a few bucks out of fish and wildlife salaries

Committee: House Resources and Conservation

Transcript Highlights:

• multi-instructional contract and a 10-year renewable professional certificate, and streamlining teacher salary
• multi-instructional contract and a 10-year renewable professional certificate, and streamlining teacher salary
• Teacher salary supplements.

Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and introductions recognizing the YMCA’s 175th anniversary, the Senate’s doctor of the day, and visiting guests. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar after confirming there were no committee reports, executive messages, House messages, or other pending motions. The Senate passed several bills unanimously: SB 100, adopting the 2026 Florida Statutes and the 2025 session laws; SB 102, deleting statutory provisions that had already been repealed or expired; and SB 104, the general reviser’s bill, which removes obsolete language, updates cross-references, and corrects drafting errors. Senators briefly joked during debate on SB 104, but there was no substantive opposition. The Senate also passed SB 320 on administrative efficiency in public schools, which reduces district-level requirements, expands teacher apprenticeship and certification flexibility, streamlines assessment and budgeting rules, and adjusts VPK oversight and facility planning requirements. The chamber also approved SB 7010, allowing state and local deferred compensation plans to offer Roth post-tax contributions in addition to pre-tax options. In addition, SB 1720 on public school personnel compensation was withdrawn from further consideration. After passage of the day’s bills, the Senate adopted a motion to immediately certify the passed bills to the House, then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• As a state, we deserve to have all of our citizens making a salary above the federal poverty level.
• Individuals who work at the lower end of the economic ladder do not take their salaries and invest them
• As a state, we deserve to have all of our citizens making a salary above the federal poverty level.
• As a state, we deserve to have all of our citizens making a salary above the federal poverty level.
• Individuals who work at the lower end of the economic ladder do not take their salaries and invest them

Transcript Highlights:

• That benefit, when an 80-and-out retiree is about equivalent to 70 to 75% of the last salary.
• So 70 to 75% of that last salary is the first monthly benefit.
• That benefit, when an 80-and-out retiree is about equivalent to 70 to 75% of the last salary.
• So 70 and 75% of that last salary is the first monthly benefit.
• Then the COOL policy will can kick in after a number. ...percent of that last salary is the first monthly

Committees: House Pensions , House Local Government, Elections and Pensions

Transcript Highlights:

• But every year, as part of your salary, and this isn't just assessors, this affects a lot of county officials
• , you have to have 20 hours of continuing education, and otherwise you can lose $2,000 of your salary
• And with that, that is typically ...or your salary.
• it's up to their county to decide whether they want to enforce the deal of taking away the $2,000 in salary
• They go to ...way the $2,000 in salary. So everybody's pretty well. They go to conference.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Summary: The Special Committee on Property Tax Reform heard public testimony on House Bills 3253 and 3254, presented by Representatives Steinhoff and Jobe. The bills would expand assessor training and continuing education requirements, require physical inspections for large assessment increases on commercial property as well as residential property, allow greater use of technology and remote imagery in assessments, create optional electronic notices and communications for taxpayers, and move toward setting property tax levies by subclass with a small-parcel exception. The bill also included provisions to raise the per-parcel reimbursement floor for assessors, reimburse local governments for revenue losses tied to SB 190 and SB 3, provide payment options during appeals, and require counties to offer installment payment options for property taxes. The sponsors said the proposal was built from bipartisan committee discussions and statewide listening sessions, and they emphasized assessor professionalism, taxpayer flexibility, and fairness in the assessment process. Committee members asked about assessor training, the fiscal note, the parcel reimbursement formula, and how the subclass levy system would work in small jurisdictions. Witnesses from the Missouri Special Districts Association and school administrators generally supported the concepts of better assessor training, more resources, and taxpayer payment flexibility, while also warning about implementation burdens and the fiscal impact of state backfill for SB 190 and SB 3. Testimony also focused on the accuracy of ratio studies and the fairness of moving to subclass-based levies. Some members argued the current system can shift tax burdens unfairly between residential, commercial, and agricultural property owners, while others cautioned that the new structure could create winners and losers depending on local assessment practices. A representative from the State Tax Commission clarified that commissioners do receive training, corrected the parcel reimbursement discussion to note the first 20,000 parcels are treated differently under current law, and said the commission already provides assessor training. No votes were taken, and the committee adjourned after public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• The cost of their salary does not disappear when they're deployed.
• So I received my salary with the city of St.
• Louis, and I received my salary from the National Guard during that time.
• employers, when they talk to me, will use a kind of multiplier of like 1.36 to 1.5 on top of starting salary
• So, I'm pretty naive on this whole subject, but are firefighters salaried, or are they hourly, or how

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on House Bills 2940 and 3083, both aimed at expanding military leave protections for public employees who serve in the National Guard or Reserves. The sponsors said current Missouri law’s 120-hour paid military leave cap works for typical 8-to-5 employees but falls short for firefighters, police, EMS, and other shift workers, especially those on 24-hour schedules. The bills would raise the cap to 38 working days and clarify that employees returning from service keep their job, seniority, and benefits; a companion Senate bill was noted as already heard in committee. Members asked about whether the bills applied to private employers, emergency activations, and how the 38-day figure was calculated, and the sponsors explained the measure is intended mainly for routine drill and annual training, not emergency call-ups. Some members raised concerns about fiscal impact and whether the bill could create extra compensation or make military personnel less attractive to hire, while others said the change was a fair way to protect public servants from having to use personal leave for required military duty. Support testimony came from the Missouri State Council of Firefighters, whose secretary-treasurer said the bill would help recruitment and retention and better align military service with public safety careers. He described firefighters’ varied schedules and said many departments already value military experience because it translates well to stress management, discipline, and commitment. Committee members also discussed how the bill would affect firefighters, police, EMS, county employees, and other shift workers, and the sponsors emphasized that the measure is meant to help employees keep their personal leave for personal use while still meeting military obligations. After the bill hearing, the committee heard an informational presentation on Camp Hope, a Farmington-area nonprofit founded in 2007 to serve wounded veterans at no cost. The presenters described the camp’s hunting, fishing, hiking, and other outdoor programs, its volunteer and donor-based funding, and its role in helping veterans with PTSD, TBI, and other injuries through camaraderie and peer support. Members asked about the camp’s budget, veteran capacity, caregiver participation, and location, and the presenters invited the committee and public to visit the camp’s open house and help spread the word. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the issues is salary, obviously. Another is retirement, which... Good afternoon, Mr.
• One of the issues is salary, obviously. Another is retirement, which...
• One of the issues is salary, obviously.
• within FOP—at some point, you want it in your retirement account as opposed to an extra level of salary
• down—we could spend a lot of time talking on that—so quick answer: other causes, and then I want salary

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee heard several tax, retirement, and property-related measures. SB 1215, the so-called “comma bill,” was described as a technical correction to firefighters’ cancer coverage language: it reorganizes the listed cancers into a column format to avoid comma-delimitation confusion, and an amendment removed unintended police-officer language. The bill was amended and passed 6-1. SB 1180 would codify the Department of Revenue’s practice of assuming federal tax conformity for above-the-line items when preparing state tax forms; DOR said it would not have changed this year’s executive-order-driven changes, and the bill passed 7-0. SCR 1028, a referral to voters, would narrow an existing exception under Prop. 108 for agency-set fees and assessments; supporters said it would curb delegation of taxing authority, while opponents warned it could hinder public services and business operations. The resolution passed 4-3. The committee also advanced several other measures. SB 1292 clarifies that the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System’s 5% ownership cap applies only to publicly traded corporations, to avoid problems with investment funds being classified as corporations; PSPRS supported it, and it passed. SB 1294 restores county assessors’ authority to prorate property value for property destroyed in any manner, while preserving the five-year classification protection for property destroyed by verifiable accident; it passed 6-1. SB 1430, the annual tax corrections act, made minor cleanup changes and codified current practice, and passed unanimously. SB 1270 would allow CORP employers to make optional supplemental defined-contribution incentive payments of up to $5,000 to certain Tier 3 corrections employees to aid recruitment and retention; supporters called it an optional tool, while some members raised concerns about county costs and pension policy, and it passed 6-1. SB 1290 drew the most extended debate. It requires advance notice and inspection reports for property inspections by DOR and county assessors and bars repeat on-site inspections of agricultural property for three years after an inspection. Farm and ranch groups said the bill would improve transparency and reduce repeated disputes over agricultural classification, while county assessors opposed it, arguing it would add costs, create inconsistent reporting, and interfere with their duty to inspect and value property annually. The bill passed 4-2 with one member not voting, and the chair noted it would likely remain a work in progress.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill states salary increases appropriated by the Legislature are considered a financial urgency and
• provides for an expedited impasse resolution process regarding those salary dollars.
• Negotiations were stalled because MCA's president wanted to continue collecting his teaching salary while
• allows a union president to leave the classroom indefinitely while receiving a full taxpayer-funded salary
• Taxpayer dollars should not fund full salaries and benefits for officials not teaching.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, teacher salaries. He doesn't use beginning salaries.
• , the low starting salary, and we went to the opposite end, the high.
• </c><00:34:14.720><c> No</c> salaries. He doesn't use beginning. No salaries.
• ><c> the</c><00:35:43.119><c> low</c> took the starting salary, the low took the starting salary, the
• </c> those starting salaries, $42,560. those starting salaries, $42,560.

Committee: House Education Funding