Transcript Highlights:

• And I think there's been some confusion from people who saw the summary about that you identified rounding
• And that isn't a rounding error to thousands of dollars, or is it?
• So yes, we identified these small rounding errors in some of the inputs.
• And as we all know, when you do a simple math problem, whether you round after the first step of the
• We have a WAC that says that we will round to the three digits after the decimal point.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The committee heard a State Auditor’s Office performance audit on OSPI’s school apportionment system, which distributes K-12 funding to districts. Auditors said the system and its underlying 2008-era infrastructure are outdated, unstable, inefficient, and at high risk of errors or failure. They also found weak controls over data input, documentation, oversight, and monitoring, with heavy reliance on a small number of staff and vendor knowledge. In limited testing of three districts, the system calculated 2023–24 funding correctly, but auditors identified small discrepancies between state budget inputs and underlying statutory language and said broader system risks remain unresolved. JLARC members asked about the scope of the district testing, whether smaller districts face greater risk, the meaning of the funding discrepancies, and whether the system could support a future change to a simpler per-student funding formula. Auditors said the discrepancies were small but could compound into millions statewide, and that the audit did not evaluate broader policy questions or alternative system owners. They recommended OSPI modernize or replace the system and address current control weaknesses while the new platform is developed. OSPI officials largely agreed that the current platform needs replacement and said a feasibility study completed in 2024 found the system at catastrophic risk of failure. They clarified that the Legislature had approved up to $16 million in the state IT pool for the project, but that funding is released through gated oversight and not all of it had yet been appropriated for the current biennium. OSPI disputed the auditor’s characterization of some rounding and budget-law issues, saying the calculations were consistent with agency rules and legislative inputs, and explained that some manual workarounds are used to handle newer statutory requirements. One member of the public testified in support of modernizing the system and strengthening controls. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Expanding to year-round use brings year-round economic ability to businesses along the way.
• Expanding to year-round use brings year-round economic ability to businesses along the way.
• Expanding to year-round use brings year-round economic ability to businesses along the way.
• Expanding to year-round use brings year-round economic ability to businesses along the way.
• Year-round use brings year-round economic ability to businesses along the way.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So SB 1005 gives local government the authority to determine whether to adopt a system for rounding to
• The authority to determine whether to adopt a system for rounding to the nearest five cents, and it'll
• And the law is pretty clear that we don't get to make a rounding up or down when they need to make proper
• to pay in person in cash, if the penny is no longer available, the treasurer has the discretion to round
• But they just want very clear legal footing that they can round in the absence of the penny and in the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Local Government Committee met with an author present and began hearing bills before a quorum was established, emphasizing rules for orderly testimony and public comment. The committee first heard SB 1005, which would authorize local governments to adopt rounding to the nearest five cents for cash transactions if pennies are unavailable, in response to a federal penny phase-out. The author and supporters from county treasurers, cities, special districts, counties, and the League of California Cities argued the bill would provide legal clarity and reduce costs; there was no opposition. The committee then heard SB 1036, which would require local jurisdictions to credit prior site uses under the Mitigation Fee Act when redevelopment or adaptive reuse projects occur on sites with similar previous uses. The author and supporters from Spur, the California Association of Realtors, AARP, the California Building Industry Association, and others said the bill would prevent duplicative fees and better align charges with new project impacts; no opposition was presented. The committee also took up a consent calendar including SB 935, SB 1080, SB 1126, SB 1440, SB 1441, SB 1442, and SJR 11, all of which were approved. SB 1005 and SB 1036 were each moved out of committee, and the consent items were also approved, with the roll repeatedly left open for additional members to add on. The hearing concluded after the measures were reported out with unanimous or near-unanimous support as recorded during the add-on votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the first round of questioning, each senator will have an initial seven-minute round of questions.
• After the first round, we'll do a second three-minute round of questions. Questions.
• Seven minutes for the first round. Is that right?
• Seven minutes, and three minutes for the second round. Mr.
• You get a second round. Before I call on Senator Lee, I...

Transcript Highlights:

• want to rephrase your motion to round want to rephrase your motion to round down<00:45:32.079> on<
• um maybe a little bit better just round um maybe a little bit better just round that<01:33:39.239
• We're rounding to 100,000-point something, so when we're looking at a billion, we should be rounding
• rounding rounding to to to 100,000<01:35:02.920> point<01:35:04.280> something<01:35:05.280
• 106 was one one Z24 so 24 doesn't round 106 was one one Z24 so 24 doesn't round up<03:41:06.920> so

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:

• <00:14:02.959> People I can put in a 30 round magazine.
• People I can put in a 30 round magazine.
• If you can squeeze off 30 rounds or 100 rounds without having to reload, you can do a lot more damage
• than if you squeeze off 10 rounds, have to reload.
• Um and I think we have to try. 10 rounds, have to reload. Because that 10 rounds, have to reload.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you looking to do something similar that really kind of helps round out?
• Are we looking to round that out, Madam Chair, Representative?
• This belt is for 28-round competition magazines. They are $160 each.
• It didn't matter how many rounds it has. You want to hold somebody responsible?
• Just because it has the capacity to accept— That fits 10 rounds.

Bills: SB48, HB250, SB17

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, technology, innovation, advisory board, entrepreneurial support, stakeholder representation

Transcript Highlights:

• So in our 2025 September application round, we received requests for over $73 million, and we were able
• So what this represents is the demand of our application round.
• So this is the multifamily projects that were selected in our 2025 September application round.
• So just a reminder, we have one application round per year, and this selection is of projects that are
• And the short story is that it was all allocated last fall in a grant round, and projects are slated

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division budget section and first reviewed the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s budget and program update. Legislative Council outlined the agency’s base budget and historical funding, and Housing Finance staff reported on homeownership lending, housing incentive fund (HIF) awards, and homeless grant spending. Agency officials said the five new FTEs approved last session are mostly filled, with one homeless program manager still open. They described strong demand for HIF, noting that September 2025 multifamily requests exceeded $73 million while only $25 million was available, and that single-family and homeless programs are also heavily subscribed. Members discussed the agency’s local loan servicing workload, interest-rate benefits, down payment assistance, and the need to coordinate housing discussions with Commerce and site-preparation efforts. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased, and committee members emphasized accountability and statewide access for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing funds. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and agency initiatives. Staff reported that the department is on track financially, that most of the five new reclamation-related FTEs are hired, and that litigation costs tied to oil and gas matters are expected to continue appearing late in the biennium. The director reviewed ongoing modernization and organizational efforts, including the North Star IT project, succession planning, training, and rulemaking for oil and gas and critical minerals. Members asked about longer laterals, spacing, and production trends; the department said operators are increasingly drilling three-, four-, and even an initial five-mile lateral, which is helping keep North Dakota oil production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. The director also discussed oil price volatility tied to Middle East conflict, hedging practices among producers, gas capture remaining around 95%, and the likelihood that current production levels will stay near flat unless prices or geopolitical conditions change significantly. An update on the enhanced oil recovery grant program followed. The Industrial Commission’s grant administrator said the full $25 million appropriation was allocated in the fall to six projects, and because the oil and gas research fund also had carryover and biennial tax revenue, total awards reached about $45.1 million. The projects are expected to run two to four years, with meaningful results not likely until mid-2026 or later. Members questioned whether the public would have access to the research findings and how accountability would be maintained; staff said the grants are reimbursement-based, require regular status reports, and will culminate in public final reports. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, which updated members on natural gas transmission projects, especially WBI Energy’s proposed Bakken East pipeline. The authority said the project has advanced through a nonbinding and then binding open season, with WBI now securing survey permissions and moving through regulatory and landowner processes, while other related gas transmission projects near Minot and Epping are also in development.

Transcript Highlights:

• As they exit the chamber, please join me in another round of applause for our distinguished guests.
• This first round of funding from this program provided... I think we all know that.
• Forty-two states and the District of Columbia benefited from this round.
• This new round of funding mirrored the first, but expanded the program to child care.
• The first round targeted small businesses and socially disadvantaged producers, and this round prioritized

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then held its Latino Spirit Awards ceremony. Members adopted House Resolution 16, proclaiming May 4–11, 2025 as Cinco de Mayo Week, after supportive remarks from several caucuses emphasizing Mexican history, women’s contributions, LGBTQ solidarity, Black and Brown unity, and AAPI and Jewish community support. The chamber then recognized 11 Latino Spirit honorees for achievements in human rights, business, arts, public service, community empowerment, health and science, environmental justice, philanthropy, and entertainment. After the ceremony, the Assembly returned to floor business and approved a series of measures. AB 60, banning synthetic nitro musks in cosmetics and personal care products, passed 56–3. AJR 6, urging Congress to protect federal school meal and local food funding, drew extensive debate and broad bipartisan support; members cited child hunger, farm economies, and local food systems, and it passed 76–0 with 73 coauthors added. Other measures adopted included AB 679 on state park land acquisitions, AB 681 expanding Dream Loan Program caps for undocumented graduate students, AB 1224 on substitute teacher continuity, AB 831 on gaming technical changes, AB 259 extending Brown Act teleconferencing flexibility, AB 467 extending Los Angeles Neighborhood Council teleconferencing authority, and AB 519 targeting deceptive puppy mill sales. The chamber also passed AB 1522, an urgency Judiciary Committee bill protecting attorneys from politically motivated discipline and creating an expedited licensing path for some former federal attorneys, and AB 263, which extends temporary water flow requirements on the Shasta and Smith Rivers; that bill drew sharp disagreement over water rights, tribal participation, and impacts on farmers, but ultimately passed 51–16. Additional measures approved included AB 428 on pooled insurance for water corporations, AB 492 requiring notice to local jurisdictions when recovery treatment facilities are licensed, and AB 536 preserving colorectal cancer screening coverage. The Assembly also adopted a motion to suspend file notice so Appropriations could hear AB 379 on May 7.

Transcript Highlights:

• which is the resources from prop one is we actually have created different than previous home key rounds
• Really appreciate your leadership on those and hope to see the State LIHTC Program, MHP, another round
• And so, more than half of that first round is ending there.
• This solution will clarify the legislature's intent for grantees of all HAP rounds to provide required
• one and two, which is consistent with the later rounds.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've put this funding out in two rounds.
• The specific set-aside for the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority was put out in two rounds.
• In 2020, we did a round of investments in this property to deal with a backup generator.
• But I just wanted to double-check: why was there two rounds?
• rounds too with the anticipation of at rounds too with the anticipation of at least<00:46:29.920>

Bills: HF919, HF1192, HF212, HF214

Keywords: wastewater, infrastructure, funding, Litchfield, economic development, environmental compliance, Hastings, water treatment, PFAS, nitrates, bonds, capital investment, public health, HF212, Round Lake-Brewster, Independent School District No. 2907, school construction, school building, sales tax exemption, use tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2023, the first round of funding for this program received $68 million in applications for $12 million
• These programs are the year-round certified farmers market program for grants to support year-round certified
• While we've had a certified year-round farmers market program for some time, we have not administered
• In all past rounds of funding, all of the money has been expended.
• With just three rounds of funding since then, the California Farm to School Program has been able to

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Without exact change, retailers will have no choice but to round up to the nearest nickel for cash customers
• This bill establishes clear, uniform rules for rounding cash transactions.
• This bill establishes clear, uniform rules for rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel while
• The bill also makes clear that rounding applies only to cash, not electronic or card payments, and provides
• a safeguard for pawn and recycling transactions to ensure that sellers are always paid in full or rounded

Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax met and reported several bills favorably after brief presentations, no substantive opposition, and mostly unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls. CS/SB 118, by Senator Trunow, clarified how non-ad valorem special assessments may be levied on recreational vehicle parks, and an amendment removed a requirement that local governments consider RV park occupancy rates when apportioning assessments. The bill was supported by the Florida Retail Federation and passed favorably. SB 1520, by Senator Kalatayud, made changes to the Live Local Act’s missing middle property tax exemption, including allowing vesting upon final site plan approval for one year and expanding the data used for local government opt-out decisions; it also passed favorably with support from Landlord Housing Partners. The committee also approved CS/SB 678, by Senator Mayfield, which reestablishes the framework allowing distributors to deduct unsellable alcohol from monthly excise tax calculations and applies retroactively to January 1, 2025. Support came from the Florida Beer Wholesalers Association, Wine and Spirits Distributors of Florida, and Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits. CS/SB 680, also by Senator Mayfield, addressed double taxation of electricity used at EV charging stations by creating a sales tax exemption for separately metered electricity sold to station operators and transferred to consumers; Tesla and the Florida Retail Federation supported it, and Senator Gates spoke in favor, describing the bill as a fair solution to a prior tax administration problem. CS/SB 450, by Senator Polsky, updated property tax exemption rules for permanently and totally disabled veterans’ surviving spouses, including allowing transfer of up to 120% of the prior homestead exemption amount to a new residence. The amendment and bill were supported by the Property Appraisers Association of Florida and passed favorably. Finally, CS/SB 1074, by Senator Gates, was amended to establish uniform rules for rounding cash transactions to the nearest nickel in light of penny distribution issues, while protecting sales tax calculations and providing liability protections; it also included safeguards for pawn and recycling transactions. The Florida Retail Federation, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, and Associated Industries of Florida supported the measure, which was reported favorably. Senator Gates requested to be recorded as voting yes on all bills, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• LB 839 and the amendments went through rounds of debate here on the floor.
• It went through three rounds of debate. It passed on final reading.
• We spoke as a body on three rounds of debate to move this forward.
• You voted for it through three rounds of debate.
• And then it has to pass all those rounds, and then the governor has to sign it.

Bills: LR509, LR510, LR511

Keywords: congratulations, Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame, Deloris Marshall Adamson, recognition, achievement, service, retirement, Nebraska Legislature, public service, legislature, Nebraska, 956, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Can we give them a round of applause?
• Can all of the players from 808 Elite please stand for a round of applause? Guys, come on.
• we<00:20:58.240> give<00:20:58.320> them<00:20:58.480> a<00:20:58.559> round
• Can we give them a round of applause? Can we give them a round of applause?
• please stand for a round of applause? please stand for a round of applause?

Bills: HB2391, HB2294, HB2374, HB1997, HB2147, HB2185, HB1641, HB2195, HB2023, HB2031, HB2033, HB1937, HB2586, HB2575, HB2030, HB2115, HB2233, HB1801, HB1546, HB2132, HB2102, HB2356, HB2457, HB2292, HB2554, HB676, HB1528, HB2061, HB2094, HB2095, HB2181, HB2369, HB2578, HB2493, HB1642, HB1991, HB1652, HB2104, HB2593, HB1553, HB1823, HB1918, HB1860, HB2604, HB2605, HB2001, HB2437, HB1947, HB2384, HB2473, HB2140, HB1458, HB2603, HB2411, HB1611, HB2138, HB2141, HB2284, HB1568, HB1924, HB1928, HB2570

Keywords: tax holiday, school supplies, general excise tax, Hawaii, consumer savings, education, land transfer, public schools, Department of Education, property conveyance, Act 307, Kauai, Maui, shade trees, fruit trees, educational program, climate change, tree canopy, environmental education, native plants

Transcript Highlights:

• And so farmers can request up to $5,000, and we've got $75,000 in the first round.
• <00:21:34.240> um<00:21:34.440> those 75,000 in the first round um those 75,000 in
• the first round um those opened<00:21:35.080> November<00:21:35.840> 2024<00:21:36.840>
• The first two rounds funded a little over $1 million in down payment assistance, and the third round
• It's a very widely popular program, one that we're also learning about each year as we do each round.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please give him a round of applause. >> Wonderful. [applause] >> Welcome, District 22.
• Please give him a round of Annapolis. Please give him a round of applause. applause. applause.
• Ain't No Back to a Merry-Go-Round, in memory of this body's Gwen Britt.
• Give him a round<00:08:20.639> of<00:08:20.800> applause.
• <00:08:21.735> [applause] round of applause. [applause] round of applause.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, January 19, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Maryland Senate convened with an invocation by Pastor Ray Cotton of Mount Si Baptist Church, who prayed for wisdom, integrity, courage, compassion, and protection for lawmakers. The senator from the 45th district introduced the pastor and praised his long ministry and community leadership. The chamber then recorded a quorum and moved through brief introductions of guests, including constituents from District 22, local elected officials, a junior senator from District 8, Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier, and a new group of student pages from several districts. The Senate handled limited business, including the reading and referral of Senate Bill 257, the Mel Noland Woodland Initiatives and Fellowship Fund reporting bill, and two bond initiatives for the Linthicum Ferndale Youth Athletic Association and Carol Manor Elementary School. Leaders noted that committee hearings would be busy in the coming week and that the desk was otherwise clear. There was also an announcement encouraging members to watch the documentary "Ain't No Back to a Merry-Go-Round," tied to Glen Echo Park desegregation history and the legacy of former Senator Gwen Britt. The main event was the annual Martin Luther King Jr. remarks by the senator from the 45th district. The speech focused on passages from the "Letter from Birmingham Jail," emphasizing King’s discipline, nonviolent strategy, the interconnectedness of communities, the role of constructive tension, the need to demand justice rather than wait indefinitely, and the moral distinction between just and unjust laws. The senator framed King as both a strategist and a builder of institutions, and argued that lawmakers should measure their work against those principles. The chamber responded with strong applause, and the remarks were journalized without objection. After a final quorum call confirmed 43 members present, the Senate remained in session briefly and then adjourned without objection until Tuesday, January 20 at 10 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• What that does is allow them a second round of distributions by June 1st for abatements and things like
• What that does is allow them a second round of distributions by June 1st for abatements and things like
• fine with the June 1st date, understanding that the tax department has every intent to get the big round
• With the last PRC round, it was a clean $500 and everyone knew that they could expect it.
• With the last PRC round, it was a clean $500 and everyone knew that they could expect it.

Bills: SB2397

Keywords: oil and gas, tax exemption, development incentive wells, gross production tax, flaring, 908, all

Summary: The Senate Finance and Tax Committee met and first took up House Bill 1382, the gas tax bill. Members explained an amendment to ensure that the proposed three-cent gas tax distribution would include all counties and townships in oil-producing counties, rather than excluding non-oil-producing counties as in the original draft. The committee adopted the amendment unanimously, but then held the bill for the time being because of related work on the Department of Transportation budget in the House. The committee then turned to House Bill 1168, a large hoghouse amendment that combined the bill with the contents of House Bill 1176 and added technical corrections. The proposal would raise the primary residence property tax credit maximum from $1,250 to $1,650, keep the 75% cap with a $500 floor, and extend the credit to voter-approved levies while excluding special assessments. Other changes discussed included aligning the disabled veterans property tax credit with the $200,000 exemption level, adjusting budget and distribution dates so taxing districts are made whole sooner, exempting townships from a general-election vote requirement for levy increases, and modifying school funding formulas so schools are not shortchanged if mill levies are reduced under the cap. Testimony from the Association of Counties and the State Supervisor of Assessments was generally supportive of the technical cleanup and implementation changes, but they raised concerns about the June 1 distribution date, application timing, and the practicality of some programming and administrative changes. Committee members also discussed the policy and messaging implications of the 75%/floor structure and the difficulty of applying the credit to certain voter-approved levies. No final action was taken on House Bill 1168; the committee agreed to continue working on amendments and recessed until later in the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you just give them a round of applause. >> Welcome to the 33 district residents.
• Just give them a round of applause.
• You just give them a round of applause.
• You just give<00:07:54.720> them<00:07:54.879> a<00:07:54.960> round<00:07:55.120
• give them a round of applause. give them a round of applause.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, February 16, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with 33 members present, heard an invocation from Reverend Lauren Holder of St. Martins in the Field Episcopal Church, and received several chamber introductions and welcomes, including district-night guests, former Delegate Sam Aurora, League of Conservation Voters constituents, and a new group of pages from across the state. The presiding officer also noted that a presentation by the state archivist in the old Senate chamber would be the main event of the evening. On the legislative side, the chamber read Senate Bill 960 on Maryland’s Public Charter School Program and school facilities funding rules, which was referred to the Rules Committee. Two bond initiatives were also read and sent to the Capital Budget Subcommittee: one for Carol Classical Charter School and one for Springboard Community Services’ Youth and Training Center. House Bills 28 and 226 were received from the House and referred to the appropriate standing committees. The Senate then announced that executive nominations would likely be held until the next day so more members could be present for votes. Caucus meetings were announced for the following morning, and a Senate Pass event was promoted for Thursday evening. After a quorum call showed 38 members present, the majority leader moved that the Senate recess to the old Senate chamber in about five minutes, and the motion was adopted without objection. The chamber was secured as members prepared to move for the evening program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate file 2454 will help more round.
• After all, we're the committee that supported it in the last round of funding.
• After all, we're the committee that supported it in the last round of funding.
• After all, we're the committee that supported it in the last round of funding.
• After all, we're the committee that supported it in the last round of funding.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all