Joint Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, February 4, 2026·1h 52m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Joint Finance Committee held FY27 budget orientation hearings for the Department of Technology and Information, Department of Labor, and Department of State, with no votes taken. Key tensions emerged over Veterans Home staffing and wages, the implications of the SB63 veto override on six proposed labor enforcement positions, and DTI's cybersecurity funding requests.

Key Actions

·SB63 – Labor law enforcement positions vs. veto overrideNo Vote

+ 6 more actions

Controversies

SB63 veto override versus funding six new labor enforcement positions

Senator Buckson characterized the governor's prior position as 'fund the positions, don't pass the bill,' implying the two could not coexist. The chair noted that because the SB63 veto was overridden and the bill is now in place, the six proposed labor law enforcement positions may no longer be necessary. No representative of the governor's office responded during this portion of the hearing.

+ 3 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“Either we step up or shut the home. One or the other.”
Senator Buckson — Senator Buckson was pressing on the Veterans Home's low occupancy — 54 patients out of 144 possible beds — and the state's failure to pay competitive wages to attract and retain staff.

+ 4 more quotes

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TranscriptPreview

Good morning, everyone. The Joint Finance Committee will come to order. Members, please take your seats. On today's agenda, we will hear from dti, labor and State. We are going to begin now with orientations. Julie, the floor is yours. Thank you. Good morning, Committee. Pardon me. I've been informed we need to do a roll call. I am aware that we do have three members who for different reasons are participating virtually. That would be Senator Hanson, Representative Bolden and Senator Sturgeon. But if you would please take the role. Certainly. Representative Bolden. Presented. Bolden. Present. Senator Brown. Senator Brown. Absent. Senator Buxton. Senator Buxton. Absent. Representative Chuquocha. Representative Chuquocha. Absent. Representative Griffith? Here. Representative Chuquocha was here a minute ago. He's just here a moment ago. Here. Senator Hanson. Present. Senator Hanson. Present. Senator Lawson. Senator Lawson. Present. Senator Pardee. Present. Senator Pardee. Present. Representative Postols. Present. Representative Postols? Present. Representative Short. Representative Short. Absent. Senator Sturgeon? Here. Excuse me. Here. Senator Sturgeon. Here. Representative Williams. Present. Representative Williams? Present. Mr. Chair. Eight members. Present. Four absent. Wonderful. Julie, floor is yours. Good morning. Thank you. Tell us something good. Okay, you got it. So for DTI, we…

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