Video & Transcript : 'funding needs' :
Page 101 of 500
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- We as families of special needs children are living proof that these funds are essential to our daily
- We can't get to the stability that we need in the system without adequate funding.
- But what we need now is a clear commitment to begin this funding effort.
- We're going to do everything we can to try and get the funding that you need.
- And I want to be clear, I'm not saying not to fund them. All of our services are needed.
Committee:
House Appropriations
Summary:
The committee heard public testimony on several budget requests tied to health and human services. Louisiana Children’s Advocacy Centers asked for continued support and a supplemental appropriation of $1.173 million for infrastructure and standardization, explaining that the money would expand use of the Guardify digital evidence system, improve chain of custody, and reduce reliance on DVDs. Baton Rouge and statewide CAC leaders said prior funding helped eliminate a therapy wait list and speed services for abused children. Members asked detailed questions about the digital system, MDT coordination, and how the request related to SB 237, which would strengthen multidisciplinary review of child abuse cases.
The Alzheimer’s Association sought $824,000 to sustain the dementia care specialist program, saying it helps families navigate services, keep loved ones at home longer, and reduce Medicaid costs. AARP and the Live at Home Coalition also testified for 750 additional Community Choice waiver slots at a state cost of $3.3 million, arguing that home- and community-based care is cheaper than nursing homes and that the current wait list is more than 11,000 people. Legislators discussed the size of the need, the state’s long-term care spending mix, and whether more support should go to family caregivers and community-based options.
Testimony also focused on disability support services, substance use treatment, and developmental disability provider rates. A parent and direct support worker described the Children’s Choice waiver’s 20-hour cap and low pay, saying it makes it hard to retain caregivers and meet the needs of medically fragile children. Odyssey House and O’Brien House asked for higher Medicaid reimbursement rates under ASAM 4, warned that removal of room-and-board payments and weak Medicaid eligibility pathways are reducing access, and called for more oversight of sober living homes; members questioned outcomes data, length of stay, and links to homelessness. Finally, the Arc of Louisiana said the LDH rate study confirmed underfunding and supported a $53.6 million increase in state general funds, with local ARC leaders describing the services they provide and the need for higher direct support professional wages.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds (09/17/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Because obviously this fund needs a source of revenue better than what it's got now. >> You actually
- Because obviously this fund needs a source of revenue better than what it's got now. >> You actually
- Does that mean you don't really need a fund? You could do it in some other way?
- You could do it in some need a fund? You could do it in some other<01:40:53.760><c> way.
- This off-book, dedicated fund is for this purpose, and it will continue to be needed when the future
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds met to review inactive and dedicated accounts, note prior legislation that had passed, and begin its annual review of agency funds. Members discussed several inactive funds, including some HHS-related accounts, a law enforcement memorial fund, and possible cleanup of accounting references where funds had been reorganized or merged. Staff noted that some newer funds may simply not have started receiving revenue yet, and the committee agreed to follow up on specific accounts later rather than address everything immediately.
The committee then heard from Fish and Game on its dedicated funds. Topics included the statewide public boat access account, which is used for boat ramp and access-site maintenance and is supported by boat registration fees and federal funds; the ORV education, training, and enforcement account, which has declined over time and may need attention because revenue depends heavily on weather and snowmobile use; and the search and rescue account, which is funded by Hike Safe cards, a $1 fee from boat and OHRV registrations, and court-ordered fees. Fish and Game also explained that the conservation license plate fund had been merged into the non-game species management account, which is supported by donations, federal funds, and a statutory general fund transfer, and that pheasants are treated as game species under a separate program.
The committee spent considerable time on the lifetime license account, an off-book Treasury-held account that collects lifetime license sales and returns funds to Fish and Game based on annual sales plus 9% of the fund balance. Members questioned why the account’s presentation did not clearly show the transfer as a revenue reduction and suggested the reporting format needed cleanup so the flow of money would be easier to understand. Fish and Game said the account is operating properly and that the transfer to the unrestricted Fish and Game fund exceeded $400,000 in the most recent year. The committee also reviewed the publications and fundraising revolving fund, which keeps a $100,000 balance for inventory purchases and transfers excess year-end funds to the unrestricted Fish and Game fund; members again raised concerns that the reporting format did not clearly show the transfer, and staff said they could add a note or other clarification.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- We truly need this additional staff, and thanks to the chairwoman who funded the request to renovate.
- Note the term with the funding. But here's the thing, two things that need to be done and it's...
- We need to ensure that we closely monitor how these funds are used once we receive them.
- We're here to provide you with an overview of our operations and funding needs.
- We're here to provide you with an overview of our operations and funding needs.
Committee:
Senate Finance
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- The current literacy aid formula funds schools based on lack of student need because it provides more
- Let's prioritize funding where it's needed most, and not pull more, exacerbate more inequities across
- So, this bill replaces the current outcome-based model with a needs-based funding approach.
- So again, the funds will reflect the economic needs of our students.
- will reflect the economic needs of funds will reflect the economic needs of our<01:03:34.480><c> students
Committee:
Senate Education Finance
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- You know, the funding that we need to fund the basic things that everybody needs across the state.
- You know, the funding that we need to fund the basic things that everybody needs across the state.
- You know, the funding that we need to fund the basic things that everybody needs across the state.
- You know, the funding that we need to fund the basic things that everybody needs across the state.
- You know, the funding that we need to fund the basic things that everybody needs across the state.
Committee:
House Taxes
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
ALC-STATE INSURANCE PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE Aug 19th, 2026
ALC-STATE INSURANCE PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- We're looking at what the funding needs to do to make sure that the fund is solvent, so all the expenses
- So it's between now and January, honestly, to figure out what we need to do, funding levels to bring
- So I'm just curious if there's any kind of, I know that we're talking about funding and the need for
- additional funding to secure the trust fund and to make sure all—we need to talk about that.
- But you also need to talk... ...funding to secure the trust fund and to make sure all—we need to talk
Summary:
The committee reviewed several State Board of Finance actions related to employee and retiree health benefits, insurance contracts, and reserve funding. Members first considered a rule implementing Act 956 of 2025 requiring vendors working with the Employee Benefits Division to have their data validated by a third-party actuary; it was reviewed without objection. The committee then approved multiple pharmacy and medical formulary recommendations for June, July, and August, including shifting to lower-cost generics, excluding new-to-market drugs pending more evidence or better pricing, re-tiering specialty and limited-distribution drugs, and adjusting prior authorization, step therapy, and age restrictions. Members asked about how Navitus and EBRX develop recommendations, how rebates and coupons are tracked, and whether rebate incentives could influence coverage decisions.
The committee also reviewed and approved a one-year Colonial Life accidental death and disability contract extension with level rates for 2026-2027, a one-year UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage extension that decouples medical and pharmacy benefits and raises premiums for state and public school retirees, and a new three-year financial auditing contract with Crow Chesnik after an RFQ produced only one response. The UnitedHealthcare renewal was described as the full extent of the increase for the year, with officials saying future increases are likely but should become more predictable. The committee then heard a presentation from Segal Group on public school plan funding and reserve adequacy, which projected that if funding stayed flat the reserve would be drawn down over time and could be exhausted by 2029. Segal presented scenarios showing that maintaining the target reserve would require substantial increases in the minimum district contribution alone, or more moderate increases if costs were spread across district, employee, and Department of Education funding.
Members questioned the assumptions behind the projections, including why prescription drug claims were projected to grow 45 percent from an earlier forecast, why actual expenses had come in 17 percent above prior projections, and how federal changes, rising drug costs, and GLP-1 utilization might affect future costs. Several members raised concerns about the loss of wellness visit incentives, the need to control duplicate or inappropriate prescribing, and whether the target reserve level should be revisited. EBD said it is working on cost containment, wellness program redesign, and additional analysis, and indicated it expects to bring a funding and policy recommendation to the committee in September or October. The meeting ended with no further business and adjournment.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education Jan 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- credit scholarships that are not funded in the FEFP are in the least in the gaa quick funding funding
- terms of funding.
- This is one of your primary funding drivers and we talk about critical needs.
- We used to have the local funds or a little bit more in state funds.
- In addition to the basic fefp funding for students with disabilities, students who need more intensive
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Assembly Business and Professions Committee and Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee May 13th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- According to the Turner Center, on average, affordable housing developments need 3.5 sources of funding
- We're going to need to be creative about how we get additional funds for affordable housing.
- or access funding that's needed to provide that housing.
- Funding will be needed for the housing programs captured by the proposal, and resources will also be
- So we would like to reiterate that we do need other funding sources budgeted for in the next couple of
Summary:
The joint hearing focused on Governor Newsom’s 2025 reorganization plan to split the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency into two new agencies: a Business and Consumer Services Agency and a California Housing and Homelessness Agency. Secretary Tamika Moss and department leaders from Consumer Affairs, Cannabis Control, DFPI, and Alcoholic Beverage Control said the business-side reorganization would sharpen consumer protection and regulatory oversight without increasing licensee fees or office-space needs. Members generally supported the concept, but several raised concerns about the timing relative to the budget process, the May Revision, and whether the new structure would add costs or disrupt legal and regulatory work. Public commenters from industry groups largely supported the business-side proposal.
The second half of the hearing examined the proposed Housing and Homelessness Agency and a new Housing Development and Finance Committee intended to streamline affordable housing funding. Moss, HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez, and CalHFA’s Rebecca Franklin argued the reorganization would reduce fragmentation, speed approvals, improve compliance and asset management, and better coordinate housing, homelessness, and civil rights functions. They said CalHFA’s statutory and financial independence would remain intact, that the proposal would not affect existing homelessness programs administered by HCD, and that the plan would be phased in over several years, with the new agencies and committee expected to become operational by July 2026. Members pressed on whether the plan would truly create a one-stop shop, how it would interact with tax credits and bonds outside the Governor’s control, whether it would include a single application and unified inspections, and how it would address Los Angeles homelessness oversight and federal uncertainties such as tariffs and Section 8 changes.
Developer witnesses strongly backed the housing proposal, describing the current system as slow, opaque, and costly. Margaret Miller of the John Stewart Company and Jeffrey Morgan of CHISPA gave examples of projects delayed or lost because multiple funding sources required separate applications, awards, and closings; both said a cabinet-level housing secretary and a consolidated funding process could save time and money and produce more units. Public advocates including Housing California, the California Housing Partnership, and the California Housing Consortium supported the concept but stressed that success would depend on implementation, adequate funding, transparency, and broader coordination with tax credit and bond programs. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and the committees heard testimony and questions on the proposal.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 15th, 2026 at 01:32 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- It's limited to the money that we need to pay fund managers.
- And in this case, it is specifically the money we need to pay fund managers who manage public funds.
- So as the funds that we're managing continue to grow then we need to pay an equivalent amount to those
- So what I'm getting at is if We were to fully fund the positions that you need, we would more than get
- I would second Rep Dixon's motion on this that we fully fund you and give you everything we need because
Committee:
House House Appropriations & Finance
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services Jan 14th, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- from the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund to general revenue to properly align funding for our
- needed, the results of which produce a funding recommendation that further promotes the preservation
- needed. accounting for regional differences to enhance the predictability of funds needed, the results
- Florida Cancer Innovation Funds.
- , federal Ryan White funds...
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard presentations on the governor’s proposed fiscal year 2026-2027 budget for the health and human services agencies. Kendall Kelly outlined the overall HHS budget at $48.5 billion, with AHCA accounting for the largest share, and agency heads then highlighted major proposals for Medicaid behavioral health redesign, APD waiver enrollment and facility needs, DCF child welfare, opioid, and mental health investments, DOEA funding for Alzheimer’s, home care, and community services, DOH funding for cancer research, public health initiatives, and lab capacity, and VA funding for facility improvements, cybersecurity, and medication management.
Several members praised specific proposals, including increased reimbursement for private duty nursing, Alzheimer’s supports, and the Florida FIRST blood-in-ambulance initiative. Senators also questioned the proposed changes to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), with the Surgeon General explaining that the department expects a reduction in covered patients from about 30,000 to about 20,000 because of funding pressures tied to rebates, federal changes, and premium tax credit issues. Public testimony strongly criticized the ADAP changes, citing lack of transparency and warning that many patients could lose access to medications.
Other questions focused on the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, DCF’s substance abuse and mental health data dashboard, Kids Care/CHIP expansion implementation, APD bed and facility planning, and the FX Medicaid technology project. DCF said about $7 million is set aside for the dashboard system, and AHCA said the governor’s budget includes $124.4 million for FX maintenance and continued module development, with $13.5 million to begin claims processing work. The committee did not take a substantive vote on the budget presentations and adjourned after questions and public testimony.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- a federal fund to a gift fund that’s in our—there’s a reason about a gift fund, and this is a gift.
- When I look at unexpended funds the last few years, I find it hard to believe that we're going to need
- more funds?
- The other fund is the Working Capital Revolving Fund, which is the operating fund for Missouri Vocational
- As a body, we need to watch as we kind of go through and see how those funds are utilized and distributed
Committee:
House Budget
Summary:
The committee first heard the Missouri National Guard’s FY 2027 budget request in House Bill 2008. Brigadier General Bob Payne outlined the Guard’s dual state and federal mission, recent deployments and state activations, counter-drug work, and the need to maintain readiness and aging armory infrastructure. Members questioned several items, including a proposed internal auditor position required by statute, a World Cup-related NDI, the use of general revenue versus other funds, and a federal match for base operations support at Rosecrans Airport. The presentation then shifted into executive session, where the committee reviewed a House committee substitute and several amendments. One amendment to fund the Missouri State Fair’s Great American State Fair participation with ag and tourism funds was rejected, while an amendment reducing $50,000 in House and Senate legal contingency funding was adopted. Another amendment directing budget information to all committee members rather than only chairs was rejected. The committee then adopted the substitute and voted House Bill 2014 do pass by a 24-0-1 vote.
The committee next took up the Department of Corrections FY 2027 budget in House Bill 2009. DOC described a new CERT stipend increase, a reduction in the Office of Director’s Staff, and several core items including professional standards, federal funds, community treatment programming, education grants, population growth pool, restitution payments, human services staff, telecommunications, general services, fuel and utilities, food purchases, food service, staff training, employee health and safety, overtime, adult institution staff, institution E&E, wage and discharge, and individual institutions. Members asked about the CERT stipend, PREA allegations, education funding, restitution payments, the population growth pool, the working capital revolving fund, food service costs, overtime, retention, warden turnover, the prison nursery, and the use of inmate canteen funds. DOC said CERT members are full-time employees who volunteer for additional duty, that staffing has improved but remains a challenge, that the food service increase reflects the end of inventory credits and inflation, and that the department generally spends non-GR funds first when possible. Discussion also turned to whether DOC facilities could be repurposed for pretrial or mental health populations; DOC said it is legally limited to post-sentence inmates and that staffing and labor-market constraints make reopening closed facilities difficult.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 02/10/25
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- and</c><00:02:13.239><c> the</c> fund special Revenue fund and the fund special Revenue fund and the
- Additional funding is needed for a number of reasons, as the cost of providing services continues to
- So additional funding is needed. The governor’s recommendation is $5 million.
- funding to contract with two attorneys general to provide assistance to that team if needed in Greater
- funding to contract with two attorneys general to provide assistance to that team if needed in Greater
Committee:
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee Jun 29th, 2026
Budget and Fiscal Review
Transcript Highlights:
- costs for the fund.
- be needed.
- Unfortunately, one-time funding for one county department falls short of what's needed, and we look forward
- to backfill the total amount needed for the counties who count on this funding.
- At a time when basic need resources are more essential than ever and funding for disability services
Committee:
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Committee on the Census Jun 21st, 2026 at 09:30 am
Senate Committee on the Census
Transcript Highlights:
- I mean, if you want to start messaging, how much funding would you need in order to start that messaging
- , of state funds?
- We will need stronger funding for outreach, especially for communications, a broad and diverse coalition
- of that funding.
- Let’s make sure that we appropriate funding that is going to be used for all the items that we need to
Committee:
Senate Senate Committee on the Census
Summary:
The Senate Committee on the Census held an early planning hearing on how Massachusetts can maximize participation in the 2030 census, with Chair Will Brownsberger and Vice Chair Rebecca Rausch emphasizing the need to start well in advance. The first panel, made up of leaders from the Massachusetts Voter Table, MassVOTE, MIRA, and MESA, stressed that grassroots community organizations are trusted messengers and should be funded early to do multilingual outreach, training, and direct assistance in hard-to-count communities. They described lessons from 2020, including the shift to internet response, reduced federal census infrastructure, the importance of coordinated statewide networks, and the need to begin messaging several years before Census Day because building trust and staffing outreach takes time.
Panelists repeatedly warned that immigrant communities are facing heightened fear because of federal immigration enforcement and the possibility of a citizenship question or other federal changes, making census participation more difficult. They said 2020 funding arrived too late to fully staff and train outreach teams before the pandemic, and argued that future resources should be deployed earlier and more flexibly. In response to committee questions, they estimated Massachusetts should invest roughly $8 million to $10 million or more in state census outreach, with one proposed model of about $3 million to $5 million at the start, additional funding in the middle years, and a larger final push closer to 2030. They also suggested that funding should support communications infrastructure, translation, social media and ethnic media outreach, and possibly a permanent complete count structure or trust fund to preserve institutional knowledge.
A second panel from Common Cause Massachusetts and the ACLU of Massachusetts echoed the call for stronger, earlier investment and stronger privacy protections. They urged the legislature to expand existing census line items, consider a trust fund or other dedicated funding stream, and coordinate census outreach with other state programs that already work through trusted community messengers. The ACLU testimony focused on racial inequities in census counts and warned that federal efforts to exclude non-citizens or add a citizenship question would deepen distrust and undercount immigrant communities. Committee members asked about the 2020 overcount/undercount results, funding levels, timing of grant distribution, and whether census outreach should be routed through the Secretary of the Commonwealth or other state mechanisms; no votes were taken, and the hearing moved on to a later panel on immigrant-community outreach.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Jan 13th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- These payments are kept in a transportation vehicle fund and may not be transferred to any other fund
- support student needs.
- Last year, 70 districts applied for safety net funding, demonstrating $67.6 million in need.
- We need to figure this thing out.
- We cannot use these funds to build new classrooms for students I do not have, but we desperately need
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on several education bills. SB 5841 would require students’ high school and beyond plans to show completion of at least one FAFSA or WASFA application, or a parent/guardian opt-out. The sponsor and supporters said it would reduce barriers to postsecondary education, improve financial aid completion, and bring more students and federal dollars into the state. School groups opposed it, warning it would add an unfunded administrative burden and create verification challenges, especially for small districts and families with undocumented students. Senators discussed data-sharing from the Washington Student Achievement Council and noted the bill’s connection to existing FAFSA outreach efforts.
The committee then took testimony on SB 5922, which would let districts petition OSPI to transfer money from transportation vehicle funds to other district uses if they reduce their fleet because of enrollment declines. The sponsor said the bill would free up unused bus funds for other pressing needs. Members asked about whether districts could shift to smaller vehicles and how the funds could be used. The committee also heard SB 5858, which would move the pupil transportation safety net for special passengers into statute. Supporters from OSPI, districts, school directors, and PTA said the program is essential for transporting students with disabilities, homelessness, or foster care needs, and that current funding is far below demonstrated need. No votes were taken on these bills.
Finally, the committee heard SB 5943, which would allow limited use of school impact fees for modernization and, in districts under binding conditions or enhanced financial oversight, for up to 25% of operations and maintenance. The sponsor and one superintendent argued it would help districts with aging buildings and new state mandates like safety and energy-efficiency requirements. Builders, business groups, and school coalition representatives opposed the bill, saying impact fees should remain tied to growth-related capital costs and warning it could worsen housing affordability and weaken the nexus required for impact fees. The chair closed by noting the session’s budget constraints and the committee adjourned after the hearings.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- . need to do for students who need special considerations during drills.
- Schools need more resources to provide support for kids in need.
- We want to make sure that the funding more accurately reflects the needs of individual students.
- Schools in Texas are struggling to meet the needs of students with disabilities due to an outdated funding
- First, we need to increase special education funding.
Committees:
Senate Education , Senate Education K-16
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services Jan 14th, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- from the Operations and Maintenance Trust Fund to general revenue to properly align funding for our
- needed.
- needed. accounting for regional differences to enhance the predictability of funds needed, the results
- $10 million of funding.
- , federal Ryan White funds.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services heard presentations on the governor’s proposed FY 26-27 budget for the health and human services silo, which totals $48.5 billion within a $117.4 billion state budget. Agency leaders outlined major spending priorities, including AHCA’s behavioral health redesign, APD waiver enrollment and facility needs, DCF’s integrity and self-sufficiency systems, opioid response, community-based care and mental health bed expansion, DOEA’s Alzheimer’s, home care, and community care programs, DOH’s cancer research, public health, EMS blood-transfusion initiative, and lab feasibility study, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ facility, cybersecurity, and medication-management investments.
Members generally praised several proposals, especially increased reimbursement for private duty nursing, behavioral health funding, Alzheimer’s support, and the EMS blood program. Senator Sharief raised concerns about the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), warning that changes could leave many Floridians without coverage for HIV medications and asking whether manufacturers could provide rebates directly to patients. Surgeon General Ladapo said the issue was driven largely by funding and federal changes, not a legal barrier, and said the department had explored alternatives but could not fill the gap with current resources. Senator Rouson asked about the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity, and DCF said its budget includes about $7 million for the substance abuse and mental health data dashboard required by prior legislation.
Public testimony focused heavily on ADAP. Former program leaders and advocates said the proposed changes would reduce enrollment and remove key drugs and insurance-premium support, calling the situation a crisis and criticizing the department for lack of transparency and stakeholder engagement. They urged a pause and collaborative review of the program’s finances. The committee also discussed KidsCare implementation, with AHCA saying federal conditions and litigation have delayed the expansion. The meeting ended after the chair noted the budget would still need to be adjusted for updated Medicaid caseload estimates, and the committee adjourned without taking any formal votes or other action on the budget items.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- based on I I I know um allocate funds based on I I I know need,<00:09:02.040><c> but</c><00:09:02.160
- But when we decide there's an urgent need, I think that funds should go for that need.
- need need I<00:16:12.200><c> think</c><00:16:12.400><c> that</c><00:16:12.640><c> funds</c><00:16:13.480
- should go for that I think that funds should go for that need.
- I'm content with the way it is, and, you know, I get frustrated that we use one-time funding for needs
Committee:
Senate Finance
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Postsecondary Education & Workforce Jan 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The State Need Grant provided funding up from 0 to 70% at a prorated amount.
- State funds, referred to as the near general fund outlook, include the general fund state account, education
- State funds per state-funded FTE, and this is using constant dollars.
- So the pie on the left is just the NGFO funds, so near general fund outlook funds.
- He needed it to balance.
Summary:
The Postsecondary Education & Workforce Committee held a work session on higher education funding and then public hearings on House Bill 2148 and House Bill 2132. In the work session, OPR staff Kate Henry reviewed enrollment trends, tuition policy, financial aid programs, and funding sources for Washington’s public colleges and universities. Members asked about FTE versus headcount, tuition growth, the Washington College Grant, College Bound, and the Workforce Education Investment Account. Henry explained how state appropriations, tuition, and financial aid interact, and noted that higher education makes up a significant share of the state budget. No votes were taken during the work session.
House Bill 2148 would create a “pay-it-forward” graduate student aid program administered by the Student Achievement Council, allowing students to receive tuition support and later make income-based contributions for up to 15 years to fund future students. Sponsor Rep. Reid said the bill is intended to offset the loss of federal graduate loan options and support workforce needs in fields like nursing, teaching, and research. Committee questions focused on repayment terms, possible caps, interest, and program capitalization. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive, with students and advocates arguing the bill would expand access to graduate education and avoid predatory private debt.
House Bill 2132 would limit disclosure and retention of personally identifying and financial information from WASFA applications, generally requiring the Student Achievement Council and institutions to stop retaining that information after one year following the award year unless needed for an audit or appeal. Rep. Leavitt said the bill is meant to reduce unnecessary long-term retention of sensitive student data and improve privacy and security. Supporters, including student leaders and immigrant-advocacy groups, said the bill would protect vulnerable students and increase trust in the aid process. Some members raised concerns about whether shorter retention could affect future record needs, including immigration-related documentation, but the sponsor said students can keep their own records and that the bill preserves audit authority. The hearing ended without a vote, and the chair noted an upcoming busy schedule and cutoff deadlines.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Oct 8th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- And as that funding has decreased and continues to decrease, we need to find methodologies to get to
- We've been able to manage it with existing funds, but we're getting down to what's nice to have and needs
- Need.
- So that is missing when you heard that the clerk's office needs funding for that they issued 80,000 protection
- We need that for funding and advocacy.
Summary:
The committee met for an interim appropriations presentation hearing focused on justice administration agencies. Members heard budget requests from the State Attorney’s Office, Public Defenders, the Justice Administrative Commission, Regional Conflict Counsel, Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, and the Guardian ad Litem Office, followed by a presentation from the Department of Juvenile Justice and a brief public comment from a nonprofit advocate. The chair noted that presentations from the Department of Law Enforcement and the Commission on Offender Review would be moved to a later meeting.
The state attorney requested funding to true up underfunded circuits under the existing formula, staff 14 new criminal judgeships, replace declining VOCA victim-services funding with general revenue, and cover a projected due process shortfall. The public defender asked for a higher starting salary for assistant public defenders, funding to restore balance in circuits where public defenders lag behind state attorneys, and staffing for new criminal judgeships. Regional conflict counsel and capital collateral regional counsel also sought salary adjustments, additional attorneys and case costs, and competitive area differential funding to address recruitment and retention issues. The Justice Administrative Commission requested funding for Florida PALM readiness and implementation and for IT hardware and software replacement; it also relayed a clerks’ request for reimbursement related to injunctions for protection, Baker Act, Marchman Act, and sexually violent predator cases.
The Guardian ad Litem Office said it now has a guardian ad litem for every child in Florida and requested salary increases for senior and managing attorneys to reduce turnover. The Department of Juvenile Justice presented a much larger budget request to expand residential and detention capacity, increase per diem rates, renovate and replace aging facilities, fund the Broward detention center rebuild, improve cybersecurity and the juvenile information system, and cover rising lease costs. Members asked questions about staffing, compensation, detention and residential treatment needs, mental health and substance-use services, and the Broward project timeline. A nonprofit advocate then asked for better data collection on protection orders and related court actions to support funding for domestic violence and recovery services. The committee adjourned without taking any formal votes on the budget requests.