Transcript Highlights:

• stands um and it's a matching grant stands um and it's a matching grant program<00:05:12.680>
• It was not based on a lot like a lot of appropriations for a grant program.
• grant program which we administer to the grant program which we understand<00:27:14.480> in<00
• program for ruem to establish a grant program for the<00:36:54.400> solid<00:36:54.680> waste
• anticipate great interest in that grant anticipate great interest in that grant program<00:36:59.319

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee held a hearing on House Bill 619, which would appropriate $1 million to the Solid Waste Management Fund for matching grants to municipalities and businesses for waste diversion projects, with 50% of the money prioritized for food waste diversion. Representative Karen Ebel, the sponsor, said the fund would help New Hampshire meet its solid waste diversion goals, preserve landfill capacity, and support composting, recycling, and related local business activity. She cited New London’s composting program as an example, saying 172 families participated and 32 tons of food waste were diverted in 2024, reducing tipping and trucking costs. Committee members asked about possible alternative funding sources, including a surcharge on landfill tipping fees. Ebel said many other states use such surcharges to fund recycling and solid waste programs, while New Hampshire relies on general funds. She also said the current fund balance was about $900,000 because some money had been used for staffing, and that the grant program was still in rulemaking. Questions also focused on how household composting works and whether municipalities could generate revenue from compost; Ebel said participation is optional, most programs use buckets and transfer stations, and the main benefit is cost savings from reduced disposal rather than compost sales. Testimony in support came from the New Hampshire Municipal Association and the Northeast Resource Recovery Association. Both said municipalities are interested in food waste diversion and composting, that these programs can reduce long-term disposal costs and property tax pressure, and that there is growing demand for technical assistance and grant support. The Northeast Resource Recovery Association said food waste makes up about 24% of municipal and business waste, that fewer than two dozen communities and fewer than two dozen businesses currently offer such services, and that a City of Lebanon pilot program saw about 30% savings by composting on site. The Department of Environmental Services said it was not taking a position but is working on rulemaking for the grant program and expects strong interest from municipalities, private composters, farmers, and anaerobic digester operators. No vote or final action was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Job Growth Grant Fund—this Legislature, two years ago in 2023, allowed the Job Growth Grant Fund to
• fund housing programs.
• And so we do fund a number of housing grants through our Small Cities Program.
• Yeah. job growth grant fund this legislature two years ago in 2023 allowed the job with grant fund can
• Between our bureaus, we manage 21 federal grants. Those grants are divided among our bureaus.

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met to organize for the session, take roll, and hear introductory remarks from members and agency heads. Members briefly introduced themselves and their districts, with several noting transportation, economic development, emergency response, military, and hurricane recovery issues in their areas. Chair Shove then outlined the subcommittee’s jurisdiction and current-year budget, noting a total of about $20.3 billion, with most funding coming from trust funds and only a small share from general revenue. The committee also heard that upcoming meetings would include presentations from major agencies in the subcommittee’s purview. The first agency presentation was from the Department of Military Affairs and the Florida National Guard. Major General John Haas described the Guard’s three missions—supporting national security, responding to state emergencies, and adding value to the state—and highlighted deployments for hurricanes, border security support, and ongoing support to the Department of Corrections. He emphasized that the Guard is understrength relative to Florida’s size and demand, said recruiting is strong, and identified force structure growth as the main challenge. Members asked about aircraft, funding sources, and recruiting; Haas explained the Guard’s helicopter and fixed-wing fleet, said aircraft purchases are funded through legislative appropriations, and reported strong interest in the Florida State Guard’s recruiting pipeline. Executive Director Mark Thieme then described the Florida State Guard’s expansion into air, ground, and maritime capabilities, including Black Hawks, boats, drones, canine search-and-rescue teams, and ground support units. He said the agency supported immigration enforcement and hurricane response, and asked for continued legislative support to expand aviation, maritime, and medical capabilities. Members praised the Guard’s disaster response work and asked about aircraft, funding, and staffing. Secretary Cord Byrd of the Department of State followed, focusing on election administration, election security, the SunBiz and voter registration IT systems, arts and culture, corporations, libraries, and historical resources. He said Florida’s election system remains a national model, reported two prosecutions for non-citizen voting, and discussed modernization needs for legacy IT systems. The committee also asked about voter lookup tools, password privacy for SunBiz, and arts funding vetoes. Secretary Alex Kelly of the Department of Commerce described the agency’s broad portfolio, including workforce, economic, community, and international commerce functions, plus housing recovery, broadband, small business support, rural infrastructure, defense-community grants, and law enforcement recruitment bonuses. He said access to capital is the biggest barrier for small businesses and noted ongoing work with CareerSource, the Department of Corrections, and other partners on workforce and reentry. Secretary Jared Perdue of the Department of Transportation then outlined FDOT’s record budget and five-year work program, emphasizing emergency response, preservation and maintenance, safety, and major investments in roads, ports, airports, transit, and spaceport infrastructure. He said the department has removed millions of cubic yards of storm debris, is ahead of schedule on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, and faces a large unfunded project backlog. Members asked about supply chain issues, project priorities, and workforce needs, and Perdue said FDOT is open to collaboration on recruitment and retention.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have outstanding programs.
• And I think it's a great program.
• Uh, the grants include, um, uh, They provide grants for firetrucks, protective gear, equipment, and training
• , that's known as the EMPG grant, Emergency Management Grant. performance grant.
• Additionally, a modest investment in the Rural Veterinarian Incentive Program, a loan repayment program

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we created this program.
• So we created this program.
• You can apply for other federal grant programs for that purpose outside of grants that would be available
• programs.
• We're trying to get the program up and going. We have it going. It's an award-winning program.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The committee met to hear Senate Bill 1586, sponsored by Senator Ben Brown, which would address abandoned, ownerless landfills in Missouri. Brown described a constituent’s discovery of contamination near an abandoned landfill in St. Clair and argued the state has at least 29 similar sites, creating risks to water supplies and public health. He said the bill evolved through multiple versions and now keeps the solid waste districts intact while redirecting 10% of tipping fees to fund environmental studies, investigation, remediation, and management of ownerless landfills. The bill also would clarify seller disclosure requirements by requiring written, dated notice delivered by mail. Members questioned the fiscal impact and whether the 10% diversion would effectively amount to a larger share of district revenues. Brown said he was open to further discussion but emphasized the need to fund at least initial studies and to create an interim committee for broader stakeholder input next year. Supportive testimony came from University of Missouri engineering dean Marisa Crusoe, who said the bill provides both a clearer regulatory framework and a stable funding stream, and that studies are a necessary first step to determine cleanup costs and potential reuse of the sites. Opposition testimony came from solid waste district representatives, including Chris Busson, Diana Bryant, and Lacey Miller. They argued the districts already perform important recycling and household hazardous waste functions, that the proposed cut would significantly reduce local programs and staffing, and that DNR already has authority to address abandoned landfills. They also said the districts are subject to oversight and that the system has generally worked, while warning that consolidation or funding cuts would harm local recycling, grants, and hazardous waste services. No vote was taken, and the hearing concluded without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to acknowledge the Spay and Neuter Action Program, Safe Haven Animal Sanctuary, Action Programs
• So I'm sure I think you've heard that in October of 2025, there were grants issued out of this program
• The money is there for more grants.
• So this grant program is also accessible to a municipality, so municipalities, the tribes that work,
• And I would expect that the study would compare urban composting programs with rural composting programs

Bills: SB38, SB46, SB18

Keywords: SB38, pet food, registered pet food, registration fee, fees, sunset repeal, repeal of repeal, revenue, state fee, business regulation, animal feed, pet food registration, New Mexico, SB46, organic waste, solid waste, waste diversion, composting, compost feedstock, waste characterization study

Transcript Highlights:

• for competitive grants.
• We have agencies for grants because we also provide them funding to give grants to other organizations
• So the idea is to do grants.
• This bill is a community festival grant. This will establish community festival grants.
• A few years ago, the Minnesota Poet Laureate Program was established, and this is a program where we're

Transcript Highlights:

• One of the most successful grant programs that we have at DPS is the ICPOET grant program in OJP.
• Uh one of the most<00:38:25.280> successful<00:38:25.760> grant<00:38:26.079> programs
• grant programs that we have<00:38:26.880> at<00:38:27.119> DPS<00:38:27.599> is
• ><00:38:28.960> program have at DPS is the IC Poet grant program have at DPS is the IC Poet grant
• or that county or statewide grant or that county or statewide grant program<02:13:29.760> to<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if there is a grant, we also say that a grant doesn't excuse and doesn't forget.
• And he ended up with a grant.
• And he ended up with a grant. But so I think that And he ended up with a grant.
• The fact that you have already granted, that the parole board has granted parole, and now this person
• Where they are granted parole.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pre-K grants.
• with funding and program costs.
• in coming years without major changes to the grant and the program structure.
• At the federal level, there are no real mental health funds because of the changes to grant programs.
• Madam Chair, like grant funds?

Transcript Highlights:

• UNDER THIS PROGRAM FEDERAL LAW REQUIRES THAT STATE MEDICAID PROGRAMS MAKE PAYMENTS TO CERTAIN QUALIFIED
• AND $1,231,307,005 IN THE MEDICAL IN GRANTS DONATIONS TRUST FUND.
• WHY DOES THE COST OF THIS PROGRAM INCREASE AND WHAT IS DRIVING THE COST? >> MR. CHAIR? >> Rep.
• OF THE TRANSFER FROM THE KID CARE PROGRAM FROM MEDICAID OVER TO THE KID CARE TO THE CHIP PROGRAM.
• IN THE PREPAID HEALTH PLAN HOSPITAL DIRECT PAYMENT PROGRAM APPROPRIATION.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Schwartner, you talked a little bit about this grant program.
• That is correct it would be a grant program by the comptroller for all participants in counties that
• There is a grant program that Paso County could avail themself of and would be participating in.
• It simply removes the population cap. eligibility for the 20 million dollar grant program.
• There's a grant program you've got to apply for. No guarantee. No indemnification for lawsuits.

Keywords: HCR65, HCR19, Senate resolutions, memorial, community impact, legislative proceedings

Summary: The recent Senate meeting primarily covered two resolutions, HCR65 and HCR19, both of which were passed unanimously with little to no opposition. HCR65 was introduced in memory of Tracy Lee Vincent of Longview, while HCR19 was presented to honor the late Terrell Lynn Roberts of Angleton. The meeting included brief addresses from several senators, who shared personal reflections on the impacts of the individuals being honored and expressed gratitude for their contributions to the community. This collaborative atmosphere showcased the members' capacity for camaraderie and respect, emphasizing the importance of human connection in legislative proceedings.

Transcript Highlights:

• Program, commonly referred to as the REMSA Grant, and the EMS Personnel Training Grant Program.
• The EMS Personnel Training Grant Program offsets the cost of initial and continuing education for EMS
• A new initiative, the Rural Health Board, A new initiative, the Rural Health Transformation Program Grant
• Importantly, the Rural Health Transformation Program grant does not replace existing EMS resources.
• The first one was one for the... ...delinquent account grant program.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee was called to order, a quorum was established, and the minutes from the prior meeting were approved. The first major presentation came from Montana Public Employees Retirement System executive director William Hollahan, who gave an overview of Montana’s Volunteer Firefighters’ Compensation Act plan. He explained that the plan covers volunteer firefighters in unincorporated areas, is funded by 5% of state fire insurance premium taxes, and currently serves 228 departments with about 2,936 active members and 1,242 retirees. He described eligibility rules, annual training and reporting requirements, benefit levels for partial and full pensions, disability, death, medical, and funeral benefits, and said the plan is actuarially sound with roughly $60 million in assets and a funded ratio slightly above 100%. Committee members asked about prior-service credit, whether EMS personnel are included, the effect on recruitment and retention, and whether expanding coverage would require a funding analysis; Hollahan said prior service is not credited, EMS is not currently included, and any expansion would need financial review. Tim Walleen of Workforce Safety and Insurance then presented a draft North Dakota workers’ compensation solution for volunteer firefighters and volunteer EMS personnel. He explained that volunteer responders are already covered by workers’ comp for medical and wage-loss benefits, but the proposal would set a minimum annual wage of $30,000 for calculating wage-loss benefits for qualifying volunteers, with the benefit paid at two-thirds of that amount. Representative Porter suggested tying the volunteer definition to existing code rather than a fixed dollar amount, and Walleen agreed. Questions focused on whether search and rescue or other volunteer emergency services could be included, whether departments would face new paperwork, and whether volunteer organizations can already elect coverage; Walleen said there would be no additional paperwork and that volunteer coverage is already available. The committee also heard from volunteer fire service representatives and the state fire marshal. An Oakes-area firefighter, Mr. Olson, testified that small departments are struggling with retention, communication, and administrative burdens, especially around separate bookkeeping and funding rules for donated or fundraising money, and he said departments need clearer guidance from the state. State Fire Marshal Dr. Matthew Clark introduced himself and outlined a broader effort to improve education, support, and coordination for fire departments, including a planned 10% audit of certificates of existence beginning in 2027, more outreach through his office, and better assistance with training, reporting, and grant access. He said his office is authorized under current law to provide these services, but the role has been vague and underused. Finally, Arnagard Rural Fire District Chief Rick Schreiber testified in favor of new recruitment and retention ideas, including retirement-style benefits, health insurance, tax incentives, scholarships, grants, and more remote or regional training. He said volunteer departments are losing members, that local tax and donation funds are already stretched, and that any new retirement or incentive program should be sustainable and likely involve a mix of state and local support.

Transcript Highlights:

• The third objective was to identify funding and grants obtained by the program and determine if funds
• The program received a $50,000 grant from the Central Arkansas Planning and Development District, which
• The third objective was to identify funding and grants obtained by the program and determine if funds
• The program received a $50,000 grant from the Central Arkansas Planning and Development District, which
• The study abroad, I think, was actually paid for through an external grant that the program pulled down

Summary: The committee first adopted prior minutes and then heard several standing committee audit reports. The executive committee report noted audit and special reports scheduled for the month, one outstanding committee-requested report, and a request to gather information on a possible special report for February. The city/county/local report covered delinquent private water and sewer audits, including reinstatement of turn-back funds for 17 entities, 59 of 64 delinquent 2023 entities filing reports, and action on the town of Daisy requiring repayment of misused street funds. The education report filed three higher education audit reports and deferred one Northwest Arkansas Community College report. The state agencies report filed four reports and deferred audits of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism for more information on corrective actions. The committee then received a special audit review of the Charles W. Donaldson Scholars Academy at UA Little Rock. Auditors said the program received $10 million in desegregation funding and a $50,000 grant, awarded $1.87 million in scholarships to 379 students, and saw 116 students graduate. The review found many scholarship eligibility exceptions, including awards above the maximum and to students who did not meet GPA, enrollment-hour, or full-time requirements, and numerous disbursement documentation and authorization problems. Committee members sharply questioned the program’s oversight, the role of former staff, the use of funds for travel and cultural activities, and whether any improper spending should be referred for criminal review. UALR representatives said the program was overseen as a sponsored program, that some controls were later strengthened, and that Philander Smith only verified enrollment rather than eligibility. The committee voted to table the report until the next meeting and asked staff to gather the federal court order and additional information. Finally, the committee reviewed the annual report on matters referred to prosecutors and the Attorney General for 2024. Staff said 164 matters were referred, with 28 criminal charges filed, 39 still under review, 3 dismissed, 5 pending in court, and 96 not charged; convictions in 20 cases led to fines, restitution, audit costs, and some bond trust fund payments. Prosecutor representatives explained that many referrals do not become criminal cases because of intent, timing, or other legal limits, and said they generally seek restitution even when charges are not filed. Members asked for more standardized reporting, including whether restitution was recovered and why cases were not prosecuted, and discussed possible training and a checklist for future reports. The committee then voted to file the report and adjourned, with the next meeting set for February 12-13.

Transcript Highlights:

• few of our really highly rated programs few of our really highly rated programs these<00:09:12.839
• showing you just the size of our program showing you just the size of our program so<00:10:37.360
• world-class excellent research program world-class excellent research program we<00:10:41.399>
• specific topics you’re interested in. um the uh ni NIH grants with Advanced um the uh ni NIH grants
• and other grants sometimes seed grants and other grants startup<00:24:57.000> funds<00:24:57.320

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee met and approved the minutes from the previous meeting. The chair noted that agency overviews from the Office of Higher Education and other state agencies were not available, so the committee proceeded with University of Minnesota presentations instead. The committee also reviewed posted committee rules. University of Minnesota representatives gave an overview of the university’s research enterprise, describing it as a system of five campuses with a possible expansion to St. Cloud, and highlighting research strengths across campuses in agriculture, energy, natural resources, health, and the Twin Cities flagship campus. They said the university has more than $1.3 billion in annual research expenditures, receives most of its research funding from federal sources, and is ranked highly for both overall research and interdisciplinary research. Examples discussed included the Clinical and Translational Science Institute, the Forever Green initiative, and research tied to sustainable crops, health, and commercialization. Members asked questions about specific research areas, including biodegradable or renewable plastics, wheat research, food dyes, health and environmental toxins, and the market for winter camelina and winter pennycress. University staff said they could follow up with more detailed information and explained that the winter crop work is intended to become market-driven over time, while also improving soil health and creating new revenue streams for farmers. They also clarified that the university’s federal research funding includes money from NIH, NSF, DOE, DOD, and other agencies, and that the “other” funding category includes foundations, subawards, and internal university seed funding. The committee then heard a second University of Minnesota presentation focused on partnerships, commercialization, and workforce development. Testimony highlighted collaborations with industry and government partners such as U.S. Steel, 3M, Medtronic, Cisco, and defense-related industry leaders, as well as programs supporting microelectronics, AI, cybersecurity, and sustainable aviation fuels. No formal votes were taken beyond approving the minutes, and the committee ended the segment by moving on to the next testifier.

Transcript Highlights:

• acres enrolled in this program.
• And then the third program is an Appalachian grant program.
• Oh, dear—grant access. How do I do that? Oh, dear—grant access. How do I do that? Oh, dear.
• the cooling corridors program.
• grants.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on natural and working lands, carbon sequestration, and related provisions in Governor Healey’s $3 billion Mass Ready Act. EEA officials described the bill’s investments in flooding, land protection, tree planting, wetlands restoration, biodiversity, dams, seawalls, and coastal resilience, along with permitting reforms intended to speed ecological restoration projects. They also outlined current programs on resilient lands, healthy soils, forest climate solutions, forest reserves, and urban tree planting, and said the administration expects natural and working lands to offset up to 7 million metric tons of residual emissions by 2050, while acknowledging that additional strategies will be needed to close the gap to the state’s 10-million-ton offset target. Committee members pressed EEA on the cost of reaching the 30% conservation-by-2030 goal, the loss of a federal USDA grant of about $22 million, the adequacy of current sequestration estimates, and whether the state should consider regional approaches or statutory changes. EEA said current state conservation spending has been about $35 million to $40 million annually, that the Mass Ready Act is intended to help double the pace of conservation, and that federal funding remains uncertain. Senators also raised concerns about PILOT payments for state-owned land, the management of state forests, and the proposed Chapter 91 general license for restoration projects. EEA said the bill’s forest reserve language is meant to create a more durable designation process while still allowing limited active management. Advocates from The Nature Conservancy and Mass Audubon supported stronger investment in land conservation and restoration, saying natural and working lands are a cost-effective climate strategy that also provides biodiversity, water quality, and public health benefits. They urged passage of legislation to increase funding, improve PILOT equity, and strengthen land-use planning and mitigation requirements. They also backed removing Chapter 91 licensing requirements for ecological restoration, arguing that the current process adds cost and delay. In a later panel, a forest scientist and an urban forestry advocate emphasized the carbon and cooling benefits of mature trees, called for greater protection of older forests, and supported bills to expand municipal reforestation and modernize public shade tree law. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Grant Bosi, deputy chief committee.
• of be that if you were in this program, um, be that if you were in this program, um, LBA<00:16:26.000
• Um, Chair Ward and Grant, Thank you.
• The pro the the program is already open. The pro the the program is already open.
• Um thank you, Grant. So if Warden. Um thank you, Grant.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For item 13, in particular, this isn't really a program-to-program transfer.
• programs each pay period.
• programs each pay period.
• So you said programs.
• So the agency does do regular reports as to which people are getting recipient grants from this program

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Grant.
• We also have a federal grant.
• We also have a federal grant.
• are facilitated and be very clear versus create a grants program, so to make sure that we abide by Article
• <01:26:09.199> sure create a grants program so to make sure create a grants program so to

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• are eligible for Pell Grants to include short-term workforce training programs lasting between eight
• Expanding Pell Grants to these programs has real potential to meet workforce needs by training working
• AB 1888 would require any work performed for the California Safe Home Grant Program to be performed by
• The grant program is to be performed by a skilled and trained workforce paid with prevailing wages.
• Last year, AB 888 by Assembly Member Calderon established a California Safe Home Grant Program to help

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When the legislature renewed this program during the 2023 session, program payment amounts were based
• that year are eligible for the program. that year are eligible for the program.
• Program, SNAP. Program, SNAP.
• our goal with the program. our goal with the program. Coach<00:21:55.679> Anderson.
• grants? Thank you. grants? Thank you. >> Um,<00:30:33.440> Mr.

Keywords: 1183, house