Transcript Highlights:

• Not all of them are currently funded, but there are 13 different acts that authorize those funding programs
• There are a couple of programs that currently fund schools.
• We also operate a charter school funding program. It's just getting its legs underneath it.
• We've not yet funded anything in that newer program, but we are putting in place all the pieces needed
• We added housing as an explicit use of the Public Project Revolving Fund, which is a AAA-funded program

Transcript Highlights:

• Funds will be used to support the development of a statewide registered teacher apprenticeship program
• Funds will be used to support the development of a statewide registered teacher apprenticeship program
• Funds will be used to support the development of a statewide registered teacher apprenticeship program
• Funds will be used to support the development of a statewide registered teacher apprenticeship program
• <00:04:37.400> funds teacher apprenticeship program funds teacher apprenticeship program funds

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to state trust funds for use on specified transportation and environmental programs.
• Affordable housing programs remain level funded at $286.4 million.
• fully fund the inspection grants and program administration.
• is higher than any state-funded program is maintained at.
• in the Hometown Heroes Program, no new funding for My Safe Florida Home Program, a decrease in water

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Donnell C. Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. A quorum was announced, the journal was approved, and the Speaker said the chamber would take up 11 budget conference reports, with debate and final votes on each report. The first report considered was HB 7031E, the tax package, followed by HB 501E, the state budget appropriations bill. On HB 7031E, Chair Duggan explained that the conference report included a range of tax reductions and tax-related changes, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related provisions, reductions in certain taxes and fees, and new exemptions or administrative clarifications. He said the package also added items such as sales tax relief for certain university construction projects, a tennis admissions exemption, and changes to agricultural property tax treatment, and that the amendment reduced state and local tax revenues by $272.2 million. Members questioned the bill about the child care tax credit reduction from three years to one, the homestead exemption provision for certain diplomats and foreign service personnel, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the inclusion of firearm accessories and tennis tickets in sales tax holidays. After structured debate, the House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began the conference report on HB 501E, the $114.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which was described as below the prior year’s spending level and leaving more than $14 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major allocations across education, higher education, IT, health care, transportation and economic development, justice, state administration, and agriculture/natural resources. Highlights included increased FEFP funding and veteran teacher raises, full funding for Bright Futures, major IT modernization projects, Medicaid and behavioral health funding, transportation and local infrastructure spending, correctional and law enforcement investments, fire station and emergency response funding, and large environmental and water-quality appropriations. Members asked detailed questions about school voucher fraud oversight, scholarship funding, teacher raises, preeminence funding, ADAP changes, SNAP data tools and error rates, Medicaid rate changes, prison wastewater monitoring, and other budget items, but the transcript ends during the budget questions before final action on HB 501E is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• We recommend this given that funding the program one year in arrears can place the state in a difficult
• This loan program helped our graduate students fund their education, as there is very limited grant funding
• Providing funding for that before being able to expand program eligibility.
• It's funding for ESL literacy programs at the library, which is set to run out in June of 2026.
• Without this funding, programs will be significantly impacted.

Summary: The subcommittee on Education Finance heard an overview of the governor’s budget proposals and higher education financial aid trends, with a major focus on the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), Cal Grant spending, and the effects of recent federal student aid changes. The Department of Finance said the budget would fully fund Cal Grant at projected levels and reduce MCS coverage from 35% to 17.5% of unmet need in 2026-27, while the Legislative Analyst’s Office supported considering the reduction as a cost-saving measure given out-year deficits. UC and CSU representatives opposed the cut, saying MCS is important to affordability and debt-free degree goals; they estimated average awards would fall substantially and that campuses do not have funds to backfill the loss. The Student Aid Commission said the proposal would reduce aid but simplify administration, and members questioned how lower awards would affect students, borrowing, and work-study options. No vote was taken, and the issue was held open for possible future action. The committee then discussed federal changes to student loans and Pell Grant policy under H.R. 1, including caps on Parent PLUS loans, elimination of Grad PLUS loans, and new proration rules for federal direct loans based on enrollment intensity. The LAO said these changes would likely push some borrowers into the private market, especially graduate and professional students and some parents of students at private institutions. CSU said the changes would affect thousands of graduate and part-time students and could reduce access by about $97 million in loan availability for part-time borrowers, while UC said the new definitions of professional degrees were too restrictive and would reduce access for nursing, teaching, law, dentistry, and other programs. Community colleges said they use relatively little federal loan aid but are monitoring Workforce Pell. Members raised concerns about workforce impacts, social mobility, and whether the state should consider alternative loan programs or other ways to reduce student costs. This issue was also held open. In the segment financial aid update, the LAO reported Cal Grant spending is projected to rise to about $3.2 billion in 2026-27, driven by more recipients and higher awards tied to UC and CSU tuition increases, while CSAC said FAFSA and CADAA applications are up significantly year over year. CSU, community colleges, and UC described their aid packaging and rising aid totals, with CSU reporting over $5.5 billion in aid to 381,000 students, community colleges reporting over $4.3 billion to more than 920,000 students, and UC reporting $3.17 billion in grant aid to undergraduates. Members asked about Cal Grant reform, application trends, and long-term outcomes; UC and community colleges pointed to alumni and wage dashboards, and the LAO noted the state’s Cradle to Career data effort. The committee then took public comment, including testimony on library funding and other education-related priorities, and concluded by holding the issues open without formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• But it isn't general fund, but in the Health Care Affordability Fund program, there are still a couple
• for services, but does leave a funding need for the DD waiver program.
• for services, but does leave a funding need for the DD waiver program.
• And so we need to make sure that those programs are adequately funded.
• We did request IT enhancement funding to automate the summer EBT program.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The program awards funds to colleges to help develop new or enhance existing initiatives with the purpose
• Madam Chair, I just wanted to ask what is the base funding for this program? Ms.
• <00:12:07.320> the the base funding for this uh program the the base funding for this uh program
• We have four other loan repayment programs. First being a federally funded John R.
• Thank you. amount based on available program funds amount based on available program funds um<01:28:49.440

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And everyone has their match funds, whether it's donations or local funds or tuition funds that they're
• They can use general fund and other appropriated operating funds.
• As has been discussed separately previously, the medical program will receive fixed funding, where the
• This is performance funding for the program completions at the institutions.
• Section 4, and this is where some changes to the University System Capital Building Fund program begin

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Review Committee met to continue work on a draft higher education funding formula and related capital building fund changes. Lisa Johnson of the North Dakota University System updated the committee on the board’s developing policy for low-producing academic programs. She said the board is using a five-year rolling window, with thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, and that programs flagged in three consecutive review cycles would go to the board for review. Possible outcomes include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the policy would account for enrollment, program costs, workforce need, and programs that serve students outside their major. Johnson said the board would likely use an accompanying procedure to consider those factors. She also reported that about 200 programs could potentially be reviewed under current guidance, with 135 inactivated and 112 terminated, and said the process is intended to support quality and stewardship rather than simply cut programs. Jamie Wilkie then reported on the Capital Building Fund. He reviewed the fund’s history, matching requirements, and use for extraordinary repairs, deferred maintenance, and some legislatively authorized projects. He said about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with roughly 78.7% going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Committee members pressed for updated information on how much deferred maintenance has actually been reduced, and several members said they wanted clearer reporting on the return on investment from new buildings versus repairs. NDSU representatives said the tier funding has helped significantly reduce deferred maintenance and allowed demolition and renovation work on campus. The committee also discussed the need for updated five-year facility plans and space-utilization information from the institutions. The committee then began a section-by-section review of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and restructure the capital building fund. The draft would fund UND and NDSU differently from the other nine institutions, use fall enrollment rather than completed credits, add performance funding for completions in in-demand fields, create research incentives for UND and NDSU, and combine capital building fund tiers while changing matching requirements and eligible uses. Members raised concerns about the treatment of professional students, the use of CIP codes, incentives for waivers, and whether the formula should rely on more current data. The committee did not take final action on the draft during this meeting, but it continued detailed discussion and indicated more review would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• So are these programs strictly federal funds, these ones you have here?
• So are these programs strictly federal funds, these ones you have here?
• So are these programs strictly federal funds, these ones you have here?
• So are these programs strictly federal funds, these ones you have here?
• There is one state special education funding program, specifically special education funding, that's

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee Division II met with the New Hampshire Department of Education to review school nutrition programs and related funding. Department staff Melissa White and Kelly Rambo walked through a packet covering the National School Lunch Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Community Eligibility (CEP), After School Snack Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program, explaining that these are federally funded USDA programs, with some state supplemental funding in certain areas. They also reviewed reimbursement rates for lunch, breakfast, child/adult care, and summer meals, noting that summer rates follow calendar-year timing while most others follow the state fiscal year. Members asked several questions about how the funding works, especially the difference between federal reimbursements and the state match. Staff explained that the state lunch line in the budget is a fixed match amount tied to federal participation, while breakfast funding is broken out by meal type and reimbursement category. They also discussed why FY 2022 federal spending was much higher during COVID, when USDA covered meals at the free rate for all students, and why FY 2023 and FY 2024 dropped as normal income-eligibility rules returned. A committee member also asked about the “severe need lunch” two-cent rate, and staff said they did not know USDA’s formula. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on summer meals and the distinction between the Summer Food Service Program and Summer EBT. Staff explained that SFSP provides meals at approved sites, which can be open or closed sites, while Summer EBT is a separate DHHS-operated benefit program that provides funds to families. They said some schools or sites may not qualify under USDA rules, but eligible children can often use another nearby open site, and the department posts an interactive map and phone line to help families find locations. The committee also discussed the Community Eligibility Provision. Staff said New Hampshire currently has three CEP schools, that the eligibility threshold had recently been lowered from 40% to 25% identified students, and that the program allows participating schools to offer free meals to all students while the local district covers the non-federal share. Members asked whether any districts in the 25% to 40% range had joined; staff said no. The department offered to provide the eligibility report in Excel and noted that the CEP intent is to reduce application burden, though the lower threshold can make the local cost share harder for some districts to absorb.

Transcript Highlights:

• To date, funded sites and districts have accomplished much in the short amount of time since the program
• the literacy and math coach program, are supplemental to that funding.
• Meals for All Program, including increased participation and the $150 million in one-time funding for
• A UC Berkeley study in 2020 cited a $5.8 billion funding need for these programs.
• For that, we urge maintaining full funding for this program, including Kitchen Infrastructure Grants,

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• programs. programs and expect recurring funding for the programs for at least three years.
• and make sure that we’re funding these programs across the state.
• One of the programs that we fund tends to be a high-cost item: K-12 Plus programming.
• To have three-year funding, we have not had consistent funding for either one of these programs.
• Schools within a district get certain funds or programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• These scholarship programs are funded through three primary sources.
• authority to draw down from the Higher Education Program Fund.
• program, whether or not that funding can be used for that program, that very important program that
• And if it's not funded to us, it does affect our other programming.
• And if it's not funded to us, it does affect our other programming.

Bills: SB37, SB29

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach

Transcript Highlights:

• And the top line is spending from all available sources, all available fund sources spent on program
• funds for strictly EL-related program services.
• EL program expenditures from EL categorical funds in that green line and then again from all fund sources
• , how funds from the Professional Learning Grant Program were spent.
• , how funds from the Professional Learning Grant Program were spent.

Keywords: 1204, all

Summary: The Senate and House Education Committee approved the March 9 and 10 minutes and then heard a presentation on the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program from Department of Education staff and three third-grade teachers from Cabot, Poyen, and Drew Central. The teachers described the year-long fellowship for high-performing merit pay recipients, saying it provided collaboration with educators across the state, shared resources, and ideas they brought back to their districts. Members asked about the teachers’ experience levels, how they shared information locally, and whether the program should be expanded to more teachers and districts. A major focus of the discussion was third-grade reading, the new ATLAS testing system, and the state’s third-grade retention law. The teachers said they do not teach to the test, but use standards, data, interventions, small groups, and relationships to help students grow. They described progress monitoring throughout the year, early screening in K-2, and interventions such as before-school tutoring, RTI meetings, and co-teaching. One teacher reported that six students in a small group improved 10 to 15 points on ATLAS, and another said a student who started the year reading four words per minute improved significantly with targeted support. Secretary Jacob Oliva said the state is trying to create clarity and alignment through Arkansas Learns, science-of-reading support, literacy coaches, and faster test-result turnaround, with student scores now available within about 24 hours and district-level results expected later in the summer. Members also asked about student poverty, trauma, ACEs, DHS involvement, social workers, community supports, and the role of counselors. The teachers emphasized that relationship-building is essential, especially for students facing unstable home situations, and described local supports such as backpack food programs, church donations, fire department incentives, and family assistance. Oliva said the fellowship was intentionally small in its first year because it targeted top-tier merit pay recipients, but he expects participation to grow. He also said merit pay and fellowship eligibility spans many grade levels and subjects, including kindergarten and hard-to-staff areas, and that D and F schools receive state literacy coaches. No additional committee votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• fully fund the inspection grants and program administration.
• is higher than any state-funded program is maintained at.
• Previously funded under a governor's executive order, nine-year program.
• in the Hometown Heroes Program, no new funding for My Safe Florida Home Program, a decrease in water
• in the Hometown Heroes Program, no new funding for My Safe Florida Home Program, a decrease in water

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Don Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. The chamber announced it would take up 11 budget conference committee reports, with no third-reading bills or special-order calendar items. Members were reminded that conference reports were subject to debate but not amendment, and that the required review periods had been satisfied. The first major action was on HB 7031E, the tax package. Representative Duggan explained that the conference report included a mix of retained, modified, and new tax provisions, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related changes, reductions in certain gaming and carbon-related taxes, changes to child care and documentary stamp tax credits, a new refund process for public works construction tax paid by universities and colleges, and other tax administration changes. Debate focused on the bill’s consumer impact, the reduction of the child tax credit from three years to one, the inclusion of firearm accessories in a sales tax holiday, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the homestead exemption provision for certain deployed diplomatic and foreign service personnel. Critics argued the package favored niche or corporate interests over broad affordability relief, while supporters said it provided targeted tax relief and reflected conference negotiations. The House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began presenting the conference report for HB 501E, the state budget, which totaled $114.5 billion for fiscal year 2026-27 and was described as below the prior year’s spending level while maintaining reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major budget areas: pre-K-12 funding included an increase in FEFP, salary increases for veteran teachers, stabilization funding, and support for declining enrollment; higher education included full Bright Futures funding, workforce programs, college operating support, university initiatives, and school guardian expansion; IT funding focused on Palm, ACCESS, APD’s I-Connect replacement, corrections systems, emergency management systems, and cybersecurity grants; health care funding covered Medicaid, nursing home rates, waiver provider increases, ADAP funding and restructuring, child welfare, and behavioral health; transportation and economic development included housing, cultural grants, jobs and rural infrastructure, Visit Florida, Space Florida, highway patrol equipment, and local transportation projects; justice funding included correctional construction, juvenile justice facilities, law enforcement grants, and clerk and due process reimbursements; state administration included fire stations, constrained counties, building maintenance, and Safe Florida Home; and agriculture/natural resources funding emphasized Everglades restoration, water quality, land acquisition, Florida Forever, state parks, and citrus research. Members then began questioning the budget details, including school voucher accountability, school funding formulas, public defender parity, prison technology, wastewater monitoring in prisons, ADAP policy, SNAP fraud controls and AI-assisted verification, Florida Forever funding, school lunch funding, and coral reef restoration. No final vote on HB 501E appears in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• it can to provide the increased funding for the GATOR program.
• In Alabama, the legislature recently funded 250 million to fund their universal ESA program with almost
• So we just ask that you continue to fund and please consider giving more money and funds to this program
• The program is just not funding tuition.
• We ask that you fully fund the Gator Scholarship Program.

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• That program is self-regulating and self-funding in terms of funding.
• Almost all of our programs are eligible for Texas. water fund allocations.
• Fund and the Rural Water Assistance Fund to target those communities Those are financial assistance programs
• that we didn't have funding for prior to the Water Fund. able to dust those programs off and utilize
• We try to work with them to identify other financial assistance programs. programs, like our D-Fund,

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have the health care access fund funding our health care programs at $1.1 billion and other funds
• Across the program, 54% of our funds are from federal funds and 46% are from the general fund or the
• <00:15:26.440> are the the program 54% of our funds are the the program 54% of our funds are
• 27.000> funded time uh though that program is funded time uh though that program is funded through
• funding, and is entirely federally funded. year on Grant programs um about one year on Grant programs

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• programs, which is allocated through a specific funding model.
• In the Department of Transportation, the work program is fully funded at $12.56 million.
• Senator Davis, we are no longer funding the Canadian drug importation program.
• We are funding for $4 million for a new direct-buy program.
• Is that total funding for the voucher programs, and what is the difference of that funding from last

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The housing trust fund does generate some program income, and under the STB allocations or that act,
• Let's leverage those funds. The next slide is on the preservation in the home improvement program.
• We have two different funds in the Opportunity Enterprise Programming.
• Obviously, the Opportunity Enterprise Revolving Fund, which came as part of the initial program back
• The structure program funded out of our department was something that I just didn't want to bite off

Transcript Highlights:

• funding and program costs.
• Another component of the Healthy Universal School Meals Program funding is having funding available for
• So the first item on here, the uses of the capital development program funds.
• For the capital program that we've done for the general fund, the distributions from the fund are fairly
• The program account could relieve other pressures on the general fund potentially.

Transcript Highlights:

• We administer federal housing funds and state housing programs, specifically outlines some of the programs
• That includes the, uh, the home program that is HUD funded.
• This Housing Opportunity Fund funds several programs within the organization, uh.
• , about a year's worth of program. funding for that program.
• On the 2025 estimate available funding for housing, New Mexico program programs at 1.0 billion.