Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to being the town coordinator, I am also Leyden's grant writer and grant administrator.
• , only to be told I did not receive the grant because my points did not add up to the grant reviewers
• Because this is a climate change grant, and this grant is the only grant that I can apply for which provides
• It doesn't make sense that this grant is not a regional grant.
• As I told Karen Polito when she first announced the Community Compact grants, these grants are so vital

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint committee held a public hearing on several bills covering state administration, land/public housing redevelopment, construction safety, memorialization, records management, rural grant equity, and animal research. Testimony in support of H. 3329 described an inequity in the Governor’s Council reimbursement statute, which currently cuts off travel, meals, and lodging reimbursement after four terms; the witnesses argued this disproportionately burdens members from western Massachusetts and creates geographic and economic barriers to service. The Boston Housing Authority supported legislation for the Brighton/Faneuil Gardens area, saying it would allow a mixed-use redevelopment that replaces all existing public housing units one-for-one, adds new affordable housing, creates replacement rehearsal space for displaced musicians, and preserves prevailing wage standards. A major portion of the hearing focused on S. 2112, a construction safety bill. Suffolk Construction, Boston building trade representatives, and local inspectors testified that the measure would strengthen training, site safety standards, oversight of high-risk work, and enforcement, while helping protect workers and the public and improving retention and recruitment of inspectors. Witnesses said the bill would align Massachusetts more closely with higher safety standards in other states and build on lessons from past construction-related incidents. The committee also heard support for S. 2162, which would create a COVID-19 memorial; the witness emphasized the scale of pandemic deaths in Massachusetts and the educational value of public memorials. Other testimony addressed H. 3321, which would modernize records preservation for registers of deeds by reducing reliance on costly microfilm in an increasingly electronic system; the witness said current law is outdated and expensive. H. 3311, aimed at advancing equity for rural communities receiving state grants, drew support from town officials in Leyden and Ashfield, who said small towns lack staff for grant writing and should be evaluated more on need and regional impact, especially for climate and public safety projects. Finally, S. 2117, concerning animal research, was supported by an animal welfare advocate who urged prohibiting state funds for animal experiments and shifting to non-animal research methods. After the hearing concluded, the chairs noted that additional hearings and polling votes would follow, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we had to cut out a greenhouse, we cut out a gymnasium, and we cut out an entire fine arts wing of
• cut out an cut out a gymnasium, and we cut out an entire<00:20:28.640> fine<00:20:28.880> arts
• entire fine arts wing of our building. entire fine arts wing of our building. uh<00:20:31.120>
• Uh, one, the new high school obviously has all the new state-of-the-art facilities and spaces needed
• > uh, school obviously has all the new uh, school obviously has all the new uh, state-of-the-art

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development met for an information-gathering session and opened by clarifying that the subcommittee would not be voting on budget requests. Because there was no quorum at first, the committee did not take up approval amendments. The first presentation focused on a budget request to incentivize national certification for school social workers and school psychologists. Rep. Vanessa Gracal, along with Amy Oats and Leslie Gilpin, argued for a $500,000 annual appropriation to provide $2,000 salary supplements to nationally certified school social workers and school psychologists working primarily in their certification areas. They said the stipend would help recruit and retain professionals amid shortages, noted that current Kentucky certification numbers are low, and explained the rigorous certification and renewal requirements. In response to questions, they said there is currently no appropriation for this purpose in HB 500 and none they were aware of in HB 6 in 2024. The next topic was school facility funding needs, led by Rep. Bob McCool, Johnson County Superintendent Tom Cochran, Commissioner of Education Robert Fletcher, and other district representatives. They described the “gap funding” issue for school construction projects that had already started before COVID-era inflation sharply increased costs. Johnson County and Harrison County were highlighted as examples of districts that had already committed local funds, passed nickel taxes, and begun construction but now need additional state support to finish projects. Speakers emphasized that many projects were audited and approved, that the state has already funded about half of the gap, and that roughly $130 million more is being sought in HB 500 to complete the remaining work. They stressed that unfinished projects would leave districts with half-built schools and that completing them would bring long-term savings and better facilities for students. The committee then turned to testimony from KASA representatives on the impacts of HB 500 as introduced. The witnesses discussed the importance of school psychology and school social work certification, the benefits of advanced training for student services, and the need to recognize and support highly qualified staff. A member asked whether HB 500 or HB 6 included an appropriation for the certification stipend, and the witnesses answered no. The meeting also included a motion to approve the minutes from the prior meeting once a quorum was present, and the minutes were approved by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the UI cuts, those were grant by grant. Those grants were either eliminated or cut.
• And that would have taken 11 workforce programs, collapsed them into one block grant, and then cut the
• And that would have taken 11 workforce programs, collapsed them into one block grant, and then cut the
• We see events as strong drivers of tourism, so we support events through a grant program called the Tourism
• at the African American Performing Arts Center, which is on the Expo New Mexico campus.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Four County boards create a program the Four County boards create a program in<00:37:03.200>
• in this and then have this program in this and then have this program report<00:37:06.319> up
• Yeah, because I think 206E, part 10, while it goes from this district program to a program, it still
• This was the Performing Arts Special Fund, funded by 1% of ticket revenues at state facilities.
• <01:21:22.880> Arts the Arts this was the uh Performing Arts the Arts this was the uh Performing

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several transportation and arts-related measures. HB 307 on special member plates drew written support from Protect Ohana, and HB 531 on a University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center specialty plate received strong support from the Cancer Center and the American Cancer Society, both emphasizing cancer research, patient care, outreach, and public awareness. HB 706 would require skateboard users under 16 to wear helmets, and HB 1231 would expand red light photo enforcement; both drew support from transportation and safety advocates, while the Judiciary raised concerns about citation volume, staffing, manual processing, and the need for consultation and a phased rollout. The committee also discussed HB 54, which increases penalties for repeated excessive speeding offenses; the Attorney General’s office supported the enforcement rationale and fingerprinting language, while the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it adds harsh penalties and jail time despite broader efforts to reduce excessive punishment. For the camera-enforcement bills, the Department of Transportation said the red-light and speed-camera programs would be expanded gradually, with existing intersections converted first and additional locations added over time, and noted that the system would require about $2 million and significant automation for the Judiciary. The Judiciary repeatedly asked for more time, public input on camera locations, and effective dates that would allow staffing and system changes. On HB 1166, which funds the automated speed enforcement program, DOT proposed technical amendments to make the citations non-moving violations and to align the statute with the red-light program; the Judiciary again said it had no position on the policy but needed time and consultation to absorb the workload. HB 235, a North Shore red-light imaging bill, drew similar Judiciary concerns and support from a testifier who said enforcement would improve compliance and reduce crashes. The committee also heard HB 1159 on commercial harbor evacuations, with Hawaii Emergency Management Agency supporting the bill as a way to give harbor masters enforceable authority to order vessels out during emergencies. The discussion focused on whether the measure would affect all commercial harbor users, including smaller fishing vessels, and whether it would conflict with Coast Guard authority; the bill’s proponents said it would let the state enforce orders already issued by the captain of the port and protect cargo lanes during crises. Finally, HB 17 on the Hawaiʻi Community Development Authority was described by HCDA as a housekeeping and structural bill that would update its purposes, allow it to assist other agencies, and replace multiple county boards with a single program reporting to the 17-member board. DHHL supported the bill because of potential transit and infrastructure benefits for Kapolei and nearby homestead developments, and committee members discussed future financing tools such as improvement districts, TIF, and other mechanisms to fund infrastructure early in the development process.

Transcript Highlights:

• We cannot afford to let this program slip away.
• This program is about helping school lunch programs for poor children to eat balanced, locally sourced
• But it's not because of this program.
• We literally, all we have is a pilot program, the farm-to-school program that was started a few years
• Although I gotta say, the federal government's program is flawed, and we should have our own program

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and also grants for program development and sustainability for those institutions have an approved program
• On October one, we approved programs with an active grant.
• So here's grants last year in 23. 24, we awarded 19 million dollars in grants Fbc TP grants to programs
• grants Fbc TP grants to programs in 23. 24 our invoices paid out was 5.7 million in current at grants
• And of course, many of our programs and our grants cover a job coach.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• programs later?
• It can vary program by program. Yes, it can vary.
• LI-Tech program.
• Will you grant us a waiver?
• been waivers granted.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Director Nominations met to consider Ruby Dylan Williams for Director of the Arizona Department of Housing. Williams described her long career at the department, her work on operational improvements, housing development, manufactured housing, and efforts to expand supply, preserve existing housing, and improve transparency through data and technology. She also said she would work with the legislature, local governments, tribal nations, nonprofits, and private partners, and emphasized the department’s role in addressing housing affordability and homelessness across the housing continuum. Members questioned her about the department’s response to Auditor General findings, including fraud prevention, payment verification, site inspections, and oversight of grantees. Williams said the department had rewritten policies, retrained staff, added stronger controls, and implemented verbal verification steps for wire transfers after a fraud incident. Senators also pressed her on budget priorities, possible cuts, and her view of homelessness policy, with some members characterizing her approach as closer to shelter or transitional housing before permanent placement. Williams said interventions should be individualized and that the department works with local jurisdictions and service providers to match people with appropriate support. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive. Developers, housing industry representatives, and nonprofit partners praised Williams’ private-sector housing finance experience, her knowledge of LIHTC and the QAP process, and her leadership in making the agency more efficient and business-friendly. After debate, the committee voted 3-2 to recommend her confirmation to the full Senate. Two members voted no, citing concerns about her answers on fraud oversight, cost controls, and homelessness policy, while the majority supported advancing her nomination.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to welcome you all to today's hearing of the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports
• We also have increasing use of authorized drones as a part of a performance, and so we’re...
• We also have increasing use of authorized drones as part of a performance, and any conflict with those
• We want to make sure that we're using the revenue to enhance any programs already in place without an
• But the media is arts, entertainment, sports, because there's information that's very conflicting.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism heard three bills. AB 2113, by Assemblymember McKinnor, would prohibit unauthorized drone operation within 400 feet of ticketed outdoor entertainment events with 1,000 or more attendees, creating a $500 infraction to improve crowd safety and emergency response. Support came from Live Nation, the San Francisco 49ers, and BottleRock; opposition was limited to a support-if-amended position from the California Attractions and Parks Association and a less-amended concern from TechNet about impacts on nearby commercial drone use. Members discussed enforcement challenges and the need for a layered state-federal approach, and the bill passed 9-0 to Appropriations. AB 2492, by Assemblymember Gabriel, would create an interagency coordination framework for major sporting events such as the 2027 Super Bowl and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, including planning for security, emergencies, and reducing risks such as trafficking and discrimination. The California Travel Association testified in support, emphasizing the economic importance of these events and the need to reassure visitors about safety. Members noted the bill’s inclusion of watch parties and the need for strong coordination across agencies; it also passed 9-0 to Appropriations. AB 2130, by Assemblymember Haney, would allow the California State Athletic Commission to place sponsor logos on referee and official apparel at boxing and MMA events to generate revenue for fighter retirement benefits and related training, without using the General Fund or raising ticket prices. Support came from Combat U and the UFC, with testimony stressing that California is the only place offering this type of retirement benefit and that the bill would help support fighters after their careers. The committee described it as a targeted but important measure, and it passed 9-0 to Appropriations. After reopening the roll to capture absent members, all three bills were reported out unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• revenues were going to be performing revenues were going to be performing better.<00:54:01.960><
• exists to fund the New Hampshire Council on the Arts and the Division of the Arts. already exists in
• exists to fund the New Hampshire Council on the Arts and the Division of the Arts.
• Hampshire Council on the Arts and uh and Hampshire Council on the Arts and uh and Division<01:55:31.480
• Um and that was Division of the Arts.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The revolving loan fund, then you'll see the energy efficiency conservation block grant program.
• So we've been able to do that through a combination of our grant program and our loan program, and we're
• First to clarify, all these all these numbers that you show... as part of these grant programs, these
• or UIC program.
• This program falls under the TCEQ TURP Program.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <04:30:34.399> programs<04:30:35.120> for strengthening grant programs for strengthening
• with performing arts programs.
• with performing arts programs.
• <07:34:04.240> with<07:34:04.638> performing<07:34:05.120> arts performing with
• performing arts performing with performing arts programs.<07:34:06.638> Mr.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You have an opportunity to make this BEAD grant program work, as you heard Senator Thune indicate and
• But we have legislation to eliminate the tax, and it seems to me that if you want the BEAD grant program
• If the President asks you to cut an infrastructure program, will you cut the program?
• for low-performing blue states.
• under this program.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's Program Review, Department of Corrections Performance Measurement in Correctional Programming with
• They go to a program based on their individually assessed needs and how well they perform and progress
• This report gives us breakdowns on performance of things like recidivism across all of our program areas
• So if I closed a program, for example, in September for performance issues, that district would miss
• So if I closed a program, for example, in September for performance issues, that district would miss

Summary: The committee met to hear an overview of the Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice budget area and then received performance-measure presentations from the Department of Corrections, the Commission on Offender Review, and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Staff reviewed the roughly $7.4 billion criminal justice and judiciary budget, noting major funding areas such as corrections, law enforcement, victim services, courts, and due process, along with recent investments in prison health care, security equipment, fentanyl enforcement, court staffing, and juvenile justice salaries and education programs. Secretary Dixon of the Department of Corrections described staffing and population pressures, including growth in inmate population, overtime-driven deficits, and the opening of additional housing units. He emphasized the department’s use of performance measures and highlighted reforms such as incentivized prisons, administrative management units, reentry planning, faith-based programs, and expanded education and vocational training. Members asked about teacher hiring, public defender pay parity, fentanyl funding, staffing capacity, and the role of the National Guard; Dixon said teacher vacancies had improved, public defenders had received comparable pay increases, fentanyl funding would be addressed further by FDLE, and the Guard had helped stabilize staffing. The Commission on Offender Review reported on parole, conditional release, addiction recovery supervision, and revocations, saying its recidivism/success rates had improved over a three-year measurement period. Senator Rouson pressed the commission on clemency and pardons, saying that work was omitted from the presentation and asking for backlog and case data; the commission said it did not have those figures on hand and would follow up. The committee also discussed a conditional medical release pilot study, and members questioned the report’s conclusion that no suitable elderly inmate population could be identified, asking what criteria were used and whether stakeholders were consulted. Secretary Hall of the Department of Juvenile Justice outlined the agency’s prevention-to-residential continuum and its emphasis on education, data-driven decision-making, and evidence-based programming. He said salary increases had reduced vacancies, juvenile arrests and residential commitments had fallen sharply over time, and tools such as civil citations, risk assessments, and quality-improvement reviews were being used to guide placements and services. Hall also described the department’s use of dashboards, monthly data check-ins, and the dispositional matrix to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Transcript Highlights:

• coral stewardship program. coral stewardship program.
• I'm the Forestry Program Manager for the Forestry Program at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, DLNR
• the I'm the Forestry Program Manager for the Forestry<00:34:19.720> Program<00:34:20.159>
• <00:59:11.200> So, through grants and other things. So, through grants and other things.
• So harbors does have federal discretionary grants, but there is no federal formula program for harbors

Bills: HCR13, HCR61, HCR136, HCR185, HCR155, HCR68, HCR174, HCR178, HCR179, HCR91, HCR103, HCR115, HCR199, HR15, HR128, HR175, HR147, HR62, HR164, HR168, HR169, HR83, HR95, HR107, HR189

Keywords: coral reefs, sunscreen, environmental education, student stewardship, marine conservation, reforestation, Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, native forests, climate resilience, sustainable practices, economic opportunity, biodiversity, wildland-urban interface, WUI, wildfire mitigation, wildfire safety, Maui County, County of Maui, Kauai

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 31, 2026, and heard testimony on several resolutions. HCR 13/HR 50, which asks DLNR to work with DOE and the Public Charter School Commission on a student coral stewardship program, drew comments from DLNR, which said it stood on written testimony and had proposed amendments, and from supporters in the room. HCR 61, urging investment in reforestation policies, workforce, nursery capacity, and related support for public and private lands, received strong support from DLNR and multiple testifiers, including members of a reforestation policy hui, a resident, and others who emphasized watershed protection, flood and fire resilience, and the need to upgrade nursery infrastructure and staffing. Committee members asked questions about nursery modernization, staffing, island-specific needs, and whether reforestation could reduce wildfire impacts; the DLNR witness said all islands need investment, with especially large opportunities on Hawaiʻi Island, and that healthier forests improve resilience though they cannot eliminate climate-related risks. The committee then heard HCR 136/HR 128 on wildland-urban interface safety standards for Maui plantation towns, but no one testified. It also heard HCR 185/HR 175, which urges denial of permits for ICE detention-related warehouses; Chris Coffey of Immua Alliance testified in support, saying migrant survivors of exploitation are harmed when ICE detains people and that Hawaii would not be the first place to take such action, citing examples from other states and cities. In questioning, members explored whether a local facility would keep people closer to families and services or instead increase local detention; Coffey said detention generally cuts off access to services and can intensify fear, and that a local facility could incentivize more detention and make survivors less likely to come forward. Finally, the committee heard HCR 155/HR 147 supporting the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition’s Hawaii Water Safety Act. Testifiers included Allison Shapera, who described the statewide water safety plan, Hawaii’s high drowning rate, the economic and human costs of drownings, and her personal loss of her daughter in a preventable drowning; Kirsten Hermstead and Kalani Vierra of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association said the plan’s recommendations need legislative recognition to help with implementation and grant funding; and Jessamine Town Horner testified by Zoom as a co-founder and bereaved family advocate. The transcript provided does not show any votes or final committee actions on the measures discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And every year, Rio Rancho wins it all in academics, performing arts, and athletics.
• They do lots of reading to younger kids to help them with their literacy program. ...with that.
• They do lots of reading to younger kids to help them with their literacy program.
• She's a horticulturist, and environmental conservation, and the performing arts.
• And this international marker program is really important. It's made a difference.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I believe we have the High School Strong Workforce Program, we have the Strong Workforce Program,
• program as it wasn't a third and fourth iteration.
• It was a six-month program in the first and second iteration.
• I have a whole program that's going on.
• So a notable program but not very large.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• virtual power plant program. grant for $35 million for a virtual power plant program.
• We've also seen a shift in what the federal government has been doing, and some grants and programs for
• or a grant program for those low-income customers.
• Or a grant program for those low-income customers.
• If granted permission to do that by the PRC, they would be able to sign people up for the program when

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program? program?
• of that program. of that program.
• science programs at the university. science programs at the university.
• type of program.
• state-of-the-art type of program.<02:10:44.079> It's<02:10:44.400> simply<02:10:45.040

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and our loan programs.
• leverage our grants and our loan<00:23:55.919> programs<00:23:56.919> B<00:23:57.200><
• , which is a federal matching program, and the manufacturing assistance program.
• And I understand that the Manoa creative media arts... ...the creative media arts there, the Cinema Arts
• from that program ID.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This program, based out of EDD, was driven by this legislature to fund local grants and help identify
• If we support our athletics, our teams in our performance arts, I don't.
• The five grant programs support science and technology business startups.
• On that industry and also to build out a loan program for grants and technical assistance.
• There's not a special grant program for underrepresented filmmakers.