Transcript Highlights:

• Do any of those grant programs and state-authorized taxes include any mechanism that, if a local agency
• And that's for one grant program, if I'm correct, right?
• I'm That's for one grant program, if I'm correct, right?
• , and our 2025 accountability audit showed gaps in grant oversight within the program.
• First, programs should use a clear and competitive process when awarding or expanding grants.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee subcommittee heard three State Auditor’s Office performance audits: implementation of the Law Enforcement Training and Community Safety Act, Washington’s digital equity planning, and the Department of Commerce’s Digital Navigator Program. In the law enforcement training audit, the State Auditor found the Criminal Justice Training Commission had developed most required training content but had not developed all required topics, lacked a systematic project management approach, and had weak tools to ensure participation and compliance. Auditors said most officers had not completed the required 40 hours, patrol tactics training was a major bottleneck, and the Commission’s reporting did not clearly show statewide compliance. The Commission said it generally agreed with the recommendations and had begun implementing some changes. Committee members raised concerns about staffing, liability, incentives, and whether the law had enough enforcement “teeth.” In the digital equity audit, auditors said Washington lacked a comprehensive, unified statewide plan, a designated leader, and reliable funding for digital equity efforts. They said existing plans were fragmented, with the NTIA-approved plan the most complete but no longer fully funded after federal changes. The State Auditor recommended the legislature establish oversight authority and require a lead organization to coordinate and evaluate statewide digital equity efforts and develop a unified plan. The Department of Commerce and Office of Equity agreed with the need for clearer leadership and coordination, and a public witness described ongoing coalition and local planning work. Committee members asked about best practices from other states and whether the auditor could provide additional research on coordination models. In the Digital Navigator Program audit, the State Auditor concluded Commerce did not consistently follow core grant-management practices, including competitive award processes, vetting of grantees, clear contracts, performance monitoring, and reimbursement controls. Auditors said Commerce expanded grants without a new competition, lacked adequate documentation and reporting, and paid out millions without sufficient support; they also cited management decisions that overrode staff concerns. Commerce said it had already begun major contract-management reforms, created a new contracts and compliance structure, and was working on risk assessments, documentation standards, and staff training. Members pressed Commerce on accountability, possible recoupment of improper payments, ethics issues, and whether the agency had clear performance metrics for the program. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended after public testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• OTHER IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE MADE TO OUR DERELICT VESSEL GRANT PROGRAM THAT MAKE THINGS EASIER IS THIS
• HERE WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM WHERE APPLICANTS WITH THE MOST EXPERIENCE IN REMOVING
• IT IS A GRANT PROGRAM FOR THOSE NOT AWARE PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HOMEOWNERS TO HARDEN THEIR
• PERSONALLY I APPLIED FOR THE GRANT PROGRAMS.
• PERHAPS A LOW INTEREST GRANT COULD BE ADDED TO THIS PROGRAM.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Program, literacy coaches and reading specialist grant program, mathematics professional learning program
• , National Board for Professional Teaching Standards grant, inclusive college programs, multi-tiered
• program, and National Board for Professional Teaching Standards grant program, use of LCFF discretionary
• program, literacy coaches and reading specialist grant program, mathematics professional learning program
• program, and national board for professional teaching standards grant program, use of LCFF discussionary

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Large state programs include the Washington College Grant, formerly the State Need Grant; the College
• The Washington College Grant replaced the State Need Grant, and the Washington College Grant changed
• programs for up to six years or 100% of the published length of the program.
• Operating budget funding for a bridge grant, which was $500 for Washington College Grant recipients that
• I love this free program.

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• program with an infrastructure grant program with an agri.<00:10:11.920><c> It's</c><00:10:12.160><c
• </c> a local food purchasing grant program. a local food purchasing grant program.
• :56.000><c> grant</c><00:39:56.320><c> program</c> the livestock investment grant program the livestock
• It increases the individual grant award amount in the Farm Down Payment Assistance Grant Program from
• <c> to</c> assistance grant program from 15,000 to assistance grant program from 15,000 to $20,000.<00

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Agriculture Conference Committee met for an initial organizational and comparison session on House File 2446, the agriculture broadband and rural development bill. Members introduced themselves, noted that no conference target had yet been set, and agreed to begin with a side-by-side review of House and Senate positions. No oral testimony was taken; instead, the chair listed written testimony submitted by a wide range of agricultural, environmental, local government, food bank, and industry groups. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the major funding differences. Both bills included some shared items such as operating adjustments, wolf and elk damage compensation, and certain technical changes, but they differed on several major appropriations. The House generally proposed larger increases for meat inspection, local food purchasing, and the Board of Animal Health, and added items such as county inspector grants, biofertilizer innovation, a biosolids/PFAS-related study, a soil health study, broadband installation study funding, an Agri Works program, an Agri Support program, a milk grant program, and several House-only transfers and grants. The Senate included items such as a climate coordinator position, biofuel-related reductions and policy changes, livestock processing funding, farm-to-school and urban agriculture changes, MARL funding, cottage foods licensing updates, and several Senate-only pass-through grants and transfers. Staff also noted differences in the agriculture emergency account transfer approach and in how the two bodies handled the Second Harvest Heartland and related food distribution provisions. House Research then reviewed the policy language differences in the bill. The House language included provisions allowing more flexible use of grant administration funds, unpaid prior-year claims, county inspector grants, and updates tied to its own policy article, while the Senate language included the climate coordinator, PFAS-related commercialization language, cooperative development grant permissive language, and other Senate policy changes. The committee did not take any votes or final actions at this meeting; the session was informational and focused on identifying differences for later negotiation.

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• Program.
• program. which is the expanded learning opportunities grant program and why don't we start with finance
• And what about the complementary funding for the programs for ELOP and the Learning Recovery Block Grant
• program.

Summary: The committee heard presentations on the Governor’s education budget proposals for the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), Learning Recovery Block Grant, and Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), followed by testimony from State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond. On LCFF, Finance outlined the proposed 2.43% COLA, repayment of prior deferrals, and a trailer bill penalty for LEAs that fail to adopt Local Control Accountability Plans on time. The LAO said its COLA estimate was slightly lower and raised concerns that the Governor’s proposed TK staffing ratio increase may be more costly than estimated. Members also discussed whether the current COLA formula should better reflect California-specific or district staffing costs, and whether TK should be more clearly separated from the K-3 grade span adjustment to avoid larger K-3 class sizes. The chair asked staff to work with the LAO on both the TK/K-3 issue and alternative COLA calculations. For the Learning Recovery Block Grant, Finance proposed restoring the first of three delayed payments, $378.6 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund, while the LAO recommended adopting the proposal but extending the expenditure deadline by at least a year. The LAO reported that districts had spent $1.6 billion of the $6.8 billion received through 2023-24 and said most districts were only now shifting from federal COVID relief to block grant spending. Members questioned whether the large state and federal investments were improving outcomes, citing declining reading and math trends, while Finance and the State Board president pointed to some signs of improvement, especially in math, attendance, and gains for some student groups. Darling-Hammond emphasized that student needs have grown, that recovery spending has gone to devices, ventilation, staffing, tutoring, summer school, and community schools, and that targeted interventions appear to be helping some districts recover faster than others. On ELOP, Finance proposed adding $435 million to expand universal access by lowering the Tier 1 threshold from 75% to 55% unduplicated pupils, bringing ongoing funding to $4.4 billion. The LAO said the estimate was reasonable but recommended delaying implementation for a year, aligning ELOP with ASES to reduce overlap, moving toward funding based on participation rather than enrollment, and considering a fixed Tier 2 rate. Members and witnesses discussed staffing challenges, the use of funds for students with disabilities, and uncertainty in Tier 2 funding caused by unspent dollars and opt-outs. Darling-Hammond supported ELOP as part of California’s broader after-school and summer learning strategy, said most districts are now offering full-day TK and expanded learning, and urged the state to reduce fragmentation across categorical programs and build more unified systems for funding, reporting, and support.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:33.640><c> programs</c> are competitive uh Grant programs are competitive uh Grant programs
• programs</c><00:16:57.360><c> the</c><00:16:57.519><c> administration</c> Grant programs the administration
• They had, I think, 12 or 13 competitive grant programs they did in the last biennium.
• They had, I think, 12 or 13 competitive grant programs they did in the last biennium.
• , not necessarily the grant programs.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This program provides grants to... ...general fund for the dual enrollment opportunities grant program
• first version of this grant program.
• And then, should the Charter School Facility Grant Program...
• The Charter School Facility Grant Program is...
• The Charter School Facility Grant Program is a model.

Summary: The committee heard an update on the administration’s Career Education Master Plan and the new California Education Interagency Council. Administration and agency staff described efforts to better connect K-12, higher education, workforce, and data systems, including the California Cradle to Career Data System, e-Transcript California, and a proposed career passport. They emphasized regional coordination with workforce boards and community colleges, and said the new council’s immediate tasks are to hold its first meeting by the end of June, enter into a data-sharing MOU, and complete a strategic plan by the end of November. Members asked about the council’s authority, reporting requirements, and how it would relate to the broader Master Plan for Higher Education; staff said the council will make recommendations but does not have implementation authority. The committee then took up the Governor’s proposed $100 million one-time expansion of dual enrollment grants and related changes to instructional minute requirements. Finance and the Department of Education said the proposal would support middle college, early college, and CCAP programs, add technical assistance, prioritize high-need LEAs, and reduce the minimum instructional day for certain dual enrollment students from 240 to 180 minutes to ease scheduling barriers. The Chancellor’s Office strongly supported the investment, citing access, acceleration, and equity benefits, while the LAO recommended rejecting the funding, arguing the state already provides ongoing support and that the proposal does not address major barriers. Members raised questions about adult learners, A-G alignment, reporting on outcomes and expenditures, rural access, transportation, staffing, and whether the funding would create lasting program capacity. The item was left open after discussion. The committee also considered trailer bill language to align the definition of long-term English learners across data systems. Finance and CDE said the change would simplify identification by defining LTELs as students who have not attained English proficiency within seven years and RTELs as students not proficient within six years, matching the dashboard and research-based timelines. CDE said the current mismatch between dashboard and assessment definitions creates confusion and delays, while some members and advocates worried the change could reduce earlier intervention or should be handled through policy committees rather than the budget process. The committee voted to reject the proposal and refer it to policy, though the administration said it still supports the budget language. Finally, the committee heard a proposal to extend the Supporting Inclusive Practices project by one year, through June 30, 2027. CDE said the project is promising but raised concerns about the contract structure and fiscal management, while Marysville Joint Unified School District testified that SIP had helped expand inclusive preschool and district-wide practices and reduce reliance on more restrictive placements. Members questioned why funds had not been fully encumbered and whether the remaining money should be redirected to areas with greater implementation need. The item was discussed but no final action was described in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other just captures things like disaster recovery, small housing mediation grant program, things like
• program um uh housing mediation grant program um uh things<00:06:34.639><c> like</c><00:06:34.800><c
• the grant, we're really focused on program integrity and compliance.
• </c> housing grants and programs committee. housing grants and programs committee.
• Now we're dealing with a more complex grants administration and program integrity environment.

Bills: SF2434

Keywords: housing, development fund, affordable housing, Minnesota Housing Finance Agency, expenditure provisions

Transcript Highlights:

• We urge maintaining full funding for this program, including kitchen infrastructure grants, which is
• It looks like there has been significant growth in the Cal Grant program, mostly at the... That.
• Funding for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program will also allow us to continue to operate the program
• So, for the Cal Grant program... ...are applying.
• So, for the Cal Grant program, you have more low-income students that are applying.

Summary: The committee heard the May Revision presentation for the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, with public comment focused heavily on K-12 priorities such as universal school meals, kitchen infrastructure, food service and custodial support, youth leadership grants, Special Olympics funding, English learner support, universal pre-K, literacy investments, and concerns about community college funding shifts. Speakers also urged support for expanded learning, teacher recruitment and training, and maintaining or increasing funding for community colleges and student support programs. Finance and the LAO then reviewed the Proposition 98 outlook. Finance said the May Revision lowers the 2025-26 Prop. 98 guarantee to $114.6 billion, about $4.3 billion below January, due mainly to lower revenue estimates, with smaller effects from attendance and property tax changes. The administration also described rebenching for universal transitional kindergarten and a one-time rebench tied to Los Angeles fire-related property tax losses, along with changes to the Public School System Stabilization Account, deferrals, and updated COLA assumptions. The LAO said the budget relies too much on deferrals and one-time funds, creates a structural shortfall, and should instead align ongoing spending with the guarantee and preserve a reserve buffer. Members questioned the TK rebench and the shift of funding from community colleges to K-12, asking why it was being applied retroactively and how colleges would be held harmless. Finance said the changes align funding with where TK costs are being incurred and that reappropriation funding and other adjustments would offset impacts on community colleges. The LAO argued the historical split formula is outdated and should be abandoned in favor of budgeting around current priorities rather than fixed percentages. Members also raised concerns about draining the rainy day reserve and using deferrals, while the LAO said preserving reserves would better protect against future volatility. The committee then moved to specific K-12 and education proposals. Finance outlined May Revision changes including state operations adjustments for the Department of Education, technical trailer bill changes, a $100 million student teacher stipend program administered by Kern County, and updates to the charter school facility grant program. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed increases for expanded learning, literacy coaches, and the student teacher stipend as currently structured, while supporting the minimum grant increase for expanded learning. Members expressed support for teacher recruitment efforts but questioned whether one-time funding can sustain ongoing programs and whether the student teacher stipend should be targeted to shortage areas or low-income communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs and digital equity grants.
• programs and digital equity grants.
• programs and digital equity grants.
• programs and digital equity grants.
• programs and digital equity grants.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so my question really is, this grant, is it, are projects under your tax credit program eligible
• for funding from the grant that might be eligible from the tax credit program?
• They can apply to our grant programs where we can do programmatic grants to support their programs, operational
• The cooperative marketing program is a matching grants marketing program that we offer.
• Sure, so the cooperative marketing program is a matching grants marketing program that we offer.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> grant program. grant program.
• </c> would stay in the state grant program. would stay in the state grant program.
• Mary's. that our state grant program spends on that our state grant program spends on for-profit<00:53
• That is both in the Northstar grant program and the state grant program.
• grant program and the state grant program.<01:17:17.120><c> That</c><01:17:17.360><c> means</c> program

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Murphy Construction Grants Program.
• Murphy Library Construction Grant Program.
• Murphy Library Construction Grant Program and why it's so important for our region.
• I I too am a Grant Program today.
• </c><00:26:34.840><c> grant</c><00:26:35.280><c> that</c> Infrastructure Program grant that Infrastructure

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Through grant-making programs, Through grant-making programs like our California Documentary Project,
• And we have a very small, quick grant program that provides small grants to them to tell their stories
• My focus concerns the museum grant program, part of the California Cultural and Historical Endowment
• We had to cut the opening for this grant program because there were so many requests for funds.
• We are 100% funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services via their Grants to States program

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on how recent federal actions are affecting arts, culture, humanities, libraries, museums, and the creative economy in California. Chair Ben Allen and Vice Chair Chris Ward opened by describing the hearing as a response to proposed and ongoing federal cuts to the NEA, NEH, IMLS, and public broadcasting, as well as grant terminations and leadership changes at cultural institutions. Several members emphasized the economic and civic importance of the arts, while one Republican member argued for greater ideological diversity in the arts and noted the loss of music programs in small schools. Testimony from Aaron Harky of Americans for the Arts and Jolie Fisher of SAG-AFTRA described the impact of federal policy on grants, jobs, and production. Harky said executive orders and the FY 2026 budget proposal threaten arts agencies and arts education, and that rescinded grants are causing hiring freezes, shutdowns, and losses for small organizations, especially in rural and underserved communities. Fisher focused on runaway film and television production, outdated tax rules, and the need for federal incentives, intellectual property protections, and action on AI and digital replicas. Members also discussed bipartisan support, the role of business and tourism partners, and the need to include more diverse voices in arts advocacy. The second panel featured Rick Noguchi of California Humanities, Greg Lucas of the State Library, and Danielle Purcell of the California Arts Council. Noguchi said NEH funding was cut immediately, putting California Humanities’ grantmaking and documentary programs at risk and prompting consideration of litigation and possible state support. Lucas reported that IMLS funding for California libraries was briefly canceled but partly restored, though a budget gap remains. Purcell said the California Arts Council is still awaiting federal award language for state partnership funds, but NEA grant terminations and the proposed elimination of federal cultural agencies create major uncertainty; she also said the council is assessing the damage and tracking impacts on grantees. Members asked about measuring outcomes, AI’s threat to creative work, documentary funding losses, and possible state and national strategies to protect cultural institutions and jobs.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also have a program.
• The grant termination.
• That program was to EPA, and EPA's program was cut.
• grants.
• Both that particular grant, those particular grants. All of you?

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development held a hearing on the DRIVE Act, a proposal to invest $400 million in Massachusetts research and innovation without new taxes. Governor Healey and administration officials said the bill would direct $200 million to public higher education research and regional partnerships and $200 million to a research funding pool for hospitals, universities, and other institutions, with the goal of retaining talent, leveraging private and philanthropic dollars, and offsetting major federal R&D cuts. They argued that research is a core economic engine for the state, supporting jobs across labs, construction, services, and surrounding businesses, and said the bill would help protect the Commonwealth’s tax base and competitiveness during a period of federal uncertainty and cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other programs. Committee members raised concerns about whether Fair Share surtax dollars should instead be used for K-12 and other community needs, whether the proposal is enough given the scale of lost federal grants, and how the money would be allocated. The governor responded that the funds are one-time surplus dollars, that most surtax revenue already supports education, and that the bill is meant as a bridge to stabilize public higher education and research. She also said the legislation includes a review board and could support a revolving or matched-fund approach in some cases. Several members pressed for more detail on selection criteria, future funding, and whether private companies and large endowments should contribute more. University of Massachusetts leaders and researchers testified that federal grant cancellations and delays are already causing layoffs, furloughs, rescinded admissions, and lost research capacity. UMass officials said the bill would help preserve faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and research programs in medicine, climate science, marine science, Braille instruction, and AI decision-making. They emphasized that the funding should be merit-based and that the state needs to act quickly to prevent talent from leaving Massachusetts. Business, labor, and industry groups, including MassBio, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, AIM, the AFL-CIO, and Building Trades, supported the bill, saying it would protect jobs, sustain the innovation ecosystem, and reinforce Massachusetts’ national leadership in research and life sciences. No vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• But, yeah, the management of grants is largely done by the program staff, and so a program often gets
• But, yeah, the management of grants is largely done by the program staff, and so a program often gets
• That's the way I looked at it, to administer the grant program.
• </c><01:09:12.719><c> program</c><01:09:13.239><c> to</c> them to administer a grant program to them
• </c> administer the grant program and uh now administer the grant program and uh now I<01:09:30.920><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the department's competitive grant the department's competitive grant programs<00:33:16.960><c>
• grant program.
• But what this bill does is it says we're going to set up a competitive grant program, and it includes
• </c><01:19:00.800><c> program</c><01:19:01.679><c> um</c> to set up a competitive grant program um to
• Again, appreciate the opportunity for us in this grant program.

Bills: HF4072, HF3691, HF4613

Keywords: workforce development, journalism, local news, internships, media training, emergency management, essential employees, public safety, law enforcement, workforce, economic development, appropriation, Twin Cities Marathon, Explore Minnesota, grants, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• c> aid offhighway motorcycle grant aid aid offhighway motorcycle grant aid program. program. program.
• </c><00:37:49.520><c> program</c> LCCMR and the community grants program LCCMR and the community grants
• And line 13.2 is deficit grant program.
• </c><01:40:37.920><c> program</c> regional food banks grant program regional food banks grant program
• And Senate file 1133 is grant program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> discuss</c> grant program implementation and discuss grant program implementation and discuss the
• In terms of the similarities and differences between the ENRTF community grants program and the CPL program
• One is that the ENRTF community grant program will not require match in order to receive funds.
• according</c><00:46:04.079><c> to</c> all grants in this program according to all grants in this program
• program for smaller for in this grant program for smaller organizations<00:47:41.920><c> that</c><00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all