Transcript Highlights:

• All of our programs are paid.
• a pre-apprenticeship program.
• So we work with Bridgewater State University's program, the Excel program.
• We do have a grant opening, and... ...is early education. We do have a grant opening.
• We talked about municipal grant programs, digital accessibility efforts, and ways we can help raise awareness

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities held its quarterly meeting virtually and in person at the State House. The commission approved the December minutes, then heard updates from the chair on planning for the next “Meeting the Moment” community forum in Lowell on March 27, focused on digital accessibility, education-to-employment transition, workforce supports, long-term services and supports, and health equity. The chair also previewed planning for the commission’s October National Disability Employment Awareness Month event and invited commissioners and advisory council members to join the planning group. The commission received an update on the advisory council orientation, which was described as well attended and productive, and then heard a detailed presentation from the Attorney General’s Office on federal litigation affecting Massachusetts. Topics included challenges to federal actions involving diversity in education, immigration and Haiti Temporary Protected Status, NIH research funding restrictions, and mental health services grants; the presenter also addressed concerns about Medicaid-related federal actions and said the AG’s office is coordinating closely with the governor’s office and other states. Commissioners asked questions about whether disability-related work could be affected by vague DEI restrictions and about the status of CMS communications on Medicaid. The meeting also featured a presentation from Undersecretary of Labor Josh Cutler and apprenticeship liaison Amara Riemann on registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. They described apprenticeship as paid, structured, employer-driven training with classroom instruction and wage progression, and highlighted the Bridgewater State University Excel program for neurodivergent people and people with disabilities as a model linking pre-apprenticeship to apprenticeship. Commissioners discussed how to replicate similar pathways through community colleges and disability-service providers, especially in high-demand fields. Subcommittee reports followed, including updates on disability employment, long-term services and supports, and health equity, with discussion of a projected state budget gap tied to federal changes, PCA working group recommendations, crisis standards of care, and ongoing collaboration with MassAbility and the Massachusetts Office on Disability. The meeting ended with commissioner announcements, including several awards and upcoming events, and reminders about the Lowell forum and October planning efforts.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Federal Aid by applying for uh uh grant Federal Aid by applying for uh uh grant program<00:09:47.880
• uh program that competitive Grant uh program that ensures<01:03:56.240><c> students</c><01:03:56.760
• Okay, the next piece is a grant program under IDEA, which is the state personnel development grant.
• </c> you okay the next um piece is a grant you okay the next um piece is a grant program<01:22:17.000
• Grant and I charter school programs Grant and I think<01:48:20.320><c> I</c><01:48:20.440><c> have</

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And as the former author, the chief author of the Community Grants Program, this is something that’s
• handed off to the DNR to create a community grants program.
• </c><00:16:06.720><c> program</c><00:16:07.480><c> and</c><00:16:07.600><c> I</c> community grants program
• and I community grants program and I understand<00:16:08.079><c> the</c><00:16:08.199><c> point</c><
• program I I with the community grants program I I think<00:16:13.040><c> that's</c><00:16:13.240><c>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I would want to see a more robust evaluation of the program versus this grant makes me feel... ...of
• the program versus this grant makes me feel safe.
• And based on the administrative percentage, we're giving you 10% access to the $83 million grant program
• The funding source is the grant program itself.
• We appropriated money for the grant program, but no money to administer the program, apparently.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• Contaminants Program.
• The Emerging Contaminants Program is essentially grant-like terms.
• That's a record for the program.
• Program.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think a lot of the grant programs that Cal Fire and others do for forest health and things like that
• I think a lot of the grant programs that Cal Fire and others do for forest health and things like that
• There is the $20 million or so for the Defensible Space Mitigation Grant Program, the...
• The $20 million or so for the Defensible Space Mitigation Grant Program, the Cal Fire Training Center
• Under the competitive grant program, we purchase or accept donations of conservation easements or fee

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview from the California Conservation Corps on its 50-year history, current operations, and budget proposals. Director J.P. Patton described the CCC’s work in conservation, disaster response, education, and workforce development, noting 26 facilities, about 3,000 Corps members annually, and a funding mix of roughly 55% General Fund and 45% reimbursements. Members praised the program and asked about revenue sources, recruitment, retention, and post-service tracking. The CCC said it has a 5,000-person waitlist, uses first-come, first-served admissions with minimal eligibility requirements, and is working to improve data on outcomes. The committee also discussed the Greenwood Residential Center, where the CCC seeks staffing and operating funds to reopen a rebuilt facility in El Dorado County; the LAO suggested considering fewer new members or a delayed opening to reduce General Fund pressure, but no vote was taken and the item was held open. The committee then considered a CCC wildfire readiness proposal to move hand crews to a seven-day operational schedule. CCC and Cal Fire representatives said the change is needed because wildfire is now year-round and because the current model leaves crews unavailable in many months due to staffing gaps. They said the proposal would improve reliability for Cal Fire, preserve training opportunities for Corps members, and better align the CCC with Cal Fire’s 66-hour workweek. The LAO supported the concept but recommended considering lower-cost alternatives, such as relief staffing or partial reimbursement. Members also discussed the decline in incarcerated fire crews, with Cal Fire explaining that reforms and eligibility changes have reduced the pool of incarcerated people who qualify for camp and fire work. One member raised the use of goats and grazing for fuel reduction, and staff responded that such methods can help with prevention but cannot replace hand crews for suppression. The item was held open. Cal Fire then presented its department overview, emphasizing its expanded workforce, year-round wildfire response, vegetation management, community preparedness, and partnerships with federal, local, tribal, and private entities. Members asked about contract counties such as Orange County, reforestation and seedling capacity, federal reimbursement, and the 66-hour workweek rollout. Cal Fire said it is still below the seedling capacity needed for post-fire reforestation and relies heavily on public-private partnerships. The committee also reviewed a proposal for permanent funding for defensible space inspections. Cal Fire said it needs 31 positions and ongoing General Fund support to replace temporary funding that expires in 2027 and to maintain a goal of 250,000 inspections per year. The LAO said the proposal has merit but suggested alternatives such as a different General Fund/GGRF mix, reinstating an SRA fee, or approving the positions on a one-time basis. Members generally supported the work but raised budget concerns, and the proposal was held open. Finally, Cal Fire began presenting a fixed-wing pilot and mechanics contract increase, explaining that its aviation fleet has grown and become more complex, requiring more pilots and maintainers for year-round operations. The department said labor market pressures have increased contractor costs and that the contract is needed to support continuous aerial firefighting readiness. The transcript cuts off before further discussion or any action on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• I HAVE LONG BEEN A SUPPORTER OF THE HOPE FLORIDA PROGRAM.
• >> THERE ARE INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL GRANTS. IN VARIOUS.
• GRANTS HAVE OF THEY ISSUED?
• I ASSUMED AT THE TIME DAVE WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM.
• USE OF THE PROGRAM. WHAT PROGRAM? >> HOPE FLORIDA. >> Rep.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:48.519><c> for</c> high the idea behind these grants for high the idea behind these grants
• And use grant money to start an intro to farm business management program for other direct market farmers
• because it is a public program.
• because it is a public program.
• because it is a public program.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see a lot of funding for the Forest Health Program, fire prevention grants, state conservancy
• There are also longstanding federal grant programs that when a major disaster declaration is declared
• So we ran a grant program that was very narrowly focused on community protection.
• So we ran a grant program that was very narrowly focused on community protection.
• from both Cal OES and Cal Fire to expand the wildfire mitigation grant program.

Summary: The subcommittee began by announcing a change in the agenda order, moving item 6 ahead of item 1 and then item 7, and noting there would be no votes taken on any items that day. Item 6 covered a proposed operational efficiencies control section for the Natural Resources Agency that would let multiple departments jointly fund landscape-scale or multi-jurisdictional projects and allow Finance to transfer climate bond funds to a lead state entity. The LAO said the proposal was reasonable but suggested the Legislature consider requiring summary notification on how it is used; Finance said it would consider that request. Item 7 focused on the 2026-27 biodiversity and nature-based solutions spending plan. Finance and the Wildlife Conservation Board described the climate bond funding for habitat restoration, wildlife crossings, public access, tribal nature-based solutions, and related work, including $111 million proposed for WCB and $30 million for Salton Sea habitat and public access projects. The LAO supported the overall approach but flagged the San Andreas Corridor Program as an area where the Legislature may want to specify geographic priorities. Members discussed the pace of Salton Sea work and whether the proposed projects would count toward disadvantaged community goals. Item 8 addressed Cal Fire’s aviation contract and staffing needs for wildfire response. Cal Fire said year-round fire activity, a larger and more complex aircraft fleet, and labor market pressures justified the proposed contract increase, including more mechanics, pilots, and maintenance support. The LAO recommended approval, saying the proposal addressed health and safety concerns. Members asked about contractor staffing, competition in the bidding process, and future technology for early fire detection and suppression. The committee then took up item 1 on golden mussel containment. Fish and Wildlife described the invasive species’ spread in the Delta, the task force and response framework, and a request for eight new positions funded by Prop. 4 to support control plans, outreach, monitoring, research, and coordination with partners and law enforcement. Members pressed the department on whether the state should fund more direct decontamination infrastructure and grants to local water managers, and on the realistic goal of containing the mussel. The chair and several members emphasized the urgency of the threat and requested an itemized breakdown of the $20 million request. The hearing then moved to a broader LAO overview of wildfire prevention and response funding, where the LAO summarized the state’s funding mix and warned that ongoing wildfire resilience funding will likely decline as one-time bond and GGRF funds are exhausted, prompting discussion of long-term funding options and the balance between prevention, suppression, and community hardening.

Transcript Highlights:

• grant programs.
• Secondly, there are background checks to keep criminals out of grant-funded programs and grant-funded
• </c><00:25:42.960><c> programs</c> taxpayer dollars in state Grant programs taxpayer dollars in state
• </c><00:25:59.799><c> funded</c><00:26:00.600><c> programs</c> criminals out of Grant funded programs
• criminals out of Grant funded programs and<00:26:01.520><c> grant-funded</c><00:26:02.520><c> nonprofits

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, um, we have a targeted violence and terrorism prevention program grant at the Department of Public
• </c><00:29:59.360><c> grant</c><00:30:00.159><c> at</c> terrorism prevention program grant at terrorism
• prevention program grant at the<00:30:00.640><c> Department</c><00:30:00.960><c> of</c><00:30:01.200
• These three large grant programs—the Child Care Development Fund, the TANF block grant, and the Social
• programs the childcare large grant programs the childcare development<00:34:04.559><c> fund</c><00:34

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Rules and Administration Select Subcommittee on Federal Impacts on Minnesotans and Economic Stability met on February 20, 2026, to hear from Minnesota Management and Budget State Budget Director Anna Mingi about federal funding changes affecting the state budget. Before testimony began, Senator Rasmusson objected to a draft committee report that had been prepared in advance of the hearing, arguing it was inappropriate to summarize testimony before it occurred. The chair responded that nonpartisan staff had prepared the draft from Mingi’s submitted presentation and could revise it after the hearing if needed. Director Mingi explained that federal dollars make up more than one-third of state spending and support about 650 federal awards totaling over $23 billion this year, with more than $15 billion supporting state entitlement programs. She said the federal funding environment had changed significantly since January 2025 through executive orders, pauses, terminations, new grant conditions, delayed awards, and the July 2025 passage of H.R. 1, the federal reconciliation bill. Her main focus was H.R. 1’s effects on health care and food assistance, including work requirements for some adults, changes to eligibility for legal non-citizens, limits on retroactive Medicaid coverage and directed payments, new limits on provider taxes, and SNAP changes that shift some benefit and administrative costs to the state and counties. She estimated H.R. 1 would reduce federal funds to state-administered programs by about $327 million in the current biennium and $1.6 billion in the next, with additional costs to hospitals, counties, and other partners beyond the budget horizon. Members asked follow-up questions about whether the estimates were relative to the forecast and whether federal Medicaid funding would still rise over time. Mingi said the estimates were based on the November forecast baseline and that Medicaid federal dollars would likely continue growing overall, though the law still creates significant losses relative to prior projections. Senator Rasmusson emphasized that point in remarks to the committee. The discussion then shifted to federal grant pauses and cancellations: MMB’s tracker showed about six awards on hold totaling roughly $491 million, 13 confirmed cancellations across areas including clean energy, education, food assistance, and public health, and additional threatened or litigated cuts not included in those totals. Mingi identified two canceled violence-prevention-related grants, including a FEMA public safety grant and a justice reinvestment grant, and noted that CDC had recently moved to cancel or seek cancellation of several Minnesota public health grants, including a $65 million public health infrastructure award.

Transcript Highlights:

• No, the entire program, the state grant, would be given to the schools according to the number enrolled
• the grant.
• the grant.
• the grant.
• the grant.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up HB 651, a school-funding bill that would raise the base cost of an adequate education and increase differentiated aid for students in poverty, English language learners, and special education. The chair opened with housekeeping notices about parking and eating in committee spaces, and noted a revised fiscal note would be distributed. Representative David Luneau presented the bill as part of a broader package of public school funding measures, explaining that HB 651 builds on HB 550 and is intended to respond to court rulings and the ongoing school-funding litigation by adjusting both the base adequacy amount and equity-based funding factors. Luneau said the bill would raise the state’s adequacy grant from about $4,100 to $7,351 per student and increase differentiated aid, while also updating statutory language so future recalculations include the court-identified resource elements. He argued the measure is about fairness and shifting more of the burden from local property taxpayers to the state, not about increasing overall education spending. He reviewed fiscal-note figures indicating the bill would add roughly $576 million to the state share of school funding, bringing the total state share to about $1.65 billion, and said the note also mentions possible effects on charter schools and vouchers. Committee members asked about the evidence supporting higher costs for low-income and English learner students, how long ESL funding should continue, why free-and-reduced-lunch aid remains higher than special education aid, whether the formula is based on enrollment or average daily membership, and whether the bill is truly equitable across districts of different sizes and needs. Luneau and later witness Zach Shen of the New Hampshire School Funding Fairness Project said the bill is supported by research and court findings, that the current formula relies heavily on local property taxes, and that shifting more funding to the state would reduce property-tax pressure and help address disparities among districts. Shen also cited broad public support for the related HB 550 testimony and said HB 651 is intended as a step toward a more equitable funding system. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• </c><00:12:28.480><c> I'll</c><00:12:28.720><c> note</c><00:12:28.959><c> here</c> provider grant program
• I'll note here provider grant program.
• uh grant um Senate only grant is another uh grant um Senate only grant funding<00:42:09.760><c> uh</
• The supported decision-making program grant extension is estimated to be $825,000, and both the House

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The federally funded nonprofit security grant program is an annual program that provides funds to support
• In federal fiscal year 2024, FEMA also offered the nonprofit security grant program national security
• The Massachusetts Legislature introduced the Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program in fiscal
• The Commonwealth Nonprofit Security Grant Program in fiscal year 2018 helped nonprofits with the cost
• We're so grateful for the ongoing consideration that the nonprofit security grant programs offers us

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Anti-Semitism met to focus on the role of law enforcement in responding to anti-Semitic incidents. After approving amended minutes, the chair opened with remarks emphasizing that the Commission would confront anti-Semitism from any political direction and outlined the day’s agenda: extremist activity trends, hate-crime statutes, intergovernmental coordination, and security funding. The first presentation came from Ben Pott of the ADL Center on Extremism, who described rising extremist propaganda and anti-Semitic incidents nationally and in Massachusetts, highlighting groups such as NSC-131, GDL, and Patriot Front. He said these groups increasingly use anti-Zionist language, public disruptions, and online platforms to spread hate, and recommended prosecution where possible, civil litigation, education about symbols and tactics, and community reporting to law enforcement and ADL. Assistant District Attorney David Solvin then reviewed federal and Massachusetts hate-crime laws, including federal civil-rights and hate-crime statutes and state provisions for civil-rights violations, assault and battery to intimidate, religious vandalism, terroristic threats, and criminal harassment. He explained that many of these laws enhance penalties based on bias motivation, but some do not create standalone offenses or qualify as dangerousness predicates under current law. Commissioners pressed him on hypothetical fact patterns involving anti-Semitic slurs, symbols, and attacks, as well as on the limits of existing law for pretrial detention and the need for better data collection. Solvin said more training, better reporting, and possible legislative updates could improve enforcement, and he noted pending bills that would require more regular hate-crime reporting and expand protected classes. Detective Lieutenant Ryan Cepiel of the State Police Anti-Terrorism Unit and HART described the unit’s creation in 2023, its role in implementing prior hate-crime task force recommendations, and its work with local, state, federal, and community partners. He said HART has trained civil-rights officers, developed recruit and in-service curricula, created resource pamphlets and a Teams page, and is building a GIS-based reporting portal to improve tracking and victim support. Cepiel reported a year-over-year rise in reported anti-Semitic hate crimes in Massachusetts, while noting that current numbers are incomplete because reporting is inconsistent and there is no mandate for local departments to notify HART. Commissioners discussed underreporting, rural versus eastern Massachusetts coverage, the need for more officers and training, and the importance of making victims feel safe coming forward. The meeting ended with agreement that better data, training, and coordination are needed to address the rise in anti-Semitic hate and bias incidents.

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we have the modal program. Programs, David Harris. Go ahead and proceed. Good afternoon, Mr.
• grants that were allotted.
• The program was enacted in 2021 as a supplement to communities to be able, beyond the federal programs
• Advanced digital construction grant, and we do have the railway crossing elimination grant in Gallup.
• Rural grants, which are part of the MPDG group of grants.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are putting $26.2 million to support the community school grant program, which has been so successful
• for Resilient Florida grant programs, $25 million for Florida Keys and Apalachicola areas of critical
• , $125 million for water quality grant programs, another $125 million for resilient Florida grant programs
• Could you compare the funding that we have in those main grant programs, like, for example, cultural
• Could you compare the funding that we have in those main grant programs, like, for example, cultural

Summary: The Senate took up the 2026-2027 budget package, beginning with an overview of the $115 billion General Appropriations Bill (SB 2500/HB 500). Appropriations Chair Hooper said the budget is smaller than last year’s, maintains strong reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for all state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then highlighted major spending in their areas, including $34.9 billion for Pre-K-12 education, $11.9 billion for higher education, a $2.1 billion-plus increase in health and human services, $7.9 billion for criminal and civil justice, $16.8 billion for transportation/tourism/economic development, and major environmental and regulatory investments such as Everglades restoration, water quality, and land acquisition. Members asked detailed questions about several items. Topics included the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries and charter school funding, New College funding, ADAP/HIV drug assistance, Medicaid rate reductions for non-critical access hospitals, DOC operational deficits and inmate health/food costs, judicial staffing, and school enrollment supplements. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected shifts in how scholarship and categorical funds are tracked, that the ADAP appropriation would take effect immediately upon enactment but would only cover part of the year, and that hospital reductions were tied to a broader DPP funding increase. Questions also covered lottery staffing, concealed carry licensing workload, and whether vacant positions were being eliminated as part of budget right-sizing. After the budget discussion, the Senate substituted House bills for the Senate budget bills and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles. The chamber then passed HB 500, HB 503, and HB 5201, and agreed to conference on each. It also passed SB 7028/HB 5205 on retirement, SB 2506 on fuel taxes, SB 2508 on the state agency law enforcement radio system, SB 2510/HB 5401 on court trust funds, SB 2512 on judgeships, SB 2514 on K-12 education, SB 2516 on higher education, and SB 2518 on health, with each bill passing by unanimous or near-unanimous votes and then being sent to conference or requested of the House for concurrence.

Transcript Highlights:

• grant and for your people.
• About 90% are land grants.
• That's funded through our grant programs through our state management costs that we get for disasters
• There was a mini grant program that was put out by the AI Council that we have at the university, where
• And so we wrote this grant. The USDA has a really neat program. It's Normally, we write grants.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have two grants.
• They have two grants.
• discretionary grants. Any questions on the health department's discretionary grants?
• , and it is to extend the sub-grant term to support an enabling technology pilot program to enhance services
• Is this for day programs, for waiver, or just for studying those programs?

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have two grants.
• Discretionary grants number two. Item D2 are the discretionary grants presented.
• grants the first grant is a new federal grant valued at 11,500 dollars to north arkansas regional medical
• , and it is to extend the sub-grant term to support an enabling technology pilot program.
• And it is to extend the sub-grant term to support an enabling technology pilot program to enhance services

Summary: The subcommittee reviewed multiple methods of finance and construction items, including projects for Arkansas State University, Black River Technical College, UAMS, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and UCA. The UAPB Allied Health and Sciences Building appeared both as a method of finance and as an alternative delivery construction project, with East Harding Construction selected and AMR Architects as designer. Members approved the methods of finance, the alternative delivery project, and several discretionary grants, including Department of Health grants for a heart attack center designation and community health worker training, and DHS grants related to homeless services, behavioral health transition support, and an enabling technology pilot. The committee then reviewed service contracts, including RFQs, construction-related contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and a large number of out-of-state and in-state contracts. Testimony focused heavily on DHS staffing and state hospital contracts, the Arkansas State Police seatbelt survey, AEDC’s lithium supply chain analysis, and Shared Administrative Services’ new SuccessFactors performance-management contract. Members asked detailed questions about contract nursing costs, turnover, hiring timelines, and whether some contracts were being renewed or amended beyond their original projected costs. DHS and Veterans Affairs officials explained staffing shortages, retention incentives, and the use of contract labor as a supplement to state employees. Several contracts drew scrutiny and were held for further review. Representative Wardlaw raised concerns about projected costs and repeated amendments on the Department of Education security contract and on DHS staffing contracts, arguing that some had exceeded their original projected totals. The committee voted to hold contracts 5, 7, and 8 until Friday, while adopting the remaining contracts. The meeting ended after informational reports on service contract amendments without material change, executed contracts, and emergency procurements were presented, with no further business before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I would want to see a more robust evaluation of the program versus this grant makes me feel... ...of
• the program versus this grant makes me feel safe.
• And based on the administrative percentage, we're giving you 10% access of the $83 million grant program
• The funding source is the grant program itself.
• We appropriated money for the grant program, but no money to administer the program, apparently.

Summary: The committee began with member and staff introductions, then acted as the Education Committee of Reference for three required reviews. The first was the Credit Enhancement Eligibility Board sunset review. A governor’s office representative explained the board was created in 2016 to help qualifying schools, mostly charter schools, obtain lower-cost financing by guaranteeing debt with a $100 million fund. He said the board has approved 15 projects, has not met recently because it is at its statutory leverage limit, and has no dedicated staff or budget. Members supported continuation, and the committee voted by voice vote to recommend the board be continued for 10 years, until July 1, 2036. The committee then heard the sunset review of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). WICHE leadership described its regional higher education compact and its student exchange and cost-savings programs, including WUE, WRGP, and PSEP. They said the programs save Arizona students money, bring students into Arizona institutions, and help address workforce shortages, especially in health care. A WICHE commissioner and the Arizona Board of Regents executive director also testified in support, emphasizing benefits for Arizona students, universities, and workforce pipelines. The committee voted by voice vote to recommend WICHE be continued for 10 years, until July 1, 2036. The final item was the Auditor General’s performance audit of the Arizona Department of Education school safety program. The audit found the program had grown to more than $128 million and funded over 1,000 school safety positions, but ADE did not ensure many sampled schools complied with requirements such as operational plans, safety teams, annual training, activity logs, and reimbursement documentation. The Auditor General said the department relied too heavily on written attestations and lacked sufficient monitoring and guidance, and recommended stronger oversight, written procedures, and better review of reimbursements. ADE’s school safety director responded that the department had expanded training and documentation systems, was implementing the audit recommendations, and had begun risk-based monitoring; he also said the department would add staff and invited the Auditor General to meet with ADE and ASU’s evaluator. After the audit discussion, the committee began considering House Bill 2142, which would create a school safety center at ADE and allow up to 10% of school safety program funds for administration, with members raising questions about monitoring emergency operations plans, disability-related evacuation planning, and coordination with other state agencies.