Transcript Highlights:

• What's going on here is that child care programs cannot hire staff and the classrooms in child care programs
• The staff retention part of this child care workforce program is vitally important.
• child care employers. child care employers.
• in child care workforce. in child care workforce.
• Program, education aid, and the federal Child Care Development Fund. utilization.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• care and not enough child care slots.
• I'm a former family child care educator on a military base.
• I'm a former family child care educator on a military base.
• I'm a child care provider in Solano County.
• I've been a large child care provider since 2008, and... ...child care providers since 2008, and I support

Summary: The committee adopted the consent calendar and then heard several bills on child care, aging, child welfare, food access, and youth services. SB 1200 by Sen. Menjivar would redefine infant and toddler age categories in child care licensing to allow providers to serve children beginning at 18 months in the toddler category, with supporters saying it would increase capacity and help family child care businesses stay open; it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 971 by Sen. Choi would authorize counties to offer optional adult education and technology training programs for adults 55 and older through local partnerships; supporters said it would reduce isolation and improve digital literacy, and it passed 4-0 to the floor. SB 1234 by Sen. Alvarado-Gil would require fentanyl to be included in court-ordered drug testing in dependency cases, with testimony from an angel family and law enforcement about child deaths and exposure risks; it passed 4-0 to the floor. The committee also heard SB 1109 by Sen. Alvarado-Gil, which would require additional state review for short-term residential therapeutic programs in very small rural counties or facilities with repeated serious citations. The author and county officials from Alpine County argued that rural counties lack the hospitals, schools, and 24-hour emergency response needed to safely support these placements, while providers opposed the bill as overly broad and potentially destabilizing to STRTP capacity. After the author accepted committee amendments, members voted 4-0 to send the bill to Appropriations as amended. SB 961 by Sen. Ashby would require students applying for financial aid to be notified that they may also be eligible for CalFresh; student and advocacy witnesses described widespread food insecurity on campuses, and the bill passed 4-0 to Appropriations. The committee then heard SB 1099 by Sen. Gomez Reyes, which clarifies local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA-related exemptions; supporters said it would reduce legal uncertainty for local safety-net services, and the bill was voted 2-0 with the remaining members absent, leaving it on call. SB 1190 by Sen. Grove would create a licensing and regulatory framework for youth transport companies that move minors to out-of-state residential facilities; survivors testified about traumatic transports, supporters called for basic guardrails, and the bill passed 4-0 to Public Safety. Finally, SB 1325 by Sen. Jones would create a narrow pathway for Feeding San Diego to participate in CalFood, with supporters saying it would expand hunger relief in San Diego County and opponents warning it could divert limited food bank resources; the discussion focused on broader funding concerns, and no final vote was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• The child care center had to relocate.
• care program.
• Our state has a growing shortage of child care slots, and the barriers to open new programs are plenty
• <00:02:54.920> out<00:02:55.480> an child care providers and even out an child care
• <00:03:08.640> Care that exist in running a Child Care that exist in running a Child Care

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a bill about child care, but before we start, I'll just tell you that child care, daycare, preschool
• It defines a family child care home, sorry, large family child care home, creates a license-exempt provision
• for our DOD child care facilities.
• And last year we passed a child care tax credit for employers that want to participate in child care
• care, in-home child care.

Summary: The Health Care Budget Subcommittee began with a roll call confirming a quorum, then heard a presentation of the proposed health care budget. The chair said the overall health care budget would total $46.7 billion, a 2.1% decrease in total spending and a 3% increase in general revenue, while reducing 3,585 state FTE. He highlighted funding for Medicaid, KidCare, developmental disabilities services, opioid settlement spending, mental health facilities, senior services, school health nurses, veterans’ dental care, and veterans nursing home improvements. The chair also presented PCB HCB 25-01, a conforming bill that eliminates the Health Care Innovation Program, the Health Care Innovation Council, and the revolving loan program; makes changes to cancer research and graduate medical education provisions; and adjusts Medicaid rebate-related language. The conforming bill passed favorably after no questions, public testimony, or debate. The committee then considered CS/HB 47 on child care. The bill, as explained by Rep. McFarland, would reduce regulation for child care providers in good standing, speed background screening for child care workers, allow provisional hiring status in some cases, create license-exempt status for certain employer-provided child care facilities and DOD child care facilities, and remove outdated paperwork requirements such as the flu brochure. An amendment restored language protecting large family child care homes from being dropped by residential insurers and cleaned up statutory language; it was adopted. Members debated the bill at length, with supporters emphasizing common-sense deregulation and helping working parents, while some members raised concerns about safety, early learning quality, and the loss of informational reminders to parents. The bill was reported favorably. The subcommittee also heard HB 1553 on a uterine fibroid research database. Rep. Dunkley explained that the bill would require health care providers to submit identified fibroid data to DOH so it can be de-identified for a research database, after the department had been unable to use prior de-identified submissions reliably. An amendment removed the current appropriation and was adopted. Members spoke in strong support, noting the prevalence of fibroids and the value of better diagnosis and treatment data. The bill passed favorably. Finally, the committee heard HB 1529, which addresses the home health aide program for medically fragile children. Rep. Tremont said the bill would direct AHCA to seek a federal waiver so parents’ earnings from caring for their children would not count against Medicaid eligibility, and would revise training requirements and remove mandated annual program assessments. The bill drew supportive public testimony from home care stakeholders, had no debate, and was reported favorably. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first section directs the Department of Human Services to pay licensed child care program subsidy
• The department is required to review a child's attendance in a child care program and exclude a parent
• care facilities and support child care facilities.
• care facilities and support child care facilities.
• care facilities and support child care facilities.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then considered a series of House bills and committee substitutes. House Bill 5438, dealing with changes to Step 7 of the school aid formula and allowable uses of certain education allocations, was amended to adopt the Education Committee’s changes and then reported to the full Senate. House Bill 4087 creating the West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance was also reported, as was House Bill 4191, which expands child care tax credit eligibility for employer-sponsored facilities and changes subsidy payments from attendance-based to enrollment-based reimbursement; senators emphasized its workforce and economic development benefits. House Bill 5074, which reallocates medical cannabis fund balances and future revenues, was amended to increase the Child Protective Commission pilot funding from $3 million to $5 million and remove proposed ibogaine research funding for Marshall and WVU before being reported. House Bill 5353, regulating virtual currency kiosks and money transmission licensure, and House Bill 5527, creating licensure and oversight for wellness reimbursement program administrators, both received strike-and-insert amendments and were reported. House Bill 5687, which phases down the metallurgical coal severance tax and adds a temporary oil and gas tax reduction with county/municipal revenue adjustments, was amended and reported. House Bill 4418, creating an electronic system for municipal business and occupation tax filing and collection with a 1% administrative fee and a participation threshold, was also reported. The committee then took up House Bill 4245, the Revenue Rules Bundle, which bundles 26 legislative rules from the Department of Revenue and related agencies. The bundle included alcohol, banking, insurance, racing, and tax rules, with several sunset extensions and repeals of outdated rules; the committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment affecting a lottery consumer protection rule and a pre-need cemetery company rule, then reported the bill. House Bill 5168, providing a $12 million lottery-funded stream for emergency medical services, was amended to clarify the uses of the funds, rename one fund, require a 30% county match for mental health treatment spending, and create two additional county-based EMS funds; senators described it as a needed permanent funding source for EMS, and it was reported. Throughout the meeting, members generally supported the measures, with some discussion on technical details, funding allocations, and the impact of the bills on local services and workforce needs. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that Senate House Bills 4004, 4006, and 4009 would not be taken up that day, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• and can take on the responsibility of having that child in their house and providing care for them.
• , then that child would not come into the care of the department.
• So a child has been identified as CARE. They're in CYFD custody.
• And the foster families are the ones that have that child in their care constantly.
• They just need to get paid what it costs to care for the child.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, it's part of the Child Care Development Block Grant, and child care assistance exists to help
• I was looking at the child care subsidy, which is a federal program.
• We're supplementing both of these; I believe it's $32,800 on the Child Care Assistance Program.
• , which refer to child care and job training.
• Did we deduct the right amount for child care?

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:53.880> care<00:01:54.120> program the child care program the child care program
• the Child Care Assistance Program is.
• child care assistance program.
• <00:13:08.520> care program integrity in the child care program integrity in the child care
• > in visits programs, child care programs in visits programs, child care programs in their<00:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• > program namely the child care assistance program namely the child care assistance program or
• Licensers conduct annual unannounced inspections of licensed child care programs as required by the Child
• ... inspections of licens child care inspections of licens child care programs<00:43:22.839> as
• <00:43:24.920> care programs as required by the child care programs as required by the child
• integrity in the child care assistance program.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Child care services, we administer the state's Child Care Subsidy program.
• DHR also licenses and inspects the child care centers in... ...and inspects the child care centers in
• Now, the Child Welfare program, we also investigate and... ...the Child Welfare program, we also investigate
• We were hoping to put some more money into the QRIS program in child care.
• That's the STARS program that helps child care providers who want to improve their quality get paid a

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , to the Child Care Funding at the Texas Workforce Training Program, to Child Care Funding at the Texas
• In our child care program, we work with the 28 Workforce Solutions Boards to deliver child care assistance
• So child care, we requested an exception item last session to fully match our child care. program that
• So we were fully matched on the child care program.
• And then there's one last program which is the child care innovation pilot program. which would allow

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• training or educational programs, as well as for activities to promote overall child care quality for
• The CCDF federal funding is primarily used for child care assistance, which is a program that DES runs
• was confirmed as a child care center participating in Minnesota's child care assistance program.
• was confirmed as a child care center participating in Minnesota's child care assistance program.
• We know that fraud was rampant in Minnesota with the child care program, as you've noticed in your packet

Summary: The committee first heard an update on Topok Elementary School District’s long-running noncompliance with Arizona’s Uniform System of Financial Records. The Auditor General’s office explained the USFR noncompliance process and reported that Topok had made substantial progress, correcting many deficiencies in areas such as open meeting law, procurement, payroll, attendance reporting, property control, and information technology. The district’s superintendent and staff described the corrective actions they had taken, the use of outside consultants, and their plan to maintain compliance through stronger leadership, training, and consistent procedures. Members praised the district’s progress and asked about the remaining deficiencies and the status of the 3% state-aid withholding, which the Auditor General said would be addressed by the State Board of Education. The committee then considered a request for a fourth school safety special audit, tied to concerns raised by Representative Martinez about Phoenix Union High School District and school violence response practices. The Auditor General said the proposed audit would be a new topic focused on policies and procedures for responding to credible threats of violence and allegations of staff misconduct affecting student safety, and could include Phoenix Union in the sample. Representative Martinez described a fatal 2024 shooting, weapons incidents, and concerns about district oversight. The committee approved the motion 10-0. Next, staff presented the fiscal years 2027-2028 school district performance audit schedule, describing 26 randomly selected school districts and career and technical education districts, plus 84 planned follow-ups. The Auditor General said the schedule is intended to shorten the average time between audits and that the school audits division is now fully staffed. Members asked about county coverage and the inclusion of ESA accountability, but the schedule was ultimately presented for review rather than approval. The committee also heard a detailed federal compliance audit presentation on the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) administered by DES. The Auditor General reported repeated findings involving missing provider documentation, questioned costs, and FFATA reporting errors, including a 2024 sample that led to questioning $2.88 million in costs. The office recommended stronger documentation, record retention, reporting procedures, and staff training; DES concurred and said it would correct the findings in 2026. Members discussed the limits of the single-audit scope, the possibility of a broader special audit, and the federal government’s recent actions on CCDF oversight in other states. Finally, the committee considered and discussed a special audit request for CCDF that would broaden review to provider oversight, licensing, site visits, and billing accuracy across multiple state agencies, with estimated costs of $547,000 to $625,000 and a projected report date of July 31, 2027.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also includes child programs.
• SNAP program, which is Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as well as child care assistance.
• :24.720> care program, as well as child care program, as well as child care assistance.<00:37:
• <00:51:11.599> care general funds to avoid a child care general funds to avoid a child care
• > into quality child care accounting unit into quality child care accounting unit into the<00:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• care provider types, family child care and child care centers.
• family<00:05:10.880> child to Child Care Centers and family child to Child Care Centers and
• care and child care centers.
• out a training program for child care care care providers<00:57:11.319> Mr<00:57:11.880> Ty
• c> a<01:38:45.320> ton toys in a Child Care Program makes a ton toys in a Child Care Program

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It could be in child care with this Child Care Aware and the whole block.
• care funds or child care assistance.
• care program as well.
• care program as well.
• I'm here today to give you an update on our child care services program evaluation.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also are responsible for the school readiness program, which is a subsidized child care program that
• And lastly, participation in early child care and preschool programs increases high school graduation
• The Gold Seal Quality Care Program really looks at the child care program as a whole.
• When we started looking for child care, quality child care, it was scary.
• When we started looking for child care, quality child care, it was scary.

Summary: The Education Administration Subcommittee held an introductory meeting focused largely on member introductions and “homework” reports about education issues in each district. Members raised a wide range of concerns and priorities, including early childhood care and VPK access, school choice and school closures, teacher recruitment and retention, conflict resolution and school safety, early literacy and preparedness, technology and AI/STEM instruction, attendance and mental health, ESE services, dual enrollment and career/technical education, caregiving youth, and real-time student enrollment/funding tracking. Several members also emphasized local challenges such as housing-driven teacher turnover, disaster-related attendance problems, and funding inequities across counties. The committee then heard a detailed presentation on Florida’s early learning system from Chancellor Carrie Miller of the Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning. She outlined the structure and funding of School Readiness, VPK, and the Gold Seal Quality Care program, the role of early learning coalitions and DCF, and the state’s quality and accountability measures. She highlighted the importance of kindergarten readiness, teacher quality, and the new School Readiness Plus program, which helps families transition off subsidy more gradually. Additional panelists from the Children’s Forum, the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe, and a Tallahassee child care provider discussed workforce shortages, low wages, provider turnover, the TEACH scholarship program, Help Me Grow, local coalition operations, and the need for more providers and more consistent regulation. During questions, members asked about wait lists, special needs services, teacher retention, provider onboarding, and DCF regulation. The panel said Miami-Dade’s wait list was about 4,000 children and described priority categories for service; they also said children with disabilities are screened and referred for support, though not given a separate priority category. Panelists reported that TEACH has helped reduce turnover through education support and service commitments, but said wages and career pathways remain major issues. Members also pressed for clearer, more consistent licensing standards and more support for new providers entering the field. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• care providers who accept CCAP, or the Child Care Assistance Program.
• And then there are two child care programs listed here.
• And then there are two child care programs listed here.
• And then there are two child care programs listed here.
• integrity infrastructure for the child care assistance program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Housing to care for children and caregivers holistically, through age-appropriate, child-centric services
• children in Specialized Care that the children in these<00:58:55.280> programs<00:58:55.680><
• With adequate resources, facilities can provide comprehensive care plans, culturally sensitive programming
• of psychosis program.
• Chair, members, sustaining this program and providing timely access to care will remain a significant

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think the program should treat child care workers equally because I think every child care worker is
• I think the program should treat child care workers equally because I think every child care worker is
• I think the program should treat child care workers equally because I think every child care worker is
• I think the program should treat child care workers equally because I think every child care worker is
• I think the program should treat child care workers equally because I think every child care worker is

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• care and other programs.
• for child care providers.
• for child care providers.
• My child care program is more than a business.
• Regarding child care, thank you for the continued investment in child care slots.

Keywords: 988, house, all