Transcript Highlights:

• The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, we believe that between the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and
• The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, we believe that between the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and
• our public assistance... ...we believe that between the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and our public
• The public assistance program...
• So that loan program helps shorten that.

Keywords: 914, all

Summary: The committee held a budget hearing for the Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management, with Director Annie Verst presenting the agency’s FY26/FY27 request and explaining the agency’s role in disaster response, recovery, preparedness, and mitigation. She said OEM remains a lean agency focused on coordinating resources for local governments, supporting recovery after disasters, and helping communities build resilience. She highlighted recent activity including wildfire response, multiple fire management assistance declarations, $83 million in public assistance payouts, use of the new state disaster revolving fund, and implementation of an Oklahoma resilient recovery strategy and ARPA-funded rural public safety grants. Verst emphasized uncertainty in federal funding and FEMA operations, saying hazard mitigation assistance has been canceled for the first time since 1988, some obligations were delayed under DHS’s “Defend the Spend” review, and the emergency management performance grant period was shortened before later being resolved. She said OEM has restructured by eliminating obsolete administrative work, repurposing positions to regional coordinators, ending warehouse leases, and assigning fleet vehicles more efficiently. Her budget request included $3.7 million to cover a possible loss of federal operating support, $1 million for a required state hazard mitigation plan update, $3.8 million for the state emergency fund to cover anticipated 12.5% state shares and replenish prior expenditures, and $800,000 for anticipated other-needs/temporary sheltering cost share. Members questioned her about Oklahoma Task Force One, the revolving fund, and whether OEM is shifting toward a response-focused agency. Verst said response remains local and OEM’s role is coordination, recovery, and mitigation, not replacing local emergency management. She explained Task Force One is used when local capacity is exceeded, is not currently funded by OEM for routine operations, and the revolving fund helps bridge reimbursement delays. She also said the hazard mitigation plan update would likely be done by an outside contractor or university partner. No votes were taken; the hearing ended after questions and thanks from the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:11.800><c> programs</c> I'll just note here the grant programs I'll just note here the grant
• </c> way the budget works is that Grant way the budget works is that Grant programs<00:14:55.720><c>
• > set</c><00:15:19.519><c> by</c> change Grant programs they are set by change Grant programs they are
• The Consumer Support Grant program is a state-funded alternative to MA-reimbursed home care.
• and Adult Mental Health Grants, and public health care programs and private insurance paid for some

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We will start with it. ...of the Kitchen Infrastructure and Training Grants Program.
• Infrastructure grant programs.
• Now I'll return to the Kitchen Infrastructure Grant Program.
• 700 additional schools under the current grant program under one or more additional rounds.
• 700 additional schools under the current grant program under one or more additional rounds.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:52:51.480><c> project</c><00:52:51.839><c> grant</c><00:52:52.200><c> for</c> uh large uh program
• project grant for uh large uh program project grant for NIH<00:52:53.799><c> that</c><00:52:54.000><
• Over the course of this program, the program has awarded 173 grants to researchers and small businesses
• The third allocation on the list is the Grant-in-Aid of Research, Artistry, and Scholarship program,
• :08.119><c> support</c> program which provides grants to support program which provides grants to support

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and, you know, a piece of that that we did in 2023 was creating the train and retain grant program
• Um, and, you know, a piece of that that we did in 2023 was creating the train and retain grant program
• Um, and, you know, a piece of that that we did in 2023 was creating the train and retain grant program
• The program granted money to regional development organizations and other nonprofit organizations to
• to</c><00:33:34.600><c> develop</c><00:33:35.320><c> a</c> this grant, this program is to develop a

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , including Emergency Services Grants, transitional housing programs, Safe Harbor shelter and housing
• programs, Safe Harbor shelter, and Housing Shelter Link youth Mental Health Grants, the Homeless Youth
• , including Emergency Services Grants, transitional housing programs, Safe Harbor shelter and housing
• programs, Safe Harbor shelter, Housing Shelter Link youth Mental Health Grants, the Homeless Youth Act
• , including Emergency Services Grants, transitional housing programs, Safe Harbor shelter and housing

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> increase the extraordinary needs Grant increase the extraordinary needs Grant which<00:34:55.520
• </c><00:40:31.720><c> does</c> like the extraordinary needs Grant does like the extraordinary needs Grant
• </c> because the extraordinary needs Grant because the extraordinary needs Grant came<00:41:01.240><c
• shall be increased by 2%, the wording is the grant floor, the grant ceiling, and the maximum grant shall
• grant was $524.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The executive session focused primarily on HB 563, which revises the school funding formula, especially the adequate education grant amounts for special education students and the treatment of fiscal capacity disparity aid. Representative Ladd moved OTPA on Amendment 06508, explaining that FY 26 would largely hold the current formula steady, while FY 27 would increase several per-pupil amounts, including base cost, free and reduced-price meals, English language learner aid, and special education differentiated aid. He said the special education change was based on estimated case loads across disability categories and that the amendment also reinstates fiscal capacity disparity aid, using a formula intended to better assist property-poor communities. Several members supported the amendment as a step in the right direction, saying it better recognizes special education costs and separates property wealth from low-income student counts. Others raised concerns about the lack of time and the absence of a printed spreadsheet showing how the fiscal capacity disparity aid would affect each town. In response, sponsors said the spreadsheet existed, that the LBA had copies, and that the amendment would help about 40 target towns, while Manchester would be the main community receiving less under the new formula because of prior shifts in the extraordinary needs grant. Discussion also covered the broader impact of the bill, with members noting that about 200 of the state’s 245 cities and towns would see an increase and 45 a decrease under the proposed FY 27 changes. Supporters argued the bill was a compromise given limited revenues and that it should move forward so it can be considered by the full House and then Finance. No final vote on the amendment or bill was taken in the portion provided, and the chair indicated the committee was still deciding whether it had enough information to proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• So for any members that don't know, there is a separate federal grant program that is not administered
• A handful of those providers in Arkansas that are subject to that separate federal grant program have
• There's probably, off the top of my head, several grant programs operating in and around Crittenden County
• Sure, there's probably, off the top of my head, there's probably several grant programs operating in
• It's to utilize a grant from the Walton Family Foundation for an after-school and summer program at the

Summary: The committee considered several appropriation and transfer requests, beginning with a $273,000 temporary appropriation for the Department of Labor and Licensing to cover administrative costs for its enterprise licensing platform, funded by license and application fees. It then reviewed two large Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests: $280 million for the Department of Transportation for the final quarter of the fiscal year, and $195 million for the State Broadband Office to support the Arkansas BEAD broadband grant program, including an extra help position and grants to internet service providers. The broadband item drew extensive questions about awardees, contract amendments, accountability, build-out timelines, backup plans if providers default, the definition of broadband serviceable locations, and the cost per location. The State Broadband Director said no providers had requested amendments, the program would use milestone-based disbursements and a four-year build-out period, and the first tranche would serve 51,566 homes and businesses with $126.1 million in grants. Both Section B and Section C items were approved. In Section D, the committee approved a $458,000 transfer within the Department of Correction from the female work release program to the Tucker Unit water treatment plant, a $25 million transfer within the Department of Education to cover declining enrollment, teacher incentive, school recognition, and Easter Seals funding, and a $229,000 transfer for the Department of Shared Administrative Services to support two project management office positions. The education transfer prompted questions about how declining enrollment funding is calculated, how many districts receive it, and how long districts can continue to receive it; agency staff said 152 districts were on the preliminary list and the formula is based on the prior two-year average ADM compared with the previous year. The committee also gave favorable advice on a proposed $4.7 million loan for the Office of State Technology to implement ServiceNow and related IT modernization tools; agency officials said the loan would be repaid through cost recovery rates over five years and would replace an existing loan that is ending, with expected savings from consolidating applications but no precise savings estimate yet. The committee then reviewed cash fund and federal grant requests, including $200,000 for wage and hour claimant payments, $15 million for unclaimed property claims, $8,000 for a heritage program grant, and $1.1 million for a College and Career Coaches grant to expand services in rural districts. It also reviewed pay plan and budget manual items without objection. The most extensive report discussion focused on the Medicaid trust fund, where DHS and DFA officials said the balance has been declining and that the state may need to add capital back into the fund. Senators and representatives asked about the current balance, the projected year-end level, the role of the $100 million set-aside, the impact of outstanding Medicaid rules from the prior session, and whether future federal funding could help reduce long-term Medicaid costs. Officials said they are still working through more than 10 outstanding rules with CMS and do not yet have a final price tag for those changes. The meeting ended after the reports were reviewed and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we come in subsequent with legislation that says you have to use it for a grant program and it has
• It's our Community Resilience Centers grant program. We've had one round of this program so far.
• It's our Community Resilience Centers grant program.
• Round two of the grant program will be released this summer.
• So in the first year of grant funds, they established the program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THE FIRST OF WHICH YOU ALL MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH IS THE BROADBAND OPPORTUNITY GRANT PROGRAM.
• ONE IS THE BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM WHICH HAS AWARDED OVER 249 MILLION ACROSS 74 GRANTS AND 50
• HERE SOON IN THE DIGITAL CAPACITY GRANT PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE B PROGRAM.
• FOR THE DIGITAL GRANT CAPACITY PROGRAM THIS IS SIMILAR TO DIGITAL CONNECTIVITY WERE A PROVIDES FUNDING
• DIGITAL CAPACITY GRANT PROGRAM.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Florida's school readiness program is our state's child care program that enables parents to work and
• So when we say child care development fund, CCDF program, or school readiness program, SR program, that
• or on-the-job training program.
• or on-the-job training program.
• Grant.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met with a quorum and first heard House Bill 731, which would address coach and extracurricular sponsor compensation and change how student-athlete transfer eligibility is determined. The bill would allow local school boards to adopt policies letting booster clubs or similar associations support coaches and activity sponsors, and it would let superintendents treat certain coaches and athletic leaders as administrative personnel for compensation purposes. It would also shift eligibility decisions for transferred student-athletes to the governing athletic association and require clearer bylaws and timelines for those determinations. Members raised questions about booster club oversight, pay equity, the new athletic administrator language, and safeguards against abuse or unequal treatment, while supporters argued the bill would help retain coaches and better support student athletics. The bill was debated and then reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then received presentations from the Department of Education’s Division of Early Learning and the Florida Association of Early Learning Coalitions on school readiness fraud prevention and mitigation. Speakers explained that Florida’s school readiness program pays providers based on verified attendance rather than enrollment, requires daily parent sign-in/sign-out records, and uses multiple layers of oversight including coalition anti-fraud plans, annual audits, programmatic monitoring, DCF inspections, and referrals to state fraud investigators when needed. They emphasized that Florida delayed implementation of a federal rule that would have required prospective enrollment-based payments, and said the state’s current system makes fraud difficult. Members asked about military and grandparent guardianship situations, audit findings, and the number of fraud referrals; presenters said fraud cases are relatively limited and that the existing controls and public enforcement act as deterrents. The meeting ended after members thanked the presenters and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're going to have to continue to invest, using philanthropy, the challenge grants program that you
• We're also excited about the Challenge Grant Program, which I've already mentioned, and the investment
• We're also excited about the challenge grant program, which I've already mentioned, and the investment
• And then under student grants, we have four programs, one that we're looking at potentially reducing.
• So increasing the North Dakota State grant by $1 million, increasing our scholars program by $700,000

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met at NDSU and heard an extensive presentation from President David Cook/President Stewart and NDSU leadership on the university’s priorities, including enrollment, student success, research growth, and use of New Horizons funding. Leaders emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission, its role in workforce development, and its goal of becoming more distinctive through strategic planning, recruitment and retention, commercialization, and partnerships. They highlighted that NDSU awarded 2,370 degrees in 2025, produces a large share of the state’s engineering, nursing, and agriculture graduates, and reported strong outcomes for graduates staying and working in North Dakota. They also noted enrollment headwinds, competition from other institutions, and the need to manage tuition waivers more carefully through a scholarship optimization effort. Provost Sherry Vale outlined academic stewardship efforts, including review or consolidation of low-producing programs, strategic hiring tied to institutional priorities, faculty workload policy changes, and expanded online and regional offerings. She said the university is using New Horizons dollars to strengthen advising, student support, and programs in engineering, agriculture, and health. NDSU leaders also described new or expanded academic offerings such as robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, material science and engineering, nuclear engineering certificates, accelerated nursing, nurse practitioner certificates, a Master of Health Administration, and a clinical research master’s program with Sanford Health. They stressed that these investments are intended to improve student completion, meet workforce needs, and increase return on public investment. The committee also heard testimony from students and recent graduates who described the value of NDSU’s education, mentorship, internships, research opportunities, and support services. Alyssa Hodges spoke about pharmacy education, public health work, and campus support as a parent and student; Ethan Blessy described engineering coursework, internships with Marvin, and career preparation; and Aiden Freolic discussed neuroscience research, federally funded projects, and plans for graduate study. Their testimony was followed by presentations on partnerships with Gateway to Science for K-12 STEM outreach and with Sanford Research on biomedical research, clinical trials, obesity research, and a joint biostatistics hire. NDSU also highlighted systemwide shared services, Governor’s School programming, and research growth, including a reported 8% increase in research expenditures from $199 million to $215 million. No bill votes were taken; the meeting was informational and featured presentations, testimony, and discussion of future planning and partnerships.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of State Student Grant and Aid Programs.
• North</c><01:30:29.360><c> Star</c> state grant program and the North Star state grant program and the
• </c> grant programs in Ohi including grant programs in Ohi including Northstar<01:30:37.520><c> promise
• </c><01:36:40.920><c> program</c> several changes to State grant program several changes to State grant
• </c><01:40:28.679><c> would</c><01:40:28.840><c> be</c> grant program as well that would be grant program

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These funds supported provider stabilization and workforce development grants, as well as training programs
• This increase was used to increase rates in the child care assistance program, to make grants to providers
• </c><00:14:35.279><c> and</c> grants as well as training programs and grants as well as training programs
• program to make grants<00:15:00.160><c> to</c><00:15:00.320><c> providers</c><00:15:00.720><c> and</
• program called the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity grants, which folks often just call ELC grants

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So we use that through a grants program that we provide to applicants of the program, and we review those
• in the LRS program.
• grants.
• the Waste Tire Program.
• We've established a conservation incentive program, which provides an opportunity to grant the taxpaying

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And lastly, we've seen a lot of attention on fraud related to grant programs in the Minnesota House,
• </c><00:02:18.800><c> house</c> Grant programs in the Minnesota house Grant programs in the Minnesota
• :02:20.760><c> is</c> and while scrutinizing grants is and while scrutinizing grants is important<00:
• </c> office of Inspector General that Grant office of Inspector General that Grant covers<00:03:40.640
• </c><00:04:22.560><c> for</c> administrators of the program for administrators of the program for example

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our grants division has grown from administering a small number of state and federal grants of around
• Our grants division has grown from administering a small number of state and federal grants of around
• , the California Violence Intervention and Prevention Program, local mitigation grants associated with
• Proposition 64, and also the adult reentry grant program.
• In terms of the grant programs or in terms of our...

Summary: The Senate Committee on Rules met to consider several gubernatorial appointments and routine committee actions. The committee first approved, by unanimous 5-0 votes, appointments to the Alfred E. Alquist Seismic Safety Commission, the appointment of Lee Herrick as California Poet Laureate, a reference of bills to committees, and floor acknowledgments. Members then heard testimony from Trista Gonzalez, nominee to lead the Department of Tax and Fee Administration, who described her long career in tax administration, efforts to improve taxpayer compliance and service, readiness for the state’s lithium extraction tax, and the department’s work on online sales tax, cannabis, and tobacco enforcement. Senators asked about responsiveness to legislators, small business support, accountability, and enforcement; public commenters from tax and accounting groups supported her nomination. Her appointment advanced to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote. The committee also heard from Aaron McGuire, nominee to lead the Board of State and Community Corrections. He discussed the board’s expanded responsibilities, including annual detention-facility inspections, large grant programs for violence intervention and reentry, and the new in-custody death review division. Members questioned him about grant oversight, audit transparency, statutory authority for in-custody death reviews, and conditions in local detention facilities, especially in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. McGuire said the board uses screening, site visits, audits, and compliance reviews to reduce fraud and ensure grant funds are used appropriately, and that trailer bill language had clarified access to records for death reviews. He also said staffing shortages remain a major issue in some juvenile facilities and that the board continues to work with counties and the courts to improve conditions. Public support came from nonprofit reentry providers and Giffords. His appointment also advanced to the full Senate on a 5-0 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• program.
• program through the Department of Commerce that has a good utilization rate... ...grant program through
• So housing finance has their programs.
• If we're ready, I really like this program.
• to provide grants.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met to work on three remaining policy bills. On HB 2225, members discussed an amendment reducing the Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund housing grant program from $50 million to $30 million, lowering the maximum grant amount, and clarifying that existing lots can qualify after a certificate of occupancy is issued so the program can help communities like Watford City and Williston use prepared lots. Members also discussed the matching requirements, tribal eligibility, and how Commerce would score applications to ensure the money lowers lot costs rather than being absorbed by political subdivisions. The amendment and the bill as amended both passed 22-0, and Representative Murphy was assigned to carry the bill. The committee then took up SB 2200, which funds the 988 crisis hotline. After discussion, members agreed to strip out the proposed phone-line charge approach and instead provide a $500,000 appropriation from the Community Health Care Trust Fund, consistent with the Senate version, to supplement existing funding for increased staffing and texting-related demand. The amendment and the bill as amended both passed 22-0, and Representative Nelson will carry the bill. Finally, the committee considered SB 2342, which creates a value-added milk processing facility incentive program. The amendment reduced the proposed line of credit from $10 million to $5 million, with the program intended to support dairy-related processing infrastructure such as utilities, roads, water, wastewater, and rail access. Members noted the program would be administered through the Agriculture Diversification and Development Committee, could potentially support one or multiple facilities, and sunsets June 30, 2027. The amendment and the bill as amended both passed 22-0, and Representative Brandenburg will carry the bill. The committee then adjourned, planning to reconvene the next morning to take up additional bills and budget adjustments.

Transcript Highlights:

• program with the Mini Kids affiliate, then you create the Mini Kids implementation grants, and it just
• So I'm just concerned about creating a whole new layer of grant programs, so I would just like maybe
• programs.
• </c><00:15:24.279><c> program</c> creating this whole new grant program creating this whole new grant
• /c><00:15:51.040><c> just</c><00:15:51.199><c> like</c> Grant programs so I would just like Grant programs

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• grant program that would some type of a grant program that would identify<00:21:56.559><c> that</c><
• He explained that it establishes an Earn While You Learn grant program to be administered by the new
• He explained that it establishes an Earn While You Learn grant program to be administered by the new
• </c> establish and earn While You Learn grant establish and earn While You Learn grant program<00:48:
• </c><01:03:52.960><c> programs</c><01:03:53.760><c> and</c> and money to set up Grant programs and and

Keywords: 1183, house