Transcript Highlights:

• were made available to 125 school districts and recruitment grants to 15 educator prep programs and
• program.
• program.
• And this program has utilized the fast track grant more than any other program on our university campus
• And so that fast track grant has been instrumental in helping our students in this program.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That the Office of Grants Management.
• </c> the people administering the programs the people administering the programs and<00:05:02.400><c>
• </c> hasn't been recognized by the grants hasn't been recognized by the grants manager,<00:11:50.560>
• </c> these programs know how to do the work. these programs know how to do the work.
• ,</c> meals somewhere in the summer program, meals somewhere in the summer program, are<00:24:38.720>

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee Chair Kristen Robbins opened by criticizing the governor’s fraud package as too focused on new spending and staffing, and not enough on culture change, accountability, eligibility rules, and an enterprise-wide IT/data strategy. She said the committee had heard a good overview from multiple commissioners, but she remained concerned that piecemeal technology investments and added staff would not address the root causes of fraud. Robbins also said she would introduce a bill based on issues raised in committee, including requiring grants management staff to complete Office of Grants Management training and certification. A major action announced was the launch of a new whistleblower portal at mnfraud.com, which legislators said will let people submit basic fraud allegations, after which staff will follow up and forward matters to the Office of the Legislative Auditor, BCA, law enforcement, or the attorney general as appropriate. Members noted that the Office of the Legislative Auditor already has a separate reporting portal, and there was a question about why the new site does not allow anonymous reporting; Robbins said contact information is needed so staff can follow up. She also said the portal is intended to centralize and triage reports from agency workers, service recipients, and providers. Republican members said the governor’s proposal still misses key pieces. Vice Chair Anderson argued the package mostly adds staff to agencies that failed to catch or act on fraud, and said Minnesota needs a statewide independent inspector general with authority outside agencies and a stronger whistleblower system. Representative Marion Rarick said the proposed criminal penalty increases are too small compared with federal penalties and criticized the package for adding only one forensic auditor at the BCA while DHS receives many more positions. She also argued that agency managers should face sanctions when fraud occurs under their watch and said the state needs a culture where employees can be rewarded for good work but also held accountable for failures. Members discussed several other ideas, including creating new crimes for kickbacks and theft of public funds, requiring fraud fiscal notes, improving data sharing and eligibility verification, and using better IT so systems can talk to each other. There was also discussion of whether government services should rely less on nonprofits and private contractors; one member said fraud often follows a particular business model rather than the sector itself, while another suggested capping salaries of top nonprofit executives receiving government funds. The committee also noted that the governor’s fraud package is being presented as a package but will likely move as separate provisions through different omnibus bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> institutions who receive state grant institutions who receive state grant funding<00:00:35.520><
• </c> personal expense as her federal grants personal expense as her federal grants were<00:02:44.000>
• She spent four years in program.
• </c><00:07:16.240><c> They</c> nurse program at St. Paul College. They nurse program at St.
• </c> modification to the dual training grants modification to the dual training grants statutes<00:24

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 511 that created the grant program.
• So in House Bill 511 is the one that creates the grant program and designates how the grant How are they
• So in House Bill 511 is the one that creates the grant program and designates how the grant program is
• This bill puts the money into the grant program. 511 creates the grant program. I got it.
• Because the grant program creates the program, but it authorizes, and this is consistent with other programs

Bills: HB316, HB549, HB646, HB752, HB824, HB873, HB1129, HB1157, HB1170

Keywords: literacy, adolescent, teacher education, high-dosage tutoring, reading intervention, workforce development, training programs, Bayou Growth Opportunity, funding, employment, skills gap, qualified employer, credential recognition, government growth limit, recurring revenue, state finance, Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund, fiscal responsibility, legislative sessions, regular sessions

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 22 and first considered Chairman Beaulieu’s House Bill 646, a constitutional amendment limiting the amount of State General Fund money that may be appropriated in a fiscal year. After adopting a set of amendments creating the Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund and making conforming changes, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The companion bill, House Bill 824, which establishes the growth limit formula based on CPI, medical CPI, and population change, was also amended and reported favorably as amended. Supporters framed both measures as a way to keep spending within recurring revenues and create a path toward reducing or eliminating the state income tax. The committee then reported favorably as amended House Bill 1157, creating the Louisiana State Infrastructure Fund to help finance infrastructure-related projects, with testimony that it would leverage private and federal dollars and initially focus on rail, port, road, and bridge projects. House Bill 316, which provides a framework for student literacy reforms for grades four through eight, was presented as having no new cost because the Department of Education said the work was already covered by existing resources; it was reported favorably. House Bill 549, creating the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program to provide employer-based training grants, also received support from business groups and was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1129, dealing with the sale of state-owned surplus movable property, drew support from Louisiana auctioneers who argued local firms should be allowed to bid on the state’s auction contract instead of relying on an out-of-state vendor; it was reported favorably. House Bill 873, which would fund pursuit intervention technology through a $2 driver’s license fee, generated significant concern about adding fees and whether the money should instead come from existing budgets. After discussion of the proposed technologies and training, the committee deferred the bill voluntarily to work on alternatives, including a possible sunset and other funding options. Finally, House Bill 752, which would change the timing and duration of regular legislative sessions by joint rule, was reported without action after members noted the revised fiscal note showed a decrease in state general fund expenditures. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recapture program.
• Ready Community Program or for some of the Community Program or for some of the other programs.
• Congress had a program that they said run this program. U.S.
• Seems to me that we've already determined through all of our business ready grant program and the discussions
• So, the Mineral Royalty Grant Program has lost pace with keeping up with inflation.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And finally, we have a program for agricultural water conservation grants and loans, and that's to cover
• Instead of having them come through a normal program where there may not be as much grant ability.
• For our drinking water program, EPA granted TCEQ primacy, which means that means that TCEQ has the responsibility
• The program must. meets strict criteria under the Safe Drinking Water Act to be granted primacy from
• The agency administers a number of conservation-related grant programs for local districts, which are

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that are granted or waivers are granted that are granted shall<00:21:56.240><c> be</c><00:21:56.320>
• </c> sounds like you're used to granting sounds like you're used to granting them.
• waiver from certain federal requirements or has been granted permission to operate this program.
• permission to operate this granted permission to operate this program. program. program.
• </c> it was set up as a separate program. it was set up as a separate program.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and consent calendar, then took up several rule items. For Department of Safety rule 2611, DMV leadership explained the rule had been under development since January but needed to be updated to reflect a new statutory change and to align the rule with RSA 266. Members discussed narrowing the rule to road-safety items rather than automobile inspection provisions, and the department said it would issue a new public notice and hold another hearing. The committee voted to grant a waiver and postpone the item until the October 15, 2026 meeting. The Board of Active Puncture Licensing item 26-47 was postponed one month at the agency’s request so it could incorporate OS feedback, with no waiver needed. The Insurance Department’s claim settlement rule 25-234 and related item 26-78 drew more extensive discussion over waiver language. Committee members objected that the proposed language gave the commissioner broad discretion to set waiver periods without clear criteria, while agency counsel argued the rule already contained standards and that the language allowed temporary waivers. After discussion about consistency, permanency, and the need for clearer documentation, the committee voted to postpone 25-234 with a waiver and to postpone 26-78. Finally, the committee considered Health and Human Services rule 2690, which sets SNAP certification periods for a pilot demonstration authorized by SB 499. Staff explained that federal changes now require the age threshold for the 36-month certification period to be 65 instead of 60, and that the agency had been directed to make the change by August 12. Agency staff said the rule needed to be updated to match federal direction, and members generally agreed. The committee discussed whether the federal citation was sufficient and whether the rule should reference the law change directly, but no final objection was raised in the portion shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• For supported decision-making programs.
• Appropriated for dementia grants.
• , including PCA Choice, the CFSS program.
• Grants are our second major area of emphasis.
• Our goal is not to target programs or services.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding

Transcript Highlights:

• It is not the only program, but it is a great program that creates opportunities because there just aren't
• Can you comment on some of the supplemental grants and grants that the teachers are looking for, the
• Can you comment on some of the supplemental grants and grants that the teachers are looking for, the
• Program, there is a minimum grant amount, and that was recently increased from $50,000 to $100,000 to
• program and may be relying on that, as opposed to implementing this new program.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I</c><00:06:34.639><c> think</c> grant program that's being I think grant program that's being I think
• Uh what we ACE grant program this year.
• As population counties grant program.
• , but no money was put into that grant program.
• We have over 40 programs these grants.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 28 January, 2026; 8:15 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• within the parks and recreation program, so they used to have three programs and now have two.
• The management program for fiscal year 2025 did include grant monies that were sent out by the agency
• programs.
• But most of them, it's going to be going for some replacement items through some of our grant programs
• ... family courts, substance abuse programs, children advocacy programs, and reentry programs.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first approved a $3,700 dedicated-fund enhancement for the Endowment Fund Investment Board to replace a high-end laptop. It then took up several Department of Lands items. A $125,000 supplemental for Forest and Range Fire Protection to help stand up firefighters was rejected after concerns were raised that prior firefighter bonus money had gone largely to office staff rather than firefighters. The committee did approve a supplemental shifting 1.25 FTP and $160,000 from the Abandoned Mines Lands Fund to the Navigable Waterways Fund to align spending with statutory uses, and later approved a broader FY 2027 Department of Lands package including radio equipment, vehicle storage, a UTV, legal counsel fund shifts, Idaho Geological Survey support, replacement items, and OITS hardware. A proposed substitute that would have omitted the $140,500 general-fund restoration for eastern Idaho fire preparedness failed, but the original motion including that amount passed. The committee also adopted language for the Idaho Geological Survey and later approved Parks and Recreation FY 2027 enhancements for staffing, trail work, a mower, grant pass-throughs, staff housing, interpretive displays, Farragut entrance work, RV campsite development, and replacement items, after questions about federal replacement-item funding were answered by the director. A FY 2026 Parks and Recreation supplemental allowing program transfers above the 10% cap also passed. The committee then moved to the Department of Health and Welfare’s Division of Public Health Services. It approved FY 2027 funding for the Idaho Home Visiting Program, immunization assessment fund restoration, disaster planning and training, fee-for-service lab testing, ARPA multi-year grants, HIV prevention, hepatitis prevention, and a $19,000 suicide prevention restoration; a substitute motion that would have reduced the home-visiting restoration to $500,000 failed, and the original motion passed. The committee adopted reporting language for suicide prevention, HIV prevention, hepatitis prevention, and immunization assessment funds. It then considered the Division of Early Learning and Development, approving funding for Idaho Child Care Program capacity, replacement items, population forecast adjustments, and the transfer of the Idaho Home Visiting Program from Public Health; a separate motion to require an open competitive acquisition process for Idaho STARS was set aside and the committee instead held the language in committee for further work. The committee also adopted language for Idaho Home Visiting reporting, Idaho Child Care Program reappropriation, Idaho Child Care Capacity Grant restrictions, and a transfer-limitation exemption for the division. Finally, the committee began the Division of Family and Community Partnerships and heard a request for $180,000 in federal funds for kinship navigation services to help relatives and close family friends care for children and prevent foster care entry. The transcript cuts off before the vote on that item, so no final action on it is shown here.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs.
• But as I went through these grants, first of all, I want to say I like the master principal bonus programs
• programs decreased.
• of program types completing the program over that time.
• programs.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first large grant that we obtained was a HRSA grant.
• At the time of the grant, but also to this day, the faculty looked at all of the courses in our DNP program
• I believe we're going to need to look at those grant programs and how you're really utilizing them to
• The grants that we've had in the past through HRSA and SAMHSA have really enhanced our programs.
• When they first implemented some of these programs, similar to some of the higher education grants, they

Transcript Highlights:

• program and the school seismic safety program, critical initiatives that put student health and safety
• program.
• In particular, I want to thank you for your deep investment in the community forest grant program.
• Program, which you even funded out of bonds, as well as the Here Program.
• The future hub will be public health programs with partnerships, community programs, food, and cultural

Summary: The Capital Budget Committee held a hearing on Proposed Substitute House Bill 2295, the supplemental capital budget. Staff said the proposal totals nearly $911 million, including about $400 million in bonds and $511 million from other state and federal sources, with much of the increase over the governor’s proposal coming from Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funding. Major spending areas include housing and homelessness, K-12 construction, human services facilities, and CCA-funded clean energy, decarbonization, and habitat restoration projects. The chair said the committee would not take amendments at the hearing and planned to vote out the budget on Thursday, with a technical fix striker expected. Testimony was largely supportive of the House proposal, with many witnesses asking the committee to preserve or increase specific items in final negotiations. Housing advocates urged support for the Housing Trust Fund, manufactured housing preservation, and projects such as Alliance Place, Cloverdale Cottages, Cherry Street Village, Somos, and the Thrive Center. Education and public facility witnesses backed investments in school seismic safety, small district modernization, Healthy Kids Healthy Schools, community college and university maintenance, and projects at Cascadia College, WSU, CWU, and UW. Health and human services testimony supported behavioral health, Tubman Center, HealthPoint, pregnant parenting treatment, and the Yakima Behavioral Health Hub. Natural resources, climate, and infrastructure witnesses praised funding for Flood Plains by Design, community forests, trust land transfer, salmon recovery, the Skokomish land purchase, and the Lower Columbia River dredging project. Several local governments and organizations requested additional support or Senate-level funding for specific projects, while Climate Solutions cautioned against using CCA dollars to backfill existing obligations. The committee heard no votes during the hearing, and the chair closed by saying the budget would be executed on Thursday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tristy is the director of the grants administration program at the Minnesota Humanities Center. record
• If you would like to know more about our grants administration process or about MHC programming, we would
• In administering grants and delivering our programming, we work to truly embrace all Minnesota communities
• In carrying out our work, we try to be quick to get grants out the door and programs completed, but not
• </c> grants out the door and programs grants out the door and programs completed,<00:03:55.360><c> but

Bills: HF4148

Keywords: Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Outdoor Heritage Fund, executive director, natural resources, conservation, wetlands, prairies, forests, wildlife habitat, fish and game, bipartisan hiring, interview panel, legislative branch, Minnesota Statutes 97A.056, administrative expenses, nonpartisan staff, council governance, environment and natural resources, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I can report that our work on the Virginia 250 grant program is going along well.
• We have grants and We have contractual services. We have grants and partnerships.
• when we're going to grant them.
• To grant in the budget, but we just don't know when we're going to grant them.
• There is one very specific grant in, I think it was ’25 for VCI, but virtually all of the grant money

Keywords: American Revolution 250 Commission, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The next slide goes over our forecasted programs.
• So when we have a bill for a grant and we're fiscal noting that bill, we are simply looking at that grant
• you, or if it's a big grant, a few FTEs.
• you, or if it's a big grant, a few FTEs.
• Alright, Johnson, similar programs has a significant bias toward a one-to-one ratio in separate programming

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They're not precluded or prevented from moving on any other grant program, any other state funding.
• Commission, to have a grant program and to receive funds, and this bill creates the funding mechanism
• But as you know, these federal grant programs are very complex, and we want the Law Enforcement Commission
• We would establish, yes ma'am, and we would establish a grant program.
• And we would establish, yes ma'am, and we would establish a grant program to administer those funds.

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1157, which would create a Louisiana State Infrastructure Bank to provide another funding mechanism for transportation-related projects, including roads, bridges, rail, ports, airports, and other surface transportation needs. Chairman Borek and DOTD Secretary Glenn LaD said the goal is to leverage state, federal, local, and private dollars, using models from Florida and other states. Members asked about board makeup, staffing, project selection, administrative costs, and how the bank would differ from capital outlay and existing transportation programs. Testimony in support came from business and economic development representatives, including Michael Hecht of Greater New Orleans, Inc., who said infrastructure is critical to major economic projects and that the bank could attract outside capital. The bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up several local and procurement-related bills. House Bill 860, allowing fillable electronic public bid forms, was reported favorably. House Bill 972, naming a portion of Highway 93 in Lafayette Parish the Desert Shield Desert Storm Memorial Highway, and House Bill 965, naming a portion of Highway 163 the Sergeant William Billy Earl Collins Jr. Memorial Highway, were both reported favorably after brief testimony honoring veterans and law enforcement. House Bill 692, authorizing local governments to enter group purchasing agreements, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 685, allowing use of FAST Act cooperative procurement for public motor vehicles and rolling stock, drew support from transit officials and was reported favorably after a roll call vote, with one member voting no. The committee also advanced House Bill 982, which designates portions of highways in Morehouse Parish in memory of local residents killed in a crash after attending an LSU game; it was reported with amendments. House Bill 506, creating special prestige license plates for local high schools as a fundraiser, was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 839, lowering the contract limit for hospital service districts to use construction management at risk from $2 million to $1 million, was reported by substitute after testimony from hospital leadership and industry representatives. House Bill 1072, revising powers and emergency procurement authority for the Office of Louisiana Highway Construction, was amended and reported favorably after discussion about its relationship to DOTD and emergency repairs. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 887, which revises construction management at risk procedures, including committee makeup, scoring, and financial qualification requirements; it was amended and reported favorably. House Bill 647, creating timelines and an annual application process for waterway projects under a waterway assistance program and fund, was reported by substitute. The last major item discussed was House Bill 873, which would fund pursuit intervention technology and training for law enforcement through a $2 fee on driver’s licenses. The bill was presented alongside emotional testimony from the widow and daughter of Sergeant Grant Candies and from a St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff’s captain, all urging safer equipment and better training for officers. Members expressed strong support, and the discussion continued into funding and grant administration details.

Transcript Highlights:

• Another program I want to highlight is a Rural Community Investment Program.
• state programs, some of these are federal programs.
• Stepping a little bit further into the Job Growth Grant Fund, I do want to really highlight this program
• We also do have the Community Development Block Grant Program.
• And we also do have the Community Development Block Grant programs.

Summary: The committee heard two informational presentations: one from the Department of Commerce and one from the Florida Department of Transportation. Jason Mahon of Commerce outlined the state’s economic development strategy and tools, emphasizing Florida’s GDP growth, business formation, and strengths in manufacturing, high-tech, defense, life sciences, and international trade. He described programs such as the State Small Business Credit Initiative, the Rural Community Investment Program, the Florida Opportunity Fund, the Rural Infrastructure Fund, the Job Growth Grant Fund, performance-based tax credits, and disaster recovery loans, and cited examples including ServiceNow, Williams International, NeoCity, and Point Blank Enterprises. Members asked about small-business grants, foreign investment interest, workforce needs, and whether additional tools are needed; Mahon said most Commerce programs are loan-focused and noted ongoing workforce and site-readiness challenges. Jennifer Marshall of FDOT then reviewed major transportation projects and the Moving Florida Forward initiative, highlighting congestion relief, express lanes, bridge and interchange work, and accelerated delivery methods. She cited projects such as Golden Glades, I-95 improvements, the NASA Causeway Bridge, the DuPont Bridge, I-4 corridor work, the First Coast Expressway, the Howard Frankland Bridge, A1A seawall work, and Turnpike projects, along with examples of cost savings and schedule acceleration. Senators asked about how express lane locations are chosen, toll revenue use in South Florida, the status and cost of the I-395 downtown Miami project, and whether EV and rideshare access to express lanes should be preserved. FDOT said it would follow up on several of those questions, and the committee adjourned without taking any legislative action.

Transcript Highlights:

• safe school culture grant program established in Senate Bill 283 a few years ago.
• Next up, we have, speaking of training, the Safe School Culture Grant Program, ODE.
• I was part of the Safe Schools Culture Grant team that implemented and administered the grant.
• And we did implement some rules specific to the grant program, found in OAR 581-017-2830, and I believe
• We also held office hours about the grant with frequency ongoing throughout the life of the grant to

Keywords: 907, all