Transcript Highlights:

• Are some of these going away because the grant programs or the funds for them are going away, or if you
• And the reason I ask is if we're funding grant programs and requiring reports, usually it's so that we
• <00:09:03.120> grant<00:09:03.440> programs Uh, if we're funding grant programs and
• Um, and so again, this is a no pun intended self-funded program.
• Um, and so again, this is a no pun intended self-funded program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• federally funded programs.
• which are federally volunteer programs which are federally funded<00:14:35.920> um funded um
• We've been able to really privately fund this program for a number of years.
• We've been able to really privately fund this program for a number of years.
• This program provides a way to bridge funding gaps for farmers.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It did not fund any new programs. It only funded existing programs at six different state agencies.
• all, maybe not quite all, but most of the programs that the Legacy Fund funds also get additional funding
• The Legacy Fund supports this program and the Trails Plus program at the Outdoor Recreation.
• Every single program in the Legacy Fund received way more applications and funding available sometimes
• Okay, the funding mechanism for the LWCF. This is now a permanently funded federal grant program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for increasing the funding for this program and for increasing the grant award from $15,000
• We are deeply concerned about the potential reduction in funding. from the farm to food shelf program
• I will state funding for programs like Farm to Food Shelf.
• However, even at current levels, we tend to run out of program funding.
• That is why the Farm to Food Shelf program has been funded with broad bipartisan support for many years

Bills: HF2446

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• I think these are majority federally funded or a large portion of federally funded.
• And I’ve heard everybody has said comments from others relative to the program, but we can’t fund it.
• And that involves the loss of funding and money when we spend $400 million on another program.
• It's not just foundation funding. Foundation funding is just the bottom level of it.
• It's not just foundation funding. Foundation funding is just the bottom level of it.

Summary: The committee first considered the Lieutenant Governor’s Office budget and personnel request. Office representatives said they wanted to move the office to the state pay plan to better align salaries with other constitutional offices and remain competitive, noting that OPM had approved the positions and grades. Senators questioned the size of the requested increases and the office’s workload, and after discussion the motion to adopt the proposal failed on an 8-8 tie. The committee then voted to expunge that vote and returned to the regular agenda. The committee approved a series of Governor’s letters involving position transfers and appropriation adjustments across several agencies. These included changes for AETN, the Department of Health and Nursing Board/Dietetics Board, multiple DHS divisions, DFA shared services and budget management, and the Department of Public Safety shared services division. Most of these items involved moving positions and associated salary appropriations between divisions, with no major opposition and motions passing. A lengthy discussion followed on the transfer of child nutrition and related nutrition programs from the Department of Education to the Department of Agriculture. Education and DFA officials explained that the programs fit better under Agriculture because the funding and commodities are tied to USDA programs, and they clarified that both state and federal funding and all related positions would move. Senators raised concerns about the math in the letters, the split between state and federal funding, and whether all program resources were being transferred. After the explanation, the committee approved the Education side of the transfer and then approved the Agriculture companion letter. The committee also discussed the Educational Freedom Account program budget. Officials said the $309 million request matched current participation and included a $70 million reserve in case applications increase. Several senators expressed concern about the program’s growth and its effect on public education funding and adequacy, while others noted that the program’s rules and funding levels could be adjusted through the State Board and future legislative action. The committee then approved a Public Safety classification change and a member amendment changing a title at East Arkansas Community College from assistant to the president to assistant to the chancellor, with no change in positions or appropriation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Right now, we are funding one program for medical assistance, but we are not funding maternity homes
• Number one, this program, the way it's funded, is going to run out of money.
• This is a program that will try to stabilize medical assistance funding for our hospitals without raising
• The program that funds that is not seen inside of this bill.
• The members of the committee have recognized the importance of funding this program.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also proposes reauthorization of popular programs funded by the FY22 Transportation Bond Bill, which
• that increased the total program funding, growing to $300 million from $200 million.
• The first is the Community Culvert Program, which funds replacement, preservation and rehabilitation,
• In addition, we are successfully competing for discretionary grant funding programs at the federal and
• So there's now this program that is partially funded through assessments, but also through application

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing at UMass Amherst on Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget, focusing on energy/environment-related transportation issues and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The chairs and members opened with thanks to UMass, university leadership, court officers, and legislative staff, and Chancellor Javier Reyes highlighted UMass Amherst’s research, workforce, sustainability, and transportation contributions, including energy research, transit operations, and partnerships with MassDOT. The hearing then moved to MassDOT and MBTA testimony on the administration’s transportation funding package, including House 2, the FY26 Fair Share supplemental, and a proposed four-year Chapter 90 authorization. MassDOT officials described the budget as part of a broader multi-year transportation investment strategy, citing funding for operations, snow and ice removal, regional transit authorities, the MBTA, the Merit Rating Board, sustainable aviation fuel credits, micro-transit and last-mile grants, unpaved road improvements, bridge and pavement work, and housing-related transportation infrastructure. They emphasized workforce expansion, capital delivery capacity, safety improvements, and local aid, including the new lane-mile-based Chapter 90 formula intended to benefit rural communities. Officials also discussed major projects and programs such as Grant Central, culvert and unpaved road grants, work zone speed cameras, congestion hotspot fixes, the Sagamore and Bourne Bridge projects, and MBTA operating support and safety upgrades. Testimony from the MBTA and rail/transit staff focused on improved ridership, service frequency, accessibility, and safety, including progress on the Green Line Train Protection System, reduced delays, expanded bus and commuter rail service, and the South Coast rail extension. Regional transit authorities reported increased ridership and described new fare-free, connectivity, and community transit grants. Aeronautics testimony covered airport capital work, drone and data programs, sustainable aviation fuel efforts, and workforce development in aviation maintenance. Committee members then asked questions, especially about Western Massachusetts priorities, Chapter 90 funding, bridge repairs, snow and ice costs, Cape Cod bridges, Buzzard’s Bay rail, and Compass Rail/West-East Rail. Officials said several federal rail grants were moving forward, that Sagamore Bridge procurement would begin soon, and that the administration remained committed to pursuing federal funding and multi-year transportation investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I, you gave us some funding, but to be clear, um, is there any funding in the rider as drafted?
• The whole blood pilot program, this would appropriate $10 million for a whole blood pilot program and
• this will fund, um, parts of the ADAP program to provide, um, drug assistance, uh, to, uh, those, uh
• Is additional funding to maintain women's health, uh, program services.
• , uh, appropriates additional funding to help expand in, uh, services in those programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• funds that we already have in the LIHEAP program before we turn to this source of funds for the supplemental
• program.
• With this additional funding, we would have an opportunity to create potential program efficiencies by
• With this additional funding, we would have an opportunity to create potential program efficiencies by
• Mackey: The outreach funds are to, as it says, reach families and households that haven't used the program

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate Committee heard Senate File 486, as amended by the A2 delete-everything amendment, which would create a supplemental, year-round energy assistance program administered by the Department of Commerce alongside LIHEAP. Senator Dibble said the bill is intended to help low-income households pay utility bills throughout the year, including summer months, by providing crisis grants, ongoing monthly assistance, emergency heating system repair or replacement help, outreach funding, and reporting requirements. The committee adopted the A2 amendment before hearing testimony on the bill as amended. Supportive testimony came from Annie Levenson-Faulk of the Citizens Utility Board, Jenny Glumac of the Minnesota Rural Electric Association, Amanda Mackey of Minnesota Valley Action Council, Ron Elwood of Legal Aid, Jamie Fitz of CenterPoint Energy, George Shardlow of the Energy CENTS Coalition, and Kent Sulum of the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association. Witnesses said energy burdens are especially high in rural Minnesota, utility arrears and shutoffs have increased, and most shutoffs occur in summer when LIHEAP is unavailable. They argued that year-round assistance would help vulnerable households, reduce shutoffs, improve health and housing stability, and create administrative efficiencies by using existing LIHEAP infrastructure. Several witnesses cited data on the need for assistance, including high energy burdens in rural areas, more than 91,000 Minnesota households disconnected for non-payment in 2024, and the large share of LIHEAP recipients who are seniors, people with disabilities, children, or veterans. Amanda Mackey described a client story illustrating how energy assistance can stabilize a household and lead to broader benefits. Senator Mathews offered comments supporting help for households in need but said the bill is a stopgap and tied the need for expanded assistance to prior legislative actions that increased energy costs. The committee did not take final action on the bill in the portion of the transcript provided, and members indicated they would return to questions after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:49.279> with funded through different um funds with funded through different um funds
• built into the funding, you don't fund them?
• That is funded through a grant-in-aid program with dedicated accounts through the snowmobile account
• That is funded through a grant-in-aid program with dedicated accounts through the snowmobile account
• <01:06:59.400> and program as a skill building program and program as a skill building program

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• fill that capital funding gap without decimating the very programs that bring in the tuition and then
• at this time the funded the this program<01:10:41.520> the<01:10:41.640> library<01:10:
• program enables public libraries receiving funding to improve access, meet ADA compliance standards
• program enables public libraries receiving funding to improve access, meet ADA compliance standards
• program enables public libraries receiving funding to improve access, meet ADA compliance standards

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Could digital equity programs and initiatives be better coordinated to enhance efficiency, optimize funding
• Funding from the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Development program, with a primary focus on broadband
• Funding for the digital equity capacity grant program that the state had planned to leverage to implement
• The program was managed as a competitive grant initiative, funding outside organizations providing digital
• program received $92 million, representing 83% of the total funds they dedicated for digital equity

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

Transcript Highlights:

• So there are examples of donors who may want to only give funds for, say, FSU softball program.
• With a lot of the programs closing down, changing their rhetoric from DEI, where is the funding from
• So the student government would love to see more programming funds for student success initiatives.
• They would love to see additional funds spent on student programs on campus.
• Other than that major gift program I talked about that was matching funds for endowments, those funds

Summary: The Higher Education Budget Subcommittee met to hear an overview of State University System finances from the Board of Governors and detailed budget presentations from Florida State University, the University of Central Florida, and the University of North Florida. The witnesses explained how university budgets are organized into fund categories such as education and general, contracts and grants, auxiliaries, local/designated funds, capital projects, and component units such as direct support organizations. They also described carry forward funds, the statutory reserve and spending-plan requirements, the PICO/HECO capital outlay process, and how universities use investment accounts, audits, and board oversight to manage restricted and unspent funds. The universities emphasized that most operating dollars are restricted to specific uses and that state support helps keep tuition low. Members asked about differences in funding levels among institutions, especially why FSU receives more funding than UCF despite lower enrollment. Officials said preeminence funding, performance funding, and special legislative appropriations explain much of the difference, and the Board of Governors noted that Florida now has four preeminent universities, with UCF nearing that status. Questions also focused on what happens to unspent carry forward money, how it is invested, and whether the Board of Governors or Legislature can require funds to be returned; officials said the money is invested conservatively, subject to board and audit oversight, and can roll forward under a detailed spending plan, though the Legislature can change funding levels. The committee also discussed capital projects, with members asking about delays, inflation, and whether more projects should be phased or funded faster; witnesses said PICO funds remain with the state until needed and are reimbursed as construction proceeds. A substantial portion of the discussion covered athletics, research, student fees, and endowments. The universities said athletics is generally expected to be self-supporting, though limited use of auxiliary or carry forward funds may be allowed for projects benefiting the broader student body. They also described the financial pressures from name, image, and likeness changes and new NCAA-related costs, and said institutions are planning for those changes now. On research, the universities explained sponsored research funding, indirect cost recovery, compliance obligations, and tech transfer, but did not provide specific commercialization revenue figures and said they would follow up. Members also asked about student fee increases, student input, counseling and wellness funding, and how housing costs affect affordability; the universities said student committees and boards review fees, and aid packaging is intended to keep student debt low. Endowments were described as being held in separate foundations/DSOs with independent investment committees and used mainly for scholarships, faculty support, and research.

Transcript Highlights:

• . program. program.
• And this is for additional funding for the rural EMS uncompensated care pool program of $15 million one-time
• related to the availability of program funds awarded to grantees.
• related to the availability of program related to the availability of program funds<00:30:00.600
• . program. program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to fund a variety of programs.
• would go away because we'd be funding those programs with General Funds.
• to fund a variety of programs.
• to fund a variety of programs.
• would go away because we'd be funding those programs with General Funds.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met with Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre and Charitable Gaming Chief Compliance Officer Kulie Aoyo to review proposed changes in HB 2 and related amendments affecting video lottery terminals, historic horse racing, charitable gaming, and scratch tickets. McIntyre said the late-arriving amendment made revenue estimates difficult, especially because the bill would allow operators to decide when to convert from HHR to VLTs and would change the floor-space rules. He explained that the existing 70/30 floor-space split between machines and table games was negotiated to protect charity revenue, and warned that moving to a 90/10 split could reduce charity revenue, potentially by as much as $17 million, while also changing the character of the facilities. Committee members discussed whether to keep the 70/30 split, and McIntyre said he could provide updated estimates later that day, including net impacts after any offsetting gains or losses under current law. Members also asked about the governor’s proposed operator share versus the Sweeney amendment’s higher operator share. McIntyre said the governor’s 45% figure was based on his own estimate and on comparable rates in other states, and he supported it as a way to maximize revenue for the state and charities. He also described a change to high-stakes tournaments: after speaking with Rep. Sweeney, he said the amendment was clarified to apply only to those tournaments and would lower the house take from 10% to 5% to encourage participation in rare, high-buy-in events. The committee also discussed a separate proposal to raise the maximum scratch ticket price from $30 to $50; McIntyre said the change would take time to implement, would likely increase net state revenue by about $1 million in year two, and was consistent with pricing in neighboring states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut. Additional questions covered sports betting and a separate Kino-related estimate. McIntyre said March Madness is the busiest period for sports betting and that the state’s sports betting revenue has exceeded initial expectations. He also said he had estimated that removing a municipal-vote restriction for Kino could cost about $12 million total, with $2 million in the first year and $10 million thereafter. No formal votes were taken during the discussion; the chair indicated the committee would revisit the VLT amendment and other sections later, and McIntyre agreed to send updated revenue estimates to committee members.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we... had a mixed, blended funding source to keep this program going and help us pursue quality.
• Which details their recommendation related to capital development program funds.
• This is a program you all started several years ago with nonrecurring funds.
• This is a $26.5 million distribution from the Capital Development Program Fund, a fund that you all started
• that administer those programs to make requests for supplemental funding for those projects through

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, administrative funding for the unemployment insurance program comes primarily from the federal government
• So the busier the program gets, the more administrative funding we get.
• So the busier the program gets, the more administrative funding we get.
• So the busier the program gets, the more administrative funding we get.
• So the busier the program gets, the more administrative funding we get.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So another funded initiative that we had great support from JLEC was including the pilot programs at
• These programs are low cost and use no general fund state dollars.
• It was modeled after the successful state-funded family caregiver program, and the services and support
• These are funded by the legislature, and I wanted to just mention three programs that exist, but do not
• the vast majority of that funding went to fund hazard pay wage increases.

Summary: The committee met for what was described as its final meeting, with members and staff reflecting on the work of the Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care and noting that future work would likely shift to standing health and wellness committees. The meeting began with introductions and then moved into updates on major initiatives that originated from the committee, including Washington Cares, the Dementia Action Collaborative, and Medicaid long-term care programs. Presenters emphasized that these efforts were developed through long-term legislative-executive collaboration and were intended to help Washington prepare for the state’s aging population. On Washington Cares, DSHS described the program’s development from a 2014 research effort to its 2019 enactment, premium collection beginning in 2023, portability improvements in 2024, and 2025 changes including a grandfathered opt-out fix and a framework for supplemental private long-term care insurance. The agency said benefits are expected to go fully live next summer, with a pilot of up to 400 applicants planned for next January. On dementia policy, the Dementia Action Collaborative reported on the state dementia plan, Project ECHO training for providers, and pilot dementia-capable community programs at area agencies on aging, citing preliminary results that about 85% of family caregivers said services helped people remain at home. DSHS also reviewed Medicaid Transformation Project initiatives, including Medicaid Alternative Care, Tailored Supports for Older Adults, presumptive eligibility, and health-related social needs benefits such as rental assistance, nutrition support, and home modifications. The committee then heard an emerging issues panel from ombuds and disability advocates. Patricia Hunter of the long-term care ombuds program raised concerns about staffing shortages, resident rights, surveillance technology, private equity ownership of facilities, and illegal discharges or evictions. Betty Sweeterman of the Developmental Disabilities Ombuds discussed people stuck in hospitals without medical need, gaps in behavioral health services for people with developmental disabilities, and the need for better workforce training. Todd Carlyle of Disability Rights Washington urged expansion and bundling of community supports such as PACT, GOSH, and peer bridgers to reduce repeated institutionalization and support discharge from inpatient psychiatric settings. Provider and labor panels followed, with nursing home, assisted living, supported living, and union representatives all emphasizing workforce shortages, low wages, Medicaid rate inadequacy, case management bottlenecks, behavioral health complexity, and the need for more flexible care models and stronger accountability for rate increases. No formal votes were taken; the meeting ended with public comment on manufactured housing and closing remarks thanking staff and participants for the committee’s work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Last fall, we started the program. We were hoping for... ...funding to help aviation maintenance.
• funds that are remaining from the prior biennium under the Career Builders program to be able to utilize
• What happened is that we're not utilizing all of those funds because of a little federal program that
• We should So we're asking just to fully fund that program for the students and maintain about that 6,300
• The Scholars Program in 2017, when there was the allocation, those funds were reduced, and we've been

Summary: The committee reconvened at North Dakota State College of Science for a presentation from President Dr. Flanagan and college leaders about NDSCS’s mission, enrollment growth, workforce training, and facilities needs. Flanagan highlighted student success in national competitions, strong placement and retention, growing enrollment, and new or expanding programs in aviation maintenance, fire science, dental hygiene, community health worker training, surgical technology, HVAC/plumbing, and precision agriculture. He also emphasized the college’s partnerships with industry, including John Deere, Fargo Jet Center, Sanford, and Comdel Innovation, and said NDSCS plans to seek approval next session for a revenue bond to build a new dorm and to remodel the library into academic and allied health space. Allied health dean Deb Smith testified that her division is at capacity and needs a simulation center, more lab and classroom space, and expanded dental and OTA facilities to meet demand and accreditation needs. Committee members questioned Flanagan and staff about workforce shortages, especially faculty pay, and whether the college can staff additional growth. Flanagan said the biggest challenge is recruiting instructors because industry pays more, but noted some health care and adjunct hiring is possible because of schedule flexibility and benefits. He also discussed shifting resources away from lower-demand programs like power sports toward higher-demand areas such as automotive and aviation maintenance. Members also asked about the college’s identity as a technical institution, with Flanagan arguing North Dakota would benefit from a more defined tech-school system. The committee then received a University System presentation from Jamie Wilkie on the cost of delivering dual credit. Wilkie explained the methodology used to allocate direct and overhead costs across subsidized and unsubsidized dual credit, noting that dual credit and early entry account for about 5.9% of total credit hours and 2.7% of formula funding. The analysis showed subsidized dual credit tuition revenue of about $5.5 million and unsubsidized revenue of about $2.9 million, with some institutions showing margins and others losses depending on the model. Members discussed whether K-12 funding should also be reflected, how payments to high schools and teachers are structured, and whether tuition-free dual credit would require replacing both tuition revenue and the current dual credit scholarship. No votes were taken; the committee simply received the presentations and discussed the findings.

Transcript Highlights:

• behavioral health programs and contracts.
• currently doesn't have additional funding.
• We hope for the continued funding of this vital program. Thank you.
• Fund have to be connected back to the 988 fund.
• We hope for the continued funding of this vital program. Thank you. Thanks.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Human Services held its final hearing on the budget, with the chair framing the Senate’s plan as a counterproposal that rejected major cuts and preserved revenues. Public comment was overwhelmingly supportive of the subcommittee’s actions, with advocates, counties, providers, and community groups thanking members for rejecting or delaying proposed cuts to Medi-Cal asset limits, immigrant coverage and premiums, IHSS, PACE, APS, behavioral health advocacy and innovation grants, mobile crisis services, and certain dental and provider payment reductions. Speakers also urged additional funding or trailer bill changes for county eligibility work, public hospitals, indigent care, CalFresh outreach and food benefits, child care slots and COLAs, legal services for immigrants, and long-term services and supports. A major theme was the Senate’s “Be Home Soon” proposal, which many disability, aging, home care, and health care organizations praised as a way to shift care from institutions to home- and community-based settings. Testimony also supported restoring or maintaining funding for behavioral health programs, including 988/mobile crisis infrastructure, community advocacy contracts, and Title IV-E workforce funding. Several county and provider groups asked the committee to consider alternative proposals related to H.R. 1 impacts, Medi-Cal coverage losses, and county indigent care costs, while others requested continued work on public hospital support, CFAP expansion, and implementation details for child care and IHSS. The subcommittee then took three votes on grouped budget items. The first consent block, covering a large set of items, passed 3-0. The second block passed 2-1, with Senator Grove voting no. The final block passed 3-0. The hearing concluded with the chair stating the subcommittee had done its part and adjourning the meeting.