Transcript Highlights:

• program decisions for the state.
• Program is not needed.
• A universal immunization program is not necessary since we already have vaccines for children, a federally
• <02:46:59.040> funded<02:46:59.600> program<02:47:00.399> that children a federally
• funded program that children a federally funded program that provides<02:47:01.080> free<02:47

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the program analyst for our elderly program, and I strongly urge that we do not cut our funding
• The funding we maintained that we retained in the program is to continue funding the existing programs
• The program requires a 30-year covenant to continue serving ISTs for 30 years, and for some programs,
• There’s a very significant federal match. Yes, we do put up some non-federal share.
• understanding of program costs.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and Deployment program.
• So these are federal dollars. Our program from the beginning has always been federally funded.
• We do have an evaluator with our program that evaluates all of our programs.
• We do have an evaluator with our program that evaluates all of our programs.
• It amends an existing program for administration of the Autism Waiver Program.

Summary: The committee heard a series of appropriation requests and contract reviews across multiple sections. In Section B, members approved temporary appropriations for the Court of Appeals, Commerce/Aeronautics, and Insurance-related payments and refunds. Section C ARPA requests from DHS were approved to return unused federal funds. Section D infrastructure-related appropriations, including wildfire preparedness, broadband BEAD funding, forestry support, recycling, and oil and gas sample preservation, were approved after questions about broadband audit controls and performance safeguards. Section E DHS reallocations were approved, including large transfers within Medical Services from hospital medical to private and public nursing home lines, along with smaller transfers for children and family services, developmental disabilities, and youth services; members asked about the source and purpose of the medical services transfer. Sections F and G were reviewed, covering cash fund requests, federal grants, and miscellaneous grants, including community college storm repairs, corrections commissary and maintenance, 911 enhancements, maternal health, disability determinations, state police equipment, digital newspaper archiving, and CDL data improvements. In Section H, the committee reviewed pay plan appropriations and performance fund transfers tied to the new Class and Comp pay plan. Section I reviewed three methods of finance for UA Little Rock, UAMS, and the University of Arkansas system. In Section J, the committee reviewed discretionary grants, including a $1.4 million HIV services grant and nine tobacco prevention subgrants through UAPB. Members questioned the effectiveness, metrics, and addresses of some tobacco-cessation arts-based grantees, especially Arts Absolutely Inc.; after discussion, Representative Kavanaugh moved to expunge the vote on J2 and refer it back for review at a later ALC meeting, and that motion passed. J3, a Department of Energy and Environment grant for propane safety training and e-waste recycling services, was then reviewed. The committee also reviewed contracts in Section K. K-1 ratified emergency management nuclear planning work performed during a transition between agencies. K-2 construction contracts included architectural and engineering services for corrections, National Park College signage, a Razorback Road parking facility, and UAMS cyclotron installation. K-3 intergovernmental contracts covered health, education, autism waiver, stroke, newborn screening, Medicaid evidence review, and radiation testing services. K-4 out-of-state contracts included staffing, IT, tobacco prevention, audit, marketing, planetarium, recruitment, and janitorial services; Senator Irvin noted one contract appeared to belong in the out-of-state list rather than intergovernmental. K-5 in-state contracts covered staffing, cleaning, re-entry and treatment services, foster care and disability services, hearing officers, asbestos abatement, campus IT support, and janitorial work. The meeting ended after a brief personal update from Senator Irvin about tornado damage in Stone County and thanks to members for their concern, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, so it depends on how the programs are anticipating federal receipts.
• > RS<00:36:57.200> so programs are anticipating Federal RS so programs are anticipating
• So currently what we're doing right now is that there was a federal competitive grant program called
• that there was a there's a federal competitive<01:31:36.480> grant<01:31:36.840> program
• No, we did just a federal fund. Yeah, that's just a federal fund.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• defined by federal regulations. defined by federal regulations.
• . program. program.
• Medicaid program or escape culpability. Medicaid program or escape culpability.
• people for defrauding public programs. people for defrauding public programs.
• budget's set by the federal government. budget's set by the federal government.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program costs.
• Kickbacks have been prohibited in federal health care programs under federal law for decades, but they
• program costs. program costs.
• under federal health care programs under federal health care programs under federal<01:31:15.320
• federal law. federal law.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Prior to the federal work authorization program, we'll say, submission. Correct.
• , we'll say, Prior to the federal work authorization program, we'll say, submission.
• Well, the proponents of E-Verify, it's a voluntary federal program.
• It's a voluntary federal program. It's existed for quite some time.
• So E-Verify is the federal program, and you're talking about the federal I-9, right?

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• New Mexico's GRT and Medicare Medicaid program.
• Basically, if you think about when you do your state and federal tax returns each year, you do your federal
• There is a new federal deduction.
• We are figuring out how to supplant federal funds in our Medicaid program, insurance coverage, rural
• I'm not sure that we've had a dynamic program.

Transcript Highlights:

• Any truth to that, like maybe the athletics program? Mr.
• Chair, Senator Tobiasson, item 272 on page 225 is for adult education programs, and basically this program
• This means that for those adult education programs, Programs that are going to receive money have to
• What kind of community outreach program would that be? Mr.
• I got a $7,500 rebate from the federal government.

Transcript Highlights:

• each of these programs. each of these programs.
• , so that<00:15:12.240> programs that programs that programs uh<00:15:14.120> receiving
• . program. program.
• The continuum of care program traditionally provided a stable source of federal funding for these crucial
• Last year, the federal government announced sweeping changes to the program, which seriously threatened

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The conference committee on the housing omnibus bill began with member introductions and a staff walk-through comparing House and Senate provisions. House Research staff reviewed major policy differences affecting Minnesota Housing Finance Agency operations, including limits on how much the agency may retain from state appropriations for administrative costs, new reporting requirements, restrictions on transfers between appropriated accounts, and House-only language requiring annual expenditure of investment income from state appropriations. Senate provisions were also summarized, including tighter rules on when appropriations may be placed into Housing Development Fund bookkeeping accounts, updated operating-cost reporting, and Senate-only changes to how investment earnings may be used. Staff also described shared and differing provisions on program-money transfers, a lived-experience earnings exemption, and a long list of Senate-only policy changes, including manufactured home park tenant protections, low-income housing tax credit and bond-related changes, a task force on housing taxes and fees, and repealers affecting Housing Development Fund authority and certain older programs. Fiscal staff then reviewed the budget impacts. The House side included one-time appropriations for workforce housing development, family homeless prevention and assistance, a Minnesota Nice Home Share pilot, and homebuyer education, along with debt service for $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds and transfers/cancellations that produced a net zero general fund impact across the budget window. The Senate side noted a fiscal note for the housing taxes and fees task force and a smaller housing infrastructure bond authorization, with corresponding debt service costs and a total Senate budget-window impact of about $1 million in general fund debt service. After the staff presentations, the committee moved to public testimony. Commissioner Jennifer Ho of Minnesota Housing said the bill’s housing infrastructure bonds and continued support for family homeless prevention were important, and she supported the lived-experience earnings exemption, while noting concerns about the interest-earnings provisions. Testifiers from Greater Minnesota groups praised the workforce housing investments and Senate updates to the state housing tax credit and infrastructure grant program, though they suggested changes to the geographic distribution language. HOME Line urged funding for statewide tenant hotline services, citing rising demand and asking for $1 million if additional money becomes available. The Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers supported the bill’s investments and emphasized the need to pair housing development with supportive services. Housing First Minnesota praised housing infrastructure bonds and other investments but criticized the omission of the Minnesota Starter Homes Act. The Minnesota Multi Housing Association began testimony opposing certain rent-control-related provisions in the House bill. No votes or final actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• NO FEDERAL AUTHORITY CHANGES ARE NEEDED.
• HOUSE AND SENATE OF ANY FEDERAL OFFICIAL, FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS RELATED TO MEDICAID PROGRAMS WITHIN
• IN THEORY ALREADY ADVANTAGE OF THE PROGRAM AND WHATNOT IS IN THEORY HAVE A LARGER PROGRAM IN FLORIDA
• ONE OTHER THING IS I JUST WANT TO ADDRESS THE PILOT PROGRAM, THE MANAGED-CARE PILOT PROGRAM AND I WOULD
• THE I CONNECT PROGRAM.

Transcript Highlights:

• We leveraged that with our federal funds.
• I love this program.
• They have their own program.
• We do have programs in place.
• So we have a pre-qual and a pre-qualification program.

Transcript Highlights:

• grant program. grant program.
• This program is vital.
• continue to fund the program. that will continue to fund the program.
• program program uh<00:34:27.600> and<00:34:28.240> closed<00:34:28.679> pretty<
• the dental program. the dental program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This program is one of the most well-researched and well-utilized programs to support parents in need
• This program is one of the most well-researched and well-utilized programs to support parents in need
• This program is one of the most well-researched and well-utilized programs to support parents in need
• benefit programs.
• <00:40:44.360> So, federal benefit programs. So, federal benefit programs.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4466, the Health Finance and Policy bill, and first adopted the A8 amendment, described as a set of technical fixes. Members then considered a large A9 amendment that bundled a wide range of Children and Families provisions, including child care licensing modernization, crisis nursery licensing, SNAP/MFIT-related language, child care provider self-reporting, a physical abuse recognition poster, child protection and welfare provisions, funding for parent support outreach, and forensic interview training scholarships. Supporters described it as bipartisan work with relatively small fiscal impact, while opponents said it greatly expanded the bill and should be handled separately; after a roll call, the A9 amendment failed 7-14. Representative Scott then offered the A11 amendment, raising concerns about new all-payer claims database language and whether it should have been heard in the Judiciary and Civil Law Committee. Department of Health staff explained the data-sharing safeguards, de-identification process, fee structure, and enforcement provisions, but Scott remained concerned about privacy and the scope of the program and withdrew the amendment. The committee then moved to final bill discussion. Members and authors described HF 4466 as a lean health finance bill largely conforming Minnesota law to federal HR1 Medicaid-related changes, including work requirements, retroactive eligibility limits, cost-sharing, and home equity provisions. Supporters argued conformity was necessary to avoid major federal funding losses and noted a few additional member bills in the package; opponents criticized the federal changes as harmful, especially for vulnerable populations such as victims of trafficking and domestic violence. Fiscal staff said the bill would save just over $2 million in FY 2026-27 and almost $98 million in FY 2028-29. No final vote on the bill itself was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program also um h had 70 year.
• >> the federal promise was up to 40%. >> the federal promise was up to 40%.
• administer this program administer this program to<01:14:23.840> reduce<01:14:24.320>
• <01:15:07.040> the the department that the federal the the department that the federal the
• department to to manage this program. department to to manage this program.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting covered two committee of conference items. On HB 1260, the House and Senate debated a Senate amendment dealing with sealing certain divorce-related financial records. House members argued the amendment conflicted with the Keane Sentinel decision and would improperly flip the burden of proof on public access to court records, raising constitutional concerns under the state constitution’s open government and privacy provisions. Senate members responded that the privacy amendment and modern conditions support more protection for sensitive financial information, especially in limited uncontested divorces, but several members agreed the issue should be studied in a separate bill with a full hearing next year rather than resolved in conference. The committee ultimately voted unanimously to have the Senate recede and pass HB 1260 in the form originally passed by the House, preserving the underlying bill without the Senate amendment. The committee then took up HB 1574, which extends free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch programs and provides funding for SNAP administrative costs. The main dispute was the Senate’s addition of $4.4 million for SNAP administration. Senator Gray and DHHS officials said federal changes will shift more administrative costs to the state and that underfunding administration could raise the SNAP error rate, which could trigger future federal penalties and larger state costs; DHHS reported a current error rate of 7.57%, below the national average, and said a higher error rate could cost the state roughly $12 million in a partial fiscal year and nearly $16 million in a full year. Representative Papovich said he understood the department’s needs but was reluctant to support the bill as amended, noting the Senate language resembled a prior bill that had already failed in the House. The discussion ended with the committee still considering the Senate amendment, with members weighing the immediate appropriation against possible future costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program has been This program has been an incredible experience; however, this journey has also
• Our RISE program is a first-of-its-kind high-dosage tutoring program aimed at improving early literacy
• Our My First Place program is a housing-first wraparound program tailored to supporting 18- to 22-year-olds
• Federal funds are being clawed back.
• Students are already getting tuition and textbook stipends through the MassReconnect program and programs

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education heard testimony on a broad set of bills focused on making public higher education more affordable and accessible, protecting student information, and changing social work licensure rules. Chair Rogers and Senator Comerford opened by emphasizing the committee’s focus on financial aid, tuition and fee waivers, scholarships, admissions, and institutional changes, and they reminded witnesses about the three-minute testimony limit. No votes were taken during the hearing. A large portion of the hearing centered on the “Super Act” (H. 1423/S. 218), which would eliminate the master’s-level social work licensing exam and create grant support for social work internships. Supporters—including students, practitioners, educators, and advocates—argued that unpaid internships and the exam create financial barriers, worsen workforce shortages, and disproportionately affect Black, brown, older, ESL, and other marginalized candidates. Opponents from the Association of Social Work Boards argued the exam is a necessary public-protection standard, helps maintain uniform licensure, and is important to the social work licensure compact; they said workforce shortages should be addressed through pay, working conditions, and caseloads instead. Committee members asked detailed questions about compact participation, exam accommodations, and how other states such as Rhode Island and Connecticut have handled similar changes. The committee also heard extensive testimony in favor of debt-free public higher education bills (H. 1436/S. 929). Witnesses, including students, faculty, advocates, and Senator Eldridge, said Massachusetts should expand on free community college by covering tuition and mandatory fees at public colleges and universities, with additional aid for living costs for lower-income students. Supporters said student debt delays homeownership, family formation, and career entry, and that the state should use Fair Share revenue to invest in public higher education. Some committee members voiced support but also raised concerns about prioritizing K-12 funding and the cost of expanding free college further. Several witnesses also supported bills to extend tuition and fee waivers to young adults raised by grandparents or other kinship guardians outside the DCF system, arguing that these students face the same trauma and financial barriers as foster youth but do not receive the same benefits. Representative Donato, Joseph O’Leary, Shauna Manning, Sandra Vecchio, Karen Gardner, Judy Walter, Elaine Arsenault, and others described the financial strain on grandparents raising grandchildren and urged parity with DCF-related waivers. In addition, Senator Jake Oliveira testified for a bill to protect public higher education student directory information from data mining and unauthorized sharing, and Deirdre Cummings testified for an open educational resources bill to reduce textbook costs. The hearing concluded with continued testimony on kinship care and college access, with committee members thanking witnesses and indicating follow-up on some bill language issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• I oversee our veteran suicide prevention program along with our brand new program that's going to be
• 59.000> Navigator<00:01:59.479> program veteran health health Navigator program veteran
• <00:02:28.400> uh<00:02:28.560> program suicide prevention program uh program suicide
• their HERO CARE program.
• We're going to assist in the identification of veterans who are not eligible for federal HUD-VASH programs

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a medical program.
• Since the program began in 2016, the program has never raised its fees.
• Since the program began in 2016, the program has never raised its fees.
• The VA is prohibited federally from issuing certifications to state legal marijuana programs, and this
• It is a federally legal drug.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They offer the summer food program.
• That's a zero-interest loan disaster loan program.
• So it is on a federal disaster.
• We just got cut 44 by the federal government.
• So it's a really neat program.

Transcript Highlights:

• These estimates include the Minnesota solar energy production incentive program, the federal residential
• clean energy credits, and federal grants under the Rural Energy for America program.
• ,<01:06:48.000> the<01:06:48.240> federal incentive program, the federal incentive
• program, the federal residential<01:06:49.119> clean<01:06:49.440> energy<01:06:49.760>
• programs offered by utility providers and federal exclusions from income on utility-provided subsidies

Keywords: 1187, senate, all