Transcript Highlights:

• So we've been asked to provide an update on the reproductive health care grant program.
• The second question, in terms of timeline for application to various grant programs: the grant opportunities
• The grant opportunities under the California Rural Health Transformation Program will be offered on a
• programs.
• screening program and the voluntary prenatal screening program.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• VPK is a state-funded program, and the budget for the 2024-25 program year is $438 million.
• There's a school year program that includes a 540 instructional hour program.
• How many years is the legislator funded grants? You spoke of grants earlier.
• We have families that don't have the ability to take advantage of said program. ...program.
• The summer bridge program is for VPK children at the end of the VPK program year.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee held its first interim meeting, took roll, and established a quorum. Members introduced themselves, many noting backgrounds in education, school boards, local government, or parenting, and Chair Jenna Persons-Mulicka outlined the committee’s goal of building the fiscal year 2025-26 Pre-K-12 budget. She also reviewed the fiscal year 2024-25 education budget, noting that the Pre-K-12 portion totals about $21 billion, with the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) as the largest driver, along with major funding for VPK, school readiness, and school recognition. She explained that federal COVID relief funds have ended and that recent school choice legislation has affected budget structure. Commissioner Manny Diaz and department leaders then gave overviews of their divisions. Diaz highlighted Florida’s education rankings, record graduation rate, progress monitoring, expanded school choice participation, charter school growth, and teacher salary investments, while emphasizing a focus on literacy, math, and early learning. Carrie Miller described the Division of Early Learning’s school readiness and VPK programs, their funding, eligibility, accountability systems, and the importance of kindergarten readiness. Paul Burns outlined the Division of Public Schools’ work on educator quality, literacy, standards, certification, family outreach, federal programs, and school improvement. Suzanne Pridgen reviewed finance and operations functions, including budget management, FEFP calculations, grants, procurement, transportation, and emergency management. Adam Emerson described parental choice programs, including scholarships, charter schools, schools of hope, virtual education, and home education. Darren Norris detailed the Office of Safe Schools’ responsibilities for risk assessments, compliance inspections, threat management, grants, and training created after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy. Members asked questions about several issues, including whether the Safe Schools office recommends changes to the school safety grant distribution formula, whether early learning eligibility should shift from federal poverty level to state median income, how scholarship payments are verified to avoid funding students who return to public school, and whether daily attendance systems could improve funding accuracy. Other questions addressed hurricane-related survey disruptions, VPK provider reimbursement rates and instructional hours, teacher salary increases, school start time costs, and how voucher schools handle IEP accommodations. Department officials generally said some issues remain under review, supported moving school readiness eligibility to SMI, noted that scholarship and enrollment data are cross-checked and adjusted when needed, and said progress monitoring now helps schools support mobile students. On school safety, officials said exemptions are allowed in statute for some items but not for classroom doors, and that district-specific conditions matter. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported beyond receiving presentations and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal and state workforce dollars and grants become available to support the programs, and teacher
• Federal and state workforce dollars and grants become available to support the programs, and teacher
• Federal and state workforce dollars and grants become available to support the programs, and teacher
• Federal and state workforce dollars and grants become available to support the programs, and teacher
• to develop their own grants to develop their own apprenticeship<00:19:50.360><c> programs</c><00:19:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Right Track Youth Internship Program, $500,000; STEM grants, $3 million in fiscal year 2026; Minnesota
• Program Youth Internship Program 500,000.<00:25:54.960><c> STEM</c><00:25:55.600><c> grants</c><00:25
• </c> personnel for um the whole new program. personnel for um the whole new program.
• ><c> participants</c> other words, uh program participants other words, uh program participants most<
• offers</c> um tailored uh program that offers um tailored uh program that offers inerson<00:42:53.359

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• program and raises awareness of the program among local governments.
• has made available through the state and local cybersecurity grant program.
• This is a program at the Department of Commerce, which awards grants to qualified lending institutions
• grants.
• There are some eligibility criteria for that grant.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee met on September 17, 2025, in hybrid format. After roll call, the committee initially lacked a quorum and deferred approval of the July 15 minutes until Representative Berg arrived; the minutes were then adopted. Members also discussed the proposed 2026 JLARC meeting schedule, including possible changes to address crowded July meetings and the annual tax exemption review workload. Staff presented the annual lodging tax expenditures report, noting that 213 municipalities received distributions in 2024, with 91% reporting compliance, $114 million awarded for more than 1,700 activities, and no independent verification of the self-reported data. Several members questioned the value and usefulness of the report, and the executive committee indicated it may recommend removing the statutory reporting requirement. The committee then heard the preliminary performance audit of the Office of Privacy and Data Protection, which found the office meets its statutory responsibilities and has high user satisfaction, but recommended updating the statute to better match the office’s current capacity and focus and improving performance measures to reflect long-term privacy outcomes rather than outputs. Members asked about FERPA and other federal privacy laws, and OPDP staff said they provide general privacy training and consultation but not law-specific training unless requested. The committee adopted the final report on Washington State recreational boating programs without recommendation, after staff reported that boating revenues support both general government and boating activities and that no participating agencies submitted formal comments. Members asked about boater safety education and possible overlap among the six agencies involved; Parks staff said education has reached more than 500,000 boaters and that fatalities and incidents have declined. The committee also reviewed planned study questions for a JLARC review of Labor and Industries’ enforcement of farm worker laws, with members raising scope questions about the term “farm worker” versus “agricultural worker,” and for DNR’s Eastern Washington sustainable harvest calculation, which JLARC will review as DNR completes its recalculation. Finally, staff outlined the 2026 tax preference performance reviews covering seven preferences, and members asked about racial equity, environmental impacts, disclosure of beneficiary savings, and how the reviews will measure effectiveness; the meeting adjourned before noon.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our green fertilizer grant program supports rural electric cooperatives registered as 308A or 308B with
• </c> transition our green fertilizer grant transition our green fertilizer grant program<00:18:30.400
• </c> um as we've always said with new Grant um as we've always said with new Grant programs<00:20:50.440
• program we also received an urban farm conservation<00:21:15.200><c> minig</c><00:21:15.480><c> Grant
• Really thinking about changing my practices, and I think I'm going to apply for that grant program, you

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, a $3 million SGC grant to a developer could leverage $70
• Department of Energy's loan programs office, a $3 million SGC grant to a developer could leverage $70
• So we have two grant types in that program.
• But it's a small program, as I mentioned—the total budget is only $10 million for the grants.
• in that program there's a catalyst grant that is up to five hundred thousand dollars that's for initial

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This program allows us to provide grant money for our businesses, both large and small, to benefit from
• It could make a few additional people eligible for the CAP grant program.
• </c><00:52:00.319><c> But</c><00:52:00.480><c> we</c><00:52:00.640><c> at</c> to the Pell Grant program
• But we at to the Pell Grant program.
• </c> eligible for the CAP grant program. eligible for the CAP grant program.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education heard presentations from the University of Louisville and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) on their strategic plans, enrollment trends, and budget priorities. University of Louisville President Bradley highlighted the university’s new five-year strategic plan, its R1 research status, community-engaged and opportunity college classifications, record enrollment of 25,005 students, and its role in serving first-generation, Pell-eligible, military-connected, and rural students. He also emphasized the university’s economic and workforce impact, including athletics, nursing, dentistry, and a recent Speed School building, and previewed major capital and program requests: a $142 million STEMH building, a $15 million one-time request for National Cancer Institute-related cancer research, and $5.3 million for the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership. He also discussed a planned $260 million health sciences building and the university’s efforts to expand health care access beyond Louisville through regional sites and residency partnerships. Members responded positively, with Representative Tipton asking about agency bond projects and regional health outreach, and President Bradley saying the university is evaluating debt capacity and exploring smaller projects while noting that the STEM building request would rely on state-funded debt service. He described UofL Health’s expansion into places such as Bullitt County, Shelbyville, Madisonville, and Paducah, and its efforts to train physicians for rural practice. Representative McCool praised the university’s military-friendly designation and cancer research priorities and noted personal family ties to UofL. Michaela Aman, a sophomore from Letcher County, also testified about how UofL has supported her as a rural student and emphasized the university’s commitment to opportunity and social mobility. KCTCS President Ryan Quarles and CFO Todd Kilburn then presented the system’s enrollment, completion, and workforce-training results. They said KCTCS now serves more than 110,000 students, graduated a record 24,000 students last May, and has moved from 45th to 4th nationally in graduation rate. They also highlighted that over half of students are first-generation, 60% work while enrolled, 70% of graduates work in Kentucky, and 74% graduate with no student loan debt. KCTCS described its common-course-numbering agreement with Morehead State as part of a broader transfer simplification effort, and said it trains about 200,000 Kentuckians annually when including workforce training and firefighter instruction. The system also outlined efficiency measures, including property sales, a new bookstore contract projected to save $4.3 million over five years, and a new evaluation process for real estate and facilities. KCTCS’s budget and capital requests included operating funding tied to enrollment growth, support for the TRAINs program, the ECTC training facility at Glendale, continued support for Health Force Kentucky, three capital construction projects at Jefferson, Bluegrass, and Gateway, and asset preservation funding focused on safety and security upgrades. Quarles also referenced House Bill 5, saying it would expand KCTCS’s correctional education and re-entry work and could help reduce recidivism. Members asked about the bill and its impact, and KCTCS said it already provides instruction in jails and prisons and sees the proposal as an extension of that work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 622 is for a grant to the Program.
• </c> Carlton grant extension. Carlton grant extension.
• , including PCA Choice, the CFSS budget model, the CDCS program, and the consumer support grant.
• , including PCA Choice, the CFSS budget model, the CDCS program, and the consumer support grant.
• , including PCA Choice, the CFSS budget model, the CDCS program, and the consumer support grant.

Bills: HF2434

Keywords: healthcare, personal care assistance, worker retention, disability services, state funding, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• as</c><00:39:54.160><c> the</c> color grant program as well as the color grant program as well as the
• Pathway Grant Program, which is more in line with the best practices around how those types of programs
• This is in a teacher support program around Grow Your Own grants.
• </c> aid program, we also passed a grant aid program, we also passed a grant program<00:41:48.000><c>
• :42:05.280><c> grant</c><00:42:05.760><c> program</c> support personnel pathway grant program support

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• grants, programs, and even who apply for grants, programs, and even works<00:09:10.720><c> of</c><00
• program, we also have a folk and traditional arts program where the state foundation provides grant
• So we administer grants and aid and the artisan schools. Okay. So this is a really robust program.
• So, just to inform people about the arts and schools program, it's an arts residency grants program that
• So, we were prepared to launch the performing arts grants program.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Appropriation for a housing down payment assistant program. Is that a grant? Is that a loan?
• So many of our federal grants, Mr.
• GROW program fund, and so the money from the big fund spends into the program fund.
• A program called the ZIP Program, Zero Interest Home Builder Program.
• So we have programs available.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is absolutely worth enhancing grant opportunities to get other services to start these types of programs
• But ultimately, let's get the grant funding. Let's get people's programs up and running.
• We applied for our HRSA grant, the QIFTIJ grant.
• grant.
• It saves us in other social services programs. It saves us money in other programs.

Summary: The task force heard extensive testimony on recovery support, harm reduction, and community-based care. Dan Haniken of Into Action described his own recovery from addiction and incarceration and argued that treatment alone is not enough; he said recovery housing, peer support, employment, accountability, and stable housing are what help people stay sober and avoid relapse. Members asked about funding, housing shortages, transportation, treatment courts, and support for medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Haniken said Into Action relies on a braided mix of federal, state, county, city, foundation, and private funding, and that recovery housing needs longer-term support than many current funding streams provide. He also said Missouri should expand recovery housing, peer recovery support, and recovery community centers, and improve awareness and access to MAT in recovery settings and after incarceration. Matt Cushman, a community paramedic with Raytown Fire Protection District, urged Missouri to expand harm reduction, including syringe service programs and broader access to clean needles and drug-checking tools. He argued that stigma and abstinence-only approaches keep many people from seeking help, and said harm reduction reduces disease transmission, overdose deaths, hospitalizations, and other harms while creating pathways to recovery. He cited naloxone distribution as a successful example and said similar strategies should be decriminalized and expanded. Members asked about naloxone access, community paramedicine funding, and whether safe consumption sites should be considered; Cushman said syringe exchange should be a near-term priority, while safe consumption sites are a longer-term policy question. Representatives from Ozarks Medical Center/COMC and Four Rivers Community Health Center focused on the need to reimburse peer support specialists and community health workers, especially in rural and underserved areas. COMC’s Monet Lehman shared her trauma and recovery story and described her jail reentry work, helping incarcerated people with housing, benefits, IDs, employment, MAT, and community supports before release. Four Rivers said its care coordinators and CHWs provide wraparound services such as transportation, housing help, Medicaid enrollment, clothing, and same-day MAT access. Members and staff discussed confusion over reimbursement rules, noting that CCBHCs can bill for peer services through Medicaid while FQHCs generally cannot, and that CHWs are often funded through grants rather than reimbursement. No votes were taken; the meeting consisted of testimony and member questions, with several requests for follow-up information on funding, transportation, and reimbursement rules.

Transcript Highlights:

• That legislation, one, it funded $10 million into the program, so it made the program more viable.
• : the Behavioral Health Care Program and the Primary Care Facilities Program.
• programs.
• So that's for the project grant.
• program managers.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill establishes the Renaissance Grant Program to help them rebuild capacity by closing technology
• This amendment removes the portion of the bill that overlaps with the grant program.
• This amendment removes the portion of the bill that overlaps with the grant program.
• codify the grant programs at this time or cause any conflict.
• in the ACA grant program?

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions, including recognition of Alpha Kappa Alpha Founders’ Day and a visiting debate student. The chamber then took up a committee report on 52 executive appointments. After explanation by Ethics and Elections Chair Don Gates, the Senate adopted the report and confirmed the appointments by a vote of 39-0. The first major bill was SB 250 on rural communities. Senator Simon described it as a broad rural development package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance Grant Program for counties losing population, housing and transportation investments, additional funding for rural education, and rural health care measures. Two amendments were adopted to remove overlapping health provisions in light of a new federal rural health grant and to update hospital funding estimates. Senators from both parties spoke in support, while also asking about eligibility and access to grant funds. The bill passed 39-0. The Senate then considered CS/SB 318 on educational scholarship programs. Senator Gates said the bill responds to Auditor General concerns by separating scholarship funding from public school funding, requiring student identification and enrollment verification, reducing administrative fees for scholarship funding organizations, requiring annual audits, and directing the Department of Education to develop a competitive selection and performance plan for those organizations. Three amendments were adopted, including removal of a declining-enrollment provision for later conforming legislation and changes to enrollment documentation and withdrawal procedures. Senators from both parties supported the bill while raising concerns about accountability, student oversight, and school quality. The bill passed 38-0. Afterward, the Senate waived rules so SB 250 and CS/SB 318 could be immediately certified to the House. The session ended with announcements, including Palm Beach County Day at the Capitol and a reminder about the chamber group photograph, followed by adjournment until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we created this program.
• You can apply for other federal grant programs for that purpose outside of grants that would be available
• money to make these programs happen.
• We're trying to get the program up. We're trying to get the program up and going. We have it going.
• It's an award-winning program.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bug will be able to help us: what is the current uh funding for mobile crisis grant program?
• Bug will be able to help us: what is the current uh funding for mobile crisis grant program?
• Bug will be able to help us: what is the current uh funding for mobile crisis grant program?
• Bug will be able to help us: what is the current uh funding for mobile crisis grant program?
• Bug will be able to help us: what is the current uh funding for mobile crisis grant program?

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 616 CLOSA State Library Parks Pass Program.
• A clinical lab training grants holding committee.
• Cal Account Program Holding Committee.
• AB 1169, Jeff Gonzales, Wildfire Grants Share Program, do pass as amended to increase instead of eliminate
• Do pass as amended to remove the grant program. Out with Republicans not voting.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• hydrologic analysis, and various grant programs.
• So we have a grant program in place to help fund putting telemetry and other automation in place to allow
• This grant program pays 50% of a project cost up to $250,000.
• So we have a grant program in place to help fund putting telemetry and other automation in place to allow
• This grant program pays 50% of a project cost up to $250,000.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Resources and Conservation Committee met to introduce several RS drafts and hear agency updates. The committee introduced RS 33151, a bill Representative Boyle described as a federalism measure intended to clarify in state code that state and federal governments should stay within their constitutional lanes. It also introduced RS 33217, dealing with the big game depredation fund; Representative Schurz said it would clarify that remaining fund balances above the legislature’s 10% cap should still be paid out pro rata to farmers and ranchers for elk-related crop damage. RS 33284 was introduced as a proposal to designate hunting as Idaho’s state sport, based on a Twin Falls fourth grader’s research. RS 33287 C1, a revised version of a prior bill, was also introduced after Representative Pickett explained an editing correction and said the bill reflected changes requested by Fish and Game and committee members. RS 313185 was removed from the agenda at the sponsor’s request. The committee later approved the February 3 minutes. The committee then approved Rule Docket 24-3501-2501 for the Outfitters and Guides Licensing Board after John Price said the board completed a full chapter review, held multiple public meetings and a hearing, and incorporated input from agencies and industry groups. Ryan Bernard of DOPL gave a broad update on the division’s consolidation efforts, licensing workload, same-day licensure goals, board mergers, fee reductions, disciplinary procedure standardization, and code cleanup work. He said DOPL oversees more than 259,000 licenses across 44 boards and three safety programs, and highlighted ongoing efforts to align board cash balances with statutory requirements. Director Matt Weaver and Water Resource Board Chairman Jeff Raybould provided extensive water-related updates. Weaver reviewed IDWR’s budget holdbacks, the new water administration bureau, groundwater management in the Eastern Snake Plain and tributary basins, delivery call enforcement, Treasure Valley groundwater conditions, and the ongoing evaluation of merging the Soil and Water Conservation Commission into IDWR. Raybould discussed amendments to the State Water Plan raising the recharge target to 350,000 acre-feet, major funding for water infrastructure, recharge and cloud seeding programs, canal efficiency and groundwater-to-surface-water conversion grants, and the Bear River Compact. Members asked about aquifer management, canal lining and recharge impacts, Bear River depletion estimates, and the costs and timelines of projects such as Anderson Ranch and recharge infrastructure. The meeting also included an invitation for committee members to tour the Veolia water treatment plant on February 19.

Transcript Highlights:

• We currently administer eight grant programs with a regional approach by partnering with local employers
• reaching more than 47,000 participants across our programs.
• Training through WCTF grants is generally shorter in length than a four-credit degree program, is offered
• to support current grant. continues investing in the small business technical assistance program to support
• We’re going to continue to use our voice to advocate, our programs to provide grants and technical assistance

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held an informational hearing focused on the conditions facing small and micro businesses in Massachusetts and the state programs intended to support them. Chairs Andy Vargas and Adam Gomez opened by emphasizing equitable economic development, the importance of CDFIs, and the need to help underserved entrepreneurs, especially women, minorities, veterans, immigrants, and other groups facing barriers. Committee members noted the hearing would not take up bills, and testimony was limited to 10 minutes per organization. State and quasi-public agency witnesses described current programs and funding. Dico Gibral of the Executive Office of Economic Development highlighted the Business Front Door, multilingual access, small business office hours in Gateway Cities, and funding in the Mass Leads Act, including support for CDFIs, small business technology, and capital grants. Tom Hooper of Commonwealth Corporation described workforce training programs such as the Workforce Training Fund, Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund, and Career Technical Initiative, saying they help small businesses train workers, fill labor shortages, and support returning citizens and people with disabilities. Committee members asked about federal funding uncertainty, workforce migration, training schedules, and program uptake. Business and advocacy groups focused on cost pressures and regulatory burdens. The Massachusetts Restaurant Association urged continuation of outdoor dining and takeout alcohol sales, and pressed for relief from high credit card swipe fees, support for surcharging, and streamlining municipal licensing. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts cited survey results showing inflation, utility costs, payroll taxes, health insurance, and interchange fees as major concerns, and said many members might sell or close within five years; it also backed ending the state prohibition on surcharging and creating an Office of Main Streets Massachusetts. MACDC, BECKMA, and the Coalition for an Equitable Economy emphasized the need for more technical assistance, CDFI and small business funding, and protections against rising costs, tariffs, supply chain disruptions, and immigration enforcement impacts on immigrant-heavy business districts. No votes were taken.