Transcript Highlights:

• So this uh particular bill, House File 1112, would um establish a regional food bank grant program with
• <00:19:50.480> the efficiency of the program the efficiency of the program the percentages
• see that it's a uh 100% Federal program see that it's a uh 100% Federal program and<00:20:27.640
• Um, again, this is about a regional food bank grant program. I appreciate this robust conversation.
• Um, again, this is about a regional food bank grant program. Regional Food Bank grant program.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Housing Development Program.
• , and the Bridges Program.
• , and the Bridges Program.
• FHPAP is a program that provides grants to counties and to nonprofits, which assist families who are
• ><00:35:28.760> rehab reimbursement Grant or a grant to rehab reimbursement Grant or a grant to

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Housing Finance and Policy Committee met for an informational session with no bills taken up and no votes or formal actions. Members and staff introduced themselves, and Chair Speno said the committee would focus on understanding housing policy and barriers to building more homes, noting Minnesota’s housing shortage and the need to support both single-family and multifamily construction. House Research analyst Mary Davis and House Fiscal analyst Katrina Heimark gave an overview of the committee’s jurisdiction and the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency’s programs and funding streams. Davis outlined areas the committee may hear about, including real estate law, landlord-tenant law, manufactured home parks, housing cooperatives, zoning, property taxes, and MHFA programs. Heimark described MHFA’s five main budget areas—development and redevelopment, housing stability, homeownership assistance, preservation, and resident/organization support—and reviewed recent appropriations, emphasizing that much of the large 2024–25 funding was one-time money and that ongoing base funding is lower in 2026–27. Members asked several questions about how prior appropriations were spent, whether unused funds return to the general fund, and whether funds can be repurposed. Heimark said transferred funds generally are not returned to the general fund if unspent, but are expected to be used for the purposes outlined in the appropriation; she also said she had requested more detailed expenditure information from the agency and would follow up. Questions also focused on who benefits from programs such as rental housing rehabilitation and the affordable rental investment fund, with the testifiers explaining that most MHFA programs are targeted to low- and moderate-income households and that income eligibility varies by program. The committee also discussed the new metro-area sales tax revenue dedicated to housing, with members requesting more detail on reporting, oversight, and allowable uses.

Transcript Highlights:

• , I think that's really... ...programs.
• So in terms of that's what the resources are for the basic education program, the actual CTE grants for
• some of their own local cash towards that through a multi-year grant, the out-of-school programming
• Part of the rub for me is who would get the pilot program, or programs plural.
• With respect to the CTE program, Mr.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The meeting began as an informal education budget work group focused on reviewing a revised House Appropriations and Finance Committee scenario and flagging concerns rather than taking votes. Staff outlined the main changes from the LFC recommendation, including moving the statewide student information system appropriation, adding funding for the Black, Bilingual, Multicultural and Hispanic Education Act, universal school meals overrun costs, an evidence-based CTE pilot with a 50% local match, STEM network funding, wellness room pilots, Martinez-Yazzie action plan items, and changes to innovation zone and out-of-school time appropriations. A separate handout on the seven-year CTE pilot explained spending patterns, reversions, and possible federal maintenance-of-effort concerns if the state continues funding beyond a true pilot. Members then debated CTE extensively, with several arguing it improves attendance, graduation, and career readiness and should be sustained or expanded, especially in rural areas, while staff and others emphasized that much of the current funding has gone to general operational costs rather than intentional program design and that regional or matched funding models may be more effective. Members also discussed STEM and math initiatives, the need for more industry involvement, and whether the proposed match requirements would be too burdensome for smaller districts and BIE schools. The discussion also covered the Black, Hispanic, and Multilingual Education Acts and the Martinez-Yazzie lawsuit. Some members stressed that the acts should be explicitly named in the budget language and not merely implied, while staff said the scenario reaffirms prior commitments by building the costs into agency operating budgets. Members raised concerns about charter school hold-harmless funding, declining enrollment, and the need to align spending with the needs of at-risk students. The work group ended the education portion without any votes, with staff noting they would incorporate the feedback and return with clarifications, including on CTE funding, the educational acts, and the charter hold-harmless item. The meeting then shifted to the child well-being and early childhood work group, where staff presented a revised Early Childhood Education and Care Department scenario. The proposal moved money toward child care assistance and early pre-K, kept the FIT program funding level unchanged, and used a mix of trust fund, TANF, federal, and operating-budget adjustments to close part of the gap between the executive and LFC recommendations. Members questioned the policy direction, especially the shift toward infant and toddler care and pre-K expansion, the impact on school-age child care, and the implications for continuity of care and provider costs. Staff explained that the scenario prioritizes younger children and at-risk families, includes language for a wage and career ladder, and would require legislation to raise the early childhood trust fund distribution cap from 500 to 525. Members also discussed a separate proposed CYFD pilot bill (HB 65), which would be distinct from ECECD funding. No votes were taken, and staff said they would return with more cost information on full pre-K plus wraparound care. A final work group reviewed C2 and Department of Information Technology-related appropriations. Staff compared the LFC and executive recommendations for new funding and reauthorizations, noting that the LFC generally limited new projects while the executive funded more. Members discussed several IT modernization requests, including the Secretary of State’s voter registration and election management systems, the Spaceport Authority, Game and Fish, the State Engineer’s WATERS system, ECECD’s FitKids and EPIC replacement discovery, and Aging and Long-Term Services’ enterprise system modernization. The main themes were whether to fund planning versus full replacement, how to avoid piecemeal spending, and whether new systems should wait for incoming leadership. The Secretary of State’s office said its system is nearing end of life and the planning funds would help prepare a realistic replacement request, while other agencies described aging infrastructure, cybersecurity risks, and the need for modernization. The work group did not vote on any of the items and ended with staff noting additional follow-up on funding needs and reauthorization details.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:37.400> dollars departments not receiving Grant dollars departments not receiving Grant
• by Counties were denied Grant dollars by Counties were denied Grant dollars by the<00:04:52.120>
• these grants would be training uh these grants would be provided<00:12:03.880> to<00:12:04.040
• Minnesota uh so that's what the program Minnesota uh so that's what the program does<00:13:21.880
• these programs are Supervision programs these programs are proven<01:52:39.800> to<01:52:39.920

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do rural health. grants, we go community block grants, we do other grants, produce.
• programs.
• My program, the Farm Fresh program, is strictly a volunteer program, but we have about, you know, a large
• To encourage young young farmers we have a program... farmer grant program.
• This program is critical to the future of Texas citrus and should not be forced to rely solely on grants

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Your springs restoration programs, your alternative water supply grant program at $60 million, as well
• I will share, just for anecdotal commentary, other states are not going through the same FEMA grant program
• program has shifted.
• Those must stay within the program according to the 340B program.
• It's earmarked for this program, only for this program, and for no other program.

Bills: S7010

Keywords: Roth contributions, deferred compensation, retirement savings, Florida Statutes, tax benefits

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations met to take up SB 7010 by Senator Mayfield, which would authorize Roth post-tax contribution options in state and local deferred compensation plans. The bill was briefly explained, received one appearance in support, had no debate, and was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard a lengthy presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget on the governor’s recommended $117.4 billion “Floridians’ First Budget.” The presentation highlighted major spending areas including education, health care, public safety, transportation, environmental restoration, and economic development. Key proposals included increased FEFP funding for K-12 schools, teacher salary funding, higher education support, Everglades and water quality funding, emergency preparedness reserves, corrections staffing and pay increases, law enforcement recruitment bonuses, cybersecurity, and affordable housing and infrastructure investments. Members asked extensive questions about property tax reserve planning, litigation funding, emergency response fund balances and expenditures, the use of federal reimbursement for the Everglades detention facilities, the animal abuse hotline, Hope Florida, corrections staffing, and the proposed reduction in ADAP eligibility for HIV/AIDS medication assistance. A member of the public also testified at length about concerns that the ADAP changes would harm access to life-saving medications and alleged improper shifting of program funds. Committee members and the presenter acknowledged follow-up questions on several items, but no additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond the favorable report on SB 7010 and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:18:53.320> still of the initial $2 million grant still of the initial $2 million grant
• This will rename the grant program, taking out the word “emerging contaminants” and replacing it
• I think it's important that we continue not only to adjust this grant program, but, in my opinion, continue
• my adjust this grant program, but in my adjust this grant program, but in my opinion,<00:47:00.760
• Uh what programs do get federal money? Uh what programs do get federal money?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 18 creates the following grant programs for rural hospitals.
• There are four grants established under House Bill 18: the Financial Stabilization Grant to support and
• This program is in addition to... to the Pediatric Teleconnectivity Resource Program for rural Texas
• It also cleans up the structure of the four grant programs to clearly separate the specific requirements
• of those four grant programs from the information required for all the grant programs.

Bills: HB18, HB742, HB754, HB1644, HB2187, HB1887, HB 1275, HB37, HB1503, HB1699, HB1700, HB2735, HB1741, HB1731, HB1675, HB18, HB37

Keywords: rural health, hospital funding, healthcare access, mental health services, financial stability, human trafficking, first responders, health care, training, reporting, protection, trafficking prevention, medical assistant training, health care facilities, hospital compliance, clinic compliance, anti-retaliation, whistleblower protection, employee reporting, good faith report

Transcript Highlights:

• And then we were also able to transition funding from our TANF Block Grant program.
• So the TANF Block Grant does allow for our program to transition 30% of the TANF Block Grant to the Child
• So it's three—we receive an annual block grant for the TANF program.
• The Destination Development Grant Program was allocated $25 million by the 67th Legislative Assembly.
• The Destination Development Grant Program was funded at $15 million during the 2025 session.

Summary: The committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with the statewide Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and OMB reported a clean, unmodified opinion for the state, with strong financial results including a $40.6 billion net position, $30.99 billion in assets, $1.81 billion in liabilities, and continued Legacy Fund growth. OMB also explained the new GASB 101 compensated-absences reporting change and discussed pension-liability fluctuations tied to discount-rate assumptions and investment performance. Members asked about how the state compares to others and about the effect of short-term commodity price swings, and OMB said the report reflects actual fiscal-year results rather than forecasts. The committee then heard the University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund revenue, insufficient monitoring of service organizations at CTS, NDSU, and UND, improper bank reconciliations at Dakota College of Bottineau, Dickinson State, and Williston State, and investment/cash reconciliation problems at Bismarck State College related to bond proceeds. University officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations. Members raised questions about NDSU’s use of certificates of deposit, and university staff explained that CDs are used to earn interest on funds being accumulated for future projects. Several other audits were presented, most with clean opinions and no findings, including the State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Notable exceptions included a State Fair Association audit with an adverse opinion on the foundation component unit because its financial statements were not available for audit, and a Securities Department performance audit finding that performance-based pay increases and bonuses were issued without required evaluations. The committee also discussed the State Auditor’s future needs, including more staff capacity, data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, possible subpoena authority, independent legal counsel, and whether some audits—such as the Ethics Commission and State Fair—should be handled by independent third parties or under different statutory arrangements.

Transcript Highlights:

• Including the California Workforce Development Board's High Road Training Partnership grant program that
• And so we have a lot of statewide initiatives such as the Strong Workforce Grant Program and other CT
• These types of programs are programs we should look at statewide.
• We're currently involved in a program that is funded by the state with a $3.5 million grant called Designing
• We're seeking another grant for $3.5 million to continue this program and to expand it.

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Arts held an informational hearing on California’s first sector-specific creative economy strategic plan, “California’s Future Is Creative,” developed under AB 127 and related legislation. Chair Allen framed the plan as a response to California’s large but vulnerable creative economy, citing workforce losses, federal funding headwinds, and the need to support artists, cultural organizations, public media, museums, cultural districts, and film/TV production. He also highlighted budget asks including support for California Humanities, museums, public media, cultural districts, a post-production incentive proposal (AB 2319), and funding to implement the strategic plan. California Arts Council Director Danielle Brazel, Institute for the Future’s Rachel Hatch, CDE’s Allison Frenzel, and CWDB’s Michael Weoff described the planning process, which included a 30-plus-member work group, interagency coordination, and a phased approach from framework development to implementation and evaluation. They identified major forces shaping the sector over the next decade, including AI, climate disruption, affordability, access to capital, and social cohesion, and outlined six action areas: workforce preparation, business stabilization, cultural identity/tourism, cross-sector incentives, ROI/data tracking, and state capacity/infrastructure. Members and panelists repeatedly emphasized that the plan must be resourced and integrated across agencies rather than left siloed. A second panel of practitioners and advocates focused on workforce pathways and local implementation. Ricarlo Handy described the Handy Foundation’s registered apprenticeship pipeline into film and TV jobs and argued that current data systems undercount gig, 1099, and LLC-based creative work. Joanna Reynolds discussed Arts for LA’s Creative Jobs Collective, which aims to create 10,000 living-wage creative jobs in Los Angeles County by 2030, while Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez urged embedding artists in health, aging, and behavioral health systems as community problem-solvers. Roxanne Messina Kaptur spoke about the need to normalize arts careers and expand residency and school-based models. Senator Rubio, who joined later, shared her own arts and teaching background, supported arts access in schools and small theaters, and raised concerns about AI, asking how schools and educators can adapt. In the final panel, Rebecca Ratzkin reported on 26 statewide town halls with more than 1,100 attendees, which confirmed support for the plan but also highlighted needs for better information access, new financial models, stronger definitions and data, and more partnerships. Julie Baker of California for the Arts and California Arts Advocates urged sustained public funding, saying the plan is actionable only if the Legislature and administration provide resources, including increased California Arts Council funding and support for implementation. No formal votes were taken; the hearing was informational and concluded with calls for continued legislative and cross-agency collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have grants for individuals, grants for organizations, and something that we call Innovation grants
• > grants different types of Grants we have grants different types of Grants we have grants for
• A lot of agencies have a grant management person, a grant writer.
• <01:16:30.199> writer a Grant Management person a grant writer a Grant Management person a
• program?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Personnel Appeals Board, which explained that it became an independent state agency after Senate Bill 487 and was presenting its first standalone operating budget. The board described its quasi-judicial role in hearing appeals from classified state employees over disciplinary actions such as warnings, suspensions, and terminations, and said it handles about 25 to 35 cases a year, with some cases lasting longer because of their complexity. Members also outlined the need for a chair and vice chair who are attorneys, the board’s current staffing and space needs, and its plan to move away from reliance on Administrative Services for office support and website functions. The board requested about $353,500 for fiscal year 2026, including startup costs, routine operating expenses, and two new part-time positions: a program director and a paralegal. Members said the budget reflects the new independent status, includes funding for only four board members rather than the authorized five, and is designed to avoid full-time staffing costs and benefits. Legislators asked about the cost per case, the board’s relationship to DAS, whether appeals must go through the board before court, and how often cases are appealed further. The board said appeals must first go through it, that court appeals are infrequent but have increased recently, and that the board’s process is intended to resolve disputes more quickly and less expensively than court litigation. Committee members also asked about the board’s caseload, outcomes, and staffing. The board said that in the prior year there were 22 cases, with four decisions overturned in favor of employees, nine dismissals, and nine settlements, and that many disputes are resolved before reaching the board through a multi-step internal process. A member noted the governor and council had recently approved a new board member and were expected to approve a fifth soon. The discussion ended with questions about the board’s website and records access, which members said would need to be moved from Administrative Services as part of the agency’s transition. The committee then moved to the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities. The executive director explained that the council is 100 percent federally funded under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act and develops a five-year plan to address the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She said the council works with state agencies and advocacy organizations on quality-of-life issues, accessibility, voter rights training, and plain-language or easy-to-read materials, and that 60 percent of its membership must be individuals with disabilities or family members/guardians. She also described the council’s funding structure, including reimbursement to the state for operating costs, and noted that it currently has three full-time and three part-time positions, with no new positions requested but one full-time position being eliminated and replaced after a pandemic-era staffing change did not work out as planned.

Transcript Highlights:

• State Teacher Grant Program, which many of you are familiar with, and teacher residency programs.
• . program.
• Specifically on, as well as a $20 million area for the right grant for rehabilitative programs in CDCR
• We have $100 million to support survivors of crime by backfilling the VOCA program, the grant program
• Fills for the VOCA program are essential, and funding to support sister warriors and the right grant

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• county fair grants that we give out. county fair grants that we give out.
• counties to get a shot at those grants. counties to get a shot at those grants.
• that are there in those programs that are there in those programs already. already. already.
• requested to kind of look at a program requested to kind of look at a program that<00:13:51.519>
• corporation um we have programs corporation um we have programs available.<00:13:55.600> We

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:20 Approval of Minutes 00:00:41 Department of Agriculture 00:01:06, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met for its third meeting, approved the minutes, and heard a budget presentation from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Department representatives Brandon Reid, Lee Macintosh, and Mark Bolan outlined the agency’s funding mix and requested support for several priorities in House Bill 500, including continuation of existing items, county fair grants, and an additional $5 million for the new economic development fund. They also discussed a capital request to replace two aging scale trucks, noting the vehicles are from 2002 and 2006 and have become unreliable and expensive to repair. The department emphasized several additional needs: funding to begin regulating and inspecting electric vehicle charging stations through the weights and measures division, retention and recruitment funding after losing 108 employees over three years, and a request to pay off tobacco-related debt service so more money can flow through the tobacco formula. They also cited House Bill 417, filed by Speaker Osborne, as supporting farmland preservation, saying the agency has a program ready but needs funding to implement it. Officials said the farm-to-food-banks and rural mental health items in the budget were acceptable as reduced by the tobacco formula. Members asked questions about pump inspection fees and staffing losses. The department said the inspection fee is $100 per station, not per pump, and that the same fee applies even to larger stations. On retention and recruitment, officials said the cost of turnover is significant but they did not have a dollar estimate. No votes were taken beyond the motion to approve the minutes, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Different programs have different levels, either set in statute or they are lending programs.
• There are limits for every program we have, and that varies based on the type of program.
• Programs.
• It was not a housing program; it was a Department of Human Services program.
• Program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All of them have successful programs.
• , including the Texas program, are run by prosecutors.
• They don't generally create the programs nor do they commit to those programs.
• table, which would be extremely helpful to the program.
• It was similar to a federal grant.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Within this statute, it also calls out a small grants program that's administered by the DNR Conservation
• <00:08:53.440> program<00:08:53.760> that's calls out a small grants program that's
• calls out a small grants program that's administered<00:08:54.640> by<00:08:54.720> the
• > over<00:09:58.080> $6 grants program um generating over $6 grants program um generating
• But anyways, I’m glad to see that you're continuing to do the small grant program.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They're managing programs and volunteers; they have a lot going on.
• , geo bonds, and state grants and aid, which do have a lot of restrictions.
• As Shel or Aspen said, this is our most expansive grant program.
• They come and utilize the resources and participate in literacy programming.
• It puts money in the ground and helps local nonprofits and programming.

Bills: SB61, SB62, SB99

Keywords: rural libraries, funding, cultural affairs, education, community support, appropriation, state investment, public resources, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and grants for cardiac emergency response plans in our schools.
• We program, and a smaller dollar amount.
• <00:05:07.840> emergency grant and grants for cardiac emergency grant and grants for cardiac
• <00:14:35.360> now call substitute pilot program now call substitute pilot program now becoming
• less programs to kids within this bill. less programs to kids within this bill.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This does affect also eligibility for programs like the Job Growth Grant Fund.
• More broadly, for grant programs and financing programs that maybe are not explicitly tied to these target
• But a lot of our work, a lot of the grant programs, finance programs, incentive programs that we provide
• Some of our grant programs, the Department of Education actually has to review, depending if it's a workforce
• programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• You may find this hard to believe, but when offered between grants and loans, applicants prefer grants
• I'm sorry, my apologies: loans to grants, 60% loans, 40% grants.
• Then there was the Water Conservation Grant Fund, which is exactly like it sounds: it's a grant fund
• Then there was the Water Conservation Grant Fund, which is exactly like it sounds: it's a grant fund
• So next we will move to another program I am extremely proud of, and that's the Water Conservation Grant

Bills: HB2024, HB2053, HB2097, HB2116, HB2117

Keywords: water infrastructure finance authority, WIFA, water supply development, snowpack augmentation, cloud seeding, water augmentation, water financing, water infrastructure, Arizona water law, water conservation, groundwater recharge, stormwater recharge, reclamation and reuse, water rights, water supply projects, public-private partnership, long-term water augmentation fund, water provider, desalination, drought mitigation