Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, you add the difficulties of nurse aide challenges, which is the lifeblood of most of the workforce
• some help transportation to doctors, the availability and comfort of knowing there's going to be an aide
• But the typical staff that you will see in an assisted living is going to be an aide, a nurse aide or
• certified nurse aide, an LPN, and then an RN.
• aid, not necessarily around-the-clock care, but more people coming, more visits, occupational stuff,

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from Marty Wright, CEO of the West Virginia Healthcare Association, on the state’s long-term care system. He described the continuum from home care to assisted living to skilled nursing facilities, emphasizing that these settings increasingly serve short-term rehab-to-home patients as well as older adults needing round-the-clock care. He also outlined the number of facilities in West Virginia, the predominance of Medicaid as the payer for long-term nursing home care, the private-pay nature of assisted living, and the role of OFAC/CMS in regulation. A major focus of the presentation was workforce shortages and turnover, especially for CNAs, LPNs, and RNs, along with declining interest in nursing careers and the impact of regulatory burden and burnout. Wright said the system is also struggling to serve younger patients with substance use disorder, mental illness, or other behavioral needs, who are often not well suited for traditional nursing home placement but have limited alternatives. Senators raised concerns about where such patients are being housed, the long-term effects of opioid and behavioral health issues, and the gap between school-age special needs populations and adult care needs. Wright said Medicaid can cover long-term nursing home care for those who meet financial and medical eligibility requirements, but affordability and spend-down requirements remain major barriers. He also warned that Medicare Advantage can create confusion and shorter covered stays for rehab patients, and he urged early planning around long-term care insurance and estate planning. No votes were taken on the presentation, and the committee adjourned after questions and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um it um local homeless prevention aid.
• Local homeless prevention aid is a tested way to support local communities.
• to stay to We should provide the aid to stay to their<00:18:41.760> homes.
• <00:33:34.880> Um, of their neighbors in mutual aid.
• Um, of their neighbors in mutual aid.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And by foreign I mean people that aren't soldiers coming on base and hurting people.
• people are getting hurt um by by foreign people are getting hurt um by by foreign uh<01:07:15.920
• And<01:07:17.839> by<01:07:18.000> foreign<01:07:18.400> I<01:07:18.480> mean
• <01:07:18.720> people<01:07:19.039> that<01:07:19.359> aren't And by foreign
• I mean people that aren't And by foreign I mean people that aren't soldiers<01:07:21.039> coming<

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's 186C3 and it said it used to say in the dis uh differentiated aid the dis uh differentiated aid
• now to submit for state special ed aid now to submit for state special ed aid in<02:10:04.800>
• for state special ed aid. for state special ed aid.
• Special education aid, uh, differentiated aid, IDA, and this local education costs. >> Does the money
• $500,000 from the special education aid $500,000 from the special education aid I<03:27:15.520><

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission met to approve the May 18, 2026 minutes and then focused on how SB 57’s special education cost study should inform HB 1099, which creates a separate study committee on residential placements and related education costs. Members discussed sending the commission’s minutes and findings to that new committee, noting the short timeline for its work and the need to be specific about unresolved issues so the new group does not duplicate the same questions. A major topic was the cost and responsibility for students placed at Spalding and similar residential programs, especially transportation and whether costs are paid through the Department of Education’s episode-of-treatment (EOT) fund, local districts, DHS, or Medicaid. Staff explained that for students with disabilities, EOT funds cover special education and transportation costs tied to the placement, while students without disabilities are handled through DHS care-management and best-interest meetings. Members raised concerns about whether some students at Spalding are receiving no schooling, whether transportation costs are substantial, and whether Medicaid reimbursement could offset some expenses. The commission also discussed confusion over district responsibility when students placed in residential programs attend school in another district, using Winnisquam as an example. Several members said the receiving district was not notified that DHHS-approved programs could bring in additional students and costs, and they suggested DHHS or its care-management entity should notify both the district of residence and the receiving district when a program is approved. The group agreed this notification issue, along with transportation funding, privacy concerns in Medicaid-to-schools billing, and the distinction between special education placements, EOT placements, and other voluntary residential placements, should be passed to the HB 1099 study committee for further work.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:12.880> is<00:09:13.200> only.3% receive in aid is only.3% receive in aid is
• In 2016, total special education aid to Conval, including both differentiated aid and reimbursements,
• <00:18:06.160> um education differentiated aid um education differentiated aid um throughout
• state aid. state aid.
• So, the differentiate differentiated differentiated differentiated aid aid aid would<01:24:56.239>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• student support alongside financial aid student support alongside financial aid is<01:33:43.480>
• My experience showed me that financial aid alone isn't enough.
• Of reduction in their aid award.
• Students' financial aid in mid-year. Thank you so much, Ms.
• > cuts The potential financial aid cuts The potential financial aid cuts students<01:53:56.960

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• functions they administer Financial Aid functions they administer Financial Aid programs<00:43:28.160
• Financial Aid Services Grants and loan Financial Aid Services Grants and loan repayment<00:45:08.720>
• The student aid index now can be a negative number.
• The student aid index is just whatever that negative number is.
• > loans are not considered Gift Aid loans are not considered Gift Aid because<01:03:51.640> you

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Higher Ed Finance and Policy Committee met to begin a budget overview for higher education. The chair noted quorum, committee member introductions, and that Democratic members were absent. The chair also said the Office of Higher Education would not be appearing for the planned budget deep dive, so nonpartisan fiscal staff would present instead. Ken Savory, the committee’s nonpartisan fiscal analyst, introduced a presentation on the higher education finance structure and timeline. Savory explained the state budget cycle, the difference between direct appropriations, statutory appropriations, open appropriations, base funding, tails, and one-time appropriations, and how those concepts apply to higher education. He described the committee’s usual budget areas: the Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State, the University of Minnesota, and the Mayo Foundation. He also reviewed historical spending charts showing higher education’s share of the general fund over time, the 2/3-1/3 funding policy in statute, and how tuition and general fund support have shifted. He noted that the FY 26-27 base for the Office of Higher Education area is about $725 million, including roughly $450 million for the State Grant program and about $99 million for North Star Promise. Members asked about comparing the current budget to earlier biennia, and staff responded that they would need to calculate the percentage difference. The chair then summarized prior budget growth, saying the previous budget was about $650 million over base and the current budget/tail was about $450 million over base. Staff also reviewed the 2024 omnibus higher education bill, including a roughly $5 million reduction to North Star Promise that was redirected to the Fostering Independence Grant program and a $500,000 appropriation for Minnesota State’s Kids on Campus program. The committee did not take any formal votes or actions during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• software systems or financial aid software systems or communications<00:51:31.680> modules.
• difference in terms of how financial aid difference in terms of how financial aid was<00:52:19.520
• They apply for financial aid.
• If they get the full load financial aid.
• then the the financial aid is dispersed. then the the financial aid is dispersed. uh<01:06:32.960

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up a series of “same and similar” provisions between the House and Senate higher education bills and adopted them one by one, with brief explanations from members and staff. The items included a cybersecurity addition for a doctoral degree program, Northstar Promise definitions and eligibility limits, self-loan provisions on institution eligibility and data disclosure, and dual training language requiring certificates, diplomas, or degrees to come from accredited postsecondary institutions. The committee also adopted an amendment to the private career school provisions that clarified exempt institutions remain within the act, and removed certain limited-license and renewal fees for institutions participating in dual training grants or the eligible training provider list. Each of these motions prevailed by voice vote. The committee then moved into policy differences between the House and Senate bills, beginning with emergency grants and hunger-free campus grants. Members discussed shifting funding from OHE-administered competitive grants to direct appropriations for the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State, while the Senate retained competitive grant access for private and tribal colleges and added reporting requirements. OHE Commissioner Dennis Olson said the added reporting would be an extra administrative task but raised no significant concerns. Testifiers from the University of Minnesota, Minnesota State, and the private college sector supported faster, more direct funding and described the grants as important for emergency housing, transportation, food insecurity, and other student basic needs. A LeadMN representative also supported the changes, saying campus staff and students wanted funds delivered more quickly. The committee also discussed direct admissions on R31. The Senate proposal would require public and charter high schools to participate in the direct admissions program by the 2029-2030 school year. Assistant Commissioner Wendy Robinson said OHE supports statewide expansion and that the program has improved FAFSA completion, college enrollment, and student retention in Minnesota. Members noted the bill had bipartisan support and heard from advocates such as Ed Allies and Students United. No votes were taken on the policy-difference items during this portion of the meeting, and the chair said further discussion of state grant and sexual misconduct policy differences would be held at a later hearing with additional OHE staff present.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:28:05.240> Um you know, aids for that student. Um you know, aids for that student.
• I added a line at the end, all state aid I added a line at the end, all state aid for<00:45:26.120
• Um, so, some aid that comes to school, special education aid, goes to schools based upon enrollment
• So, the resident district's going to receive that differential aid component.
• And then the student the aid component.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee of conference on HB 751 reviewed amendment 2026-1904H page by page, focusing on open enrollment rules, capacity definitions, statewide enrollment limits, denial criteria, transportation, and funding. Members discussed clarifying that districts may set capacity at zero if they truly have no room, creating a statewide enrollment cap of 500 that can increase by 25% if it reaches 90% utilization, and exempting seats already used by open enrollment students before October 1, 2026. They also discussed how the Department of Education would allocate seats through rulemaking, while local districts would still set capacity, with grandfathered seats preserved where districts already allow open enrollment. A substantial portion of the meeting centered on when districts may deny open enrollment applications. The amendment would allow denials for reasons such as chronic absenteeism or disciplinary history, while requiring districts to consider whether those issues are tied to disability, McKinney-Vento status, foster care, or bullying. Members emphasized that such factors are to be considered, not used as the sole basis for rejection, and noted that the bill separately prohibits receiving schools from accepting or rejecting applicants based on pupil needs, special education needs, disability, aptitude, or athletic achievement. There was also discussion of whether interdistrict transfers should count toward open enrollment capacity, with a suggestion that a carve-out may be needed. The committee also reviewed provisions on program-specific capacity, continuous enrollment, and transportation. It was explained that capacity can apply to a school, grade, program, or class, including CTE programs, and that students may be denied if a specific program is full or if they do not meet prerequisites. The group clarified that open enrollment pupils would maintain continuous enrollment without reapplying, though there was concern about how that would work if district capacity changes over time. Transportation would generally be the parent’s responsibility unless required by an IEP or 504 plan, though students may use an existing bus route if seats are available and the receiving district allows it. On funding, the committee noted that the amendment changes the earlier HB 751 approach and instead ties open enrollment funding to base adequacy, differentiated aid, and an additional grant modeled on charter school funding, with dates removed at the department’s request. Members also raised concerns about how open enrollment would interact with existing tuition agreements and whether districts could use the new pathway to alter or pressure those arrangements. Department staff said districts would still be required to maintain a school of record and provide an adequate education free of charge outside the open enrollment program, and that if open enrollment enrollment became unusually large relative to district adequacy enrollment, the issue could be brought to the state board. No votes were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, Madame Chair, members, the fiscal note shows the cost of the aid for each year.
• Um, Madame Chair, members, I believe that chart shows the amount of aid that would be received by each
• <00:39:57.520> um<00:39:57.680> for note shows the cost of the aid um for note shows
• the cost of the aid um for each<00:39:58.680> year.
• <00:40:43.680> that that chart shows the amount of aid that that chart shows the amount of

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• week we’ll have two separate days of the Department of Education to come in to talk about some state aid
• c><00:08:10.479> about<00:08:10.680> some<00:08:10.879> state<00:08:11.159> aid
• <00:08:11.560> programs in to talk about some state aid programs in to talk about some state
• aid programs uh<00:08:12.639> the<00:08:12.800> purpose<00:08:13.080> of<00:08:
• , um, but it's also a lot of state aid, so that's usually a tough...

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an introductory House Finance Division Two session focused on committee procedures, staffing, and the upcoming budget process. Mickey Landrian, the division analyst, introduced himself and explained that the subcommittee operates more informally than the full committee, does not hold executive sessions or public hearings itself, and makes recommendations back to House Finance. Members were told that public hearings on legislation occur in the full committee, while Division Two will hold work sessions and vote on recommendations such as ought to pass, retain, or ITL. The chair also welcomed new members and a new clerk, and noted that meetings will be recorded and streamed, with microphones required for audio capture. A substantial portion of the meeting covered the division’s workload and schedule. Landrian outlined the agencies assigned to Division Two, including Safety, Fish and Game, Transportation, Education, the Lottery Commission, Police Standards and Training, the University System, and the Community College System. He explained the different fund types the division will handle, especially Education Trust Fund, Highway Fund, and Fish and Game Fund, and reviewed reference materials distributed to members, including agency budget requests, prior recommendation tracking sheets, and surplus statements. He emphasized that the agency budget requests and related handouts are available online and useful for members to review before budget work begins. Members discussed the compressed timeline for the session, with a target date of March 26 for completing Division Two recommendations. Landrian said only a few bills had been referred to Finance so far, none yet to Division Two, but that more bills and amendments were expected, including many amendments to House Bill 2. He noted that the committee would need to move efficiently and frontload meetings. Representative Papich added that Fish and Game may require closer scrutiny than in prior years because of its push for direct general fund appropriations, and members also discussed the importance of getting preliminary budget documents before the governor’s budget is finalized. No votes were taken and no formal actions were reported beyond the procedural overview and distribution of materials.

Transcript Highlights:

• It also provides for type three school bus first aid kits, and an update to the first aid kits that school
• <00:02:26.000> kits, aid kits, aid kits, and<00:02:28.160> an<00:02:28.360> update
• We uh aids us in our inspection process.
• And then section five, regarding the type three first aid kits.
• And then section five, regarding the type three first aid kits.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Here's your school aid. Or excuse me, here's how much your district is going to get in aid.
• Here's your school aid. Or excuse me, here's how much your district is going to get in aid.
• Here's your school aid. Or excuse me, here's how much your district is going to get in aid.
• . aid. aid.
• district is going to get in in in aid. district is going to get in in in aid.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The conference committee on House File 3900 met with a quorum, introduced members and staff, and received a nonpartisan walkthrough of the bill. Staff explained that the proposal would change the permanent school fund’s distribution formula from interest and dividends to a statutory payout based on 4.5% of the fund’s average value over the previous three fiscal years, with the Commissioner of Management and Budget responsible for determining and transferring the distributable amount. The Senate version differed by adding language requiring a two-thirds vote of each legislative house to change the distribution policy or apportionment. Members then debated whether a future legislature could increase the payout and whether the constitutional language would sufficiently protect the fund’s purchasing power. Senator Farnsworth argued that a supermajority requirement would help prevent politicization and lock in the fund’s purpose, while Representative Long, Senator Kunesh, Representative Youakim, and Representative O’Driscoll opposed the supermajority as unnecessary and potentially politicizing, emphasizing existing constitutional protections, fiduciary duties, and the legislature’s track record of stewarding school trust lands for students. Staff indicated the language requiring preservation of purchasing power would be a strong safeguard, though the exact legal remedy was unclear. Senator Kunesh moved to adopt the House File 3900 second engrossment as the conference committee report. The committee took a roll call vote and approved the motion 7-1, with Senator Farnsworth voting no. After the vote, Senator Swedzinski offered brief remarks about the historical importance of school trust funds and public education.

Transcript Highlights:

• Urban schools spent the most per student on instructional materials and supervisory aids.
• The highest minority quintile spent the most per student on supervisory aids and substitutes.
• So instructional aides were the top use using matrix funds with $77 million for 2025.
• Instructional aid, instructional supplies, and objects.
• The aides would be strictly a staffing line. The aides would be strictly a staffing line. Okay.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the first name I have on the list is a person who is remote: Julie Watt for the Home Care Aid Council
• I am Julie Watt for Care, and I'm the executive director of the Home Care Aid Council.
• The Home Care Aid Council supports the legislation as drafted, which closely reflects the findings of
• In January, a home health aide was stabbed over 30 times in East Boston.
• I used to work at Julie Watford's position at the Home Care Aid Council.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Aging and Independence held a hearing on several bills, led by Chair Tom Stanley and Senate Chair Patricia Jehlen. The committee first heard testimony on H. 765/S. 487, an act relative to councils on aging, which would update outdated statutory language and allow directors of councils on aging to make staffing decisions when a council is structured as an advisory body. Representative Donahue and Betsy Connell of the Massachusetts Association of Councils on Aging said the change reflects how most councils now operate and would resolve conflicts like the one that arose in Sherborn. Members asked about whether the bill would affect town managers, volunteer roles, and whether the language should more clearly exempt informal volunteer help; supporters said the bill is aimed at municipal staffing structures, not unpaid volunteer assistance. The committee then took extensive testimony on H. 789/S. 470, an act to improve Massachusetts home care, which would create a statewide licensure system for non-medical home care agencies and entities. Julie Watt, Jay Krillovich, Betsy Krimmins, Lisa Gargoni, Tim Foley, and several providers and advocates supported the bill, arguing that licensure would establish baseline standards for background checks, training, service plans, insurance, complaint procedures, and labor-law compliance, while helping consumers identify legitimate providers and reducing fraud and abuse. Several witnesses described problems with unlicensed or poorly supervised providers, and family members and dementia advocates emphasized the need for dementia-specific training and better oversight for vulnerable clients. Tim Foley also raised concerns about private equity’s growing role in home care and said stronger regulation is needed to protect consumers and workers. Committee members focused on practical questions about the bill’s scope, including whether it would reach informal paid helpers, volunteers, or people doing occasional household tasks, and what agency would enforce the rules. Supporters said the bill is intended to cover entities advertising home care services, not unpaid volunteer help, though they acknowledged regulators would need to work out details. John Sneeth of Tribute Home Care offered a more cautious view, saying licensure should not unduly burden smaller providers or reduce competition, and that enforcement would be key. The hearing also included testimony from the Alzheimer’s Association and family caregivers, who strongly supported the bill’s dementia-training provisions and described how trained caregivers improved safety and quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. At the end of the hearing, the committee also heard support for H. 778/S. 473, regarding the Commission on LGBTQ Aging, with Lisa Krinsky urging funding for a full-time director and continued support for the commission’s strategic plan. After public testimony concluded, the committee adjourned the hearing by motion and voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• patients who are admitted to us, a vast majority of them are admitted to us under what's known as an aid
• here is in January of 2016, when we saw a very sharp, or the start of a very sharp, increase in the aid
• We will never get out of this conversation, whether it's aid and assist, civil commitment, PSRB.
• In the state hospital on a rapid aid and assist admission because he ended up in jail yet again.
• And also that's the population I see in the aid and assist population.

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The joint Senate and House Behavioral Health committees held an informational meeting focused first on the Oregon State Hospital (OSH). OHA Director Sajal Hathi introduced the hospital’s incoming permanent superintendent, Sean Murphy, and praised interim superintendent Jim Deagle for stabilizing operations, restoring CMS compliance, and helping drive a culture change centered on safety, accountability, and transparency. Deagle and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Amit Bavon described OSH’s role as the state’s highest-level forensic psychiatric hospital, the patient populations it serves, its partnerships with courts, counties, jails, hospitals, and advocates, and recent leadership changes across the hospital. They also reported improved accreditation and regulatory status, including Joint Commission accreditation and CMS compliance, and said the hospital is now using daily safety huddles, incident review meetings, stronger escalation procedures, and revised seclusion/restraint practices to reduce risk and improve oversight. Members pressed hospital leaders on past seclusion practices, asking how prolonged seclusions could have occurred under federal standards. Leaders said they could not explain past decisions but emphasized that current leadership has changed processes, training, reporting, and oversight so that seclusion and restraint are reviewed in real time and cannot be normalized. Questions also covered staffing, falls, and future planning. OSH said it is generally staffed to budget, though it still has RN and mental health technician vacancies and is working on recruitment, training, and better staffing distribution. Hathi said the hospital is building a public dashboard with key performance and safety metrics, including workforce data, and described the long-term goal as a consistently safe, disciplined, high-functioning institution that responds quickly to mistakes and remains accountable to the public. The committee then shifted to an informational overview of civil commitment. Oregon Judicial Department representative Chanah Newell explained the civil commitment process, including who can initiate it, the role of community mental health providers and courts, the five-day timeline to hearing, and the standards for danger to self, danger to others, and inability to meet basic needs. She summarized changes made in House Bill 2005, including revised statutory language and new provisions allowing a second diversion period, but cautioned that the data are too early to show clear trends. Testimony from NAMI Oregon’s Chris Bonif and psychiatrist Dr. Stephanie Lopez argued that Oregon still relies too heavily on jails and state hospital commitments because the broader community system lacks enough treatment, housing, and less restrictive alternatives. They urged the legislature to focus on upstream services, supported housing, and possible outpatient commitment tools so people can receive treatment before reaching crisis. The meeting ended with acknowledgment that additional reports and follow-up discussions are expected, including on residential treatment capacity and related behavioral health system reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• With the aid of Goodwill's career services, she was offered a medical assistant position at Arkansas
• Then we have the state foundation aid.
• I make sure I got it right was about the instructional aides and paraprofessionals.
• So there is quite a bit of expenditures that do go towards instructional aid. Tomorrow.
• So there is quite a bit of expenditures that do go towards instructional aid.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And if they provided a patient a letter, would that be aiding and abetting?
• The terms 'aid and abet' are not defined.
• The 'aid and abet' language in the bill is vague and overbroad.
• If a physician merely discusses options with the patient, is that aiding and abetting?
• At any time they can be charged with aiding, just for filling a prescription.

Transcript Highlights:

• relating to an income tax subtraction for qualified tips and for qualified overtime compensation; state aid
• surplus refund payments; increasing funding for special education and school-age parent programs; state aid
• relating to an income tax subtraction for qualified tips and for qualified overtime compensation; state aid
• surplus refund payments; increasing funding for special education and school-age parent programs; state aid
• relating to an income tax subtraction for qualified tips and for qualified overtime compensation, state aid

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We talked about critical maintenance aid, additional operating aid and the long-term capital I think
• We talked about critical maintenance aid, additional operating aid and the long-term capital I think
• commend the joint one-houses for the budget plan, which invests over $97 million in SUNY's operational aid
• The proposed increases in community college-based aid for SUNY and CUNY are a welcome step, but we must
• THE PROPOSED INCREASES IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASED AID FOR SUNY AND CUNY ARE A WELCOME STEP BUT WE MUST

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Higher Education Conference Committee met to discuss budget priorities for SUNY, CUNY, community colleges, TAP, student aid, and capital funding. Chair Toby Ann Stavisky emphasized the need for increased operating and capital support, protection against enrollment-based funding losses, no tuition increases, a review of TAP because it has not kept pace with living costs, and action on student loan access and research funding cuts. Assembly Chair Alicia Hyndman outlined the Assembly’s higher education proposal, including $475.7 million to expand TAP eligibility, raising income thresholds for TAP and the Excelsior Scholarship, creating a graduate tuition assistance program, adding community college operating aid, expanding the Opportunity Promise Scholarship, forgiving SUNY hospital debt service, increasing CUNY operating support, restoring opportunity program funding, creating a $110 million student loan support program called New York Rises, and funding five-year capital plans for SUNY and CUNY plus additional ECAP grants. Members broadly supported making higher education more affordable and accessible, while highlighting district-specific needs. Senator May praised SUNY Reconnect, community college workforce programs, hospital debt service relief, and a five-year SUNY capital plan. Senator Gonzalez framed the budget as an investment in economic mobility. Senator Griffo supported affordability, operating and capital aid, and additional support for medical schools and hospitals. Assembly Members Walker, Colton, and Fall backed TAP expansion, opportunity programs, disability supports, SUNY Downstate’s transformation, and capital needs at CUNY and SUNY campuses. Assembly Member Smullen, speaking for the minority conference, urged a five-way budget process, said TAP has not kept pace with inflation, and called for a more stable long-term funding model for community colleges. He also stressed aligning higher education with workforce needs. Assembly Member Pirozzolo pointed to the College of Staten Island as an example of the benefits of investment and warned that employers recruiting students directly from high school could weaken higher education unless colleges continue strengthening trade and career training. The meeting ended with no vote on the budget items, and the chairs adjourned the conference committee after concluding remarks.