Transcript Highlights:

• This is a program that would fund projects in our communities and around the state to address things
• to the DNR for the community trust fund to the DNR for the community grants<00:30:27.120> program
• This is a program that would fund<00:30:31.039> projects<00:30:31.360> in<00:30:31.520>
• We secure a housing support rate for potential federal cuts from the SNAP program.
• <02:30:59.439> the federal funding only adds to the federal funding only adds to the challenge

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• that we have put through FEMA, through our federal partners.
• We're looking at $45.4 million in resiliency funds.
• Dollars in obligated public assistance funding.
• We call it our least risk LRDM program.
• We are continuing to be so excited to participate in that program.

Summary: The committee held its first meeting of the session, with members introducing themselves and expressing support for veterans, military families, first responders, space industry growth, and domestic security. The first presentation was from the Florida Division of Emergency Management on the 2024 hurricane season and recovery efforts. Officials described response and recovery operations for Hurricanes Debbie, Helene, and Milton, including sheltering, meals, water, tarps, power restoration, flood control, debris removal, and public assistance funding. They emphasized that recovery is ongoing, that mitigation and resiliency investments are critical, and that Florida’s shelter space remains in deficit in many counties, especially for special needs populations. Senators asked about improving logistics capacity, technology for grant processing, HOA/private property debris issues, drainage and culvert maintenance, and ways to expand shelter capacity; the witness said more technology, better local coordination, and county-by-county planning would help, while noting limits on state authority over private property and county emergency manager qualifications. Committee members praised FDEM’s response and asked how the Legislature could help, including whether more logistical hubs, pumps, and flood-control equipment were needed. The witness said technology investments could reduce fatigue and improve grant and recovery processing, but that manpower would still be necessary. The committee also discussed the statewide emergency shelter plan, the use of schools as shelters, and the need to identify vacant commercial space and other facilities for future sheltering and special-needs needs. The witness said FDEM works with counties and commerce partners to identify available space and uses legislative funding for shelter retrofits and new construction when needed. The second presentation was from Blue Origin on its Florida operations. The company outlined its work in New Glenn, New Shepard, Blue Ring, lunar landers, and engine production, highlighting its Space Coast presence, more than 3,600 Florida employees, and over $3 billion invested in facilities. Blue Origin also described partnerships with Space Florida, public school Space Academies, internships, SkillBridge, and STEM outreach through Club for the Future. Members asked about the upcoming New Glenn launch window, which the company said was targeted for later that week, and the committee expressed interest in Blue Origin’s role in Florida’s space economy. The meeting ended with no further business and a motion to adjourn, which was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• ...management fund just as a grant program.
• <03:42:04.199> and program the machines for federal and program the machines for federal and
• funding for those sorts of programs.
• funding for those sorts of programs.
• So they pre-funded the program. We typically have never pre-funded the program.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House Bill 2 provisions affecting the New Hampshire Retirement System, focusing on Group 2/Tier B retirement changes in pages 25 through 39 of the bill. NHRS Executive Director Jan Goodwin and deputy chief counsel Mark Kavanaugh explained that the 2025 bill is largely similar to prior versions and to HB 727, with the main difference being that the 2025 version does not include the earlier increase in the maximum benefit. They also said the fiscal note for HB 2 is based on earlier actuarial work and that an updated valuation was expected later in the week. A major topic was whether the bill accidentally removed an anti-spiking or special-duty compensation limit. NHRS said the omission appears to be a scrivener’s error caused by moving language between Group 1 and Group 2 definitions, and they planned to flag it in the fiscal note. Members also reviewed the bill’s intent to restore Tier B members to pre-2011 benefit rules, including changes to earnable compensation, average final compensation, and the comp-over-base rule. Some members questioned whether restoring those older rules was appropriate, arguing the 2011 changes were meant to curb pension spiking and that undoing them could be problematic. The committee also discussed the bill’s cost and funding assumptions. NHRS said the 2025 bill would reduce unfunded actuarial liability by about $98.2 million and would have a more favorable effect than the 2023 version, while employer contribution impacts would remain relatively small. Members noted the bill assumes annual appropriations of $27.5 million for 10 years, but House Bill 1 currently provides only $5 million in the first year, and NHRS had not yet analyzed the effect of that shortfall. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the discussion was informational and focused on clarifying the bill’s language, intent, and fiscal impact.

Transcript Highlights:

• The dairy with an eye program helps to incentivize and enhance the usage of the federal DMC, dairy margin
• Um, and he received food assistance through the Federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistant Program, SNAP
• Program, SNAP. Program, SNAP.
• And I hope our committee as a whole will be dedicated to finding funding streams for these great programs
• this funding. this funding.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This program includes wholesalers as eligible entities to apply to the program, and wholesalers are responsible
• So at the, well, I think if I followed your line of questioning at the federal level, you have federal
• funding from the ESRR program and maybe possibly other cuts coming down the road, this presents yet
• , and the Targeted appraisal Review Program.
• is a great fund.

Bills: HB249

Keywords: real property, ad valorem tax, tax appraisal, property value limitation, real estate taxation, property ownership

Transcript Highlights:

• My concern with the funding is that while we do have general fund issues...
• I agree with her that I would like to find funding beyond the existing school safety program, and I would
• Existing ADE budgets, one-time federal funds that are already expiring, competitive grants that force
• Schools are unable to plan for programs around speculative funding streams.
• We have not funded them.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As I looked at the budget, I see that we did not fund the premium assistance program.
• Did not fund the premium assistance program. We did not restore that.
• could draw approximately $260 million of federal funding?
• program, and is there future consideration for us to do this, funding this program to the extent that
• On housing, we're fully funding the sale and ship program.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So there is the overall preservation program, the P program.
• Okay, so we have the preservation program, the P program, and we split that program into three distinct
• funding, or direct the federal funding where it goes and where we need to put some of that federal funding
• And so it can get into more restrictions on federal funding as we get up and over that 10% level.
• of our preservation program.

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee devoted its meeting to a presentation from Troy Suing of the Department of Transportation on state highway preservation needs. Suing said DOT is a leader in asset planning, but that current funding is not enough to keep up with the condition of highways, bridges, and other assets. He distinguished operations and maintenance from preservation, and described the preservation program’s main parts: pavements, bridges, and other highway facilities such as slopes, rest areas, signal systems, retaining walls, and culverts. Suing reported that about 40% of state roads are already overdue for preservation and that, with current funding, as much as 85% could need preservation within 10 years. He said there are more than 7,900 lane miles currently due, and that delaying work past the “lowest life cycle zone” increases risk and can cost three to five times more later. For bridges, he said the state has about 3,400 bridges, an average age of 52 years, and roughly 10% are over 80 years old; the share of bridges in poor condition is about 9.9%, near the federal threshold that could trigger more federal oversight. He also highlighted culvert failures, including one on SR-510, and the closed Carbon River Bridge on SR-165 as examples of how deferred preservation can lead to closures and community disruption. Committee members questioned the comparison to national asset management leadership, liability risk as roads deteriorate, the cost and regulatory burden of bridge projects, and whether DOT is relying more on its own crews for bridge work because of cost and urgency. Suing said the department is underfunded to fully implement its asset plans and is forced to focus on risk, emergent needs, and the most critical bridge work first. He said DOT’s 2026 supplemental budget identified preservation as one of five unfunded critical priorities and estimated a 10-year preservation need of $8 billion to address the backlog and become proactive again. Members discussed whether targeted funding in the next biennium could help move the state back toward the “green zone,” and the chair closed by emphasizing the real-world impacts of bridge and road failures and the need for legislative action.

Transcript Highlights:

• The federal for the agency? The state? The federal government?
• And previously we had a couple of services that were funded under Medicaid, so partly federally funded
• , state funded.
• Medicaid, so partly federal federally Medicaid, so partly federal federally funded,<01:43:11.840
• Um and those funded, state funded.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• gap or jeopardize federal funds that are needed in the state for our transportation systems.
• gap or jeopardize federal funds that are needed in the state for our transportation systems.
• gap or jeopardize federal funds that are needed in the state for our transportation systems.
• gap or jeopardize federal funds that are needed in the state for our transportation systems.
• We need to better define the process, and we can't exacerbate the funding gap or jeopardize federal funds

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The state, as a result, remitted $25 million in funding to the program, and now it's time to give it
• Other outreach programs, such as the domestic worker rights education program and the garment worker
• This program called CWOP is a lifeline.
• Both the state and federal governments have provided funds to work on extensive restoration projects
• Both the state and federal governments have provided funds to work on extensive restoration projects

Summary: The Assembly Labor and Employment Committee heard and advanced several bills focused on worker protections, training access, wage enforcement, outreach, and workplace safety. SB 513 would require employees to have access to their training and certification records; supporters, including laid-off refinery workers and labor organizations, said employers sometimes withhold records during layoffs, while committee members called the practice unacceptable. The bill passed 5-0 and was re-referred to Appropriations. SB 809 addressed misclassification of construction truck owner-drivers by offering employers amnesty if they reclassify workers as employees and adopt a two-check payment system; labor and construction trades groups supported it, and it passed 5-0 to Judiciary. SB 578 would codify the California Workplace Outreach Program, which funds trusted community organizations to educate workers about their rights. Supporters described the program as a proven way to reach low-wage, immigrant, and hard-to-reach workers, especially amid wage theft, retaliation, and immigration enforcement concerns. The bill passed 5-0 to Appropriations. SB 261 would strengthen collection of wage theft judgments by creating a public list of nonpaying employers and adding penalties after six months of nonpayment; county enforcement officials and labor advocates said it would help workers recover unpaid wages. It passed 6-0 to Judiciary. The committee also approved SB 369, which would require skilled and trained workforce standards for Salton Sea restoration projects, with supporters saying the work is hazardous and should use trained labor; it passed 6-0 to Appropriations. Finally, SB 20 sought to address silicosis in stone countertop fabrication by requiring training and certification protections for workers; supporters said the disease has caused deaths among mostly Latino workers, while industry groups supported the bill with amendments and requested implementation resources. It passed 6-0 to Appropriations. The committee also adopted a consent calendar of four additional bills and adjourned after all listed measures were moved forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• , including the federal outdoor advertising program, leaving a lasting legacy on transportation policy
• Policy and program management in Oklahoma.
• If the federal government reduces the federal fuel excise tax, then basically we are going to give those
• The state, if—excuse me—it goes to a lot of different funds, mostly the general revenue fund, I believe
• We're not not funding some program that we would have funded if we had got the money.

Bills: HCR1030, HB1370, SB893, SB2, SB1589

Keywords: legislative procedure, session calendar, deadline schedule, bill deadlines, joint resolution, Oklahoma Legislature, 61st Legislature, regular session, adjourn sine die, floor deadline, third reading, committee deadlines, bill drafting, appropriations, budget bills, ethics commission, agency rules, administrative procedures act, local and special laws, pension legislation

Summary: The House convened, completed roll call, and heard an invocation and pledge before moving through several ceremonial presentations. Members recognized Monty Smith for 43 years of service with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, honored the Marlow Lady Outlaws girls golf team for winning the Class 3A state and academic state championships, and acknowledged the final group of pages for the 60th Legislature. The House also adopted HCR 1030, which sets the legislative procedure schedule and deadlines for the 61st Oklahoma Legislature. The chamber then met in a joint session with the Senate to observe Veterans Awareness Day. Speakers from both chambers and the Oklahoma Veterans Council delivered remarks honoring veterans, Gold Star families, and military service, and highlighted recent policy achievements for veterans, including the full tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans, the exemption of military retirement pay from state income tax, improved funding for veterans’ homes, and restructuring of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission. The Veterans Council also presented its annual awards, naming Sen. Kerry Hicks as Outstanding Senator of the Year, Rep. Andy Menz as Outstanding Representative of the Year, Aaron Higgins as Veteran of the Year, and the Speed family as Veteran Family of the Year, and recognized Scott Howell for his service to the council. The joint session then adjourned. Back in the House, members took up Senate amendments to House Bill 1370, which concerns the Corporation Commission plugging fund and a repealer tied to a state fuel-tax offset provision. The bill’s author explained that the amendment would prevent the state from capturing savings if the federal fuel excise tax is reduced, so any reduction would benefit consumers rather than state revenue. After questions about fiscal impact and the well-plugging fund, the House adopted the Senate amendments without objection and passed HB 1370 on final passage by a vote of 89-1; the emergency clause also passed 89-1. The House then recessed, later returned for a staff appreciation and sine die-style recognition, including a tribute to long-serving bill drafter Mark Carter, and recessed again while awaiting any additional legislation from the Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Family Self-Sufficiency Program allows families using federal housing choice Section 8 vouchers to
• set financial goals and build a real pathway to meeting them by using their federally funded housing
• support as a bridge rather than... ...a real pathway to meeting them by using their federally funded
• With recent cuts to federal food access programs and to Medicare, more of our neighbors are going to
• It's the federal government's largest wealth-building program for families with low incomes.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing heard testimony on several housing bills, with much of the discussion focused on seasonal communities and funding for year-round housing in places like Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Cape Cod, and the Berkshires. Speakers supported bills including H. 4410/S. 966 and related seasonal communities legislation, which would allow local option real estate transfer fees and expand tools for towns to preserve and create affordable housing. Testimony emphasized severe housing shortages, high home prices, workforce displacement, and impacts on public safety, schools, health care, and local businesses. Many witnesses said the transfer fee would provide a sustainable local revenue stream, citing prior land bank models on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard as proof the approach can work. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3989 regarding seasonal community designation, with supporters arguing that towns should be included automatically or through a simpler opt-in process, and on H. 4568 to expand the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which would broaden access to a federal voucher-based savings and self-sufficiency model. Senator Edwards testified in support of a bill to create training for municipal board members, describing it as a toolkit to improve informed local decision-making. Senator O’Connor testified for a bed bug bill, saying it would create clearer landlord and tenant notification and treatment requirements and provide needed legal guidance after his family’s experience with an infestation. Senator Lovely also testified for the Homeworks program, which provides transportation so homeless children in motels and shelters can attend after-school activities. The committee further heard testimony on a bill to fund housing in seasonal communities through a transfer fee and on a companion measure to expand the seasonal communities toolkit, with repeated calls for favorable reports. Witnesses from public safety, health care, housing nonprofits, schools, and local government described staffing shortages and housing insecurity as urgent problems. Later, the committee took testimony on H. 1559/S. 102 to maintain stable housing for families with pets, with animal welfare groups supporting protections against eviction, breed discrimination, and excessive pet rent. They said housing-related pet surrenders are a major driver of shelter intake. The hearing also included testimony on H. 1498 to limit criminalization of homelessness, which would restrict citations, fines, and related consequences for outdoor camping tied solely to homelessness.

Transcript Highlights:

• HIDTA funding increases would be a significant help.
• It's not a fully funded program.
• My HIDTA program is funded at about one-sixth of the costs that we put into it, and mostly it's subsidized
• The HIDTA funding doesn't fully fund the HIDTA programs; it offsets those contributions from locals.
• Same planes: federal agency to federal agency, state to state, local to local, and have a more intentional

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, with various levels of funding. To begin with, we did that with federal funding.
• begin with, we did that with federal begin with, we did that with federal funding. funding. funding
• Um, you know, in essence we buy down down down um um um program might allow an employer to pay the fund
• Um, you know, in essence we buy down down down um um um program might allow an employer to pay the fund
• might allow an employer to pay program might allow an employer to pay the<02:38:05.120> fund<

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• is not publicly funded.
• It's a great program.
• That's exactly right, on outcomes-based funding. Outcomes-based funding.
• First, undocumented and liminal status students are already excluded from federal aid programs.
• These students get no federal aid. They're not allowed to get federal loans.

Bills: SB1798, SB1835, SB1319, SB2942, SB2928, SB784, SB1049

Keywords: higher education, tuition rates, financial support, immigration status, Texas law, SB 1835, resident tuition, nonresident students, scholarship students, public higher education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Education Code Section 54.213, tuition waiver, in-state tuition, out-of-state students, higher education finance, enrollment cap, capacity limit, workforce development area, nonimmigrant visa

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a net-neutral program in terms of state funding.
• The program will help draw down additional federal money to help keep Minnesota hospitals financially
• This is a net-neutral program in terms of state funding.
• The program will help draw down additional federal money to help keep Minnesota hospitals financially
• federal approval for that? Chair Berman. federal approval for that? Chair Berman.

Bills: HF2436, HF2435

Keywords: child welfare, economic assistance, child care, grant program, video security cameras, healthcare, dementia services, public health funding, opioid prevention, women's health, community health boards, mental health, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, yourself, by a directive to review the federal rural health transformation program and to recommend
• The program received a $50 billion appropriation to be distributed over five years, and 50% of that funding
• funding.
• Incentives, similar to the Rural Tech Catalyst Fund, may not exceed 10% of funding.
• Any funds not obligated or spent by the deadlines go back to the federal government.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: Legislative Management met with a quorum, approved the July 11, 2025 minutes, and then considered recommendations from the Legislative Procedures and Arrangements Committee. Beth Dittes explained proposed special session rule changes, which largely mirror prior special session rules and are intended to speed floor action. The changes would allow faster second readings and transmission between chambers, replace regular standing committees with two joint committees for the special session—Joint Appropriations and Joint Policy—and limit bill introduction methods. The package also included delayed-effective-date changes for the next regular session, such as moving the agency and Supreme Court prefile deadline earlier and advancing several resolution deadlines. Liz Fordall then reviewed revisions to the legislative workplace harassment policy, including clarified definitions, longer intake and review deadlines, an option for informal resolution before a review panel, and clearer disclosure rules. The committee adopted the report and forwarded the rules and policy changes. The committee also approved tentative first-day special session agendas for both chambers, with a Speaker-requested revision to allow time to swear in new House members. Megan Gordon outlined the schedule: early Rules Committee meetings, morning floor sessions, a joint session for the governor’s State of the State, then meetings of the joint appropriations and policy committees, with optional later floor and committee time. Members discussed how the joint committees would handle bills and confirmed the process would mirror the prior special session. The agendas were adopted. Chairman Bekkedahl then reported for the Rural Health Transformation Committee, which had completed its work and recommended five bill drafts for the special session: a Presidential Physical Fitness Test requirement for schools, a nutrition component for physician continuing education, joining a physician assistant licensure compact, expanding pharmacist scope for lab testing and prescribing, and a two-year appropriations bill to cover the program through the next regular session. He explained the federal rural health transformation grant, the state’s application, funding restrictions, and the need to keep the bills aligned with CMS requirements to avoid funding reductions or clawbacks. DHS officials said the department would measure outcomes through required metrics, use templates for awards, and set up an Office of Health Transformation to track long-term impacts. The committee adopted the rural health report and forwarded the bills. Finally, members discussed special-session logistics. Legislative staff said employment committees would approve a limited number of staff, Legislative Management would serve as the delayed-bills committee, and a letter would be sent to legislators explaining the process and a suggested Friday noon drafting deadline for bills to be considered at the January 20 meeting. The committee also discussed how many bills might be introduced and how to assign the rural health bills to the House or Senate for origin. No formal vote was taken on those logistics, and the meeting adjourned with plans to reconvene on January 20.

Transcript Highlights:

• The National Guard, the New Mexico National Guard, is a state asset that's funded by the federal government
• to train for a federal mission.
• a federal asset?
• Them into federal assets for federal missions that are not at all clear.
• law or federal regulations.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs statewide.
• still apply for federal funding.
• for this essential it provides funding for this essential program.<00:44:36.720> Um,<00:44:37.200
• <01:14:28.719> funding<01:14:29.120> per anticipated loss of federal funding per anticipated
• loss of federal funding per p<01:14:29.760> fiscal<01:14:30.239> year<01:14:30.560>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee met on March 20, 2025, to hear a series of Human Services and Health resolutions. HCR 146, which asks the Department of Human Services to apply for and implement the Elderly Simplified Application Project, drew strong support from disability, public health, and hunger advocates. Testifiers emphasized that the measure could create a more uniform benefits application, reduce repeated paperwork, extend certification periods from one year to three years, and ease burdens on both applicants and DHS staff. DHS said it stood on its written testimony and was available for questions. The committee also heard that a universal application could help people with disabilities avoid delays and denials caused by complex or duplicative forms. The committee then heard HR 170/HCR 174, which requests review of Aloha-based learning programs for youth in the juvenile legal system. Supporters from Opportunity for Youth Action Hawaii and DebtFree Justice Hawaii said the resolution would help advance restorative justice, community service, and culturally grounded rehabilitation, especially if youth fees and fines are reduced or eliminated. Testimony also supported HR 133/HCR 139, which asks the Office of Wellness and Resilience to report on the developmental needs of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic. Witnesses from the developmental disabilities council, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, the Hawaii Community Foundation, and others said the pandemic’s trauma and behavioral impacts justify a multidisciplinary, evidence-based report, and the office requested more time to complete its findings, suggesting a deadline at the end of 2026. The committee also heard HR 88/HCR 92, proposing a two-year homelessness sanctuary pilot program in Honolulu. One testifier described sleeping in a car and said the pilot could provide a safer option, while the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions said it supported the intent but stressed that a sanctuary is still an unsheltered situation and should lead people toward permanent housing. HCR 180, calling for collaboration among homelessness and law enforcement agencies, received comments that many of the issues are already being addressed locally. HR 103/HCR 107, which would convene a working group to strengthen Title 9 protections, received support from education, women’s, and LGBTQ advocates, who asked for student and queer representation on the working group and said federal Title 9 changes make state action important. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the committee moved from one resolution to the next after testimony and questions.