Transcript Highlights:

• Every PBS affiliate in the country has a foundation that goes along with it. We have one here.
• You know, we're all familiar with Game and Fish and the Game and Fish Foundation.
• There's Arkansas TV and the Arkansas TV Foundation.
• The foundation has created a separate line item to give to PBS about six or so weeks ago.
• Yeah, the foundation. You're saying we don't know if they will.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Keith Mahoney from the Boston Foundation, he's also on his way. Thank you. Good to see you, Sam.
• I'm... ...Foundation. He's on his way. He is also on his way. Thank you. Good to see you, Sam.
• Alliance, and Ron Dorsey from the Eastern Bank Foundation.
• Alliance, and Ron Dorsey from the Eastern Bank Foundation.
• I'm Vice President of the Boston Foundation.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held its final hearing of the session on H. 5187 and S. 3022, the Enough Act, with Chair Andy Vargas and Senator Adam Gomez opening by thanking committee members and stakeholders for their work during the session. The bills were described as a grant-based, place-based anti-poverty initiative intended to support cradle-to-career services by funding local nonprofits, schools, community organizations, and backbone entities that can coordinate housing, education, health, workforce, and family supports in high-poverty neighborhoods. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support of the bills. Speakers including Strategies for Children, Chelsea Public Schools, Bunker Hill Community College, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, Rep. Antonio Cabral, the Harlem Children’s Zone’s Kwame Owusu Kesse and Jeffrey Canada, former Education Secretary Paul Reville, AFT Massachusetts, United Way, the Boston Foundation, Give Black Alliance, Eastern Bank Foundation, and others argued that poverty is a systems issue that schools alone cannot solve. They emphasized the need for local control, community voice, coordinated services, and long-term public-private investment, often citing examples from Chelsea, New Bedford, Springfield, Lowell, Boston, and other communities, as well as the Harlem Children’s Zone and Maryland’s similar model. Committee members asked several questions about how the bill would function in practice, including what organizations would do on day one, how it would interact with existing efforts like community schools, McKinney-Vento, and the Student Opportunity Act, and how it would be sustained over time. Witnesses said the act would help create or strengthen backbone organizations, reduce duplication, align existing resources, and leverage philanthropy and future revenue sources for long-term sustainability. No vote was taken during the hearing, but multiple speakers urged the committee to report the bill favorably and quickly.

Transcript Highlights:

• These suggestions came in through Neighborhood Development Center as well as Initiative Foundation.
• These suggestions came in through Neighborhood Development Center as well as Initiative Foundation.
• 90 on line 92 for North Foundations 90 on line 92 for North Minneapolis,<00:19:20.880> South<
• 200,000 Jobs Foundation 200,000 Jobs Foundation 250,000<00:24:57.360> City<00:24:57.520><
• Sana Foundation 1.5 million. 250,000. Sana Foundation 1.5 million.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So on line 25 of the bill, it also talks about a foundational agricultural nature of golf courses.
• So on line 25 of the bill, it also talks about a foundational agricultural nature.
• It also talks about a foundational agricultural nature of golf courses.
• Serving as the foundation of the Florida Park Service's mission to provide resource-based recreation
• State park unit management plans serve as the foundation for all planning, improvement, and management

Summary: The Committee on Environment and Natural Resources heard and approved several bills. SB 636 by Sen. Leek would create additional pathways for counties and municipalities to obtain critically eroded beach or area of critical state concern designations, with the sponsor and supporters describing it as a forward-looking beach management approach that could improve access to state and federal funding. Questions focused on whether the bill imposed an unfunded mandate and how it would affect existing designations; the sponsor said it was voluntary and not retroactive. Pepper Uchino of the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association supported the proactive concept but stressed that funding remains the central issue. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also considered CS/SB 544 by Sen. Truenow, which transfers the Golf Course Best Management Practices Certification Program from DEP to FDACS. The sponsor said the move would improve continuity and encourage more golf courses to enroll in BMPs, while maintaining existing environmental requirements and enforcement through DEP if problems arise. Senator Smith and an opponent from the Florida Springs Council questioned whether golf courses are truly agricultural and raised concerns about water quality protections and possible tax or land-use implications; supporters from the Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association said the bill does not change taxation or existing nutrient reporting requirements. After a technical amendment, the bill was reported favorably, with Senator Smith voting no. CS/SB 848 by Sen. Truenow, dealing with stormwater treatment and water quality enhancement areas, was also amended and reported favorably. The sponsor said the bill clarifies the difference between permanent, secured water quality credits and stormwater allocations, and the amendment would allow WQEAs to address new stormwater rule requirements until rulemaking is complete and make public-land reviews forward-looking only. A representative of Resource Environmental Solutions supported the measure and said it would help create a reliable market for water quality credits. The committee then approved CS/SB 546 by Vice Chair Mayfield, which strengthens public notice requirements for the sale or exchange of state conservation lands and extends similar notice requirements to water management districts; conservation groups and Sen. Smith supported the bill as a transparency measure. Finally, DEP presented its State Park Amenities Report, estimating nearly $759 million in repair and maintenance needs over 10 years and $1.39 billion in contemplated new construction and development across the state park system. The committee took no further action and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are the foundation of safety and a thriving society. They deserve our respect.
• alongside the foundational documents that helped form this country.
• We have missed the mark because so many don't have this foundation.
• I know exactly what I mean by foundational document.
• doctrines they have. whatever foundational doctrines they have.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the CEO of the Sanaa Foundation, and thank you, Senator Pappas, for your support.
• So we have about 40% come from foundations.
• Now, when it's about foundations, you also have to keep in mind that unless a foundation allows you to
• now when it's about uh foundations now when it's about uh foundations<01:09:03.040> you<01:09
• 07.120> allows mind that uh unless a foundation allows mind that uh unless a foundation allows

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tom Yamamaica from Tax Foundation.
• Tom Yamamaica from Tax Foundation. Tom Yamamaica from Tax Foundation.
• Yamachica from Tax Foundation. Yamachica from Tax Foundation.
• Tom Yamachica from Tax Foundation.
• cultural foundation. cultural foundation.

Bills: HB1813, HB2429, HB2423, HB1996, HB1851, HB2546, HB2028, HB2583, HB2490, HB2545, HB2114, HB1859, HB2534, HB2474, HB1863, HB2475

Keywords: taxation, general excise tax, use tax, exemptions, Hawaii Revised Statutes, tax expenditure, tax expenditure evaluation, tax credit review, tax incentive, tax exemption, use tax exemption, income tax credit, DBEDT, Department of Business Economic Development and Tourism, Department of Taxation, fiscal oversight, budget accountability, tax policy, revenue loss, public spending

Summary: The committee opened with HB 1813 on taxation and HB 2429 on tax expenditure evaluation, taking mostly written testimony and limited oral discussion. On HB 2429, the Tax Foundation and Department of Taxation raised privacy and federal-law concerns, warning that the bill could require taxpayers to file duplicative returns and could risk disclosure of federal tax information if released publicly. Members and witnesses discussed using anonymized or summary reporting instead of individual public release, with the department saying summarized data would be preferable and that the state can ask for the information as a policy matter, but individual public release could create problems. The committee then heard HB 2423 HD1 on biodiesel, where Pacific Biodiesel said it can supply all biodiesel needed for B5 in Hawaii without imports and asked to move the implementation date earlier to November 2027 to allow rollout planning. HB 1996 HB1 on hearing aids drew broad support; a disability access representative said earlier insurance-based efforts had run into administrative problems and that this bill would immediately lower costs for consumers. HB 1851 HD1, also related to hearing aids, received support from the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, while the Tax Foundation argued the program would be better funded directly rather than through the tax system, citing overhead costs and blank provisions that should be filled in before passage. On HB 2546, the research activities tax credit, HCDC said the credit supports long-term R&D and should be converted from a first-come, first-served system to proration so more applicants receive some benefit; the agency described the credit as helping companies move from idea to commercialization and noted the state is leaving potential jobs and federal dollars on the table. HB 2028 HD1, relating to Labor Day for construction workers, drew support from labor representatives who said it recognizes construction workers and helps offset cost-of-living pressures, while the Tax Foundation opposed it as an industry-specific subsidy and flagged technical issues with undefined terms and blank credit amounts. The committee also heard HB 2583, HB 2490, HB 2545, HB 2114, and HB 1859 HD1. HB 2490, concerning coastal erosion at Mokuhiki Bay, received strong support from a temple representative who described severe shoreline loss, years of temporary emergency work, and the need for a long-term, nature-based solution in coordination with state agencies. HB 2545, involving HCDC and SBIR commercialization, was supported as a way to turn R&D into economic development; HCDC said it had more applications than it could fund and that the bill could help create high-wage jobs. HB 2114, the Hawaii Benefits Hub, received comments from ETS and DHS emphasizing support for the concept but cautioning that operational, policy, cybersecurity, and data-sharing standards must be carefully aligned. HB 1859 HD1 on workforce development drew strong support from workforce and philanthropic groups, who said Hawaii faces a long-term gap between projected living-wage jobs and the number of young people entering the workforce, and argued the bill would create durable infrastructure for coordination and long-term planning. No formal votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've started a Buckaroo Foundation, to which we've already had a half a million dollars pledged to our
• foundation.
• We're going to do 10 years, so our payment's going to be a hundred thousand a year, which the foundation
• So the foundation will pay for the turf, not any funds from state or local tax dollars.
• So the foundation will pay for the turf, not any funds from state or local tax dollars.

Summary: The committee considered several waiver requests related to school and municipal projects. One school district sought a waiver so it could rebuild a high school kitchen damaged in recent winter storms as quickly as possible; members asked how many bids were obtained, and the superintendent said the insurance process produced two bids. The committee also heard a separate school-related request involving a contractor, Covington, and members asked whether the district had prior experience with the company; after brief discussion, the motion to approve passed. The committee then heard from the Smackover-Norphlet School District, which requested a waiver to use TIPS for a football field turf project after drainage failure. Superintendent Doug Smith said the project would be funded through a newly formed Buckaroo Foundation, with about $500,000 already pledged, annual payments planned over 10 years, and no state or local tax dollars intended to be used. Members questioned the use of education funds on a football field and asked how many bids were received; Smith said there were three bids. The committee approved the request. Finally, the committee considered a waiver tied to legislation encouraging municipal governments to move to .gov domains. Representative Jack Ladyman presented for Jonesboro after a Teams connection failed, explaining that the city would use a .gov domain for its main website and communications but wanted an exception for billing because of the cost and possible software compatibility issues. After brief discussion, the committee approved the waiver and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• or about 3% of the district's foundation or about 3% of the district's foundation program<00:56:
• :57:20.160> is foundation program guarantee is foundation program guarantee is different<00:57
• <00:57:54.799> program policy to be the foundation program policy to be the foundation program
• <01:32:23.520> guarantee every part of foundation guarantee every part of foundation guarantee
• very foundation of what we do. very foundation of what we do.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• DeMaio, and thank you for this very long report from the Transparency Foundation.
• is a nonpartisan foundation that does not have a political agenda or a political slant?
• I think that transparency foundation has an agenda. The Transparency Foundation, I love the name.
• The Transparency Foundation, I noticed on- Wait, Mr. Berman, let's be very- Hey, Mr.
• The Transparency Foundation, please don't interrupt me.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Massachusetts Taxpayer Foundation found that roughly 74% of the increased aid from SOA went to just
• the foundation budget in all of its elements and all of its impacts.
• That's why we've spoken so often about the need for a Foundation Budget Review Commission, because we
• The Senate passed a Foundation Budget Review Commission.
• But I think we forget sometimes the foundational element of what's needed.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate first handled a House petition from John H. Rawlers and others seeking eminent domain authority for a parcel in Norwood; Joint Rule 12 was suspended and the matter was referred to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The chamber then resumed debate on the literacy bill, with Senator Tarr offering a series of amendments focused on school district funding, teacher competency, reporting, waivers, and curriculum implementation. Most of Tarr’s amendments were rejected, but one requiring written, appealable denials of district waivers was adopted by roll call, and another amendment on reporting from the Early Literacy Fund, including provisions for English language learners and special education educators, was also adopted. A separate amendment extending the timeline for DESE to publish high-quality curricula was adopted, while several other amendments were withdrawn or defeated. The Senate also considered and adopted an amendment from Senator Comerford addressing rural and regional equity in education funding. That amendment expanded eligible uses of the Early Literacy Fund to include screening assessments, required DESE to prioritize geographic and funding equity, mandated a public hearing in Western Massachusetts before final grant criteria were finalized, and directed technical assistance to rural districts. Senators from across the chamber spoke in support, emphasizing chronic underfunding, declining enrollment, minimum-aid pressures, and the need for a broader review of the Chapter 70 formula and a Foundation Budget Review Commission. The amendment passed unanimously. Later, the Senate took up an amendment from Senator Moore on children’s vision care, which would have created a registry for vision screening and expanded eye exam requirements, but it was withdrawn after supportive debate. The chamber then adopted the Ways and Means redraft, ordered the bill to third reading, and passed An Act relative to teacher preparation and student literacy to be engrossed by a unanimous roll call. Final passage was also achieved for a separate House land-taking bill allowing the town of Hingham to use municipal property for a center for active living, which passed by the required two-thirds vote and was enacted. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Monday and adjourned in memory of Donna Goldstein.

Transcript Highlights:

• It goes on to say, “The Family Foundation has not endorsed your candidacy for re-election.
• I want the Family Foundation members, the donors, and the people that I've carried your water for.
• It goes on to say, “The Family Foundation has not endorsed your candidacy for re-election.
• I want the Family Foundation members, the donors, and the people that I've carried your water for.
• I want the Family Foundation members, the donors, and the people that I've carried your water for.

Keywords: In an effort to stave off issues that may occur with long format live streams, we have split this stream into two parts., 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But also this bill is supported certainly by the American Kidney Foundation as well as Alabama Kidney
• Foundation, and so um that's kind of what it in a nutshell, and then I'll at the appropriate time. >
• > certainly by the the American Kney certainly by the the American Kney kidney<00:04:34.800> foundation
• as well as Alabama kidney foundation as well as Alabama Kidney<00:04:36.720> Foundation<00:04
• and so um that's kind Kidney Foundation and so um that's kind of<00:04:39.919> what<00:04:40.160

Bills: HB372, HB361, HB391, HB372, HB361, HB391

Keywords: Elmore County, rental tax, tax revenue, infrastructure funding, economic development, Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe, tribal police, reservation security, state-recognized tribe, law enforcement authority, certified police officer, Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission, P.O.S.T., trespass, warrantless arrest, tribal land, sovereignty, public safety, Indian tribe, reservation

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the foundation of, you know, you don't build a house without a foundation, and committee work
• is that foundation.
• This is the foundation conversations.
• > foundation.
• <00:26:05.520> Um, is that foundation. Um, is that foundation.

Bills: HF60, HF3067, HF3730, HF3638, HF3401

Keywords: interchange, bond issuance, transportation, infrastructure funding, Sherburne County, paraprofessional, paraprofessional qualifications, education support staff, teacher aide, teacher assistant, special education, Title I, federal personnel qualifications, Minnesota Department of Education, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, Read Act, reading instruction, math instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• flag, they're a very small foundation.
• The foundation staff is small but mighty, and it consists of the chief operating officer, Mr.
• That's what the foundation is doing. Then there's the Florida Health Care Association.
• Now, yes, the gas and license plate has been and is a success for the foundation.
• of the foundation.

Summary: The committee took up SB 116 by Senator Burgess, a veterans bill aimed at several FDVA-related changes. The bill would reduce annual nominations to the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame from 20 to 5, expand FDVA’s survey work to assess veterans’ awareness of available programs and their health literacy, add mental health training to the veterans suicide prevention pilot, strengthen coordination and reporting between Veterans Florida and FDVA, direct FDVA to develop a plan for adult day health care facilities statewide, and allow the Florida Veterans Foundation to use a portion of Gadsden flag plate proceeds for administrative costs. Senator Burgess said the measure builds on prior “Forward March” efforts and helps close service gaps for aging veterans and others who may not know about available benefits. Testimony on SB 116 was uniformly supportive. FDVA leadership said adult day health care could be added at existing facilities such as Port St. Lucie and Lake City, and that the state would need authority and funding to move forward. A veterans legal collaborative, AARP Florida, and Endeavors all voiced support, with speakers emphasizing the importance of better outreach, mental health awareness, and care options that allow veterans to remain at home. The committee then voted favorably on SB 116. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to agency and stakeholder presentations. Florida National Guard officials described a high operational tempo, deployments at home and abroad, hurricane response efforts, and the need to grow the force and infrastructure. FDVA’s adjutant general reported Florida now has the nation’s second-largest veteran population, rising in-migration of younger veterans, a large and aging Vietnam-era population, strong claims and outreach activity, declining veteran homelessness, and improved suicide prevention outcomes. The Florida Veterans Foundation outlined its emergency relief, dental, transportation, and license-plate-funded programs, while Veterans Florida and CareerSource Florida detailed workforce, apprenticeship, SkillBridge, entrepreneurship, and job-fair programs for veterans and spouses, along with efforts to expand recurring funding and better protect customer information.

Transcript Highlights:

• We've started a Buckaroo Foundation, to which we've already had a half a million dollars pledged to our
• foundation.
• So the foundation will pay for the turf, not any funds from state or local tax dollars to the turf.
• Most of our donors came through on that, and the ones that didn't, the foundation was able to fill the
• Most of our donors came through on that, and the ones that didn't, the foundation was able to fill the

Summary: The committee considered several waiver requests from school districts and a municipal-related waiver tied to a prior law encouraging local governments to use .gov domains. One request was to waive bidding requirements so a high school kitchen damaged in winter storms could be rebuilt quickly; members asked how many bids were received, were told the insurance provider’s process produced two bids, and then approved the waiver. Another request involved a district seeking to use Covington for work; after a brief question about prior experience with the firm, the committee approved that item as well. The committee then heard from the superintendent of Smackover North School District, who requested a waiver to use TIPS for a football field turf project because the existing drainage had collapsed. Members questioned the funding source, particularly whether education dollars would be used on a football field. The superintendent said the project was intended to be funded through a Buckaroo Foundation with about half a million dollars already pledged, additional donor support being pursued, and no state or local tax dollars planned for the turf. He also said the district had obtained three bids. The committee approved the waiver. Finally, the committee considered a waiver for Jonesboro related to the .gov domain requirement. Representative Jack Ladyman presented that the city would use .gov for its main website and communications, but wanted to keep its current billing system because converting billing would be expensive and could create software compatibility problems. After brief discussion, the committee approved the waiver. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The legislature started payments from the School Foundation Program one month sooner than the prior
• It did not include special education or any other kind of school foundation program funding, just the
• Wilmarth, uh, the reserve funds, uh, the school foundation program funds are... uh, school foundation
• Graphic from that revised school foundation program overview.
• Mineral-wealthy districts are only allowed to keep the amount of the foundation guarantee, right?

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , to the very foundations of our Constitution, and to the very foundation of the American way of life
• You can type in ‘2007 Holy Land Foundation trial.’ It’s open-source information.” “Okay.
• Foundation, okay.” “Yeah, thank you. Justice Department, all the federal websites have it.
• Raising money through the Holy Land Foundation. Okay. Mr. Chair, Mr.
• The Holy Land Foundation trial is the most recent evidence. In 2000... Mr. Chair, Mr.

Bills: HB2009, HB2022, HCM2001, HCM2002, HCM2004, HCR2001, HM2001, HM2004

Keywords: campaign contributions, foreign contributions, constitutional amendments, public disclosure, Arizona Revised Statutes, elections, voter registration, provisional ballots, primary election, voter participation, Muslim Brotherhood, terrorism, foreign terrorist organization, national security, Islamist extremism, Congress, Arizona, domestic security, CAIR, terrorist organization

Transcript Highlights:

• Tax Foundation of Hawaii with comments. Tax Foundation of Hawaii with comments.
• 28.240> on<00:16:28.480> its Foundation of Hawaii stands on its Foundation of Hawaii stands
• Tax Foundation of Hawaii with comments. Tax Foundation of Hawaii with comments.
• Tom Yamamaica from Tax Foundation.
• We'll send a written Foundation.

Bills: HB1719, HB1742, HB1737, HB2049, HB1725, HB1726, HB1738, HB1799, HB1700

Keywords: housing crisis, manufactured homes, factory-built housing, zoning, relocatable housing units, farm employee housing, agriculture, Hawaii Revised Statutes, agricultural districts, land use, regulation, renewable energy, community development, housing, affordable housing, real estate, state regulation, building codes, construction, permitting

Summary: The joint public hearing covered several housing-related bills and one building-code measure. HB 1719 would make manufactured homes a permitted use by right on residentially zoned lots in the urban district, HB 1742 would authorize self-contained relocatable housing units with restrictions, and HB 1737 would clarify that a farm dwelling in an agricultural district may include an accessory employee housing structure. Testimony on these bills was overwhelmingly supportive from groups including Hawaii Realtors, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, Housing Hawaii’s Future, the Modular Building Institute, the Hawaii Farmers Union, and others, with a few agencies offering comments. No one testified in opposition on HB 1719 or HB 1742, while HB 1737 drew one opposition and one comment in addition to broad support. No votes were taken during the hearing segment provided. A major portion of the hearing focused on HB 2049, which restructures the conveyance tax into a marginal-rate system and changes how the revenue is allocated, including funding for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and the rental housing revolving fund, while also affecting the legacy land conservation fund. Supporters, including DHHL, Hawaii Appleseed, Aahu Youth Action Board, Hawaii YIMBY, and others, argued the bill would help Native Hawaiian housing and, for most transactions, function as a tax cut. Opponents, including NAP Hawaii, Hawaii Realtors, Hawaii Land Trust, Mhai Land Trust, and the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, objected to using conveyance tax as a revenue-generating tool and raised concerns about higher upfront costs and reduced funding for other housing uses. Committee members and staff discussed the bill’s revenue estimates, the reduced percentage but higher cap for the land conservation fund, the effect on rental housing funding, and the bill’s cost-of-living adjustment language; staff said a line-by-line comparison of the current and proposed tax structure would be provided before decision-making. The hearing also took up HB 1725, which would extend the state building code adoption cycle from two years to six years, apply the IRC to triplexes and fourplexes, allow counties to adopt more or less stringent amendments, and appropriate funds for code adoption work. Most testimony supported the bill, with advocates saying the current process is unmanageable, too resource-intensive, and creates confusion because state and county codes can diverge; supporters said a longer cycle would improve clarity and allow more focused review. The International Code Council and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers opposed the measure, warning that delaying adoption could have negative consequences and urging the committee to let an existing statewide code-adoption strategy proceed first. Members asked about sequencing, county implementation, and whether the longer cycle would create catch-up problems, but no action was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• But we need to manage these next three years before the foundation formula, the governance changes, and
• It also implements a path to the FY30 foundation formula by reducing the foundation formula by reducing
• It provides a bridge to the foundation provides a bridge to the foundation formula.
• At the same time, it builds the bridge to the foundation formula that will deliver the equitable and
• The yield bill is squeezing schools at a rate faster than the timeline for the foundation formula.

Keywords: 926, house, all