Transcript Highlights:

• , which increases participation in the programs... ...school meal programs appeal to a wider variety
• But this fund... ...and meal reimbursement program for plant-based entrees.
• We were glad to see the kit funds in the most recent budget, albeit at a lower funding level than what
• that help fund that.
• that help fund that.

Summary: The Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation held its second informational hearing at UCLA, focusing on California’s alternative protein sector and the role of public institutions in expanding plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated protein options. Chair Ash Kalra opened by highlighting prior state investments in UC research centers, the importance of student engagement, and the hearing’s three panels: reducing the carbon footprint of institutional meals, addressing market challenges to scaling alternative proteins, and advancing future food research and workforce development. Assemblymember Isaac Bryan also briefly praised the committee’s work and its relevance to climate and health goals. The first panel featured Friends of the Earth, UCLA Dining, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Megan Jones described California school food efforts, including technical assistance and microgrants that helped districts expand plant-based meals, reduce water and carbon footprints, and improve student satisfaction. Pete Angelese explained how UCLA Dining uses concept-driven venues, sustainable purchasing, and marketing nudges to increase plant-forward choices, while Dr. Michelle Wood outlined Los Angeles County’s 2024–2025 board motions to expand plant-based options in county food venues and programs, including joining the World Resources Institute’s Cool Food Pledge. Committee members asked about costs, procurement, and how student and consumer behavior can be influenced. The second panel addressed market barriers to scaling alternative proteins. Zach Weston and Daniel Gertner emphasized that the sector faces a cost-and-scale trap, high capital needs, and financing gaps, and they recommended grants, tax credits, loan guarantees, procurement commitments, and workforce development. T.K. Pillen of Beyond Meat argued that the category has faced a recent downturn due to consumer skepticism, industry attacks on “fake meat,” and pricing pressures, and said the key to renewed growth is increasing demand through better taste, health, pricing, and messaging around “plant protein.” Panelists also discussed hidden subsidies and structural advantages for conventional animal agriculture, and committee members raised questions about iBank loan guarantees and supply chain challenges. The final panel highlighted UCLA’s research and training efforts. Dr. Amy Roet described the Future Food Fellows program, which trains students across disciplines in science, communication, leadership, and community-building, and supports research on scalable, safe, and nutritious alternative proteins. Corinne Smith shared her cultivated meat research and student leadership in the Alternative Proteins Project at UCLA. Dr. Janet Tomiyama presented consumer psychology findings showing that disgust, gender norms, and terminology strongly affect acceptance, with “plant protein” and “complementary proteins” testing better than “fake meat.” The hearing concluded with support for continued public investment, clearer messaging, and expanded education and workforce pipelines to help California remain a leader in alternative protein innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• position is created and funded. position is created and funded.
• I’m not familiar with this program. What do these grants fund?
• How is there any other funding for this program?" The witness responded, "Yes.
• Um, so from the very beginning, this program has been funded through private support and foundations.
• The witness explained that the program has been funded through private support and foundations.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 219, which would revise the renewable portfolio standard. Representative Bose explained that the bill would modify class one definitions, eliminate class two, reduce the utility obligation for class one thermal renewable energy certificates from 2.2% to 1.7%, and adjust alternative compliance payments for classes one, three, and four. He said the changes were intended to save ratepayers an estimated $5.7 million annually, would not materially harm the renewable portfolio standard, and would have little effect on class two because that market is already saturated. Members questioned the impact on consumers, the state budget, and the renewable energy fund; Bose said the fund had already been redirected in the state budget, and another member noted an amended fiscal note showing a $1.2 million reduction in general fund revenue. The committee also discussed the bill’s history, including that it had been added to HB 2 and later removed by the Senate, and Bose said the Senate’s eventual action was hard to predict. The committee then heard House Bill 164 on local records retention from Secretary of State David Scanlan. He said the long-standing local records manager position had never been funded, but that the need for it had grown as towns increasingly digitize records and must ensure accessibility, including ADA compliance. He described the bill as a way to provide state support and expertise to municipalities, especially smaller towns with limited resources, and said the fiscal note for hiring the position remained accurate, though broader website and storage costs could rise over time. Members asked about retrieving lost records, the cost of a public website, and whether records should remain local or be stored at the state level; Scanlan said the state would serve as a resource rather than take control of local records. Finally, the committee began work on House Bill 365, also with Secretary Scanlan, concerning proof of U.S. citizenship for indigent voters. He said the bill would help voters who may lack required documents under the new voter registration law by allowing the state to verify qualifications through federal, private, or other state databases and by providing vouchers to cover the cost of obtaining documents such as birth certificates. He compared the proposal to earlier voter ID accommodations and said the goal was to help qualified voters meet the new requirements without weakening them. Members raised questions about defining “indigent,” how out-of-state birth records would be handled, and the practicality of the verification process; Scanlan said the term would likely need further discussion and that the state would try to assist voters before election day whenever possible.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I look forward to expanding arts funding, tourism funding, economic development and all the rest.
• it's General Revenue State Trust fund or federal funds.
• Page 3 has a 5 year agency funding history also broken down by general revenue and trust funds.
• work program.
• So one is the aggregate grant program.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a much bigger program. This program is small; it's limited to $6 million.
• It's a much bigger program. This program is small; it's limited to $6 million.
• It's a much bigger program. This program is small; it's limited to $6 million.
• to provide aid to some of these programs outside of the EFA program itself.
• But for using the State funds that are provided under the EFA program, it would be capped at 10,000 students

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We did in the previous year, and those funds went to programs that specifically serve youth.
• To date, 41 states dedicate funding to these programs.
• To date, 41 states dedicate funding to these programs.
• To date, 41 states dedicate funding to these programs.
• To date, 41 states dedicate funding to these programs.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Now that we have delays in the federal KWF program and reductions in other programs at the federal level
• This program is designed as a grant program.
• So, as you noted, the Distressed Hospital Loan Program, that is a loan program.
• So that would be part of any grant program or any kind of program that we would want to put together
• Loan Program was a $300 million loan program over four years for 16 hospitals.

Summary: The committee heard AB 108, a budget bill junior that would amend the 2025 Budget Act to create a one-time $25 million General Fund grant program at HCAI for hospitals in immediate and significant financial distress. The bill also included a technical change related to property tax deferments for eligible low-income seniors. Finance explained that eligible hospitals would have to be not-for-profit, have less than 10 days cash on hand, show best efforts to exhaust other financing, and have a payer mix of more than 50% government payers and uninsured patients; the bill also gives HCAI expedited contracting and rulemaking authority. Members and the LAO noted the proposal is intended as a short-term bridge until July 1, while broader hospital support is expected in the May Revision and next year’s budget. Much of the discussion focused on whether $25 million is enough, how many hospitals would qualify, and whether the 10-day cash threshold is too narrow. Several senators argued the administration had not provided enough data or a clear methodology, and raised concerns about fairness compared with the earlier Distressed Hospital Loan Program, which used broader criteria and provided loans rather than grants. Members also raised broader policy issues affecting hospital finances, including Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, seismic retrofit costs, federal funding changes, and the need for better data and more immediate assessment of hospital distress. The LAO said the current proposal is narrower than the prior loan program and emphasized the need for better reporting and analysis going forward. Public commenters, including the California Hospital Association, district hospital representatives, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and county officials, supported the bill and urged additional longer-term funding for distressed hospitals. The chair and several members said the bill is a short-term emergency measure for a small number of hospitals at risk of imminent closure, while broader solutions will be addressed later in the budget process. AB 108 was then moved and passed out of committee on an 18-0 vote, with the roll held open briefly to secure remaining votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• What is the total of funds in this program? Is it what's showing on? Is it what's showing on?
• This program was generously funded during the 88th Texas Legislature.
• Additionally, at the state level, we have resources like the Skills Development Fund program.
• alone for each one of those funded programs.
• is the entirely federally funded and administered program for the elderly.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• expenses is one of the ways that states draw down additional federal funds and finance the program,
• the program and your share of program the program and your share of program expenses<00:10:15.440
• <00:10:20.720> and<00:10:20.959> that funds and finance the program and that funds
• funds.
• funds? funds?

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met and approved the minutes from its August 27 meeting. It then received a presentation from Katherine Castanza of the National Conference of State Legislators on the Medicaid provisions in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill, referred to as HR1. She explained that the bill is estimated by CBO to save the federal government $911 billion over 10 years, with more than 20 Medicaid-specific provisions, most of the savings concentrated in five policies and largely backloaded into 2030-2034. She emphasized that the bill’s effects will vary by state, but that expansion states and hospitals are expected to be most affected, in part because of changes to eligibility, provider taxes, and state-directed payments. Castanza highlighted several new funding and flexibility provisions, including a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund for 2026-2030 and a new home- and community-based services waiver option effective July 1, 2028, with $100 million in grants in fiscal year 2027. She also outlined major eligibility changes for Medicaid expansion adults: work or community engagement requirements effective January 1, 2027; twice-yearly redeterminations for the expansion population effective the same date; and new cost sharing for certain expansion adults effective October 1, 2028. She noted that Kentucky, as an expansion state, would be subject to these changes and that state agencies would face significant implementation demands, especially because federal guidance and timelines are tight. A substantial portion of the presentation focused on financing changes. Castanza described new limits on provider taxes, including a 0% safe harbor for new taxes and a phased reduction for existing taxes in expansion states beginning in 2028, while nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities are exempt from the reduction if already taxed. She also explained that state-directed payments will be capped and phased down over time, with existing arrangements grandfathered only briefly; she said Kentucky has 11 approved state-directed payments and could see significant fiscal effects. She added that the bill also bars Medicaid payments to Planned Parenthood or similarly situated providers for one year, changes immigrant eligibility rules effective October 1, 2026, lowers the federal match for certain emergency services, and expands the scope of the federal erroneous payment recoupment provision effective October 1, 2029. Throughout, she stressed that federal savings may translate into state cost shifts and that implementation timing will be critical.

Transcript Highlights:

• : this was a program that took $24 million in general funds and distributed that to ambulance services
• <00:17:38.840> to kind of allocating some other funds to kind of allocating some other funds
• that took $24 million in was a program that took $24 million in general<00:18:21.880> funds<00
• So what was funded?
• We're grateful for that funding.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee met on February 6, 2025, for an update on emergency medical services (EMS) policy and implementation. Senator Seberger described the work of the EMS Task Force, which traveled statewide to hear concerns from providers about staffing, reimbursement, and retention. She said the task force led to the Sprint Medic model and two innovation zones in Otter Tail and St. Louis counties, and she urged continued monitoring and possible reconstitution of the task force to evaluate what is working and what could be expanded statewide. She also said future EMS work should continue to explore alternative response models and telemedicine, but that the most immediate need is additional funding, especially to address unpaid non-transport calls. Dylan Ferguson, director of the newly formed Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services, gave a detailed update on the office’s structure and priorities after the transition from the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board. He described the office’s three divisions, the appointment of deputy directors, the first meetings of the advisory councils, and work on a statewide EMS strategic plan. He also reviewed the $24 million emergency ambulance aid program, explaining its 40-40-20 formula, the emphasis on rural services, the reporting and spending deadlines, and the positive response from ambulance providers. He noted that the $6 million Sprint paramedic grant program is underway, with Otter Tail County moving forward and St. Louis County still finalizing its application. Ferguson also outlined the office’s budget request for modest staffing and contract-cost increases, two rulemaking efforts to update outdated ambulance vehicle standards and expand medication options for basic life support services, and ongoing data collection on workforce needs, violence against EMS providers, and ambulance crashes. He highlighted the paramedic scholarship program administered by the Office of Higher Education, saying nearly 300 scholarships have been awarded. Members and Senator Seberger praised the EMS reforms and emphasized that non-transport calls create significant unreimbursed costs, especially for rural and volunteer services, but no votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• this backs stop using adequacy funds. this backs stop using adequacy funds.
• So you could get up to 75% of your district's adequacy funds, not of the total fund.
• , not of the district's adequacy funds, not of the total<00:13:38.639> fund.
• also also run by public to a program also also run by public funds<00:27:37.760> that<00:27:38.159
• The pro the the program is already open. The pro the the program is already open.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There was historic funding for the positive alternative grants program prior to 2023.
• c> to grant program to provide funding to grant program to provide funding to Pregnancy<00:16:14.319
• This funding allowed us to offer critical programs, including our car seat program, which ensured every
• This funding allowed us to offer critical programs, including our car seat program, which ensured every
• This funding allowed us to offer critical programs, including our car seat program, which ensured every

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Both agencies work together to administer the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program.
• And our program is modeled over the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which is kind of the wastewater
• And we do provide quite a bit of co-funding with the Department of Water Resources Cost Share Program
• Funding for the program comes from several different sources.
• Since the beginning of the program, the requirement to provide funding for disadvantaged communities

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met to receive interim status updates on several water-related studies and Department of Water Resources projects. The committee approved the March 26, 2026 minutes, observed a moment of silence for the late Representative Conmy, and then heard updates on the watershed management study and the stormwater/wastewater study. Staff reported that the committee had already received the testimony contemplated in the study plans, including input from state agencies, local governments, and out-of-state entities, and that any further action would be at the committee’s discretion. The Department of Water Resources then provided project and budget updates on NAWS and the Southwest Pipeline Project. Reese reported NAWS is expected to serve about 81,000 users, with a total projected cost of about $571 million and about $96 million remaining, while the Southwest Pipeline Project is estimated at $1.06 billion total with about $409 million remaining. Members asked about funding sources, capacity needs, and whether current and future construction is being designed for increased demand; department staff said current work is designed for ultimate capacity, but some future components may need redesign based on new requests. The committee also discussed local cost shares, Minot’s role in NAWS funding, and whether the system is adequate for peak demand. A major portion of the meeting focused on the department’s cash management, carryover, and long-term water funding outlook. The department said Resources Trust Fund revenues are tied to oil extraction taxes and are affected by stripper well exemptions and future oil price declines. Members expressed concern about large carryover balances and whether the state is obligating more money than can realistically be spent in a biennium. The department reported about $340.6 million in remaining carryover and said it is trying to reduce that through a two-tier pre-construction/construction process and closer project vetting. The department also summarized the Deloitte studies on regional governance and finance and on cost-share policy. Stakeholders generally favored keeping the current governance structures for NAWS and Southwest with improvements, while Red River stakeholders leaned toward a different option; the department said it will bring an implementation plan back in September. On cost share, Deloitte’s recommendations would reduce some percentages, prioritize projects differently, and use other measures to close a projected long-term funding gap. Members debated affordability, local burden, deferred maintenance, and whether statutory changes may be needed to allow the commission more flexibility in prioritizing and funding projects. No formal votes or final actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving the updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the state is going to come up with more of the portion for funding. Funding that project.
• We do have an award program through the.
• So, is it the FMR program, or is it a different program?
• That pilot program was short-lived.
• What do we want this program to meet?

Transcript Highlights:

• from state funds.
• Our state mandates where we provide the funding, but there's no... cost there for this type of program
• The OBBB at OBBA created a national $50 billion fund called the Rural Health Transformation Program.
• Who is funding it?
• The only enterprise fund that had a capital improvement program is our airport, and that's why we were

Bills: HB26, HB73, SB 14, HB46

Keywords: HB26, law enforcement contracts, sheriff, constable, county commissioners court, commissioners court, private security, special law enforcement district, property owners association, POA, municipal utility district, school district, junior college district, local government, contract policing, supplemental police services, large counties, population over 3.3 million, Texas Local Government Code, Harris County

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows our state to adequately fund our state staff that are entrusted with program administration
• It allows our state to adequately fund our state staff that are entrusted with program administration
• It allows our state to adequately fund our state staff that are entrusted with program administration
• And and this program is program.
• . fund. fund.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• That program ran for several years, and I think it was one of the very first things we actually funded
• That program ran for several years, and I think it was one of the very first things we actually funded
• This program is called the Grant-in-Aid program.
• funding.
• programs so the state special funding programs so the state special funding the<01:42:31.920>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• and funds.
• Meg mentioned the City Connect program, which is a social work program, so that position that we funded
• Meg mentioned the City Connect program, which is a social work program, so that position that we funded
• Meg mentioned the City Connect program, which is a social work program, so that position that we funded
• Meg mentioned the City Connect program, which is a social work program, so that position that we funded

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met on February 5, 2025, to hear testimony from representatives of Minnesota’s Catholic and other nonpublic schools, focused on state nonpublic pupil aid, transportation, counseling, nursing, and related support programs. Meg Forette of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis argued that Catholic schools serve more than 30,000 students across many districts, educate a diverse population, and achieve strong academic results while operating at far lower per-student costs than public schools. She urged lawmakers to reject proposed cuts to nonpublic funding, saying they would be inequitable and harmful to lower-income families, and also raised concerns about state teacher-licensing requirements conflicting with Catholic values. Trisha Menshu, principal of St. John Paul II Catholic School in Northeast Minneapolis, described a student body with high levels of poverty, learning needs, and academic gaps, and said state-funded nurse and guidance-counseling services are essential to keeping students safe, healthy, and on track for high school. She said the school absorbs many costs itself, including medical supplies and significant staff time, and credited the support programs with helping students make strong academic growth and graduate on time. In response to a senator’s question, she clarified that the school uses the nursing aid for limited nurse time and pays other medical-related costs from operating funds, with no billing back to public school districts. Committee members asked follow-up questions about the relationship between teacher licensing and Catholic values, and about how medical needs for nonpublic students are funded. Forette said the concern was not with welcoming all students but with how DEI-related trainings and language are presented in ways that conflict with Catholic teaching. The committee then moved on to the next testifier, Andrew Hiliker of Stella Maris Academy in Duluth, who began by describing his school’s growth and the state’s role in supporting all students, regardless of school choice.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:59.799> you in federal fund funding and so if you in federal fund funding and so if
• But on TFAP, you're a part of that program, which you get federal funds, then you cannot turn down anyone
• which you get part of that program which you get Federal<00:24:06.559> F<00:24:06.799> funds
• the program and get received<00:25:27.039> F<00:25:27.480> Federal<00:25:27.760> funding
• Um, again, this is about a regional food bank grant program. Regional Food Bank grant program.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• are also eligible for access to funds from the certified sites and development readiness program.
• Engrossed House Bill 4626, relating to the establishment of a grant program to fund the United States
• The purpose of this bill is to establish a grant program to fund the United States Food and Drug Administration's
• The program will provide grant funding to employers in the state to be used to afford students aged 14
• Funding for this program would come from existing money in the medical cannabis fund dispersed through

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Residency programs that post medical school are funded by Medicaid and Medicare majorly.
• And this is one of the larger payments that provides funding for residency programs.
• For the Linkages Program, it's 100 percent state-funded, general fund, and we have a lot fewer strings
• Program descriptions are provided. Here, funding over the years and the numbers served.
• So if we use 100% state funds, like in the Linkages Program. programs, then we can help people who are