Video & Transcript : 'Texas mobility fund' :

Page 171 of 500
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • and utilization of the funds, right?
  • and utilize these funding, the limited funds that we do have?
  • The limited funds that we do have.
  • The limited funds that we do have.
  • Cole Garrett: Restoration funds.
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1209, which would pause new cooperative endeavor agreements for surface water withdrawals after December 31, 2026, while allowing existing agreements to continue and renew through 2036. The author said the bill is intended to force a broader, data-driven review of Louisiana’s surface water management and to improve funding for aquatic plant control, especially giant salvinia. An amendment was adopted to broaden the description of how the aquatic plant control fund may be used and to require annual reporting on agreements, withdrawals, revenues, deposits, spending, and non-monetary consideration. Department officials said the current program is voluntary, underfunded for monitoring, and that the bill could create a gap for new users if no replacement mechanism is enacted. The bill was reported favorable as amended after testimony from supporters including the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and opposition concerns from industry representatives were noted but not formally presented. House Bill 599 was then heard, which would prohibit the sale of Louisiana running surface water outside the state. The author argued that out-of-state sales, especially involving Toledo Bend and Texas, would be short-sighted and could harm Louisiana’s long-term water interests. Supporters said Louisiana lacks a water budget and should preserve water for in-state needs, while the Department of Conservation and Energy noted that the state currently has no mandatory process for such agreements and that the bill would not affect Sabine River Authority authority. The committee reported the bill favorable. Finally, House Bill 1206, dealing with permitting and reporting of water usage at data centers, was discussed. The substitute bill and amendment would give the department authority to monitor and regulate groundwater and surface water withdrawals, require public hearings, and improve transparency through reporting and a universal project identifier. The author and supporters said the bill was prompted by concerns in communities affected by large data center projects and the lack of public hearings on water use. Department officials agreed that more comprehensive data and a clearer framework are needed, but the author voluntarily deferred the bill to continue working with the department on a broader measure for next session. The committee also heard House Bill 1171 on allowing airboats in the Mar-Paw Swamp Wildlife Management Area, but after extensive debate over noise, habitat impacts, and existing restrictions, the discussion was ongoing in the portion provided and no final action on that bill was shown.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • This is a more, it's a really important part of the mobility pattern and sort of achieving a... ...mobility
  • But all those funds look at need, not skin color.
  • So just FYI on our current resources. and fund.
  • So that's state funding. And then UC and CSU both match the funding for that program, too.
  • “So then there is funding available to sort of expand the pool of the funding that’s available.
Summary: The committee first adopted its 2025-26 rules on a 7-0 roll call, then approved three consent items—AB 88, AB 240, and AB 313—on a due-pass motion to Appropriations. The hearing then moved to AB 648, which would give community college districts the same zoning authority as the UC and CSU systems to build student and staff housing on property they own or lease. The author and supporters argued the bill would help address severe housing insecurity and homelessness among community college students, while opponents and some members raised concerns about local control, zoning exemptions, and the impact on nearby communities. AB 648 passed the committee on a 5-2 vote and was sent to the Local Government Committee. The committee next heard AB 466, which would require California Community Colleges and CSU campuses to provide organ and tissue donor registry information during student orientation, and request UC campuses to do the same. Supporters shared personal stories about transplants and donation, saying college orientation is a good opportunity to increase registrations. Some members worried about information overload during orientation and suggested campuses have flexibility in how they present the material, but the bill advanced on a unanimous 7-0 vote to Appropriations. AB 326 followed, proposing campus-by-campus external audits of the CSU every three years and public release of the audits. The author, faculty supporters, and a student argued that systemwide audits do not provide enough transparency about how money is spent at individual campuses, citing examples of financial mismanagement and fee increases. CSU opposed the bill, saying it already conducts annual consolidated external audits and that campus-level audits would add cost without added benefit. After extensive discussion about transparency, audit scope, and implementation, the bill passed 6-1 to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 335, which would create a California Black-Serving Institution Grant Program to support Black student success and broader underserved student services; supporters emphasized persistent equity gaps and low completion rates, while an opponent argued the bill needed to be carefully amended to comply with Proposition 209 and equal protection requirements. The transcript ends during that item’s discussion, before a final vote is shown.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/11/2026 - House Floor Session

Arizona House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It also prohibits facilitating access to abortion services funded with public monies, meaning taxes.
  • There are a lot of people who do not want to use their public taxes to fund abortions or fund the murder
  • It also prohibits facilitating access to abortion services funded with public monies, meaning taxes.
  • There are a lot of people who do not want to use their public taxes to fund abortions or fund murder
  • It's a very fancy funded by big tobacco and alternative products. And it's basically a tablet. it.
Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and a series of guest introductions and recognitions, including Doctor of the Day Dr. Eric Osowski, State Farm visitors, Donate Life Day participants, and representatives from Ganado and Chinle Unified School Districts. The chamber also read proclamations honoring Ganado Unified for the ASBA Golden Bell Promise Program Award and Chinle Unified for multiple academic and cultural achievements, including national recognition for Chinle Elementary School and district leadership. The body then moved through committee and floor business, including consent for the Senate to adjourn, first and second readings of several bills, and a motion to reconsider HB 2429. In Committee of the Whole, HB 2093 was amended to restore mental health instruction while removing social emotional learning, HB 2229 advanced after debate over reproductive health and abortion-related provisions, HB 2429 and HB 2950 were amended and recommended do pass, and HB 4136 also advanced as amended. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report and referred the measures to engrossing. The chamber then considered HB 4001, a bill regulating alternative nicotine products, with amendments and debate focused on licensing, enforcement, youth access, and whether to add a tax or education provisions; the bill was recommended do pass as amended. It also debated HB 4030 and the related HCR 2052, both aimed at limiting municipal tax and fee increases and allowing increases tied to inflation or new water-source costs. Amendments offered by Democrats to redirect the measures toward affordability, housing, and health insurance claims were ruled out of order or defeated on roll-call votes, while the Olson substitute amendments prevailed. The House ultimately adopted the Committee of the Whole report, sending HB 4001, HB 4030, and HCR 2052 forward as amended.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Jan 13th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm here to introduce AB 768, the mobile home double dipping bill.
  • I am proud to present AB 768, a bill to close a loophole in rent control protections for mobile home
  • 768 targets a narrow but important issue: secondary residents that take advantage of rent control mobile
  • AB 768 is a straightforward bill that still requires owners of the mobile home park to demonstrate a
  • They're mobile. They have transportation.
Summary: The Assembly Judiciary Committee heard several housing- and courts-related bills. AB 768, by Assemblymember Avila Farias, would close a loophole in mobile home rent control by excluding homes not used as permanent residences, such as vacation or short-term rental use. Supporters said it would preserve affordability for full-time residents while preventing wealthy second-home owners from benefiting from rent control; a nonprofit housing operator asked for a technical amendment to avoid conflicts with tax-exempt bond restrictions. The bill was moved and passed as amended. AB 1359, by Assemblymember Arambula, would let people age 80 and older request a permanent jury-service excuse without providing a doctor’s note. Supporters from the California Senior Legislature said the current medical-note requirement is burdensome and unnecessary, while some members raised concerns about reducing older adults’ participation on juries and suggested the exemption should be more flexible or reversible. After discussion, the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 1406, by Assemblymember Ward, would raise the cap on liquidated damages in new condominium pre-sale contracts from 3% to 10% to help developers finance condo projects and increase for-sale housing production. Developers and housing advocates argued the change would improve financing and make more condos feasible, while realtors and consumer advocates warned it would shift too much risk onto buyers, especially first-time homebuyers. Committee members expressed mixed views and asked for stronger consumer protections; the author said he was open to further amendments, and the bill was held open with the roll call not fully completed in the excerpt. The committee also began hearing AB 1157, by Chair Kalra, which would lower and make permanent the rent cap under the Tenant Protection Act and extend protections to single-family home renters, but the transcript excerpt mainly captures extensive public support testimony and the author’s opening presentation, with no final vote shown.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • HCR40 is a formal declaration from the Texas Legislature.
  • For many years, the state of Texas has invested Texas taxpayer funds to secure water and, quite frankly
  • And it's just us in an attempt to do what we had to do for Texas.
  • I'm a captain with the Texas Department.
  • Probably daily in the state of Texas.
Bills: HCR40 , HB214 , HB214
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session 5/6/26 - Part 2

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It stops the funding at the courthouse is it stops the funding at the Capitol complex and across the
  • Again, your amendment guts judicial security; it guts BCA funding; it guts the DPS deficiency funding
  • They would remove that funding.
  • We very proudly, in a bipartisan way, passed a voter fund and the vote fund.
  • We very proudly in a bipartisan way pasta voter fund and the vote fund.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 1 - 03/19/26

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • As you know, we're not funding of it.
  • </c><01:19:43.440><c> for</c> did pass a a a package and funding for did pass a a a package and funding
  • </c><03:09:53.359><c> home</c> in here, the idea that mobile home in here, the idea that mobile home
  • </c> of life issues for residents in mobile of life issues for residents in mobile home<03:33:51.840>
  • </c><03:37:44.800><c> home</c> the direction of their mobile home the direction of their mobile home
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Special Committee on Tourism Mar 11th, 2026

Special Committee on Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • You can see Texas is really the only border state where we market, where we get...
  • The cooperative marketing program also manages the Meet in Missouri Fund.
  • Some funding that does flow through our division. Okay.
  • So that cooperative marketing program is, again, that matching funds program that we administer.
  • And as I gave a couple of examples, when there's a qualified project, we can fund, we provide funding
Summary: The Special Committee on Tourism met in executive session and approved three House bills: HB 2307, designating Missouri Military Academy as the official military academy of Missouri, passed 10-0; HB 3264, designating Kansas City as the barbecue capital of Missouri, passed 10-0; HB 1960, naming the smooth chanterelle the official state mushroom, passed 9-1; and HB 3074, establishing William Lacey Clay Senior Day in Missouri, passed 10-0. After the executive session, the committee opened a public hearing on HCR 36, which would designate June 3 as Josephine Baker Day in Missouri. The sponsor and a witness described Baker’s St. Louis roots, international entertainment career, service in the French Resistance, civil rights work, and her significance to Missouri heritage and tourism. Committee members voiced strong support and asked questions about her legacy, including her adopted children and her role as a model for Black women and civil rights advocacy. The committee then heard a presentation from Stephen Fouts, director of the Missouri Division of Tourism, on the state’s tourism marketing efforts and economic impact. He said tourism generated more than $21 billion in economic impact, over $18 billion in direct spending, and supported more than 307,000 jobs, with more than 43 million visitors in the last fiscal year. He outlined the division’s marketing strategy, including the Mo character campaign, cooperative marketing grants for local DMOs, the Meet in Missouri Fund, film incentives, and major event promotion tied to the World Cup, Route 66 Centennial, and America 250. He also reported strong returns on marketing investment and discussed sports tourism, youth sports, and the importance of the cooperative marketing program to local communities. A major topic of discussion was the possibility of significant budget cuts to tourism. The chair and several members argued that tourism is a major economic driver and said they would oppose deep reductions, with multiple members offering to sign a committee letter or otherwise advocate against cuts. Members asked how reductions would affect marketing, sports tourism, and the cooperative marketing program; Fouts said large cuts would likely reduce co-op funding proportionally and could harm local partners. No final action was taken on HCR 36 during the hearing, and the meeting adjourned after testimony and discussion.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • There are seven amendments in the BB. or private matching funds.
  • meet their intended purposes, and tracking of the fund outcomes.
  • The legislature created an account, appropriated funds, and directed Commerce to distribute the funds
  • we had already received funding, but it was going to be delayed, and those funds really made the difference
  • In recent funding cycles, local boards have administered roughly 30% of CRP funds, leveraging those dollars
Summary: The Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee first met in executive session on House Bills 2157, 2351, 2365, 2357, and 2446. Staff briefed proposed substitutes and amendments for each bill. HB 2157, concerning high-risk AI systems, was amended to exempt activities regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act and covered entities under HIPAA; members discussed balancing consumer protections with flexibility for developers and deployers. HB 2351, addressing protections for emergency responders and emergency operations, was described as clarifying definitions and procedures, including a mental health crisis defense and changes to emergency operation zone notifications; some members raised concerns about deconfliction and implementation details. HB 2365, on digital equity, was amended with several definitional and data-sharing proposals, though some amendments were rejected over fiscal concerns. HB 2357, creating the Washington Division of Civil Air Patrol within the Military Department, passed without amendment. HB 2446, on developing a quantum technology industry strategy, was amended to extend the strategy deadline, broaden who Commerce may contract with, and correct terminology; members noted concerns about industry involvement in the strategic plan and fiscal impacts. All five bills were reported out of committee with do pass recommendations, with recorded votes of 8-5 on HB 2157, HB 2351, and HB 2365, unanimous support for HB 2357, and 12-1 for HB 2446. The committee then held a public hearing on HB 2523, which would make the community reinvestment program ongoing, require periodic updates and reporting, and direct a study of fund distribution and use. Testifiers from workforce boards, tribal programs, reentry services, community organizations, and Commerce described successful uses of the program for job training, reentry, small business support, legal services, and economic mobility, and urged the bill’s passage. Some suggested strengthening accountability, reporting, and access for new organizations. Commerce staff said the program has served more than 190,000 people and supported over 400 organizations, and asked for technical adjustments to keep administrative costs low. The bill was then closed for hearing. The committee also heard HB 2606, which would revise the Office of Privacy and Data Protection’s duties and performance measures, remove some reporting requirements, and add review of agency AI projects. The prime sponsor described it as a “stay-in-your-lane” cleanup bill responding to JLARC recommendations, and the state chief privacy officer testified in support, saying the office could implement the changes within existing resources. After questions about local government support and public resources, the hearing on HB 2606 was closed and the committee adjourned.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee May 6th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • What about a fund that the consumer could then make a claim against for its damages?
  • As mentioned by others, you know, and people know my father, he has limitations and mobility.
  • Mobile homes are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat.
  • This bill is critical to protect mobile home park residents.
  • But I do have a lot of mobile home residents in my district, and this would be critical for them.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills. AB 416 would allow emergency room physicians to initiate 5150 mental health holds, with supporters saying it would reduce emergency room bottlenecks and speed care for patients in crisis. County and behavioral health representatives opposed the bill, and some members raised broader concerns about the 5150 system and juvenile placements. The bill was ultimately approved on a do-pass as amended vote. AB 446, the Surveillance Pricing Act, drew extensive testimony. The author and supporters argued it would prohibit businesses from using personal data to charge different prices for the same product or service, describing the practice as discriminatory and exploitative. Business and industry groups opposed the bill, warning that its language was too broad, could affect discounts and loyalty programs, and would create litigation risk through a private right of action. After discussion about enforcement and possible amendments, the bill passed on a do-pass motion. AB 632 would give local governments a faster way to collect penalties for serious code violations, including unsafe housing, fire hazards, and illegal cannabis activity, by allowing certain fines to become money judgments and clarifying lien authority. It had support from county and city groups and no opposition was voiced in the hearing; the bill passed as amended. ACA 7, a constitutional amendment intended to clarify and limit misuse of Section 31A, also moved forward after brief support testimony. The committee then took up AB 649, which would extend protections for businesses that proactively obtain certified access specialist inspections and fix accessibility violations; the author, a small business owner, and others testified in support, while disability rights groups moved to neutral after amendments. Members discussed the balance between access enforcement and reducing predatory litigation, and the bill was still under consideration as the transcript ended.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Housing Feb 19th, 2026 at 08:30 am

Housing

Transcript Highlights:
  • For example, this would apply to mobile manufactured homes.
  • The bill creates a homeowner assistance fund study.
  • That action stabilized funding for the foreclosure fairness process.
  • The Washington Homeowner Assistance Fund that was funded through ARPA and is now expended kept thousands
  • stable, transparent funding.
Committee: House Housing
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Judiciary Committee Jun 23rd, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill does that by becoming a grant-based program funded by mobile home residents themselves, which
  • LSP grants are funded by the Mobile Disp Resolution Fund, a fund completely self-funded by mobile home
  • , a mobile home resident, wherever they are.
  • Beverly Purcell, a mobile home resident, who is here on behalf of GSMOL, and Roger Johnson, a mobile
  • Private equity and hedge funds buy them.
Committee: Senate Judiciary
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Utilities Mar 4th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Utilities

Transcript Highlights:
  • It has been proposed in Texas.
  • It's not got through the process in Texas, but it's actively being considered in the state of Texas,
  • And again... ...received over the various funds.
  • I kind of studied up on what's going on in Texas.
  • So let's talk about Texas. Let's talk about it. So who does business in Texas?
Committee: House Utilities
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Ways and Means Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:00 am

Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • With the federal funding uncertainty, With the federal funding uncertainty that's looming, I also just
  • amount of expansion funds.
  • We now have a full array of mobile crisis teams that are in communities that are also able to mobile
  • So that's funded through House 1.
  • , that funds CHIA.
Summary: The committee heard budget testimony from Department of Mental Health Commissioner Brooke Doyle, who said DMH serves about 29,000 people and is facing rising demand, higher operating costs, and uncertainty about federal funding. She explained that the FY26 budget prioritizes fully funding the state-operated inpatient system, which is at 100% occupancy and often serves people transferred from Bridgewater State Hospital, while making reductions in other areas to balance the budget. Those reductions include a 50% cut to case managers, a pause on closing the Pocasset unit pending a working group on Cape access, and changes to youth and contracted services such as right-sizing IRTP and CIRT, reducing Youth PACT from seven teams to three, scaling back flex and jail diversion grants as ARPA funds wind down, and preserving the behavioral health helpline and community-based crisis services. Members from Western Massachusetts and the Cape raised concerns about access, staffing, and the impact of cuts, and Doyle said the department would continue operating IRTP services, improve the referral process, and work with stakeholders on the Pocasset review and other access issues. The committee also discussed school-based mental health, 988, loan forgiveness for workforce recruitment, and the role of co-response programs for law enforcement. Secretary Robin Lipson then testified for the Executive Office of Aging and Independence, describing a proposed FY26 budget increase of about 21% to support councils on aging, home care, elder abuse investigations, caregiver support, care transitions, and nutrition programs. She said the agency is managing rising demand, especially from the growing 80-plus population, and noted uncertainty around federal Older Americans Act funding after the federal disbursement agency was disbanded. To control costs, the office will manage intake and caseload growth in a fully state-funded home care program, but current clients will not lose services. Lipson also highlighted a new $1 million line item for local mini-grants to support age-friendly initiatives. In questions, members focused on elder scams, and Lipson said scams are increasing and the agency is working with banks, district attorneys, and public awareness campaigns. The Health Policy Commission’s Executive Director David Seltz presented the agency’s FY26 request and said the biggest challenge is health care affordability, with family premiums near $29,000 annually and many residents delaying care because of cost. He emphasized that recent legislation significantly expands HPC’s role through a new Office of Pharmaceutical Policy and Analysis, which will examine the drug supply chain and pricing, and a new Office of Health Resource Planning, which will support statewide planning around closures and access gaps. The new law also creates task forces on maternal health access and primary care, and adds transparency and oversight for private equity in health care. Members asked about pharmaceutical costs, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, 340B, and maternal health closures; Seltz said the data show rapid growth in GLP-1 spending and that the new offices will help the state better understand cost drivers and access problems. The Center for Health Information and Analysis then began its testimony, describing its role as the state’s data hub for health care spending, utilization, quality, and affordability analysis.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
  • We do that with the technology fund. It's pro it's it is technology fund.
  • </c> and appropriately funded. and appropriately funded.
  • So, a big like Mobile, I know you've got Mobile.
  • Are we level funding? Is that health. Are we level funding?
  • </c><01:51:02.719><c> I</c> Mobile, I know you've got Mobile. I Mobile, I know you've got Mobile.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

IC - Water and Natural Resources Aug 19th, 2025

Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • However, we use our ICIP, the capital that's pretty much a fund that we get funding for and have been
  • Is any of that funding remaining?
  • And so obviously we want to use these funds to also leverage those funds because it'll help us triple
  • Funding is policy, and policy requires funding. I would say that those two are one answer.
  • Is some other funding source it would It depends on the funding source.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Goodwin to the Texas Senate Committee on Nominations.
  • I wanted to focus for a moment on the Texas Real Estate Commission's relationship with the Texas Tax
  • it did inside the state of Texas.
  • We in Texas have not done that. Inside the state of Texas.
  • We in Texas have not done that. We in Texas have not done that.
Committee: Senate Nominations
Summary: The Senate Committee on Nominations held its final nomination hearing of the session and considered three nominees: J.B. Goodwin for the Texas Real Estate Commission, Courtney Yaltman for the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and Thomas Gleason as PUC chairman. Goodwin described his long career in real estate and charitable work, and senators questioned him extensively about the Real Estate Commission’s self-directed, semi-independent status, housing affordability, institutional homebuyers, property insurance costs, disclosure issues, and the Burnett v. National Association of Realtors case. Yaltman and Gleason were questioned about PUC oversight of ERCOT, post-Winter Storm Uri reforms, utility resilience and vegetation management after Hurricane Beryl, water and telecommunications oversight, staffing and transparency, and rising infrastructure and utility costs. Much of the discussion focused on housing and utility affordability, with several senators urging the nominees to keep consumer protection and public trust at the forefront. Goodwin said housing affordability and large-scale investment purchases were not within the Real Estate Commission’s direct purview, though he supported further study. Yaltman and Gleason said the PUC had increased oversight of ERCOT, improved communication and accountability with utilities, and was working on resiliency plans, rate-setting issues, and infrastructure planning while trying to avoid overburdening ratepayers. The committee first voted to favorably report nominees left pending from the May 5 agenda by a 6-0 roll call vote. After public testimony was opened and closed, the committee then voted on the nominees heard that day and favorably recommended all three to the full Senate for confirmation by a 7-0 vote. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House bill would halt spending funds on Rondo land bridge over I-94 3/3/25

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Fund.
  • So House File 494 will prohibit future funding and claw back any funding that's left for the Reconnect
  • </c> restore connectivity enhance Mobility restore connectivity enhance Mobility improve<00:31:33.760
  • </c><00:31:43.320><c> be</c><00:31:43.480><c> to</c><00:31:43.639><c> deny</c> funding to deny funding
  • would be to deny funding to deny funding would be to deny Rondo<00:31:44.840><c> the</c><00:31:45.000
AR
Transcript Highlights:
  • But we're up front with what we're going to fund, what our priorities are.
  • So this is a CMS-funded project.
  • What we can't do is supplant existing funding.
  • And then I largely expect that we'll fund all those that are eligible.
  • what we can fund.
Summary: The committee first heard extensive public testimony from youth and advocates urging stronger restrictions on vaping. Speakers described vaping as a youth-targeted public health problem, citing flavored products, social media marketing, nicotine addiction, brain development concerns, school disruption, and exposure to harmful aerosol. They recommended prohibiting vaping in public indoor spaces and aligning vape rules with smoke-free laws. Committee members praised the speakers and encouraged them to continue building support for future legislation. The main presentation was on Arkansas’s Rural Health Transformation Program, administered through DFA. Secretary Jim Hudson and program director Brad Andi explained that Arkansas received about $209 million in the first year under the federal program, with potential for roughly $1 billion over five years if performance is strong. They emphasized that the program is meant for long-term rural health transformation, not general operating support, debt relief, or new construction. The state’s plan centers on four initiatives: HEART for prevention and community health, PACT for access and provider collaboration, RISE for workforce development, and THRIVE for technology and telehealth. Officials said applications will be handled through upcoming notices of funding opportunity, with a focus on local, shovel-ready projects, regional collaboration, and transparency. Committee members asked how the program would work for hospitals, clinics, nonprofits, schools, faith groups, and urban providers serving rural patients. Officials said eligibility is broad if applicants can show a connection to rural health, and that targeted renovations, mobile units, school-based clinics, farm-to-school or garden projects, EMS equipment, residency expansion, and behavioral health initiatives may fit if they align with the plan. They stressed that the program cannot fund working capital, routine maintenance, or new buildings, but can support repurposing space and collaborative networks. Members also raised concerns about protecting existing rural providers from being displaced, and officials said applications would be reviewed by a state committee with technical assistance and a reimbursement-based process. The committee then reviewed and took no objection to several DHS and Health Department rules. DHS presented a Medicaid/CHIP rule implementing federal requirements for incarcerated youth, including pre- and post-release coverage, care coordination, targeted case management, and screening services, with no public comments received. The Health Department also presented a licensing rule for audiology and speech pathology that implements recent acts and changes the renewal deadline; that rule was likewise reviewed without objection. The meeting adjourned after no further business.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education May 15th, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • We have you listed as the Executive Director of the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops.
  • Braswell, we have you listed as the South Texas Director of LifeWise Academy.
  • My name is Aaron Braswell, I am the South Texas Director for LifeWise Academy.
  • We request that Texas do the same. Thank you. Thank you very much, members.
  • Has Texas not had release time ever? Is this something new? No, it's not new.
Bills: SB226 , SB413 , SB571 , SB1049 , SB2398 , SB2920