Transcript Highlights:

• and currently does not receive annual aid from the state to assist operations of major capital expenses
• > state<00:02:47.599> to not receive annual aid from the state to not receive annual aid
• And so even if there is an infusion of state aid into our system, that will in turn allow us to lower
• And so even if there is an infusion of state aid into our system, that will in turn allow us to lower
• And so even if there is an infusion of state aid into our system, that will in turn allow us to lower

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• school aid program in that amount.
• Could I use the aid in this budget, the per-pupil aid, to help my classroom to buy some chalk to make
• The general school aid amount would be in the general school aid appropriation; that's property tax relief
• The special education aid would be spendable resources; the other aid would be property tax.
• state operations to one SEG position in the appropriation... ...for federal-aid state operations to

Keywords: 970, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We were also able to provide some additional compensatory aid that the state budget brought to the Senate
• We were also able to provide some additional compensatory aid that the state budget brought to the Senate
• difference in aid from the general fund. difference in aid from the general fund.
• Across the state.
• We do have a Secretary of State.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• aid.
• If this legislation is passed, we believe that state chartered banks which are regulated by state statue
• state by state, but there was an exhibit that we submitted along with our staff to the Supreme Court
• of the 50 states. 40 states in the U.S. have the same compare ability type language.
• aid into the services in this that are needed in the state.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is State Senator John Cronin.
• highway projects, including $460 million to be used as the required 20% state match for federally aided
• Those authorizations we wanted to do a refill on just four of them: federal-aid highway, non-federal-aid
• Those authorizations we wanted to do a refill on just four of them: federal-aid highway, non-federal-aid
• We created this... we created the idea of the United States. I would be...

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets held a public hearing on H. 5279, a bill financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges. MassDOT and A&F testified in support, describing the bill as a more than $5 billion transportation bond package centered on a four-year, $1.2 billion Chapter 90 authorization, plus funding for MBTA rail reliability and modernization, housing-related transportation improvements, a new DCR/MassDOT PRISM program for parkways and other DCR assets, and reauthorizations of the Municipal Pavement Program, Shared Streets and Spaces, and highway programs. They said the bill would support safety, resilience, housing production, and multimodal transportation, and noted that some bonds could be issued as special obligation bonds backed by the Commonwealth Transportation Fund and Fair Share revenues. Committee members asked about the size and structure of the authorizations, the federal match for highway projects, the source of MBTA vehicle procurement, bridge repair needs, and whether the housing-related funds could be used flexibly for items like sidewalks, bike lanes, bus stops, and other local transportation improvements. Administration witnesses said the bill is intended as a temporary refill of existing programs until a larger transportation bond bill is filed next session, that the federal-aid line includes the full spending authority while the state only borrows the 20% match, and that the housing-related program is deliberately broad and not limited to MBTA communities. They also said Chapter 90 includes a road-mile component that especially helps rural communities and that preservation and safety are built into the programs. The Massachusetts Municipal Association also testified in strong support, emphasizing that Chapter 90 is the most important tool municipalities have to maintain the roughly 30,000 miles of local roads and bridges they are responsible for. MMA urged timely passage before construction season and praised the continued $300 million Chapter 90 level, especially the $100 million road-mile distribution that helps communities with large road networks and smaller populations. No votes were taken on the bill, and the hearing concluded with adjournment after testimony ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's called state special education funding. It was previously known as catastrophic aid.
• is the state paid $44,000 and the state is the state paid $44,000 and the state paid<00:56:26.720
• So the next page is the history of state special education aid.
• versus out of state, maybe across the state.
• And so the School Building Aid program, it allows state funds for school districts in support of meeting

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee Division II met with the New Hampshire Department of Education to review school nutrition programs and related funding. Department staff Melissa White and Kelly Rambo walked through a packet covering the National School Lunch Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Community Eligibility (CEP), After School Snack Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program, explaining that these are federally funded USDA programs, with some state supplemental funding in certain areas. They also reviewed reimbursement rates for lunch, breakfast, child/adult care, and summer meals, noting that summer rates follow calendar-year timing while most others follow the state fiscal year. Members asked several questions about how the funding works, especially the difference between federal reimbursements and the state match. Staff explained that the state lunch line in the budget is a fixed match amount tied to federal participation, while breakfast funding is broken out by meal type and reimbursement category. They also discussed why FY 2022 federal spending was much higher during COVID, when USDA covered meals at the free rate for all students, and why FY 2023 and FY 2024 dropped as normal income-eligibility rules returned. A committee member also asked about the “severe need lunch” two-cent rate, and staff said they did not know USDA’s formula. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on summer meals and the distinction between the Summer Food Service Program and Summer EBT. Staff explained that SFSP provides meals at approved sites, which can be open or closed sites, while Summer EBT is a separate DHHS-operated benefit program that provides funds to families. They said some schools or sites may not qualify under USDA rules, but eligible children can often use another nearby open site, and the department posts an interactive map and phone line to help families find locations. The committee also discussed the Community Eligibility Provision. Staff said New Hampshire currently has three CEP schools, that the eligibility threshold had recently been lowered from 40% to 25% identified students, and that the program allows participating schools to offer free meals to all students while the local district covers the non-federal share. Members asked whether any districts in the 25% to 40% range had joined; staff said no. The department offered to provide the eligibility report in Excel and noted that the CEP intent is to reduce application burden, though the lower threshold can make the local cost share harder for some districts to absorb.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we well know, that's an act requiring catastrophic special education state aid funding to be drawn
• and a number of states that have different ways of funding special education aid, which we will be also
• and a number of states that have different ways of funding special education aid, which we will be also
• education aid. education aid.
• on special education aid because that's a<02:15:11.440> state<02:15:12.400> initiative

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to begin work on HB 742, which would require catastrophic special education aid to be drawn from the education trust fund, and more broadly to study special education aid/differentiated aid and related costing issues. The chair said the group was starting early because the issue has been debated for years without resolution, local districts are being forced to absorb prorated costs, and the committee wants to send the Department of Education and HHS Medicaid a clear request for data and recommendations before retained bills return in the fall. A committee clerk was also selected, with Representative Reverend volunteering to take notes for the meeting. Members reviewed background materials on special education enrollment, high-cost students, and possible funding formulas, including data on students in high-cost brackets and prior ideas such as category-based funding and caseload-based approaches. The chair also referenced research on other states, including Arkansas, which uses a different special education funding structure and audits IEPs. The committee emphasized that it was focused on the funding mechanics and costs, not on questioning whether services should be provided. Henry Lipman of HHS explained how Medicaid-to-schools currently works in New Hampshire. He said 172 school districts participate, but utilization dropped during the pandemic and remains below historical levels, in part because districts need the capacity to bill Medicaid. Under the current system, schools receive reimbursement based on half of the Medicaid fee schedule, with the school district effectively providing the state share. He said the federal government is requiring a shift by July 1, 2026, to a true certified public expenditure model based on actual costs, which should allow schools to recover 50% of their true costs and some administrative overhead. The department has received a roughly $2.5 million grant to hire a vendor and support districts through the transition, and an RFP and stakeholder meetings are underway. Committee members asked about how costs would be determined, whether the new system would use actual district-specific costs rather than averages, and how the department would support districts that do not currently participate. Lipman said the cost model would be based on each district’s own reasonable costs, subject to audit standards, and that the department expects to provide templates and technical assistance through the vendor because its staff is limited. He also said about one in four New Hampshire children are enrolled in Medicaid, that child enrollment has been relatively stable, and that continuous coverage rules should reduce churn. No votes or formal actions on HB 742 were taken during the meeting beyond organizing the subcommittee and beginning testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• disabled folks every day across this state.
• disabled folks every day across this state.
• The majority have never used a hearing aid.
• The majority have never used a hearing aid.
• hearing aid specialist or audiologist.

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism met with a quorum present and considered several bills. It first took up SB 232 on debt collection, where the sponsor explained a strike-all amendment and the committee adopted a Gruters amendment clarifying that email communications may be sent at any hour while other off-hours communications remain restricted. Testimony was sharply divided on a proposed change from “any person” to “debt collector,” with consumer advocates, legal aid, and the Florida Justice Association warning it would narrow Florida’s consumer protections, while supporters said the bill and amendment would address ambiguity affecting businesses. After debate, the committee rejected the broader amendment, adopted the email-only clarification, and reported CS for SB 232 favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard and unanimously reported favorably CS for SB 126, which would allow prescription hearing aids to be sold and distributed by mail after a Florida-licensed audiologist or hearing aid specialist conducts the required examination, including remotely through telehealth. Supporters said the bill would improve access and reduce barriers for seniors and others with hearing loss, and no opposition was heard. The committee also heard SB 600 and SB 602 on manufacturing, which would create and fund a statewide Office of Manufacturing, a promotional campaign, workforce grants, and related fees; multiple industry and economic development groups appeared in support, and both bills were reported favorably. Next, the committee considered CS for SB 92 on hit-and-run accountability in vehicle repair shops. The sponsor described the bill as a response to rising hit-and-run incidents and explained that repair shops would have to complete a transaction form or retain a crash report for certain repairs, with a clarifying amendment adopted without objection. Prosecutors and law enforcement supporters said the bill would help identify offenders, while auto dealer representatives argued it could impose burdens and penalties on repair shops. The committee nevertheless reported CS for SB 92 favorably. Finally, the committee heard SB 412, the Motorized Wheelchair Right to Repair Act, which would require manufacturers to provide repair manuals, diagnostic tools, and parts to owners and independent repair providers under fair and reasonable terms. Disability advocates and wheelchair users testified that repair delays can leave users stranded for weeks or months, and the committee reported the bill favorably by roll call vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• replacement aid program.
• benefiting Minnesotans across the state. benefiting Minnesotans across the state.
• across the state. across the state.
• the state and counties. the state and counties.
• from many states and some from Canada. from many states and some from Canada.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as the statutory definition for purposes of all state financial aid.
• as the statutory definition for purposes of all state financial aid.
• as the statutory definition for purposes of all state financial aid.
• as the statutory definition for purposes of all state financial aid.
• So we want to all state financial aid.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in the state. in the state.
• school district aid in fiscal year 2027. school district aid in fiscal year 2027.
• of the aid they receive from last year. of the aid they receive from last year.
• largest school district in the state. largest school district in the state.
• the new compensatory aid formula. the new compensatory aid formula.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Dylan rule state and a home rule state? Dylan rule state and a home rule state?
• the state. the state.
• And we're still fighting this state to get to give us the aid so that we don't have to increase property
• And we're still fighting this state to get to give us the aid so that we don't have to increase property
• um this state to get to give us the aid um this state to get to give us the aid so<04:36:35.920>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and access to student loan and repayment protections. ...state-based aid and access to student loan
• But most importantly, the state must prepare for the potential aid losses.
• automatically increase state aid when federal dollars decline, and that would ensure greater stability
• And there still is a state commitment to investing in the financial aid programs here.
• Ortega said, if you're making under $110,000, you get state financial aid.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion held an informational hearing on “Protecting Equity in Higher Education” and emphasized that no bills were being heard. Members and witnesses focused on the effects of recent federal actions on DEI, admissions, financial aid, student loans, international students, and campus equity efforts in Massachusetts. Opening remarks from the co-chairs and the chair of Higher Education highlighted Massachusetts’ investments in free community college, expanded financial aid, and early college programs, while warning that federal policy changes could undermine those gains. Testimony from BU law professor Jonathan Feingold argued that many DEI practices remain legally defensible after Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, and that the decision did not end all race-conscious or equity-oriented efforts. He said the Trump administration’s anti-DEI actions and funding threats were legally suspect and had created confusion and a chilling effect. Bahar Akman-in-Boden of the Hildreth Institute testified that proposed federal cuts to TRIO, Gear Up, Pell Grants, SEOG, work-study, and student loan programs would disproportionately harm low-income, first-generation, Black, Latino, and other underserved students, and urged the state to prepare hold-harmless and advising supports using Fair Share revenue. Commissioner Noe Ortega described Massachusetts’ long history of equity in higher education and said the state has expanded aid, success programs, and early college, but still has work to do on attainment and completion. He said the state responded to SFFA by creating ACARE and continuing to defend equity practices, while also warning that federal disruptions and “dear colleague” letters have created uncertainty. In the second panel, state university leaders and campus officials said federal threats to Pell, DEI grants, Medicaid, and international student policies could affect access, campus operations, and the economy; they stressed that most state university graduates stay in Massachusetts and that institutions are continuing their equity practices despite federal pressure. Roxbury Community College’s president said RCC remains committed to open access and inclusion, noted enrollment growth, and said executive orders do not change existing law or the college’s obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• State State share<00:31:20.679> would<00:31:20.960> 50%<00:31:21.720> be<00:31:
• This is requiring catastrophic special education state aid funding to be drawn from the Education Trust
• state aid funding to special education state aid funding to be<01:02:13.520> drawn<01:02:13.920
• state.
• Grant from the in terms of adequacy Aid Grant from the state<01:31:01.520> it<01:31:01.719>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met to review a large package of bills, with the first four—HB 717, 742, 773, and 603—focused on special education aid, formerly called catastrophic aid. Chair Ladin explained that the committee needed to move a special education bill forward by March 4 and was trying to determine which bill would serve as the vehicle. He described the current formula and the difficulty of estimating the fiscal impact of lowering the threshold from 3.5 times the statewide average cost per pupil to a lower level, noting that DOE did not have reliable data on how many students would fall into the lower-cost bands. The committee also noted that several other bills in the package addressed SWEP and adequacy issues, and that HB 510 dealt with due process rather than funding. Mark Mello of the Bureau of School Finance testified that the department only has reliable data for special education expenditures above $70,000 per student, since claims are submitted for reimbursement at that point. He said the bureau was trying to estimate how many students might fall between 2.5x and 3.5x or 3x and 3.5x the average cost, but that the basic answer was they did not know and that any estimate would be difficult. He explained that moving the threshold from 3.5x to 2.5x would create a minimum additional cost of about $13.6 million based on existing claims, not counting new students who would enter the range. Members discussed whether districts already had the underlying data, whether a survey should be required, and how districts know when to begin tracking costs for reimbursement. The committee also discussed proration and the state’s share of special education aid. Mello explained that the current 80% state share is modeled in the formula, but the actual payment has been prorated because appropriations have not matched the statutory liability; he said the state liability was about $50 million, while the budget had provided $34 million, resulting in a 68% payment rate. HB 742 was described as a bill that would eliminate proration by paying the liability directly from the education trust fund with an overflow mechanism. Members also discussed possible alternatives such as changing the state share, using a lower threshold in a transition period, or requiring districts to submit data. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided; the committee was still in discussion and considering which bills to advance.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:20:01.360> and United States and of this state, and United States and of this state,
• aid.
• aid.
• aid.
• aid.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• or in state, but mostly out of state.
• The unfortunate reality is that many of these facilities have State, but mostly out of state.
• aid that's just... it grows.
• , non-basic-aid schools.
• States Department of Education.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met without a quorum for much of the hearing and heard several bills out of order. SB 249 by Senator Umberg would move county board of education elections from the primary to the statewide general election. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters and many educators, argued the change would increase turnout and make the electorate more representative. The Orange County Board of Education opposed the bill, saying it would increase costs, reduce local control, and bury education races on crowded general-election ballots. The chair and members discussed turnout, cost, and representation, but the bill was held pending a quorum. Senator Grove presented SB 373, which adds safeguards for California students placed in out-of-state non-public schools through IEPs. The bill would require more robust LEA and CDE oversight, including annual site visits, student interviews, quarterly contact, stronger certification standards, and restrictions on prone, supine, and mechanical restraints. Testimony from a survivor of an out-of-state placement and from advocates emphasized abuse, neglect, and the need for stronger monitoring. There was broad support and no opposition testimony, but the measure was also held pending a quorum. Senator Ashby presented SB 568, the epinephrine in schools modernization act, to clarify and expand requirements for stocked epinephrine so they clearly apply to all public schools, including preschool programs. School nurses and medical experts said the bill would close gaps created by universal preschool and ensure life-saving treatment is available for anaphylaxis. The committee discussed dosing and implementation, and the bill was supported without opposition testimony. The committee also heard SB 414, the Charter School Accountability Act, which would strengthen fiscal oversight, audit standards, and transparency for charter schools and authorizers. Supporters said it responds to fraud and audit findings while preserving charter flexibility; opponents, including school employees and teachers, said it did not go far enough on authorizer accountability and small-district oversight. After discussion, the committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 414 as amended to Appropriations. The committee also briefly heard SB 743 by Senator Cortese, which would create an equalization reserve account to provide additional funding to underfunded school districts and reduce funding inequities tied to ZIP code. The author said the bill would support student achievement and teacher retention over time. The transcript cuts off before testimony or action on SB 743 was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The A8 passes. school safety aid accordingly. school safety aid accordingly.
• The A7 is adopted. of the A4 on compensatory aid. So it of the A4 on compensatory aid.
• school site can have in compensatory aid school site can have in compensatory aid no<00:08:37.039
• Um we banned switchblades in the state Um we banned switchblades in the state of<00:27:10.560>
• state of Minnesota. And I don't know. state of Minnesota. And I don't know.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Delaying the program would reduce state... ongoing state costs, but it would still leave districts with
• Turning to page one of that handout, the state constitution, Proposition 98, is silent on how the state
• On the financial aid side, again good news here although it is putting pressure on the state budget.
• We thank the governor for continuing to ensure students have critical access to state financial aid programs
• Good afternoon, Rebecca Wendt, Deputy State Librarian at the California State Library.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state. Thank you, Madam Chair. state. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• state of Minnesota. state of Minnesota.
• aid people transportation aid people transportation aid um<01:11:05.480> to<01:11:05.680><
• education aid. education aid.
• other states are doing. other states are doing.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a nonpartisan commission created to administer aid in the state of California.
• It is a nonpartisan commission created to administer aid in the state of California, and it needs authority
• If CSAC had a compromised server for the state of California, we would not be able to administer aid.
• We continue to partner with the Student Aid Commission to ensure that there are state operations and
• We continue to partner with the Student Aid Commission to ensure that there are state operations and

Summary: The committee heard an overview of the May Revision’s Proposition 98 changes for K-12 and community colleges. The Department of Finance said the minimum guarantee rises by $6.4 billion over the Governor’s Budget across the three-year window, with higher guarantees in each year, full payment of the prior settle-up, and larger deposits into the school rainy-day fund. The LAO said the revenue and LCFF updates were reasonable, but urged caution about the settle-up approach and recommended using more of the available funding to protect ongoing programs and build budget resilience. Members focused heavily on the size of the proposed $3.9 billion settle-up, the $10.3 billion reserve deposit, declining K-12 enrollment, and how much of the new funding should be ongoing versus one-time. The committee then reviewed the community colleges portion of the budget. Finance described the May Revision’s higher SCFF COLA, additional funding for enrollment growth, a student support block grant, apprenticeship adjustments, and continued funding for deferred maintenance, Calbright, Common Cloud, and credit for prior learning. The Chancellor’s Office supported the core investments but asked for more funding for enrollment growth, changes to the growth formula, and a COLA for Student Equity and Achievement. The LAO recommended prioritizing the statutory COLA increase, noted that more than half of districts are already above current-year growth targets, and said the new adult learner demonstration project should be rejected because districts already have tools to support similar services. Members also discussed a $52 million current-year apportionment shortfall, which Finance said was discovered too late for the May Revision and would need to be addressed later. Finally, the committee took up the proposed implementation of the federal Workforce Pell program. Finance proposed one-time funding for the California Student Aid Commission and Cradle to Career to build eligibility and data systems, along with trailer bill changes to set up state approval processes. CSAC said the program is promising but highly complex, that California lacks the needed infrastructure, and that the state will need emergency regulations, data linkages, and ongoing funding beyond the one-time proposal. The LAO agreed that some initial funding is needed but warned that the amounts and ongoing costs remain uncertain and that the Legislature should carefully draft the trailer bill language. Members asked about timing, other states’ actions, and how the state would ensure the program is ready for students and institutions.