Transcript Highlights:

• reduce the cost that gives an impact on the grant program.
• And so short-term and standalone purchases can cost... grant program.
• disbursements must occur prior to April 30. grant program.
• and limitations to the IPSCC for the length of time that a grant could be issued.
• They're used for scoring grants.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes from Friday, March 20, then reordered the agenda to hear several measures from senators and representatives. It advanced Senate Bill 1350 on cash rounding, which would provide optional guidance for cash transactions when pennies are unavailable, and Senate Joint Memorial 112, which urges Congress to pursue a federal balanced-budget constitutional amendment. Both measures received due pass recommendations without opposition. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 1322, which tightens the voter affidavit process for people voting without photo ID by requiring additional identifying information, after testimony from the Secretary of State’s office said about 1,200 voters used the affidavit in 2024 and that the change would allow verification before a ballot is issued. Senate Joint Memorial 109, reaffirming Idaho’s sovereignty and the Tenth Amendment in election administration, also passed with a due pass recommendation. The committee then approved House Concurrent Resolution 35 honoring Idaho’s 2026 Olympic athletes, with members reading supportive remarks about athlete Sammy Smith and other Idaho Olympians. It also advanced Senate Concurrent Resolution 122, which reaffirms Idaho’s long-standing relationship with Taiwan and highlights trade and economic ties, including wheat purchases and broader business and technology connections. In each of these items, the committee voted to send the measure to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Finally, the committee took up two rules for the Idaho Public Safety Communications Commission, both related to grant timing and multi-year grant guidance for next-generation 911 projects. Sheriff Andy Creech explained that the rule would add limits and clarity for grant cycles and noted that existing grants would remain valid even if the rule failed. Despite that explanation, the committee voted to reject both docket 15-0601-2501 and docket 15-0601-2215, effectively rejecting both the pending and temporary rule versions. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And sustained funding, not temporary pilot programs. and sustained funding, not temporary pilot programs
• We have an MMIP drone program.
• possibly use the drone program.
• And again, I'm asking support for the continuation of the funding for the grant funding program throughout
• And grants have moved forward.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and workforce grants.
• The second new article creates the West Virginia Job Development Grant Program, which will award grants
• The grant program is funded every year when the Department of Commerce informs the tax division how many
• program before it hits general revenue.
• The grant program is funded every year with the Department of Commerce, when the Department of Commerce

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate considered and passed a series of House bills on third reading, with several title amendments and a few effective-date motions adopted. Early in the session, members passed HB 4452 removing acreage limits on land owned by church or religious trustees, HB 4577 creating reciprocal driver’s license recognition agreements with Ireland and Japan, HB 4588 authorizing West Virginia participation in a federal tax credit scholarship program, and HB 4592 requiring higher education institutions to create coordinated campus safety maps. HB 4602 was amended to align with a prior Senate child welfare pilot program, and members discussed its projected cost and implementation timeline before passing it. HB 4603 created a pre-adjudicatory alternative disposition process in abuse and neglect cases, and HB 4606 narrowed bail rules by requiring consideration of residency and community ties while prohibiting personal recognizance bonds for violent felony offenses after an adopted amendment. The Senate also passed HB 4710 changing the party-registration deadline for candidates from 60 to 180 days before an election, with debate over its impact on independents, and made it effective January 1, 2027. HB 4712, known as Bailey’s Law, increased penalties for DUI causing death and related conduct, with emotional testimony from members about the victim and similar tragedies. HB 4765 established a pay raise for teachers, school personnel, and state police and added a market-pay enhancement system based on county cost-of-living differences; an amendment to the amendment capped county differentials and guaranteed at least a 1% increase in every county. HB 4865 created an optional program for high school and homeschool students to serve as election official trainees, and HB 4869 established narrow guaranteed-issue rights for Medicare supplement policies. Later bills included HB 4995, which strengthened video/audio recording rules in special education classrooms and was passed, then reconsidered and passed again; HB 4996 creating a new crime for making threats of violence against schools or children; HB 5048 guaranteeing virtual instruction for foster children in temporary placement; HB 5065 adding recordkeeping and geolocation requirements for hotel marketplace facilitators to ensure proper hotel tax remittance; and HB 5074 reallocating medical cannabis fund revenues to child protection, homeless services, research, law enforcement, and other purposes. The Senate also passed HB 5101, the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, which increased penalties for domestic violence offenses and adjusted bail provisions, after amending it to conform with the earlier bail bill. Additional measures passed included HB 5166 requiring notice before political committees are fined for filing violations and allowing limited extensions, HB 5168 directing $12 million in lottery funds to EMS first responders and county EMS support, HB 5182 authorizing certain state treasurer security personnel to carry concealed firearms, HB 5212 streamlining higher-education financial aid rules, HB 5214 allowing court-ordered drug testing of parents before reunification in abuse and neglect cases, HB 5353 regulating virtual currency kiosks with licensing, disclosures, and transaction limits, and HB 5366 exempting J-LAP records from FOIA to protect confidentiality for lawyers and judges seeking assistance. Most bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though HB 5074 and HB 5353 drew some dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal and local cybersecurity grant program dollars have been pivotal in, with the reauthorization
• program that Ralph Johnson was just talking about.
• And then where we cannot, we typically point folks to grant programs and partnering with other organizations
• And if I can follow up, then how nimble is your grant program? The SLCGP grant is...
• The SLCGP grant is a four-year grant. We are now in year three of that four-year program.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee held a public hearing on the State Auditor’s Office cybersecurity performance audits for fiscal year 2025, covering both state agencies and local governments. SAO staff explained that the audits are conducted independently under Initiative 900 and are kept confidential at the entity level, with detailed findings shared directly with the audited organizations. They reported that state agency audits found nearly one-third of assessed safeguards fully implemented on all systems and 227 vulnerabilities across seven agencies, including three critical and 21 high-severity issues. For seven local government cybersecurity audits, nearly a quarter of safeguards were fully implemented on all systems, and auditors identified nearly 300 vulnerabilities, including nine critical and 47 high-severity issues. SAO also summarized its ransomware resiliency audits and critical infrastructure audits for local governments. In six ransomware audits, a little over 35% of assessed safeguards were not in place, while about 60% were at least partially in place. In 39 critical infrastructure audits, focused largely on water and sewer providers, auditors found over 260 vulnerabilities and said more than 10% were critical or high. Staff highlighted that these audits have led to improvements, including one vendor making security changes after SAO testing that were later echoed in a federal advisory. They also described related services such as cybersecurity checkups, policy guidance, and other cyber-related work by the office. Washington Technology Solutions’ state chief information security officer, Ralph Johnson, praised the audits and said they help protect essential public services. He cited a sharp national rise in ransomware incidents against governments and said Washington has used more than $11 million in federal and state cybersecurity grant funds for over 200 projects. In response to questions from Representative Scott, SAO and WOTEC discussed options for addressing urgent vulnerabilities, including compensating controls, grant funding, and low-cost mitigation steps. The committee also discussed how Washington’s program compares nationally, with Johnson saying Initiative 900 is unusually comprehensive and that local governments often seek audits voluntarily. No votes were taken, and the hearing adjourned after public testimony was offered but none was given.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so allowing the flexibility to, again, pause the program instead of completely stop the program would
• Why can't this program just be run by the state police?
• I believe the program could be useful itself.
• I believe the program could be useful itself.
• The program will initiate grant programs overseen by a motor vehicle theft prevention commission to aid

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Program.
• program in order to avoid predictable, costly, and preventable disasters.
• program.
• , labor-intensive grants to write and get.
• I am the mitigation director of the California Residential Mitigation Program.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Emergency Management met to consider Assembly Joint Resolution 11, which urges the President and Congress to restore funding for FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. Chair Rhodesia Ransom and Assembly Member Lisa Calderon described the resolution as a bipartisan effort to preserve funding for hazard mitigation projects that help communities prevent disasters rather than simply recover from them. They cited major California impacts from the program’s cancellation, including losses for wildfire mitigation, seismic retrofits, and dam safety projects in several counties and districts. Support testimony came from Catherine Freeman of the California State Association of Counties and Robin Finning of Cal OES. Freeman said counties rely on BRIC for flexible, proactive disaster-prevention funding and warned that canceling the program would set back years of resilience work. Finning said 49 communities had contacted Cal OES after the cancellation announcement and that the agency had been working closely with them on next steps. Stephanie Stevens of the California Residential Mitigation Program also testified in support, noting the loss of more than $40 million for earthquake soft-story retrofit grants. Members expressed support and noted the importance of the affected district projects. There was no opposition testimony. The committee then voted unanimously to adopt AJR 11 and refer it to third reading, with all members present voting aye. The meeting was then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It focuses on providing a grant to implement a dementia care telemonitoring program to disseminate information
• program.
• I just want to emphasize the grant program is intended to train health care providers statewide on best
• health care transformation grant program.
• This is the rural health care transformation grant program.

Summary: The committee began with a presentation from the Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter and Dr. Anna Burke of Barrow Neurological Institute on the growing impact of Alzheimer’s and dementia in Arizona, the need for earlier diagnosis, better provider education, caregiver support, and continued research funding. They described current gaps in training and access to specialists, but also highlighted new therapies, lifestyle interventions, and Arizona-based research efforts. Members expressed support and optimism, but no action was taken on the presentation. The committee then heard HB 2202, which appropriates $300,000 from the general fund over fiscal years 2027 through 2029 for a dementia care tele-mentoring grant program through the Department of Health Services. Supporters, including the Alzheimer’s Association, a dementia specialist, and a patient advocate, said the program would help primary care providers diagnose dementia earlier and improve care. The bill was passed out of committee on an 11-0 vote. Next, the committee took up HB 2251, the midwifery bill, which would authorize certain licensed midwives to dispense and administer specified medications and devices, require liability insurance disclosure and annual reporting, and create a Midwifery Advisory Committee. A committee amendment removed some medications and renamed the bill the Jordan and MacTerry Act. ACOG and the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association opposed the bill as drafted, citing concerns about oversight, peer review, and the medication list, while licensed midwives and other supporters argued the bill would improve safety, transparency, and alignment with national standards. The bill was held for further stakeholder work, with members indicating more amendments were likely. The committee then heard HB 2252, which would allow certified nurse midwives, certified professional midwives, or licensed midwives to accompany a patient in a ground ambulance during an out-of-hospital birth if approved by medical direction. Supporters described cases where continued midwife involvement during transport helped newborns and mothers, while firefighters and EMS representatives opposed the bill as written, saying it created ambiguity about command and scene control and could raise safety concerns. The chair said the bill would be held for further stakeholder meetings and possible language changes. After a recess, the committee reconvened for presentations on federal Medicaid and rural health funding impacts, beginning with JLBC’s overview of H.R. 1’s Medicaid provisions and the rural health transformation grant program.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's one program ID, so there are, I mean, granted, I think this is a little bit more robust in what's
• ID so so there are I mean one program ID so so there are I mean granted<00:18:12.160><c> I</c><00:18
• </c> to take in grants um from from the Fed. to take in grants um from from the Fed.
• </c> Assistance Program- Education Program. Assistance Program- Education Program.
• Program.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met on February 18, 2026, and heard four bills. HB 2519 would shift University of Hawaii funding toward block appropriations, a stabilization fund, limited procurement and fiscal exemptions, performance-based metrics, and annual reporting. UH supported the bill, saying line-item budgeting hampers systemwide efficiency across its 10 campuses; the State Procurement Office commented on the procurement exemption. The chair proposed amendments to address concerns from Budget and Finance and procurement, including capping UH’s retained funds at 10%, requiring lapse after three fiscal years, removing CIP-to-operating transfers, narrowing procurement exemptions while keeping Chapter 103B principles, shifting performance metric-setting to the Board of Regents, and requiring annual reporting. The committee then voted to pass HB 2519 with amendments. HB 2409 would establish the Hawaii Geological Survey in Hilo and designate its director as the state geologist. UH Hilo supported the concept but said it would need sufficient general-fund support, estimating roughly $200,000 to start. DLNR and the Attorney General offered comments, with the AG calling it a matter of statewide concern. The chair said the DNR testimony raised public safety concerns and that UH Hilo had not identified a firm funding amount, so the committee voted to defer the bill. HB 2141 HD1 concerned state enterprise zones and would expand eligible business activities and allow DBED to designate up to two areas as enterprise zones with gubernatorial approval. DBED, the Tax Foundation, and other organizations submitted support or comments. After discussion, the chair said the current version no longer fit the higher education committee’s focus and recommended reverting to the original bill, which would limit the zone to Kakaʻako Makai for a biomedical health innovation hub near JABSOM and the Queen’s Cancer Center, with a defective date. The committee voted to pass HB 2141 HD1 with amendments. HB 2233 HD1 would appropriate funds to continue the SNAP-Ed program through UH and the Department of Health. DOH supported the bill and said it had been working on nutrition education and environmental changes; it estimated about $600,000 each for DOH and SEAR, or $1.2 million total. Testimony in support also came from several organizations and individuals, including a senior advocate who described the program’s practical benefits. The chair said the committee would reflect the $600,000-per-entity estimate in its report, and the committee voted to pass HB 2233 HD1 as is before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's just one each grant review.
• </c> And these tend to be more in our program And these tend to be more in our program evaluations.<00
• for for grants administrative expenses for for grants for<00:19:23.120><c> federal</c><00:19:23.400>
• ><c> or</c> for federal grants um [snorts] or or for federal grants um [snorts] or or what<00:19:25.880
• </c> OLA's Program Evaluation Division. OLA's Program Evaluation Division.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It's 108,190 of general funds, and this is for the cybersecurity grant program matching funds.
• </c> trails program. trails program.
• . grants. grants.
• program.
• Flipping over to page grant program.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And really, we correlate this program with our First Steps program.
• With our First Steps program.
• , of that programming?
• Page 838 is the transfer for after-school program, retreat reading and assessment grant.
• Oh, yeah, the Child's Counsel program. I apologize. Oh, yeah, the Child's Counsel program.

Summary: The committee first heard the Office of the Governor’s FY 2027 budget request from Adam Gresham. He explained the office’s staffing and noted a $500,000 core reduction, along with a reallocation of three positions and about $168,000 from the governor’s office to the mansion operating fund to better reflect where those employees work. Members asked about the National Guard emergency line, which Gresham said had already spent about $63,457 in FY 2026 and could be used again for disaster activations, though he did not expect to use the full $4 million. He also said the agricultural resiliency transfer fund had not been used and had no current transfer plans. Several members commented on the size of the governor’s cut and whether the judiciary and other offices were also being asked to reduce budgets. No votes were taken. The committee then moved to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Childhood and early childhood-related budget items. DESE staff described funding for the Office of Childhood, MoQPK child care provider grants, LEA pre-K grants, early childhood special education, Parents as Teachers, First Steps, preschool coordination, after-school programs, and child care subsidy. Members asked extensively about the MoQPK grants, including why Head Start providers were eligible, how curriculum approval works, and what safeguards exist against fraud or improper payments. DESE said it conducts physical inspections, desk reviews, payment-system checks, and investigations as needed, and that it had not had findings in this area. Some members questioned whether DESE or DSS was the right home for early childhood programs, while others defended the partnership and the role of early educators in identifying child needs. A major portion of the discussion focused on early childhood special education and the child care subsidy program. DESE explained that First Steps serves children birth to age three, while early childhood special education covers ages three to five and is driven by IEP eligibility; members asked for more data on diagnoses, trends, and how many children come off IEPs. The committee also discussed the child care subsidy budget and the governor’s proposed shift to paying providers based on authorization and at the beginning of the month. DESE said the change is being piloted, that a wait list is expected to begin around March 1, and that a May rollout is being considered, but only if software testing and fiscal projections show the system is sustainable. Members expressed frustration that promised changes had been delayed and that providers had been told different timelines, while DESE said the delay was driven by software issues, fiscal caution, and the need to avoid repeating prior payment problems. The hearing ended with the committee in recess before later resuming discussion of the subsidy program; no final votes or actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> county fair grants that we give out. county fair grants that we give out.
• </c> counties to get a shot at those grants. counties to get a shot at those grants.
• </c> that are there in those programs that are there in those programs already. already. already.
• </c> requested to kind of look at a program requested to kind of look at a program that<00:13:51.519>
• </c> corporation um we have programs corporation um we have programs available.<00:13:55.600><c> We</

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:20 Approval of Minutes 00:00:41 Department of Agriculture 00:01:06, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met for its third meeting, approved the minutes, and heard a budget presentation from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Department representatives Brandon Reid, Lee Macintosh, and Mark Bolan outlined the agency’s funding mix and requested support for several priorities in House Bill 500, including continuation of existing items, county fair grants, and an additional $5 million for the new economic development fund. They also discussed a capital request to replace two aging scale trucks, noting the vehicles are from 2002 and 2006 and have become unreliable and expensive to repair. The department emphasized several additional needs: funding to begin regulating and inspecting electric vehicle charging stations through the weights and measures division, retention and recruitment funding after losing 108 employees over three years, and a request to pay off tobacco-related debt service so more money can flow through the tobacco formula. They also cited House Bill 417, filed by Speaker Osborne, as supporting farmland preservation, saying the agency has a program ready but needs funding to implement it. Officials said the farm-to-food-banks and rural mental health items in the budget were acceptable as reduced by the tobacco formula. Members asked questions about pump inspection fees and staffing losses. The department said the inspection fee is $100 per station, not per pump, and that the same fee applies even to larger stations. On retention and recruitment, officials said the cost of turnover is significant but they did not have a dollar estimate. No votes were taken beyond the motion to approve the minutes, and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs.
• program.
• Again, a lot of those—especially the scholarships and academic programming—was due to the challenge grant
• I think the good news is the supplemental state grant program that the legislature initiated last session
• I think the good news is the supplemental state grant program that the legislature initiated last session

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met on the Minot State University campus for presentations on campus operations, enrollment, and new academic initiatives. President Shirley reviewed recent audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings, and highlighted MSU’s broad academic offerings, specialized accreditations, athletics, and partnerships with Minot Air Force Base and the MSU Development Foundation. Members asked about declining interest in teacher education, tuition waivers for athletes, dual credit incentives, and how MSU decides when to launch new programs and avoid duplication within the university system. Shirley also discussed several workforce-focused initiatives supported by the Legislature’s Workforce Education Innovation Funds, including the purchase of the Trinity Health Center West building for a downtown health sciences hub, a new daycare/preschool partnership near campus, the Aspire program to recruit rural students into teaching, and a paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Enrollment data showed overall headcount was flat at just under 2,750, but full-time equivalent enrollment rose slightly and new student numbers increased, including the largest freshman class in 15 years. The committee also discussed Minot State’s in-state tuition rate for all students, its dual credit “Emerging Scholars” scholarship, and concerns about the share of high school graduates who do not immediately pursue postsecondary education. Faculty then presented two new programs funded in part by WEAF: an Innovation Engineering degree and a master’s program in counseling with an integrated addiction studies focus. The engineering program was described as industry-driven, designed with broad early coursework, hands-on learning, and local employer input to prepare students for western North Dakota workforce needs; officials said it had already drawn more applicants than expected and would use renovated library space and donated or grant-funded equipment. The counseling program will be mostly face-to-face with hybrid options, aims to address shortages in mental health and substance use providers, and is structured to help students meet licensure requirements. Committee members asked about startup costs, licensure supervision hours, and whether the programs would be on campus rather than online, and presenters said both programs had recently received required approvals and were moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your springs restoration programs, your alternative water supply grant program at $60 million, as well
• I will share, just for anecdotal commentary, other states are not going through the same FEMA grant program
• program has shifted.
• Those must stay within the program according to the 340B program.
• It's earmarked for this program, only for this program, and for no other program.

Bills: S7010

Keywords: Roth contributions, deferred compensation, retirement savings, Florida Statutes, tax benefits

Summary: The Senate Committee on Appropriations met to take up SB 7010 by Senator Mayfield, which would authorize Roth post-tax contribution options in state and local deferred compensation plans. The bill was briefly explained, received one appearance in support, had no debate, and was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard a lengthy presentation from the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget on the governor’s recommended $117.4 billion “Floridians’ First Budget.” The presentation highlighted major spending areas including education, health care, public safety, transportation, environmental restoration, and economic development. Key proposals included increased FEFP funding for K-12 schools, teacher salary funding, higher education support, Everglades and water quality funding, emergency preparedness reserves, corrections staffing and pay increases, law enforcement recruitment bonuses, cybersecurity, and affordable housing and infrastructure investments. Members asked extensive questions about property tax reserve planning, litigation funding, emergency response fund balances and expenditures, the use of federal reimbursement for the Everglades detention facilities, the animal abuse hotline, Hope Florida, corrections staffing, and the proposed reduction in ADAP eligibility for HIV/AIDS medication assistance. A member of the public also testified at length about concerns that the ADAP changes would harm access to life-saving medications and alleged improper shifting of program funds. Committee members and the presenter acknowledged follow-up questions on several items, but no additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond the favorable report on SB 7010 and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• So page seven is our Perkins grant.
• This is a federal grant to provide students access to a full range of high-quality education programs
• This is a federal grant to provide students access to a full range of high-quality education programs
• These are discretionary grants to create a comprehensive literacy program, including pre-literacy, reading
• Page 25 is the IDEA grant. Page 25 is the IDEA grant. Again, $20 million federal money.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, we were awarded a $50,000 grant from the Empowering Small Minnesota Communities Program to address
• Last year we did fund a program through MnDOT for, like, $30,000 grants for consultants.
• </c><00:47:00.720><c> programs,</c><00:47:01.520><c> but</c> and beyond and do grant programs, but and
• beyond and do grant programs, but again,<00:47:01.920><c> a</c><00:47:02.079><c> lot</c><00:47:02.240
• And so, with this being a grant program where it's just literally like applying for services, and applying

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• versus our RN programs.
• When we look at our RN programs, I'm going to present the RN programs divided by program type.
• , the ADN programs, and the BSN programs, statewide BSN programs have a higher faculty vacancy rate.
• approved programs.
• State grants for advancing nursing simulation labs and virtual training programs to supplement the clinical

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to focus on nursing education funding, workforce supply, and Florida’s low NCLEX pass rates. The chair emphasized that Florida ranks last nationally in nursing exam pass rates and said the committee wants to use budget decisions and a forthcoming nursing bill to improve outcomes. The Florida Center for Nursing at USF presented preliminary workforce and education data showing RN supply is moving toward equilibrium with demand through 2037, while LPN shortages are projected to worsen, especially in some regions. The center also reported on enrollment, retention, faculty vacancies, and NCLEX trends, noting Florida still underperforms the national average but has shown some recent improvement, including higher RN pass rates in 2024 despite fewer test takers. The center highlighted that students who test sooner after graduation tend to pass at higher rates. A panel of nursing education leaders from public universities, state colleges, technical colleges, and private institutions described how prior state pipeline and line-item funding helped expand enrollment, simulation labs, faculty hiring, student support services, and partnerships with hospitals. UNF, Galen College, College of Central Florida, Keiser University, and Lorenzo Walker Technical College each reported strategies such as expanded simulation, mental health and social work support, test-prep and remediation, and efforts to grow faculty pipelines. Several speakers said faculty recruitment and retention remain major barriers because of salary competition with hospitals, faculty debt, and aging faculty. Technical college representatives also stressed the need to strengthen LPN pathways, English-language support, and LPN-to-RN bridge programs. Members asked for ideas to improve NCLEX outcomes and discussed possible policy options, including student loan forgiveness, critical shortage supplements for faculty, incentives for students to test soon after graduation, and possible changes to timing or regulation around NCLEX eligibility. Several witnesses supported more flexible or recurring funding, while noting that one-time line funding has been useful for simulation, scholarships, and faculty support but is harder to sustain. The committee adjourned after the discussion, with the chair saying the ideas would be considered in future funding and policy decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program currently receives $90 million biennially in funding, and there are other grant opportunities
• We should encourage communities to invest in infrastructure through these grant programs that allow programs
• I noticed that the H.S.S.C. report for the federal block grants uses competency restoration programs
• Well, with the Mental Health Grant Program for Justice Involved individuals, communities are leaving
• grant applicants use data-informed or research-informed programs that are addressing this solution in

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We do rural health. grants, we go community block grants, we do other grants, produce.
• programs.
• My program, the Farm Fresh program, is strictly a volunteer program, but we have about, you know, a large
• To encourage young young farmers we have a program... farmer grant program.
• This program is critical to the future of Texas citrus and should not be forced to rely solely on grants

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill that's before you today does not include the community grants program funding and only includes
• The bill that's before you today does not include the community grants program funding and only includes
• The bill that's before you today does not include the community grants program funding and only includes
• The bill that's before you today does not include the community grants program funding and only includes
• Chair, for hearing the bill today. grant program 90 Acres for snas and 5.7 grant program 90 Acres for

Keywords: 1183, house