Transcript Highlights:

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

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on March 11, 2026, with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and numerous guest and page introductions, including school groups, prayer caucus visitors, and advocates for Home Family Education Day and Women in Blue Day. The chamber then took up committee reports and a large number of House bills, most of them on third reading, along with several resolutions and referrals. Senate Resolution 62, designating March 12, 2026, as West Virginia Athletic Trainers Day, was adopted after remarks emphasizing the value of athletic trainers in preventing injuries and tragedies in school sports. Several other resolutions and concurrent resolutions were referred to the Committee on Rules or laid over under the rules. The Senate passed a wide range of bills addressing economic development, public safety, health, licensing, and state administration. Measures approved included bills on the West Virginia Collaboratory at Marshall University, the Business Ready Sites program, volunteer fire company spending authority, the Load Forecast Accountability Act, funeral service licensure, work zone fines, biennial business reporting, correctional officer retirement law, the Right to Try Act, quick claim deed tax exemptions, an ibogaine drug-development grant program, aggravated vehicular homicide sentencing, 529 savings plan definitions, opportunity zones, barber apprenticeship, municipal and county hotel occupancy fund uses, criminal-record licensing standards, intimate image disclosure remedies, executor training materials, contempt penalties, PEIA treatment flexibility, PANS/PANDAS information, the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, capitation rate review expansions, convention and visitors bureau board membership, peer support services, cosmetology licensure compacts, natural resource police retirement, DNR fee indexing, ALS care services, the Neighborhood Investment Program, oil and gas well plugging and carbon capture-related provisions, DUI technical changes, abuse intervention program terminology, and a youth summer employment and career readiness program. Most bills passed overwhelmingly, with a few closer votes, including the Load Forecast Accountability Act and the DNR fee-indexing bill. Several bills were amended on the floor, including title amendments and strike-and-insert changes. The Senate also debated the work zone penalty bill, with supporters citing worker safety and fatalities and opponents arguing the bill increased fines too much without requiring removal of outdated work-zone signs. On the energy-related load forecast bill, senators discussed the inclusion of provisions from Senate Bill 420 and concerns about coal plant utilization and utility impacts. After debate, the Senate adopted amendments and passed the bill. In most cases, after passage the Senate ordered the bills communicated to the House, and for a few measures it also adopted title amendments or made bills effective from passage or on a specified date.

Transcript Highlights:

• and P-TECH is one of those programs.
• with that startup funding.
• with that startup new PTEC programs with that startup funding<00:20:43.200> and<00:20:43.280>
• in<00:24:18.919> the the the program the one program in the the the program the one program
• or part of the to be part of the program or part of the program<01:23:51.159> participants program

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and requirements in federal programs.
• and the Virginia Fresh Match program.
• For folks that might not recognize the jargon, CEP, the Community Eligibility Program, is a USDA funding
• And so the threat really does boil down to not having enough funding to make this a viable program.
• Because summer meals programs... ...time of the year, how we start talking about summer meals programs

Keywords: Virginia Commission to End Hunger, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2012, 2013, this body passed the computer data center program, a tax incentive program, to allow data
• The governor's budget proposes a $30 million general fund one-time deposit into this newly created fund
• The governor's budget proposes a $30 million general fund one-time deposit into this newly created fund
• the Cyber Ready Arizona program.
• The governor's budget includes fully funding the programs and services in the Division of Developmental

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee met to review the governor’s fiscal 2027 budget presentation, with the chair repeatedly asking members to keep questions brief and avoid speeches. The discussion focused first on the overall revenue and spending outlook, including concerns from members that the executive forecast was more optimistic than the JLBC baseline and that the budget appeared to front-load revenue and expenditure growth. The governor’s budget team said the forecast was close to JLBC’s, that the budget was structurally balanced, and that differences were roughly $100 million per year on ongoing revenue. Members asked for follow-up calculations in writing, including the total multi-year gap and the amount of revenue enhancements above base revenues. A major portion of the meeting centered on tax and fee proposals tied to data centers, water use, and sports betting. The governor’s team defended eliminating the existing data center tax incentive as the removal of a loophole rather than a new tax, arguing the incentive had already succeeded in attracting major investment. They also described a proposed Department of Water Resources fee-setting authority for data centers to support a new Colorado River Protection Fund, and said the proposal would apply to existing and future facilities without a grandfather clause. Members raised concerns about fairness, competitiveness, and whether the changes would require a supermajority vote. The team also discussed increased sports betting fees, saying the revenue forecast did not include dynamic behavioral effects. The committee then moved through major spending areas, including corrections, public safety, border security, cybersecurity, K-12 education, Medicaid, and developmental disabilities. The governor’s budget includes ongoing funding to prevent correctional officer pay cuts, money to comply with prison health care court orders, probation funding, body-worn cameras, law enforcement staffing, fentanyl task forces, and cyber readiness grants. Members questioned the lack of funding for a prison oversight committee and asked for corrections spending totals over the administration. On border security, the executive said it was seeking about $759.7 million in federal reimbursement for border-related costs and that the governor had met with federal officials, including Secretary Noem and Tom Homan, about the request. In education, the budget proposes renewing Prop. 123, adding K-12 base funding, and issuing $1.5 billion in school facilities bonds over three years; members debated whether the proposal was appropriate and whether Prop. 123 revenues could support the debt service. The meeting also covered AHCCCS cost growth and federal HR1 impacts, with the executive warning of major coverage losses and hospital funding reductions, and DDD funding, where the governor’s team said the budget fully funds services and includes about $120 million in supplemental needs. No votes were taken; the meeting was a presentation and question-and-answer session only.

Transcript Highlights:

• The main differences are that the executive recommendation adds $200,000 in funding to the program support
• and funds it fully.
• As an absolute alternative, we do have other state funds available in the Penitentiary Income Fund that
• This program apparently is a self-funded program. They make enough money to fund themselves.
• Utilizing all of the funds, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• President, NYSERDA already has similar Programs in place, funded in the same way.
• NYSERDA would decide where they can aggregate the amount of funding necessary for this program, which
• NYSERDA WOULD DECIDE WHERE THEY CAN AGGREGATE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING NECESSARY FOR THIS PROGRAM, WHICH
• WILL FUND A PROGRAM TO PURCHASE LAND, SET IT ASIDE AND MAKE SURE IT IS NOT DEVELOPED.
• If there are things of value, that would also fund this recycling program. Why not do that?

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several guest introductions, including students from Brooklyn and St. John’s University, followed by adoption of the resolution calendar with exceptions for two items. The chamber then took up a series of previously adopted resolutions recognizing Black Maternal Health Week, Workplace Violence Prevention Month, the one-year anniversary of the Jet Set nightclub tragedy in the Dominican Republic, New York Constitution Day, and the Month of the Military Child. Senators speaking on the maternal health resolution emphasized racial disparities in maternal mortality and the need for culturally competent care; the workplace violence resolution highlighted hospital safety programs; the Jet Set resolution was adopted in memory of the victims; and the Constitution Day speech reviewed New York’s delayed but eventual support for independence in 1776. The military child resolution stressed the sacrifices of military families and support for children of service members. All of these resolutions were adopted, and the resolutions were opened to co-sponsorship. The Senate then moved through the third reading calendar, passing several bills and laying others aside. Measures passed included bills on public health, environmental conservation, executive law, public authorities, and consumer protection. One notable debate involved a bill to require transparency from private arbitration organizations handling consumer cases; supporters argued it would provide basic public data and guard against conflicts of interest, while opponents said it would burden a useful dispute-resolution process and intrude on privacy. The bill passed after debate. Another debated bill would phase out number 4 heating oil statewide; supporters said cleaner alternatives exist and the fuel is harmful to public health, while opponents raised cost and transition concerns, especially for colder regions. That bill also passed. The chamber also considered a bill to create a rebate program for battery-powered landscaping equipment, funded through utility-related mechanisms administered by NYSERDA. Supporters said it would reduce air and noise pollution and help companies transition, while opponents argued ratepayers should not subsidize landscaping equipment. The bill passed after being restored to the non-controversial calendar. Finally, the Senate began discussion of a housing-related bill aimed at preserving manufactured home parks by enabling nonprofits or municipalities to acquire development rights and keep the land dedicated to that use, with the sponsor explaining that the goal is to protect affordable housing and help residents remain in their homes.

Transcript Highlights:

• But it's not a revolving loan fund in which this isn't that program, in which the state loans out the
• But it's not a revolving loan fund in which this isn't that program, in which the state loans out the
• meal programs. meal programs.
• of funds which is federal funds only. of funds which is federal funds only.
• the child care necessary to fully fund the child care workforce<02:12:22.719> programs<02:12:

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The base funding for this program is $1.7 million a year.
• Funding for this program is $1.7 million a year.
• > uh<00:02:32.400> this<00:02:32.560> funding through the leaf program uh this funding
• through the leaf program uh this funding has<00:02:33.080> never<00:02:33.319> been<00
• shelf program started in 2015 funded shelf program started in 2015 funded through<00:07:31.479><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Much of our work in the past year and two months has been to protect state funding for a variety of programs
• We're looking to do what we can to ensure compliance with the court order and to get those programs funded
• withholding of funds.
• program.
• So we work with Bridgewater State University's program, the Excel program.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities held its quarterly virtual/in-person meeting and approved the December minutes. The chair announced plans for the next “Meeting the Moment” community forum in Lowell on March 27, in partnership with MassAbility, focused on digital accessibility, education-to-employment transition, workforce supports, long-term services and supports, and health equity, along with a resource fair. The commission also began planning for its October National Disability Employment Awareness Month event and sought volunteers for a small planning group. The meeting featured an update from the Attorney General’s office on federal litigation affecting Massachusetts, including challenges to federal actions on higher education diversity data collection and DEI-related funding conditions, immigration/TPS for Haitians, NIH research grant disruptions, and the nonrenewal of mental health services grants for schools. The presenter said the state has helped protect more than $3 billion in federal funding and noted ongoing or pending appeals in several cases. Commissioners asked about possible impacts on disability-related DEI work and Medicaid; the AG’s office said guidance on DEIA/employment initiatives is available and that the state is closely monitoring federal Medicaid communications and coordinating with the governor’s office. Undersecretary of Labor Josh Cutler and apprenticeship liaison Amara Riemann presented on registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, emphasizing paid, employer-driven pathways with classroom instruction and wage progression. They highlighted growth in nontraditional fields such as human services, IT, early education, biotech, and banking, and described Bridgewater State University’s Excel program for neurodivergent people and people with disabilities as a model that can lead from pre-apprenticeship to apprenticeship. Commissioners discussed expanding similar models through community colleges and disability-focused workforce pipelines. Subcommittee reports covered disability employment, long-term services and supports, and health equity. The employment subcommittee heard from CED on state disability employment initiatives and planned future presentations from the Lawrence Partnership for Transition to Employment and Veterans Affairs. The long-term services and supports subcommittee discussed MassHealth budget pressures, anticipated federal Medicaid changes, the personal care attendant working group, and an upcoming discussion on crisis standards of care. In commissioner announcements, members highlighted recent honors for several commissioners, updates on municipal digital accessibility grants, a June Medicaid summit, and other commission activities. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what this bill does is it doesn't extend any additional revenue or funding to the program, but it
• <00:42:31.600> it<00:42:31.760> does or funding to the program but it does or funding
• funding. administration of the program. funding. administration of the program.
• Senate File 5101 would create a sports and events reimbursement program fund to provide a permanent funding
• Reimbursement Program will only receive<01:22:35.800> funding<01:22:37.040> if<01:22:37.360

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's why the growth of this program is so scary, because the health care access fund that funds this
• > that because the health care access fund that because the health care access fund that funds
• Do illegal immigrants or do we fund EMS? Do we<00:14:06.000> fund<00:14:06.480> hospitals?
• <00:14:07.040> Do<00:14:07.120> we<00:14:07.279> fund we fund hospitals?
• Do we fund we fund hospitals? Do we fund pharmacies?

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I AM EAGER TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE FUNDS WERE UTILIZED.
• I AM EAGER TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE FUNDS WERE UTILIZED.
• USE OF THE PROGRAM. WHAT PROGRAM? >> HOPE FLORIDA. >> Rep.
• SO THE LARGE PART OF THOSE FUNDS THAT WE HAVE OUR SNAP FUNDS WHICH ARE ABOUT 50, 50. 50 PERCENT OF THE
• FUNDS. >> Rep.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I'd also like to just share kind of the situation with our funding for this program.
• . funding. funding.
• look for other sources of funding. look for other sources of funding.
• program to start with? program to start with?
• how would you sustain this program? how would you sustain this program?

Bills: HF3738, HF2295, HF3520, HF3666

Keywords: pediatric care, hospital discharge, home care, healthcare accessibility, nursing services, family support, mental health, crisis services, Dakota County, mobile crisis response, public safety, treatment services, rehabilitation, behavioral health fund, client eligibility, home and community-based services, case management, waiver services, county services, disability advocacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Along with that, there's a $660,000 general fund elimination of support for that program.
• There's a substantial amount of general fund that has been put into the program to subsidize it as the
• once funding is implement the program once funding is appropriated. appropriated. appropriated.
• We're also working to ensure that we are ready to implement the program once funding is appropriated.
• fund for the community grants program. fund for the community grants program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This first round of funding from this program provided... I think we all know that.
• for local food for schools and child care programs. $70 million in funding for local food for schools
• This new round of funding mirrored the first, but expanded the program to child care.
• Protecting funding for this school meal program is imperative for the well-being of our students and
• important that we fully fund school nutrition programs.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then held its Latino Spirit Awards ceremony. Members adopted House Resolution 16, proclaiming May 4–11, 2025 as Cinco de Mayo Week, after supportive remarks from several caucuses emphasizing Mexican history, women’s contributions, LGBTQ solidarity, Black and Brown unity, and AAPI and Jewish community support. The chamber then recognized 11 Latino Spirit honorees for achievements in human rights, business, arts, public service, community empowerment, health and science, environmental justice, philanthropy, and entertainment. After the ceremony, the Assembly returned to floor business and approved a series of measures. AB 60, banning synthetic nitro musks in cosmetics and personal care products, passed 56–3. AJR 6, urging Congress to protect federal school meal and local food funding, drew extensive debate and broad bipartisan support; members cited child hunger, farm economies, and local food systems, and it passed 76–0 with 73 coauthors added. Other measures adopted included AB 679 on state park land acquisitions, AB 681 expanding Dream Loan Program caps for undocumented graduate students, AB 1224 on substitute teacher continuity, AB 831 on gaming technical changes, AB 259 extending Brown Act teleconferencing flexibility, AB 467 extending Los Angeles Neighborhood Council teleconferencing authority, and AB 519 targeting deceptive puppy mill sales. The chamber also passed AB 1522, an urgency Judiciary Committee bill protecting attorneys from politically motivated discipline and creating an expedited licensing path for some former federal attorneys, and AB 263, which extends temporary water flow requirements on the Shasta and Smith Rivers; that bill drew sharp disagreement over water rights, tribal participation, and impacts on farmers, but ultimately passed 51–16. Additional measures approved included AB 428 on pooled insurance for water corporations, AB 492 requiring notice to local jurisdictions when recovery treatment facilities are licensed, and AB 536 preserving colorectal cancer screening coverage. The Assembly also adopted a motion to suspend file notice so Appropriations could hear AB 379 on May 7.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs show longer retention. retention than the two-year programs.
• That program is not funding, for example, attorneys. It is definitely for the frontline workers.
• program.
• Harrison mentioned earlier that the program did fund 30 residents last cycle.
• Program with NPSIA.

Transcript Highlights:

• We doubled down on program integrity.
• And certainly the PCA program, the adult health, foster programs, are, um, By double digits.
• And certainly the PCA program, the adult health foster programs, are—we're not immune to that.
• In the contractor fund, is that only for people who've paid into the contractor fund?
• Economic Empowerment Trust Fund to support this critical programming.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint budget hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs, who described the fiscal outlook as challenging because of slow revenue growth, rising health care and other costs, and uncertainty from federal policy changes. Governor Healey and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew Gorzkowicz then presented House 2, a $62.8 billion budget that they said grows by about 1% and does not raise taxes or fees. They emphasized affordability, fiscal discipline, protection of core services, and continued investment in education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety. The administration also discussed a separate bill to delay and phase in certain federal tax-code changes from the so-called OB3 law, especially research and experimental expense provisions, to reduce immediate budget impacts and preserve competitiveness. A major portion of the hearing focused on education and municipal aid. The administration said House 2 provides about $7.6 billion for Chapter 70 aid, fully funds the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, increases special education circuit breaker funding, and raises rural school aid. Senators and representatives from both parties raised concerns that Chapter 70 and other aid formulas are not equitable for small, rural, and low-wealth communities and are not keeping pace with inflation, and several called for broader review of the formula and related funding streams. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion, pointed to additional support through rural aid, special education, transportation reimbursements, and minimum aid, and said total Student Opportunity Act investment would reach about $2.1 billion over the life of the law. Transportation, housing, and fair share spending were also central topics. The administration said fair share revenues are being used holistically, with education-heavy spending in the operating budget and transportation-heavy spending in the supplemental budget, and estimated the overall split to date at roughly 57% education and 43% transportation. They highlighted MBTA stabilization, regional transit authority support, microtransit, fare-free regional transit, and bridge and commuter rail investments, while noting the MBTA remains a major fiscal concern. On housing, the governor stressed production, permitting reform, ADUs, down-payment assistance, and support for public housing authorities, while lawmakers pressed for more funding for local housing authorities and for ways to address out-migration, energy costs, and affordability. The governor also said the administration will not withhold fire safety grants from communities over MBTA Communities Act noncompliance and will handle such issues case by case. No votes were taken at the hearing; it was an informational presentation and question-and-answer session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Within DESE, this fund is sort of federal and other funds.
• So this would be the end of this funding for this program. This funding for this program.
• Page 27 is just some additional information on the IDEA program. Page 28 is the high need fund.
• So we have to, and they're being spent in the Medicaid program, so we have to replace those funds with
• funding as our state match for the Medicaid program, and so now we have to use general revenue as our

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• trust fund.
• fund, not general the education trust fund, not general fund<02:58:47.680> dollars,<02:58:48.319
• fund, discretionary fund and development fund, discretionary fund and the<03:15:36.960> U<03:
• I'm not sure if those were the ARPA funds, if those were onetime ARPA funds or CARES Act funds. No.
• funds? funds?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• up in the Waters program, and the HB 563 bill, with certain projects being funded within the ranked
• mechanism set up in the waters program mechanism set up in the waters program and<00:09:04.959><
• I certainly appreciate the school facility assistance fund, but without the additional funding I can't
• <00:15:16.360> but school facility assistance fund but school facility assistance fund but
• can't move forward without full funding can't move forward without full funding as<00:21:46.760>

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:05 HB 537 Discussion 00:00:40 HB 537 Vote 00:02:45 HJR 34 Discussion 00:03:30 HJR 34 Vote 00:07:45 HJR 30 Discussion 00:08:30 HJR 30 Vote 00:10:25 HJR 32 Discussion 00:11:00 HJR 32 Vote 00:41:00, 958, all

Summary: The committee took up several measures related to appropriations and school facilities. House Bill 537 was explained as a technical fix to Kentucky’s opioid abatement settlement framework so the state can accept funds from national bankruptcy settlements under the allocation structure now used by the courts; the bill was supported by the Attorney General’s office and local government groups and received a favorable recommendation. House Joint Resolution 34 authorized release of previously appropriated KCTCS funds for three projects, and members discussed whether KCTCS facilities could be used more broadly for community needs such as public health, workforce, and other services. KCTCS officials said they were open to that idea, and the resolution also received a favorable recommendation. House Joint Resolution 30, concerning the Waters program and release of funds for projects that had remained in design, was adopted by committee substitute and passed favorably. The committee then heard extensive testimony on House Joint Resolution 32, which concerns school facility gap funding for districts with low bonding capacity. The chair and sponsor explained that the General Assembly had previously asked the auditor and Blue & Co. to analyze district data because of disputes over project costs and bonding capacity. Superintendents from Marion County, Augusta Independent, Williamstown, and Walton Verona described their projects and financial constraints. Marion County and Augusta argued that full gap funding is necessary for new school or multipurpose facility projects that cannot be phased in; Augusta emphasized its old building stock, high poverty rate, and the need for a gymnasium/multipurpose space used for school and community functions. Williamstown described a STEM center and field expansion, saying the project would be delayed for years without full funding. Walton Verona described rapid growth, overcrowding, and an intermediate school project that had risen sharply in cost from the original estimate. Members asked questions about the accuracy of cost estimates and the scope of the projects, including why some estimates differed from the auditor’s figures and whether the funding requests covered only parts of larger phased plans. The testimony generally supported full funding for the listed districts, with the districts arguing that the projects are necessary for safe, modern learning environments and that local tax effort has already been substantial. Each of the measures considered during the meeting was reported out favorably, with the chair voting no on the resolutions and bills before the committee.