Video & Transcript Research : 'Pell grant program'
Page 184 of 500
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Transportation Infrastructure Revenue Subcommitee Oct 6th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Our economic programs, you know...
- about it a little bit, is our Rio Safe program.
- As you can see, it's a pretty robust program right now.
- So, that's kind of our four-year program: $27 million, and that's due to a grant that we received for
- DOT loves acronyms, our match. program our co-op.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on State Government (6-24-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- The direct local aid allotment includes the restricted fund allotment for the local records grant program
- As examples, we awarded this year grants for technology upgrades, website development, and outreach programs
- KDLA also coordinates the local records program grants.
- These are funds from the program grants.
- The program allocates 90% to grants for county clerk projects. Thank you.
Summary:
The Interim Joint Committee on State Government met for its first meeting and heard a presentation from the Kentucky Center for Statistics (KY Stats) by Executive Director Matt Barry and Legislative Director Calli Arnold. The presentation reviewed KY Stats’ statutory background, its evolution from KESUS, its board membership, and its role in housing Kentucky’s longitudinal data system and labor market information office. Barry explained that KY Stats links data from multiple state sources, validates and cleans it, deidentifies it, and uses it to produce reports, evaluations, and responses to data requests for policymakers, practitioners, and the public.
Barry described the scale of the system, noting more than 6,000 active data elements, 178 unique file types, and data from 48 sources across 26 agencies. He highlighted the agency’s privacy and security practices, including separate servers for source data and deidentified reporting data, and said KY Stats does not use real-time data. He also outlined the types of reports produced, including the annual high school feedback report and a recent life outcomes report tracking the 2017 public high school cohort’s postsecondary education, completion, wages, and employment outcomes.
Members asked about the timeliness and availability of data, especially SNAP and Medicaid information, and Barry said most data arrive annually or quarterly and that Medicaid data had been used in a limited one-time project rather than as an ongoing feed. Questions also focused on artificial intelligence; Barry said KY Stats has not integrated AI but is exploring it cautiously because of privacy and security concerns. Several members encouraged further work with AI tools, while Barry emphasized that any use would need to protect confidentiality.
The committee also discussed staffing and funding, with Barry saying KY Stats has about 49 total staff and annual funding of roughly $3.1 million in state general funds, plus federal labor-related funding. Committee members praised the agency’s work and suggested legislators may not fully understand its capabilities. No votes or formal actions were taken.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Capital Planning Advisory Board (6-11-25)
Transcript Highlights:
funding <00:27:27.279>for We also administer grant funding for We also administer grant- In addition to our loan and grant programs, we also manage the Water Resource Information System, which
- The program provides funding to projects that are not eligible for the federally assisted programs and
- eligible expense under the loan program. eligible expense under the loan program.
- So, we would anticipate 90% grant.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:09
Approval of Minutes 00:01:10
Welcome New Members 00:01:26
Information Items 00:01:49
COT Special Report 00:02:38
Review of Executive Branch Agency Plans 00:07:41
A. Department of Military Affairs 00:08:07
B. Department of Veterans’ Affairs 00:20:34
C. Kentucky Infrastructure Authority 00:25:54
D. Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet 00:35:05
E. Transportation Cabinet 00:55:53, 958, all
Summary:
The Capital Planning Advisory Board met with a quorum, approved the May 21 minutes, and welcomed a new executive branch member, Secretary Keith Jackson of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. The board also received two informational items: agency responses to prior questions and amendments made to capital plans after the last meeting. It then heard the Commonwealth Office of Technology’s report on executive branch IT capital project scoring, which reviewed 16 IT requests totaling about $330.5 million. COOT said projects were ranked through an independent panel using standardized criteria focused on feasibility, statewide alignment, readiness, impact, and risk; the CIO recommended moving an enterprise application and artificial intelligence inventory system from rank 11 to rank 4 because of its enterprise-wide impact and connection to Senate Bill 4.
The Department of Military Affairs presented its capital plan, describing 43 million in projects for the current period and 13 projects totaling $65 million for 2026–2028, with most funding coming from federal sources and restricted agency funds and no general fund request in the latter period. Its projects included maintenance pool adjustments, a statewide Army master plan, the Somerset readiness center, Shelbyville and Ashland armories, a future home for the Kentucky Army National Guard band, and other facility upgrades. Members asked about the Somerset project’s cost growth and federal delay; the department said the project remains in conceptual design, is awaiting federal MILCON action, and would require a state match of about $9.8 million against $29.6 million federal funding if it is approved. Members also asked about staffing levels, and the department said state employee and Title 32 numbers have been relatively steady, while technician positions have declined.
The Department of Veterans Affairs outlined seven projects for 2026–2028, led by a Radcliff Veterans Center HVAC replacement that needs an estimated additional $16 million to finish phase two after phase one was already funded. Other requests included a maintenance pool increase, renovations and exterior upgrades at Eastern and Western Kentucky veterans facilities, a cooling tower replacement at Thompson Hood, and parking lot and lighting improvements. The department said some projects were already in the six-year plan and that the Radcliff phase two could be bid in June 2026 if funded. Members confirmed that a columbarium wall project at Grayson is federally funded.
The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority presented its six-year capital plan, citing more than $3 billion in loan commitments since 1988 and over $5 billion in supported infrastructure projects. KIA requested $298.439 million in the first biennium, including $27.742 million in state match for federal clean water and drinking water revolving funds, $25 million for its state Infrastructure Revolving Fund, $185.697 million in federal capitalization grants, and $30 million in leverage bond authorization for each year of the two federally assisted loan programs. Members asked about drinking-water quality, and KIA said that function is handled by the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s Division of Water, not KIA. KIA also said its loan rates currently range from 0.5% to 2.25%, averaging just under 1%, and that its revolving loan programs have had no defaults. The Tourism, Arts, and Heritage Cabinet began its presentation at the end of the transcript, with staff identifying themselves, but no project details or board action from that presentation were included in the excerpt.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 1/22/25
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- food program there are two the federal food program there are two tiers<00:05:12.280>
there's - We... the food program.
- We are a benefit from having grants through parent-aware regional grants, a lot of state money through
had <00:06:31.599>the we M the food program I had the we M the food program I had the- I wrote the program I'm with.
Summary:
The Children and Families Committee met with a quorum, approved the January 21, 2025 minutes, and then focused on child care shortages and the pressures facing family child care providers across Minnesota, especially in Greater Minnesota. Chairing members noted the issue affects both rural and metro areas and introduced testimony from Cindy Cunningham, a St. Paul family child care provider and public policy chair for the State Association for Family Child Care.
Cunningham argued that family child care is in crisis despite state investments, saying provider numbers continue to decline and that the system is not working. She raised concerns about food reimbursement tiers, special licenses that may not qualify for the family child care food program, the need for supplemental support for lower-tier programs, and the burden of upfront grant spending and delayed reimbursement. She also said providers receive little financial benefit for their own children in care and described a recent DHS decision affecting supervision of providers’ own children as an example of poor communication. Her broader message was that unclear, inconsistent, and poorly implemented licensing rules are driving providers out of the field.
She recommended implementing the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s recommendations, improving DHS communication with both licensors and providers, updating public guidance and training materials, and considering more direct county funding and support for family child care. She also suggested reevaluating support for certified centers and other state-funded programs that she said operate under different standards. Committee members thanked her for the detailed testimony and said they wanted to follow up with her. The committee then moved on to letters and additional testimony from providers around the state, with members emphasizing the goal of identifying specific regulations that are hindering child care startup and continuation.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Sixty Eight - Tuesday, May 12
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- inside that reserve program?
- Because when you get a federal grant, all federal grant monies are divvied out by priority spending,
- “If you, when you apply for the grant, because a lot of these are competitive grant programs, or you
- And can it fund any of their programs?
- Or does it have to stick with the program they collect the money on? It sticks with the program?
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- for a program.
- pertain to the Miscellaneous Grants pertain to the Miscellaneous Grants Program,<00:31:02.720>
capital program. capital program.- Uh in the Miscellaneous Grants Program,<00:31:11.200>
Amendments <00:31:11.640>22 <00:31- 187 add Program, Amendments 22 through 187 add grants,<00:31:15.000>
modify <00:31:15.400> - Uh in the Miscellaneous Grants Program,<00:31:11.200>
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, quorum call, and approval of the previous day’s journal, then received Senate Bill 890 and several House committee reports. The first major measure taken up was House Bill 627, which establishes a Commission on Histories, Culture, and Civics in Education. Committee amendments clarified the commission’s purpose, membership, and charge to review curriculum materials and school calendars and make recommendations to the State Board of Education and the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Additional amendments added a disability community expert and preamble language. The bill prompted extended debate about whether the commission would promote diversity in curriculum, how it would address religious and ethnic representation, and whether it would include Christian or Catholic perspectives; supporters said it was meant to reflect communities that had requested inclusion and to improve the completeness of Maryland history, while critics questioned the need for a new commission and raised concerns about identity politics and curriculum control. The bill was ordered printed for third reading after second-reader consideration.
The House also considered House Bill 1582, the Education Program Accountability, Comprehensive Outcomes and Measures of Progress for Supporting Schools (COMPASS) Act. An amendment removed references to advanced professional certificates and national board certification from school quality indicators and required annual reporting on the relationship between composite scores and concentrations of low-income students. During discussion, members asked whether the bill was changing the scoring system and how much weight academics would carry; the response was that academic indicators would remain a majority of the score, but no single indicator could exceed 20% of the composite. The amendment and favorable report were adopted, and the bill was ordered printed for third reading.
The House then took up House Bill 1514 concerning Calvert County county officials and Board of Education salaries and benefits. Committee amendments were technical and removed a benefit provision related to a former commissioner; both the amendment and favorable report were adopted without opposition, and the bill was ordered printed for third reading. Finally, the chamber moved to special order calendar item Senate Bill 283, the Maryland Consolidated Capital Bond Loan of 2026. The House Appropriations Committee presented 198 amendments to the capital budget, describing them as balanced across regions and within debt affordability limits, and began moving the amendments in groups, starting with a technical amendment.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Education Study Oct 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- For dollars for programs such as CTE.
- But, you know, after 12 years of working at central office, overseeing federal programs, bilingual programs
- So we rely heavily on grants.
- It's not a half-time program. It's a 6-hour program, and we're not getting funded for that.
- I need to continue with the programs I'm working with for my students, and we have great programs.
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-05-13 - 10:00AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The second change that they proposed is the rural industrial development grant program, which we had
- And this makes changes to that rural industrial development grant program.
- had development grant program which we had development grant program which we had not<00:48:00.720
- rural industrial development grant rural industrial development grant program.<00:48:11.119>
- The program was originally program.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- that we receive in these grants that we receive in these programs.
- He said the SEC is best known for administering the conservation license plate grant program, through
- Currently, that position uses approximately 80% of its time managing the Moose Plate grant program.
- grant program, which may our moose plate grant program, which may require<01:32:29.040>
the <01 - time managing the Moose Plate grant time managing the Moose Plate grant program.<01:32:44.960>
NV
Nevada 2025 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Jun 1st, 2025 at 12:00 pm
Nevada Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- served by such a program and creates similar provisions for pre-K; amends a teacher-to-administrator
- ratio for those in the Clark County School District; and requires the creation of a grant program to
- Program account.
- funding, professional development costs, information technology projects, programs, grants, and studies
- funding, professional development costs, information technology projects, programs, grants, and studies
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Rural Health Transformation Committee Jan 14th, 2026 at 08:30 am
Transcript Highlights:
- We're also appropriating an additional $198 million for the grant year, which starts in October of 2026
- Transfer funds to the salary and wages block grant line item.
- Section 3 authorizes OMB to increase state agency federal funds appropriation authority for any grant
- The increase in appropriation authority is limited to the grant award amount.
- Section 5 requires grant recipients to acknowledge in any grant agreement that the federal funding is
Summary:
The Health Care Task Force reconvened to hear reports from its divisions. The Appropriations Division reviewed a draft bill appropriating $198 million in federal grant funds for the current year and another $198 million for the next grant year, authorizing DHS to transfer funds within its budget, allowing OMB to adjust federal fund authority for related grants, speeding procurement and bulk purchasing, requiring grant recipients to acknowledge the temporary nature of the funding, and mandating periodic reporting. After questions were answered to the division’s satisfaction, the committee voted to forward the appropriations bill draft to Legislative Management.
The Policy Division then reviewed four bills. One would require the presidential physical fitness test to be included in high school physical education; another would require physicians to complete one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health each renewal cycle; a third would add physician assistants to the interstate licensure compact framework; and a fourth would authorize limited pharmacist prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution. Members generally supported the first three measures and noted that the pharmacist bill had been amended in discussion but was left in its current form so stakeholders could comment before the special session. The division also discussed that all four policy bills were tied to the federal grant funding and that failure to pass them, or changing them in a way that reduced CMS scoring, could reduce or eliminate funding.
Department officials confirmed that if any of the bills failed or were altered in a way that lowered the score, the state could lose money and could not make up the points elsewhere. Members raised concerns about the physical fitness bill, including possible exemptions for students with severe illnesses or physical limitations, and noted the need for DPI input. Leadership indicated the special session hearings would likely begin Wednesday morning. The committee then approved a motion for Legislative Council to prepare a committee report for Legislative Management and adjourned, noting the task force may need to remain available during the special session.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- program there.
- Well, this is different because what this does is this allows LED to develop a grant program.
- And whatever grants come, if there are state grants, it's taxpayer monies.
- Well, this is different because what this does is this allows LED to develop a grant program, a program
- And whatever grants come, if there are state grants, is taxpayer monies.
Keywords:
housing assistance, state-owned property, cost-burdened, state employees, affordable housing, fiscal audit, higher education, public funds, underrepresented minorities, Board of Regents, Louisiana legislation, constitutional convention, Louisiana constitution, electoral process, government structure, delegate elections, airport authority, fire protection, supplemental pay, public safety
Summary:
The committee first took up Senate Bill 105, which would reinstate an existing TOPS Tech benefit for eligible veterans after a sunset expired. The author said the program had been underused because it was not well promoted, but that the new veterans workforce effort called “The Boot” would help connect veterans to the benefit. Members confirmed it would use existing TOPS funds and not require new money, and the bill was reported favorably without objection.
House Resolution 3 asked the Louisiana Housing Corporation to study whether vacant state-owned property could be used for housing and rental assistance for cost-burdened state employees. The author described it as an exploratory study, while members raised concerns about the fiscal note and the scope of the study. Fiscal staff explained the agency had requested additional positions to do the work. The committee discussed narrowing the study to certain areas, but the resolution was ultimately reported favorably.
House Bill 189 sought supplemental pay for fire protection officers at the Lakefront Management Authority’s airport. The author and airport representatives argued the firefighters perform hazardous, specialized ARFF duties at a busy public airport and should be treated like other supplemental-pay recipients. Some members questioned whether the airport and its employees qualified under existing law and whether the proposal would expand an already costly program. After debate, the committee rejected the bill on an 8-10 vote.
The committee then reported Senate Bill 461 favorably, which would place certain small groups of active employees under the Office of Group Benefits to improve insurance rates without using general fund money. House Bill 623, creating a three-tier permitting system for vapor product producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers, was amended to clarify the direct-to-consumer shipment prohibition and then reported favorably. House Bill 1222, which would authorize LED to create a grocery initiative grant and assistance program to address food deserts, drew extended debate over whether it would amount to government-run grocery stores; supporters said it would only create incentives for private grocers and related assistance. It was amended and reported favorably by a 16-2 vote. Finally, House Resolution 80, as amended, would shift a proposed audit-related effort on higher education budget metrics away from the legislative auditor and toward university systems’ own boards; members questioned the need for a look-back report and the added workload, and the chair indicated he would move to recommit the resolution to the education committee.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
06/10/2026 - House Republican Caucus Calendar #25
Transcript Highlights:
- Finally, the bill modifies eligibility for the out-of-school grant program and continues other baseline
- House Bill 4163 establishes the school safety threat identification pilot program in ADE.
- I mean, major, major, major. ...and software programs, I mean, major, major, major.
- Right away we need to have them apply for this grant.
- The state has to, through Access, apply for this program.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Radioactive and Hazardous Materials Oct 15th, 2025
Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- What’s quite unique about this program is... this program is that it will be offered across a spectrum
- As I mentioned to you before, the global programs, it's only that program that's really online.
- We've had in the past some smaller grants with Sandia, again through CARSBUD, and some other grants we
- This facility operates through a grant program, but you're saying that you're not really managed by them
- One last question: the PWDI program, Sorry, the PWDI program, the Plutonium Workforce Development Initiative
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Program.
- This recommendation led to the creation of the grant program.
- In fiscal years 2022 to 2023, the grant program awarded 608,671 out of the 667,000 that was available
- What are, is there like one typical source of these grant programs and funds, or is this, is it federal
- Um, this grant program, as the representative mentioned, has typically funded these innovative programs
Keywords:
judicial liability, personal bond, felony offenses, judges, criminal justice reform, voter registration, election procedures, change of address, residence requirements, Texas Election Code, Texas election law, residence address, precinct voting, county move, same-county move, Election Code, registrar, statement of residence, polling place, local elections
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans - 02/10/25
Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development - Subcommittee on Veterans
Transcript Highlights:
- Then we get to hear from Grant again and that Senate File 613 Veterans on the Lake Grant appropriation
- This is a $100,000 appropriation for a grant program for veteran and disabled veterans to visit Veterans
- cycle: we spent of the $50,000 grant $8,155.
- Our grant cycle was January to June 31st.
- <00:04:58.960>
cycle Grant cycle Grant cycle we<00:05:01.240>spent <00:05:02.240>uh
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- The Louisiana Fortified Homes Program, created in this committee, is a proven mitigation program that
- The Louisiana Fortified Homes Program, created in this committee, is a proven mitigation program that
- program?
- The program was issued its first grant in November of 2023.
- We had 10,581 people apply for 500 grants. So this. We had 10,581 people apply for 500 grants.
Summary:
The House Insurance Committee met on April 23 with a quorum present and began by announcing that HB 1142 was deferred. The committee then took up HB 1187, which would direct any excess Louisiana Citizens emergency assessment funds, after related debt is satisfied, toward the Louisiana Fortified Homes Program or future Citizens obligations. Commissioner Tim Temple and Rep. Sawyer said the bill would likely redirect about $50 million to the popular fortified roof grant program, which has already awarded thousands of roofs and is oversubscribed. With support from Citizens and others, the committee adopted technical amendments and reported HB 1187 favorably.
The committee next considered HB 1210, a proposal by Rep. Dana Henry to create a pre-suit claim review process for Louisiana Citizens disputes modeled on Florida’s system. After explaining that the bill was prompted by constituent concerns about rising homeowners insurance costs, Henry voluntarily deferred the bill and instead moved toward a study resolution. The substitute version, which would have allowed Citizens disputes to be resolved through the Division of Administrative Law, was adopted for discussion, but the bill was ultimately voluntarily deferred after testimony from Citizens and the department supporting further study.
HB 1199, by Rep. Jordan, would require coverage for genetic testing and medically necessary treatment for SCN2A-associated disorders. After adopting an amendment clarifying that coverage depends on provider order and medical necessity, the committee heard emotional testimony from a parent describing her daughter’s severe SCN2A condition and the difficulty obtaining genetic testing. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then took up HB 880, the Louisiana Artificial Intelligence Insurance Fairness Act, which would regulate AI use in underwriting, rating, and claims. Jordan said the bill raised state-federal insurance regulatory issues and could jeopardize federal broadband funding, so he voluntarily deferred it; HB 920 was also voluntarily deferred.
Finally, the committee considered HB 1221, by Rep. Amadee, which would narrow data collection under the surplus lines premium tax system to protect policyholder privacy. Former Rep. Bowler argued the department should not collect names, addresses, or coverage limits and that the bill would preserve privacy without affecting tax collection. The Department of Insurance said the broader data is needed for premium tax reconciliation, fraud detection, and post-disaster assistance. After debate, a motion to report HB 1221 favorably failed on a 6-6 roll call. The committee then moved on to HB 869 by Rep. Lyons, a health insurance bill covering injectable drugs for glucose or weight-loss treatment, but the transcript ends before further action on that measure.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Heath and Family Service. (6-3-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- But, um, has any thought been given to making the Medicaid program a block grant program?
- But, um, has any thought been given to making the Medicaid program a block grant program, where you're
- But, um, has any thought been given to making the Medicaid program a block grant program, where you're
- Medicaid program a block grant program, where you're dividing that $20 billion amongst the 15 area development
- transformation program. transformation program.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:00:20
CRISP Shared Services 00:01:39
Rural Health Transformation Plan 00:30:55, 958, all
Summary:
The Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Services opened its first meeting of the 2026 interim session, took roll, and moved directly into presentations. The main presentation was from Ryan Bramble of Crisp Shared Services, who described the organization’s health information exchange and health data utility model in Kentucky and other states. He emphasized that Crisp is a nonprofit, that data ownership remains with providers, and that governance is local. He also outlined the technical infrastructure, including a master patient index, cloud-based data lake, support for modern standards like FHIR and USCDI as well as older formats, and data quality tools used to normalize and standardize information. Bramble said the model is intended to reduce duplication, lower costs, and support rural providers and future use cases such as reporting, analytics, and AI-enabled decision support.
Members asked how the state can ensure the data is actually used and who should drive priorities for health care improvement. Bramble said Crisp can provide tools, expertise, and examples from other states, but local teams such as KHI and state stakeholders must tailor and lead utilization efforts. In response to questions about ownership and coordination, he stressed that successful HIE governance requires a multistakeholder body that includes hospitals, health plans, government, and other interests, with a unified approach rather than multiple competing directives. He also said the Commonwealth has an opportunity to convene those stakeholders and set clear priorities.
A senator raised concerns that responsibility for Medicaid and broader health policy has become fragmented and suggested a stronger central role for the state, possibly through the Department of Public Health, to coordinate health priorities. Bramble agreed that a single convening authority and multistakeholder governance are important, and noted that local governance should determine what data is shared and how it is used. No votes or formal actions were taken during this portion of the meeting. After Bramble’s presentation and questions, the committee was told that Secretary Stack from the cabinet would testify next on the rural health transformation plan.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- SCORE grants fund recycling programs, the expansion of organics composting efforts to reduce and reuse
- revenues are allocated to score grants revenues are allocated to score grants to<00:18:31.919>
to fund Recycling and reuse programs to fund Recycling and reuse programs Washington<00:18:35.679 - mandates due to inadequate score Grant mandates due to inadequate score Grant allocations<00:20:
- It's a program that we coordinate at the county level, whether that's funded with SCORE grants or not
Keywords:
solid waste management, resource management account, environmental fund, taxation, Minnesota statutes, homestead, property tax, classification, disability, resort properties, recreational use, commercial property, tax refund, estimated tax, interest on refunds, income tax, corporate franchise tax, S corporation, partnership, corporation
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Environment committee hears 'Keep it Clean' bill, HF1120 2/25/25
Transcript Highlights:
- the work of this bill and expanding the program.
- the work of this bill and expanding the program.
- that's funded through grants and community participation.
- that's funded through removal program that's funded through grants<00:09:44.120>
and <00:09:44.519 - This is why I'm asking. program because I think we're going to program because I think we're going to
Summary:
The committee heard House File 1120, the follow-up “Keep It Clean” bill from Representative Andrew Myers, which would create grant funding for local governments and organizations to improve garbage removal and related clean-water programs, especially around frozen lakes and winter recreation areas. Myers said the earlier Keep It Clean effort to enforce litter laws on frozen lakes had already reduced garbage in the water, and he framed this bill as a way to expand that success with additional resources. Testifier Robin Dwight of the Upper Red Lake Area Association and Keep It Clean Coalition described growing problems with trash and human waste on ice, said the coalition now has 60 members representing more than 10,000 lakes, and explained that local programs use dumpsters and separation systems to manage waste. Tom Johnson of the MPCA and Assistant Commissioner Bob Myers of the DNR both testified in support, saying improper disposal of human and solid waste is a real and growing problem and that the public education campaign has changed behavior on the ice.
Members asked about the bill’s results and funding needs. Representative Pelz asked for more context on the coalition’s impact, and Dwight said the group has been active for about three years and recently launched a survey to gather more data on infrastructure needs for wheelhouse users. Representative Fiser asked what dollar amount would be needed, and Myers said the bill seeks general fund dollars, with a rough ideal range of one to two million dollars, though he emphasized he wanted to work with the committee on the final amount and funding mechanism. The discussion also noted a second related bill with a $10 wheelhouse fee as another possible funding option.
No opposition testimony was presented. After discussion, the chair renewed the motion to lay over House File 1120 for possible inclusion in a future bill, and the bill was laid over.