Transcript Highlights:

• We have been responsive.
• Across the state, there are dual immersion programs in Arabic, Armenian, Cantonese, French, Hmong, Korean
• The state and federal relief assistance rapidly deployed digital devices, online programming to facilitate
• But red states are very focused on drawing blue state business.
• This is on top of the robust programs that they have in those states.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They have a program in the Mid-Atlantic states where they're showing that they're actually having an
• where program in the Mid-Atlantic states where program in the Mid-Atlantic states where they're<
• He said other states do not have a water quality certification program, and the tax credit alone is not
• He added that other states do not have a water quality certification program, and the tax credit alone
• He said the grant program expands the umbrella of state support to help businesses bridge the gap from

Bills: HF363, HF2155, HF1524, HF821, HF1677, HF1292

Keywords: HF363, property tax credit, agricultural water quality credit, Minnesota agricultural water quality certification program, clean water fund, class 2a, class 2b, certified acres, conservation incentive, water quality, agricultural property, county assessor, county auditor, Department of Revenue, Department of Agriculture, property tax reimbursement, school district reimbursement, legacy finance, taxes committee, southeastern Minnesota

Transcript Highlights:

• What caught my eye is: ensure programs are administered in compliance with federal and state laws and
• What caught my eye is: ensure programs are administered in compliance with federal and state laws and
• What caught my eye is: ensure programs are administered in compliance with federal and state laws and
• What caught my eye is: ensure programs are administered in compliance with federal and state laws and
• that state agencies are responsible for maintaining internal controls to ensure debt collection.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met on January 9, 2025, to focus on internal controls, fraud prevention, and legislative oversight of state agencies. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall explained Minnesota’s internal control framework, based on the GAO Green Book, and described five core controls: assigning responsibility, separating duties, restricting access, maintaining policies and procedures, and keeping records. She tied each control to examples from recent audits, including DHS’s Medicaid provider debt recovery, the Minnesota State Academies’ travel reimbursement issue, privileged access at the Minnesota State Lottery, missing mileage-verification procedures at the Board of Firefighter Training and Education, and weak documentation in the Board on Aging’s senior nutrition program. Deputy Legislative Auditor Jod Mson Rodriguez then presented a new follow-up report on implementation of prior recommendations from 2022 through 2024, including special reviews. She said the office gathers agency documentation, evaluates progress, and categorizes recommendations from implemented to not applicable, while noting that some items require more work to verify and that this reflects OLA capacity rather than agency performance. Examples included the Department of Commerce, where some policy changes were verified but further work would be needed to confirm consistent investigator compliance, and the Metropolitan Council, where more data analysis would be needed to determine whether bonus payments were properly earned. She also noted that a legislature-directed recommendation to require grant manager training had not been implemented. Overall, OLA reported that state agencies had implemented or partially implemented close to 70% of its recommendations, while the legislature had implemented or partially implemented about 40% of recommendations from the last three years. Members generally praised the office’s work and discussed how agencies respond after reports are issued. Senator Westrom raised concerns about a recent media report on alleged fraud in CCAP, and Randall said OLA was aware of the issue but could not discuss details. Senator Draheim asked about post-report agency engagement, and Randall and Rodriguez said follow-up varies, with some agencies seeking private meetings and others engaging less, but that the follow-up process often prompts further discussion and improvement.

Transcript Highlights:

• In addition to the federal and state funding, our communities also have the responsibility to match,
• Secondary education programs, and then there are three high schools throughout the state that we're aware
• Then we obviously have our engineering programs down at New Mexico State, several flight schools that
• Those are our responsibilities. On our funding, we have a mix of federal and state funds.
• Right now, state police is on Tracks, and they're a great champion of the program.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Office of Economic Self-Sufficiency administers the state and federally funded programs for low-income
• The SNAP program is administered by DCF on behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture, Food
• The TCA program is administered by DCF on behalf of the United States Department of Health and Human
• the United States Department of Agriculture, and all regulations that administer the program are set
• Through the administration of SNAP, the state is required to meet performance requirements of the program

Summary: The Human Services Subcommittee met to receive implementation briefings on House Bill 1267, which was enacted to address benefit cliffs and help public assistance recipients move toward economic self-sufficiency. The Department of Children and Families reviewed SNAP, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), and Medicaid-related eligibility and work requirements, including who must participate in work activities, the role of Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida, and the new standardized intake and exit surveys required by the law. Members also discussed the TCA program’s household-based structure, the 48-month adult limit, and how work requirements differ for SNAP and TCA participants. Florida Commerce and CareerSource Florida then reported on implementation of HB 1267, including the CLIFF financial forecasting tool, case management changes, and survey data collected from welfare transition participants. They said intake surveys showed common barriers such as child care, transportation, and flexible work schedules, while exit surveys showed many participants were employed or had gained credentials, though response rates were low because the surveys are voluntary. A local workforce board, CareerSource Tampa Bay, described using CLIFF in case management and shared a success story about a participant who completed training, earned certifications, and moved into employment. The committee also heard a separate DCF briefing on the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act and its impact on SNAP. DCF said the law expands able-bodied adult without dependents requirements, changes non-citizen eligibility, ends future SNAP-Ed funding, increases state administrative cost sharing, and may require states to share in benefit costs if payment error rates remain above federal thresholds. Members focused heavily on Florida’s SNAP payment error rate, which DCF said was 15.13% for federal fiscal year 2024 and 12.60% for 2023, with the state currently on a corrective action plan. DCF described steps to reduce errors, including more verification of rent and utility expenses, improved income matching, staff training, and system modernization. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after questions concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are often focused on ways to make state programs work better, whether they are operating efficiently
• control compliance audits of state control compliance audits of state agencies<00:12:05.880>
• are often focused on ways to make State are often focused on ways to make State programs<00:12:23.920
• who ultimately select the program who ultimately select the program evaluation<00:14:28.199>
• to state government.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate File 563, a bill to change the board makeup of the Northern Koochiching Area Sanitary District. Senator Hild said the proposal had been heard the previous year and had broad support from local officials and stakeholders. Cali Briggs, the district’s executive director, explained that the board structure no longer reflected current populations and sewer service patterns: International Falls now holds six of eight seats after earlier consolidations, while East Koochiching has grown through sewer expansions and should receive additional representation. The bill would reduce the board to seven members, with International Falls having three seats, East Koochiching two, Rainier one, and one at-large member chosen by the board. The committee raised no substantive objections, and Senator Gustafson moved the bill to pass and go to general orders; the motion prevailed. Members then briefly joked about the topic and moved on to an overview from the Office of the Legislative Auditor. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall described the office as a nonpartisan legislative branch agency serving both chambers, with a mission of strengthening oversight, promoting accountability, and producing objective, useful reports. She outlined the office’s structure, including financial audits, program evaluations, and a growing special reviews unit, and explained the Legislative Audit Commission’s role in appointing the auditor and selecting program evaluation topics. Randall also emphasized the office’s broad access to records and data, its independence, and its responsibility to protect nonpublic information. Randall answered questions about the office’s authority over entities such as the University of Minnesota, explaining that OLA has audit authority there but often relies on the university’s internal audit function and can also conduct special reviews and program evaluations. She noted that public employees are required to cooperate and that subpoenas are available if needed, though the office prefers to maintain cooperative relationships. Special Reviews Director Katherine Tyson then described how her unit handles complaints and allegations involving misuse of public funds, data, or noncompliance with law, including preliminary assessments, communications with complainants and agencies, and deeper reviews when warranted. She said allegations and reports have increased steadily, with 481 received from 2020 through 2024 and nearly 10 per week on average last year, contributing to a heavier workload for her small team.

Transcript Highlights:

• grant<00:04:52.320> program coupled with state grant program coupled with state grant
• <00:05:12.800> work<00:05:13.120> study state work study state work study program.<00:05
• <00:37:01.359> program state grant great state grant program state grant great state grant
• > be the state grant program can be the state grant program can be distributed.<00:38:49.119>
• to participate in state student loan programs.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• um that are rising in every um programs um that are rising in every state<00:41:49.440> across
• The shifting of government money, government programs here from the state going down to the counties,
• The shifting of government money, government programs here from the state going down to the counties,
• The shifting of government money, government programs here from the state going down to the counties,
• here from the money government programs here from the state<01:08:54.199> going<01:08:54.440>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• , state-based, state-based, state-based, and migrant seasonal Head Start programs, both in center-based
• Our general child care and state-based migrant program.
• Their two-year-old was in a state program, and they were told it would be better for the opportunity.
• The program has been in a state...
• So we've provided counties to augment their emergency response programs.

Summary: The committee heard an extensive Department of Social Services presentation on child care budget issues, including the Governor’s proposed 2026-27 budget, federal CCDF changes, Prop. 64 revenue adjustments, and a one-time $11.5 million disaster-related infrastructure grant for licensed child care facilities affected by 2025 declared disasters. DSS said federal formula updates and lower Prop. 64 revenues would reduce funding and could result in about 4,176 CCTR slots being reduced, but the department said it was working to avoid impacts to currently enrolled children. The LAO supported aligning general child care funding with lower revenues and asked for more detail on the disaster grant. Members pressed DSS and Finance on why reductions were not being backfilled and why so many awarded slots remain uncontracted or unused; DSS said delays are largely due to providers building new infrastructure, licensing, staffing, and enrollment challenges, and that some unspent funds revert to the General Fund. The committee also discussed whether some contract dollars should be shifted to vouchers and whether more flexibility should be allowed for infrastructure and expansion costs. A second panel focused on the state’s commitment to expand child care and on rate reform. DSS reported that nearly 125,000 new slots have been awarded since 2021-22, but speakers from Stanislaus County Office of Education, Parent Voices California, and the California Budget and Policy Center argued that unmet need remains large and that the system still leaves many families without access. Stanislaus County described a large local shortage of infant and toddler care and said reimbursement disparities between child care programs and state preschool create disincentives for providers. Parent Voices gave testimony about the burdens and instability families face when trying to access care, especially for survivors and low-income parents, and called for a universal, publicly funded system. The Budget Center said only about 16% of eligible children were enrolled in 2024, urged expansion across the mixed delivery system rather than concentrating investment in TK, and called for faster rate reform and new revenue. LAO estimated that bringing certain CCTR adjustment factors up to CSPP levels would cost $88 million to $131 million ongoing. Members and witnesses discussed the single rate structure, automation needs, and the need for deadlines and a ramp-up plan; DSS said the goal is to eliminate disparities, but that policy decisions are still needed before automation can proceed. The committee then reviewed several trailer bill proposals. DSS outlined a 2026-27 COLA proposal that would apply a 2.41% increase through cost-of-care-plus payments, though the department said it had inadvertently excluded CalWORKs Child Care and the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program and would revise the proposal; LAO recommended making the COLA methodology uniform across programs. DSS also proposed replacing the market rate survey with the federally approved alternative methodology on a triennial schedule, limiting temporary absences in family child care homes to 20% of monthly hours, defining excessive unexplained absences as more than 30 days in a year, and aligning family fee deductions with new federal requirements so providers receive the full voucher value. Members generally supported the temporary absence change and asked about implementation timing for the family fee deduction, with DSS saying it was in contact with Riverside County. The committee also heard a brief update on the Early Childhood Policy Council reappropriation, which would extend unused funds through June 30, 2028 because prior costs came in higher than expected.

Transcript Highlights:

• the people of the state through this program.
• than states without such programs.
• Um, state police has primary uh patrol responsibilities<01:32:29.120> now<01:32:29.360> in
• state, which is what makes this program federally enforceable.
• We can look at states that have gotten rid of their inspection program.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We were primarily created so that we Could assist and fund family residency programs in the state of
• And the oil states just crush it, and the other states that Come in that might have timber or something
• Is the program described well?
• A lot of these schools will have night programs. some of them will have weekend programs so that the
• We applied the same efficiency lens to program operations and response by declining enrollment.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we reached out to Louisiana State University. They're the author of this program.
• LASER program.
• of Oklahoma response.
• Response is not enough.
• No one program will solve our problems. All of these programs together.

Summary: The committee heard extensive testimony on Oklahoma school safety from Commissioner Tipton, OSSI director Mike Fike, OACTIC director Alan Young, OSBI lieutenant Isiles Keene, and Rogers County Sheriff Scott Walton. The main focus was a statewide school-safety framework built around response, prevention, and recovery. Witnesses described training law enforcement in the LASER active-shooter response model, adding A-TURK training for coordinated law enforcement/fire/EMS response, expanding run-hide-fight and Stop the Bleed instruction for educators and staff, conducting risk and vulnerability assessments, and using the Rave panic-button system and the ProtectOK tip app to speed reporting and dispatch. They also emphasized behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM) teams as a prevention tool to identify and support at-risk students before violence occurs. Members asked about administrator and teacher training, school counselor involvement, how apps are deployed on personal versus school devices, and whether schools are actually using the programs. Witnesses said administrators, counselors, and SROs should be part of BTAM, that training is most effective when it is realistic and repeated, and that Rave is geofenced and typically invited onto devices by schools. Several members stressed that school leaders must buy in for safety plans to work, and one member raised concerns about traumatic training and the need for mental-health support as part of prevention. Witnesses said mental-health referral and monitoring are part of BTAM, but the school and local partners must manage the process. OSBI’s lieutenant added broader context, comparing school safety to fire safety and noting that Oklahoma still lacks some statutory requirements for intruder drills and stronger penalties for school threats. He also discussed possible future tools such as surveillance analytics, gunshot detection, ballistic-rated doors and walls, and better access controls, while warning that technology should supplement, not replace, basic safety systems and training. Sheriff Walton closed by describing rural response challenges and his foundation’s effort to place ballistic shields in schools and police cars, arguing that human resources and rapid communication remain the biggest gaps. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• injuries to firefighters across the state. state.
• So we're responsible for tracking the resources. around the state for the wildfires we also are in partnership
• . programs.
• While most of our funding is federal, TDHCA does administer four state-funded programs.
• renewing their vehicle registration outside of those for state funded programs.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A skilled journey person must have graduated from a DAS state-approved apprenticeship program or have
• There are both union and non-union state-approved apprenticeship programs.
• approved apprenticeship program or have at least as many from a DAS state-approved apprenticeship program
• There are both union and non-union state-approved apprenticeship programs.
• Okay, so in other words, State-approved apprenticeship programs.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• state of Minnesota that is responsive state of Minnesota that is responsive and<00:48:21.359>
• Not every state got one — red states and blue states got them, but not every state got them.
• Not every state got one — red states and blue states got them, but not every state got them.
• Not every state got one — red states and blue states got them, but not every state got them.
• We have individuals from every county in the state participating in this program, and we have had more

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have the Division of State Fire Marshal, which has responsibility for tracking fire incidents,
• Because of the unique bifurcation of regulatory responsibilities that exist in the state of Florida,
• The adjudication of disputes program resolves disputes between private citizens and state agencies and
• , as well as response... ...and overseeing conservation and efficiency programs, as well as responding
• And so it's a very high-interest program throughout the state.

Summary: The State Administration Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the agencies under its jurisdiction and their current-year budgets. Chair Vicki Lopez welcomed members and staff, and each member briefly introduced themselves and identified areas of interest, with recurring themes including fiscal restraint, insurance regulation, revenue administration, condominium issues, and government efficiency. The chair then outlined the subcommittee’s overall budget, about $3.1 billion, and noted major recent policy areas affecting the budget such as condominium legislation and emergency communications funding. Agency heads then presented high-level summaries of their missions and budgets. The Department of Revenue described property tax oversight, tax administration, and child support enforcement; the Department of Management Services reviewed state purchasing, telecommunications, fleet, state insurance, retirement, and digital services; DBPR highlighted licensing, enforcement, condominiums, and building code work; DFS covered insurance consumer services, risk management, unclaimed property, fire marshal functions, and criminal investigations; the Gaming Control Commission discussed pari-mutuel and tribal gaming oversight and enforcement; OIR explained insurer solvency and rate review; the Lottery emphasized education funding and record sales; OFR described regulation of banking, securities, lending, and money services; DOAH outlined administrative and workers’ compensation adjudication; PSC covered utility rate regulation and consumer complaints; PERC described labor relations and career service appeals; and FCHR summarized discrimination complaint investigations and outreach. Several members asked questions about utility returns, insurance regulation staffing, DMS’s state employee health plan deficit and prescription drug formulary management, agency recommendations for reducing regulatory burden, and state facilities usage. Responses generally emphasized that utility rates and insurer filings are determined through evidentiary and actuarial processes, that OIR has reduced vacancies but still seeks specialized staff and a Tampa office expansion, and that DMS acknowledged rising health plan costs and said the issue likely requires broader budget-level discussion. The chair also pressed multiple presenters to stay focused on agency operations and budgets rather than broader policy issues. No votes or formal actions were taken in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We went across the state.
• There are a lot of great home health programs across the state, but there are a lot of gaps in those
• There are a lot of great home health programs across the state, but there are a lot of gaps in those
• There are a lot of great home health programs across the state, but there are a lot of gaps in those
• There are a lot of great home health programs across the state, but there are a lot of gaps in those

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Finance and Policy Committee met on February 6, 2025, for an update on emergency medical services (EMS) policy and implementation. Senator Seberger described the work of the EMS Task Force, which traveled statewide to hear concerns from providers about staffing, reimbursement, and retention. She said the task force led to the Sprint Medic model and two innovation zones in Otter Tail and St. Louis counties, and she urged continued monitoring and possible reconstitution of the task force to evaluate what is working and what could be expanded statewide. She also said future EMS work should continue to explore alternative response models and telemedicine, but that the most immediate need is additional funding, especially to address unpaid non-transport calls. Dylan Ferguson, director of the newly formed Minnesota Office of Emergency Medical Services, gave a detailed update on the office’s structure and priorities after the transition from the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board. He described the office’s three divisions, the appointment of deputy directors, the first meetings of the advisory councils, and work on a statewide EMS strategic plan. He also reviewed the $24 million emergency ambulance aid program, explaining its 40-40-20 formula, the emphasis on rural services, the reporting and spending deadlines, and the positive response from ambulance providers. He noted that the $6 million Sprint paramedic grant program is underway, with Otter Tail County moving forward and St. Louis County still finalizing its application. Ferguson also outlined the office’s budget request for modest staffing and contract-cost increases, two rulemaking efforts to update outdated ambulance vehicle standards and expand medication options for basic life support services, and ongoing data collection on workforce needs, violence against EMS providers, and ambulance crashes. He highlighted the paramedic scholarship program administered by the Office of Higher Education, saying nearly 300 scholarships have been awarded. Members and Senator Seberger praised the EMS reforms and emphasized that non-transport calls create significant unreimbursed costs, especially for rural and volunteer services, but no votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Third, improving access to comprehensive treatment by revising state opioid treatment program regulatory
• service in their state Medicaid programs.
• the now 21 prevention programs across New Mexico, working in 39 states.
• state and 14 SANE programs.
• Our programs like O'Shea's and the programs that Just Supports across the state are doing an incredible

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:07:08.599> at<00:07:08.759> all state program it is not at all state program it is
• responsible to tighten up the program.
• responsible to tighten up the program.
• responsible to tighten up the program.
• responsible to tighten up the program.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Barry is a philanthropically funded multi-state effort to transform how communities identify response
• State resources through the homeless housing and services program administered by the Texas Department
• I serve as an administrator at MHMR of Tarrant County, with responsibilities for many programs, including
• MHMR of Tarrant County has responsibilities for many programs, including those that serve individuals
• It's important to note that TDHCA's homeownership programs operate with no state or federal funding.

Keywords: 1184, house, all