Transcript Highlights:

• state funding.
• programs and 129 faculty vacancies in graduate nursing education programs.
• Increasing training programs and faculty will be key, including more funding metrics and tracking mechanisms
• The healthcare workforce education fund supports programs growth and teach, uh, teaching pipelines that
• And so those two research funds per Give them access to substantial funding outside of this.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we correct, and we have actually started an internal grants program using our own funds to motivate
• So we correct, and we have actually started an internal grants program using our own funds to motivate
• /c><00:20:00.559> to<00:20:00.880> motivate program using our own funds to motivate program
• put in state fund into the to fund it I put in state fund into the to fund it I every<00:36:34.960><
• So you need G funds or A funds, correct? General funds, correct.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Committee on Higher Education and Agriculture heard Senate Bill 1158, which would authorize general obligation bonds and appropriations for a controlled environment agriculture research and demonstration facility at the Magoon Research and Teaching Site in Manoa. Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive from the University of Hawaiʻi, Department of Agriculture, Farm Bureau, Maui County, MetroGrow Hawaiʻi, and other agricultural groups, who said the project would strengthen food resilience, support year-round production, create clean jobs, and provide a demonstration site for urban vertical farming. University representatives said the project would include demolition of an existing condemned building, a research and lab component, and a multistory vertical farm, with an estimated cost of $6 million and a projected two-year build time. Members questioned whether Manoa was the best location, whether the project fit the university’s broader strategy, and whether the request would displace other priorities. The University said the site is tied to SEAR activities, close to students and faculty, and intended to support hands-on training and commercial-scale production. In response to concerns about soil testing and stakeholder needs, the University said it would restart the soil testing lab using internal funds, though not as part of this bill, and would request additional staff for efficiency. The committee then recessed and later reconvened in decision-making, where the chairs recommended and the committee adopted amendments to SB 1158, including a name correction and deferral to July 31, 2050, and the bill passed with amendments. The committee then took up Senate Bill 663, relating to the University of Hawaiʻi College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources and SEAR research and experiment stations. The University testified that the stations are important for locally relevant agricultural research but are short staffed, with 34 positions down since 2005, and that the bill requests eight new positions, including agricultural technicians and four county community coordinator positions, to improve station operations, community engagement, and workforce development. The Farm Bureau supported the measure, saying the positions are needed to revamp extension services and that Manoa is an appropriate urban location for the vertical farming component. Members questioned why vacant or existing positions could not be used instead of new ones, and the University explained that some listed vacancies reflected old federally funded positions or inaccurate counts, promised a written update, and said it was working to fill current openings. No final vote on SB 663 was reached in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, that includes the funds that came in and how funds are being dispersed.
• <00:52:00.559> are funds that came in and how funds are funds that came in and how funds are
• every year of these unrestricted funds every year of these unrestricted funds no<00:53:38.240>
• <01:11:31.600> right the veteran medicine um program right the veteran medicine um program
• , but no vet-specific program?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The meeting covered several Senate resolutions related to the University of Hawaiʻi system, the East-West Center, and related education and workforce issues. On SCR 178 and SR 48, testifiers strongly supported the East-West Center, describing it as an important Hawaii asset that promotes cultural exchange, global citizenship, diplomacy, and ties to the University of Hawaiʻi. Speakers said the Center has helped train leaders and bring international connections and investment to Hawaii, and they urged continued funding despite federal cuts. The chairs then recommended passage with technical amendments, and both resolutions were adopted by the committees. The committee also heard testimony on resolutions calling for audits of University of Hawaiʻi operations. On SR 32 and SCR 50, the University of Hawaiʻi said it supported the resolution and had already begun work on establishing a Bachelor of Science in nursing at the UH Maui campus, with additional staff available on Zoom to answer questions. On SR 160 and SCR 142, which sought a financial and performance audit of UH Mānoa facilities, UH Athletics said it already undergoes annual financial audits required by NCAA bylaws but not performance audits, and discussed its internal evaluations, contingency planning, and efforts to address concerns raised by student athletes and staff. The committee then took up SCR 138 and SR 55, requesting a management and performance audit of the UH Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy. Vice President Deborah Halbert and P20 Director Steve Shotz said they did not oppose the audit and believed it could provide clarity, while explaining that the office is relatively new and works collaboratively across campuses on articulation, transfer, grants, and workforce alignment. They described grant programs including Perkins, GEAR UP, preschool development, and data-sharing efforts, and said they are focusing more resources on teaching, health care, and skilled trades. The discussion also touched on SR 54, a proposed performance audit of the UH Foundation, where foundation representatives said they already undergo annual financial audits, acknowledged some donor communication issues, but emphasized improved stewardship and growth in fundraising over recent years.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is slot machines, a lottery revenues which are funding the educational enhancement Trust fund
• And then finally early learnings pro early Learning Programs Estimating Conference address is 2 programs
• So across the publicly funded programs, it overall enrollment was still growing year-over-year.
• So but you can see across the bottom for fiscal year. 25 26 all publicly funded programs through the
• funding organizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• needed to rebuild that fund.
• a lot of other programs.
• and funding that they want to terminate.
• Uh, the administration has, however, recommended flat funding for a few of the larger funding programs
• To the funding that these programs are distributing out to states right now.

Transcript Highlights:

• Local capacity building for department led mental wellness programs and sustainable funding.
• So we've come in and we've had grant funding and we've had other sources of funding to be able to provide
• So the funding formula here recommends a fund a budget of 1.0, 3, 9, 1 million dollars. You'll see.
• specific line items that that that funding could only be used for this funding.
• funding.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are different funds in the state treasury, such as a special revenue fund, and those funds have
• <00:18:22.120> there fund accounts or dedicated funds there fund accounts or dedicated funds
• Refunds are a program that are then paid by the state, and so they do have an impact on the general fund
• AIDS um there are lots of Aid fund AIDS um there are lots of Aid programs<00:54:34.559> within
• to be used for the funding of new or existing homelessness prevention and assistance projects or programs

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Tax Committee met to receive a presentation from House Fiscal staff Cynthia Templin and Katrina Heimark on state tax revenues, property tax aids and credits, and key budget terms and timelines. They explained the difference between fiscal years, tax years, biennia, the general fund, and dedicated funds, and reviewed the legislative budget calendar, including the governor’s January budget recommendation, the February forecast update, March budget resolution deadlines, and the expected end of session in May. The presentation focused on how Minnesota tax revenue is collected and where it goes. House Fiscal said fiscal 2024 total revenue for public services was about $102.5 billion, with $46.5 billion coming from state and local taxes. Of total state tax revenue, about 85% goes to the general fund and about 15% is dedicated to other funds. They noted that income and sales taxes make up the largest share of state collections, while local property taxes are the largest share of local revenue. They also reviewed constitutional and statutory dedications, including the Legacy sales tax dedication, the motor vehicle sales tax dedication to transportation, and the auto parts sales tax dedication that was changed in 2023 to a 100% transportation dedication phased in over 10 years. Members asked several questions about slowing income tax growth, possible effects of migration and corporate departures, and whether changes in population or wages were affecting revenue trends. Templin said she was not aware of recent independent or MMB studies tying revenue loss to migration, but would look into it. Members also discussed the sharp rise in tax receipts in fiscal 2021 and 2022 after the pandemic downturn, with staff explaining that the low fiscal 2020 base and a shift toward goods purchases during COVID helped drive the increase, especially in sales tax revenue. No bills were taken up and no votes were recorded during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• funded new program this program was funded new program this program was funded through<00:09:45.839
• The Universal Service Fund has different funds or programs within it.
• It has the Rural Health Care Program, but the one I'm going to focus on today is the High Cost Fund.
• One is that we have to have a self-funded low-cost program that's in the Volume 2 plan that was submitted
• self-fund the the uh low-income program self-fund the the uh low-income program doesn't<00:37:57.280

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to manage the EFA program.
• attend graduate library programs. attend graduate library programs.
• the funds come from. I don't know. the funds come from. I don't know.
• We funded four.
• We funded four. applications last term. We funded four.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 1334, which would remove the Education Freedom Account scholarship organization’s authority to approve “any other educational expense” under the EFA statute. The prime sponsor, Representative Porchelli, said the bill would narrow the law to the specifically listed qualifying expenses, avoid broad interpretation, and shift any questions to the Department of Education or the legislative oversight committee. In response to questions, she said she did not think the open-ended category had been needed and that the statute already clearly lists allowable expenses. A representative of the Children’s Scholarship Fund testified in opposition, saying the category is used rarely but is important for unusual cases, especially students with special needs, and that removing it could create unintended consequences. After testimony, the chair closed the hearing on HB 1334. The committee then heard HB 1513, which would move several EFA reporting and oversight requirements from administrative rules and the contract with the Children’s Scholarship Fund into statute. Representative Porchelli said the bill would consolidate existing requirements on timely responses to oversight requests, publication of expense reports by category and provider, and transmission of eligibility and enrollment data to the Department of Education. She described the bill as mostly a clarification and transparency measure rather than a substantive policy change. Members asked about the meaning of “timely access,” the 45-day deadline, whether the contract already covered these duties, and whether the scholarship organization had ever failed to comply. The Children’s Scholarship Fund said it had generally met the 45-day deadline, had not knowingly refused information requests, and that the quarterly reporting requirement could add cost; the sponsor said the DOE had provided guidance and was neutral. The hearing on HB 1513 was then closed. Finally, the committee heard HB 1256, which would repeal the state librarian’s authority to award scholarships for graduate library school attendance at American Library Association-accredited schools. Representative Drago said the law was unnecessary because the state does not currently have a state librarian, scholarships are not typically granted by statute, and he objected to the ALA accreditation requirement and what he described as the association’s political advocacy. In questions, he clarified that the bill targets the accreditation requirement rather than a specific school and said he did not think the state should direct taxpayer-funded scholarships toward ALA-accredited programs. A member raised First Amendment concerns, but the sponsor said the issue was not speech itself, only the use of taxpayer dollars and state law to support that direction. The transcript cuts off before any vote or final action on HB 1256.

Transcript Highlights:

• I know, like Rockland Trust has a program. South Shore Bank has an apprenticeship program.
• They have a neurodiversity program.
• associate's degree programs.
• You know, we have hundreds of apprentice programs in the state, and they're self-fulfilling, self-funding
• So like community colleges and other state-funded... ...to the state-funded things, so like community

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee opened with roll call and approved the January minutes. Members then heard from Undersecretary of Labor and Workforce Development Josh Cutler, who gave an update on the Healey-Driscoll administration’s apprenticeship efforts and emphasized apprenticeship as an earn-while-you-learn model that can help address workforce shortages while including people with disabilities. He described growth in apprenticeships across sectors such as banking, bio, early education, health care, and human services, and noted recent milestones including the state’s 10,000th registered apprenticeship, expanded tax credits, reduced program fees, added apprenticeship liaisons, and Grow grants to support program development. Committee members focused on how apprenticeship could be adapted for human services and disability-related jobs, including early education, direct care, PCA work, sterile processing, and related health occupations. They asked about funding structures, employer participation, community college involvement, and how to make programs accessible to people with disabilities. Cutler explained that apprenticeship programs are employer-designed but must meet core requirements such as paid employment, at least 2,000 hours of on-the-job learning, related technical instruction, mentorship, and progressive wages. He said the state can support programs through the registered apprenticeship tax credit, which he said is $4,800 per apprentice and can be stacked with the disability employment tax credit, and through Grow grants, which were most recently awarded at about $2.1 million statewide. Members and Cutler discussed using intermediaries such as trade associations, nonprofits, and disability organizations to help employers set up programs and navigate incentives. He said the commission could be useful as a convener and suggested a targeted panel or information session with apprenticeship liaisons, employers, and existing sponsors to identify a few specific occupations and build a proof of concept. The meeting ended with agreement to follow up offline on potential partner employers, including Eastern Bank, and on possible next steps for a focused panel or pilot opportunities.

Transcript Highlights:

• And thanks to DHS funding, we currently have six such programs across Minnesota.
• However, while this funding allowed our team to create an innovative program, it only covered its development
• have thanks to DHS funding, we currently have six<00:08:26.000> such<00:08:26.319> programs
• team to create an funding allowed our team to create an innovative<00:09:32.240> program,<00:09
• without proper funding. without proper funding.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• state budget to fund this um uh program state budget to fund this um uh program goes<00:53:23.040
• . $1 million for Hilo athletics, which will allow them to remain in the NCAA program. fund for irrigation
• Representative Botti: That will impact the appropriation of funds to other programs.
• I would love to see this type of program and funding be expanded to a broader range of workforce development
• > do funding besides their own funds, they do funding besides their own funds, they do not<05:

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• State funding programs are a key part of those efforts.
• And so we've had this program for over 20 years and it hasn't been well funded.
• new technical assistance programs and also in addition funding new technical assistance programs of
• the board, both the funding and the technical assistance programs. programs have already been benefiting
• Programs help teach them how to do so. Additional state funding is needed to finance.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• youth programs.
• federal funds for? federal funds for?
• :18:00.440> program, >> media program, social media program, >> media program, social
• The summer youth employment program is, as Director Butay said, we, as funds are available, do operate
• The summer youth employment program is, as Director Butay said, we, as funds are available, do operate

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• long-term funding for this program.
• long-term funding for this program.
• long-term funding for this program.
• long-term funding for this program.
• in while losing funding to PSO programs in while losing funding to PSO programs in response<01:08

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Education Policy Committee approved the minutes from January 21, 2025, and then heard testimony from several school superintendents about the financial and operational impact of recent education-related mandates. Chair Bennett framed the hearing as an opportunity to hear from districts about the effects of more than 65 new mandates and restrictions adopted in recent years. The first witnesses were Corey McIntyre of Anoka-Hennepin, Michael Thomas of Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools, and David Law of Minnetonka Public Schools. The superintendents said districts are facing rising costs, flat or declining enrollment, the end of federal pandemic aid, and mandates they described as unfunded or underfunded. McIntyre cited major budget cuts in Anoka-Hennepin, including reductions in central office staff, and said the district faces continuing shortfalls tied to special education, multilingual learner costs, unemployment claims, paid leave, transportation, literacy materials, and the K-3 discipline statute. Thomas said Prior Lake-Savage is balancing growing student needs against limited revenue, and argued that mandates such as REACT and other requirements should be delayed or better funded so districts can implement them with fidelity. Law said the concerns are statewide, not just metro-based, and criticized the accumulation of expectations around food service, mental health, sick and safe time, unemployment, and family leave without corresponding resources. Several witnesses emphasized that school budgets are heavily committed to staff costs and that new obligations create administrative burdens as well as direct expenses. They urged lawmakers to reduce, delay, or better fund mandates, adjust timelines, and provide more flexibility in local revenue tools and equalization aid. No votes were taken on legislation during this portion of the meeting beyond approval of the prior day’s minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• education program online. education program online.
• number of student in the program. number of student in the program.
• um title three funding which can funding um title three funding which can be<01:03:18.880> used
• >> And then is the PEL grant funding only for the college's post-second-chance program, or is there
• . funding. funding.

Keywords: This meeting is taking place on location at the Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Building Room 238 using on site equipment., 958, all

Summary: The interim Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity met at Kentucky State University and heard a presentation from President Kofi Aapo and Vice President Michael Dorsy on the university’s role as an HBCU and its current priorities. They emphasized Kentucky State’s impact on Black student outcomes nationally, its focus on workforce development, civic leadership, innovation, and economic mobility, and its efforts to grow enrollment, expand dual-credit partnerships, and launch a prison education program. They also described House Bill 250’s role in prompting program review and the creation or expansion of market-aligned offerings, including manufacturing engineering, agricultural engineering, biological and agricultural engineering, social work, criminal justice, and expanded online programs through “Thoroughbred Global.” A major topic was Kentucky State’s move toward STEM and applied programs. President Aapo said the university is diversifying beyond liberal arts to meet workforce demand and cited plans for a PhD in agroecology, which he said would help farmers adapt to climate conditions and would be federally funded. He also discussed the nursing program as the fastest-growing on campus, partnerships with health systems that pay tuition and guarantee jobs, and the need for a new nursing facility. He said the current nursing space is inadequate and that a new building could double or triple enrollment in the program. He also described a mobile health initiative intended to bring preventive care and health education to underserved areas of the state. Members asked questions about the nursing building, STEM strategy, teacher preparation, dual credit, prison education, and student readiness. Senator Bledsoe asked about the shift toward STEM, and Aapo said the strategy is based on student demand and data from House Bill 250. Senator Berg requested a list of dual-credit partners and encouraged long-term tracking of prison education participants to study outcomes such as recidivism; Aapo said the university has not yet begun that research but intends to. Senator Tidner asked about remedial needs, and Aapo said KSU found more than 100 students with zero GPAs when he arrived and is using co-requisite support and tutoring to address English and math deficiencies. Representative Brown and others highlighted the historical and ongoing value of HBCUs, and no votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• fund is 11%. fund is 11%. other<00:14:55.079> funds.
• There is no good policy reason to do this for the EFA program, which also, you know, allocates funds
• which also you know the EFA program which also you know allocates<02:24:53.439> funds<02:24:53.760
• These funds, as you this program.
• And so this got to be an unfortunate Sophie's choice between which programs get their funding and which

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting was a House budget briefing focused on the overall state budget and the first of three divisions. The presenter reviewed the size and structure of the budget, noting that the state had eliminated the interest and dividends tax and still balanced the budget. He explained the major spending categories in the general fund and total budget, emphasizing that health and human services and education remain the largest areas, while transportation is largely self-funded. He also walked through the revenue picture, including business taxes, insurance taxes, court fees, communications taxes, and Medicaid recoveries, and said the remaining interest and dividends tax revenue reflected late payments from prior assessments. Members asked about the size of the tax cut from eliminating the interest and dividends tax, federal funding stability, and why Medicaid was being reduced if federal support was expected to remain steady. The response was that the lost revenue would have been about $200 million absent repeal, and that the budget gap was addressed through many small cuts across departments. On federal funds, the presenter said most aid is tied to multi-year grants and that core programs such as Medicare and Medicaid were expected to remain relatively stable, though some federal reductions could occur. He also said some agency reductions came from eliminating long-vacant, funded positions and from expected lapses. The discussion then moved into Division One, which covers smaller and miscellaneous agencies. The division made cuts to the governor’s office, eliminated a temporary position at the Governor’s Commission on Disability, reduced Department of Information Technology spending through a back-of-budget cut, and found savings in Administrative Services. It also delayed maintenance at the Sununu Youth Services Center, stopped advertising for paid family medical leave, changed retiree health insurance funding, and consolidated several personnel-related boards into one. The division eliminated the Commission on Aging and the Office of the Child Advocate, made a temporary special education advocate position permanent, reduced the Secretary of State’s budget, kept municipal rooms-and-meals distributions flat, and made changes to the retirement system, including $55 million to improve Group 2 retirement benefits and a new retirement structure for future state hires. The judicial branch was also asked to find savings and received two additional judges because of expected caseload increases from other eliminations.

Transcript Highlights:

• . program. program.
• As a state agency, Perpich is funded As a state agency, Perpich is funded almost<00:05:01.440>
• have access to traditional funding have access to traditional funding streams<00:05:08.880> for
• programs around the state of Minnesota. programs around the state of Minnesota.
• So, our student centers at our universities are funded through the revenue fund typically.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The funding you provide doesn't just support our program; it creates us with pathways to success for
• The funding you provide doesn't just support our program; it creates pathways to success for countless
• The funding you provide doesn't just support our program; it creates pathways to success for countless
• The funding you provide doesn't just support our program; it creates pathways to success for countless
• The funding you provide doesn't just support our program; it creates pathways to success for countless

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota Bioincentive Program, The Minnesota Bioincentive Program, which<00:03:19.560> is<00
• as a as a boondoggle-proof program. as a as a boondoggle-proof program.
• the bio incentive program.
• funding would be entirely retrospective. funding would be entirely retrospective.
• <00:08:47.240> in understand why this program in understand why this program in particular

Keywords: 1183, house