Transcript Highlights:

• Funding for our cultural and historical preservation grant programs at the Department of State also remained
• And finally, we have reappropriated $378 million in funding for my Safe Florida Home grant program to
• fully fund the inspection grants and program administration.
• , $380.4 million for the water quality improvement grant program and local water projects, as well as
• And the other one is a grant program, and that can be up to $100,000 per district.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, a moment of silence for former Senator Donnell C. Childers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and recognition of Officer Antonio Richardson as law enforcement officer of the day. A quorum was announced, the journal was approved, and the Speaker said the chamber would take up 11 budget conference reports, with debate and final votes on each report. The first report considered was HB 7031E, the tax package, followed by HB 501E, the state budget appropriations bill. On HB 7031E, Chair Duggan explained that the conference report included a range of tax reductions and tax-related changes, including sales tax holidays, property tax and homestead-related provisions, reductions in certain taxes and fees, and new exemptions or administrative clarifications. He said the package also added items such as sales tax relief for certain university construction projects, a tennis admissions exemption, and changes to agricultural property tax treatment, and that the amendment reduced state and local tax revenues by $272.2 million. Members questioned the bill about the child care tax credit reduction from three years to one, the homestead exemption provision for certain diplomats and foreign service personnel, the absence of gas tax relief and combined reporting, and the inclusion of firearm accessories and tennis tickets in sales tax holidays. After structured debate, the House adopted the conference report and passed HB 7031E by a vote of 88-11. The House then began the conference report on HB 501E, the $114.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-2027, which was described as below the prior year’s spending level and leaving more than $14 billion in reserves. Subcommittee chairs outlined major allocations across education, higher education, IT, health care, transportation and economic development, justice, state administration, and agriculture/natural resources. Highlights included increased FEFP funding and veteran teacher raises, full funding for Bright Futures, major IT modernization projects, Medicaid and behavioral health funding, transportation and local infrastructure spending, correctional and law enforcement investments, fire station and emergency response funding, and large environmental and water-quality appropriations. Members asked detailed questions about school voucher fraud oversight, scholarship funding, teacher raises, preeminence funding, ADAP changes, SNAP data tools and error rates, Medicaid rate changes, prison wastewater monitoring, and other budget items, but the transcript ends during the budget questions before final action on HB 501E is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on to slide 13, federal grant funding flows to many different areas of need, including grants
• of Social Work program.
• dedicated program for public schools, revenue to those programs have grown.
• The legislature has also focused recently on creating and bolstering special grant programs that fund
• Those are two of the special grant programs I mentioned that are successful. Questions?

Transcript Highlights:

• move to House Bill 915, which is an act relating to establishing an extended producer responsibility program
• </c><00:08:47.360><c> for</c> producer responsibility program for producer responsibility program for
• Subsection 166 6618 B11 caps the maximum amount of the implementation grants to the PRO by fiscal year
• </c><00:16:08.880><c> and</c> the capital implementation grants and the capital implementation grants
• </c><00:20:49.200><c> is</c> housing has been removed, the program is housing has been removed, the program

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so by by granting these programs.
• I oversee the therapy program and our outreach program.
• I oversee the therapy program and our outreach program.
• We received a Medica grant, a Sensia grant, a Southern Minnesota grant.
• We received a Medica grant, a Sensia grant, a Southern Minnesota grant.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• They're piloting a program.
• They're piloting a program.
• loan program.
• This one is grants, non-federal. So, we're taking a haircut on these grants. Is that it?
• </c><05:27:19.680><c> Melissa's</c> uh state aid grant? Yes. Yes. Melissa's uh state aid grant?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 733, a third-party litigation financing reporting bill. Representative Cole explained that the bill shifts reporting from the Secretary of State to the courts, which he said removes the fiscal note and helps insurers obtain information for underwriting and premium-setting. The committee accepted the explanation and voted ought to pass; the roll call was 8-0 in favor, with one member taking a pause. The committee then heard House Bill 219, dealing with the renewable portfolio standard and the renewable energy fund. Representative Bose argued the bill would reduce electricity costs by lowering the REC purchase obligation from 220,000 to 170,000, which he said would reduce payments into the renewable energy fund by roughly $1 million to $2 million and save consumers only pennies a month. After questions about timing and whether to wait for a DOE report, the committee voted to retain the bill for further discussion rather than advance it; the motion to retain passed 5-4. House Bill 365 was then discussed as an election-related bill intended to help verify citizenship for voter registration and create a voucher process for people who cannot afford a birth certificate. The sponsor said the Secretary of State may be able to use federal and state databases to verify citizenship, and if not, indigent applicants could receive a voucher reimbursed by the state, with a $25,000 appropriation included. Members raised concerns about the Secretary of State’s access to databases and the bill’s timing and cost, and the committee decided to hold the bill until Secretary Scanlan could come testify. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 552, which updates retiree health coverage rules so dependent children can remain on the plan until age 26, consistent with the Affordable Care Act. DAS officials said retirees pay the full cost for dependents, about $1,000 per month, while the state covers only the retiree and spouse. The committee voted ought to pass unanimously, 9-0. The committee then began discussion of House Bill 572, a housing bill aimed at missing-middle housing, describing a voluntary program to identify developable public land, support construction, and streamline review, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• program to make Pell Grant funds available to eligible students in short-term workforce training programs
• It provides authority to the Department of Social Services to administer a grant program for child care
• It provides authority to the Department of Social Services to administer a grant program for child care
• centers and family child care homes for infrastructure, ...to administer a grant program for child care
• administration and better leverage complementary grant funding. ...and Sustainable Communities Program

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• How does that program work?
• Within the statewide Medicaid managed care program, we refer to it as the SMMC program.
• to do so in the new program.
• that program.
• , and our BH Impact program.

Summary: The Senate Health Policy Committee met to discuss maternal and infant health, beginning with a presentation from New Jersey’s Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MiHA). Pamela Taylor described New Jersey’s statewide effort to reduce maternal mortality and racial disparities through the Nurture New Jersey campaign, a strategic plan with more than 80 recommendations, universal home visiting, Medicaid-covered doula care, hospital report cards, limits on non-medically indicated early elective C-sections, and a new maternal and infant health innovation center. Senators asked about doula certification, funding, home visiting, and how New Jersey coordinates across agencies; Taylor said the authority uses quarterly stakeholder meetings, annual summits, and a tracker for recommendations, and that community input helped shape its programs. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer then outlined Florida Medicaid’s maternal coverage and managed care structure. He reviewed eligibility and services for pregnant women, labor and delivery, postpartum coverage, newborn coverage, and family planning, noting 12 months of postpartum coverage, expanded benefits in managed care plans, and new contracts launching February 1 with more maternal-health-focused benefits, quality measures, and a new quality withhold incentive structure. Senators questioned doula certification and duplication with Healthy Start, provider access and network adequacy, kick payments, quality reporting, and whether Florida should consider broader eligibility standards; Meyer said many details are still plan-driven, that quality metrics are public, and that the agency is working on maternal-health work groups and incentives. Department of Health Division Director Shea Holloway followed with an overview of Florida’s maternal and child health programs and data. She cited Florida CHARTS data showing pregnancy-related deaths, severe maternal morbidity, and infant mortality trends, and described the Title V block grant, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the electronic prenatal risk screen, Healthy Babies, BH Impact for perinatal mental health, Healthy Start, WIC, family planning, telehealth maternity care, and the Pregnancy Care Network. Senators asked about delays in mortality review reporting, preterm birth, substance use disorder in pregnancy, WIC participation, cesarean rates, and the impact of the abortion ban; Holloway said the department is continuing to monitor outcomes, expand screening and telehealth, and use data and hospital partnerships to improve care. The committee then adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we have enrolled over 23 million passengers in that program today. It is a security program.
• Um, we have enrolled over 23 million passengers in that program today. It is a security program.
• Um, we have enrolled over 23 million passengers in that program today. It is a security program.
• Um, we have enrolled over 23 million passengers in that program today. It is a security program.
• Um, we have enrolled over 23 million passengers in that program today. It is a security program.

Summary: The committee held an interim study on airport security vendors, prompted by Representative Hayes’s earlier House Bill 1271, which would have restricted Oklahoma airports from contracting with third-party identity verification companies such as Clear. Hayes explained the bill stemmed from concerns raised after a December 2022 TSA letter and broader questions about whether these vendors create security risks or bypass TSA screening. The committee heard first from Clear, then Idemia, and then Tulsa International Airport, with members focusing on how identity verification works, whether it differs from TSA screening, and whether the state should regulate these services. Clear’s representative said the company provides an opt-in biometric identity verification service at airports, not physical screening, and that every passenger still goes through TSA screening. He said Clear operates in about 60 airports in roughly 40 states, has about 40,000 members in Oklahoma, and has paid more than $1.1 million to Oklahoma airports since launching in the state. Members questioned how Clear verifies IDs, whether Real ID is required, whether the company can manually override biometric checks, whether it shares data, and whether it has had security issues. Clear said it uses source corroboration with state DMV systems, does not sell data, has no manual override, and has worked with TSA on security upgrades after earlier concerns. Idemia’s representative described the company’s broader biometrics work for Oklahoma and the federal government, including fingerprint systems for the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation, civilian background-check enrollment, TSA checkpoint credential authentication technology, and TSA PreCheck enrollment. She said Idemia’s role stops at identity verification and that TSA retains responsibility for screening and for decisions about who enters trusted traveler programs. Tulsa International’s COO said Clear does not replace TSA, that TSA retains exclusive authority over screening, and that the airport leases space to Clear and receives revenue from the arrangement. No vote was taken, and the meeting ended after questions and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• . programs. programs.
• This proposal would modify the description of four grant programs designed to address workforce shortages
• program, the rural and underserved clinical rotations program, the primary care residency training grant
• </c><00:31:58.480><c> programs</c> description of four grant programs description of four grant programs
• </c> grant program, and the international grant program, and the international medical<00:32:38.160><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> agency's capacity building grant agency's capacity building grant programs<00:13:50.680><c> out<
• or the Workforce and Affordable Homeownership Program would be eligible for a grant under that program
• </c><00:14:41.240><c> program,</c><00:14:41.880><c> so</c> housing infrastructure grant program, so housing
• > so</c> Contribution Grant and Loan Program, so Contribution Grant and Loan Program, so that<00:15:12.240
• That language will help the program better align with the Workforce Housing Development Grant Program

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The conference committee on the housing omnibus bill began with member introductions and a staff walk-through comparing House and Senate provisions. House Research staff reviewed major policy differences affecting Minnesota Housing Finance Agency operations, including limits on how much the agency may retain from state appropriations for administrative costs, new reporting requirements, restrictions on transfers between appropriated accounts, and House-only language requiring annual expenditure of investment income from state appropriations. Senate provisions were also summarized, including tighter rules on when appropriations may be placed into Housing Development Fund bookkeeping accounts, updated operating-cost reporting, and Senate-only changes to how investment earnings may be used. Staff also described shared and differing provisions on program-money transfers, a lived-experience earnings exemption, and a long list of Senate-only policy changes, including manufactured home park tenant protections, low-income housing tax credit and bond-related changes, a task force on housing taxes and fees, and repealers affecting Housing Development Fund authority and certain older programs. Fiscal staff then reviewed the budget impacts. The House side included one-time appropriations for workforce housing development, family homeless prevention and assistance, a Minnesota Nice Home Share pilot, and homebuyer education, along with debt service for $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds and transfers/cancellations that produced a net zero general fund impact across the budget window. The Senate side noted a fiscal note for the housing taxes and fees task force and a smaller housing infrastructure bond authorization, with corresponding debt service costs and a total Senate budget-window impact of about $1 million in general fund debt service. After the staff presentations, the committee moved to public testimony. Commissioner Jennifer Ho of Minnesota Housing said the bill’s housing infrastructure bonds and continued support for family homeless prevention were important, and she supported the lived-experience earnings exemption, while noting concerns about the interest-earnings provisions. Testifiers from Greater Minnesota groups praised the workforce housing investments and Senate updates to the state housing tax credit and infrastructure grant program, though they suggested changes to the geographic distribution language. HOME Line urged funding for statewide tenant hotline services, citing rising demand and asking for $1 million if additional money becomes available. The Minnesota Consortium of Community Developers supported the bill’s investments and emphasized the need to pair housing development with supportive services. Housing First Minnesota praised housing infrastructure bonds and other investments but criticized the omission of the Minnesota Starter Homes Act. The Minnesota Multi Housing Association began testimony opposing certain rent-control-related provisions in the House bill. No votes or final actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is in programming: short-term workforce training programming.
• or a credit program.
• That is one of our top programs. Our CDL program continues to thrive.
• program.
• The grant writing, engineering, and planning grant program has $100,000 available for rural communities

Transcript Highlights:

• And dependence in our programs.
• Investment program.
• the premier programs in the country.
• But now we We ended that program; we're in a market rate program, and this has the capacity to provide
• Managers in our New Mexico-focused venture capital program; the program, throughout most of its life,

Transcript Highlights:

• In all of our programs, and so by granting these funds for veterans, we've been able to expand those
• This is a good program; this is probably... Well overdue, excuse me.
• I oversee the therapy program and our outreach program.
• It was 119 through this grant; we've served more.
• We received a Medica grant, a Suncha grant, and a Southern Minnesota grant.

Transcript Highlights:

• This program would provide grants of up to $9,500 to New Hampshire homeowners for projects that will
• Uh, 8,000 grants were issued as of 2025, last year, and they've had great success with the program.
• Uh, 8,000 grants were began the program.
• grant money comes from.
• grant money comes from.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> Solar Garden Program. Solar Garden Program.
• Um the program nationleading uh program.
• . in this program.
• </c> revised community solar program. revised community solar program.
• </c> program in honor of Melissa Hortman. program in honor of Melissa Hortman.

Bills: HF3556

Keywords: community solar, energy, solar power, renewable energy, Melissa Hortman, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of programs that are already done.
• </c><01:01:10.039><c> to</c> in through these formula programs to in through these formula programs to
• </c> few days we've started to have program few days we've started to have program officers<01:03:02.119
• </c> knowledge where that Grant knowledge where that Grant assistant<01:04:57.000><c> commissioner</c
• </c> were the grid improvements for the grant were the grid improvements for the grant money<01:09:54.920

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Grant program.
• </c><00:25:11.720><c> The</c><00:25:11.840><c> initial</c> planning grant program.
• The initial planning grant program.
• The two sections just extend the application deadline for the solar public building grant program.
• </c> solar for public building grant program. solar for public building grant program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I can go into some more details on the program.
• on to the statewide, consistent one-source program.
• programs that we already have through the motorcycle safety fund.
• For example, I think for state and federal agencies in their grant programs, we're used to phone-knock
• process and granting mechanism?

Summary: The Arizona Off-Road Vehicle Study Committee met to review Senate Bill 1519 and broader OHV policy issues, including funding, mitigation, enforcement, and education. Staff summarized the bill’s amended provisions: raising the OHV/ATV weight threshold from 2,500 to 3,500 pounds, directing ADOT to create a new usage classification, creating an Off-Highway Vehicle Law Enforcement Fund, and setting a 50% vehicle license tax for vehicles in the 2,500–3,500 pound range. Members discussed how many vehicles would be affected, with industry testimony estimating about 2,600 new Arizona sales in that weight class in 2025 and growth of roughly 10% annually. Committee members also debated whether changes should be revenue-neutral to ADOT/HIRF or instead generate dedicated enforcement and mitigation funding without reopening HIRF distribution. The committee then turned to education. Staff reviewed SB 1567, which requires OHV course completion before issuance of an OHV indicia and includes a report due December 1, 2026. Game and Fish said the mandatory education appears to be improving behavior, especially helmet use by children. Several witnesses, including representatives from Riding Arizona and ABATE Arizona, supported a consistent statewide training model and suggested expanding the requirement from owners to operators, with possible reciprocity or compact-style recognition with other states. Members also raised practical questions about proof of completion, online access, and how law enforcement would verify compliance. For mitigation and enforcement funding, committee members and invited stakeholders discussed the scale of the need. A research presentation from Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation estimated about $3.5 million annually for additional law enforcement and about $7.5 million annually for natural resource mitigation, for a combined target of roughly $11 million per year. The estimate was based on county sheriff input and existing federal land-management data on illegal or user-created roads, with a statewide rough range of 12,000 to 17,000 miles of roads needing some form of closure or decommissioning. Members emphasized that the estimate did not include all possible costs, such as fence repair, tank restoration, or environmental compliance, and discussed soft versus hard closures, prevention, and the need to pair any mitigation spending with enforcement and education. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided; the committee mainly received information, asked questions, and continued discussion of possible recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have a source for that, so you'll see a request for a state hazard mitigation grant program.
• We have the public assistance program, which is FEMA's infrastructure program.
• We also managed the A program and the seed program that came through Oklahoma.
• It's a great program.
• So, I have there's in the program grew out of a federal program that was called GAP.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This would allow the judicial branch to create a grant program that would grant money to the counties
• This would allow the judicial branch to create a grant program that would grant money to the counties
• This would allow the judicial branch to create a grant program that would grant money to the counties
• This would allow the judicial branch to create a grant program that would grant money to the counties
• </c><02:16:38.719><c> program</c> under this and then that grant program under this and then that grant

Keywords: 916, all