Transcript Highlights:

• <00:40:21.440> that have legislation at a state level that have legislation at a state level
• price school meals as the poverty price school meals as the poverty measure<01:07:31.599> to<
• <01:09:02.159> and two-year program at current levels and two-year program at current levels
• <01:13:16.560> and helping children who are in poverty and helping children who are in poverty
• and uh to to know that there is poverty and uh to to know that there is poverty and<01:15:43.120

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first revisited HB 781, the cell phone bill, after previously retaining it. On reconsideration, members moved to OTP the bill, and it passed unanimously. The committee then moved into the budget tracking packet and adopted an amendment to HB 2 to add the same cell phone policy language, also unanimously, and separately reduced HB 1 by $1 million to match the policy change. Members noted the cell phone language had already been stripped of grant funding language in the House version and that the policy and funding pieces were being aligned across the budget bills. The committee then took up a Department of Education technical amendment to HB 2 on charter school grants, which made timing and administrative changes without altering grant amounts, and adopted it unanimously. Members also discussed but held other education-related items, including adequacy grants, pending broader decisions on overall education funding. Another HB 2 item concerning E-911/state police radio communications prompted a longer discussion about whether E-911 surcharge funds were being used for purposes that should instead be general-funded. After debate over whether to leave the current practice in place or split the funding 50/50 between E-911 and general funds, the committee adopted a joint HB 1/HB 2 change to shift the funding source to a 50/50 split and delete the HB 2 language authorizing the prior use; the motion passed 7-0. The committee also discussed but did not act on several lottery-related provisions, including the video lottery terminal amendment, the increase in maximum ticket price from $30 to $50, and related tax split changes, with members planning to hear from the Lottery Commission on Monday. The meeting ended with the committee beginning review of new amendments in the tracking packet, including a Department of Education request related to Public School Infrastructure Commission grant administration, but no action was taken on that item in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• At a high level, I think the most important thing to know about these two credits is that while we have
• So none of the people on this table are eligible at that income level. So that's the overview.
• out of poverty um and I will say that out of poverty um and I will say that the<00:24:09.360> budgets
• <00:45:17.599> that have to offer them at a level that have to offer them at a level that
• anticipated changes at the federal level anticipated changes at the federal level the<00:46:51.119

Bills: HF2254, HF2302, HF2502, HF2315, HF2475, HF2086

Keywords: HF2254, Minnesota child credit, baby bonus, child tax credit, income tax, individual income tax, tax relief, newborn, birth credit, family tax credit, tax refund, advance payment, Department of Revenue, taxable year, parenting, families with children, child credit, state regulations, families, taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• No, sorry. 99% of the kids cannot perform at grade level.
• that we have the highest… rate of childhood poverty?
• We should focus on it at the local level. Let me ask you this.
• It is it is the ticket out of poverty for so many students.
• It is to be handled at the local level.

Keywords: educational reform, federal grants, bureaucracy, wealth disparity, public testimony

Summary: The committee meeting engaged in discussions focused primarily on educational reform, the influence of federal grants on local education systems, and the growing disparities in wealth and access to quality education. Members expressed concerns about the bureaucracy surrounding federal funding that hampers schools' ability to obtain necessary resources for improvement. Several members highlighted personal anecdotes from constituents, emphasizing the urgent need for reform to help students succeed in both K-12 and higher education environments. The meeting included public testimonies that provided insights into various community perspectives on these pressing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• level when they started programming.
• And when I say that, I mean deep poverty, deep, deep poverty.
• Yes, but we are—there's different levels. Yeah, two different levels to do that.
• Requires a specialized level of service.
• It's the comfort level that we get.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• that are at a level of excellence.
• School systems and school systems with higher levels of poverty.
• That's covering 69 percent of Texas students who are in a system that has some level of TIA.
• One, poverty, is the clear marker that there's going to be issues with educational performance.
• Most school systems will then set what that looks like—what level of achievement do we want?

Bills: SB26, SB 26

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, SB 26, Texas Property Code, colonia, colonias, Spanish translation, bilingual contract, real estate contract, executory contract, residential property, border county, international border, economically distressed area, consumer protection, language access, translator certified in Spanish

Transcript Highlights:

• you're under 100% of the federal poverty you're under 100% of the federal poverty level,<00:11:08.160
• These are the individuals who are between 0 to 138% of the federal poverty level.
• <01:33:56.880> Um over that 400% federal poverty level.
• Um over that 400% federal poverty level.
• are 100% at or below the federal poverty are 100% at or below the federal poverty level.<01:49:21.280

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint informational briefing by the Health and Human Services and Commerce and Consumer Protection committees focused on projected impacts to Hawaii consumers from federal changes affecting Med-QUEST and the ACA marketplace, including the loss of ACA premium tax credits, OBVA/HR1-related Medicaid changes, immigrant eligibility restrictions, and new Medicaid work/community engagement requirements. Committee members noted the meeting was being streamed live and emphasized the need to explain potential coverage losses affecting a significant share of the state population. Med-QUEST administrators reported current enrollment at 390,766, about 27% of Hawaii’s population, and broke that down into major groups including roughly 128,000 ACA expansion adults and about 52,000 parent/caretaker relatives. They said the expansion adult population would be most affected by the new federal requirements, which will shorten renewal periods from 12 months to 6 months and impose community engagement rules beginning in late 2026 and 2027. They described the work requirement as 80 hours per month of work, community service, work program participation, or half-time education, with an income-based pathway tied to $580 per month at the federal minimum wage; they also noted a long list of exemptions, but said many details are still awaiting federal guidance and rulemaking. The administrators said federal changes to immigrant eligibility would eliminate Medicaid coverage for certain noncitizen categories, with an estimated 1,200 to 2,400 people affected, though about 200 may remain covered through a state-funded program for otherwise eligible individuals. They also said marketplace subsidies would no longer be available for some immigrants under 100% of the federal poverty level starting January 1, 2026, with further restrictions expected in 2027. For Hawaii overall, they estimated the new Medicaid work and renewal rules could push an additional 19,000 to 38,000 people into uninsured status, with another estimated 6,000 at risk from the six-month renewal process alone. Members asked about how exemptions would be determined, especially for medically frail and seriously mentally ill individuals, and administrators said they were still awaiting detailed federal rules and were working on data-matching and verification processes to reduce coverage losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• year to attend Stanford this fall, and so when Cash was in seventh grade, he started taking college-level
• a statement of our values, and the Head Start program is critical to allowing Americans born into poverty
• The families living below the poverty line who rely on Head Start are still in jeopardy.
• We have an issue of poverty that we need to address, but we still need to ensure that vital programs
• Over 60 years ago, President Johnson signed into legislation the beginnings of this anti-poverty program

Summary: The Assembly met with a quorum present after a roll call and prayer, then proceeded through routine journal, procedural, and guest-introduction business. Members recognized several guests, including local district officials, Japanese business leaders, and students/interns, and the chamber also observed remarks about the Texas flooding tragedy during the prayer. The body then moved through the daily file, including second-reading items and concurrence votes on AB 390, which expands the slow-down/move-over law to stationary vehicles, and AB 1478, which allows retailers to absorb mattress recycling fees; both measures had Senate amendments concurred in by recorded vote. The Assembly adopted AJR 12, a bipartisan resolution recognizing Head Start Month and urging Congress and the President to protect and increase Head Start funding. Multiple members spoke in support, emphasizing the program’s role in early education, health, nutrition, and family support, especially in rural and low-income communities; the resolution received 70 ayes and no noes after 69 co-authors were added. The chamber also adopted ACR 96, designating a portion of Highway 101 in Humboldt County as the Patty Berg Memorial Highway, and SCR 50, which calls for state review of climate adaptation and maladaptation criteria to improve climate resilience planning; both measures passed without opposition. On the consent calendar, the Assembly added co-authors to ACR 81 and adopted the second-day consent calendar and remaining consent items, all by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The body also approved a motion to return AB 529 from engrossing and enrolling to the Senate for further action. The session concluded with numerous adjournment-in-memory tributes, most notably for Rincon Tribal Council Chairman Bo Mazzetti and former legislative secretary George Steffes, followed by a moment of silence for each and adjournment until Monday, July 14 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're in a situation where 73% of our third graders cannot read at grade level, and it's unacceptable
• So a lot of things have already started to be implemented at the school level.
• I mean, funding's important, but Mississippi's funding levels are about the same as ours.
• When you look at childhood poverty, well, you say, well, some states have worse poverty than others.
• Well, Mississippi's got Worse poverty than Oklahoma does.

Bills: HB4420, HB3974, HB3016, HB3062, HB3021, HB3145, HB4128, HB3131, HB3015, HB3472, HB3453, HB1638, HB4126, HB2696, HB2710, HB3552, HB3031, HB3544, HB3521, HB4490, HB4488, HB1746, HJR1069, HB4428, HB4429, HB1170, HB3538, HB4124, HB3904, HB4106, HB2999, HB3982, HJR1077, HB3464, HB2588, HB3462, HB4440, HB3674, HB3345, HJR1067, HB4326, HB4331, HB4337, HB4338, HB4359, HB4392, HB3557, HJR1076, HB4003, HB3495, HB3497, HB3501, HB3505, HB3749, HB3011, HB4336, HB4346, HJR1087, HB3240, HB3647, HB3796, HB3969, HB3972, HB3983, HB3984, HB3989, HB3383, HB3130, HB4358, HB3327, HJR1055, HB3386, HJR1089, HB3087, HB2970, HB3314, HB4129, HB4199

Keywords: reading, intervention, literacy, education, third grade retention, teacher training, funding, Strong Readers Act, tort claims, inmate housing, government immunity, public trust, private prison, emergency legislation, vision screening, binocular vision, kindergarten, elementary education, health, firearm rights

Transcript Highlights:

• It's one of the highest levels in the country.
• Maintain a level of decorum here in the committee, which I think is really important.
• Whitney Francis with the Western Center on Law and Poverty.
• My name is Sam Wilkinson with End Child Poverty in California.
• Yes, Senia Robancho with End Child Poverty in California.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• level at an amount of $9.25 per month.
• This was above what Lifeline had established at 135% of the federal poverty guidelines.
• They're qualified at the federal level, and right now they claim $3.50.
• it through Vantage Point at the New Mexico level, and they can distribute the funds.
• But we feel that we can do at that level.

Transcript Highlights:

• Simran Carr with the Western Center on Law and Poverty, respectfully opposed. Thank you.
• Many residential sexual batteries do not rise to that level, even though they remain deeply invasive.
• Many residential sexual batteries do not rise to that level, even though they remain deeply invasive
• Simran Carr with the Western Center on Law and Poverty, in support.
• Enforcement or ICE involvement for people with low-level citations.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because poverty is the overarching, I would say overarching Problem facing all of us in this state.
• Of the poverty level. So you can't expect that family to be able to afford $3.90 at your store.
• with The Department of Transportation has provided levels of grants associated with investigating and
• entry-level salary and if there's the ability to progress into higher salaries while entry-level salary
• And that is of poverty and the demographics of what we face in the state of New Mexico.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:41.240> to the highest levels of poverty we tend to the highest levels of poverty we
• often highest levels of poverty often often highest levels of poverty often often have<00:04:49.479
• <00:09:52.600> of the people that need this level of the people that need this level of service
• they no longer meet that hospital level they no longer meet that hospital level of<00:25:00.880>
• that hospital level level of care they that hospital level level of care they are<00:25:05.960><

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• data um as um uh uni poverty data um as um uh uni mentioned<00:35:46.280> uh<00:35:46.440>
• recalculation that would use a poverty recalculation that would use a poverty uh<00:35:51.400>
• This specific proposal from the governor to distribute literacy incentive aid solely on student poverty
• does need work and also misses poverty does need work and also misses an<01:02:47.160> important<
• <01:26:20.760> is on break breaking cycles of poverty is on break breaking cycles of poverty

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And it's just a great story that someone that started getting those work skills at the local level.
• And we should bring those to those school levels.
• And that's because it's the fastest way out of poverty.
• Get out of poverty.
• And our expertise to help other people also get out of poverty like we have.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we've seen it at the federal level, and it's been pretty consistent that there are some people that
• Of course, families fall into poverty.
• the federal level. the federal level.
• Of course, families fall into<00:04:50.160> poverty.
• So, there is no fiscal, into poverty.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House and Senate DFL lawmakers, joined by Unidos Minnesota and other allies, held a press event responding to a budget deal they said would end MinnesotaCare coverage for roughly 20,000 undocumented adults at the end of the year while preserving coverage for children. Speakers, including Rep. Cedrick Frazier, Sen. Sandy Leafman, and Emilia Gonzalez Davalos, argued the agreement was cruel, would harm vulnerable families and essential workers, and was being justified under a false claim of fiscal responsibility. They said the affected people are Minnesota residents who work, pay taxes, and contribute to the state, and they rejected the idea that private insurance markets are a viable substitute. The speakers emphasized that many enrollees are receiving ongoing care such as cancer treatment, dialysis, insulin, and asthma medication, and warned that losing coverage would push people into emergency rooms and increase costs for hospitals and communities. They also said the deal set a dangerous precedent by using mixed-status families and undocumented workers as bargaining chips in negotiations. Several speakers framed the issue as part of broader attacks on immigrant communities at the federal and state levels. In response to questions, the lawmakers said they had not been given meaningful input on the agreement, that the DFL leadership had tried to make the “least harm” choice, and that the members speaking would vote no on the provision. They said their focus was on this specific health-care agreement rather than other budget bills, and they indicated the program’s cost was within projections, citing about 20,000 enrollees, roughly 17,000 adults, and spending under $4 million so far. The event ended with a call to continue fighting the deal and to pursue a Minnesota public option and broader long-term coverage solutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• most important part of that tripartite board is low-income representation directly from the local level
• It can do anything, anything that addresses the causes and conditions of poverty.
• important of that part of that tripartite board is low income representation directly from the local level
• It can do anything, anything that addresses the causes and conditions of poverty.
• That could be a wide variety of activities, not limited to do. of poverty.

Summary: The committee first laid over SB 1101 and SB 1813, then heard and advanced SB 1966 and SB 80. SB 1966, presented by Chairman Johns, was amended with a PCS to incorporate the House’s Memorial Roads and Bridges language after a House-Senate coordination issue; the committee adopted the PCS and passed the bill out unanimously, 9-0. SB 80, presented by Representative Clay Staires, was also amended with a PCS and described as a cleanup bill removing several outdated turnpike provisions; members noted it reflected a negotiated consensus, and it passed unanimously, 11-0. After the bill votes, the committee received a required informational presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce on the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). Director Marshall Votes explained that Commerce administers the grant, keeps 5% for oversight, and passes 90% to 17 community action agencies serving all 77 counties. He said the program currently manages about $8.9 million, served about 33,000 low-income families last year, and leverages that funding into more than $250 million in broader community impact through services such as employment support, housing, transportation, education, health, and childcare. Members asked about Commerce staffing and oversight, and Votes said a small team of a few employees handles planning, monitoring, training, and compliance for CSBG alongside other programs. Committee members thanked Commerce for its work and emphasized the importance of the program for rural communities and all 77 counties. The meeting ended with expressions of appreciation and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• From right now it's $50,000, $60,000, and $70,000 for levels 1, 2, and 3.
• at the school site level.
• So we're able to actually match student households with income levels to better identify poverty.
• So we're better identifying poverty.
• We have yet, at the state level...

Transcript Highlights:

• But each institution could keep their base at the base level from 2020-2021.
• 90-credit hour level. 90-credit hour level.
• <01:03:43.840> Uh even if being a high poverty state.
• Uh even if being a high poverty state.
• We know can separate you from poverty.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Postsecondary Education Committee held its first-ever meeting and first meeting of the session, with Chairman Tipton outlining committee procedures, attendance rules, and the process for submitting committee substitutes. After a roll call confirmed full attendance, the committee heard a presentation from Senator David Givens on the history and purpose of Kentucky’s performance-based funding model for postsecondary education. Givens said the model was created to replace an older “shares” approach that distributed funds based largely on prior-year allocations, and argued the new system better aligns funding with student success and the state’s long-term educational attainment goals. Council for Postsecondary Education President Aaron Thompson and CPE staff then explained the model in more detail. They said the system was designed to address long-standing funding disparities among institutions, reward outcomes such as degrees, credit-hour progression, and completion in high-demand fields, and support the state’s “60 by 30” goal of having 60% of Kentuckians hold a postsecondary credential by 2030. Thompson said Kentucky is now at 56.2% attainment, above the national average, and highlighted gains in graduation and retention rates, lower student borrowing, and improved completion outcomes. He also emphasized that the model is part of a broader strategy that includes affordability, adult learners, low-income students, and wrap-around support services. CPE staff described the work group process that developed and periodically revises the model, noting that the General Assembly created the framework in House Bill 303 and later enacted Senate Bill 153 and Senate Bill 191 to codify changes. They explained that in 2016 the legislature carved out about 5% of institutional budgets, roughly $43 million, to be redistributed through the new model, and that the model has been reviewed every three years with changes made each time. Recent revisions included increasing the student-success weight, adding a premium for low-income students, creating a premium for adult learners, and redefining underrepresented students as first-generation college students. No votes were taken at this meeting, and the committee adjourned after the informational presentation and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The math just isn't mathing. in poverty. And because of a single in poverty.
• poverty by nearly 41% in one year. poverty by nearly 41% in one year. Cheers.
• Poverty is down, incomes are members.
• state level decisions. state level decisions.
• Using excellency connotes a level of superiority.

Keywords: 981, all