Transcript Highlights:

• I also want to emphasize that VBG operates in compliance with federal law.
• It is the federal VA, not the VSOs.
• The federal VA has a disability chart for the level of rating.
• I'm also federally accredited, and I'm admitted to federal courts to represent veterans on appeal.
• The Department of Veterans Affairs, federally, as well as the U.S.

Transcript Highlights:

• the federal government does, perhaps.
• Gilbert Jaramillo, the Senior Statewide Program Manager.
• The case went to the federal government.
• They usually go through a four-year program.
• I oversee the program evaluation unit there.

Transcript Highlights:

• as a surface water management program. as a surface water management program.
• upper basin program.
• basin program. basin program.
• program, the bill still allows a program program, the bill still allows a program to<00:53:54.000
• program than we are.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• hires and starting new programs.
• program that America relies on, like VA medical care and food assistance programs.
• <00:29:19.840> program<00:29:20.200> that for nearly every Federal program that for
• nearly every Federal program that America<00:29:20.919> relies<00:29:21.320> on<00:29:
• Mass layoffs of federal workers. Mass purges. Layoffs of federal workers.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• into<00:46:40.440> the Federal Federal money coming into the Federal Federal money coming
• support, and that these programs often leverage federal and private investment.
• support, and that these programs often leverage federal and private investment.
• <02:24:09.600> Programs youth specific Housing Programs youth specific Housing Programs um
• Federal contracts have match.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee held a hearing on several bills and announced at the outset that no votes would be taken because the measures would go to divisions later. The first major bill, HB 197, would require the state to pay 7.5% of political subdivision employer pension contributions for teachers, police officers, and firefighters. Representative Mike Edgar, the prime sponsor, argued the state had repeatedly reduced and then eliminated its promised share of retirement costs, shifting the burden to municipalities and property taxpayers. He said the bill would partially restore that commitment and provide relief to local governments, businesses, and taxpayers. Several witnesses testified in support of HB 197, including Representative John Cluder, Bradford selectman Marlene Fryer, the New Hampshire Municipal Association’s Margaret Burns, and Epping representative Mark Fone. Supporters said the bill would help with property tax pressure, school budgets, and municipal hiring, and they emphasized that much of the retirement cost reflects unfunded liability decisions made at the state level rather than by local governments. Committee members questioned whether the bill would change local incentives to control costs and how it would affect hiring and compensation. Burns said the state contribution would function as property tax relief because it offsets existing municipal expenses, and she noted the state is already on a long-term schedule to pay down the retirement system’s unfunded liability. After closing the hearing on HB 197, the committee opened a hearing on HB 97, introduced by Representative Tom Buco. He said the bill would continue funding for delayed and deferred wastewater projects and help municipalities finance expensive wastewater infrastructure, which he tied to housing development and local debt planning. No action or votes were taken on either bill during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Miller and Peter at is the director of federal strategy with move works.
• That's being adopted by the Fed ramp and risk mitigation programs.
• So we follow the federal and state requirements, especially sense.
• so that all the federal funds as well.
• We should keep it with a Federated model.

Transcript Highlights:

• on this program.
• on this program.
• The broadband program.
• The NG-9-1-1 JPA, the program I manage at NDACO, was 2%, The NG-9-1-1 JPA, the program I manage at NDACO
• program data.

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then received a quarterly update on major IT projects from NDIT. Staff reported the portfolio included 116 major projects totaling about $546 million, with the overall portfolio under budget but slightly behind schedule. They reviewed projects over the 20% variance threshold, including an Industrial Commission grants management system and DOT’s roadway pre-construction replacement, and then heard startup and closeout reports from HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT. Several previously troubled projects were closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning; some projects finished under budget and ahead of schedule, while others were significantly behind schedule or over budget but were now closed or being remediated. The committee also reviewed NDIT’s annual report, including service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how service-fund revenue and grant administrative charges are accounted for, how chargebacks work, and whether NDIT tracks customer satisfaction scores. NDIT said it does track CSAT-type measures in some service areas and has survey data, but it is not planning another customer survey this summer. Members encouraged more regular reporting of customer satisfaction, service-level metrics, and performance data to help guide future improvements. A major portion of the meeting focused on the state’s mainframe modernization effort. NDIT said the overall effort is still targeting about 2030, with multiple HHS and DOT projects underway and a $15 million tech-debt appropriation already removing some components. Staff described the main obstacles as data cleanup, complex integrations, limited staff capacity, retirements, and vendor constraints, and said they are seeking a vendor with modernization support in the next contract cycle. Members pressed for clearer accountability and faster progress, and NDIT and HHS emphasized that they are working jointly but need continued support and better tools. The committee then heard a cybersecurity update on NDIT’s statewide services and maturity assessments. NDIT explained that it provides vulnerability scanning, endpoint protection, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that these services are tied to a cybersecurity maturity assessment based on CIS controls. Members questioned the sharp drop in participation since 2020 and whether the self-assessment should be mandatory or tied more strongly to StageNet access or insurance incentives. NDIT said participation is voluntary, but Enderf is now requiring annual assessments to keep a 4% insurance discount, and members discussed whether stronger requirements or audit authority may be needed. The meeting ended as the committee began a follow-up discussion on BEAD broadband connection costs and why some locations are much more expensive to connect than others.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have applied for FRA's Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail grant program, which
• the 80% federal funds needed to provide the 80% federal funds needed to advance<00:04:48.800> the
• federal um transportation agency. federal um transportation agency.
• that the federal turns out the federal that the federal turns out the federal government<01:20:34.800
• <01:21:44.960> Railroad working with the Federal Railroad working with the Federal Railroad

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• credential programs.
• This program equips students.
• Management Program.
• , the federal.
• programs in the country.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• benefits as the federal government does now<00:20:33.960> this<00:20:34.080> isn't<00:
• historic doubling the number of programs historic doubling the number of programs that<00:21:13.080
• Of the programs that we passed in 2023 and earlier, are they all up and running?
• This is Partha Pra's third year in the program and her first serving in an elected position.
• else she's picked up through the program else she's picked up through the program a<00:27:02.399

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• From the state or is there any matching funds available or federal funds?
• It's a pilot program. Follow up: Thank you.
• It's a voluntary program. They have to download the app. Any more questions?
• This also includes a canine program with Lifeine and cadaver dogs.
• Programs at a pace that matched the savings.

Bills: HB1002, HB1250, HB2710, HB3008, HB3045, HB3086, HB3595, HB3678, HB3695, HB3831, HB4107, HB4408

Keywords: stalking, victim notification, law enforcement, harassment, penalties, criminal justice, protection orders, local law enforcement, Public Safety Technology Revolving Fund, grants, state funding, law enforcement technology, alcohol testing, drug influence, public safety, Board of Tests, accident response, motor vehicle, fire department, fee prohibition

Transcript Highlights:

• about the state loan repayment program about the state loan repayment program when<00:06:38.400>
• But there federally funded contracts.
• <00:51:29.520> And that program. Somebody else should." And that program.
• A different question. was if you want the program to be was if you want the program to be successful,
• your programs at DHS. Is that correct? your programs at DHS. Is that correct?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met after recess to hear a Department of Health and Human Services overview of its contract structure, with CFO Nathan White explaining that DHS currently has 969 active agreements spanning service contracts, grants, data-sharing agreements, use-of-premises agreements, and MOUs. He said contracts are budgeted across multiple class lines and accounting units, often braided with federal funds, which makes the system complex; he also noted that the department’s top spending list was limited to 18 items rather than 20 and included both individual contracts and grouped regional/provider contracts. White emphasized that many contracts support direct services to residents, while others support departmental operations such as software support and staffing. Commissioner Hardy said the listed contracts are essential to serving vulnerable populations and supporting required administrative infrastructure, and she stressed that the department tries to work with providers and families rather than impose changes on them. In response to questions about area agencies and developmental disability services, DHS officials said the agencies’ duties are spelled out in contract and statute, including family support services, billing-related functions, and services tied to the state’s community-based system; they said some billing duties have already been moved outside the contract. They also explained that the department rejected a previously discussed two-tier waiver concept after stakeholder feedback in October 2023 and instead shifted to rate-based work, including CIS assessments, to better align payment with individual need. Members also raised concerns about possible waste, sole-source contracting, and subcontracting. Hardy said she had not seen specific evidence of waste beyond a whistleblower call mentioned by a member, but acknowledged that inefficient execution can occur in government and said the department is trying to improve management. On procurement, she said sole-source contracts require her approval and that competitive procurement is the default when possible. White added that subcontracting is allowed only with written state permission under the standard P-37 terms, and subcontractors must meet the same obligations as the prime contractor. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs as a bellwether, if you will, as a baseline.
• It's been an incredibly successful program.
• So, it's been a very, very successful program.
• Additionally, some federal programs are for service line replacement and addressing emerging contaminants
• Projects that existing state and federal financial assistance programs will work to cover about 25% of

Bills: SB7

Keywords: water infrastructure, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, water supply, environmental sustainability, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , our hazardous waste program, and the lab.
• I, I, it's not left the federal coffers. So we, we haven't seen any of it.
• There's a federal obligation founded in the 1995 federal consent order, uh, that they have to fund the
• Uh, infrastructure program that money could be used.
• Often the state laws that we derive from the federal authorities have sovereign immunity, uh, for federal

Transcript Highlights:

• building, but again, that's federal building, but again, that's federal federally<00:15:20.079><
• The city of Mount fund B program.
• round two of the cleaner water program round two of the cleaner water program authorized<00:31:45.919
• This is current KPDI program 2024.
• She's a great cheerleader for this program.

Keywords: 00:02 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:45 Approval of Minutes 01:01 Information Items 06:25 Project Rpt from Postsecondary Institutions-KCTCS 10:50 Project Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet 18:08 Lease Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet 27:12 Rpt from OFM – KY Infrastructure Authority 33:56 Rpt from OFM – CED EDF Grants 47:20 Rpt from OFM – Office of Financial Mgmt 56:53 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first handled routine business, including approval of the February meeting minutes and several information items. Those items covered university equipment purchases, school district and transportation-related debt issuances, Northern Kentucky University’s planned construction-manager/general-contractor delivery method for the medical examiner/crime lab relocation project, a lease-space advertisement, postsecondary asset preservation allocations, and lease-law compliance reports. Members then discussed the Northern Kentucky crime lab project in more detail; staff explained that the memorandum of agreement would cover the construction portion while the lease would cover operations, and members were told the project should move forward without procurement problems. The committee approved a Kentucky Community and Technical College System project to modify the fire academy maintenance building after the related dormitory project was set aside because of major cost overruns. KCTCS said the dormitory would be about $3 million over budget, so it would not be bid; instead, the maintenance building would be expanded to add showers and restroom/locker facilities, bringing that project from $2 million to about $3.2 million. The committee also approved a Transportation Cabinet project for the Hardin County I-65 southbound commercial motor vehicle station relocation, with members asking about the estimate, the lack of a direct prior example, and the fact that the loadometer equipment itself would be purchased separately and was not included in the construction estimate. Finance and Administration Cabinet lease items were then considered. The committee approved a Department of Public Advocacy lease in Christian County and a Transportation Cabinet vehicle regulation lease in Kenton County, both negotiated down from initial asking prices and both including utilities. Two lease modifications were reported without action: a Department of Revenue fit-up in Jefferson County and an expanded vehicle regulation lease in Adair County. Members also approved a package of Kentucky Infrastructure Authority items, including four loans and six Cleaner Water Program grant reallocations, covering sewer and water projects such as MSD’s Patty’s Run flood pumping station, Paducah-McCracken County’s wastewater treatment plant, Mount Washington’s lift station replacement, and Eminence’s wastewater plant expansion. Finally, the committee heard a batch of Kentucky Product Development Initiative economic development grants and approved the action items in one vote. The projects included due diligence and infrastructure work for industrial and site-development projects in multiple counties, with local match requirements and KEDFA approvals described for each. The committee also received three line-item water grants from House Bill 1 that required no action, and the meeting ended after the grant presentations and approvals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sacramento, and its continued investment in the next generation through the return of youth state program
• , and extends our very best through the return of youth state program and extends our very best wishes
• to all residents without worrying that they are in violation of federal law.
• consistency with federal requirements.
• Campuses, and two labor occupational safety and health programs at UCLA and UC Berkeley.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then spent much of the session on floor recognitions. Members welcomed the Far West Region of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and honored its leadership and civic service, including wildfire recovery work and local chapter anniversaries. The body also recognized the 2026 Latino Spirit Award honorees, with remarks tied to Cinco de Mayo and Latino resilience, followed by a series of resolutions and guest introductions. Several resolutions were adopted, including SR 86 on Cinco de Mayo Week, SCR 146 declaring May Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month, SCR 154 establishing Green Star Veterans and Families Day, SCR 123 recognizing California Peace Officers Memorial Day, SCR 164 designating Black Health Equity Advocacy Week, and SCR 103 on Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week. Testimony and remarks emphasized cultural heritage, shared struggles for justice, veterans’ mental health and suicide prevention, law enforcement sacrifice, and persistent racial health disparities. Most resolutions passed by unanimous roll call votes. The Senate also confirmed multiple Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation appointments, including Kathleen Ratliff and Joseph Tuggle, Jason Johnson, Madeline McLean, Brian Bishop, and Sarah Larson. Senators Grove and others voiced protest over CDCR appointments, arguing for consideration of Frank Silva, but the confirmations still passed overwhelmingly or unanimously. The chamber then approved several bills, including SB 1159 on artificial intelligence and public meetings, SB 1416 shortening refund timelines for duplicate medical/dental payments, SB 1273 expanding tied-house advertising rules for winery instructional events, SB 941 limiting commissary markups in private detention facilities, SB 1099 clarifying local authority to provide public benefits, SB 1195 expanding tied-house exemptions for certain venues, and SB 990 allowing a highway information sign near Ridgecrest. The session concluded with adjournment memories for labor leader and UCLA Labor Center director Kent Wong and recognition of his family and colleagues.

Transcript Highlights:

• you have on your sheet under the modal program.
• Item number 10 does that in the federal funds column.
• There was a small increase in federal funds for personnel in that item.
• And item number 10 does that in the federal funds column.
• There was a small increase in federal funds for personnel in that item.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee met with quorum and took up only HB 3, the Department of Transportation Appropriation Act of 2026 for FY27. The bill was presented as an amended budget that would increase NMDOT’s operating budget by about $132.6 million, or 10.2%, using available cash balances, additional projected revenue, and contingent revenue tied to Senate Bill 2, the highway bond bill. Staff walked through the amendment section by section, explaining changes to project design and construction, highway operations, program support, modal programs, federal and interagency transfer lines, corrected performance-measure language, and added budget adjustment authority for the current and next fiscal years. Several members raised concerns about the late circulation of a revised amendment and the appearance of multiple bill versions, arguing the committee had not had enough time to review the changes and that the process may have violated the 24-hour rule. Others asked for clarification on how the budget distinguished between rehabilitation and maintenance, and DOT staff explained that major rehabilitation is generally tied to STIP projects while maintenance is handled through district-level plans and contracts. Members also discussed the use of cash balances for non-recurring spending, the impact of electric vehicles on road revenue, and the need for more maintenance, litter cleanup, fencing, and beautification funding. DOT and executive representatives noted the amendment includes a significant maintenance increase and said additional non-recurring funding could also come through House Bill 2 and the capital bill. The committee first rejected a substitute motion to delay action, then adopted the amendment and later voted due pass on HB 3 as amended. Public comment was opened, but no one spoke in support or opposition. After passage, members explained their votes, with some supporting the bill as a needed transportation investment and others objecting to the process and the compressed review timeline.

Transcript Highlights:

• programs and milk programs, milk programs and milk programs, milk distribution<00:22:38.159>
• says is the first state-level program of this kind in the nation because that federal program was cut
• federal cuts. federal cuts.
• <00:26:35.120> We<00:26:35.279> are<00:26:35.360> picking federal program was
• We are picking federal program was cut.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• in that program.
• So the program was designed.
• If you're building engineering programs or health-related programs, these are facility programs that
• , and a nursing program.
• Funding these programs allows for program growth and sustainability.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:15:10.079> government partnership with the federal government partnership with the federal
• There's a project in federal grants.
• These funds also can't be used as the state match for a federal program, but it shows up in the governor's
• Assault Programs. Assault Programs. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay.
• Association of Sexual Assault Programs. Association of Sexual Assault Programs.

Keywords: 00:00:20 - Call to Order/Roll Call 00:02:00 - Update on Rural Health Transformation Program 00:29:20 - Discussion of 26RS HB 134 00:36:35 - Roll Call Vote on 26RS HB 134 00:37:41 - Consideration of Referred Administrative Regulations 01:09:44 - Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Health Services Committee met to receive an update from Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Steven Stack on Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Grant. He explained that all 50 states applied and were awarded funding, and Kentucky received about $212.9 million over five years, with the first year treated as a nine-month period. He emphasized that the award is a cooperative agreement with CMS, is not Medicaid funding, cannot be used to supplant existing funds, and is limited to the five areas approved in Kentucky’s application. He also said the state must submit a revised budget before major spending begins, and that CMS could claw back money if performance metrics are not met. Secretary Stack outlined the five focus areas: maternal health, mental health, oral health, emergency medical services, and chronic disease prevention/management, especially obesity and diabetes. He described possible approaches such as expanding behavioral health crisis stabilization models like EMPath, using teledentistry and mobile services, strengthening EMS staffing and treat-in-place options, and building healthier nutrition and activity supports. He said the application was developed quickly with broad stakeholder input and that the state plans to work with universities, nonprofits, and other partners through procurement and other formal processes. He also noted the program will be overseen by the public health department, with Commissioner John Langfeld leading the effort. Committee members asked about the grant timeline, the split between formula and competitive funding, the role of certificate of need, and whether new laws or regulations would be needed. Stack said the state believes it can implement the approved projects under current law, though some broader policy issues such as certificate of need were not included because they would be risky to change within the grant timeline. Members also asked how stakeholders can submit ideas; Stack pointed them to the public website and contact email, saying additional partner information will be posted soon. The committee did not take any formal vote or action during this discussion.