Transcript Highlights:

• assistance, and time off from work.
• And while we thank the Legislature for fully supporting the Stop the Hate program in 2026, this program
• Being bullied at school is one kind of heartbreak.
• Being bullied at schools is one kind of heartbreak.
• It's walking into a hospital or school or church without fear.

Summary: The committee on Hate, Racism, and Xenophobia met to review California hate-crime trends and hear from state agencies and community organizations about current impacts and policy responses. The California Department of Justice reported that 2025 hate-crime events declined modestly from 2024 but remained historically elevated, with race and ethnicity still the largest category, anti-Black bias the most frequently reported, and notable increases in anti-Hispanic/Latino and citizenship/immigration-status bias. The California Commission on the State of Hate said its research and victimization studies show hate is broader than official crime data alone, with millions of Californians experiencing hate incidents and many victims needing services beyond law enforcement, including mental health care, legal help, and workplace protections. The commission also emphasized online radicalization, the need for better data infrastructure, and stronger training and support systems. Members then heard from the NAACP, LULAC, Jewish California, CHIRLA, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, CAIR California, and Equality California. Testimony described fear, underreporting, and the effects of rhetoric, federal policy changes, and online misinformation on Black, Latino, Jewish, immigrant, Asian American, Muslim, and LGBTQ+ communities. Witnesses urged sustained funding for Stop the Hate and nonprofit security grants, stronger language access, civic education, and community-based reporting and victim services. Several groups also called for specific legislation, including measures on racial profiling, immigration detention oversight, Jewish ethnicity recognition, safe worship zones, anti-Muslim hate prevention, and LGBTQ+ data privacy and health protections. Committee discussion focused on the conditions that fuel hate, especially political polarization, social media radicalization, and the role of public figures and institutions in normalizing dehumanizing language. Members and witnesses discussed the limits of current data, the need for long-term research and prevention strategies, and the importance of solidarity across communities. No formal votes or final committee actions were taken in the transcript, though members referenced existing and pending bills and ongoing efforts to expand training, funding, and anti-hate infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:22:31.080><c> any</c> developers under this program any developers under this program any profits
• Housing Finance Authority to assist these homeland heroes with a $5,000 closing cost assistance.
• </c> working with an already existing program working with an already existing program within<00:24:32.480
• or really any other construction housing or really any other construction some some some municipalities
• </c> family has been in the construction family has been in the construction trades<00:51:00.920><c>

Committee: Senate Commerce

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS BILL REQUIRES SCHOOLS TO ESTABLISH A OUT-OF-STATE FEE FOR NONRESIDENT OUTLINED STUDENTS THIS ENSURES
• THIS LEGISLATION SHIFTS ALLEGATIONS OF FINANCIAL FEES AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS
• FOR STUDENTS WHO HAVE LEFT HIGH SCHOOL TO GET BACK ON TRACK.
• LOCATED IN AREAS OF RURAL OPPORTUNITY, REQUIRES FUNDS FOR THE EXCELLENT NURSING PROGRAM TO BE USED FOR
• HEALTHCARE RELATED INDUSTRY PROGRAMS DIRECTING FUNDS TO CRITICAL WORKFORCE NEEDS, HILLSBOROUGH COMMUNITY

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Changes to food assistance programs have impacted schools, food banks, and local farms.
• So potentially increased demand on state programs.
• Changes to programs at the federal level are impacting state programming, municipalities, and organizations
• , and some of it came through the mega program.
• , and some of it came through the mega program.

Committee: House House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The inaugural hearing of the newly named House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability focused on how federal policy changes could affect Massachusetts, especially in education, health care, research, infrastructure, climate, and business conditions. Chair LaNatra said the committee was created to monitor federal funding decisions and their impacts on state programs and services. Members introduced themselves, then heard testimony from Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Sarah Mills of Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and Quentin Palfrey, the governor’s Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure. Howgate argued that the Trump administration and new Congress pose ideological, practical, and process-related risks to Massachusetts, citing proposed cuts to Medicaid, education, research, and other domestic programs. He said federal dollars make up about a quarter of the state operating budget and capital plan, warned against using one-time reserves to backfill ongoing federal cuts, and urged the state to prioritize core services while protecting areas where Massachusetts is especially strong, such as higher education and research. In response to committee questions, he said the House Medicaid proposal would still cost Massachusetts hundreds of millions and that international student and NIH-related changes could harm the state’s labor force and innovation economy. He also advised that the state communicate clearly without overreacting to daily federal developments. Mills testified that AIM members are most concerned about uncertainty, tariffs, Medicaid cuts, and NIH reductions. She said tariffs are raising costs, disrupting supply chains, and hurting small and medium-sized businesses, housing construction, and exporters, with AIM’s business confidence index falling to its lowest level since the pandemic. She said Medicaid cuts would raise employer health costs, reduce productivity, and strain the health care system, while NIH cuts would threaten Massachusetts’ life sciences and academic research ecosystem. In questions, she said AIM has increased federal outreach, is coordinating with the U.S. Chamber and the Massachusetts delegation, and is hearing concerns from employers about immigration compliance and workforce disruptions. Palfrey described the Healey-Driscoll administration’s efforts to maximize federal funding, including a biweekly interagency council, a municipal partnership effort, and a statewide roadshow. He said Massachusetts has secured nearly $9 billion from major federal laws for projects such as the Cape Cod bridges, Allston Multimodal, grid modernization, clean-energy school buses, and broadband. He also said the administration launched a public website to track federal impacts and is working with municipalities, nonprofits, and the Attorney General on grant changes, legal issues, and litigation. In response to questions, he warned that cuts to NOAA, NSF, Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs could affect services and the state budget, and said the administration is tracking changes to federal grant applications and conditions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• It first specifies that schools operating TTK programs may supplement state funding with local levy funds
• One of the areas that we need some help and assistance with is to make the actual program more...
• One of the areas that we need some help and assistance with is to make the actual program more similar
• She has in the East Valley School District, Trent Schools, and they have a program that's been working
• One of the most devastating, local effort assistance. My school district and...

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met in executive session on a proposed substitute operating budget bill and worked through a long series of amendments before voting on the bill. Members discussed a wide range of budget items, including court funding for Thurston County civil filings, Attorney General funding for a domestic extremism task force, grants for Yakima aquatics access, North Mason mobile integrated health, mentoring programs, poverty reduction work, a proposed Department of Housing task force, federal grant inventory staffing, HEAL Act funding, assisted living rebasing, DCYF family resource centers and pediatric interim care, law enforcement training and equipment, shellfish and birthing center licensing fees, school bus depreciation, charter school accountability, transition to kindergarten priorities, and several Fish and Wildlife and OSPI grants. The committee also considered amendments related to the Columbia River Gorge Commission, shrub-steppe habitat mitigation, and a study on Lower Snake River reservoir drawdown impacts. Debate on many amendments centered on whether items were statewide priorities or local projects, and on the fiscal constraints of the budget. Supporters often argued that proposals would protect vulnerable populations, improve public safety, or leverage future savings and outside funding; opponents frequently cited budget pressure, the availability of existing funding, or the need to avoid singling out local projects. Some amendments were adopted, including Clark 343 on intent to fund up to 10,000 additional eCAP slots, Jones 419 on paint stewardship funding, and Stevens 070 limiting birthing center license fees. Many others failed, including amendments on Thurston County court funding, the domestic extremism task force, Yakima aquatics, North Mason mobile integrated health, mentoring, poverty reduction workgroup funding, the Department of Housing task force, federal grant staffing, HEAL Act funding, assisted living rebasing, the PIC Center contract, the Lacey regional training academy, and several Fish and Wildlife and OSPI-related proposals. The committee then moved to the underlying bill, Proposed Substitute House Bill 2289, and adopted a do pass motion after disposing of the amendments. The transcript indicates the committee ultimately reported the bill out of committee with a do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 39 is the child care assistance program. Okay. And they would be getting money. ...to grow.
• Line 39 is the child care assistance program. Okay.
• Line 13, this was a request to ensure that school districts and charter schools operate school calendars
• Schools operate school calendars of no fewer than 180 instructional days.
• school year, and that is in response to some charter schools shifting over to four-day school weeks

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I rise to honor the Richland School District on its selection as a Great Pennsylvania School, presented
• schools.
• </c> presented by the Pennsylvania School presented by the Pennsylvania School Boards<00:08:51.279><c
• school in the 1880s.
• </c> program or expand federal control. program or expand federal control.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . ...in the advisory committee back in 2005 that established the regulations around that program, and
• It has to do with school cost reimbursement.
• Where largely you don't get that many children, they would get school cost reimbursement.
• Payment of smart growth school cost reimbursement.
• The idea at the time, in the year 2000, was to assist... ...communities.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses held a brief hearing on several housing and planning bills. Testimony focused on Senate Bill 176 and House Bill 313, which would update Chapter 40R smart growth zoning incentives and double municipal payments for adopting qualifying zoning districts, and Senate Bill 177, a technical correction to Chapter 40S so starter-home districts created under Chapter 40Y would also qualify for school cost reimbursement. Benjamin Fierro, representing the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Massachusetts, strongly supported the bills, arguing that the current incentives are too modest, that starter homes are needed for young and first-time buyers, and that the school reimbursement fix is necessary to align the statutes. Nally Soto of the Massachusetts Housing Coalition also supported the bills, saying the higher incentives would help municipalities approve more housing and address the housing shortage. Representative Kassner testified on House Bill 303, a remote community development planning bill modeled on Executive Order 418. She said it would restore and expand statewide comprehensive planning for land use, transportation, housing, open space, infrastructure, and climate resilience, with regional planning agencies playing a key role. Committee members asked about how Chapter 40S reimbursement is calculated and how the planning bill would interact with existing regional planning commissions. One member also spoke in support of the housing bills and described local challenges with affordability, land costs, and compliance with the MBTA Communities law. No votes were taken during the hearing. The chair closed testimony after a final call for additional witnesses and announced that the committee would continue working on the bills and hold one more hearing in September on additional measures and late-filed bills. The committee then adjourned by motion and second.

Transcript Highlights:

• Albuquerque Public School system, we had to shut down for a day of school because of a domestic.
• I do construction.
• school, and they might come.
• But is there a registered program, and there's a licensed home program, and then from there you go...
• Then there's a licensed home program, and then from there you go into the center program.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 20, a prior-authorization measure aimed at exempting certain medications and treatments for seriously mentally ill adults from repeat insurance prior authorization, while also extending prior authorization approvals to three years for chronic maintenance drugs. The sponsor described the bill as the latest in a series of bipartisan prior-authorization reforms and accepted an amendment from the Health Care Authority and the Office of the Superintendent of Insurance to apply the bill to adults only and to cover PBMs in the interagency purchasing collaborative. Supporters, including NAMI New Mexico and state health officials, argued the bill would reduce barriers to needed care, especially for mental health treatment. Opponents from health plans, PBMs, and insurers warned the bill was too broad, lacked clear definitions for serious mental illness and chronic conditions, created patient-safety concerns, and should have a shorter reauthorization period and later implementation date. After committee discussion, the sponsor agreed to work on a committee substitute, and the bill was rolled over for a later meeting. The committee then heard Senate Bill 53, the Chispa data privacy bill, which would impose broad limits on the collection, sale, and use of personal data, require opt-in consent for many uses, strengthen rights to access, correct, and delete data, and create enforcement mechanisms including a private right of action. Supporters from advocacy, women’s, behavioral health, reproductive health, and civil rights groups said the bill was needed to protect sensitive health and location data, prevent surveillance and criminalization, and give New Mexicans real control over their information. Business, technology, insurance, and hospital representatives opposed the bill, arguing it was more restrictive than other states’ privacy laws, would burden small businesses and health-related services, create compliance uncertainty, and risk limiting digital services and innovation. After extensive questioning about data breaches, opt-in consent, nonprofit exemptions, and the bill’s impact on businesses and health care access, a motion to table failed 5-4, and the committee then passed SB 53 on a 5-4 vote. The committee next heard Senate Bill 86, which updates the state’s harassment-by-telephone law to cover electronic communications such as social media, messaging apps, and email. The sponsor and a Las Cruces police chief said the change would modernize an outdated 1967 statute and help law enforcement address harassment and domestic violence through current technology. The bill drew support from the governor’s public safety advisor and the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, and members asked a few clarifying questions about the wording. The committee approved SB 86 unanimously, 9-0. Finally, the committee began hearing Senate Bill 96, on regulated childcare zoning requirements, using a committee substitute. The sponsor and the Early Childhood Education and Care Department said the bill would reduce confusing zoning and fire-code barriers to opening or expanding child care homes and centers, helping address a statewide shortage of child care slots and supporting working families. The discussion began with the committee substitute and an explanation that the measure is intended to streamline local requirements and expand child care supply.

Transcript Highlights:

• EPA's programs.
• The program you had mentioned...
• These dollars have gone into programming and equipment to help our schools in areas that they have identified
• We worked with the college that provided funding to get a program in place, recruiting local high school-age
• to strengthen that program.

Committee: Joint Radioactive & Hazardous Materials Committee

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the first one is 295, making school building aid program funds non-lapsing.
• ><c> aid</c><00:53:19.359><c> program</c><00:53:19.760><c> funds</c> making school building aid program
• funds making school building aid program funds non-lapsing. non-lapsing. non-lapsing.
• One is, um, this school building aid program has in general not been very successful.
• Uh are schools and school districts?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee took up several school building aid bills. HB 295, which would make school building aid program funds non-lapsing, drew debate over whether the program is effective and whether funds should be allowed to carry forward. Supporters argued the program is underfunded and that even small leftover amounts should remain available for building aid; opponents said non-lapsing funds limit future budget flexibility and that the program creates winners and losers. The committee voted 4-3 to recommend HB 295 inexpedient to legislate (ITL). The committee then considered HB 366, which would increase school building aid for eligible projects and include retroactive funding for projects completed in the past. The motion to ITL was supported on the grounds that retroactive payments would be unfair to districts still waiting in line and that the legislature should focus on future projects. Supporters of the bill said the increase was modest and that districts that built during a prior moratorium on aid were left with long-term fiscal burdens. The committee again voted 4-3 to recommend ITL. The discussion also broadened into special education funding and a retained bill, HB 742, concerning catastrophic special education aid and the source of funding. Members debated whether the education trust fund should cover the aid and whether the committee should act now or wait for a separate commission studying special education costs. Several members emphasized that special education costs are rising, that more data is needed on student identification and funding formulas, and that the commission’s report may provide better guidance. The chair said the subcommittee’s recommendations would go to the full committee, and the next meeting was expected to be rescheduled from November 4 to later that week because of election-related conflicts.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the superintendent of West Memphis Schools. Apologies for Dr. Wolf, our school board president.
• So previously, they were a school board... would be.
• So we do 197 school audits, and there are 38 schools that choose a private auditor. Okay.
• Any audit that a CPA firm does that involves a public open-enrollment charter school or public school
• , then we're going to do the audit of the school.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This program, Youth and Government, gives middle school and high school students from around the state
• This program, Youth and Government, gives middle school and high school students from around the state
• School; Starr Nowanski, a sophomore at the Masters Program Charter School in Santa Fe; Jacob Malagon
• Pius High School in Albuquerque. ...Starr Nowanski, a sophomore at the Masters Program Charter School
• This was an online program within the Gallup McKinley schools.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and we provide our own workers' comp safety retro program.
• Residential construction and small works roster projects are exempt.
• So you're getting a contract to, let's say, build a school.
• addresses the critical issue of frozen wages for skilled construction workers.
• First, we're proud of the fact that the construction industry supports fair and excellent wages.

Bills: SB5944

Committee: House Labor & Workplace Standards

Keywords: language access, collective bargaining, labor relations, employment rights, worker protections, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have so many federal programs. We all know that. We have so many federal programs.
• program?
• So, you know, all of our programs across the state and all of our schools have local advisory boards.
• So, you know, all of our programs across the state and all of our schools have local advisory boards.
• programs.

Committee: All ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE

Summary: The meeting focused on Arkansas’s workforce development reorganization and a set of federal waiver requests intended to consolidate and streamline the state’s WIOA system. Commerce officials said the department has already centralized shared services, split the old workforce agency into reemployment and Arkansas Workforce Connections, and submitted a combined WIOA/Perkins state plan. They described nine waiver requests, including replacing local workforce boards with a single statewide board, creating one planning and accountability structure, allowing more flexible movement of funds across regions, easing the “last-dollar” requirement for training and supportive services, reducing required youth program elements, and allowing affiliate sites instead of mandatory comprehensive centers. Officials said the goal is to reduce administrative costs and redirect more money to training, supportive services, and employer-driven programs. Legislators raised concerns about rural representation, local employer relationships, and whether local offices would close. Commerce officials said local offices would remain open, some current staff could be rehired, and regional business councils would preserve local employer input. They said the current system is fragmented and expensive, with roughly $14 million in federal workforce funds flowing through local boards but only about $1.9 million spent on training and supportive services last year; they argued the reorganization could raise training spending to about $6 million to $7 million annually. Questions also addressed board composition, performance accountability, and how funds could be shifted between regions when needs change. The State Board of Workforce Development had approved the waiver package 11-3 before it was submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor. Members also discussed workforce access for people with disabilities, child care and transportation supports, and the role of Arkansas Launch, apprenticeships, and career and technical education. Officials said vocational rehabilitation now has better access to the state job board and that referrals and data-sharing with DHS and other partners still need improvement. Several legislators emphasized the need for training to align more closely with employer demand, especially in manufacturing, technology, health care, and rural areas. The committee also heard a brief overview of Workforce Pell, with staff explaining that the new federal short-term Pell option has narrow eligibility rules and may not fit many existing programs, including some CDL and CNA programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• PROHIBITIVE PROGRAM ON EQUITY AND ON INCLUSION.
• I DID NOT GET THAT FROM A CHARTER SCHOOL WEBSITE. ONSET I GOT IT FROM A CHARTER SCHOOL WEBSITE.
• SB 1180 AIMS TO PRODUCE REGULATORY BURDENS ALL SCHOOL RELATED CONSTRUCTION A STREAMLINE DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES
• PICK THE BILL ALLOWS PUBLIC SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN CHARTER SCHOOL PROJECTS TO BYPASS CONCURRENCY
• GARMENTS BUT THIS LETS DEVELOPERS AFFECT FEES BY CONSTRUCTING SCHOOL FACILITIES OR MAKING IMPROVEMENTS

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They were included as eligible entities at the NMFA in the PPRF program.
• Does the income from the Assistance Fund count as revenue?
• I do want to thank Arturo for coming forward and assisting on the request that I had.
• Our first original housing projects received $300,000 from the development block grants program.
• I could bring my assistant.

Committee: House House Rural Development, Land Grants And Cultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> up statute by removing outdated programs up statute by removing outdated programs and<00:02:12.720
• Section one amends two programs.
• </c> expired property tax programs and aids. expired property tax programs and aids.
• </c> expired job opportunity building program expired job opportunity building program or<00:09:58.959
• Was there any program that succeeded the Job Z program that had similar purposes, or did we just move

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for Needy Families program.
• year's budget for program administration.
• from prior one-time funding to an ongoing program.
• So the human-wildlife conflict program was a specific program that was funded and then it basically was
• The Division of Boating and Waterways runs that program with the hyacinth control program.

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Resources, Environmental Protection, and Energy opened its first hearing with remarks from the chair and members emphasizing climate change, resiliency, clean energy, natural resources, and the need to make careful budget choices in a constrained fiscal environment. The Legislative Analyst’s Office presented an overview of the natural resources and environmental protection budget, warning that although current revenues are strong, the state faces significant out-year deficits and should apply a high bar to new ongoing spending, use special funds and fees carefully, and focus on critical health and safety needs. The LAO said the Governor’s Proposition 4 spending plan was generally reasonable and consistent with bond requirements, but urged legislative oversight and reporting, especially where bond funds interact with General Fund proposals. Secretary Wade Crowfoot then described the Natural Resources Agency’s recent accomplishments and priorities, including wildfire resilience, water reliability, coastal protection, outdoor access, biodiversity, tribal partnerships, and streamlining project delivery. He highlighted major investments in climate and resilience, the role of Proposition 4 in continuing those efforts, and the need to modernize water infrastructure, including Delta conveyance and other regional conveyance projects. Members asked about Delta conveyance, invasive species, permitting delays, and the impact of federal staffing cuts; Crowfoot said the administration is pushing projects forward, supports a beneficiary-pays approach for conveyance, and is filling gaps left by federal reductions where necessary. The committee then heard from the Department of Parks and Recreation. Director Armando Quintero reviewed the state park system, outdoor access programs, tribal agreements, wildfire and forest resilience work, and deferred maintenance funded by the climate bond. The LAO recommended rejecting the proposed ongoing General Fund transfer for the California State Parks Library Pass program, saying it did not meet the high bar for new spending, while several members strongly supported the program as a low-cost, high-value access tool. Members also pressed Parks on reservation system problems and no-show vacancies; staff said new rules and enforcement will take effect July 1 and that vacancies are being opened up sooner. The department also presented low-cost accommodation projects, which the LAO supported. Finally, the Department of Fish and Wildlife introduced its new director, Megan Hurdle, who outlined the department’s mission, staffing, service-based budgeting, and Proposition 4 proposals for salmon tagging, hatchery improvements, and public access lands. She emphasized the department’s role in biodiversity conservation, permitting streamlining, law enforcement, and human-wildlife conflict outreach, and said the agency is working to close a service gap identified in its budgeting analysis. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• :47.000><c> program</c><00:14:47.279><c> to</c><00:14:47.440><c> provide</c> Hawaii promise program to
• </c> conditions of the graduate assistant conditions of the graduate assistant here<00:44:09.440><c>
• program under undergrad uate degree program under certain<00:48:28.559><c> conditions</c><00:48:29.079
• </c> national accreditation for that program national accreditation for that program the<01:05:47.200
• Right, so this particular program, I do have a researcher with me that is part of that program.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education met at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Bachman Hall and heard testimony on several UH-related bills. HB 542 would expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to provide unmet-need scholarships at four-year UH campuses. UH system officials, the UH Student Caucus, and a Honolulu Community College student testified in support, emphasizing college affordability, student retention, and workforce needs. Committee members asked about current program data, eligibility, transfer patterns, and cost; UH said it had data available, noted about 10% of current Hawaiʻi Promise students transfer to four-year campuses, and estimated the full expansion would cost about $12 million. UH also suggested a possible alternative of focusing on transfer opportunities from two-year to four-year campuses. The committee then heard HB 840, which concerns athletics appropriations for UH. UH Mānoa and UH Hilo supported the bill. UH officials said the funding would help cover recurring athletics operating costs, women’s sports travel and recruiting, Austin Awards, and a new nutrition fueling station, while Hilo said the money would help with travel, per diem, and conference-related costs. Members asked about the history of the athletics funding, the difference between Austin Awards and special talent waivers, NIL planning, and whether the appropriation should be restored to the base budget. UH explained that a $4 million athletics appropriation was originally made in 2018 or 2019, later removed from the base, and has been reappropriated annually since then. Finally, the committee heard HB 842, which would fund three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions at UH Mānoa’s Counseling and Student Development Center. UH supported the bill, and Academic Labor United and a high school student testified in favor, citing student stress, overwork, and the need for more counseling access. In questions, members discussed the current counselor-to-student ratio, recruitment challenges in a tight labor market, and strategies for hiring, including looking at candidates on soft-money grants who may be seeking stable employment. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.