Transcript Highlights:

• We directed large amounts of new money to competitive grant programs rather than direct appropriations
• Speaker, that is my introduction to the bill. competitive grant pools from both sides competitive grant
• And I am hopeful that the competitive grants that may come forward will give them something.
• all the way down to maybe a local potter that does work and is able to get a grant.
• Uh, beyond that, um, as Representative Louie just mentioned, the county fair grants.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• universal school meals, free community college, expanding access to C3 early education child care grants
• As worthy as those educational programs are, the Fair Share Amendment was envisioned to attempt to spend
• so that both the state and our municipalities can better meet the funding goals of this worthy program
• So that both the state and our municipalities can better meet the funding goals of this worthy program
• Meanwhile, a mere 10% is committed to local municipal roads in a pilot program, which is a grant program

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted two ceremonial resolutions: one commemorating the dedication of the Woburn Battle Road Memorial as part of the Massachusetts 250th celebration, and another recognizing May 1-7 as Elks National Youth Week. The chamber then took up House Bill 4005, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill using FY24 Fair Share surtax surplus funds, and ordered it to a third reading before later considering it for passage to be engrossed. During debate on the bill, the House heard a lengthy presentation in support of the proposal, which would direct about $828 million to transportation and $353 million to education. The transportation spending was described as primarily supporting the MBTA, including workforce and safety funding, reserve replenishment, station and infrastructure improvements, reduced fares, and reimbursement for tunnel closure costs, along with smaller amounts for regional transit authorities and unpaved roads. The education side included additional special education circuit breaker funding, vocational school capital, early education workforce supports, early literacy, universal school meals, higher education endowment matches, Green School Works, and ESOL waitlist reduction, with the Inspector General directed to review circuit breaker cost controls. Members then debated several amendments. One amendment related to a school athletics policy was modified by a further amendment calling for DESE analysis before implementation; both the further amendment and the underlying amendment as amended were adopted. A transportation amendment to shift $50 million from MBTA funding to Chapter 90 municipal roads was supported by members emphasizing rural road needs but was rejected on a roll call, 25-120. Another transportation amendment adding at least $300,000 for Route 93 mitigation costs in Medford was adopted, 133-20. The bill itself then passed to be engrossed on a roll call, 140-14. The House also observed moments of silence for former First Lady Kitty Dukakis and for victims of the Santo Domingo nightclub collapse, and later adopted an order to meet the next day at 11 a.m. before adjourning in memory of former Representative Philip W. Johnston.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's not the entire list of what we do at Eastern, but it's a list of projects, contracts, and grants
• Eastern has a program called the New Faculty Investment Program.
• It's not a national program, but it utilizes national monies to do it.
• We've had numerous examples of students and faculty using those smaller grants, which are about $7,000
• A lot of our students go on to Ph.D. programs and other research labs very successfully.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we ask, Lord, that you would grant us wisdom, as it says in James, if we ask and not doubt, Lord,
• that you would grant us wisdom, as it says in James, if we ask and not doubt, that you will grant us
• If you serve, then you can earn a grant for your local food bank.
• federal deficit, saying it is “going crazy” and that the state depends on a lot of federal money for programs
• budgets for a number of years, which has allowed it to save without jeopardizing essential state programs

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And the reason, if you go to the next slide, is because of a federal grant program, which I know California
• And so the Oregon program, we are the first operational RUC program in the nation when we went live in
• We also are using the STSFA grant to offset program costs. Next slide. Thank you.
• Was it always meant to be a voluntary program? It has been a voluntary program.
• And you said your program is a prepayment.

Summary: The Assembly Transportation Committee first took up three highway naming resolutions on its consent calendar: ACR 109, SCR 78, and SCR 90. The committee approved the consent calendar with 11 aye votes and no no votes, then adjourned the bill-hearing portion. Members also recognized committee science fellow AJ Mendeola for his service, noting his contributions to bill analysis and staff support. The committee then held an informational hearing on alternatives to the gas tax, focused on the projected decline in fuel-tax revenue and the need for a more sustainable transportation funding model. The chair and invited experts described how inflation, improved fuel efficiency, and growth in electric and other alternative-fuel vehicles are eroding gas-tax revenues. Presenters from the National Conference of State Legislatures and the University of California discussed state options such as higher or indexed gas taxes, EV registration fees, road usage charges, delivery fees, public EV charging fees, transportation network company fees, and managed lanes, emphasizing tradeoffs among revenue adequacy, fairness, administrative cost, and public acceptance. Committee members raised concerns that mileage-based fees or EV fees could function as new taxes on commuters and lower-income drivers, especially if the gas tax is not repealed. Presenters responded that road usage charges are generally intended as replacements for the gas tax, not additions, and argued that mileage-based systems better preserve the user-pays principle while being less tied to vehicle fuel efficiency. They also noted that flat EV registration fees are easy to administer but can be less equitable because they are not linked to actual road use. Officials from Hawaii, Utah, and Oregon described their state programs and policy choices. Hawaii said its new road usage charge began July 1, 2025, for EVs, offers a choice between a per-mile charge and a flat annual fee through 2028, and will transition to mandatory EV participation before expanding to all light-duty vehicles by 2033. Utah described its voluntary EV road usage charge program, quarterly reporting, privacy protections, and legislative scenarios for removing the cap or making participation mandatory. Oregon outlined its constitutional cost-responsibility framework and broader transportation funding challenges, including reliance on user fees and limited use of general-fund support.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:50:44.359><c> as</c> be well in addition to the grants as be well in addition to the grants as
• about some of the programs specifically about some of the programs they<00:52:25.319><c> were</c><00
• The director of Getting to Why, who just got a grant from the governor and Council to do their program
• the</c><04:11:34.520><c> 206</c> mean granted granted the old the 206 mean granted granted the old the
• </c> was not provided at that time granted was not provided at that time granted I've<04:14:34.439><c

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 695, relating to school districts and medically related grants. The sponsor argued the bill was vague and could undermine existing law, and another member said it would add an unnecessary mandate for school districts. The committee voted to recommend inexpedient to legislate, and the motion passed 18-0. Next, House Bill 765, which would consolidate school administrative units and make superintendent jobs elected positions, was also recommended inexpedient to legislate. Members said the bill raised too many questions, could duplicate other legislation, and would move away from local control. That motion likewise passed 18-0. House Bill 768, allowing public school districts to contract with approved private schools, drew more debate. Supporters described it as a language cleanup and an expansion of educational opportunity, while opponents raised concerns about the placement of the language and pending Supreme Court cases. The committee voted 10-8 to recommend ought to pass, and then 10-8 to recommend ought to pass as amended, with a minority report noted. The committee then considered House Bill 446, dealing with parental notice for non-academic surveys. An amendment was offered to make the Youth Risk Behavior Survey opt-in rather than opt-out. Supporters said parents should be informed and should choose whether their children participate, while opponents argued the survey is an important tool for mental health data, grants, and school programming, and that opt-in would reduce participation and data quality. The amendment passed 10-8, and the bill as amended also passed 10-8, with a minority report noted. Finally, the committee began House Bill 741, which would allow parents to send children to any school district they choose and expand open enrollment. The sponsor described it as broadening choice and keeping public funds in public schools, and an amendment was proposed to restore provisions for children of military personnel. Discussion on the amendment began, but the transcript cuts off before any vote on House Bill 741 or the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> illegally moreover states that Grant illegally moreover states that Grant driver's<00:38:57.079>
• </c><00:40:28.520><c> driver's</c> do not not prohibit granting driver's do not not prohibit granting
• , get trained by this program.
• , get trained by this program.
• </c> sure to apply for a training program sure to apply for a training program that's<01:29:04.360><c

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> full year of an EFA uh grant. full year of an EFA uh grant.
• </c> in the FA program. in the FA program.
• </c> know, very fiscally controlled program. know, very fiscally controlled program.
• </c> year of the program and it was 350%. year of the program and it was 350%.
• </c> are participating in this program. are participating in this program.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee received an update from the LBA on three audits related to education programs. Christine Young reported that the special education audit is in report-writing, with 44 of 81 observations completed, and that a draft is expected early in the third quarter with a final report later in the summer. She also said the doorway program audit has a draft report with 12 observations, auditee responses were received May 14, an exit conference was held May 18, and the report is now expected to be presented at the June fiscal committee meeting. The bulk of the discussion focused on the education freedom accounts audit and a proposed expansion of scope. Beulah Skids explained that the original audit, required by the 2022 law creating the EFA program, would be expanded to examine whether students were New Hampshire residents at enrollment and throughout participation, and whether records of educational attainment satisfied program requirements. She described the current work, the draft cooperation agreement being developed with the Department of Education and the Children’s Scholarship Fund, and the department’s concerns about the audit period and the term "educational progress," which the LBA said it would revise. The committee discussed that the expanded work would depend on a written agreement giving the LBA access to needed records, policies, and staff, with the Department of Education potentially serving as an intermediary for data access. Members raised concerns about the scope period and data access. Senator Lang asked that the residency review be limited to the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years, rather than the broader 2022-25 period, because those years captured the major program expansions; the committee appeared to agree, with clarification that the reference was to school years, not fiscal years. Members also discussed reconciliation of EFA funds, noting that the department has agreed to reopen rulemaking to make reconciliation more frequent so unused funds can be returned to the state sooner. Several members expressed frustration that access to data had been delayed, while LBA staff said the cooperation agreement is intended to prevent further roadblocks and that the AG’s office could review it if needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since our first direct appropriations, HAP has served nearly 3,000 Hmong in workforce programs.
• Program graduates see real impact, earning wages averaging $20.20 per hour.
• direct lending, micro-lending over 1.1 million while leveraging over $6 million in private funds, grants
• </c> 3,000 motans in Workforce programs 3,000 motans in Workforce programs among<00:05:00.680><c> them
• </c><00:05:42.960><c> and</c><00:05:43.240><c> owner</c> in private funds grants and owner in private

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We opened it up with the grant that we received a couple of years ago.
• We started what's called the Supply the Supplier program.
• I think he was our very first success in this program.
• You have state training programs, you have local regional programs like the ones that Jerry mentioned
• We are looking into launching this program. Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• And through our Ombuds program, public concerns receive substantive responses and follow-up.
• Sixth, on the Safer Consumer Products program, this program is undertaking valuable scientific and regulatory
• We've administered a total of $130 million in grants.
• We've administered a total of $130 million in grants, 90 grants in total at over 150 sites, and that's
• program.

Summary: The joint oversight hearing focused on the Board of Environmental Safety (BES), created by SB 158 in 2021, and on broader DTSC reform efforts, including permitting, community engagement, fee setting, and the hazardous waste management plan. Chair Connolly opened by noting the board’s original goals of improving transparency, accountability, and fiscal stability, and raised concerns about a recent board appointee later becoming a lobbyist with DTSC-regulated clients. Witnesses and members also discussed the long-delayed SB 673 regulations on facility permitting and community vulnerability protections, as well as the board’s role in approving the hazardous waste management plan and reviewing permit appeals. Community and environmental justice witnesses argued that the board has improved access by creating a public forum, ombudsperson, and appeal process, but said it remains too passive and lacks authority over budgets, staffing, and implementation. They urged more statutory direction, stronger community participation, better transparency on how comments are used, and more meaningful authority in permit and plan decisions. One witness suggested the Legislature consider a separate oversight body or stronger legislative engagement, while another called for youth representation and paid fellowships on advisory bodies. Business and regulated-community testimony was more supportive of the board’s structure, emphasizing that SB 158 was a negotiated compromise that improved transparency and accountability while avoiding politicization, and calling for faster fee analysis and clearer budget information. Board Chair Andrew Rakestra and DTSC Director Barbara Butler reported that reform has produced measurable gains: more public engagement, stronger enforcement, fewer continued permits, improved compliance, increased revenues from the generation-and-handling fee, and progress on Exide cleanup, safer consumer products, and community revitalization grants. They acknowledged, however, that the board’s authority is limited, permit appeals can be slow, SB 673 regulations remain unfinished, and public trust still needs work. Both said the board is most effective when involved early and when DTSC shares information proactively. Members asked about fee stability, the hazardous waste management plan, and whether the Legislature should give the board a more formal role in budget change proposals, regulatory processes, and implementation oversight. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• program, and declaring an emergency and providing an effective date.
• program, and declaring an emergency and providing an effective date.
• ; exempting the appropriation for the Department of Parks and Recreation operations program grants from
• And the challenge is we want these programs, and we vote for our CTE programs, but it’s very difficult
• I’ll just give one example: the welding program.

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we did a lot of really cutting-edge program integrity work with Medicaid and with other programs,
• Just because we've had this grant or contract since 1995 for this program, does it still make sense in
• The program integrity space and focus on foundational pillars such as program integrity are essential
• And that harkens back to the impact reviews and our reviews of all of our contracts, grants, and programs
• And then on the EES program, that program has reverted And then on the EES program, that program has

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our company is a recipient of a Trigger grant.
• I think it's one of the great programs that we have in New Mexico.
• Great programs that we have in New Mexico.
• are probably the best programs in New Mexico to help firms scale.
• The Trigger program changed the trajectory for our company.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the innovation grant recipients. There are seven.
• The innovation grant recipients have seven.
• Besides that, Daryl, I committed you to a lot of programming yesterday.
• We hope that that will make us more competitive in chasing federal grants.
• And they're trying to do that through grant opportunities.

Summary: The meeting focused heavily on planning the upcoming AI Symposium and on fundraising strategy. Nellie Sanders, former Secretary of Education, introduced herself and described her background in education, workforce development, and fundraising, saying she would help in a volunteer capacity. The committee discussed the symposium theme, “The ground has moved, building Oklahoma’s AI-ready future,” and confirmed the event dates at the Hard Rock Hotel in Tulsa from June 8 to June 10. They also reviewed the event’s structure, including keynote and speaker slots, vendor participation, and the need to finalize the agenda and printed materials soon. A major portion of the discussion centered on sponsorship levels and the need to expand fundraising beyond the original food-cost-based tiers. Members debated whether the current $6,000, $15,000, and $25,000 levels were too low and proposed adding larger sponsorship tiers, including $50,000 and $100,000 event sponsor options. Based on projected costs of roughly $130,000 to $150,000 and a goal of creating reserve funds for future AI work, the group ultimately discussed aiming for a $300,000 budget and increasing attendance from 200 to as many as 400 participants if funding allows. They also talked about using the symposium to create long-term value for sponsors by offering visibility, networking, and follow-up opportunities. The committee reviewed participant categories and numbers, including innovation grant recipients, libraries, higher education, CareerTech, K-12, corrections, tribal representatives, and commission members. They emphasized that attendees must complete a microcredential and leave with actionable deliverables, such as projects, cohort meetings, and shared AI practices they can replicate at their institutions. Several members stressed the importance of broader K-12 participation, especially for rural districts, and suggested adding administrator and teacher tracks if attendance grows. The group also discussed outreach to Google, tribal partners, and other vendors, and set a planning meeting for Monday at 5 p.m., with a follow-up full committee meeting scheduled for the 30th at 1 p.m. The meeting also included an update on legislation, especially proposed changes to bill 1782. The revised bill would create an AI-related infrastructure without state appropriations, allow funds from private and federal sources, add FERPA, accessibility, and transparency protections, and accelerate council activation. Members discussed using the bill to support future AI initiatives and possibly the symposium, though they noted that any such use would need to be written into the legislation. The meeting ended with updates on the commission’s podcast, “AI Unpacked: The Oklahoma Edition,” and a brief discussion of the commission’s unique cross-sector makeup and its role in representing learners across Oklahoma.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, the last project expansion is the bus rapid transit grant program, and it alters the bus rapid
• transit program to only provide grants to Montgomery County's BRT program.
• </c> project is the bus rapid transit grant project is the bus rapid transit grant program<00:13:11.360
• </c> transit program to only provide grants transit program to only provide grants to<00:13:16.160><c
• </c> Opportunities Grant Program and Fund. Opportunities Grant Program and Fund.

Keywords: House streaming session for Friday, March 20, 2026, 957, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to Grant tuition establish a program to Grant tuition establish a program to Grant tuition money to
• of the administration of the program of the administration of the program of the Alabama Commission
• was I I that's the way the program was I I that's the way the program was I I looked at the program
• up to a top was able to get the program up to a top was able to get the program up to a top five program
• programs presented total 41 programs presented total 41 programs presented total 41 hours people attended

Bills: SB 26, SB 28, SJR 36, SB 616, SB 565, SB 384, SB 28, SB 28, SR 131, SR 168, SR 174, SR 175

Keywords: teacher compensation, education funding, public school educators, teacher retention, teacher designation, lottery, gambling, internet gaming, mobile application, criminal offenses, aquifer, water management, Edwards Aquifer, sustainability, regulatory framework, SB 565, Texas Water Code, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, compliance agreement

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> FMAP in the Medicaid program. FMAP in the Medicaid program.
• This is um a program that has program.
• grants give us a grants and um so block grants give us a lot<01:23:51.520><c> more</c><01:23:51.920><
• </c> smaller grants that are federal grants smaller grants that are federal grants that<01:23:58.719>
• </c> mental illness program is 32%. mental illness program is 32%.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you are in a program that is ongoing, and this is a lengthy program, I think it's like 26 weeks or
• Yes, just to follow up to that so that the program ...itself may, the entire program may be faith-based
• These are ...programs must adhere to the program rules, which prohibit the inclusion of faith-based ideology
• These programs must adhere to the program rules, which prohibits the inclusion of faith-based ideology
• If you want to grant, which one?

Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and took up several bills. SB 894, relating to faith-based content in batterers’ intervention programs, was explained as allowing certified programs to offer voluntary faith-based components alongside existing models. Members raised questions about how faith would be defined, whether participation would be optional, and how all faiths would be included. An amendment was adopted clarifying that faith-based activities may be offered but not required and removing language directing DCF to repeal a rule. After supportive testimony from faith-based advocates and some debate, the committee reported the bill favorably, with Senators Harrell and Garcia later recording affirmative votes. The committee then considered SB 1240 on substance abuse and mental health care, which would assign state oversight of the 988 Lifeline, remove the annual needs assessment barrier for medication-assisted treatment licensing, and require annual continuing education for forensic evaluators. An amendment with technical conforming changes and two substantive clarifications was adopted. Members expressed support for expanded access to behavioral health services, and the bill was reported favorably. Later, the chair presented SB 1736, which would allow direct support professionals and relatives to administer insulin in group home settings for individuals with developmental disabilities. After an amendment clarifying sliding scale insulin and related medication administration, the committee heard testimony from family advocates describing how the bill would prevent unnecessary institutionalization and reduce costs. The bill was reported favorably. The committee also passed SB 1286, which clarifies that allowing children to engage in unsupervised activities such as biking or playing outside does not by itself constitute neglect unless reckless or dangerous. After brief support testimony, that bill was also reported favorably, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Friends, just real quickly, this program I think would be amazing for our state.
• The energy resiliency grants of $10 million, that was already in this budget.
• There's some community grant funding in here that will be passed through to city grant recipients.
• They made it more clearly a pilot program by adding a sunset to the bill.
• With that, I ask for your green light. affect critical programs like the ICAC.

Keywords: 989, all