Transcript Highlights:

• , and not just expanding the program, but they're opposed to the program itself.
• </c> truly a universal program with no cap. truly a universal program with no cap.
• </c> expansion of uh of this voucher program. expansion of uh of this voucher program.
• </c> million next year um on the EFA program. million next year um on the EFA program.
• </c> program. We did not inquire into that. program. We did not inquire into that.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee first took up Senate Bill 63, which Representative Maguire described as a straightforward bill setting funding for the Division of Travel and Tourism. He said it was not controversial. The committee voted to retain the bill by roll call, with one no vote and one member absent, and the motion passed 23-1-1. The committee then considered Senate Bill 74, dealing with annual reporting requirements for state departments that issue permits. Representative Maguire explained Amendment 2282 would shorten the reporting burden by requiring summary data on delayed permits rather than listing every permit, and would delay the first report until 2027 so agencies would not have to reconstruct old data. The amendment was adopted by voice vote, and the bill was then approved as amended by a 24-1 roll call vote. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 241 on construction of a public pier at Hampton Beach. Representative Sweeney moved inexpedient to legislate, saying the project was ambitious and lacked public support. The motion passed unanimously 25-0, sending the bill to consent. Division Two then took up Senate Bill 145, a replace-all amendment to the education freedom account bill. Supporters said the amendment clarified the bill, kept the policy intact, removed a reimbursement program and an open-ended appropriation, and established a cap of 10,000 students with priority for current students and certain other groups. Opponents argued the measure was still a major expansion, would increase spending after crossover, and that the cap was not meaningful. After discussion, Amendment 2301H was adopted and the bill was approved as amended by a 25-0 vote, with members noting it could go on consent because no money remained in it.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:36.079><c> um</c> do as compared to our programs. um do as compared to our programs. um possibly
• But what we are is we're part of the participation program, and we're also a part of the other program—I
• But what we are is we're part of the participation program, and we're also a part of the other program—I
• so we're part of both of those programs, but we weren't eligible for any of the grant programs because
• There's not a program to appropriations.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• HHS announced changes, or a final rule, for the CCDF program.
• , as well as other federal programs.
• Also, just going back to, I guess, true attendance of programs and participation in a program as opposed
• They do look at the program, but it is narrowly tailored.
• We looked at the unemployment insurance program.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Audit Committee

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The current statutory cap is the number of associate degree programs, and whether it's the programs or
• the enrollment... ...number of associate degree programs, and whether it's the programs or the enrollment
• because the student already has full access to that program.
• All campuses except for three have at least one program that is impacted.
• If the CSU program ultimately is not impacted? Yes. It does.

Committee: Senate Education

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So these programs are put in place to help the employers manage the cost of their program.
• And so we're going to have patient assistance programs.
• So just in the context, we've now heard that these programs are marketing programs.
• And so we're going to have patient assistance programs.
• So just in the context, we've now heard that these programs are marketing programs.

Committee: House Health and Mental Health

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• General modernization program.
• We've been a collaborative program since inception.
• I want to shift to the digital driver's license program.
• The program roadmap has not had any substantial changes since the FL WINS program launched.
• This is a huge win for the FL WINS program.

Summary: The subcommittee heard updates on several state technology modernization efforts, beginning with the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Enterprise Business Solution (DEMS). FDEM said DEMS is about 50% complete, with some grants and finance functions already live, and is intended to replace manual disaster and grants processing with a cloud-based system. Officials described faster reimbursement timelines after recent storms, major return-on-investment claims, and a planned final phase focused on design, testing, communications, data governance, and additional functionality. Members asked about the total cost, the role of Florida Digital Service, deliverables-based contracting, and how much of the system is live; FDEM said the project is expected to cost about $16 million to $16.8 million and finish by June 2027, with some follow-up information to be provided. The Department of Legal Affairs presented its Office of Attorney General Modernization Program, a follow-up to an earlier effort that failed after spending about $26 million. Acting Attorney General John Gard said the department has now moved to an off-the-shelf case management product, LawBase, and is in development and testing, with the Office of Statewide Prosecution already live and full implementation expected by the end of the fiscal year. The request includes funding for staff augmentation, cloud storage, the LawBase license, redundancy through a backup site in Orlando, and OnBase support. Members questioned the prior failure, the use of Florida Digital Service standards, data location and cloud migration, and the redundancy plan; Gard said lessons learned included better scoping and that the current effort is on track. The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles then updated the committee on Motorist Modernization, including the Orion system and the MyDMV portal. Officials said Phase 1 and Phase 2 have modernized driver license and motor vehicle services, with Phase 2 statewide rollout scheduled to begin in April 2025 and Phase 3 proposed at $16.5 million for dealer services, data warehouse improvements, and call center modernization. Members asked about payment options, organ donor questions, staffing, cybersecurity, cloud strategy, and the digital driver license program. The agency said the portal already allows some sanctions to be cleared online, an ACH option is being developed, the digital driver license vendor has changed with a fall go-live anticipated, and the department is using security testing and a managed security service provider. Officials also said the system is currently on an on-prem private cloud, with future workloads expected to move to public cloud where appropriate. Finally, Florida Commerce presented on the Reemployment Assistance modernization system, Reconnect, and the FLWINS workforce system. Commerce said Reconnect is hosted in the Azure Government Cloud, has reduced claim filing time, improved fraud detection, and increased appeals capacity, and now needs $4.9 million in recurring funding to cover ongoing operations, cloud hosting, licenses, and staff augmentation. Members asked about adjudication issues, wait times, fraud prevention, and whether the system stores caller identifiers; Commerce said the average wait to speak to a representative is about 18 minutes and claims are generally processed in four to six weeks. The committee then began hearing about FLWINS, which is intended to create a “no wrong door” workforce portal under the REACH Act, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• The TAP program is fully programmed.
• for alternative programs, alternative funding programs.
• </c> green pro snow program. green pro snow program.
• </c> mandatory unfunded programs. mandatory unfunded programs.
• . program. program.

Committee: House Public Works and Highways

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this program provides that.
• At its core, the program is about stability.
• It doesn't change the program at all.
• to really give the counties input on how the Aglands Preservation Program got started and what the program
• The program itself is actually 35 years old.

Bills: SB311 , HB371

Committee: House Agriculture

Keywords: pesticide, licensing, agriculture, landscaper, grain inspector, record keeping, Delaware agriculture, certified applicators, regulatory compliance, HB371, Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Act, farmland preservation, agricultural lands, agricultural preservation district, Farmland Preservation Advisory Board, county advisory board, Delaware Foundation, Department of Agriculture, DNREC, planning and zoning

Summary: The House Agriculture Committee met with a quorum present and considered three bills. Senate Bill 53 would codify and continue the Farm to Community Program if federal support is reduced or unavailable, prioritize Delaware farmers, and require reporting and transparency. Testimony in support came from the Delaware Farm Bureau, the Academy of Medicine and Public Health, and Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jimmy Crone, who said the department supports the bill. Members raised no questions, and the committee voted to release the bill by roll call. The committee then heard Senate Bill 311, a Department of Agriculture maintenance bill updating Title 3 provisions related to plant industry and pesticides. The bill removes an outdated $100 license fee, requires certified private applicators to keep pesticide application records available for inspection, expands the definition of landscaper to include commercial entities installing their own nursery stock, and removes a good-character requirement for grain inspector applicants. With no public comment or questions, the committee voted to release the bill by roll call. Finally, House Bill 371, sponsored by Representative Vanderwyn, would streamline the Agland Preservation Act by eliminating a redundant county advisory board step for farmland preservation districts. Representative Vanderwyn and Deputy Secretary Crone explained that the advisory boards were more useful when the program was new, but now the county planning and zoning commissions and the Department of Agriculture already provide the needed review. After brief discussion, with no public comment, the committee voted to release the bill by roll call and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> grant program. grant program.
• grant program and the state grant program.<01:17:17.120><c> That</c><01:17:17.360><c> means</c> program
• That means program.
• </c> our public programs our public programs falter. falter. falter.
• </c> public programs. public programs.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> program in July of 2025. program in July of 2025.
• It's been a great program.
• So this is a long program.
• </c> creating a new program at MDVA. creating a new program at MDVA.
• </c> I would not qualify for this program. I would not qualify for this program.

Bills: HF3919 , HF3467 , HF3741

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: veterans benefits, Secret War, Laos veterans, eligibility process, burial fees, veteran designation, veterans affairs, food insecurity, homelessness, suicide prevention, state resources, reporting requirements, agency initiatives, veterans, educational assistance, tuition waiver, spouses, children, military service, benefits

Transcript Highlights:

• The new program builds upon the successes of the limited term.
• General Funded Program, the Clean California Program.
• We recognize that there is a high bar to meet for this program.
• So, basically, what the administration is saying is this litter program, which is a brand new program
• with existing federal formula-based programs.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Five staff members attended competitive leadership programs, different programs.
• program.
• Five staff members attended competitive leadership programs, different programs.
• program.
• So we started this program in 2023.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee convened for its first meeting, called the roll, elected co-chairs under KRS 248.723, and approved the prior meeting minutes. Representative Michael Pollock was elected House co-chair and Senator Jason Howell was elected Senate co-chair, allowing the meeting to proceed. The Agricultural Development Board then reported on activity from December 2024 through April 2025. Staff described board and finance corporation funding totals for each month, county council meeting activity, leadership trainings, lender trainings, and outreach events such as Kentucky Proud breakfast, Ag Tag Month, and agriculture education week. The report also highlighted several funded projects: a Whitesburg farmers market project for Cowan Community Action Group, Community Farm Alliance’s work supporting farmers markets and nutrition programs, a Metcalfe County 4-H ham project, Hopkinsville Elevator’s rail expansion, and W and W Veterinary Services’ large-animal facility upgrade. Members discussed the importance of the tobacco settlement funds and the committee’s stewardship role. Senator Webb urged new members to read House Bill 611 and its history, emphasizing careful use of the limited funds and noting the committee’s statutory mission. Representative King asked about possible federal nutrition policy changes, and staff said Kentucky is already pursuing a “Food as Medicine” initiative and a partnership with the Kentucky Hospital Association. The meeting also recognized interns and announced a June 20, 2025, 25th anniversary event for the Agricultural Development Fund at the Kentucky History Center.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> your program your program um<00:15:01.160><c> Choose</c><00:15:01.639><c> Love</c><00:15:01.959>
• </c> what is that sure so that was a program what is that sure so that was a program um<00:15:07.759>
• </c> of formal formal training programs of formal formal training programs within<00:22:55.240><c> the
• </c> increases for any of the programs increases for any of the programs so<00:29:00.120><c> um</c><00
• What is the Fast Forward program?

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Finance Committee’s Division 3 held a public work session on the Behavioral Health budget on February 27, 2025. The chair opened by explaining the schedule, materials, and deadlines for the budget process, and noted there would be no motions or votes in the division that day. Division of Behavioral Health Director Ktia Fox and DHHS CFO Nathan White then walked the committee through the division’s mission, structure, and budget materials, describing the division’s four bureaus: Mental Health Services, Children’s Behavioral Health, Drug and Alcohol Services, and Homeless Services, along with the policy unit. They emphasized the division’s role in oversight, technical assistance, quality assurance, contracting, and the continuum of care from prevention and early intervention through crisis and residential services. Much of the discussion focused on major programs and funding lines, including the 988 Lifeline contract with Headrest, a technical assistance contract with UNH, Medicaid pass-through payments to New Hampshire Hospital and Glencliff, crisis response services, cold-weather homeless responses, housing supports, and the children’s system of care. Members asked about the UNH contract, the 988 program, crisis stabilization centers, and the peer certification program; Fox explained that the peer certification is a training-and-credentialing pathway for people with lived experience to enter community-based behavioral health work, not a volunteer program. The committee also discussed the “Choose Love” program, which Fox said was created after the Sandy Hook tragedy to build resilience and strength-based emotional regulation in schools and communities. On the children’s side, Fox described the system of care account as the place where many contracted services are budgeted, including community mental health centers, care management entities, rapid response services, and residential programs. Members asked about temporary staffing, and Fox said roughly $500,000 in temporary staff costs shown in the current year would not be spent next year because the money came from a nonlapsing appropriation in HB 1573 for oversight of children’s residential services. She also said provider rate increases were a prioritized need but were not funded in the governor’s current budget, and that the Children’s Behavioral Health Resource Center was not funded, resulting in about a $1 million reduction. The session ended while the division was still moving through the children’s behavioral health slides, including questions about the Fast Forward high-fidelity wraparound program and medication management.

Transcript Highlights:

• Programs like Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow, and Mr.
• I'm speaking on behalf of the NPR Class Notes Program.
• MPR News brings arts and culture to our programming.
• North Star Journey is a program that NPR News has developed to program and promote the arts.
• I think the programming that you're doing is really good.

Bills: HF1679 , HF1019 , HF2321 , HF1740 , HF2278

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Keywords: public television, funding, grants, arts and culture, Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio, arts education, cultural heritage, community engagement, public radio, community radio, educational grants, community cable, public access, programming funding, civic engagement, ethnic media, public access television, Minnesota Humanities Center, funding appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> go over the programs and initiatives. go over the programs and initiatives.
• Don't tell me about the programs. Programs are good. I've been through all of them.
• Don't tell me about the programs. Programs are good. I've been through all of them.
• </c><01:12:59.360><c> I've</c><01:12:59.520><c> been</c> programs. Programs are good.
• I've been programs. Programs are good.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony focused on barriers facing minority-owned businesses and on local programs intended to improve access to capital and contracting opportunities. A representative from the U.S. Black Chambers described disparities in minority spending, argued for more intentional and transparent investment in Black communities, and emphasized the need to disaggregate data, hold officials accountable, and expand tools such as the byBlack certification directory. He also stressed that businesses need technical assistance, resources, and opportunities to grow through mergers, consortiums, and joint ventures. The main presentation then came from Larry Forester and Tyrone of Commerce Lexington, who outlined what they called eight major barriers for minority businesses, including limited access to capital, weak mentorship networks, discrimination and bias, bureaucratic hurdles, branding and visibility challenges, stereotyping, generational knowledge gaps, and limited financial literacy. They described several Commerce Lexington initiatives: the Access Loan Program, which brings small businesses before a pool of 26 lenders; a Minority Business Accelerator to help firms scale and connect with prime contractors; and an Opportunity Exchange for business owners to share experiences and lessons learned. They said the Access Loan Program has funded nearly $26 million in loans with an average loan size of about $62,000. Members asked about bias in lending and how to make contracting and certification easier for minority firms. Forester said applications are vetted by a subcommittee before reaching the full lender group, with attention to completeness and readiness, and that only one lender needs to say yes. On contracting, the witnesses said certification can be burdensome and suggested more hands-on help from the state, relationship-building events that include decision-makers, and incentives rather than mandates. They also relayed policy ideas from a business owner, including culturally informed underwriting, public-private matching grants, supplier diversity enforcement, and mentorship tied to capital access. No votes or formal committee actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Landscape program.
• The Lawns to Legumes program is one of our most popular programs.
• </c><01:35:29.360><c> of</c> for The Lawns to legumes program of for The Lawns to legumes program of
• Another program these are statutory programs, you can see here under chapter 103F.
• in Minnesota program.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is why programs like the high-rise sprinkler grant program are so important. They are vital.
• </c> current statute for this program current statute for this program requires<00:09:16.760><c> that
• </c><00:12:34.240><c> that's</c> pretty rare to have a a program that's pretty rare to have a a program
• </c> 30 interested uh parties in the program 30 interested uh parties in the program and<00:12:49.680
• Home-sharing programs.

Committee: House Housing Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we looking at an eight-year program, a 10-year program? What is this thought here?
• Are we looking at an eight-year program, a 10-year program? What is this thought here?
• And the second is an every five-year evaluation of the training benefits program, which is a program
• The second one is the ESD Unemployment Insurance Training Benefits Program.
• Only accredited programs are eligible to provide FDA-approved medications.

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee held a public hearing on nine bills. Senate Bill 5872 would create the Pre-K Promise Account to receive philanthropic donations for ECAP preschool slots; supporters, including DCYF, the governor’s office, and early learning advocates, said it would help expand access to high-quality pre-K with a 10-year Ballmer Group commitment for up to 10,000 new seats annually. Senators asked how the money would flow, and staff and witnesses explained it would be governed by an MOU and deposited annually; no vote was taken. Senate Bill 5879 would eliminate two JLARC studies, one on lodging tax reporting and one on training benefits; supporters said the reports were duplicative and burdensome, while the hospitality industry warned against losing transparency, and no action was taken. Senate Bill 6047 would permanently codify various capital budget administration rules, including minor works flexibility and early learning grant changes; testimony focused on technical cleanup and on provisions affecting co-located child care and community projects, with no vote taken. Senate Bill 5988 would authorize the Department of Health to charge fees for accrediting opioid treatment programs, with support from DOH and tribal/nontribal providers who want the state to continue providing the service; no vote was taken. Senate Bill 5923 would allow Island Hospital in Skagit County to qualify as a critical access hospital, with local hospital leaders and residents supporting the measure to improve reimbursement and sustain rural care; no vote was taken. Senate Bill 5832 would raise the Lemon Law arbitration fee from $3 to $6 to fund the Attorney General’s consumer protection work, and the AG’s office, dealers, and the sponsor said the program is effective and underfunded; no vote was taken. Senate Bill 5970 would make permanent the property tax exemption for multipurpose senior citizen centers, with AARP supporting the bill as a benefit to seniors and caregivers; no vote was taken. Senate Bill 5994 would preserve timber tax distributions for school districts that recently had qualifying levies, and forest industry witnesses supported the bill while suggesting a possible amendment for state forest transfer lands; no vote was taken. Senate Bill 5949 would narrow the B&O tax exemption for insurance-related businesses so it applies only to the entity paying the insurance premiums tax, retroactive to 2019; the Department of Revenue and bill supporters argued it restores tax equity, while insurers, health plans, and business groups opposed it as retroactive, ambiguous, and likely to raise premiums. The committee heard extensive testimony on that bill, but the transcript ends with adjournment and no recorded vote or executive action.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will oversee the premier trade programs, the market access program, and foreign market development
• Midwest program which uses those funding programs MAP and FMD to support our agricultural producers overseas
• Chairman. comments about nutrition programs and food programs, SNAP and WIC and school meals and especially
• Program, the Regional Agribusiness Program. promotional program and the assisting specialty crop exports
• , while I was glad to see that program unfroze.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, this was a program, a new program, brought to us by the state finance agency.
• Um, this was a program, a new program, brought to us by the state finance agency.
• I mean, I'm supportive of the programming, right? So, I'm not questioning the program.
• , a new program, uh, this was a program, a new program, uh, brought<00:08:55.760><c> to</c><00:08:55.920
• </c> supportive of the programming, right? supportive of the programming, right?

Keywords: 1183, house