Transcript Highlights:

• They have over 40 grants in that particular bureau.
• So House Bill 3 is the Department of Transportation Appropriation Act, which House Transportation will
• There's been private land in Katrin and Grant County.
• Land grant permanent funds, which I understand there's another word in there, the land grant permanent
• Then we get into the Department of Transportation.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Line five is safe and secure courthouse grants.
• </c> then there's a provision uh for grants then there's a provision uh for grants for<00:02:46.840><
• </c> courthouse grants. courthouse grants.
• </c><00:13:25.040><c> but</c> from Senator Dibble's transportation but from Senator Dibble's transportation
• It includes transportation omnibus.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Friedman for legislation to authorize the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to take easements
• It has been referred, on suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the Committee on Transportation.
• The Committee on Transportation. Question is on concurrence. All those in favor say aye.
• House 5098, an act authorizing the city of Salem to grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic
• Third reading of the bill: An act providing for the terms of certain bonds for transportation purposes

Summary: The House adopted a resolution congratulating Fire Chief Timothy Clancy on his retirement from the Whitman Fire Department after suspending the rules. It also concurred with a Senate petition authorizing MassDOT to take easements over certain land in Woburn and Burlington, and then gave final passage to several local bills, including measures on culverts and dams, alcohol licenses in Milford, Salem, and Bridgewater, and firefighter civil service eligibility in Arlington. The chamber then took up several bills on second reading and third reading, including a Norton land parcel bill, a Watertown property tax classification bill for fiscal year 2027 and subsequent years, and a transportation bond bill. In each case, the House suspended Rule 7A, adopted the Ways and Means amendments, and ordered the bills to a third reading or passed them to be engrossed. The transportation bond bill was substituted for a broader bonds bill and advanced as amended. The main debate centered on House 5562, the economic development bond bill. Representative Viola described it as a $425.1 million package supporting applied AI and quantum, defense, robotics, ag tech, downtown revitalization, housing, higher education bridge funding, and business climate changes such as lower LLC fees, a CPA licensing pathway, nurse licensing changes, film tax credit adjustments, internship incentives, and food truck inspection reforms. Representative Haggerty and Representative Kazner spoke in support, emphasizing housing production, site plan review, land use board training, commercial conversion, faith-based housing, and local control. The House adopted Consolidated Amendment A by roll call 142-5, with a second consolidated amendment then made available; the bill remained under consideration at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the goal is that we would give a grant to a community.
• Of course, we'd have medical transport.
• Of course, we'd have medical transport, we'd have pharmaceutical transport, and we have all kinds of
• The competitive grant application program ends in May.
• We've given grants to, I believe, four or five of those.

Summary: The committee met for an oversight update on how one-time and recurring transportation-related appropriations are being implemented. Oklahoma Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics Director Grayson Artees reviewed ARPA and PREP-funded airport and aerospace projects, including completed or nearing-completion work at Will Rogers, Woodward, Ardmore, Tulsa’s air traffic control tower, and multiple hangar, terminal, taxiway, utility, and UAS infrastructure projects statewide. He also discussed one-time FY25 and FY26 appropriations for airport development, the repurposing of an unneeded Lufthansa project allocation into other aerospace projects, and the department’s aerospace education grants, classroom labs, aircraft-build programs, and internship support. Members asked for lists of participating schools and for a clearer overall accounting of the funding; Artees said the department would provide those materials and estimated roughly $400 million has been invested in aerospace and defense since PREP and ARPA, with about $250 million directed to airport infrastructure. The committee then heard from ODOT Secretary Tim Gatz on the Retro Fund, lake and industrial access roads, ports of entry, and the PACT Fund. Gatz said Retro, created in statute and funded with $200 million in both 2024 and FY25, is helping accelerate rural high-impact road and bridge projects; he reported $249 million awarded so far, supporting about $1.4 billion in construction, with most projects expected to be awarded by September 2027. He also described lake and industrial access projects, including work at the Port of Inola, and updated members on ports of entry, internal way stations, and the replacement of the aging OkiPROS permitting system with ProMiles. On PACT, he said the county road and bridge allocations are being administered, but the Tax Commission’s role in distributing the county road share has created unnecessary bureaucracy; he urged a statutory fix so the money can go directly to counties. Members asked for lists of approved lake/recreational projects and for clarification on the Tax Commission issue; Gatz said ODOT would provide the project list and that he would welcome Tax Commission input on a legislative remedy. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the updates and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• McClatchy Foundation as our third-party grant administrator.
• Our project plan calls for the grant portal to open this summer.
• for new grants.
• Our grant awards ranged from $11,471 to $296,295. That was the largest grant.
• percentage of the grants because we wanted to have this grant money have the most impact on the organizations

Summary: The subcommittee heard an informational update from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development on the state’s Jobs First economic development strategy and related budget requests. Go-Biz described its regional planning process, priority sectors such as ag-tech, space defense, life sciences, and semiconductors, and requests including an extension of the CalCompetes tax credit, support for export promotion, additional film commission staff, innovation and emerging technology capacity, and a California brand campaign. Members questioned the campaign’s purpose, with some supporting efforts to counter misinformation about California and others warning it should not obscure regulatory and business-climate concerns. Go-Biz said the campaign would be nationally focused, could include business attraction efforts, and was intended to complement—not replace—policy work on permitting and workforce development. The item was informational only. The committee then heard from the California Office of the Small Business Advocate on the California RISE program, the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund, and the Technical Assistance Program/Capital Infusion Program. CalOSBA reported that California RISE’s first round awarded $16.9 million to 61 employment social enterprises, which collectively increased revenue, secured contracts, and employed thousands of people facing barriers to work; a second round is being launched with a new administrator and expanded services. For the performing arts payroll fund, the office said all 100 awardees had been paid, but demand far exceeded available funding, and the program was oversubscribed within days. California for the Arts testified that the sector remains fragile after COVID and urged statutory changes to simplify eligibility and stretch dollars further. SBDC representatives described TAP/SIP as a statewide network supporting small businesses, capital access, and disaster recovery, emphasizing their role in underserved communities and the leverage of federal matching funds. Committee members focused on whether these programs produce durable outcomes and reach smaller or disadvantaged businesses. Questions centered on long-term job retention in California RISE, outreach to ethnic and community media in the civic media program, and whether TAP/SIP are accessible to entrepreneurs with limited capital or capacity. CalOSBA and its partners said they rely heavily on local community organizations for outreach, provide one-on-one counseling and training, and are working to collect more longitudinal data. The committee also discussed the film and television tax credit program, for which Go-Biz requested funding for three permanent positions and ongoing program support. Film Commission staff said the expanded program is tracking demographic and career-pathway data, with most productions opting into new diversity provisions, and that a formal report to the Legislature is expected in 2027. The item concluded without a vote, as the hearing was for oversight and budget discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, and welcome to today's hearing of the Joint Committee on Transportation.
• I'm Jim Arciero, the House Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation, and I'm joined today by my
• Businesses need transportation infrastructure to deliver commerce.
• This past year, our team launched the Grant Central platform.
• $765 million transfer to the Commonwealth Transportation Fund.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Transportation

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held its first hearing of the session on H. 53, Governor Healey’s Chapter 90 proposal to increase state funding for municipal roads, bridges, sidewalks, and culverts. Committee chairs outlined the hybrid hearing process and invited testimony from municipal officials, labor groups, regional planning organizations, contractors, and administration officials. Across the hearing, speakers consistently supported the bill, emphasizing long-deferred maintenance, inflation in construction costs, climate-related flooding, and the need for more predictable, multi-year funding so cities and towns can plan projects and take advantage of the construction season. The administration described H. 53 as part of a broader $8 billion transportation package, proposing to raise annual Chapter 90 funding from $200 million to $300 million for five years, with the additional $100 million distributed by road mileage to better support rural and small communities. They also highlighted $200 million for culverts and small bridges, plus other transportation investments, and said the five-year authorization would provide certainty for municipal capital planning. Municipal witnesses from places including Carlisle, Beverly, Granby, Hatfield, Newton, Nahant, Gardner, Beckett, and Yarmouth described local road and culvert backlogs, rising asphalt costs, and the difficulty of maintaining infrastructure on limited local budgets. Labor and industry witnesses from the AFL-CIO and MAPA said the bill would support good-paying jobs and provide stability for contractors and producers. The MBTA Advisory Board and regional planning representatives also backed the proposal, noting the connection between local roads and the broader transportation system. Committee members asked questions about the road-mile formula, culvert needs, asphalt costs, and the rationale for a five-year authorization. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• May you also grant each one wisdom to know the difference.
• Speaker, I move the House to grant permission for all committees and subcommittees to meet while the
• to meet or reconvene today upon final adjournment or recess or during bill referral, permission is granted
• signs for certain cultural attractions for to the Committee on Transportation.
• Refer to the Committee on Transportation, HB 3612 by Lauterbach relating to the filing of a petition

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker I move that the House grant permission for all committees and subcommittees to meet while the
• Or during bill referral if permission is granted or authorized to convene upon adoption by the House
• Refer to the committee on transportation.
• HB 1389 by Garcia-Bear relating to a grant program for junior reserve officers training corps programs
• I refer to the Committee on Transportation.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to invest in water, wastewater, and transportation.
• As we look at some of the needs for transportation, again highlighting what some of the transportation
• For that specific grant is September of this year.
• We are short of road and transportation infrastructure.
• We need road transportation and access.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is the transportation working group, an unofficial meeting of the transportation conference committee
• tax for transportation.
• And this is a reallocation of Metropolitan Council dollars to be provided as grants to various transportation
• And this is a reallocation of Metropolitan Council dollars to be provided as grants to various transportation
• </c> transportation conversations go. transportation conversations go.

Transcript Highlights:

• to the transportation building at that<00:15:16.720><c> time.
• </c> renovating the transportation building. renovating the transportation building.
• And you're suggesting that we're remodeling the transportation building.
• and the Department of Transportation and the Department of Transportation<00:20:41.600><c> will</c><
• I not sure that transportation building.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, are there any objections to the consent grants?
• The grant opportunity is from the U.S.
• The grant has no matching fund requirement.
• and Care Grant-in-Aid program.
• and Care Grant-in-Aid program.

Summary: The Emergency Board approved a series of consent federal grant applications from the Natural Resources and Public Safety subcommittees, along with several budget and position requests. The board approved grant applications for parks, transportation, judicial, emergency management, higher education, school nutrition, and other programs, including retroactive approvals where deadlines had passed. One member objected to the Natural Resources consent grants over concerns about future funding needs, but the motion still passed. The board also approved a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, including digital privacy protections, circuit court security, and a statewide facilities assessment. A major discussion centered on Southern Oregon University’s financial stability. The Higher Education Coordinating Commission reported on SOU’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and projected cash shortfall. The subcommittee recommended, and the board approved, allocating $7.5 million from the special appropriation for short-term stability, with a required update at the September 2026 Emergency Board meeting and a future request for the remaining funds. Members debated the broader crisis in higher education, with several saying SOU’s situation reflects systemwide enrollment and funding pressures and that long-term restructuring will be needed. The board also approved an AmeriCorps volunteer generation grant, an apprenticeship expansion grant, and a Department of Education nutrition equipment grant. In public safety, it approved funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a statewide evacuation planning tool, and a juvenile justice information system modernization report, while requiring a follow-up viability report. The Department of Justice received approval for additional antitrust positions and expenditure limitation, though several members raised concerns about the funding structure and incentives tied to settlement revenues; the motion passed despite objections. In natural resources, the board approved funding for the Water Resources Department’s well abandonment, repair and replacement grants, an assistant water master position in Washington County, groundwater data collection in the Lower Umatilla Basin, a wetlands remote sensing pilot, and parks-related grant applications for operations, maintenance, and capital improvements. Members generally supported the requests but raised concerns about geographic equity, long-term sustainability, and whether some county responsibilities were being shifted to the state. The meeting also included discussion of a Department of Emergency Management evacuation tool as an urgent wildfire preparedness measure, with members emphasizing its potential to save lives.

Transcript Highlights:

• :20:16.000><c> else</c><00:20:16.240><c> is</c> transportation, but everything else is transportation
• </c> transportation, but let's be serious. transportation, but let's be serious.
• Um, on transportation, he change.
• </c> authority, we allow the or we we grant authority, we allow the or we we grant the<00:58:19.839><
• </c> the grant divided by the ADM. the grant divided by the ADM.

Committee: House Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the competitive grant funds will go up. the competitive grant funds will go up.
• I would assume that those grants have a termination date, and then new grants come up.
• I would assume that those grants have a termination date, and then new grants come up.
• There are a role in grant making.
• </c><01:04:26.240><c> The</c> for the duration of this grant. The for the duration of this grant.

Bills: HF1925

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• HERE TO DISCUSS FLORIDA'S ROLE IN THE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE COMBAT AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
• WE HAVE SOME GRANTS, MISCELLANEOUS CRACKS AND THEY GET SOME FUNDING TO HELP BUILD MAINTAIN OPERATE BUT
• FDOT EMPLOYEES PAY 45 MILLION IN INVOICES EVERY DAY ON TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS.
• RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT SECTOR FOR TRANSPORTATION.
• SPACE FLORIDA WORKS WITH NASA TO GET AN INFO GRANT.

Transcript Highlights:

• THAT ALL CARGOES PROCURED, FURNISHED, OR FINANCED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ARE TRANSPORTED
• will be transported on U.S.
• GENERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WILL BE TRANSPORTED ON U.S. FLAGGED SHIPS.
• that all cargoes furnished or financed by the Department of Transportation are transported on commercially
• that all cargoes furnished or financed by the Department of Transportation are transported on commercially

Transcript Highlights:

• Public transportation.
• But the grant staff were available. Do we know if you guys are eligible for any federal grants?
• grant.
• As part of that, the Department The Department of Transportation has provided levels of grants associated
• with The Department of Transportation has provided levels of grants associated with investigating and

Committee: Joint Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• So if the Transportation Committee... ...But we have to sustain what you do.
• , San Bernardino County, and Riverside County transportation agencies.
• We were able to use that grant to support our operations as we tried to grow back.
• And you can see the other grants.
• And you can see the other grants.

Summary: The Senate LOSSAN Rail Corridor Resiliency Subcommittee heard updates from CalSTA, Caltrans, Metrolink, and Caltrain on corridor performance, governance, funding, and long-term planning. Chair Lackey opened by saying the SB 1098 report on LOSSAN governance and performance was unfinished and overdue, and argued the corridor remains at a crossroads because ridership, on-time performance, fiscal solvency, and capital delivery are still lagging. Senator Archuleta echoed concerns about safety, maintenance, ridership recovery, and the need to avoid state subsidy if local revenues fall short. CalSTA and Caltrans said the state has made major investments, including $125 million for San Clemente emergency resiliency work, and that more than $25 billion in funded rail projects are moving toward construction. They said work on the SB 1098 report is underway, with a LOSSAN working group to be convened, and described a new Caltrans transit-and-rail reorganization with a deputy director to improve accountability. Caltrans also reported restoration of Surfliner service to 13 weekday round trips between Los Angeles and San Diego, planned service increases to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, fleet overhauls, and a new project-tracking and service-planning tool to prioritize capital projects by service outcomes. The panel also discussed zero-emission strategy, saying hydrogen fuel-cell trains are being procured for longer-distance service while battery-electric options are being pursued where feasible, and that San Clemente long-term planning is being scoped with local partners. Metrolink CEO Darren Kettle said the agency has shifted from a commuter-only model to all-day regional service through its “Metrolink Reimagined” schedule, with improved transfers, more weekend and off-peak ridership, and a 25% increase in monthly pass sales under a new fare pilot. He warned, however, that Metrolink faces a fiscal cliff: member agencies now cover about 72% of operating costs while fares cover about 11%, and without a dedicated revenue source the agency may need to cut service, reduce stations, or end later-evening and weekend trips. He said Metrolink has limited ability to monetize stations or parking because it does not own most of the relevant property or rights. Caltrain’s Jason Baker described the success of electrified service, with ridership up 57% year over year and customer satisfaction at record highs, but said Caltrain also faces a projected $75 million annual operating deficit and may need to consider service cuts if stable funding is not found. He highlighted revenue efforts such as energy regeneration compensation, parking and concession reviews, station development, and a planned battery-electric pilot to extend zero-emission service south of San Jose.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:14:13.040><c> for</c> parents don't have transportation for parents don't have transportation
• </c> like transportation for extracurricular. like transportation for extracurricular.
• </c><00:48:34.400><c> they</c> these granting organizations and they these granting organizations and
• ><c> transport</c><00:56:22.480><c> of</c> transportation for those transport of transportation for those
• </c> foundation is granting the funds. foundation is granting the funds.

Bills: HF3490 , HF4040

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> transportation options on their own. transportation options on their own.
• </c><01:16:00.960><c> These</c> as well as transportation. These as well as transportation.
• My name is John transportation aid.
• Our transportation costs are ...
• </c><01:36:06.159><c> transporting</c> with transportation transporting with transportation transporting

Committee: Senate Education Finance