Transcript Highlights:

• and then impacted communities.
• The communities are there.
• And then get a whole community and go, okay, this community is in pretty good shape.
• So having block grants and clearinghouse funding where you can you've established with community groups
• Like the communities say, oh my gosh, this flood happened in this community.

Transcript Highlights:

• Grants? What kind of grants are we talking about?
• applications for this grant.
• And those could be federal grants. They could be grants from companies.
• And our group and my peers in the investing community, energy investing community, are very scared of
• If you were going to Receive private grants and federal grants as long as there was transparency.

Committee: House Utilities

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides ongoing funding for the Department of Commerce Community Services Division to provide a grant
• In this case, in federal grants.
• communities.
• That's super important to all of our communities, especially some of mine, as my community was affected
• That's super important to all of our communities, especially some of mine, as my community was affected

Bills: HB2289

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• They organize food banks, community clinics, distribute grants, and all the work that’s the work that
• Community clinics, distribute grants, and all the work that the government cannot do by itself without
• Personal lives and communities.
• So grants should be an extra thing, and they've become our lifelines to keep our communities going, which
• So grants should be an extra thing, and they've become our lifelines to keep our communities going, which

Transcript Highlights:

• He is not only a legend in our community, but he's done so much in community service across the Antelope
• The permission to read is not granted.
• Her devotion to the community was extraordinary.
• Her devotion to the community was extraordinary.
• Our condolences to her entire family and the community.

Summary: The Senate met with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through several privileges-of-the-floor recognitions, including birthday wishes for Senator Archuleta and tributes to former Senator George Runner and visiting guests from Portugal in connection with Portuguese Heritage Month. The body then proceeded to governor appointments, beginning with multiple confirmations to the Board of Parole Hearings. Debate on the parole board nominees focused heavily on public safety, transparency, and recent high-profile parole decisions involving violent sexual offenders, with opponents arguing the board had been too lenient and lacked public accountability, while supporters said commissioners were applying the law as written and using structured risk assessments. William Muniz and Michael Ruff were both confirmed after roll-call votes, despite opposition centered on parole outcomes and board transparency. Rosalind Sargent Burns and Mary Thornton were also confirmed after similar debate. The final parole board confirmation, Jack Weiss, drew the most extended discussion, including a failed request to read material into the record and repeated disputes over whether comments were on topic; Weiss was ultimately confirmed as well. Throughout these confirmations, senators on both sides referenced elder parole, the unreasonable-risk standard, victim input, and the need for either reform or deference to existing law. After the appointments, the Senate took up SCR 179 by Senator Niello, designating May as Celiac Disease Awareness Month. Niello described celiac disease as a serious autoimmune disorder, emphasized the challenges of gluten exposure and cross-contamination, and called for greater awareness, labeling, and education. The resolution passed unanimously, 31-0. The session concluded with committee announcements and adjournment-in-memory tributes for Marty Arnold, Jim McAulian, and Pat Gagoscos, followed by remarks from the pro tem noting bipartisan legislation on parole transparency and announcing the next session for June 4, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an amended grant, federal grant, for the Senior Community Service Employment Program.
• This is amendment nine to an existing federal grant.
• These are the DHS grants. Members, do we have any questions on DHS grants?
• This is also a federal grant.
• This is amendment four to an existing grant. It's a federal grant.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The committee first considered an $88,000 used tire program contract for District 4 with LTR Intermediate Holdings. Senators raised concerns that the tire district’s revised business plan had not yet been approved and that the contract could worsen cash flow before funding was confirmed. Questions were also raised about procurement language in the RFP that excluded bidders under corrective action plans. After discussion, a motion was made and approved to hold the contract until next month so the tire board could appear and answer questions. Members then reviewed a large slate of methods of finance, alternative delivery projects, and discretionary grants. These included capital projects at ASU Mid-South, Arkansas Tech, Ozarka, UA Fayetteville, UA Little Rock, UAMS, and UCA; a new UCA multi-purpose arena project estimated at $75.5 million; and DHS and Department of Health grants for aging services, substance abuse prevention, mental health, nutrition, hearing-loss follow-up, HIV services, and rural hospital quality improvement. All of these items were reviewed without objection. The committee also heard a ratification request from UAMS for a Family and Medical Leave Act outsourcing contract with FMLA Source. UAMS said an amendment had been prepared but never submitted for review, and payments continued after expiration; members expressed frustration and asked UAMS to review whether other contracts had similarly lapsed. The committee then reviewed numerous construction-related, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including airport economic impact study work, parking guidance technology at the University of Arkansas, veteran nursing services, and multiple DHS service contracts. Most items were reviewed without objection, and the meeting adjourned after reports of routine contract amendments and minor contracts were presented for information.

Transcript Highlights:

• that we would do at a statewide level. ...community schools.
• And I think when the community is able to see their young graduates, students go into the community colleges
• Grant Program if approved?
• So one of the next rounds of things that we'll do with that grants management...
• I am a recipient of the Golden State Teacher Grant, and this grant transformed my life by removing financial

Transcript Highlights:

• , for federal grants.
• Grants, we know where their employees are from.
• Stancey is a beautiful community. for all intents and purposes that have happened in that community.
• Small community to build it back up.
• community there.

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• for grant denial appeals, so timeline for grant denial appeals, so agencies<00:07:10.160><c> can</c>
• award the grant to another entity.
• </c> grant to another entity. grant to another entity.
• , good grants management Additionally, good grants management requires<00:10:19.240><c> adequate</c><
• It's so important to my community.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's going to be Audit 2026-120, Board and State and Community Corrections, Proposition 47 grant
• Audit 2026-120, Board of State and Community Corrections, Proposition 47 grant administration.
• While the BSC requires that at least 50% of grant funding be distributed to community-based organizations
• Just in the second one: 2026-120, Board of State and Community Corrections, Proposition 47 grant administration
• Board of State and Community Corrections Proposition 47 grant administration by Senator Valadares.

Summary: The Joint Legislative Audit Committee met to consider new audit requests. The State Auditor reported 10 JALAC audits in progress, with several expected to be published over the coming months, and noted that litigation is delaying the Huntington Beach air show audit. The committee approved a consent calendar of four audit requests covering UC library resources, law enforcement information sharing, EDD unemployment insurance claims, and Housing and Community Development housing development monitoring. The committee then heard Assembly Member DeMaio’s request for an audit of SANDAG’s road project management and use of transportation funds. DeMaio argued the audit was needed to restore public trust and examine whether restricted funds, voter-approved revenues, and project commitments were properly handled. SANDAG’s CEO and CFO said the agency manages many funding sources, undergoes frequent audits, and has strengthened internal controls; they said the requested review would be duplicative of existing oversight. After debate, the committee voted the request down. Next, Senator Valadares presented an audit of the Board of State and Community Corrections’ Proposition 47 grant administration, focusing on whether grantees and BSCC are accurately reporting outcomes and recidivism data and whether oversight is sufficient. BSCC said the program already has multiple oversight layers, including Controller audits, and cited reported improvements in homelessness, employment, and recidivism outcomes. The committee approved the audit. Finally, Senator Cortese’s audit of CalHR’s dental benefits procurement and contract oversight was heard, with supporters citing long-standing benefit caps, provider network problems, and retirees’ out-of-pocket costs. CalHR said its network remains strong, that it recently ran an RFP adding MetLife as a second carrier starting in 2027, and that it uses performance guarantees. The committee approved that audit as well, then completed add-on votes approving the earlier consent calendar items before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Central, which is our main portal for community grant programs that supplements the Chapter 90 resources
• And with this higher grant limit, communities can now fully fund a project from beginning to end without
• grants, and community transit grants.
• So that community... ...have grants open through a new ECO One Stop, which is a common grants portal,
• so that communities can apply once and be considered for seven different resilience grants, including

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing at UMass Amherst on Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, focusing on energy/environment-related transportation issues and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The hearing opened with welcomes from the co-chairs and local legislators, followed by remarks from UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes, who highlighted the university’s research, sustainability, transportation, and workforce contributions and thanked the administration and legislature for support of public higher education. MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phil Eng, along with agency leaders, presented the administration’s transportation budget package. They described a combined funding plan through House 2, a Fair Share supplemental budget, and a Chapter 90 bill, emphasizing investments in MassDOT operations, snow and ice response, regional transit authorities, the MBTA, bridge and pavement repair, housing-related transportation improvements, sustainable aviation fuel, microtransit, and local road programs. Officials also highlighted record highway construction activity, safety initiatives such as work zone speed cameras and pedestrian protections, RMV service and equity improvements, airport and drone technology programs, and MBTA gains in reliability, accessibility, ridership, and service expansion. Committee members asked about Western Massachusetts priorities, especially Chapter 90 funding for rural road mileage, bridge repairs, and the Compass Rail/West-East Rail program. MassDOT officials said pending federal grants were moving forward, with some awards recently obligated and others expected as federal processes advance, and they said Palmer Station remains part of the long-term rail plan. Members also raised the Cape Cod bridges and the need for multi-year Chapter 90 funding. Officials said the Sagamore Bridge procurement would begin soon, with construction targeted for 2027, and reiterated that transportation investments support jobs, local economies, and municipal infrastructure statewide.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:46.720><c> community</c><00:09:47.360><c> and</c> 355, the community community and 355, the
• ><c> grants.
• </c><00:10:03.200><c> And</c><00:10:03.360><c> again,</c> community festival grants.
• And again, community festival grants.
• our community any good.

Transcript Highlights:

• effect on housing in our community as the BDP grant did for job creation and help communities all across
• effect on housing in our community as the BDP grant did for job creation and help communities all across
• effect on housing in our community as the BDP grant did for job creation and help communities all across
• as the bdp housing in our community as the bdp grant<00:09:07.760><c> did</c><00:09:07.959><c> for</
• did for the job creation and help grant did for the job creation and help communities<00:09:10.680><

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• Getting to Work grant program.
• </c> for talent shortage in our communities. for talent shortage in our communities.
• </c> communities that we work in. communities that we work in.
• </c><00:47:24.160><c> Um</c> all of our communities. Um all of our communities.
• </c> community than we can report on. community than we can report on.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• from the specialty dental clinic grant program, which is a grant program for infrastructure. ...their
• grants from the specialty dental clinic grant program, which is a grant program for infrastructure to
• to serve their community.
• As was mentioned, there’s been several grant recipients who have declined multimillion-dollar grants
• As was mentioned, there's been several grant recipients who have declined multimillion dollar grants

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:01.080><c> than</c> if you live live in my community than if you live live in my community
• </c> suicide this bill appropriates grant suicide this bill appropriates grant funding<00:18:48.159><
• in cultural and community events.
• </c><00:34:38.040><c> to</c> and you know underserved Community to and you know underserved Community
• of color, emerging communities, immigrant communities, and we've done that.

Bills: HF1354 , HF1901 , HF2124 , HF2130 , HF2260 , HF2099 , HF104 , HF134 , HF1769

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Community clinics distribute grants, and all the work that the government cannot do by itself without
• So that’s the grants and contracts.
• So grants should be an extra thing, and they've become our lifelines to keep our communities going, which
• So grants should be an extra thing, and they've become our lifelines to keep our communities going, which
• And as I started writing grants when I was 17, since I got this job, I have not had to write a grant.

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly Select Committee on the nonprofit sector held a hearing focused on the importance of California’s nonprofit sector and how state systems can better support it. Chair and co-chair remarks emphasized that nonprofits are essential to the state’s economy and public services, especially as federal cuts and administrative burdens increase pressure on organizations that deliver health care, food assistance, homelessness services, disaster response, and other safety-net functions. CalNonprofits CEO Jeff Green described the sector’s size and complexity, citing roughly 110,000 nonprofits in California, about 1.4 to 1.5 million nonprofit workers, and major concerns about funding uncertainty, delayed reimbursements, and federal threats to nonprofit funding and nonpartisanship. He said many organizations are being forced to use reserves, reduce services, or take out loans while waiting for state payments. The Little Hoover Commission presented findings from its study of state grant and contract administration, arguing that nonprofits often subsidize state services because of late payments, insufficient advance funding, and inadequate reimbursement for overhead. The commission recommended requiring advance payments, expanding prompt-payment protections, matching federal indirect-cost rates, standardizing emergency contract amendments, creating an Office of Nonprofit Empowerment, reducing duplicative reporting, moving to electronic payments, improving feedback to unsuccessful applicants, and using longer grant periods. Committee members expressed support for these ideas and discussed shifting state contracting culture toward outcomes and better coordination. The commission also noted that SB 1240, which would create the Office of Nonprofit Empowerment, and SB 1366, related to payment delays, align with its recommendations. The Attorney General’s Charitable Trusts Section then outlined its rollout of a new online filing system for charities and charitable fundraisers. Elizabeth Kim said the system, launched in stages beginning in 2024, is intended to replace paper filings, reduce incomplete submissions and bounced checks, and speed processing; the final phase is expected to cover renewals, delinquency, raffles, professional fundraisers, dissolution, and complaints. Committee members asked about staffing impacts and complaint handling, and DOJ explained that complaints are reviewed based on allegations, public filings, and, when needed, requests for additional information. A final panel featured Matt Gonzalez of Nonprofit New York, who described New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Nonprofit Services as a model for reducing contract backlogs, increasing advance payments, and improving coordination through ombudsman-style support and chief nonprofit officers. Public commenters from the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, SEIU, and CalNonprofits urged support for stronger state-nonprofit partnerships, transparency, and modernization of contracting systems. No formal vote was taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• The community has to own it.
• run</c> Community Learning grants that run Community Learning grants that run through through through
• Where is the communications?
• Where is the communications?
• Where is the communications?

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Excuse me, I'm going to hit community gardens, zero-hour and community-based walking programs.
• That's a significant number of grants. Safety net services, also a significant number of grants.
• Excuse me, I'm going to hit community gardens, zero-hour and community-based walking programs.
• That's a significant number of grants. Safety net services, also a significant number of grants.
• There'll be grants for equipment and there'll be grants for training, and we're even looking at what

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a series of updates on major health-related projects and programs. CHI St. Alexius representatives reported progress on behavioral health buildouts in Bismarck, Williston, and Grand Forks, including demolition and construction milestones, staffing plans, and timelines. The Bismarck project remains on track for completion in June 2027 with about $346,500 spent to date. Williston reported construction underway, a $750,000 unbudgeted air handler replacement, active recruitment for psychiatrists and other staff, and a projected substantial completion in early 2027. Grand Forks reported about 30% completion, weather-tight status expected in August, and continued staffing ramp-up as the facility expands from its current 24-bed operation. The Department of Health and Human Services then reviewed a set of technical line-item transfers, emphasizing that they were administrative corrections with no net change in funding. The department also walked through the Salaries and Wages Block Grant and FTE counts, noting overall staffing remained within appropriated limits and that behavioral health staffing had increased. Members asked about vacancies, consultant use, and the mix of in-state versus out-of-state expertise for the Rural Health Transformation Program. HHS said it had posted 12 funding opportunities, received 422 applications, obligated $8.4 million so far, hired 26 people, and was preparing additional grant rounds and a CMS budget submission. The department said the program is structured around workforce, prevention/healthy living, care closer to home, and technology/data, with ongoing stakeholder engagement and community forums. The committee also heard on the certified community behavioral health clinic implementation plan, SNAP payment error rates, and the state laboratory project. HHS said CCBHC certification is being implemented in four regions—Williston, Minot/North Central, Fargo/Southeast, and Dickinson/Badlands—with care coordination expanding and baseline data still being collected. On SNAP, the department reported a 2025 payment error rate of 9.89%, acknowledged cost impacts under HR1, and said it is using training, system changes, and pre-authorization quality checks to reduce errors toward a 6% target over the next 6 to 12 months. Finally, Public Health reported the state laboratory reached substantial completion on June 12, with total costs at $69.95 million of the $70 million budget, though a service elevator issue will require a new lift to be added using contingency funds.

Transcript Highlights:

• TESSORS provides a mechanism for communities, TESSORS provides a mechanism for communities to support
• Grant specialists will review them.
• in their local communities.
• and cultural district grants.
• in their communities.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken. The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information. The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.