Transcript Highlights:

• Samantha Silverberg, Under Secretary of Transportation Policy, Cassandra Gaskin, Chief of Municipal Aid
• I'm joined today by my colleague Cassandra Gaskin, Chief of Municipal Aid and Partnership in the Highway
• I will now pass the mic to the Chief of Municipal Aid and Partnerships, Cassandra Gaskin.
• I'm the Chief of Municipal Aid and Partnerships in MassDOT's Highway Division.
• The Chapter 90 local aid program does help local communities improve bridges.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets held a public hearing on H. 5279, a transportation bond bill financing long-term improvements to municipal roads and bridges. MassDOT and A&F testified in support, describing the bill as a major transportation investment package centered on a $300 million annual Chapter 90 local aid program, with $200 million distributed by the traditional formula and $100 million by lane miles to better support rural communities. They also outlined funding for MBTA rail reliability and modernization, transportation projects that support housing production, a new DCR parkway resilience and safety program, and reauthorizations of existing highway and municipal grant programs such as the Municipal Pavement Program and Shared Streets and Spaces. Witnesses said the bill would help address aging infrastructure, improve safety and resilience, support housing development, and leverage Fair Share surtax revenue through the Commonwealth Transportation Fund. They explained that some authorizations are structured to allow the state to issue special obligation bonds, and clarified that the bill authorizes the full spending amount for federally aided projects even though the state only borrows the 20 percent match, with the federal government reimbursing the rest. Committee members asked about bridge repair needs, the size of the backlog, how housing-related transportation funds would be allocated, MBTA vehicle procurement, and whether rural communities would have fair access to the new funding streams. Several members praised the administration’s financing approach but urged future Chapter 90 increases to keep pace with inflation and requested more attention to rural municipal capacity and bridge safety needs. The Massachusetts Municipal Association also testified in strong support, emphasizing that Chapter 90 is the most important tool for cities and towns to maintain local roads and bridges and urging prompt passage before construction season. No votes were taken; after testimony concluded, the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> additional general education aids additional general education aids spending<00:52:54.760><c> for
• </c> school district aid in fiscal year 2027. school district aid in fiscal year 2027.
• </c> of the aid they receive from last year. of the aid they receive from last year.
• c> over</c><01:18:37.600><c> year</c> may see aid decreases year over year may see aid decreases year
• </c> the new compensatory aid formula. the new compensatory aid formula.

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• replacement aid program.
• </c><00:06:41.080><c> and</c> Uh moving to the property tax aids and Uh moving to the property tax aids
• </c> soil and water conservation district aid soil and water conservation district aid of<00:08:48.880
• </c> distributed through the existing aid distributed through the existing aid formula<00:22:03.720><
• And finally, the sunset for local homeless prevention aid, which is after aids payable in 2028 under

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• , and newly funded programs to aid in the expansion of the workforce.
• Our federal financial aid is $2 billion, of course.
• You won't be surprised that I will say that the solution is financial aid.
• aid programs, provide adequate funding for campus financial aid offices, and, first start by thanking
• aid programs, provide adequate funding for campus financial aid offices, and, Student aid programs,

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee held an oversight hearing on how federal actions are affecting California higher education, with opening remarks from the chair and members emphasizing the importance of state-federal shared governance and the need to protect access, affordability, and campus diversity. The first panel included leaders from the CSU, University of the Pacific, California Community Colleges, and UC, who described broad impacts from federal grant terminations, changes to student aid, loan limits, visa and immigration policy, and proposed reductions to research support. Testimony focused on the elimination of Grad PLUS loans, caps on Parent PLUS and Pell-related changes, the loss or suspension of hundreds of grants, and the resulting harm to student support services, research, workforce pipelines, food assistance, and health care training. UC and CSU representatives warned of major losses in research funding, indirect cost reimbursement, and student opportunities, while community college leaders highlighted uncertainty around federal grants and the need to maintain services for low-income, first-generation, undocumented, and other vulnerable students. Committee members asked how the state could respond, including through intersegmental partnerships, dual enrollment, transfer pathways, and support for basic needs and nutrition programs. Witnesses said California could help by sustaining financial aid, protecting minority-serving institution programs, and investing in research, housing, and workforce development. Several speakers stressed that federal changes were creating instability for students and campuses, and that the effects would likely be long-lasting, especially in health care, teaching, STEM, and social work pipelines. A second panel then focused on equitable access. The California Student Aid Commission described state efforts such as the $3.9 billion investment in aid programs, the Cal Grant system, the Dream Act, and possible reforms to better serve adult learners, foster youth, undocumented students, and students with dependents. The Los Angeles Community College District reported that federal cuts and policy shifts are discouraging students from applying for aid, threatening TRIO and MSI/HSI-funded services, and reducing support for basic needs, counseling, and workforce programs. The Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities and the CSU Academic Senate echoed concerns about FAFSA confusion, international student restrictions, grant losses, and the erosion of equity-focused programs. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and discussed possible state responses.

Transcript Highlights:

• aid.
• aid.
• aid.
• aid.
• aid.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> in regards to financial aid. in regards to financial aid.
• financial aid application because they are not eligible for federal financial aid.
• financial aid application because they are not eligible for federal financial aid.
• financial aid application because they are not eligible for federal financial aid.
• financial aid application because they are not eligible for federal financial aid.

Bills: HF1323 , HF4266 , HF4413 , HF3101 , HF4572 , HF4698 , HF3650 , HF2634

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The A8 passes. school safety aid accordingly. school safety aid accordingly.
• The A7 is adopted. of the A4 on compensatory aid. So it of the A4 on compensatory aid.
• </c> school site can have in compensatory aid school site can have in compensatory aid no<00:08:37.039
• sure the compensatory aid was addressed.
• Compensatory aid was one You were right.

Bills: HF4893

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: education finance, student support, aid allowances, appropriation, school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• catastrophic aid.
• /differentiated aid.
• </c> for CAT uh CAT aid reimbursement. for CAT uh CAT aid reimbursement.
• </c> for special education aid. for special education aid.
• </c> education aid. education aid.

Summary: The subcommittee met to begin work on HB 742, which would require catastrophic special education aid to be drawn from the education trust fund, and more broadly to study special education aid/differentiated aid and related costing issues. The chair said the group was starting early because the issue has been debated for years without resolution, local districts are being forced to absorb prorated costs, and the committee wants to send the Department of Education and HHS Medicaid a clear request for data and recommendations before retained bills return in the fall. A committee clerk was also selected, with Representative Reverend volunteering to take notes for the meeting. Members reviewed background materials on special education enrollment, high-cost students, and possible funding formulas, including data on students in high-cost brackets and prior ideas such as category-based funding and caseload-based approaches. The chair also referenced research on other states, including Arkansas, which uses a different special education funding structure and audits IEPs. The committee emphasized that it was focused on the funding mechanics and costs, not on questioning whether services should be provided. Henry Lipman of HHS explained how Medicaid-to-schools currently works in New Hampshire. He said 172 school districts participate, but utilization dropped during the pandemic and remains below historical levels, in part because districts need the capacity to bill Medicaid. Under the current system, schools receive reimbursement based on half of the Medicaid fee schedule, with the school district effectively providing the state share. He said the federal government is requiring a shift by July 1, 2026, to a true certified public expenditure model based on actual costs, which should allow schools to recover 50% of their true costs and some administrative overhead. The department has received a roughly $2.5 million grant to hire a vendor and support districts through the transition, and an RFP and stakeholder meetings are underway. Committee members asked about how costs would be determined, whether the new system would use actual district-specific costs rather than averages, and how the department would support districts that do not currently participate. Lipman said the cost model would be based on each district’s own reasonable costs, subject to audit standards, and that the department expects to provide templates and technical assistance through the vendor because its staff is limited. He also said about one in four New Hampshire children are enrolled in Medicaid, that child enrollment has been relatively stable, and that continuous coverage rules should reduce churn. No votes or formal actions on HB 742 were taken during the meeting beyond organizing the subcommittee and beginning testimony and discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, this change is in line with federal guidance for awarding aid.
• Um and again it modifies language aid.
• for financial aid. And so um you know for financial aid.
• So we want to all state financial aid.
• </c> through all financial aid programs. through all financial aid programs.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• It was previously known as catastrophic aid.
• We have three packets today, three programs: School Building Aid, Charter School Lease Aid, and then
• </c> proposal to have a specific building Aid proposal to have a specific building Aid fund<01:33:11.960
• </c> calculate our school building Aid calculate our school building Aid factors<01:34:32.560><c> and
• building aid.

Summary: The Finance Committee Division II met with the New Hampshire Department of Education to review school nutrition programs and related funding. Department staff Melissa White and Kelly Rambo walked through a packet covering the National School Lunch Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Community Eligibility (CEP), After School Snack Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program, explaining that these are federally funded USDA programs, with some state supplemental funding in certain areas. They also reviewed reimbursement rates for lunch, breakfast, child/adult care, and summer meals, noting that summer rates follow calendar-year timing while most others follow the state fiscal year. Members asked several questions about how the funding works, especially the difference between federal reimbursements and the state match. Staff explained that the state lunch line in the budget is a fixed match amount tied to federal participation, while breakfast funding is broken out by meal type and reimbursement category. They also discussed why FY 2022 federal spending was much higher during COVID, when USDA covered meals at the free rate for all students, and why FY 2023 and FY 2024 dropped as normal income-eligibility rules returned. A committee member also asked about the “severe need lunch” two-cent rate, and staff said they did not know USDA’s formula. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on summer meals and the distinction between the Summer Food Service Program and Summer EBT. Staff explained that SFSP provides meals at approved sites, which can be open or closed sites, while Summer EBT is a separate DHHS-operated benefit program that provides funds to families. They said some schools or sites may not qualify under USDA rules, but eligible children can often use another nearby open site, and the department posts an interactive map and phone line to help families find locations. The committee also discussed the Community Eligibility Provision. Staff said New Hampshire currently has three CEP schools, that the eligibility threshold had recently been lowered from 40% to 25% identified students, and that the program allows participating schools to offer free meals to all students while the local district covers the non-federal share. Members asked whether any districts in the 25% to 40% range had joined; staff said no. The department offered to provide the eligibility report in Excel and noted that the CEP intent is to reduce application burden, though the lower threshold can make the local cost share harder for some districts to absorb.

Transcript Highlights:

• PLU also aided me in participating in an internship with MultiCare.
• A specific subset of those students to cut their aid.
• Separately, there's funding for student aid. That's what we cut, was the funding for student aid.
• For student aid, that's what we cut: the funding for student aid, not operating dollars in the budget
• If it weren't for the financial aid that my dad received, less aid.

Bills: HB2498 , HB2443 , HB2567 , HB2363 , HB2422

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: nursing education, nursing program standards, board of nursing, state board, national accreditation, accreditation body, nursing school, nurse educator, clinical simulation, simulation director, lead nurse educator, NCLEX, licensure exam pass rate, corrective action plan, technical assistance, higher education, program approval, Washington RCW, professional development, nursing licensure

Transcript Highlights:

• financial aid politics.
• It does not change who qualifies for aid.
• financial aid than they had in 2019, not less.
• But as far as the financial aid, it's both-and.
• During my senior high school, ruining my financial aid package as devils discouraging.

Bills: SB5826 , SB5828 , SB5909 , SB5954

Committee: Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development

Keywords: medication abortion, public education, access, healthcare rights, postsecondary institutions, college grant, scholarships, higher education, private institutions, Washington State, undergraduate programs, enrollment, program review, public institutions, veterans, tuition waiver, education, survivors, eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• to what a basic-aid school district is able to receive.
• And true where the bill is landed right now is defined by equalization between non-basic-aid and basic-aid
• to non-basic aid and suddenly be eligible for this money.
• aid that's just... it grows.
• , non-basic-aid schools.

Summary: The Assembly Education Committee met without a quorum for much of the hearing and heard several bills out of order. SB 249 by Senator Umberg would move county board of education elections from the primary to the statewide general election. Supporters, including the League of Women Voters and many educators, argued the change would increase turnout and make the electorate more representative. The Orange County Board of Education opposed the bill, saying it would increase costs, reduce local control, and bury education races on crowded general-election ballots. The chair and members discussed turnout, cost, and representation, but the bill was held pending a quorum. Senator Grove presented SB 373, which adds safeguards for California students placed in out-of-state non-public schools through IEPs. The bill would require more robust LEA and CDE oversight, including annual site visits, student interviews, quarterly contact, stronger certification standards, and restrictions on prone, supine, and mechanical restraints. Testimony from a survivor of an out-of-state placement and from advocates emphasized abuse, neglect, and the need for stronger monitoring. There was broad support and no opposition testimony, but the measure was also held pending a quorum. Senator Ashby presented SB 568, the epinephrine in schools modernization act, to clarify and expand requirements for stocked epinephrine so they clearly apply to all public schools, including preschool programs. School nurses and medical experts said the bill would close gaps created by universal preschool and ensure life-saving treatment is available for anaphylaxis. The committee discussed dosing and implementation, and the bill was supported without opposition testimony. The committee also heard SB 414, the Charter School Accountability Act, which would strengthen fiscal oversight, audit standards, and transparency for charter schools and authorizers. Supporters said it responds to fraud and audit findings while preserving charter flexibility; opponents, including school employees and teachers, said it did not go far enough on authorizer accountability and small-district oversight. After discussion, the committee voted 7-0 to pass SB 414 as amended to Appropriations. The committee also briefly heard SB 743 by Senator Cortese, which would create an equalization reserve account to provide additional funding to underfunded school districts and reduce funding inequities tied to ZIP code. The author said the bill would support student achievement and teacher retention over time. The transcript cuts off before testimony or action on SB 743 was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• They called them teacher aides.
• They called them teacher aides.
• aid.
• </c> the fiscal capacity disparity aid bump. the fiscal capacity disparity aid bump.
• </c> deserving this targeted aid. deserving this targeted aid.

Committee: House Education Funding

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'll turn now to the financial aid programs.
• If our Title IV aid is threatened, we cease to exist.
• Because our financial aid would be threatened.
• Grad PLUS is a critical financial aid program.
• Then they went after financial aid funding.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion

Summary: The Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion held an informational hearing on “Protecting Equity in Higher Education” and emphasized that no bills were being heard. Members and witnesses focused on the effects of recent federal actions on DEI, admissions, financial aid, student loans, international students, and campus equity efforts in Massachusetts. Opening remarks from the co-chairs and the chair of Higher Education highlighted Massachusetts’ investments in free community college, expanded financial aid, and early college programs, while warning that federal policy changes could undermine those gains. Testimony from BU law professor Jonathan Feingold argued that many DEI practices remain legally defensible after Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, and that the decision did not end all race-conscious or equity-oriented efforts. He said the Trump administration’s anti-DEI actions and funding threats were legally suspect and had created confusion and a chilling effect. Bahar Akman-in-Boden of the Hildreth Institute testified that proposed federal cuts to TRIO, Gear Up, Pell Grants, SEOG, work-study, and student loan programs would disproportionately harm low-income, first-generation, Black, Latino, and other underserved students, and urged the state to prepare hold-harmless and advising supports using Fair Share revenue. Commissioner Noe Ortega described Massachusetts’ long history of equity in higher education and said the state has expanded aid, success programs, and early college, but still has work to do on attainment and completion. He said the state responded to SFFA by creating ACARE and continuing to defend equity practices, while also warning that federal disruptions and “dear colleague” letters have created uncertainty. In the second panel, state university leaders and campus officials said federal threats to Pell, DEI grants, Medicaid, and international student policies could affect access, campus operations, and the economy; they stressed that most state university graduates stay in Massachusetts and that institutions are continuing their equity practices despite federal pressure. Roxbury Community College’s president said RCC remains committed to open access and inclusion, noted enrollment growth, and said executive orders do not change existing law or the college’s obligations.

Transcript Highlights:

• fiscal of the financial aid the adequacy aid<01:17:05.440><c> then</c><01:17:05.639><c> come</c><01:17
• </c> us it it it makes the um adequacy Aid us it it it makes the um adequacy Aid more<01:31:36.679><c
• </c> targeted Aid targeted Aid right<03:40:17.960><c> anyway</c><03:40:18.439><c> do</c><03:40:18.520
• </c> special education differentiated Aid special education differentiated Aid which<03:43:54.479><c>
• <03:45:53.359><c> and</c><03:45:54.319><c> relief</c> Aid and relief Aid and relief funding<03:45:57.199

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met to review a large package of bills, with the first four—HB 717, 742, 773, and 603—focused on special education aid, formerly called catastrophic aid. Chair Ladin explained that the committee needed to move a special education bill forward by March 4 and was trying to determine which bill would serve as the vehicle. He described the current formula and the difficulty of estimating the fiscal impact of lowering the threshold from 3.5 times the statewide average cost per pupil to a lower level, noting that DOE did not have reliable data on how many students would fall into the lower-cost bands. The committee also noted that several other bills in the package addressed SWEP and adequacy issues, and that HB 510 dealt with due process rather than funding. Mark Mello of the Bureau of School Finance testified that the department only has reliable data for special education expenditures above $70,000 per student, since claims are submitted for reimbursement at that point. He said the bureau was trying to estimate how many students might fall between 2.5x and 3.5x or 3x and 3.5x the average cost, but that the basic answer was they did not know and that any estimate would be difficult. He explained that moving the threshold from 3.5x to 2.5x would create a minimum additional cost of about $13.6 million based on existing claims, not counting new students who would enter the range. Members discussed whether districts already had the underlying data, whether a survey should be required, and how districts know when to begin tracking costs for reimbursement. The committee also discussed proration and the state’s share of special education aid. Mello explained that the current 80% state share is modeled in the formula, but the actual payment has been prorated because appropriations have not matched the statutory liability; he said the state liability was about $50 million, while the budget had provided $34 million, resulting in a 68% payment rate. HB 742 was described as a bill that would eliminate proration by paying the liability directly from the education trust fund with an overflow mechanism. Members also discussed possible alternatives such as changing the state share, using a lower threshold in a transition period, or requiring districts to submit data. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion provided; the committee was still in discussion and considering which bills to advance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Still, student financial aid packages, which Joel is going to talk about in a few minutes, will leave
• Still, student financial aid packages, which Joel is going to talk about in a few minutes, will leave
• And this funding is fully distinct from other state financial aid programs.
• and apply for financial aid without having to complete a secondary application for Passport.
• and apply for financial aid without having to complete a secondary application for passport.

Summary: The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee began with a work session presentation from the Washington Student Achievement Council on the Passport to Careers Program. Staff explained that Passport serves youth who experienced foster care at age 13 or later or unaccompanied homelessness, and that the program provides scholarships and campus support services for college, apprenticeship, and pre-apprenticeship pathways. WASAC said the program is a national model because it uses data-sharing agreements to identify eligible students automatically, is funded by the state, and partners with the College Success Foundation and campus networks to provide support. Officials reported that about 2,000 students will be served in 2025-26, with awards capped at $2,000, and cited an evaluation finding that 31% of participants graduate within eight years, compared with much lower rates for similarly situated students outside the program. Committee members asked about graduation rates for all students, the share of Passport students who are parents, how unaccompanied homelessness is identified, where campus support staff are housed, and how funding is used. WASAC said most students are single without children, unaccompanied homeless youth are identified through McKinney-Vento liaisons, and campus support structures vary by institution. Staff also described how the program has grown 131% since unaccompanied homeless youth became eligible in 2019, while appropriations have remained around $7 million annually, forcing reductions in the maximum scholarship award from $5,000 in 2023-24 to $2,800 and then $2,000 in 2025-26. Officials emphasized that students still face significant unmet need and that campus support funds are often used for basic needs, academic support, and emergency aid. The committee then moved through executive session on several bills and advanced each one with a do pass recommendation to Ways and Means. The bills included SB 5826 on medication abortion access at public postsecondary institutions, SB 5828 on Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship awards at private four-year institutions, SB 5909 on low-enrollment undergraduate programs, SB 5931 on WIA board co-chair terms and dashboard requirements, SB 5954 on tuition waivers for certain veteran dependents and survivors, SB 5963 on Passport to Careers funding and eligibility changes, SB 6082 on a state financial aid fraud performance audit, and SB 6090 establishing the Heritage Orchard Program at Washington State University. The committee adopted the proposed substitute for SB 5931 before passing it, and all measures were reported out subject to signatures.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is my hope that we can find a way to retain unemployment aid for our school hourly workers.
• We funded a task force to look at compensatory aid with Representative Feist.
• In order to create this funding stream, we slowed the growth in student support aid.
• What we have now with the basic supplemental aid, and I would challenge you to think about this.
• If you look at the state aid tracking spreadsheet, it's on page 2, line 39.

Bills: HF1049

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh initial cooperative unit aid uh initial cooperative unit aid attributable<01:00:48.680><c> to
• aid</c> people transportation aid people transportation aid um<01:11:05.480><c> to</c><01:11:05.680><
• </c> education aid. education aid.
• </c><01:28:55.040><c> is</c> because cross subsidy reduction aid is because cross subsidy reduction aid
• on top of Goldberg machine of band-aids on top of band-aids<01:40:34.360><c> and</c><01:40:34.680><c

Bills: HF3119

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: teacher compensation, educational staff, unlicensed staff, minimum wage, inflation adjustment, education finance

Transcript Highlights:

• and protect financial aid to make college affordable.
• It's to maintain their financial aid package.
• Are we anticipating increasing financial aid to cover for that difference?
• provided by the Student Aid Commission or CSAC in April.
• California Student Aid Commission. Welcome.