Transcript Highlights:

• The selective outrage—I glad you guys have a platform for it.
• It's very selective in how we do those things.
• outrage I glad interesting The Selective outrage I glad glad<01:10:51.920> you<01:10:52.040><
• <01:11:16.440> in those things so it's very selective in those things so it's very selective
• There we should all be legal, but the selective outrage, we've got to make sure that we focus on what

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• understand this bill is written, there's less of an emphasis on planning and zoning approvals and site
• :18:44.520> which<00:18:44.760> is<00:18:44.919> takes<00:18:45.120> a site
• plan approvals which is takes a site plan approvals which is takes a more<00:18:45.440> of<00
• development would still along with site development would still apply<00:59:42.559> but<00:59
• plan to really stress again site plan to really stress again site plan approval<01:41:24.599>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Municipal and County Government subcommittee met on February 19, 2025 to gather additional information on House Bill 432, which concerns recovery houses. The first witness, State Fire Marshal Sean Tumi, said his office had worked with stakeholders for more than a year on the bill’s definition changes and supported the revised definition. He explained that the bill removes vague language such as “safe, healthy, family” and instead relies on fire-code requirements and certification standards, including a primarily non-transient dwelling unit and living as a single household. He distinguished recovery houses from boarding or rooming houses and from other congregate settings such as group homes or transitional housing, saying those other uses do not currently have the same exemptions. Members questioned Tumi about fire safety, inspections, smoke alarms, egress, and whether sprinklers should be required. He said recovery houses are inspected by the fire marshal’s office and local fire departments, with annual inspections under state fire code provisions, and that operators must work with a certifying body. He described the inspection process as checking alarms, extinguishers, heating systems, cooking equipment, street numbers, and no-smoking rules, and said new houses are generally given time to obtain certification. He also said he would prefer sprinklers everywhere but believed mandating them for these existing structures would likely shut down many recovery houses and significantly harm the recovery community. Bill McKenny of the New Hampshire Building Officials Association then testified in support of HB 432. He said recovery housing is an important step after treatment and that the 2024 code changes and the bill help align state law with federal disability law. He emphasized that certification through a recognized organization gives code officials confidence that standards are being monitored, and warned that if a recovery home loses certification it would lose the waiver from sprinkler requirements and could be treated more like a boarding or rooming house. No vote or final action was taken at this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• This will allow us to be able to cover that cost without passing it on to those rural hospital sites,
• We work with all the sites that have asked us to put in residency, so we don't have people waiting to
• And that creates more opportunity for them to participate. ...to the sponsoring site.
• So, Madam Chair and Senator Charley, we have selected the site on the corner of Lomas and University
• That site has been selected because it puts it in immediate proximity to where our future multi-specialty

Bills: SB5, SB6, SB8

Keywords: physician residency, healthcare, rural communities, medical education, appropriation, education, medical school, New Mexico, construction, behavioral health, funding, mental health services, general fund transfer, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• conduct prepayment reviews of selected conduct prepayment reviews of selected claims<00:12:40.480
• <00:24:18.320> and schools move or amend grades sites and schools move or amend grades sites
• <00:35:19.320> visits<00:35:19.760> and the checks you know the site visits and the
• I'd like to move the A2 Amendment, which makes a technical correction and correcting the site for the
• for the um assistive correcting the site for the um assistive technology<01:16:15.080> and<01

Bills: HF1470, HF1310, HF1837

Keywords: opioids, substance use, addiction recovery, mental health, state cabinet, HF1310, Office of Cannabis Management, cannabis, marijuana, tribal consultation, government-to-government relationship, Minnesota tribes, Tribal governments, state government, consultation, rulemaking, Indian affairs, cannabis regulation, tribal sovereignty, state-tribal relations

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of the Interior to refurbish acid mine drainage sites.
• Department of the Interior to refurbish acid mine drainage sites.
• Department of the Interior to refurbish acid mine drainage sites.
• We don't select who receives that funding; that's done at the federal level.
• You disperse it, but it's selected based on their application. Yes, sir, that is correct.

Summary: The committee reviewed a large slate of appropriation, transfer, and continuation requests across multiple sections. In Section B, members considered temporary FY27 appropriations for agencies including Health, DHS, Education, Treasury, Public Safety, State Police, Emergency Management, Aeronautics, Military, Economic Development, Game and Fish, and others, covering items such as maternal health outreach, LIHEAP overpayment returns, Wynne High School tornado rebuilding, senior food services, cybersecurity, crime victim claims, airport grants, conservation incentives, and emergency tower maintenance. Questions focused on the DHS senior services carry-forward and Treasury custodial banking fees tied to lower balances after COVID funds were spent down. All Section B items were approved. The committee then approved continuation requests, ARPA reallocations, and federal grant-related items in Sections B2, C1A, D1, D2, D3, E1, E2, E3, F1A, G1, H1A, I1A, J1/J2, K1/K2/K3, L1/L2, M1/M2, N1/N2, O1A, and P1A. These included university nursing and workforce programs, environmental and recycling grants, highway safety and emergency management grants, a transfer to the Merit Teacher Incentive Program, restricted reserve transfers for military, agriculture, UAPB, Game and Fish, and AETN, and various cash-fund and budget classification transfers. Several members asked for more detail on the State Police highway safety grant, VOCA victim compensation funding, the NSGP nonprofit security grant, and the Office of State Technology’s E-Rate-related transfer; agency officials explained the uses and noted that some funding levels depend on federal awards and collections. A notable discussion occurred on the Department of Commerce reallocation, which shifts 68 positions and $3 million among divisions to support an organizational realignment and avoid shortfalls. The committee also reviewed a state central services deduction request to keep the rate at 2%, a DHS overtime request for child protection caseloads, and a year-end adjustments request authorizing up to $1 million in temporary actions to close FY26 books without disrupting payroll or vendor payments. Most items were approved or, in some sections, simply reviewed without objection. The meeting adjourned after completing the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• They'll have a list to select from to choose qualified vendors within a certain pricing structure.
• use this vendor list in case of some kind of property damage emergency and they'll have a list to select
• A lot of that stuff is sitting in storage, and as they get the sites ready to put the equipment on there
• This is for on-site validation for the Arkansas State Crime Lab's forensic toxicology section, including
• This is for on-site validation for the Arkansas State Crime Lab's forensic toxicology section, including

Summary: The committee met to review a supplemental agenda item, procurement rule revisions, methods of finance, discretionary grants, contracts, reports, and a member disclosure. The supplemental agenda was accepted, and the Office of State Procurement’s rule revisions were approved after Jessica Patterson explained they were driven by 2025 legislative changes, including Act 782, CASO Consulting recommendations, and updates to sole source, bid, protest, and debarment provisions. The methods of finance and discretionary grants were also approved, covering a range of university capital projects, health and human services grants, historic preservation awards, and tobacco prevention and cessation programs. The committee then reviewed RFQs and six ratifications. The ratifications included a Workforce Connections payment to ACT WorkKeys for services provided during a contract gap, a Department of Health ratification for water-leak repairs, a large Department of Public Safety ratification for Motorola’s Arkansas Wireless Information Network upgrade, a Veterans Affairs HVAC ratification, an ADFA medical services ratification, and a UA Little Rock painting contract ratification. Members questioned the Public Safety ratification at length about why the expired Motorola contract was not caught sooner and why it took months after discovery to come forward; agency officials said the work was tied to bond funding and was not tracked in ASIS, and the chair urged agencies to develop better monitoring procedures. The committee approved a large slate of construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including many recurring service agreements for DHS, higher education institutions, corrections, health agencies, and state support functions. Several members asked about specific contracts, including aerial application services for correctional farms and a Southern Arkansas University custodial contract, and staff or agency representatives provided brief explanations. The meeting concluded with review of reports and approval of a member disclosure involving Representative Andrew Collins’ investment interest in a company leasing property to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services.

Transcript Highlights:

• WE HAVE REALLY BEEN TRYING TO DO A LOT MORE OF ON-SITE JOINT VISITS BEING THERE.
• ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES TO PLACING THESE CHILDREN INCLUDE THE PROVIDERS SELECTED CRITERIA AND THE YOUTH
• THESE YOUNG LEADERS PARTICIPATED IN THE DESIGN SELECTION PROCESS WITH CHILD AND FAMILY YOUTH SUBCOMMITTEE
• ONE INTERN WAS OFFERED A FULL-TIME JOB AT THE INTERNSHIP SITE AND LEFT THE PROGRAM EARLY TO ACCEPT THE
• EACH SITE WILL WELCOME 14 PARTICIPANTS BRINGING A TOTAL OF 28 NEW INTERNS ACROSS THE TWO LOCATIONS.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Also wondering, I just want to clarify, are those sites in the site readiness bill already?
• Is completed or that that selection has been made, let the legislators know who that selection company
• Our site strategy work, our site readiness work, we'll be able to go and help do that analysis with the
• Okay, so site readiness is a huge thing.
• Some other similarities include site readiness.

Transcript Highlights:

• of this project would be going to four and a half dwelling units per acre on a 13 and a half acre site
• that we selected.
• So, if I order asphalt to the job site, I pay tax to the supplier of the asphalt.
• We're doing that with smaller homes, smaller home sites, and value engineering.
• Municipalities can work together to provide site-ready new home sites to reduce that risk for potential

Transcript Highlights:

• Cox models were adjusted for age, gender, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, and selected comorbidities.
• So<01:28:56.560> the<01:28:56.800> integration<01:28:57.360> site<01:28:57.679><
• c> was<01:28:58.000> located So the integration site was located So the integration site was
• I may just read the first and third paragraph, and maybe some selected portions of this.
• I may just read the first and third paragraph, and maybe some selected portions of this.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee met as a special House committee on COVID response efficacy, noted absences, and restated its mission to review New Hampshire’s pandemic response, including federal guidance, federal funds, emergency use authorization vaccination efforts, long COVID treatment, patient bill of rights implementation, and vaccination policies. The main business was discussion of a proposed letter or report language concerning current COVID vaccine recommendations for young children, especially those under age two, and how to support any conclusions with cited scientific and state sources. Representative Polozov argued that the committee should ask the governor or agencies to reconsider current recommendations, saying the committee should focus on whether vaccination is needed for that age group, whether it is effective, and whether the risks outweigh the benefits. He said he had distributed articles and wanted the committee to pair its conclusions with scientific and statistical data. Other members asked him to identify the specific New Hampshire DHHS and American Academy of Pediatrics sources for the recommendation, clarify the age range being discussed, and separate any evidence about adverse effects in other age groups from the infant/toddler demographic so the letter would be transparent and not misleading. Members generally agreed the letter should be carefully sourced and refined, with citations for each claim. The chair said the committee would treat the request as urgent and try to finalize a version by the next meeting, noting that some members would be traveling. The committee also discussed scheduling additional testimony in September and October, possibly with extra meetings, to continue gathering evidence and to hear from witnesses. The chair then began reviewing supporting articles, including studies he said were new since the 2024 report, and introduced a 2025 South Korea cohort study and another 2025 Italian cohort study as examples of the evidence he wanted to incorporate into an updated 2026 report.

Transcript Highlights:

• If so, how was that company selected for them to receive this funding? Representative Trabulsy.
• It requires the department to select a construction site large enough to co-locate any prospective construction
• It requires the department to select a construction site large enough to co-locate any prospective construction
• Do universities have an inability to manage campuses off-site?
• Because I feel like all of our universities have campuses off-site.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• two small counties, and a county selected in the most recent audit cycle.
• Counties that may not be selected in the current cycle were established.
• A majority of states have some type of siting requirements for wind and solar.
• On the solar site plan, just above that.
• Any siting restrictions, but if you're above 200 feet, we're going to make you have these siting restrictions

Bills: SJR39, SB22, SB30, SB33, SB34, SB37, SB75, SB209, SB310, SB505, SB552, SB618, SB626, SB636, SB732, SB747, SB762, SB769, SB819, SB825, SB870, SB926, SB964, SB1030, SB1080, SB1099, SB1124, SB1177, SB1208, SB1233, SB1314, SB1325, SB1333, SB1405, SB1455, SB1506, SB1524, SB1541, SB1577, SB1579, SB1596, SB1646, SB1667, SB1727, SB1750, SB1758, SB1760, SB1791, SB1804, SB1806, SB1869, SB1923, SB1927, SB1951, SB1960, SB1962, SB2023, SB2024, SB2056, SB2078, SB2122, SB2129, SB2180, SB2183, SB2185, SB2207, SB2252, SB2361, SB2365, SB2368, SB2405, SB2411, SB2420, SB2425, SB2569, SB2717, SJR36, SJR50, SJR39, SJR63, SJR68, SCR12, SCR39, SCR38, SCR37, SCR42, SCR29, SB762, SB1596, SB62, SB666, SB847, SB284, SB854, SB1073, SB810, SB1539, SB1505, SB583, SB957, SB1502, SB507, SB1026, SB1349, SB1433, SB1434, SB310, SB505, SB264, SB1364, SB1376, SB1585, SB1772, SB2016, SB1163, SB619, SB1122, SB1877, SB732, SB731, SB397, SB508, SB1333, SB1436, SB964, SB287, SB2143, SB261, SB1247, SB1882, SB618, SB393, SB2243, SB2226, SB1919, SB1791, SB22, SB651, SB1080, SB826, SB1079, SB1243, SB1504, SB1851, SB1879, SB2237, SB1257, SB2034, SB1522, SB1151, SB596, SB1191, SB226, SB570, SB870, SB991, SB60, SB1401, SB1728, SB586, SB529, SB217, SB209, SB1923, SB1839, SB387, SB1874, SB1872, SB1873, SB1921, SB1883, SB1620, SB1838, SB2024, SB2429, SB1999, SB511, SB2309, SB2166, SB510, SB33, SB2420, SB1860, SB1541, SB1314, SB1398, SB1869, SB1750, SB855, SB1233, SB2425, SB2037, SB1758, SB1759, SB2365, SB1924, SB1818, SB1405, SB1762, SB1968, SB1977, SB2077, SB2321, SB1662, SB1663, SB2124, SB2204, SB1855, SB863, SB37, SB819, SB2078, SB2252, SB1962, SB2253, SB825, SB1577, SB1184, SB2018, SB2206, SB1901, SB1030, SB2368, SB1963, SB1960, SB1643, SB1625, SB1299, SB841, SB668, SB584, SB231, SB2411, SB1085, SB2431, SB2231, SB1490, SB530, SB34, SB1261, SB552, SB1099, SB1646, SB2180, SB1804, SB1937, SB1936, SB2569, SB1372, SB1208, SB1124, SB1506, SB1806, SB1868, SB2361, SB2314, SB769, SB1409, SB2122, SB434, SB1214, SB1951, SB2183, SB2046, SB1667, SB1870, SB1727, SB2405, SB2127, SB1975, SB1760, SB1734, SB1335, SB2066, SB2129, SB2246, SB2439, SB1624, SB1244, SB1468, SB2717, SB1612, SB1262, SB604, SB2395, SB2185, SB1832, SB1745, SB1746, SB2207, SB2023, SB1784, SB1524, SB626, SB528, SB437, SB269, SB1137, SB968, SB636, SB747, SB1325, SB1789, SB1455, SB2056, SB75, SB1940, SB2052, SB1927, SB2010, SB1579, SB2068, SB3034, SB844, SB1920, SB1177, SB1558, SB1236, SB1044, SB926, SB884, SB463, SB331, SB227, SB240, SB517, SB1200, SB1410, SB1626, SB1845, SB1863, SB2216, SB2681, SB1717, SB2053, SB546, SB2141, SB2949, SB2323, SB2200, SB2332, SB2199, SB1642, SB1150, SB1757, SB2050, SB1138, SB2051, SB2626, SB2458, SB1864, SB30, SB2201, SB1862, SB1583, SB1583, SB1055, SB2660, SB1898, SB2662, SB2662, SB2161, SB2161, SB2964, SB2881, SB1065, SB1065, SB801, SB2743, SB2533, SB2533, SB1413, SB1413

Keywords: constitutional amendment, veto override, legislature power, governor, Texas Constitution, Texas, moving image industry, incentive program, film production, grant funding, job creation, economic development, wildfire, wildfire mitigation, wildfire prevention, volunteer fire department, Texas A&M Forest Service, West Texas A&M University, prescribed burning, fuel loading

Transcript Highlights:

• .<00:04:47.440> Um site.
• Um site.
• , which it was the Ford the lot C site, which it was the Ford Building<00:09:38.720> site,<00:
• ,<00:09:40.920> a Building site, and this lot AA site, a Building site, and this lot AA site
• , which was the Ford Building site, and this Lot AA site, a portion of that site as well.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• board disagreed, then the select board would have no recourse, even though they hire, yes?
• Then their decision to do so overrules and overpowers the oversight that the select board, the council
• the Town Council or the select the Town Council or the select board<01:42:09.800> um board
• um board um disagreed<01:42:11.760> then<01:42:12.320> the<01:42:12.520> select
• then the select board would have<01:42:13.599> no<01:42:13.840> recourse<01:42:14.520>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No, it doesn't go to the historical sites.
• No, it doesn't go to the historical sites.
• We manage 30 historical sites across the state.
• And then looking at how we acquire or we're asked to pick up historic sites or heritage sites, I was
• Selected fiscal and policy issues. Charles Smith: Selected fiscal and policy issues.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am Guy Herman, presiding statutory probate court judge here in the state of Texas, selected by my peers
• However, these historic sites face ongoing threats from urban expansion and development.
• As land continues to be bought and sold, access to these historic sites become increasingly restricted
• Took pride in these uh burial grounds and that is lost and the ability to visit those sites is lost because
• don't think that we're going to see that many, that crowd, uh, you know, going to that, those burial sites

Bills: HB113

Keywords: HB 113, Texas, Government Code Chapter 1253, general obligation bonds, bond election, voter approval, political subdivision, local government, city bonds, county bonds, school district bonds, capital projects, public finance, bond referendum, ballot measure, five-year waiting period, rejected proposition, election law, municipal finance

Transcript Highlights:

• AXIS CARE PLANS REQUIRES ALL HOSPITALS WITH EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING OUR HOSPITAL BASED CALLED SITE
• THE NEW SYSTEM IS REQUIRED TO CONDUCT ON SITE SURVEYS THAT SURVEYS ONCE THE RULE IS FINALIZED.
• THE SITE WENT LIVE IN SEPTEMBER FOR VENDORS AND PARENTS WHO CAN REGISTER FOR VOUCHERS.
• DO WE HAVE THAT THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR ALREADY SELECTED?
• ARE WE READY TO MAKE THOSE SELECTIONS OF PROJECTS AND WILL HE EXPAND THIS YEAR THE $60 MILLION THAT WE

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Should you select to waive your speaking time, your position will be included in the committee meeting
• Should you select to waive your speaking time, your position will be included in the committee meeting
• A lot of times people ask, well, how are the projects selected? They were already in the pipeline.
• And we even here at DOT have developed a process for on-site hires.
• And this past year, we had four On-site skilled labor positions filled from these regional hiring events

Summary: The Committee on Transportation received a presentation from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on Florida’s camera-based traffic enforcement programs: red light cameras, school bus stop-arm cameras, and school zone speed cameras. The department explained how the programs work, including human review of recorded violations, issuance of civil notices to vehicle owners, and escalation to uniform traffic citations if unpaid or uncontested. Officials also outlined the fee structure and reported preliminary data showing 42 red light camera jurisdictions, 496 red light cameras, and more than 923,000 notices of violation in fiscal year 2024-2025, along with growth in school zone and school bus programs. Senators asked about camera placement, signage, review procedures, and whether reviewers or vendors receive revenue from citations; several questions were left for follow-up because the witness did not have all statutory or operational details. The committee then heard an update from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue on the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative, funded by a $4 billion general revenue investment leveraged into a $7 billion program for 20 major projects. He said the initiative is advancing high-priority congestion relief projects across the state, with 80% of the plan expected to be underway by the end of 2026 and the remaining projects in 2027. Perdue highlighted new delivery methods such as modified phased design-build, voluntary acceleration, and structured acceleration, along with workforce and supply-chain efforts, including regional hiring events and aggregate planning. He cited projects such as I-4 congestion relief lanes, Golden Glades, I-95 at US-1, I-75 auxiliary lanes, and I-275 improvements as examples of the program’s progress. Members questioned FDOT about traffic management during construction, subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, public transit planning, contractor safety and fatalities, bridge strikes, logistics access near ports and airports, aggregate supply, local government coordination, and federal funding uncertainty. Perdue said FDOT continuously reevaluates traffic control plans, works with local governments and industry partners, uses small business participation targets, and requires contractors to be in good standing with OSHA and to implement corrective action plans after incidents. He also said Florida’s transportation revenues are flat, the state remains largely state-funded, and additional resources are the main need for future transportation delivery. The committee adjourned after the chair requested FDOT staff provide senators with district-specific project information.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:17:16.079> on Honu Hale, we also popped up a site on Honu Hale, we also popped up a site
• And the challenge to expanding the number of sites is obviously you need staffing to man these sites.
• If I come out and say we're going to do six sites, seven sites, and the staffing doesn't materialize,
• know, 70% of what we need at two sites know, 70% of what we need at two sites or<00:36:37.040>
• <00:37:52.079> the<00:37:52.400> staffing sites, and the f and the staffing sites,

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1525, which would appropriate funds to counties to open more voter service centers for in-person voting, provide money to the Office of Elections to print and mail the voter information guide to all registered voters, and support a public outreach campaign to increase voter participation. The Office of Elections supported the bill and estimated costs of a little over $2 million to print and mail the guide and about $178,000 for outreach, noting it spent about $441,000 on election advertising in 2024. Testimony from advocacy groups including Hawaii Alliance for Progressive Action, Common Cause Hawaii, and Indivisible Hawaii strongly supported the measure, emphasizing access for neighbor island voters, people with disabilities, new voters, and voters who need ballot assistance. County election officials from Honolulu, Maui, and Kauai provided comments or testimony that were more cautious. They said additional funding would be welcome, but staffing and logistics remain major constraints, especially for election-day service centers. Honolulu’s city clerk said funding alone would not necessarily solve long lines, while Maui’s county clerk explained that voter service centers require trained seasonal employees, extensive training, and the ability to handle many ballot styles. Maui also described its current pop-up sites, including Hana, as expensive but necessary for remote communities, and said the county is already running at bare minimum staffing. Members asked questions about who decides how many service centers are opened, how staffing is handled, and whether there is a middle-ground model between the old precinct polling places and the current voter service center system. Honolulu explained that county clerks make those decisions under current law and that the county has tried pop-up sites in addition to its main centers. The discussion also noted that in 2024 most voters used vote by mail, while a smaller number used early in-person voting or final-day service centers. No vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:30:24.080> avoid<00:30:24.640> the It was selected not to avoid the It was selected
• activities rather than just one site activities rather than just one site visit.<00:31:39.840>
• Um and do um visits to sites as visit.
• I'm a fan of in-person site visits, period.
• a fan of in-person site visits, period. a fan of in-person site visits, period.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee approved the March 3 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Office of the Legislative Auditor on state grant-management requirements. Deputy Legislative Auditor Katherine Tyson outlined the main controls agencies must follow, including pre-award risk assessments for grants of $50,000 or more, reimbursement as the preferred payment method, limits and documentation requirements for advance payments, and monitoring obligations for active grants. She emphasized that these controls are intended to reduce improper payments and fraud, but also require staff time and strong internal systems. In response to questions, she said advance payments are used in some grants but reimbursement is more common, and noted that agencies can add controls such as retaining a portion of funds, surprise visits, or audits. She also said surety bonds are required in some state programs, but not generally for grants, and that this could be a policy discussion for the executive branch. The committee then received a Department of Natural Resources presentation on the new Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund community grant program created in 2023 law. DNR officials said the program is intended to expand access to ENRTF funding, especially for communities affected by pollution and environmental degradation, and to support projects such as environmental education, resource restoration, trail work, and aquatic invasive species management. They said the department will use the same grants team that handles Outdoor Heritage Fund and LCCMR grants, which already manages a large volume of grants, and that the advisory council application is open through April 10. DNR described its implementation plan as similar to the Conservation Partners Legacy program, with both standard and expedited grant rounds, technical assistance, and use of technical experts. Differences include no match requirement, allowance for fiscal agents to help smaller organizations, and more flexibility for administrative expenses to reduce barriers to participation. Officials said the program will follow state grant rules, including pre-award financial reviews and monitoring, and will use the 5 percent administrative allowance to support both oversight and grantee assistance. They also said the report’s suggestion of advance payments for grants under $50,000 was raised for discussion, but they did not dispute the auditor’s emphasis that reimbursement is the preferred approach.