Video & Transcript Research : 'M.J. Foster Promise Program'

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OK
Summary: The House convened, completed the roll call, prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and recognized Eileen Cooper Grubbs as Nurse of the Day. The chamber then took up several procedural items, including second-reading referrals of Senate Joint Resolutions 50, 52, and 53 to Administrative Rules. Speaker Hilbert also announced the House would continue working despite uncertainty about action in the other chamber, and members were told dinner had been ordered for a long day of floor work. On legislation, the House rejected Senate amendments to House Bill 1728 and House Bill 3021 and requested conference on both. It adopted Senate amendments to House Bill 2137, a criminal procedure bill, and then passed the bill. The House also approved a motion by Speaker Hilbert to override the governor’s veto of House Bill 4432, with a recorded vote of 68-15, allowing the bill to become law notwithstanding the governor’s objections. The House then adopted House Concurrent Resolution 1028, which authorizes the House or Senate to modify legislative deadlines for the remainder of the 60th Legislature. Members discussed that the change was intended to keep legislation moving while the Senate was not meeting and to preserve the ability to hear bills and return them between chambers. The resolution passed after a recorded vote of 77-4. Finally, the House suspended certain rules for the rest of the session by a 68-15 vote and recessed until 1 p.m., with a reminder that the rural caucus would meet in Room 206.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Mar 17th, 2026 at 09:00 am

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • President, Senate Bill 1432 removes the sunset date and all references to pilot programming from the
  • Innovative Pathways to Teaching Program, rendering the program permanent.
  • President, under the new permanent program, your local innovative pathways providers are still subject
OK
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

House Chamber - Fri Feb 6, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 11

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Their presence reflects the strength, promise, and leadership emerging from our West Oahu community.
  • Their presence reflects the strength,<00:13:47.920> promise,<00:13:48.240> and<00:13:48.480
  • > leadership strength, promise, and leadership strength, promise, and leadership emerging<00:13
  • <00:17:18.720> for<00:17:18.959> our education, funding programs for our education,
  • funding programs for our vulnerable<00:17:19.520> and<00:17:19.760> underserved<00:17:
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Human Services Committee Jun 15th, 2026

Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • They're placed with a foster family.
  • Well, luckily, mine are all foster care, so you won't vote against the foster children. Oh, sick.
  • By ensuring the county eligibility requirements for extended foster care programs remain consistent with
  • program, and the kinship guardianship assistance payment (Kin-GAP) program by allowing adopted youth
  • , the adoption assistance program, and the kinship guardianship assistance payment (Kin-GAP) program
Keywords: 987, senate, all
Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee heard a long agenda of child welfare, food assistance, child care, and social services bills. Early actions included AB 308 on regional center safety training for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, AB 1049 to remove sponsor deeming from the California Food Assistance Program, AB 1201 to narrow a violent-felony bypass for family reunification services, AB 2379 to require know-your-rights training for family child care providers, AB 2429 to ease requirements in early childhood mental health consultation, AB 1755 to repeal CalWORKs’ 100-hour work penalty, AB 2478 to create a kinship family approval pathway, and AB 1969 and AB 1996 to expand coordinated cradle-to-career and child-poverty reduction efforts. The committee also began discussion of AB 1932, which would continue and strengthen community-based crisis response services. Testimony was largely in support across the hearing. Advocates, county representatives, child care providers, legal aid groups, food banks, disability organizations, and anti-poverty coalitions argued that the bills would reduce administrative barriers, improve access to benefits and services, and better protect children and families. Several authors and witnesses emphasized real-world harms from current rules, including fear of immigration enforcement, wrongful benefit denials, delayed kinship placements, and the burden of outdated eligibility requirements. On AB 1201, county welfare officials and child welfare advocates said the bill would preserve judicial discretion while allowing more parents a fair chance at reunification; on AB 2478, they said a kin-specific approval path would help place children with relatives more quickly; and on the child care bills, providers said current reimbursement and compliance systems are unsustainable. There was some committee concern about accountability and safety, especially on AB 1049 and AB 1201. One senator questioned whether removing sponsor deeming could weaken program integrity, and another raised concerns about whether narrowing the reunification bypass could expose children to unsafe environments or criminal activity. Authors and supporters responded that the bills still leave eligibility screening, judicial review, supervision, and service plans in place, and that the changes mainly remove automatic barriers or overly broad rules. Votes taken during the hearing were generally favorable: AB 308 passed 3-0 and was held on call; AB 1049 passed 2-1 and was held on call; AB 1201 passed and was held on call; AB 2379 passed 3-0 and was held on call; AB 2429 passed and was held on call; AB 1755 passed and was held on call; AB 2478 passed and was held on call; and AB 1969 and AB 1996 both passed and were held on call. The committee also noted that some bills were on the consent calendar and approved those items 3-0 while holding them open.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • From strengthening our foster care system to expanding promised neighborhoods or advancing the CWS CARES
  • in foster homes, residential programs, and transition age youth.
  • , or those who are aging out for the extended foster care program.
  • Different federal programs have different rules about how they intersect with foster care benefits.
  • Our children's residential programs, in particular, which include both foster family agency homes as
Keywords: 988, house, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • From strengthening our foster care systems to expanding promised neighborhoods or advancing the CWS Automation
  • We serve approximately 2,500 children and youth in foster homes, residential programs, and transition-age
  • are aging out for extended foster care program.
  • Those different federal programs have different rules about how they intersect with foster care benefits
  • For our children's residential programs in particular, which include both foster family agency homes
Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services held an informational hearing on child welfare, foster care, child support, and related prevention efforts. The chair opened by emphasizing mandated reporting reform, foster care system improvements, and community-based prevention, and noted that no votes would be taken. Public testimony focused first on mandated reporting, where a lived-experience advocate and several organizations argued that the current system overreports families, especially Black, Native, and Latino families, causes trauma, and should be reformed through standardized training, clearer thresholds, and stronger community supports rather than more hotline referrals. Casey Family Programs cited data showing nearly 90% of reports are unsubstantiated, while CDSS said it is already forming a Mandated Reporting Advisory Committee, updating training, and exploring community pathways and possible changes to the list of mandated reporters. CWDA and SEIU supported training and alternative response concepts but stressed child safety, county capacity, funding, and the need for careful implementation and accountability. The committee then discussed a proposal to create a foster care multi-agency office within the California Health and Human Services Agency, led by a chief foster youth advocate with authority to coordinate across departments. Advocates said foster youth often need services from education, health, housing, and behavioral health systems that do not coordinate well, and argued that a central office with real authority could improve placement stability and access to services. CDSS responded that existing structures already provide coordination, including AB 2083 interagency teams, the Child Welfare Council, complex care steering committees, and the foster care ombudsperson, but said it was open to technical assistance. Members raised concerns about whether the new office would have enough authority and funding to avoid becoming another layer of bureaucracy, and the chair emphasized the need for real “teeth” and better interagency action. The final major topic was the continuation and expansion of Promise Neighborhoods. A community leader described strong early results from the state-funded neighborhoods, including improved kindergarten readiness, reduced chronic absenteeism, higher graduation rates, food access, housing supports, and mental health services, but warned that current funding sunsets in June 2025 and that a fiscal cliff could jeopardize staff and services. CDSS said the four funded neighborhoods have reported positive outcomes and valuable flexibility, but also noted challenges with one-time funding, student mental health, and long-term planning. Assemblymember Mia Bonta urged continued investment, saying the place-based model is difficult to rebuild once lost, and the chair asked LAO to help identify the minimum funding needed to preserve the existing infrastructure while evaluation results are still pending.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:32:59.600> Um Northstar Promise Program Statute.
  • So here's my ask: fund the programs that are working. Listen to the foster youth.
  • so no foster fully fund this program so no foster youth<00:53:42.880> have<00:53:43.040> to
  • protecting the Northstar Promise protecting the Northstar Promise program.<00:59:22.960> In
  • Of all the promises we have broken to fosters as a state, this is one we can find a way to keep.
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.
NE

Nebraska 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislative Morning Session Apr 10th, 2026

Nebraska Unicameral Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Legislative Council Program 1222, Legislature, general fund, fiscal 2026-27, $12 million.
  • Child nutrition programs see at no cost such student.
  • The proceeds of the fund shall be used to fund the program.
  • The bill also includes carryover and program funding language. ...the appropriation of the program for
  • Nebraska Disclosure Commission Fund for the Disclosure Commission program.
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Apr 22nd, 2025

Alabama House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • But the scholarship programs... ...programs, the GI dependent. Oh, this is for the dependent.
  • And we've also put in a two-year pilot program for 100 students per year for this pilot program.
  • And it'll allow for this pilot program.
  • So, if we eliminated one of the programs that... ...we eliminated one of the programs that we're using
  • And this is significant because if they can get this two-year program or associate level program—by the
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Apr 22nd, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It requires a tri-agency to jointly coordinate grant programs expands the definition of credentials of
  • The higher education coordinating board to develop training programs to preemptively address gaps in
  • Members, today I bring for your consideration House Bill 43. which promises to be the most significant
  • The agriculture program and the interest rate reduction Program.
  • As far as the inter-trade reduction program, there are a few major changes.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • The way that the North Star Promise program came about in the last few years, this program has allowed
  • requirements for the Northstar Promise requirements for the Northstar Promise program<00:24:36.799
  • The FIG program and the investment in the FIG program has given an opportunity for Minnesota's foster
  • So, the FIG program, the fostering independence grant program, last biennium, they were about $5 million
  • the<01:09:13.600> fostering the the FIG program, the fostering the the FIG program, the
Keywords: 1183, house
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Higher Education - 01/30/25

Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • I know it has been an important program to each of you, and I hope we will continue to fulfill this promise
  • I know it has been an important program to each of you, and I hope we will continue to fulfill this promise
  • <00:24:39.240> program<00:24:40.000> and<00:24:40.159> although Northstar promise
  • program and although Northstar promise program and although I'm<00:24:40.520> not<00:24:40.679
  • <00:26:05.200> program levels the Northstar promise program levels the Northstar promise program
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
Summary: The committee heard informational testimony from student and advocacy groups focused on higher education affordability and support programs. Representatives of the Minnesota Association of Private College Students urged full funding for the Minnesota State Grant, describing it as essential for low- and moderate-income students and noting prior successes such as increased support for hunger-free campuses. Two student witnesses, including one first-generation college student and one refugee student, said the grant made college possible for them and warned that underfunding or cuts would limit students’ ability to choose the right school, especially at private colleges not covered by North Star Promise. Members asked questions about the students’ schools, majors, and why they chose their institutions. The witnesses emphasized scholarship opportunities, campus community, faith-based support, and the importance of financial aid in making college accessible. No votes or formal actions were taken during this portion of the hearing. The committee then heard from Vivian Dudley of Foster Advocates, who testified in support of the Foster Independence Grant. She described how the grant allowed her to begin college, stabilize housing and basic needs, and continue toward a social work degree, while warning that aging out of eligibility leaves foster youth facing renewed financial barriers. Members responded with supportive comments and asked about her educational path and work with youth; she said she wants to use her education to help others and to educate campuses on better supporting foster students. Finally, Shay Hornik of the University of Minnesota student government testified in support of North Star Promise, arguing that the program reduces financial burdens and signals that higher education should be accessible regardless of family income. Hornik cited student financial stress, rising living costs, and public opinion favoring greater investment in higher education, and urged expansion of North Star Promise to help middle-class families. No committee action was taken in the transcript.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

House of Representatives Apr 22nd, 2026

Louisiana House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Ball, relative to fuel points discount limits, to provide relative to fuel rewards programs, provide
  • for a limit, and prohibit a limit on the value of fuel rewards points earned through a fuel program.
  • House Bill 797 by Representative Crews, a youth goal program to create the program, duties of the Treasury
  • It's a pilot program. Does it have a sunset? Yes, ma'am.
  • We just kind of mirrored the language that was in the Lafourche Parish program.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • I pray that this program will serve both of these goals with excellence.
  • So I don't have a clue where an education-based program is going.
  • I'm just lost how an education program to already teach what the...
  • to create a mandatory training program for professionals.
  • We have children aging out of foster care without a high school diploma or a GED.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Transportation, Highways and Public Works May 26th, 2026

Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Transcript Highlights:
  • originally began with an alternative project delivery method, and that process looked to establish a pilot program
  • Establish a pilot program for two funded projects through DOTD and two through the Office of Highway
  • We typically do that on federally grant-funded programs.
  • to study the feasibility of incorporating an interstate highway signage maintenance and reporting program
Summary: The House Transportation Committee met on May 26 with a quorum present and took up several resolutions and one Senate bill. SCR 64 created a task force to study construction management at risk (CMAR) in Louisiana public works; an amendment added representatives from the Louisiana Associated General Contractors and Associated Builders and Contractors, and the resolution was reported with amendments. HR 282 created a task force to study utility terrain vehicles with state agencies; an amendment added the State Fire Marshal, and it was also reported with amendments. The committee then considered SB 513 on public works project delivery methods. The bill originally included an average-bid award method for certain pilot projects, along with airport design-build provisions. Testimony from a Reason Foundation analyst and from the Louisiana Associated General Contractors raised concerns that average-bid contracting could encourage collusion, raise costs, and lacked supporting data or use by U.S. transportation departments, while airport design-build was supported. The committee adopted an amendment in concept to strike the average-bid provisions, leaving the airport-related design-build language in place, and SB 513 was reported with amendments by a vote of 11 yeas and 4 nays. The committee also reported SCR 62 favorably, which urges DOTD to evaluate school zones on state highways in response to safety concerns and near misses, including a fatal incident referenced by the author. HCR 112 was reported favorably to study flooding on Louisiana Highway 1 in Shreveport, and HR 275 was reported favorably to study an interstate highway signage maintenance and reporting program. The meeting concluded after all items were disposed of and the committee adjourned.