Video & Transcript Research : 'financing'
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TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Moving on, school finance, so on slide eight. you get a picture of all in funding on school finance and
- All of this money comes from the school finance system so the school finance system the first funding
- The School Finance Commission.
- I think the SPED funding deficit is the largest in the whole school finance system.
- finance system is not. leave with the child?
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Mortgage Finance Authority will be chaired by the Senate.
- New Mexico Finance Authority chaired by the Senate. RESTEP chaired by the House.
- For the College Finance Authority, we're adding Senator Bergman as advisory.
- New Mexico Finance Authority, and sort of on and on and on.
- If you weren't on LFC at some point or House Appropriations and Finance.
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Finance Committee in Session Mar 10th, 2026 at 03:25 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- I want to go ahead and call the Senate Finance Committee to order.
- This came to us from House Finance. It passed the House 92 to 4.
- This came to us from House Finance.
- This bill was single-referenced to the Committee on Finance. Questions of counsel.
- This bill was single-referenced to the Committee on Finance.
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from the prior meeting. It then reconsidered Committee Substitute for House Bill 5212, noting that an Education Committee amendment had been inadvertently omitted the day before; the vice chairman withdrew the prior motion to report the bill, and the committee returned to the bill with the technical Education Committee amendments pending. The transcript then moved through a long agenda of bills and supplemental appropriations, with the committee generally hearing brief explanations from counsel, occasional member questions, and then voting to adopt amendments and report measures to the full Senate.
Among the substantive policy bills, the committee advanced House Bill 4007 on the Industrial Access Road Fund, allowing an additional possible $3 million transfer in a fiscal year, expanding eligible uses, and increasing county/municipal spending limits; House Bill 4765, which raises salaries for state police, teachers, and school service personnel and, via a strike-and-insert amendment, creates a market pay enhancement tied to county and regional income data; House Bill 5162, recodifying tax lien sale procedures and clarifying ownership and government-property tax treatment; House Bill 5382, extending the Neighborhood Investment Tax Credit Program to July 1, 2031; House Bill 5685, authorizing up to $150 million in revenue bonds backed by excess lottery funds for State Culture Center improvements; House Joint Resolution 42, placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot to raise the homestead exemption from $20,000 to $40,000; House Bill 4010, creating an airport hangar grant program and fund; House Bill 4404, increasing from $500 to $5,000 the amount volunteer fire departments may spend on training and fire prevention materials; House Bill 4592, requiring standardized campus safety mapping data for higher education institutions; House Bill 4784, extending and making retroactive a qualified opportunity zone business tax modification; and House Bill 5088, increasing retirement benefits for Division of Natural Resources police officers, with a one-time $4.25 million cash injection.
The committee also reported several supplemental appropriations and originating bills, including Senate Bill 842 for the Spay Neuter Assistance Fund, Senate Bill 846 for Culture and History capital repairs, Senate Bill 872 for Natural Resources capital repairs (reduced to $10 million in committee substitute), Senate Bill 876 for Department of Health facilities, Senate Originating Bills 1 through 5 covering Culture and History, road funds, corrections IT and services, tobacco education, and the Adjutant General’s armory board transfer, respectively. Most items were adopted by voice vote; House Bill 4765’s strike-and-insert amendment was adopted after a division vote of 10-6. The committee then adjourned.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Long Range Capital Planning and Utilization Committee (1/12/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- The department has solicited interest from New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and received a letter
- <00:21:22.640>
The Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. - The Hampshire Housing Finance Authority.
- <00:21:26.159>
Authority New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority New Hampshire Housing Finance - in New Hampshire Housing Finance in New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority<00:23:10.799>
is<
Summary:
The committee approved the minutes from its September 29 meeting and then took up a series of Department of Transportation and Department of Administrative Services property actions. Several DOT items involved disposal of land originally acquired for the now-dissolved Conway bypass or other highway projects, including a 445.6-acre Conway parcel proposed for sale to the town of Conway for conservation use, a 1.78-acre Chesterfield parcel for sale to an abutter, a 6.13-acre Madison parcel tied to the Conway bypass, and a bulk disposal package of 22 improved parcels in Merrimack, Litchfield, and Hudson. Members asked about appraisals, conservation easements, federal funding restrictions, tenant occupancy, and whether the state would recover its original investment; DOT said values were based on appraisal or market analysis, federal reimbursements may be required where federal funds were used, and proceeds from turnpike-related property would return to the turnpike fund. All of these disposal motions were approved.
The committee also approved several DOT lease/easement items. These included a Greenfield railroad-corridor lease for equestrian use, a Lake Winnipesaukee dock lease to CE Realty Trust, a similar dock lease to Needle Eye Association, and an easement in Carroll for Industrial Wireless to build a private road and cross Mount Deception Brook for a cell tower project. Members focused on maintenance responsibilities, liability insurance, access limitations, fencing, and the relationship between the railroad corridor and adjacent uses. DOT said lessees would be responsible for maintenance, access to the railroad would be restricted, and liability insurance would be included where appropriate. The committee also approved a separate easement for Eversource in Rochester to install utility lines serving the new courthouse, with the department explaining that the easement is a narrow strip needed to complete construction.
The Department of Administrative Services received approval for a use-of-premises agreement allowing Rockingham County to lease 300 square feet in the Brentwood courthouse for office space, and for a perpetual utility easement in Rochester for Eversource, with a waiver of the administrative fee. The committee also heard that the Rochester courthouse project needs the utility work to finish construction. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly asked about insurance, public access, valuation, and whether tenants or abutters would have first opportunity to buy or lease the affected properties. All motions before the committee were adopted.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Jul 7th, 2025
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- We offer programs that can help finance recovery from that.
- On the drinking water side, they could work with the finance authority to finance the...
- I know the Board of Finance, I believe, has some emergency financing powers, but our infrastructure programs
- So, we don't finance solar projects just because they're solar projects.
- We finance solar projects that power wastewater Treatment plants.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- We don't have public financing.
- This is another public financing bill.
- This is another public financing bill.
- This is another public financing bill.
- This is another public financing bill.
Summary:
The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345.
The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments.
Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V Feb 25th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V
Transcript Highlights:
- I am KJ Curtis with the Legislative Budget Board, and we will start with the Texas Public Finance Authority
- That's a financing tool offered.
- Sorry, Davini, Executive Director of the Texas Public Finance Authority.
- I'm Billy Atkinson, I'm Chair of the Board of Directors of the Texas Public Finance Authority and with
- In addition to closing project financing since 2014, TPFA has proactively and independently executed
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance Mar 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Hugo Salis Galena with the Department of Finance.
- We'll go ahead and get started with Finance again.
- Hugo Solis Galena with the Department of Finance.
- Hugo Solis Galena with the Department of Finance.
- We'll start with Finance. Hugo Solis-Galiana from the Department of Finance.
Summary:
The subcommittee on Education Finance heard an overview of the governor’s budget proposals and higher education financial aid trends, with a major focus on the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), Cal Grant spending, and the effects of recent federal student aid changes. The Department of Finance said the budget would fully fund Cal Grant at projected levels and reduce MCS coverage from 35% to 17.5% of unmet need in 2026-27, while the Legislative Analyst’s Office supported considering the reduction as a cost-saving measure given out-year deficits. UC and CSU representatives opposed the cut, saying MCS is important to affordability and debt-free degree goals; they estimated average awards would fall substantially and that campuses do not have funds to backfill the loss. The Student Aid Commission said the proposal would reduce aid but simplify administration, and members questioned how lower awards would affect students, borrowing, and work-study options. No vote was taken, and the issue was held open for possible future action.
The committee then discussed federal changes to student loans and Pell Grant policy under H.R. 1, including caps on Parent PLUS loans, elimination of Grad PLUS loans, and new proration rules for federal direct loans based on enrollment intensity. The LAO said these changes would likely push some borrowers into the private market, especially graduate and professional students and some parents of students at private institutions. CSU said the changes would affect thousands of graduate and part-time students and could reduce access by about $97 million in loan availability for part-time borrowers, while UC said the new definitions of professional degrees were too restrictive and would reduce access for nursing, teaching, law, dentistry, and other programs. Community colleges said they use relatively little federal loan aid but are monitoring Workforce Pell. Members raised concerns about workforce impacts, social mobility, and whether the state should consider alternative loan programs or other ways to reduce student costs. This issue was also held open.
In the segment financial aid update, the LAO reported Cal Grant spending is projected to rise to about $3.2 billion in 2026-27, driven by more recipients and higher awards tied to UC and CSU tuition increases, while CSAC said FAFSA and CADAA applications are up significantly year over year. CSU, community colleges, and UC described their aid packaging and rising aid totals, with CSU reporting over $5.5 billion in aid to 381,000 students, community colleges reporting over $4.3 billion to more than 920,000 students, and UC reporting $3.17 billion in grant aid to undergraduates. Members asked about Cal Grant reform, application trends, and long-term outcomes; UC and community colleges pointed to alumni and wage dashboards, and the LAO noted the state’s Cradle to Career data effort. The committee then took public comment, including testimony on library funding and other education-related priorities, and concluded by holding the issues open without formal action.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- I just want to thank the Campaign Finance Board.
- publicly thank the campaign finance publicly thank the campaign finance board<00:56:52.880>
for - finance uh know when they should<00:57:39.440>
update <00:57:39.760>it? - <01:01:50.480>
Um <01:01:50.799>there the campaign f finance board. - Um there the campaign f finance board.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Local Government - 05/05/2026
Local Governments
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill is reported to Finance.
- This bill is reported to Finance.
- This bill is for Finance. Thank you.
- This bill is reported to finance. Our 12 bill is 9903 by Senator Martinez.
- This bill is for finance. Thank you. Our 13th bill is S-9961 by Senator Martinez.
Summary:
The local government committee met for its fifth meeting of the year and considered 15 bills, with the chair noting there may be one more meeting to finish the agenda. Members present included Senators Baskin, Fahy, and Rolison, and the committee moved through the bills with brief motions and seconding throughout.
The committee reported several measures, including bills on making housing a state policy, directing a study on real property tax saturation, requiring notice to adjacent municipalities for certain zoning changes, authorizing the Town of Huntington to alienate park land for the Huntington African American Museum, requiring CPR training for 911 dispatchers and call takers, allowing the Johnson City School District to create an insurance reserve fund, incorporating the New Hartford Volunteer, Exempt Firefighters, Benevolent Association, creating a Suffolk County real property tax exemption for certain volunteer auxiliary police officers, and extending various local finance and public authorities provisions. One bill, S4504 by Senator Griffo, which would prohibit unfunded state mandates on municipalities and school districts and create a Mandate Review Council, was reported to the Education Committee, with the chair noting opposition.
Several bills extending the effectiveness of local finance-related laws were reported to the Finance Committee, including measures on statutory installment bonds, installment loans, refunding bonds, and Environmental Facilities Corporation powers. The committee also reported a bill on county tribal detention agreements and another on base adjusted proportions in the Real Property Tax Law. During discussion of the 911 CPR training bill, members noted an amendment was being worked on to require the training every four years. Most bills were reported unanimously or with no recorded opposition, and the meeting concluded after the final bill was approved.
AK
Alaska 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Jun 20th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Alaska House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- germane to the following Senate committee substitute for committee substitute for House Bill 381, Finance
- Our House Finance Committee did some great work, and I think it's really important to this body.
- amended, thus adopting Senate committee substitute for House Bill 381, finance amended, and recommend
- amended, thus adopting Senate committee substitute for House Bill 381, finance amended?
- It will also be referred to the Finance Committee.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Housing Committee Meeting - 2025-04-08
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- I'll call this meeting of the House Finance and Policy Committee to order and note that a quorum is present
- We will now move on to our one bill for the day, which is our housing finance bill.
- And this leaves the total Minnesota Housing Finance Fund base at $319.6 million. $319.618 million in
- The program slated to receive more one-time resources in your bill will help the agency finance more
- Since 2012, housing infrastructure resources have financed more than $9.6 billion.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- And then for new members again, and anyone who wants to attend, the Legislative Finance Committee is
- consideration and reports same with the recommendation that it do pass and thence referred to the Finance
- Business transportation committee, then Senate Finance Committee.
- Unanimous consent to change the Senate Judiciary to the Senate Finance Committee.
- I think that was either a handwriting error on our part, but clearly it needs to be in Senate Finance
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 087 Apr 11th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- healthcare policy and financing healthcare policy and financing transfers<01:07:16.640>
to - healthcare policy and financing healthcare policy and financing transfers<01:14:20.400>
to - Transfers to other state financing.
- Healthcare policy and financing Healthcare policy and financing transfers<01:35:40.560>
to - healthcare policy and financing. healthcare policy and financing.
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, approved the prior journal, and heard several brief recognitions before moving to business. Members welcomed foster care advocates for Child Abuse Prevention Month, Girl Scouts visiting the Capitol, and participants in Black Maternal Health Week, with remarks emphasizing foster youth voice, leadership development, and the need for culturally competent maternal health care and doula/midwife support.
The chamber then took up House Joint Resolution 1026, honoring former Governor Roy Romer and designating a portion of I-25 as the Governor Roy Romer Memorial Highway. Supporters highlighted Romer’s long public service, his work on education and infrastructure, and his role in major state projects. A proposed amendment to strike the word “memorial” was withdrawn, the House suspended the rules to allow Romer to speak from the well, and Romer offered remarks about legislative collegiality and the importance of democracy and listening to opposing views.
House Joint Resolution 1026 was adopted on a 60-0 vote, with four excused and one absent. After a brief recess, the House returned to special orders and resumed reading House Bill 1410 at length, continuing through extensive appropriations language for the Department of Human Services, including child welfare, youth services, Medicaid-related transfers, SNAP and benefits administration, and other funding line items. No final action on House Bill 1410 was taken in the portion provided.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee Jun 23rd, 2026
Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism
Transcript Highlights:
- Let's say this is established, and now this is a vehicle that can be used for the financing, a financing
- mechanism or part of a financing mechanism for that kind of a new project.
- And the stadium that is there today was financed without that kind of investment.
- , a financing mechanism or part of a financing mechanism for that kind of a new project.
- But what's I think important. was financed without that kind of investment.
VT
Transcript Highlights:
- notice and affecting the revenues of the state under Rule 31 will be referred to the Committee on Finance
- for notice and affecting the revenues of the state under Rule 31 is referred to the Committee on Finance
- which recommends that the bill finance which recommends that the bill ought<00:06:55.039>
to < - I recognize the senator from Addison, Senator Hardy, for the report of the Committee on Finance.
- the committee on finance. the committee on finance.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 4 on Climate Crisis, Resources, Energy, and Transportation Apr 8th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Andrew Hall at the Department of Finance.
- Manisha Kapasuela, Department of Finance.
- Manish Kaposville, Department of Finance.
- Amartia Kumar, Department of Finance.
- Amartia Kumar, Department of Finance.
Summary:
The subcommittee began by announcing a change in the agenda order, moving item 6 ahead of item 1 and then item 7, and noting there would be no votes taken on any items that day. Item 6 covered a proposed operational efficiencies control section for the Natural Resources Agency that would let multiple departments jointly fund landscape-scale or multi-jurisdictional projects and allow Finance to transfer climate bond funds to a lead state entity. The LAO said the proposal was reasonable but suggested the Legislature consider requiring summary notification on how it is used; Finance said it would consider that request.
Item 7 focused on the 2026-27 biodiversity and nature-based solutions spending plan. Finance and the Wildlife Conservation Board described the climate bond funding for habitat restoration, wildlife crossings, public access, tribal nature-based solutions, and related work, including $111 million proposed for WCB and $30 million for Salton Sea habitat and public access projects. The LAO supported the overall approach but flagged the San Andreas Corridor Program as an area where the Legislature may want to specify geographic priorities. Members discussed the pace of Salton Sea work and whether the proposed projects would count toward disadvantaged community goals.
Item 8 addressed Cal Fire’s aviation contract and staffing needs for wildfire response. Cal Fire said year-round fire activity, a larger and more complex aircraft fleet, and labor market pressures justified the proposed contract increase, including more mechanics, pilots, and maintenance support. The LAO recommended approval, saying the proposal addressed health and safety concerns. Members asked about contractor staffing, competition in the bidding process, and future technology for early fire detection and suppression.
The committee then took up item 1 on golden mussel containment. Fish and Wildlife described the invasive species’ spread in the Delta, the task force and response framework, and a request for eight new positions funded by Prop. 4 to support control plans, outreach, monitoring, research, and coordination with partners and law enforcement. Members pressed the department on whether the state should fund more direct decontamination infrastructure and grants to local water managers, and on the realistic goal of containing the mussel. The chair and several members emphasized the urgency of the threat and requested an itemized breakdown of the $20 million request. The hearing then moved to a broader LAO overview of wildfire prevention and response funding, where the LAO summarized the state’s funding mix and warned that ongoing wildfire resilience funding will likely decline as one-time bond and GGRF funds are exhausted, prompting discussion of long-term funding options and the balance between prevention, suppression, and community hardening.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 3/10/26
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- I call this meeting of the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee to order.
- Minnesota Housing Finance Assembly would Minnesota Housing Finance Assembly would give<00:01:42.880><
- I'm not sure if you've talked with the Housing Finance Agency yet.
- I know they they finance agency yet.
- <00:08:45.200>
Agency the the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency the the Minnesota Housing Finance
Keywords:
housing, community land trusts, competitive development, development programs, Minnesota, HF3809, Minnesota eviction law, landlord-tenant, residential lease, minor child, children in eviction, eviction complaint, defendant prohibition, expedited eviction, expedited hearing, summary eviction, tenant protections, housing policy, civil penalty, nonwaivable lease terms
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
CPN-EIG, CPN-HHS, CPN DEFER Public Hearings 02-11-2025
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill is critical for financing parties for all existing projects and to ensure financing is available
- It would be amortized over whatever remaining financing term we have.
- and finance who submitted commentary Thank you, Mr.
- <00:49:13.000>
at may not be able to obtain financing at may not be able to obtain financing - that uh is approved for a financing that uh is approved for a financing order<01:08:41.319>
upon
Summary:
The joint Senate hearing focused primarily on SB 1201, a wildfire measure that would create a wildfire recovery fund and allow securitization for electric utilities. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill, saying it would help protect customers, property owners, insurers, and the broader economy from future catastrophic wildfire liability while improving the utility’s credit profile and lowering financing costs. Support also came from DCCA Consumer Advocacy, the Attorney General’s office on written comments, Ulupono Initiative, Clearway Energy Group, IBEW Local 1260, Par Hawaii, KIUC, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, Plus Power, and numerous organizations and individuals. Opponents or commenters raised concerns about the liability cap, victim compensation process, and fund structure, including the Hawaiʻi Association for Justice, the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters, and the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land supported the concept of a fund but questioned the catastrophe threshold and whether the fund would be empty without a prudency finding.
Much of the discussion centered on whether the proposed fund would actually help restore Hawaiian Electric to investment grade, with senators comparing the proposal to California’s wildfire fund. Hawaiian Electric said the bill was only one part of a broader process, alongside physical risk reduction and settlement finalization, and argued that without the bill the utility would not regain investment grade. Senators also questioned the proposed $1 billion fund size, the fairness of ratepayer contributions versus shareholder contributions, and whether customers should pay for consulting and administrative costs; Hawaiian Electric said its proposed amendment would remove those consulting-related charges. The company also said the fund would accrue interest and, if unused, could be returned to customers, and that there would be replenishment and supplemental contribution mechanisms if the fund were exhausted.
The Attorney General’s office said it still had further amendments to discuss, and the departments had not yet resolved where the fund should reside administratively, though Hawaiian Electric said it believed DCCA was the appropriate place but was open to alternatives. KIUC requested two amendments. No vote or final committee action was taken during the hearing, and the measure remained under discussion with questions and proposed amendments still outstanding.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 2/11/25
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- the head of the state Housing Finance the head of the state Housing Finance Agency<00:04:47.440>
- <00:08:40.719>
Agency things that a a Housing Finance Agency things that a a Housing Finance - <00:09:34.760>
of <00:09:34.920>new support the financing of new support the financing - <00:09:37.600>
of construction we support the financing of construction we support the financing - always came in with housing financing always came in with housing financing after<01:05:06.440><
Summary:
The committee met for an agency overview from Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho. After member and staff introductions, Ho described Minnesota Housing’s mission, structure, and role as a mission-driven financial institution that issues bonds, uses earnings to support operations, and works across the housing continuum from homelessness prevention to homeownership and preservation. She emphasized that the agency is not a builder or regulator, but funds and partners with developers, local governments, nonprofits, and lenders. She also noted the agency’s four divisions, including a new local government housing programs division created after the 2023 legislative session expanded the agency’s responsibilities.
Ho reviewed funding and program activity, saying Minnesota Housing spent $1.96 billion in fiscal year 2024 and helped more than 73,000 households. She highlighted that the agency’s work is heavily competitive and often oversubscribed, with many projects selected through RFPs and grants but more applications than available resources. She discussed 2023 and 2024 investments, including homeownership, rental, and manufactured housing projects, and said roughly half of competitive dollars have gone to Greater Minnesota over the last several years. She also explained the difference between funds committed and funds actually disbursed, noting that construction and rehabilitation projects can take many months to close and draw down funds.
The commissioner also updated members on new programs created in 2023 and 2024, including first-generation down payment assistance, the Greater Minnesota Workforce Housing Development Program, public housing rehabilitation, state housing tax credits, and other local and regional initiatives. She said some programs are already closed out, while others remain in early implementation or are still accepting applications. Ho mentioned a forthcoming technical amendment to adjust a high-rise sprinkler program after eligibility issues limited participation. She closed with examples of projects preserved or funded, including a St. Louis Park preservation deal, public housing preservation in Greater Minnesota, a St. Cloud challenge project, and the first-generation down payment assistance program, which distributed $50 million to about 1,450 first-time buyers, most of whom were Black, Indigenous, or people of color. No votes or formal committee actions were taken.