Transcript Highlights:

• We're gonna talk a little bit about bonding.
• Our entire bonding capacity is $3.7 million. That's the most that we can, we can bond.
• They on average do not perform as well.
• Yes, we, we are currently bonded at that capacity with existing bonds.
• For your meals and also on the bonding.

Transcript Highlights:

• The rest of our programs are funded through federal grants, bond proceeds, and appropriated receipts.
• I mean, I guess so when we issue bonds with a private activity bond authority that that's a federal resource
• And the mortgages are a little bit higher than what we have to pay on the bonds.
• jails, and they would actually never qualify to be inspected. because they perform so well.
• So it's the whole bonding thing.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We know, as Senator Dever talked earlier about that mother and child bond, attachment and bonding is
• Obscene sexual performance becomes obscene sexual production. away the connotation of sexual performance
• same thing, swapping out the sexual performance by a minor for child sexual abuse material and the performance
• It's opting for the term production rather than performance and replacing any references to sexual performance
• , child performance.

Summary: The committee met to approve prior minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), focusing on the economic and public-system impacts in North Dakota. She explained that ACEs are a population-level measure, not a diagnostic tool for individuals, and said higher ACE exposure is consistently associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare involvement, justice-system contact, and reduced workforce participation. She emphasized that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across a person’s life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based prevention and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, historical trends in ACEs, and the role of positive childhood experiences and home visiting. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota, including Healthy Families, Early Head Start, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Parents as Teachers. They described home visiting as voluntary, relationship-based, and tailored to family needs, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, human service zones, pregnancy navigators, self-referrals, and other community sources. A parent, Abby, shared that home visiting helped her family after premature births and NICU stays by providing support with postpartum mental health, breastfeeding, developmental screenings, referrals, and parenting guidance. The presenters said the programs are funded through a mix of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E dollars, Medicaid targeted case management, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and grants, and they noted that current funding is fragmented and insufficient to serve all eligible families statewide. Members discussed whether the state should expand or better fund these services and how to improve outreach and referrals. Later, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, followed by a presentation from a BCI special agent on how AI is already affecting child exploitation investigations in North Dakota. The memo and testimony described AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and risks posed by chatbots, along with relevant federal and state law and recent executive orders. The agent said North Dakota saw 2,698 cyber tips in 2025, the highest on record, and that investigators are increasingly encountering AI-assisted exploitation that is harder to detect and verify. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI undermining critical thinking and spreading misinformation. No votes were taken on the AI materials during the portion provided, and the committee recessed briefly after the report.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our word is our bond. So when we say we're on it, we're on it.
• That reduces their capacity to take on or even support existing bonds. Are you concerned with that?
• I had many meetings with people who write bonds.
• So one of my concerns along with the bond is that a few years ago we passed Redbud funding.
• have A lot of businesses were having challenges with capital investments because they weren't able to bond

Bills: HR1051, HR1048, SB2074, SJR39, SJR47, SB1983, SB444, SB1503, SB1561, SB592, SB1501, SB1946, SB1567, SB1833, SB2026, SB904, SB2178, SB1651, SB1558, SB1565, SB1553, SB1257, SB65, SB1749, SB1242, SB1642, SB640, SB667, SB1436, SB1484, SB1562, SB1794, SB1644, SB1533, SB933, SB1555

Keywords: livestock, judging, Oklahoma State University, championship, agriculture, military children, recognition, community support, military families, April 15, pharmacy benefits managers, reimbursement, healthcare, prescription drugs, cost regulation, property valuation, tax limit, homestead, income threshold, elderly

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll be uh public defender, AG, Judicial Performance, DA, and workers' compensation.
• , DA, and workers Judicial Performance, DA, and workers compensation.<00:23:46.000> That<00:23
• mayor of McGee, and then also on behalf of Senator Rhodess and myself, uh, Miss Cynthia Patterson Bond
• mayor of McGee, and then also on behalf of Senator Rhodess and myself, uh, Miss Cynthia Patterson Bond
• Thank you, Bond of Florence. Thank you, >> Senator<00:26:40.000> Younger.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 13 January, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened, the clerk called the roll, and a quorum was declared. The chamber then heard an invocation by Reverend Curtis Strong of Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church, followed by the pledge of allegiance led by Senator Thomas. The Senate approved motions to dispense with the reading of the journal, committee reports, and the titles of bills and resolutions. Several guests were introduced, including members of the Convention of the States in Mississippi, a Yazoo County delegation celebrating Yazoo Day at the Capitol, the doctor of the day, Dr. Pete Ara of Pascagoula, former senator and BEAM director Sally Doty, the Mississippi Worker Center for Human Rights and City University of New York group, and a group of junior pages. The main floor action was a resolution honoring Dr. Charles Mlen, commissioner of the Southwestern Athletic Conference and newly appointed NCAA board of governors member, for his financial and athletic impact and for elevating the national image of the SWAC. Senator Norwood presented the resolution and Dr. Mlen addressed the Senate, speaking about his Mississippi roots and thanking the chamber for the recognition. The Senate also recognized additional Yazoo County visitors and other guests in the gallery. Members then made a series of announcements about upcoming committee meetings and events, including the legislative prayer breakfast, a Visit Jackson reception, budget hearings, an air task force meeting, and tourism committee business. Several senators asked that the Senate adjourn in memory of individuals including Shelton McCay, Delmo Payne, Mayor Dale Barry, Cynthia Patterson Bond, Boyce Davis, and Nona Living Plazo. The Senate ultimately adopted Senator Blackwell’s motion to stand in recess until 5:00 p.m., with the journal to reflect adjournment until 10:00 a.m. the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Washington County’s projects include high school construction, a performing arts center, classrooms,
• > include High School include High School construction<00:07:52.039> uh<00:07:52.319> Performing
• uh Performing Art Center classrooms<00:07:54.159> a<00:07:54.319> PE<00:07:54.639>
• 09:21.720> become<00:09:22.040> available<00:09:22.560> some<00:09:22.880> bonding
• that had become available some bonding that had become available some bonding of<00:09:23.640>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Committee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development met, approved the minutes from its first meeting, and then received a presentation on the School Facility Assistance Fund audit. State Auditor Allison Ball’s office and its third-party contractor, Blue and Co., explained that the audit followed the scope set in the budget bill: to review each school project’s cost, available local resources, and eligibility criteria for state gap funding, with the Auditor of Public Accounts certifying the final report. The presenters walked through the 20 school projects identified for review and gave the current gap funding amounts found for each. Examples included Adair County at about $7.6 million, Augusta Independent at $5.3 million, B.S. Down Independent at just over $43 million, Fleming County at about $15 million, Garrard County at $14.9 million, Johnson County at $78 million, Somerset Independent at $1.7 million, Walton Verona at $48,000, Williams Town Independent at $7.4 million, and several others. They also noted that some districts were fully funded before the audit or withdrew because they had secured enough local funding, including Breathitt County, Kent County, and Lewis County. Washington County’s project was flagged as failing some House Bill 6 eligibility criteria even though the report calculated a $27.6 million gap. Members asked whether districts that secured funding on their own were being penalized, and the auditors responded that changes in gap amounts reflected several factors, including rising project costs and newly available local funding. They also said the audit did not attempt to determine whether local funds were earmarked for one project versus another, because the budget bill directed them to assess available local funding as provided. The committee requested the presentation slides, and the meeting concluded with no further questions and a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's what this bond will do.
• And so, colleagues, I know that bonds are always hard. It's always a negotiation.
• We urgently need this science and health research bond to protect our future and save lives.
• We urgently need science and health research bond to protect our future and save lives.
• And as I mentioned earlier, the bonds, similar to the budget, require...

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on June 24, 2026, but initially lacked a quorum and began by hearing presentations only. SB 308 was presented as a bill to streamline fiscal reporting for California community colleges by combining two overlapping annual audit reports into one. SB 895, the California Science and Health Research Bond, drew extensive testimony from the authors and many supporters, who argued it would help offset federal research cuts, protect California’s science infrastructure, support jobs, and preserve life-saving research in areas such as cancer, HIV, Parkinson’s, ALS, climate resilience, and quantum computing. The bill was described as a bond measure that would require a three-party agreement and was sent to suspense. After quorum was established, the committee took up the consent and suspense calendars. Several bills were approved on consent, including SB 308 and a large group of other measures, while the suspense calendar was deemed approved, including SB 895 and other bills listed by the chair. Public comment on SB 895 continued for a long period, with many researchers, students, labor representatives, university officials, and patient advocates speaking in strong support and urging the bill be moved to the floor. The committee also heard SB 1350, which would expand green hydrogen by allowing renewable portfolio standard credits for certain hydrogen use in power generation; the author and supporters said it would help clean energy development, create jobs, and support projects like ARCHES and Element. Later, SB 1306 was presented to align California law with federal exemptions for certain chemical mixtures containing GBL used in semiconductor manufacturing research. The author and SEMI’s representative said the bill would reduce unnecessary regulatory burdens, avoid disrupting semiconductor supply chains, and not change rules for pure GBL. The bill passed out of committee on a roll call vote, with one no vote and one not voting. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The systems have performed remarkably well since the 1950s.
• The second thing we need is support on bond measures.
• All the various climate bonds were combined in one bond package, so our $6.1 billion that we had for
• Despite the fact that those flood performance standards were Including an absence of permits.
• Despite the fact that those flood performance standards were largely inherited and created before the

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on flood risk and flood management in California, with opening remarks emphasizing that flooding is a statewide and growing threat due to climate change, including the possibility of extreme losses in a worst-case event. Members noted recent flooding in places such as San Diego, the Tulare Basin, and Pajaro, and framed the hearing as a way to better understand prevention, response, and how to capture excess water for later use. Jeffrey Mount of PPIC gave the main overview, describing California’s high flood exposure, the different flood types the state faces, and the mix of structural and non-structural tools used to manage them. He stressed that levees, dams, bypasses, land-use planning, flood insurance, and emergency response all matter, but that risk is rising because current standards are based on past hydrology rather than future climate conditions. He also warned that flood management is underfunded, that the National Flood Insurance Program is weak, and that federal support is increasingly uncertain. Members asked about groundwater recharge, permitting, NOAA and federal cuts, and which communities are most at risk; Mount said recharge can help but does not eliminate flood risk, and that small Central Valley communities and heavily developed floodplains are especially concerning. State officials Laura Hollander of the Department of Water Resources and Jane Dolan of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board described the state’s role in forecasting, emergency response, grants, planning, and the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. They highlighted aging infrastructure, the need for better coordination, and the state’s special liability in the Central Valley after the Paterno decision. Dolan reviewed the history of major floods and said the plan calls for about $1 billion per year over 30 years to meet current needs, while Hollander said the state works with local and federal partners on preparedness, response, and subventions projects. Both emphasized that floodplain planning, regional coordination, and faster permitting are important, but that more consistent funding is needed. A later panel from local flood agencies and districts reinforced those points, arguing that the state’s annual flood funding is below identified needs and that a proposed statewide flood and dam safety bond was reduced substantially in the broader climate bond package. Witnesses urged more routine maintenance funding, support for regional flood planning, and continued federal-state-local partnerships to reduce risk and maintain eligibility for federal assistance. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the informational hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• expected, but it's not explicit that charter schools hold public meetings when deciding to take on bond
• And while I understand that charter school private bonds do not have the same taxing implications as
• This amendment will ensure that the public is aware of why a bond is being issued, how the bond will
• I will say also that it adds financial assurance in the form of a surety bond.
• I think the four performance ratings are reward, monitor, sanction, or sunset, correct?”

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, received a House message announcing passage of H.B. 500, and a gubernatorial nomination for the Upper Neches River Municipal Water Authority Board. The chamber adopted several resolutions, including SR 409 recognizing Blue Ribbon Lobby Day, SR 402 honoring the discovery of the woolly devil plant at Big Bend National Park, and recognitions for Operation Christmas RGV and Wilson County Day. The Senate also heard an announcement that the Committee on Senate Nominations action report had been placed on members’ desks. The body then took up and passed several bills. SB 2365 was passed to prohibit personal wireless communication devices by public school students during instructional time, with exceptions for health, special education, and safety needs. SB 1869 was passed to reaffirm the DSHS commissioner’s authority over controlled-substance schedule changes without rulemaking or judicial review. SB 1124 was passed to revise criminal discovery procedures in response to the Heath decision, with supporters saying it preserves exculpatory evidence protections while limiting suppression of inculpatory evidence when the defense already knew of it. SB 1758 was passed to create a Grayson County pilot study and temporary permitting hold concerning a cement kiln/quarry near a semiconductor wafer facility, and SB 2078 was passed to regulate composting in certain counties, after a clarifying amendment. The Senate also passed SB 33, barring governmental entities from transactions that support abortion assistance or out-of-state abortion procurement; SB 34, expanding wildfire preparedness measures, studies, equipment databases, and rural fire department funding; SB 1208, increasing the penalty for interference with public duties from a Class B misdemeanor to a state jail felony; SB 1030, removing the maintenance, repair, and overhaul tax for general aviation; SB 505, creating processes to address election irregularities; SB 2411, updating the Business Organizations Code and changing filing-method requirements; and SB 1333, addressing unauthorized entry, occupancy, sale, rental, lease, or conveyance of real property. Most measures advanced on voice vote or recorded roll call after motions to suspend the regular order and the constitutional three-day rule, with several members raising questions or objections, especially on the criminal justice, abortion, and public duties bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Its engineers are tasked with overseeing, but not performing, the infrastructure.
• Natural gas was over-performing by a wide margin, leading up to and during Winter Storm Uri.
• Well, your bill says while there's a review going on, the city cannot issue bonds, correct?
• It is a system that does not reflect the realities of energy performance.
• HVAC performance and mechanical systems are often installed in attics as well.

Bills: HB45, HB755, HB 1232, HB1555, HB2460, HB2702, HB2973, HB3120, HB3225, HB3314, HB3356, HB3371, HB3634, HB3638, HB4247, HB4283, HB4290, HB4302, HB4503, HB4511, HB4565, HB4581, HB4627, HB4632, HB4660, HB4668, HB4960, HB5042, HB45

Keywords: housing, affordable housing, rent control, landlord-tenant laws, housing rights, lobbying, public entities, expenditures, government code, transparency, Texas Ethics Commission, government regulation, lobbying restrictions, government accountability, taxpayer money, HB 1232, whistleblower, whistleblower protection, public employee, retaliation

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's what this bond will do.
• And so, colleagues, I know that bonds are always hard. It's always a negotiation.
• We urgently need the science and health research bond to protect our future and save lives.
• We urgently need science and health research bond to protect our future and save lives.
• And as I mentioned earlier, the bonds, similar to the budget, require... here to present.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We could not tie the roads to the bond package.
• They're only going to be limited to $290 million in bonding.
• We found out that DOT sold a bond package—not this secretary, but a prior secretary—sold a bond package
• The bonding packages won't need to be sold immediately.
• The bonding packages won't need to be sold immediately.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Budget Act of 2024 included trailer bill language to establish a new lease-revenue bond program to
• maintain funding for 13 affordable student housing projects. lease revenue bond program to maintain
• If resources become available under the statewide lease-revenue bond process that has been approved,
• I believe they have a multi-billion-dollar bond that was recently approved.
• Santa Rosa Junior College, in particular, had originally started through a revenue bond at CSFA.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held a hearing focused on California Community College budget proposals. Chair Alvarez opened by emphasizing the system’s role in access, transfer, workforce training, and serving more than 2 million students, while also noting persistent challenges in enrollment, persistence, transfer, and graduation. Public commenters and system representatives broadly supported COLA, enrollment growth funding, deferred maintenance, student support block grants, and additional flexibility for districts facing uncertainty. The first major panel covered the student-centered funding formula, COLA, and enrollment growth. The Department of Finance said the Governor proposes a 2.43% COLA ($230.4 million) and 0.5% enrollment growth funding ($30.4 million). The LAO said the COLA was reasonable and recommended funding at least the proposed growth amount, citing uneven enrollment recovery and regional differences. The Chancellor’s Office supported both proposals and asked for additional changes, including using the greater of current-year or three-year average for apportionments and lifting the 10% local enrollment cap, arguing these would better fund growing districts. Members questioned how the formula works, whether SCFF is improving outcomes, and how much additional funding would be needed under different growth scenarios. The committee then reviewed categorical program COLAs, Rising Scholars, career education proposals, IT proposals, and student housing. The Governor proposed a 2.43% COLA for selected categorical programs ($31.9 million). For Rising Scholars, the Governor proposed $30 million ongoing and removal of the cap on participating colleges; the LAO urged waiting for outcome data before doubling funding, while the Chancellor’s Office said the program is serving more students and supports equity for justice-impacted students. On career education, the Governor proposed $50 million for credit for prior learning and $50 million for a career passport; the LAO supported more reporting on credit for prior learning but recommended rejecting the career passport as too undefined, while the Chancellor’s Office supported both. On technology, the Governor proposed $162.5 million for a common cloud data platform and $168 million for a common ERP system; the LAO said both were premature or lacked sufficient planning and recommended rejection, while the Chancellor’s Office argued they would improve real-time data, security, and systemwide efficiency. The committee also heard an update on student housing: the administration said the 2024 shift to a lease-revenue bond model remains in progress for 13 approved projects, with 11 still active, and members asked about withdrawn projects and possible use of any returned funds. No votes were taken, and several items were held open for further discussion and May Revision updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• post-secondary performance fund. post-secondary performance fund.
• Our proficiency scores for performance.
• Also, $27.6 million in bond funds in FY 26 and $7.7 million in FY 27, and $60 million in agency bonds
• There are no additional bond places.
• . performance. performance.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved into committee and floor reports. Several measures received favorable committee reports and were ordered to first reading and placed on the calendar, including Current Resolution 9, Senate Joint Resolution 23, House Bill 145, House Bill 567, and House Bill 506 with House Committee Substitute 1. The chamber also noted that House Bills 500 and 504 had already received two readings and were sent to the Rules Committee before House Bill 500 was brought up for final consideration. Most of the discussion focused on House Bill 500, the executive branch budget bill. Members described it as a “good first draft” and emphasized a budget process they said was more transparent than in prior years. The bill was presented as a restrained two-year operating budget with spending growth kept at a little under 2% annually, while setting aside about 2% of projected revenues, or roughly $614 million, in the Budget Reserve Trust Fund for future needs. The budget also used base reductions in some areas while exempting others such as Medicaid benefits, SEEK, corrections, behavioral health, and veterans programs. Subcommittee chairs then outlined major spending areas. Education provisions included a 2% annual increase in base SEEK funding, transportation funding held flat, equalization for recallable nickel funding, continued retirement contributions, and major support for postsecondary access, dual credit, asset preservation, and workforce training. Health and family services provisions held Medicaid steady while adding waiver slots, behavioral health and substance use support, public health investments, and funding for rural health and laboratory capacity. Other sections covered personnel and pensions, veterans services, infrastructure, public safety, economic development, tourism, and environmental projects. The only recorded action on the floor was adoption of House Committee Substitute 1 to House Bill 500, followed by a motion for final passage of the bill as amended. The transcript ends as discussion on final passage begins, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• new bonds.
• Hampshire is a double A plus rated bond. Hampshire is a double A plus rated bond.
• I don't really bond expert.
• um the the bond. um the the bond.
• enhancement on the rate reduction bonds. enhancement on the rate reduction bonds.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I researched the impact on bonding for communities.
• I researched the impact on bonding for communities.
• And how much are for bonds? Every time you say yes to a bond, it could be a really well-meaning...
• How much are for bonds?
• And if you're not choosing to vote on one of those bonds, those bonds are usually voted on by the majority

Bills: LB737, LB753, LB788, LB913, LB1055, LB1195, LB1216, LB1256, LB429, LB721, LB722, LB727, LB743, LB745, LB749, LB778, LB787, LB365A, LB823, LB900, LB903, LB940, LB954, LB1127, LB1127A, LB1205, LB1240, LR293, LR296, LR422, LR505, LR507

Keywords: LB737, Olmstead, developmental disabilities, disability services, community-based services, integrated settings, DHHS, Department of Health and Human Services, stakeholder advisory committee, independent consultant, public hearing, legislative oversight, disability rights, community integration, housing, employment, education, transportation, community supports, self-advocacy

Transcript Highlights:

• We want to avoid duplicity in bonding, which seems to be a prevalent issue, and make sure we put our
• We're going to evaluate, we are evaluating, pardon me, the current bonding regulations.
• the bond for.
• Responses that directly correlate to the audit and improve our performance.
• We all perform our duties. It's critical that we worked in collaborative ways.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill authorizes dental therapists to perform certain services if and only if trained, licensed,
• They can control how the therapist performs their duties or not.
• Plus, they go through the same... ...for the similar procedures that dentists perform.
• For the procedures they perform, including... ...these standards mean something.
• In 2024, by Bond provided greater than 5,500 dental services.

Summary: The Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee heard and advanced three bills. HB 21 would create a new licensed profession of dental therapy under the Department of Health and Board of Dentistry, allowing trained dental therapists to provide a limited scope of care under a supervising Florida-licensed dentist through a collaborative management agreement. Sponsor Rep. Cheney argued the bill would help address severe dental shortages and improve access in underserved areas; opponents from the Florida Dental Association and oral surgery groups warned that the bill would allow irreversible procedures by less-educated providers and could compromise patient safety. Supporters, including dentists, hygienists, and community health center leaders, said dental therapists would expand access and free dentists to handle more complex care. An amendment was adopted to require proof of local anesthesia training, adverse-incident reporting, and updated background screening language. The bill was reported favorably as amended by a 14-1 vote. The committee then considered HB 27, which creates the Social Work Licensure Interstate Compact to allow licensed social workers to practice across member states, including through telehealth, and to help military families and address workforce shortages. Supporters from the National Association of Social Workers and other advocates said the compact would improve mobility, reduce administrative burdens, and expand access to mental health services, especially in underserved and rural areas. A technical amendment restoring model language and setting an effective date of July 1, 2025 was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably as amended on a 15-0 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 29, the public-records companion to the social work compact, which creates exemptions needed for compact compliance and allows the compact commission or its committees to meet in closed session when discussing information exempt under law. After a technical amendment authorizing closed meetings for exempt matters was adopted, the bill was reported favorably as amended on a 15-0 vote. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• On Bond, and that's when I really got to know you even better.
• Just a couple of examples of your reach on bond: the Bush School.
• Just a couple of examples of your reach on bond. The Bush School.
• So on bond, that has been, I think, the best job here at Leg Hall, but being chair of bond.
• Copies of the bond bill. We do have a gift on your desk. It's the FY27 bond bill.

Keywords: 1064, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:02:28.400> bill forward to us passing a bonding bill forward to us passing a bonding bill
• It's not a GO bond program.
• <00:57:21.000> um fund bonding or trunk Highway bonds um fund bonding or trunk Highway bonds
• and we have to sell more bonds.
• and we have to sell more bonds.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Capital Investment held its first meeting of the 2025 session with members and staff introducing themselves and describing their priorities. Senators from both parties repeatedly emphasized the goal of passing a strong bipartisan bonding bill this year, with several members noting that local projects were delayed after no bonding bill passed the previous year. Chair Housley also said the committee would not meet later that week and previewed an upcoming presentation from MMB on federal funds. The committee then heard a presentation from MMB’s Leah Corey and Anna Ming on Minnesota’s federal funding efforts. Corey explained that MMB’s federal funds team coordinates state efforts to maximize funding from IIJA, IRA, CHIPS, and related federal programs. She said Minnesota has secured about $12.3 billion in federal funding so far, including roughly $3 billion more since the last presentation, supporting about 1,800 projects statewide. Most of the funding is going to transportation, roads, and bridges, with other major areas including clean energy and weatherization. She also highlighted an interactive public dashboard showing projects by region and noted that much of the data reflects funds flowing through the state enterprise. Corey also discussed state match programs that helped unlock federal dollars, including the IIJA discretionary match fund, the State Competitiveness Fund, and the Forward Fund. She said $180 million in state match has unlocked about $1 billion in federal investment through the IIJA discretionary match fund, nearly $17 million in state investment has unlocked nearly $90 million in federal funding through the State Competitiveness Fund, and $124 million for the Forward Fund has unlocked nearly $1 billion in federal and private investment. Members asked whether more state dollars could have brought in more federal funds; Corey said she was not sure, but noted the IIJA match fund is expected to run out in the coming months. The presentation also focused on direct pay tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act, which allow tax-exempt entities such as governments, nonprofits, school districts, and tribal nations to receive payments for eligible clean energy projects after they are completed. Corey said the state is building awareness and technical assistance around direct pay, including educational sessions and a tax expert resource. She also described Minnesota’s Green Bank, the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority, which is beginning to issue loans for projects such as community energy, nonprofit geothermal systems, and solar-plus-battery installations.