Transcript Highlights:

• Protecting the program integrity.
• have about 215 allied health programs in our community colleges—so what programs are most acute in those
• But this program is very simple.
• You mentioned earlier that you want fewer restrictions on the SNAP program so that people on the program
• Given the new, as long as you're on the program, and hopefully you're not on the program long, hopefully

Committee: House House Health & Human Services Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee began with a presentation from the Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter and Dr. Anna Burke of Barrow Neurological Institute on the growing impact of Alzheimer’s and dementia in Arizona, the need for earlier diagnosis, better provider education, caregiver support, and continued research funding. They described current gaps in training and access to specialists, but also highlighted new therapies, lifestyle interventions, and Arizona-based research efforts. Members expressed support and optimism, but no action was taken on the presentation. The committee then heard HB 2202, which appropriates $300,000 from the general fund over fiscal years 2027 through 2029 for a dementia care tele-mentoring grant program through the Department of Health Services. Supporters, including the Alzheimer’s Association, a dementia specialist, and a patient advocate, said the program would help primary care providers diagnose dementia earlier and improve care. The bill was passed out of committee on an 11-0 vote. Next, the committee took up HB 2251, the midwifery bill, which would authorize certain licensed midwives to dispense and administer specified medications and devices, require liability insurance disclosure and annual reporting, and create a Midwifery Advisory Committee. A committee amendment removed some medications and renamed the bill the Jordan and MacTerry Act. ACOG and the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association opposed the bill as drafted, citing concerns about oversight, peer review, and the medication list, while licensed midwives and other supporters argued the bill would improve safety, transparency, and alignment with national standards. The bill was held for further stakeholder work, with members indicating more amendments were likely. The committee then heard HB 2252, which would allow certified nurse midwives, certified professional midwives, or licensed midwives to accompany a patient in a ground ambulance during an out-of-hospital birth if approved by medical direction. Supporters described cases where continued midwife involvement during transport helped newborns and mothers, while firefighters and EMS representatives opposed the bill as written, saying it created ambiguity about command and scene control and could raise safety concerns. The chair said the bill would be held for further stakeholder meetings and possible language changes. After a recess, the committee reconvened for presentations on federal Medicaid and rural health funding impacts, beginning with JLBC’s overview of H.R. 1’s Medicaid provisions and the rural health transformation grant program.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is to contract creating a supplemental nutrition assistance program waiver compliance solution.
• I’m a program director there.” “Thank you. What was your last name?” “Mitener.” “Ms.
• Whenever we've got this program, you've got this program, and it's my understanding... ...that is contingent
• programs that do have nutritional requirements.
• For example, the WIC program, school lunch program, and other programs have more nutritional requirements

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee reviewed three DHS out-of-state service contracts: a $690,000-plus sole-source contract for DCFS with Evident Change for maintenance and operation of the Child Welfare Structured Decision-Making practice hub; a $1.2 million sole-source contract for County Operations with Sifter Solutions to support a SNAP waiver compliance solution; and a $156,000 contract for Developmental Disabilities with Samaritan Integrative Services for psychiatric services at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. The chair and staff explained the contracts and noted that the Evident Change and Sifter contracts were sole-source due to the proprietary nature of the systems or services involved. Most of the discussion focused on the Evident Change contract. Members questioned DCFS about long-term dependence on the vendor, the lack of a competitive bid, the absence of a clear off-ramp, and whether the state was paying more overall as the work was split into multiple contracts. DCFS said the contract before the committee was only for maintenance and operations of a web-based platform used daily for safety assessments and case planning, while a separate Evident Change contract covers case reviews, CQI work, and data management. The vendor said it was continuing to reduce its role and had begun off-ramp discussions, but members remained concerned that the state was too reliant on the vendor. Staff said the contract had to be approved by May 31 or the system could be turned off. The committee also discussed the Sifter Solutions contract, which supports Arkansas’s SNAP waiver pilot by providing a dynamic list of excluded products and a consumer app that scans barcodes and provides nutrition information. DHS said the waiver is intended to improve the nutritional value of SNAP benefits, that the contract is funded with remaining federal SNAP Nutrition Education dollars that would otherwise be returned, and that the University of Pennsylvania will conduct the evaluation at no cost. Members asked about the benefit to Arkansas, whether the app would include nutrition and budgeting information, and whether the state would own the application or need future renewals. DHS said the two-year term was intentionally aligned with the waiver period and that future procurement options could change. After discussion, the committee noted the items as reviewed and adjourned without objections or votes recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• utilizing $245 million in... grant programs utilizing $245 million in ARPUP dollars.
• The Alabama Digital Expansion Authority approved the AIM program to utilize the available program.
• This program will work in conjunction with the ARPA and the CPF program, which we will go into detail
• Now, if you'll take your programs right.
• Now, if you'll take your programs right here, we'll go project by project.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, we're about to begin the Speaker's Reunion Day Program.
• I want to begin our program today with a moment of silence in memory of the former House members who
• Members, we're about to begin the Speaker's Reunion Day Program. We want to be part of it.
• I want to begin our program today with a moment of silence in memory of the former House members who
• Members, that does conclude our program. for today.

Bills: HR33 , HR138 , HR200 , HR243 , HR267 , HR307 , HR353 , HR383 , HR443 , HR446 , HR449 , HR451 , HR453 , HR457 , HR459 , HR460 , HR461 , HR462 , HR464 , HR466 , HR467 , HR474 , HR475 , HR477 , HR479 , HR481 , HR482 , HR483 , HR484 , HR486 , HR487 , HR490 , HR491 , HR497 , HR502 , HR505 , HR509 , HR510 , HR511 , HR512 , HR513 , HR515 , HR516 , HR527 , HR531 , HR532 , HR541 , HR542 , HR547 , HR548 , HR549 , HR550 , HR555 , HR557 , HR564 , HR568 , HR574 , HR575 , HR576 , HR577 , HR578 , HR580 , HR584 , HR586 , HR587 , HR588 , HR589 , HR594 , HR595 , HR597 , HR599 , HR606 , HR607 , HR608 , HR609 , HR610 , HR611 , HR612 , HR613 , HR615 , HR616 , HR617 , HR619 , HR620 , HCR65 , HCR119 , HR434 , HR447 , HR450 , HR454 , HR455 , HR458 , HR463 , HR476 , HR478 , HR488 , HR489 , HR492 , HR496 , HR499 , HR522 , HR523 , HR524 , HR533 , HR534 , HR535 , HR536 , HR537 , HR539 , HR546 , HR552 , HR553 , HR554 , HR556 , HR579 , HR582 , HR598

Keywords: autism, neurodiversity, awareness, acceptance, public health, HR 138, H.R. 138, House Resolution, Texas House, 89th Texas Legislature, Susan Christian, Houston Mayor's Office of Special Events, MOSE, retirement resolution, congratulatory resolution, ceremonial resolution, Houston, special events, city events, civic events

Transcript Highlights:

• asked if we could put the funding back to $500,000 because $100,000 wouldn't do that much for their program
• So I... ...much for their program as far as the grants.
• So right now, I think I've told you before, maybe it didn't, but on the federal level, the Eats program
• , NCS is working with the USDA on a bill that what it does, I'm not sure if I've got the right agencies

Bills: HCR3018

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Veterans Affairs

Summary: The Agriculture and Veterans Affairs Committee met with a quorum and first took up House Concurrent Resolution 3018, which was amended to expand a study of wetlands and jurisdictional water issues, including questions about taxing authority over land inundated by water. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the resolution as amended on a roll call vote, with all members present voting yes or aye. Senator Weston agreed to carry the measure. The committee then considered House Bill 1581, relating to funding for the Native American Tourism Alliance. Senator Marcellais explained an amendment restoring the funding level to $500,000 and adding a 10% tribal match. Members debated the budget impact and the likelihood of the bill surviving in that form. The amendment failed on a 3-3 tie, after which the committee moved to the original House version. That version, with $100,000 total funding and matching requirements, received a 4-2 do pass recommendation and was sent to Appropriations, with Senator Marcellais designated as carrier. The committee also discussed House Bill 1541, which would create a new commission to oversee septic systems, but members indicated a preference for a different approach already moving in the House that would place licensing and oversight under DEQ with health units still handling inspections. No final action was taken on that bill. Finally, the committee reviewed House Bill 1280, a water/drainage-related measure involving voting eligibility for landowners who have not paid assessments, but members raised legal questions and deferred further action. The committee also discussed broader concerns about a chemical-labeling bill and related public emails, then recessed until the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• , loan programs and stuff like that, but do we, and I know FSA had a program at one time, I don't know
• We have a program in family and community wellness, which includes our food and nutrition programs.
• We have a program in family and community wellness, which includes our food and nutrition programs, aging
• So for this new program, which is called the Water Resources Certificate Program, we developed that in
• We are also planning to develop a new certificate program similar to this undergraduate program, but

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and opening remarks from NDSU President David Stewart, who emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission of statewide service through teaching, research, and extension. He highlighted the university’s role in agriculture, water, soil health, and community outreach, and pointed to examples of research commercialization such as Lilac Agriculture’s work on nitrogen-fixing microbes for crops. He also said he is still early in his tenure and intends to spend time listening and learning across the state. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study estimated that North Dakota could develop about 1.3 million additional irrigated acres, with major potential in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau. Testimony stressed the economic benefits of irrigation for crop yields, value-added processing, dairy, and potato production, while members also discussed water availability, aquifers, downstream water use, and the need for more flexible permitting. The drainage portion of the study found significant economic benefits from legal drains, and staff explained that the impacts were calculated through increased productivity and related input purchases. Greg Lardy then gave NDSU’s required agriculture update, saying agriculture accounts for more than $41 billion in annual economic activity, one in five jobs, and about 25 percent of state GDP. He reviewed the role of SBAR, the statewide research-extension network, new crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI and weather-network tools, and Extension’s county partnerships and youth programs. He also outlined NDSU’s priorities for the next session: restoring proposed budget cuts, increasing operating support, and addressing deferred maintenance. Members asked about storage shed construction, NDSU’s relationship with Grand Farm, and whether NDSU could help with water-related research tied to drainage and aquifers. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor on water and data centers, who described graduate fellowships, a water workforce certificate program, and research on data center cooling, water use, and “Legendary Harvest” concepts that would reuse waste heat for greenhouse or aquaculture production. Questions focused on whether the cooling systems were closed-loop, who would own any related production facilities, and whether the project was still only a feasibility study. Finally, North Dakota AgTech described its NSF-funded “engine” project, saying it has brought millions in federal investment to the state, supported startups and on-farm trials, and is focused on commercialization, workforce development, and helping producers lower input costs and improve profitability.

Transcript Highlights:

• USDA.
• The debt issued by USDA or the Texas Water Development Board places a lien on the system and is repaid
• Members, it's a very important aspect that is missing from the statute in the program right now.
• These guidelines provide uniform requirements for managing state-administered grant programs.
• Financial assistance programs.

Bills: SB863 , SB1190 , SB1261 , SB1413 , SB1624 , SB1662 , SB1663 , SB1855 , SB1967 , SB2124 , SB2204 , SB1623

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• As with any government program, you take your risk that it could be discontinued in the future.
• As with any government program, you take your risk that it could be discontinued in the future.
• As with any government program, you take your risk that it could be discontinued in the future.
• That's the risk one takes when it's dealing with government programs.
• That's the risk one takes when it's dealing with government programs.

Committee: House Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• When the Taiwan open office opportunity opened in September 2018, we had two small USDA processing plants
• What we did was these private processing plant operators became USDA certified, but they're small.
• online ordering. processing uh plant operators processing uh plant operators became<01:02:48.799><c> USDA
• certified,</c><01:02:49.920><c> but</c><01:02:50.160><c> they're</c><01:02:50.480><c> small</c> became USDA
• certified, but they're small became USDA certified, but they're small um<01:02:52.000><c> they</c><01

Bills: HB0116 , HB0056

Committee: House Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• It is to contract creating a supplemental nutrition assistance program waiver compliance solution.
• Whenever we've got this program, you've got this program, and it's my understanding that is contingent
• programs that do have nutritional requirements.
• For example, the WIC program, school lunch program, and other programs have more nutritional requirements
• in the direction of increasing the nutritional value of that program.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee reviewed three DHS service contracts: a $690,000-plus contract for DCFS with Evident Change for child welfare structured decision-making tools, a $1.2 million contract with Sifter Solutions to support a SNAP waiver compliance solution, and a $156,000 contract with Samaritan Integrative Services for psychiatric services at the Southeast Arkansas Human Development Center. The chair and staff explained that the first two were sole-source contracts justified by the proprietary nature of the services, while the third was a standard service contract. Members focused most heavily on the Evident Change contract, questioning DHS about long-term dependence on the vendor, the lack of a competitive bid, and whether there was an “off-ramp” plan. DHS said the contract covers maintenance and operations of the platform used daily for safety assessments and case planning, and that if it were not renewed the system would be turned off and staff would lose access to the tools. The vendor said it was continuing to support DHS in reducing reliance over time, but no detailed off-ramp timeline was provided. Members also noted that the related CQI/review contract is on a different renewal cycle and raised concerns about the state being locked into staggered renewals. For the Sifter Solutions contract, DHS said the waiver was intended to improve the nutritional quality of SNAP purchases by excluding certain foods, and that the vendor would provide a dynamic list and app for retailers and clients to check eligible products. DHS said the contract would be funded with remaining federal SNAP Nutrition Education dollars that would otherwise revert to the federal government, and that the University of Pennsylvania would conduct the evaluation at no cost. Members asked about the long-term value to Arkansas, possible future competition, and whether the app would include nutrition education and budget-friendly cooking information; DHS said it would include educational materials and videos. No objections were raised, and the items were reported as reviewed before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I wanted to zero in more specifically on a program. Nursing is a program. Would you agree, Mr.
• Low-producing programs shall be reviewed, and they can qualify for an exemption if it's a no-cost program
• , a shared cost program, a program that has just been recently restructured, or if it's collaborative
• , low-producing programs.
• And it talks on page three about collaborative programs and it says the program is currently offered

Bills: HB2268 , HB3000 , HB3043 , HB3066 , HB3078 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB3320 , HB3467 , HB3321 , HB3329 , HB3431 , HB3464 , HB3499 , HB3500 , HB3586 , HB3590 , HB3650 , HB3671 , HB3695 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB3764 , HB3767 , HB3834 , HB3931 , HB3934 , HB3940 , HB3944 , HB3979 , HB3985 , HB4113 , HB4294 , HB4302 , HB4317 , HB4324 , HB4359 , HB4426 , HB4427 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB4434 , HJR1077 , SR42 , SR35 , HJR1023 , HB1225 , HB1374 , HB1381 , HB1590 , HB1675 , HB2153

Keywords: HB2268, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, OHCA, appropriation, General Revenue Fund, PACE, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, elderly care, aging Oklahomans, long-term care, Medicaid, health care funding, provider reimbursement, rate increase, low-income seniors, senior services, integrated care, emergency measure, cosmetology, barbering

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's all a straight loan program. Follow up. Thank you, Mr. President.
• So it's just a program to offer them an easier way to achieve those goals.
• So the whole program is capped at a million dollars.
• This cap applies to this particular loan program.
• There are different caps for those other loan programs.

Bills: HB2268 , HB3000 , HB3043 , HB3066 , HB3078 , HB3143 , HB3144 , HB3244 , HB3298 , HB3320 , HB3467 , HB3321 , HB3329 , HB3431 , HB3464 , HB3499 , HB3500 , HB3586 , HB3590 , HB3650 , HB3671 , HB3695 , HB3700 , HB3701 , HB3764 , HB3767 , HB3834 , HB3931 , HB3934 , HB3940 , HB3944 , HB3979 , HB3985 , HB4113 , HB4294 , HB4302 , HB4317 , HB4324 , HB4359 , HB4426 , HB4427 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB4434 , HJR1077 , SR42 , SR35 , HJR1023 , HB1225 , HB1374 , HB1381 , HB1590 , HB1675 , HB2153

Keywords: HB2268, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, OHCA, appropriation, General Revenue Fund, PACE, Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, elderly care, aging Oklahomans, long-term care, Medicaid, health care funding, provider reimbursement, rate increase, low-income seniors, senior services, integrated care, emergency measure, cosmetology, barbering

Bills: SB5223 , SB5831 , SB5928 , SB6183 , SB6071 , SB5995 , SB5966 , SB5841 , SB5840 , SB6061 , SB6058 , SB5931 , SB5944 , SB5520 , SB6011 , SB6087 , SB6076 , SB5916 , SB6016 , SB5936 , SB6137 , SB5956 , SB6025 , SB6009 , SB5833 , SB6161 , SB6188 , SB5890 , SB5917 , SB5820 , SB5973 , SJM8015 , SB5816 , SB6136 , SB6091 , SB6024 , SB5053 , SB5249 , SB5536 , SB5834 , SB5837 , SB5872 , SB5879 , SB5899 , SB5925 , SB6019 , SB6148 , SB6184 , SB6190 , SB6237 , SB6086 , SB5574 , SB5873 , SB5992 , SB5924 , SB6134 , SB6263 , SB5395 , SB6282 , SB5905 , SB6302 , SB5950 , SB6074 , SB6226 , SB6096 , SB5970 , SB6269

Keywords: criminal offense, fingerprinting, law enforcement, state regulations, public safety, mortgage modification, uniform regulations, homeowners, financial stability, foreclosure prevention, wildfire risk, disclosure, safety, environmental policy, risk assessment, SB 6183, HIV, antiviral drugs, antiretroviral therapy, AIDS

Transcript Highlights:

• statutory language and specificities in federal legislations and federally administrative funding programs
• 12.080><c> funding</c> and federally administrative funding and federally administrative funding programs
• <c> assist</c><00:05:13.440><c> state</c><00:05:13.759><c> counties</c><00:05:14.080><c> and</c> programs
• to assist state counties and programs to assist state counties and universities<00:05:15.120><c> in<
• what</c><00:05:42.080><c> they</c> To the federal level, to see what they value: effectiveness of program

Committee: Senate Agriculture and Environment

Summary: The joint AEN-HRE hearing focused on HCR 130, HD1, which urges increased and sustained funding for the island invasive species committees and the Hawaii Ant Lab within the University of Hawaii’s Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. The Department of Agriculture said it supported the intent and noted that ISC funding flows through the Hawaii Invasive Species Council budget item via DLNR, while also describing ongoing collaboration with DLNR and efforts to support ant control work. Testifiers from CAPS, the University of Hawaii, the Oahu Invasive Species Committee, and CARES all supported the resolution, emphasizing that invasive species work is underfunded, that the island committees and Hawaii Ant Lab do critical control, research, outreach, and eradication work, and that sustained resources are needed to plan effectively and respond to priority pests such as little fire ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, and coqui frog. A lengthy exchange followed over whether the resolution was meaningful, since it would be urging the state to fund work the Legislature itself controls. Several members argued that a resolution alone has no legal effect and that funding should come through bills and appropriations instead. In response, the Department of Agriculture said its top biosecurity needs are personnel and chemicals, and noted it is building up its plant quarantine and plant pest control divisions with prior funding and HB 427. Oahu Invasive Species Committee representatives said they rely heavily on Hawaii Invasive Species Council grants, have limited soft funding, and need more stable resources; they also pointed to annual reports and prior testimony as documentation of their work. After a brief recess, the chairs announced they would pass the resolution with amendments to make it more relevant. The amendments changed the title and text to urge the counties, Congress, and other relevant agencies—not the state alone—to provide increased and sustained funding, and added language urging all of those bodies to seek federal grants. The AEN committee then voted to pass HCR 130, HD1, as amended, and the HRE committee also voted to pass it with amendments. The motion was adopted in both committees.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill appropriates funding for a pilot program for a continuous lead air monitoring system to a community
• c> The bill appropriates funding for a The bill appropriates funding for a pilot<00:01:38.480><c> program
• legislative auditor to put guardrails on the program.
• Uh when we had the auditor the program.
• Sundin: I love the LCCMR program and all the projects funded by the ENRTF.

Bills: HF4211 , HF3426 , HF4819 , HF3466 , HF3793 , HF3339

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• This program service loan forgiveness.
• </c><03:46:07.920><c> more</c> do we make these programs more do we make these programs more effectable
• </c><03:52:13.199><c> This</c> programs since its in creation. This programs since its in creation.
• Today rural housing projects in Indiana and across the country that rely on both HUD and USDA programs
• > two</c><08:42:45.120><c> separate</c> USDA programs must undergo two separate USDA programs must undergo

Bills: HB1531 , HB6644 , HB3190 , HB3390 , HB3682 , HB5616 , SB3705

Keywords: Taiwan, China, banking organizations, financial regulators, national security, Burma, sanctions, foreign relations, accountability, economic oversight, military accountability, discount window, Federal Reserve, Federal Reserve Act, Board of Governors, liquidity, bank liquidity, emergency lending, lender of last resort, financial stability

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, we, you know, dealing with the USDA is always a because we're a USDA-inspected facility.
• "Uh, that has its, you know, for a small plant, because uh dealing with the USDA, they deal with plants
• ><01:07:11.599><c> dealing</c><01:07:11.839><c> with</c><01:07:12.000><c> the</c><01:07:12.160><c> USDA
• </c><01:07:12.880><c> they</c> because uh dealing with the USDA they because uh dealing with the USDA

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum, approved the June 5, 2025 minutes, and heard a presentation from Don Pemberton and David Buchanan of AgriKim/AgriCam on the Eddyville Riverport fertilizer terminal. They explained that the company supplies fertilizer, crop protection, and seed across western Kentucky, with the Eddyville port serving as a key source for about 100,000 tons of fertilizer annually and supporting roughly 20 counties and 19 wholesale customers. They said the existing facility is aging and vulnerable to river humidity and corrosion, and they proposed reconstructing the fertilizer bins into a fully enclosed, more durable facility with an estimated cost of about $1.76 million, far less than rebuilding from scratch. The presenters argued the project is important to keep fertilizer moving quickly during a short application season, to manage global supply disruptions and tariffs, and to avoid higher freight costs if product had to come through other ports. They also emphasized environmental benefits from a contained facility that would reduce runoff into nearby waters. Committee members asked about supply sources, demand trends, ownership, lease terms, and whether the building’s capacity would change. The witnesses said demand is increasing, much of the product still comes from overseas or other domestic ports, and the building would be owned by the company while the Riverport Authority owns the ground. Several members expressed support for the port’s importance to western Kentucky agriculture and noted the need for timely fertilizer storage and delivery. One member, however, said he was not in favor of using public money to subsidize a private, for-profit business and urged the company to negotiate a longer lease with the Riverport Authority before making such a capital investment. The discussion ended without a vote or formal action on the project, though members indicated the issue may be revisited and that the Riverport Authority will later present additional needs to the transportation committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• So please let’s keep this program.
• And the wolf program has been a real disaster for what we intended.
• There's an emotional toll that doesn't show up in any compensation program.
• I agree with the previous comment that we need a science-based program.
• I agree with the previous comment that we need a science-based program.

Bills: HB2131 , HB2221 , HJM4009 , HB2619

Committee: House Agriculture & Natural Resources

Keywords: sea lion, predation control, salmon preservation, fishing industry, voluntary donations, ungulate, wildlife conservation, ecosystem management, population sustainability, environmental impact, wildfire, federal response, community protection, natural resources, firefighter safety, agriculture, regulations, farming, compliance, economic impact

Transcript Highlights:

• development, connecting underserved communities to affordable services and deliver digital literacy programs
• them set up a laptop giveaways to youth in the community, technically I can't do that under this program
• Our consortia, ironically, went to USDA and we got a grant from the Trump administration for twice as
• have the provision here to ask for a little bit more money. $200,000 was a lot of money when this program
• It's not a lot of money now for doing regional... ...when this program was created, when then Senator

Summary: The Assembly Communications and Conveyance Committee met with two bills on the agenda after opening remarks on hearing rules and public conduct. AB 2279 by Assembly Member Gibson proposed changes to the California Advanced Services Fund for regional broadband consortia, including expanding their authority to support broadband deployment and adoption, increasing multi-year funding, and shifting grants from reimbursement-based to performance-based payments. Supporters, including representatives from Cal Poly Humboldt, Valley Vision, and several broadband and technology organizations, said the bill would help consortia better close the digital divide and reduce administrative burdens. There was no opposition, and members discussed the high audit and accounting costs under current rules. The committee passed AB 2279 with a due pass as amended recommendation and re-referred it to Appropriations. The committee then heard AB 2041 by Assembly Member Carrillo, which would add existing dispatcher training requirements for pre-arrival medical instructions to the standards public safety agencies must meet to receive CETNA funding, without changing the funding amount or structure. Proponents, including emergency medical dispatch and ambulance representatives, argued the bill would help ensure consistent life-saving instructions for 911 callers. Opposition from CalNENA and a Riverside County Sheriff’s Office representative focused on the bill’s timing, since the underlying law from AB 645 does not take effect until 2027, and on concerns that withholding CETNA funds could harm PSAP operations. Members questioned where compliance gaps exist and whether education or other alternatives might work better. The committee ultimately passed AB 2041 with a due pass recommendation and re-referred it to the Committee on Emergency Management, with one member not voting at the time of the roll call. At the end of the hearing, the secretary completed roll calls on both measures after additional members arrived, confirming AB 2279 passed 9-0 and AB 2041 passed 8-0 with one not voting. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• development, connecting underserved communities to affordable services and delivering digital literacy programs
• help them set up a laptop giveaway to youth in the community, technically I can't do that under this program
• Our consortia, ironically, went to USDA and we got a grant from the Trump administration for twice as
• So that's also why we're asking for a little bit more money. $200,000 was a lot of money when this program
• asking is to be field reps again, like we used to be, where we would show up in the... ...when this program

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance