Transcript Highlights:

• Grant.
• Cindy Harley and Mark<00:02:44.239><c> Grant.</c> Mark Grant. Mark Grant.
• Grant.
• These grants have allowed me to get more involved in my community, as well as not get overwhelmed by
• </c> communities from your business community communities from your business community um<01:26:25.280

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> grant program. grant program.
• Small communities are competing against large cities with full-time grant writers and planning teams.
• And they are creating a shared data and grant system to help small communities compete for funding.
• . community. community.
• system to help shared data and grant system to help small<01:00:12.480><c> communities</c><01:00:12.960

Transcript Highlights:

• of the larger grants.
• of the larger grants.
• of the larger grants.
• of the larger grants.
• of the larger grants.

Bills: HF770 , HF857 , HF38 , HF1500 , HF43

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Just wondering whether the grants have been executed to get those needed projects into communities.
• You're able by this spring's construction season, those grants should be executed. communities that are
• . community. community.
• 01:09:40.080><c> help</c> straight grant program to help straight grant program to help communities<01
• Communities will know that someone is listening and we won't have to have community after community—

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:50.080><c> program</c> grant program grant program this<00:03:51.360><c> is</c><00:03:51.440><
• </c> kugmed grant kugmed grant the<00:08:24.879><c> problem</c><00:08:25.360><c> is</c><00:08:25.759>
• </c> begins in the early 2010s with community begins in the early 2010s with community members<00:10:
• </c> of our pels week grant of our pels week grant i<00:15:56.480><c> started</c><00:15:57.040><c> a<
• </c> awarding competitive grants awarding competitive grants the<01:14:32.800><c> grant</c><01:14:33.120

Committee: House Education Finance

Summary: The Education Finance Committee met remotely on February 16, 2022, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the previous day by voice vote. Chair Dabney said the committee was spending the week on public school staffing shortages, especially efforts to increase and retain BIPOC teachers, and introduced testimony on the Collaborative Urban and Greater Minnesota Educators of Color Grant Program (CUGMEC) and the broader Increasing Teachers of Color Act. Testifiers from St. Thomas, Augsburg, and Hopkins described the history and impact of the legacy educator-of-color programs. Kathleen Campbell said the original Q program was created to address underrepresentation, remove financial barriers, and provide mentorship and culturally relevant support; she argued that when the grant became competitive in 2017 without additional funding, support was spread too thin and student capacity dropped. Audrey Lensmeyer described Augsburg’s East African Student-to-Teacher Program, rooted in community advocacy in Cedar-Riverside, and said it has produced strong completion and licensure outcomes. Keenan Jones shared his path from paraprofessional to teacher and district leader, emphasizing the importance of scholarships, mentorship, and outreach to high school students, including a statewide co-enrollment Intro to Teaching course. Representative Hassan then presented House File 3079, saying the bill aims to attract, prepare, complete, and retain more teachers of color and American Indian teachers through several grant and program changes, including Closing the Educational Opportunity Gap grants, Cook Mac funding, teacher mentorship and retention updates, and revisions to CUGMEC. He said the bill responds to a severe shortage of BIPOC teachers and that the requested investment is small relative to the state surplus. Student and educator testimony followed, including a third-grade student from Crookston and Ava Roots, both of whom described the importance of having teachers who reflect students’ cultures and experiences. Natalia Benjamin, the 2021 Minnesota Teacher of the Year, also testified about retention challenges for educators of color and racialized workplace treatment. The committee indicated it intended to lay over HF 3079 for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill, and Representative Richardson moved the bill to be laid over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• our local communities.
• our local communities.
• for new grants.
• LCI's Extreme Heat and Community Resilience Program, we're requesting $24 million to make grants for
• We're creating culturally specific theater that reflects our community, and without the PAEPF grant,

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview from Go-Biz Director D.D. Myers on the administration’s economic development strategy, centered on the California Jobs First framework. Myers described regional planning across 13 regions, the Jobs First Council, and pilot sectors including ag-tech, space and defense, life sciences, and semiconductors. She also outlined budget requests for CalCompetes, CalExport, the California Film Commission, innovation/emerging technologies, and the California Civic Media Fund, along with the new California brand campaign. Committee members raised questions about misinformation about California, regulatory burdens, tourism versus broader economic messaging, and how the brand campaign would highlight underrepresented communities. No vote was taken; the item was informational. The committee then reviewed CalOSBA’s work on small business support, including California RISE, the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund, and TAP/SIP technical assistance and capital infusion programs. CalOSBA reported that California RISE’s first cohort awarded $16.9 million to 61 employment social enterprises, with growth in revenue, contracts, and jobs; the performing arts payroll fund paid all 100 recipients but was heavily oversubscribed; and TAP supported more than 112,000 businesses in the past year, helping leverage federal and local funds. Testimony from program partners emphasized the importance of small business counseling, community-based outreach, and support for arts organizations facing post-pandemic and AB 5-related cost pressures. Senators pressed for more data on long-term job retention, better outreach to smaller and ethnic media, and possible program changes to speed grants and stretch funding further. Finally, the committee heard Go-Biz’s request for additional staff and funding for the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program. Staff said the request would support application review, DEIA implementation, and data tracking. The Film Commission reported that about 147 productions had been approved and roughly 90% were opting into the new diversity provisions, with career pathways reporting to include demographic and participation data and a future report expected in 2027. Senators asked about accountability, apprenticeship and internship hours, and whether the program was producing real career pathways and inclusive hiring outcomes. The item remained informational, with no vote or action taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• in the grants area.
• TVC under Goal C provides effective administration... award grant funding to community non-profit organizations
• and Cultural District Grants.
• on the Arts (TCA), arts organization grants, and cultural district grants.
• The grant is a one-to-one matching grant that encourages private investment in the arts.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• These are the CASA grants.
• Grant number six is to Engaging Arkansas Communities.
• This federal grant is increased by $75,000, and it is to continue the Engaging Arkansas Communities program
• Next we have grants four through 11, and these are all for the area agencies on aging grants.
• Francis Community Services.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The committee met to review a supplemental agenda, procurement rule revisions, methods of finance, discretionary grants, contracts, and a member disclosure. The Office of State Procurement presented rule changes tied to 2025 legislative changes, including Act 782, with updates to sole-source definitions, unrealistic bids, protest requirements, debarment procedures, and recodification references; the committee voted to accept the supplemental agenda and approve the rules. Members also approved eight methods of finance covering university repairs, equipment replacement, property purchase, and capital projects, along with a large slate of discretionary grants for courts, health, DHS, historic preservation, and tobacco prevention programs. The committee then reviewed RFQs and six ratifications. The ratifications included a Workforce Connections payment to ACT WorkKeys, Department of Health costs from an ice-storm-related water leak, a large Department of Public Safety ratification for Motorola’s Arkansas Wireless Information Network upgrade, Veterans Affairs HVAC and medical-service payments, and a UA Little Rock painting contract. The Department of Public Safety ratification drew extended questioning about why the expired Motorola contract had not been renewed sooner and why the issue took months to reach the committee; agency officials said the project was bond-funded, had not been tracked in ASIS, and involved ongoing negotiations and system updates. Despite concerns, the committee approved the ratifications. Members also reviewed a long list of construction, intergovernmental, out-of-state, and in-state contracts, including numerous university, DHS, health, corrections, and state agency agreements. Several contracts were discussed in more detail, including an SAU custodial contract question about sales tax and transparency reporting, and Department of Corrections aerial application contracts for Tucker and Cummins farms, which officials said served separate facilities in different parts of the state. The committee approved the contract lists, reviewed reports, and accepted a disclosure from Representative Andrew Collins regarding his investment interest in a company leasing property to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• communities.
• The communities would apply for that Brownfield grant, and then any strings that apply would apply to
• that community that accepted that grant, correct?
• So, everything I've heard to this point has been grants and federal grants at that.
• Ready Community Program.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• Their struggles have also inspired other communities, including the Latino community, to fight for justice
• Our communities share stories.
• Grant Ward's, Sergeant Grant Ward's, legacy lives on in the deputies he mentored, the members he represented
• , the community he protected, and...
• The life and legacy of Sergeant Grant Ward.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the corrected journals, and then took up gubernatorial appointments. The chamber confirmed four reappointments to the Seismic Safety Commission: Deborah Garns, David Rabbit, Cindy Silva, and Vincent Wells. Each appointment was presented by Senator Grove, supported by colleagues, and approved by roll call votes; the first three were confirmed 37-0 after calls were lifted, and Wells was also confirmed 37-0. The Senate then adopted Senate Resolution 69, designating February as Montessori Month. Senator Niello described Montessori education’s history, California ties, and current teacher shortage and credentialing issues, while several members spoke in support. The resolution passed unanimously, 37-0, and the gallery included Montessori educators and students from the California Montessori Project. The major floor action was Senate Concurrent Resolution 122 honoring Black History Month and the centennial of Black history observances. Senator Weber Pearson and many colleagues from both parties spoke about Black history as American history, the legacy of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, and the need to protect truthful education and civil rights. After extensive remarks and a presentation of Black History Month “Unsung Hero” honorees in the gallery, the resolution was adopted unanimously, 37-0. The Senate also adjourned in memory of San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Sergeant Grant Ward and Reverend Jesse Lewis Jackson. Multiple senators offered tributes to Ward’s service, leadership, and family, and to Jackson’s civil rights legacy, coalition-building, and influence on voting rights, economic justice, and public service. The body announced its next session for Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 9 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's a grant program.
• Grants to arts organizations. These are grants that support operating support.
• In these grants, in a demand for these grants in recent years.
• with communities in their area.
• grants.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 83, this is the first of three decision items for Community Development Block Grant, known as
• That is not a grant. It says we'll fund a grant. So these are not a grant, or they are a grant?
• “It says we’ll fund a grant. So these are not a grant, or they are a grant?”
• Funds are granted to nonprofits in these communities that provide the assistance directly to individuals
• Funds are granted to nonprofits in these communities that provide the assistance directly to individuals

Summary: The House Budget Committee heard the Department of Economic Development’s fiscal year 2027 budget presentation, beginning with Director Michelle Hadaway and division leaders. The department emphasized that most of its budget is federally funded and walked through requests for regional engagement, international trade and investment offices, business recruitment and marketing, Delta Regional Authority dues, business and community solutions, tax increment financing, MODESA, DRPP, CDBG, disaster recovery, Missouri Main Street, AmeriCorps, Missouri One Start, the Missouri Technology Corporation, semiconductor and API reshoring efforts, SSBCI, and other economic development items. Members repeatedly asked about lapses, one-time appropriations, whether general revenue could be reduced or replaced with other funds, and how the department prioritizes federal and other non-GR sources. Several members also praised regional engagement, Missouri Partnership, and rural economic development efforts. A major portion of the discussion focused on specific one-time or performance-based projects. Members questioned the large GR transfer for TIFs and MODESA, the use of funds for the Urban League plaza renovation, the Northeast Missouri housing fund, the Highway MM corridor, and the Missouri Technology Corporation. Department witnesses explained that many of these amounts are based on projected performance or are tied to multi-year obligations, and that some unspent balances reflect project timing, federal reimbursement timing, or delayed construction. The committee also discussed the Missouri Main Street program, with staff explaining it supports both new and existing Main Street communities and can be adapted for county-wide models. The committee spent significant time on workforce and innovation programs. Missouri One Start described its customized training and upskilling programs, including a statutory fund switch to align with existing law, while members asked for more data on participation and impact. Missouri Technology Corporation explained that reduced funding last year limited some entrepreneur-support programs, and that its venture fund has leveraged state dollars into private capital and jobs. Members also discussed the API reshoring item and semiconductor funding, asking what the money would do, what companies would benefit, and how much federal leverage the state could expect. Witnesses said the API request supports a nonprofit center working with existing Missouri companies to reshore pharmaceutical production, while the semiconductor item is tied to federal matching opportunities that have moved slowly. The committee did not take final action on the budget during the portion of the hearing provided. The chair recessed the committee to go to session, stating that the hearing would resume afterward and that public testimony on House Bill 2007 would follow completion of the department presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this includes writing grants for community-based organizations that conduct medically accurate and
• community.
• community health education.
• community health education.
• I also serve as the Community Relations Manager at San Francisco Community Health Center.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health held an informational hearing on the Governor’s May Revision, focusing first on the Commission on Behavioral Health, then EMSA, and then the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The Department of Finance said the state faces a third consecutive deficit and that the May Revision includes difficult trade-offs, including proposed eliminations or reversions of some behavioral health and public health funds. The LAO echoed concern about the structural deficit and said it was still awaiting some budget details before offering a full analysis. For the Commission on Behavioral Health, Finance proposed eliminating $20 million in Mental Health Wellness Act funds, arguing the money would help offset General Fund costs and noting future Proposition 1 innovation funding. The commission strongly opposed the cut, saying it would eliminate or delay launch-ready grants for early childhood supports, full-service partnerships, and peer respite, and would eventually end ongoing grant programming. Several advocates and commissioners testified that the funds support underserved communities and that Proposition 1 is not a substitute for the existing programs. The chair asked Finance to look for alternatives, but no vote was taken. EMSA presented mostly technical budget adjustments: increased authority for the California Poison Control System, a correction to EMSIS funding, and a reappropriation for enterprise services and data management. CDPH then reviewed a broader set of May Revision proposals, including reversions from the California Reducing Disparities Project, workforce development, STD prevention, hepatitis C prevention, hospice, and extreme heat funding, as well as a new generative AI pilot for health facility survey reporting. Members raised concerns about cuts to CRDP and gender health equity programs, especially because many grants are mid-contract and serve underserved communities; CDPH said the reversions were part of solving the deficit and that CRDP had been successful, while also clarifying that abortion.ca.gov would not be eliminated. Public comment was overwhelmingly opposed to the CRDP and related cuts, with many speakers describing the programs as life-saving and cost-effective. No formal votes or actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were launching the $1.5 million we just granted out to communities all across New Mexico for violence
• Then we have cooperative marketing grants that we work with communities to say, "Okay, you've heard of
• Out of that $200,000, we granted $145,000 as grants.
• This program is specifically funded by the Community Service Block Grant as well as private donations
• and grants.

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• And when you say grant, are you referring to the CDBG grant? Yes. Okay.
• to match a grant.
• That is not a grant.” “Yes. Correct. That is not a grant. It says we’ll fund a grant.
• So these are not a grant, or they are a grant?”
• Finally, Funds are granted to non-profits in these communities that provide the assistance directly to

Committee: House Budget

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> specified grant for disaster recovery. specified grant for disaster recovery.
• . communities. communities.
• we needed to add a specific grants manager, grant writer to our staff.
• ><c> reporting,</c><00:58:50.000><c> the</c> grant writing, the grant reporting, the grant writing, the
• There's a lot of local grants. centers. There's a lot of local grants.

Summary: The subcommittee heard presentations from the Legal Aid Network of Kentucky, including Legal Aid of the Bluegrass, Kentucky Legal Aid, AppalRed Legal Aid, and the Legal Aid Society in Louisville. The presenters explained that the four nonprofit programs provide civil legal services in all 120 counties, focusing on low-income clients and matters such as domestic violence, family law, housing, expungement, public benefits, and veterans’ issues. They emphasized that they do not handle criminal defense cases and described statewide efforts such as the kyjustice.org website and Project Renew, which helps people in recovery with legal issues that affect stability, employment, housing, and family reunification. Each organization highlighted regional service challenges and examples of casework. Legal Aid of the Bluegrass described its 33-county service area, its mobile “justice bus,” and expungement work for people in recovery. Kentucky Legal Aid focused on disaster response after the December 2021 tornadoes, including insurance disputes and contractor fraud, and said it has continued to handle repeated FEMA-declared disasters. AppalRed described serving 37 rural counties with limited attorneys, the shortage of lawyers in “rural legal deserts,” and its disaster-response work after flooding and tornadoes, including FEMA appeals clinics and volunteer attorney support. The Legal Aid Society described its Louisville-area veteran services, including Social Security and VA disability cases, veterans treatment court referrals, and homeless outreach. Committee members praised the organizations’ work and noted the importance of their services. In response to questions about funding, the presenters said their support comes from a mix of Legal Services Corporation funds, state appropriations, federal grants such as VOCA, VAWA, and HUD, United Way, and foundation funding. They stressed that many grants are restricted, while state funding is more flexible and useful for emergencies and day-to-day operations. The presenters said current funding does not fully meet demand and requested an increase in the General Assembly’s appropriation from $500,000 per year to $1 million per year, or $2 million over the biennium.

Transcript Highlights:

• And 80% of them come from community colleges.
• Let's just add more to the Cal Grant, add more to the Cal Grant, and leave behind the core funding, excuse
• Let's just add more to the Cal Grant, add more to the Cal Grant, and leave behind the core funding, excuse
• Increasing supplemental grant funding and expanding concentration grant eligibility, plus the introduction
• The community college board, I was vice president of the community college as well.

Summary: The committee first heard AB 402, which would increase Cal Grant award amounts for students attending private nonprofit colleges and extend transfer entitlement eligibility to those institutions. The author and supporters argued the bill would improve affordability and access for low- and middle-income, working, military, and transfer students, while some senators emphasized the need to pair any increase with broader Cal Grant reform and funding. The bill drew support from private nonprofit universities, community college districts, and student advocates, and no opposition was presented. It passed on a due pass motion to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. The committee then took up AB 2067, a sunset extension for the competitive lease-lease-back process for TK-12 school construction through July 1, 2032. Supporters from school facilities groups, school districts, and contractors said the method provides flexibility, early contractor involvement, cost control, and legal certainty for school construction projects. Some senators questioned how often the method is used and raised concerns about the bill’s skilled-and-trained workforce provisions, with one senator opposing on the grounds that such requirements limit contractor participation. The bill passed on a due pass motion and was placed on call. Next, AB 1204 proposed changes to the Local Control Funding Formula, including a lower concentration-grant threshold, regional cost adjustments, a minimum annual COLA, and other equity-focused revisions. Supporters said the bill would better reflect regional costs and student need, while opponents—especially several school district leaders—argued it would shift money away from the base grant, widen disparities, and create new fiscal cliffs. Committee members raised concerns about the scale of the rewrite, the lack of a broader funding strategy, and the proposed 4% COLA guarantee, though the author said the bill was intended as a phased update to improve equity. The bill was supported by the chair and several members, then passed on a due pass motion to Appropriations and was placed on call. Finally, the committee heard AB 1235, which would require a skilled-and-trained workforce process for CSU design-build projects. Supporters said it would align CSU with other segments and promote quality training, while opposition from contractor groups argued it would add liability, reduce competition, and increase costs without evidence of better outcomes. Senators again focused on the effect of skilled-and-trained requirements on contractor participation, with one member stating opposition to limiting who can work in California and another noting the bill’s broader policy implications. The transcript ends during committee discussion of AB 1235, without a recorded final vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first one, C1, is $9,000 from Community Health, Community Mental Health.
• Community Mental Health Block Grant, and the last one is $23,000 from the Older Americans Act grant.
• They have a grant from the U.S.
• Community corrections seeks 3.3 million.
• Jay is discretionary grants. There are three agencies. The first one is J is discretionary grants.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Summary: The committee considered and approved several temporary appropriation requests in Section B, including spending authority for the Court of Appeals to pay appointed counsel in criminal appeals, Commerce/Aeronautics airport and aviation grants, and Insurance Department items for workers’ compensation benefits and premium tax refunds. It also approved ARPA-related requests in Section C to return unused federal funds from DHS aging, mental health, substance abuse, and Older Americans Act grants. In Section D, the committee reviewed and approved Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests, including Agriculture grants for wildfire preparedness and forestry capacity, a large Commerce broadband BEAD request, environmental recycling-related reallocations, and Oil and Gas Commission grants for facility repairs and sample preservation. Members questioned the broadband program’s audit process and performance safeguards; the State Broadband Director said the funds are federal, subject to audits, and payments are released only after engineering certification of completed work. The committee also approved DHS reallocations in Section E, including major transfers within Medical Services from hospital medical appropriations to private and public nursing home lines, as well as transfers for children and family services, developmental disabilities, and youth services. The committee then reviewed cash fund requests, miscellaneous federal grants, pay plan and performance fund transfers, methods of finance, and a large set of contracts. A Northwest Arkansas Community College official explained storm-damage repairs and insurance settlement issues, and DHS explained its hospital medical transfer was moving excess appropriation rather than cash. Members also questioned several UAPB tobacco prevention subgrants, especially arts-based outreach, and asked for more data on effectiveness; the committee later voted to expunge and re-refer the J-2 item for further review at a later ALC meeting. Additional discussion covered a DEQ grant to Free Geek of Arkansas for e-waste recycling, a UAPB tobacco program, and various contracts for universities, DHS services, corrections, and public safety. The meeting ended with reports filed for information and a brief member comment thanking others for concern after a tornado in Stone County; no one was injured.

Transcript Highlights:

• One of them being the Community Services Block Grant, and we can advance as quickly as you like.
• The Community Development, the Community Service, I'm sorry, Community Services Block Grant.
• The Community Services Block Grant is fantastic because, as I said, it is federal money administered
• One of them being the Community Services Block Grant, and we can advance as quickly as you like.
• The Community Development, the Community Service, I'm sorry, Community Services Block Grant.

Summary: The committee first laid over SB 1101 and SB 1813, then heard and advanced SB 1966 and SB 80. SB 1966, presented by Chairman Johns, was amended with a PCS to incorporate the House’s Memorial Roads and Bridges language after a House-Senate coordination issue; the committee adopted the PCS and passed the bill out unanimously, 9-0. SB 80, presented by Representative Clay Staires, was also amended with a PCS and described as a cleanup bill removing several outdated turnpike provisions; members noted it reflected a negotiated consensus, and it passed unanimously, 11-0. After the bill votes, the committee received a required informational presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce on the federal Community Services Block Grant (CSBG). Director Marshall Votes explained that Commerce administers the grant, keeps 5% for oversight, and passes 90% to 17 community action agencies serving all 77 counties. He said the program currently manages about $8.9 million, served about 33,000 low-income families last year, and leverages that funding into more than $250 million in broader community impact through services such as employment support, housing, transportation, education, health, and childcare. Members asked about Commerce staffing and oversight, and Votes said a small team of a few employees handles planning, monitoring, training, and compliance for CSBG alongside other programs. Committee members thanked Commerce for its work and emphasized the importance of the program for rural communities and all 77 counties. The meeting ended with expressions of appreciation and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tuition equalization grants funding is $203,800,000, and for the two TOG programs, TOG for community
• Community Colleges, TOG for State and Technical Colleges, and the Tuition Equalization Grant Program
• , Tuition Equalization Grants, TOG Community Colleges, TOG State and Technical Colleges, Texas Leadership
• Only 3% of the students that transfer from a community college to a university receive the Texas grant
• We really see this as community-led and community-driven.

Bills: SB1 , SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance