Transcript Highlights:

• But some areas of the state are in a radar gap.
• The effort to improve public safety by closing the gap. That's all coming up.
• As of now, the human services finance bill is still being reviewed in a working group where senators
• As of now, the human services<00:13:35.839> finance<00:13:36.320> bill<00:13:36.639>
• That's kind of a prime spot right within that gap to do that.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Current funding challenges and training gaps hinder sustainability and effectiveness.
• To address these gaps, initiatives must prioritize culturally competent care, data-driven strategies,
• In this study, we examine state-level policies across the U.S. to identify existing legislation and gaps
• I do think that with a new general ledger format, new CWIS modules, finance modules that are coming in
• It's definitely something we could consider as we complete the CWIS finance modules.

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from Dr. Kelly O’Dare on first responder behavioral health access, peer support, and suicide prevention. She described UCF Restores, the Second Alarm Project, and related partnerships that provide culturally competent treatment, peer training, clinician education, disaster response support, and behavioral health navigation. She cited survey and state data showing significant rates of sleep problems, anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicide among Florida first responders, and said evidence-based treatment has helped many patients recover, including a reported 76% who no longer met PTSD diagnostic criteria after treatment. Senators asked about measuring outcomes, peer support standards, and whether the state should create more consistent statewide requirements; O’Dare said peer support training must be specialized, linked to higher levels of care, and supported by sustainable funding and statewide coordination. The committee also heard from a public commenter who supported the work and emphasized the need for adequate resources and peer support infrastructure. The committee then received a Department of Children and Families presentation from Casey Penn on the proposed funding methodology for community-based care lead agencies under HB 7089. Penn explained that the new model is intended to be actuarially based, reimbursement-oriented, and more transparent than prior funding approaches, using historical expenditures, standardized reporting, and two main tiers: Tier 1 for largely fixed administrative and operational costs, and Tier 2 for direct child-serving costs based on per-child-per-month blended rates. He said the model includes a 2% risk corridor for Tier 2, hold-harmless funding in the first year, and optional Tier 3 performance incentives, with an estimated additional state appropriation need after offsets. Senators raised concerns about prevention, historical inequities, reasonableness of costs, administrative overhead, blended state and federal funds, adoption subsidies, high-acuity placements, and disaster-related disruptions. Penn said some of those issues could be addressed in future iterations as the child welfare information system is modernized, and he agreed to provide written responses to committee questions. Representatives of the Florida Coalition for Children and CBCs responded that the model is a major improvement but urged additional safeguards, including an administrative cap, clearer separation of direct and indirect costs, and better treatment of federal and pass-through funds. They argued that the system already has oversight and that deficits reflect insufficient appropriations rather than excess spending, while also noting that higher-acuity children and regional differences can drive costs. No votes were taken on either topic, and the meeting ended with committee staff introductions and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• One major gap is the 55% threshold for concentration grants.
• : race itself, instead of being blinded by the realities of such gaps.
• It addresses a real gap in how California builds educational facilities.
• It's not going to entirely eliminate them, but to try to. ...cover some of those gaps.
• It's not going to entirely eliminate them, but to try to reduce the gap.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard AB 402, which would increase Cal Grant award amounts for students attending private nonprofit colleges and allow community college transfer entitlement awards to be used at those institutions. The author and supporters said the bill would restore award levels to their 2001 value and improve access for low- and middle-income, working, military, and transfer students. Several witnesses from private nonprofit universities, community college districts, and advocacy groups supported the measure. Senators raised concerns about the prior Cal Grant agreement tied to Associate Degree for Transfer participation and about the need to fund broader Cal Grant reforms, but the bill advanced on a unanimous due-pass vote to Senate Appropriations and was placed on call. The committee then took up AB 2067, a sunset extension for lease-lease-back authority for TK-12 school construction through July 1, 2032. The author and supporters from school housing and contractor groups said the method provides flexibility, early collaboration, cost control, and legal certainty for school construction projects. Senators asked how often lease-lease-back and other alternative delivery methods are used, and whether the skilled-and-trained workforce provisions limit competition. Some members objected to the skilled-and-trained requirement, while others said the bill simply preserves an existing tool without changing labor rules. The bill passed on a 6-1 vote, with Senator Ochoa Bogh voting no, and was placed on call. AB 1204, which would revise the Local Control Funding Formula by increasing supplemental and concentration grants, lowering the concentration threshold, adding regional cost adjustments, and setting a minimum annual COLA floor, drew extensive testimony on both sides. Supporters said the bill better reflects regional costs, inflation, and student need, especially for low-income, multilingual, and unhoused students. Opponents, including several school district leaders, argued it would widen funding disparities and divert money from the LCFF base grant, which they said should be the priority. Committee members also questioned the fiscal impact, the proposed 4% COLA floor, and whether the bill had enough research and stakeholder consensus. Despite those concerns, the bill was advanced to Appropriations on a due-pass vote and placed on call. Finally, the committee heard AB 1235, which would require a skilled-and-trained workforce process for CSU design-build projects to align CSU with UC and community college construction rules. Supporters said it would improve training and project quality, while opponents from contractor groups argued it would reduce competition, increase costs, and impose mandates without evidence of better outcomes. Several senators objected to the skilled-and-trained requirement as limiting opportunities for contractors who comply with state law, while others noted the issue was already common in higher education construction. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final vote on AB 1235 was captured.

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to today's Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Education Finance.
• Jody Lieberman with the Department of Finance.
• I think this comes down to, sorry, Liz Mine, Department of Finance.
• Hello again, Jody Lieberman with the Department of Finance.
• This is Jody Lieberman, Department of Finance.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance heard an extended discussion on state efforts to recruit, prepare, and retain teachers, with a focus on whether current programs are sustainable and well targeted. Testimony from the Learning Policy Institute, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the Department of Education, and the Legislative Analyst’s Office described persistent shortages, especially in special education, math, science, bilingual education, and high-need schools. Speakers emphasized that residency programs, Golden State Teacher Grants, National Board incentives, classified employee pathways, and undergraduate teacher pipelines have helped increase preparation and retention, but many of these efforts rely on one-time funding and lack long-term certainty. Committee members repeatedly raised concerns about the “leaky pipeline,” working conditions, the burden of student debt, and whether the state should simplify and institutionalize support for aspiring teachers rather than rely on a patchwork of grants. The agencies presented data showing continuing shortages and uneven distribution of fully credentialed teachers. CTC reported projected hiring needs of roughly 20,000 to 25,000 teachers annually, with the highest needs in self-contained classrooms, special education, and certain regions of the state. It also noted that emergency permits, waivers, and intern credentials remain high, and that teachers entering through those routes have higher turnover. LPI cited research showing residency-prepared teachers are more effective and more likely to stay, and argued that Golden State Teacher Grants attract candidates who might not otherwise enter teaching and help them complete preparation. CDE stressed that most new demand comes from attrition and urged support for multiple entry points, tuition assistance, and campus-based coursework. Several members also discussed the role of community college pathways, dual credentialing, and support for school leaders as part of retention. The LAO recommended rejecting the educator pipeline proposals under discussion, citing limited evidence of effectiveness and suggesting that any new spending should be more narrowly targeted to the highest-need schools and long-standing shortage subjects. The LAO also said that if the Legislature funds new programs this year, Proposition 98 would be preferable given the state’s fiscal condition. Committee members pushed back on the idea that declining enrollment or layoffs would solve shortages, noting that shortages and layoffs can coexist in different subject areas and regions. The discussion ended with agreement that staff would continue working with agencies on how to make teacher pipeline investments more consistent, coherent, and easier for candidates to navigate. The committee then turned to the Golden State Teacher Grant Program. Finance proposed $50 million in one-time General Fund support to extend the program for one additional year, while the LAO recommended rejecting the proposal because the first CSAC evaluation is not due until later in the year and because the funding would be non-Proposition 98. CSAC supported the extension, saying demand has been strong, over 20,000 aspiring educators have been served since 2021, and the agency had to pause applications after receiving more than 9,200 this year; it also said more than 2,500 candidates had already expressed interest for next year. Members asked how many students the new funding would serve, and CSAC estimated just under 5,000 awards at $10,000 each. The discussion also covered whether the grant could be moved into Proposition 98 and how the one-time nature of the funding affects confidence among prospective teachers.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:01.480> Agency Housing Finance Agency Housing Finance Agency so<00:05:03.400> that
• We've heard all session and for years that this is a huge gap. The deals don't pencil out.
• This provides gap financing and ways to make sure that we're building that critical workforce housing
• For years that this is a huge gap. The deals don't pencil out.
• This provides gap financing and ways to make sure that we're building that critical workforce housing

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Finance. Finance. Thank<00:03:16.400> you.
• So, the success of that project is working with the state on that gap funding.
• And I the state on that gap funding.
• speed me up so I can get to finance. speed me up so I can get to finance.
• <02:04:11.120> state online with finance and state online with finance and state transportation

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of Finance.
• Liz Nye with the Department of Finance.
• Do you have anything to add, Finance?
• Alex Anaya of the Department of Finance.
• Patrick Rochelle with the Department of Finance.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And she went to six different banks and they all told her that they couldn't get her the financing that
• to to do so have access to the financing to to do so have access to the capital<00:04:10.159> they
• that they couldn't get her the financing that they couldn't get her the financing that<00:05:15.600
• <00:05:18.880> through<00:05:19.120> the financing about $1.8 million through the financing
• It's an entrepreneur that does all of that, but this program gets her and entrepreneurs the financing

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 2360, as amended by H.F. 2360A1, which would create a state-level New Markets Tax Credit-style program modeled on the federal program. Chair Swedzinski explained that the bill is intended to drive investment across Minnesota, including a requirement that at least 50% of the $200 million allocation be directed to greater Minnesota, and noted that the program would run for 12 months with state oversight to help guide investments. Testimony in support came from Alex Stuponic of Advantage Capital and Jason Wabama of Advanced Machine Guarding Solutions in Hibbing. Stuponic described the federal New Markets program as a tool for directing capital to low-income and underserved communities, cited Minnesota projects that have already benefited from federal funding, and argued that state programs in other states have successfully attracted more investment. Wabama said the credit could help rural businesses like his expand, noting that his Hibbing company has grown from one employee in 2021 to 22 employees and hopes to reach 50 employees while eventually becoming an ESOP. Chair Gomez raised concerns about the bill’s changes, especially the set-aside of half the funds for one region and the five-year carryforward, saying the proposal seemed arbitrary and more permissive and that there was likely not room in the budget for the $100 million cost this year. In response, Swedzinski said the fiscal note pushes costs into future years, with the first costs beginning in 2028-2029, and emphasized that the structure would allow the investment benefits to occur upfront. The amendment was adopted, and the bill, as amended, was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• I look forward to working with you all on policies that close equity gaps, driving inclusive economic
• It's our mission to build wealth and close the racial wealth gap, and the research shows, as well as
• worker-owned businesses, directing capital assistance to those who need it most to narrow the capital gap
• This bill would create bridge loans and financing to advance payments to lenders that are already supporting
• overwhelming percentage of AAPI businesses relied on personal funds, not banks or public programs, to finance

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held its second hearing of the session, with Chairs Gómez and Vargas opening by emphasizing the committee’s focus on equity, small business growth, and support for communities that have historically been overlooked. Several members noted the historic nature of having two Latino chairs. The hearing covered a package of bills centered on access to capital, transparency in state assistance, commercial tenant protections, downtown revitalization, and business improvement district administration. Testimony was largely supportive of bills aimed at helping micro-businesses, small businesses, and disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Beckma, the Asian Business Empowerment Council, a minority- and woman-owned business owner, and a worker-owned Springfield business all backed measures including S. 179 and H. 312/S. 184, which would prioritize capital assistance and require reporting on where state business aid goes. Witnesses said transparency, upfront payments on state contracts, and better data collection could help businesses that struggle with delayed reimbursements, limited reserves, and difficulty accessing traditional financing. The Metropolitan Area Planning Council supported S. 173, which would dedicate a portion of sales tax revenue to a downtown vitality fund for district management, cultural districts, and downtown infrastructure, and said the bill could help sustain downtowns and prevent cultural displacement. There was also testimony on H. 306, a commercial tenant first right of refusal bill, with Beckma supporting it as a way to help small tenants stay in their locations, while the Greater Boston Real Estate Board opposed it, arguing it would add cost, delay, uncertainty, and could reduce property values and the commercial tax base. The board supported H. 305, a housing bill that would expand by-right multifamily and open-space residential development while preserving local zoning protections. Andre Leroux of MassINC also supported S. 173 and H. 299, the latter proposing longer BID renewal periods and audit requirements aligned with nonprofit standards. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after public testimony and questions, with the chair closing testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will the Senate Committee on Finance come to order.
• Wanna thank you all for the opportunity, uh, Chairwoman Huffman, to, uh, address the Finance Committee
• We're listening, Madam Chair, members of the Senate Finance Committee.
• It was heard in Senate Finance on May 14th.
• So the Senate Committee on Finance will stand a recess. I call the chair.

Bills: HB104

Keywords: property tax, ad valorem tax, tax rate election, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, de minimis rate, local government, special district, tax increase, tax notice, public hearing, tax code, Health and Safety Code, Texas property taxes, taxing unit, election threshold, two-thirds vote, majority vote, budget approval

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, my name again is Ismaya Torres, the chief economist for the Legislative Finance Committee, um, and
• And you can see the gap between the black and the green represents what is available for non-recurring
• So you can see that there's a large gap there, especially in the most recent years, that's where that
• But you know, maybe we don't want that gap to grow.
• You can see in the out years that gap begins to grow.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to say again, the Mortgage Finance Authority folks were really awesome.
• You go to New Mexico Finance Authority.
• It really was meaningful to see the powerful impact that N.M.F.A. financing has, and then seeing the
• That we had determined very early on was needed in order to effectively distribute the financing and
• It's unanimous every year, I believe, out of Senate Finance. It was dropped.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, he has about his finances.
• > reminded<01:30:22.320> us again, the finance chair reminded us again, the finance chair
• Yes, it is important for people to take responsibility for their finances.
• We are talking about their finances.
• > Secret<02:12:39.199> Shopper Finance conducted a Secret Shopper Finance conducted a Secret

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The meeting included routine floor business, announcements, and several committee notices, followed by consideration of resolutions and third-reading votes on multiple bills. Members also recognized visiting groups, including North Glenn High School students, NFIB members for Small Business Day at the Capitol, Parker Day participants, and advocates for intellectual and developmental disabilities. A resolution honoring Youth Mental Health Action Day was taken up and adopted 62-0, with sponsors emphasizing the shortage of mental health services in many Colorado counties and the need to support children’s mental health. The House then passed several bills on third reading. House Bill 1189, concerning property held by a community property spouse under the Uniform Community Property Disposition at Death Act, passed 61-1. House Bill 1039, concerning requirements for municipal jails, passed 46-16. House Bill 1044, aimed at improving equity in maternal health, passed 49-13. House Bill 1135, increasing transparency about chemicals used in certain hair products, passed 42-20. House Bill 1134, addressing conditions for municipal court defendants, passed 43-19. House Bill 1113, concerning modifications to election laws, passed 41-22. The House also heard a lengthy debate on House Bill 1110, which would allow financial institutions to place temporary holds on suspicious transactions involving vulnerable adults and provide related protections. Supporters said the bill would help prevent elder financial exploitation and give banks and credit unions tools to intervene. Opponents argued the bill’s liability protections for financial institutions were too broad and could weaken protections for victims. Representative Garcia offered amendment L007 to strike the immunity provision, and several members spoke for and against the amendment, but the transcript cuts off before any vote on the amendment or final action on the bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that is having ripple effects through everyone in public finance and frankly private finance too.
• finance and frankly private finance too. finance and frankly private finance too.
• <01:19:19.520> certain were open to ways of financing certain were open to ways of financing
• <02:14:59.199> So, management of its finances. So, management of its finances.
• parody gap between the ethnic councils. parody gap between the ethnic councils.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Department of Finance. Good morning, Tamara Weber, Department of Finance.
• Department of Finance.
• Department of Finance.
• Department of Finance.
• Department of Finance? Yeah, I'm on Department of Finance.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I can go to the corporations to find things to help fill those gaps.
• the platforms that our legislators have by bringing attention that these nonprofits are filling the gaps
• I'm the Vice President of Community Engagement for Nonprofit Finance Fund.
• This supports critical organizational needs for them, such as finance, compliance, legal, IT, HR, and
• If we are focused and forced to drain our limited cash reserves to cover the gaps, we are left with no

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly select committee hearing focused on the challenges facing California nonprofits in 2025 and possible state responses. Opening remarks emphasized the sector’s size and importance, the impact of federal funding disruptions and tax policy changes, and the need for stronger public-private partnerships, especially in disaster response and recovery. Witnesses from community foundations, food banks, Cal OES, long-term recovery groups, CalNonprofits, and nonprofit finance organizations described funding uncertainty, delayed reimbursements, reduced indirect cost coverage, staffing strain, and the effects of climate disasters and immigration-related fear on service delivery. Testimony highlighted several policy ideas, including advance payments for state grants and contracts, prompt payment standards, sustainable indirect cost rates, contract flexibility in emergencies, streamlined registration and reporting, and a possible new Office of Nonprofit Empowerment to serve as a central point of contact and coordination within state government. Speakers also described how nonprofits and VOAD networks support wildfire response and long-term recovery, but noted that recovery groups often lack stable operating funding even when they are recognized as best practice. A food bank leader described federal food aid cuts and disruptions to deliveries, while other witnesses stressed that nonprofits are increasingly forced to use reserves, loans, or service reductions to manage cash flow gaps. Committee members generally expressed support for the sector and asked how the state could better partner with nonprofits during both disasters and budget crises. Several members raised the possibility of incremental steps if full legislative changes are not immediately feasible, and witnesses suggested pilots, better sharing of best practices, and stronger state leadership on payment timelines. Public commenters echoed the need for better contracting practices, support for community-based organizations, and attention to nonprofit worker compensation and protections. No formal votes or committee actions were taken in the hearing, which concluded with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1052 addresses an important gap in Texas law regarding telemedicine services.
• HB 1052 closes this gap. This bill clarifies two things.
• That's the gap in coverage right now that doesn't exist, but it's also the other way around.
• It's just there's a sort of gap in the insurance law in that. Okay, thanks. Any other questions?
• , but at the same time, protect the finances in the pocketbook of the people we represent—the people

Bills: HB854, HB 1052, HB1642, HB2076, HB3042, HB3695, HB3787, HB4062, HB4092, SB213, SB493, SB896, HB5519, HB4635

Keywords: insurance, replacement cost, homeowner's policy, renter's policy, condominium insurance, property damage, claims process, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health benefit plan, insurance coverage, out-of-state services, anxiety, pain management, contraceptive devices, women's health, medical procedures, healthcare, laboratory

Transcript Highlights:

• thank you for this opportunity finance thank you for this opportunity to<00:06:41.160> present
• <00:23:13.720> director Staff Sarah Blain our finance director Staff Sarah Blain our finance
• of our Enterprise funds using that Gap of our Enterprise funds using that Gap Solid<00:29:01.880
• We get the EMS request because there's that big gap right in it.
• We get the EMS request because there's that big gap right in it.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Finance. Today is public testimony. Madam Secretary, will you call the roll? Senator Womack. Here.
• Good afternoon, Finance Committee. Thank you for letting me speak this afternoon.
• Thank you for the opportunity to speak before the Senate Finance Committee.
• The question before the Senate Finance Committee is this.
• I'm glad we're managing our finances fiscally responsibly.

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I call to order the House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee.
• :25.840> and<00:21:25.919> 471895, because of the GAP and 471895, because of the GAP and
• <00:33:33.919> So, gap that we saw in this. So, gap that we saw in this.
• There's no, you know, campaign finance activity for the retention.
• um you know campaign finance um you know campaign finance >> activity<01:09:46.400> for

Bills: HF1667, HF2526, HF68

Keywords: correctional fees, supervision fees, probation, Department of Corrections, criminal justice funding, electronic home monitoring, drug testing, restitution collection, community service work, postprison supervision, court-ordered services, fee sunset, fee phaseout, offender fees, community corrections, supervised individuals, 1183, house