Transcript Highlights:

• We continue to underinvest in services for people with disabilities, balancing budgets on their backs
• public buildings, and helping stability public buildings, and helping stability for<00:03:57.960
• balancing for people with disabilities, balancing for people with disabilities, balancing budgets
• <00:05:09.680> These<00:05:09.919> are budgets on their backs.
• These are budgets on their backs. These are bipartisan<00:05:11.000> issues.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Reyer delivered a farewell floor speech as she prepared to move to the Senate, thanking House staff, colleagues on both sides of the aisle, her predecessors Laurie Halverson and Sandy Meehan, her constituents, family, caucus, and the “Corona class.” She reflected on entering the House during early COVID, after George Floyd’s murder and amid wildfire smoke, and said her constituents sent her to fight for justice, affordable health care, and a future where Minnesotans can afford their lives. She highlighted policy accomplishments she said were often bipartisan, including medical debt and garnishment reform, treatment access for children with rare diseases, support for Medicaid dental care, housing and bonding funding, solar on public buildings, and stability for soil and water conservation districts. She also pointed to disappointments, saying the House had seen health care stripped from immigrant neighbors, duplicate health plans, families left without needed home care, underinvestment in disability services, and no Republican support for protecting people from future ICE incursions. Reyer closed by calling for protection of human rights, including for queer and trans people, reproductive rights, immigrants, tribal sovereignty, and voting rights, and urged members to listen to one another, honor agreements, reject divisiveness, and govern with compassion. She also thanked Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman for her leadership. The transcript does not indicate any vote or formal action taken during the speech.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and family stability.
• And we have a budget crisis. Thank you.
• Additionally, the bill would require the council to develop policy proposals and budget requests for
• And budget requests for the Legislature to consider related to facility needs and workforce needs and
• Survivors should not have to choose between public safety and economic stability.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard a long agenda of bills focused largely on child welfare, foster care, child care, CalWORKs, mandated reporting, and public benefits. Early items included AB 890, which would ease county transfer rules for nonminor dependents in extended foster care; AB 461, which would replace punitive truancy-related penalties with supportive services for families; and AB 753, which would create an interim associate teacher pathway to help address the child care workforce shortage. Testimony on these bills emphasized barriers faced by foster youth, low-income families, and child care providers, and members expressed support for the general policy direction. The committee also heard AB 926 on foster care visitation, AB 563 on early childhood planning and reporting, AB 601 on standardized mandated reporter training, AB 1074 on CalWORKs reunification aid, AB 822 extending the Commission on the State of Hate, AB 970 creating a Los Angeles County mandated reporter pilot, AB 1161 protecting public benefits during disasters, AB 1172 allowing trained staff to administer emergency seizure medication in community care settings, and AB 363 expanding CalWORKs student supports and work-study. Witnesses generally supported these measures as ways to reduce trauma, improve reunification, modernize reporting and training, and expand access to services. County welfare and child welfare groups, advocacy organizations, and providers largely testified in support, while some bills drew concerns from county representatives about implementation or needed amendments. Several bills were voted out of committee, often unanimously and sometimes as amended, including AB 926, AB 563, AB 601, AB 1074, AB 822, AB 970, AB 1161, and AB 1172; AB 1172 was reported on call. The committee also took up consent items and later voted on subcommittee-held bills AB 461, AB 753, and AB 890, leaving them on call. At the end of the hearing, the committee heard AB 1211, which would protect CalFresh benefits from federal cuts and require a feasibility study on increasing benefits and eligibility; testimony stressed rising food insecurity and the economic importance of food assistance, but the transcript ends before a final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know how that what they do, what they work with, and also to understand their budget.
• And then for our budget, we do have a very robust budget for a community of our size.
• So those are the major pieces of where our budget goes to.
• to pardon the pun, to smooth the road, so that economic stability is maintained.
• , benefits, operating budget.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um last budget session was Absolutely.
• Minnesota supply chain to help stabilize Minnesota supply chain to help stabilize and<00:49:10.319
• received previous uh jobs budget received previous uh jobs budget funding.<01:09:46.560> Thank
• People can't stay sober if stability.
• and it can provide a path to stability. and it can provide a path to stability.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our operating budget is about how much?
• budget would be helpful also. budget would be helpful also. Understood.<01:48:47.280> Okay.
• <01:55:40.719> and We have the Department of Budget and We have the Department of Budget and
• <03:14:24.560> them<03:14:24.720> to stabilize families and allow them to stabilize
• judiciary's budget. Mahalo. Thank you. judiciary's budget. Mahalo. Thank you.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• About 4% of the plan's budget is administrative and operational overhead; 96% of the RFK plan's budget
• This bill will not actually change rates that would need to be considered in the budget process, but
• This bill will not actually change rates that would need to be considered in the budget process, but
• needs met outside an institution, it also saves the same. that would need to be considered in the budget
• expanding the HCBA waiver is not only the right thing to do, but it is the smart thing to do from a budget

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee met on March 25, 2025, with Chair Mia Bonta presiding and initially operating as a subcommittee until quorum was established. The committee heard several health-related bills, including AB 73 on creating a Black Mental Health Navigator certification, AB 499 on lowering the state reimbursement trigger for the Robert F. Kennedy Farm Workers Medical Plan, AB 843 on aligning California health insurance language-access rules with federal standards, AB 257 on a specialty care network using telehealth and virtual services for Medi-Cal and underserved communities, AB 64 on allowing diacritical marks on vital records, AB 315 on the Home and Community-Based Alternatives waiver, and AB 40 on clarifying that emergency services include reproductive health services such as abortion. Testimony generally emphasized disparities in access, culturally competent care, language access, rural provider shortages, and the importance of preserving or expanding programs that help vulnerable populations. Supporters included authors, state and local health organizations, advocacy groups, and affected individuals. AB 73 was backed as a way to address stigma, mistrust, and culturally competent mental health access for Black Californians. AB 499 was described as helping keep a self-insured farmworker health plan operational while maintaining a low-cost, labor-management model. AB 843 was supported as a way to prevent children and families from having to translate sensitive medical and insurance information and to protect limited-English-proficient Californians. AB 257 drew support as a demonstration project to improve specialty care access through California-based clinicians and virtual care, with examples of reduced wait times and costs. AB 64 received emotional testimony from the author, a child and his family, and others about the importance of accurately recording names with accents and other marks. AB 315 was presented as a cost-neutral or cost-saving way to expand home- and community-based care for medically fragile people, with strong support from disability, health, and provider groups. AB 40 drew support from reproductive health and medical organizations, while one opposition witness argued it could conflict with emergency care standards and overburden emergency departments. The committee took roll-call votes and advanced AB 499, AB 73, AB 843, AB 257, AB 64, AB 315, and AB 40 to Appropriations, with AB 40 receiving some no votes. The committee also adopted its 2025-26 rules and approved a consent calendar that included AB 225, AB 304, AB 403, AB 688, and AB 951. Several measures were initially placed on call and later lifted and recorded as passing out of committee before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• > make<00:19:16.000> sure let's just stabilize and make sure let's just stabilize and make
• budget? Commissioner. budget? Commissioner. >> Mr.<00:24:20.320> Chair.
• <00:25:14.720> We cut its budget 8.4% last year. We cut its budget 8.4% last year.
• fighting for this one in my budget. fighting for this one in my budget.
• like there would be uh budget like there would be uh budget um<01:18:05.440> challenges<01

Bills: HF3738, HF2295, HF3520, HF3666

Keywords: pediatric care, hospital discharge, home care, healthcare accessibility, nursing services, family support, mental health, crisis services, Dakota County, mobile crisis response, public safety, treatment services, rehabilitation, behavioral health fund, client eligibility, home and community-based services, case management, waiver services, county services, disability advocacy

Transcript Highlights:

• They needed to balance their budget.
• They needed to balance their budget.
• They needed to balance their budget.
• They needed to balance their budget.
• They needed to balance their budget.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's stabilization.
• There's been some very wise budgeting; this allows us to...
• My budget director, Brian, informed me, Mr.
• Speaker, kind gentlemen, the funds that those universities budgeted, that we budgeted this year with
• And so absolutely, as we go in budget year by budget year, we can innovate and make.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a requiring a summary of what the budget requiring a summary of what the budget entails<00:16
• complete um omission of the budget complete um omission of the budget summary<00:16:52.000> we
• In 2024, the legislature passed Act 199, mandating a budget summary disclosure that put on about one
• summary in simple making this budget summary in simple term<00:20:16.120> that<00:20:16.360><
• Moving on to HB 426 relating to the stabilization of property insurance.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce met on January 30, 2025, and heard testimony on several condominium-related bills, beginning with HB 70. HB 70 would require a budget summary disclosure for condominiums. Supporters, including Community Associations Institute, a real estate broker, and several condominium owners, said the bill would improve consumer protection by giving owners and buyers a clearer, more understandable snapshot of an association’s financial health and reserve compliance. One supporter noted the bill should help reduce confusion caused by lengthy reserve studies and emphasized the importance of accurate disclosure. A testifier also urged the committee to hear other condominium bills quickly, including measures related to an ombudsman, managing agents, parliamentarians, and attorney’s fees. The committee then heard HB 106, which would change the process for condominium fines and disputes. Phil Nery of CAI and other supporters said the bill would strengthen due process by requiring clearer notice, allowing an internal board appeal, and then permitting small claims court review without attorney’s fees unless the fine is upheld. They argued this would prevent fines from escalating into costly legal disputes and provide a more linear, fair process. Some supporters suggested amendments, including clarifying that the statute controls over association documents and refining refund language. During questioning, members raised concerns about small claims limits and whether associations would be represented by volunteers or attorneys. One testifier initially in support later said he would not support the bill as written after hearing HPD’s concerns. HB 224, relating to property rights, drew opposition from the Department of the Attorney General and the Honolulu Police Department. Both agencies said the bill would improperly push law enforcement into a quasi-judicial role and could short-circuit existing due process procedures for occupants of residences. A realtor who had initially been listed in support changed his position after hearing the opposition testimony. The committee also heard emotional testimony from a resident describing a long-running squatter and utility theft problem at a neighboring property, which he said took years of court action and police involvement to resolve. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I took a risk and we put $10.5 million into the budget for her to start the online university at NMSU
• In the past, there has been stability under other mechanisms.
• The idea is, again, to provide stability for education so we can move forward.
• We would gain stability from making this change. Thank you.
• We should focus on getting that kind of stability in all of our districts.

Transcript Highlights:

• economic success viability and stability economic success viability and stability the<00:20:05.240
• <00:34:51.440> um considering kind of final budget um considering kind of final budget um
• through as we're putting our budget through as we're putting our budget together<00:46:22.880>
• It's going to be better for families, our economy, and our state budget. So, Mr.
• Chair and Representative Pinto, the base budget is $6 million for the biennium.

Bills: HF1439, HF1004, HF498, HF1326

Keywords: HF1439, Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation, Carts to Careers, workforce development fund, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, grocery industry, food industry, food retail, retail workforce, job training, career pathways, scholarships, certifications, workforce pipeline, one-time appropriation, industry training, labor shortage, youth employment, apprenticeship

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:01:27.160> omnibus putting together our budget omnibus putting together our budget omnibus
• the Governor's budget in that bill. the Governor's budget in that bill.
• So this is the entire DHS budget.
• It gave me stability, has saved my life. It gave me stability, dignity,<00:18:40.560> help.
• with state budget realities. with state budget realities.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We will be introducing a budget ask to expand CFAP to this population.
• I’m going to use my time to provide a brief overview about the budget package, the federal budget package
• On July 4th, HR1, as the budget package is known, was signed into law.
• allocations and, quite frankly, the budget oversight that we need to do.
• On the budget side, we have Dr.

Summary: The joint informational hearing focused on CalFresh enrollment, food insecurity in California, the recent federal shutdown’s disruption of SNAP benefits, and the long-term effects of H.R. 1 on eligibility, benefits, and state and county costs. Opening remarks emphasized that millions of Californians rely on CalFresh, that the shutdown briefly delayed benefits for the first time in the program’s history, and that state and local governments, including Alameda County, stepped in with emergency food aid and funding. Members also framed the issue as both a hunger and affordability problem, with several noting that California’s agricultural abundance contrasts sharply with persistent food insecurity. The first panel presented research and advocacy perspectives on food hardship. PPIC’s Tess Thorman described food insecurity rates, disparities affecting households with children and Black and Latino households, and the role of nutrition programs in reducing poverty. Nourish California’s Betzabel Estudio argued that hunger is a policy choice and highlighted campaigns to expand state-funded food assistance for immigrants, support reentry populations, and continue the CalFresh fruit-and-vegetable incentive program. The California Association of Food Banks’ Josh Wright said food banks are seeing sustained high demand, lower federal food supplies, and cannot replace CalFresh, while urging more state support for food purchasing, school meals, and SunBucks. The second panel reviewed CalFresh operations and participation. The California Department of Social Services reported that CalFresh participation has risen over the past decade, with the state closing much of the participation gap through outreach, simplified applications, and demonstration projects such as the Elderly Simplified Application Project and a minimum nutrition benefit pilot. Alameda County Social Services described local caseloads, application trends, and emergency food distributions during the shutdown, while also warning that H.R. 1’s work requirements, immigrant eligibility restrictions, and possible cost-sharing could reduce enrollment. A student CalFresh ambassador testified about the burdensome application and recertification process and urged more funding for campus basic-needs centers and outreach to reduce stigma and administrative friction. In the final panel, county, food bank, and policy witnesses described the shutdown response and the expected impact of H.R. 1. Alameda County Community Food Bank and the County Welfare Directors Association said counties, food banks, and community partners mobilized emergency funds, pop-up pantries, and food purchasing to bridge the shutdown gap, but warned that hundreds of thousands of Californians could lose benefits under the new federal rules. The California Budget and Policy Center began outlining the scale of federal cuts, noting that H.R. 1 will significantly reduce SNAP funding and shift costs to states. No votes or formal committee actions were taken; the hearing was informational and concluded with discussion of possible state responses, including backfilling benefits, preserving outreach funding, and improving administrative systems to protect enrollment.

Transcript Highlights:

• We just had a budget subcommittee hearing yesterday. Was it yesterday? Yes, yesterday. Thank you.
• Small LEAs are exempt from the budget reserve cap.
• It's stabilizing.
• AB 401 a bill to support and stabilize funding for career technical education.
• Yeah, thank you to our budget subcommittee chair.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That rate doesn't cover what our sheriffs are losing out of their budgets.
• , their business model stability.
• , their business model stability.
• And then the rest of them go to a crisis stabilization unit.
• And then the rest of them go to a crisis stabilization unit.

Summary: The House Health Services Subcommittee met to approve the October 7, 2024 minutes and then shifted to a broad discussion of behavioral health policy, taking up work previously handled by a behavioral health working group. Representatives Wooldridge and Vaught described major gaps in Arkansas behavioral health care, emphasizing access problems, workforce shortages, rural service barriers, low reimbursement, and the need to move from a reactive crisis system to more proactive community-based care. Members discussed possible 2027-session priorities such as reducing red tape, improving provider licensing and supervision pathways, expanding billing codes and reimbursement structures, and considering interstate compacts and other workforce fixes. A major focus was the state’s crisis and forensic system, including long waits for competency evaluations, the backlog at the Arkansas State Hospital, and the use of county jails for people awaiting treatment. DHS Director Paula Stone explained that Medicaid pays for most behavioral health services, but cannot pay for services in jails or state hospitals because those individuals are treated as inmates of public institutions, leaving state general revenue to cover much of that cost. She outlined DHS efforts including secured restoration beds, therapeutic communities, community mental health center contracts for jail-based services, and plans for an institution-for-mental-disease waiver that could allow Medicaid payment for certain hospital-based services. Members also discussed crisis stabilization units, with DHS noting that Fort Smith and Jonesboro have been more successful than Fayetteville and Little Rock, largely because of location, partnerships, and law enforcement coordination. Questions covered reimbursement for county jails, step-down facilities, civil commitment options, non-emergency behavioral health transportation, and whether DHS should create a bed-availability dashboard similar to hospital systems. DHS said it does not currently have such a dashboard but is exploring the idea. The meeting ended with a commitment to continue the work, with more detailed discussion planned for August, and the subcommittee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are not to be done in a budget year. We don't have the time to do that in a budget year.
• This is out of a federal budget, not out of the Department of Education budget.
• Thank you, and I would see that in the budget. Yes, you'll see that in the budget. Thank you.
• Thank you, and I would see that in the budget. Yes, you'll see that in the budget. Thank you.
• <02:01:34.920> comes budget hearing after the budget comes budget hearing after the budget

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Education’s Bureau of School Finance provided an adequacy-funding training for Division II, led by Mark Mello. He walked the committee through the adequacy formula using Albany, Allenstown, and Alton as examples, explaining average daily membership, base adequacy aid, and differential aid for free/reduced-price meals, special education, and English language learners. He also noted a recent change requiring home-education differential aid and emphasized that these aid streams are generally unrestricted district funding rather than money tied to specific students or programs. A major focus was the ongoing litigation over the adequacy base amount and the statewide education property tax, or SWEPT. Mello explained the historical basis of the current base amount, the 2008 legislative report that set the original methodology, and the later court ruling that the adequacy amount should be $7,356, which is now before the Supreme Court. He also described how SWEPT currently raises a fixed statewide amount of $363 million and how that revenue is used to offset the state’s adequacy obligation. For the example towns, Albany and Allenstown receive state adequacy grants because their SWEPT revenue is below their calculated adequacy cost, while Alton is an excess SWEPT community because its local SWEPT revenue exceeds the cost of adequate education. The discussion then turned to the pending “excess SWEPT” issue in the Supreme Court and what would happen if excess collections had to be remitted to the state. Mello said the Department is preparing a hypothetical walkthrough and explained that, if the court upholds the Superior Court ruling, DRA would likely be directed to collect excess SWEPT. Members raised concerns about whether SWEPT must be used for educational purposes and about the cash-flow burden on towns if money had to move from municipalities to the state and then back to districts. Mello and members discussed possible administrative workarounds, such as credits against other state aid distributions, and noted that the committee would continue reviewing the mechanics if the court decision comes down during budget work.

Transcript Highlights:

• asking you to figure out the budget asking you to figure out the budget numbers<00:31:11.200>
• numbers in it what would the um budget numbers in it what would the um budget<00:37:12.079> code<
• <01:03:54.720> they're struggling on limited budgets they're struggling on limited budgets
• providing vital services and stabilizing providing vital services and stabilizing individuals<01
• stabilization stabilization um<01:14:25.760> and<01:14:25.920> I<01:14:26.040> also

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Human Services and Homelessness met on February 6, 2025, and heard testimony on several measures. HB 44, which would appropriate funds to the Department of Human Services to work with community-based organizations on social services needs, drew broad support from nonprofit providers and coalitions that said contracts and reimbursement rates have not kept pace with the actual cost of services, leaving agencies unable to retain staff or meet demand. DHS said it supported the bill’s intent but asked for clarification because the language was broad and did not specify which organizations or how funds should be allocated. Committee members and the bill’s introducer discussed how to make the measure more specific and equitable, including whether to set a percentage increase, use a baseline date, and direct DHS to distribute funds among different program areas; the True Cost Coalition and DHS agreed to follow up in writing with proposed language and a funding number. The committee then heard HB 1349, which would authorize Medicaid/CHIP coverage for income-qualified pregnant persons and children regardless of immigration status. Supporters, including the Legal Clinic, Aloha Care, and the Hawaiʻi Coalition for Immigrant Rights, said the bill would improve prenatal and child health, reduce the chilling effect of immigration enforcement on care-seeking, and help prevent premature or underweight births by ensuring earlier access to providers. DHS provided comments and the committee asked where the measure would fit in the budget; the department identified the relevant budget code. Written testimony in support came from multiple advocacy and health organizations and dozens of individuals. Finally, the committee heard HB 613, which would appropriate funds to DHS for emergency shelter and services for unaccompanied homeless youth. The Office of the Public Defender, the Statewide Office of Homelessness and Housing Solutions, the Office of Youth Services, Rise, the Hawaiʻi State LGBTQ+ Commission, and others supported the bill, emphasizing youth homelessness, the need for coordinated shelter and outreach, and the high share of LGBTQ+ youth among homeless minors. OYS asked that the committee consider funding its existing Safe Spaces pilot rather than creating a new program, while DHS said it supported the intent but wanted clarification because multiple department programs could be implicated. No votes were taken during the hearing; the chair instead requested follow-up language and funding information for HB 44 and continued the measures for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we recognizing that $50 million in this budget?
• The authority for our budget was found in...
• On page four, you will find details of our budget through May of this year.
• So our budget was combined with DMR and along with PFA.
• I think you heard earlier today in budget section from Joe Morcette.

Summary: The committee received a compliance and budget update on Industrial Commission agencies and programs, including the Industrial Commission administrative office, the Oil and Gas Research Program, the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the State Energy Research Center, the Research Technology Park grant program, and related funds. Staff reviewed spending and balances for items such as electric grid resiliency grants, lignite research, enhanced oil recovery, the salt cavern business case study, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members also discussed timing, carryover balances, matching requirements, and how some programs are structured to reimburse projects over several years rather than spend funds immediately. Karen Tyler of the Industrial Commission described the agency’s administrative budget, the grant management system nearing completion, and the transition to standalone audits and staffing after separating from other agencies. She also outlined the status of active grant rounds across lignite, oil and gas, renewable energy, outdoor heritage, and clean sustainable energy programs. Members asked about the length of active grants, demand for clean energy funding, and the possibility of future grant rounds. Tyler and members also discussed the salt cavern study, the need to better define its commercial value, and the research technology park grant’s cash-match requirement. Ron Ness then testified on enhanced oil recovery and broader oil and gas market conditions. He said North Dakota production remained steady, but future growth depends on infrastructure, longer laterals, and better use of natural gas and carbon dioxide for EOR. He described the state’s EOR grant round, the use of federal DOE funding to replace part of a state-funded project, and the expectation of additional grant rounds. Members asked about CO2 supply, storage, and the economics of using legacy fields and pipelines to extend oil production and support agriculture and industrial uses. The committee also heard from Bank of North Dakota President Don Morgan, who reviewed the bank’s mission, governance, lending verticals, disaster programs, and new initiatives. He said the bank is seeing deposit growth flatten and is responding to fintech competition by focusing on liquidity, risk management, and a new payment infrastructure initiative called Rough Rider Coin, which he emphasized is not crypto and not a public coin, but a banking payment rail for North Dakota institutions. Members asked about student loan rates, disaster lending, and how the bank’s lines of credit and balance sheet capacity are affected by deposit trends. Morgan said the bank remains profitable and continues to support agriculture, commerce, and industry through participation loans, student lending, and state-directed programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the Governor's budget proposal.
• Overall, this is a balanced budget package.
• But, Representative Engen, can we also please stick with the budget?
• The increase to your state budget, or sorry, to MDE's budget In the past two years, I was going to ask
• I look at this budget and I think it's cruel.

Bills: HF2430, HF2433

Keywords: education finance, teacher training, Read Act, state aid, school funding, education funding, children with disabilities, transition aid, special education, school district consolidation