Transcript Highlights:

• Line 46, community tree planting grants, $6 million.
• 6</c><00:43:40.200><c> million</c> community tree planting grants 6 million community tree planting
• grant?
• </c> to 25% for these grants. to 25% for these grants.
• </c> kind of named uh grants. kind of named uh grants.

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• Community Reinvestment Program.
• grant after grant after grant after grant, and the PPP money and all of the funding that came in through
• If you already got a grant from someone, you shouldn't get another grant from somebody else.
• grant after grant after grant after grant, and the PPP money and all of the funding that came in through
• other communities of color.

Summary: The committee met to take executive action on House Bill 2523, concerning the Community Reinvestment Program, and House Bill 2606, concerning the Office of Privacy and Data Protection. Staff briefed a proposed substitute for HB 2523 and several amendments. The substitute would change how Community Reinvestment Account funds are distributed, require tribal consultation, update the community reinvestment plan on a regular cycle, expand reporting and Office of Equity responsibilities, add definitions, and broaden the WSIPP study. Amendments to shorten the plan update cycle, restrict recipients from receiving other state housing assistance, bar certain officers and family members from grants, require independent audits, and expand WSIPP review were debated; only the amendment changing the plan update cycle from 10 years to 5 years was adopted. The committee then voted 8-5 to report the substitute HB 2523 out of committee with a do pass recommendation. HB 2606, which was described as implementing JLARC recommendations to reduce redundancy and improve efficiency in privacy/data protection functions, was then approved unanimously and reported out with a do pass recommendation. The committee then held public hearings on House Bill 2684 and House Joint Memorial 4012. HB 2684 would establish rebuttable presumptions that members of certain groups are socially disadvantaged for purposes of OMWBE certification, including adding Middle Eastern and North African individuals to the framework. Testimony was split: some speakers opposed the bill as discriminatory or constitutionally problematic, while others, including representatives of MENA businesses, CAIR Washington, and OMWBE, supported it as a needed fix to improve access to certification and contracting opportunities. The chair noted that amendments could still be submitted before the next day’s executive session, and the bill was set for further consideration the following morning. House Joint Memorial 4012 urges Congress to bring the Major Richard Star Act to a floor vote. The prime sponsor and veteran advocates testified that the memorial seeks to address the “wounded veteran tax” by allowing combat-injured service members who retire before 20 years of service to receive both retirement pay and VA disability compensation. Supporters said the change would correct an inequity affecting Washington veterans and their families. The committee closed the hearing on the memorial and announced that both HB 2684 and HJM 4012 would be considered the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• We offer a variety of grant programs that help communities invest in their foundational and social assets
• We offer a variety of grant programs that help communities invest in their foundational and social assets
• We offer a variety of grant programs that help communities invest in their foundational and social assets
• Our agency supported the city of Aurora with a Community Infrastructure Grant totaling $2 million.
• Our agency supported the city of Aurora with a Community Infrastructure Grant totaling $2 million.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• good outcomes for our communities.
• This program provides grants to... ...general fund for the dual enrollment opportunities grant program
• grants to mirror the funding levels of planning or startup grants.
• I'm wondering, in the rural communities where there's... ...community college options, this works.
• The Charter School Facility Grant Program is The Charter School Facility Grant Program is a model.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because this is a climate change grant, and this grant is the only grant that I can apply for which provides
• It doesn't make sense that this grant is not a regional grant.
• As I told Karen Polito when she first announced the Community Compact grants, these grants are so vital
• I have received several Community Compact grants for efficiency and regionalization.
• By giving us a small boost in our grant applications, I believe it would encourage more small communities

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight

Summary: The joint committee held a public hearing on several bills covering state administration, land/public housing redevelopment, construction safety, memorialization, records management, rural grant equity, and animal research. Testimony in support of H. 3329 described an inequity in the Governor’s Council reimbursement statute, which currently cuts off travel, meals, and lodging reimbursement after four terms; the witnesses argued this disproportionately burdens members from western Massachusetts and creates geographic and economic barriers to service. The Boston Housing Authority supported legislation for the Brighton/Faneuil Gardens area, saying it would allow a mixed-use redevelopment that replaces all existing public housing units one-for-one, adds new affordable housing, creates replacement rehearsal space for displaced musicians, and preserves prevailing wage standards. A major portion of the hearing focused on S. 2112, a construction safety bill. Suffolk Construction, Boston building trade representatives, and local inspectors testified that the measure would strengthen training, site safety standards, oversight of high-risk work, and enforcement, while helping protect workers and the public and improving retention and recruitment of inspectors. Witnesses said the bill would align Massachusetts more closely with higher safety standards in other states and build on lessons from past construction-related incidents. The committee also heard support for S. 2162, which would create a COVID-19 memorial; the witness emphasized the scale of pandemic deaths in Massachusetts and the educational value of public memorials. Other testimony addressed H. 3321, which would modernize records preservation for registers of deeds by reducing reliance on costly microfilm in an increasingly electronic system; the witness said current law is outdated and expensive. H. 3311, aimed at advancing equity for rural communities receiving state grants, drew support from town officials in Leyden and Ashfield, who said small towns lack staff for grant writing and should be evaluated more on need and regional impact, especially for climate and public safety projects. Finally, S. 2117, concerning animal research, was supported by an animal welfare advocate who urged prohibiting state funds for animal experiments and shifting to non-animal research methods. After the hearing concluded, the chairs noted that additional hearings and polling votes would follow, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is going to be an overview of the Community Services Block Grant program.
• This quality is perhaps best displayed through the Community Services Block Grant and its network of
• While the Community Services Block Grant just celebrated 40 years this year, the community action movement
• Block Grant funding on the communities in which we serve.
• Furthermore, we use Community Services Block Grant money to help inform our communities about information

Summary: The Senate and Assembly Human Services Committees held a special oversight hearing on California’s 2026-27 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) state plan, focusing on how the federal anti-poverty funds are administered and used by local community action agencies. Department of Community Services and Development Director Jason Wimbley explained that CSBG is a flexible funding stream used to address housing, employment, education, food insecurity, health, transportation, and disaster response needs, with 60 organizations serving all 58 counties. He noted California received $68.4 million in federal fiscal year 2025 CSBG funds and that the program served about 1.5 million low-income Californians in 2023. He also described how CSBG helped with wildfire response and emphasized the risk posed by proposed federal elimination of the program, though he said federal staffing and program operations were currently stable. Representatives from CalCAPA and several funded agencies described CSBG as essential “braid” funding that supports staffing, leverages other grants, and fills gaps for people who do not qualify for other safety net programs. CalCAPA leaders stressed local flexibility, workforce development, partnerships, and the ROMA performance system, while agency witnesses from Contra Costa County, Northern California Indian Development Council, Proteus, and Sacred Heart Community Service gave examples of housing assistance, food distribution, employment training, utility aid, rural service delivery, tribal services, and disaster or emergency support. Several witnesses warned that federal cuts or elimination of CSBG would force service reductions, layoffs, and loss of leverage for other funding sources. The hearing also included discussion of CalAIM coordination, contingency planning for possible funding losses, and the limits of county ability to backfill federal reductions. During public comment, one speaker raised concerns about compliance and transparency issues involving community action agencies and asked the committees to ensure agencies follow California law. The chair thanked the witnesses and public commenters, reiterated the importance of CSBG in addressing poverty and homelessness, and adjourned the hearing after noting the need to sustain the investment and adapt services to changing statewide needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• as a gateway community on a national scale. ...while positioning Grants as a gateway community on a
• I mean, Gallup and Grants are really communities that are joined at the hip.
• I mean, Gallup and Grants are really communities that are joined at the hip.
• But when I inherited Grants, I inherited a whole bunch of friends that the community I inherited a whole
• Grant County is known for its mining, ranching, and art communities, blending of Hispanic, Native American

Transcript Highlights:

• . grant. grant.
• </c> Grant does. Grant does.
• grants.
• grants.
• c> grant</c><01:10:03.120><c> funds</c> Total state grant state grant funds Total state grant state grant

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• The grants management system that we are using now for the incentive grants is already in use for our
• college that's a community college that's force plan and kind of be able to partner with the community
• Would it be the community college?
• Cal Grant program, Cal Grant reform program. LAO, do you want to take that, or anybody? Yes.
• We've also created a designated communication tool called the CCGI Flash through which we communicate

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance heard an overview of the governor’s new Career Education Master Plan and related budget items. Labor Secretary Knox described the plan as an effort to reduce fragmentation across K-12, community colleges, workforce boards, and other systems by improving statewide and regional coordination, data sharing, skills-based hiring, career pathways, and wraparound supports such as child care, housing, food, and transportation. Members asked how success would be measured, how the plan would serve disconnected youth and adults, and whether the proposed data integration would rely on Cradle to Career; the secretary said it would. The Department of Finance said it was available to answer questions on the education side. The committee then reviewed existing CTE funding and oversight. The LAO, CDE, and Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office described the major ongoing programs, including CTIG, Perkins, K-12 Strong Workforce, and Community College Strong Workforce, and noted that many programs overlap in purpose and administration. Members repeatedly raised concerns about duplication, annual applications and reporting burdens, lack of clear outcome metrics, and whether funding incentives should be better aligned to regional collaboration. CDE and the Chancellor’s Office said they support alignment and dual enrollment, and Finance and CDE said LCFF/local match dollars are part of the funding structure. The committee also discussed child care as a barrier to participation and the need for better tracking of enrollment, completion, and job outcomes. On the consolidated application proposal, Finance proposed a study directing CDE to examine whether three long-standing CTE grant programs—Specialized Secondary Programs, CTIG, and California Partnership Academies—could be streamlined into a single application and reporting process. The LAO supported reducing administrative burden but noted that the largest programs, CTIG and K-12 Strong Workforce, were excluded from the proposal even though districts most often cite them as burdensome. CDE said it did not oppose the study but warned that statutory differences may limit consolidation. Members said the proposal should better address regional coordination, multi-year funding stability, and outcome measures rather than only simplifying paperwork. Finally, the committee heard a proposal for a $5 million ongoing California Education Interagency Council. GovOps said the council would provide a neutral venue for statewide coordination across education and workforce systems. The LAO opposed the proposal, arguing that existing bodies already provide coordination, the proposal does not change agency incentives, and the council would lack authority to implement decisions. Members expressed mixed views, with some supporting a coordinating body and others questioning whether it would differ from past efforts. No votes were taken during the portions summarized here, and the committee indicated it would hold some items open for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> reach out to uh community-based reach out to uh community-based Advocates<00:10:06.279><c> to</c
• </c> balance does it go towards more grants balance does it go towards more grants or<00:21:25.120><c
• </c><00:27:10.399><c> that</c><00:27:10.559><c> start</c> the grants that start the grants that start
• </c> supports that our that our communities supports that our that our communities need<00:28:22.480>
• How much of the grant process takes that into the amount of grants that are given?

Transcript Highlights:

• Benefiting the community colleges as well.
• uses, it created a significant communication challenge in our communities.
• Now we're just buried in grants.
• Hadwick's questions, it's my understanding that the discretionary block grant would not require grant
• that is fully discretionary funded through not a block grant process or a block grant Mechanism but

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal funds include principal forgiveness grants for disadvantaged communities and green infrastructure
• The way that we make the decisions around these grant dollars is really individualized to the community
• Some communities do end up waiting until the grant dollars become available.
• I'll just use my community for example: a $3 million request for a grant for radium in the water.
• Radium in the water is bad, but if my community was in Greater Minnesota, it would have got a grant.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• It gives an overview of the grants. Process of the grants.
• And that program Is important to those local communities because many of these grants are very small
• So that's we like to use that example because it's exactly what the grants were meant to do Community
• grants.
• I think that the grant fund right now, we're putting out quite a bit of money in the grant fund.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• If awarded, the Commission would utilize grant funds to support community partners with existing civic
• The grant opportunity is from the U.S.
• The grant has no matching fund requirement.
• grants or direct outreach and engagement, communication and partnership costs, change management, and
• and Care Grant in Aid program.

Summary: The Emergency Board met on June 17, 2026, and approved a series of subcommittee recommendations, mostly on consent, related to federal grant applications, agency funding adjustments, and position authority. Early actions included approval of four federal grant applications from natural resources agencies, three public safety grant applications, a one-time increase for Judicial Department court security, retroactive approval for an AmeriCorps volunteer-generation grant, and a $7.5 million allocation to Southern Oregon University from a special appropriation for short-term financial stability. Members supporting the SOU item emphasized the university’s structural deficits, declining enrollment, and the need for a long-term higher education plan; several members voted no or raised concerns about sustainability, but the motion passed. The board also approved a federal apprenticeship expansion grant for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, a school nutrition equipment grant for the Department of Education, and an Oregon Health Authority request tied to Medicaid community engagement requirements under H.R. 1. Public safety items included funding for Oregon Military Department readiness facilities, a report on the stalled juvenile justice information system modernization project with a follow-up viability report due in 2026, and a statewide evacuation planning tool for emergency management. The evacuation tool drew strong support as a wildfire preparedness measure, with members noting it could significantly reduce alert times and save lives. A major point of debate was the Department of Justice request to add 16 permanent positions and increase other funds limitation for antitrust enforcement. Supporters argued the federal government has pulled back and Oregon needs capacity to pursue active cases and protect consumers; opponents objected to the process, the size of the expansion, and the incentive structure tied to settlements and awards. Despite those concerns, the motion passed. The board also approved Water Resources Department requests for the Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement program, an assistant water master position in Washington County, and federal funding for Lower Umatilla Basin groundwater data collection. The water master item prompted questions about county cost shifts, but staff said the position would remain externally funded and would not be filled without those resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• County, we strongly oppose the budget cuts to the CBAH Community Advocacy Grants.
• County, we strongly oppose the budget cuts to the CBAH Community Advocacy Grants.
• I’m here to oppose Item 4560, which would eliminate funding for community advocacy grants.
• I’m here to oppose Item 4560, which would eliminate funding for community advocacy grants.
• I oppose the elimination of the community advocacy grants.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health held a May Revision hearing covering several health-related budget proposals and broader concerns about the state’s budget structure. The Chair opened by praising some May Revision changes, such as added health IT funding, county administration support tied to Medi-Cal changes, a delay in Medi-Cal cuts for some lawfully present immigrants, and additional support for Covered California subsidies, while criticizing proposed increases in Medi-Cal premiums, changes to senior eligibility, the lack of a Medi-Cal dental solution, and other reductions affecting counties, mobile crisis units, workforce incentives, and physician shortages. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the state’s budget condition remains weak despite progress on the structural deficit, and the Department of Finance said the May Revision uses a mix of reductions, reforms, revenue proposals, and fund shifts to cut out-year deficits. The committee first heard Department of State Hospitals proposals, including adjustments to county bed billing authority, contract exemption language for online clinical/pharmacy subscriptions, reversion of unspent funds, a revised Metro Central Utility Plant replacement project, electronic health record implementation, and workforce development funded partly through Behavioral Health Services Act resources. DSH also described savings and realignments in incompetent-to-stand-trial and conditional release programs, including extending the independent placement panel program and shifting funds to support additional bed capacity and a mental health rehab center. Members asked about the use of BHSA funds for workforce programs, and the department said the proposal would replace General Fund support with BHSA reimbursements. The Emergency Medical Services Authority proposed funding for statewide behavioral health crisis response guidance and for enterprise system development, and the Department of Managed Health Care proposed modernization of its complaint system and claims-settlement data system to improve oversight and comply with AB 3275. The largest discussion centered on the administration’s BHSA spending plan under Proposition 1, including state-directed prevention, workforce, and other uses, plus General Fund offsets for existing programs. The LAO questioned whether some proposed offsets fit Proposition 1’s non-supplant and eligible-use requirements, while the administration argued the uses were consistent with the measure and that the state-directed share can be adjusted annually. The Commission for Behavioral Health’s proposals drew the most public and member concern. The administration proposed cutting the commission’s Innovation Partnership Fund from $20 million to $10 million and reducing the Community Advocacy Program by $6.7 million, while redirecting BHSA dollars to other state purposes and direct services. Commissioners, advocates, and several members argued the cuts would weaken community voice, reduce support for underserved populations, and disrupt grants already in process; they also objected to using BHSA funds to backfill General Fund commitments. Public commenters, including youth, disability, behavioral health, LGBTQ, tribal, veteran, immigrant, and community-based organization representatives, overwhelmingly opposed the cuts and urged preservation of prevention, advocacy, mobile crisis, and innovation funding. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the state capacity grant and competitive grants, the BEAD program and others.
• It's an NTIA grant for $73 million that Mr.
• Monroe can talk about, and then the $70.2 million is also NTIA grant, which is a capacity subsidy. grant
• I think one of the things that I would say is that this capacity grant was part of a three-part grant
• the competitive grant program.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:

• But what I want to recognize is the fact that it wasn’t my idea to create a small grants Community Grants
• Representative Hollins continued that it wasn’t her idea to create the small grants Community Grants
• </c><00:13:48.199><c> you</c> the community grants and so um you the community grants and so um you changed
• </c> community grants program and I community grants program and I understand<00:16:08.079><c> the</c
• I</c> with the community grants program I I with the community grants program I I think<00:16:13.040

Committee: House Rules and Legislative Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• good outcomes for our communities.
• This program provides grants to... ...general fund for the dual enrollment opportunities grant program
• grants to mirror the funding levels of planning or startup grants.
• Yeah, and certainly for more suburban, urban communities where there are many community college options
• I'm wondering, in the rural communities where they're so far away from maybe their nearest community

Summary: The committee heard an update on the administration’s Career Education Master Plan and the new California Education Interagency Council. Administration and agency staff described efforts to better connect K-12, higher education, workforce, and data systems, including the California Cradle to Career Data System, e-Transcript California, and a proposed career passport. They emphasized regional coordination with workforce boards and community colleges, and said the new council’s immediate tasks are to hold its first meeting by the end of June, enter into a data-sharing MOU, and complete a strategic plan by the end of November. Members asked about the council’s authority, reporting requirements, and how it would relate to the broader Master Plan for Higher Education; staff said the council will make recommendations but does not have implementation authority. The committee then took up the Governor’s proposed $100 million one-time expansion of dual enrollment grants and related changes to instructional minute requirements. Finance and the Department of Education said the proposal would support middle college, early college, and CCAP programs, add technical assistance, prioritize high-need LEAs, and reduce the minimum instructional day for certain dual enrollment students from 240 to 180 minutes to ease scheduling barriers. The Chancellor’s Office strongly supported the investment, citing access, acceleration, and equity benefits, while the LAO recommended rejecting the funding, arguing the state already provides ongoing support and that the proposal does not address major barriers. Members raised questions about adult learners, A-G alignment, reporting on outcomes and expenditures, rural access, transportation, staffing, and whether the funding would create lasting program capacity. The item was left open after discussion. The committee also considered trailer bill language to align the definition of long-term English learners across data systems. Finance and CDE said the change would simplify identification by defining LTELs as students who have not attained English proficiency within seven years and RTELs as students not proficient within six years, matching the dashboard and research-based timelines. CDE said the current mismatch between dashboard and assessment definitions creates confusion and delays, while some members and advocates worried the change could reduce earlier intervention or should be handled through policy committees rather than the budget process. The committee voted to reject the proposal and refer it to policy, though the administration said it still supports the budget language. Finally, the committee heard a proposal to extend the Supporting Inclusive Practices project by one year, through June 30, 2027. CDE said the project is promising but raised concerns about the contract structure and fiscal management, while Marysville Joint Unified School District testified that SIP had helped expand inclusive preschool and district-wide practices and reduce reliance on more restrictive placements. Members questioned why funds had not been fully encumbered and whether the remaining money should be redirected to areas with greater implementation need. The item was discussed but no final action was described in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• This particular grant was developed through bipartisan support in Congress through the Safer Communities
• </c> two of these federal grants. two of these federal grants.
• Program grants, or OSEP grants.
• These grants are office federal grants.
• </c> generations of our communities. generations of our communities.

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 326 is a grant program for emergency grants for community identity and heritage emergency grants
• ><c> for</c><00:20:33.760><c> community</c> for emergency grants for community for emergency grants for
• </c><00:20:35.919><c> grants.
• </c> identity and heritage emergency grants. identity and heritage emergency grants.
• </c> the grant um are uh woman run as well. the grant um are uh woman run as well.

Committee: Senate Finance