Transcript Highlights:

• So, were some of them purchased and some of them granted, or is it all based on a grant? Mr.
• So they were a grant, not a grant. So they were a grant, not a purchase. purchase. purchase.
• or is it all based on a of them granted or is it all based on a grant?
• grant? grant?
• they could be granted granted to uh you they could be granted granted to uh you know<01:00:17.119

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh a new project requiring action and a pool allocation requiring no action.
• for the four grants that we have today. for the four grants that we have today.
• There's one water grant, which is a reallocation from the unserved allocation pool.
• One of the reallocations is a sewer grant, and two of those reallocations are water grants.
• One is a sewer grant, and two of those reallocations are water grants.

Keywords: November 20, 2025 00:12 Call to Order and Roll Call 00:58 Information Items 06:50 Finance and Administration Cabinet 09:10 KY Infrastructure Authority 21:20 Office of Financial Management 29:14 Meeting Recessed 44:58 Reconvened 45:07 Approval of Minutes 46:35 Next Meeting Date 47:05 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee met without a quorum for much of the meeting, so several agenda items were initially heard only for information. Early updates included six informational reports, such as an Auditor of Public Accounts compliance examination with no findings, university equipment and allocation reports, school district bond issuances, Western Kentucky University’s planned public-private partnership housing redevelopment, and quarterly Kentucky Communications Network Authority reports. Members then questioned WKU officials about the P3 housing project, including the number of RFQ responses, property tax responsibility, ownership of the student life foundation, and the status of repairs to residence halls. WKU said the foundation has owned the property since 2000, one hall would be razed or demolished at the end of the academic year, and repairs to the other two were expected to be completed by fall 2027. The committee also heard a Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources acquisition project for Mount River Farms in Wayne County and a Department of Corrections roof replacement project at Luther Luckett Correctional Complex, but no votes were taken until a quorum was later established. The Kentucky Infrastructure Authority then presented six loans and four grant reallocations, including loan increases for Adair County Water District and the City of Harlan, new loans for Litchfield, Louisa, Southeastern Water Association, and Flatwoods, and grant reallocations under the Cleaner Water Program. Members asked about Harlan’s 30-year term and special condition requiring a revenue increase; KIA explained the longer term is reserved for disadvantaged communities and that the condition was meant to reinforce standard debt coverage requirements, while depreciation is reviewed but not included in cash-flow calculations. After a recess, Senator Thomas arrived and a quorum was reached. The committee approved the prior minutes and then took a consolidated vote on the action items, which passed. The final items included a Kentucky Economic Development Authority revenue bond refunding for CommonSpirit Health, several Kentucky Housing Corporation conduit and single-family bond issuances, a Western Kentucky University bond issuance, and SFCC debt issues. Members discussed the housing transactions, noting they are developer-financed and not subject to a traditional bidding process, and expressed concern about whether the process could produce more units for the same amount of money. The meeting adjourned after all information items were approved and the next meeting date was announced.

Transcript Highlights:

• And ultimately, most of those are occurring as both a grant and a loan: 90% grant, 10% loan for all the
• And they act as if the public money is their money to allocate and work with.
• The Solid Waste Facility Grant Fund would also not receive one.
• I don't even know if they still operate the Solid Waste Facility Grant Fund.
• The net allocation is $104 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• Grant them blessings over these leaders. Grant them blessings over these leaders.
• Any oppose is granted.
• Commission granted. I. Any opposed? Commission granted. I. Any opposed? Commission granted.
• Any opposed is granted. Thank opposed is granted. Thank opposed is granted. Thank you.
• Oh the uh regional STEM HUD grants. Oh the uh regional STEM HUD grants.

Bills: HB 29, HB 125, HB 145, HB 171, HB 255, HB 50, HB 796, HB 363, HB 116, HB 491, HB 589, HB 1495, HB 368, HB 1285, HB 1905, HB 1360, HB 2002, HB 917, HB 2723, HB 2067, HB 1238, HB 2337, HB 745, HB 1188, HB 1606, HB 2003, HB 2147, HB 2391, HB 2355, HB 2546, HB 2495, HB 2818, HB 2249, HB 1749, HB 3109, HB 3228, HB 3240, HB 1507, HB 658, HB 1748, HB 1851, HB 1922, HB 2001, HB 2798, HB 107, HCR 29, SB 5, SB 262, HB 11, HJR 72, HB 106, HB 18, HB 48, HB 27, HB 37, HB 1481, HB 581, HB 1696, HB 2216, HB 1035, HB 1633, HB 742, HB 754, HB 1689, HB 1690, HB 2669, HB 391, HB 517, HB 1024, HB 1607, HB 252, HB 1716, HB 1562, HB 4116, HB 1866, HB 1741, HB 2103, HB 2637, HB 2884, HB 503, HB 1089, HB 2986, HB 972, HB 502, HB 29, HB 125, HB 145, HB 171, HB 255, HB 50, HB 796, HB 363, HB 116, HB 491, HB 589, HB 1495, HB 368, HB 1285, HB 1905, HB 1360, HB 2002, HB 917, HB 2723, HB 2067, HB 1238, HB 2337, HB 745, HB 1188, HB 1606, HB 2003, HB 2147, HB 2391, HB 2355, HB 2546, HB 2495, HB 2818, HB 2249, HB 1749, HB 3109, HB 3228, HB 3240, HB 1507, HB 658, HB 1748, HB 1851, HB 1922, HB 2001, HB 2798, HB 107, HCR 29

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• The maintenance level is largely tied to the Washington College Grant.
• So we had to adjust for a significant increase in the Washington College Grant caseload.
• The first is for the Washington College Grant.
• The first is for the Washington College Grant.
• College Grant costs.

Summary: The Joint Higher Education Committee met for a work session on higher education accounting practices and financial transparency. OFM Deputy Director Sarah Rupp explained how state accounting rules and higher education reporting differ, including what data is captured in AFRS today and what will move into Workday, with universities generally reporting summary-level fund data, mandatory codes, and most balance sheet and income statement activity, but not transaction-level detail or vendor payment information. Representatives from the University of Washington and Washington State University described the complexity of their own accounting systems, the many entities and business lines they must track for audits and compliance, and the need to reconcile university-level accrual accounting with state reporting requirements. The committee also heard from the Education Research and Data Center on the public four-year finance dashboard created under Senate Bill 5512; ERDC said the dashboard is based on publicly available data, is best used to examine institutions individually rather than compare them directly, and will be updated with additional metrics in 2025 and 2026. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington Student Achievement Council on the Workforce Education Investment Account (WIA). Joel Anderson reviewed WIA’s creation under House Bill 2158, its revenue sources, and its intended uses for higher education, financial aid, and workforce development. He said recent legislation significantly increased WIA revenues and that, in the 2025–27 budget, the account is being used in new ways, including to replace general fund support for University of Washington operations and to fund a larger share of the Washington College Grant and some faculty compensation costs. Anderson said roughly 98% of current WIA appropriations go to higher education, but the share used to supplant other higher education funding has grown, and he estimated about 60% to 70% of current spending still aligns with the account’s original intent. He also described a new effort to track WIA appropriations across biennia in more detail and noted the WIA Oversight Board’s role in recommending uses of the account and monitoring outcomes. No votes were taken; the committee ended by moving into executive session for staffing issues and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have a cost allocation plan that is set up.
• So we have a cost allocation plan that is set up.
• As the name suggests, this is a formula grant.
• The second federal grant that we use is a competitive grant that we apply for annually.
• The final federal grant we apply for is a Section 5339 bus and bus facilities grant, which funds our

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Government Finance Transportation Study Subcommittee met to review fixed-route transit systems and related funding needs. After approving the prior meeting minutes, the committee heard presentations from Cities Area Transit in Grand Forks/East Grand Forks, Bisman Transit in Bismarck-Mandan, and MATBUS/Fargo, along with comments from North Dakota Protection & Advocacy. The transit agencies described their routes, paratransit services, ridership trends, fare structures, fleet replacement needs, and rising operating costs, emphasizing that transit supports access to work, school, medical care, and other essential services. Testimony also noted that ridership fell during the pandemic and has been recovering, while vehicle and maintenance costs have risen sharply. Grand Forks transit reported 17 routes, a recent fare increase, and operating costs that exceed fare revenue, with paratransit service extending beyond the federal minimum service area. Bisman Transit outlined its fixed-route and paratransit operations, recent service expansions, local mill levies, sales tax support, and federal grant structure, and said it is seeking more stable funding and flexibility beyond paratransit-only support. Minot’s transit superintendent explained the state’s existing transit aid formula, the use of refurbished buses, and the challenges of driver recruitment and electric bus infrastructure. Fargo asked for additional state support for fixed-route urban transit. Committee members discussed whether ride-share services could replace transit, the cost per trip, local match requirements, and whether a separate state funding source should be recommended for the four urban fixed-route systems. The subcommittee ultimately approved a motion to have Legislative Council prepare a summary of its activities for inclusion in the full Government Finance Committee report, and members indicated they would seek more detailed funding figures from the transit agencies before making any specific recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• because the extraordinary needs Grant because the extraordinary needs Grant came<00:41:01.240>
• is the grant floor, the grant ceiling, and the maximum grant shall be increased.
• is the grant floor, the grant ceiling, and the maximum grant shall be increased.
• The wording is the grant floor, the grant ceiling, and the maximum grant shall be increased.
• grant average was $524.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met in executive session on HB 563, which revises the adequacy education grant formula, including differentiated aid for free and reduced-price meals, English language learners, and special education, and also restores fiscal capacity disparity aid. Members explained that for FY 26 the formula largely stays the same with the usual 2% increases, while FY 27 would raise the base cost and several aid categories, including a substantial increase in special education differentiated aid. Supporters said the bill recognizes higher special education costs and separates fiscal capacity disparity from the extraordinary needs grant, which they argued better targets property-poor communities. A major point of discussion was the fiscal capacity disparity aid component. Some members asked for more detail on how the formula affected individual towns and how much money was being allocated. The sponsors said the spreadsheet showed the impacts and estimated the fiscal capacity disparity portion at about $13.3 million, benefiting roughly 40 communities, with Manchester the only municipality expected to receive less under the new approach. They also said the change partially rebalances money that had shifted heavily toward larger cities under the extraordinary needs grant and that the special education increase is new money, not taken from the hold harmless or extraordinary needs funds. Several members supported the amendment as a good-faith step and a bipartisan compromise, while others expressed frustration that they did not have enough time or information to review the spreadsheets in detail before voting. After extended debate, the committee recessed for lunch to allow the spreadsheet to be distributed and reviewed, with the understanding that the bill would continue later in the day and then move on to the other bills on the docket.

Transcript Highlights:

• The third one is the Federal Grants Bureau.
• One is the Community Development Block Grant Program, the CDBG program.
• And just in terms of allocating it, it would be almost impossible.
• That they have administered through these application-based grant programs.
• Grants has never got the money at all till we started asking questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• allocation.
• money out we allocated money out we allocated $250,000<00:23:05.559> per<00:23:05.720>
• um and it's going to it with the grants um and it's going to be<00:23:18.440> a<00:23:18.559>
• straight<00:23:19.240> general<00:23:20.159> fund<00:23:21.039> allocation
• c><00:23:22.039> um be a straight general fund allocation um be a straight general fund allocation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• knowledge where that Grant knowledge where that Grant assistant<01:04:57.000> commissioner
• were the grid improvements for the grant were the grid improvements for the grant money<01:09:54.920
• <01:10:08.120> one those are three different uh grants one those are three different uh grants
• The other two grants are to Xcel Energy.
• <01:25:41.119> that design right how do we allocate that design right how do we allocate that

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, universities, their grants, they applied for them.
• That would allow us to grant them some funding to invest in safety.
• The Land Grant Permanent Fund outperforms the Severance Tax Permanent Fund.
• Obviously, the largest portion is the Land Grant Permanent Fund.
• They have different asset allocation targets.

Transcript Highlights:

• And how do we make sure we allocate the limited resources we have, and they will be more limited as we
• And how do we make sure we allocate the limited resources we have, and they will be more limited as we
• So that means our focus in terms of how we allocate resources, although it's kind of mirroring right
• So that means our focus in terms of how we allocate resources, although it's kind of mirroring right
• The current process encourages strategic investment rather than uniform allocation.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to examine how Florida’s state universities are funded and to begin discussing a possible university funding model. The panel included the State University System chancellor and CFOs from FSU, UF, FAMU, FAU, UNF, and UCF. Members first reviewed major cost drivers, which the universities said are broadly similar across institutions: wages and benefits, equipment and supplies, financial aid, professional services, utilities, IT, and maintenance. Several institutions noted unique pressures from geography, growth, research intensity, and mission, such as UCF’s size and engineering focus, UF’s land-grant and research enterprise, FAMU’s need to recruit top talent while serving a high-Pell student population, and FSU’s large facilities and research obligations. The chancellor also summarized systemwide cost growth since 2012-13, including higher health insurance, retirement, and salary costs, while noting tuition had been held flat. The committee then discussed other revenue sources, including auxiliaries, restricted funds, capital projects, and component units such as foundations and health systems. University leaders explained that many of these funds are restricted to specific purposes, and some, like UF Health, account for a large share of operating expenses. Members also discussed the current performance-based funding process. University representatives generally praised it for transparency, accountability, and its focus on student success, but said the heavy use of one-time funds, nonrecurring appropriations, and unfunded mandates makes long-term planning difficult. FSU and others argued that rising employee costs, waivers, and facilities expenses are not fully covered, while FAMU said performance funding has improved outcomes but can disadvantage institutions serving more low-income students. In response to questions about improvements, the universities suggested more recurring and predictable funding, better coverage of mandated costs, more flexibility in fees, and continued investment in research and strategic priorities. The chancellor said the Board of Governors is considering a version 3.0 of performance funding that would benchmark institutions against peers and Carnegie classifications. The committee also explored whether universities should have more flexibility to set out-of-state tuition and professional school tuition. Most university leaders favored giving boards of trustees more authority, while the chancellor cautioned that increasing out-of-state enrollment or tuition too much could affect legislative support. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair thanking the panel and adjourning the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• 148 um the current law allocation 148 um the current law allocation between<00:48:36.040> the
• It's literally going from 36% of the allocation out of the TAA to 0% out of the allocation of the TAA
• He asked the author what the basis was for that change in the allocation.
• He asked the author what the basis was for that change in the allocation.
• bridges and there is a allocation bridges and there is a allocation formula<01:18:38.600> that

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Hillary Waserberger, uh, the grants manager, is here as well.
• uh the grants manager is here<00:01:47.040> as<00:01:47.200> well.
• This one started, I think, with a grant of 250,000.
• a grant of 250,000. a grant of 250,000.
• So, the allocations are usually about $120 an acre.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tens of millions of dollars have already been restricted or cut from federal grants.
• re-entry services and allocating $37 million for Kalhale development projects.
• Um although award $50 million in grants.
• > appropriation support the allocation and appropriation support the allocation and appropriation
• <04:53:50.798> grant including performing arts grant grant including performing arts grant

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then a subsequent agreement that was entered is called the New Mexico Opioid Allocation Agreement.
• So, back in 2023, we had a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant for MOUD services.
• PMS also, in accordance to that grant, facilitates two full-time employees.
• And these planning grants are part of that.
• And $21.3 million was allocated for the Medicaid expansion. Representative Lujan: Thank you.

Transcript Highlights:

• A detailed 2025 NRAP allocation.
• , this allocation looks Hopefully, this allocation looks familiar<00:56:46.240> to<00:56:46.480
• Funding is allocated to projects lakes.
• So the list that we grant program.
• bound by um that competitive grant bound by um that competitive grant program<01:12:14.159> uh

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee first approved the March 3, 2026 minutes by voice vote. It then heard a presentation from the Minnesota Zoo on its aging facilities and bonding needs. Zoo staff highlighted the zoo’s economic and educational role, its 1.4 to 1.5 million annual visitors, and its Free to Explore program, while stressing that many of its 50-year-old buildings are in poor condition, with more than $78 million in backlog and safety concerns for visitors, staff, and animals. The zoo said the governor recommended $4 million for critical life-support systems and asked for an additional $6 million in asset preservation to renovate the original animal hospital building so a new hospital wing can function properly. Testimony emphasized that the renovation is necessary for staff space, storage, code compliance, asbestos removal, and safe animal care, and described recent injuries and close calls tied to outdated facilities. Members asked questions about porcupine quills, natural predators, and the meaning of the zoo’s incident rate. Zoo staff explained that quills are not poisonous but are barbed and can be difficult to remove, and that predators include larger cats, owls, and fishers. On incidents, staff said they include close calls and injuries linked to aging infrastructure, such as a tiger reaching farther through a wall after fencing shifted over time, and staff injuries during animal procedures in older spaces. Members also confirmed that the hospital project has shifted from a standalone building to a wing attached to the existing hospital because of rising construction costs. The committee then heard from Perpich Center for Arts Education. Perpich described its statewide role as both a public high school and an arts education resource center, serving students and educators across Minnesota. It said it hosted 313 events last year for nearly 2,000 educators and administrators and worked with 275 school districts across all 67 Senate districts. Perpich emphasized that nearly seven in 10 students rely on its residential programs because there are no comparable arts high school options in greater Minnesota, and noted strong student outcomes including a 100% graduation rate and national recognition as an exemplary school. For capital needs, Perpich said it received $1.26 million last year for HVAC and building automation work, is grateful for the governor’s recommended $1.3 million this year, and requested $6 million to create a secure, accessible main entrance and upgrade outdated restrooms to ADA compliance.

Transcript Highlights:

• Questions for Grant? Anyone? Seeing none, thanks, Grant.
• So the TANF Block Grant does allow for our program to transition 30% of the TANF Block Grant to the child
• So it’s prior grant years that was unutilized.
• The Destination Development Grant Program was allocated $25 million by the 67th Legislative Assembly.
• The Destination Development Grant Program was allocated $25 million by the 67th Legislative Assembly.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But HCD is, of course, going to be working with the state and local entities to allocate this to the
• The provisional language does have language in there that does say 'promptly allocated.'
• So you can just walk us through a bit, obviously this is a very high level, how that will be allocated
• . allocated and transferred to departments upon notice to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
• allocated.

Transcript Highlights:

• How are you going to choose how to allocate the funding, and to what locations?
• How are you going to choose how to allocate the funding and to what locations?
• Permission granted.
• Permission granted.
• Permission granted. Why did you choose 10%?

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks to Arkansas Boys State delegates about leadership, public service, and the significance of the Capitol, followed by prayer, attendance, and announcements that both chambers were organized and ready for business. The House then considered House Bill 1001, which would have increased funding for rural health care through a 10% tax on people earning at least $300,000; supporters argued it would improve access and quality in rural areas, while opponents raised concerns about fairness, funding, and driving away doctors and taxpayers. The bill failed, 24 yeas to 51 nays. House Bill 1002, aimed at funding more teachers for rural school districts and limiting how many subjects a teacher could be assigned, drew debate over teacher burnout, funding, and whether it would improve outcomes; it passed after immediate consideration, 38 yeas to 36 nays, though the transcript later includes a conflicting note that it failed. House Bill 1003, the Arkansas Data Centers Act of 2026, would let counties restrict data centers and impose a 10% tax for conservation; supporters emphasized local control and resource protection, while opponents warned about jobs, economic loss, and federal issues. It passed 62 yeas to 7 nays. House Bill 1004, reducing motor vehicle registration fees, was debated as a way to ease costs for families but criticized for reducing transportation funding; it failed, 20 yeas to 46 nays. The chamber then moved to Senate bills. Senate Bill 1 proposed incentives tied to SNAP benefits and healthier food purchases, including a Double Bucks-style program; supporters said it would help address food insecurity and obesity, while opponents objected to taxing junk food and burdening non-SNAP users. It passed 43 yeas to 27 nays. Senate Bill 2 would require reading tests in earlier grades and provide state tutoring for students who fail; supporters said it would address literacy problems early, while opponents wanted clearer provisions for older students and more detail on implementation. It passed 67 yeas to 6 nays. Senate Bill 3, the Freedom to Earn Act, would lower the individual income tax rate from 3.7% to 3.0%; supporters said it would help working families and attract business, while opponents argued the benefits would mostly go to corporations and wealthy executives. It passed 53 yeas to 15 nays. Senate Bill 4 created a zoning grant program to encourage mixed-use development in growing cities, funded by a 1% hotel tourism tax up to $50 million; supporters said it would promote housing, small business growth, and downtown revitalization, and it passed 51 yeas to 7 nays. The session ended with a motion to adjourn, which carried.