Transcript Highlights:

• It's my pleasure to present SB 762, a bill which responds to the growing fiscal pressures facing local
• Cities and counties are facing growing fiscal pressures driven by rising health care and public safety
• But despite these efforts, fiscal challenges persist.
• When they bought the home, the transfer paper did not note that there was a violation.
• And when it comes to the fiscal, larger fiscal issue, this is an ongoing human and legal cost of repeated

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, as I noted earlier, Ecology was directed by the legislators to develop four clean energy programmatic
• Just going over the revenue impact of the 2020 law, the fiscal note assumed first-year revenue impacts
• , $3.5 million for fiscal year 2023, and $3.6 million in fiscal year 2024.
• year 22 of $2.5 million, $3.5 for fiscal year 23, and $3.6 million in fiscal $2.4.24.
• And the fiscal note for the bill enacted this past session, the 4% penalty would be subject to B&O and

Summary: The committee held a work session on state environmental policy act (SEPA) implementation and carryout bags. Ecology staff Diane Buterak described the Clean Energy Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements (PEISs) completed for utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen, plus a new PEIS underway for sustainable aviation fuel. She explained that PEISs provide broad planning-level analysis to help developers and agencies avoid or mitigate impacts, but do not replace project-level review. Members asked about permitting timelines, greenhouse gas emissions from different hydrogen production methods, water use, agricultural land conversion, battery fire risk, and tribal consultation. Buterak said the PEISs identify potentially significant impacts and mitigation measures, including fire response planning, early tribal outreach, and agrovoltaics as an option for solar projects. EFSEC’s Amy Hofkimer then presented the transmission-facility programmatic EIS required by SB 5165 for 230 kV and higher transmission projects. She said the statewide review covers new lines and certain upgrades/modifications, analyzes impacts to water, cultural and tribal resources, habitat, and other areas, and uses general measures, design considerations, avoidance criteria, and sensitivity maps to guide siting and corridor planning. She said the final document would be issued in early October. Questions focused on reconductoring, tribal lands, scenic areas, and whether the review could affect existing lines crossing tribal lands. A Grant County planning director, Jim Anderson Cook, said Ecology’s PEIS would help with cumulative impacts for clustered solar projects, but noted tight local review timelines and the need for strong pre-application coordination, especially on cultural resource studies and decommissioning plans. Yakama Nation attorney Shona Leverett argued SEPA is only an assessment tool and said tribes face barriers from short comment periods, limited confidential tribal input, weak cumulative impact analysis, and challenges in the FSEC process; she urged better upfront developer diligence and more effective tribal coordination. Puget Sound Energy’s Sarah Leverett said the utility needs efficient and predictable permitting to meet clean energy mandates while maintaining reliable service and aging infrastructure. She described the scale of needed clean energy and transmission buildout, including a 10-year process for the Energize Eastside transmission rebuild, and said more consistent SEPA and PEIS processes could help. Members asked about future generation sources, reliability, and hydropower as a firming resource; she said PSE is pursuing an “all of the above” approach and would welcome more firm, dispatchable clean energy options. The committee then shifted to carryout bags. Staff Jacob Lipson and Tracy Taylor reviewed Washington’s bag law, its preemption of local ordinances, the current 8-cent charge, the scheduled increase to 12 cents, and the 2025 change delaying the 4-mil thickness requirement until 2028 while adding a temporary 4-cent penalty for thicker bags. Ecology’s Peter Lyon said the agency emphasizes education and complaint-based enforcement, has received 872 reports, and has not yet imposed any fines. Commerce’s Kirk Esmond summarized a WSU study finding fewer plastic bags distributed but more plastic by weight, and said Commerce and Ecology support keeping the 2.25-mil standard and not allowing thinner single-use bags again. Retail industry testimony from Brandon Housekeeper said grocers comply with the law but oppose the added 4-cent penalty and thicker-bag requirement, citing higher costs and confusion in the policy changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• the Cabinet for Finance, we have looked at the number of fees that have been charged in this past fiscal
• year and the number of cases fiscal year and the number of cases overall<00:08:38.919> it<00:
• So currently in fiscal year 25, the General Assembly has appropriated $12.3 million in fiscal year 25
• on where we got to today but each fiscal on where we got to today but each fiscal year<00:43:24.480
• <00:44:41.559> year million in fiscal year million in fiscal year 25<00:44:43.960> and<

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to discuss the guardian ad litem system, including appointment qualifications, training, payment, and whether any changes are needed. Roll was called, the February 25, 2025 minutes were approved, and the chair emphasized that the meeting was informational only and no vote would be taken. Representatives from the Court of Justice, including Chief Justice Deborah Henry Lambert and several family and district judges, testified about how the system has evolved since concerns raised in 2019 about overappointment and fees. Court witnesses said the judiciary responded to earlier concerns by requiring open appointment lists of trained and qualified attorneys, improving training, and increasing oversight of fee orders. They reported that statewide GAL fees have fallen from a little over $14 million in 2019 to about $12 million, even as caseloads have grown, and said the average payment works out to about $650 per case, with the statutory cap for trial-level GAL fees still set at $500 since 1986. They argued that the current local appointment model works well, especially in rural areas, and warned that moving to a DPA-style regional model would create serious scheduling and conflict problems because of overlapping dockets and related criminal cases. Judges from rural districts described shortages of available attorneys, high burnout, travel burdens, and the difficulty of finding enough counsel in smaller counties. They also said the Court of Justice cannot seek certain federal Title IV-E reimbursements, but urged the legislature to encourage the Finance and Administration Cabinet and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to pursue that funding through an MOU. One judge noted that some appointed attorneys are effectively underpaid relative to private rates and that better compensation would help attract and retain lawyers. The discussion also covered training standards adopted after the 2019 audit. Witnesses said Rule 37 now requires initial training and four hours of multidisciplinary continuing training every two years, with topics including child development, trauma-informed care, substance use, child welfare, forensics, ethics, and communication with clients. They said the Court of Justice has offered in-person regional trainings and remote options, and that the goal is to keep qualified attorneys on the appointment lists while improving representation for children and parents in dependency, neglect, abuse, and termination-of-parental-rights cases.

Transcript Highlights:

• But back in fiscal year 12, which was the first year that the subsidy had been eliminated for cities
• But back in fiscal answering questions.
• Uh in fiscal 25, and this is million.
• Oh, yes, sir. >> I just wanted to note there was a revised fiscal note sent out on January 12th.
• Thank you. revised fiscal note um sent out on revised fiscal note um sent out on January<00:53:21.280

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Before I go on, I want to say, as a point of personal note, I applaud the author.
• Clerk will note. I say that's it. Clerk will note. I say that's it.
• That's not responsible fiscal policy.
• on budget and fiscal review, presented...
• Just note that the resources for the election were provided in a prior bill.

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance recognizing 9/11. Members then moved through a long daily file and concurrence calendar, with many items passed without debate or temporarily retained. The chamber also took procedural actions, including re-referring AB 1152 to the Public Safety Committee, suspending rules for guest access and file-item handling, and later taking a roll-call vote to allow a late-filed journal letter request. Among the major Senate bills taken up on third reading, the Assembly approved SB 385 on peace officers’ rights, SB 753 on shopping cart recovery, SB 838 on housing and hotel projects, SB 643 on carbon dioxide removal grants, SB 645 on jury peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 761 on CalFresh access for students, SB 774 on real estate licensing sunsets, SB 400 on renewable energy labor tax incentives, SB 24 on utility spending transparency, SB 37 on attorney advertising ethics, SB 258 on spousal rape involving disabled spouses, SB 364 on outdoor advertising near new freeways, SB 403 removing the sunset from medical aid in dying, SB 770 on HOA barriers to EV charging, and SB 22 on gift certificate cash redemption values. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition; SB 403 and SB 770 drew more divided votes, while SB 24 was briefly delayed by a call before passing. The Assembly also concurred in numerous Senate amendments on Assembly bills covering a wide range of topics, including service of process (AB 747), local clean energy planning (AB 39), firearms (AB 1078), workers’ compensation (AB 1336), public health (AB 1487), survivor leave protections (AB 406), solid waste (AB 70), water reporting for data centers (AB 93), Diwali recognition (AB 268), wildfire workforce recovery (AB 338), educational equity (AB 419), civic education (AB 422), office-to-housing conversions (AB 507), cannabis tax relief (AB 564), privacy/browser opt-out rules (AB 566), housing element transparency (AB 610), tenant appliance requirements (AB 628), code enforcement penalties (AB 632), homelessness and LGBTQ-related policy (AB 678), energy (AB 740), DEIA review in state government (AB 766), inmate firefighter wages (AB 247), children’s health (AB 798), real estate (AB 851), COVID-era rehiring protections (AB 858), hazardous materials (AB 961), real property and housing covenants (AB 1050), aging (AB 1069), health care facilities (AB 1172), endangered species protections (AB 1319), CalWORKs modernization (AB 1324), cannabis access for seriously ill patients (AB 1332), foreign labor contractors (AB 1362), and downtown revitalization financing (AB 1445). Several of these passed overwhelmingly, while a few drew notable opposition, including AB 93, AB 403, AB 770, AB 851, AB 1050, and AB 1319. The transcript also included extended debate on SB 34, which was presented as a compromise measure on air pollution and port operations in the San Pedro Bay area. Supporters said it narrowed the scope to protect union jobs while preserving AQMD authority, while opponents and supporters alike noted the underlying distrust between labor and environmental stakeholders. The Assembly passed SB 34, SB 515 on disaggregated demographic data collection, and then began taking up AB 495 on immigration, with the sponsor describing family separation and immigration enforcement trauma before the transcript cuts off.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have requested that fiscal note.
• I have requested that fiscal note.
• I have requested that fiscal note.
• <01:31:13.840> impact no fiscal note was a local impact no fiscal note was a local impact
• there's no fiscal note I'm being told there's no fiscal note I'm being told there's<01:31:44.400

Bills: HF10

Keywords: undocumented immigrants, state funding, MinnesotaCare, scholarship ineligibility, state assistance, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• year after fiscal year, also going to supplemental... ...fiscal year after fiscal year, also going to
• This fiscal year now, we are on track. Well, let me start with last fiscal year.
• As we noted last year in the hearing in Clinton, the next fiscal years would require more than average
• fiscal year 2024.
• our fiscal year 26 GAA.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held its sixth public hearing on the Governor’s H-2 budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, focused on public safety and judiciary agencies, at the Foxborough Community Center. After opening remarks and local welcomes, the committee heard first from the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, led by Secretary Gina Kwan, who outlined a $1.72 billion budget, up $69.8 million from FY26. She said the proposal emphasizes core operations, readiness, and partnerships with municipalities, and highlighted work on firearms-law implementation, State Police reform, DOC reentry efforts, hate-crimes prevention, emergency response, and planning for major events including the World Cup. Members also raised concerns about DNA backlog reporting, State Police academy boxing and training standards, ICE communication, disaster relief funding, crime lab staffing, EMS placement, and diversity in public safety leadership. Several exchanges focused on specific operational issues. Secretary Kwan and her team said the State Police are tracking the influx of forensic work from local sheriffs, that the boxing program remains suspended pending an IACP review and likely will not return in its prior form, and that EOPS has no direct communication with ICE but supports law-enforcement coordination where appropriate. On disaster preparedness, officials said the new disaster relief fund is being developed with MEMA and A&F, currently capitalized at $14 million with another $14 million expected, though members urged a more permanent funding source. On the crime lab, staff said the roughly $4.5 million increase is intended to cover core operations and a structural funding gap rather than expand services. The secretary also said EOPS is not ready to absorb OEMS from DPH at this time, though she would keep an open mind. The committee then heard from district attorneys, led by Suffolk County DA Kevin Hayden, who said the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association is seeking a 10% increase in operating budgets, including about $16.7 million for staffing salaries, to recruit and retain prosecutors, advocates, and support staff. He said the request reflects rising workload and the need to keep the criminal justice system functioning efficiently and fairly. The hearing was recessed briefly after the district attorneys’ opening remarks, with additional testimony expected to continue afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have a fiscal note on this yet, Mr.
• We don't have a fiscal note on County.
• note is what going to force the fiscal note is what we're<02:46:49.840> going<02:46:49.840>
• note and we have yet to get for a fiscal note and we have yet to get one<02:47:12.479> so<02:
• If we fiscal note, same conversations we had with the 1146.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Finally, it's really important to note that this is permissive, not a requirement.
• We also feel like in a time of tight fiscal resources, if we can lend our expertise and our network and
• this is permissive, not a note that this is permissive, not a requirement.<00:02:49.840> So,<
• Uh, as noted, my name is Stefan Whitehead.
• Uh as noted, my name is Stefan forward.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee heard House File 3467, a policy bill by Representative Ray Brower that would give the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs clearer statutory authority to collaborate with veterans organizations using staff time, expertise, and other nonmonetary resources. Brower and MDVA testified that the bill is permissive, does not move money, and is intended to help the agency support initiatives related to food insecurity, homelessness, suicide prevention, and similar needs. They cited a DAV-led effort to expand veterans food pantry services statewide as the main example, including possible use of MDVA space and staff support, and noted a reporting requirement to legislative veterans committee leaders. John Kelly of MDVA said the bill arose from discussions with agency counsel and is meant to avoid uncertainty about whether the department can partner quickly on emerging initiatives. Stefan Whitehead of the Disabled American Veterans described the food pantry work already underway in Minneapolis, where DAV says it serves about 300 boxes of food a month, and said the organization wants to expand statewide with MDVA’s help in identifying need, coordinating partners, and connecting veterans to benefits and other resources. He emphasized that DAV is not seeking state funding, but rather MDVA expertise and coordination. Members generally supported the concept but raised concerns about the bill’s wording and whether it could be read to allow use of agency resources beyond nonmonetary support or lead to added costs or staff positions. Chair Bliss and Representative Wilson asked for clarifying language to ensure the bill does not authorize spending or full-time employees, and Kelly said MDVA was willing to work on amendments to make that clear. The committee did not take final action and instead laid the bill over for possible amendment and further work.

Transcript Highlights:

• > uh just going to note that in the fiscal uh just going to note that in the fiscal uh methodology
• Um, I see that this was amended in the Senate and there's a fiscal note, but the fiscal note is dated
• Senate and there's a fiscal note but the<03:45:06.080> fiscal<03:45:06.479> note<03:45:
• revised fiscal revised fiscal note?
• <03:55:47.199> note also want to say that the fiscal note also want to say that the fiscal

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 292, which would authorize a governor’s warrant to cover special education aid shortfalls from the education trust fund, and from the general fund if needed, so local school districts would not have to absorb prorated costs or raise local property taxes. Senator Lang said the bill was prompted by a prior $15 million special education funding shortfall caused by higher-than-expected catastrophic aid claims, including more qualifying students and the recent increase in the special education age limit to 22. He emphasized that the bill is intended to ensure the state meets its funding commitment and avoid shifting costs to towns. Members asked about how the bill interacts with House Bill 742 and House Bill 773, including whether the language should be merged or whether the state should fund 100% versus an 80% floor. Lang said he was open to improving the bill and to adding a study committee or performance audit on special education costs, but maintained that the state should not push costs to local taxpayers when it has available funds. The hearing on SB 292 was then closed, with no vote taken. The committee then opened Senate Bill 98, which would extend for five more years a tax credit program for donations to regional career and technical education centers. Senator Waters said the program has been successful in building partnerships between CTE centers and employers, especially through equipment donations that support training and apprenticeships. He cited examples including automotive, marine trades, and advanced manufacturing programs, and said the five-year extension would let lawmakers continue to review whether the incentive is working as intended. Several members questioned whether the credit is effectively a 100% subsidy and how the cap works. Waters and another member explained that the underlying program has an aggregate cap of $500,000 and that credits are prorated if requests exceed that amount; they also said the donations are primarily equipment, not cash. Some members raised concerns about whether businesses could also claim other tax deductions or credits, but the sponsor said the existing structure has been in place for years and has been revisited periodically. No vote was taken during the hearing excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, HGA noted the difference between about $600 or so.
• So we do try to be fiscally conservative in the amounts that we allow to contribute for that reason.
• I do<00:21:46.000> just<00:21:46.159> want<00:21:46.240> to<00:21:46.400> note
• and support, but I just do want to note and support, but I just do want to note that<00:30:10.640
• Note in the committee SHA with May.

Bills: SB2119, SB3131, SB3069, SB3180, SB2137, SB2993, SB2778, SB2672, SB2014, SB2967

Keywords: reimbursement, public employees, travel costs, government travel policy, finance management, job title, administrative assistant, executive assistant, state personnel, civil service, modernization, employment standards, DAGS, Department of Accounting and General Services, comptroller, civil service exemption, collective bargaining exemption, public works special project branch, specialized public works, information technology modernization

Transcript Highlights:

• Two, it has no fiscal note. It costs us nothing to pass this bill.
• That is something that we saw has a pretty significant fiscal note.
• So moving significant fiscal note.
• Updated fiscal note on an amendment until it is adopted by the whole body.
• > note<01:18:57.280> that<01:18:57.600> gets For an official fiscal note that gets

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's Senate Bill 118 fiscal note.
• It's got about four components in it, and it does have a bit of a fiscal note.
• It's Senate Bill 118 fiscal note.
• I think you said 50 to this fiscal note.
• <00:26:11.919> note and I worked on the fiscal note and I worked on the fiscal note worksheet

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 118, as amended, which contains several unrelated provisions with a modest fiscal note. Nathan White of the Department of Health and Human Services explained that section 1 would change the personal needs allowance for Medicaid-eligible residents of private and county nursing homes from an adjustment every five years to an annual adjustment, increasing the state cost by about $50,000 per year. He also described section 2, a one-time appropriation of about $160,000 to make certain Hampstead employees whole for missed bonuses and lost leave during the state’s transition of the facility to Dartmouth management. White then outlined sections 3 through 5, which would create a dedicated fund for Hampstead lease revenue to cover the state’s contractual obligation to match Dartmouth capital improvements dollar-for-dollar up to $3 million. He said the state receives about $1.141 million in lease revenue in the first year, with a 3% annual escalator, and that the fund would hold lease revenue until needed for reimbursement. Members questioned how the matching arrangement would work, what happens if Dartmouth spends before the fund has enough money, and whether the state could refuse to match certain improvements. White said Dartmouth has final determination under the agreement if disputes arise, and that if the bill does not pass the state could face difficulty meeting the obligation without cutting services or finding other general funds. Several members also raised policy concerns about the personal needs allowance becoming an automatic cost driver. Brian Clark, attorney for the Bureau of Adult and Aging Services, clarified that current law requires the allowance to be updated at least every five years, but the legislature could change it in an off year if it chose. He also explained that the allowance is money residents retain from their own income, such as Social Security, as part of Medicaid cost-of-care calculations, and that the department does not regulate how residents keep those funds. No vote was taken during the discussion, and the committee paused to correct the bill copy before continuing testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will note item a significant funding changes as I the selected fiscal and policy issues.
• within the biennium for the same purposes. in fiscal year 2027.
• On page two, I will note items A through C's changes as I cover selected fiscal. policy issues.
• The program was intended to be self-funded for fees and the bill in fiscal. note, anticipate a ramp-up
• We're trying to be as fiscally responsible as we can.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It should be noted there is no fiscal note.
• There's like the fiscal note says nothing.
• This would be for House Bill 104 with fiscal note 104.
• Secondly, the fiscal note mentions what is known as the Montgomery amendment of 10 USC 12301 F, which
• <04:44:27.680> note<04:44:27.958> 104 for House Bill 104 with fiscal note 104 for House

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I guess my question is, this is a big fiscal note. Have we talked to appropriations?
• I know there's a fiscal note.
• And we were not involved in the fiscal note, so we'd have to take that back.
• And under this fiscal note, does that mean some more staffing within that function?
• So with that, we have worked really, really hard to reduce the fiscal note.

Summary: The committee first heard SB 145, which would require adult residential care providers, especially assisted living centers, to have generators or other backup power arrangements and to submit preparedness plans to LDH. After technical amendments and testimony from the sponsor, LDH, and the assisted living industry clarifying the bill’s scope and cost concerns, the committee adopted the amendments and reported the bill favorably. It then took up SB 433, which would require Medicaid coverage of medically necessary FDA-approved weight loss drugs, including GLP-1 medications, subject to appropriations and fiscally sustainable coverage criteria; the bill was reported favorably after discussion of current Medicaid coverage and costs. The committee also approved SB 52, which requires better coordination between DCFS and LDH so SNAP and Medicaid benefits can follow children more quickly when they are removed from or returned to a home. Technical amendments changed reporting deadlines and required written notice, and the bill was reported favorably. SB 4 on public water fluoridation was amended to allow local governments or voters to opt out through a petition and election process, with support from the Louisiana Dental Association and others after compromise language was adopted; it was reported favorably with amendments. SB 152, which would prohibit the sale of cultured or lab-grown food products for human consumption, was also reported favorably with amendments after brief testimony in support and opposition. The committee next approved SCR 37, which asks the Surgeon General to review Louisiana’s informed consent laws and report back on any gaps, after discussion that the existing medical disclosure panel had not met since 2018. It then considered SB 194, a public assistance bill aligning Louisiana Medicaid and SNAP rules with recent federal changes on non-citizen eligibility and tightening Medicaid’s reasonable opportunity period for citizenship verification. After extensive debate over immigration, emergency care, and whether the bill could harm eligible applicants or rural hospitals, the committee adopted an amendment allowing LDH discretion for emergency health care services and reported the bill favorably by an 8-3 vote. Finally, HCR 113 created a task force to study gestational carrier agreements and assisted reproductive regulation; after debate over surrogacy, ethics, and referral to Civil Law, the committee rejected the referral motion and then reported the resolution favorably, and the meeting moved on to SB 333 on child-in-need-of-care proceedings and legal representation funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is for fiscal year 26 and fiscal year 27. Senator Anderson: Thank you, Mr.
• This bill is for fiscal year 26 and fiscal year 27. Senator Anderson: Thank you, Mr.
• This bill is for fiscal year 26 and fiscal year 27. Senator Anderson: Thank you, Mr.
• fiscal note on the kuc guess the on the fiscal note on the I<00:30:06.480> don't<00:30:06.919>
• note is on it the total amount of fiscal note is on it the total amount of maybe<00:30:13.399> a<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the changes that happen to that statute, they clarify and note that a cost-benefit analysis only has
• to be appended to a... ...clarify and note that a cost-benefit analysis only has to be appended to a
• We had noted, “or any other record not excluded by law.”
• If you move to the green, the fiscal division, Alan has all of his fiscal analyst positions filled.
• Moving on the green column, fiscal is solid.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Starting with fiscal year 25-26 scholarship cycle, the SFOs must implement a renewal timeline that opens
• It starts February 1st and ends April 30th of the prior fiscal year.
• 15th of the current fiscal year.
• It starts February 1st and ends April 30th of the prior fiscal year.
• 15th of the current fiscal year.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met to continue reviewing how Family Empowerment Scholarship students are funded through the FEFP and the role of scholarship funding organizations. Staff gave a statutory overview of parent, SFO, and Department of Education responsibilities, including application deadlines, eligibility verification, quarterly payment timing, cross-checks to prevent duplicate funding, and the 99% district FEFP limitation for certain awards. The committee then heard demonstrations from Step Up for Students and AAA Scholarship Foundation showing their parent portals, application workflows, reimbursement systems, school enrollment/invoice processes, and marketplace tools for tuition, tutoring, and approved goods and services. Step Up reported major growth since HB 1, saying its scholarship population expanded from about 260,000 to more than 440,000 students, with application processing averaging about 10 days. It also highlighted faster tuition, provider, and reimbursement payments, multilingual support in English and Spanish, and resources such as videos and a call center. Members asked about support for Creole speakers, optional Florida ID numbers, student identifiers, marketplace pricing, tutor qualifications, background screening, and how awards differ from funded status. Step Up said it does not currently support Creole, does not do background screenings for tutors, sets no marketplace prices itself, and uses a unique internal student ID separate from the state ID. AAA demonstrated its revised software for the 2025-26 school year, including an eligibility screener, household and student application steps, messaging with staff, reimbursement requests, and administrative review and payment batching. AAA said the new system is custom-built, more transparent about award value versus available balance, and designed to better handle quarterly funding for UA students. Members questioned AAA and Step Up about student ID numbers, public-school cross-checks, fraud controls, school fee schedules, whether schools must participate, and reimbursement timing. Both organizations said they report quarterly to DOE, receive public-school cross-checks, and recover funds when students return to public school; AAA said its average reimbursement turnaround is about 14 business days, while Step Up said its reimbursement approvals have improved significantly. The committee also requested follow-up information, including one-pagers, data on income levels and demographics, and additional details on forecasting and system costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• we ask the agencies to set fiscal we ask the agencies to set fiscal priorities<00:08:31.599>
• consolidation aid that starts in fiscal consolidation aid that starts in fiscal year<00:10:12.480
• And then fiscal years 28 and 29.
• Um and then fiscal years 28 and 29. for. Um and then fiscal years 28 and 29.
• So they'll retain that 1.5 million in fiscal year 26, but then they are reduced to 750,000 in fiscal

Bills: HF1388

Keywords: BARR Center, Building Assets, Reducing Risks, education finance, school funding, grant appropriation, evidence-based program, student achievement, social and emotional learning, school climate, teacher effectiveness, high school graduation, students in poverty, students of color, BIPOC, equity in education, Minnesota Department of Education, urban schools, suburban schools, rural schools, school coaching