Transcript Highlights:

• Just want to make a statement that we already have grants that are going out to all of our communities
• Just want to make a statement that we already have grants that are going out to all of our communities
• Just want to make a statement that we already have grants that are going out to all of our communities
• Just want to make a statement that we already have grants that are going out to all of our communities
• or any pauses that door to the grants or any pauses that our<00:58:10.000><c> communities</c><00:58:

Bills: HF1 , HF98

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Community food assistance provider grant program.
• Community services block grant, $86,475,029. Disaster resilience rebuilding program, 3.1 FTE.
• Community development block grant, $88,820,748.
• Section 5 Community development block grant, $88,820,748.
• Law Enforcement Community Services Grant Program, 1.0 FTE.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:46.720><c> community</c><00:09:47.360><c> and</c> 355, the community community and 355, the
• ><c> grants.
• </c><00:10:03.200><c> And</c><00:10:03.360><c> again,</c> community festival grants.
• And again, community festival grants.
• our community any good.

Transcript Highlights:

• environment community tomorrow, these community<00:41:27.840><c> grant</c><00:41:28.120><c> programs<
• And I mentioned earlier the community grants program.
• under $50,000 in the community grants program.
• And I mentioned earlier the community grants program.
• under $50,000 in the community grants program.

Bills: HF3564

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• from the specialty dental clinic grant program, which is a grant program for infrastructure.
• to serve their community.
• to serve their, your own, you know, good, stable folks from the community to serve their community.
• As was mentioned, there's been several grant recipients who have declined multimillion-dollar grants
• Over the... ...grants and technology and tool grants as well.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Health heard updates on five health-related budget items. First, members reviewed state support for distressed hospitals and health facilities. The California Health Facilities Financing Authority and HCAI described the Distressed Hospital Loan Program as a lifeline for 16 hospitals, many of which remain financially strained and are expected to seek loan forgiveness rather than repayment. Speakers cited reduced contract labor, new service lines, strategic partnerships, and the reopening of Madera Hospital as signs of progress, but also warned that federal policy changes under H.R. 1 will likely increase uncompensated care and pressure emergency departments. Public commenters from hospital, dental, and consumer groups supported additional funding, including a request to refresh the program with another $300 million. The committee then heard HCAI’s update on the California Rural Health Transformation Program, a five-year federal initiative funded at $233.6 million for California. HCAI said the program will focus on rural care models, workforce development, and health technology, with grants to be rolled out on a fast timeline and all funds obligated by October 30, 2026. Members raised concerns about rural provider capacity to apply for grants, and HCAI said it will use a third-party administrator, a technical assistance center, webinars, and other supports to help applicants. HCAI also presented its budget request for the health care payments database, seeking ongoing non-General Fund support to continue operations and expand data, including pharmacy benefit manager data. The Emergency Medical Services Authority presented three budget change proposals: funding to replace disaster medical services fleet vehicles, funding for IT security work, and additional positions for HR, enforcement, and legal workload. A member also raised concern that EMSA has not yet completed the annual ambulance rate reporting required by AB 716, and EMSA said it remains committed to the requirement but lost prior funding through later budget reductions. Covered California reported that it is still finalizing its own budget, but expects a lower operating budget due to efforts to reduce baseline costs and align spending with actual expenditures; it also projected enrollment declines tied to the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits, H.R. 1, and federal rule changes, while noting that revenues may still rise because premiums are expected to increase. Finally, the Department of Managed Health Care outlined budget proposals tied to menopause coverage and education, PBM licensure and enforcement under AB 116 and SB 41, credentialing reforms under AB 1041, and prior authorization reporting under SB 306. Public testimony generally supported the menopause and PBM proposals, while also urging clearer language and attention to Medi-Cal parity. The hearing concluded after public comment, including additional advocacy for sickle cell services and rural health workforce funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• for grant denial appeals, so timeline for grant denial appeals, so agencies<00:07:10.160><c> can</c>
• award the grant to another entity.
• </c> grant to another entity. grant to another entity.
• , good grants management Additionally, good grants management requires<00:10:19.240><c> adequate</c><
• It's so important to my community.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• Urban forests are crucial... are critical for... resilience within our communities, and through our grants
• revitalization grants.
• Community revitalization grants.
• Ecuador Community Revitalization Grant Program, and how many are you now able to do given the reductions
• For example, the SB 1383 local assistance grant programs, the organics grant programs, and the community

Transcript Highlights:

• Mobile farmers market grant program, which will provide grants to support the necessary infrastructure
• Awarding these grants between winter 2026 and spring 2027.
• about a hundred and fifty grants in 2026-27.
• The grant program has four tracks to create change.
• after the grants end.

Transcript Highlights:

• It provides ongoing funding for the Department of Commerce Community Services Division to provide a grant
• In this case, in federal grants.
• communities.
• That's super important to all of our communities, especially some of mine, as my community was affected
• That's super important to all of our communities, especially some of mine, as my community was affected

Bills: HB2289

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: appropriations, budget, fiscal matters, state spending, general fund, supplemental budget, biennial budget, substitute bill, public defense, civil legal aid, courts, judicial branch, homelessness, supportive housing, affordable housing, behavioral health, juvenile rehabilitation, youth services, child welfare, foster care

Transcript Highlights:

• The community has to own it.
• run</c> Community Learning grants that run Community Learning grants that run through through through
• Where is the communications?
• Where is the communications?
• Where is the communications?

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• However, with the grant funding...
• And finally, if the Wood Innovation Grant program, which is a federal grant program, continues, that
• Grant component for communities with populations of less than 200,000 people, and what I mean by being
• That's a 100% grant.
• left out of community solar.

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• effect on housing in our community as the BDP grant did for job creation and help communities all across
• effect on housing in our community as the BDP grant did for job creation and help communities all across
• effect on housing in our community as the BDP grant did for job creation and help communities all across
• as the bdp housing in our community as the bdp grant<00:09:07.760><c> did</c><00:09:07.959><c> for</
• did for the job creation and help grant did for the job creation and help communities<00:09:10.680><

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• and then impacted communities.
• The communities are there.
• And then get a whole community and go, okay, this community is in pretty good shape.
• So having block grants and clearinghouse funding where you can you've established with community groups
• Like the communities say, oh my gosh, this flood happened in this community.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have Forest Health grants, we have business and workforce development grants, we have tribal wildfire
• resilience grants, but primarily the Forest Health grants, and also wildfire prevention grants administered
• resilience grants, but primarily the Forest Health grants, and also wildfire prevention grants administered
• existing grant criteria.
• Approximately how many regional block grants can this fund and what fact regional block grants can this

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview from the California Conservation Corps on its 50-year history, current operations, and budget proposals. Director J.P. Patton described the CCC’s work in conservation, disaster response, education, and workforce development, noting 26 facilities, about 3,000 Corps members annually, and a funding mix of roughly 55% General Fund and 45% reimbursements. Members praised the program and asked about revenue sources, recruitment, retention, and post-service tracking. The CCC said it has a 5,000-person waitlist, uses first-come, first-served admissions with minimal eligibility requirements, and is working to improve data on outcomes. The committee also discussed the Greenwood Residential Center, where the CCC seeks staffing and operating funds to reopen a rebuilt facility in El Dorado County; the LAO suggested considering fewer new members or a delayed opening to reduce General Fund pressure, but no vote was taken and the item was held open. The committee then considered a CCC wildfire readiness proposal to move hand crews to a seven-day operational schedule. CCC and Cal Fire representatives said the change is needed because wildfire is now year-round and because the current model leaves crews unavailable in many months due to staffing gaps. They said the proposal would improve reliability for Cal Fire, preserve training opportunities for Corps members, and better align the CCC with Cal Fire’s 66-hour workweek. The LAO supported the concept but recommended considering lower-cost alternatives, such as relief staffing or partial reimbursement. Members also discussed the decline in incarcerated fire crews, with Cal Fire explaining that reforms and eligibility changes have reduced the pool of incarcerated people who qualify for camp and fire work. One member raised the use of goats and grazing for fuel reduction, and staff responded that such methods can help with prevention but cannot replace hand crews for suppression. The item was held open. Cal Fire then presented its department overview, emphasizing its expanded workforce, year-round wildfire response, vegetation management, community preparedness, and partnerships with federal, local, tribal, and private entities. Members asked about contract counties such as Orange County, reforestation and seedling capacity, federal reimbursement, and the 66-hour workweek rollout. Cal Fire said it is still below the seedling capacity needed for post-fire reforestation and relies heavily on public-private partnerships. The committee also reviewed a proposal for permanent funding for defensible space inspections. Cal Fire said it needs 31 positions and ongoing General Fund support to replace temporary funding that expires in 2027 and to maintain a goal of 250,000 inspections per year. The LAO said the proposal has merit but suggested alternatives such as a different General Fund/GGRF mix, reinstating an SRA fee, or approving the positions on a one-time basis. Members generally supported the work but raised budget concerns, and the proposal was held open. Finally, Cal Fire began presenting a fixed-wing pilot and mechanics contract increase, explaining that its aviation fleet has grown and become more complex, requiring more pilots and maintainers for year-round operations. The department said labor market pressures have increased contractor costs and that the contract is needed to support continuous aerial firefighting readiness. The transcript cuts off before further discussion or any action on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• Getting to Work grant program.
• </c> for talent shortage in our communities. for talent shortage in our communities.
• </c> communities that we work in. communities that we work in.
• </c><00:47:24.160><c> Um</c> all of our communities. Um all of our communities.
• </c> community than we can report on. community than we can report on.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• communities, and immigrant communities.
• Build relationships with communities of color, emerging communities, and immigrant communities, and we've
• And of course, we have emerging communities in the Karen community.
• Communities in the Karen community.
• cultural communities.

Bills: HF1354 , HF1901 , HF2124 , HF2130 , HF2260 , HF2099 , HF104 , HF134 , HF1769

Committee: House Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• He is not only a legend in our community, but he's done so much in community service across the Antelope
• The commission has a grant rate of roughly 30 percent between the number of grants of parole and the
• The permission to read is not granted.
• Her devotion to the community was extraordinary.
• Her devotion to the community was extraordinary.

Transcript Highlights:

• TESSORS provides a mechanism for communities, TESSORS provides a mechanism for communities to support
• Grant specialists will review them.
• in their local communities.
• and cultural district grants.
• in their communities.

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations from the Legislative Budget Board and agency officials on several agencies, starting with the Texas Historical Commission. LBB described a large biennial reduction driven mainly by the removal of one-time funding and discussed capital projects, rider changes, and exceptional items including Presidio La Bahia and the National Museum of the Pacific War. Senators asked about heritage trails, courthouse grants, unexpended balance authority, and the status of historical-site funding. Historical Commission leadership emphasized preservation, courthouse restoration, heritage tourism, coordination with the Alamo and other Texas Revolution sites, and requested additional IT, staffing, and vehicle funding. No votes were taken. The committee then reviewed the Pension Review Board and the Employees Retirement System. The Pension Review Board’s budget was largely unchanged aside from IT maintenance and salary adjustments, with an exceptional item for additional IT enhancements. Members discussed the Dallas Police and Fire Pension System’s funding dispute and the need for a workable restoration plan. ERS presented a much larger budget, including funding for the retirement system, the group benefits plan, and the legacy payment intended to reduce unfunded liability. Senators focused heavily on pension investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health-care costs, especially pharmacy spending driven by GLP-1 drugs; ERS said the plan covers about 540,000 lives and that premiums would rise 8% while benefits remain unchanged. ERS also said it had no exceptional items, and committee members requested more detailed benchmark information. The committee also heard from the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas. TESSORS reported an unfunded liability, an infinite amortization period, and requested additional state support, staffing, and IT funding, including a statutory change to allow a higher contribution level; the agency warned that without more funding it may have to cut benefits. CEPRIT’s presentation covered its bond-funded cancer research and prevention portfolio, revenue-sharing from funded projects, and a request to increase salary limits for its CEO and chief scientific officer. Senators questioned CEPRIT’s accomplishments and return on investment, while CEPRIT cited screening, prevention, and research outcomes, including tens of thousands of detected cancers and precursors and hundreds of thousands of first-time screenings. The meeting ended after these presentations and questions, with no recorded committee action or vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is an amended federal grant for the Senior Community Service Employment Program."
• These are the DHS grants. Members, do we have any questions on DHS grants?
• This is also a federal grant." "With St.
• This is amendment four to an existing grant. It's a federal grant.
• Members, any questions on these grants?

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Transcript Highlights:

• that we would do at a statewide level. ...community schools.
• And I think when the community is able to see their young graduates, students go into the community colleges
• Grant Program if approved?
• So one of the next rounds of things that we'll do with that grants management...
• I am a recipient of the Golden State Teacher Grant, and this grant transformed my life by removing financial