Video & Transcript Research : 'predatory funding'
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TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband May 2nd, 2025
S/C on Telecommunications & Broadband
Transcript Highlights:
- alternative technologies when feasible, and this body has given our office the flexibility to use state funds
- It's led to things such as the Permanent University Fund and the Permanent School Fund.
Keywords:
broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee 2/17/25
Agriculture Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So their funding situation is adequate.
- So their funding situation is adequate.
- is</c><00:10:40.800><c> the</c><00:10:40.959><c> 2.25</c> funds our largest funding is the 2.25 funds
- </c><00:20:32.960><c> a</c> fund each time we're not able to fund a fund each time we're not able to
- Of course, the last funding stream that's also in this committee is called premium funds.
Keywords:
agriculture, agricultural education, leadership development, Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council, MAELC, chapter 41D, grant funding, general fund appropriation, commissioner of agriculture, farm education, youth agriculture programs, ag literacy, workforce development, extension education, research funding, extension services, technology transfer, grant programs, 1183, house
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions Mar 23rd, 2026
Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions
Transcript Highlights:
- So these both flow into what we call the marijuana regulation fund.
- After this revenue is deposited in the marijuana regulation fund, we’ll go to the orange section. 85%
- This 15% of the fund goes to what is called the cannabis social equity fund.
- It’s a separate fund, and it was actually established in the 2022 cannabis equity bill.
- It’s a separate fund, and it was actually established in the 2022 cannabis equity bill.
Bills:
H5005
Summary:
The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a hearing on Initiative Petition 25-10 / House Bill 5002, “An act to restore a sensible marijuana policy,” which would repeal Massachusetts’ adult-use cannabis legalization framework. The chair explained the Article 48 initiative process and noted that, if the Legislature does not enact the measure as written, additional signatures would be needed for it to qualify for the 2026 ballot. The committee heard testimony from an expert, proponents of the petition, opponents, and members of the public, and accepted written testimony through March 27 at 5 p.m.
Jessica Trow of MassBudget testified first, focusing on cannabis revenue and spending in Massachusetts. She said legalization has generated nearly $2 billion for the Commonwealth and municipalities since FY 2018, including excise tax, sales tax, local option taxes, fees, and community impact fees. She described how revenues are distributed to public health, the Cannabis Control Commission’s social equity efforts, the cannabis social equity fund, the MBTA, the School Building Authority, the general fund, and local budgets, and argued the industry has supported social equity and community investments.
Opponents of the petition argued that repeal would harm public health, consumer safety, jobs, tax revenue, and social equity programs. Wendy Wakeman, speaking for the ballot committee, said legalization has increased potency, addiction, and mental health concerns, and that the state lacks sufficient data on harms. In contrast, business owners, clinicians, and advocates including Caroline Pino, Kristen Rogers, Drudus Ledbetter, Armani White, Lucas Thayer, and Jeff Rawson said the regulated market provides tested products, jobs, tax revenue, and pathways for people harmed by prohibition, while repeal would push consumers back to the illicit market and undermine equity goals. Committee members questioned witnesses about the evidence base, the role of out-of-state funding, the petition’s impact on existing businesses, and whether narrower regulatory fixes might address concerns instead of repeal. No vote was taken; the hearing was closed after testimony ended.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- This is not only drives up costs for law-abiding Texans, but also funds further criminal enterprises.
Bills:
HB316
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships Mar 24th, 2025
S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, funds have been expended in legal fees, and now an attorney is trying to invade the separate property
- Um, they are now seeking to, because that's invalidated, to partition separate property, lock the funds
- in the registry of the court, and then because the funds are in the registry of the court and the court
- we are On a slippery slope where some attorneys are trying to invade separate property and put the funds
- If I didn't have that and I didn't have the funds, I would have still been in jail till this day.
Bills:
HB116
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- The remainder of the taxes would be placed in the state general fund.
- but don’t wholly encompass what the Well Washington Fund funds, obviously in Seattle they’re not funding
- I support this bill, HB 2100, and a Well Washington Fund.
- Passing this bill and establishing the Well Washington Fund will provide much-needed funding for programs
- If not the Well Washington Fund, then how? I wish it weren't so.
Keywords:
cash transactions, pennies, currency adjustment, economic impact, consumer protection, tax exemption, governmental transfer, agriculture, land use, property tax, emergency medical services, levies, healthcare funding, local government, taxation, excise tax, large companies, payroll expenses, minimum wage, Well Washington fund
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 2140, which would exempt land sold or transferred to a governmental entity from the additional tax owed when land is removed from an open space current-use classification in certain circumstances. Staff explained the bill’s current-use tax rules and noted the fiscal impact is expected to be minimal but indeterminate. Representative Lowe said the bill is meant to fix a narrow problem where a county takes a small frontage strip for public purposes and the owner is still charged back taxes; FutureWise testified in support of the intent but asked for language tweaks to ensure the transferred land does not later become incompatible with agricultural or open-space use. The hearing on HB 2140 was then closed.
The committee then heard House Bill 2326, which would allow a fire protection district to impose an EMS levy on the portion of its district not already covered by another taxing district’s EMS levy, with voters in the affected area approving it. Fire district and fire chief representatives testified in support, describing situations where a small overlap prevents most residents in a district from voting on or funding EMS service. Opponents argued the bill would add to property tax burdens. Testimony concluded and the hearing was closed.
Next, House Bill 2334 was heard, responding to the federal decision to stop minting new pennies by setting rules for rounding cash transactions to the nearest five cents. Staff said rounding would apply only to cash payments and would occur after taxes and fees are included; the fiscal note was described as indeterminate but minimal at the state level, with some implementation costs. Retail and grocery groups generally supported the bill but requested clarifying amendments and protections related to tax obligations, consumer lawsuits, SNAP equal-treatment rules, and local ordinances; other testimony supported the measure as a practical response to the penny’s disappearance. The hearing was then closed.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 2100, a proposed payroll expense tax on large operating companies to fund the new Well Washington Fund for higher education, health care, cash assistance, energy, and housing, with an oversight board and a credit for eligible city payroll taxes. Staff described a substitute narrowing the bill to employers with 250 or more employees and at least $7 million in payroll, with several public-sector and health-related exemptions; the fiscal note projected substantial revenue. Supporters, including labor, poverty, housing, health, and faith advocates, said the bill would help offset federal cuts and protect vulnerable residents. Business, retail, hospitality, construction, and chamber representatives opposed it, warning about job losses, higher costs, and harm to competitiveness. The prime sponsor said the bill is intended as a near-term response to federal funding cuts, and testimony continued with many additional witnesses before the transcript ended.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget Apr 6th, 2026
Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget
Transcript Highlights:
- to the Taxpayer Endowment Trust Fund.
- assistance revolving fund.
- Revolving Fund.
- Yeah, the legal services revolving fund is a separate fund. Or so being transferred there.
- million in that fund.
Bills:
SB1177
Summary:
The Senate Appropriations Committee met to consider Senate Bill 1177, the general appropriation bill. The chair and budget authors explained that the proposal was built to balance the budget using a mix of general revenue, cash sweeps, and other fund transfers, including money from unclaimed property, revenue stabilization, and other statutory funds. Members also discussed a proposed $35 million OWRB revolving loan fund tied to ARPA interest and a $200 million transfer from the Revenue Stabilization Fund to the Taxpayer Endowment Trust Fund as part of a long-term savings strategy.
A number of agency-specific items drew questions. Members reviewed the OPEB employer contribution reduction, rent coverage for state agencies, child care and Head Start funding, Department of Corrections revenue from ICE-related agreements, sheriff grant funding, and education funding, including about $99 million in additional formula funding, a $2,000 teacher pay raise, and reading-related appropriations such as Strong Readers and Just Right Reader. The committee also discussed mental health funding, including a $30 million consent decree line, a proposed privatization of CCBHC services with an estimated $10 million savings, and related reduction-in-force costs. Other topics included Attorney General transfers and litigation funding, higher education allocations, Langston University extension funding, historical society requests that were not funded, and a biosolids pilot program.
During debate, supporters argued the bill fulfilled the constitutional duty to pass a balanced budget and highlighted increases for education, health care, and water infrastructure. Opponents criticized the use of one-time cash, tax cuts, and what they described as special-project spending, while raising concerns about transparency and underfunded services such as child care and transportation. After debate, the committee voted 18-5 to pass Senate Bill 1177.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget Apr 6th, 2026
Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget
Transcript Highlights:
- , and then funding for the...
- Chair, you referenced the sovereign wealth fund, the taxpayer endowment trust fund.
- On the sovereign wealth fund, the sovereign wealth fund is a statutory fund. Follow-up? Thank you.
- The reason why I asked the question is the Revenue Stabilization Fund is a statutory fund.
- The reason why I asked the question is the Revenue Stabilization Fund is a statutory fund.
Bills:
SB1177
Summary:
The Joint Appropriations and Budget Committee took up Senate Bill 1177, the main budget bill, and first adopted the committee substitute as the working version. Chairman Caldwell presented the bill as the measure funding state government and answered a series of questions about major budget items, including CareerTech funding, child care, school security, teacher pay raises, the state plane purchase, Medicaid, mental health, veterans’ homes, and higher education projects. He said CareerTech received increased funding, child care funding was increased by roughly $12 million over last year, school security funding was continued at $50 million, and teacher pay raises were included through a mechanism that would raise the state minimum by $2,000. He also explained the $3 million state plane item as a restructuring of state aviation assets, and said the budget did not cut law enforcement funding tied to 287(g) agreements.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Chair, members, House Bill 2207 appropriates $300,000 from the state general fund in fiscal year 2027
- Chair, I can't speak to speculation on whether this would make, or, yeah, provide funding.
- I do not know whether that provides funding through, like, sales. I can look at the end.
- I don't know whether that provides funding through sales.
- Payne, while the money for this program goes to the department to fund the program, training, materials
Bills:
HB2207
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- And for many providers, this federal funding is the lion's share of their funding they receive.
- And for many providers, this federal funding is the lion's share of their funding they receive.
- </c> funding that we rely on. funding that we rely on.
- </c> funding levels. funding levels.
- </c> um general fund revenues. um general fund revenues.
Bills:
HF3425
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services May 5th, 2025
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- , but, um, the permanent school fund is very unique in law in that the members are fiduciaries of the
- fund.
- They protect the fund. They do not, uh, they preserve the corpus of the fund.
- So they are the protectors of the fund, and it actually says in our Texas Constitution that they are
- Having already received swift funding, this process is well underway.
Bills:
HJR40
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Environment Committee Meeting - 2025-04-10
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- If you look at line 22, the general fund funding is $435,907,000.
- that has a $4.5 million per year cap out of the fund.
- A $4.5 million per year cap out of the fund.
- The bill also does not include any additional funding for...
- They draw funding from the ATV Dedicated Account, a long-established fund created by the legislature
Bills:
HF2439
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 4/10/25
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Bills:
HF2440
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Human Committee Meeting - 2025-04-09
Human Services Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Funding to end HIV item.
- Funding related to House File 2707 for additional funding for the Safe Harbor Program at MDH.
- From receiving behavioral health fund payments.
- We could have funded the third path for children.
- At our organization, this funding is a lifeline.
Bills:
HF2434
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 4/9/25
Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- and may also set limits for expenditures from funds other than the general fund.
- </c> development fund base budget set forth. development fund base budget set forth.
- fund fund appropriation.<00:19:46.160><c> Uh</c> appropriation.
- general fund budget.
- </c> There is nothing uh else that we fund. There is nothing uh else that we fund.
Bills:
HF2440
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- This is more than just a funding issue.
- They have funding, not nearly what they need, but they have funding and they see the value in these programs
- Some of our districts do have them; that's pulling from our general funds.
- Those aren't funds that are tethered to anything from state funding.
- This requires funding to be injected into our school districts and for us to engage stakeholders, funded
Summary:
This was a press conference calling on the Texas Legislature to increase and reform funding for special education, with speakers arguing that the current system leaves a roughly $1.7 billion gap and forces districts to stretch general education dollars to cover mandated services. Sabrina Gonzalez Ocedo of The Arc of Texas opened by framing the issue as one of equity and self-determination for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and noted support for legislative efforts including Senate Bill 568 and House Bill 2. She also thanked a coalition of advocacy groups and legislators involved in special education funding work.
Representative Steve Toth spoke in favor of investing surplus dollars in special education, citing high rates of functional illiteracy and dyslexia among prison populations and saying earlier intervention could change life outcomes. Amy Litzinger described how accommodations and assistive technology helped her succeed in school and urged continued investment so other students can access similar supports. Sarah Harden, a parent and disability advocate, shared her daughter’s positive experience in a well-supported district but warned that many Texas districts cannot provide comparable services because of funding shortages and that families are increasingly worried about cuts.
Rachel Hull, a special education director, said well-resourced special education is transformational and outlined the need for individualized services, therapies, vocational training, and college readiness supports. Jean Mayer, a school trustee, said districts are struggling to meet state and federal requirements because funding does not match actual costs, pointing to staffing shortages and the need for parent engagement and professional development. The speakers repeatedly urged lawmakers to fully fund Senate Bill 568 and broader special education reforms this session; no votes were taken, as this was an advocacy event rather than a committee hearing.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Business meeting to consider an original resolution authorizing expenditures by the committee during the 119th Congress; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine eliminating waste by the foreign aid bureaucracy. Feb 13th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- and say, we're done funding things in Afghanistan.
- They've cut off funding to support child care centers.
- They've cut off funding for community health centers.
- They have a $9 million fund just to sue people.
- hard for anybody to sort of track the funds.
Keywords:
fiscal responsibility, government waste, foreign aid, funding resolution, legislative oversight
Summary:
The committee meeting addressed government spending and foreign aid, with a particular emphasis on perceived wasteful expenditures. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing a funding resolution for the committee, which received unanimous support from the members present. The chair noted a quorum at the beginning of the meeting, signaling that the committee was ready to conduct its business. Discussions highlighted ongoing debates concerning fiscal responsibility and the necessity of legislative oversight, notably regarding foreign aid allocations and their implications for domestic fiscal health.
TX
TX
Keywords:
appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, 1185, senate, all
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 4/15/26
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:08:14.760><c> model</c> funding model funding model for<00:08:16.040><c> the</c><00:08:16.200><c>
- ><c> it's</c><00:09:53.920><c> a</c> infrastructure funding issue, it's a infrastructure funding issue
- Thank you. focus on long-term funding focus on long-term funding and<00:12:06.560><c> sustainability<
- </c><00:13:14.839><c> towards</c> substantial funding towards substantial funding towards this<00:13:
- The funding supports the quickly.
Keywords:
public safety, radio communications, infrastructure funding, county funding, interoperability, ARMER network, local jurisdictions, HF4597, Minnesota public safety, 911, emergency dispatch, emergency communications, public safety appropriation, Metropolitan Emergency Services Board, PSAP, dispatch interoperability, real-time coordination, emergency response coordination, cross-jurisdictional response, 911 center awareness platform