Transcript Highlights:

• We have federal funding. We have state funding. We have county funding. We have city funding.
• What type of federal funding are you getting? So, yeah. So we... ...or some of the federal funding?
• What type of federal funding are you getting? So, yeah.
• Both of these programs are linked directly to funds available...
• Dolvrock, is not necessarily funding syringe access programs.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:05:41.520> funds for all of the State uh federal funds for all of the State uh federal
• We maintain efficient use of federal funds.
• a lot of the federal funds that are just a lot of the federal funds that are just sitting<00:52:
• By doing that, as well as accessing federal funds, the 220 D4, which is a funding source that kind of
• <01:18:02.960> uh accessing federal funds the 220 D4 uh accessing federal funds the 220 D4

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the amount of federal funds that we get will go up.
• required to match some of the federal appropriation or funding.
• required to match some of the federal appropriation or funding.
• So for our federal match, we receive Smith-Lever federal funding for extension.
• Last year, that federal funding was $6.2 million in federal funding that the state did match.

Summary: The committee first considered revisions to the JBC rules, which staff said were all prompted by acts passed in the 2025 legislative session. The rules were adopted without objection. Members then received a balanced budget presentation from DFA Secretary Jim Hudson on the governor’s FY27 proposal, which he said was built around three priorities: limiting state government growth, continuing investments in education, and advancing income tax cuts. He highlighted major additions for education funding, EFA growth, pay plan costs, higher education productivity funding, drug task forces, corrections medical costs, the governor’s 1033 initiative, SNAP error-rate reduction, and Medicaid sustainability, while also explaining a new A/B funding category structure intended to prioritize recurring costs and preserve room for tax cuts. Members questioned Hudson about the cost of income tax reductions, the constitutional balanced-budget requirement, education funding, the Educational Adequacy Fund, Medicaid trust fund balances, and the impact of federal changes on Medicaid and SNAP. Hudson said each tenth of a percent income tax cut would cost about $58 million, the budget remained balanced, public education would still receive historic increases, and the Medicaid trust fund would be monitored closely with additional set-asides proposed. He also said the FY27 SNAP administrative cost increase would be about $18 million. The committee then heard from the Division of Higher Education, which reported institutions were 2.61% more productive overall and that the budget recommendation followed the statutory productivity formula. Questions focused on why some institutions were receiving decreases or large increases, how the formula works, and how the new return-on-investment metric and committee composition would affect future funding. The committee approved several higher education-related actions, including personnel changes for nine institutions and special language for North Arkansas College’s move into the University of Arkansas system. Staff then walked members through the higher education appropriation summary, explaining large percentage increases at several institutions were tied to federal funds or corrected carry-forward issues, including the U of A School of Mathematical, Sciences and the Arts, South Arkansas College, SAU Tech, ASU Mountain Home, and ASU Newport. Members also discussed UAPB’s 1890 extension program and the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s land-grant matching funds; officials said UAPB’s recommendation was being aligned with actual spending and that the Division of Agriculture’s Smith-Lever and Hatch matches were included within its overall appropriation. The committee ultimately adopted the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s recommendations for all institutions and then moved on to the Department of Corrections section, with the chair outlining how the committee would proceed through those appropriations by section.

Transcript Highlights:

• federal funding appropriation is current federal funding appropriation is insufficient<00:12:30.199><
• additional of the program employees additional Federal<00:12:36.199> funding<00:12:36.440>
• > FY other Federal funds the governor's FY other Federal funds the governor's FY 2627<00:14:02.199
• <00:14:53.199> start federal the state funding to start federal the state funding to start
• and fund many important programs and fund many important programs and services<01:31:25.360><

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance held informational briefings first with the Department of Defense on its FY 2026 budget request, then with the Hawaii School Facilities Authority. Major General Steve Logan outlined the Department of Defense request for $40.5 million in state funds, which he said would leverage about $74 million in federal matching funds and support 411 open projects that could attract up to $2.3 billion in additional federal grant money. He said the budget focuses on sustainment, safety, and reorganization in light of lessons from the Maui wildfires. Key requests included $1.3 million to sustain IT systems, $2.7 million for 32 HEMA emergency management positions, three new Hawaii Army National Guard positions plus four upgrades, and $1.9 million for the Youth Challenge Program to cover state-mandated fringe costs and staffing needs. He also reviewed capital improvement projects, including Youth Challenge facility upgrades, siren modernization, ADA improvements, building retrofits for disaster resilience, Army facility upgrades, a third state veterans home on Maui, HEMA EOC improvements, and a maintenance/fuel building at Diamond Head. Members asked about the siren modernization timeline, and HEMA said roughly 26 to 31 sirens would be modernized this year, with 15 on Maui, eight on Oahu, and eight on the Big Island. Questions also focused on Youth Challenge and Job Challenge enrollment and vacancies, with the department saying the Hilo Job Challenge Academy is growing and that combining Youth Challenge recruiting statewide into one Kilauea program has helped enrollment. Logan also answered questions about the New Year’s Eve medical transport mission, explaining the Hawaii Air National Guard’s relationship with active-duty Air Force assets and saying the flight cost is about $20,000 per flight hour, though the final bill had not yet been determined. On the Maui veterans home, staff said the University of Hawaii site was no longer viable after faculty senate opposition, so the department is now focused on a 10-acre Puna District site; the project remains tied to a certified $35 million state match and August 2025 and August 2026 federal suspense dates. Logan said the veterans home remains one of the department’s highest priorities, but it could not be moved higher in the submitted CIP ranking. The department also discussed a Governor’s add-on for a fire marshal/Office of Recovery and Resiliency proposal. Logan said the fire marshal position was reestablished last session but has not yet been filled, and that if the function is transferred to the Department of Defense, the department wants funding ready to move quickly. Staff later said the request would include about $1.1 million for seven positions and about $2.2 million for operating costs, though details were still preliminary. The committee then reconvened for the School Facilities Authority briefing, where Executive Director Ricky Fujitani described the agency as a startup created in 2020 to improve school and workforce housing development through standardized designs, prefabrication, best-value procurement, and public-private partnerships. He said Hawaii’s single school district still functions like 15 different districts because of its 264 schools across 15 complex areas, and that the authority’s goal is to create more efficient, maintainable, and cost-effective facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• funded<00:37:46.000> position Um there is federally funded position Um there is federally
• c><00:48:18.160> funding cautioned that those federal funding cautioned that those federal funding
• funded positions for federal school. funded positions for federal school.
• because that funding is a mandatory federal funding program.
• c> mandatory funding federal funding mandatory funding federal funding program.<00:49:48.960> It's

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The teacher empowerment fund is Basically, a teacher certification program where teachers' schools can
• Now, the bill says they got rid of the match, and so it's just a straight kind of funding program.
• One of the template slides was looking at the estimated impact of federal funding changes.
• We have had funding twice from that program. But it's necessary to apply for it and receive it.
• But the wildlife services, as I said, has got federal funding through USDA mainly on that.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of these federal funds that would come from the Federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
• But keep in mind that the primary residence credit program, as you know, is funded from the Legacy Fund
• No, there's not federal funding related to the disabled veterans program.
• No, there's not federal funding related to the disabled veterans program.
• in federal funds, and the $55 million in federal funds was for the stretch from Highway...

Summary: The Budget Section met to approve prior minutes and receive a series of budget, revenue, and program updates from OMB, the Tax Department, DOT, DMR, and DPI. OMB reported that general fund revenues through May were about $76 million below the legislative forecast, driven mainly by individual income tax and sales tax shortfalls, though the biennium is still projected to end with a positive balance. OMB also reviewed oil price and production assumptions, the budget stabilization fund transfer above its cap, Legacy Fund performance, federal grant applications, fiscal irregularities, tobacco settlement proceeds, budget guidelines for agencies, vacancy savings, and the DAPL settlement, noting that most of the settlement funds had been deposited but a small amount of accrued interest would require a future deficiency request. The committee then considered Emergency Commission requests. It approved requests for Public Service Commission abandoned mine lands federal authority, an Attorney General FTE and related funding for criminal investigator work tied to the Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship, and a DPI transfer for bridge software costs. After discussion, the committee also approved DPI’s request for a $500,000 transfer for the food vendor program, despite questions about the program’s savings and cash-flow structure. Later, the Tax Commissioner presented the primary residence credit program, reporting that current biennium costs are expected to exceed the appropriation by about $22 million and explaining how the credit interacts with homestead and disabled veteran credits and the 3% property tax levy cap. The Legacy and Budget Stabilization Fund Advisory Board reported strong returns for both funds, and DOT sought and received approval for two flexible fund highway projects on ND 49 and ND 31. DOT also updated members on Highway 85 construction and said remaining flex fund dollars were essentially fully allocated. DMR reported on the abandoned well plugging and site reclamation fund, noting North Dakota’s relatively small orphan well inventory, current and projected fund balances, rising remediation costs, and a possible need to adjust the fund cap in future sessions. Finally, DPI outlined the new integrated formula gap funding program, explaining that it compensates school districts that cannot reach the assumed 60-mill local contribution because of the 3% levy cap; the first year’s gap funding totaled about $1.8 million, with future costs expected to grow.

Transcript Highlights:

• fund issue or the drawdowns for federal funds and so we're continuing to fill some of those positions
• We have funded a lot of different programs for them.
• The group homes are explicitly ineligible for federal funding.
• funded Head Start programs.
• On page 9 you'll read that program funding has nearly quintupled since fiscal year 2018.

Transcript Highlights:

• Defendant Program.
• The United States Department of Agriculture sets all regulations to administer the program at the federal
• funds requirements. to fund staffing, system maintenance and enhancements, and other program costs necessary
• SNAP benefits currently 100% federally funded.
• Earlier, 1,020 was the sample size that the federal government chooses to sample within the SNAP program

Transcript Highlights:

• They require a non-federal funding general match and agencies like NRCS Agricultural Land Easement Program
• So all of the programs that the fund funds also have available federal matching dollars, which I'll get
• So as I mentioned, 100% of legacy fund programs are leveraging federal dollars.
• But because the Legacy Fund was designed to leverage federal dollars in every program, a lot of those
• Okay, the funding mechanism for the LWCF. This is now a permanently funded federal grant program.

Transcript Highlights:

• simply a federal drug pricing program. simply a federal drug pricing program.
• <00:51:40.640> funding, billion dollars of federal funding, billion dollars of federal funding
• <00:55:13.400> funds federal funds federal funds to<00:55:14.840> the<00:55:14.920>
• and it's going to endanger federal and it's going to endanger federal funding, funding, funding,
• > with<01:45:53.440> federal It's a federal program with federal It's a federal program with

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have federal funding. We have state funding. We have county funding. We have city funding.
• What type of federal funding are you getting? So, yeah. So we... ...federal funding?
• What type of federal funding are you getting? So, yeah.
• Both of these programs are linked directly to funds available...
• At the federal level, it is harmful to limit grant funding or restrict access to grant funding from SAMHSA

Summary: The meeting focused on Missouri’s substance use prevention and treatment system, with repeated emphasis on recovery support services, peer support, recovery housing, transportation, and harm reduction. Dan Haniken of Into Action described his own recovery from addiction and incarceration and argued that treatment alone is not enough; he urged greater investment in recovery housing, peer support, employment, and community-based supports that help people stay sober and avoid relapse. Members asked about funding sources, program capacity, referrals, treatment court, transportation, and how Into Action supports people on medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Haniken said the organization is funded through a mix of federal, state, county, city, foundation, and private donations, and that housing and transportation remain major barriers, especially because support is often funded for too short a period compared with the longer time people need to stabilize. Matt Cushman of the Raytown Fire Protection District gave a strong endorsement of harm reduction, including naloxone distribution, syringe service programs, and broader decriminalization of harm reduction tools. He argued that stigma is a major barrier to care and that Missouri should expand access to clean needles, test strips, and other services, while also improving access to MAT in jails and communities. Committee members questioned the evidence base, the role of faith-based providers, and whether safe consumption sites should be pursued; Cushman said syringe exchange decriminalization should be the immediate priority, while safe consumption sites are a longer-term issue. He also described community paramedicine and mobile integrated health as valuable but funding-dependent, and said naloxone distribution is improving but still uneven, especially in rural and minority communities. Representatives from Central Ozarks Medical Center and Four Rivers Community Health Center highlighted the importance of peer support specialists, community health workers, care coordinators, and wraparound services in rural health centers. COMC’s Morgan McClure and Monet Lehman described a jail reentry program in Pulaski County, with Lehman sharing her trauma and recovery story and explaining how she helps incarcerated people prepare for release with housing, employment, benefits, transportation, and treatment connections. Four Rivers’ Devon Polarys and Cassandra Trout said their CEO would change Missouri policy to allow FQHCs to receive reimbursement for peer support and community health worker services similar to CCBHCs, arguing that these roles are essential for addressing barriers like transportation, housing, food insecurity, and insurance. Members discussed confusion over reimbursement rules, the differences between FQHCs and CCBHCs, and the need for better funding and clearer policy for peer and community health worker services. No votes were taken; the discussion ended with a suggestion to bring in a subject matter expert on community health workers for a future session.

Transcript Highlights:

• So this federal voucher program will dwarf these programs.
• Like Arizona's voucher program, this federal voucher program has no accountability for taxpayers or academic
• The federal voucher would signify a massive accumulation of funds for private and often religious schools
• The federal program that we're talking about will give us the tax dollars to the STO program, which a
• funding schools in other states with federal tax money that is being implemented on the taxpayers of

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, guest introductions, and a proclamation recognizing April 1, 2026, as NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Four in Arizona Day. Members also highlighted visitors from the Arizona Psychiatric Society, Tucson International Airport, and Autism Bringing Change, along with remarks tied to World Autism Day and Passover. The chamber then considered several Senate bills in Committee of the Whole. SB 1024, SB 1078, SB 1123, SB 1164, SB 1232, SB 1293, SB 1493 as amended, SB 1520, and SB 1572 all received do-pass recommendations, while SB 1665 was retained on the calendar. SB 1142 drew the most debate, with supporters describing it as conformity with a federal scholarship tax credit that would help Arizona students, and opponents arguing it would further divert public dollars to private education and expand voucher-like programs without accountability. Despite the opposition, the bill received a do-pass recommendation. Members also debated SB 1293, which would limit how GPLET property tax abatements can affect school district taxes; supporters said it would prevent unequal treatment and protect statewide taxpayers, while opponents warned it could hinder housing and economic development. SB 1572, requiring Celebrate Freedom Week civics instruction, was supported as a civics and civic-health measure and opposed as an unfunded mandate that bypasses the State Board of Education. SB 1160, as amended, addressing drone restrictions near venues, was defended as a public safety measure and criticized as overbroad and potentially criminalizing innocent conduct. On third reading, the House passed SB 1097 unanimously, SB 1166 and SB 1216 by wide margins, and SB 1787 by a narrower 31-24 vote. The House then adopted the Committee of the Whole reports, placed several bills on third reading or engrossing, and adjourned until April 2, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• funds.
• ADE is annually required to report on the allocation of its current year federal funds.
• be in the program.
• And technically, that means the families have too high income to qualify for the federal programs?
• For the state-only programs, which are optional since we do not get any federal funds, what is the waiting

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee first went into executive session and then returned to approve settlements in three risk management cases based on a motion to accept the Attorney General’s proposed settlement. After that, JLBC staff presented item 1 on the School Facilities Division construction cost index, recommending a 4.8% increase for fiscal year 2027 with retroactive application to December 10, 2025; members asked about why prior years had zero adjustments during the Great Recession, and the committee approved the item. Items 2A and 2B concerned Arizona Department of Education reports. For 2A, staff reviewed ADE’s annual federal monies report, noting fiscal 2026 federal funds of $1.38 billion, up from $1.27 billion the prior year, and the committee gave favorable review. For 2B, staff summarized the annual Career and Technical Education District report, including enrollment, expenditures, retention, and credential completion rates; members questioned the low 37% retention rate and asked for more comparative and explanatory data, but the committee still gave favorable review. Item 3A addressed a DES transfer of $3.3 million from the Home and Community-Based Services Medicaid line item to the state-only case management line item for developmental disability services. DES said both areas faced shortfalls and that the transfer would help immediate cash-flow needs, but members raised concerns about growth in the state-only program, possible migration into Arizona for services, fraud controls, and whether the department had formally notified the Legislature of the deficiency. The committee attached conditions requiring formal deficiency letters, monthly reporting on DDD populations by diagnosis, and a review of Minnesota audit findings, then approved the item. Item 3B, the Arizona Training Program at Coolidge annual review, was also approved. Finally, item 4 proposed transferring $650,000 from unused special election funds to the Secretary of State’s cybersecurity monitoring and management budget. The Secretary of State’s office said the money would support 24/7 monitoring, endpoint protection, and remediation of identified vulnerabilities, and members debated the office’s federal outreach and the March 1 deadline tied to county reimbursement for AVID-related costs. Despite concerns from some members about communication and the size of the remaining appropriation, the committee gave favorable review to the $650,000 transfer and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This budget and. of you fully funds the Foundation School Program with $75.6 billion in all funds for
• Funding at the general land office includes $1.3 billion in federal funds for disaster mitigation and
• This amendment funds the Texas Tariff Impact Relief Fund and Grants Program. which we may want to call
• Your taxes already go to to pay for this program, your federal taxes.
• Those federal funds are gone. We have to use state funds to pay it. That is an ongoing.

Bills: SB1, HB500, SB1, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HB500

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• revolving fund would greatly help us set up a stable cleanup program.
• So while this program is about to sunset, we do have some good news: we have a new federal program that
• So while this program is about to sunset, we do have some good news: we have a new federal program that
• Behalf of the program with the state because we don't have a program in place that's funded to do so.
• That fee was not really based on the federal program.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Environment Department on PFAS contamination in private wells in La Cienega, Santa Fe County. Staff said the plume likely came from historic use of firefighting foam associated with airport and National Guard fire-training activities, with possible additional contribution from septic systems and consumer products. They described the contamination as affecting about 200 private wells, the short-term response of providing residential filters through a $2 million legislative appropriation, and ongoing work to define the plume’s full extent, identify responsible parties, and consider longer-term regional water solutions. Members asked about filter costs, replacement schedules, disposal of used cartridges, follow-up testing, health studies, and whether cleanup or containment had begun; the department said cleanup would follow once the plume is fully mapped and that DOH is soliciting interest in a blood study. The committee also discussed the need to track disposal of PFAS filters and the possibility of broader statewide capacity for similar work. The committee then took up abandoned uranium mine cleanup. NMED and EMNRD staff reviewed the new uranium mine reclamation program created by HB 164, the state dashboard tracking sites, and the FY26 appropriation of $20 million for neglected contaminated sites, of which $12 million is being used for neglected uranium mines and the remainder for other contaminated sites. They said six contractors were hired, three priority sites in Grant County are moving forward quickly, and additional sites are being prepared for possible FY27 work. Members pressed for details on how funds are spent, why the revolving fund remains unfunded, how federal, state, tribal, and landowner requirements are coordinated, where contaminated material will be moved, and whether cleanup could also address homes built with contaminated materials. Staff said the work is governed by multiple regulatory layers, that the state is seeking an additional $25 million for FY27-FY28 plus a time extension, and that partnerships with tribes would require longer-term agreements. The committee also discussed federal cleanup efforts and the new Good Samaritan law, with members urging stronger advocacy for New Mexico sites, including tribal lands, and asking whether the Attorney General should pursue legal action against federal parties responsible for legacy contamination. Staff explained that some sites are already covered by settlement funds tied to responsible parties, while neglected sites are those with no responsible party and no other cleanup program. The committee then heard from EMNRD on Class VI carbon sequestration primacy. Staff said New Mexico currently has no operating Class VI wells, about 27 Class II acid-gas injection wells are operating, and only a small number might be candidates for conversion. They explained that the state’s primacy application would require more public outreach than federal rules alone, and that cost estimates for post-injection site care are based on long planning horizons, with some costs borne by operators and some by the state after closure. No votes were taken on the substantive items discussed; the committee approved the prior meeting minutes and took a brief recess between presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Federal funds make up the largest individual portion of funding at over...
• Federal funding, I mentioned some of the growth in federal funding that we sustained over the past couple
• Also, going back to your funding on the slide two there, with your federal fund. funds being 30 percent
• County to leverage state and federal funding.
• Funding that we get through TXAR and the federal funding we get through Federal Highway Administration

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is thanks to both state and federal funds over the past many years.
• get federal funding and state funding for CAPEX buildouts for broadband.
• federal funding.
• That's the state portion, and then that will be matched with federal funds.
• funded through the Public Education Reform Fund for Innovative Programs.

Bills: HB2, SB152

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• The program's open-ended federal reimbursement encourages states to rely heavily on federal funding.
• My unit is 75% federally funded by the My unit is 75% federally funded by the federal government, obviously
• So, currently the SNAP benefits are 100% federally funded and beginning in federal fiscal year 28, the
• designs, eligibility criteria, and SNAP where it's 100% federally funded.
• State funding enables schools and community-based programs to provide these.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Health and Human Services convened to discuss interim charges regarding fraud, waste, and abuse in Texas human services, particularly focusing on Medicaid and childcare programs. The meeting highlighted the importance of preventing misuse of taxpayer funds, with testimony from various stakeholders emphasizing the need for increased oversight and accountability in these programs. Key points included the alarming rise in healthcare fraud in other states, the necessity for Texas to enhance its fraud prevention measures, and the potential financial repercussions of failing to meet federal compliance standards. Several committee members expressed concerns about the impact of fraud on vulnerable populations, particularly those relying on Medicaid services. Testimonies from experts underscored the effectiveness of Texas's Office of Inspector General (OIG) in combating fraud, yet pointed out existing vulnerabilities, such as inconsistent enforcement and the need for better data sharing among agencies. The discussion also touched on the challenges faced by hospice care providers, with a significant increase in the number of hospices in Texas raising concerns about quality and oversight. The committee heard from various witnesses, including representatives from health plans and advocacy organizations, who provided insights into the complexities of managing Medicaid and the importance of maintaining program integrity. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further explore legislative solutions to enhance oversight and ensure that resources are directed to those in genuine need.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have Medicare, which is a federal program.
• available for these programs based on the current level of federal funds that we expect to receive later
• With respect to the state and local cybersecurity grant program, that is federal funding, so no concern
• Any new General Fund the Legislature approves for this proposal will come at the cost of other fund programs
• thought and also because there are federal funds left over from the existing programs at the end of

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to review May Revision proposals for several departments and emphasized that no votes would be taken that day. The Legislative Analyst’s Office opened with a warning that the state budget is balanced only through one-time resources and still has structural deficits, recommending that the Legislature avoid new ongoing spending and instead preserve reserves and other solutions. The Judicial Council then presented proposals for language access and interpreter services, appellate court security, a backfill to the state court facilities construction fund, and an extension of the lactation-room mandate; Finance supported the language access item with reporting language and supported keeping the court facilities backfill. Members raised concerns about judicial pay freezes, judge vacancies, and uneven judge allocations across counties, and also asked about the cost and completion of courthouse lactation rooms and remote-hearing infrastructure. The Board of State and Community Corrections items focused on $10 million one-time grants for missing and murdered Indigenous people and for a human trafficking vertical prosecution program. The LAO suggested the Legislature consider whether the Tribal Nations Grant Fund could support the MMIP work, while Finance said it preferred General Fund support and wanted more review before any fund swap. On the human trafficking grant, Finance said the need was clear based on reported cases and California’s share of hotline reports. Members strongly supported MMIP funding and discussed whether ongoing funding would be needed beyond the one-time proposal, while also debating whether BSEC or OES should administer the prosecution grants. The Department of Justice presented antitrust litigation funding, Medi-Cal fraud and elder abuse staffing, organized retail criminal enterprise case completion, and a continuous appropriation for the Victims of Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund. The LAO raised concerns about the Unfair Competition Law Fund’s solvency and recommended rejecting that portion unless DOJ could show the fund could support it without General Fund repayment, and it opposed the continuous appropriation in favor of more legislative oversight. Finance said the fund would remain solvent under current projections and defended the continuous appropriation as necessary to pay victims promptly. Members also clarified that the Medi-Cal fraud unit targets providers, not beneficiaries, and asked about delays in restitution payments. A lengthy portion of the hearing covered CDCR’s May Revision package and the Boston Consulting Group cost-savings effort. CDCR described revised savings from workforce optimization, workers’ compensation, and procurement, but members repeatedly expressed frustration that the promised savings had fallen far short of earlier estimates. The LAO recommended deeper cuts to some parole positions, more detail on proposed eliminations and contract changes, and caution about counting unallocated future savings. CDCR also presented population projections showing continued declines and the LAO again urged the administration to close a prison to reduce ongoing costs. The committee also heard proposals on workers’ compensation, Corcoran honor housing, incarcerated firefighter pay, agricultural food purchasing requirements, menopause care, mental health receiver staffing, resource teams, crisis intervention teams, medical classification staffing, and AI note-taking in electronic health records, with the LAO generally recommending limited-term approvals and reporting requirements while Finance defended ongoing funding and said it was open to additional reporting language.