Transcript Highlights:

• We're on Department of Finance. Give us some good news.
• Andrew March with the Department of Finance.
• Andrew March with the Department of Finance.
• Okay, Stephen Benson with the Department of Finance.
• Teresa Calvert with the Department of Finance.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused on the governor’s May Revision, especially the proposed extension of the cap-and-trade program to 2045 as “cap-and-invest,” the related greenhouse gas reduction fund (GGRF) spending framework, and several trailer bill proposals. Department of Finance staff outlined budget solutions including a $1.5 billion annual General Fund-to-GGRF shift for Cal Fire that would grow to $1.9 billion by 2029-30, continued support for high-speed rail, climate bond implementation, and various environmental and water-related statutory changes. The administration also described proposals affecting the Delta Conveyance Project, water quality planning, groundwater bulletin timing, Exide cleanup funding, and other agency-specific items, though the chair repeatedly asked staff to keep the presentation high-level and save details for the next hearing. Members from both parties raised strong concerns about the cap-and-invest proposal, arguing that it could reduce or displace funding for transit, affordable housing, active transportation, wildfire prevention, zero-emission vehicles, and other previously committed programs. Several members questioned whether the administration was effectively shifting essential ongoing services like Cal Fire onto a temporary carbon market fund, how the General Fund backstop would work if auction revenues fall short, and whether the proposal would leave enough money for continuous appropriations and future awards. Members also criticized the inclusion of cap-and-invest reauthorization in the budget process and asked for clearer information on the impact to high-speed rail, transit, and other GGRF priorities. The Delta Conveyance Project and related trailer bill language drew significant opposition from members and public commenters, who argued the proposal would fast-track the project, weaken CEQA-related review, and authorize revenue bond financing without sufficient legislative oversight. Public testimony also included support for maintaining or expanding funding for transit, affordable housing, AB 617 community air protection, offshore wind infrastructure, and ignition interlock programs, while environmental and community groups opposed cuts to wildfire prevention, housing, and school climate-related programs. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and the chair said the committee would continue the discussion and receive more detailed responses at the follow-up hearing on Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Of finance for the district. It's essentially a tool.
• Finance Authority and the legislature.
• Infrastructure framework.
• Technology Infrastructure Fund.
• Can I have a motion to adopt House Appropriations and Finance Committee Amendment 1 to Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• Go ahead and get started with House Corporations and Finance. Thanks everyone for being here.
• Whether it be the infrastructure needs, or running utilities and water.
• Power out to these sites, I think, without the infrastructure, without the roads.
• They've invested in physical infrastructure in the state.
• That $3 million over the next five years is also for Healthy Food Financing.

Transcript Highlights:

• More specifically, this bill will authorize $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds, our state's
• <00:05:01.480> Agency Housing Finance Agency Housing Finance Agency so<00:05:03.400> that
• This provides gap financing and ways to make sure that we're building that critical workforce housing
• This bill, by including $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds, can address some of those infrastructure
• /c> some of those infrastructure issues that some of those infrastructure issues that is<00:11:29.560

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have Quentin Palfrey, who's the director of the Federal Funds and Infrastructure Office with the
• Second, I'm going to contextualize federal impacts within state public finance, so the state operating
• Second, I'm going to contextualize federal impacts within state public finance, so the state operating
• It helps sustain research labs and infrastructure and pay critical research staff.
• I'm Governor Healey's Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure for Massachusetts.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The inaugural hearing of the newly named House Committee on Federal Funding, Policy and Accountability focused on how federal policy changes could affect Massachusetts, especially in education, health care, research, infrastructure, climate, and business conditions. Chair LaNatra said the committee was created to monitor federal funding decisions and their impacts on state programs and services. Members introduced themselves, then heard testimony from Doug Howgate of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, Sarah Mills of Associated Industries of Massachusetts, and Quentin Palfrey, the governor’s Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure. Howgate argued that the Trump administration and new Congress pose ideological, practical, and process-related risks to Massachusetts, citing proposed cuts to Medicaid, education, research, and other domestic programs. He said federal dollars make up about a quarter of the state operating budget and capital plan, warned against using one-time reserves to backfill ongoing federal cuts, and urged the state to prioritize core services while protecting areas where Massachusetts is especially strong, such as higher education and research. In response to committee questions, he said the House Medicaid proposal would still cost Massachusetts hundreds of millions and that international student and NIH-related changes could harm the state’s labor force and innovation economy. He also advised that the state communicate clearly without overreacting to daily federal developments. Mills testified that AIM members are most concerned about uncertainty, tariffs, Medicaid cuts, and NIH reductions. She said tariffs are raising costs, disrupting supply chains, and hurting small and medium-sized businesses, housing construction, and exporters, with AIM’s business confidence index falling to its lowest level since the pandemic. She said Medicaid cuts would raise employer health costs, reduce productivity, and strain the health care system, while NIH cuts would threaten Massachusetts’ life sciences and academic research ecosystem. In questions, she said AIM has increased federal outreach, is coordinating with the U.S. Chamber and the Massachusetts delegation, and is hearing concerns from employers about immigration compliance and workforce disruptions. Palfrey described the Healey-Driscoll administration’s efforts to maximize federal funding, including a biweekly interagency council, a municipal partnership effort, and a statewide roadshow. He said Massachusetts has secured nearly $9 billion from major federal laws for projects such as the Cape Cod bridges, Allston Multimodal, grid modernization, clean-energy school buses, and broadband. He also said the administration launched a public website to track federal impacts and is working with municipalities, nonprofits, and the Attorney General on grant changes, legal issues, and litigation. In response to questions, he warned that cuts to NOAA, NSF, Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs could affect services and the state budget, and said the administration is tracking changes to federal grant applications and conditions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chris Hill, Department of Finance. Thanks. Good afternoon. Chris Hill, Department of Finance.
• That's tax-exempt financing.
• Department of Finance. Kayla Landman, Department of Finance.
• Department of Finance, Ryan Bender, Department of Finance.
• Department of Finance. Department of Finance, nothing to add but available for questions.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think a big part of that is the infrastructure aspect of it.
• It's that infrastructure aspect.
• It's about delaying... ...standards for EV infrastructure.
• They may be able to receive financing for their projects or financing for their factories, but there's
• . ...suited for taller, denser development and modern infrastructure.

Summary: The committee heard a long housing agenda with several bills presented before quorum was established. AB 1725, as amended, would require disclosure of nearby oil wells and methane monitoring issues in a specific district; the author and community witnesses described serious health and safety risks in Vista Hermosa Heights, while the California Apartment Association, California Building Industry Association, and California Chamber of Commerce opposed, arguing the bill targeted the wrong industry and that the state should instead fix abandoned wells directly. AB 2110, a local finance tool to create tax increment districts for workforce housing for education, health care, manufacturing, and public safety workers, drew no witnesses in support or opposition and was presented as a way to help workers live closer to jobs. AB 1732 would expand CEQA streamlining for public university and college housing projects; UC and several housing and labor groups supported it, while housing advocates raised concerns about amendments affecting existing 100% affordable housing exemptions. AB 1771, amended into a study bill, would direct HCD to report on the long-standing resident manager requirement for apartment buildings with 16 or more units; the rental housing industry supported studying the issue, while the chair emphasized the need to consider tenant protections and the impact on current resident managers before changing the law. The committee also heard AB 2185, which would direct state affordable housing programs to update guidelines to better support factory-built housing; it drew broad support from housing, labor, technology, and local government groups, with no opposition. AB 2748 would delay new EV-readiness requirements for 100% affordable housing developments, keeping the prior 40% standard through 2035; supporters said the higher standard would add significant costs and threaten project feasibility, while clean air and transportation advocates argued the code changes are modest, important for equity, and should not be rolled back. Members split along those lines, with some emphasizing housing production and others urging more public subsidy for EV infrastructure rather than delaying the code. SB 417, a proposed $10 billion affordable housing bond for the November ballot, received extensive support from housing organizations, local governments, labor, and business groups, but Habitat for Humanity and the Los Angeles mayor’s office asked for specific allocations for CalHome and interim housing; the bill was ultimately moved to Appropriations on an 8-0 vote, with members noting ongoing negotiations over funding priorities. Finally, AB 1740 would create an urban multimodal community designation for Santa Monica, allowing local approval of certain low-impact coastal-zone activities—such as some housing, bike and bus lanes, outdoor dining, and building changes—without Coastal Commission review. The author and Santa Monica officials said the bill would reduce delays and uncertainty for infill housing and local economic recovery while preserving protections for sensitive coastal resources; supporters included housing, business, and city groups. The Coastal Commission and environmental organizations opposed, saying the bill would carve out broad exemptions, weaken public access and appeal rights, and bypass the local coastal program process that Santa Monica has not completed. Committee members debated the Commission’s role, with some criticizing it for opposing legislation and others arguing the bill was a common-sense way to modernize coastal permitting. A motion and second were made on AB 1740, and the bill was left pending with the committee’s action to be taken when appropriate.

Transcript Highlights:

• We work every day to provide the best infrastructure and create a level playing field for businesses
• The community has done a great job leveraging the airports infrastructure to create opportunities for
• Finance board to the um Department of um Finance board to the um Department of um of of of Revenue<00
• a provision for the campaign Finance a provision for the campaign Finance board<00:52:38.119>
• limits uh set up by the campaign Finance limits uh set up by the campaign Finance board<00:53:59.240

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here representing the Department of Finance.
• Similarly, the bill requires the Department of Finance to examine loan or financing options that might
• And how exactly is that infrastructure?
• Does the Department of Finance agree with that analysis? So Jessica Holmes, Department of Finance.
• Andrew Hull with the Department of Finance.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Committee held an informational hearing on the September budget package, which included SB 105 and a series of trailer bills covering health, human services, education, resources, child care, transportation, labor, public safety, housing, revenue, background checks, collective bargaining, and a special election. The Department of Finance described the package as largely technical and clarifying, but also responsive to state and federal changes, especially H.R. 1. Key items included roughly $3.3 billion in Proposition 4 climate and environmental spending, $540 million in discretionary greenhouse gas reduction funds, and major responses to H.R. 1 such as CalFresh error-rate mitigation, food bank support, and Medicaid-related changes. Other notable provisions included vaccine policy flexibility, an Abortion Access Fund, a gender-affirming care program, community college basic-needs and aid changes, CEQA and coastal permit exemptions tied to the 2028 Olympics, invasive mussel prevention funding, a civic media program, labor and pension-related provisions, and special election administration changes. Members raised questions and concerns about several parts of the package. There was support for climate, water, transit, offshore wind, food security, and health investments, but also significant criticism of the lack of cleanup language for SB 131 and its advanced manufacturing exemptions, with multiple members saying promised fixes had not materialized and expressing concerns about tribal consultation, labor standards, and environmental protections. Members also questioned the scale and timing of some Proposition 4 allocations, including fairground upgrades, regional conveyance, and a UC Davis alternative protein research center. The Department of Finance said some programs would roll out over time and that certain funding levels reflected current implementation capacity. The hearing also featured discussion of Bay Area transit financing, with Finance saying SB 105 directs the department and CalSTA to examine loan or other financing options rather than immediately providing loans. Members and public commenters also discussed the state’s response to H.R. 1, with advocates supporting food bank, health care, and immunization provisions while warning of ongoing harm to immigrants, foster youth, and other vulnerable groups. Public testimony broadly supported the health, food, water, offshore wind, and golden mussel provisions, while many speakers echoed legislative concerns about SB 131 and urged cleanup action in the next session. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only, though the chair noted votes on the bills were expected later that night or the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• the funding went away, the infrastructure would be lost.
• With the funding that moved forward, infrastructure was able to be built.
• Department of Finance. Victoria Chin, Department of Finance.
• Mark Campana, Department of Finance, and I can maybe speak to that question.
• Department of Finance. No, just kidding. This meeting is adjourned.

Summary: The hearing focused on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) grant program under the Board of State and Community Corrections and related Department of Justice efforts. BSCC reported that it now administers 36 MMIP grants across three cohorts, with awards ranging from $436,000 to $1 million, plus five collaborative grants at $2 million each, totaling $35.4 million awarded to federally recognized tribes. Testimony from tribal leaders and grantees described how the funding supports prevention, family advocacy, domestic violence services, law enforcement coordination, youth programming, culturally grounded healing, and new tribal public safety positions such as investigators, social workers, and drone operators. Speakers repeatedly emphasized that the crisis is longstanding, tied to generational trauma, and that the grant has helped build trust and infrastructure in tribal communities. Several witnesses and committee members urged continued and preferably ongoing funding, noting that demand now exceeds available one-time money. BSCC and tribal representatives described outreach efforts that increased participation from four applicants in cohort one to 20 in cohort two and more applicants than funding in cohort three. Tribes also raised implementation concerns, especially the burden of quarterly narrative reporting, limited staff capacity, and the need for flexible administration. BSCC said it uses steering committees, separate small- and large-project categories, orientations, monitoring visits, and technical assistance to support grantees. Tribal leaders and advocates stressed that the program should remain accessible without requiring a waiver of tribal sovereignty. The second major topic was DOJ’s update on AB 3099, the Tribal Assistance Program, and the tribal police pilot under AB 134. DOJ officials said the Office of Native American Affairs and the Division of Law Enforcement have been conducting outreach, trainings, listening sessions, and coordination with tribal, local, state, and federal partners to address Public Law 280 jurisdictional issues, improve reporting and data, and support Feather Alert and MMIP-related resources. DOJ said the AB 3099 report is in internal review and that the tribal police pilot is moving forward with the Yurok Tribe as a participant, with a July 1, 2026 start date. DOJ and tribal witnesses said the pilot’s main barriers are cost and, for some tribes, the waiver of sovereign immunity. No votes were taken, and the hearing ended with broad support for expanding and sustaining MMIP-related funding and infrastructure.

Transcript Highlights:

• department of budget and finance department of budget and finance instructions<00:18:54.440>
• infrastructure infrastructure there<01:19:31.199> um<01:19:31.440> I<01:19:31.920>
• <04:43:55.040> and energy uh Hawaii Housing Finance and energy uh Hawaii Housing Finance and
• <04:50:15.520> and agriculture infrastructure and agriculture infrastructure and development
• <05:41:52.958> yes um uh change of means of financing yes um uh change of means of financing

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance received an informational briefing from the Department of Education on its budget request for the upcoming fiscal year. The Superintendent and staff described the department’s mission, enrollment and staffing scale, recent gains in NAEP reading and math, persistent attendance problems since the pandemic, and the need for resources to support student recovery, middle school math, and other strategic priorities. The department said its proposal is intended to be aligned with its 2023–2029 strategic plan, fiscally balanced, and reliable for schools, while also addressing inflation, workforce needs, and uncertainty in federal funding. Assistant Superintendent and CFO Brian Hallet reviewed federal grants, non-general funds, and the budget development process. He said federal funds make up about 11% of the department’s FY25 appropriation and warned that House budget proposals could threaten predictable funding for core programs. He also explained that the department began its biennial budget work in April 2024 and used an internal review group to identify possible reallocations. The department characterized its request as a “flat” budget proposal overall, with a large share devoted to continued funding for existing recurring needs, and noted challenges including a projected state funding decline, inflation, lingering pandemic impacts, recruitment and retention, and uncertainty about future federal support. A major topic was the department’s capital improvement program. DOE officials argued for a risk-based, proactive approach using lump-sum “buckets” to manage facilities and deferred maintenance across more than 21.5 million square feet at 268 sites. They said this would allow more efficient prioritization of projects and better coordination with complex area superintendents, principals, and legislators. Members asked about how legislative priorities would fit into the bucket system, county-versus-state property jurisdiction issues affecting school facilities, enrollment decline and staffing ratios, and how the department plans to adjust facilities and human resources to shifting enrollment patterns. DOE said it is studying enrollment trends, will brief the Board of Education next month, and is willing to provide further briefings to legislators. No votes or formal actions were taken during the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those projects are infrastructure.
• And without of infrastructure.
• :24.000> the Paul campus's infrastructure meet the Paul campus's infrastructure meet the caliber
• Minnesota and the housing finance Minnesota and the housing finance agency.
• lease purchase financing for equipment. lease purchase financing for equipment.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Next, we have the Small Business Finance and Community Support Program.
• Next, we have the Small Business Finance and Community Support Program.
• Additionally, machine learning and climate finance, I'm sorry, climate tech.
• The other item that I wanted to mention is infrastructure investments.
• , especially our ports and the economic infrastructure there.

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on the effects of tariffs on Washington’s economy, agriculture, and small businesses, followed by updates on emergency management, cybersecurity, disaster resilience, tsunami preparedness, and World Cup security planning. Office of Financial Management economist Abdelamintrawe Trieri said tariff increases are expected to raise prices, reduce output and employment, and lower state revenue over a four-year horizon, with the hardest-hit sectors including aerospace, food and beverage manufacturing, and agriculture. Members asked about updated tariff scenarios, crop-specific impacts, inflation versus deflation in different goods, and whether some manufacturing sectors could benefit; staff said updated numbers would need to be rerun as tariff rates changed. Washington Department of Agriculture representative Ryan Hamm described how tariffs raise costs for farm inputs such as equipment, parts, packaging, and fertilizer, while also affecting exports of key commodities like wheat, potatoes, apples, cherries, dairy, and wine. He said some sectors support tariffs on competing imports, but retaliation and market restrictions have hurt exports, especially to China and, in the wine sector, Canada. Department of Commerce representative Andrea Chartock outlined export assistance, business finance, recruitment, and industry-sector development programs, and proposed expanding tariff-resilience support through market diversification, supply-chain optimization, and efforts to attract investment and federal funding. She also noted uncertainty around delayed federal STEP funding for small business export assistance. Emergency Management Division Director Robert Ezell warned that federal disaster and mitigation funding is becoming less reliable, citing the denied bomb cyclone disaster declaration, delays in FEMA grant processing, and possible restructuring of FEMA that could shift more responsibility to states. He said Washington may need stronger state-funded public assistance, individual assistance, and mitigation programs, along with broader coordination among state agencies and local governments. Cybersecurity staff described state efforts to support local governments through the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, threat intelligence sharing, vulnerability assessments, and a proposed volunteer incident response team, while noting the loss of MS-ISAC funding and the importance of continued state matching funds for cybersecurity grants. Hazard mitigation and tsunami staff emphasized the need for sustained investment in flood, wildfire, earthquake, lahar, and tsunami resilience, including vertical evacuation structures and language-access outreach. Ezell also briefed the committee on World Cup security preparations and federal grants for counter-unmanned aircraft systems, explaining that the state can buy mitigation capabilities but current authority to use them remains largely federal; the committee asked follow-up questions about fan zones, training, and the meaning of drone mitigation. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, House Bill 21 places a land grant and acequia infrastructure fund in the budget for all capital
• projects, where on January 15th of each year the State Board of Finance will estimate the amount of
• in the amount of approximately 160 million which the Legislature will authorize the State Board of Finance
• Infrastructure Fund, totaling approximately 80 million apiece.
• Fund, approximately 20 million, and 1.1% of the bonding capacity for the Ezequiel Infrastructure Fund

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then they cap their large infrastructure investments at $25 million.
• They're not privately financed, is that my question? Kelvin: Yeah, Mr.
• We've talked about the economics, the taxes, how these might be financed.
• Some of that early development financing can be quite challenging.
• So financing, I think, is something that could be set aside right now.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 211, do pass, then referred to the Finance Committee.
• Senate Bill 222, do pass, then referred to the Finance Committee.
• Senate Bill 254, do pass as amended, then referred to the Finance Committee.
• Acequia and ditch infrastructure across our great state.
• I mean, we're talking about infrastructure for acequias many times.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Same thing with the Tribal Infrastructure Fund, right to construction.
• We have the Tribal Infrastructure Fund, and then we have the Water Trust Board.
• The Tribal Infrastructure Fund and the Colonias Fund, ...the Tribal Infrastructure Fund and the Colonias
• And I am just, I just have confidence, extreme confidence in the Finance Authority.
• Finance Authority oversight because we do the checks and balances.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a shareholder in our public finance, uh, section and, uh, the attorney for the district.
• much needed public infrastructure, we began the mud creation process legislatively.
• So please note that the district is still required to finance such sewer infrastructure as well as to
• You guys already started putting roads in and infrastructure like that already into this space yet, or
• Members of municipal utility districts are an important financing mechanism to support new residential

Transcript Highlights:

• John Tol, finance director at Perpich. >> Betsy Anderson, communications director.
• The NRAP infrastructure categories are those that you see listed on the slide.
• One of those is through our aviation infrastructure.
• The aviation infrastructure is for the Brainerd airport.
• Um and so uh as well as infrastructure.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It takes four to five years to build infrastructure.
• ; broadband is infrastructure.
• For folks, while we build the fiber infrastructure.
• Chair, also, line 75 for the Healthy Food Financing Program.
• Wastewater infrastructure projects.