Transcript Highlights:

• Members and guests with us today from Project Class 34...
• In 2024, she transitioned to a new role as clinical faculty with the U of A Family Medicine Residency
• And that's a very conservative projection.
• de-transition.
• Because people who transition and people who detransition need access to the same care.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are projects for modernization.
• this project is finishing.
• By the way, one of the newest transit providers, the South Central Regional Transit District, is doing
• Though there are other projects.
• project with a hyperscaler.

Transcript Highlights:

• But please note that this is a monthly projection of that month, and it's like stock projections where
• But please note that this is a monthly projection of that month, and it's like stock projections where
• But please note that this is a monthly projection of that month, and it's like stock projections where
• So this is the transition to USDA.
• So this is the transition to USDA. 2020. So this is the transition to USDA.

Bills: HB1974, HB1853, HB1973, HB1574, HB2619, HB1966, HB1643, HB1671, HB2558, HB1854, HB2173, HB1575, HB2229, HB1535, HB1978, HB2508, HB1549, HB2187, HB1550, HB1977, HB2314, HB1871, HB2319, HB1591, HB1858, HB1898, HB2372, HB1765, HB2012, HB1706, HB1962, HB1963, HB1975, HB2009, HB2083, HB2224, HB1877, HB1959, HB1626, HB1665, HB2488, HB2456, HB2548, HB2207, HB1832, HB2079, HB1985, HB1618, HB2486, HB2242, HB2045, HB1703, HB2236, HB2480, HB1976, HB2287, HB2288, HB1777, HB276, HB1660, HB1676, HB1605, HB1751, HB1967, HB2383, HB2340, HB1946, HB2268, HB1950, HB2156, HB2118, HB1859, HB1863, HB1996, HB2114, HB2423, HB2429, HB2475, HB2534, HB2545, HB1813, HB1941, HB2474, HB2583, HB1576, HB1886, HB1939, HB2540, HB2590, HB2000, HB2163, HB2386, HB1691, HB1680, HB2516, HB1993, HB2442, HB1510, HB1958, HB1692

Keywords: HB1974, hearing loss, audiology, audiologist, hearing screening, hearing aids, cochlear implants, tele-audiology, communication access, assistive technology, speech-language pathology, deafness, hard of hearing, public health, kupuna, keiki, dementia, cognitive decline, fall prevention, State Health Planning and Development Agency

Transcript Highlights:

• Placement transitions are often carried out in ways that compound harm by disrupting a foster youth's
• However, we will now transition to our oversight hearing, so we will convene our oversight hearing in
• While some transitions were thoughtfully managed, far too many children experienced disruptive moves
• And how is the department preparing for that transition?
• housing program for our transitional aged youth.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This project in St.
• partner lenar so this innovated project partner lenar so this innovated project uh<00:09:46.800>
• projects not just the occasional project projects not just the occasional project where<00:16:10.440
• <01:26:33.639> that occupancy or there's a new project that occupancy or there's a new project
• <01:45:36.400> um in terms of market rate projects um in terms of market rate projects um

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention heard informational presentations from Housing First Minnesota and the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities on the state of housing in Minnesota. Mark Foster of Housing First Minnesota said the state has a severe housing shortage, with demand outpacing supply since the 2007-09 housing crash, and argued that Minnesota is nearly 100,000 units short of a healthy market. He said new homes are increasingly unaffordable, citing a median new single-family price above $530,000 and declining affordability in the Twin Cities metro, and he urged lawmakers to remove exclusionary zoning and other regulatory barriers that he said make starter homes and smaller-lot housing difficult or illegal to build in many growing cities. He also highlighted the group’s Housing for Heroes projects, including transitional housing for veterans and other crisis housing projects around the state. Members asked Foster about starter-home examples and his view that the committee’s top priority should be reforming residential development approvals. He said most new housing is negotiated through planned unit developments rather than built under base zoning, which he argued adds cost and reduces supply. The committee then heard from Elizabeth Wael of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, who said housing challenges outside the metro are different but equally serious. She said many Greater Minnesota cities face a lack of developers, inadequate infrastructure such as roads and utilities, and gaps in the housing continuum, especially starter workforce housing and senior housing. She thanked the committee for 2023 housing funding and said cities are contributing their own resources, updating zoning, reducing parking requirements, allowing ADUs, and partnering with developers and nonprofits. Wael also urged faster rollout of the Greater Minnesota infrastructure grant program and said the state should consider changes to the housing tax credit and housing TIF rules to make them easier to use. In response, senators said they shared frustration with the slow implementation of the infrastructure program and emphasized the need for state investment and locally tailored zoning reforms. No bills were heard and no votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on stakeholder testimony and committee discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• While we're transitioning, committee, we were all provided yesterday in our packets minutes from the
• . project.
• They teach them project management and get them interested in STEM.
• It's a marketable project site where we could, let's say, offload what's been our investment.
• Near transit.

Transcript Highlights:

• Testifying with me today is Heather Lopez, lead caseworker at Project H.C.V.
• I currently serve as a lead caseworker for Project H.C.
• We project that H.R. 1 will create a gap of $80 million to $100 million a year in our budget.
• We project that HR1 will create a gap of $80 to $100 million a year in our budget.
• I know this is a passion project for you, and I'm so appreciative of your work.

Summary: The Assembly Health Committee heard a long agenda of health-related bills, with most items presented for later vote once quorum was reached. Early in the hearing, the committee adopted a consent calendar of multiple bills with motions for due pass to Appropriations, and it noted that AB 2029 had been pulled from the agenda. The committee also took up AB 1973, a bill by Aguiar-Curry to expand who may provide procedural abortion care. Supporters, including physicians and certified nurse midwives, argued the bill would align law with current training and improve access, while opponents said later-term abortion procedures require physician-level surgical training and raised safety concerns. The author emphasized hands-on training, consultation, and transfer protocols, and the bill was held pending quorum with a motion and second recorded. The committee then heard AB 1558 by Arambula, which would adopt the Uniform Emergency Volunteer Health Practitioners Act to speed the use of out-of-state licensed volunteers during declared disasters. Supporters from the Uniform Law Commission and the Red Cross said the bill would reduce delays and clarify legal authority for volunteer health workers; there was no opposition testimony. AB 2282 by Alanis, a temporary rural emergency stabilization center for Patterson while a permanent hospital is built, drew support from local emergency responders and a late opposition from the California chapter of ACEP. The chair praised the bill as a creative local solution and agreed to coauthor it; a motion and second were recorded, with the vote to occur later. Several public health access bills followed. AB 1843 by El-Hawari would limit prior authorization and align hepatitis C treatment coverage with medical guidelines; supporters said it would remove barriers to a curable disease, while health plans opposed it as a mandate, citing premium impacts and the recent SB 306 prior-authorization process. AB 2247 by El-Hawari would create the THRIVE program for mental health services for youth affected by gun violence; Youth Alive and other supporters described trauma-informed, community-based care, and the chair and another member asked to be added as coauthors. AB 2138 by Krell would expand access to certified peer support specialists in enhanced care management and remove automatic disqualifications based solely on criminal history; supporters said peers are essential to engagement and recovery, and the bill was held with a motion and second. Later, AB 1682 by Hart would require coverage of scalp cooling for chemotherapy patients, with emotional testimony from cancer survivors and clinicians; insurers opposed it as another mandate, but the author stressed the modest per-member cost and the bill was moved with a motion and second. AB 1879 by Dixon would standardize data reporting for alcohol and drug treatment facilities, including private providers, to improve statewide information on outcomes and access; the bill drew broad support from recovery organizations and the prior opposition was withdrawn after amendments. AB 1906 by Aguiar-Curry would require coverage of at-home cervical cancer screening kits without cost sharing; supporters cited improved access for rural and working Californians, insurers opposed it on affordability grounds, and the bill passed on a recorded roll call after quorum was established. Finally, AB 1556 by Haney would clarify and support drug-free recovery housing and return-to-use policies; supporters said it would expand sober housing options, while opponents warned it could allow evictions after relapse and conflict with Housing First principles. The hearing ended with the bill still under discussion and opposition-unless-amended concerns noted.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what now is the transition?
• Our projected is to remain about steady at $1.8 in fiscal year 27.
• In 26, around $74, and we're projected to save around $85 in 27.
• So, one of your projects for 2026 is the pilot on restoration services.
• We have another advisory committee on custom and transition services.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our projected total expenditure is about $110 million.
• Uh, could you comment on, uh, any Projected federal cuts in relation to this waiver.
• We've got a projected shortfall.
• much that projected shortfall is?
• Uh, Madam Chair, Representative, um, we have a projected shortfall of 13 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Trevor Project strongly urges you to pass SF 4706 and later 4707. Thank you.
• Project strongly urges you to pass SF Project strongly urges you to pass SF 4706 4706 4706 and<00:09:
• Their recent attempts to transition to a cost-based reimbursement model have fallen short.
• Their recent attempts to transition to a cost-based reimbursement model have fallen short.
• <02:22:53.120> into nothing as they transition into nothing as they transition into adulthood

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All over the state, we've had bold steps with our Energy Transition Act.
• Members of the Committee, my name is Victoria Alarcon Macias, representing this immediate project as
• And here's where I have great hopes for the future and this bill, because transitioning to renewable
• We believe this transition is too aggressive and lacks a necessary balanced strategy.
• So certainly, we're putting in place a long-term project.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm director of the Minnesota Budget Project.
• Thank you for the opportunity Project.
• :39:11.120> the Redevelopment projects supported by the Redevelopment projects supported by the
• taking on these types of projects. taking on these types of projects.
• One such project, a recent one here in St. Paul, is the Heights.

Bills: HF2715, HF2499, HF3420, HF3657, HF2303

Keywords: HF2715, homestead credit refund, property tax refund, property tax relief, homeowner tax relief, homestead credit, co-pay reduction, Minnesota property taxes, tax rebate, state refund, income thresholds, inflation adjustment, property tax circuit breaker, housing affordability, elderly homeowners, fixed income, taxation, Minnesota Statutes 290A.04, renters credit, income tax

Transcript Highlights:

• We project about 451,000 fewer meals served this next year compared to last year.
• We predict or we project about in meals.
• It prevents regulatory gaps during ownership transition.
• It prevents regulatory gaps during ownership transition.
• The first section is a technical correction to the Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness

Bills: HF4210, HF4212, HF4549, HF4464, HF4546, HF4447

Keywords: senior nutrition, older adults, aging services, home-delivered meals, congregate dining, meal delivery, grocery delivery, food insecurity, nutrition support, area agencies on aging, Minnesota Board on Aging, human services, special revenue fund, nonprofit grants, SNAP outreach, medically tailored meals, rural nutrition, food access, transportation services, elderly

Transcript Highlights:

• The 2 and 1/2 uh, or sub projects.
• So once a bond project, always a bond project. So now the dollars cannot go.
• We are near the end of the project.
• but we cannot complete these projects but we cannot complete these projects alone. alone. alone.
• construction demolition waste transition construction demolition waste transition program.<00:35

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• on things that the legislature needs to probably get more involved in and probably create some transition
• on things that the legislature needs to probably get more involved in and probably create some transition
• So again, as you talk about transition, I think what is being, we've had a transition at Health and Human
• The third item is under our farmworker household and multifamily affordable housing projects under our
• For family affordable housing projects under our state-funded low-income weatherization program, we're

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Human Services heard an overview of efforts to streamline access to safety net programs and move toward more automatic, person-centered enrollment. CDSS, DHCS, and CalHHS described current cross-enrollment between Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and CalWORKs, including data showing high overlap among programs and a text-message outreach pilot that increased CalWORKs applications and enrollments but reached only a small share of potentially eligible people. Witnesses emphasized barriers such as differing federal eligibility rules, data-sharing limits, privacy concerns, and the need for better technology, consent management, and stakeholder engagement. Members pressed the administration on how to institutionalize these efforts across administrations and asked for concrete budgetary and regulatory steps to support “no wrong door” enrollment and automatic referrals. The committee also reviewed several chair priorities. On the proposed foster care multi-agency office, CDSS said existing coordination structures already address much of the intended work and asked to verify prior fiscal scoring. On the Employment First Office, CalHHS explained that the office’s $1 million budget was eliminated in the 2024-25 budget as part of deficit reductions, while noting that employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities remains an administration priority through existing departmental coordination. For the food insecurity proposal, CDSS said it could provide technical assistance but would need new data-sharing agreements, could not separately calculate a CFAP participation rate with current data, and would likely need until July 1, 2027, plus ongoing staffing, to complete the requested report. The mandated reporter proposal drew support for reform, with CDSS estimating low-millions in one-time training costs and ongoing costs in the hundreds of thousands. The subcommittee also discussed a guaranteed income proposal. CalHHS suggested drafting new statutory language and considering a county-administered model rather than a state-run competitive grant process to reduce administrative burden, while members and public commenters urged support for AB 661 and a study of a permanent statewide guaranteed income program. Public testimony also supported automatic enrollment, community-supporting mandated reporting reforms, and cash assistance for fire recovery. In the final items, CSD described how local nonprofit partners helped during the Los Angeles fires with food, housing vouchers, transportation, and emergency energy assistance, and explained that LIHEAP and CSBG remain important but limited tools for disaster response. CSD also said recent federal staffing cuts and possible future federal budget threats could affect LIHEAP and CSBG administration, though no immediate service disruptions had occurred and additional LIHEAP funds were expected to be released soon.

Transcript Highlights:

• Effective January 1, 2028, and finally requiring the Department of Social Services to make transition
• So the current... ...revenues come in higher than projections. Certainly.
• One of the best things we can do is transition.
• We also appreciate the funding for your support on the adult learning demonstration projects.
• We also appreciate the funding for your support on the adult learning demonstration projects.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was there a short amount of time, and I was able to help Sheriff Cook transition... ...a short amount
• of time, and I was able to help Sheriff Cook transition into her role as sheriff, and she's still there
• At the start of this project, we were also provided a scope of work in which all vendors that had been
• Was there a different process in place when you, in other projects you've had with the state, versus
• specific statement of work is normally how it's done, and that's been pretty consistent with this project

Summary: The Committee on Ethics and Elections met to consider several gubernatorial appointees, beginning with Matthew Walsh, Secretary of Juvenile Justice, for confirmation. Walsh outlined his law enforcement background, social work training, and priorities at DJJ, including staff wellness, seeking statutory recognition and training standards for juvenile detention and probation officers, and increasing bed capacity so adjudicated youth can move from detention into residential programming sooner. Members asked about the impact of detention “dead time” and the need for more beds; Walsh said DJJ is evaluating ways to let youth begin programming earlier while in detention. Public support was noted, and the committee voted unanimously to confirm Walsh and forward his nomination to the full Senate. The committee then heard from Tina Vidal-Duarte, nominee to the Florida Atlantic University Board of Trustees. She described her business background, service on multiple boards, and prior service on FAU’s board pending confirmation, emphasizing governance, accountability, and strategic planning. Senators questioned her about FAU’s handling of faculty social media controversies, the university’s relationship with its new president, student and faculty engagement, AI planning, diversity, and her role on the Hope Florida board and with CDR Health’s state contracts, including work related to the Everglades detention center. Public testimony included strong opposition from one speaker who criticized her ties to state contracts and Hope Florida, while another senator spoke in support, citing her community service and business experience. The committee voted 5-2 to confirm her, with Senators Polsky and Bernard voting no. Afterward, the committee considered the remaining nominees in Tabs 2 through 15, excluding Tab 10, en bloc. No separate votes were requested, and the committee approved the group of nominees by voice roll call to be forwarded to the full Senate. The meeting then concluded with no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we'll move on to issue number seven: Child Care Rate Reform Transition Plan.
• We were asked to present the Assembly's rate reform transition plan for the period between July 1 and
• Again, thank you, LAO, for assisting us and ensuring that we have a transition plan.
• So as we work on transitioning, they need relief this year, and that must be in the budget.
• And this transition plan could really help address inequities in the meantime.

Summary: The committee took up issue number seven, Child Care Rate Reform Transition Plan, and heard a presentation from the LAO on an eight-part transition plan for the period before implementation of the alternative methodology-based child care rate system. The plan would provide interim rate increases to existing regional market rates and standard reimbursement rates beginning January 1 of the budget year, keep the higher of SRR or ARMR as the single rate, annualize cost-of-care supplements, update hold-harmless language, eliminate the private market cap, authorize one-time systems transition funding with JLBC approval, and require annual reporting on parent co-pays. Members asked about the timeline and public/legislative feedback process, and administration staff said they were working toward the July 1, 2025 deadline while continuing stakeholder engagement through the rate and quality advisory process. Public comment was overwhelmingly focused on child care and early learning funding. Providers, county offices, advocacy groups, and education organizations urged the Legislature to move quickly on the alternative rate methodology, provide interim relief through a cost-of-living adjustment, reimburse based on enrollment rather than attendance, and preserve health and retirement benefits and workforce stability. Many speakers also pressed for funding to expand the promised 200,000 child care slots, warning that waitlists remain long and providers are under financial strain. Several commenters supported maintaining or extending grants and technical assistance for transitional kindergarten, inclusive early education, and mixed-delivery early learning programs. A separate set of comments addressed the Inclusive Early Education Expansion Program, with Sacramento County education officials and others urging a statewide plan that would extend support to the 20 counties not currently receiving grants, especially rural areas. Other speakers raised concerns about facilities and staffing impacts from TK expansion, the need for consistent eligibility rules across subsidized programs, and the importance of statewide systems-level funding. The chair thanked the LAO, administration, and public commenters, said the item would remain open until after the May Revision, and adjourned the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have, in our community, an entity called Project Lift that does amazing training for at-risk kids,
• Lucie County or Project Lift in Martin County?
• We have in Taylor County, you know, we're currently in a state of transition.
• We have in Taylor County, you know, we're currently in a state of transition.
• And in the transition, we are left with some phenomenal data that we are continuing to move forward.

Summary: The Education Postsecondary Committee met to hear an overview of Florida career and technical education (CTE) from Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell and presentations from Big Bend Technical College and Santa Fe College. O’Farrell described Florida’s CTE structure, including career clusters, postsecondary program types, enrollment and completion growth, apprenticeship expansion, and the state’s credentials review process. He said postsecondary CTE enrollment is near 480,000 students and completions reached a record 76,806, with strong growth in nursing, law enforcement, EMT, and other public-safety credentials. He also discussed the CTE audit, which uses retention/success, employment or continued education, and labor-market demand metrics; programs not meeting thresholds would eventually require phase-out plans beginning in 2026. He highlighted the workforce development capitalization grant as a major driver of program expansion and facility renovation, and answered questions about business outreach, construction trades, apprenticeships, and space-industry training. Shelby McCall of Big Bend Technical College described how the college responded to hurricanes, mill closures, and regional economic disruption by expanding rural workforce training. She highlighted aluminum welding, millwright, welding technology, health sciences, and a new advanced manufacturing facility funded by state grants and local partnerships, along with a new LPN-to-RN bridge program. She said the college has strong placement and certification results and is working with employers such as Lippert, NAMO, and others to align training with local demand. Senator Simon praised the college’s role in Taylor County’s recovery and workforce development. Dr. Paul Brody of Santa Fe College said state workforce grants have helped the college expand nursing, skilled trades, apprenticeship, automotive, diesel, and manufacturing programs, including partnerships with Bradford County Technical College, UF Health, Habitat for Humanity, and local employers. He reported growth in CTE enrollment, nursing credentials, apprenticeship enrollment, and job placement rates, and described new efforts in semiconductor training, CDL training, and a charter school model that combines high school, an AS degree, and industry credentials. The committee took no formal action beyond hearing the presentations and adjourned after Senator Berman moved to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• classifications listed on pages eleven and twelve that have successfully completed major milestones in transitioning
• the current unemployment insurance computer programs away Major milestones in transitioning the current
• Technology that are also included in the list based on their participation and contributions to the project
• The data makes clear that DSB had fiscal data that projected the financial difficulties it has encountered
• The data makes clear that DSB had fiscal data that projected the financial difficulties it has encountered

Summary: The committee first took up several personnel and compensation requests. It approved a Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism reclassification that would trade three administrative coordinator positions for one park superintendent, one maintenance supervisor, and one park manager. It also approved one-time bonus and recruitment plans for the Department of Commerce and Department of Veterans Affairs, including up to $5,000 bonuses tied to the unemployment insurance modernization project and $2,000 bonuses for certified nursing assistants at the state veterans homes. A Department of Health request to reinstate a previously frozen fiscal support manager position for the State Medical Board was also approved; members were told the position was already authorized and would not increase total positions. The committee then reviewed a Department of Commerce reduction in force affecting the Division of Workforce Services for the Blind and Employment and Training divisions. Secretary Hugh McDonald and Workforce Connections Director Cody Waits explained that the cuts were driven by over-obligated federal funds, a prior realignment, and what they described as long-standing fiscal mismanagement in the Division of Services for the Blind. They said 56 employees remained furloughed, five employees in a separate grant group were still working, and 17 positions were on the permanent RIF list. Senators questioned the division’s accountability structure, the role of the independent board, and whether the layoffs were being handled fairly, including a request for racial composition data on the workforce and the RIF group. Members also discussed quarterly employment and overtime reports. Staff explained that the reports cover average staffing levels over each quarter, and members focused on overtime spending, especially in DHS, the Department of Correction, and the Department of Transportation. OPM said overtime is being reviewed, direct care positions remain exempt from the hiring freeze, and agencies have been hiring more staff since the new pay plan took effect. The committee asked for additional reporting on overtime trends, and the meeting adjourned without further action.