Transcript Highlights:

• Grants and loans. Yeah, that's correct. Okay. All right.
• Well, if I may, when it comes to federal grants, the Port Infrastructure Development Grant Program through
• Department of Transportation in a community like...
• Department of Transportation, in a community like ours, which is considered an urban community or an
• So it really depends on the scale of the grant program itself.

Committee: House Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• and where that grant came from from the... ...feds or who received that grant here in Idaho, would they
• of other... ...targeted at specifically ESG and COC grants, but aren't there a number of other grants
• Certainly there are many grants that pass through.
• They do look at how much grant funding was spent...
• They want to live in their community.

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:

• The community college office.
• worked with their community, they've worked with their campus community, and they have a plan over time
• out in the community.
• Community College Office, yeah.
• , MSI grants, and APZ grants, so these are all focused on supporting certain types of student groups

Transcript Highlights:

• That's why you have a land grant.
• What was the community program? Community IPM, integrated pest management.
• Community IPM, integrated pest management.
• We are actually the entire nation's only public-private sector land grant.
• Every state has a land-grant institution. These were started by Abraham Lincoln.

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Senate Agriculture Committee met and first took up five bills. It reported S.593 (land used in agricultural production), S.879A (the Garden Protection Act), S.3277 (transfer-on-death beneficiaries for farming implements), and S.4754 (creating an Office of Urban Agriculture). S.1529A, the Carbon Farming Act, was moved to the Finance Committee. The committee briefly discussed S.4754, with Senator Borrello asking about its status and members noting strong support for urban agriculture and food-system resilience; the bill was then reported to Finance by voice vote. The committee then heard from Julie Suarez, Associate Dean for Land Grant Affairs at Cornell CALS, who described Cornell’s role in research, extension, and public service across New York agriculture. She highlighted Cornell’s economic impact, growth in FFA participation including new urban chapters, dairy investment, and the potential of the maple industry, while emphasizing the need for continued agricultural science funding to address climate change, invasive species, and market challenges. She also pointed members to Cornell programs supporting food entrepreneurs, soil health, small farms, veterans entering agriculture, and community integrated pest management. Members asked questions about tick increases, with Suarez attributing them to deer, rodents, climate change, and invasive species, and said Cornell’s community IPM program offers landscaping and prevention guidance. She also explained Cornell’s land-grant and contract-college structure, including its statutory mission and state support. The meeting ended after members expressed interest in further outreach and informational sessions, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Communities that I represent include the town of Ludlow; wholesale water communities as well include
• a year of them being granted.
• a year of them being granted.
• because the zoning act doesn't apply to the city of Boston, every community can grant a dimensional
• These are our community spaces for our communities to use.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Summary: The Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government held a hybrid hearing on bills related to land use, zoning, permitting, municipal governance, and homelessness. Early testimony focused on a home rule petition for Ipswich to remove a residency requirement for a town manager, with supporters saying it would broaden the applicant pool and help fill a vacant permanent manager position. Another panel backed legislation to change the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission’s governance so ratepayers in surrounding communities would have representation, arguing the current board structure leaves many users without a voice in rate-setting and capital decisions. Several housing and zoning bills drew testimony. Senator Keenan and the Home Builders and Remodelers Association supported a bill to toll the one-year period for acting on a variance while an appeal is pending, saying appeals should not consume the time needed to implement approved projects. Representative Murray and the Real Estate Bar Association also testified on broader zoning reforms, including changes to undersized lots, merger rules, hearing deadlines, appeals, and variance standards; they argued the proposals would reduce delay and uncertainty and help housing production. Committee members questioned whether shifting zoning appeals from de novo to closed-record review would limit new evidence, and the witnesses said the change would speed cases while preserving limited opportunities to supplement the record. The committee also heard testimony on bills to end the criminalization of homelessness. Representatives, advocates, and shelter organizations said local camping bans and fines are counterproductive, especially after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Grants Pass decision, and urged a statewide response centered on housing and public health rather than punishment. Other municipal bills included remote participation in open town meetings for Wayland and a statewide local option, Fairhaven and Mattapoisett charter changes, and Cambridge’s request to use automated parking enforcement and mail parking tickets. The hearing also included testimony supporting fairground zoning flexibility, a Shrewsbury solar siting bill, and an Inspector General bill clarifying county land disposition procedures by requiring written notice to DCAM and a defined response period. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• As the witness indicated, we are a farm community.
• Cal Grant awards for tuition at UC and CSU campuses have increased.
• The maximum Cal Grant B Access awards have increased. The maximum Cal Grant B.
• Grant B recipients.
• When we should be raising the Cal Grant, we know that we should.

Summary: The Senate Education Committee heard several bills related to school nutrition, campus safety, college financial aid, and UC contracting ethics. SB 1058 by Senator McNerney would remove price as the primary factor in school nutrition procurement grants, allowing districts more flexibility to prioritize quality, local sourcing, cultural responsiveness, and healthier meals. Supporters from school nutrition and education groups said it would help districts better serve students and local farmers without increasing state costs. After questions about vendor selection and safeguards against favoritism, the bill was moved do pass and later approved 7-0. SB 1140 by Senator Ashby, sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers, would require school safety plans to address access control during construction, maintenance, and repair projects. Supporters said the bill closes a gap that can leave gates or doors unsecured and could help prevent unauthorized access to campuses. There was no opposition, and the committee approved the bill unanimously. SB 959 was also taken up on consent and passed. SB 1006 by Senator Padilla would raise the Cal Grant B Access Award and tie future increases to inflation using the California Consumer Price Index. Supporters said the current award has lost most of its value and does not cover basic needs like housing, food, transportation, and books, affecting hundreds of thousands of students. Members discussed the fiscal impact and the need to keep aid aligned with rising costs; the bill was moved forward and later approved 7-0. SB 1141 by Senator Wahab would bar UC contracts with businesses that pay UC executives or where executives serve in paid roles, aiming to prevent conflicts of interest. UC and the Chamber of Commerce opposed the bill as too broad and potentially disruptive to operations, while supporters argued existing rules are insufficient because many contracting decisions happen outside public view. After extended debate over recusal, transparency, and the scope of the restrictions, the committee passed the bill 4-2 and then finalized all bills on the agenda before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:38.879><c> Support</c> and Community Support and Community Support issues<00:03:42.000><c>
• You have a grant of a million dollars; it might be one time, but if it's an ongoing grant, then the grant
• </c> way the budget works is that Grant way the budget works is that Grant programs<00:14:55.720><c>
• The Homeless Youth Act provides competitive grants for street and community outreach and drop-in programs
• for Street and competitive grants for Street and community<01:04:51.720><c> outreach</c><01:04:52.400

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also includes $300,000 for pilot grants to empower urban, rural, and tribal communities to conduct
• Members, this means that your local community could apply for a planning grant to become a local Mini
• could apply for a planning community could apply for a planning grant<01:09:13.600><c> to</c><01:09:
• Rationing<01:53:33.040><c> grants</c> Rationing grants Rationing grants by<01:53:34.440><c> whatever<
• </c> grant awards. grant awards.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• called the Capacity Grant, Partnerships and Capacity Grant, and part of that includes communities of
• communities.
• Fresno, of course, serves a lot of rural, Fresno County serves a lot of rural communities. rural communities
• They're coming from those communities and they want to get back to their communities and they want to
• Do we see differences in urban communities or suburban communities?

Summary: The Select Committee on Youth Mental Health and Treatment Access held its third hearing to review the state of youth mental health, progress under the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), and remaining implementation and funding challenges. The chair emphasized that schools are often the main point where education, health care, and social services intersect for students, and that the committee’s goal is to ensure public investments translate into better access and outcomes. The hearing featured testimony from researchers, a youth advocate, state officials, and local practitioners. PPIC researcher Shalini Mostala reported that teen mental health remains a serious concern, with high rates of chronic sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts, though recent California data show some improvement since the pandemic. She noted persistent disparities by gender, race, and rural status, and said school-based health centers, wellness centers, and community schools are associated with lower suicidal thoughts. Youth advocate Ella Cruz, speaking for NAMI California, described her own mental health struggles and argued that youth voice, peer-to-peer support, and reducing stigma are essential; she also said technology and AI cannot replace trusted adults or trained professionals. Committee members asked about phone use, stigma, cultural barriers, and how to make supports more accessible and relatable to students. Dr. Sohill Sood of the California Health and Human Services Agency said statewide survey data show declining stigma, increased counseling use, and lower suicide ideation among students, and he highlighted CYBHI’s certified wellness coaches, digital tools, awareness campaigns, and the first-in-the-nation fee schedule that allows schools and colleges to bill health plans for behavioral health services. He said the program is growing quickly, with more than 230,000 claims and over $11 million in new revenue to date, while acknowledging that billing systems and coordination are still being built. Trina Frazier of Fresno County described a multi-tiered system of care supported by CYBHI, CalAIM, and other grants, serving thousands of students through school-based services, wellness centers, and mobile therapy units; she said ongoing funding and flexibility are critical. Rachel Kroberniski of El Segundo High School’s James Morehouse Project described a long-running wellness center and peer mentorship model that supports students in multiple languages, and said peer programs help students feel seen, connected, and more willing to seek help. Members broadly praised the flexibility, collaboration, and peer-based approaches described by the witnesses. Questions focused on sustaining funding after one-time grants expire, improving coordination among schools, counties, and providers, expanding the fee schedule to higher education, and ensuring continuity of care for students after high school. Officials said county offices of education, DHCS, and other partners are using communities of practice and technical assistance to spread best practices, and that CYBHI services can follow some young adults through age 25, with additional supports through community-based programs and digital platforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• and grant recipients.
• The preliminary injunction was granted. It was granted on three grounds.
• The preliminary injunction was granted. It was granted on three grounds.
• </c> The preliminary injunction was granted. The preliminary injunction was granted.
• delays in approving new grants.

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the State of Hawaii’s affirmative litigation against the federal administration, with no public testimony. Attorney General Lopez and deputies said the office’s goal is to enforce the rule of law, not make partisan points, and noted that Hawaii is involved in 27 ongoing cases. They grouped the cases into four broad areas: immigration, funding freezes and grant terminations, federal agency dismantling/reductions in force, and protecting elections, health, and safety. Several immigration-related cases were discussed in detail. These included a challenge to the federal sharing of Medicaid data with DHS for immigration enforcement, a similar challenge to USDA’s demand for SNAP applicant and recipient data, and litigation over immigration-enforcement conditions attached to federal grants. The office also described the birthright citizenship executive order, saying it conflicts with the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court precedent; lower courts granted preliminary relief, and the U.S. Supreme Court later addressed only the scope of nationwide injunctions, not the merits. In the Department of Transportation case, the court granted a preliminary injunction against the “Duffy directive,” finding the immigration conditions lacked statutory authority, were arbitrary and capricious, and violated the Spending Clause and APA. The briefing also covered multiple funding disputes. In the education funding freeze case, the Department of Education and OMB withheld about $6 billion in formula funds, including roughly $33 million for Hawaii; after suit was filed, the funds were released. Other cases included the termination of over $11 billion in public health grants, which affected Hawaii Department of Health grants, the NIH indirect cost cap case, and NIH grant terminations tied to DEI, transgender issues, and vaccine hesitancy. The speakers said some cases have already resulted in preliminary or permanent injunctions, while others remain on appeal or are still being litigated.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this piece is providing grants to employers to upskill existing employees.
• House Bill 511 that created the grant program.
• So in House Bill 511 is the one that creates the grant program and designates how the grant How are they
• So in House Bill 511 is the one that creates the grant program and designates how the grant program is
• This bill puts the money into the grant program. 511 creates the grant program. I got it.

Bills: HB316 , HB549 , HB646 , HB752 , HB824 , HB873 , HB1129 , HB1157 , HB1170

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 22 and first considered Chairman Beaulieu’s House Bill 646, a constitutional amendment limiting the amount of State General Fund money that may be appropriated in a fiscal year. After adopting a set of amendments creating the Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund and making conforming changes, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The companion bill, House Bill 824, which establishes the growth limit formula based on CPI, medical CPI, and population change, was also amended and reported favorably as amended. Supporters framed both measures as a way to keep spending within recurring revenues and create a path toward reducing or eliminating the state income tax. The committee then reported favorably as amended House Bill 1157, creating the Louisiana State Infrastructure Fund to help finance infrastructure-related projects, with testimony that it would leverage private and federal dollars and initially focus on rail, port, road, and bridge projects. House Bill 316, which provides a framework for student literacy reforms for grades four through eight, was presented as having no new cost because the Department of Education said the work was already covered by existing resources; it was reported favorably. House Bill 549, creating the Bayou Growth Opportunity Workforce Program to provide employer-based training grants, also received support from business groups and was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1129, dealing with the sale of state-owned surplus movable property, drew support from Louisiana auctioneers who argued local firms should be allowed to bid on the state’s auction contract instead of relying on an out-of-state vendor; it was reported favorably. House Bill 873, which would fund pursuit intervention technology through a $2 driver’s license fee, generated significant concern about adding fees and whether the money should instead come from existing budgets. After discussion of the proposed technologies and training, the committee deferred the bill voluntarily to work on alternatives, including a possible sunset and other funding options. Finally, House Bill 752, which would change the timing and duration of regular legislative sessions by joint rule, was reported without action after members noted the revised fiscal note showed a decrease in state general fund expenditures. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Through Trails Plus New Mexico grants, they serve as a living example of how education, community health
• These are the grants that New Mexico State Parks solicits every year, and we encourage New Mexico communities
• to apply for this grant.
• The LWCF grant is sort of a shovel-ready type of grant.
• Our communities, Latina communities, our indigenous relatives, our black communities, Asian American

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I have the privilege to represent the communities of Prior Lake, Jordan, and Shakopee.
• I have the privilege to represent the communities of Prior Lake, Jordan, and Shakopee.
• >> Yep, so the scholarship granting organizations can be set up by almost anyone who wants to.
• </c> to set up the scholarship granting to set up the scholarship granting organization<00:13:01.600>
• </c><00:13:40.040><c> organizations,</c> scholarship granting organizations, scholarship granting organizations

Summary: House Republican leaders and Speaker Melissa Hortman held a press event promoting House File 3490, which would opt Minnesota into a federal education tax credit program. They argued the bill has no state cost and would keep donations made by Minnesotans benefiting Minnesota students and schools rather than out-of-state scholarship organizations. Supporters said the funds could help with tutoring, extracurriculars, school supplies, special education-related services, learning loss, and other school needs, and they repeatedly urged Governor Tim Walz to opt in or publicly explain why he would not. Rep. Andrew Myers, the bill’s chief author, said the proposal is personal to him as a parent and legislator and described recent school budget pressures, including staff and resource cuts and larger class sizes. Rep. Ben Bakeberg, a middle school principal, said the bill could generate significant funding if many taxpayers participate and argued it could help offset school district shortfalls and the Blue Ribbon Commission. Rep. Griesbach also backed the bill, calling it a “no-brainer” and saying he would not work with the governor on other budget items unless the governor opted in. In response to questions, supporters said scholarship-granting organizations could be created by a variety of entities, including education foundations, and could support both private-school tuition and public-school-related costs such as extracurricular fees, field trips, and transportation for summer learning. They rejected the idea that the bill pits public and nonpublic schools against each other, saying it is meant to expand educational opportunity for all students. No vote or formal committee action was taken during the event; it ended with questions from reporters on the bill and other Republican priorities such as rental assistance, gas taxes, and energy costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Communities in the state.
• and to the other workers and communities. ...harm to the community and to the other workers and community
• While NDWG provides much-needed support to communities impacted by disasters, the grants do have specific
• to weather this storm, and that many community members are ineligible for availability. grants known
• While NDODG provides much-needed support to communities impacted by disasters, the grants do have specific

Summary: The joint Senate and Assembly labor committees held a hearing on the Los Angeles wildfires and their impact on workers, employers, and recovery efforts. Chairs and members emphasized that rebuilding should prioritize worker safety, equity, local hiring, and strong labor standards rather than simply moving quickly or relying on the lowest bidder. They also stressed the need to learn from past disasters and to create a more coordinated state response for future emergencies. Worker advocates described how domestic workers, day laborers, firefighters, and other frontline workers were affected by the fires. Testimony focused on workers being trapped in evacuation zones, lacking timely information in Spanish, losing jobs and income, and facing exposure to toxic debris without adequate PPE. Speakers called for expanded outreach and education, stronger Cal/OSHA enforcement, broader occupational safety coverage for domestic workers and day laborers, recall and transfer rights, childcare and transportation support, and a centralized disaster relief system that can quickly deliver cash aid and equipment regardless of immigration status. Firefighter Derek Irwin said California firefighters face serious carcinogenic exposure and urged continued funding for the firefighter cancer prevention and research program, along with a long-term state health monitoring and research effort similar to the World Trade Center Health Program. Building trades and labor representatives argued that cleanup and rebuilding should be done through community workforce agreements, prevailing wage, apprenticeship requirements, and local hire provisions, and said the state already has trained workers available. They also said federal debris-removal work through the Army Corps has limited the state’s ability to impose some standards, but that state and local funding or subsidies should trigger labor requirements. Employer and business representatives described major losses to property, inventory, revenue, and jobs, especially in Altadena and nearby areas. The Altadena Chamber said it is coordinating recovery resources, while a construction business owner said small local firms are being shut out of disaster contracts and proposed a more accessible procurement process for local and minority businesses. LAEDC presented preliminary estimates of billions in property damage and business disruption, tens of thousands of potential job losses, and a recovery timeline of five to ten years, warning that low-income communities will be disproportionately affected and that workforce retraining and upskilling will be needed alongside the broader economic recovery.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also made requests for our INI program, which is the infill infiltration to help give grants to communities
• We also made requests for our INI program, which is the infill infiltration to help give grants to communities
• We also made requests for our INI program, which is the infill infiltration to help give grants to communities
• </c><00:19:10.640><c> to</c> infiltration to help give grants to infiltration to help give grants to
• Why not just grant them?

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> of the state to the major land grant of the state to the major land grant University<00:19:47.760
• </c><00:30:56.320><c> etc</c> both and with faculty come grants etc both and with faculty come grants
• There are two project types for this grant program: the Improvement Grant, which is a maximum award of
• </c><01:09:28.839><c> Construction</c><01:09:29.359><c> grant</c> current Library Grant Construction
• grant current Library Grant Construction grant program<01:09:30.319><c> are</c><01:09:30.600><c> cities

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• Yet my community, like many of yours, is still an agrarian community.
• :56.160><c> community.
• </c> for our community. for our community.
• </c> the community input. the community input.
• </c> our communities. our communities.

Bills: HF4156 , HF3835 , HF3995 , HF4383 , HF4091 , HF4084 , HF4311 , HF198 , HF4486 , HF4302 , HF4309 , HF4032 , HF3855 , HF3673 , HF4265 , HF4012 , HF4339 , HF4298 , HF3852

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• That's really what our job is, is to make grants and loans.
• We've been able to deliver um the Federal CARES grant.
• and the second tranche of their stabilization grants.
• Um, has to be made as grants.
• supplemental grant.

Committee: House New Mexico Finance Authority Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• grants throughout the state.
• grants throughout the state.
• So page seven is our Perkins grant.
• So page seven is our Perkins grant.
• Page 25 is the IDEA grant. Page 25 is the IDEA grant. Again, $20 million federal money.

Committees: House Commerce , House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, for grants, there can be grants that require state, tribal, local cost sharing.
• You know, plan, grant canceled.
• grant opportunities.
• DOH has received some federal communications counseling grants, however, the additional, additional federal
• More grants and helps generate oversight of the grant and compliance.

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee