Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, George Harris, the Department of Finance.
• Christon Malhotra, Department of Finance.
• George Harris with the Department of Finance in La...
• Department of Finance. George Harris, Department of Finance.
• And I believe Department of Finance is going to, we'll start with Department of Finance, then LAO and

Summary: The joint hearing focused on California’s child care, preschool, and transitional kindergarten oversight, with chairs emphasizing the state’s Master Plan for Early Learning and Care and the need to break down silos between programs. CDSS and CDE reported progress toward the plan’s goals, including universal access to TK for all four-year-olds next school year, expanded access for low-income three-year-olds, and more children with disabilities being served in state preschool. They also noted ongoing work on quality rating/review reform, funding structure changes, and the need to address rates, workforce shortages, and federal uncertainty around Head Start. Testimony from advocacy groups and providers largely supported expanding access while simplifying the system. Children Now, Every Child California, and the California Budget and Policy Center argued that California still has uneven access, especially for infants, toddlers, and three-year-olds, and urged investments in mixed delivery, inclusion, full-day options, and a cost-of-care rate methodology. Every Child California recommended consolidating part-day and full-day contracts, streamlining eligibility priorities, making the two-year-old option permanent, and funding staffing incentives. Parent testimony highlighted how child care gaps and county-to-county transfer delays can disrupt work, safety, and children’s stability, and providers described low reimbursement rates, the need for health and retirement benefits, and support for delinking subsidy rates from private pay. The second panel addressed universal transitional kindergarten. The Learning Policy Institute reported rapid TK expansion, with most districts now offering TK, but said access still depends on facilities, staffing, and whether programs are available at all school sites. The Department of Finance said the governor’s budget would fully implement TK by adding funding for all eligible four-year-olds and lowering the adult-to-child ratio from 12:1 to 10:1. The Legislative Analyst’s Office said the administration’s enrollment and cost assumptions were optimistic and estimated lower TK enrollment growth and lower costs for the ratio change. CDE supported the expansion and urged continued funding for UPK coordinators, teacher development, and mixed-delivery planning grants. Members questioned facilities shortages, staffing competition, and how to ensure TK expansion does not displace CSPP or Head Start classrooms. No formal votes or actions were taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Moving on, school finance, so on slide eight. you get a picture of all in funding on school finance and
• All of this money comes from the school finance system so the school finance system the first funding
• The School Finance Commission.
• I think the SPED funding deficit is the largest in the whole school finance system.
• finance system is not. leave with the child?

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Joe McDaniel, State Controller, Finance and Administration Cabinet.
• > Controller District Joe McDaniel State Controller District Joe McDaniel State Controller finance
• and<00:01:09.799> administration<00:01:10.320> cabinet<00:01:11.200> good finance
• and administration cabinet good finance and administration cabinet good morning<00:01:11.759> I'm
• cabinet the authority to finance cabinet the authority to continue<00:01:43.840> to<00:01:43.960

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call 00:18 HB 524 Discussion: 00:45 HB 524 Vote: 02:30, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up its only item, House Bill 524. Representative Aaron Thompson, joined by State Controller Joe McDaniel and State Risk Director Sher Wisman, explained that the bill would extend the Finance Cabinet’s authority over the state self-insurance fund for state buildings through July 2030. The bill also renames the State Fire and Tornado Insurance Fund to the Commonwealth’s Property and Casualty Insurance Fund to better reflect the more than 7,100 buildings and contents covered. Members briefly discussed the measure, with the chair noting the need to move it before the current authority expires on July 1. A motion and second were made, and the committee voted favorably on the bill. The roll call showed support from the members present, and the chair announced the bill passed with favorable expression. Because there was no consent, the bill will still need to be considered on the floor. The chair thanked staff and attendees and noted the committee was likely nearing the end of its session work.

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have public financing.
• This is another public financing bill.
• This is another public financing bill.
• This is another public financing bill.
• This is another public financing bill.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard several election-related bills first. SB 51, a comprehensive public financing bill for candidates, drew strong support in testimony but also concerns from the Campaign Spending Commission that the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund has only about $2.2 million, far short of what would be needed, and that the program could not realistically start in 2026 because of staffing and system changes; the commission asked for a start date no earlier than 2028. SB 118, which would create a full-time investigator position at the Campaign Spending Commission, was supported by the commission, which said it has lacked staff growth since 1995 and that an investigator is needed to handle investigations instead of having the commission’s attorney do that work. SB 255, a housekeeping bill on excess cash campaign contributions, was supported by the commission and several county officials and would require excess cash contributions over the limit to be returned within 30 days or turned over to the Hawaii Election Campaign Fund. SB 345, which would expand the current partial public financing program, was supported by the commission but drew questions because it would still allow private fundraising; the commission said that under its assumptions the bill would provide more total public funds than SB 51, with a maximum of a little over $20 million versus a little over $15 million for SB 51. Testimony counts were reported as 125 support/48 oppose for SB 51, 26 support/0 oppose for SB 118, 30 support/49 oppose for SB 255, and 30 support/49 oppose for SB 345. The committee then discussed SB 176 on recount thresholds. The Office of Elections said it would stand on written testimony, and the East Hawaii Republican Party was listed but not present. The Office of Elections explained in response to questions that the bill’s recount trigger would be based on the final election-day count, not the early 6 a.m. tabulation, because the initial count is not complete until later in the day and cured ballots are counted later; the office said it does not want to begin recounts before all election-day ballots are counted. The reported testimony count was 4 support, 50 oppose, and 2 comments. Finally, the committee heard SB 260, the Judiciary’s biennial budget bill. Judiciary staff requested about $6.17 million in FY 2026 and $6.25 million in FY 2027 for operations, 17 permanent positions and one temporary position, plus $11.9 million for capital improvements. The Judiciary said the request would support specialty courts such as Women’s Court, Truancy Court, and DWI Court, a new Wahiawa District Court unit, an additional district court judge in Kona, cybersecurity, the Criminal Justice Research Institute, and facility projects including South Kohala design work and a Kauai chiller replacement. Civil legal services providers, including Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii, Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, the Legal Clinic, Kuikahi Mediation Center, the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Hawaii State Bar Association, and the Hawaii Access to Justice Commission, all supported the bill but asked for an additional $1 million for the civil legal services line item, saying demand is high and the funding is spread across more providers than before. The Judiciary clarified that some of its requested positions would support Wahiawa and Women’s Court, and that the civil legal services funding goes to organizations serving low-income residents on issues such as immigration, domestic violence, evictions, and foreclosures. The committee also briefly took up SB 279 on fentanyl possession thresholds, where the prosecuting attorney’s office supported the bill and said fentanyl is already driving overdose deaths and that the proposed thresholds target distribution-level quantities rather than personal use.

Transcript Highlights:

• The department has solicited interest from New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority and received a letter
• <00:21:22.640> The Hampshire Housing Finance Authority.
• The Hampshire Housing Finance Authority.
• <00:21:26.159> Authority New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority New Hampshire Housing Finance
• in New Hampshire Housing Finance in New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority<00:23:10.799> is<

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from its September 29 meeting and then took up a series of Department of Transportation and Department of Administrative Services property actions. Several DOT items involved disposal of land originally acquired for the now-dissolved Conway bypass or other highway projects, including a 445.6-acre Conway parcel proposed for sale to the town of Conway for conservation use, a 1.78-acre Chesterfield parcel for sale to an abutter, a 6.13-acre Madison parcel tied to the Conway bypass, and a bulk disposal package of 22 improved parcels in Merrimack, Litchfield, and Hudson. Members asked about appraisals, conservation easements, federal funding restrictions, tenant occupancy, and whether the state would recover its original investment; DOT said values were based on appraisal or market analysis, federal reimbursements may be required where federal funds were used, and proceeds from turnpike-related property would return to the turnpike fund. All of these disposal motions were approved. The committee also approved several DOT lease/easement items. These included a Greenfield railroad-corridor lease for equestrian use, a Lake Winnipesaukee dock lease to CE Realty Trust, a similar dock lease to Needle Eye Association, and an easement in Carroll for Industrial Wireless to build a private road and cross Mount Deception Brook for a cell tower project. Members focused on maintenance responsibilities, liability insurance, access limitations, fencing, and the relationship between the railroad corridor and adjacent uses. DOT said lessees would be responsible for maintenance, access to the railroad would be restricted, and liability insurance would be included where appropriate. The committee also approved a separate easement for Eversource in Rochester to install utility lines serving the new courthouse, with the department explaining that the easement is a narrow strip needed to complete construction. The Department of Administrative Services received approval for a use-of-premises agreement allowing Rockingham County to lease 300 square feet in the Brentwood courthouse for office space, and for a perpetual utility easement in Rochester for Eversource, with a waiver of the administrative fee. The committee also heard that the Rochester courthouse project needs the utility work to finish construction. Throughout the meeting, members repeatedly asked about insurance, public access, valuation, and whether tenants or abutters would have first opportunity to buy or lease the affected properties. All motions before the committee were adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• We offer programs that can help finance recovery from that.
• On the drinking water side, they could work with the finance authority to finance the...
• I know the Board of Finance, I believe, has some emergency financing powers, but our infrastructure programs
• So, we don't finance solar projects just because they're solar projects.
• We finance solar projects that power wastewater Treatment plants.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mortgage Finance Authority will be chaired by the Senate.
• New Mexico Finance Authority chaired by the Senate. RESTEP chaired by the House.
• For the College Finance Authority, we're adding Senator Bergman as advisory.
• New Mexico Finance Authority, and sort of on and on and on.
• If you weren't on LFC at some point or House Appropriations and Finance.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to go ahead and call the Senate Finance Committee to order.
• This came to us from House Finance. It passed the House 92 to 4.
• This came to us from House Finance.
• This bill was single-referenced to the Committee on Finance. Questions of counsel.
• This bill was single-referenced to the Committee on Finance.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present and first approved the minutes from the prior meeting. It then reconsidered Committee Substitute for House Bill 5212, noting that an Education Committee amendment had been inadvertently omitted the day before; the vice chairman withdrew the prior motion to report the bill, and the committee returned to the bill with the technical Education Committee amendments pending. The transcript then moved through a long agenda of bills and supplemental appropriations, with the committee generally hearing brief explanations from counsel, occasional member questions, and then voting to adopt amendments and report measures to the full Senate. Among the substantive policy bills, the committee advanced House Bill 4007 on the Industrial Access Road Fund, allowing an additional possible $3 million transfer in a fiscal year, expanding eligible uses, and increasing county/municipal spending limits; House Bill 4765, which raises salaries for state police, teachers, and school service personnel and, via a strike-and-insert amendment, creates a market pay enhancement tied to county and regional income data; House Bill 5162, recodifying tax lien sale procedures and clarifying ownership and government-property tax treatment; House Bill 5382, extending the Neighborhood Investment Tax Credit Program to July 1, 2031; House Bill 5685, authorizing up to $150 million in revenue bonds backed by excess lottery funds for State Culture Center improvements; House Joint Resolution 42, placing a constitutional amendment on the ballot to raise the homestead exemption from $20,000 to $40,000; House Bill 4010, creating an airport hangar grant program and fund; House Bill 4404, increasing from $500 to $5,000 the amount volunteer fire departments may spend on training and fire prevention materials; House Bill 4592, requiring standardized campus safety mapping data for higher education institutions; House Bill 4784, extending and making retroactive a qualified opportunity zone business tax modification; and House Bill 5088, increasing retirement benefits for Division of Natural Resources police officers, with a one-time $4.25 million cash injection. The committee also reported several supplemental appropriations and originating bills, including Senate Bill 842 for the Spay Neuter Assistance Fund, Senate Bill 846 for Culture and History capital repairs, Senate Bill 872 for Natural Resources capital repairs (reduced to $10 million in committee substitute), Senate Bill 876 for Department of Health facilities, Senate Originating Bills 1 through 5 covering Culture and History, road funds, corrections IT and services, tobacco education, and the Adjutant General’s armory board transfer, respectively. Most items were adopted by voice vote; House Bill 4765’s strike-and-insert amendment was adopted after a division vote of 10-6. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I am KJ Curtis with the Legislative Budget Board, and we will start with the Texas Public Finance Authority
• That's a financing tool offered.
• Sorry, Davini, Executive Director of the Texas Public Finance Authority.
• I'm Billy Atkinson, I'm Chair of the Board of Directors of the Texas Public Finance Authority and with
• In addition to closing project financing since 2014, TPFA has proactively and independently executed

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Hugo Salis Galena with the Department of Finance.
• We'll go ahead and get started with Finance again.
• Hugo Solis Galena with the Department of Finance.
• Hugo Solis Galena with the Department of Finance.
• We'll start with Finance. Hugo Solis-Galiana from the Department of Finance.

Summary: The subcommittee on Education Finance heard an overview of the governor’s budget proposals and higher education financial aid trends, with a major focus on the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), Cal Grant spending, and the effects of recent federal student aid changes. The Department of Finance said the budget would fully fund Cal Grant at projected levels and reduce MCS coverage from 35% to 17.5% of unmet need in 2026-27, while the Legislative Analyst’s Office supported considering the reduction as a cost-saving measure given out-year deficits. UC and CSU representatives opposed the cut, saying MCS is important to affordability and debt-free degree goals; they estimated average awards would fall substantially and that campuses do not have funds to backfill the loss. The Student Aid Commission said the proposal would reduce aid but simplify administration, and members questioned how lower awards would affect students, borrowing, and work-study options. No vote was taken, and the issue was held open for possible future action. The committee then discussed federal changes to student loans and Pell Grant policy under H.R. 1, including caps on Parent PLUS loans, elimination of Grad PLUS loans, and new proration rules for federal direct loans based on enrollment intensity. The LAO said these changes would likely push some borrowers into the private market, especially graduate and professional students and some parents of students at private institutions. CSU said the changes would affect thousands of graduate and part-time students and could reduce access by about $97 million in loan availability for part-time borrowers, while UC said the new definitions of professional degrees were too restrictive and would reduce access for nursing, teaching, law, dentistry, and other programs. Community colleges said they use relatively little federal loan aid but are monitoring Workforce Pell. Members raised concerns about workforce impacts, social mobility, and whether the state should consider alternative loan programs or other ways to reduce student costs. This issue was also held open. In the segment financial aid update, the LAO reported Cal Grant spending is projected to rise to about $3.2 billion in 2026-27, driven by more recipients and higher awards tied to UC and CSU tuition increases, while CSAC said FAFSA and CADAA applications are up significantly year over year. CSU, community colleges, and UC described their aid packaging and rising aid totals, with CSU reporting over $5.5 billion in aid to 381,000 students, community colleges reporting over $4.3 billion to more than 920,000 students, and UC reporting $3.17 billion in grant aid to undergraduates. Members asked about Cal Grant reform, application trends, and long-term outcomes; UC and community colleges pointed to alumni and wage dashboards, and the LAO noted the state’s Cradle to Career data effort. The committee then took public comment, including testimony on library funding and other education-related priorities, and concluded by holding the issues open without formal action.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want to thank the Campaign Finance Board.
• publicly thank the campaign finance publicly thank the campaign finance board<00:56:52.880> for
• finance uh know when they should<00:57:39.440> update<00:57:39.760> it?
• <01:01:50.480> Um<01:01:50.799> there the campaign f finance board.
• Um there the campaign f finance board.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill is reported to Finance.
• This bill is reported to Finance.
• This bill is for Finance. Thank you.
• This bill is reported to finance. Our 12 bill is 9903 by Senator Martinez.
• This bill is for finance. Thank you. Our 13th bill is S-9961 by Senator Martinez.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The local government committee met for its fifth meeting of the year and considered 15 bills, with the chair noting there may be one more meeting to finish the agenda. Members present included Senators Baskin, Fahy, and Rolison, and the committee moved through the bills with brief motions and seconding throughout. The committee reported several measures, including bills on making housing a state policy, directing a study on real property tax saturation, requiring notice to adjacent municipalities for certain zoning changes, authorizing the Town of Huntington to alienate park land for the Huntington African American Museum, requiring CPR training for 911 dispatchers and call takers, allowing the Johnson City School District to create an insurance reserve fund, incorporating the New Hartford Volunteer, Exempt Firefighters, Benevolent Association, creating a Suffolk County real property tax exemption for certain volunteer auxiliary police officers, and extending various local finance and public authorities provisions. One bill, S4504 by Senator Griffo, which would prohibit unfunded state mandates on municipalities and school districts and create a Mandate Review Council, was reported to the Education Committee, with the chair noting opposition. Several bills extending the effectiveness of local finance-related laws were reported to the Finance Committee, including measures on statutory installment bonds, installment loans, refunding bonds, and Environmental Facilities Corporation powers. The committee also reported a bill on county tribal detention agreements and another on base adjusted proportions in the Real Property Tax Law. During discussion of the 911 CPR training bill, members noted an amendment was being worked on to require the training every four years. Most bills were reported unanimously or with no recorded opposition, and the meeting concluded after the final bill was approved.

Transcript Highlights:

• germane to the following Senate committee substitute for committee substitute for House Bill 381, Finance
• Our House Finance Committee did some great work, and I think it's really important to this body.
• amended, thus adopting Senate committee substitute for House Bill 381, finance amended, and recommend
• amended, thus adopting Senate committee substitute for House Bill 381, finance amended?
• It will also be referred to the Finance Committee.

Keywords: 905, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll call this meeting of the House Finance and Policy Committee to order and note that a quorum is present
• We will now move on to our one bill for the day, which is our housing finance bill.
• And this leaves the total Minnesota Housing Finance Fund base at $319.6 million. $319.618 million in
• The program slated to receive more one-time resources in your bill will help the agency finance more
• Since 2012, housing infrastructure resources have financed more than $9.6 billion.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then for new members again, and anyone who wants to attend, the Legislative Finance Committee is
• consideration and reports same with the recommendation that it do pass and thence referred to the Finance
• Business transportation committee, then Senate Finance Committee.
• Unanimous consent to change the Senate Judiciary to the Senate Finance Committee.
• I think that was either a handwriting error on our part, but clearly it needs to be in Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• healthcare policy and financing healthcare policy and financing transfers<01:07:16.640> to
• healthcare policy and financing healthcare policy and financing transfers<01:14:20.400> to
• Transfers to other state financing.
• Healthcare policy and financing Healthcare policy and financing transfers<01:35:40.560> to
• healthcare policy and financing. healthcare policy and financing.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the prior journal, and heard several brief recognitions before moving to business. Members welcomed foster care advocates for Child Abuse Prevention Month, Girl Scouts visiting the Capitol, and participants in Black Maternal Health Week, with remarks emphasizing foster youth voice, leadership development, and the need for culturally competent maternal health care and doula/midwife support. The chamber then took up House Joint Resolution 1026, honoring former Governor Roy Romer and designating a portion of I-25 as the Governor Roy Romer Memorial Highway. Supporters highlighted Romer’s long public service, his work on education and infrastructure, and his role in major state projects. A proposed amendment to strike the word “memorial” was withdrawn, the House suspended the rules to allow Romer to speak from the well, and Romer offered remarks about legislative collegiality and the importance of democracy and listening to opposing views. House Joint Resolution 1026 was adopted on a 60-0 vote, with four excused and one absent. After a brief recess, the House returned to special orders and resumed reading House Bill 1410 at length, continuing through extensive appropriations language for the Department of Human Services, including child welfare, youth services, Medicaid-related transfers, SNAP and benefits administration, and other funding line items. No final action on House Bill 1410 was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's say this is established, and now this is a vehicle that can be used for the financing, a financing
• mechanism or part of a financing mechanism for that kind of a new project.
• And the stadium that is there today was financed without that kind of investment.
• , a financing mechanism or part of a financing mechanism for that kind of a new project.
• But what's I think important. was financed without that kind of investment.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• notice and affecting the revenues of the state under Rule 31 will be referred to the Committee on Finance
• for notice and affecting the revenues of the state under Rule 31 is referred to the Committee on Finance
• which recommends that the bill finance which recommends that the bill ought<00:06:55.039> to<
• I recognize the senator from Addison, Senator Hardy, for the report of the Committee on Finance.
• the committee on finance. the committee on finance.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Ida Lee Spettis with the Department of Finance.
• George Harris for the Department of Finance. George Harris, for the Department of Finance.
• Chaudet and area of the Department of Finance.
• Alex Ivelasquez with the Department of Finance.
• So, Finance, do you want to go first? Yes. Alex and I have Alaska's with the Department of Finance.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance heard testimony and took up three main budget areas: the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), differentiated assistance and the statewide system of support, and universal school meals with kitchen infrastructure grants. Public commenters and agency witnesses generally supported continued or increased funding for ELOP, with several groups urging stabilization of Tier 2 rates, more support for older youth, and preservation of equity guardrails and local flexibility. On school meals and kitchen infrastructure, testimony broadly supported universal meals and additional kitchen funding, while the LAO questioned the need for a fourth round of kitchen grants and recommended rejecting it until clearer unmet-need data are available. For ELOP, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to provide $4.7 billion ongoing for the program and $62.4 million ongoing to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended instead fixing the Tier 2 rate at $1,579 and tying future changes to program requirements. CDE said the program is showing positive results in attendance and math, but data on enrollment patterns, TK participation, and some overlap with other programs are still being collected. Members raised concerns about possible double-funding with ACEs and 21st Century programs, the lack of site-specific data, and whether the current structure best targets students most in need; the issue was left open. For differentiated assistance, CCEE outlined the current statewide system of support and the Governor’s proposal to shift to universal and targeted assistance with a three-year cycle. Finance said the proposal would provide more stable county office funding, broaden universal supports, and give the State Board more flexibility to revise eligibility criteria; it also proposed $131.9 million ongoing for universal and targeted assistance. The LAO objected to changing the system before the State Board finalizes the new performance criteria and recommended revisiting the proposal later, while several members worried that a three-year entry window and broader board authority could weaken subgroup-based equity protections. The committee also discussed school meal funding, with Finance proposing $1.8 billion for universal meals and $100 million ongoing plus $100 million one-time for kitchen infrastructure, while CDE emphasized ongoing needs, deferred maintenance, and the importance of flexibility for innovative strategies such as food pantries. The committee held the issues open and invited additional public comment before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ida Lee Spettis with the Department of Finance.
• George Harris for the Department of Finance. George Harris for the Department of Finance.
• Chaudet Anarea from the Department of Finance.
• Alex Ivelasquez with the Department of Finance.
• So, Finance, do you want to go first? Yes. Alex and I have... with the Department of Finance.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on three education budget items: the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), differentiated assistance/statewide system of support, and universal school meals plus kitchen infrastructure grants. For ELOP, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to provide $4.7 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding and $62.4 million to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended instead fixing the Tier 2 rate at $1,579, and committee members questioned how the rate was determined, how much funding is actually spent, and whether overlapping funding from ELOP, ACEs, and 21st Century programs is being tracked. CDE said ELOP is showing positive attendance and math outcomes, but some requested data will not be available until mid-2027; members also raised concerns about double-funding, transparency, and whether middle and high school students are being equitably served. On differentiated assistance, CCEE outlined the statewide system of support and the various tiers of universal, targeted, supplemental, and intensive assistance. Finance explained the Governor’s proposal to replace the current DA structure with a more stable universal and targeted assistance model, funded at $131.9 million ongoing, with a three-year support cycle aligned to LCAP and ESSA timelines and broader State Board authority to revise eligibility criteria. The LAO objected to considering the proposal before the State Board finalizes the new performance criteria, and committee members expressed concern that moving to a three-year cycle could delay support for LEAs that newly fall into need mid-cycle. There was also discussion about whether the proposal would weaken subgroup-based equity guardrails or give the State Board too much discretion over who qualifies for support. For school meals and kitchen infrastructure, Finance proposed $1.8 billion ongoing for universal meals and an additional $100 million ongoing plus $100 million one-time for a fourth round of kitchen infrastructure and training grants. The LAO recommended rejecting the new kitchen grant round because prior rounds are still being spent and the unmet need is not yet clear. CDE said prior investments have improved meal participation, efficiency, and menu variety, but many schools still lack the facilities for scratch cooking and face construction, electrical, and procurement barriers. Members asked for more data on how prior grants were used, which schools are benefiting, and whether funds could also support lower-cost food access strategies such as pantries, while noting federal restrictions on some meal-service innovations.