Transcript Highlights:

• , which increases participation in the programs... ...school meal programs appeal to a wider variety
• By offsetting these costs via state grant and loan programs to finance capital expenditures, California
• Loans and loan guarantees for CAPEX and working capital through programs like CalCAP and IBank can unlock
• And then finally, the current $5 million cap for IBank's small business loan guarantee program is too
• And I had one question for Daniel regarding the iBank loan guarantee program that he referred to.

Summary: The Select Committee on Alternative Protein Innovation held its second informational hearing at UCLA, focusing on California’s alternative protein sector and the role of public institutions in expanding plant-based, fermentation, and cultivated protein options. Chair Ash Kalra opened by highlighting prior state investments in UC research centers, the importance of student engagement, and the hearing’s three panels: reducing the carbon footprint of institutional meals, addressing market challenges to scaling alternative proteins, and advancing future food research and workforce development. Assemblymember Isaac Bryan also briefly praised the committee’s work and its relevance to climate and health goals. The first panel featured Friends of the Earth, UCLA Dining, and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Megan Jones described California school food efforts, including technical assistance and microgrants that helped districts expand plant-based meals, reduce water and carbon footprints, and improve student satisfaction. Pete Angelese explained how UCLA Dining uses concept-driven venues, sustainable purchasing, and marketing nudges to increase plant-forward choices, while Dr. Michelle Wood outlined Los Angeles County’s 2024–2025 board motions to expand plant-based options in county food venues and programs, including joining the World Resources Institute’s Cool Food Pledge. Committee members asked about costs, procurement, and how student and consumer behavior can be influenced. The second panel addressed market barriers to scaling alternative proteins. Zach Weston and Daniel Gertner emphasized that the sector faces a cost-and-scale trap, high capital needs, and financing gaps, and they recommended grants, tax credits, loan guarantees, procurement commitments, and workforce development. T.K. Pillen of Beyond Meat argued that the category has faced a recent downturn due to consumer skepticism, industry attacks on “fake meat,” and pricing pressures, and said the key to renewed growth is increasing demand through better taste, health, pricing, and messaging around “plant protein.” Panelists also discussed hidden subsidies and structural advantages for conventional animal agriculture, and committee members raised questions about iBank loan guarantees and supply chain challenges. The final panel highlighted UCLA’s research and training efforts. Dr. Amy Roet described the Future Food Fellows program, which trains students across disciplines in science, communication, leadership, and community-building, and supports research on scalable, safe, and nutritious alternative proteins. Corinne Smith shared her cultivated meat research and student leadership in the Alternative Proteins Project at UCLA. Dr. Janet Tomiyama presented consumer psychology findings showing that disgust, gender norms, and terminology strongly affect acceptance, with “plant protein” and “complementary proteins” testing better than “fake meat.” The hearing concluded with support for continued public investment, clearer messaging, and expanded education and workforce pipelines to help California remain a leader in alternative protein innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you go to slide 8 on our Lone Star revolving loan program, you'll see the location where all of the
• loans that we've made over the history of the program, um, are, are, are, you can find that location
• So we've been able to do that through a combination of our grant program and our loan program.
• We manage the funds in-house and so because we're able to manage funds for this loan program, um, we're
• For, well, for the, for the loan program, we have, we have 2 FTs and 1.5 accountants managing the program

Transcript Highlights:

• But it was a loan. It was a loan and now it's a grant. For 20 last year.
• But it was a loan. It was a loan and now it's a grant. For 20 last year.
• But it was a loan. It was a loan and now it's a grant.
• a loan out.
• a loan out.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Government's Fund A loan in the amount Government's Fund A loan in the amount of<00:31:40.799> $20
• c><00:33:55.840> approved principal forgiveness loan was approved principal forgiveness loan was
• And the last loan is for the Grayson County Water District’s Fund F loan in the amount of $7,848,000
• County Water District's uh fund F loan County Water District's uh fund F loan in<00:35:09.200>
• round two of the cleaner water program. round two of the cleaner water program.

Keywords: Reuploaded tor restore the roll call and minutes approval 0:00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:00:20 Approval of Minutes 0:00:50 Information Items 0:01:39 Project Rpt from Eastern KY University 0:06:54 Lease Rpt from University of KY 0:11:33 Project Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet 0:18:50 Lease Rpt from Finance and Admin Cabinet 0:29:33 OFM – KY Infrastructure Authority 0:38:27 OFM – Debt Issues 0:46:27 Louisville Arena Authority 1:24:30 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the November minutes and received information items on University of Kentucky medical and research equipment purchases, five school districts reporting upcoming bond issues with no additional tax levies needed, and a School Facilities Construction Commission list of prior debt issues for fiscal year 2026. It then considered an appropriation increase for a University of Kentucky project at the Central Kentucky Regional Airport in Richmond. University officials said the project is 100% federally funded and will construct a terminal building tied to EKU’s airport operations and planned flight school. Members asked about the relationship to aviation expansion and whether the flight school would be publicly operated; the witnesses said EKU would operate it, public appropriations had already been applied, and student revenue would help offset costs. The committee approved the item by roll call vote. Next, the committee approved a University of Kentucky lease purchase for property at 415 West Sun Street in Morehead, Rowan County, for $6.4 million. UK said the property, which includes an 85,000-square-foot facility on 9.6 acres, is directly across from UK St. Clair and was offered by the Rowan County Board of Education after it moved to a new location. Members questioned why the payment schedule was structured as quarterly installments and why the price was below two appraisals; UK said the board requested the arrangement and did not want the full amount upfront, and there was no interest on the purchase price. The committee also approved this item. The deputy state budget director then reported three appropriation increases in the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet: a Ballard Wildlife Management Area pump station project, Lake Barkley State Resort Park emergency repairs, and Lake Barkley lodge wing exterior repairs. After questions, staff explained the Lake Barkley increases were mainly to cover construction contingencies because bids came in close to available funding. The committee approved the action items, then heard four no-action pool projects: HVAC upgrades at the FFA leadership training center in Hardinsburg, Kentucky School for the Blind’s McDaniel Scoggin building, KSD’s Brett Brady Hall, and a Kentucky State University Shanty Hall renovation for the School of Engineering Technology. Finally, the committee heard two real property items: a new CHFS lease in Wayne County and a Transportation Cabinet lease modification in Christian County. The Wayne County lease drew the most discussion, with members questioning the high per-square-foot cost and whether another county location could be used; CHFS said it maintains offices in every county seat, this lease would replace an existing 1977 office, and the new construction was negotiated down from a higher initial bid. The Christian County item was described as a replacement site for driver licensing space, with renovation costs partly absorbed by the lessor and the remainder amortized over the lease term.

Transcript Highlights:

• Programs.
• And the vast majority of the loans that we make are loans that generate program income that will help
• You'll get some prudent underwriting and sustainable programs.
• Loans are 15 to 30 years. Collateral is a minimum loan-to-value of 85%.
• The program existed. So we're duplicating a lot of that, right?

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 984 updates the agricultural loan program by lowering interest rates, increasing and standardizing
• It authorizes the agricultural loan program to issue lines of credit and creates a new class of loans
• of credit denials, authorizes the agricultural loan program to issue lines of credit, creates a new
• Modifications to the state agricultural loan program should ensure equitable access to capital for farmers
• > Equitable Loan program should ensure Equitable Loan program should ensure Equitable access<01:53

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• my loan so I don’t lose my house.
• Thank you. point that they've been denied a loan point that they've been denied a loan modification<00
• These programs result in excellent outcomes: 97% of the participants successfully complete the program
• <00:40:42.440> so who exited programs as employed did so who exited programs as employed did
• the administrative assistant program the administrative assistant program while<00:46:31.240>

Bills: HF1027, HF101, HF1021

Keywords: mortgage foreclosure, redemption, foreclosure surplus, sheriff's sale, junior lienholder, mortgagor, homeowner protections, loss mitigation, dual tracking, foreclosure redemption period, certificate of redemption, certificate of sale, sheriff, county recorder, registrar of titles, homeownership center, lien priority, real property, foreclosure by advertisement, surplus funds

Transcript Highlights:

• Now I'm going to break out rp and programs for says are are are in program.
• When we look at our current programs, I'm going to present the are in programs divided by program type
• , the ad and programs and the DS and programs statewide.
• the approved programs.
• You know, we were talking earlier about the loan forgiveness that the prophet, the program that they

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the HUD program requires collateral for their loan, so in the HM case they use a rental house revolving
• Finally, we'll note that a loan rather than a grant program, or an investment rather than a grant program
• Finally, we'll note that a loan rather than a grant program, or an investment rather than a grant program
• rather than a we'll note that a loan rather than a grant<01:34:10.239> program<01:34:10.960><
• <01:34:12.440> an grant program or an a loan or an grant program or an a loan or an investment

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Housing and Public Safety/Water and Land hearing first took up HB 1096, which would repeal statutory tenant-selection preferences for disabled veterans and spouses of deceased veterans in state low-income housing. HPHA testified in support, saying the change was a housekeeping measure because the same preferences already exist in administrative rules and could be adjusted later to align with other local preferences, while also noting the federal VASH program provides stronger veteran housing support. Several members questioned why the preference should be removed at all, emphasizing that veterans have long been underserved and asking for a stronger justification; the committees ultimately deferred HB 1096. The later Housing/Hawaiian Affairs agenda heard HB 606 HD1, a measure to extend Act 279 funding and related exemptions for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Supporters argued the bill would give DHHL more time to use the $600 million appropriation to acquire land, work with developers, and address a wait list of about 29,000 applicants, while also helping restore Hawaiian communities and reduce the Hawaiian diaspora. Opponents focused on accountability and oversight, saying DHHL needs clearer plans, measurable goals, and stronger safeguards before receiving more money, and warning that prior spending and strategic-plan changes had reduced the number of applicants served. The committee also heard testimony that the bill would help DHHL fulfill long-standing obligations to Native Hawaiians and that the housing need affects the broader state, not only Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries.

Transcript Highlights:

• Article five makes some modifications to the Promise Act loans, grants, and loans.
• Also then on page 80, you'll see that for the loans that are repaid for the Promise loans that they can
• Article five makes some modifications to the Promise Act loans, grants, and loans.
• Also then on page 80, you'll see that for the loans that are repaid for the Promise loans that they can
• personnel for um the whole new program. personnel for um the whole new program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If part of it is the assistance is private donations through that loan program, what comprises the rest
• program.
• This program offers low-interest home mortgage loans and down payment assistance to various public service
• I'm here in support of HB 158, which expands eligibility for Homes for Texas Heroes home loan programs
• On section 2306.5621, where Representative Lopez: We delineate the Homes for Texas Heroes Home Loan Program

Bills: HB158

Keywords: public funds, lobbying activities, political subdivision, government spending, transparency

Transcript Highlights:

• We call it the HIP program, Home Improvement Program. It's actually fairly new to us.
• things that this program does.
• One of the programs that does expend a little bit faster is the down payment assistance program.
• When it's loans that we make, they are in most cases loans, not grants.
• at that level. but it's always been kind of a feeder program to the apprenticeship programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Established in 1996, the charter school revolving loan fund provided low interest loans up to $250,000
• The loan program does not encourage or discourage charter schools.
• The loan program does engage and whether a charter school should exist. Excuse me, does not.
• The charter school revolving loan program is an existing line item in the budget. who we have here picture
• program.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Bills: SR28, SB201, SB1379, SB1525, SB1966, SB2112, SB2170, HB2749, HB3262, HB3265, HB3673, HB3781, HB3040, HB3076, HB3369, HB3982, HB3462, HB3465, HB3521, HB3796, HB3800, HB4095, HB4298, HB4316, HB4338, HB4408, HB4454

Keywords: minimum salary, education funding, teacher compensation, Oklahoma education, salary schedule, human trafficking, victims, prevention, support services, Attorney General, pilot program, grant funding, SB1525, tourism, recreation, conference, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Commission, special agency account, private partnerships

Transcript Highlights:

• insurance companies may just be using some swarm of automated computer systems that they may have programmed
• things are we have Taskoma with educating bud tenders, and they have until January 1st to Get that program
• They are not going to have the program up and running by that point.
• Members, this is cleanup language defining what an accredited chiropractic program is.

Bills: SB1983, SB444, SB1503, SB1561, SB592, SB1501, SB1946, SB1567, SB1833, SB2026, SB904, SB2178, SB1651, SB1558, SB1565, SB1553, SB1257, SB65, SB1749, SB1242, SB1642, SB640, SB667, SB1436, SB1484, SB1562, SB1794, SB1644, SB1533, SB933, SB1555

Keywords: SB1983, foster care, resource family partner, resource family partners, Department of Human Services, DHS, child welfare, foster homes, foster children, placement data, data sharing, de-identified data, aggregated data, sibling groups, placement disruptions, foster parent recruitment, foster parent retention, private child-placing agency, Title 10A, Oklahoma

Transcript Highlights:

• loan programs that will help ensure Minnesota continues to enjoy clean drinking water.
• loan programs that will help ensure Minnesota continues to enjoy clean drinking water.
• loan programs that will help ensure Minnesota continues to enjoy clean drinking water.
• loan programs that will help ensure Minnesota continues to enjoy clean drinking water.
• loan programs that will help ensure Minnesota continues to enjoy clean drinking water.

Bills: HF4710, HF4055, HF3848, HF3989, HF4599, HF3767, HF3592, HF3575, HF3574, HF3543, HF4606, HF4489, HF3891, HF3438, HF3811, HF3400

Keywords: capital investment, water infrastructure, sewer systems, public funding, municipal development, Eveleth, wastewater treatment, state bonds, environmental compliance, infrastructure, bonds, economic development, local government, transportation, intersection improvements, Lake Elmo, HF4599, St. Joseph, Minnesota bonding bill, bond proceeds fund

Transcript Highlights:

• and revolving loan programs or loan guarantee programs, developing credit enhancement or moral obligation
• programs.
• In West Virginia, that would look like a low-interest revolving loan program and a credit enhancement
• program that is managed by the West Virginia Economic Development Authority.
• They typically call it loan insurance in their standard practice, but it is the exact same programs that

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Tom Franta, founding executive director of the Mountaineer Charter School Alliance. He described the new nonprofit’s goals of supporting West Virginia charter schools through advocacy, legal and compliance assistance, shared operational services, professional development, communications, and network-building. Franta emphasized that charter schools face major facility and financing challenges, and he urged use of existing public buildings, low-interest revolving loans, credit enhancement tools through the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, and federal matching funds to help level the playing field for charter schools, including both brick-and-mortar and virtual schools. Members asked about what he meant by “level the playing field,” and Franta said charter schools receive 99% of basic state aid but lack access to the full range of public education funding and dedicated facilities support, forcing them to divert dollars toward buildings rather than classrooms. He said the goal is to ensure parents choosing a public charter option can expect appropriate funding. After the presentation, the chair announced Senate Bill 171 was removed from the day’s agenda. The committee then considered Senate Bill 166, which creates an exception to West Virginia Invest grant eligibility so individuals who already have a post-secondary degree may still receive support if pursuing an associate degree or certificate in emergency medical services. The committee reported the bill to the full Senate with a recommendation that it do pass, and under the original double committee reference, first be referred to the Finance Committee. Next, the committee took up Senate Bill 428, with a committee substitute that splits the bus operator title into three pay grades based on years of service and raises the cafeteria manager title from pay grade D to E. Senators asked whether duties would change; counsel and the sponsor said the bill is intended as a retention incentive, with no change in responsibilities, and that the fiscal note would remain the same. The committee adopted the committee substitute and then reported the bill to the full Senate with a do-pass recommendation, again first referring it to the Finance Committee. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if you notice, it is not a loan forgiveness plan; it is a loan assistance program that there will
• to be forgiven with either the help of this program and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Plan.
• supplement to make their student loan payments.
• But the uh, Lucoats program through the FFA program for doctors to get doctors in rural areas.
• Lastly, is the RAP program.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• global programs.
• program and in that internship program program and in that internship program more<00:17:18.079>
• Part of how we raise our loan capital is, of course, looking at what our loan volume is coming in.
• If you also have a job training program, a job placement program... Great question.
• If you also have a job training program, a job placement program... Great question.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 64 is the large animal veterinary loan forgiveness program.
• <00:10:47.360> A veterinary loan forgiveness program.
• A veterinary loan forgiveness program.
• On 65 is the A educator's loan On 65 is the A educator's loan forgiveness<00:10:54.399> program
• forgiveness programs and the elimination of the loan counseling program as well.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 2312 and first adopted the DE1 amendment, after which the amended bill was discussed. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through the spreadsheet and explained the bill’s higher education budget changes, including increases for state grants and tribal college assistance, unchanged funding for several existing programs, and reductions or eliminations for items such as state work study, summer academic enrichment, student loan counseling, concurrent enrollment, and the student parent support initiative. Staff also noted transfers to special revenue funds, the cancellation and reappropriation of ALS research funding, and a new licensing/registration revenue item. The committee was told the bill met the committee’s zero target overall, with a net general fund change of zero relative to the February forecast, while also adding some non-general fund expenditures for program licensing and registration. Members asked several questions about the transfers and specific line items, including whether any new special revenue accounts were being created, the foster care wraparound services line, and the treatment of the University of Minnesota and Centric Care partnership. Staff explained that the transfers generally did not create new accounts, that some items were not in the base, and that the U of M/Centric Care partnership was a one-time appropriation in the prior bill but was now being built into the base at a different amount. The University of Minnesota section also included new or continued funding for medical school development, health training restoration, emergency assistance grants, ALS research, and a weather resiliency program, while the Mayo Foundation section eliminated funding for Mayo Medical School and the Mayo family medicine residency program. The policy portion of the DE1 was then introduced. It included a maximum tuition and fee amount for state grants, direct appropriation of emergency assistance grants to Minnesota State, a juvenile justice appropriation for Metropolitan State University, and the ALS research reappropriation to the University of Minnesota. It also contained repealers for unfunded programs, including a delayed repealer for the student parent support initiative. In the higher education policy article, the bill would allow Minnesota State to offer applied doctoral degrees in cybersecurity, make technical changes to hunger-free campus and sexual misconduct procedures, extend pregnant and parenting student protections to private institutions, allow OHE to retain up to 10% of certain competitive grants for administration, consolidate reports, change the state grant formula so negative FAFSA contributions count as zero, and reduce the state grant lifetime credit cap from 180 to 120 credits. The Northstar Promise provisions would limit tuition and fees to resident rates and require MnState, and request the University of Minnesota, to ensure eligible students receive the benefit.