Transcript Highlights:

• Four of the graduates from our program are now leading Native programs throughout the country, including
• </c><00:01:36.240><c> to</c> for the center will expand programs to for the center will expand programs
• from our program are now leading<00:03:58.640><c> native</c><00:03:59.040><c> programs</c><00:03:59.480
• </c> proof of the E efficacy of our program proof of the E efficacy of our program I've<00:09:45.360>
• It's a solid program.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• THIS IS AN OPT IN PROGRAM.
• TO BE IN THIS PROGRAM.
• BOTH LPN AND RN PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING TO PASS AND STUDENTS WHO FINISH THESE PROGRAMS WILL BE ABLE
• ACROSS THE STATE THEY CAN EVALUATE THAT PROGRAM AND SEE IS THAT PROGRAM GETTING A 40 PERCENT PASSAGE
• I WILL USE PN PROGRAMS. THERE ARE 44 PERCENT OF FLORIDA'S PN PROGRAMS BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for DCYF that impacted um these programs for DCYF that impacted um these programs specifically<00
• </c> have to participate under the program. have to participate under the program.
• </c> comp program starting in fiscal year 27. comp program starting in fiscal year 27.
• . program. program.
• program.

Bills: HF51 , HF1161 , HF2201 , HF2786 , HF1053

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: HF51, Sibley County, State-Aid Highway 21, capital investment, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, transportation infrastructure, road improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, local infrastructure, county grant, Minnesota Department of Transportation, bond proceeds fund, public works, utility infrastructure, education finance, school district funding, tax base adjustment

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator, could you talk to us about the Canadian prescription drug importation program, the program that
• Senator, could you talk to us about the Canadian prescription drug importation program, program that
• The program has since grown to a $4 billion program over the years.
• programming, waiver programs, why are we not including those in the social services estimating conference
• Programming waiver programs, why are we not including those in the social services estimating conference

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill, including the federal-aid and non-federal-aid highway programs and two popular grant programs:
• the municipal pavement program and the Shared Streets and Spaces municipal grant program.
• Reauthorizing these programs will allow MassDOT to continue advancing major capital programs and support
• Reauthorizing these programs will allow MassDOT to continue advancing major capital programs and support
• The CTF has been used effectively for the Accelerated Bridge Program and Rail Enhancement Program in

Bills: H5279

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Keywords: municipal roads, bridges, transportation bond bill, infrastructure financing, capital spending, bond authorization, general obligation bonds, special obligation bonds, Commonwealth Transportation Improvement Act, road resurfacing, road repair, bridge repair, pavement, culverts, stormwater management, climate resilience, bicycle infrastructure, pedestrian infrastructure, transit modernization, commuter rail

Transcript Highlights:

• Our child care and development programs are provided through voucher-based programs, which provide certificates
• Program, also known as CAP, our Migrant Alternative Payment Program, CMAP, Program, also known as CAP
• , our Migrant Alternative Payment Program, CMAP, and the Emergency Child Care Bridge Program.
• doubled the impact of the youth legal services program and the removal defense program.
• the program.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the program that you oversee, that you oversaw, has the Strong Reader program.
• You issued one, the Strong Reader Program, the program that you created, issued one $5,000 grant to support
• We thought at first that the United Way program was potentially a book program that ended up not being
• a book program either.
• And so no... ...program that ended up not being a book program either.

Transcript Highlights:

• But those programs that I talked about, our youth and community programs, are wildly popular.
• The MHSA program, it's not a bona fide grant program; it's interagency agreements that the department
• The second program that was funded under the Certified California Veterans Service Provider Program in
• There were no programs at all.
• VA, HUD, Department of Labor, created this HVRP program, Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

Committee: House Military and Veterans Affairs

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs held an informational hearing focused on the effects of federal budget and staffing cuts on veterans and on California’s systems for delivering veteran services. In opening remarks, the chair argued that cuts to the VA, federal workforce, Medi-Cal, SNAP/CalFresh, and related programs would disproportionately harm veterans, citing impacts on health care, suicide prevention, housing, and employment. The committee then heard from the California Military Department, CalVet, county veteran service offices, and veterans legal and housing organizations about how state and local programs are responding. Major General Matthew Beavers of the California Military Department described the department’s structure, its response to the Los Angeles fire emergency, and concerns that federal cuts could reduce readiness, training, equipment, and funding for programs such as Work for Warriors, STARBASE, and counterdrug operations. Members asked about how service members access VA benefits, the impact of federal cuts on readiness, and what the Legislature can do to help. Beavers said the state should advocate for recapitalized equipment and stable funding, and he criticized some federal efficiency reviews as wasteful while warning that reduced readiness would ultimately affect Californians. CalVet Deputy Secretary Roberto Herrera, L.A. County veteran services director Jim Zenner, and Swords to Plowshares legal director Mo Cedar emphasized that county veteran service officers and legal aid are essential for claims, appeals, housing, and mental health access. They said the PACT Act and federal staffing strains have increased demand, while county offices remain underfunded. Testimony highlighted the value of CalVet strike teams, MHSA-funded legal services, and county programs that bring in federal benefits and reduce homelessness and incarceration costs. Committee members generally agreed that California should sustain and expand these supports, improve data sharing, and protect state programs from federal cuts. In the final panel on mental health and suicide prevention, Herrera, Amy Fairweather of Swords to Plowshares, and Robert Storr of U.S. Vets described state-funded programs such as the Veterans Support Self-Reliance program and the California Veterans Health Initiative. They reported improved outcomes for veterans in supportive housing and expanded no-cost counseling statewide, but warned that step-down funding and federal uncertainty could jeopardize services. Members asked about wait times, access, and who can use VA services, and witnesses explained that the main barriers are workforce shortages and capacity, not just eligibility. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the federal government is particularly interested in the Medicaid program and the DTA program.
• Most of our programs are programs that serve people who are hurting.
• , the adult foster care program, and the adult day health program.
• But we have other programs like the community support program for homeless individuals.
• It also includes our emergency diversion programs and our jail diversion program.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• How does that program work?
• Within the statewide Medicaid managed care program, we refer to it as the SMMC program.
• to do so in the new program.
• that program.
• , and our BH Impact program.

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The Senate Health Policy Committee met to discuss maternal and infant health, beginning with a presentation from New Jersey’s Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MiHA). Pamela Taylor described New Jersey’s statewide effort to reduce maternal mortality and racial disparities through the Nurture New Jersey campaign, a strategic plan with more than 80 recommendations, universal home visiting, Medicaid-covered doula care, hospital report cards, limits on non-medically indicated early elective C-sections, and a new maternal and infant health innovation center. Senators asked about doula certification, funding, home visiting, and how New Jersey coordinates across agencies; Taylor said the authority uses quarterly stakeholder meetings, annual summits, and a tracker for recommendations, and that community input helped shape its programs. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Deputy Secretary Brian Meyer then outlined Florida Medicaid’s maternal coverage and managed care structure. He reviewed eligibility and services for pregnant women, labor and delivery, postpartum coverage, newborn coverage, and family planning, noting 12 months of postpartum coverage, expanded benefits in managed care plans, and new contracts launching February 1 with more maternal-health-focused benefits, quality measures, and a new quality withhold incentive structure. Senators questioned doula certification and duplication with Healthy Start, provider access and network adequacy, kick payments, quality reporting, and whether Florida should consider broader eligibility standards; Meyer said many details are still plan-driven, that quality metrics are public, and that the agency is working on maternal-health work groups and incentives. Department of Health Division Director Shea Holloway followed with an overview of Florida’s maternal and child health programs and data. She cited Florida CHARTS data showing pregnancy-related deaths, severe maternal morbidity, and infant mortality trends, and described the Title V block grant, the Maternal Mortality Review Committee, the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative, the electronic prenatal risk screen, Healthy Babies, BH Impact for perinatal mental health, Healthy Start, WIC, family planning, telehealth maternity care, and the Pregnancy Care Network. Senators asked about delays in mortality review reporting, preterm birth, substance use disorder in pregnancy, WIC participation, cesarean rates, and the impact of the abortion ban; Holloway said the department is continuing to monitor outcomes, expand screening and telehealth, and use data and hospital partnerships to improve care. The committee then adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> grant program. grant program.
• </c> independence grant program. independence grant program.
• </c> program parameters. program parameters.
• </c> student loan programs. student loan programs.
• </c> scholarships program in statute. scholarships program in statute.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• programs show longer retention. retention than the two-year programs.
• Our state programs, a couple of federal programs. It's not an exhaustive list by any stretch.
• program.
• So the programs work.
• Program with NPSIA.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• The counseling program and the psychology program at Highlands...
• Our programs are clinical psychology... Programs. It's an on-campus program here in Las Vegas.
• Beyond participating in the program, the program has grown.
• just into getting into programs, but finishing their programs—the better.
• Programming that Mr.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• There are a couple of programs.
• And that's why we're really looking at this program. Oh, what is this program?
• the program That's why we're really looking at this program. How old is this program?
• as just a housing program.
• I don't want the program to be misconstrued as just a housing program.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation on LSU Health Care Services Division and Lallie Kemp Medical Center. Staff reviewed HCSD’s roughly $74.7 million budget, much of it tied to legacy obligations for former LSU hospital systems and support for Lallie Kemp. Committee members asked about prisoner care, risk management costs, declining admissions and emergency visits, and the hospital’s 340B drug program. Lallie Kemp officials explained that prisoner care serves multiple state and local facilities, that lower admissions largely reflect more patients being placed in observation status, and that the in-house 340B program provides major savings to patients and the prison system. Members also asked about care for unhoused patients and the hospital’s discharge practices, and the hospital said social services works to find placement when possible. The committee then moved to the Louisiana Department of Health budget, which was presented as just under $23.5 billion, with Medicaid making up more than 90 percent of the total. The presentation covered the Office of the Secretary, Office of Public Health, Office of Behavioral Health, Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities, and Medicaid. Major items included the new Rural Health Transformation Program, the transfer of several functions from DCFS to LDH under the One Door initiative, changes to SNAP administration, and large Medicaid adjustments driven by enrollment, utilization, and federal policy changes. Testimony also highlighted the statewide crisis hub and 988, the commodity food program for seniors, women’s health and maternal outcomes, and the department’s efforts to modernize technology and reorganize services. Members questioned LDH officials on a wide range of budget and policy issues, including the rural health grant, crisis services, Medicaid redeterminations, provider taxes, physician and hospital supplemental payments, nursing home rates, HCBS funding, and the impact of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. LDH said the rural health grant would support workforce, technology, and care-delivery improvements; that the crisis hub and mobile crisis units are being expanded to improve access and reduce emergency room use; and that the department is working to keep the SNAP error rate below 6 percent to avoid a projected state cost increase. Officials also said they expect to return next year with additional funding requests for HCBS and other programs, while emphasizing that current budget changes are largely meant to realign funding with actual expenditures and new federal requirements. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• One is in programming: short-term workforce training programming.
• or a credit program.
• That is one of our top programs. Our CDL program continues to thrive.
• program.
• Again, you want to know what program funds we're using for what programs.

Committee: House Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• that program, but because the closure of this program has put in... ...program, but because the closure
• program.
• Programs.
• Intervention Program.
• Today I'm going to go over what the North Dakota EHDI program is, where EHDI programs came from, program

Committee: Joint Human Services

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our child care and development programs are provided through voucher-based programs, which provide certificates
• Program, also known as CAPP, our Migrant Alternative Payment Program, CMAP, and the Emergency Child
• Care Bridge Program.
• To my second point, expanding programs across our mixed delivery system, child care program enrollment
• doubled the impact of the youth legal services program and the removal defense program.

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy budget hearing focused on child care, child welfare, and immigration-related services, with most of the discussion centered on child care funding, slot utilization, and rate reform. Department of Social Services officials said the Governor’s budget would provide $6.8 billion for child care programs in 2026-27, including $11.5 million in Prop. 64 funds for mini-grants to licensed facilities affected by 2025 disasters. They also described federal CCDF and Prop. 64 revenue reductions that would reduce general child care funding by about 4,176 slots, while emphasizing that the cuts should not affect currently enrolled children. The LAO supported aligning spending with lower revenues and asked for more detail on the disaster grant program. Members questioned why so many awarded slots remain uncontracted or unfilled, and DSS said delays are largely due to providers building new infrastructure, licensing, staffing, and enrollment work. One senator criticized the repeated explanation, argued unspent funds revert to the General Fund instead of being redirected to child care, and urged shifting more funding from contract slots to vouchers and increasing flexibility for infrastructure and expansion costs. DSS said it is exploring more flexibility, better readiness screening, and quicker redistribution of relinquished slots. The committee also discussed the Emergency Child Care Bridge program, with DSS saying it can redistribute funds among counties to avoid disenrolling children. A second panel addressed the state’s broader commitment to expand child care and move toward a single rate structure. DSS reported that since 2021-22 nearly 125,000 new slots have been awarded across CCTR, CAPP, CMAP, and the Emergency Child Care Bridge program, bringing monthly service levels to more than 366,700 children. The department and CDE described progress on rate reform, including completion of the alternative methodology and joint recommendations from the labor-management committee on a single-rate framework. County and provider testimony emphasized persistent unmet need, especially for infant and toddler care, and argued that current reimbursement disparities between CDSS-funded programs and state preschool create inequities and discourage expansion. Stanislaus County Office of Education said rate differences can materially affect local program revenue and staffing, while Parent Voices California described the child care system as difficult to navigate and inequitable, especially for Black families and survivors of domestic violence. The California Budget and Policy Center argued that only a small share of eligible children are served, that Universal TK has concentrated investment in school-based settings, and that providers are still paid far below the cost of care. Members pressed the administration for deadlines on automation and implementation of the single-rate structure, and DSS said some work can proceed before collective bargaining concludes, though policy decisions are still needed. The committee also reviewed several trailer bill proposals. For the COLA, DSS proposed applying the 2026-27 increase through cost-of-care-plus payments, but acknowledged it had inadvertently excluded CalWORKs Child Care and the Emergency Child Care Bridge from the initial calculation; the LAO recommended making the COLA increase uniform across child care and state preschool programs. On the alternative methodology survey, DSS proposed replacing the market rate survey with the federally approved alternative methodology and aligning the timing with the federal CCDF state plan cycle. On licensed family child care homes, DSS proposed limiting temporary absences to 20% of monthly care hours and allowing more flexibility for medical appointments, jury duty, training, and union activities. On excessive unexplained absences, DSS proposed a statutory definition to align state policy with federal rules allowing disenrollment after 30 days of unexplained absences. The committee also discussed a proposal to require contractors to collect family fees directly so the full voucher value reaches providers, with DSS saying it is working with Riverside County on implementation and CDE asking that the same policy apply to state preschool. Finally, the committee reviewed an Early Childhood Policy Council reappropriation and reporting proposal, with DSS explaining that prior funds were underused because participation costs are hard to estimate and that additional staffing and contractor support would be needed for the expanded annual report requirements.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> general assembly student page program general assembly student page program founded<00:02:10.440
• </c><00:02:44.040><c> for</c> launching and leading the program for launching and leading the program
• </c><00:04:11.760><c> spending</c> commitment to the program spending commitment to the program spending
• . program and extends its best wishes for program and extends its best wishes for continued<00:05:32.759
• 33.840><c> pursues</c> continued success as the program pursues continued success as the program pursues

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the uh to the Paid Family lead program the uh to the Paid Family lead program and<00:05:08.400><
• programs kind of private administrative programs they<00:15:46.360><c> saw</c><00:15:46.600><c> that
• </c> commissioner has approved yst programs commissioner has approved yst programs in<00:46:35.400><c
• </c><01:24:42.560><c> in</c><01:24:42.679><c> the</c> program it is the only program in the program it
• this program serves public assistance this program serves Minnesota's<01:27:59.639><c> unseen</c><01

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• , $125 million for water quality grant programs, another $125 million for resilient Florida grant programs
• Senator, could you talk to us about the Canadian prescription drug importation program, the program that
• The program has since grown to a $4 billion program over the years.
• disabled programming, waiver programs, why are we not including including the Medicaid managed care
• disabled programming, waiver programs, why are we not including ...programming waiver programs?

Summary: The Senate took up the 2026-2027 budget package, beginning with an overview of the $115 billion General Appropriations Bill (SB 2500/HB 500). Appropriations Chair Hooper said the budget is smaller than last year’s, maintains strong reserves, and includes a 3% pay raise for all state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then highlighted major spending in their areas, including $34.9 billion for Pre-K-12 education, $11.9 billion for higher education, a $2.1 billion-plus increase in health and human services, $7.9 billion for criminal and civil justice, $16.8 billion for transportation/tourism/economic development, and major environmental and regulatory investments such as Everglades restoration, water quality, and land acquisition. Members asked detailed questions about several items. Topics included the Emergency Management Trust Fund, arts and cultural grants, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salaries and charter school funding, New College funding, ADAP/HIV drug assistance, Medicaid rate reductions for non-critical access hospitals, DOC operational deficits and inmate health/food costs, judicial staffing, and school enrollment supplements. Chairs explained that some reductions reflected shifts in how scholarship and categorical funds are tracked, that the ADAP appropriation would take effect immediately upon enactment but would only cover part of the year, and that hospital reductions were tied to a broader DPP funding increase. Questions also covered lottery staffing, concealed carry licensing workload, and whether vacant positions were being eliminated as part of budget right-sizing. After the budget discussion, the Senate substituted House bills for the Senate budget bills and adopted amendments placing the Senate language onto the House vehicles. The chamber then passed HB 500, HB 503, and HB 5201, and agreed to conference on each. It also passed SB 7028/HB 5205 on retirement, SB 2506 on fuel taxes, SB 2508 on the state agency law enforcement radio system, SB 2510/HB 5401 on court trust funds, SB 2512 on judgeships, SB 2514 on K-12 education, SB 2516 on higher education, and SB 2518 on health, with each bill passing by unanimous or near-unanimous votes and then being sent to conference or requested of the House for concurrence.