Video & Transcript Research : 'zero-interest loan'

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MN
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 4/8/26

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • We had over 80 small business emergency loans and close to a dozen loan guarantees.
  • We had over 80 small business emergency loans and close to a dozen loan guarantees.
  • We had over 80 small business emergency loans and close to a dozen loan guarantees.
  • During that time, we were still paying rent, utilities, uh, loan interest with no income.
  • loans would only deepen this crisis. loans would only deepen this crisis.
Bills: HF4477
Keywords: Minnesota business recovery loan program, small business loan, zero-interest loan, forgivable loan, business recovery, economic development, small business emergency loan account, Minnesota Initiative Foundations, nonprofit lenders, greater Minnesota, Twin Cities metro, seven-county metropolitan area, immigration enforcement, business interruption, revenue loss, job preservation, business stabilization, state appropriation, forward fund, loan forgiveness
DE
DE

Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Natural Resources & Energy Committee Meeting Jun 24th, 2026

Natural Resources & Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • It eliminates the recycling grants and low-interest loan program and repurposes the Delaware Recycling
  • It eliminates the recycling grants and low-interest loan program and repurposes the Delaware Recycling
  • But I am interested. I keep reading, and I'm just really trying to understand.
  • Yes, it's to balance the interests of ratepayers and the company.
  • Zero, to my knowledge. We just had a major snowstorm in, what, January, February this year.
Bills: SB287
Keywords: solid waste, recycling, universal recycling, single-stream recycling, multifamily housing, apartment recycling, commercial recycling, waste diversion, recycling grants, low-interest loans, Delaware Recycling Fund, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, DNREC, waste hauler, curbside recycling, yard waste, source-separated recycling, pay-as-you-throw, extended producer responsibility, waste bans
Summary: The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee met and considered three Senate bills. SB 287 with Senate Amendment 2, a DNREC cleanup bill on recycling, would tighten recycling collection rules for haulers and commercial generators, require multifamily recycling education, repurpose the Delaware Recycling Fund, and add annual reporting; after brief questions and no public comment, the committee motion to release did not initially receive enough votes, so the bill was circulated for signatures. SB 346, which would speed Environmental Appeals Board hearing and decision timelines so DNREC secretary decisions become final if deadlines are missed, drew support from the Nature Conservancy and also failed to get enough votes at the meeting, so it too was circulated for signatures. The committee then took up SB 326, a major utility-regulation bill sponsored by Senator Hanson and Representative Heffernan that would cap certain non-mandatory utility spending, limit interim rates, increase oversight and transparency, and streamline rate-setting. SB 326 generated extensive testimony and debate. Supporters, including the Public Advocate, Sierra Club, PSC staff, and some legislators, argued that Delmarva Power’s spending on non-mandatory infrastructure has risen far faster than inflation, that the company is a regulated monopoly, and that the bill would help restrain future delivery-rate increases without harming reliability because mandatory reliability, storm response, and vegetation management spending would remain allowed. Opponents, including Delmarva Power, business groups, contractors, labor representatives, and the Delaware Contractors Association, argued the cap would delay needed reliability and capacity projects, hurt economic development, reduce jobs, and interfere with utility planning; they also said supply costs, not distribution spending, are the main driver of recent bill increases. After public comment and additional questioning, the committee voted to release SB 326 on a split roll call, but because several members were absent the bill was also walked for additional signatures. The committee then adjourned.
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development May 21st, 2025

Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • It protects our natural resources and our economic interests.
  • A regulatory framework is better suited to maintain free speech while safeguarding public interest.
  • and the Micro Business Disaster Loan Program to offer loan cost abating. loans while businesses wait
  • You don't have weeks or months to wait for some kind of disaster loan to come in.
  • There are ten ayes and zero nays, the motion prevails.
Bills: SB1361, SB2105, SB2690, SB2713, SCR38, SB2637, SB2881
Keywords: SB 1361, Texas disaster recovery loan, small business loan, micro-business loan, community development financial institution, CDFI, economic disaster assistance, post-disaster financing, business recovery fund, Texas Economic Development Bank, zero-interest loan, working capital, payroll support, health benefits, job retention, declared disaster, small business relief, microenterprise, franchise exclusion, private equity-backed business
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Business and Commerce (Part II) May 1st, 2025

Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • the lender chosen by the buyer fails to complete the sale transaction or does not timely finance the loan
  • At the time, I worked for a company that sold a hybrid loan with a lower payment option through credit
  • We can loan it to you, and we can get you a real good interest rate. He said, really? I said, yes.
  • I checked with the bank, found out the interest rates.
  • Yeah, that's a very interesting concern. In fact, thank you.
Bills: HB12, HB149, SB229, SB1361, SB1749, SB1897, SB2113, SB2566, SB2677, SB1652, SB2327, SB2344, SB2696
Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, automobile sales, finance, retail seller, motor vehicle purchase, motor vehicle sales, pricing restrictions, third-party financing, education, funding, student assessment, accountability, standards, motor vehicle, financing
Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce heard testimony on HB 149, the Artificial Intelligence Governance Act. Senator Schwertner described the bill as an outcomes-based AI framework that would require disclosure when people interact with AI, prohibit manipulative or social-scoring systems, address biometric capture, discrimination, and deepfake child exploitation, and give the Attorney General enforcement authority. It would also create an AI Sandbox and AI Council. Witnesses from the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a Houston attorney, TechNet, and the Texas Association of Business strongly supported the bill, praising its stakeholder process and pro-innovation approach, while Texas Appleseed suggested regulators should have more examination authority over sandbox participants. The bill was left pending. The committee then heard SB 229, which would prohibit motor vehicle dealers from conditioning a sale on dealer-offered financing or charging more because a buyer uses outside financing or cash. Senator West said the bill is meant to stop forced financing and bait-and-switch pricing, and he noted the bill passed the committee and Senate in the prior session. The Texas Automobile Dealers Association opposed the bill, arguing it would force dealers to accept any third-party lender or cash transaction on terms they cannot control. The Texas Credit Union Association supported the bill, saying consumers should be able to choose outside financing without hidden fees or pressure. After questions about cash purchases and dealer practices, the bill was left pending. The committee also took up SB 2566, which would clarify legislators’ access to information from executive agencies, including confidential information, by setting response deadlines, limiting confidentiality agreements to statutory terms, requiring a standard AG form, and creating a complaint and penalty process for noncompliance. No witnesses testified, and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 1749, as substituted, would let certain court-related employees and judicial conduct commission personnel keep personal information such as home addresses and phone numbers confidential, with work addresses used in place of home addresses for certain purposes. District clerk and judicial conduct commission witnesses described threats and harassment as the reason for the bill, and a court administration witness answered questions about how the address protections would work with voter registration and precinct records. That bill was also left pending, and the committee recessed without further business.
ND
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Senate Floor Session Jan 23rd, 2026 at 08:30 am

North Dakota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • There's no special interests associated with this.
  • Right now, 50,000 homes out of that 150,000 have zero property tax.
  • This would actually add 10,000 homes we would zero out.
  • Madam Chair, the most politically neutral word I know is interesting. Interesting.
  • Their constituents weren't interested in free lunch.
Bills: SB2401, SB2402, SB2403, SB2404
Keywords: SB 2401, North Dakota, Century Code, occupational therapy, occupational therapy board, criminal history record check, background check, licensee investigation, physician continuing education, medical license renewal, nutrition education, metabolic health, chronic disease prevention, health occupation boards, medical board, licensure fee, audit response, disciplinary action, Title 43, board of medicine
Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, roll call, and a quorum present, then took up second reading and final passage of several House bills related to the Rural Health Transformation Program and other matters. House Bill 1621, requiring the presidential fitness test in school physical education with exceptions and a delayed effective date, passed 43-3. House Bill 1623, appropriating federal rural health transformation grant funds and creating a related loan program and reporting structure, passed 46-0 after extensive debate about using the federal money for community health, infrastructure, and sustainability. House Bill 1622, joining the physician assistant licensure compact, also passed unanimously 46-0. House Bill 1625, authorizing the Ray Richards Golf Course land sale to support a Grand Forks transportation project and golf course improvements, passed 46-0. House Bill 1626, clarifying that the primary residence credit is applied after the early payment discount so taxpayers receive the full $1,600 benefit, passed 40-6.
ND
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Senate Floor Session Jan 22nd, 2026 at 08:30 am

North Dakota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • new loan program.
  • of 11 years, with only the interest being charged the first year.
  • Now, this amount that would be loaned out is now part of that medical facility infrastructure loan.
  • fund, and that would create more funds for the facility loans.
  • So the expiration date is to handle a loan up for the 11 years.
Bills: SB2401, SB2402, SB2403, SB2404
Keywords: SB 2401, North Dakota, Century Code, occupational therapy, occupational therapy board, criminal history record check, background check, licensee investigation, physician continuing education, medical license renewal, nutrition education, metabolic health, chronic disease prevention, health occupation boards, medical board, licensure fee, audit response, disciplinary action, Title 43, board of medicine
Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum present. It adopted the procedural employment committee report naming Senate staff for the special session. The chamber then took up several health-care and appropriations measures, first adopting amendments to Senate Bills 2401, 2402, and 2403 before moving them to final passage. Senate Bill 2401 passed 44-2 and requires physicians to complete at least one hour of continuing education in nutrition and metabolic health, part of a broader rural health care package. Senate Bill 2402 passed 46-0 after major amendments negotiated between the medical and pharmacy boards; as amended, it expands pharmacists’ prescriptive authority and therapeutic substitution in limited areas while excluding categories such as antidepressants, antipsychotics, chemotherapy agents, Schedule II drugs, biological products, and narrow therapeutic index drugs. Supporters said it would improve rural access and help secure rural health transformation funding, while questions focused on how pharmacist competence would be measured and enforced. Senate Bill 2403, also passed 46-0, creates a short-term medical facility emergency operating loan program through the Bank of North Dakota, reduced by amendment from $10 million to $5 million, to help a financially distressed rural hospital. Senators discussed the hospital’s mismanagement, the need for a bridge loan, and safeguards including a limited application window and expiration in 2027. Senate Bill 2404 passed 46-0 and provides supplemental appropriations to the Information Technology Department for ADA-related website accessibility compliance and to the Public Service Commission for additional legal costs in federal energy-rate litigation. The Senate then made announcements about a Highway Patrol safety presentation and filing deadlines, excused an absent member, and adjourned until the next morning.
ND
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Senate Floor Session Jan 21st, 2026 at 08:30 am

North Dakota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Vote of eight yeas, zero nays, zero absent. Senator Klein. Well, good morning, Madam President.
Bills: SB2401, SB2402, SB2403, SB2404
Keywords: SB 2401, North Dakota, Century Code, occupational therapy, occupational therapy board, criminal history record check, background check, licensee investigation, physician continuing education, medical license renewal, nutrition education, metabolic health, chronic disease prevention, health occupation boards, medical board, licensure fee, audit response, disciplinary action, Title 43, board of medicine
Summary: The Senate convened in special session with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call establishing a quorum of 45 members present and two absent. The chamber received certification from the Secretary of State and the governor’s executive order calling the special session to address funding for the Rural Health Transformation Program and to act quickly to accept and appropriate federal funds. The main action was adoption of the procedural rules for the extraordinary session. Senator Klein explained the proposed rule changes, which were designed to speed up consideration of bills during the short session, including limits on bill introduction, same-day second reading and final passage, elimination of standing committees for the session, creation of a Joint Policy Committee and Joint Appropriations Committee, and authorization for remote testimony and limited remote participation. The procedural committee’s report on these rules was adopted without opposition. The Senate also adopted reports naming members to the Joint Policy Committee and Joint Appropriations Committee. Announcements noted that the Senate Employment Committee, Joint Policy Committee, and Joint Appropriations Committee would meet later that morning, that the Senate would not reconvene at 4 p.m., and that a Highway Patrol presentation on legislator safety would be held. The Senate then moved through the listed orders of business and recessed, planning to meet in joint session with the House before adjourning until Thursday, January 22, 2026.
HI
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

AEN-HHS-WAM, JDC-WAM DEFER, WAM-JDC, WAM, WAM Public Hearings 04-09-2026

Agriculture and Environment

Transcript Highlights:
  • Right now, again, we're putting money, $1 million, for a loan. We have zero. Okay.
  • But again, try to put the cost and saying it's, oh, it's a low-interest loan. It's still a loan.
  • But again, try to put the cost and saying it's, oh, it's a low-interest loan. It's still a loan.
  • But again, try to put the cost and saying it's, oh, it's a low-interest loan. It's still a loan.
  • Chair votes I, I vote I. ...it's, oh, it's a low-interest loan. It's still a loan.
Bills: HB1618
Keywords: cesspool conversion, cesspool replacement, wastewater, sewer connection, sewerage systems, septic system, pollution control, water pollution control revolving fund, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, HGIA, low-interest loans, forgivable loans, homeowner financing, environmental infrastructure, public health, wastewater treatment, low- and moderate-income households, revolving loan fund, Department of Health, memorandum of agreement
Summary: The committees held a joint hearing on HB 1618 HD1, which would create and fund a cesspool conversion revolving loan fund administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to help homeowners upgrade, convert, or connect cesspools. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state agencies and advocacy groups, with witnesses emphasizing that cost is the main barrier to cesspool conversion and that recent Kona flooding underscored the public health and pollution risks of cesspools. One testifier suggested the fund should actively pursue outside funding sources, and another urged an effective date that would allow counties to contribute sooner. A member raised concerns about whether loans would be affordable and whether other financing tools, such as tax credits, should also be considered; another member opposed the bill as not adequately addressing district-level sewer and septic issues. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, including changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, and the motion was adopted. The joint Judiciary and Ways and Means committees then considered HB 2592 on the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority. The chair outlined amendments to clarify that the authority would assume property and liability associated with transferred assets, preserve existing liability rules, transfer conditional use permits if not already transferred, allow lease extensions before transfer, and set reversion triggers if the authority fails to adopt a management plan by June 30, 2028, or administrative rules by December 31, 2029. Members asked about preserving the public trust and whether the amendments would keep the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ role intact; the chair confirmed the fee and board role would remain unchanged. The committees voted to pass the bill with amendments, and the recommendation was adopted. The committees also took up HB 2033, making further amendments to clarify the definition of state, delay certain effective dates, allow rental and U-Drive lessors to avoid liability by identifying renters, delete one section, and add administrative hearing language and bus-camera clarifications. HB 1888 was amended to expand protections for educational workers to include sports officials, define sports official, make intentional bodily harm a felony with enhanced penalties for repeat offenses, and authorize the attorney general to assist with restraining orders. Both measures were recommended for passage with amendments and adopted. Later, several bills were moved with little or no discussion: HB 1515, HB 1713, HB 1718, HB 2022, and HB 2385 were recommended for passage unamended; HB 2375 was deferred; and HB 1741 was amended to reflect Honolulu’s concerns, narrow study requirements, add exemptions and a delayed implementation date, and was recommended for passage with amendments. The committees adopted the recommendations on these measures, with some members noting reservations or prior opposition on certain bills.
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Business and Commerce (Part II) May 1st, 2025

Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • A retail seller of motor vehicles would be required to accept unlimited amounts of cash and any loan
  • At the time, I worked for a company that sold a hybrid loan with a lower payment option through credit
  • Our bank can loan it to you, and we can get you a real good interest rate." "Really?"
  • So I checked with the bank, found out what the interest rates were, and then...
  • That's a very interesting concern, in fact. Thank you. Is there anyone else who wishes to testify?
Bills: HB12, HB149, HB12, HB149, SB229, SB1361, SB1749, SB1897, SB2113, SB2566, SB2677, SB1652, SB2327, SB2344, SB2696
Keywords: election law, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, law enforcement, jurisdiction, voter fraud, local prosecuting attorney, public safety, communication, governor approval, interoperability, political subdivision, radio systems, artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance
TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Committee on Business and Commerce (Part I) May 1st, 2025

Business & Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • Six ayes and zero nays. House Bill 912.
  • This industry is technically, in their eyes, not a loan. So there is no interest rate in there.
  • Commission and stuff have debated whether this is a loan or not a loan.
  • This arrangement is not a loan technically because it doesn't have the interest rate conversation built
  • We understood that they did have an MCA loan in place.
Bills: HB12, HB149, SB229, SB1361, SB1749, SB1897, SB2113, SB2566, SB2677, SB1652, SB2327, SB2344, SB2696, HB12, HB149
Keywords: artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, automobile sales, finance, retail seller, motor vehicle purchase, motor vehicle sales, pricing restrictions, third-party financing, education, funding, student assessment, accountability, standards, motor vehicle, financing
TX
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Business and Commerce Apr 24th, 2025

Business & Commerce

TX
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Press Conference: TEA Audit Mar 19th, 2025 at 12:00 pm

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I filed House Bill 5419, which is a zero-based budgeting bill to cut through the nonsense and the
  • She asked me, would you be interested in that?
  • Yes, that is why I'm here, crossing party lines to ...me, would you be interested in that?
  • Zero-based budgeting is a conservative good government approach to efficiency in a state agency, and
  • Our precious dollars that taxpayers are interested in. You had talks with TEA.
Keywords: education funding, House Bill 5419, zero-based budgeting, public testimony, school safety, special education
Summary: State Representative Gina Hinojosa and a group of parents and education advocates testified in support of House Bill 5419, a zero-based budgeting proposal aimed at reviewing Texas Education Agency spending and redirecting more public education dollars to classrooms. Hinojosa argued that public schools are being weakened by chronic underfunding, teacher shortages, delayed special education services, and inadequate school safety funding, and said the bill would help cut bureaucracy, vendor contracts, and other non-classroom spending in favor of teacher pay, safety, and special education. Several witnesses, including self-identified Republicans and former GOP officials, backed the bill as a good-government measure and said they were crossing party lines because public schools need more direct investment. They criticized TEA growth, vendor contracts, public-private partnerships, and what they described as unfunded mandates from the state, including school safety requirements. One witness said rural districts are being forced into four-day school weeks, while others cited campus closures, deferred maintenance, and local tax increases tied to state funding shortfalls and recapture payments. The discussion also focused on the need for a systematic review of TEA spending and the lack of a sunset review for the agency since before 2005. Hinojosa and others said increasing the basic allotment would help districts, reduce recapture pressures, and prevent local tax hikes. The exchange was primarily a public hearing and advocacy session; no vote or formal committee action was described in the transcript.
HI
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

HSG Public Hearing - Fri Feb 13, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Housing

Transcript Highlights:
  • loans.
  • Right now, the down payment assistance loan is at 1% simple interest per year.
  • So if, let's say, the loan is $20,000, the interest rate is $200 per year.
  • conventional loans. conventional loans.
  • loan is at 1% simple interest loan is at 1% simple interest per<00:57:10.559> year.
Bills: HB1604, HB1713, HB1722, HB2270, HB2401, HB2515, HB1979, HB1593, HB1743, HB2122, HB1756, HB1837, HB1729
Keywords: agriculture, housing, workforce, land use, zoning, public-private partnerships, tax credit, school impact fees, impact fee exemption, school facilities authority, residential development, housing shortage, affordable housing, infill housing, land dedication, fee in lieu, school construction, developer exactions, fair share contributions, education contribution agreement
Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 1604, which would create an agricultural workforce housing group within the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity to address shortages of farmworker housing. The department said it supported the bill’s intent but emphasized that the group’s early work should focus on gathering data and surveying farm operators to assess actual demand, to avoid “mission creep.” Testimony from the City and County of Honolulu Office of Economic Revitalization, Hawaii Farmers Union, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Housing Hawaii’s Future, and the Maui Chamber of Commerce was in support, with one witness suggesting a housing advocacy nonprofit be added to the working group for balance. The committee then discussed HB 1713 on school impact fees, which would clarify exemptions for certain affordable housing projects and exempt new residential developments of fewer than 100 units. The Attorney General’s office said the bill should define “low to moderate income households” because that term is not defined in chapter 302A. HHFDC, the School Facilities Authority, Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, and others supported the measure, arguing it would reduce administrative burden and remove barriers to housing. Members questioned whether the bill should instead repeal the school impact fee entirely; supporters said they also favored full repeal but viewed this bill as a more feasible step. The School Facilities Authority also explained that about $28 million in school impact fees had been collected across four districts and none had yet been spent, and discussed how recent nexus requirements limit how the funds can be used. HB 1722, relating to residential condominiums, drew extensive testimony and questioning. HCDA supported the bill and explained that it amends the 99-year leasehold pilot program created by Act 97 of 2023 by reducing owner-occupancy restrictions from 100% of units to 60%, allowing some rental or subleasing flexibility for the owner-occupied units, and permitting up to 40% of units to be sold to qualified residents after being on the market for more than 60 days. HCDA said the original restrictions, combined with rising construction costs, higher interest rates, and competition from nearby projects, made the pilot project difficult to market and finance; it said the changes are needed to make the project feasible and competitive. Supporters including AP Hawaii, Kila LLC, and project representatives said the amendments would help make the demonstration project in Kakaʻako viable. Some members raised concerns that the changes could weaken long-term affordability and questioned why certain ownership language was being deleted if rentals would still be restricted. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.
US
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

Hearings to examine managing risk for the long-term in the 7(a) loan program, focusing on hearing from lenders. Feb 26th, 2025 at 01:30 pm

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • While the Biden-Harris SBA tried to blame this on rising interest rates, defaults on SBA loans have been
  • All sorts of loans. Not just SBA loans. Loans that have helped create or retain 2,200 jobs.
  • When we provide loans, we're not just providing loans to paper. We're providing loans to people.
  • larger loans— and a larger loan for us is a loan over $75,000— are people coming to us with insufficient
  • And the 7A loan program is healthy. Ninety-nine percent of loans are healthy.
Keywords: SBA, 7A loan program, underwriting standards, loan defaults, Community Advantage Program, small business funding, testimony
Summary: The committee meeting focused on discussions regarding the SBA's 7A loan program and its implementation challenges. Members raised significant concerns about recent changes to the underwriting standards, which have been criticized for leading to an increase in loan defaults. Ranking members expressed a desire for a return to stronger guidelines to protect taxpayers and ensure the program remains a viable source for small businesses struggling to secure funding. Testimonies from community lenders highlighted their efforts to support underserved communities and stressed the importance of the Community Advantage Program.
LA
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Commerce, Consumer Protection and International Affairs May 6th, 2026

Commerce, Consumer Protection, and International Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • medical debt bill, we're striking everything, but we're keeping the part where we're capping the interest
  • We're capping the interest rate at 3% for medical debt.
  • So basically, members, what we're doing is we're just capping the interest rate on medical debt at 3%
  • The interest rate on medical debt is capped at 3%, which is similar to what other states have done.
Bills: SB147, SB414, HB220, HB750, HB799, HB827, HB952, HB953
Keywords: roof standards, construction code, residential property, fortified roofs, insurance, medical debt, interest rate, healthcare services, consumer protection, debt collection, Louisiana Medical Debt Protection Act, child exploitation, online reporting, platforms, cyber crime, PROTECT Act, automatic renewal, cancellation policy, subscription service, transparency
NM
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Appropriations and Finance Feb 9th, 2026 at 06:36 pm

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • It authorizes the New Mexico Finance Authority to make loans or grants from the Water Project Fund for
  • the Public Project Revolving Fund, and it includes $6,250,000 to the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan
  • the Public Project Revolving Fund, and it includes $6,250,000 to the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan
Bills: HB63, HB64, HB184, HB200, HB47, HB48, HB2, HB9
Keywords: water project fund, New Mexico Finance Authority, NMFA, Water Trust Board, water infrastructure, wastewater, drinking water, flood prevention, watershed restoration, water storage, conveyance, delivery, water treatment, recycling, reuse, municipal infrastructure, local government finance, capital outlay, grants, loans
AL
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama House Constitution, Campaigns and Elections Committee Feb 4th, 2026

Constitution, Campaigns and Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • But it's an interesting sort of maybe not rapid fire, but just a process of answering questions they
  • But it's a an interesting<00:11:55.040> sort<00:11:55.279> of<00:11:56.240> maybe
  • not rapid fire interesting sort of maybe not rapid fire but<00:11:57.680> just<00:11:58.480><
  • A lot of folks were interested in getting a more comprehensive bill than something that would help one
  • <00:14:33.040> in Uh, a lot of folks were interested in Uh, a lot of folks were interested
Bills: HB272, HB272
Keywords: HB272, LASEA, AMSTEP, Alabama Commission on Higher Education, State Department of Education, teacher loan repayment, student loan forgiveness, educator shortage, teacher shortage, acute educator shortage, acute shortage location, public K-12 schools, school systems, math teachers, science teachers, computer science teachers, charter schools, failing schools, underperforming schools, teacher recruitment
LA
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Commerce Mar 17th, 2026

Commerce

ND
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Joint Appropriations Jan 21st, 2026 at 12:30 pm

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's very interesting.
  • With the outstanding debt load of unpaid bills and a 7% interest rate on their loans, recovery has been
  • loan fund.
  • Specifically, we are requesting a $5 million loan over 11 years at 2% interest.
  • And it's kind of interesting.
Bills: HB1623
Keywords: HB 1623, North Dakota, rural health, rural health transformation program, medical facility infrastructure loan fund, medical facility infrastructure loan program, rural health loan program, Bank of North Dakota, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, federal grant, health care infrastructure, rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, nonprofit health care providers, gap financing, loan fund, public health funding, healthcare financing, Medicaid
Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 1624, the “Universal Lunch Bill,” from Rep. Mike Nathie. He argued the proposal should be placed in Century Code rather than the Constitution so future legislatures can adjust it if state finances tighten, and said the bill would start the program a year earlier with a $65 million appropriation for one school year. DPI testified that the estimate did not include nonpublic schools that do not participate, and members questioned the impact on Title I, free-and-reduced applications, private-school accountability, breakfast mandates for schools that do not currently serve breakfast, and whether the funding could come from the DPI budget or other sources. Supporters, including North Dakota United, the North Dakota Catholic Conference, a pediatrician, and the American Heart Association, said universal meals improve student health and learning, reduce family costs, and are better handled in statute than by constitutional amendment. No opposition testimony was offered, and the chair closed the hearing for later work-session action. The committee then took up House Bill 1627, introduced by Rep. Tye Dressler, which would raise the income threshold for the state-funded school lunch program from 225% to 300% of poverty, with an estimated cost of about $7 million for 2026-27. Dressler said the bill is intended as a targeted, budget-friendly alternative to the ballot measure and emphasized that the state should maximize federal meal dollars while improving participation in the current program. Members questioned whether raising the threshold would actually increase utilization, whether a dollar amount would be clearer than a percentage, and how the change would affect federal reimbursements and application rates. DPI said it could quickly calculate additional percentage levels, and the chair closed the hearing, directing DPI to prepare more numbers for the work session. Finally, the committee opened Senate Bill 2403, presented by Sen. Schiable, to create a short-term bridge-loan program for financially distressed hospitals, centered on Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin. The bill would authorize up to $5 million per loan, with a $10 million appropriation available on a first-come, first-served basis, and would run only through June 30, 2027. Schiable said the hospital’s debt and operating problems threaten local health care, ambulance service, and the community’s economy, and that the proposal was designed narrowly with Bank of North Dakota review to avoid creating a broad precedent. Committee members asked whether the appropriation could be reduced and whether the bank would still apply commercial feasibility and repayment standards; Schiable said yes, the bank would still evaluate the loan and could reject it if it was not sound.
ND
ND

North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session

Joint Appropriations Jan 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • University kid, we want to make sure that they are mentored at a young age, promising young people interested
  • But I'm interested in where the 10% comes... Even a legislator can figure that one out.
  • But I'm interested in where the 10% comes from.
  • Isn't that interesting? Doing medical care. Why? Why do they stay and why are they here?
  • We can’t afford more loans. I can tell you that we cannot afford more loans.
Bills: HB1623
Keywords: HB 1623, North Dakota, rural health, rural health transformation program, medical facility infrastructure loan fund, medical facility infrastructure loan program, rural health loan program, Bank of North Dakota, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, federal grant, health care infrastructure, rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, nonprofit health care providers, gap financing, loan fund, public health funding, healthcare financing, Medicaid
Summary: The committee heard House Bill 1623, the appropriations bill tied to North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program, which is funded through a new federal rural health care grant. Senator Bekkedahl explained the bill’s background, the interim committee process that developed it, and the federal conditions attached to the award, including spending deadlines, administrative cost limits, and restrictions on uses such as new construction, supplanting existing funding, and certain other costs. Legislative staff then walked through the seven sections of the bill, including appropriation authority, transfer authority, contingent appropriations for pass-through grants, procurement and public improvement exemptions, recipient reporting, legislative reporting, and immediate effective date. Commissioner Traynor and HHS staff described how the department plans to implement the program, emphasizing that the funding is intended to improve rural access, workforce recruitment and retention, technology and data connectivity, and community health initiatives. They said the department will rely on local applications, technical assistance, templates, listening sessions, and partnerships with providers, schools, public health units, tribal entities, and other community groups. Members asked about reimbursement timing, upfront costs, administrative expenses, sustainability after the five-year grant period, and whether CTE centers, public health units, gyms, grocery stores, and other community partners could participate; the department said yes, within program rules and with a focus on measurable outcomes and sustainability. Several supporters testified in favor. Mental Health America of North Dakota and the Mental Health Advocacy Network supported the bill and urged investment in community-based mental health, crisis response, children’s services, peer support, and mobile crisis teams. HIA Health described the grant as a chance to expand home-based and hospice care, noting that rural providers already have workable models but need funding to scale them. A cybersecurity representative also supported the bill, warning that the large amount of health data and AI-related tools will require strong data protection and professional support. The hearing was closed with no opposition testimony, and the committee announced it would return later in the day for further work on the bill and other measures.