Asking for Funds

In the first few weeks of the session various appropriations subcommittees listen to testimony about funding requests from leaders in state departments. The three state universities are asking for $26 million more for the next fiscal year. A House subcommittee advances a bill that would not allow public or private colleges to implement a mask or social distancing rule for students and employees when they are off-campus. And the governor’s broadband bill is discussed in a Senate subcommittee. It does not advance but the chair says another subcommittee hearing will come after taking into consideration what was heard at the first meeting.