Representative Case pressed the department on the IBAS FY27 request (about $2.75 billion cited at the hearing), the split of mandatory vs discretionary funding, and contingency plans should mandatory funds not be provided; the assistant secretary said IBAS would be reprioritized to sustain Build Freedom.

County CFO Joe Matthews told the board the county has fewer budgeted positions and is facing major federal funding risks — including SNAP administrative losses and large federal funds under protective order — that could pressure services and the 2027 budget process.

County CFO Joe Matthews told the Operations & Budget Committee the county has about 300 fewer FTEs on payroll than last year, saving roughly $7 million for Jan–Feb, while SNAP and Medicaid policy changes and federal grant cancellations threaten tens of millions more in revenue in coming years.

County staff presented the 2026 proposed budget and five-year plan on Oct. 14, warning of federal and state funding risks for land management, Medicaid-related programs and nonprofit partners; the draft includes a $1.5 million BOCC stabilization fund and proposed new positions tied to expected service demands.

Senators and witnesses sparred over LD 127, which would allow the Government Oversight Committee limited executive-session access to OPEGA working papers; opponents warned the change risks exposure of tax, medical and other sensitive records and possible loss of federal funding. The committee voted to table the bill to allow further work and information gathering.

At a March 5 Ways and Means hearing, Boston housing officials told councilors that federal HUD uncertainty and the end of one-time pandemic funds will squeeze FY27 housing programs. Councilors pressed for options including a temporary rollback of inclusionary requirements and new local revenue tools to sustain production and homelessness services.

Deputy Director Gigi Whitley briefed the commission on the department's proposed $785.6 million budget, mayoral priorities, HUD NOFO-related risks, and a projected citywide $900 million general-fund shortfall over two years; commissioners asked about contingency plans and the fate of emergency housing vouchers.

CAO Odie Donald told council the federal shutdown threatens roughly $1.1 billion in federally supported programming in Richmond and identified SNAP, HUD programs and social services as at risk; he outlined bridge funding, hiring freezes and partnerships with Feed More and Richmond Public Schools as mitigation steps.

The committee advanced instances that eliminate a task force from S313 and shift responsibilities to the Agency of Education, while asking AOE to report on whether adult diploma participants can access secondary CTE programs and how such access should be funded amid potential federal funding risks.

Agency witnesses told the Senate committee that BEHIP and MER are cost-effective tools to restore housing and that Brownfields investments have leveraged private redevelopment; they also warned that some federal funding streams are uncertain and asked the committee for continued support.

Department of Energy Director Josh Elliott briefed the Science, Technology and Energy Committee on interconnection and net‑metering rule drafts, the state energy strategy (four pillars) and status of federal funds—highlighting a $35M electrification rebate award and a terminated $43.5M EPA ‘Solar for All’ grant under administrative dispute.