LINCOLN – The Nebraska Legislature’s Appropriations Committee held a hearing Tuesday, taking input from Nebraskans on the use of federal American Rescue Plan Act funding.

Senator Anna Wishart, a committee member, introduced a legislative resolution to study how the funds should be spent in relief of the impact of Covid-19.

President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Act, the latest federal stimulus bill to aid public health and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic on March 11. The plan included $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local and territorial and tribal governments, known as the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has announced the August special session will begin on August 16. His decision, in consultation with the Alaska Department of Law, comes after yesterday’s written request from the four caucus leaders in the Alaska Legislature to convene the start of the August special session on August 9 or 16.

Originally published by The Office of Governor Mike Dunleavy on July 29, 2021.

Back in May, the governor and General Assembly leaders shared their priorities for the American Rescue Plan. Virginia is expected to receive $4.3 billion in federal funds after President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. 

“Virginia is roaring back stronger than we could have imagined one year ago, but small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they need additional support to get back on their feet,” Governor Northam said. 

Originally reported by Keyris Manzanares of WRIC-TV on July 12, 2021.

Minnesota's $52 billion state budget for the next two years is the largest in state history and pumps more than $1 billion into education and tax relief — a remarkable turnaround after predictions last year that the pandemic would leave the state with a steep deficit.

Originally reported by Jessie Van Berkel and Briana Bierschbach of the Star Tribune on July 3, 2021.

With a 30-7 vote in the Senate today, the General Assembly has approved a $13.1 billion state budget for the 2022 fiscal year that boosts key supports for vulnerable Rhode Islanders — particularly affordable housing — makes body cameras available for every uniformed police officer statewide and does not rely on the $1.1 billion in one-time federal American Rescue Plan funding for ongoing expenses.

Originally reported by the State of Rhode Island General Assembly on July 1, 2021.

The end of the session came on the last day of the fiscal year — a crucial deadline for passing a budget, which seemed elusive just a week earlier as lawmakers continued to wrangle over the $12.8 billion spending plan.

The $262.6 billion proposal now on its way to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk would restore spending cuts to public schools, colleges and universities, the courts, child support services and state worker salaries — all things that were cut last year when state officials thought they were facing a record budget deficit because of the coronavirus.

"House Bill 168 addresses some of the most fundamental responsibilities that we share as public servants -- the health of our children and the economic strength of our state," said Governor DeWine. “The actions that we took over the past year, including cutting state spending, freezing state hiring, and leaving the Rainy Day Fund untouched allow us to direct these recovery funds into forward-looking investments that position Ohio for a stronger post-COVID future. By paying off the state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund loan to the federal government, our businesses won't experience large increases in their federal unemployment payroll taxes, and instead can focus on investing this money in their businesses and employees.”

Originally reported by The Office of the Governor on June 29, 2021.

With two special legislative sessions in quick succession, Gov. Jim Justice already sees another one ahead.

Justice today said another special session will be necessary to allocate the $677 million the state has received from the American Rescue Plan Act. He didn’t describe a timetable.

“Now we’ll move on to handling the stimulus dollars, American Rescue Plan, and we’ll dial in to things like broadband and things like that that are high on the priority list with me,” Justice said today.

Originally reported by Brad McElhinny of MetroNews on June 29, 2021.

“From the start, we called for a focus on pandemic recovery, returning students to school and assistance to wildfire impacted communities,” House Republican Leader Christine Drazan, R-Canby, said in a statement after adjournment. “As the legislative session progressed, it was clear transparency suffered as public policy was rushed through behind closed doors.”

Originally reported by Dirk VanderHart and Sam Stites of Oregon Public Broadcasting on June 26, 2021.

But Democrats expressed dismay that most of the federal aid to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t being used. Pennsylvania received nearly $7.3 billion in federal aid in the American Rescue Plan, but $1 billion is being used in the new state budget.

Originally reported by Ron Southwick of Penn Live on June 25, 2021.

A huge chunk of state Senate Republicans' budget proposal to spend the money would go toward business relief — $1 billion for the JOBS Grant program, which was part of the Senate GOP's tax plan, and $500 million for the Small Business Pandemic Recovery Grant program.

Originally reported by Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan of The Times News on June 24, 2021.

The budget, which Gov. Chris Sununu is expected to sign, would prohibit abortions beyond 24 weeks gestation, with exceptions only to save the life of the mother, and prohibit teaching children that they're inferior, racist, sexist or oppressive by virtue of their race, gender or other characteristics

Originally reported by Holly Ramer of NBC Boston on June 24, 2021.

Missouri is expected to receive billions of dollars in funding from ARPA, but it’s unclear what the exact amount will be. Chairman Richey says there will be many opportunities for one-time capital improvement appropriations for state buildings, colleges and universities and for public safety.

Originally reported by Brian Hauswirth of the MissouriNet on June 21, 2021.

There is something for almost everyone in the budget, including raises for most state employees, teachers and law enforcement officers. It also includes money to expand the port in Charleston, repair college buildings and place a police officer and nurse in every public school in the state. Lawmakers also have earmarked funds for dozens of local projects such as downtown renovations, lighthouse repairs or art programs.

Originally reported by Jeffery Collins of AP News on June 21, 2021.

ARPA funds for state governments are only to be used to respond to the public health emergency and negative economic effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Oklahoma’s share of ARPA funds includes up to $1.9 billion for state government. The Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief Funding will focus on state government’s share of the funds.

Originally reported by Kevin Severin of OKC Fox on June 16, 2021.

A program that provides financial assistance for electricity in high-cost areas won’t be funded. Neither will state-sponsored university scholarships.

Those programs and most of the dividend funding depended on three-quarters of the House members agreeing to draw money from the Constitutional Budget Reserve. That failed by six votes.

The State of Wyoming is expected to receive a total of about $1.7 billion in American Rescue Plan dollars, not counting millions more allocated for specific areas such as education and local government support. The state has until Dec. 31, 2026 to expend the $1.7 billion.

Originally reported by Brendan LaChance of Oil City News on June 14, 2021.

The $7.315 billion fiscal plan includes initial allocation of the $1.25 billion the state received from the federal American Rescue Plan Act for pandemic recovery over three years. The state plans to allocate $250 million to install broadband, $250 million for housing, $250 million to mitigate climate change with projects like weatherization, and $225 million for clean water initiatives.

Originally reported by Pat Bradley of WAMC on June 10, 2021.