NEBRASKA LAWMAKERS OUTLINE POTENTIAL ACTIONS TO ADDRESS DECLINING TEST SCORES

LINCOLN- Last Wednesday, State Sens. Lynne Walz and Lou Ann Linehan accompanied Nebraska Commissioner of Education Matt Blomstedt to outline a few potential legislative opportunities to address the state's declining test scores.A few of these specific areas include chronic absenteeism, special education, early child literacy, and the widespread teacher shortage in Nebraska. As of now, it's unclear exactly how these issues will be addressed by the Nebraska Legislature, but the three lawmakers laying out the plan believe these areas are a good place to start.

On that same Wednesday, statewide test scores were released to the public, showing a 6-percentage-point drop in math scores during the 2021-2022 school year over 2018-2019, the last reliable comparison year prior to the pandemic. Similarly, English scores saw a 5-point drop, with proficiencies hovering around 47%. Sen. Linehan, a member of the Education Committee, believes putting more money toward teacher training in early literacy may help curb the declining scores.

"If we make sure kids learn to read between kindergarten and third grade at their grade level, if at all possible at the end of third grade, it solves a lot of our achievement problems," believes Linehan. Linehan also stated that, in the last ten years, new information on the science of reading has been released, and believes teachers should be made aware of it.

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NEBRASKA GOVERNOR-ELECT PILLEN RETAINS 3 MORE RICKETTS-ERA CABINET MEMBERS

LINCOLN- Last week, Gov.-elect Jim Pillen announced the retention of three additional cabinet members from Gov. Ricketts' administration. Jim Macy, current Director of the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, will keep his position as we transition into Pillen's governorship. 

Jason Jackson, Director of the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services, and Col. John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, will also remain in their current positions. Macy, who has served in his role since 2019, worked previously in various positions in the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for around 30 years.

Bolduc, who was appointed directly following a Nebraska State Patrol scandal, has served in his position since 2017. Pillen described Bolduc as having the "temperament, experience, and knowledge" to continue working in his position.

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DOUGLAS COUNTY, CITY OF OMAHA TO PAY WESTSIDE SCHOOLS NEARLY $6 MILLION IN MISSED PAYMENTS

OMAHA- On Tuesday, the Douglas County Board approved a settlement totaling around $2.2 million to pay Westside Community Schools for missed payments from 2019 to 2021. In June, Westside filed a lawsuit against Douglas County Treasurer John Ewing after his office overpaid and underpaid several local governments in 2021, including Westside and four other school districts. 

Specifically, the lawsuit alleged that the Treasurer'sOffice had underpaid Westside by more than $3.7 million in 2021, and similar amounts in the two years prior. The State Auditor's Office concluded that Ewing and his office had incorrectly interpreted state statute that spells out how counties with more than one school district are supposed to distribute annual payments from the Omaha Public Power District. 

OPPD is meant to direct 5% of its gross revenue from the previous year's retail electricity sales to local governments and school districts. Tuesday's settlement outlined the steps the City of Omaha is going to take to repay Westside, and will make equal payments to the school district between 2024 and 2029.

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LAWSUIT SETTLEMENT FUNDS OBTAINED BY THE STATE GO TO MANY PLACE, PURPOSES

LINCOLN- As a result of several multi-state lawsuits against giant consumer companies like Google and Walmart, the State of Nebraska has raked in nearly $20 million in settlement funds. There is much debate surrounding who will allocate the settlement funds, with some believing it will be the Nebraska Legislature, and others thinking it will be Nebraska's Attorney General.

Attempting to sort out which Google and Walmart customers will receive the funds, according to former Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning, will be an "administrative nightmare." Because of this, Bruning, now in private practice, suggests that Nebraska should send out settlement packages to local governments and let them decide what to do with the funds.

"It's much easier to send a block of money to the state and let it figure out how it should be used," he said. Plus, Bruning went on to state, dividing the settlement would make for some very small checks to many Walmart and Google customers. A spokeswoman for the Nebraska Attorney General's Office said that settlement agreements, as well as state law, often dictate where the money should go and how exactly it will be used.

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ANOTHER COMMERCIAL FLOCK IN NEBRASKA INFEDCTED BY AVIAN FLU

DIXON COUNTY- The highly contagious and lethal avian influenza that has been circulating the country and state has claimed another group in Dixon County, according to the state Department of Agriculture. The total amount of affected laying hens in this round of the disease amounts to 1.8 million birds.

HPAI, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, spreads through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. It can spread in different ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, equipment or caretakers’ clothing and shoes. Before this year, Nebraska hadn’t seen a confirmed HPAI case since 2015. The first wave of reports this year occurred between mid-March and April. After a quiet summer, additional cases flared up beginning in September.

Out of the now 13 separate accounts of HPAI in Nebraska, Dixon County has now been hit twice. Dixon County had an additional 1.7 million laying hens contract the disease on April 12th, 2022. Dixon County now has two of the top three highest flock numbers to contract HPAI, Knox County had 2.1 million laying hens come down with the disease on April 27th, 2022.

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VOLUNTARY GRANT PROGRAM AIMS TO RESTORE SANDHILLS, GRASSLANDS, AND WETLANDS

LINCOLN- $4 million dollars is being provided to landowners in the sandhills region by a voluntary grant program. The program is asking landowners to remove invasive eastern red cedar trees and restore grasslands and wetlands. The four-year program, funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, is aimed at restoring grassland and wetland habitat for at-risk species such as the greater prairie chicken, long-billed curlew and western prairie fringed orchid.

A spokesman with the Game Commission said the voluntary, incentive-based program is not part of the Biden administration’s “America the Beautiful” program — criticized by Gov. Pete Ricketts and Gov.-elect Jim Pillen as a “land grab” by the federal government — but was funded through the bipartisan infrastructure bill passed a year ago. 

Removing eastern red cedar trees, through mechanical means and prescribed fire, can increase forage for livestock, reduce wildfire risks and improve stream flow and wildlife habitat. Partnering with Game and Parks in the project are Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever, Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition, Northern Prairies Land Trust, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, Sandhills Task Force, Santee Sioux Nation, and The Nature Conservancy. 

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SCHOLARSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE FOR NURSING STUDENTS TO ADDRESS SHORTAGE CREATED BY COVID-19 RESIGNATIONS

LINCOLN- In an effort to combat the shortage of nurses in Nebraska due to Covid-19 and other factors, the state is now seeking applicants for $2,500-per-semester scholarships for nursing students. A total of $5 million in scholarships is being offered, with recipients being required to practice nursing in Nebraska for a minimum of two years. “Nurses are an indispensable part of health care across our state,” said Charity Menefee, the director of operations for the Division of Public Health with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

Stress caused by COVID-19, as well as earlier-than-expected retirement of some nurses, contributed to a workforce shortage in the field that is expected to grow to 5,400 nurses by 2025 in the state. The scholarship money is being awarded on a first-come, first-served basis through the DHSS using funds obtained from the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan Act.

Any Nebraska resident currently enrolled or intending to enroll in a Nebraska Certified Nursing Assistant, Licensed Practical Nurse or accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is eligible to apply.

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RETIREMENTS HITTING NEBRASKA LEGISLATIVE STAFF HARD

LINCOLN- As many already know, those who make up Nerbaska politics will be continuously changing in the next couple of weeks. From a new governor and cabinet to 14 new state senators and staff, the state's makeup will be different. “It’s going to be pretty devastating as far as institutional knowledge walking out the door,” said State Sen. Mark Kolterman of Seward, who is at the end of his eight years in the Legislature. “We’re just at kind of a crossroads right now.”

The Clerk of the Legislature, Patrick O'Donnell, announced he would be leaving last month. A legislative fiscal office veteran, Liz Hruska, announced she is calling it a career. Janice Satra, Bill Marienau, and Kate Allen are members of legislative legal counsel for various committees and are calling it quits. 

Longtime directors of three other legislative divisions retired in recent years — state Ombudsman Marshall Lux, Revisor of Statutes Joanne Pepperl and Nancy Cyr, director of research. That leaves only the performance audit division without a recent change in leadership. “We are diminished,” said State Senator John Stinner, who is at the end of his two terms. “We’ve lost that long-term knowledge. Where do we get our institutional knowledge now? The lobby? Trial and error?”

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NEBRASKA DEMOCRATS URGE STATE PARTY TO CAMPAIGN MORE MODERATELY IN FUTURE ELECTIONS

LINCOLN- Following the previous election cycle, several important Nebraska Democrats says the party needs to approach voters in a more moderate tone to better election results. But the current party chair, and others, contend Nebraska Democrats are already doing just that and criticism to the contrary doesn’t match the reality on the ground. 

The party recognized that currently there is a divide amongst its group members, but said the disagreements and stances are nowhere near the levels of the divide that is currently seen across the aisle with the Nebraska Republicans. The dispute was on display earlier this month when former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey described the state party as “pathetic.” Nebraska Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb called Kerrey’s remarks a “slap in the face.”

Kerrey stood by his criticisms and said the state party painted the Democratic candidates in the midterms as more radical than they actually are. Kerry pointed to neighboring states who have been actively flipping seats in historically red districts. Kerrey, along with former Gov. Ben Nelson, the last Democrat to hold the office in Nebraska, suggested the party increase focus on pulling moderate voters to their side. 

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RICKETTS TO VISIT JAPAN FOR SECOND TIME THIS MONTH FOR TRADE MISSION

LINCOLN- For the second time this month, Gov. Pete Ricketts is headed to Japan on a trade mission to promote Nebraska's agricultural products and encourage international investment. Ricketts, alongside a state delegation of lawmakers, is set to meet Japanese officials to discuss Nebraska beef, pork, and ethanol, and encourage investment in Nebraska. 

Previously, Ricketts had gone to Japan on four other trade missions in 2015, 2017, and 2019. Japan is Nebraska's largest market for pork, the second largest for beef, and is an emerging market for ethanol, making these trade missions vital for Nebraska's economy and international outreach.

This week, Ricketts will meet with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, as well as the U.S. ambassador to Japan.  Gov. Ricketts and his Nebraska delegation are the first to visit Japan after the Japanese Legislature approved new beef tariff levels, allowing the country to receive beef exports without placing higher tariffs on international sellers. 

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RECOMMENDATIONS TAKE AIM AT NEBRASKA CONTRACTING FAILURES

LINCOLN- In light of Nebraska's recent failed contract with St. Francis Ministries, a nonprofit child welfare organization, Ikaso Consulting recommended to state lawmakers several changes that could be implemented to reinforce contract-making and procurement processes. 

In a report given to state lawmakers, Ikaso Consulting recommended a list of 33 changes to improve the state's contracting practices and to standardize the procurement and bidding process. The evaluation was called for by several lawmakers after years of costly procurement failures plagued the state.

Sen. John Arch, who led the investigation into St. Francis Ministries, was pleased with the evaluation given by Ikaso. He was particularly happy with the thoroughness and specificity of the recommendations, and said the changes, if implemented, will likely help address the problems caused by contract failures.

"We intend to follow those recommendations," said Sen. Arch, "I'll be personally introducing bills to do that." Jason Jackson, director of the Department of Administrative Services, said he was encouraged that the report found Nebraska's contracting process similar to other states. The evaluation compared Nebraska's processes with Colorado, Iowa, South Dakota, and Missouri.

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TEMPORARY CASINO IN GRAND ISLAND MIGHT BE OPEN BY CHRISTMAS

GRAND ISLAND- The new temporary casino at Fonner Park is expected to be open by Christmas. Fonner Park Chief Executive Officer Chris Kotulak hopes the Nebraska Racing and Gaming Commission gives final approval of the casino’s operation on Dec. 14. Work on the temporary casino began on September 8th inside the concourse of Fonner Park. 

“The Racing and Gaming Commission wanted to make sure that racing had a presence, and I appreciate that, so they’ve asked that we add additional television monitors and some wagering terminals where people can wager on horse racing in addition to whatever casino games they’re playing” in the temporary facility, Kotulak said.

Elite Casino Resorts, which is Fonner’s partner in the casino operation, is paying for the remodeling. The Grand Island casino will be the second to open at one of the state's licensed horse tracks after voters in November 2020 approved casino wagering. WarHorse Casino opened a temporary casino with 433 slot machines at Lincoln Race Course in October and generated more than $1.14 million in state and local tax revenue in its first five weeks.

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RICKETTS JOINS LETTER CALLING FOR END TO COVID VACCINE MANDATE FOR MILITARY

LINCOLN- Governor Pete Ricketts and governors from 20 states have joined together calling for Congress to block the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for the military. The group of all Republican governors signed a letter to the top Republican and Democratic leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives, asking for action either through the National Defense Authorization Act or standalone legislation.

“The Biden vaccine mandate on our military creates a national security risk that severely impacts our defense capabilities abroad and our state readiness here at home,” the governors said in the letter. They claim that the injury caused by the mandate is that current service members are leaving the military and new recruits are not signing up in sufficient numbers to keep the National Guard and branches of the active duty armed forces at full strength. 

The U.S. Army National Guard Chief announced recruiting is down by 10% and that 7,500 members have left. An additional 14,000 soldiers are being discharged for refusing to get the vaccine. Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, the Nebraska National Guard’s adjutant general, said the mandate could affect those already serving. Currently, 10.7% of Nebraska National Guard Troops were unvaccinated and multiple members decided to leave. 

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INCREASED ENERGY ASSISTANCE ANNOUNCED TO HELP LOW-INCOME NEBRASKANS

LINCOLN- The federal government is sending an extra $9.7 million beyond the usual allocation to the state for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program, commonly known as LIHEAP. The program helps with heating and cooling assistance, year-round crisis aid, emergency furnace repair and replacement, fans and weatherization. 

The funding comes from a continuing appropriation of federal dollars and the federal infrastructure act. It amounts to about a 32% increase in the typical amount of money the federal government sends, according to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. 

Eligibility requirements include an income at or below 150% of poverty level and proper citizenship or residency status. For example, for a family of three, the income threshold is $34,545, according to the state.  The program is federally funded and administered by the state. If you’re uncertain whether you qualify, the state encourages you to apply. There is no penalty should you be denied.

To apply, visit the ACCESSNebraska website or by calling 800-383-4278.

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PILLEN NAMES COMMITTEE TO ADVISE HIM ON POTENTIAL STATE SCHOOL AID REVAMP

LINCOLN — Gov.-elect Jim Pillen on Thursday announced the creation of a school finance reform committee to advise him about how to update and change the state’s school aid formula.

In a press release, he said the new committee is the start of fulfilling his campaign promise to distribute state school aid on a per-student basis. He is asking the group to recommend how to “create a system that invests in every Nebraska student,” which he said the state does not do now.

Nebraska provides the bulk of its school aid through an equalization formula, which directs aid to districts that cannot raise enough money through property taxes to meet the needs of students. In the current year, $886 million of the $1.07 billion in state school support is going out as equalization aid.

The number of districts getting equalization aid has dropped over the years as property valuations, particularly agricultural land valuations, have grown. The higher valuations mean that more school districts can provide for student needs through property taxes without exceeding the state’s levy limit. But farm- and ranch-land owners have objected to the increased reliance on agricultural property taxes to support schools.

Members of his policy team; State Sens. Rita Sanders of Bellevue and Tom Briese of Albion; members of STANCE, a group representing midsized school districts, including Lakeview Superintendent Aaron Plas and Seward Superintendent Josh Fields; members of Omaha Public Schools, including Superintendent Cheryl Logan; members of Lincoln Public Schools, including Superintendent Paul Gausman; retired school superintendent and CEO of Avenue Scholars Ken Bird; Nebraska Association of School Boards; Nebraska Rural Community Schools Association; Nebraska Farm Bureau; Nebraska Cattlemen; and Americans for Prosperity-Nebraska.

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FISCHER'S YEAR-ROUND 15%-PLUS ETHANOL BILL HAS OIL BACKING

LINCOLN — The U.S. Senate, with volatile gasoline prices top of mind, is inching toward a bipartisan solution to a years-long push for year-round sales of ethanol blends of 15% or more.

Bills to codify the change have shared support from agricultural organizations and biofuels boosters, including the congressional delegations from ag states like Nebraska, Iowa and Kansas.

But the 2022 version of the Consumer and Retail Choice Act from U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., has something new: support from the oil lobby. The American Petroleum Institute’s public embrace of Fischer’s four-page amendment to the Clean Air Act makes the bill much more likely to pass, political observers explained.

What got “Big Oil” on board? Backers said the bill would create a more predictable national framework for handling E15 blends, instead of relying on a “patchwork” of state regulations.

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PILLEN ANNOUNCES DETAILS OF INAUGURAL BALL

OMAHA- January 7th has been set as the date for Governor-Elect Jim Pillen's inaugural ball. The ball will be in Omaha at the CHI Health Center.

“Time for us to celebrate all the incredible things the state has done and what together we can do in the future years," Pillen said. The theme is "Nebraska: Day by day, better and better," which Pillen said he picked up from his playing days under then-coach Tom Osborne. “That comes from the Husker Football prayer of 'Day by day, we get better and better. We can't be beat,'" he said. 

Pillen’s wife, Suzanne, talked about why they decided to hold it in Omaha instead of in Lincoln. “We wanted a space large enough that all our guests can dine together in one room and on one floor," she said. "We think that's really important because we want to celebrate with everyone." The Pillens said they don’t want anyone to think the occasion is just for the movers and shakers, and that it’s welcome to anyone.

“Some people might think that an inaugural ball just isn't for them," Suzanne said. "There is a perception it's only for business and political leaders. That couldn't be farther from the truth."

The event will include dinner and dancing along to music from a live band. Who will the performer be? The Pillens said that’s a surprise.

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OMAHA SCHOOL PENSION FUND SHOWS PROGRESS BUT SUPERINTENDENT FORSEES HEADWINDS

LINCOLN- The troubled pension fund for Omaha teachers has shown improvement over the past five years, rising from 53% fully funded to around 63%

Since 2014, the Nebraska Legislature has required local government pension systems that are less than 80% funded to report to the Retirement Committee on how the organization plans to fix it and increase funding. 

This requirement came after the Omaha fire and police pension system was on the verge of collapse ten years ago, and has worked quite well in allowing organizations to create strategic plans to increase funding.

In yesterday's report to the Retirement Committee, it was revealed that only six defined-benefit programs run by local governments were less than 80% funded, and some have slipped even further to the point where certain organizations are unable to contribute the recommended amount to pension systems.

Sen. Mark Kolterman, who heads the Retirement Committee, was not happy to hear the news. "It's almost like anything we've asked here has fallen on deaf ears," he said, "It's blatant disrespect for the employees and the citizens of Omaha."

Despite the falling behind of certain expected contributions, Kolterman said several of the reforms created since 2014, including the decreasing of some benefits, have worked rather well, and are allowing some pension systems to be fully funded earlier than expected.

Despite this, Logan said she is worried that if the district receives a decrease in state aid, OPS won't be able to allocate excess funding toward the schoolteacher pension fund. 

Reforming the state's school aid program was a key talking point in Governor-elect Jim Pillen's campaign. His proposed changes, if passed, are expected to cost school districts about $270 million a year. This would greatly affect the amount school districts would be able to put towards pensions.

Logan said she is unsure if these changes will be approved by the Nebraska Legislature, but stated that it would be wise to be prepared for them.

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BOLDUC RETAINED AS SUPERINTENDENT OF NEBRASKA STATE PATROL; GOINS STAYING, AND VINTON TAKING OVER AG DEPARTMENT

LINCOLN- Col. John Bolduc will be retained as superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, Governor-elect Jim Pillen has announced.

“Col. Bolduc has the temperament, experience and knowledge to continue leading the Nebraska State Patrol,” Pillen and Joe Kelly, his lieutenant governor running mate, said in a joint statement.

Pillen had a long list of praises for Bolduc. He continued to emphasize that Bolduc “embodies the tradition of excellence the Nebraska State Patrol has established for its members since its founding 85 years ago,” they said.

The Office of the Superintendent oversees the Agency's goals and objectives, policies and procedures and organizational structure and will remain under the supervision of Colonel John A. Bolduc, Superintendent of Law Enforcement and Public Safety. Colonel Bolduc directly oversees the Divisions of Field Services, Investigative Services and Administrative Services.

Bolduc, the 18th superintendent of the Patrol, was sworn into the leadership role in 2017. He has been a law enforcement officer since 1986, with service in three states.

Tony Goins, director of Gov. Ricketts' Department of Economic Development, will also retain his position under Governor-elect Pillen.

"Tony has a proven track record of executive experience that has created value and a business mindset for the state of Nebraska," said Pillen in a press release, "I look forward to working with Tony to grow Nebraska and continue to make our state the best in the country to work and live."

Pillen also announced that Sherry Vinton will be taking over as head of the state's Department of Agriculture. Vinton currently serves as the first vice president of the Nebraska Farm Bureau.

"Sherry will be a key partner in helping implement my vision of growing Nebraska agriculture," Pillen said in the same release, "As a lifelong Nebraskan and livestock producer, she is a leader in Nebraska agriculture who knows the importance of the industry for the future of our state."

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LAWMAKERS EYE 61 ACRES FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK IN OMAHA RECOVERY EFFORT

OMAHA- State lawmakers are eyeballing an industrial park that would be located in Omaha, take up nearly 61 acres, and create over 450 jobs at the site. 

State Sen. Justin Wayne of Omaha gave an update to his fellow lawmakers on a $335 million recovery effort dedicated to underserved areas of Nebraska, primarily in North and South Omaha. Wayne has been focused on efforts in Omaha, while the State Department of Economic Development is leading the charge for other areas, he said. Wayne is part of a larger committee that has been working to find a way to distribute the funds.

The industrial park was one of several projects or initiatives specifically earmarked for funding in the legislation, which lawmakers passed earlier this year. The development of affordable housing was another initiative designated for funding. Senator Wayne said that if this plan is completed successfully, it provides a functioning model to be replicated in other areas of the state.

Wayne said state officials are working to purchase about 61 acres of vacant land just off North 16th Street directly west of Carter Lake. He said six businesses have already expressed interest in developing on the land. Despite the land and industrial park being prepared, the committee still has over $250 million to spend.

Wayne said lawmakers must distribute the remaining money before 2026, as the bulk of the $250 million comes via the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which expires in 2026. 

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