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NCSL Updates
Recent NCSL Letters
- B7 Joint Letter Supporting the Reauthorization of the Second Chance Act: This letter urges Congress to reauthorize the Second Chance Act, which provides critical reentry grant programs and enhances services and supports for housing, childcare, career training and treatment for substance use disorders. Read the full letter.
- Coalition Letter Supporting the Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act: This letter urges Congress to pass the Disaster Management Cost Modernization Act, which would enable states to consolidate management functions and utilize management costs across all open disasters. Read the full letter.
Administration Updates
CFPB Reports on Federal and State Privacy Protections for Consumer Financial Data
The report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reviews how state consumer data privacy laws often do not provide privacy protections for financial information such as the data collected by banks and other financial institutions that make money from using consumer data. It also discusses how states can provide consumers with additional privacy protections for their financial data.
New HHS Funding Aims to Reduce Home Energy Costs
The Administration for Children and Families announced plans to distribute $3.7 billion to reduce energy costs for low-income families, allowing them to maintain healthy home temperatures throughout the year. The funding from the Low Income Energy Assistance Program is distributed to states, tribes and territories through the ACF’s Office of Community Services. A list of grants to states and territories is available here and here to tribes and tribal organizations.
HUD Announces $72M for Youth Homelessness
The funding, which aims to support housing projects for homeless youth in 14 communities, includes rehousing, permanent supportive housing, transitional housing and host homes, and will be distributed through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program. Funding will be distributed to communities in California, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Nevada, South Carolina and Washington. Additional information can be found here, including a list of specific grants.
Department Ends Electronic Processing Fees for School Meals
The new Department of Agriculture policy prohibits schools from charging electronic processing fees for students eligible for free and reduced-price meals through the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program. The policy will mostly impact students eligible for reduced-price meals, whose families may be charged processing fees for depositing money into students’ meal accounts. The policy will go into effect beginning with the 2027-2028 school year. Read more