Transcript Highlights:

• at school one day, and how you handled that situation made a lasting impression on someone on your campus
• You've probably seen him around campus all week. Representative Wade Andrews from Camden.
• Not sure how he got through security. Senator Matt McKee is here. He serves in the Arkansas Senate.
• So when you're laying your head down on the pillow at night and you're safe and secure in your home and
• communities, you can credit a whole lot of that to the work that Senator Cotton has done on national security

Summary: The Arkansas Boys State House convened with a quorum, heard opening remarks from legislative leaders and guests, and then considered a series of bills focused on rural services, education, taxes, and zoning. House Bill 1001 would have increased rural health care funding through a 10% tax on individuals earning at least $300,000; supporters argued it would improve access and quality in rural areas, while opponents raised concerns about fairness, long-term funding, and whether it would drive away doctors and taxpayers. The bill failed by a vote of 24 yeas, 51 nays, and 1 present. House Bill 1002 would have limited the number of subjects rural teachers could be assigned and offered sign-on bonuses to recruit more teachers; supporters said it would reduce burnout and improve specialization, while opponents questioned funding and whether it would worsen inequities. After immediate consideration, it passed narrowly, 38 yeas, 36 nays, and 2 present. The House then debated House Bill 1003, which would regulate AI data centers through county zoning authority and a 10% tax on corporations to fund conservation efforts. Supporters said counties should be able to decide whether data centers fit local needs, while opponents warned about lost jobs, higher costs, and federal-state jurisdiction issues. The bill passed 62 yeas, 7 nays, and 3 present. House Bill 1004 would have reduced motor vehicle registration fees to offset high fuel costs, but critics argued it would reduce highway and road funding and strain the state budget; it failed 20 yeas, 46 nays, and 4 present. The chamber then took up Senate bills. Senate Bill 1 proposed incentives tied to SNAP benefits to encourage healthier food purchases and address food insecurity and obesity; supporters framed it as a way to improve access to healthy food, while opponents objected to taxing junk food and burdening SNAP users. It passed 43 yeas and 27 nays. Senate Bill 2 would require reading tests in middle school and state tutoring for students who fail; supporters said it would address literacy problems early, while opponents wanted clearer provisions for older students and implementation. It passed 67 yeas, 6 nays, and 1 present. Senate Bill 3 would cut individual and corporate income taxes to promote economic growth and ease cost-of-living pressures; supporters cited prior tax cuts and business attraction, while opponents said the benefits would mostly go to wealthy corporations and CEOs. It passed 53 yeas, 15 nays, and 16 present. Senate Bill 4 created a mixed-use zoning grant program funded by a 1% hotel tourism tax to encourage affordable housing and downtown redevelopment; it passed 51 yeas, 7 nays, and 13 present. The session ended with a motion to adjourn, which carried.

Transcript Highlights:

• When the power goes out during a hurricane, I would like to feel secure that people are still capable
• things in government include serving as the acting general counsel at the Department of Homeland Security
• Enchaft Honors College, which is always a great day being on campus.
• Lastly, the budget provides funding to improve campus security for our secondary institutions, specifically

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education convened with a quorum and first took up CS for SB 1694 on technology education. The bill would require technology-integrated postsecondary general education core courses to include digital literacy and competency instruction, including use of artificial intelligence tools, and would encourage high school computer science courses that include AI to teach how AI systems use data, their benefits and limitations, and responsible use in academic and personal settings. The bill sponsor and several supporters emphasized preparing students for an AI-driven workforce while teaching critical evaluation and ethical use; one speaker raised concerns about overreliance on AI and the need to preserve real-world skills. Senator Davis supported the measure and suggested introducing similar instruction earlier, possibly in middle school. The committee voted the bill favorably, with Senator Leak later recorded in the affirmative. The committee then heard a large block of confirmations for higher education boards, including appointees to Tallahassee State College, the University of South Florida, the University of North Florida, Palm Beach State College, the College of the Florida Keys, Hillsborough College, Miami-Dade College, Florida A&M University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, Florida Polytechnic University, and the University of Florida. The appointees generally highlighted backgrounds in education, health care, law, business, technology, and public service, and described priorities such as student success, workforce alignment, affordability, fiscal responsibility, and institutional growth. One nominee to Tallahassee State College was asked about low NCLEX pass rates and said the college had a plan approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. Another nominee discussed Florida Poly’s STEM mission, and several members praised the nominees’ community ties and professional experience. After hearing the appointees, the committee voted to report the block of confirmations favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee. The committee then received a high-level overview of the higher education budget, totaling $11.9 billion, with major emphasis on workforce training and development. Highlights included increases for school district workforce education, the Florida College System, workforce development capitalization, a rural educator recruitment program, funding for the USF Center for Nursing, preeminent research universities, UCF’s community school grant program, UF’s literacy and math initiatives, UF’s autism and neurodevelopment center, and a postsecondary guardian program for campus security. Members asked a brief question about a workforce fund transfer, and the chair explained it was a transfer of an existing program with new funds added. No public comment was offered, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• constituting an ORT offense, or 4, they knowingly act in concert with one or more people to overwhelm the security
• presumption that the actor has the intent to commit ORT if they altered or removed a label, price tag, or security
• Um, additionally, other aspects of the bill looks at, um, was the security tag removed?
• study done in Texas. 55% of victims were first approached, targeted, and groomed from their school campus
• should be in school, but my traffickers felt safer coming to pick me up during school hours on school campus

Transcript Highlights:

• If you could update us on the federal, the nuclear innovation campus, into the state kind of on a cold
• So a number of the states have applied for the Nuclear Innovation Campus RFI, or NLIC, as we call it.
• the agency's regulations for the protection of public health and safety, the common defense and security
• I am the Director of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management at the Department of
• It's kind of a big campus, yeah. I understand.

Summary: The committee met to review advanced nuclear energy issues in North Dakota, beginning with approval of the April 21, 2022 minutes. Nucleon presented an overview of the advanced reactor landscape, distinguishing light-water SMRs, advanced Gen 4 reactors, and microreactors. The presentation emphasized that light-water SMRs are the most near-term deployable and use familiar low-enriched uranium fuel, while many Gen 4 designs may require high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALU), which is not yet supported by a mature U.S. supply chain. Nucleon also noted that advanced reactors are being developed primarily for industrial heat applications, while microreactors are niche, higher-cost systems for remote or mission-critical uses. Committee members asked about fuel availability, safety, recycling, and whether large reactors such as AP-1000s were evaluated; the presenter said fuel development is proceeding in parallel but remains a bottleneck, and that siting and grid capacity often make SMRs more practical than gigawatt-scale plants in North Dakota. Representatives from the National Association of State Energy Officials described how other states are supporting advanced nuclear through task forces, roadmaps, regional coordination, grants, tax incentives, workforce and supply-chain efforts, and pilot programs. They highlighted the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative and said states are focusing on multi-state coordination, demand aggregation, regulatory coordination, waste management, workforce readiness, and community engagement. They also discussed affordability tools such as construction work in progress (CWIP), financing incentives, and consumer protections, citing examples from Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, Illinois, Missouri, Utah, Tennessee, and others. In response to questions, they explained that pilot programs often involve site-readiness and feasibility studies, and that the federal Nuclear Innovation Campus process is moving forward with multiple submissions while broader waste and recycling policy may require congressional action. The Public Service Commission said it would likely have a major role in any North Dakota nuclear project through certificate-of-public-convenience-and-necessity review, siting, and rate regulation, but noted gaps in current law for small reactors, co-located facilities, NRC coordination, and long-term site stewardship. The commissioner said the commission has no authority over a private, self-contained reactor not connected to the grid. The Department of Environmental Quality explained that the state regulates radioactive materials under its agreement-state authority, but NRC retains primacy over fission reactors; DEQ would likely assist with emergency planning and could have a larger role if fusion reactors emerge. The Department of Emergency Services said it would serve as the lead off-site preparedness agency, requiring a dedicated radiological emergency preparedness program, training, drills, public outreach, and likely additional funding and staffing, with industry expected to bear much of the cost. The Department of Water Resources said North Dakota’s water laws and prior-appropriation system are adequate for nuclear siting, that the Missouri River is the best likely source, and that no statutory or budget changes are currently needed from a water perspective. The committee recessed for lunch after these agency presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We were able to work on a bipartisan basis to secure a $1.5 million investment in the partnership between
• <00:01:33.680> doctorate<00:01:34.159> degree security is an applied doctorate degree
• security is an applied doctorate degree at<00:01:34.960> Minnesota<00:01:35.520> State.
• Student parent supports look different at every campus. And at St.
• different at every campus. And at St. different at every campus. And at St.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So not all of our libraries need security guards, but the ones that do need it really do need security
• <00:53:09.520> guards we had to change our security guards we had to change our security guards
• If we don't um security guard service.
• <00:54:26.160> guards, And so having the security guards, And so having the security guards
• We have uh different part of campus.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that, you know, colleges have to forecast for, right, and say we need to have an elections expert on campus
• update, what are those deadlines, and... things like that, so wanting instead for the role of the campus
• This brings better security to our elections.
• This spring's better security to our elections.
• A Social Security number, driver's license, or same-day registration.

Bills: HF2185, HF1849, HF3719, HF3721, HF3845, HF3720

Keywords: flag display, residential property rights, homeowners association, HOA, covenants, restrictive covenant, deed restriction, subdivision regulation, local ordinance, rental agreement, property rights, patriotic display, United States flag, Minnesota flag, POW/MIA flag, military flags, armed forces flag, Blue Star flag, Gold Star flag, common interest community

Transcript Highlights:

• We have the Waiawa Correctional Facility, which is a minimum-security facility.
• We have the Waiawa Correctional Facility, which is a minimum-security facility.
• We previously moved the staff down to the medium-security facility.
• This is a sort of educational campus model.
• This is sort of a hospital campus model.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:31.880> a<00:25:31.920> significant session helping to secure a significant
• session helping to secure a significant portion<00:25:32.960> of<00:25:33.080> our<00:25
• This $5 billion program provided a 5-year window to secure funding that will pay 95% of eligible costs
• This $5 billion program provided a 5-year window to secure funding that will pay 95% of eligible costs
• window to secure funding that will<00:27:10.600> pay<00:27:10.840> 95%<00:27:11.840>

Bills: HF4156, HF3835, HF3995, HF4383, HF4091, HF4084, HF4311, HF198, HF4486, HF4302, HF4309, HF4032, HF3855, HF3673, HF4265, HF4012, HF4339, HF4298, HF3852

Keywords: infrastructure, wastewater, stormwater, Buhl, state bonds, appropriations, economic development, water infrastructure, grants, capital investment, funding, state regulation, Frazee, North River Drive, infrastructure improvements, HF4383, Minnesota capital investment, bonding bill, Department of Natural Resources, DNR

Transcript Highlights:

• Is the last four of your Social Security number ...? Do you live at this address?
• Jones, is the last four of your social security list? Do you live at this address?
• We talk about fraud in our campus branches.
• I am here representing the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.
• I am here representing the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee’s cannabis market study, presented by JLARC staff member Susanna Pratt. The report found Washington’s cannabis production in 2023 was likely two to three times higher than retail sales, with production estimated at 292,000 to 443,000 pounds of THC versus 139,000 pounds sold. Pratt explained that canopy data are inconsistent and that the Liquor and Cannabis Board’s traceability system is incomplete and unreliable, limiting data-driven regulation, tax verification, recall tracking, and diversion enforcement. JLARC recommended that LCB submit a plan by the end of 2025 for obtaining accurate licensee data by the end of 2026; LCB partially concurred and said a 2027 timeline may be more realistic. JLARC also concluded that the social equity producer licenses would likely have only a minimal effect on statewide production capacity, and suggested the legislature consider broader ways to increase equity in the industry. Members asked about the slow issuance of social equity licenses and about comparable traceability systems in other states. The committee then heard a series of presentations on fraud and scam prevention. Paul Benda of the American Bankers Association described the scale of fraud losses, the role of telecom spoofing, social media scam ads, SIM farms, and crypto ATMs, and argued for a shared-responsibility approach involving banks, telecoms, and platforms. Katie Clark of IQ Credit Union described member-to-member fraud, romance scams, and the operational and financial impacts on credit unions, and recommended better information sharing, safe harbors for returning scam-related funds, and stronger fraud education. Kyle Innes of SIFMA highlighted investor fraud and Washington’s 2009 report-and-hold law, which he said helped shape similar protections in most states, and emphasized the need for better communication among financial firms, APS, and law enforcement. Brian Gerard and Ali Higgs from the Department of Financial Institutions discussed “pig butchering” and other investment scams, focusing on how scammers build trust through social media, dating apps, fake websites, and crypto schemes before extracting funds. Across the fraud presentations, witnesses repeatedly stressed consumer education, interagency information sharing, and stronger controls on telecom, social media, and crypto ATM activity. Members asked about model laws from other states, the role of financial education in schools, and whether crypto ATMs should be regulated or banned. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• The EDC works with MassTech Collaborative to secure tech hub designations for food science and quantum
• . where there is convergence between economic development and national security.
• This authorization stands as a beacon of support for the Massachusetts defense and national security
• CFS launched a siting search for our campus in 2019.
• Now, Massachusetts, as we've heard, is a top 10 defense state in securing defense funding.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on Governor Healey’s economic development proposal, H. 5386, also referred to as the Mass Winds Act, focused on global investment, talent, innovation, housing, and business competitiveness. Governor Healey, Secretary of Economic Development Eric Paley, and Secretary of Administration and Finance Matt Gorzkowicz described the bill as a response to federal uncertainty and global competition, building on the 2024 Mass Leads Act. They highlighted proposed investments in a Global Mass initiative, including a $50 million innovation access fund and $20 million for sites to help international companies locate or expand in Massachusetts, along with support for AI, quantum, robotics, defense innovation, climate tech, downtown revitalization, and creative/cultural economy projects. They also emphasized measures to lower business costs, including reducing the LLC filing fee, expanding the small business energy tax exemption, and streamlining housing and development rules. Committee members questioned the administration about non-compete reform, AI and data-center infrastructure, housing affordability, and whether the bill would help retain workers and companies in Massachusetts. The governor and secretaries argued that the non-compete changes would restore the original compromise by requiring any alternative to garden leave to be negotiated at separation, and they said the bill’s housing and workforce provisions are intended to help young workers stay in the state. They also said Massachusetts is already investing in AI training, an AI hub, and energy-related planning, while acknowledging that data-center growth will require careful attention to water, electricity, and ratepayer impacts. Several witnesses testified on specific sections. Northeastern University supported the internship tax credit, saying experiential learning helps students gain jobs and remain in Massachusetts. The Latino Empowerment Advisory Council supported the waiver of redundant English testing for internationally trained nurses, saying it would speed entry into the workforce without lowering clinical standards. Russell Beck opposed the non-compete changes, arguing they would undermine the 2018 compromise and could reduce other forms of employee compensation. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office opposed the LLC fee reduction, citing revenue loss and fraud concerns. Municipal and regional groups, including the MMA and the Metro Mayors Coalition, supported site plan review codification and downtown/arts investments, while urging continued municipal input. The AFL-CIO asked for trigger language to preserve labor protections if federal law changes, and business and industry witnesses generally supported the bill’s competitiveness and global investment provisions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, with written testimony invited after the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they don't have skilled nursing on campus, what relationships they have to move a person to that level
• when we conceived of CCRCs, included some type of relatively small skilled nursing facility on the campus
• because with the fluctuation that happens naturally in the financial markets and things like that and securing
• It's like a college campus. It's like, you know, that's what it's like.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Continuing Care Retirement Communities met for its third meeting, focused on regulations, oversight, and enforcement. Staff and agency presenters reviewed the current framework: the Executive Office of Aging and Independence explained that assisted living regulations generally do not apply to CCRCs unless an assisted living component markets itself separately, and that CCRCs must submit marketing materials, contracts, and disclosure statements for public posting. The Attorney General’s office described Chapter 93A consumer protection standards and noted it is working on draft assisted living-specific regulations. DPH outlined its oversight of licensed nursing facilities associated with some CCRCs, including routine surveys, complaint investigations, and enforcement tools such as admissions freezes, fines, receivership, and license actions, along with federal CMS sanctions for certified facilities. Commission members and presenters then discussed gaps and ambiguities in how CCRCs are defined and regulated, especially whether communities without on-site skilled nursing should still be treated as CCRCs, how assisted living-like services within CCRCs are classified, and whether residents have enough clarity about the services they are buying. A major theme was disclosure: members raised concerns about entrance fees, refund timing and conditions, whether skilled nursing is on-site or provided by contract, and how residents can compare communities. Several participants suggested more standardized disclosure and possibly broader consumer protection rules, while others cautioned that overly rigid requirements could affect community finances and development. The commission also explored enforcement and resident protections. Some members argued that independent living residents are already covered by landlord-tenant law and that existing complaint systems and community education may be sufficient, while others said residents in supported or assisted settings within CCRCs should have clearer access to ombudsman services and oversight. The discussion turned to closure and ownership transfer, with members citing recent national examples of sales and bankruptcies that changed resident terms. DPH explained its closure process for licensed nursing facilities, and members noted that Chapter 197 of 2024 adds oversight for facility transfers and financial disclosures. The meeting ended with logistics for the next session at Brookhaven at Lexington on June 2, a public hearing on June 16, and a request to circulate the hearing notice broadly to residents and stakeholder organizations.

Transcript Highlights:

• the slide here, of course, we have Washington State University with all of our campuses, our global campus
• Washington State University with all of our campuses, our global campus, and extension centers or research
• Most notably, the largest would be the housing and dining activities at our Pullman residential campus
• was going toward a pilot that we conducted at a few institutions to see what would happen for food security

Summary: The Joint Higher Education Committee met for a work session on higher education accounting practices and financial transparency. OFM Deputy Director Sarah Rupp explained how state accounting rules and higher education reporting differ, including what data is captured in AFRS today and what will move into Workday, with universities generally reporting summary-level fund data, mandatory codes, and most balance sheet and income statement activity, but not transaction-level detail or vendor payment information. Representatives from the University of Washington and Washington State University described the complexity of their own accounting systems, the many entities and business lines they must track for audits and compliance, and the need to reconcile university-level accrual accounting with state reporting requirements. The committee also heard from the Education Research and Data Center on the public four-year finance dashboard created under Senate Bill 5512; ERDC said the dashboard is based on publicly available data, is best used to examine institutions individually rather than compare them directly, and will be updated with additional metrics in 2025 and 2026. The committee then received a presentation from the Washington Student Achievement Council on the Workforce Education Investment Account (WIA). Joel Anderson reviewed WIA’s creation under House Bill 2158, its revenue sources, and its intended uses for higher education, financial aid, and workforce development. He said recent legislation significantly increased WIA revenues and that, in the 2025–27 budget, the account is being used in new ways, including to replace general fund support for University of Washington operations and to fund a larger share of the Washington College Grant and some faculty compensation costs. Anderson said roughly 98% of current WIA appropriations go to higher education, but the share used to supplant other higher education funding has grown, and he estimated about 60% to 70% of current spending still aligns with the account’s original intent. He also described a new effort to track WIA appropriations across biennia in more detail and noted the WIA Oversight Board’s role in recommending uses of the account and monitoring outcomes. No votes were taken; the committee ended by moving into executive session for staffing issues and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• individuals to have their own signature, their own personality and therefore enhance if you will security
• fabulous in the Fayette County, actually, where they're only a secondary and elementary school share a campus
• So those are trained intervention, teachers on the elementary school campus and they tutor elementary
• that I'm whatever, you know, horsing around in the hallway or that they've sent me from one of the campus

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair and Joy, maybe you can explain why they don't have security. Yeah, Mr.
• at their facility on the UNM campus?
• We know their CARES campus plays a crucial role.
• And I'll just wrap up with one piece, and that's the CARES campus.
• Oftentimes, it's non-profit developers who secure that.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is to help individuals who come to the campus to either visit the historic site or participate as
• This is to help individuals who come to the campus to either visit the historic site or participate as
• This is to help individuals who come to the campus to either visit the historic site or participate as
• This is to help individuals who come to the campus to either visit the historic site or participate as
• > to individuals who come to the campus to individuals who come to the campus to either<01:09:

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our primary campus is here in Rochester. That's the creation of the medical school.
• first two years, the didactic portion of their training, actually happens on Rochester or Arizona's campus
• is here in Rochester that's the campus is here in Rochester that's the uh<00:03:44.720> creation<
• happens on Rochester or Arizona's campus happens on Rochester or Arizona's campus and<00:04:05.720
• through mail clinic and Social Security through mail clinic and Social Security payments<00:16:23.600

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• About one-fourth of employees of state and local government do not participate in Social Security; they
• Remember as well that these employees are contributing 6.2% toward their Social Security. contributing
• 6.2% toward their Social Security.
• They don't get a Social Security benefit unless they return to work after.
• So, from a more macro level, for example, quantum is incredibly important for national security.

Transcript Highlights:

• When we invest in the University of Wyoming, we're not funding a campus.
• When we invest in the University of Wyoming, we're not funding a campus.
• When we invest in the University of Wyoming, we're not funding a campus.
• When we invest in the University of Wyoming, we're not funding a campus.
• that are being employed to walk around that campus.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 36 by Parker relating to the Homeland Security activities of certain entities to Border Security
• Senate Bill 1897 by Senate Bill 1897 by Hughes relating to advanced communications infrastructure security
• 38 by Creighton recognizing the strategic importance of the Gulf of America to the economic and security
• Creighton urging the federal government to take immediate action in addressing issues related to security
• at the border to Border Security.