Transcript Highlights:

• network engineers on that one. network engineers on that one.
• Navy Civil Engineer Corps.
• I have an Civil Engineer Corps.
• So, I was an engineer in ’99.
• bring them together with the engineers bring them together with the engineers and<00:44:51.200><

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Discussion of the KentuckyWired Network 00:00:55 Discussion of the Water Resource Information System 00:35.40 Discussion of Geographic Information Systems 00:52:30 Discussion of Committee Report to LRC 01:15:05, 958, all

Summary: The Information Technology Oversight Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard a presentation from Leadcore representatives Jimmy Bird, Mike Murray, and Rebecca Moss on the Kentucky Wired network. Leadcore described its role as the design-builder and service provider under the KCNA contract, saying the network was built with roughly 13,200 feet of fiber, mostly aerial, and that the use of non-armored cable was a Kentucky-side decision made to reduce cost. They also said aerial construction and non-armored cable increase maintenance challenges, including storm damage and squirrel-related damage, and reported FY25 service activity of 104 break-fix events, 30 maintenance replacements, 64 storm-damage events, and nearly 13,000 feet of fiber replaced to date. Committee members questioned whether the original project anticipated this level of replacement and whether any forecast existed for maintenance under non-armored cable. Leadcore said it did not do a formal forecast and could not say whether the replacement rate was above or below norms, though it acknowledged the decision not to use armored cable came from the Kentucky side of the contract. Members also asked about whether replacements caused network degradation; Leadcore said it tries to replace cable at existing splice points to avoid degradation and, where needed, uses armored cable for replacement sections going forward. The committee then explored Leadcore’s relationship with Excel and KCNA. Leadcore said it has a service-level agreement for KCNA-related fibers but not for dark fibers used by Excel, and that Kentucky Wired fibers get priority on service requests. It said outages are reported through a 1-800 number and that it was not aware of any access problems to the huts. On the tech refresh, Leadcore said its understanding is that maintaining the network is its responsibility, but the technology refresh is not; it said only a very limited amount of refresh has occurred and that this did not match the original contract intent. Leadcore also said it had not been asked to defer maintenance. The chair closed by saying the testimony would inform a committee report and that he intended to recommend clawing back or withholding some previously authorized Kentucky Wired and refresh funding until an audit is complete, with the committee to vote on a report later.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm blaming the engineers in the back of the room, Karska. I always beat on engineers.
• I'm blaming the engineers in the back of the room, Karska.
• I'm blaming the engineers in the back of the room, Karska. I always beat on engineers.
• The engineering that we use for flood management today came out of the Hydrologic Engineering Center,
• ' Engineering with Nature program... ...through strong partnership with the Army Corps of Engineers'

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on flood risk and flood management in California, with opening remarks emphasizing that flooding is a statewide and growing threat due to climate change, including the possibility of extreme losses in a worst-case event. Members noted recent flooding in places such as San Diego, the Tulare Basin, and Pajaro, and framed the hearing as a way to better understand prevention, response, and how to capture excess water for later use. Jeffrey Mount of PPIC gave the main overview, describing California’s high flood exposure, the different flood types the state faces, and the mix of structural and non-structural tools used to manage them. He stressed that levees, dams, bypasses, land-use planning, flood insurance, and emergency response all matter, but that risk is rising because current standards are based on past hydrology rather than future climate conditions. He also warned that flood management is underfunded, that the National Flood Insurance Program is weak, and that federal support is increasingly uncertain. Members asked about groundwater recharge, permitting, NOAA and federal cuts, and which communities are most at risk; Mount said recharge can help but does not eliminate flood risk, and that small Central Valley communities and heavily developed floodplains are especially concerning. State officials Laura Hollander of the Department of Water Resources and Jane Dolan of the Central Valley Flood Protection Board described the state’s role in forecasting, emergency response, grants, planning, and the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. They highlighted aging infrastructure, the need for better coordination, and the state’s special liability in the Central Valley after the Paterno decision. Dolan reviewed the history of major floods and said the plan calls for about $1 billion per year over 30 years to meet current needs, while Hollander said the state works with local and federal partners on preparedness, response, and subventions projects. Both emphasized that floodplain planning, regional coordination, and faster permitting are important, but that more consistent funding is needed. A later panel from local flood agencies and districts reinforced those points, arguing that the state’s annual flood funding is below identified needs and that a proposed statewide flood and dam safety bond was reduced substantially in the broader climate bond package. Witnesses urged more routine maintenance funding, support for regional flood planning, and continued federal-state-local partnerships to reduce risk and maintain eligibility for federal assistance. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken during the informational hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• engineering fair in Columbus, Ohio. engineering fair in Columbus, Ohio.
• them tremendous success, especially the ones who are moving on to the international science and engineering
• And over Chundra's prestigious 30-year career, he rose from software engineer to leading cloud architect
• This is the same administration that accidentally fired nuclear scientists and engineers who maintain
• who maintain our nuclear and engineers who maintain our nuclear stockpile.<03:17:11.200> This

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As engineers, we're good at doing our work and solving our own problems, and to this end City Engineers
• As engineers, we're good at doing our work and solving our own problems, and to this end City Engineers
• As engineers, we're good at doing our work and solving our own problems, and to this end City Engineers
• As engineers, we're good at doing our work and solving our own problems, and to this end City Engineers
• As engineers, we're good at doing our work and solving our own problems, and to this end City Engineers

Bills: HF192, HF268, HF1214, HF494

Keywords: Minnesota income tax, dependent exemption, personal income tax, tax relief, family tax relief, children, dependents, tax deduction, tax exemption, state revenue, inflation indexing, tax year 2025, taxable income, household tax policy, family tax credit, HF268, Joshua Schmidt Memorial Highway, memorial highway, highway naming, road designation

Transcript Highlights:

• the state engineer. the state engineer.
• I'm Jack my deputy state engineer. engineer. engineer. >> Uh,<00:54:57.680> Mr.
• questions for the state engineers questions for the state engineers office?
• . engineer.
• We agree with the State Engineer.

Bills: SF0050, SF0068, SF0084, HB0087, HB0029, HB0061, HB0090

Keywords: groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls, monitoring wells, public reporting, irrigation, water management, funding, maintenance projects, tax assessments, state law, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, water development

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Alabama in 2003 in chemical engineering. Alabama in 2003 in chemical engineering.
• > endowment engineering scholarship uh endowment engineering scholarship uh endowment there.<00
• <00:11:04.560> to chemical engineering scholarships to chemical engineering scholarships to
• vice president for Hard Grove Engineers vice president for Hard Grove Engineers and<00:11:15.200
• <00:11:18.959> from little bit over 400 uh, engineers from little bit over 400 uh, engineers

Keywords: 923, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Army Corps of Engineers. Page 7.
• We have special counsel on Army Corps of Engineers contracts. engineers who are working on the design
• Of course, Tom Ramsey was already in full swing being an engineer himself.
• It's to complete the engineering design of a certain segment.
• And I don't consider an engineer a consultant. That's a little different.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think I need to check with the county engineers and city engineers, probably more likely county or
• <00:34:58.079> and<00:34:58.440> City<00:34:58.720> Engineers county engine
• and City Engineers county engine and City Engineers associate<00:34:59.920> probably<00:35:00.400
• c> and County Engineers our city engineers and County Engineers our city engineers and those<01:23
• <01:35:38.320> Mr mcferson and NOA County engineer Mr mcferson and NOA County engineer Mr

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Civil engineering has drawn up... A planning period.
• The engineering is done. The archaeological surveys are done.
• our water engineers.
• I'm Jim McClish with Horner-Schiffrin Engineers.
• We did extensive pilot work that engineers normally do to prove theory.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the city engineer for the city of Winona.
• engineering. They have to hire somebody. engineering. They have to hire somebody.
• He is here our water district engineer.
• I am an engineer engineer engineer that<01:21:19.320> specializes<01:21:20.120> in<01:21
• Slick: appoint the engineer and oversee the process.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , the board of professional engineers, the board of professional engineers, architects,<00:08:53.680
• , board of professional engineers, board of professional engineers, architects,<00:11:25.760>
• , the Board of Professional Engineers, the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects,<00:47:10.720
• /c> professional engineers, architects, professional engineers, architects, surveyors,<00:47:19.920><
• ,<00:47:40.720> Architects, Professional Engineers, Architects, Professional Engineers, Architects

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held a confirmation hearing on a long list of nominees to state boards and commissions. Early nominees included David Padilla to the State Boxing Commission, Steven Pine to the Board of Dentistry, Deborah McMmen to the Board of Acupuncture, Tiffany Lyn Hmel and Gabriel Aay to the Board of Veterinary Medicine, Nathan Eslin to the Cable Advisory Committee, John Takitani and Tony Lao to the Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects, John Arbles to the State Board of Public Accountancy, and later nominees to the Board of Psychology, Board of Pharmacy, Hawaii Medical Board, Board of Speech Pathology and Audiology, Board of Chiropractic, Board of Physical Therapy, Board of Private Detectives and Guards, and the Real Estate Commission. Most nominations were for terms expiring in 2027, 2028, or 2029, with one Real Estate Commission term expiring in 2026. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support. DCCA and the relevant boards or commissions generally stood on written testimony supporting each nominee, and many individual supporters also testified, including professional associations, industry representatives, and community members. Several nominees briefly addressed the committee, expressing appreciation and interest in continuing or beginning service. The committee asked a few questions on some nominations, especially about the Real Estate Commission and the Board of Private Detectives and Guards, where members discussed condominium-related complaints, association practices, and whether the board could do more to assist security personnel; the nominee said staffing and authority limits constrained additional training or oversight. For the Real Estate Commission, members also asked about broader housing and market conditions, and the nominee said inventory shortages and housing supply issues remained a major concern. No opposition testimony or contentious votes were described in the transcript. The chair repeatedly asked whether there were questions or additional testimony, and after each nominee the committee generally moved on without objection. The hearing was focused on receiving testimony and evaluating the nominees for later confirmation rather than taking final action during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have one engineer in those positions.
• And so for that person, the one engineer that we do have is a mechanical engineer.
• And we actually got lucky with the gentleman that we do have as an engineer.
• What are you doing about the civil engineer and the—what's the other one you needed? Electrical.
• I mean, it's significantly too low for a qualified licensed engineer.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met for two workshops. The first focused on vacant positions in the Division of Early Learning and the Department of Education. Committee members reviewed vacancy reports, including long-vacant positions and positions that had received discretionary pay adjustments. Division and department officials said many vacancies were being filled, advertised, or under review, but acknowledged persistent recruitment and retention problems, especially for engineering, legal, finance, IT, and other specialized roles. Members questioned whether some long-vacant positions were still necessary, whether overtime and workload were being affected, and whether outside contracting, cross-training, combining positions, or eliminating some vacancies could help. Officials said they were considering those options and noted that hiring has become slower and more difficult since the pandemic, with lower applicant volume and more competition from other agencies and private employers. The second workshop addressed draft legislation related to school choice scholarships and the FEFP. The chair said the committee’s prior hearings raised concerns about student identification numbers, cross-checking between districts and scholarship organizations, duplicated FTE reporting, delayed district payments, scholarship payment timing, and inconsistent data sources. She said the proposed language is intended to standardize scholarship processing and improve accuracy and efficiency while preserving the long-standing FEFP principle that funds follow the student. She also said funding scholarship students below the line would not solve the identified problems and could create disparities. The draft would align processing for the Family Empowerment Scholarship and Florida Tax Credit Scholarship programs and would reduce add-on weights by 50% while keeping the current policy structure. No votes were taken. The chair invited further comments and said the draft budget and legislation would continue to be refined before rollout. The meeting adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• , engineering, nursing, whatever.
• Oh, let me go look under engineering. Oh, only 10 guys would go here, then they can do that.
• , engineering, nursing, whatever.
• Oh, let me go look under engineering. Oh, only 10 guys would go here, then they can do that.
• > engineering<00:29:24.159> nursing department it is engineering nursing department it

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education met on March 11 and began with House Bill 442, which would appropriate funds to the University of Hawaiʻi system for nursing programs. University of Hawaiʻi representatives testified in strong support, and several additional supporters submitted testimony. Members asked about a similar Senate measure, and the witness confirmed the university supported that bill as well. No opposition or vote was recorded on HB 442 during the excerpt. The committee then heard House Bill 1169, a housekeeping measure concerning the University of Hawaiʻi Conference Center revolving fund. Testimony explained that the bill would consolidate existing Conference Center statutes into one centralized fund statute and allow campuses to use the fund more broadly. Members raised no questions, and no vote was taken in the excerpt. House Bill 185, which would establish a plant-based building materials working group, drew the most discussion. The Department of Agriculture said it supported the intent but wanted baseline research before a larger working group was formed. Supporters argued the measure could help develop a homegrown industry using bamboo, hemp, and other plant materials, create green jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Several members questioned whether a formal working group was necessary and whether the work could be done without new legislation. The University of Hawaiʻi later estimated the bill’s requested work would cost about $150,000 over two years to analyze crop options and report findings. The final measure discussed in the excerpt was House Bill 1320, which requires the University of Hawaiʻi to collect, analyze, and publicly report graduate outcome data and develop a Graduate Outcomes Dashboard. University officials said they already use some data sources but lack a dedicated data-visualization specialist and need additional capacity to consolidate and present the information. Members questioned the need for new positions and funding, arguing the university should use existing resources and that students already have many ways to explore careers. Supporters responded that the dashboard would help students and the state better understand postgraduate outcomes, workforce needs, and program value. No final action or vote was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• We used $36,333 of that to do an engineering study to determine the condition of the building.
• , we're asking to use that to correct some of the deficiencies that were discovered during that engineering
• We used $36,333 of that to do an engineering study to determine the condition of the building.
• $36,333 of that to do an engineering $36,333 of that to do an engineering study<00:11:55.519>
• were discovered during that engineering were discovered during that engineering study<00:12:19.040>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Capital Project Overview Committee approved the February 24 minutes and then voted to confirm Senator Mark Maki as vice chair. The committee next took up DAS request CAP 25004, which sought permission to use the remaining $713,667 from a $7 million appropriation for the purchase of 25 Hall Street to address deficiencies identified in an engineering study. DAS explained the building was bought for $6.25 million after the study revealed issues, and the funds would be used first for the most urgent repairs, especially the roof. In response to questions, DAS said the roof estimate was about $560,000, with other estimated needs including a skylight at $288,000, plumbing at $59,000, HVAC at $325,000, and electrical work at $547,000; the committee approved the request. The committee then considered CAP 25005, another DAS request to transfer $221,632 from five completed capital projects to the Hillsborough County South cell block renovation project. DAS said the project had been identified years earlier, had only recently entered design, and now appeared likely to cost more than the original appropriation because of inflation and delay. Senator Lang asked whether the transfer would be enough, and DAS responded that there was no final estimate yet but they hoped to engineer the project to fit the available funds. The committee approved the transfer. Later, the committee welcomed Senator Maki, who accepted the vice chair position. Under other business, members discussed a prior proposal in HB 2 that would have changed reporting from quarterly to annual; the committee was told the amendment had been made so that change would not go forward, and that the relevant section remained in HB 25 because it corrects capital budget language in multiple places. The committee set its next meeting for June 30 at 9:00 a.m. and requested that the Liquor Commission attend to discuss the 90/95 sale of property. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:42:09.520> take So um we'll have a state engineer take So um we'll have a state engineer
• I am the Wyoming<00:42:35.760> State<00:42:36.000> Engineer. Wyoming State Engineer.
• by the state engineer. Is that correct? by the state engineer. Is that correct?
• And to me there's a big difference. state engineer to have. state engineer to have.
• the openness that the state engineers the openness that the state engineers office,<01:39:14.800

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we hire professional engineers to take care of that part of it.
• So, we hire professional engineers to take care of that part of it.
• So, we hire professional engineers to take care of that part of it.
• So uh there's a lot of architectural engineering firms that don't touch that work.
• So uh there's a lot of architectural engineering firms that don't touch that work.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved contracts 98, 99, and 100 on a roll call vote, with Chairman Douglas voting no but the items still passing. It then took up a Kentucky Department of Tourism contract involving the United Kingdom, France, and Germany/Austria/Switzerland markets. Tourism officials said the state has had similar contracts since 2013, that international visitors spend about six times more per day than domestic travelers, and that the effort supports marketing, public relations, and familiarization trips. The committee approved that contract as well, with Chairman Douglas voting yes after expressing support for tourism promotion. Next, the committee reviewed two Finance Cabinet facilities and support services items involving engineering and architectural services for a specialized lab expansion project. Members discussed why the design work was expensive, and the cabinet explained that the project’s pathogen-related complexity required specialized firms. Chairman Douglas said he believed some architectural and engineering reimbursement rates were too high and should be reexamined, but the committee still approved the items by roll call. The committee then heard from the Attorney General’s office and the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission on an MOA related to substance use disorder funding. Senator Meredith asked how the commission’s work coordinated with behavioral health programs, and staff explained that the commission allocates funds based on applications and includes relevant state officials. The contract was approved. After that, the committee considered behavioral health items: one new 988 chat-and-text contract to expand Kentucky-based crisis response coverage, and a Voices of Hope amendment that doubled funding to continue services into the next fiscal year. Officials said the 988 contract would move more chats and texts in-state, and that the Voices of Hope increase reflected continuation of SAMHSA-funded services; both were approved. Finally, the committee reviewed DCBS contracts, including a food insecurity survey contract with a Kentucky nonprofit and a Building Bridges Initiative training contract. Members questioned whether the food survey group’s advocacy role created a conflict, but DCBS said the organization was chosen for its statewide network and that the cabinet would receive the raw data. For Building Bridges, DCBS said the program began in the fall and provides training and peer mentorship for residential child care providers, with results still too early to assess. Both items were approved. The last set of contracts, under the State Treasurer for the Kentucky Council on Developmental Disabilities, prompted questions about why the funding flowed through the treasurer’s office and about a sexuality-related capacity-building initiative. Staff explained the treasurer serves as the designated state agency for federal DD Act funds, and that the sexuality initiative is part of a broader five-year plan focused on self-advocacy, system change, and capacity building; the committee then moved to approve those contracts as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mary is requesting an additional $330,058 to cover a shortage in construction and engineering fees for
• In addition, their request ...and engineering fees for all three phases of their grant.
• I'm here for LDH engineering services. Oh, okay. Well, that's right, Steven, that's right.
• It's my understanding from the engineers that have been looking at this and trying to advise the city
• And do we know how far out the engineers are from having it ready?

Summary: The committee met with a quorum, approved the April 16 minutes, and then took up several water-system funding and deadline matters. For Magnolia Plantation Water System, Division of Administration staff requested a long extension to complete plans, specifications, cost estimates, and matching-fund documentation for a wastewater treatment plant. After questions about the loan from LDH, the test well, and the approaching ARPA/state-fund spending deadline, members approved a shorter extension requiring plans and specifications by the end of the year, with the permit deadline remaining April 8, 2027. Members then considered St. Mary Parish Water and Sewer Commission No. 5’s request for an additional $619,850 to cover construction and engineering shortfalls and contingencies after a prior scope reduction. Staff explained the increase was tied to change orders and that the project was not expected to miss spending deadlines. The committee approved the additional funding. The committee also adopted revised phase two guidance to align emergency subfund rules with recently passed legislation, clarifying who may apply and the process for limited fiscal administrators and receiverships. Finally, members approved a $1.4 million emergency subfund request for the Tallulah water system to keep a temporary filtration skid in place while a limited fiscal administrator is appointed and a long-term fix is developed. The approval was made contingent on the appointment of the limited fiscal administrator, and staff said they would provide updated expenditure information and projections at the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've met with lots of county engineers, city engineers, and MnDOT.
• <00:53:52.480> Association Minnesota County Engineers Association Minnesota County Engineers
• engineering director. engineering director.
• Engineer City uh, city engineers. Engineer City uh, city engineers.
• have three of our county engineers have three of our county engineers participate<01:09:05.440><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, Stantec is an engineering firm that helps the city of Rockford with engineering services and specifically
• He will Stantec, our city engineer.
• > engineering<00:04:58.280> services<00:04:59.400> and Rockford with engineering
• engineer in the room will correct me. engineer in the room will correct me.
• did the engineer want to add anything? did the engineer want to add anything? No?

Bills: HF4710, HF4055, HF3848, HF3989, HF4599, HF3767, HF3592, HF3575, HF3574, HF3543, HF4606, HF4489, HF3891, HF3438, HF3811, HF3400

Keywords: capital investment, water infrastructure, sewer systems, public funding, municipal development, Eveleth, wastewater treatment, state bonds, environmental compliance, infrastructure, bonds, economic development, local government, transportation, intersection improvements, Lake Elmo, HF4599, St. Joseph, Minnesota bonding bill, bond proceeds fund

Transcript Highlights:

• We're still waiting on final numbers from our engineer.
• At that point, engineering cost share wasn't eligible.
• Engineering, working with the Stutsman County Commission.
• Preliminary engineering report funding: we will refine that.
• Preliminary engineering report funding, we will refine that.

Keywords: 908, all