Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm just going to show that registering for the bill is Katrina Miller, Vision Zero, Texas.
• But was the vision. It seems to be working real well.
• across states. and mirrors laws that have already passed in Arizona, Florida, Alabama, Nevada, Utah, Iowa
• , the great state of Iowa, and Kansas.

Bills: SB1493 , SB1598 , SB1895 , SB1919 , SB2039 , SB2226 , SB2243 , SB2425

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: SB 1493, Texas Transportation Code, motor vehicle lighting, vehicle lighting standards, high-mounted stoplamp, center high mount stop lamp, CHMSL, brake light, stop lamp, federal motor vehicle safety standards, 49 C.F.R. 571.108, FMVSS 108, vehicle inspection, automotive compliance, Transportation Committee, Texas vehicle equipment, motor vehicle collision report, crash report, accident report, traffic accident

Summary: The committee meeting focused on two primary bills, SB1598 and SB1493. SB1598, introduced by Senator Hagen Booth, addresses the clarity of collision report information access for law enforcement, aiming to enhance the tools available to police agencies across Texas for solving crimes. The meeting featured strong support from police representatives, including Sheriff Brian Hawthorne of Chambers County, who emphasized the significance of the CARFAX program for police in facilitating access to vital vehicle information, free of charge. Public testimony reflected a consensus on the necessity of the bill for improved investigatory processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, we as a department work with Decision Innovation Solutions out of Iowa to complete the study.
• this study, I was, the partners that worked with you, can't thank you enough for the team down in Iowa
• is being promoted, one of the things that's really coming deeply and strongly from our partners at Iowa
• The thing is, is that, and I was talking last night, was how to get a longer-term vision of, you know
• So part of that, I think, what we do in the engine, since we can have that longer-term vision, we have

Committee: Joint Agriculture and Water Management Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I learned about this in Iowa.
• They're able to show that if you look out five years or 10 years, a lot of those people in Iowa come
• </c><00:15:05.000><c> they're</c> I learned about this in Iowa they're I learned about this in Iowa they're
• come back home once they're ready Iowa come back home once they're ready to<00:15:11.880><c> settle<
• North Dakota and South Dakota so Iowa North Dakota and South Dakota so you<00:18:12.919><c> want</c>

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, we as a department work with Decision Innovation Solutions out of Iowa to complete the study.
• this study, I was, the partners that worked with you, can't thank you enough for the team down in Iowa
• The thing is, is that, and I was talking last night, was how to get a longer-term vision of, you know
• , we have these visions around areas like water, maybe animal tech, different things like that, where
• , we have these visions around areas like water, maybe animal tech, different things like that, where

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and opening remarks from NDSU President David Stewart, who emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission of statewide service through teaching, research, and extension. He highlighted the university’s role in agriculture, water, soil health, and community outreach, and pointed to examples of research commercialization such as Lilac Agriculture’s work on nitrogen-fixing microbes for crops. He also said he is still early in his tenure and intends to spend time listening and learning across the state. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study estimated that North Dakota could develop about 1.3 million additional irrigated acres, with major potential in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau. Testimony stressed the economic benefits of irrigation for crop yields, value-added processing, dairy, and potato production, while members also discussed water availability, aquifers, downstream water use, and the need for more flexible permitting. The drainage portion of the study found significant economic benefits from legal drains, and staff explained that the impacts were calculated through increased productivity and related input purchases. Greg Lardy then gave NDSU’s required agriculture update, saying agriculture accounts for more than $41 billion in annual economic activity, one in five jobs, and about 25 percent of state GDP. He reviewed the role of SBAR, the statewide research-extension network, new crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI and weather-network tools, and Extension’s county partnerships and youth programs. He also outlined NDSU’s priorities for the next session: restoring proposed budget cuts, increasing operating support, and addressing deferred maintenance. Members asked about storage shed construction, NDSU’s relationship with Grand Farm, and whether NDSU could help with water-related research tied to drainage and aquifers. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor on water and data centers, who described graduate fellowships, a water workforce certificate program, and research on data center cooling, water use, and “Legendary Harvest” concepts that would reuse waste heat for greenhouse or aquaculture production. Questions focused on whether the cooling systems were closed-loop, who would own any related production facilities, and whether the project was still only a feasibility study. Finally, North Dakota AgTech described its NSF-funded “engine” project, saying it has brought millions in federal investment to the state, supported startups and on-farm trials, and is focused on commercialization, workforce development, and helping producers lower input costs and improve profitability.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lohmeier, we'll start and talk about an issue that is extremely important to me and to all of Iowa, and
• that is about our Air National Guard refueling wing located in Sioux City, Iowa.
• Air Force said it would upgrade the airfield at the Iowa National Guard facility.
• I am asking that a commitment. be honored for our Iowa Air National Guard and the community that supports
• It requires a strategic vision and, really importantly, managerial experience.

Committee: Senate Subcommittee on Personnel

Keywords: Department of Defense, nominations, Matthew Lohmeyer, Justin Overbaugh, global security, military readiness, NATO, Russia, China, defense infrastructure

Summary: The meeting was primarily focused on discussing nominations for key positions within the Department of Defense, specifically for roles such as the Undersecretary of the Air Force and the Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security. Senators expressed urgent concerns about global security threats, the need for robust military readiness, and the emphasis on effective collaboration with NATO allies amidst rising tensions with adversaries such as Russia and China. Several senators highlighted the challenges facing military infrastructure and defense capabilities, suggesting a critical need for improvements and investment in these areas to ensure national security.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're working in Iowa right now trying to figure out for them how to meet the educational demands of
• We're working in Iowa right now trying to figure out for them how to meet the educational demands of
• We're working in Iowa right now trying to figure out for them how to meet the educational demands of
• We're working in Iowa right now trying to figure out for them how to meet the educational demands of
• We're working in Iowa right now costly.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:07:15.360><c> May</c> vision. Thank you and may God rest. May vision.
• Vern was born and raised in Iowa and attended the University of Iowa, where he got a bachelor's degree
• :22:55.760><c> attended</c><00:22:56.159><c> the</c> raised in Iowa and attended the raised in Iowa and
• </c><00:23:28.880><c> House</c> three terms as an Iowa House three terms as an Iowa House representative
• </c> President Trump's bold vision in space. President Trump's bold vision in space.

Bills: HB3838 , HR682

Keywords: nuclear deterrence, space force, military personnel, healthcare, supply chain, energy security, environmental regulations, defense budget, military funding, defense activities, appropriations, immigration penalties, Department of Defense, Department of Energy

Transcript Highlights:

• The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Iowa, Mrs. Miller-Meeks, for five minutes. Mrs.
• With the Iowa Hawkeyes' win over UMass on September 13, the coach broke the record.
• Coach Ferentz's career started at the University of Iowa in 1999.
• That vision remains alive today through organizations like Seniors First.
• They have no vision, no plan for economic growth.

Bills: HB1670 , HR493 , HR492 , HR491 , HB5140 , HB4922 , HR713 , HR721 , HB2721 , HR707

Keywords: fertility, health benefits, family planning, assisted reproductive technology, employees, fertility treatment, ART, in vitro fertilization, IVF, infertility, family building, reproductive health, oocyte preservation, sperm preservation, embryo preservation, artificial insemination, gamete donation, embryo genetic testing, federal employee health benefits, FEHB

Transcript Highlights:

• this case, what I'm going to show you right here is an actual output from a real run that was done in Iowa
• Altoona, an obscure—not say obscure; that's probably, they might take offense at that—but a town in Iowa
• So my vision on this was, okay, let's run all 600 of those people, and now let me get these networks
• So my vision on this was, okay, let's run all 600 of those people.
• Currently employed in Iowa, deployed specifically for the child exploitation task force.

Committees: House Government , House House Government Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:

• Building our GME capacity will help us achieve UNR Med's vision and our collective vision of a healthy
• It has already been ruled unconstitutional just weeks ago by Judge Stephanie Ross in stripping the Iowa
• As was just mentioned, also just this month, a few weeks ago in the state of Iowa, which had adopted
• we did beat the Food and Drug Administration, and moved on then to the Supreme Court, also named in Iowa
• In Iowa, one of the pieces of that particular case, which is just still in its first iteration in the

Bills: AB568 , SB90 , SB133 , SB147 , SB229 , SB233 , SB240 , SB245 , SB280 , SB378 , SB393 , SB417 , SB434 , SB494 , SB495 , AB62 , SB104 , SB119 , SB132 , SB193 , SB262 , SB422 , SB431 , SB435 , SB468 , SB503

Committee: Assembly Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, this map is not up to date, as Iowa, Indiana, and Wisconsin have now come on board.
• up</c><00:08:42.399><c> to</c><00:08:42.599><c> date</c><00:08:43.240><c> as</c><00:08:43.519><c> Iowa
• </c><00:08:44.039><c> Indiana</c><00:08:44.600><c> and</c> not up to date as Iowa Indiana and not up
• to date as Iowa Indiana and Wisconsin<00:08:45.519><c> have</c><00:08:45.680><c> now</c><00:08:45.920
• The vision that we established includes items such as reducing the economic burden of energy costs for

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate

Transcript Highlights:

• In the past I've been a legislator like yourselves in the House and Senate in Iowa and served as as the
• CIO for the state of Iowa, as well as for the city of San Antonio.
• committed to raising over a billion dollars from the private sector to release this new commercial vision
• I was about to bring that vision within reach.
• you know we are getting there and House Bill 3895 might get one step closer to doing that kind of vision

Bills: HB3146 , HB3719 , HB3895 , HB3923 , HB4748 , HB4751 , HB4936 , HB4952 , HB4990 , HB4991 , HB5061 , HB5196 , HB5238 , HB5246 , HB5487

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: State Office of Administrative Hearings, SOAH, administrative hearings, contested case, contested case hearing, administrative law judge, ALJ, final decision, proposed decision, agency hearing, hearing continuance, rescheduling, Texas administrative law, Government Code Chapter 2001, workers' compensation, Department of Human Resources, Texas Labor Code, Transportation Code, Agriculture Code, Insurance Code

Transcript Highlights:

• I to get to our house is over 5 miles of gravel road to get to the farm in Iowa.
• I to get to our house is over 5 miles of gravel road to get to the farm in Iowa.
• I to get to our house is over 5 miles of gravel road to get to the farm in Iowa.
• I to get to our house is over 5 miles of gravel road to get to the farm in Iowa.
• I to get to our house is over 5 miles of gravel road to get to the farm in Iowa.

Summary: The meeting focused on two Parkinson’s-related bills in Minnesota: one to ban paraquat and another to create a state Parkinson’s research trust fund. Rep. Christy Purcell said the research bill would create a dedicated pot of money to coordinate and fund Parkinson’s research in Minnesota, with Sen. Mann as the Senate author. Supporters said Minnesota should act because Parkinson’s is growing rapidly, there is no cure, and state institutions could serve as a research hub. Several people living with Parkinson’s testified about the personal and family impact of the disease, including early-onset diagnoses, loss of work, mobility challenges, and the burden on caregivers. Speakers from the Parkinson’s Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation supported both bills, arguing that paraquat is strongly linked to Parkinson’s, that exposure can affect farmers and nearby residents, and that prevention and research are both needed. The paraquat bill was described as especially important because alternatives exist and the chemical is reportedly used very little in Minnesota. During the discussion, Rep. Hansen said the paraquat bill would be held over and not voted on that day because a fiscal note was requested. He said the committee would hear the bill later that day and urged colleagues to keep an open mind. In response to questions, supporters said they anticipated little opposition beyond chemical-industry interests, and they emphasized that the bill was aimed specifically at paraquat rather than other chemicals. The research bill was discussed as a possible $25 million request, though no vote was taken on that proposal in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Also, we as a department work with Decision Innovation Solutions out of Iowa to complete the study.
• is being promoted, one of the things that's really coming deeply and strongly from our partners at Iowa
• The thing is, and I was talking last night, was how to get a longer-term vision of, you know, not so
• So, you know, part of that, I think what we do in the engine, since we can have that longer-term vision
• , we have these visions around areas like water, maybe animal tech, different things like that, where

Committee: Joint Agriculture and Water Management Committee

Summary: The committee met in Fargo and approved the minutes from the March 31 meeting before hearing a series of informational presentations focused on North Dakota agriculture, water, and research. NDSU President David Cook opened with remarks about NDSU’s land-grant mission, emphasizing statewide service through research, teaching, and extension, and highlighting examples such as the Lilac Agriculture startup and the university’s role in applying research to real-world problems. He said he intends to spend time listening across the state to better understand local needs. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study projected significant potential for expanded irrigation acreage, especially in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau, and estimated major economic gains from irrigation, including higher farm returns and support for value-added agriculture. Members discussed water permits, surface water versus aquifers, infrastructure, drought resilience, and the role of legal drains in improving productivity and generating economic activity. The presenters also noted that the full report is available online. Dr. Greg Lardy followed with NDSU’s required interim report, outlining the university’s agricultural research and extension system, including the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, seven research-extension centers, and the economic importance of agriculture to the state. He highlighted recent research impacts such as new crop varieties, potato breeding successes, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, weather-network tools, and 4-H programming. He also described NDSU’s budget priorities: restoring the governor’s proposed 10% cuts, additional operating support, and deferred maintenance funding. Committee members asked about the new agricultural field lab, storage sheds, and NDSU’s partnership with Grand Farm. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor presenting water-related research, including data center cooling, water reuse, smart irrigation, and a feasibility study on co-locating data centers with greenhouse and aquaculture production. Members asked about water use, ownership, and whether the concepts were operational or still speculative. Finally, North Dakota AgTech presented its NSF-funded innovation engine work, describing startup commercialization, on-farm trials, workforce development, and partnerships with NDSU, UND, tribal colleges, and other land-grant institutions. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the prior meeting minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think that's an important point because as we look at what other states are doing around us, Iowa
• what other states are doing<00:03:48.080><c> around</c><00:03:48.400><c> us,</c><00:03:48.799><c> Iowa
• ,</c><00:03:49.280><c> Nebraska,</c> doing around us, Iowa, Nebraska, doing around us, Iowa, Nebraska
• The long-term<00:30:23.679><c> vision</c><00:30:23.919><c> for</c><00:30:24.080><c> Minnesota</c><00:
• 30:24.480><c> and</c><00:30:24.640><c> the</c> long-term vision for Minnesota and the long-term vision

Transcript Highlights:

• I physically live 12 miles from the South Dakota border and about 8 miles from the Iowa border.
• Iowa right now is trying to purchase us, and just this last year my hometown was included in the Twin
• </c><00:53:47.839><c> South</c> Minnesota to what Wisconsin Iowa South Minnesota to what Wisconsin Iowa
• that's at around that's around 61% Iowa that's at around 60%<00:54:04.440><c> North</c><00:54:04.640
• </c> Minnesota Carnage real real dark vision Minnesota Carnage real real dark vision of<01:40:02.960>

Committee: House Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• That's about a 120-mile stretch. uh and northern Iowa. Um and I've been uh and northern Iowa.
• So, that's my vision with this bill.
• So, that's my vision with this bill.
• So, that's my vision with this bill.
• So, that's my vision with this bill.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, so for option three, the current vision is...
• They're going to bring in people from Iowa, the Iowa corn growers, Kansas Light and Power.
• So with the winners of Minnesota, Iowa, The winners are Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas, [who]
• So hopefully we can get Iowa and get this moving. So that's where we are, folks.
• So hopefully we can get Iowa and get this moving. So that's where we are, folks.

Summary: The Water Topics Overview Committee met with a quorum and received updates from the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Commission, followed by presentations from Deloitte on two legislative studies required by House Bill 1020. Director Reese Haas reviewed major project and budget updates, including the Northwest Area Water Supply and Southwest Pipeline projects, Resources Trust Fund balances, carryover spending, project prioritization, bid conditions, regional water system coverage, and department process improvements. Members also discussed how the commission prioritizes projects, maintenance expectations, and the impact of limited municipal water supply funding. No formal committee action was taken during the DWR update; the commission’s municipal funding decisions were described as pending its April 8 meeting. Deloitte then presented the cost-share policy study, which found that under current policy and forecasted revenues, North Dakota faces an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall over 14 years, with a near-term gap of about $1.8 billion through 2031. The firm outlined seven recommended options, including tighter definitions and a 25% cost share for eligible replacement projects, caps and financing strategies for the Mouse River and Red River Valley projects, aligning cost share with commission priority guidance, delaying lower-priority projects, using available lines of credit, and adjusting reimbursement timing for revolving loan funds. Committee members questioned inflation assumptions, affordability, user fees, and the use of legacy fund earnings for bonding, but no decisions were made. In the governance and finance study, Deloitte said final recommendations are still being refined, with a final report due May 29. The study examined the Southwest Pipeline, NAWS, and Red River Valley systems using governance and finance criteria such as decision authority, transparency, affordability, risk, and access to funding. For Southwest, Deloitte outlined options ranging from improved state-authority coordination to transferring ownership to the Southwest Water Authority; for NAWS, options focused on strengthening the authority’s role and potentially transitioning operations and maintenance; and for Red River, options ranged from enhanced facilitation to formal state oversight or state ownership. Members asked follow-up questions about ownership transfer, capital repayment streams, and why NAWS was not considered for transfer, and Deloitte said NAWS’s limited organizational maturity made that option less viable in the near term.

Transcript Highlights:

• Say 23 elected conserclad special vision of past Mrolier. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bills: HB4420 , HB3974 , HB3016 , HB3062 , HB3021 , HB3145 , HB4128 , HB3131 , HB3015 , HB3472 , HB3453 , HB1638 , HB4126 , HB2696 , HB2710 , HB3552 , HB3031 , HB3544 , HB3521 , HB4490 , HB4488 , HB1746 , HJR1069 , HB4428 , HB4429 , HB1170 , HB3538 , HB4124 , HB3904 , HB4106 , HB2999 , HB3982 , HJR1077 , HB3464 , HB2588 , HB3462 , HB4440 , HB3674 , HB3345 , HJR1067 , HB4326 , HB4331 , HB4337 , HB4338 , HB4359 , HB4392 , HB3557 , HJR1076 , HB4003 , HB3495 , HB3497 , HB3501 , HB3505 , HB3749 , HB3011 , HB4336 , HB4346 , HJR1087 , HB3240 , HB3647 , HB3796 , HB3969 , HB3972 , HB3983 , HB3984 , HB3989 , HB3383 , HB3130 , HB4358 , HB3327 , HJR1055 , HB3386 , HJR1089 , HB3087 , HB2970 , HB3314 , HB4129 , HB4199

Keywords: reading, intervention, literacy, education, third grade retention, teacher training, funding, Strong Readers Act, tort claims, inmate housing, government immunity, public trust, private prison, emergency legislation, vision screening, binocular vision, kindergarten, elementary education, health, firearm rights

Bills: HB4420 , HB3974 , HB3016 , HB3062 , HB3021 , HB3145 , HB4128 , HB3131 , HB3015 , HB3472 , HB3453 , HB1638 , HB4126 , HB2696 , HB2710 , HB3552 , HB3031 , HB3544 , HB3521 , HB4490 , HB4488 , HB1746 , HJR1069 , HB4428 , HB4429 , HB1170 , HB3538 , HB4124 , HB3904 , HB4106 , HB2999 , HB3982 , HJR1077 , HB3464 , HB2588 , HB3462 , HB4440 , HB3674 , HB3345 , HJR1067 , HB4326 , HB4331 , HB4337 , HB4338 , HB4359 , HB4392 , HB3557 , HJR1076 , HB4003 , HB3495 , HB3497 , HB3501 , HB3505 , HB3749 , HB3011 , HB4336 , HB4346 , HJR1087 , HB3240 , HB3647 , HB3796 , HB3969 , HB3972 , HB3983 , HB3984 , HB3989 , HB3383 , HB3130 , HB4358 , HB3327 , HJR1055 , HB3386 , HJR1089 , HB3087 , HB2970 , HB3314 , HB4129 , HB4199

Keywords: reading, intervention, literacy, education, third grade retention, teacher training, funding, Strong Readers Act, tort claims, inmate housing, government immunity, public trust, private prison, emergency legislation, vision screening, binocular vision, kindergarten, elementary education, health, firearm rights