Transcript Highlights:

• Your candor is appreciated. Your forthrightness will be appreciated.
• Appreciate that.
• I appreciate it.
• Appreciate it.
• So I expect our disaster committee will have a really busy week next week and the week after.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• next week.
• Chairman Hill, I appreciate that.
• I appreciate your question.
• Thank you, appreciate it. We will... ...scenario. Thank you, appreciate it.
• We will vote on this next week.

Bills: SB76, SB35, SB116, SB119, SB118, SB129, SB32, SB31, SB115, SB75, HB27, HB40

Keywords: jury duty, nursing mothers, exemption, legal rights, parental responsibilities, sexual extortion, criminal law, felony, threat, blackmail, firearm possession, domestic violence, violent offenses, criminal penalties, pretrial detention, bail, offenses, constitutional amendment, criminal justice, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• Really appreciate it.
• I appreciate... That's great. Thank you. Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate it.
• During the fifth week, they had what is called a family week, where they With therapy.
• I appreciate it.
• I appreciate it very much. I appreciate your time. Yep. Thank you. Next up is Dr.

Summary: The task force meeting opened with new leadership announcements, including Senator Nick Schroer thanking outgoing chair Representative John Black and naming Representative Del Taylor as vice chair. After some initial technical difficulties with audio and Zoom, members reviewed the task force’s statutory charge under Missouri law: to hold hearings on substance use, explore solutions, draft or modify legislation, and produce recommendations for prevention and treatment. The chair said the goal for this year is to develop concrete legislative ideas for the next session, with hearings focused first on field experts and later on alternative therapies and the Department of Mental Health. Dr. Rachel Winograd gave the first major presentation, describing Missouri’s overdose crisis as increasingly complex and driven primarily by fentanyl, now compounded by xylazine and metatomidine. She said overdose deaths have declined for a third straight year, with preliminary 2025 data around 1,200 deaths, and attributed the decline to a smaller fentanyl supply, wider naloxone availability, and fewer young people entering use. Her main recommendations were to focus on reducing harm rather than trying to eliminate drug use, expand evidence-based medications for opioid use disorder—especially methadone and buprenorphine—improve access to naloxone, and loosen methadone regulations, including take-home doses, the federal 72-hour rule, and broader methadone units. She also emphasized that peer support, housing, transportation, and other practical supports matter, and noted that naloxone can still reverse fentanyl overdoses even when tranquilizers are present. Dr. Heidi Miller, the state medical director, followed with two recommendations: integrate substance use disorder care into whole-person health care and follow the science when considering substance-related legislation. She argued that primary care, maternal health, workforce training, EMS, public health, and methadone access should all be part of a coordinated model, and said reimbursement should support teams rather than isolated providers. She also urged stronger enforcement of parity between behavioral health/SUD and physical health coverage, and highlighted tobacco and alcohol as major, under-addressed causes of death in Missouri. Dr. Doug Burgess then reinforced the need for a coordinated continuum of care, comparing substance use treatment to the seamless system used for heart attacks, and said patients should have standardized assessment, discharge planning from day one, transition coordinators, peer recovery coaches, and better information-sharing between levels of care. Members asked questions about relapse, treatment court, EMS referral barriers, reimbursement, and whether buprenorphine can be started in the field; no votes were taken, and the meeting ended with plans to continue hearing testimony and use it to shape future policy recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• to get up to 26 weeks of coverage.
• or up to 26 weeks.
• Deputy Commissioner, I really appreciate your good analysis and I appreciate the numbers.
• that when an unemployed worker gets to, like, 13 weeks or 14 weeks, do they know that?
• “I really do appreciate that.

Summary: The Commission on Unemployment Compensation met, established a quorum, and elected Delegate Destiny LeVere Bolling as chair and Senator Mike Jones as vice chair. The commission also adopted its electronic meeting policy and heard introductions from new members, staff, and officials from the Secretary of Labor’s office and the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC). Secretary Jessica Lumen outlined the administration’s workforce and labor priorities, including supporting workers, employers, and program transparency, while members raised concerns about business climate, job losses, labor participation, and the implementation of paid family and medical leave. Staff provided legislative updates on recent unemployment-related bills. These included increases to the weekly unemployment benefit amount enacted in 2025 and 2026, a bill on labor dispute disqualification that changed how lockouts are treated for benefit eligibility, and a budget item providing $75,000 for actuarial support to the commission. The commission also discussed the 2025 work group on annual adjustments to weekly benefit amounts; staff reported that the work group did not complete its charge, and members agreed to revisit whether to reconstitute it at a future meeting. Delegate Martinez expressed support for continuing the work, and the chair said the issue would be taken up at the next meeting. Deputy Commissioner Joanna Darkus gave a detailed presentation on Virginia’s unemployment insurance system, including current claims data, eligibility rules, employer tax structure, benefit levels, trust fund solvency, fraud prevention, and customer service operations. She reported that Virginia’s unemployment rate remains low, weekly claims are modest, the current weekly benefit range is $160 to $478, and the trust fund balance factor is projected at 50.9 percent, near the threshold for additional employer charges. Members asked about the taxable wage base, trust fund solvency, the effect of benefit increases, fraud controls, and the planned paid family and medical leave program. VEC said it is implementing that program through regulations, staffing, IT procurement, public listening sessions, and consultation with other states. A public commenter from the Virginia Poverty Law Center urged the commission to strengthen state investment in unemployment insurance and warned that federal support is uncertain. The commission then adjourned without taking further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• one week, the answer to that is no: they still would have that second week.
• from two weeks to one week the answer to that is no they still would have that second week in order
• Appreciate it.
• We appreciate the testimony from you and Senator Bellows. Appreciate it.
• We appreciate it.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a hearing on a wide range of voting-access and election-administration bills. The largest portion of testimony focused on same-day voter registration (H. 834/S. 505), with support from Rep. Gentile, Boston and Chelsea officials, civic groups, and election administrators from Maine and Vermont. Supporters argued that same-day registration would help eligible voters who move frequently, miss deadlines, or face administrative errors, and would reduce rejected provisional ballots. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows and Vermont elections director Sean Sheehan testified that same-day registration has worked in their states without major administrative problems and has helped increase turnout. A Boston-based panel also described high rejection rates for provisional ballots and the burden of registration cutoffs on renters, students, immigrants, and low-income voters. A second major topic was restoration of voting rights for incarcerated people, including S. 524 and related House bills. The committee heard extensive virtual testimony from incarcerated individuals at MCI Norfolk and MCI Shirley, who said voting should be restored as part of rehabilitation, civic engagement, and reintegration. They described disenfranchisement as dehumanizing and argued that voting would help maintain family and community ties, reduce recidivism, and give incarcerated people a voice on laws affecting prisons and reentry. Rep. Erica Uyterhoeven also testified in support, saying the bill would restore municipal voting rights for incarcerated residents and align with broader efforts to expand political participation. The committee also heard testimony on bills affecting election administration and access, including a proposal to reduce or eliminate mandated early in-person voting in primaries and shorten the general-election early voting period, with supporters from the town clerks’ community arguing that low usage, staffing burdens, and costs justify the change. Opponents warned that reducing in-person early voting could hurt voters who do not use mail ballots and could disproportionately affect communities of color. Other bills discussed included decoupling the municipal census from voter registration, requiring periodic accessibility inspections of polling places, and a Somerville home-rule petition on non-citizen municipal voting and another on lowering the voting age in municipal elections. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• it twice a week, giving away food.
• That is up to 200 cars per week, and sometimes he does it twice a week, giving away food, furniture,
• I appreciate your attention.
• with a four-day school week.
• , I keep saying work week.

Bills: HR244, HR245, HR246, HR247, HR248, HR249, HR250, HR251, HCR101, HCR102, HR223, HR224, HR225, HR226, HR227, HR229, HR230, HR231, HR232, HR234, HR235, HR236, HR237, HR238, HR239, HR240, HR241, HR242, HR243, HCR94, HCR95, HCR96, HCR97, HCR98, HCR99, HCR100, SCR31, SCR33, SCR35, SCR37, SCR56, SCR57, SB171, SB251, SB252, SB353, SB367, SB433, SB461, HR170, HR191, HR206, HR207, HR208, HR217, HCR11, HCR53, HCR60, HCR66, HCR68, HB66, HB153, HB165, HB326, HB387, HB454, HB455, HB484, HB513, HB603, HB660, HB719, HB762, HB766, HB793, HB802, HB816, HB833, HB940, HB947, HB950, HB975, HB1028, HB1039, HB1051, HB1053, HB1080, HB1201, HB1215, HB1228, HB1251, HB1252, SCR2, SB26, SB28, SB29, SB30, SB41, SB44, SB64, SB84, SB87, SB93, SB98, SB107, SB118, SB142, SB192, SB195, SB199, SB219, SB222, SB234, SB241, SB255, SB275, SB277, SB292, SB294, SB306, SB314, SB482, SB233, SB326, HR171, HCR49, HCR65, HCR72, HR37, HCR64, SCR19, SCR3, SCR6, SCR18, SCR11, SCR22, HB64, HB68, HB92, HB130, HB258, HB633, HB801, HB89, HB341, HB451, HB456, HB579, HB595, HB621, HB818, HB841, HB1064, HB1101, HB1191, SB47, SB82, SB106, SB206, SB210, SB248, SB305, SB376, SB397, SB441, SB2, SB19, SB24, SB50, SB70, SB96, SB101, SB103, SB104, SB114, SB122, SB159, SB160, SB173, SB180, SB182, SB260, SB412, SB418, SB424, SB442, SB460, SB476, SB1, SB23, SB32, SB42, SB43, SB46, SB51, SB110, SB113, SB150, SB154, SB161, SB218, SB220, SB221, SB253, SB289, SB310, SB351, SB399, SB404, SB502, HCR32, HB955, HB284, HB617, HB730, HB926, HB1125, HB1194, HB1203, HB798, HB998, HB1084, HB1223, HB646, HB824, HB901, HB79, HR20, HR74, HB59, HB306, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB911, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1234, HB1240, SB89, SB68, SB149

Keywords: disclosure, local law, public notice, legislative transparency, Artists at the Capitol Day, art education, Louisiana Art Education Association, recognition, community engagement, House Resolution 247, HR247, Laura Lewis, birthday commendation, 104th birthday, centenarian, longevity, St. James Parish, Louisiana House of Representatives, Mount Calvary Baptist Church, ceremonial resolution

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, members, welcome to Budget Week. Well, members, welcome to Budget Week.
• “The week before Thanksgiving is the worst week of my life.
• Members, last week I distributed preliminary Members, last week I distributed preliminary language that
• So with that, again, you know, I appreciate you.
• , and I really appreciate that.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met during Budget Week and first considered three member bills. House Bill 1111, by Rep. Valdes, would eliminate the option for students to leave high school with a certificate of completion instead of a standard diploma. Valdes said the bill was inspired by students who met credit requirements but could not pass a required assessment, and argued the certificate does not provide access to college, trade school, or military service. The bill passed unanimously, 15-0. CS for House Bill 127, by Rep. Kendall, would support students with disabilities by using existing Florida Department of Education curriculum to create micro-credentials and coordinating with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA on workplace safety. Goodwill, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Florida PTA, and others supported the bill, which also passed unanimously, 15-0. House Bill 1367, by Rep. Booth, addressed chronic absenteeism by requiring statewide definitions and more uniform attendance reporting, along with rules for excused and unexcused absences and early identification of chronically absent students. Testimony emphasized inconsistent district policies and the need for clearer data and interventions. The bill passed 13-0, with some members noting concerns about implementation details and future rulemaking. The committee then took up PCB-P-PKB-2501, the proposed conforming bill for the fiscal year 2025-2026 Pre-K through 12 budget. The chair said the bill was designed to align statutes with budget and scholarship funding procedures, especially around the Florida Education Finance Program and scholarship payments. The PCB would require Florida student ID numbers for scholarship students, standardize cross-checking against FTE survey data, set quarterly payment dates, and use one data source for both reporting and withholding scholarship-related FFP amounts. It also would reduce certain add-on weights by 50%, remove the budget stabilization program, and repeal the educational enrollment stabilization program. Several members raised concerns that the add-on weight reductions could hurt career and technical education, AICE, IB, and CAPE programs, while the sponsor argued the data showed too much spending in an “other” category and that the reductions were aimed at aligning funding with actual program costs. Public testimony was mixed: some supported tighter accountability and clearer payment rules, while others warned against undermining expensive career-readiness programs. The PCB passed 11-2. After the conforming bill, the chair presented the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 Pre-K through 12 budget, totaling just under $21 billion, about $400 million below the current year. She said the budget reflects a need to slow spending growth and includes $20 million for New Worlds Scholarship Accounts, $7 million for security grants at Jewish day schools and preschools, $14 million for public school transportation stipends, an overall FEFP increase of about $747.7 million, $100 million for teacher salary increases, and increases in the base student allocation and funds per student. The committee did not vote on the budget recommendation at this meeting; it was distributed for review and will move to the Budget Committee next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the update. I appreciate the work of your team.
• I appreciate the question.
• Appreciate it.
• I appreciate that, and hopefully... I appreciate that.
• I appreciate that.

Keywords: 1212, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing at UMass Amherst on Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal, focusing on energy, the environment, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs, committee introductions, and a welcome from UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes, who highlighted the university’s research, transportation, and clean-energy work and thanked the administration and legislature for support for public higher education. The committee then received testimony from MassDOT and MBTA officials, including Secretary and General Manager Phil Eng, CFO David Pottier, Undersecretary Samantha Silverberg, Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver, Registrar Colleen Ogilvie, Rail and Transit Administrator Meredith Schlesinger, and Aeronautics Administrator Denise Garcia. MassDOT described the governor’s transportation package as a multi-year, roughly $8 billion effort built around House 2, a Fair Share supplemental budget, and a Chapter 90 bill. Officials said House 2 would provide about $1.3 billion for transportation, including $645 million for MassDOT operations, $1.1 billion for the MBTA, $217.5 million for regional transit authorities, and $11.7 million for the Merit Rating Board. They emphasized increased funding for snow and ice removal, capital delivery staffing, municipal road aid, bridge and pavement repairs, transit support, microtransit and last-mile grants, sustainable aviation fuel credits, and human services transportation. The Chapter 90 proposal would authorize $1.2 billion over four years, with an added lane-mile formula intended to benefit rural communities, and would also fund bridge and pavement work, MBTA reliability, climate resilience, and housing-related transportation improvements. Agency officials highlighted recent accomplishments and priorities across divisions. The Highway Division pointed to record construction spending, major bridge and interchange projects, expanded Grant Central programs, culvert and unpaved-road grants, and safety measures such as pedestrian beacons, speed feedback signs, and proposed work-zone speed cameras. The RMV discussed a citation portal, human trafficking awareness in commercial licensing, driver education modernization, multilingual testing and materials, redesigned disability placards, new service center locations, and digital title and online service initiatives. Rail and Transit officials reported ridership growth at the RTAs, fare-free and connectivity grants, microtransit and last-mile programs, and progress on Compass Rail and West-East Rail, including federal grants, the Springfield Area Track Reconfiguration, and planning for Palmer Station. Aeronautics officials described airport capital work, drone and data programs, sustainable aviation fuel efforts, and workforce development in aviation maintenance. Committee members focused their questions on Western Massachusetts transportation needs, especially Chapter 90 road funding, bridge repairs, and the status of Compass Rail and Palmer Station. MassDOT said a pending Longmeadow grant had recently been obligated, Springfield design work would proceed once federal processes were complete, and federal changes had caused some delays but not derailed the projects. Members also raised concerns about Cape Cod rail and the Cape Cod bridges program, and MassDOT said the administration was pursuing federal funding and moving procurement and permitting forward. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> there was a delay of 2 to four weeks there was a delay of 2 to four weeks depending<00:15:53.360
• every two weeks after that initial pause of two weeks for some providers, four weeks for some others
• I appreciate<00:43:31.200><c> it.
• I appreciate — I don't appreciate that answer. I'm going to be honest with you.
• </c><00:51:37.839><c> I'm</c> I don't appreciate that answer. I'm I don't appreciate that answer.

Bills: HF3378

Keywords: human services, Optum reports, data privacy, transparency, legislative oversight, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate that.
• Sir, I appreciate it.
• I appreciate that.
• Appreciate it.
• We really do appreciate what you do and appreciate you hung in there.

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness and flooding hearing opened with quorum calls, prayer, testimony time limits, and remarks from legislative leaders emphasizing decorum, respect, and the goal of learning from the July 4 flood to prevent future loss of life. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows said the special session and hearings were intended to hear directly from local officials and residents, and that the state would pursue immediate and longer-term legislation and continue working beyond the current session. The committee then heard invited testimony from Kerr County, Kerrville, Kendall County, Real County, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, followed by member questions. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, and emergency management coordinator William B. Thomas described the flood as a sudden, unprecedented event that overwhelmed local systems before many officials or residents understood the danger. They said the county received multiple National Weather Service and IPAWS alerts, but the rain fell in remote upstream areas with limited gauges, and the flood rose too quickly for normal response. They detailed the emergency response, including dispatchers handling heavy call volumes, deputies and volunteer firefighters conducting rescues, and state and federal partners assisting. County officials said 108 people died, including 37 children, and two remained missing. They called for better real-time flood detection, stronger rural emergency management resources, improved broadband and cell coverage, and more funding for swift-water rescue and warning systems. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and City Manager Dalton Rice said the city had floodplain rules, emergency plans, and prior preparedness efforts, but the event exposed gaps in communications and regional warning capacity. They urged the Legislature to fund a flood warning system, whether sirens, automated alerts, or a hybrid, and asked for support for predictive weather modeling, broadband expansion, a hazard mitigation fund, and disaster recovery resources. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority said it had long funded gauges and pursued flood-warning and mitigation projects, including a new software-based flood prediction system and possible retention dams, and planned to dedicate reserve funds to feasibility studies and infrastructure improvements. Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk said his county’s emergency action plan and early alerts helped prevent deaths there, and he recommended easier access to alerting tools, a river-wide warning system, simpler grant applications, and regional coordination. Real County Judge Bella Rubio said rural counties face major challenges because of limited cell service, broadband, staffing, and funding, especially for camps and visitors along the Frio and Nueces rivers, and argued that reliable alert systems should be treated as a necessity, not a luxury. Members asked about the timeline of the flood, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and funding, and several witnesses said the key lessons were better communications, better warning systems, and more investment in rural flood mitigation and emergency response.

Transcript Highlights:

• Your candor is appreciated. Your forthrightness will be appreciated.
• No, I appreciate that.
• Sir, I appreciate it.
• But I appreciate you.
• next week and the week after, and we will be talking a lot.

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The average week, the number of weeks that people are on unemployment is about 12 weeks, up slightly
• I will point out states that do have fewer weeks, and 26 weeks is the dominant number of weeks available
• I will point out states that do have fewer weeks, and 26 weeks is the dominant number of weeks available
• weeks or some you weeks as opposed to 52 weeks or some you know<03:41:42.880><c> there's</c><03:41:43.159
• Appreciate that.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• in recent weeks.
• He's been doing it all week. Week, and this is the first week. So let me move on.
• I appreciate that. I look forward to working with you on that.
• Senator Loeffler, I appreciate the conversation that we had last week. I think it was last week.
• The weeks have seemed endless these days.

Transcript Highlights:

• $427 a week.
• </c> per week, they're getting 427 a week. per week, they're getting 427 a week.
• </c> a 26- week scenario. a 26- week scenario.
• </c> change the weeks. change the weeks.
• </c> &gt;&gt; appreciate appreciate your time. &gt;&gt; appreciate appreciate your time.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I appreciate that.
• We appreciate it. We appreciate all your work. Um, okay. Is, uh, let's see.
• </c> coming out next week. Chair Howard? coming out next week. Chair Howard?
• I appreciate Chair and Chair Howard. I appreciate that. that. that.
• Those taxes are due next week. today. Those taxes are due next week.

Bills: HF4119, HF3959, HF3792, HF3913, HF3752

Keywords: property tax, renter credits, co-pay, housing affordability, tax relief, homestead, tax refund, Minnesota, tax increase, financial relief, homeowners, AmeriCorps, taxation, individual income tax, living allowances, stipends, national service, tax compliance, revenue, analytics

Transcript Highlights:

• So I appreciate the consideration.
• Appreciate you joining us today.
• So I appreciate the consideration.
• He went on outings twice per week.
• Appreciate it. All right. Um, Herb... Thank you. Appreciate it. All right.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a hearing focused primarily on special education-related bills, with testimony centered on two major themes: transition planning for students aging out of school-based services at age 22, and the fiscal strain special education costs place on districts. Committee members explained hearing procedures, noted the House was in formal session, and periodically stepped out for votes while staff recorded testimony. A separate bill on special education due process was also taken up briefly, along with a bill on special education finance and another on equitable access/data reporting. On House Bill 752 and Senate Bill 313, witnesses from the Arc of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, the Developmental Disabilities Council, families, self-advocates, and Senator Comerford described the “Turning 22” transition as a crisis point that often leaves families without adult placements, services, or clear communication. Testimony emphasized earlier planning, more accountability, better data collection, and a commission to improve coordination and residential placement. Several parents and advocates shared personal accounts of traumatic transitions, delayed placements, and the need for plans to begin at least a year before age 22. The committee later closed testimony on these bills after hearing from all signed-up speakers. House Bill 4217, on special education due process, drew support from Representative Sullivan-Almeida, parents, and advocates who argued that the burden of proof should shift from families to school districts. Testimony described costly legal battles, delays, and parents having to become experts in reading instruction or hire advocates and attorneys to secure services. Brody Dwyer, a 10-year-old student with dyslexia, and his mother described how evidence-based instruction helped him after years of struggle. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 546/Senate Bill 317, which would require DESE to publish cross-tabulated data on race, disability, gender, income, and other factors; advocates said this would better expose disparities and help address the school-to-prison pipeline. Finally, on House Bill 691/Senate Bill 430, school leaders, educators, and union representatives testified that special education costs are outpacing district budgets and that increasing circuit breaker reimbursement and creating a commission to study long-term sustainability would help prevent staffing cuts and service reductions. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee repeatedly closed testimony on individual bills as speakers finished and moved through the agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the intent of this bill.
• As I stated last week, I was testifying as a veteran this week.
• week.
• I appreciate the opportunity today, Mr.
• I appreciate the opportunity today, Mr.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on Veterans heard House Bill 2535 from Rep. Don Mayhew, which would provide property tax relief for disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, and related surviving spouses, with the benefit funded through new tobacco-related taxes. Mayhew said the bill differs from other veterans tax-relief proposals mainly in its funding mechanism, which would impose a 10-cent cigarette tax increase, a tax on vape products, and a tax on certain tobacco products. Members discussed whether the surviving-spouse language should be narrowed or amended, especially regarding remarriage, with several members arguing that spouses who supported service members also earned the benefit and should not be penalized. Others suggested possible compromise language, including partial benefits or time-based limits, and Mayhew said he was open to narrowly tailored amendments. Testimony in support came from veterans and advocates who emphasized the burden property taxes can place on disabled veterans and surviving spouses, and who argued the state should provide a statewide solution rather than shifting costs to counties. One veteran testified that, in his county, the bill’s relief could amount to a significant local cost if unfunded, and said the bill’s statewide tax mechanism was preferable to leaving counties to absorb the expense. Supporters also urged inclusion of Purple Heart recipients, Gold Star families, and in some cases dependent children. Opponents focused on the funding mechanism, arguing cigarettes are already heavily taxed, the proposal would burden small businesses selling vape and hemp products, and the tobacco tax base is shrinking. A petroleum/convenience industry representative said Missouri voters have repeatedly rejected tobacco tax increases and warned that federal changes could eliminate some projected hemp-derived revenue. A Department of Revenue official provided informational testimony on the fiscal note, saying the bill could raise significant revenue overall but that projections depend on consumer behavior and uncertain federal action on hemp-derived products. He explained that higher cigarette taxes can reduce cigarette sales and shift purchases to other products, affecting both state and local revenues. No vote was taken at the hearing, and the committee concluded after hearing support, opposition, and informational testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• to get up to 26 weeks of coverage.
• or up to 26 weeks.
• Deputy Commissioner, I really appreciate your good analysis and I appreciate the numbers.
• , when an unemployed worker gets to, like, 13 weeks or 14 weeks, do they know that?
• I really do appreciate that.

Keywords: Commission on Unemployment Compensation, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate that.
• Appreciate that.
• I appreciate that.
• Appreciate it.
• week and the week after, and we will be talking.

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness hearing convened in Kerrville with quorum, public testimony limited to three minutes and invited testimony to 10 minutes. Leaders from both chambers, along with the lieutenant governor and speaker, framed the hearing as an unprecedented joint effort focused on learning from the July 4 flood, honoring victims, and identifying actions to reduce future loss of life. The committee also heard opening remarks about decorum, logistics, and the intent to continue work in future sessions. The first panel included Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, Emergency Management Coordinator William B. Thomas IV, Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring Jr., Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice, Upper Guadalupe River Authority representative William Rector, Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk, and Real County Judge Bella Rubio. They described the flood as sudden and catastrophic, with Kerr County reporting 108 deaths and two missing. Local officials emphasized that they received no timely warning of the scale of the event, that responders and volunteers acted heroically under extreme conditions, and that communications, cell coverage, and rural emergency resources were strained. Several witnesses said the county’s existing alert systems were limited by geography, sparse broadband, and the speed of the flood. Testimony focused on possible improvements, including real-time flood gauges and predictive monitoring, stronger rural emergency management staffing and training, better interoperability and alerting tools such as IPAWS, CodeRED, WENS, and sirens, and expanded broadband and radio coverage. Kerrville asked for a flood warning system before next summer and state help for stormwater, floodplain, and disaster recovery funding. UGRA described its past and current flood-warning and mitigation efforts, including gauge funding, a new software-based flood prediction project, and consideration of additional retention dams. Kendall and Real counties highlighted successful or needed alerting and evacuation practices, while also stressing the difficulty of funding and maintaining such systems in small rural counties. Members asked detailed questions about the timeline of the flood response, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and whether regional consolidation or additional infrastructure could improve future preparedness.

Transcript Highlights:

• I talked about the first three weeks. I was here for a week.
• Doing those for a week.
• I talked about the first three weeks. I was here for a week.
• Doing those for a week.
• And now I'm back here for a week. And then I'm gonna be on vacation for a week.

Summary: The committee met at NDSU and approved the April 9 minutes. The main purpose of the meeting was an informational presentation from NDSU President David Stewart and university leaders on the university’s priorities, including enrollment, student success, research, commercialization, and use of New Horizons funding. Stewart emphasized a “One NDSU” approach, thanked legislators for past support, and said the university will focus on recruitment and retention, a new strategic plan, and growing research and tech transfer while serving North Dakota’s workforce needs. University leaders said NDSU is using tuition waivers more strategically and will work to reduce them over time through scholarship optimization. Provost Sherry Vale described academic portfolio reviews, program closures or consolidations, strategic hiring, and workload policies aimed at aligning resources with demand. They also highlighted student outcomes, including high completion rates, strong employment placement, and NDSU’s role in producing a large share of the state’s engineers, nurses, and agriculture graduates. Several students testified about how NDSU’s mentoring, internships, research, and support services helped them succeed. The committee also heard from partners on New Horizons-related collaborations: Gateway to Science described K-12 STEM outreach in rural and tribal areas, and Sanford Research discussed joint research efforts, including COBRE-related work, obesity and GLP-1 studies, and a joint biostatistics hire. Later speakers highlighted Governor’s School and NDSU’s research and commercialization efforts, including growth in research expenditures and invention disclosures. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.