Transcript Highlights:

• of School Administrators, the Minnesota School Boards Association, the Minnesota Rural Education Association
• , the Minnesota Education Association, the Minnesota Service Cooperatives, the Minnesota Association
• Association of School Administrators,<00:43:43.200> the<00:43:43.320> Minnesota<00:43:
• Association of School Administrators, the Association of Metropolitan School Districts, and the Minnesota
• Rural Education Association.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FIRST WE WILL HEAR FROM DEPUTY SECRETARY KIM FROM THE HEALTHCARE OF ADMINISTRATION FROM THE INVITATIONAL
• WE COORDINATED AMONGST VARIOUS DECISIONS AND BUREAUS IN THE AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION AND
• ANNUAL MEETINGS TO GET THE ASSOCIATION OUT. >> Chair Anderson: GOOD?
• UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH MANAGING THE ASSOCIATION, IS THERE A DIRECT CORRELATION
• BRIAN MEYER, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF THE HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION.

Transcript Highlights:

• Examples of possible roles include things like certified nursing assistants, patient care associates,
• home health aides, administrative supervisors, and registered nurses. private partnership that helps
• uh FLOTUS home health Care Associates uh FLOTUS home health aids<00:02:37.440> administrative
• <00:02:38.120> supervisors<00:02:38.800> and aids administrative supervisors and aids administrative
• and administrative agency that oversees<00:04:00.920> this<00:04:01.200> program<00:04

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, the New Mexico, Today, the New Mexico FFA Association boasts more than 5,200 FFA members in 93
• So today, New Mexico FFA Association is celebrating National FFA Week.
• The first, Haley Klein, is the new city administrator for the city of Artesia.
• the New Mexico Airport Managers Association and the New Mexico chapter of the Aerospace States Association
• Please join us at La Fonda for the New Mexico Aerospace States Association at 5:30.

Bills: HM19

Keywords: New Mexico Aviation and Aerospace Day, aviation, aerospace, space industry, missile programs, Spaceport America, White Sands Missile Range, White Sands Test Facility, Kirtland Air Force Base, drone, unmanned aircraft systems, commercial space transportation, NASA, aircraft, STEM education, research laboratories, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, flight testing, medical evacuation

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:02.480> as<00:14:02.720> the<00:14:02.959> 2025 Sheriff's Association
• as the 2025 Sheriff's Association as the 2025 Sheriff<00:14:04.480> of<00:14:04.639> the
• with his post and as a result associated with his post and as a result has<00:14:27.360> earned
• , and the Kentucky Firefighters Chiefs Association.
• > regulations relating to administrative regulations relating to administrative regulations for

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Kentucky Senate convened with an invocation, pledge, and roll call establishing a quorum of 37 members. The chamber approved the journal from Monday, January 12, 2026, and then moved through routine business including recessing briefly for the Rules Committee and Committee on Committees. The Committee on Committees reported referrals of Senate Bill 7, Senate Joint Resolution 11, and Senate Joint Resolution 27 to Transportation, and Senate Resolutions 25, 28, 29, 30, and 31 to the Senate floor. Several new bills and resolutions were introduced, including measures on identity documents, youth vaping prevention, local occupational license fees and taxes, healthcare provider credentialing, constitutional amendments on voting and restoration of rights, substance use disorder medication regulations, forcible entry and detainer, coroner response times, special needs trusts, immigration enforcement collaboration, and a resolution recognizing Physician Anesthesiologist Week. The Senate also adopted Senate Citation 001 honoring Shelby County Sheriff Mark Moore as the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association’s 2025 Sheriff of the Year, and adopted Senate Resolution 14 honoring David Delvin Drake. A major floor discussion centered on Senate Resolution 10, which honored the victims of the UPS Flight 2976 crash and commended first responders. Senator Herron described the crash, named the victims, and thanked emergency responders and government partners; the resolution was adopted unanimously, followed by a moment of silence. Another extended discussion came from the Senator from Marion regarding the I-69 bridge project, explaining the bipartisan effort behind the project, the push for a federal grant, and the state’s tolling requirements if no grant is secured. The Senate also heard announcements about committee meetings, upcoming receptions, and a film release, and several members requested co-sponsorships on various bills before the chamber adjourned until 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

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• <00:01:23.119> appeals budget planning administrative appeals budget planning administrative
• Um Dana Balansag the administrative Um Dana Balansag the administrative appeals<00:04:32.880>
• the federal administration. the federal administration.
• administration here. administration here.
• administration. They never gave it back. administration. They never gave it back.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

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• I'm the city administrator for the city of Hugo.
• I'm the president and CEO of the Minnesota Multi Housing Association.
• the Minnesota multi- Housing Association the Minnesota multi- Housing Association we<01:07:49.319
• <01:41:35.880> approvals lastly the the administrative approvals lastly the the administrative
• council members and City administrators council members and City administrators in<01:43:06.560>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• David Zack, committee administrator of David Zack, committee administrator of human<00:02:47.440>
• Office of Administrative Hearing Judges. Office of Administrative Hearing Judges.
• I'm here today representing AMC and the Minnesota Intercounty Association, and the Minnesota Association
• of County Social Services Administrators, MAXA.
• Minnesota County Attorneys Association Minnesota County Attorneys Association would<01:19:54.320

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next we have Hilton Raal or Paige Choy, Hawaii Healthcare Association, in support.
• Next we have Paige Toy, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, providing comments.
• Next, Rachel Wilkinson, Hawaii Association of Health Plans, providing comments.
• <00:31:13.080> Health<00:31:13.320> plant Hawaii Association Health plant Hawaii Association
• <00:38:56.760> warm buprenorphine Administration warm buprenorphine Administration warm handoff

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several measures related to child welfare, health care access, overdose response, disability services, and waste management. For SB 710 on child welfare, the Department of Human Services, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, the Attorney General’s office, and multiple advocacy groups testified in support, with the Governor’s office noting support but deferring to the Attorney General on implementation because of separation-of-powers concerns. For SB 952 on child welfare services, DHS, the Governor’s office, and child- and trauma-informed care advocates supported the bill, saying it would help families access services, provide basic material support, and reduce strain on the child welfare system. SB 954 on a home health services rate study also drew support, including from DHS, the Hawaii Healthcare Association, and a public testifier who said the study would help ensure funds reach low-income, disabled, and kupuna recipients. SB 957 on overdose prevention received support from the Department of Health and the Attorney General, who said overdose prevention centers are evidence-based but raised federal-law concerns and recommended amendments; the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center and others also testified in support. The committee then moved to the 1:00 regular calendar and heard SB 850 on disability health disparity, which was supported by the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, self-advocates, and others. Testimony emphasized that a disparity study could improve workforce development, training, and services for people with disabilities. SB 838 on continuous glucose monitoring drew support from health agencies and advocates, with testimony stressing that monitors can be critical for some diabetes patients. SB 829 on health care was supported by the Department of Health and health care stakeholders, who said it would help rotating physicians serve neighbor islands without local hospital privileges and align with CMS rules. SB 446 on waste management drew mixed testimony: the Department of Health and several public entities provided comments, the County of Maui opposed, and environmental advocates urged stronger aquifer protections and limits on ash reuse. During decision making, the committee adopted recommendations to pass SB 298, SB 322, SB 299, SB 450, SB 451, SB 949, SB 710, SB 957, SB 69, and SD 952 with various amendments, including technical changes, blank appropriations, and defective dates. SB 323, SB 324, SB 712, SB 950, SB 954, and SB 959 were deferred, largely because companion House measures were moving or similar Senate measures had already passed. The chair also announced recesses to find quorum and noted that some bills from the earlier Monday calendar were being deferred to avoid duplication.

Transcript Highlights:

• than probably anybody in administration than probably anybody in this<00:03:13.280> room.
• or from the Retail Association or from the Retail Association,<00:18:29.840> whatever."
• Association, whatever." Association, whatever."
• I would add that there's no additional state dollars associated with this bill.
• state dollars associated with this bill. state dollars associated with this bill.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Tyler Jefferson with the Alzheimer's Association, waving in support. Thank you.
• Tyler Jefferson with the Alzheimer's Association, waving in support.
• Thank you, Tyler Jefferson with the Alzheimer's Association, waving in support.
• Association waving in support? Is there any debate on the bill as amended?
• We have Tyler Jefferson waiving in support from the Alzheimer's Association.

Summary: The Committee on Fiscal Policy considered a long agenda of bills covering education, health, criminal justice, aging services, labor, and commemorative measures. Among the measures reported favorably were CS/SB 1062 creating Florida Speech and Debate Week and the Florida Debate Initiative; CS/SB 196 and CS/SB 864 establishing and protecting a Uterine Fibroid Research Database; CS/SB 432, as amended, adding restrictions on xylazine and nitrous oxide sales; CS/SB 1630 modernizing aging and disability services and guardianship oversight; SB 1112 on labor pool placement fees and registration; CS/SB 524 revising FDLE and medical examiner provisions; CS/SB 530 updating lottery operations; CS/SB 646 narrowing drug paraphernalia testing equipment exemptions to fentanyl, analogs, and xylazine; SB 676 strengthening animal cruelty penalties and the animal abuser database; CS/SB 1180 creating a recall process for community development district board members; CS/SB 800 increasing penalties for unlicensed engineering practice; CS/SB 1404 creating a memory care specialty license for assisted living facilities; SB 1072 creating an anti-Semitism task force; and CS/SB 1684 and CS/SB 1686 establishing and exempting records for a Parkinson’s Disease Registry. The committee also took up several high-profile commemorative bills. CS/SB 194, designating October 14 as Charlie Kirk Day of Remembrance, drew extensive public testimony both for and against, with supporters emphasizing civic engagement and free speech and opponents criticizing Kirk’s rhetoric and the appropriateness of a state honor. The bill was reported favorably after a recorded vote. SB 174, designating Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue in Miami-Dade County, also drew significant opposition testimony on similar grounds and was reported favorably. A late-file amendment to a related remembrance measure was withdrawn after discussion. Other bills, including the speech and debate, fibroid research, aging services, labor pool, animal cruelty, engineering, memory care, anti-Semitism, and Parkinson’s registry measures, were generally supported by agency, advocacy, or stakeholder testimony and advanced without major opposition. Several bills were amended before passage, including substitute or delete-all amendments on SB 432, SB 524, SB 646, SB 676, SB 1180, SB 800, and SB 1404. The committee repeatedly adopted amendments by voice vote and then reported the bills favorably by recorded roll call. The meeting ended with members requesting to be recorded on specific bills, followed by adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the interim director of the Louisiana Municipal Association.
• Again, Richard Williams with the Municipal Association. Same one. Thank you. Good morning.
• Again, Richard Williams with the Municipal Association.
• Paulette Bailey Wilson, with our Municipal Association, in support and not wishing to speak.
• Danny Garrett with the Louisiana School Board Association for our information, white cards.

Bills: HB17, HB21, HB24, HB41, HB42, HB45, HB1134, HB1237

Keywords: HB 17, District Attorneys' Retirement System, retirement system, reemployed retiree, reemployment, supplemental retirement benefit, service credit, benefit suspension, public retirement, district attorney, assistant district attorney, Louisiana District Attorneys' Association, employer reporting, annual report, retirement benefits, state employees, local funds, state funds, Municipal Employees' Retirement System, part-time retirees

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Richard Williams, the interim director of the Louisiana Municipal Association.
• Again, Richard Williams with the Municipal Association. Same one. Thank you. Good morning.
• Again, Richard Williams with the Municipal Association.
• Paulette Bailey Wilson, with our Municipal Association, in support, not wishing to speak.
• Danny Garrett with the Louisiana School Board Association for our information, white cards.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Retirement met on May 5 with four members present. HB 41 was deferred until the following week, and the committee approved the April 20, 2026 minutes. The committee then took up several retirement-system bills, many of them negotiated measures involving municipal police, firefighters, teachers, district attorneys, and judges. HB 45, by Rep. Bacallat, was amended and reported favorably. It makes changes to the Municipal Police Employees Retirement System, including retention bonuses, recognition of out-of-state police service, benefits for three officers killed in the line of duty before full enrollment, a DROP fix, and more competitive accrual rates. Testimony from the Louisiana Municipal Association, MEPERS, police representatives, and Mayor Helena Marino was strongly supportive, emphasizing that the bill resolves longstanding disputes and litigation. HB 1237, also by Rep. Bacallat, was reported favorably after testimony that it eliminates partial dissolution penalties for municipal police and adjusts related firefighter provisions; witnesses said it was a negotiated fix supported by municipal and fire stakeholders. HB 42, concerning phased retirement in the Teacher Retirement System, was reported favorably as a permissive framework allowing universities to offer phased retirement options. HB 17, by the District Attorneys’ Retirement System director, was reported favorably to add the Louisiana District Attorneys Association to the definition of employer and require annual reporting on the rehire statute. HB 21, a cleanup bill for the Municipal Employees Retirement System, was also reported favorably. HB 1134, creating a backdrop retirement option for certain judges whose positions are abolished, was amended and reported favorably after LASERS raised questions about early retirement eligibility and the need to bar future judicial candidacy. HB 24, by Rep. Owen, drew the most discussion. It would allow retired or certified teachers to return to work through contracts with school systems, with a three-year sunset. The sponsor argued it would help keep qualified teachers in classrooms and avoid midyear departures, while TRSL, the Louisiana School Board Association, and committee members raised concerns about fiscal impact, contractor status, workers’ compensation, leave rules, and overlap with a separate bill being worked on by the chairman. After an amendment clarifying the independent-contractor definition was adopted, the committee chose to hold the bill in committee for further work rather than advance it immediately. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• coded as an administration fee.
• it is coded um is an administration fee. it is coded um is an administration fee.
• amendment from the hospital association. amendment from the hospital association.
• part of what the hospital association part of what the hospital association had<01:03:26.480>
• <01:43:59.440> I Bol with the Hospital Association. I Bol with the Hospital Association.

Bills: SF0122, SJ0006, SF0121, SF0106

Keywords: medical necessity, insurance, healthcare policy, independent review, claim processing, shared parenting, family law, joint custody, child well-being, parental rights, pharmacy, collaborative care, healthcare, prescriptions, patient safety, Wyoming Pharmacy Act, welfare, Medicaid, employment, eligibility verification

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are grateful for the Baker administration and the Healey administration for doing those things
• And we are grateful for the administration, both the Baker administration and the Healy administration
• But is a large cost associated with it? Do we have any of those?
• Hello, I'm Andrea Kramer from the Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association.
• I'm with Associated Builders and Contractors of Massachusetts. We represent 480 companies.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a hybrid public hearing with testimony on a wide range of labor, workforce, unemployment insurance, apprenticeship, disability services, farm labor, hospital staffing, and workplace harassment bills. Chairs Jake Oliveira and Paul McMurtry outlined hearing procedures, limited testimony to two minutes, and noted written testimony would be accepted after the hearing. Committee members and staff were introduced throughout the session as witnesses arrived in person or remotely. A major portion of the hearing focused on unemployment insurance legislation. Greater Boston Legal Services, the AFL-CIO, and Rep. Joan Meschino supported bills to adjust UI eligibility for workers with fluctuating schedules and to streamline waivers and write-offs for non-fault overpayments, arguing the current system unfairly denies benefits or burdens workers who were not at fault. They also backed bills calling for more oversight and resources for the Division of Unemployment Assistance, citing persistent delays in benefit payments. NFIB opposed the UI changes, warning that the trust fund is headed toward insolvency and arguing the bills would worsen the system’s finances. Rep. Meschino and committee members emphasized that the proposals were meant to protect good-faith claimants and did not apply to fraud. Another large set of bills addressed wages, workforce development, and working conditions. Testimony supported raising and modernizing direct care wages to address severe staffing shortages in human services and disability services, with advocates from the Massachusetts Developmental Disability Council, The Arc of Massachusetts, parents of adults with disabilities, and a direct care worker describing how low pay and turnover harm people needing support. The committee also heard support for apprenticeship-related bills from the AFL-CIO and the Carpenters, while Associated Builders and Contractors opposed mandatory apprenticeship ratios and urged changes to align them with licensing laws. Farm worker advocates supported a bill to raise farm labor standards, including minimum wage, paid breaks, and paid time off, while the Farm Bureau opposed parts of it beyond the minimum wage increase. The hearing also featured testimony on workplace harassment training, overtime protections, hospital mandatory overtime, suicide prevention signage on construction sites, and a proposal to update the Massachusetts Medical Society’s mission language from “citizens” to “people.” Labor groups, educators, and compliance trainers strongly supported mandatory annual sexual harassment training, saying it would improve workplace culture and reduce harm. SEIU 1199 supported extending the hospital nurse mandatory overtime ban to the broader hospital workforce. Witnesses on the suicide prevention bill described personal losses in construction and recovery work and urged posting 988 information on job sites. The committee took no votes during the hearing; witnesses repeatedly asked for favorable reports, and members asked follow-up questions on UI calculations, apprenticeship ratios, small-business impacts, and emergency exceptions for hospital staffing.

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• I'm the president of the Florida Naturopathic Physicians Association.
• President of the Florida Naturopathic Physicians Association.
• We have Jeff Scott, Florida Medical Association, waves in opposition.
• We have Jeff Scott, Florida Medical Association, Waves and opposition.
• We have David Micah, Florida Hospital Association, waves in support.

Summary: The Health Professions and Program Subcommittee met with a quorum and considered seven bills, all of which were reported favorably. HB 497 would create a neurofibromatosis research grant program within the Department of Health; an amendment removed automatic recurring funding and made the program subject to annual appropriations. Proponents described the disease burden and the need for Florida-based research support. The bill passed 14-0. The committee also approved HB 223, which creates a licensing and regulatory framework for naturopathic medicine, including a Board of Naturopathic Medicine under the Department of Health. Supporters argued licensure would improve patient safety, transparency, and access, while the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association and Florida Medical Association waived in opposition. The bill passed 15-0. HB 683 modernizes physician assistant and APRN prescribing rules by removing certain administrative notice and prescription-labeling requirements and allowing a 30-day course of psychotropic medication; an amendment removed language that would have allowed practice without physician supervision during declared emergencies. It passed 15-0. The committee then approved CS for HB 121, which updates Florida’s seizure action plan law by extending protections to charter school students, requiring schools to accept physician-submitted plans, clarifying training duration, expanding training to regular bus drivers, and requiring seizure-response posters in schools. HB 353 adds sickle cell disease education to existing pain-management continuing education for health professionals, prompted by extensive testimony from patients and advocates about bias, delayed treatment, and lack of provider knowledge; it passed 15-0. HB 1175 directs the Florida Building Commission and State Fire Marshal to develop updated safety design standards for office surgery suites, with an amendment delaying the effective date to January 1, 2027; it passed 14-0. Finally, HB 251 creates a public records exemption for current emergency physicians and their families, narrowed by amendment to current physicians and children up to age 26 and made subject to sunset review; it passed 15-0. The meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

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• second vice president of the Association second vice president of the Association of<00:21:03.120
• It's a really well-run program. the uh city administrator and public the uh city administrator and public
• I'm also city engineers uh association.
• ,<01:10:07.920> a County Engineers Association, a County Engineers Association, a subsidiary
• <01:10:10.480> of subsidiary of the uh Association of subsidiary of the uh Association of

Bills: HF4736, HF4737, HF3806, HF3352, HF4840, HF3748

Keywords: emergency shelter, grant program, homelessness, capital investment, Minnesota Statutes, appropriation bonds, public funding, housing, infrastructure bonds, funding, appropriation, Minnesota constitutional amendment, public debt, state bonds, general obligation bonds, information technology, IT infrastructure, software licenses, technology modernization, capital improvements

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm currently the plan administrator for HPIA.
• Every insurance company uses a policy administration system.
• Administration Administration system<00:38:12.079> this<00:38:12.200> will<00:38:12.359
• doar Additionally the plan administrator doar Additionally the plan administrator Marsh<00:40:13.680
• association association as<00:42:28.839> shown<00:42:29.079> on<00:42:29.160> a

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And yet charter schools spend an enormous percentage of their funding on administration.
• This includes nurses, transportation expenses, facility maintenance, administration, and more.
• Arizona was one of the leanest for administration of everybody. They have to be... 61%.
• Arizona was one of the leanest for administration of everybody.
• They have to be. ...for administration of everybody.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, approval of the journal, and a recess for a performance honoring the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Members then introduced guests and proclamations, including Hispanic Leadership Institute Day at the Capitol and a Children’s Health Day advocacy group focused on immunizations. Additional personal privileges recognized the doctor of the day, a senator’s husband on an upcoming anniversary, and other visitors and community groups. The main legislative item was SCR 1032, a referral to the voters concerning school district budgets and classroom spending. After a Government Committee amendment and a floor amendment were adopted, the measure would require larger school districts to spend at least 60% of operational spending on direct instructional expenses, with penalties that phase in reductions to classroom site fund allocations for noncompliance. Supporters argued the measure would push more money into classrooms and teacher pay and give voters a say in how district funds are used; opponents said it would micromanage local school boards, cut funding for important services such as nurses, counselors, transportation, and maintenance, and unfairly target district schools while excluding charters. SCR 1032 passed the Senate 16-12, with two not voting, and was transmitted to the House. The Senate also passed SB 1071 by a vote of 17-11, with two not voting. Discussion centered on an amendment related to the Arizona Rangers; supporters said the bill was not a full repeal but would create external oversight, improve background checks, and require better training documentation and accountability. The chamber also announced upcoming caucus and committee meetings before adjourning until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 2112 will greatly expand safety manager training and associated site safety requirements.
• Bill 2112 will greatly expand safety manager training and associated site safety requirements.
• Bill 2112 suggests improvements to the Massachusetts regulations and associated building codes.
• In addition to being the town coordinator, I am also Leyden's grant writer and grant administrator.
• I wrote this grant and I serve as the administrator.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The joint committee held a public hearing on several bills covering state administration, land/public housing redevelopment, construction safety, memorialization, records management, rural grant equity, and animal research. Testimony in support of H. 3329 described an inequity in the Governor’s Council reimbursement statute, which currently cuts off travel, meals, and lodging reimbursement after four terms; the witnesses argued this disproportionately burdens members from western Massachusetts and creates geographic and economic barriers to service. The Boston Housing Authority supported legislation for the Brighton/Faneuil Gardens area, saying it would allow a mixed-use redevelopment that replaces all existing public housing units one-for-one, adds new affordable housing, creates replacement rehearsal space for displaced musicians, and preserves prevailing wage standards. A major portion of the hearing focused on S. 2112, a construction safety bill. Suffolk Construction, Boston building trade representatives, and local inspectors testified that the measure would strengthen training, site safety standards, oversight of high-risk work, and enforcement, while helping protect workers and the public and improving retention and recruitment of inspectors. Witnesses said the bill would align Massachusetts more closely with higher safety standards in other states and build on lessons from past construction-related incidents. The committee also heard support for S. 2162, which would create a COVID-19 memorial; the witness emphasized the scale of pandemic deaths in Massachusetts and the educational value of public memorials. Other testimony addressed H. 3321, which would modernize records preservation for registers of deeds by reducing reliance on costly microfilm in an increasingly electronic system; the witness said current law is outdated and expensive. H. 3311, aimed at advancing equity for rural communities receiving state grants, drew support from town officials in Leyden and Ashfield, who said small towns lack staff for grant writing and should be evaluated more on need and regional impact, especially for climate and public safety projects. Finally, S. 2117, concerning animal research, was supported by an animal welfare advocate who urged prohibiting state funds for animal experiments and shifting to non-animal research methods. After the hearing concluded, the chairs noted that additional hearings and polling votes would follow, and the committee then adjourned.