Transcript Highlights:

• Katie, are you guys working with the university system, the K-12 system, with various agencies...
• Chairman, Representative Richter, K-12, C-TE, and the university system are all on not only the Workforce
• CTE and the university system are all on not only the Workforce Development Council, but also on the
• And so right now we're going through a process working very closely with the university system and Job
• Chairman, we just had a meeting actually with the officials from the university system at the beginning

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Budget Section’s Commerce and Legal Services Division met to review the Department of Commerce base budget for the 2027-29 biennium and to receive an update on Commerce programs. Legislative Council staff first walked the committee through the “blue sheet” base budget summary, explaining the major line items, the large share of federal grant authority in Commerce’s budget, and the continuing appropriations that support several Commerce funds. Members asked how grant funding is coordinated across agencies, and staff said collaboration varies by program but is strong in areas like UAS and LIHEAP. Commerce Commissioner Chris Schilken then presented on current activities, focusing heavily on grant administration, transparency, and economic development programs. Members questioned how grant applicants are selected, whether Commerce tracks applications and return on investment, and how long grant awards take to reach recipients. The commissioner said Commerce uses scoring criteria, outside reviewers, a minimum 30-day application window, and typically completes awards within two to three months. A lengthy exchange followed over whether Commerce should open some grants only to intended recipients versus running competitive application processes; Commerce said it follows best-practice grantmaking and that its attorney in the Attorney General’s office approved that approach. Commerce also highlighted the North Dakota Development Fund, citing long-term investment and job creation results, examples such as Red Trail Energy, Packet Digital, Valiance, Corvent Medical, child care loans, and the Automate ND program. Members asked about acceptable failures, lessons learned, regional economic development coordination, and the expansion of the fund into non-primary sectors. Workforce Director Katie Ralston Howell then outlined a statewide workforce ecosystem review, a new governor’s workforce sub-cabinet, and three task forces focused on simplifying entry, warm handoffs, and data integration. She discussed the in-demand occupations list, Workforce Pell, apprenticeships, and efforts to better connect students with employers and higher education. Commerce also briefly reviewed housing programs and a new housing sub-cabinet. No votes were taken; the committee simply received testimony, asked questions, and adjourned after setting up the next meeting to hear the Attorney General budget in June.

Transcript Highlights:

• the University of Minnesota. the University of Minnesota.
• So I teach at the university. I teach townships about culvert maintenance.
• So I teach at the university. I teach townships about culvert maintenance.
• So I teach at the university. I teach townships about culvert maintenance.
• So I teach at the university. I teach townships about culvert maintenance.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Rep. Athena Hollins and Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart introduced Minnesota’s proposed climate superfund bill, describing it as a way to make major historical greenhouse gas polluters help pay for climate adaptation and infrastructure repair. They said the bill would target large fossil fuel corporations with significant emissions and use the revenue for projects such as stormwater upgrades, bridge and roof protection, erosion control, drinking water protection, cooling cities, and other resilience work. Both lawmakers framed the proposal as a matter of accountability and fairness, arguing that Minnesotans should not keep paying for damage caused by companies that profited from fossil fuel pollution. Several supporters testified in favor of the bill, including St. Paul City Council Vice President Nyang Kheimey, former legislator and medical student Hunter Cantrell, Unidos Minnesota volunteer Bonnie Becol, and 100% Minnesota’s Aurora Vautrin. They emphasized local climate impacts such as flooding, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, emerald ash borer damage, asthma, and infrastructure failures, and said the costs are increasingly falling on taxpayers, local governments, and vulnerable communities. Kheimey highlighted municipal needs and St. Paul’s own climate investments, while Cantrell focused on environmental racism and health harms, and Becol and Vautrin stressed species loss, community recovery costs, and the burden on residents. In the question-and-answer portion, Hollins and Johnson Stewart explained that the bill would apply to fossil fuel corporations with at least 1 billion metric tons of carbon emissions and a nexus to Minnesota, not local utilities. They said the State Auditor’s office would determine the assessments owed by companies, while the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency would hold the fund and administer grants. They also said they were looking to models in Vermont and New York and hoped the proposal could attract bipartisan support because it is tied to affordability and shifting costs away from taxpayers and onto polluters. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, and the event ended with the sponsors opening the bill to questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we are excited about partnering with internal and external partners within the universities, as well
• So I would like to highlight one program in particular, which is at Navajo Technical University, their
• To highlight one program in particular, which is at Navajo Technical University, their early childhood
• And then they actually have a relationship with the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, with their Hawaiian
• The early childhood education two-plus-two program with the University of Hawaii.

Summary: The committee began with a presentation on the 520 Native American Language and Culture certificate, created to let proficient tribal language and culture speakers teach in K-12 schools without a bachelor’s degree. LESC staff, PED, and HED described the certificate’s statutory basis, the role of tribes and pueblos in setting proficiency standards, and ongoing challenges such as uneven MOAs, limited professional development, rural access barriers, data gaps, and retention concerns. PED said oversight of 520 is moving from the licensure bureau to the Indian Education Division, and HED reported that the tribal education technical assistance centers authorized in 2023 are still in procurement but are expected to be awarded in early 2026. A student, Alonzo Hughes, testified about how learning Tewa from 520-certified teachers helped him understand his culture and speak with elders, and members praised the program’s role in language revitalization and asked about funding, teacher pathways, and whether similar models exist in other states. Committee members then discussed several PED rule updates. Staff reviewed an adopted rule implementing HB 54 on AEDs and cardiac emergency response plans, including staff training requirements and staggered compliance dates, and a proposed rule for school nurse licensure under HB 195 that would create a three-tier system and align nurse pay with teacher pay. They also reviewed proposed changes to the Community Schools Act rule, including a full-time community school coordinator requirement, updated grant language, and broader coalition membership criteria; PED said the broader language would not conflict with the Martinez-Yazzie work. A proposed bilingual teacher rule would standardize coursework requirements, add trans-languaging and culturally relevant curriculum competencies, and allow Native American language certification applicants to demonstrate proficiency using tribal standards. In questions, members raised concerns about AEDs being present at athletic events, the need for the amended school nurse bill to move experienced nurses directly into higher levels, and whether the community schools rule’s broader coalition language could affect current education litigation. Members also asked about funding for 520 programs, teacher residency or cohort models, and how to support advanced language instruction and sustainability. PED said the Indian Education Fund and school budgets can support some of the work, but additional strategic funding and cross-training are needed. The committee also heard that New Mexico’s 520 system is unusually robust compared with other states, and members encouraged staff to present the model at national conferences. The meeting ended with the director’s report, which noted a flat budget request of $2,024,300, staff turnover including Natasha Davalos’s departure, and appreciation for the committee’s work before adjournment for the holidays.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have, through our partners, the Village of Towski Valley, through New Mexico State University,
• Of overhead to the university from our research activities.
• And then we have partners in our national labs, universities, and business entities.
• For that part of the work, the university would have received about $5.4 million over four years.
• So that does have some broad implications for the university as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• districts, community, junior colleges, charter schools, uh, medical schools, some colleges and universities
• How important it is for our school district officers and our colleges and and and university officers
• So this bill not only affects the school districts, but affects the colleges and universities where many
• Our association has about 1700 members and it includes colleges, university, ISDs, municipalities, and
• The, it's a different type of danger that the school district officers and university officers face,

Transcript Highlights:

• This thing we call the universe.
• <00:08:27.360> Victor<00:08:27.840> Glover ripples into the universe?
• Victor Glover ripples into the universe?
• This thing we<00:08:36.719> call<00:08:36.880> the<00:08:37.200> universe.
• You have this we call the universe.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think as a state here, ourselves, myself included, working with the University of Minnesota, um, we're
• I think as a state here, ourselves, myself included, working with the University of Minnesota, um, we're
• But yet we've also done, uh, with the University of Minnesota, a camera study here.
• <00:19:17.600> of<00:19:17.760> Minnesota<00:19:18.720> University<00:19:19.039>
• of University of Minnesota University of University of Minnesota University of Minnesota.<00:

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 40, authored by Representative Burkel, was heard and laid over. The bill would remove the statutory requirement that farmed deer/elk facilities maintain a physical barrier preventing contact with wild deer, and it would also strike language allowing revocation of registration and seizure/destruction of animals for fencing or escape violations. Burkel argued the current law is unfair to deer farmers, treats them differently than other livestock producers, and amounts to a regulatory taking of a legal agricultural enterprise. Supporters from the Minnesota Elk Breeders Association and Minnesota Deer Farmers Association said the 2023 secondary-fence requirement is expensive, difficult to implement on long-established properties, and has pushed some breeders out of the industry. They described costs ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, said the DNR’s guidance is case-by-case and unclear, and argued that the penalty structure is too harsh for what they view as minor or unavoidable escape incidents. One testifier said the industry is being driven out of business and that the state should help pay for the fencing if it remains required. The DNR opposed the bill. Its enforcement representative said the physical-contact barrier is intended to reduce the risk of chronic wasting disease transmission and that removing penalties would leave little incentive for compliance. He said the agency continues to work with the roughly 10 noncompliant whitetail farms and that the DNR provides case-by-case review because farm topography varies. In committee questions, members discussed whether wild deer commonly travel along fence lines, whether ear-tagged deer have been found, and whether there is a standard approved fence design; the DNR said there is no single standard fence, only suggestions and review. Representative Burkel closed by reiterating his support for the bill and the committee then laid it over.

Transcript Highlights:

• So what I can provide is what I'm saying is through University of Florida, Schimberg Center for Housing
• So when you said this, how the developers are selected, I was reading a report that the University of
• The University of Florida Schimberg Center for Affordable Housing Studies estimated that in 2022, 18%
• The University of Florida Schimberg Center for Affordable Housing Studies estimated that in 2022, 18%
• In Leon County, you have state government and the university here, and in Alachua, you have the University

Summary: The Committee on Community Affairs held its first meeting and heard presentations focused on affordable housing implementation under the Live Local Act. Florida Housing Finance Corporation described its role in administering rental and homeownership programs, including SAIL, SHIP, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, disaster recovery efforts, supportive housing, and the Live Local funding and tax incentives. Officials said the first year’s $150 million Live Local rental allocation was fully committed to 23 developments producing 3,171 units with mixed-income set-asides, and they outlined how projects were selected through competitive solicitations tied to statutory priorities such as mixed-use development, publicly owned land, foster youth, rural areas of opportunity, redevelopment, and housing near military installations. They also discussed the tax credit contribution program, the missing-middle property tax exemption, sales tax rebates, and the year-one ad valorem exemption for qualifying affordable projects. Members asked detailed questions about the data and program design, including the use of area median income figures, per-unit subsidy levels, county targeting, tenant relocation during redevelopment, and whether the programs were helping lower-income households. Florida Housing said it uses competitive scoring and data from the Schimberg Center and that redevelopment projects are supposed to include tenant relocation plans. The homeownership portion of the presentation covered the Hometown Heroes program, which provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers, with exceptions for active-duty military and veterans. Staff said the program has assisted more than 21,000 families and leveraged over $6.5 billion in first mortgages, and members asked about repayment rates, credit scores, and whether participants were staying in homes long enough to show the program was serving intended buyers. The committee then heard from OPAGA on two required Live Local evaluations: affordable housing strategies in other states and affordable housing policies in Florida. OPAGA reported that Florida has a high share of cost-burdened households, with 1.5 million households cost burdened and 1.4 million severely cost burdened, and that Florida’s counties and municipalities reported more than $1.4 billion in affordable housing expenditures in fiscal year 2023-24. The report identified 13 innovative out-of-state programs, with three considered high-potential for Florida implementation, and summarized Florida local government practices such as SHIP-funded homeownership and rental assistance, expedited permitting, mixed-income zoning, rehabilitation programs, and interlocal cooperation. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, like, our teachers aren't coming out of our Minnesota universities or colleges with any dyslexia
• Why aren't we going to the university systems who are training our teachers to make sure that our teachers
• <00:09:10.920> or out of our Minnesota universities or out of our Minnesota universities or
• <00:09:16.640> systems<00:09:17.240> who<00:09:17.360> are to the university
• systems who are to the university systems who are training<00:09:17.920> our<00:09:18.040>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• as Women's History Month, but particularly March 5 is set aside as National Women's College and University
• Speaker, we are joined in the gallery by the members of the George Mason University Student Government
• Association, led by their university president, Dr.
• With over 40,000 students, Mason is proud to be the largest and most diverse public university in Virginia
• With over 40,000 students, Mason is proud to be the largest and most diverse public university in Virginia

Keywords: March 05, 2026 - Regular Session, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the very young age of 16, as a recent graduate of Atwater High School, was accepted to Stanford University
• A native of Los Angeles, George attended Los Angeles public schools, Columbia University, and graduated
• from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Arts with honors.
• A native of Los Angeles, George attended Los Angeles Public Schools, Columbia University and graduated
• from the University of Southern California, Bachelor of Arts with honors.

Summary: The Assembly met with a quorum present after a roll call and prayer, then proceeded through routine journal, procedural, and guest-introduction business. Members recognized several guests, including local district officials, Japanese business leaders, and students/interns, and the chamber also observed remarks about the Texas flooding tragedy during the prayer. The body then moved through the daily file, including second-reading items and concurrence votes on AB 390, which expands the slow-down/move-over law to stationary vehicles, and AB 1478, which allows retailers to absorb mattress recycling fees; both measures had Senate amendments concurred in by recorded vote. The Assembly adopted AJR 12, a bipartisan resolution recognizing Head Start Month and urging Congress and the President to protect and increase Head Start funding. Multiple members spoke in support, emphasizing the program’s role in early education, health, nutrition, and family support, especially in rural and low-income communities; the resolution received 70 ayes and no noes after 69 co-authors were added. The chamber also adopted ACR 96, designating a portion of Highway 101 in Humboldt County as the Patty Berg Memorial Highway, and SCR 50, which calls for state review of climate adaptation and maladaptation criteria to improve climate resilience planning; both measures passed without opposition. On the consent calendar, the Assembly added co-authors to ACR 81 and adopted the second-day consent calendar and remaining consent items, all by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The body also approved a motion to return AB 529 from engrossing and enrolling to the Senate for further action. The session concluded with numerous adjournment-in-memory tributes, most notably for Rincon Tribal Council Chairman Bo Mazzetti and former legislative secretary George Steffes, followed by a moment of silence for each and adjournment until Monday, July 14 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Kentucky and is proud to also be a commissioned Kentucky colonel. ...University of Kentucky and is
• And in this state, we have a universal voucher program, so any parent can choose any school for their
• Arizona State University will provide special data equipment on the new lunar rover when we get back
• Arizona State University will provide special data equipment on the New.
• Arizona State University will provide special data equipment on the new lunar rover when we get back

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FOUNDED IN 1908 ON THE CAMPUS OF HOWARD UNIVERSITY ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA WAS THE FIRST HISTORICALLY BLACK
• THIS SUSTAINS AND STRENGTHENS FLORIDA'S UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE PROGRAM.
• WE WERE PIONEERS IN GETTING UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE INTO OUR STATE AND BEING NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION
• FOR UNIVERSAL SCHOOL FREEDOM.
• WHEN WE PASSED THE UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE BILL I SAT ON THE PANEL DISCUSSION SHORTLY THEREAFTER AND

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• AS WAS MENTIONED BY ONE OF THE SPEAKERS THE OVERALL UNIVERSE WAS IMMENSE AND QUITE FRANKLY LIMITLESS.
• THIS DRAINS STATIC UNIVERSE DOWN TO THREE TYPES OF PROPERTIES.
• MY NAME IS ALYSSA., SENIOR OF FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY GROUP IN SENATOR PASSIDOMO DISTRICT OF NAPLES
• WAS BORN AND RAISED IN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA AND AM A STUDENT AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY.
• >> MY NAME IS TYLER HOFFMAN., SENIOR AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Capping that career as the interim Dean in the College of Education at Athens State University.
• one student researcher who presented at a conference on global health leaders at Johns Hopkins University
• At Johns Hopkins University, we think what we've done is create a place for these high-potential talented
• One of our math and science faculty just told me he's now the new Dean of Creative Arts at DePaul University
• We want to have university-level resources that... ...have university-level facilities.

Bills: SB1, HB176, HB86, SB1, HB176, HB86

Keywords: workers' compensation, public education, employee injury, insurance trust fund, on-the-job injury, administrative procedures, HB176, Alabama sales tax, use tax, sales and use tax exemption, optical aids, eyeglasses, contact lenses, prescription glasses, vision care, optometrist, ophthalmologist, optician, medical devices, local option tax exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• She's a sophomore at the University of Louisville majoring in political science and Spanish.
• 00:01:58.240> sophomore<00:01:58.560> at<00:01:58.719> the<00:01:58.799> University
• <00:01:59.200> of She's a sophomore at the University of She's a sophomore at the University
• She's a graduating senior at Kentucky State University.
• Uh, Miss Harper Hall from the University of Louisville, and she's going through political science.

Keywords: HB 66 – discussion began at 00:03:37, 958, all

Summary: The House State Government Committee met and established a quorum after opening with the Pledge of Allegiance and introductions of several guests and interns. Representatives introduced their interns and other visitors, who were welcomed by the chair before the committee turned to its only agenda item, House Bill 66, sponsored by Representative Hodgson. The committee adopted a committee substitute for HB 66. Hodgson explained that the bill concerns the use of video meetings by public agencies, boards, and commissions. The substitute would require agencies to post members’ names, term dates, and contact information; allow routine, informational, or advisory meetings to be conducted entirely by video conference to reduce travel costs; require a physical quorum for meetings involving policy, taxation, regulation, or large grants; and require agencies to adopt procedures for remote participation. He emphasized that the bill would not affect legislative committee meetings. Members asked whether the bill would apply to local boards, whether board members are compensated for attendance and travel, and whether it would affect legislative committees. Hodgson said it would apply broadly to public agencies, including local boards such as library boards, but not to legislative committees. He also said compensation for attendance would remain unchanged, while travel expenses would not be paid when no travel occurs. The committee then voted HB 66 favorably with 18 yes votes and one pass, and later adopted a title amendment by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is relating to the University of Hawaii. For the House, myself and Rep.
• This one also we are working in contact with the university, and so we are working on a consent draft
• House Bill 1169, HD1, SD2, relating to the University of Hawaii Conference Center Revolving Fund.
• House Bill 1170, HD1, SD1, relating to the University of Hawaii resident tuition fee.
• Uh, next bill, House Bill 1171, HT2, SD1, relating to the University of Hawaii relief funding.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Subadi at University of Wyoming to do an analysis.
• The university has data that they work with.
• The university has data that they work with.
• The university has data that they work with.
• [laughter] I notice your chart doesn't have University of Wyoming on it, and I know the university is

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee opened by taking roll for the Joint Transportation, Highways, and Military Affairs Committee and noting that 20 topics had been submitted for discussion, including one late addition. Members were asked to number the topics for reference, and the chair explained that each presenter should give a brief overview before the committee returned to the dais for questions and possible ranking or action. No votes were taken during the portion provided. The first topic was a request from the Associated General Contractors of Wyoming to have TRIP, a third-party transportation research organization, present a report on Wyoming’s highway system. The report is intended to identify transportation needs and 25 priority projects, and the committee generally supported hearing the report and methodology directly from TRIP. The next topic combined two similar railroad safety proposals. Representative Chestek described a bill addressing train length, wayside detectors, and track inspections, citing the East Palestine derailment and concerns about reduced inspection frequency. Committee members raised questions about federal preemption and enforcement authority; Chestek said states can be more protective of safety where federal rules leave gaps, and WYDOT said it would need additional expertise and staffing to administer such a program. No public testimony was offered on the railroad topic. The committee then heard two proposals from the Wyoming Military Department. One would study Tricare subsidies for mental health providers by comparing Tricare reimbursement rates with other insurers, gathering de-identified data on eligible members and provider participation, and then returning to the committee with findings before any legislative recommendation. Members discussed whether the issue might fit better in Labor, Health, and Social Services, but the military department said it believed the committee had a strong connection to the topic. The second military topic would study Service Group Life Insurance for state active duty, comparing state and federal death benefits for Guard members to identify any shortfalls. The committee also briefly discussed a VSO program review raised by Representative Neff, focusing on the number of veterans service officers and retention, but no action was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• hearing much about the University of Minnesota Extension.
• hearing much about the University of hearing much about the University of Minnesota<00:14:43.720>
• :52.600> the<00:14:52.680> University<00:14:53.079> of extension from the University
• But farmers, University Extension are all able to connect into that.
• But farmers, University Extension are all able to connect into that.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , Florida A&M University, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, as we celebrate FAMU Day at
• How many of you want your kid to go to FSU or any state university system?
• How many of you want your kid to go to FSU or any state university system?
• That's 22,000 students who go to private universities. That does.
• That's 22,000 students who go to private universities, who are in private universities.

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the pledge, quorum call, and several recognitions, including guests for Education and Sharing Day, law enforcement officer of the day Detective Miata Anderson, and later FAMU Day at the Capitol and other visiting groups. The chamber adopted the special order report and then moved through a series of budget-related bills and conforming measures, with debate focused largely on recurring funding, environmental programs, housing, insurance reserves, and tax policy. Members approved HB 5011/SB 2506, which conform environmental resource funding to the proposed budget by shifting Seminole Gaming Compact-related dollars from recurring to nonrecurring funding; supporters said this preserves annual legislative review, while opponents warned it would reduce funding for the Resilient Florida program, wildlife corridor protection, invasive species removal, and other conservation efforts. The House then passed HB 5013, reducing state-funded property reinsurance reserves by lowering the RAP program and repealing FORA funding, and HB 5501, which redirects documentary stamp tax revenues from housing and transportation trust funds to general revenue; Democrats argued the housing changes would reduce affordable housing support, while Republicans said the move was needed to control recurring spending. The chamber also passed HB 5015 on state group insurance, HB 5201 on Florida PALM accounting conforming changes, HB 5203 on Capitol Center tenancy and utilities control, and HB 5009 creating a Florida Accountability Office and revising audit and budgeting functions. The most extended debate came on HB 7031, which permanently reduces the state sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25% and also lowers several related tax rates. Supporters described it as broad-based, immediate tax relief for Floridians, while opponents said property tax relief would be more targeted and that sales tax cuts also benefit tourists and out-of-state visitors. The bill passed 112-0. The House then took up the main budget bill, HB 501, and subcommittee chairs outlined the proposed $112.9 billion budget, including education, health care, transportation, agriculture and natural resources, higher education, state administration, justice, and IT spending. Members began questioning the pre-K-12 budget on school funding, vouchers, proration, mental health and safety allocations, and inflation, with the discussion continuing beyond the excerpt provided.