Transcript Highlights:

• So with every home, we actually have to engage a windstorm engineer, um, that designs the, uh, the, the
• To answer your first question, I am not an engineer, but I, I'm looking at one right now and uh.
• I don't know rafters, yeah, yeah, see, I told you I'm not an engineer, but, but yeah, I mean, there's
• So there is a lot of engineering that goes into it.
• It is important to us to advance the technology and the engineering, um, and then we think the market

Transcript Highlights:

• My last six years with the department were as director of construction and finally as chief engineer.
• My last six years with the department were as director of construction and finally as chief engineer.
• I'm the State Materials Engineer for the Florida Department of Transportation.
• I'm an engineer, but certainly there are a number of factors.
• I'm not an economist, I'm an engineer, but certainly, there are a number of factors at play that can

Summary: The Transportation Committee heard and acted on a series of transportation, licensing, and memorial bills. The first major item was CS/SB 462, the Department of Transportation agency package, which included provisions on transportation trust fund revenue for electric vehicles, county project reporting, speed limits, workforce grants, procurement and utility relocation procedures, airport participation, metropolitan planning, and related DOT administration. The committee adopted a substitute amendment after extensive discussion, especially over utility relocation reimbursement, penalties, and whether the bill was too rigid while stakeholders continued negotiating. Testimony came from industry and utility representatives both supporting the need to address delays and opposing the bill’s prescriptive approach. The bill passed 8-3. The committee then approved several specialty license plate and memorial measures. CS/SB 1024 added a United States Military Academy plate alongside the Naval Academy plate. CS/SB 824 created a Florida Highway Patrol specialty plate. CS/SB 666 created a Miami Northwestern Senior High School alumni plate, with supporters emphasizing the school’s history and scholarship uses for the revenue. CS/SB 916 authorized indemnification and insurance arrangements for commuter rail operations on the Brightline corridor, modeled on SunRail law, and was reported favorably after technical amendments. CS/SB 1290 updated DHSMV rules to conform to IFTA and federal motor carrier standards, raised the crash-damage reporting threshold, and made other registration and email-notification changes; CS/SB 1292 created a public-records exemption for certain email addresses used in motor vehicle and vessel notifications. CS/SB 1408 designated memorial highways for fallen officers Jesse Madsen and Elio Diaz, and CS/SB 1502 authorized FDOT blanket permits for mobile cranes to travel at night under specified conditions. All of these bills were reported favorably. The committee also received a lengthy informational presentation from FDOT on aggregates and the state’s construction-material supply chain. The witness described aggregate sources, transportation methods, recycling efforts, the importance of the Lake Belt and out-of-state imports, and the department’s supply-chain grant program. Senators asked about long-term reserves, stranded reserves, pricing, and the impact of regulation on future supply, and requested the study and a summary of regulatory impacts for members. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• the laboratories, with highly specialized research staffs, are at the forefront of scientific and engineering
• advances, collaborating with universities and companies and performing multidisciplinary science and engineering
• educational programs and initiatives that inspire and support the next generation of scientists and engineers
• King, has worked to strive to enhance women in science, technology, engineering, and math, both at the
• that they are equally qualified to take on STEM jobs and to help lead in science, technology, and engineering

Transcript Highlights:

• As we were driving down Highway 5, we kept passing engines from fire and fire crews.
• example on the DSA side would be making sure that there's a prompt deployment of DSA professional engineers
• Elaborate on how many more fire engines we've acquired over the last couple of years.
• During the base fire season staffing, when we would only have, I think, 65 fire engines staffed, we have
• over 300 fire engines staffed in addition to our aerial resources, where we have 10 helitack bases and

Transcript Highlights:

• instituting proceedings, a provision in a trust purporting to penalize an interested person for contesting
• c><00:43:08.120> for penalize an interested person for penalize an interested person for contesting
• the<00:43:08.960> trust<00:43:09.640> or<00:43:09.880> instituting contesting
• the trust or instituting contesting the trust or instituting other<00:43:10.840> proceedings<

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, April 10, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with an invocation by Associate Pastor Justin Wills of Miracle Temple Church in Lothian, followed by remarks recognizing his family’s ministry and requesting that the prayer be journalized. The chamber then moved through several introductions, including Johnston Square Elementary students who were recognized for strong grades, education-related guests, and staff and family members of senators. After the roll confirmed a quorum, the Senate returned to business. On third reading, House Bill 563, concerning emergency response animals, was amended to align the House and Senate versions. The amendment added self-defense as an affirmative defense, included horses used in search and rescue within the definition of emergency response animal, added a definition of law enforcement unit, and adjusted penalties. The bill then passed with 44 affirmative votes. The Senate also took up Senate Bill 159 on EMS vehicle supplies and neonatal care; the chamber refused to concur in House amendments and sent a message asking the House to recede or appoint a conference committee. The Senate introduced House Bill 420 and referred it to Rules. In Judicial Proceedings, Senate Bill 791 on immigration enforcement prohibitions in correctional facilities was reported favorably with three amendments, including technical changes, limits tied to certain convictions, notice requirements for state facilities, and authorization for judges or commissioners to consider immigration detainers in bail decisions. The minority leader and others requested that the bill be special ordered for more time to review and prepare amendments, arguing the issue was controversial and had been fast-tracked; supporters of the committee report said the bill had already been heard and discussed. The debate over the special-order motion was ongoing at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• necessarily a school, but they may have, like, uh, Big E or maybe the American Legion has an oratorial contest
• or maybe the American Legion has an or maybe the American Legion has an ortorial<02:41:18.640> contest
• > etc<02:41:19.760> etc<02:41:20.240> could<02:41:20.479> those ortorial contest
• etc etc could those ortorial contest etc etc could those organizations<02:41:21.439> be<02:41

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm just wondering how a judge would define the term important friend if there was a contest in a
• 00.800> a the term important friend if there was a the term important friend if there was a contest
• :05:03.199> So,<02:05:04.239> uh,<02:05:04.719> I<02:05:04.960> would contest
• So, uh, I would contest in a courtroom.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am a retired General Motors design mid-level executive with an engineering and economics background
• My qualification for speaking on this is, professionally, I'm a civil environmental engineer by education
• Now the point I want to make is we have in Massachusetts the ability, the engineering capability, and
• Almost every design engineering company in Massachusetts.
• Working directly on the Central Artery project, almost every design engineering company in Massachusetts

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on a proposed Massachusetts baby bonds program, including H. 3429, S. 2146, and the Treasurer’s related bill H. 48. Treasurer Goldberg and a broad coalition of advocates, researchers, health professionals, and people with lived experience said the program would create trust accounts for children born into low-income families or in DCF custody, with funds available at age 18 for education, homeownership, business startup, or other long-term asset-building uses. Supporters argued the program would help close the racial wealth gap, improve economic mobility, and not affect eligibility for financial aid or public benefits. Committee members asked about administration, investment returns, eligibility, and withdrawal rules; the Treasurer said the accounts would be held in trust and managed by her office with an advisory board, with funds accessible at 18 and usable through age 35 if the beneficiary remains a Massachusetts resident. No vote was taken during the testimony shown. The committee also heard testimony on legislation establishing Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day, including S. 2666 and H. 4625. Senator Ross, Representative Badger, physicians, survivors, and advocates described invasive lobular carcinoma as difficult to detect because it often grows in lines rather than forming a lump, can be missed on mammography, and is underfunded and underrepresented in research and clinical trials. Witnesses said the bill would codify an annual October 15 proclamation to raise awareness, improve diagnosis, and encourage more targeted research and treatment. Committee members asked why the disease is so hard to detect, and medical witnesses explained the imaging challenges and the lack of lobular-specific protocols. The witnesses urged favorable reports. The committee then took testimony on H. 4648, a bill concerning the purchase or lease of Fenn Farm in Stockbridge by the Stockbridge-Munsee community. Representative Davis, the Stockbridge Land Trust president, and the tribal president testified that the bill would remove a conservation restriction tied to a state MVP grant so the tribe could manage the land without a restriction that they said would conflict with tribal sovereignty and Indigenous stewardship practices. They said the parcel is a sacred site connected to Monument Mountain and that the restriction is unnecessary because the land is already surrounded by conserved property. The witnesses asked for favorable action on the bill. Finally, the committee heard testimony on H. 3416, a resolution urging Congress to create a national infrastructure bank. Representative Senna and several advocates argued that an off-budget infrastructure bank could finance major repairs and upgrades to roads, bridges, rail, water systems, broadband, and housing without adding to the state budget, while creating jobs and supporting economic growth. Witnesses cited historical precedents for national infrastructure banks and said Massachusetts could benefit substantially from such a program. The transcript shown does not include a committee vote or final action on the resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe we were the second participant to work with DWR and their consultant, MBK Engineers, to evaluate
• Our first 180-day permit had engineering fees of about $50,000.
• Our first 180-day permit had engineering fees of about $50,000.
• Our first 180-day permit had engineering fees of about $50,000.
• So they paid the Water Board their fees, they paid the consulting engineer their fees.

Summary: The hearing focused on oversight of AB 658 and the State Water Resources Control Board’s five-year temporary permits for groundwater recharge. Assembly Member Arambula and committee members discussed how the permits are intended to help capture high flows during wet periods, support SGMA implementation, and store water underground for later use. The State Water Board chair said the five-year permits have become an important tool, with seven five-year permits issued this season and over 43,000 acre-feet authorized, but noted that actual recharge depends on hydrology and that the board is open to improvements. Members and witnesses discussed several possible changes to make the program more effective: allowing a two-year delay before the five-year permit clock starts, codifying CEQA exemptions that have been used through executive order, and shifting from a public objection model to a public comment model to reduce delays. There was also discussion of water availability analyses, with some members asking whether the state could develop a broader statewide assessment to reduce consultant costs and make permitting more predictable. The board said such an effort would be large and costly, but could potentially save applicants money and improve consistency. District representatives described their experiences. Stockton East said the five-year permit was more cost-effective than repeated 180-day permits, but that the 90-20 methodology, consultant costs, and a burrowing owl survey condition made use difficult. Omaha-Hartnell Water District said its recharge work depends on simple, low-cost infrastructure and that five-year permits, CEQA reform, and lower upfront fees would help small districts. A consultant working with Scott Valley and Sierra Valley said five-year permits can work well in different basins, but local infrastructure, stakeholder coordination, streambed alteration agreements, and upstream flow constraints can limit recharge. Members also raised concerns about basin connectivity, downstream water rights, and the need to pair recharge with sustainable groundwater pumping and broader water storage planning.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a fellow of the Society of Women Engineers.
• I am a staunch STEM advocate, lecturer, and most recently author about women in engineering.
• And I listed colleagues from the Society of Women Engineers to help me on that quest, and ultimately
• In New Mexico, from engineers and linemen to technicians and cybersecurity professionals, the energy
• We are proud recipients of the STEM mini-grant, which will go towards our aerospace engineering program

Bills: HB40, HB100, HJR1, SB64, SB19, SB44, SB83

Keywords: educational retirement, annuity adjustments, cost of living, non-compounding payments, retirement benefits, STEM funding, education, innovation, public education, New Mexico, nominating committees, boards of regents, student representation, political party registration, New Mexico constitution, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• Our peer health educators are the health promotion engine behind LiveWell.
• Areas in business, agriculture, engineering, and education certainly have leaders in AI.
• I'm a computer scientist and an aerospace engineer, and I've been at the University of Washington for
• Further, the Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering is leading innovations in open-source large
• More recently, Professor Noah Smith from the Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering was named

Summary: The committee spent much of the meeting hearing presentations on student mental health supports at Central Washington University, Washington State University, the University of Washington, and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. CWU described high levels of student distress, loneliness, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and basic-needs insecurity, along with a campus-wide holistic well-being model that includes behavioral intervention teams, emergency aid, peer outreach, community partnerships, and a collegiate recovery community. WSU emphasized loneliness, common presenting concerns such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and relationship distress, and the role of housing and residence life, resident advisors, living-learning communities, and coordinated crisis response in identifying and supporting students. UW highlighted prevention and support programs through LiveWell, including alcohol and other drug consultations, confidential advocacy, suicide intervention, student needs navigation, peer health educators, and peer wellness coaches. The community and technical college system reported persistent access barriers, especially for students ages 18 to 24 and those facing housing or food insecurity, and said the legislature-funded mental health pilot at four colleges expanded counseling access, telehealth, and referral pathways, while broader system efforts focus on awareness, telehealth, basic-needs supports, and workforce training in behavioral health fields. Members asked each panel how they gather student feedback, and the institutions said they use surveys, evaluations, and ongoing outreach to students in services. Questions also focused on substance-use and recovery resources, Greek life outreach, and whether colleges have enough licensed mental health staff versus academic advisors; the community college board said not all colleges have licensed mental health providers on staff, and some rely on community contracts or telehealth. The committee also discussed whether counseling services are increasing because of post-pandemic effects or because students are more willing to seek help, with presenters saying both factors likely play a role. The committee then shifted to artificial intelligence in higher education. Washington State University, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and the community and technical college system described campus AI task forces, governance structures, and efforts to set policies for students, faculty, and staff. Presenters said institutions are requiring course-level AI use statements, promoting ethical and transparent use, expanding access to approved tools such as Microsoft Copilot, and using AI for teaching, research, advising, and administrative support while guarding privacy, equity, and academic integrity. Members raised concerns about deepfakes, bias, student monitoring, and whether AI should be used to screen applications or evaluate student work; presenters said human review remains essential and that some institutions prohibit AI use in hiring or admissions screening. The final presentation, from OSPI, described the statewide rollout of the School Links high school and beyond plan platform under 2023 legislation, saying it will standardize career and college planning across K-12, provide better data and student guidance, and connect students to postsecondary pathways and employers; OSPI said the rollout is underway but current funding only extends through June 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• If they've never done any planning or engineering, sending someone out to look at their project to get
• Ideally, the SEC will apply for engineering design through the Interstate Stream Commission, and those
• So, we consider ourselves part of that rural economic engine. And that keeps communities vital.
• We also manage the Army Corps of Engineers.
• That went on for almost three years just to find out that the engineering plan was not sufficient enough

Transcript Highlights:

• code, just to get used to it—not just for administering jurisdictions, but design professionals, engineers
• Just to get used to it, not just for administering jurisdictions, but design professionals, engineers
• I'm one myself as a licensed civil engineer.
• So stable housing in this rural community is proven as an economic engine. their biggest challenge is
• proven as an economic engine.

Summary: The Senate Housing Committee heard presentations on a range of housing finance, permitting, and affordability tools. Chattanooga described its affordable housing PILOT program, which uses a per-unit property tax abatement tied to the rent loss from providing affordable units, with a 15-year term and annual compliance monitoring. Committee members asked about the program’s structure, whether it had been used elsewhere, and who was participating; the presenter said the first mixed-income project would bring 278 units with 42 affordable units and that the model was attracting private market-rate developers. Shoreline then described its MFTE and inclusionary zoning approach, emphasizing that longer tax exemption periods and station-area zoning changes had helped spur development, with most current pipeline projects concentrated near light rail stations. The committee also heard from the Municipal Research Services Center and the Department of Commerce on tax increment financing, proportional impact fees, and permit timelines. Commerce explained that TIF can fund public improvements such as roads, utilities, broadband, and some affordable housing or child care facilities, while proportional impact fee guidance is intended to help jurisdictions charge fees more closely aligned with actual project impacts. On permit timelines, Commerce presented its first annual report under recent law changes, using 2024 as a baseline year and noting that reported timelines were generally longer than statutory goals; members asked about outliers, paper versus electronic processing, and whether back-and-forth between applicants and staff was driving delays. Commerce said it would follow up with more data, including on CHIP funding and permit reform practices. Several local governments then shared permitting process improvements. Auburn reported relatively short review cycles and described its move to fully electronic permitting, internal performance standards, and a stock plan program that speeds review for repeated home designs. Bellevue described an AI permitting pilot with a local startup to help with pre-application questions, document triage, and plan review, aiming to reduce incomplete applications and revision cycles. Seattle presented a pilot for accessory dwelling unit co-development in which a mission-driven partner would help homeowners split lots, finance, build, and manage ADUs, with the homeowner eventually buying out the partner and retaining ownership; committee members asked about rent setting, management fees, and default risk, and staff said they would follow up. The committee also heard brief overviews of community land trusts and limited equity cooperatives as permanent affordability models, with presenters urging continued state and local funding support and policy recognition for these approaches.

Transcript Highlights:

• entities work effectively with other state agencies: Office of the State Auditor, Office of the State Engineer
• Being from the Department of Transportation (DOT), I know we had many engineers on staff who helped create
• I want to follow up on the last thing you said about the challenge of obtaining design engineering.
• Is there a possibility of working with any of the schools of engineering in the state?
• Unless they have a licensed engineer, they can't sign off on the project.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are charged with being the discovery science engine and translating to clinical. trials and interventions
• The star is, you know, we are charged with being the discovery science engine.
• So again, we had to use value engineering to have an amazing team. Support.
• GPS, genetically engineered GPS, so that they can find the tumor cells.
• These are the genetically engineered GPS, and we collected cells for two more.

Transcript Highlights:

• limited access combined with environmental constraints delayed critical environmental studies and engineering
• consultation with permitting agencies that balances the project's potential environmental impacts, engineering
• considered in the design of the project, the conditions of soil, for example, and hydrology for engineering
• number of iterations were evaluated from all aspects, from environmental, cultural, and also from an engineering
• It's the combination of the engineering and environmental challenges, as well as the studies that had

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• something a transition to engineered something a transition to engineered products<04:11:42.960>
• <04:12:14.800> Engineered<04:12:15.279> Lumber carried that value.
• Engineered Lumber carried that value.
• 15:35.199> a<04:15:35.439> building, an engineer who's designing a building, an engineer
• Engineers don't realize when they just put SPF on their specs and they engineer it and stamp it, they're

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would direct that to Commissioner Cass and his team of engineers.
• <03:41:41.520> so Cass and his team of Engineers so Cass and his team of Engineers so they're
• <04:03:58.720> Dave commissioner and chief engineer Dave commissioner and chief engineer Dave
• <04:08:08.960> series shortages are in our engineering series shortages are in our engineering
• On the engineering side, what we're finding is there are fewer graduates in civil engineering and a great

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Division 2 Finance Committee heard an overview and budget presentation from New Hampshire Fish and Game, led by new Executive Director Stephanie Simi and Business Division Chief Kathy Leonti. The agency described its mission to conserve and manage fish, wildlife, and marine resources, and emphasized growing pressures from disease, climate impacts, habitat change, and increased public demand. Simi said the department is largely funded by hunting and fishing license revenue and federal grants, is reviewing staffing and internal processes, and faces critical needs including permanent funding for environmental review staff, infrastructure and IT modernization, and possible service reductions if additional support is not found. Members asked about specific program and policy issues, including chronic wasting disease in deer, hemorrhagic disease in rabbits and hares, moose population decline, and a proposed bait-disease bill. The department said it is actively monitoring diseases and did not see a need for the bait bill at this time. Legislators also discussed the Hike Safe program, which the department said has grown from an expected $100,000 annually to more than $300,000, and a possible boating version of that program, which the department said remains under consideration but would involve complex logistics and multiple agencies. Questions were also raised about rescue costs, out-of-state hikers, and whether boat registrations could be used as a revenue source; Fish and Game said boat registration is handled by the Department of Safety, though the department receives $5 per registered boat for the public boat access program. The budget discussion focused on revenue projections, use of unrestricted Fish and Game funds, and dependence on federal reimbursements. Leonti said the department met the governor’s general fund target but not the Fish and Game fund target without using surplus unrestricted funds, leaving only about $100,000 in the fund by the end of the biennium. She said the budget uses more than $18 million in Fish and Game funds annually against about $14 million in unrestricted revenue, and that five of 193 full-time positions remain unfunded. The department warned that if federal grants were halted, it could cost about $5 million over five months and force the Fish and Game fund to cover the gap. Committee members also requested that future presentations be sent electronically in advance, and the department agreed to do so.

Transcript Highlights:

• systems that meet the standards of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
• system meets the standards of ASHRAE, which is a very prominent and well-established society of engineers
• system meets the standards of ASHRAE, which is a very prominent and well-established society of engineers

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Housing, Construction and Community Development Committee met in Albany and considered a series of housing and homeownership bills. Early actions included reporting S.852 (Homebuyer Renovation Property Tax Exemption Act) to Finance, S.955 on smart access systems to Internet and Technology, and S.7933A on registrations of residential mortgages in default. The committee also advanced S.8675, the CAREforce First-Time Homebuyers Act, after a lengthy discussion about whether the bill inappropriately targets a specific workforce; supporters said it addresses a documented shortage of human services workers and includes existing SONYMA income eligibility, while opponents raised concerns about favoring one occupation over others. The bill was reported with some members in the negative and others voting to advance without recommendation. Members then reported S.9650, which would prohibit landlords from including incorrect rent decontrol information in certain leases and standardize notices for Affordable New York Housing Program units, and S.9679, which would codify the Block-by-Block Home Ownership Program in state law. Both had prior Senate history and drew some negative or AWR votes. The committee also discussed and advanced S.9742, which would allow residential units in multiple dwellings to omit openable windows if they meet ASHRAE ventilation standards; supporters said the change is needed to facilitate office-to-residential conversions, while members raised questions about maintenance, egress, and the bill’s limited application to localities under the multiple dwelling law. Finally, the committee reported S.989, establishing the vacant rental improvement program, after noting it had previously passed the Senate and was being reintroduced. Throughout the meeting, several bills were described as reintroductions or prior Senate measures, and multiple motions were made to report bills either to Finance, the floor, or another committee, with several members voting in the negative or to advance without recommendation on selected measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, jet engines for commercial actors - would they still get a property tax exemption or is
• designation to bring more manufacturing not only with satellites, not only with airframe power plant parts, engine
• A public item versus, for example, commercial jet engines.