Transcript Highlights:

• As a former educator myself and an engineer by education and profession, I know personally that there
• As a former educator myself and an engineer by education and profession, I know personally that there
• As a former educator myself and an engineer by education and profession, I know personally that there
• As a former educator myself and an engineer by education and profession, I know personally that there
• As a former educator myself and an engineer by education and profession, I know personally that there

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 24, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• then the Interstate Stream Commission developed guidelines, and they run an annual grant cycle for engineering
• The engineering design applications are due in March, and the construction applications are due in May
• Madam Chair and Representative Zamora, the number of engineering applications has tended to be smaller
• In the last one, there were 2026 engineering services of $500,000 and construction of $4.8 million.
• So it was about $500,000 in engineering design and $4.8 million in construction, so close to 10% going

Bills: SB193

Keywords: SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law, agricultural water, farmers, Rio Grande, acequia association, forest land protection revolving fund, state fund transfer, irrigation projects, 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 314 relating to architects, engineers, surveyors, and interior designers.
• One of the components of this bill is the extension of the AELS Board, architects, engineers, and land
• I am a licensed professional civil and environmental engineer, and therefore have professional oversight
• And I assure you that architects, engineers, and land surveyors will be a very important part of this
• We need engineers, and we need to regulate our own engineers, and we need to override this veto.

Keywords: 905, all

Summary: The Alaska Legislature met in joint session to consider gubernatorial vetoes of five bills. Members first took up House Bill 52 on minors and psychiatric hospitals, with supporters arguing it would improve transparency, family communication, oversight, and reporting around seclusion and restraint in psychiatric facilities. Opponents of the veto cited DOJ findings and media reports about abuses at a North Star facility. The override failed, 36-24, falling short of the 40 votes needed. The joint session then considered Senate Bill 41 on mental health education. Supporters said it would help develop age-appropriate mental health curriculum and could aid suicide prevention, while critics argued it was mischaracterized and did not impose a state takeover of local schools. The veto override failed, 38-22. Members next considered House Bill 314 on architects, engineers, surveyors, and interior designers, focusing on the AELS Board’s continuation and the need for professional oversight during major infrastructure work. That override passed, 45-15. The legislature then voted on Senate Bill 21, the Alaska Work and Save Program, which supporters said would expand retirement savings access for workers and small businesses, including an option to direct PFD funds into retirement accounts. The override failed, 39-21. Finally, House Bill 195 on pharmacists and physician assistants was debated as a health care access measure that would let pharmacists provide more services under a standard-of-care model; supporters said it would reduce costs and improve access, while some members raised concerns about scope and abortion-related issues. The veto override passed, 43-17. The joint session then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Scientists, engineers, and professionals who are among the best in the government.
• I have been passionate about science and engineering since I was a teenager, when I first came to the
• The strength of our national labs lies in the diversity of their science and engineering programs.
• The department and the labs have some of the most talented scientists, engineers, and employees in the
• So hopefully he'll be following in the STEM, in the mechanical engineering like your son.

Keywords: nominations, Undersecretary of Energy, Undersecretary of Science, Preston Griffith, Dario Gil, energy policy, scientific innovation

Summary: The meeting was convened to discuss several significant nominations, particularly focusing on Preston Wills Griffith III for Undersecretary of Energy and Dr. Dario Gil for Undersecretary of Science. The committee underscored the importance of these roles in shaping American energy policy and scientific innovation. The discussion highlighted the nominees' backgrounds, with Griffith having extensive experience at the Department of Energy and the White House, and Gil bringing expertise in quantum technology and energy research. Members expressed a strong desire to understand the nominees' perspectives on current challenges facing the energy sector, including regulatory mandates and national security concerns. The meeting concluded with a commitment to ensuring thorough evaluations of the candidates and their proposed approaches to pressing issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm an engineer here at the commission.
• That was a big win for the engineers.
• Engineers, fire, plumbing.
• Engineers, very active as a technical committee.
• And then there's an association of state energy engineers. There's hospital engineers.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I attend Illuminating Engineering Society meetings on street and area lighting.
• As the committee discussed these bills with the design community, architects, and engineers on how it
• I attend illuminating engineering years.
• I attend illuminating engineering society<00:03:52.000> meetings<00:03:52.480> on<00:03
• on how it will affect and engineers on how it will affect design<00:04:57.199> and<00:04:57.520

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint hearing covered three bills, all related to outdoor lighting or permitting. On SB 2278, which addressed light pollution and outdoor lighting standards, testimony was mixed: the University of Hawaiʻi and others raised concerns that the bill’s 4,000K color temperature standard and other provisions conflicted with dark-sky and wildlife-protection recommendations, while some groups testified in support. A lighting industry engineer also questioned how turtle-lighting provisions would apply in practice and urged a workable standard that balances safety, design, and wildlife concerns. On SB 2908, relating to permitting, the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and several business groups testified, generally standing on written testimony or supporting the measure. Committee discussion focused on a proposed statewide permitting intake platform; the Office of Planning said the SPEED Task Force believed counties were better suited to handle permitting information, and members asked whether the appropriation was sufficient. The committee voted to pass SB 2908 with amendments, including a deferred effective date of July 1, 2050. On SB 2987, also relating to light pollution, the University of Hawaiʻi strongly supported the bill and proposed amendments to create campus lighting zones tailored to safety and foot traffic, while the Department of Land and Natural Resources stood on its comments and several other organizations testified in support or opposition. The chair said the committee would address business safety concerns by making technical and nonsubstantive amendments, exempting outdoor light fixtures for airports, highways, and harbors, and deferring the effective date to July 1, 2050. The committee then adopted the recommendation to pass SB 2987 with amendments and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, we have been working with our district engineer.
• , Um, as far as the uh district engineer, Um, as far as the uh district engineer, I<01:23:49.040>
• So we are in design and engineering.
• and ultimately the the engineer on this. and ultimately the the engineer on this.
• <01:26:13.600> and with some of the engineers and with some of the engineers and everything

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I recently earned my bachelor's and master's degrees in biomedical engineering from ASU, and I'm pursuing
• a PhD in biomedical engineering, working as a full-time graduate researcher this summer.
• During my time at ASU, I've served as a teaching assistant for 12 engineering courses, as an elected
• How do you think your degrees in engineering can help shape your role as a student regent?
• I believe that my background in engineering gives me a lens of problem-solving that I can bring to the

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met, approved the March 25, 2026 minutes, and considered two executive nominations. First, the committee heard testimony from Aidan Kane Vaux, nominated as a student regent for the Arizona Board of Regents. Vaux described his background as an ASU biomedical engineering graduate student and researcher, his teaching and mentoring experience, and his interest in representing students. Senators asked about how his engineering training would inform board service, student concerns about tuition and cost transparency, expanding STEM and health care education, mental health resources, and improving educational access in rural Arizona. Vaux said he would bring a problem-solving, data-driven perspective and emphasized affordability, student support, rural outreach, and broader access to research and health-related opportunities. The committee voted 6-0, with one member not voting, to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then heard from Andrea Marasota Snow, nominated to the Arizona State Board for Private Post-Secondary Education. Snow said she serves as Chief Legal and Government Affairs Officer at Pima Medical Institute and would use her legal and regulatory experience to help the board with licensing, complaint review, compliance, and student protections. She emphasized balancing institutional growth with oversight and protecting students through the Student Tuition Recovery Fund and other safeguards. The committee voted 6-0, with one member not voting, to recommend her confirmation to the full Senate. Before adjourning, members thanked staff and nominees, and the chair noted Senator Diaz’s birthday. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• These may reach beyond what is typically involved in project engineering. It may go into...
• We know is difficult only from the standpoint of it's not within the standard engineering and planning
• And then I believe there's a county engineer.
• And then I believe there's a county engineer.
• I know we've got a couple of engineers. I mentioned Mr. Solberg.

Bills: HF4807

Keywords: overweight vehicles, aggregate mining, local ordinance restrictions, legislative audit, transportation, resource inventory

Transcript Highlights:

• , and engineers. pilots who attend space camp at the U.S.
• I think NASA has the best price it's most talented engineers and scientists and we should be working
• I mean, nothing's going to create more future scientists and engineers than seeing American astronauts
• Isaacson I'm sure with your deep intellect that you know that the Aircraft Engine Research Laboratory
• I think this is probably the heart of the issue, that engineers don't agree on interference metrics,

Keywords: state policy, governance, legislative processes, public concerns, policy improvement

Summary: During the committee meeting, various issues surrounding state policy and governance were deliberated. Although the specifics of bills under discussion were not highlighted, comments from several committee members indicated a focus on improving legislative processes and addressing public concerns. The chairman facilitated discussions that included several points of critique as well as suggestions for enhancement of existing laws. The atmosphere remained constructive despite the complexity of the topics at hand.

Transcript Highlights:

• We use outside engineering. We don't have the staff on hand to be able to do that.
• We rely on city engineers and other city attorneys and other people, but being Brian Dolan: As small
• If somebody gives us something, and I take it to my city engineer, and he's already got Brian Dolan:
• We need time to make sure that what is being presented to us has no issues, that our city engineer is
• We all use third-party engineering out there and M.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of this is possible because of the economic engine that agrotourism provides.
• All of this is possible because of the economic engine that agrotourism provides.
• organization that certifies the major US livestock<02:12:19.800> Industries<02:12:20.480> certification
• livestock Industries certification livestock Industries certification programs<02:12:22.719>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The joint House Agriculture and Food Systems and Tourism hearing focused on HB 189 and HB 966, both dealing with agricultural tourism. HB 189 would require counties to adopt ordinances governing review and permitting of agricultural tourism as secondary uses on working farms, require the principal agricultural use to pre-exist any tourism-related permit, and limit ag tourism to land where productive agriculture is occurring. HB 966 would create statewide uniform standards for agricultural tourism, require county registration of activities, require ag tourism to coexist with agricultural activity on a farming operation, and end the tourism use when agricultural activity ceases. Testimony on HB 189 was mixed. The Department of Agriculture and Kualoa Ranch opposed the bill, arguing that the proposed restrictions and income-based limits could burden bona fide farms and ranches, reduce flexibility for counties, and harm food production, jobs, and diversification efforts. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism supports its food sales and community market and warned the bill could cost more than 350 jobs. The Hawaiʻi Cattlemen’s Council also opposed the measure for similar reasons. The Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported the bill with suggested amendments, including clearer language around agricultural dedication. The Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau supported the intent of the bill but urged caution, saying ag tourism should remain tied to actual agricultural production and that counties need flexibility to address abuses without imposing overly rigid standards. Members discussed how to define a bona fide agricultural operation and whether property tax agricultural dedication could serve as a clearer qualifier. They also raised concerns about how counties would enforce revenue thresholds or separate accounting for tourism and farm income, and whether state law should better target clearly non-agricultural uses such as gondolas or other abusive developments. The Department of Agriculture and Farm Bureau said counties already have authority to regulate ag tourism through ordinances, but that any new standards should avoid unintended burdens on true farmers and ranchers. HB 966 was then introduced, and initial testimony again reflected support for the bill’s intent from some agricultural groups and opposition or caution from others. Kualoa Ranch said ag tourism can help educate visitors and support agriculture, the Hawaiʻi Farmers Union supported county flexibility, and the Hawaiʻi Farm Bureau reiterated concerns about the bill’s income comparison provisions and the need to distinguish legitimate agricultural tourism from misuse. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• And this is—I'm an engineer. This finance is not my area of expertise by any means.
• We are not trying to engineer this project either, so that you know.
• We're not going to be in the engineer.
• The this >> And this is I'm an engineer.
• we're not going to be in the engineer. we're not going to be in the engineer.

Keywords: 0:00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:00:54 Approval of Minutes 0:01:08 Information Items 0:03:18 Postsecondary Institutions - UK 0:18:10 Finance and Administration Cabinet 0:30:13 KY Infrastructure Authority 0:37:30 Cabinet for Economic Development 0:52:11 Office of Financial Management 0:59:20 Remaining 2026 Mtg Dates 1:00:49 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the April 27 minutes and then received several informational reports, including University of Kentucky medical equipment purchases, UK’s use of $200 million in Ever funds for a public-private partnership, school district debt issuances, UK’s planned use of construction manager-at-risk delivery on five projects, Kentucky Communications Network Authority capital projects under House Bill 6, and 14 UK lease improvements. Members were told the House Bill 6 item was also being discussed in the Information Technology Oversight Committee and could return later if needed. The main action item was University of Kentucky’s request to approve a $600 million public-private partnership for central plants and utility infrastructure tied to the Chandler expansion. UK said it would shift $200 million from previously authorized restricted funds into the P3, leaving the project financed through private equity and nonprofit debt with no UK or Commonwealth debt. UK representatives said the project is necessary to support 24/7 hospital operations, expand and modernize utility systems, improve redundancy and efficiency, and reduce long-term operating risk. Members asked about the source of the availability payments, which UK said would come from UK Healthcare revenues, and the committee approved the P3 agreement unanimously. The committee also approved a UK lease renewal for a 20,000-square-foot College of Medicine annex near the Bowling Green Medical Center. UK said the lease costs $38 per square foot, or $912,000 annually, and supports medical education expansion in the region, including growth from 120 to 160 students over four years. Members voiced support for the local impact, and the lease passed unanimously. Later, the committee approved a Transportation Cabinet aviation project for two medium box hangars at Capital City Airport, funded by $1,153,000 in federal money and $950,000 from the Aviation Economic Development Fund, which is supported by a 6% jet fuel tax with a $1 million annual cap per company. Members asked about the fund balance, the cap, and airport revenue sources, and staff said the airport also receives entitlement and federal infrastructure funds and earns revenue from hangar rent and fuel sales. The committee then approved two Finance and Administration Cabinet pool projects: a roof and skylight replacement at the Libraries and Archives building and exterior repairs at several state buildings. Finally, the committee approved six Kentucky Infrastructure Authority action items after hearing about one loan increase for the Springfield Wastewater Treatment Plant and five grant reallocations tied to Cleaner Water Program and county allocation pool funds. Members asked why one project approved in 2024 was only now increasing, and KIA explained that design, water division review, environmental review, and bidding can take one to two years. KIA also reported additional no-action items, including a Brandenburg water grant split among two projects and 17 Kentucky Waters projects provided for information. The meeting ended with approval of the action items and no further action on the informational grants.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a semi-retired engineering professor at the University of New Mexico.
• I’m a retired professional engineer, water engineer, and a former director of the New Mexico State Interstate
• And please don't be led astray by engineering reports and opinions.
• That's very common in engineering, right?
• That's very common in engineering rights.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a 30-year career at IBM Lexington in development engineering.
• My wife Kathy and I have engineering.
• on board at all. any sort of gas engine on board at all.
• cars uh out uh at the combustion engine cars uh out uh at the gas<00:09:19.760> pumps.
• ways, even with combustion engine ways, even with combustion engine vehicles,<00:22:55.280> I

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met with a quorum, approved the June 3, 2026 minutes, and then heard a presentation from Mike Proctor of Evolve Kentucky on electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Proctor described Evolve Kentucky as a nonprofit formed in 2016 to promote EV adoption and charger deployment, said the group has helped place more than 135 chargers at 65 locations, and reported that Kentucky EV registrations have grown rapidly but still represent about 1% of the state’s roughly 3 million vehicles. He also outlined the group’s view that EV drivers and charger operators already contribute to state revenue through annual vehicle fees, charger taxes, utility taxes, and related business taxes, and cited figures showing rising revenue collections as EV adoption increases. A major theme of the presentation was that EV owners are paying their “fair share” rather than being overcharged. Proctor said the current $126 annual EV fee is roughly comparable to the fuel tax a typical gasoline vehicle would pay, and noted that public charging can add additional tax burdens for drivers who cannot charge at home, such as those living in apartments or condos. He also argued that EVs provide broader benefits, including lower noise and air pollution, grid-stabilizing nighttime charging, tourism spending at destination chargers, and reduced road wear for passenger EVs compared with much heavier vehicles. Members questioned Proctor about whether EV owners are paying more than their fair share, how the fee compares with gasoline taxes, and whether apartment and condo residents are disproportionately affected because they rely on public chargers. Proctor responded that the fee was intended to bring EV owners into parity with gas vehicles, not to overcharge them, and said some public chargers are free while others are used by drivers who cannot charge at home. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond the minutes approval.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have Randy Saber here, the city engineer for St.
• Bolton & Menk are engineering the project and estimated the cost of the project at $25.4 million.
• from some pre preliminary engineering from some pre preliminary engineering figures<00:35:42.760
• at getting a preliminary engineering at getting a preliminary engineering figures<00:36:34.680><
• um in early 2023 we began engineering um in early 2023 we began engineering for<00:36:41.359>

Bills: HF201, HF217, HF314, HF315, HF406, HF408, HF425, HF426, HF730, HF731, HF652, HF761, HF1079, HF928, HF1017, HF1056, HF1081

Keywords: HF201, Minnesota income tax, tax subtraction, tax deduction, volunteer firefighter, volunteer fire and rescue, emergency responder, ambulance service personnel, EMR, EMS, search and rescue, canine search and rescue, underwater search and rescue, paid-on-call, part-time volunteer, tax relief, state tax law, section 290.0132, drivers license, identification card

Transcript Highlights:

• Mcferson will be Zachary Johnson, the city engineer of the city of Lakeville. Mr.
• I'm the chief officer of transportation and county engineer for Anoka County.
• I didn't know our city engineer was going to be here, but I'm proud to have him here with us.
• My name is Zach Johnson, Lakeville city engineer.
• My name is Zach Johnson, Lakeville city engineer.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• You can kind of see these two Yaker 633 KW engines here on the side of the graphic. that we purchased
• <00:43:26.720> 63<00:43:27.119> 33<00:43:27.480> KW<00:43:27.920> engines
• <00:43:28.359> here<00:43:28.520> on yaker engines 63 33 KW engines here on yaker engines
• , probably likely be a million to a million and a half for another engine the same size as ours.
• source and we can invest in a new engine probably<00:54:11.640> likely<00:54:11.960> be

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Doctors, engineers, career building.
• this engineers, female engineers who do this engineers, female engineers who do this work.<01:22
• :23:25.600> but<01:23:25.920> push engineering job is tough, but push engineering job is
• senior engineer, well, wait a minute. senior engineer, well, wait a minute.
• . engineering. engineering.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• For those who are familiar, that of course means science, technology, engineering, and the A in there
• I'm not sure how I feel about it, even if you're an engineer.
• I mean, of course, I live in a city that's rich with engineering firms and science and technology experts
• ...that people like Boeing and some of the other large manufacturing or engineering firms in the state
• They're making $150,000, $250,000 as engineers doing the right thing.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development heard House Bill 3359, presented by Rep. Travis Wilson on behalf of Rep. Riggs. The bill would create a state income tax credit for donations to school robotics/STEAM programs, including cash, equipment, software, materials, curriculum, and employee volunteer hours, beginning with the 2027 tax year. The credit would be 20% of the donation value, capped at $10 million annually, with a six-year sunset. Committee members raised questions about whether the credit applies to individuals or businesses, how volunteer hours would be valued and limited, whether the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or the Department of Economic Development would administer reporting, and whether the 20% rate should be higher. Several members also questioned the fiscal note and the impact on a tight state budget. The main witness in support was Sarah Waldron, an 18-year-old Westminster Christian Academy senior and robotics team leader who said she wrote the bill. She argued that robotics programs are expensive, that private investment is needed to improve workforce readiness, and that the bill would help schools in both urban and rural areas. She clarified that the volunteer-hours provision was intended for business employees, not general individual volunteerism, and said the bill could be amended to add guardrails and better target under-resourced schools, including a possible tiered credit based on free-and-reduced-lunch percentages. Committee members praised her initiative and testimony. One witness testified in opposition, State Public Advocate Arne C. Dinoff, who said robotics is worthwhile but the state cannot afford another tax credit given the budget deficit and the cumulative cost of tax credit programs. He objected particularly to subsidizing volunteerism and said schools should support robotics locally rather than through a state tax credit. No vote was taken; the hearing was closed and the committee adjourned after testimony.