Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas the outstanding educators named 2025-26 Teacher of the Year for schools located in Senate
• Whereas these exemplary educators are held in the highest regard by their students, their colleagues,
• Reports of committees: Report of the Committee on Education.
• orientation for newly elected mayors and continuing education for current mayors.
• House Concurrent Resolution No. 3 is a concurrent resolution to provide for a hospital stabilization

Bills: SR134, SR135, SR136, SR137, SR140, SR141, SR142, SCR75, SCR77, SCR12, HB75, HB1199, HB221, HCR89, HCR96, HCR103, HCR108, HCR58, HB9, HB177, HB181, HB198, HB202, HB223, HB225, HB387, HB398, HB457, HB459, HB540, HB591, HB616, HB766, HB775, HB783, HB797, HB895, HB906, HB950, HB975, HB1028, HB1052, HB1057, HB1076, HB1100, HB1139, HB1155, HB1160, HB1182, HB1186, HB1220, HB1222, HB1223, HB1224, HB1228, HB1231, HB1245, HB1256, SCR3, SB393, SB401, SB415, SB426, SB435, SB487, SB488, SB523, SB56, SB163, SB341, SB504, SB322, SCR9, SCR58, SB35, SB65, SB215, SB246, SB249, SB269, SB282, SB296, SB323, SB363, SB369, SB474, SB490, SB492, SB500, SB514, HCR27, HCR28, HCR66, HCR67, HCR72, HCR31, HCR47, HCR41, HB363, HB368, HB377, HB380, HB386, HB392, HB431, HB441, HB559, HB664, HB685, HB715, HB741, HB822, HB856, HB908, HB980, HB990, HB999, HB1010, HB1243, HB54, HB137, HB180, HB192, HB310, HB321, HB396, HB512, HB552, HB578, HB638, HB663, HB708, HB717, HB718, HB1009, HB1082, HB1104, HB1107, HB1198, HB1246, HB27, HB143, HB205, HB259, HB267, HB288, HB308, HB403, HB405, HB414, HB417, HB478, HB546, HB548, HB555, HB557, HB609, HB670, HB672, HB740, HB779, HB786, HB796, HB812, HB848, HB915, HB917, HB921, HB930, HB933, HB1095, HB1096, HB1103, HB1129, HB1154, HB1166, HB1187, HB1195, HB1230, HB316, HB511, HB799, HB1039, HB12, HB66, HB145, HB167, HB196, HB213, HB218, HB222, HB256, HB291, HB326, HB352, HB401, HB430, HB433, HB434, HB448, HB456, HB476, HB481, HB487, HB492, HB549, HB579, HB608, HB621, HB624, HB626, HB632, HB637, HB656, HB722, HB745, HB804, HB818, HB821, HB833, HB864, HB867, HB874, HB893, HB909, HB951, HB968, HB969, HB978, HB979, HB988, HB989, HB1001, HB1005, HB1007, HB1024, HB1032, HB1038, HB1050, HB1051, HB1056, HB1059, HB1077, HB1080, HB1081, HB1086, HB1108, HB1112, HB1153, HB1172, HB1173, HB1175, HB1192, HB1193, HB1204, HB1218, HB1242, HB1244, HB1249, HB1252, HB1254, HB17, HB36, HB41, HB47, HB73, HB126, HB133, HB140, HB159, HB166, HB211, HB226, HB271, HB324, HB337, HB351, HB399, HB571, HB712, HB723, HB726, HB750, HB759, HB844, HB966, HB1006, HB1018, HB1036, SB29, SB42, SB43, SB78, SB208, SB217, SB274, SB300, SB379, SB382, SB387, SB441, SB449, HB74, HB134, HB258, HB359, HB468, HB956, HB1117, SB149

Keywords: SR134, Senate Resolution 134, Isaac Herzenberg, Metairie Park Country Day School, Country Day, javelin, track and field, Class 2A, state championship, high school athletics, student athlete, Louisiana Senate commendation, honorary resolution, sports recognition, University of Nebraska, Baton Rouge, LSU Bernie Moore Track Stadium, sportsmanship, collegiate athletics, condolence resolution

Summary: The Senate met with 23 members present, opened with prayer and the pledge, and then took up a long calendar of resolutions and House bills. Early action included adopting numerous Senate resolutions, such as studies on the Upper Pontchartrain Basin, economic development boards, remote notarization, retirement system investments in China, and several commendations. The chamber also concurred in House Concurrent Resolutions on the Louisiana Maneuvers museum/trail study, roundabout education, plumbing code review, and economic ties with Taiwan, with most of these adopted unanimously or near-unanimously. A special recognition was also held for 2025-26 Teachers of the Year from Senate District 15. On the bill calendar, the Senate advanced a wide range of measures. Several bills dealt with education, public safety, and local government, including allowing virtual school students to participate in school activities, requiring mayoral training, updating rules for justice of the peace jurisdiction, and increasing penalties or fees in certain local matters. Other measures addressed health and human services, such as suicide prevention signage and 988 hotline placement on school IDs, Medicaid and provider payment rules, medical records fees for veterans, mental health protective custody procedures, and housing support for trafficking survivors. The chamber also passed bills on insurance, insurance-related venue rules, prompt payment to contractors, hazardous waste cleanup funding, and motor vehicle insurance requirements for out-of-state vehicles. The Senate also approved several criminal justice and public safety measures, including school threat penalties, autopsy photographs as evidence, impaired driving-related provisions, and restrictions on cell-cultured food products and labeling. Additional bills covered economic development and business regulation, such as wood pellet and brick manufacturing incentives, digital asset custody, CPA licensure pathways, and licensing for motor vehicle/recreational product dealers. Most bills were passed by wide margins, though a few drew notable opposition, including the constitutional and policy measures on gender/sex terminology, child custody arbitration, and the out-of-state vehicle insurance bill. Many bills were amended on the floor before final passage, and motions to reconsider were routinely laid on the table.

Transcript Highlights:

• stability for the overall<00:19:25.840><c> market.
• </c> something we're working on for education something we're working on for education purposes<00:49
• Rodasovich. strengthen and stabilize rural provider strengthen and stabilize rural provider finances<
• Investment in teaching hospitals directly stabilizes rural Minnesota.
• </c> teaching hospitals directly stabilizes teaching hospitals directly stabilizes rural<01:27:40.000

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• again, thank you and I'm uh excited to pass this on to the floor and get uh some a little bit more stability
• again, thank you and I'm uh excited to pass this on to the floor and get uh some a little bit more stability
• again, thank you and I'm uh excited to pass this on to the floor and get uh some a little bit more stability
• c><00:10:10.399><c> and</c><00:10:10.880><c> safety</c><00:10:11.360><c> and</c> little bit more stability
• and safety and little bit more stability and safety and but<00:10:11.920><c> also,</c><00:10:12.640>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> office of higher education. office of higher education.
• </c> the Education Finance Committee. the Education Finance Committee.
• aid,</c><01:22:28.880><c> and</c> education to special education aid, and education to special education
• </c> the education uh the general education the education uh the general education formula.<01:39:05.760
• Education is about the children. about. Education is about the children.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the deputy director and director of policy, education, and outreach at Rethos.
• </c><00:03:42.640><c> and</c> director of policy education and director of policy education and Outreach
• So not only will it help us to kind of stabilize that revenue level, it'll also help us stabilize how
• So not only will it help us to kind of stabilize that revenue level, it'll also help us stabilize how
• So not only will it help us to kind of stabilize that revenue level, it'll also help us stabilize how

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of people on this committee are not on education policy or education funding or, you know, and
• A lot of people on this committee are not on education policy or education funding or, you know, and
• It's looking at outcomes of higher education.
• It's looking at outcomes of higher education.
• And part of that process is tax stability.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Education.
• Education.
• Okay, in the education arena also, didn't we talk in the education committee about Louisiana?
• House Bill 1059 is an education bill.
• Speaker. 1059 is an education bill.

Bills: HR179, HR180, HR181, HR182, HR183, HR184, HR185, HR186, HR187, HCR75, HCR76, HCR77, HCR78, HCR79, HR165, HR166, HR168, HR169, HR170, HR171, HR172, HR173, HR174, HR175, HR176, HR177, HR178, HCR65, HCR66, HCR67, HCR68, HCR69, HCR70, HCR71, HCR72, HCR73, HCR74, SCR34, SB34, SB43, SB52, SB56, SB165, SB173, SB189, SB190, SB260, SB322, SB345, SB374, SB387, SB401, SB448, SB449, SB455, SB487, SB496, SB502, SB505, HB362, HB893, HB990, HB1007, HB1153, HB1243, HR1, HR17, HCR5, HCR4, HCR47, HB55, HB385, HB394, HB396, HB406, HB608, HB622, HB676, HB772, HB897, HB1030, HB1035, HB1038, HB1045, HB1049, HB1056, HB1058, HB1059, HB1092, HB1100, HB1117, HB1160, HB1161, HB1162, HB1177, HB1180, HB1189, HB1216, HB1239, HB1240, HB59, HB74, HB159, HB330, HB364, HB414, HB458, HB525, HB568, HB786, HB1008, HB1033, HB1034, HB1041, HB1062, HB1070, HB1079, HB1112, HB1118, HB1139, HB1151, HB1176, HB1182, HB1196, HB1214, HB1241, HB87, HB115, HB162, HB368, HB433, HB441, HB447, HB466, HB481, HB741, HB1242, SB162, SB349, SB350, SB382, SB383, SB127, SB244, HB977, HB181, HB31, HB664, HB9, HB192, HB225, HB306, HB310, HB366, HB635, HB911, HB1230, HB1236, HB615, HB864, HB1103, HB1175, HB901, HR20, HR74, HB284, HB393, HB459, HB577, HB582, HB605, HB614, HB682, HB733, HB773, HB996, HB1003, HB1082, HB1113, HB1234

Keywords: neighborhood, crime prevention, security districts, law enforcement, community safety, funding, Counseling Day, mental health, Louisiana Counseling Association, community support, mental wellness, Louisiana State University, athletics, NAIA, sports achievements, recognition, success, competition, education, higher education

Transcript Highlights:

• And whereas, outside the legislature, Senator Banke has dedicated himself to education and workforce
• I've been a real leader in the Higher Education Committee. Look, Matt Banke is a pro.
• You also have been a strong voice in higher education, and we need so many more of those voices.
• He's also. education at Northwest Indian College, but he's also a former BTC college himself.
• This is the kind of stability and sustainability Across six years.

Bills: SCR8410, SCR8410

Keywords: returning bills to house of origin, sine die, end of session, legislative procedure, Rules Committee, third reading, unfinished business, pending bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, joint memorials, special session, bill numbering, legislative records, House of Representatives, Senate, Washington Legislature, session adjournment, procedural resolution, 904

Transcript Highlights:

• ><c> speech</c> C's educational skills and speech C's educational skills and speech regressed,<00:49:
• </c> Since Tona started at Concord Education Since Tona started at Concord Education Center<01:05:10.079
• educator who in for 10 years worked in a educator who in for 10 years worked in a setting<01:08:23.520
• </c><01:12:32.080><c> and</c> abilities and physical stability and abilities and physical stability and
• mental<01:12:32.640><c> stability.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of people on this committee are not on education policy or education funding or, you know, and
• A lot of people on this committee are not on education policy or education funding or, you know, and
• It's looking at outcomes of higher education.
• It's looking at outcomes of higher education.
• And part of that process is tax stability.

Summary: The committee was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer were offered, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Members then received a memo summarizing major audit items and began hearing audit presentations from the State Auditor’s Office and private auditors on a range of state agencies and organizations. Several audits were reported as clean, including the Bank of North Dakota, the North Dakota Guaranteed Student Loan Program, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the State Treasurer, the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of Transportation’s flexible transportation fund, Lake Region State College, and the Department of Environmental Quality. The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association also received an unmodified opinion, though repeat findings were noted for limited segregation of duties and financial statement preparation due to its small staff. The Council on the Arts audit found two findings: payroll charged to federal awards without adequate timekeeping records, and unallowable expenditures from a restricted cultural endowment fund. The Department of Public Instruction audit identified unsupported scholarship applications in the paraprofessional-to-teacher program, though additional testing showed the funds were used for their intended purpose. The most extensive discussion centered on the North Dakota Racing Commission audit, which identified four findings: overspending the promotion fund’s 25% operating limit, grant conditions not being met, improper Breeders Fund awards, and improper procurement for advertising services. Racing Commission director Bruce Johnson acknowledged complacency and weak controls, said the agency would tighten procedures, and explained that the commission had since worked with procurement and would follow the rules more closely. Auditors also explained that the commission would now be audited every two years because of the findings. Another major discussion involved the University of North Dakota School of Law, where auditors found a lack of documentation supporting admissions decisions for post-baccalaureate programs. UND officials said they remain in good standing with the American Bar Association but agreed better documentation and tools are needed; the committee pressed for more transparency and follow-up on admissions criteria. The committee also received an update on Dakota College at Bottineau, where Minot State University reported that bank reconciliations had been brought current after a significant backlog and would now be maintained through shared services. Members requested a written follow-up report on the issues and corrective actions. Finally, the North Dakota Fair Association explained that its foundation has been dissolved and remaining funds were transferred to another nonprofit for continued support of the state fair, and the Department of Public Instruction provided an update on school meal debt, saying the reported amount was about $1.1 million from a partial district survey and that debt remains a local issue, though it could be revisited if school meal funding changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:33.000><c> to</c> Council on housing stability to Council on housing stability to Department
• </c> best way to do this is through Education best way to do this is through Education and<01:43:06.599
• education that someone did in another education that someone did in another state<01:48:15.239><c> is
• </c> standards of dental hygiene Ed education standards of dental hygiene Ed education L<01:54:42.960
• Open-door education requirement.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are continuing education units that are required to maintain one's license.
• So I want to just thank you for your efforts in educating us about the urgent.
• I want to just thank you for your efforts in educating us about the urgency with which we have to act
• It's also, we hope, going to help stabilize foster care placements.
• It's also, we hope, going to help stabilize foster care placements.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chris, I was one of those former educators that you kept my insurance up to date for a few years there
• Chris, I was one of those former<00:15:13.760><c> educators</c><00:15:14.399><c> that</c><00:15:15.360
• ><c> you,</c><00:15:15.839><c> uh,</c><00:15:16.000><c> kept</c><00:15:16.320><c> my</c> former educators
• that you, uh, kept my former educators that you, uh, kept my insurance<00:15:17.199><c> up</c><00:15
• and then we go down uh stabilization and then we go down uh from<00:15:58.000><c> and</c><00:15:58.560

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: Personnel Cabinet and Kentucky Employees Health Plan officials presented a request to replace the Kentucky Human Resources Information System (CHRIS), the state’s HR/payroll ERP system procured in 2007. They said the system supports core HR and payroll for about 48,000 state employees, 24 sheriff and county clerk offices, and the Kentucky Employees Health Plan, which covers more than 300,000 lives. Officials emphasized that SAP has said the system will be end-of-life and out of support by 2030, which would eliminate security updates, vendor maintenance, and tax-compliance support. They argued that replacement is necessary to protect sensitive personnel and health data, maintain payroll accuracy, and avoid major operational and cybersecurity risks. Officials described the project as a true replacement, not just an upgrade, and said the proposed $151 million request covers a five- to six-year implementation, stabilization, and ongoing maintenance period. They broke down the estimate as including roughly $54 million for software licensing and hosting, about $76.5 million for systems integrator/professional services, and additional amounts for independent verification and validation, dependent verification for the health plan, FSA administration, contingency staffing, and hardware-related needs. They said the cost increase from prior estimates was mainly due to inflation and updated requirements. They also noted that payments would be tied to deliverables and checkpoints, with third-party IV&V oversight, and that the cabinet expects to continue normal quarterly IT reporting to LRC while also providing at least monthly project updates because of the 2030 deadline. Committee members asked about the total cost of ownership, recurring operating costs, the size of the integrator contract, how vendor costs were estimated, and how progress would be tracked. Officials said they used market research, peer-state comparisons, vendor discussions, and independent reviews, including input from AON and a third-party QA resource. They explained that the integrator would handle requirements mapping, system design, configuration, training, change management, and implementation support across the Personnel Cabinet, KHP, and other stakeholders. No vote or formal action was taken during the discussion; the meeting consisted of testimony, questions, and answers on the funding request and implementation plan.

Transcript Highlights:

• And fortunately, they were well-educated enough to avoid it immediately.
• Missing critical mental health medications can affect a patient's stability and introduce increased safety
• Missing critical mental health medications can affect a patient's stability and introduce increased safety
• It tasks the State Board of Education with establishing some physical fitness criteria and selecting
• We recognize that there is an ongoing need to educate all our partners about how this will roll out.

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Although if there were more, we know that there would be even more successes, more stabilized families
• Although if there were more, we know that there would be even more successes, more stabilized families
• Really lowering the barriers for people to be able to get that education and then move into careers that
• Advocates on behalf of government employees, educators, health care workers, and others testified in
• , healthcare workers, and educators, healthcare workers, and others<00:26:24.640><c> testified</c><00

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , bring good providers in, to educate, bring good providers in, educate<00:50:01.840><c> them,</c><00
• them, and make sure that they're educate them, and make sure that they're complying<00:50:03.120><c>
• This is just about authorizing Housing Stabilization." this is a simple bill.
• </c><01:16:46.920><c> Services</c> the Housing Stabilization Services the Housing Stabilization Services
• This is just about authorizing Housing Stabilization.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• through grade 12 and higher education purposes, as well as child care and early learning programs.
• The estate tax, of course, will continue to support education through the Education Legacy Trust.
• This estate tax rollback will deliver to their family fund billions of dollars that should go to education
• So not only do we lose out on that $400 million of education revenue projected from the higher rates,
• I'm certainly an advocate for education myself, having taught for 10 years, and reducing regressive tax

Summary: House Finance met on February 26 and heard several tax and housing-related bills. Substitute Senate Bill 6343 would extend the deadline to apply for a property tax exemption for improvements to single-family homes damaged by natural disasters, with sponsors citing recent flooding and the need to help displaced homeowners in multiple counties. Local officials from Kent and Algona testified in support, describing flood damage and ongoing recovery needs. The bill was heard but no vote was taken. Senate Bill 6347 would roll back the higher estate tax rates enacted in 2025, while leaving the higher exemption amount in place. Committee staff said the bill would reduce revenue to the Education Legacy Trust account by about $44.8 million starting in fiscal year 2027 and about $389.9 million over the 2027-29 biennium. Supporters argued the higher rates could harm family businesses and encourage wealthy residents to leave; opponents said the bill would mainly benefit very large estates and would worsen budget pressures by reducing funds for education and child care. Public testimony was mixed, and the bill was heard without action. The committee also heard Senate Bill 6244, which would extend a hazardous substance tax exemption for agricultural crop protection products stored in Washington for out-of-state sale until 2038. The sponsor and a logistics witness said the exemption helps farmers get products faster, supports regional distribution, and improves competitiveness; staff said the revenue impact would be small. Finally, Senate Bill 6114 would define “fixture” and “affixed” for real estate excise tax purposes to make tax treatment of attached property clearer, and Senate Bill 6027 would broaden allowable uses of several local affordable housing funding sources, including rehabilitation and operations of existing housing, rental assistance in some counties, and expanded uses for Affordable Housing for All grants. Both of those bills drew support from state and local housing officials and advocates, and the committee adjourned after the hearings with no recorded votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, requiring documentation be kept by programs for that education.
• </c><00:01:44.240><c> Um</c> coordination education requirement.
• Um coordination education requirement.
• We had a bunch of students in the education committee.
• :43:21.119><c> service</c> the housing stabilization service the housing stabilization service redesign

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're raising the roosters for religious purposes, for educational purposes, please, if you could
• To stabilize factory capacity, preventing major cost reductions through repetition and scale, AB 2166
• AB 2166 is a critical bill that ensures that factories have a greater level of stability and a steady
• As a tobacco use prevention education program director, I had a drawer full of vapes that I could not
• So the bill, an applicant has to obtain their education commission for the worldwide part.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Then how do we look at, you know, the next layer of doing educational opportunities with the children
• And that includes things like education for the individual kids, but again, that's not scalable to do
• We are proud to support these programs, which help California's farmers provide school education and
• We are proud to support these programs, which help California's farmers provide school education and
• It's supporting our families, our farmers, students, their education, and their health.

Summary: The subcommittee heard a series of budget presentations from the Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), and related agencies. CDFA discussed its overall budget, ongoing support for the Farm to School program and climate-smart agriculture, and a proposed climate bond expenditure plan. Members focused heavily on whether the Farm to School proposal should become ongoing, how schools and suppliers are selected, whether the program is reaching disadvantaged and food-insecure communities, and whether the trailer bill language creates new duties. The LAO recommended rejecting the ongoing Farm to School proposal as presented, suggesting the Legislature consider Prop. 98 funding instead, while CDFA argued the program supports children, farmers, and local economies and helps build long-term supply-chain infrastructure. Several members also questioned the bond plan’s timing, program metrics, and workforce impacts, while LAO said the bond plan was generally reasonable and should be guided by legislative input. The committee also discussed CDFA’s proposal to eliminate vacant positions; the department said the positions were largely long-vacant or unfunded and could be reclassified if needed, while LAO recommended retaining the special-fund positions and weighing the General Fund positions on their merits. CDFA’s IT support request for additional ongoing funding and four positions was presented as necessary to address staffing shortages, legacy systems, and cybersecurity risks, and LAO had no concerns. The committee then took public comment and voted to approve items 9 through 13, including CDFA dog importation and carcass disposal items, a Gambling Control Commission IT item and tribal grant fund item, and an ABC office relocation item. DCC presented a request to strengthen enforcement against the illicit cannabis market by opening a North State office in Redding and adding sworn and non-sworn staff. The department said most cannabis consumed in California still comes from the illicit market, that it receives about 1,500 complaints annually but can close only about 400 cases, and that it has a backlog of roughly 4,000 cases. DCC argued that a northern office would reduce travel time, improve coordination with local agencies, and help target cross-county and cross-border criminal networks. Finance supported the request as a targeted investment, and LAO had no comment. Members asked about public safety, office security, and whether a North State presence would increase complaints or referrals; DCC said safety is considered in every office opening and that a local presence would likely improve case development. The director also described the broader regulatory strategy as balancing consumer safety, illicit-market enforcement, consumer awareness, and reducing friction for legal operators. The discussion continued into broader concerns about the size of the illicit market and the long-term goals for the cannabis program.