Transcript Highlights:

• So, we also have money to support a rural industrial development program that provides grants to support
• And also the regional level will give larger districts the ability to include more properties in that
• regional...
• More properties in that regional assessment district will kind of modify those spikes that you might
• We agreed on income tax apportionment, research and development apportionment, research and development

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• geothermal energy projects developers geothermal energy projects developers who<00:28:46.000>
• sense safeguards for energy development. sense safeguards for energy development.
• land owners use to work with developers land owners use to work with developers to<00:32:53.679>
• <00:34:27.679> Act, Geothermal Gold Book Development Act, Geothermal Gold Book Development
• <00:52:02.079> This geothermal energy development. This geothermal energy development.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, April 23, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we are capturing 25% to 35% of the total development cost, and those developers are having to get
• of significant regional impact.
• regional impact.
• of significant regional impact.
• So when you said this, how the development is... ...development is concerned.

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:

• Today, I would like to introduce Jeff Campos, the West Valley Regional Chamber President.
• Jeff Campos, the West Valley Regional Chamber President.
• Today is Capitol Day for the West Valley Regional Chamber.
• And in 2025, proudly re-emerging as the West Valley Regional Chamber...
• of its reach and the strength of its regional voice.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul Regional Water Services, in addition to all those cities, are all part of this working group.
• Paul Regional Water Services, in addition to all those cities, are all part of this working group.
• My name is Pati O'Keefe, and I'm the Midwest regional director with Vote Solar.
• My name is Pati O'Keefe, and I'm the Midwest regional director with Vote Solar.
• I'm the Midwest regional director with Vote Solar.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Our region consistently ranks among the most polluted in the region, along with our failing air pollution
• That's counterproductive to achieving the economic gains this region needs.
• That's counterproductive to achieving the economic gains this region needs.
• Developers can buy up fire-damaged coastal properties and rebuild without a coastal development permit
• Developers can buy up fire-damaged coastal properties and rebuild without a coastal development permit

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to the Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee.
• This bill, AB 2163, is about strategically identifying and prioritizing the regions and so.
• development benefits.
• The opportunities for energy development and the economic growth associated with such development will
• And our Business and Professions and Economic Development Committee is adjourned. Thank you.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She then praised FAU for achieving R1 status, calling it a major step forward as regional universities
• I think that is a major step forward as our regional universities are really moving more and more into
• And one of the major developments here in Southwest Florida was the beginnings of Florida Gulf Coast
• I also want to compliment the university as being such a regional, very strong workforce university.
• And how do you see that continuing to develop?

Summary: The Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education opened by noting it would not present its budget that day, explaining the budget rollout would be delayed until the following week to align with House partners and Senate notice requirements. After a roll call confirmed a quorum, the chair explained that because of the large number of gubernatorial appointments, the committee would hear only a subset individually and consider reappointments in a block unless members requested otherwise. The committee then heard testimony from appointees and reappointees to several university boards. Florida A&M University nominees Roderick Harris, Victor Young, and Rafael Vasquez emphasized service to their alma mater, support for leadership, student success, entrepreneurship, scholarships, and maintaining FAMU’s status as a leading HBCU. Florida Atlantic University appointees Linda Stock and Thomas Mersh highlighted FAU’s growth, R1 research designation, quantum computing, servant leadership, entrepreneurship, and expanded research opportunities. University of Central Florida reappointee Alex Martins focused on UCF’s preeminence, workforce needs, nursing and engineering, and keeping graduates in Florida. Florida Gulf Coast University nominees James Gris-Mall, Douglas Van Orte, Robert Rommel, Sarah Partial Perry, and reappointee Joseph Fogg discussed workforce development, affordability, student success, water and environmental programs, business and entrepreneurship, nursing outcomes, and FGCU’s regional role. University of South Florida reappointee Rogan Donnelly cited USF’s AAU status, research growth, and focus on student success, health care, cybersecurity, and AI. Committee members generally praised each nominee’s background and the universities’ achievements. At the end of the hearing, the committee approved all nominees in a single block vote for confirmation and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• IT IS TO IMPROVE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACCESS FOR ALL FLORIDIANS SO THAT THEY MAY ACHIEVE ECONOMIC SELF
• PRIOR TO REACH IMPLEMENTATION THE WORKFORCE DEVELOP AND SYSTEM WAS WORKING BUT IT WAS COORDINATED.
• IT DEPENDS ON THE REGION AND MAKE UP OF THAT REGION.
• THEM TO SERVE AS A STRATEGIC LEADER OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS.
• THE FIRST IS CAREER SOURCE SOUTH FLORIDA WHICH IS OUR LARGEST LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a wait list in nearly every region, and there are some regions that are underrepresented in those
• So we have the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant and Child Care and Development Fund.
• Once we do this, we will develop findings.
• But just so this committee knows, we did regional meetings and all the meetings, and we had two regions
• Reimbursement Project on Development Act.

Summary: The committee first approved the February 11, 2026 minutes and then received an update from the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency on the interagency council on homelessness and continuum of care funding. Testimony described rising homelessness tied to tight housing markets, low incomes, aging homelessness, barriers to rental assistance and public benefits, and limited shelter and case-management capacity. Members discussed the need for more affordable housing, continued one-time funding for the North Dakota Homeless Grant and Housing Incentive Fund, better coordination with Health and Human Services on economic assistance and human service zones, landlord engagement, recovery housing, and reentry housing. The committee also heard that federal continuum of care funding remains uncertain, with possible shifts away from permanent supportive housing and housing-first models; members asked for a future update on the impact if federal rules reduce the share available for permanent housing. The committee then took testimony on accessibility of government services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Paul Olson of North Dakota Vision Services School for the Blind described current screening and service delivery, including infant referrals, regional staff, short-term programs, and collaboration with vocational rehabilitation. He said the targeted screening system is working, recommended maintaining the current model, and noted ongoing challenges with staffing, public awareness, and accessible state websites and documents. Public testimony from a visually impaired resident and a deaf resident emphasized barriers such as CAPTCHAs, inaccessible PDFs, employment forms that screen out applicants based on driver’s license status, shortages of interpreters, and the need for video remote interpreting and video relay services, along with training for users and agencies. Finally, the committee heard a final report on the study of child care provider licensing from HHS Early Childhood Director Kay Larson. The report summarized provider input and committee discussion on simplifying North Dakota’s child care licensing structure, reducing administrative burden, and balancing that with health and safety standards. Key topics included licensing categories, child care assistance eligibility, food program sponsorship, staff qualifications, training requirements, ratios and group size, age bands, and preschool exemptions. The committee’s recommendations included streamlining to three provider types plus a preschool designation, revising ratio and age-band rules, and carrying forward certain preschool outdoor-space exemptions. Larson noted that any changes would require statutory changes, rulemaking, and a transition period before new licensing rules could take effect.

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, the Senate Committee on Business, Professions and Economic Development will begin.
• It brings 10,000 jobs to our region, which is critical, especially these days.
• It brings 10,000 jobs to our region, which is critical, especially these days.
• This bill incentivizes regional entities or their designees under the Regional Forest and Fire Capacity
• The idea would be that these partnerships will work together to develop wildfire mitigation projects

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We also do some affordable rental housing and housing development.
• Next one is a really team development organization.
• The development incentive well tax incentive program was passed in the last The development incentive
• And so another number of other projects had been developed.
• So those two projects are both in development by WBI Energy.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division of the budget section and received updates on several Industrial Commission-related agencies and programs. Legislative Council first reviewed base budget materials, then the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency reported on its current appropriation and staffing, noting that its new FTEs were being filled gradually and that it remained largely funded through special and federal funds. Agency leaders described homeownership lending, loan servicing, and housing incentive fund activity, including below-market mortgage rates, down payment assistance, and a growing servicing portfolio that has increased workload but not yet required additional FTEs. Housing Finance also detailed use of the Housing Incentive Fund and homeless grant dollars. Officials said the multifamily HIF round drew more than $73 million in requests and awarded $25 million, while the single-family program supported rural development and community land trusts. Homeless grant funding was split between emergency shelter, prevention, and rapid rehousing, with performance-based scoring used to renew or reallocate awards. Members discussed housing affordability, aging households, rental assistance, and the need to coordinate housing and site-preparation messaging with Commerce. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased in the next session. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and operations update. Staff said the agency was on track financially, had filled most of its new reclamation FTEs, and was not expecting major litigation costs beyond normal late-biennium invoices. The director reviewed agency initiatives including Project North Star IT modernization, organizational restructuring, succession planning, rulemaking, and implementation of the development incentive well tax program and critical minerals rules. He also discussed oil and gas activity, explaining that longer laterals, especially three- and four-mile wells and the first five-mile spacing case, are helping keep production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. Members asked about gas capture, hedging, break-even prices, and the effects of Iran and Venezuela on oil markets. The committee also heard about enhanced oil recovery grants and the Pipeline Authority. The EOR program’s $25 million appropriation was fully allocated to six projects, with total awards reaching about $45.1 million when other fund balances were included, subject to a possible 5% reduction if federal DOE money does not materialize. Officials said the projects are public, reimbursement-based, and will produce results over the next several years. Finally, the Pipeline Authority outlined natural gas transmission projects, including the imminent Bakken Express line and the proposed Bakken East project, which WBI was selected to advance after an Industrial Commission RFI process. The project is moving through open season, survey permission, and regulatory work, with in-service dates projected for 2029 and 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• , in partnership with 13 local, regional, in partnership with 13 local, regional, and<01:11:27.040
• <01:14:22.320> um initiative which we've developed um initiative which we've developed um
• The first is the<01:20:38.960> Economic<01:20:39.440> Development the Economic Development
• transportation pathways, um developing transportation pathways, um developing business<01:22:48.159
• like water and economic dis development like water and economic dis development districts<01:30:

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met to adopt the minutes of the second meeting by voice vote, then heard an update focused on disaster preparedness, resiliency, response, and coordination among state agencies and partners. The chair emphasized avoiding duplication of resources and highlighted the importance of agriculture-related response issues, including animal evacuation, feed distribution, and the role of extension services during disasters. The Department for Public Health was invited to explain its role in emergency planning and response. Public Health described its Emergency Preparedness and Response Branch as the lead coordinating agency for Emergency Support Function 8, covering health and medical services under Kentucky’s emergency operations framework. Testimony outlined its broad responsibilities, including support for hospitals, morgues, local health departments, behavioral health, crisis counseling, suspicious package testing, disease outbreaks, and coordination with emergency management, EMS, transportation, and nonprofit and private partners. Officials also described the agency’s risk-assessment process, training and exercise programs, and deployed assets such as PPE caches, deployable communications, a federal medical station, a mobile treatment center, and alternate care support used in events like the eastern Kentucky floods and COVID-19. The agency also discussed funding through federal cooperative agreements for public health emergency preparedness and hospital preparedness, noting that these programs have evolved since 9/11 and have been shaped by major disasters and emerging threats. Officials said Kentucky’s funding has declined over time and that current awards are partially funded for the first time in the program’s history. They expressed support for efficiency if federal programs are consolidated, but cautioned that combining programs could risk further funding losses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Regional robotics competitions are now becoming a thing that’s kind of normalized in this region, and
• Partnerships develop these pathways.
• Partnerships develop these pathways.
• They're moving that over to economic development.
• institutions in their locations and in their regions.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and state and federal partners, have... spearheaded efforts to expand housing options for central region
• And is currently working jointly with the city to develop a strategic and focused action plan for the
• Dana is the USA National Official Chair for All Swimming in the USA and oversees the development of the
• We want you all to stop by and visit the Rural Development, Land Grants, and Cultural Affairs Committee
• It's referred to the Rural Development, Land Grants, and Cultural Affairs Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we can come things at work, our economic development and our workforce areas in regional asking get
• the regions together, working together.
• And I think those, the thinking about things on a regional basis, all the workforce programs and all
• the DHS programs, thinking about those on a regional basis rather than an individual site.
• Whatever else that's out there in their region of the state, so they miss out on those opportunities

Summary: The committee met to review an audit and recommendations from the Alliance for Opportunity on reforming Arkansas workforce and social service delivery. Members discussed creating a more integrated, regional, “one-door” system that would combine eligibility screening, job training, and service referrals across DHS, workforce, health, and related programs, with an emphasis on reducing administrative overhead and redirecting more funds to direct services and training. Several members raised the need to include groups such as people in generational poverty, rural residents, reentry populations, and people involved in the court system, while also ensuring access for those without digital skills or technology. Artificial intelligence was a major topic. Members suggested using AI and a centralized database or virtual hub to pre-populate forms, identify program eligibility, notify workforce agencies, and improve efficiency, while still maintaining case managers and in-person support for those who need it. There was also discussion of benefit cliffs, DHS processes that may hinder employment, and the need for industry input and working groups to study AI and other issues. Members repeatedly asked for measurable outcomes, including return-on-investment estimates, cost savings, and performance metrics tied to the number of people moved into self-sufficiency and employment. The committee then reviewed a draft consultant services agreement with Work Ed Consulting LLC, represented by Mason Bishop, to assist with the study under Act 145 of 2025. The contract would run from March 20, 2025 through June 30, 2027, with a maximum amount of $158,000 plus possible additional services up to 10% if approved. Bishop said his work would include ongoing ROI updates and that his experience included helping create Utah’s workforce department and assisting Louisiana with similar reforms. After questions about oversight and deliverables, Representative Beck moved to advance the contract, Senator Sullivan seconded, and the committee approved it by voice vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• The proposed conservancy will strategically channel resources into the region, governed by a board of
• Jake Schultz, on behalf of the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District, in support. Thank you.
• California already has overabundant black bear populations in many regions.
• Jake Schultz on behalf of the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District, East Bay Regional Park District
• Jake Schultz, on behalf of the Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District, East Bay Regional Park District

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > and<00:11:10.640> trade<00:11:10.880> type a regional cap and trade type a regional
• You determine a regional cap.
• Um, one of the transport region.
• Those will be handled regionally.
• regional grid operator. regional grid operator. for<04:08:26.399> clarification.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the different balancing regions are connected together.
• And each project will have their own pace of development.
• That's where most of it is developed and where the fuel is.
• development cycle.
• a five year 6650 first development cycle that we're in right now is about a five year 6651 development

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce held its first interim hearing on securing critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, with a focus on Texas’s electric grid and the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act. The chair also highlighted Texas’s relatively low electricity prices and welcomed new committee members. ERCOT, the Public Utility Commission (PUC), and the Attorney General’s office were invited to explain how the state screens market participants and grid equipment for ties to China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, and how the agencies respond to noncompliance. ERCOT testified that it has implemented the requirements of three related Senate bills by requiring attestations on corporate affiliations and on critical grid equipment and services. ERCOT said it has processed thousands of attestations, used additional requests for information and third-party verification tools such as Dun & Bradstreet, and terminated nonresponsive market participants. ERCOT also said it has not seen a case requiring direct Attorney General involvement, but it does refer matters to the PUC when needed. The PUC said it can investigate suspected violations and impose penalties of up to $1 million per violation per day, and that most investigations into late or missing attestations have been resolved through compliance, market exit, or removal by ERCOT. The Attorney General’s office said its role is currently limited to audits and court involvement, and that it lacks broad independent investigatory authority under the act. Members pressed the panel on whether the current system is too reliant on self-reporting and whether it adequately addresses indirect foreign influence, especially through supply chains for batteries, inverters, transformers, and other equipment with routable connectivity. ERCOT acknowledged that the current attestation process has gaps and said it plans to refine definitions of critical grid equipment and grid services, improve information requests, and continue stakeholder rulemaking. The panel also discussed possible legislative changes, including tying prohibitions to the Department of Defense Section 1260H list and the Texas Prohibited Technologies list, clarifying warranty and service access, and expanding the statute to cover grid services more directly. Several senators raised concerns about cost, reliability, and the extent to which foreign-sourced components remain embedded in Texas infrastructure, while others suggested incentives for domestic manufacturing and stronger verification tools, including possible work with national labs such as Sandia.

Transcript Highlights:

• city and region city and region that<00:03:59.080> addressed<00:03:59.720> the<00:
• 07.240> that develop and support programs that develop and support programs that embrace<00:08
• This has expanded into the Bluegrass region as well as the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
• Now, these three focus areas: arts, community development, education.
• is<00:33:56.920> designed developing programming that is designed developing programming

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity met and first heard a presentation from Johnny Cole III, president and CEO of the African American Forum in Lexington. Cole described the organization’s 30-plus year history, its signature events and programs, and its mission to promote African American arts, culture, education, and community development. He said the group has reached more than 60,000 people through events and more than 90,000 students through its arts partnership work, and estimated its programs have generated about $4.5 million in local economic impact. He also outlined a proposed legacy project in Lexington’s First Council District that would include a facility, culinary kitchen, food court, mobile truck, and expanded communications and internship opportunities, and said the organization was seeking a $3 million state request to help purchase a building and expand its mission. The committee then discussed a juvenile justice funding proposal presented by Senator Catoria Herring. Herring said the bill would create a juvenile justice fund for prevention, early intervention, alternatives to detention, re-entry, and wraparound services, with money coming from state appropriations, gifts, grants, and federal funds. She said the proposal was based on her experience in juvenile justice and on concerns that the state has invested heavily in detention facilities but not enough in upstream services. She cited recent facility spending and said the bill would seek $9 million. Members asked how the fund would work, who could apply, and how it would be overseen; Herring said she envisioned a grant program open to local governments, law enforcement, nonprofits, and school districts, with reporting requirements and oversight through the juvenile justice system. No vote was taken, and the discussion ended with general support and a suggestion to adjust the request amount to a round $9 million figure.