Transcript Highlights:

• </c> on line 17 is the hunger-free campus on line 17 is the hunger-free campus grants.<00:02:55.200><
• </c><00:03:56.480><c> sexual</c> agency administration and campus sexual agency administration and campus
• policy is in for the differing approaches to the campus sexual misconduct policy.
• policy is in for the differing approaches to the campus sexual misconduct policy.
• </c><00:10:36.640><c> The</c> campus sexual misconduct policy. The campus sexual misconduct policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Glad to have you on campus.
• So with that, welcome to campus. Glad to have you.
• on campus.
• No, this is on campus.
• Each campus has to have an assigned person who deals with accessibility on their campus.

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• they were on campus.
• But where is campus? Where is that?
• Each campus is to provide their security assessment, and if that campus deems that they need the cameras
• How do you do that with a campus that spans?
• To an emergency situation on campus.

Committee: House Education & Employment Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul campus.
• Paul campus. And no one wants to St. Paul campus.
• Paul campus. I know my spend time on St. Paul campus.
• Paul campus.
• Paul campus.

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• Because you went to this 168-acre campus and then you're going to one house.
• The Brayton School is on the Canton campus and is run by DESE.
• The children served by Pappas often arrive at the campus after their families...
• , to use Governor Healey's words, the reimagination of this campus.
• Develop mental health treatment facilities on campus.

Summary: The hearing focused on the future of the Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children and the work of the special legislative commission studying whether and how the facility should continue. Senators and representatives said the Legislature has continued funding Pappas, that the hospital cannot be closed before the commission reports, and that they are seeking to extend the commission’s deadline. Multiple commissioners and witnesses described Pappas as a unique setting combining inpatient medical care, residential programming, special education, therapy, and campus-based activities for children with complex medical needs. Union leaders, staff, parents, and local officials argued that Pappas is being quietly depopulated through blocked admissions and continued discharges despite the formal pause on closure. They said the hospital’s integrated model cannot be replicated elsewhere, that families and staff are being left in limbo, and that the state should invest in repairs, modernization, and possibly temporary modular space to reopen admissions. Several witnesses emphasized the impact on children who have benefited from Pappas and on workers who fear losing a specialized workforce built over decades. Department of Public Health Commissioner Robert Goldstein said the state is committed to keeping Pappas open and stable while the commission works, but that admissions must meet hospital-level-of-care standards and the current infrastructure limits who can safely be served. He said the administration has been expanding outreach, hiring staff, and exploring ways to broaden services, including outpatient and therapy programs over time. Commissioners pressed him on why admissions remain so limited and whether the facility is being effectively depopulated, while Goldstein maintained that the restrictions reflect legal and safety requirements rather than an effort to close the hospital.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> preparedness plans for every campus preparedness plans for every campus Building<00:29:49.039><c
• </c> my classmates the hunger-free campus my classmates the hunger-free campus grants<00:30:18.000><c
• on campus But deserves to feel safe on campus But Rising<00:34:33.599><c> instances</c><00:34:34.040>
• </c> was clear that no matter which campus was clear that no matter which campus that<00:41:11.920><c
• </c><00:51:42.599><c> food</c> ordering for our campus food ordering for our campus food shelves<00:51

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Glad to have you on campus.
• So with that, welcome to campus. Glad to have you.
• No, this is on campus.
• Each campus has to have an assigned person who deals with accessibility on their campus.
• to the extent you can provide that and further analysis of that, to really understand if it is a campus-by-campus

Summary: The committee met on the Minot State campus for a presentation from President Shirley and several university leaders on enrollment, academics, workforce initiatives, and partnerships. Shirley reviewed the university’s financial audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings in recent years, and highlighted Minot State’s major programs, specialized accreditations, and ties to Minot Air Force Base and NCAA Division II athletics. Members asked about education workforce shortages, athletic tuition waivers, dual credit incentives, and the university’s in-state tuition policy for all students. Shirley also discussed the university’s recruitment efforts, including the Hometown Pride and Academic Excellence scholarships, campus visit growth, and the Emerging Scholars dual-credit reimbursement program. A major focus was workforce development and new academic offerings supported by legislative Workforce Education Innovation Funds. Shirley described the new Innovation Engineering program, which was developed with industry input to train broadly skilled engineers for western North Dakota, and said it had already drawn more applicants than expected. Dr. Crystal St. Peter presented a new master’s program in counseling that integrates mental health and addiction counseling to address statewide provider shortages, with a hybrid format to reach rural students. Members asked about licensure requirements, internship hours, and job placement for graduates. Shirley also outlined a new nursing simulation center and health sciences space in downtown Minot, made possible by state support and the purchase of the former Trinity Health Center West building. The committee also heard about Minot State’s efforts to build pipelines into education and special education, including the Aspire program for rural high school students and an online paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Shirley said these programs, along with new articulation agreements and a large Bush Foundation grant, are intended to address teacher shortages and keep students in North Dakota. No formal committee votes or actions were taken during the presentation; the session consisted of informational updates and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• or near campus buildings.
• or near campus activities on campus or near campus buildings.<01:30:36.239><c> This</c><01:30:36.560
• </c> campus.
• Does this now turn your campus campus.
• </c> into a sanctuary campus? into a sanctuary campus?

Bills: HF3432 , HF3411

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Utilization varies campus to campus, of course.
• UC Merced was built without— the first buildings had state support, but the doubling of the campus. campus
• billion in deferred maintenance on the campus or capital renewal.
• Aside from my aforementioned commitments, I work two on-campus jobs and a third off-campus job.
• As a result, they often rely on campus food pantries to meet their basic needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• ><00:20:34.360><c> students</c> is approved by the campus team students is approved by the campus team
• That number varies by campus.
• </c> that comprehensive review by the campus that comprehensive review by the campus staff<00:31:43.880
• varies by campus we've invited each<00:32:03.000><c> campus</c><00:32:03.320><c> to</c><00:32:03.480
• </c><00:35:11.760><c> um</c> each campus um each campus um 21,500<00:35:14.599><c> um</c><00:35:15.040

Summary: Minnesota State Colleges and Universities presented an overview of the system and several budget riders. Board Chair George Soul described the system’s structure, noting 26 colleges and seven universities governed by a 15-member board, and emphasized that Minnesota State serves about 270,000 students annually, including many students of color, adult learners, Pell-eligible students, first-generation students, and veterans. He highlighted the system’s workforce role, saying it offers more than 4,000 programs, extensive employer partnerships, and that 86% of graduates find jobs in their field or a related field. He then turned the presentation over to system staff to discuss specific funding requests. Associate Vice Chancellor Kim Lynch focused on the Z-degree textbook program, which supports zero-textbook-cost courses and degrees. She said prior legislative support has produced about $3.1 million in savings in academic year 2024 and more than $12.6 million in aggregate savings, with 10 colleges now offering Z degrees and 12 more on track or exploring implementation. She described the program’s use of open educational resources, instructional design support, and library resources to fill gaps where free materials are not available, and said students save roughly $7 to $10 for every $1 invested. Members praised the program and asked about its expansion. Associate Vice Chancellor Paul Shepard discussed student support funding, including a centralized basic needs resource hub, the Mantra Health mental health platform, and the emergency grant program. He said student surveys showed significant food, housing, and homelessness insecurity, and that the basic needs hub has served over 2,400 students with a 97% positive response rate. He said Mantra provides telecounseling, peer support, self-paced courses, and crisis support, and clarified in response to questions that it is not AI-driven and does not sell student data; general usage data is collected, and follow-up with campus counselors occurs only at the student’s request. He also said the emergency grant program has distributed over $3 million to more than 4,800 students, with grants averaging just under $700, and that campuses use application review and recordkeeping to manage repeat requests. Members asked about counselor staffing, data privacy, and grant safeguards. The final item addressed sexual assault reporting and prevention funding. System staff said the appropriation supports technology infrastructure for statutory reporting, case management for investigations, campus prevention training, and professional development for Title IX coordinators and related staff. They noted that the statutory student training requirement is funded by individual colleges and universities, not by this appropriation. No formal votes were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Glad to have you on campus.
• So with that, welcome to campus. Glad to have you.
• Rank order of largest programs on this campus.
• on campus.
• Each campus has to have an assigned person who deals with accessibility on their campus.

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met on the Minot State University campus for presentations on campus operations, enrollment, and new academic initiatives. President Shirley reviewed recent audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings, and highlighted MSU’s broad academic offerings, specialized accreditations, athletics, and partnerships with Minot Air Force Base and the MSU Development Foundation. Members asked about declining interest in teacher education, tuition waivers for athletes, dual credit incentives, and how MSU decides when to launch new programs and avoid duplication within the university system. Shirley also discussed several workforce-focused initiatives supported by the Legislature’s Workforce Education Innovation Funds, including the purchase of the Trinity Health Center West building for a downtown health sciences hub, a new daycare/preschool partnership near campus, the Aspire program to recruit rural students into teaching, and a paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Enrollment data showed overall headcount was flat at just under 2,750, but full-time equivalent enrollment rose slightly and new student numbers increased, including the largest freshman class in 15 years. The committee also discussed Minot State’s in-state tuition rate for all students, its dual credit “Emerging Scholars” scholarship, and concerns about the share of high school graduates who do not immediately pursue postsecondary education. Faculty then presented two new programs funded in part by WEAF: an Innovation Engineering degree and a master’s program in counseling with an integrated addiction studies focus. The engineering program was described as industry-driven, designed with broad early coursework, hands-on learning, and local employer input to prepare students for western North Dakota workforce needs; officials said it had already drawn more applicants than expected and would use renovated library space and donated or grant-funded equipment. The counseling program will be mostly face-to-face with hybrid options, aims to address shortages in mental health and substance use providers, and is structured to help students meet licensure requirements. Committee members asked about startup costs, licensure supervision hours, and whether the programs would be on campus rather than online, and presenters said both programs had recently received required approvals and were moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• . campus. campus.
• >> I do not believe so, between the town and on campus and off campus.
• </c> were to open carry on to the campus? were to open carry on to the campus?
• </c><01:01:00.559><c> Um</c> campus is not a law. It's a policy. Um campus is not a law.
• We have campus shooter on campus.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• I returned to campus that following Monday and expected, hey, this is going to be that moment.
• It was with people on loudspeakers during my class, it was incredibly difficult to be on campus.
• I had people following me home from campus. And I came back to school pretty late.
• Were people bringing, like, their possessions to, like, sleep overnight on the campus?
• This bill would not outlaw campus encampments.

Bills: HB2427 , HB2458 , HB2474 , HB2540 , HB2589

Committee: House Postsecondary Education & Workforce

Keywords: ink of hope act, mental health, substance use, rehabilitation, community support, Washington college grant, postsecondary education, nondegree programs, student access, financial aid, consumer protections, school closures, educational programs, student rights, emergency medical services, EMT recertification, healthcare, first responders, public health, encampments

Transcript Highlights:

• I even think about the encampments that were recently on campus.
• I even think about the encampments that were recently on campus.
• It was incredibly difficult to be on campus. I got death threats.
• Were people bringing their possessions to sleep overnight on the campus?
• This bill would not outlaw campus encampments.

Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills related to higher education, workforce training, student protections, campus encampments, and EMT recertification. HB 2427 would require tattoo artists to complete annual human trafficking awareness training through the Department of Licensing; the prime sponsor and supporters said tattoo artists may be among the few people trafficked survivors encounter and could help identify and refer victims, while one opponent argued the bill imposes compelled speech and burdens small businesses. HB 2458 would expand Washington College Grant eligibility to approved non-degree credential programs; supporters from community and technical colleges, workforce organizations, and employers said it would help low-income students access short-term training tied to high-demand jobs, while one member raised concerns about short-term credentials and their long-term value. The committee also heard HB 2474, which would strengthen consumer protections when a private institution or program closes by expanding use of the Student Achievement Council tuition recovery trust fund, requiring teach-out or transfer options, and voiding certain student debts if closure rules are violated. The sponsor and agency witnesses said the bill responds to recent closures and gaps in federal oversight, while Independent Colleges of Washington opposed the bill as overly broad and potentially harmful to program innovation, and asked that private nonprofit campuses be excluded. Testifiers from student groups and a national higher-education advocacy organization supported the measure and argued that protections should also apply to public institutions. HB 2589 would regulate campus encampments at institutions of higher education by requiring advance notice, limiting authorization to registered student organizations or recognized bargaining units, and allowing institutions to impose content-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions to protect safety and access. The sponsor said it codifies existing practice and does not ban protest, but several testifiers described recent encampments as disruptive or unsafe, while others warned the bill could chill student expression and should not apply to private nonprofit campuses. Finally, HB 2540 would extend EMT recertification intervals from every three years to every six years for EMTs certified in Washington for at least 10 years; firefighters and EMS supporters said it would reduce administrative burden without changing training requirements. The committee took no votes and adjourned after hearing all testimony, with a reminder about amendment deadlines for upcoming bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• campus.
• I visited the campus last week.
• campus.
• into an A or B campus.
• Are turning a D or F campus into an A or B campus.

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• she led a protest on campus for Title IX reform and survivor rights.
• She was too afraid to come to campus and failed.
• As the only Black student speaker at the event, she said she was surrounded by campus police.
• of campus protests, and many students, according to the reporting, are feeling safer.
• There hasn't been anything like that on my college campus.

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard AB 2551 by Assemblymember Sade Elhawary, which would require the California State University system to hold a student hearing on time, place, and manner (TPM) policies and to collect and report demographic data on TPM violations and related discipline. The author and student witnesses argued the bill would increase transparency, reveal disproportionate enforcement, and give students a voice, citing examples of students facing investigations, holds on records, and other consequences after campus protests. Supporters included the California Faculty Association, CAIR-California, and ACLU California Action. The University of California opposed the bill, raising privacy concerns that disaggregated reporting could make it easier to identify individual students, especially in small categories. Committee members debated whether the bill was too prescriptive, whether it could create federal privacy issues, and whether the reporting should include additional categories such as political viewpoint. The author said the bill had been narrowed, including removal of a sunset provision, and emphasized that the goal was to understand and address possible disproportionate enforcement while balancing student safety and free speech. After discussion, the committee voted to concur in Senate amendments and pass AB 2551 to the floor. The roll call ultimately showed 8 ayes, 1 no, and 1 not voting. The chair then announced the committee’s final meeting of the year was adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That revenue has to be held separate from the campus state general fund.
• and feeling like they're part of that campus community.
• That's like a mid-size, sort of small, mid-sized campus. Right?
• We charge every student the same regardless of what campus they attend.
• Each UC campus and location also has a dedicated Title IX officer.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, chaired by Assemblymember Alvarez, held a hearing focused on University of California budget issues. The committee reviewed UC core operations funding, enrollment trends, federal funding threats, Title IX implementation, and basic needs support. Major themes included the end of the Governor’s multi-year UC compact, the state’s fiscal outlook, UC’s enrollment growth, and the potential impacts of federal policy changes on research, health care, and student aid. On core funding, the Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to continue compact-related support, defer some payments, and authorize a cash-flow loan. The LAO recommended a smaller or no base increase, earmarking some funds for capital renewal, retiring deferrals when possible, avoiding new compact commitments, and funding UC annually rather than through compacts. UC argued that the compact has supported enrollment growth, student services, and operating costs, but said campuses face rising expenses, structural deficits, and limited reserves. Members questioned the effects of deferrals on students and discussed the need to prioritize less harmful reductions if cuts become necessary. The enrollment panel focused on UC’s growth in California resident enrollment and the nonresident replacement plan at Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego. The LAO recommended maintaining the current enrollment target, funding enrollment separately from base increases, pausing the nonresident replacement plan, and holding enrollment flat in 2027-28. UC said it has already met compact enrollment goals, grown California undergraduate enrollment by about 18,800 students, and that further growth depends on ongoing state support. The committee also discussed the cost of enrollment growth, possible differential nonresident tuition, and a reporting request for UC to analyze the nonresident replacement approach; the motion to adopt supplemental reporting language passed. The hearing also covered federal funding risks, with the LAO and UC warning that federal changes could affect research grants, medical center reimbursement, and student financial aid. UC said research cancellations and suspensions are disrupting labs and graduate student support, while federal health policy changes could increase uncompensated care at UC hospitals. In the Title IX update, UC described its systemwide civil rights structure, annual student training, and campus support offices, and members praised the work while asking about ongoing concerns and intersegmental collaboration. The final basic-needs item began with Finance stating the Governor’s budget does not change ongoing support, but the transcript cuts off before further discussion or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do have, you know, our utilization varies campus to campus, of course.
• Utilization varies campus to campus, of course.
• Each campus gets an on-site inspection every five years.
• We don't have that luxury on the general campus side.
• Aside from my aforementioned commitments, I work two on-campus jobs and a third off-campus job, and despite

Summary: The committee’s first major discussion focused on higher education facilities across UC, CSU, and the community colleges, with Chair Alvarez framing the issue as a final budget hearing before the May Revise. The LAO presented findings that campuses have grown substantially in buildings and square footage, while classroom and lab utilization remains below legislative standards and deferred maintenance backlogs continue to rise. The LAO also emphasized that the state and segments lack comprehensive data on capital renewal spending and recommended better reporting, clearer funding targets, and long-term planning for renewal and maintenance. UC, CSU, and community college representatives each described large five-year capital plans, aging facilities, seismic and deferred maintenance needs, and the role of student housing, while noting that construction costs are rising faster than inflation. Members questioned the segments about debt service, utilization rates, and how projects are prioritized. UC said its debt service tied to state support is about $665 million annually and described a $30 billion five-year capital financial plan, including housing, medical centers, and building renewal. CSU said it has about $31 billion in five-year needs and more than $8 billion in deferred maintenance, with funding coming from a mix of state-related and one-time sources since the state shifted capital responsibility to CSU. Community colleges said their unmet facilities needs total about $33.5 billion and explained their use of a scoring matrix and FUSION system to rank projects. The chair and members pressed all three systems to better distinguish between projects that are truly shovel-ready and those that are long-term needs, and discussed whether facilities condition data, total cost of ownership, and more standardized metrics should guide future bond proposals. The committee then turned to Proposition 2 and the Governor’s proposed community college capital outlay projects. The Department of Finance said Prop. 2 provides $1.5 billion for community colleges and that the Governor’s budget proposes 29 projects, with two continuing Prop. 51 projects also included. The LAO supported the overall use of the funds but raised concerns about the current 65/35 split between modernization and growth, the unusually large share of gymnasium projects, and some scoring metrics that favor larger campuses and certain regions. Community college officials said the scoring system was developed through participatory governance and would take one to two years to revise, but they supported the funding and agreed to follow up on questions about project categories and the rationale for the weighting. Members also suggested giving more weight to modernization, regional access, and intersegmental or collaborative projects. A final item addressed the CalKids program. The Department of Finance proposed $56,000 ongoing General Fund for three positions, while the LAO recommended approving two positions but rejecting a manager position until the current $7.5 million marketing campaign is evaluated. ScholarShare’s executive director said CalKids has enrolled more than 5 million children, with nearly 600,000 claims and over $45 million distributed, and argued that additional staff and outreach are needed to reach a goal of 1 million claimed scholarships by the end of 2025 and to implement AB 2808. Members asked about marketing effectiveness, data sharing, and eligibility rules, and the program said it is expanding partnerships with Cradle to Career and CSAC. No final vote was taken in the hearing, and the chair indicated the facilities item would be held open.

Transcript Highlights:

• Paul campus.
• Paul campus.
• Paul campus.
• </c><00:21:14.799><c> with</c> them move in and being on campus with them move in and being on campus
• I've also worked on campus.

Transcript Highlights:

• , the community college campus itself.
• On campus.
• And what a better place than their campus?
• And, yeah, they have to work off campus because they cannot legally work on campus.
• Legally work on campus.

Committee: House Higher Education