Transcript Highlights:

• This is their inaugural first faculty and staff leadership group that is here, so I was going to make

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Summary: The subcommittee reviewed multiple methods of finance and construction items, including projects for Arkansas State University, Black River Technical College, UAMS, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, and UCA. The UAPB Allied Health and Sciences Building appeared both as a method of finance and as an alternative delivery construction project, with East Harding Construction selected and AMR Architects as designer. Members approved the methods of finance, the alternative delivery project, and several discretionary grants, including Department of Health grants for a heart attack center designation and community health worker training, and DHS grants related to homeless services, behavioral health transition support, and an enabling technology pilot. The committee then reviewed service contracts, including RFQs, construction-related contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and a large number of out-of-state and in-state contracts. Testimony focused heavily on DHS staffing and state hospital contracts, the Arkansas State Police seatbelt survey, AEDC’s lithium supply chain analysis, and Shared Administrative Services’ new SuccessFactors performance-management contract. Members asked detailed questions about contract nursing costs, turnover, hiring timelines, and whether some contracts were being renewed or amended beyond their original projected costs. DHS and Veterans Affairs officials explained staffing shortages, retention incentives, and the use of contract labor as a supplement to state employees. Several contracts drew scrutiny and were held for further review. Representative Wardlaw raised concerns about projected costs and repeated amendments on the Department of Education security contract and on DHS staffing contracts, arguing that some had exceeded their original projected totals. The committee voted to hold contracts 5, 7, and 8 until Friday, while adopting the remaining contracts. The meeting ended after informational reports on service contract amendments without material change, executed contracts, and emergency procurements were presented, with no further business before adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Faculty and staff leader, this is their inaugural first faculty and staff leadership group that is here

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Transcript Highlights:

• Last year I was a member of Leslie Younger's inaugural Idaho Social Studies Education Fellows, and I

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Rabbi Brous blessed President Biden and Vice President Harris at the inaugural National Prayer Service

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• Also he was literally filed as attendees for President Trump's inauguration were filing into the Capitol

Bills: SB766 , SB290 , SB494 , SB1145

Committee: Senate Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently there are students enrolled in the UTRGV School of Podiatric Medicine and 22 students in the inaugural

Bills: SB26 , SB28 , SJR36 , SB26 , SB616 , SB565 , SB384 , SB28

Transcript Highlights:

• I had the great privilege of playing with the Josh Abbott band at our first. inauguration, I think it

Bills: SJR1 , SB9 , SB40 , SJR36 , SJR1 , SJR5 , SB9 , SB40

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• In the months that follow that inaugural flight, teams at the Kennedy Space Centre have been working

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• So Minnesota's really in that sweet spot where the cursory work was done by the inaugural states, and
• was<00:39:00.760><c> done</c><00:39:01.080><c> by</c><00:39:01.200><c> the</c><00:39:01.360><c> inaugural
• </c><00:39:01.840><c> states</c> was done by the inaugural states was done by the inaugural states and

Transcript Highlights:

• Education and confirmed by the New Hampshire Executive Council to administer the EFA program for its inaugural
• ><00:10:29.040><c> its</c> administer the EFA program for its administer the EFA program for its inaugural
• 30.720><c> and</c><00:10:31.040><c> continues</c><00:10:31.519><c> to</c><00:10:31.760><c> manage</c> inaugural
• year and continues to manage inaugural year and continues to manage the<00:10:32.160><c> EFA</c><00:

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• 36.800><c> semester</c><00:39:37.359><c> we</c><00:39:37.599><c> offer</c> When President Trump was inaugurated
• in mind, uh when President<00:40:51.119><c> Trump</c><00:40:51.359><c> was</c><00:40:51.520><c> inaugurated
• </c><00:40:52.160><c> in</c> President Trump was inaugurated in President Trump was inaugurated in January

Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing on the impact and legality of federal immigration enforcement efforts in Hawaii, with Chair Carl Rhodes framing it as the sixth and final interim briefing in a series on the rule of law and local effects of federal actions. He said the discussion would focus on due process concerns, questioning and detention of citizens and lawful immigrants, free speech issues, and pressure on state and local law enforcement, and noted the issues may be revisited in the 2026 regular session. There was no public testimony or committee vote; only invited speakers presented. Dr. Amy Agayani opened by arguing that immigrants are integral to Hawaii’s history, economy, and communities, and contrasted that with what she described as harmful narratives portraying immigrants as criminals. She cited figures that one in five Hawaii residents is foreign-born, that immigrants make up about 20% of the labor force and over 27% of entrepreneurs, and that roughly 40,000 people in Hawaii are undocumented, many of whom may have pathways to legal status but face language, information, and court barriers. She also said federal enforcement has expanded beyond undocumented immigrants to include citizens and lawful residents, and warned that attacks on birthright citizenship and visa categories could affect many families. Matina Mock of the legal clinic emphasized the complexity of immigration law and the severe lack of legal representation, noting a nationwide backlog of 11.3 million immigration-related applications and 3.4 million court cases, plus about 1,400 pending immigration cases in Honolulu with only two immigration judges. She said Hawaii has only six or seven nonprofit immigration legal service providers, and that represented clients are far more likely to obtain relief. Mock described a recent case involving a lawful student visa holder who was transferred among multiple federal facilities before being brought to Honolulu without clear notice, which she said illustrated due process violations. She also said ICE activity in Hawaii has sharply increased, with about 150 arrests from January to July 2025, a 380% increase over the same period in 2024, and that many detainees have no criminal record. Stephanie Haro Sevilla and another clinic fellow described 2025 enforcement as a major shift driven by a January executive order, the end of prior limits on arrests in sensitive locations, and arrest quotas they said require 3,000 arrests per day nationwide. They said this has led to arrests without warrants or probable cause, broader targeting of people with minor offenses or no criminal history, and the use of resources from other federal agencies and local law enforcement for civilian immigration enforcement. They also said the federal detention center in Honolulu is holding roughly 40 to 80 civilian detainees on any given day, often in conditions they characterized as prison-like, and warned that the current escalation could eventually affect lawful permanent residents and naturalized citizens. The speakers urged the public to support immigrant-rights advocates and local protective policies and funding measures.

Transcript Highlights:

• that there's additional looking at awards that were sent out in just between the election and inauguration
• why it was that 25% of the entire awards for the year were sent out post-election day, between inauguration
• We did make progress in clean energy permitting. inauguration day and only went to blue inauguration

Transcript Highlights:

• So in January, I think it was, shortly after President Trump's inauguration, he got up on a stage.
• ><00:53:25.400><c> Trump's</c> shortly after president Trump's shortly after president Trump's inauguration
• inauguration inauguration he<00:53:27.520><c> got</c><00:53:27.720><c> up</c><00:53:28.000><c> on</c

Committee: House Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• we understand it today, I think is actually going to—we're going to have a ribbon cutting and an inaugural
• c><01:13:16.719><c> cutting</c><01:13:17.080><c> and</c><01:13:17.239><c> a</c><01:13:17.840><c> inaugural
• </c><01:13:18.440><c> ride</c> a ribbon cutting and a inaugural ride a ribbon cutting and a inaugural

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd also like to note that in her inaugural address, Governor AA underscored her commitment to prioritizing
• note<01:14:06.120><c> that</c><01:14:06.520><c> in</c><01:14:06.679><c> her</c><01:14:06.840><c> inaugural
• </c><01:14:07.360><c> address</c> note that in her inaugural address note that in her inaugural address

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also excited about homecoming, and they tell me that they're going to inaugurate you can.
• We're also excited about homecoming, and they tell me that they're going to inaugurate me.
• I've never been inaugurated before, but apparently that's going to happen on October 1st, and that is

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• We're also excited about homecoming, and they tell me that they're going to inaugurate You can.
• We're also excited about homecoming, and they tell me that they're going to inaugurate me.
• I've never been inaugurated before, but apparently that's going to happen on October 1st, and that is

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met at NDSU and heard an extensive presentation from President David Cook/President Stewart and NDSU leadership on the university’s priorities, including enrollment, student success, research growth, and use of New Horizons funding. Leaders emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission, its role in workforce development, and its goal of becoming more distinctive through strategic planning, recruitment and retention, commercialization, and partnerships. They highlighted that NDSU awarded 2,370 degrees in 2025, produces a large share of the state’s engineering, nursing, and agriculture graduates, and reported strong outcomes for graduates staying and working in North Dakota. They also noted enrollment headwinds, competition from other institutions, and the need to manage tuition waivers more carefully through a scholarship optimization effort. Provost Sherry Vale outlined academic stewardship efforts, including review or consolidation of low-producing programs, strategic hiring tied to institutional priorities, faculty workload policy changes, and expanded online and regional offerings. She said the university is using New Horizons dollars to strengthen advising, student support, and programs in engineering, agriculture, and health. NDSU leaders also described new or expanded academic offerings such as robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, material science and engineering, nuclear engineering certificates, accelerated nursing, nurse practitioner certificates, a Master of Health Administration, and a clinical research master’s program with Sanford Health. They stressed that these investments are intended to improve student completion, meet workforce needs, and increase return on public investment. The committee also heard testimony from students and recent graduates who described the value of NDSU’s education, mentorship, internships, research opportunities, and support services. Alyssa Hodges spoke about pharmacy education, public health work, and campus support as a parent and student; Ethan Blessy described engineering coursework, internships with Marvin, and career preparation; and Aiden Freolic discussed neuroscience research, federally funded projects, and plans for graduate study. Their testimony was followed by presentations on partnerships with Gateway to Science for K-12 STEM outreach and with Sanford Research on biomedical research, clinical trials, obesity research, and a joint biostatistics hire. NDSU also highlighted systemwide shared services, Governor’s School programming, and research growth, including a reported 8% increase in research expenditures from $199 million to $215 million. No bill votes were taken; the meeting was informational and featured presentations, testimony, and discussion of future planning and partnerships.

Transcript Highlights:

• numbers are going, and at least we could have a rough spreadsheet so that we, you know, come and get inaugurated
• numbers are going, and at least we could have a rough spreadsheet so that we, you know, come and get inaugurated

Committee: Senate Senate Finance Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee approved the March 16, 2026 minutes and then heard testimony on several bills, with the chair noting that votes would be taken in batches because members were coming and going. HB 2939 would increase the rural qualified facilities tax credit from $20,000 to $25,000 per job for certain projects with initial investment under $2 billion; Lucid Motors supported it as a rural economic development tool, while Senator Epstein questioned the fiscal note and whether the higher credit would actually attract new investment. HB 2950 would authorize tourism improvement areas funded by voluntary lodging assessments to support marketing and tourism promotion; the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association and Visit Phoenix backed it as a competitive tool for rural and urban destinations, and committee members focused on whether participation was truly voluntary and how the assessments would be administered. HB 2780 made technical conforming changes to Arizona’s property tax lien foreclosure and excess proceeds sale process, building on a prior law that created a mechanism for delinquent property owners to recover equity; the sponsor and a longtime constituent said the changes would fix timing and credit-bid language so qualified entity sales could work in practice. HB 2502 would let certain elected officials in ASRS retire at normal retirement age without resigning their office, with the employer paying the alternate contribution rate; ASRS said it was neutral, and the sponsor argued the bill would treat elected officials more like other ASRS members. The committee then adopted do-pass recommendations for HB 2502, HB 2780, HB 2950, and HB 2939, with each passing on split votes. The committee also adopted a striker to HB 2140, allowing the State Treasurer to invest up to 10% of state trust and treasury monies in physical gold or silver bullion held in secure U.S. depositories. The sponsor and the Sound Money Defense League argued it would diversify reserves and hedge against market disruption, while opponents said gold is volatile, costly to store, and not something taxpayers need the state to buy. HB 2140 then passed as amended on a 4-2 vote. Finally, the committee heard HB 2398, as amended, which requires commercial liability insurance for watercraft rentals and peer-to-peer boat sharing programs, with supporters saying it addresses uninsured rental boats and law enforcement concerns; the bill passed as amended on a 6-1 vote. The committee also heard HB 2999, a major housing-finance bill creating state affordability infrastructure districts to finance public infrastructure through bonds and assessments; proponents said it would lower housing costs by spreading infrastructure costs over time, while contractors and some senators raised concerns about payment risk, impact-fee treatment, and whether savings would reach homebuyers. After adopting a striker and hearing extensive questions, HB 2999 passed as amended on a 6-1 vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was Also Inauguration Day.
• gave shortly before he Died, called 'Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,' because before Inauguration

Bills: HB5764 , HB5763 , HB1663 , HR659 , HB5784 , HB5788 , HB3496

Keywords: AI for Main Street Act, artificial intelligence, small business, small business development centers, SBDC, Small Business Act, business technology, digital transformation, cybersecurity, data protection, intellectual property, regulatory compliance, business training, entrepreneurship, technology adoption, AI literacy, outreach, main street businesses, Main Street Parity Act, Small Business Investment Act of 1958

Transcript Highlights:

• In her inaugural address just a few weeks ago, Governor Ayotte noted, as I've traveled across New Hampshire
• <03:52:25.520><c> provider</c><03:52:26.520><c> in</c><03:52:26.680><c> her</c><03:52:26.920><c> inaugural
• </c><03:52:27.520><c> address</c> the provider in her inaugural address the provider in her inaugural
• > speech</c><03:53:04.880><c> seeking</c><03:53:05.399><c> care</c><03:53:05.720><c> for</c> her inaugural
• speech seeking care for her inaugural speech seeking care for your<03:53:06.159><c> mental</c><03:53

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a non-germane amendment to HB 297 that would create the Granite State Home Mitigation and Resiliency Program. Insurance Commissioner DJ Beton, joined by department staff, explained that the proposal is intended to help homeowners afford insurance by funding proactive home improvements that reduce risk and improve insurability. He said the program would be funded by the first $1 million collected annually from the insurance premium tax, with grants of up to $10,000 available on a first-come, first-served basis. Beton described the problem as rising homeowners insurance premiums, hard-market underwriting, nonrenewals, and the resulting shift to more expensive surplus lines coverage. He said eligible projects could include roof fortification, exterior improvements, flood-related foundation work, and removal of hazardous trees or limbs. He cited similar programs in other states, especially Alabama, Louisiana, and North Carolina, as evidence the model can work and noted that industry representatives were present in support. He also said the program would use means testing aligned with the Department of Energy’s weatherization program to target lower-income applicants. Members asked about the non-germane process, who would administer the program, and how the bill would prevent misuse of grant funds. The commissioner said the department would administer the program using one repurposed existing position, with Treasury handling fund flow through an MOU. Staff explained that applicants would have to show completed work through a signed contract, itemized work, and a sworn contractor affidavit, with some upfront payment allowed for materials and the remainder paid after completion. The chair and members discussed that the amendment is being attached to a different bill only to move the proposal through committee and on to House Finance for further consideration.