Transcript Highlights:

• They say it is twice as high as fish and wildlife agencies, and that may be part of the reason for the
• We absolutely need people to be in these areas, and there's just not a high number, for example, of attorneys
• And my deepest apologies for not addressing you correctly, Doctor, I apologize. Our hope.
• I think having really high-quality instructional materials, professional learning, and resources for
• lot of classes for them and get credentialed so that they can have a really high-quality instructor

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We support, we educate, and we advocate for optimal health outcomes and access to care for all Minnesotans
• </c><00:03:08.319><c> certified</c> to the scope of practice for certified to the scope of practice for
• </c> the Midwifery scope of practice for the Midwifery scope of practice for certified<00:03:18.440><
• </c> members of the committee thank you for members of the committee thank you for this<00:04:02.959>
• Feiger, for your comments.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• For the nominees today, thank you very much for being willing to serve and thank you for being here.
• For the nominees today, thank you very much for being willing to serve and thank you for being here.
• It's been a privilege to serve the University Center Board for the last five years and hope to continue
• It's been a privilege to serve the University Center Board for the last five years and hope to continue
• And Madam Chair, her reputation is so very, very high in Tulsa, and for her to continue in this position

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Extended Education Committee met to consider a long slate of gubernatorial nominations and reappointments to education-related boards and commissions. The committee heard brief introductions from sponsoring senators and remarks from nominees for the Oklahoma Lottery Commission, State Board of Career and Technology Education, Regional University System of Oklahoma, State Board of Education, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, the Secretary of Education, several university and college boards, the Oklahoma Student Loan Authority, the State Textbook Committee, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and the Langston University board, among others. Many nominees emphasized their backgrounds in public education, higher education, business, agriculture, health care, or community service, and several acknowledged family members or institutional leaders present in the room. A few nominations drew questions or discussion. John Wesley Nofire was asked about working with the State Board of Education and about the social studies standards process, and he explained the board followed statutory public-comment procedures and made changes before final adoption. Secretary of Education Dan Hamlin received supportive comments from multiple senators, who praised his data-driven approach and urged that he be retained by future administrations. Michael McElroy, Brian Beller, Christopher Franklin, Dr. Michael Peck, and others also answered questions about the role of their boards and their experience with the institutions they would oversee. The committee voted on each nomination, with most receiving unanimous approval and a few passing with one or two dissenting votes. Notable vote totals included David McKenzie and Michael McElroy passing 9-2 and 10-1 respectively, while the rest of the nominees generally passed 8-0, 9-0, 10-0, or 11-0. At the end of the meeting, the chair thanked members for their work on the large number of executive nominations and announced that the committee was adjourned for the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• For sure. Gina Clive, new superintendent for Lake Superior School District.
• Qualify for free lunch, something like $150,000 for a family of four.
• Thank you for your time. And thank you for the testimony. With that, Ms. Smith and Ms.
• for income eligibility.
• Thank you, and I hope we get consideration for this as we go through the talks.

Bills: HF51 , HF1161 , HF2201 , HF2786 , HF1053

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: HF51, Sibley County, State-Aid Highway 21, capital investment, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, transportation infrastructure, road improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, local infrastructure, county grant, Minnesota Department of Transportation, bond proceeds fund, public works, utility infrastructure, education finance, school district funding, tax base adjustment

Transcript Highlights:

• And when it comes time for you to sort of sit down and talk to your constituents, I would hope that you
• I mean that for industry and for businesses and also for AB 617 communities.
• They're considered a high emitter because they produce these products for us.
• And so the hope of fast EV infrastructure is quite a number of years away for us, if not decades, based
• And so the hope of, you know, fast EV infrastructure is quite a number of years away for us, if not decades

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Water Board is holding us to a very high standard of environmental recovery for these fish.
• our greenhouse gas emission goals, for public health, for equity reasons, you know, for the fact that
• So there's not a billion dollars starting July 1 for high-speed rail to start spending because it doesn't
• So hoping to see additional funding for those programs. Thank you. Thank you. Good morning.
• East Bay residents, but for really, magnificent, not just for East Bay residents, but for really, you

Summary: The subcommittee heard an overview of the May Revision from the Department of Finance and the Legislative Analyst’s Office, focused on resources, environmental protection, energy, and related budget issues. Finance said the May Revision keeps the budget balanced in 2026-27 and 2027-28, narrows the structural deficit, and proposes major investments in natural resources, including Proposition 4 bond funding for the Golden Gate Fields acquisition, wildlife refuge and wetland projects, Fort Ord Dunes campground operations, Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, wildfire-human coexistence, and beverage container recycling. The LAO praised stronger-than-expected revenues but argued the state still has a structural deficit and is relying too heavily on reserves, recommending more reserve deposits and fewer new discretionary expenditures. Members questioned several proposals, especially the Golden Gate Fields purchase and the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program. Agency officials said the Golden Gate Fields site is a time-limited opportunity, would be remediated by the current owner, transferred to East Bay Regional Park District after closing, and restricted to park/open-space uses rather than commercial development. On Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, Finance and the Natural Resources Agency said the $25 million request would help launch year one of the program, support scientific monitoring, and maintain commitments to environmental flows and habitat restoration; the LAO said the request was premature because the Bay-Delta plan has not yet been formally adopted and the state’s total funding commitment remains unclear. Officials also discussed water storage, subsidence, and the need for ongoing investments in aquifer recharge, aqueduct repairs, and recycling. The committee also reviewed a proposed $1 million shift for the Coexisting with Wildlife Initiative. Fish and Wildlife and the Cattlemen’s Association said the money would support limited-term staffing, deterrence tools, and livestock-loss compensation, while acknowledging the amount is modest compared with the need. Members emphasized the growing human-wildlife conflict problem and the importance of nonlethal deterrence and public education. The discussion then turned to greenhouse gas reduction fund revenues and transit; members warned that lower auction revenues and possible CARB rule changes could leave little or nothing for Tier 3 programs such as transit, clean water, and air-quality programs. Finance and the LAO said the Legislature should plan for multiple revenue scenarios and consider whether the existing cap-and-invest spending framework still matches current revenue expectations and priorities.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, it is a high priority to get cooling systems, particularly for high-risk individuals.
• So we're not specifically asking for any specific staffing for...
• First, for prescription drugs, there are pretty high denial rates across insurers.
• And that's one of those other things that we've been asking for and begging for for years that we still
• Management that they hoped for from the MCO.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• principal, and provide instructional clarity for teachers. ...has a high-quality principal and provide
• Again, I think it's acknowledging for those high-achiever kids you might be getting bored and stop coming
• And so if there was a way for them to be... ...absenteeism is in these high-achieving kids.
• It just becomes a very friendly tool for teachers, for classrooms, for students.
• school, which is something we don't want to have happen because of what it does for them. ...high school

Committee: Joint Education Interim Committee

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've worked very closely with our charter school in Martin County, Hope School for Autism, as well as
• Hope everything worked out for you, President Gaetz. We're ready for you. We're ready for you now.
• Hope everything worked out for you, President Gates. We're ready for you.
• I hope everything worked out for you, President Gates. We're ready for you.
• high school.

Committee: Senate Education Pre-K - 12

Summary: The Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee heard and passed two autism-related bills. SB 112, by Senator Harrell, would expand autism screening and referral grants, extend Early Steps services from age three to age four, designate the University of Florida autism center as a statewide hub, create grants for autism-focused charter schools and summer programs, and establish an autism microcredential for educators and paraprofessionals. Three technical or clarifying amendments were adopted, and the bill received support from Autism Speaks, The Arc of Florida, Foundation for Florida’s Future, and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, who emphasized early intervention and the need for training and expanded services. The bill was reported favorably by committee vote. The committee then considered SB 102, by Senator Gaetz, which would direct the Department of Education to create a workforce credential for students with autism spectrum disorder, including badges for job skills and workplace safety, and require reporting on outcomes such as employment after graduation. An amendment was adopted to allow students on a modified curriculum before formal diagnosis to participate and to require coordination with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA. Testimony from Amy Weatherby of the FSU Autism Institute and CARD strongly supported the bill, stressing the importance of employment outcomes and early preparation, while other organizations also supported it. SB 102 was reported favorably, and the committee adjourned after Senator Harrell was recorded as voting in the affirmative on SB 112.

Transcript Highlights:

• I was hoping for a good August. I said, I'm hoping for a good August.
• Well, it's something that has confused me for a while, is why we don't pay more for really high-acuity
• Well, it's something that has confused me for a while, is why we don't pay more for really high-acuity
• I was hoping for interpretive dance. Is that—I mean, you know, it's your time. That's risky.
• Alternative example I'll give is, of course, GLP-1s for weight loss, actually quite a not a very high

Keywords: 907, all

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing focused first on Oregon Medicaid coordinated care organization (CCO) finances and rate setting. Oregon Health Authority staff explained how 2025 CCO financial results will inform 2027 capitation rates, including reserve requirements, subcapitation arrangements, and major cost drivers such as behavioral health, pharmacy, rural hospital costs, and dental directed payments. They said the Legislature’s added 2025 funding materially improved CCO margins and that, without it, the program would have been negative overall. Members asked about retained earnings, subcapitation, behavioral health utilization, ABA therapy, and whether outcomes are being evaluated; OHA said rate setting is actuarial and that CCOs, OHA, and other partners all play roles in monitoring efficacy and access. OHA also reviewed House Bill 4039 changes intended to increase transparency and give CCOs earlier access to rate information and reconciliation exhibits. CCO representatives then testified that the system is under significant financial pressure and that behavioral health state-directed payments, benefit changes, and federal uncertainty from H.R. 1 are reducing flexibility. CareOregon said it has lost more than $500 million over the last couple of years and is now making provider terminations and other network changes to align spending with available funding, while emphasizing that CCOs must make hard decisions about which services and providers can be sustained. Eastern Oregon CCO said rural and frontier factors, cost-based hospitals, air ambulance needs, and statewide efficiency adjustments are not fully reflected in rates, and that dental funding is especially strained. Trillium similarly warned that state-directed payments and benefit expansion pressures are constraining the global budget model and that H.R. 1 could worsen acuity and volatility. Members pressed the witnesses on who is responsible for evaluating treatment effectiveness, especially for ABA and psychotherapy, and on how utilization limits and reimbursement changes are being used to control costs. The committee then shifted to an overview of the Affordable Care Act and Oregon’s commercial insurance market. Department of Consumer and Business Services staff explained actuarial value, metal tiers, premium tax credits, medical loss ratio rules, and the main drivers of premium rates: cost trend, utilization trend, and administrative costs. They said mandates have likely added only a limited amount to premiums over the past decade, though the exact effect is difficult to isolate, and they gave examples of how high-cost, low-volume services versus broad, high-utilization services can affect rates differently. Staff also noted that Providence Health Plan and PacificSource Health Plans are withdrawing from the individual market, though consumers should still have at least three insurer options in every county and may have four in many counties. The division said it is in the middle of reviewing proposed 2027 rates and will continue its public rate review process, including hearings and written comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• services office, hoping for extra time on exams.
• In high school, your parent may have had an evaluation for you, which happens every three years.
• Do we ask a donor for $10,000 for an endowed fund so that it qualifies for the state match?
• Thank you very much, and certainly with the continued high revenues coming in for Mass.
• Fair Share, I would hope that we could dedicate that around salary and pay issues for adjunct faculty

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Higher Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Higher Education held its fourth public hearing, opening with remarks about the importance of protecting and expanding access to higher education amid federal disinvestment. The chairs also announced future informational hearings on the impact of federal cuts and on ASAP models. The hearing then focused on several bills, beginning with S. 951/H. 1462, An Act to Support College Students in Recovery, which would require recovery-focused housing on public campuses and expand naloxone access and overdose training. Senator Rausch, medical professionals, students, and advocates testified in support, emphasizing the prevalence of overdose risk among college students, the value of recovery housing, and the need for campus naloxone; committee members asked about implementation details and the existing state pilot program. Deb Schmill and Rep. Tarski gave especially personal testimony in favor of the bill, and the committee discussed broadening the naloxone language to opioid reversal agents. The committee also heard testimony on H. 1461, which would expand MassReconnect scholarships to practical nursing students at vocational and technical schools to help address the long-term care workforce shortage. Rep. Stanley argued that vocational schools graduate more practical nursing students than community colleges and serve many low-income students in areas without nearby community college programs. The committee then took up H. 1433, which would require public higher education institutions to accept IEPs and 504 plans as sufficient documentation for disability accommodations. Advocates from the National Center for Learning Disabilities described the high cost and burden of repeat testing, the lifelong nature of disabilities, and the need for more uniform access across campuses; committee members raised questions about documentation freshness, campus autonomy, and how to preserve the integrity of accommodations. Later, the committee heard S. 919/H. 1454 on modernizing the Community College Endowment Match Program so community colleges could receive state matching funds for current-use donations as well as endowments and capital gifts. Community college foundation leaders said the change would help fund immediate student needs such as food pantries, child care, emergency aid, and equipment. The hearing then moved to faculty-related bills: S. 933 on UMass faculty rights and tenure transparency, S. 930/H. 3948 on contingent faculty rights and career advancement, and S. 940/H. 1429 on an Adjunct Bill of Rights. Testimony from faculty and union representatives focused on low pay, lack of benefits, job insecurity, and the need for clearer pathways to full-time positions and fairer treatment for adjuncts who teach large shares of courses. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and asked clarifying questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do we want to teach our kids that for a few extra tax dollars? I hope not. Thank you very much.
• </c><00:38:54.880><c> not</c> for a few extra tax dollars I hope not for a few extra tax dollars I hope
• </c> dose of cannabis is appropriate for dose of cannabis is appropriate for them<01:38:18.239><c> high
• I hope you pass it. It would be great for the state and great for the people. Thank you very much.
• I hope you pass it. It would be great for the state and great for the people.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committees on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture and Food Systems heard testimony and began decision-making on HB 1246, which would establish the Hawaii Cannabis and Hemp Office within DCCA to regulate cannabis. Chair Tarnas described the bill as divisive and noted the hearing had received 95 testimonies in support, 135 in opposition, and 11 comments. Members were told the office would be administratively attached to DCCA, and the department emphasized it would not direct day-to-day operations. DCCA also raised concerns about banking access due to federal law, while the Department of Agriculture supported a one-plant, one-agency approach and noted its current authority over cannabis plant importation and movement. Several agencies and advocates supported the bill with cautions or requested amendments. The Department of Health said it appreciated the bill’s public health protections but remained concerned about increased adult-use access, youth mental health, pregnancy-related risks, and effects on developing brains; it requested a 12-month delayed effective date. The Attorney General’s office said legalization should include safeguards, recommended a longer implementation timeline and seed funding, and flagged issues in the bill involving impaired driving, open-container language, and penalties for under-21 possession. The Office of the Public Defender supported the bill but objected to new driving and possession offenses, saying existing law already covers impaired driving. Doctors for Drug Policy Reform supported the measure, citing regulation of intoxicating cannabinoids, testing, childproof packaging, and public education as public-health benefits. Opponents focused on youth access, public safety, and the bill’s broader social effects. The Honolulu Police Department opposed the bill over access and diversion concerns, and the City and County of Honolulu Prosecutor strongly opposed legalization, citing higher-potency cannabis, youth harms, psychiatric risks, and increased poison-center calls. The Hawaiʻi Substance Abuse Coalition argued legalization should wait until prevention programs are in place and funded first, while the Hawaiʻi Family Forum and Hawaiian Republican Women also opposed the measure, citing concerns about youth exposure, added bureaucracy, and taxpayer costs. The Tax Foundation of Hawaiʻi questioned the purpose of the proposed cannabis taxes, asking why cannabis should be taxed heavily if legalization is intended. The hearing continued with additional testimony after a brief audio issue for one testifier.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I don't have an exact date for you, but I am hopeful that it will be done as soon as early May.
• So it is at the discretion of the Legislature whether this continues to be a high priority for state
• it is at the discretion of the Legislature whether this continues to be a high priority for state funds
• SB 150 originally set aside $50 million for the High Road Construction Careers Program, which is what
• In order not to worsen this problem, we think that the Legislature should apply a very high bar for approving

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You've been doing it at a high level, with excellence for several years now. So thank you for that.
• How hopeful are you that you can find someone for these positions should they be funded? Mr.
• The attorney supervisor is a high priority for our district.
• Those caseloads are very high. For many years, Mr.
• Criminal cases, which obviously is extremely high. I will look for some more analysis.

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• So for an example, a high school life skills teacher who is responsible for all four content areas in
• That means money's being used for something with regard to hiring these high-powered people, I guess,
• For you guys I want to make I understand we have we've had a conversation about high-impact tutoring
• Could you just define for me what you call high impact tutoring or what it is?
• People don't move to a community for the hope of a voucher.

Bills: HB2 , HB2

Committee: House Public Education

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• recommendations for high-impact tutoring, professional learning, and high-quality instructional materials
• for math.
• Same for English Learners; that first column for FY25 EL rates is basically for the charter schools,
• given, I guess, some kudos by PED for having the most literacy growth of any high school in New Mexico
• And so, if it's good enough for the high-income affluent charters and districts, isn't it good enough

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you so much for your time today, and I hope you consider supporting access to essential care for
• What made the difference for me when I was struggling was having a health care provider at my high school
• What made the difference for me when I was struggling was having a health care provider at my high school
• No, this is just for the private not-for-profit. Just the private not-for-profit.
• Thank you for your time. All right. Thank you. I think you were about done. I hope. Okay.

Summary: The Workforce Development Committee heard public testimony on several higher education bills. Senate Bill 5954 would expand veteran survivor tuition waiver eligibility to better align state law with federal DEA benefits, allowing eligible children and surviving spouses/domestic partners to use the waiver outside current age and time limits. The sponsor and veteran advocates said the change would help families access earned benefits; no opposition was heard, and the public hearing was closed. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5826, which would require public postsecondary institutions to provide access to medication abortion through student health centers or referrals and web-based information by the 2027-28 academic year. Supporters, including students and reproductive health advocates, said the bill would reduce barriers, travel burdens, and stigma and help students stay enrolled. Opponents, including clergy, Catholic Conference representatives, and other individuals, argued the bill promoted abortion, raised safety and moral concerns, and was outside the mission of colleges. The public hearing was closed after extensive testimony. Senate Bill 5828 would restore and adjust Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship awards for students attending private not-for-profit four-year institutions, using the average award at public institutions rather than the reduced formula adopted last session. The sponsor and many students, private college leaders, and business and workforce groups supported the bill as a matter of fairness, access, and student choice, while public university faculty and representatives opposed it, saying state aid should prioritize public institutions and that the bill would deepen funding inequities. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5909, which would require public baccalaureate institutions to review and potentially discontinue low-enrollment degree programs; supporters framed it as a transparency and efficiency measure, while faculty and student representatives opposed it as too blunt and potentially harmful to smaller, specialized, or equity-focused programs. No votes were taken on any of the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• For a little bit of background, OSPI adopts rules for the content and format of standardized high school
• Thank you so much for bringing the bill. Thanks for your time.
• Minutes for each individual speaker. I hope I'm pronouncing the name correctly. Is that correct?
• For the record, I'm Dr.
• Are there any questions for Eiley? No. With that, we will go at ease for purposes. For Ailey? No.

Bills: SB6052 , SB6051 , SB5907 , SB5860 , SB5574

Committee: Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education

Keywords: digital transcript, transcript sharing, student records, education data exchange, K-12, higher education, community colleges, universities, school districts, charter schools, state-tribal education compact schools, educational service districts, data interoperability, secure platform, student consent, FERPA, privacy, education technology, records management, transcript standard

Transcript Highlights:

• councils for sky-high property taxes.
• councils for sky-high property taxes.
• councils for sky-high property taxes.
• So, I hope we start really doing more for the people.
• So, I hope we start really doing more for the people.

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for Head Start.
• I think 1,495 motions for preventive detention is pretty high, and that 54% of them were granted makes
• The Midtown campus is a new development for the city of Santa Fe in which we hope to have over 1,100
• I hope you have a handout that I handed out for you.
• I hope you have a handout that I handed out for you.

Committee: Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Summary: The committee first heard HB 124, which would codify the Office of New Americans within the Workforce Solutions Department. The sponsor and Workforce Solutions officials said the office has already been operating on a grant and has become a key resource for businesses and immigrant workers, especially for workforce development, credential recognition, language access, and referrals. Supporters from immigrant advocacy, child care, conservation, and civic groups argued the office would help address labor shortages, improve integration, and strengthen economic growth. Several members questioned whether the office would serve people without legal status, what services would be provided, and whether it would create taxpayer costs; sponsors said eligibility would depend on specific programs, the office would mainly provide referrals and workforce support, and it is currently philanthropic grant-funded. The bill was ultimately passed on a 6-4 due pass vote. The committee then considered SJR 6, a proposed constitutional amendment to change New Mexico’s pretrial detention standards. The sponsor argued the 2016 bail reform language has contributed to a “revolving door” for repeat offenders and that the current standard is too restrictive and inconsistently applied across judicial districts. Supporters from State Police said the resolution would give clearer direction and let voters revisit the issue. Opponents from the ACLU and the Criminal Defense Lawyers Association warned it would expand pretrial detention, weaken the requirement that the state prove no release conditions are adequate, and disproportionately affect poor people and people of color. After extended debate over public safety, judicial discretion, and whether the proposal should include a clearer standard, the committee approved the resolution on a 6-4 due pass vote. The committee also passed SJR 7, a land swap between the state and the City of Santa Fe involving the DPS site and part of the Midtown campus. The sponsor, the Department of Public Safety, and the Santa Fe mayor said the exchange had been discussed for years, would allow the state to own the land under its DPS facilities, and would help the city advance its Midtown redevelopment plan, including housing and public amenities. Members asked about the parcels involved, whether both sides agreed, and whether any member had a financial interest; the sponsor said the swap was non-monetary and fully agreed to by both parties. The resolution passed without opposition. Finally, the committee heard SM 31, which creates a workgroup with LFC, DFA, and PERA to study the loss of COLAs for PERA retirees and recommend solutions. Retiree advocates said the reduced COLA has significantly eroded pension value and that retirees relied on the statutory promise of a 2% COLA. Other speakers emphasized the need to protect long-term fund solvency while addressing retiree losses. The memorial passed unanimously by roll call. The meeting then recessed, with the chair noting the next day’s agenda would be posted later.