Transcript Highlights:

• These proposed projects are then evaluated for alignment with our strategic plans, and then projects
• Priority projects in our 2025-26 plan include four seismic retrofit Priority projects in our 2025-26
• Construction projects.
• of the remaining funds for modernization projects and 35% for growth projects.
• safety projects.

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:

• And then turning to page 25, there are two riders.
• It's like a local match for a project, basically, because it's not.
• LBB's January 2025 population projections and the fiscal year 25 cost per day. Number two.
• projections from the LVP using the fiscal year 25 population cost per day.
• with updated LBB projections.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And also we have been working on a project in our afternoon classes.
• Through projects like PREDICT, which is one of our projects here, we're studying the outcomes of emerging
• A project, and the project addressed qualitative assessment of system strengths and challenges, how the
• Okay, and then moving on to the capital projects... Mr.
• approval for, or projects that will be funded by donations.

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:

• One is it's a 75-25 split.
• There are 615 flood mitigation projects, and those are more substantial construction projects.
• The rationale behind doing that is that flood projects, unlike water projects or wastewater projects,
• a wastewater project.
• Projects that they need.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:25:01.400> file<01:25:01.840> 1680<01:25:02.560> beated<01:25:02.960>
• :03.440> inclusion<01:25:03.760> in<01:25:03.840> the<01:25:03.920> omous
• <01:25:04.360> tax bill<01:25:07.679> and<01:25:07.880> with<01:25:08.040> that
• <01:25:08.239> members<01:25:08.719> I<01:25:08.880> thank<01:25:09.080>
• > much<01:25:09.679> for<01:25:09.840> your<01:25:10.000> work<01:25:10.400

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• projects<00:25:16.000> then<00:25:16.159> in<00:25:16.360> addition<00:25:16.720
• > to<00:25:17.000> those projects then in addition to those projects then in addition to
• <00:25:24.679> to<00:25:24.840> the<00:25:24.919> newly<00:25:25.240> created
• <00:25:26.600> program<00:25:27.480> run<00:25:27.720> through<00:25:27.840>
• :30.440> Jing<00:25:30.720> to<00:25:30.880> the<00:25:31.000> next<00:25

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee met for an organizational hearing of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Finance Committee. Members and staff introduced themselves, with several legislators noting their backgrounds in farming, mining, water management, and outdoor recreation, and the chair reviewed draft committee rules emphasizing decorum, quorum, timely starts, and submitting bill hearing requests to the committee administrator. The committee also heard from nonpartisan staff and caucus staff who will support the committee this session. House Research and House Fiscal staff then provided an overview of the committee’s jurisdiction and the major agencies and programs it oversees. The presentation covered the Department of Natural Resources, Pollution Control Agency, Environmental Quality Board, Board of Water and Soil Resources, Metropolitan Council regional parks and water resources, Conservation Corps of Minnesota, Minnesota Zoological Board, Science Museum of Minnesota, and the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Staff summarized the main statutory chapters and subject areas under each, including wildlife, state lands, mining, water use, air and water permitting, environmental review, wetlands, drainage, and natural resources funding. The finance portion explained the committee’s appropriation types and major funding sources, including direct, statutory, and open appropriations. Staff highlighted the general fund, bonding, the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Game and Fish Fund, and the Heritage Enhancement Account, along with how those dollars are typically used for parks and trails, habitat, land acquisition, flood and drainage projects, and agency operations. Members also discussed whether DNR and BWSR responsibilities in overlapping water statutes can conflict; staff said responsibilities are generally clear in statute, though conflicts can occur and are usually resolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• , and decreased project budgets.
• projects.
• Okay, so it could be an NSF project. Okay. Madam Chair, no, the NSF project is different.
• to handle all those projects.
• If you have three projects, you get three IGAs. Yeah, because we have, what, like 80 projects?

Transcript Highlights:

• Those are the only ones of their kind in the state. projects.
• More than 25 of our students benefited from this grant.
• We have about 25% of social workers who are male.
• What actual projects are in place, or any of what you said that you're working on, are those projects
• We had a special project.

Transcript Highlights:

• > be<00:25:04.799> one<00:25:04.960> of<00:25:05.120> the<00:25:05.279>
• <00:25:15.679> 8,900<00:25:16.640> controllers<00:25:17.200> need<00:25:17.360><
• :25:26.880> a<00:25:27.039> lot<00:25:27.120> of<00:25:27.279> moving<00:
• Now,<00:25:29.360> the<00:25:29.679> enhanced<00:25:30.400> CTI<00:25:31.039>
• <00:25:34.400> means<00:25:34.960> that<00:25:35.360> we<00:25:35.679> do

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The task force meeting began with approval of the July 14 minutes and then heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association. Association leaders described general aviation airports as important to rural access, commerce, emergency response, tourism, agriculture, and workforce development, and cited statewide economic impacts they said exceed $1.6 billion and support more than 9,400 jobs. They thanked the legislature for prior airport funding and said it had helped airports with basic operations and repairs. The association asked lawmakers for four things: continued appropriations for general aviation airports; relief or a more workable process for required financial audits, which they said can cost $10,000 to $20,000 or more and sometimes exceed a small airport’s annual budget; a regularized statewide appropriations process for airport infrastructure needs, which they said total about $100 million and are currently addressed unevenly; and funding for the Aerospace Education Reinvestment Opportunity Act to support scholarships and aviation workforce training. Members of the task force asked follow-up questions about the audit burden, the difference between financial and safety audits, and the difficulty of finding audit firms. The presenters said they would bring specific ideas back on audit reform. Eastern Kentucky University then presented on its aviation program. EKU leaders thanked the committee for prior support, including a $25 million appropriation for a new flight school building at Central Kentucky Regional Airport, and said the project is expected to break ground in 2026. They reported strong enrollment growth, with 502 aviation majors, most of them Kentuckians, and said the program has expanded flight hours and job placement. EKU also outlined plans to add an air traffic control program in response to Senate Bill 87 and the national shortage of controllers, saying it could train students to FAA standards if the university receives the needed investment in simulators, equipment, space, and faculty. They also discussed the need to replace an aging fleet of training aircraft, saying the current planes are decades old and costly to maintain, and that newer aircraft would improve training quality and reduce student costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:28.360> Victims<00:25:28.680> and<00:25:28.800> families<00:25:29.320
• <00:25:33.400> detention<00:25:34.240> of<00:25:34.400> people<00:25:34.680>
• I<00:25:39.120> respect<00:25:39.560> that.
• But<00:25:42.080> the<00:25:42.480> Constitution<00:25:43.240> does<00:25:43.400
• What's missing<00:25:50.680> is<00:25:50.800> a<00:25:50.880> structured<00:25:51.400

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, Peter Worth, Senate District 25 in Santa Fe.
• So, House Bill 175, forest and watershed buffer projects. Um, allowing, uh.
• So, of course, if you drive up I-25, you say that project is built and done, but I think it's important
• About the project generally, about the tax implications that we um changed, and generally what that project
• What are your projections with respect to those two charts as to those federal funds?

Transcript Highlights:

• from those project developers as to whether they implement or how.
• So there's no enforcement ability for us to require a project developer to. Implement our input.
• And that's where we should focus these projects.
• And it applies to no other form of energy or infrastructure project that I'm aware of.
• He had said 25; I think it's 25 to 26 million barrels of produced water a day come from oil and gas wells

Bills: SB3074, HB49, HB2440, HB3556, HB3619, HB3866, HB4042, HB4112, HB4271, HB4413, HB4426, HB5033, HB49

Keywords: SB 3074, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Water Code, permit applications, environmental permitting, administrative record, ex parte communications, legislative communications, governor, lieutenant governor, state legislators, district projects, public records, recusal, conflict of interest, substantial interest, agency transparency, environmental regulation, permit renewal

Transcript Highlights:

• This year's last tranche of dollars that we're looking to will finish that project, and in government
• a lot of times you don't hear the word finish, so we're going to finish that project.
• So I hope that we're able to finish that project this year.
• So we continuously work... ...to grow more food than we did 25 years ago.
• so great that they're impacted for multiple. 25, 26, or any beyond.

Summary: The Florida Senate Committee on Agriculture convened with a quorum present and heard two presentations. Commissioner Wilton Simpson, head of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, outlined department accomplishments and funding needs, including IT modernization, expansion of the Rural and Family Lands program, updated best management practice manuals, growth of the Fresh From Florida marketing campaign, hurricane recovery loans for farmers, clearing concealed-weapons permit backlogs, construction of the Conner Complex headquarters, forestry equipment upgrades, and youth agriculture programs such as FFA and 4-H. Senators asked about water policy, citrus greening, FAMU partnerships, staffing efficiencies, and interdiction stations used to stop invasive species, stolen goods, and diseased or banned agricultural products from entering the state. Dr. Krista Court of the University of Florida/IFAS presented a preliminary economic assessment of the 2024 hurricane season’s agricultural impacts from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton. She explained that the estimates are based on wind, rainfall, flooding, crop location, and survey data from extension agents, industry groups, FDACS, and producers, and that the figures do not include many asset losses, supply-chain effects, forestry losses, or some insurance-covered damages. Her preliminary estimates placed total 2024 agricultural production losses between about $402.3 million and $975.8 million, with the hardest-hit commodity groups including field and row crops, vegetables, melons, potatoes, greenhouse/nursery products, and animals and animal products. Members discussed the importance of accurate survey participation and baseline data, including use of USDA Farm Service Agency information, to improve future disaster estimates and federal relief decisions. Several senators emphasized agriculture’s importance in their districts and statewide. No bills were considered and no formal votes were taken; the only action was adjournment by motion of Senator Burton.

Transcript Highlights:

• . projects in that table. projects in that table.
• the way to the end of the project? the way to the end of the project?
• private funds uh for those projects. private funds uh for those projects.
• really great private project to me. really great private project to me.
• Page<01:03:26.319> 25.

Bills: HB0111, HB0112, HB0122

Keywords: capital construction, state funding, Wyoming, major maintenance, community colleges, task force, legislative services, budget appropriation, unexpended funds, sunset clause, healthcare, rural health, transformation program, funding, incentives, training, access, perpetuity fund, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Did<00:25:00.640> you<00:25:00.720> want<00:25:00.799> to<00:25:00.960> end?
• <00:25:37.039> law,<00:25:37.360> they<00:25:37.520> should<00:25:37.600> be<
• be for the<00:25:38.080> rule<00:25:38.320> of<00:25:38.880> you<00:25:39.039><
• <00:25:43.600> I<00:25:43.919> think<00:25:44.240> I,<00:25:44.480> you
• change<00:25:52.880> and<00:25:53.039> and<00:25:53.520> certainly<00:25:54.080

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House Republican leaders outlined their agenda for the tied legislative session, saying their priorities are to stop fraud, make Minnesota more affordable, safer, and more competitive, and reduce mandates while raising education standards. They highlighted several planned bills, including an independent inspector general (HF 1), a “Fraud Isn’t Free” measure to impose consequences on agencies and commissioners that allow fraud, and statutory guidelines for high-fraud-risk programs. They also said they want to lower health care costs through a permanent reinsurance program and cost defrayal for new mandates, study property tax increases, conform state tax law to federal changes on tips, overtime, and scholarship tax credits, and avoid any tax increases. On public safety, Republicans said they will pursue tougher penalties for repeat offenders and repeat gun crimes, judicial accountability, and a school safety package that would support public and nonpublic schools, school safety personnel, and facility improvements. In education, they emphasized school choice tax credits, reading proficiency, and curriculum focused on basic academic fundamentals. They also said they want to protect and expand mining, reform permitting, end the nuclear moratorium, and make the state more attractive to businesses. On housing, one member said they are working on a more targeted affordable housing package rather than a broad sweeping bill. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on immigration and cooperation with federal authorities. Republicans said they want a statewide framework for local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, referencing House File 16 and saying they are open to changes and bipartisan work. They argued that local and state cooperation would improve safety and prevent situations where criminal suspects are released into the community. They also said Democrats have blocked similar efforts in committee and on the House floor. In response to questions, leaders said there is no current appetite for sports betting, bonding will be discussed but there are no promises, and they do not support the 2024 omnibus bill model. They said they are not interested in vaccine mandates, but will consider Medicaid funding impacts and other health-related proposals if bills are introduced. They also said election integrity measures such as voter ID, provisional ballots, and voter-roll cleanup will remain priorities. Throughout, leaders said they expect a bipartisan process in the tied House and expressed hope that both parties can work together on some issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> 25? >> 25? >> 25. >> 25. >> 25. >> 25? >> 25?
• I<00:25:17.360> found<00:25:17.720> out<00:25:17.840> that<00:25:18.040> was<
• <00:25:21.680> Chair<00:25:22.120> and<00:25:22.240> to<00:25:22.320> the
• committee<00:25:24.560> cuz<00:25:24.720> we<00:25:24.840> do<00:25:25.040><
• Then we have<00:25:26.360> to<00:25:26.480> have,<00:25:26.720> you<00:25:26.800

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the September 19 meeting minutes and then took up a deferred University of Kentucky personal services contract amendment for guardianship services. UK officials explained that the contract covers court-appointed guardians for patients who cannot make medical decisions and are not eligible for state guardianship, with the work funded by UK Medical Center agency dollars rather than the general fund. Members questioned the large increase in the not-to-exceed amount, the number of cases, the hourly billing structure, and whether there are safeguards to prevent unnecessary costs or reimbursement issues if a patient later has resources. UK said the increase reflects shifting work from a prior firm, anticipated new cases, a move from a monthly fee to hourly billing, and the need for a second firm because one prior attorney died and another firm has had difficulty appearing in court promptly. The committee ultimately approved the contract, while Senator Thomas said he would vote aye but urged future review of attorney fee limits and broader guardianship statutes, which he described as outdated and inconsistent. The committee then deferred three Office of Energy Policy memorandum of agreement items to the November 2025 meeting without objection. After that, it approved the remaining agenda items, including the contract lists and deferred items not separately selected for review. The final major item was a University of Kentucky personal services contract related to fundraising and philanthropic outreach. UK representatives said the contract supports marketing and donor engagement efforts to grow the university’s endowment pipeline and philanthropic support. The transcript cuts off before the committee finished its questions or took final action on that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our project in progress, which is our greatest progress project, if it is approved by the commission,
• Roughly 25% of the hall is occupied by P&L staff. We also have is...
• That's why we reference the distinction between 24 and 25 in our charts.
• It's 25% higher, $10,000 more between the trucks.
• It's 25% higher, $10,000 more between the trucks.

Summary: The committee first took up a long-running audit finding involving the City of Daytona Beach’s unexpended building permit fund balance, which has exceeded the statutory cap for several years and was reported at $10.8 million in the latest audit. Mayor Derek Henry and city staff said the city had analyzed the fund, adopted a corrective action plan, waived more than $5.5 million in permit and inspection fees, used some excess funds for a training facility rehabilitation, and is pursuing a $9.4 million City Hall expansion that they say is allowed under a November 2024 Attorney General opinion permitting construction of a building to house the building code enforcement function. Committee members repeatedly questioned whether the city was simply trying to spend down the money, whether the proposed uses were truly lawful, why the balance kept growing despite fee waivers, and where the interest earnings were going. The mayor and deputy city manager said the city’s growth and staffing needs justified the plan, but several members expressed frustration and skepticism. A public commenter also urged accountability and raised concerns about the city’s spending plans and the size of the remaining balance. The committee then received an Auditor General presentation on the Town of Greenville, which found 31 operational audit findings and described pervasive control failures, possible fraud, waste, and abuse. The findings included election paperwork problems that left a council seat vacant, conflicts of interest, late financial disclosure filings, related-party transactions, inadequate meeting notices and minutes, quorum and voting documentation problems, council members’ involvement in day-to-day operations, missing ethics training, budget adoption and monitoring deficiencies, inaccurate accounting records and bank reconciliations, utility billing and rate issues, grant compliance problems tied to an unfinished grocery store project, weak personnel and contracting controls, improper severance and compensation issues, late vendor payments, weak procurement and P-card controls, vehicle-use and property-control weaknesses, poor public records access, and IT access and fraud-policy gaps. Greenville’s mayor and staff said the audit largely reflected the prior administration and that the current council and staff are taking corrective action. They said the town terminated the former manager, adopted seven new policies since the audit began, and is working with the Auditor General to improve procurement, financial controls, inventory management, grant oversight, and ethics compliance. The town attorney said he had alerted federal authorities earlier about concerns, and committee members noted that FDLE has received a criminal referral and is investigating. Several members praised the new leadership’s cooperation but also suggested the town consider consolidation or dissolution if problems persist.

Transcript Highlights:

• > authorized<00:25:06.679> taking<00:25:07.399> or<00:25:07.600> in<00:25
• <00:25:26.559> type<00:25:26.720> of<00:25:26.840> gift<00:25:27.080> card
• ><00:25:30.760> they<00:25:30.880> would<00:25:31.000> still<00:25:31.159> be
• :25:34.000> stolen<00:25:34.960> um<00:25:35.279> either<00:25:35.559> is
• is<00:25:42.240> the<00:25:42.360> extent<00:25:42.600> of<00:25:42.679>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:09.480> to<00:25:09.600> know<00:25:09.760> in<00:25:09.880> here<
• :25:15.200> to<00:25:15.280> do<00:25:15.480> that,<00:25:15.800> but<00:
• 00:25:16.680> intentionally<00:25:17.160> buried<00:25:17.440> my<00:25:17.560><
• And so we<00:25:21.480> want<00:25:21.640> to<00:25:21.720> avoid<00:25:22.120><
• And that's<00:25:23.400> why<00:25:23.480> we<00:25:23.600> have<00:25:23.760>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• support. with the California Native Vote Project, and we are in support.
• I mean, that's just an example, but for students who are literally maybe 25, 25, 25, 25, 25 of different
• I am the Senior Project Associate with John Burnt Advocates for Youth.
• So it says past the age of 25 if they were already enrolled.
• After the age of 25, I'm sorry? Correct.

Keywords: 987, senate, all