Transcript Highlights:

• through first of all standardized through first of all standardized designs<00:49:37.599> for
• control costs and to implement standards control costs and to implement standards and<00:50:15.240
• The first thing we did was develop standards for preschool renovations, so everything is standardized
• > needs there are five key standards that needs there are five key standards that needs to<00:
• We have actually two architects on board. own building standards along with just own building standards

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Finance held informational briefings first with the Department of Defense on its FY 2026 budget request, then with the Hawaii School Facilities Authority. Major General Steve Logan outlined the Department of Defense request for $40.5 million in state funds, which he said would leverage about $74 million in federal matching funds and support 411 open projects that could attract up to $2.3 billion in additional federal grant money. He said the budget focuses on sustainment, safety, and reorganization in light of lessons from the Maui wildfires. Key requests included $1.3 million to sustain IT systems, $2.7 million for 32 HEMA emergency management positions, three new Hawaii Army National Guard positions plus four upgrades, and $1.9 million for the Youth Challenge Program to cover state-mandated fringe costs and staffing needs. He also reviewed capital improvement projects, including Youth Challenge facility upgrades, siren modernization, ADA improvements, building retrofits for disaster resilience, Army facility upgrades, a third state veterans home on Maui, HEMA EOC improvements, and a maintenance/fuel building at Diamond Head. Members asked about the siren modernization timeline, and HEMA said roughly 26 to 31 sirens would be modernized this year, with 15 on Maui, eight on Oahu, and eight on the Big Island. Questions also focused on Youth Challenge and Job Challenge enrollment and vacancies, with the department saying the Hilo Job Challenge Academy is growing and that combining Youth Challenge recruiting statewide into one Kilauea program has helped enrollment. Logan also answered questions about the New Year’s Eve medical transport mission, explaining the Hawaii Air National Guard’s relationship with active-duty Air Force assets and saying the flight cost is about $20,000 per flight hour, though the final bill had not yet been determined. On the Maui veterans home, staff said the University of Hawaii site was no longer viable after faculty senate opposition, so the department is now focused on a 10-acre Puna District site; the project remains tied to a certified $35 million state match and August 2025 and August 2026 federal suspense dates. Logan said the veterans home remains one of the department’s highest priorities, but it could not be moved higher in the submitted CIP ranking. The department also discussed a Governor’s add-on for a fire marshal/Office of Recovery and Resiliency proposal. Logan said the fire marshal position was reestablished last session but has not yet been filled, and that if the function is transferred to the Department of Defense, the department wants funding ready to move quickly. Staff later said the request would include about $1.1 million for seven positions and about $2.2 million for operating costs, though details were still preliminary. The committee then reconvened for the School Facilities Authority briefing, where Executive Director Ricky Fujitani described the agency as a startup created in 2020 to improve school and workforce housing development through standardized designs, prefabrication, best-value procurement, and public-private partnerships. He said Hawaii’s single school district still functions like 15 different districts because of its 264 schools across 15 complex areas, and that the authority’s goal is to create more efficient, maintainable, and cost-effective facilities.

Transcript Highlights:

• He's taking tests now so that he can move up in his position. He loves that facility.
• If you want to make them exciting, just Google whole tech missile test.
• They've tested this and they've actually developed a prototype waste package.
• They've tested this and they've actually developed a prototype waste package.
• The EPA has a standards role, but really the DOE is the program owner.

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to hear a series of presentations on the economics, financing, workforce, and community impacts of advanced nuclear deployment in North Dakota. William Bridge of Nucleon Energy presented the committee’s economic impacts and private-sector financing report, estimating construction and operating job impacts, local spending, and state/local tax effects for hypothetical SMR projects. He said the report assumes first-of-a-kind costs are still high, used a $6 million per megawatt nth-of-a-kind proxy, and estimated peak construction workforces of about 500 for a 200-MW plant and 1,000 for a larger facility, with roughly 100 operating jobs for a 200-MW plant. Committee members questioned security costs, capital cost assumptions, water and transmission siting constraints, and whether the model included fuel and waste; Bridge said the report included initial fuel in capital cost and that waste disposal is funded through existing federal mechanisms. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning efforts. She described declining labor-force participation, retirements, and the need for a much larger future workforce, and said NEI has organized recommendations around career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and nontraditional recruitment. She highlighted tools such as the Nuclear Works career website, the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap, the new federal Energy and Natural Resources career cluster, and the Nuclear Uniform Curriculum Program for community colleges. Members asked about AI, timing for training relative to plant development, and whether advanced manufacturing would reduce staffing needs; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. The committee also heard from Gary Yaco, mayor of Red Wing, Minnesota, who described Prairie Island’s role in his community. He said the plant provides a large share of local property tax revenue, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to emergency preparedness funding and training, and is broadly supported by the city despite periodic protests and public concerns. He emphasized the plant’s security, regular drills with local and federal responders, and the absence of problems with dry cask storage. Later, Benton Arnett of NEI discussed the current financing landscape for advanced nuclear, explaining how tax credits, federal loan support, off-take agreements, and new business models are helping projects move forward. He said early projects face high upfront costs and long lead-time procurement, but that investor confidence is improving as federal policy and regulatory streamlining continue. The committee asked about waste funding, comparisons with natural gas, the effect of political shifts on investor confidence, and whether the market will narrow to a few winning technologies; Arnett said the industry is still sorting that out, but expects clearer winners in the late 2020s and early 2030s. The meeting concluded with an introductory presentation from Julie Kazeraki of DOE’s Office of Energy Dominance Financing, who said the office is focused on accelerating nuclear deployment through financing support.

Transcript Highlights:

• He has moral courage and the highest ethical standards.
• But you set a standard, and I thank you so much for that.
• But you set a standard, and I thank you so much for that.
• But you set a standard, and I thank you so much for that.
• of the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and recognitions, including a resolution honoring Bob Graham and a moment of silence for firefighter Roger Timmy Miley. The chamber then moved through a special-order calendar with multiple bills, many of them paired with House companions and amended before final passage. Early action included adoption of a tax conformity bill tied to federal changes in the Internal Revenue Code, with a 34-0 vote. The most extensive debate centered on CS/CS/SB 1758, a Medicaid and SNAP reform bill. The sponsor described provisions to strengthen fraud enforcement, impose work requirements for able-bodied adults, expand behavioral health services through a waiver, modernize Medicaid drug purchasing, and require a SNAP fraud-reduction plan and photo ID on EBT cards. Democrats offered amendments to delay work requirements until Medicaid expansion and to add protections for SNAP users such as caregivers, seniors, disabled individuals, and domestic violence survivors; both amendments failed. Senators also questioned implementation details, exemptions, and potential effects on vulnerable populations. After debate, the bill was placed on the calendar for third reading. The Senate also passed bills on technology education and AI instruction, a public records exemption and related Parkinson’s Disease Registry measures, designation of the SS American Victory as the state flagship, electronic payments for local governments, repeal of the sunset on legal tender recognition for gold and silver, public records protections for financial and digital-asset custodians, a Florida stablecoin pilot program, local government budget transparency, digital voyeurism, insurance customer representative licensing, and a medical freedom bill with amendments on vaccine-related materials and anti-kickback provisions. Most of these measures passed with little or no opposition, though the public records bill for gold/silver custodians and the legal tender repeal drew a few dissenting votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it seemed to make sense that there is at least a standard across all 25 colleges and universities
• Like, what specifically are we trying to solve other than just standardizing?
• So I really believe it's just to try and standardize.
• It seems to make sense that we would require at least a baseline standard so we ensure that whether you're
• Vice Chairman, Representative So I just want to clarify: if students are taking these tests and they

Bills: SB1477, SB1480, SB1593, SB1633, SB1670, SB1725, SB1726, SB1735, SB1632

Keywords: education, concurrent enrollment, students, age restrictions, academic access, apprenticeship, career education, youth programs, employment, technology centers, SB1593, OSU Tulsa, Oklahoma State University/Tulsa, Board of Trustees, higher education, university governance, A&M Board, Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges, presidential search, board rules

Transcript Highlights:

• Turkey growers in Minnesota have set the gold standard for biosecurity and prevention measures on turkey
• all along, or the Department of Health has, but also on the dairy farms this summer that we offer testing
• all along, or the Department of Health has, but also on the dairy farms this summer that we offer testing
• all along, or the Department of Health has, but also on the dairy farms this summer that we offer testing
• all along, or the Department of Health has, but also on the dairy farms this summer that we offer testing

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Are there more deviations upward than downward from the mechanism, you know, the standard formula?
• We also used another gold-standard index when looking at these types of tools called an AUC.
• So what I'm saying is your test group, you have the original classification.
• That's a subjective view, and that's not even in the standard.
• That's not even the standard classification by the NIC.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met on January 12 to continue its review of DOC classification practices, with Senator Brownsberger and Representative Hunt co-chairing. After brief discussion of the prior hearing, members said there would likely be another opportunity for additional testimony, including possible video testimony from people inside facilities. The main presentation for the day was DOC’s classification system and a UMass Chan study of whether the system predicts institutional misconduct and whether overrides affect its accuracy or create racial/ethnic bias. DOC officials described the objective point-based classification system, its history, and the role of discretionary and non-discretionary overrides. They said the system is designed to balance public safety and reintegration, with initial classification emphasizing offense history and reclassification emphasizing institutional adjustment. DOC reported that, in the current population, about 16% are classified to maximum security, 74% to medium, and 10% to lower security. They also reviewed the non-discretionary restrictions that keep people out of minimum or medium security, and said discretionary overrides are used less often than the National Institute of Corrections’ suggested ceiling and are reviewed within six months. UMass Chan researchers said their analysis used historical DOC data from 2019 to 2022, focused mainly on about 7,600 male reclassification cases, and found that the scored custody level accurately predicted institutional misconduct. They said the tool performed well on standard statistical measures, but predictive accuracy declined after overrides were applied, with overlap appearing between minimum and medium groups. In a supplementary analysis, they said the loss of accuracy was driven primarily by non-discretionary restrictions rather than discretionary overrides. They also said the study did not find evidence of racial or ethnic bias in the tool itself, and that DOC’s current system is comparatively more lenient than many other states. Members and guests raised concerns about overclassification to medium security, the low share of people in minimum, the role of civil commitment restrictions, and whether the data captured historical bias or individual cases where overrides felt subjective. DOC and UMass Chan responded that the study was group-based, not case-specific, and that minimum-security rates are hard to compare across states because Massachusetts’ prison and county systems differ structurally. The commission did not take a vote or formal action, but asked members to send follow-up data questions by the end of the week for referral to DOC and the researchers.

Transcript Highlights:

• You take out the standardization.
• I appreciate the test and giving us a question that we weren't prepared for.
• You take out the standardization. But I do think that it comes.
• You take out the standardization.
• I appreciate the test and giving us a question that we weren't prepared for.

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on higher education funding, focusing on how Florida’s university system should be financed and whether a new funding model is needed. University system financial officers and Chancellor Ray Rodriguez discussed major cost drivers, including wages and benefits, utilities, maintenance, financial aid, research, and the effects of geography, institutional mission, and student mix. UF highlighted the cost of research and graduate programs; UCF and FAU pointed to growth, location, and cost of living; FAMU emphasized recruiting top-tier talent while relying on other revenue sources; and UNF noted the challenges of growth and long-term planning. Members also discussed the role of internal controls and audits in addressing excessive spending and questioned whether out-of-state tuition should be adjusted to help offset costs. On revenue sources beyond state appropriations and tuition, the panel described auxiliaries, restricted funds, capital projects, and component units such as foundations and health systems. Several universities noted that some revenues are restricted to specific purposes and cannot be used for general operations. FAMU explained that a large share of its capital project funding reflected active campus construction, while UF said its component-unit revenue is largely tied to UF Health. The Chancellor emphasized that the system’s low tuition and strong state support are central to Florida’s national standing, but also noted that some auxiliary revenues are pledged to debt and must be managed carefully. When discussing the current funding process, witnesses praised Florida’s performance-based funding model for aligning incentives with student success, transparency, and accountability. They also raised concerns about non-recurring appropriations, rising employee benefit costs, unfunded mandates, deferred maintenance, and the difficulty of multi-year planning. Suggestions for improvement included more recurring funding, better coverage of mandated costs, greater flexibility in fee-setting, and possible weighting for mission, geography, and institutional type. The Chancellor said the Board of Governors is considering a “version 3.0” of performance-based funding that would benchmark institutions against peers and Carnegie classifications, but any changes would require legislative action. On out-of-state tuition, most universities said they would prefer local board flexibility, while the Chancellor cautioned that increasing out-of-state enrollment or fees could affect future state support and should be balanced carefully.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, test, uh, hearing the testimony will all be neutral and, uh, we are going to first call, is this
• Association of Chiefs of Police Terrorism Committee and our Texas Fusion Center sets a standard. for
• Well, somebody has to give us permission to change the test to a score. Mr.
• Overall, we estimate. establish the minimum standards to obtain and maintain a peace officer license,
• , but find the ones that simply aren't meeting those minimum standards. of standards because they just

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill will protect our voting system standards from attacks by the federal government.
• The California voting system standards are considered the gold standard of voting systems testing in
• Is that the gold standard?
• Is that the gold standard?
• it's not the gold standard when you can find a dog voted twice and then registered on our ballots.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on September 12, 2025, with a quorum present and heard two bills. AB 1392 by Assemblymember Sharp-Collins would make candidates’ residence addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses confidential in county election records for the duration of the election cycle or term, with access provisions for journalists and government offices after amendments removed prior opposition. The author and a representative from the Secretary of State argued the bill was needed in response to rising political threats and violence, and several members from both parties spoke in support, citing personal experiences with harassment and concern for family safety. No opposition was heard. The committee then heard SB 851 by Senator Cervantes, a measure described as responding to federal threats to California’s election administration. The bill would require notice to the Secretary of State and Attorney General for certain federal election-related court actions and settlements, extend the prohibition on unauthorized law enforcement presence at voting locations to federal agents, reaffirm California’s voting system standards, and make county registrar certification duties ministerial and non-discretionary. The author and Secretary of State’s representative said the bill was needed to defend election integrity and protect against federal interference, while some members criticized it as fearmongering and argued California should focus on cleaning voter rolls and preventing fraud. Other members defended the bill, saying isolated fraud cases do not undermine the overall security of California elections. AB 1392 was approved on a 6-0 vote with a recommendation that Senate amendments be concurred in, and SB 851 passed on a 5-2 vote. The hearing then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This red, yellow, green light up here is going to test, you know, time.
• Canada to provide accessibility testing Canada to provide accessibility testing for<01:24:12.639
• <01:45:57.440> This be referred for genetic testing.
• This be referred for genetic testing.
• That cost goes directly to the local taxpayers, clearly. test. Last month, we had test.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Los Alamos National Laboratories, uh, Laboratory for contamination there, um, the NASA White Sands Test
• Um, it is a groundwater claim for, uh, injuries caused by NASA, um, at the White Sands Test Facility
• Um, uh, we have discussed before, the White Sands Test Facility Plumeas, um, an estimated 30,000 acre
• Las Cruces because of the White Sands test facility and the PFOS stuff in the area.
• Hello, testing 12. Um Yeah Oh Um, Good I That I was Of He's a liar.

Transcript Highlights:

• They advertise free pregnancy tests very prominently, and so I'm curious about whether the $4 million
• They advertise free pregnancy tests very prominently, and so I'm curious about whether the $4 million
• <00:10:18.120> very tests very tests very prominently<00:10:20.000> and<00:10:20.160>
• office; it was the kind of pregnancy test that you can buy at the dollar store.
• I've noticed them around pregnancy tests I've noticed them around the<00:11:55.560> University

Bills: HF25, HF4

Keywords: pregnancy support, women's health, maternity homes, nonprofit organizations, grant funding, abortion, family services, tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief

Transcript Highlights:

• These entities must meet defined organizational standards and receive approval from the commissioner,
• We apply risk-based capital principles standards, processes, and expertise standards, processes, and
• Financial investment and liquidity standards are clearly defined.
• We are applying familiar, time-tested We are applying familiar, time-tested regulatory<00:09:53.760
• Nevertheless, we support the standards because they are sound standards, based on strong actuarial

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Right test check 12ic test check 12.
• This bill clarifies standards set forth in Title 61, section 213, necessary to promote effective energy
• standards for new facilities that are built with state appropriated funds.

Bills: SB1732, SB1217, SB1443, SB1455, SB1457, SB1459, SB1465, SB1944, SB1946, SB1218, SB1942, SB1352, SB2132, SB1920, SB1285, SB1304, SB1305, SB1326, SB1590, SB1767

Keywords: professional licensing, licensing fees, home inspection, home inspector, Construction Industries Board, CIB, contractor license, journeyman license, apprentice registration, alarm endorsement, code inspector, electrical license, plumbing license, mechanical license, permit fees, renewal fee, reciprocity, poultry house contractor, poultry house wiring, environmentally controlled poultry house

Transcript Highlights:

• Under a standard credential, they have limited verification.
• Under the standard credential, which he said is what folks are talking about under DL for all, those
• and the vision test and those kinds of things.
• and the vision test and those kinds of things.
• and the vision test and those kinds of things.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 1335, a bill to authorize Minnesota digital/mobile driver’s licenses and related electronic credentialing. Chair Tapkey moved the bill as amended to Ways and Means, and the committee adopted the A2 author’s amendment changing the effective date. Tapkey described the bill as a modernization measure modeled on other states, intended to add convenience and security for ID checks at bars, restaurants, airports, hotels, and car rentals, while keeping physical IDs in place. Chair Kosnick objected that the bill’s subject matter should be heard in other committees, especially Commerce, Public Safety, and Judiciary, citing privacy and law-enforcement concerns, but the hearing continued. Several testifiers supported the broader move toward digital credentials and e-titling. Brian McDaniel of the Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association said the hospitality industry supports tools that make it harder for minors to access alcohol, while noting privacy concerns and wanting a role in developing the system. Amanda Doerr of the Minnesota Automobile Dealers Association supported the A3 amendment as an incremental step toward electronic titles and electronic signatures, saying Minnesota is behind other states and that the transition should be gradual. Jim Hurst of the Minnesota Deputy Registrars Association said deputies support moving toward e-titling but raised concerns about liability for fraudulent electronic documents and strongly opposed the A4 revenue-sharing amendment, warning it could put deputy registrars out of business. Sam Krieger, representing private deputy registrars, said the A4 amendment could exclude private deputies and close about half the offices in the state. Chair Tapkey said the A3 and A4 amendments were intended to improve customer service, digital access, and future title transfers, but after hearing objections, both amendments were withdrawn. The committee then considered the A5 amendment offered by Rep. Anderson, which would bar electronic driver’s licenses for people not lawfully present in the United States. Anderson argued it would prevent issuing credentials to people in the country illegally, including suspected terrorists. Opponents, including Rep. Kegel and Rep. Lucero Nicolai, argued it would create unequal treatment and could wrongly affect refugees or asylum seekers. DVS Director Pong Xiong testified that current applications do not include NCIC checks and that standard credentials are validated through document review rather than broader database screening. The transcript ends amid continued debate over the A5 amendment and related privacy and eligibility questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's time to set minimum standards.'
• What I would say, okay, moving to subdivision three, I want to point out here bulk standards.
• Subdivision three is about bulk standards.
• <01:04:56.039> State performance stand standard State performance stand standard State Building
• I'd like to turn it over to the test I'd like to turn it over to the test fires<01:07:25.880>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:29:44.799> facilities<00:29:45.240> to it relates to the testing facilities to
• it relates to the testing facilities to ensure<00:29:45.679> that<00:29:45.960> if<00:29
• Senator Anderson: Maybe some of the other panel testifiers could answer that question about standards
• Lumy, do you have any thoughts on the accounting standards that are being required? Ms.
• They will count the cobs and do soil testing as part of their curriculum experience. It is great.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• part of but uh yeah, this is a standard part of uh<00:54:40.400> what<00:54:40.559> we
• State and local authorities may not block these centers from offering pregnancy testing, counseling,
• pregnancy testing, counseling, prenatal care,<00:57:37.280> child<00:57:37.680> birth<
• <00:58:12.880> To<00:58:13.119> ensure prolife ethical standards.
• To ensure prolife ethical standards.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm working with the National Native Bee Inventory Network to try and come up with a standardized
• Consider allowing or encouraging sandboxes for utilities to test different microgrid regulations and
• also to test the cost structures and the technology.
• And that includes whether we go to what's called a no-test or no-reclose position, where if we get a
• There's a red test. Test. Yeah, mine's fine. While he's testing, I need to ask all the sidebar.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think, Treats, we really examined test scores, needs, and it was real.
• But we have made this short-term model the standard, and we need to address that.
• Chair, our schools, because that immediately makes it currently twice as long as the current standard
• Cottonwood has higher test scores than most schools in New Mexico and substantial success in all areas
• My mother, who was a teacher for more than 30 years, shared regional test scores in the area where I

Keywords: 996, all