Transcript Highlights:

• Rubio and the author for working together because I think if we had more of us that were actually working
• So you're working on that? Thank you. Deadline. So you're working on that? Yes. Okay.
• We'd like to work with the department. We do appreciate the work of the committee and Mr.
• And I think if you would work with us, work with the author, Answer and help with that question.
• So how does that work?

Committee: Senate Insurance

Transcript Highlights:

• You've worked through those issues.
• And then from that you can work back, I’d say, two to three years to say it would make sense to work
• So short answer, yes, I think it’s working, and it will work, but the other, the economic issue is sort
• We're always working on that. We work on the federal level.
• That's been working for, I don't know, 20, 30, That's been working for, I don't know, 20, 30, 40 years

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Summary: The committee met to hear a series of presentations on advanced nuclear economics, workforce, community impacts, and financing. Nucleon Energy’s William Bridge presented a report estimating the economic impacts of hypothetical 200-megawatt and 600-megawatt SMRs, including construction and operating jobs, local spending, tax revenue, and the private-sector conditions needed to attract investment. He said the report used nth-of-a-kind cost assumptions, discussed security and water siting considerations, and argued that early community engagement and permitting work should be timed to when projects are closer to being economic. Committee members questioned cost assumptions, security staffing, transmission and water siting, and whether large reactors or SMRs are more likely to be financed in the near term. Lori Brady of the Nuclear Energy Institute then outlined national nuclear workforce needs and NEI’s strategic workforce planning. She described declining labor-force demographics, the need for hundreds of thousands of new energy workers by 2050, and six workforce priorities: career awareness, pipelines, training and qualification, policy support, retention, and non-traditional pipelines. She highlighted 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, robotics, and when training should begin relative to future plant construction; Brady said AI is not expected to replace workers broadly and that training timelines depend on the specific project and staffing plan. Red Wing, Minnesota Mayor Gary Yako described hosting the Prairie Island nuclear generating facility. He said the plant provides a large share of the city’s property tax base, supports well-paid jobs, contributes to local emergency preparedness, and is a strong community partner through donations and employee involvement. He said the city supports relicensing, has regular emergency drills, and has had no issues with dry cask storage. The committee also heard from NEI’s Benton Arnett, who reviewed the current financing landscape, including federal tax credits, DOE loan authority, offtake agreements, and the shift toward project developers and special-purpose vehicles. He said early projects face high first-of-a-kind costs, but federal support and long-term power purchase agreements are helping make projects financeable. Finally, DOE’s Julie Kazeraki described the Office of Energy Dominance Financing and its role in supporting new nuclear, restarts, uprates, and supply chain investments, emphasizing that federal loan and tax-credit tools are intended to reduce upfront risk and improve project affordability.

Transcript Highlights:

• You show me one cop that is working the streets today that is working for ICE.
• So you don't have any officers that work for ICE, but you do have plenty that work for the military.
• We worked on these other bills.
• I'm proud to work with my office and the work that my office has done, apologize.
• It hasn't worked before and it won't work now.

Committee: House Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• Commissioner Peterson, if you work.
• </c> really appreciate the work that uh Mr. really appreciate the work that uh Mr.
• </c> vetting that needs to be done in working vetting that needs to be done in working through<00:32:
• /c> Andrea Vel for working with us to work Andrea Vel for working with us to work this<00:48:24.240><
• Motion passes and our work is done. Thanks, everybody. Good work, and we are adjourned.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• Do they work? they working? Do they work?
• </c> saw and the work we did. saw and the work we did.
• </c> take this work very seriously. take this work very seriously.
• . work. work.
• </c> auditor for their work LSOHC. auditor for their work LSOHC.

Bills: HF3564

Committee: House Legacy Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• As we've done this work, we've worked with churches and schools to determine what works best for that
• I work hard on that.
• That model works great in urban areas, but it doesn't work well in rural Texas.
• Put us to work.
• More months to work out.

Committee: House Public Health

Transcript Highlights:

• We're working on it.
• We're working on it.
• We're working on it.
• We're working on it.
• </c> with air conditioning not working. with air conditioning not working.

Summary: The interim Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity met at Kentucky State University and heard a presentation from President Kofi Aapo and Vice President Michael Dorsy on the university’s role as an HBCU and its current priorities. They emphasized Kentucky State’s impact on Black student outcomes nationally, its focus on workforce development, civic leadership, innovation, and economic mobility, and its efforts to grow enrollment, expand dual-credit partnerships, and launch a prison education program. They also described House Bill 250’s role in prompting program review and the creation or expansion of market-aligned offerings, including manufacturing engineering, agricultural engineering, biological and agricultural engineering, social work, criminal justice, and expanded online programs through “Thoroughbred Global.” A major topic was Kentucky State’s move toward STEM and applied programs. President Aapo said the university is diversifying beyond liberal arts to meet workforce demand and cited plans for a PhD in agroecology, which he said would help farmers adapt to climate conditions and would be federally funded. He also discussed the nursing program as the fastest-growing on campus, partnerships with health systems that pay tuition and guarantee jobs, and the need for a new nursing facility. He said the current nursing space is inadequate and that a new building could double or triple enrollment in the program. He also described a mobile health initiative intended to bring preventive care and health education to underserved areas of the state. Members asked questions about the nursing building, STEM strategy, teacher preparation, dual credit, prison education, and student readiness. Senator Bledsoe asked about the shift toward STEM, and Aapo said the strategy is based on student demand and data from House Bill 250. Senator Berg requested a list of dual-credit partners and encouraged long-term tracking of prison education participants to study outcomes such as recidivism; Aapo said the university has not yet begun that research but intends to. Senator Tidner asked about remedial needs, and Aapo said KSU found more than 100 students with zero GPAs when he arrived and is using co-requisite support and tutoring to address English and math deficiencies. Representative Brown and others highlighted the historical and ongoing value of HBCUs, and no votes or formal actions were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, it's just in terms of the volume of work.
• Across this work, the pattern is consistent.
• “Sure, I’d be happy to, and this is a project that was worked on by the same team that worked on our
• “This project was worked on by the same team that worked on our DSS benefits theft project, and this
• This is complex but meaningful work.

Summary: The subcommittee first heard a presentation on ongoing funding for the California Education Learning Lab. The Learning Lab described its intersegmental grant-making work with UC, CSU, and community college faculty, including projects on AI, math alignment, and open educational resources. The administration proposed moving the program’s administrative home from the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation to GovOps and restoring $4 million annually. The Department of Finance supported the proposal as a way to improve coordination, while the LAO recommended rejecting it, arguing the program is difficult to scale, overlaps with existing campus and segment-wide professional development, and could be wound down to save General Fund dollars. Senators split on the issue: some emphasized the program’s role in fostering innovation and cross-segment collaboration, while others questioned its measurable outcomes and whether it addresses problems rooted in K-12 preparation. The item was held open without a vote. The committee then considered funding for the new Office of Civil Rights within GovOps, created to implement AB 715 and SB 48. The proposal sought $3.5 million in 2026-27 and $2.8 million ongoing to staff the office, provide training and technical assistance to local educational agencies, and help track discrimination complaints through the Department of Education’s uniform complaint process. Finance said the office was being stood up administratively, but many positions were still unfilled; the LAO had no concerns and said the proposal simply implements recent legislation. Senators raised concerns about the office’s placement in GovOps, the lack of guidance while the office is not yet operational, the potential duplication with CDE processes, and whether staffing levels and coordinator roles match the volume and type of complaints. The department said it would adjust resources as workload becomes clearer and that first-year goals would include hiring staff, developing materials, and beginning outreach. The item was held open. After public comment and votes on several vote-only items, the committee heard from the Office of Data and Innovation on a request for five positions and $1.25 million in reimbursement authority. ODI said it uses data science, design, and engineering to improve state services, citing work on EBT theft detection and forecasting community water system outages. Finance had no comment, and the LAO supported the reimbursement model. Senators generally praised ODI’s small but high-impact role and asked about privacy safeguards for vendor AI tools; ODI said it uses state guardrails, enterprise contracts, and coordination with CDT to protect data. The item was held open. The Department of Technology then presented on the Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative, reporting progress on the 8,100-mile network, including 423 miles already complete and more than 70% permitted. CDT said it had selected Skyline Technology Solutions as operator and expected about 5,300 miles completed by December 2026, with some miles possibly slipping into 2027. The LAO noted most of the $3.8 billion appropriated has been encumbered, but raised concerns about the new three-party operating structure and long-term sustainability. Senators asked about accountability, the need for a two-year extension of liquidation authority, and whether revenues will cover operating costs. CDT said the extension is a precaution to allow for final reallocations if needed, that CDT retains ultimate responsibility, and that it expects the network to be self-sustaining over time through service revenues and lease arrangements. The department committed to continued reporting through annual reports, advisory committees, and briefings.

Transcript Highlights:

• That work matters. This committee work is where we do our best work in the entire House.
• </c> relationships that we have in this work. relationships that we have in this work. knowing<00:24:
• </c> want a bill hearing, we have to work want a bill hearing, we have to work with<00:24:53.279><c>
• <c> is</c> work matters.
• This committee work is work matters.

Bills: HF60 , HF3067 , HF3730 , HF3638 , HF3401

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: interchange, bond issuance, transportation, infrastructure funding, Sherburne County, paraprofessional, paraprofessional qualifications, education support staff, teacher aide, teacher assistant, special education, Title I, federal personnel qualifications, Minnesota Department of Education, school district, charter school, cooperative unit, Read Act, reading instruction, math instruction

Transcript Highlights:

• They might be working in Lake County. They might be working in Sonoma County.
• They might be working in Lake County. They might be working in Sonoma County.
• They're working immediately.
• Initially, this work revolves solely around our mutual self-help housing program where families work
• Does it work? I'm just trying to... And are those timelines in terms of financing? Does it work?

Summary: The committee held an outcomes review hearing on AB 457 and related farmworker and rural housing policy, with members and witnesses discussing whether recent streamlining laws are actually increasing production. Chair Haney, Assembly Members Soria and Pellerin, and others described the purpose of AB 457 and its predecessor bills AB 1783 and AB 3035: to make farmworker housing easier to build through ministerial approval and other reforms. Witnesses emphasized that farmworkers face severe overcrowding, high rents, long commutes, and limited access to housing in both rural and coastal agricultural regions. The first panel focused on practical barriers and local models. Napa County described its county-owned farmworker centers, which provide nightly lodging, meals, and services, funded by lodger fees, a grower assessment, and state support. Testimony stressed that these centers function as navigation hubs rather than permanent housing, and that stable, inflation-adjusted operating funding, language access, transportation, and local set-asides are critical. United Farm Workers urged that local farmworkers be prioritized over H-2A workers and warned against displacing long-term resident workers. Several witnesses said the biggest barriers remain infrastructure, land costs, local opposition, and insufficient subsidy rather than approval streamlining alone. The second and third panels addressed AB 457’s implementation and broader state funding issues. Santa Clara County said the bill could help on a county-owned Gilroy site, but financing remains the main obstacle. Self-Help Enterprises said AB 457’s expanded geography and project-size rules may help future sites, but rural projects still struggle with water, sewer, and environmental review costs, and with the state’s Super NOFA process, which tends to favor deeper-income projects that do not match farmworker household incomes. HCD reported that CERNA and other programs have increased farmworker housing production in recent years, but witnesses argued that rural regions still receive too little funding, that infrastructure dollars are too fragmented, and that more rural-specific set-asides, local funding incentives, and predictable allocations are needed. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope that, you know, their testimony reflects the work that we’ve done and the work that is yet to
• What is your understanding of how that works? Is it like a council?
• Do you work with cities as well? You mentioned working with different programs that support folks.
• Do you work with cities as well? You mentioned working with different programs that support folks.
• Utilities that I work with are not-for-profit.

Summary: The committee first waived the five-day notice rule for several House bills, then took up public hearings on HB 2426, HB 1742, HB 2215, HB 2575, HB 1903, and HB 2606. HB 2426 would allow the Pollution Control Hearings Board, with party consent and board approval, to hear permit appeals in alternative smaller compositions to improve efficiency; the sponsor and supporters from Greater Grays Harbor and FutureWise said it would speed up reviews without harming environmental protections, while the bill was described as cost-neutral. HB 1742 would create a Center for Environmentally Sustainable Urban Design at Ecology to promote sustainable building and design competitions; the sponsor emphasized regenerative, biophilic design and a proposed showcase project, and the bill was presented as budget-neutral through outside funding, though the fiscal note was still pending. HB 2215 would tighten Climate Commitment Act compliance for certain newer fuel suppliers by lowering the emissions threshold for post-2023 suppliers, exempt lubricants, and add procurement and transparency requirements. The sponsor said the bill targets “paper distributors” and loopholes used to avoid coverage; Ecology supported closing the loophole but raised concerns about reporting thresholds, implementation, staffing, and rulemaking. Testimony was mixed: the propane association and Washington Oil Marketers Association were concerned about the two-tier threshold and urged stronger upstream enforcement instead, while Climate Solutions and Washington Conservation Action supported the bill as a way to prevent gaming and strengthen climate policy. HB 2575 would reduce several environmental and energy reporting obligations, including less frequent utility reporting under the Energy Independence Act and state energy strategy updates; Commerce and the sponsor said the changes would reduce duplicative reporting and save money, while preserving core protections and oversight. HB 1903 would establish a statewide low-income energy assistance program in the Department of Commerce, phased in by 2027, to supplement existing utility programs and target households with the greatest energy burden. The sponsor and many advocates described the bill as an affordability measure to address a large unmet need, while community action agencies, utilities, and rural representatives supported the goal but asked for clearer language on voluntary utility participation, funding sources, allocation formulas, and how the program would interact with existing utility and weatherization efforts. Several speakers stressed that the program should not replace local assistance and should be designed to avoid shifting costs onto ratepayers. HB 2606 would update the Office of Privacy and Data Protection’s duties and reporting requirements, including adding review of agency AI projects and aligning the office’s work with JLARC recommendations; the chief privacy officer testified in support, explaining that the bill would formalize AI risk review, human oversight, and existing privacy/security review processes, with no fiscal impact. No votes were taken on the bills during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the work requirements—what is the reason that people would want to work? Mr.
• of working with recipients.
• Working on that.
• I appreciate the work. I just want People to realize that, you name it, it's hard work.
• It's a lot of hard work.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you may want to talk to the Secretary of Indian Affairs. how the act is working or not working as
• And from there, I actually went to work in local governance, where I worked for my home community in
• I don't know if this is going to work. It typically works everywhere else, but I'm going to ask a.
• They understood how this works.
• Long in the MLS to make this work.

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• For this year, she would love to concentrate on HOA, some of the work coming out of the HOA work group
• </c><00:02:43.920><c> on</c> wrong and immoral so hope to work on wrong and immoral so hope to work on
• on and U we got a lot of been working on and U we got a lot of work<00:04:18.000><c> to</c><00:04:18.160
• </c> that's been going out of the HOA work that's been going out of the HOA work group<00:05:12.520><
• We work with public housing authorities. We work with local governments.

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• we've worked to utilize your dollars to maximize the private-public partnership of the work we can do
• It works really well in natural streams.
• It works really well in natural streams.
• Great work, great presentation.
• Great, great work, great presentation.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:46.879><c> looking</c> enjoying the committee work looking enjoying the committee work looking
• </c><00:10:16.680><c> in</c> understand the breadth of our work in understand the breadth of our work
• work uh 5 days work predominantly or can work uh 5 days a<00:44:50.760><c> week</c><00:44:51.599><c>
• So that's a constant work.
• So that's a constant work.

Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• You undertake your work this year to assist the committee in its work.
• <00:13:38.079><c> on</c><00:13:38.800><c> House</c><00:13:39.120><c> Bill</c> work on House Bill work
• </c> Department of Corrections and we work Department of Corrections and we work with<00:45:18.839><c
• work the base work allocated to do the work the base work to<01:06:50.279><c> replace</c><01:06:50.599
• on statewide policy work.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:18.800><c> they</c> scale that would work together. they scale that would work together. they
• work.
• work.
• Also the the fact that if this group want to change... work out how those boards would operate, work
• They have to work out how they want it to work. >> Is this a constitutional amendment?

Bills: HB8 , HB380 , HB8 , HB380

Committee: Senate Education Policy

Keywords: tobacco regulation, vaping, sales restrictions, youth protection, tobacco compliance, public health, education programs, electronic nicotine delivery systems, human cloning, criminal penalties, embryo, genetic modification, bioethics, campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer, public K-12 schools, public schools, public charter schools

Transcript Highlights:

• that you are working on some changes.
• They have indicated that you are working on.
• So I will work with it, everybody on this, happy to work through the compromise language, but that is
• Thank you all for all your hard work.
• Thank you all for all your hard work.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard three bills after temporarily postponing SB 1524. The committee first took up CS for SB 1264, a broad economic development bill covering law enforcement recruitment bonuses, venture capital tax credits, data center tax exemptions, military land transfers, Space Florida procurement exemptions, and changes to regional planning councils. An amendment was adopted to remove sections tied to emergency management shelter plans so the bill would align with another measure. The main debate centered on the proposal to repeal regional planning council statutes; supporters argued the councils are duplicative and bureaucratic, while opponents said they provide valuable regional coordination, technical assistance, and grant support, especially for rural communities. The bill was reported favorably 13-1, with Senator Sharif voting no. The committee then considered CS for SB 1348, which streamlines motor vehicle services by expanding the role of tax collectors as DHSMV agents. Three amendments were adopted: one making the scalping of driver and motor vehicle appointment slots a misdemeanor, one increasing penalties for texting while driving and requiring a new distracted-driving course to remove points, and one allowing veterans with DV plates to use a sticker instead of a stencil or imprint. The bill received supportive testimony from tax collectors and law enforcement-related groups and was reported favorably without opposition. Finally, the committee heard SB 936, which directs the Department of Commerce’s workforce research bureau to conduct a recurring statewide study every three years on the effects of automation, robotics, and AI on Florida’s workforce. The sponsor said the study would have minimal fiscal impact and would help guide policy recommendations. With no opposition or debate, the bill was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned after brief closing remarks thanking staff and members.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the new Fraud and State Agency Oversight Committee in the House, and I'm here to talk about the work
• </c><00:02:58.400><c> and</c> we are going forward with our work and we are going forward with our work
• Well, we're doing the work.
• So we are here to say that the committee work is going to continue.
• But we are also working to expand the whistleblower protection in Minnesota.