Transcript Highlights:

• I was wondering if you could clarify what happened in the sense of career tech and how with expanding
• I'm not seeing any extra appropriation to career tech. Could you just talk about that for a second?
• We kept most agencies flat with the exception of career tech.
• We increased childcare funding in the state by approximately 7.8 million dollars on the top line, more
• On top of the philanthropic donation by the Dale family or if a local business entity would also want

Bills: SB1177, SB1177

Keywords: education funding, mental health services, public safety, housing, state budget, 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This remains our top $84 million.
• <00:26:56.720> environmental have one of the top environmental have one of the top environmental
• <00:37:20.560> costs, far as um like personal tech costs, far as um like personal tech costs
• HEAPR is our top priority, as it is every year.
• HEAPR is our top priority, as it is every year.

Bills: HF4266

Keywords: higher education, state grants, financial aid, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium, summer 2026, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• EFI you strategic plan and our focus areas of environment and environments, resilience, health and tech
• Award for innovation in are in a I we have a deep talent talent bench again. Thank you.
• That top honor left there in the little girl out.
• Uf and FSU are both ranked in the top. 25 Uf and FSU are both ranked in the top. 25 together, those institutions
• And we have on 2 top 25 universities for top 50 universities and 7 top 100 public universities.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have some in tech schools. This is not a public versus private education argument.
• That was a top priority for L.A.
• And so we were awarded that opportunity, and they have lots of opportunities that they wouldn't be awarded
• And so we were awarded that opportunity, and they have lots of opportunities that they wouldn't be awarded
• The average Gator ESA award is 7,220, about 25.4% lower.

Summary: The committee met for public testimony on the Finance budget, with the main discussion focused first on funding for disability services and then on the LA GATOR scholarship program. Several individuals testified in support of fully funding Families Helping Families and Louisiana Rehabilitation Services (LRS), describing how advocacy, transition services, and direct support workers help people with disabilities access education, employment, and independent living. Witnesses urged the committee to preserve or increase state general funds to draw down federal matching dollars, and provider groups said current reimbursement rates and staffing shortages are leaving agencies in deficit, creating waitlists, overtime costs, and difficulty retaining workers. Committee members thanked the speakers and noted that the testimony would be used to compare the governor’s, House, and remaining budget requests. The committee then heard extensive testimony in support of increasing funding for the LA GATOR scholarship program. Supporters included policy groups, school leaders, parents, and students who argued that the program expands educational choice, helps low-income and special-needs students find schools that fit their needs, and should be fully funded at the level of demonstrated demand. Speakers from Catholic and Christian schools said GATOR funding had helped students thrive academically and spiritually, but that shortfalls left many eligible students without awards, hurt kindergarten enrollment, and forced schools to raise private donations to cover gaps. Several witnesses emphasized that the program is not a zero-sum attack on public schools, but a way to let education dollars follow students. A few committee questions focused on the fiscal impact and on whether choice programs improve outcomes without harming public schools. Testimony cited enrollment growth, parent demand, and data from other states to argue that school choice can improve student and parent outcomes and may also strengthen traditional public schools through competition. No votes or formal actions were taken during the public testimony portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are so many more jobs available in healthcare tech, and there are so many great people out there
• That should be on top of our 6% request.
• A scholarship that would award them funds, and there will probably be a last dollar kind of thing.
• They get a Pell Grant, and then on top of that, it would include probably a residential component if
• They're earmarked, not necessarily awarded yet, and 507 slots at the private universities.

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• dollars in federal awards have already been canceled across the UC system.
• to do research, is being ended after this award cycle.
• ... ...high-tech, biotech, aerospace.
• Multi-year awards that have been terminated.
• If I had all the money, there's no question UC would be at the top of my list.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Transparency held a hearing focused on three issues: federal funding cuts and delays, possible state revenue impacts from reduced IRS enforcement, and the fiscal effects of AB 218 on local governments. The Franchise Tax Board described how state and federal tax systems are closely linked, how most returns are filed electronically through software, and how FTB relies on IRS information sharing for compliance, fraud prevention, offsets, and nonfiler work. Members raised concerns that federal staffing cuts at the IRS could weaken audits of large corporations and reduce California revenue, and asked about VITA and ITIN filers; FTB said it was not aware of VITA reductions, noted ITIN returns are processed the same as other returns, and said ITIN filing appeared slightly down this year. The Department of Finance said it is monitoring federal developments, summarized the continuing resolution and reconciliation process, and noted that California lost nearly $940 million in earmarked federal projects under the CR, while major federal budget decisions remain uncertain until the President’s budget and later congressional action. The University of California reported substantial federal pressure on research, student aid, and health care. UC said hundreds of millions of dollars in federal awards have already been canceled, with additional threats to NIH and DOE facilities-and-administration rates, graduate fellowships, student loan repayment plans, international student visas, Pell Grants, and Medicaid/Medi-Cal funding. Committee members pressed UC on the effects of DEIA-related federal restrictions, the loss of clinical trials and research staff, and the impact on low-income students and patients. UC said it is pursuing litigation with the Attorney General and other institutions, but emphasized that court action is only a temporary solution and that sustained state and private support may be needed. The second panel addressed the fiscal consequences of AB 218, which extended the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse claims against public agencies. FCMAT presented a report with 22 recommendations, including better statewide data collection, financing mechanisms, a possible victims compensation fund, and prevention measures. Los Angeles County described a tentative $4 billion settlement tied to AB 218 claims, saying it will require reserves, borrowing, and long-term annual payments through 2050, while also forcing curtailments and cuts to vacant positions to preserve services. Members discussed insurance pools, retroactive premiums, unidentified future claims, and the need for a compensation fund or other financing tools. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded with public comment, including testimony from local health officials about nearly $400 million in terminated federal public health grants and the resulting layoffs and service impacts.

Transcript Highlights:

• Typically, it is associated with a top-level domain.
• It just adds another layer on top of what we already have...
• This is evolving to the top.
• We have some initiatives at New Mexico Tech. Dr.
• I know PNM was awarded a DOE grant for this type of program.

Transcript Highlights:

• You can see a table on the side of page 10 that lists those top industry-requested credentials based
• Once called vocational education, CTE now encompasses high-tech, in-demand careers, and even in more
• Here you can see the grants that have been awarded.
• Rio Rancho is hoping to see similar outcomes at their new Rio Tech facility, but you don't need a $50
• Tech is an unusual partnership with... we did it with the community college, we did it with CNM; it's

Transcript Highlights:

• I'll just really focus on that column that says tech group consensus, which is what's reflected to you
• Are we going to go to, in this case, the tech group consensus? Great question. Yes.
• I will pull it for you because I don't know off the top of my head. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• awards were used.
• So keeping them in our elections safe and secure should be a top priority. Thank you.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't have that number off the top of my head, uh, but I can certainly get that to you.
• top competition.
• On top of the cost of sending people out, costs on top of the risk when y'all are actually having the
• We understand we want Tech dot to move. We need highways.
• We're here to work hard for Tech Dot. We're, we're paid well for it.

Bills: HB 341, HB 791, HB 1564, HB 1695, HB 1722, HB 1729, HB 1772, HB 2003, HB 2954, HB 2989, HB 3084, HB 3134, HB 3135, HB 3309, HB 3611, HB 3679, HB 3727, HB 3832

Keywords: affordable housing, zoning, development, community support, local regulations, bicycle lanes, traffic collisions, Texas Department of Transportation, study, public safety, bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters, road safety, transportation study, HB 791, Central Catholic High School, San Antonio, specialty license plate, specialty plates

Transcript Highlights:

• There's so much we can do to keep Texas on top. Please show, uh, Representative Money is present.
• So those are just some of the things that off the top of my mind, you know, come about.
• So, uh, 82% of the milk comes in the top of the state.
• The availability of labor remains a top concern for our members.
• OK, but off, off the top of your head, what would be some of the cities?

Transcript Highlights:

• Those programs, those certificates would be given an award from $250 to $500. to $750, kind of depending
• Career development and technical pathways have been one of the top priorities.
• The top priorities we have had for multiple years, and we support it.
• Existing RFP award requirements would stand for things that already exist in the schools.
• It should be the top priority of every legislator out here, and I think it really is.

Transcript Highlights:

• Accepted several awards for his service to patients in Oklahoma.
• He is in the top 10% of his class with a GPA of 4.3. It's impressive.
• He is in the top of his class with state runner-up and cross country.
• She is in the top 3% of her class. It's called Class of Distinction. Top 3% they've...
• Got so many valedictorians that they create a special category for the top 3%.

Bills: HR1037, HR1043, SB1491, SB1451, SB1286, SB1581, SB1521, SB201, SB1290, SB169, SB1377, SB1991, SB1346, SB1509, SB1928, SB2028, SB2071, SB2110, SB2117, SB2127, SB2134, SB722, SB3

Keywords: National Poetry Month, poetry, education, cultural celebration, arts and humanities, child abuse, prevention, community support, family safety, child welfare, presidential electors, vacancies, oath of office, political party, elections, voter registration, election integrity, Secretary of State, cancellation of registration, gender neutrality

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got to stay on top of it.
• If you read Peter Thiel's book Zero to One, he states it's all tech.
• So on the left top funnel, you've got lots of ideas going in.
• We've got an additional 32 million pending award.
• We've got an additional 32 million pending award.

Summary: The committee met in Grand Forks, approved the February 26 minutes by voice vote, and recessed for a tour of Minnkota Power Cooperative before hearing presentations on large energy consumers and related infrastructure issues. The first presentation, from the North Dakota Transmission Authority, focused on the need for better local decision-making tools for counties, townships, and planning and zoning boards facing major projects such as transmission lines, pipelines, data centers, wind, solar, and large-scale agriculture. The speaker urged more objective, data-driven analysis, noted that local officials often have limited time and resources, and said the state should support training and tools through groups like the League of Cities and the Association of Counties. Members asked about proactive outreach, data center ordinances, and how to avoid subsidizing large loads or causing reliability problems. The Division of Air Quality then discussed environmental oversight of data centers, emphasizing that North Dakota’s air remains among the cleanest in the country and that the agency’s role is limited to air, water discharge, stormwater, and waste—not zoning or water use. The presentation explained that data centers generally have low direct emissions but may rely on diesel backup generators when the grid is unavailable, which creates air-quality concerns; the department said it is requiring air monitors at some projects to collect real-world data and guide future decisions. Members asked about generator emissions, misinformation, monitoring costs, and staffing succession, and the agency said permit applicants pay for the monitors while the state handles some QA work. The Department of Water Resources followed with an overview of North Dakota water law and data center water use. The director explained the state’s prior-appropriation system, the public-interest review for permits, and the large overall water supply available from groundwater and the Missouri River. He said most proposed data centers use closed-loop cooling systems and generally request relatively small amounts of water compared with other uses such as power plants, irrigation, and oilfield operations, and that even a worst-case data center scenario would use only a tiny fraction of Missouri River flow. Questions focused on downstream impacts and comparisons to fracking water use, and the director said the state’s use is too small to materially affect downstream users. Later, McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd-Erickson testified online about data center zoning and permitting. He asked the committee to have Legislative Council gather information on how other states handle data center permitting and to keep the topic on the interim agenda. He argued that local zoning should remain local, but said counties lack the technical and legal resources to manage complex reclamation or bonding requirements and that state-level enabling legislation may be more appropriate. He also recommended eliminating tax incentives for data centers. The committee chair said staff would prepare a document on other states’ zoning and permitting approaches. After a lunch recess, the committee reconvened at the EERC, where CEO Charles Gorecki gave an overview of the center’s 75 years of work and its role in oil and gas, carbon management, and other energy technologies, highlighting enhanced oil recovery and carbon dioxide utilization as major opportunities for future production and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• we're somewhere in the award period, is just under $1.5 billion.
• So this is just a qualitative average award amount per year of the award, so you can get a feel for how
• <01:15:37.960> amount qualitative uh the average award amount qualitative uh the average award
• is medical exemptions and then the top is medical exemptions and then the top lines<01:31:45.400
• again um uh funds um for an X-ray tech again um uh the<01:40:02.159> X-ray<01:40:02.560> techs

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Ways and Means and Health and Human Services committees heard Hawaii Health Systems Corporation’s biennium budget request, with testimony from HHSC leadership on the Hilo/Big Island region (HTH 212) and the Oahu region (HTH 215), plus discussion of capital improvement projects and systemwide partnerships. HHSC described its role as the rural healthcare safety net, serving a high share of Medicare, Medicaid/Quest, and uninsured patients, and said its costs are elevated by state employee fringe benefits, which it said are about 64% compared with roughly 30% in the private sector. HHSC also said pandemic-era federal aid, including relief funds and PPP loans totaling about $100 million, reduced the need for general fund support in prior years. For HTH 212, HHSC said its general fund request for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 was higher than the governor’s recommendation because of rising insurance, pharmaceutical, and contractor labor costs, and because it includes $13.2 million in FY 2026 and $2.3 million in FY 2027 for Epic electronic medical record implementation in East Hawaii. For HTH 215, HHSC said the requested general funds were aligned with the governor’s recommendation, in part because of increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for long-term care facilities under prior legislation. HHSC also said it was restoring a special fund ceiling so the region could spend its cash collections on operations. Members asked about the 64% fringe rate, and HHSC explained the difference was mainly due to defined-benefit pension and retiree health insurance costs, which private hospitals generally do not bear at the same level. Members also asked about the Daniel K. Akaka State Veterans Home, and HHSC said operations would be funded through the general fund corporation for the home when it opens, with management by Ohana Pacific, but no additional legislative operating funds were being requested at that time. Other questions focused on staffing and vacancies, including an abolished procurement position and an ongoing IT help desk recruitment need. HHSC highlighted several capital and partnership projects, including a $25 million state CIP request matched by $25 million from the Benioff family for the Benioff Health Center, an ER expansion and reconfiguration at Corner Community Hospital, and $7.5 million in each fiscal year for Kauai EMR capital funds to join the Epic platform. Testimony also described collaborations with Queen’s, the University of California San Francisco, Hawaii Pacific Health, the Hawaii Cancer Consortium, the Department of Health, and the state hospital to improve specialty access, clinical trials, behavioral health, and patient placement across the system.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've been at numerous events for the college, spoke at a student awards ceremony, and I've helped the
• I've been at numerous events for the college, spoke at a student awards.
• I've helped the president in any awards.
• On top of that, we're in the process of trying to get some funding from the state, about $14 million,
• system, so that we can support our maritime businesses, on top of the aerospace that we have coming

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to consider a slate of trustee confirmations for several Florida state colleges and universities. Chair Harrell outlined the process, including swearing in nominees, allowing brief presentations and questions, taking public comment after each nominee, and voting on the full slate at the end unless a member was pulled for separate consideration. One nominee, Edward Fleming, was not heard and was deferred to a future meeting. The committee also dealt with several technical issues for remote participants before proceeding through the agenda. Nominees and reappointees emphasized their personal ties to their institutions and focused their remarks on workforce development, affordability, and partnerships with local employers. Several highlighted nursing and allied health programs, with committee members repeatedly asking about NCLEX pass rates; reported figures included Polk State at 100%, Lake-Sumter at 97.5%, Northwest Florida State at 100%, Daytona State at 95%, Pasco-Hernando at 97% for associate degree and 100% for practical nursing, Pensacola State at 90% practical nursing and 85% RN, and Hillsborough College at 87.5%. Other priorities mentioned included construction technology, agriculture and ag technology, surveying/geodetic programs, maritime and diesel mechanics, aircraft maintenance, dual enrollment, AI, cybersecurity, and support for military and veteran transitions. After hearing from all nominees, the committee asked whether any names should be voted on separately; none were requested. Senator Bradley moved a block vote to recommend confirmation, the motion was approved by roll call, and all nominees heard that day were recommended for confirmation except Tab 10, Edward Fleming, who was postponed to a later meeting. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Scott earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences. from Texas Tech, guns up, go Red Raiders, where he
• And she is the 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, the most prestigious award given by
• And I think that's If we could model anything for our students, that's one of the top things I think
• Yeah, the 49 million and top that we were, we've already. spent, there's all kinds of research going
• Well, there's several that I think come to the top of my mind.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But like when I was on TOPS at LSU, you didn’t get to see how much I got from TOPS. I agree.
• Tech Awards, to provide for qualifications based on early college credit, to provide for funding, applicability
• Currently, we found that TOPS Tech is underutilized as far as funding, as far as usage with students
• We actually merged all the TOPS Tech bills so that we can combine them.
• We actually merged all the TOPS Tech bills so that we can combine them into one.

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• year um so you can see that at the top year um so you can see that at the top and<00:09:45.079><
• <00:56:13.240> was top was top was $64,000<00:56:15.680> um<00:56:16.039> and<00
• Upfront for a school that gets awarded Upfront for a school that gets awarded building<01:26:43.560
• acceptable application they were awarded acceptable application they were awarded funding<01:30:
• 100% of the funds are awarded to school districts.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Committee Division II met with the New Hampshire Department of Education to review school nutrition programs and related funding. Department staff Melissa White and Kelly Rambo walked through a packet covering the National School Lunch Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Community Eligibility (CEP), After School Snack Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program, explaining that these are federally funded USDA programs, with some state supplemental funding in certain areas. They also reviewed reimbursement rates for lunch, breakfast, child/adult care, and summer meals, noting that summer rates follow calendar-year timing while most others follow the state fiscal year. Members asked several questions about how the funding works, especially the difference between federal reimbursements and the state match. Staff explained that the state lunch line in the budget is a fixed match amount tied to federal participation, while breakfast funding is broken out by meal type and reimbursement category. They also discussed why FY 2022 federal spending was much higher during COVID, when USDA covered meals at the free rate for all students, and why FY 2023 and FY 2024 dropped as normal income-eligibility rules returned. A committee member also asked about the “severe need lunch” two-cent rate, and staff said they did not know USDA’s formula. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on summer meals and the distinction between the Summer Food Service Program and Summer EBT. Staff explained that SFSP provides meals at approved sites, which can be open or closed sites, while Summer EBT is a separate DHHS-operated benefit program that provides funds to families. They said some schools or sites may not qualify under USDA rules, but eligible children can often use another nearby open site, and the department posts an interactive map and phone line to help families find locations. The committee also discussed the Community Eligibility Provision. Staff said New Hampshire currently has three CEP schools, that the eligibility threshold had recently been lowered from 40% to 25% identified students, and that the program allows participating schools to offer free meals to all students while the local district covers the non-federal share. Members asked whether any districts in the 25% to 40% range had joined; staff said no. The department offered to provide the eligibility report in Excel and noted that the CEP intent is to reduce application burden, though the lower threshold can make the local cost share harder for some districts to absorb.

Transcript Highlights:

• >> So the $10 on top of the 158. >> So the $10 on top of the 158.
• And this is<02:22:28.399> tech<02:22:28.720> tech<02:22:28.960> new<02:22:29.200
• > technology<02:22:29.680> that<02:22:30.000> they is tech tech new technology that
• they is tech tech new technology that they implemented<02:22:30.560> or<02:22:30.720> has<
• An analysis of federal contract awards An analysis of federal contract awards in<03:25:54.319>

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee first heard HB 2021, a transportation measure creating a framework for electric bicycle and micromobility regulation. The bill would define electric bicycle and electric micromobility device, set age and helmet rules, restrict class 3 e-bikes from sidewalks, allow limited sidewalk use for class 1 and 2 bikes, prohibit high-speed electric devices and certain nonconforming devices in specified locations, update county tax definitions, and change related terminology. Testimony was largely supportive from DOT, police, Honolulu officials, Hawaii Bicycling League, AAA Hawaii, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and several individuals, while DCCA’s Insurance Division asked for clarity on whether insurance would be required. Committee discussion focused on safety, enforcement, and the fact that no insurance market currently exists for these e-bike classes; members also discussed the need to target bad actors rather than ordinary riders. The chair then proposed and the committee adopted amendments to HB 2021, including clarifying that road-legal, permitted, classified electric bicycles are not subject to insurance requirements at this time; allowing properly classified electric bicycles on sidewalks at 10 mph or less subject to county restrictions; barring high-speed electric devices and other nonconforming devices from public roadways; authorizing impoundment of non-road-legal or improperly registered devices; and requiring direct parental supervision for riders under 16 on class 2 or 3 e-bikes. The committee also made technical and effective-date changes. The recommendation to pass HB 2021 with amendments was adopted unanimously by the members present. The committee next took up HB 1641, a related transportation bill addressing high-speed electric devices. The chair explained that the measure would prohibit the sale, lease, rental, distribution, possession, or operation of high-speed electric devices and establish penalties, but the committee’s version would narrow the focus to devices covered by HB 2021. The amended bill would prohibit offering high-speed electric devices for lease or rent, require sellers to comply with the new regulatory framework, ban operation on bicycle lanes, highways, roadways, and streets, and set a civil penalty of $250 to $1,000 per violation. After no further questions, the committee voted to pass HB 1641 with amendments, and the recommendation was adopted. The meeting then moved to HB 1709, which would transfer regulation of the Hawaii Water Carrier Act from the Public Utilities Commission to the Department of Transportation and make conforming changes with an appropriation. DOT testified in support, while the PUC and DCCA’s Consumer Advocacy Division raised concerns about preserving consumer protections and the complexity of moving the regulatory framework. Young Brothers supported the bill and said the current system is outdated, but the discussion remained ongoing; the transcript cuts off before any final action on HB 1709 is shown.