Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development.
• And we are the state's leader for job growth and economic development.
• I'm the Director of the Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development.
• And we are the state's leader for job growth and economic development.
• It's an economic development organization, basically an economic developer.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we have the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant and Child Care and Development Fund.
• The committee developed two models to guide further discussion.
• The committee developed two models to guide further discussion.
• Once we do this, we will develop findings.
• Reimbursement Project on Development Act.

Summary: The committee first approved the February 11, 2026 minutes and then received an update from the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency on the interagency council on homelessness and continuum of care funding. Testimony described rising homelessness tied to tight housing markets, low incomes, aging homelessness, barriers to rental assistance and public benefits, and limited shelter and case-management capacity. Members discussed the need for more affordable housing, continued one-time funding for the North Dakota Homeless Grant and Housing Incentive Fund, better coordination with Health and Human Services on economic assistance and human service zones, landlord engagement, recovery housing, and reentry housing. The committee also heard that federal continuum of care funding remains uncertain, with possible shifts away from permanent supportive housing and housing-first models; members asked for a future update on the impact if federal rules reduce the share available for permanent housing. The committee then took testimony on accessibility of government services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Paul Olson of North Dakota Vision Services School for the Blind described current screening and service delivery, including infant referrals, regional staff, short-term programs, and collaboration with vocational rehabilitation. He said the targeted screening system is working, recommended maintaining the current model, and noted ongoing challenges with staffing, public awareness, and accessible state websites and documents. Public testimony from a visually impaired resident and a deaf resident emphasized barriers such as CAPTCHAs, inaccessible PDFs, employment forms that screen out applicants based on driver’s license status, shortages of interpreters, and the need for video remote interpreting and video relay services, along with training for users and agencies. Finally, the committee heard a final report on the study of child care provider licensing from HHS Early Childhood Director Kay Larson. The report summarized provider input and committee discussion on simplifying North Dakota’s child care licensing structure, reducing administrative burden, and balancing that with health and safety standards. Key topics included licensing categories, child care assistance eligibility, food program sponsorship, staff qualifications, training requirements, ratios and group size, age bands, and preschool exemptions. The committee’s recommendations included streamlining to three provider types plus a preschool designation, revising ratio and age-band rules, and carrying forward certain preschool outdoor-space exemptions. Larson noted that any changes would require statutory changes, rulemaking, and a transition period before new licensing rules could take effect.

Transcript Highlights:

• But you will have missed some lessons in a curriculum.
• But you will have missed some lessons in a curriculum.
• But you will have missed some lessons in a curriculum.
• But you will have missed some lessons in a curriculum.
• But you will have missed some lessons in a curriculum.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Education Funding Committee met in executive session and first took up HB 193, which limits the maximum credits per course eligible for the Dual and Concurrent Enrollment Program. Representative Ladd said the bill clarifies that eligible courses may not exceed four credits and was requested by the community college system. Representative Earth offered an amendment to make the bill effective on passage, which the committee adopted 18-0. The committee then approved HB 193 as amended by an 18-0 OTPA vote and placed it on the consent calendar. The committee next retained HB 295, concerning School Building Aid program funds, after Representative Spillsbury said the building aid bills were complex and needed more work. The motion to retain passed 18-0, with the chair explaining that retained bills can be revisited later and that related language could be moved among building aid bills. HB 354 was not acted on because the chair said the Department of Education and others had suggested possible changes that should be worked out first. HB 366, another school building aid bill, was also retained 18-0 for the same reasons as HB 295. The committee then considered HB 494, which funds the math learning communities program. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program, reducing the proposed increase by a net $50,000 and keeping funding at current levels for the biennium. After discussion about budget pressures and the program’s role in supporting math instruction and professional development, the amendment passed 18-0, and the bill as amended was approved 18-0 and placed on consent. Finally, the committee took up HB 515, which would repeal charter public school eligibility for state school building aid. Representative Popovici-Muller moved inexpedient to legislate, arguing charter schools should not be treated differently from other public schools, while Representatives Luno and Damon opposed the motion, saying charter schools differ in governance and financial risk and should not receive limited state building aid. The motion failed 10-8, so HB 515 was sent to the regular calendar. The committee assigned Representative Damon to the minority report and Representative Popovici-Muller to the majority report, with a noon deadline the next day. The committee then began HB 716, an appropriation for the dual and concurrent enrollment program. Representative Ladd described the program as a successful affordability measure that saves families money and supports college access. Representative Earth offered an amendment to flat-fund the program at current levels, reducing the proposed increase by $500,000 in each year of the biennium. Shannon Reed of the Community College System said the change could limit enrollment or the number of funded courses, though students could still take additional courses at their own expense. Representative Ladd explained the program’s tuition structure and said the funding would help meet demand; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 716.

Transcript Highlights:

• THE BILL REPEALS ACCOUNTS FOR GREAT SUCCESS AFTER HAVING SERVED ITS PURPOSE FOR CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL
• SCHOOLS TO PARTNER WITH SAFETY SPECIALISTS WITH A REQUIREMENT TO CONVENE A STAKEHOLDER WORKGROUP TO DEVELOP

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• One that I am incredibly partial to is that we are requiring the FDVA to develop a plan to establish
• eight-year doctoral-level program of education consists of demanding didactic and experiential curriculum

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services took up two bills. Senator Burgess presented SB 116, the Senate Veterans Package, which would reduce the number of Veterans Hall of Fame nominations, expand FDVA health survey and coordination efforts, add mental health training to the veterans suicide prevention pilot program, fix statutory references, improve coordination between Veterans Florida and FDVA, and require FDVA to develop a plan for adult day health care facilities for veterans and their families. An amendment was adopted to appropriate $300,000 for the suicide prevention training pilot and $50,000 for the health survey. The bill was supported in debate, especially for the adult day care provision, and CS/SB 116 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then heard SB 294 by Senator Harrell, which would exclude specified cardiac conditions—such as heart failure, coronary heart disease, and cardiac arrhythmias—from the list of chronic health conditions that may be managed under collaborative pharmacy practice agreements. Senator Harrell argued that these complex conditions require direct physician involvement and that pharmacists should not be making medication changes for severe cardiac patients based on protocols alone. Senator Rouson asked why heart conditions had been included previously, and Vice Chair Davis asked about fiscal impact; Harrell said there would be no state cost, though patients might face additional out-of-pocket expenses, which she said could be offset by avoiding more serious complications. Public testimony on SB 294 was divided. The Florida Pharmacy Association opposed the bill, arguing that collaborative practice agreements are voluntary, physician-controlled, and already include safeguards, and that pharmacists are highly trained to help manage chronic conditions and improve access and outcomes. A cardiologist with the Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology supported the bill, warning that cardiac patients are complex and that pharmacists may make dangerous decisions without the full clinical picture. Senator Burton also supported the bill, saying the original collaborative practice framework was not intended to let pharmacists diagnose or treat serious cardiac disease. SB 294 was then reported favorably by roll call vote. At the end of the meeting, Senators Rodriguez and Garcia asked to be recorded in the affirmative on SB 116, and the committee adjourned without further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• And again, our commitment to workforce development and to higher education.
• The Missouri Department of Agriculture's Business Development Group is critical.
• I believe that funding economic development is incredibly important to our state.
• In particular, the Department of Economic Development In particular, the Department of Economic Development
• Thank you. any sort of curriculum choices that we might debate and discuss.

Summary: The House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior day’s journal, and numerous introductions of visiting groups and guests, including schoolchildren, Republican women’s organizations, county commissioners, and family members of legislators. Members also suspended House Rule 98 to allow baseball apparel in celebration of opening day, with the motion passing 118-22. The chamber then took up the state budget bills. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2002, covering elementary and secondary education and child care, drew the most debate. Supporters said it maintained record funding for the foundation formula, transportation, and early childhood programs, while critics argued it still fell short of fully funding the formula and underfunded child care subsidies by about $51 million. After extended debate over statutory obligations, school funding, and child care policy, the bill passed 85-70. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2003, the higher education and workforce development budget, also prompted substantial debate over a proposed shift to an FTE-based funding model for colleges and universities. Supporters called it a fairer, more equitable system that follows students and encourages efficiency, while opponents warned it would sharply reduce funding for some institutions, including community colleges and regional universities. The bill passed 83-66. The House then passed House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2004, covering revenue and transportation, 91-50, despite objections over a public transit cut and constitutional concerns raised about MoDOT appropriations. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2005, the Office of Administration and employee benefits budget, passed overwhelmingly after members discussed state worker compensation, deferred compensation, and benefits funding. House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2006, covering agriculture, natural resources, and conservation, passed 133-17 after members highlighted restored funding for agriculture business development and food insecurity grants, while others criticized cuts to natural resources and parks funding. The chamber then moved on to House Committee Substitute for House Bill 2007, covering economic development, commerce and insurance, and labor and industrial relations, with the budget chair introducing the bill and outlining its major departmental appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and certainly you could develop a roster that categorizes waste by hazard.
• impacts, economic development studies that a landfill proposal, uh, the developer might bring in.
• </c> impacts, uh, economic development impacts, uh, economic development studies<04:09:30.080><c> that
• How long do you anticipate it would take for rules to be developed?
• </c> have the department help them develop have the department help them develop rules<04:14:23.920><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee reviewed a handout comparing House Bill 2 to current retirement law and walked through the bill section by section with staff from the retirement system. The discussion focused on vesting, earnable compensation, average final compensation, compensation-over-base limits, special duty pay, normal retirement age, re-retirement, and maximum benefit rules for Group 2/Tier B members. Staff explained that some provisions would restore pre-2011 rules, including counting certain end-of-career payments such as unused sick and vacation time in earnable compensation and reducing the AFC averaging period from five years back to three. They also described how the bill would eliminate the current cap on compensation over base, which mainly affects overtime, and noted that the actuarial cost of the AFC-related changes is interrelated rather than easily broken out by feature. A separate discussion covered the special duty pay limitation, which currently applies to Tier A and would be removed under the governor’s bill for both Tier A and Tier B members after their vested buy date. Staff said the actuary estimated that removing the special duty limitation would increase costs by about $13.9 million. Members also asked about the practical difference between overtime and special duty, with staff explaining that special duty generally involves work for a private third party, often police detail work, while overtime depends more on staffing and scheduling. The committee also reviewed the normal retirement age changes for Tier B and the possibility that some members would need to work longer to reach the new vested buy date. Members raised concerns about an ambiguity in the bill that could allow already-retired Tier B members to return to work, then re-retire and claim the higher benefits, or allow vested deferred members to stop working and wait for the new vested buy date. Staff said the governor’s office did not intend to allow that result and requested clarifying language, noting that the bill as drafted does not expressly prohibit it. The committee also discussed part-time and seasonal work after retirement, with staff explaining that such work generally does not restore membership unless the person takes a full-time position requiring enrollment. Finally, the committee reviewed the maximum benefit provisions and noted that HB 2 in the current year does not change the maximum benefit date or include the 1.5% annual escalator that had been part of the 2023 proposal, making the current bill more costly than the earlier version.

Transcript Highlights:

• So with this legislation Uh, require your committee, the advisory committee, or to develop, uh, some
• We work closely with the agenda, developing the agenda.
• on it, any drug manufacturer would be able to develop one, right?
• It's just not part of their core curriculum. That's the part that we engage in.
• They were in 25 and older clubs and they were like 11 and they were more developed than me.

Bills: HB 265, HB25

Keywords: youth camp, safety regulations, advisory committee, child welfare, health standards, summer camp, camp safety, child abuse reporting, child neglect, mandatory reporting, background check, criminal history check, sex offender registry, CPR training, first aid, public health, child protection, camp operator, camp counselor, Health and Safety Code

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a nationwide curriculum that teaches middle school, high school, and community members online safety
• 00:05:15.320><c> is</c><00:05:15.440><c> a</c><00:05:15.480><c> nationwide</c><00:05:16.080><c> curriculum
• </c><00:05:16.840><c> that</c> It is a nationwide curriculum that It is a nationwide curriculum that

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's to help them have the resources and to set up a professional development curriculum, with the Executive
• Funds specific workforce housing development, financial assistance, develop accessory dwelling, small
• We are the largest nonprofit housing service provider and developer in our region.
• We're the Regional Planning and Economic Development Agency for Cape Cod.
• He developed raw elbows from lying down and pulling. His gums fled.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing heard testimony on several housing bills, with much of the discussion focused on seasonal communities and funding for year-round housing in places like Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Cape Cod, and the Berkshires. Speakers supported bills including H. 4410/S. 966 and related seasonal communities legislation, which would allow local option real estate transfer fees and expand tools for towns to preserve and create affordable housing. Testimony emphasized severe housing shortages, high home prices, workforce displacement, and impacts on public safety, schools, health care, and local businesses. Many witnesses said the transfer fee would provide a sustainable local revenue stream, citing prior land bank models on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard as proof the approach can work. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3989 regarding seasonal community designation, with supporters arguing that towns should be included automatically or through a simpler opt-in process, and on H. 4568 to expand the Family Self-Sufficiency Program, which would broaden access to a federal voucher-based savings and self-sufficiency model. Senator Edwards testified in support of a bill to create training for municipal board members, describing it as a toolkit to improve informed local decision-making. Senator O’Connor testified for a bed bug bill, saying it would create clearer landlord and tenant notification and treatment requirements and provide needed legal guidance after his family’s experience with an infestation. Senator Lovely also testified for the Homeworks program, which provides transportation so homeless children in motels and shelters can attend after-school activities. The committee further heard testimony on a bill to fund housing in seasonal communities through a transfer fee and on a companion measure to expand the seasonal communities toolkit, with repeated calls for favorable reports. Witnesses from public safety, health care, housing nonprofits, schools, and local government described staffing shortages and housing insecurity as urgent problems. Later, the committee took testimony on H. 1559/S. 102 to maintain stable housing for families with pets, with animal welfare groups supporting protections against eviction, breed discrimination, and excessive pet rent. They said housing-related pet surrenders are a major driver of shelter intake. The hearing also included testimony on H. 1498 to limit criminalization of homelessness, which would restrict citations, fines, and related consequences for outdoor camping tied solely to homelessness.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I think at economic development.
• What do the local economic development organizations think about that?
• </c> what local economic development what local economic development organizations<02:00:12.719><c> think
• Economic development, that's a marathon.
• </c> Economic development that's a marathon. Economic development that's a marathon.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a curriculum for schools to pick up and use in their classrooms, in the elementary schools especially
• We have a curriculum for schools to pick up and use in their classrooms, in the elementary schools especially

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• advisory group across 2-year institutions and 4-year institutions to create these fields of study curriculum
• And, uh, into an institution that just wants them to take their version of a core curriculum course.

Transcript Highlights:

• The American Rescue Plan Act funding for healthcare workforce development at our colleges and universities
• Those of all who have had to hear me speak before also heard Me say higher education is workforce development
• In response to these challenges, the state regents developed Blueprint2030, our strategic plan for the
• We're also advancing the development of a new performance funding formula that will better align resources
• is requested to implement the Strong Readers Act across 22 teacher education programs, including curriculum

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think fundamentally how we can support children to develop, to have a healthy development.
• , have more time to play with friends, to intellectual development?
• The science and data tells us that your brain doesn't really fully develop until 25.
• These are researchers that study youth development, mental health, and the effects of technology.
• These are researchers that study youth development, mental health, and the effects of technology.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a contingency that as long as DOJ They develop a contingency that as long as DOJ can look at a state
• So I wanted to thank this body in particular for their support on developing our overall proposal.
• They're being developed in a safe and deployed in a safe manner.
• ... ...economic opportunity to support not only oil and gas, but research and development.
• But that's the sort of discussions we'll have developing the legislation.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The Louisiana Advanced Aviation and Drones Advisory Committee met and was told this would likely be its final meeting because the committee sunsets after the 2026 regular session unless legislation reconstitutes it. Members discussed the need to reduce the committee’s size and adjust quorum rules so it can function more reliably, and they later adopted a motion supporting reconstitution of LADAC with a smaller membership and new appointments effective July 1, 2027. The committee also approved the June 2025 minutes and added a legislative briefing item to the agenda. Under subcommittee and project updates, members heard about the new counter-drone effort tied to House Bill 940 and the “Let’s Go” initiative, which would create a joint task force of State Police, sheriffs, and municipal police chiefs to develop training standards and equipment standards for counter-UAS work. The committee also received a briefing on the state’s advanced air mobility work from newly named Advanced Aeronautics Director Josh Deplanis, including Louisiana’s selection for the FAA’s eVTOL/AAM Integration Pilot Program, branded “Lift Off Louisiana,” and the development of a statewide strategic plan covering airspace integration, vertiport infrastructure, charging networks, economic development, education, and community engagement. Deplanis and members emphasized that Louisiana is among a small number of national EIPP sites and that the state’s proposal is notable for also addressing international airspace and “high seas” operations beyond 12 miles offshore, which could help inform FAA and ICAO policy. Members praised the state’s leadership, the work of DOTD, OMC, GOSEP, State Police, and legislative partners, and noted the potential economic importance for oil and gas logistics and other advanced aviation uses. No public testimony was offered, and the meeting adjourned after the committee’s votes and updates.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think fundamentally how we can support children to develop, to have a healthy development.
• , have more time to play with friends, to intellectual development?
• The science and data tells us that your brain doesn't really fully develop until 25.
• And we worked with independent experts, YouTube's Youth and Family Advisory Council, to develop these
• And kids who have developing brains, they don’t really have maturity yet.

Summary: The hearing focused on online safety controls and whether parental controls are sufficient to protect children on social media and other digital platforms. The chair and several members framed the issue as a child safety and public health problem, not just a technology issue, and said the goal was to understand what parental controls do, where they fail, and what policy solutions might be needed. Opening remarks also emphasized that California should lead on safer online spaces for children. Victoria and Paul Hinks gave emotional testimony about the death of their daughter, Alexandra, saying that despite using screen time limits, content filters, app restrictions, and other parental controls, their daughter was still exposed to harmful content and found ways around the settings. Researchers and advocates from Stanford, Children Now, and other organizations said parents face major challenges because digital parenting is complicated, platforms and apps change constantly, children can bypass controls, and many tools are costly or inaccessible. They argued that parental controls are often incomplete, hard to use, and not enough on their own to prevent harms such as cyberbullying, self-harm content, eating disorder content, and exploitation. Witnesses also discussed broader risks in digital spaces, including mental health harms, addiction, fentanyl-related contact through social media, and concerns about AI chatbots. Several speakers said safety should be built into products from the start, with stronger age assurance, clearer reporting systems, independent standards, and corporate accountability. Members asked about what “safe” means, whether other countries’ restrictions are effective, and which features are most harmful. There was broad agreement that no single tool is enough and that multiple layers of protection are needed. The final panel featured representatives from Meta, Google, OpenAI, and Roblox, who described their companies’ teen safety features and parental tools. They pointed to default protections for minors, content limits, bedtime and screen-time tools, age assurance efforts, and new parent notifications for certain self-harm searches. They also supported legislation on age assurance and app-store parental approval. Members pressed the companies on whether their tools are truly effective, and several witnesses acknowledged that current systems still have gaps and that more work is needed.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:16:53.600><c> Speaker,</c> water development projects. Mr.
• Speaker, water development projects. Mr.
• ,</c><01:33:57.360><c> classroom</c> uh in grading curriculum, classroom uh in grading curriculum, classroom
• I get to have the first four hours with these guys in terms of professional development.
• And then we go professional development.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chaired by the secretaries of education, economic development, and labor and workforce development, and
• and learning for evidence-based curriculums to the community-based partners.
• Research and development is fundamental to the Massachusetts economy.
• Research and development is fundamental to the Massachusetts economy.
• We've long viewed child care as an economic development issue, a workforce development issue, and a necessary

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However, final authority over hiring, curriculum decisions, and school leadership will rest with the
• And I have witnessed in my district as well, parents who are on committees to choose curriculum have
• an incredible influence on what curriculum is chosen for their schools.
• have an incredible influence curriculum have an incredible influence on<00:55:51.920><c> what</c><00
• </c><00:55:53.680><c> their</c> on what curriculum is chosen for their on what curriculum is chosen for

Keywords: 958, all