Transcript Highlights:

• half-mounted and appropriately framed and placed in the Capitol a portrait of the Honorable Yvonne Bond
• both the House and the Senate passed resolutions relating to the portrait of the Honorable Yvonne Bond
• It needs to be a report that is bonded and, yeah, yeah, as a—it's some kind of different kind of document

Keywords: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Commission, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• referred to prosecuting attorneys and the attorney general, and one was certified to the Government Bonding
• referred to the prosecuting attorney and the attorney general, as well as certified to the Governmental Bonding
• referred to the prosecuting attorney and the attorney general, as well as certified to the governmental bond

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's what we typically think of as lump sum allocations.
• You can see that these lump sum allocations are 77% of the money.
• the instructional material to come out of the base student allocation.
• This includes the total allocation to Florida for 24, 25.
• The population allocation is distributed based on the local educational agency.

Summary: The committee held its first meeting and received an overview of the Pre-K-12 education appropriations jurisdiction and base budget. Staff explained that education funding is driven largely by enrollment and per-student formulas, with most money coming from state and local sources. The presentation highlighted the major budget areas: early learning, the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), non-FEFP K-12 programs, federal programs, and the State Board of Education. Members asked about instructional materials funding and how scholarship students who return to public schools are counted and funded; staff explained that instructional materials remain in the base and that funding depends on survey timing, with districts ultimately funded through the enrollment count process. The committee then reviewed federal IDEA funding for students with disabilities. Department of Education officials explained how IDEA Part B funds are split between state set-asides and local educational agencies, and noted that Florida ranked fourth nationally in total IDEA Part B funding and received a 95% state determination for meeting IDEA requirements. They also described the bureau’s responsibilities, including monitoring, dispute resolution, instructional support, and the Hope Florida unit for ages 3 to 5. Members asked for more information on student performance outcomes and how the state measures success beyond compliance, and the department agreed to provide follow-up data. The final major topic was the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS), including associate centers, multidisciplinary centers, and specialized centers for deaf/hard of hearing and visually impaired students. Presenters described services such as child find, family support, assessments, professional learning, accessible instructional materials, and technical assistance. Committee members focused on whether families and schools have equal access to services across the state, how IEP disputes and reevaluations are handled, and whether more support is needed for parents, teachers, and rural districts. FDLRS representatives said they do not write IEPs but help connect families to districts, provide training and assessments, and support compliance and data collection; they also emphasized staffing and resource needs, especially for low-incidence disabilities and multilingual family outreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• It increases the amount of bonds for the project from 10 million to 15 million.
• It increases the amount of bonds for the project from 10 million to 15 million.
• It increases the amount of bonds for the project from 10 million to 15 million.
• <00:20:02.120> the<00:20:02.200> amount<00:20:02.520> of<00:20:02.640> bonds
• And that would be up to a collection of $18,609,000, plus associated bonding costs, obviously for

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the GO bond in fiscal year 26 is about $1.4 billion. Fiscal year 27 is about $423 million.
• So the go bond<00:51:45.280> and<00:51:45.680> go<00:51:46.319> bond<00:51:47.040
• 51:47.839> um<00:51:48.000> fiscal<00:51:48.319> year<00:51:48.640> 26 bond
• and go bond in 20 um fiscal year 26 bond and go bond in 20 um fiscal year 26 is<00:51:49.440> about

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• as we were drafting this amendment that apparently $1 million of the $2 million dollars that we allocated
• serve us and can be effective in our lives and in our state, and then we see like money that we allocated
• the 2 million dollars that we allocated the 2 million dollars that we allocated towards<00:03:44.400
• <00:04:04.640> And allocated $2 million towards it. And allocated $2 million towards it.
• not being spent that is just allocated not being spent that is just being<00:04:45.280> sat<00

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 1082, which was being handled as the committee budget bill. Members first reconsidered and then adopted the previously approved DE4 amendment so the bill could be updated with a new amendment package. The committee then adopted several amendments, including A4, a technical reviser’s amendment; A3, which added LELS representatives to a task force related to House File 3095; and A9, which extended a spending deadline for a Ramsey County appropriation tied to dual status youth/crossover youth programming. Vice Chair Feist said the deadline change was needed because the original grant timing had been shortened, and she also criticized delays in spending youth justice funds. The committee also adopted A11, which Chair Mohler described as language previously seen in the domestic violence policy/task force bill, narrowed from an indefinite period to 28 days and then to 14 days for the gun-on-arrival arrest provision. A12 was then adopted to continue work on Department of Corrections changes related to the MinCorp program from House File 4031. A Department of Corrections representative explained that a disputed provision no longer used a percentage but instead used a ratio, and that the language reflected stakeholder agreement; a member confirmed the relevant line numbers and raised no objection. After the amendments were adopted, the committee withdrew the DE4 version, adopted the DE6 amendment as amended, and then re-referred House File 1082 as amended to the Ways and Means Committee. All motions were approved by voice vote, with no recorded opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:41.040> in<00:03:41.200> general Uh we allocated 5 million in general Uh we
• allocated 5 million in general fund<00:03:41.599> spending<00:03:41.920> to<00:03:42.080
• <00:04:43.280> some Um, as chairs, we have allocated some Um, as chairs, we have allocated
• <00:05:13.360> Um<00:05:13.759> unfortunately, allocate well to that.
• Um unfortunately, allocate well to that.

Bills: SF1832, HF2440

Keywords: economic development, small business, workforce training, grants, entrepreneurship, equity, community support, labor market, employment, funding, data analysis, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, she's got corporate bonds. I mean, this is ridiculously conservative.
• And but this is what we use to get our double-A or A-plus, whatever bond rating.
• But at the end of the day, the state treasurer has to maintain their bond rating.
• What kind of bond rating do you think we would get in that situation?
• treasur to maintain their their bond treasur to maintain their their bond rating<03:47:33.239>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee first dealt with a brew pub license bill and corrected some sponsor/subcommittee roster confusion before voting to pass it without discussion. The main item of debate was a bill allowing patrons to take purchased alcoholic beverages into restrooms. The bill sponsor argued the current ban is outdated, rarely enforced, and can leave patrons vulnerable if they set drinks down and leave them unattended; he said establishments could still post their own rules if they wished. Liquor enforcement officials said they were neutral overall, noting both the risk of drinks being left unattended and the practical concerns of underage drinking, over-service, and restroom monitoring. Testimony split between those who saw the law as a non-issue and those who viewed it as a safety measure. One member said he had never seen anyone take alcohol into a restroom and opposed changing the law, while others cited drink-spiking concerns and suggested alternatives such as safe zones behind bars, drink covers, and alert apps. Industry representatives said many operators would prefer to keep the law as-is because it helps with policing drinking in their establishments, though they acknowledged the motivation behind the bill. Several members also raised drafting concerns, saying the wording was confusing about whether the rule applied to patrons or establishments. The committee ultimately voted 5-2 to recommend the bill ought to pass. Afterward, members discussed amending the language to clarify that establishments could still prohibit the practice, but one member suggested a simpler fix would be to strike the word “restroom” from the prohibition entirely. The committee then unanimously voted to reconsider its action so the language could be revised later, and the amendment discussion was left for a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• are set by council policy to allocate are set by council policy to allocate funds.<00:45:15.599>
• So sales tax funds are allocated funds.
• <00:45:30.400> the providers decide how to allocate the providers decide how to allocate the
• <00:46:41.520> basis, are distributed on an allocation basis, are distributed on an allocation
• :49.119> to<00:47:49.359> the funds allocated effectively to the funds allocated effectively

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a Met Council report from Charles Carlson on high-subsidy transit route analysis required by the transportation bill. Carlson explained that the study uses per-passenger operating subsidy, compares routes by type and service day, and is intended to help providers improve cost-effectiveness while recognizing transit’s importance for access, affordability, safety, and the region’s economy. He noted that routes more than 60% above peer averages are considered the highest-subsidy tier, and that the report also estimates the cost of Metro Mobility associated with those routes. Members asked several questions about why contracted service can cost less than directly operated service, whether contracting affects wages, union membership, or service quality, and why the Met Council targets about 20% of regular route service for contracting. Carlson said contracted service can be cheaper because of lower overhead and other market factors, that the council sets minimum wage and service-quality requirements in contracts, and that customers should not notice a quality difference. He also said the 20% target is meant to balance cost-effective service, geography, and a mix of providers, and that some routes may become more cost-effective with more frequent service depending on local demand. Carlson reported that in 2024, 206 of 264 routes met guidelines, 16 were in the lowest intervention tier, 14 in the middle tier, and 28 were in the highest-subsidy tier. He said the regional share of high-subsidy service was about 4.1%, but the share varied widely by provider, with some at 0% and others much higher. He estimated that discontinuing the highest-subsidy routes would save about $23 million annually and up to $72 million in capital costs. For Metro Mobility, he said the cost associated with trips tied to high-subsidy routes rose from about $368,000 in 2023 to about $6.1 million in 2024, largely because the mix of routes triggering federally mandated paratransit service changed, especially in the Shakopee area.

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget forecast now assumes a smaller bonding bill in the 2025 legislative session of $700 million
• bill in the 2025 smaller bonding bill in the 2025 legislative<00:25:41.240> session<00:25:41.960
• , especially in some areas that we can contain costs while still delivering services, keeps us AAA bond
• , especially in some areas that we can contain costs while still delivering services, keeps us AAA bond
• , especially in some areas that we can contain costs while still delivering services, keeps us AAA bond

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Allocation of electricity. Yes, sir.
• And again, we will change the methodology by which we allocate transmission.
• And then they don’t even know what their allocation of capacity is going to be.
• How do you figure out how to allocate out that gigawatt between the five of them?
• They're selected, they're allocated, and then their project falls through.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Business and Commerce convened to discuss critical infrastructure and supply chain integrity, particularly focusing on Texas's power grid and associated vulnerabilities. The meeting highlighted Texas's recent ranking as 10th in electricity affordability, emphasizing the state's commitment to maintaining a reliable and resilient electric grid. New committee members introduced themselves, and the agenda included testimony from ERCOT and the Public Utility Commission regarding the implementation of the Lone Star Infrastructure Protection Act, which aims to mitigate risks posed by foreign entities to the power grid. Chad Sealy from ERCOT presented updates on the attestation process for market participants, revealing that over 1,500 entities had submitted attestations regarding their corporate structures and affiliations with designated foreign countries. Concerns were raised about the adequacy of the current vetting process, particularly regarding indirect relationships with foreign adversaries. Testimonies from the PUC and the Attorney General's office underscored the challenges of enforcing compliance and the need for improved legislative measures to enhance oversight and security. The committee also heard from experts, including Dr. Emma Stewart from Idaho National Laboratory, who discussed the evolving threats to the grid from foreign adversaries and the importance of securing communication systems. Recommendations included prioritizing inspections of critical components and enhancing collaboration with national laboratories to address vulnerabilities. The discussion concluded with an acknowledgment of the balance needed between ensuring grid security and maintaining affordability for consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• We allocated about $600,000 in last budget to kind of fill some spots, and we just wanted to kind of
• for the public it uh that we allocated for the public it uh that we allocated about<00:01:49.159
• The money that we allocated, you're kind of, in essence, promoting within.
• you're kind of money that we allocated you're kind of in<00:03:55.319> essence<00:03:55.959><
• <00:04:01.159> for<00:04:02.079> and positions that were allocated for and positions

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Status of Hiring Four Project Managers within Facilities & Support Services in HB6 from the 24RS 00:02:01 Attendance Roll Call 00:09:32, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Personnel, Public Retirement, and Finance, and Administrative Cabinet met for an informational update, with the new chair noting the committee does not vote on issues and is mainly reviewing implementation of budgeted items. The main presentation came from Scott Baker of the Finance Cabinet’s Office of Facility Development and Efficiency, who explained how the office has shifted experienced staff to lead Department of Parks projects and hired new staff to be trained into project management roles. He said the office is managing 146 ongoing parks projects and has moved from weekly to biweekly meetings as work has progressed. Baker said the budgeted staffing changes were intended to speed project delivery while maintaining expertise, since state project management also requires knowledge of procurement law and other Commonwealth-specific rules. He described the workload as heavy, with 15 project managers handling 1,149 active projects, including one western Kentucky manager overseeing 127 projects, and said the office is trying to add more staff and create new positions to improve recruiting. Members asked about staffing levels and workload, and Baker said the office is not overstaffed but is competing with a strong construction industry for talent. Committee members praised the office’s work on parks projects, noting campground and infrastructure needs at places like Lake Barkley and emphasizing prudent use of the large capital budgets approved in recent years. No votes were taken because the subcommittee lacked a quorum, as some members were in other committee meetings. The chair said the committee would continue to meet during session and interim periods and adjourned the meeting after the update.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, according to an EAC ... in fiscal year 2022, 2023, they allocated roughly $1.2... match has been
• Secretary, did we receive the full amount that was allocated? Secretary Simon: Yes.
• In 2021, it was the dollars that were allocated and granted out in 2022 were based on a formula that
• What our office intends to use this latest grant allocation for is what the secretary mentioned a few
• Sometimes they'll go two or three years without allocating any money.

Bills: HF1345, HF71, HF993, HF1943

Keywords: HF1345, statutory city, public utility commission, municipal utilities, city council, local government, utility governance, commission membership, staggered terms, vacancy appointment, ordinance, Minnesota Statutes 412.341, municipal ordinance, city commission, public utilities, HF71, Minnesota, public safety, peace officers, correctional officers

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Finance, having under consideration House Bill 2918, relating to a new bonding committee
• from other authorized sources, if it's insufficient to pay the debt service on general obligation bonds
• The part I'm curious about is that the district can issue new bonds if they need to cover the funds,
• choosing to tax itself at a seven and a half percent rate, Senator Mesnard, in order to pay back the bonds

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This increases the maximum bond indebtedness for the State Armory Building Commission.
• This is in increases<00:09:29.920> the<00:09:30.880> maximum<00:09:31.440> bond<
• 00:09:31.920> indebtedness increases the maximum bond indebtedness increases the maximum bond

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This bond bill will drive targeted investment.
• The Community Reinvestment Fund, this bond bill will drive targeted investments into small development
• This bill would require a licensee who is a lawsuit financier to maintain a surety bond.
• The surety bond, we hope, will help protect those who might be impacted by unscrupulous financing companies

Summary: The Assembly Banking and Finance Committee met to hear several bills, beginning with a consent calendar that included AB 665 and AB 866, both adopted on a do pass basis and referred to Appropriations. The committee then took up AB 801, which would create a California Community Reinvestment Act to require covered financial institutions, including state-chartered banks, credit unions, residential mortgage lenders, and money transmitters, to meet the financial needs of low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color. The author and supporters argued the bill would close gaps left by the federal CRA, address redlining and discriminatory lending, and expand investment in housing, small business, and community development. Support came from community groups, CDFIs, labor, and housing advocates, while opposition from mortgage bankers and credit unions argued the bill would impose costly new reporting and regulatory burdens, especially on institutions they said already serve underserved borrowers well. Committee members discussed the scope of the bill, the experience of other states with state CRA laws, and possible carve-outs or tiered treatment for smaller credit unions. AB 801 was passed as amended and referred to Appropriations, with the roll left open and later completed; one member voted no and others were not voting or voted aye as the roll was finalized. The committee also heard AB 743, which would require licensing and surety bonds for commercial lawsuit financing and bring those transactions under DFPI oversight. The author said the bill was aimed at a largely unregulated, multi-billion-dollar industry and was intended to increase transparency and address concerns about foreign interests, fraud, and abusive litigation funding practices, while not affecting consumer legal funding. Supporters, including Unified Patents, the Civil Justice Association of California, the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Trucking Association, and the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, said the bill was an important first step toward disclosure and regulation. There was no opposition testimony. AB 743 passed unanimously as amended and was referred to Appropriations, with the roll held open briefly for absent members before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• specifically Wayne County and Woodford County, had to do with local funding that had become available, some bonding
• 09:21.720> become<00:09:22.040> available<00:09:22.560> some<00:09:22.880> bonding
• that had become available some bonding that had become available some bonding of<00:09:23.640>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Committee on Primary and Secondary Education and Workforce Development met, approved the minutes from its first meeting, and then received a presentation on the School Facility Assistance Fund audit. State Auditor Allison Ball’s office and its third-party contractor, Blue and Co., explained that the audit followed the scope set in the budget bill: to review each school project’s cost, available local resources, and eligibility criteria for state gap funding, with the Auditor of Public Accounts certifying the final report. The presenters walked through the 20 school projects identified for review and gave the current gap funding amounts found for each. Examples included Adair County at about $7.6 million, Augusta Independent at $5.3 million, B.S. Down Independent at just over $43 million, Fleming County at about $15 million, Garrard County at $14.9 million, Johnson County at $78 million, Somerset Independent at $1.7 million, Walton Verona at $48,000, Williams Town Independent at $7.4 million, and several others. They also noted that some districts were fully funded before the audit or withdrew because they had secured enough local funding, including Breathitt County, Kent County, and Lewis County. Washington County’s project was flagged as failing some House Bill 6 eligibility criteria even though the report calculated a $27.6 million gap. Members asked whether districts that secured funding on their own were being penalized, and the auditors responded that changes in gap amounts reflected several factors, including rising project costs and newly available local funding. They also said the audit did not attempt to determine whether local funds were earmarked for one project versus another, because the budget bill directed them to assess available local funding as provided. The committee requested the presentation slides, and the meeting concluded with no further questions and a motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• Other states do CIP bond funding as well, and also cultural trusts, which we're really interested in
• dedicated funding source other states do dedicated funding source other states do CIP<00:20:09.159> Bond
• 10.000> well<00:20:10.880> um<00:20:11.080> and<00:20:11.280> also CIP Bond
• funding as well um and also CIP Bond funding as well um and also cultural<00:20:11.960> trusts

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Culture and the Arts heard testimony on HB 547 HD1, which would create a spay-neuter special fund to reduce pet overpopulation and support spay/neuter services, funded in part through a tax return check-off and other sources. The Department of Taxation said it could implement the check-off; the Attorney General and Budget and Finance raised drafting and placement concerns about which department should house the fund; and the Hawaii Humane Society strongly supported the bill, emphasizing statewide need and the importance of distributing funds to areas of greatest need, including neighbor islands. The Tax Foundation opposed the measure on special-fund grounds, arguing there was no sufficient nexus between the bill’s purpose and the proposed revenue source. The committee later recommended HB 547 HD1 with technical amendments and sent it to Finance, with members voting aye and no objections noted. The committee also heard HB 925 HD1, relating to arts funding, which would impose a 1% fee on ticket sales from concerts at state venues and direct the proceeds to a dedicated arts fund. The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts supported the measure, while the Attorney General suggested defining “concerts” for clarity and Budget and Finance was available with comments. In discussion, the committee chair asked about how other states fund arts programs, and Director Ewald said many states use dedicated funding sources such as concert fees, bond funding, cultural trusts, and hotel lodging taxes. The committee recommended HB 925 HD1 with amendments, including a preamble, a new Performing Arts special fund, a definition of “concerts,” and a defective date, and the recommendation was adopted. Finally, the committee considered HB 1378, also related to the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Based on the Attorney General’s testimony, the committee proposed deleting a section of the bill, creating a Performing Arts special fund, specifying revenue sources such as legislative appropriations, foundation charges, grants, gifts, and interest, and using the fund for coordination, planning, promotion, marketing, and execution of performing arts events. The amendments also added a definition of Performing Arts, granting standards, and a defective date, while blanking out the appropriation amount for the committee report. The committee voted to adopt the recommendation on HB 1378 with amendments, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you allocated two minutes, you should get your two minutes.
• If that individual person is allocated two minutes, he or she should get the two minutes.
• Say if you allocated two minutes, the amount of time is two minutes per person. You got me?
• And then what we would insert after the word allocate is we say allocate an equal amount of time to hear
• So it would say, you know, period, the board shall... know, period, the board shall allocate.

Bills: HB397, HB523, HB397

Keywords: real estate, disclosures, equitable interest, disciplinary actions, Alabama Real Estate Commission, parole procedures, advocacy, parole board, victim representation, inmate rights, HB397, homestead exemption, ad valorem tax, property tax, tax relief, senior exemption, elderly homeowners, retiree exemption, disability exemption, blind exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• the guidelines for how water boards use bonding is also laid out in Century Code.
• Today, boards can bond for a project at an amount up to six years of their maximum levy.
• There was a Supreme Court ruling that changed how water boards can bond.
• So Century Code says you can bond up to six years of your maximum levy.
• That's how much we can bond for. The Supreme Court said, well, you do that calculation.

Summary: The meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and opening remarks from NDSU President David Stewart, who emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission of statewide service through teaching, research, and extension. He highlighted the university’s role in agriculture, water, soil health, and community outreach, and pointed to examples of research commercialization such as Lilac Agriculture’s work on nitrogen-fixing microbes for crops. He also said he is still early in his tenure and intends to spend time listening and learning across the state. The committee then received a detailed presentation on a state irrigation and drainage study from Tom Bodine on behalf of Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. The study estimated that North Dakota could develop about 1.3 million additional irrigated acres, with major potential in counties such as McLean, Williams, Sargent, Burleigh, Mountrail, McKenzie, McIntosh, Dunn, and Bottineau. Testimony stressed the economic benefits of irrigation for crop yields, value-added processing, dairy, and potato production, while members also discussed water availability, aquifers, downstream water use, and the need for more flexible permitting. The drainage portion of the study found significant economic benefits from legal drains, and staff explained that the impacts were calculated through increased productivity and related input purchases. Greg Lardy then gave NDSU’s required agriculture update, saying agriculture accounts for more than $41 billion in annual economic activity, one in five jobs, and about 25 percent of state GDP. He reviewed the role of SBAR, the statewide research-extension network, new crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI and weather-network tools, and Extension’s county partnerships and youth programs. He also outlined NDSU’s priorities for the next session: restoring proposed budget cuts, increasing operating support, and addressing deferred maintenance. Members asked about storage shed construction, NDSU’s relationship with Grand Farm, and whether NDSU could help with water-related research tied to drainage and aquifers. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute and a professor on water and data centers, who described graduate fellowships, a water workforce certificate program, and research on data center cooling, water use, and “Legendary Harvest” concepts that would reuse waste heat for greenhouse or aquaculture production. Questions focused on whether the cooling systems were closed-loop, who would own any related production facilities, and whether the project was still only a feasibility study. Finally, North Dakota AgTech described its NSF-funded “engine” project, saying it has brought millions in federal investment to the state, supported startups and on-farm trials, and is focused on commercialization, workforce development, and helping producers lower input costs and improve profitability.