Bills: SB2060, SB2342, SB2577, SB2580, SB2809, SB2397, SB2315, SB2442, SB2152, SB2380, SB2462, SB2055, SB2438, SB2533, SB2203, SB2087, SB768, SB877, SB1139, SB787, HB963, SB277, SB2663, SB2555, SB2140, SB2115, SB2761, SB2198, SB2032, SB2579, SB2671, SB2835, SB2356, SB2095, SB2093, SB2318, SB2323, SB2485, SB2309, SB2321, SB2405, SB2153, SB2129, SB2170, SB2259, SB2578, SB2544, SB2701, SB2861, SB2108, SB2089, SB2106, SB847, SB3326, SB2047, SB2695, SB2667, SB2919, SB2446, SB2146, SB2723, SB2210, SB2527, SB2645, SB3331

Keywords: rental housing revolving fund, HHFDC, Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation, mixed-income housing, mixed-income rental project, affordable housing, low-income housing, housing finance, housing development, preservation, rehabilitation, pre-development, construction financing, equity investment, credit enhancement, collateral, gap financing, area median income, AMI, perpetual affordability

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you all have some agency bond projects you're going to... you all that we align our priorities you
• Do you all have agency bond projects.
• Do you all have some<00:15:54.560> agency<00:15:54.880> bond<00:15:55.279> projects<
• He said the request they are making for the STEM building is for bond funds that would be state-funded
• President Bradley said the STEM building request is for bond funds that would be state-funded for the

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education heard presentations from the University of Louisville and the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) on their strategic plans, enrollment trends, and budget priorities. University of Louisville President Bradley highlighted the university’s new five-year strategic plan, its R1 research status, community-engaged and opportunity college classifications, record enrollment of 25,005 students, and its role in serving first-generation, Pell-eligible, military-connected, and rural students. He also emphasized the university’s economic and workforce impact, including athletics, nursing, dentistry, and a recent Speed School building, and previewed major capital and program requests: a $142 million STEMH building, a $15 million one-time request for National Cancer Institute-related cancer research, and $5.3 million for the Kentucky Manufacturing Extension Partnership. He also discussed a planned $260 million health sciences building and the university’s efforts to expand health care access beyond Louisville through regional sites and residency partnerships. Members responded positively, with Representative Tipton asking about agency bond projects and regional health outreach, and President Bradley saying the university is evaluating debt capacity and exploring smaller projects while noting that the STEM building request would rely on state-funded debt service. He described UofL Health’s expansion into places such as Bullitt County, Shelbyville, Madisonville, and Paducah, and its efforts to train physicians for rural practice. Representative McCool praised the university’s military-friendly designation and cancer research priorities and noted personal family ties to UofL. Michaela Aman, a sophomore from Letcher County, also testified about how UofL has supported her as a rural student and emphasized the university’s commitment to opportunity and social mobility. KCTCS President Ryan Quarles and CFO Todd Kilburn then presented the system’s enrollment, completion, and workforce-training results. They said KCTCS now serves more than 110,000 students, graduated a record 24,000 students last May, and has moved from 45th to 4th nationally in graduation rate. They also highlighted that over half of students are first-generation, 60% work while enrolled, 70% of graduates work in Kentucky, and 74% graduate with no student loan debt. KCTCS described its common-course-numbering agreement with Morehead State as part of a broader transfer simplification effort, and said it trains about 200,000 Kentuckians annually when including workforce training and firefighter instruction. The system also outlined efficiency measures, including property sales, a new bookstore contract projected to save $4.3 million over five years, and a new evaluation process for real estate and facilities. KCTCS’s budget and capital requests included operating funding tied to enrollment growth, support for the TRAINs program, the ECTC training facility at Glendale, continued support for Health Force Kentucky, three capital construction projects at Jefferson, Bluegrass, and Gateway, and asset preservation funding focused on safety and security upgrades. Quarles also referenced House Bill 5, saying it would expand KCTCS’s correctional education and re-entry work and could help reduce recidivism. Members asked about the bill and its impact, and KCTCS said it already provides instruction in jails and prisons and sees the proposal as an extension of that work.

Transcript Highlights:

• the charter schools to pledge their appropriation that they expect to get for indebtedness or for bond
• 00:14:01.920> funding<00:14:02.320> for<00:14:02.639> the indebtedness or for bond
• funding for the indebtedness or for bond funding for the charter<00:14:03.120> schools.
• in relationship to these bonds? in relationship to these bonds?
• would take that as underwrite the bonds would take that as a<00:15:26.639> pledge<00:15:27.120

Bills: HB245, SB16, SB59, SB62, SB79, SB88

Keywords: inhalants, controlled substances, butyl nitrite, nitrous oxide, amyl nitrite, health, public safety, SB16, four-point restraint, hog-tie, hog tie, prone restraint, law enforcement, police, sheriff, use of force, restraint techniques, positional asphyxia, arrest procedures, detention

Transcript Highlights:

• The bond built in this chamber goes beyond politics, and those friendships will never be broken.
• So all of this amendment does is it removes the part about tax levies and bond issues.
• Speaker, when voting for bond measures and school boards, we need a higher bar for implementing taxes
• Speaker, when voting for bond measures and school boards, we need a higher bar for implementing taxes
• But we want those taxpayers who are paying those bonds and putting those school board people.

Summary: The House met on the final day of session with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by a 126-0 vote. Most of the early floor time was devoted to points of personal privilege, with members and the Speaker offering extended tributes to departing colleagues, House staff, law enforcement, military service, and the work of the chamber. Several members also used the occasion to reflect on their careers, thank constituents and families, and discuss issues such as property tax reform, police service, mental health, and bipartisan cooperation. The House then took up Senate messages and committee reports, followed by several bills and resolutions. Senate Substitute for House Bill 2636, dealing with mortgage modification and related consumer protections, was adopted 142-1 and finally passed 144-1. Senate Substitute for House Bill 2397, concerning water district dissolution and related safeguards, was adopted 129-16 and finally passed 127-17. Senate Substitute No. 2 for House Bill 2576, a naming and commemorative bill adding observances and memorial highways/bridges, was adopted 136-4 and finally passed 134-6. The chamber also received Senate action on Senate Bill 1408 and Senate Joint Resolution 87, and committee reports recommended passage on several deferred measures. The House also debated Senate Joint Resolution 95, which proposed creating a constitutional Show Me Prosperity Fund as a sovereign wealth fund intended to eventually eliminate state-imposed taxes through long-term investment returns. Supporters argued it would promote fiscal sustainability and long-term prosperity, while opponents warned that it would lock away money during a period of projected budget shortfalls and could leave the state unable to access funds when needed. The resolution was discussed at length with questions about funding mechanics, investment authority, and emergency access, but the transcript provided does not include a final vote on the resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, but is there bonding agreement on a bonding bill? Is that bonding still being worked?
• The bonding piece on this is that usually comes afterwards.
• Bonding is able to come after we're able to get this piece of it.
• Those things will come if there's bonding.
• We're looking at about a $700 million effect on bonding.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will read the bond initiatives and the committee assignment.
• The clerk will read the bond initiatives and the committee assignment.
• Introductory House Bond Initiatives No. 62, March 9th, 2026, referred to Appropriations.
• Introductory House Bond Initiatives No. 63, March 9th, 2026, referred to Appropriations.
• Introductory House Bond Initiatives No. 64, March 9th, 2026, referred to Appropriations.

Keywords: House streaming session for Monday, March 9, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, established a quorum, and approved the previous day’s journal. The main formal action was the reading and adoption of a House resolution honoring the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion for their World War II service, with remarks emphasizing their role in clearing a massive mail backlog, supporting troop morale, and breaking barriers for African American women in the military. The resolution was read in full and presented on March 9, 2026. The chamber then handled introductory legislation and Senate messages on consent calendars. House Bills 1632 through 1642 were read the first time and referred to the appropriate committees, and Introductory House Bond Initiatives 62 through 65 were referred to Appropriations. Senate Bill 439 was introduced in the House and referred to Economic Matters, and Senate Bill 69 was introduced and referred to Government, Labor, and Elections. No objections or recorded votes were noted on these referrals. The remainder of the meeting consisted largely of caucus and guest announcements. Members announced upcoming caucus meetings, a high school shadow day, an Iftar dinner hosted by the Muslim and Women’s Caucuses, a Women’s Caucus election with in-person and remote voting times, and other constituent and guest recognitions, including District nights and visits from AFSCME Maryland Council 3, the Junior League of Annapolis, foster youth participants, and student pages. The House then adjourned on motion of the Majority Leader until Tuesday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you have access to climate bond resources, or is that not available to you?
• And then if all else fails, there's the bond market as well.
• So in terms of climate bond funding, some of that is going to the state revolving fund with the idea
• The carbon-fluoride bond...
• The carbon-fluoride bonds in these molecules make it particularly difficult for microbes to break down

Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on Biotechnology and Medical Technology held an informational hearing on the role of biotechnology industries in wastewater treatment, hosted at Bakar Labs on the UC Berkeley campus. Opening remarks emphasized California’s water scarcity, the rising cost of wastewater infrastructure, and the need to reuse and clean contaminated water. Committee members framed the hearing as a look at both current treatment challenges and emerging technologies that could improve water quality, affordability, and resilience over time. The first panel focused on statewide wastewater challenges. BACWA Executive Director Laurie Fono described wastewater plants as part of a broader circular economy, noting their roles in recycled water, environmental enhancement, biosolids management, carbon sequestration, and renewable energy generation. She highlighted major challenges including aging 1970s-era infrastructure, nutrient reduction mandates, sea level rise, evolving regulations, and PFAS source control. She said Bay Area agencies face about $11 billion in nutrient reduction costs, with rate increases, state revolving funds, WIFIA loans, and bonds as the main financing tools. Members asked about regional differences, energy revenue opportunities, smaller decentralized plants, and agricultural collaboration. The second panel featured researchers and lab experts discussing biotechnology solutions. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s Dr. Romine Chakarvati described using microbial communities and machine learning to help break down PFAS and treat produced water. CEL Analytical’s Dr. Yigi Dearborn explained pathogen testing for direct potable reuse, wastewater monitoring, and the need for larger sample volumes and more funding to validate methods for viruses and protozoa. Stanford’s Dr. Chunhung-Shin presented an anaerobic membrane system that turns domestic wastewater into clean water and energy with less biosolids and lower operating costs. Committee members asked about AI, assay development, scaling technologies, and funding priorities. Public comment from the California Association of Sanitation Agencies stressed the need to balance scalability, reliability, and affordability, and the hearing adjourned without any formal vote or action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Utility District number one of Tarrant and Wise County providing authority. to impose a tax and issue bonds
• Authority, altering the terms of the Authority's Port Commission, altering the authority to issue bonds
• management HB 5671 by Carwin relating to the election of directors for and the authority to use to issue bonds
• relating to the creation of La Sima Municipal Management District number one providing authority to issue bonds
• Utility District number one granting a limited power of eminent name providing authority to issue bonds

Bills: HJR5, HB39, HB 102, HB 126, HB290, HB300, HB1330, HB2110, HB2143, HCR64, HCR101

Keywords: education funding, Texas State Technical College System, constitutional amendment, capital projects, workforce education, military education, early registration, ROTC, corps of cadets, higher education, military academy, student athletes, name image likeness, compensation, intercollegiate athletics, representation, tuition assistance, military, Texas State Guard, education

Transcript Highlights:

• We know that the capacity for the capital investment committee, or the bonding bill, has been reduced
• Trunk highway projects could easily eat up the $700 million bonding maximum capacity authority.
• easily eat up the $700 million bonding easily eat up the $700 million bonding maximum<00:04:58.320
• off of our bonding ability. off of our bonding ability.
• Those are kind of standard bonds that are included in this bill.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We do include some information on public finance authority bonding authorization.
• Those bonds were issued, and now we've been doing two sessions of bond payments on that at about $102.6
• The building authority has the option to do the lease payments and structure the bonding as lease payments
• There really hasn't been any new bonding authorized under that, but we include some of those limits so
• payments, bond splits, ACHs, wires.

Summary: The committee received a compliance and budget update on Industrial Commission agencies and programs, including the Industrial Commission administrative office, the Oil and Gas Research Program, the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the State Energy Research Center, the Research Technology Park grant program, and related funds. Staff reviewed spending and balances for items such as electric grid resiliency grants, lignite research, enhanced oil recovery, the salt cavern business case study, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members also discussed timing, carryover balances, matching requirements, and how some programs are structured to reimburse projects over several years rather than spend funds immediately. Karen Tyler of the Industrial Commission described the agency’s administrative budget, the grant management system nearing completion, and the transition to standalone audits and staffing after separating from other agencies. She also outlined the status of active grant rounds across lignite, oil and gas, renewable energy, outdoor heritage, and clean sustainable energy programs. Members asked about the length of active grants, demand for clean energy funding, and the possibility of future grant rounds. Tyler and members also discussed the salt cavern study, the need to better define its commercial value, and the research technology park grant’s cash-match requirement. Ron Ness then testified on enhanced oil recovery and broader oil and gas market conditions. He said North Dakota production remained steady, but future growth depends on infrastructure, longer laterals, and better use of natural gas and carbon dioxide for EOR. He described the state’s EOR grant round, the use of federal DOE funding to replace part of a state-funded project, and the expectation of additional grant rounds. Members asked about CO2 supply, storage, and the economics of using legacy fields and pipelines to extend oil production and support agriculture and industrial uses. The committee also heard from Bank of North Dakota President Don Morgan, who reviewed the bank’s mission, governance, lending verticals, disaster programs, and new initiatives. He said the bank is seeing deposit growth flatten and is responding to fintech competition by focusing on liquidity, risk management, and a new payment infrastructure initiative called Rough Rider Coin, which he emphasized is not crypto and not a public coin, but a banking payment rail for North Dakota institutions. Members asked about student loan rates, disaster lending, and how the bank’s lines of credit and balance sheet capacity are affected by deposit trends. Morgan said the bank remains profitable and continues to support agriculture, commerce, and industry through participation loans, student lending, and state-directed programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• c><00:03:47.640> voted<00:03:48.000> through<00:03:48.200> a<00:03:48.280> bond
• <00:03:48.640> issue<00:03:48.920> for when they voted through a bond issue for when
• they voted through a bond issue for an<00:03:49.240> enhancement<00:03:49.840> on<00:03
• 00:03:55.600> the and that school district went to the and that school district went to the bond
• <00:03:56.440> to bond to bond to to<00:03:57.440> take<00:03:57.720> care<00:03

Bills: HB0034, HB0035, HB0036, HB0106

Keywords: HB0034, Wyoming retirement system, Wyoming Retirement Act, firefighter retirement, public employee retirement, retirement benefits, state pension, wildland firefighting, wildland firefighter, crash and rescue, Wyoming National Guard, Office of State Lands and Investments, Wyoming Retirement Board, correctional forestry crew, correctional crew supervisor, correctional forestry crew manager, general fund appropriation, state agency employees, service credit, benefit eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• /c><00:09:18.800> um<00:09:19.040> state<00:09:19.360> parks<00:09:19.760> bond
• projects and our um state parks bond projects and our um state parks bond projects. projects. projects
• , the ARPA projects and the<00:10:21.200> state<00:10:21.519> parks<00:10:21.839> bond
• <00:10:22.160> projects<00:10:22.640> this<00:10:22.959> year the state parks bond
• projects this year the state parks bond projects this year under<00:10:24.079> um<00:10:24.240

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for office, people would ask me, like the trades would ask me, 'Are you going to be in favor of a bonding
• The bonding is critical in my region.
• you going to be in favor of a bonding you going to be in favor of a bonding bill?"
• The<00:19:53.600> bonding<00:19:53.919> is<00:19:54.320> critical<00:19:54.720><
• in my in my The bonding is critical in my in my region

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• basis, multiple times a day, are criminal history reports that come through the national criminal database
• come through the national<00:27:35.200> criminal<00:27:36.080> uh,<00:27:37.279> database
• ><00:27:37.840> of<00:27:38.080> what<00:27:38.320> a national criminal uh, database
• of what a national criminal uh, database of what a person's<00:27:39.200> criminal<00:27:39.600

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you know, I have, you know, a number of different, uh, kinds of cloud databases that I sometimes
• 01:27:22.520> of uh, kinds of uh, kinds of uh,<01:27:23.920> cloud<01:27:24.840> databases
• <01:27:25.560> that<01:27:25.760> I<01:27:25.920> sometimes Um, cloud databases
• Um, and so then you can punch in the code and then gain access to that database.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We used no list or database of known allies. We simply hit every possible door we could.
• used<01:37:45.679> no<01:37:45.840> list<01:37:46.080> or<01:37:46.320> database
• We used no list or database of site. We used no list or database of known<01:37:47.199> allies.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• thing I want to mention is that the former board and the executive director did not have a licensing database
• > executive director did not have a executive director did not have a licensing<00:10:14.640> database
• And<00:10:15.680> so<00:10:16.079> there<00:10:16.320> wasn't licensing database
• And so there wasn't licensing database.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 409, 22 January, 2026; 1:30 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Mississippi Auctioneer Commission, which requested level funding. PJ Lindsay reported the agency granted 29 new auctioneer applications and 9 new firm applications, received 3 complaints, resolved 1, signed 1 consent order, and issued 1 suspension. Members questioned the commission about its cash balance, reserve levels, and a large variance between prior spending and the FY26 request; staff explained the difference was tied to technology and contractual costs, including planned computer system updates and out-of-state conference travel for board members. The commission also noted that auctioneering oversight is important because an estimated $4.5 billion will flow through Mississippi escrow accounts in 2025. The Board of Optometry then presented its budget and organizational changes. Board leaders said the board had transitioned away from a state employee model to a management company arrangement with JBAR/Cornerstone, which they said saved about $43,000 and improved service and efficiency. They described the creation of a licensing database and a new back-end system, and said the board was generally seeking level funding with a small increase for computer equipment tied to the new system. Committee members asked about the impact on PERS contributions, the former employee’s retirement, the board’s cash balance, lease arrangements, and whether licensees had complained; the board said the change required legislative approval, the former employee retired, the cash balance was about $399,900, and service complaints had decreased. The Mississippi Board of Licensure for Engineers and Surveyors reported a busy FY2025, including moving most licensure applications online, accepting supporting documents by email, expanding K-12 and college outreach, hosting student interns, visiting ABET-accredited schools, decoupling the surveyor exam registration process, and awarding about $400,000 in grants to engineering programs. The board said it licenses about 15,000 engineers and surveyors plus 8,500 interns, with most registrants from out of state, and that its fees are among the lowest nationally. For the budget, the board requested level funding overall but also sought a new investigator position, 5% salary progressions, increased travel funding for national meetings and STEM outreach, more contractual money for internships and IT modifications, additional supplies, and restoration of a $600,000 grant program that is funded every other year to support university and community college engineering and surveying programs. The board said its operations are supported by fees and that its cash balance is about $1.6 million.

Transcript Highlights:

• gets out, and there’s a pretty cool black gum swamp out there, and now it’s on a map or it’s in a database
• a map or it's out there and now it's on a map or it's in<00:52:23.760> a<00:52:23.920> database
• <00:52:25.760> Hey, in a database or on a website. Hey, in a database or on a website.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No entity that I'm aware of possesses only searchable databases, much less ones that are connected.
• > one that designed all the criminal one that designed all the criminal justice<01:36:15.840> databases
• <01:36:16.800> connections,<01:36:17.360> and<01:36:17.520> all justice databases
• , connections, and all justice databases, connections, and all that.<01:36:18.320> And<01:36:18.480

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> This new database that you we keep hearing about is I don't know when that's going to occur back
• need it then we're going to slow down and you're going to do it the way we need it. >> So is this database
• need it, then we're going to slow down and you're going to do it the way we need it. >> So is this database
• So is this database going to be just dealing with DOE, or are you going to cross it over to MTS as well

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission to study the cost of special education met, confirmed a quorum, introduced members and guests, and approved the minutes from the October 29 meeting. Members noted the commission’s mandate under Senate Bill 57 and emphasized the need to focus on recommendations and findings by July 1, 2026. The chair also distributed additional handouts, including materials related to the Education Freedom Account (EFA) program and administrative rules tied to differentiated aid and disability determinations. The main discussion centered on how students qualify for differentiated aid under the EFA program. Matt Sutherton of the Children’s Scholarship Fund explained that the organization, which contracts with the state to administer EFAs, accepts either school-district/IEP documentation or a medical certification of disability (MCD) from a licensed medical professional. Members questioned how this process relates to the state’s special education rules and whether the school-district examiner standards in ED 107/1107.04 apply to EFAs. Sutherton said the MCD form, created with the department, requires the medical professional to sign that they are qualified to make the determination and to identify the disability. Several members expressed concern that the EFA process is less rigorous than the school-district IEP process and may be inflating disability counts. One member argued that the administrative rules cited are primarily for school districts, not EFAs, and said the Department of Education may not know how many of the roughly 890 EFA students receiving differentiated aid came through school-district documentation versus the MCD pathway. Another member said the EFA system appears more generous than the school system and raised concerns about oversight, auditing, and whether the program’s data are accurate. Sutherton said the organization reviews signed documentation, credentials, and diagnosis information, and may request additional records to help adjudicate expenses. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the prior minutes.