Transcript Highlights:

• Each one of those has flaws, environmental impacts, and also long-term generation impacts.
• So every energy resource has some sort of environmental impact.
• Every rural co-op says they support this effort.
• It doesn't have any impact on any other power generation.
• It doesn't have any impact on any other power generation.

Bills: SB78, SB235, SB22, SB310

Keywords: nuclear energy, renewable energy, sustainability, carbon emissions, energy regulation, microgrid, zero carbon resources, Public Regulation Commission, energy generation, electric utilities, motor vehicle manufacturers, licensing, dealers, franchise agreements, consumer protection, water supply, sewage improvements, environment, funding, Mora County

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 78, which would classify nuclear energy as renewable energy. Senator Thornton and supporters argued that New Mexico needs dispatchable, baseload power and that nuclear should be added to the state’s renewable portfolio standard because wind and solar are intermittent and require extensive land, mining, and battery storage. Supporters also emphasized nuclear’s zero-carbon profile, the safety record of U.S. Navy reactors, the possibility of small modular reactors, and the fact that New Mexico already uses nuclear-generated electricity from out of state. Opponents, including Senator O’Malley and Senator Charlie, argued nuclear is not renewable because it relies on finite uranium and creates long-lived radioactive waste, and they raised concerns about uranium mining impacts, waste storage, and the bill’s lack of a limiting principle. The committee voted 5-4 to do not pass the bill, with Senators Cervantes, Hamblen, O’Malley, Lopez, and Charlie voting yes on the do-not-pass motion and Senators Ezell, Scott, and Thornton voting no; the chair then explained that the vote reflected disagreement over whether nuclear should be labeled renewable, not opposition to nuclear power itself. The committee then heard Senate Bill 235, the Microgrid Oversight Act, with a committee substitute. Sponsor Senator Steinborn said the substitute would restore existing renewable benchmarks for microgrids, require large microgrids to meet zero-carbon targets by 2045, add reporting and PRC oversight, and close a loophole that could let utilities buy microgrid power and shift costs to ratepayers. Supporters, including environmental groups and community advocates, said the bill was needed to regulate large data-center microgrids such as Project Jupiter in Doña Ana County, which they said could drive major emissions, ozone, and nitrogen oxide pollution, strain water supplies, and undermine state climate goals. They also argued the bill would protect ratepayers and ensure transparency and community benefits. Opponents, including Americans for Prosperity, the Chamber of Commerce, oil and gas associations, Xcel Energy, PNM, Consumer Energy Alliance, and economic development groups, argued the bill would impose unnecessary regulation on private microgrids, slow investment, raise costs, and reduce flexibility for reliability projects and industrial development. They said microgrids are already regulated for safety and interconnection, and that the bill could discourage projects in New Mexico. In response, Steinborn said the bill was necessary because current law leaves a loophole for large polluting microgrids and because several major projects are already planned or underway. The committee heard extensive public testimony on both sides, but the transcript ends before a final vote on SB 235 is taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a week prior, and we were just outside of the impacted area.
• I'm asking you today to join me in the fight for a rural renaissance in Florida.
• Never forget about the rural communities. So thank you for your leadership.
• You, sir, always understand the impact. The impact is the first thing on your mind.
• It was one of those rural communities.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It was a week prior, and we were just outside of the impacted area.
• Never forget about the rural communities. So thank you for your leadership.
• Never forget about the rural communities. So thank you for your leadership.
• You, sir, always understand the impact.
• It was one of those rural communities.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a crisis that impacts faculty and employees as well.
• This is a crisis that impacts faculty and employees as well.
• This is an issue that impacts my district significantly.
• This body was already taking action to stabilize our rural communities and rural hospitals and health
• the rural communities feel left out.

Summary: The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, approved dispensing with the previous day’s journal, and then took up a long third-reading file. Early procedural actions included moving AB 1589 to the inactive file and continuing reconsideration items. The chamber then considered a series of bills largely focused on immigration enforcement, detention, worker protections, child care, voting access, and related public services. Several immigration-related measures passed, including AB 2393 on damages for false imprisonment/arrest, AB 1994 on an immigrant victims’ rights and resources card, AB 1929 on health plan investment disclosures, AB 1633 imposing a tax on for-profit detention facilities, AB 1650 requiring decals on rental vehicles used for enforcement, AB 1655 protecting CalWORKs benefits when a child is detained, and AB 1896 disqualifying people who participated in immigration enforcement from certain public employment. AB 2230, which would bar immigration enforcement near polling places and child care facilities, also passed after extensive debate. Supporters framed these bills as accountability and protection for vulnerable communities; opponents argued they targeted federal law enforcement, were unnecessary, or raised constitutional concerns. AB 1851 on statewide school mental-health guidance also passed unanimously. After the midday recess, the Assembly returned and continued with more bills tied to immigration impacts and child welfare. AB 2379 passed with urgency, requiring child care providers to be informed of constitutional rights and trained on protections when confronted by immigration enforcement. AB 2460 passed to update school behavioral-health referral protocols for students affected by immigration enforcement trauma. AB 2495 passed to expand prohibitions on employer immigration-related threats, and AB 2662 was presented as a way for California to monitor and document federal enforcement actions and report on their community impacts. Throughout the day, the floor featured repeated exchanges over whether the bills addressed real problems or were political messaging, but the measures that came to a vote generally advanced with majority support.

Transcript Highlights:

• This amendment, rather than just tracking, would direct that 30% of that funding go to rural counties
• That's minority businesses, veterans, and all within rural Colorado.
• </c> that 30% of that funding go to rural that 30% of that funding go to rural counties<00:52:57.760>
• </c> veterans, and all within rural Colorado. veterans, and all within rural Colorado.
• I do represent rural Colorado, a large swaths of it, and this is very important.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've got $209.9 million to support the Rural Health Transformation Fund in its first year, $32.3 million
• and mitigation programs across the state, an increase of $22 million in recurring funding for the Rural
• County Rural Assistance Program and $20 million for the Small County Outreach Program.
• of that could be or what the provider impacts will be.
• , military service members, small counties, and rural counties.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The core problem is straightforward in low-volume rural hospitals across the state.
• The impact of that decision is clear.
• Like the Central Valley and the rural areas.
• The impact that noxious weeds have on our agricultural lands is devastating.
• AB 2201 will help minimize the negative impacts of HR1 on MediCal.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• one of the nation's premier university-attached research centers, doing coding and work for high-impact
• So think specifically around the needs for rural and small In a public school is a key part of that.
• We're finding more and more that recruitment and retention in our rural districts is really the focus
• But really the rural flexibility is going to be a game changer as far as residencies go, so we do urge
• Seclusion and restraint have had a deeply harmful impact on my 11-year-old son.

Bills: HB30, HB120, HJR1, SB210, SB306

Keywords: teacher residency, Teacher Residency Act, public schools, teacher preparation, educator pipeline, teacher recruitment, teacher retention, student teachers, apprenticeship, co-teaching, mentor teachers, residency stipend, teacher salary, level one teacher, charter schools, school districts, New Mexico education, teacher workforce, principal stipend, cohort model

Transcript Highlights:

• I would say the friction or the fault lines between urban, suburban, moving toward rural and suburban
• , or rural moving toward suburban.
• The state action might impact you; we could always do it better.
• It really had a tremendous impact on our economy with ships not being able to come in and out.
• impactful, positively impactful environment for digging into really disturbing data that does not, on

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That doesn't mean that the programs themselves have to be impacted or will be impacted.
• That doesn't mean that the programs themselves have to be impacted or will be impacted.
• Just that stabilization fund, if we remove that, I don't know the impact it may have on rural and low
• So my next question is about the 50%, or the potential impacts of the 50% reduction.
• It's not just rural areas—Dade County and big counties too.

Summary: The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met during Budget Week and first considered three member bills. House Bill 1111, by Rep. Valdes, would eliminate the option for students to leave high school with a certificate of completion instead of a standard diploma. Valdes said the bill was inspired by students who met credit requirements but could not pass a required assessment, and argued the certificate does not provide access to college, trade school, or military service. The bill passed unanimously, 15-0. CS for House Bill 127, by Rep. Kendall, would support students with disabilities by using existing Florida Department of Education curriculum to create micro-credentials and coordinating with the Florida Center for Students with Unique Abilities and OSHA on workplace safety. Goodwill, the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, Florida PTA, and others supported the bill, which also passed unanimously, 15-0. House Bill 1367, by Rep. Booth, addressed chronic absenteeism by requiring statewide definitions and more uniform attendance reporting, along with rules for excused and unexcused absences and early identification of chronically absent students. Testimony emphasized inconsistent district policies and the need for clearer data and interventions. The bill passed 13-0, with some members noting concerns about implementation details and future rulemaking. The committee then took up PCB-P-PKB-2501, the proposed conforming bill for the fiscal year 2025-2026 Pre-K through 12 budget. The chair said the bill was designed to align statutes with budget and scholarship funding procedures, especially around the Florida Education Finance Program and scholarship payments. The PCB would require Florida student ID numbers for scholarship students, standardize cross-checking against FTE survey data, set quarterly payment dates, and use one data source for both reporting and withholding scholarship-related FFP amounts. It also would reduce certain add-on weights by 50%, remove the budget stabilization program, and repeal the educational enrollment stabilization program. Several members raised concerns that the add-on weight reductions could hurt career and technical education, AICE, IB, and CAPE programs, while the sponsor argued the data showed too much spending in an “other” category and that the reductions were aimed at aligning funding with actual program costs. Public testimony was mixed: some supported tighter accountability and clearer payment rules, while others warned against undermining expensive career-readiness programs. The PCB passed 11-2. After the conforming bill, the chair presented the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 Pre-K through 12 budget, totaling just under $21 billion, about $400 million below the current year. She said the budget reflects a need to slow spending growth and includes $20 million for New Worlds Scholarship Accounts, $7 million for security grants at Jewish day schools and preschools, $14 million for public school transportation stipends, an overall FEFP increase of about $747.7 million, $100 million for teacher salary increases, and increases in the base student allocation and funds per student. The committee did not vote on the budget recommendation at this meeting; it was distributed for review and will move to the Budget Committee next week.

Transcript Highlights:

• According to a recent economic impact study conducted by the University of Cincinnati Economics Center
• last academic year, nearly 17% of Oklahoma freshman students at our public college Universities in rural
• So, I think public higher education in Oklahoma will have Minimally impacted by the big beautiful bill
• And yes, many of them are in rural Oklahoma.
• Can you talk about expanding Oklahoma's Promise and the impact it's had.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:05:09.280><c> Uh</c> talk over the estimated impacts. Uh talk over the estimated impacts.
• </c><00:05:24.080><c> So</c> impact studies uh before adoptions.
• So impact studies uh before adoptions.
• </c> What these code changes, how they impact the cost to housing.
• </c> metropolitan areas and our rural areas. metropolitan areas and our rural areas.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from Northern Kentucky building industry representatives Brian Miller and Matt Mains on housing affordability and construction workforce issues. They argued that regulatory and code requirements add significant cost to new homes, citing an estimate of nearly $94,000 per home nationally and $15,000 to $20,000 per home in Boone County over the past decade. They recommended reforms to building code adoption, architectural design mandates, permit fees and delays, and setback/land dedication rules, saying these changes could reduce costs by $25,000 to $35,000 per home without affecting public safety. They also discussed workforce training efforts through the Enzwe Building Institute, dual-credit programs, apprenticeship incentives, and workforce grants, saying these efforts have helped hold wage growth below regional trends and improve housing affordability. Committee members asked about the breakdown of regulatory costs, the effect of energy codes, and ways to speed up permitting. The presenters said the costs were roughly split among federal, state, and local requirements, with local regulations adding about $25,000 to $35,000 and some energy-code changes adding about $19,000 per home. They said faster plan review, coordination with the Kentucky Division of Water, and addressing municipal staffing shortages could cut 30 to 45 days from approvals. Members also discussed the difficulty of building starter homes under about $350,000 and the need for more missing-middle housing, with the presenters saying such homes are hard to produce without sacrificing quality. The committee then took up Representative Kim Moer and Dr. Dale Bertram’s discussion of marriage and family therapist licensing and healthcare workforce data reporting. They explained that the bill would allow Kentucky to recognize out-of-state marriage and family therapists who meet licensure requirements, have no disciplinary history, and have passed the national exam, in order to reduce barriers and address provider shortages, especially in rural areas. They also described a separate workforce data reporting section that would require licensure boards to collect consistent information on where licensees practice and whether they are actively seeing patients, including through telehealth, so the state can better understand its healthcare workforce. Members supported the portability idea, noted that some qualified applicants are currently working in Indiana instead of Kentucky, and asked whether the data collection could be handled administratively; the sponsors said the bill would create consistency across boards. The committee also briefly discussed occupational board updates and the need for stronger communication between legislators and licensing boards, including architecture licensure issues and efforts to recruit more professionals.

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that there's no fiscal impact whatsoever on the state.
• The budget board has already said there's not a huge significant impact.
• As a percentage of your total budget, it is a devastating impact.
• So this is significantly impactful.
• I guess my other concern is not. just in rural areas, but in my area.

Bills: HB329, HB361, HB546, HB1547, HB1745, HB2786, HB3235, HB3370, HB3575, HJR83

Keywords: appraisal, property value, residential real estate, tax code, appraisal review board, property owners, property tax, homeowners, property owner rights, property appraisal, taxation, Texas Tax Code, real estate, ad valorem tax, homestead exemption, market value, condemnation, tax appraisal, open-space land, land use

Transcript Highlights:

• And we have a colleague with 13 rural counties.
• The impact of the state is going to be there.
• What's the impact on my community?
• What's the impact on my county's fiscal responsibility?
• ... ...impact of the implementing bill to make it better.

Summary: The Senate took up Committee Substitute for Senate Joint Resolution 2F, a proposed constitutional amendment to expand homestead property tax relief, lower the assessment cap on non-homestead property from 10% to 5%, and limit county and municipal ad valorem tax revenues to specified uses. Senator Avila presented the measure as a major property tax reform intended to provide relief to homeowners and restrain local government spending, while opponents argued it would shift costs to fees, services, and state appropriations and could harm local budgets, public safety, schools, and other services. Several senators also raised concerns about the ballot language and the lack of a completed fiscal analysis. The chamber considered and rejected multiple amendments. Senator Sharif’s income-based “circuit breaker” amendment failed, as did Senator Smith’s sunset clause amendment and Senator Berman’s amendment to rewrite the ballot statement for greater accuracy. During questioning, Avila said the revised language was meant to preserve flexibility for local governments and that future legislatures could set implementing procedures and, if necessary, prohibit certain local expenditures by general law. He also confirmed that the proposal would not affect refinancing or portability, and said the measure would not prevent local governments from continuing to fund many services such as libraries, parks, animal control, code enforcement, mosquito control, public housing, county health departments, and elections. Debate on final passage was extensive. Supporters described the proposal as overdue relief for homeowners and a way to force local governments to prioritize spending, while critics called it a risky tax shift that could reduce local revenue by billions and force cuts or higher fees. Some senators emphasized concerns about public safety funding, mental health and social services, and the accuracy of the ballot summary; others argued the measure would give voters a chance to decide on property tax reform. After debate, the resolution was rolled over for third reading and the Senate continued discussion, but the transcript provided does not include a final vote on the joint resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Several of our members are here today to share how the high cost of insurance premiums is impacting their
• And you'll see the impact of that in figure 3 on page 3. Uh, the blue line.
• Uh, but that K12+ thing only impacts level one. It doesn't impact level two and three.
• Are there things like that, that, what's the impact of some of those specific very expensive drugs?
• It would, it would not impact the school meals program.

Transcript Highlights:

• What we do is, In rural and tribal areas.
• out to different rural areas, and we help them to hire another person.
• And it's already translating to impact.
• And so it was not the devastating impact that was guessed might happen.
• Rural health centers need sonographers, but don't have the capacity.

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met at NDSU and heard an extensive presentation from President David Cook/President Stewart and NDSU leadership on the university’s priorities, including enrollment, student success, research growth, and use of New Horizons funding. Leaders emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission, its role in workforce development, and its goal of becoming more distinctive through strategic planning, recruitment and retention, commercialization, and partnerships. They highlighted that NDSU awarded 2,370 degrees in 2025, produces a large share of the state’s engineering, nursing, and agriculture graduates, and reported strong outcomes for graduates staying and working in North Dakota. They also noted enrollment headwinds, competition from other institutions, and the need to manage tuition waivers more carefully through a scholarship optimization effort. Provost Sherry Vale outlined academic stewardship efforts, including review or consolidation of low-producing programs, strategic hiring tied to institutional priorities, faculty workload policy changes, and expanded online and regional offerings. She said the university is using New Horizons dollars to strengthen advising, student support, and programs in engineering, agriculture, and health. NDSU leaders also described new or expanded academic offerings such as robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, material science and engineering, nuclear engineering certificates, accelerated nursing, nurse practitioner certificates, a Master of Health Administration, and a clinical research master’s program with Sanford Health. They stressed that these investments are intended to improve student completion, meet workforce needs, and increase return on public investment. The committee also heard testimony from students and recent graduates who described the value of NDSU’s education, mentorship, internships, research opportunities, and support services. Alyssa Hodges spoke about pharmacy education, public health work, and campus support as a parent and student; Ethan Blessy described engineering coursework, internships with Marvin, and career preparation; and Aiden Freolic discussed neuroscience research, federally funded projects, and plans for graduate study. Their testimony was followed by presentations on partnerships with Gateway to Science for K-12 STEM outreach and with Sanford Research on biomedical research, clinical trials, obesity research, and a joint biostatistics hire. NDSU also highlighted systemwide shared services, Governor’s School programming, and research growth, including a reported 8% increase in research expenditures from $199 million to $215 million. No bill votes were taken; the meeting was informational and featured presentations, testimony, and discussion of future planning and partnerships.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh impact on our ag folks. uh impact on our ag folks.
• us, impact our economy.
• </c><00:19:54.240><c> us,</c><00:19:54.880><c> impact</c> outcome is going to impact us, impact outcome
• is going to impact us, impact our<00:19:55.480><c> economy.
• </c> across the state in the rural areas. across the state in the rural areas.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , impacts, impacts, and<02:13:46.400><c> make</c><02:13:46.719><c> recommendations</c><02:13:47.440><
• Well, my from 2012 until currently and then as to we're looking at the impact of the fiscal impact of
• </c> then as to we're looking at the impact then as to we're looking at the impact of<02:17:05.519><c
• </c> financial impact of consolidation. financial impact of consolidation. &gt;&gt; Okay. Okay.
• </c> at the heart of our rural communities. at the heart of our rural communities.

Keywords: Education - Room 216, 22 January, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's no policy impact.
• There's no policy impact.
• The fiscal impact is $225,000 in the two-year and a four-year impact of $225,000.
• The two-year impact is $334,000 in General Fund-State. The four-year impact is $804,000.
• The two-year impact is $334,000 in General Fund-State. The four-year impact is $804,000.

Bills: SB5998

Keywords: fiscal appropriations, budget, state funding, financial management, operating expenses, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• John Kennedy with RCRC on behalf of the rural counties.
• John Kennedy with RCRC on behalf of the rural counties.
• ; they directly impact the resources schools need to serve them.
• Catalina Sanchez with the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation.
• California is not the only state that has been impacted by this.

Keywords: 988, house, all