Transcript Highlights:

• There were a number of individual state victories as well, and for those athletes, we will recognize
• And for those athletes, we will recognize you.
• Being a student athlete, I can't hide being proud.
• I want to give a special shout-out as well to the Canton athletic director, who is doing something right
• Athletic Director Deany Erickson, as well as Superintendent Derek Follin and Canton High School Principal

Summary: The Senate began with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a resolution congratulating Douglas Fire Chief John J. Perna on his retirement. It then took up several local and personnel matters, including sick leave bank bills for Shannon Manning of the trial court and Stephanie Rivera of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office; both were amended to add emergency preambles and passed to be engrossed. The chamber also advanced local legislation on special meetings of the Holyoke City Council, the Reading home rule charter, a parkland exchange in Lexington, and a means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption for North Attleboro, along with a House bill concerning land conveyance in Fall River, which was ordered to a third reading. The Senate also received a committee report on a Newton pension obligation bonds bill, referred it to the municipalities and regional government committees, and adopted an order to meet again in formal session on Thursday at 11 a.m. A major policy item was a House bill creating a temporary summer 2026 pilot program allowing municipalities to opt in to extended liquor license hours and public consumption in designated districts. Senator Todd offered an amendment requiring an interagency report on the pilot’s effects on behavior, public safety, and transportation; the amendment was adopted, as was the bill as amended, and the Senate later concurred in a further House amendment. The bill then received the required emergency preamble by standing vote and was passed to be enacted, to be signed by the President and sent to the Governor. The Senate also paused for a personal privilege recognition honoring three Canton High School state championship teams: the boys golf team, boys hockey team, and girls track and field team. The remarks highlighted their state titles, individual achievements, coaches and school leaders, and included special recognition for boys hockey coach Brian Schumann on his retirement after 23 seasons. The teams were welcomed to the chamber and told citations would be issued and the recognition entered into the journal.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, if Gabe Williams would stand up, Gabe's an exceptional student athlete over at Saint Andrews, and
• in the athlete part he considers himself a great athlete, but he's never beaten me in anything in his
• </c> Gabe's an exceptional student athlete Gabe's an exceptional student athlete over<00:24:26.040><c
• </c> over at Saint Andrews and in the athlete over at Saint Andrews and in the athlete part<00:24:28.920
• , but he's never beaten me in athlete, but he's never beaten me in anything<00:24:32.840><c> in</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• But for the University of Florida, thanks to the guidance of athletic director Dave Scott.
• Our participation in athletics.
• I spent multiple hours with Dave Scott and Deputy Athletic athletic director Tony, when touring the school's
• athletic facilities and came away incredibly impressed.
• They're on different committees there on the Athletic committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• :59.519><c> level</c><00:16:00.000><c> university</c><00:16:00.480><c> level</c><00:16:00.720><c> athlete
• </c> college level university level athlete college level university level athlete that<00:16:01.279>
• Not that how you view it is wrong, but I don't know of any athletes that are transgender that are trying
• I mean, I think out of all of the athletes in the United States, I think it's like there's like one or
• in charge under that specific situation that maybe it's not appropriate, or maybe there are other athletes

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Summary: The Judiciary Committee first deferred HB 239, which would have narrowed the definition of child abuse or neglect by excluding cases where a caregiver is unable to provide certain needs solely because of poverty or lack of resources. The chair said other similar bills were still alive and expressed concern that carving out a specific category of abuse could hinder monitoring of children being harmed for other reasons. The committee then took up several decision-making items. HB 420, dealing with the contractor repair act and construction defect claims, was recommended for passage with extensive amendments that would clarify statutes of repose and limitations, define substantial completion, remove homeowner expert-report requirements, delete class-action limits, set timelines for inspections, mediation, and settlement procedures, and add non-retroactivity language; it passed unanimously. HB 732, concerning special management area minor permits for certain single-family residences, was also passed with amendments after the committee removed the provision that would have expanded minor-permit eligibility for homes under 3,500 square feet. HB 1017, repealing the greenhouse gas sequestration task force, passed with amendments to make it effective upon approval. HB 958, which restricts children under 15 from riding class 3 electric bicycles and raises the helmet age requirement, passed with technical amendments only. The committee also considered Governor’s Message 689, the nomination of Melissa Sautello to the Commission on the Status of Women. After testimony in support and questions from members about financial disclosure and her views on women’s sports and transgender participation, the committee voted to advise and consent to the nomination. The nomination passed, and the committee adjourned after noting that a full Senate vote would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to congratulate these outstanding athletes on becoming state champions.
• athletics at all, when Title IX was enacted back in 1972.
• Biological men should not be competing in women's athletics.
• </c> from competing in school athletic from competing in school athletic programs<07:32:17.398><c> for
• </c> requiring that sex in athletic requiring that sex in athletic competition<07:32:20.318><c> be</c

Bills: HR44 , HR43 , HR42 , HR33 , HR144 , HR164

Keywords: committee appointments, House of Representatives, agriculture committee, foreign affairs committee, natural resources committee, science and technology committee, member elections, legislative process, inauguration, Congress, House attendance, ceremony, legislative session, inaugural ceremony, President, Vice President, adjournment, committees, membership, election

Transcript Highlights:

• Athletic trainers interstate compact.
• One tragedy of a 15-year-old student athlete, her death due to a cardiac arrest at practice with no athletic
• Athletic trainers on campuses can actually save lives. Mr.
• </c><00:40:14.400><c> Athletic</c> school basketball game. Athletic school basketball game.
• </c> relating to intercolastic athletics. relating to intercolastic athletics.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I ask that we join together recognizing these outstanding student athletes and congratulating
• directors as the Virginia High School League Region 3A Athletic Director of the Year.
• This year, he has been selected as the Virginia Interscholastic Athletic Administrators' Association's
• Class 3 and 4 Athletic Administrator of the Year.
• that have earned him the title of Athletic Administrator of the Year once again.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, we are excited to see what's happening in athletics here at NDSU, and certainly the athletic tradition
• We have 144 student athletes who aren't a perfect 4.0, which I was not a student athlete, and I did not
• and being named in that group of athletes.
• So a lot of good things in athletics, and I'm very committed to excellence in academics and athletics
• facilities or athletics in general?

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

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:

• are being managed for over 100,000 Louisiana student athletes.
• The current situation is our athletic system is run by a private corporation.
• We want to make sure it's a smooth transition without any type of harm to their athletics.
• We certainly are not trying to run college athletics.
• I mean, and, and, and you can, and you can... ...trying to run college athletics.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The committee heard several higher education and K-12 bills centered on TOPS, school accountability, and curriculum alignment. It first welcomed University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s new president, Ramesh Kuluru, who spoke about student success, workforce alignment, and the university’s financial recovery. The committee then adopted amendments and reported HR 17 favorably, directing a study of TOPS return on investment with the Board of Regents, Louisiana Works, LED, and the Blanco Public Policy Center. Testimony from business and policy groups supported the study as a way to assess whether state financial aid is producing workforce and retention outcomes. Members then considered HB 385 by Rep. Bamberg, which would require repayment of TOPS awards under certain circumstances when students lose eligibility, with exemptions for hardship and a pathway into LCTCS or career-technical programs. The bill drew strong debate over whether merit scholarships should ever be repaid; opponents argued TOPS is earned for the semester and should only be lost going forward, while supporters emphasized taxpayer accountability. After amendments, the committee narrowly approved the bill by roll call vote, with Chair Schlegel casting the deciding yes to report it favorably as amended. The committee also unanimously reported HB 1058 favorably, which requires the Board of Regents to maintain a uniform data system for state financial assistance; independent colleges and business groups supported the measure as a way to improve accountability and analysis. The committee next heard HB 406 by Speaker Pro Tem Johnson, which asks the Department of Education to study the feasibility of moving oversight of interscholastic athletics to a more accountable model after a legislative study found widespread complaints about the private LHSAA’s transparency and consistency. Supporters said the bill is a cautious step toward reform and a possible 2028–2029 transition, while an LHSAA representative defended current audits and governance and opposed the premise of the bill. Despite objections, the committee reported HB 406 favorably. It then heard HB 787 by Rep. McMakin, as substituted, which would exempt non-public high school students from the TOPS computer science requirement; BESE and the Department of Education opposed the bill, saying it would separate diploma and TOPS requirements and create scheduling confusion, while Catholic school representatives said the requirement conflicts with their theology curriculum. McMakin asked to defer the bill for two weeks. Finally, the committee unanimously reported HB 1059 favorably, which aligns TOPS math requirements with BESE’s integrated math pathways, and began hearing HB 1021 by Rep. Egan on repayment of certain TOPS awards, though the transcript cuts off before that bill was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 2485 places emphasis on student athlete safety because athletes face the highest risk during strenuous
• Since student athletes possible.
• /c><00:21:14.640><c> safety</c> emphasis on student athlete safety emphasis on student athlete safety
• ><c> highest</c><00:21:16.320><c> risk</c> because athletes face the highest risk because athletes face
• </c> cause of death among student athletes cause of death among student athletes and<00:21:21.840><c>

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2485, which would require cardiovascular screening for student athletes. The Department of Education and Department of Health said they support the bill’s intent but noted that many screenings are already part of existing school-entry and well-child exams. The Attorney General’s office asked for clarifying language on who performs the screenings, where results go, how “positive findings” are defined, how referrals would work, and whether funding would be appropriated if DOE must hire health professionals. The American Heart Association strongly supported the bill, citing the risk of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes and arguing that sports physicals are an effective opportunity for early detection. No vote was taken, and the committee moved on after testimony. The committee then heard HB 89, concerning a school psychologist working group and possible licensing or credentialing of school psychologists. The Department of Education and Board of Psychology supported the measure. The Hawaii Psychological Association said it supports licensing school psychologists but asked to be included in the working group, arguing it is an important stakeholder. The Hawaii Association of School Psychologists opposed including HPA, saying the issue is between school psychologists and DCCA and that HPA is not part of their organization. Testimony and discussion focused on the long-running disagreement over whether school psychologists should be regulated under the Board of Psychology or another mechanism, and on title protection and scope of practice. No action was reported during this portion. The committee also took up HB 2445, relating to standardized emergency responses for immigration enforcement at or near schools. The Department of Education said it already issued internal law-enforcement guidance and questioned whether the bill was necessary, while also raising concerns about the bill’s 1,000-foot buffer language and the limits of school authority over activity off campus. The Board of Education echoed those concerns and suggested the bill may need clearer definitions. Supporters, including the White Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and an attorney testifying on Know Your Rights training, argued that recent federal changes have increased ICE activity near schools and that a law is needed to ensure clear, public protocols, staff training, and family protections. A student testifier said the measure was a top priority of the state student council. The transcript ends during testimony, with no vote or final committee action shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• the team or sport as male, female, or co-educational based on the sex of the participating athletes.
• It also prohibits a school or athletic association that maintains private space integral to athletic
• the team or sport as male, female, or co-educational based on the sex of the participating athletes.
• I also pray a bit as male, female, or co-educational based on the sex of the participating athletes.
• It also prohibits a school or athletic association that maintains private space integral to athletic

Summary: The meeting covered a large number of bills and resolutions across education, federalism, government, health, commerce, and judiciary-related topics. In education, members heard bills on moving the statewide testing window later, allowing paper-based testing in more cases, posting school administrator compensation data, expanding who may receive student directory information, reviewing duplicative ADE reporting requirements, requiring religious excusals, creating a school fitness recognition program, and a proposed ballot measure on sex-designated school sports and private spaces. In federalism, the committee discussed banning foreign nationals from funding ballot-measure committees and a proposal to eliminate voting centers and return to precinct-based voting. Other items included memorials urging the U.S. to withdraw from the United Nations and the IMF, and a government bill penalizing agencies that fail to submit financial reports on time. Health and human services bills focused on lactation care, a state certification program for lactation providers, prohibiting gender transition procedures for minors, requiring chief medical officers at state agencies to hold active licenses, clarifying air ambulance statutes, seeking a SNAP waiver to restrict non-eligible food purchases, and collecting hospital patient immigration-status data for reporting. Sponsors generally framed these as consumer protection, public health, or administrative cleanup measures, while some members raised concerns about cost, privacy, and possible legal conflicts. In commerce, the committee heard bills on digital goods disclosure, protections for child content creators, liability limits for river outfitters, landlord utility billing transparency, appraisal management company definitions, unemployment eligibility verification, and association-based health plans. Several measures were pulled from consent or flagged for amendments. The judiciary portion included bills creating a civil cause of action for violations of anti-DEI laws, expanding hate-crime-style penalties to include political affiliation and expression, adding reporting requirements for name changes by sex offenders, penalizing possession of falsified commercial driver’s licenses by unlawfully present individuals, adding penalties for mailing abortion-inducing drugs, allowing speed-limiting devices as an alternative to license suspension, extending inmate transition services, increasing penalties for sexual extortion involving older teens, requiring legislative approval to close state shooting ranges, and advancing an Article V convention resolution for congressional term limits. Several sponsors emphasized public safety, parental rights, election integrity, or government accountability, while some members raised constitutional or implementation concerns, particularly on liability, voting systems, and the term-limits resolution. Multiple bills were reported as being on consent calendars, with some pulled for amendments or further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether you are the athlete on a team working to win the championship title, or a legislator passing
• </c> contest played at the DG Weaver Athletic contest played at the DG Weaver Athletic Complex<00:03:
• I can't imagine the countless hours of dedication by these student athletes and their head coach, Jack
• </c><00:06:58.160><c> and</c> dedication by these student athletes and dedication by these student athletes
• coaches, their athletic director, Marcel Shette,<00:07:25.199><c> to</c><00:07:25.520><c> the</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• Sometimes it's athletics. We have a full athletic program at our school. It's not funded at all.
• That means I have to take from operational to fund athletics and I need athletics to get the kids in
• School athletic trips are canceled because we don't have enough buses to get out there.
• Athletics at our school, for just transportation alone It is costing us $40,000 to $60,000.
• Again, you know, yes, athletics, CTE, there's a lot of the after-school programs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think these athletes deserve to be... which we could probably do on the floor, but have a hearing as
• So your preference is to have a full hearing on the bill here so you can bring the Olympic athletes to
• For example, Representative Church actually had one of these athletes as a student.
• So your preference is to have a full hearing on the bill here so you can bring the Olympic athletes to
• For example, Representative Church actually had one of these athletes as a student.

Committee: House State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Athletics and philanthropy.
• Now, we are excited to see what's happening in athletics here at NDSU, and certainly the athletic tradition
• We have 144 student athletes who aren't a perfect 4.0, which I was not a student athlete, and I did not
• So a lot of good things in athletics, and I'm very committed to excellence in academics and athletics
• facilities or athletics in general?

Committee: Joint Higher Education Institutions Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Every year about 1.7 million guests and athletes travel to the horse park to participate in a number
• Um, this program extends beyond just the athletes.
• Um the type of conduct that athletics.
• Uh this includes volunteers, athletes.
• </c> interact uh with these amateur athletes. interact uh with these amateur athletes. uh<00:27:27.200

Summary: The meeting began with a quorum call and approval of the August 21 minutes. The main presentation was from the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development on the Bluegrass State Skills Corporation (BSSC), which was created in 1984 and is administratively tied to the cabinet. Staff explained that BSSC supports workforce training for companies in Kentucky through two main programs: the grant-in-aid reimbursement program and the skills training investment tax credit. They also described the board’s structure, quarterly meetings, annual audit, and the metropolitan tax credit tied to UPS in Louisville, along with public-private training consortia supported by the program. The cabinet outlined eligibility and funding rules: applicants must be qualified companies, trainees must be full-time Kentucky residents meeting wage requirements, and eligible training includes in-house company-specific training, train-the-trainer efforts, safety/OSHA training, and outside training through KCTCS or other providers. Grant-in-aid is a 50% reimbursement program capped at $75,000 per company per fiscal year and $2,000 per trainee, while the tax credit is capped annually and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications are scored based on county tier, wages, workforce development activity, veteran hiring, participation in consortia, and job growth. Members asked for data on trainees and industries served, and staff said they could provide it. They also discussed coordination with other workforce programs, especially KCTCS and the state’s TRAIN program, to avoid overlap and double dipping. Several members asked about program usage and differences between fiscal years. Staff said the tax credit is less popular because it is not refundable and requires tax liability, while grant-in-aid is more attractive because it is cash reimbursement. They said lower or delayed spending in some years can reflect one-year training windows, reimbursement lag, new facilities ramping up, consortia activity, and special allocations such as those tied to Ford facilities. Questions also covered support for new businesses, which staff said can receive favorable scoring for new jobs and may have funds set aside for new location projects. On veterans, staff said they connect companies to Kentucky Valor and other resources, but the program does not track veteran retention outcomes. The final discussion was on a draft bill related to the Kentucky Horse Park and the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Representative Vanessa Gracel and Kentucky Horse Park President Lee Carter explained that the proposal is intended to help the park maintain integrity and protect athletes, volunteers, coaches, trainers, and guests from abuse and misconduct. They described SafeSport’s federal role in Olympic and Paralympic sports and said they hope to move the draft forward as legislation in 2026. No votes were taken on the BSSC presentation or the horse park discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• that are bit about these young athletes that are bit about these young athletes that are scholar athletes
• so we pride and we scholar athletes so we pride and we scholar athletes so we pride and we celebrate
• Conference seak interc colic Athletic Conference seak interc colic Athletic Conference seak Championship
• compete in the National colic Athletic compete in the National colic Athletic Association NCAA division
• 1961 a renowned student athlete 1961 a renowned student athlete following graduation he stayed at stelma

Bills: SJR 36 , SJR 2 , SB 4 , SR 45 , SR 47 , SR 63 , SR 66 , SR 70 , SR 85 , SCR 14 , SB 10 , SB 11 , SB 10 , SB 11

Transcript Highlights:

• I think I want to really flag athletics and the role that that plays in that.
• We have our New Mexico State Athletic Director, Mr.
• Also, Representative Baca talked about athletics and the importance of athletics.
• Also, Representative Baca talked about athletics and the importance of athletics.
• Our kids ...proud of our athletes. And last week, I just flew back from Florida.

Bills: SB37 , SB29

Committee: House House Appropriations & Finance

Keywords: high-quality literacy instruction, science of reading, structured literacy, reading instruction, literacy assessment, dyslexia screening, phonics, phonemic awareness, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, biliteracy, English language learner, ELL, bilingual education, dual language program, reading intervention, reading difficulty, reading improvement plan, literacy coach

Transcript Highlights:

• , which I have been fortunate to live in San Juan County, what we've seen is everything from our athletics
• Educational, athletic, or extracurricular organizations that primarily serve youth who are 18 years of
• human rights, enacting the Protection of Women's Sports Act, providing definitions, requiring equal athletic
• The bill requires the designation of athletic teams, sports, athletic competitions, and athletic events
• It prohibits male participation in athletic teams designed for females, except allowing male athletes

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for supporting programs like ours and for celebrating these athletes.
• Whereas the Red Oak High School girls basketball team has demonstrated outstanding athletic excellence
• Demonstrated outstanding athletic excellence and unwavering determination in a thrilling 48 to 45 victory
• , but also on the part of the coaches, whose job it is to push the athlete past the point that they want
• , but also on the part of the coaches, whose job it is to push the athlete past the point that they want

Bills: HB3834 , HB3940 , HB4346 , HB2947 , HB3257 , HB3264 , HB4326 , HB4421 , HB3944 , HB3979 , HB4118 , SCR22 , SB169 , HB1047 , HB2123 , HB2650 , HB3260 , HB3403 , SR41 , HB3649 , HB3742 , HB3831 , HB3996 , HB4321 , HB4339

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, and recognized several guests and groups in the gallery, including the Ponca City High School Poe High Steppers, the Edmond Democratic Women, family members of senators, a Grace Reform Baptist Church co-op group, and Oklahoma 4-H participants. The chamber also honored the Red Oak Lady Eagles state championship basketball team with a citation and remarks celebrating their first school basketball title and strong season. The Senate adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 22, supporting the Lights Out Oklahoma campaign to reduce bird mortality during migration by encouraging reduced exterior lighting in peak migration months. The chamber also adopted Senate Resolution 41, proclaiming April 22, 2026, as the 27th annual 4-H Day at the Capitol, with testimony from 4-H representatives emphasizing youth leadership, civic engagement, and workforce readiness. Several bills passed, including House Bill 169 (house amendments adopted and the bill passed as an emergency measure), House Bill 2123 on the Arkansas River bridge, House Bill 2650 on summary administration estate thresholds, House Bill 3260 on funeral director continuing education approvals, House Bill 3403 on a DEQ/OSU sewage sludge pilot study, House Bill 3649 on the Mental Health Department real property trust, House Bill 3742 on criminal discovery, House Bill 3831 on a Task Force One revolving fund, House Bill 3996 on indigent defense experts in capital cases, House Bill 4321 on limits on retroactive building rule application, and House Bill 4339 on summary administration notice timing. House Bill 1047, which would have authorized a tribal sports betting framework and related revenue distributions, drew extensive debate over gambling addiction, revenue, tribal compacts, geofencing, and NIL funding, but failed 21-27; Senator Coleman gave notice of intent to reconsider. The Senate then announced an Appropriations Committee meeting and adjourned until the next scheduled session.