Transcript Highlights:

• And this is to repair or replace, depending on what we learn, its cooling tower, which is critical for
• And this is to repair or replace, depending on what we learn, its cooling tower, which is critical for
• ,<00:10:17.600> uh<00:10:17.760> its depending on what we learn, uh its depending on
• what we learn, uh its cooling<00:10:18.399> tower,<00:10:18.800> which<00:10:19.040>
• um at their full can um they can learn um at their full potential.<00:23:29.200> Safety<00:23

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Capital Planning Advisory Board met for its first meeting of the year, confirmed a quorum, approved the prior year’s minutes, and welcomed new co-chairs and members. The board reviewed the capital planning timeline and a list of agencies that submitted plans but would not testify. Members were reminded to keep presentations brief because of a packed agenda. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services presented first, outlining priorities centered on public safety, infrastructure preservation, and preventive maintenance. Its requests included a $21 million maintenance pool, phase two funding for a new state public health laboratory, construction of an 18-bed children’s psychiatric hospital, and several projects at Western State Hospital and Western State Nursing Facility, including HVAC work, cooling tower repair or replacement, and chiller plant repiping. Additional projects covered elevator upgrades at Hazlewood and phased cottage renovations at Oakwood. Board members asked about vacant buildings, the cost per bed for the youth psychiatric facility, and the relationship between the CHFS youth facility and a separate DJJ facility; CHFS said the youth facility would serve DCBS-involved youth and be separate from the DJJ project. The Kentucky Department of Education then described its state-operated facilities, including the Kentucky School for the Deaf, the Kentucky School for the Blind, and the FFA leadership training center. Its priorities included additional funding for the FFA classroom and activity building, a rewrite of the SEEK education finance application system, renovation and repair of the FFA swimming pool, electrical upgrades, campus education enhancements, safety and security work, door and window replacements, and HVAC maintenance. Members asked about student outcomes, the size and cost of the swimming pool project, and construction cost assumptions; KDE said it tracks student outcomes through special education staff and that current estimates reflect higher post-COVID construction costs. The Education and Labor Cabinet began its presentation with 12 priority projects, including a state labor exchange system, renovation of the McDow Vocational Rehabilitation Center, and a new adult education and family literacy management information system. The cabinet said the labor exchange would connect job seekers and employers at no cost, while the McDow renovation was needed because the 30-year-old facility faces safety and code concerns. The cabinet planned to continue through the remaining priorities and answer questions at the end of its presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, learned how to do how to dodge that.
• And we can very easily have a learning.
• <04:41:44.000> And they're not going to learn math. And they're not going to learn math.
• And then we actually help learning math.
• So it's it's actually back to learning.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, they're learning through culture, not about culture, and but they're learning about math and they're
• learning about science.
• They're learning all the academic content areas, but they're learning it through the eyes of our kupuna
• <01:11:13.520> Like opportunity to learn it at home.
• Like opportunity to learn it at home.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several education resolutions, beginning with HCR 11 and HR 14, which ask the Board of Education and the State Public Charter School Commission to report on improving access to stable, suitable, and affordable facilities for public charter schools. The Charter School Commission supported the measure, and OHA also supported it while noting long-standing facility challenges, the lack of a dedicated facilities appropriation, and the strain on charter schools that have had to use operating funds for buildings and temporary structures. Kealakehe Academy, Hawaii Technology Academy, and several individuals also testified in support. The committee then took up HCR 181 and HR 171, which seek a shared decision-making committee to develop an action plan for a K-12 Ka Waihona School in Kapolei. The Department of Education said it has already developed a strategic plan for Kaipuni education, has expanded immersion programs over the past decade, and is addressing growth through interim guidance and a new priority placement process. Community witnesses, including representatives of Ke Alo Ever, strongly supported the resolutions, emphasizing the need for a K-12 pathway, the importance of Hawaiian language and culture, and the role of community voice in planning. They argued that teacher shortages, especially for licensed Hawaiian immersion teachers, remain a major barrier and proposed a kumu recruitment and retention program tied to community, UH, and DOE partnerships. The committee also heard HCR 187 and HR 177, which urge the Department of Education to begin initiatives to address teacher retention statewide. DOE and the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education said teacher retention is already being addressed through the Teacher Education Coordinating Committee, a five-year plan focused on building capacity, improving satisfaction, and compensation, and a new DOE human resources plan. In response to questions, DOE said it is seeking better school-level data on why teachers leave, is preparing for contract negotiations, and is working with the standards board and DLIR on an apprenticeship-related grant. TECC representatives said the group has been working since the pandemic era, may narrow its focus to retention as the most actionable area, and expects to provide more concrete recommendations in its annual report. The transcript ends as the committee moves on to the next item, HCR 47 and HR 43, without showing any votes or final actions on the measures heard.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think Yogi Berra said it best: You can learn a lot by watching.
• to win like a champ and most learned to lose like a champ.
• What have we learned?
• What have we learned?
• And I am a new transparent, so I am still learning the verbiage.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I learned many things from and learning.
• <00:26:05.760> about day, our school learned about day, our school learned about photography
• So there's a lot of barrier to learning the new culture or just even learning day-to-day activities.
• <00:35:43.359> the there's a lot of barrier to learning the there's a lot of barrier to learning
• new culture or just even learning new culture or just even learning day-to-day<00:35:46.400>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I’m looking forward to this year, learning more. My mind is open all the time.
• So I’m looking forward to this year, learning more. My mind is open all the time.
• I am excited to learn more about bonding because two years, you learn some, but there's a lot to learn
• I am excited to learn more about bonding because two years, you learn some, but there's a lot to learn
• I am excited to learn more about bonding because two years, you learn some, but there's a lot to learn

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Capital Investment Committee met on January 16 for an informational overview on state bonding and capital investment. House Research analyst Chelsea Griffin and House Fiscal analyst Andrew Lee explained the nonpartisan roles of their offices and then walked members through the basics of Minnesota bonding: how bonds are issued and repaid, how they are categorized, and the main legal authorities governing state general obligation bonds, including the state constitution, Minnesota statutes, and federal tax law. Griffin emphasized that state GO bond proceeds must be used for a public purpose, for a purpose authorized in the constitution, as specifically described in law, and must mature within 20 years. She also noted that state GO bonding is typically originated in the House and that capital projects financed with state GO bonds generally require a three-fifths vote in each chamber. The presentation also covered practical limits and requirements on bonding projects, including the distinction between state and local GO bonding, the role of bond counsel, restrictions on bond-financed property, the prohibition on reimbursing already-paid costs, and the full funding and non-state match requirements. In response to member questions, Griffin clarified that the full funding requirement in section 16A.502 means a project must be fully funded before the appropriation is available, while section 16A.86 reflects an expectation that local governments provide about half the financing for local projects, though the legislature can choose to fund more than half or waive a local match. She also said she did not believe a bill to make the 50 percent match requirement statutory passed last session. Lee then began a spreadsheet-based overview of the 2023 capital budget laws, explaining how capital investment spreadsheets are organized and how different fund types appear in the documents. He highlighted examples such as University of Minnesota projects funded with GO bonds and Minnesota State projects using user financing, where the system contributes a share of project costs from non-state sources such as tuition or system revenues. The committee did not take any votes or formal actions during this informational meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we know this because the learning.
• knowing that their child isn't learning? knowing that their child isn't learning?
• actually where children are learning actually where children are learning will<00:14:40.640>
• The kids aren't learning.
• The kids aren't learning.

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, March 12, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House met in Annapolis on February 27, 2026, with 128 members present. After a prayer, the chamber adopted the previous day’s journal and recognized a resolution honoring Brunswick High School’s first Tech Challenge team, Minerva’s Mechanics, for winning the FTC Regional Championships and qualifying for the World Championship in Houston. The resolution was read and adopted with applause. The main legislative item was House Bill 355, concerning the Education, Sexual Abuse and Assault Awareness and Prevention Program and human and sex trafficking; the House adopted the favorable committee report and ordered the bill printed for third reading. The next bill, House Bill 534 on nonpublic school transcripts and prohibiting punitive measures related to student debt, also received a favorable report. Debate then centered on an amendment offered to HB 534 that would have tied school funding to student choice for students in repeatedly one-star-rated schools and allowed parents of habitually violent or disruptive students to consider military boarding school options. The sponsor argued Maryland’s public schools, especially in Baltimore City, were failing students despite heavy spending, citing low literacy, violence, and the book Failure Factory; several members echoed concerns about school performance, bureaucracy, and the need for educational freedom. Opponents and procedural speakers said the amendment was not germane to HB 534, which they described as a narrow bill about transcript access for students leaving nonpublic schools with unpaid fees, often students with disabilities. The floor leader urged the body to resist the amendment and stick to the bill’s actual subject. Despite multiple members explaining their votes in support of school choice and criticizing the Blueprint and school outcomes, the House ultimately took a roll call on the amendment after a voice vote was challenged. The transcript cuts off during the roll call and does not show the final recorded result on the amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• What it would do is it would provide an additional 33 early learning coaches to serve 40 early learning
• What it would do is it would provide an additional 33 early learning coaches to serve 40 early learning
• What it would do is it would provide an additional 33 early learning coaches to serve 40 early learning
• What it would do is it would provide an additional 33 early learning coaches to serve 40 early learning
• What it would do is it would provide an additional 33 early learning coaches to serve 40 early learning

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 14 January, 2026; 1:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first heard a budget presentation from a charter-school authorizer agency. Witnesses explained that the agency no longer receives the federal CSP grant, that a one-time $499,000 equipment grant was not recurring, and that in FY25 they also had no general fund appropriation. They said their special-fund revenue has grown but is not enough to sustain operations alone, especially because the money arrives once a year and the agency needs a cash balance in advance. Their budget request sought a mix of general and special funds, but the legislative budget recommendation stayed near the FY26 appropriation level. Members asked about salary growth and contractual spending; the agency said higher salaries reflected doctorate-level staff and a planned sixth position, while contractual costs covered technical assistance, consultants, CPA reviews, and outside legal support. The agency also said a pending bill, identified as House Bill 2, could significantly affect its operations and revenue. Members asked about Republic, and the agency said a peer report had just been released, the school had made operational changes, and progress was being made though questions remained. The Library Commission then presented its budget request. The outgoing director announced retirement and introduced the incoming director, and praised the agency’s recent federal and state audits with no findings. The commission asked to restore two headcount reductions in the budget recommendation, saying the positions were hard to fill because they require specialized librarianship credentials and that losing them would cost about $130,000. It also asked to restore federal spending authority in case IMLS funding became uncertain, and requested about $173,000 for a 5% salary progression pool because turnover had reached 35% and many employees were near the start step. Senators asked about the open positions and turnover; the commission said one position had been open 10 months, another about eight months, and some turnover was due to retirements. Mississippi Public Broadcasting then presented its request for an $18.153 million appropriation. The agency said it wanted salary progressions to retain staff, four new vehicles for engineering and transmitter work, and $522,000 in reappropriated digitization funds to continue a project that has digitized more than half its library holdings for online access. The director also highlighted programming and outreach, including a new food-focused show, a music program, live coverage of the National Folk Festival, a Medgar Evers documentary now in national distribution, and expanded radio programming. He said MPB reaches nearly 1 million TV viewers annually, has strong radio and app usage, and continues to provide required weather, Silver Alert, and Amber Alert notifications. He also described a partnership with the Department of Education using e-glass technology to connect teachers to classrooms lacking instructors, saying the program is already serving multiple districts and drawing national interest.

Transcript Highlights:

• from all of us that didn't have anyone to learn from.
• from all of us that didn't have anyone to learn from.
• from all of us that didn't have anyone to learn from.
• > from that didn't have anyone to learn from that didn't have anyone to learn from when<00:40:
• think it is ideal because the learning think it is ideal because the learning curve<01:44:21.000

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:26:00.799> these cohort where they have learned these cohort where they have learned these
• Learning to express yourself with, too.
• So, uh, to finish up, I think out of this learning will happen.
• So, uh, to finish up, I think out of this learning will happen.
• And I looked at some of these learned.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WE LEARNED LESSONS ALONG THE WAY. WE LEARNED WORDS WITHOUT TRUTH HAVE NO MEANING.
• WE LEARNED ACTIONS WITHOUT HUMILITY LACK CONSEQUENCE.
• WE LEARNED GOVERNMENT IS NOT SHAPED BY MYSTERIOUS OUTSIDE FORCES BUT BY THE PASSIONS, EGOS, HEROISM AND
• WE LEARNED ISSUES WE TACKLE ARE NOT EASILY REDUCIBLE TO A SLOGAN OR AN IDEA.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• students being active and volunteering and making a difference in their community, that's how they learn
• It's a good learning lesson. There's nothing like a real-time learning lesson.
• Like a real-time learning lesson after you've studied in school and understand how the actual flow of
• I was going to allow him to do that, but we learned we had the public hearing last Wednesday.

Bills: HB491, SB85

Keywords: HB491, public schools, K-12, school nutrition, school lunch, cafeteria, artificial dyes, food additives, food coloring, synthetic dyes, Red Dye No. 3, Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6, Blue Dye No. 1, Blue Dye No. 2, Green Dye No. 3, school fundraising, vending, snacks

Transcript Highlights:

• The conference brings together ag students and teachers from 368 chapters throughout California to learn
• Jean's FFA program continues to thrive, empowering students to engage in hands-on learning that connects
• Right now they're here learning about state government, which I think is something everybody can learn
• importantly on developing good human beings these are students who are taught to think critically learn

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• What are we looking to learn? >> So, what we assess now are cognitive academic skills.
• time to help me learn time to help me learn but<01:15:43.520> I<01:15:43.760> didn't
• <01:19:12.480> how cleaning up, which goes to learning how cleaning up, which goes to learning
• we think about 0 to 5, how much learning we think about 0 to 5, how much learning is<01:22:08.080
• > are<01:28:41.199> teaching professional learning who are teaching professional learning

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the June 9 minutes, then reviewed a deferred personnel contract involving workers’ compensation claims administration. Staff explained that the roughly $50 million figure included about $48 million for claims payments and up to $1.45 million per year for administrative services, with billing based on a fee schedule for specific services rendered. Senator Meredith raised concerns about the vendor’s history, the scoring and bid process, and prior allegations involving the company; the administration responded that the procurement had been conducted under 45A through open competition, with outside scorers and no finding of wrongdoing tied to this contract. Meredith moved to disapprove Contract 167, Hart seconded, and the committee voted 5-2 to disapprove it. The committee then deferred a Western Kentucky University personal services contract because the vendors were still not registered with the Secretary of State’s office. Hart moved to defer the contract until the August 2026 meeting, Meredith seconded, and the motion carried. The committee also approved the agenda covering the various contract lists and deferred items. Next, the committee heard from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services on several personal services contracts for medical staffing and related services. Secretary Steven Stack and staff explained that staffing shortages often require outside vendors, that the contracts were competitively bid under 45A, and that the cabinet uses a streamlined vendor pool for specialized needs such as actuaries, auditors, and technical consultants. The committee approved Contracts 52 through 55 without objection. Discussion then began on Contract 61, with Meredith expressing concern that the committee lacked enough detail to judge whether the services could be performed in-house or whether the exchange of resources was appropriate; Stack said the contract was intended to provide efficient access to specialized outside expertise. The transcript cuts off before a final vote on Contract 61 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• What have we learned?
• I mean this has What have we learned?
• I don't know anything about this, so I'm learning a lot.
• I don't know anything about this, so I'm learning a lot.
• I've learned a trying to absorb a lot.

Bills: HF4588, HF3685, HF4577, HF4932

Keywords: veterans, veterans affairs, mental health, behavioral health, rural health, rural areas, access to care, task force, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, general fund appropriation, veteran suicide prevention, PTSD, service members, military families, telehealth, rural psychiatry, high school diploma, armed forces, education policy, military service

Transcript Highlights:

• that will support their learning.
• that will support their learning.
• that will support their learning.
• that will support their learning.
• that will support their learning.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• HTA is a tuition-free K- to 2 public charter school known for their innovative blended learning that
• Mahalo for being here today to learn more about state government and how all of this works.
• <00:15:49.839> um their innovative blended learning um their innovative blended learning um
• wanting to learn what is the truth, and I don't always get it right.
• because I'm always wanting to learn because I'm always wanting to learn<01:07:13.599> what<01

Bills: HB2198, HB2021, HB1881, HB1964, HB1990, HB2151, HB2599, HB2414

Keywords: gambling, prediction markets, Hawaii gambling laws, financial contracts, ethical concerns, electric bicycles, micro-mobility devices, safety regulations, traffic laws, insurance exemption, high-speed electric devices, land use, ropeway, transportation, state regulation, government exemption, building code, permitting process, training, state council

Transcript Highlights:

• But for example, on page 129, Critical Need Number Four, Funding and Accountability, we learned that
• Let's consider every idea, every lesson learned, and gather all available experts to create the best
• Ultimately, we don't want it to negatively impact our students' opportunity to be in school learning.
• And so at the base of this is our love for learning. And bless her, she's having health problems.
• Our students can learn to read and do math.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<01:20:37.360> expanding investments in early learning, expanding investments in early learning
• And we expanded free school meal coverage to our students so they can learn.
• /c><01:32:59.760> recurring summer learning programs and recurring summer learning programs and
• We prioritize affordable housing learn.
• <01:39:49.440> from briefings and site visits, learning from briefings and site visits, learning

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I had plenty of time to learn about issues that were going about.
• So, I had plenty of time to learn about issues that were going about. >> [snorts] I also had the opportunity
• <00:01:07.040> about So, I had plenty of time to learn about So, I had plenty of time to learn
• But we were still able to be successful with that because I took the extra time to research and learn
• And I wouldn't have learned that except for conference committee two days ago.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Representative Schomacker delivered a lengthy farewell-style floor speech reflecting on his path into public service, from growing up around news and debate, to starting a teenage Republican group, serving as a page, and eventually being unexpectedly recruited to run for office. He described being elected despite early polling that had him far behind, and said the experience taught him to hold competing viewpoints at once and to focus on getting work done rather than ideological tests. He then reviewed major policy accomplishments from his legislative career, especially in health and human services. He highlighted work on the Lewis and Clark water project for Luverne, the competitive workforce factor in disability waiver rates, expansion of bed capacity at Regions Hospital, and, most prominently, the overhaul of long-term care nursing home funding to a value-based reimbursement system. He emphasized that these efforts required extensive research, negotiation, and input from stakeholders, and said they helped support local care, businesses, and communities. Schomacker also spoke about the importance of long-term care in his district, the aging population, and the role nursing homes play in emergencies. He thanked family, staff, colleagues, mentors, and friends for their support over 16 years in the Legislature, sharing several personal anecdotes and expressing gratitude for the relationships built across party and committee lines. The speech ended with applause and well-wishes; no formal vote or bill action occurred in the excerpt.