Transcript Highlights:

• , and other essential safety net programs.
• , and other essential safety net programs.
• Essential safety net programs.
• Public health programs, and thousands of frontline workers.
• Programs that distribute over 700,000 pounds of emergency food and educational programs help build professional

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If you have any issues filling out the form, please ask a staff member to assist.
• Aims to encourage and assist with the regionalization of projects.
• Um, Texas Water Utilities has programs for folks 65 years and older to have reduced bills.
• I will also note that several of our members have established bill assistance programs and they typically
• called the Low Income House, Low-income household Water Assistance Program, or LIWOP.

Bills: HB 29, HB 685, HB 1633, HB 1689, HB 1690, HB 1918, HB 2010, HB 2500, HB 2608, HB 2626

Keywords: water audit, water loss, water loss mitigation plan, municipally owned utility, municipal utility, water conservation, Texas Water Development Board, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water leakage, leak detection, billing data accuracy, utility validation, water audit validation, water scarcity, water management, infrastructure, public utility, conservation plan, administrative penalty

Transcript Highlights:

• And then there's the SNAP E&T program, they call it, which isn't truly a work search program.
• initiatives—these pilot programs, the informal care pilot program.
• Different with the program.
• From the BEAD program to nearly every county minus one through that program.
• Of the BEAD program, that's a $675 million program.

Transcript Highlights:

• work toward medical assistance work toward medical assistance reimbursement<00:42:37.359> rates
• now that covers general assistance now that covers general assistance Minnesota<01:32:34.880>
• program.
• program.
• program.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They've been doing some amazing work in the after-school programs, free after-school programs for all
• school programs free after school<00:19:08.440> programs<00:19:08.840> for<00:19:09.080
• <00:19:21.120> and wherever they have their programs and wherever they have their programs
• So AI from the ... how this um generative AI can assist in how this um generative AI can assist in helping
• <01:47:54.719> the see this AI Institute um assisting the see this AI Institute um assisting

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , HMOs to administer the Medicaid program, HMOs to administer the Medicaid program, which<00:01:25.759
• and<00:03:38.640> Medicaid, programs, Minnesota Care and Medicaid, programs, Minnesota Care
• Under this bill, these programs may end. program integrity director, Tim Omali, program integrity director
• programs.
• programs.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• training program training program the<01:19:55.360> intent<01:19:55.639> of<01:19:
• :56.639> entice the intent of the program was to entice the intent of the program was to entice
• We do operate two distinct statewide programs: our language program, grants program, as well as a cultural
• we do operate two distinct program we do operate two distinct program Statewide<01:28:59.040>
• programs our language program Statewide programs our language program grants<01:29:01.320> program

Bills: HF1867, HF1240

Keywords: lottery, retailer contracts, Minnesota Statutes, contract qualifications, public integrity, criminal background, legislative auditor, public funds, state government, compliance, transparency, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• If you require assistance in registering or testifying, please contact the committee staff.
• In order and decorum during committee meetings, the chair may ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to assist in preserving
• I appreciate y'all's assistance with this, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for...
• installation programs at TDLR.
• So for over 25 years, each of these programs has acted independently, without a common goal.

Bills: HB842, HB1907, HB2844, HB2892, HB3439, HB4211, HB4536, HB5111, HB5138, HB5182, HB5247, HB5269, HB5323, HB5435, HJR201, SB871, HB3896, SJR40

Keywords: power lines, Gulf Coast, weather-related outages, Public Utility Commission, infrastructure, government contracts, Chinese companies, information technology, cybersecurity, state regulations, food safety, mobile vendors, licensing, permitting exemptions, health inspections, nonprofit organizations, personal information, government disclosure, privacy, criminal penalties

Transcript Highlights:

• There are multiple credit programs.
• There are multiple credit programs.
• say that it is specifically this program say that it is specifically this program because<01:00:
• to be used for the funding of new or existing homelessness prevention and assistance projects or programs
• homelessness preven and assistance homelessness preven and assistance projects<01:03:27.200>

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Tax Committee met to receive a presentation from House Fiscal staff Cynthia Templin and Katrina Heimark on state tax revenues, property tax aids and credits, and key budget terms and timelines. They explained the difference between fiscal years, tax years, biennia, the general fund, and dedicated funds, and reviewed the legislative budget calendar, including the governor’s January budget recommendation, the February forecast update, March budget resolution deadlines, and the expected end of session in May. The presentation focused on how Minnesota tax revenue is collected and where it goes. House Fiscal said fiscal 2024 total revenue for public services was about $102.5 billion, with $46.5 billion coming from state and local taxes. Of total state tax revenue, about 85% goes to the general fund and about 15% is dedicated to other funds. They noted that income and sales taxes make up the largest share of state collections, while local property taxes are the largest share of local revenue. They also reviewed constitutional and statutory dedications, including the Legacy sales tax dedication, the motor vehicle sales tax dedication to transportation, and the auto parts sales tax dedication that was changed in 2023 to a 100% transportation dedication phased in over 10 years. Members asked several questions about slowing income tax growth, possible effects of migration and corporate departures, and whether changes in population or wages were affecting revenue trends. Templin said she was not aware of recent independent or MMB studies tying revenue loss to migration, but would look into it. Members also discussed the sharp rise in tax receipts in fiscal 2021 and 2022 after the pandemic downturn, with staff explaining that the low fiscal 2020 base and a shift toward goods purchases during COVID helped drive the increase, especially in sales tax revenue. No bills were taken up and no votes were recorded during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Gardner assistant superintendent um Gardner assistant superintendent um speaking<00:18:54.159> on<
• program program to<00:58:29.000> expand<00:58:29.920> already<00:58:30.319> free
• or through the state program.
• or through the state program.
• Recess. program um and in what was shared um program um and in what was shared um earlier<01:17:01.159

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills, with testimony largely in support. SB 1388 and SB 1393, both concerning the School Facilities Authority and Department of Education representation and land conveyances, received support from DOE and the School Facilities Authority, with no questions or action taken. SB 423, which would add Head Start representation to the Early Learning Board, was supported by the Early Learning Board and the Executive Office on Early Learning, which explained the bill would realign the board with federal Head Start Act requirements after the board was restructured in Act 170; EEL also requested an effective-date amendment. SB 422, allowing DOE to award diplomas to students whose education was disrupted by war, drew support from DOE, the Chamber of Commerce, the Military Council, and the Special Education Advisory Council, but also significant opposition from the Hawaii Patriot Republicans and many individuals; members asked questions about the bill, and DOE explained the measure’s purpose, but no vote was taken. The committee also took testimony on SB 532, which would expand who may administer certain medications in schools. DOE, the Department of Health, and the University of Hawaii supported the bill. Members asked detailed questions about oral, nasal, and topical medications and the process for prescription review and administration; DOE explained that parents request the medication, a school form is completed, a nurse reviews it, and either a trained school health assistant or a contracted nurse administers the medication. DOE said the measure could improve attendance and learning, especially for students with ADHD, asthma, and other chronic conditions. The committee then heard SB 659 on locally sourced food products and school meals, where DOE’s procurement office opposed the higher small-purchase threshold and DOE exemption from procurement rules, while Ulupono Initiative, Hawaii Farm Bureau, Hawaii Public Health Institute, and others supported the bill as a way to advance farm-to-school goals and the 30% local food target by 2030. Testimony and questioning focused on the proposed threshold increase, transparency, and whether an online bidding system would be preferable. Finally, the committee heard SB 1300 on subsidies for ALICE families’ school meals. DOE supported the bill but requested amendments: defining eligibility at 250% of the federal poverty level, delaying implementation until the 2026-2027 school year, and covering reduced-price lunch students in full for 2025-2026. HSTA, Hawaii Appleseed, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Pride at Work Hawaii, Hawaii Youth Services Network, and others supported the measure, emphasizing food insecurity, the burden of meal paperwork, and the educational importance of free meals. Hawaii Appleseed suggested replacing ALICE with a federal poverty level standard and removing a rulemaking requirement that could delay implementation. No votes or final committee actions were reported in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• I started off as an educational assistant in a level three EBD program and then worked my way into becoming
• started off as a educational assistant started off as a educational assistant in<00:04:24.560>
• setting three or setting four program? setting three or setting four program?
• What was the name of the<01:03:33.520> program? the program? the program?
• run-of-the-mill setting four programs. run-of-the-mill setting four programs.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• MDMA assisted therapy shows long-term PTSD symptom reduction lasting years.
• > long-term MDMA assisted therapy shows long-term MDMA assisted therapy shows long-term PTSD<00
• So I do support this program.
• I'm not sure I do support this program.
• program. >> Ah, okay. >> Hey, any comments, questions, concerns?

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 3025, relating to medical debt, with multiple organizations and individuals, including the Office of Wellness and Resilience, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Queens Health Systems, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Aloha Care, Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction, Hawaii Data Collaborative, and Hawaii Appleseed, all speaking in support. No opposition was heard, and the member present had no questions. The committee then took up SB 3199, which would establish a mental health emerging therapies task force. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support, with speakers including veterans, clinicians, researchers, and advocacy groups describing personal experiences with PTSD, depression, traumatic brain injury, and treatment-resistant conditions, and arguing that Hawaii should prepare for regulated access to emerging therapies such as MDMA, psilocybin, ketamine, and ibogaine. The Department of Health and some medical organizations provided comments, and one opposition witness was called but not present. The chair noted broad support, especially from veterans, and no vote was taken during the excerpt. The final measure discussed was SB 3324, relating to Medicaid. The Department of Human Services, Department of Health, Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Aloha Care, and numerous care-provider and aging/disability organizations testified in support, while one witness was in opposition and several others offered comments. The discussion then moved to SB 2563, relating to homelessness, where the Department of the Attorney General offered comments on specific sections and recommended adopting suggested amendments if the bill proceeds. Additional testimony on SB 2563 began with support from several individuals, including Shelby Pikachu, who emphasized the severity of homelessness and related social problems in the community.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a robust program with the Boston Public Schools, including our dual enrollment program, which
• The business school offers free programs to high school students.
• Robots, from personal assistance ...prolonged independence, robots, from personal assistance to disaster
• But we support that training program.
• It's an eight-week training program, an intensive hands-on program on how you will become a biomanufacturing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held an informational hearing on the economic impact of Massachusetts higher education institutions, with opening remarks noting the significance of September 11 and the role colleges and universities play in the state’s economy, workforce, and research ecosystem. UMass leaders testified first, describing UMass as a major employer and economic driver that educates large numbers of Massachusetts residents, supports thousands of jobs, and generates billions in annual economic activity. They emphasized the importance of research funding, warned that federal grant cancellations, suspensions, and slowdowns were harming research operations and talent retention, and voiced strong support for Governor Healey’s proposed DRIVE initiative as bridge funding to protect research capacity and jobs. Committee members focused heavily on workforce preparation in emerging fields such as AI, cyber, quantum computing, and engineering. UMass leaders said AI is being embedded across curricula and research, but also warned that financial constraints forced reductions in PhD admissions, especially in computer science and engineering, which could weaken the future workforce pipeline. They also described the practical effects of grant uncertainty, including reduced graduate admissions and concerns about losing researchers to institutions abroad. Members asked for more detailed data on grant timing, funding gaps, and where students and researchers were going. A second panel from private colleges and universities, including AICUM, Suffolk, Smith, and Clark, highlighted the broad economic and civic contributions of private higher education. Testimony cited large annual economic impacts, job creation, tax revenue, community service, legal clinics, dual enrollment, entrepreneurship support, sustainability investments, and access programs. Speakers also discussed enrollment pressures, COVID-related social and mental health challenges, student visa and federal policy concerns, and the need to preserve liberal arts alongside career-focused training. The committee then heard from MIT, where testimony focused on research commercialization, biotech spinouts, and the role of federal, philanthropic, and industry funding in sustaining innovation; members pressed for more data on funding sources and asked what state policy could do to keep talent and businesses in Massachusetts. The hearing continued with additional public higher education testimony, including Bridgewater State, Bristol Community College, and Northeastern, which emphasized workforce-aligned programs, social mobility, apprenticeships, co-op education, and the need for better coordination between higher education, employers, and state workforce systems.

Transcript Highlights:

• FBI, Homeland Security assist us with that.
• FBI, Homeland Security assist us with that.
• District No Crum assistant District No Crum assistant superintendent<00:37:45.240> Career
• It was also noted that a student who starts as a freshman can be a completer in two programs.
• The health department may agree to assist.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 669, sponsored by Representative Smith, which was presented as a response to a September shooting incident in his district that led to school closures and missed instructional days. Smith said the bill was intended to help school districts recover lost days caused by extraordinary emergencies and not to set a broad precedent. Members asked whether districts had adjusted calendars to make up time, and Smith said many had already extended days or moved calendars into June. The committee then voted to pass House Bill 669, with all members present voting yes. The committee next heard House Bill 621, as amended by a committee substitute that removed a homeschooling-related section and left only the school-threat provisions. The bill would allow courts to impose a fine on parents when a child is adjudicated for terroristic threatening if law enforcement incurred excessive costs, and it would require a mental health assessment for the child. Representative Duvall and Officer Steve Chappelle supported the measure, arguing that online school threats spread fear, disrupt attendance, pull law-enforcement resources from other schools, and should create more parental accountability. Representative Riley also supported the accountability goal, citing lost instructional time and a recent student suicide tied to online issues. Several members raised concerns about the bill’s scope and due process. Representative Josh Callaway questioned why this offense should be the starting point for parental fines and warned about a slippery slope in holding parents liable for children’s crimes. Representative Willner said the bill seemed more like a judiciary issue, questioned whether punishment can make parents better parents, and asked about diversion programs and the meaning of the detention language. Representative Tipton pointed to existing statutes on mental health assessments and terroristic threatening penalties, and said the committee substitute would alleviate many concerns. Scott West, speaking for Kentucky Policy and the Kentucky Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, argued that the mandatory detention language would remove judicial discretion and that the parental fine provision could conflict with existing due process protections requiring notice, a hearing, and a finding that lack of supervision was a substantial factor in the child’s delinquency. The transcript does not show a final vote on House Bill 621 in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• were pushing out to the states a pilot program.
• And so with this program, you get on the ground, people could start their program and their clinical
• to gamble on programs that don't have the necessary partnerships... ...to gamble on programs that don't
• So, therefore, the reason Arizona was able to even pass a medical program and an adult use program was
• This program?

Bills: SB1041, SB1088, SB1118, SB1128, SB1168, SB1176, SB1189, SB1207, SB1250, SB1272, SB1274, SB1286, SB1428, SB1457, SB1461, SB1503, SB1519, SB1537, SB1582, SB1618, SB1654, SB1713, SB1827, SCR1012, SCR1020

Keywords: electronic monitoring, nursing care, assisted living, resident rights, privacy, consent, surveillance, cybersecurity, homeland security, artificial intelligence, state appropriation, VPN security, zero trust, housing, zoning, middle housing, urban development, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes

Transcript Highlights:

• Actually, it's not unusual to end a program or start a new program based on need.
• to end a program or start a new program to end a program or start a new program based<00:39:22.040
• 57 LPN graduates, and countless numbers of licensed nursing assistants and medical assistants.
• medical assistant and nursing assistants medical assistant and my<01:08:31.600> colleague<01:
• We've been able to build some new programs, expand some new programs.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee received an orientation from University System of New Hampshire Chancellor Katherine Preventure and Senior Director of Government Relations Lauren Banker on the system’s enrollment, finances, workforce role, and academic programs. They described the system as consisting of UNH, Keene State, and Plymouth State, with about 23,000 students, $928 million in FY24 operating expenses, a $3.7 billion economic impact, and UNH’s R1 research status. They emphasized the system’s role in graduating students into the New Hampshire workforce, its statewide Cooperative Extension and regional campus presence, and its alignment of degree offerings with top occupations identified by New Hampshire Employment Security. The presentation also highlighted partnerships with businesses, internships, and collaboration with the community college system, including 100 transfer pathways and a direct-admit program. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on tuition, state support, and student costs. The chancellor said the state invested $95 million in FY25, with about $81 million used to reduce resident tuition and about $14 million for statutory programs such as Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station. She said the state subsidy is about $7,300 per New Hampshire student, and that resident net tuition averages about $7,000, while nonresident net tuition averages about $16,600. She provided published tuition figures for UNH, Plymouth State, and Keene State, and explained that resident tuition has been held flat for five years while financial aid has increased, reducing average net tuition and fees for New Hampshire students from about $10,500 in 2020 to $9,800. Members asked for clarification on how residency and workforce-retention percentages were calculated, and the chancellor said she would follow up. Members also asked about comparisons with peer institutions, housing and meal costs, research funding, and the reasons for declining enrollment and staffing reductions. The chancellor said peer comparisons were based on flagship universities for UNH and smaller regional publics for Plymouth and Keene, and noted that out-of-state tuition has risen about 2.5% annually. She said housing for a UNH double room is $8,536 and a meal plan is $5,100, and offered to provide a consolidated cost document. On research, she said the system’s direct research spending includes federal funding and that indirect costs were about $34 million last year, with a follow-up promised on the federal/state and direct/indirect split. She attributed enrollment declines largely to demographics and said the system is responding by reducing costs, selling buildings, exiting leases, moving the system office to NHTI, and implementing Workday. She also noted that Plymouth received approval for five three-year bachelor’s degree programs and that members praised the shorter, workforce-focused pathways, especially for manufacturing and other in-demand fields.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has contributed to the groundbreaking Regents Promise program. plus program, which is funded entirely
• Some doctoral programs in engineering, cybersecurity, programs, things that we think really contribute
• ... in a wide range of programs.
• We have to be able to grow our programs and expand our programs.
• We'll be bringing forward 10 bachelor's programs, nine master's programs, and four PhD programs. numerous

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um Chair Iligan I just uh assistance.
• <00:09:28.240> of gaming experiences and programs of gaming experiences and programs of legalized
• <00:09:58.080> And programs to address problem gaming.
• And programs to address problem gaming.
• <00:33:57.279> tactics<00:33:58.480> of assist us and different tactics of assist us

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• medicine and sports medicine physician at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix and serves as assistant
• And whereas, due to the success of the captive breeding program and the Endangered Species Act, Mexican
• And whereas, due to the success of the captive breeding program and the Endangered Species Act, Mexican
• That funds health care, that funds food assistance, that does so much to advance our state.
• That funds health care, that funds food assistance, that does so much to advance our state.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• FOR INDIVIDUALS RECEIVING OR IMPLEMENT ASSISTANCE.
• SCENARIO I DON'T THINK AVAILABILITY WOULD BE THERE AND SO YOU WOULDN'T QUALIFY FOR REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
• BUT YOU BROUGHT UP ONE OF THE PROGRAMS THAT IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE.
• MANY OF THE PROGRAMS ARE UTILIZING TO SOME OF THE THINGS BUT SAY PROGRAM IN APRIL OF THE YEAR, THE US
• DEPARTMENT OF LABOR MADE SAVE PROGRAM FREE FOR THE STATE TO USE HER REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE.