Transcript Highlights:

• Overall, our GGRF investments average around $110 a ton.
• We had a working group that worked on it for an entire year, and I think throwing around averages of
• It's also a relatively mature technology.
• Do we know what the average cost is for an electric vehicle?
• I would say, on average, it's in the $50,000 range.

Summary: The meeting began with a budget subcommittee hearing on a proposed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) tax credit trailer bill. Assembly Members Ávila Farías and another member spoke in support, emphasizing union jobs, refinery investments, and the need to decarbonize aviation. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s proposal would provide a $1 to $2 per gallon credit against the diesel excise tax for SAF sold in California from 2026 to 2036. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended rejecting the proposal, arguing it is a relatively expensive way to reduce emissions, has uncertain environmental benefits, could significantly reduce transportation revenues, and conflicts with the spirit of voter restrictions on transportation taxes. Committee members questioned whether the credit would mainly benefit out-of-state producers, whether firms would have diesel tax liability to use the credit, and whether the proposal would shift production away from renewable diesel and raise fuel prices. Administration and CARB staff said the credit is intended to support aviation decarbonization, preserve jobs, and help keep California on track toward its 2045 climate goals. LAO and UC Berkeley testimony countered that the policy could mostly subsidize existing technologies, that feedstock supply is limited, and that the net emissions benefit may be small relative to the cost. Members also asked about the effect on local streets and roads, SHOP, and trade corridor funding; Finance estimated a $165 million annual revenue impact would reduce those programs, while LAO said the reductions would mean fewer projects over time. No vote was taken, and the chair said the issue would remain open for further discussion. The committee then moved to a zero-emission vehicle incentive trailer bill proposing a one-time $200 million appropriation to CARB for a new point-of-sale incentive program focused on first-time buyers and leases of new and used light-duty ZEVs. Supporters said the program would help offset the loss of the federal EV tax credit, maintain momentum in California’s ZEV transition, and use a one-to-one match with participating automakers to double the state’s investment. LAO recommended rejection, saying the proposal does not meet the high budget bar this year, lacks enough program detail to evaluate, is unlikely to move sales significantly given the size of the appropriation, and could duplicate existing state and utility programs. Members asked about current incentives across light-, medium-, and heavy-duty sectors, the recent decline in ZEV sales, and whether the program would help lower-income buyers rather than subsidize purchases that would have happened anyway. CARB said the proposal is meant to fill a gap in the light-duty market, where sales fell sharply after the federal credit expired, and noted existing programs for other vehicle classes. The Department of Finance also addressed a separate question about the Motor Vehicle Account, saying a previously planned GGRF transfer was no longer needed because updated forecasts showed the fund had sufficient balances, though LAO said the account still has a structural long-term imbalance. The discussion ended before any vote or action on the ZEV proposal.

Transcript Highlights:

• The average transaction fee is onetenth of a cent, which is essentially free.
• Uh, I do want to revisit a point I'd made earlier, which is that I would not put much weight into the
• It's a pretty mature process here in Hawaii.
• it's<01:58:03.760> a<01:58:04.000> pretty<01:58:04.719> uh<01:58:05.040> mature
• pretty it's a pretty uh mature pretty it's a pretty uh mature uh<01:58:06.960> process<01

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Hawaii State Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection held an informational briefing on digital assets, blockchain, and related regulatory developments. Chair Jarrett Keohoko said the committee was focusing on national and state policy issues around digital assets, while leaving the separate issue of Bitcoin kiosks and fraud to the House Consumer Protection Committee, which had already noticed a similar briefing. No public testimony was taken; the session was for informational updates and member questions. Representatives from the Aptos Foundation, including JC Yun and Michael Cheng, gave a detailed presentation on blockchain basics and Aptos’s technology. They described blockchain as a tamper-resistant digital ledger, explained proof-of-work and proof-of-stake systems, and argued that proof-of-stake networks are faster, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly. They also emphasized smart contracts and potential uses beyond speculation, such as car titles, college transcripts, collectibles, digital IDs, real estate, and other tokenized assets. The presenters highlighted Aptos’s Hawaii connections and said the technology could help local residents and businesses participate in the digital economy. They cited adoption statistics, including billions of transactions on Aptos, tokenized money market funds from major financial firms, micro-lending applications, decentralized cloud infrastructure, and the rapid growth of stablecoins. They acknowledged concerns about scams and consumer protection, but argued that the answer is stronger regulation and education rather than avoiding the technology altogether.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our votes carry weight. We are not here to affirm ideology.
• Our votes carry weight. We are not this. Our votes carry weight.
• If we averaged 10 minutes a bill, we got about three hours.
• If we managed to average 20 minutes a bill, you got 6 hours.
• that. no less than 80% of the average that. no less than 80% of the average per<04:08:27.600>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I was a mature adult. My husband was a mature adult. Thank you, Representative Patrino.
• <01:53:46.719> adult 17 I was a mature adult 17 I was a mature adult period<01:53:48.880><
• <01:53:50.639> adult period my husband was a mature adult period my husband was a mature adult
• That takes maturity. There is a big difference.
• That takes maturity. There is a big difference.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Children and Family Law Committee opened a hearing on House Bill 285, which would add language to the parental rights and responsibilities statute directing judges to consider known mental health or medical conditions that could affect parenting. Representative Ball, the bill’s sponsor, said the intent was not to require disclosure of private records, but to give judges a reminder to ask whether anything in a parent’s condition could interfere with parenting and to help ensure children’s safety and best interests, especially in high-conflict or pro se family court cases. He said the proposal was meant as a guardrail and not as a way to reduce parenting time or take children from parents. Committee members questioned whether the existing best-interest factors already cover parenting ability, whether the new language could invite stigma or weaponization in custody disputes, and whether judges already have authority to ask these questions. Ball responded that judges often do not ask, that family court can be difficult for unrepresented parties, and that the language would simply make the issue explicit. He also said he would be open to amendments, including language that more directly instructs judges to ask the question. One member raised concerns about whether the bill should say judges “shall” ask rather than “may,” and Ball said he was willing to work with the committee on wording. Sarah Horn, a NAMI New Hampshire board member and parent, testified in opposition. She described her own history with OCD, ADD, PTSD, hospitalization, and recovery, and said mental illness had not harmed her ability to parent; she warned the bill could increase stigma and discourage people from seeking treatment. In response, Ball said her testimony was part of why he had considered an amendment to include physical health as well, so the bill would not single out mental health. The hearing ended without a vote in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• private markets is 2% plus our average private markets is 2% plus our average fee<00:15:59.880><
• The average rate of return has been about 14.2%.
• The average rate of return has been about 14.2%.
• The average benefit level is about 2,594.
• <01:40:59.840> salary cross reference to the average salary cross reference to the average

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For example, the average financing amount in Texas, I'm told, is $22,000.
• I've averaged about 10 to 12 employees off and on around that time.
• Americans and average residents here in the state.
• Nationally, the interchange rate has been flat on average for 10 years.
• . 3% would be average.

Bills: HB245, HB700, HB2783, HB3526, HB3900, HB4061, HB4124, HB4166, HB4395, HB4534, HB4609, HB4641, HB4736, HB4738, HB4739, HB4945, HB5015, HJR175, HB245

Keywords: military service, retirement, law enforcement, custodial officer, Employees Retirement System, commercial financing, brokers, registration, disclosures, finance, consumer protection, fees, deferred compensation, automatic participation, county employees, payroll deductions, retirement plans, fiscal transparency, local government, bond issuance

Transcript Highlights:

• She carries near a 4.0 grade average.
• What is the development timeline on average for a project like of that nature? Senator Bergman. Mr.
• It is very mature technology.
• The average tax credit is about $3,000.
• Request a weight on that bill? I would like for you to weigh that bill just to see how heavy it is.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Of the 25 people, they found nine individuals eligible who had demonstrated great growth, maturity, and
• But the weight of this opinion is there when they are making decisions.
• Youth, on average, stay about 70 days in these centers, and the facilities have excess capacity.

Transcript Highlights:

• after about 12 to 14 hours. will appear in the wound after about three days, and then the larvae will mature
• This life cycle will take, on average, 21 days.
• Reduced weight gains can lead to, in some cases, the loss of the animal altogether, which can occur in

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Years ago, there was something called the capability maturity model, remember CMM?
• to a child, that anorexia,... would not suggest that a child, to a child, that anorexia is a good weight
• I don't need to tell you that they're online on average five hours per day, every day.

Summary: The committee heard several privacy and consumer protection bills, with most of the discussion focused on AI and social media. AB 1405 would create a state registry for AI auditors and set basic transparency, ethics, and qualification standards for those auditors; supporters said it would build trust and provide a foundation for future AI oversight, while some members questioned whether government should define auditor qualifications instead of industry groups. The bill was moved out on a 5-1 vote to Appropriations, with the roll left open. AB 2, by Assemblymember Lowenthal, would impose enhanced financial penalties on large social media companies when their negligence causes harm to children and teens. Supporters, including a grieving parent and Common Sense Media, argued the bill would create accountability for harmful algorithms and design choices, while opponents from TechNet, EFF, CCIA, and CalChamber warned it was vague, could chill speech, invite censorship, and raise Section 230 and First Amendment concerns. Committee members debated private right of action versus public enforcement, possible shakedown lawsuits, and whether the bill should be narrowed; the bill passed 6-0 to Judiciary with the roll left open. AB 410 would expand California’s bot disclosure law so bots must identify themselves up front and truthfully if asked, rather than only prohibiting deceptive bots in limited commercial or election contexts. Supporters said the measure would help users, especially youth and vulnerable people, know when they are interacting with AI and reduce deception online; one privacy group withdrew opposition after amendments, and other industry groups said they were no longer opposed or had no formal position. The bill passed 9-1 to Appropriations with the roll left open. The committee also approved AB 1327, which lets consumers cancel home improvement contracts by email instead of only by mail and requires phone assistance for cancellations; the Contractor State License Board withdrew opposition after amendments, and the bill passed 11-0 to Judiciary with the roll left open.

Transcript Highlights:

• Where previous turnaround times averaged weeks due to contracting and external vendor processing times
• So maturity level varies across agencies.
• And I do believe AI can help us get more mature a lot faster, a lot more efficiently, in parallel.

Summary: The subcommittee met to hear a panel discussion on artificial intelligence and automation in Florida government. Panelists from Worldwide Technology, OpenAI, the James Madison Institute, and the Florida Digital Service described AI as a tool to improve efficiency, constituent services, fraud detection, translation, HR workflows, public safety, and regulatory review, while emphasizing that AI should supplement rather than replace workers. They also stressed the importance of data readiness, workforce training, governance, and having existing technology systems and policies in place before broader deployment. Members asked about public records concerns, vendor vetting, model integrity, and how to balance innovation with privacy and security. Chief Schoonover said agencies are already using or exploring AI in areas such as Medicaid analysis, environmental data, emergency management, tax forms, and child support, and noted that the Digital Service publishes prohibited vendor and application lists. OpenAI discussed its red teaming, safety evaluations, privacy controls, and government products such as ChatGPT Gov, and said it does not train on personal data or target users with ads. The committee also discussed concrete examples of efficiency gains, including reduced call times, faster translation turnaround, and streamlined HR classification work, as well as concerns about job disruption and constituent access. In closing, members raised data center infrastructure and energy needs, with panelists noting that AI depends on substantial compute, power, cooling, and utility capacity. The chair concluded by encouraging continued dialogue and noting that future AI legislation should be targeted to specific problems rather than overly broad.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, I'm keeping a very close eye on the market as it develops and matures, as well as this proposal to
• 37.599> as<00:45:37.839> this<00:45:38.079> proposal<00:45:38.400> to matures
• Uh, as well as this proposal to matures.
• Finally, this year, the median cost of a new home in our state hit $540,000, and the average monthly
• and the average monthly house payment<00:58:47.760> hit<00:58:48.160> $2,551.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We take the preceding two-year average ADM, less last year's ADM, and whatever that difference is multiplied
• If they're having, if the average declining enrollment is going down those last two years and then it
• Yes, it could, if their average daily membership was going down that much. Yes, okay.
• Do you know what the average declining enrollment is with 152 schools?
• Yeah, so the way that I understand it in talking to staff, they have a loan that is maturing.

Summary: The committee considered several appropriation and transfer requests, beginning with a $273,000 temporary appropriation for the Department of Labor and Licensing to cover administrative costs for its enterprise licensing platform, funded by license and application fees. It then reviewed two large Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requests: $280 million for the Department of Transportation for the final quarter of the fiscal year, and $195 million for the State Broadband Office to support the Arkansas BEAD broadband grant program, including an extra help position and grants to internet service providers. The broadband item drew extensive questions about awardees, contract amendments, accountability, build-out timelines, backup plans if providers default, the definition of broadband serviceable locations, and the cost per location. The State Broadband Director said no providers had requested amendments, the program would use milestone-based disbursements and a four-year build-out period, and the first tranche would serve 51,566 homes and businesses with $126.1 million in grants. Both Section B and Section C items were approved. In Section D, the committee approved a $458,000 transfer within the Department of Correction from the female work release program to the Tucker Unit water treatment plant, a $25 million transfer within the Department of Education to cover declining enrollment, teacher incentive, school recognition, and Easter Seals funding, and a $229,000 transfer for the Department of Shared Administrative Services to support two project management office positions. The education transfer prompted questions about how declining enrollment funding is calculated, how many districts receive it, and how long districts can continue to receive it; agency staff said 152 districts were on the preliminary list and the formula is based on the prior two-year average ADM compared with the previous year. The committee also gave favorable advice on a proposed $4.7 million loan for the Office of State Technology to implement ServiceNow and related IT modernization tools; agency officials said the loan would be repaid through cost recovery rates over five years and would replace an existing loan that is ending, with expected savings from consolidating applications but no precise savings estimate yet. The committee then reviewed cash fund and federal grant requests, including $200,000 for wage and hour claimant payments, $15 million for unclaimed property claims, $8,000 for a heritage program grant, and $1.1 million for a College and Career Coaches grant to expand services in rural districts. It also reviewed pay plan and budget manual items without objection. The most extensive report discussion focused on the Medicaid trust fund, where DHS and DFA officials said the balance has been declining and that the state may need to add capital back into the fund. Senators and representatives asked about the current balance, the projected year-end level, the role of the $100 million set-aside, the impact of outstanding Medicaid rules from the prior session, and whether future federal funding could help reduce long-term Medicaid costs. Officials said they are still working through more than 10 outstanding rules with CMS and do not yet have a final price tag for those changes. The meeting ended after the reports were reviewed and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2023, the average payout was about $67,000 to the person who was mauled or injured by a dog.
• work with you on language that would better suit these if you want to as this thing goes to the maturation
• And that number is specific to the average cost minus attorney fees and everything else for the... ..
• .And that number is specific to the average cost minus attorney fees and everything else for the payouts
• The average payout varies between about $66,000 and about $80,000, depending on the year.

Summary: The Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and heard four bills. CS/SB 150, by Senator Gates, would make it a third-degree felony to abandon a restrained animal during a declared weather emergency, such as a hurricane or tornado, and was presented as “Trooper’s Law” in response to a widely publicized rescue of a dog during Hurricane Milton. The bill drew supportive public cards and brief supportive remarks from Senator Boyd, then passed unanimously and was reported favorably. SB 374, by Senator Truenow, would refine the definition of farm product to include plant and plant products and bar local governments from adopting ordinances that limit the collection, storage, and processing of farm products on bona fide agricultural land. An amendment was withdrawn to allow further discussion on food waste issues. Speakers from composting, recycling, and poultry interests supported the bill, and it was reported favorably. SB 560, by Senator Martin, would restrict certain chemical additives in food products. The sponsor said the bill targets 10 chemicals he believes are harmful, noted that two have already been banned by the FDA, and argued Florida should act rather than wait for federal action. Industry and retail witnesses opposed the bill as creating a patchwork of state rules, raising costs, and disrupting supply chains, while some senators said they supported the bill for now but expected further changes. The committee reported the bill favorably, with Senator Rouson voting no. SB 572, the Pam Rock Act by Senator Collins, would create a statewide dangerous dog registry, add criminal penalties for certain dangerous-dog attacks, and require permits, microchipping, spay/neuter, and $100,000 liability insurance for dangerous dogs. The sponsor and the Rock family described severe attacks and deaths involving dangerous dogs and argued the registry would help protect the public. Some senators questioned the registry’s usefulness, the amount of information collected, and insurance availability, but the bill passed and was reported favorably. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Arkansas Municipal Code says that CD interest is only received upon maturity.
• That interest is not earned and is not the city's until that CD matures.
• Those funds wouldn't be available for y'all to spend because they're tied up in a CD that hadn't matured
• You can name it CD with a maturity date, so for y'all's purposes, you know it's not readily available
• So the interest you can post it at the end of each CD when it matures or when they post it.

Summary: The committee began with prayer and approval of the January 8 minutes, then received updates on delinquent private water and sewer reports. Staff reported that for the 2022 reports, 19 of 43 entities had had their turnback reinstated, while 24 remained in escrow; for the 2023 reports, 59 of 64 entities had filed, leaving five outstanding. The committee also filed a report on Adona, where staff said the city had made enough progress toward substantial compliance with municipal accounting laws to discontinue withholding turnback, and the committee adopted that recommendation. The bulk of the meeting focused on municipal accounting noncompliance cases. Gum Springs and Denning were presented with extensive repeat findings involving budgets not adopted by ordinance or resolution, missing or incomplete bank reconciliations, inadequate receipts and disbursement records, payroll issues, and improper handling of Act 833 funds or other city money. Both cities’ mayors and recorders-treasurers testified about efforts to correct records, obtain training, and work with the Municipal League; the committee voted to start the 60-day turnback-withholding clock for both and then filed the reports. Fargo was deferred because no city representative was present. Additional reports included Green Forest, Elaine, Strong, Brooklyn, Mineral Springs, Rondo, Waldo, Columbia County, and several private water and sewer entities. Strong drew significant concern over missing garbage-bag revenue, improper fund transfers, and deficit balances; the committee deferred that report to the March meeting. The committee also heard investigative or referred reports on the Faulkner County Fair Association, Brooklyn payroll direct-deposit fraud, and other entities with questionable disbursements or recordkeeping. In several cases, staff recommended filing the reports after responses were received; in others, the committee deferred action when responses were lacking or representatives were absent. The meeting ended with a motion to defer a Cross County Rural Water matter so the entity could appear at the next meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• That interest is not earned and is not the city's until that CD matures.
• Those funds wouldn't be available for y'all to spend because they're tied up in a CD that hadn't matured
• That means when that CD matures. Yes, ma'am.
• You can name it CD with the maturity date, so for y'all's purposes, you know it's not readily available
• So the interest you can post it at the end of each CD, I mean, when it matures, or when they post it.

Summary: The committee began with approval of the prior meeting minutes and then received updates on delinquent private water and sewer reports. Staff reported that 19 of 43 original entities for the 2022 reporting year had had turnback reinstated, while 24 remained in escrow; for the 2023 reporting year, 59 of 64 entities had filed, leaving five still outstanding. The committee also heard that Adona had come into substantial compliance with municipal accounting law, and it voted to file that report and discontinue withholding turnback. It then voted to start the 60-day clock and file the report for Gum Springs after hearing repeated findings involving budgeting, disbursements, payroll, and Act 833 funds, with city officials saying they had begun correcting records and were seeking help from the Municipal League and a city attorney. Fargo was deferred because the mayor was absent due to illness. The committee next considered Denning, where staff described repeated and serious accounting problems over 2022-2024, including unauthorized payments, missing documentation, weak payroll controls, and improper handling of funds. The mayor and recorder-treasurer said prior records were disorganized and that they were now working with an attorney, CPA help, and new software; the committee voted to start the 60-day clock and file the report. Green Forest’s report, involving a fixed-asset listing issue after the mayor’s death, was filed. Several private water and sewer reports were either filed or deferred depending on whether responses had been received, and the committee announced its March meeting would be held in Room 149 because of renovations. The committee then reviewed a series of referred reports involving alleged financial irregularities. In Elaine, the fire chief’s questionable purchases were referred and filed. In Strong, staff described undeposited garbage-bag receipts, improper payments for private dumpster service and other expenditures, payroll tax penalties, and deficit fund balances; the mayor said controls had been improved, but the committee deferred the report to March. The Faulkner County Fair Association report found undocumented cash withdrawals, questionable disbursements, and inadequately documented cash payments to a carnival vendor; the committee filed it. Brooklyn’s report involved a fraudulent direct-deposit change, and Mineral Springs’ report involved transfers from the cemetery fund, employee loans, overpayments, and travel reimbursement issues; both were filed. Additional reports included Rondo, where the recorder-treasurer explained missing computers and fuel purchases tied to personal vehicles, and the committee filed the report; Waldo, where the mayor had been overpaid due to extra biweekly payments, which was filed; Columbia County, where a floodplain management contract lacked an authorizing ordinance, which was filed; and several private water-system reports, some filed and others deferred for lack of responses. Carlisle’s report showed large but improving misstatements in financial records, and the committee filed it after hearing that new software and training had reduced prior problems. Caddo Valley’s report prompted a lengthy discussion about CDs and interest recognition; staff explained that principal balances should be reflected as city assets and interest should be recorded when earned or reported by the bank, and the report was filed. Prairie County’s budget overrun and road-fund issues were discussed at length, with the judge explaining equipment and weather-related costs and staff clarifying the distinction between road funds and locally approved sales-tax uses; the report was filed. Finally, the committee deferred a Cross County Rural Water Association matter after learning it had not filed with Legislative Audit since 2002-2003 despite receiving significant state funding, and members expressed concern about the long gap in filings.

Transcript Highlights:

• And further, just to show the long term, we're on average fifth in fraud convictions in the entire country
• <00:14:50.000> fifth<00:14:50.280> in<00:14:50.400> fraud we're on average fifth
• in fraud we're on average fifth in fraud convictions<00:14:51.280> in<00:14:51.360> the
• In general, the average impact of a significant cybersecurity event is generally about 2 and 1/2, 2.8
• strategic objective of maturing strategic objective of maturing operations<00:32:05.320> and<

Bills: HF1338

Keywords: Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, state oversight, government accountability, fraud, waste, abuse, audit, investigation, subpoena, whistleblower, public integrity, transparency, state agencies, executive branch, public funds, taxpayer funds, law enforcement oversight, public safety programs, advisory council

Transcript Highlights:

• Average teacher pay in Texas to the national average again.
• That's what we would need on average to get our teachers just to the national average on teacher pay
• for those. who don't know what weight is.
• What is the average cost of a private school? Average cost of a private school. Dr.
• And the average, do you know how much the average teacher in Harris County makes? No.

Bills: SB2, HB2, HB2000, HB2196, HB213, HB222, HB645, HB1458, HB 1022, HB141, HB502, HB643, HB3093, HB1700, HB 117, SB503, SB2, HB 120, HB20, HB150, HB6, HB 100, HB210, HB215, HB1393, HB 1151, HB 1268, HB142, HB451, HB 124, HB2, HB2000, HB2196, HB213, HB222, HB645, HB1458, HB 1022, HB141, HB502, HB643, HB3093, HB1700, HB 117

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, child grooming, sex offender registration, criminal justice, reportable conviction, law enforcement, virtual education, hybrid learning, school funding, average daily attendance

Transcript Highlights:

• programs funded, apprentices enrolled and completed, job placements within six months, and maybe average
• And I think part of that is because there were a lot of mature workers there.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The House Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee met to hear House Bill 7, sponsored by Representative Garrett and Representative Cates, which would continue and support apprenticeship and workforce training funding. The sponsors and the Department of Workforce Solutions described strong growth in apprenticeship participation, especially in the building trades, and said the fund has helped expand programs while maintaining high retention and employment outcomes. They emphasized that the bill would provide predictable, sustained investment in skilled labor needed for construction, infrastructure, and other growing sectors. Supportive testimony came from contractors, chambers of commerce, trade unions, and a small business owner, all of whom said apprenticeship funding is essential to meeting workforce shortages and keeping workers in New Mexico. Committee members asked about program demographics, geographic distribution, rural participation, reentry and high school dropout data, and how apprenticeships connect to displaced workers from energy and industrial closures. The secretary explained that the department uses Rapid Response and economic transition programs for layoffs and closures, and also surveys current energy workers to gauge retraining interest. Several members praised the bill’s return on investment and retention of workers in the state, while Representative de Rassas suggested adding more public transparency and performance metrics. Representative Ortiz asked about future funding after 2031 and whether the program could scale with more money. After discussion, Representative Hall moved a do pass, Representative de Rassas seconded, and the committee approved House Bill 7 with no opposition. The chair also announced upcoming committee meetings and asked members to consent to sharing contact information for committee purposes.

Transcript Highlights:

• FOR THE GENERAL REVENUE FUND EACH FISCAL YEAR TO ACCELERATE THE RETIREMENT OF THE BONDS PRIOR TO MATURITY
• BECAUSE I THINK IT WOULD BE CONFUSING TO THE AVERAGE VOTER. WHO WOULD SUPPORT THIS?

Keywords: 999, senate, all