Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 862, Railroads—Required Crew for Movement of Freight.
• House 862, railroads, required bill.
• Are you telling me railroad safety act.
• Um so, does this make all of both the register wills and the clerks, okay, in their separate areas?
• </c> separate areas? separate areas?

Transcript Highlights:

• Over the summer, work began on the Shaw Avenue grade separation.
• The last section over the San Joaquin Valley Railroad will require nearly 1,000 cubic yards of concrete
• Twenty-eight girders across seven spans have been placed at the Corcoran Highway grade separation.
• We upgraded the grades on which we were building. We looked at our seismic criteria.
• That's in a technical appendix, a separate technical document.

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held an informational hearing on the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s 2026 draft business plan, with testimony from the authority, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, and the High-Speed Rail Inspector General. Chair Cortese framed the hearing around the project’s recent changes: a new CEO, revised delivery strategy, loss of federal funds, renewed interest in private financing and value capture, and proposed adjustments to the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment. He also raised concerns about statutory compliance, transparency, and whether the draft plan fully reflects required elements and true costs and timelines. Authority CEO Ian Chaudhry said the project has made substantial construction progress in the Central Valley and is moving toward track installation, with the state’s $1 billion annual cap-and-invest funding providing a stable base. He argued the plan uses design optimization, direct procurement of materials, and revised sequencing to reduce costs and support an early operating segment by about 2032-33. He also promoted broader commercialization of the corridor through real estate, energy, broadband, logistics, and public-private partnerships, saying private sector interest is now real. Several senators pressed him on station locations, tax increment financing, utility relocation authority, permitting delays, transparency, and whether the project can realistically reach Los Angeles and San Francisco on the current timeline and budget. The LAO and Inspector General were more skeptical. LAO analyst Helen Kirstine said the draft plan assumes major scope changes, including a shorter segment, a Merced station outside downtown, more single-tracking, and several statutory changes that have not yet been enacted. She warned that the plan may not comply with recent legislative requirements, that funding may still be insufficient even for the reduced segment, and that borrowing against future cap-and-invest revenues is risky because those revenues are uncertain and volatile. Inspector General Ben Belknap said the draft plan fails to comply with newer statutory requirements, especially regarding the Merced-to-Bakersfield scope, the funding plan, and missing procurement milestone dates. He said the presentation obscures cost increases and schedule delays and limits the Legislature’s ability to compare current estimates with prior reports. Committee members generally supported continued oversight and some form of project delivery reform, but several expressed concern that the plan relies on legislative changes that have not been approved and on private financing that may not materialize. Chaudhry said the authority would address the Inspector General’s findings in the final business plan and continue to pursue federal grants, private capital, and corridor commercialization. No vote was taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm with the Railroad Commission of Texas. I'm the manager for Pipeline Safety Support.
• We'll briefly go over a high-level view of what damage prevention does within the Railroad Commission
• Written agreements, this is another thing that we need to be aware of. the industry within the Railroad
• It's important to establish a separate timeline for complex or large project tickets.
• Several states have a separate project process, including New Mexico, Georgia, Mississippi.

Transcript Highlights:

• At that time, I was unemployed, newly in recovery, and had only a sixth-grade education.
• The reentry workers, Kevin, the media, and Ruben, their grade, no doors are closed here.
• Then it grew so much they had to create a separate movement where they met in a chapel. Right?
• We recognize that we have to create our underground railroad because our community needs us, but they
• From the youth system, from educational system, with sixth-grade education coming into Jordan systems

Summary: The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met to approve prior minutes and then heard extensive testimony focused on reentry, programming, and the differences between Department of Correction facilities and county sheriff programs. Much of the testimony came from incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people describing how county facilities offered education, treatment, work release, identification documents, housing help, and reentry planning that they said were often unavailable or harder to access in state DOC settings. Several witnesses emphasized that these programs helped them obtain sobriety, employment, family reunification, and parole readiness, while others said they needed more time, mentoring, or transitional support before release to make the most of those services. Witnesses from Hampshire, Barnstable, Hampden, and Franklin counties described specific programs such as high school/GED completion, college courses, culinary arts, vocational training, recovery groups, therapeutic treatment, and community-based reentry centers. Many said staff treated them with dignity and that the facilities’ culture encouraged accountability and personal change. A few witnesses also noted that some programs were not a fit for their needs, especially for people without substance-use issues or for those whose mental health needs were not adequately addressed. One Barnstable witness said she returned to custody within 48 hours of release because she was not mentally prepared for reentry, and another from Framingham said mental health support was insufficient and visitation restrictions worsened her experience. Commissioners asked follow-up questions about DOC access to programming, classification barriers, reentry preparation, and visitation policies. Several witnesses said DOC programming was limited by sentence length, classification status, or program waitlists, and that some people were steered into programs that did not match their needs. A number of commissioners and the sheriff present responded by stressing the importance of wraparound services, individualized planning, and hiring formerly incarcerated staff. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• I met Howie when my oldest daughter, Caden, was in fifth grade.
• you that now, fast forward, Caden is a student body president as a senior, high school senior, 12th grade
• I just assumed it would be a kind of a low-grade process server doing that, but maybe it's the judge
• And I understand that we can't separate ICE.
• I taught from 6th to 12th grade students, and it's the classroom management of the teacher.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge, and agreed by unanimous consent to allow cameras on the floor and gallery, excuse several senators, and move to announcements and miscellaneous business. The chamber then adopted a ceremonial resolution honoring Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales for his years of service as Senate president and lieutenant governor, followed by extensive remarks from senators and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham praising his leadership, fairness, education advocacy, and personal kindness. Morales briefly responded, thanking members, the governor, and his family, and noting he would offer fuller remarks on his final day. After messages from the House were read, the Senate adopted several committee reports. These included favorable action on Senate Memorial 31; House Judiciary Committee substitute for House Bill 70; House Bill 124, referred to Finance; Senate Joint Resolution 6, referred to Judiciary; Senate Joint Resolution 7; House Bills 103, 154, 165, and 285 as amended; and the Finance Committee’s amended report on House Appropriations and Finance Committee substitute for House Bills 2 and 3. The Judiciary Committee also reported Senate Bill 104 as duly enrolled and engrossed, and the body noted that SB 104 had been signed in open session. During personal privilege, Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth discussed a State Ethics Commission advisory opinion on whether legislators who are attorneys may vote on medical malpractice cap legislation, arguing the issue is governed by Senate rules rather than the Governmental Conduct Act. He said he would continue to disclose his interests and vote under Rule 7-5, and also rejected a newspaper suggestion that he had a conflict in sponsoring a judgeship bill for the First Judicial District Court. The Senate then moved into third reading, beginning with Senate Rules Committee substitute for Senate Bill 264, which Senator Duhigg explained as an election-security measure responding to concerns about federal interference, intimidation, and emergency election disruptions; Senator Nava then spoke in support as a co-sponsor.

Transcript Highlights:

• Two separate matters. Thank you.
• But I was just glancing at the rule, and there's a native lumber grading test and a native lumber grading
• test and a native native lumber grading test and a native lumber<00:23:16.799><c> grading</c><00:23:
• </c> lumber grading permit. lumber grading permit.
• They're graded through the USDA process.

Summary: The committee convened after briefly waiting for a quorum, approved the minutes and consent agenda, and then moved through several agency rule items. The Department of Transportation’s outdoor advertising rule filing was approved after staff noted the department had addressed substantive comments, though the rules had been expired since 2021 and the agency said it had been operating under statute. Members asked about a denied digital sign proposal, and DOT said that decision was based on statute rather than the rule. The Department of Safety’s administrative license suspension item was postponed with a waiver so the agency could submit conditional approval materials and resolve issues between its forms and rules. The Board of Architects item was conditionally approved, with the condition that the board later approve updated incorporation-by-reference materials at its April 3 meeting or the matter would return as a preliminary objection. The Department of Agriculture’s expired rules prompted extended discussion. Staff and committee members questioned why the department was seeking to adopt rules that had been expired for many years and whether the statutes already provided enough authority to operate without them. Agriculture officials said they were working through a broader modernization effort, focusing on statutes that use mandatory language and updating outdated rules to match current practices, federal standards, and current products such as apples, cider, eggs, and other agricultural commodities. They said the rules before the committee were part of that effort and recommended approval, but members remained concerned about whether some rules were unnecessary. The committee ultimately granted a waiver and postponed the agriculture item for one month so staff could review the underlying statutes and determine whether rulemaking is actually required. Under other business, the committee took up an emergency Department of Safety rule to update DMV forms to reflect statutory fee changes enacted in the 2025 budget. DMV officials said the new fees were already in effect, but the corresponding forms still showed old amounts, causing confusion for customers and elected officials who were fielding complaints. They argued the forms needed immediate updating because the affected forms are widely used, and they said the department had already tried to treat the changes as editorial before being told full rulemaking was required. The department emphasized it was trying to follow the process while avoiding continued use of incorrect fee forms, and asked the committee to allow the emergency rule to proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• So those were separate issues.
• So those were separate issues.
• So those were separate issues.
• So those were separate issues.
• So those were separate issues.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Dedicated Funds met to review the House budget provision that would impose a 5% administrative charge on a broad list of dedicated funds, with some exemptions. Members discussed the House approach versus the Senate’s more general approach of leaving the governor discretion over which funds could be charged. The chair explained the committee was hearing from agencies about any legal, contractual, or practical reasons their funds should be exempt, and the agenda was expanded to include several departments and written submissions from others. The Department of Education testified first, identifying several funds it said should be exempt: a printing revolving fund that is funded by transfers rather than fees; teacher certification, which is self-funded by educator licensing fees and would require an immediate fee increase if charged; a vending stand set-aside tied to the federal Randolph-Sheppard program and subject to federal approval and vendor committee procedures; and a public school infrastructure/safety account, where most revenue is transferred from the education trust fund or general fund rather than generated by fees. Members questioned the department about the effect on school safety projects and whether the fee would simply reduce the number of projects completed each year. The Veterans Home asked for exemptions for three funds: a donation benefit account used for recreational activities and quality-of-life expenses for residents, a small memorial trust fund whose interest supports veteran activities, and a resident member account that holds veterans’ personal income such as Social Security and pensions. The department argued the charge would reduce donations, cut services, and effectively function like an income tax on vulnerable veterans. The Banking Department also requested exemption for its consumer credit administration license fund, saying it is used to keep exam fees low and is expressly intended by statute to reduce costs on regulated businesses; it said the 5% charge would undermine that framework and could eventually force higher fees. The Department of Justice began testimony on its dedicated funds, starting with the medical legal investigative fund, which pays for death investigations and related services under statute and without general fund support. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee mainly heard testimony and asked questions about the practical and legal effects of applying the administrative charge.

Transcript Highlights:

• If we place the OIG in the executive branch under the Constitution separation of powers principles, the
• separation of powers principles,<00:24:59.279><c> the</c><00:24:59.600><c> governor</c><00:25:00.000
• 02.799><c> determine</c><00:25:03.200><c> who</c> And House Republicans say that the governor is railroading
• the</c><00:26:01.360><c> OIG</c><00:26:01.840><c> bill</c><00:26:02.159><c> by</c> governor is railroading
• the OIG bill by governor is railroading the OIG bill by getting<00:26:02.799><c> involved.

Summary: House DFL leaders held a press availability outlining a broad anti-fraud agenda focused on state programs, especially Medicaid-related services, but also unemployment and tax fraud. They said the package is intended to strengthen accountability, improve oversight, and prevent fraud before it occurs, while arguing that fraud harms vulnerable Minnesotans such as children with autism, people with disabilities, seniors, and homeless people. They also tied the problem to long-term privatization of public services, arguing that outsourcing creates more layers and opportunities for fraud, and cited examples like county case management and managed care arrangements. Specific proposals discussed included strengthening the attorney general’s Medicaid fraud control unit, creating or expanding inspector general functions, requiring more in-person site visits, using electronic visit verification, improving background checks and fingerprinting, and upgrading outdated IT systems. Members said some bills would be relatively low-cost while others would require funding, and that bills without fiscal notes might move separately while others could be folded into budget discussions. They also said the House DFL had already taken steps in prior sessions, including creating a fraud unit at the BCA and adding DHS staff for site visits. The discussion also covered the Office of Inspector General bill, with DFL members saying they support placing the office in the executive branch and that the governor should make the final appointment for constitutional reasons. They said Republicans had blocked amendments they viewed as adding fraud-prevention authority to the OIG bill, and that the governor’s staff had not been involved in working groups. On a separate bill involving disclosure requirements, they said the committee version was improved but still flawed because it could interfere with investigations; they said it would next go to the Children and Families Committee. No votes were taken in the exchange, and members said they were still early in session and hoped for more constructive negotiations later.

Transcript Highlights:

• There are three separate projects within this request. The Sewall Falls, which we...
• Repair of state-owned railroad bridges: we have about 145...
• We have about 145 active railroad bridges.
• Our priority number four is for railroad replacement rail and ties.
• We buy the rail and the ties, and we then work with our railroad lease operators.

Summary: The hearing reconvened with testimony from several agencies on their capital budget requests. The Department of Environmental Services requested a little over $38 million, with major emphasis on dam repairs and design work for aging state-owned dams, including a $5.25 million match for possible FEMA BRIC funding at Pawtuckaway/Tuckaway and other projects such as Milton Three Ponds, Murphy Dam, and Lakeport Gates. DES also requested funding for state revolving loan fund matches, a Superfund match for the Savage Well site, IT and air-monitoring upgrades, and a new $750,000 cybersecurity request for water and wastewater systems. Committee members asked about FEMA eligibility, the distinction between design and construction money, and the timing and risk of banking funds if federal grants do not materialize. The University System of New Hampshire requested $20 million in state support, primarily $15 million for a major Diamond Library renovation at UNH to create a student support hub and reduce/repurpose collection space, plus $2.5 million each for deferred maintenance at Plymouth State and Keene State. The Community College System requested about $16.6 million across seven projects, led by critical maintenance, campus safety/security upgrades, IT infrastructure, parking and site improvements, HVAC replacement at White Mountains Community College in Littleton, a building management/energy system, and modernization of NHTI’s dental clinic and radiology spaces. The Department of Education requested $29.5 million, including a $4.9 million internal management platform to replace paper-based and siloed systems, plus career and technical education capital projects; Milford’s CTE project was described as being revised after repeated failed bond votes, while ConVal said its revised project would focus on modernizing existing CTE space and adding a security vestibule. Fish and Game requested $1.075 million for three facilities: Sewall Falls in Concord, the Lancaster Armory, and the Bunker Lane Barn in Durham, focusing on structural repairs, security, reconfiguration, and in one case replacement of a failing barn with a new 40-by-60 building. The department also said hatchery work is ongoing but that it is taking a cautious approach because of the planned New Hampton Hatchery and future capital needs. The Department of Natural and Cultural Resources requested $9.26 million for eight projects, including campground electrical upgrades at Ellacoya and Lake Francis, White Lake water system replacement, Mount Washington fuel tank and safety work, Odiorne Point visitor center work funded through parks revenue, roofing and parking lot repairs, Fox Forest office safety upgrades, and historic site repairs at White Island and Fort Constitution. Members asked about revenue-based capital, the stability of the parks fund, and flexibility in choosing projects as bids come in. The Department of Transportation began its presentation at the end of the transcript, but its detailed requests were not yet discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• The aquifer layers are separate. That's an example for the Kay Bailey Hutchison facility.
• It boils down to two separate but related buckets.
• D-plus for drinking water and a D-minus for wastewater, which doesn't vote. well for the national grade
• which require large-scale capital improvement projects. recently gave wastewater infrastructure a grade
• Wastewater infrastructure is tied with levees. and receiving the worst infrastructure grade in Texas.

Committee: House Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, and that is railway safety, railroad safety. Uh, and that is railway safety, railroad safety.
• </c> telling the railroad what to do? telling the railroad what to do?
• Any public testimony on railroad safety? I want to do railroad and railway at the same time.
• :27.720><c> railroad</c> public testimony on railroad railroad public testimony on railroad railroad
• It comes railroad. same time. It comes railroad.

Summary: The committee opened by taking roll for the Joint Transportation, Highways, and Military Affairs Committee and noting that 20 topics had been submitted for discussion, including one late addition. Members were asked to number the topics for reference, and the chair explained that each presenter should give a brief overview before the committee returned to the dais for questions and possible ranking or action. No votes were taken during the portion provided. The first topic was a request from the Associated General Contractors of Wyoming to have TRIP, a third-party transportation research organization, present a report on Wyoming’s highway system. The report is intended to identify transportation needs and 25 priority projects, and the committee generally supported hearing the report and methodology directly from TRIP. The next topic combined two similar railroad safety proposals. Representative Chestek described a bill addressing train length, wayside detectors, and track inspections, citing the East Palestine derailment and concerns about reduced inspection frequency. Committee members raised questions about federal preemption and enforcement authority; Chestek said states can be more protective of safety where federal rules leave gaps, and WYDOT said it would need additional expertise and staffing to administer such a program. No public testimony was offered on the railroad topic. The committee then heard two proposals from the Wyoming Military Department. One would study Tricare subsidies for mental health providers by comparing Tricare reimbursement rates with other insurers, gathering de-identified data on eligible members and provider participation, and then returning to the committee with findings before any legislative recommendation. Members discussed whether the issue might fit better in Labor, Health, and Social Services, but the military department said it believed the committee had a strong connection to the topic. The second military topic would study Service Group Life Insurance for state active duty, comparing state and federal death benefits for Guard members to identify any shortfalls. The committee also briefly discussed a VSO program review raised by Representative Neff, focusing on the number of veterans service officers and retention, but no action was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• 00:02:59.879><c> sixth</c> name is Aaron Riley and I'm a sixth name is Aaron Riley and I'm a sixth grade
• teacher serving the Grand Rapids grade teacher serving the Grand Rapids Community<00:03:02.000><c> in
• She said that when her dad hurt his back on the railroad working as a carman, a fourth-generation railroad
• And we did have this bill passed separately on the floor for a reason, because it's that important to
• And we did have this bill passed separately on the floor for a reason, because it's that important to

Bills: HF51 , HF1161 , HF2201 , HF2786 , HF1053

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: HF51, Sibley County, State-Aid Highway 21, capital investment, bonding bill, general obligation bonds, transportation infrastructure, road improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, local infrastructure, county grant, Minnesota Department of Transportation, bond proceeds fund, public works, utility infrastructure, education finance, school district funding, tax base adjustment

Transcript Highlights:

• the sales tax implications of the bill, but in terms of broadband development itself, that is a separate
• Operators must obtain certification from the railroad.
• There are two. separate taxes.
• The money that is collected from that tax rate election to a separate entity to try to get out of the
• The two are separated to allow the taxpayer to understand their portion of general data.

Bills: HB19 , HB30 , HB851 , HB1663 , HB1681 , HB1769 , HB1937 , HB1979 , HB2428 , HB2433 , HB2825 , HB3159 , HB3424 , HB3486 , HB3487 , HB3504 , HB3605 , HB3879 , HB3994 , HB4382 , HB4752 , HB5444 , HB5446 , HB5447 , HB3199 , HB4847 , HB19

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: local government debt, property tax, ad valorem tax, bond election, certificate of obligation, anticipation note, school district tax rate, voter-approval rate, debt service cap, municipal finance, county bonds, flood control district, hospital district, public works, tax transparency, property tax notice, November uniform election date, general obligation bonds, local debt reform, taxpayer notice

Transcript Highlights:

• So if they do a drug test, that's billed separately; counseling is billed separately.
• So if they do a drug test, that's billed separately; counseling is billed separately.
• Clearly, it's a separate branch of government, and so we don't own that.
• Um, clearly that's<00:35:10.880><c> it's</c><00:35:11.119><c> a</c><00:35:11.280><c> separate</c><00:
• 35:11.520><c> branch</c><00:35:11.760><c> of</c> that's it's a separate branch of that's it's a separate

Summary: The Public Safety and Judiciary Committee met without a quorum, so approval of the January 3, January 20, and February 3 minutes was postponed. The committee then heard an update from the Department of Corrections on halfway house and Recovery Kentucky funding and operations. Deputy Commissioner Hillary Daily said DOC contracts for up to 1,752 halfway house beds and 780 Recovery Kentucky beds, with 16 halfway houses and 13 Recovery Kentucky centers statewide. She reported 6,329 admissions in fiscal year 2025, average daily populations of 1,041 in halfway houses and 494 in Recovery Kentucky, and explained that Recovery Kentucky placements are more restrictive, generally excluding violent and sex offenders, while halfway houses serve probationers, parolees, and sex offenders who need treatment. She also described programming such as MRT, parenting, adult basic education, and trauma-focused services, and said some facilities offer supervised visitation. Daily said no new funding request was included in the current budget, though DOC has sought rate increases in prior cycles. Community Transitional Services director Barbara Stum also testified in support of halfway houses as re-entry and substance abuse treatment centers. She said CTS primarily serves men coming out of prison or returning to prison who need treatment, and that halfway houses provide security, accountability, treatment, employment support, and help with home placement. Stum said the state moved substance abuse treatment into the community in 2010 to avoid sending people back to prison for treatment, and argued halfway houses are the least expensive form of incarceration. She cited daily rates of $33.61 for CTS beds and DOC figures of $37.33 to $44.33 per day, compared with higher prison and jail costs, and said reimbursement has not kept pace with inflation since the last increase in 2019. She said staffing and supplies are the main pressure points, with counselor pay below market rates, and noted two counselor vacancies. A former resident, Michael Bird, testified that CTS helped him recover and re-enter the community successfully. The committee also received an update from the Administrative Office of the Courts on implementation of the video arraignment/video conferencing system. AOC officials Zach Ramsey and Charles Buyers said the system is now fully implemented in all courtrooms and is used for video arraignments and other Zoom-based court proceedings. Buyers described the pandemic-era transition from older, inconsistent equipment to improvised laptop/webcam setups, then to a more integrated vendor-supported system with touchscreen controls and a judicial support specialist position for training and operation. He said 324 courtrooms are already up to the current standard, with 128 remaining on an older bundle, and that there are no technical barriers to continued use. AOC said it is seeking $3.8 million in recurring annual funding to keep the systems upgraded and current, and plans to upgrade 46 systems in fiscal year 2026 across 15 counties.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you separately list out, like Uber does, the... booking fee, which is the insurance fee, on Lyft?
• Almost every railroad crew member during the course of his day of employment gets into a third party
• There is no requirement for the carrier, the railroads, to cover them under the Federal Employees Liability
• We're concerned that lessening the amount of insurance for TNCs may have a negative impact on railroad
• employees because the railroads have embraced using TNCs to transport crews now.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:

• On behalf of the railroad workers that I represent, I ask you to oppose this bill. Thank you.
• On behalf of the railroad workers that I represent, I ask you to oppose this bill. Thank you.
• On behalf of the railroad workers that I represent, I ask you to oppose this bill. Thank you.
• On behalf of the railroad workers that I represent, I ask you to oppose this bill. Thank you.
• And with intercity passenger rail, we work with the Federal Railroad Administration.

Summary: The committee took up House File 269 and House File 749 together, both aimed at ending Northstar Commuter Rail service. The bill author described HF 269 as directing the Metropolitan Council and MnDOT to request a federal waiver and discontinue Northstar operations, with HF 749 setting performance requirements that would trigger a similar termination request. Supporters argued Northstar has low ridership, high operating subsidies, and large maintenance costs, and said the agencies now agree with the intent to terminate the line and possibly replace it with bus rapid transit. The chair moved HF 269 to the general register while also laying HF 749 over in committee, and testimony was heard on both bills at once. Testimony split sharply. Supporters of termination, including the bill author and Annette Meeks, said Northstar has consistently underperformed ridership projections, has required large taxpayer subsidies, and should be ended rather than extended. Opponents, including Jesse Cook, Darwin Scherlan, Joel Mueller, Katie Nicholson, and Annie Buckle, argued the line still serves riders, workers, and communities, that low frequency and underinvestment are the real problems, and that the state should improve service rather than shut it down. Several opponents emphasized Northstar’s role for commuters, special events, and future growth, especially the St. Cloud corridor. Met Council Chair Charlie Zelle and MnDOT Commissioner Danenberger said they support carefully evaluating alternatives to commuter rail and acknowledged the subsidy is not acceptable, but they also said the agencies are working with the federal government and BNSF on possible next steps. Zelle said the agencies believe bus service could provide more frequent and direct service, and when asked directly, he confirmed they are in favor of terminating Northstar and replacing it with bus service if feasible. No final disposition beyond the motion on HF 269 and the laying over of HF 749 was recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• replacement, and item number four, replacement railroad ties.
• </c> bonding funds um the railroad bonding funds um the railroad replacement<03:40:12.120><c> rail</c
• </c><03:40:52.080><c> lines</c> and ties on state owned railroad lines and ties on state owned railroad
• The labor would be supplied by the railroad or by the special railroad fund.
• </c> about replacing for the railroad about replacing for the railroad replacement<03:46:30.880><c> ra

Summary: The committee held a public hearing and work session on House Bill 25/25A, the capital improvements budget. Representative David Mills introduced HB 25A, which makes appropriations for capital improvements for the biennium and extends certain lapses from prior appropriations, noting it is based on Governor Ayotte’s budget. The hearing then focused on requests to add or restore funding for several projects, including community college capital needs, Veterans Home ADA and safety upgrades, career and technical education renovations in Milford, and airport infrastructure funding. Shannon Reed of the Community College System of New Hampshire asked for an additional $2.6 million for IT infrastructure, critical maintenance, and energy management systems, citing failing boilers, roof work, cybersecurity needs, and a recent costly water damage incident at Lakes Region Community College. John Graham, representing the New Hampshire Veterans Home, requested $1.5 million for ADA compliance and safety improvements such as floor replacement and wider doors, saying the work would help the home before an upcoming VA inspection and protect federal funding. Lance Whitehead testified for Milford CTE, asking the committee to keep $9.9 million in the budget for a scaled-down renovation; members discussed the town’s failed vote, the need for local matching funds, and the possibility of another vote next year. Tim Thompson of Concord and Margaret Burns of NHMA urged restoration of airport matching funds, arguing that about $3.6 million in state money would leverage roughly $62 million to $65 million in federal FAA funds for safety and infrastructure projects. Trisha Lambert and Andrew Pomroy of the Bureau of Aeronautics and airport management association explained the airport program, the 12 federally funded airports, and how projects are selected through airport master plans and a capital improvement program. After public testimony, the committee closed the hearing on HB 25A. In the work session that followed, staff distributed supporting documents, including cost breakdowns and comparison sheets. The chair indicated the committee would work from the governor’s $143 million capital budget as a baseline and proposed reducing it by about $10 million, largely by removing the Milford CTE item because both towns had voted it down and would not have another vote for a year. The chair said the goal was to bring the overall budget to about $133 million and then repurpose the remaining funds through straw polls and further committee action.

Bills: SCR22 , SB53 , SB204 , SB266 , SB268 , SB291 , SB292 , SB296 , SB304 , SB305 , SB413 , SB447 , SB455 , SB462 , SB493 , SB504 , SB519 , SB522 , SB532 , SB541 , SB667 , SB670 , SB673 , SB681 , SB687 , SB711 , SB746 , SB765 , SB783 , SB827 , SB850 , SB860 , SB888 , SB897 , SB901 , SB927 , SB955 , SB963 , SB984 , SB989 , SB993 , SB996 , SB1023 , SB1033 , SB1058 , SB1062 , SB1101 , SB1119 , SB1172 , SB1173 , SB1215 , SB1220 , SB1227 , SB1228 , SB1229 , SB1238 , SB1239 , SB1245 , SB1248 , SB1254 , SB1259 , SB1273 , SB1277 , SB1302 , SB1332 , SB1341 , SB1346 , SB1350 , SB1352 , SB1353 , SB1355 , SB1358 , SB1370 , SB1371 , SB1378 , SB1403 , SB1404 , SB1415 , SB1437 , SB1448 , SB1450 , SB1464 , SB1493 , SB1494 , SB1537 , SB1566 , SB1569 , SB1589 , SB1598 , SB1644 , SB1709 , SB1719 , SB1729 , SB1733 , SB1744 , SB1772 , SB1810 , SB1841 , SB1895 , SB1930 , SB2039 , SB2289 , SB2312 , SCR1 , SCR6 , SCR27 , SCR32 , SB2232 , SJR4 , SJR27 , SJR40 , SB22 , SB33 , SB36 , SB37 , SB38 , SB95 , SB209 , SB249 , SB311 , SB365 , SB605 , SB618 , SB619 , SB732 , SB745 , SB760 , SB762 , SB779 , SB783 , SB785 , SB819 , SB871 , SB883 , SB1057 , SB1059 , SB1067 , SB1080 , SB1171 , SB1210 , SB1255 , SB1265 , SB1271 , SB1313 , SB1314 , SB1316 , SB1318 , SB1320 , SB1332 , SB1365 , SB1426 , SB1470 , SB1494 , SB1541 , SB1559 , SB1567 , SB1592 , SB1596 , SB1598 , SB1677 , SB1706 , SB1750 , SB1758 , SB1786 , SB1791 , SB1810 , SB1818 , SB1841 , SB1851 , SB1871 , SB1967 , SB2024 , SB2077 , SB2148 , SB2321 , SB2365 , SB2420 , SB2425 , SJR36 , SJR50 , SJR4 , SJR40 , SJR27 , SJR39 , SCR22 , SCR12 , SCR39 , SCR38 , SCR37 , SCR1 , SCR27 , SCR32 , SCR42 , SCR6 , SB779 , SB1470 , SB765 , SB62 , SB666 , SB888 , SB687 , SB847 , SB1248 , SB504 , SB305 , SB296 , SB284 , SB304 , SB1023 , SB204 , SB670 , SB850 , SB854 , SB413 , SB1346 , SB1033 , SB1220 , SB1073 , SB810 , SB1539 , SB447 , SB1119 , SB1505 , SB1215 , SB1302 , SB583 , SB673 , SB681 , SB1172 , SB955 , SB957 , SB541 , SB266 , SB1415 , SB53 , SB1352 , SB785 , SB1450 , SB1502 , SB1566 , SB1062 , SB711 , SB746 , SB1404 , SB1448 , SB507 , SB1026 , SB1349 , SB1355 , SB1433 , SB1434 , SB1596 , SB1403 , SB667 , SB1059 , SB1567 , SB310 , SB311 , SB505 , SB1210 , SB264 , SB1358 , SB1364 , SB1569 , SB1376 , SB1228 , SB519 , SB1350 , SB462 , SB827 , SB1585 , SB1273 , SB927 , SB1227 , SB1229 , SB1353 , SB1464 , SB1709 , SB1729 , SB1733 , SB1744 , SB1772 , SB1841 , SB2016 , SB1173 , SB1163 , SB996 , SB1370 , SB1101 , SB860 , SB993 , SB1537 , SB1332 , SB963 , SB493 , SB984 , SB619 , SB1122 , SB455 , SB522 , SB1057 , SB1239 , SB1254 , SB1255 , SB1259 , SB1341 , SB1877 , SB1277 , SB732 , SB731 , SB268 , SB1589 , SB397 , SB1058 , SB1930 , SB532 , SB508 , SB292 , SB291 , SB901 , SB1333 , SB1436 , SB1494 , SB964 , SB1378 , SB2312 , SB1719 , SB287 , SB2143 , SB1245 , SB261 , SB1247 , SB1882 , SB618 , SB38 , SB393 , SB1371 , SB1365 , SB2243 , SB2226 , SB2039 , SB1919 , SB1895 , SB1598 , SB1493 , SB1810 , SB1791 , SB1706 , SB1644 , SB1238 , SB783 , SB22 , SB651 , SB897 , SB1080 , SB745 , SB826 , SB989 , SB1320 , SB1437 , SB2289 , SB1171 , SB1079 , SB1243 , SB1504 , SB1851 , SB1879 , SB2237 , SB1257 , SB2034 , SB1522 , SB883 , SB249 , SB1318 , SB1151 , SB596 , SB1191 , SB226 , SB570 , SB870 , SB991 , SB60 , SB365 , SB1067 , SB1786 , SB326 , SB1401 , SB1592 , SB1728 , SB1265 , SB586 , SB529 , SB217 , SB209 , SB1923 , SB1559 , SB1839 , SB387 , SB1874 , SB1872 , SB1873 , SB1921 , SB1883 , SB1677 , SB95 , SB1620 , SB1838 , SB2024 , SB2429 , SB1999 , SB511 , SB2309 , SB2166 , SB871 , SB510 , SB33 , SB2420 , SB1860 , SB1541 , SB1316 , SB1314 , SB1313 , SB1426 , SB1398 , SB1869 , SB1750 , SB1871 , SB36 , SB855 , SB1233 , SB760 , SB2425 , SB2037 , SB1758 , SB1759 , SB2365 , SB1924 , SB762 , SB1271 , SB1818 , SB605 , SB1405 , SB1762 , SB1968 , SB1977 , SB2077 , SB2148 , SB2321 , SB1967 , SB1662 , SB1663 , SB2124 , SB2204 , SB1855 , SB863 , SB37 , SB2232 , SB819 , SB2078 , SB2252 , SB1962 , SB2253 , SB825 , SB1577 , SB1184 , SB2018 , SB2206 , SB1901 , SB1030 , SB2368 , SB1963 , SB1960 , SB1643 , SB1625 , SB1299 , SB841 , SB668 , SB584 , SB231 , SB2411 , SB1085 , SB2431 , SB2231 , SB1490 , SB530 , SB34 , SB1261 , SB552 , SB1099 , SB1646 , SB2180 , SB1804 , SB1937 , SB1936 , SB2569 , SB1372 , SB1208 , SB1124 , SB1506 , SB1806 , SB1868 , SB2361 , SB2314 , SB769 , SB1409 , SB2122 , SB434 , SB1214 , SB1951 , SB2183 , SB2046 , SB1667 , SB1870 , SB1727 , SB2405 , SB2127 , SB1975 , SB1760 , SB1734 , SB1335 , SB2066 , SB2129 , SB2246 , SB2439

Keywords: SCR 22, Senate Concurrent Resolution 22, official state gun, state symbol, cannon, artillery, Texas Revolution, Battle of Gonzales, Come and Take It, Alamo, San Jacinto, Twin Sisters, Sam Houston, Angelina Eberly, Texas history, historic weapon, commemorative resolution, state emblem, Texas heritage, Gonzales Memorial Museum

Transcript Highlights:

• CURRENTLY, CHARTER SCHOOLS CAN CLOSE IF THEY'VE GOT A CERTAIN GRADE FOR TWO YEARS IN A ROW.
• Tiana is in fifth grade and Miley is in seventh grade, and they are enjoying watching the process.
• literature which had a huge positive impact in my life as someone who became an avid reader in third grade
• To me, when I was in eighth grade, it was in the bargain bin at the book fair.
• AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS ORGANIZATION THAT IS TOTALLY SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE EMPLOYMENT FILE.

Bills: HB29 , HB 125 , HB145 , HB171 , HB255 , HB50 , HB796 , HB363 , HB 116 , HB491 , HB589 , HB1495 , HB368 , HB 1285 , HB1905 , HB1360 , HB2002 , HB917 , HB2723 , HB2067 , HB 1238 , HB2337 , HB745 , HB 1188 , HB1606 , HB2003 , HB2147 , HB2391 , HB2355 , HB2546 , HB2495 , HB2818 , HB2249 , HB1749 , HB3109 , HB3228 , HB3240 , HB1507 , HB658 , HB1748 , HB1851 , HB1922 , HB2001 , HB2798 , HB 107 , HCR29 , SB5 , SB262 , HB 11 , HJR72 , HB 106 , HB18 , HB48 , HB27 , HB37 , HB1481 , HB581 , HB1696 , HB2216 , HB 1035 , HB1633 , HB742 , HB754 , HB1689 , HB1690 , HB2669 , HB391 , HB517 , HB 1024 , HB1607 , HB252 , HB1716 , HB1562 , HB4116 , HB1866 , HB1741 , HB2103 , HB2637 , HB2884 , HB503 , HB 1089 , HB2986 , HB972 , HB502 , HB29 , HB 125 , HB145 , HB171 , HB255 , HB50 , HB796 , HB363 , HB 116 , HB491 , HB589 , HB1495 , HB368 , HB 1285 , HB1905 , HB1360 , HB2002 , HB917 , HB2723 , HB2067 , HB 1238 , HB2337 , HB745 , HB 1188 , HB1606 , HB2003 , HB2147 , HB2391 , HB2355 , HB2546 , HB2495 , HB2818 , HB2249 , HB1749 , HB3109 , HB3228 , HB3240 , HB1507 , HB658 , HB1748 , HB1851 , HB1922 , HB2001 , HB2798 , HB 107 , HCR29

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

Summary: The Florida House of Representatives conducted legislative business including prayer, pledge, and voting on multiple bills. Key legislation included HB 1105 expanding Florida Bright Futures Scholarship eligibility, HB 443 on charter school regulations (passed 83-23), and HB 1539 on materials harmful to minors (passed 81-29) after extensive debate about book challenges in schools. Other bills addressed education funding, law enforcement benefits, parole guidelines, and various local issues. The Speaker announced budget negotiations with the Senate have stalled, with disagreements over spending levels and tax cuts. The House will not meet this weekend as originally planned. Session adjourned until tomorrow at 10 AM.

Transcript Highlights:

• So once again, here we are with the same bill to encourage and incentivize shortline railroad expansions
• So consider that: on the high end, railroads would already have had to make a $12 million investment
• And just to put that in perspective, New Mexico has lost over 500 miles of railroad track in the last
• jobs in this business is to steward the assets that were given in the railroad community, and that's
• And that really we agreed would be a separate bill, not included in this tax holiday.

Bills: SB36 , SB88 , SB92 , SB97 , SB48 , SB55 , SB58 , SB76 , SB93 , SB89 , SB60

Committee: Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation

Keywords: quantum technology, tax credit, infrastructure, economic development, New Mexico, corporate tax, research and development, innovation, foster care, income tax, guardianship, youth services, financial relief, affordable housing, gross receipts tax, tax deduction, construction materials, multifamily housing, low income, tax credits