Video & Transcript : 'contract modifications' :
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ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Feb 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Number two, this chapter shall not apply to a contract entered into prior to the effective date when
- Then it talks about the choice of law in cases where there are contracts, where a private party gets
- into a contract, and the contract specifically decides, calls out and says, look, if there's going to
- So if that was the contract entered into, and back then, it would not be touched by this, because this
- only..." "...into, and back then it would not be touched by this, because this only affects contracts
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 556, which would raise the state reimbursement rate paid to counties for housing state inmates in county jails from the current $55/$75 tiered system to a flat $80 per day. Representative Skaug, county officials, sheriffs, and the Idaho Association of Counties all argued the current rates do not cover actual jail costs and shift a substantial subsidy onto county taxpayers. Testimony cited average county costs of roughly $106 to $120 per inmate per day, with Ada and Canyon counties describing large daily populations of state prisoners and limited programming for long-term inmates. Members asked about programming, out-of-state housing costs, and where the additional $3.1 million fiscal impact would come from. A substitute motion to hold the bill until February 25 failed 5-8, and the committee then voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
The committee then took up House Bill 602, which states that Idaho courts should apply American law and not foreign law when doing so would conflict with Idaho public policy or fundamental rights. Sponsor testimony described the bill as a clarification that foreign law, foreign forum selection, and related decisions are unenforceable when they would limit rights such as privacy, marriage, due process, speech, or religion, while noting exceptions for certain entities, preexisting contracts, and religious exercise. Members asked whether the bill could affect treaties or prior international custody-related issues; sponsors said treaties were exempted and the bill would apply prospectively. Caleb Pierce of the Idaho Family Policy Center testified in support, and the committee unanimously sent the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 654, which adds electronic storage detection dogs to Idaho’s police dog protection statute. Representative Vili and Idaho Attorney General’s Office witnesses explained that these dogs are trained to detect a chemical associated with electronic storage devices, helping investigators locate hidden devices in child exploitation cases and other investigations. Testimony emphasized the dogs’ usefulness in search warrants and their role in comforting children present during enforcement actions. The committee then voted to send the bill to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and adjourned after concluding its business.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Feb 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And it's not much fun trying to win a contract when you're starting off with a 5 or 10 point disadvantage
- Two, it will include a vibrant, skilled, and deeply committed Washington community in public contracting
- It codifies racial, sexual, and orientation-based stereotypes into state contracting law.
- regularly assists small business owners navigating discrimination, access to capital, and public contracting
- Community members are losing visibility in the OMWBE database, missing contracting opportunities, and
Summary:
The committee met to take executive action on House Bill 2523, concerning the Community Reinvestment Program, and House Bill 2606, concerning the Office of Privacy and Data Protection. Staff briefed a proposed substitute for HB 2523 and several amendments. The substitute would change how Community Reinvestment Account funds are distributed, require tribal consultation, update the community reinvestment plan on a regular cycle, expand reporting and Office of Equity responsibilities, add definitions, and broaden the WSIPP study. Amendments to shorten the plan update cycle, restrict recipients from receiving other state housing assistance, bar certain officers and family members from grants, require independent audits, and expand WSIPP review were debated; only the amendment changing the plan update cycle from 10 years to 5 years was adopted. The committee then voted 8-5 to report the substitute HB 2523 out of committee with a do pass recommendation. HB 2606, which was described as implementing JLARC recommendations to reduce redundancy and improve efficiency in privacy/data protection functions, was then approved unanimously and reported out with a do pass recommendation.
The committee then held public hearings on House Bill 2684 and House Joint Memorial 4012. HB 2684 would establish rebuttable presumptions that members of certain groups are socially disadvantaged for purposes of OMWBE certification, including adding Middle Eastern and North African individuals to the framework. Testimony was split: some speakers opposed the bill as discriminatory or constitutionally problematic, while others, including representatives of MENA businesses, CAIR Washington, and OMWBE, supported it as a needed fix to improve access to certification and contracting opportunities. The chair noted that amendments could still be submitted before the next day’s executive session, and the bill was set for further consideration the following morning.
House Joint Memorial 4012 urges Congress to bring the Major Richard Star Act to a floor vote. The prime sponsor and veteran advocates testified that the memorial seeks to address the “wounded veteran tax” by allowing combat-injured service members who retire before 20 years of service to receive both retirement pay and VA disability compensation. Supporters said the change would correct an inequity affecting Washington veterans and their families. The committee closed the hearing on the memorial and announced that both HB 2684 and HJM 4012 would be considered the next morning.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Jan 27th, 2026 at 04:23 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- It states that the Veterans Services Department's analysis would allow the department to contract for
- It will supplement that, and the need for two-term employees and contracting requirements.
- Under the existing requirements, we would need both full-time employees: one as a contract manager at
- the lowest level to establish those and do contract management with every vendor throughout the state
- , which could be numerous... ...and do contract management with every vendor throughout the state, which
Summary:
The House Labor, Veterans, and Military Affairs Committee met with a quorum and heard two bills from Representative Martinez. House Bill 56 would appropriate $1 million to the Department of Veterans Services to expand behavioral health and suicide prevention efforts for veterans. Supporters, including the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Veterans Services, the Disability Coalition, New Mexico Professional Firefighters, the New Mexico Veterans and Military Families Caucus, and NAMI New Mexico, said the funding would help veterans navigate a difficult system, improve outreach in rural areas, and address New Mexico’s high veteran suicide rate and related alcohol and drug deaths. Committee members asked about whether the program was new or an expansion of an existing effort, how services would be delivered, and whether outreach would reach homeless and rural veterans. The secretary explained that the bill would augment an existing Suicide Prevention Act program, use contracts with outside providers rather than direct services, and require two term employees for contract management and outreach. The committee voted 7-1 to give HB 56 a due pass and send it to the next committee.
The committee then heard House Bill 55, which would create an income tax deduction for retirement income earned by first responders, similar to an existing benefit for military retirees. Supporters argued it would help recruit and retain firefighters, law enforcement, and other first responders, and could encourage retirees to move to New Mexico and contribute economically. Several members raised concerns about the fiscal impact, the lack of a sunset, the narrow definition of first responder, and Taxation and Revenue Department concerns that the bill could reduce general fund revenue by about $6.1 million in the first year and might not attract retirees on its own. The sponsor said he had not yet met with Tax and Rev but would do so, and noted he was open to a sunset if it helped the bill move forward. Despite concerns, the committee voted 7-1 to pass HB 55 to the next committee, with members explaining their votes and emphasizing that the bill would receive further vetting in Tax and Revenue.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Revenue Jan 27th, 2026
Joint Committee on Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- for school districts that contract their bus services to third-party vendors rather than owning their
- they would have paid in taxes for diesel buses would add around $1.5 million to their school bus contract
- Around $1.5 million to their school bus contract over a five-year period.
- Our goal is to continue expanding our efforts and competing on more student transportation contracts,
- However, the... ...more student transportation contracts, adding much needed vendor choice for the local
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Revenue
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on 17 miscellaneous and late-file bills, with testimony focused on several local tax and policy measures. The first major item was H. 4687 for Watertown, which would make permanent a temporary tax classification adjustment allowing the city to maintain a 50% minimum residential factor and a 175% commercial shift. Watertown officials and legislators said the change is needed because the city’s commercial growth has triggered an old statutory formula that would otherwise push a larger share of the tax burden onto homeowners, especially seniors and fixed-income residents. They said the current temporary relief expires in fiscal 2027 and warned that, without permanent action, residential tax bills could rise sharply; committee members asked about the regional business impact, commercial taxpayers such as Alexandria Real Estate, and Watertown’s stabilization and free cash balances.
The committee also heard H. 4435, a Charlemont bill authorizing a tax on commercial recreation services. Town officials said the measure would help a small rural town with a large tourism and recreation economy cover increased police, fire, and EMS costs caused by visitors, while reducing pressure on local property taxpayers. A committee member questioned whether the proposal fit within existing tax law and whether it was more like a tax on entry than on services; town witnesses responded that it would apply to recreation-related services such as guides and lifts and was modeled on the meals and rooms tax.
Finally, testimony was taken on H. 4722, which would promote fair tax treatment for zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, including electric school buses and trucks, by capping sales and excise taxes at the level of comparable diesel vehicles. Supporters said the bill would remove an unintended tax penalty, help school districts and transportation providers afford electrification, and remain revenue-neutral. Representative Gentile also testified in support of H. 4722 and H. 4755, a Sudbury bill to amend the town’s means-tested senior citizen property tax exemption so the local program can continue without requiring a new special act if it lapses. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded after testimony and questions.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Health and Human Services Mar 19th, 2025
House Health & Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- On behalf of our 47 community hospital members and the CRNAs they employ and contract with, we stand
- I won't read you the contract from the RFP again, but remember that it was... not promised to any of
- How they go about that and who they contract with is part of the managed care environment, and so they
- However, who they contract with is important.
- So, we're excited about pulling together this study and doing some contract work to see what we would
Committee:
House House Health & Human Services
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Transportation and Public Works Feb 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- On the first sheet, we received about $6 million for contract maintenance.
- A joint powers agreement would really work on a maintenance-type contract where they could come in and
- Chairman, when it comes to the work I see on I-40, and it's under DOT, contracted by you guys, how's
- Let me note, though, that I do list the construction contracts.
- to not getting a contract.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Gold clause to that language and just says that if there's a gold clause in a contract, this would be
- a contract between two citizens of Idaho, maybe two businesses in Idaho, that specifies payment of the
- contract in gold or silver bullion, that the courts would enforce that if there was a need to enforce
- , say, a breach in the contract.
- So what this bill would do, it would add the language to the Idaho Code that said if there are contracts
Committee:
Senate State Affairs
Summary:
The Senate State Affairs Committee heard a series of routing slips and bills, mostly on property, housing, elections, state investment, and government administration. Several RSs were introduced to print without objection, including a memorial recognizing Idaho rangelands and pastoralists, a fee increase proposal to raise Idaho State Patrol trooper pay, penny-rounding guidance for cash transactions, updates to a bill involving state universities, limits on reappointing a gubernatorial appointee after Senate rejection, ADU and duplex/starter-home housing measures, a fix to the education career ladder for teachers returning from administrative roles, a private-property measure allowing farmers to gift five acres to immediate family, a partisan countywide highway district election proposal, and memorials recognizing Taiwan and Italy-related ties. One wildlife crossings memorial was flagged as incorrectly drafted in the wrong form and was not acted on pending correction.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 1338, which would allow the state treasurer, with advisory board approval, to invest idle state funds in gold or silver bullion stored in a class-one vault, including possible storage in Idaho, Utah, or Texas. Supporters argued it would diversify investments and hedge inflation; some senators expressed caution but the bill advanced on a due-pass recommendation, with several senators recorded voting no. Senate Bill 1323, which would enforce gold-clause contracts involving precious metals, also advanced to the floor with a due-pass recommendation after brief discussion.
Finally, Senate Bill 1299, dealing with digital ID, was discussed at length. The bill would prohibit government from requiring digital identification, preserve physical ID as valid, and bar government from requiring someone to unlock a phone for identification. Senators questioned the civil penalty language and whether the bill was proactive or would affect current Idaho practice; the sponsor said it was intended to prevent future mandates, not ban digital ID. On motion, the committee sent the bill to the 14th order for possible amendment rather than advancing it directly. The committee then adjourned.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- DPS aircraft have been forced to decentralize maintenance, primarily using over 11 contracted vendors
- So there's the text thoughts you're contracting, as I heard the senator lay out.
- Are you contracting with them now?
- And with this bill being implemented, would that continue to be a contract through TxDOT, but yet your
- So, in this... ...would we probably still have to contract out some maintenance?
Committee:
Senate Border Security
Keywords:
overweight vehicle, vehicle weight limits, hazardous materials, hazmat, cargo tank, fuel transport, trucking, commercial vehicle, Transportation Code, criminal penalty, second-degree felony, loading violation, truck weight, axle weight, gross weight, public safety, commercial carrier, Texas, commercial truck, truck route
AK
Transcript Highlights:
- Corporation, relating to reporting requirements for natural gas pipeline projects, relating to approval of contracts
- by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, and in Projects relating to approval of contracts by the Regulatory
- gas pipeline projects, creating the Alaska Affordable Heating Fuel Fund, relating to approval of contracts
- gas pipeline projects; creating the Alaska Affordable Heating Fuel Fund; relating to approval of contracts
- gas pipeline projects, creating the Alaska affordable heating fuel fund, relating to approval of contracts
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and approved the journal and the prayer for the record. The clerk read gubernatorial messages calling the legislature into a third special session and describing the call around House Bill 381, a major natural gas project bill addressing property taxes, municipal taxes, AGDC, reporting requirements, contract approval, an alternative volumetric tax, municipal impact grants, and related provisions. Messages from the Senate reported passage of a Senate-amended version of HB 381 and transmission of Senate Concurrent Resolution 203 to suspend certain rules related to the bill.
The House introduced HCR 301 and HCR 302. HCR 301, which suspends rules on carryover of bills into a special session, passed 40-0. The House then took up the Senate amendments to HB 381. The Majority Leader outlined the Senate changes, including new school funding provisions, reorganization and oversight of AGDC funds, a public project dashboard, stricter bond approval requirements, a heating fuel assistance fund, changes to the alternative volumetric tax structure and distribution of revenues, a permanent rather than sunsetted tax break, new deadlines tied to final investment decision and construction, and a new graduated income tax on certain pass-through entities. He urged members to vote no on concurrence, and the House rejected concurrence 12-28.
Because the House did not concur, the Speaker appointed a conference committee on HB 381 consisting of Representative Schrage, the Majority Leader, Representative Edgmon, and Representative Ruffridge. HCR 302, authorizing the House and Senate to recess for more than three days, passed 40-0 after members stated the recess was intended to allow conference negotiations to continue and that the body would return on a time certain. The House also received two governor-request bills, HB 3001 and HB 3002, both referred to the Finance Committee. The House then excused several members for specified absences and adjourned until July 1 at 10:30 a.m.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Most recently, there was a contract or a letter of intent signed. Taiwan and Idaho.
- Most recently, there was a contract or a letter of intent signed between our wheat growers and Taiwan
- The one thing that entering into longer-term grant cycles and longer-term contracts does is that it helps
- And so short-term and standalone purchases can cost up to 40% more than long-term contracts.
- And so short-term and standalone purchases can cost up to 40% more than long-term contracts.
Committee:
House State Affairs
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
ALC-STATE INSURANCE PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE Mar 18th, 2026
ALC-STATE INSURANCE PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- So you all would see that revised amendment to that contract sometime May, June, because I still have
- We have a presentation today by the Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Contracts and related marketing
- touch on the strategy that Grant talked about with the decoupling, the medical and the pharmacy contracts
- You've got your medical care and prescription drugs under the same contract with a single insurance carrier
- If you have a Medicare Advantage plan that's covering medical, they can set up contracts with providers
Summary:
The committee received an update from Grant Wallace on the rebid and possible decoupling of the state’s Medicare Advantage retiree coverage. He said the state is exploring splitting medical and pharmacy benefits for post-65 retirees, with UnitedHealthcare as the incumbent vendor, and that preliminary estimates suggested savings of about $100 to $200 per participant per month. He outlined the expected timeline for final CMS rate announcements in April 2026, with contract amendments likely to come before the committee in May or June after review by the EBD Advisory Commission and State Board of Finance.
Representatives from Segal Consulting then reviewed the history and current structure of the Medicare Advantage prescription drug plan, explaining that the plan was adopted after a 2021 recommendation and launched in 2023 alongside the existing Med-Sup option. They said the Medicare Advantage option has produced substantial savings, including a lower monthly rate than the Med-Sup plan and about $40 million in savings from initial enrollment, while also restoring pharmacy benefits for some retirees. The presenters then explained recent federal changes under the Inflation Reduction Act, including major changes to Part D funding, the direct subsidy, and risk-score methodology, which they said have made risk adjustment much more important and are driving interest in separating medical and pharmacy contracts.
In response to questions from senators, the presenters said the Medicare Advantage plan covers post-65 teacher and state employee retirees, including retirees from state agencies and K-12 public schools. They also explained that the new Part D structure has reduced out-of-pocket costs for members, with a $2,000 annual cap and lower average member spending to reach it, while shifting more cost to the plan. No votes were taken and no formal action was reported; the committee simply received the update and was told to expect further information after the April rate notice. The meeting adjourned with the committee scheduled to return on May 13.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
ALC-STATE INSURANCE PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE Mar 18th, 2026
ALC-STATE INSURANCE PROGRAMS OVERSIGHT SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- So you all would see that revised amendment to that contract sometime May-June, because I still have
- We have a presentation today by the Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Contracts and related marketing
- touch on the strategy that the grant talked about with the decoupling, the medical and the pharmacy contracts
- You've got your medical care and prescription drugs under the same contract with a single insurance carrier
- You've got your medical care and prescription drugs under the same contract with a single insurance carrier
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Feb 24th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections
Transcript Highlights:
- The next bill before you is substitute House Bill 2420 relating to small works roster contract limits
- The maximum contract value will increase from the current $350,000 to $650,000 by July 1st of 2030.
- I'll close it out by saying that when I'm not here in the legislature, my day job is working in contracting
- the amount of work that I've seen Director Matthews and her team really do out and about in that contracting
- it out by saying, you know, when I'm not here in the legislature, my day job had is working in contracting
Bills:
HB1759 , HB2417 , HB2632 , HB2249 , HB2574 , HB2309 , HB2235 , SGA9066 , SGA9246 , SGA9268 , SGA9267
Keywords:
designation, commemoration, December 12, local observance, cultural significance, military justice, victims' rights, militia, Washington code, legal protections, citizenship, immigration, terminology, rights, legal status, HB 2249, Washington Technology Solutions, WaTech, civil service, classified service
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- HCA bears the cost of contracting with a third-party administrator to calculate and administer the assessment
- This bill would allow the state to move the cost of contracting with a third-party administrator away
- HCA bears the cost of contracting with a third-party administrator to calculate and administer the assessment
- This bill would allow the state to move the cost of contracting with a third-party administrator away
- when implementing provider payment initiatives under Medicaid managed care organization, or MCO, contracts
Committee:
House Appropriations
Keywords:
climate change, commitment act, emission reductions, sustainability, environmental policy, HB 2254, Washington, Health Care Authority, partnership access line, psychiatric consultation line, first approach skills training, behavioral health, mental health, assessment, administrative costs, health insurance, health carriers, self-funded plans, multiple employer welfare arrangement, MEWA
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- States Small Business Administration in the definition of historically underutilized businesses for contracting
- small businesses owned and controlled by veterans are included. ...receive equal consideration in contracting
- been determined to have suffered discrimination and or had been underutilized in their pursuit of contracts
- and one of the proposals was to create a separate category with incentives but not requirements to contract
- State contracts in the past have shown us how difficult the process can be.
Committee:
Senate Veteran Affairs
Keywords:
veteran-owned businesses, state contracting, historically underutilized business, economic opportunity, small business, economic development, veterans, certification, Texas legislation, unmanned aircraft, spaceport, criminal offense, aviation regulations, airspace safety, military installations, concurrent jurisdiction, governor's approval, state agency, land acquisition, Veteran Affairs
Summary:
The meeting of the Committee on Veteran Affairs addressed several significant bills aimed at supporting veterans and their businesses. Among the bills discussed was SB390, which seeks to expand the definition of historically underutilized businesses to include all veteran-owned businesses, regardless of disability status. This change aims to create a more equitable economic landscape for veterans and to foster their participation in state procurement opportunities. The committee heard strong testimony supporting this initiative, emphasizing the importance of providing veterans with fair chances in business development.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- for the Committee on Elections, HB 4153 by Fairly relating to the equitability, uniform grant and contract
- permit for to the Committee on Public Health, HB 4169 by Compost relating to the fire remediation contracts
- HB 4173 by Reynolds relating to the contracting with companies that boycott or discriminate against certain
- rate for taxing unit for the Committee on Ways and Means, HB 4195 by Leo Wilson relating to the contracts
- HB 4235 by Schaffner relating to the postsecondary degree requirements and hiring and contracting by
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- HB 4153 by Fairley relating to the ability to establish uniform grant and contract management standards
- HB 4169 by Compost relating to fire remediation contracts, referred to the Committee on Trade, Workforce
- HB 4173 by Reynolds relating to contracting with companies that boycott or discriminate against certain
- HB 4195 by Leo-Wilson relating to contracts with the acceptance of money from certain foreign sources
- HB 4235 by Schaffner, relating to the post-secondary degree requirements in hiring and contracting by
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture (11-6-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- so that we can ensure that care contract so that we can ensure that we've<01:03:48.640><c> really</c
- </c><01:13:34.640><c> that</c> need to make for future contracting that need to make for future contracting
- When you give a farmer an opportunity to have a contract with a school district or a co-op to be able
- </c> build out a forward contracting build out a forward contracting opportunity<01:25:04.080><c> there
- They've been cheating the marketplace for decades upon decades by putting contracts together with our
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Attendance Roll Call 00:01:00
Approval of Minutes 00:02:31
Kentucky Farm Bureau 00:02:42
Kentucky Department of Agriculture 00:28:18
Kentucky Cattlemen's Association 01:48:13, 958, all
Summary:
The committee heard first from Kentucky Farm Bureau leaders, who outlined the organization’s current priorities and recent work on farmland transition. Eddie Melton said Farm Bureau is working through 983 county and advisory committee resolutions and highlighted support for the updated selling farmer tax credit, now law through House Bill 775, as well as Senate Bill 28’s agriculture economic development provisions. He said Farm Bureau’s likely priorities include maintaining the 50% share of the tobacco settlement fund for agriculture, protecting funding for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, preserving sales tax exemptions on farm inputs, keeping property taxes controlled, and exploring additional tools to keep farmland in active farmers’ hands, including possible loan or inheritance-tax changes. He also raised concerns about eminent domain transparency, nuisance deer permits, and access to agricultural inputs and crop protection products.
Alita Bots described the farmland transition initiative in more detail, saying the revised state tax credit is generating strong interest and that a new federal tax provision now allows eligible land sales to actively engaged farmers to spread capital gains taxes over time. She said the initiative has reached 22 counties and more than 1,300 people this year through outreach and meetings, and that Farm Bureau is pairing policy work with resources to help farm families plan transitions and prepare wills and other estate documents. Drew Graham added that the effort is also meant to bridge the rural-urban divide and support rural communities, and Farm Bureau invited members to its annual meeting in early December.
Members asked about rising insurance costs and deer damage. Farm Bureau representatives said severe convective storms, inflation, and higher repair and material costs have driven insurance rate increases, citing five major storm events since 2021 and a recent Owensboro hailstorm that caused about $350 million in losses; they said the company is moving toward percentage deductibles to help moderate increases. On deer, they said crop-loss totals are hard to quantify but acknowledged the problem and discussed possible coordination with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Hunters for the Hungry. Commissioner Jonathan Shell then began the Department of Agriculture presentation, reporting gains from the department’s school agriculture outreach program, including a 23% increase in county participation between March and September and improved teacher-reported student learning, before continuing into the department’s legislative priorities.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Conference Committee on H.F. 4252 - Omnibus Higher Education finance and policy - 05/14/26
Transcript Highlights:
- But the purpose at that time was to allow those contracts to sort of continue.
- Um you know, our our they contract with.
- </c><01:06:15.160><c> and</c> know, folks have existing contracts and know, folks have existing contracts
- </c> uh those contracts to sort of continue. uh those contracts to sort of continue.
- Senator Putnam, I believe it's contracts entered into on or before July 1st, 2025. Thank you, Mr.
Summary:
The committee discussed a higher education attainment-goals bill and several related amendments. Members first reached agreement on funding changes: one amendment redirected money for fraud-prevention software for MnSCU and $5,000 for trees in Bemidji, and another moved $570,000 for workforce development-related funding. Members noted the use of general fund dollars to cover a FIG shortfall and expressed support for addressing fraud prevention while also saying MnSCU should be made whole in the next biennium. Both amendments were adopted.
The main policy debate centered on an amendment updating the statewide attainment goal and related P-20 partnership language. Senator Um Ruebain proposed returning the attainment goal from 75 percent to 70 percent, and members discussed whether the bill’s expanded reporting and coordination duties would create costs for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Nonpartisan staff and Commissioner Olsen said the Office of Higher Education and the P-20 partnership expected no costs, while DCYF’s fiscal note assumed reporting and staffing costs. After discussion, DCYF indicated it would absorb the costs, but some members still objected to expanding the partnership and creating additional bureaucracy.
Members also debated whether early childhood and K-12 subgoals should be included as part of the attainment-goals framework. Supporters said aligning early childhood, K-12, and higher education goals is necessary to improve postsecondary attainment, while opponents argued the committee should focus on existing higher education goals and basic K-12 achievement. The committee ultimately adopted the Senate language on the attainment-goals section as amended, including the change back to 70 percent and revisions directed by staff to ensure the correct references were updated. The A12 amendment on pregnant and parenting students was also adopted earlier in the meeting.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Transportation, Highways and Public Works Mar 17th, 2026
Transportation, Highways & Public Works
Transcript Highlights:
- process would allow us to enter into that negotiation and see if we could negotiate a competitive contract
- Contract with Labmore to take over operation of that ferry system.
- , does it look like it's going to be a good cost savings to the state by entering into a private contract
- By entering into a private contract? So I think certainly the service improves.
- And there's flexibility in the way we negotiate the contract, so we'll look at all of those different
Keywords:
HB 129, Act 783, highway designation, memorial highway, Louisiana Highway 173, Louisiana Highway 3194, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Dr. Harry Blake Sr., Virginia Green Evans, DOTD, Department of Transportation and Development, road signage, honorary naming, commemorative sign, transportation, HB 130, Act 124, Louisiana highway memorial, road naming
Summary:
The House Transportation Committee met on March 17 and first took up House Bill 129, which would designate a portion of Louisiana Highway 173 as the Dr. Harry Blake Senior Memorial Highway. An amendment package was adopted that also added a separate designation for a portion of Louisiana Highway 3194 in Shreveport as the Virginia Green Evans Memorial Highway. Representative Walters described both honorees as important figures in civil rights and community service. HB 129 was then reported with amendments.
The committee next considered House Bill 130, which redesignates the elevated portion of Interstate 220 in Caddo Parish as the American Legion Post No. 14 Memorial Bridge. Amendments were adopted to add “Memorial Bridge” to the name. Representative Walters spoke in support of honoring veterans, and HB 130 was reported with amendments. The committee then heard House Bill 854, a specialty license plate bill. Amendments added several schools, made technical changes, required OMV implementation when statutory and system requirements are met, removed a provision allowing OMV to retain $1 per annual fee, and redirected annual fees to the Louisiana chapters of the Alzheimer’s Association and the R. Tamney-Fleming Lupus Foundation. Members raised concerns about the growing number of specialty plates and OMV’s ability to produce them, but HB 854 was also reported with amendments.
After the bills, the committee received an update on the proposed privatization of the Cameron Ferry Service. The Secretary said the process began with an unsolicited proposal from Laborde and a competitive solicitation that produced a qualified bid, and that negotiations would focus on service improvements rather than guaranteed cost savings. Members asked about costs, maintenance, fuel, staffing, and the impact on travel times if the ferry is out of service. The Secretary said the goal is to complete the process by the end of the fiscal year, around July 1. The committee then adopted the minutes from the listed 2025 regular session dates and adjourned.