Transcript Highlights:

• Colleagues, I had the honor and distinct pleasure and maybe burden of running for this seat in a primary
• , and we both had primaries and we'd call each other...
• We both had primaries, and we'd call each other all the time and keep each other going.
• We both had primaries. We'd both won them.
• You can have lots and keep your options open.'

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You're, um, what happens, I guess, is that kind of an open-ended exposure farmers have to take.
• </c><00:10:25.279><c> exposure</c><00:10:25.920><c> Farmers</c> kind of an open-ended exposure Farmers
• kind of an open-ended exposure Farmers have<00:10:26.560><c> to</c><00:10:26.800><c> take</c><00:10:
• The primary end use would be to recycle it.
• The primary end use would be to recycle it.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, the primary species raised in the state are included: things like farmed cervid, cattle, dairy
• species raised in the state the primary species raised in the state are<00:29:04.039><c> included</c
• a great deal of information<01:27:09.119><c> allowed</c><01:27:09.520><c> for</c><01:27:09.760><c> open
• </c><01:27:10.159><c> discussion</c> information allowed for open discussion information allowed for
• open discussion and<01:27:10.800><c> ideas</c><01:27:11.800><c> researched</c><01:27:12.440><c> what<

Bills: HF1063

Committee: House Agriculture Finance and Policy

Keywords: grain buyers, grain dealer, grain elevator, agriculture, financial reporting, audit, CPA review, independent accountant, financial statement, balance sheet, cash flow, nonpublic data, licensee oversight, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, grain purchase volume, insolvency, nonpayment, warehouse chain, fiduciary duties, producer protection

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, you got to really extend line open.
• I think that the SFA meetings are open.
• Well, I think the first year SFA opened 11 classrooms. The second year they opened 11 classrooms.
• This year I think it's scheduled to be 25 more classrooms will be open.
• </c> to be 25 more classrooms will be open. to be 25 more classrooms will be open.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education heard several advice-and-consent nominations to the School Facilities Authority. For GM779, Shelley Pa was introduced as a nominee for a term ending June 30, 2029. The Department of Education supported her nomination, citing her large-scale operations and stakeholder-engagement experience. In her testimony, Pa said she retired from community policing, wanted to give back to teachers and students, and believed her strengths were collaboration, listening to community input, and helping balance differing priorities. Committee members questioned her about the construction and infrastructure focus of the board, her lack of direct construction experience, and how she would handle disagreements and budget limits; she responded that she would rely on collaboration, ask questions, and keep decisions centered on students, teachers, and the community while staying within budget. The committee then heard GM777 and GM778 for Robert Davis, with terms ending June 30, 2025 and June 30, 2029. Davis described more than 30 years with the Department of Education, including roles as teacher, coach, counselor, vice principal, principal, and complex area superintendent, and said he had worked on major facilities projects and managed pandemic-era funding. He emphasized communication, transparency, and trust, and explained that his experience on the Early Learning Board helped him understand how to set policy, identify schools for pre-K, and use data and community factors in decision-making. Members asked how he would handle SFA’s growing pains, the need to balance DOE wishes with practical and budgetary limits, and the board’s role when the legislature controls funding; Davis said the board must keep communication open, include the right people, and make sensible decisions that move projects forward without stalling. For GM780, nominee Michael Unbasami was introduced for a term ending June 30, 2029. The Department of Education supported him, highlighting over five decades of public service and experience in facilities management, finance, and legislative affairs. Unbasami said he had recently retired after 31 years as associate vice president for administrative affairs for the community colleges and had extensive experience with facilities planning, construction, renovation, repairs, and working within budgets. He stated that the DOE should be treated as the SFA’s client because it knows student, teacher, and facility needs best, while SFA’s role is to implement construction work and collaborate on priorities. Committee members pressed him on how to balance DOE requests with practical project delivery, especially for teacher housing and other non-classroom needs, and he said the legislature funds the work, SFA must keep projects moving, and the workflow should involve collaboration but also realistic decisions that fit the budget and avoid delays.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 1972, Henry's opened their doors.
• come, the jerky on your desk is from the Jimenez family in Lovington, a relatively new business, opened
• and I'd like to announce to the members of the body that the officers in the Senate have signed an open
• President, Senator, what is the Primary objective. Of the industrial revenue bond process.
• And that's why it hasn't been opened. It's not, it's not being used. It's a stranded asset.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd be very open to that amendment. I'd be very open to that amendment. Yeah, additional questions?
• No one else has signed up on that amendment. elections between primaries and elections between primaries
• I don't want to make it too open-ended.
• </c><01:43:38.080><c> to</c><01:43:38.400><c> online</c><01:43:38.960><c> 23</c> um would you be open
• I don't know how many it too open-ended I don't know how many places<01:43:53.960><c> they</c><01:43

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, that's my opening. All right. Thank you. All right. I do have a question on it.
• Primary concern is that the bill creates a new exemption for family land split from subdivision requirements

Summary: The Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee met on March 5 and took up Senate Bill 1355, sponsored by Senator Harris. The bill would create a narrow exemption allowing landowners to gift or sell five-acre-or-larger parcels to immediate family members without going through the full subdivision process, with ownership and holding-period requirements intended to prevent speculation. Harris said the measure was meant to help farm and rural families keep land in the family and allow children to establish homes or agricultural operations, and he asked that the bill be sent to the 14th order for possible amendment. Testimony was mixed. Ada County Development Services Director Richard Beck and Blaine County land use director Rachel Martin opposed the bill as written, saying it could create parcels that still do not meet local zoning, building, or safety requirements, could be unbuildable, and could create enforcement problems around family relationships and holding periods. Martin also warned about hillside and avalanche hazards in mountainous areas and suggested an administrative review process or an agricultural-land limitation. In support, Teton County resident Tom Henson said current county minimums and lending practices make it difficult for his children to finance homes on family land, and Pacific Legal Foundation’s Reese Empey backed the bill as a way to reduce regulatory barriers to family housing and agricultural transfers. Idaho Association of Counties executive director Seth Grigg said counties could work with the sponsor on friendly amendments to address administrative concerns. After discussion, the committee voted to send Senate Bill 1355 to the 14th order for possible amendments. The committee then approved the February 19, 2026 minutes and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, that's my opening. All right. Thank you. All right. I do have a question on it.
• Primary concern is that the bill creates a new exemption for family land split from subdivision requirements

Committee: Senate Local Government and Taxation

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You'll see predominantly Charlotte, Collier, and Lee County were the primary places where refunds happened
• With that, I’m going to open it up to questions. Any questions? Senator Bernard, you’re recognized.

Committee: Senate Finance and Tax

Summary: The Committee on Finance and Tax met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from Lissette Kelly of the Department of Revenue’s Property Tax Oversight Office on property tax relief for catastrophic events. Kelly reviewed existing statutory relief for homestead, non-homestead, commercial, and agricultural property owners, including extended rebuild timelines, preservation of homestead exemption during rehabilitation, agricultural classification protections, and the catastrophic event refund program for residential property that becomes uninhabitable. She also explained the refund process, the roles of property appraisers and tax collectors, and prior legislative reimbursements to local governments after storms such as Ian, Nicole, and Idalia. Members asked about how portability works if a homeowner chooses not to rebuild, and Kelly said she would follow up with more detail. Senator Bernard also asked how residents learn about the refund application, and Kelly said property appraisers and tax collectors actively notify affected owners, including through mailings, FEMA and Red Cross sites, public service announcements, and outreach at community events. She said the property appraisers take the lead in promoting the program, with tax collectors also helping direct taxpayers to apply. The chair noted that staff will distribute the department’s guide to offices before hurricane season and said the committee’s next meeting, during the first week of session, will focus on property taxes more broadly. Kelly said the department would be willing to review the process further and bring suggestions if needed. No votes were taken on legislation, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• framework author has called in primary framework author has called in an<00:08:04.000><c> interview<
• We did have this open for people to sign up for testimony.
• Representative Kisha will—we'll open up testimony for another 15 minutes.
• </c> so I just think that like we're opening so I just think that like we're opening up<01:13:12.679>
• At this time, we'll close public testifying and open up to member questions.

Committee: House Education Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And from the very first time I spoke with Mike, not only did he open the door, but he held it wide open
• AND FROM THE VERY FIRST TIME I SPOKE WITH MIKE, NOT ONLY DID HE OPEN THE DOOR, BUT HE HELD IT WIDE OPEN
• All you have to do is open a newspaper.
• The resolution is open for co-sponsorship.
• &gt;&gt; THE RESOLUTION IS OPEN FOR CO-SPONSORSHIP.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, and then processed a series of motions to discharge bills from committees and substitute identical Senate bills, which were so ordered. Several bills were also recalled from the Assembly, had reconsideration votes taken, and were restored to the third reading calendar after receiving 58 ayes. Amendments were received on a number of bills, and those measures retained their place on the calendar. The main business of the day was Privileged Resolution 2318, sponsored by Leader Stewart-Cousins, honoring Senator Michael Gianaris with the President Pro Tempore and Senate Majority Leader’s Legislative Legacy Award. The resolution and floor remarks reviewed his long career in the Assembly and Senate, his role as Deputy Majority Leader and floor leader, and his work on housing, criminal justice, voting rights, labor, environmental, consumer, transit, animal welfare, and other major legislation. Members from both parties spoke at length, praising his strategic skill, mentorship, humor, and influence, while also noting his support for younger members and his commitment to family. Several senators described personal experiences showing Gianaris’s mentorship and political guidance, and many referenced his Greek American identity, Queens roots, and interests such as Star Wars and the Mets. Senators also emphasized that he was leaving on his own terms to spend more time with his wife and daughters. The resolution was adopted with broad support, and Gianaris then spoke in response, reflecting on nearly 30 years in state government, the major laws passed during his tenure, and the relationships he built in the chamber.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, we mean, you say it opens a door.
• ><c> this</c> language here where the doors open this language here where the doors open this much,<00
• So, can you offer much, not wide open.
• It seems to be like agriculture as one of the primary.
• Um, we would have to primary.

Committee: Senate Economic Development and Tourism

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2693 relating to capital improvement projects for aerospace infrastructure. Members had no questions, and the recommendation to pass the bill with a defective date of July 1, 2050 was adopted unanimously. The committee then deferred decision making on Senate Bill 26980 relating to transportation and Senate Bill 2374 relating to the blue economy until Thursday, February 19, 2026, in Room 229, pending additional information. In the joint hearing on Senate Bill 2816 relating to state enterprise zones, agencies and organizations including DBEDT, HTDC, Taxation, the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Oceanit, the Hawaii Medical Association, and the Queen’s Health System testified in support or submitted written comments. One public testifier urged expanding enterprise zones around the Kakaako/Cancer Center area and combining them with the foreign trade zone to reduce taxes and attract business. A senator questioned whether the enterprise zone program had ever been comprehensively evaluated, noting DBEDT said it had not done a full study in recent years and cited annual report figures including about $221 million in company revenues and $460,000 in foregone state revenue in 2022. The discussion focused on whether the bill would subsidize existing activity or support new economic development, and on the broader policy question of whether enterprise zones should be used to revitalize depressed areas or to target strategic sectors like health care technology. The committee then heard Senate Bill 2900 relating to sports officials. The Department of Education supported the measure, saying the Attorney General is best positioned to represent employees in temporary restraining order matters and that elevating intentional bodily injury of a sports official to a class B felony would improve safety. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the bill, arguing it would escalate conduct already covered by existing assault statutes and go beyond other protected classes. The Department of the Attorney General recommended narrowing the bill by inserting “substantial” before bodily injury in the criminal section and deleting a section that would make the AG’s office act like plaintiff’s counsel in civil matters, suggesting instead that departments adopt policies to help employees obtain TROs without creating an open-ended civil representation role. Several sports and school-related organizations testified in support, and members discussed whether the bill should be narrowed or coordinated with other measures before further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• And uh Ryan Majeras, the Democrat researcher, also always open.
• I'd say you're open the same.
• c><01:40:53.840><c> a</c> the the state of Minnesota is open for a the the state of Minnesota is open
• One of my primary concerns is children's use of AI chatbots.
• One of my primary concerns is children's use of AI chatbots.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the wintertime, one of the primary activities that they have that I think of all the time.
• And one of the primary things is our buying power and what has happened with heavy highway construction
• The state transportation fund is another primary resource that we have.
• It wasn't so much in the primary forefront.
• with the other elections, that the costs for the runoff will be pretty close to the cost for the primary

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:08:26.960><c> roads</c><00:08:27.360><c> after</c> assist Pilaski in opening roads after assist
• Pilaski in opening roads after they<00:08:27.919><c> got</c><00:08:28.080><c> done</c><00:08:28.400>
• </c><00:16:09.279><c> Uh</c><00:16:09.600><c> our</c> want to get this road opened.
• Uh our want to get this road opened.
• I will say this: I am proud to report that we did have all of our state roadways open in Laurel County

Keywords: 00:00:39 Roll Call 00:02:57 Severe Weather Damage 00:39:00 Work Zone Safety 00:47:12 Local Assistance Road Program 01:10:18 Admin. Regs 01:15:37 Aviation Impact Study, 958, all

Summary: The committee’s first interim meeting opened with roll call, a quorum, and a briefing from Transportation Cabinet officials on the Cabinet’s response to severe weather and tornadoes in Kentucky, especially the May 16–17 storms that caused deaths and widespread damage in Pulaski and Laurel counties, with an additional tornado noted in Washington County. Secretary Jim Gray, State Highway Engineer James Ballinger, and District 11 engineer Chris Jones described how crews in all 120 counties were placed on alert, how roads were cleared of debris, and how KYTC coordinated with emergency management, law enforcement, local governments, and utilities to restore access and power. They reported major impacts on roads, signals, and other infrastructure, including the EF4 tornado path through Pulaski and Laurel counties, and said KYTC also helped with debris hauling, airport cleanup, and delivery of water and meals. The officials gave specific recovery figures for Laurel County, including 1,800 loads of construction and demolition debris hauled, about 11,000 tons and 22,000 cubic yards removed, with roughly 50% of vegetative debris cleared at that point. They said all state roadways in Laurel County were reopened, the London-Corbin Airport was returned to flight operations by Sunday, and a transition plan was underway for Laurel County Fiscal Court’s contractor to take over debris operations. Gray also noted that KYTC had helped issue replacement IDs, licenses, registrations, and titles at no cost in disaster areas, and said the Team Kentucky Storm Relief Fund had raised nearly $1.5 million from more than 6,000 donors. Members praised KYTC staff as first responders and thanked them for their quick response and coordination. Several legislators recounted local impacts in Washington, Pulaski, and Laurel counties, including blocked roads, rescue challenges, looting concerns, and the scale of property damage. One member asked how KYTC inspects bridges and infrastructure after disasters to check for hidden damage, and officials said the process depends on the event and can include bridge inspections and checks of tall infrastructure such as light poles. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> another term you used when when opening another term you used when when opening the<00:35:29.800
• What is it if we open the accounts to anyone regardless of income?
• You are just opening a Pandora's box with no limits. Thank you. Thank you very much.
• It's very open access. People attend the school board meetings.
• I'm from Portsmouth, and thanks for having the open hearing.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 115-FN, which would remove the income cap from New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account eligibility rules. Representative Valerie McDonnell, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure is intended to fund students rather than systems and to expand educational choice regardless of income or zip code. She described the change as a small statutory edit but argued it would have significant benefits, including helping families afford alternative education settings and testing costs such as AP exams. She also cited testimony from families who said EFAs helped children with special needs or difficult circumstances, and she argued the program is popular and cost-effective. Committee members questioned McDonnell about the bill’s fiscal impact and administration. One member asked whether removing the income cap would extend vouchers to families above the statewide median income and whether the change could cost more than $100 million annually; McDonnell said she did not agree with that estimate and pointed to Arizona as a comparison. Representative Wendy Thomas asked whether the bill should require stronger data-sharing from the Children’s Scholarship Fund, which administers the program, so the Department of Education and taxpayers could better track spending; McDonnell said the program already uses ClassWallet and regulated expenditures, and that the question was better directed to the administrator. Several members testified in opposition. Representative Wendy Thomas said the bill would increase costs for public schools, raise local property taxes, and worsen oversight problems. Representative Heath Howard argued the proposal would function as a subsidy for wealthy families already paying private tuition and said public education and special education should be funded first. Representative Megan Murray also opposed the bill, emphasizing the lack of a legal reporting requirement for EFA spending and the need for transparency, accountability, and attention to special education needs. Representative Sam Farrington supported expansion, sharing a constituent story about a student who left public school after harassment and benefited from private school placement. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We expect that to be 0.75% by hotel opening in 2030.
• It is for 45 years from the commencement date, from the hotel opening.
• So 45 years from the hotel opening? Correct. Gotcha.
• We, the actual incentive period begins at hotel opening, expected in 2030.
• And so you acknowledge that there will be a dip once this hotel is open.

Summary: The committee first adopted the fiscal status statement and five-year baseline summary after a brief discussion about how the baseline percentages are calculated and why projected expenditures exceed revenues in later years, with staff explaining that inflation assumptions drive much of the increase. The Office of Facility Planning and Control then received approval for several items: adding eight higher education deferred maintenance projects, approving a $412,993 change order for LSU’s Jesse Coates Building project, reporting four smaller change orders for information, and combining two Hornbeck water projects into one expanded water plant/well and distribution plan. The committee also approved a two-year extension for UL Lafayette’s Banner ERP consulting contract and approved additional Water Sector Commission funding of $5.5 million for the Tensas Water District Association, with a $100,000 local commitment noted. The most extensive discussion centered on a proposed tax increment financing package for a new 1,000-room Omni headquarters hotel adjacent to the New Orleans Convention Center. Project representatives said the hotel would require about $550 million in private investment, with the authority contributing land and $80 million, and that the package would dedicate state and local tax increments for 45 years after opening. Senators and representatives questioned the structure, the length of the incentive, the expected return to the state, possible cannibalization of existing hotel tax revenue, and why the convention center would receive a 1% stream for so long. Several members said they wanted more information on projected annual revenues and the overall return before voting, and the committee deferred the item to the next month. Later, Louisiana Economic Development requested one-year extensions for two marketing-related contracts with Zender Communications and Graham Group, and the Department of Education sought an amendment to the Odyssey contract for the Louisiana Gator program. The education discussion focused on the per-student cost of $143.50, the use of current enrollment and appropriation levels to set the contract ceiling, the fact that startup costs were no longer included, and the need for continuity before the current contract expires June 30. Members asked for an RFP to be considered for future years and for more information on student outcomes and actual spending. The committee took no vote on the education item during the discussion, and the meeting adjourned after the final exchanges.

Transcript Highlights:

• We expect that to be 0.75% by hotel opening in 2030.
• It is for 45 years from the commencement date, from the hotel opening.
• So 45 years from the hotel opening? Correct. Gotcha.
• The actual incentive period begins at hotel opening, expected in 2030.
• And again, only on the property proper once it's opening. Okay.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Summary: The committee first received a fiscal status statement and five-year baseline budget update from the Office of Planning and Budget. Members were told there were no changes to the baseline, but several current-year items now require appropriations, including Hurricane Katrina closeout costs under GOSEP, projected Department of Corrections shortfalls for offender medical care and overtime, and a reduction in the minimum foundation program tied to February 1 student counts. After questions about how the five-year percentages and inflation assumptions were calculated, the committee adopted the fiscal status statement. The committee then approved several Facility Planning and Control items, including adding eight higher education deferred maintenance projects to the approved list under Act 751, a $412,993 change order for LSU’s Jesse Coates Building project, a report of four other change orders for informational purposes, and combining two Hornbeck water projects into a single expanded water plant and distribution project. It also approved a two-year extension of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Banner ERP consulting agreement and approved Water Sector Commission recommendations for an additional $5.5 million for the Tencel Water District Association, which included a $100,000 local commitment. A major portion of the meeting focused on a proposed tax increment financing package for a 1,000-room headquarters hotel adjacent to the New Orleans Convention Center. Witnesses described the project as a $550 million private investment supported by state and local tax dedications, with projected benefits including more convention business and improved competitiveness. Members raised concerns about the 45-year term, the use of a 1% state tax dedication, possible cannibalization of existing hotel revenue, and the return on the public incentive. After extensive questioning, the committee deferred the proposal to the next month for further review and requested additional projections. Finally, the committee reviewed contract extensions for Louisiana Economic Development’s marketing vendors and a Department of Education amendment for the Odyssey platform used in the Louisiana Gator program. The education officials explained the contract is based on a per-student amount of $143.50 and that the current amendment is needed to avoid a lapse when the existing term ends June 30. Members discussed whether an RFP should be started for future years to seek a better price, and the department said it would be able to provide academic outcome data after the current testing cycle. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Open the roll. Representative Hasenbeck votes aye.
• Seeing none, open the roll. Representative Woolley, I don't...
• Seeing none, open the roll. Seeing none, open the roll. Vice Chair Hasenbeck votes aye.
• Seeing none, open the roll. Vice Chair Hasenbeck votes aye.
• Seeing no debate, staff open the vote. Hasenbeck votes aye.

Bills: HB4491 , HB3240 , HB4146 , HB4158 , HB4159 , HB3718

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee

Keywords: extracurricular activities, charter schools, student eligibility, virtual education, Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association, prayer, religious freedom, public schools, consent, First Amendment, school policy, paid maternity leave, school employees, public health, childcare, work-life balance, education, family leave, tuition, grant

Transcript Highlights:

• It says, the legislature finds and declares that the primary purpose of this state system of public schools
• in secondary English language arts communications coursework that incorporates, when appropriate, primary
• The primary concern we heard from the school districts was something that was included in the previous
• out, and again, I didn't hear his presentation earlier, the outline of these principles and these primary
• These are primary documents.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all