Transcript Highlights:

• Cancer Institute of America, the only practice of its kind in the country, focusing exclusively on innovative
• the strong economic relationship between Arizona and Israel, particularly in water technology, innovation
• the strong economic relationship between Arizona and Israel, particularly in water technology, innovation
• , and trade ties. particularly in water technology, innovation, and trade ties that benefit our state
• With your permission, the brand-new Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Committee will not be meeting

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a similar effort to spur and scale innovation in our educator preparation programs.
• Many of the district of innovation opportunities that we have.
• Pruneda, you said Texas is a leader in innovation to improve achievement.
• And I sometimes worry that we spend so much time working here to innovate.
• So when you did the innovation.

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• Regulation does not mean slowing down innovation, but it's worth pointing out that that's the cost that
• Ree and I are AI innovation. Now Dr.
• , does not mean slowing down innovation, does not mean slowing down innovation, but<00:10:28.000>
• <00:23:27.200> Um Again, we do not want to set AI innovation in contrast to worker welfare
• <00:23:48.720> in not want to set AI innovation in not want to set AI innovation in contrast

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We in the Commonwealth have always prided ourselves on being innovative and leading by example.
• By passing House Bill 4431, we can balance opportunity with oversight, innovation with integrity, and
• Our association retained the Innovation Group to do a study on iGaming expansion.
• This analysis is based on a 2025 Innovation Group study that found from 2020, on a 2025 Innovation Group
• We're an alliance of established market leaders and innovators in the social-plus gaming space.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, chaired by Rep. Carole Fiola and Sen. Barry Finegold, held a lengthy hearing on a range of gambling-related bills. Testimony first focused on H. 496 to allow the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to authorize Plain Ridge Park Casino to add table games and more slot machines. Supporters, including Rep. Jeffrey Roy, Sen. Finegold, Rep. Barry R. Finegold, Rep. Brian Vaughn, and Plainville officials, argued the change was needed to keep Massachusetts gaming dollars from flowing to Rhode Island, protect jobs, and preserve local tax revenue. They described Plain Ridge as a strong community partner and cited host-community benefits such as municipal infrastructure projects and local aid. Opponents or skeptical witnesses later argued that expanded gambling, especially online, would increase harm and cannibalize existing casinos and local economies. The committee also heard testimony on bills related to sports betting restrictions and online gambling. Sen. John Keenan presented a “Better Health Act” proposal to ban prop bets and in-play bets, require affordability checks, prohibit hosts, raise the sports betting excise tax, expand funding for problem-gambling services, and increase research and data sharing. He and supporters framed the bill as a public-health response to addiction, suicide, bankruptcy, and other harms. Rep. David Nangle, speaking from personal experience with gambling addiction, strongly opposed internet gaming, warning that it would intensify addiction and expose children and families to 24/7 gambling on phones. In contrast, Rep. David Moradian and industry witnesses supported H. 4431 to legalize and regulate internet gaming, arguing it would bring illegal activity into a regulated market, generate new revenue, and include consumer protections such as age verification, deposit limits, self-exclusion, and responsible-gaming tools. The committee also took testimony on H. 4238, which would expand fundraising options for fraternal organizations, especially the Elks. Rep. Bruce Ayers and Elks representatives said the bill would help lodges raise money for scholarships, veterans’ services, and community programs after COVID-related losses and declining membership. On H. 480, Rep. Kathleen LaNatra, Rep. Badger, and representatives of veterans organizations and gaming-machine operators urged allowing qualified veterans groups to participate in certain video gaming activity, saying it would provide a sustainable revenue source to keep posts open and support veterans’ services. Dr. Rachel Volberg testified that expanding gambling, especially online gambling and slot machines at veterans organizations, would likely increase gambling harm, and she urged stronger harm-prevention measures, data reporting, and research funding. Other witnesses, including anti-gambling advocates and industry representatives, sharply disagreed over whether legalization would reduce illegal gambling or worsen addiction and social costs. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, after all, our economy is fundamentally an innovative economy.
• An innovative economy.
• The research and development credit is an important tool for innovation in California.
• And it was, our hope was to spur innovation across the entire economy.
• In relation to AB124,000, support research, innovation, and job creation in California.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They're innovators of immense talent that are walking away, many of them, from growing.
• And my rural health agenda, which is bipartisan, focuses on innovation, telehealth access points.
• It could actually save public health, but it's all going to rely on innovation, and I don't want to do
• anything that inhibits or impairs the pace of innovation.
• From approving AI algorithms to determining Medicare coverage, we certainly need more innovation, and

Transcript Highlights:

• It strains our resources and limits our ability to reinvest in growth, innovation, and our workforce.
• in growth, innovation, and our workforce.<01:12:28.159> In<01:12:28.320> aligning<01:12
• <01:18:40.400> that capital investment, and innovation that capital investment, and innovation
• It provides financial relief and empowers smaller businesses to invest in innovation.
• I'm sorry. leader in innovation and economic leader in innovation and economic development.<01:21:52.800

Bills: HF3127, HF3816, HF3814, HF3815, HF3817

Keywords: taxation, pass-through entity, qualifying owner, partnership, S corporation, tax return, corporate franchise tax, individual income tax, research expenditures, federal compliance, Minnesota Statutes, income tax, corporate tax, section 179, federal conformity, HF3815, Minnesota taxes, tax conformity, Internal Revenue Code, IRC conformity

Transcript Highlights:

• Employers are desperate for employees and are looking for innovative ways to attract and also retain
• The Cards to Career program is an example of one of these innovations.
• and are looking for Innovative and are looking for innovative<00:19:47.880> ways<00:19:48.320
• <00:30:05.600> displays managers to create Innovative displays managers to create Innovative
• Health Care coverage Innovative Health Care coverage Innovative HealthCare<00:59:50.359> coverage

Bills: HF1439, HF1004, HF498, HF1326

Keywords: HF1439, Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation, Carts to Careers, workforce development fund, DEED, Department of Employment and Economic Development, grocery industry, food industry, food retail, retail workforce, job training, career pathways, scholarships, certifications, workforce pipeline, one-time appropriation, industry training, labor shortage, youth employment, apprenticeship

Transcript Highlights:

• But this year marked the seventh consecutive year of record research expenditures, supporting innovation
• that's interdisciplinary work when you take music and chemistry and bring that together and the innovation
• It also helps us fuel that innovation for communities, and it allows us to have that impact that I think
• , innovation and commercialization occur.
• Some really good work going on there, and we're intentionally... ...innovation and commercialization

Summary: The committee met at NDSU and approved the April 9 minutes. The main purpose of the meeting was an informational presentation from NDSU President David Stewart and university leaders on the university’s priorities, including enrollment, student success, research, commercialization, and use of New Horizons funding. Stewart emphasized a “One NDSU” approach, thanked legislators for past support, and said the university will focus on recruitment and retention, a new strategic plan, and growing research and tech transfer while serving North Dakota’s workforce needs. University leaders said NDSU is using tuition waivers more strategically and will work to reduce them over time through scholarship optimization. Provost Sherry Vale described academic portfolio reviews, program closures or consolidations, strategic hiring, and workload policies aimed at aligning resources with demand. They also highlighted student outcomes, including high completion rates, strong employment placement, and NDSU’s role in producing a large share of the state’s engineers, nurses, and agriculture graduates. Several students testified about how NDSU’s mentoring, internships, research, and support services helped them succeed. The committee also heard from partners on New Horizons-related collaborations: Gateway to Science described K-12 STEM outreach in rural and tribal areas, and Sanford Research discussed joint research efforts, including COBRE-related work, obesity and GLP-1 studies, and a joint biostatistics hire. Later speakers highlighted Governor’s School and NDSU’s research and commercialization efforts, including growth in research expenditures and invention disclosures. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Further, the Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering is leading innovations in open-source large
• language models, which promote collaboration and innovation, improve data privacy and control, foster
• finally, we want students to learn about the internals, the guts of AI so that they can become innovators
• I’m the Director of Ed Resources and Innovation at the Washington State Board of Community and Technical
• It’s really sparked conversations on innovation and having us think about different things.

Summary: The committee spent much of the meeting hearing presentations on student mental health supports at Central Washington University, Washington State University, the University of Washington, and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. CWU described high levels of student distress, loneliness, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and basic-needs insecurity, along with a campus-wide holistic well-being model that includes behavioral intervention teams, emergency aid, peer outreach, community partnerships, and a collegiate recovery community. WSU emphasized loneliness, common presenting concerns such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and relationship distress, and the role of housing and residence life, resident advisors, living-learning communities, and coordinated crisis response in identifying and supporting students. UW highlighted prevention and support programs through LiveWell, including alcohol and other drug consultations, confidential advocacy, suicide intervention, student needs navigation, peer health educators, and peer wellness coaches. The community and technical college system reported persistent access barriers, especially for students ages 18 to 24 and those facing housing or food insecurity, and said the legislature-funded mental health pilot at four colleges expanded counseling access, telehealth, and referral pathways, while broader system efforts focus on awareness, telehealth, basic-needs supports, and workforce training in behavioral health fields. Members asked each panel how they gather student feedback, and the institutions said they use surveys, evaluations, and ongoing outreach to students in services. Questions also focused on substance-use and recovery resources, Greek life outreach, and whether colleges have enough licensed mental health staff versus academic advisors; the community college board said not all colleges have licensed mental health providers on staff, and some rely on community contracts or telehealth. The committee also discussed whether counseling services are increasing because of post-pandemic effects or because students are more willing to seek help, with presenters saying both factors likely play a role. The committee then shifted to artificial intelligence in higher education. Washington State University, the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and the community and technical college system described campus AI task forces, governance structures, and efforts to set policies for students, faculty, and staff. Presenters said institutions are requiring course-level AI use statements, promoting ethical and transparent use, expanding access to approved tools such as Microsoft Copilot, and using AI for teaching, research, advising, and administrative support while guarding privacy, equity, and academic integrity. Members raised concerns about deepfakes, bias, student monitoring, and whether AI should be used to screen applications or evaluate student work; presenters said human review remains essential and that some institutions prohibit AI use in hiring or admissions screening. The final presentation, from OSPI, described the statewide rollout of the School Links high school and beyond plan platform under 2023 legislation, saying it will standardize career and college planning across K-12, provide better data and student guidance, and connect students to postsecondary pathways and employers; OSPI said the rollout is underway but current funding only extends through June 30, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• most important committee in the entire Arizona House, the Advanced Artificial Intelligence and Innovation
• Other states have focused on public-private partnerships and initiatives to foster AI innovation and
• Both new laws focus on AI innovation as well, with new government coordination in California to provide
• AI infrastructure for startups and researchers, and a regulatory sandbox to test AI innovations in Texas
• I know that's not really your job, but I'm curious, because states are incubators of innovation, and

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It also directs the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, or DFPI, to conduct a disparity
• Small business lending and innovative projects like community land trusts.
• Finally, we are also very concerned about the new costs to the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation
• Potential bankruptcy of the Department of Finance and Innovation? Do we know about that?
• for people who are not sitting in an oversight hearing talking to the Department of Finance and Innovation

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , introduced by **Senator Stewart** (unknown ID), an act relating to public funds, creating the Innovation
• Making a transfer from the general fund to the Innovation and State Government Fund, making appropriations
• from the Innovation and State Government Fund.
• Public funds, creating the Innovation and State Government Fund for state agencies to create master plans
• and State Government Fund, making appropriations from the Innovation and State Government Fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, so today we have the great opportunity to get a briefing from the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance
• I am the executive director of the Minnesota Climate Innovation Finance Authority.
• This is a future that is going to be more affordable and cleaner, more reliable, and safer innovation
• And lastly, uh, this really goes to kind of the innovation in our name.
• <00:24:17.600> and these types of uh innovative and these types of uh innovative and renewable

Bills: HF2986, HF3555

Keywords: virtual power plant, VPP, distributed energy resources, DER, demand response, load management, grid modernization, peak demand, peak shaving, battery storage, energy storage, solar photovoltaic, solar panels, electric vehicles, smart thermostats, heat pumps, aggregator, public utilities commission, PUC, rate recovery

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:03:55.440> Now, innovation at the local level. Now, innovation at the local level.
• <00:08:59.680> and we're asking for some innovation and we're asking for some innovation and
• We'll have new and innovative ways to try to have fraud, waste, and abuse.
• We'll have new and innovative ways to try to have fraud, waste, and abuse.
• We'll have new and innovative ways to try to have fraud, waste, and abuse.

Bills: HF4210, HF4212, HF4549, HF4464, HF4546, HF4447

Keywords: senior nutrition, older adults, aging services, home-delivered meals, congregate dining, meal delivery, grocery delivery, food insecurity, nutrition support, area agencies on aging, Minnesota Board on Aging, human services, special revenue fund, nonprofit grants, SNAP outreach, medically tailored meals, rural nutrition, food access, transportation services, elderly

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, again, if this innovation is successful, and... Natural community.
• And so again, if this innovation is successful and USDA is continuing to work this in conjunction with
• Sometimes they're referred to as gene drive or other innovations.
• She has us also exploring the GE fly and any other innovations that may be out there that we can vet
• , or excuse me, your intervention, than you would otherwise. ...as far as your innovation, or excuse

Summary: The joint hearing focused on preparedness for the New World screwworm threat and brought together the House Committees on Culture, Recreation, and Tourism and Agriculture and Livestock. USDA officials, Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, and Texas Animal Health Commission leadership described the pest as a serious risk to livestock, wildlife, rural economies, and beef prices, and emphasized coordination among federal, state, industry, and Mexican partners. Witnesses repeatedly stressed that Texas is currently seeing no confirmed U.S. detections, but that recent confirmed cases in northern Mexico, including Nuevo León, remain a concern because of their proximity to the border. USDA testimony outlined current surveillance and response efforts, including more than 120 screw worm-specific traps along the Texas border and neighboring states, thousands of additional dual-purpose traps, wildlife inspections, weekly coordination with Mexico’s Senasica, and a new USDA New World Screwworm Directorate. Officials said the existing Panama sterile fly facility is maxed out at about 100 million flies per week, while a dispersal facility in Tampico is helping move flies farther north in Mexico. They also described plans for a retrofitted sterile fly facility in Metapa, Mexico, expected to come online in 2026, and a new domestic production facility at Moore Air Base, with phase one targeted for late 2026 or early 2027 and phase two adding substantially more capacity later. Members pressed USDA on timelines, production capacity, the reliability of Mexican reporting, the risk from wildlife, and whether modular or mobile facilities could be deployed faster. USDA said it is also exploring innovative technologies, including a genetically engineered sterile male fly, but that such tools still require EPA review and field validation. Commissioner Miller highlighted Texas biosecurity efforts, five permanent inspection stations, cooperation with FDA and EPA on treatments such as Exzolt, and other pest issues affecting Texas agriculture. He also noted research into fly bait and private-sector efforts to speed sterile fly production. Texas Animal Health Commission officials described extensive state preparedness work, including weekly coordination calls, field response trainings, outreach to producers and veterinarians, and a Texas Screwworm Response Team. They said Texas has trained more than 100 inspectors and other personnel, with additional trainings planned, and that the state is expanding its cattle fever tick rider program. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the hearing; the main action was the exchange of testimony and questions about readiness, surveillance, and facility timelines.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our innovation economy is part of what is driving our economy right now.
• Bottom line, the choice is not innovation or artists.
• We also want to innovate, and we want folks to create content here.
• And I am a pro-innovation person. I teach computer science. It’s all about innovation.
• Sorry, Nagarajan, background in tech policy, strategy, and innovation.

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee and Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing at Stanford on the intersection of artificial intelligence, copyright, transparency, and California’s creative economy. Chairs and members emphasized that the hearing was not on a specific bill and no vote would be taken. Opening remarks framed the issue as balancing protection for artists and other rights holders with the need to keep AI innovation and related economic activity thriving in California, while noting that federal action is unlikely and that state policy may influence national standards. The first panel featured Professor Pamela Samuelson and Stanford researcher Rishi Bommasani. Samuelson reviewed the current copyright litigation landscape, including dozens of lawsuits over AI training, and explained the fair use framework, the Google Books precedent, and the uncertainty around newer theories such as market dilution. She said states can likely regulate transparency, deepfakes, privacy, and safety, but warned that some proposals may be preempted by federal copyright law. Bommasani described widespread opacity around training data among major California AI companies, discussed AB 2013 and the EU AI Act as transparency models, and identified gaps in disclosure design, enforcement, and whether transparency alone can address copyright and IP concerns. Members asked about open-source models, opt-outs, machine unlearning, user data, and state options for protecting creators. The second panel included SAG-AFTRA board member Jason George, Animation Guild president Danny Lynn, and OpenAI copyright counsel Mark Gray. George and Lynn argued that AI training on performers’ and artists’ work without consent or compensation threatens jobs, bargaining power, and reputations, and they supported stronger transparency and licensing requirements so creators can identify when their work is used. Gray said AI is already being used as a productivity tool and highlighted partnerships between AI companies and publishers, record labels, and studios, while arguing that specific harmful uses such as deepfakes should be regulated directly rather than restricting general-purpose AI development. Committee members discussed labeling and watermarking of AI-generated content, transparency around model use, and whether state law should require more detailed disclosure of training data; no formal action was taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• For small businesses, it's about access: access to innovation, access to expertise, and access to opportunities
• I'm the director of the Technology and Innovation Office at the New Mexico Economic Development Department
• unique tool that we use frequently to support New Mexico businesses commercializing New Mexico innovation
• I respectfully ask you to support extending this credit to keep New Mexico's innovation economy moving
• It allows New Mexico-based small businesses to turn national lab innovation into real-world tools that

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And when we talk about also fueling innovation, we do our different accelerator programs and innovation
• And of course we continue with our innovation programs, notably with the Israel Innovation Authority,
• I think when you look at our advantage, it's the innovation that we have, it's the efficiency that we
• We want to expand that international innovation program.
• We want to expand that international innovation program.

Summary: The committee on Military, Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met with a quorum present and heard a series of presentations focused on Florida’s space and aerospace industry. Blue Origin’s Anna Spencer described the company’s Florida operations at Rocket Park, including New Glenn manufacturing and launch activities, Blue Moon lunar lander work, workforce development, and recent booster recovery and launch milestones. Amazon’s Beth Cooley presented an update on Amazon Leo (formerly Project Kuiper), outlining the satellite broadband network, customer terminals, dark skies mitigation efforts, Florida facilities and jobs, and launch plans; members asked about RV/mobile applications, satellite counts, and the role of fiber, but no action was taken. Starcatcher Industries CEO Andrew Rush then described his company’s effort to create an orbital energy grid that beams power to satellites to extend mission life and increase available power, citing demonstrations in Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral and plans for a first satellite launch next year. Space Florida CEO Rob Long gave a strategic update on the state’s aerospace sector, citing billions in private investment, hundreds of projects in the pipeline, the leverage of state spaceport funding, workforce and university programs, and the need for additional tools and infrastructure to keep Florida competitive. He emphasized growth in launch activity, manufacturing, research, and military support infrastructure, and said Space Florida would bring forward legislative proposals. Kennedy Space Center Director Janet Petro delivered the strongest policy message of the meeting, warning that KSC’s aging infrastructure and relatively smaller NASA budget share could cause Florida to lose aerospace leadership to states like Texas unless the state strengthens its partnership, research investment, and infrastructure support. Members questioned her about federal restrictions on commercial investment in common-use infrastructure, the need for more state-federal alignment, and how Florida can preserve its role as the launch capital of the world. After the presentations and questions, Senator Burgess moved to adjourn, there was no objection, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the very last line in the back page, funding for Workforce, Education, Innovation Grants.
• Funding for Workforce, Education, Innovation Grants came over to us at $12 million. We had it down.
• And the workforce education innovation program we just talked about, they brought over for $12 million
• So if that committee feels like this isn't truly innovative and it's duplicating, that's part of that
• It says that the funding appropriated for the Workforce Education Innovation Program can't be used for

Bills: SB2003

Keywords: higher education, student loans, scholarships, capital projects, workforce development, funding, North Dakota university system, 908, all

Summary: The committee met to work through the higher education budget, beginning with a conflict-of-interest request from Representative Martinson, who was excused from voting because of a partnership that leases office space to Bismarck State College. Members then reviewed the higher education institution budget sheets, covering ongoing and one-time funding items for campuses and system projects such as BSC housing, Lake Region roof repairs, UND’s STEM and National Security Crossroads projects, the UND allied health facility, NDSU projects including New Horizons, DSU deferred maintenance and campus security, Mayville’s Old Main, Minot projects, and the regional health institutes. Members also discussed student financial assistance, the professional student exchange program, IT security funding, and workforce/education innovation grants. Several amendments and policy questions were debated. The committee adopted an amendment to make workforce education innovation grants competitive rather than automatically distributed, and then voted to remove language prohibiting those funds from being used to duplicate academic programs. Members also removed similar anti-duplication language from the New Horizons section. They agreed to extend the UND hyperbaric chamber transfer authority to 2027 and clarified language around UND land-sale proceeds. A proposed amendment to add $5.6 million for the Wahpeton State School of Science building purchase failed for lack of a second, and a proposal to restore fetal alcohol spectrum disorder funding to UND was left for conference. The committee also discussed, but did not add, a tuition cap change, a study on the Praxis exam, and several governance-related provisions. The committee spent significant time on broader higher education policy items, including a $3 million enterprise resource planning request for the university system, a $2 million grant program for students who are pregnant, recently gave birth, or are caring for young children, and a $1.1 million request for library age-verification software tied to the Odin system. Members also discussed dual-credit authority for UND and NDSU, a goal for the UND medical school to increase North Dakota resident enrollment, and intent language regarding the commissioner/chancellor model and presidential search authority. At the end of the meeting, the committee approved the amendments and then gave the higher education budget a do-pass recommendation as amended, with Representative Sanford designated as the carrier. The Forest Service budget was also approved, including two additional FTEs, and the committee adjourned after noting it would continue with other budgets the next day.