Transcript Highlights:

• They're research-based and/or externally validated.
• </c><00:17:33.280><c> So</c> That's our Reading Research Center at the University of Louisville, and
• So, we hope to see some really great data from them soon. you discussed, but the reading research you
• Um there is some research from I it.
• </c> University of Louisville Research University of Louisville Research Foundation<01:04:50.240><c>

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met after several reschedulings due to flooding, welcomed a new assistant, and confirmed a quorum. It first approved the March 11 minutes, then reported that the day’s agenda included 310 items totaling about $139.4 million, with all vendors registered with the Secretary of State. The committee then approved deferred items involving the Transportation Cabinet/Department of Highways, including one routine PSC green-list item and one PSC amendment item, after hearing from the Transportation Cabinet’s Division of Professional Services and noting prior questions had been answered. The bulk of the meeting focused on Department of Education contracts tied to reading and literacy initiatives. Officials described a competitive grant program for high-quality instructional resources and related professional learning, explaining that resources are selected through evidence-based reviews and a quality curriculum task force, and that districts apply using an instructional resources alignment rubric. Members questioned the program’s reach, whether districts opt in, how many schools applied, and whether the effort is producing measurable reading gains. Department witnesses said about 155 schools applied and were awarded, the program is voluntary, and the University of Louisville’s Reading Research Center is collecting qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate effectiveness. Several members expressed concern that the state has repeatedly funded literacy efforts without improving reading scores, though the committee ultimately approved the education items, with Senator Meredith noting support but frustration about the lack of progress. The committee also approved an MOA amendment item supporting the Principal Partnership Project, which provides tools, resources, and professional learning for administrators and helps meet statutory evaluation-training requirements. Members asked about the use of nonrecurring federal funds and whether the arrangement affects retirement benefits; staff said the contract pays districts based on daily wage and additional workdays, which does increase retirement packages. Representative McCool voted yes but voiced caution about possible supplanting. Finally, the committee took up an Office of the Controller contract for a brokered insurance-related procurement. Representative Balman moved to disapprove the contract, arguing the winning broker was not the low bidder and that the committee lacked answers about how technical scoring outweighed a roughly $600,000 price difference. The motion to disapprove did not prevail, and the contract was approved after further discussion about procurement scoring and the committee’s limited information.

Transcript Highlights:

• 55:08.320><c> on</c> clarifies that research data on clarifies that research data on individuals<00:55
• </c> The first item is related to research The first item is related to research that's<00:56:43.120>
• </c> purposes of research that we conduct. purposes of research that we conduct.
• </c> identifiable data on research identifiable data on research participants. participants. participants
• Deibel Deibel from House Research Mr.

Bills: HF3951 , HF4005 , HF962 , HF4585 , HF3870 , HF4542 , HF3893 , HF4293 , HF4075 , HF4057 , HF3809

Committee: House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law

Keywords: submetered utility service, tenant rights, digital payment, eviction protection, housing policy, biometric data, consent, data protection, civil penalties, privacy laws, HF4585, Minnesota, harassment restraining order, HRO, restraining order, temporary restraining order, petitioner notice, service of process, law enforcement notification, sheriff

Transcript Highlights:

• She has been an invaluable asset to our neighboring offices while diving deep into policy research with
• Kara has done a great job helping my office and helping in research and being a part of budget meetings
• I thought, how did he research a bill so thoroughly, so in depth?
• I am the House handler because I'm actually the vice chair of legislative research.
• I think that the gentleman, actually, after visiting the research bar and researching it myself, I think

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we worked alongside the Underwriters Laboratory Research Institute.
• that we and other renowned research organizations conduct.
• That's what our research has told us: that the bottom six inches is the most vulnerable space.
• But I definitely would defer to my research partners here who can elaborate on that.
• , did a lot of research on fencing.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She asked whether that is part of the research they will be doing.
• Uh, this is based on research which we've recently submitted to an..." Dr.
• /c><00:38:06.720><c> we</c> additionally through Joel's research, we additionally through Joel's research
• Um, appreciate your research and appreciate your... questions? Representative Stton. questions?
• your</c> Thank you for your research and thank you for your presentation today.

Bills: HF4770

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: biomass, anaerobic digester, renewable energy, sustainability, energy generation

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then took up House File 4770, as amended by an A1 technical amendment. The bill was presented as a proposal to help Liberty Diversified International and Liberty Paper in Becker plan for replacement steam and energy supply as the Shuro facility closure approaches in 2030. Testimony described Liberty Paper’s current closed-loop steam arrangement with Shuro, the need to study future fuel and technology options, and the potential use of anaerobic digestion, biomass, construction and demolition waste, and food waste to produce steam and possibly power. Members asked about feedstock availability, the need for a feasibility study, possible backup natural gas use, and whether waste heat or wastewater heat could be useful. The bill was laid over as amended. The committee then heard a presentation from CenterPoint Energy on Minnesota heating demand and electrification. CenterPoint staff said affordability and reliability are central concerns and outlined how the utility manages customer costs through energy efficiency, contracting, storage, peak shaving, and conservation. Dr. Joel Lynch presented research on peak heating with natural gas and the “missing piece” in Minnesota’s electrification puzzle, explaining that Minnesota’s cold climate makes winter heating demand especially challenging and that replacing natural gas would require substantial new electric capacity and renewable resources. He compared his work with prior national and state studies and said the analysis used Minnesota-specific gas throughput, COP assumptions across several electrification scenarios, and January renewable capacity data. Lynch summarized preliminary findings that Minnesota’s peak gas heating throughput could be up to 40 gigawatts, with electric resistance heating implying roughly 36 gigawatts of new demand, and lower but still substantial demand under heat-pump scenarios. The presentation was informational only; no vote was taken on the CenterPoint presentation. The meeting ended with House File 4770 laid over and the energy demand presentation continuing.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> important because it's our research important because it's our research facility<00:24:27.760><c
• um from from the based on um research um from from the the<00:24:56.880><c> institute</c><00:24:58.320
• </c><00:25:35.440><c> and</c> multi-disiplinary crop research and multi-disiplinary crop research and
• </c><00:25:57.200><c> and</c><00:25:57.440><c> development</c> integrate that research and development
• integrate that research and development uh<00:25:58.320><c> program</c><00:25:59.039><c> with</c><00

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Recent research published by ACLEE found that new home construction and states adopting updated energy
• </c><00:03:20.959><c> Recent</c><00:03:21.360><c> research</c> on housing starts.
• Recent research on housing starts.
• </c><00:10:32.959><c> Research</c><00:10:33.440><c> consistently</c> energy codes.
• Research consistently energy codes.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the director of the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research.
• prefacing that this is a very dangerous topic to ask me about because this is the area of my own research
• Chairman, is our committee has come out to the Center for Applied Energy Research on several different
• and and I hope that with that research and and I hope that we<00:45:03.359><c> do</c><00:45:03.599><
• </c> are are you got dedicated research are are you got dedicated research that's<00:51:35.440><c> looking

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00 Attendance Roll Call 01:58 Approval of Minutes 03:05 Member Comments 03:18 Nanotechnologies in Energy 06:20, 958, all

Summary: The committee met and approved the minutes, then heard announcements and introductions from members and guests, including an invitation to an East Kentucky trail ride opening and welcomes for new EPIC and Kentucky Coal Association representatives and several constituents. After the opening business, the committee turned to a presentation on nanotechnology and energy applications by Rodney Andrews of the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research. Andrews explained how nanoscale materials behave differently because of their size and surface area, and described uses in consumer products, batteries, solar panels, catalysts, coatings, sensors, and energy storage. Members asked about the relationship between nanomaterials and coal, and Andrews said carbon nanotubes can be made from coal-derived hydrocarbons, which members noted as an opportunity for Kentucky’s coal and manufacturing sectors. He also discussed work on improved solar coatings, more stable perovskites, fuel-processing catalysts, hydrogen storage, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, electromagnetic shielding, and conductive yarns and fabrics. The presentation also covered more advanced applications such as thermoelectric textiles, power transmission materials, thermal transport composites for aerospace, nanofluids for cooling, and fusion reactor shielding. In the final discussion, members raised questions about electromagnetic pulse protection and quantum computing; Andrews said the materials discussed could absorb and spread energy and that shielding applications may help with EMPs, while quantum computing remains limited by extremely low operating temperatures. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• At TPPF, I helped author a comprehensive research paper titled "Social Media Is a Harmful Addictive Product
• Questions as to our research on this. Thank you both for your testimony.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that researchers from the Center for Countering Digital Hate set up
• I think the research comes from the social media companies themselves.
• So when it comes to researching programs, of course, they can still look at the websites, but they will

Bills: HB186 , HB201 , HB229 , HB796 , HB1506 , HB2702 , HB2885 , HB3225 , HB3909 , HB4285 , HB5138

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Keywords: social media, children, account verification, data privacy, parental control, financial crime, card fraud, motor fuel theft, law enforcement, criminal activity, skimmers, prevention, training, biological sex, government information, definitions, sex-based distinctions, public health, federal directives, state authority

Transcript Highlights:

• Network and Seismology Research, TexNet, and Dr. and Mr. Mark Blunt.
• About two-thirds of our research is energy-related, but we conduct extensive research on the state's
• well data to other researches around the state.
• And the fourth group is the research group.
• D at all in terms of seismic research? My name is Alexandros Savaidis.

Bills: HB206 , HB 1285 , HB1335 , HJR107 , HB206

Committee: House Energy Resources

Keywords: pipeline, construction, cash bond, county authority, local government, HB 1285, Railroad Commission of Texas, RRC, drones, unmanned aircraft, UAS, drone inspections, oil and gas, pipeline inspection, surface mining, well sites, tank batteries, disposal wells, injection sites, natural resources

Transcript Highlights:

• I am the GOP's researcher for this session. I originally came from the Senate.
• I am the GOP's researcher for this session. I originally came from the Senate.
• I am the GOP's researcher for this session. I originally came from the Senate.
• on because they did have some research on because they did have the<00:32:26.000><c> research</c><00
• </c> use of use on Eggland if we research use of use on Eggland if we research that<00:32:33.200><c>

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This practice further helps important research on grain hops, which are both part of the Minnesota agricultural
• This practice further helps important research on grain hops, which are both part of the Minnesota agricultural
• 00:25:06.240><c> important</c> practice helps further important practice helps further important research
• 08.559><c> hops</c><00:25:09.840><c> which</c><00:25:10.080><c> are</c><00:25:10.240><c> both</c> research
• on grain hops which are both research on grain hops which are both part<00:25:11.120><c> of</c><00:25

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• students to lead in vital areas like epidemiology, technology, health equity, and community-based research
• public investments that you make create opportunities for New Mexico to pursue degrees, conduct research
• They're surrounded by learners, education, and research.
• It provides support and infrastructure for other research facilities here on campus.
• Included in Fitz Hall is a research platform.

Transcript Highlights:

• Research shows that similar reminders can greatly reduce failures to appear in court.
• If we had anything that says how many times officers do that or any research on that?
• We have a bunch of researchers who are working on this. That have been written.
• We have a bunch of researchers who are working on this.
• I have based everything on research that I can document.

Summary: The Judiciary interim committee met with a full quorum and approved the June 17 minutes. The main discussion centered on a detailed Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation presentation about prison population, placement authority, classification, recidivism, and the role of transitional facilities. Director Colby Braun emphasized that DOCR’s job includes incarceration, supervision, victim services, and reentry, and said the department is operating over capacity, with people waiting in county jails and deferred placements. He described current and planned bed expansions, including added beds at MRCC, a proposed 600-bed minimum-custody men’s facility, and broader campus studies, while stressing that minimum, medium, and maximum custody are different security levels and that transitional facilities are tightly controlled placements, not releases. Committee members questioned the meaning of “release” versus “placement,” the use of terms like inmate and resident, and whether state law should be clarified to distinguish incarceration from supervision or placement in community-based settings. Braun said the parole board controls release authority, while DOCR controls placement, and explained that people who reoffend while in community placement are generally returned to prison after due process. He also reviewed data showing lower one-year recidivism in recent years, the impact of GPS monitoring, and statistics indicating that most people released never get a transitional-facility placement, while those who do generally have better outcomes. Members also discussed whether transitional facilities and work-release programs should be considered halfway houses and how much freedom and security they involve. The committee then heard a report from the Attorney General’s office on House Bill 1193 funding for law enforcement retention bonuses and tuition assistance. The office said all funds had been distributed, 73 of 101 recipients had reported back, 1,490 officers had received bonuses, and the average bonus amounts differed by agency size. Members generally viewed the program positively. Representative Steve Vetter also presented a pretrial services report, describing constitutional and statutory limits on pretrial detention, the use of risk assessment tools, court reminders, victim-notification practices, and North Dakota’s pilot pretrial programs. He suggested possible future legislation to expand detention authority for certain serious offenses and to require the Judiciary Committee to receive updated jail-population data before sessions. Finally, Megan Gordon from Legislative Council began her annual technical corrections bill presentation, outlining a series of non-substantive Century Code fixes such as cross-reference corrections, punctuation changes, and obsolete-reference removals.

Transcript Highlights:

• Research shows that improving math proficiency at a young age impacts future earnings more than any other
• Senate Bill 2252 is a strategic, research-backed approach to improving mathematics instruction, ensuring
• SB 2252 proposes research-backed practices to monitor student learning, provide SB 2252 proposes research-backed
• There's a lot of research around reading. There is a little bit less around math.
• Published research found links to... Of excessive mobile phone usage on student mental health.

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Summary: The committee continued hearing testimony on Senate Bill 2252, which would expand early literacy and numeracy screening, parent notification, intervention supports, and teacher training, including math academies and early childhood supports. Supporters from Texas 2036, Good Reason Houston, Texas Business Leadership Council, and several parents argued that early identification of skill gaps, clearer data for families, and stronger teacher preparation would improve student outcomes, workforce readiness, and long-term earnings. They cited low math proficiency statewide, the importance of early intervention, and examples of districts using screeners and data dashboards to guide instruction and resource allocation. One witness also highlighted home visiting as a family-support model, while another urged more funding for pre-K partnerships and stronger support for parents with reading materials and guidance. A district special education administrator testified neutrally, saying the bill reflects practices already used in her district but expressing concern that it could reduce local control and teacher discretion by standardizing screening and tying it to funding. A Texas Classroom Teachers Association representative supported the intent but warned that mandatory math academies and intervention academies could burden teachers if implemented like prior reading academies, and a substitute teacher/teacher-of-the-year witness asked for clearer protections around special education information and pay for alternative certification candidates. After public testimony closed, SB 2252 was left pending. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2253, as substituted, which would phase out routine hiring of uncertified teachers over time, require parent notification when a teacher is uncertified, and expand high-quality preparation pathways such as university programs, residencies, improved alternative certification, and grow-your-own programs. Senator Creighton said the bill responds to the rise in uncertified teachers and aims to strengthen the teacher pipeline with more structured preparation, mentorship, and oversight by SBEC. Invited testimony strongly supported the measure: a Texas Tech researcher said uncertified teachers and fast-track programs are associated with significant learning losses, while year-long residencies and mentored pathways produce stronger outcomes and higher earnings for students. Leaders from Dallas College and Sam Houston State University described successful residency and grow-your-own models, high completion and retention rates, and the need for paid residencies and stipends so candidates can afford to enter the profession. Committee members asked about the difference between mentorship and residency, the cost-effectiveness of paid residencies, retention incentives, and how to scale the model statewide. The committee also adopted the substitute for SB 2253 and later paused to vote out several other bills, including SB 1191, SB 1786, SB 226, SB 326, SB 570, SB 870, SB 991, SB 60, SB 365, SB 1401, and SB 1067, all of which were reported favorably, many with unanimous votes and some placed on the local and uncontested calendar.

Transcript Highlights:

• Together, we hope to build on the overview presented earlier by our House research colleagues, but in
• We also provide budget options and are able to do research on spending and revenue, on enacted spending
• Like House Research, our department is also a nonpartisan office.
• </c> earlier from from our house research earlier from from our house research colleagues<00:08:43.320
• </c><01:27:59.280><c> are</c> both House fiscal and house research are both House fiscal and house research

Committee: House Taxes

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• but as the cradle of American democracy, a beacon of liberty, and a global center for education, research
• , we look forward to fostering meaningful partnership in these areas through academic exchanges, research
• but as the cardinal of American democracy, a beacon of liberty, and a global center for education, research
• development, we look forward to forcing meaningful partnership in these areas through academic exchanges, research

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up final passage of two emergency bills establishing sick leave banks for Massachusetts Department of Transportation employees Daniel Yender (H. 4104) and Mark Kratman (H. 4161). Standing votes were required to adopt the emergency preambles, and both preambles were adopted with three affirmative votes and none opposed. The bills were then passed to be enacted and sent to the Governor for approval. The chamber also suspended rules to advance H. 972, authorizing the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to supply water to the Lynnfield Center Water District in Lynnfield, ordering it to a third reading. In addition, several House petitions were received and referred to committees under Joint Rule 12. Members adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of Nicholas "Nick" George of Beverly, a Korean War Marine veteran and Purple Heart recipient, and observed a moment of silence. The Senate also welcomed Newport High School student Madeline Jackman and American Red Cross representatives, who were present in connection with a bill to require CPR certification for graduation, and received a visit from the Ambassador of Nepal to the United States, who spoke about Nepal-Massachusetts ties and the Nepalese community in the Commonwealth.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 422, Senator Kramer, research facilities and testing facilities that use animals, adoption
• ><00:01:42.720><c> Kramer,</c> Senate Bill 422, Senator Kramer, Senate Bill 422, Senator Kramer, research
• <00:01:43.759><c> facilities</c><00:01:44.159><c> and</c><00:01:44.400><c> testing</c> research facilities
• and testing research facilities and testing facilities<00:01:45.119><c> that</c><00:01:45.360><c> use

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, January 30, 2026, 960, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• make technical amendments to the reservations, uh, to the resolution that was flagged to us by our research
• to</c><00:10:14.000><c> us</c><00:10:14.160><c> by</c><00:10:14.240><c> our</c><00:10:14.480><c> research
• </c> was um flagged to us by our research was um flagged to us by our research office.<00:10:15.760><

Committee: House Finance

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These issues, goals, and objectives will include research, developing diagnostic tools, providing comprehensive
• Consortium, which will foster that collaboration, which I mentioned a minute ago, among geneticists, researchers
• , and physicians in Florida's universities and children's hospitals. ...among geneticists, researchers
• And that's key, putting all our universities together to do that kind of research so that we can find

Committee: Senate Education Postsecondary

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education Postsecondary met with a quorum present and first considered CS/SB 1356, relating to the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases. Senator Burton explained a delete-all amendment that would create the institute at Florida State University, establish the Sunshine Genetics Pilot Program for newborn screening at select sites, and form a Sunshine Genetics Consortium to coordinate researchers and clinicians. The amendment also included $5 million in recurring funding for the institute and $2 million in nonrecurring funding for the pilot program. The committee heard supportive testimony from Gavin Lambert and his mother, who described the benefits of earlier diagnosis for Friedreich’s ataxia, along with support from representatives of Alexion Pharmaceuticals, FSU, BioFlorida, and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization. Senators Berman and Harrell spoke in favor of the bill, emphasizing early detection and collaboration. The amendment was adopted, and CS/SB 1356 was reported favorably on a roll call vote. The committee then took up SB 892, which would codify the Florida State University Election Law Center in statute and make it eligible for recurring funding. Senator Simon said the center was created in 2023 with a $1 million nonrecurring appropriation and that the bill would help sustain its work and attract talent in election law and related fields. Senator Berman asked about current funding and whether the center would be supported through recurring General Appropriations Act funding in the future; Senator Simon responded that the bill would allow it to compete for recurring dollars. Jack Rowan, an FSU law student, testified in support and highlighted the center’s work, including a Bush v. Gore 25th anniversary conference. Professor Michael Morley and Lena Rojas also supported the bill. No opposition was presented, and SB 892 was reported favorably by roll call vote. The committee then adjourned.