Transcript Highlights:

• Of those folks, 75% of them are Indigenous.
• or solely for blind students.
• , as we have identified zero students in the zero-to-three age range.
• You can see between three and eight students per year.
• A lot of my students didn't either. Any other questions? Thank you. Thank you.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Human Services Committee met in interim session and first approved the previous meeting minutes before receiving a series of presentations on homelessness and housing stability. Jennifer Henderson of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency updated members on the new Interagency Council on Homelessness, describing its executive-order mandate to review resources, gather input from stakeholders, identify gaps, and develop recommendations. She said the council’s first work is building a statewide program matrix of existing homeless services and funding sources, with attention to youth, tribal communities, and other vulnerable populations. Members raised concerns about youth homelessness, homeless veterans, and how the council will stay focused on a practical framework rather than getting lost in details. The committee also discussed possible connections to the rural health transformation grant and agreed to continue the topic later in the spring. Beth Olson of Presentation Partners in Housing described the organization’s housing-first model in Cass County and Clay County, including homeless prevention/diversion, housing navigation, and Cooper House, a 42-unit permanent supportive housing building in Fargo. She said the organization focuses on people with long-term and chronic homelessness, many with mental health, addiction, health, domestic violence, and Indigenous identity-related barriers, and reported strong outcomes: 85 of 86 people housed in 2025, 91% still housed after one year, and major reductions in emergency room use, ambulance rides, jail stays, detox days, and shelter use. She also explained that state funding has grown from a small share of the budget to about $1.1 million in state-connected funding for fiscal 2026, largely through contracts tied to supportive services. Members asked about vouchers, rent contributions at Cooper House, length of stay, and whether similar projects could be expanded elsewhere. Andrea Olson of the Community Action Partnership of North Dakota outlined statewide homeless and housing-related services delivered through six community action agencies in all 53 counties. She explained the Community Services Block Grant structure, said housing was identified as the top need in the most recent statewide needs assessment, and described programs including Supportive Services for Veteran Families, North Dakota Homeless Grant services, and Home ARP supportive services. She emphasized that the end of North Dakota Rent Help has increased pressure on the system, that the current $2 million annual homeless grant is far smaller than prior rent-help assistance, and that community action is using case management and financial assistance to move households toward self-sufficiency. Members asked about funding formulas, rural service delivery, and coordination with Presentation Partners to avoid duplication. YouthWorks then began a presentation on youth homelessness, describing services for ages 12 to 24, the special needs of youth and former foster youth, and the organization’s use of federal and state funds to support transitional housing, emergency shelter, maternity housing, and diversion services.

Transcript Highlights:

• bringing this forward and understanding just how important it is for us to center not just Black, Indigenous
• know, my daughter and her friends love marsupials, and she wants to go to Australia because of the indigenous
• If there were other organizations, researchers, or students who wanted to pursue some of these inquiries

Transcript Highlights:

• , for students like our students.
• students with disabilities, our Native American students, and our students that are experiencing poverty
• So it learns about the student as the student is responding immediately and over time.
• as it works with the student.
• are ELL students.

Transcript Highlights:

• food producers as we other indigenous food producers as we think<00:47:06.680> about<00:47:06.920
• I’m working alongside other Indigenous food producers, purchasing necessary equipment to meet compliance
• 46.440> I Adjunct professor of juvenile justice, I watched my classes shrink from over 20 students
• I've had students request to bring their kids to class.
• I've had students request to bring their kids to class.

Bills: HF2582, HF2266, HF2518, HF2039, HF1941

Keywords: child care, grants, appropriation, workforce development, families, YWCA Minneapolis, job training, child development, economic assistance, WomenVenture, economic development, entrepreneurship, women entrepreneurs, business training, financial support, youth programs, funding, employment, Minnesota, American Indian

Transcript Highlights:

• please welcome guests of Senator Cortese in the gallery: former Assembly Member Nora Campos, and students
• Welcome to the students. At Ag Day tomorrow.
• Welcome to the students. Welcome to Senator Dali's desk. of her guests. Thank you, Mr. President.
• succeed—not a little bit, but to succeed to the extent that he succeeded in—is something that our students
• While many associate cowboy culture with Hispanic, Indigenous, and white traditions, it's essential to

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Public Schools uh 64% of the students Public Schools uh 64% of the students identify<00:08:04.599
• leader reaching over 83,000 students leader reaching over 83,000 students across<00:32:26.360>
• It comes at a cost of $6 to $7 per student, so a great investment.
• It comes at a cost of $6 to $7 per student, so a great investment.
• comes at a cost of $6 to $7 per students comes at a cost of $6 to $7 per students so<00:36:58.319

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• at Hall STEM Academy, the students in North Minneapolis, and the thousands of students that are across
• > students<01:14:29.320> in<01:14:29.400> North Academy, the students in North Academy
• They spoke to our students. Connected.
• For many of our students, these are not abstract ideas. These are their daily reality.
• And it gave our students and our entire community and our district a story worth celebrating.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got all kinds of my students' faces going through my memory bank right now, but uh thank you for
• <00:18:28.159> attended years and many of my students attended years and many of my students
• Community Connection event indigenous Community Connection event indigenous program<01:56:44.760
• This is where young Somali students had an opportunity to have their voices heard.
• Ken Somali or Oromo within that space. students um to have some of their voice students um to have some

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't have anything celebrating our indigenous folks.
• We don't have anything celebrating our indigenous folks.
• So doing all I can for indigenous communities and for rural Arizona is very important to me.
• represent the largest and most beautiful district in the United States and to advocate for rural and indigenous
• just really proud to say that if we could work together, you know, we would be so strong in the indigenous

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee began with a series of presentations highlighting tribal communities as part of rural economic development. Representative Mae Peshlakai described Legislative District 6, emphasizing its large geographic size, the eight tribal nations within it, and the cultural and scenic importance of the Navajo Nation and other tribes. Governor Stephen Roe Lewis then presented on the Gila River Indian Community, focusing on its history, Hohokam heritage, water rights, the MAR-5 aquifer recharge project, cultural traditions, and the importance of collaboration with state lawmakers. Members praised the presentations and noted the need for greater attention to tribal issues in the legislature. The committee then took up SB 1016, with a strike-everything amendment that moved the property-owner petition requirement earlier in the process for municipal improvement districts and allowed certain notice and protest requirements to be waived. Supporters, including the mayors of Camp Verde and Clarkdale, said the change would improve transparency, reduce financial risk for small towns, and help rural communities build needed infrastructure such as wastewater systems, water lines, and housing-related improvements. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and passed SB 1016 on a 5-0 vote, with one member present and one absent. Next, the committee considered SB 1401, the Workforce Housing Accelerator Act, using a strike-everything amendment that would allow municipalities to create expedited plan review and permitting for qualified workforce housing projects and exempt project proceeds from the state portion of the prime contracting sales tax. Habitat for Humanity representatives said the measure would lower carrying costs and help build more affordable homes, while one member noted the tax exemption would reduce general fund revenue but supported the bill as a targeted tradeoff to address housing shortages. The committee adopted the amendment and passed SB 1401 by a 5-1 vote. The meeting concluded with Representative Myron Sosec’s presentation on barriers to economic development on the Navajo Nation and other tribal lands. He discussed lower workforce participation, higher unemployment and poverty, limited access to capital, trust-land financing barriers, dual taxation, infrastructure deficits, and delays caused by federal and tribal review processes. He also highlighted Navajo economic strategies such as loan guarantees, renewable energy development, and tourism investments, and urged state action on tax reform, matching funds, and annual tribal field hearings. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The students are visiting the Capitol with their teacher, Ms.
• Let's give these students a warm California State Senate welcome.
• Brian Haynes, for the reappointment to the California Student Aid Commission. Dr.
• Haynes is the vice chancellor of student affairs at UC Riverside, as well as... Mr.
• Black, Latino, and Indigenous people face the highest burden of asthma in the U.S.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Native American and an indigenous woman, obviously a minority in this country.
• As a minority and as an indigenous woman in this state, I'm very well known for the factor of what can
• So some schools have students check their cell phones as they come into school, either before school,
• So if a school does have a policy requiring students to check their cell phones, they could instead,
• you know, hand out their cell phones when the emergency has been resolved so that students can contact

Bills: SB1088, SB1156, SB1157, SB1169, SB1245, SB1273, SB1330, SB1332, SB1391, SB1498, SB1531, SB1550, SB1598, SB1677, SB1707, SB1811, SB1818

Keywords: cybersecurity, homeland security, artificial intelligence, state appropriation, VPN security, zero trust, appropriation, public safety, detention, unauthorized aliens, local government funding, border security, fencing, appropriations, southern border, local government, medical education, physician shortage, healthcare funding, Arizona health care

Transcript Highlights:

• front of public school students?
• There's no difference in the way these students are evaluated than any other students, and there's nothing
• There's no difference in the way these students are evaluated than any other students and there's nothing
• Students are evaluated like any other students.
• There is no preferring one student over the other.

Bills: SR44, HCR1027, SJR50, SJR52, SJR53, HB1185, HB1937, HB2035, HB2137, HB2166, HB3148, HB3323, HB3466, HB3498, HB3661, HB3678, HB3710, HB3977, HB3986, HB4104, HB4108, HB4142, HB4191, HB4274, HB4275, HB4322, HB4336, HB4484, HB3880, HB1687, HB3673, HB1170, HB2959, HB3718, HB3021, HB3443, HB3501, HB4143, HB4326, HB2992, HB3660, SB171, SB1325, SB1980, SB2045, HB4422, HB4423

Keywords: SR44, Senate Resolution 44, Teacher Appreciation Week, teachers, educators, Oklahoma educators, public schools, K-12 education, pre-K, school recognition, education resolution, appreciation week, National PTA, Eleanor Roosevelt, teacher recognition, school staff, classroom, Oklahoma Legislature, concurrent resolution, sine die adjournment

Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, offered prayer, and recognized a doctor, a nurse, and a student hero who rescued a driver from a burning vehicle. The chamber also welcomed a new group of pages and adopted a motion to reject House amendments to Senate Bill 1546 and request conference. Senators then adopted Senate Resolution 44 recognizing Teacher Appreciation Week, and heard remarks honoring educators in the gallery. Senator Goodwin also announced the death of former Representative Don Ross and offered condolences to his family. The Senate then took up House Concurrent Resolution 1027, setting a target sine die date of May 14 at 5 p.m. The resolution drew opposition from Minority Leader Kurt and Senator Jett, who argued the chamber still had unfinished business, but it passed 28-17. The Senate also passed SJR 50, SJR 52, and SJR 53, all related to agency rules, including expanded provider types, removal of a physician-visit cap, and medical marijuana packaging requirements. Additional measures passed included HB 1185 on preserving military and historic firearms for honor guards and museums, HB 1937 on student-employee communications and due process, HB 2035 on funeral transportation protection agreements, HB 2137 on involuntary medication procedures for competency restoration, and HB 2166 on legal newspaper distribution without a USPS permit. Later, the Senate approved a series of bills on business, licensing, public safety, and state operations. These included HB 3148 on VIN inspections by dealers, HB 3323 on removing notarization for certain electronic Service Oklahoma documents, HB 3466 eliminating petty cash at the Corporation Commission, HB 3498 updating corporation and LLC statutes, HB 3661 extending a forestry equipment sales tax exemption, HB 3678 expanding the definition of public official for electronic harassment protections, HB 3710 revising the Rising Scholars Award Program, HB 3977 updating state veterinarian qualifications, HB 3986 expanding a tax exemption, HB 4104 strengthening penalties for repeat voyeurism-related offenses, HB 4108 adding airport operational areas to critical infrastructure, HB 4142 covering conspiracies to use bombs or explosive devices, HB 4274 allowing military children to attend non-zoned schools, HB 4275 allowing case managers and peer support specialists to work for local public agencies, HB 4322 removing dual certification for funeral directors in charge, HB 4336 updating interventional pain management rules, HB 4484 allowing certain state vehicles to be used between home and work, HB 3880 on Tourism Department compensation and Oklahoma Today publication discretion, and HB 1687 creating the Uniform Health Care Decisions Act with an amended effective date. The chamber also passed HB 2959 requiring school administrators to report abuse allegations to law enforcement within 24 hours and before school questioning, with emergency passage approved. HB 3718 was then taken up with an amendment clarifying timelines for special education evaluations tied to the Lindsay Nicole Henry Scholarship; discussion centered on the new 15-school-day meeting timeline and the 45-day evaluation period. The transcript ends during questions on that amendment, before final action on HB 3718 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• I always ask this of my students: Do you think that 14%, like 14 cents out of every dollar spent on planet
• Um, in New Zealand as well, the indigenous population of New Zealand, uh, has been very active in these
• Uh, again, the questions super important, all right, of indigenous populations and social and economic
• and cultural impacts are prime in a number of those jurisdictions. indigenous population of New Zealand
• uh indigenous population of New Zealand uh has<00:30:57.520> been<00:30:57.760> very<00

Bills: HB1952, HB1951, HB1929, HB2497, HB2208, HB2572, HB1953, HB2551, HB2549, HB1737, HB1628, HB1769, HB2493, HB2264, HB1997, HB2168, HB2427, HB1805, HB2180, HB2184, HB2219, HB2469, HB2233, HB2519, HB2141, HB1904, HB2201, HB2410, HB2007, HB2385, HB2444, HB2349, HB2235, HB1872, HB2416, HB2291, HB2292, HB2263, HB2359, HB2455, HB1509, HB1514, HB1515, HB1648, HB2164, HB2323, HB1825, HB2172, HB1888, HB2005, HB2387, HB2358, HB2119, HB2276, HB2472, HB1714, HB2325, HB1541, HB1960, HB2140, HB2315, HB2367, HB2388, HB1696, HB2333, HB2138, HB2332, HB2283, HB2059, HB2057, HB2589, HB2417, HB2337, HB1588, HB2217, HB2020, HB1915, HB1742, HB2026, HB1965, HB1546, HB2360, HB1563, HB1749, HB2614, HB1511, HB1753, HB1849, HB1641, HB2161, HB2194, HB1721, HB2284, HB2188, HB1897, HB1880, HB1573, HB1876, HB20, HB2137

Keywords: HB1952, Hawaii agriculture, University of Hawaii, CTAHR, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Kauai, agricultural research station, extension station, capital improvements, general obligation bonds, GO bonds, appropriation, ADA compliance, Americans with Disabilities Act, certified kitchen, greenhouse, laboratory, field research, cesspool decommissioning, invasive species

Transcript Highlights:

• , which support registered apprentices in retaining registered apprentices of color, women, and Indigenous
• <01:07:59.760> uh<01:07:59.920> registered color women and Indigenous uh registered
• color women and Indigenous uh registered apprentices<01:08:01.920> uh<01:08:02.000> and
• <01:10:19.760> and<01:10:20.000> part-time the job training students and part-time
• the job training students and part-time employees<01:10:21.120> not<01:10:21.360> on<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Labor Committee heard Senate File 560, a bill to require the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to establish a cost-per-square-foot valuation for residential building permits. Senator Dornink said the measure is intended to make permit fees more fair, reasonable, transparent, and predictable, and to reduce housing costs by limiting large differences in permit fees between municipalities. He said the bill would be sent to the Housing Committee without recommendation, and members discussed but did not act on a related amendment that would have shifted plan review and inspection fees to hourly and trip-based charges and made fee information publicly available. Testimony from Housing First Minnesota supported the bill’s goal, arguing that Minnesota’s housing shortage and high new-home prices make it important to reduce inefficiencies in the permitting system. The witness said permit valuations are often increased by cities, leading to higher costs for homebuyers, and cited examples of large fee differences between municipalities and claims of overcollection. He said some other states, including Texas and Wisconsin communities, use square-footage-based approaches. A League of Minnesota Cities representative opposed the amendment language and cautioned that trip charges and hourly billing would make fees less certain, could raise costs, and would be especially burdensome in Greater Minnesota; he said current valuation-based fees better reflect the actual cost and complexity of service and can be appealed if disputed. A representative of the Association of Minnesota Building Officials also raised concerns about the amendment, saying building departments provide consultations, inspections, plan review, and other services beyond a single trip, and that trip charges would not fit a responsive fee-for-service model. He said the current valuation system helps cover the full range of permitting work, though he acknowledged that a consistent square-foot valuation standard could improve transparency and reduce disputes over project value. Committee members asked about other states’ approaches and the scope of the bill, and the discussion emphasized that the proposal applies to one- and two-family dwellings.

Transcript Highlights:

• And prior to that, he was the Director of the Guaranteed Student Loan Program at the Iowa College Student
• My responsibilities include managing two special loan programs, SBA and Student Loan Refinance, and I
• A more recent example continues today with the Federal Parent PLUS Student Loan Program.
• When I needed student loans, I was sitting next to my mother.
• All I had was student debt and my car payments. I had no other assets, but he knew his lender.

Keywords: SBA, 7A loan program, underwriting standards, loan defaults, Community Advantage Program, small business funding, testimony

Summary: The committee meeting focused on discussions regarding the SBA's 7A loan program and its implementation challenges. Members raised significant concerns about recent changes to the underwriting standards, which have been criticized for leading to an increase in loan defaults. Ranking members expressed a desire for a return to stronger guidelines to protect taxpayers and ensure the program remains a viable source for small businesses struggling to secure funding. Testimonies from community lenders highlighted their efforts to support underserved communities and stressed the importance of the Community Advantage Program.

Transcript Highlights:

• The two second largest allocations, at $7.5 million, are Raven Indigenous Impact Fund and VAMOS.
• In the case of Raven, it's indigenous founders, and Vamoose Ventures is relatively new, focusing on diverse
• The Science Authority mentioned yesterday is that our bioscience, our quantum, our students that are
• So the Bioscience Authority was saying, if you recall, that those students need to be paired with a business

Transcript Highlights:

• He says that while reductions are being made for students, nursing homes, disabled people, and other
• The reason I'm saying roll call is because we have the contrast of our nursing homes, our students, our
• , our disabled are homes, our students, our disabled are receiving<01:31:41.320> reductions,<01
• We need to do more to ensure that our core government services that support students, the disabled, and
• and people of color um as indigenous and people of color um as that's<01:50:22.719> changed<01

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• involvement with the uh indigenous involvement with the uh indigenous community?
• In its history, it has served more than 30,000 students since its inception.
• Last year we had 20 students. This year we have 55.
• Last year we had 20 students. This year we have 55.
• <00:39:54.480> from know we meet the needs of students from know we meet the needs of students

Bills: HF2178, HF942, HF2470, HF1043, HF1287, HF1229, HF1230, HF424, HF571, HF404, HF910, HF1055, HF318, HF319, HF401, HF609, HF306, HF1599, HF1881

Keywords: HF2178, Cohasset, capital investment, bonding bill, state bonds, public infrastructure, water tower, water infrastructure, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, street reconstruction, municipal infrastructure, Public Facilities Authority, bond proceeds fund, Minnesota bonding, local government aid, utility infrastructure, public works, infrastructure, stormwater

Transcript Highlights:

• would happen when it comes to the disproportionate impact on Black Arizonans, Latino Arizonans, and Indigenous
• beaten by police in the street because they were fighting for our right to vote as Black, Latino, or Indigenous
• Latino Arizonans, and in, to the disproportionate impact on black Arizonans, Latino Arizonans, and indigenous
• continued to face voter suppression efforts that have also disproportionately impacted Latinos, Indigenous
• for the United States to achieve a true multiracial democracy, one where Black people, Latinos, Indigenous

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Are you doing any kind of work with students, either in higher ed or in high schools or beyond?
• Mia enrolled at a private school and is now a student at Tufts.
• There's prestige in those social clubs that students join. So this was all pre-October 7.
• They emailed all Jewish students on campus to ask them to disavow Israel and Zionism.
• . ...and so trying to really be committed to a safe learning environment for all students.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Commission on Combating Anti-Semitism opened by approving the minutes from its November 5, 2025 meeting and outlining plans for its next meeting on November 20, when it expects to vote on the draft master report and recommendations. The chair explained that revised drafts would be circulated, changes would be handled by motion, and the final vote would be by roll call. The meeting then moved through several public panels focused on prevention, education, workplace support, and community safety. Parents for Peace testified that anti-Semitism and extremism should be treated as a public health crisis and urged state funding for training in K-12 schools, healthcare, and law enforcement. The panel described its intervention work with radicalized youth and families, argued for early-warning training for educators, and recommended diversion resources for courts and prosecutors so cases can be addressed before they escalate. Commissioners asked about the origins of radicalization, the need for school-based training, and how to connect courts and police to available resources. Project Shema’s Orrin Jacobson argued that effective anti-Semitism education must be nuanced, pluralistic, and grounded in a better understanding of Jewish identity and contemporary anti-Semitism, especially in conversations about Israel and Palestine. He said the group has run dozens of workshops in Massachusetts and emphasized that institutions should adopt content-neutral norms, train staff and administrators, and measure whether trainings lower tensions and increase willingness to intervene. Commissioners asked about handling activists who reject nuance, the role of faculty versus students, and whether classroom norms should limit teachers from advancing personal agendas. A workplace panel from Klaal and Combined Jewish Philanthropies presented survey data showing many Jewish employees feel unsafe being openly Jewish at work and that antisemitism training is the top requested support. They described rapid growth in Jewish employee resource groups, existing programming and stipends for ERG leaders, and recommended mandatory anti-Semitism training, support for Jewish affinity groups in public and private sectors, and broader convenings of major employers. The commission also heard from Truah rabbis and educators, who urged stronger interfaith solidarity, a state office of faith-based and neighborhood partnerships, and explicit attention to democracy and civil rights as part of anti-Semitism strategy. After a recess, the commission heard from Israeli-American, Russian Jewish, and Persian Jewish witnesses who described antisemitism as a lived, personal, and civic issue affecting immigrants and their families. They called for inclusion of diverse Jewish voices in state initiatives, stronger protections for Israeli-American businesses, and recognition that anti-Zionist rhetoric often becomes direct harassment of Jews. The chair said the testimony and suggested edits would be incorporated into the draft report, and the meeting ended with plans for further revisions before the final vote.