Transcript Highlights:

• Francesca Franco won four medals, including silver in program oral interpretation.
• A California native raised by a single mother who was a nurse and a union organizer, he knew how important
• nonprofit that, in partnership with the state's travel industry, develops and maintains marketing programs
• mental health services for firefighters by establishing the peer support and crisis referral pilot program
• During his time on the board, he co-founded the Urban Habitat Program, bringing together multicultural

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But numerous students in the state of Minnesota are left out of a state program that addresses exactly
• Pays the cost for drug abuse prevention programs.
• Pays a cost for licensed school counselors, licensed school nurses, licensed school social workers, licensed
• revenue to these three entities that have been excluded, to the students that are excluded in these programs
• That are excluded in these programs.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, I appreciate Maria's kind words about our investment program.
• And, you know, I appreciate Maria's kind words about our investment program.
• We do have a great investment program.
• And, you know, I appreciate Maria's kind words about our investment program.
• They're the janitors, the nurses, the paraprofessionals. They have no death benefit.

Committee: House Pensions

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now we'll go back to the regularly scheduled programming of CS for CS for Senate Bill 232.
• Regularly scheduled programming of CS for CS for Senate Bill 232. Please read the next bill.
• This school is an after-school program, and they have graduated some amazing students.
• And state programs like Medicaid are burdened with rising dental costs.
• And state programs like Medicaid are burden with rising dental costs.

Summary: The Florida Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, and several introductions and gallery recognitions, including students, university basketball coaches, and other visitors. The chamber then moved through a long special order calendar of bills, with most measures explained by sponsors, often substituted with identical House companions, and many passing on unanimous or near-unanimous votes. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, utility services, higher education, pre-arranged transportation services, the Uniform Commercial Code, altered sexual depictions, firearms during emergencies, brownfields, false reporting, health care billing and collection, and motor vehicles. Among the bills passed were measures on the Florida Trust Code, school district reporting requirements for educator arrests and misconduct, debt collection email communications, service of process, public lodging and food service establishments, lien waivers and releases, public records protections for Crime Stoppers personnel, foreign ties affecting health care licensure, diabetes management in schools, platting procedures, fentanyl testing in hospitals and emergency departments, third-party reservation platforms, electronic delivery of landlord-tenant notices, restitution for leaving the scene of a crash, background screening of athletic coaches, and surrendered infants. Debate was especially notable on the surrendered infants bill, where some senators raised concerns about safety, anonymity, and liability, while supporters argued the devices could save lives. The affordable housing/Live Local bill also drew extensive discussion and a late-filed amendment, with the sponsor describing major land-use and permitting changes and the chamber adopting the amendment before final passage. The most contentious floor debate came on the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, where senators argued over its fluoride-related provisions and broader policy package. Opponents criticized the bill as an overbroad preemption and raised public health concerns, while the sponsor defended it as a farm-and-consumer package with multiple unrelated provisions. That bill ultimately passed 27-9. At the end of the session, the Senate agreed to certify all bills passed that day to the House, recognized a resolution honoring Florida’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan, made additional announcements, and then adjourned until the next scheduled meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I also work part-time as a nursing assistant with Ecumen in Apple Valley as well.
• ABE programs may be approved for up to six years under this change.
• Current statute limits ABE program approval to only up to five years.
• available that require a six-year program term.
• This can be for programs administered by the Ministry of Health.

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• We did also see caseload increases in a number of programs, so the full amount of the increased revenue
• health perspective, what would have been best is 10 years ago, when there was a proposal to offer nurse

Summary: Senate and House Democratic leaders said they were pleased with progress before cutoff, highlighting work on immigration/federal-overreach protections and affordability measures. They cited bills such as restrictions on ICE activity in private spaces, employer notice requirements for ICE worksite actions, housing expansion in commercial and mixed-use zones, limits on medical debt interest, senior property tax relief, grocery-store covenant restrictions, preventive health care access, energy relief for low-income households, and the proposed millionaire’s tax, which they said would support tax credits and long-term fiscal sustainability. They also noted strong bipartisan movement on many bills and said they were now focused on processing House bills in the Senate and vice versa. Several stalled or controversial measures were discussed. Leaders said the JR bill did not advance in the House because it lacked votes, though support had grown and stakeholder engagement continued. Child welfare and controlled-substance/endangerment bills were described as still under discussion, with lawmakers saying there were differing views on the best way to protect children and that some proposals were paused for further work. The Senate-side transmission and cultural resources package also ran into procedural and timing problems, with one bill ultimately not moving after a request for a full reading delayed the plan. The governor’s comments on the millionaire’s tax and the updated revenue forecast were a major topic. Democrats said they welcomed the governor’s tax ideas, were aiming to balance meaningful tax relief with a sustainable budget, and saw the forecast as providing some breathing room and more reserve capacity, though much of the new revenue would be absorbed by caseload growth and maintenance costs. They also discussed a proposed employer assessment tied to Medicaid-funded health coverage, saying it was intended to address federal cuts and shifting costs, while acknowledging concerns from employers and nonprofits. Other items included the tort-liability/survivor claims bill, which leaders said would preserve jury trials and damages while creating a claims process, the 0.05 BAC impaired-driving bill, and a pension-related proposal to terminate and restate LEOFF Plan 1, with some related transfer ideas still unresolved.

Transcript Highlights:

• I support this program.
• </c> struggling just Staffing my program struggling just Staffing my program programs<01:26:54.920><c
• used for current programming.
• Chair, and support the program.
• Chair, and support the program.

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this includes funding for our state agency land protection programs carried out by the Departments
• And I would note that all of these programs are oversubscribed.
• And I would note that all of these programs are oversubscribed currently.
• And while these programs have enabled...
• We're confident in that as well, and less this look like it's just a rural-based program.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition No. 25-15, H.5505, “An Act to Protect Water and Nature.” Committee co-chairs outlined the Article 48 initiative process and explained that the hearing was divided into expert, proponent, opponent, and public-comment sections. The first witness, Undersecretary Stephanie Cooper of the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, described current state and federal funding sources for land conservation and outdoor recreation, said existing programs are oversubscribed, and noted that the proposal aligns with the Commonwealth’s 30% land conservation goal by 2030 and 40% by 2050. She also flagged possible governance clarifications in the petition, including board structure and administrative authority, while saying the administration has the expertise to manage such a fund. Proponents from Mass Audubon, the Trustees of Reservations, Mount Grace Land Trust, the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance, the Authentic Caribbean Foundation, and Bemis Associates argued that Massachusetts needs a dedicated, sustained revenue stream for conservation, clean water, climate resilience, and public access to nature. They said current funding is inconsistent and insufficient, cited estimates that the state may need roughly $300 million or more annually to meet conservation targets, and emphasized benefits to public health, mental health, biodiversity, flood protection, and the outdoor recreation economy. Several speakers said the measure would dedicate a portion of existing sales tax revenue tied to sporting goods, recreational vehicles, and golf courses, and that it would support both urban and rural communities, including underserved communities. Committee members pressed witnesses on the bill’s fiscal and constitutional implications, including how much sales tax revenue would be redirected, whether the measure is constitutional, how funds would be allocated among communities, and why the proposal includes certain revenue sources but not others such as ticket sales. Proponents said the measure would likely direct up to about $100 million annually when fully phased in, that it was designed as a “subject to appropriation” mechanism, and that legal review had found it constitutional. They also acknowledged that the proposal would reduce general fund flexibility but argued it would create a long-term investment in natural resources. The hearing concluded after public testimony, and the committee announced it would accept written testimony until March 27 at 5 p.m.; no vote was taken on the petition at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:12:25.200><c> we</c><00:12:25.360><c> have</c> free school meals program, we have free school
• We can get people assistance programs.
• And, of course, we established the nation's leading paid family leave program.
• A major structural overhaul of the way this is administered for these programs for decades.
• I want us to move programs for decades.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, I've worked at the polls in Nashua and um been involved with PTOs, the schools volunteer programs
• </c><00:07:42.280><c> and</c><00:07:42.560><c> uh</c> the schools volunteer programs and uh the schools
• I've got two daughters college age; actually, one of them's a nurse now.
• I've got two daughters college age; actually, one of them's a nurse now.
• </c><00:40:25.680><c> flows</c> federal funds a federal program flows federal funds a federal program

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Public Works and Highways Committee held an orientation meeting focused on introducing members, outlining committee norms, and hearing an overview from the Department of Transportation. Chair David Mills emphasized the committee’s long-standing bipartisan working style, asked members to share contact information for short-notice scheduling, and noted that the committee would need to complete as much work as possible before the building is vacated later in the year. Members introduced themselves and described backgrounds in engineering, construction, planning, local government, military service, education, and business. Several members highlighted prior service on planning boards, school boards, zoning boards, or in transportation-related fields as relevant to the committee’s work. Members repeatedly described the committee as collegial and nonpartisan, with most bills going to the consent calendar. The chair also noted that the committee’s work centers on state infrastructure, including roads, bridges, highways, and buildings. Representative Cluder, the ranking member, and others echoed that the committee is effective because it talks issues through and resolves disagreements collaboratively. One member mentioned a recent trip that reinforced the importance of infrastructure resilience after storms and rebuilding efforts in other states. Department of Transportation officials, led by Assistant Commissioner and Chief Engineer David Rodrig, gave a detailed organizational and operational overview. They described DOT’s structure, mission of “transportation excellence,” and major responsibilities across highways, bridges, rail, transit, aeronautics, maintenance, and administration. Rodrig reported 1,651 permanent positions and 404 vacancies, 2,160 state bridges with 115 on the Red List, 4,600 centerline miles of roadway, 25 public airports, 11 transit systems, and 194 active state-owned rail lines. He also outlined FY 2024 spending, project development activity, highway maintenance operations, fleet and fuel systems, and the distinction between the highway fund and DOT’s budget, including the role of federal funds and the turnpike enterprise fund. No votes were taken and no bills were acted on during this orientation meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:01:43.640><c> and</c> zoo itself for shows programs and zoo itself for shows programs and connect
• Those $400 reimbursement grants are maybe the most well-known piece of the program, but the program is
• </c> piece of the program um but the program piece of the program um but the program is<00:24:39.600>
• </c> resources such as myself this program resources such as myself this program has<00:26:40.840><c>
• </c> that the interest um for this program that the interest um for this program exceeds<00:46:35.040

Committee: House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we mobilized our sexual assault nursing we mobilized our sexual assault nursing team<00:07:54.599
• </c><00:19:42.720><c> against</c> we don't want to pit programs against we don't want to pit programs
• </c><00:32:21.919><c> administrator</c> am currently the program administrator am currently the program
• </c> security Grant Grant programs security Grant Grant programs Minnesota's Minnesota's Minnesota's
• in 2019 2021 and 2023 this program in 2019 2021 and 2023 this program<01:46:35.400><c> has</c><01:46

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this would fill a critical gap not addressed by other programs, ensuring that local housing solutions
• And for the first<01:12:27.120><c> time,</c><01:12:27.440><c> nurses</c><01:12:27.840><c> earning</c>
• <01:12:28.159><c> the</c><01:12:28.400><c> median</c> first time, nurses earning the median first time
• , nurses earning the median nurses<01:12:29.120><c> salary</c><01:12:29.920><c> cannot</c><01:12:30.480
• ><c> afford</c><01:12:30.960><c> a</c> nurses salary cannot afford a nurses salary cannot afford a medianpriced

Committee: Senate Housing and Homelessness Prevention

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 53 agencies. and programs.
• Our dental programs, our vision programs, we go out to bid.
• the SNAP Program.
• We also have a program that we call the lock-in program.
• But do you all have a reward program, like a Crimestoppers type reward program?

Committee: House Delivery of Government Efficiency

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And you'll see some of those here for the nursing programs, the business programs, the medical programs
• Our final program, the Family and Community Wellness Program, includes programming related to food and
• Our final program, the Family and Community Wellness Program, includes programming related to food and
• Program, and through the Renewable Energy Program.
• Through those programs.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Those being the perpetuity programs.
• </c> statute minimum program requirements? statute minimum program requirements?
• </c> program requirements. program requirements.
• </c> education awards for CNAs, nurses, etc. education awards for CNAs, nurses, etc.
• </c> might just be bigger than this program. might just be bigger than this program.

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Nur nursing ini initiative the<00:10:17.519><c> program</c><00:10:17.800><c> in</c><00:10:17.920><c>
• </c><00:32:59.840><c> that</c> program um so there are programs that program um so there are programs
• , which is the largest program, and the North Star Promise program, which is the newest program and which
• </c><00:47:37.040><c> and</c> program which is the largest program and program which is the largest program
• grant program.

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 5 provides an accurate definition of managed assigned counsel program services.
• Section 12 covers making staff in public defenders' offices and managed assigned counsel programs' home
• I just appreciate the good work that y'all do trying to make sure that these programs are up and running
• Louisiana and Tennessee have similar programs, and they work quite well.
• The training program is really to make sure that lead lawyers understand things like the jury selection

Bills: HB 115 , HB507 , HB1765 , HB1847 , HB2046 , HB2239 , HB2328 , HB2309 , HB2417 , HB2728 , HB2794 , HB3206 , HB3566 , HB3694 , HB3744 , HB4254 , HB4697 , HB4733 , HB4915 , HB5465 , HB2813 , HB115

Committee: House Criminal Jurisprudence

Keywords: habeas corpus, postconviction, criminal procedure, indigent defense, scientific evidence, legal representation, judicial power, capital felony, criminal law, death penalty, attorney qualification, training standards, law enforcement, no-knock warrant, search warrant, peace officer, attorney workload, criminal justice, caseload limits, fair representation

Transcript Highlights:

• They can opt into these programs or they ma'am. ma'am.
• or for snowplow comparisons for nurses or for snowplow drivers<01:22:27.840><c> or</c><01:22:28.159>
• And then if you enroll in any of our membership programs, there's a premium.
• ,</c> in any of our membership programs, in any of our membership programs, there's<01:24:14.480><c>
• </c> doesn't have the insurance programs doesn't have the insurance programs through<01:26:51.520><c>

Bills: HB0083 , HB0102 , HB0178

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: subpoena, legislative authority, penalty, compliance, law enforcement, artificial intelligence, synthetic sexual material, child protection, self-harm, criminal liability, public employment, labor organization, dues withdrawal, collective bargaining, public funding, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Is it an AI program that you guys partner with that's exclusively for you in the lab?
• with our quality management planning, and again, steeped in our regulations, we have a Six Sigma program
• ecosystem when it comes to conversational AI is because we developed, took all 350 or so computer program
• She's like, I'm a nurse, thank you very much. I can't visit any time.

Committee: House House Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee began with a lengthy informational presentation from Sonora Quest Laboratories on how it is using artificial intelligence and innovation in laboratory medicine. Company leaders described current and planned uses of AI in digital pathology, digital cytology, predictive analytics, genomics, sepsis markers, pharmacogenomics, and “digital twin” modeling for treatment planning and drug trials. They emphasized that their systems are kept in a closed, secure ecosystem, that human experts remain in the loop for validation, and that AI is being used to improve accuracy, speed, and productivity rather than replace workers. Members asked about specimen handling, safeguards against incorrect AI outputs, data security, expansion into hospital labs, and whether AI could help with precision medicine, rare diseases, and reducing step therapy; the presenters said AI could improve diagnosis and tailor treatment, but stressed ongoing human review and regulatory controls. The committee then took up Senate Bill 1786, which requires covered providers using generative AI to add provenance data to AI-created or significantly modified video, image, or audio content, using methods such as watermarking or metadata, with minor edits exempted. A Wilmot amendment was explained and adopted; it clarified the provenance requirements, added exceptions for certain interactive and non-user-generated media, protected trade secrets and confidential AI design information, and delayed the effective date to February 1, 2027. Members discussed the bill’s consumer-protection purpose, concerns about misleading AI-generated media, possible Commerce Clause issues, and the scope of the covered-provider definition. One member raised a concern about undefined “user” language, while others supported the measure as a needed disclosure requirement in a fast-changing policy area. The committee voted to give SB 1786, as amended, a do pass recommendation. The amendment passed on voice vote, and the final roll call was 4 ayes, 2 nays, and 1 absent. The chair closed by thanking members for their work during the committee’s first year and noting the session’s collaborative tone.