Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, Chair, our representative, Cooper. I appreciate the promotion. Thanks, Manuel.
• Bill 2601 requires ADOT to request from the Federal Highway Administration a segmentation of the Interstate

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The meeting was a caucus-style run-through of many bills and resolutions across Appropriations, Commerce, Education, Federalism/Military Affairs/Elections, Government, Health and Human Services, Judiciary, ENRU, Public Safety, and Rural Economic Development. Measures discussed included housing and HOA rules, school policy and funding, health care licensing and records timelines, public safety and corrections funding, election and campaign rules, water and environmental policy, and several criminal justice and juvenile justice changes. Many items were described as being on third-read consent or consent calendars, with staff often noting that no questions were raised and no sponsor was present. Several bills drew sponsor explanation or member discussion. In education, members reviewed bills on teacher strikes, school safety, math placement, student outcomes, free school meals, parent permission for clubs, and school bond ballot disclosures. In health, bills covered prior authorization data reporting, nursing board rules and complaint procedures, pharmacist testing/treatment authority, opioid antagonist expiration dates, board continuations, and a constitutional amendment on refusing medical mandates. In government and public safety, members discussed DCS legal representation, inmate medical records, public safety parity funding, sheriff authority, border support funding, and a resolution supporting county sheriffs. In commerce and housing, bills addressed condominium and HOA authority, shade structures, pet restrictions, insurance certificates, apprenticeship definitions, automatic renewal contracts, and a state housing affordability district. There was notable discussion on House Bill 4044, which would create a Public Safety Parity Fund for DPS and DOC salaries using interest from the state rainy day fund and other revenue sources. The sponsor argued it would provide a reliable way to fund public safety pay, while others objected that it would consume interest needed to preserve the fund’s value and that a general fund appropriation would be more appropriate. The bill prompted extended back-and-forth, with some members supporting the concept and others saying it was fiscally irresponsible. Another point of discussion came on House Bill 2775, where staff noted a possible misprint in the bill history, and on House Bill 467, where staff clarified that the inactive voter list changes related to e-poll book status categories. No formal votes were recorded in the transcript, and the meeting appears to have been a review of measures before floor action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Energy Center, promote hydrogen-fueled medium- and heavy-duty truck traffic along the adjacent Interstate
• We also do work across the globe, creating international dialogue in order to try to find cooperation

Summary: The Select Committee on Climate Innovation and Infrastructure held a hearing focused on emerging technologies for climate resilience and infrastructure. The first panel discussed the Calistoga Resiliency Center, a utility-driven microgrid that keeps the city powered during public safety power shutoffs using hydrogen fuel cells, lithium-ion batteries, and liquid hydrogen storage. PG&E described microgrids as a resilience tool but emphasized that cost remains the main barrier to wider deployment. Energy Vault explained the project’s design, its ability to provide at least 48 hours of backup power on a small parcel of land, and its use of green hydrogen and battery storage to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. A Calistoga councilmember and NCPA representative also discussed the Lodi Energy Center hydrogen project, saying it could help decarbonize power generation and transportation, but that federal and state funding changes, tax credit timing, and other policy shifts have made the project difficult to advance. The Green Hydrogen Coalition supported the Calistoga model as a blueprint and urged policy changes to create demand and reduce barriers for renewable hydrogen, including addressing behind-the-meter rules and recognizing hydrogen in state energy planning. The second panel focused on water resilience and desalination, with the California Desal Association and Oneka Technologies discussing wave-powered desalination for the City of Fort Bragg. Cal Desal said California’s changing hydrology, reduced snowpack, and drought conditions make local water supply options increasingly important, but noted that conventional desalination is expensive and slow to permit. Oneka described its offshore, wave-powered system as a zero-electricity desalination technology that produces drinking water without greenhouse gas emissions and with limited land use, and said the Fort Bragg pilot is intended to demonstrate the technology under California conditions. The company and Cal Desal both stressed that permitting is a major obstacle, with the project requiring multiple agencies and a timeline far longer than in other jurisdictions. They also said the technology’s autonomous operation could improve water resilience because it does not depend on the electrical grid. The final panel featured the Climate Foundation’s marine permaculture proposal, which aims to restore kelp forests and support carbon removal and coastal food systems. The presenter said warming oceans and nutrient loss have devastated kelp forests along the California coast and argued that offshore platforms that raise and lower seaweed to access nutrients and sunlight could help regenerate ecosystems while producing food, feed, fertilizer, and carbon benefits. He said the technology has shown strong growth rates and storm resilience in other regions, but that California permitting remains a major hurdle, involving 17 state and federal agencies. He proposed a streamlined, code-based permitting approach for smaller projects and said the group is seeking matching funds to complete a first California pilot. Throughout the hearing, members and witnesses repeatedly highlighted the tension between innovation and the high cost, complexity, and length of California’s permitting and funding processes.

Transcript Highlights:

• the areas that we've identified as a priority area in a pilot project that's been conducted in cooperation
• The Interstate Stream Commission has an ECEQA Bureau, and they currently have five staff members.

Transcript Highlights:

• We do regulate interstate commerce here in the federal government. Does that make sense to you?
• So I think cooperation between the FTC and states is one of the most important things we can do.

Keywords: Senate Committee, Commerce, Science, Technology, Quantum Computing, Artificial Intelligence, FTC, Consumer Protection, Innovation, Emerging Technologies

Summary: The meeting of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation featured significant discussions regarding technological advancements and their implications for the future. Notably, nominations were made for key positions in the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Federal Trade Commission. Committee members expressed the importance of leading in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, emphasizing that the pace of innovation is crucial for maintaining the United States' global position as a leader in technology. The discussions also highlighted the role of the FTC in protecting consumers from deceptive business practices and ensuring fair competition in the marketplace. Attendees underscored the urgency of advancing research and development in areas such as quantum computing, as evidenced by a demonstration of a new quantum chip anticipated to redefine computing capabilities across industries. Various members engaged in vibrant exchanges, showing support for initiatives aimed at bolstering innovation through public and private collaboration. Overall, the meeting set a strong agenda for pursuing future science and technology policies that ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of global advancements.

Transcript Highlights:

• You may have a primarily highway troop, if you will, an interstate troop; it doesn't necessarily go into
• 36.639> an primarily Highway troop if you will an primarily Highway troop if you will an interstate
• troop<00:31:37.799> it<00:31:37.919> doesn't<00:31:38.279> necessarily interstate
• troop it doesn't necessarily interstate troop it doesn't necessarily go<00:31:38.960> into<00
• We call it so the commission on deaf and hard of hearing many years ago, with the cooperation of State

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee work session focused on HB 153, a bill intended to improve law enforcement response to animal cruelty cases. The bill’s sponsor explained that the proposal would require one sheriff or deputy and one state trooper in each county to receive specific training in animal cruelty laws so they could serve as knowledgeable resources. The sponsor described real-world examples where agencies were unclear about jurisdiction, veterinary involvement, and response protocols, arguing that better training was needed because animal cruelty cases can require quick action and many towns do not have animal control officers. Jerry Sorenson, a retired UNH professor and longtime animal cruelty instructor, described the existing training structure at Police Standards and Training. He said recruits receive a required two-hour introductory block at the academy, while additional animal cruelty materials and a more comprehensive online resource library are available through the Benchmark system for certified officers. He noted that the older two-day in-service course he taught was more detailed and guided, but the current online materials are more of a self-study resource and are not mandated for in-service officers. He also said the committee could track usage through Benchmark analytics. Kurt Arenberg of the Humane Society of the United States and Rob Johnson of the Farm Bureau both supported the goal of ensuring a trained law enforcement contact is available statewide, but they questioned whether assigning one trained officer per county would be the best way to achieve it. They emphasized the need for a real-time response and for officers to know where to find help and guidance, rather than expecting one person per county to handle all cases. Vincent Greco of State Police said the agency is willing to help and has handled animal cruelty matters, but he said one trooper per county would not realistically meet the goal given coverage demands and vacancy rates; he suggested broader access to resources and training may be more effective. Representative Freeman asked how cases are handled now and was told State Police responses generally follow standard criminal investigation steps, with assistance from animal control, veterinarians, and other resources when available. No vote or final action was taken during the work session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, it also does cost sharing across the state for the interstate compact unit that oversees the transfers
• state.<00:04:37.600> um<00:04:37.680> for<00:04:37.919> the<00:04:38.080> interstate
• <00:04:38.560> compact state. um for the interstate compact state. um for the interstate compact

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Little did they know, back out on the interstate, Interstate 65, there was a police officer in another
• They came off the interstate exit. another jurisdiction that saw a driver another jurisdiction that saw
• They come off the interstate<00:08:03.120> exit. interstate exit. interstate exit.
• <00:08:06.560> lies About 2 miles from the interstate lies the town of Hartzell.
• gets to downtown over on the interstate gets to downtown and<00:08:40.000> he<00:08:40.240>

Bills: HB348, HB106, HB347, HB54, SB118, SB167, SB195, HB260, HB263, HB328, HB348, HB106, HB347, HB54, SB118, SB167, SB195, HB260, HB263, HB328

Keywords: bail reform, illegal aliens, violent offenses, pretrial detention, flight risk, court hearings, doxing, personal identifying information, harassment, online safety, law enforcement, public servants, penalties, consumer protection, illicit material, private rights, digital privacy, nonconsensual distribution, incarceration, pregnancy

Transcript Highlights:

• So we're talking about the interstate transmission lines? That's correct.
• So we're talking about the interstate transmission lines? That's correct.
• Well, how FERC interacts with this is that they make sure that we don't mess with the interstate causes
• Well, I've had PJM in my office, so we want to talk about the interstate part of this and FERC.
• So we want to talk about constitutionality and we want to talk about interstate commerce.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, journal approval, and a long series of guest introductions, including honorary pages, veterans, child care advocates, and other visitors. The chamber then took up Senate Resolution 63 designating March 13, 2026, as Veterans Visibility Day. Senators spoke at length about honoring everyday veterans, those who served and returned home, and families of those who did not. The resolution was adopted 33-0, with one absent vote, and the remarks of the sponsor were ordered printed in the journal appendix. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 64 opposing China’s misuse of U.N. Resolution 2758 and reaffirming support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations. Members described it as an annual expression of support for Taiwan and urged the congressional delegation to stand with Taiwan. The resolution was adopted by voice vote. The chamber then passed House Bill 4007 on industrial access roads, increasing annual funding and project limits for the program, and House Bill 4010 creating an airport hangar grant pilot program funded with $75 million; both bills passed 33-0 and were made effective by the Senate. A major debate centered on House Bill 4012, which would reduce regulatory burdens on utilities and add conditions for transmission projects and PSC approvals. Supporters argued it would protect West Virginia landowners and ratepayers from subsidizing out-of-state projects, while opponents warned about federal preemption and said the bill could hinder beneficial transmission development. After amendment, the bill passed 29-5 and was made effective from passage. The Senate also passed House Bill 4025, moving certain health-related employees into the classified exempt system; House Bill 487 creating a West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance; House Bill 4106 allowing constitutional carry for 18- to 20-year-olds; House Bill 4176 allowing youth and handicapped hunters to harvest buck deer or doe during special hunts; House Bill 4191 expanding child care support and changing reimbursement rules; House Bill 4345 requiring digitization and transfer of missing persons records to the Fusion Center; and House Bill 4418 creating a Tax Efficiency Act for voluntary electronic B&O tax filing. Most of these measures passed with strong margins, though House Bill 4106 and House Bill 4191 drew notable debate and narrower votes. The most extended and divided discussion came on House Bill 4425, which repealed the one-time high school transfer athletic eligibility protection. Supporters said the current rule had led to recruiting, competitive imbalance, and harm to smaller schools, while opponents argued it punished children and restricted parental choice, especially in academic or safety-related transfers. After extensive debate, the bill passed 31-3. The Senate then moved on to House Bill 4198 and House Bill 4245 by unanimous consent actions, and the transcript ended amid continued debate on school transfer policy and related concerns about fairness, parental authority, and student welfare.

Bills: SB683, SB1579, SB1389, SB1387, SB1390, SB1391, SB2063, SB1829, SB2060, SB1842, SB1398, SB1212, SB2158, SB102, SB1772, SB1958, SB2010, SB1595, SB1687, SB1684, SB2049, SB1966, SB1989, SB1191, SB1258, SB1920, SB1936, SB2143, SB2122, SB330, SB2071, SB2169, SB2069, SB2095, SB2157, SB1806, SB1430, SB206, SB1547, SB1849, SB1428, SB1653, SB1984, SB1644, SB1561, SB1813, SB1570, SB1796

Keywords: education, tax credit, student support, private school, Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit, financial assistance, homeschooling, qualified expenses, property tax, valuation increase, taxpayer rights, homestead, protest process, school choice, tuition assistance, income limits, parental choice, accreditation, sales tax, motor vehicles

Transcript Highlights:

• So you see Walmart trucks running up and down the freeway, the interstate all the time.
• So you can see Interstate 40 coming in from the Arizona line, where it makes that curve and crosses U.S
• What's tricky is that our major interstate highway system meets in Albuquerque, but the big guy, so to
• There's a line parallel to the interstate, which is the rail and then there's plenty of opportunity from
• the rail to the interstate because then there's Broadway.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Services, the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, the Agricultural Experiment Station, the Cooperative
• So we've gone to the DOT to see about getting a right-of-way use of the right-of-way on Interstate 89
• 01:27:15.120> rightway<01:27:15.840> on<01:27:16.080> the<01:27:16.239> Interstate
• <01:27:17.520> The the rightway on the Interstate 89.
• The the rightway on the Interstate 89.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So my question is on the interstate compact, and how does that interstate compact work with regard to
• compact and uh how does that interstate compact and uh how does that work<01:08:55.440> work<
• <01:21:48.760> T Minnesota through this interstate T Minnesota through this interstate T Interstate
• teleah Health registration uh Interstate teleah Health registration uh when<01:21:52.920> certain
• Minnesota is part of two interstate licensing compacts through the board.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• On page 10, final reading of Senate Bill 3118, House Draft 2, relating to the Interstate Compact on Educational
• <00:04:53.440> the 3118 House Draft 2 relating to the 3118 House Draft 2 relating to the Interstate
• <00:04:54.080> Compact<00:04:54.600> on<00:04:54.760> educational Interstate Compact
• on educational Interstate Compact on educational opportunity<00:04:56.080> for<00:04:56.240><

Bills: HB2241, HB1163, HB1514, HB1696, HB2021, SB2135, SB2466, SB2727, SB3082, SB3097, SB2861, SCR100, SB3096, SB99, SB2138, HB2289, HB2319, HB1711, HB2270, SB3138, SB3076, HB1642, HB2338, HB2171, HB1785, SB2881, HB2505, SB2552, HB1518, HB1815, SB3125, SB3234, SCR162, SB2614, SB3118, SB2053, SB2494, SB2851, SB3073, HB1678, HB1721, HB2475, HB2246, HB1667, HB1516, SB2532, SB3131, SB3154, HB2297, HB1737, SB2143, SB2398, SB2623, HB1740, HB1920, HB1682, SB2153, SB3140, HB2158, HB1718, HB2207, HB1801, SB3229, SB2338, SB3069, SB2600, HB2300, HB1800, HB1960, SB2999, SB2060, SB2866, SB2239, HB1741, HB1713, HB2023, HB2417, SB2877, SB2598, SB2921, SB2645, HB2547, HB2275, HB2452, HB2329, HB2339, HB1838, HB1509, HB1661, HB2271, HB2272, HB2344, HB1888, HB1707, SB2340, HB2474, HB1576, HB1853, HB1804, HB1854, HB2095, HB2050, HB472, SB3215, SB2247, SB2400, HB1618, HB1802, HB1969, HB1541, HB2310, HB2498, HB2443, HB2218, HB649, HB2104, HB1710, SB2802, HB1973, HB1974, HB1894, HB1891, HB1890, SB177, SB2101, SB3320, SB2487, HB2429, HB1870, HB1839, HB2583, HB1391, HB2094, SB2671, SB2673, SB2892, SB2057, SB3245, HB306, HB2592, SB3157, SB3204, SB3324, SB2580, SB2074, SB411, SB3025, SB2934, SB2567, SB2125, SB3238, SB2367, SB2599, SB3007, SB2001, SB2756, SB3029

Keywords: renewable energy, income tax credit, solar energy, wind energy, low-income households, energy policy, commercial drivers license, non-domiciled, federal regulations, commercial learner's permit, citizenship, lawful residency, Department of Transportation, workers' compensation, vocational rehabilitation, injury recovery, employment services, return to work, commercial driving, driver's license

Transcript Highlights:

• Gone through these things before, you know, closing rest stops on our interstate highways and things.
• <00:03:54.080> the<00:03:54.400> on<00:03:54.879> our<00:03:55.120> interstate
• <00:03:55.519> highways stops on the on our interstate highways stops on the on our interstate

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The speaker said budget negotiations were still underway and expressed optimism that leaders would reach a deal soon, despite the legislature’s extremely narrow margins. He emphasized that the goal was a responsible Minnesota budget that leaves money on the bottom line, funds priorities that improve residents’ lives, and reduces the projected 2028-29 structural imbalance. He also noted that the bills were nearly finished and had been sent to revisers, with transportation still pending. A major concern was the possibility of a state government shutdown and the need to send out more than 28,000 layoff notices if a deal was not reached by Monday morning. The speaker said agencies already have shutdown contingencies in place, with essential operations such as corrections and state patrol continuing, while other services would be reduced. He said the Department of Management and Budget had begun preparing management for that possibility, though he did not believe a shutdown would actually happen. The discussion also focused on how a special session would be organized if needed. The speaker said the parties were using a template from the 2019 special session, and that the key remaining issues were not bill drafting but agreement on amendments, votes, and rule suspensions. He declined to discuss specific bargaining points in detail, but said the negotiation covered many issues, including transportation funding, undocumented immigrant policy, and non-competes, and that individual legislators could effectively become veto points on the overall deal.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when things get lower rated, lower condition, it wouldn't be on the interstate, God forbid, but you'll
• ,<00:23:52.880> god<00:23:53.120> forbid,<00:23:53.679> but on the interstate
• , god forbid, but on the interstate, god forbid, but you'll<00:23:54.640> see<00:23:55.360>
• It is an interstate highway. It is downposted to 45 miles an hour. Same thing at the end of I-89.
• It is an interstate highway. It weeds. It is an interstate highway.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Typically, the department does own facilities over Interstate right of way.
• department does own facil facilities department does own facil facilities over<00:12:00.040> Interstate
• right of way um there over Interstate right of way um there there<00:12:02.399> was<00:12:02.600
• c><00:12:08.880> the of anything that's sort of in the of anything that's sort of in the interstate
• right away now um my interstate right away now um my understanding<00:12:11.720> is<00:12:11.920

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• So there is an interstate agreement process.
• cost yep so the there is a Interstate cost yep so the there is a Interstate there's<04:44:29.680
• > an<04:44:29.840> interstate<04:44:30.360> agreement<04:44:30.920> process
• c> there's an interstate agreement process there's an interstate agreement process we<04:44:31.600>
• compact supervision process interstate compact supervision process um<04:46:57.520> I'm<04:46

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard an overview from the Agriculture Commissioner on the department’s major divisions and staffing. He described the Office of the Commissioner, Agricultural Development, Pesticides, Regulatory Services, Weights and Measures, Animal Industry, Plant Industry, and Soil Conservation, noting that many programs are federally funded or supported by dedicated fees and fines. He said the department has 44 full-time positions plus one DoIT employee shared with other agencies, and that HR services are now contracted through Administrative Services. He also explained that Soil Conservation is administratively attached to the department and funded through Moose Plate grants and county contributions, not direct state funding. Members asked about specific program functions and issues, including weights and measures inspections, animal health, bird flu response, internships, invasive species, and the Big E/New Hampshire building. The commissioner said weights and measures covers nearly all commercial measuring devices and products sold by weight, and that inspectors are currently part-time police officers, though the department is discussing removing that requirement. He said the department is actively involved in bird flu monitoring, including regular calls with USDA and the state veterinarian and collecting milk samples from dairy farms. On invasive species, he focused on Japanese knotweed and bittersweet, saying the department has only one staff person working on the issue, mainly as a coordinator with DOT and towns, and that eradication is extremely difficult. He also said the department does not run student internships and refers inquiries to UNH Cooperative Extension. The committee discussed budget and revenue issues, including three new general fund positions, one of which is the assistant commissioner and another a biological scientist for invasive species. The commissioner said the department had been in “triage mode,” that an assistant commissioner was needed because of workload, and that the department is a net positive to the General Fund each year. He said some fees and fines have not been updated in decades and would require legislation to change, including a proposed $5 fee for each animal database certificate to help fund a system that costs about $250,000 annually to maintain. In response to questions about budget reductions, he said the department protected personnel, reduced the cost-of-care fund, fair grants, and land preservation funding to about $25,000 each, and did not plan to buy new vehicles or computers. He also said he could not support including the $50,000 Conservation District resilience grant program in his budget under the current reduction targets, though he remained hopeful it might be funded another way.

Transcript Highlights:

• That includes laws that unconstitutionally regulate interstate commerce, those preempted by existing
• That includes laws that unconstitutionally regulate interstate commerce, those preempted by existing
• They oversee the transmission of electricity through the interstate electricity grid.
• They oversee the transmission of electricity through the interstate electricity grid.
• Interstate transmission rates are federally jurisdictional activity.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 33.520> for practice uh has a specific statute for practice uh has a specific statute for cooperatives
• .<01:01:35.520> Um<01:01:35.920> so cooperatives.
• Um so cooperatives. Um so >> New<01:01:36.240> Hampshire. >> New Hampshire.
• Um, and I see that in Massachusetts as well, that there's a cooperative act.
• front-of-house face of New Hampshire in terms of the eyes of tourism, and anything that we can do to create interstate

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• tell you, I know that part of the reason why the cancellation of those transmission support, that interstate
• He said part of the reason for the cancellation of those interstate transmission support efforts is that
• You have my pledge of cooperation and anything we could do to be a little bit more efficient.
• have<01:08:51.920> my<01:08:52.159> pledge<01:08:52.480> of<01:08:52.719> cooperation
• <01:08:53.199> and have my pledge of cooperation and have my pledge of cooperation and anything

Keywords: 1187, senate, all