Transcript Highlights:

• I don't want my patients or my family that lives in the Central Valley not having an over-the-counter
• I don't want my patients or my family that lives in the Central Valley not having an over-the-counter
• And so I don't know that I've seen, living in the world of teen girls, this to be a huge problem.
• The Department of Community Services administers several low-income energy needs assistance programs
• Our region is home to more than 150,000 people, many of whom live in disadvantaged communities.

Summary: The committee heard a series of environmental safety and toxic materials measures, with several bills moving forward on unanimous or near-unanimous votes to Appropriations. Early in the meeting, the consent calendar was approved, including AB 372, AB 455, AB 1096, AB 1102, and AB 754. AB 362 by Assembly Member Ramos, which would recognize tribal beneficial uses of water and strengthen consultation and protection for tribal water uses, drew strong support from tribes and environmental groups. Water agencies and local government representatives opposed unless amended, raising concerns about CEQA requirements, co-management language, and conflicts with existing water law. The bill advanced to Appropriations, with some members voting aye and others not voting or absent. AB 728 by Assembly Member Lee would require age verification for the sale of certain anti-aging skin care products to minors. The author and a youth witness described social media-driven use of adult skin products by children and alleged skin damage, while supporters argued age checks are a reasonable consumer protection. Dermatologists and retailers opposed the bill, saying it could restrict legitimate acne and other medical uses of over-the-counter products, create compliance problems, and lacked a clear scientific basis. The committee discussed possible ambiguity in the bill’s definition of anti-aging products, but the measure still passed to Appropriations. AB 532 on low-income water rate assistance, AB 773 on copper-based anti-fouling paint, AB 998 on household hazardous waste disposal of vape pens, AB 1031 on geothermal hazardous waste fees, and AB 864 on solar panel hazardous waste and recycling all received strong support and advanced to Appropriations. Supporters for AB 532 emphasized water affordability and local program authority; AB 773 supporters said conflicting state water and pesticide rules are creating confusion for harbors and cities; AB 998 was presented as a practical way to let schools and local facilities dispose of confiscated vape devices safely; AB 1031 was framed as reducing DTSC fee burdens on geothermal development in Imperial County; and AB 864 would ease recycling and reuse of end-of-life solar panels. The committee also began hearing AB 1264 on ultra-processed foods in school meals, with the author and supporters arguing it would phase out the most harmful ultra-processed foods from school meals by 2032, but the transcript cuts off before the full discussion and any action on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I think many people travel and say, I could live here, but I was here and I thought, I want to live
• I was here and I thought, I want to live here. I loved the natural beauty.
• Today, Richard and Anthony are living their best life together.
• This is a far more important job because lives are at stake.
• I care about what is going on in their lives and their educational career.

Committee: Senate House Rules & Order Of Business

Summary: The committee held confirmation hearings for Don Walters as New Mexico’s first State Child Advocate and for two New Mexico Highlands University regents, Elaine Luna and Grace Margaret Herrera. For Walters, the sponsor and selection committee chair described her extensive child welfare background, including work as a guardian ad litem, CYFD attorney, and director of CYFD’s Office of Advocacy. Multiple supporters testified, including former colleagues, a foster parent, and CYFD Acting Secretary Valerie Sandoval, all praising her integrity, child advocacy experience, and commitment to collaboration and transparency. Committee members focused heavily on the new Office of the Child Advocate’s startup needs, especially staffing, access to CYFD records, and funding. Walters said she expected the office to need roughly $4.5 million to $5 million to launch and envisioned about 26 to 27 staff, with regional presence across the state. Members urged the legislature to fund the office through House Bill 2 and discussed possible legislation to ensure timely access to records. The committee then voted unanimously to advance Walters to the full Senate. For New Mexico Highlands University, Senator Campos introduced Elaine Luna for reappointment, highlighting her background in social work, hospital administration, and community service. Luna said she would focus on student support, basic needs, and mental health, and the university president testified in support. The committee asked about campus safety and student issues, including how the board would respond if students were affected by ICE actions. The committee voted to advance Luna unanimously. The final confirmation was Grace Margaret Herrera, presented as a student regent candidate for Highlands. Supporters described her as a former foster youth, small business owner, and current student success center employee who mentors students and brings lived experience to the role. Members praised her resilience and connection to students, and the committee unanimously advanced her to the full Senate as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is legislation relating to reducing the heating-related costs of living for a low-income residence
• This is legislation related to exemptions from jury service upon request for certain caretakers or persons
• This is legislation related to exemptions from jury service upon request.
• to convene a work Senate Bill 364, which would direct the Department of Criminal Justice Services to
• We come to Senate Bill 731, which relates to private companies providing public transportation services

Keywords: April 22, 2026 - Reconvened Session Part 2, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• public programs is particularly infuriating because it cheats the Minnesotans who rely on these services
• public programs is particularly infuriating because it cheats the Minnesotans who rely on these services
• It's not a sanitation service, but we should call it the anti-fraud and enforcement unit.
• It's not a sanitation service, but we should call it the anti-fraud and enforcement unit.
• Since the Commerce Fraud Bureau transitioned<00:32:31.440><c> into</c><00:32:32.080><c> the</c><00:32

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The initial goal was to fully transition to the Phase 2 formula by FY23.
• That live the life and walk the walk.
• And then we have to live with that.
• That we seem to live and die on. To figure out what is the percentage.
• for behavioral health but also receiving education services while they are in there.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> This section allows financial service This section allows financial service providers<00:02:14.920
• </c> related to virtual currency services. related to virtual currency services.
• . services. services.
• </c> transferred to a new servicer. transferred to a new servicer.
• </c> specific services. specific services.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee met to walk through nonpartisan side-by-side comparisons of House File 4188, focusing on differences between House and Senate language across consumer protection, insurance, financial services, health, and technical provisions. Staff highlighted numerous Senate-only items, including rules for financial providers communicating through trusted contacts, virtual currency requirements for banks and credit unions, a prohibition on virtual currency kiosks beginning in 2026, mortgage servicing and student loan servicing changes, the Rental Home Marketplace Guarantees Act, insurance and travel-related provisions, scrap metal licensing changes, protections related to minors accessing chatbots and AI companions, and several technical or conforming repealers. Staff also noted that some provisions were identical or substantially similar between the chambers, including mortgage originator standards, student loan borrower protections, securities-related changes, unclaimed property provisions, and technical updates in the bill’s miscellaneous articles. The Senate-only health-related articles were also summarized, including repeal of the prescription drug affordability advisory council, technical changes to the reinsurance program, and a series of health insurance provisions on enrollment-growth notices, limits on officer and director salary increases under certain capital conditions, guaranteed issue rights for certain Medicare supplement enrollees, data-sharing between Commerce and Health, restrictions on using artificial intelligence alone to deny claims, reimbursement for clinical trainees, home care nursing coverage, and PBM transparency. The Senate’s telecommunications article was described as largely technical and conforming, with repeals of obsolete statutes. Staff also noted that some standalone bills had already passed and would be removed from the comparison report. Public testimony followed. Thomas Elness of AARP Minnesota supported inclusion of the cryptocurrency kiosk bill, expressed support for guaranteed issue protections for a narrow group of consumers affected by discontinued plans, and urged adoption of changes to the consumer protection restitution account, including raising the cap to $10 million per fiscal year. Representative Lee testified that the restitution account proposal should be treated as policy rather than finance because it has a zero fiscal note, and said the House would accept the Senate’s $10 million cap. Robin Rowan, representing the Minnesota Insurance and Financial Services Council and the U.S. Travel Insurance Association, urged adoption of Senate travel insurance language, requested a House-style change to lead-generation recordkeeping language, and supported a Senate provision allowing employers and insurers to coordinate notice to employees when group policies are cancelled. The Department of Commerce then responded to questions, explaining that the prescription drug affordability council would be sunset because the board already has other avenues for public input, that the reinsurance changes were technical and did not alter the prior agreement, and that the abandoned cryptocurrency provisions rely on statutory definitions of inactivity and known examples such as keys stored in safes or deposit boxes.

Transcript Highlights:

• This can disenfranchise voters for no fault of their own, such as in cases where the mail service has
• That's led to failed measures for affordable housing, education, public transit, and even emergency services
• Since the CVRA's enactment, over 600 jurisdictions have transitioned their election systems to comply
• And while most jurisdictions have voluntarily transitioned their election systems to comply with the
• CVRA, there had been a select few that have challenged such a transition.

Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on April 30, 2025, beginning as a subcommittee until a quorum was established. The committee first approved six bills on consent, including AB 950, AB 953, AB 1214, and three committee bills. It then heard several measures dealing with election administration, ballot transparency, and campaign finance, with most authors accepting committee amendments and several bills being held on call for absent members. AB 930 by Assembly Member Ward would extend the deadline for counting timely postmarked vote-by-mail ballots from three to seven days after Election Day and update recount procedures, including online posting of recount results and clearer rules for recount requests. The bill was supported by county election officials and passed out of committee with a due-pass recommendation, though it was initially held on call. AB 459 by Assembly Member DeMaio proposed allowing electronic signatures for initiatives, referenda, and recalls; the Secretary of State and labor groups opposed it over security, implementation, and cost concerns, and the committee ultimately rejected the bill after reconsideration. AB 699 by Assembly Member Stephanie would change how local tiered tax and bond measures are described on ballots by allowing more detail to be placed in the voter guide; housing, school, and local government groups supported it, while taxpayer and realtor groups opposed it as reducing ballot transparency. AB 1188, presented on behalf of Assembly Member Ortega, would list the top three funders supporting and opposing statewide initiatives and referenda directly on the ballot; transparency advocates and labor supported it, while county election officials and business groups raised concerns about ballot length and processing costs. Both AB 699 and AB 1188 passed out of committee with amendments and were held on call. The committee also heard AB 827 by Assembly Member Berman, which would standardize and extend the deadline for curing vote-by-mail signature problems, add a link to cure forms in ballot-tracking notifications, and make other changes to improve ballot curing. It drew no opposition in the hearing and passed with a due-pass recommendation. AB 351 by Assembly Member McKenna would raise the Levine Act contribution threshold for local officials to $1,500 and add CPI adjustments; supporters said it would reduce administrative burdens and reflect modern campaign finance realities, while good-government groups and the League of Women Voters opposed it as weakening anti-corruption protections. The committee initially failed AB 351, then granted reconsideration, but the transcript ends before a final disposition is clearly completed. Finally, AB 1079 by Assembly Member Farías would eliminate the automatic appellate stay in California Voting Rights Act and Fair Maps Act cases; it was supported as a way to prevent delayed remedies in voting rights cases, opposed by the City of Santa Monica over impacts on ongoing litigation, and passed with amendments. After taking up the held items, the committee recorded final votes on the bills, including passage of AB 930, AB 699, AB 1188, AB 827, and AB 1079, and rejection of AB 459.

Transcript Highlights:

• As Toby laid out, Hobbs has suffered pretty serious consequences with cuts in services.
• We live in, as you know, Los Alamos; we do have a UNM campus in Los Alamos.
• What happened was almost no students lived in those apartments, and indeed, just people lived there.
• The people that were living there created a number of problems for us who lived right across the street
• It's a service contract, and it's the service contract revenues that pay the P3.

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Services correctly printed Senate Bill 114 and 115, Senate Joint Resolution 12, correctly engrossed
• Senate<00:26:57.520><c> services</c> Senate services Senate services Correctly<00:26:59.360><c> printed
• House Bill 1027 by Representative Story and Senator Kolker concerning boards of cooperative services
• Imagine the just transition on that one. This is not a decay of neglect. This is quite purposeful.
• </c> Imagine the just transition on that one. Imagine the just transition on that one.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It includes debt servicing upon the passing of a constitutional amendment saying that debt servicing
• living facilities from residential to commercial.
• They can no longer live at home.
• To tax assisted living and long-term care is not the path.
• There's a state requirement to have education. service.

Committee: House Special Committee on Property Tax Reform

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The general fund wants to be able to similarly provide us the best legal services and the best IT services
• It looks like a spaghetti bowl where I live.
• I feel like I'm speaking for the people who actually live there, and I don't live there.
• I feel like I'm speaking for the people who actually live there and I don't live there.
• It could be transitioned into fruit flies.

Committee: Senate Water, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When an account is closed, the fee to start service and pay a large deposit can be financially crippling
• importantly, a customer using the prepayment option under this bill would not be subject to start service
• A customer using the prepayment option under this bill would not be subject to start service fees and
• Looking primarily, I think, to offices and services.
• We believe oversight and accountability is a fundamental component of public service, and we want to

Committee: Senate Local Government

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Children need consistency in their lives.
• That's why consistency in their lives.
• The students I work with need the lives.
• </c> students are not receiving the service students are not receiving the service minutes<01:20:33.520
• We heard someone say living wage, right?

Bills: HF1388

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: BARR Center, Building Assets, Reducing Risks, education finance, school funding, grant appropriation, evidence-based program, student achievement, social and emotional learning, school climate, teacher effectiveness, high school graduation, students in poverty, students of color, BIPOC, equity in education, Minnesota Department of Education, urban schools, suburban schools, rural schools, school coaching

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> we've been doing during that transition we've been doing during that transition uh<00:22:48.960>
• </c> we've invested in first this transition we've invested in first this transition and<00:41:19.040
• We transition that into midsummer, where the statewide projects are pulled out off the top.
• We<00:47:48.800><c> transition</c><00:47:49.280><c> that</c><00:47:49.520><c> into</c><00:47:49.839><
• c> midsummer</c><00:47:50.960><c> um</c> We transition that into midsummer um We transition that into

Keywords: 0:00:15 Call to Order and Roll Call 0:01:15 Maintenance Update 0:21:07 Approval of Minutes 0:21:32 Regional Offices 0:43:47 SHIFT Scoring 1:04:24 Local Assistance Road Program 1:16:41 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum and first received a maintenance update from Kentucky Transportation Cabinet officials James Ballinger and John Moore. They described how repeated disasters, including floods, tornadoes, and ice storms, have strained routine road maintenance and forced crews to focus on emergency response, snow and ice removal, pothole patching, ditching, signal repairs, mowing, striping, sign work, and other day-to-day upkeep. They said snow and ice costs have averaged about $60 million to $61 million annually in recent years, disaster response has totaled hundreds of millions of dollars over five years, and the cabinet often must carry those costs until FEMA or FHWA reimbursement arrives. They also said maintenance work is increasingly contracted out because of staffing and resource limits, and that competitive pay is needed to retain employees and contractors for around-the-clock emergency work. Members then discussed traffic roundabouts and other intersection designs. Senator Hickden asked about their cost savings and safety benefits compared with traffic signals, and cabinet staff said they would provide life-cycle cost figures later. They emphasized that roundabouts and related designs reduce serious injuries and fatalities, with serious injuries down roughly 70% to 80% and fatalities over 90% in their experience. Chair Douglas and others asked about roundabout sizing for trucks and farm equipment, and staff explained that designers tailor the inscribed diameter to local traffic needs and context. The committee also briefly discussed red-light running and traffic-light cameras, with members stressing the safety risks of drivers ignoring signals. The committee adopted the minutes from the prior meeting by motion and voice vote. It then heard from Sarah Jackson and Matthew Cole on the Real ID and driver licensing transition. They said the cabinet has expanded from almost no regional offices to 35, grown driver licensing staff from 89 to 400, and now issues about 1.3 million credentials annually. They reported improvements in office capacity, queue management, staffing, and compensation, including added workstations, new or expanded offices in Louisville, Lexington, and Bardstown, and the use of contract staff. They said statewide average wait times have fallen to just under 30 minutes, and Kentucky’s Real ID adoption rate has risen to 42.9%. Members asked follow-up questions about driver testing and CDL scheduling. The presenters said all permit and CDL testing is coordinated through Kentucky State Police, with written tests available in most regional offices and CDL testing at a smaller number of KSP locations. Senator Douglas asked when the driver testing requirements were last updated, and the presenters said that was set by KSP. The discussion ended with additional questions about which regional offices lack KSP testing presence, but no further action was taken before the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• It really is a committee that changes lives.
• I have three children now who have all graduated from college and launching their lives.
• Our tri-county service area covers about 2,400 square miles.
• So we are meeting students where they live.
• in our service area.

Summary: The Higher Education Appropriations Committee met for its first meeting of the session and heard presentations focused on workforce education in the Florida College System and district technical colleges. Members introduced themselves and discussed their personal connections to higher education, then heard from Department of Education senior chancellor Kevin O’Farrell, South Florida State College president Fred Hawkins, and Pinellas Technical College representative Mark Hunt. O’Farrell outlined the department’s budget request, including increases for adult education, Florida College System program funds, workforce development capitalization grants, apprenticeship and teacher apprenticeship programs, Open Door scholarships, and CAPE industry certification funding. He emphasized record growth in enrollments, completions, dual enrollment, and program offerings, and described grant-funded expansion in fields such as health sciences, manufacturing, logistics, aerospace, and AI-related programs. Committee members raised concerns about whether current programs match actual labor-market demand, how artificial intelligence may reduce future human labor needs in some fields, and how the state should avoid unwarranted duplication of programs. O’Farrell said the department uses economic forecasts, employer demand data, and a CTE audit process to review programs and phase out those that do not meet performance thresholds. Members also asked for more detail on the teacher apprenticeship model, the transition from technical college clock hours to college credit, job placement and salary outcomes, and the LPN-to-RN pathway. O’Farrell said he would provide additional information later. Hawkins described South Florida State College’s rural service area, low college-going rates, and difficulty recruiting and retaining faculty and staff because salaries lag behind local market alternatives and nearby school district pay. He said the college has had to turn away students in high-demand programs due to staffing and operational limits, while also noting strong outcomes in nursing, dental hygiene, EMT/paramedic, and radiography. Hunt said Pinellas Technical College serves about 5,000 students annually, including many dual-enrolled high school students, and reported a placement rate above 90% and strong local economic returns. He said many programs have waiting lists and that additional operational funding is needed to meet demand, maintain equipment, and keep pace with salary and cost increases. The meeting ended after public comment was opened and no further business was brought before the committee, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• When it, what it does do though, is turn the focus to services instead of punishment.
• Thank you for your time and your service and your leadership, and I respectfully urge you to support
• One is Phase, Family and Youth Services.
• Connects the entire family to services and foster healthy communication, provides counseling.
• I had the opportunity to meet some of the young people working to turn their lives around these, one

Committee: House S/C on Juvenile Justice

Transcript Highlights:

• They live in households that struggle to make ends meet.
• As a community health worker, I help families navigate essential systems and services to live healthier
• lives.
• So yes, I'm Kate, and I live in Brooklyn Park.
• </c><01:14:22.000><c> in</c> again um so yes I'm Kate and I live in again um so yes I'm Kate and I live

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are no long-lived radioactive waste products that come out of a fusion reaction.
• But I think it's a transition process, right?
• I think if we put that in a contract and require that service, we're obviously going to pay for that
• service.
• We've installed stuff, and it's taken us so long to install it, it's out of service date by the time

Committee: House House Science & Technology Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Science and Technology met with a full audience and began with brief introductions, including an intern from Arizona State University. The committee heard two presentations before taking up its only bill. The University of Arizona’s Thomas Diaz de la Rubia spoke about fusion energy, describing it as a potential clean, safe, baseload power source and arguing Arizona should build the talent, supply chains, and research infrastructure to commercialize fusion. Members asked about timelines, regulation, competition with China, and the relationship to small modular reactors; he said fusion could be commercially relevant in roughly 12 to 15 years if public and private investment continues, and that the U.S. should avoid losing manufacturing and supply chains as it did in other technologies. He also discussed the university’s broader space and national security work. XRDNA CEO Charles Ableman then presented a spatial addressing and coordination system called EVA, describing it as a way to align data about where and when physical objects exist across systems, with a security layer called a sphere of influence. He said the company is testing with space and logistics partners, uses AI provenance tools, and sees its near-term use case in space operations and interoperability. The committee then considered HB 2809, which would require state agencies handling sensitive or protected data to implement post-quantum encryption meeting or exceeding CMMC 2.0 standards, using a U.S.-based vendor and U.S.-developed or maintained components. The bill would place the master encryption key with the Auditor General and set procedures involving the Auditor General and Attorney General. Sponsor Rep. Gillette explained that the bill was simplified from a prior version after concerns that agencies would have to connect offline systems to the internet; the amendment clarified that encryption can be installed without internet connectivity and without requiring other systems to be online. He argued the measure is needed to modernize weak legacy systems and protect data after prior breaches and failed IT projects. Members generally supported the concept but raised questions about implementation, costs, vendor neutrality, and the Auditor General’s role; the Secretary of State’s office was described as neutral and still evaluating implementation. The committee adopted the Pingarelli amendment and then passed HB 2809 as amended on a 9-0 vote, with several members explaining that they supported the bill but wanted continued stakeholder input and careful attention to execution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Forest Service, working in wildland fire operations. This is not his first time being recognized.
• Now they're staying here, and I've seen the transition.
• My son Dalton lives in Moscow, received his bachelor's and master's from the University of Idaho.
• And he went on, and he is now having the best job ever at the Natural Resources Conservation Service
• He gets to live where he goes to college, and I know we all fantasized on that, but this made it possible

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee approved the January 20, 2026 minutes and then took up Senate Bill 1225, sponsored by Senator Den Hartog. The bill would codify a search committee process for public university president searches and add a 10-business-day waiting period before naming a sole finalist, with the stated goal of increasing transparency and allowing public engagement while also protecting candidates’ current jobs. Senator Den Hartog said the bill was prompted in part by the Boise State presidential search and asked that it be sent to the amending order so the waiting-period language would apply only to university president searches and not other government entities. After questions about student representation in the process, the committee voted to send SB 1225 to the amending order. The committee also heard a print request from Senator Carlson to rename Lewis-Clark State College as Lewis-Clark State University. The request was brief and was approved to print without objection. Later, Superintendent Debbie Critchfield introduced Idaho’s 2026 Teacher of the Year, Laron Johnson of Rigby High School. Johnson spoke at length about the importance of teacher-student relationships, mentoring, Holocaust and economics instruction, and keeping students connected to school. Committee members asked about growing school size, supporting new teachers, and rebuilding public respect for educators. Johnson emphasized relationships, administrative support, and staying focused on students. No formal action was taken on the Teacher of the Year presentation. Critchfield then presented an informational overview of proposed federal education waivers and an EdFlex-style request that would give Idaho more flexibility over reporting and assessment requirements. She said the state wants to reduce duplicative testing, especially for third graders, and allow students to choose from an approved list of high school assessments aligned to state standards and college/career readiness. Members asked about possible inclusion of ACT, NAEP, and other multi-measure assessments. Critchfield said the list is not final and that the State Board would evaluate options. The meeting ended with a reminder that the committee would take up rules the next day, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So the fact that there could be a surcharge, and the Public Service Commission created the surcharge,
• My only question would be: you said good afternoon, you're wishing our lives away here.
• away here it's been a morning so that's You're wishing our, you're wishing our lives away here.
• But what you're saying is this would kind of transition.
• So in my area, Representative, the district I live in, there's a proposed $16 billion...

Committee: House Utilities

Summary: The Committee on Utilities heard testimony first on House Bill 2807, which would lower Missouri’s renewable energy standard from 15% to 7.5% and add nuclear generation as an eligible source, with the sponsor saying the goal is to give utilities more flexibility and support dispatchable power. The sponsor and several witnesses discussed a Senate companion and committee substitute that would clarify the bill to apply only to new nuclear and, in the Senate version, add battery storage credits. Support came from Renew Missouri, Ameren Missouri, Missouri Farm Bureau, and Associated Industries of Missouri, who emphasized grid reliability, dispatchable generation, and the need to adapt to growing energy demand. Opposition from the Consumers Council of Missouri focused on ratepayer impacts, warning that the bill could increase the RESRAM surcharge and urging explicit language to prevent nuclear costs from being passed through to consumers. The committee then heard House Bill 2598, a more complex proposal to create a Missouri Advanced Nuclear Office and a grant program to help finance a “power campus” pairing a natural gas plant with a small modular nuclear reactor. The sponsor and supporters described the bill as a way to attract large data centers, provide near-term power, and use gas plant profits to help fund future nuclear development, while also positioning Missouri to compete with other states and federal nuclear incentives. Witnesses from Bridge to Nuclear and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce supported the concept as innovative and pro-reliability, though committee members repeatedly questioned why the state should put general revenue at risk, how profits and grants would be structured, and whether private markets could do the work without state involvement. Opposition to HB 2598 came from a consumer advocate and an environmental/community witness, who criticized the bill’s potential effects on electric rates, transparency, water use, and local communities affected by data centers. They objected to confidential grant applications and argued that the proposal would further favor large corporations over residents. No votes were taken on either bill during the hearing. Before adjournment, the chair announced that a committee substitute for Representative Banderman’s solar bill would be heard at a later, committee-only session, with the public allowed to attend but not testify.