Transcript Highlights:

• before undergoing anesthetized procedures under which they could have a pelvic or prostate exam performed
• before undergoing anesthetized procedures under which they could have a pelvic or prostate exam performed
• So, thank you for bringing those concerns forward. prostate exam performed on them by prostate exam performed
• </c><00:02:18.239><c> So</c> the exam, let alone perform the exam.
• So the exam, let alone perform the exam.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:52:51.120><c> grips,</c> as actors, stunt performers, grips, as actors, stunt performers, grips
• This is a performance-based events.
• This is a performance-based model<01:22:31.320><c> and</c><01:22:31.520><c> the</c><01:22:31.600><c>
• </c> creating a sustainable performance-based creating a sustainable performance-based model<01:26:54.280
• </c> performance to kick off the the trials. performance to kick off the the trials.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We perform hazardous duties of the mind, maybe not of the body, but of the mind.
• It's about ensuring that our professionals can perform at their highest level in the most critical moments
• to assign an appropriate retirement group classification to our telecommunicators who tirelessly perform
• We perform technical and managerial duties, including overseeing, inspecting, and directing construction
• Campus police officers perform the same duties and face the same dangers as municipal officers, yet they

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its 15th hearing of the 194th General Court, focused on retirement group classifications for a range of public safety and related employees. Much of the testimony centered on bills affecting Barnstable County dispatchers and 911 telecommunicators, who argued they should remain in or be moved to Group 2 because their work is highly stressful, life-or-death in nature, and historically had been treated that way. Speakers said the proposed changes would largely grandfather in current employees, would not add costs in some cases, and were needed to correct outdated statutory language and PERAC rulings that had created uncertainty for workers nearing retirement or already retired. Similar support was offered for bills to reclassify 911 dispatchers statewide from Group 1 to Group 2, with testimony from dispatch supervisors, sheriffs, and police associations describing chronic stress, PTSD, staffing shortages, and retention problems. The committee also heard testimony on several other retirement-related bills. Representatives of Massport and campus police supported measures to align retirement benefits for Massport police and public higher education police with other law enforcement groups, arguing they perform comparable duties and face similar risks. The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association also backed a bill to ease post-retirement earning restrictions for retired police and firefighters so they can continue consulting, training, or advising without penalty. MOSES testified in favor of bills moving certain state employees into Group 2, including forensic scientists at the State Police Crime Lab, DCR aerial foresters, and Department of Correction construction coordinators, citing hazardous work environments and physical danger. Department of Fire Services compliance officers likewise sought Group 4 classification, describing exposure to toxins, fatal fire scenes, and cancer risks. No votes were taken during the hearing. The committee heard extensive testimony from affected employees, union and association representatives, and public safety officials, all urging favorable reports on the bills. At the end of the hearing, the chairs thanked witnesses and staff, and the committee adjourned after a motion and second.

Transcript Highlights:

• minimal investment in the arts and culture, for instance, the ballet rehearsed in a warehouse and performed
• And now they rehearse at the Todd Bolender Center and perform at the Kauffman Center for the Performing
• minimal investment in the arts and culture, for instance, the ballet rehearsed in a warehouse and performed
• And, you know, now they rehearsed the Todd Bollner Center and performed the Kauffman Center for performing

Committee: House Commerce, Consumer Protection, Energy and the Environment

Summary: The Commerce Committee held a public hearing on House Bill 3395, sponsored by Representative Christ, which would reauthorize and update the Missouri Downtown Economic Stimulus Act (MODESA) to spur redevelopment in downtown St. Louis and Kansas City. Christ said the program previously helped create Ballpark Village and Power & Light District through a no-upfront-cost, tax-revenue-sharing model, and he indicated a committee substitute would significantly revise the bill language while keeping the same overall concept. Representative Sides supported the bill in principle but said he wanted the final version to read more like standard Missouri statute. A long line of witnesses testified in support, including representatives of the Cordish Companies, Gateway Arch Park Foundation, the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Greater St. Louis, Inc., St. Louis City SC, the City of St. Louis, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, the Kansas City Chamber/Civic Council, the Downtown Council of Kansas City, J.E. Dunn, and the Missouri Chamber. Supporters described MODESA as a proven tool that leveraged private investment, created jobs, increased visitors and tax revenue, and helped revitalize downtown areas. Cordish said the company had invested more than $2 billion in Missouri and would pursue another large mixed-use project, including residential, office, and entertainment components, if the program were renewed. Testimony focused heavily on two proposed St. Louis projects: redevelopment of the Millennium Hotel site and broader riverfront/downtown connectivity around the Arch grounds. Gateway Arch Park Foundation said it had purchased the Millennium site, was demolishing the old tower, and believed the project would connect the Arch grounds to downtown with a high-rise residential and office mixed-use development. Committee members asked about impacts on taxing jurisdictions, property taxes, retail demand, and whether the bill would benefit communities broadly rather than only developers; witnesses said cities would be applicants, property taxes would still be paid, and the projects were intended to bring new residents and activity rather than simply shift existing development. No opposition testimony was presented, and the committee took no vote before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 1868 relates to a study regarding changes to performance-tier funding for dual credit or dual
• House Bill 1868 relates to a study regarding changes to performance-tier funding for dual credit or dual
• Current law provides performance-based funding to public junior colleges exclusively when students complete
• and policy implications related to reducing the dual credit threshold for public junior college performance
• But first, let me acknowledge that the Comptroller's office is performing the PBS as required by current

Bills: HB4 , HB20

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Keywords: district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 heard a series of higher education and K-12 bills, initially without a quorum and with several measures left pending subject to the call of the chair. Early bills included HB 1868, which would direct a study on lowering the dual-credit funding threshold for public junior colleges from 15 to 9 semester credit hours; HB 2598, which would replace statutory references to “licensed specialist in school psychology” with “school psychologist”; HB 3629, which would bar registered sex offenders from serving on independent school district boards of trustees; and HB 4361, which would require the Higher Education Coordinating Board to adopt rules for timely emergency notifications at public institutions of higher education. Each received brief sponsor explanations, no opposition testimony, and was left pending. The committee also heard HB 4848, requiring public higher education systems to ensure at least one institution offers affordable competency-based bachelor’s degree programs in high-demand fields, and HB 1211, which would remove the age 25 deadline for former foster youth to use public college tuition waivers. HB 1211 drew extensive supportive testimony from Texas CASA, a former foster youth who benefited from the waiver, and a current student headed to medical school, all arguing the change would better match the realities faced by youth aging out of care. Members discussed the bill’s fiscal uncertainty and the argument that the waiver is an investment in workforce participation; the bill was left pending. Later, the committee heard HB 20, creating an Applied Sciences Pathway Program to let high school students earn certificates in targeted industries such as welding, plumbing, electrical work, manufacturing, and oil and gas while in school. Industry and workforce groups strongly supported the bill as a way to address labor shortages, while Texas 2036 raised concerns about allowing applied versions of core academic courses to substitute for traditional instruction. HB 4687, which would extend governmental immunity protections to certain campus/district charter schools and adult charter high schools, also received support from a charter-school attorney who said it would align statutes with existing case law and not expand charter rights. HB 4236, as substituted, would create a study group to examine the property value study’s effect on school finance and alternative valuation methods; it was adopted as a committee substitute and left pending. The committee also heard HB 824 on civics instruction in high school government courses and HB 2243, which would create a commission on teacher job satisfaction and retention; the latter prompted debate over removing “ethnic diversity” language from the commission’s makeup. After adopting the substitute for HB 2243 by roll call, the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• looking to bring some policy ideas forward that help with accountability, transparency, and also performance
• Commission, they’ve been a very valuable oversight board for FDOT, specifically in the realm of performance
• We have very robust performance metrics.
• And they have helped us continue to evolve and make strategic decisions as we report on that performance
• metrics and accountability measures, much like they do for the Commission to develop new performance

Committee: Senate Transportation

Summary: The Transportation Committee took up several bills and agency priorities. SB 44, as amended, increased penalties for operating a vehicle with unauthorized red or blue lights and for obscuring a license plate, including new penalties for using, possessing, manufacturing, or selling license-plate obscuring devices. The sponsor and supporting law enforcement witnesses said the bill addresses widespread plate obstruction and enforcement problems; the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also passed SB 654, designating a railroad overpass in Starke as the Heroes Memorial Overpass, and SB 620, creating a Miami-Dade College specialty license plate with proceeds supporting scholarships and limited administrative/marketing costs. The committee then considered SB 594, which would allow Florida deep-water ports to seek Fish and Wildlife Commission approval for no-anchoring/no-mooring buffer zones adjacent to port channels and turning basins. An amendment clarified the application process, review timeline, rulemaking, and enforcement. Port representatives supported the bill as a way to protect channels and commerce, while several boating and cruising advocates opposed it, arguing the 5,000-foot buffer was excessive, could create safety issues, and would displace anchored vessels without adequate alternative dockage. Despite the opposition, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard a presentation from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on its 2025 legislative priorities, including stricter proof-of-address and identification requirements for vehicle registration, changes to tank vehicle and IFTA rules, a higher crash-report damage threshold, and electronic notice options. Secretary Perdue then outlined FDOT priorities focused on workforce development, research, rural road funding, small business participation, consistent traffic-control standards, modal infrastructure, transit accountability, spaceport support, advanced air mobility, and shifting some power-consumption revenues to the Transportation Trust Fund to offset electric vehicle impacts. No votes were taken on the agency priorities, and the meeting adjourned after members recorded additional affirmative votes on SB 44 and SB 654.

Transcript Highlights:

• professionalize our legislature, making us a truly co-equal branch and allowing the legislature to perform
• The really important oversight function that we are supposed to be performing that we truly can't do
• of the things where I side with you on legislative salary, one thing I don't, one thing I do is performance
• We haven't really performed very well. Is it because we're not a professional legislature?
• You wonder, performance-based, merit-based, should we really be paid?

Committee: Senate Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:

• It clarifies who may perform inspections, updates outdated procedures, and establishes accountability
• The person who performs, the license operator who performs an inspection, will retain...
• The person who performs, the license operator who performs an inspection, will retain the $3. $1 goes

Bills: HB3419 , HB4153 , HB3430 , HB3791 , HB3277 , HB4119 , HB4408 , HB3905 , HB3968 , HB3835 , HB3386 , HB2650 , HB3742 , HB3588 , HB3748 , HB4303 , HB4311 , HB3028 , HB4428 , HB4429 , HB4132 , HB1889 , HB3265 , HB1739 , HB4434 , HB3313 , HB3852 , HB4263 , HB3413 , HB3414 , HB3415 , HB3416 , HB3417 , HB3418 , HB3420 , HB2116 , HB2206 , HB3625 , HB2939 , HB3721 , HB1823 , HB2425 , HB4440 , HJR1087 , HB4003 , HJR1077 , HB1770 , HB1675 , HB3627 , HB3891 , HJR1067 , HB3462 , HJR1053 , HJR1054 , HJR1044 , HB3472 , HB1225 , HJR1019 , HB4145 , HJR1081 , HB1746 , HJR1069 , HJR1050 , HB1638 , HB3327 , HJR1055 , HB3127 , HB4488 , HB2955 , HB3781 , HB3783 , HB3802 , HB2471 , HB2937 , SCR16 , HB2960 , HB3466 , HB3262 , HB3269 , HB3152 , HB4140 , HB4142 , HB3148 , HB3378

Keywords: corruption, nonpublic information, government accountability, criminal law, public office, driver license, reading proficiency, minors, education requirements, alternative testing, attendance, remedial reading, public school, oath of enrollment, court financial obligations, cost hearing, payment plan, community service, court compliance program, debt relief

Summary: The House convened, heard an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through a long floor calendar with several introductions and recognitions, including guests from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma Trucking Day participants, Mid America Christian University, and the day’s doctor and nurse honorees. The chamber also adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution 16, recognizing March as National Women’s History Month. Members debated and passed House Bill 2937, which extends constitutional carry to allow qualified individuals to carry firearms on boats. Questions focused on alcohol use on lakes, public safety, and whether law enforcement agencies had requested or opposed the bill. The House also passed House Bill 2960, limiting lawsuits against firearm manufacturers when a purchaser modifies a firearm; House Bill 3466, removing the Corporation Commission’s unused petty cash fund from statute; House Bill 3262, increasing the warrant-service fee from $50 to $150 at the request of the Oklahoma County Sheriff; and House Bill 3269, allowing electronic arrest warrants to mirror existing electronic search-warrant procedures. Additional bills passed included House Bill 3152, authorizing Corporation Commission officers to transport certain detained truckers to jail and book them; House Bill 414, making theft of a firearm a Class 2 felony regardless of value; House Bill 4142, expanding criminal statutes at the request of the Oklahoma City Police Bomb Squad; House Bill 3148, modernizing VIN inspection procedures and fee handling; and House Bill 3378, creating a revolving board for OCAST’s grant-awarding body after all members rolled off at once and delayed grants. House Bill 3378 also had its emergency clause adopted. Most measures passed with strong bipartisan margins, and the House adjourned after announcements and committee notices.

Transcript Highlights:

• So they admitted her and gave her antibiotics, but did not perform the life-saving procedure.
• So they admitted her and gave her antibiotics, but did not perform the life-saving procedure.
• I do not perform abortions. I do not counsel my patients either for or against abortion.
• It is usually performed at 21 to 23 weeks of gestation.
• </c><03:47:55.680><c> in</c> determination of pregnancy performed in determination of pregnancy performed

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Judiciary Committee opened with procedural remarks, including notice of an overflow room and a brief apology from Representative Andress about returning to his seat after introducing HB 114. The committee then took up HB 476, a proposed 15-week abortion ban. Chairman Lynn explained that a request to withdraw the bill had been filed, but because the bill was already scheduled for hearing, the committee would proceed with testimony and the withdrawal would require later House action. The chair also reminded witnesses to keep remarks to three minutes and asked the audience to remain respectful. Most testimony focused on abortion access, maternal health, and the likely effects of a 15-week limit. Opponents, including Nancy Pariser, Dr. Cynthia Rasmussen, Dr. Young, Bonnie Bruno, and others, argued that abortion restrictions increase maternal mortality, worsen miscarriage care, create “OB deserts,” and can delay emergency treatment in cases such as sepsis or ectopic pregnancy. Several speakers cited experiences from Texas and Georgia and warned that HB 476 contained no exceptions for rape, incest, or maternal health. Supporters of the bill, including Paul Galasso and Lynn Hill, framed abortion as the loss of unborn life and argued that 15 weeks still allows most abortions while saving lives; they also said New Hampshire’s current law is already adequate and that the bill should be strengthened rather than abandoned. Other witnesses emphasized practical and economic concerns, saying unwanted pregnancies can worsen poverty, childcare burdens, housing insecurity, and women’s lifetime earnings. Some speakers urged lawmakers to focus instead on affordable housing, childcare, and family support. No committee vote or final action on HB 476 occurred during the hearing; the meeting consisted of opening remarks and public testimony only.

Transcript Highlights:

• Did you analyze any partisan performance of districts before finalizing the maps?
• Did you analyze any partisan performance of districts before finalizing the maps?
• So I don't know how this map will or will not perform.
• Map performs for African Americans.
• Because you just said that you have no idea how this is going to perform.

Committee: Senate Rules

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill says that when a manufacturer requires a dealer to perform warranty or recall work, the dealer
• and performed correctly.
• It protects dealers from being forced to perform required work at a loss.
• On average, I perform 5 to 10 recall jobs per week and another 5 to 10 non-recall warranty jobs.
• Verify the repairs when I'm done, perform proper documentation of the repair.

Committee: House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and adopted House Committee Substitutes, then passed several bills by roll call vote. HCS for House Bills 1746 and 1769 was adopted and then voted do pass by 10-0. HCS for House Bill 3005 was adopted and passed 10-0 after the sponsor explained it removed a sentence requiring specific local review boards in library appeals processes. HCS for House Bills 1717 and 1643, dealing with alternative therapies, passed 7-2 with two present. HCS for House Bills 2817 and 2961 passed 8-1 with two present. HCS for House Bills 2035 and 2350 passed 10-0 with one present after a brief question about statutory citations. HCS for House Bills 1887, 2361, 1913, 2862, and 2321, a combined bill package, also passed 10-0 after members discussed digital depiction language and written victim request provisions. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 1914, which would change Missouri’s franchise law on warranty and recall reimbursement for auto dealers. Rep. David Castile presented the bill as a fairness measure, arguing manufacturers should pay dealers market-rate labor and parts reimbursement and that current warranty work often loses money for dealers and hurts service access. Supporters, including several dealers and technicians, said manufacturer time guides underpay warranty work, that the bill would help retain technicians, and that current appeal processes are cumbersome and time-consuming. They described large gaps between warranty and customer-pay labor times and said technicians often invest heavily in tools and training. Opponents, including the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, Toyota, General Motors, Ford, and business groups, argued the bill would raise costs for consumers, amount to a large increase in dealer compensation, and interfere with existing contracts. They said manufacturers already provide a process for requesting additional time, that most requests are approved, and that warranty work remains a profitable captive source of business for dealers. Several witnesses also argued the bill would not directly raise technician wages because technicians are employed by dealers, not manufacturers, and suggested broader competition or allowing independent repair shops instead. The hearing featured extensive questioning about recall versus warranty work, labor time guides, documentation requirements, and whether the legislature should be involved in these franchise disputes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment would strike out, in line 15, the words 'performing police details' and insert the following
• The words 'performing police details' are struck out, and in place thereof the following words are inserted
• Scouts of all ages performed 203,738 hours of community service.
• develop leadership skills and good character, and whereas scouts consistently and conscientiously perform

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There's basically a list of requirements for performance and also the type of scholarship you pursue,
• It also includes not only the performance in the type of classes that you take, but also doing some research
• it also allows for special cords at graduation, red, white, and blue cords that also designate performance
• certain schools can also be designated of excellence in civics if certain schools have a high enough performance

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 989, all

Transcript Highlights:

• until the early April, I think we go to the second week of April, we are going to have a wonderful performance
• </c><00:09:26.560><c> wonderful</c> are going to have a wonderful are going to have a wonderful performance
• :27.920><c> enjoy</c><00:09:28.240><c> and</c><00:09:28.480><c> take</c><00:09:28.640><c> a</c> performance
• for you to enjoy and take a performance for you to enjoy and take a break<00:09:29.040><c> from</c><

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• WE PERFORM THE AUDIT, SHORT ANSWER IS YOU TOLD US TO PERFORM IT AND WE DID.
• COMMITTEE DIRECTED THE AUDITOR GENERAL TO PERFORM THE WORK SINCE 2003.
• WE HAVE A MOTION TO DIRECT THE TWO OFFICES TO PERFORM THE WORK REQUIRED BY LAW FOR THE 2024 TO 2025 FISCAL

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Shen Yun has performed in over 36 countries, bringing 5000 years of Chinese history to life on stage
• Today we are honoring Shen Yun's 2025 season kickoff in Texas with performances in Houston, Austin, San
• own hometown of Cypress, being one of those showcasing the state's appreciation for world-class performing
• We applaud the remarkable skill, discipline, and artistry of Shen Yun's performers who preserve and celebrate

Transcript Highlights:

• You have a tremendous opportunity to return the Department to peak performance and create a unified workforce
• But we agree that we want people who can perform well. on their jobs, right?
• And you would agree that it would be wrong to terminate somebody claiming that they were a poor performer
• Claim poor performance, but in fact they've had very glowing recent performance reviews.
• And if they are not performing, they're So you're, just to make sure I understand, you're saying we should

Committee: Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Policy and Performance Director with the New Mexico Department of Health.
• I'm the Policy and Performance Director with the New Mexico Department of Health.
• about criminal liability: if a doctor that's licensed first in New Mexico goes to Texas and does perform
• So the other side of the point, if there's a doctor licensed in Texas, comes over and performs an abortion
• Madam Chair, Representative, I would say, yeah, I would imagine, yes, because he is performing pursuant

Committee: House House Judiciary

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think there's a lot of work to do still to improve— our performance and our ability to sustain our
• performance.
• Every 10 years, the Census Bureau requests states to perform an update they call the local update of
• Chair, and thank you all for the presentation over y'all's budget requests and performance.
• I wanted to ask about the community capital improvement project on the agency goals and key performance

Committee: House A&B Natural Resources Subcommittee

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce on its FY26 priorities, recent performance, and budget requests. Commerce said it had helped announce about 8,000 direct jobs and nearly $14 billion in investment year-to-date, while noting challenges such as tariffs, workforce recruitment, staffing/FTE management, and the condition of its 100-year-old office building. The agency highlighted projects and initiatives including a new Taiwan trade office, Route 66 Centennial planning, the National Main Street conference in Tulsa, Olympic-related coordination, census outreach, and continued improvements to its grants and CRM systems. Requested funding included $8.3 million for building repairs or relocation planning, census support, $300,000 for EDGE, $135,000 for IT/cybersecurity upgrades, $250,000 for the Taiwan office, and additional support for Head Start, senior nutrition, and the Strategic Air and Space Commission. Members asked about the meaning of the investment totals, the building condition, delays in senior nutrition distributions, and staffing vacancies; Commerce said the investment figures reflected formal company capital announcements, the building had significant facade and roof damage, delays were due to multiple contracting layers, and several open positions were expected to be filled soon. The Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department then presented its FY26 budget and goals. New director Amy Blackburn and special advisor Sterling Zearley said the department oversees 38 state parks, six lodges, seven golf courses, and nine travel information centers, and emphasized tourism’s economic importance. They reported savings from bringing marketing and tracking functions in-house and from shared services, but said the department faces more than $271 million in deferred maintenance needs, staffing shortages, and connectivity problems at parks. Their goals include increasing park visitation to 10.2 million, raising occupancy to 36%, and growing travel to Oklahoma, with major marketing tied to the Route 66 Centennial, America 250, the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics, and other events. The department also discussed a request to raise its purchasing exemption cap from $25,000 to $75,000, a possible TravelOK.com redesign, and efforts to improve restaurant operations at lodges through a new RFP structure. Members questioned the apportionment cap, the size and timing of deferred maintenance requests, park revenue, and the use of parking pass funds; tourism said annual park-related revenue is about $32 million to $34 million and parking pass revenue is about $2.5 million. Finally, the OSU Veterinary Medicine Authority presented its budget request and program updates. The authority said it supports the veterinary teaching hospital and related student training, and that its FY26 budget is entirely state-appropriated. It requested continued support for hospital operations, the large animal scholarship program, and a new $12.5 million annual payment tied to the $250 million Legacy Capital Fund authorization for the veterinary teaching hospital, along with additional funding to expand in-state enrollment. Officials said in-state enrollment had increased from 58 to 69 students after prior funding, with a goal of reaching 90 of 106 total seats, and that there were 195 in-state applicants this year. Members asked whether standards would be lowered; the authority said academic standards would not change and noted strong board-pass rates and retention outcomes. It also said accreditation concerns tied to faculty shortages and off-site teaching had been addressed by bringing students back to the main campus and improving staffing. The committee ended by thanking the presenters and announcing its next meeting date.

Transcript Highlights:

• the, or actually, not individuals, but the LEAs can use that beyond the initial program year of performance
• renovation project, you're going to need more than just those initial 12 months in the program performance
• The pandemic did have an impact on how CTE is performed, but we're making a steady strength and growth
• The pandemic did have an impact on how CTE is performed, but we're making a steady strength and growth
• Finally, I want to take a look briefly and just share with you about our performance incentive funds

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Higher Education Appropriations Committee met for its first session of the year, took roll, welcomed new member Senator Bracey Davis, and had members briefly describe their backgrounds and interest in higher education. Chair Harrell framed the committee’s focus on maintaining Florida’s top national ranking in higher education and workforce development, with an emphasis on funding decisions tied to student success, workforce needs, and the state college system. Senior Chancellor Kevin O’Farrell presented the Department of Education’s workforce and Florida College System budget requests and data. He described requested increases for adult education, Florida College System program funding, workforce development, and several grant programs, including workforce capitalization, apprenticeship/teacher apprenticeship, Open Door, and CAPE industry certifications. He highlighted record enrollment and completion growth across Florida’s colleges and technical centers, major gains in career dual enrollment, and expansion in programs such as nursing, AI, cybersecurity, welding, HVAC, and manufacturing. Members asked about labor-market demand, the impact of artificial intelligence on future job training, teacher apprenticeship details, mission creep and duplication in CTE programs, student placement and wages after graduation, and articulation between technical college clock hours and college credit. South Florida State College President Fred Hawkins testified about challenges facing a rural college, including low local college-going rates, long travel distances, limited faculty recruitment due to salaries, and the need for more operational funding to expand capacity. He cited strong job placement and licensure outcomes in nursing, dental hygiene, EMT/paramedic, and radiography, and said the college is exploring AI tools to improve student services and reduce staffing pressure. Pinellas Technical College Executive Director Mark Hunter described strong dual enrollment, high job placement, employer partnerships, and a reported 400% return on investment, while also warning that many programs have waiting lists because of staffing and equipment constraints. He explained how technical college coursework is aligned with state college credit through content-based articulation agreements. The committee then opened the floor for public comment, but no additional business was taken up, and the meeting adjourned.