Transcript Highlights:

• the University of Hawaii Student Senate Caucus while pursuing his bachelor's degree in secondary education
• of the University<00:02:32.800><c> of</c><00:02:32.959><c> Hawaii</c><00:02:33.440><c> Student</c><00
• :02:33.920><c> Senate</c> University of Hawaii Student Senate University of Hawaii Student Senate Caucus
• c> High</c> graduate of graduate of Milani High graduate of graduate of Milani High School<00:03:49.760
• So I feel member of our class of 2006.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bush was elected President of the United States of America.
• It is the story of resilience woven into the fabric of democracy, the story of brilliance that has shaped
• We seek to honor black leaders whose excellence and drive have bent the moral arc of the universe toward
• black and brown youth to the traditions of historically black colleges and universities.
• of her.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , most of Douglas, part of Chelan, and part of Spokane.
• of it.
• Although this wasn't universal, there was a strong preference for this, but not all of those that we
• Although this wasn't universal, there was a strong preference for this, but not all of those that we
• the box, think of a new way of doing this?

Summary: The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee opened its 2026 session with committee housekeeping, member introductions, and a reminder that schedules are set a week in advance and amendments must be submitted by the prior day’s deadlines. Chair Reeves emphasized solution-oriented, collaborative, and respectful participation, then outlined that the committee would focus on three interim reports relevant to its work this session: municipal water efficiency, ecosystem services, and food policy. The first presentation, from the William D. Ruckelshaus Center and WSU, reviewed Washington’s municipal water efficiency statute and regulation. Presenters said interviewees largely agreed on the need for better data collection, more technical assistance for smaller systems, and more state funding for both agency staffing and water system infrastructure. Most opposed shifting oversight of the conservation program from the Department of Health to Ecology, and the report recommended keeping oversight at DOH while improving collaboration across agencies and tribes. The presenters also urged broader statewide water planning, more consistent reporting using the AWWA water audit method instead of leakage percentage, re-evaluating the 500-connection threshold, and addressing outdoor water use, rebates, reuse, and public education. Members asked about creating a new office for water oversight, but the presenters said that idea was generally viewed as too costly and impractical under current budget conditions. DNR then presented its 2025 ecosystem services work group report. The department described ecosystem services markets it studied, including regulatory and voluntary forest carbon, avoided wildfire emissions, and water leasing, with lower potential identified for blue carbon, biodiversity, and water quality markets. DNR said about 15,000 acres of state forest land may have carbon-market potential, but emphasized that the analysis was broad and not project-specific, so the report recommends pilots, continued market monitoring, use of third-party developers, and clarification of authority through House Bill 2170. Committee members asked about economic feasibility, timber tradeoffs, and how success would be defined, and DNR said those questions would be better addressed in future, more detailed project-level work. The final presentation covered the Food Policy Forum’s 2025 report to the legislature. Speakers described broad consensus recommendations on food security, local foods in schools, farm-to-food-bank programs, a state farm bill, commercial access, and food system infrastructure. They highlighted pressures on agriculture from development, flooding, drought, water shortages, and the need to preserve farmland and support farmers, food banks, and local procurement systems. The committee chair thanked the presenters and noted that several related bills and policy proposals would be heard later in session. No votes were taken; the meeting concluded after the presentations and brief member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• All the way from the early side of the university incubator side in with the investment committee with
• And of course, I mentioned several times when we have our, you know, world leading really university
• A lot of mention some of the tools and some of those or accelerate ERs.
• That side of things on. The only question I had was on the university consortium.
• Of course, we do all of our marketing out of state to draw people to Florida.

Transcript Highlights:

• Reports of standing committees. Reports of select committees.
• REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. REPORTS OF SELECT COMMITTEES.
• She's the Associate Professor of Maternal and Child Nutrition at Cornell University.
• my son in the second year at the University of Pennsylvania, and I'm proud of him and my Daughter and
• of this.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate met on March 9, 2026, approved the prior journal, and took up several procedural items, including substituting identical Senate Bill 6734A for Assembly Bill 4382A and adopting a resolution calendar with exceptions for Resolutions 1718 and 1723. The chamber also received amendments on another bill and heard multiple guest introductions, including students from Ahavas Bas Yaakov of Monsey and Dr. Angela Odoms-Young, who was recognized for her work on food and nutrition policy and health equity. A major portion of the session was devoted to Resolution 1680 commemorating Bronx Day. Senators Fernandez, Bailey, Myrie, Serrano, Sepúlveda, Krueger, and others spoke in praise of the Bronx’s history, diversity, culture, resilience, and contributions to music, fashion, sports, and civic life. The Senate also adopted Resolution 1718 recognizing Harriet Tubman Day, with remarks highlighting Tubman’s work on the Underground Railroad, her Civil War service, and her later life in Auburn, and adopted Resolution 1723 marking the 61st anniversary of Bloody Sunday and emphasizing the continuing importance of voting rights protections. The Senate then passed a series of bills from the calendar. These included measures on general municipal law, public health, executive law, education, vehicle and traffic law, criminal procedure, labor law, and legislative law. Several members explained their votes on health-related bills: Senator Cleare spoke about period poverty and access to free menstrual products in educational institutions; Senator Webb supported a bill requiring hospital governing boards to include a registered professional nurse; and Senator Murray, joined by Senator Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, described personal experiences with blood clots and pulmonary embolism in support of a bill creating a working group on the issue. Most bills passed with broad support, though some had notable negative votes, and the Senate adjourned until Wednesday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• and Water Systems at the University of Idaho.
• We have ongoing projects at Idaho State, Boise State, and the University of Idaho, addressing those key
• So I will kind of give you a breeze of some of the latest and greatest ones.
• Another example of a faculty-led project is out of Idaho State University.
• This project is being done across all three research universities, and they are looking at all of our

Summary: The committee began with presentations from the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association and the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWRI). Eric Wyseth of IOGA described the association’s history, its more than 400 members, and the industry’s economic impact, saying outfitting and guiding generates about $891 million annually, supports over 7,500 jobs, and largely benefits rural Idaho. He also raised concerns about Fish and Game allocation changes, the importance of keeping public lands in public hands, and the ongoing FERC relicensing process for Hells Canyon Dam, where outfitters want daytime minimum flows maintained for jet boating. Dr. Kendra Kaiser of IWRI outlined the institute’s water research priorities and funding process, including a 32-member advisory committee, more than $500,000 distributed to university projects, and work on statewide issues such as water scarcity, recharge and water quality, snowpack data, flood mapping, monitoring gaps, East Snake Plain reach gains, and Lake Pend Oreille management. Director Matt Weaver praised IWRI’s renewed role as a neutral, applied-science partner for water management. The committee then set aside several code cleanup bills at the sponsor’s request. House Bill 569, sponsored by Representative Sauter, was introduced to expand recreational water skiing rules to allow driver-and-skier operation on public waters under specified equipment, age, and time restrictions; it was moved and passed to the floor with a due pass recommendation. Senate Bill 1222, presented by Representative Pickett, was described as a follow-up to last year’s domestic water exemption law, clarifying the definition of a subdivision as five lots and making the changes prospective beginning July 1, 2025. Testimony from the Idaho Water Users Association supported the bill, and it was also sent to the floor with a due pass recommendation after questions about domestic use, irrigation limits, and enforcement. Finally, Representative Boyle presented Senate Joint Memorial 108, which urges federal officials to address concerns that livestock producers on BLM and Forest Service allotments are discouraged from filing depredation claims for wolf or grizzly bear losses because of threats to their permits or grazing terms. The memorial was supported by a Farm Bureau letter in the packet. The committee moved it to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and the meeting adjourned after no further business.

Transcript Highlights:

• There is a lot of So that's the lion's share of the legislation.
• I graduated the University of Idaho and then came back to our 800 cow-calf operation.
• We also have partnered with Idaho Beef Council, University of Idaho, Agra Beef, to help put on a huge
• We also have partnered with Idaho Beef Council, University of Idaho, We also have partnered with Idaho
• Beef Council, University of Idaho, Agra Beef, to help put on a huge successful program that was an Albertson's

Committee: Senate Agricultural Affairs

Summary: The Senate Agricultural Committee opened by welcoming a new page, Isabella Frasheiser of Weiser High School, who described her FFA, school leadership, and agricultural background. The committee then approved the February 10, 2026 minutes without objection. The main item was Senate Bill 1283, presented by Senator Todd Lakey. The bill would create a framework for small-scale direct-to-consumer agricultural and homemade food sales, including cottage foods, farm stands, cooperative markets, and certain meat sales, with labeling, recordkeeping, and educational-material requirements. Supporters from Farm Bureau, Fair Idaho, and producers argued it would reduce burdens, expand local food access, help small farms, and improve market opportunities. Food Northwest and health district representatives raised concerns about food safety, labeling, lack of competency testing, limited remediation options, and possible liability changes. After discussion, the committee voted to send SB 1283 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The committee then received an Idaho Beef Council update from J.W. Wood and Jody Mink. They described the council’s checkoff-funded promotion, education, research, consumer outreach, BQA training, Spanish-language materials, a national “Prime Rib and Prom” campaign, and the Idaho Beef Counts food assistance program. No formal action was taken on that presentation, and the committee adjourned after concluding its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you are going to hear from experts, both at the University of Washington, from SNAP nutrition education
• So you are going to hear from experts, both at the University of Washington, from SNAP nutrition education
• I'm a faculty member in the Department of Economics at the University of Washington, and I'm here in
• I'm also a faculty at the University of Washington School of Public Health.
• I'm here testifying in enthusiastic support of SB 6212 and the development of a pilot program for a universal

Summary: The Senate Human Services Committee heard testimony on three bills. SB 6212, sponsored by Sen. Nobles, would create a Department of Commerce pilot program providing monthly cash benefits to families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, with a control group and a final report to the Legislature on whether to expand the program statewide. Supporters said the pilot could reduce child poverty, improve family stability, and provide evidence on the effects of direct cash assistance; the sponsor acknowledged the bill would be expensive and said funding would need to be worked out. No vote was taken. SB 6186, sponsored by Sen. Warnick, would direct DSHS to seek a federal waiver to prohibit SNAP benefits from being used to buy candy and sweetened beverages, with annual reapplication if needed. The bill’s preliminary fiscal note was described as significant, and the sponsor said she was open to amendments, including possibly limiting the proposal to Sun Bucks. Testimony was overwhelmingly opposed from anti-hunger advocates, public health experts, economists, SNAP educators, and individuals with lived experience, who argued the restrictions would be costly, hard to administer, stigmatizing, and unlikely to improve nutrition; one supporter said the measure would promote healthier choices and reduce long-term health costs. No action was taken. SB 6707, also by Sen. Warnick, would have WSIPP study DCYF’s screening tools and risk assessment processes for child welfare referrals and their effects on outcomes such as services, removals, re-referrals, and fatalities. DCYF said it supports evaluating its risk assessment tool but is already working with Chapin Hall on a similar redesign and pilot of the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale, and asked how the bill would avoid duplicating that work. Sen. Warnick said the bill was intended to examine child welfare outcomes more broadly. The committee heard testimony but took no vote, and the chair announced amendments for Wednesday’s executive session are due by noon the next day before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• from each of the two largest caucuses of each chamber.
• As we restructure the organization of the accounts, this amendment makes the use of some of the funds
• I don't want to take a lot of time, but I do want to kind of lay out the severity of this problem.
• Also, Washington State University has a program aligned in that way as well, but due to the title of
• Title of the bill, we're not able to include Washington State University in this bill's iteration.

Summary: The committee took up a series of transportation-related bills and proposed substitutes, with most measures advancing after discussion and roll-call or voice votes. House Bill 2092, creating a Washington State Amtrak Cascades Passenger Rail Advisory Committee, was amended by a proposed substitute that broadened membership and duties, and it passed 20-6. House Bill 2114, allowing fee waivers for replacement defective license plates, passed unanimously. House Bill 2172, clarifying route jurisdiction transfers and abandonments for highways and local roads, also passed unanimously after a substitute requiring agreements or legislative action for longer highway abandonments or those involving bridges. House Bill 2251, which restructures Climate Commitment Act accounts and revenue distribution, drew the most amendment activity. Two amendments were adopted to adjust forest carbon language and clarify Ecology administration funding, while amendments to redirect revenue to transportation infrastructure and to split excess revenue differently failed. The bill then passed 18-8 as amended. House Bill 2374, which redefines e-bikes and electric motorcycles and creates a work group on enforcement and safety, passed unanimously after a substitute added stakeholder representation and asked the work group to explore civil infractions and penalties. House Bill 2410, creating a Commercial Truck Safety and Education Council and increasing a safety fee, passed 25-1 after a substitute changed appointment authority, membership, and other council provisions. House Bill 2552, authorizing WSDOT and a regional transit authority to use MATOC contracting, was amended to add apprenticeship, prevailing wage, and notification requirements and then passed 16-10. House Bill 2588, expanding ferry district authority beyond passenger-only ferries, passed 16-10 amid concerns about taxing authority and voter input. House Bill 2718, setting timelines and processes for permit streamlining and originally including contractor ratings, had the contractor-rating section removed by amendment and then passed unanimously. House Bill 2722, increasing the vehicle weight threshold for transportation benefit district fees from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds, passed 17-9. House Bill 2727, creating an educational transit access grant program for community and technical college students, passed 21-5 after supporters emphasized student access and equity, while some members raised rural access concerns.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sarah Coles is an assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, and
• Points of personal privilege at the beginning of the day are for introduction of guests who are present
• We have the folks from the University of Arizona Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
• Is this an introduction of guests? Introduction of guests.
• Speaker Pro Tem, because we believe in a concept of universal basic education.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so there was a series of recommendations that came out of the task force, but one of the overarching
• of Chicago.
• of Chicago.
• And finally, I speak as someone who has worked with public health researchers from the University of
• Michigan, Wake Forest University, and the University of Arizona, as well as sociologists, community leaders

Committee: Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety

Summary: The Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety met with a quorum and adopted the June 4, 2026 minutes. The committee first took up Senate Bill 712, adopting the S-2 substitute, which expands residency requirements to include adjoining districts and removes a provision allowing a district to appoint someone employed by the district. The committee then reported SB 712 to the floor. It also considered House Bills 4025 and 4026, described as safe storage tax exemption bills; the committee heard one supportive written card and reported both bills to the floor, each on a 5-1 vote. The committee next heard testimony on Senate Bill 885, which would create a statewide Parent and Child Legal Representation Commission and Office within LARA to address child protective legal representation. Senator Singh and Alicia Moon of the Michigan Supreme Court described the current county-by-county system as uneven, with attorney shortages, inconsistent pay, and limited specialized training. They said the bill would set standards for training, caseloads, client contact, and compensation, while requiring public comment and future appropriations before implementation. Testimony and written cards from a broad range of organizations and judges supported the measure, and the committee reported SB 885 to the floor on a 6-0 vote. The committee then heard extensive testimony on Senate Bills 1015 and 1016, which would create an Office of Community Violence Intervention and Prevention within MDHHS and establish a grant program to support community violence intervention efforts statewide. Sponsors and witnesses from Force Detroit, D-Live, Seize the Smoke, Advance Peace, public health, law enforcement, and advocacy groups described CVI as a public health and public safety strategy that reduces shootings, supports survivors, and saves public costs. Several witnesses cited local data showing reductions in shootings and homicides in Detroit and Lansing, while one witness from the Michigan Sheriff's Association opposed the bills as written. The committee voted to report both SB 1015 and SB 1016 to the floor, each on a 5-0 vote with one pass, and then adjourned after additional testimony and reading of support cards.

Transcript Highlights:

• action needs to be taken, some of it may be a period of remediation, some of it may be that you've got
• areas where there is a need where the big public universities, collegiate systems in the state of Florida
• And I would, we all are aware of the, over the next 10 years of the decrease in the amount of nurses
• areas where there is a need where the big public universities, collegiate systems in the state of Florida
• all of the nursing programs in the state of Florida.

Committee: Senate Health Policy

Summary: The Committee on Health Policy met with a quorum and considered three bills. Senate Bill 526 on nursing education programs, sponsored by Senator Harrell, would tighten oversight of nursing schools by requiring admission criteria, exit exams, remediation plans, annual reporting, on-site inspections, and stronger action against programs with poor NCLEX results or adverse actions in other jurisdictions. After testimony from the sponsor and several committee questions, a late-filed amendment restored a two-year probation period instead of one year, and the bill was reported favorably. Senate Bill 714, also by Senator Harrell, would create a voluntary non-opioid advance directive allowing patients to document a wish not to receive opioids, including when incapacitated, with the form developed by the Department of Health and potentially included in electronic medical records. The sponsor said it would not prevent treatment discussions and would provide liability protection for providers who lack actual knowledge of the directive in emergencies. The bill drew no opposition in the meeting and was reported favorably. Senate Bill 170, sponsored by Senator Burton, would add nursing home quality and transparency measures, including consumer satisfaction surveys, patient safety culture surveys, electronic health record requirements, reporting to the Florida Health Information Exchange, a $10,000 fine for failure to submit required financial data, and reporting on Medicaid quality payments. An amendment clarified the fine’s application to both facilities and home offices. Testimony from AARP and the Florida Health Care Association supported the bill, and it was reported favorably after discussion about implementation and costs.

Transcript Highlights:

• I have a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree, and I'm the assistant dean and director of the Doctor of
• of Florida.
• I've provided anesthesia for tens of thousands of patients.
• observance of that.
• It just adds language of the word surrendered and the surrendered of an infant infant of the safety device

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard a lengthy agenda of health care and public health bills. The first major item was HB 649, which would remove the paper supervision protocol for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and allow autonomous practice. The sponsor and supporters argued it would improve access, especially in rural areas, address workforce shortages, and reduce costs, while opponents from the medical community raised patient safety concerns and argued it would weaken physician oversight. After extensive testimony and debate, the committee reported the bill favorably by a vote of 18-7. The committee then unanimously advanced several other measures. HB 259, creating a special observance for fentanyl awareness and education, passed 23-0. HB 791, which codifies infant safety devices as an option for surrendering newborns and amends safe-haven law, passed as amended 25-0. HB 355, allowing schools to use FDA-approved emergency opioid antagonists rather than only naloxone, passed 26-0. HB 1119, requiring hospitals with emergency departments to adopt pediatric readiness policies, training, coordination, and assessment requirements, also passed 26-0 after two amendments. HB 431, changing the date for level-two background screening of athletic coaches to July 1, 2026, passed 26-0. Later, the committee approved CS for HB 907, the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases or “Sunshine Genetics Act,” which would establish an opt-in newborn genome sequencing program at FSU and a statewide consortium for rare disease research; supporters emphasized earlier diagnosis and cost savings, and the bill passed 25-0. CS for HB 519, aligning state law with federal law on controlled substances for paramedics, passed 25-0. Finally, CS for HB 723, requiring the Department of Health to provide early-detection materials for type 1 diabetes to families of young schoolchildren, passed as amended 26-0. The meeting adjourned after all bills were reported favorably.

Transcript Highlights:

• the darkest of places.
• to the needs of the residents of our state at this time.
• elements of that.
• of in a great fashion.
• to adopt rules to regulate the expansion of the practice of pharmacy.

Summary: The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee held confirmation hearings for Ryan Moran to lead the Health Care Authority and Dennis Worsham to serve as Secretary of Health. Moran emphasized his personal background, experience in Maryland Medicaid, and priorities of protecting coverage amid federal changes, addressing health disparities, strengthening tribal partnerships, and improving agency operations. Worsham described his long public health career in Washington, his statewide listening tour, and his focus on collaboration, science-based decision-making, accountability, workforce support, and rebuilding public trust. Senators raised questions about behavioral health, social determinants of health, communication, misinformation, and the impact of federal policy changes; both nominees said Washington should continue leading on coverage, prevention, and public health resilience. In executive session, the committee advanced several bills. It passed SB 5899, allowing qualified chiropractors to perform chiropractic diagnosis and adjustments on animals; SB 6292, creating a joint legislative-executive committee on health care financing with a substitute; SB 6182, establishing an abortion savings program, after rejecting several Christian-sponsored amendments and adopting a Bateman amendment limiting eligible organizations to DOH-contracted abortion providers or funds; SB 5947, creating the Washington Health Care Board; SJR 8206, proposing a constitutional right to affordable health care; and SB 5933, on overdose mapping information sharing, with a substitute. The committee also recommended confirmation of both gubernatorial appointments. In a second group of bills, the committee passed SB 5823 on patient advocates with a substitute requiring at least one person physically present daily in acute care settings and expanding exemptions for certain hospitals; SB 6210 on the health plan certification process with a substitute; SB 5921 on psilocybin; SB 6226 protecting audiologists’ clinical autonomy with a substitute; and SB 5924 expanding pharmacists’ prescriptive authority with a substitute. Members discussed access, affordability, rural workforce shortages, and patient safety, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• So today, I have an amendment to the appropriation for the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
• I think it's important to start with the primer of what the mission statement of the University of Arkansas
• I think it's important to start with the primer of what the mission statement of the University of Arkansas
• Okay, and this is just for the University of Arkansas. Yes, sir.
• Could you explain how some of the other universities work? Yes, sir.

Committee: All JBC-SPECIAL LANGUAGE

Summary: The committee reconvened and took up several amendments and bills. Senate Bill 15 was amended to transfer Keep Arkansas Beautiful functions to ARDOT and replace the current commissioners with an advisory council; the amendment was adopted without objection. An amendment to Senate Bill 7 lowering the claims-data threshold for group health insurance from 50 employees to 25, to help smaller employers and municipalities shop for coverage, was also adopted. An amendment to Senate Bill 41 that would have restricted University of Arkansas at Fayetteville athletic funding from academic funds was rejected after members questioned its scope and fiscal basis. The committee then considered an amendment to House Bill 1051 that would cap online sports-betting free play at 5% of gross receipts. Senator Hester argued the current unlimited promotions were predatory and effectively subsidized casinos, while other members questioned the tax and accounting assumptions and whether the proposal belonged in a fiscal committee. The amendment failed, and a separate agriculture-related amendment from Representatives Vaught and Painter to exempt certain tractor parts tied to diesel exhaust fluid systems was also not adopted, with members citing drafting and enforcement problems and suggesting it should go through the revenue committees. After suspending the rules to add items, the committee adopted a technical correction to Senate Bill 4 clarifying physician licensure language so the rural workforce pathway would apply to underserved and primary care shortage areas, rather than the narrower federal term originally used. The committee also adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 77 deleting a fund-transfer section and instead increasing appropriation authority and creating a matching-fund mechanism to help Arkansas TV pay PBS dues, with supporters saying it would leverage private donations and preserve PBS access while allowing the commission to decide programming. The bill passed as amended, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• She was a mother of two, a grandmother of six, and a dear mentor to many, including myself.
• bone density capable of withstanding the impact of an airbag.
• Assembly Bill 500 by Assembly Member Quirk-Silva, an act relating to the University of California.
• Assembly Bill 922 by Assembly Member Hoover, an act relating to the University of California.
• of San Diego, the University of Hawaii, and Pacific Western University, where he earned a Ph.D. in Human

Summary: The Assembly met on May 23, 2025, after a quorum call, prayer, and Pledge of Allegiance. Members also made several guest introductions and memorial recognitions, including tributes to labor leader Louisa Blue and a Memorial Day moment of silence. The body adopted a motion to suspend Assembly Rule 63 for certain Appropriations Committee bills, and later took up a second-day consent calendar and several resolutions. The chamber adopted ACR 68, declaring July 2025 as Parks Make Life Better Month, and ACR 83, proclaiming California Maritime Day; both received broad support. On the floor file, members passed a series of bills covering child passenger safety, student financial aid, downtown office-to-housing conversion districts, rental vehicle theft prevention, fire hazard zone reviews, medical data protections, UC admissions transparency, office-to-housing streamlining, inoperable RV removal, domestic violence and child welfare, insurance classification for social service workers, sustainable aviation fuel CEQA review, UC hiring background checks, accessory dwelling units, fish and wildlife exemptions for Sutter County infrastructure, speed limit assessments, geothermal permitting, special education transfers, recorder fee adjustments, and a BIT program exemption for farmers and ranchers. Most measures passed with little or no opposition. AB 435, which would have implemented a five-step test standard for child passenger safety laws, was later reconsidered and failed on a vote of 36-12 after the call was lifted. The Assembly also adopted the second-day consent calendar, including multiple bills and resolutions, and added co-authors to several resolutions. The session ended with adjournments in memory and an adjournment until Tuesday, May 27 at 1 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

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Committee: Senate State and Local Government

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The university system was present at each of the meetings, and, by way of background, a market analysis
• As of September 2025, a standalone university system modernization was estimated to cost between $100
• But I will say of every state that we did look at, they did have separate systems between the university
• But I want to really provide a couple quick, important comments on behalf of the university system regarding
• Really, on behalf of the North Dakota University System, we sincerely appreciate your time, attention

Summary: The committee approved the March 26 minutes and then received a quarterly update on major IT projects from NDIT. Staff reported the portfolio included 116 major projects totaling about $546 million, with the overall portfolio under budget but slightly behind schedule. They reviewed projects over the 20% variance threshold, including an Industrial Commission grants management system and DOT’s roadway pre-construction replacement, and then heard startup and closeout reports from HHS, OMB, DPI, and DOT. Several previously troubled projects were closed, including HHS bed management, vital records modernization, and DOT roadway capital planning; some projects finished under budget and ahead of schedule, while others were significantly behind schedule or over budget but were now closed or being remediated. The committee also reviewed NDIT’s annual report, including service-fund financials, peer-state rate comparisons, records management, and customer satisfaction efforts. Members asked about how service-fund revenue and grant administrative charges are accounted for, how chargebacks work, and whether NDIT tracks customer satisfaction scores. NDIT said it does track CSAT-type measures in some service areas and has survey data, but it is not planning another customer survey this summer. Members encouraged more regular reporting of customer satisfaction, service-level metrics, and performance data to help guide future improvements. A major portion of the meeting focused on the state’s mainframe modernization effort. NDIT said the overall effort is still targeting about 2030, with multiple HHS and DOT projects underway and a $15 million tech-debt appropriation already removing some components. Staff described the main obstacles as data cleanup, complex integrations, limited staff capacity, retirements, and vendor constraints, and said they are seeking a vendor with modernization support in the next contract cycle. Members pressed for clearer accountability and faster progress, and NDIT and HHS emphasized that they are working jointly but need continued support and better tools. The committee then heard a cybersecurity update on NDIT’s statewide services and maturity assessments. NDIT explained that it provides vulnerability scanning, endpoint protection, security awareness training, threat briefings, and penetration testing, and that these services are tied to a cybersecurity maturity assessment based on CIS controls. Members questioned the sharp drop in participation since 2020 and whether the self-assessment should be mandatory or tied more strongly to StageNet access or insurance incentives. NDIT said participation is voluntary, but Enderf is now requiring annual assessments to keep a 4% insurance discount, and members discussed whether stronger requirements or audit authority may be needed. The meeting ended as the committee began a follow-up discussion on BEAD broadband connection costs and why some locations are much more expensive to connect than others.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've got a combination of universities, folks across the National Lab Complex, and industry all
• It's a collaboration and network of nine of the 17 Department of Energy national laboratories, 20 universities
• So our job is bringing a lot of industry, working with universities and states together, an upgrade in
• So our job is bringing a lot of industry, working with universities and states together, In a lot of
• what we used to mine out of a lot of act.

Committee: Joint Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've got a combination of universities, folks across the National Lab Complex, and industry all
• It's a collaboration and network of nine of the 17 Department of Energy national laboratories, 20 universities
• It's a collaboration and network of nine of the 17 Department of Energy national laboratories, 20 universities
• So our job is bringing a lot of industry, working with universities and states together, Systems that
• in a lot of industry, working with universities and states together systems that we intense to demonstrate

Summary: The meeting opened with remarks about the value of public engagement and the quality of questions from the group, followed by a series of technical presentations from Idaho National Laboratory staff. Joe Renovitz described recent nuclear regulatory changes tied to presidential executive orders, including NRC Part 53 for advanced reactors, the forthcoming Part 57 for very small reactors, and DOE updates to reactor authorization standards. He emphasized efforts to align DOE and NRC processes, use risk-informed and performance-based licensing, support reactor deployment for AI/data centers and national security, and use AI to speed communications and crosswalks between DOE and NRC requirements. In response to questions, he said there was no plan to merge agencies, but rather to improve coordination and public outreach through groups like GAIN and NEI. David Tolman then discussed the nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium mining, conversion, enrichment, fuel fabrication, spent fuel storage, transportation, disposal, and reprocessing. He explained high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), why it is needed for advanced reactors, and DOE’s HALEU Availability Program and related investments in enrichment, transportation, deconversion, and supply chain development. He also covered spent fuel management, the possibility of centralized storage or a fuel-cycle campus, the Center for Used Fuel Research, and ongoing work on high-burnup cask testing and reprocessing technologies. Tolman described aqueous, pyrochemical, and fluoride-volatility reprocessing approaches, noting the advantages and waste characteristics of each, and said several companies are working with INL on these technologies. Ashley Shields presented INL’s AI and nuclear work, focusing on the Genesis initiative and the Prometheus effort to use AI to design, license, build, and operate reactors with far less human intervention. She described INL’s broad use of generative AI tools, the need to manage large volumes of legacy technical data, and applications in reactor design, materials discovery, autonomous laboratories, and digital twins. Shields said AI is being used to reduce the enormous documentation burden in nuclear licensing and to support autonomous or remotely operated reactor demonstrations, while stressing that humans remain in supervisory roles. In discussion, she addressed data security, model access, and the continued need for software engineers. The session then recessed briefly and resumed with Mitch Kerman beginning a presentation on critical minerals and materials.