Transcript Highlights:

• affiliations that we have here in this room here today, but also want to recognize the ancestral territory
• Our traditional territories are south of Santa Cruz, down to the Elkhorn Slough, and inland to Gilroy
• And we have tribes who have, in our territory, Ohlone—the greater, we don't use the term Ohlone.
• And now they're being recognized as a continuous and historic tribe of their territory.
• And now they're being recognized as a continuous and historic tribe of their territory.

Summary: The joint hearing of the Select Committee on Native American Affairs and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee focused on the University of California’s compliance with NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA and the return of Native American human remains and cultural items. Senators and Assembly Members opened by emphasizing the sacredness of repatriation, the ongoing trauma caused by delayed returns, and the need for stronger systemwide accountability. The State Auditor presented the third audit of UC’s repatriation efforts, concluding that UC still lacks the urgency, oversight, and clear timelines needed to promptly return remains and belongings. The audit found thousands of remains and hundreds of thousands of cultural items still in UC custody, new undisclosed collections at several campuses, weak budgeting and underspending, and repatriation plans that often lacked concrete deadlines. The auditor recommended stronger UCOP oversight, performance metrics, proactive searches for undiscovered items, and possible legislative action to tie funding to measurable progress. UC officials responded that the system is committed to full compliance and has accelerated its work since adopting a new policy in 2022. UC Provost Catherine Newman said the system repatriated more than 2,800 ancestors and nearly 80,000 funerary belongings in the past year, and that UC now says 80.3% of Native American remains are either repatriated or available for repatriation. UC announced a new systemwide plan to complete repatriation of human remains by the end of 2028, to finish high-risk campus reviews by June 2026, to recall all loans by January 2026, and to require quarterly reporting to UCOP. UC also said it will spend an additional $8.8 million over three years, expand staffing, improve databases, support tribal consultation costs, and identify potential reburial sites on UC land. Berkeley and San Diego described increased staffing, consultations, and repatriation activity, while Santa Barbara said it had corrected earlier omissions, notified tribes about previously unreported ancestors, and was working toward completing repatriations and updated inventories. Committee members pressed UC on why progress has been so slow, why the audit’s timelines differed from UC’s public reporting, and whether the 2028 goal applies only to human remains rather than all cultural items. UC said the 2028 target is for human remains, while cultural items will take longer, and acknowledged that more work remains. Members also asked about the technical expertise needed for repatriation, the role of tribal experts, and whether repatriation should be embedded more permanently in UC governance or statute. Tribal leaders and representatives then testified that remains and belongings were taken without consent and must be returned with tribal consent and leadership. They criticized the repeated delays, stressed that tribes are the experts on their ancestors and cultural heritage, and urged UC to treat repatriation as a top priority and to return all associated items, not just human remains, so ancestors can truly rest.

Transcript Highlights:

• affiliations that we have here in this room here today, but also want to recognize the ancestral territory
• Our traditional territories are south of Santa Cruz, down to the Elkhorn Slough, and inland to Gilroy
• And we have tribes who have in our territory, Ohlone—the greater, we don't use the term Ohlone.
• And now they're being recognized as a continuous and historic tribe of their territory.
• Tribes who believe that they have the right to any remains that are in the Ohlone territory.

Summary: The joint hearing of the Select Committee on Native American Affairs and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee focused on the University of California’s compliance with NAGPRA and CalNAGPRA and the return of Native American human remains and cultural items. Senators and Assembly Members opened by emphasizing the sacredness of repatriation, the ongoing trauma caused by delayed returns, and the need for stronger systemwide accountability. The State Auditor presented the third audit of UC’s repatriation efforts, concluding that UC still lacked urgency, clear goals, and performance metrics, and that campuses continued to hold thousands of remains and hundreds of thousands of cultural items. The auditor said some campuses had discovered previously undocumented collections, that budgets were not always fully used for repatriation work, and that at current rates some campuses could take decades to finish, with Berkeley projected to need far longer than other campuses. The auditor recommended stronger UCOP oversight, clearer timelines, proactive searches, and possible legislative action to tie funding to measurable progress. UC officials responded that the system had made substantial recent progress and was now moving faster under a new systemwide approach. UC Provost Catherine Newman apologized for the university’s past actions, said UC had repatriated more than 2,800 ancestors and nearly 80,000 funerary belongings in the past year, and announced a goal of completing repatriation of remaining human remains by the end of 2028. She said UC would complete high-risk campus reviews by June 2026, update campus plans with clearer timelines by December, provide quarterly reports, add more than $8.8 million in new resources, support tribal consultation costs, and explore 20 potential reburial sites on UC land. UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons said Berkeley had accelerated consultations and repatriations, had a dedicated NAGPRA team, and was also targeting 2028 for human remains. UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara coordinators described new staff, database improvements, campus surveys, and additional consultations, while Santa Barbara said outstanding loan collections were scheduled to be returned in the fall. Committee members pressed UC on why progress had been so slow, whether the 2028 goal applied to all remains and items or only human remains, why public reporting did not always match the audit’s broader counts of potential cultural items, and what expertise was still lacking. UC said the legal and technical work requires archival, osteological, geographic, and other specialized skills, but tribal leaders stressed that tribes themselves are the true experts and that consultation must be led with them, not around them. Tribal witnesses from Tachi Yokut, Chumash, Redding Rancheria, Amah Mutsun, and Tule River described the issue as a matter of dignity, healing, and transparency, criticized the pace of repatriation, and urged that all associated cultural items be returned with the remains so ancestors can rest. No formal votes were taken in the transcript, but the hearing concluded with commitments to continued oversight, updated reporting, and further discussion of statutory or policy changes to make repatriation a lasting UC priority.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is territorial days. I was actually raised in the shadow of the Capitol.
• We're regularly tasked with joining task forces such as the jail and prison integration task force in
• On page six, those are our data integration responsibilities and how we've been tackling that.
• I had a question regarding page six, your data integration.
• We gave our first grant to a county that had applied for data integration work.

Committee: Senate Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• So you cover a little bit of a territory? Yes.
• It'd be conceivable to think that somebody like you could cover perhaps a broader territory if, in fact
• My territory, I have roughly 400 producers in my territory right now.
• So I've, you know, the territories are humongous. Like I said, 400 and just my area.
• So I've, you know, the territories are humongous. Like I said, 400 and just my area.

Committee: Senate Agriculture

Summary: The Senate Committee on Agriculture heard an update on the Florida citrus industry from Matt Joyner of Florida Citrus Mutual and Shannon Shepp of the Department of Citrus. Both described the industry’s steep decline over the past two decades due to citrus greening (HLB), hurricanes, freezes, and aging groves, but emphasized ongoing recovery efforts through research, replanting, and new therapies. They highlighted promising tools such as plant growth regulators, protective screens and covers, direct oxytetracycline application, CRISPR-based breeding, and the CRAFT program, which has expanded to more than 10,000 acres of solid-set plantings and over 20,000 acres including resets. Members discussed disaster relief, property tax pressures, grower participation, and the need for assessment relief and other state support. No votes were taken on the citrus presentation. Shepp also outlined the Department of Citrus’s marketing and research role, noting strong consumer demand for Florida orange juice, global advertising efforts, and clinical research tied to health messaging. She said the industry remains a major economic contributor, with thousands of jobs and billions in economic impact, and that the department is working to maintain demand while growers replant and reset groves. Senators asked about the CRAFT program, new grower participation, and how advertising and state policy could help sustain the industry. The committee then received a performance review of the Opa-locka Soil and Water Conservation Districts from David Jahossky of Malden and Jenkins. The review found wide variation among the 49 districts studied, with many lacking recurring revenue, staffing, proper meeting notices, records retention, formal performance goals, and timely financial reports. The report identified nearly 400 recommendations and noted that some districts had already dissolved or were considering dissolution. Senators questioned whether the districts were duplicative of other agencies and whether they still served a useful purpose; the presenter said there was overlap and collaboration but no duplication. A public commenter from Jefferson County argued that local boards still provide trusted, community-based support for producers and help connect them to cost-share and best management practice programs. The chair indicated the review would inform possible legislation to improve or restructure the districts, and the committee adjourned without taking a vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• By integrating Narcan education at a younger age, we're not only empowering students...
• Arguably our most vulnerable people are our students, and so I think we should be integrating that.
• We provide a progressive, integrated, and structured approach to psychedelic therapy.
• I think it's the only way to go because this is truly uncharted territory.
• The only way to go because this is truly uncharted territory, right? And I forget who said it.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Summary: The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery opened its first public hearing of the 2025–26 session with remarks from the Senate and House chairs outlining the committee’s priorities. They noted recent work on addiction and recovery legislation, the ongoing youth behavioral health crisis, and that members might need to leave periodically for floor votes. The chairs explained hearing procedures, including three-minute testimony limits, written testimony deadlines, and reporting deadlines for Senate and House bills. The hearing then focused on several bills related to youth mental health, overdose prevention, and psychedelic treatment research. A major portion of the hearing centered on bills to improve youth crisis response and overdose prevention. Testimony strongly supported bills to print the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on student ID cards, with speakers from mental health organizations, crisis centers, and individuals sharing personal stories of depression, suicide attempts, and the importance of making 988 as familiar as 911. Another set of bills would require schools to stock naloxone and provide overdose prevention education. Physicians, harm reduction advocates, students, and grieving family members testified that school-based Narcan access and education could save lives, reduce stigma, and help students recognize overdoses and understand Good Samaritan protections. Senator O’Connor and Tamika Perry also testified for a bill to strengthen substance use prevention education and reduce overdose abandonment, emphasizing the need to teach students about overdose risks and the legal protections for calling 911. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to authorize a pilot program for psychedelic treatment in licensed facilities. Senator Friedman and several medical and behavioral health professionals argued the proposal was a narrow, research-based approach distinct from the broader ballot question rejected in 2024. They said the bill would allow only a small number of supervised clinics to use psychedelics for conditions such as depression, PTSD, anxiety, and substance use disorders, with data reporting and Department of Public Health oversight. Supporters described it as a cautious way to study promising treatments while avoiding unsupervised or commercialized use. Finally, the committee heard support for a bill to create a special commission and five-year strategic plan for children’s behavioral health services, with testimony that the current system is fragmented, difficult for families to navigate, and strained by workforce and funding challenges. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and questions on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We represent the governor-designated energy officials from each of the 56 states and territories.
• And we also advance the interests of our members, the state and territory energy offices, before Congress
• lot of confidence, both to the state and to financial investors, that the community is a really integral
• No, I was just going to let you know, Xcel Energy is getting ready to file an integrated resource plan
• We did model it in the previous integrated resource plan, but again, we're doing an updated one here

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to review prior minutes and hear a series of presentations on advanced nuclear technology and state readiness. The committee approved the April 21, 2022 minutes. Nucleon’s William Bridge outlined the advanced nuclear landscape, distinguishing near-term light-water SMRs from more advanced Gen 4 reactors and microreactors, and emphasized that fuel supply, especially HALEU, remains a developing supply chain. He said light-water designs are the most deployable in the near term, while advanced reactors may be better suited for industrial heat applications and could face a 2- to 3-year delay from fuel availability. Representatives from NASEO described how other states are supporting advanced nuclear through task forces, roadmaps, pilot programs, financing tools, workforce and supply-chain efforts, and regional coordination. They highlighted the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative and stressed that states are focusing early on emergency preparedness, community engagement, waste management, affordability, and consumer protections. They also noted that some states are creating nuclear-ready community programs and cost-recovery guardrails, while public utility commissions are examining long-term lifecycle costs and rate impacts. North Dakota agencies then outlined their potential roles. The Public Service Commission said it would likely be involved in public-interest review, siting, and rate regulation, but noted current statutes may not fully address long-term nuclear projects, co-location, or decommissioning. The Department of Environmental Quality said it would continue to regulate radioactive materials and likely support emergency planning, while fission reactor oversight remains federal. The Department of Emergency Services said it would serve as the lead off-site preparedness agency, needing a radiological emergency program, training, exercises, equipment, and possibly industry funding. The Department of Water Resources said North Dakota has sufficient surface water, especially from the Missouri River, but that water planning would be important; it did not recommend statutory or budget changes at this time. The committee recessed for lunch after these presentations, with no additional votes or actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• The early 2050s, they are an integral part of our ability to provide low-cost, reliable energy to our
• in Duluth for more than a century, serving 150,000 customers across a 26,000-square-mile service territory
• 42:19.119><c> square</c><00:42:19.520><c> mile</c><00:42:19.800><c> service</c><00:42:20.359><c> territory
• </c> a 26,000 square mile service territory a 26,000 square mile service territory we<00:42:21.520><c

Transcript Highlights:

• And if they don't, the integrity of that research must be certainly questioned.
• This article contained a lengthy discussion about how AI could be integrated into community colleges
• SB 241 will help continue providing guardrails on the integration of AI tools...
• This article contained a lengthy discussion about how AI could be integrated into community colleges
• As a legislator, we must ensure the pathways of social integration and economic mobility.

Summary: The committee heard several higher education bills. It first approved the consent calendar, which included SB 67 and SB 619. The main discussion centered on SB 437, which would direct the CSU system to develop a fair, evidence-based process for verifying whether someone is a descendant of a person enslaved in the United States, as part of the state’s reparations work. Supporters said the bill fills a gap left by the Reparations Task Force and would create a transparent, credible lineage-verification process; opponents argued genealogy methods already exist, the bill would waste money and delay action, and some raised constitutional concerns. The committee took a vote on SB 437, but the roll was left open after the initial tally showed three ayes and three noes. The committee then heard SB 790, which would allow California to join the interstate reciprocity agreement for online postsecondary education. The author and supporters said the bill would improve consumer protections for California students taking out-of-state online courses and help California institutions compete more effectively by reducing the burden of seeking separate state approvals. Opponents, including University of Phoenix and other groups, argued the bill conflicted with the existing reciprocity framework, could exclude some institutions, and might not actually secure California’s entry into the agreement. The committee voted 3-1 to pass SB 790 as amended to the Business and Professions Committee, with the roll left open. The committee also heard SB 391, which would authorize the Community College Chancellor’s Office to charge fees for research partners seeking access to data. Supporters said the office is absorbing significant unfunded workload from data requests and that fees would help recover costs; opponents, including the California Teachers Association community college association, warned the fees could create barriers for faculty and smaller researchers. Members discussed possible exemptions and implementation details. The committee voted 5-1 to pass SB 391 as amended to the Appropriations Committee, with the roll left open. Finally, the committee heard SB 685, a pilot program to provide cost-of-attendance assistance at four CSU campuses for students who experienced homelessness in high school. Supporters said it would help students cover housing, food, and transportation costs and reduce dropout risk; members asked about eligibility and implementation, and the author explained the bill would use McKinney-Vento homelessness designations and target students at risk of “summer melt” and college homelessness.

Transcript Highlights:

• important, and I just want to bring it up again, is that it talked about, one, effectiveness and integrity
• And he was talking about factors that undermine the integrity of the system and how inmates respond to
• Once you start going outside of that territory, you have to have people that are going to be on those
• There's ways to maintain structural integrity of a facility, even if you close two-thirds of it.
• Around and you will maintain and you will continue to have the integrity of the building and the full

Summary: The commission met for an open discussion focused on developing recommendations for its report on correctional consolidation and collaboration. Chairs Dan Hunt and Senator Brownsberger said the group is moving from information-gathering into idea generation, with a report due to the legislature by the end of September. Members discussed whether recommendations should be broad “guardrails” or more specific proposals, and several urged that future recommendations be grounded in firsthand experience, data, and written submissions from agencies and stakeholders. A major theme was how to create a more integrated correctional and reentry system. Participants raised the need to hear more from reentry centers, minimum-security and pre-release facilities, probation and parole, and the judiciary. Ideas included expanding step-down pathways, improving coordination among DOC, sheriffs, probation, and parole, standardizing programming and outcomes data, and better educating judges about available programs at sentencing. There was also discussion of whether the sheriff’s role should be expanded beyond the current two-and-a-half-year House of Correction limit, with questions about sentence structure, good-time credits, and how such a change would affect security and reentry outcomes. Members also emphasized the importance of consistency, transparency, and minimum standards across facilities. Several speakers said the system remains fragmented and that different counties use different definitions, practices, and program models. Suggestions included reviewing prior commission reports, looking at other states and even European models for best practices, and considering regional hubs or specialized facilities for behavioral health, workforce development, and reentry. The chairs noted that the commission has already toured several facilities and plans more visits, including Framingham and Bridgewater, and that future hearings will include unions and other stakeholders. The discussion also touched on restrictive housing, mental health, and contraband K2. Members cited recent suicide concerns and expert reports suggesting some units function like restrictive housing even if not labeled that way. There was broad agreement that custody conditions, programming access, and institutional culture affect trust and rehabilitation. No formal votes were taken; the meeting was primarily a working session to surface ideas and frame possible recommendations for later drafting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Can you remind us how many customers do you have in your territory?"
• The territory has 67,000. Mr. Meyer, sorry, Mr.
• The legislation would have a chilling effect on solar and co-op territories, resulting in less solar
• is very low rur mun Co-op territories is very low there's<00:36:11.280><c> most</c><00:36:11.560><c>
• </c><00:37:21.240><c> resulting</c> on solar and Co-op territories resulting on solar and Co-op territories

Bills: HF845

Committee: House Energy Finance and Policy

Keywords: net metering, distributed generation, solar energy, rooftop solar, renewable energy, utility rates, electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, public utilities, Public Utilities Commission, net billing, bill credits, cost of service study, standby charge, qualifying facility, energy policy, clean energy, customer generation, interconnection, Minnesota Statutes 216B.164

Transcript Highlights:

• And if they don't, the integrity of that research must be certainly questioned.
• And if they don't, the integrity of that research must be certainly questioned.
• This article contained a lengthy discussion about how AI could be integrated into community colleges
• SB 241 will help continue providing guardrails on the integration of AI tools into community college
• , specifically outlining Which establishes a clear definition of immigrant integration, specifically

Committee: House Higher Education

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard several Senate bills, beginning with consent items SB 67 and SB 619, both approved on consent. The committee then took up SB 437, which would direct the CSU system to develop a fair, evidence-based process for verifying whether someone is a descendant of a person enslaved in the United States, as part of the state’s reparations work. Supporters, including the author, a former reparations task force member, the NAACP, CSU, and other organizations, argued the bill fills a missing implementation gap and would create a transparent, credible lineage-verification process. Opponents said the process already exists through professional genealogists, warned the bill would delay reparations work and cost millions, and raised constitutional objections. After debate, the committee voted the bill out on a 3-3 roll, with the roll left open for additional members. The committee next heard SB 790, which would allow California to join the interstate reciprocity agreement for online postsecondary education. The author and supporters from UC, CSU, and private universities said joining the agreement would reduce burdensome state-by-state authorization, improve consumer protections for California students taking out-of-state online courses, and help California institutions expand online offerings. Opponents, including the University of Phoenix and other groups, argued the bill conflicted with the existing reciprocity framework, could exclude some institutions, and might not be accepted by other states. The committee discussed fee and implementation issues, then moved the bill forward on a 3-1 roll, with the roll left open. SB 391 was then heard, authorizing the Community College Chancellor’s Office to charge reasonable fees for research data requests. The author and Chancellor’s Office said the office handles many labor-intensive MOUs and data compilations without reimbursement, and that fees would help recover costs and support staff capacity. CTA opposed the bill, warning that fees could burden faculty and smaller researchers and should be limited to actual costs, while committee members raised questions about affordability and implementation. The committee ultimately passed the bill out on a 5-0 roll, with the roll left open. Finally, the committee heard SB 685, a pilot program to provide cost-of-attendance assistance at four CSU campuses for students who experienced homelessness in high school. Supporters said the bill would help students bridge the gap between existing aid and real living costs, while members asked about eligibility and the use of McKinney-Vento homelessness designations; the author explained the pilot is aimed at preventing summer melt and helping formerly homeless students stay enrolled.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is really integral for these groups.
• innovations, grid technologies, so many areas, and affordability cuts across all of that and is integrally
• We are seeing unprecedented growth, new growth every day in our territory.
• We can integrate the work, draw on all of those experts, and better coordinate the recommendations and

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 287, which would create a permanent Health and Human Services Committee. The sponsor argued the state spends about $14.4 billion annually on health and human services and needs a standing committee to better oversee programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, CYFD, hospitals, pharmacy benefit managers, and related issues. Members discussed staffing, start-up costs, and whether the committee would have subpoena power; staff said interim funding exists in the feed bill and additional funding would likely be needed later. The committee adopted an amendment striking the appropriation and changing the effective date, then voted due pass on the amended bill, with several members recorded in opposition. The committee then considered House Bill 371, as substituted, to create land grant and acequia infrastructure funds financed from remaining severance tax bond capacity. The sponsor and acequia/land grant advocates said the measure would provide a short-term funding source for infrastructure needs such as land acquisition, right-of-way access, ditch cleaning, and repairs, with distributions beginning only after the fund reaches a threshold and subject to limits through 2031. Members asked about bond capacity, the relationship to capital outlay, legislative approval of projects, and whether the bill would reduce reliance on repeated capital requests. The committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill, with one member in opposition. The committee also heard Senate Bill 143, which raises fee caps under the New Mexico Department of Agriculture’s inspection and grading programs, including egg grading, nursery stock, pesticide, feed, and related services. The department and industry supporters said the caps had been unchanged for decades and that the bill would help fund inspections and staffing without meaningfully affecting consumer prices. After questions about fee administration, consumer impact, and staffing levels, the committee voted do pass. Finally, the committee discussed House Bill 329, which would create an Energy Affordability and Grid Reliability Council attached to the Public Regulation Commission. The sponsor said the council would study affordability, reliability, grid modernization, and energy options, drawing on experts from state agencies and utilities. Members raised concerns about the bill’s vagueness, lack of term limits and detailed structure, possible duplication with existing agencies, missing representation for rural co-ops, tribes, and nuclear energy, and the funding source. The sponsor said the governor’s office had requested the bill and that funding would come from governor-controlled GROW money, but the committee ultimately rolled the bill for further work and did not adopt the amendment presented that day.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're getting into some very new territory here, and I suspect that this is one of many bills that we
• This bill ensures that the histories and contributions of our communities are integrated into existing
• Today, I'm proudly speaking in favor of PSSB 5574 requiring the integration of Asian American, Native
• Today I'm speaking in strong support of PSSB 5574, which calls for the integration of Asian, AANHPI,

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 5901, which would change the school construction assistance program so that instructional space on military bases is excluded from a district’s available space inventory when calculating state construction aid. Staff explained the bill would also require state assistance to equal approved project cost minus federal funding received. Senator Christian said the measure is intended to prevent military-base facilities from unfairly reducing districts’ ability to modernize or build schools. Testimony in support came from OSPI, Clover Park School District, and Medical Lake School District, which said the current formula penalizes districts serving military families and can leave them unable to secure needed renovation funding. No opposition was heard, and the bill was later described as having an indeterminate fiscal impact. The committee then took up Senate Bill 5860 on school board compensation. The bill would raise director pay from $50 to $100 per day, increase the annual cap, allow child care expenses to be reimbursed, require OFM to periodically adjust compensation, and direct WASDA to develop finance training for school directors. Senator Cortez said the changes are needed to broaden who can serve on school boards and to help working families participate. Supporters from OSPI, WASDA, and South Sound superintendents said compensation could improve diversity and help recruit and retain board members, though WASDA noted concerns about diverting district funds and said its members do not have consensus on mandatory training. Opponents argued the bill would misuse levy funds and that child care and other expenses should not be paid from local education levies. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5956 on artificial intelligence, student discipline, and surveillance in schools, which would bar automated systems from being the sole basis for discipline decisions, prohibit risk scores and biometric surveillance, require OSPI guidance updates, and direct WASDA to create model policy. Senator Nobles and supporters said the bill is needed to protect students from discriminatory and inaccurate AI-driven decisions; no vote was taken in the hearing. Finally, the committee heard a proposed substitute for Senate Bill 5574, which would require districts to include instruction on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Latino American, and Black American history in required social studies courses during the regular curriculum review cycle, with reporting beginning in 2030. Senator Nobles said the bill is meant to address exclusion and bias in history education and to help students see themselves reflected in the curriculum. Testifiers from education, student, parent, and community groups overwhelmingly supported the measure, saying it would improve belonging, reduce bullying, and build on existing curriculum resources without creating a new course or major new cost. The hearing ended without a vote or other formal action on SB 5956 or SB 5574.

Transcript Highlights:

• That mission was a request from Homeland Security to all 54 states and territories to support U.S.
• our partners, both federal, state, and nonprofits, to find out where areas that we can partner and integrate
• a lot of the things that Colonel Park was talking about earlier, where our agency can foster and integrate
• DoD's Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration, also known as REPI.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs met with opening introductions from members, many of whom noted military service or ties to Joint Base Lewis-McChord and other installations. The committee then heard from JBLM Garrison Commander Col. Ken Park, who said the base’s top priorities remain housing, child care, and spouse employment, while also warning about federal personnel reductions that eliminated about 283 civilian authorizations at JBLM. He said the biggest operational impacts are on air traffic control, 911 dispatch, and firefighting, which may require more mutual aid with local agencies during fire season. He also discussed the Army Transformation Initiative, saying JBLM will likely see some units leave and others arrive, with no expected major net growth or loss. In response to questions, he confirmed the Lewis Army Museum is slated for closure no earlier than 2027, but said the building will remain in use for training and that the base is exploring partnerships and possible extended public access hours in the meantime. Jim Baumgart of the Washington Military Department reported that about 400 Washington National Guard members are deployed on federal missions, and that the Guard continues state missions in cybersecurity and wildfire response. He said the 81st Stryker Brigade will transition to a Mobile Combat Team as part of Army transformation, with possible changes to end strength and equipment. He also warned that continuing resolutions are delaying military construction and may increase costs, and said federal changes to cooperative agreements could raise the state share. Members asked about capital projects and tribal coordination, and Baumgart said two capital projects are in the supplemental budget and that the department recently hosted a convening of tribal police chiefs at Building 81. WDVA Director David Puente described significant state budget reductions, including a $3.2 million cut package, a 50% reduction in VCC internships, vacant position eliminations, reduced travel, and cuts to counseling, wellness, and veterans innovation funding. He said the agency is ending its in-house nursing assistant academy, the veteran farm at Orting, Vet Corps positions tied to AmeriCorps funding, and the tobacco cessation program unless alternative funding is found. He also noted that the legislature funded all of WDVA’s capital requests, including money for the Spokane veterans home replacement, a second state veterans cemetery, and HVAC work at Port Orchard. Members raised concerns about suicide prevention and federal VA staffing cuts, and Puente said WDVA will continue tracking data and working with partners on those gaps. Mike Cahill of the Department of Commerce reviewed the Defense Community Compatibility Account, explaining that it funds projects that reduce incompatibility between military installations and nearby communities and can help leverage federal DCIP dollars. He said the program has 10 funded projects across five districts, with nearly $50 million in state funding supporting more than $200 million in total project costs, and highlighted projects including Oak Harbor school and child care improvements and the Everett Joint Firefighting Training Center. He also said the state’s “last dollar in” approach can make it harder for projects to secure federal matching funds, and he will continue outreach and technical assistance. In closing discussion, members raised possible future topics for the committee, including Navy Day, a possible driver’s license designation issue for Guard and Reserve members, child care near bases, veteran homelessness, suicide prevention, and support for service members facing legal or educational concerns related to federal policy changes. The meeting adjourned after members were asked to send additional agenda ideas for the October and December meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• That mission was a request from Homeland Security to all 54 states and territories to support U.S.
• our partners, both federal, state, and nonprofits, to find out where areas that we can partner and integrate
• a lot of the things that Colonel Park was talking about earlier, where our agency can foster and integrate
• DoD's Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration, also known as REPI.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs met to hear updates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the Washington Military Department, the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Commerce on federal and state impacts affecting veterans, military families, and military installations. JBLM’s garrison commander said the base remains focused on housing, child care, and spouse employment, but is facing workforce reductions tied to federal personnel actions, especially in air traffic control, 911 dispatch, and firefighting. He also said JBLM is preparing for increased mutual-aid needs during fire season, and that the Army Transformation Initiative could change unit composition at JBLM over time without a major overall population shift. He confirmed that the Lewis Army Museum is on a closure list, but said the building will remain in use for training and that the base is exploring partnerships to keep museum functions operating, possibly with volunteers or local partners. The Washington Military Department reported about 400 Guard members deployed on federal missions and described ongoing state missions in cybersecurity and firefighting. The department said the Army National Guard’s 81st Stryker Brigade will transition to a mobile combat team, with associated changes in equipment, manning, and end strength. It also warned that continuing resolutions are delaying funding, limiting new military construction starts, and increasing costs. The Washington Department of Veterans Affairs outlined a $3.2 million reduction from the governor’s budget and related cuts affecting internships, vacant positions, outreach travel, claims support contracts, counseling and wellness, veterans’ innovation assistance, and the military transition and readiness council staff position. WDVA said it is ending or scaling back several programs, including in-house nursing assistant training, the veteran farm at Ordean, Vet Corps due to AmeriCorps funding changes, and the tobacco cessation program, while noting that the legislature funded about $23.7 million in capital projects for veteran homes, cemeteries, and transitional housing. The Department of Commerce presented on the Defense Community Compatibility Account, which funds projects that reduce conflicts between military installations and nearby communities. The program currently has 10 projects across five legislative districts, including school and child care improvements, water wells, land acquisition, and a joint firefighting training center in Everett. The presenter said the main challenge is that DCCA projects often need non-state funding secured before they can compete, which can make it hard to leverage federal Defense Community Infrastructure Program dollars; he recommended more flexible state timing to help projects qualify for federal funding. In closing discussion, members raised possible future agenda items including child care near bases, veteran homelessness, suicide prevention, Navy Day, military family housing, and a possible Department of Licensing issue involving guard and reserve designations on driver’s licenses. No formal votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after members were invited to suggest topics for the October and December committee meetings.

Transcript Highlights:

• our most talented and gifted operators throughout the world into the most hostile and dangerous territories
• our most talented and gifted operators throughout the world into the most hostile and dangerous territories
• our most talented and gifted operators throughout the world into the most hostile and dangerous territories
• our most talented and gifted operators throughout the world into the most hostile and dangerous territories
• the body is adoption of the resolution. ...into some of the most dangerous terrain and hostile territories

Transcript Highlights:

• Isn't this kind of all a, um, uh, uncharted territory in terms of the legislature?
• Yes, that is uncharted territory.
• that there are federal armed territory that there are federal armed agents<00:26:43.840><c> in</c><00
• Yes, that is uncharted territory.<00:26:49.840><c> And</c><00:26:50.080><c> I</c><00:26:50.320><c> think
• And I think that we have a territory.

Summary: Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy and several DFL senators held a press conference after a floor session to announce a package of bills responding to recent ICE operations in Minnesota. Murphy said the proposals are meant to restore and protect Minnesotans’ rights after the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Prey, arguing that authorities should render aid when they injure someone. She said one bill, to be heard the next day in Sen. Ron Latz’s Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, would create a civil remedy for victims of constitutional violations by federal agents and their leaders. Another bill would give the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension independent investigative authority in cases where federal agents kill Minnesota residents, after the BCA was reportedly shut out of recent investigations. Sen. Lindsey Port described a bill to bar federal law enforcement from hiding their identities while on duty, citing masked ICE agents, alleged use of fake license plates and impersonation tactics, and a recent incident in which a health care worker was allegedly boxed in by masked men. Sen. Elise Mann said the package would designate hospitals, schools, daycares, colleges, and courthouses as protected spaces and require a judicial warrant for ICE entry, arguing that federal agents have been entering hospitals and schools and detaining people at vulnerable moments. The senators framed the effort as a response to unconstitutional enforcement tactics rather than immigration policy, and said they hoped for bipartisan support, though they acknowledged the legal issues may be challenged under federal supremacy and could reach the courts. In response to questions, the senators said the civil-rights bill is intended to create a state-court cause of action against federal officials acting under color of law, because current remedies are limited. They said people in schools or hospitals should not put themselves in danger if confronted by armed agents, and that the law would provide later accountability. Latz said the Judiciary Committee would take up the bills and that Minnesota must have a seat at the table in seeking justice for affected residents. Asked about funding for related community burdens, Murphy said it was not a budget year but the state has a rainy day fund and balance available from last session.

Transcript Highlights:

• But if it ran the way it was designed to run, with people who have integrity, then it would work.
• ,</c> people who have integrity, people who have integrity, then<03:13:53.920><c> it</c><03:13:54.160
• 04:43:41.920><c> into</c><04:43:42.480><c> um</c><04:43:42.638><c> dangerous</c><04:43:43.120><c> territory
• </c><04:43:43.600><c> with</c> getting into um dangerous territory with getting into um dangerous territory
• </c> concerned about protecting the integrity concerned about protecting the integrity of<04:44:40.560

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• exchange rate transparency from China, we're not just advocating for fairness; we're fighting for the integrity
• 04:41:11.440><c> fighting</c><04:41:11.760><c> for</c><04:41:11.958><c> the</c><04:41:12.120><c> Integrity
• </c><04:41:12.600><c> of</c><04:41:12.718><c> the</c> we're fighting for the Integrity of the we're fighting
• for the Integrity of the global<04:41:13.400><c> economy</c><04:41:14.400><c> in</c><04:41:14.680><c
• She then moved to Savannah, Georgia, where she played an integral part in the community by devoting herself

Bills: HR736 , HR692 , HR965 , HR975 , HR386 , HR224

Keywords: diaper need, infant health, family well-being, basic needs, public health, childcare, September 11, terrorist attacks, education, curriculum, first responders, national security, temporary protected status, Haiti, immigration, refugees, quorum, House of Representatives, business proceeding, legislative procedure

Transcript Highlights:

• Should the black racer snake have a 100-year legacy of territory, but should the Blanding's turtles only
• a 100redyear<00:21:12.960><c> legacy</c> 100redyear legacy 100redyear legacy of<00:21:15.679><c> territory
• , but should the Blanding of territory, but should the Blanding turtles<00:21:18.559><c> only</c><00:
• </c><01:30:17.679><c> of</c><01:30:17.840><c> that</c><01:30:18.000><c> data,</c> the integrity of that
• data, the integrity of that data, &gt;&gt; but<01:30:19.199><c> also</c><01:30:20.480><c> um</c><01:

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources