Transcript Highlights:

• We have some plots that we've monitored for about 15 years, and we have data sets that now we're mining
• , or some of our researchers are mining, in order to determine whether or not...
• not only eliminated, but it's also the time and effort that we have and the capacity that we have to mine
• area, as indicated earlier, we have some researchers that are working with some of these programs in mining

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a desire of mine, but yours is much more basic in terms of, like, those ideas don't always stick
• I mean, I remember thinking something about 20,000, but maybe that's a mistake of mine.
• It's none of your business; it's mine. And that's kind of, I mean, it's in my own family.
• Was one of his hills to die on, and mine too.

Transcript Highlights:

• to sort of spread the meetings out around the state in places that are pertinent, such as uranium mining
• , mineral mining, and so on.
• I can guarantee you all of mine is going to go to per diem and travel.
• You can't even tell what's in there because I have nothing that would identify the office as being mine

Transcript Highlights:

• departments are incapable of impartial investigations, despite the fact that many departments like mine
• You can do mine? You can do mine? You want me to do his? You can do mine?

Bills: HB126, HB121

Keywords: election laws, attorney general, prosecution, criminal offenses, voting integrity, education, property values, school districts, comptroller, funding formula

Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 met to hear testimony on a full agenda of education-related bills. Several measures were laid out and left pending, including HB 322 to allow JET Grant funds to be used for subscription-based and ongoing technology costs for career and technical education; HB 3062 to require fentanyl and drug-poisoning prevention instruction for entering college students; HB 121 to update school safety laws, including TEA peace officer commissions, annual renewal of certain safety exceptions, new reporting requirements, and special education behavior threat assessment changes; HB 3627 to let the State Board of Education chair employ staff; HB 5515 to curb inflated shipping and handling charges on instructional materials; HB 2674 to prohibit new state regulation of homeschool programs; HB 2310 to require a statewide strategic plan for early learning and inclusion for young children with disabilities; HB 367 to standardize documentation for excused absences due to serious illness; HB 1178 to speed certification for out-of-state educators and military spouses; and HB 1481 to expand cell phone restrictions to the full school day. Testimony was generally supportive on most bills, with some concerns raised on HB 121 about school district police departments investigating misconduct and on HB 2674 about how it would interact with the new ESA program in SB 2. HB 5515 drew support from instructional materials coordinators who described extreme shipping invoices and argued the bill would restore transparency and fiscal responsibility. HB 2310 was supported by disability advocates and early learning groups, who said a coordinated state plan would improve access and inclusion for children with disabilities. HB 367 was presented as a simple clarification to reduce confusion for medically vulnerable students and families, and HB 1178 was described by TEA as a modest pathway that would help bring experienced out-of-state teachers into Texas schools more quickly. HB 126, updating Texas’ NIL law to align with the pending House settlement and allow direct payments and pre-enrollment NIL agreements, received extensive testimony from university counsel and committee questioning about the settlement, recruiting, and future college athletics rules. HB 1481, expanding school cell phone restrictions from instructional time to the entire school day, drew strong support from parents, students, educators, and advocates who linked phones to distraction, cyberbullying, and mental health harms; one teacher asked for flexibility so phones could still be used for limited academic tasks. No bills were voted out; each measure heard was left pending subject to the call of the chair, and the committee then recessed to attend the floor session.

Transcript Highlights:

• health and safety, restoration of degraded lands, and development of public facilities affected by mining
• act to amend and reenact Section 38 of the North Dakota Century Code relating to abandoned surface mine
• Relating to abandoned surface mine reclamation. The fiscal note indicates no impact. Senator Bame.
• Madam President, Amendment Senate Bill 2117 is a bill in the abandoned mine space.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a quorum call showing 46 members present. It then took up multiple House messages and amendments, appointing conference committees on several measures, including SB 2007, SCR 4007, SB 2374, SB 233, and House bills 1029, 1218, and 1022. The chamber also considered a series of House bills on the sixth and 14th orders, often adopting committee amendments before final passage or, in some cases, rejecting the bill outright. Among the major policy items, the Senate passed HB 1524 on regional planning council grants, HB 1143 increasing a food bank appropriation to $10 million, HB 1126 modernizing cosmetology licensing and inspections, HB 1542 making student applications for admission exempt records, HB 1613 regulating law enforcement use of robots, HB 1582 directing a study on false reports and accusations, HB 1214 revising school transportation funding, HB 1448 creating a study on advanced technologies, HB 1280 on drainage project voting rules, HB 1499 protecting records related to federal judges, and several Senate bills returned from the House, including SB 2221, SB 2117, SB 2198, SB 2120, and SB 2214. The Senate also adopted amendments to HB 1541 on septic systems before rejecting it on final passage. Several high-profile bills failed after debate. HB 1566, dealing with kratom regulation, saw an amendment to convert it to a study fail on a 21-25 vote, after which the chamber laid the bill over for one legislative day rather than take final action. HB 1283, which would have eliminated cost-sharing for diagnostic and supplemental breast exams in the state employee plan, was defeated 22-24 after extensive debate over cost, precedent, and insurance impacts. HB 1527, requiring Holocaust education in statute, also failed 22-24, with supporters emphasizing the importance of the subject and opponents arguing curriculum belongs in standards rather than statute. The Senate adjourned after announcements, scheduling its next meeting for Monday, April 14, 2025.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, it did, mine did too, right? have it for a couple of months now and it doesn't mold.
• on Environmental Quality to issue permits for the land application of water produced from certain mining
• on environmental quality to issue permits for the land application of water produced from certain mining
• Troubling to see instances where judges appear to stray from upholding the law, as it's written under. mining

Bills: SJR18, SCR9, SCR13, SB10, SB11, SB19, SB20, SB25, SB62, SB260, SB263, SB293, SB314, SB384, SB412, SB441, SB442, SB494, SB523, SB569, SB616, SB688, SB707, SB766, SB842, SB869, SB890, SB914, SB929, SB971, SB992, SB1066, SB1145, SB1621, SJR36, SJR18, SCR9, SCR13, SB616, SB565, SB384, SB372, SB495, SB842, SB971, SB1066, SB929, SB765, SB523, SB62, SB19, SB18, SB666, SB688, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB706, SB847, SB869, SB890, SB992, SB1145, SB494, SB290, SB766, SB11, SB10, SB13, SB263, SB412, SB20, SB441, SB442, SB1621, SB569, SB314, SB25, SB293, SB914, SB260, SB1248, SB740, SB14, SB1006, SB20, SB25, SB260, SB293, SB314, SB384, SB442, SB494, SB616, SB869, SB890, SB929, SB992, SB1145, SB1621, SR232, SR237, SR242, SB16, SB22

Keywords: capital gains, taxation, constitutional amendment, state revenue, individual investment, Supreme Court, judicial independence, Keep Nine, checks and balances, water rights, treaty compliance, Rio Grande, agriculture, drought, international water, Texas water supply, education, Ten Commandments, public schools, religious display

Transcript Highlights:

• Mine is more of a comment than a question. 4-H has been an integral part of my entire life.
• thank<00:17:18.360> you<00:17:18.480> Mr<00:17:18.760> chair<00:17:19.120> mine
• <00:17:19.319> is<00:17:19.480> more<00:17:19.679> of King thank you Mr chair mine
• is more of King thank you Mr chair mine is more of a<00:17:20.039> comment<00:17:20.559> than

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House Agriculture Committee met with a large group of 4-H and FFA students and guests in attendance, and members repeatedly highlighted the importance of those youth programs to agriculture and future leadership. The committee first took up House Bill 356, as amended by a committee substitute, which would create the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative. The sponsor explained that the substitute broadened the bill beyond hands-on farming to include agricultural education, agribusiness, advocacy, internships, apprenticeships, and other experiential learning, while also lowering the starting age from 6 to 5, removing the requirement that participants have access to farmland, and changing the program into a pilot focused on urban youth. Testimony from a 4-H student and Kentucky 4-H leadership emphasized that the goal is to remove barriers and provide access to agriculture education for all youth, including those in urban areas. Several members spoke in support, noting the value of urban agriculture and youth exposure to the field, and one member asked whether urban community gardens would fit within the concept; the sponsor said the substitute was designed to allow that kind of access. The committee then voted unanimously to pass HB 356 as amended, and also approved a title amendment. After HB 356, the committee moved to House Bill 315, a foreign adversary land bill intended to limit certain foreign entities’ ability to purchase land in Kentucky. The sponsor said the bill was carried over from a prior version drafted by a former representative. The chair then recognized Tim Shank, general counsel for the Kentucky Bankers Association, who testified in opposition to the mechanics of Section 8 dealing with foreclosure. He said banks are already heavily regulated and must screen borrowers through federal systems such as FinCEN, and warned that the bill’s provisions could create problems for community banks that make agricultural loans and potentially limit access to credit if the issue became widespread. The transcript ends during discussion of HB 315, before any final committee action on that bill is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have a special item in our budget proposal for mining engineering it is a ten billion dollar industry
• in texas and there is no texas university that teaches mining engineering The United States is heavily
• With the support of the UT Regents and industry, we are working on a play to restart modernization. mining
• the University of Texas at El Paso and when fully up and running will result in a 30% increase in mining

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Mine is not a question for either of you, but thank you so much for coming.
• Mine is for my colleague, Senator Burke.
• Senator Rashardy and then Senator Senator Senator >> Mu.<00:51:35.839> Mine<00:51:36.079
• Mine is not a question for either of >> Mu.
• Mine is for my colleague, Senator Burke. Mine is for my colleague, Senator Burke.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Plastics have been sort of a nemesis of mine for a really long time.
• Plastics have been sort of a nemesis of mine for a really long time.
• Plastics have been sort of a nemesis of mine for a really long time.
• Plastics have been sort of a nemesis of mine for a really long time.
• Plastics have been sort of a nemesis of mine for a really long time.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He's a constituent of mine, and I was approached by him last year with a situation, and I have testimony
• I have spoken with a former coworker of mine in an identical role who was able to purchase four years

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Public Service Committee heard testimony on a series of retirement, public safety, and personnel bills. House Bill 5054 would allow a public safety employee in Peabody to use an affidavit when pre-employment medical records are missing, so a firefighter’s disability/retirement application can proceed. Representative Tom Walsh, Mayor Ted Bettencourt, Fire Chief Thomas Griffin, Fire Chief Jay Dowling, and Senator Joan Lovely all supported the bill, describing it as a fix for an administrative gap that has delayed a 27-year firefighter’s retirement. No committee questions were raised. The committee also heard testimony on House Bill 4698, which would authorize retirement benefits for Dale Kylie after a divorce altered the original beneficiary arrangement tied to his retirement option. Representative Donald Potham said the retirement board could not make the change without legislation. House Bill 3900 would raise the maximum age for Kingston special police officers to 70, with Representative Kathy LaNatra citing staffing shortages and unmanned details. House Bill 5159 would grant credible service to educator Sarah Shebelli for two years she worked as a paraprofessional at a charter school; she said the additional service would help her retire despite a degenerative eye disease. The committee then listed several other bills with no additional testimony, including measures involving continued employment or retirement issues for police officers in Pelham, New Bedford, Petersham, and Dayton, a retirement benefit transfer for a Massachusetts Maritime Academy professor, and a sick leave bank for a Department of Corrections employee. After confirming there was no further testimony, the committee voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires any remaining severance tax funds collected from sand and stone mining, after constitutional
• It requires any remaining severance tax funds collected from sand and stone mining, after constitutional

Bills: SB143, SB367, SB388, SB398

Keywords: bulletproof vests, body armor, peace officers, law enforcement funding, police equipment, officer safety, local police, sheriff's office, municipal police, parish law enforcement, grant fund, special fund, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement, criminal justice, protective gear, NIJ standards, USMCA, small agencies, public safety, Act 739

Summary: The House Committee on Appropriations met on May 18, 2026, and considered four Senate bills. SB 143 would create a special protective equipment fund for bulletproof vests for peace officers, with the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement to regulate distribution; an amendment was adopted to standardize fund language, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. SB 367 would create the Watershed Restoration and Conservation Fund and direct remaining severance tax revenue from sand and stone mining into it; an amendment was adopted to align it with HB 802, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. Members discussed the bill as a way to support watershed and flood-related restoration efforts, including the Amite River Basin. SB 388 would authorize review of state contracts involving foreign adversary nations or terrorist organizations and remove a trigger clause from a prior law; members noted it carried no fiscal note and that the Division of Administration said the review could be done at no cost. The bill was reported favorably. SB 398 would reorganize manufactured housing regulation by moving oversight from the fire marshal’s office to the Contractors Board, consolidating residential housing oversight, moving licensees to Title 37, and increasing inspection rates statewide; an amendment was adopted to conform fund language, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires any remaining severance tax funds collected from sand and stone mining after constitutional
• It requires any remaining severance tax funds collected from sand and stone mining after constitutional

Summary: The House Committee on Appropriations met on May 18, 2026, and considered four Senate bills. Senate Bill 143 would create a Special Protective Equipment Fund to finance bulletproof vests for peace officers, with the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement to regulate distribution; an amendment standardizing fund language was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. Testimony and cards in support came from law enforcement groups and the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement. Senate Bill 367 would create the Watershed Restoration and Conservation Fund, depositing remaining severance tax revenues from sand and stone mining after constitutional allocations; an amendment was adopted to align it with House Bill 802 by adding reporting and appropriation language, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. Support was noted from the Louisiana Concrete Association and Chiefs of Police, and members discussed flood-related concerns and broader watershed restoration goals. Senate Bill 388 would authorize review of state contracts involving foreign adversary nations or terrorist organizations and remove a trigger clause from a prior 2023 law. The sponsor said the review could be done at no cost, and the bill was reported favorably. Senate Bill 398 would reorganize manufactured housing regulation by moving oversight from the fire marshal’s office to the Board of Contractors, consolidating residential housing oversight, moving licensees to Title 37, and changing inspection procedures; an amendment to conform fund language was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The mining required...
• The mining required for lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other rare materials is incredibly destructive.
• Before an electric vehicle ever reaches the road, in many cases these materials are mined under weak
• So if you look at the two, if you have an electric vehicle, you have in the mining and all the things
• and... ...have to deal with for the mining and extraction and everything up front.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Mining Range, Mr. Chair. >> This is not starting out well for you. >> [laughter] >> Okay.
• So, Crosby was established in 1910 as a mining community.
• c><00:10:42.800> a Crosby was established in 1910 as a Crosby was established in 1910 as a mining
• And over the course of mining community.
• In 1984, when mining ended in this region, Crosby experienced economic devastation.

Bills: HF4094, HF3390, HF3813, HF3583, HF3751, HF4324, HF4789, HF3596, HF4033, HF4424, HF4053

Keywords: Crosby, local sales tax, bonding authority, community projects, voter approval, Owatonna, use tax, special law, community center, municipal finance, capital project, sales and use tax, local option tax, city tax, public facility, general election, bond referendum, debt limit, levy limit, Minnesota local government

Transcript Highlights:

• Don't do any more mining. Well, mill. Don't do any more mining.
• I'd like to get more mining going up there, more industry. I've supported that for years.
• Uh, and I'm with the senator on we need to get some mining going.
• to get more mining going up there,<01:24:44.000> more<01:24:44.159> industry.
• We need to get a get some mining going.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our real estate transactions, the regulatory work, and expertise we have on mineral exploitation, mining
• our real estate transactions, the regulatory work, and expertise we have on mineral exploitation, mining
• we have on Mineral exploitation Mining we have on Mineral exploitation Mining and<00:10:31.880><
• in the Mississippi River—digging a hole in the Mississippi River for 25 years to mine aggregate.
• of some massive aggregate mining of some massive aggregate mining proposals<00:29:07.600> uh<

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And for mine, it's 7.9. Quite a difference.
• <01:18:40.639> it's 20.6 and and for mine it's 20.6 and and for mine it's 7.9<01:18:42.520
• c> rural very plain Jane rural District rural very plain Jane rural District like<01:20:42.520> mine
• 20:43.199> nothing<01:20:43.600> special<01:20:43.960> about<01:20:44.199> mine
• like mine nothing special about mine like mine nothing special about mine great<01:20:44.840>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention heard presentations focused on public housing and related funding needs, with testimony from Minnesota NAHRO and several local housing authorities. Melissa Taphorn described the role of housing authorities statewide, including public housing, vouchers, CDBG/HOME funds, Bridges, and HEAT, and emphasized that public housing serves over 36,000 low-income Minnesotans, many of whom are seniors, people with disabilities, or children. She said federal operating and capital funds are insufficient, creating deferred maintenance backlogs, and noted that Minnesota’s public housing capital needs over a five-year period were about $500 million, with nearly $200 million unmet. She also discussed federal uncertainty, including a recent HUD funding freeze notice, possible changes to fair housing requirements, RAD repositioning options, and Build America, Buy America costs. Committee members asked about tenant rent calculations and the populations served. Testimony clarified that public housing residents generally pay 30% of monthly income, with utility allowances factored in, and that the average tenant rent in Minnesota is about $399. Members also heard that about 65% of public housing households are seniors or people with disabilities, while about 35% are families. The committee then heard examples of how state POP grants have been used to preserve public housing stock. Kurt Kina of the Red Wing HRA described multiple POP-funded projects that replaced windows, upgraded heating and cooling, and modernized electrical systems in a 100-resident high-rise, saying the work was essential to keep the building viable. Louise Siba of the St. Paul PHA testified that St. Paul’s authority serves nearly 22,000 people through more than 4,200 public housing units and over 5,200 vouchers, with most townhomes and high-rises serving elderly or disabled residents. She said St. Paul PHA has received nearly $16 million in POP funding since 2012, including about $8.5 million last year, and that those funds enabled major life-safety and modernization projects such as the Denan Terrace renovation and boiler, plumbing, and interior upgrades in high-rises. Jill Keers of the Duluth HRA described a broader set of housing programs, including vouchers, rehab loans, emergency repair funds, construction training, and development. She said Duluth HRA is adding 128 housing units between 2023 and 2025, including mixed-income rentals, senior housing, and family townhomes, and stressed that state investment through POP and other programs is necessary to keep housing affordable and safe.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'd like to introduce a good friend of mine. Uh, Bob Mitchell is up here with me today.
• >> a different degree than mine. >> a different degree than mine.
• >> Mine<00:48:15.280> too.
• <00:48:15.680> Thank<00:48:15.920> you, >> Mine too.
• Mine is really more of a comment than anything.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• On the flip side, many local constituents of mine and many others feel like those NDAs get in the way
• /c><00:29:13.320> and<00:29:13.480> many<00:29:13.720> others constituents of mine
• and many others constituents of mine and many others feel<00:29:14.720> like<00:29:15.000>
• the hypocrisy that some members have brought to this floor when there have been jurisdictions like mine
• and it is the most is a bill of mine and it is the most recent<01:40:54.080> engrossment,<01:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all