Video & Transcript : 'Arizona Long Term Care System' :
Page 446 of 500
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (01/28/2026)
Education Policy and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> balance to the system. balance to the system.
- >> No, my understanding would be that she could still—I don't believe that there's any long-term restriction
- </c> those terms? those terms? >> Thank<00:52:54.640><c> you.
- System of New Hampshire. Nice to see you System of New Hampshire.
- </c> guard that takes care of the flags. guard that takes care of the flags.
Committee:
House Education Policy and Administration
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
January 14, 2025 - 09:00 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- In the area of water quality, In the area of water quality, alongside these long-term restoration efforts
- Our mission statement is managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and for
- We have a long way to go, clearly.
- We have a long way to go, clearly.
- strategies are in place to ensure that for restoration and what strategies are in place to ensure the long-term
Summary:
The Agriculture and Natural Resources Budget Committee met to organize for the session, confirm a quorum, and hear introductory remarks from members about their districts and interests. Chair Esposito outlined the committee’s jurisdiction and budget overview, noting a total budget of about $7.2 billion, with major funding tied to the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Citrus. She also described major cost drivers such as Everglades restoration, water quality, resiliency, land acquisition, and rural family lands, and asked members to review agency requests in small groups later in the process.
Agency leaders then presented budget and program updates. Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson emphasized department efficiency efforts, including IT modernization, staff reorganization, rural and family lands conservation, best management practices, Fresh From Florida marketing, hurricane recovery loans for farmers, and completion of the Connor Complex headquarters. DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert highlighted record investments in Everglades restoration, water quality projects, resilience grants, land acquisition, state parks, and enforcement. FWC Executive Director Roger Young discussed conservation research, fisheries and wildlife management, law enforcement, disaster response, and pressures from growth, boating, invasive species, and derelict vessels. Department of Citrus Executive Director Shannon Shep reviewed the industry’s decline due to hurricanes and citrus greening, current research and marketing efforts, and e-commerce campaigns to support Florida citrus sales.
Members asked questions about citrus production declines, future replanting and therapies, rural family lands, PFOS cleanup, mangrove restoration, flooding and pump infrastructure, agricultural theft, and derelict vessel removal. Officials generally responded with updates, emphasized science-based management and enforcement, and in several cases said they would follow up with more detailed information later. No formal votes were taken; the meeting ended with the chair directing members to provide feedback on agencies for further budget review and then adjournment.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Rules Committee May 20th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I completed my first term as the commissioner in 2022 and my second term last year in 2025.
- I completed my first term as the commissioner in 2022 and my second term last year in 2025.
- They're pretty long. Yeah.
- So we do check because we do care and we get reports and we do care a great deal.
- We look at a number of factors, specifically their age, long-term confinement, any diminished physical
Summary:
The Senate Rules Committee established quorum and first approved several governor’s appointments to the California Housing Finance Agency Board of Directors and the State Mining and Geology Board, with one mining board appointment passing 3-2 and the others passing 5-0. The committee also approved a rule waiver request from the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee to allow budget subcommittees to meet during the blackout period, and it referred ACA 7 (Jackson) to the committees listed on the agenda after rejecting a motion to add Labor, Public Employment and Retirement as an additional referral.
The committee then heard testimony from five appointees to the Board of Parole Hearings: William Munis, Michael Ruff, Rosalind Sergeant Burns, Mary Thornton, and Jack Weiss. In opening remarks, the appointees emphasized their corrections, legal, and public safety backgrounds and described parole work as evidence-based, collaborative, and focused on current risk rather than the original offense alone. Senators, especially Senator Jones, pressed them on recent high-profile parole grants involving child sex offenders, the extent of commissioner discretion, the use of coping mechanisms and risk assessments, transparency in en banc review votes, and whether the board’s decisions adequately protect public safety. The appointees said they must follow the law, rely on structured risk tools and expert assessments, and treat each case individually; several said they would defer to the Legislature on whether en banc votes should be made public.
Members also questioned the board about use of MAT/drug-treatment records, commutation review, institutional behavior and write-ups, victim participation, elderly parole, and the role of community support and rehabilitation. The commissioners said treatment records are considered only in context with other reliable evidence, that reconsideration hearings and recidivism data help evaluate whether tools are working, and that victim and family members are given respectful accommodations and opportunities to participate. Senator Jones said he was not satisfied with the answers on discretion and accountability and stated he would not support Jack Weiss’s reappointment, citing ongoing concerns about professionalism. Public testimony at the end was overwhelmingly supportive of the five commissioners, with several advocates, formerly incarcerated people, and anti-recidivism coalition members praising the board’s rigor and the role of rehabilitation.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement - 03/10/26
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- , we think that this produces an attractive vehicle that's diversified, provides really attractive long-term
- </c> application of patient long-term application of patient long-term investing,<00:14:24.880><c> and
- Again, we think exceptional performance exceeding all of our long-term benchmarks as well as our composite
- </c> exceeding all of our long-term exceeding all of our long-term benchmarks<00:15:02.839><c> as</c>
- </c> of patient long-term investing. of patient long-term investing.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- term.
- This teaches prioritizing immediate financial gain over long-term educational or career aspirations,
- This teaches prioritizing immediate financial gain over long-term educational or career aspirations and
- Chair, and I won't be long.
- This bill may have good intentions in terms of child protection, but its broader implications need careful
Committee:
Senate Commerce and Tourism
Summary:
The committee first took up a committee substitute for SB 752, which would require newspapers and television stations to remove online reports later found to be false or defamatory in certain circumstances, and would change when the statute of limitations begins to run. The sponsor said the bill was intended to address lasting harm from false accusations that remain searchable online. Several speakers opposed the measure, arguing it would chill reporting, punish accurate historical coverage, and create vague legal risks for the press. After debate, the committee reported the bill favorably.
The committee then approved CS/SB 846, a bill aimed at preventing immigration service fraud by non-attorneys and misuse of the term "notario." Supporters, including an immigration attorney, said the bill would protect vulnerable immigrants from bad advice and fake legal services. The committee also approved CS/SB 800, which updates battery labeling and recycling requirements to reduce fires caused by discarded batteries; waste and recycling representatives supported it, while a battery industry group warned the bill could effectively ban battery-embedded products. CS/SB 578, dealing with wine container rules and allowing recyclable inserts and boxes up to 5.16 gallons, was also reported favorably.
The committee next approved CS/SB 1734, the Florida Kratom Consumer Protection Act, which sets product standards, labeling rules, age limits, testing, and enforcement provisions. Supporters said it reflects current science and consumer safety needs, while opponents warned it could burden small businesses and overregulate the market. SB 918, which would loosen state child labor restrictions for certain minors and align Florida law more closely with federal standards, drew extensive opposition from advocates, students, and labor groups who said it would increase exploitation and harm education; several senators also raised concerns, but the bill was still reported favorably. The committee also reported favorably SB 854 on unlicensed contractors and deposit fraud, and confirmed several appointments to state boards and commissions. A separate bill on online encryption and child safety, SB 868, was taken up with an amendment and public testimony, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that item.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Jan 26th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It also is interesting that the way systems define parents is different.
- It's connecting each dual credit experience to students' long-term plans and strengthening definitions
- As a system, it is important for us... There is not a statewide system to track us or our needs.
- There is not a statewide system to track us are on the same needs.
- well taken care of.
Summary:
The committee began with a work session on dual credit, hearing first from the Council of Presidents and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, then from the Education Research and Data Center. The dual credit overview described Washington’s six dual credit programs, high participation rates, transferability, and recent efforts to improve transparency, pathways, and equity. Testimony emphasized both benefits and challenges, including access, funding, advising, and the need for clearer statewide coordination. ERDC outlined its annual report, dashboard, research briefs, and future work on school-level factors and possible causal effects of dual credit participation. No votes were taken during the work session.
The committee then held public hearings on several bills. SB 6227 would direct WSAC to work with public higher education institutions to create formal data collection protocols for parenting students and convene a work group to recommend how to identify and support them. Senator Wilson and multiple student and advocacy witnesses supported the bill, citing the lack of consistent statewide data and the barriers parenting students face; WSAC testified that its research found significant food, housing, and child care insecurity among these students. SB 6235 would prohibit public colleges with athletics programs from entering certain private equity or sovereign wealth fund agreements involving athletics revenues or control. Senator Holy said the bill was intended to prevent loss of institutional control, while UW and WSU testified in opposition, warning it could limit flexibility and create competitive disadvantages.
The committee also heard SB 6217, which would expand Washington College Grant eligibility to students in eligible non-degree credential programs beginning in 2027-28. Supporters from the community and technical college system, a community college president, and workforce representatives said the bill would help students access short-term training for family-wage jobs and address workforce shortages, especially in construction trades. Finally, SB 6209 would restore Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship eligibility for certain private four-year and career/vocational schools if they meet a gainful-employment standard. DigiPen, Evergreen Beauty College, Seattle Film Institute, and related students and administrators testified in support, arguing the bill would preserve access for low-income and nontraditional students in career-focused programs; some witnesses on the bill’s earlier panel also urged that certificate and two-year programs be included. The hearings were managed with shortened testimony times because of the large number of sign-ins, and no final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Health and Family Service (10-15-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- In return, the program would realize greater long-term savings and improved outcomes.
- strategic investment with a tremendous return, protecting Kentuckians, saving lives, and reducing long-term
- 00:26:00.960><c> lives,</c><00:26:01.440><c> and</c><00:26:01.679><c> reducing</c><00:26:02.159><c> long-term
- </c> saving lives, and reducing long-term saving lives, and reducing long-term costs<00:26:03.200><c>
- In terms of our programs, of course, Rick and Julie shared a little bit about our integrated care model
Summary:
The meeting opened with roll call, approval of the September 17 minutes, and an introduction of Sarah Rome to the committee. The chair also noted that the committee would stay on schedule and then moved to presentations. Representative Amy Neighbors and Taylor Williams of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association presented a refiled “pharmacy parity” proposal, formerly House Bill 3, to require Medicaid reimbursement for pharmacist clinical services already authorized under current scope of practice. They said the bill would not expand Medicaid or pharmacist scope, but would align Medicaid with commercial insurance, improve access and outcomes, and likely save money; they cited a Cabinet report under Senate Joint Resolution 26, which found similar laws in other states were producing savings or trending toward savings and would require only modest administrative updates. No member questions were raised after that presentation.
The committee then heard an update on the Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening Program from Senator Stephen Meredith, Dr. Whitney Jones, Melissa Carrier, and Representative Neighbors. They described the program’s goals of increasing screening, reducing deaths through earlier detection, and preventing cancers by finding polyps, saying it has produced substantial savings and improved outcomes. Speakers emphasized Kentucky’s high colorectal cancer burden, especially in younger adults, and said the program helps uninsured and underinsured Kentuckians access stool-based screening and follow-up colonoscopies through a network of partners including the Department for Public Health, Kentucky Cancer Link, and university cancer programs. They requested an increase in funding from $500,000 to $1.25 million annually, or $2.5 million over the biennium, to expand services, fill geographic gaps, and support education and navigation.
Members asked whether the colon cancer screening was already covered by Medicaid, and the presenters replied that Medicaid does cover it, but the program serves people who are not on Medicaid or who fall into a separate eligibility category based on income and insurance status. A member also clarified the requested funding increase. The committee then moved on to the next agenda item, an update from the Children’s Home of Northern Kentucky, where board member Sal Santoro and CHNK Behavioral Health leaders began a presentation describing the organization’s broader behavioral health work and its request, but the transcript cuts off before that presentation concludes or any action is taken.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- It is long-term psychological separation anxiety, PTSD from being taken away from your parents suddenly
- and long-term solutions to all of this, because too many lives of Floridians are hanging in the balance
- the other folks who have been dug in on making sure that we can close this gap and that we have a long-term
- But our work continues as we look into the next fiscal year and ultimately into the long-term sustainability
- construction contract for work done on a property in an area of critical state concern that is subject to a long-term
Summary:
The Senate first handled a large batch of executive appointments reported by the Ethics and Elections Committee. Senators debated several nominees, with some members objecting to particular appointees over their views or past conduct. The report on the first group of appointments was adopted 31-0, and Jeffrey Aaron’s separate confirmation to the Public Employee Relations Commission was approved 26-10 after extended debate centered on his role as counsel to the Hope Florida Foundation and allegations that he helped facilitate the transfer of Medicaid settlement funds into political activity.
The chamber then considered Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration. Supporters praised her work on Medicaid directed payments and hospital funding, while opponents criticized her prior tenure at the Department of Children and Families, citing problems with Medicaid redeterminations, postpartum coverage, Hope Florida oversight, and a women’s shelter case. The Senate adopted her confirmation report 32-5. Next, Taylor Hatch’s confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families was taken up; the committee report noted ongoing concerns about SNAP/EBT compliance, child welfare practices, audits, and Hope Florida, but recommended confirmation based on her stated commitments to reform. After debate over DCF’s performance and accountability, the Senate adopted her confirmation report 33-4.
After a brief recess, the Senate held a recognition ceremony for outgoing President Kathleen Passidomo. Senators from both parties offered lengthy remarks praising her leadership, diligence, humor, and support for members, often recalling personal interactions and her role in shaping legislation and mentoring newer senators. The ceremony emphasized her service as Senate President and continued leadership as Rules Chair, and included a presentation of a handmade keepsake box filled with letters and mementos from staff and colleagues.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Hearing Agriculture and Environmental Quality Mar 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- California's farmers and ranchers have long been pioneers in innovation.
- And as long as you put it on a daily basis, we can see between... ...to the cows and, you know, as long
- All of this takes careful planning.
- Long-term reliable land access is a climate solution because that allows family farmers to invest in
- Long-term reliable land access is a climate solution because that allows family farmers to invest in
Summary:
The joint informational hearing examined how California agricultural programs have used cap-and-invest funding and what role agriculture should play in future climate investments. Committee chairs framed the issue as balancing climate goals, food production, rural economic vitality, and the fact that agriculture was not specifically funded in the recent cap-and-invest reauthorization. The first panel from CDFA and the Legislative Analyst’s Office described the state’s climate-smart agriculture portfolio, including Healthy Soils, SWEEP, the Dairy Methane Reduction Program, and Alternative Manure Management, and explained that GGRF revenues are now more constrained and may not fully support all tiered programs. LAO emphasized that agriculture is about 8% of California’s emissions, that most ag emissions are outside the cap, and that the Legislature should consider program effectiveness, the role of incentives, and GGRF priorities.
CDFA testified that roughly $727 million has been invested in its flagship climate-smart ag programs, producing estimated reductions of 31 million metric tons of CO2e, 1.6 million acre-feet of water savings, and about 4,000 projects. The department said technical assistance is essential because farmers face risk when adopting new practices, and noted new Proposition 4 funding for Healthy Soils, SWEEP, and a regional farm equipment sharing program. University researchers then presented economic and methane-reduction analyses: UC Berkeley’s Dr. Hill described working landscapes as a major economic driver, while UC Davis’ Dr. Kibreab outlined dairy methane reduction pathways, including herd efficiency, digesters, alternative manure management, and emerging feed additives such as 3-NOP and seaweed, arguing that incentive-based programs have helped California move toward its methane goals.
A later panel featured sharply different views on dairy digesters. Phoebe Seton argued that digesters worsen air and water quality, encourage manure liquefaction, and are an inefficient use of public funds, while CalCAN’s Brian Schobey and agricultural representatives said programs like AMP, SWEEP, Healthy Soils, FPIP, and the Farmer Program deliver measurable emissions reductions plus co-benefits such as water savings, lower energy costs, and improved air quality. Farm and industry witnesses stressed that stable, incentive-based funding helps family farms remain viable, supports co-investment, and should be treated as a partnership rather than a regulatory stick. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing ended with public comment and a continued call for future funding and policy discussion.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Thirty Five - Tuesday, March 10 - Morning Session
Missouri House Floor Meeting
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Human Services Jan 27th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- term unaccompanied homeless youth.
- When you grow up in the foster care system and then experience incarceration and homelessness, you learn
- B3 requires any health care provider or health care entity that receives abortion...
- C14 limits the executive director to a four-year term and no more than two terms.
- care services.
Summary:
The Senate Human Services Committee heard public testimony on Senate Bill 5977, which would require DCYF to publish child near-fatality review reports within 180 days and post them publicly, with confidential information redacted as allowed by law. Senator Nikki Torres said the bill is intended to improve transparency, accountability, and child protection. There was no public testimony on the bill, and the hearing was closed.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 6184, an Office of Homeless Youth request bill sponsored by the chair. The bill makes technical and policy updates to OHY programs, including replacing the term “street youth” with “unaccompanied homeless youth,” allowing certain flexible funds to go directly to youth or vendors, renaming and making permanent the H-Sync program, expanding eligibility and housing options in the Independent Youth Housing Program, and clarifying shelter and reporting provisions. Testifiers from Commerce, advocates, school support organizations, and a youth advocate all supported the bill, emphasizing that the changes would improve access, consistency, and housing stability for unhoused youth. The hearing was then closed.
The committee moved into executive session on seven bills. SB 5681, concerning intellectual and developmental disability services at age 20, had Amendment A1 fail and the proposed substitute was adopted and sent to Ways and Means. SB 5917, regarding abortion medication in DOC, saw one amendment adopted and multiple Christian amendments rejected before the bill was sent to Rules. SB 5942, renaming the DCYF Oversight Board as the DCYF Accountability Board and revising its duties, had only Amendment C16 adopted; the amended bill passed to Rules. SB 6024, on duplicative audits for community residential providers, passed without amendment. SB 6036, concerning adult family homes and foster care licensees, had Amendment D1 adopted and the bill passed to Rules. SB 6085, on the DOC institutional welfare account, had Amendment E1 adopted and the bill was sent to Ways and Means after several other amendments failed. In each case, the committee voted to advance the bill after considering amendments, with most of the proposed changes from Senator Christian failing except where noted.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education Apr 3rd, 2025
S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education
Transcript Highlights:
- Health care workforce shortage.
- Technical education system to build a pipeline of future health care professionals.
- but also in the troubled school systems.
- We also have you registered twice in our system.
- The term "final solution" was the term used to articulate what was going on there.
Keywords:
bullying, antisemitism, school policies, school discipline, education, education policy, Texas Education Code, hate speech, student rights, civics education, high school curriculum, government, voting process, elected officials, Texas Seal of Biliteracy, biliteracy, bilingual education, multilingual, language proficiency, high school diploma
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 33 (2-24-26)
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- taken care of.
- </c> again they are not being taken care of. again they are not being taken care of.
- need to be talking, our school systems, our juvenile justice systems.
- </c> of the terms you hear. of the terms you hear.
- </c> health care by training osteopaths. health care by training osteopaths.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- And so, why is that term come across as a term of art?
- And so, why is that term come across as a term of art?
- was quoted a of my pulmonary embolism I was quoted a price<00:36:48.400><c> for</c><00:36:48.640><c> long-term
- </c><00:36:49.200><c> care</c><00:36:49.440><c> insurance</c><00:36:50.160><c> that</c> price for long-term
- care insurance that price for long-term care insurance that was<00:36:50.720><c> impossible</c><00:36
Committee:
Senate Taxes
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Education Pre-K - 12 Nov 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Second, if they’re part of a foster care system and there’s a new foster care relocation, those kids
- The positive influence coaches have on young people yield both short- and long-term dividends.
- Districts did not design a financial system meant for a professional role.
- The system is broken. We need to try to fix that.
- Long shot, but I like the idea. Do you mind if I add one thing to that?
Summary:
The Education Pre-K through 12 Committee heard a presentation from Florida High School Athletic Association Executive Director Craig Damon, joined by student athletes Sydney Daniel and Taylor White. The students spoke about the value of education-based athletics, leadership, and the need for safe, equitable opportunities. Damon then discussed FHSAA issues including rising sportsmanship problems, ejections, violent incidents, recruiting allegations, transfers, mental health pressures on student athletes, and the need for qualified coaches. He said the association tries to be proactive, work with schools on discipline, and emphasize that school changes should be for academic reasons rather than athletics. Senators asked about mental health, transfer rules, and a recent Jacksonville incident; Damon explained the current transfer exceptions and said the association lacked authority over the Jacksonville football game because the schools were not in FHSAA football.
The committee then heard a panel on high school coaches’ compensation led by Florida Coaches Coalition Executive Director Dr. Andrew Ramgett, with Coach Mike Hickman, Coach Charlie Ward, and superintendents from Okaloosa and Walton counties. Ramgett argued that coaching supplements are outdated, have not kept pace with the expanding year-round demands of coaching, and amount to very low hourly pay in many sports. He also said Florida’s restrictions on booster club funding and minimal certification requirements contribute to turnover and difficulty retaining qualified coaches. Hickman and Ward described coaching as a demanding, year-round profession that affects students beyond athletics, including academics and mental health. The superintendents said they value coaches but must balance compensation against limited district funds and other staffing needs; one noted Walton County uses a dedicated administrative lane for football coaching and athletic administration. Senators discussed whether booster club funding should be allowed, whether compensation should be tied to performance, and whether any increase in base student allocation would actually reach coaches. Public commenters, including Florida Athletic Coaches Association Executive Director Shelton Cruz and former coach Tyrone McGriff, urged support for coaches and emphasized their broader impact on students’ lives and school safety.
At the end of the meeting, the committee took up confirmation hearings for appointments on tabs 3 through 6 and, with no appearance forms filed, voted unanimously to recommend confirmation. Senator Burgess then moved to adjourn, and the committee concluded the meeting.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- He explained that life insurance is a long-term commitment for the life of the individual, with premiums
- I think, again, we go back to the principle here: insurance policies, you know, life is for a long-term
- ultimately when you're dealing with these employee benefit plans, key man policies there, it is part of long-term
- so this bill is aimed at getting some insurance coverage to handle those cognitive behavioral and long-term
- help to those individuals that otherwise would be stuck in a nursing home facility or dependent upon long-term
Committee:
House Insurance
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- As a physician, I've seen firsthand the challenges facing our health care system, from workforce shortages
- </c><01:00:35.920><c> system</c><01:00:36.319><c> from</c><01:00:36.480><c> Workforce</c> Health Care
- system from Workforce Health Care system from Workforce shortages<01:00:37.559><c> to</c><01:00:37.760
- Minnesota and folks who travel here for exceptional health care long term.
- providers</c> provide care and health care providers provide care and health care providers in<01:11:
Committee:
Senate Higher Education
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- That's my birth year, so not a long time ago.
- We want to be very careful.
- I didn't vote for **SB 131** originally because I didn't care for the process, and I didn't care for
- costs of offering state-mandated gender-affirming care benefits within our health care exchange and
- Beth Malinowski with SEIU California on Child Care 151 will ratify the agreement between the Child Care
Committee:
House Budget
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 2/26/26
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> effort to think about a long-term effort to think about a long-term sustainable<00:18:43.360><c>
- That is first and foremost in terms of, we know that the park system would lose the ability to sell annual
- Um, so this is a long-term proposal.
- </c><00:59:20.960><c> I'm</c><00:59:21.280><c> just</c> is a long long term proposal.
- I'm just is a long long term proposal.
Bills:
HF624
Keywords:
HF624, Minnesota fishing law, game and fish, walleye stamp, walleye stamp validation, angling, angler, fishing lines, two lines, four lines, open water fishing, ice fishing, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, fishing regulations, fish harvest, conservation, Minnesota Statutes 97C.315, 1183, house
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Higher Education and Workforce Development Feb 10th, 2026
Higher Education and Workforce Development
Transcript Highlights:
- But the university systems are also involved in this. Sure.
- Yeah, you know... ...you know, the fact that we're able to utilize our river systems, our rail systems
- I just think we need to be very careful of what we lock our money into. I do too.
- In terms of small business, if there was a will, there was a way.
- So in terms of small business, if there's a will, there's a way.
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 2896, sponsored by Rep. Brown, which would change how boards of governors for state universities are selected. Brown said the bill, developed with input from the governor’s office, would simplify appointment rules by removing service-area and congressional-district requirements and instead limiting board membership so no more than half of the voting members come from the county where the institution is located, with a St. Louis exception. Members asked about Missouri residency requirements, the effect on Missouri State University and Southeast Missouri State University, and whether university presidents would recommend candidates to the governor. Brown said he would follow up on questions and was open to discussing possible adjustments, especially regarding geographic representation. One witness spoke in favor, arguing that boards should reflect a cross-section of the state. No opposition was presented, and the hearing on HB 2896 was closed.
The committee then took up House Bill 1659, the Missouri Defense and Energy Independence Act, sponsored by Rep. Steinmeyer. The bill would create a grant program to help Missouri manufacturers convert facilities to produce strategic materials tied to national defense and energy resilience. Steinmeyer described it as a private-capital-first program requiring at least $500,000 in private investment, with grants capped at $1 million per project per year, subject to appropriation, annual reporting, and repayment provisions if projects fail. He said the bill is intended to attract investment, create jobs, and strengthen supply chains while keeping taxpayer risk limited.
Members raised concerns about environmental and public safety risks, the bill’s placement in the higher education committee, whether it should instead be funded federally, and whether the program would mainly benefit large companies rather than small businesses. Questions also focused on the bill’s workforce-development component, the lack of detail on training and public-health protections, and the budget impact of creating a dedicated fund that would retain money and interest rather than sweep it to general revenue. Steinmeyer said the bill is meant to support existing Missouri companies or companies establishing headquarters in Missouri, and that universities had been involved in discussions about workforce needs. A representative from the API Innovation Center testified in favor, saying the bill could help develop key starting materials for pharmaceuticals and support reshoring. One witness testified in opposition, arguing the state should not subsidize private industry and warning about fiscal strain and environmental oversight. No vote was taken, and the hearing concluded without further action.