Transcript Highlights:

• from prison, they have more chronic medical problems than they had before and have disproportionate rates
• incarceration, which could lead to better health care, obviously, but also can help with decreasing recidivism rates
• Department of Justice, individuals convicted of sexual exploitation and trafficking of minors show high rates
• While some studies report re-offense rates of up to 70% within a few years.

Bills: HB153 , HB1828 , HB2306 , HB2498 , HB3464 , HB3488 , HB3636 , HB3673 , HB3834 , HB3860 , HB4120 , HB4937 , HB1515 , HB153

Committee: House Corrections

Keywords: education, funding, student resources, technology access, equal opportunity, veterans treatment court, mental health, criminal justice, rehabilitation, eligibility criteria, veterans, treatment court, military service, legislation, legislative leave, correctional officers, Texas Department of Criminal Justice, accumulated leave, compensatory time, parole eligibility

Transcript Highlights:

• So it kind of shows what the collection rate is.
• So it kind of shows what the collection rate is.
• DOCR attempts to collect $6 million in supervision fees every two years; however, the collection rate
• North Dakota's recidivism rate is about 40 percent.

Committee: Senate Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Summary: The committee met to review fiscal aspects of House Bills 1417 and 1425, both part of a broader criminal justice reentry package. HB 1417 would eliminate the $35 public defender application fee and end court-ordered reimbursement of indigent defense costs, while also removing the $55 monthly community supervision fee. Testimony from the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents and the Department of Corrections said the bill would replace lost revenue with general fund appropriations of about $310,000 for indigent defense and $1.5 million for supervision fees, and that the fees are rarely collected and can hinder reentry. Representative Clemene said the bill is intended to reduce barriers to successful community reintegration and improve data and supervision practices. HB 1425 would create and fund front-end diversion, deflection, and pretrial services programs. Supporters described it as allowing prosecutors and local jurisdictions to divert appropriate low-level offenders from prosecution, establish deflection programs for people with behavioral health needs, and expand pretrial services. The bill includes a pilot program in three counties, a $1 million appropriation to DOCR for one FTE and contracts with local providers, $750,000 to DHS for treatment services, and $55,000 for a study of pretrial services cost savings. Committee members asked several questions about how the pilot counties would be chosen, how the consultant study would be procured, and what services the DHS funds would cover. The committee also heard House Bill 1603, which would provide a $500,000 matching grant for Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act compliance, with $100,000 available to each of North Dakota’s five tribes if matched. Sponsor testimony said the funds would support a Historical Society NAGPRA compliance committee and help catalog and repatriate human remains and cultural items in coordination with tribes. After questions about the federal mandate and the difficulty of identifying artifacts, the committee voted 4-0 to give HB 1603 a do-pass recommendation, with Senator Meyer assigned to carry it forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• , Mililani High School won several major state marching band competitions, achieving the superior rating
• 22:36.320><c> superior</c> competitions achieving the superior competitions achieving the superior rating
• in</c><00:22:37.320><c> their</c><00:22:37.520><c> respective</c><00:22:37.960><c> divisions</c> rating
• in their respective divisions rating in their respective divisions class<00:22:39.600><c> AAA</c><00

Transcript Highlights:

• The monthly rate is based on one waiver support coordinator per client, so it is not possible for a mentor
• The monthly rate is based on one waiver support coordinator per client, so it is not possible for a mentor
• So at any rate, I'm all about, I think we should all vote in favor of this bill because I think we've
• the extent that it extends beyond that, I don't think there's but two agencies that have a vacancy rate

Summary: The Budget Committee took up six bills. HB 313 passed unanimously and was reported favorably; it exempts vehicles or motorcycles displaying the Purple Heart specialty license plate from paying tolls on Florida facilities. HB 749 also passed and was reported favorably; it extends benefits to firefighters injured during training exercises. CS/HB 1103 passed and was reported favorably; it addresses APD’s developmental disability waitlist by increasing transparency, creating statewide family care councils, expanding the existing pilot program statewide on a phased timeline, and improving coordination for young adults transitioning out of foster care. Testimony on HB 1103 focused on the long waitlist, the need for more provider capacity and support coordinators, and concerns from Disability Rights Florida about moving too quickly without enough data, while supporters argued the current system is not working and families need access to services now. HB 1097 passed after a unanimous amendment removing an appropriation; it creates a premier academic insurance research center at Florida State University to conduct applied insurance and catastrophic risk research, with members discussing the transition from FIU and noting continued collaboration. HB 1309 passed and was reported favorably; it requires evidence-based reading interventions for K-2 students with reading deficiencies and creates a reading coaches program for grades 4-12. Supporters from education and business groups appeared in favor. CS/HB 433 also passed and was reported favorably, though it drew the most debate. The bill requires agencies to review existing rules and guidance documents for consistency with legislative intent, repromulgate rules over time, and report licensing metrics. Members raised concerns about possible duplication of work, staffing needs, and cost, while the sponsor and supporters argued agencies should already be doing this and that the bill would reduce unnecessary regulation and improve accountability. The committee then adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• AS OF RIGHT NOW THE TEACHING POSITIONS WE HAVE A 5.5 PERCENT VACANCY RATE WHICH MEANS 94 PERCENT OF THE
• GRADUATION, LOOKING AT COHORT RATES, CREDITS EARNED WE WANT TO SEE GAPS CLOSED IN DEFICIENCIES THEY MAY
• > YOU SAID BACK AND FORTH I APPRECIATE IT. >> ALMOST ANY TIME. >> THE 95 PERCENT 5 PERCENT VACANCY RATE
• EFFICACY HAVE YOU HEARD -- PRESUMABLY MAYBE NOT TRACKING THE SAME RELEASE AND TURNOVER AND TRANSIENT RATES

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, in our dockets at the PUC, we hire consultants, you know, uh, in rate cases.
• Um, in our dockets at the PUC, we hire consultants, you know, uh, in rate cases.
• Um, in our dockets at the PUC, we hire consultants, you know, uh, in rate cases.
• Um, in our dockets at the PUC, we hire consultants, you know, uh, in rate cases.
• We just you know, uh, in in rate cases.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• a new doctoral program, a comprehensive university shall maintain a first-to-second-year retention rate
• a new doctoral program, a comprehensive university shall maintain a first-to-second-year retention rate
• a new doctoral program, a comprehensive university shall maintain a first-to-second-year retention rate
• </c><00:06:50.720><c> for</c> years a six-year graduation rate for years a six-year graduation rate for
• are from uh graduate graduation rate are from uh national<00:07:52.000><c> data</c><00:07:52.319><c>

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 77, which would allow comprehensive universities to pursue doctoral programs under a new approval process and, in the original bill, would also change who may serve on the EPSB board for small colleges and universities. The sponsor and Council on Postsecondary Education representative explained that the committee substitute removed the current statutory prohibition on comprehensive universities offering certain doctoral degrees, but added eligibility guardrails: a 77% first-to-second-year retention rate, a 56% six-year graduation rate, and three months of unrestricted cash reserves. They said the thresholds were based on national data placing institutions in roughly the top quartile, and that CPE would still review proposals for mission fit, workforce need, fiscal impact, and, where applicable, programmatic accreditation and legislative appropriations. EKU President David McFaden supported creating a pathway for comprehensive universities, said Kentucky is unusual in having an explicit statutory prohibition, and urged the committee to keep the standards attainable and durable. The committee approved the bill and adopted a title amendment, with the motion passing unanimously. The committee then heard Senate Joint Resolution 55, which addresses antisemitism on postsecondary campuses. Senator Tichenor said the resolution responds to a rise in antisemitic incidents after October 7, 2023, and would require campuses to notify students each semester of Title VI rights, complaint procedures, existing harassment policies, and available Jewish student resources. It would also direct campuses to disband student organizations found to provide material support to known terrorist organizations, report such matters to law enforcement, and collect and report antisemitism data to CPE for posting on its website. A guest speaker from the Kentucky Jewish Council described a sharp increase in reported incidents, including harassment, threats, vandalism, and hostile campus activity, and argued that schools have often done too little to respond. He said the resolution was amended to protect free speech while ensuring Jewish students receive the same protections as other protected groups. The transcript ends while testimony on the resolution was still underway, before any committee vote on SJR 55.

Transcript Highlights:

• What is your published tuition rate for UNH?
• So what you're saying is the birth rates are improving now? Well, right. Yeah. Good news.
• We have, you know, the highest graduation rate of any New England public, and pride ourselves on that
• We have very high retention rates.
• Those 54,000 credits, if those students had paid at our tuition and fee rates, would have cost about

Summary: The committee received an orientation from University System of New Hampshire Chancellor Katherine Preventure and Senior Director of Government Relations Lauren Banker on the system’s enrollment, finances, workforce role, and academic programs. They described the system as consisting of UNH, Keene State, and Plymouth State, with about 23,000 students, $928 million in FY24 operating expenses, a $3.7 billion economic impact, and UNH’s R1 research status. They emphasized the system’s role in graduating students into the New Hampshire workforce, its statewide Cooperative Extension and regional campus presence, and its alignment of degree offerings with top occupations identified by New Hampshire Employment Security. The presentation also highlighted partnerships with businesses, internships, and collaboration with the community college system, including 100 transfer pathways and a direct-admit program. A substantial portion of the discussion focused on tuition, state support, and student costs. The chancellor said the state invested $95 million in FY25, with about $81 million used to reduce resident tuition and about $14 million for statutory programs such as Cooperative Extension and the Agricultural Experiment Station. She said the state subsidy is about $7,300 per New Hampshire student, and that resident net tuition averages about $7,000, while nonresident net tuition averages about $16,600. She provided published tuition figures for UNH, Plymouth State, and Keene State, and explained that resident tuition has been held flat for five years while financial aid has increased, reducing average net tuition and fees for New Hampshire students from about $10,500 in 2020 to $9,800. Members asked for clarification on how residency and workforce-retention percentages were calculated, and the chancellor said she would follow up. Members also asked about comparisons with peer institutions, housing and meal costs, research funding, and the reasons for declining enrollment and staffing reductions. The chancellor said peer comparisons were based on flagship universities for UNH and smaller regional publics for Plymouth and Keene, and noted that out-of-state tuition has risen about 2.5% annually. She said housing for a UNH double room is $8,536 and a meal plan is $5,100, and offered to provide a consolidated cost document. On research, she said the system’s direct research spending includes federal funding and that indirect costs were about $34 million last year, with a follow-up promised on the federal/state and direct/indirect split. She attributed enrollment declines largely to demographics and said the system is responding by reducing costs, selling buildings, exiting leases, moving the system office to NHTI, and implementing Workday. She also noted that Plymouth received approval for five three-year bachelor’s degree programs and that members praised the shorter, workforce-focused pathways, especially for manufacturing and other in-demand fields.

Transcript Highlights:

• uh so that that money U is tax rate uh so that that money U is taken<00:57:30.039><c> right</c><00:57
• So it's very important for us to maintain a stable tax rate and reduce it where we can.
• So it's very important for us to maintain a stable tax rate and reduce it where we can.
• So it's very important for us to maintain a stable tax rate and reduce it where we can.
• </c><01:11:00.760><c> increased</c> station and keep its tax rate increased station and keep its tax

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• consumer protection role by ensuring that repair charges are reasonable and consistent with market rates
• consumer protection role by ensuring that repair charges are reasonable and consistent with market rates
• consumer protection role by ensuring that repair charges are reasonable and consistent with market rates
• </c><00:21:16.240><c> are</c> provide actuarial proof that rates are provide actuarial proof that rates
• With that rate of return, why aren't these savings... without a cost to motans.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• in the entire highest illiteracy rate in the entire country. country. country.
• Has the highest income tax rate of any state in the country, as well as the highest gas tax rate of any
• </c> tax rate of any state in the country. tax rate of any state in the country.
• We actually have the highest unemployment rate in California as well.
• We actually have the highest unemployment rate in California as well.

Bills: HR1049 , HR1069

Keywords: Seattle Seahawks, Super Bowl, MVP, football, victory, sports, community, Olympics, Paralympics, Team USA, 2026 Games, Athletics, International competition, Sportsmanship, Unity

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:05:22.400><c> Uh</c><01:05:22.640><c> I</c> much higher rate than other folks.
• Uh I much higher rate than other folks.
• Our students also experience suicidal thoughts at a rate about 10% higher than other students in the
• Our students also experience suicidal thoughts at a rate about 10% higher than other students in the
• At 916, um, students in my district often have around 11% higher rate of anxiety and depression.

Transcript Highlights:

• and also also in your graduation rates and also also in your PowerPoint<01:00:50.079><c> you</c><01:
• We have been funding schools greater than the rate of inflation.
• Then in 2022 we had 62% free lunch again, and our poverty rate went up.
• went up and then we our poverty rate went up and then we went<01:59:28.000><c> to</c><01:59:28.159><
• in Richfield has moved by poverty rate in Richfield has moved by 11%<02:00:06.199><c> repeatedly</c>

Bills: HF984 , HF921 , HF922

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Keywords: education funding, nonpublic schools, counseling services, guidance services, transportation for students, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization

Transcript Highlights:

• Food processors are going out of business in the state of California at an alarming rate.
• And so anything that requires ...California at an alarming rate.
• pump back up the hill so during high peak hours you can unload this water storage, so it does reduce rates

Committee: Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications

Transcript Highlights:

• Item E on page 25 is a request from OPM for the reinstatement of a labor market rate at the crime lab
• OPM has recommended the requested rate, and the action requires approval in lieu of review by the committee
• The $300,000 rate was approved last year, and the existing examiners are already there.

Committee: All JBC-PERSONNEL

Summary: The committee took up several budget and personnel items, first approving revised requests from the Auditor’s Office and the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. The Auditor’s request lowered its salary-and-match increases to 10 percent, with operations and UCP amounts reduced to $245,490 and $109,711. The Lieutenant Governor’s revised request kept positions at line-item maximums and sought $99,876 in regular salary and match appropriations, or 17.43 percent. Both items were approved without objection. The main discussion centered on a member amendment from Senator Rice to Senate Bill 30 affecting the Governor’s Office. The amendment would eliminate one senior advisor position, reduce authorized positions from 59 to 58, and cut salaries and matching funds by a total of $264,895. Senator Rice argued the reduction was warranted because of concerns about former Corrections Secretary Joe Profury’s handling of corrections-related matters, including the Franklin County land purchase, transparency issues, and his refusal to appear before Joint Performance Review. Several members questioned the relevance of the testimony and noted the Governor could still hire him in another role if she chose. After discussion, a roll call vote was taken and the amendment failed. The committee then approved two routine items: OPM’s request to reinstate a labor market rate at the crime lab so it can offer up to $300,000 to recruit two medical examiners, and Arkansas State University-Jonesboro’s request for 11 positions tied to the new veterinary medicine school. Both requests were approved, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• And it could have been because it was during that 4% rate reduction; people were really scrambling for
• requirements here about getting an assessment completed, but the way things are as far as maybe reimbursement rates
• really just the availability— ...it completed, but the way things are as far as maybe reimbursement rates

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• first year of a school dish of district that never even existed before standard diploma graduates rating
• able we're able to work with the with the children and get them to 25% chief ability or achievement rate
• So it's an acceptable rating. So is unacceptable. And that's below 25%.

Transcript Highlights:

• There have been many issues from water to gas, from gas to high rates in phone systems and things of
• SB330 does not allow the public to comment on water problems, bad service, ...rate increases, or other
• We have been dealing with this as have the water rate payers for ...years.

Bills: SB330

Committee: House Commerce and Small Business

Keywords: water management, regional boards, municipal governance, ethics compliance, public utility

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a cost-effective way to help reduce water rates in our district. It's really important.
• It's a cost-effective way to help reduce water rates in our district, and it's just really difficult
• It's a cost-effective way to help reduce water rates in our district and it's just really difficult with

Summary: The Local Government Committee met on March 26 and heard four bills, beginning as a subcommittee until quorum was established. The chair opened with housekeeping rules, including that testimony would be in person only and that disruptive conduct would not be tolerated. AB 59 by Assemblymember Aguiar-Curry was heard first; it would remove the sunset on Reclamation District 108’s authority to participate in hydropower projects. The author, Colusa County representatives, and water district officials said the change would support long-term financing, lower energy costs, and help the district continue water stewardship. No opposition was presented, and the bill was later reported out 7-0. AB 417 by Assembly Member Carrillo was then presented as a measure to streamline and clarify laws governing enhanced infrastructure financing districts (EIFDs) and community revitalization and investment authorities (CRIAs). Supporters, including the sponsor and planning, city, and flood control representatives, said the bill would improve local governments’ ability to fund affordable housing, climate adaptation, transit, fire mitigation, and other infrastructure without raising taxes. One opponent objected to the CRIA provisions, arguing that CRIAs retain eminent domain authority and asked for an amendment to remove that authority. The bill was passed after quorum was established, with the chair noting it would improve functionality while preserving transparency and public participation. AB 533 by Assembly Member Flora reauthorized health care districts that own or operate hospitals or clinics to use the design-build process for construction projects after the prior authority sunset on January 1, 2025. The author and supporters from the Association of California Health Care Districts, the Design-Build Institute of America, and engineering and hospital groups said the measure would restore a useful financing and construction tool without changing public contracting requirements. There was no opposition, and the bill passed 7-0. The committee also approved AB 1030 on the consent calendar, and after roll calls on the remaining items, all measures were reported out of committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• COMBINED WITH HIGHER INTEREST RATES, THERE HAS BEEN A BIG IMPACT ON HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS ALIKE.
• WE WILL HOLD INSURANCE COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE RATES THAT THEY CHARGE AND THE SERVICES THAT THEY
• DATA SHOWS THAT AUTISM IS IMPACTING MORE AND MORE FAMILIES ACROSS OUR STATE AT AN ALARMING RATE.

Bills: SJR3 , SB5 , SJR36 , SJR3 , SB616 , SB565 , SB384 , SB5 , SB21 , SB72 , SB140 , SB262 , SB370 , SB372 , SB495 , SB627 , SB703 , SB764 , SB842 , SB971 , SB790 , SB767 , SB480 , SB1066 , SR44 , SR135 , SR171 , SR180 , SR185 , SR187 , SR188 , SR191 , SR197 , SR198 , SR199 , SR200