Transcript Highlights:

• for them.
• Thank you for recognizing. This is my high school classmate, too. We were in the same class at St.
• Thank you for recognizing. This is my high school classmate, too. We were the same class at St.
• We hope so.
• My question is for you. My question is for you, Madam Clerk.

Bills: HB141 , HB178 , HB179 , HB187 , HB188 , HB527 , HB782 , HB911 , HB916

Committee: House Judiciary

Keywords: court proceedings, transcription, criminal law, recording, judicial discretion, court reporters, record retention, criminal cases, civil cases, legal proceedings, judicial administration, Louisiana Supreme Court, court reporting services, digital reporting, remote proceedings, virtual courts, court reporter fees, judicial district, statewide revision, costs

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a very high priority.
• plan for decades.
• So it's important that we are accountable and have a very high test and threshold, not only for the contractor
• ... ...high test and threshold not only for the contractors that are doing the work because there's a
• test and a high threshold for qualifications just simply because of the magnitude of the work that we're

Summary: The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee heard an overview from FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue on the state’s transportation work program, with emphasis on the Moving Florida Forward initiative, major roadway projects, workforce needs, seaports, airports, spaceport infrastructure, and the role of MPOs/TPOs in planning. He said the $4 billion general revenue investment in Moving Florida Forward has been leveraged into a roughly $7 billion-plus program, with 20 projects underway and about 70% of the initiative expected to be under construction by year’s end. He highlighted I-4 as the centerpiece, describing a new procurement approach, phased delivery, and added lanes intended to provide congestion relief during construction. He also discussed a projected 38% growth in transportation workforce needs and proposed a Florida Transportation Academy and a research institute to support training and innovation. Tiffany King of the Florida Airports Council said Florida’s 128 public-use airports have about $5.7 billion in unfunded projects through 2029, and stressed that airport priorities include not only terminals and passenger capacity but also safety, security, gates, and environmental work. Michael Rubin of the Florida Ports Council said Florida’s 16 deepwater seaports now have a $195.9 billion economic impact, support about 1.2 million jobs, and generate $7.4 billion in state and local taxes; he noted that ports still have about $4 billion in project needs, including dredging and intermodal connections. Jeff Sheffield of the North Florida TPO described the value of regional, community-based planning and said his four-county TPO has helped align local priorities with FDOT funding. Members asked about whether the state is planning for advanced air mobility and “flying cars,” whether Moving Florida Forward bypassed MPOs, how long major projects take, cost escalation, regionalization of MPOs, port governance, airport governance, and the contractor qualification system. FDOT and the witnesses said the state is working on policy and planning for advanced air mobility, that Moving Florida Forward did not bypass MPOs because the projects were already locally prioritized, and that the main delay is funding rather than the planning process. They said long-range plans are updated regularly and can be amended when priorities change, and that regional MPO structures can improve coordination. The committee took no formal vote; the meeting concluded after questions and comments, including discussion of workforce training opportunities for incarcerated individuals and a motion to adjourn by the ranking member.

Transcript Highlights:

• for drug offenses.
• So I'm hoping that we don't go down the recipe for. We improve, we collaboratively work together.
• for parity that you Thank you for your comments.
• On item number one, we hope that this committee will support our budget request. for public defenders
• I hope for your consideration on how to approach Prop 36 and the funding issues as well as perhaps better

Transcript Highlights:

• For what purposes? side of the aisle. For what purposes?
• held for for 6 months or for up to two held for for 6 months or for up to two years.<01:07:06.960><c
• :33:07.040><c> caring</c><02:33:07.280><c> for</c> caring for the fish means caring for caring for the
• </c> died for Christ. died for Christ.
• </c> that I stand for. that I stand for.

Transcript Highlights:

• provides 7 days for an organ donor and 7 days for bone marrow.
• c> the</c> provides for the discretion for the provides for the discretion for the local<00:16:34.160
• Any questions for sponsor? &gt;&gt; Right. Any questions for sponsor?
• I hope somebody can explain it because this is supposed to renew it for 5 years.
• Fritz for for being so so team and Dr.

Bills: SB62 , HB361 , HB244 , HB377 , HB411 , HB422 , HB423 , HB425 , SB16 , HB452 , HB354 , SB62 , HB361 , HB244 , HB377 , HB411 , HB422 , HB423 , HB425 , SB16 , HB452 , HB354

Committee: House Ways and Means Education

Keywords: SB62, Alabama, conservation and natural resources, hunting license, fishing license, wildlife heritage license, license identification, government-issued ID, residency determination, in-state residency, student residency, tuition classification, public higher education, domicile, resident status, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, DCNR, Section 9-11-32, Section 9-11-33, Section 16-64-3

Transcript Highlights:

• Next on the order for today, we have House File 2725 up for consideration.
• So thank you for that.
• So thank you for that.
• Thank you for that.
• , so thank you for that.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> scheduled for Tuesday. scheduled for Tuesday.
• When that comes for you, When that comes for you, when government tyranny for real comes for you, when
• </c> for what purpose do you rise? for what purpose do you rise?
• </c> of rules for the long amendment. of rules for the long amendment.
• But what I really feel for you is actually pity. I feel sad for you.

Transcript Highlights:

• What happens is when you regulate a market too much, and there's high demand for whatever the market
• What happens is when you regulate a market too much, and there's high demand for whatever the market
• the</c><01:32:58.200><c> market</c> high demand for whatever the market high demand for whatever the
• </c><02:41:08.280><c> costs</c><02:41:08.760><c> for</c> patients potentially high costs for patients
• potentially high costs for ineffective<02:41:10.920><c> or</c><02:41:11.040><c> potentially</c><02:41

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for listening, and I hope the amendments will be considered. convenience.
• Thank you for listening<00:14:41.920><c> and</c><00:14:42.240><c> I</c><00:14:42.480><c> hope</c><00:
• So, us working together is all we can hope for.
• So, us working together is all we can hope for.
• Um, and I I respect we can hope for.

Committee: House Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:

• For now, this will be the fourth year where we've organized a program for high school students to talk
• If anybody here has a great system for doing patenting, I hope you're...
• high school, but that our high school experience matches the requirements expected for secondary so
• Century High School has been a strong purported of AP and has been a pioneer for that, not only within
• But that is a high level, kind of what I'm thinking for the next meeting.

Summary: The committee first reviewed the 2024-25 tuition waiver report for the North Dakota University System. Staff explained that waivers were reported for degree-seeking students and broken out by residency, institution, and waiver type. Members asked about partial versus full waivers, institutional discretion, athletic waivers, and whether campuses have published guardrails or transparency requirements. Staff said most waivers are set by institutions, with some statutory and board-required categories, and that athletic waivers are a small share of total waiver dollars. The report showed total gross tuition of $354.5 million, tuition waived of $38.9 million, and 11,193 of 42,040 students receiving some waiver. Members also discussed how waivers affect net tuition revenue, housing and food collections, and whether campuses are using waivers strategically compared with scholarships and other funding sources. The committee then heard a presentation on tuition rates by campus and State Board policy. Staff explained the board’s tuition factors for resident, Minnesota reciprocity, contiguous-state/U.S. nonresident, and international students, and noted that campuses often seek exceptions based on program-specific competition and enrollment goals. Members asked whether rates are based on cost or competition, and staff said campuses typically bring forward estimates and market comparisons when requesting special rates. The presentation also reviewed general fund appropriations versus net tuition revenue by campus, and members discussed how local tuition decisions and waivers do not directly affect the state funding formula, though they do affect institutional revenue and reserves. Questions were also raised about the Higher Learning Commission’s financial composite indicator and how it differs from the more intuitive reserve and revenue figures. The committee next received a broad overview of non-higher-education entities affiliated with the State Board of Higher Education, beginning with NDSU agriculture-related units. Dr. Greg Lardy described the State Board of Agricultural Research and Education, the NDSU Extension Service, the Agricultural Experiment Station, and the branch research centers, emphasizing their statewide role in crop and livestock research, extension education, and county-based outreach. He outlined funding mixes for extension, the experiment station, and branch stations, noting that grants and contracts support both research and education, while the agronomy seed farm is self-funded through seed sales. Members asked about the new and vacant FTE pool, R1 research status, matching requirements for grants, and whether state appropriations count toward research expenditures. Dr. Lardy also highlighted major research impacts, including crop varieties, virtual fencing, AI-assisted weed control, and NDAWN weather data. The Northern Crops Institute and the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute also presented. NCI described its role in market development, technical services, and education for regional agriculture, its governance through the Northern Crops Council, and its funding from state appropriations, other states, and earned revenue. Members asked about the source of out-of-state funding, intellectual property, and the institute’s international reach. UGPTI then outlined its transportation research, federal and state funding structure, and work on road and bridge condition assessments, travel demand modeling, and workforce training. No votes were taken during the portion of the meeting reflected in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> for and only for to solely for. for and only for to solely for.
• And, um, I'm happy to be able to offer this amendment, and I hope for the body's support. facto diversity
• </c><01:14:03.640><c> for</c><01:14:03.760><c> the</c><01:14:03.840><c> body's</c> amendment, and I hope
• for the body's amendment, and I hope for the body's support. support. support.
• We're asking for for for any<01:57:13.800><c> recommendations</c><01:57:15.040><c> for</c><01:57:15.200

Transcript Highlights:

• educated, but equally as important for high school educated teammates.
• educated, but equally as important for high school educated teammates.
• educated, but equally as important for high school educated teammates.
• educated, but equally as important for high school educated teammates.
• important for educated, but equally as important for high<00:04:58.800><c> school</c><00:04:59.199><

Summary: The committee met for its third interim meeting, approved the prior meeting minutes, and heard a presentation from the Metals Innovation Initiative (MI2) on Kentucky’s metals industry. Speakers described metals manufacturing and recycling as a major economic backbone for the Commonwealth, including steel, aluminum, stainless steel, and copper operations, with broad impacts across production, fabrication, supply chains, and related businesses. They emphasized that the industry supports high-paying jobs, significant capital investment in Kentucky, and is aligned with broader efforts to expand U.S. manufacturing. A central theme was workforce development. MI2 leaders said the industry faces a persistent talent gap and that current education programs do not always produce the skills needed for modern metals jobs. They argued for stronger exposure and awareness, more direct industry involvement, and a dedicated metals career pathway through high schools, area technology centers, career and technical centers, and KCTCS. They also described pilot efforts in Logan, Warren, and Carroll counties that would introduce students to metals careers in middle school, move them into credits and pathways in high school, and connect them to internships, apprenticeships, and postsecondary training. Recycling and supply-chain security were the other major topics. Testimony stressed that recycled inputs are far cheaper than raw ore extraction and that recycling is increasingly important to competitiveness, environmental performance, and keeping materials from leaving the U.S. Speakers also raised concerns about China’s large steel and aluminum capacity and said unfair trade and global market manipulation make it harder for Kentucky producers to compete. Committee members and presenters framed MI2 as a collaborative effort among industry, state government, and academia to strengthen workforce pipelines, recycling, and long-term industry growth. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• for their for their the best education for their for their child.<00:19:13.200><c> And</c><00:19:14.640
• </c> &gt;&gt; for a motion. &gt;&gt; for a motion.
• Um, I'm happy to take any questions. thank you again for for allowing me to thank you again for for allowing
• </c><00:43:20.240><c> for</c> had called for the death penalty for for had called for the death penalty
• for for that<00:43:20.640><c> bill.

Committee: Joint Judiciary, Division B

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you for your testimony, and I'm greatly sorry, as we all are, for your loss.
• So we just hope that you report this bill out favorably and vote for it when it comes up.
• There's no reason for this not to pass, and we're just hoping that you'll support us and pass it for
• hoping that you'll support us and pass it for our brother thank you thank you thank you for time like
• So I'm just hoping that once again, you'll report this out favorably. Thank you for your time.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Public Service

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held a hearing on May 7, chaired by Senators Mike Brady and Dan Ryan, and heard testimony on a wide range of retirement and benefits bills for public employees and their families. Several bills focused on line-of-duty death or disability benefits for police and firefighters, including Senate Bill 1831 for Joanne Sanji, widow of Rutland Detective John Sanji, whose COVID-19 death was described by family, counsel, and the police chief as a line-of-duty death already recognized by local, state, and federal memorials. Similar support was offered for bills involving the surviving spouse of a State Police officer injured in the line of duty, a Springfield officer injured by a hammer attack during a mental health call, and a bill for a former police officer seeking an increased disability retirement due to PTSD after a traumatic incident. Testimony repeatedly emphasized that these cases had been recognized locally or had already moved through prior sessions, but legislative action was still needed to secure benefits. The committee also heard multiple firefighter-related retirement bills. Representatives and union advocates supported a bill for retired Attleboro Fire Captain Walter Gerton, arguing that an audit and recalculation improperly reduced his pension after retirement and that the correction was requested by the local retirement board. Another bill sought disability retirement for former Westfield firefighter Greg Heath, who testified that Parkinson’s disease has made daily life and family care increasingly difficult; supporters cited studies linking firefighting exposures to Parkinson’s and said the city, retirement board, and local officials backed the measure. The committee also heard testimony for retired Quincy Fire Deputy Chief Kevin Bithrow, who described a Parkinson’s diagnosis following years of exposure at major toxic fires, including the Home Depot and MWRA incidents, and for a related Quincy bill that would treat his retirement as line-of-duty for survivor protection. Additional bills included a proposal to provide flags to next of kin of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty, a bill to resolve employer contribution obligations for the Neshoba Associated Boards of Health in the state retirement system, and several individual retirement or service-credit measures. These included a bill for former State Police gang unit officer David Patterson, a school nurse seeking additional credible service credit for a temporary staffing emergency, and a former Suffolk County sheriff’s deputy seeking an increased disability retirement after a violent inmate assault left him with lasting injuries. Testimony generally came from the affected individuals, family members, municipal officials, retirement boards, and public safety unions, with most speakers urging favorable action and noting that many of the bills had already passed one chamber or had been filed in prior sessions. At the end of the hearing, the committee took no recorded votes on the bills and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also in school for social work, my master's in social work, and in the hope in the future to be able
• The witness continued that she was also in school for social work and hoped in the future to combine
• You've heard a lot about the high needs for special education teachers, so I will cut all that part.
• You've heard a lot about the high needs for special education teachers, so I will cut all that part.
• > education</c> the the high needs for special education the the high needs for special education teachers

Bills: HF1538 , HF1965 , HF2251 , HF2838

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• so case loads are extremely high for my staff that are boots on the ground working with children and
• ><c> my</c><00:43:08.880><c> staff</c> loads are extremely high um for my staff loads are extremely high
• </c><00:51:25.920><c> I</c><00:51:26.079><c> had</c><00:51:26.480><c> high</c><00:51:26.720><c> hopes
• I had high hopes for that passed that.
• I had high hopes for that bill.<00:51:28.960><c> There</c><00:51:29.200><c> are</c><00:51:29.440><c>

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• sure, but I I &gt;&gt; yeah, I can't say for sure, but I I would<00:24:39.000><c> hope</c><00:24:39.280
• </c> for higher ed. for higher ed.
• for an at-large seat, for example.
• And for an at-large seat, for example.
• </c><01:16:39.240><c> um</c> address fees for um address fees for um for<01:16:41.480><c> uh</c> for

Summary: The committee discussed a higher education attainment-goals bill and several related amendments. Members first reached agreement on funding changes: one amendment redirected money for fraud-prevention software for MnSCU and $5,000 for trees in Bemidji, and another moved $570,000 for workforce development-related funding. Members noted the use of general fund dollars to cover a FIG shortfall and expressed support for addressing fraud prevention while also saying MnSCU should be made whole in the next biennium. Both amendments were adopted. The main policy debate centered on an amendment updating the statewide attainment goal and related P-20 partnership language. Senator Um Ruebain proposed returning the attainment goal from 75 percent to 70 percent, and members discussed whether the bill’s expanded reporting and coordination duties would create costs for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). Nonpartisan staff and Commissioner Olsen said the Office of Higher Education and the P-20 partnership expected no costs, while DCYF’s fiscal note assumed reporting and staffing costs. After discussion, DCYF indicated it would absorb the costs, but some members still objected to expanding the partnership and creating additional bureaucracy. Members also debated whether early childhood and K-12 subgoals should be included as part of the attainment-goals framework. Supporters said aligning early childhood, K-12, and higher education goals is necessary to improve postsecondary attainment, while opponents argued the committee should focus on existing higher education goals and basic K-12 achievement. The committee ultimately adopted the Senate language on the attainment-goals section as amended, including the change back to 70 percent and revisions directed by staff to ensure the correct references were updated. The A12 amendment on pregnant and parenting students was also adopted earlier in the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I hope you enjoyed this video. Thank you for watching! Bye!
• for being here. Thank you. Chair calls Ryan Chismark. I hope you enjoyed this video.
• Um, we're going to change that to you're here for yourself. for myself.
• for them.
• One for the government and another one for the people.

Bills: HB1952 , HB3258 , HB3524 , HB3851 , HB4478 , HB4613 , HB4703 , HB4742 , HB4744 , HB4809 , HB4864

Committee: House S/C on Property Tax Appraisals

Transcript Highlights:

• In reality, the duty-to-retreat standard is really the run-and-hope-for-the-best standard in moments
• Women will be hurt if we allow this run-and-hope-for-the-best standard to remain in place.
• In reality, the duty-to-retreat standard is really the run-and-hope-for-the-best standard in moments
• I invite you all to keep an eye out for that and to sign on, because I hope that you'll support it with
• </c> children and youth for sex thank you for children and youth for sex thank you for bringing<00:42

Transcript Highlights:

• For Heather to be provided in the debate for the L.L.L., L.HL.L.L.L.S.
• the state barrage section 1 section 16107 Reach 8707-1 any time for the time for the time date for retirement
• The property tax bills are high. Property tax bills are high. Mr.
• So this is a passionate issue for me for the last two years.
• So it's somewhat unfolding for those of us that remember 1981, and I certainly hope we aren't going to

Bills: LB737 , LB753 , LB788 , LB913 , LB1055 , LB1195 , LB1216 , LB1256 , LB429 , LB721 , LB722 , LB727 , LB743 , LB745 , LB749 , LB778 , LB787 , LB365A , LB823 , LB900 , LB903 , LB940 , LB954 , LB1127 , LB1127A , LB1205 , LB1240 , LR293 , LR296 , LR422 , LR505 , LR507