Video & Transcript : 'parent education' :
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Natural Resources Committee Apr 13th, 2026
Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- Right now, California's public higher education system simply does not have the housing capacity for
- It is whether we can meaningfully engage with our education at all.
- Higher education should be opening doors, not leaving students searching for one.
- It should be opening doors with our education. That's incredible.
- It should be opening doors with our education. That's incredible.
Committee:
House Natural Resources
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- education education are<00:18:31.880><c> counting</c><00:18:32.360><c> on</c><00:18:32.480><c> that<
- . co-educational. co-educational.
- Senator Fati three, higher education.
- education education uh<01:13:51.440><c> article.
- </c> education system if we don't pass this. education system if we don't pass this.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Education Policy Committee Jan 21st, 2026
Education Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:12:15.440><c> already</c> of Early Childhood Education already of Early Childhood Education already
- </c> the finest early childhood education the finest early childhood education conferences<00:12:28.399
- </c><00:12:52.959><c> leadership</c> early childhood education leadership early childhood education leadership
- It president be an educator by trade.
- </c><01:00:57.680><c> for</c> towards the betterment of education for towards the betterment of education
Committee:
House Education Policy
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (02/17/2026)
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- over the years, I became a care provider or the financial medical manager for grandparents and my parents
- medical manager for grandparents<00:04:40.479><c> and</c><00:04:40.720><c> my</c><00:04:40.880><c> parents
- </c><00:04:41.919><c> My</c><00:04:42.240><c> mother</c> grandparents and my parents.
- My mother grandparents and my parents.
- 44.000><c> supervisor,</c><00:54:45.040><c> and</c> educator, hospital house supervisor, and educator
Committee:
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Carbon Sequestration Programs Study Commission (03/06/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- . >> It's information and education. >> Yeah, but they're not required to follow it.
- And so, so, so it's information and education. >> Yeah, but they're not required to follow it.
- So, in that case, you could treat the parent beech, which would get rid of the sprouts, right?
- So, in that case, you could treat the So, in that case, you could treat the the<01:13:55.960><c> parent
- beech, which would get rid of the parent beech, which would get rid of the<01:13:58.520><c> sprouts,
Summary:
The meeting began with introductions and approval of the previous minutes, including a small amendment clarifying a note about “leakage” in a prior presentation. The committee then heard a presentation from Sarah Hall of the American Forest Foundation on the Family Forest Carbon Program, which she described as a voluntary carbon and forest management program for smaller landowners. She said the program provides annual payments and technical assistance, requires a forest management plan within two years, and is designed to support improved forest management while still allowing compatible uses such as recreation, hunting, and some harvesting.
Hall emphasized that the program is intended as one tool among many and is not a fit for every property. She said most enrolled landowners did not previously have a forest management plan or work with a forester, and that the program helps bring “unengaged” landowners into active management. She also said the program is compatible with current use and other commitments on a case-by-case basis, and that landowners retain ownership of their land and timber rights while AFF holds the carbon rights for the contract term. She highlighted examples of landowners using the program to support taxes, family ownership, wildlife habitat, timber stand improvement, and continued recreational or business uses.
Committee members asked about registry compliance in New Hampshire and the relationship between carbon markets and the program. Hall responded that AFF handles registry administration for landowners and would follow up on the specific registry count raised by a member. She explained that the program is funded through a mix of carbon market revenue, philanthropy, and grants, and that carbon credits are generated through landscape-level methodology and monitored using randomly selected plots compared with FIA data. She also noted that consulting foresters are key partners in the program and that AFF has paid more than $3 million to consultants nationwide.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- any income, neither of those individuals would be able to claim the benefit because there is no—the parent
- Through a gestational carrier surrogacy contract, legal adoption, establishment of a legal parent-child
Committee:
House Ways and Means
Summary:
The House Ways and Means Committee first took up Senate Bill 1032, which would provide a $2,400 tax deduction related to the birth or adoption of a child. Vice Chair Davis offered a committee amendment to broaden eligibility by changing the trigger from “gives birth or adopts” to “attains legal parentage,” which would include birth, gestational carrier surrogacy, adoption, and legal parent-child relationships by operation of law. Members discussed that the deduction amount would remain the same and that it could be claimed only once per child. The committee adopted the amendment and then adopted a substitute incorporating it, but the substitute failed on a tied roll call vote of 4-4, so the bill did not advance.
The committee then heard House Bill 3294, sponsored by Representative Mayhew, which would eliminate the need for active-duty military personnel who are exempt from Missouri income tax to file a state return just to receive a refund of withheld taxes. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would reduce paperwork for service members and lower administrative costs for the Department of Revenue, while still leaving federal filing requirements unchanged. Members asked about residency rules, whether the bill applied to retirees or only active duty, and how withholding would work for service members stationed in or out of Missouri.
No vote was taken on House Bill 3294 during the hearing. The chair closed the hearing after final comments, noting it was likely the committee’s last hearing of the session, and the meeting adjourned.
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Commerce and Small Business Committee Feb 10th, 2026
Commerce and Small Business
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, authorized agent was confusing between some of the language of parent, guardian, and authorized agent
- So we standardized that under parent, guardian, conservator. Um, opt-out changes.
Committee:
House Commerce and Small Business
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Jan 14th, 2026
Revenue and Taxation
Transcript Highlights:
- Proposition 19, which passed in 2021, included a restriction on the transfer of family homes between parents
- Senator, this bill grants basic fairness to California taxpayers who have lost a parent or grandparent
Committee:
Senate Revenue and Taxation
Summary:
The committee heard several tax and local revenue measures. SB 288, by Senator Seyarto, would clarify that for inherited homes going through probate, the Proposition 19 one-year deadline to move in and claim the homeowner exemption begins when the property is legally declared to belong to the heir, rather than during probate. The author accepted committee amendments; Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association supported the bill, and it passed 4-0 to Appropriations. SB 347, by Senator Choi, would reduce the state annual minimum tax from $800 to $600 for LLCs, LLPs, limited partnerships, S corporations, and C corporations. The bill was supported as a small-business tax reduction and passed 5-0 to Appropriations.
The committee also considered two veterans property tax measures. SCA 4, by Senator Archuleta, would allow eligible veterans to stack the homeowners exemption with the veterans’ or disabled veterans’ exemption and remove outdated property-value limits in the constitutional veterans’ exemption. Testimony from veteran advocates and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association supported the measure, and it was adopted 5-0 and referred to the Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments. SB 623, the companion statutory bill, would make conforming changes to implement SCA 4; it also drew support from veterans’ groups, the County of San Diego, and Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and passed 5-0 to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.
SB 762, by Senator Archuleta, would authorize the city of Hercules to place before voters a local sales tax increase of up to 1% to help fund public safety, parks, infrastructure, and other services. Supporters described it as a narrowly tailored local control measure, while the committee noted it would let residents decide whether to tax themselves. The bill passed 4-1 to Local Government. SB 575 by Senator Laird was taken up on the consent calendar, the committee adopted technical amendments, and the consent calendar passed 5-0. The meeting then adjourned after all business was concluded.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- enforced without a judge ever determining whether it truly serves the child's best interest or respects parental
- The law is contrary if it fails to grant a parent the same fundamental constitutional rights guaranteed
- Parental rights will be preserved, public policy reinforced, and constitutional consistency maintained
Bills:
HR38 , HR96 , HR160 , HCR31 , HCR61 , HB578 , HB668 , HB1198 , SCR19 , SB66 , SB68 , SB76 , SB139 , SB336 , SB475
Committee:
House Civil Law and Procedure
Keywords:
privacy rights, surveillance, USA Patriot Act, FISA, Fourth Amendment, civil liberties, government oversight, civil bench warrants, judgment debtors, notification process, judgment debtor examination, Louisiana State Law Institute, property transfer, public records doctrine, bad faith, real estate law, HCR 31, House Concurrent Resolution 31, foreign entities, foreign corporation
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Transportation Mar 3rd, 2026
Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- if somebody did have an accident, they were responsible medical-wise, and you could stay on your parents
- This provides, in my opinion, minimum standards, which any parent should already be doing on their own
- And I think it's unfortunate that government has to step in and take the rights away from parents and
Summary:
The Transportation Committee first met in executive session on House Bill 2741. Members adopted a committee amendment correcting a wording error, then voted the House committee substitute do pass by a roll call of 9 ayes, 2 noes, and 1 present. Supporters said the bill addressed safety concerns, especially for commercial vehicles, while opponents objected to the subjective standard for proving proficiency and to the $3,000 penalty for violations.
The committee then held a public hearing on House Bills 1831, 2328, and 2553, all related to motorcycle passenger safety for children. The bills would require young child passengers to wear helmets, be able to reach foot pegs, and ride on properly equipped seats; the discussion also focused on whether officers could stop motorcycles based on a reasonable suspicion that a child passenger was underage or improperly secured. Bill sponsors said the measures were intended to prevent child deaths and injuries, citing the death of Calvin James, a 4-year-old grandson of one witness, as the reason for “Calvin’s Law.”
Testimony was mixed. Family members and several supporters, including emergency nurses, argued the bills were common-sense child protection measures and could prevent traumatic brain injuries or fatalities. Motorcycle advocacy groups and some witnesses said the bills were overbroad, could lead to arbitrary stops or family services involvement, and needed clearer definitions for terms like “proper passenger seat.” Several members raised questions about enforceability, age verification, and whether the fine structure was an effective deterrent. No votes were taken on the three motorcycle bills, and the committee adjourned after closing the hearing.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- if somebody did have an accident, they were responsible medical-wise, and you could stay on your parents
- This provides, in my opinion, minimum standards, which any parent should already be doing on their own
- And I think it's unfortunate that government has to step in and take the rights away from parents and
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- No parent should have to go through that.
- And for me, witnessing a parent learn of their child's death is something that I will never forget.
- The accident scene itself was filled with students and parents who were already at the school for various
Committee:
House Corrections
Keywords:
community supervision, repeat offenders, intoxication, Texas Penal Code, criminal justice reform, intoxication manslaughter, criminal penalties, mandatory supervision, parole eligibility, Grayson's Law, mental health, trauma, jailers, law enforcement, occupational health, diligent participation, state jail felony, time credits, rehabilitation programs, de-escalation
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of William Briggs, of Texas, to be Deputy Administrator, and Casey Mulligan, of Illinois, to be Chief Counsel for Advocacy, both of the Small Business Administration. Mar 12th, 2025 at 01:30 pm
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Briggs' family, his parents, Doty and Bill, thank you for being here, as well as his siblings, Susan,
- I'd like to briefly acknowledge my friends and family who are here today, including my parents, Bill
- After I was about three years old, my parents' sole source of income was to buy a house.
Keywords:
SBA, small business, nominations, Bill Briggs, Casey Mulligan, regulations, capital access, public support
Summary:
The Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship convened to consider the nominations of Bill Briggs for Deputy Administrator of the SBA and Dr. Casey Mulligan for Chief Counsel for Advocacy. The discussions highlighted the critical role of the SBA in promoting small businesses, with emphasis on overcoming challenges posed by excessive regulations and the need for improved access to capital. Several committee members expressed their concerns over recent layoffs within the SBA and the closure of district offices, which they believe undermine support for small businesses across the nation. The committee meeting saw extensive dialogue about the implications of regulations on small business operations and how the nominees plan to address these issues if confirmed. Public support for the nominees was acknowledged through letters from various stakeholders who advocate for small business interests.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Committee of Conference on HB 421, HB 701, HB 377, HB 712 (06/17/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- With all due respect, we also have to take into consideration that we all believe in parental rights,
- and these decisions are being made by parents who love their children.
- rights and you know believe in parental rights and you know these<03:00:33.120><c> decisions</c><03:
- who you know love their parents who you know love their children.<03:00:38.399><c> I</c><03:00:38.720
- The parents and the children that are entering into these treatments, it is—and we heard this during
Summary:
The committee of conference first took up House Bill 421FN, concerning notice of tax-exempt status filing procedures by town officials. Members reviewed the Senate changes and focused on whether the amended language would require multiple mailings to charitable organizations. House conferees said the Senate wording appeared to create more than one mailing and asked for clarification; Senate members explained the intent was to reduce clerk workload by posting forms and sending a follow-up notice only to organizations that failed to file after the deadline. After a brief caucus, the House concluded there were too many unresolved changes to work out in conference and moved to non-concur with the Senate amendment.
The House motion to non-concur passed unanimously, 4-0, and the committee agreed to place the conference report on the House consent calendar. The chair then closed the committee of conference on House Bill 421FN.
The transcript then shifted to a separate committee of conference on another bill, where members discussed revisions involving direct supervision at an eligible facility, federalwide assurance requirements, and immunity language. Testimony focused on whether the bill should require supervision at a specific facility or allow broader supervision arrangements, whether rulemaking should define direct supervision, and whether the immunity provision should cover reckless as well as willful misconduct. No final vote or action on that second bill was reached in the portion provided.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee Jun 23rd, 2026
Tax Reform and Relief Advisory Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So sometimes it's about educating them.
- And of course, we pass those comments along because invariably... ...educating them.
- of North Dakota came up with a new K-12 funding formula tied to the cost of providing an adequate education
- of North Dakota came up with a new K-12 funding formula tied to the cost of providing an adequate education
- Senator Rummel, the educator. Thank you, Chair Bekkedahl. Mr.
Summary:
The committee met to receive updates from the Tax Commissioner’s office on property tax relief programs and related compliance work. Commissioner Brian Croshys reviewed the Homestead Property Tax Credit, Disabled Veteran Credit, and Primary Residence Credit, noting that the Homestead program expanded significantly after HB 1158, that some households are “adjusting out” of eligibility as incomes rise, and that the committee may want to consider indexing income thresholds. Members asked for additional data on bracket breakdowns, possible costs of eliminating income limits for seniors, and how many households are zeroed out by the combined programs. Croshys also discussed the simpler administration of the disabled veteran credit, the growth in participation, and the heavy workload and auditing safeguards built into the new primary residence credit system. He said the department found no material compliance findings and that the program is designed to be digital-first, with county auditors and the Tax Commissioner’s office both involved in review and notification. The committee recessed for lunch and later reconvened, with the chair noting that more detailed PRC information would likely be available at a September meeting.
Shelly Myers then presented the statewide property tax increase, or “zero growth,” report and the 2025 statistical report. She explained how county auditors report levy and valuation data, how increases and decreases are counted, and which jurisdictions showed the largest percentage changes in countywide, citywide, school district, and park district levies. In the statistical report, she summarized recent trends in assessed values: agricultural values remained relatively flat, while residential, commercial, and centrally assessed property values increased over the past five years. She also reviewed statewide tax levies by property class and clarified that centrally assessed growth figures were annual averages. Members discussed how shifts in land use and annexation can make it appear that tax burdens are moving from ag to residential/commercial property. Myers then summarized the interim study on the 3% levy limitation under HB 1176, saying most counties complied without budget changes, while some used hiring freezes, deferred purchases, or reserve funds; 23% of counties had to reduce levies, and the affected funds were mainly general, road and bridge, and weed control. She said 12 counties reported zero new growth in the data and that 35 counties reported not using all of their cap.
The committee also received an oil tax presentation from Croshys on the stripper well extraction tax exemption. He outlined the number of active stripper wells, the production and revenue implications of the exemption, and projections for future biennia under different tax scenarios. He said the exemption represents substantial savings to operators but also corresponds to production tax revenue that would otherwise be collected, and he emphasized that future outcomes depend on oil prices, well counts, and technology such as CO2 enhanced oil recovery. Nathan Anderson of the Department of Mineral Resources briefly answered a question about why Red River wells have a different production threshold than Bakken wells, explaining it was tied to completion costs and lateral length. The committee then heard from Charlie Gorecki of the EERC, who presented an analysis of typical Bakken well decline curves and argued that most oil is produced before a well reaches stripper status, but that keeping wells open and investing in refracturing or other interventions can recover additional production. No votes were taken during this portion of the meeting; the main actions were receiving reports, asking for follow-up data, and scheduling further discussion for a later meeting.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Insurance Committee May 12th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We are an independent nonprofit that educates, helps, and advocates for insurance consumers, disseminates
- There was also education, but... And the price went up.
- So that was—there was also education, but they're, like, the same with seatbelts, motorcycle helmets,
- So just educating people that, no, you're right.
- So just educating people that, no, you're right.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Insurance held an information hearing on the impacts of climate change and catastrophic wildfire on California’s insurance market, with opening remarks focused on the state’s affordability, availability, and stability problems. Chair and members discussed the role of SB 254’s report, the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, the growth of the FAIR Plan, and the need to better align insurance regulation, mitigation, and land-use decisions. The Vice Chair noted the importance of hearing from industry as well as consumer and academic experts, and Senator Becker said the report would inform further committee work.
Amy Bach of United Policyholders described how climate-driven wildfire and flood risk, combined with inflation, insurtech, and risk modeling, have reduced competition and pushed more homeowners into the FAIR Plan and non-admitted surplus lines coverage. She said availability is improving somewhat, but affordability will depend on mitigation, insurer competition, and fair rate regulation. In response to questions, she emphasized underinsurance as a long-running problem, supported stronger insurer responsibility for replacement-cost estimates, and suggested a public reinsurance backstop and more mitigation funding rather than removing wildfire coverage from basic policies.
Nancy Watkins of Milliman and Michael Wara of Stanford argued that the market problem is fundamentally that expected claims and expenses now exceed premiums because too many homes are burning. They said California needs both risk reduction and actuarially sound pricing, along with a state mitigation framework that targets the highest-risk communities and prioritizes home hardening, defensible space, and community-scale mitigation over broad acreage-based spending. They also discussed the role of non-admitted carriers as a gap-filler, the need for better data on reconstruction costs and mitigation effectiveness, and the importance of sustained funding rather than one-time grants.
A later panel with Frank Freebalt of Cal Poly and Michael Golnar of UC Berkeley focused on modeling and mitigation science. They said wildfire policy should treat the issue as a structure-ignition and urban conflagration problem, not just a wildland fire problem, and stressed integrated land-use, utility, and community mitigation. Members asked about zoning, building codes, utility hardening, and who should pay for mitigation; witnesses said older, denser neighborhoods are the highest priority, that utilities must improve operational safety measures, and that targeted mitigation in the highest-risk areas offers the best return. No votes or formal actions were taken at the hearing.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
JDC, JDC Public Hearings 04-21-2026
Transcript Highlights:
- My parents both worked two jobs to support my family, and in doing so, they taught me what dedication
- Um, and he really appreciated, I guess, the education that I gave him.
- felt that I had had a meaningful experience with a person who was found guilty, but I was able to educate
- Um, and he really appreciated, I guess, the education that I gave him.
- Um, and he really appreciated, I guess, the education that I gave him.
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee heard Governor’s Messages 796 and 797, both judicial confirmation nominations, but announced at the outset that no votes would be taken that day. The committee said it would hold the vote the next day in Room 225. For GM 796, Annalisa M. Bernard Lee was nominated to serve as circuit court judge for the Second Circuit (Maui) for a 10-year term. Supporters included former Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald, former judges, attorneys, and the Hawaii State Bar Association, all describing her as fair, hardworking, experienced on both criminal and civil matters, and active in the legal community. Judge Lee testified about her background as a Maui native, former public defender and prosecutor, and current district court judge, and said her experience on all sides of the courtroom shaped her commitment to fairness and access to justice. Senators asked about diversion, sentencing repeat offenders, and the role of a circuit court judge; Lee said she would consider cases individually, support diversion and pretrial collaboration where appropriate, and use judicial power to address underlying problems when possible.
For GM 797, Michael K. Soong was nominated to the Fifth Circuit Court for Kauai and Niihau. Former Chief Justice Recktenwald and other supporters praised his long legal career, including service as a prosecutor, district court judge, and acting chief judge during a period when Kauai lacked a full-time circuit judge. They emphasized his courtroom control, common sense, community ties, and willingness to take on extra judicial committee work. Soong testified that he had served as a district court judge since 2017 and had recently been handling circuit court duties, including civil, criminal, and jury trial matters. He described the differences between district and circuit court, his experience presiding over complex trials, and his support for specialty courts such as drug court, veterans court, and mental health calendars. The Hawaii State Bar Association said it found him qualified after its review. No votes were taken on either nomination during this hearing.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Jan 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- excluding adult and juvenile corrections, health and welfare, which has Medicaid built into it, the education
- And there's supplementals in there that also reduce public schools and ...and the Empowering Parents
- The second one that does have a statutory cap is a public education stabilization fund, or PISIF.
- But all of that doom and gloom aside, I like to call it education a little bit, but all that aside, I
- He is an assistant professor and area extension educator at the University of Idaho, where he covers
Summary:
The committee was convened to review Idaho’s economic outlook and general fund revenue projections for fiscal years 2025-2028, with members instructed to submit “homework” revenue estimates by noon the next day so staff could compile committee averages and medians for deliberations and a final recommendation to JFAC. Opening remarks emphasized the committee’s constitutional charge, the use of the binder materials and online packet, and that the committee would meet again the next day to discuss and vote on the revenue projection recommendation.
Staff and agency presentations focused on the state’s budget and revenue picture. Legislative Services Office staff described structural imbalance concerns, noting that statutory spending changes and earmarked sales tax distributions have crowded out flexibility, while cash reserves remain substantial. The Division of Financial Management’s economist explained the official revenue forecast, including revised treatment of sales tax and tax relief fund accruals, and said the forecast largely held steady overall even as corporate and individual income tax categories shifted. She also discussed the impact of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act on SALT deductions and said recent corporate collections had rebounded sharply, suggesting timing and behavior changes rather than a broad economic downturn.
Outside economists and labor experts painted a generally stable to positive economic picture. Zions Bank’s economist said the Federal Reserve is likely near the end of major rate cuts, long-term rates and mortgage rates remain elevated, tariffs have risen sharply, but inflation has not yet shown broad tariff-driven acceleration; he described the national labor market as slowing but not contracting and said 2026 could be a rebuilding year. The Idaho Department of Labor reported that Idaho’s unemployment remains historically low, job growth is steady, wage growth is moderating from overheated pandemic-era levels, and the state’s labor market remains healthier and more balanced than the national picture. The committee also heard from Idaho Power’s economist, who began a presentation on broader economic conditions and utility-related demand trends before the transcript ended.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Sep 30th, 2025
Revenue Stabilization & Tax Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- We have a total of roughly 907,000 non-farm employment jobs, with the largest being health and education
- Looking at page 9, education and health are the third highest year-over-year employment increase, but
- then on page 10, education and health are the largest employment share by sector.
- Both parents are working as much as they can, and they do get some help from family for daycare.
- Then it was higher education; they had to create more colleges, then create more housing and more jobs
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Task Force on Government Efficiency Mar 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- the authority to issue to education personnel.
- We'll be on our 1245 presentation: Center for Distance Education. Center for Distance Education?
- So, Chairman Toman, Senator Hogan, and members of the committee, we don't have an educated—or, educated
- So we don't have a lot of dedicated education staff.
- We have two people in our education department who provide education to all of us, and so we do rely
Summary:
The task force reviewed survey results from state agencies on potential statutory revisions, with Levi reporting 70 proposals from 20 agencies and noting that about 33 might become agency pre-file bills. Members discussed the need to share the survey more broadly within higher education and to better coordinate issues involving IT and other cross-agency functions. The task force then heard from the Office of Management and Budget on three topics: concessions, architect/engineering pre-qualification, and legal notices. OMB said the concessions law is outdated and inconsistent with current practice, and suggested a collaborative rewrite to allow best-value evaluation, raise the threshold, and standardize solicitation templates. On architect/engineering pre-qualification, OMB proposed expanding authority beyond current state-agency limits and creating uniform templates. On legal notices, OMB proposed modernizing publication requirements, exploring online and abbreviated notices, and working with newspapers and other stakeholders on technology and accessibility improvements.
Members asked about where concession revenues go, whether political subdivisions must follow the same rules, and how to move from discussion to action. The task force agreed to have OMB work with Legislative Council and affected stakeholders to develop bill drafts, and the motion passed unanimously. The University of North Dakota then presented a series of proposed revisions focused on public buildings and procurement. UND asked to rework the definition of construction so routine maintenance and one-for-one replacements over $250,000 would not automatically trigger public-improvement requirements, suggested raising the threshold to $500,000, and asked for more flexibility based on project complexity and risk. UND also proposed changes to public bid advertisements to reflect electronic bidding, revisions to construction manager-at-risk selection criteria, changes to architect/engineer procurement rules, an increase in the direct-hire design threshold, and a higher legislative-consent threshold for privately funded projects. The task force supported having UND work with counsel and OMB to develop bill drafts, and that motion also passed.
The Department of Public Instruction concluded with proposed cleanup to credentialing and education statutes. DPI recommended reviewing its credential categories for relevance, possibly transferring credentialing authority to the Education Standards and Practices Board, removing outdated school safety patrol language, clarifying waiver provisions, and updating dyslexia screening reporting requirements so the statute reflects current practice. Members focused mainly on whether the dyslexia reporting requirement should remain, and DPI said the screening itself would continue even if reporting language were revised. No votes were taken on DPI’s suggestions, and the task force recessed after the presentation.