Transcript Highlights:

• State Police requests $1.82 million.
• Sorry, if you could just state your name again." "Sorry, if you could just state your name again."
• state?
• Number 20 is Henderson State University with EMTC Engineering Management.
• Number 20 is Henderson State University with EMTC engineering management.

Committee: All JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I appreciate the partnership with this university for decades and for the entire state as they produce
• The university has the Center of Excellence for the Social Work Program throughout the state, and so
• We have worked with New Mexico State University. to start raising some seed in some of the Ag Science
• state.
• The money goes to the university, New Mexico State University, and our state association has been bidding

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• the Office of State Procurement Director, Ms.
• It's half federal, half state.
• This is services for the Petit Jean State Park Lodge and Mount Magazine State Park and park lodge improvements
• This is for legal services for the Arkansas State University System.
• state agencies.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> uh to each state. uh to each state.
• This is a university-wide effort; that means all campuses, all across the state.
• This is a university-wide effort; that means all campuses, all across the state.
• </c> university now, right? university now, right?
• But when you talk training from a state standpoint, not a university standpoint, what should we be looking

Committee: Senate Jobs and Economic Development

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> meets a state compelling state interest. meets a state compelling state interest.
• And Dartmouth University was also concerned because they do take some state funding.
• And Dartmouth University was also concerned because they do take some state funding.
• </c> they took state funding. Okay. they took state funding. Okay.
• </c> when other states did it. when other states did it.

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today's hearing is on the California State University system.
• Hello, Mark Martin representing the California State University. Mr.
• When the state in 2014-15 gave CSU the ability to issue university bonds for state-approved facilities
• When the state in 1415 gave CSU the ability, When the state in 1415 gave CSU the ability to issue university
• Stephen Butcher with CSUEU, California State University Employees Union.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the universities and for fiscal year 2023-24 uh there were 5,002 participants across the state.
• the universities and for fiscal year 2023-24 uh there were 5,002 participants across the state.
• the universities and for fiscal year 2023-24 uh there were 5,002 participants across the state.
• Uh, I mentioned earlier university stated the total cost was $31.5 million back in 2023-24.
• Uh, I mentioned earlier university stated the total cost was $31.5 million back in 2023-24.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• system, which consists of Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University
• After 15 years of service and three tours, I earned an undergraduate degree from Arizona State University
• Nowhere is that more evident than here in the state of Arizona.
• Our three public universities, Northern Arizona University, Arizona State University, and the University
• Strong public universities lead to student success, and when students succeed, the state succeeds.

Committee: Senate Senate Education Committee of Reference

Summary: The Senate Education Committee first approved the January 21, 2026 minutes without objection and then held an executive nomination hearing for James McCain to the Arizona Board of Regents. McCain described his military background, education at Arizona State University, and interest in serving rural, tribal, and veteran communities. Senators from both parties praised his service and bipartisan support, and the committee voted 7-0 to recommend his confirmation to the full Senate. The committee then considered SB 1026, which limits how often alternative education programs and schools in good standing must recertify and allows ADE or the State Board of Education to require certain student-population and compliance showings. After adopting a committee amendment, the bill received a 4-3 do-pass recommendation, with some members objecting that the bill reduced accountability and did not clearly define good standing. SB 1126, which requires schools to provide information to DCS caseworkers during abuse or neglect investigations and bars schools from preventing employees from speaking with DCS, passed 7-0. SB 1143, requiring schools and LEAs to submit CRDC information and directing ADE to publish an annual school safety report, also passed 4-3 after testimony that the bill was redundant and burdensome. Finally, the committee heard SB 1166, which expands high school equivalency preparation instruction through accommodation schools from only 12th grade to grades 10 through 12 for students at least 16 years old. The sponsor said the bill simply broadens access to the program, while some members questioned whether it could encourage students to pursue a GED earlier than intended. The bill received a 5-2 do-pass recommendation, and the committee adjourned after completing its agenda.

Transcript Highlights:

• The university is grateful to Governor Newsom for his sustained support of the University of California
• million, but they've also received additional funding through the California State University budget
• And universities.
• Given that the state has not implemented this type of program before, there are many state entities involved
• campuses, three California State University campuses, one private independent institution, and 25 California

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , originally using university reserves.
• Do we need the University to come down? Yeah, yeah, please. Do we need the university to come down?
• University of Arkansas. All right, University of Arkansas. Introduce yourselves. Good morning.
• So what is the state?
• These are in-state contracts.

Committee: All ALC-REVIEW

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:55.920><c> of</c> state of Hawaii, for the University of state of Hawaii, for the University
• You know, the University of Hawaii is the only university on this level in our state.
• University of Hawaii is, you know, the University of Hawaii is, you know, the only<00:18:03.280><c> university
• on this level in our only university on this level in our state.<00:18:06.400><c> It's</c><00:18:06.480
• </c><00:18:15.720><c> And</c> the state. And the state.

Committee: House Education

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard SB 3263 SD2, which would create a University of Hawaii NIL (name, image, and likeness) endowment trust fund, require UH to establish an NIL program and distribution criteria, allow student athletes to be compensated through registered athlete agents, permit parents or guardians to assist in some areas by agreement, require annual reporting to the legislature, and appropriate funds. UH Athletics Director Matt Helliot testified in strong support, saying NIL funding is critical to recruit and retain athletes and keep UH competitive, especially as the program moves into the Mountain West Conference. He cited the men’s basketball team’s success and said UH had already raised private NIL money for that team. The Iron Workers Stabilization Fund also supported the bill, calling it a modest but important investment in UH athletics and a way to help keep local talent in Hawaii. One supporter said the bill would help UH compete with larger schools and retain athletes amid rising costs and large NIL deals elsewhere. Another supporter, Cliff LaBoy, said the current NIL environment makes funding essential and argued UH needs more money than the bill’s structure provides. A testifier noted the Senate version’s corpus may be insufficient and said they preferred the House version. During questioning, Helliot said UH’s private fundraising target for the current year was $3 million and that the department was already more than two-thirds of the way there. In decision-making, the chair said the committee would move the bill forward as an HD1 replacing the contents with the House version, remove the blank appropriation section because $5 million had already been inserted into the UH budget through HB 1800, and focus the bill on the framework rather than the funding amount. The committee then voted to pass SB 3263 SD2 with amendments, with all voting members present voting in favor and one member excused.

Transcript Highlights:

• of Louisville and Morehead University of Louisville and Morehead State.<00:46:11.119><c> Uh</c><00:46
• Scholarships, University of Louisville, and Morehead State University have both provided opportunities
• As a part of our work with Morehead State University, we helped them as a part of a submission to the
• Scholarships, University of Louisville, and Morehead State University have both provided opportunities
• As a part of our work with Morehead State University, we helped them as a part of a submission to the

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee met without a quorum and did not approve minutes, but heard testimony on budget line items for Data Seam and Teach for America. Andrew McNeel of Kentucky Free and representatives from the Commonwealth Policy Center argued that both programs rely heavily on recurring taxpayer support and should be re-evaluated. McNeel cited a 2020 Office of Policy and Audit examination of Data Seam, saying the program had received more than $30 million in state support since 2006, including $3.5 million in the current budget, and that the audit raised concerns about administrative overhead, alleged threats to districts, and the use of line-item language to justify sole-source contracting. He recommended suspending Data Seam funding this biennium, directing a new special audit, and requiring reimbursement of audit costs. The witnesses also urged the committee to withhold funding for Teach for America, saying the organization’s materials and history showed a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that they opposed. They pointed to past statements, leadership titles, and program language as evidence that DEI concepts remained embedded in the organization, and suggested any funding should be redirected directly to school districts instead. Mike Harmon and Richard Nelson echoed those concerns, while also saying long-running programs should be periodically reviewed for efficiency. Teach for America Appalachia representatives then testified in support of the program. Executive director C.D. Morton described the organization as a teacher-preparation and leadership-development program serving rural eastern Kentucky, saying it had recruited and supported more than 325 teachers since 2011, with about 30 current core members in several counties and roughly 2,800 students impacted daily. He said the program helps fill hard-to-staff vacancies, that about 80% of teachers stay for a third year, and that many alumni remain in education. In response to questions from Representative Bojanowski about retention and cost, Morton said more than 60% of alumni are still in education, but he could not give a precise classroom-teacher retention number beyond the program’s broader alumni data.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, as a public entity, we rely on the state heavily to be a major partner in keeping our university
• So a $100 million HEAPR investment would save the university and the state approximately $300 million
• So a $100 million HEAPR investment would save the university and the state approximately $300 million
• So a $100 million HEAPR investment would save the university and the state approximately $300 million
• </c> the University bonds backed by state the University bonds backed by state Appropriations<01:34:17.600

Committee: Senate Capital Investment

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• resources projects across our state.
• resources projects across our state.
• resources projects across our state.
• state state level<00:04:46.000><c> I</c><00:04:46.160><c> have</c><00:04:46.840><c> two</c><00:04:47.080
• ><c> local</c> kinds of entities including State local kinds of entities including State local and<00

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In FY 24, state colleges and universities collectively spent $364 million less on instruction and general
• If we break this data down by institution, both Eastern New Mexico University and New Mexico State University
• If we break this data down by institution, both Eastern New Mexico University and New Mexico State University
• Then there was a discussion of the University of New Mexico (UNM) working with New Mexico State University
• or out-of-state.

Committee: House Legislative Health & Human Services Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> effectively to support the university effectively to support the university that's<00:23:16.000>
• </c> to the university for that settlement? to the university for that settlement?
• </c> donations that come to the university donations that come to the university for<00:34:49.440><c>
• ><c> of</c><00:41:51.440><c> Hawaii</c> requesting the University of Hawaii requesting the University
• </c><00:43:19.520><c> We</c> ADRC here in the state of Hawaii. We ADRC here in the state of Hawaii.

Committee: House Higher Education

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Higher Education heard several Senate concurrent resolutions related to University of Hawaiʻi programs, audits, and workforce development. Testimony on SCR 50, which urged establishment of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program at the Maui campus, was strongly supportive, with witnesses citing the state’s nursing shortage and Maui’s acute physician and nurse shortages. The committee later recommended passage with a technical HD1 amendment, and the measure was adopted unanimously by the members present. The committee also heard SCR 137, SCR 138, and SCR 142, all involving proposed audits. SCR 137 sought a performance audit of the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation; the Foundation opposed it, and the chair recommended deferral after noting the legislative auditor’s view that the office lacks jurisdiction over the private nonprofit. SCR 138 proposed a management and performance audit of the Office of the Vice President for Academic Strategy, and SCR 142 proposed an audit of the UH Mānoa athletics department. UH representatives provided comments on both, with athletics explaining existing NCAA-required financial audits, internal performance evaluations, and a strategic plan that includes self-review. The committee ultimately recommended passage of SCR 138 and SCR 142 with technical HD1 amendments. For SCR 192, which proposed a veterinary medicine expansion working group, UH and other witnesses discussed the idea of exploring a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, but the chair said a community college is not the appropriate venue for a doctoral program. The committee recommended substantial HD1 changes removing Windward Community College from the title and shifting the effort to the UH system level, adding the UH president or designee and a Hilo campus representative to the working group; the amended resolution was adopted. The committee also heard SCR 193, calling for community colleges to identify bachelor’s degree and workforce pathways aligned with regional needs, and SCR 203, which sought exploration of an Alzheimer’s disease research center and federal funding requirements; both drew supportive comments and no opposition. The meeting recessed briefly for lack of quorum, then reconvened for decision-making and adopted the chair’s recommendations on the measures considered.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today's hearing is on the California State University system.
• Hello, Mark Martin representing the California State University. Mr.
• When the state in 2014-15 gave CSU the ability to issue university bonds for state-approved facilities
• When the state in 2014-15 gave CSU the ability to issue university bonds for state-approved facilities
• Stephen Butcher with CSUEU, California State University Employees Union.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance held an oversight hearing on the California State University system covering enrollment, core operations, Title IX/civil rights, and basic needs. The Department of Finance said the Governor’s 2026-27 budget does not change CSU enrollment targets from the prior year and proposes a 5% ongoing General Fund increase for core operations as the final year of the compact. The Legislative Analyst’s Office recommended a lower resident undergraduate enrollment target than the Governor’s proposal, separate funding for enrollment growth rather than folding it into base, a smaller or no base increase tied more closely to inflation, earmarking some base funds for capital renewal, retiring deferred payments, and avoiding new multi-year compact commitments. CSU said enrollment has rebounded for three straight years, but growth is uneven across campuses, with several Northern California campuses still facing structural declines tied to demographics and community college pipelines. CSU described a multi-year reallocation plan shifting about 10,000 FTE and $89 million in ongoing funding toward higher-demand campuses, plus $40 million in one-time support, and said seven campuses submitted turnaround plans aimed at recovering enrollment over the next several years. The system highlighted strategies such as dual enrollment, guaranteed admission pathways with community colleges, outreach to high school students, retention and advising efforts, and new degree models for working adults and military-connected students. Members raised questions about how campus targets are set, whether the May Board of Trustees discussion will address a systemwide enrollment framework, and how CSU will manage future deficits if projected out-year funding does not materialize. On core operations and facilities, CSU said it faces about $320 million in mandatory cost increases in 2026-27 and is pursuing shared services, procurement consolidation, campus administrative sharing, and program redesigns to reduce costs. CSU and the LAO emphasized the system’s large deferred maintenance backlog, estimated at $8.6 billion, and discussed whether CSU’s bond/debt capacity is sufficient to address it; CSU requested up to $1.1 billion for deferred maintenance, while the administration did not propose new funding. The committee also heard CSU’s annual Title IX and civil rights update: CSU said it has implemented 15 of 16 State Auditor recommendations, has dedicated Title IX coordinators at every campus, is using a systemwide case management dashboard, and is piloting centralized investigations at five campuses. Finally, on basic needs, the Governor maintained current funding levels for food assistance/basic needs, rapid rehousing, and mental health. CSU reported heavy use of food pantries, CalFresh support, emergency housing, and counseling services, while warning that federal changes to CalFresh and related funding could make it harder to serve students in need.

Transcript Highlights:

• The California State University is truly one of the crown jewels of our state, and a place where our
• Boyd, the chair of the Academic Senate of the California State University; Dr.
• perspective of the staff of the California State University.
• of the staff of the California State University.
• My name is Katie Karum, and I'm a student at California State University, Northridge.

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Higher Education and the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an oversight hearing on the California State University’s AI-empowered initiative, including the systemwide rollout of ChatGPT EDU and broader AI integration across CSU campuses. Opening remarks emphasized both the promise of AI for student success, workforce preparation, and access, and the need to address risks such as bias, privacy, misinformation, environmental impacts, and mental health harms. CSU representatives said the initiative grew out of Academic Senate recommendations and a systemwide generative AI committee, and that the goal was to provide equitable access, training, governance, and workforce alignment across the 23-campus system. CSU officials described systemwide contracts for AI tools, the AI Commons training hub, and faculty grant programs supporting AI-related curriculum innovation. They said more than 93,000 ChatGPT EDU accounts had been activated, over 4,300 faculty had taken voluntary training, and $3 million had been awarded to 63 faculty-led projects from more than 400 submissions. San Jose State University highlighted its own AI-focused programs, courses, orientation training, faculty fellows, student ambassadors, and interdisciplinary efforts to build AI literacy and responsible use into instruction and co-curricular programs. CSU also said it was tracking metrics on adoption, academic outcomes, workforce outcomes, and environmental impacts. Faculty, staff, and student representatives welcomed the educational potential of AI but raised concerns about the rollout, saying it had moved quickly and without enough consultation or consistent systemwide policy. They urged stronger protections for academic freedom, intellectual property, privacy, equity, and worker input, and warned about bias, surveillance, job displacement, and the environmental cost of AI. Legislators pressed CSU and OpenAI representatives on training requirements, data privacy, bias reporting, discipline for misuse, liability, sycophancy, and safeguards against harmful uses such as non-consensual imagery or self-harm-related interactions. CSU said interactions in the licensed tool are private, data are not used to train models, and campuses retain their own conduct processes; members also asked CSU to follow up on systemwide training, policy consistency, and additional safeguards.

Transcript Highlights:

• At the start of the pandemic, when you invested in nursing education, the state university system has
• universities and state colleges, as well as the funding we give through the EASE grant, Our state universities
• We're at the University of North Florida and representing the state university system.
• Us as a state and the state university system, we need to be nimble with funding and preparation to be
• And I think that's a great pressing need for us as a state university to be ready.

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to focus on nursing education funding, workforce supply, and Florida’s low NCLEX pass rates. The chair emphasized that Florida ranks last nationally in nursing exam pass rates and said the committee wants to use budget decisions and a forthcoming nursing bill to improve outcomes. The Florida Center for Nursing at USF presented preliminary workforce and education data showing RN supply is moving toward equilibrium with demand through 2037, while LPN shortages are projected to worsen, especially in some regions. The center also reported on enrollment, retention, faculty vacancies, and NCLEX trends, noting Florida still underperforms the national average but has shown some recent improvement, including higher RN pass rates in 2024 despite fewer test takers. The center highlighted that students who test sooner after graduation tend to pass at higher rates. A panel of nursing education leaders from public universities, state colleges, technical colleges, and private institutions described how prior state pipeline and line-item funding helped expand enrollment, simulation labs, faculty hiring, student support services, and partnerships with hospitals. UNF, Galen College, College of Central Florida, Keiser University, and Lorenzo Walker Technical College each reported strategies such as expanded simulation, mental health and social work support, test-prep and remediation, and efforts to grow faculty pipelines. Several speakers said faculty recruitment and retention remain major barriers because of salary competition with hospitals, faculty debt, and aging faculty. Technical college representatives also stressed the need to strengthen LPN pathways, English-language support, and LPN-to-RN bridge programs. Members asked for ideas to improve NCLEX outcomes and discussed possible policy options, including student loan forgiveness, critical shortage supplements for faculty, incentives for students to test soon after graduation, and possible changes to timing or regulation around NCLEX eligibility. Several witnesses supported more flexible or recurring funding, while noting that one-time line funding has been useful for simulation, scholarships, and faculty support but is harder to sustain. The committee adjourned after the discussion, with the chair saying the ideas would be considered in future funding and policy decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we want to welcome you to North Dakota State University. We're glad to have you here.
• So, getting started, learning a lot about the state, about the university, and certainly the people here
• the University of Missouri, working in extension and engagement, later to K-State with the executive
• We are currently in the middle of hosting our 32nd Governor's School at North Dakota State University
• And it's not only good for the university, it's good for the state.

Summary: The committee met at NDSU and approved the April 9 minutes. The main purpose of the meeting was an informational presentation from NDSU President David Stewart and university leaders on the university’s priorities, including enrollment, student success, research, commercialization, and use of New Horizons funding. Stewart emphasized a “One NDSU” approach, thanked legislators for past support, and said the university will focus on recruitment and retention, a new strategic plan, and growing research and tech transfer while serving North Dakota’s workforce needs. University leaders said NDSU is using tuition waivers more strategically and will work to reduce them over time through scholarship optimization. Provost Sherry Vale described academic portfolio reviews, program closures or consolidations, strategic hiring, and workload policies aimed at aligning resources with demand. They also highlighted student outcomes, including high completion rates, strong employment placement, and NDSU’s role in producing a large share of the state’s engineers, nurses, and agriculture graduates. Several students testified about how NDSU’s mentoring, internships, research, and support services helped them succeed. The committee also heard from partners on New Horizons-related collaborations: Gateway to Science described K-12 STEM outreach in rural and tribal areas, and Sanford Research discussed joint research efforts, including COBRE-related work, obesity and GLP-1 studies, and a joint biostatistics hire. Later speakers highlighted Governor’s School and NDSU’s research and commercialization efforts, including growth in research expenditures and invention disclosures. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.