Transcript Highlights:

• Uh surgical abortions being proposed.
• My name is Maria Ward.
• I'd stand for questions. >> Thank you, Miss Ward. Committee, any questions of Miss Ward?
• My name is Maria Ward.
• I'd stand for questions. >> Committee, any questions of Miss Ward?

Bills: HB0117 , HB0126

Committee: House Labor, Health & Social Services

Keywords: informed consent, abortion, civil liability, coercion, healthcare rights, fetal heartbeat, termination of pregnancy, medical emergency, Wyoming legislation, rights of minors, healthcare regulations, parental consent, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Renee Ward, the Deputy Secretary at the Department of Finance and Administration; our State Treasurer
• general consultant that's on board who helps us respond to any questions and measure the output of any proposals
• One last question: it's in regards to, I think Representative Ward (member_20560) asked the question,
• And that has... ...been difficult to deal with because in the morning, you might have a 50% tariff proposed

Committee: House Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Ward, excused, Mr. Woodson, Mr. Yamashita, Madam Speaker, here. Mr. Uchi, Mr. Tam, Mr.
• Ward, excused, Mr. Woodson, Mr. Yamashita, Madam Speaker, here.
• My bill right to play costs very little money and proposes that all state parks and playgrounds and public
• My bill right to play costs very little money and proposes that all state parks and playgrounds and public

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• it's not within that titleable year, so if it's not within that 21st year of age, which this bill proposes
• it's not within that titleable year, so if it's not within that 21st year of age, which this bill proposes
• It's in its limiting, as Senator Ward has brought up, who are not United States citizens that might try
• 00:40:28.800><c> limiting</c><00:40:29.760><c> as</c><00:40:30.240><c> Senator</c><00:40:30.640><c> Ward
• </c><00:40:30.880><c> has</c> in its limiting as Senator Ward has in its limiting as Senator Ward has

Committee: Senate Transportation

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Section four of Act 73 created the school district voting ward working group, which um is alive and well
• act 73 created the school<00:02:32.000><c> district</c><00:02:32.400><c> voting</c><00:02:32.800><c> ward
• </c><00:02:33.120><c> working</c> school district voting ward working school district voting ward working
• Uh, for the proposed homestead exemption alternative structure report coming from the Department of Tax
• The proposed homestead exemption alternative structure report coming from the Department of Tax at the

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> favorable pieces of that proposed favorable pieces of that proposed reconciliation<00:31:33.039>
• We propose revisions.
• We propose revisions.
• We propose revisions.
• We propose barriers to innovation.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard updates from the chancellors of the state university system and the community college system on ongoing restructuring, collaboration, and enrollment trends. The university system said its office move to the NHTI campus is ahead of schedule and should save students about $250,000 a year while creating revenue for the community college system. Both systems described continued work on transfer pathways, direct-admit outreach, shared advising, and broader efforts to shrink footprints, reduce costs, and improve operational efficiency in response to declining enrollment and demographic pressure. A major topic was a possible federal change to Pell Grant eligibility that would require students to enroll in at least 7.5 credits. The chancellors said most community college students are part-time because of work and family responsibilities, and that the change could affect roughly 2,000 current Pell recipients and make it harder for students to afford or sustain enrollment. Members also discussed how the state’s governor’s scholarship statute largely benefits full-time students, suggesting possible future statutory changes. The chancellors explained how credits typically work, noting most courses are three or four credits and that students would likely need to add an entire course to meet the proposed threshold. The committee also discussed the broader higher education landscape, including declining high school cohorts, competition among New England institutions, and the need to right-size capacity. One member raised concerns about the health of regional campuses such as Plymouth and Keene; the chancellors said incoming enrollment is down at UNH and Plymouth and holding at Keene, attributing the trend to demographics rather than one campus drawing students away from another. They emphasized the importance of community colleges, adult learners, and short-term workforce programs as part of the state’s future education mix. Finally, the committee touched on the value of the university system’s research enterprise. The chancellor said about $250 million a year flows into the university system in federal research grants, with about $9.5 million currently under stop-work orders from federal agencies. She said the immediate concern is not DEI-related but federal cuts and possible caps on indirect cost recovery. Members noted that the R1 research designation supports business partnerships, student opportunities, and economic development projects such as West Edge in Durham.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ward-Johnson for recognition. Thank you, Speaker.
• Bo Wally Ward Johnson Wharton Wu? Zwiener?
• Under your proposal, the third-party vendor, who do they give the money?
• Turner, Villalobos Vaughn Wally Ward Johnson Wu Zwiener Thank you. Mr.
• I call a point of order under Rule 8, Section 4. or on the basis that the proposed amendment changes

Bills: SB1 , HB500 , SB1 , HB1400 , HB 1094 , HB365 , HB 1109 , HB647 , HB500

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• being</c> current congressional proposals being current congressional proposals being drafted<00:04:16.799
• </c> just a great proposal and a good idea. just a great proposal and a good idea.
• Um, also recent bills proposed fund.
• I would love to share proposal summary.
• c> the</c><01:45:45.840><c> Neighborhood</c> The proposed changes to the Neighborhood The proposed changes

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That bridge is over 100 years old, yet it is a major conduit for folks in the Lower Ninth Ward, in St
• Bernard, and those from the Upper Ninth Ward and the French Quarter and Bywater trying to get to St.
• No, this is my way because people in my community in the Lower Ninth Ward are very frustrated by this

Bills: HCR32 , HCR53 , HCR60 , HCR68 , HB582 , HB730 , HB762

Committee: Senate Transportation, Highways & Public Works

Keywords: Saint Claude Avenue Bridge, Port of New Orleans, backup motors, infrastructure, traffic management, oversized vehicles, permitting, economic impact, transportation, local regulations, Louisiana economy, Interstate 12, I-12, Interstate 55, I-55 interchange, DOTD, Department of Transportation and Development, D.R.I.V.E. Initiative, highway infrastructure, transportation planning

Transcript Highlights:

• Ward-Engelking, aye. Okay, the motion passes 10 to 8. So those will be our numbers.
• Senator Cook Grow Woodward Adams Aye Yerkey Ziderveld Laylock Aye Galloway Aye Ward Engel King Aye Okay
• Ward-Engelking: Aye. The motion carries 17 ayes, one nay. Committee, that concludes our work.

Summary: The Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee met to finalize general fund revenue projections for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, using updated worksheet results after a spreadsheet formula error was corrected. Staff explained the committee’s homework submissions, the average and median estimates, and how the corrected numbers affected the spread only slightly. Members discussed whether to use a lower, average, or median projection, with several noting uncertainty around possible tax conformity impacts, the state’s economic outlook, and the desire to avoid overestimating revenues. A motion to adopt the committee median was ultimately approved over alternatives. The committee voted 10-8 to set the general fund revenue projection at $5,665.1 million for FY 2026 and $5,816.6 million for FY 2027. Members who supported the lower estimate said they preferred to err on the side of caution, while others argued the projections should reflect expected revenues without assuming future conformity reductions. After the revenue numbers were set, the committee reviewed a draft letter/report to JFAC that incorporated the adopted projections. A motion to adopt the report language passed 17-1. The committee thanked staff for the quick turnaround and adjourned, with the co-chairs planning to present the recommendation to JFAC the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ward Engel King. Aye. Okay, the motion passes 10 to 8. So those will be our numbers.
• Ward Engel King: Aye. Aye. Galloway: Aye. Ward-Engelking: Aye. The motion carries 17 ayes, one nay.

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The Economic Outlook and Revenue Assessment Committee met to review members’ homework projections and choose revenue estimates for the remainder of fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027. Staff presented the compiled results, noted the average and median were close, and corrected a spreadsheet formula error after Senator Zuiderveld flagged that her submitted numbers had been copied incorrectly. The committee briefly went at ease while staff fixed the worksheet and then resumed with updated figures. Members debated several possible revenue projections, with discussion focused on how to account for possible tax conformity changes, the risk of overestimating revenues, and broader economic uncertainty. Some members argued for lower estimates to avoid future budget shortfalls, while others said the state’s economy remained relatively strong and that the committee should not be overly pessimistic. After debate, the committee adopted a substitute motion setting general fund revenue projections at $5,665.1 million for FY 2026 and $5,816.6 million for FY 2027 by a vote of 10-8. The committee then reviewed a letter/report for JFAC that incorporated the adopted projections and allowed for additional committee comments. Representative Van Orden moved to adopt the report language, Representative Monks seconded, and the motion passed 17-1. The committee concluded its work and planned to present the recommendation to JFAC the following morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lisa Monroe, and I teach third grade at Ward Central Elementary in the Cabot School District.
• Lisa Monroe, and I teach third grade at Ward Central Elementary in the Cabot School District.
• Our local churches in Ward, because we're kind of the stepchild of Cabot.
• I'm in Cabot, Ward Central, and Ward.
• But we have more coming out of Ward Central into administrative roles.

Summary: The committee first approved the March 9 and 10 minutes, then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program featuring three third-grade teachers from Poyen, Drew Central, and Cabot, along with Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long collaboration among 23 merit-pay recipients from across the state, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about teacher experience, how the fellowship information is shared locally, the role of merit pay, and how teachers are addressing third-grade reading and retention concerns under the ATLAS assessment system. The teachers emphasized early intervention, relationships with students, small-group instruction, progress monitoring, and communication with families; they also described community supports such as churches, food backpacks, and local donations. Several members raised broader questions about poverty, trauma, social services, DHS involvement, and whether similar professional learning should be expanded to more teachers. Secretary Oliva said the fellowship is a small subset of a larger merit-pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is working to improve literacy supports, clarity, and alignment across grades. He also said ATLAS results are now available to schools and families much faster than in the past, often within 24 to 72 hours, and that the state is using the data to identify at-risk students earlier and support intervention before retention decisions are made. The committee then moved to the adequacy/resource allocation presentation from the Bureau of Legislative Research. Staff explained that the report is part of the statutory adequacy review and focuses on state funding sources beyond foundation aid, including categorical and supplemental funds. They noted that districts and charters spent more than $7 billion in the 2025 school year, with roughly 49% from foundation funding and 51% from other sources over the last three years. The presentation outlined the four categorical funds—Alternative Learning Environment, English Learners, Enhanced Student Achievement, and Professional Development—describing their restricted uses, student-based funding formulas, and the ability of districts to transfer some money among categoricals while keeping it within allowable purposes. Staff said categorical funds account for about 4% of total spending, or less than $300 million, and reviewed superintendent feedback on whether those funds met district needs, with responses varying by category and district.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lisa Monroe, and I teach third grade at Ward Central Elementary in the Cabot School District.
• Lisa Monroe, and I teach third grade at Ward Central Elementary in the Cabot School District.
• Our local churches in Ward, because we're kind of the stepchild of Cabot—I don't mean that in a bad way
• I'm in Cabot at Ward Central in Ward.
• But we have more coming out of Ward Central into administrative positions.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's Assembly Member Lowenthal, Assembly Member Salas, Assembly Member Ward. See?
• Assembly Member Ward is here. Please come to the mic.
• good conversations with the remaining groups in opposition, and we're looking forward to receiving proposed

Committee: Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, as I've mentioned before, you need to take a bridge in order to get to the Lower Ninth Ward
• It causes delays that go a mile back into the city or into the Lower Ninth Ward.
• The proposed law would allow an in-state manufacturing distiller that distills less than 100 gallons

Bills: HR252 , HR253 , HR254 , HR255 , HR256 , HCR103 , HCR104 , HR244 , HR245 , HR246 , HR247 , HR248 , HR249 , HR250 , HR251 , HCR101 , HCR102 , SCR40 , SCR60 , SB112 , SB131 , SB145 , SB194 , SB268 , SB307 , SB312 , SB319 , SB333 , SB341 , SB346 , SB464 , SB466 , SB488 , SB495 , SB503 , SB507 , SB509 , HR9 , HR196 , HCR27 , HCR28 , HCR50 , HCR62 , HCR67 , HCR71 , HCR78 , HCR81 , SCR20 , HB123 , HB251 , HB625 , HB662 , HB709 , HB769 , HB775 , HB783 , HB895 , HB1011 , HB1057 , HB1155 , HB1186 , HB1224 , HB1245 , HB1247 , HB1253 , HB1254 , HB1255 , HB1256 , SB8 , SB10 , SB11 , SB12 , SB13 , SB14 , SB16 , SB17 , SB18 , SB20 , SB21 , SB22 , SB40 , SB48 , SB55 , SB69 , SB75 , SB77 , SB78 , SB85 , SB102 , SB115 , SB133 , SB140 , SB148 , SB151 , SB165 , SB169 , SB170 , SB185 , SB197 , SB200 , SB217 , SB235 , SB278 , SB280 , SB291 , SB300 , SB303 , SB315 , SB324 , SB330 , SB411 , SB416 , SB420 , SB436 , SB438 , SB449 , SB455 , SB456 , SB477 , SB489 , SB521 , SB97 , SB105 , HR171 , HCR49 , HCR65 , HCR72 , HR37 , HCR64 , HR170 , HR191 , HR206 , HR207 , HR208 , HR217 , HCR11 , HCR53 , HCR60 , HCR66 , HCR68 , SCR19 , SCR3 , SCR6 , SCR18 , SCR11 , SCR22 , SCR2 , HCR6 , HB64 , HB68 , HB92 , HB130 , HB258 , HB633 , HB801 , HB61 , HB98 , HB102 , HB139 , HB142 , HB170 , HB185 , HB194 , HB199 , HB231 , HB247 , HB294 , HB336 , HB474 , HB661 , HB842 , HB852 , HB66 , HB153 , HB165 , HB326 , HB387 , HB455 , HB513 , HB603 , HB660 , HB719 , HB762 , HB766 , HB802 , HB816 , HB833 , HB940 , HB950 , HB975 , HB1028 , HB1039 , HB1051 , HB1053 , HB1080 , HB1201 , HB1215 , HB1228 , HB1251 , HB1252 , SB1 , SB23 , SB32 , SB42 , SB43 , SB46 , SB51 , SB110 , SB113 , SB150 , SB154 , SB161 , SB218 , SB220 , SB221 , SB253 , SB289 , SB310 , SB351 , SB399 , SB404 , SB502 , SB26 , SB28 , SB29 , SB30 , SB41 , SB44 , SB64 , SB84 , SB87 , SB93 , SB98 , SB107 , SB118 , SB142 , SB192 , SB195 , SB199 , SB219 , SB222 , SB234 , SB241 , SB255 , SB275 , SB277 , SB292 , SB294 , SB306 , SB314 , SB482 , HCR32 , HB798 , HB998 , HB1084 , HB1223 , HB59 , HB955 , HB1191 , HB1234 , HB646 , HB824 , HB341 , SB397 , SB442 , HB901 , HB79 , HR20 , HR74 , HB284 , HB306 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB911 , HB926 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1240 , SB47 , SB82 , SB89 , SB149 , SB382

Keywords: consumer protection, credit card fees, cash transactions, rounding practices, transparency, low-income, economic impact, residential construction, building codes, inspection practices, housing costs, task force, HR254, House Resolution 254, Ty Hebert, Acadiana Legislative Delegation, Louisiana State University, LSU, graduation, commendation

Summary: The House met with a quorum, opened with prayer and the pledge, adopted the journal, and received a large number of Senate messages, committee reports, and bill referrals. Members also introduced several resolutions and recognized guests, including students from Allen Parish, federal appointees Brandon Beach and Paul Hollis, and other visitors. The chamber then moved through a lengthy agenda of House and Senate measures, with many bills and resolutions reported favorably, amended, or referred to committee. Among the notable floor actions, the House adopted H.R. 32 urging the Port of New Orleans to obtain backup motors for the St. Claude Avenue Bridge. It also passed bills on a wide range of topics, including local court and ordinance procedures for Alexandria, prohibiting reporting criminal fines and fees to credit bureaus, veterans’ lottery benefits, police chief residency in Tickfaw, fire marshal plan review authority, expanding the definition of first responder to include public works employees, NIL protections for student athletes, salary increases and additional positions for assistant district attorneys, limiting OMV debt referrals for unpaid reinstatement fees, watershed restoration and flood control funding, a sexual assault survivor task force, elderly consumer protection education, recreation of the Public Service Commission, Medicaid reimbursement for non-emergency medical transportation, local sales tax audit procedures, alcoholic beverage definitions for salons and similar businesses, transfer of removed monuments to state park property, hearing aid dealer regulation updates, a permit fee for small in-state distillers, expanded city court jurisdiction in Avoyelles Parish, and a narrowed version of the Alexandria administrative adjudication bill. Several measures were amended on the floor before passage, including the Alexandria ordinance bill, the sales tax audit bill, the alcohol/beverage bill, and the monument transfer bill. The House also temporarily returned some bills to the calendar for later consideration. Most measures passed overwhelmingly, though House Bill 153 on criminal court debt reporting passed with 67 yeas and 18 nays, House Bill 660 on assistant district attorney salaries passed 94-1, House Bill 719 on additional ADA positions passed 95-0, House Bill 883 on the sexual assault task force passed 86-2, House Bill 1028 on non-emergency medical transportation passed 81-15, and House Bill 1215 on monuments passed 78-14.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a triennial proposal, triennial code proposal, an adoption process with intervening codes adopted
• The pause proposed by AB 306 will bring more certainty to the home construction industry and help stem
• Ward here for AB 253. Begin when you're ready.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 513 proposes a pilot program to develop and implement a rural CBC model that fits the realities
• We see them as a state's responsibility, even call them wards of the state.
• We as community members and providers alike realized that what was being proposed and funded would not
• When the next storm hits, the proposed legislation mandates the housing development. that receive Texas
• Haldol's side effects are to see things and hear things that aren't there before they take you to a psych ward

Bills: SB502 , SB513 , SB622 , SB670 , SB731 , SB732 , SB916 , SB961 , SB1122

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Keywords: SB 502, Texas peace officers, Health and Human Services Commission, HHSC Office of Inspector General, OIG investigators, law enforcement classification, Schedule C, state employee benefits, injury benefits, peace officer status, commissioned officers, state auditor classification, Government Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, human services, health and human services, law enforcement compensation, public employee benefits, Texas state law enforcement, child welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• You shifted from Bottineau County to Ward County, so welcome to Ward County today.
• You shifted from Bottineau County to Ward County, so welcome to Ward County today.
• Ward County's up, but not by a lot, up 3.8%, up about 4% over the last decade.
• No one's proposing that the system office should create a kingdom of employees.
• No one's proposing that the system office should create a kingdom of employees.

Summary: The committee met on the Minot State campus for a presentation from President Shirley and several university leaders on enrollment, academics, workforce initiatives, and partnerships. Shirley reviewed the university’s financial audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings in recent years, and highlighted Minot State’s major programs, specialized accreditations, and ties to Minot Air Force Base and NCAA Division II athletics. Members asked about education workforce shortages, athletic tuition waivers, dual credit incentives, and the university’s in-state tuition policy for all students. Shirley also discussed the university’s recruitment efforts, including the Hometown Pride and Academic Excellence scholarships, campus visit growth, and the Emerging Scholars dual-credit reimbursement program. A major focus was workforce development and new academic offerings supported by legislative Workforce Education Innovation Funds. Shirley described the new Innovation Engineering program, which was developed with industry input to train broadly skilled engineers for western North Dakota, and said it had already drawn more applicants than expected. Dr. Crystal St. Peter presented a new master’s program in counseling that integrates mental health and addiction counseling to address statewide provider shortages, with a hybrid format to reach rural students. Members asked about licensure requirements, internship hours, and job placement for graduates. Shirley also outlined a new nursing simulation center and health sciences space in downtown Minot, made possible by state support and the purchase of the former Trinity Health Center West building. The committee also heard about Minot State’s efforts to build pipelines into education and special education, including the Aspire program for rural high school students and an online paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Shirley said these programs, along with new articulation agreements and a large Bush Foundation grant, are intended to address teacher shortages and keep students in North Dakota. No formal committee votes or actions were taken during the presentation; the session consisted of informational updates and member questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• another one I would point out because they had significant issues with their indirect cost rate proposal
• Representative or Senator Warding, looking? Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
• Chairman, it's Senator Warding. They are not adjusted for inflation or population. Mr.
• Chairman, it's Senator Warding.
• Chairman and Senator Ward, Ingle, we do have a list of improvements and changes to these dashboards,

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The meeting focused first on a legislative working group report created under House Bill 368 from the prior session on medical education in Idaho. The presenter described Idaho’s physician shortage, noting the state ranks 50th per capita in physicians and would need roughly 1,400 additional physicians to reach the national average. The group’s unanimous recommendations included maintaining current state-supported medical school seats, adding 10 new non-WAMI seats this year, expanding graduate medical education by 15 seats, prioritizing in-state training, and creating a dedicated health education coordination role to manage undergraduate and graduate placements, clinical sites, and data. Members discussed whether WAMI should also expand, the quality of WAMI graduates, the need for more clinical preceptors and residency sites, rural recruitment incentives, and whether the plan should include other health professions such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The presenter said the plan includes benchmarks and timelines, and estimated costs of about $350,000 for coordination, $350,000 to $485,000 for 10 new UME seats depending on placement, and $900,000 for the GME request. The committee then heard from Legislative Audit Division Manager April Renfro on the state’s 2024 single audit and related accountability work. She reported $5.4 billion in federal assistance audited, 21 major federal programs across 15 agencies, 45 findings, seven repeat findings, $2.4 million in known questioned costs, and $2 million in projected questioned costs. Major issues were concentrated at the Department of Health and Welfare, including Medicaid findings involving delayed health and safety surveys, managed care provider eligibility and roster controls, and capitation payments tied to ineligible members; Child Care and Development Fund reporting and cost-allocation errors; and repeat issues in vocational rehabilitation and low-income home energy programs. She also noted Department of Environmental Quality problems with indirect cost proposals and a duplicate grant draw, while Transportation had no findings. Members asked about accountability for repeat findings, the role of Luma in reporting errors, fraud detection, and how to prioritize corrective action; Renfro said agencies, federal management decisions, and legislative oversight all play a role, and she planned to send a prioritized list of key findings to the co-chairs. A later presentation by budget analyst Brooke Dupree introduced front-end reports in the legislative budget book, explaining state government structure, the constitutional limit of 20 executive departments, and how the Legislature uses decision units to build appropriations. She walked through the original appropriation, reappropriations, supplemental appropriations, and how those pieces roll into the current-year total appropriation, with members asking brief questions about departmental divisions and the budget model.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senator Ward Engel King. Thank you, Mr.
• Senator Ward Engel King.
• Thank you, Mr. though so thank you Senator Ward Engel King thank you mr. chairman and thank you director
• Chairman and Senator Ward Engel King, so I did listen to your question yesterday and because the launch

Summary: The committee heard budget presentations first for the Idaho Workforce Development Council. Analyst Brooke Dupree reviewed the council’s statutory role, fund balances, and FY 2027 requests, including an ongoing transfer of $1.15 million within the In Demand Careers Fund to support more Launch grants, a proposed consolidation of the STEM Action Center into the council, and reappropriation authority for ARPA and other grant funds. Director Wendy Sechrist said Launch, workforce training grants, child care grants, and semiconductor-related grants have produced strong participation and wage gains, and she explained that the STEM education fund would be sunset under the merger. Members asked about the remaining STEM dedicated fund, the timing and impact of a proposed $10 million cash transfer from Launch, repayment of some Launch grants, and how much of the training funding goes to incumbent workers versus new hires. The committee then reviewed the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Dupree outlined the agency’s dedicated funds and FY 2027 requests for additional appropriation authority tied to Social Security reimbursements and adaptive aids store revenue, plus one-time vehicle replacement funding. Administrator Beth Cunningham said the agency uses those funds to support vocational rehabilitation, independent living services, and surgeries for eligible clients without other coverage. Members asked about discrepancies in fund figures, the growth in the adaptive aids fund balance, and the effect of holdbacks on services; Cunningham said the cuts would modestly reduce client services, travel, and some site restoration support. Finally, the Idaho State Historical Society presented its budget. Dupree described requests for $450,000 to complete the move of state records and collections into the new archives addition, $36,300 for IT hardware, and reappropriation authority for moving costs, along with prior enhancements for Old Pen staffing and archival work. Director Janet Gallimore emphasized stewardship of state records and artifacts, the importance of the move, and the agency’s role in Idaho’s America 250 efforts. Members praised the agency’s work and asked about historic preservation reviews and archaeological surveys; Gallimore said staff consult with federal agencies under the National Historic Preservation Act and agreed to provide travel records for surveys in Bonner County. The meeting ended with a presentation of historical artifacts and adjournment.