Transcript Highlights:

• It costs our farms approximately $12 million to produce a crop, and the majority of that money is spent
• We have been farming catfish for 20 years.
• Half the catfish produced in Texas comes from our farms.
• Thousands of farms in the area no longer exist because of the market share being taken over.

Bills: SB315, SB584, SB1228, SB1484, SB1860, SB1802

Keywords: DNA privacy, genetic privacy, genetic testing, genetic material, DNA ownership, property right in DNA, genetic consent, biological sample, genomics, genetic data, HIPAA, health information privacy, health care provider, research ethics, human subjects research, law enforcement DNA, forensic DNA, paternity testing, medical examiner, genetic discrimination

Transcript Highlights:

• They use the H-2A programs, like the farms and ranches here in Texas. But there are those.
• Blake Roach, the record shows you're here on behalf of Texas Farm Bureau.
• Blake Roach, and I serve as Associate Legislative Director for Texas Farm Bureau.
• Texas Farm Bureau is grateful to Senator Blanco and Representative Guillen for their leadership in support

Bills: SB231, SB667, SB689, SB825, SB965, SB992, SB1059, SB1220, SB2368, SB2601

Keywords: temporary emergency electric energy facility, temporary generation, emergency power, backup generation, mobile generator, portable generator, grid resilience, power outage restoration, transmission and distribution utility, TDU, Public Utility Commission of Texas, PUCT, Utilities Code Section 39.918, competitive bidding, lease authorization, emergency procurement, bulk power system, locational marginal pricing, reliability model, black start

Transcript Highlights:

• unanimous Standing Committee Report 1516, third reading of House Bill 428, Senate Draft 1, relating to farm
• draft<00:14:25.440> 1,<00:14:25.680> relating<00:14:26.079> to<00:14:26.240> farm
• draft 1, relating to farm to families. draft 1, relating to farm to families.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Whereas operations at the cattle farm.
• /c><01:33:26.560> has<01:33:26.800> shown and the farming community has shown and the farming
• And about the farm and about everything.
• I may have said it earlier, but I grew up in a farm family.
• I may have said it earlier, but I grew up in a farm family.

Keywords: 920, all

Summary: The Senate first recognized the Montgomery Academy boys basketball team for winning the 2026 Class 3A state championship, their second straight title. Senator Barfoot introduced the team and read a resolution commending the players, coaches, and school community for the 66-39 win over Southside Selma, noting standout performances by Braden Gordon, Mason Ellis, and Jarrett Friendley. Coach Jeremy Aant and school head John Williams thanked the Senate and emphasized the team’s selflessness, teamwork, academic standards, service, and leadership development. The Senate applauded the team, added all senators to the resolution, and arranged for a picture and challenge coins for the players. After the recognition, the Senate came to order, established a quorum, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. Committee reports followed. The Committee on State Government Affairs reported House Bill 541 favorably with one amendment; the bill would create the Safeguard Alabama Voter Engagement Act, requiring party registration for primary voting, restricting crossover voting, retaining voter history as a public record, revising voter registration forms, and requiring parties to publish candidate qualifications. The bill was ordered to a second reading and placed on the calendar. The Committee on Local Legislation reported House Bills 630, 631, and 632 favorably, all relating to Etowah County, including changes to tax exemptions and personnel board membership. These bills were also sent to second reading and the calendar. The Senate then took up Senate Joint Resolution 117, commending Dylan Nut for winning the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic, and added all members as co-sponsors. During discussion, one senator used the opportunity to speak at length about a separate concern involving alleged unlicensed real estate solicitation and the need for legislation to protect citizens from property-related scams; he also discussed the calendar process and other bills. The floor later included extended informal remarks about fishing and a separate discussion of a proposal to designate Miss America as an official state ambassador, with support expressed for a possible stipend amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:20:16.799> We'll<00:20:17.039> stand of the Hawaii Farm Bureau.
• We'll stand of the Hawaii Farm Bureau.
• <00:20:23.039> Bureau's<00:20:23.360> a Um but just briefly, uh Farm Bureau's a Um
• You know, you get a lot of pushback from agriculture and the farm guys over there.
• You know, you get a lot of pushback from agriculture and the farm guys over there.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on Labor and Technology met on February 25, 2026, to consider gubernatorial nominees to the Hawaii Workforce Development Council under GM 630, GM 628, and GM 631. The chair explained hearing procedures, noted backup reconvening plans in case of technical failure, and said decision-making would occur after testimony if time permitted. Testimony on all three nominees was overwhelmingly supportive, including from Department of Labor and Industrial Relations officials, Workforce Development Council representatives, and various outside supporters. For GM 630, Carrie Miro described decades of work on career pathways and emphasized applied learning, internships, and stronger links between education and employers. Senators questioned how to restore hands-on trade and career education and how to connect students to real workforce opportunities; Miro said businesses should help shape training and that students need both credit and employment incentives. For GM 628, Rona Fukumoto said her experience leading Lanakila Pacific and working in homeless services would help the council better understand the needs of people with disabilities, older adults, and other vulnerable populations, and she stressed educating employers and the public. She also said youth programs, apprenticeships, and early intervention for “opportunity youth” are important, and noted that college-based programs like those at HCC can still provide effective hands-on pathways. For GM 631, Keith Dlo, who is seeking reappointment, said the Workforce Development Council should help create a future in Hawaii for younger generations by aligning schools, agencies, employers, and communities. He said his work on American Job Centers and the council’s convening power show it is an active body, not just a reporting mechanism. Senators pressed him on how to measure success beyond federal compliance, and Dlo said the council needs Hawaii-specific metrics focused on participation, completion, job placement, and retention of young residents, while also adapting to changes like AI. No votes or final confirmations were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I APPRECIATE YOUR DEDICATION TO FLORIDA FARM FAMILIES. AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND THEM.
• BANK PANTRY INFRASTRUCTURE STATEWIDE ENHANCES RURAL ECONOMIES BY PREVENTING FOOD WASTE AND SUPPORTING FARM
• WAS CAREFULLY SELECTED TO FEATURE A PRODUCT GROWN OR PRODUCED BY THE HANDS OF FLORIDA'S HARD WORKING FARM

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• H.B. 597 by McGean relating to the issuance of excess growth weight permit from the farm tractors on
• the farm to market and ranch to market. 142 services to survivors of certain military—Texas military
• authorizing legislature to find certain terms for purposes of the exemption from ad valorem taxation for farm

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Indian Resources Department at NMSU, Marissa Dials from the Ag Trust Farm Credit, and Christina Wilson
• He grew up on his family farm in Anthony, New Mexico. He is also, for you Mustangs out there.
• He's a retired Farm Bureau agent.

Transcript Highlights:

• setting up a program like this would be beneficial for the state and for those in the business of farming
• setting up a program like this would be beneficial for the state and for those in the business of farming
• setting up a program like this would be beneficial for the state and for those in the business of farming
• setting up a program like this would be beneficial for the state and for those in the business of farming
• What is the limit of the farm size? >> Well, that all this got to be just the start.

Bills: HB431, HB466, HB523, HB521, SB182, SB300

Keywords: Monroe County, sheriff, sheriff compensation, county salary, expense allowance, local act, county general fund, retirement contributions, law enforcement pay, public official salary, county budget, Alabama local legislation, service contracts, consumer protection, advertising disclosure, insurance, contract cancellation, parole procedures, advocacy, parole board

Transcript Highlights:

• We are we are drafting the farm team.
• We are creating the farm team, but we still have a long way to go to completely support the workforce
• Of course, this is a critical balance between in-house engineering and farming it out to the private
• to Claremore, and we find Claremore is, for whatever reason, using that truck to go put jet A in a farm
• I don't know why they would do that, but let's say that they are, and they're putting it in a farm tractor

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got quite a few vehicles out there for the farm, some odd, some even. I got to go here.
• Go in, pay one fee, boom, I've got a permanent tag on their farm vehicles.
• Tag on their farm vehicles. I don't have to worry about it anymore.
• Kelly's language for 1838, which has to do with the safety inspection requirement for agricultural and farm
• So then the... ...farm vehicles. So that's the language we're going to use.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• HOUSE BILL 211, a bill entitled an act related to farm products.
• Senator Truenow, this redefines the term "farm product." to include plant and plant products and prohibits
• governments from creating ordinances to limit the collection, storage, processing, and distribution of farm
• products that are considered on a bona fide farm operation on land classified as agriculture.
• HB 211, a bill to be entitled an act relating to farm products. Debate?

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My ditch is a ditch, and I feel the same way about my ditch that an acequia, a farm runner in an acequia
• because the children grow up, they move away from home to the city, they're not there working the farm
• The children grow up, they move away from home to the city, they're not there working the farm or the
• their water rights, keep them in the family, and maybe the next generation will want to come back and farm
• We hope that there's a time when it is fiscally beneficial to really farm our smaller acreages.

Transcript Highlights:

• AGG area, um, that we used to have a very resilient agriculture system where we had a lot of small farms
• , we had a lot of small towns, we had diversified farms.
• We were talking about 10 cows or maybe 100 cows, and we had families on those farms.
• We didn't have a lot of employees; we had families working at those farms.
• We set up systems, you know, to fund and provide cost share and dollars to small farms, but whenever

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• On our small farming operation, you know what happens now?
• You know on our small farming operation.
• operation farm. I have six tractors. operation farm. I have six tractors.
• <03:16:21.840> in relatives who actually farm in relatives who actually farm in southwestern
• farm farmers who grow corn for ethanol. farm farmers who grow corn for ethanol.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up House File 4138, a bill aimed at limiting harmful social media features for children and requiring parental involvement for minors using platforms in Minnesota. Early on, members reconsidered and then adopted the Smith amendment (A13) after first rejecting a narrower amendment to the amendment (A18) on a 67-67 tie. Representative Bonner then offered a technical amendment (A14) to address liability and drafting concerns, but withdrew it after saying it contained an unintended drafting error and could create legal problems, including issues around data collection and rulemaking. During third reading debate, supporters described the bill as a first step to protect children from addictive social media design, online exploitation, and harmful data practices. Representative Scott said the bill would require parental consent and limit addictive features for child accounts, while emphasizing that the consent language must be prominent and that the bill’s effective date would not begin until next July. Representative Enen, Representative Feist, Representative Greenman, and others backed the measure as a bipartisan effort to hold big tech accountable and protect kids, though Greenman also noted that the legislature had not shown the same willingness to confront gun violence. Opponents and skeptics raised concerns that the bill relies on parents understanding complex legal and technical terms, that it may not fully protect children, and that it could still leave gaps around liability and privacy. Representative Leeing questioned why the bill does not simply restrict addictive features for all children and asked about parental waivers and location tracking; Scott responded that the bill uses IP address information and does not specifically address liability waivers, but said the measure is a policy choice intended to empower parents. The debate ended with broad support from several members, and the bill was presented as likely to pass, though no final vote on the bill itself was included in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• in support of H. 4648, an act relative to the purchase or lease of certain property known as Fenn Farm
• In 2022, Fenn Farm, which is 372 acres at the base of Monument Mountain in the town of Stockbridge, was
• support for House Bill 4648, which removes the requirement for conservation restriction on the Fenn Farm
• The timing of this grant and the availability of Fenn Farm for purchase on the open market was one of
• Fenn Farm is now a sacred part of that mountain. We ask that you pass H. 4648.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee first heard testimony on a proposed Massachusetts baby bonds program, including H. 3429, S. 2146, and the Treasurer’s related bill H. 48. Treasurer Goldberg and a broad coalition of advocates, researchers, health professionals, and people with lived experience said the program would create trust accounts for children born into low-income families or in DCF custody, with funds available at age 18 for education, homeownership, business startup, or other long-term asset-building uses. Supporters argued the program would help close the racial wealth gap, improve economic mobility, and not affect eligibility for financial aid or public benefits. Committee members asked about administration, investment returns, eligibility, and withdrawal rules; the Treasurer said the accounts would be held in trust and managed by her office with an advisory board, with funds accessible at 18 and usable through age 35 if the beneficiary remains a Massachusetts resident. No vote was taken during the testimony shown. The committee also heard testimony on legislation establishing Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day, including S. 2666 and H. 4625. Senator Ross, Representative Badger, physicians, survivors, and advocates described invasive lobular carcinoma as difficult to detect because it often grows in lines rather than forming a lump, can be missed on mammography, and is underfunded and underrepresented in research and clinical trials. Witnesses said the bill would codify an annual October 15 proclamation to raise awareness, improve diagnosis, and encourage more targeted research and treatment. Committee members asked why the disease is so hard to detect, and medical witnesses explained the imaging challenges and the lack of lobular-specific protocols. The witnesses urged favorable reports. The committee then took testimony on H. 4648, a bill concerning the purchase or lease of Fenn Farm in Stockbridge by the Stockbridge-Munsee community. Representative Davis, the Stockbridge Land Trust president, and the tribal president testified that the bill would remove a conservation restriction tied to a state MVP grant so the tribe could manage the land without a restriction that they said would conflict with tribal sovereignty and Indigenous stewardship practices. They said the parcel is a sacred site connected to Monument Mountain and that the restriction is unnecessary because the land is already surrounded by conserved property. The witnesses asked for favorable action on the bill. Finally, the committee heard testimony on H. 3416, a resolution urging Congress to create a national infrastructure bank. Representative Senna and several advocates argued that an off-budget infrastructure bank could finance major repairs and upgrades to roads, bridges, rail, water systems, broadband, and housing without adding to the state budget, while creating jobs and supporting economic growth. Witnesses cited historical precedents for national infrastructure banks and said Massachusetts could benefit substantially from such a program. The transcript shown does not include a committee vote or final action on the resolution.

Transcript Highlights:

• She grew up on a dairy farm in Gackle and earned her degrees at the University of Mary and NDSU, and
• It may be something back on the farm. You just never know. Stuff happens in life.
• Programs like Ag Technology are preparing students, again, to lead in that next generation of farming
• Programs like Ag Technology are preparing students, again, to lead in that next generation of farming
• On the farm, in the community, in the business, that kind of thing.

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.

Transcript Highlights:

• research side, and, you know, the research over the years has grown yields, found efficiencies in farming
• quorum courts and the counties, and, you know, right now they're doing a fantastic job supporting the farm
• We're not the big Delta multi-thousand-acre farms. We're 20- and 40- and 80-acre farms.
• out to the people of this state and provides an important service to the 40-, the 50-, the 60-acre farm
• that this program has is beneficial to all state people, all of them, whether they're a homeowner or farm

Summary: The committee first filed a report on the executive protection detail and then reviewed a long list of House and Senate bills that were ready for action, with members instructed to hold any items they wanted removed. The committee then took up several agency requests to amend bills: the Auditor of State’s request for a $370 increase for special deputy expense allowance, the Administrative Office of the Courts’ requests for additional funding for court interpreters and substitute court reporters, and requests tied to local sales tax refunds, county property tax redistribution, emergency medical and law enforcement support, and Northwest Arkansas Community College tornado-related repairs. All of those amendments were adopted, and one amendment on House Bill 1034 was held over at Senator Johnson’s request. A major portion of the meeting focused on an amendment for the Department of Corrections to fund a pilot program using mobile technology to identify and disable illegal inmate cell phones at Varner and Cummins prisons. The bill sponsors and Corrections officials described the problem as a serious public safety issue, saying inmates use contraband phones for criminal activity, trafficking, scams, and outside coordination. Members asked about FCC rules, procurement, whether the system would jam or only identify phones, whether it would affect staff or nearby users, how quickly it would work, whether it would be a one-time or ongoing cost, and whether the department had existing budget authority. Officials said the proposal would require an RFP, that current funding was not available in the department’s budget, and that the technology would be a two-year pilot. The committee ultimately adopted the amendment and then gave the underlying bill a do-pass recommendation. The committee also considered an amendment for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, which sought a $4 million increase in appropriation authority. Senators discussed the division’s role in county extension offices, 4-H, research, and salary competitiveness, while others questioned why the division needed more appropriation room when it already had about $10 million in headroom and had requested a different funding level through higher education. Division representatives said the increase would help with salaries and provide flexibility for future funding, and Higher Education staff clarified the original request and recommendation amounts. After extensive discussion, the committee adopted the amendment and gave it a do-pass recommendation. Finally, the committee began acting on governor’s letters, adopting amendments for a homestead property tax credit increase, insurance department conference travel, property appraisal analysis support, career and technical education professional development, regulatory and casino gaming appropriations, a new program integrity line for the Department of Inspector General, consolidation of licensing board appropriations, deletion of a completed Fort Chaffee Readiness Center appropriation, and a revised reappropriation package for prison expansion that included special language limiting use of the funds. Members asked several questions about the prison reappropriation, including whether it still related to the earlier Calico Rock project and whether special language should be considered separately; the committee moved the governor’s letters forward for drafting and further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Corrections, the Honor Farm in Riverton, has cattle production, and I think they have
• in<00:11:15.760> Riverton<00:11:16.720> has<00:11:17.040> cattle the Honor Farm
• in Riverton has cattle the Honor Farm in Riverton has cattle production<00:11:18.399> and<00:
• The Honor Farm leases it from the Department of Health, and, as I mentioned, there's about 300 acres
• these other parcels around this piece that you're talking about are still being used by the Honor Farm

Bills: SF0069, SF0084, SF0050, SF0109, HB0069, HB0098

Keywords: wastewater, stormwater, infrastructure, environmental quality, public data, data collection, funding, study, water conservation, Colorado River, drought, irrigation, water rights, voluntary program, interstate agreements, groundwater, water resource management, state engineer, aquifer study, corrective controls

Transcript Highlights:

• And as I mentioned a while ago, the National Farm Machinery Show is taking place this next week, and
• And as I mentioned a while ago, the National Farm Machinery Show is taking place this next week, and
• This year's farm show is at max all 1.2 million square feet of contiguous climate control facility is
• This year's farm show is at max all 1.2 million square feet of contiguous climate control facility is
• This year's farm show is at max all 1.2 This year's farm show is at max all 1.2 million<00:26:01.800>

Keywords: 00:01 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:32 Approval of Minutes 01:46 Public Protection Cabinet 19:05 Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet 33:14 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Subcommittee met without a quorum at first, then approved the minutes once a quorum was reached. The first presentation was from the Department of Housing, Buildings, and Construction within the Public Protection Cabinet. Commissioner Max Fuller and Deputy Commissioner David Moore reviewed the department’s licensing structure, noting about 50 license types and roughly 42,000 active licenses, with most tied to plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work. They compared Kentucky’s fees and requirements with neighboring states and said Kentucky is generally in line or slightly below surrounding states when local and contractor licensing requirements elsewhere are considered. The department also described staffing and inspection pressures. Officials said boiler inspections have a measurable backlog, with about 18% of state-jurisdiction boilers and pressure vessels past due statewide and a higher percentage in Jefferson County. They said building code plan review turnaround has risen from about 30 days to roughly 33–35 days, and that some areas are struggling to maintain same-day plumbing inspections and three-day HVAC inspections. Members asked whether the agency could handle increased housing construction, especially in rural areas; the department said it had requested additional plumbing staff and a plan reviewer, particularly for the Bowling Green/Warren County area, and noted that electrical inspectors are stretched across the state and are also pulled into disaster response work. The committee then heard from Kentucky Venues and the Kentucky State Fair Board on the Kentucky Exposition Center renovation and related operations. David Beck, board chairman David Williams, CFO Tony Shrek, and others said the project is progressing ahead of schedule, with keys to the new building expected in December and the facility already booked for future events. They reported strong tourism and economic impact, including record activity at the Exposition Center and downtown convention center, and said the Farm Machinery Show and other events continue to drive demand. Members asked about budget status, and the presenters said inflation, delayed access to funds due to the RFP/design process, and added costs have left them short of money to finish all planned work. They identified phase three funding needs, including food and beverage service improvements and completion of Freedom Hall seating, and said they are considering bringing food and beverage operations back under their control to improve efficiency and revenue. The meeting ended with no formal votes on the presentations and an announcement that the committee would meet again the following Tuesday.