Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, if you want students to have their classes done before...
• If a professional student takes one master's degree class, one upper-level class, that according to this
• We all know people that are one class away, one semester away, one quarter away.
• We all know people that are one class away, one semester away, one quarter away.
• It's not individual classes and courses that we pay based on multipliers now.

Summary: The Higher Education Funding Review Committee met to continue work on a draft higher education funding formula and related capital building fund changes. Lisa Johnson of the North Dakota University System updated the committee on the board’s developing policy for low-producing academic programs. She said the board is using a five-year rolling window, with thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, and that programs flagged in three consecutive review cycles would go to the board for review. Possible outcomes include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the policy would account for enrollment, program costs, workforce need, and programs that serve students outside their major. Johnson said the board would likely use an accompanying procedure to consider those factors. She also reported that about 200 programs could potentially be reviewed under current guidance, with 135 inactivated and 112 terminated, and said the process is intended to support quality and stewardship rather than simply cut programs. Jamie Wilkie then reported on the Capital Building Fund. He reviewed the fund’s history, matching requirements, and use for extraordinary repairs, deferred maintenance, and some legislatively authorized projects. He said about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with roughly 78.7% going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Committee members pressed for updated information on how much deferred maintenance has actually been reduced, and several members said they wanted clearer reporting on the return on investment from new buildings versus repairs. NDSU representatives said the tier funding has helped significantly reduce deferred maintenance and allowed demolition and renovation work on campus. The committee also discussed the need for updated five-year facility plans and space-utilization information from the institutions. The committee then began a section-by-section review of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and restructure the capital building fund. The draft would fund UND and NDSU differently from the other nine institutions, use fall enrollment rather than completed credits, add performance funding for completions in in-demand fields, create research incentives for UND and NDSU, and combine capital building fund tiers while changing matching requirements and eligible uses. Members raised concerns about the treatment of professional students, the use of CIP codes, incentives for waivers, and whether the formula should rely on more current data. The committee did not take final action on the draft during this meeting, but it continued detailed discussion and indicated more review would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• She said, "Matt, there are boys in my class that are your size that have no respect for authority and
• <00:23:58.960> that "Matt, there are boys in my class that "Matt, there are boys in my class
• teachers was moved into a class of 38. teachers was moved into a class of 38.
• three were in that class of 38. three were in that class of 38.
• <00:26:31.160> I class while I escorted student B. I class while I escorted student B.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Senate Education Committee opened with roll call, recognized homeschool families and Military Kids Day guests, and then took up two bills sponsored by Senator Matt Nunn. Senate Bill 124 would let local school districts create an optional sick-leave cash-out program for teachers, with payouts at current salary rates, a 15-day minimum remaining balance, and a cap discussed in the testimony. Supporters, including Scott County Superintendent Billy Parker, said the measure is intended to reduce substitute shortages, give teachers more flexibility, and avoid adding state pension liability; committee members also noted a related provision allowing use of sick days for religious holidays not on the school calendar. The committee adopted a sub on Senate Bill 124 and then passed the bill unanimously after a motion, second, and roll call vote. During discussion, members emphasized the compounding value of the cash-out option for teachers and the potential benefit to families, while Senator Higdon and others praised the bill as a win-win for districts and staff. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 101, also by Senator Nunn, and adopted a committee substitute by voice vote. Nunn said the sub removed a provision that would have allowed county attorneys to charge some 14- and 15-year-olds as adults. As amended, the bill requires local boards to adopt a policy imposing at least a 12-month expulsion for students in grades 6-12 who assault, batter, or abuse school personnel without provocation, with an exception for disability-related conduct under an IEP, and requires immediate reporting of intentional assaults or attempted assaults on school employees to law enforcement, with penalties for noncompliance. Nunn and a teacher who submitted a written statement described the bill as a response to repeated assaults on educators and the fear and injuries that can drive teachers from the profession. Members began questioning the bill, with Senator Carroll asking about alternative school options for expelled students; discussion was still underway when the transcript ended, and no final vote on Senate Bill 101 was shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• 354A that this would be a new protected class.
• 354A that this would be a new protected class.
• You cannot take into account any of these protected classes, as should be the case.
• <00:11:06.000> But<00:11:06.240> now classes, as should be the case.
• But now classes, as should be the case.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee on SB 170 opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then worked through the bill section by section, focusing first on a housing-related provision that would prohibit municipalities from requiring occupants to be related by blood or marriage. The chair proposed adding “school enrollment status” as a protected class to prevent towns from limiting where students may live, especially in Durham. Members debated whether that phrase was too vague and whether “educational status,” “enrollment status,” or “school enrollment status” was the best wording. Public testimony raised concerns that adding a new protected class could have broader implications under the state’s anti-discrimination law and could also affect municipal zoning authority, while supporters argued the bill was aimed at preventing local rules that restrict student housing and group living arrangements. The subcommittee did not take a final vote on that language during the discussion. The committee then turned to land-use and subdivision provisions. The Department of Environmental Services testified that its test-pit and related land-development rules are already protective of groundwater and surface water, and that municipalities sometimes impose stricter setbacks or other requirements locally. Builders and housing advocates argued that more stringent local requirements for test pits, well siting, and related approvals add time and cost and can impede housing development, while some municipal concerns were raised about aquifer and wellhead protection overlay districts and local groundwater safeguards. Public testimony also supported making state standards uniform across municipalities, though one speaker noted that local and state review processes can differ and that the bill could simplify approvals. The subcommittee also discussed a road-length provision, with one member supporting limits on municipal caps that could impede development and another suggesting a possible water-and-sewer-capacity qualifier. Additional sections were explained as allowing utilities and infrastructure to be placed in subdivision open spaces or perimeter buffers, and requiring municipalities to act quickly on plan changes after initial review. The chair indicated support for several of the sections as drafted, and the discussion ended with the committee moving through the remaining provisions without recorded final votes in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, where students, for example, would be sent out of the class and just to the office, right?
• state prisons to cage 90,000 humans. $8.6 billion to educate 470,000 students, many of them working-class
• You'll go to high schools and recruit working-class students from high schools that serve mostly working-class
• You'll go to high schools and recruit working-class students from high schools that serve mostly working-class
• Nobody knows those things now because I graduated top of my class with a master's from UCLA.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Summary: The Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color held its second hearing, focused on the cradle-to-college-and-career pipeline, with an emphasis on education, school discipline, community schools, and higher education pathways. Chair Isaac Bryan opened by noting that two bills from the first hearing had been introduced and were advancing through the Legislature. Members Mike Fong, Senator Gonzalez, and Corey Jackson offered remarks supporting bipartisan, cross-sector work to address inequities affecting boys and young men of color. The first panel discussed school discipline and safety. Dr. David Turner cited major declines in suspensions since state reforms such as SB 274, SB 419, and AB 420, but said disparities remain for Black and Native boys and that school policing and “ghost suspensions” still push students out of class. Brandy Bowen-Bremont and LaQuan Muhammad described hidden disciplinary practices, police referrals, and the need for restorative, culturally rooted, and care-first supports. Members asked about the causes of the suspension decline, statewide versus local data, and whether MTSS and restorative practices are being implemented with fidelity. The second panel focused on community schools. Witnesses from Californians for Justice, Reclaim Our Schools LA, M.I.L.P.A., and the Center at Sierra Health Foundation urged a $1 billion ongoing state investment in the California Community Schools Partnership Act. They argued community schools improve attendance, school climate, academic outcomes, and family engagement while reducing suspensions and chronic absenteeism. The third panel addressed college and career pathways, with speakers from the California Faculty Association, UC Student Association, Brotherhood Crusade, A.M.E.N., and Improve Your Tomorrow calling for more financial aid, dual enrollment, mentorship, and student support. They also criticized state spending priorities, compared prison and higher education budgets, and urged investment in programs that keep young men of color connected to school and work. Public commenters largely echoed support for community schools, youth justice, and broader investment in boys and men of color, including rural and urban perspectives. Chair Bryan closed by highlighting the importance of representation and the role of mentorship and second chances in his own life, then adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• allows us to address issues that arise with respect to those positions, distinctly from a broader class
• , broad number of classes to reflect more competitive marketplace chairman.
• They have a class of 50 commitments for the August bar.
• So we have classes for me. I am constantly because I only have 45 in the second circuit.
• So there you have large classes. They're trying to lot get him on as to the 4th circuit.

Transcript Highlights:

• It cannot discriminate under two classes.
• I had to pay the fine and then take the class, which was a diversity class, which is a whole other thing
• So what happened to me is I was taking an ethics class that was required.
• I asked a question in the class about a particular ethics situation, a hypothetical situation.
• discipline and reprimand for asking a question in the class that pertained to 10-5.

Bills: SB1361, SB2105, SB2690, SB2713, SCR38, SB2637, SB2881

Keywords: SB 1361, Texas disaster recovery loan, small business loan, micro-business loan, community development financial institution, CDFI, economic disaster assistance, post-disaster financing, business recovery fund, Texas Economic Development Bank, zero-interest loan, working capital, payroll support, health benefits, job retention, declared disaster, small business relief, microenterprise, franchise exclusion, private equity-backed business

Transcript Highlights:

• Delete the limitations on class actions in proposed subsection 672E-3C.
• Clarifies the process and class action.
• Delete the limitations on class claim.
• This prohibits individuals under 15 years of age from riding a class 3 electric bicycle.
• This prohibits individuals under 15 years of age from riding a class 3 electric bicycle.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee first deferred HB 239, which would have narrowed the definition of child abuse or neglect by excluding cases where a caregiver is unable to provide certain needs solely because of poverty or lack of resources. The chair said other similar bills were still alive and expressed concern that carving out a specific category of abuse could hinder monitoring of children being harmed for other reasons. The committee then took up several decision-making items. HB 420, dealing with the contractor repair act and construction defect claims, was recommended for passage with extensive amendments that would clarify statutes of repose and limitations, define substantial completion, remove homeowner expert-report requirements, delete class-action limits, set timelines for inspections, mediation, and settlement procedures, and add non-retroactivity language; it passed unanimously. HB 732, concerning special management area minor permits for certain single-family residences, was also passed with amendments after the committee removed the provision that would have expanded minor-permit eligibility for homes under 3,500 square feet. HB 1017, repealing the greenhouse gas sequestration task force, passed with amendments to make it effective upon approval. HB 958, which restricts children under 15 from riding class 3 electric bicycles and raises the helmet age requirement, passed with technical amendments only. The committee also considered Governor’s Message 689, the nomination of Melissa Sautello to the Commission on the Status of Women. After testimony in support and questions from members about financial disclosure and her views on women’s sports and transgender participation, the committee voted to advise and consent to the nomination. The nomination passed, and the committee adjourned after noting that a full Senate vote would follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• How would a teacher in a teacher prep class know how to respond to that if we can't talk about that a
• it would violate, because poverty is an example of class oppression?
• Like, would I be barred from asking you as a new teacher in your teacher prep class that based on this
• I was the first test class for the F-CAT back in the early 2000s for graduating with the F-CAT.
• I was the first test class for the F-CAT back in the early 2000s for graduating with the F-CAT.

Summary: The Careers and Workforce Subcommittee met with a quorum and took up four bills. The first, HB 875 on educator preparation, would align teacher-prep programs under a uniform core curriculum, create a competency-based coaching program (CERT), standardize mentor and clinical educator requirements, allow certain certification waivers, and establish a Florida Institute of Teaching Excellence at Miami-Dade College subject to appropriation. Debate focused heavily on language in the bill related to systemic racism, identity politics, privilege, and historical distortion, with supporters saying the bill is about pedagogy and opponents warning it could limit discussion of important historical and social topics. The committee adopted a strike-all amendment and then reported the bill favorably, 12-4. The committee then considered PCS for HB 541 on minimum wage requirements, which would allow employees to knowingly and voluntarily waive the state minimum wage for up to 12 months in certain structured work-based training settings. Supporters argued it would expand access to training and career pathways for inexperienced workers and help address labor shortages, while opponents said it could depress wages, invite coercion, and conflict with the state constitution’s minimum wage provisions. Public testimony included opposition from workers and labor groups and support from NFIB. The bill was reported favorably, 12-4. Next, PCS for HB 681 on apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship program funding was presented as a transparency and accountability measure to improve funding reporting and address bargaining issues between education agencies and program providers. Support came from industry groups and the ranking member, and the bill was reported favorably without opposition, 16-0. Finally, PCS for HB 1105 on education and Bright Futures would broaden Gold Seal Vocational eligibility, align CTE diploma requirements with Bright Futures, add AP Capstone as an automatic qualifier, and remove barriers for certain military and public service families. The committee supported the bill, which was reported favorably, 15-0. The meeting ended after a correction to the record on one public comment card and adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Instead of working on public education, the pathway for all of us to reach the middle class, what keeps
• weeks making classroom sizes larger and some school districts even going to four day class weeks and
• It is the rural and underprivileged and middle-class students who benefit from our people who are you
• It is the rural and underprivileged and middle class students who benefit from our people who are you
• , It is the rural, underprivileged, and middle-class students who benefit from quality public education

Keywords: public education, Department of Education, funding, Trump, Kassar, Elon Musk, education policy, youth advocacy, billionaire influence

Summary: This was a press conference organized by student advocates and Texas Democratic lawmakers to oppose efforts by the Trump administration and allies to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education and to criticize Texas voucher proposals. Speakers argued that the department and its Office for Civil Rights are essential for enforcing civil rights protections, supporting special education, Title I, Pell Grants, career and technical education, and other federal education programs. They said eliminating the department would weaken oversight, shift power to states that have a poor record on student protections, and harm marginalized, low-income, disabled, and rural students. Congressman Greg Casar framed the issue as a transfer of public money from schools to billionaires, tying the department fight to federal budget and tax-cut debates and to Texas voucher efforts. State Representative Gene Wu said Texas public education is already near collapse and warned that losing federal support would worsen school closures, staffing shortages, and class-size increases. Representative Gina Hinojosa highlighted Texas’s past special education cap and attacks on Section 504, and said she filed bills to route federal block grants directly to schools if federal policy changes move forward. Representative Vicki Goodwin said the state should fund schools rather than vouchers and noted underfunding of special education and inflation pressures. Round Rock ISD trustee Melissa Ross and Texas AFT president Zef Capo emphasized that federal oversight protects students and that Texas has a history of underfunding and mishandling special education, meals, and other services. The final speaker, Westwood High School senior Eliza Abert, said the loss of federal education support would most harm low-income and middle-class students and called on attendees to oppose the changes. No votes were taken; the event ended with a call for public pressure on lawmakers and continued advocacy.

Transcript Highlights:

• They have a better sense of when they'll be in classes.
• They have a better sense of when they'll be in classes.
• And because they're a in classes.
• 48:30.760> graduation, required classes can delay graduation, required classes can delay graduation
• <00:57:15.280> because didn't get in my class because didn't get in my class because this<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And his concern was, 'I'm trying to teach 36 students, and it's per class.
• And at this point, with no assistance, with such a large class, I'm not teaching. I'm babysitting.'
• And his concern was, 'I'm trying to teach 36 students, and it's per class.
• And at this point, with no assistance, with such a large class, I'm not teaching. I'm babysitting.'
• We cannot afford to go back to a time when kids go to class hungry.

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals for universal school meals, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP), and community schools, with the kitchen infrastructure grants, Tier 2 ELOP funding, and ongoing community schools funding as the main budget issues. For universal meals, the Department of Education and the Department of Finance supported continued investment in school meal infrastructure and explained that federal changes, inflation, and underreporting in meal counts could affect future funding. The LAO recommended rejecting a fourth round of kitchen infrastructure grants, arguing prior rounds are still being spent and that future funding should be tied to clearer goals and data. Several public commenters and school groups supported continued kitchen grants and universal meals, citing supply-chain delays, workforce needs, and benefits such as more freshly prepared meals and higher participation. For ELOP, the administration proposed $4.7 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding and an additional $62.4 million to set a minimum Tier 2 rate of $1,800 per pupil. The LAO recommended fully fixing the Tier 2 rate at $1,579 and tying future changes to program requirements, while CDE supported the proposal and said the program is improving attendance and academic outcomes. Senators and witnesses discussed whether ELOP should remain a standalone program or be folded into LCFF, with concerns raised about accountability, flexibility, and whether the program should better serve older youth. CDE said new CalPADS reporting and the biennial report will provide more data soon, and public testimony largely supported stabilizing Tier 2 funding while also asking for more support for middle and high school students. For community schools, the Governor proposed $1 billion ongoing Proposition 98 funding to expand the model to thousands more schools and to support existing sites, along with new accountability through annual self-certification and future accreditation. The LAO recommended continuing the current one-time grant approach instead of creating a new ongoing categorical program, warning about reduced flexibility, administrative burden, and the state’s capacity to support a much larger number of grantees. CDE strongly supported the ongoing funding and asked for additional support for county offices and technical assistance. Committee members questioned how accreditation would work for a model meant to be locally tailored, and administration staff said technical assistance would come first, with schools losing eligibility only if they failed to meet standards after support. Public testimony was overwhelmingly supportive of community schools, with parents, students, county offices, and advocacy groups describing gains in attendance, graduation, mental health supports, family engagement, and student belonging, while some commenters urged clearer eligibility rules, stronger reporting, and continued support for related programs such as MTSS and homeless student services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, a teacher teaching uh health or sex education to young people to a whole class and then after the
• class say the one of the students wants to clear something up or come to the teacher and talk about
• concern is it would prevent that or the teacher may be nervous about discussing anything from the class
• <00:03:40.480> say<00:03:40.720> the class and then after the class say the class and
• <00:03:55.280> or discussing anything from the class or discussing anything from the class

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 4, which would expand Kentucky’s grooming statute. The sponsor and supporters explained that the bill is intended to target bad-faith sexual grooming while avoiding criminalizing ordinary, good-faith conversations, including teacher-student discussions about sexual health and age-appropriate conversations about puberty. Members raised concerns about possible overbreadth, the age cutoff for non-trust relationships, and whether terms like “prepare” or “emotional connection” were too vague. Several members said they would pass for now but work on the language before floor debate. The bill was reported favorably with 14 yes votes, no no votes, and five pass votes. The committee then considered House Bill 84, which updates Kentucky’s riot-liability statute for local governments. The sponsor said the bill is a cleanup measure to ensure the law applies to consolidated and unified local governments, especially Louisville and Jefferson County, after a recent court decision. Members questioned whether the bill could encourage vigilante behavior or be used against peaceful protest, but the sponsor and another member argued it simply preserves long-standing accountability when property damage from riots could have been prevented. The bill passed favorably with 15 yes votes, two no votes, and one pass vote. House Bill 188 followed, expanding legal protections for jail employees and medical staff. The sponsor said the bill would extend peer-support confidentiality protections from police officers to jail staff and add jail medical personnel to the assault protections already available to nurses and other medical workers. Members voiced support, noting the need to protect correctional and healthcare workers, and the bill passed unanimously with 18 yes votes and no no votes. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 143, a technical change to fiduciary bond procedures that would allow bonds to be notarized rather than attested by a circuit court clerk. The sponsor said the change was requested by circuit clerks and would make probate and similar matters easier to process. The bill passed unanimously with 18 yes votes and no no votes. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Tech is that only 10% of their class can come from outside Texas.
• We’ve done very well; they are just about... to graduate their very first class, and we are...
• classes.
• is a class of a little under 100 students.
• A lot of those classes are already pretty similar to what's being taught in the medical school.

Transcript Highlights:

• So essentially they're going to not send them first-class mail in the mail.
• >> by first first class mail to the town.
• >> by first first class mail to the town.
• We'd rather you want the first-class mail.'
• But it appears to me they're still required to have first-class mail.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• no-pedal Class 2 e-bike.
• Just a quick question about the Class 3 e-bike bill.
• a Class 3 e-bike to be on the sidewalk also?
• Will this allow a Class 3 e-bike to be on the sidewalk also?
• Delivery workers, transit operators, and others who rely on these middle-class jobs to support their

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing on 46 bills covering bicycle and pedestrian safety, autonomous and specialty vehicles, street design, and related transportation issues. Chair Jim Arciero and Senate co-chair Brendan Crighton opened the hearing, noted that Senate Bill 2347 was postponed at the sponsor’s request, and explained the hearing procedures. No votes were taken during the hearing. A major portion of testimony focused on autonomous vehicles. Labor representatives from the AFL-CIO, Teamsters, Machinists, and app-based driver organizations opposed bills that would authorize fully autonomous vehicles, arguing they could displace workers, weaken bargaining power, increase congestion, and create safety and data-privacy risks. Waymo and Chamber of Progress supported legislation creating a framework for autonomous vehicles, saying the technology has strong safety results and could improve mobility and economic opportunity, but they opposed provisions requiring a human operator in the vehicle. Transportation and environmental advocates urged stronger oversight, local control, crash-data reporting, and privacy protections before deployment. Several bills on pedestrian and bicycle safety drew support from advocates and affected residents. Testimony backed measures to improve crosswalk timing for slower pedestrians, raise penalties for crosswalk violations, expand truck sideguard and safety-device requirements, and improve roadway marking reflectivity. AARP, MassBike, and other advocates emphasized the need to protect older adults, cyclists, and other vulnerable road users, while some speakers opposed bills expanding e-bike access to sidewalks and natural-surface trails, citing safety concerns. The committee also heard strong support for the Blue Envelope program for drivers with autism and developmental disabilities, with testimony from the Arc of Massachusetts, the Developmental Disabilities Council, families, and individuals describing how the program can reduce misunderstandings during traffic stops and crashes.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a class within the regular day where they're not pulled out.
• And the students that are in class and may not be getting what they need as far as instruction.
• Currently, I heard about the 90-minute block; think about if you were in your college classes for 90
• Sometimes they're class sponsors or they do after-school activities.
• The 520s who teach full-time, they are actually teaching, I believe it's four classes per day, and the

Transcript Highlights:

• and holiday pay so it's not just class and holiday pay so it's not just class 10<03:33:02.840>
• <04:22:37.920> 20 budget we increased class 20 budget we increased class 20 specifically<04
• have pheasant and there's only one class have pheasant and there's only one class line<04:44:11.958
• through fiscal to increase that class through fiscal to increase that class line line line and<04
• class class 50<04:59:35.480> to<04:59:35.920> work<04:59:36.160> in<04:59:36.320

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the University System of New Hampshire chancellor on the system’s budget, enrollment, finances, workforce role, and response to federal policy changes. The chancellor said the governor’s recommended budget would reduce university system funding by about $16.5 million over the biennium, or roughly 8.3%, and asked that state funding be held at the governor’s level. She described planned cost reductions already underway, including lower headcount, reduced benefits and retirement contributions, property sales, and lease reductions, and said the system expects to remove about $20 million from its cost structure in fiscal year 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on enrollment and finances. The chancellor said fall 2024 enrollment was about 23,000, with New Hampshire enrollment increasing for the first time since 2013, and noted that the system remains a major workforce pipeline, with about 3,000 graduates entering the state workforce each year. She explained that net tuition has fallen over time because of declining enrollment and increased financial aid, while research grants and contracts have grown significantly. She also walked through endowment funding, explaining that payouts are based on a 12-quarter rolling average and are intentionally smoothed to reduce volatility; members asked for follow-up information on payout comparisons, administrative salaries, headcounts, and compensation per student. Members questioned the university about the relationship between state support, tuition, endowments, and research spending. The chancellor said the system has used state capital support to leverage major investments, including the UNH Life Sciences building, Plymouth’s Hyde Hall, and the Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, and described partnerships with businesses such as Lonza and regional manufacturers. She also explained a long-running New Hampshire 529-related revenue stream that has built endowment support for scholarships, and said the system’s endowment now totals about $988 million. In response to questions about possible cuts, she said the system is considering academic program sharing, consolidation of specialties, online delivery, AI-assisted administrative efficiencies, and footprint reductions, but declined to name specific programs. The committee also discussed DEI-related issues and federal grants. The chancellor said the system is reviewing executive orders and a U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague letter, and that general counsel is working through websites, programs, and more than 1,200 federal grants to ensure compliance. She said the system spends about $3 million on what it calls DEI-related offices and services, but emphasized that these services include disability support, veteran support, Title IX, ADA, and employment-law compliance, and that the system does not have race-based programs, separate housing, or separate graduation ceremonies. She reported that the system had received stop-work orders on four federal grants totaling about $700,000 and warned that reductions in federal direct or indirect costs could affect research, jobs, and innovation.

Transcript Highlights:

• class in the form of tax cuts for them. class in the form of tax cuts for them. by<02:02:49.119>
• <02:24:28.080> and are abandoning the middle class and are abandoning the middle class and
• provided critical relief to middle class provided critical relief to middle class families<02:27
• living for millions of middle class living for millions of middle class Americans?
• middle class families in this country. middle class families in this country.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are several sections in here that deal with Class A and Class B installers, um, in the electrical
• I think this also has to do with the Class A and Class B installers.
• Class A.
• <01:20:35.280> B repeal dates based on the the class B repeal dates based on the the class
• And so, going away and the class A.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, we have different classes: class one, two, three, four; residential, commercial properties,
• I don't believe that the mechanism of this bill is to create a new, formally create a new class of property
• Yes, it is not meant to create a new class for property tax purposes, but simply to redistribute in that
• one- to four-family home tax class, which would push the cost of that reduction to those that have homes

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The New York State Senate Committee on Housing, Construction, and Community Development met on May 18, 2026, with a quorum present and several members participating by vote sheet. Chair Brian Kavanagh opened the meeting by noting it was likely the committee’s last meeting of the session and thanked members and staff for their work. Senators also offered brief remarks of appreciation for the chair and the committee’s collaborative process. The committee advanced four bills. S.2523A (Ramos) would establish a jobs and housing pilot program to create construction jobs and address the housing crisis; it was reported to Finance, with Senator Walsack voting no and Senator Martins voting AWR. S.8612 (Kavanagh) would make clarifying changes to the good cause eviction law; the chair said it had been extensively negotiated with tenant and landlord stakeholders and had broad support, and it was reported with Senators Martins and Walsack voting AWR. S.8918A (Kavanagh) would create the Build Up New York pilot program and a mass timber for affordable housing program, along with related tax credits; it was reported to the floor unanimously. The committee also considered S.9287 (Hensh), which would create a real property tax exemption for certain full-time residents in certain counties. Members discussed whether the bill would create a new property class or instead shift tax burdens within the one- to four-family home class, and raised concerns about impacts on second homes and local school budgets. Supporters argued it resembled a homestead exemption and could help local residents. The bill was reported to Finance, with Senator Martins voting ADBR. The meeting then adjourned after the final agenda item.