Transcript Highlights:

• The amount was set in statute at $9,739, with language that it may increase by the tuition growth factor
• We cover all remaining tuition costs for all College Bound students.
• P.L.U. is the only institution offering a fixed tuition guarantee to students.
• We cover all remaining tuition costs for all College Bound students.
• P.L.U. is the only institution offering a fixed tuition guarantee to students.

Bills: HB2689 , SB5420 , SB5868 , SB5877

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: Working Connections Child Care, child care subsidy, subsidized child care, Washington DCYF, Department of Children, Youth, and Families, low-income families, child care providers, licensed child care centers, family child care, market rate survey, subsidy rates, income eligibility, state median income, SNAP, Basic Food, collective bargaining, provider reimbursement, daily payment, half-day care, partial-day care

Transcript Highlights:

• Regarding the student tuition tax credit, it caps the aggregate dollar level of the corporate low-income
• student tuition tax credit at $110 million annually beginning in fiscal... ...income student tuition

Transcript Highlights:

• As a trustee, I want to see Chipola continue with the cheapest tuition in the state, keeping costs low
• Promise, where any high school graduate... ...can come to Tallahassee State College at zero cost, 100% tuition
• We have had no tuition increase for 15 years, which directly helps our students.

Bills: S0720 , S1246

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Higher Education

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education met to consider one bill, a postponed bill, and a slate of trustee confirmations. The committee first took up CS/SB 1246, which expands the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) fund to support health science workforce shortages beyond nursing, including allied health programs. The bill also broadens eligible uses of funds, revises matching requirements and grant criteria, and updates reporting requirements. A strike-all amendment was adopted without objection, and the committee then reported the bill favorably after supportive testimony from Florida State College at Jacksonville, the Florida Hospital Association, the College of Central Florida, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Senator Davis also noted a favorable vote on the bill for the record. The committee then temporarily postponed SB 720 at the sponsor’s request. Chair Harrell explained that the bill had been incorporated into a larger committee measure and would likely be heard later in another form. Public witnesses who had come to speak on the bill were not heard because of the postponement. The remainder of the meeting focused on confirmations for trustees at several state colleges, including Chipola College, Tallahassee State College, Pensacola State College, Palm Beach State College, Pasco-Hernando State College, and St. Petersburg College. The appointees emphasized themes of affordability, workforce training, nursing and allied health success, dual enrollment, community partnerships, and local economic development. After hearing from the appointees, the committee approved a block motion to recommend confirmation of all appointees on tabs 2 through 25. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• But I want to hear them, and I pay a lot of tuition to go to school to hear those opinions.
• in 2023, that was around the time that the Board of Regents was... ...making decisions regarding tuition
• and tuition hikes, and we know a lot of students, regardless of their political beliefs, are very passionate

Bills: SB2972 , SB1909 , SB2815 , SB735 , SB2233 , SB800 , SB1069 , SB2683 , SB2986 , SB2058 , SB2310 , SB2055 , SB1032

Committees: Senate Education , Senate Education K-16

Transcript Highlights:

• depending upon the distribution formula, districts are already receiving reimbursement for some of that tuition
• determined based on what the foundation formula determines is a reasonable amount for out-of-district tuition
• This amendment seeks to increase the rate with which we reimburse our districts for out-of-district tuition
• This amendment seeks to increase the rate with which we reimburse our districts for out-of-district tuition
• Thank you. seeks to increase the rate with which we reimburse our districts for out of district tuition

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Um, and what's the average tuition?
• So by the time graduation, we might be down to 115. >> Um, and what's the average tuition?
• So by the time graduation, we might be down to 115. >> Um, and what's the average tuition?
• So by the time graduation, we might be down to 115. >> Um, and what's the average tuition?
• Um, and what's the average tuition?

Committee: Joint Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• So we pay their tuition.
• So we pay their tuition.
• So we also have a tuition reimbursement program, which Francis covered a little bit of, just that as
• So we also have a tuition reimbursement program, which Francis covered a little bit of, just that as
• We do... ...can use that tuition reimbursement for any school across the country.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Environment Department on PFAS contamination in private wells in La Cienega, Santa Fe County. Staff said the plume likely came from historic use of firefighting foam associated with airport and National Guard fire-training activities, with possible additional contribution from septic systems and consumer products. They described the contamination as affecting about 200 private wells, the short-term response of providing residential filters through a $2 million legislative appropriation, and ongoing work to define the plume’s full extent, identify responsible parties, and consider longer-term regional water solutions. Members asked about filter costs, replacement schedules, disposal of used cartridges, follow-up testing, health studies, and whether cleanup or containment had begun; the department said cleanup would follow once the plume is fully mapped and that DOH is soliciting interest in a blood study. The committee also discussed the need to track disposal of PFAS filters and the possibility of broader statewide capacity for similar work. The committee then took up abandoned uranium mine cleanup. NMED and EMNRD staff reviewed the new uranium mine reclamation program created by HB 164, the state dashboard tracking sites, and the FY26 appropriation of $20 million for neglected contaminated sites, of which $12 million is being used for neglected uranium mines and the remainder for other contaminated sites. They said six contractors were hired, three priority sites in Grant County are moving forward quickly, and additional sites are being prepared for possible FY27 work. Members pressed for details on how funds are spent, why the revolving fund remains unfunded, how federal, state, tribal, and landowner requirements are coordinated, where contaminated material will be moved, and whether cleanup could also address homes built with contaminated materials. Staff said the work is governed by multiple regulatory layers, that the state is seeking an additional $25 million for FY27-FY28 plus a time extension, and that partnerships with tribes would require longer-term agreements. The committee also discussed federal cleanup efforts and the new Good Samaritan law, with members urging stronger advocacy for New Mexico sites, including tribal lands, and asking whether the Attorney General should pursue legal action against federal parties responsible for legacy contamination. Staff explained that some sites are already covered by settlement funds tied to responsible parties, while neglected sites are those with no responsible party and no other cleanup program. The committee then heard from EMNRD on Class VI carbon sequestration primacy. Staff said New Mexico currently has no operating Class VI wells, about 27 Class II acid-gas injection wells are operating, and only a small number might be candidates for conversion. They explained that the state’s primacy application would require more public outreach than federal rules alone, and that cost estimates for post-injection site care are based on long planning horizons, with some costs borne by operators and some by the state after closure. No votes were taken on the substantive items discussed; the committee approved the prior meeting minutes and took a brief recess between presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• now, some of the things that we’ve been denying—$124,000 for firefighting, $190,000 for military tuition—there
• now, some of the things that we’ve been denying—$124,000 for firefighting, $190,000 for military tuition—there

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 300 modernizes the program to raise the scholarship amount to cover a substantial cost of tuition
• process and agreement by the student. ...to raise the scholarship amount to cover a substantial cost of tuition

Bills: HB 102 , HB300 , SB2255 , HB102 , HB300

Committee: Senate Veteran Affairs

Summary: The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs heard three measures focused on military-connected students, service members, veterans, and their families. House Bill 102 would give eligible students in military-related university programs early registration privileges, similar to existing accommodations for expectant mothers and student athletes. House Bill 300 would modernize the Texas Armed Services Scholar program by increasing scholarship funding, clarifying the student employment agreement, and creating a scholarship coordinator at THECB to help students and families navigate the program. Senate Bill 2255 drew the most discussion and testimony. The bill would streamline occupational licensing for military members, spouses, and veterans by allowing Texas licensure based on an out-of-state license in good standing with a similar scope of practice, removing the Texas residency requirement, and shortening agency processing time from 30 days to 10 days in the committee substitute. Supporters from the Texas Coalition of Veterans Organizations, the Texas Association of Business, the Institute for Justice, TDLR, and the VFW said the bill would reduce bureaucratic delays, improve employment opportunities, and help military families maintain income during relocations. TDLR also described current licensing confusion between state and federal rules and said the bill would improve alignment and data collection. No witnesses testified against any of the bills. After public testimony closed on each measure, HB 102, HB 300, and SB 2255 were left pending in committee. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• costs, particularly for in-state tuition.
• </c><04:25:02.319><c> increases</c> know small tuition increases know small tuition increases there<04
• Yeah, there'll probably be tuition increases, you know, without a doubt.
• Yeah, there'll probably be tuition increases, you know, without a doubt.
• Yeah, there'll probably be tuition increases, you know, without a doubt.

Summary: The Finance Committee met to review Division One of a very large budget package, with the chair explaining that the budget was being analyzed in three divisions over multiple days. Members first discussed procedure, including when amendments and line-item votes would be taken, and agreed to proceed with the division’s presentation before questions. Representative Maguire then outlined the division’s approach as a series of tradeoffs to close a large budget gap, emphasizing cuts, some revenue changes, and a focus on overall spending levels as well as individual reductions. The presentation covered a wide range of agencies and policy areas. Major proposed changes included cuts or eliminations to several boards and commissions viewed as costly or duplicative, such as the Housing Appeals Board, Board of Tax and Land Appeals, Human Rights Commission, Commission on Aging, Office of the Child Advocate, and the Personnel Appeals Board, with some functions consolidated into other boards. The division also proposed back-of-the-budget cuts to the Information Technology Department, Judicial Branch, Justice Department, Retirement System, Corrections, and Environmental Services, along with fee increases in several areas. Other notable items included ending marketing for Paid Family Leave, reducing job advertising and tourism promotion, defunding the Arts Council, moving liquor enforcement functions out of the Liquor Commission, and shifting some funds such as the College Savings Commission money to Division Two. Several members questioned specific cuts, especially the elimination of the Council on Aging, the reduction in regional planning commission grants, and the large cut to tourism advertising. Maguire defended the choices as necessary budget tradeoffs, arguing that some programs duplicated work done elsewhere, that regional planning grants were not among the most essential items, and that tourism promotion was a form of spending he viewed skeptically. He also explained that the public defender’s budget was partially restored after a credible claim of a governor’s budget error, and that the committee would continue refining corrections-related cuts because the House was only halfway through the budget process and further changes could still occur in the Senate and conference committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Training programs range from four weeks to four months, while grants for tuition, room, and board for
• They're often not for credit, and so while you may be able to get tuition reimbursement or a scholarship
• Training programs range from four weeks to four months, while grants for tuition, room, and board for
• They're often not for credit, and so while you may be able to get tuition reimbursement or a scholarship
• Training programs range from four weeks to four months, while grants for tuition, room, and board for

Bills: HF1167 , HF1242

Committee: House Transportation Finance and Policy

Keywords: Northern Lights Express, NLX, Minneapolis-Duluth rail, passenger rail, intercity passenger rail, high-speed rail, Duluth, Minneapolis, MnDOT, Minnesota Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Council, transportation funding, rail appropriation, general fund, trunk highway fund, rail project cancellation, infrastructure spending, commercial driver training, CDL, financial assistance

Transcript Highlights:

• The training requires three courses at a tuition cost of $2,265 per student. testified to testified to
• </c><00:38:31.160><c> cost</c><00:38:31.400><c> of</c> three courses at a tuition cost of three courses
• </c><00:38:35.240><c> the</c><00:38:35.480><c> tuition</c> $2,265 per student besides the tuition $2,265
• per student besides the tuition what<00:38:36.040><c> about</c><00:38:36.240><c> the</c><00:38:36.400
• limit we can't charge our a $350 tuition limit we can't charge our regular regular regular rates<00:

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• fees, which prohibits Minnesota State colleges and universities from charging fees or increasing tuition
• So just to be clear, you don't currently use tuition for your athletic scholarships and this would not
• Uh, Representative Robbins, to your question, the university does not currently use tuition or student
• use tuition for your athletic<00:53:40.240><c> scholarships</c><00:53:40.800><c> and</c><00:53:40.960
• or student fees currently use uh tuition or student fees for<00:54:37.599><c> athlete</c><00:54:38.000

Summary: The conference committee received a nonpartisan walkthrough of the House and Senate side-by-side for higher education-related legislation, with staff identifying Senate-only, House-only, identical, and technical-difference provisions. Topics included paid blood donation leave for Minnesota State employees, a revised higher education attainment goal, athletic fee restrictions, developmental course disclosures, American Indian Scholars Program eligibility, protections and definitions for pregnant and parenting students, online program management contracts, student aid reporting, work-study and dual training grants, private and out-of-state postsecondary education regulation, private career school licensing and data privacy, college savings plan changes, and several University of Minnesota-related provisions. House-only items also included an unemployment insurance aid adjustment, a $1.5 million ongoing appropriation for an identity verification system to combat enrollment fraud, and $5,000 for Bemidji State University reforestation; Senate-only items included Board of Regents appointment language, limits on for-profit control of medical school curriculum, and reporting on for-profit funding in medical education. After the walkthrough, the committee moved to adopt the same and similar provisions and direct staff to make technical corrections. A senator asked about proposed adjustments to the pregnant and parenting student language, and the chair said amendments would be considered after adopting the same and similar provisions. The motion to adopt prevailed. During public testimony, Sydney Spre of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees supported the Senate’s paid blood donation leave language, saying it would create parity for Minnesota State employees and encourage blood and plasma donation. Commissioner Dennis Olsen of the Office of Higher Education thanked the committee for adopting most of the agency’s proposed language and said he was available to help clarify remaining differences. In response to questions, he explained the Senate’s higher education attainment goal proposal, saying it would extend and broaden the existing goal, raise the target from 70% to 75%, expand the age range, and use additional metrics and partner agencies; he also said the overall attainment rate had been 63.5 under the prior goal. The transcript ends as the commissioner was being asked whether the proposal would require additional appropriations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Tuition costs are going to show up in related services because that's where they're reported, because
• So you could break those out and determine, okay, of all the related services, this much is tuition.
• This is out-of-district tuition that districts are paying throughout the state.
• This is out-of-district tuition that districts are paying throughout the state.
• This is out-of-district tuition that districts are paying throughout the state.

Summary: The commission met to review and amend the minutes from its previous meeting, correcting the date, several spelling and wording errors, and clarifying references to a scholarship fund and a member’s title. The minutes were then approved as amended, with some members abstaining because they were not present at the prior meeting. The chair then turned to the commission’s work plan under SB 57, emphasizing the need to prioritize the statutory topics and identify which issues require additional research, documentation, and possible spreadsheets. Members discussed a broad range of special education cost drivers and policy questions, including student referral rates, why students are classified as other health impaired, whether referrals increased after COVID school closures, intervention processes before referral, the cost of services required under IEPs and 504 plans, differences between federal law, state law, and DOE rules, reporting of special education costs, out-of-district and residential placements, district sharing of resources, dispute resolution, graduation rates, and adult learning outcomes. Several members raised concerns that school environments, mental health, bullying, and possible overidentification may be contributing to rising special education numbers and costs, while others cautioned that some reported district percentages may be inflated or unclear because of how the data are counted. A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 742, which would eliminate prorated special education aid when state appropriations are insufficient and require the governor to draw a warrant to cover shortfalls. Representative Ames explained that the bill had been recommended for interim study because the commission is already examining special education costing, and he highlighted the gap between FY24 special education costs of about $977.1 million and state aid of $33.9 million for catastrophic aid, $67.4 million for differentiated aid, and $50.8 million in federal IDEA funds, leaving local districts to cover about $825.1 million. He argued the commission should ultimately make clear that both the federal government and the state should contribute more. The Department of Education, through Melissa White, answered questions about data and oversight. She said special education counts come from IEPs entered into the state system using SASIDs, that DOE monitors districts through both desk audits and on-site visits, and that billing is checked against the services listed in each student’s IEP. She also said DOE’s special education work is largely federally funded, with roughly $56.7 million received through IDEA this year and about $49.1 million flowing through to LEAs, while the department retains a small amount for administration and statewide support activities. Members also discussed how adequacy calculations use special education counts from the state system and how those figures are reported.

Transcript Highlights:

• And we had 27,454 high school students earning 142,624 credit hours, saving $13 million in tuition costs
• the resident rate on tuition and mandatory fees.
• the resident rate on tuition and mandatory fees.
• and mandatory fees is that our tuition and mandatory fees is that our non-resident<01:41:44.480><c>
• </c> two times the resident rate on tuition two times the resident rate on tuition and<01:41:50.800><

Summary: The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a roll call establishing a quorum. The committee then approved the prior meeting’s minutes. Members were reminded to silence cell phones, and the chair noted an informational item on capital plan amendments made by state agencies during the latest revision period before moving to university capital plan presentations. Eastern Kentucky University President David McFaden outlined EKU’s enrollment growth, strong Kentucky student retention, and signature programs in nursing, occupational therapy, criminal justice, education, manufacturing engineering, and aviation. EKU’s main capital priorities were a new health innovation project to support a proposed osteopathic medical program, including a $50 million escrow requirement until accreditation; a collaborative center for health innovation to address outdated health sciences facilities; a $5 million startup request for an air traffic control program; aircraft upgrades for the aviation fleet; and continued asset preservation funding. In response to questions, EKU said roughly 40% of the new health facility would be dedicated to the medical school, with shared simulation space for multiple health programs, and that aviation maintenance needs are currently being met through KCTCS partners but could be expanded if demand grows. KCTCS representatives then described the system’s scale and capital needs, noting service to 107,000 students, extensive dual credit and workforce training, and a network of 342 buildings across 70 campuses. They said prior legislative support, including $277 million in asset preservation and $90 million released for approved projects, had helped with safety, roofs, energy efficiency, and campus security. Their current priorities include about $30 million for systemwide safety and security upgrades, renovations tied to consolidation and footprint reduction under Senate Joint Resolution 179, and broader asset preservation needs estimated at roughly $300 million to $325 million. Members discussed the need to preserve and expand skilled trades training, and KCTCS said its plan includes construction trades and flexible, multiuse facilities that can adapt to changing workforce needs. No votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes, and the presentations concluded with questions and discussion only.

Bills: HB2059 , HB3920 , HB2992 , HB3267 , HB4457 , HB3800 , HB3818 , HB4425 , HB4427 , HB4430 , HB4431 , HB4333 , HB4340 , HB4343 , HB4344 , HB4363 , HB4229 , HB4230 , HB4236 , HB4246 , HB1979 , HB3431 , HB3052 , HB3047 , HB3048 , HB4092 , HB4302 , HB3261 , HB3704 , HB3312 , HB3546 , HB3849 , HCR1021 , HB4105 , HB4159 , HB4304 , HB3835 , HB3619 , HB4490 , HB3710 , HB4201 , HB3907 , HB3748

Keywords: health care, medication, inmates, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, reimbursement, county jails, medical expenses, sales tax exemption, nonprofit organizations, procurement, transplant research, Oklahoma Tax Code, HB2992, Data Center Customer Ratepayer Protection Act of 2026, Corporation Commission, Oklahoma utilities, ratepayer protection, data centers, artificial intelligence computing, AI data centers

Transcript Highlights:

• NUMBER ONE RANKED PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM IN AMERICA AND WE HAVE BY FAR THE LOWEST RESIDENT TUITION
• SEVEN YEARS AGO FLORIDA PROHIBITED SANCTUARY CITIES AND PROVIDED TAXPAYER BENEFITS SUCH AS IN STATE TUITION

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Craddick's scenario, it sounds like like the address was changed, and in our world, there's a Waiver
• municipalities we do do not receive sales tax revenue, relying primarily on state funding, property taxes, and tuition
• It's tuition and then local property tax revenues. Is that basically right? Okay.
• because we wouldn't want community colleges hoarding state appropriations, or certainly not hoarding tuition

Bills: HB19 , HB30 , HB851 , HB1663 , HB1681 , HB1769 , HB1937 , HB1979 , HB2428 , HB2433 , HB2825 , HB3159 , HB3424 , HB3486 , HB3487 , HB3504 , HB3605 , HB3879 , HB3994 , HB4382 , HB4752 , HB5444 , HB5446 , HB5447 , HB3199 , HB4847 , HB19

Committee: House Ways & Means

Keywords: local government debt, property tax, ad valorem tax, bond election, certificate of obligation, anticipation note, school district tax rate, voter-approval rate, debt service cap, municipal finance, county bonds, flood control district, hospital district, public works, tax transparency, property tax notice, November uniform election date, general obligation bonds, local debt reform, taxpayer notice

Transcript Highlights:

• And so I saw about tuition support and service commitments.
• So my question is, I'm assuming for the tuition support you also mean loan forgiveness.
• 44:56.319><c> and</c><00:44:56.720><c> service</c> saw about tuition support and service saw about tuition
• </c> &gt;&gt; so I'm going to look at both tuition &gt;&gt; so I'm going to look at both tuition support
• </c> recommendation we identified tuition recommendation we identified tuition support<03:57:03.040><

Transcript Highlights:

• But the rules for being in-state tuition at UNH are far stricter for them than it is what our rules to
• But the rules for being in-state tuition at UNH are far stricter for them than it is what our rules to
• But the rules for being in-state tuition at UNH are far stricter for them than it is what our rules to
• But the rules for being in-state tuition at UNH are far stricter for them than it is what our rules to
• The concerns is, if a student received in-state tuition solely because they registered to vote and not

Committee: House Election Law