Transcript Highlights:

• So they're learning in their own language, along with the translator who's teaching them English at the
• I’m just saying not everybody speaks English all the time.
• hospitals, in businesses, on farms, who would still be rural people, but not everybody speaks wonderful English

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Joint Policy Committee met to hear an overview of North Dakota’s Rural Health Transformation Program before taking up the related policy bills. Department of Health and Human Services staff explained that the state received a $198.9 million CMS award, with funding focused on four pillars: strengthening rural workforce, bringing care closer to home, connecting technology and data, and improving population health through prevention. They emphasized that the program is intended to benefit rural and frontier residents statewide, including areas near urban centers when the project serves rural patients, and that CMS approval, provider readiness, and sustainability will drive what can be funded. Committee members asked about how the program would treat border communities, frontier counties, urban providers serving rural patients, multilingual outreach, tribal consultation, and whether there would be information sessions for applicants. HHS said the website will include sign-up and translation features, more listening sessions and training will be offered, and a rural health tribal liaison will work alongside the existing Medicaid tribal liaison. Members also raised concerns about reimbursement timing, cash flow for providers, and whether projects in urban areas could qualify; HHS responded that urban projects may be eligible if they clearly benefit rural residents. The department then outlined the four policy bills tied to the grant scoring: nutrition continuing medical education for physicians, the presidential fitness test, the physician assistant compact, and pharmacist scope of practice. HHS said these policy actions were incentivized in the federal funding opportunity and that failure to pass them could reduce future funding. The committee did not take final action on the bills in this portion of the transcript and recessed for lunch before moving on.

Transcript Highlights:

• essentially the number of times that a student moves between schools within the same district, and then English
• Those include English learners, students with disabilities, economically disadvantaged students, and
• basic language, to have their home language, to be able to read and write in their own language, in English

Transcript Highlights:

• We need these compacts in particular because PED and the federal education systems Are based on English
• it's funded by the BIA, but it's a grant It's called Tribally Controlled, but the medium is still English
• But still The medium of instruction is still English. Thank you. I say, I learned something.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are focused on common core English, mathematics, uh, the NGSSS for science.
• We are focused on common core English, mathematics, uh, the NGSSS for science.
• Well, we do have our English language arts, our science, our math, all of our core standards that we
• Well, we do have our English language arts, our science, our math, all of our core standards that we
• this past year ensured that in English this past year ensured that in English language<02:28:08.680

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Education held an informational/budget briefing with presentations from the State Library System, the School Facilities Authority, and the Department of Education. The chair opened the meeting by outlining the order of presentations and noting that members would hold questions until after all three agencies had testified. The discussion focused on each agency’s priorities for the upcoming biennium and their budget requests. State Librarian Stacy Aldridge described library usage and services, emphasizing strong demand for physical and digital materials, internet and Wi-Fi access, programs, Kanopy streaming, and PressReader. She highlighted digital literacy classes, RFID self-check and smart shelving improvements, and the role of libraries as community hubs. The library’s budget request included an additional $1.2 million for security guards, $48.484 million for FY 26-27 to support popup libraries during temporary closures and other needs, $500,000 for repair and maintenance, $2 million for Kap planning and design, and $25 million each year for lump-sum capital funding. Mallerie Fujitani said the lump-sum funding is needed to keep roughly 50 projects moving and to avoid delays in construction. School Facilities Authority Executive Director Ricky Fujitani explained the agency’s startup history and its programs for preschools, Central Maui schools, and workforce housing. He said the authority is using standardized, prefabricated, programmatic approaches to speed delivery and improve maintainability, citing prior preschool renovations as a successful model. He reported that of $389 million appropriated, $106 million was released, with $81 million for preschools, $20 million for Central Maui schools, and $5 million for workforce housing; he also noted the workforce housing program was reduced after Maui fire-related reallocations. He said the pilot workforce housing site at Mililani High School has been awarded and pointed to University of Hawaiʻi student housing projects as a model. Superintendent Hayashi then began the Department of Education presentation, introducing DOE leadership and outlining the department’s mission to support academic achievement, character development, and student well-being. He noted the department serves more than 152,000 students in 258 public schools and employs over 42,000 people, with nearly 54% of students facing significant challenges. He framed the budget request around the department’s strategic plan to prepare graduates for college, careers, or military service. The transcript ends during the DOE presentation, before any committee votes or formal actions are taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• So very similar to the department schools other than English learners.
• So very similar to the department schools other than English learners.
• So very similar to the department schools other than English learners.
• So very similar to the department schools other than English learners.
• Setting, students who are English language learners, foster care, homeless, whose family income is no

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Representative English.
• Rep-<01:47:08.200> Representative<01:47:08.640> English. Rep- Representative English.
• Rep- Representative English.
• English because they work so many hours. English because they work so many hours.
• Cannot develop the language English.

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and then spent much of the early portion of the meeting on recognitions and announcements. Members welcomed the Sikh community of Colorado for Baisakhi and Sikh Awareness and Appreciation Month, noted a langar lunch at the Capitol, and announced a governor’s proclamation later in the day. Other tributes highlighted Jackie Robinson Day, Golf Day at the Capitol, an upcoming Colorado Religious Freedom Day event, and an Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority legislative day and youth leadership program. After announcements, the chamber moved to business and adopted a motion making Senate Bill 109, Senate Bill 104, House Bill 1245, and Senate Bill 121 special orders for April 15. The House then began consideration of Senate Bill 109, concerning building code standards for accessible housing supported by public money. The committee report was adopted, and debate focused on an amendment offered by Representative Soper to exempt counties that have not adopted international building codes. Supporters argued the amendment would protect rural counties, preserve local control, and avoid higher housing costs and budget strain; opponents said it would undermine uniformity. Several members spoke in favor, and the amendment was still under discussion when the transcript ended. Committee announcements also noted that Judiciary would hear Senate Bill 1283 and Senate Bill 85, Education would hear Senate Bill 153, and Health and Human Services would hear Senate Bill 60, House Bill 1347, and House Bill 1314 for action only. The House also heard that House Bill 1250 would be pushed to the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• plus additional skills, and particularly I'm talking about my multilingual learners and my new-to-English
• plus additional skills, and particularly I'm talking about my multilingual learners and my new-to-English
• plus additional skills, and particularly I'm talking about my multilingual learners and my new-to-English
• plus additional skills, and particularly I'm talking about my multilingual learners and my new-to-English
• plus additional skills, and particularly I'm talking about my multilingual learners and my new-to-English

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The amount for English language learner differentiated aid will jump to $849, and the amount for addressing
• <00:35:52.319> language pupil the amount for English language pupil the amount for English
• It's got the largest number of students that are English language learners.
• It's got the largest number of students that are English language learners.
• English language learners, and you can see how Manchester dwarfs all the other communities.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The executive session focused primarily on HB 563, which revises the school funding formula, especially the adequate education grant amounts for special education students and the treatment of fiscal capacity disparity aid. Representative Ladd moved OTPA on Amendment 06508, explaining that FY 26 would largely hold the current formula steady, while FY 27 would increase several per-pupil amounts, including base cost, free and reduced-price meals, English language learner aid, and special education differentiated aid. He said the special education change was based on estimated case loads across disability categories and that the amendment also reinstates fiscal capacity disparity aid, using a formula intended to better assist property-poor communities. Several members supported the amendment as a step in the right direction, saying it better recognizes special education costs and separates property wealth from low-income student counts. Others raised concerns about the lack of time and the absence of a printed spreadsheet showing how the fiscal capacity disparity aid would affect each town. In response, sponsors said the spreadsheet existed, that the LBA had copies, and that the amendment would help about 40 target towns, while Manchester would be the main community receiving less under the new formula because of prior shifts in the extraordinary needs grant. Discussion also covered the broader impact of the bill, with members noting that about 200 of the state’s 245 cities and towns would see an increase and 45 a decrease under the proposed FY 27 changes. Supporters argued the bill was a compromise given limited revenues and that it should move forward so it can be considered by the full House and then Finance. No final vote on the amendment or bill was taken in the portion provided, and the chair indicated the committee was still deciding whether it had enough information to proceed.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:48:38.599> language<01:48:39.480> it acquiring the English language it acquiring
• the English language it doesn't<01:48:39.960> have<01:48:40.080> to<01:48:40.199> be
• one for English as a second<01:49:34.199> language<01:49:34.880> one<01:49:35.040>
• While there, my advisor suggested that I look into becoming an English teacher, and that is where I am
• teacher and that is where I am English teacher and that is where I am today<01:57:27.520> um<

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• placement English, which prepared me for college.
• Ryan, for getting me through all the different experiences I had while learning English.
• School is very much where I learned to speak English and learned the ABCs and numbers, and over time
• School is very much where I learned to speak English and learned the ABCs and numbers, and over time
• and learned where to speak English and learned where learned<01:41:30.480> the<01:41:30.560><

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She said she communicates using ASL, and that spoken English is conveyed through the ASL interpreter,
• questions or statements are translated into another language, and in her mind she interprets them into English
• She added that the spoken English she hears and the English she interprets from ASL may be close enough
• So your spoken English and the English So your spoken English and the English that<02:07:56.880> I
• <02:07:59.280> may that I interpret from ASL to English may that I interpret from ASL to English

Bills: HB2488, HB2456

Keywords: disability, communication access, deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, healthcare, sign language interpreters, auxiliary aids, weight loss, GLP-1 drugs, obesity, Medicaid, healthcare costs, 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HP 1972, which would create a nonrefundable family caregiver tax credit, and on a related tax measure to increase the existing dependent care tax credit. Supporters of HP 1972, including AARP, the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and others, said unpaid caregivers are essential to keeping kūpuna and other loved ones at home and described significant out-of-pocket costs. The Department of Taxation and the Tax Foundation raised technical concerns, including the need to avoid overlap with existing credits and to prevent double-dipping. The department said taxpayers can claim credits to the extent allowed, but recommended explicit language barring the same costs from being claimed under more than one credit. No vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair moved the bill along after questions. The committee then heard HP 1975, which would repeal the sunset on the state rent supplement program for kūpuna. AARP, Catholic Charities Hawaii, the Executive Office on Aging, and others supported making the program permanent, saying it helps low-income older adults avoid eviction and homelessness and allows them to remain in affordable housing. Catholic Charities described clients who were paying unsustainable shares of income for rent before receiving the supplement. Members also shared a constituent example of an elderly retiree who needed the subsidy to stay housed. Written support was noted from additional organizations and individuals. Next, the committee took up HB 1706, which would expand Medicaid prospective payment reimbursement to include mental health services furnished in federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics by mental health professionals under supervision. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill, and DHS said it appreciated the intent to address workforce shortages and expand training, but cautioned that unlicensed professionals cannot currently bill Medicaid and that a state plan amendment would be needed, with limited precedent for approval. Members asked about the likelihood and timing of federal approval and whether the bill could help rural areas; DHS said approval is uncertain and the process can take time, though it saw possible alignment with the state’s rural health transformation efforts. The committee also discussed HB 546, a three-year health coverage continuity pilot program for people losing Medicaid coverage. DHS, the Attorney General’s office, DCCA, Catholic Charities, the University of Hawaii, and others testified, with DHS warning that federal changes could increase uninsured rates and that the state may need to act quickly. Catholic Charities and others emphasized the risk to Medicaid recipients, including homeless and near-elderly residents, while DHS explained the state’s existing premium assistance program for certain immigrants and compared it to the proposed pilot. The excerpt ends during discussion of that comparison, with no vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Hoselton continued describing how his friend later came out in senior English class while presenting
• The very first day of my first semester in PSEO, my English professor played the TED Talk, “The Danger
• I do know German too, but we are supposed to be recording in English right now, Mr. Chair.
• Quam, could you just clarify in English your vote, please? No, thank you.
• your vote please just clarify in English your vote please no<01:43:29.440> thank<01:43:29.639

Bills: HF29, HF921, HF922, HF1048, HF1049

Keywords: railroad, infrastructure, transportation funding, environmental remediation, capital investment, HF921, tax increment financing, TIF, excess tax increment, school district aid, levy adjustment, property tax levy, education finance, Minnesota education aid, decertification, local government finance, school funding formula, state aid reduction, referendum equalization aid, debt service equalization

Transcript Highlights:

• I would like to respectfully request that the committee consider the board member composition instead
• 00:53:50.760> the<00:53:51.360> board<00:53:51.680> member<00:53:51.960> composition
• consider the board member composition consider the board member composition instead<00:53:53.600

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Investors would not be able to consider employee turnover or retention, the composition of a company's
• :34:48.079> or<00:34:48.480> retention,<00:34:49.200> the<00:34:49.440> composition
• turnover or retention, the composition turnover or retention, the composition of<00:34:50.079>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chris, if you're going to start talking about this, this is to tell the treasurer about the composition
• treasurer<03:58:58.640> about<03:58:59.159> the<03:58:59.520> the<03:58:59.960> composition
• <03:59:00.960> of treasurer about the the composition of treasurer about the the composition

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee first dealt with a brew pub license bill and corrected some sponsor/subcommittee roster confusion before voting to pass it without discussion. The main item of debate was a bill allowing patrons to take purchased alcoholic beverages into restrooms. The bill sponsor argued the current ban is outdated, rarely enforced, and can leave patrons vulnerable if they set drinks down and leave them unattended; he said establishments could still post their own rules if they wished. Liquor enforcement officials said they were neutral overall, noting both the risk of drinks being left unattended and the practical concerns of underage drinking, over-service, and restroom monitoring. Testimony split between those who saw the law as a non-issue and those who viewed it as a safety measure. One member said he had never seen anyone take alcohol into a restroom and opposed changing the law, while others cited drink-spiking concerns and suggested alternatives such as safe zones behind bars, drink covers, and alert apps. Industry representatives said many operators would prefer to keep the law as-is because it helps with policing drinking in their establishments, though they acknowledged the motivation behind the bill. Several members also raised drafting concerns, saying the wording was confusing about whether the rule applied to patrons or establishments. The committee ultimately voted 5-2 to recommend the bill ought to pass. Afterward, members discussed amending the language to clarify that establishments could still prohibit the practice, but one member suggested a simpler fix would be to strike the word “restroom” from the prohibition entirely. The committee then unanimously voted to reconsider its action so the language could be revised later, and the amendment discussion was left for a future meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• adjusted again, and compensatory revenue was combined with what was formerly LEP, now what we call English
• We have been able to achieve this success by providing high-integrity targeted support to our English
• <01:36:22.880> language targeted support to our English language targeted support to our English
• :11.360> our academically struggling, including our academically struggling, including our English
• English language learners. English language learners.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Wouldn't it be great if we could post this in languages other than just English?
• And one of them was to do even a modern, a different translation in English.
• Well, that's what I think some people try to suggest, that he was an Anglo and spoke English.
• I mean, if you come speaking English, I think you can certainly enhance.
• I mean, if you come speaking English, I think you can certainly enhance.

Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, heard an invocation and pledges, and approved several routine motions, including excuses for absent members, permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, and postponements of some bills. The chamber also received a Senate message listing measures passed by the Senate and adopted a memorial resolution honoring the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, with remarks entered into the House Journal after a moment of silence. The House then took up a long third-reading calendar and passed a series of Senate bills on topics including criminal justice and corrections sunset provisions (SB 2405, 2406, 2407), election equipment testing (SB 2166), electric grid reliability and attack-preparedness exercises (SB 2148), firefighter collective bargaining (SB 777), DFPS and foster care procedures (SB 1141 and SB 1398), Medicare durable medical equipment billing (SB 1330), property tax administration (SB 1453), probate cleanup and record transfers (SB 1448 and SB 1839), mental health filing procedures (SB 53), school residency for children in safety placements (SB 226), diabetes-related amputation study (SB 1677), rapid DNA analysis (SB 1723), utility rate transparency and capacity cost recovery (SB 1664 and SB 1856), community supervision eligibility (SB 552 postponed), and other measures. Several bills passed with broad support, while others drew notable opposition and narrower margins, including SB 777, SB 2137, SB 2111, SB 1677, SB 1936, SB 1453, and SB 38. Two bills drew especially extensive debate. SB 2148, dealing with electricity supply chain reliability and tabletop exercises for critical facilities, was discussed as a grid-security measure aimed at coordinating utilities, law enforcement, ERCOT, and the PUC in the event of physical attacks; it passed unanimously. SB 1936, changing how LSD is measured for criminal prosecution from dosage-based to weight-based calculations, prompted extended discussion about lab consistency, carrier mediums, and fairness in charging, with supporters saying it would help crime labs and law enforcement and opponents warning it could distort penalties depending on the medium used; it passed 108-26. The House also passed SB 36, creating a Homeland Security Division within DPS, after questions about overlap with TDEM and the cost of adding personnel. Late in the day, the House debated SB 38 on eviction procedures, with supporters saying it targeted squatters and streamlined removal of unauthorized occupants, and opponents arguing it would make evictions too easy and worsen homelessness; it passed 85-44. The chamber also began debate on SB 37, a major higher-education governance bill that would expand governing-board oversight of curriculum, hiring, and faculty senates; members raised concerns about academic freedom, faculty governance, and the impact on humanities programs, and debate was still underway at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the next $5 million is based on English learner counts.
• And then on top of that, there's small numbers that do some adjustments based on English learner and,
• Thank you. adjustments based on English learner and adjustments based on English learner and um<00:35
• Walz, for maintaining the tie to inflation in our basic formula, maintaining our commitment to our English
• And on average, they serve significantly more English language learners, homeless and highly mobile youth

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a student chooses and takes the test and they show that they are competent in math or science or English
• a student chooses and takes the test and they show that they are competent in math or science or English
• So we have all these WPU add-ons for at-risk kids, for English as a second language, for special education
• that they're still studying, you know, math or calculus, but it's high level or the same thing with English
• You know, math or calculus, but it's high level, or the same thing with English, honors, or AP, you're

Keywords: 985, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , office of the California Department of Education offering DLI programs in California's top five English
• Seventy percent of my district speaks a primary language other than English, and our schools offer DLI
• And some may overly rely on English materials as teachers provide instruction in the target language.
• There's no pedagogical training to teach English learners, to even teach the subject matter they're teaching
• , much less the special students like English learners who have additional needs.

Keywords: 988, house, all