Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs. Caitlin, can you go in call room?
• HB 310 is simply an appropriation bill for $1 million to expand the planning, the development, the study
• , but oftentimes it's very difficult for a developer to go in and develop that area.
• And so that really attracts developers to that area, and that's how a lot of cities are able to build
• Those would be residential multifamily developments in which: number one, five or more dwelling units

Bills: HB310, HB323, HM51, HB194

Keywords: museum, cultural affairs, lowrider, Espanola, appropriation, feasibility study, broadband access, low-income, rural areas, Indian nations, affordable internet, employment opportunities, detention centers, immigration, economic development, repurposing facilities, job transition, rural development, housing, affordable housing

Summary: The committee first heard HB 310, which would appropriate $1 million to continue planning and development for a Lowrider Museum in Española. The sponsor said the project had already received prior capital outlay support and that the new funding would help complete the study and planning phase for a future world-class museum. Members asked about the increase from prior funding levels and discussed the broader cultural and economic value of the museum. The bill received a do pass recommendation. The committee then considered House Memorial 51, which addresses the economic and community impacts of ending civil immigration detention in affected rural counties. Sponsors said the memorial would call for planning around workforce retraining, economic diversification, community services, and possible repurposing of detention facilities. Testimony and discussion focused on the short-term harm to workers and local economies, the role of Workforce Solutions, and concerns about family disruption, housing, property tax revenue, and whether facilities might close or be repurposed. The memorial passed on a 7-0 vote. Finally, the committee took up HB 194, which would expand the Metropolitan Redevelopment Code to support housing shortage areas and workforce housing through property tax freezes and related incentives. The sponsor and Apartment Association representative described the bill as a tool to increase missing-middle housing, with affordability requirements, voucher acceptance, audits, and reporting provisions. Members raised concerns that the amendment was very large and difficult to absorb in the committee timeframe, and several said they preferred to see it as a substitute bill. No motion was made to adopt the amendment, HB 194 was rolled, and HB 323 was also rolled because the sponsor was unavailable. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 4115 raises the professional development cap from 150 to a maximum up to a.
• that you know, the legislature kind of tends to provide at times excessive amount of professional development
• Summer to go with a fine tooth comb over all the professional development that we require.
• And that's my Understanding is that's why we really honed in on this development of local control with
• The requirement of books means students are not getting the highest level of curriculum, because we've

Bills: HB4359, HB4115, HB3467, HB2978, HB3026, HB3032

Keywords: statewide assessments, student testing, testing window, end-of-year testing, Oklahoma Academic Standards, Oklahoma School Testing Program, State Board of Education, grade 3-8, alternate assessment, students with disabilities, special education, cognitive disabilities, assessment calendar, school year calendar, education accountability, academic standards, math intervention, advanced mathematics, course placement, college and career readiness

Transcript Highlights:

• When developers hire North Coast to safely lower and cut turbine towers and blades into short manageable
• for proper handling of turbine components replaced during repowering, which is a step wind farm developers
• The idea that really the original developer ends up selling these components or whatever the remnants
• That's where we're seeing the biggest issues as they go out with our development services and permitting
• Uh, and actually on the Giddings Economic Development board.

Bills: HB205

Keywords: disaster recovery, economic development, grants, loans, infrastructure support

Bills: HB3522, HB4300, HB4359, HB4363, HB3467, HB2987, HB3076, HB4427, HB3026, HB3288, HB3315, HB3711, HB3885

Keywords: alcoholic beverages, ABLE Commission, licensing, regulation, annual reporting, child care, criminal history, background checks, child safety, Oklahoma laws, advisory committees, statewide assessments, student testing, testing window, end-of-year testing, Oklahoma Academic Standards, Oklahoma School Testing Program, State Board of Education, grade 3-8, alternate assessment

Bills: HB3522, HB4300, HB4359, HB4363, HB3467, HB2987, HB3076, HB4427, HB3026, HB3288, HB3315, HB3711, HB3885

Keywords: alcoholic beverages, ABLE Commission, licensing, regulation, annual reporting, child care, criminal history, background checks, child safety, Oklahoma laws, advisory committees, statewide assessments, student testing, testing window, end-of-year testing, Oklahoma Academic Standards, Oklahoma School Testing Program, State Board of Education, grade 3-8, alternate assessment

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including Veteran of the Week Aaron Hudkins, Psychologist of the Day Dr. Emily Corley, Doctor of the Day Dr. Jason Reagan, and a proclamation recognizing Brain Injury Awareness Month. Members also honored the Edmond Santa Fe Palm Squad and Ava Garrett for assembling and funding 100 overnight bags for children entering foster care in memory of fallen Oklahoma service member Serena Butcher. On legislation, the House considered and passed House Bill 3522, a transparency measure requiring alcoholic beverage licensees to report disciplinary actions annually, and House Bill 4300, a Department of Human Services request bill aligning child-care worker assessment language with federal requirements. Both bills advanced without debate; HB 3522 passed by recorded vote and HB 4300 passed 94-0. The chamber also recognized 17 Pages of the Week and heard multiple announcements, including caucus and birthday notices, a planned Jeans Day request tied to Bob Wills Day, and the introduction of Oklahoma Task Force One members and a search dog. The House then adjourned until Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• the undergraduate curriculum. undergraduate curriculum.
• There's 700 core curriculum.
• it into curriculum rather than keeping core curriculum as it was previously.
• In terms of the core curriculum, how often?
• The potential this bill has to censor curriculum and impede students' development as critical thinkers

Bills: SB37, SB1489, SB452, SB724, SB1067, SB1741, SB1273

Keywords: higher education, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council, ombudsman, faculty governance, decision-making, transparency, public meetings, department head, employment approval, public institutions, institutional oversight, education, funding, accountability, state budget, school performance, employment, Texas legislation

Bills: SB37, SB1489, SB452, SB724, SB1067, SB1741, SB1273

Keywords: higher education, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council, ombudsman, faculty governance, decision-making, transparency, public meetings, department head, employment approval, public institutions, institutional oversight, education, funding, accountability, state budget, school performance, employment, Texas legislation

Transcript Highlights:

• Throughout my career, I focused on workforce development, collaborating with local school districts to
• Is it the, uh, Council on Education and Workplace or Workforce Development?
• Workforce Development, workforce. OK. I wanna make sure we get that right.
• Education and workforce development and you got it. OK.
• House Bill 2 prioritizes career development through the Rural Pathways excellent partnership, offering

Bills: HB20, HB120

Keywords: fraudulent solicitation, disaster relief, nonprofit organizations, criminal penalties, consumer protection, fraud prevention, charitable donations, higher education, LGBTQ studies, DEI studies, program prohibition, educational policy, HB120, Texas, Texas Education Code, public universities, public colleges, queer studies, gay studies, lesbian studies

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs. Caitlin, can you go in call room?
• So there are places that have a lot of foreclosed buildings, places that need development.
• But oftentimes it's very difficult for a developer to go in and develop that area. Yeah.
• But oftentimes it's very difficult for a developer to go in and develop that area.
• The development would set a minimum of 20% of their units as affordable.

Bills: HB310, HB323, HM51, HB194

Keywords: museum, cultural affairs, lowrider, Espanola, appropriation, feasibility study, broadband access, low-income, rural areas, Indian nations, affordable internet, employment opportunities, detention centers, immigration, economic development, repurposing facilities, job transition, rural development, housing, affordable housing

Bills: SB 3038, SB 3045, SB 3065, SB 3069, SB 3071, HB 2025, HB 2149, HB 3370, HB 4205, HB 4506, HB 5424, HB 5652, HB 24, HB 3687

Keywords: Montgomery County, management district, special district, bond issuance, assessments, taxation, public welfare, economic development, nonconforming uses, zoning regulations, land use, property rights, municipal authority, municipal utility district, eminent domain, bonds, taxes, public infrastructure, water supply, zoning

Transcript Highlights:

• We have FBM mentor programs and professional development. That is $2.25 million.
• Base, and that develops a great amount of trust with the student.
• </c> support um as I mentioned Talent develop support um as I mentioned Talent develop Talent<01:37:23.800
• One of GreenSeam's main focus areas is talent development, retention, and attraction.
• </c><01:43:09.000><c> both</c> valuable opportunities to develop both valuable opportunities to develop

Bills: HF711, HF653

Keywords: agriculture, agricultural education, leadership development, Minnesota Agricultural Education and Leadership Council, MAELC, chapter 41D, grant funding, general fund appropriation, commissioner of agriculture, farm education, youth agriculture programs, ag literacy, workforce development, extension education, research funding, extension services, technology transfer, grant programs, 1183, house

Keywords: S.127 Housing and Housing Development, 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that case, where they're highlighting the misuse of subsection O and the problems with how it has developed

Bills: HB116

Keywords: film industry, incentives, economic development, state funding, media production

Transcript Highlights:

• That became a marquee project in the workforce development arena for us in economic development. ...and
• You have mentioned some key words: workforce development pathways, which is important when you develop
• “You have mentioned some key words, workforce development pathways, which is important when you develop
• curriculum and community colleges.
• Additionally, the bill prohibits a municipality from assessing a development fee on the development of

Bills: HB2107, HB2588, HB2946, HB2950

Keywords: SNAP, nutrition assistance, fast food, vitamins, waiver, food policy, municipal planning, homeowner association, building permits, single-family home, property rights, design standards, development fees, municipalities, infrastructure, public services, annual reporting, property development, tourism improvement area, TIA

Transcript Highlights:

• When Florida's research and development tax credit was created in 2011, it was capped at $9 million.
• state has received far more tax credit requests than the cap currently allows for research and development
• This bill raises the cap for the research and development tax credit in Florida from $9 million to $50
• Shortly after purchase, the puppy developed a serious liver condition.
• The first part relates to the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program.

Bills: S0214, S0482, S7030, S0554, S0994, S0998, S1004, S1074, S1076, S1266

Keywords: special districts, funding, financial assistance, rural community, state agency, economic development, artificial intelligence, personal data protection, consumer rights, chatbot, deceptive practices, government contracts, public records, consumer protection, data privacy, investigations, proprietary information, chatbots, Florida statutes, nonprofit

Summary: The Committee on Commerce and Tourism heard and advanced several bills focused on economic development, consumer protection, workforce issues, and technology. SB 1076 would raise Florida’s research and development tax credit cap from $9 million to $50 million beginning with the 2027 allocation, and it was reported favorably. SB 1266, as amended, creates a cybersecurity experiential internship and clearance-readiness program with Cyber Florida and was also reported favorably. SB 554, a Florida Bar-backed update to the not-for-profit corporations statute, was approved without opposition. SB 1004, aimed at protecting buyers of dogs and cats from deceptive sales practices and predatory financing at retail pet stores, received supportive testimony from animal welfare advocates and was reported favorably. SB 1074, which sets rounding rules for cash transactions if pennies are unavailable, also passed favorably. The committee also considered SB 998, the Department of Commerce package, which combines updates to the Small Cities CDBG program, clarification of rural community eligibility, an exemption from a reverter clause for military-related land conveyances, and revisions to E-Verify enforcement. The E-Verify portion drew the most debate, with questions about employer cure periods, treatment of current investigations, and whether the bill creates a loophole for independent contractors. Senator Smith opposed the bill, arguing it creates unequal enforcement between employers and immigrant workers, while Senator Wright supported the military-related provisions. SB 998 was reported favorably on a divided vote. SB 214, which expands the rural community definition to include special districts in rural counties, was reported favorably. The committee then took up SB 482, an artificial intelligence consumer-protection bill that creates an “AI bill of rights” covering companion chatbots, parental controls for minors, data privacy, de-identified data, unauthorized use of likeness, and enforcement by the Attorney General, with a limited private cause of action for minors. The bill drew extensive testimony both in support and in opposition, including concerns about privacy, age verification, and enforcement, but it was reported favorably. Finally, the committee approved SPB 7030, a public-records exemption tied to Department of Legal Affairs investigations under the AI bill, and adjourned after members requested to be recorded on certain votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• And when we have ports that their whole mission is to do economic development across the state, and they
• do a lot of good in rural communities that bring in a lot of development, and then to drag them under
• the rules of CETA... ...development, and then to drag them under the rules of CETA, it then increases
• , true clean energy development.
• are costing less, it's because if you look at our own state budgets... ...developments are costing less

Bills: SB6013

Keywords: ski areas, winter sports, terminology, recreation, economic development, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Bills: HF2440

Keywords: labor market, employment, economic development, funding, data analysis, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> development fund base budget set forth. development fund base budget set forth.
• </c> move to the workforce development fund. move to the workforce development fund.
• Uh the workforce development fund?
• </c> development? Commissioner, uh, Mr. development?
• </c> development areas to map that out. Yes. development areas to map that out. Yes.

Bills: HF2440

Keywords: labor market, employment, economic development, funding, data analysis, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, the benefit of a curriculum such as this is it could lead to a hunter certification, which is a
• So we'll do it before school or we'll do it after school in accordance with our curriculum and things
• It also directs Bessie and the Department of Education to develop implementing rules.
• I thought it was something we developed or we utilized, but it’s a separate company.
• I thought it was something we developed or we utilized, but it's a separate company.

Bills: HCR97, HR168, SCR33, SB112, SB346, SB347, SB353, SB488, SB504, SB507, SB518

Keywords: hunting education, firearm safety, outdoor recreation, curriculum, youth education, conservation, collegiate athletics, funding, name image likeness, revenue sharing, NCAA compliance, student-athlete support, financial sustainability, work-based learning, task force, internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, cooperative education, co-op

Transcript Highlights:

• Currently, if McNeese were to establish an economic development... wait, let me say this.
• So each economic development district would be required to have a board.
• So, like currently, the LSU Economic Development District, they have a board.
• It outlines that for these economic development district boards. Correct. Okay.
• She said it is a good partnership with workforce development and appreciated the bill. Rep.

Bills: HR175, HCR81, SB105, SB290, SB304, SB374, SB522

Keywords: TOPS, education funding, workforce development, postsecondary education, Louisiana Works, tech training, declining enrollment, public schools, school districts, Louisiana Department of Education, state superintendent, school closures, budget cuts, teacher layoffs, school consolidation, education policy, enrollment decline, birth rates, migration, private schools