Transcript Highlights:

• and verify bids, identify pricing issues, recommend value engineering opportunities, and help institutions
• On page 4, you can see table 3 illustrates the rise in institutions' supplemental funding.
• With LFC and HED prioritizing supplemental funding above new project requests, institutions, contractors
• Now moving on to page 18, the last page of the report, LFC suggests that institutions be required to
• If every institution knew and would get involved and look at the scope of work in detail.

Transcript Highlights:

• The ambitious project envisions a binational, multi-institution hub of higher education and innovation
• The goal is to streamline educational pathways and align programs from the institutions so that we can
• Our public institutions are full.
• Our concern, Private or private-for-profit institution or somewhere out of state.
• But it would not require that those institutions enter into a project labor agreement. Correct.

Committee: House Higher Education

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee heard several measures focused on access, affordability, workforce development, and campus operations. AB 662, by Assembly Member Alvarez, would create a South County Higher Education Task Force to explore a mixed-use intersegmental higher education institution in Chula Vista to address the lack of nearby public university access in South San Diego County. Supporters, including Southwestern College and the City of Chula Vista, described the region as a “college desert” and said the bill would help coordinate UC, CSU, and community college partners. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended motion. Members also heard AB 885, which would establish a College Access for All Fund to help address college affordability and student debt, and AB 730, which would provide funding to support development of a medical school in the Central Valley to address physician shortages. Both measures drew support from higher education and labor groups, and both were advanced to Appropriations. AB 1400 proposed a pilot allowing up to 15 community college districts to offer a bachelor’s degree in nursing; supporters said it would expand affordable BSN access and help meet the nursing shortage, while CSU and nursing education groups opposed it, arguing existing ADN-to-BSN pathways and clinical/faculty limits made the proposal unnecessary or harmful. The committee still moved AB 1400 forward on a due pass vote. The committee also considered AB 1235, requiring CSU design-build projects to use a skilled and trained workforce, which supporters said would improve safety, training, and local job opportunities; it passed on a due pass vote. AB 1247, aimed at limiting contracting out of classified school and community college jobs and requiring stronger training and retirement protections, drew support from labor groups but opposition from school and community college organizations concerned about flexibility, costs, and implementation; it advanced on a divided vote. Finally, the committee heard AB 1470, which would allow student housing loan funds to be used in downtown and commercial districts, and ACA 3, which would require UC to offer limited down payment loans to eligible support staff; both drew support from labor and housing advocates, while UC opposed ACA 3 as inconsistent with its mission and financially burdensome. The transcript ends during discussion of ACA 3, with no final action shown for that item.

Transcript Highlights:

• You know, when it comes to our youth, we definitely want to be able to send them to these institutions
• you're saying, meaning the Mexico institutions, they would be the ones funding the money.
• that are less reputable than our public institutions.
• Yes, free to the individual, but what does that look like for the institution?
• Yes, free to the individual, but what does that look like for the institution?

Summary: The Assembly Higher Education Committee met with a quorum and first approved a consent calendar containing AB 341, AB 1098, and AB 1316, sending those measures to the Human Services, Judiciary, and Appropriations Committees respectively. The committee then heard AB 977, which would require CSU to audit surplus land and work with California tribes to identify three regional burial sites for Native American remains that cannot yet be repatriated. Supporters, including tribal leaders and archaeology groups, said the bill is needed to honor ancestors and address the large number of remains still held by CSU; CSU said it is committed to repatriation but had no formal position. The bill passed to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. Members also heard AB 1093, creating a California-Mexico higher education exchange program, and AB 1035, expanding the California College Promise to cover tuition for students pursuing community college bachelor’s degrees. AB 1093 drew support for strengthening cross-border educational and economic ties, but some members raised concerns about border-region sewage problems and the bill’s budget implications; it was held for later consideration. AB 1035 received strong support from community college leaders and faculty who said it would help low-income and first-generation students complete workforce-focused bachelor’s degrees, but several members questioned whether it would stretch Prop. 98 funding and whether the state should prioritize broader affordability concerns. AB 1035 passed to Appropriations on a 3-2 vote. The committee next approved AB 922, which would let the University of California keep access to federal criminal-history information for hiring background checks, avoiding delays and added costs if statutory authority is required. UC said the bill is needed to maintain safety and hiring operations, and it passed to Public Safety on a 5-0 vote. AB 1346, protecting military dependents from losing in-state residency status because of family travel, also passed unanimously to Military and Veterans Affairs. AB 1212, allowing UC to use low-income housing tax credits to build affordable housing for faculty and staff on UC land, drew support from UC and labor groups but opposition from members concerned about preferential access to public resources; it was held for later action. Finally, the committee approved AB 500 and AB 684, both aimed at increasing transparency around UC admissions policy changes and UC BOARS decision-making, sending AB 500 to Education and AB 684 to Governmental Organization, each on 5-0 votes. The hearing then moved on to AB 1122 on dual enrollment, with the author and witnesses presenting the bill as a way to expand college access for high school students.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> the largest sponsoring institution the largest sponsoring institution across<00:02:43.239><c> the
• </c> profit um U Venture um the institution profit um U Venture um the institution Mayo<00:29:14.840>
• </c><00:42:39.520><c> provide</c> don't how how many institutions provide don't how how many institutions
• </c> if there are any private institutions if there are any private institutions that<00:42:47.920><c
• </c> Communications with the institutions Communications with the institutions those<00:46:59.400><c>

Committee: House Higher Education Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Kendra Kaiser from the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute. Welcome, Dr. Kaiser.
• I'm the director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, IWRI for short.
• I'm the director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute. IWRI for short.
• We are one of 54 sister institutions across the country.
• There's a water research institute in every state and territory.

Committee: House Agricultural Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Now it's any institution, any college or state institution in Kentucky, so you can go to UK, UofL, or
• any of the state institutions with accredited programs.
• </c><00:13:09.399><c> College</c><00:13:09.880><c> State</c> it's any institution College State it's
• any institution College State institution<00:13:10.760><c> in</c><00:13:10.959><c> Kentucky</c><00:13
• </c> UK uvl any of the state institutions UK uvl any of the state institutions that's<00:13:16.519><c

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Health Services met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 219, sponsored by Representative Rebecca Raymer. The bill requires emergency services to provide mandatory training for emergency medical staff on sexual assault emergency response requirements, with the training developed in collaboration with the Sexual Assault Response Team advisory committee. Testimony from Jenna Cassidy of the Kentucky Association of Sexual Assault Programs and WN Stevens of Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kentucky explained that the training would help emergency department staff properly respond to sexual assault patients, preserve evidence, and connect patients to needed resources; the committee also clarified that the bill is training-focused and not a certification requirement. HB 219 received favorable expression and was reported to the House floor. The committee then heard House Concurrent Resolution 20, also from Representative Raymer, which directs the Legislative Research Commission to study gaps in sexual assault nurse examiner coverage, why those gaps exist, and what hospitals do when no SANE nurse is available. Raymer said the study was intended to gather data for future legislation, and members noted the importance of documenting current practices and supporting efforts to expand SANE coverage. The resolution was adopted with 16 favorable votes and recommended for passage on the House floor. Next, the committee took up House Bill 303, sponsored by Representative Steve Bratcher, which creates a pathway for military medical personnel to translate their training into civilian Kentucky credentials through colleges and universities. The committee substitute broadened participation beyond KCTCS to any Kentucky institution with accredited programs, and Bratcher explained that schools would evaluate military experience, award applicable credit, identify gaps, and still require the relevant licensure exam. Members asked about university participation, credentialing standards, and how prior military radiology training would transfer; Bratcher said the program is voluntary for institutions and works with existing SkillBridge and veterans’ programs. HB 303, as amended by committee substitute, passed unanimously and was recommended for passage. At the end of the meeting, the committee briefly reviewed administrative regulations. Representative Fleming asked about a behavioral regulation that had previously been found sufficient, and staff indicated it had been deferred, later found deficient again in the Senate Health Services Committee, and may be addressed through Senate Bill 65. The chair then allowed members to record additional votes before adjourning and announced the next Health Services meeting would be February 20 at noon in Room 149.

Transcript Highlights:

• body and implemented across our higher education institutions.
• body and implemented across our higher education institutions.
• body and implemented across our higher education institutions.
• When in reality, public institutions should target individual student needs.
• Their institution of higher education had been designated as an HSI.

Transcript Highlights:

• If you start reading on page 12, line 21, it refers to attending public or private school or an institution
• , strike school and insert that language: attending public or private school or an institution of higher
• We just use that same language, public or private school or an institution of higher education, and insert
• Same language into the end of Letter C: or attending public or private school or an institution of higher
• So if I'm understanding correctly, or institution of higher...

Committee: House House Consumer & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• If you start reading on page 12, line 21, it refers to attending public or private school or an institution
• 12, lines 22 and 23: public or private school, Lines 22 and 23: public or private school or an institution
• We just use that same language, public or private school or an institution of higher education, and insert
• Same language into the end of Letter C or attending public or private school or institution of higher
• So if I'm understanding correctly, or institution of higher.

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 38 and Senate Bill 101, both of which had already received public comment and questions earlier. In each case, a member moved a due pass recommendation, the motions were seconded, and both bills were approved on 4-1 votes, with Representative Locke voting no and the other members present voting yes. The committee then considered House Bill 199, as amended by a House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee substitute, dealing with sex offender registration and notification laws. The sponsor and Department of Public Safety explained that the bill is intended to bring New Mexico closer to federal SORNA standards under the Adam Walsh Act by creating a tiered registration system, shortening the reporting deadline from five business days to three, requiring in-person reporting for changes, expanding public website information, and adding some offenses to the registry. Supporters included DPS, State Police, and the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, while an opponent on Zoom argued the bill would hurt public safety and noted low recidivism rates. Committee members raised several drafting and policy questions, including definitions, tier placement for certain offenses, out-of-state registration, and the impact of publishing employment information. The committee adopted amendments to remove a superfluous definition of “sexually violent offense,” clarify “three business days,” and replace vague school language with “public or private school or an institution of higher education.” After the amendments, the committee voted 5-1 to give House Bill 199 a do pass recommendation, with the amended committee substitute moving forward to the next committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill does not push financial institutions into speculative activity.
• </c><01:55:10.320><c> to</c> allowing local financial institutions to allowing local financial institutions
• </c> institution in certain circumstances? institution in certain circumstances?
• And if we're creating a institutions.
• </c><02:05:51.920><c> have</c> it insure it would the institution have it insure it would the institution

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the director of early learning here at the Hunt Institute.
• </c><00:51:59.200><c> Thank</c> childhood education institutions.
• Um, and here at the Hunt Institute.
• Um, I've been here for just Institute.
• But that Institute to help you plan.

Committee: House Primary and Secondary Education

Transcript Highlights:

• Whether we're talking about credit unions or banks, the reality is the same: institutions can, and...
• Whether we're talking about credit unions or banks, the reality is the same: institutions can, and...
• Financial institutions can follow the law in good faith and still be sued.
• That are publicly available or communicated directly to the financial institution.
• institution and the dealership not getting the title to the individual in a timely manner.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> plan on attending a state institution. plan on attending a state institution.
• The institution first takes into account the PEL grant.
• The institution first takes into account the PEL grant.
• The institution first takes into account the PEL grant.
• private institutions.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a data demand to our higher ed institutions that is asking for a variety of information in a question
• It's a data demand to our higher ed institutions that is asking for a variety of information in a question
• variety of information about the identities of our students or applicants for admission to our institutions
• is one of our older cases, an older set of issues, and involves the disruptions at the National Institutes
• The Department of Education awards grants to UMass, the City of Boston, and other institutions to train

Summary: The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Persons with Disabilities held its quarterly virtual/in-person meeting and approved the December minutes. The chair announced plans for the next “Meeting the Moment” community forum in Lowell on March 27, in partnership with MassAbility, focused on digital accessibility, education-to-employment transition, workforce supports, long-term services and supports, and health equity, along with a resource fair. The commission also began planning for its October National Disability Employment Awareness Month event and sought volunteers for a small planning group. The meeting featured an update from the Attorney General’s office on federal litigation affecting Massachusetts, including challenges to federal actions on higher education diversity data collection and DEI-related funding conditions, immigration/TPS for Haitians, NIH research grant disruptions, and the nonrenewal of mental health services grants for schools. The presenter said the state has helped protect more than $3 billion in federal funding and noted ongoing or pending appeals in several cases. Commissioners asked about possible impacts on disability-related DEI work and Medicaid; the AG’s office said guidance on DEIA/employment initiatives is available and that the state is closely monitoring federal Medicaid communications and coordinating with the governor’s office. Undersecretary of Labor Josh Cutler and apprenticeship liaison Amara Riemann presented on registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, emphasizing paid, employer-driven pathways with classroom instruction and wage progression. They highlighted growth in nontraditional fields such as human services, IT, early education, biotech, and banking, and described Bridgewater State University’s Excel program for neurodivergent people and people with disabilities as a model that can lead from pre-apprenticeship to apprenticeship. Commissioners discussed expanding similar models through community colleges and disability-focused workforce pipelines. Subcommittee reports covered disability employment, long-term services and supports, and health equity. The employment subcommittee heard from CED on state disability employment initiatives and planned future presentations from the Lawrence Partnership for Transition to Employment and Veterans Affairs. The long-term services and supports subcommittee discussed MassHealth budget pressures, anticipated federal Medicaid changes, the personal care attendant working group, and an upcoming discussion on crisis standards of care. In commissioner announcements, members highlighted recent honors for several commissioners, updates on municipal digital accessibility grants, a June Medicaid summit, and other commission activities. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• But the portion remaining within an OE would be for nonprofit or tribal institutions.
• The House adopts a section from... institutional aid. And so uh it is I institutional aid.
• Um, this is institutional language.
• </c><01:26:33.120><c> Um</c> Ohei's lensure of those institutions.
• Um Ohei's lensure of those institutions.

Summary: The Higher Education Finance and Policy Conference Committee met publicly to compare House and Senate positions on the higher education budget, with the chairs emphasizing transparency and alternating gavel control. Nonpartisan fiscal staff walked through a spreadsheet of differences across the Office of Higher Education and Minnesota State, including major items such as state grants, childcare grants, work study, tribal college grants, emergency assistance grants, hunger-free campus grants, student parent support, direct admissions, paramedic scholarships, and several medical residency and fellowship programs. The House and Senate also differed on administrative funding, campus sexual assault reporting, and a House FY25 cancellation that would be carried forward. Members discussed several of the larger policy and funding choices. The Senate explained its increase for Minitex as support for operating costs and statewide access to information. The House explained its cuts to student parent support and other items as necessary to work within a zero target and to prioritize direct aid to students, while the Senate said it focused on direct appropriations and access-related programs. On hunger-free campus grants and emergency assistance grants, the Senate said it was changing the distribution method and direct appropriations rather than reducing the overall money, while the House noted differences in whether nonprofit institutions remained included. The committee also reviewed Senate-only additions and reductions in Minnesota State, including free course materials, Lake Superior College remediation, and changes to the Kids on Campus appropriation. A representative from Lake Superior College testified that the PAS remediation funding would help address contamination issues at an emergency training site near Lake Superior and that the money was shifted from the Kids on Campus initiative. No final conference agreement or vote was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the committee continued discussing differences and testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, exempting health care entities, insurers, and financial institutions...
• I'm Mary Fisher from the Institute for Family Development.
• rules for rated bed capacity and monitor the number of persons residing in those institutions.
• Beginning in the 2026-27 academic year for four-year nonprofit institutions...
• We urge you to restore funding to our public institutions.

Bills: SB6346 , SB6347 , SB6147 , SB6246 , SB5940 , SB5882 , SB6223 , SJR8206 , SB5762 , SB5828

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: millionaires tax, wealth tax, income tax, state revenue, tax reform, Washington estate tax, estate tax, inheritance tax, death tax, probate, decedent, gross estate, taxable estate, exclusion amount, tax rate, estate planning, heirs, beneficiaries, RCW 83.100, Department of Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:11.440><c> licensing</c> on the post-secary institution licensing on the post-secary institution
• If an institution loses eligibility for federal student aid, the commissioner of OE has the option of
• <00:22:43.919><c> for</c> institution uh loses eligibility for institution uh loses eligibility for federal
• </c> Ohei to gather uh Minnesota institutions Ohei to gather uh Minnesota institutions dual<00:28:21.679
• like ours really play a institutions like ours really play a critical<00:39:43.599><c> role.

Transcript Highlights:

• It prohibits the governing boards of state institutions of higher education from establishing tenure
• So our Oklahoma Constitution establishes governing boards for our higher education institutions.
• So, boards are granted constitutional supervision, management, and control of their institutions.
• Does your bill include that carve-out, or is this across the board for any state-funded institution?
• To include nonprofit accredited institutions. With that, I move due pass and yield for questions.

Bills: SB514 , SB346 , SB1593 , SB1782 , SB1366 , SB1497 , SB366 , SB1895 , SB2048 , SB2005 , SB2006 , SB710 , SB1480

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The Senate Education Committee met for deadline week and first recognized guests and updates, including a report from Senator Devers on the Elgin school bus crash and recognition of 2025 Teacher of the Year Melissa Yvonne and visiting students from UCO and Darnaby Elementary. The committee then took up a series of education bills, with several authors explaining that some measures were work in progress and striking title on those bills to continue negotiations. Among the measures advanced were SB 514, clarifying alternative education programming through charter and virtual charter schools; SB 346, expanding school-to-school notification requirements about allegations or investigations involving teachers; SB 1593, updating outdated statutory references for the OSU-Tulsa board; SB 1366, using the Teacher Empowerment Fund to reward top teachers; SB 1497, correcting graduation standards to comply with IDEA and clarify alternate diplomas; SB 366, creating a process for charter schools to be notified about district facilities and lease or purchase opportunities; SB 1895, requiring districts to report whether they participate in the Community Eligibility Provision and why not; SB 2048, allowing the statewide charter school board to pay travel-related expenses for conferences and training; SB 710, allowing multiple grants under the Teach Forward teacher-prep program; and SB 1480, creating a pilot youth apprenticeship program. Most of these bills passed on bipartisan votes, often after questions about implementation, fiscal impact, or scope. Two of the more debated measures were SB 1782, which would end new tenure plans for higher education employees and move new hires to five-year contracts, and SB 2005, which would restructure the OSSAA board. SB 1782 passed 6-4 after extended debate over constitutional authority, academic freedom, recruitment, and litigation risk, with supporters arguing it would increase flexibility and accountability and opponents warning about legal and retention concerns. SB 2005 failed 4-6 after members split over whether the legislature should intervene in OSSAA governance; supporters said the association was not responsive enough to member schools and families, while opponents argued the issue should be left to the organization and that the bill risked government overreach.

Transcript Highlights:

• And in the Seattle area, the amount of homes in a large institutional investor's portfolio has grown
• know we have a housing shortage, we need more homes, but at a time of shortage, we don't need institutional
• I'm Professor Brian Henning, Director of the Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment
• In my comments today, I do not speak on behalf of Gonzaga, but as myself from the Climate Institute.
• While we understand the concerns about large institutional investors purchasing single-family homes,

Committee: House Housing

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Witt members, Houseville 2040 requires a public educational institution to provide students 38
• Madam Witt members household 2040 requires a public educational institution to provide students adoption
• Hospital 2176 modifies the criteria for denying licensure or ownership changes for health care institutions
• time limits and requirements for complaint investigations and standards for the informal care institutions
• It's not fair for those folks that are doing all the institution to not get the same pay.

Summary: The meeting was a rapid review of a very large bill package, with the chair repeatedly asking staff to keep descriptions high level and many bills placed on third-read consent or consent calendars. A major theme was artificial intelligence: bills would require minors to be told when they are interacting with AI, allow AI-assisted divorce arbitration by consent, create an AI education program, privilege certain AI communications, and require K-12 instruction on ethical and practical AI use. Other education measures addressed school district superintendents, health instruction, anti-Semitism prohibitions, fetal development standards, and school safety, including a bill allowing concealed firearms on school grounds under specified conditions. Several health and public safety bills were also discussed. These included funding and oversight measures for childhood cancer research, nursing care complaint timelines, firefighter cancer data collection, limits on pharmacy penalties, and a bill making it a felony to administer abortion-inducing drugs without consent. Members also heard bills on overtime wage enforcement, domestic violence evidence standards in parenting cases, probation limits for dangerous crimes against children, and a measure expanding manslaughter liability to online encouragement of teen suicide. One sponsor strongly opposed a provisional medical licensing bill for foreign-trained applicants, while other sponsors emphasized rural health access, nurse anesthetist reimbursement parity, and the need for a dental board member who is an oral surgeon. A large portion of the meeting focused on water, land, energy, and state agency oversight. Bills would streamline or change rules for small modular reactors, new power plants, water supply determinations, groundwater transportation fees, water hauling, and state land disposition. Members also considered measures affecting the State Land Department, including audits, oversight boards, continuation, land-use maps for data centers and energy projects, and rules for mineral leases and solar or wind siting. Other topics included wildlife and ranching, Mexican wolf policy, annexation, housing and development incentives, transportation and towing rules, digital driver licenses, and a proposed four-year moratorium on municipal and county fee, tax, and utility-rate increases, which drew questions about stakeholder input and the impact on enterprise funds and local utilities. No recorded roll-call votes were taken in the transcript; most items were simply presented, briefly discussed, and left on consent or calendar status, with one bill noted as held in rules and another pulled for further discussion.