Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 106, sponsored by Appropriations, Smoke Buster Module Leaders, an act relating to the State Forester
• the Governor's recommendation on note 23 of 128,652 in general fund for county reimbursements of Native
• the Governor's recommendation on note 23 of 128,652 in general fund for county reimbursements of Native
• the Governor's recommendation on note 23 of 128,652 in general fund for county reimbursements of Native
• the Governor's recommendation on note 23 of 128,652 in general fund for county reimbursements of Native

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the executive director of Lakes International Language Academy, or LILA, in Forest Lake.
• and I am a special education teacher in White Bear Lake Area Schools and a proud parent of three Forest
• example, provide to students with disabilities in private schools, as well as in my home district of Forest
• and I am a special education teacher in White Bear Lake Area Schools and a proud parent of three Forest
• example, provide to students with disabilities in private schools, as well as in my home district of Forest

Bills: HF3493, HF4114

Keywords: safe schools, charter schools, nonpublic schools, Tribal education, funding increase, special education, funding, education finance, appropriations, budget, cross subsidy

Transcript Highlights:

• they could look across upgrades to the stormwater system, upgrades to the building sites, preserving forest
• Like I'm all for harvesting more of the forest before it dries up and burns.
• Like I'm all for harvesting more of the forest before it dries up and burns.
• <01:21:25.480> before for harvesting more of the forest before for harvesting more of the
• forest before it<01:21:25.960> dries<01:21:26.320> up<01:21:26.480> and<01:21:26.600

Bills: HF4470, HF2418, HF3417, HF3365, HF3463

Keywords: HF4470, Melissa Hortman, memorial, statue, memorial garden, State Office Building, Capitol Mall Design Framework, capital investment, appropriation, Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board, Department of Administration, public art, commemorative monument, landscaping, artist selection, family consultation, Minnesota legislature, state building site, capital appropriation, political subdivisions

Transcript Highlights:

• firefighters who have put their lives on the line to fight the two wildfires in Pennsylvania's Michaux State Forest
• 44.399> State wildfires in Pennsylvania's Misha State wildfires in Pennsylvania's Misha State Forest
• than<00:09:47.040> 170<00:09:47.360> firefighters<00:09:48.080> have Forest
• More than 170 firefighters have Forest.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, April 28, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, House Bill 1761 is the Native Winery bill that's been brought forward.
• It eliminated some of the repealers and it allows our native wineries to have some tasting rooms across
• 50.560> our some of the repealers and it allows our some of the repealers and it allows our native
• 51.600> to<00:10:51.760> have<00:10:51.920> some<00:10:52.079> tasting native
• wineries to have some tasting native wineries to have some tasting rooms<00:10:53.200> across

Keywords: Finance - Room 216, 3 March, 2026; 10:30 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first considered a committee substitute that would allow on-premises retail or permit holders to let patrons bring wine onto licensed premises for consumption with a meal, if a corkage fee is charged, while continuing to prohibit outside alcoholic beverages other than wine. The substitute also changed wine shipment reporting from quarterly to semiannual for total wine sold and shipped into or within the state, and included a reverse repealer. The motion to report the bill out as amended passed. House Bill 671 was then explained as clarifying when a package retailer’s responsibility ends in alcohol deliveries: the retailer’s duty is satisfied once it transfers possession to a delivery service permit holder or delivery driver, with additional language allocating responsibility between the permit holder, driver, and delivery entity. The committee also heard House Bill 750, which extends the repealer date for a SMART Act tax credit for companies partnering with research institutions to 2029, and House Bill 1219, which allows a fee for non-recording of insurance in lieu of the usual filing process, capped at the actual filing fee so borrowers are not charged more. House Bill 1385, requested by the Department of Revenue, was described as cleanup language reflecting that most applications are electronic and reducing references from quadruple to triplicate; the committee adopted an amendment deleting the words “applications for” on lines 442-443 after a question from Senator Simmons. House Bill 1620 created the Bayou Casad industrial zone in Jackson County and barred annexation of land within that industrial zone. House Bill 1633 expanded site development grants to include energy sources such as electricity and gas serving an industrial site, and the committee adopted a cleanup amendment changing a statutory reference to Chapter 503, Laws of 2025. Finally, House Bill 1761, the Native Winery bill, was taken up with a strike-all amendment replacing the House bill with Senate Bill 2915. The sponsor explained that the House version only extended repealer dates to 2029, while the Senate version also eliminated some repealers and allowed native wineries to have tasting rooms in certain economic projects. The strike-all amendment and the bill as amended were adopted, and the committee then voted to rise and report.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 20 relates to identification and amends the existing New Mexico law to allow Native American
• The bill requires that the Motor Vehicle Division of the Taxation Revenue Department to include a Native
• promotes accurate and reliable identification while Respecting the cultural identity and privacy of Native
• By allowing voluntary, nonspecific Native American designations on the state-issued driver's license
• House Bill 20 strengthens trust between law enforcement and Native communities and supports fair, respectful

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I hear there is debate around the native status of flamingos, so I wanted to try to clarify some of that
• Let's begin with the ecological definition of what it means to be native.
• A native species is defined as one that occurs naturally in the area without human introduction, whether
• I am privileged to work on the bill as a non-native with a non-native to Florida along with the great

Transcript Highlights:

• academic and field settings, focused on expanding habitat networks and building capacity within the native
• the increase will be to support research in partnership with Ifas to help establish a more robust native
• seed industry in Florida with more resources for this research, they can work to reduce the cost of native
• wildflower seeds and bring down the cost of planning native wildflowers for everyone.
• But most importantly, this will allow the Department of Transportation to incorporate more native wild

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the compelling interest for my taxpayer dollars to be enforcing the covenants in, you know, the 500 Forest
• the compelling interest for my taxpayer dollars to be enforcing the covenants in, you know, the 500 Forest
• the compelling interest for my taxpayer dollars to be enforcing the covenants in, you know, the 500 Forest
• the compelling interest for my taxpayer dollars to be enforcing the covenants in, you know, the 500 Forest
• the compelling interest for my taxpayer dollars to be enforcing the covenants in, you know, the 500 Forest

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Although we've been proprietors of the resort for almost 15 years and worked with the Forest Service,
• service<01:46:34.400> Dees<01:46:34.840> and<01:46:34.960> other with the forest
• service Dees and other with the forest service Dees and other agencies<01:46:35.599> on<01:46
• <02:11:33.280> are<02:11:33.480> considered<02:11:33.840> a National Forest
• are considered a National Forest are considered a sensitive<02:11:34.559> resource<02:11:35.559

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We don't know where they touch down; they could be in every forest on every island.
• every<02:16:32.960> island<02:16:33.359> all<02:16:33.519> the every Forest
• on every island all the every Forest on every island all the more<02:16:33.920> reason<02:16:
• No, but like you said, how many people are going to go through the forest and go figure this out?
• and go figure this through the forest and go figure this out<02:23:47.920> no<02:23:48.640>

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard budget testimony first from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Director Tommy Johnson outlined short-term goals to reduce overcrowding, improve living and working conditions, fill vacancies, expand mental health services, and update the correctional master plan. He said the department is still dealing with severe overcrowding at facilities such as OCCC and HCCC, with 947 people at OCCC against a design capacity of 628, and noted 938 inmates are currently housed on the mainland because of temporary repairs at Halawa. He also reported progress on staffing, saying the correctional officer vacancy rate has dropped from 34.3% to 24% through expanded recruitment. The department’s major budget request was $30 million for planning and design for a new Old Triple C project, along with other requests for re-entry services, identification documents, security systems, radios, sink-toilet modules, and trauma-informed care. Members asked about the timing and scope of the OCCC project, courtroom space in new facilities, and the department’s plan to use the funding to improve re-entry and reduce recidivism. The committee then heard from the Department of Law Enforcement on a wide range of priorities. The department described requests to expand agricultural crime enforcement, traffic enforcement, illegal fireworks enforcement, and facilities such as a police building at the DKI airport, a state training center, and new police facilities in central and Leeward Oahu. It also discussed a major IT request for a statewide law enforcement and critical infrastructure notification platform, plus funding for grants management, the Wahiawa Civic Center and court complex, the prescription monitoring program, narcotics enforcement operations, and the narcotics lab. A significant portion of the discussion focused on a proposed traffic enforcement program for commercial vehicle inspections, speeding, and DUI enforcement, which the department said would be funded with federal dollars and would operate concurrently with county police. Committee members questioned whether the effort duplicated county jurisdiction and how the program would be trained and staffed. Members also pressed the department on salary disparities for deputy sheriffs and related vacancies, and the department said the administration was working on a supplemental agreement and placeholder funding to address the issue. Additional discussion covered agricultural crime staffing, the Silver Alert program, and expansion of the forensic lab to handle explosives, firearms, and related evidence. No votes were taken in the portion provided, and the meeting moved from the corrections presentation to the law enforcement budget review with questions and answers throughout.

Transcript Highlights:

• I think there's more Native Hawaiian leaving than any other group in the state, so I think just some
• <00:19:06.159> Hawaiian think there's more native Hawaiian think there's more native Hawaiian
• The average Native Hawaiian household has 4.1 individuals, meaning that funding for housing for 29,000
• The average Native Hawaiian household has 4.1 individuals, meaning that funding for housing for 29,000
• legislative action the average native legislative action the average native Hawaiian<00:26:29.679

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Housing and Public Safety/Water and Land hearing first took up HB 1096, which would repeal statutory tenant-selection preferences for disabled veterans and spouses of deceased veterans in state low-income housing. HPHA testified in support, saying the change was a housekeeping measure because the same preferences already exist in administrative rules and could be adjusted later to align with other local preferences, while also noting the federal VASH program provides stronger veteran housing support. Several members questioned why the preference should be removed at all, emphasizing that veterans have long been underserved and asking for a stronger justification; the committees ultimately deferred HB 1096. The later Housing/Hawaiian Affairs agenda heard HB 606 HD1, a measure to extend Act 279 funding and related exemptions for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. Supporters argued the bill would give DHHL more time to use the $600 million appropriation to acquire land, work with developers, and address a wait list of about 29,000 applicants, while also helping restore Hawaiian communities and reduce the Hawaiian diaspora. Opponents focused on accountability and oversight, saying DHHL needs clearer plans, measurable goals, and stronger safeguards before receiving more money, and warning that prior spending and strategic-plan changes had reduced the number of applicants served. The committee also heard testimony that the bill would help DHHL fulfill long-standing obligations to Native Hawaiians and that the housing need affects the broader state, not only Hawaiian Home Lands beneficiaries.

Transcript Highlights:

• He is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and an Arizona native who earned his bachelor's
• He is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and Arizona Native who earned his bachelor's degree
• and medical degree from the University. and Arizona Native who earned his bachelor's degree and medical
• Kelly McDermott is here, a North Central Phoenix native and resident.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Arizona House opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the March 18, 2026 journal, and recognition of Doctor of the Day Dr. Bradley Butler, an Arizona emergency physician and Navy Reserve captain. Members also introduced visiting carpenters, local officials from Show Low, World Down Syndrome Day advocates, and Giffords Courage Fellows. The House read and adopted a proclamation designating March 19, 2026 as ALS Awareness Day, with remarks from Representative Selina Bliss and testimony from ALS patients and advocates about the disease’s impact and the need for research, care, and support. The House then adopted House Resolution 2007 honoring Sheila “Ginger” Mattox, with family and friends present and members speaking about her community service and problem-solving work in Phoenix’s FQ Story neighborhood. The resolution was adopted unanimously, followed by a moment of silence. The chamber also announced committee assignments and received Senate messages listing several bills on first and second reading. The House resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider HB 2680, which received a Commerce Committee amendment and a floor amendment before being recommended do pass as amended. The House adopted the Committee of the Whole report and referred HB 2680 to engrossing. Later, HB 1004 was withdrawn from the Education Committee and additionally referred to Judiciary. The House recessed, made several announcements, and then adjourned until 1:30 p.m. on Monday, March 23, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• This funding strengthens accountability, improves coordination with tribes, and helps protect Native
• I'm from the Pueblo of Cochiti, and I serve as Assistant Secretary for Native American Early Education
• Of the MMIP Task Force, and it's not only a public safety issue; it directly impacts our Native children
• This bill is about accountability, visibility, and justice for Native families who have been ignored

Bills: SB201, SB226, SB242, SB249

Keywords: rural libraries, education, cultural funding, library services, community resources, contaminated sites, environmental cleanup, uranium mining, state funding, abandoned sites, tribal affairs, Indian Child Welfare Act, appropriation, children, youth, compliance, field liaison, Indigenous rights, missing persons, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• We are going to have a joint session today for Asian American Pacific Island Native Hawaiian Day.
• are looking forward to the joint session today because it is Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native
• Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
• Dean is a native New Mexican. He grew up on his family farm in Anthony, New Mexico.

Transcript Highlights:

• > owner<03:18:54.439> on<03:18:54.920> occasion<03:18:55.920> we as a forest
• land owner on occasion we as a forest land owner on occasion we use<03:18:56.319> an<03:18:56.520
• I'm the public policy director for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests.
• <03:53:49.960> of<03:53:50.080> New<03:53:50.319> Hampshire<03:53:50.880> Forest
• of protection of New Hampshire Forest of protection of New Hampshire Forest I'm<03:53:52.120>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up several bills in executive session, beginning with HB 568 on subdivision regulations concerning water supply. Representative Donnelly moved ITL, arguing the bill would create costly studies, that towns already have jurisdiction over needed studies, and that the issue was not widespread. The committee voted ITL 9-7. HB 582, dealing with safety requirements for personal watercraft, was also moved ITL on the grounds that existing law already covers the issue and the bill was unnecessary after recent action on personal flotation devices. Representative Derby opposed the ITL, saying the bill was a common-sense safety measure and would restore a misdemeanor penalty, but the committee voted ITL 9-7. The committee then retained HB 595, relative to coastal resilience zones, after members said the bill was important but needed more work and time because of its complexity. Members noted it should be revisited later, and the motion to retain passed 16-0. HB 607, funding the Hampton Beach Area Commission and making appropriations, received an ought-to-pass recommendation 15-1, with support from members who described Hampton Beach as an important economic driver and one dissenting member saying the state should not bear the full cost. The committee also adopted Amendment 2025-3 on HB 624, establishing a local river management advisory committee grant program, by a 16-0 vote; the amendment shifted funding decisions to the Department of Environmental Services based on demonstrated need and a first-come, first-served process. The bill as amended then received an ought-to-pass recommendation 16-0 and was placed on consent. Later, the committee retained HB 629, funding the operation, maintenance, and repair of state dams, after members said the dams need attention but the bill required more work because suggested amendments had just been received. That motion passed 16-0. HB 644, concerning drones in state parks, was ITL’d because the Department of Parks and Recreation is already working through rulemaking on UAS use in remote areas, and the committee voted 16-0 for ITL. HB 657, the short notice booking act access for New Hampshire residents to state parks, was also ITL’d at the request of the prime sponsor, passing 16-0. The committee then adjourned and announced a later hearing on HB 663, which would allow the Division of Historical Resources to use a portion of Moose plate funds for administering its grant program; testimony from the sponsor and the division supported the bill as clarifying existing authority, and no final vote on HB 663 was included in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's the Asian population and then there's the American Indian and Alaska Native combination.
• Asian, and the last one, American Indian, Alaska Native, which is the list.
• Alaska Native, which is the rest.
• Especially for Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders and American Indian Alaska Natives.
• In the case of American Indian Alaska Natives, it's below 50%.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census met on December 8 at 9:32 a.m. to examine the dynamics that drive census undercounts and overcounts, with testimony first from Joseph Salvo and then from Susan Strait of the UMass Donahue Institute. Salvo explained the Census Bureau’s two main evaluation tools: demographic analysis, which uses vital records, migration estimates, and Medicare data to produce a national benchmark, and the post-enumeration survey (PES), which compares a separate sample-based count to the census. He said the 2020 census showed a small national net undercount, but larger age- and race-based disparities, including the highest undercount among children ages 0 to 4, higher undercounts for men, substantial undercounts for Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations, and overcounts among some older and college-age groups. He also described how self-response, non-response follow-up, administrative records, proxy responses, and imputation affected data quality, arguing that proxies and imputation were especially weak and that outreach remains critical for 2030. Committee members asked Salvo to clarify the methods and error bands, the role of international migration estimates, and how the PES differs from the census address list and LUCA. He explained that PES is based on a separate sample of blocks and can add units within sampled blocks, but it does not measure units missed entirely from the original address list; LUCA matters because it improves that list before enumeration. He also discussed age heaping, duplicate responses among older adults, and why group quarters and COVID-related disruptions complicated the 2020 count. Senator Driscoll briefly interrupted to describe Randolph’s successful appeal of its 2020 count after an undercount in disability care homes, and Salvo noted that the post-census group quarters review helped correct some missed facilities. Susan Strait then focused on Massachusetts-specific results. She said Massachusetts’ 2020 count was strong overall, with population growth above the national average and a PES-based finding that the state was overcounted by 2.24 percent, though she emphasized that this did not mean all areas were accurately counted. Using demographic analysis, she said Massachusetts had an estimated 4.15 percent undercount of children ages 0 to 4, with the largest county-level undercounts in Hampden, Suffolk, and Essex, and she linked higher child undercounts to lower educational attainment and female-headed households. Strait also reviewed operational metrics showing that Massachusetts had relatively strong internet self-response, but that non-response follow-up relied heavily on household interviews, administrative records, proxies, and imputation in different counties. She highlighted higher proxy use in college-heavy counties such as Hampshire and Suffolk, and said counties with more minority residents were more likely to have population-count-only cases and other indicators of harder-to-count populations. The hearing ended with discussion of how these findings could inform outreach and census planning for 2030.

Transcript Highlights:

• They are natives. They are AI natives, so to speak. And so they're very... With AI.
• They are natives. They are AI natives, so to speak.
• So I tried to prompt it to create an image of a Native American person in the sciences, okay, scientists
• Native American person in the sciences, okay, scientists, right?
• . ...of Filipino, African-American, Native American children who are in the sciences, one in high school

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Higher Education and the Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an oversight hearing on the California State University’s AI-empowered initiative, including the systemwide rollout of ChatGPT EDU and broader AI integration across CSU campuses. Opening remarks emphasized both the promise of AI for student success, workforce preparation, and access, and the need to address risks such as bias, privacy, misinformation, environmental impacts, and mental health harms. CSU representatives said the initiative grew out of Academic Senate recommendations and a systemwide generative AI committee, and that the goal was to provide equitable access, training, governance, and workforce alignment across the 23-campus system. CSU officials described systemwide contracts for AI tools, the AI Commons training hub, and faculty grant programs supporting AI-related curriculum innovation. They said more than 93,000 ChatGPT EDU accounts had been activated, over 4,300 faculty had taken voluntary training, and $3 million had been awarded to 63 faculty-led projects from more than 400 submissions. San Jose State University highlighted its own AI-focused programs, courses, orientation training, faculty fellows, student ambassadors, and interdisciplinary efforts to build AI literacy and responsible use into instruction and co-curricular programs. CSU also said it was tracking metrics on adoption, academic outcomes, workforce outcomes, and environmental impacts. Faculty, staff, and student representatives welcomed the educational potential of AI but raised concerns about the rollout, saying it had moved quickly and without enough consultation or consistent systemwide policy. They urged stronger protections for academic freedom, intellectual property, privacy, equity, and worker input, and warned about bias, surveillance, job displacement, and the environmental cost of AI. Legislators pressed CSU and OpenAI representatives on training requirements, data privacy, bias reporting, discipline for misuse, liability, sycophancy, and safeguards against harmful uses such as non-consensual imagery or self-harm-related interactions. CSU said interactions in the licensed tool are private, data are not used to train models, and campuses retain their own conduct processes; members also asked CSU to follow up on systemwide training, policy consistency, and additional safeguards.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a Native Hawaiian undergraduate student at the University of Hawaii, Mono, and I am a student intern
• The recognition of the importance of those Native Hawaiian and indigenous bodies of knowledge through
• This resolution recognizes the importance of Native Hawaiian and indigenous knowledge, especially in
• The recognition of the importance of those Native Hawaiian and indigenous bodies of knowledge through
• Mahalo. native coin undergraduate student at the native coin undergraduate student at the University<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection heard a series of Senate resolutions focused largely on climate, sustainability, public health, and energy policy. Measures discussed included integrating Native Hawaiian and indigenous knowledge into climate policy (STR 93), creating a temporary working group to investigate the dangers of POS (STR 103), studying the feasibility of a green bonds program (STR 110), declaring a public health emergency related to climate change (STR 111), affirming the importance of marine ecosystems to decarbonization goals (STR 115), encouraging adoption of recommendations from the UN global plastics treaty and Rapanui summit declaration (STR 132), convening a geothermal energy working group (STR 136), affirming support for the Aloha Plus Challenge (STR 183), and encouraging insurers to pursue subrogation claims against polluters to reduce costs for residents (STR 198). Testimony was overwhelmingly supportive on most measures, with support coming from agencies such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Hawaii State Energy Office, DLNR, PUC, Board of Water Supply, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Green Growth, and numerous advocacy groups and individuals. STR 111 drew both support and opposition, with supporters arguing climate change is a public health emergency and opponents disputing the underlying science and urgency. STR 136 also drew mixed testimony, including support from state agencies and one opposition submission from the Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. Several witnesses emphasized indigenous knowledge, climate justice, public health impacts, and the need for coordinated state action. Supporters of STR 93 said Native Hawaiian and indigenous knowledge has sustained communities for generations and should be woven into Hawaii’s future climate decision-making. Supporters of STR 111 described climate change as a threat multiplier affecting heat illness, mental health, displacement, wildfire impacts, and food insecurity, while opponents argued the resolution overstated the issue. Testimony on STR 183 highlighted the Aloha Plus Challenge as a statewide sustainability framework with regional influence across the Pacific, including Guam, and stressed its role in tracking progress toward 2030 goals. On STR 198, supporters argued that polluters should help pay for climate-related costs borne by residents and insurers. After testimony concluded, the committee moved into decision-making and adopted the chair’s recommendation to pass STR 93, SD1 unamended by roll call vote, with the chair, vice chair, Rep. Kahaloa, and Rep. Kush voting aye and Rep. Quinnland excused. The transcript then begins the committee’s action on STR 103, SD1, with the chair again recommending passage as is, but the remainder of the vote is cut off in the provided record.

Transcript Highlights:

• And on page 1097, we have National Forest and Land 3472 accounting unit. Those are federal funds.
• Those funds are pass-through funds to us, so they are funds that are earned from forest activities in
• Those funds go to the school districts which have the national forest with them.
• On page 1098, we have accounting unit 6715, the SLDS Finance Grant. 1097 we have national forest and
• land 1097 we have national forest and land 3472<01:23:04.400> accounting<01:23:05.159> unit

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division II committee heard a Department of Education budget presentation from Commissioner Frank Edelblut and CFO Tammy Valen-cour. The department outlined its organizational structure and emphasized that it functions largely as a flow-through agency for school funding. The commissioner reviewed general fund and Education Trust Fund items, including state aid, dropout prevention, special education, building aid, lease aid, charter schools, Education Freedom Accounts, and the district adequacy calculation. He also highlighted the public school infrastructure fund, saying the state has invested well over $50 million in school safety since 2018 for measures such as access controls, locks, and window film, and argued that safety spending should be ongoing rather than reactive. Members asked about the variability in the school infrastructure line, special education aid, and the Discovery Education learning platform. Edelblut explained that some safety funding had come from one-time surplus appropriations rather than the agency line, and said special education aid was underappropriated because districts submitted more invoices than expected; he said the governor added $16 million to address the shortfall. He also described CTE renovation funding, noting four projects were initially proposed but only Jaffrey and Milford were still moving forward, with local votes required and the state covering 75% of costs. He said Milford’s project was omitted from the governor’s budget by oversight. The department also reviewed enrollment trends, noting public school enrollment has fallen from about 230,000 students in 2002 to about 185,000 today. Edelblut clarified that charter students are not eligible for Education Freedom Accounts, while EFA students attending non-public schools are counted as EFA students. He described several one-time surplus-funded initiatives, including Student Clearinghouse, MTSSB work, civics curriculum development, computer science education, and adult education. He also discussed a $4 million CTE tuition and transportation grant, saying it was kept as a competitive grant rather than a formula grant to avoid creating an ongoing maintenance-of-effort commitment that could jeopardize federal Perkins funding. In the final portion, Edelblut identified prioritized needs in the department’s budget, especially funding for a state administrator for assessment to support the legislatively required civics assessment, and additional support for the Discovery Education platform. He said every school in the state is using the platform and cited more than 1.5 million educator engagements, while a member raised concerns about mixed reviews and uneven district awareness of the program. No votes or formal actions were taken during the presentation and question period.