Transcript Highlights:

• I had a couple of questions based on...
• and what could come out of the base.
• based on that bill from last year.
• This is a surcharge on skilled nursing facilities and intermediate care facilities based on their number
• It's not really based on what's actually being rendered; it's based on the number of people enrolled

Transcript Highlights:

• And we've seen the collaborative efforts increase in the federal research base.
• The board's number one funding priority continues to be performance-based funding.
• The first is the institutional investment, or base funding.
• This was funding that already existed in each institution's base budget.
• This piece is new funding over and above the institutional base.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education heard a presentation on the State University System’s new strategic plan, SUS 30, and its legislative budget request. University officials described the plan’s five priorities: One SUS collaboration, elevating student success, operational excellence, world-class talent, and innovative research and economic development. They highlighted Florida’s continued status as the top higher education system in the nation, low tuition, strong graduation outcomes, rising median wages for graduates, and expanded use of the My Florida Future website to help students and families compare degree outcomes and earnings. Members asked for follow-up information on programs of strategic emphasis, mental health and social work workforce needs, wage data over time, and how the system supports innovation moving toward commercialization. The committee also discussed campus safety, prompted in part by recent events at FSU. System officials said universities and the Florida College System recently held a safety summit to share best practices on building security, threat assessment, and coordination with law enforcement, and they agreed to provide a report back to the committee after the Board of Governors reviews recommendations in November. Senators also raised questions about Pell student support, first-generation student success, and whether liberal arts graduates’ earnings catch up over time. Officials said Pell students are tracked through performance-based funding metrics and that the system’s accountability plans will continue to emphasize access and completion. A separate update covered line funding for nursing and health care partnerships. Officials said the $6 million appropriation was fully subscribed through 24 proposals from all 10 nursing programs, supporting scholarships, faculty recruitment, internships, simulation, and licensure preparation. They reported over 1,900 new nursing graduates, more than 200 new student slots, over 300 scholarships, and a 92% NCLEX pass rate. Senators asked about expanding eligibility for the program, and staff said that issue would be revisited this year. The Board of Governors’ legislative budget request totaled $634.5 million and included $295 million for performance-based funding institutional investment, a request to restore and increase the state investment portion to $400 million, $125 million for preeminence funding, $100 million for faculty recruitment and retention, $6.4 million for UF/IFAS extension workload, and $3.1 million for State Fire Marshal inspections. The chair noted that resources are limited and that difficult budget decisions lie ahead. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Participants are selected based on their interest in agriculture and commitment to representing the industry
• And my unit is based in New York City, but we drive...
• And my unit is based in New York City, but we drive from New York City down to Fort Dix, New Jersey,
• With seeing a firearm and not having the requisite skills that go along with that.
• We have a Game and Fish Commission who are all tasked in this bill to develop curriculum.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and charter schools, creating literacy-enriched environments for children to develop their reading skills
• variety of industries, including serving as chairman and CEO of NeoGenomics, which is a Fort Myers-based
• Students who will immediately bring marketable skills in sought-after industries to the Florida economy
• And based on what I've been seeing going on in those places, I can tell you I'm extremely happy to be
• Hopefully we do a little better in the next game we have. But thank you very much.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Statute requires all Washington public institutions of higher education to award credit based on exam
• I would say the other piece that we have not leveraged enough is our community-based organizations and
• WSAC analyzed research-based strategies from other states to better support parenting students.
• DigiPen is recognized as one of three driving forces behind the state's game industry sector.
• The skills I learned enabled me to work as a freelance digital artist in the industry.

Summary: The committee began with a work session on dual credit, hearing first from the Council of Presidents and the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, then from the Education Research and Data Center. The dual credit overview described Washington’s six dual credit programs, high participation rates, transferability, and recent efforts to improve transparency, pathways, and equity. Testimony emphasized both benefits and challenges, including access, funding, advising, and the need for clearer statewide coordination. ERDC outlined its annual report, dashboard, research briefs, and future work on school-level factors and possible causal effects of dual credit participation. No votes were taken during the work session. The committee then held public hearings on several bills. SB 6227 would direct WSAC to work with public higher education institutions to create formal data collection protocols for parenting students and convene a work group to recommend how to identify and support them. Senator Wilson and multiple student and advocacy witnesses supported the bill, citing the lack of consistent statewide data and the barriers parenting students face; WSAC testified that its research found significant food, housing, and child care insecurity among these students. SB 6235 would prohibit public colleges with athletics programs from entering certain private equity or sovereign wealth fund agreements involving athletics revenues or control. Senator Holy said the bill was intended to prevent loss of institutional control, while UW and WSU testified in opposition, warning it could limit flexibility and create competitive disadvantages. The committee also heard SB 6217, which would expand Washington College Grant eligibility to students in eligible non-degree credential programs beginning in 2027-28. Supporters from the community and technical college system, a community college president, and workforce representatives said the bill would help students access short-term training for family-wage jobs and address workforce shortages, especially in construction trades. Finally, SB 6209 would restore Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship eligibility for certain private four-year and career/vocational schools if they meet a gainful-employment standard. DigiPen, Evergreen Beauty College, Seattle Film Institute, and related students and administrators testified in support, arguing the bill would preserve access for low-income and nontraditional students in career-focused programs; some witnesses on the bill’s earlier panel also urged that certificate and two-year programs be included. The hearings were managed with shortened testimony times because of the large number of sign-ins, and no final committee action or votes were recorded in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other was to transition the capital program to an increasingly cash-based system as opposed to one
• It's gonna be a big game changer I think for capital outlay in New Mexico.
• I think getting those out quickly is a big game changer, and so if we hold Off to those too long, then
• They are highly skilled. They are highly trained.
• Investing in work-based learning is all really going to move the needle in many positive ways.

Bills: HB1

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• but skills-based, and that they would require all states to use that.
• But because I'm new in here, can you give me a little more information about why we wouldn't want a skills-based
• Psychology actually had a skills base or a competency exam prior to 2017.
• I had told the board, I had told ASPPB, the longer we go without a skills or a competency-based exam,
• So I'll start with community-based care.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, we just wanted to note that based on the definition of iron projects in this bill, um, our members
• Iron work is a highly specialized field that demands extensive knowledge, skills, and training.
• It's a solitaire game, and it has 52 facts about paid family leave.
• it's a solitire game and it did a a game it's a solitire game and it has<00:43:49.520><c> 52</c><00:
• And so approximately we had 120 staff based on if it was just TDI for an individual.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It is part of the industrial base.
• It would form the Logan-based Space Dynamics Laboratory in the early 1980s.
• It would form the Logan-based Space Dynamics Laboratory in the early 1980s.
• It would form the Logan-based Space Dynamics Laboratory in the early 1980s.
• It would form the Logan-based Space Dynamics Laboratory in the early 1980s.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, February 24, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So discrepancies in the utilization may be indicating that the use is not based on need, perhaps in some
• Second question, or I'm not sure it's follow-up, but second question: even in view of the gaming of the
• So, you know, our intent, we are a service-based organization. We're supplemental.
• Currently, based on budget and on number of staff.
• Keyboarding builds academic and workplace skills, Pathways to Success builds study skills, digital citizenship

Keywords: 989, all

Summary: The House Education Committee heard House Bill 918, which would realign the Idaho Digital Learning Alliance (IDLA) by narrowing its mission, reorganizing its board, capping administrative costs at 30%, requiring outside and LSO audits, setting course fees, and limiting state funding per course. The bill would eliminate or restrict funding for private school, virtual school, K-5 Launch Pad, driver's education, custom sections, and most middle school enrollment except remediation, while preserving some access through Advanced Opportunities money and an emergency exception for hard-to-fill teaching vacancies. Representative Pickett said the bill was intended to address concerns about double-dipping, private use, and program growth beyond IDLA’s original purpose, and to reduce state spending by about $13.5 million. IDLA Superintendent Jeff Simmons testified in opposition, saying the bill would restrict school choice, shift costs to families and districts, and reduce access for rural students, especially for electives, dual credit, and middle school enrichment. Several superintendents and school officials from Potlatch, Grace, Butte County, Wendell, Cottonwood, and Kimberly also opposed the bill, arguing that IDLA is essential for rural and small schools to provide electives, dual credit, credit recovery, and career exploration, and warning that the bill would force districts to absorb costs or pass them on to families. Supporters of the bill emphasized oversight, fiscal restraint, and limiting use to core supplemental purposes, while some members expressed concern about cutting effective programs and about the impact on rural districts. After testimony and discussion, the committee first failed a motion to hold House Bill 918 in committee. A substitute motion to hold the bill in committee until a time certain on Monday, March 23, then passed on a roll call vote, so the bill was held over for further consideration. The chair said the committee would return to the issue on Monday.

Transcript Highlights:

• , no skill, just a lot of fouls.
• And I will say the MVPs of the game are certainly G.
• It was a small name, big game, I think, is one of the ones I saw. Pretty good.
• This has to do with gaming the system to try to change your political party.
• For four-year institutions, it varies based upon the type of funding.

Bills: HB111, HJR1, HB61, HB8, HB30, HB43, HB156, HJM2, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50, HB70, SB3, HJM3

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> leveraging the evidence-based leveraging the evidence-based information<01:03:48.960><c> that</c
• </c> it's more than knowledge it's skill it's more than knowledge it's skill building<01:07:19.680><c
• with life skills.
• Um, they're evidence-based and based on what you know about your local county needs.
• Um, they're evidence-based and based on what you know about your local county needs.

Keywords: This meeting was pulled from back ups and uploaded in it's entirety due to technical issues., 958, all

Summary: The Make America Healthy Kentucky Task Force met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then heard a presentation on the state’s “food is medicine” work from Kentucky Hospital Association and Kentucky Department of Agriculture leaders, including Jim Muser, Holly Harris, and Commissioner Jonathan Shell. The chair framed the discussion around personal wellness, injury prevention, and the broader goal of improving health through better sleep, nutrition, and activity, then asked the presenters to describe current initiatives and any policy changes needed. The witnesses described a partnership linking hospitals and Kentucky farmers to improve health outcomes while supporting rural agriculture. They said the effort has moved beyond the pilot stage and now includes more than 40 hospitals statewide, with programs such as healthier hospital cafeterias, grab-and-go options, farmers markets at hospital sites, subsidized CSA boxes for employees, and medically tailored meals or groceries for patients with chronic conditions. ARH was highlighted as a leading model, with local food procurement, employee wellness efforts, and measurable outcome pilots, including a Russell County Hospital project focused on diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. They also emphasized barriers to scaling the model, including fragmented short-term funding, lack of reimbursement for food-as-medicine programs, and burdensome procurement and testing requirements that can make it difficult for small farmers to participate. The presenters said hospitals are using their own funds or temporary grants to sustain programs and argued that policy changes are needed to simplify sourcing, expand reimbursement pathways, and support clinical measurement of outcomes. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken during the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• I couldn’t say, because I think it’s so situational based.
• It says they cannot deny solely based on that.
• The game ends because the diseases win. They will win. Thank you.
• He'll miss a football game, a big rivalry KD game.
• We are licensed to provide skilled, evidence-based care for healthy mothers and babies within a clearly

Bills: HB3772, HB1656, HB4504, HB1896, HB4420, HB4421, HB4076, HB3708, HB2806, HB3540, HB1586, HB5459, HB4553, HB4535, HB3811, HB3749, HB4255, HB4051, HB5098, HB3554, HB4539, HB5274

Keywords: e-cigarettes, health and safety, regulations, directory, penalties, regulation, certification, compliance, manufacturers, FDA, nicotine, mental health, emergency detention, paramedic authority, mental illness, healthcare facility, public health, covenants not to compete, health care practitioners, physicians

Transcript Highlights:

• to be able to do this work, or at least the skills to know that they can.
• To President Gates' comments, we've kind of lost the game on that already.
• But it's the soft skills.
• We've tagged the elementary school at Eglin Air Force Base and at Tyndall Air Force Base that we work
• They built it out based on the agreements we already had. Same.

Summary: The Committee on Education Pre-K through 12 held a panel discussion on artificial intelligence in K-12 education. Dr. Maya Israel of the University of Florida gave an overview of AI literacy, emphasizing that AI can support personalized learning, school operations, and teacher efficiency, but also raises concerns about data privacy, overreliance, mental health, and the need for human oversight. She described the Florida K-12 AI Task Force, which has produced guidance on policy, ethics, privacy, cybersecurity, classroom integration, and professional development, and is now working on district surveys, webinars, case studies, and teacher/family resources. Superintendents Van Ayers of Hillsborough County and Kevin Hendrick of Pinellas County described district-level implementation. Hillsborough outlined a governance council, a district AI policy, and an implementation guide; it prohibits generative AI for students below eighth grade, allows limited use for older students with teacher permission and district-vetted tools, and uses models for classroom AI expectations. The district also reported growing student enrollment in AI courses, teacher training through summer academies and quick learns, and pilots with tools such as Magic School and Microsoft Copilot. Pinellas emphasized academic integrity, student data privacy, digital responsibility, and the importance of human interaction in learning; it said state assessments already limit technology use and that districts need clear governance and parent transparency. Committee members asked about whether AI improves academic performance, the risk of student dependence, the possibility of returning to more paper-based testing, and who should set guardrails. Witnesses said reliable achievement data is still limited because the technology is new, though districts reported anecdotal gains in tutoring and early literacy. They also said there is no established statewide baseline for teacher AI training yet, so districts are using professional development, stipends, and partnerships with universities to build capacity. The committee also heard from Drew Andrew of FSU’s Inspire program, who argued that industry is moving faster than schools and that education should focus on teaching how AI works, building teacher confidence, and aligning training with workforce needs. No bills were considered and the meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm going to base this on my memory since I can't see my own notes. Oh, I'm sorry.
• So I do think we have, based from the 1115 waiver moving forward, I know that there was, I was not with
• </c><00:21:46.240><c> from</c><00:21:46.400><c> the</c> So I do think we have based from the So I do
• </c><00:41:16.720><c> to</c> range of stories from football games to range of stories from football games
• that benefit not only students skills that benefit not only students such<00:41:48.160><c> as</c><00

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs held a resolutions hearing on April 1, 2025, and considered a series of measures largely focused on housing, domestic violence, corrections, Native Hawaiian issues, and public safety. Early items included HCR 158 HD1 and HR 153 HD1, which request a Judiciary-led working group to improve landlord-tenant code provisions to increase housing supply; Hawaii Realtors testified in strong support, and there was no opposition. The committee also heard HCR 55 and HR 51 on studying the effectiveness of domestic violence, restraining order, and stalking laws. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office said some requested data may exceed judicial authority but that useful Judiciary data exists, while the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence supported the intent but urged broader, better-funded, survivor-inclusive analysis across all counties and islands. Members asked for clarification on the proposed draft, and the witness emphasized narrowing the scope, including stalking, and extending the timeline. The committee then took up HCR 23 HD1 on the new Oahu Community Correctional Center. The Public Defender supported adding a courtroom but objected to language about transporting released detainees away from residential communities or public spaces as unconstitutional; the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation supported the measure and said one multipurpose courtroom would be sufficient, and that most released inmates are picked up by family or programs, with others transported to a bus depot. HCR 174 HD1/HR 170 HD1, on in-school based learning programs for youth in the juvenile legal system, drew strong support from Debt Free Justice Hawaii, which said the resolution was youth-led and could help replace fees and fines with community service and rehabilitation opportunities. HCR 185, on an audit of proposed mandatory health insurance coverage for Native Hawaiian healing and cultural practices, received comments from Pāpa Lokahi supporting the concept but warning that reimbursement issues are complex, that the community should restart broader conversations, and that the measure should not be rushed or unfunded; members questioned whether the resolution was the right vehicle and whether it could affect ACA implementation. Several Native Hawaiian and community measures were also heard. HCR 147/HR 147, creating a legislative working group on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands funding, had support from DHHL and the Democratic Party of Hawaii. HCR 193 HD1/HR 186 HD1, on transferring Native Hawaiian burial site management to OHA, was strongly supported by OHA, which also proposed adding recognized lineal and cultural descendants to the working group membership; the committee noted multiple supporting testimonies and no opposition on the House draft. HCR 8/HR 8, urging DOJ inclusion of Hawaii in the missing and murdered indigenous persons outreach program, was supported by OHA, which cited a task force report showing Native Hawaiian women and girls make up over 40% of missing persons cases despite being about 10% of the population. HCR 124 HD1/HR 120 HD1 on Hawaiian language resources had no testimony. HCR 180 HD1 on collaborative homelessness response drew comments from the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions and three support testimonies. HCR 72/HR 65 on county ethics standards also drew support only. HCR 100/HR 96 on competency in LGBTQ+ and culturally specific gender identity training received support from the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission and the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, which stressed the need for training that reflects Native Hawaiian and other Polynesian understandings such as mahu and fa’afafine. The committee continued with additional measures that were mostly noncontroversial. HCR 30/AHR 29 on enforcement against out-of-state vehicles had support from the Department of Transportation. HCR 43 HD1, studying highway patrol and speed cameras, had one opposition testimony. HCR 119 HD1/HR 115 HD1, endorsing Taiwan’s international participation and a U.S.-Taiwan trade agreement, was supported by DBEDT. HCR 62 HD1 and HR 57, on flying the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia flag year-round at the Capitol, had no testimony, though DBEDT supported the related measure. Throughout the hearing, members generally asked few questions, and the transcript reflects testimony, comments, and stated positions rather than any final committee votes or deferred actions.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have to pay attention that they have the skills that they need, that they can connect right to the
• Is working with our community colleges and our local colleges to have those certificate-based so that
• on what they are skilled to do and offer them the development and the skills that they can to earn that
• But this is important specific to the skill and I think what we talked about is even more.
• and re-skilled in our respective states.

Keywords: PRO Act, labor laws, worker rights, unionization, right-to-work, public testimony, political polarization

Summary: The meeting centered around an in-depth discussion of the PRO Act, with representatives expressing passionate opinions both for and against the legislation. Representative Chavez de Rimmer emphasized the importance of worker freedom, arguing that the PRO Act would infringe upon individual rights by coercing unionization. This perspective was strongly received by members from right-to-work states, who articulated their concerns about the potential erosion of workers' choices and protections. Speaker after speaker conveyed conflicting views on labor laws, indicating a deeply polarized environment surrounding labor issues at the moment.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:42.560><c> out</c> funded both out of the in the base out funded both out of the in the base
• Again, that was $736,000 above base and then $944,000 below base in the tails.
• Again, that was $736,000 above base and then $944,000 below base in the tails.
• So that's a loss to the um game and $5.
• </c><00:27:51.440><c> funding</c> There's no change to the base funding There's no change to the base

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> plans to assess communication skills plans to assess communication skills that<00:17:24.720><c>
• He characterized it as subpar based on the curriculum that they chose. auto automaticity in addition,
• This contributes to mathematical skill.
• </c><05:16:59.120><c> on</c> struck down those challenges based on struck down those challenges based
• </c><05:17:36.080><c> on</c> If that were then struck down based on If that were then struck down based

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:09:20.800><c> to</c> lack the emotional regulation skills to lack the emotional regulation skills
• </c> does staff know offhand uh what the base does staff know offhand uh what the base funding<00:34:
• </c><00:36:54.560><c> on</c> their mental health programs based on their mental health programs based
• </c> kind of executive functioning skills kind of executive functioning skills that<00:57:31.039><c>
• </c><01:05:12.359><c> is</c> admissions um is that in our base is admissions um is that in our base is

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No, we're based out of Baltimore. Uh, no, we're based out of Baltimore. Oh.
• The state law required that performance-based pay increases of more than $100 be based on documented
• And then we evaluate skill set. Do we have these skills in-house?
• Those criteria could be income-based. It could be location-based.
• Those criteria could be income-based. It could be location-based.

Summary: The Legislative Audit and Fiscal Review Committee met to receive a series of audit presentations, beginning with approval of the prior meeting minutes and a review of the state’s annual comprehensive financial report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2025. The State Auditor’s Office and the Office of Management and Budget reported a clean opinion on the state’s financial statements and described continued growth in net position, strong general fund balance, and significant Legacy Fund investment income. Committee members asked about how the report reflects long-term finances and how North Dakota compares with other states, and OMB noted that the ACFR is based on audited actual results rather than budget forecasts. The committee then heard the North Dakota University System audit, which also received a clean opinion but included four findings: misreporting of Strategic Investment and Improvements Fund construction money, insufficient monitoring of service organizations, improper bank reconciliations at several campuses, and investment/cash recording issues at Bismarck State College. University System officials agreed with the findings and said corrective actions were underway, including internal review of bank reconciliations and greater use of shared services. Members also questioned practices such as campus use of certificates of deposit and whether repeated findings were being adequately addressed. Additional audits were presented for the State Fair Association, State Auditor’s Office, Workforce Safety and Insurance, Housing Finance Agency, Housing Incentive Fund, Job Service North Dakota, the Retirement and Investment Office, PERS, the Center for Distance Education, the Securities Department, the Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents, the Ethics Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. Most received clean opinions with no findings; exceptions included a repeat component-unit issue at the State Fair Foundation, a securities personnel-evaluation finding, and a Housing Finance Agency finding involving a late return of escrow surplus. The committee also discussed broader oversight issues, including the need for independent auditing of the Ethics Commission, possible legislative changes to give the State Auditor more subpoena power and independent legal counsel, and future work on data analytics, cybersecurity reviews, and audit capacity. The meeting recessed for lunch after these discussions.