Transcript Highlights:

• You're going to do that certificate? Mr. President, I apologize. I was writing which certificate?
• Certificate for the Santa Fe County Commission.
• Thank you, Senator Harmeo, for bringing this certificate.
• We do have a certificate to be read. If the reader would read the certificate, Mr.
• I wanted to rise in support of this certificate.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sponse team when working in the hospital as an infection prevention program manager.
• An executive order 2021-24, which ordered the health department to cease amending birth certificates
• And does the state of Oklahoma recognize birth certificates from other states?
• Male or female birth certificate, yes. Follow up, thank you, Mr. President.
• So, if Someone's birth certificate does not match what's being put on their driver's license.

Bills: HJR1032, SB1314, SB1257, SB1326, SB1365, SB1932, SB169, SB1991, SB1992, SB1204, SB1339, SB182, SB1847, SB1360, SB1346

Keywords: HJR1032, House Joint Resolution 1032, Service Oklahoma, administrative rules, rule repeal, joint resolution, Oklahoma Administrative Code, OAC 670:15-1-10, OAC 670:15-1-14, agency regulation, legislative oversight, Secretary of State, Oklahoma Register, rulemaking, permanent rules, administrative code, groundwater, indemnity fund, well drilling, pollution prevention

Transcript Highlights:

• This program area supports unit owners, board members, and stakeholders through education, complaint
• Those 10 courses include financial issues, board member certification, association responsibilities,
• Those 10 courses include financial issues, board member certification, association responsibilities,
• Here, we have also worked hard to implement our board member certification.
• And the department wanted to rise to that challenge, so we created the board member certification.

Summary: The Committee on Regulated Industries met for a panel discussion on current issues affecting Florida condominiums. DBPR Secretary Melanie Griffin highlighted the department’s expanded condo education, complaint, and ombudsman services under HB 1021, including new online resources, board member certification, increased outreach, and broader complaint jurisdiction. She said the division has filled most of its new positions and that the new condo website is intended to improve transparency and access to records and information. Other panelists focused on insurance, inspections, and market impacts. Insurance agent Mike Clarkson said the condo insurance market remains difficult, especially for older buildings, and raised concerns about roof replacement demands, Citizens’ depopulation practices, and the mismatch between reserve studies and insurer timelines. Building officials representative Ron Laceca described challenges with phase one and phase two inspections, including incomplete databases, limited contractor capacity, and the need for local flexibility and better recordkeeping. University of Florida researcher Bill Hughes said his data show the condo market has not suffered a major overall decline from the new laws; he argued the rules have made costs more transparent and may strengthen the market over time. Community association manager Jamie Ballard said the biggest pressures on associations are rising insurance costs and early roof replacement requirements, and she supported board certification while opposing the continuing education exemption for long-tenured CAMs. In committee discussion, members pressed witnesses on whether recent condo laws caused insurance and roof-cost problems, and witnesses generally said those issues are driven more by the market than by the legislation. Senators also discussed possible reforms, including better data collection, clearer reporting duties for managers, and possible changes to insurance and reserve practices. No votes were taken, and the meeting ended with adjournment.

Transcript Highlights:

• It removes language that allows up to 50% of the allocation for the improvement of instructional programs
• that allows county boards to use up to 25% of the allocation for the improvement of instructional programs
• one that allows county boards to use half of the allocation of the teacher and leader induction programs
• The first section directs the Department of Human Services to pay licensed child care program subsidy
• The department is required to review a child's attendance in a child care program and exclude a parent

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum present, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then considered a series of House bills and committee substitutes. House Bill 5438, dealing with changes to Step 7 of the school aid formula and allowable uses of certain education allocations, was amended to adopt the Education Committee’s changes and then reported to the full Senate. House Bill 4087 creating the West Virginia-Ireland Education Alliance was also reported, as was House Bill 4191, which expands child care tax credit eligibility for employer-sponsored facilities and changes subsidy payments from attendance-based to enrollment-based reimbursement; senators emphasized its workforce and economic development benefits. House Bill 5074, which reallocates medical cannabis fund balances and future revenues, was amended to increase the Child Protective Commission pilot funding from $3 million to $5 million and remove proposed ibogaine research funding for Marshall and WVU before being reported. House Bill 5353, regulating virtual currency kiosks and money transmission licensure, and House Bill 5527, creating licensure and oversight for wellness reimbursement program administrators, both received strike-and-insert amendments and were reported. House Bill 5687, which phases down the metallurgical coal severance tax and adds a temporary oil and gas tax reduction with county/municipal revenue adjustments, was amended and reported. House Bill 4418, creating an electronic system for municipal business and occupation tax filing and collection with a 1% administrative fee and a participation threshold, was also reported. The committee then took up House Bill 4245, the Revenue Rules Bundle, which bundles 26 legislative rules from the Department of Revenue and related agencies. The bundle included alcohol, banking, insurance, racing, and tax rules, with several sunset extensions and repeals of outdated rules; the committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment affecting a lottery consumer protection rule and a pre-need cemetery company rule, then reported the bill. House Bill 5168, providing a $12 million lottery-funded stream for emergency medical services, was amended to clarify the uses of the funds, rename one fund, require a 30% county match for mental health treatment spending, and create two additional county-based EMS funds; senators described it as a needed permanent funding source for EMS, and it was reported. Throughout the meeting, members generally supported the measures, with some discussion on technical details, funding allocations, and the impact of the bills on local services and workforce needs. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that Senate House Bills 4004, 4006, and 4009 would not be taken up that day, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• How does that program work? million. How does that program work?
• program, I'm not an expert on that one. program, I'm not an expert on that one.
• added additional money to the program. added additional money to the program.
• <00:20:58.960> Senator program have not changed. Senator program have not changed.
• > LMI<00:51:54.960> program<00:51:55.680> is the new program, the LMI program is

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• for certification as a police officer. for certification as a police officer.
• . doesn't pass certification. doesn't pass certification.
• ahead and meet those certification ahead and meet those certification standards.<02:59:00.720>
• for certification as well as<03:04:03.920> continued<03:04:04.319> certification<03:04
• . certification. certification.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A significant portion of the bill is focused on creating a new certification program that would serve
• programs in the procurement area.
• So, again, we really support building the certification program, which will require additional resources
• This would allow time to onboard the additional staff to design and develop the certification program
• Is there a program here?

Bills: HF3043, HF2891

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill aims to address that need by creating the Rural Law Enforcement Child Care Grant Program.
• The program provides support either directly to the officer or through their department.
• Is DPS going to be administering the program? Right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• However, Texas law does not currently require licenses or personal identification certificates issued
• Online, but they would be able to come into the driver's license office and present their certificate

Bills: HB5097, HB5513, SB523, SB857, SB964, SB1101, SB2143, SB2332, SB2383, HB 1108

Keywords: criminal history, background checks, government code, licensing, information access, rural law enforcement, child care grants, community support, law enforcement retention, advisory committee, SB 523, Texas driver’s license, alternative address, residential address, confidential address, address confidentiality, Department of Public Safety, DPS, Transportation Code, Section 521.1211

Transcript Highlights:

• communication access Services Program communication access Services Program for<00:31:42.080>
• general funds for different programs general funds for different programs that<00:45:10.240>
• But in any program where there is an individual who works on a project or a program that has federal
• And you'll see that because the creation of a certification program for these substance use outpatient
• <02:47:13.880> voluntary program so these programs are voluntary program so these programs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I is that is also by certification.
• c> nurse certification.
• I know nurse certification.
• Um there's no upward certification.
• 56:58.640> in take additional certifications in take additional certifications in cognitive<00

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sections four, six, and nine modify certain economic assistance program requirements for programs administered
• Sections four, six, and nine modify certain economic assistance program requirements for programs administered
• <00:34:05.200> to who participate in the program to who participate in the program to include
• Um, Rural Medical Assistance Program.
• ,<01:09:19.520> must and clinicals and certification, must and clinicals and certification

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:41:21.319> could hepatitis prevention program could hepatitis prevention program could
• This bill, the difficulty in this kind of a program is getting people to trust the program and getting
• people to attend the program.
• those cost savings pay for the program those cost savings pay for the program so<00:52:41.920>
• universal immunization funding program universal immunization funding program and<00:57:14.240><

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several health-related measures, with most of the discussion focused on SB 1419, SB 1494, and SB 1495, which were taken out of order to accommodate ASL/Death Blind Task Force testimony. SB 1419, relating to Act 253 (Session Laws of Hawaii 2023), drew support from the Department of Human Services and the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii, with testimony emphasizing use of the term “low vision” and support for the program timeline. The committee later recommended passage with amendments, including technical changes and updated appropriation fiscal years, and the motion was adopted unanimously by the members present. SB 1494, concerning hearing aids, drew broad support from disability advocates and others who argued that hearing aids improve health, reduce accidents, and may help reduce dementia risk. Testifiers also urged that the bill define hearing aids as prescription hearing aids rather than including over-the-counter devices, and the Department of the Auditor and Insurance Division raised cost and coverage questions. The committee recommended passage with amendments, changing the coverage approach to optional coverage similar to vision and dental and requesting a sunrise analysis for prescription hearing aids; that recommendation was adopted. SB 1495, which exempts hearing aids from the general excise tax, also received support, while the Attorney General flagged a possible single-subject issue and the Tax Department estimated a potential $1.1 million revenue impact. The committee recommended passage with amendments, including deletion of the challenged language, technical fixes, and noting the revenue estimate; that recommendation was adopted. The committee then moved through additional measures with mostly supportive testimony. SB 1421 on medical records prompted questions about what happens when a solo practitioner dies or closes practice, and the discussion centered on ensuring patients can obtain records, including a proposed amendment requiring a successor provider to send records to the patient’s last known address. SB 1422, dealing with a special fund and vital statistics funding, was supported by the Department of Health, which said the special fund did not meet criteria and that deposits should instead go to the Vital Statistics Improvement Special Fund. SB 1423 on certificate of need exemptions for Department of Health facilities drew support, with discussion of possibly extending exemptions to dialysis and behavioral health/psychiatric services; the Department indicated it would not oppose that change. SB 1424 on credentialing of health care providers also received support, and SB 1425 on the State Emergency Medical Services Committee focused on reducing quorum requirements because many members are active first responders and cannot always attend meetings. The committee also heard support for SB 1426 on emergency medical services, SB 1431 on viral hepatitis, and SB 1433 on harm reduction, with testimony on hepatitis outreach funding and syringe access best practices; for SB 1433, the Department of Health identified a blank in the bill and recommended a six-month period for the syringe-possession exception.

Transcript Highlights:

• programming.
• volunteer program. ...programs that are the core programs we talked about, but also the enrichment and
• We can't compel programming. We don't force program.
• Those also tend to be much longer certificate-driven programs, things like barber, culinary, et cetera
• program plan.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission approved the July 11 minutes and then received a detailed follow-up presentation from the Department of Correction on facility footprint, mission-driven housing, programming, and technology. Commissioner Jenkins and Deputy Commissioner Peterson explained recent and planned facility changes, including the closures of Walpole, MCI Cedar Junction, and MCI Concord, the transition of the Plymouth Section 35/Mass Act program to Health and Human Services, the return of Bay State to DOC control for possible future use, and the Shattuck Hospital move to East Newton Pavilion. Members asked about operational capacity, the exclusion of support beds from occupancy figures, and the status of mothballed or unused facilities. Framingham drew particular attention because of its historically low women’s population and planned renovations; members raised concerns about the cost and the need to consider the broader women’s correctional system. A major portion of the meeting focused on mission-driven units and evidence-based programming. DOC described specialized units for health services, nursing care, clinical stabilization, mental health, residential treatment, protective custody, reentry, emerging adults, education, and substance use recovery, and noted that security threat group support beds are not used. Staff explained the distinction between general population beds and support beds, and between programming and treatment. They said core recidivism-reduction programs are based on risk-need responsivity and COMPAS assessments, with Spectrum Health Systems as the current vendor, and presented recidivism data showing lower reoffending among participants who completed programs such as violence reduction, criminal thinking, and the Correctional Recovery Academy. For women, they highlighted the pathways model at MCI Framingham, which combines trauma-informed, gender-responsive services, and reported strong outcomes for those engaged for at least 26 weeks. Members asked about how needs are identified and counted, how declinations are handled, and how the department distinguishes completion from ongoing maintenance. DOC said participation is voluntary, individuals are re-recommended over time, and completion is recorded in the system when criteria are met. They also discussed educational supports for learning disabilities and trauma, including IEP/504 coordination, tutoring, and a new school psychologist for testing. Questions were raised about family reunification programming, and DOC pointed to family-focused services, mediation, Read to Me Mommy, and the Brave unit for young fathers. Sheriff Cabral and Sheriff Cochie praised the presentation and emphasized the importance of family reunification and the realities of trauma in incarcerated people’s lives. The final section highlighted the expanded use of tablets across all facilities. DOC said tablets now support free phone calls, emails, video visits, surveys, educational content, medical updates, sick-call requests, and an earned-good-time app, while also helping with communication during facility closures and with ongoing programming. Staff said the tablets are used both for learning and recreation, and that more than half of the incarcerated population uses them monthly for educational purposes. Members discussed whether user feedback or “reviews” of programs could help increase participation, and DOC said tablet-based surveys make that possible. The meeting ended with general agreement that the department has expanded programming and technology substantially and is using them to support reentry, communication, and facility operations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We provide university-affiliated training programs where we train behavior analysts.
• I also serve as administrator to the beverage alcohol training and certification program that many of
• I will say in Massachusetts there are four programs; our community college programs, so in Massachusetts
• So, just, um, I do want to ask you a question reviewing the bill around vocational tech program.
• For their certification and complete 12 hours of continuing education yearly for renewal.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure opened its first hearing of the session with remarks from Chair Chan and Senate Co-Chair Pavel Payano, who emphasized consumer affordability and professional licensure reform. The chairs also reviewed public testimony rules, noting the hearing was recorded, testimony would be public, and speakers should avoid including sensitive personal information. The committee then heard testimony on several bills carried over from prior sessions and new proposals, with each witness generally speaking in support of the measure they addressed. On self-storage, Joe Doherty of the Self Storage Association supported House Bill 340 and Senate Bill 236, saying the bills would clarify abandonment procedures, allow electronic delivery and signatures for rental agreements, and address situations where a renter fails to return a signed contract after a facility sale, while preserving existing consumer protections. On housing and fair housing education, Nicholas Pelletier and counsel Justin Davidson of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors supported House Bill 343 and Senate Bill 232, which would require fair housing education for real estate licensees; they said fair housing training is already part of MAR’s programs but is not required for all licensees, and Pelletier described a personal example of discriminatory treatment in a rental application. Senators asked whether other states have similar requirements and requested follow-up information. The committee also heard strong support for House Bill 348 and Senate Bill 220 on licensure of applied behavior analysts from Dr. Pauli Gidej of MABA and Dr. Charlie Newfield of Beacon ABA Services. They argued that a dedicated board would improve oversight, speed licensing, and help reduce delays that affect access to autism services, noting the growing number of practitioners and the strain on families waiting for care. Later, Robert Mellion of the Massachusetts Package Stores Association testified for House Bill 390, which would expand alcohol license suspension penalties to all business activity for certain retailers; members questioned the impact on grocery and big-box stores, the difference between suspending alcohol sales versus closing an entire store, and whether fines in lieu of suspension would be sufficient. The committee also heard testimony in favor of House Bill 407 and Senate Bill 277 to license veterinary technicians, with witnesses saying standardized education and licensure would improve animal safety, clarify scope of practice, and better distinguish technicians from assistants. Finally, Craig Orlin of Honda supported House Bill 474 and Senate Bill 291, which would use RMV contacts to notify drivers of open safety recalls and require recall completion as part of registration renewal; he said the bills could improve recall completion rates and address the large number of unrepaired vehicles on the road. At the end of the hearing, the chair noted several bills that did not receive testimony that day, invited written submissions by email, and announced the committee would reconvene in about two weeks. Representative McKenna moved to adjourn, Representative Keefe seconded, and the committee voted to close the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would be an incentive for those counties to get with the program.
• I'm not pointing at anybody, but they would get with the program, get the job done so that the people
• We have what's called the personal care program, and we have the cash grant.
• With the hearing on the certificate of need that we are going to turn to today, I'm going to hand it
• I represent the certificate of needs.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and the right program.
• Level one certificate is what TSTC is introducing.
• used to promote this program.
• There was a lot of interest in this program.
• Their rigorous certification programs and on-the-job training equip them with the core competencies assessed

Summary: The Senate Education K-16 Committee heard Senate Bill 1961, which would expand reporting on post-secondary outcomes and workforce data, including employment, earnings, regional labor demand, and credentials of value. Senator Bettencourt said the bill is intended to close data gaps and improve alignment between education programs and workforce needs. Witnesses from Opportunity Austin, Texas 2036, Samsung Austin Semiconductor, and the Fort Worth workforce community testified in support, saying better data would help students, parents, schools, employers, and regional economic development efforts. After questions from members about regional workforce pipelines and semiconductor talent needs, public testimony closed and SB 1961 was left pending. The committee then took up several pending bills and reported them favorably, including SB 1325, SB 604, SB 1832, SB 747, SB 2185, and SB 2395, with committee substitutes adopted where needed. SB 1325 was amended to remove the DSHS commissioner’s authority to issue standing orders for respiratory distress medication in schools. SB 1832, relating to school transfer or private-school funding options for students victimized by a public school employee, and SB 747, relating to intimate visual material policies, were both advanced on recorded votes. SB 2185, on the bilingual education allotment, was initially moved to a local calendar but was later backed up and reported to the full Senate after a fiscal note was noted. SB 2395, on school district general obligation bonds, was also reported favorably and then moved to the local and uncontested calendar. The committee also heard SB 646, which would expand the Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program to additional professions, increase award amounts, and add stipends for rural and bilingual service. Senator West said the bill responds to mental health workforce shortages and inflation. The Texas Counseling Association supported the measure, and a Hogg Foundation representative said participation has grown sharply since prior changes. SB 646 was left pending. The committee also heard SB 2647, which would create a Texas state accrediting agency and interim oversight system for higher education accreditors; supporters from the Texas Public Policy Foundation and a massage school owner argued it would improve accountability and reduce accreditor overreach, while Senator Menendez raised concerns about effects on law and medical school accreditation and student opportunities. SB 2647 was left pending. Finally, the committee heard SB 2786, which would exempt first responders from the Texas Success Initiative entrance exam, and SB 2615, which would standardize remote-work policies across public higher education institutions. The Texas State Association of Firefighters supported SB 2786, saying it would remove an extra step for career advancement; the bill was left pending because the committee substitute had not yet been adopted. SB 2615 was presented as a way to ensure more consistent in-person staffing expectations while preserving exceptions for illness, disability, and some non-teaching roles; it too was left pending. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires the programs to establish admission criteria.
• We go back to the certification process.
• like that, but they're offering RN programs.
• And it was a fraudulent program. want to vote up.
• And it was a fraudulent program.

Summary: The Education and Employment Committee met with a quorum and considered one bill, HB 121 by Representative Overdorf, relating to nursing education programs. The sponsor said Florida’s nursing shortage is projected to worsen and argued that low NCLEX passage rates show some programs are not adequately preparing students. The bill would tighten probation for underperforming programs, require program directors to be accountable, authorize Department of Health on-site inspections, require admission criteria and public posting of NCLEX passage rates, and require tuition reimbursement and free remediation for students at programs with passage rates below 30 percent. Members asked about how the bill would interact with the Board of Nursing, the Commission for Independent Education, and other agencies, and whether it would address fraudulent or low-quality schools. An opponent from the Florida Association of Independent Nursing Schools said current law already requires Board of Nursing and commission review, institutional accreditation, and provisional status for programs on probation, and argued the bill could reduce the supply of nurses. He also said Florida’s NCLEX results had recently improved. A representative of the Florida Nurses Association supported the bill, saying weak programs waste students’ time and money and do not produce licensed nurses. During debate, several members described concerns about diploma mills, fraudulent programs, student debt, and the need for stronger screening and accountability. Others emphasized that raising standards would improve patient safety and help ensure better-prepared nurses. The chair noted the importance of private nursing colleges in the state’s nursing pipeline. The committee then voted 19-0 to report HB 121 favorably and adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:34:48.639> and sober living house certification and sober living house certification and
• certification certification and<00:46:34.800> do<00:46:34.960> it<00:46:35.119> in<
• The housing um are considered programs.
• leases. they sign into uh like program leases. they sign into uh like program agreements agreements
• And with certification, I don't care who certifies it.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• from 2023 about 172,000 certificates to now 2025 about 300,000 certificates.
• birth certificate. birth certificate.
• <01:23:55.199> health<01:23:55.920> 100 Program I pro program ID health 100 Program I pro
• speed or automated enforcement programs. speed or automated enforcement programs.
• program for us. program for us. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Department of Health presented its supplemental budget requests and described several sources of uncertainty affecting federal funding, including policy changes, shutdown-related disruptions, and shifting appropriations proposals in Congress. Officials said some federal grants had been terminated and then restored, but the department still faces added administrative burden to access funds. They also said trust in public health institutions has declined, and outlined efforts to respond through community engagement, website cleanup, social media, and transparency dashboards. The department highlighted staffing and operations issues, noting a 29.7% vacancy rate and the success of its hiring pilot under Act 291, which has hired 38 candidates with an average 95-day hiring timeline. On the budget side, officials said the supplemental request includes increases in general, special, and revolving funds, and they walked through the first major general fund item for emergency medical services. After discussion, they said the EMS request was reduced from $8 million to $4.5 million to cover collective bargaining increases and keep contracts whole through August 2027. Behavioral health items included the payment crisis center in Ewa, which has connected more than 2,000 people to services, though roughly one-third remain unconnected or return frequently. Members questioned the quality of follow-up data and whether the program is reducing repeat use. The department also discussed state hospital decompression efforts, including use of the behavioral health crisis center, transfers to community hospitals, neighbor-island placements, and direct discharge to long-term care facilities; officials said the hospital is licensed for 292 beds and has seen census pressures rise again. A substantial portion of the hearing focused on Kalaupapa/Kalawao jurisdiction and preservation after patient care ends. Members pressed the department on the lack of a clear statewide plan, the roles of DOH, DNR, and DHHL, and what happens to land, buildings, and the cemetery after the last patient leaves. DOH said the current law is unclear on an end date, that the proposed bill would change the law, and that the landowners’ agreements with the National Park Service and each other will shape the transition. Officials said they would provide more information at a later hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• We market this program through our youth programs currently.
• We have programs that help our growers to access mental health programs, and having mental health programs
• The Department of Labor and Industry patterned that because there is no other certification program like
• <01:09:31.400> the certification program like this in the certification program like this
• programs like the line extension program programs like the line extension program in<01:24:42.000

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee met for an introductory session to begin the new legislative session. Members and staff went around the table introducing themselves and describing their agricultural backgrounds, including farming, livestock, crop production, county government, and related research or staff roles. Chair Paul Anderson emphasized agriculture’s importance to Minnesota’s budget and economy, welcomed new members and staff, and noted that the committee would have a full agenda. The committee then heard a presentation from the University of Minnesota’s College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, Extension, and the Forever Green initiative on the GREE program (Agricultural Research, Education, Extension, and Technology Transfer). Testimony described GREE as a state investment created in 2015 to support agricultural productivity and growth through research, education, extension, and technology transfer. Speakers highlighted its broad focus areas, including crop and livestock genetics, soil health, water quality, nutrient management, microbial science, agroecological innovation, and technology stewardship, as well as rapid-response funding for emerging issues such as waterhemp, PRRS, and avian influenza. University witnesses said the program has brought in faculty and extension educators, generated sponsored research awards, and leveraged state funding into additional grants and contracts. They cited a reported roughly 12-to-1 return on investment and said the state has invested about $39 million since 2015. They also noted additions such as a deep winter greenhouse program and a tribal representative on the advisory group. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.