Transcript Highlights:

• We couldn't just bring in a single engineering firm.
• We couldn't just bring in a single engineering firm.
• You know, they maybe don't have the money for the engineering or... ...have and if those options are
• You know, they maybe don't have the money for the engineering or... ...the needed documentation.
• You know, they maybe don't have the money for the engineering or, you know, hydrology, etc.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• With that, I'll turn it over to the State Engineer.
• Thank you, State Engineer, and Mr. Chair, members of the committee.
• As the State Engineer stated, New Mexico claimed that the operating agreement reached in 2008 was shorting
• With the federal government on those, the Office of the State Engineer is gearing up for much more intensive
• Council for the State Engineer.

Transcript Highlights:

• When you go by our museum, just remember one thing nobody knows, and that jets engines were invented
• Rocket engines were invented here by Doctor Goddard. Texas is real good about stealing heroes.
• I'm only an engineer. I just wanted to redesign everything. It's the one to the right. There we go.
• Uh, that's romantic to some people, but to an engineer that's kind of, uh, expensive and difficult to
• in engineering.

Transcript Highlights:

• are concerned about the investment in the future of Minnesota's people, which generates an economic engine
• people, which future of Minnesota's people, which generates<00:10:55.600><c> an</c><00:10:55.920><c> engine
• ,</c><00:10:56.720><c> an</c><00:10:56.959><c> economic</c><00:10:57.519><c> engine</c> generates an
• engine, an economic engine generates an engine, an economic engine in<00:10:58.240><c> this</c><00:10

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The meeting focused on a House counteroffer to a higher education budget and policy agreement, with Ken Savory walking members through spreadsheet changes and Mr. Hopkins reviewing policy items. On the budget side, the House adjusted several appropriations and savings targets, including state grants, child care grants, student teacher and shortage area grants, student parent support, spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury research grants, dual training grants for legal cannabis employers, and University of Minnesota cannabis research. The House also noted no change to Minnesota State, alignment with the Senate on the summer academic enrichment program, and that remaining state grant parameters would continue to be negotiated. On policy, the House said some items were agreed to and grayed out, including campus sexual misconduct policy and treatment of appropriations. The House kept its original position on the NN Mayo Clinic Partnership and did not include K-12 direct admissions or the College Financing Literacy Act. It also proposed adjusting OHEI appropriations for competitively and legislatively named grant programs so administrative cost reserves would conform to 10% and 5% parameters when current law is below those levels. The committee then heard testimony in support of continuing the spinal cord injury/traumatic brain injury grant program at its current level. Joey Carlson described his spinal cord injury, his career path, and how the program helped advance research and industry connections, while Matthew Broadick argued the program has produced clinical trials, FDA approval-related progress, jobs, and strong return on investment. He also said the program belongs at the Office of Higher Education rather than the Department of Health because its mission better fits research and innovation. Members asked about the program’s long-term home, and the witnesses defended OHE’s role. No votes were taken; the chair thanked the House for the offer, said it would be reviewed, and recessed the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, and we welcome to the committee Associate Director of Engineering and Facilities, Jeff Martin
• Thank you, and we welcome to the committee Associate Director of Engineering and Facilities, Jeff Martin
• Through the efforts of our historian, John Anfinsen, and good collaboration with the Corps of Engineers
• These documents include maps, surveys, engineering journals, as well as inspection reports that really
• help us understand how things may have changed over time and what concerns the early engineers had for

Bills: HF1837, HF361, HF2725, HF2566, HF2744, HF1685, HF501, HF1889, HF1389

Keywords: state policy, employment, health insurance, fossil designation, public funds, community resources, Capitol Mall, grantmaking, community vitality, livability, funding, healthy aging, aging policy, older adults, seniors, elderly, gerontology, long-term care, assisted living, nursing homes

Transcript Highlights:

• What are the dangers where engineers, planners, designers, and construction firms are climate effects
• As they slash support staff, engineers, and critical safety personnel, there's a real concern and already
• He, the engineers, took me to different bridges. We looked under the bridge. One was 80 years old.
• But we want to prioritize the ones that have these types of deadlines, and so that may mean that engineers
• suppliers are manufacturers who have a lock on transportation through internal combustions engines.

Keywords: Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, IIJA, bipartisan infrastructure, funding flexibility, NEPA, environmental reviews, bureaucratic delays, federal funding, infrastructure investment

Summary: The committee meeting focused on the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act, discussing the ongoing implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). Chairman Capito highlighted the bipartisan nature of the legislation and the necessity of refining existing provisions to ensure effective delivery of transportation projects. Notable emphasis was placed on the need for flexibility in funding to address inflation impacts and delays caused by bureaucratic hurdles, especially relating to environmental reviews under NEPA. Witnesses from state transportation agencies provided valuable insights into real-world challenges faced in project execution, ultimately underscoring the importance of continuous federal support for infrastructure development. The discussion also touched on the broader implications of federal funding freezes by the previous administration, which have reportedly hindered several ongoing and planned projects. This issue raised significant concern among committee members, who urged the need for reliable funding and the removal of unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles that could cause delays in project implementation. The meeting concluded with a commitment from the members to work collaboratively to overcome these challenges and ensure a smooth path forward for critical infrastructure investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a retired engineer, fellow of the Society of Women Engineers, and I'm speaking in favor of this bill
• I'm a retired engineer and fellow of the Society of Women Engineers, and I'm speaking in favor of Senate
• really be interested to see that. see how many of those fourth graders become mathematicians and engineers
• Becoming an engineer, sometimes people say, "Well, there's too much math."
• I hope we can get more scientists and engineers out of this process, so I'm looking forward to that.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> produce over 80% of the boats engines produce over 80% of the boats engines trailers<00:04:55.479
• A staff engineer was never replaced.
• </c><00:41:57.560><c> was</c> additionally a professional engineer was additionally a professional engineer
• </c><00:43:10.559><c> was</c> never replaced a staff engineer was never replaced a staff engineer was
• </c> to be studies done there's engineering to be studies done there's engineering studies<00:56:37.240

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• DLNR, you mentioned something regarding engineering.
• You mentioned something regarding engineering.
• </c><01:52:57.560><c> but</c> from the shore is still engineered but from the shore is still engineered
• project is fully engineered and project is fully engineered and developed<01:57:08.599><c> plans</c><
• So I'll change the TMKs and add Army Corps of Engineers.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 13, 2025, and first announced that SB 1456 would be deferred to the end of the agenda and ultimately worked on later, with the chair indicating the bill would be deferred and revisited in a future measure. The committee then heard SB 841 on marine life conservation districts. DLNR supported the bill, saying it would fund carrying capacity studies to inform rules and policies. Testimony noted a pilot study already underway at the Puka Marine Life Conservation District and another nearing completion at the old Kona Airport MLCD. Members discussed costs, with DLNR estimating about $300,000 per year for one user-experience study, potentially more for ecological analysis, and also discussed possible funding from the Mālama Kai special fund. DLNR said it had no objection to consulting current operators and other users, and explained the program would be a new, ongoing adaptive-management tool. The committee next heard SB 411 on capital improvement projects at small boat harbors. DLNR supported the intent, saying the bill would help expedite use of special funds for CIP work, while the Department of Budget and Finance opposed it, arguing the draft could conflict with constitutional limits on appropriations. Public testimony from an industry representative supported the bill and urged more collaboration with commercial operators, while committee discussion focused on whether DLNR could already use special funds for repairs, how much engineering and bidding work is required before projects go out to bid, and whether the current process creates bottlenecks when bids exceed initial estimates. DLNR said it can do some repairs and maintenance within existing authority and funding ceilings, but that the bill as drafted could be too broad. The committee also heard SB 5 on historic preservation, where DLNR supported the measure and NAOP Hawaii opposed it, saying the bill’s broader definition could expand the scope beyond the stated goal of narrowing reviews and reducing backlog. The committee then took up SB 1462 on the state historic preservation income tax credit. The Department of Taxation said the revenue estimate assumes the cap would be reached each year the credit is available, and DLNR supported the bill. SHPD said the prior credit had sunset, outreach had previously been done in targeted communities such as Chinatown, and owners of eligible historic properties are notified during review. Finally, the committee heard SB 268 on island burial councils. DLNR supported the bill, and OHA strongly supported it, saying the councils have struggled with quorum and expertise and that the measure would restore the original intent of having lineal descendants and cultural practitioners as decision makers, while still allowing landowners and developers to testify and participate. OHA also said it would help provide technical support and urged continued involvement from SHPD and the Attorney General’s office.

Transcript Highlights:

• So an example being in my, I'll say this from an engineering standpoint, and I know this, the University
• So an example being in my, I'll say this from an engineering standpoint, and I know this, the University
• So an example being in my, I'll say this from an engineering standpoint, and I know this, the University
• standpoint and I know this engineering standpoint and I know this the<00:03:40.280><c> University</c
• </c> to leverage and build the best Engineers to leverage and build the best Engineers that<00:03:53.519

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Because I don't want to keep him or the engineer up here. Are you the engineer? Mr.
• Army Corps of Engineers. engineering dams and Brady.
• I have a background in civil engineering.
• They had their entire team of expert engineers on there.
• I've spent 17 years managing engineering teams.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:04:06.480><c> for</c> director, division of engineering for director, division of engineering
• The Corps of Engineers campground require federal approval as well.
• The Corps of Engineers campground require federal approval as well.
• The Corps of Engineers campground require federal approval as well.
• The project is pending review by the Division of Water and the Corps of Engineers.

Keywords: 00:02 Call to Order and Roll Call 01:44 Approval of Minutes 01:56 Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet 54:59 Adjournment, 958, all

Summary: The House Budget Review Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Protection, Tourism, and Energy received an update from Kentucky State Parks and the Finance Cabinet on the status of major capital projects funded through recent legislative appropriations. Commissioner Mark Keelin, Deputy Commissioner Chris Perry, and Finance Cabinet/DECA representatives described progress on campground upgrades, utility and broadband improvements, building systems repairs, life-safety work, accommodations and hospitality renovations, pool and beach projects, playgrounds, golf course improvements, marina work, and wastewater upgrades across the state park system. They emphasized that Kentucky has 44 state parks and that the funding has supported completed work and projects still under construction or in design. The presentation highlighted funding tied to House Joint Resolution 76, House Joint Resolution 56, and House Bill 6. Parks reported roughly $72 million invested to date, with 66 projects completed and 17 under construction, including campground renovations at sites such as My Old Kentucky Home, Kin Lake, Carter Caves, Cumberland Falls, and others; broadband projects at several campgrounds; electrical grid resilience work at parks including Kentucky Dam Village and Kin Lake; and completed life-safety upgrades such as lock systems. Officials also noted pool and beach work, ADA improvements, lodge and guest room renovations, marina replacements, and wastewater plant upgrades. DECA said it currently manages 1,335 active capital projects statewide, including 149 for Parks, and credited additional project management capacity and regular coordination meetings for accelerating delivery. Committee members asked for a copy of the presentation and pressed the department for more detailed accounting of House Joint Resolution 56, including how much money remains, which projects are complete, and whether current appropriations are sufficient to finish the listed work. The department also requested a larger maintenance pool appropriation of $40 million for the next budget, arguing that routine and emergency maintenance needs across 44 parks exceed current resources and that preventative maintenance would reduce long-term costs. No votes were taken during the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• I bet you we’re going to have, you know, these are going to be engineers and safety experts.
• Unlike Don, who's an engineer, who's going to worry about energy efficiency on his home.
• Construction and engineering is what they blamed it on. But it met the code at the time.
• Construction and engineering is what they blamed it on. But it met the code at the time.
• I believe it was between when the codes and engineering... Robust community engagement.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bring them on the spot to engineers, architects, contractors that are all coming in.
• Depending on what their engineers recommend they need to do.
• Army Corps of Engineers Reservoirs that we sponsor and provide water to small cities with.
• ... engineering project on this.
• It runs the agricultural engine.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• actually do an engineering study.
• Constantine, because I don't want to keep him or the engineer up here. Are you the engineer? Mr.
• I have a background in civil engineering.
• Army Corps of Engineers is the source for that.
• And the engineer. and the Army Corps of Engineers who, they were literally about to get on a helicopter

Keywords: 997, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Engineering studies are being performed on those structures to ensure that they're going to service us
• Engineering studies are being performed on those structures to ensure that they're going to service us
• Finance has contracts with the engineer, who is, I guess, tier one—the top—then everything goes down
• They put an RFP out to start this project from day one. uh contracts with engineer uh contracts with
• engineer who<00:24:17.600><c> is</c><00:24:17.760><c> the</c><00:24:18.240><c> I</c><00:24:18.480><c>

Keywords: Call to Order and Roll Call- 00:00:23 Approve Minutes from January 15, 2026- 00:01:03 Kentucky State Police Update on SERVS- 00:01:47 Adjournment- 00:54:18, 958, all

Summary: The committee received an update from Kentucky State Police on the SERVE radio system project, with David Barker and consultant Brandon Marshall explaining progress across multiple phases. They reported that Mayfield PD fire/EMS and Graves County Sheriff are fully operational on the system, Phase 2 is 77% complete with 48 existing sites finished and 13 new sites pending acquisition, and Phase 3A remains funded but not yet complete. They also said router upgrades are complete, radio dispatch positions and mobile/portable rollout are complete, and microwave replacement is nearly finished, with one remaining site delayed by weather. A major part of the discussion focused on why the project has taken so long and why equipment is being purchased before some sites are built. KSP said the project began as a radio system upgrade but expanded as they discovered additional infrastructure needs, including routers and microwave links that were not in the original scope. They explained that equipment must be purchased in advance to match versions and preserve warranty coverage, and that older existing tower sites are being refurbished rather than replaced to make use of existing public-safety infrastructure. They also said all expenditures are tracked in inventory and accounting records and that the project remains transparent. Members pressed for a master plan and timeline, with Representative Smith arguing the project needs clearer structure and fewer layers of decision-making. KSP acknowledged the need for a timeline, said they had plans but not a full timeline earlier, and stated that if the remaining funding is approved they expect to complete the remaining existing sites and 25 new sites by June 30, 2027. They said 56 new-build sites remain, identified as the yellow-dot sites on the maps, and that some sites may be able to use existing Demar/National Guard tower locations. The committee did not take a vote on the project during this portion of the meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• He was a chemical engineering student for JB Speed School of Engineering.
• He was a<00:04:00.239><c> chemical</c><00:04:00.560><c> engineer</c><00:04:01.040><c> student</c><00:
• 04:01.280><c> for</c><00:04:01.519><c> JB</c><00:04:01.840><c> Speed</c> a chemical engineer student
• Engineering.
• </c> School of Engineering. School of Engineering.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Some of you know I'm a civil engineer, and I look forward to April 30th when my chapter of the American
• Society of Civil Engineers will be releasing its latest report card outlining the current state of our
• Some of you know I'm<00:04:28.520><c> a</c><00:04:28.560><c> civil</c><00:04:28.919><c> engineer</c><
• and I look forward I'm a civil engineer and I look forward to<00:04:30.480><c> April</c><00:04:30.760
• </c><00:04:34.400><c> will</c> American Society of Civil Engineers will American Society of Civil Engineers

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Rep. Athena Hollins and Sen. Ann Johnson Stewart introduced Minnesota’s proposed climate superfund bill, describing it as a way to make major historical greenhouse gas polluters help pay for climate adaptation and infrastructure repair. They said the bill would target large fossil fuel corporations with significant emissions and use the revenue for projects such as stormwater upgrades, bridge and roof protection, erosion control, drinking water protection, cooling cities, and other resilience work. Both lawmakers framed the proposal as a matter of accountability and fairness, arguing that Minnesotans should not keep paying for damage caused by companies that profited from fossil fuel pollution. Several supporters testified in favor of the bill, including St. Paul City Council Vice President Nyang Kheimey, former legislator and medical student Hunter Cantrell, Unidos Minnesota volunteer Bonnie Becol, and 100% Minnesota’s Aurora Vautrin. They emphasized local climate impacts such as flooding, wildfire smoke, extreme heat, emerald ash borer damage, asthma, and infrastructure failures, and said the costs are increasingly falling on taxpayers, local governments, and vulnerable communities. Kheimey highlighted municipal needs and St. Paul’s own climate investments, while Cantrell focused on environmental racism and health harms, and Becol and Vautrin stressed species loss, community recovery costs, and the burden on residents. In the question-and-answer portion, Hollins and Johnson Stewart explained that the bill would apply to fossil fuel corporations with at least 1 billion metric tons of carbon emissions and a nexus to Minnesota, not local utilities. They said the State Auditor’s office would determine the assessments owed by companies, while the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency would hold the fund and administer grants. They also said they were looking to models in Vermont and New York and hoped the proposal could attract bipartisan support because it is tied to affordability and shifting costs away from taxpayers and onto polluters. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, and the event ended with the sponsors opening the bill to questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I dealt with bike water standing on these fields forever because when an engineer, which I'm just a dumb
• farmer, I'm not an engineer.
• ,</c> fields forever because when an engineer, fields forever because when an engineer, which<00:14:04.399
• I'm not an engineer.<00:14:06.800><c> I</c><00:14:06.959><c> don't</c><00:14:07.120><c> have</c><00:14
• </c><00:14:08.160><c> When</c> engineer. I don't have that degree. When engineer.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee discussed House Bill 353, a proposal to tighten eminent-domain procedures and property protections while still allowing public projects. Supporters said the bill would not prohibit condemnation, but would require proof that property is in blight, give owners notice and an opportunity to cure, require a reasonable plan and funding for the public use, and ensure the taking is limited to what is necessary. They argued this would protect good-faith property owners, prevent abandoned projects, and make the process more efficient for utilities and infrastructure by encouraging easements where possible instead of full takings. Much of the discussion focused on the proper measure of compensation and the broader constitutional limits on eminent domain. Several members argued that compensation should reflect current market value and that public benefit should not be treated as the standard for value. Others said market value can be unfair in cases involving unique property uses, damage to land, or public-private projects, and suggested owners should share in some upside. Members also raised concerns about Kelo v. City of New London, the risk of abuse by governments or large corporations, and the need to protect farmers and rural landowners from one-sided treatment. A number of legislators supported the concept but asked for more detail on how the bill would work in practice, whether it is based on model legislation from other states, and how it could be tailored to Kentucky. The bill sponsor said it was a modified model policy and was open to amendments to make it more Kentucky-specific. No vote or final action was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so the designers, the engineers, and the people that are inspecting and permitting these systems
• They're not an engineer, but they're expected to review designs of all these systems.
• It's a box apart that the engineer has to design and stamp and say it's going to work just like these
• So it needs to be engineers at the state level reviewing these large commercial systems.
• I'm a licensed engineer, registered sanitarian, and site evaluator.

Bills: HB456, HB482, HB1463, HB1682, HB1949, HB5549, SB763

Keywords: translation, environmental quality, complaints, accessibility, multilingual, TCEQ, environmental justice, environmental complaints, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, language access, public information, Texas Commission, multilingual access, administrative actions, environmental regulations, state representatives, state senators, penalty notice, Water Code, legislative notification