Transcript Highlights:

• It really aligns well with the state's economy and workforce.
• And we find that interesting because it's so important for our workforce needs.
• It would still not meet the workforce needs of the state.
• It would still not meet the workforce needs of the state.
• Theme number seven: workforce alignment and economic vitality.

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met at NDSU and heard an extensive presentation from President David Cook/President Stewart and NDSU leadership on the university’s priorities, including enrollment, student success, research growth, and use of New Horizons funding. Leaders emphasized NDSU’s land-grant mission, its role in workforce development, and its goal of becoming more distinctive through strategic planning, recruitment and retention, commercialization, and partnerships. They highlighted that NDSU awarded 2,370 degrees in 2025, produces a large share of the state’s engineering, nursing, and agriculture graduates, and reported strong outcomes for graduates staying and working in North Dakota. They also noted enrollment headwinds, competition from other institutions, and the need to manage tuition waivers more carefully through a scholarship optimization effort. Provost Sherry Vale outlined academic stewardship efforts, including review or consolidation of low-producing programs, strategic hiring tied to institutional priorities, faculty workload policy changes, and expanded online and regional offerings. She said the university is using New Horizons dollars to strengthen advising, student support, and programs in engineering, agriculture, and health. NDSU leaders also described new or expanded academic offerings such as robotics and automation, artificial intelligence, material science and engineering, nuclear engineering certificates, accelerated nursing, nurse practitioner certificates, a Master of Health Administration, and a clinical research master’s program with Sanford Health. They stressed that these investments are intended to improve student completion, meet workforce needs, and increase return on public investment. The committee also heard testimony from students and recent graduates who described the value of NDSU’s education, mentorship, internships, research opportunities, and support services. Alyssa Hodges spoke about pharmacy education, public health work, and campus support as a parent and student; Ethan Blessy described engineering coursework, internships with Marvin, and career preparation; and Aiden Freolic discussed neuroscience research, federally funded projects, and plans for graduate study. Their testimony was followed by presentations on partnerships with Gateway to Science for K-12 STEM outreach and with Sanford Research on biomedical research, clinical trials, obesity research, and a joint biostatistics hire. NDSU also highlighted systemwide shared services, Governor’s School programming, and research growth, including a reported 8% increase in research expenditures from $199 million to $215 million. No bill votes were taken; the meeting was informational and featured presentations, testimony, and discussion of future planning and partnerships.

Transcript Highlights:

• So if you have a workforce question, save it till when we're talking about the workforce performance
• So I just want to start off with the workforce section.
• that workforce.
• Is it a workforce issue or is it a funding issue?
• This is about workforce, it is about turnover.

Transcript Highlights:

• The department's workforce eligibility verification services used by the workforce to process applications
• and technology or systems that are used by the workforce to process and record application outcomes.
• Phase 2, the workforce was to case processing phase 3 verification of applicants.
• This workforce supports the following activities.
• Even the tools that I mention in here that allowed the workforce to actually do their job, to do the

Transcript Highlights:

• of class five injection well for a certain Fair Housing Act, referred to the Committee on Trade, Workforce
• referred with the person who resides with the parent or the guardian. of the Committee of Trade, Workforce
• jailers, or firefighters who are injured in the course of scope of duty for the Subcommittee on Workforce
• Commission refer to the Subcommittee on Workforce HB 1677 by Canales. the investigation of municipal
• Refer to the Committee on Trade, Workforce and Economic Development, HB 1699.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the Secretary of the Department of Workforce Solutions.
• And we talk to them about the type of workforce needs that they anticipate.
• When we think about the ag workforce, it is a difficult, challenging workforce to maintain, especially
• And I really appreciate the discussion on the water workforce. Programs.
• The water workforce looks a lot like the agricultural workforce in New Mexico. It's aging.

Transcript Highlights:

• I love the focus and the emphasis on the workforce; that's fantastic.
• A lot of this, over 20 million of it, is tied to the workforce.
• I've also tasked her with the focus on workforce, and she has created a workforce strike force team who
• And so, I mean, we are all hands in right now and focused on workforce.
• It was one of the smaller workforce development housing projects.

Bills: SB48, SB64, SB100

Keywords: State Fairgrounds District, fairgrounds bonds, public financing, bond authorization, gross receipts tax, gaming tax, tax-backed bonds, infrastructure funding, Albuquerque fairgrounds, State Fair Tid, economic development, municipal bonds, revenue pledge, capital projects, New Mexico finance, special education, office of special education, deputy secretary, public education department, IEP

Transcript Highlights:

• because we know that 94% of individuals that are currently incarcerated will reenter the workforce.
• So this will include public sector hiring, which is about 15% of our workforce, and then 20% of our workforce
• workforce and then 20% of our workforce workforce and then 20% of our workforce is<00:10:15.440>
• And from a profession and workforce.
• And that's really to help with the workforce issues to expedite processing.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the June 18 meeting amendments, then heard an update from Representative Emily Callaway on the State Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Land Surveyors. She reported no major budget or regulatory concerns, but noted hiring challenges, especially for investigators, and said the board is pursuing a scholarship program using cash reserves and penalty payments. She also said the board has about 20,000 licenses, handled 134 cases in 2024, and had an open-investigation count that stayed roughly flat. The board said initial licenses take about 5 to 7 business days and endorsements about 10 business days, with one citizen-at-large vacancy on the 11-member board. Callaway and board staff also discussed emerging issues such as AI, digital plan submissions, and the use of drones and LiDAR in surveying education. They said Kentucky’s surveying exam pass rates are well above national averages and that universities such as East Tennessee State, Cincinnati State, Bellarmine, Spalding, and Eastern Kentucky are helping train students for the field. The committee then took up Callaway’s occupational licensing bill aimed at removing barriers for people with criminal records. The proposal would let applicants seek an upfront determination of whether a record would disqualify them, require boards to consider specified materials and give written reasons if they deny eligibility, and bind the board’s decision absent new or undisclosed offenses. Supporters said the goal is to help roughly 30,000 people reenter the workforce and avoid wasted time and money on training that could later be disqualified. The committee next heard from Representatives Fleming and Willner on a psychology licensing bill, a reintroduction of prior legislation. They said the measure is intended to address mental health workforce shortages by adding two members to the Kentucky Board of Examiners of Psychology, setting a more predictable timeline for licensure examinations, and requiring annual reporting on processing times for licenses and complaints. They said the bill is meant to speed entry into the profession as new psychology programs expand in Kentucky. No objections were raised. Finally, the Alcoholic Beverage Control commissioner and general counsel presented two administrative amendments tied to SB 202 to allow direct-shipping forms for cannabis-infused beverages, and the committee approved both regulations by voice vote. The committee then held a broader discussion about whether ABC should be expanded by statute to regulate additional intoxicating substances and emerging products. ABC officials said the agency already handles alcohol, tobacco, vape licensing, and some related enforcement, but any broader authority would require legislative action and likely more officers and funding. Members discussed the need to stay ahead of new products, possibly through an emerging-industries framework, while also protecting businesses and consumers.

Transcript Highlights:

• With a workforce that's over... ...of individuals across the Commonwealth.
• . ...family members to serve as compensated caregivers, expanding that workforce.
• The direct care workforce is incredibly fragmented; turnover rates for the direct care workforce are
• Currently, the number one issue facing every agency is the ongoing workforce shortage.
• The primary barrier to home care, as we've heard, is the workforce shortage.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing focused on two broad sets of issues: home- and community-based care, and school-based Medicaid reimbursement. In the morning session, legislators and advocates testified on bills affecting children and disabled enrollees, including proposals to clarify rate-setting for home health and home care services (H. 767/S. 870), allow family members and spouses to be paid caregivers under MassHealth (H. 1394/S. 886 and related bills), extend MassHealth coverage for applied behavior analysis and other therapies beyond age 21 for adults with autism and developmental disabilities (H. 1351/S. 871), and protect medically fragile children by improving access to continuous skilled nursing. In the later portion of the hearing, testimony shifted to a bill to improve MassHealth reimbursement for schools (S. 862), with speakers describing the school mental health crisis and the need to reinvest Medicaid funds directly into school health services. Witnesses on the home care rate-setting bill said current reimbursement methods are opaque and outdated, contributing to workforce shortages, unfilled shifts, long waitlists, and patients remaining in hospitals longer than necessary. Home care providers and trade groups argued the bill would not set rates directly but would require more transparent methodology and fuller consideration of real costs such as wages, benefits, taxes, training, and technology. On caregiver bills, many family members and provider organizations described the financial and emotional strain of caring for disabled or medically fragile relatives, especially when parents, spouses, or guardians are barred from being paid caregivers. They argued the bills would recognize existing unpaid care, help families remain at home, and reduce reliance on more expensive institutional care. Advocates for adult ABA coverage said services remain medically necessary after age 21 and that ending coverage at that age creates an inequitable “cliff” for MassHealth members compared with those with private insurance. For the PACE/community care bill, elder law attorneys and PACE advocates said current MassHealth income rules force some older adults with modestly higher incomes to spend down to $542 per month, making community living unrealistic and pushing people toward nursing homes. They supported changing the eligibility structure to a premium-based approach that would allow more people to remain in the community. On the school Medicaid bill, advocates said schools are providing effective, preventive mental health care, but reimbursement currently flows to municipalities rather than directly back to school health budgets, limiting districts’ ability to hire and retain staff. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee heard testimony and several witnesses requested favorable reports on the bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• Simply put, this is a workforce bill.
• Simply put, this is a workforce Program.
• <00:02:39.519> Attraction brought before the Workforce Attraction brought before the Workforce
• from one county our existing workforce from one county to<00:03:05.840> another.
• Unlike long-term workforce development Unlike long-term workforce development pipelines<00:03:15.040

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Roll Call: 00:38 HB 576 discussion: 01:56 HB 576 voting: 06:54 HB 593 discussion: 08:25 HB 593 voting: 21:58, 958, all

Summary: The House Standing Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment met with a quorum and first considered House Bill 576, which would create the Kentucky Talent Recruitment Grant Program. Representative Robert Duvall said the bill is intended to address Kentucky’s workforce shortage by funding local recruitment efforts for out-of-state talent, with grants of up to $500,000 to cities, counties, and nonprofits, a required 20% local match, and performance-based payments. He said the program is modeled on existing efforts already operating in Kentucky and cited projected economic and tax benefits. The committee substitute removed an appropriation and emergency clause so funding would go through the regular budget process, and members approved the committee substitute, the bill, and a title amendment with favorable expression. The committee then took up House Bill 593, sponsored by Representative Josh Bray, which addresses data centers and utility costs. Bray said the bill is designed to protect ratepayers from subsidizing data center infrastructure and to ensure projects either bring their own generation, use power purchase agreements, or pay upfront for any needed transmission or generation upgrades. He explained that the committee substitute made mostly technical changes, including giving municipal utilities more time to set tariffs, clarifying terms, adding exemptions for certain TVA- and DOE-related projects, and preserving existing contracts and net metering arrangements. Members asked about local control, the $75,000 prepayment, and TVA authority; Bray said the prepayment covers utility due diligence and screens speculative projects, local requirements must be certified before incentives apply, and TVA is federally regulated. The bill received supportive comments from several members, who emphasized protecting utility bills and ratepayers, and it passed the committee with favorable expression.

Transcript Highlights:

• It will strengthen our legal workforce and a part of the state that drives immense trade.
• As we consider other bills today about higher education and workforce development, let's also think big
• It only makes sense now that we have a workforce that that props up that industry.
• A workforce is how we keep them here.
• So we've got a robust workforce education program in Texas.

Bills: HB232

Keywords: disaster recovery, natural disaster, weather disaster, emergency relief, flood relief, hurricane relief, storm damage, wildfire, tornado, hail, windstorm, extreme heat, ice storm, snowstorm, property damage, personal injury, temporary housing, relocation assistance, lost wages, state emergency management

Transcript Highlights:

• water services for the water rights and residential real property before the Committee on Trade, Workforce
• We're linked to the account for construction retentions for the committee on trade workforce and economic
• cases under the Texas Workers' compensation system, remote communication for the subcommittee on workforce
• HB 2545 by Gerdes, relating to the establishment of rural workforce training grant program for...
• Subcommittee on Workforce.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And according to Georgetown University's Center on Education and Workforce, in general, a bachelor's
• So this is very important to the workforce, and local industry really helped us get this program off
• We know that we grew up with this region and that it's our job to serve the economy, the workforce and
• At CSUSM, workforce development is embedded into our mission of social justice. mobility.
• It represents 10 percent of the private workforce. workforce here, private sector workforce in San Diego

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• >> Chair: I WILL CALL THE CAREERS AND WORKFORCE SUBCOMMITTEE TO ORDER. LET'S CALL THE ROLL.
• IT IS THE BOARD'S WAY OF IDENTIFYING KEY PROGRAMS THAT ARE TIED TO CRITICAL WORKFORCE NEEDS FOR THE STATE
• THIS LIST IDENTIFIES FIELD WITH SIGNIFICANT WORKFORCE GAPS AND PROVIDES A TOOL FOR THE UNIVERSITIES IN
• THIS IS A PRIORITY OF GRADUATING STUDENTS ON TIME, MINIMIZING DEBTS, ALIGNING A DEGREES WITH WORKFORCE
• THIS SHOWS THE ALIGNMENT OF THE PROGRAMS TO MEET FLORIDA'S WORKFORCE NEEDS AND WANT TO MENTION THAT THE

Transcript Highlights:

• That's as big as the whole Federal Workforce Investment Act.
• This includes increasing enrollment of out-of-school youth in workforce programs.
• Scott Graginski, Deputy Secretary, New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.
• The Department of Workforce Solutions did request from the U.S.
• Young people surveyed by workforce frequently cited limited public transportation.

Transcript Highlights:

• rulings to prohibiting the use of social media platforms by children for the Committee on Trade, Workforce
• voidable provisions contained in certain construction contracts are for the Committee on Trade, Workforce
• restrictions by laws or the rules of Property Owners Association or for the Committee on Trade, Workforce
• Prohibited use of environmental, social, or governance scores or for the Committee of Trade, Workforce
• Commission for the Committee of Trade, Workforce and Economic Development.

Transcript Highlights:

• needs... ...of our workforce is going to be absolutely critical to deliver the infrastructure needs
• Workforce, we're setting aside $110 million for this effort.
• Again, education and workforce through those efforts.
• Again, education and workforce through those efforts.
• So how can we use this funding that we're setting aside for workforce and training?

Summary: The committee heard introductory remarks from Chair LaMarca and members, then received presentations on electric utility planning, transportation infrastructure, and broadband deployment. Public Service Commission staff explained how Florida’s utilities plan for reliability and cost through 10-year site plans, demand forecasting, and economic dispatch. The presentation emphasized Florida’s residential-heavy load, growing EV demand, expanding solar and battery storage, continued reliance on natural gas combined-cycle plants, and the role of nuclear power. Members asked about energy efficiency, rates, renewable options beyond solar, cybersecurity, grid resilience, data centers, and small modular nuclear reactors; the witness said efficiency programs are reviewed every five years, utilities must balance reliability and affordability, and large new loads like data centers generally must pay for their own infrastructure needs. Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue described FDOT’s five-year work program, decentralized district structure, and funding mix, noting that the agency is predominantly state-funded and prioritizes maintenance and preservation before expansion. He highlighted record investment levels, major congestion-relief projects, toll-road revenues, seaport and airport partnerships, spaceport investments, workforce and equipment needs, and emerging technology such as advanced air mobility. Members asked about project timing, MPO planning, rail and ferry funding, airport governance, winter storm preparedness, and flooding/sea-level rise; Perdue said faster delivery depends on resources, local governments lead transit operations with FDOT as a capital partner, and coastal and drainage projects are designed around storm surge and resiliency. The Office of Broadband reported on six grant programs supporting infrastructure, community facilities, digital connectivity, and future digital capacity and broadband expansion. Director Leo Garcia said the office has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars across most counties, leveraged significant private investment, and focused heavily on rural areas. He noted that broadband efforts are intended to support telehealth, education, workforce development, and economic growth, and said the state has reduced the number of unserved locations from more than 400,000 to a projected 170,000 after current awards are completed. He also said the office needs additional budget authority for the upcoming digital capacity program and that the larger federal/state broadband deployment program will be used to reach remaining unserved and underserved areas.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then today, um, the workforce committee bill will be heard. That's the $358,000 on line 1.14.
• And then um the workforce committee bill also spends $41,000 out of the workforce development fund, which
• And then today um the<00:01:54.560> workforce<00:01:55.200> committee<00:01:55.600>
• bill<00:01:55.759> will<00:01:55.920> be the workforce committee bill will be the workforce
• And then um the workforce committee bill also<00:02:26.160> spends<00:02:26.720> $41,000

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: Nonpartisan staff presented House budget resolution BUDRES06, explaining that it is an updated budgetary solution reflecting bills previously heard or passed out of Ways and Means, as well as bills being heard that day. The resolution showed a total additional change of $41.1 million for the 2026–27 biennium, with existing budget reserve and cash flow account amounts unchanged. Staff highlighted several committee bills included in the resolution, including elections, higher education, housing, public safety, and the workforce committee bill, which was listed at $358,000 on line 1.14. The workforce bill also included $41,000 from the workforce development fund outside the general fund, and the healthcare access fund was set at a zero-change limit. A member asked whether additional budget resolutions were expected later in session, and staff responded that more resolutions would be set as other packages moved out of committee. After the explanation and brief questions, a motion was made to adopt the budget resolution as described. Members voiced support, there were no recorded oppositions, and the resolution was adopted.

Transcript Highlights:

• used not just if they're going on to higher education, but let's say they're going to enter the workforce
• used not just if they're going on to higher education, but let's say they're going to enter the workforce
• <00:02:57.560> and training that focus on workforce and training that focus on workforce and
• training programs that many of workforce training programs that many of you<00:03:11.800> have
• military and the trade workforce. military and the trade workforce.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 1791 was presented as a scholarship/grant program for students in postsecondary technical or career programs offered through their high schools. Representative Scott and Representative Lawrence described it as a way to help students transition into careers or further education by covering costs such as tools, boots, books, and other work-related expenses. The chair noted the bill would be laid over, with limited time for testimony because of a full agenda. Testimony strongly supported the bill. Steve Collina of the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association said manufacturing is a major Minnesota industry and that the bill fills a gap by supporting K-12 career pathways; he emphasized the proposal would not cost the state or taxpayers. Trevor Quennell, a Centennial High School graduate now at Dunwoody College, said the bill would have eased the burden of buying expensive tools and balancing work, school, and transportation. Eric Trost, an instructor at St. Francis High School, explained that Saints Manufacturing is a student-run, elective business-style program that teaches estimating, quoting, logistics, welding, machining, and employability skills, and he said the grant portion is especially important because many students go directly into the workforce. Naomi Brasky, a St. Francis student and Army National Guard enlistee, said the program has given her real-world problem-solving and communication experience and that grants would help cover costs not included in tuition. Members responded positively, with one noting broader trends away from four-year college and calling the bill common sense. In closing, Representative Lorentzen credited instructor Eric Trost for originating the idea and thanked an audience member, Mr. Yost, for supporting the program. The chair then laid House File 1791 over.

Transcript Highlights:

• The bill also provides that the purpose of the alliance is to strengthen academic, cultural, and workforce
• This is a workforce development bill.
• This greatly expands the opportunities for working parents to go to work and be a part of the workforce
• This is a workforce development bill.
• This greatly expands the opportunities for working parents to go to work and be a part of the workforce

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:

• You all know about the workforce crisis and how the pandemic made the issue so much worse.
• You all know about the workforce crisis and how the pandemic made the issue so much worse.
• You all know about the workforce crisis and how the pandemic made the issue so much worse.
• <01:03:01.319> factor aspects the competitive Workforce factor aspects the competitive Workforce
• have been operating through a Workforce have been operating through a Workforce crisis<01:14:32.719

Keywords: 1183, house