Video & Transcript Research : 'Grow Your Own Educator Program'
Page 98 of 500
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- education education program<00:54:28.640>
up <00:54:28.880>first <00:54:29.280>we nurses as well as our Nursing education nurses as well as our Nursing education programs<00:59:37.440- We both survey nurses as well as our nursing education programs, both public and private, in our state
- as<00:59:51.240>
a these educational programs as well as a these educational programs as - four-year college with an education four-year college with an education program<02:03:33.719>
Summary:
The House Committee on Higher Education met at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Bachman Hall and heard testimony on several UH-related bills. HB 542 would expand the Hawaiʻi Promise Program to provide unmet-need scholarships at four-year UH campuses. UH system officials, the UH Student Caucus, and a Honolulu Community College student testified in support, emphasizing college affordability, student retention, and workforce needs. Committee members asked about current program data, eligibility, transfer patterns, and cost; UH said it had data available, noted about 10% of current Hawaiʻi Promise students transfer to four-year campuses, and estimated the full expansion would cost about $12 million. UH also suggested a possible alternative of focusing on transfer opportunities from two-year to four-year campuses.
The committee then heard HB 840, which concerns athletics appropriations for UH. UH Mānoa and UH Hilo supported the bill. UH officials said the funding would help cover recurring athletics operating costs, women’s sports travel and recruiting, Austin Awards, and a new nutrition fueling station, while Hilo said the money would help with travel, per diem, and conference-related costs. Members asked about the history of the athletics funding, the difference between Austin Awards and special talent waivers, NIL planning, and whether the appropriation should be restored to the base budget. UH explained that a $4 million athletics appropriation was originally made in 2018 or 2019, later removed from the base, and has been reappropriated annually since then.
Finally, the committee heard HB 842, which would fund three additional permanent mental health practitioner positions at UH Mānoa’s Counseling and Student Development Center. UH supported the bill, and Academic Labor United and a high school student testified in favor, citing student stress, overwork, and the need for more counseling access. In questions, members discussed the current counselor-to-student ratio, recruitment challenges in a tight labor market, and strategies for hiring, including looking at candidates on soft-money grants who may be seeking stable employment. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the meeting provided.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Budget Section Regulatory Division Jun 24th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But on page eight of your handout, you'll see information about the Oil and Gas Research Program grant
- Just to make note, I'll let you look through it in detail on your own, but we do have some information
- So, value of owning your own bank, I'm going to spend a little bit of time on governance.
- programs, to the special mission-based programs, to our core participation loan programs.
- So it really takes away from the power of owning your own bank.
Summary:
The committee took roll, approved the March 18 minutes, and then received a compliance-report update on the Industrial Commission and related funds and programs. Staff reviewed the status of one-time appropriations and grant programs, including electric grid resiliency, lignite research, enhanced oil recovery, the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority, the salt cavern business-case study, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members asked about funding balances, reimbursement timing, matching requirements, and how some commitments would affect the State Investment Fund and future biennia.
Industrial Commission staff then gave a broader update on the agency’s administrative office, grant management system, leadership transitions at several commission agencies, and active grant rounds. They reported that the grant management system is nearing completion, that several agency leadership searches have concluded, and that the commission’s grant programs currently have 108 active grants totaling more than $165 million. They also described the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority round, the oil and gas research program’s enhanced oil recovery awards, the grid resiliency grants, the salt cavern study, and the research technology park program, noting that some projects are awaiting federal funds or additional matching cash.
Ron Ness, speaking for the Oil and Gas Research Council, focused on the state of the oil industry and the enhanced oil recovery “Bakken 2.0” effort. He said production remains steady, but future growth depends on better infrastructure, longer laterals, and new EOR methods such as CO2, natural gas, and surfactants. He emphasized the importance of the Bakkeneast pipeline and related gas-utilization projects, the recent DOE funding that will return some money to the research council, and the need to modernize tax and incentive rules for CO2-based recovery. Members discussed the potential economic benefits for oil, agriculture, and manufacturing.
The Bank of North Dakota then presented its compliance report and a broader strategic update. Bank leadership reviewed the bank’s mission, governance, participation lending, student lending, disaster programs, and legislatively directed programs, and said the bank is managing for a flatter deposit base and stronger liquidity because of fintech competition and changing market conditions. They reported improved earnings, with net income rising to about $231 million, and described Rough Rider Coin as a new internal payment rail for North Dakota banks and credit unions, not a public cryptocurrency. Members asked about student loan eligibility, disaster lending, and the bank’s capacity to support state programs while maintaining its balance-sheet and liquidity requirements.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
IC - Revenue Stabilization and Tax Policy Dec 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And we hear about growing our own physicians, and we need to do that.
- To train physicians, we think, let's strengthen our training programs. Let's grow UNM.
- Let's grow Burrell College. Let's do more residency programs. And do you know what?
- Let's grow Borrell College. Let's do more residency programs. And do you know what?
- And that's because you all have really educated some of your patients.
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from its fourth meeting, held October 27-28 in Santa Fe, with Representative Duncan moving approval and no opposition. The chair then introduced a panel on the cost of providing medical care in New Mexico, focusing on physician shortages, rising practice costs, and access problems, especially in southern New Mexico and Las Cruces. Panelists included family physicians, a pediatrician, a cardiologist/electrophysiologist, and a community health center medical director, who described their backgrounds and practices before turning to the policy discussion.
The doctors argued that New Mexico is losing physicians because of three main pressures: medical malpractice exposure, gross receipts tax on medical services, and low Medicaid reimbursement. They said malpractice premiums are much higher than in neighboring states, punitive damages and venue shopping increase risk, and the patient compensation fund and attorney fee structure create additional costs. They also described administrative burdens from insurance billing and referrals, the high debt and long training period for physicians, and the effect of corporate medicine and private equity on practice decisions. One panelist emphasized the economic impact of each physician on jobs and local spending, while another noted that shortages force patients into emergency rooms and delay specialty care.
The panel presented a list of proposed solutions: reform punitive damages, limit venue shopping and stacking, restore lifetime medical payments from the patient compensation fund, enact apology protections, cap attorney fees, continue Medicaid funding improvements, and eliminate gross receipts tax on medical and dental services. Committee members generally agreed the presentation was thorough and useful, but several noted that some proposals fall outside this committee’s jurisdiction and would likely need to move through other committees, especially judiciary and tax. Some members supported drafting legislation or working on separate bills, while others urged caution, requested more input from hospitals and economists, and raised concerns about local government revenue impacts from GRT changes. The chair concluded by encouraging members to continue discussions offline and noted that the tax-related issue would be taken up further in the next day’s work.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- You've got your handful.
- He plans to pursue a career in welding and eventually own his own business.
- So it's a very valuable program. It goes way beyond just growing agriculture.
- He also has owned his own consulting business for many years.
- Your Education Committee, to whom has been referred, Senate Bill 64, has had it under consideration and
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- If you wish to waive your speaking time, we will take your position into the minutes of the meeting.
- grant programs have been done.
- our own businesses that are already here. ...has, I think, been replaced with the idea of let's home-grow
- grow our own mega manufacturers right here in Florida.
- right now for the grant program?
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee met with a quorum present and took up a long agenda of House and Senate bills, many of them conforming or “orphan” measures that were amended with delete-all or strike-all amendments to place them in conference posture. Among those reported favorably were HB 5015 on the State Group Insurance Program, HB 5009 creating the Florida Accountability Office, HB 5013 on state-funded property reinsurance, HB 5201 on state financial accounting, HB 5203 on the Capitol Center, and HB 5501 on documentary stamp tax distributions. The committee also approved SB 1292 on public records exemptions for certain email addresses, SB 1290 on highway safety and motor vehicle agency changes, SB 26 on an uncontested claims settlement, SB 176 and SJR 174 on homestead property assessment for flood-mitigation improvements, and SB 1122 on Florida Virtual School procedures.
Several substantive bills drew discussion. SB 924, covering fertility preservation services for cancer patients under the state health plan, received supportive comments from members and was reported favorably. SB 1160 expanded health insurance premium coverage for law enforcement officers and their families when catastrophic injury or death occurs in the line of duty or during official training, and it also passed. HB 1662, the Department of Transportation package, established or revised programs involving the Florida Transportation Academy, transportation research, rural transit, airport and seaport accountability, advanced air mobility, landscaping, and HOV lane changes; it was amended after testimony from the Florida Airports Council about landing-fee language and questions from members about AAM and HOV lane implementation, then reported favorably.
The committee also heard and approved SB 600, which codifies a statewide manufacturing office and creates a Florida manufacturing promotional campaign and grant framework, and SB 602, the fee bill tied to that campaign. That pair prompted the most extensive debate, with members asking about grant structure, eligibility, oversight, and whether the program could become a “slush fund”; the sponsor and Florida Makes said the program is aimed at small manufacturers, would be subject to rulemaking, and is intended to support training and modernization. SB 602 passed on a mostly party-line vote with Senator Pizzo voting no. At the end of the meeting, members recorded additional votes on selected bills, and the committee adjourned without further business.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hied Committee Meeting - 2026-04-09
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:15:58.040>
Is you need your your own unique system? - Is you need your your own unique system?
- From IIMN's own literature, tuition-free education programs that support learners from college preparation
- :30.280>
learners education programs that support learners education programs that support learners - programs provide that's basic education programs provide that's different<00:36:59.600>
than <
Keywords:
higher education, identity verification, enrollment fraud, funding, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, postsecondary education, community college, university, developmental education, remedial education, remediation, corequisite, co-requisite, English composition, college readiness, adult basic education, ABE, student placement, credit-bearing courses, noncredit courses
Summary:
The committee first approved the March 26 minutes after Representative Coulter pointed out and moved a technical correction to add a missing “T” in “Regents.” The committee then took up HF 4698, which Representative Duran said would address enrollment fraud at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities by funding an automated identity-proofing system. Testimony from Chief Information Security Officer Craig Munson described a commercial software system that would verify student identities using a selfie and a state ID image, reduce ghost students and fraud, speed enrollment, and lessen staff time spent on manual investigations.
Members focused heavily on privacy, data retention, and biometric concerns. Representative Cleveland asked what biometric data would be collected, and Munson said it would be limited to a selfie and ID images, not fingerprints or retinal scans. Chair Klippert and others urged stronger Chapter 13 protections and clearer data practices, while Chair Scott asked how long images would be stored; Munson said they should be deleted as soon as identity is validated, with possible revalidation later. Members also raised concerns about racial bias in biometric matching and the need for alternate verification methods. The bill was laid over, and Duran said he would work on the data practices with committee members.
The committee then heard HF 4608, presented by Representative Allen for Representative Koznick, on developmental education reform. Allen said too many students are placed into remedial courses that do not count toward a degree, costing time and money and reducing completion rates. Jane Groatman of the International Institute of Minnesota supported the bill, describing students who spent years in noncredit remedial coursework and arguing for a one-semester cap on remedial classes and clearer notice that such credits do not count toward a degree. Mark Grant of Minnesota State College faculty opposed the bill’s approach, saying it imposed a one-size-fits-all model, could undermine open admissions, and should not limit colleges’ flexibility to meet diverse student needs. The bill was laid over for further consideration.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Holy Lord, you have called us to you and chosen us as your own.
- You have spoken... ...chosen us as your own. You have spoken to us through your word.
- But it also takes education of our families. You can't turn your password over to people.
- Ready to work, grow food, and to build something of their own.
- Inspired by her own multicultural family and her mother, who had her own impressive career in education
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Four - Tuesday, January 13 - Afternoon Session - State of the State
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- As Claudia and I traveled the state, we were able to see the Ag Education on the Move program in action
- Annie is a single mother and, like many single parents, including my own mother when I was growing up
- Beginning in calendar year 2027, this program... ...scholarship tax credit program.
- Each of us brings our own perspective, our own convictions, and our own experiences, but we are bound
- Your committee on consent, one. From a microphone other than my own. Please proceed, gentlemen.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee 4/3/25
Higher Education Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- of specialized educational programs.
- grow their own Workforce employers to grow their own Workforce through<01:15:43.960>
collaborative - <01:18:48.760>
and program and Advance their education and program and Advance their education - grow their own Workforce employers to grow their own Workforce through<01:19:19.760>
collaborative - <01:39:52.040>
the programs and so how do we grow the programs and so how do we grow the opportunities
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Investments and Pensions Oversight Aug 13th, 2025
Investments & Pensions Oversight Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Your enthusiasm and your presentation is contagious.
- And your comments about doing a better job of informing and educating us as legislators, but also the
- Even as the network grows, you will always own the same percentage.
- Bitcoin protects your wealth from inflation, and it ensures your ownership stake grows in value.
- But if you own your own wallet, It's yours. The wallet is simply nothing more than a pin drive.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
AGRICULTURE- HOUSE SMALL BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEV. SUBCOM. Jun 2nd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- own?
- But just help me understand your safety measures and what we're doing to educate folks about understanding
- They're growing food, and they're learning to grow it. It's good food.
- So anything that we're doing falls underneath the CTE programs, career technical and educational training
- That you see in your salad, we're probably not going to be growing it unless we can get to a cost that
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from its October 27 meeting and then heard testimony on the economic and practical effects of Arkansas’s raw milk law, Act 698. Clinton Ballard of Milk and Honey Hill Farm said the law allowed his family farm to expand from 8 to 12 cows, serve about 150 families, add retail sales of raw cheese, and increase annual sales by roughly $50,000. He argued that raw milk production supports small farms, improves food security by keeping milk production in-state, and should be paired with optional state inspection and certification so producers could access USDA grants and other value-added opportunities. Committee members asked about herd management, safety practices, labeling, consumer education, and whether a voluntary inspection system could be created without leading to more regulation. Ballard said his farm follows sanitary practices, chills milk quickly, uses educational materials for customers, and has not had any reported illnesses among customers.
Members also discussed broader concerns about raw milk safety, including E. coli, sick animals, and whether state agencies should provide more guidance or training. Several lawmakers expressed support for consumer choice and for small producers, while others emphasized the need for clear standards and accountability. The discussion also touched on the decline of commercial dairies in Arkansas, the role of the health department, and whether state certification would be limited to in-state sales.
The committee then heard a lengthy presentation from Terence Bolden of TLB Enterprises on hydroponic and container-based agriculture as a response to food insecurity and workforce needs. Bolden described retrofitted shipping containers that can grow produce year-round with low water use, and said the model could be paired with career and technical education, drones, robotics, and agribusiness training in schools and communities. He said pilot projects are underway or planned with the Little Rock School District, Southwest High School, UAPB, and other partners, and estimated that five regional hubs could have significant economic impact while creating jobs and reducing food deserts. Members asked about target communities, costs, energy needs, crop types, and how the model would work in rural areas; Bolden said the approach is a public-private partnership intended to support local farmers, schools, and community food access. No votes were taken on Bolden’s proposal, and the meeting adjourned after questions concluded.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee Jan 22nd, 2026 at 09:00 am
A&B Education Subcommittee
Transcript Highlights:
- The other program that will continue to grow is health sciences.
- Do they, do you see a lot of high school students transferring into the adult program for further education
- We would prioritize our grants to focus on arts education programs for schools and vulnerable populations
- than yours.
- To answer your question, they tend to be special education concerns, maybe disciplinary kinds of things
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Apr 10th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- And we have Senate Bill 1726 on higher education by our very own Senator Kalata, and you are recognized
- I do have one question about your new program. Are there questions?
- I do have one question about your new program and dealing with the aircraft and mechanics that you're
- why can't we have our own medical school, add to the doctoral programs at UWF?
- why can't we have our own medical school, add to the doctoral programs at UWF?
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education heard and approved two bills before moving into confirmation hearings for several university and college board nominees. CS/SB 1458 on apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships was presented as a measure to improve consistency and transparency in local education agency partnerships, cap LEA administrative funding at 10% when applicable, and require public meetings and work papers for workforce funding model decisions. Support was noted from Associated Builders and Contractors, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Foundations for Florida Futures, and Independent Electrical Contractors. The bill passed unanimously and was reported favorably.
The committee then considered CS/CS/SB 1726 on higher education governance and presidential searches after adopting a delete-all amendment and a late-filed amendment defining the final group of presidential applicants as no fewer than three. The amended bill added provisions on trustee citizenship and residency/alumni eligibility, interim president succession planning, longer presidential contract renewals, limits on candidate polling by universities, syllabus posting, textbook/open-access material lists, and other governance and academic policy changes. Senators raised concerns about the minimum-three finalist requirement, interim president selection, trustee eligibility, and polling restrictions, while supporters said the bill would depoliticize leadership selection and improve transparency. The bill was reported favorably after the amendments were adopted.
The committee then heard confirmation testimony from multiple appointees and reappointees, including nominees for FAMU, UNF, Pensacola State College, UWF, and UF. Most nominees emphasized ties to their institutions, student success, workforce development, military connections, and institutional growth. Several UWF nominees were questioned extensively about their votes for former chair Scott Yenner and his controversial comments about women and other groups; some said they were unaware of those remarks at the time of the vote and would not have supported him with that knowledge. Public testimony on UWF expressed concern about the nominees’ lack of higher education experience, their ties to the region, and the impact of Yenner’s views. The committee later voted to recommend a block of non-UWF nominees favorably, and it agreed to vote on the UWF nominees individually, with some remaining nominees deferred to a later hearing due to time.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
AEN-WTL-EDT-EIG, WTL-AEN Public Hearings 03-19-2025
Agriculture and Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- Your<00:05:45.320>
time's <00:05:45.600>up. Your time's up. Your time's up. - Those same assets can be used to educate school kids, their education program.
- kids,<00:34:45.760>
their <00:34:45.919>education <00:34:46.440>program. - <00:34:46.960>
We kids, their education program. We kids, their education program. program, So, our formal education program, because we do have a legitimate education department
Summary:
The joint committees met on March 19, 2025, to hear HB 966 HD2, which would create statewide standards for agricultural tourism in counties that adopt ag-tourism ordinances. The bill would require registration with county planning departments, require ag-tourism to remain tied to an active farming operation, and end the activity when the agricultural use stops except in limited circumstances. Testimony from the Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, the Agribusiness Development Corporation, the Department of Agriculture, the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Kualoa Ranch, and the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was generally supportive of the bill’s intent, with several witnesses emphasizing that agritourism can help farm viability, food security, and public education about agriculture.
The Hawaii Farm Bureau and several other testifiers supported agritourism but urged strong guardrails, minimal statewide standards, and deference to county home rule. They said agriculture should remain the primary activity, warned against adding burdens to farmers and ranchers, and suggested better enforcement and agricultural expertise within county planning departments. Phil Weber and others argued for objective standards, such as minimum revenue or work-performed thresholds, annual reporting, and clearer compliance tools, and cautioned that the bill’s termination exemption could be too broad if not tightened.
A substantial portion of the discussion focused on whether the bill should apply to Department of Agriculture lands, especially ag park lands, and to DLNR lands. Department of Agriculture staff explained that ag park lands currently do not allow agritourism, while non-ag park lands under Act 90 allow limited related activity tied to farm production, with revenue limits and other conditions. Members and witnesses debated how to define and measure agritourism, how to enforce county rules, and whether to exempt ag park parcels or otherwise clarify that existing DOA rules would control. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing, and the chair requested follow-up language from DOA to address possible exemptions and clarify the bill’s application.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Committee on Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact Jul 11th, 2025
Economic Development, Growth, and Household Impact
Transcript Highlights:
- Good afternoon, if we could have your attention, please take your seats.
- Together, these spaces and our programs reflect our commitment to inclusive innovation and to growing
- Programs chosen with intention, guided by data from the City's 2023 Workforce and Education Needs Assessment
- your feedback your your constant involvement through your different roles are critical to how we get
- And sometimes it's important. important to do that for your own family, but also for society.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
01/12/2026 - State of the State Address
Transcript Highlights:
- We also can't discuss Start and grow a business.
- and bring accountability to the ESA Entitlement Program.
- Freedom to make your voice heard at the ballot box.
- Freedom to make your own medical decisions, including how and when to grow your family.
- your business.
Summary:
The transcript is the opening joint session of the Arizona Legislature’s 57th Second Regular Session, featuring remarks from House and Senate leaders and Governor Katie Hobbs. House and Senate leaders emphasized a conservative governing agenda focused on affordability, public safety, parental rights, accountability, school choice, election integrity, and water policy, while also highlighting plans for tax cuts and cooperation across chambers.
Governor Hobbs centered her address on the “Arizona promise,” stressing affordability, security, and freedom. She highlighted prior actions on job growth, medical debt relief, housing, public safety, border security, water management, and economic development, and announced new proposals including a middle-class tax cut package, a capacity and efficiency initiative to save state funds, a new active management area for La Paz County, a Colorado River Protection Fund, elimination of the data center tax exemption, a housing acceleration fund, and an Arizona Affordability Fund funded in part by a short-term rental fee. She also called for more accountability in the ESA program and for renewing Prop. 123 to support public schools.
The governor and legislative leaders also addressed political violence, honoring retiring Senator Lela Alston and recognizing public safety and firefighting personnel. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken in the session; it concluded with the joint session being dissolved after the governor’s remarks.
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- On your loan programs, do you take collateral enough to cover the loan?
- For your program, what kind of federal dollars are you bringing in and using?
- Um, we have educational programs in terms of this entrepreneurial mindset programming that we are starting
- Um in terms of uh access programs grow.
- that wants to grow or come to your town.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Let our foundation be built on your wisdom and not on our own human leading.
- This bill also expands public money going to the wildly unaccountable education voucher programs, the
- We'll be your little lapdog, and we'll just follow your little SGO program.
- And if you look particularly at education, if you look at health care, it will grow at 2 percent.
- Arizona to grow.
Summary:
The Senate convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, attendance, and routine journal and guest items, then moved into the Committee of the Whole to consider bills on the calendar. The main substantive item was SB 1106, a tax conformity bill tied to federal tax changes. Senators debated it extensively, with supporters arguing it would provide tax relief, certainty for taxpayers filing returns, and pro-growth benefits for workers and businesses, while opponents said it would reduce state revenue, favor wealthier taxpayers and corporations, and should be handled in broader budget negotiations. Several senators also objected to provisions they said were added late, including child care, senior deductions, and education-related tax credit language. The bill was ultimately passed in open session by a vote of 17 ayes, 12 nays, and 1 not voting, and was transmitted to the governor.
After SB 1106, the chamber adopted the Committee of the Whole report and then heard a proclamation in support of law enforcement, read by Senator Bolick and signed by Senate leadership. The proclamation cited officer safety, assaults, fatalities, and mental health concerns, and called for continued support, equipment, training, and resources for law enforcement. Senators spoke in favor of honoring police and “backing the blue.”
The Senate also handled routine floor business, including a message from the House, transmission of SB 1106 to the governor, and a long list of first-reading bill introductions and committee references covering topics such as public safety, health and human services, education, finance, elections, immigration, border issues, and appropriations. The meeting concluded with committee announcements and adjournment until Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
AGRICULTURE- HOUSE SMALL BUSINESS & ECONOMIC DEV. SUBCOM. Jun 2nd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- own?
- But just help me understand your safety measures and what we're doing to educate folks about understanding
- They're growing food, and they're learning to grow it. It's good food.
- So anything that we're doing falls underneath the CTE programs, career technical and educational training
- That you see in your salad, we're probably not going to be growing it unless we can get to a cost that
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from its October 27 meeting and then heard testimony from Clinton Ballard of Milk and Honey Hill Farm about the impact of Act 698 on raw dairy producers. Ballard said the law allowed his farm to expand from one cow to 12, serve about 150 families, increase sales by roughly $50,000, and sell about $10,000 in raw cheese and other products through retail outlets. He argued the law improved farm income, food security, and local supply, and he asked for an optional state inspection/certification path for raw milk producers so they could access USDA grants and other opportunities available to licensed dairies. Committee members asked about herd management, safety practices, bee production, market channels, and whether such certification should remain voluntary; Ballard said he follows Grade A-style sanitation, chills milk quickly, removes sick cows from production, and supports optional training or inspection but not mandatory regulation.
Members also raised food safety concerns, especially for children and pregnant women, and Ballard responded that raw milk producers rely on cleanliness, rapid cooling, consumer feedback, and truth in labeling. He said the health department currently inspects commercial dairies but not raw milk producers who do not sell through a cooperative, and he believed state inspection would help producers distinguish themselves and qualify for funding without changing interstate rules. Several members discussed the balance between consumer choice, safety, and possible “mission creep” if the state created a certification system.
The committee then heard a lengthy presentation from Terence Bolden of TLB Enterprises on hydroponic and container farming as a response to food insecurity and food deserts. Bolden described a three-year workforce and career-technical program built around retrofitted shipping containers, drones, robotics, agribusiness, and AI, with partnerships involving schools, universities, Farm Bureau, UAPB, the Little Rock School District, and other entities. He said the model could create year-round local food production, support school cafeterias and community markets, and generate jobs and economic impact, estimating at least four jobs per container and potentially significant regional economic benefits. Members asked about costs, target communities, energy needs, crop types, and implementation timelines; Bolden said the first containers for school sites could be in place by late summer or early fall, with pilot projects already underway in Arkansas and Orlando. The meeting adjourned after no further business.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Appropriations & Revenue. (7-1-26)
Appropriations & Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- Department of Education. >> If you'll raise your right hand, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole
- >> In your your section. >> In your your section.
- They keep growing. growing. growing.
- Again, my name is Andrew Johnson, and it's my honor to serve as your state liaison for the Education
- your state. your state.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Budget Process 00:02:28
Allotment Process 00:10:30
School Facilities Construction Commission 00:29:10
Role of KDE in School Facilities Funding 00:47:00
Kentucky School Boards Association 01:13:25
Elementary and Secondary School Construction 01:20:40
Perkins V Funding 01:35:32, 958, all