Video & Transcript Research : 'rural development'
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FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education Feb 5th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education
Transcript Highlights:
- They will also be developing a website that highlights all of the work that They will also be developing
- Our rural districts are able to participate in these programs.
- Our rural districts, just like our medium and large districts, are able to attend the professional development
- I really want to focus on CTE and how we work with our rural economic development agencies, our comprehensive
- Calhoun County is a small rural district.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met with a quorum and first heard a Department of Education program review on three district support programs: assistance to low-performing schools, the Florida Partnership program, and regional literacy teams (RAISE). Dr. Paul Burns described how the Bureau of School Improvement supports schools with D/F grades through regional teams, classroom observations, professional learning, and targeted funding, noting that 104 of 168 low-performing schools improved after 2022-23 and that the share of failing schools fell from 6% to 4%. He also outlined the Florida Partnership’s $4 million annual appropriation for advanced-course teacher training and student access, and the RAISE literacy program’s $5 million funding, universal/targeted/intensive supports, and progress monitoring results. Senators asked about rural participation, post-COVID reading data, parent support, and how long schools remain under monitoring after improving; Burns said rural districts can participate statewide, parents can access school and department support, and schools continue to receive monitoring after exiting low-performing status to prevent recidivism.
The committee then received a presentation on the school district education foundation matching grants program from Suzanne Pridgen, who explained that the Consortium of the Florida Education Foundations administers the grants, which require private matching funds and support tutoring, literacy, STEM, career education, professional learning, books, and supplies. She said the program leverages about $1.44 in private support for every state dollar. The committee then moved to the regional education consortia, where representatives from PAEC, NEFEC, and Heartland, along with several rural superintendents, described the consortia as member-led organizations that provide economies of scale, professional learning, HR, risk management, purchasing, legal and operational support, crisis assistance, and leadership development for small and fiscally constrained districts.
Superintendents from Lafayette, Holmes, Calhoun, Union, DeSoto, and Hendry counties testified that the consortia are essential because rural districts often have very small staffs, multiple-duty administrators, and limited in-house expertise. They cited support with insurance and hurricane recovery, training for new finance and HR staff, instructional coaching, CTE and leadership programs, and help with turnaround schools. Members emphasized that these districts can be high-performing despite limited resources, and several senators praised the consortia’s value. Senator Gaetz asked about additional back-office collaboration, possible regulatory relief, and FEFP issues tied to scholarship-related enrollment swings; rural superintendents responded that more local control would help. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was adopted without objection.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Appropriation and Revenue. (3-4-26)
Transcript Highlights:
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hopefully, development standpoint, one, hopefully, development standpoint, one, hopefully, you - . development. development.
- development in children. development in children.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Roll Call 00:00:10
SB 6 Discussion 00:40
SB 6 Vote 00:13:30
Cochlear Implants 00:16:25, 958, all
Summary:
The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee heard Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers, which would create an endowed research fund to support collaborative university research in Kentucky. Stivers described the bill as an extension of earlier higher-education research efforts, arguing that Kentucky should build research “hubs” by requiring or encouraging partnerships among universities and outside entities, with potential focus areas including health care, engineering, aerospace, agriculture, and other emerging fields. He said the proposal would establish five research tranches over five years and sought a $30 million endowment for each, generating annual interest to fund consortium-based research and leverage additional private and federal dollars. Senators Frommeyer, Neal, Givens, Boswell, and Richardson spoke in support, emphasizing economic development, job creation, and examples from other research clusters such as Boston and North Carolina’s Research Triangle. The committee voted 12-0 to report the bill favorably to the Senate floor.
The committee then received a presentation from Dr. Matthew Bush of the University of Kentucky on pediatric hearing loss and cochlear implants. Bush explained that early hearing detection and intervention is critical because hearing loss in newborns is a neurocognitive emergency that affects language, literacy, and long-term outcomes. He outlined national screening benchmarks, Kentucky’s incidence of childhood hearing loss, and the high educational and societal costs of untreated hearing loss. Bush also highlighted disparities in rural and western Kentucky, where children face delayed diagnosis, longer waits for hearing aids or cochlear implants, and more difficulty accessing follow-up care. He described cochlear implants, the multidisciplinary care they require, and research showing improved language development, quality of life, and cost savings when children are treated early.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Water Topics Overview Committee Mar 26th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I will stress that's our current Water Development Plan.
- Also, there is no fully developed long-term strategy or clear KPIs Also, there is no fully developed
- So we have about 4,500 more rural customers to go.
- Rural water is trying to get to those areas.
- We have a lot of places that new development goes.
Summary:
The Water Topics Overview Committee met with a quorum and received updates from the Department of Water Resources and the State Water Commission, followed by presentations from Deloitte on two legislative studies required by House Bill 1020. Director Reese Haas reviewed major project and budget updates, including the Northwest Area Water Supply and Southwest Pipeline projects, Resources Trust Fund balances, carryover spending, project prioritization, bid conditions, regional water system coverage, and department process improvements. Members also discussed how the commission prioritizes projects, maintenance expectations, and the impact of limited municipal water supply funding. No formal committee action was taken during the DWR update; the commission’s municipal funding decisions were described as pending its April 8 meeting.
Deloitte then presented the cost-share policy study, which found that under current policy and forecasted revenues, North Dakota faces an estimated $1.3 billion shortfall over 14 years, with a near-term gap of about $1.8 billion through 2031. The firm outlined seven recommended options, including tighter definitions and a 25% cost share for eligible replacement projects, caps and financing strategies for the Mouse River and Red River Valley projects, aligning cost share with commission priority guidance, delaying lower-priority projects, using available lines of credit, and adjusting reimbursement timing for revolving loan funds. Committee members questioned inflation assumptions, affordability, user fees, and the use of legacy fund earnings for bonding, but no decisions were made.
In the governance and finance study, Deloitte said final recommendations are still being refined, with a final report due May 29. The study examined the Southwest Pipeline, NAWS, and Red River Valley systems using governance and finance criteria such as decision authority, transparency, affordability, risk, and access to funding. For Southwest, Deloitte outlined options ranging from improved state-authority coordination to transferring ownership to the Southwest Water Authority; for NAWS, options focused on strengthening the authority’s role and potentially transitioning operations and maintenance; and for Red River, options ranged from enhanced facilitation to formal state oversight or state ownership. Members asked follow-up questions about ownership transfer, capital repayment streams, and why NAWS was not considered for transfer, and Deloitte said NAWS’s limited organizational maturity made that option less viable in the near term.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 24th, 2025
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- So that was the lens we took while developing the economic development recommendations at the LFC.
- economic development.
- Economic development is looking at.
- Okay, so I'm going to focus on rural economic development because I know there's people that need to
- We don't have that, and so we can't develop the economic development infrastructures, parks, benches,
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Commerce and Tourism Mar 31st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The time has come to diversify or view what economic development looks like in Florida and rural Florida
- Florida, it's the Florida Rural Jobs Act.
- Chair Leek the rural communities of Florida are strong and proud.
- Our rural areas have had their hands tied behind their backs this bill, along with our rural Renaissance
- developing and implementing regional comprehensive economic development strategies by providing grant
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 17th, 2026 at 09:11 am
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- So, I would hope that we could dedicate an innovation hub to rural and frontier development because it
- or rural healthcare clinics.
- The definition of rural that you may be referring to is the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund.
- circular economy development.
- This is economic development.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- Occasionally, that's development.
- A form of development.
- Because we've been under threat from inappropriate developers. I'm for developers.
- Now, I get the point about development and inappropriate development, but I also get the part that my
- “Now, long term, if this property's development... but to develop that $48 a year on the property tax
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 29th, 2026 at 01:49 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- So on that reduced utility cost, is that to the developer when they're developing?
- So it's costing the developer less to develop the utility lines, but the homeowner is going to pay more
- This is for grants to rural clinics to establish rural residencies.
- This is for grants to rural clinics to establish rural residencies.
- I guess we're talking to establish rural residencies, rural rotations, and all this.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The first would include the rural criminal justice workforce development, which, to put it in shorthand
- If not, the first panel is on rural criminal justice workforce development.
- The first panel is on rural criminal justice workforce development.
- I'm here today to talk about the charge on the rural criminal justice workforce development.
- a rural community.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Fiscal Policy Mar 13th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- THESE THRIVING RURAL AREAS BOOST OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
- RURAL AREAS.
- REP SENDING FLORIDA RURAL ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION.
- THOSE WHO DRIVE THROUGH RURAL AREAS LATE AT NIGHT.
- THANK YOU FOR LIFTING UP THE VOICES FOR RURAL FLORIDA. A STRONG RURAL FLORIDA IS A STRONG FLORIDA.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Appropriations - S/C on Article III Feb 27th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Article III
Transcript Highlights:
- that applies toward the RN to BSN program and specializes in rural health care to ensure that our rural
- To date, we have partnered with 96 rural counties to stabilize the rural hospitals and clinics, upscale
- Health care for rural communities is an urgent crisis.
- Research, Workforce Development, and Technology Transfer.
- of the development right here in Texas.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Dec 8th, 2025 at 09:32 am
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Good morning and welcome to the meeting of the Economic and Rural Development Policy to Order.
- Today, as we continue to support economic growth, community well-being, and rural development across
- Today, as we continue to support economic growth, community well-being, and rural development across
- We really have encouraged economic development to at our Food deserts to look at the rural areas.
- Project of the Year for this the board, and we also were awarded the Rural Economic Development Project
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
Appropriations - S/C on Article III Feb 27th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Article III
Transcript Highlights:
- in rural health care to ensure that our rural communities have access to high quality medical care that
- Today, we have partnered with 96 rural counties to stabilize the rural hospitals and clinics, upscale
- Expand rural clinical rotations for medical and nursing students, and develop K-12 pipeline programs.
- Our second exceptional item is the Rural Student Success Initiative.
- Research, workforce development, and technology transfer.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Jul 7th, 2025
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Developing those economies in rural New Mexico is a unique partnership between tribal communities and
- Some examples of ongoing infrastructure projects to respond to drought and build economic and rural development
- They are not fully developed.
- authorized by the Rural Infrastructure Act.
- Thanks for this opportunity to talk about electricity and rural economic development, rural opportunities
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- With the state's increasing population and more development occurring in rural areas, the needs of our
- With the state's increasing population and more development occurring in rural areas, the needs of our
- And then on the right, you see a similar map, but we're focused on rural areas alone, rural arterial
- And as you know, with the housing development popping up more and more in rural areas, it just places
- I think, as I showed you, on the rural community, rural roadways. All right. Thank you very much.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Transportation met to hear presentations from the Florida Department of Transportation on rural arterial roadways and transportation resiliency, followed by a panel discussion on metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs). FDOT’s Will Watts described the state’s growing population and travel demand, emphasizing that rural arterials are critical for connectivity, freight movement, evacuation routes, and congestion relief. He outlined FDOT’s project selection factors, noted thousands of identified rural arterial needs with billions in unfunded demand, and explained that the department uses community input and long-range planning to prioritize safety, capacity, and economic development.
Watts then discussed resiliency planning for hurricanes and flooding, focusing on structural design, storm readiness, and drainage. He highlighted efforts such as elevated bridges, wave attenuators, coastal armoring, drainage upgrades, and materials testing at FDOT’s research facilities to extend service life and reduce storm damage. Committee members asked about local project selection, materials research, LiDAR use, and legislative support; Watts said local coordination drives project priorities and asked lawmakers to protect the Transportation Trust Fund.
The MPO panel, led by FDOT’s Kim Holland, explained that MPOs are federally required in urban areas over 50,000 population and that Florida has 27, the most in the nation. Holland said MPOs identify and prioritize transportation needs through long-range plans and public engagement, and she noted that several regions are exploring consolidation after the 2020 Census, especially in Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida. Representatives from MetroPlan Orlando, Forward Pinellas, Pasco MPO, and Hillsborough discussed their structures and the potential benefits and challenges of merging, including representation, governance, funding, and maintaining local voice. Members generally supported regional collaboration, urged patience as studies continue, and emphasized the need for transparent public engagement, while the committee adjourned after no further business.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Economic and Rural Development Aug 11th, 2025
Economic & Rural Development & Policy Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- And then my other point of just caution or interest: I know your slide; you talked about rural development
- The universities you listed, UNM, CNM, NMSU, in my opinion, those aren't true rural colleges or rural
- We're here to talk about developing New Mexico's geothermal energy as economic development.
- A geothermal roadmap, kind of a cookbook, so to speak, will be developed to help geothermal developers
- In closing, I believe we're lucky to be sitting here today near one of the biggest rural economic development
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- But, you know, it is hard to hit that rural community.
- You know, it's hard to hit that rural community.
- that are rural and hit all the little towns and such.
- But, you know, it is hard to hit that rural community.
- The number of jobs created in rural communities?
Summary:
The Committee on Commerce and Tourism convened with several members present and Senators DiCeglie and McClain excused. The committee first heard a presentation from Greg Britton, State Director of the Florida Small Business Development Center Network, who described the network’s statewide small-business assistance, including startup support, export and contracting help, disaster recovery, and rural outreach. He highlighted reported 2023 impacts such as $3.9 billion in sales generated, $575.9 million in government contracts, $346.2 million in capital, and support for 2,009 new businesses, including 130 manufacturing firms over the past two years. Members asked about comparisons with SCORE and about measuring rural success, with the chair suggesting jobs and wages in rural areas would be useful metrics; Britton said he could provide job data but was unsure about wage information.
The committee then took up SB 320 by Senator Gates, which creates a five-year demonstration project for an alternative licensure pathway for surveyors and mappers. The bill would allow a “first-step” probationary license based on industry certification, apprenticeship, recommendation from a licensed Florida surveyor, and passage of the Department of Agriculture exam within the five-year period, without requiring a four-year degree. Senators asked about the labor shortage, education requirements, foreign workers, and moral character standards. Gates said the shortage is chronic and worsening, the bill has no degree requirement, and anyone meeting the qualifications could proceed regardless of visa status. The committee voted to report SB 320 favorably.
Next, the committee considered SB 316 by Senator Berman, which authorizes series limited liability companies in Florida and sets rules for how Florida and foreign series LLCs may operate and transact business in the state. Berman explained that the bill is intended to let businesses isolate liabilities across separate series while providing clearer rules for Florida citizens and businesses dealing with such entities. There were no substantive questions, one appearance form in support, and the committee voted to report SB 316 favorably before adjourning.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 2/20/25
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
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or place with their local um developer or place with their local um developer - <00:21:35.159>
Electric Rural Electric Rural Electric Cooperative<00:21:37.200>electric deal when it comes to solar rural deal when it comes to solar rural communities<00:37:43.599>- We work a lot in rural Minnesota.
- <00:58:50.240>
have been wronged by solar developers have been wronged by solar developers
Bills:
HF845
Keywords:
net metering, distributed generation, solar energy, rooftop solar, renewable energy, utility rates, electric cooperatives, municipal utilities, public utilities, Public Utilities Commission, net billing, bill credits, cost of service study, standby charge, qualifying facility, energy policy, clean energy, customer generation, interconnection, Minnesota Statutes 216B.164
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Health Service (2-25-26) - Upon Adjournment of the Senate
Transcript Highlights:
- the AI benefit to the rural hospital. the AI benefit to the rural hospital.
- <00:10:20.079>
health rural counties that need rural health rural counties that need rural - rural hospitals to get additional funds. rural hospitals to get additional funds.
- So what you're going to have is the opportunity for rural hospitals to develop telehealth relationships
- created for rural hospitals as a start. created for rural hospitals as a start.
Summary:
A presenter from Fast Health Corporation described a proposed Kentucky Health Command System tied to Senate Bill 175, which would create a state-sanctioned AI platform for rural hospitals and telehealth. The company said the system would help rural residents get health information remotely, triage minor issues, and escalate more serious cases to Kentucky providers, with use cases including blood pressure, diabetes, maternity care, smoking cessation, and other preventive-care topics. The presenter argued the system would help rural hospitals compete with out-of-state telehealth companies and keep patients connected to local care.
The presentation also emphasized a commercial model the sponsor said would generate new revenue through ads and branded interactions, with the bill reportedly directing 80% of that revenue to rural hospitals and 20% to the state to maintain the system. The presenter said the technology would augment, not replace, doctors and nurses, and claimed it could improve access and convenience in underserved areas. Committee members raised concerns about liability, whether the AI could provide medical advice, and whether there was evidence it had reduced emergency room visits; the presenter said the system could not give medical advice and acknowledged the technology is still very new.
The sponsor of the bill said the goal was to help transform rural health care, reduce unnecessary ER use, and capture revenue that would otherwise go to commercial search engines and out-of-state companies. No vote or final action was taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the discussion ended with questions about branding, loyalty, and the legal limits of the AI system.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Appropriations - S/C on Article III Feb 25th, 2025
Appropriations - S/C on Article III
Transcript Highlights:
- Finally, for the state to remain competitive, our third goal is to develop a stronger research and development
- to be declared rural.
- So, you've probably heard a lot about these huge needs in rural Texas. rural areas, but it is absolutely
- Great concern for rural areas and those gaps that are left there.
- Urban and rural dwelling is obviously different.