Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair, members, Senate Bill 1046 would require that any critical telecommunications infrastructure
• There are included restrictions for critical telecommunication infrastructure equipment and civil penalties
• Please. ...exposure to risky vendors in critical telecom infrastructure in two key ways.
• We've seen congressional reports about crane infrastructure.
• Anyway, that's just something for an infrastructure.

Bills: SB1046

Keywords: telecommunications, broadband, internet infrastructure, critical infrastructure, cybersecurity, national security, foreign adversary, China, Chinese equipment, supply chain security, network equipment, microchips, Arizona Corporation Commission, telecommunications provider, communications infrastructure, Huawei, ZTE, state-owned enterprise, sanctions, infrastructure security

Summary: The Committee on Science and Technology heard Senate Bill 1046, which would bar critical telecommunications infrastructure in Arizona from using equipment manufactured or owned by a foreign adversary, require annual certification to the Corporation Commission, impose civil penalties for noncompliance, and cut off state, local, or federal infrastructure funding for violators. Marina Macklin testified in support, arguing the bill responds to real national-security risks from China, citing examples such as Huawei, Hikvision, and other foreign-linked technology concerns, and saying states can act where federal efforts are incomplete or slow. Members raised questions about cost, timing, and whether the bill duplicates federal action; Macklin said the bill targets public procurement and that state action remains appropriate. The committee then voted 5-1 to return SB 1046 with a do pass recommendation. The committee next received a presentation from Craig Luxbacher of the University of Arizona on mining technology and the state’s role as an innovation hub. He described university work on automation, microgrids, critical mineral recovery, tailings remediation, workforce training, and heat-stress protection, and said Arizona can help de-risk new mining technologies through research partnerships, training networks, and policy support. Members asked about microgrids, federal and state law changes, tariffs, workforce decline, AI, and how the Legislature could help; Luxbacher emphasized the need for coordinated training pipelines, incubators for mining startups, and support for pilot projects and processing capacity. Jeremiah Pate, founder and CTO of Lunisand, then presented on subsurface imaging technology using georadiotomography. He said the system can image deep underground from airborne platforms, helping locate critical minerals, aquifers, tunnels, and hidden defense-related threats more quickly than traditional methods. Members asked about archaeological uses, mineral identification, water detection, whether similar companies exist, and defense applications. Pate said the technology is still developing but is unique in its field-practical airborne capability. The meeting concluded with closing remarks from the chair and adjournment.

Bills: HB2, SB152

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Transcript Highlights:

• It creates a low-income broadband plan for New Mexico, essentially, and we do.
• That means that the single largest barrier to families accessing broadband is not the physical infrastructure
• Please fix ARS so this bill supports broadband, not legacy POTS.
• The NMECG is New Mexico's rural broadband telecom group, consisting of 10 rural broadband telecom companies
• . 100% of it has to go to broadband.

Bills: HB2, SB152

Keywords: general appropriation, budget, Medicaid, education funding, public safety, telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion

Bills: SB152, SB145, SB190, HB247

Keywords: telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion, rural internet, broadband infrastructure, eligible telecommunications carrier, ETC, tribal consent

Transcript Highlights:

• The Office of Broadband Access and Expansion.
• In 2017, we updated the New Mexico Telecom Act, the Rural Telecom Act, and put broadband local infrastructure
• million federal grant coming into New Mexico to help with our efforts to build out our broadband infrastructure
• NMECG is New Mexico's rural broadband and telecom group, consisting of 10 rural broadband telecom companies
• And affordable fixed and mobile broadband.

Bills: SB152, SB145, SB190, HB247

Keywords: telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion, rural internet, broadband infrastructure, eligible telecommunications carrier, ETC, tribal consent

Transcript Highlights:

• payments uh bof Fields infrastructure payments uh bof Fields infrastructure which<00:15:23.000><
• Minnesotans to broadband.
• enacted last year gave Broadband enacted last year gave Broadband companies<00:45:21.960> and
• <00:46:25.640> uh con connecting motans to broadband uh con connecting motans to broadband
• the safe installation of broadband the safe installation of broadband throughout<00:47:23.319>

Bills: HF1704

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:14:06.519> this Chair Anderson said the reason this bill is in the A bill is that broadband
• is now under the bill is that Broadband is now under the jurisdiction jurisdiction jurisdiction of<00
• Chair Anderson responded that the reason this bill is in the A bill is that broadband is now under the
• I've carried that bill for investing in our biofuel infrastructure, but in a year like this, where we're
• To say we want gas stations to have more money to upgrade their infrastructure above the baseline is

Bills: HF1704, HF2052

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• Members of the public, the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Broadband will come to order.
• House Bill 2964 relates to the provision of broadband service in certain rural counties.
• It really did... to be sort of a blueprint for a small-town broadband project.
• That's what the Monahans Broadband Project has sought funding for.
• With the Broadband Development Office, he's the director.

Bills: HB2838, HB2964, HB3213, SB924

Keywords: broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority

Transcript Highlights:

• The chair recognizes Shelly Botkin, Executive Director of the Texas Broadband Association.
• Legislation, are we changing speeds for broadband service? I can take that.
• This is necessary because eligibility for federal subsidies are tied to that definition of broadband,
• Do broadband providers pay that franchise fee too? No. And there currently is a lot...
• What physical infrastructure? Physically, they connect their cells to the public right-of-way.

Bills: HB2838, HB2964, HB3213, SB924

Keywords: broadband, internet access, digital equity, tax reduction, government funding, rural counties, fiber-optic, state funding, infrastructure, digital divide, economic development, fiber-optic cable, excavation, utilities, civil penalties, municipal regulations, video services, regulation, public right-of-way, franchise authority

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm well aware that we do have broadband.
• broadband in rural areas.
• Broadband, in and of itself, doesn't have jurisdiction. Over locates.
• It's a side entity that broadband...
• Broadband calls and comes alongside to ensure a safe implementation of that.

Bills: HF2446

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• on broadband infrastructure availability in multifamily residential housing.
• It's a broadband access bill. It's a broadband equity and accountability bill.
• reliant on digital infrastructure.
• I'm the Executive Director of the Texas Broadband Association. Texas Broadband Association.
• Infrastructure improvements.

Bills: HB3713, HB3953, HB4055, HB4272

Keywords: telecommunications, local exchange companies, universal service fund, rate maintenance, business expansion, broadband access, internet service, multiunit residential properties, urban areas, affordability programs, fiber-optic cables, public land, construction permits, environmental impact, notification requirements, municipal projects, infrastructure, facility relocation, public right-of-way, 1184

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 3 by King relating to the interoperability of emergency communication equipment and infrastructure
• Infrastructure Fund.
• Infrastructure Fund for these purposes.
• As you stated, this isn't new money here; this is the pot of money that exists for the broadband infrastructure
• This legislation expands the allowable uses. of the Broadband Infrastructure Fund do include emergency

Bills: HB1, HB 2, HB 3, HB 5, HB20, HB 22

Keywords: youth camps, emergency preparedness, safety standards, health regulations, camp licensing, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license

Summary: The committee meeting primarily focused on the discussion and passage of several key bills, including SB5, which pertains to supplemental appropriations for disaster relief. This bill was passed unanimously, highlighting the committee's commitment to addressing disaster preparedness. HB20, aimed at reducing fraudulent charitable solicitations during disasters, also saw significant debate, with positive sentiments expressed by its sponsor, Mr. Darby. Additionally, HB22, which expands the authority of the comptroller to fund emergency communication systems, was passed with overwhelming support, indicating a consensus on improving emergency response capabilities within the state. The session concluded with discussions about future legislative measures aimed at strengthening infrastructure against disasters.

Transcript Highlights:

• infrastructure fund for these purposes.
• infrastructure fund for these purposes.
• This is the pot of money that exists for the broadband infrastructure. That's correct.
• This is the pot of money that exists for the broadband infrastructure. That's correct.
• This legislation expands the allowable uses of the broadband infrastructure fund to include emergency

Bills: HB1, HB2, HB3, HB5, HB20, HB22

Keywords: youth camps, emergency preparedness, safety standards, health regulations, camp licensing, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license

Summary: The House convened in special session with a gubernatorial proclamation adding subjects related to penalties for legislators who absent themselves, ivermectin access, and groundwater study authority. The chamber also handled routine motions, committee scheduling, and first-reading referrals before moving to the main floor calendar focused largely on disaster response and public safety legislation. The central theme throughout the day was the July 4 flooding and related tragedies, with repeated references to families of victims and the need for stronger preparedness and prevention measures. House Bill 1, on youth camp emergency plans and preparedness, was the most emotional and heavily amended measure. Members adopted changes requiring annual emergency plans for resident youth camps, staff training, parent notification, evacuation maps, floodplain-related disclosures, restrictions on sleeping quarters in flood-prone areas, and funding for enforcement. One proposed amendment to require air conditioning or heat in sleeping quarters failed, while another amendment on floodplain restrictions passed after debate over floodplain versus floodway language. HB 1 ultimately passed the House 136-1 on second reading and later 135-1 on final passage. Senate Bill 2 / House Bill 2 on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery also advanced after extensive discussion. The bill creates training for justices of the peace in mass-fatality events, establishes an emergency manager licensing system, sets local succession procedures, creates a statewide volunteer management system, authorizes drone interdiction in disaster zones, expands disaster loan eligibility, and adds review and planning provisions for certain infrastructure and weather-related issues. Members debated the scope of the training, drone impacts on press coverage, volunteer registration, and infrastructure-related amendments; some proposals were adopted and others tabled or withdrawn. SB 2 passed the House 130-4 on third reading and later 132-4 on final passage. The House also passed House Bill 3 creating the Texas Interoperability Council and a grant program for emergency communications equipment, House Bill 20 addressing disaster-related scams and fraudulent charitable solicitations, House Bill 22 expanding allowable uses of the broadband infrastructure fund for emergency communications, and Senate Bill 5 providing supplemental appropriations for disaster relief, including funds for local warning systems and weather monitoring. Each of these bills passed overwhelmingly, with only one or a few dissenting votes, and members repeatedly emphasized the need to improve coordination, communications, funding, and fraud prevention in the wake of recent disasters.

Transcript Highlights:

• been given the purview over uh Broadband been given the purview over uh Broadband funding<00:13:
• funding so the office of broadband funding so the office of broadband funding<00:13:59.519> uh
• He said broadband is very important and should be moving now.
• He also said broadband deployment is critical and he is glad it got to the committee.
• moving uh again the uh the uh Broadband moving uh again the uh the uh Broadband deployment<00:30

Bills: HF1704, HF1722

Keywords: Minnesota agriculture budget, Department of Agriculture appropriation, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, farm bill, rural development, agricultural grants, soil health, livestock compensation, crop damage, meat inspection, poultry inspection, county agricultural inspectors, biofertilizer, nitrogen management, commercial nitrogen fertilizer, water quality, farm down payment assistance, beginning farmers

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm well aware that we do have broadband, where the reason we have broadband is because we were given
• well aware where the reason we broadband well aware where the reason we have<00:32:36.000> broadband
• Broadband in and of itself doesn't have jurisdiction over locates.
• It has very little to do with broadband.
• It has very little to do with broadband.

Bills: HF2446

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• Line 217 is the broadband installation study, $100,000 in the first year.
• <00:13:17.760> Um<00:13:18.000> but office of broadband development.
• Um but office of broadband development.
• infrastructure.
• Section 2 appropriates money to DEED for the Office of Broadband Development. 20,000.

Bills: HF2446

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Bills: HB606, HB606

Keywords: HB606, Alabama, Department of Transportation, DOT, public highways, utility relocation, right-of-way, state right-of-way, road construction, bridge, tunnel, toll road, interstate highway, defense highway, utility facilities, broadband, telecommunications, cable, electricity, gas

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, House Bill 2293 extends the sunset on the Oklahoma Broadband Office until December 31, 2030.
• for them to administer the final and largest of the grant monies to the BEAD program, which is a Broadband
• So this legislation ensures that the Oklahoma broadband is kept intact as is until December 31, 2030.

Bills: HB2293, HB3176, HB3545, HB3546

Keywords: broadband, Oklahoma Broadband Office, broadband access, statewide broadband plan, internet connectivity, funding, grant programs, expansion council, termination plan, Oklahoma, Gas Hub, artificial intelligence, national laboratory, public-private partnerships, aerospace, high-performance computing, economic development, state agencies, high-risk AI decisions, deepfakes

Transcript Highlights:

• representative Vang office of broadband representative Vang office of broadband development<00:57
• <01:00:43.240> infrastructure<01:00:43.760> systems<01:00:44.119> in Broadband infrastructure
• systems in Broadband infrastructure systems in Minnesota<01:00:45.520> highspeed<01:00:46.039
• hennipen County's director of broadband hennipen County's director of broadband and<01:03:10.200
• thinks broadband deployment is.

Bills: HF44, HF2102, HF2279, HF2280, HF2281

Keywords: HF44, Casey Jones State Trail, Pipestone Trailhead, Currie Loop, Minnesota bonding bill, capital investment, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, trail rehabilitation, trail reconstruction, recreational trail, bike trail, hiking trail, infrastructure, state trail, Pipestone, Currie, bonding authorization

Transcript Highlights:

• investment can create the most value, especially in communities that stand to benefit from this infrastructure

Bills: HB2388, HB2804, HB2926

Keywords: HB2388, Arizona Commerce Authority, ACA, small modular reactor, SMR, nuclear energy, advanced nuclear, data center, data centers, economic development, study, appropriation, general fund, jobs, wages, tax revenue, broadband, infrastructure, secondary businesses, tertiary businesses

Summary: The committee began with short presentations highlighting historic sites in Prescott, including the Arizona Pioneer Home and the First Territorial Governor’s Mansion/Charlotte Hall Museum, framed as ways to showcase rural districts and Arizona history. Members discussed the importance of using committee time to feature district-specific projects and tourism assets before moving to legislation. The main action was on HB 2804, a bill creating a state rural development and housing tax credit tied to the federal low-income housing tax credit for projects in counties under 800,000 population. Supporters, including the sponsor, the mayor of Flagstaff, housing developers, and other local officials, argued the credit would help finance affordable housing for seniors, veterans, and low-income residents in rural areas where projects are otherwise not feasible. Opponents, including the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, argued the program is inefficient, difficult to police, and disproportionately benefits intermediaries and developers. After extended questioning and debate about whether the bill truly helps veterans and seniors, the committee passed HB 2804 on a 7-0 vote. The committee then heard HB 2388, which directs the Arizona Commerce Authority to study the economic benefits of small modular reactors and data centers and report findings to the governor and legislature. The sponsor described it as a data-gathering measure to inform future policy, while supporters said it could help assess energy and job impacts, especially for Hispanic workers. One member suggested adding information on utility-rate impacts and waste/storage issues through amendment. The bill passed on a 6-1 vote, and the committee adjourned.