Transcript Highlights:

• back side of that, there is currently in the bill $500,000 for the Minot State University Advancing Students
• It is the money for Minot State advancing students toward education and employment program.
• Representative Swantec, I would move that we go to the, for the Advancing Students Toward Education and
• Seeing none, clerk will take the roll for it to add a million dollars to the Advancing Students Toward

Bills: SB2003

Keywords: higher education, student loans, scholarships, capital projects, workforce development, funding, North Dakota university system, 908, all

Summary: The committee reconvened to act on Senate Bill 2003, the higher education budget. Members first replaced prior intent language related to the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences with new language stating it is the intent of the 69th Legislative Assembly that an Allied Health Facility expansion be completed, and that the 70th Legislative Assembly consider supporting completion of the project. The chair explained the change was meant to avoid binding the next legislature to a specific $50 million commitment while still helping UND with fundraising. The amendment was moved, seconded, and adopted unanimously. The committee then addressed funding for Minot State University’s “Advancing Students Toward Education and Employment” program. After some discussion about the amount already in the bill and what had been previously agreed to, the committee approved adding $1 million, bringing the total appropriation for that line to $1.5 million. Members referenced prior testimony in support of the program. That amendment also passed unanimously. After approving the amendments, the committee adopted a do-pass recommendation on Senate Bill 2003 as amended, with Representative Sanford designated as the bill carrier. The chair noted the bill would likely be taken up on the floor later in the week. The committee also said it would return to commerce-related work the next day and then adjourned for the day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Representative Louser to strike the section saying establish a grant program to support students who
• But I think we can look into how do we create a loan option.
• Representative Louser, to my knowledge, we do not, but if we set up a loan for them, then they can pay
• loan.
• The loan, is that what you were referring to?

Bills: SB2003

Keywords: higher education, student loans, scholarships, capital projects, workforce development, funding, North Dakota university system, 908, all

Summary: The committee first reconsidered Senate Bill 2003 in the higher education budget and adopted several changes. It removed $3 million for enterprise resource planning, struck $2 million for a grant program for students who are pregnant or recently gave birth, and then added $3 million back into workforce education and innovative grants, restoring that line to $12 million. Members also discussed a possible purchase of the 19th Avenue building in Fargo for the State School of Science, but the motion was withdrawn for later consideration. Other higher ed items were briefly noted, including tribally controlled community colleges and a state magazine funding line, but no final action was taken on the building proposal during this segment. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 2018, the Commerce budget, and reviewed a long list of funding items. It restored a vacant workforce FTE, increased tourism marketing to $10 million and Find the Good Life to $5 million, raised Operation Intern by $1 million, removed a $100,000 infrastructure study, increased autonomous agriculture grants to $15 million, and set the Regional Workforce Impact Program at $10 million. It also kept or adjusted several other items, including the uncrewed aerial vehicle replacement program, the global talent office, tribally controlled community colleges, Native American small business grants, and technical skills training grants. A major new provision would transfer $50 million total, split between SIF and Bank of North Dakota profits, to the Theodore Roosevelt Library Museum Endowment Fund, matching a private fundraising challenge; members expressed both support and concern, and said they would revisit it later. The committee also discussed language to allow commercialization of Vantis and to permit the Turtle Mountain gaming compact proposal to move forward with required federal approvals, while clarifying that a previously discussed $100,000 study had been removed. Commerce officials said the workforce language was intended to centralize data and strategy, and they noted Operation Intern would need an emergency clause because applications begin in May. No final vote on the Commerce budget was taken in this segment, and the chair said the committee would return later to finish both budgets.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Professional Student Exchange Program.
• Student financial assistance grants in Section 23.
• We want to keep these students in school.
• I had a section requiring repayment of professional student exchange programs funding by students who
• It was for the Minot University advancing students.

Bills: SB2003

Keywords: higher education, student loans, scholarships, capital projects, workforce development, funding, North Dakota university system, 908, all

Summary: The committee met to work through the higher education budget, beginning with a conflict-of-interest request from Representative Martinson, who was excused from voting because of a partnership that leases office space to Bismarck State College. Members then reviewed the higher education institution budget sheets, covering ongoing and one-time funding items for campuses and system projects such as BSC housing, Lake Region roof repairs, UND’s STEM and National Security Crossroads projects, the UND allied health facility, NDSU projects including New Horizons, DSU deferred maintenance and campus security, Mayville’s Old Main, Minot projects, and the regional health institutes. Members also discussed student financial assistance, the professional student exchange program, IT security funding, and workforce/education innovation grants. Several amendments and policy questions were debated. The committee adopted an amendment to make workforce education innovation grants competitive rather than automatically distributed, and then voted to remove language prohibiting those funds from being used to duplicate academic programs. Members also removed similar anti-duplication language from the New Horizons section. They agreed to extend the UND hyperbaric chamber transfer authority to 2027 and clarified language around UND land-sale proceeds. A proposed amendment to add $5.6 million for the Wahpeton State School of Science building purchase failed for lack of a second, and a proposal to restore fetal alcohol spectrum disorder funding to UND was left for conference. The committee also discussed, but did not add, a tuition cap change, a study on the Praxis exam, and several governance-related provisions. The committee spent significant time on broader higher education policy items, including a $3 million enterprise resource planning request for the university system, a $2 million grant program for students who are pregnant, recently gave birth, or are caring for young children, and a $1.1 million request for library age-verification software tied to the Odin system. Members also discussed dual-credit authority for UND and NDSU, a goal for the UND medical school to increase North Dakota resident enrollment, and intent language regarding the commissioner/chancellor model and presidential search authority. At the end of the meeting, the committee approved the amendments and then gave the higher education budget a do-pass recommendation as amended, with Representative Sanford designated as the carrier. The Forest Service budget was also approved, including two additional FTEs, and the committee adjourned after noting it would continue with other budgets the next day.

Bills: HB 7, HB 100, HB 121, HB 124, HB 1175, HB 1458, HB 2249

Keywords: instructional materials, education code, public schools, rejected materials, open education resources, local funds, school safety, emergency response, mental health, peace officers, educational security, crisis intervention, threat assessment, training programs, restorative justice, student transcript, school district, education, electronic records, accessibility

Bills: HB 7, HB 100, HB 121, HB 124, HB 1175, HB 1458, HB 2249

Keywords: instructional materials, education code, public schools, rejected materials, open education resources, local funds, school safety, emergency response, mental health, peace officers, educational security, crisis intervention, threat assessment, training programs, restorative justice, student transcript, school district, education, electronic records, accessibility

Transcript Highlights:

• I think that we all know the issues with our crushing student loan debt.
• c><00:01:59.640> ways<00:02:00.079> it student loan credit in two ways it student loan
• <00:04:07.319> loans<00:04:07.640> to have had to rely on student loans to have had
• <00:05:19.840> loan 1933 to provide relief for student loan 1933 to provide relief for student
• In that, the average student loan debt is $34,000, though it is a lot less than medical students.

Bills: HF1359, HF1829, HF290, HF1933, HF926

Keywords: solid waste management, resource management account, environmental fund, taxation, Minnesota statutes, homestead, property tax, classification, disability, resort properties, recreational use, commercial property, tax refund, estimated tax, interest on refunds, income tax, corporate franchise tax, S corporation, partnership, corporation

Transcript Highlights:

• Like, I owe less on my mortgage than I do on my student loans because I came from a family that couldn't
• <00:23:55.560> from<00:23:55.720> a student loans because I came from a student loans
• <01:36:10.720> is the student, but like the student is the student, but like the student is
• loans.
• for federal student loans. for federal student loans.

Bills: HF1323, HF4266, HF4413, HF3101, HF4572, HF4698, HF3650, HF2634

Keywords: undocumented, financial aid, state policy, higher education, noncitizen eligibility, state grants, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium

Transcript Highlights:

• loans that we do.
• loan 10-year loan 10-year loan maximum<00:15:36.279> uh<00:15:36.959> we<00:15:37.279
• The RFA's loan programs, including the beginning farmer loan program and restructuring loan program,
• The RFA's loan programs, including the beginning farmer loan program and restructuring loan program,
• The RFA's loan programs, including the beginning farmer loan program and restructuring loan program,

Bills: HF770, HF857, HF38, HF1500, HF43

Keywords: HF770, Rural Finance Authority, RFA, capital investment, state bonds, general obligation bonds, bonding bill, agricultural loans, farm loans, beginning farmer, new farmer, seller-sponsored loans, loan restructuring, agricultural improvement loans, livestock expansion, modernization loans, rural development, Minnesota agriculture, farm credit, chapter 41B

Bills: HB205

Keywords: disaster recovery, economic development, grants, loans, infrastructure support

Transcript Highlights:

• But again, try to put the cost and saying it's, oh, it's a low-interest loan. It's still a loan.
• for a loan. for a loan.
• But again, try to put the cost and saying it's, oh, it's a low-interest loan. It's still a loan.
• But again, try to put the cost and saying it's, oh, it's a low-interest loan. It's still a loan.
• Chair votes I, I vote I. ...it's, oh, it's a low-interest loan. It's still a loan.

Bills: HB1618

Keywords: cesspool conversion, cesspool replacement, wastewater, sewer connection, sewerage systems, septic system, pollution control, water pollution control revolving fund, Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority, HGIA, low-interest loans, forgivable loans, homeowner financing, environmental infrastructure, public health, wastewater treatment, low- and moderate-income households, revolving loan fund, Department of Health, memorandum of agreement

Summary: The committees held a joint hearing on HB 1618 HD1, which would create and fund a cesspool conversion revolving loan fund administered by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority to help homeowners upgrade, convert, or connect cesspools. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support from state agencies and advocacy groups, with witnesses emphasizing that cost is the main barrier to cesspool conversion and that recent Kona flooding underscored the public health and pollution risks of cesspools. One testifier suggested the fund should actively pursue outside funding sources, and another urged an effective date that would allow counties to contribute sooner. A member raised concerns about whether loans would be affordable and whether other financing tools, such as tax credits, should also be considered; another member opposed the bill as not adequately addressing district-level sewer and septic issues. The committees ultimately recommended passage with amendments, including changing the effective date to July 1, 2050, and the motion was adopted. The joint Judiciary and Ways and Means committees then considered HB 2592 on the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority. The chair outlined amendments to clarify that the authority would assume property and liability associated with transferred assets, preserve existing liability rules, transfer conditional use permits if not already transferred, allow lease extensions before transfer, and set reversion triggers if the authority fails to adopt a management plan by June 30, 2028, or administrative rules by December 31, 2029. Members asked about preserving the public trust and whether the amendments would keep the Board of Land and Natural Resources’ role intact; the chair confirmed the fee and board role would remain unchanged. The committees voted to pass the bill with amendments, and the recommendation was adopted. The committees also took up HB 2033, making further amendments to clarify the definition of state, delay certain effective dates, allow rental and U-Drive lessors to avoid liability by identifying renters, delete one section, and add administrative hearing language and bus-camera clarifications. HB 1888 was amended to expand protections for educational workers to include sports officials, define sports official, make intentional bodily harm a felony with enhanced penalties for repeat offenses, and authorize the attorney general to assist with restraining orders. Both measures were recommended for passage with amendments and adopted. Later, several bills were moved with little or no discussion: HB 1515, HB 1713, HB 1718, HB 2022, and HB 2385 were recommended for passage unamended; HB 2375 was deferred; and HB 1741 was amended to reflect Honolulu’s concerns, narrow study requirements, add exemptions and a delayed implementation date, and was recommended for passage with amendments. The committees adopted the recommendations on these measures, with some members noting reservations or prior opposition on certain bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:19:01.200> are collectively consumer purpose loans are collectively consumer purpose loans
• business purpose mortgage loan. business purpose mortgage loan.
• returns if a loan is paid in full earlier than anticipated.
• business purpose mortgage loans. business purpose mortgage loans.
• :00.080> prepayment<01:20:00.560> penalty loans with a prepayment penalty loans with a

Bills: HF3766, HF3972, HF3437, HF4118

Keywords: travel insurance, regulation, insurance licensing, consumer protection, travel assistance, short-term rental, vacation rental, home sharing, rental marketplace, online platform, property damage guarantee, damage waiver, reimbursement insurance, insurance regulation, commerce department, platform user, Airbnb, Vrbo, host protection, rental home marketplace

Bills: SB 1493, SB 1598, SB 1895, SB 1919, SB 2039, SB 2226, SB 2243, SB 2425

Keywords: sidewalk user, pedestrian safety, traffic laws, bicycles, electric scooters, mobility devices, transportation, aviation, economic development, grants, loans

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, we have some students here, probably $20 an hour. You get some cheap, some good labor.

Bills: SB2019, HB1369

Keywords: career education, funding, appropriation, technical training, workforce development, state aid, school funding, public improvement, construction loans, school district levies, boarding care costs, 908, all

Summary: The committee met to finalize and advance the Career and Technical Education budget in Engrossed Senate Bill 2019. Representative Richter walked through Amendment 2004, which included increases for salaries and wages, inflationary operating expenses, a $2.5 million federal grant increase, $12.7 million for secondary grant programs and related work-based learning support, a $100,000 increase for Marketplace for Kids, and removal of the STEM initiative and adult farm management from the CTE budget because that program funding was moved to the Department of Agriculture. The amendment also included $750,000 for workforce training branch office positions and set the total general fund appropriation at $64 million. Members also discussed a $1 million virtual reality career exploration item, which remained in the bill but was shifted to SIF one-time funding. A new $150,000 one-time general fund appropriation was added for CTE moving expenses because the agency must relocate after Legislative Council expands into its current space. Committee members noted that amount may need to be revisited in conference committee once more accurate relocation and rent costs are known. Levi from legislative staff explained that the exemption language in the bill applies to remaining coronavirus capital projects fund dollars for CTE center construction, allowing those federal funds to be spent before they expire. The committee adopted Amendment 2004 on a 5-0 roll call and then passed Engrossed Senate Bill 2019 as amended on a 5-0 roll call. Representative Richter was named the carrier, and the committee adjourned after noting that higher education and congressional budgets were the remaining items to resolve.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:24.720> or<00:04:25.040> their student or how much a student or their student
• Some of them may end up having student loan debt which they do not sign up for that.
• Some of them may end up having student<00:12:46.320> loan<00:12:46.639> debt<00:12:46.959
• loan debt which they do not sign student loan debt which they do not sign up<00:12:48.079> for
• the students who need the most. the students who need the most.

Bills: HF4266

Keywords: higher education, state grants, financial aid, college affordability, Office of Higher Education, Minnesota State Grant, need analysis, expected family contribution, student aid, grant formula, living and miscellaneous expense allowance, dependent student, independent student, parental contribution, student contribution, surplus appropriation, biennium, summer 2026, 1183, house

Bills: SB 49, SB 60, SB 365, SB 685, SB 895, SB 1191, SB 1400, SB 1401, SB 1786

Keywords: junior college funding, performance tier, credentials, education, workforce development, Texas education law, performance tier funding, junior college, Texas education, student success, performance funding, education policy, state finance program, public junior colleges, educational outcomes, academic fresh start, higher education, student admissions, Texas Education Code, public university

Transcript Highlights:

• This avenue is for student housing and student life. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• This avenue is for student housing and student life. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• This avenue is for student housing and student life. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
• student athlete.
• for 30 student athletes.

Bills: SB234, SB210, SB243, SB244, SM16, HB8

Keywords: foster children, school transportation, education funding, public education, child welfare, New Mexico Highlands University, soccer field, women's sports, infrastructure improvement, funding allocation, student athletes, appropriation, New Mexico State University, nutrition, travel support, funding, education, university support, financial assistance, parenting students

Transcript Highlights:

• students, all of our students, while honoring New Mexico's students, our bilingual students, all of
• : students with dyslexia, students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and students who appear
• Students need more time to learn.
• Students need more time to learn.
• But I'm concerned over our students. I'm concerned over the over-identifying our students.

Bills: SB234, SB210, SB243, SB244, SM16, HB8

Keywords: foster children, school transportation, education funding, public education, child welfare, New Mexico Highlands University, soccer field, women's sports, infrastructure improvement, funding allocation, student athletes, appropriation, New Mexico State University, nutrition, travel support, funding, education, university support, financial assistance, parenting students

Transcript Highlights:

• that a strategic financing partner can make contributions, which would include some form of cash, loan
• I think with loans like such as this, I think it would be cheaper for the state to put up money like

Bills: SB169, SB1991, SB1992, SB1204, SB1339, SB182, SB1847, SB1360, SB1346

Keywords: longevity pay, state employees, Oklahoma government, salary increase, emergency declaration, capital planning, funding allocation, state budget, infrastructure, emergency measures, income tax credit, qualified project, economic development, infrastructure funding, small population areas, school employees, teachers, support personnel, support employees, public schools

Transcript Highlights:

• It allows those credit unions to offer loan products with the same level of flexibility available to

Bills: SB1623, SB2067, SB2132

Keywords: credit union, Oklahoma State Credit Union Board, membership, loans, investments, board compensation, financial regulations, financial exploitation, protected adults, financial institution, notification, temporary hold, credit card, surcharge, discounts, consumer protection, payment methods, 914, all

Bills: HCR14, HB201, HB218, HB352, HB626, HB636, HB738, HB749

Keywords: Department of Education, federal overreach, education policy, Tenth Amendment, local control, fine arts, high school diploma, arts education, capstone project, academic achievement, student recognition, Louisiana education, food insecurity, hunger, student hunger, school meals, free lunch, community eligibility provision, McKinney-Vento, homeless students