Transcript Highlights:

• Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters, and a subcommittee is conducting an analysis
• subcommittee is Foresters and a subcommittee is conducting<00:04:36.720> an<00:04:37.040> analysis
• <00:04:38.080> of<00:04:38.320> the conducting an analysis of the conducting an analysis
• But as a overall budget,<00:17:56.559> as<00:17:56.880> long<00:17:56.960> as<00
• >> Finalize<00:53:39.440> our<00:53:39.760> county<00:53:40.079> budget.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The meeting opened with roll call and approval of the prior minutes, including a requested correction to Thomas Han’s statement about a Granite State Division of the Society of American Foresters subcommittee studying the timber yield tax and current use forest land tax assessment formula. The correction was adopted, and the minutes were then approved as amended. The main agenda item was a hearing of landowners on forest taxation and carbon credits. Several scheduled speakers canceled, so the committee received a letter from Ross Karen, a Coos County landowner and forester, who opposed carbon credit sales because of “leakage” and argued that diverse local markets and productive forests are better than carbon sales. Aean Kelly of White Mountain Lumber and the Randolph Town Forest also testified, saying many Coos County landowners and forest managers have declined carbon credit offers because they do not fit New Hampshire’s working-forest tradition. He argued that carbon agreements should be treated on a level playing field with traditional harvesting and that, if they are to be encouraged, they should face a fiscal adjustment comparable to the timber tax. Kelly also gave a detailed history of the timber tax, explaining that it was created in 1948 to replace uneven local property taxation on standing timber, discourage clearcutting, and stabilize the tax base while preserving working forests. He said the tax was intended to be collected when timber is harvested, not to stop logging, and that a later commission found the 10% rate roughly matched the revenue towns lost. In response to questions, he said pre-1948 assessments varied widely by town and tax collector, and that carbon projects today are already being valued by sophisticated models, so he believes carbon should be included in the assessment system. He also said short-term carbon agreements may simply monetize existing forest value, while 100-year agreements raise enforceability concerns. No votes or other formal actions were taken beyond approving the amended minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we just had the governor's announcement yesterday on budget.
• So we just had the governor's announcement yesterday on budget.
• I appreciate your analysis about the competition for employees out west.
• But the first one for us was conducting that market analysis.
• This goes to our page of all the work we did as our market analysis.

Summary: The Higher Education Institutions Committee met on the Minot State University campus for presentations on campus operations, enrollment, and new academic initiatives. President Shirley reviewed recent audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings, and highlighted MSU’s broad academic offerings, specialized accreditations, athletics, and partnerships with Minot Air Force Base and the MSU Development Foundation. Members asked about declining interest in teacher education, tuition waivers for athletes, dual credit incentives, and how MSU decides when to launch new programs and avoid duplication within the university system. Shirley also discussed several workforce-focused initiatives supported by the Legislature’s Workforce Education Innovation Funds, including the purchase of the Trinity Health Center West building for a downtown health sciences hub, a new daycare/preschool partnership near campus, the Aspire program to recruit rural students into teaching, and a paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Enrollment data showed overall headcount was flat at just under 2,750, but full-time equivalent enrollment rose slightly and new student numbers increased, including the largest freshman class in 15 years. The committee also discussed Minot State’s in-state tuition rate for all students, its dual credit “Emerging Scholars” scholarship, and concerns about the share of high school graduates who do not immediately pursue postsecondary education. Faculty then presented two new programs funded in part by WEAF: an Innovation Engineering degree and a master’s program in counseling with an integrated addiction studies focus. The engineering program was described as industry-driven, designed with broad early coursework, hands-on learning, and local employer input to prepare students for western North Dakota workforce needs; officials said it had already drawn more applicants than expected and would use renovated library space and donated or grant-funded equipment. The counseling program will be mostly face-to-face with hybrid options, aims to address shortages in mental health and substance use providers, and is structured to help students meet licensure requirements. Committee members asked about startup costs, licensure supervision hours, and whether the programs would be on campus rather than online, and presenters said both programs had recently received required approvals and were moving forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we know, we have spent many hours deliberating the budget, which we know impacts many of our food
• I'll be accepting the committee amendments outlined in the analysis.
• And I'll be accepting the committee amendments outlined in the analysis.
• As noted in the bill analysis, the PCOR is an administrative document designed to be used exclusively
• As noted in the bill analysis, the PCOR is an administrative document designed to be used exclusively

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As we know, we have spent many hours As we know, we have spent many hours deliberating the budget, which
• And I'll be accepting the committee amendments outlined in the analysis. Well, good evening, Mr.
• And I'll be accepting the committee amendments outlined in the analysis.
• As noted in the bill analysis, the PCOR is an administrative document designed to be used exclusively
• The technical clarifying amendments are spelled out in comment J of the bill analysis.

Summary: The Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee held a final hearing on a series of Senate bills, with the chair explaining the committee’s suspense-file process and then taking up measures in regular order and later from suspense. SB 1329 on solar property tax assessment drew the most extensive testimony: the author and industry supporters said it would create statewide assessment standards, exclude intangibles, and provide certainty for solar development, while county assessors and county representatives opposed it as a statutory formula that would undercut fair market value and reduce local revenue. The bill was sent to suspense during the first portion of the hearing and later passed suspense 5-2 after amendments. SB 661, dealing with airport funding and aviation fuel tax revenues, also generated support from airport and local government representatives but opposition from airlines over the proposed distribution formula; it was referred to suspense and later passed 7-0 with amendments. SB 1172, which places guardrails on tax-sharing agreements, was supported by local governments and retailers; after the author accepted committee amendments, opposition was withdrawn and the bill passed 4-2 to the floor. SB 9-1-1, a wildfire safety measure using the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report to notify fire agencies about defensible-space compliance, was supported by fire chiefs and wildfire-safety advocates but opposed by assessors; it passed 5-2 to Appropriations. SB 1408, authorizing Contra Costa County to place a transportation sales tax on the ballot, passed 4-2 to the floor. SB 1072, the housing omnibus bill, passed 7-0, and SB 1424, expanding a sales tax exemption for zero-emission vehicle fueling equipment, was held in committee after support from hydrogen and electric transportation advocates and no opposition. In suspense-file action, the committee also passed SB 1435, SB 288, SB 296, SB 420, SB 881, SB 888, SB 1053, SB 1406, and SB 1407, while SB 353 and SB 1249 were held. The chair closed by thanking members, staff, stakeholders, and a retiring consultant, and adjourned the committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• The author has put in a budget request to fund implementation. Thank you.
• The author has put in a budget request to fund implementation. Thank you. Thank you.
• The true fiscal impact is far greater than what is currently reflected in the analysis.
• The true fiscal impact is far greater than what is currently reflected in the analysis.
• How does the committee analysis account for this?

Keywords: 987, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• our budget. our budget.
• , sure that the the data, the analysis, sure that the the data, the analysis, the<02:17:24.360>
• We can do that internally and analysis.
• <03:27:02.320> from But again, I don't have an analysis from But again, I don't have an analysis
• So, I think those are the state budget.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > and<00:19:29.200> SNAP, This budget slashes Medicaid and SNAP, This budget slashes Medicaid
• That's 13% of our budget.
• just immediately bring the budget just immediately bring the budget reconciliation<02:40:52.399>
• the nonpartisan Congressional Budget the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.<02:58:23.760><
• Congressional Budget Office. Nothing. Congressional Budget Office. Nothing.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Budget and policy subcommittee will now come to order. Faith. Please call the roll Chair.
• Welcome to I'd and it budget and policy subcommittee today.
• So employees report that AI has been especially helpful and drafting the basic outlines for Bill Analysys
• One of our legislative analysts have recently used AI to prepare an initial outline for a bill analysis
• The end result was a more organized analysis completed in less time.

Transcript Highlights:

• This obviously can create some concerns about overruns and, you know, mismanaged budgets.
• Historically, our analysis has focused on questions such as: Is additional generation capacity needed
• It requires a cost-benefit analysis to be completed prior to consideration of a direct investment.
• They took uranium analysis off those samples.
• They took uranium analysis off those samples.

Summary: The Advanced Nuclear Energy Committee met to review prior minutes and hear a series of presentations on advanced nuclear technology and state readiness. The committee approved the April 21, 2022 minutes. Nucleon’s William Bridge outlined the advanced nuclear landscape, distinguishing near-term light-water SMRs from more advanced Gen 4 reactors and microreactors, and emphasized that fuel supply, especially HALEU, remains a developing supply chain. He said light-water designs are the most deployable in the near term, while advanced reactors may be better suited for industrial heat applications and could face a 2- to 3-year delay from fuel availability. Representatives from NASEO described how other states are supporting advanced nuclear through task forces, roadmaps, pilot programs, financing tools, workforce and supply-chain efforts, and regional coordination. They highlighted the Advanced Nuclear First Mover Initiative and stressed that states are focusing early on emergency preparedness, community engagement, waste management, affordability, and consumer protections. They also noted that some states are creating nuclear-ready community programs and cost-recovery guardrails, while public utility commissions are examining long-term lifecycle costs and rate impacts. North Dakota agencies then outlined their potential roles. The Public Service Commission said it would likely be involved in public-interest review, siting, and rate regulation, but noted current statutes may not fully address long-term nuclear projects, co-location, or decommissioning. The Department of Environmental Quality said it would continue to regulate radioactive materials and likely support emergency planning, while fission reactor oversight remains federal. The Department of Emergency Services said it would serve as the lead off-site preparedness agency, needing a radiological emergency program, training, exercises, equipment, and possibly industry funding. The Department of Water Resources said North Dakota has sufficient surface water, especially from the Missouri River, but that water planning would be important; it did not recommend statutory or budget changes at this time. The committee recessed for lunch after these presentations, with no additional votes or actions taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• There would be an environmental review with an alternatives analysis.
• <00:16:44.160> and Alternatives and do a full analysis and Alternatives and do a full analysis
• provide a level of urban impact analysis provide a level of urban impact analysis comparable<00:
• <01:07:18.079> of that there is no specific analysis of that there is no specific analysis
• I encourage everybody to vote yes. analysis um doesn't make sense to me um analysis um doesn't make sense

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• And could you tell us what the current budget of this board is? What's your base budget?
• That's about 72% of our budget.
• That's about 72% of our budget.
• That's about 72% of our budget.
• That's about 72% of our budget.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The Judiciary and Civil Law Committee met to hear an informational presentation from the Board of Judicial Standards. After brief member and staff introductions and a review of committee rules, the board’s executive secretary, Sarah Bas, and Mary Pat Maher explained the board’s history, mission, and operations. They described the board as an independent state agency that handles complaints about judicial misconduct and disability, issues advisory opinions, and educates judges on ethics. The presentation covered the board’s composition, complaint intake and screening process, and the levels of discipline available, ranging from summary dismissal and letters of caution to private admonitions, deferred disposition agreements, public reprimands, and formal complaints that can lead to Supreme Court review. Members asked about the board’s budget, public access to discipline records, confidentiality of complaints, and how the board balances accountability with protecting public confidence in the judiciary. The board said public discipline is posted on its website, while private admonitions, deferred dispositions, dismissals, and letters of caution remain confidential. It also said judges generally are told who complained so they can respond, though the board can withhold the source for good cause. Questions also focused on whether attorneys are underreporting misconduct, how many complaints are nuisance complaints, and whether the online complaint system changed the types of complaints received; the board said nuisance complaints make up more than half, the complaint types have not changed much, and it does not have data comparing complaint sources to outcomes. No votes or formal committee actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• Read the fiscal analysis that was finally put out last night or yesterday.
• Small towns and rural counties do not have litigation budgets.
• Small towns and rural counties do not have litigation budgets.
• I deeply worry about that as we're stretched to fill increasingly aggressive court budgets. Mr.
• And there's just not the budget in these small communities for that.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Their detailed analysis and commitment to strengthening DIR's mission have been critical in crafting
• One budget. One phone number when the unthinkable happens.
• And there's still going to be influence over that budget, the facilities.
• We call them before Senate Finance, and they have to present their budgets separately.
• Named Senate confirmation, not just the budget.

Bills: HB146, HB150, HB1500, HB1545, HB1562, HB2067, HB2520, HB2818, HB3214, HB3250, HB3466, HB3512, HB3623, HB4063, HB4395, HB4464, HB4668, HB4690, HB5331, HB3833, HB146, HB150

Keywords: HB 146, Texas Capitol, State Capitol, State Preservation Board, Congress Avenue, Travis County, traffic lanes, lane closure, road closure, municipal authority, local control, Capitol area, downtown Austin, special events, construction traffic plan, pedestrian safety, public works, transportation policy, government code chapter 443, cybersecurity

Transcript Highlights:

• which would allow more time for analysis which would allow more time for analysis and<00:01:30.720
• We got to have a budget in the 17th.
• So we'd have to put into the budget.
• not as material for the the the budget not as material for the the the budget process<00:08:03.680
• , the table, says this is your budget, the table, says this is your budget, wages<00:16:11.240>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There is no state budget line for this.
• But that's a starting point in the budget process.
• And then if Human Services has it in its budget, great.
• Regarding the size of the budget, I tell our caucus, if you think the Human Services budget is too big
• Regarding the size of the budget, I tell our caucus, if you think the human service budget is too big

Summary: The committee met to approve prior minutes and then heard a presentation from Dr. Ramona Danielson on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), focusing on the economic and public-system impacts in North Dakota. She explained that ACEs are a population-level measure, not a diagnostic tool for individuals, and said higher ACE exposure is consistently associated with more chronic illness, mental health challenges, child welfare involvement, justice-system contact, and reduced workforce participation. She emphasized that precise dollar estimates are difficult because of the many interacting factors across a person’s life course, but said the direction of the impact is clear and that evidence-based prevention and protective factors can reduce harm. Members asked about definitions of a “healthy family,” same-sex couples, divorce, substance abuse, historical trends in ACEs, and the role of positive childhood experiences and home visiting. The committee then heard from Allison Mahoney and Missy Barranco about evidence-based home visiting programs in North Dakota, including Healthy Families, Early Head Start, Nurse-Family Partnership, and Parents as Teachers. They described home visiting as voluntary, relationship-based, and tailored to family needs, with referrals coming from hospitals, WIC, human service zones, pregnancy navigators, self-referrals, and other community sources. A parent, Abby, shared that home visiting helped her family after premature births and NICU stays by providing support with postpartum mental health, breastfeeding, developmental screenings, referrals, and parenting guidance. The presenters said the programs are funded through a mix of federal MIECHV/Title IV-E dollars, Medicaid targeted case management, state and tribal funds, philanthropy, charitable gaming, and grants, and they noted that current funding is fragmented and insufficient to serve all eligible families statewide. Members discussed whether the state should expand or better fund these services and how to improve outreach and referrals. Later, the committee received a memorandum on artificial intelligence and sexual exploitation, followed by a presentation from a BCI special agent on how AI is already affecting child exploitation investigations in North Dakota. The memo and testimony described AI-generated child sexual abuse material, deepfakes, sextortion, and risks posed by chatbots, along with relevant federal and state law and recent executive orders. The agent said North Dakota saw 2,698 cyber tips in 2025, the highest on record, and that investigators are increasingly encountering AI-assisted exploitation that is harder to detect and verify. Members discussed the need for child-safety protections, the limits of executive orders, and broader concerns about AI undermining critical thinking and spreading misinformation. No votes were taken on the AI materials during the portion provided, and the committee recessed briefly after the report.

Transcript Highlights:

• According to the analysis, the bill has no significant state costs.
• Per the analysis, any cost to the IG is minor and absorbable within the IG's budget.
• As noted in the Assembly Appropriations Committee analysis, this bill has no state fiscal costs.
• As noted in the Assembly Appropriation Committee analysis, this bill has no state fiscal costs.
• one thing I would emphasize, and I think appropriately noted by our author and in the committee analysis

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on April 22, 2026, with a quorum present and first took up a large consent calendar. It moved a set of bills to the Assembly Floor consent calendar by unanimous vote, including AB 1773, 1785, 1828, 1873, 1918, 2001, 2085, 2173, 2412, 2536, 2644, and 2781, and separately approved another group of unanimous bills not eligible for floor consent, including AB 1544, 1555, 1614, 1621, 1637, 1704, 1816, 1933, 2529, 2559, 2663, and 2731. The committee then heard several individual bills, with each author describing the measure and witnesses generally testifying in support; no organized opposition was recorded on the bills discussed. Among the measures heard, AB 2393 would create fixed statutory damages for certain false imprisonment and arrest claims, while exempting peace officers, custodial officers, and public entities. AB 1697 would delay implementation of a recently enacted prohibition on employment contracts that require workers to repay employer debts if they leave a job, and AB 2534 would extend Domestic Violence Prevention Act restraining order protections to attempted forced marriages and survivors of forced marriages. AB 1608 would strengthen the High-Speed Rail Inspector General’s office by adding staffing and contracting authority, requiring public reports, and allowing limited temporary confidentiality for sensitive information; the bill drew questions from members about transparency and whether information could be withheld, but the author and Inspector General said the measure would increase accountability and only allow narrow, time-limited confidentiality. The committee also approved AB 1916, which would allow American Sign Language interpreters to participate in the same collective bargaining process as other certified court interpreters, and AB 1803, which would require anti-hate speech training as part of workplace harassment prevention training for employers with five or more employees. AB 1821 would change Public Records Act response timelines from calendar days to business days, with local government sponsors arguing it would better reflect actual processing time for broad and complex requests without reducing access. AB 1919 would establish election procedures to let voters decide the future of Santa Cruz Metro service funding after a one-time grant expires. Each of these bills was moved forward on due pass votes, with some members not voting on certain measures. The committee then approved a long suspense file, and the remaining suspense bills were deemed approved without further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• According to the analysis, the bill has no significant state costs.
• Per the analysis, any cost to the IG is minor and absorbable within the IG's budget.
• As noted in the Assembly Appropriations Committee analysis, this bill has no state fiscal costs.
• As noted in the Assembly Appropriation Committee analysis, this bill has no state fiscal costs.
• one thing I would emphasize, and I think appropriately noted by our author and in the committee analysis

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the intent of this bill is to eliminate the process of having to come back to the budget approval
• , I don't know if y'all have had a chance to read their analysis.
• Madam Chair, Senator, I don't have anything to add from what's in that analysis.
• We have money in the budget to try and study all of the fiscal implications and economic consequences
• We have money in the budget to try and study all of the fiscal implications and economic implications

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I took a risk and we put $10.5 million into the budget for her to start the online university at NMSU
• So that was the concern, and I'm glad Senator Figueroa added additional years and budget to the bill
• Even though there is no appropriation, in your bill under fiscal implications in the analysis from the
• We wonder how this will further complicate our system where three budgets are already put forth every
• The LESC bill analysis stated that there used to be a state superintendent that was abolished in 2003

Transcript Highlights:

• I will be accepting the committee amendments in numbers six and seven of the analysis.
• I will be accepting the committee amendments in numbers six and seven of the analysis.
• After consulting with staff and the committee, analysis.
• As the chair of Budget Sub 4, we have been battling the issue of transit funding.
• The analysis referenced it as well.

Summary: The committee met on June 17, 2026, beginning without a quorum and initially proceeding as a subcommittee. Members heard several Senate bills, with testimony focused mainly on redistricting, Bay Area transit funding, and military/overseas voting access. The chair also announced committee membership changes and that SB 1369 had been pulled by the author. Written testimony was accepted through the committee portal, and public testimony was limited by the chair’s rules. SB 1414 by Senator Reyes would create an independent redistricting commission for San Bernardino County. Supporters, including Inland Empire United, Common Cause, and the League of Women Voters, argued the bill would improve transparency and reduce political influence in map drawing. Opponents, including San Bernardino County and several local government/election groups, said the county’s existing advisory commission already provided substantial public input and raised concerns about cost. The bill was moved do pass as amended and re-referred to Local Government, with one no vote from Assembly Member Lackey; it was later taken off call and passed 6-1. SB 830 by Senator Wiener made technical changes to the administration of the Bay Area regional transit sales tax measure authorized by SB 63, including uniform ballot naming and county-specific ballot arguments. Support came from labor, transit, business, and advocacy groups, who said the bill would help voters understand the measure and protect transit funding. Members emphasized the Bay Area’s transit funding crisis and the need for local action. The bill passed do pass as amended, 5-1, and was later recorded as out 6-0 on call. The committee also approved a consent calendar containing six bills. SB 970 by Senator Cervantes addressed military and overseas voting after the federal discontinuation of the Department of Defense fax service used for ballot return. Supporters, including county election officials and local government organizations, said California needed a secure replacement to avoid disenfranchising service members and overseas voters. The Secretary of State’s office and Verified Voting raised security concerns and suggested a task force or more detailed standards, but the author and supporters argued the bill was urgent and should direct the Secretary of State to develop secure regulations. The bill passed do pass and was re-referred to Military and Veteran Affairs, and the meeting adjourned after all agenda items were completed.