Transcript Highlights:

• The state hospital serves both individuals with a primary mental health diagnosis as well as individuals
• with a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder.
• exclusion in Medicaid: when Medicaid was established, Congress wanted to ensure that states carried the primary
• community behavioral health clinics, or CCBHCs, which integrate mental health, substance use, and primary
• It'll probably be after the primary, most likely, because we all need to focus on that if those of you

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The state hospital serves both individuals with a primary mental health diagnosis, as well as individuals
• with a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder.
• exclusion in Medicaid: when Medicaid was established, Congress wanted to ensure that states carried the primary
• community behavioral health clinics, or CCBHCs, which integrate mental health, substance use, and primary
• It'll probably be after the primary, most likely, because we all need to focus on that if those of you

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and first heard welcoming remarks and introductions from tribal leaders and program directors. Chairwoman Street and other tribal representatives outlined a range of concerns and requests for state action, including taxation of reservation lands, support for non-beneficiary students at the tribal school, homelessness funding, Indian-managed health care, gaming and e-tabs, Feather Alert improvements, industrial farming near waterways, tourism, and better state-tribal consultation. Committee members responded that the meeting was intended to improve understanding and communication, and several members suggested future legislation or resolutions could be used to advance some of the issues. The tribe also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to legislators and staff. A major portion of the discussion focused on Spirit Lake fish and wildlife jurisdiction and the lake boundary. Tribal representatives asked for an MOU or co-stewardship agreement with the state to clarify hunting and fishing rights, recognize tribal licenses, and reduce recurring disputes over “gray areas” on the reservation and lake. Committee members discussed whether to draft a bill or resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and asked that North Dakota Game and Fish be invited to a future meeting. Related concerns included aquatic nuisance species prevention, with both sides agreeing that more aggressive boat inspection and cleaning measures would be beneficial. The committee also discussed taxation and county relations. Tribal leaders raised concerns about county resistance to fee-to-trust transfers and about property and vehicle taxation affecting members living on or near reservation lands. Committee members and tribal counsel reviewed federal treaty principles and court cases, and one member noted that the committee had previously taken no formal action on similar issues. Later, Benson County’s tax equalization director explained how the county values taxable land, handles inundated land applications, and tracks land coming off the tax rolls when the tribe repurchases acreage. The discussion ended with a presentation from the president of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, followed by an HHS presentation on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion as the committee moved to its next topic.

Transcript Highlights:

• The state hospital serves both individuals with a primary mental health diagnosis as well as individuals
• with a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder.
• in Medicaid is: when Medicaid was established, Congress wanted to ensure that states carried the primary
• community behavioral health clinics, or CCBHCs, which integrate mental health, substance use, and primary
• It’ll probably be after the primary, most likely, because we all need to focus on that if those of you

Summary: The committee met at Spirit Lake Tribe and heard an extended discussion with Spirit Lake tribal leaders and program directors about government-to-government relations with the state. Chairwoman Street and others outlined a number of concerns and requests, including taxation of tribal and trust lands, state school support for non-beneficiary students, homelessness services, Indian-managed health care, gaming/e-tabs, the Feather Alert system, industrial farming near waterways, tourism and cultural issues, and the need for more consistent tribal consultation. Committee members responded that many of these issues had previously been passed along without direct action, and several members emphasized the committee’s role in education, communication, and preparing possible legislation or resolutions for the next session. Tribal representatives also offered to provide training on treaties, IHS 638, and compact services to help legislators better understand tribal jurisdiction and billing issues. A major portion of the meeting focused on Spirit Lake Fish and Wildlife concerns, especially jurisdictional “gray areas” around hunting and fishing on the reservation, recognition of tribal licenses, and the boundary of the reservation around Spirit Lake/Devils Lake. Tribal officials said they wanted a co-stewardship agreement or MOU with the state to clarify jurisdiction, improve cooperation, and address invasive species and aquatic nuisance species. Committee members discussed whether to draft legislation or a resolution directing the executive branch and state agencies to negotiate such an agreement, and they asked for further input from the North Dakota Game and Fish Department at a future meeting. The committee also discussed county involvement in land status changes and trust land issues, with Spirit Lake leaders describing a past Benson County resolution that tried to block fee-to-trust transfers and saying it was later rescinded. The committee then heard from Benson County tax equalization director Randy Thompson, who explained how the county values land and handles tax-exempt, inundated, and fee-to-trust parcels. Members asked about the impact of tax-exempt lands on county services and discussed prior legislation that helped counties with large tax-exempt bases. The committee also received a presentation from Dr. Steven Smith of Sisseton Wahpeton College, who described the college’s programs, economic impact, and funding needs, including support for non-beneficiary students and workforce training. Members asked about expanding tribal college education into correctional settings, and Smith said the idea was worth exploring through the tribal college system. Finally, HHS interim medical services director Christoph Framing presented remotely on 1115 Medicaid waivers and the IMD exclusion, explaining current state funding mechanisms for inpatient and residential behavioral health services and the bill draft directing HHS to pursue a waiver for IMD payments.

Transcript Highlights:

• Seeing none, are there any members of the public who should testify in opposition to the bill, or any primary
• If there is any primary witness in opposition, please come up to the desk. Good morning, Mr.
• Any primary witness in opposition?
• As the primary parent for two children that live with me, including one adult and one minor, consistent
• Do we have primary witnesses in opposition? Please come up to the desk.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And according to the Colorado State Forester, the primary threats are fire suppression and chronic overbrowsing
• And according to the Colorado State Forester, the primary threats are fire suppression and chronic overbrowsing
• Colorado State And according to the Colorado State Forester,<00:23:43.160> the<00:23:43.280> primary
• /c><00:23:43.840> threats<00:23:44.400> are<00:23:44.560> fire Forester, the primary
• threats are fire Forester, the primary threats are fire suppression<00:23:46.200> and<00:23:46.400

Keywords: Continuation of today's legislative session, beginning at 7:45 pm., 981, all

Summary: The House took up House Bill 1410, the state’s long appropriations bill for the executive, legislative, and judicial branches and their agencies and institutions for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. The committee first recessed and then adopted a motion to rise, report progress, and sit again later that day. The House also adopted a motion under House Rule 14 to limit debate on House Bill 1410 to one hour during special orders on April 10, 2026, by a vote of 40-20, with four excused and one absent. During consideration of House Bill 1410, members debated Amendment J82/54A, which would require funding for wolf reintroduction to come from gifts, grants, and donations rather than general fund dollars. Supporters argued the state should not use taxpayer money for additional wolf reintroduction, especially during a budget crisis, and said rural ranchers and livestock producers are bearing the costs and impacts of wolves. They emphasized depredation concerns, the strain on rural communities, and the view that the reintroduction effort has been costly and poorly managed. Opponents of the amendment said the funding line is part of broader wolf management, not just reintroduction, and argued the state has a legal obligation to carry out Proposition 114. They said gifts, grants, and donations are not a reliable funding source for that mandate and noted the program also supports conflict minimization efforts such as range riders. One speaker also defended the ecological role of wolves, citing their benefits to ecosystems, elk management, and biodiversity. The transcript does not show a final vote on the amendment before the excerpt ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• She's with the Mission Primary Care Clinic in Vicksburg.
• The program's primary objective is to provide financial assistance to homeowners for retrofitting primary
• This is only for single-family owner-occupied primary residences that are homes... ...primary residences
• As far as the governance of this is, like I said, the Department is going to have the primary role for

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 1 April, 2026; 10:00 AM, 925, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We did a number of those things with that ARPA funding toward the primary goal of supporting child care
• funding uh those things with that ARPA funding uh toward<00:20:51.919> the<00:20:52.559> primary
• <00:20:53.039> goal<00:20:53.840> of<00:20:54.880> supporting toward the primary
• goal of supporting toward the primary goal of supporting child<00:20:55.919> care<00:20:56.320
• Those are three of the primary errors, if you will, that show up in our error rate.

Keywords: Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 21 January, 2026; 3:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 3, a certificate-of-need measure that had passed last year but was vetoed by the governor because of one objectionable provision. The chair explained that the House had just passed the bill unanimously and urged quick Senate action so it could be sent to the governor again. He said the bill is intended to restore the prior law, with the main policy focus on rural hospitals and other future certificate-of-need changes. A question was raised about language affecting the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s academic exemption; the chair said the intent was to preserve the teaching hospital’s core exemption around its main campus while requiring certificate-of-need review for facilities it operates elsewhere, and the committee then voted title sufficient, due pass. The committee then considered Senate Bill 2476, requested by the Board of Pharmacy. Senator Hill explained that it would let licensed pharmacists self-report substance abuse or mental health issues and enter treatment before disciplinary action, similar to programs already available for nurses and with comparable provisions for physicians and dentists. Board representatives said participants would have to stop practicing until cleared, and that failure to comply would trigger discipline; the bill was described as an alternative to professional discipline, not immunity from criminal law. After questions about definitions and how many times a person could use the program, the committee voted title sufficient, due pass. The meeting concluded with an informational presentation from Mr. Anderson on child care funding and program operations. He said the state used ARPA funds during the pandemic to support child care certificates and providers, but those funds were exhausted, leading to a pause and a waiting list of about 20,000 families; the program currently serves about 18,000 children. He said the department is continuing $15 million in state support, is converting 30% of the TANF state assistance grant to child care, and is exploring additional TANF direct-assistance options, though cautiously because the state has not done that before. He also discussed child care tax credits, employer-based child care, and efforts to expand capacity through provider support and technical assistance.

Transcript Highlights:

• The agency's three primary programs are funded by the United States Department of Labor and are as follows
• The agency's three primary programs are funded by the United States Department of Labor and are as follows
• The variance between the elbow recommendation and the revised request from MDES is driven by two primary
• /c><00:03:08.959> driven<00:03:09.280> by<00:03:09.519> two<00:03:09.920> primary
• <00:03:10.560> line from MDES is driven by two primary line from MDES is driven by two primary

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 210; 14 January, 2026: 3:30 PM, 925, all

Summary: MDES presented its FY27 budget request, describing the agency as a special fund workforce agency focused on helping Mississippians get jobs through employment services, labor market information, and unemployment insurance. Executive Director Bill Ashley said the revised request seeks level spending authority similar to FY26, with line-item changes driven mainly by higher salaries and fringe benefits and lower contractual services. He said MDES currently has 406 employees, 28 active recruitments, and six additional planned positions, for a requested total of 440 positions, down from 453 authorized last year. The request also includes $1.4 million for the State Longitudinal Data System and $400,000 for Accelerate Mississippi fiscal support. Committee members asked about the SLDS pass-through funding, whether it is recurring, and the staffing/pin changes; MDES explained the SLDS is a recurring annual pass-through and that the staffing request reflects turnover and recruitment needs rather than a net expansion. Accelerate Mississippi then outlined its FY27 request and program updates. Officials said the office is requesting level funding overall, with some salary adjustments tied to benefits and two new positions, including one for Talent Solutions and one systems administrator. They described workforce initiatives such as Encore, a recruiter/instructor program; Facet, a partnership with Northwest Mississippi Community College to strengthen instructor preparation; Power Path, a K-12 advanced manufacturing credential model; and expanded career coach activity, reporting 204 coaches serving 209 schools and more than 22,000 unique student interactions. They also reviewed funding streams for workforce enhancement training, Mississippi Works, Equip Mississippi, and ARPA, saying ARPA funds are on track to be fully spent by the September 30 reimbursement deadline and that monthly check-ins are being used to ensure funds are drawn down. Members asked about the budget changes, the use of contractual services, and the career coach program; the office said it was shifting some audit and monitoring costs to the funds being monitored and was not requesting an increase for career coach funding. The Mississippi community college presidents and the Community College Board also presented their budget priorities. They reported that Mississippi community colleges served 88,600 students in academic year 2023 and said the system’s graduation rate is about 42 percent, with a goal of reaching 55 percent. Their FY27 request includes a 6 percent salary increase for employees, increased basic operations funding, and continued support for CTE Advantage programs, totaling $61.5 million in general support. On facilities, they requested $150 million after receiving no facilities funding last year, citing roughly $413 million in identified needs across capital improvements, repairs and renovations, and pre-planning. The Community College Board requested restoration of $310,000 in general fund cuts and a new $2 million appropriation for adult education, noting that an estimated 300,000 to 330,000 Mississippians lack a high school diploma. No votes were taken during the presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 43 from the OSS bill amends the filing period for municipal elections without a primary.
• Section 43 from the OSS bill amends the filing period for municipal elections without a primary.
• Section 43 from the OSS bill amends the filing period for municipal elections without a primary.
• <00:21:30.400> Section<00:21:30.799> 44 elections without a primary.
• Section 44 elections without a primary.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I called our primary care physician, and I had read enough about doctors like you— ...our primary
• And I called our primary care physician, a dear friend, and we go to church with him.
• also a practicing physician locally, representing my own clinic, and I represent myself as a direct primary
• A primary impetus for this bill is to address a lack of understanding regarding what constitutes a CCRC
• A primary impetus for this bill is to address a lack of understanding regarding what constitutes a CCRC

Bills: SB331, SB883, SB926, SB1137, SB1138, SB1144, SB1151, SB1236, SB1270, SB1522, SB1869, SB2207, SB2422

Keywords: healthcare, cost disclosure, transparency, administrative penalties, health facility compliance, COVID-19, off-label use, prescription drugs, patient access, medical standards, insurance, physician ranking, incentives, fiduciary duty, health plan issuers, SB 1137, group home, assisted living, residential care, board and care

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 883, which would protect physicians’ ability to prescribe off-label medications and treatments, framed by the author as a “Right to Treat” measure tied to COVID-19 care. Supporters, including physicians and patient-choice advocates, said the bill would safeguard the doctor-patient relationship and prevent interference by boards, pharmacies, or hospitals. Several witnesses described using hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, budesonide, antibiotics, steroids, and monoclonal antibodies during the pandemic, and said they faced complaints, board scrutiny, or pharmacy refusals for those prescriptions. The bill was left pending after public testimony closed. The committee then took up Senate Bill 331, which would extend hospital price-transparency requirements to additional health care facilities such as freestanding ERs, urgent care and retail clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient clinics, and birthing centers. Proponents argued that broader disclosure of prices for shoppable services would help consumers compare costs and reduce surprise billing, while opponents from ambulatory surgery centers said the bill would impose costly compliance burdens on small providers and that insurers or the state already have much of the needed data. The bill was also left pending. Senate Bill 2422 would expunge Texas Medical Board records and impose reparations for disciplinary actions tied to COVID-era treatment decisions, including references to ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, budesonide, and masks. The author and supporters argued that doctors were unfairly targeted for trying to save patients and should be made whole; the Texas Medical Board representative said most pandemic complaints were dismissed, that actions generally involved broader issues such as privileges, documentation, or informed consent, and that no physician was disciplined solely for prescribing off-label COVID medications. The bill was left pending. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2207, which would loosen Texas Medical Board rules on physicians advertising themselves as board certified, especially by reducing barriers tied to maintenance of certification requirements. Supporters said the current rule is overly restrictive, inconsistent, and costly, and that it drives physicians out of practice; they also said Texas is one of only a few states with such a rule. Witnesses described hospitals using the rule against physicians and said the change would improve transparency and competition. The bill remained pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• The THC has also worked higher. with the primary custodians of the Alamo, the Alamo Trust, General Land
• There are 13 FTEs in the division whose primary activities include domestic advertising, targeting out-of-state
• travelers and Texans, advertising in primary Internet and national source markets, public relations
• and marketing promotions targeting consumers, media, and travel trade in domestic and primary international
• Those are probably the two primary drivers. Certainly. I think I ran numbers, you know.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , and I believe that we have a lot of the powers to enable us to do that kind of work because our primary
• , and I believe that we have a lot of the powers to enable us to do that kind of work because our primary
• The three primary categories—staff attorneys, investigators, and administrative staff—were increased
• staff received salary increases<00:31:07.200> the<00:31:07.399> three<00:31:07.799> primary
• <00:31:08.360> categories increases the three primary categories increases the three primary

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:19 Auditor of Public Accounts 00:01:07 Office of Secretary of State 00:10:22 Kentucky State Treasury 00:17:51 Office of Attorney General 00:28:50, 958, all

Summary: The Budget Review Subcommittee on General Government met for its first meeting and heard budget-related presentations from the Auditor of Public Accounts and the Secretary of State, with the Treasurer beginning a presentation at the end of the transcript. Auditor Allison Ball reviewed her office’s 2024 and early 2025 work, including hundreds of county and state audits, several special examinations, and ongoing reviews such as the kinship care funding issue, the Kentucky Department of Education audit, and the Jefferson County Public Schools audit. She said her office is focused on waste, fraud, abuse, and legal compliance, and asked the committee to consider future budget changes, including aligning her appropriation with restricted funding and restoring a stronger performance-audit function. She also highlighted audits that exposed serious problems, including the Department of Juvenile Justice review, and said those reports are intended to serve as models for other entities to avoid similar failures. Secretary of State Michael Adams said his office is self-sustaining through fees and does not need tax dollars, but asked for greater access to its own revenues and more flexibility in using them. He highlighted the Safe at Home address confidentiality program, saying recent changes expanded protections for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, and that the program has grown rapidly while remaining funded by offender fines. Adams also urged lawmakers to again adjust county election funding for inflation, noting the current per-voter and per-precinct amounts were set decades ago. In questioning, Representative Hart asked whether the Safe at Home program was self-funding; Adams replied that it covers only about 10% of its operating cost and said the best solution would be to let the office use more of the revenue it already collects rather than rely on tax dollars. Treasurer Martin Medcafe, introduced with staff member Russell Weber, praised the General Assembly’s fiscal discipline and described the Treasury’s work in managing state funds. He reported strong results from the Unclaimed Property Fund, saying the office returned $35.5 million to Kentuckians in its first year and $3.8 million in the first month of the current year, and said the State Investments Commission generated $682 million in returns last year. He also highlighted financial literacy efforts through the Kentucky Financial Empowerment Commission and said the Treasury is helping manage opioid settlement funds, which are now earning up to $200,000 per month through investment. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• In creating this committee, the budget language did three primary things.
• We see three primary reasons that states are having those gaps, and I suspect these will be familiar
• So we see three primary reasons that states are having those gaps, and I suspect these will be familiar
• And I will say the primary way we're answering those questions is through interviews, as you'll see later
• And I will say the primary way we're answering those questions is through interviews, as you'll see later

Summary: The committee held its first meeting, with co-chairs and members introducing themselves and staff outlining the committee’s statutory mandate under the 2025-27 supplemental operating budget. Staff explained that the Joint Legislative-Executive Committee on Budget Transparency and Fiscal Sustainability will receive technical assistance from a nonpartisan organization, with work split into two phases: first on revenue growth, spending assumptions, and cost drivers in the four-year outlook, and later on staffing, overhead, performance management, and public reporting. Members broadly said they hoped the committee would build a shared factual understanding of the state’s fiscal situation, structural deficits, and budget processes, and identify a sustainable path forward for the operating budget. Staff then gave a detailed presentation on operating budget basics. They reviewed the size and composition of the operating budget, noting that most spending is concentrated in grants/client services and salaries/benefits, with K-12, DSHS, HCA, DCYF, DOC, and higher education making up most NGFO spending. They explained the distinction between constitutional, federal, statutory, and discretionary spending, using examples such as K-12, Medicaid, collective bargaining agreements, court-driven obligations like McCleary and Trueblood, and one-time appropriations. They also walked through how the state uses incremental budgeting, carry-forward and maintenance-level calculations, caseload and per-capita forecasting, and the four-year balanced budget outlook, including reserve calculations and the budget stabilization account. Members asked extensive questions about what is and is not included in the outlook, especially future collective bargaining agreements, health care and compensation growth, tort and other liabilities, and whether the state could better distinguish mandatory from discretionary spending. Staff explained that current CBAs and other already-enacted obligations are included, but future CBAs are not; some liabilities are reflected as expenditures when appropriated, while broader long-term liabilities are not fully captured in the outlook because they depend on future policy choices. Staff also noted that the legislature and ERFC can adopt assumptions such as reversions and growth factors, and that an outlook accuracy report is produced every five years to compare projected and actual maintenance-level spending. The committee agreed to follow up on some of the more complex liability and assumption questions. After a short break, Josh Goodman of the Pew Charitable Trusts began a presentation on Pew’s role and approach to state fiscal sustainability. He described Pew as a nonpartisan organization with long-standing state fiscal research, emphasizing its 50-state comparative data, interviews with state officials and experts, and focus on long-term sustainability, reserve policies, and recession preparedness. The presentation was ongoing when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Each witness will be given two minutes, and as a reminder, the primary witnesses in support must be those
• accompanying the author or who have otherwise registered their support position with the committee, and the primary
• Turning to opposition, do we have primary opposition witnesses for 1425? Come on up.
• So, looking at this first slide, as you see, there are five primary entities, those represented on the
• There are five primary entities, those represented on the panel today, as well as our colleagues at the

Summary: The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy heard SB 1259, which would require refineries to provide advance closure and remediation planning information, and SB 1425, which would authorize the High-Speed Rail Authority to create a permit process for encroachments in its right of way. The committee also held an informational hearing on California electricity reliability and the future of the Strategic Reliability Reserve. The chair opened by noting the hearing room change, testimony limits, and that the committee would proceed without a quorum at first, then later established quorum for votes. On SB 1259, Senator Blake Spear argued the bill would give communities and state agencies needed information to plan for refinery closures, cleanup, and land reuse, comparing the requirement to estate planning. Supporters, including Benicia City Councilmember Carrie Birdseye and UC Santa Barbara professor Ranjit Schmook, said the bill would help communities facing refinery closures avoid being left without information and better prepare for redevelopment and remediation. Opponents, including the Western States Petroleum Association, the State Building and Construction Trades Council, and business groups, argued the bill could send negative market signals, create conflicts with federal reporting, and potentially accelerate refinery closures. The committee passed SB 1259 on a 7-3 vote, later reopening the roll and recording additional votes before moving it out as amended to Appropriations. On SB 1425, Senator Cortese and sponsor Robert Pearsall said the bill would help the High-Speed Rail Authority manage utility, broadband, drainage, and vegetation encroachments along the project corridor and reduce delays. Labor and construction groups supported the measure as a way to add certainty and speed project delivery. Utilities and local agencies, including LADWP, Southern California Gas, Southern California Edison, PG&E, and others, opposed unless amended, saying the bill needed clearer language on emergencies, existing agreements, and potential impacts on their own rights of way and service obligations. After discussion about emergency language and utility coordination, the committee passed SB 1425 as amended to Appropriations on a 10-3 vote. In the oversight hearing, CEC, CPUC, CAISO, and DWR officials reported that California’s summer reliability outlook is better than in prior years, with substantial new procurement, storage, and demand-response resources added since 2020. They said the state is projected to meet its summer reliability standard and has not needed a flex alert for three straight years, but cautioned that extreme heat, fire, hydro conditions, and federal policy uncertainty still pose risks. Officials emphasized that the current Strategic Reliability Reserve remains important as a backstop, while longer-term planning must address rising demand from electrification and data centers and the eventual retirement of emergency resources.

Transcript Highlights:

• The goals of this program that inform the grant sub-award decisions are three primary goals: projects
• This grant program has three primary objectives: exploratory research and development of technologies
• Three primary objectives: exploratory research of technologies and methodologies that facilitate the
• And the primary reason for that, again, is deposits. pretty consistently at double-digit rates.
• And the primary reason for that, again, is deposits.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee received a compliance and status update on Industrial Commission programs and the Bank of North Dakota. Staff reviewed appropriations and spending for several Industrial Commission funds and grant programs, including lignite research, oil and gas research, clean sustainable energy, grid resiliency, salt cavern analysis, and the new NDSU research and technology park grant. Members discussed the timing of reimbursements, uncommitted balances, and the structure of the pipeline capacity and enhanced oil recovery funding. The Industrial Commission also reported on its administrative budget, grant management system project, and recent leadership transitions across several agencies. Karen Tyler of the Industrial Commission described active grant rounds and the status of major projects. She said the Clean Sustainable Energy Authority approved three projects in its sixth round, with remaining uncommitted cash and loan capacity still available, though no new funding was appropriated this session. She also said the Oil and Gas Research Council approved six enhanced oil recovery projects and expects additional funding after a federal Department of Energy award replaces one project’s state funding. For grid resiliency grants, she said some projects have been funded, some commitments were returned or reallocated, and some DOE funds remain pending. She also updated the committee on the salt cavern business case study, which replaced an earlier larger development proposal, and on the NDSU research park grant, where the nonmatching portion was paid and the matching portion has moved slowly because the match must be in cash. Ron Ness then gave an extended presentation on enhanced oil recovery and North Dakota oil and gas trends. He said production remains steady, but future growth depends on infrastructure, especially gas takeaway and projects like the Bakken East pipeline. He argued that enhanced oil recovery using CO2, natural gas, surfactants, and other methods could extend Bakken production for decades, but that the state needs more CO2 supply, better storage, and updated tax and regulatory incentives. Members asked about lateral lengths, CO2 availability, pipeline impacts, and the role of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and Ness emphasized that the projects are intended to share technical learning across operators and attract follow-on investment. The Bank of North Dakota then presented its compliance report and strategic update. President Don Morgan said the bank’s mission remains to support North Dakota agriculture, commerce, and industry while cooperating with the state’s financial sector. He reviewed the bank’s main business lines: participation lending with community institutions, student loans, disaster lending, mission-based programs, and a new fintech-focused effort. Morgan said deposits are flattening, so the bank is managing balance sheet growth carefully, while still reporting improved net income and strong efficiency. He also introduced Rough Rider Coin as a bank-to-bank payment rail, not a public cryptocurrency, intended to speed and modernize payments within North Dakota’s banking and credit union system. Committee members asked about student loan eligibility, disaster program use, and how credit lines and liquidity would be affected if deposits shrink.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we're actually constitutionally mandated, and we are the primary guardian of Hawaii's water resources
• Our regulation section is really the primary The regulation section is really the primary section that
• applied for by the land owner, and there's a lot of interaction with them because what I guess the primary
• reason is that most... ...guess the primary reason is that most, unless they're big land owners, most

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, we're there for emergency care, obstetrics, C-sections, um, surgery, inpatient care, primary care
• C-sections, um surgery,<00:10:23.920> inpatient<00:10:24.480> care,<00:10:25.600> primary
• <00:10:26.000> care, surgery, inpatient care, primary care, surgery, inpatient care, primary
• unit and also goes towards covering some of the losses, a large portion of our ER as well as our primary

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House File 369 was the main topic, with House authors Rep. Natalie Zeleznikar, Rep. Robert Bierman, and Rep. Dave Baker arguing that the bill would give Minnesota’s 2024 340B law “teeth” by enforcing protections for nonprofit and rural hospitals’ access to the federal drug pricing program. They said the measure costs the state nothing, aligns with similar laws in more than 20 other states, and is needed before adjournment to help hospitals close funding gaps, support services like emergency care, obstetrics, behavioral health, and pharmacy access, and preserve care in remote communities. Several hospital leaders from across greater Minnesota testified that 340B revenue helps keep their facilities viable and that losing it would threaten services and, in some cases, hospital survival. Witnesses described severe financial pressure on rural hospitals, including reimbursement cuts, workforce shortages, inflation, and rising drug costs. Leaders from United Hospital District in Blue Earth, Lakewood Health System in Staples, Ely-Bloomenson Community Hospital, Northshore Health in Grand Marais, Community Memorial Hospital in Cloquet, and Cuyuna Regional Medical Center in Crosby said their hospitals serve as safety-net providers and often operate with thin or negative margins. They emphasized long travel times to other hospitals, seasonal tourism pressures in some areas, and the importance of local emergency, ambulance, inpatient, and specialty services. The Minnesota Hospital Association president also criticized pharmaceutical company messaging and said nonprofit hospitals are working around the clock to maintain access. In response to questions, Zeleznikar said she had considered other enforcement approaches but now supported using the original Senate-passed bill, citing concerns about fraud and the difficulty of alternative enforcement mechanisms. She and hospital leaders distinguished this bill from a separate hospital stabilization-grant proposal, saying both are needed but serve different purposes. No vote was taken at the meeting, and the speakers repeatedly urged House leadership to bring the bill to the floor before session ends.

Transcript Highlights:

• Texas Parks and Wildlife has a large portfolio of responsibilities across the state, and their primary
• Their primary source of funding comes from public engagement and hunting and fishing.
• Fund Nine accounts consist of three primary sub-accounts: the general unrestricted funds, the dedicated
• We have primary materials that we want to get into the hands of teachers and school children.
• Which will allow us to meet the desire of the state to have access to more of our primary materials and

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• They manage complex procedures like closed party primaries and provisional voting, operate voting equipment
• As we prepare for the May 16th election under the new closed party primary system, this is what it looks
• allow our Secretary of State, unless you interpret it differently, to pay more than what is in the primary
• We have new voting technology coming up, new closed party primaries, new audits, and increased security
• So the primary contract to establish the pool of IDIQ contractors would be a qualifications-based selection

Bills: HB12, HB42, HB205, HB222, HB324, HB325, HB350, HB416, HB482, HB610, HB749, HB797, HB807, HB821, HB979, HB992, HB1193

Keywords: survivor benefits, law enforcement, reserve officer, auxiliary officer, public safety, phased retirement, Teachers Retirement System, faculty retention, administrative fees, public postsecondary education, Medicaid, dental coverage, healthcare access, medical necessity, Louisiana Department of Health, judicial salaries, judges, judiciary compensation, cost of living adjustment, COLA

Summary: The House Appropriations Committee met on April 21, 2026, and advanced a series of bills, many with amendments to address fiscal concerns. Early actions included HB 350, which would extend the French immersion school Ecole Pointe-au-Chien from fourth through eighth grade; members emphasized the importance of preserving French language and culture in Terrebonne Parish, adopted an amendment making the bill subject to appropriation, and reported it favorably as amended. HB 749, dealing with the Louisiana Tuition Trust Authority’s administration of ABLE, START, and START K-12 savings programs after the LOSFA cyber incident, was amended to make provisions effective upon contract execution and then reported favorably. HB 979, which raises the survivor benefit for law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty from $250,000 to $350,000, drew support from the governor’s office and law enforcement groups; members discussed fiscal impacts and inflation, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also advanced HB 42 creating a phased retirement option for public postsecondary employees in the Teachers’ Retirement System, and HB 12 extending survivor benefits to reserve officers killed in the line of duty, both reported favorably after supportive testimony from law enforcement representatives. The committee then took up HB 324 on judicial salaries. Chairwoman Villio proposed making the 2024 and 2025 supplement stipend permanent and adding COLAs, but Vice Chairman Zeringue offered an amendment to remove future COLAs after members clarified which year’s increase was already funded in the judiciary budget. After discussion about long-term state obligations and judicial compensation levels, the committee adopted the amendment and reported the bill favorably as amended. HB 205, which revises compensation for election commissioners, generated extensive testimony from clerks of court and the Secretary of State about staffing shortages, 19 years without a raise, and the need to recruit and retain poll workers; the bill was amended to allow local governing authorities to supplement pay by up to $100 per election and was reported favorably. Members also approved HB 325, which revises TOPS Tech eligibility and, through amendment, allows part-time students to qualify beginning in 2026-2027 using excess TOPS funds; HB 807, creating a Workforce Instructor Capacity Investment Program to help recruit technical instructors; and HB 222, requiring Medicaid coverage for dental procedures needed before certain medical treatments, with supporters arguing it could prevent more expensive emergency care. Later, the committee reported favorably HB 992, requiring student identification numbers for children in certain early childhood programs, after the Department of Education said it could implement the change without additional staff or cost. HB 821, moving the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools to the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement Administration, was amended with technical changes and reported favorably as amended. Finally, HB 797, creating the Bayou Gold Program to certify certain gold storage and custody standards, was amended to move the program into Title 51 and to tie standards to recognized industry benchmarks such as COMEX and the London Bullion Market Association; the bill drew at least one opponent after an initial supportive presentation and was still under consideration when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• real consumer spending, or real personal consumption expenditures, real consumer spending is the primary
• spending<00:09:57.840> or<00:09:58.160> is<00:09:58.360> the<00:09:58.480> primary
• <00:09:58.960> driver<00:09:59.960> of spending or is the primary driver of spending
• or is the primary driver of growth<00:10:00.440> in<00:10:00.520> the<00:10:00.680>
• As I noted previously, higher forecasts for non-wage income sources are primary drivers of the higher

Keywords: 1187, senate, all